catching up... and hanson.

merona blouse   ·  chaps blazer {thrifted}

banana republic slacks {via twice}

fergalicous irene pumps

in pink necklace

hi blog friends! it feels like it has been forever since i've been here or been to anyone's blogs.  i am so behind as i took thursday-monday off for my annual trip to tulsa, oklahoma where my favorite band hanson is from. they host a weekend of events for their fan club members and it's become a tradition to go almost every year.  i think it's pretty phenomenal that i've been following a band for 17 years and i still love them just as much now as i did back in 1997. their music has seen me through high school, college, a move across the country, graduate school, and continues to be such a huge part of my daily life. i feel so fortunate i can share in their story and attend these events they put on to thank us for being their fans!  and they have their own craft beer now -- how crazy is that?!

anyway, yesterday was an 11 hour car ride home so i pretty much crashed and didn't put a lot of thought into this outfit today. these slacks are from the secondhand website twice* i just recently found about and received in the mail prior to my trip and i was so glad they fit. it was so easy to throw them on with a pretty top and necklace this morning and conserve my brain power for getting back into the swing of things at work.

thanks for visiting and reading my babble about my favorite band. who is your favorite band?  do you ever travel to see them?

get the look:  this season's lace top / similar slacks / similar blazer / exact necklace / exact heels

* if you join through my referral link, we both get $10!

never been worn before: striped dress.

gap sateen fit & flare dress   ·   j crew cardigan {thrifted}
in pink necklace   ·   merona bella flats

i feel like i am cheating a little bit with today's "never been worn before" look featuring this striped dress i just bought, but it still fits the criteria of my theme week, right?  this bold striped dress is a bit out of my comfort zone and i knew i may need to push myself to wear it right away.  i don't think a lot of people i encounter day-to-day "get" pattern mixing, so instead of replicating the look i made when i tried the dress on after receiving it in the mail here that i really liked i accented with solid colors instead.  it's hard to tell, but the stripes are navy and i'm wearing navy tights and shoes.  i think the stripes are dark enough that they could pass for black too though.

alice runs one of my favorite blogs, happiness at mid-life, and she also bought this dress and is wearing it today.  i love seeing how she styled it for her climate (california) versus how i did in mine (minnesota) where i'm still layering like a madwoman and preparing for a foot or two of snow tonight.  i think our two looks show how versatile this dress can be year-round or in any climate!

get the look:  exact dress / similar cardigan / similar button-down / similar belt / exact necklace / exact flats

june 26th {hey oh}

merona popover lace blouse   ·   mossimo slacks {thrifted target}

merona maye heels   {thrifted target}   ·   inpink necklace

i have felt so disconnected from my blog lately that i wanted to make it a point to actually write out a post on a weekday rather than waiting until friday to recap what i wore throughout the week.  these lulls hit me every so often, but i want to maintain this hobby of blogging as i still feel strongly about getting dressed intentionally and being inspired by others.  i think sometimes the problem can be that after you've worn a particular item a few times you run out of descriptive or emotional ways to talk about it.  and let's face it, i re-wear/re-mix/re-work (however you want to say it!) the pieces in my closet a lot.  other bloggers do such an awesome job at sharing snippets and vignettes about their lives, but i don't think i have quite honed or explored that type of voice for my blog.  so, i hope you'll forgive me if i literally just run out of things to say--at least i shouldn't have a problem of ever running out of things to wear--let's hope not, anyway!

i hope your week is going well!

january 9th {accessorized}

old navy sweater   ·   dexter kylie wedges {other colors}
merona doubleweave skirt {thrifted target stock}   ·   inpink necklace

often times when i assess the outfits those around me are wearing {come on, you know you do it too} the one thing i often see missing is an accessory.  a great necklace, belt, or scarf does so much to turn a standard outfit into one that's memorable.  when i look back through my weeks in review what stands out to me is that there is always one dominant accessory that i think ties my outfits together.  what i'm wearing today would have been pretty boring on its own - tan skirt, purple sweater, who cares - but the bold, chunky necklace in similar colors and a simple skinny belt makes it cohesive and interesting.  the shoe color choice is also a little unexpected but works with the other brownish/goldish tones coming from the necklace.  i spend very, very little money on accessories - they almost all come from goodwill, forever 21, the clearance racks at target and kohl's, and giveaways/gift cards {like this necklace} - but i've found that they have the biggest impact on my outfits.  of course this is all my own bias so you're welcome to challenge me, but i see an immediate difference when i look at this outfit with accessories and without:

let's chat! / i'm curious, do you see it too?  how much importance do you place on accessories?

friday (the best)

if there were ever a day to look your best... even if you are just sitting at your desk all day with limited contact with other humans... it should be a friday!  

this look comes across as being really professional, but i think the chunky necklace, fun heels, and casual ponytail keep it relaxed enough for a friday.  can you tell i'm pretty much in love with this outfit?

linkin' up with this lady today who is featuring none
other than mustard for her color challenge this month: