Sunshine Beats the Blues

Top-- Target

Cardigan-- H&M

Skirt-- ModCloth

Ombre Stockings-- Urban Outfitters

Blue Stockings-- Target

Belt-- Target

Shoes-- ModCloth

The winter blues have been getting to me.  Most days are dreary and overcast.  It's easy to go days without seeing the sun.  Then when the sun does come out the temps drop, and it becomes brutally cold outside.  So I rarely dress up.  The idea of putting on a skirt sounds like torture, even with tights or leggings I just don't stay warm enough.  I love wearing jeans and a sweater through out the winter, but it can get old.  I start to feel like a cartoon character.  Yesterday there was no reason I needed to go out, so I decided to dress up a bit.

There are so many things I love about this outfit!  First, I love all the colors in this.  If you added a pink this would be all my fave colors together.  This top is one of my favorite tops right now.  The detailing around the neckline is awesome.  The skirt is new, it was a present from my mom.  It wrinkles easily, but I like the feel of the material and how cute it is.  The colors are great, and I love how it looks when I twirl in it.  

My favorite favorite part of this outfit are my layered tights.  The ombre tights are new too, and I totally dig everything about them.  It was too cold to let my bare skin show through them, and I love pairing a solid pair of tights with a lacy pair.  I'm pleased with how the two pairs I have on look together, but I also can't wait to try them out with other colors.  I'm head over heels for my flats.  They're so cute, and look awesome with this outfit.  

If this outfit can't help me shake the blues, then I don't know what can!  Have a great weekend everyone, chris!

Ultimate Weekend Casual

This is my ultimate casual weekend outfit.  I love this pair of jeans.  I found them on a trip to NYC to visit my friend Mamie.  I grabbed them up from the sale rack at Urban Outfitter's Times Square location.  They only cost $14, and they fit like a glove.  I always have a hard time with pants being too long, but with these being fitted at the ankle it looks cool with all the extra material.  They are Levi's, which is a jean brand you can't go wrong with.  I've had them for about two years, and they are still in great condition, especially considering some weeks I might wear them three or four times.  I like pairing them with a colorful top or a top with an eye catching print.  Today I went for both with my dip-dyed pink tank top and this lovely bird print  blouse from H & M.  

Jeans -- Urband Outfitters, Levi's

Blouse -- H & M

Tank Top -- Target, bleach dip-dyed

Sneakers -- Converse

Well I'm off to my friends house to have a little weekend fun.  Have a great saturday, and happy DIYing, chris!

Celebrating Near the White House

Today Aaron and I went to his cousin Hannah's wedding reception in Washington D.C.  It was at a lovely location called The Hay-Adams, which is right around the corner from the White House.  

So I asked Aaron to take a few outfit photos of me.

Dress -- ModCloth

Sweater -- H & M

Stockings -- H & M

Wedges --  Target

Sunglasses -- Bodega in Los Angeles

Bracelets -- Target & Forever 21

Ring -- Forever 21

Hair pins -- ModCloth

Earrings -- Target

Necklace -- Pendant made by my cousin, and the chain is a family heirloom from Aaron's family

When I first saw this dress on ModCloth I knew I had to have it, but before I grabbed it up someone made a not so nice review of it. They said that it wasn't worth the $75 price tag, and they would have only paid $25 for it.  I'm not sure where this person shops, but I've never owned a $25 dress this nice.  Besides the obviousness of how beautiful the print is, and the lovely vibrant colors, the dress is simply amazing.  The material is lush, and feels fabulous on.  The pleating is perfect, and I love how perfectly the print lines up on the pleating.  There is also an invisible zipper down the side, which works perfectly.  I've had some bad experiences with invisible zippers on cheaper clothing getting stuck, and not being easy to use, and that is not the case with this awesome dress.  My only negative feedback is the belt that comes with it is made with inexpensive material.  It feels cheap.  Otherwise I love the dress, and give it two thumbs up.  I definitely don't regret spending $75 on it.  

If you've been pining after some ModCloth items, but have yet to buy something from them, right now they are running a promotion where I can give my friends a $20 credit for a purchase of $50 or more, bought before 10/2/2012.  If you'd like a $20 credit to ModCloth, and you don't have a pre-existing account comment with your email address, and I can send it your way.  

I'm not sponsored by ModCloth it's just my favorite online clothing store.  H & M is my favorite brick and mortar store.  I could spend all my money at both those places.  Luckily they are both rather affordable, so I don't have to break the bank buying the fashionable clothing pieces I like from them.  Plus ModCloth always gives a little gift with every shipment, which always makes me happy.  With this dress I received those cute red and white polka dot hair pins I'm wearing.  I look forward to discovering my gift every time, it definitely keeps me coming back.  

