march 11th {neglected turtleneck}

j crew lattice print skirt {thrifted}
merona turtleneck & merona melinda wedges

i am trying to be loyal to this no longer neglected challenge, but today's outfit is a little bit of a stretch--again.  i wear this skirt all the time, the last time was in october 2012.  i love this skirt so much that i try to wear it at least once a quarter though, so it was definitely time to be worn again.  this dark brown turtleneck is another story, i haven't worn it in over a year!  now that's neglected.  since my turtleneck wearing days feel numbered, i wanted to make it a point to wear it today and try a new color combination of brown and blue accents with this skirt.  i wear a lot of different colors with this tan & cream skirt, but this may be one of my favorites.

i promise i'll dig out some more neglected pieces from my closet to wear this week!

january 28th {gifts}

 merona tiered top {thrifted target stock}   ·  old navy blazer {thrifted}
old navy skirt & scarf   ·  mossimo kachiri boots   ·   forever 21 bracelet

i am convinced that...

·  a bright, printed scarf instantly adds punch & interest to any outfit

·  a 30 degree day in the middle of winter is the greatest gift a minnesotan can receive

·  a bathroom squeegee works amazingly well to remove 3" of snow from your car {trust me!}

·  this skirt is way too short.  note to self:  i need a plain brown pencil skirt!
·  tina will love her horseshoe bauble bar earrings {you won my giveaway!  check your email!}

january 25th {shoes}

mossimo sweater {thrifted}   ·  merona doubleweave skirt

merona kalama shooties

i tell you, the clearance shoe aisle of target is a dangerous place to happen upon, but how can you look away when 70% off signs are flashing in your face like a lit marquee?  oh dear.  it's all justifiable though when you come away with two pairs of shoes unlike anything you already have for less than $20 and you used gift cards that covered most of the cost.  i love, love, love chestnut/cognac brown so these shooties were a no-brainer, especially after lusting over the TOMS version that are sold out everywhere in my size.  i also picked up a pair of teal wedges to work toward my goal of adding more colorful shoes to my shoe closet this year.  not that i want to be an enabler or anything but what are you still reading this post for?  go to target and get yourself some new shoes!!  have a great weekend & thanks for visiting!

january 24th {q&a}

jh collectibles blazer {thrifted}   ·   mossimo scarf
handmade (by me) skirt   ·   dexter kylie wedges

this outfit turned out differently than what i originally put on this morning.  i had every intention of copying miss molly by wearing a blue sweater and camel-colored blazer with the same striped skirt, but something about my attempt just didn't click... maybe it was my tights color and shoes.  so i tried a couple different skirts, landing on this one, added a belt, and at the last minute this lightweight scarf that features all of the same colors as the solids in my outfit.  in the end, i really like how this outfit turned out.

there has been a fun Q&A going around and i was glad when my friend whitney tagged me!  i love answering questions and having the opportunity to connect with someone out there on something that might not ordinarily come up in one of my blog posts.  so here goes, reflecting back on 2012:

favorite makeup: i am not someone who tries a lot of different make up or swears by certain brands... i buy whatever mascara is on sale and i have a coupon for and get adventurous when i run out of eye shadow {i've stuck with cover girl for a really long time} and get to choose a new shade of tan/brown/cream.  i was happy, though, to finally try eos lip balms last year - they are so fun and i love the scents/flavors!

favorite book: i have really enjoyed all of the books i have posted reviews of on my blog, but i think my favorites were the night circus and  the pajama girls of lambert square.  i hope to continue to add more reviews in 2013!

favorite song/album: wow, i could talk about music all day!  two of my favorite bands came out with new albums in 2012, fun. and the rocket summer.  in fact, i saw fun. in concert last night!  the five-disc cd changer in my car is probably bored with me because the only cds that have been in it since i got the car last summer are fun., the format (the lead singer of fun.'s former band), and the rocket summer.  i am pretty loyal to the bands i love and i rarely tire of their albums!  the cds i enjoyed listening to most at work last year (and still this year) are of monsters & men's "my head is an animal" and beach house's "bloom" - both cds work well as background music and i could play them on repeat and never get sick of the tracklist.

