Double strand giraffe necklace + finely feathered tank

Finely feathered tank by Maeve:  Anthropologie, summer 2012
AG Stevie skinny jeans:  Anthropologie, fall 2011
Cece ballet flats in tortoise:  J.Crew, summer 2012
Double strand giraffe necklace:  J.Crew, summer 2012

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!  I wore this for a birthday party and then out to dinner with the kids and friends.  I think my giraffe necklace is going to pair well with a lot of my tops, so I'm happy I grabbed it before it sold out.  I had a lot of animals going on in this get-up...birds on the top, the giraffe on the necklace, tortoise shoes...hopefully it all worked together! 

I'm pretty worn out this morning and the kids are grumpy...a birthday party, dinner out, and then friends over at our house late was such a fun Saturday but I think we'll pay for it today!  Hope you're having a fun weekend too!  Thanks for stopping by...

Goodbye Lucille, it's been a great summer

Lucille dress in cotton-silk faille, succulent green: J.Crew, summer 2012
Ribboned rocket cardigan by Field of Flowers:  Anthropologie, winter 2012
Ashley bow ballet flat in royal blue:  Banana Republic, here
Bubble necklace in brilliant blue:  J.Crew, here

I really pushed my luck today with this too-summery outfit, as it never warmed up to where the weather folks promised it would be (thanks a lot, wrong weatherman) and I was pretty chilly all day.  Ah well, I am happy I was able to wear this Lucille one more time...this dress and the pink one were great summer staples for me. 

I seem to have an affinity for blue and green combinations.  Perhaps because those were my high school colors?  Or because it reminds me of the ocean, as I am a Pisces?  I'm not sure...but I love any shades of blue and green together. 

If you haven't tried the Ashley bow ballet flat at Banana Republic, give them a chance...they're so comfortable, come in a bunch of colors, and with the constant promos that Banana Republic runs, you can get them for a decent price. 

Happy Friday!  Thanks for reading!

Shrunken shawl cardigan, giraffe necklace, and lightening my load

Shrunken Shawl Cardigan in soft azalea:  J.Crew, winter 2008
Flair skirt in navy:  J.Crew, fall 2011
Silk cami:  J.Crew, fall 2010
Bow pumps:  Seychelles
Double stand giraffe necklace: J.Crew, fall 2012 (must have just sold out online!)

I went through my cedar chest full of sweaters last night (many of which I decided to sell...more on that in a minute) and found this adorable cashmere cardigan that I bought several years ago at J.Crew.  It is still in perfect condition: no pilling, no stretching, and it still looks new!  I was so happy to pair it with one of my favorites from last year:  The flair skirt.  Oh why didn't I buy more of these skirts when they went on sale?  It may not be as chic as a pencil skirt, but something in the way it swishes when I walk just makes me feel sassy. 

Anyway, back to the sweaters, and clothing in general:  I am really lightening my load this season.  This week, I consigned a whopping 86 items from my closet (and made a nice little chunk of  change, yay!).  Most of the items were older pieces, v-neck sweaters, old cardigans, and colors that didn't feel like "me" anymore, and I didn't think any of them would be of interest on Shop Colorful Corporate either.  So I hauled two large bins to the consignment shop, and I feel SO much better!  I literally feel lighter...like all the old clothing was weighing me down.  I would say in the past two years my shopping habits have changed pretty drastically.  Whereas before I was more about quantity, now I focus on having fewer, but nicer, items.  Pieces that I adore, and will wear, rather than a bunch of "stuff" that just sits there because I don't really love it.  I think that is why I have been loving J.Crew and Anthropologie so much in the past few years.  The clothing is so classic, and of high quality, but there's always some twist that makes them look modern and unique.

I wish this giraffe necklace was still online for you to see...it is so cute!  I will get a close up next time.  The muted colors are perfect for fall, and the little guy got a lot of compliments today!  One of the giraffes at the Cincinnati Zoo is about to have a baby, so it was perfect timing to wear this necklace!

