Thrift Style Thursday - Gothic City

Today's thrift style Thursday theme is Gothically Gorgeous - I was so lost at first as to what I as going to do that I could also make appropriate for work.  Then I remembered this short sleeve blazer and suddenly I had an outfit.  Is it terribly dark?  Maybe not, but I think it works pretty well!

I am also getting the hang of this camera!  I'm pretty dang excited about that - I might even start getting more use of out of it than Nate does, ha!  He loves to take pictures when we go on vacations and such, but they often live in the camera for the rest of eternity.  It's not as much fun to take an edit them all!

Blazer - thrifted, Dress - American Eagle 

Sandals - thrifted, Bag - Coach (Poshmark) 

I don't make a very good goth - I was far from goth in high school.  I was the geek - the band geek, the choir geek, the drama geek.  I wrote for the paper.  I was the total geek who was just a slight bit preppy. Yet both Nate and I had some friends that probably qualified as goth.  We kind of didn't care who we hung out with, most geeks really don't, he he.

Be sure to check out my other Thrift Style Thursday cohorts at their blogs listed below!

Spoolish//Sandpaper Kisses//Sincerely Miss J//Confessions of a Refashonista//

Alligator Toe//Buttons&Birdcages//Snippets With Alex//Eclecticity
//Being Zhenya//Erika's Style Diary//Sistas from Cali//

The Two Cent Chick//Lipstick And Yarn//Nuttier Than Nutella

Thrift Style Thursday - Wardrobe basics

Today's Thrift Style Thursday is a pretty simple theme - wardrobe basics.  You know, those essential items that everyone should have in their closet?  I'm sure it varies from person to person as to what the basic items everyone woman needs in her style inventory.  It also was hard for me to narrow down my top choices - but here are the ones I can't live without.

First off - a good quality denim/chambray shirt.  There are so many style options with this - you can wear it over or under something, it's one of the best layering pieces around. You also can't go wrong with a white t-shirt or camisole.  This black lace skirt is becoming one of my favorites as well.  Add in some good black shoes and you've got pieces to mix and match in many different outfits - but they work really well together too!  I also included one of my favorite bags of all time - not a thrifted piece, but one by a local designer - it's one of my favorite bags simply because it seems to go with everything - if that isn't a wardrobe basic, I don't know what is!

Denim shirt - American Eagle (thrifted), Cami - Old Navy

Skirt - Wet Seal (thrifted), Shoes - Anne Klein (from cousin)

Bag - Jenna Lou Designs, Necklace - Lia Sophia

What are some of your favorite wardrobe basics that you can't live without?  Be sure to check out the other Thrift Style Thursday participants and see what they said as well! 

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//

The Two Cent Chick//Lipstick And Yarn//Nuttier Than Nutella

Anniversary Style and Vacay!

Hello and happy Friday!  Today I am not actually at work.  I'm off to get ready for our big trip - I can't believe it's finally here.  We've been planning it since Oliver was born and at the time, June seemed sooooo far away - and now almost six months later, here we are.  Which means we will have a six month old in the house - say what?  I'll have his usual monthly recap up next week along with some other posts I've pre-scheduled, so hopefully you all won't miss me too much!

In the meantime, I thought I'd round out the week here by sharing my anniversary outfit from Tuesday.  I wore it to work all day, but I picked it out specially because the Pants Monkey loved it when I put it on for him when we went thrift shopping on Mother's Day.  

I love it too, the color of this shirt is too much fun.  I had been looking for a black lace skirt for awhile too, so I'm so happy to have one now!  This entire look may have been a tad bit too much for work maybe, but I guess maybe I was just giving off the hot secretary vibe?

Shirt - Express (thrifted), Skirt - Wet Seal (thrifted)
Bag - Tiganello (thrifted), Shoes - from cousin

I look forward to styling both of these pieces in other ways, but I had to wear them together for my wonderful hubby!  Speaking of my wonderful hubby - I mentioned that he and Ollie gifted me a spa day for Mother's Day - well I'm kicking my vacay off with a bang and using that today.  Get myself all relaxed before we head out of town (though maybe it would be better used after we get back, ha, but I wanted that mani/pedi now!)  I hope you all have a great week - I might not get around to your blogs, but as I said, there will still be some posts up here during the week.  I'll be Instagramming our journey as well, so feel free to follow along there!

Inspiration Monday on a Tuesday

Since I didn't have an idea for an outfit for the Pinned It Spinned It challenge for today, I thought I'd swing back and hit up the Inspiration Monday look for the week from two birds instead!  I saw this cute striped dress from January Jones and knew I had several options in my closet that would work!

