{july 27-31}

i recently read a book called the life-changing magic of tidying up by marie kondo in which the author explains in very easy to follow terms how to, well, tidy up your surroundings. i was really drawn in to her method, which really is as simple as asking yourself of every object you own, "does this spark joy?"  if not, thank it for its presence in your life and let it go.

the author suggests starting with clothes and moving on from there to books, papers, knick knacks, and finally mementos. of course i was most interested in the clothes chapter!  as far as clothes go, remove absolutely everything from your closet, touch each item, and ask yourself if sparks joy.  if not, all you have to do is say "thank you for for giving me joy when i bought you" or "thank you for teaching me what doesn't suit me" and let it go. a part of me feels so guilty parting with clothes but this simple acknowledgement is what i needed to hear and take to heart to let things go.  the author also places a strong emphasis on personalizing the inanimate items you own like clothes--thinking about releasing the pressure of socks folded together, t-shirts stacked on each other weighing one another down, clothes cramped on racks so tightly they can't breathe.  it sounds a tad hokey, but it's stuck with me... after reading the book, i felt that if i respect my clothes and treat them properly, i'll continue to derive joy from them and they will remain in good condition for me.

i can't wait to tackle the rest of my closet so i feel that same joy about everything i set my sights on and then move on to books--yep, i think i am finally going to get rid of almost all of my books.  anyway, i really recommend this book if you're looking to make similar changes in your life.  it's easy to read and the practices make so much sense to follow!

monday: j crew factory lace blouse {similar} / j crew factory slim wool pants {similar} / dexter hensley wedges {similar} / one wink necklace {similar}

tuesday: thrifted gap button down {similar} / thrifted calvin klein skirt {similar} / thrifted target stock leather belt {similar} / montego bay club prima wedges {exact - only $10!}

wednesday: thredupped* j crew ruffle blouse {similar} / old navy floral gauze scarf {similar} / ann taylor signature sateen pants {similar} / dexter kylie wedges {similar}

thursday: j crew factory textured grid shirt {similar} / merona classic ankle pants {exact} / mossimo ona flats {exact} / target round stone necklace {similar} / world market headband {exact}

friday: j crew factory tee {similar} / mossimo straight leg jeans {exact} / puma 76 runners {exact}

{my supervisor/coworker was off all this week, so i was not only doing my own work but also hers.  as the overtime added up throughout the week and my brain power fizzled my outfits sadly took a turn for the worst.  i'm just going to ignore friday's outfit!}

*join thredup through my referral link and you'll receive $20 to spend; i receive $20 when you make a purchase!

week in review {july 20-24}

i went thrifting for the first time in a long while a couple sundays ago and was pleased that i came away with a few new items - monday's blouse, tuesday's scarf, and a great red plaid j crew button down that will sadly have to wait until the holidays, but when november/december rolls around i'll be recreating this look for sure (i thrifted the same blouse lisa is wearing there).

thrifting used to be my sunday morning ritual.  the goodwill stores here open at 11am and i would be in the parking lot with five minutes to spare, giggling to myself as other eager shoppers awaited the unlocking of the doors.  it isn't lost on me that i arrived just as early!  i've gone through many thrifting phases over the years to buying all the target stock i could find to curating a button down collection in every color of the rainbow to unfortunately turning right around and redonating something i thrifted but never ended up wearing.  nowadays i don't seem to get to the goodwill as often; maybe i burned myself out on it or maybe i'm trying to be a smarter shopper. but visits like sunday's make the trips i do make to the goodwill that much more special when i find something i really like!

monday: thrifted old navy blouse {similar} / merona classic ankle pants {exact} / mossimo ona flats {exact} / bauble bar necklace {similar}

tuesday: old navy open front cardigan {exact} / merona classic ankle pants {exact} / thrifted target stock scarf {exact} / cl by chinese laundry marcie wedges {exact}

wednesday: merona straight leg pants {similar} / merona lace blouse {similar} / simonson's jewelry necklace {similar} / restricted slice it wedges {similar}

thursday: j crew slim stretch wool pants {exact} / old navy swiss-dot blouse {similar} / inpink multi-stone necklace {similar} / cl by laundry nima wedges {exact}

friday: merona blouse {similar} / thrifted target stock merona cocoon cardigan {exact} / old navy boot-cut jeans {similar} / mossimo ona flats {exact}

thanks for visiting!

