sunshine and boyfriend jeans

Sweater (last seen here) | Jeans | Jacket (this seasons version) | Heels | Sunglasses | Purse | Belt 

When the weather is nice, DC comes out to play. So this weekend when the sun came out for the first nice day in 3+ months, I had to be a team player, right? I mean, who am I to let the team down? And while it was only a mere 55 degrees, it might as well have been 75. Everyone was out running enjoying bottomless brunch and beer gardens and ending up at the “happiest place on earth” – a gay sports bar that plays Robyn and Brittney all day. Well maybe that last part is just me but you get the picture.

I spent Saturday belly laughing fueled by champagne with my old roommates and I remembered just how much I love DC. All it takes is a little sunshine and some semi-decent weather.

SHOP THE POST

baseball tee for the weekend

A Monday post?! Your eyes do not deceive you. 

I spent some time chatting with a friend this weekend about how to balance a love for your day job with a creative outlet. Do you even need a creative outlet when you love your day to day work? I would say that you do. Well, I do at least. But how do you find time to direct energy into the outlet when most of it is spent on what pays the bills? While the simple answer would be to make the creative outlet pay the bills, alas that is just not my reality right now. So for now, my answer is simply make the time for my outlet (that being this space right hurr).  

And while this may fall into a bigger discussion of being intentional and present, right now I’m re-energized in making this blog what I set out to make it: an outlet for my interests, thoughts, and passions not fulfilled by my professional career. This new energy excites me (and recommits me) to post more often. I think I lost touch with how I wanted to use this space to share little anecdotes, my pursuits of a great deal and how I’m working to create a personal style that is practical, relatable and versatile. .

Which is how we landed here with today’s post. There are two things I have a hard time passing on a road trip: an outlet mall and Taco Bell. I’m not necessarily proud of the latter but I just can’t help it. Throw that shade elsewhere because you know you love it too. I stopped by the outlets on my last road trip (and TB, who am I kidding) because I had a Gilt City deal for 30% off at J.Crew Factory and left a very happy camper. I mentally debated if I could make this shirt both weekend and work appropriate which is a prerequisite of mine before any impulse purchases. Clearly, I decided I could. So be sure to check back later this week to see how I styled it for work. :)

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Baseball Tee- J.Crew Factory

Jeans- Gap

Flats- Banana Republic (similar)

Earrings- J.Crew

leopard and oxblood

Oh hey big surprise. Another day and another leopard print post. It’s just too easy but we’ve talked about this, right? Y’all are either going to have to jump ship (please don’t!) or stop rolling your eyes at all the leopard print. Leopard is a Neutral- now there’s a blog name for ya.

What do you think of leopard print for the office? I originally bought this sweater for casual layering on the weekends but when temps dipped last week in DC (is that you fall?), I threw it on in a last minute rush out the door. I’m fortunate to have a somewhat lax dress code – one that I probably too often push the limit on – but with a blouse and pencil skirt, I think this sweater meets the code just fine. 

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Sweater- Target

Blouse- H&M

Skirt- Banana Republic (on serious sale!)

Glasses- Warby Parker "Baxter"
Shoes- J.Crew Factory (similar)
Purse- Madewell

I really love my..... leopard print

Original posts: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 

It has been awhile since I've done a "I really love my.... " post so let's jump back in by talking about my favorite neutral: LEOPARD. As far as Jenna Lyons is concerned, leopard is a neutral and that's authority enough for me. So I encourage you to embrace leopard as your favorite neutral and new best friend this fall. Going with this idea that leopard is a neutral, the print is the perfect print to dip your toes in to the world of pattern mixing. 

Style tip #1: Small accents are easy. Use a belt, heels or a scarf to add a new pattern but not to overwhelm your look. A small accent is an easy place to start. Style tip #2: Stripes are a safe bet. Leopard and stripes go hand in hand. Start with something that matches the brown of the leopard easily like navy or black or dive right into reds, orange and pinks. Because the patterns are so different, stripes of almost any matching color will compliment nicely. Style tip #3 Keep the spots small. Pattern mixing works best when the patterns are different sizes so that one pattern become the focus. Leopard print with small spots works so well because it automatically becomes the secondary pattern which allows you to wear it with bigger camo or floral prints.

What do you think about pattern mixing? You into it? Or is it too busy for you?

PS- I'm linking up with Lauren today!

stripes, denim and leopard

These pictures are from last weekend when my dad was in town for a long weekend. My dad has been to DC a number of times so its always extra nice when he comes that I'm able to share with him what my life is like here rather than play tourist. While we love to check out a new exhibit or spend some time outside on the mall, there isn't the urgency to do all the touristy things DC offers. Rather, we are able to relax a bit, try new restaurants or go to a concert at a winery like we did this past weekend while he was here. Since he lives in LA, we don't get to see each other as often as we'd like which is why it means so much to me that we're able to spend quality time together rather that feeling obligated to play DC hostess. 

Anywho, I hope you have a nice weekend! I'm headed to SF for a week for a little work and a lot of play. *squeal* I can't wait!

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Jacket- J.Crew Factory

Tee- J.Crew

Shorts- Loft

Shoes- Target, old
Hat- Target, old (similar)

Bag- Madewell

stripes and leopard

A quick hello from New Jersey! It's my first time in New Jersey-- aside from taking the train through to NYC-- and I'll admit that I had no idea it was so beautiful. The more you know.... I've also been told I have to try a real Jersey bagel and get a slice of pizza before I leave. Any excuse to try a bagel and or pizza is a fine excuse to me.

