Winter Denim & Brown Boots

The nerve of me, right? Unapologetically publishing a blog post after months of being unaccountable for this little slice of the Internet I call home...that's kinda starting to be my thang. Anywhooo. Recently I invented the Canadian Ballgown which is a denim dress over a denim top. I know! I know! (Please refrain from bursting my bubble if this is already a thing. Ok?) This dress is just perfect for remixing outfits because of the cut and fabric. I am sure this dress will make an appearance many more times this year. Other than NOT blogging and wearing a ridiculous amount of denim my life in Wisconsin has been pretty low key but in a good way. I like low key after the last 4 whirl wind years of my life. I hereby proclaim 2014 to be the year of low key living. I have found the idea of low key has been transitioning into my wardrobe in that a lot of eclectic elements which used to drawn me in are turning me off.  Have you noticed a similar shift in fashion? I certainly have.

Outfit Details

Dress // Kohl's 

Chambray Top // Sears

Hat // No idea where this hat came from 

Scarf // Gifted 

Fleece Nylons // Shopko 

Boots // Charlotte Russe

Necklace // Aero

Silver & Cement

I am an eclectic dresser at best and I believe that if I could major in layering I would have my PhD by now. (I tend to say that about a lot of things like; kittens, tamagotchi's, glitter and tetris but rarely painting which is kinda weird) Sometimes layering clothes works wonderfully as it did with this outfit and sometimes... Well, I just pat myself on the back and say "Good game but better luck tomorrow." I bought this dress from the clearance rack at Walmart (seriously!) for my cousin Molly's graduation. It is becoming a fast favorite. I have a lot of black dresses. If I had to guess I would say I am currently in the ball park of six or seven black frocks in my wardrobe. With all that said I have never had a dress that lent itself remixing so well. I love Walmart clothes. I am not kidding. Walmart is like thrifting clothes that no one else has ever lived in. Stop judging me. I lived 78 miles from the nearest Target. Any way, I felt killer in this outfit like a sassy used car dealership secretary from the 70's and any outfit that makes me feel that good is considered a win in my book. How about you, is there an item currently hanging in your closet that was purchased from a surprising store? I would love to hear about it!

Outfit Details
Dress // Walmart
Necklace // Thrifted
Shoes // Nordstroms Thrifted
Faux Lace Shirt // Target
Purse // Inherited From my Nana

Carter & Cash

I just need to confess that for some unknown reason I feel like June Carter Cash in this outfit... OK so she may have never dressed this casual but if she has been twenty something in 2013 I am willing to bet she would have rocked an outfit like this. I need to confess one more embarrassing thing, when ever I talk about Mrs. Johnny Cash I almost always first imagine Reese Witherspoon's portrayal of June. I guess what I am getting at is I feel like Reese Witherspoon playing June Carter Cash when I wear this get up. Other than pretending I am movie married to Joaquin Phoenix playing Johnny Cash my life has been all sorts of crazy lately. Since my birthday three months ago I have travelled to Moab, Portland, Vancouver and most wonderfully Green Bay. On top of that in two short weeks I am going to visit Justin and Maria in Oregon... THEN I AM MOVING HOME! (As in I am leaving the state Utah and moving to the place that makes me feel most incredible WISCONSIN) When I travel I miss the surprise of whipping up an unexpected outfit since I have carefully planned every single detail a week in advanced. This outfit is a result of finally having the chance to wear an unplanned outfit and a testament to my love of bargain shopping. I say this out loud so often I might as well blog that I am so happy I bought these boots ( seen here, here and here ) at the end of last summer for only 16 bucks. I have never worn a pair of shoes so much that the soles are are starting to fall off of! I feel the same way about this jean jacket and to be honest I was super hesitant a jean jacket might read a little 'white trash' instead of preppy but so far I have successfully avoided any trashy mishaps.

