2013. may days.

louben blouse. j.crew factory skirt. kaysa clogs by loeffler randall. apolis market tote.

i wore this outfit last week in between two unusually cold and windy days. but i’m not complaining at all; may typically brings heat, heat, and more heat. the last few days have been especially pleasant with clear skies and a hint of summer.

speaking of summer, early bird registration is open for texas style council’s summer school in august. be there or be square!

the look | similar top | similar skirt | similar shoes | bag

2013. linens and things.

blythe blouse by j.crew. corey lynn calter muslin skirt. swedish hasbeens super high clogs. apolis market bag.

polka dots are like potato chips; i can’t have just one. this skirt has quickly become one of my favorite pieces to wear to school. it pairs well with blouses, sweaters, and tees.

in college i never wore muslin skirts and dresses. they were too sheer and my younger, clueless self didn’t know much about slips and camisoles. now the older, wiser me thanks the heavens for them (and corey lynn calter for the polka dots).

the look | similar top | similar skirt | shoes | bag

2013. perfect vision.

joie rancher tee. LOFT skirt. boardwalk sandals by madewell. william rast sunglasses.

if i could wear this outfit everyday, i would. the classic colors, fun sunnies, and sensible sandals go from work to errands to weekend dates.

when i bought the skirt from ebay, i didn’t realize the slight darts in the front would create a “pouch” effect, making me feel self-conscious. it kind of looks like i have a kangaroo pocket, a food baby, or a real baby. the first time i wore the skirt, i paired it with an oversized sweater.

but last week i tucked my blouse in. who sees a kangaroo pouch? not me in my shades.

the look | similar top | similar skirt | sandals | similar glasses

2013. hometown favorite.

joie rancher tee. dorrie skirt by j.crew. necklace c/o LOFT. gloria wedges by bed stu. apolis market bag.

i wore this outfit earlier in the week before i came of (technology) age; i spilled riesling on my keyboard. my non-clumsy computer streak was bound to end. then our modem stopped working, and i took the events as a sign to relax. two harry potters, a school carnival, a class trip, and wishful catalog shopping later, i’m back online.

i featured the bag a few weeks ago as one of my maybe birthday presents. of course it ended up at our door as an ode to the city where we met and began our grand, silly, and best adventure.

i hope you have a great weekend! see you on monday.

the look | similar tee | similar skirt | wedges | bag

2013. gingham style.

silk gingham boyshirt c/o austin madewell. dalmation print skirt (found on ebay). pour la victoire wedges.

michael calls this shirt my picnic shirt for obvious reasons. he likes muted plaids and i like megaphone ones.

somehow i received birthday dates two nights in a row. we went out for sushi on tuesday and cheeseburgers on wednesday. if it wasn’t supposed to rain this weekend, i would aim for a picnic on saturday. but i’ll settle for extra cake.

the look | blouse | similar skirt | shoes

2013. with lemon.

henley blouse c/o LOFT. corey lynn calter muslin skirt. wanted sandals. pendleton canyonville tote.

in high school my friends and i frequented places like applebee’s for easy friday or saturday night dinners. a meal rang up at less than ten dollars, leaving extra money for a movie or a magazine at the bookstore.

in college i discovered hole-in-the-wall, mom-and-pop, and star-of-the-show kind of restaurants. these places had thick tablecloths, candlelights, and wine glasses. these places had water with lemon!

now you can get water with lemon almost anywhere. one of our favorite restaurants in town offers it with lime, orange, or grapefruit. in the back of my head, i remember that it’s just water, but i chuckle at how a very simple thing can appear quite posh.

this outfit was monday’s ensemble… with lemon. :o)

the look | blouse | similar skirt | similar sandals

2013. orange crush.

merino boyfriend sweater by j.crew. pintuck silk tunic by alice + olivia. paige verdugo leggings. lotta from stockholm clogs. pendleton canyonville tote.

if you asked me ten years ago, “do you like orange?” i would have said, “ew.” if you asked me five years ago, “do you like orange?” i would have said, “sure.” if you asked me now if i like orange i would say, “YES!” it’s definitely a color i wear more and more over time.

after i wore the blouse to work, i found ink smudges on the placket from the rubber stamps i use to check my kids’ assignments. fortunately the stains came out with woolite and a teeny dot of dawn soap. yes, i put dishwashing liquid on a silk blouse. orange makes me brave.

the look | similar sweater | similar blouse | similar jeans | shoes | bag

2013. two girls.

maison scotch sweater. silk striped tee by j.crew. skyline skinny skinnies by paige. pour la victoire boots.

see that chubby puggy? she turned five this month. michael says she can go to kindergarten in the fall. i wish!

sophie is a funny creature. she’s perpetually hungry, fiercely loyal, and always affectionate. she can detect the UPS truck from a few blocks away. she sheds hair like crazy (almost all fawn pugs do) and our vacuum cleaner fills up with her fur. but we love her anyway.

happy birthday sophie! thanks for being so gosh darn cute and making a cameo occasionally.

the look | sweater | similar blouse | similar pants | similar boots

2013. cross my heart.

cynthia rowley cardigan. silk dotty sunshade top by madewell. joe’s ponte skinnies. pour la victoire boots. pendleton canyonville tote.

