Your Spring Style - Spring Inspirations

Well I guess it's fashion week on the blog this week!  I don't remember the last time I did this many outfit/clothing posts in one week.  Not since it was a mostly outfit of the day blog I guess!  Anyway, I didn't link up yesterday with Anne and Shea for the Spring Style challenge so I could do my Stitch Fix review, but I still wanted to do a post this week for the theme: Spring Inspirations, so I'm doing it today.  It's my blog, I'll share what I want to. 

I needed some Spring Inspiration this week.  It's like winter outside again here in Minnesota.  We even got some snow yesterday.  Thankfully it didn't stick, but it was anything but springlike outside! Today the sun is at least shining again!  To find some spring inspiration I knew one thing would work - bright colors.  So I chose this fun pink top I recently thrifted and a pair of my pixie pants from Old Navy.  I chose one of my all time favorite pairs of shoes too and am even bravely going without socks today, cold as it is outside!

I'm not sure what it is about polka dots and pink that make me think of spring, but they just totally do. I think pink makes me think of flowers and of course, flowers come up in the spring!  And polka dots are just fun and so is spring - unless it's like this week of course.

Blouse - Lauren Conrad (thrifted), Pants - Old Navy

Shoes - Steve Madden (consignment), Necklace - Stella and Dot 

So far this outfit is helping me feel nice and springy again!  And the fact that the sun is back today is helping a ton too I suppose!  What inspires you in your closet for spring?  And be sure to check out Anne and Shea's blogs for other spring inspirations!

Inspiration Monday - Lazy days

Annnnnnd it's Monday again.  These weekends pass by too fast sometimes.   Ok not just sometimes, they pass by too fast all of the time!  I'm linking up with two birds for Inspiration Monday today - I absolutely love this laid back look from Gwyneth Paltrow.

I had intentions of doing a similar look for today with the boyfriend jeans and everything but then hit two problems - one, the boyfriend jeans I ordered from Old Navy haven't arrived yet and two, we spent the majority of our weekend in pajamas/yoga pants!  So instead, I made it work for work today.

It was one of those nice weekends where we didn't have anything scheduled so we just kind of did things as we felt like it.  And while we were having our nice pajama morning on Saturday, The Pants Monkey came up with a great idea to take Ollie over to one of our Farmers Markets, buy some of our favorite local meat from local farms and just wander around a bit there.  So we got dressed - and by that I mean pretty much a step above pajamas - and headed over there.  Oliver loved it.  Mr. Monkey carried him in our Ergo carrier and he just looked around and took it all in.  He even fell asleep!  We packed him back up and decided to hit our favorite restaurant for a late brunch/early lunch.  After that we headed home, I met up with my mom and we sold some of Ollie's outgrown items to Once Upon a Child.  We had a little wine/cheese night for dinner after Ollie went to bed and we sat out on our deck for a long time because it was a beautiful night.

Blazer - American Eagle (thrifted), Tank top - Liz Lange nursing (Target)

Leggings - Simply Vera (Kohls), Shoes - Steve Madden (consignment), Necklace - Lia Sophia

I won this necklace at a friend's Lia Sophia party!

Sunday was more of the same - more lazy time in pajamas, more time outside because it was gorgeous.  Mr. Monkey got some yard stuff done, including re-painting the light post at the end of our driveway that has been rusted and ugly looking for quite some time.  We took Ollie to the park near us for a walk.  We grilled for dinner.  It was just a nice and relaxing weekend overall!  I'd had a less than ideal week last week, so it was very much needed!

For more Inspiration Monday outfits, head on over to two birds over here.

Thrift Style Thursday - Cute and quirky

This week we're showcasing something cute and quirky for Thrift Style Thursday.  I don't think it gets more quirky than loud plaid pants!  Long time readers of my blog will know I thrifted these bad boys a couple of years ago now and they're one of my frequent flyer pieces - I don't even know if I could count the number of ways I've styled them at this point!

For "cute" I added in one of my other thrifted closet staples - my famed "suicide shoes" (named as such by the Pants Monkey because I used to trip in them).  I tend to not wear these shoes much in the winter since they're clogs (clogs plus ice and snow just equals no).  I also didn't wear them much last summer due to being pregnant, so I'm kind of excited to be able to wear them again!

And finally the other "thrifted" piece is actually from a consignment store - but it's also cute and quirky I think - at the very least it's unique - and that would be my favorite leather Coach bag.  It's not their typical style and I think that's why I like it, I love the braided detail on the top of the handle and I love the metal hardware on it.  This is definitely one of my favorite bags.  All in all I think this is a fun look for work today and also for the Twin Cities Mom's Blog Mom's Night Out event I'm going to tonight after work.  Any other local moms going tonight?  Look for me!  I'll be hard to miss in my crazy pants here!