I hope ya'll had a great saturday, and happy DIYing, chris!  

This Is Me #11

Today I am going to try something a little different with This Is Me.  I'm going to use outfit photos with my five tid-bits about me.  

1.  Stitching together eloquent words that form a cohesive sentence, that fill you with emotional wonder, is not my forté.  

shirt -- H&M + DIY

tank top -- Target

shorts -- Target

shoes -- DSW Dirty Laundry + DIY

bracelet --  DIY

2.  I almost failed spelling in fourth grade.  I had a special teacher that I sat with in an empty room who helped me during spelling tests.

3.  I'm good at remembering names and faces.  If I forget someone's name I really give myself a ration of poo for letting it go.

    

4.  My most popular date spot with Aaron is Ikea.  We usually leave with a stuffed animal in hand, and our bellies full of swedish meatballs. 

5.   We used to have two pet rats. Rink-rat and Shanks.  Now we have two stuffed rats to commemorate them.  Of course not real rats.  We aren't in to taxidermy.  

Hope ya'll enjoyed, and happy DIYing, chris!

Cute Hot Summer Outfit

Since I haven't been getting dressed up lately I haven't been making an outfit posts.  When I got dressed up yesterday (for my brother's engagement dinner) I knew I had to have Aaron snap some photos.  I wore this outfit in the spring on a rainy day, but I restyled it for the hot summer days we've been having. 

dress -- H & M

slip -- thrifted vintage

belt -- Target

necklace -- my cousin made the pendant, and the chain was a gift

bracelet -- inherited from my step-grandmother

sandals -- DSW Mix No. 9

My cousin made the glass pendant for this necklace, and I always get at least one compliment when I wear it.  The gold chain is an antique from my mother-in-law.  She gave me the diamond for my engagement ring on it, and when I got the ring the jeweler was really impressed with the chain.  Apparently they don't make this type of chain anymore, because it's super delicate.  He cleaned it for me, and gave me a large silk lined padded box to keep it in.  

I almost feel off the rock when I was stepping onto it, and Aaron was sure to snap an action shot.  :)  

This is the only pair of sandals I own, and they are perfectly summery.  

I'm not really sure what I'm looking at or doing in this photo, but it makes me think of Alice in Wonderland.  Maybe I'm about to fall down a rabbit hole.  

I love all the colors in this dress' intricate pattern.  The blue lace and silk slip is the perfect addition to lengthen this short dress, and make it family appropriate, while still keeping it dainty and feminine.  Oh, and don't worry that weird stuff on my knuckles is just paint.  No, I don't have some gross skin disease, but I do have super veiny hands and wrists.  

And before I go here's an outtake.  Goodnight, and Happy DIYing, chris!

Bright Patterns Make Me Happy

More photos from Bennington, Vermont.  This is the outfit I wore on Friday for the graduation ceremony.  Well, really just Peter Dinklage's speech.  

This is a new dress I got at Target recently.  I was having a rough few days, and I decided to do some retail therapy.  This dress did just the trick.  

I didn't think I liked this photo at first, but I like this in-between moment Aaron caught.   

I love the angle of this photo.  I think I look thinner and taller.  I'm making a funny face, but everything else is so lovely I couldn't leave this one out.  Aaron took this photo standing at his normal height.  He must tower over me all the time.  I always seem to forget he's a foot taller than me, and things must look different from up there.  Hehe.  

Uh-oh, my hair kind of looks grey on top.  Maybe it's just the way the light is hitting my head ...  I don't dye my hair, so it's not like my roots are growing out, and showing under hair dye.  I always forget to take photos of the back of my outfits.  I thought this back was worth remembering.  :)

For this photo Aaron stood like a sumo wrestler, with his knees fully bent, and his feet spread wide apart.  It was easy to smile.  

I love the colors and pattern of this dress.  This is my first maxi dress, and this one makes me feel so pretty.  I want to go buy more.  The material is luxurious, and makes me want to lounge around all day.   I guess I was hesitant to jump on this trend, because I was worried a long flowy skirt could label me a hippie, which for some reason is a label I've always resisted.  I guess I've always been adverse to labels though.  Anyway, back to the dress, the colors and pattern on this dress are anything but hippie, perfect for outdoor events in the spring/summer.  :)  

Dress -- Target

Cardigan -- H&M

Sandals -- DSW by Mix No. 6

Sunglasses -- Target or H&M

Hope ya'll are having a great week so far, and happy DIYing, chris.  

Layer Up! Even in the Spring!

Who says you have to shed the layers in the Spring?  Personally, as a layer junkie, I never stop piling on the layers of fabric.  I love to blend different colors, textures, and patterns.  In the Spring, I am wearing just as many layers as in the Fall or Winter, but now my layers are made of light weight materials. For me layering is essential in the Spring and Summer.  As I move between air conditioned buildings and the hot humid outdoors, and deal with the ever fluctuating weather I like to be prepared.  I'd rather have too many layers on, and have to shed a few due to the heat, than to shiver my butt off.  