week in review {july 13-17}

when i let go of the pressure and responsibility to blog a few weeks ago, i also began to undo this pressure that had been developing like a tight vice around my closet.  i'd gotten so caught up and, frankly, annoyed and burnt out by the ever-present thoughts, rules, suggestions, ideas that are always being discussed or thrown around in the style blogging world.  does this match with that?  does this color go with that color?  is it the right season for this type of top or that type of pattern?  i should turn around my hangers so i don't repeat items too often.  i shouldn't wear that, i already wore it this month.  and on and on and on.

anyway, i let go of all of that and it's felt so freeing.  i rarely think about what i am going to wear the next day before i go to bed and i just wake up, walk in my closet, and pick out what i want to wear.  let's just all do that and forget about the rest!  otherwise, where is the fun in fashion?  those are the blogs that are most fun to read and the people you feel most connected to anyway, right?  so, if you don't mind i'm wearing the same merona ankle pants twice this week that i wore three times last week (that ugh, i do wish were a titch longer).  and i'll probably wear them at least once or twice next week, too.

thanks for visiting!

monday: merona printed crepe shell {exact} / old navy cardigan {similar} / merona classic ankle pants {exact} / merona emma flats {exact}

tuesday: merona scoop-neck chiffon blouse {similar} / ann taylor signature sateen pants {similar} / target necklace {similar} / merona meaghan flats {similar}

wednesday: old navy sleeveless sheath dress {exact} / old navy eyelet button-down {similar} / mossimo belt {similar} / old navy flats {similar} / charming charlie necklace {similar}

thursday: j crew factory linen lace the {exact} / merona classic ankle pants {exact} / merona bella flats {similar} / octavia bloom necklace {exact}

friday: j crew factory blouse {similar} / mossimo straight leg jeans {exact} / mossimo ona flats {exact}

week in review {july 6-10}

it's a great feeling when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself.

i've always had an aversion to feet -  showing my toes, walking around barefoot, wearing sandals.  i don't know where this stemmed from but it's just always been one of those things.  when i received a bottle of bright pink nail polish in my most recent target beauty box i figured i might as well use it, so i painted my toenails.  afterwards i looked down and thought i was looking at someone else's feet.  i thought, "hey, i kind of like that."  maybe i could see myself walking around barefoot once in a while or, gasp, wearing sandals!

a few days later, i took a pair of sandals i spotted at target into the dressing room along with the pair of pants i'm wearing on wednesday (i'm wearing the same style in black on monday and thursday).  although the sandals weren't exactly what i may have been looking for, i liked the fact that i could squash a misconception i've had about myself for so, so many years.  and i can't wait to find out what i can learn about myself next.

monday: j crew factory linen-lace tee {exact} / merona classic ankle pants {exact} / mossimo ona flats {exact} / target cluster necklace {similar}

tuesday: thredupped* j crew factory pullover {similar} / old navy skinny boyfriend khakis {exact} / merona scarf {similar} / c label sherry flats {similar}

wednesday: j crew factory embroidered peasant blouse {similar} / merona classic ankle pants {exact} / merona emma flats {exact} / minicci (payless brand) necklace {similar}

thursday: old navy crepe blouse {similar} / merona classic ankle pants {exact} / cl by chinese laundry nima wedges {exact} / thrifted target stock necklace {similar}

friday:  j crew factory textured grid shirt {exact} / mossimo straight-leg jeans {exact} / j crew factory lightweight long scarf {similar} / mossimo ona flats {exact}

*join thredup through my referral link and you'll get $10 to spend; i receive a $10 credit once you've made your first purchase!

week in review {june 29-july 3}

last thursday, a guy with a camera and his producer popped into the nursing home where i work to interview staff about their decision to work with seniors or in long term care.  my supervisor and i both happened to be sitting at our desks in our office, and although they originally were only planning on interviewing her on camera, they caught us both on their terrifying camera {why is being filmed for something so awkward?!}.  i felt like i was in an interview and had to quickly articulate an intelligible statement about why i chose this line of work, how i ended up in long-term care, why it's my passion to work with seniors.