I just love black and white stripes.  I realized this weekend I have a few striped items!  Anyway, I pulled together kind of a double stripe thing with a dress and a jacket - and leggings because while it's warming up here in MN, it's chilly in the mornings some days!  It's a good thing I did too, my office was an ice box when I got to work today!  I also am wearing a pair of the shoes I got from my cousin.

Jacket - F21, two birds garage sale

Dress - swap

Leggings - Simply Vera, Kohls

Shoes - Michael Kors, from cousin

Necklace - gift from friend 

Seeing January Jones up there reminds that Mad Men is starting up again.  We're a few seasons behind, but have found that Amazon streaming has some of the seasons we need to catch up on, so I think we'll be doing that soon since one of our other shows (Shameless) just finished it's season.  I love Amazon streaming, it really helps with binge watching tv shows and you can stop and pause and restart if you need to which we've done a couple of nights if Ollie wakes up and needs us.  It's worth my Prime membership, I'll say that much!

For other Inspiration Monday looks, visit two birds over here.

Winterfest

This past Friday Mr. Monkey and myself had our second date night since Oliver was born.  Our first was to his work holiday party and I forgot to take pictures of my outfit that day.  Our date this last Friday was more fun anyway - it was our annual trek to Winterfest - which is basically Craft Beer Lovers Christmas.  Almost 40 of our local breweries were on hand handing out 2 oz samples of their best stuff.  I took the opportunity to get a little dolled up!

We had a great time while my kind in-laws watched Oliver for us.  There were just so many kinds of beer, it was easy to get a little overwhelmed, but we have a good system - we each get a different one from each place and then share.  It works out pretty well!

Sweater - Swap

T-shirt - White House Black Market, from cousin

Skirt - Mossimo, Target

Leggings - Target

Boots - DSW

Purse - Rouge and Whimsy

My favorite beer of the night was a Vanilla Cold Press Porter from a brewery that is based in Duluth, Minnesota.  It was so good.  Also, I have to laugh at my pictures - there is a beer box behind me - appropriate I suppose - but also Oliver's swing....hmm, what does that say about me?

Inspiration Monday - One day at a time

Hey all!  I'm still here!  No baby yet.  I get the feeling I'll be more or less kissing my due date with this guy, but you never know - we're getting snow this week and sometimes barometric pressure is helpful.   For now, since I have no baby, I still work.  And I love that I could easily dress for today's Inspiration Monday with two birds - simple, classy outfit from Olivia Palmero here.

So my take was really quite simple and is pretty much my uniform all the time now - leggings, maternity sweater, and flats.  But hey, at least they are fun flats, you can't beat red shoes right?

Did all of you here in the US have a nice Thanksgiving weekend?  We sure did.  It was a relaxing four days. We had dinner with the Pants Monkey's extended family on Thursday and went to another get together with his family on Friday as well.  He had an aunt in town who lives out in Maine, so when she comes for holidays we squeeze in as much time as possible with her.  Earlier on Friday I had an entire day to myself, so I chose to stream movies off of Amazon - they added some good ones from the 90's, such as The Birdcage.  I hadn't seen it in forever, so that was a treat.

Sweater - Oh Baby via consignment

Leggings - Simply Vera, Kohls

Shoes and Necklace - Clothes Mentor 

The rest of the weekend we just took our time and unpacked some more baby things, watched movies, ate out, did all those things we won't be able to do as easily in a couple of weeks!  We're just going one day at a time and I'm ok with that concept!  At least working is a good distraction if nothing else!  And so is Cyber Monday - I'm going to try to get some Christmas shopping done today!  You have to love the internet!

I hate to beg - but if anyone still wants to send me guest posts I'd still love to have them!  Please and thank you!

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

Pinned It and Did It - Semi Halloween Spirit

I'm linking up with Heather's Pinned and Did It today.  And actually, this is an outfit pin I totally stole from her!  I liked the orange and black together and decided it was the best I could do for some Halloween spirit today.

Didn't quite go for bare legs as it's a little damp and chilly today, but otherwise I think this was kind of a fun look to copy and easy for me to do being pregnant.  I love that this little sweater dress still stretches over the bump for me!

I gotta let you in on a little secret though.  You might disown me or decide we can't be internet friends anymore.  I'm not a big fan of Halloween.  There, I said it.  I do put a few decorations out each year and I have had fun dressing in costume some years too - but I'm not that crafty or creative, so putting together costumes is always a challenge.  I'm not a fan of being startled or scared, so haunted houses are out for me. And our neighborhood really has few children, so we only get a handful of trick or treaters each year if we're lucky.  This year is exceptionally hard for me - no candy with the GD diet.  No crazy parties and drinking with friends.  So yeah, call me the Halloween Scrooge I guess.  I'm really excited for next year though - I absolutely cannot wait to dress up my little guy in a costume!  I look forward to taking him trick or treating when he's old enough.  I think a lot of holidays are more fun when kids are involved.

