Army Green and Flowers

Today was one of those days where I thought these pictures were never going to happen even though I really wanted them too. For the first time ever I actually planned this outfit ahead of time. It's been stewing in my head since Wednesday and somehow I waited two whole days to wear it. Then of course the weather decides not to cooperate. It was hot and the air was thick (with humidity). For the sake of this blog though I wore the jacket anyway. Which to think of it worked out because my office is an icebox.

Then just as SSBF and I were getting ready to take some photos it started to rain and my batteries died! With no replacements in the house SSBF was nice enough to drive me over to the grocery store (aww). I must say SSBF was a stand-up guy tonight and of course I was over critical of his picture taking. Sorry baby!





I love how I look like a deer caught in the headlights in these pictures. As if I didn't know I was going to have my picture taken. Anyway, I've never been a dress kind of girl but lately I have been enjoying the ease of throwing one on in the morning and feeling both less stressed and perfectly appropriate for work. My favorite part is this is the other side of the reversible dress I bought from Target. See how else I styled it here and here.

What do you guys have in store for the weekend? I will be doing some homework, some cleaning, and maybe some tennis? Exciting right?

I hope you don't mind I refer to you all as "guys". I just realized I do it often. I think it's my Philadelphia roots. Everyone up there is a "guy" or "guys".

Have a good weekend!


Jacket, J.Crew
Dress, Target
Sandals, Steve Madden via Piperlime
Jewelry, Various

Feels Like Summer

How was you holiday weekend?

I enjoyed my weekend. We didn't have much planned for the holiday, just a BBQ at my sister's house in Pennsylvania. The rest of the time was just spent bumming around the house. I love those kind of weekends even though I eventually get restless with too much downtime. It was one of those weekends where I couldn't imagine being with anyone else besides SSBF.

Not because I'm super sentimental or anything, but because SSBF actually posed the question "Could you imagine dating anyone else?" and then continued on by saying "Cause I've tried, and I just can't".

The question itself is a little odd, but in truth who doesn't imagine their life in different scenarios? After thinking about it awhile and all the little things that we do for one another and the understanding we have of each others emotions, and thoughts, it's really hard to try and imagine the relationship we've built with anyone but one another.

And to think before I met SSBF my life plan did not involve a house or a significant other until well closer to thirty. Life is funny sometimes.

Anyway, I had a feeling despite the long weekend I wasn't going to get an outfit shot in. Partly because I'm lazy and partly because my camera batteries died midway through a shot of one of my nephews biting it on the way down a hill in a wagon. I was really bummed that I didn't get it on film. Luckily, I had these shots ready to go from an outfit I wore to work last week.

This skirt can be tricky to shoot with my camera because of the pattern. It creates a pretty funky optical illusion with the LCD. I give SSBF props for getting as many clear photos as he did. I wore this outfit last Wednesday when we had our first 90 degree day of the week. I love this shirt, not because it was only $6, but because I love how the big floral pattern meshes with the smaller pattern of the skirt. I was happy to break my blazer streak too. Don't get me wrong, I love my blazers but I felt like I was relying on them far too much.

If I get a little flaky over the next couple weeks I apologize in advance. Thursday marks the beginning of my summer semester which means class two nights a week until the second week of July! Plus a social softball league on Wednesdays!

Feels like summer!

chase you down until you love me, paparazzi.

Holy crap it's Thursday! I can't believe how fast this week has gone. 

When I was working at Enterprise a week like this would have lasted a lifetime. Between the rain and cold I would have come home a miserable ball of contempt. However I work inside now, in a cozy (alabeit chilly) office for the duration of my day. It's kind of amazing.

I've been trying to restrain myself from gushing about my new job. I have to say though I didn't realize how awful Enterprise was and how depressed I was with my job until I started working on Monday. Everyday I've come home full of energy and I actually look forward to getting ready in the morning. It's a welcome change of pace for SSBF and I.

Speaking of SSBF and I, we've been on a spending frenzy. I can hardly believe it. Like I mentioned earlier in the week we spent a good part of Saturday, and about $150 working on the garden. Then on Sunday another $140 to organize the guest bedroom. Well last night we spent the better part of $700 on a patio set, charcoal grill, and various supplies (like charcoal). I think we can finally say our outdoor area is complete!

Hopefully now I can go back to spending my money on important things, like the It's a Wonderful Top in Wisteria from Modcloth.

PS. if you haven't seen it, check out this little kid singing "Paparazzi" it's amazing.

*Dress, Target

*Tights, Gap

*Blazer, Gap Outlet

*Watch, Guess

Post Title: Lady Gaga "Paparazzi"

April Outfit Challenge: Day 6

At first I was going to do a post about the 15 peices I picked to be the foundation of my wardrobe this month. However, the pictures didn't do the clothing any justice so I scrapped that plan and thought I would just introduce them to you as they come. This was my first offical challenge outfit this month. (In case you missed it I've challenged myself to a month of no spending, check out the details here.)

Both the shirt and the skirt in this outfit are part of my 15. I love this button down that I picked up from New York & Co. one random day. Its not a regular haunt, but it seems like from time to time I can stop in and find one peice I love at an amazing price (aka. $14.99, ladies) My favorite detail that I foolishly disguised in this outfit is the pockets. I love pockets. The skirt is from the J.Crew outlet. It got shoved away in some dark corner of my closest until about a week ago. I was so excited to find it so I could start working it in to heavy rotation.

I love both of these peices but I'll be honest, after seeing these pictures the first time I wasn't the biggest fan of this outfit. It just seemed too boring and drab for the beautiful summer-like weather we've been having. It's grown on me a little but in hindsight it definitely needs a pair of pumps in a bright color next time around.

