wednesday (rut)

handmade (by me) blouse   merona cardigan {thrifted target stock}

mossimo slacks {thrifted}   js by jessica oscar pumps {thrifted}

i didn't really mean to take the first half of the week off from blogging, but i have been in a... what shall we say... a RUT.  the changing weather in minnesota this week has left me less than inspired in my closet.  i love skirts but i feel more comfortable in tights and let's be real, i hate having to shave my legs so frequently, so i've relegated myself to wearing pants and my outfits just haven't come together quite as easily.  the warmer temps also = humidity, and before i even step out the door my hair is frizzy and it ends up in a  messy ponytail {this picture is from yesterday when it was a bit cooler & kept a decent curl most of the day.  you don't want to know what my hair looked like today!}.  all of these things combined have just put me in a rut.  does anyone else out there experience the same frustrations?  the transition from winter -> spring/summer always takes me a little getting used to, so hopefully i'll find a way to work with my closet and the temps outside.  in the meantime, thanks for bearing with me - and feel free to let me know any suggestions you have!

thursday (powerful)

merona artist v-neck cardigan   mossimo trs herringbone skirt {thrifted new}

lela rose for payless finsbury heels   simply vera tights   forever 21 bangle

today was a tough day for me.  my profession isn't all roses & rainbows, but it's even less so when one of my clients is going through a crisis.  i tried to feel powerful through presentation today with my dress, even though i was only speaking to people regarding this crisis over the phone... but it did help me to feel confident in what i needed to communicate.  after my tense morning, i went outside for a breather and sat in my car to eat lunch and go through google reader on my iphone.  ten minutes later, a car drove up and three people got out of it and started looking at the car that was parked to my left... opening the hood, commenting on the tires, starting it up.  i'm assuming the car was one of theirs and maybe it was having some trouble, but it was awkward.  no longer could i enjoy any peace & quiet or sit there oblivious to those people and continue to eat my lunch, even though my windows are pretty tinted.  yet i didn't want to get out and leave my car there because i couldn't figure out what these people were doing and one of the car doors was opened so wide, mine would have hit it if i opened it!  so i turned on my car and drove to another part of the parking lot.  at least i know what part of the parking lot to now avoid! 

monday (professional)

merona leigh crosshatch dress {thrifted new, $4.99}   merona artist light cardigan {thrifted new}
target belt {thrifted new}   merona "marylynn" mary jane heels   forever21 bracelet

i've been hoarding this dress since may and decided it was high time to just wear it already. no sense in waiting for the perfect opportunity.  honestly, what really detracted me from wearing it up until now was that it almost felt too professional for my work environment.  i figured today was as good a day as any to wear it, though, since we had some guests in our office.  and i think i felt better once i put a cardigan over it.  nothing like setting the tone for the workweek with a great dress!

thursday (repeat)

gap cardigan {thrifted}   converse blouse {thrifted target stock}   old navy skirt    

merona belt {thrifted target stock}    lela rose for payless finsbury pumps

i've worn this exact outfit a couple times before, obviously never on this blog (yet), and took my direct inspiration from e. at academichic.  it's so sad that the chics won't be posting past the month, theirs was one of the first that i started following and has been such an amazing source of inspiration and knowledge.  hopefully it will stay around for a long time to come... i know there are more outfits in their archives that i can attempt to replicate!

friday.

as a new blogger, i'm feeling a little daunted trying to "introduce" myself to my readers.  i'm taking a tip from something i saw on another blog {ashlee at casual & clueless} and posting a fact about myself for the first week of to l&s.  i'm looking forward to getting to know you all as well, too!

#4: i love to coupon!

no, not the "extreme couponing" that you might have seen on tlc.  my favorite part of the week is sunday mornings when i get to flip through the ads and coupon inserts and file them away in my coupon binder.  one should never pay more for something than you need to, and couponing helps with that!  i've had some pretty awesome trips to the register in the past and it's all about combining great sales with coupons.  there are a few blogs i follow that are great about getting people going with coupons and sales, let me know if you're interested in the links!  is anyone else out there a fellow couponer?

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purple ruffle blouse: old navy

celery green cardi: style & co

black pencil skirt: merona {thrifted}

silver belt: thrifted

black bauble flats: old navy
necklace: charm and chain from michaels

so, one should never be the last one in the office on a friday, but if you are it can be the perfect time to snap a quick outfit photo.  since starting this blog a whoppin' three days ago i have constantly been scanning the sides of the roads to & from the office and when i am out in the community meeting with clients for places to take pictures.  those perfect locations aren't always going to pop up though, so sometimes you just have to make do and head home!