This Weekend's Theme: Flowers, Lace, and Red Moccasins

Hi there!

If you don't mind, I'd like to start tonight's post talking about some shopping I did this weekend! I didn't have too much extra spending money lying around (apparently September is a popular month for birthdays!), but I ventured out on Saturday morning and managed to find a few great deals!

Dress Goodwill: Fun & Flirty ($9.99) // Leopard Platform Heels Charlotte Russe ($6.99, Clearance) // Red Moccasins DSW: Minnetonka ($7.96, Clearance + 2 Member "Rewards" Coupons) // Bracelets Charlotte Russe ($3.00, "BOGO 1/2 Off Happy Hour")

I got a dress, 2 pairs of shoes, and a bracelet stack for only $27.94 (before tax)!

The dress is by Fun & Flirty, which I am not familiar with, so I have no idea where it originally came from. The color is perfect for fall though, and it has flowy sleeves that are pretty unique. I can't wait to wear it with black leggings or skinny jeans with a pair of boots! I will admit that my husband and I went to 4 different Goodwills on Saturday morning, and this was the only item I purchased from there. Some days I have much better luck than others!

Now on to what I actually wore this weekend!

Saturday

Shirt, Cami, Earrings & Boots Wet Seal (Old) // Cardigan H&M (Spring 2012) // Jeans American Eagle // Necklace Forever 21 (Old)

I didn't think to take a picture of it until too late, but the shirt I am wearing in this picture is a racer-back tank, and is longer in the back than it is in the front ("mullet", or "high-low" shirt). The front of the shirt combines leopard print with a rose pattern. The dark colors make it perfect for fall! I paired it with a necklace I remember buying from Forever 21 back in high school! I was crazy obsessed with costume jewelry in high school, but I only have a few pieces left anymore. This is one of them!

These pink rose earrings from Wet Seal matched the pink roses on my shirt!

Sunday

Shirt Forever 21 (Hand-me-down=Free!) // Cami Charlotte Russe (Summer 2013) // Lace Sweater Wet Seal (Winter 2011) // Jeans American Eagle // Moccasins DSW: Minnetonka ($7.96, Fall 2013) // Earrings Francesca's (Spring 2013)

When I got dressed this morning, I stuck to yesterday's theme of flowers and lace! The difference today, though, was that I added my new red moccasins to the mix! They are super comfortable and didn't bother my feet at all after walking around all day in them. I did notice that sometimes they squeak a little loudly, but that seemed to only be when I was walking around on linoleum floors.
 

Thank you for reading!! :)

Fall Fever

Hi there!

Is "Fall Fever" a thing? I mean there's "Spring Fever". What about for autumn? The weather is just as nice. I even drove to work today with the window rolled down. You know it's a pretty day here if people are driving around with their windows rolled down. :) Plus, today I was just antsy. I didn't want to sit in an office all day! I wanted to go on a hike! And bake pumpkin muffins! And visit Zara, which finally opened here yesterday! Luckily for me, it's now the weekend, so hopefully I'll be able to do all of those things in the next couple of days!

Blazer Target (Winter 2012) // Shirt Macy's: 6 Degrees (Spring 2012) // Cami Wet Seal // Necklace Nordstrom (Fall 2012) // Jeans American Eagle // Shoes DSW: Adrienne Vittadini (Winter 2013)

 I love how this pink necklace pops against the baby blue shirt! Can you tell I tried to match my lipstick to my necklace? ;)

I was just going to wear the blue shirt, but I've been freezing cold at work all week, so I thought I better layer up!

Michael and I went to one of our favorite restaurants, Asian Island, after work. I tried a spicy mango sushi roll for the first time. . .it's one of my new favorite things!! After dinner, we stopped by Target to pick up a couple of things. I asked Michael if we could look at their Halloween decorations because I love holiday decorations. I was completely shocked when I realized they already have Christmas decorations in stock too!! One of my favorite finds was this Christmas pig! I wish we lived in a house with a lawn so we had somewhere we could set this guy up!

It's called a "Tinsel Pig". I can't get over how cute it is!

Thank you for reading!! :)

I Like Red Shoes :)

Hi there!