{sorry, i don't have any good pictures for the rest of these!}

favorite movie: i honestly don't think that i saw one movie in the theater in 2012.  i am really picky when it comes to movies and there were literally none that must have warranted my attention in 2012.  i need a good romantic comedy to be released in 2013!

one thing you're grateful for: the potential that is developing for my parents to move to the same state as me.  i really hate thinking about all of the time i am missing spending time with my parents because we are currently separated by over 1,000 miles.  i'm praying the sale of their house goes through and the logistics all fall into place to move halfway across the country in a few months.

greatest challenge: my greatest challenge of 2012 was my job and feeling confident in my role and the responsibilities i have.  my work is hard but i continue to grow a lot as i figure out how to be the best type of social worker for my clients.  it's a constant challenge not to take on too much and not to feel too much... people's lives are messy and i'm in the middle of it every day, all day.

what are you looking forward to in 2013:  this is kind of trite, i think, but i really want to improve my health in 2013.  i am someone who really does not exercise or spend much time thinking about the benefits of exercise.  i may wander into the work out room in my apartment complex a few times a year... but i'm coming to the realization that my relative "youth" (i think i look a lot younger than i really am, which makes me feel as though i still have some "youth" left in me) isn't immunity against poor health and i need to be more proactive about taking care of myself.  and just to keep it real and drive home my point (to myself, mostly) - the last time i wore this blazer nearly a year ago to this date i could button it, but now... not so much.  i'm looking forward to working on this more this year!


finally... be sure to enter my giveaway for a cute pair of bauble bar earrings! 
and i'm linking up with mix & match fashion today.  thanks for reading!

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?

january 7th {olive}

mossimo sweater & wedges
loft skirt {thrifted}

one reason i love thrifting so much {see my giant cheesy smile above?!} is because sometimes you can hit a particular thrift store on just the right day and find a handful of items that were clearly all donated by the same person.  sometimes this happens and it's a major let down when none of the items are in your size -- remember my j crew skirt episode?  but other times it works in your favor and you come away with three loft and talbots skirts all in your size for a couple dollars each.  this is one of them!

when i reviewed my spending from this past year i wanted to make a point to be more mindful of the types of clothes i am buying... what do i need in my closet vs what do i snatch up (this is an appropriate verb, trust me.) because it is a good deal.  this skirt was purchased just because it was a good deal ($2.49) and i liked the colors & print.  it is getting a little easier to bypass all of the printed merona cardigans and rows & rows of target dresses at the goodwill, so in that regard i do think that i am growing and i'm trying not to be too hard on myself when i buy things that aren't necessarily on my "need" list.  maybe it would be helpful if i actually made such a list!  ;)

let's chat!  do you have specific guidelines for yourself when you go thrifting so you don't go overboard, or do you go into stores open-minded with a "come what may" attitude?

wednesday {jewely}

just a little jewel toned inspired outfit to get me through the middle of the week.  hope you've made it through yours as well!  thanks for popping by!

monday {orange & tan}

 

merona ponte pocket dress {thrifted target stock}   ·   talbots blouse {thrifted}

old navy blazer {thrifted / here's one on ebay}   ·   merona mariela pumps {thrifted}

i love the way this outfit came together!  the orange dress was a $1.99 new target stock find from the goodwill yesterday; i hadn't been to the goodwill in forever and was glad to come away with a couple things i'm sure i won't be able to wait long to wear.  it was a fun shopping trip -- i even found some cheap zippers, but unfortunately i'm sure it will be a little longer before i fire up my sewing machine and actually construct something that would require a zipper.  i wanted the blue & white pinstripe blouse to peak out more from under the dress but the neckline isn't very scoopy.  i think it would have looked cute without the blazer though {check out that ebay link above if you're interested, i love this blazer and wear it a lot!}

my heart is so saddened when i think about what happened in connecticut on friday.  i read a breaking news story about what was happening on a coworker's phone as i was waiting for a delicious pizza to bake for my lunch on friday... how quickly my appetite soured.  like many other bloggers, i felt like this was too monumental of an event to dismiss and not acknowledge.  i specifically want to send love & strength today to so many blogger friends i've met who work in school settings.  i pray that you are able to continue to do the amazing work you are called to do with your students and maybe within this community we share we can find a way to push past the sadness together.

tuesday (simplicity)

 

united colors of benneton button-down {thrifted}
handmade (by me) skirt   &mittot;   merona mari heels

i am really excited to share this outfit today because ahh, i made this skirt and i am so proud of it!  i still get such a thrill over being able to say that.  the fabric is likely upholstery fabric but you know i don't shy away from making skirts out of non-skirt fabric.  i like the heavier weight of the fabric and the print really stood out to me as something i would be attracted to in a store-bought skirt.  overall, i'm pretty satisfied with this simplicity pattern that i've made a few skirts from now... the only struggle i have is making the correct size but this one came out perfectly.  thanks for visiting!

monday (scarved)

mossimo sweater {thrifted}   ·  mossimo wanda wedges

merona doubleweave skirt {thrifted target stock}   ·   old navy ikat scarf

i'm getting on board with scarves as accessorries, as evidenced here by this simple outit featuring this lightweight scarf that did absolutely nothing to ward off the temps that were in the teens this morning.  in fact, i wore another heavier scarf over it just to protect my neck from the windchill.  but hey, i'm all for outfits like this that come together quickly and look put together... it was as easy as picking out two colors in the scarf and finding a sweater & skirt that matched.  seriously.  if only getting dressed were this easy every day!