What is your fashion concept:  Quantity or quality?  I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks so much for visiting! 

Girl's night featuring color block and bubble

Color block silk top: J.Crew, summer 2012
7 for All Mankind jeans:  Nordstrom (old!)
Red suede heels:  Banana Republic Man Men Collection:  Fall 2011
Bubble necklace in brilliant blue:  J.Crew, here
Grand Street Melinda Handbag:  Kate Spade, summer 2012

(NOTE before we start on this post:  I just posted a pair of Steve Madden Intyce boots in cognac leather on Shop Colorful Corporate for less than half of what they are currently retailing.  Take a look and let me know if you are interested!)

I had a girls' night last night but paid for it today my friends.  Two things I don't do much of during the week:  Eat pasta or drink wine.  Not because I don't want to, but because it makes me feel sluggish the next day, especially during my early morning workouts.  But last night I had both, at one of my favorite wine bars in town.  So yeah, I was dragging a bit today but a fun night with friends is always worth a little pain, right?

I know many of you didn't share my love for this color block top.  That's ok.  I love it still, and I think the blue bubble necklace is a great finishing touch.  I didn't mean to match my bag, but it looked so good with the outfit that I had to show you of course! 

Are you indulging in the 25% off  $150 promotion at J.Crew?  I have something special on hold at my local J.Crew, which I will be scurrying back for tomorrow.  Can I tell you how much I love all the sales associates who work at the Cincinnati J.Crew...if you're reading this girls, you are awesome! 

Thanks for visiting!

Tipped blazer and cafe capri in wool

Navy tipped blazer:  Banana Republic, spring 2012
Lace top: Banana Republic, spring 2012
Cafe capri in wool, bright dahlia:  J.Crew, winter 2012
Necklace, Anthropologie, summer 2012
Bow pumps:  Joan & David

It definitely felt like fall today, and I was excited to pull out some of my favorite pieces from last year to wear against the chill in the air.  Lately I have really been getting inspiration from my favorite bloggers.  I had to wear my tipped blazer after seeing Andrea in one over at Tweed and Toile.  How did I ever decide on what to wear before I followed fashion blogs? 

I bought this necklace at Anthropologie this week on sale for $39.99 but I can't find it online, it must be sold out.  It's a great chunky statement piece that matches so many items because it's so colorful.  Lately I've really been drawn to jewelry...and when I first started blogging I barely ever wore accessories.  I'm evolving!

Do you enjoy wearing fun statement jewelry?  (Hello bubble necklace!) Thanks for visiting!

No. 2 pencil in double serge wool, berry pink



Dots within blouse by Sariah:  Anthropologie, fall 2011
No. 2 pencil skirt in double serge wool, berry pink:  J.Crew, here
Bow pumps:  Mojo Moxy, DSW, fall 2011
Giraffe enamel bracelet:  J.Crew, summer 2012

Another Monday, made better by bright colors and my favorite combo, pink and green!  I must admit, I did have some inspiration with this outfit.  I love Lisa's pink and green outfit here don't you?  It's just such a pretty pairing, pink and green.  I knew I wanted to do my own version for work!

Again a note on sizing, if you didn't see it before:  this pencil skirt is the regular length and I am 5'10".  It hits me right at mid-knee so unless you are taller than 5'10", or you like your pencil skirts to hit at more of a midi length, I think the regular length should fit most ladies just fine.  I know there was a lot of grumbling about how this year's No. 2 pencil skirts in double serge wool don't seem as thick as in years past.  I don't disagree, but I still believe that they are the nicest skirts being offered at any of the major retailers right now.  And at the special price of $98, espeically if you can catch them with an additional 30% off promo, they are not too bad in price.  What can I say?  You know I drink too much of the Crew-lade.

Thank you for all of your kind comments about our family pictures!  I really appreciate all of the nice words!  You ladies are the BEST!  Thanks for visiting!

