leather trim

{tee: zara | pants: banana | shoes: target | hat: urban (similar) | watch: michael kors}

There is just so much to love about a good leather trim. Am I right? I picked this shirt up on my last trip to DC (sadly there is no Zara in Portland) and have been waiting for the weather to warm up enough to wear it. Because you can't put leather trim under a jacket. Obviously. 

maxi and lace

{maxi skirt (that's really a dress): shop bop (similar) | shirt: F21 | jacket: jcrew factory | bag: target} 

Happy Monday. Hope you all had a good weekend. I'm not sure that I have anything noteworthy to report today. But that won't stop me from typing something....

This weekend I painted my nails white. It reminded me of 6th grade when I used to cover my nails in Whiteout.  That was also the year when my favorite outfit was Junco jeans that were 2 sizes too big for me and an XXL t-shirt that said GKB- girls kick butt.  I would have been happy wearing that outfit every single day. My how the times have changed. 

Now I pretty much have a new favorite outfit every week (one that is actually my size). This week, it's maxi and lace. One of my favorite things about maxi dresses (or any dress really) is that you can also wear them as skirts. Don't believe me? see above. 

casual polka dots

{shirt: zara | jeans: 7 for all mankind | hat: urban (similar) | bag: target | belt: banana}

It’s only 9am but I’m already thinking about lunch. Working in downtown Portland provides me with access to some amazing food carts. And I’ve got a serious crush on my favorite place. So serious, that I’ve been eating the same lunch almost every day for months. It’s called the Whole Bowl and it’s a delicious mix of rice, beans, sauce, tomatoes, cheese, olives, avocado, sour cream, and cilantro. If you live nearby, go here right away. If you don’t, Google ways to make your own. It’s simple, delicious, and healthy. Consider this my public service announcement of the day.

Now, onto my outfit. I call this look casual polka dots. It's prefect to wear to lunch! Need I say more? 

The New Neutral

(shirt: loft | cardigan: old navy | pants: loft | shoes: banana | scarf: h&m}

A few days ago I told you about my love for pastels, and especially, these shoes. They are the perfect mint. And believe it or not, mint seems to go with just about everything. I think I'll start calling it "the new neutral".  

Ok, so this theory might not be so obvious from my outfit above, since it's only black,white, and mint. Sometimes my outfit and my thinking don't quite connect. But use your imagination, will ya? 

mint and pink? yep. 

mint and yellow? yep. 

mint and hunter green? yep. 

mint and light, medium, or dark blue? yep. 

You see my point? And, in case you were wondering, both my shoes and my shirt are in mint condition. (za-zing!)

Also, that last photo is my squinty face. I save it for special, sunny occasions. In case you were wondering... 

Frolicking

{blazer: thrifted | shirt: F21 | jeans: jbrand (similar) | shoes: target | bag: target | sunnies: ray-ban} 

I wore this little number while frolicking around Georgetown on my trip to DC last week. If you haven't been to Georgetown, that's what people do there. They frolic around in little numbers (also known as outfits). It was a sunny day and everyone was out shopping, sipping coffee, seeing, and being seen. 

As I was busy window shopping at a few of my favorite high-end stores in Georgetown, including Rag and Bone and Michael Kors, I couldn't help but snicker at the fact that I was getting compliments on my Target bag and shoes! (which are currently buy one get one half off). It was a friendly reminder that I didn't need those $400 shoes in the window to feel stylish. Affordable style for the win! 

Black and White Glamour

{shirt: old navy | pants: banana | clutch: F21 | shoes: payless | necklace: thrifted}

As you may know from this post, I've had black and white on the mind lately. It's so simple, yet it makes me feel glamorous. That, and the Oscar's. Nothing says glamour like wearing sweatpants while

watching beautiful people in beautiful gowns hand out gold statues. 

And I guess there were some beautiful suits thrown in the mix too. But as my niece says "why are the boys all wearing the same thing?" It reminds me of those embarrassing days in high schools when another girl had on the same outfit and we'd try to play it off like we wanted to be matching. Except our outfits weren't thousands of dollar suits. They were graphic tee shirts and jeans that were 3 sizes too big from the local mall. So I guess it's really not like the Oscar's at all. Either way, I think my niece was right. The girls have way more fun.

I Like That: Black and White

Last night, I wore a black blazer over a basic white tee and ever since, I've had black and white on the mind. And when I've got something on my mind, I'm obviously going to virtual shop for it. Right?  Here are some items currently lurking around my shopping cart in the black and white (and sometimes with a pop of orange) department.

1. Spot Shirt- Top Shop
2. floral print sweater- Nordstrom
3. Stripe Satchel- Kate Spade
4. Tiger Knit Sweat- Top Shop
5. black and white heels- Zara
6. color block bag- h&m
7. Amie Maxi Dress- J.Crew

Sunny Monday

{jacket: F21 | shirt: F21 | skirt: thrifted | scarf: Nordstrom BP | shoes: Payless | sunnies: Oscar via. TJ Maxx}

It's a sunny Monday! Getting up on a sunshine filled morning seems to make things just a little bit easier, don't you think? It also means that I can wear gigantic sunglasses. That's what I call a win, win.

Here's to the kick-start of a great week. Thanks for reading ya'll!

mirror, mirror.

{sweater vest: urban (thrifted) | turtle neck: h&m | pants you can't see: banana | iphone case: society 6}

It's been a rainy week here in PDX. (that's airport lingo for Portland). So rainy, that I haven't been able to take any outside photos. And if it's not rainy, it's either dark out or I am at work. The woes of a fashion blogger in January... 

Luckily, I snapped this photo in the bathroom mirror at work (my coworkers think I'm nuts) so that I could still show you my favorite thrifted sweater vest! If this weather keeps up, you might be seeing many more of these photos. Unless any bloggers out there have any tips for rainy day [month] outfit photos? 

Minty

{blazer: Express (similar) | tee: Jcrew | skirt: Jcrew | scarf: F21 | boots: Steven via DSW}

I'm thankful for Friday and four day work weeks. After taking a few weeks off to be with family, it's been an adjustment to join the working world again. But finding things to be thankful for always helps pull me through.  

 Oh, and I'm thankful for scarves. brrrr. We've been on a cold streak here in the NW. The kind of cold streak where I wear my down coat like a sweatshirt and only take it off for outfit photos. 

Sequins

{blazer: Loft (similar) | tank: Jcrew | jeans: 7 for all mankind (similar) | shoes: Payless | clutch: F21}

I bought my first full sequined shirt in college. It was bring pink and for some reason, I felt (and looked) like an awkward mermaid while wearing it. But that didn't stop me, of course. When I look back at pictures and see that shirt, I cringe.

I finally got the courage up to try a shirt full of sequins again and fortunately, these sequins are far from mermaid-ish. And I don't think they will make me cringe in 8 years. But you know what I always say- "never say never". Or was that Bieber? Either way, I believe it.

Merry Happy.

{sweater: F21 | skirt: h&m | scarf: F21 | shoes: payless}

You know how they say you learn something new every day? Well, the older I get, the more I know this to be true. I just learned that the 12 days of christmas start at christmas, and continue for 4 days AFTER. So therefore, I don't have to feel bad about being late in wishing you a merry christmas and happy holidays.

MERRY happy. I'm mixing my adjectives just like I'm mixing my patterns.