friday (aqua & brown)

merona cardigan {thrifted target stock}   ·   handmade (by me) skirt
merona linen stretch belt   ·   merona mariela pumps {thrifted}

i was really excited to wear this belt and these shoes today because i got such good deals on them.  i've been eying this belt in the clearance section at target for weeks now the price finally dropped to 70% off.  yes, please!  i also picked up this belt for $3 and change.  these shoes were a find at savers yesterday for $2.50.  i feel that i have more luck at the GW, but i do pop into savers whenever they have sales.  yesterday all clothes & shoes were 50% off and i was pleased to also find two great button-up shirts in colors i don't have (lavender and hot pink) and another orange cardigan (i know!).  i love thrifting!!  

 

have a great weekend - i am going to try to get started on some more skirts (like this one) so i can have my mom help me finish the waistbands and zippers over thanksgiving... that part of the construction always gives me trouble.  i have a feeling i'll have a pretty crazy assembly line going, but it'll be really rewarding and fun if i can crank out several that i can have ready to finish with my mom's help.  i have a lot of fabric in my stash i've been eager to make skirts out of.  thanks for visiting!

friday (wiped out)

i get to work really early when it's still dark outside, and it's starting to get even darker as we get closer to winter.  it's been pretty cold in the mornings too but i didn't think it was quite cold enough for wet ground to freeze yet!  needless to say, i was pretty taken aback as i was walking along the path towards my building from my parking lot this morning and slid on a patch of black ice and boom, down on my bum i went.  it was one of those things that happened so fast that i just hoped no residents were looking out their apartment window to see me sprawled out on the ground or other staff/employees lurking in the shadows of the pre-dawn day (that would be creepy).  i know, that potential embarrassment rose above my concern about actually being hurt!  thankfully i've only been a little sore and my coffee didn't spill all over me as i went down.  my shoes weren't so fortunate, however.  one got scuffed when i plopped on the ground and then went flying off (don't worry, i quickly recovered it!).  i'm really bummed though as i haven't worn these shoes that many times and the scuffed scratch is an obvious place on the top of the shoe.  they're on clearance for $19 right now at payless, but my size is sold out.  well, i'm sure i'll keep wearing them anyway... and here's to hoping i don't wake up sore tomorrow!  have a great weekend!

monday (staph & snags)

j crew lydia blouse & lattice print skirt {both thrifted}
gap cardigan   ·   mossimo wanda wedges

i think of you guys as my friends and people who are likely much smarter than me, so i have to come to you with some of my life's burning questions.  you've already helped me learn the ins & outs of dry cleaning and probably many other things, but today i come to you with concerns about staph & snags.  are you on the edge of your seat yet?  :)

this outfit might seem more apt to wear on halloween but after trying three other outfits this morning, snagging a brand new pair of navy tights (here's where the "snag" comes in), and feeling frustrated that i didn't think i had any shoes that would look good with navy tights anyway, i settled on this outfit that i had put together and hanging on the back of my closet door.  now i need to find a way to repair my snagged tights - it is a tiny little hole, not a full on snag, so i am hoping i can sew it shut or something?  what do you guys think?  they're thicker, ribbed tights if that helps.

in the middle of my work day i borrowed some gloves, rags, and high potency cleaner from the housekeeping department at my building to disinfect my office after my coworker (she was not in our office while i was doing this!) left me a message telling me she has a staph infection.  she's had this boil (?) on her index finger that has been very painful and i guess she finally got a diagnosis.  i'm not sure if my disinfecting was effective or not (well, it was, in a way... i talk on my phone a lot, that thing needed to be disinfected!), but it's serious enough that she has to have surgery on the finger and stay in the hospital a few days.  does anyone have any experience with staph infections?  i probably shouldn't mention that i usually--okay, almost always--eat lunch at my desk.  i'm just a little concerned because we share a small office and both touch the light switches, shredder, fax machine, file drawers, doorknob, cd player, etc a lot... 

well, i really can only imagine what the rest of the week has in store for me.  i hope your week is off to an equally as exciting start! 

