Squinting at the weekend

Today was one of those days that I should have laid an outfit out before I went to bed, but I didn't and I couldn't decide what to wear to save my life this morning!  It's been a long week and I was having trouble waking up today and I opened my closet and felt so uninspired.  But fortunately, I figured out something really quickly and ended up super happy with the results.  This jacket has been so versatile this winter!

The cat in the background of the above photo, if you can even see it, isn't mine.  It's our neighbor's.  I do not like this cat as it likes to sit on the ledge outside our window and torture my cats (we have strictly indoor kitties).  This cat used to run away if the Pants Monkey or myself came outside, but it's getting bolder and braver.  One day it tried to follow me into my house.  Not cool little kitty.  I feel bad for it as I don't think his owner takes very good care of it, but still.  I wish it would go hang out in someone else's yard and torture their animals instead of mine.

Got a little more snow last night, but it is super sunny out now.  It was almost too bright driving into work today.  It was also rather bright as I took my pictures, as you can see me trying not to squint!!

My poor Pants Monkey has to work this weekend, which is a rare occurrence, but it's kind of putting a damper on the weekend.  Hoping to get some quality time together on Sunday though.  In the meantime I'll fill my time with those mundane tasks that are sometimes easier to do when your other half isn't home - cleaning bathrooms, washing clothes, etc.   You wish your weekend was that exciting, admit it!

Outfit rundown:

T-shirt - Mossimo, Target

Jacket - F21

Jeans - Maurices

Necklace - jerseymaids via Etsy

Shoes - thrifted via Clothes Mentor

Bag - Lillian's Shoppes

I never said I was a photographer

Yeah, these pictures are not my best effort today - I was running late and chose to be wimpy and not go outside to deal with taking them in the snow.  So, we'll make do with these not so great indoor ones I guess!

So who else can't believe it's March?  Seriously!  It has to mean spring is almost here right?  I'm channeling my Irish roots a little early for St. Patrick's Day and going with a bit of a green theme in my outfit. Being on my shopping ban hasn't been too bad so far, but I like to frequently change my purse and went through a phase of "I don't want to carry any purse I own right now."  What was the solution?  Go to my mom's closet and borrow one of hers!  In truth, this particular purse I stole is one I bought a couple of years ago.  Her and I keep passing it back and forth.  Sisterhood of the Traveling Purse.  It's an awesome color - it's sort of silver and sheer and can almost look green or brown depending on what you put it with.  Plus it has loads of pockets.  I love that.

I don't believe I've ever taken a detailed picture of this funky necklace I got at the Two Birds pop up shop back in December.  Isn't it neat?  I kind of like the fact that it's not quite perfect in how it falls, it just adds to the uniqueness of it.  It was a total last second grab that day, but I have gotten quite a bit of use out of it so I'm glad I have it!

Overall a pretty simple and comfy outfit today.  I think I'll be pulling out some more skirts and dresses next week as it's going up to near 50 degrees.  Doesn't necessarily mean that spring is here to stay though.  Minnesota spring is fickle. I remember my senior year of high school, Prom was the last week in April and it was in the 90's and not two weeks later on my senior band trip to Ely, MN it snowed.  So seeing as it's only March, all bets are off right now!

I really will try to have something more exciting to talk about besides the weather tomorrow!  Almost the weekend, that's something right?

Outfit rundown:

Green t-shirt - thrifted Target stock

Sweater - Old Navy

Pants - Alfani, Macy's (old)

Necklace - vintage, two birds boutique

Bag - Lillian's Shoppes

Shoes - Mudd, Kohls (old)

Leap Day Snowstorm

This is what we woke up to here in the Twin Cities this morning.  Lovely icy, snowy mess.  I took these looking out my front door, this is my little CRV all covered up in the first picture here.

And this is looking south towards my neighbor's house.  In all due honesty, this isn't even that impressive of a storm when you think of what our winters here are usually capable of, but this is probably the biggest one we've had this winter, so I had to document it somehow!

