Tuesday, December 22, 2009

T-shirt: The Limited

Skirt: The Limited

Cardigan: New York & Company

Ring: New York & Company

Tights: Merona for Target

Booties: Payless Shoes

Oh no she di'int! Oh, yes, I did! I actually wore this fun cheesy tee to work today. I figured when else can you get away with wearing this to work? All the big bosses are on vacation and it's basically a party every afternoon because no one feels like working. I knew everyone would get a kick out of this tee, given their propensity for teasing me about being a 'shortie' without my heels on. I was quite the hot topic around the cubicles today.

But that's not why I'm cheesing so hard in this picture. Today was my last day in the office for the rest of 2009! Twelve glorious days of blissful freedom, spent with all most of my favorite people. I can't wait to get the party started!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Turtleneck: Old Navy

Sweater: The Limited

Pants: Banana Republic

Bracelet: New York & Company

Booties: Payless Shoes

HAPPY MONDAY, YA'LL!

I never thought I'd ever celebrate the coming of a Monday morning, but I'm pretty stoked about this one! Only three more work days until Christmas vacation and eleven whole WORK-FREE days with my family. I'm crazy excited - excited enough to celebrate Monday!

It snowed most of the weekend and isn't supposed to make it above freezing all week. Sounds like a perfect time for layering up like I did today. This sweater may not look like much but it's wool so it keeps me super warm. Perfect for today (okay, and maybe yesterday at church too when I wore the same stripes and sweater combo with jeans).

See Sara Shop

On my lunch break at Starbucks and I'm supposed to be job hunting....but the siren call of the dozen sale alert emails in my inbox lured me astray. I resisted the urge at Victoria's Secret, successfully fought the impulse at Best Buy, and conquered my desire at The Limited. But my self control ran out when I found these Madden Girl boots in gray suede over at Endless. It was the free overnight shipping that did me in! Order today and get it tomorrow? Who can resist?

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Finishing up some Christmas shopping today in my cheesy Old Navy kiddie tee.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Sweater: The Limited

Jeans: The Limited

Bracelet: New York & Company

Booties: Charlotte Russe

Well since we've already established that I am lacking in the festive office attire category, this green sweater was the closest I could get to a holiday office look today. I opted to keep things simple today because the office had several visitors and you just never know when you might make a useful connection, so I kept things straight up office appropriate. I feel kind of boring without some neck bling or something! I did rebel a little in the footwear department - opened toe booties on a 30 degree day! Watch out! It's getting crazy around here. HA!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft

Vest: The Limited

Tights: Merona for Target

Booties: Payless Shoes

Necklace: The Limited

Ring: New York & Company

Today was our office holiday party, so I knew I wanted to wear red. Unfortunately I didn't realize until last night how few red winter clothes I own. Red was my favorite color to wear for a long time (besides black, of course!), but apparently that only applies in the summer time because I only exactly one red winter sweater. Don't worry - this will be remedied soon!

So I made do with this dress even though I've worn a dress every single day this week. Apparently the dress/tights combo is my new go-to outfit.

And on a side note? Guess who won the 'Most Fashionable' award at the party today? Three months in and already making a name for myself. HA!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Dress: New York & Company

Tights: Merona for Target

Boots: Jessica Simpson

Necklace: Biltmore Carriage House

Today is what I like to call a 'Get Dressed or Go Naked' day. I woke up feeling wholly uninspired for the day. While I don't always plan out my full outfit each night, I usually have a basic idea of a piece I want to work around or some sort of inspiration. This morning I was feeling....nothing. I changed half a dozen times before it came down to that time - get dressed....or go naked.

So I took the easy way out and grabbed a simple dress in a fun pattern. It's actually Barney-purple in person, but photographed more blue for some reason.

See Sara Shop

Spoiler Alert: If your name is Haedyn's Mommy or Aunt Cricket, you may want to stop reading now, lest you spoil the Christmas surprise!

