Show Stoppers

I decided that if a stranger walks up to me, compliments something I'm wearing, and asks where I bought it, then whatever I'm wearing is a winner. Today's winner is these shoes. Jeff and I went to the market this past weekend, and a lady stopped me in the aisle to ogle my shoes. When we were walking the streets of downtown, a lady said nothing but stared so hard at my shoes that I feared for her forehead because she was a few steps from Mr. Magooing a tree. These flats are show stoppers. They're comfortable. They add a nice pop of color to otherwise neutral outfits. And I love them. I think you need a pair. I wear a 8.5, and they're true to size for me.

Oh, and my juniors' interviews went pretty well yesterday. One student said, "I was expecting it to be a waste of time, but it really wasn't." In teenager speak, that's the highest of compliments. If you can prove their expectations wrong, then you have won the war on apathy. 

So, yesterday you saw that I found my perfect leopard print top. For quite some time, I've been hunting high and low for a floral top (silk, with or without sleeves, smaller flowers, enough colors to match a lot of things, looks good tucked or untucked), and I keep coming up with nothing. I'm not spending $80 on a floral shirt. That's just highway robbery I will not condone. I looked at H&M, LOFT, Banana Republic, The Limited, Francesca's, and most of my regular haunts. Any suggestions?

The Look:

Top: Old Navy (got this bad boy last month for $6! exact)

Jeans: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's ($10 woot woot--similar)

Vest: American Eagle (here is a green one at Nordstrom)

Red flats: Sole Society (exact--feel free to use my referral link)

(You're welcome.)

Linking up with

* All Things Thursday at http://www.glitzandgold.com

* Look What I Got (for cheap) at http://pennilesssocialite.blogspot.com/

* Three-fer Thursdays at http://www.everydayfashionandfinance.com

* Tres-Chic Fashion Thursday at http://vodkainfusedlemonade.com/

Olive Pink & Puppies

Once a week, I need to satisfy your desire to see more of my parents' puppies. This little guy is Sammy. Sammy enjoys burrowing into crotches, sleeping on heads, and eating food off of my dad's pant leg. Nothing beats visiting my parents' house on the weekend. They feed me delicious food, they offer satisfying conversation, they house two of the cutest dude pups (I clearly house the cutest lady pups), and they help me forget the mounds of essays I need to grade. 

These wedges were $20 at Nine West! What? Crazy talk. Additionally, I took a little trip to Old Navy today in hopes of scoring a pair of $10 flats. None of them appealed to me; however, I scooped up a spring sweater and necklace. Would you like to know how much I paid for those two items? Yes, yes, you do. FIVE BUCKS. No, your eyes do not deceive you. I paid FIVE dollars for a sweater and a necklace. Even the cashier said that was the best deal she's seen...ever. I don't play sports, but I'm a winner.

The Look:

Vest: Forever 21 (very similar from Nordstrom)

Top: Jennifer Lopez via Kohl's (Santa Momma gave it to me! exact)

Pants: White House Black Market (at least three years old--similar from Old Navy)

Shoes: Nine West (similar)

Necklace: Lauren Conrad from Momma (very similar)

 

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Linking up with

* Shanna
* Pleated Poppy

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OH, next Trendy Tuesday is "Nautical or Knot."

 My colleagues are so creative. :)

Reverse 30x30: I don't chop trees. I just breathe, and they fall over.

Oh, HEY, look: it's the return of a cute outfit wrapped up in a crappy quality picture!

Mom said that she'd start taking some pictures of me with her gorgeous camera and kick-ass photography skills, so you might be seeing some of my images take a step in the right direction. Since she housed fetal me in her womb and partook in that whole raising me thing, I don't feel all awkward posing for her, which is good because random drug-dealing neighbors creeping on my photo shoots makes for enough awkwardness. Plus, I want to spend more time with Mom.

Typically, we always go shopping, and I'd like to do less of that this year and more adventuring! Mom loves to take pictures and adventures, so this little arrangement means she can practice her craft while I work on bringing this blog into the land of the pretty and home of the well-written. Plus, we'll get some fun adventures out of the deal. I do believe that's what they call a win-win-win. (A win for me, a win for her, and a win for you)

Until then, allow the following picture to serve as the antithesis of what's to come.

How could I not share this warm outfit with you? Plus, I reversed the heck out of those brown boots.

I will continue my Atypical Love Story telling when Jeff's not blaring a video game in the living room and periodically sneaking into the office just to stare at me. Though I find him wildly charming and comical, his presence is not exactly conducive to my authorial creativity.

Reversed 30x30 Update:

(Original Post in case you want pictures and a run down of this challenge)

1. coral and khaki skirt (might have to wait for spring...looks STUPID with tights)

2. gray and yellow skirt 

3. white pencil skirt (officially waiting for spring--too cold for the outfits I have planned for it)

4. teal velvet pants (officially reversed)

5. polka dot tights

6. khaki pants (officially returned)

7. brown boots (officially reversed)

8. black wedge booties (officially reversed)

9. red heels

10. tri-color wedges (officially reversed--I've added so much gray/navy/burgundy to my wardrobe that these are perfect)

11. aztec scarf

12. teal necklace

13. striped dress (officially reversed)

14. tan dress (officially rejected)

15. navy dress (probationally reversed)

16. polka dot shirt (officially reversed)

17. polka dot cardi

18. polka dot blouse (officially reversed) 

19. printed blazer (on probation, might be leaving the closet, LEAVING the closet)

20. chambray (officially reversed)

21. paisley blouse (officially rejected)

22. gray shirt (officially rejected)  

23. paisley blouse 2 (reversed for today's look)

24. emerald sleeveless sweater

25. navy sweater (pulling one of my favorites: sweater over a dress look!)

26. blush sweater with silver polka dots (outfit planned but might be too cold)

27. silver sweater (officially rejected)

28. black sweater (might be replaced by a crew neck)

29. white lace sweater (officially reversed)

30. orange sweater (might wait for spring--not feeling the brights quite yet)

31. long-sleeve purple shirt (got a plan for this one)

32. gray skinnies (I've already worn them three times, none of which you've seen...oops!)

33. light khakis (got a plan for these)

34. gold blazer (If I could no longer be sick and actually make it into work wearing something other than boots, I'd really like to wear one of the outfits I dreamed up for this blazer) 

Momma's Birthday Weekend

This past weekend, we celebrated my beautiful Momma's birthday. I felt it necessary to extend the occasion for two days. Honestly, she's worthy of an entire week. On Friday, we chowed down on some burgers and mashed potatoes. On Saturday morning, we enjoyed a couple's massage. (We even scheduled another one for the end of March!) For dinner, Dad fixed a delicious spread of filet mignon, vegetables, and sweet mashed potatoes. Too bad my acid reflux flared up something wicked. Ah, the joys of a geriatric digestive system.

Allow me to show you what I wore on Friday. Dang, was this outfit comfortable. One of my male students told me that I looked as if I was going on safari. Maybe I was, kid. Maybe I was. I'm hunting wabbits.

Oh, and do you like Mom's coat? That was my birthday gift to her. She continuously hunted for a yellow coat but to no avail. Who found the perfect one? ME, of course. (I'm also the same one who found the red boots she searched forever to find.)

 This shot is blurry, but I had to include it because Dad called it his "Green Mile shot." Oh, Dad.

Thanks for completely obstructing the view of my boots, Blue. 

Outfit Deets:

Mom's Coat: Black Rivet via Wilson's Leather (similar here)

My vest: Forever 21 (similar)

Jeans: American Eagle (similar)

Boots: Diba via DSW (similar)