2013. LWD.

late afternoon dress and boardwalk sandals by madewell. thrifted sash. rebecca minkoff bombe bag.

on saturday we worked in the yard— michael got two truckloads of mulch, and we spread it all over the front and side flower beds. then we decided to buy river rocks and made a nice pathway to our back porch. after being in the sun for hours, i cleaned up and put on a little white dress. we went on a fancy outing to… the grocery store.

but i kind of love that about a LWD. don’t save them for weddings or parties. don’t put them away after labor day. wear them whenever you want because they’re simply perfect.

the look | similar dress | sandals

2013. polly pocket.

stitchview cardigan by madewell. la la leaves dress by marc jacobs. thrifted sash. gloria wedges by bed stu.

i’ve owned this dress almost as long as i’ve been blogging. it’s a quintessential “linda” dress (navy blue, quirky print, pockets) and it compliments most of the cardigans in my closet. i wore it to school last week with a hot pink sweater and a 99¢ belt.

our intermittent internet (say that three times fast) of the last few weeks appears to be back to normal; michael thinks our network had a glitch or two. i spent our downtime gardening, doodling, cleaning, and excercising! i’m excited about posting regularly (again) and sharing some new designs in my etsy shop. i hope the sun is shining wherever you are.

the look | similar sweater | similar dress | wedges

2013. pink mochi.

stitchview cardigan by madewell. j.crew dress. vintage judith lieber belt. swedish hasbeens super high clogs. hand printed grocery tote.

i wore this ladylike outfit several weeks ago but never got around to posting it (until now). if you’re new to blogging, save all of your photos! they can help you out during busy times.

rosa (of rosa loves…) and angela (of notes from the dressing room) might remember the dress. last summer, michael and i walked around DC all day and the summery white frock kept me cool and polished. i didn’t even spill gelato on it while meeting them. it was a christmas— in july— miracle.

the look | similar cardigan | similar dress | shoes

2013. crazy clutch lady.

vermont jacket by paige. ella moss dress. vintage clutch. nine west wedges.

i am unabashedly crazy about clutches. men will never understand why women carry purses with no straps or handles. sometimes i don’t understand myself when i take one to the grocery store and end up sticking it like a newspaper under my armpit because i lack free hands.

i bought my first clutch in college; it was an oversized lavender leather via spiga found on deep discount at tj maxx. then i got into thrifting beaded evening clutches and anything else that enchanted me. on saturday morning, i found the ombre-embroidered bag for five dollars and thanked my lucky stars. she’s the perfect spring and summer clutch, and i can’t wait to pass her on to my future daughter (way in the future, mind you).

i wish i could sew a similar clutch but i lack the tremendous patience and needlepoint skills. however i can do one thing— carry it.

the look | similar jacket | similar dress | similar shoes

2013. ugly duckling.

stitched cardigan by madewell. band of gypsies dress. tory burch reva flats. rebecca minkoff bombe bag.

i present my friday and saturday outfit. the dress is a “house dress” i.e. it’s too flouncy for school but it’s decent with shorts.

i like my big brown cardigan, but michael does not. i met him for happy hour on friday and he said, “are you really wearing that ugly sweater?” after his remark, i consoled the sweater by telling it that he had a bad day and felt like taking it out on someone. i bought the sweater ice cream. just kidding.

instead i wore the sweater two days straight. don’t mess with the way i dress.

the look | similar sweater | similar dress | similar flats

2013. pleasant surprise.

cotton terry zip jacket c/o LOFT. andalusian horse dress by leifsdottir. acrobatic wedges from anthropologie.

i own several cute jackets, but none have garnered the same amount of attention as this one. i picked it out a couple weeks ago with indiana, and we nicknamed it “the sweatshirt jacket” because of its cozy knit.

i wore it to our TxSC events over the weekend, and at least ten women said, “where did you get your jacket? i haven’t seen anything else like it!” they thought it was either a designer, vintage, or handmade piece. everyone looked pleasantly surprised (and relieved) when i told them they could buy it from LOFT.

i am a true believer that style is everywhere whether you shop at goodwill or gucci. but i must admit a sneaky side of me enjoys pretending that i own a $600 coat.

p.s. my blog calendar is a little off due to spring break. everything will be back to normal next week!

the look | jacket | similar dress | similar wedges

2013. miss sunshine.

cardigan by halogen. scatter dot dress by j.crew. vintage belt. gloria wedges by bed stu. william rast sunglasses.

the classic, breezy dress means a lot to me— at age 6, my favorite frock had dozens of navy dots, and twenty-odd years later, i got engaged in the grown-up version. i’ve worn it with several cardigans and my jean jacket.

on monday, i paired it with a yellow sweater and clogs (probably my favorite combo yet). while he snapped pictures, michael said, “make a pensive face… make a giggle face… make a madewell face.” this is it.

get styled by miss sunshine on saturday, march 9th from 5 to 7. details here.

the look | similar sweater | similar dress | wedges

2013. a walk outside.

denim jacket by billy blues (thrifted). silk dotty dress by madewell. wanted sandals. missibaba bag.

after several evenings in the 30’s, spring is here— for the moment, anyway. the weather treated us to a beautiful sunny day with legendary texas blue skies.