monday (redeemed)

old navy cardigan {thrifted}   ·   merona bow blouse {thrifted target stock}

semantiks skirt {thrifted}   ·   mossimo wanda wedges

 

i definitely woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.  i was worried about a home visit i had this morning and the topic i needed to discuss with a non-english speaking client and her son - i was dreading it.  i was also far too concerned about what to wear.  i always stick with slacks and shoes i can wear socks with when i visit my culturally diverse clients as it is more customary to remove my shoes at their door but i didn't want to lose any confidence by wearing something i didn't feel that great in or excited about.  i felt that the compromise of tights instead of slacks & socks worked okay and ended up being completely appropriate within my client's home environment.  the one time i met with one of my non-english speaking clients in a skirt and flats {this day}, i did not remove my shoes and i felt extremely disrespectful and uncomfortable the entire visit.  i knew about this norm but ignored it for whatever reason that day, which i felt really ignorant about afterwards.  i will never be an expert in the culture of those who i work with, but a lot of conversation and research will help me learn and i always try to start out on the right foot by obeying some of the most common norms.  and it turns out that the topic of discussion i was so concerned about this morning was resolved before i got there, so we were able to move forward and have a really great visit.  isn't it funny how things like that work out?  i'm so glad my day ended better than i allowed it to begin!

 

disclaimer: yep, same blouse i wore friday but in a different print.  and sorry for the lumpy sweater!

tuesday.

isaac mizrahi for target scallop blouse {thrifted}   nicole by nicole miller blazer {thrifted}

handmade (by me) skirt     mossimo vassie pumps {thrifted}

merona leather belt {thrifted target stock}   forever21 short beaded necklace

even though i really like prints and outfits with color explosions (hello!), i'm also enjoying putting together more subdued color combinations and just letting one part of the outfit pop.  today it was these printed shoes, so i kept my jewelry pretty simple with the neutral tops.  i think tan & pink go really well together and i really liked the overall effect.  thanks for dropping by!

friday.

mossimo scoop neck sweater {thrifted target stock}   haberdashery blazer {thrifted}

semantiks skirt {thrifted}   mossimo wanda wedges   target belt {thrifted target stock}

three cheers for when an outfit comes together & you feel awesome all day.  am i right!  i love my printed & handmade skirts but there is also something that is so streamlined about classic-cut skirts in neutral colors and colors that pair well together.  i only wore this blazer outside as a light layer against the chilly temps this morning {and as i ran into target this afternoon to buy this dress in the blue print!}, but i loved how the blues played together and had to snap a shot of the whole ensemble.

thank you so much for dropping by this week and supporting my lil blog, have a great weekend!

friday (!)

merona essential cardigan {thrifted target stock}   loft rose print shell {thrifted}

banana republic skirt {thrifted}   merona mari faux crocodile pumps

this outfit is so me.  i feel obligated to talk about how much i love this skirt whenever i wear it.  it instantly turns a couple pieces of clothes into an outfit.  i think that navy is my go-to neutral and i'm sure one of these days it will surpass my trusty black pencil skirt in number of wears.

i found this loft shell at my second favorite goodwill (yep, they're ranked) on wednesday when i was in that area for a home visit with a client.  there were no sales that day, but when i saw this shell, a banana republic blouse, and an h&m blouse, i snatched all three up.  i used to be really strict with myself and only buy clothing at the GW if it was marked with the correct color tag that was on sale that day, but i knew i would have regretted it if i had left this blouse.  i have a feeling that the same person donated all of the items that i purchased.  it's fun when you hit the thrift stores on the right days!

have a GREAT weekend!

thursday (thursday)

old navy v-neck sweater   handmade (by me) skirt

mossimo wanda wedges   target belt {thrifted target stock}

here is what i wore today to wrap up what was an exhausting, yet not entirely productive week.  i don't lie leaving the end of the week like that, but i'll be sure to make up for it next week.  i hope those of you who have tomorrow (or monday) off make the most of your extended weekend!  i will be at the mall bright & early tomorrow morning to finally get some new prescription sunglasses (mine were stolen when my car was broken into a couple months ago and i've gone too long without getting a replacement pair!).  maybe i'll pop in with what i wore since i don't post any of my weekend looks.  thanks for dropping by!

friday (indeed.)

mossimo sweater {thrifted}   jones ny blazer {thrifted} 

handmade (by me) skirt   mossimo wanda wedges

HAPPY FRIDAY.  HAPPY FRIDAY (!) indeed.

monday (paisley)

 j crew pilar paisley cami {thrifted}   gap cardigan {thrifted}

banana republic skirt {thrifted}   

target glitter belt {thrifted target stock}   mari faux crocodile pumps

i've only worn this j crew blouse once since thrifting it last september, so it was time to let it make another appearance.  i didn't really like the pinkish colored cardigan i wore with it last time, but there's an ever so faint mint green and yellow in the print that matched nicely with this pale yellow cardigan.  i will forever sing the praises of this navy banana republic skirt, i can't believe how versatile it is in my closet and how (i think) it looks great with anything.  i feel really great when i put outfits like this together knowing that everything came from the goodwill!