tuesday (menswear)

 

merona button-up {thrifted target stock}   gap v-neck sweater   
 merona doubleweave slacks {thrifted target stock}   merona marylynn mary janes  
target bauble necklace {thrifted target stock}   kohl's belt

this outfit might not be truly menswear inspired since i'm not wearing a vest or a pair of suspenders, but the look of a collared shirt always feels a bit more masculine to me, especially in this color scheme.  if it were cool enough (it was towards the end of the day), i would have added a blazer.  truthfully though, i loved this look and i felt really classic & put-together all day... which is definitely my goal.  either way, i think i am going to have to be on the look out for a great little vest the next time i go to the goodwill!

weekend (summit & fair)

this weekend some friends were in town, so on saturday we went to the summit brewery tour - finally!  summit is my favorite brew, so i'm glad i finally got a chance to attend the brewery tour... reservations are really hard to get! the tour itself was not that interesting, perhaps it was our volunteer guide, but of course the best part of any brewery tour is always enjoying some tasty pilsner glass samples with friends!

 

afterwards, we went to the state fair.  i didn't get to see or do many of the things that i wanted to, and i didn't end up in any pictures because i was the one taking them all, but i'll be going back for another day before it wraps up - i can't wait to see the goats and baby piglets!  one new attraction that was added this year was the great sing along (bottom left - we were singing along to "dynamite"), which was SO fun.  i could have hung out there all day.

sunday was another long day of bouncing around to three goodwills with my mom (didn't find a single thing at any of them... it happens!) and a trip to ikea.  i hope everyone else had a great weekend!

tuesday (denim)

old navy cardigan   merona purple ruffle shell {thrifted target stock}

old navy diva trouser jeans   mossimo "kat" booties   kohls jewelry

today i went to an all day workshop series for continuing education credits for my social work licensure.  i've talked about attending theses events before and how interesting it is to be surrounded my other colleagues, as i'm always curious about how peers my age dress.  however, my boss texted me last night stating that it was okay to wear jeans, so i knew this would definitely be a more casual atmosphere.  if we were allowed to wear jeans on fridays at my office, this is what i would probably wear--trouser jeans, heels, and a nice cardigan and blouse.  it was definitely fun to wear an outfit like this today since i never get to dress so casually at work!

friday (finally)

old navy chiffon tiered tank   merona cardigan   {thrifted new}

gap slacks   merona myka wedges

i thought i was doing pretty well keeping up posting everyday of the week until this week hit and i had family come into town and some pictures that just did not turn out well at all that i didn't want to post, so here's my final wrap up for the week!  i actually have a busy weekend ahead of me and look forward to sharing some details from it soon, including a trip to a local brewery, the state fair, and the goodwill of course--with my mom!  hope everyone is enjoying the start to their weekends!

tuesday (remix)

banana republic silk blouse {thrifted}   merona doubleweave skirt {thrifted new}

target gold bauble necklace   merona mackenzie wedges

i'm definitely not dressed monochrome today but i'm still linking up to the 21 day challenge since i'm wearing my black skirt, which is my boring, albeit practical & professional for my work remix item.  can you believe i debated buying this blouse at the goodwill on sunday?  it's a lovely violet-blue color, has cute little cap sleeves, and was the right colored tag for the day making it $3.  i'm not a big fan of the buttons, but they're growing on me. what do you think--should i swap them out for something else or keep them as is?

saturday (creative)

 

 merona scarf as skirt   gap v-neck tee   target necklace

merona "meadow" leopard flats   target belt {thrifted new}

i'm not sure how comfortable i'd feel wearing this out & about (it's only being held up by the belt so i would need to do some pinning), but i did like how easily this great olive colored scarf translated into a skirt.  it was fun to get creative with using this scarf in a different way, especially since we're still another couple months from the scarf-wearing season!

here's a picture of the original scarf:

friday (belted)

 

 

jcrew chiffon ruffle blouse {thrifted nwt-i know!}   merona doubleweave slacks {thrifted new}

scarf as belt   merona maribel wedges {thrifted new}   target necklace

happy belt day!  i decided that since i wear a belt almost every day i needed to up my game, so i whipped out this scarf and my sheer chiffon blouse... can you tell i'm really going crazy on a friday?  one of the service coordinators at my grad school internship who worked in a senior high rise gave me this scarf.  i think it was given to her by one of the residents?  so it wasn't really gifted to me, just given to me because she didn't want it.  never to turn down free accessories (or free food, i still have that grad school mentality), i've held onto it post-internship for over two years now and this is the first time i've tried to wear it in any way.  better late than never.

also, it's bothering me so i feel the need to point out that the bulge in my pocket on the close-up shot of my scarf belt is my cell phone in my pocket.  :\

ann wishes you all a happy weekend!

thursday (blocked)

merona nicole dress {thrifted target stock}   merona essential cardigan {thrifted target stock}

old navy bauble flats   target belt {thrifted target stock}

you guys, is this color blocking?  i googled the term and the images that came up weren't that helpful, so i just picked my brightest skirt (actually it's a dress) and a cardigan with a hue i thought was complimentary and called it color blocking.  does it still count if i break it up with a belt?  should i have buttoned all the buttons on my cardigan?  please advise.  meanwhile, i'll go check out the other color blockers who are taking part in freckles in april's 21 day challenge.  tomorrow we're all wearing belts, hopefully i can figure that one out on my own!

wednesday

merona jolen blouse {thrifted target stock}  gap mesh panel cardigan {thrifted nwt}

merona navy slacks {thrifted target stock}   unlisted patent pumps {thrifted}   kohls bracelet

a couple months ago i went to the goodwill and saw all sorts of gap merchandise on the racks in entire size runs... new stuff, too, with tags still attached.  i looked this cardigan up on gap.com when i returned home with it hot in my hands and saw that it retailed for $59.99!  i don't know what crazy relationship the goodwills in my area have with taking stock from other stores, but i kinda like it!  i wish i could invite you all here for a goodwill spree!

tuesday (heated)

 isaac mizrahi for target white scallop blouse {thrifted}   banana republic full skirt {thrifted}

merona mackenzie cork wedges   target necklace   target black belt {thrifted new}

so, i work in a small, one room office with four (sometimes 5) women who don't like to turn on the noisy a/c window unit, so the purpose of my outfit today was simple - floaty, full skirt, short-sleeved shirt, open-toed shoes, minimal jewelry, and hair up.  i know many people have the opposite problem in their workplaces (frigid a/c they have no ability to control), but trust me, this is worse.  does anyone have any good tips for battling these types of issues with their coworkers?  the killer is, the a/c unit is in my corner but i feel so guilty wanting to turn it on.  well, here's to hoping tomorrow is cooler!

today is day 2 of freckles in april's 21 day challenge: tuck it in.  i promise, the white shirt i'm wearing is definitely tucked in!

monday (merona)

merona classic heritage shirt, merona doubleweave pencil skirt, & mossimo verity heels {all thrifted target stock} 
croft & barrow necklace {kohl's}   silver belt {thrifted} 

i know it's probably pretty boring to see me always dressed in my merona finds from the goodwill but i just can't help it, they come to me like magnets and i always feel so polished & put together in their pieces.  this outfit cost me a whoppin' $13.66, and that also feels pretty good!

today is day 1 of freckles in april's 21 day challenge.  we're to pick an item to remix three times over the course of the challenge.  i am choosing my black pencil skirt!

weekend (winter shoes)

i know we're still in the middle of the summer, and i sincerely hope that i can enjoy the next three months without thinking too much about the impending winter weather, but i am aware that i am going to need some footwear to get me through it.  last year i really struggled with appropriate footwear for the office & the conditions outside.  many times i would drive to work in fake ugg boots and socks and change to heels at my desk.  i'm thinking of alternatives to that this year though, such as:

left: bc footwear limelight ankle boot / right: blowfish blyth ankle boot
(photos from amazon.com)

the wedge ankle boot!  it hit me that i need a shoe with some height so they work well with dress slacks, something without a precarious heel that would cause falls on icy & slippery sidewalks and parking lots, and a shoe that i could wear socks with for extra warmth  i think the blowfish wedges would look pretty cute with skirts & tights, too.  i'm coming up on my fourth winter in minnesota and i'm so glad i've finally discovered a shoe that might just get me through it!