I was prepared that this morning would require more attention to cleaning off my car and just getting myself to work and not to taking blog pictures, so instead I'm sharing Monday's work outfit because I didn't get a chance to do so yet and I think it's pretty cute.

Monday was a much nicer day outside, that's for sure!  What a difference a couple of days makes I guess!  On Monday I wore my favorite Anthro pants again, I keep saying I'm going to hem them and I still haven't done so.  I wore nice high heels so at least I wasn't tripping over them.

 I told the Pants Monkey about all the compliments I received on the dress yesterday and his response was "cool!"  Mostly he was just happy that I liked the dress and that it's working out well for me.  I told him he can buy me clothes anytime, to which he responded, "yeah but our anniversary isn't for another three months."  Who says he needs a special occasion?

Happy Leap Day!  Anyone out there actually have a birthday today?  The father of a girl I grew up with had a birthday on Leap Day.  They used to joke that he was younger than he really was since he only got a birthday every four years!

Outfit rundown:

Shirt - Decree, JCPenney

Pants - Thrifted Anthropologie via Clothes Mentor

Owl necklace - F21

Hidden shoes - Mudd, Kohls

I'm spoiled

The Pants Monkey totally spoils me.  I love him for it.  You may remember I said we really don't do gifts for Valentine's Day right?  Well he still surprised me with something.  He got me a dress.  From what he tells me it was a really good deal so I'll just have to trust him on that.  Anyway, I woke up kind of on the wrong side of the bed and really wanted to wear something that made me feel good and pretty today, so I decided to wear it.  I had promised him I'd wear it on a date night, but between our schedule lately and him getting a cold this weekend, we haven't had one of those in a little bit.  It's so cute, comfy and flirty I don't think I'll have a problem wearing it again though when we do finally go out somewhere!

This is going to be another wonderfully versatile dress, I can already tell.  It's a nice lightweight t-shirt material so it will go well into summer, but I was able to "winterize it" easily with boots and leggings.  The Pants Monkey said I looked cute this morning.  I have to agree.

So now it sounds like we aren't getting as much snow as they originally thought - which has so been the name of the game this year!  I'm prepared with my boots on just in case!  I also planned a very wintery dinner for us in anticipation of the snowstorm - chili and grilled cheese sandwiches - perfect snowstorm meal?  I think so!  We'll hunker down and be warm and toasty no matter what, even if it's a piddly inch of slush.

I just hope there is some moisture out of this storm - the air is sooooo dry, I can't keep enough lotion on!  Anyone else having that problem?  It's pretty annoying isn't it?  Oh well, it's the end of February, spring is just around the corner right?

Outfit rundown:

T-shirt - Mossimo, Target

Dress - VS, gift from the Pants Monkey

Leggings - Steve Madden via DSW

Boots - Target

Necklace - Charming Charlie

Inspiration Monday - Not Josie Grosie

I loved that this week's Inspiration Monday outfit was a nice casual look from Miss Drew Barrymore here.  I love Drew Barrymore - my favorite of her movies being Never Been Kissed because it's just so cute and I know I had my Josie Grosie moments back in the day, as we all probably did.  She is definitely not Josie Grosie in this look though and thankfully, neither am I!

So this was an easy one to put together, I have a ton of graphic t-shirts that don't get too much love from me anymore (I blame a past addiction to the website threadless.com) so I gave myself permission to wear one for this inspired look!  Plus it was Sunday, all I had planned was hanging out with my friend Stef and her baby, and then coming home to watch the Oscars.  So a laid back look was perfect!  

I probably should have taken a picture of the detail in this t-shirt - it's cute, it is Cookie Monster's furry hand opening a door and sneaking up on a cookie in bed.  I love Cookie Monster so I had to have this shirt.  It also reminds me of Monsters, Inc which I adore.

Speaking of movies, who watched the Oscars?  I was a little underwhelmed by the show - but not by who received awards.  From what I knew of the nominees this year it seems the Academy got it right.  I did not find Billy Crystal funny at all.  I didn't get much of a chance to ogle the dresses as I missed the Red Carpet show, but I think the best dressed I saw on stage was probably the cast of Bridesmaids and I also thought Cameron Diaz looked very pretty.  Oh and Octavia Spencer looked very classy too.   Not much of fashionable thoughts for the evening, but my less than two cents I guess!