Shirt - Dress Barn, Pants - No Boundaries (thrifted)

Necklace - Charming Charlie, Shoes - Steve Madden (thrifted)

Bag - Coach (consignment)

Be sure to check out all the other Thrift Style Thursday participants at the links listed below!

Spoolish//Sandpaper Kisses//Sincerely Miss J//Confessions of a Refashonista//Alligator Toe//Buttons&Birdcage//Snippets With Alex//Eclecticity//Being Zhenya//Erika's Style Diary//Sistas from Cali//Rachel's Lookbook//Muddy Flowers//

The Two Cent Chick//Lipstick And Yarn

The number game

Hello everyone!  We've made it to Hump Day!  We're halfway to that coveted weekend!  And next week is a short one with the Thanksgiving holiday!  We've got this!

So it's really interesting to me the foods that will spike my blood sugars and the ones that don't.  I have to check my blood sugar an hour after every meal for the Gestational Diabetes.  It's all about balancing your carbs - not necessarily the sugar.  And you have to eat SOME carbs.  So, here's an example of how funny I think this is - yesterday for lunch I had a spinach salad with some chicken, a small yogurt and a breadstick.  My number was in range, but on the high side of normal.  For dinner, we had nachos with cheese and meat and well, taco chips of course.  Chips you would think would really be something that would spike me - nope.  My after dinner number was on the low side of normal!  Potatoes and rice spike me.  Pasta does not. With bread it kind of depends.  Sometimes yes, sometimes no.  It's just all big old game, but at least I'm still winning!

Shirt - QT Maternity, consignment

Sweater - swap

Pants - Liz Lange, Target

Shoes - Steve Madden, thrifted

Necklace - Stella and Dot 

I told Mr. Monkey I don't know that I want to test at all on Thanksgiving Day - not only is it going to be a carb heavy meal, we're going to be eating at odd times that day too!  We'll see.  The end of this wackiness is in sight at least!

Some things I love

You know what I love?  Maternity clothes that don't feel that much like maternity clothes.  I had completely forgotten about this hooded sweater I bought from Old Navy during a sale in maybe August?  I found it in my closet this week and decided, this would be really cute with leggings and boots.  And this is an outfit I'd wear even if I wasn't pregnant!  Say what you want about Old Navy - but I have to say, lately they've kind of been on a roll with cute stuff and the maternity stuff I've bought from them has been rather nice.  I may be holding onto this sweater for postpartum for a bit too!

The other thing I love?  Getting a decent full night's sleep!  Hallelujah I woke up feeling like the birds were singing all around me.  I didn't get up once to to go to the bathroom, I didn't wake up with intense hip or leg pain.  I just flat out slept ALL NIGHT LONG.  It was such a gift.  I just want to take advantage of as many good nights of sleep as I can get before this little guy gets here and lately, that's been a challenge.  So I'm a happy camper today.  It's the little things sometimes!

Sweater - Old Navy Maternity

Leggings - Steve Madden via DSW

Boots - Target, old

Necklace - gift from friend 

I also love how spiky my hair turned out today.  I love that the week is almost over.  I just love everything today!  What do you love today?

Inspiration Monday - When it rains...

Welcome to Monday.  And oh, is it EVER a Monday.  I'll get to that in a minute, but we'll do the business stuff first - it's Inspiration Monday with two birds.  Today's picture is of Brandy.

And my interpretation is a bit of a "if you blink" type looks.  I kind of went after the shoes and capris more than anything else.  Yes, I'm pregnant and still busting out high heels like this.  At least for now.  I know that will change with each passing month, so I'll enjoy it while it lasts!

So why is my Monday SO a Monday?  Well first of all we had storms last night and they woke me up out of a dead sleep at 2:00 am.  And yes I realize in a few short months I'll be getting really familiar with 2:00 am, but right now I'm enjoying the full night's sleep while I can - so I wasn't happy about that.  Then this morning after Mr. Monkey got out of the shower he told me that the shower was backing up very badly.  We waited to see if it would drain - and it really didn't.  So I decided to forgo the shower this morning and opted for a "hobo shower" instead.  At least short hair makes it somewhat easy and I do take a bath at night, so it wasn't terribly hard to get clean enough, but I tell you, a shower really helps you wake up, so I'm missing that big time!  Today is also the first day my boss is out having her other knee done, so I'm flying solo - so I just hope the rest of the day isn't bad from here!

 Jacket - LOFT, thrifted

Shirt - MixIt - thrifted

Capris - Simply Vera, Kohls

Necklace - Maurices

Bracelet - Target

Shoes - Steve Madden, thrifted

So anyway, that's my sob story and let's just say I really love my coffee today.  Yep, I'm one of the pregnant chicks who didn't give up caffeine.  I can have 200 mg a day and you bet I'll be taking full advantage of that today!