 

i also have these mossimo "kena" riding boots hanging out in my virtual shopping cart at target.com. i have tall gray boots and tall camel colored boots and definitely need a black pair to round out the bunch this winter.  they also come in a lovely cognac color i saw in person at a target store this weekend.  i don't care for a lot of embellishments/straps/buckles/etc on my boots, so i think this simple and clean pair would be perfect.  now i just have to wait patiently for a sale!

what about you guys?  what footwear do you wear in the winter to get you from house to office?  does anyone have any tips for appropriate footwear to wear during the winter, especially those who work in an office or school?  or am i the only crazy person thinking about winter already?!

friday (fall)

gap plaid ruffle placket shirt {thrifted}   old navy perfect khaki pencil skirt

xhiliration rosette flats {thrifted target stock}   f21 gold belt {thrifted nwt}

this shirt screams "FALL" to me and when i picked it up, i first imagined pairing it with a cardigan the color of my flats, brown tights, and camel colored boots... and some sort of bottom, don't worry!  but i had to let it make an appearance before the temps dip down.  i have a lot of luck finding button-downs from the gap at the goodwill, and i especially like ones like this with a fun print and some unique detailing, like the ruffle and plaid.  it is so easy to throw on and look put together and doesn't require much thought on a friday morning.

happy weekend!

thursday (jackpot)

 

liberty of london tiered ruffle keyhole tank {thrifted target stock}   old navy short-sleeve sweater

gap slacks   lela rose for payless "finsbury" heels   aerie necklace

you guys, today i hit the jackpot.  no, not the 229 million dollar minnesota powerball that has yet to be claimed.  the shoe jackpot, of course!  for the past couple weeks the shoe aisles at target have been nothing but clearance {it's almost boot season, yay!}.  i passed up these wedges a couple days ago even though i had a 20% off merona coupon... my conscience got the better of me.  i already have three pairs of black heels, right?  well, when i dropped by target today all of the clearance shoes had dropped to 75% off.  so, that was that.  i stopped at these two pairs, both were $4.99!

wednesday (happy)

my coworkers and i skipped out of work a bit early this afternoon to have a happy hour together... and it was definitely a happy couple hours.  as accustomed as i am into my daily rotine, it was a nice break for fellowship with my coworkers.  it gave me a different perspective of them as women and friends and i'm excited to go into work again tomorrow... we work hard but we have fun, too.  have i mentioned before that i'm a part of an awesome team?

this blouse always feels a bit "fancy" to me (shiny=fancy).  yet another merona goodwill find.  it's a nice teal color, that would be more apparent if i knew how to work the white balance on my camera!

tuesday (coordinated)

merona cecila skirt    merona artist light cardigan {thrifted target stock}

loeffler randall for target flats    forever21 belt {thrifted target stock}

i found this gem of a skirt in the clearance racks at target yesterday and couldn't wait to wear it right away today. the colors are so appealing!  wearing it with this cardigan might have been a too obvious choice to make, but i do like to coordinate.

i love merona skirts form target. i really think they rival some of the more expensive stores out there.  the patterns are always fun but work appropriate, the cut is classic, and they're lined. i have a handful already and snatch ones up like this whenever the price is right (or i find them new at the goodwill!). this is another one that i'm keeping my eye on!

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!

weekend (part two)

this weekend i scored some maxed out clearance jewelry at kohl's, snuggled with a silly cat on the couch, passed up this dress at goodwill for $1.99 {trying not to regret it}, and watched new york, i love you.  my attention kind of waned once the stories started to blur together--has anyone seen it? 

okay, all that laziness aside.  what i am most want to share from my weekend is this:  somehow the sandwich stars aligned and my sister and i had a sub from jimmy johns, milio's, and erbert & gerberts friday, saturday, and sunday {respectively}. of course i ordered my favorite, turkey & avocado, at each one to keep it a controlled trial.  did you know that the founders of those three sandwich shops are all cousins?  obviously we had to compare the three in order to name a champion.  i definitely came out of this weekend with a favorite.  i hope someone else out there loves sandwiches as much as i do. please let me know so i don't feel so silly sharing this long story about eating the same {but slightly different} sandwich three days in a row.