On we go into Monday.  Could be an interesting week here in MN, we have an actual snowstorm shaping up - we'll see how that influences my outfits this week! One day at a time. For more Inspiration Monday outfits, visit the two birds blog. 

Outfit rundown:

T-shirt - Threadless.com

Sweater - Lands End

Jeans - Maurices

Shoes - SO, Kohls

Necklace and bracelet - Bead for Life

Channeling Childhood

The last time I wore this sweater, I commented that it reminds me of something I would have worn when I was a little girl.  In the spirit of that, I decided to style it in a way that is reminiscent of how I might have dressed when I was 8.  Because hey, it's fun.  And it's Friday.  If you can't have fun on Friday, when can you have fun?

I can guarantee you that 8 year old Bethie would have worn this sweater with a jean skirt.  Instead of leggings however, she'd probably be wearing those knit tights that almost look like a cable knit sweater - anyone have any idea what I'm talking about? They'd be pink. She'd finish out the outfit with buckled Mary Janes and probably a couple of plastic teddy bear barrettes in her hair.  8 year old Bethie wasn't super hip, but she could be sort of stylish!

What kinds of things was 8 year old Bethie into?  Well, let's see, her favorite movie was The Little Mermaid, she was a Brownie Scout, she sang in her church's children's choir, her favorite after school activity was playing Barbies with her friends, she loved to ride her bike around the block and her favorite TV shows were Tiny Toon Adventures, Hey Dude and Reading Rainbow.  Yep, I know I'm totally dating myself.  If you haven't figured out by now that I'm 30 and grew up in the late 80's/early 90's, well, you know now!  Some things have changed in 20 some odd years, but some apparently haven't!

Oh well, I love this sweater and I don't care if it takes me back to my youth!  Everyone needs to let out their inner child every now and then!  Happy Friday and Happy Weekend!!

Outfit rundown:

Sweater - vintage Daytons via two birds at b.(a resale shop)

Skirt - LOFT thrifted via Clothes Mentor

Leggings - Target

Shoes - SO (Kohls) thrifted 

Loving and not loving khaki

I have a love/hate relationship with khaki.  I have trouble finding pairs of khaki pants that I think look nice on me, so that's part of it.  Another reason is I tend to think of khaki more as a spring/summer thing for some reason and in the spring and summer, our church group wears khaki as part of our uniform so then I never want to wear it (we wear black in the winter).  But, regardless of those feelings, when I decided to wear this sweater that I bought pre-ban I thought of khaki right away.  Partly because I already wore my gray pants this week and that would be the other color I'd wear, but partly because the yellow makes me think of spring and that led me back to khaki.  I know, strange path to how I chose my outfit.  My brain is a fun place to be sometimes.

I do wish you could all reach through the computer and touch this sweater - it is so soft.  I love that.  My Taylor cat loves it too, I had it all folded up on the ironing board last night in preparation of wearing it today and Taylor cat thought it made a lovely bed.  Never mind the fact that we have two large cat beds (actually they are dog beds, but the cats don't have to know that), my sweater is a much better place to curl up for a nap.  Thankfully Taylor cat doesn't shed that much considering she's so fluffy.

I do have to say the colors in this outfit are really cheering me up today, not that I'm really all that down, kind of just tired and ready for the week to be over.  But this outfit is making me happier feeling!  Isn't it nice when clothes do that?

I'm so ready for this weekend, our last few have been very hectic.  While we do have a mass with our music group, that is it for things I HAVE to do this weekend.  I am hoping to go see my friend who had her baby in January, since baby A is already six weeks old and growing like a weed.  I also want to make cupcakes too.  We'll have to see where the weekend takes me, but either way I don't think I'll be bored, which means, I won't miss shopping that much!

Outfit rundown:

T-shirt - Herbergers (old)

Sweater - Thrifted Target stock

Khakis - Old Navy

Shoes - Thrifted via Clothes Mentor

Necklace - Charming Charlie