The next stop on my trip is Philadelphia and obviously have to have a cheese steak before I leave, right?

Oy. I think I need to start a juice cleanse on Friday.

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Cardigan- Forever 21

Top- Target
Skirt- Banana Republic
Shoes- J.Crew Factory

a quick hello!

Remember when I told you things at work were ramping up but I didn't think that would change anything around here. Well that was just a bold faced lie. I've been a terrible time manager! And rather than be a good little blogger last night and plan out my posts for the week, I went to WWE with my girls. Yes, you read that right. That, my friends, is a post for another day.

 So today is going to be brief. Just a HELLO! Hope you're having a good week!

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Pants- J.Crew Factory
Top- Target, old
Cardigan- Forever 21 (similar)
Bag- Madewell
Heels- DSW

Linking up with Lauren and Lauren today!

minty

I said on Monday I'm not really a green person and then I remembered I had this blazer hiding in the back of my closet waiting for spring to appear. I decided to stop waiting for spring and just start wearing my favorite spring colors despite the snow on the ground in the background of these pictures. Take that Mother Nature.

Once upon a time, I lived next door to Violet Boutique which for many reasons, proximity included, quickly became one of my favorite stores in DC. Let me tell you though, living next door to your favorite and affordable boutique is really a slippery slope. Factor in living on a block with cheap happy hour drinks, it becomes outright dangerous. There were far too many Friday nights after happy hour when the roommates and I went shopping in our "Violet closet" rather than our own closet or couldn't find a purse that matched so we would just go buy one next door. It was a little out of control. This blazer was definitely my favorite Violet purchase-- I had been looking for a brightly colored blazer for Aaron's law school graduation for weeks and when I saw it on the mannequin in the window, I knew it was fate. Or at least that's what I told myself when I asked to buy the last one off the mannequin.

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Blazer- Violet
Top- Loft
Pants- J. Crew Factory
Heels- Target (similar leopard print- wait for a sale though!)
Bag- Kate Spade

PS- Linking up with Shanna today!

leopard print + stripes

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a nice weekend. It was seriously beautiful in DC this weekend and while it may not have reached spring-like temperatures, the sunshine was such a nice break from all this grey, dark and snowy winter we've been having. I am instantly in a better mood when it's sunny out. Spoken like a true California native...

This is really sappy (and might make your eyes roll) but Aaron is headed to New York this week for a father/sons trip with his best friend and their dads (cute, right?) and I'm feeling a bit selfish by being pretty bummed I won't see him this week. I'm trying not to be and focus instead on being grateful for being able to spend time with both him and his dad this past weekend. It's tough not seeing family as often as we would like, being as how most of our family is out west, so weekend visits are all the more special. My mama is coming next week for a week long visit  and I might explode with excitement!

Hope you have a good week!

xo

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coat- ASOS, old (similar)
sweater- Madewell via Current Boutique (similar)
Chambray- Gap
Necklace- Etsy
Pants- Ambiance SF
Booties- Target, old

chambray and leopard

Ah, another snow day is upon us. As excited as I was for snow a few months ago, I am O-V-E-R over it now. I am so freaking tired of the snow. And the cold. And the wind. And always being so bundled up I look like Randy. It's just not cute anymore. NOW I get why people on the east coast take so many vacations in February. Spring cannot come fast enough. 

I'm assuming you all watched the Oscars last night? I'm watching this morning so I can fast forward through all the boring awards the commercials. I did however do plenty of red carpet watching last night and am already anticipating how we'll be seeing the red carpet styles translate to every day trends. We're already seeing a lot of powder blue and I'm sure that won't slow down after Lupita Nyong'o dress last night. [Side note: we can all agree she's been the best dressed this award season right?] I think we'll be seeing a lot more people wearing necklaces backwards like J.Law and a lot of navy which I'm pleased about. Thank you Amy,  Sandra and Ellen. Oh and then Ellen crushed it in winter white. Bravo, Ellen! PS- WHERE can I get a sparkly navy blazer? I obviously need one stat.

But the real winner? JARED LETO'S HAIR. I think I should just bring a picture of his ombre next time I get my hair done.

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Sweater- Loft (old)
Chambray- Gap
Skirt- Loft (old)
Boots- Frye
Bag- Philip Lim x Target

florals and leopard

I'm not much of a pattern mixer because truthfully, I don't really know how to do it without looking like 6 year old Nicole dressed herself. But I want to be a pattern mixer so bad you guys! SO BAD. So I did what any modern day woman with a glass of wine, a comfy couch and an episode of the Bachelor on in the background would do- I created a pinsipration board. I'm not 100% at official pattern mixing status yet but am using my favorite neutral - leopard- to get my feet wet. It's a seemingly easy way to compliment another pattern.

I have also found that another way to ease into pattern mixing is through stripes. If you follow me on instagram you know that I have plenty of options for stripes. Between florals and stripes, I think I'll be graduating from Intro to Pattern Mixing soon. I think I'm on my way to becoming a pattern mixer!

Speaking of things I want to be SO BAD, I've really wanted to get into running but just for the life of me cannot get into it! So instead of creating another pinspiration board, Aaron and I signed up for a 10k! Its in June so I have plenty of time to become a runner (or not). We'll see how well this works out......

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Top- Gap
Jeans-Gap (this season)
Blazer- Banana Republic
Bag- Madewell
Shoes- Target (similar)
Beret- Nordstrom, old (similar)
Necklace- J. Crew Factory

Linking up with Shanna and Lindsey today!