Outfit Details
Jean Jacket // Old Navy
Black Tank // h&m
Ring // Ti Pan (clearance bin 75 cents)
Bracelet // 5 year Anniversary Gift from Sergio
Heart Necklace // Borrowed from my Mom
Dress worn as a skirt // Kohl's
Black Leggings // Free (as in not one dollar spent) JcPenny
Boots // Ross

Shear Floral & Spring Rain

My mom and I have an issue with clothing in that we prefer a roomy fit. for example if I am shopping for clothing and a large fits well but up is available up to a size XXXL I will either leave with a XL or XXL. I do this for a variety of reasons but mainly for those times when I feel bloated my closet full of apparel still fits comfortably. I also noticed when I size up my clothes tend to last longer because the item can't shrink smaller than my size. My mom is the same way and practically prefers that her clothes hardly even touch her body. I am not picking on her by any means partly because I am the same way. Saying that I like my clothes to fit loosely is an understatement, I don't pay attention to jean size I just usually buy the pair that I can pull on over my thighs with out unzipping. Although I am a big believer in sizing up I should admit it is not always a wonderful idea. My mom bought this shirt and of course opted to buy a size bigger than she felt she needed but didn't notice that the next bigger size had considerably longer length. I've been told that the first time she wore the shirt a few of her friends commented that it's length may not  have been a good pairing with her dress slacks. those comments naturally led to her giving me the shirt which happens all the time and I love it. I mean my mom is one stylish lady and happened to pass on her good taste to me. If you can't tell we are BFFL. I ain't ashamed. Moral of the story is to never let your mother donate any clothes before you have had a chance to wear it.

Outfit Details 

Top worn as tunic // Ross

Leggings // Walmart 

Boots // Ross 

Belt // Modcloth

Necklace // Charlotte Russe

P.s. These photos were taken on the first day of spring during a rain storm! It has already RAINED during Spring in this desert! How glorious.

Button ups & boots

I have been forcing Sergio to spend every single second possible in the Logan canyon. I just can't even describe how at home I feel surround by all the changing leaves. Utah really lacks fall and I miss Wisconsin so much this time of year. Sigh. Last week when we took these photos Sergio and I spotted a beaver swimming and saw a snake catch a fish wiggle out of the water. I also recently saw a gorgeous fox running through a farm Field yesterday on my way to work... I didn't even know Fox's lived in Utah. I love this time of year. Fall brings out the desire for me to dress super casual yet classic which means I have been LIVING in these riding boots. When I wear these boots I feel like I live in rustic Maine rather that rural Utah. Also, every blogger needs a white button up. Scratch that. Every person needs a white button up, in my opinion. I feel so fabulous in them. To prove my love of white button ups let me share a quick story; once a upon a time I was a tiny young high school senior getting my senior photos taken. I wore one outfit... are you ready for the outfit details? A white button up, a brown Cami and jean... that is it. no shoes. no fancy stuff. Wait, I think I wore jewelry.

Outfit details
Top // TJmaxx
Scarf // Old Navy
Cords // Vanilla Star via Tjmaxx
Socks // Smartwool gifted to me
Riding boots // Chinese Laundry via Ross
Bracelet // Green Bay farmers market

Paisley & Gravestones

It has been awhile since I had any time to spend in the cemetery, that is most likely because I took this semester off of school which means I no longer live with in walking distance. Sergio and I got an unexpected day off of work so I requested that we head to the cemetery immediately. Not really. I did ask but I wasn't dramatic. Of course Sergio said he would go to the cemetery with me because he is the best Sergio also said yes to taking a few photos for me because I can't take my own anymore as a result of my digital cameras all being very busted. It is sort of fun to take pictures with my point and shoot because it has no view finder and the back screen is shattered. I never know what photo will turn out and what photo will be a flop. I get a lot of flops but not always. In these photos I am hanging out around my favorite part of the cemetery which is a beautiful family plot owned by the Miller's surrounded by a gorgeous 14 inch wrought iron fence. It has the most charm out of the whole cemetery... in my humble opinion.  I always spend the most time on the benches there. I don't  know if that is disrespectful but I don't believe I am being disrespectful because the benches are not grave markers but rather normal park benches. I like to think that at least one of the Millers appreciates that I am sitting with them. Any one know about cemetery bench etiquette? Maybe I should look it up. Other than that.... this is on average how I look while I am dialing at work. Pretty snappy hey? I know. Also, don't judge me for wearing jeans on a day other than Friday.