Okay, I know this has absolutely nothing to do with me or my closet, but would you guys look at how adorable this stuff is?

I spent the weekend Christmas shopping and definitely the most fun person on my list was 6-month-old baby Haedyn. She is seriously one of the cutest little doll babies I have ever seen and I had such a ball shopping for her. All I have to say is that Nate better hope our first baby is a boy because I foresee major trouble if we have a girl....



I love seeing babies dressed in teeny-tiny versions of grown up clothes. You'll find me in a velour hoodie any given weekend, so I got Haedyn her very own bumming-around-the-house hoodie.


A denim jumper is like the baby version of The Little Black Dress.



And since we all know I love my animal print, I simply could not resist this cotton top. I wish you could see the details better - it has a little mock turtle neck and ruffles on the front. Love!

And please note the ever versatile denim jeans - because every girl needs good mix and match pieces.


And the piece de resistance! I laughed out loud when I saw this at Target. Ta-Da! How cute is that?

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Dress: New York & Company

Sweater Vest: The Limited

Boots: Aldo

Necklace: Amy Cornwell Designs

I didn't own a stitch of paisley until I saw this dress a few weeks ago at New York & Company. For some reason it just spoke to me and I immediately pictured it with these boots. When I got home and saw it next to the gray sweater, I knew I had a winning outfit.

Cut to today, when my sidekick at work mentioned not once, not twice but three separate times that this outfit was totally not 'me' and she was surprised to see me in it. Um, thanks?

First of all, I was shocked that she gave it that much consideration (three times, ya'll!). Second, it made me wonder, am I that predictable with my style? You certainly can't accuse me of being repetitive - I simply like new clothes too much to wear things over and over. But maybe everything I choose is so 'me' that it borders on boring?

Food for thought, certainly. Perhaps that's just the impetus I needed to step further outside of my comfort zone and try more new things rather than just admiring how they look on others.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Top: New York & Company

Sweater: The Limited

Skirt: Ann Taylor Loft

Necklace: Simply Irresistible

Bracelet: New York & Company

Tights: Merona for Target

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

As always the weekend went by entirely too fast. I spent the majority of it shopping until I dropped, trying to finish up my remaining Christmas list. I shopped for nearly six hours on Saturday and spent a grand total of $10. No, it wasn't all the fabulous sales - rather it was the big fat nothing I found. I didn't come home with a single item from my list. Note to my family: Pick easier presents next year, would you?

On the bright side though, I did pick up this skirt at Ann Taylor Loft for a whopping $9.99. I'd seen it in on the sale rack several times and always liked it, but I need another skirt like I need another hole in my head. That is to say, I don't. But seriously, who can resist $9.99? Not this gal. And definitely not after six hours of fruitless effort. Mama had to come home with something, right?

Saturday, December 12, 2009

T-shirt: Wal-mart (Boys section)

I think today's cheesy Christmas tee says it all. This is one of my favorites.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Sweater: The Limited

Jeans: Express (Mia Skinny)

Necklace: Forever 21

Boots: Old Navy

BRRR!!! Did someone forget to tell Mother Nature that it isn't officially winter yet? The high here the last two days hasn't even reached 20. And unfortunately for me, they still haven't figured out how to regulate the heat in our office yet. It was 55 when we came in Thursday morning! Forget the layering - I bundled up from head to toe today.

I felt like a little ski bunny all day. I think it was the boots. I've been wanting some knock off Ugg cardi boots since last year. When I saw Old Navy put them on sale for $15 this week, I dashed right over after work. Good thing, too, because the pickings were already slim when I went and it was only the first day of the sale! I wanted them in dark gray, but since they didn't have them in my size, I settled on these oatmeal colored ones instead.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Dress: New York & Company

Tights: Merona for Target

Bracelets: New York & Company

Booties: Baker's Shoes

This is one of those dresses that you see in the store and think, 'Oh that's cute but it would never look good on me.' Cut to six weeks later, it's on clearance for less than $10 and well, they have your size, and you've got a few minutes, so maybe you'll just try it on....And just like that you have a closet staple that you reach for again and again.