everyday we take turns walking sophie. michael walks her in the mornings, and i walk her after school. on cold days, we bundle up and scurry in and out. on warm days, we mosey around other people’s yards and scowl at loud airplanes (more her than me). i can’t help but giggle watching her trot-trot-trot back home.

a walk outside is good for the soul. it’s just a teensy bit better with a funny pug.

the look | similar jacket | similar dress | similar sandals

2013. blackout.

ralph lauren sweater dress. italian scarf. merona tights. pour la victoire boots. pendleton canyonville tote.

if you peruse the blog archive, you’ll notice that i rarely wear black. my wardrobe is mostly blues, neutrals, and brights here and there.

before christmas, i found myself craving a simple black sweater dress. it had to be dark black (not charcoal), long (not short), and cute (not un-cute). my dream came true a few weeks ago when i snagged this dress at tj maxx.

have you ever gotten a good deal on an item from your wish list?

the look | similar dress | similar scarf | similar boots | bag

2013. billy jean.

denim jacket by billy blues (thrifted). silk dawnlight dress by madewell. vintage dotty smith kissing frogs belt (from hunt.gather.style). gloria wedges by bed stu.

i bought the jacket last year for a few dollars. when i saw it on the rack, it looked tiny, and i almost put it back. good thing i kept it— it fits like a glove. usually jean jackets look boxy or oversized, but this jacket is tailored in the right places. i love wearing it with dresses.

on the radio today, the deejays commented that more people will shop at thrift stores because of macklemore. so if we meet each other thrifting, i’ll let you have the leather jackets and broken keyboards. don’t touch my cart!

the look | similar jacket | similar dress | similar belt | wedges

2012. slouchy cool.

dolman sleeved sweatshirt by j.crew. la la leaves dress by marc jacobs. merona tights. pour la victoire boots.

some days i like tailored clothing, and other days i like slouchy stuff. i wore this easygoing outfit on thursday.

i also wear sweatshirts at home, oftentimes over leggings. lately i love to spend evenings near the fireplace and read a book (or cut things out for school). it’s a nice, old fashioned sort of feeling.

i am currently reading a practical wedding by meg keene. what are you reading?

the look | similar sweater | similar dress | similar boots

2012. a penny saved.

cavorting canines dress by maeve. skyline skinny skinnies by paige. italian scarf. pour la victoire boots.

this is what i look like when i find a long forgotten dollar in one of my pockets. if i write anymore, i feel as if i will ruin the priceless photo. that’s all for today. :o)

the look | similar dress | similar pants | similar scarf | similar boots

2012. shining sea.

tommy hilfiger cardigan. polka dot tie-neck dress by j.crew. vintage judith lieber belt. gloria wedges by bed stu.

i wore this patriotic outfit to school a couple of weeks ago during one of our warm spells (which linger and languish at their own whim). the other day angela (of notes from the dressing room) told me, “i can’t believe you’re wearing open-toed shoes in november!” i can’t believe it either. but when it turns cold in texas, it will turn cold and stay cold. it hasn’t made it around the bend yet.

this weekend, M and i plan on decorating the house a bit. our pre-lit tree has served us for many years. we’re considering a new tradition of having a real fir tree. M and i both work, and i feel wary shopping for trees at night. is that strange? i want to see them in the sun, fluff their branches and needles, and check how nicely they stand. do you have any tree buying tips for us?

p.s. if we find a great tree, we will donate the old one to a preschool.

the look | similar cardigan | similar dress | similar wedges

2012. make light.

silk dotty dress by madewell. vintage dotty smith horse head belt (from hunt.gather.style). wanted sandals. addison shades c/o tortoise & blonde. rebecca minkoff cupid satchel.

the weather in texas changes its mind as often as pugs beg for snacks (meaning a lot). on sunday, i planned on wearing the dress with my jean jacket, but the mild temperature dissed the idea of an overcoat. i added the dress to my wishlist over the summer, and it finally came true thanks to a 30% off promo and recent freelance work. i love-love-love it.

a cold front came through the area on sunday night. i’ve spent most of my week in boots, corduroys, sweaters, and scarves. it’s finally beginning to feel like autumn and it’s about darn tootin’ time. next week, M’s aunt and uncle will visit for thanksgiving, and M and i are excited to show them our house (and texas). i’ll post some photos for you, too.

the look | dress | similar belt | sandals

2012. hello dotty.

polka dot mini dress from tj maxx. wanted sandals. missibaba tote from etcetera, etc.

the little dress is one of two polka dot dresses i bought in september (the other is the j.crew tie-neck dress). i call it a mini dress because i’m 5’9”, and many cute frocks lean towards the short side on me. i combat the problem by saving them for weekends and always adding shorts underneath. i wore it on sunday to the grocery store.

when i bought the dress, five women stopped me in tj maxx and asked me where i found it. i cheerfully replied, “in juniors’ dresses!” but i didn’t have the heart to add: “it was the only one.” lucky for you, i found a very similar dress at urban outfitters and added the link below.

tonight i’m making seafood strata for dinner, and i’m feeling quite excited. sometimes it’s fun to have breakfast at night. top of the morning to you!

the look | similar dress | sandals