 Outfit Details 

Boots // Chinese Laundry via Ross 

Jeans // Levi's 

Polka Dot Tank // Kohls 

Corduroy Paisley Blazer // Auntie Cath's closet 

Necklace // My Mom from when she was young 

Purse // Bay fest vendor purchase

Ivory & Calico

.... I tend to obsess over articles of clothing.... like this skirt that I bought because it would match everything I own. Or at least I thought. In the dressing room the purchase made so much sense because

A) it was brown

B) it was floral

C) it was a maxi skirt 

Well I've worn it three maybe four times in the year I've owned it and for a brown, floral article of clothing in my possession that is not a lot. We seemed like the perfect match but we, the skirt and I, weren't seeing I to eye. Every top I imagined pairing it with in the store did not work at home if the color matched the cut was all wrong and if it was the cut was right the pattern would never in a million years go. I sat down and had a heart to heart with this uncooperative pile of frustration and figured out the problem is

A) The calico is blue, pink and a weird purple 

B) I don't like blue, pink and weird purple 

C) the it's super sheer

As stated above I don't like blue and pink, Although I went through a pink phase in high school it was very embarrassing.To make this very, very, very short story a long. Finally I happened to connect the problem skirt with my favorite cotton tank which has darting, pleats and sweet embroidered panel. I felt like Stevie Nicks minus the top hat. This pairing will be in rotation a lot this summer. 

p.s. These photos are kinda weird because EVERY SINGLE digital camera in this house is broken, so I gotta shoot the cameras on what ever the last setting was, I am still trying to figure it all out until I have enough funds to buy a new one. WAH. 

 

Outfit Details 

Skirt // Tj Maxx
fringe sandals // Minnetonka
Embroidered top // H&M
Cami // Kohl's
Various jewelery // Inherited from my Auntie

Union & Navy

The same day Sergio and I explored Mount Olivet Cemetery we gallivanted all afternoon around downtown SLC and explored the little big city that is is so unfamiliar to us. I knew all along I wanted to stop at the old Union Pacific Station to take some pictures. The weird part of the station is that it is HUGE and there is never anyone inside it... except of course when you bravely asked your boyfriend to take blog photos of you. The molding, black and white tiles and stain glass window found within the train station are not to be missed on the long list of sites to see in Salt Lake. I can just imagine the station alive with the hustle and bustle of travels commencing and adventures beginning. I've been trying to work on my 'adventure style' or the clothes I wear on and everyday day basis but give off a road trip vibe. That's a look right? well it's mine. And these clothes I am wearing? Came sooo close to being perfect but something is off for me, I think its the combination of long sleeves and thick nylons looks kinda-sort-of-a-tad matronly. I don't think there is anything scandalous about mustard yellow tights but be warned before you rush out and buy your self a pair... people will throw nasty judgey looks in your general direction  A LOT. but you wouldn't care cause your cool.

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Outfit Details 

Vintage Stewardess Bag // Thrifted
Top // H&M
Dress // Birthday gift from target
Nylons // Target
Moccasins // Steven Barry's
Necklace // Avon

Cats & Dogs

Happy Spring, it seems to have sprung nice and warm in most parts of the country... just not in Northern Utah. I noticed most of the blogging community yesterday wearing dresses and bare legs/arms gushing about how warm the weather is which why I am putting out my two cents about how damn cold it is. The chill in the air is fine with me, I don't mind flushed cheeks and stinging hands. I spent my afternoon playing with the dogs and supervising sassy Cache while he enjoyed sometime on the leash then I headed inside to make some veggie fried rice and settled down to watch my first episode of Mad Men, which was surprisingly delightful but I am not hooked yet. (Speaking of Mad Men you should head on over to my friend Sarah's blog who is doing a countdown to Mad Man all week long.)