Toothpick ankle jeans in garment dyed twill + chambray + bubble

Linen-cotton chambray shirt: Banana Republic, summer 2012
Toothpick ankle jean in garment dyed twill:  J.Crew, summer 2012, other colors here
Bubble necklace in kelly green:  J.Crew, here
Cece ballet flat in tortoise:  J.Crew, summer 2012

I was super excited when I ordered this green jeans on popback for $49.99 (these are a 28 Tall for reference) a couple months ago.  But when I received them and tried them on, the first thing I thought was that I looked just like Will Ferrell in Elf.  All I could see were really long, green elf legs.  So I folded them and put them in my jeans stack, unsure if I'd ever wear them, and unable to return them as they were final sale.  But when when I went to Old Navy the other day to pick up some clothes for my boys, one of their ads featured a woman wearing green jeans and a chambray shirt.  It looked so fresh and preppy that I immediately decided to copy the look.  I wore this for a casual dinner out with friends and kids last night, and I loved how it turned out, elf legs and all.  It's like I had to build up my bravery to wear them, and now I love them!

Tell me, do you ever have to work up courage to wear a bold clothing item in your closet?
Thank for visiting!

Family photo shoot

Revised Impressionist Dress by Tracy Reese:  Anthropologie, summer 2012
On boys:  Old Navy white shirts and jeans, ties from Crewcuts and Children's Place

It's late on Saturday night but I just had to show off one of the gorgeous pictures that were taken during our family photo shoot Friday night.  The scenery is beautiful, isn't it?  And how well does my dress match the surroundings?  It's like I'm in camo.  Let me tell you, it is a real challenge getting three little boy to look at the camera, let alone smile.  So I am very happy we got some great shots! 

Revisited Impressionist Dress by Tracy Reese

Impressionist Dress by Tracy Reese:  Anthropologie, summer 2012
Sandals:  Banana Republic, summer 2012

In US Weekly a few weeks ago, they had a "Who wore it best?" page with three celebrities wearing this Tracy Reese dress.  I was shocked it was that popular!  I meant to keep it to show on the blog, but then it took me forever to wear the dress and the magazine must have gotten thrown away.  I agonized over this dress for months.  It is so exquisite, and the colors are to die for.  But $300 was way more than I was willing to pay.  When it finally, FINALLY went on sale, I headed to my local Anthro as fast as my heels would carry me.  My size was already gone so the sales associate ordered it for me, and I waited nervously for it to arrive.  Anyone who has ordered from Anthro in the past few months knows it has been a gamble to order anything online...sometimes you get it, sometimes the order gets cancelled, their system is really a mess right now.  Fortunately my dress showed up in just a matter of days to my doorstep.  But the negative part is, this gorgeous, expensive frock came wadded up in the cheapest, smallest mailer bag you can imagine.  Who would treat a special dress so poorly?  It was a wrinkled mess when I rescued it from the bag.

Fortunately, I was able to iron out the wrinkles and I finally got around to wearing it tonight for our family pictures.  The pictures rendered both my husband and me exhausted and badly in need of a glass (or 3) of wine, but the dress made me smile through all the meltdowns and whining of 3 little boys.  I wore flat sandals as the pictures were taken outside in a park, and I wanted to be able to move around. I really liked how it looked with them!  But in a normal setting I'd definitely wear heels.  I'm so happy this dress is finally mine and I'm glad I was able to wear it before fall and winter arrives!  TGIF!

Outfit inspiration and bubble necklace mania

Chambray Jacket:  Banana Republic, summer 2011
Naomi top in modern red:  J.Crew, summer 2012
No. 2 pencil skirt in garden floral:  J.Crew, summer 2012
Bubble necklace in brilliant blue:  J.Crew, here
Colette pump in nude:  Tahari

I love looking at blogs for outfit inspiration.  When I saw this outfit, I knew I wanted to wear the garden floral pencil skirt one more time before packing it away with my spring and summer clothes.  Do you get a lot of outfit ideas from looking at blogs?  I get way too overwhelmed on Pinterest, I think I'm the only girl in the world who is not obsessed with it.  But copying looks from my favorite bloggers...that I am definitely down with.