One style I've really come to like the past few years is nautical! I live in the middle of a desert, and have been on a sailboat literally one time in my life, but I just love the look of red and navy blue and stripes and anchors! Plus, it doesn't hurt to daydream about living by the sea. ;) Today I brought a little bit of "nautical" to the office by wearing this red and blue striped shirt from H&M and pairing it with a pencil skirt and statement necklace.

Shirt H&M (Summer 2012) // Skirt with belt Forever 21 (Spring 2012) // Necklace Wet Seal (Fall 2011) // Shoes (I don't remember!)

I had never tried wearing a t-shirt with a pencil skirt before, but I really like how it turned out! Plus, it was super comfortable!

Purse Francesca's (Spring 2012)

I bought these shoes for my Homecoming Dance my sophomore year of high school. That means they are almost 8 years old. . . .yikes! (How old does something need to be before it's considered "vintage"? :P) I got them in a small shoe store at the mall, but I don't remember where! I've hardly worn them since that dance, but I am happy I found them in my closet recently. There's just something about red shoes that make such a statement!

I'm currently on the lookout for a pair of red flats. I used to have a pair that I had to throw out earlier this year because they were so worn out.

It's finally cooling down enough to start taking walks after dinner again! Michael and I took our first walk of the season tonight. :) I love having a little time in the evening free of any distractions to just talk to each other about our day--and to get a little exercise to work off our dinner! ;)

Thank you for stopping by! :)

Black and White and Striped All Over

Hi there!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: black and white is a major fall trend this year! One of my favorite ways to wear black and white together is a striped shirt like this. I found this shirt at Nordstrom Rack a couple of years ago. I love the sales and discounted items you can find there! By itself, the shirt looks pretty casual, but I dressed it up for work by adding a statement necklace and a sweater.

Top Nordstrom Rack: Love By Design (Summer 2011) // Cami & Sweater Wet Seal // Necklace Etsy: JGirlsJewels ($17, Winter 2013) // Pants H&M (Spring 2012) // Shoes DSW: Adrienne Vittadini (Winter 2013)

OK, clearly it's time to go shopping for a new necklace or two! Now that I'm taking pictures of my outfit every day, I've realized I wear it even more often than I thought! Maybe I just need to buy the exact same necklace, but in every color available! ;)

After work, I went to my weekly Small Group. I quickly changed into a pair of jeans and boots to look more casual for the rest of the night!

Top Nordstrom Rack: Love By Design (Summer 2011) // Cami and Boots Wet Seal (2009-ish?) // Necklace Etsy: JGirlsJewels ($17, Winter 2013) // Jeans American Eagle

Thank you for reading! :)

Beginning of a New Week

Hi there!

This is going to be quick because I am tiiiiired.

Today I wore a dress to work that I found from Goodwill! It originally came from H&M.

Dress Goodwill: H&M // Cami Wet Seal // Necklace Charlotte Russe (Spring 2013) // Cardigan H&M (Spring 2012) // Shoes DSW: Jessica Simpson (Summer 2013)

I wasn't sure how the green cami would look with the dress, but all of my "neutral" camis were in my laundry hamper. I ended up liking how it brought a little bit of color to the outfit!

I've mentioned before how much I love this simple little cardigan. It's especially great this time of year, when the weather is finally starting to cool down!

Monday nights are now Date Night for Michael and me (it sure is a nice thing to look forward to all day)! It's currently Arizona Restaurant Week, so we ended up going to Maggiano's Little Italy for a special promotion.

My husband + baked ziti + apple crostata = a happy, sleepy girl! :)

Summer Dress Transitioned to Fall

Hi there!

Today I went down to Tucson with my sister to visit some friends. I had such a great time! :D

For dinner, we went to a Mexican restaurant that served table-side salsa. A woman pushed a cart over to our table stocked with ingredients, and she made our salsa for us right there. It completely rocked my world! I am a huuuge salsa fanatic, and also appreciated the fact that the bowl of salsa she gave us was basically the size of a cauldron. I've never understood why the standard size of salsa dishes at most Mexican restaurants are so dinky?? :)

 Out and about at La Encantada!

Last spring, I bought a dress from Express for my wedding reception (for 40% off, might I add!). Part of the appeal of the dress I bought was that I just knew I could easily wear it on other occasions throughout the rest of the summer!