For more inspiration Monday outfits and people who are likely in a far better mood than myself, head on over to two birds over here.

Sweet 16

Happy Friday all!  We've successfully made it through another week, hooray!  I have another semi-busy weekend on tap, but nothing like last weekend.  And after this weekend, my July looks lovely.  Really I just need to get past tomorrow.  Then summer can really begin in my book!

Went for a simple t-shirt and jeans today for a casual Friday look.  Dressed it up with one of my favorite Stella and Dot necklaces with brooch and my awesome thrifted Steve Madden heels.  Simple little touches that really add a lot!

Nothing terribly exciting planned for my day though - meeting a couple of blog friends for happy hour and then heading home for dinner with Mr. Monkey.  Speaking of which, we're splitting a CSA share with my in-laws this summer and the first box came last night.  And the Pants Monkey is a pretty darn creative chef and whipped us up a lovely dinner of pork chops (which we already had), radishes, collard greens with kale and a fried egg (we're getting 1/2 cartons of fresh eggs too).  It was delicious!  We're going to be eating really well this summer, I can already tell!

Shirt - Ann Taylor, from cousin

Jeans - Liz Lange, from friend

Necklace and bracelet - Stella and Dot

Bag - 31 Gifts

Shoes - Steve Madden, thrifted

And here's my weekly bump picture - we're at sweet 16 today!  As I said yesterday, four more weeks until we find out boy or girl and at that point we'll be halfway through.  Crazy!

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend.  Later today I will be posting a Vlog about my newest box from Influenster - kind of excited about it!

Super score

No Target link up today.  This post is of an outfit I wore last week actually and I'm scheduling it ahead because as we speak I'm probably meeting the plant service we use at some of our facilities for a project at one of our clinics.  Sometimes my job is exciting!

So this shirt was the score of my thrifting career so far I think.  Seven For All Mankind - with tags still on - $14 at the Goodwill.  I actually bought it last Fall - wore it once to a wedding and then didn't wear it again until now.  It has cut outs in the sleeves that actually make it not the warmest shirt in the world, but it worked for a reasonably mild spring day last week.

Shirt - Seven For All Mankind, thrifted

Pants - Maurices (old)

Shoes - Steve Madden, thrifted

Bracelet - S&D

Necklace - gift from a friend 

What is one of the best items you've ever thrifted?  In addition to this shirt, I'd have to say it would be my Anthropologie pants and my patchwork Coach purse.  Sometimes it's worth digging a bit, you never know what you'll find!

May showers

Off and on since late yesterday we've been having some nice gentle rain showers.  The kind we should have had in April that would be bringing the May flowers.  Instead we're getting May showers and I suppose then we'll have June flowers?  Who knows.  All I know is, it was too wet to take pictures outside this morning, which is too bad, I wanted to show off the colors in this sweater and it's just too hard for you to see it.  It's mint and peach.  And very open weave, so it'll be great for a lightweight pull over this summer.  This is another goodie from my very generous mom when we were trying to spend enough money at the consignment shop for her to use a coupon.  She got herself some nice stuff too, don't worry, she didn't spend it all on me!

 Sweater - Free People, consignment

T-shirt - Maurices, thrifted

Skirt - Old Navy

Shoes - Steve Madden, thrifted

Necklace - Stella and Dot

Speaking of my mom, my dad had a pretty epic idea for a gift for her for Mother's Day.  I'm very excited about it.  I know she doesn't read the blog so I could tell you all what it is, but I think I'll leave some suspense.  I'll give this clue: "an Apple a day keeps the doctor away".  What do you think it is?

Imitation = flattery

I can't take credit for my outfit today.  I saw a similar styled look on Kelley from Threads N Buttons earlier this week and decided, I think I will try that on Friday.  That is one of the things I love about blogging and the blogging community - getting inspiration from so many of you!

Super happy it's Friday.  We had a really fun date night last night, we aren't going so far as to totally give up weekend date nights, but we've decided weeknight date nights are fun every now and then too!

Button shirt - Banana Republic, thrifted

Sweater - H&M, thrifted

Jeans - Old Navy

Necklace - S&D

Shoes - Steve Madden, thrifted 

Any fun weekend plans for any of you?  Tomorrow my mom is coming over and we're doing the annual spring closet dump.  I'm so thankful she helps me with this - I'd be lost on my own!  I'll be making piles for my upcoming garage sale and for a clothing swap I'll be participating in - both events are in May, but I get the feeling they'll be here before I know it.  And speaking of my mom, it's her birthday on Sunday, so we'll be going out to celebrate!  So, it should be a fairly decent weekend!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend as well!