i grew up in georgia, but every summer my family would take a vacation to minnesota where my parents were born & raised and where my extended family lived.  we would all pile in our mini van and drive the 1,100 miles north.  when my sister and i got a bit older, we hopped on a plane by ourselves to spend a week with our grandparents alone before our parents followed.  we would play solitaire at the kitchen with our nana and eat popcorn for dinner and have parties in the garage (that's what people in minnesota do).  when we were old enough we would borrow our nana's car and make the trek to the mall of america or take our younger cousins out to lunch to mcdonalds.  we'd visit our great grandma at the senior building where she lived and volunteer with her in the thrift shop and look at the plaque on the wall that showed how many volunteer hours she had amassed.  it was from these experiences i had with my grandparents and great-grandma that i developed my serving heart and guided me toward a job with seniors that has turned into a meaningful career.

here's what i wore to work last week.  i hope everyone in the states had a long and enjoyable fourth of july weekend!

 {click to enlarge}

monday: j crew factory 3/4 blouse {exact} / j crew factory basketweave skirt in roz floral {exact} / adrienne vittadini 'kiley' flats {similar} / target round stone drops necklace {similar}
tuesday: old navy crochet lace tee {similar} / merona twill straight leg pants {similar} / jessica simpson 'oscar' heels {similar} / thrifted target stock necklace {similar}
wednesday: merona 3/4 sleeve tiered top {similar} / merona pleated collar tank {similar} / gap true straight piped pants {similar} / cl by chinese laundry 'nima' wedges {exact}
thursday: j crew factory floral eyelet top {similar} / old navy boyfriend skinny khakis {exact} / mossimo ona flats {exact} / octavia bloom 'bloom' necklace {exact}

moving forward.

hi everyone!  i've been putting some thought into the future of this blog lately.  i haven't felt that i have had much to say in my words or in the reflection of the outfits i've been wearing... and when one reaches that point doesn't it make the most sense to close up shop because really, what is the point?  but that's a scary decision to make because it seems so final.  what if people immediately remove me from their blog readers or forget who i am if i continue to comment on their posts?  what if i feel i do have something to say one or three months down the line?  what if i want to show you guys the new haircut i'm getting next week?!

it's hard when blogs you follow reach the point where they need to step back too.  it's hard when your reader gets slimmer and slimmer and you lose that connection with people you became friends with or people whose outfits you were inspired by.  but i think it's a step i finally need to take - it's been a long time coming.  i just don't think i'm cut out for blogging.  sure, i have a nice DSLR camera but the quality of my pictures has never been all that great, i've never been able to stick to an editorial calendar or series of posts that make a comprehensive blog, and i don't think i have ever really found my "voice" on this blog.  what i feel my blog has had going for it is that what you see is what you get - what i post is absolutely what i wore to work that day, down to holes in tights and hideous blazers.

as i've been thinking about all of this i've been reflecting on the state of my closet too.  i've asked myself questions such as, do i truly shop for myself?  will i dress the same if i don't have a blog to "show off" that latest thrifted find or deal at j crew factory?  will it matter to me if i don't have an outlet to receive validation/compliments on what i'm wearing?  will i still maintain the same shopping patterns or will i see that decrease?  and i've decided that with the way i've answered these questions in my mind, i feel alright about stepping back from this blog.

it is an engrained habit to take pictures of what i wore to work when i get home and i'm proud that i've maintained that over the past 4 years, only missing maybe 3-4 days, in addition to a year before i started this blog to see if i could do it.  i've always felt that was a unique aspect to my blog as i haven't come across any others that maintain a similar log of what they wear every single day (if you're wondering, those links are underneath my header: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015).  it will be hard to turn away from what's become a habit and routine so i'm going to try to keep up with that and at least just post once a week showing what i wore the previous week like i used to do in my week in review posts and we'll see from there how i feel about determining an "end date" for the blog. 

so here's what i wore last week!  thanks for reading (if you got through all that) and your support!