alright, back to getting dressed & showing you what i wear tomorrow!

weekend (surgery)

i love shopping for jewelry at kohl's.  they have a large selection of everything from costume jewelry to more expensive-looking pieces.  plus, there is always a ton of clearance. today i snagged four pairs of earrings and two necklaces for $8.01, including this lovely simply vera/vera wang necklace (it was $1.70).  unfortunately, it was oddly long (see top picture, it was to the waistband of my jeans!). so i had to come home and do some jewelry surgery.

i'll share a few additional snapshots from my little weekend tomorrow.  ♥

friday (finally)

old navy printed blouse   gap cardigan {thrifted}   target studded belt {thrifted new} 

isaac mizrahi for target pencil skirt {thrifted}   mossimo nude ruffle flats   that aerie necklace again

you guys, welcome to my very favorite spot in saint paul.  it's fitting that the first picture for l&s was taken here.  i used to only come here every couple months to sit on a bench and read, but now i think it needs to be my friday ritual.  what better place to decompress after the end of a workweek rather than rushing through traffic just to get home?  i certainly needed that after my afternoon today.  it's such a unique little spot at the edge of downtown that i just LOVE.  do you have any spots like this in your city?  i'm so happy to share mine with you!

thursday (extinct)

thrifted merona blouse   old navy capris

thrifted f21 belt   thrifted old navy bauble flats   dress barn earrings

the only comment i have to share today is that i swear after i do my next load of dark laundry i am putting these capri pants in my goodwill bag.  you can hold me to it.  it's good when you recognize that something just isn't working for you and the only way to make the item extinct is just to get rid of it for good.... right?

wednesday

 merona collection "melissa" dress   old navy cardigan

target belt {thrifted new}   merona "myka" wedges   gleeful peacock earrings

this morning i went to a networking/educational presentation for continuing education credits for my licensure. it's always interesting to attend these types of events and to be surrounded by colleagues in my own field. like anyone who thinks a lot about their own personal style, i like to see how others in my field present themselves and, yeah, what they're wearing! unfortunately there are always few people close to my age whose attire i would be most interested in comparing/contrasting to my own and women 20-30 years older than me dress a lot differently than i do or would choose to at that age. i'm glad i wore this cute dress rather than playing it safe in black slacks and a boring top!

ps: i'm a horrible multi-tasker through & through and am trying to think of ways to take more thoughtful photos, bear with me!

tuesday (times three)

gap shrunken cardigan   merona ruffle shirred-edge tank {thrifted target stock}  

merona doubleweave skirt {thrifted target stock}   old navy flats

this was the third outfit i put on this morning, and i'm not sure if i'm any happier with it than the first outfit i tried.  do you ever get that feeling when you've picked out and planned an outfit the night before, and you put it on feel so defeated when you don't feel the way in it that you wanted to?  and then that comes across in the pictures that you take?  i will say that i love this cardigan from the gap, $11.99 well spent.  so let's just focus on that today (but disregard how many times i've already worn it the past few weeks) and i'll try to feel better about whatever outfit comes tomorrow!

monday (in minneapolis)

izaac mizrahi for target button-down {thrifted}   merona slacks {thrifted target stock}

lela rose for payless "finsbury" heels  
target bauble necklace {thrifted target stock}   f21 belt {thrifted nwt}

like i mentioned here, i have a particular uniform i wear when i visit clients i have never met before or clients of a different culture, so you'll notice today's outfit is really similar as i met with a non-english speaking client in downtown minneapolis. the latter is what i was worried most about, as this saint paul girl doesn't often make it across the river!  i made it back to tell the tale, though.  i'm incredibly conscious of how i come across to people of different cultures and how my body language, manners, and speech will be interpreted, but i still don't want to lose the essence of me in trying to control all of those variables. i'd like to think there was still something fun about this outfit, even if i felt like i was settling for something bland & boring for the purpose of my day.