Dress - H&M via two birds garage sale

Leggings and boots - Target

Cardigan - Zashi from cousin

Necklace and earrings - S&D 

I certainly do not hate Halloween - in fact one of my favorite Charlie Brown specials of all time is It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.  But I love other holidays just a little bit more.  Thanksgiving?  Oh yeah, let's talk about that.  Mmm, turkey. 

Head on over to H&K Style Journey for more Pinned and Did It blog posts!

You gotta have heart

Apparently I'm in a real "heart" mood this week.  I can't keep it going all week though, this is the only other heart item I have, but hey, it's kind of a theme!  I grabbed this bad boy at the swap too (told you I made out like a bandit there!) and loved the fact that it was slouchy and stretchy and fit over the bump.  And it's another piece I should be able to wear after as well, can't beat that!

Man I sure look tired in these pictures!  We had had an early OB appointment yesterday morning and I think I took these as soon as I got to work - but pre-coffee!  Everything went well at the appointment, though I do get to have an ultrasound next week because of my gestational diabetes and also because shock, I'm measuring small.  They just want to see what's going on in there, but I'm not complaining too hard, I'll get to see my little guy for the first time in a few months now, so that will be exciting.

Sweater - from swap

Tank top - Old Navy

Pants - Oh Baby, thrifted

Necklace - gift from friend 

After work today I'm going to interview a pediatrician.  I tell you this stuff gets more and more real each passing day!  Still just going one day at a time though!  Trying to stave off any panic, lol!

Victorious

So I really don't like bugs.  I either avoid them or I get the Pants Monkey to kill them for the most part.  I will admit to being a scaredy cat girly girl.  There are a few exceptions though - tiny fruit flies?  Yeah, I'll kill those.  Tiny ants?  I'll kill those too.  Spiders?  If they are little and not too dark colored I will sometimes kill them, but a lot of times, I leave them be - they do eat other bugs after all.  But anyway, you see the overall theme here?  If they are TINY I will deal with them. 

So last night I was getting ready to get out of my evening bath when a very large black spider started crawling across the floor.  Considering I'd have to be barefoot near this monstrosity was not something I was terribly excited about.  I thought about yelling for the Pants Monkey and then I thought about it and I said to myself, "Self, you are going to be somebody's mom.  It's time to act like the mom.  Just do it."  So I side stepped the spider as I got out, grabbed some tissue and killed him all by myself.  I was pretty dang proud of myself!!

Shirt - TM Style, consignment

Leggings - Simply Vera, Kohls

Necklace - S&D with MMD buttonflower

Shoes - Liz Claiborne, from cousin

Bag - Coach via Poshmark

I have to say, one of the best things about being pregnant is being able to wear leggings pretty much all the time and no one complaining about it.  I will also say though, I can't get enough of the Simply Vera brand from Kohls - these particular leggings are made to look like pants, they even have pockets on the back.  The material is almost a light denim feel.  And they are COMFY.  I can't say enough good things about them.  I'd wear them even if I wasn't pregnant!

*Not compensated in any way - just sharing because I truly love!*

Inspiration Monday - Morning challenges

Man, some Mondays are just such a challenge in the mornings!  I look at how I struggle now and then I go, how am I going to manage with a newborn in a few months!  The answer is simple really, I need to be less lazy at night and get things ready the night before hand.  I think I'll figure that out one of these days!  Anyway, I'm here and I guess that's all that matters for the moment!  And it's Inspiration Monday with two birds!  Today's model is Kate Beckinsale in some super fun patterned pants.

Sadly, I have no fun patterned maternity pants.  And it's also going to be in the low 80's again today because summer just can't let go even if it's October tomorrow.  So I opted for a skirt instead.  And more of a tuxedo jacket than a moto jacket.  It's a "if you blink" type inspired outfit today!

Jacket - Mossimo, Target

Shirt - White House, Black Market, from cousin

Skirt - Mossimo, Target

Necklace - Clothes Mentor

Shoes - DSW 

I gotta say, I'm kind of impressed by my 6 1/2 almost 7 month pregnant self still wearing non-maternity items sometimes!  Again, hooray for stretchy bands!

Did you all have good weekends?  We had some rain on Saturday, but I did a little shopping with my mom. The weather cleared just in time for our very good friend's housewarming party in the evening and we were able to sit outside and enjoy a bonfire.  Sunday was absolutely gorgeous outside, so the Pants Monkey and I took advantage of the weather and visited our local zoo for a bit.  It was crazy to think the next time we go there we could have our baby boy in tow. I can't wait to introduce him to our zoo, it's such a wonderful gem in the middle of our city.

And that's about it.  I'm off to face Monday armed with coffee and a positive attitude.  I can turn this hectic morning around!  Head on over to two birds and check out the other Inspiration Monday looks!