I woke up this morning--the very first day of Fall--and realized I hadn't worn the dress a single time since the reception. Whoops!

I decided then and there I should wear it at least once more this year! To transition it to Fall, I belted my chambray top around it, and added a bright pink scarf. I also wore the pair of ankle boots that I bought on clearance from Charlotte Russe this past summer.

Dress Express (40% off, Spring 2013) // Chambray Top Charlotte Russe ($10, Summer 2013) // Belt Came with a different dress // Boots Charlotte Russe ($7.99, Summer 2013) // Scarf Wet Seal // Bag Francesca's (Spring 2012)

I had such a wonderful weekend traveling around this beautiful state I get to call home! I can't believe how fast it's flown by! I hope you have an awesome week! :)

Views From Blue Ridge

Hi there!

Today, Michael and I took a mini-road trip with our friend Brandon up to Blue Ridge! We hiked around a little bit and grilled steaks for lunch. They jumped off of little cliffs into a lake and went fishing. I soaked up the fresh air, sunshine, and beautiful surroundings while taking lots of photos! Here are a few of my favorites. :)

Casual Friday 9/20

Hi there!

I like keeping busy.

That is something I've learned about myself this year. The first half of this year I was finishing up my last semester at college, working 30 hours a week, and planning my wedding. Then I graduated college, got married, and boom all of a sudden, all I have to do is go to work?? OK, it's for 40 hours a week now, but still. I didn't know what to do with myself when I got home and didn't have homework or wedding planning to do. I've had to find other ways to keep myself busy the past couple of months. That's a big reason I started this blog.

Another way to keep myself occupied? Mixing "busy" patterns together, like floral with stripes. ;)

 There's that necklace again! I'm obsessed!

The reason these pieces are able to work together is that black is the predominant color of both the top and the blazer. It helps tie them both together. I added the statement necklace so there is a focal point for the eyes to rest on instead of bouncing around between both patterns.

Top & Cami Wet Seal // Blazer Target (Winter 2013) // Jeans Macy's: Silver Jeans Co. (Spring 2013) // Shoes DSW: Adrienne Vittadini (Winter 2013) // Necklace Etsy: JGirlsJewels ($17, Winter 2013)

Another accessory of mine today? A big smile because today is Friday! Hooray the weekend is officially here! :D

I know I just got frozen yogurt last night, but I found another deal for tonight! There is a yogurt shop nearby that was giving out free yogurt and toppings as part of their grand opening celebration. Free. Yogurt. I can't pass that up! My sister and I went there to get our froyo on, and stood in line for 30 minutes. It was one of the longest lines I've ever stood in, and the nerd in me couldn't help but think that the Opportunity Cost of standing in line for this yogurt was more than the yogurt was actually worth. But ah well, we eventually got some and it was delicious!

My name is Katie, and I am a froyo addict. :)

Ann Taylor 4 Less

Hi there!

Today I wore an Ann Taylor shirt that I found from Goodwill! Woohoo I was pretty happy to find it. :) I just love the detailing at the neckline! [OK, and I love the discounted price! ;)]

I paired it with a pencil skirt and my black peep-toe pumps! I always feel "grown up" when I wear a pencil skirt to work. Is that just me?

Top Goodwill: Ann Taylor (>$10!) // Skirt Forever 21 (Spring 2012) // Belt Came with a separate dress Shoes DSW: Jessica Simpson (Summer 2013) // Bracelet Charlotte Russe (Summer 2013)

I love this bow bracelet I recently bought from Charlotte Russe! It's a black leather cuff bracelet so it looks "tough", but it has a giant bow on it, so it's "sweet" at the same time!

Speaking of sweet. . . .tonight my favorite frozen yogurt shop is having a special--$4 for all the yogurt and toppings you can fill in your cup?! Ummm hello. My husband and I will be getting our booties over there shortly! Froyo, berries, and chocolate are my fave!
 

 I hope you have a "sweet" ending to your night as well! :)

Black & Blue

Hi there!