Outfit Details 

Dress - Gifted from Old Navy 

Sweater - Ross 

Tights - K-mart

Belt - Kohls 

Sunglasses - Thrifted for .25

Necklace - Gifted from Charlotte Russe

Boots - Minnetonka

Cashmere & Calico

I went to The Museum of Natural History in Salt Lake City on Saturday and I wore one of the dresses I got from my parents for my birthday. Honestly, it was so hard to wait to three whole days to wear this brown calico dress but I felt it was the perfect museum frock because of the high neck and how almost 'bookish' the dress looks when paired with my cashmere sweater, but I do mean bookish in the most fabulous way possible, like a modern day Anne Shirley or Laura Ingalls Wilder. I had been wanting to visit the museum since my last birthday, it was beyond worth the wait. I felt like a little kid running around the dinosaur bones, reading EVERY SINGLE SIGN, and playing at every interpretive center until my mom informed me that maybe crawling around on the ground is a bad idea in a short dress...if you get what I am hinting at. I had a good time and wore clean underpants so I consider the entire day a huge win! I will share more of the museum later.
Can I just ask does anyone else have the purse/chest war going on? I mean cross body purses seem like such a good-hands-free-idea until you see pictures and the purse is like cutting one of your boobs off. I just can't win, either I can have my butt covered or a weird chest situation going on. I know which one I'd rather experience.

Outfit Details

Cashmere Cardigan // Gifted
Floral Dress // Gifted from Target
Green Tights // Target
Moccasins // Steven Berry
Purse // Old Navy

Dream catcher

I got an itch to blog, but I unfortunately somehow lost my camera in addition to my parents camera sooooo web cam photos are going to be all I can offer you lovely readers for a little while. I had a really good day. I got picked up from campus by my dearly missed parents for a little breakfast date at Ihop, then did some grocery shopping all while goofing around. I seriously needed to stuff my face with stuffed french toast and be next to my parents. I haven't seen them since I flew in from the funeral on Valentines Day. Today was good distraction from all the pain that's been swirling around my life lately.

I NEED to share that my mom currently has a blood clot in her leg that is travelling away from her heart, as of last week. Even though I know that the clot is moving away from her heart I am  pretty terrified for her health and my sanity. Lets face it if I lose my Mother I will lose my mind. I have been thinking about how hard it's been for my Mom to heal after my Nana's passing two years ago, Mom had her for 49 years. If this takes my mother from me I will have only had her for almost 23 years of my life. I just can't. That is one of the bad dreams plaguing my mind which makes the dream catcher all the more relevant. The blue dream catcher is fast becoming a very precious item to me. It was left at the memorial of my Aunt and two cousin's near their home. There was this big blue catcher and a small red one, I don't know who left them or why but I think they were left for each of the children. I also pretend a classmate left it because they knew someone  needed this dream catcher in attempt to filter out all the terror that this month has held.

I guesssss I should maybe talk about my outfit which is beyond boring but very comfortable. I wore my favorite brown dress a silk scarf I found at my Mom's work last year. A cheap top and a pair of shoes that I bought when I was a flat broke college freshman for like 7 dollars, I remember paying for them mainly in coins.

A Bridesmaid & Braids

Once upon a time my brother Nathan and his charming wife Miranda tied the knot. It was decided that I would be one of three bridesmaids for the wedding and I was promised the dress would be cheap and something I could wear over and over again. After two weeks of searching for the perfect sundress at the usual haunts. (BTW when does American Eagle and Hollister not have summer clothes in March? Never. Except 2 years ago) So the bridal party headed off to Davids Bridal and left the store with three brown knee length strapless dresses with pockets. It was brown. It was beautiful. It was perfect for me. I never wear it. Since the wedding this dress has hardly seen the light of day. I've taken it out of the closet once for Homecoming week. I did not purchase a 150 dollar dress for nothing. No Sir! I am gonna get my moneys worth from this frock!

I've lost a couple lbs since the wedding which means I can layer and experiment with other pieces from my closet. Which is my favorite part of dress, the layers. I've been trying to figure out a way to make my bridesmaid dress look more casual. Tried adding a belt which I think help a tads but doesn't achieve the level of everyday apparel I am looking for which in a way is totally fine because I kinda feel like Jo from Little Women in this outfit. I bet if Jo had worn this Laurie would have never married her sister...(I am a Little Women fan girl and like the professor but adore Laurie so don't judge me) Jjust kidding cause Jo is too proper to wear a short dress.

One last thing, it's hard to see in these photos but I learned how to french braid my own hair! Which means I've been playing with new to me ways to style my locks. Wearing braids in my hair makes me feel so much more feminin and fancy. Do you feel the same way?

Outfit Details

Paisley Tunic // TJMaxx

Dress // David's Bridal 

Tights // Target 

Necklace // Mom's

Belt // Modcloth 

Shoes // Thrifted