Yes, I fell victim to bubble necklace mania again.  When certain colors went on sale, with an additional 30% off, I knew resistance was futile.  I've worn my green one so much, that I decided to go for the blue.  I LOVE it already.  I can't wait to wear it with so many different color combinations!

Without the jacket

Isn't the blue pretty?  Now of course I want the earrings to match...but I will wait for my next $25 rewards card for them.

Thanks for stopping by!  Do you love bubble necklace mania or are you sitting this trend out?

Retro jade No. 2 pencil skirt in double serge wool

Print silk tie blouse:  Banana Republic, here
No. 2 pencil skirt in double serge wool, retro jade:  J.Crew, here
Colette Reptile pump:  Tahari, here

I can't believe it's my first day of the season to wear a wool skirt!  Mid September seems too early, but we woke up to temperatures in the mid 40's so it felt right.  It warmed up to a beautiful, sunshiney 70 degrees, but I never felt too hot.  I am LOVING this retro jade color.  It makes me not feel as bad that I missed last year's veridian green version.  For reference, I debated for a long time between the regular length No. 2 wool, which is 25.5 inches, and the long...which I assume is 2 inches longer. I'm so glad I decided to go with the regular length.  As you can see, the regular size 6 comes to my mid-knee, and I don't think I would like it any longer than that.  (I'm 5'10" for anyone who's a new reader.)  The size 4 made me feel way too booty-licious, so I am glad I went with the 6 even though I have a bit of extra room.  (Better for the holiday pounds, ha.)  Also see this same pencil skirt on my friend Gigi.

I loved this blouse when I saw it, and was happy it was silk.  Banana Republic has been sneaking in way too much polyester lately.  Tie-neck blouses always have me at hello.  I know some ladies won't love the fact that this blouse has teeny-tiny "BR" logos all over, but they are blue against navy so it didn't bother me at all.  The cream dots you see on the blouse are tiny chains...I love it.  Plus I've really been digging navy lately!  I'm wearing a size 6 in the blouse with plenty of room, so you may want to size down if you are small chested.

All in all, I loved today's look...tie neck blouse + pencil skirt = easy chic.  Thanks for visiting!!

One more thing:  In celebration of fall, I've added a couple tweedy items to Shop Colorful Corporate.  Please check out my items for sale!  Thanks!

Suiting up for work

Navy suit:  Banana Republic, similar jacket here and pants here
Silk casbah blouse:  J.Crew, summer 2011
Password pumps:  Seychelles

I apologize for being quiet this week, after a weekend away I've been really busy in the corporate world.  Today called for a suit, so I added this pretty printed blouse and colorful pumps for a little fun.  My style has really evolved in the last two years.  I used to love wearing suits, and now I just feel a little...bored in them.  Still, some work days require wearing one, and when it is a necessity I usually reach for my suits from Banana Republic.  I love the lightweight wool line, and the pants come in long sizes so I know I won't risk looking like I'm waiting for the flood. 

Do you ever have to wear suits to work?  How do you add your own pizazz to your suits?  Thanks for visiting. I'll be more peppy the rest of the week, I promise!

A night out in Nashville featuring J.Crew

Strapless floral dress:  J.Crew, summer 2010
Wedges:  Banana Republic

Hello from the land of sundresses and cowboy boots!  Why does that "look" seem so right in Nashville, but no where else?  I was so tempted to buy a pair of cowboy boots, but I knew I probably wouldn't wear them at home.  We had a blast during our weekend away.  I had planned to get many more OOTD photos but of course that never seems to happen when you're out and about and just having fun.  We stayed atThe Hutton Hotel and had drinks and dinners at many of the local hot spots.  This is what I wore out on Saturday night.  Can anyone remember the name of the print of this J.Crew dress?  I tried searching online for it but came up empty-handed.  The dress was comfortable and evening-appropriate for a night that included a visit to a "secret" and incredibly chic speakeasy, dinner, and of course a trip to Broadway Avenue, also known as Nashville's "strip."  All in all, a great adult weekend away. 
Hope you had a great weekend as well!