What do you guys think?

Suit Up

First of all, if you don't watch "How I Met your Mother" the title of this post probably means nothing to you. If you do though, you can revel in my pleasure of walking around today telling everyone I "suited up". You seem at work we were supposed to get a visit from a couple of the higher ups at GEICO, hence the more formal business attire. I generally hate wearing full suits but the Easter egg blue shirt (untucked) and the leopard-print shoes helped break up the monotony.

Of course they never showed.
In other news, my white jeans from Old Navy and Wedge Sandals from ALDO arrived today and I can not wait to style them.

*Blazer and Pants, Express

*Button Down, J.Crew (Outlet)

*Shoes, Target

*Belt, Banana Republic

(Nearly) Sans Tights

To summarize how this week has been so far I spent all Sunday and the better part of my lunch break yesterday agonizing over my accounting homework for this week, only to find out (an email to my professor later) that my homework actually isn't due until next week. duh.

On a positive note, the weather here has been just amazing. Although it's still a little cold in the morning I decided to brave the chill and lose the tights. I would have gone completely bare, but Enterprise is still a little weird about that. They officially took pantyhose out of the dress code for girls about a year ago, but I know they secretly want us to wear them. (Silly men).

Anyways, I was hoping to take some of these pictures outside but in true Enterprise fashion the day was so unpredictable I didn't see my desk until I was packing up to leave.

I had to settle for inside pictures. SSBF hates this last picture, but there is something I love about it. I think its just enough off to work. SSBF accidentially left the flash down, that why the color ended up so dark. This outfit, and several variations of it work well for me, at work. It's feminine, yet has enough structure that people take me seriously. Which is more important then you think when you work in a male-dominated field.

Also, I had been having trouble incorporating fashion and finance into this blog on a weekly basis, but I think I have finally come up with a way to do so. More on that later this week.

Is it Friday yet?

*Shirt, Old Navy
*Vest, Kohls
*Skirt, Target
*Belt, Old Navy
*Boots, Rocket Dog

Hints of Purple, Shades of Blue.

Coincidentally, I wore this chambray button-up top from Forever 21 twice this week. Once to work, on the day I mustered up enough courage to let Brian take some pictures, and today.

I love the pictures Brian took for me, but I am a much bigger fan of how I wore the shirt this weekend.
Oh well, live and learn.

Top:
*Cardigan, J.Crew
*Chambray Top, Forever 21
*Pants, Old Navy
*Shoes, DSW

Bottom:
*Cardigan, J.Crew
*Chambray Top, Forever 21
*Scarf, Old Navy
*Skinny Jeans, Old Navy
*Boots, Forever 21

Hoping for Spring

While I typically don't mind winter I have been feeling a little weather weary lately. The thing I hate about snow is that when living in a city it doesn't take long for that snow to turn all back a gross from the car exhaust (thank you pollution). With more snow in the forecast this week I am seriously dying for some spring  temperatures. Until then I just have to settle for "spring-like"

I think the weather is what prompted me to buy this dress from Old Navy. It's not a typical Grace dress. Very girly and pink. Two things that don't usually describe me. But I loved it, I needed it.

Unless I want to get fired though, I can't wear that to work. So I decided to have some fun styling it.

I was hoping to take these pictures outside, in the sun, at work. But at home, at night, in the office would have to suffice. Plus, Chloe wanted in on the shoot too.

*Essential Blazer, Express
*Dress, Old Navy (worn as a top)
*Gathered Skirt, Target
*Grey Cable Knit Tights, Forever 21
* Boots, Zigi Soho, DSW

Haircuts and Hugs.

So here it is, the official unveiling of my haircut. I was seriously nervous when I was getting it done because I've never had such dark hair before. And bangs? Well I haven't had them since 8th grade when it was cool to take a round brush/curling iron and make them curl out as far as possible. If fact, I had a little deja vu while she was styling them. However, it turned out even better then I thought it would, and I am totally in love with my own hair. Thank you Jen at Elements of Style. If you live in the Baltimore area this is a great salon to check out. The girls are fantastic and the prices are super reasonable ($65 for a cut and color). Its a little bit of a drive being that its in Sykesville, but it definitely worth it.

My job isn't a very touchy feely one. People need cars, I rent them cars. This isn't Extreme Makeover by any means. More often then not we get a lot of irritated, frustrated, annoyed and downright rude customers that make you wonder if there is such a thing called tact, or even common courtesy left in the world. But not yesterday. Yesterday I left my job feeling appreciated for the first time in a long while. I was helping a customer switch into a SUV last night. (In Maryland, everyone is a little worried that snow will strike at any moment and leave anyone without four wheel drive stranded) Anyways, she was super sweet and as I was finishing up with her she looked at me and said: "I feel like I have to give you a hug". She caught me off guard, 100%,  and before I knew it she had me wrapped up in a hug. I'm not going lie. I didn't hate it. It was totally random, but made my existence as a rental car slave just a tad bit better until the next ridiculous customer.

The Work/Weekend Dichotomy

I do it all the time. I separate my closet into two neat and tidy categories, Work and Weekend. What I didn't realize until today is that these two categories are what totally blow my clothing budget each and every month. When I buy something I find myself justifying it for one category or the other. Now clearly some items belong in one category or the other (at least for my current employer) like jeans and trousers for weekend and work respectively. However there is no reason for the all of my clothes to be mutually exclusive.

Not only am I killing my budget but I am stressing myself out day in and day out trying to put together an outfit while mentally limiting my options by assigning labels.

Like SSBF, courtesy of G.I. Joe always says "Knowing is half the battle".

From now on all of my clothes (ok most) should be able to serve double duty.