{click to enlarge}

monday: thrifted j crew watercolor skirt {similar} / j crew factory textured grid shirt {exact} / restricted 'slice it' wedges {similar} / groopdealz necklace {similar}
tuesday: j crew factory ruffle chiffon dot top {exact} / merona slacks {similar} / j crew factory scarf {similar} / fergalicious 'irene' pumps {similar}
wednesday: j crew factory scalloped lace top {similar} / ann taylor signature sateen pants {exact} / merona 'maye' pumps {similar} / thrifted necklace {similar}
thursday: j crew factory clare pullover {similar} / merona barely boot-cut pants {exact} / predictions 'karmen' heels {exact} / target necklace {similar}
friday: j crew factory blouse {exact on thredup} / mossimo straight-leg jeans {exact} / c label 'sherry' flats {similar}

have a great week!

last week's looks {sept 8-12}

here we are upon yet another brand new, fresh week.  do you think of mondays like that?  honestly, i wish i could say i did.  usually there's some task or issue left unresolved from friday that is weighing on my mind that i will have to address come monday, but i had a great weekend.  i went to our local renaissance festival on saturday, followed by a trip to minnnesota's largest candy store!  despite this claim, they didn't have the one candy i was looking for:  peach jolly ranchers!  they used to be sold in one of the mix bags, but i either haven't looked lately or can't find them anymore.  i guess i'll have to search on amazon.com or something for this favorite treat of mine.  i did come away with some cowtails that i haven't had for 13ish years, some fun flavored pop, and an authentic whoopie pie from maine!  what's your favorite rare candy treat?

here's what i wore last week.  you can tell from the different shade of green background that i took my pictures at all different times of the day.  whoops!

monday:  post here

tuesday: j crew peasant top {similar} / target diamond print scarf {exact} / old navy boyfriend skinny khakis {exact} / lauren conrad hadley flats {similar}

wednesday: sonoma sweater {similar} / target cluster necklace {exact} / old navy boyfriend skinny khakis {exact} / mossimo ona flats {exact}

thursday: thrifted coldwater creek floral blouse {similar} / thredupped axcess blazer {similar} / thrifted express slacks {similar} / merona booties {similar}

friday: old navy crochet lace tee {similar} / thrifted ruff hewn jacket {similar} / old navy sweetheart bootcut jeans {exact} / handmade scarf / puma sneakers

last week's looks {aug 18-22}

hey blog friends!  just a quick post from me to show what i wore last week.  i'm going to try my hardest to get my week in review page up to date... i am so behind!  but at least i have this one ready to go and add to the mix.

our 12 day state fair started a couple days ago and since it ends right before schools start everyone you talk to is lamenting the end of summer.  i can't say that i've really done anything out of the ordinary this summer aside from moving - that was definitely enough excitement for me!  i'm looking forward to going to the fair, though, and eating my weight in cheese curds, fried pickles, and maybe a new state fair food or two.  does your state/county have a big fair?

here's what i wore this week:

monday:  old navy blouse {similar} / thrifted express slacks {similar} / jessica simpson oscar heels {similar} / target necklace {similar}

tuesday: old navy plaid {similar} / merona skirt {similar} / payless mary janes {similar}

wednesday: j crew eyelet peasant top {exact} / gap straight piped pants {exact} / payless karmen heels {exact} / forever 21 necklace {similar}

thursday: old navy crochet lace top  {similar} / merona skirt  {similar} / payless claire flats {exact} /  target necklace  {similar}

i first saw the gap pants i wore on wednesday on caroline, and i have been stalking them every since.  i finally purchased them during a 40% off promo and got them for about $21.  it's nice to have another pair of pants to add to my work wardrobe, but i'm not sure that i like the way i look in straight pants or ankle pants when i compare the way i look in boot-cut pants, like the pair i wore monday.  i think my thighs are too big so they end up looking too tapered by the time they reach my ankles... but i may also just be having a hard time looking at myself in those cuts of pants objectively since i don't look the way i want to in them.  well anyway, i'm definitely going to keep them around as they're the perfect length to wear with flats and don't look too bad with heels, either, as i've worn them here.

enjoy the rest of your weekend!

last week's looks: aug 4-8

it's okay, you can write me down as the worst blogger in the world!  just in case you were wondering if i'm still alive, here's what i wore last week.  i've just been so unhappy with my weight and body that i haven't wanted to post any pictures of myself at all.  in fact, it's hard to look at this round-up of pictures and notice the difference between the first two pictures and how differently those two different pairs of pants fit me.  it's no fun to try to get dressed when none of your clothes fit as you remember them fitting even a year ago, and it's even less fun posting pictures on an online forum where you can't control who sees them or what critique they are giving from behind their screens when you're already feeling so self-conscious!