Not much going on for me today! I'm currently eating popcorn and a spinach smoothie for dinner, and later I'm meeting my sister at the library. Wooooooo crazy Wednesday night! ;)

Do you ever wake up in the morning and realize that you totally forgot to do the laundry you meant to do the night before? That was me today! I was able to piece together an outfit using some basic pieces.

Top, Sweater, and Belt Wet Seal // Skirt Target (Winter 2013) // Necklace Etsy: JGirlsJewels ($17, Winter 2013) // Sandals I can't remember (old)

I realized today that I wear this necklace pretty often! This is the 3rd or 4th time I've worn it in 3 weeks. I just love it! I specifically bought it for our engagement pictures earlier this year, and I am so happy I've gotten so much more use out of it! I especially like how it looks against my black shirt today.

P.S. Yesterday, Charlotte Russe posted something on their Instagram saying blue will "the color of the season"! I'll be looking for it! :)

Bows and Pearls

Hi there!

Before I talk about what I wore to work today, I need to give a little disclaimer.

You see, my husband gets so concerned when I wear the colors black and yellow together. He gets upset at the thought of someone taking a look at my outfit and thinking to themselves "Hmmm, that girl is wearing black and yellow. Together. She must be a STEELERS FAN!!!" (Insert scream and dramatic music.)

Apparently, you can't be a Steelers fan if you're a Cardinals fan because of a Super Bowl that took place a few years ago. So, just so I don't cause any confusion: Go Cards go. Yay Cardinals. This family bleeds Cardinal Red. Woooooo.

Contrary to what Michael believes, I am not thinking about football when I get dressed in the morning. (Does anyone? :P OK, besides on Game Day. I guess.) When I got dressed this morning, I was thinking more about channeling Audrey Hepburn. Or perhaps one of the women from Mad Men. (One of my favorite shows!! I haven't seen any of Season 6! Hurry up Netflix!!!)

 Dress with belt H&M (Spring 2012) // Necklace Charlotte Russe (Spring 2013) // Heels Wet Seal (2007-ish?)

If you saw my post from yesterday, you will remember I wore a bow belt that I said came with a different dress. This is the dress! I love the flare of the skirt! I feel so "retro" when I wear it. :) I also wore a pair of pearl earrings and this pearl necklace. I brightened the outfit up with my bright yellow heels. If I would have had enough time, I would have thrown my hair up in a bun to look completely polished.

Double the bows, double the fun!

I am wearing a super simple outfit to Small Group tonight. I know that it's technically past Labor Day. And I know that means I'm not "supposed" to wear white. But hear me out--when I went to the dentist this afternoon the thermometer in my car read 107 degrees. Yeah, I'm wearing white shorts.

 Shirt Wet Seal // Necklace Gift // Cami Charlotte Russe // Sandals DSW: Unisa (Spring 2013) // Shorts Kohl's: SO (Summer 2013, 50% off)

Oh, and PS? In case it wasn't clear. . . .

:)

Oxblood - Prettier Than It Sounds

 Hi there!

Doesn't "Oxblood" sound like one of the creepiest colors that you've ever heard? It was a very popular color last Fall, and when I first heard of it, I thought "Ew gross that sounds horrible!" Then I actually saw the color, and I fell in love!  It is such a deep, beautiful color and I just think it looks so luxurious! I'm happy to be seeing it pop up all over the place again this year.  I bought this dress last Fall from H&M, and it's one of my favorite dresses to wear to work!

Dress H&M (Fall 2012) // Belt H&M (came with separate dress) // Heels DSW: Jessica Simpson (Summer 2013) // Earrings Forever 21 (Spring 2012)

By itself, the dress is pretty plain. I added a cute bow belt to it that originally came with a different dress from H&M. (Can you tell it's one of my favorite stores?!) Cinched at the waist, the belt is the perfect addition to this dress! (Fun fact: This was a pretty cheap belt, and the buckle broke right away. :( I've been using a safety pin to hold it together all year. Hey, it works!) To complete the look, I wore a pair of black peep-toe pumps.

I chose a pair of gold and pale pink earrings, simply based on the fact that I like how these colors look against the oxblood.

The sunset tonight was so beautiful! I tried taking a picture on my phone, but it doesn't do the colors nearly enough justice. The sky looked like sherbert!