Leaving on a midnight train...

Headed out of town this weekend with my husband and another couple for a kid-free  weekend.  I will be sure to take outfit pictures.  Have a great weekend!

Meet Memo, my new favorite work dress

Memo Dress in super 120's wool, royal violet:  J.Crew, here
Colette Reptile pumps:  Tahari, here
Necklace:  Chico's, borrowed from my mom

Would you think less of me if I told you I have worn this dress for two days in a row?  If so, stop reading now.  Ok, for those of you still with me, I'll tell you I wore this to an out-of-town work meeting on Wednesday, and then again today as I wasn't going to see any of the same people.  So this is how fabulous the dress still looks, at the end of day two of wearing it.  For ladies who work in a professional environment, this dress is corporate-perfect!  I'm so happy it has decent-lenght sleeves, and is completely office-appropriate on its own or with a blazer.  For sizing reference, I am wearing the 4 Tall.  (SO happy this dress came in Tall!  Please offer more of your dresses in Tall, J.Crew!)  One feature of the dress that some ladies might take issue with is the v-neck.  It is not too low cut for me, but maybe that's because I'm tall.  It may be low for shorter girls.  But I really liked how this necklace filled in the v-neck area, or you could always do a cami underneath.  I hope some of the other colors go on sale soon, as I'd definitely purchase this dress again! 
Do you like wearing dresses to the office?  Thanks for visiting!

A few new J.Crew arrival fitting room reviews

Hi everyone!  Whew just returned home after a whirlwind one night work trip.  I'm exhausted but I wanted to bring you a few reviews of newer items at J.Crew.  Here we go!

Sparkle row cami
Silk, color vintage ivory
Size 4
$128 here
Cafe capri in wool
Color retro jade
Size 6
$89.99 here

There's nothing wrong with this top.  Except for maybe the fact that the rhinestones didn't seem to lie flat. But that may be because I need a size 6.  The 4 felt a bit snug, so I would say it runs slightly smaller than TTS.  The material was nice, but to quote Gigi, I just didn't get "the feeling" in it.  I am sure it will look awesome on some ladies though, and it could be a nice holiday blouse.
I was surprised at how much I loved the retro jade cafe capris in wool.  I need the tall size, so I didn't buy these regular size 6's.  But they fit great other than the fact that they were a bit short on my 5'10" self.  I know some of you don't like that they aren't lined.  I guess I would also prefer a lining, but I don't mind it too much.  The wool felt soft to me, and a bit thicker than last year's version.  I will definitely be ordering these in a 6 Tall online during the next additional % off promo! Love!

Silk boy shirt in french hen
Color navy, Size 6
$128 here

Jenna or Gayle must have a thing for hens this season.  We've seen the sweater, the scarf, and now a silk boy shirt, which I HEART.  The silk is nice, the navy color divine, and the fit TTS.  I know some people aren't loving the french hen...but it had me at hello.  I think this blouse would look great under a suit and add a little whimsy to the corporate world!



Collection crepe shawl blazer
Color vintage berry, size 4
$350 here

1 word for this blazer:  GORGEOUS.  The color and material are wonderful.  I tried on a 4 as my local J.Crew didn't have a size 6 on the floor, and it was too small.  I'd definitely need a 6, which is my normal blazer size at J.Crew.  I do think the price is very steep for this blazer.  But wow, it is right up my pink, preppy-loving alley.  I'll definitely be stalking this one to go on sale!

Majesty Peacoat
Wool, color navy
Size 4
$278 here

Another beautiful peacoat from J.Crew.  I think I bought my first J.Crew peacoat my senior year of college.  It was ivory, and I loved it.  My love for J.Crew peacoats has not waned since then...I still think they are high quality, perfectly shaped, and the wool material is soft and thick.  The 4 was very fitted, and if I were planning on wearing sweaters underneath, I'd probably buy a 6.  Look at how the shape of this peacoat defines a waist...so flattering.  Love it!