i wore this outfit twice before winter break, and i wore it again on monday because it matched my bag perfectly. i like the cheerful pop of red against the grey, black, and brown. i could even swap out the red sweater for a yellow one. a good outfit lives on and on and on… at least until laundry day.

a lot of my friends have been asking about our wedding plans. they’re coming along (albeit tortoise-ly rather than hare-ly). i have my dress (it’s from j.crew of course), and we will likely pick out michael’s suit from there, too. i’m designing our wedding paper. the other details are up in the air, but i’ll share more soon. cross my heart.

the look | similar sweater | similar top | similar pants | similar boots | bag

2012. gold toes.

cardigan by halogen. pintuck silk tunic by alice + olivia. high-rise jeggings by paige. metallic flats c/o wanted. earrings from adelante boutique. missibaba tote from etcetera, etc.

my taste in jewelry is bipolar— i like simple, elegant sort of pieces and things i call “intriguing” that others may label as glitzy or strange. i bought these earrings over the summer because i loved the colors, shapes, and mixed materials. the good thing is that michael likes them, too. the bad thing is that my hair usually hides them.

i’ve been a busy bumblebee this week preparing for our winter break. today my kids and i made hot cocoa with marshmallows and watched the polar express. tomorrow we’ll host our families for a little craft and a lot of finger foods. send some napkins and wet wipes our way!

the look | similar sweater | similar blouse | similar jeans | similar flats

2012. recycled air.

tommy hilfiger cardigan. ruffled tank by j.crew. vintage southwestern print skirt. nine west wedges.

i wore this outfit on tuesday (i think). i don’t remember exactly because cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough cough… that’s how most of last week sounded. autumn means allergies, and they tend to be more annoying than serious. a few days ago, i started coughing at bedtime, losing almost all shut-eye. on friday, i went to the doctor and found out that my present (and past) bouts of coughing most resemble mild asthma, not allergies.

long story short, i’m feeling much better, taking the right medicine, and thankful for three full nights of sleep. stay tuned as i catch up on posts and share a new make and take project!

the look | similar cardigan | similar top | similar skirt | similar wedges

2012. melloween.

plaid shirt by DVF. verdugo leggings by paige. vintage coach belt. rebecca minkoff doll boots.

M and i don’t usually dress up for halloween, but our house does. i like putting pumpkins and mums on the porch and votives in glass jars on the table.

this year, we decided to go out instead of hand out candy. the constant doorbell ringing and appearance of strangers turns our sweet pug into a rowdy monster. we scheduled a double date with tanvi and her husband, closed the blinds, and turned off the living room lights.

when we left the house, we drove by trick-or-treating princesses, robots, and super heroes, and i felt a little guilty. but by the time dinner ended, i was happy and full (with spicy food and good conversation). there’s nothing wrong with having a very mellow halloween.

p.s. thanks to hunt.gather.style for the plaid shirt!

the look | similar blouse | similar jeans | similar boots

2012. maine squeeze.

james perse sweatshirt. crinkle jersey shirt by boden. nico corduroys by hudson. bronx flats (thrifted). rebecca minkoff cupid satchel.

happy halloween! i thought about wearing my orange cardigan to school but somehow settled on this very unspooky (but patriotic) outfit. maybe i could pass as a modern day betsy ross or deconstructed blueberry pie (if clothes appeared on top chef).

our school doesn’t celebrate halloween, but in a couple of weeks, we’re allowed to dress up as book characters. i told my kiddos that i plan on being the fox from the gingerbread man. then the class informed me they also plan on being foxes. copycats! :o)

the look | similar sweater | blouse | corduroys | similar flats

2012. the mondays.

striped crochet jacket by zara. silk striped tank by j.crew (thrifted). skinny skinny ankle corduroys by madewell. nine west wedges.

i can’t say that i’ve ever experienced a prolonged case of the mondays. sure, i’m sleepy and slightly tired, but i also like returning to a structured routine. i try to start mondays with a good outfit and set the tone for the rest of the week.

school has kept me busy— i’m finishing up conferences and progress reports and looking forward to friday! tomorrow, tomorrow, i love you tomorrow, you’re always a day away…

the look | similar jacket | similar top | pants | wedges

2012. blue eyes.

striped crochet jacket by zara. ruffled tank by j.crew. verdugo jeans by paige. furla heels (thrifted). rebecca minkoff cupid satchel.

on saturday, we went out to dinner, and i came home feeling sick. i slept most of the day on sunday, and by monday, i seemed a bit better. we’ve been dealing with a stomach bug at school, but fortunately for me, i’m just tired with a small appetite and restless mind. i’m not quite 100% myself, but i’m getting there.

i hate admitting that i’m tired. i grew up with a workaholic dad who spent his days building furniture, taking extra jobs fixing carpentry work, and making things just for fun on the weekend. if anyone should be tired, he should be tired! so the good child in myself has always recognized that no matter how bad you feel or how terrible you think things are, there’s someone else who keeps on keepin’ on.

so now instead of whining to M, i can think about my dad being awesome, and instead of a doodle, i can share a peek of my necklace.

the look | similar jacket | similar blouse | similar jeans | similar heels