i'm pleased to say that there's a plethora of trails out my back door though and i've found a circuit that adds up to just over 2 miles that i've been incorporating into my daily routine.  my sister also helped me finally fix my bicycle tire whose tube has been broken for several years now, so i'm hoping she and i can also go on bike rides in the evenings.  so health is becoming a priority again, which feels good.  so anyway, that's about it on my end... just trying to get back into a healthy routine and hopefully have fun getting dressed again because lately it's just not been fun at all!  i hope everyone out there is doing well!

monday:  j crew factory eyelet front top / thrifted loft slacks / thrifted mossimo wedges

tuesday: loft lace trim tee / thrifted express slacks / thredupped j crew factory scarf / blowfish mesa wedges

wednesday: j crew factory peasant blouse / loft chain link print ankle pants / chinese laundry nima wedges

thursday: j crew factory scalloped lace top / thrifted mossimo slacks / restricted slice it wedges

friday: thrifted j crew buffalo check shirt / old navy sweetheart skinny jeans / mossimo ona flats

last week's looks {june 2-6]

{week 23}

june 2-6

i haven't done one of my week in review posts in a while, so i thought i would put one together now that i am also finally up to date on my 2014 in review page with weekly looks of what i wear to work.  i think i am gradually becoming okay that my style has changed from what it was a year ago... less dressy, fewer skirts, more casual.  but that doesn't mean it always has to be that way.  that is a restriction i place on myself, but i can still dress however i want.  i'm not sure why i struggle with that so much!  either way, i am okay with the variety of looks i put together each week... from gold heels one day to casual gray khakis the next.  i also have high hopes that one of these days my hair will look halfway decent.

monday:  post here

tuesday:  old navy cardigan {similar} / thrifted tagless blouse {similar} / old navy boyfriend khakis {exact} / mossimo ona flats {exact} / croft & barrow necklace {similar}

wednesday: post here

thursday: banana republic slacks via twice* {similar} / old navy boatneck tee {exact} / mix no 6 wedges {similar} / simonson's jewelry necklace {similar}

friday: merona blouse {similar} / old navy sweetheart jeans {exact} / mossimo belt {similar} / adrienne vittadini flats {similar}

thanks for visiting and have a great week!

*join twice through my referral link and we both get $10!

this week's looks {may 5-8}

week 19

{may 5-8, 2014}

well, i know i won't be winning any blogging awards any time soon or anything but i'm still trying to make a good faith effort at keeping this nook of the internet up to date.  i feel like a broken record with every post i start and every statement i repeat about my new job {it's actually been almost four months, so it's not that new anymore} and how my style is changing and how i'm having some battles with my closet as i try to figure out what the heck to wear every day.  i seem to cycle between four pairs of pants each week and i'm really starting to feel bored with that repetition - and if i feel that way, i'm sure anyone who reads my posts might, too.  like it or not, this is what i wore this week but it's important to me to keep that honesty in tact around here.  i'm posting this early as i'm off today (friday) to spend the day with my mom who's in town visiting.  i hope you all enjoy the end of your week and have great weekends as well!

monday: thrifted mossimo sweater {similar} / loft chain link ankle pants {exact} / merona mittie flats {similar} / thrifted necklace {similar}

tuesday: old navy boy's button-down {similar} / loft tiered lace trim tee {exact} / old navy boyfriend skinny khakis {exact} / merona emma flats {similar} / inpink necklace {similar}

wednesday: merona cardigan {similar} / old navy lace tee {exact} / thrifted mossimo slacks {similar} / predicts karmen heels  {exact} /  inpink necklace {similar}

thursday: merona button-down {exact} / gap denim jacket {similar} / old navy skinny boyfriend khakis  {exact} / merona bella flats {exact}

see my running weekly pictures of what i wear to work right here.

last week's looks {april 14-18}

last week my friend marissa from the modern austen and i hosted our third pantone-inspired color challenge.  thank you to all of our fellow blog friends who joined us.  i always love this theme week not only because i love dressing in color, but i always find new blogs to follow.  the link ups may still be open if you have an outfit you want to add!  here's  recap of what i wore:

and just for fun i lifted a couple images from some of our participant's whose looks i thought exemplified the color of the day:

radiant orchid: caroline @ tasteful style {how great is that peplum blouse?!}

paloma: whitney @ whitney a la mode {i love the neutrals of he ensemble and the feminine touches she added with lace and pearls}

dazzling blue: ada @ elegance & mommyhood {the colorblocking of red & blue was really eye-catching!}

hemlock: salazar @ 14 shades of grey {a blazer over a dress is one of my favorite looks, and the shade of green is so pretty}

freesia: megan @ the fashonista vet {i don't think i wear yellow very well, so i loved the burst of yellow she wore with her freesia-inspired blouse}

thanks again everyone, and have a great week!