Those are all the reviews I have tonight.  I loved everything except for the first ivory blouse...I'm just lukewarm on that one.  Probably a pass for me.  But I thought all the other items I tried on were fab.  What do you think of them?  Have you fallen victim to the hen craze?  I hope these reviews helped you!

Goodbye, summer

Malino peasant blouse:  Anthropologie, summer 2012
No. 2 pencil skirt in double serge cotton, succulent green:  J.Crew, summer 2012
Coral suede heels:  Steve Madden

"I could go crazy on a night like tonight, when summer's beginning to give up her fight."  Who can name the semi-obscure song to which this line belongs?  Ahh, summer. It is nearly gone.  This feels like it is probably my last summer outfit of the season.  I wore a very similar combo here.  I don't know what I would have done all summer without these No. 2 pencil skirts in double serge cotton!  Love them!  I know everyone else is excited for autumn to arrive, but I always find it to be a melancholy time of year...bittersweet.  Perhaps some retail therapy for fall clothes will help my dispair that summer is over...

I bought these suede heels for a bargain at Dillard's.  They and were 65% off so I paid $24.99.  I thought they were an extremely close match to the much more expensive Mona suede pumps in flame at J.Crew, here.  Aren't they almost a dead ringer?  There are a few things I don't believe in, including fake leather shoes and synthetic materials.  But if I can get a pair of leather or suede heels for a steal, I am all over it!  I've always found Steve Madden to be a decent brand too, so I was pretty happy with my bargain.

I'll be posting a few J.Crew reviews tomorrow, so please stop back!  Hope you're having a great week!

Lillian dress in gardenshade floral watercolor

Lillian dress in gardenshade floral watercolor:  J.Crew, winter 2012
Blue leather sandals:  Calvin Klein
Cuff:  Banana Republic
Fizzing danglers earrings in green:  Anthropologie, here

When life hands you  a Monday, girls, all I can tell you is to wear a gorgeous dress and fake it till you make it.  I last wore this dress here.  Loved it then, but decided to try to remix the accessories to make it a little more interesting.  I ignored these shoes all summer and now I can't seem to get enough...there was a definite nip in the air this morning though, so I will be putting them away soon. They do add a great pop of color though. 

Actually I grabbed this entire outfit at the last minute this morning, because what I had laid out seemed too summery to wear with the weather being cooler.  Do you ever change your mind about your outfit at the last minute?  Or do you stick to your plan?  Thanks for visiting!

Palma + camel leather, and a guest

Palma dress by Sariah:  Anthropologie, winter 2012
Blue leather sandals:  Calvin Klein
Camel leather jacket:  Banana Republic, 2007

Greetings everyone!  Why do weekends go by so quickly?  On Friday night I had a wonderful girls' reunion with a dozen or so friends who were in my college sorority.  We had a blast!  Old friends are the best.  I wore my beloved Palma dress for the occassion and layered it with an old leather jacket from Banana Republic.  I bought this jacket on sale back in 2007...I think it was about $200, which was still more than I wanted to spend.  But the style has remained relevant with each passing year, and I still wear it every fall.  I see there's a very similar one offered at Gap right now here.  I'm happy it turned out to be more of a lasting investment piece than I had originally anticipated!

Now I'd like to introduce you to a friend of mine, who has years of experience under her belt in the fashion industry.  Kristin has worked at some of the most widely known labels, including Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, Stella & Dot, Nine West, and the list goes on.  She really knows her stuff fashionwise, but a little more than a year ago she decided to turn her talents to a new career:  Health coaching.  It takes a lot of bravery to switch your career path when you've been so successful, so I give her a lot of credit.  You need to check out her blog, Fresh Equation, for tons of useful health and wellness information.  Here is what Kristin wore for our girls' night:

Kristin is wearing:
Dress:  Madewell
Ankle boots:  Steve Madden

Gorgeous!  I love the juxtaposition of the fall ankle boots with the sundress.  Thanks for letting me include you in my blog Kristin! 

