january 21st {sub-zero}

merona ponte dress {thrifted target stock}   ·   j crew blouse {thrifted}

haberdashery blazer {thrifted}   ·   old navy sliver wedge boots

bauble bar ivory polka strand necklace

so, what does one wear when the temperature is -9 when you leave for work and the high for the day doesn't get above 0?  lots & lots of layers, i guess!  i have on a long-sleeved shirt underneath the button-down/dress/blazer combo, two pairs of tights, and wool knee highs under my boots.  i keep hearing the phrase "fleece lined tights" from different ladies around the blog o sphere and on a day like today i kind of wondered why this minnesota lady doesn't have any in her closet...?  does anyone have any recommendations or stores i can chek out that carry fleece lined tights?  i survived, though, with no frostbite to speak of so i will make today off as "successful" for that reason.  see ya, january 21st!

thanks so much for visiting.  don't forget to enter my giveaway for a cute pair of bauble bar earrings!

january 3rd / hey, liz

liz claiborne dress {thrifted}   ·   old navy sliver wedge boots

i picked up this dress at a goodwill in georgia over the christmas holidays.  i'd combed through the entire store and felt a little discouraged that i couldn't find one thing to try on, but then i spotted this printed dress.  the size threw me off for a minute so i simply glanced at it and kept going, but then i actually kept going back to this dress.  i tried it on over my clothes, assuming that it wouldn't fit.  i didn't really think that it did so i put it back.  finally, after my mom had finished her browsing, i went back for it again and when i got her approval i decided it would be worth it to try shrinking in the dryer or cinching with a belt.  turns out none of those options were necessary as this dress fits me perfectly...  if anything, it's a little short.  the only alternation i need to make is to attach some hem tape to the bottom part of the placard after the last button (right now it's held together with a safety pin).  as is pretty typical with me, i immediately accessorized with my cognac belt and boots... i'm nothing if not predictable!

let's chat!  when is the last time you tried something on that was the completely wrong size number but ended up fitting great?  isn't that the best surprise?

tuesday {reframed}

j crew swiss dot fontana dress {thrifted}   ·   gap cardigan {thrifted}

old navy sliver wedge boots   ·   inpink necklace

seeing as how we got over a foot of snow saturday through sunday, i worked from home yesterday (good call), but i figured i better go into work today.  my only requirement when getting dressed was wearing flat boots to trudge through my apartment complex's parking lot that isn't plowed very well yet.  i've been wanting to pair an orange cardigan with this navy swiss-dot fontana dress for a while; i only wish it draped better--it's pretty thin.

speaking of the weather (i am from minnesota, that is what we do), i had a moment of peace regarding the impending winter and snowfall on sunday... i always get anxious when i think about having to drive on slippery, snow packed roads but i think this winter is going to be different.  i'm letting go of the fear and am thinking of it more like a challenge i can develop a really good skill out of.  and seeing as how i don't really possess any other skills, driving on snowy roads is going to become one, darn it.  i give myself an A for today's ridiculous drive.  all kidding aside, it helps when you start to re-frame the things that worry or scare you to something more positive and powerful.  and a lot of self-talk and praying helps, too. 

now, i don't condone using smart phones while driving for any reason whatsoever, but how cool did this picture come out as i was stopped in traffic (i promise) along my route home this afternoon?  stay safe out there!

friday (gangnam)

 lands end canvas button-down {thrifted}   ·   xhilaration blazer {thrifted}

merona doubleweave skirt   ·   old navy sliver wedge boots

 

i feel the most put together when i match, so it makes sense that i am wearing at least two pieces of each color in this outfit that match.  before i added the blazer, the black on the shirt (this is my first gingham shirt, sound the trumpets!)  felt too bold against the brown tones and didn't have anything to anchor it to the rest of the outfit.  i think a black belt would have worked, but then my brown boots would have been the outlier.  keeping the brown belt and adding the black blazer tied it all together, as blazers usually do, and created a duo of black items to join the already paired turquoise skirt & earrings (sorry you can't see 'em) and brown belt & boots.  this is how my mind works -- is it totally crazy?  i'm going with it!  have a good weekend and thanks for your comments this week!

 

friday {adventurous}

adventurous / if there is ever a day to be a tad more adventurous with your outfit, let it be on a friday!  for me, the atmosphere is a little more relaxed and i steer clear from home visits or meetings where clients/colleagues may look at me and think, "are you sure you're a professional working lady?!"  okay, that's a big extreme but i would never wear this to a home visit with a client.  i have also never worn tall boots {these ones are available here!} with bare legs before so this was definitely a new look for me (and only manageable as the mercury didn't inch past 70 and i was chained to my desk inside all day), but hey... like i said on tuesday, it's good to tweak at least one routine aspect of your outfit once in a while to keep feeling creative about putting outfits together - you may come away with a look that you really do like!

have a great weekend!

wednesday (ordeals)

mossimo draped elastic waist dress   gap cardigan   f21 medieval filigree bangle

merona leather belt {thrifted new}   old navy sliver wedge boots

i had a long night last night.  i brought my car into a shop to get new tires at 5pm, expecting it would only take about an hour, as that is the time i was quoted.  i also thought that by making an appointment, they would be prepared for my arrival and stagger any other appointments or walk-ins they received.  well, what i thought was logical definitely wasn't reality as it took three hours for the tire installation to be completed.  although i received an explanation about the length of time it took to complete the job, i could barely squeak an apology out of the sales associate despite my thanking them for getting the job done.  it made me feel like my time wasn't a concern.  it takes so little effort for people in retail or service industries to make customers feel validated and that their business is appreciated, and i think i have clout to say this because i have worked in three different retail jobs over the years and the managers i had at each one were adamant about providing good customer service, greeting every customer, and always doing something within the store and not just idly standing around.  anyway, i feel better now that i have new tires on my car for the impending winter, but the experience didn't leave me feeling good about giving the company my business.  has anyone else noticed this trend?