last week's looks {march 17-21}

{week 12}

march 17-21, 2014

here's what i wore to work last week... notice a theme?  andi, heather, and ashley hosted a "green week" and after wearing green on monday for st patrick's day, i just had to continue.  it certainly helped in getting dressed each day, even though i wish i would have switched it up a bit with a green accessory or pair of shoes instead of wearing so many green tops!

monday: post here

tuesday: post here

wednesday: talbots blazer {similar} / a.n.a blouse {similar} / old navy boyfriend khakis {exact} / dexter kylie wedges {similar}

thursday: post here

friday: post here

see all of my 2014 work looks here.  thanks for visiting!

last week's looks {march 10-14}

{week 11}

march 10-14

here is what i wore to work last week!  you may want to click on the picture to enlarge it to see more details.  is it obvious that i am usually more in a blogging groove earlier in the week?  i have a weird rule in my head that i need to post the day i wear an outfit otherwise these "last week's looks" posts would be off.  honestly, i know this is all in my head because i'm sure people who follow this blog are at different points in their readers throughout the week and don't pay attention to the dates posts were published.  it's something i have to get over so i can start to blog more consistently.  anyway, here's my "last week's looks" post to recap what i wore last week in case you missed it!

monday: post here

tuesday: post here

wednesday: old navy polka dot button-down {exact} / merona skirt {exact} / target necklace {similar} / mossimo flats {exact}

thursday: talbots ruffle button-down {similar} / mossimo slacks {similar} / old navy v-neck sweater {similar from old navy, similar color} / mint beaded necklace {similar, similar} / mix no. 6 wedges {similar}

friday: post here

last week's looks {feb 17-21}

{week 8}

feb 17-21

here's what i wore to work this week with the individual posts linked below if you missed one of them!  i have this internal dialogue with myself all the time that maybe i need to be more versatile with my dressing; as you can see, i wore a sweater and button-down 4 out of the days.  but then i also think that if i like a certain look and know it looks halfway decent, why not always reach for those combinations of items?  maybe it would help if i planned what i wore more than a day in advance.  do you try to choose pretty different items each week, or do you find yourself dressing in the same combinations of outfits often as well? 

monday: post here
tuesday: post here

wednesday: merona cardigan {this season's} / banana republic skirt {similar} / fioni flats {exact} / inpink necklace {exact} / target belt {similar}

thursday: post here
friday: post here

see all of my 2014 work looks here!

last week's looks {feb 10-14}

week 7

feb 10-14

well, i was a pretty lazy blogger last week so i'm doing a "last week's looks" to show what i wore.  i had some struggles this week!  i've been wearing a lot of navy lately because it seems like the easiest color to go to when i'm low on inspiration, but i wore the same blazer two wednesdays in a row... that really kind of irked me when i realized that.

i also think the weather is finally getting to me... nearly every morning the temperature is sub-zero with few "warm" days in sight.  i acknowledge that it's winter in minnesota, but i'm running low on energy to pick out tights that match with whatever i'm wearing and then the right color shoe.  i've been wearing a lot of the same shoes lately because i don't feel comfortable wearing most of my heels in my new work environment and the other half aren't as easily mixable with various colors of tights.  maybe i need to try wearing some dress pants, but i hesitate even trying any pairs i still own on because i've gained weight since i last wore them!  well, enough complaining from me.  here's a breakdown of what i wore:

monday: mossimo sweater {similar} / j crew skirt {similar} / target necklace {similar} / dexter wedges {similar}

tuesday: mossimo sweater {similar} / ab studio dress {similar} / target belt {similar} / merona wedges {exact}

wednesday: j crew shell {similar} / chaps blazer {similar} / talbots skirt {similar} / target necklace {similar} / merona flats {exact}

thursday: banana republic button-down / merona sweater {similar} / merona skirt {exact} / dexter wedges {exact}

friday: old navy button-down {similar, similar} / old navy scarf {similar} / old navy jeans {exact} / puma shoes {exact}

see all of my 2014 work looks here!