Thanks for visiting my blog today!  Do you still make it a point to do girls' nights with your friends?  It gets more difficult once everyone is married, with careers and children.  But each time we get together, I am so happy.  It's well worth the planning and juggling! 

Factory Leigh dress + Cece ballet flat

Factory Leigh dress in deep lagoon:  J.Crew Factory, here
Cece ballet flat in tortoise:  J.Crew, solid here
Grand street melinda bag in coral:  Kate Spade
Necklace, Tiffany & Company, gift from husband
Earrings:  Banana Republic

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!  I wore this outfit for a work conference today.  It is extremely rare that I work on a Saturday!  I knew I was going to be on my feet all day, so I wanted to be comfortable in flats yet still look professional.  I thought the Cece ballet flats fit the bill!  I'm slowly getting used to the bright orange color of this new Kate Spade bag...in fact I have gotten a lot of compliements on it!  I thought it was a nice pop of color against the blue dress.  

I love this dress but it DOES show every curve.  Which is good on a good day, bad on a "feeling fat" day if you know what I mean.  We've all had those, right? 

I had such a fun girls' night last night...stay tuned for outfit pictures, from me and also a guest who is a good friend of mine!  I think I may regularly start showcasing other friends' styles...it's so fun and interesting to see what other ladies wear!  Thanks for visiting!

Gilded Estate Skirt by Yohanna Baraschi

Silk pintuck blouse in charcoal:  J.Crew, winter 2012
Gilded Estate skirt by Yohanna Baraschi:  Anthropologie, summer 2012
Black leather belt:  Banana Republic
Necklace:  J.Crew, 2009
Polka dot mary janes:  Via Spiga

I felt tres chic in this statement skirt today.  I've had my eye on it since I reviewed it a couple months ago, so I was thrilled to get it on sale and with the additional 25% off Anthropologie offered last week.  I'm relieved that the length is decent for work.  It seems like hemlines are going higher in higher in both J.Crew and Anthro so when I can find a good knee length skirt on sale it's a happy day! 

So what have you gotten during the extra 30% J.Crew sale?  I have held off so far.  We're going away for a couples' weekend next week so I'm trying to be good and not shop this week or next.  It's hard to stay strong ladies.  How do you Just Say No...to a sale when you're trying to save?

Kelly green bubble necklace + Penciled Abronia Skirt

Purple silk top:  Banana Republic, old and RIP now
Penciled Abronia skirt by Odille:  Anthropologie, summer 2010
Bow pumps:  Joan & David
Bubble necklace in kelly green:  J.Crew here

Sometimes I will see a blogger wearing an item that I too own and it makes me want to run to my closet and pull that item out ASAP.  That was the case with this skirt, I saw it over on I Dream of Anthropologie and was inspired to wear it.   I adore the skirt, but this silk top went buh-bye after today's wearing unfortunately.   I've had it for years and have been unable to give it up because I love the vibrant violet color.  But I realized today it just doesn't fit that well anymore and it is past its prime...so RIP purple silk top, you had a longer run in my closet than a lot of other items do.  Has that ever happened to you?  You're wearing an item and suddenly realize, yeah I'm done with this thing.  Or maybe I'm just strange.  That could be...

I can't stop wearing my bubble necklace.  I love everything about it, right down to the jingle-jangle sound it makes when I walk.  If you still haven't jumped on the bubble necklace bandwagon, come on aboard! 

Thanks for visiting!   