This outfit is a perfect example of my addiction to layering.  I have FIVE layers on, not including the leggings or cardigan!  I didn't wear the cardigan for most of the day, but shortly before we went for a walk we had a BIG thunderstorm.  Lots of rain and thunder, which made the temperature drop a few degrees.  I probably could have gone without the leggings too, but I have some unattractive poison ivy I'm trying to cover up.  Plus I don't like shaving my legs, when I have poison ivy rashes.  Thus, the leggings were a necessity today.  

I don't normally wear white.  I'm way too messy for white.  I bought this dress to wear in New Orleans on our Honeymoon.  I got a ton of compliments from strangers when I was wearing this dress.  I don't think I've ever received that many compliments before.  In my life, combined.  Maybe it was New Orleans, maybe it was this dress.  Either way I feel pretty when I wear it.  :)  Before the trip I thought I'd dye it when I got home, but I think I'll keep it white for now.  

I've had these shoes for a couple years now, and they only cost fourteen dollars.  Besides the one hole in the toe, they've held up great!  They even do well in the rain!  Even though everything was soaked, my feet made it through the neighborhood and home dry.  Whenever I go to shoe stores they always try to sell me those little peep-toe socks.  I take personal offense when this happens.  I feel like they are passive aggressively telling me they don't think it's 'cool' to see my socks.  I like my mismatched socks! And no, thank you sales-girl, I would not like to hid my fun socks in my shoes!

 Cardigan -- H&M

Top Three Layers -- Macy's

Bottom Three Layers (blue & pink slips) -- Vintage thrifted in Shoreditch, London

Black Leggings -- Target

Shoes -- Dirty Laundry

You can kind of see all five layers here.  The top three are white, then a blue slip, and on the bottom a pink slip.  I love this cardigan, it's a bit baggy, but I love the color.  It matches my eyes.  Ick! I was just looking at my hair in this photo, and I need those slit-ends removed, badly!  A.S.A.P.

It's been really rainy here lately.  I feel like every week for the last month has been overcast and damp, and the weekends have been sunny and humid.  I love thunderstorms in the Spring.  We get a lot of residual rains from the hurricanes in the south.  The wind changes frantically, and there is a yellow/greenish haze to the sky, then all of a sudden the rains rush in, and you can taste the ocean on the rain.  There is an energy in the air that can't be described, but it's thrilling, and whenever I'm away from the mid-atlantic area I miss this weather.  Hope everyone is have a great week thus far!  Happy DIYing, chris.

What I Wore ...

On our mini staycation two weekends ago.  

Dress -- H&M

Sweater -- T.J. Maxx

Tank-top -- H&M

Leggings -- American Apparel

Sandals -- DSW by Mix No. 6

Bag -- Jo Totes

I mentioned in Sunday's post that Aaron and I took some outfit pics on our mini staycation for our anniversary.  I'm wearing the same dress from this outfit post, but I've paired it with different layers.  I've also worn that sweater a ton, maybe a bit too much, as seen by my header ... I love layering!  Aaron makes fun of me for how many layers I usually have on, but I love mixing colors and textures!  The color and pattern of this dress is so girlie and cute, but it's super low cut, and short in the skirt, so I'm always pairing it with things to cover myself up.  This pair of leggings and tank top match perfectly, and there are bits of this color in the dress' flowers.  American Apparel calls this color Evergreen, I would normally think of evergreen as a darker color with less blue.  I'd call this color dark teal or aquamarine.  Whatever color this is, I love it!  

I wear my hair down all the time, but sometimes I like big curls in my hair.  I'm not one to spend too much time on my hair, so this is how I achieve that look.  I put my hair up in a messy bun while it's slightly damp.  To make it cute for our little anniversary date, I wrapped a vintage cloth belt around the bun.  I've kept this belt since I was a kid to use solely as a hair accessory.  I found it on a dress in my grandparent's basement when I was probably about seven.  Not sure what happened to the dress, cause it didn't fit me at the time I didn't pay it much attention.  

This bag from Jo Totes is amazing.  I can't rave about how awesome it is enough.  I love these leggings too.  I got them more then six years ago, and they've held up well.  The little white buttons are just perfectly adorable.  I'm not a foot person, and I generally like to keep my toes covered, but I couldn't resist the flowers on these sandals.  Plus strappy grecian or gladiator style sandals are my favorite.  

Yay for jumping, the beach, mini staycations, Aaron, nice weather, and the ocean!  Happy DIYing, and have a great tuesday, chris.