last week's looks {jan 27-31}

jan 27-31, 2014

{click to enlarge}

monday: old navy boy's plaid shirt {similar} / old navy sweater {exact} / merona skirt {exact} / dexter  wedges {similar} / forever 21 necklace {similar}

tuesday: post here

wednesday: charter club skirt {similar} / old navy blouse {exact} / merona flats {exact}

thursday: post here

friday: talbots button-down {similar} / mossimo sweater {similar} / old navy denim jacket {similar} / old navy skinny jeans {exact} / mossimo flats {exact}

when i look at these pictures what stands out to me is the contrast between the light mint blouse and dark black tights on wednesday that i didn't really care for and far too much effort taken to match every item on my top-half to the colors in my shoes on friday (you'll have to enlarge the picture to see that detail).  i liked the dark denim jacket, which i've had for-ev-er, with the black jeans but my attempt to dress casually on friday didn't work as well as it did last week.

i mentioned earlier in january how i was hoping to use my in-between jobs time to re-evaluate my wardrobe and my thoughts toward getting dressed to go to work, but my unemployment lasted all of two weeks and i never had a chance to have that internal conversation with myself.  now, i feel like i'm reverting to dressing as i did at my old job in the same combinations and same outfits... and that's not a bad thing, but as i see all of my outfits lined up together for this second week at my new job i can't help but feel as though none of them really came together all that well.

how do you not let yourself get frustrated when you just can't seem to put together combinations of outfits that you like?

last week's looks

jan 20-24, 2014

{click to enlarge}

it feels good to be doing my "week in review" posts again, as evidenced by the line-up of heidi's you see above.  the phrase "last week's looks" just came to me and i like the alliteration so i figured i'd re-title my review posts with that name and post them on sundays or mondays.  if you are new around here, you can review the "week in review" tag to see similar posts where i recap what i wore each week.  you can also find ascending pictures for the year 2012 and 2013, both linked in the header.  i'll create a new page for these 2014 pictures to go soon.

monday: post here

tuesday: merona skirt {similar} / old navy blouse {similar} / xhiliration blazer {similar} / merona heels {exact} / inpink necklace {similar}

wednesday: ab studio dress {similar} / ruff hewn blazer {similar} / old navy boots {exact} / merona belt {similar}

thursday: post here

friday: post here

my new job is in a nursing home, which is a pretty casual environment.  nurses and aides wear scrubs, as do some therapists.  there was little description of a dress code for other workers, so i've reverted to dressing as i did at my old job despite that being in a very different setting.  like i mentioned on thursday, i imagine i'll be wearing fewer heels and more flats or wedges due to all of the walking up and down hallways, squatting to be at eye-level with residents in wheelchairs, and, well, so i don't stand out.  i've always adopted the mindset that it's better to be overdressed than underdressed, but some of my higher and fancier heels just don't fit in with the milieu of my new workplace.  i'll have a tougher time giving up my pencil skirts & bright colors though, that is for sure!

do you have a favorite look from this week?  thanks for visiting!

week in reviews.

well, i definitely am not going to be winning any awards in blogging in the near future!  maybe it's the holidays, being gone for a week over thanksgiving, working from home a lot, falling asleep at 9pm, trying to start an exercise regime, etc but i can't seem to stick with a schedule.  i know, excuses, excuses!  :)  a lot of things in my life are going to be different in early 2014, so i hope to kick it into gear with blogging again as well.  until then, i'm doing a massive recap of week in review posts so i can get my 2013 week in review page up to date.  here's what i've been wearing the past couple weeks when my posting has been so sporadic!

{dec 9-13}

monday: post here

tuesday: merona dress {similar} / xhiliaration blazer {similar} / merona wedges {similar} / eddie bauer button-down {similar}

wednesday:  post here

thurssday: mossimo dress {similar} / merona button-down {similar} / inpink necklace {similar} / forever 21 belt {similar} / madden girl heels {similar}

friday: old navy jeans {exact} / merona sweater {similar} / land's end canvas button-down {similar} / old navy boots {similar}

{dec 2-6}

monday: post here
tuesday: calvin klein skirt {similar} / self indulgence blazer {similar} / loft blouse / dexter wedges {similar}
friday:  post here