Katydid silk blouse by Charlotte Taylor

Katydid silk blouse by Charlotte Taylor:  Anthropologie, summer 2012
No. 2 pencil skirt in double-serge cotton, neon azalea:  J.Crew, summer 2012
Pink pumps:  Seychelles
Earrings:  Banana Republic

Back to the grind after a long weekend!  I am a huge fan of the British designer Charlotte Taylor. I love how she always does fun designs incorporated with animals, and most of her items are silk.  Anthropologie carries some of her items, but my local Anthropologie has actually carried very few.  When this blouse went on sale online, I ordered it as well as its sister piece, the Juggling Figures silk blouse.  I couldn't decide which one I wanted so when Anthro offered its free shipping for orders over $100, I just bought both.  The gray color of the Juggling Figures blouse looked terrible on my skintone so I returned it and kept this one.  See a closer view of the design here and how it is actually a grasshopper pattern!  I was also able to get a PA when Anthro offered an additional 25% off last week, which made me even happier, since Charlotte Taylor pieces are a little above my price point, even on sale.  I was really happy to pay about $55 for this blouse, which was originally $128.

So I was dying to wear this blouse but I didn't know exactly how to style it.  Then I took one look at Pamela's outfit here and she totally inspired me!  Her blouse, while a white background with  blue design, reminded me of this blouse, and I loved how it looked with pink!  So thanks for the outfit inspiration Pamela!

I did cover up with a Lilly Pulitzer embroidered cardigan for work.  I loved how it looked layered and left untucked as well: 

Thanks for visiting! 

Wayless Dress by Lilly Pulitzer + J.Crew Cece Ballet Flats

Wayless Dress in Hotty Pink Ring my Chimes:  Lilly Pulitzer, 2009 I believe
Cece ballet flats in tortoise:  J.Crew, summer 2012, sold out online but check stores

Hope everyone had a restful Labor Day with your family and/or friends.  We took our boys to the Newport Aquarium today (awesome aquarium if you are ever in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area) and this is what I wore.  Funny reaction:  When I came downstairs, ready to go, my husband said  "You're kind of dressed up for the aquarium."  And I said (rather indignantly), "Well I like to look nice!"  Then my 5 year old chimed in, "Mommy you look pretty in that dress," which caused my 7 year old to look up from his Legos and say "Actually, Mom, you DO look kinda pretty."  Ummmmm....thanks?  These little boys crack me up.  My friends who have little girls the same age tell me that the girls are already pretty harsh judges of their mothers' outfits.  My little boys have never said anything other than I look pretty, no matter what I'm wearing.  I'm thankful for that, as I don't think I could handle a 5 or 7 year old wardrobe critic! 

I've been loving my Lilly dresses lately, I think because summer is nearly over and I will have to pack most of them away again, as probably 85% of my Lilly dresses are summer.  This one looks a bit more like autumn, with the pinks and chocolate browns. I've dressed it up and dressed it down and love it either way.  Did you see the name of the pattern of this dress?  I love how creativity and wit of all of Lilly's patterns.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mariana Dress by Lilly Pulitzer

Mariana Dress in bright navy yum yum:  Lilly Pulitzer, buy for 65% off here!
Pink patent leather bow flats:  Coach

Ahhh, it feels good to once again be amongst the land of the living.  I apologize for the lack of posts, but the stomach bug that bit my 5 year old Wednesday night took me down on Friday evening.   I am still not 100%, but much better.  It is a bummer that the virus pretty much ruined our entire Labor Day weekend.  We missed a fancy dinner out, a night out with friends, and pool time.  Ahhhh well.... it cannot be helped.  I'll move to a more pleasant topic now!

We took the kids to Build a Bear and out to lunch today, and since I'm still feeling pretty drained I wanted something easy and comfortable.  This is why I love Lilly Pulitzer dresses, because they are so pretty but yet so much more comfortable than pants or shorts.  I threw on some bright pink flats to match and felt pulled together on the outside at least!  And it is so true that even when you are not feeling your best, if you make an effort to look good, you feel better!  That was definitely the case for me today.

Hope you are having a healthier weekend than I experienced!  How do you try to look your best even when you are not feeling your best?  Thanks for stopping by!