I'd never had luck with this type of shift style dress, but just something about this one totally works for me. I find myself reaching for it all winter long when I am too lazy or impatient to come up with something new. And my experience with it has made me bolder in trying on things I never would expect to work for me. You just never know when something you wouldn't normally go for will suddenly just work. Makes the deal that much sweeter!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Dress: The Limited

Tank: GAP

Belt: New York & Company

Necklace: New York & Company

Leggings: Kohls

Boots: Charles David

It's still cold and snowy here and I had plans to shop with a girlfriend after work, so I knew staying warm and wearing comfortable all day shoes was an absolute must. I paired a longer dress with knee high flat boots and realized I could 'cheat' with the tights and swap them out for actual leggings - hello toasty warmth all day long!! I will definitely have to remember this trick for those cold days ahead.

The dress is actually a wrap dress that's made to tie in the front. I just wound the ties around my waist twice and tucked the ties back into the 'belt' it made, then covered the whole thing with a wider black belt. I really like the way it looks and think it adds that little extra 'something' to break up the bold pattern of the dress.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Top: New York & Company

Cardigan: The Limited

Pants: Banana Republic

Shoes:

Bracelet: New York & Company

Pardon the expression on my face this morning. Apparently, I am surprised to be up and 'attem already. Or something like that.

I have OSHA 10-hour training three afternoons this week, so being comfortable sitting for hours and hours is my primary agenda. For some reason, being told I must sit still for four straight hours just brings the four-year-old right out of me! Wiggly, giggly and fidgety for absolutely no reason. Fun times.

I originally envisioned this combo belted, but it just wasn't working for me. Not the right belt or too many ruffles, I'm really not sure. Oh well, I called this 'good enough' and just went with it.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Sweater: The Limited

Camisole: The Limited

Pants: New York & Company

Shoes: ?

Necklace: Forever 21


This was absolutely not what I had planned to wear today, but we woke up to snow on the ground and ice on the roads, so I decided to bundle up with pants and a sweater instead.

I've had these pants for over six years and I still love them as much as the day I bought them. They are soft, thick cotton - perfect for yucky days like today. Plus they have a fun little pattern that is surprisingly versatile.

I've had these heels longer than the pants - so long in fact, that I've worn all the writing off them. I have no clue what brand they are anymore. I bought them at a second hand shoe store in Knoxville many moons ago and they have served me well, especially the last two Indianapolis winters. I realized this morning that I am severely lacking in work-appropriate, severe weather shoes. Hmm? Anyone for a shopping trip once the rain lets up?

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Sweater: Kohl's

Camisole: Ann Taylor Loft

Jeans: Express

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

Earrings: New York & Company

This morning was my first holiday party of the Christmas season. A bunco buddy held a fun Christmas breakfast at her house. I wanted to be cozy but not too casual, so I opted for a cute sweater with metallic threads and a silky camisole top. It's hard to tell in the pictures, but the contrasting fabrics made the top half of the outfit pop. I had several errands to run before heading home, so flats were essential. Silly me, I braved the cold in flats-with-no-socks. Let's just say that's not going to happen too many more times! The days of wool socks and knee high boots are not too far away!

Friday, December 4, 2009

T-shirt: New York & Company

Cardigan: Old Navy

Jeans: Express

Necklace: The Limited

Boots: Charles David (gifted)

TGIF!! I swear this has been the longest week, and not a day off or vacation in sight yet!

Layering up again today, so I can alternate between my coat, cardigan and short sleeves as the office heater continues its schizophrenic ways. I picked up this t-shirt at New York & Company on Black Friday for a whopping $3.00. It's not my normal style but I'm kind of digging it. I immediately thought of pairing it with this fun ribbon-wrapped necklace that I don't get to wear very often and knew I had a winning combination.