Denim + Denim

shirt: thrifted, jeans: Gap, scarf: Old Navy, boots: Target

I'm not going to lie, this is a re-created look. I changed out of my sweatpants and cute Cleveland Browns tee this afternoon just to take this picture, then changed right back into them and headed for the couch again. I wore this outfit last weekend when we headed back to my parents house for Christmas. I had been wanting to try the denim on denim look for awhile, but was a little nervous about it. Apparently the last minute rush to get everything done and packed up was just what I needed to ignore those nerves!

Holiday Hangover

tee: thrifted, sweater: Old Navy, jeans: Target, boots: Payless, necklace: gift

I hope everyone has enjoyed the holidays! I know I've been a little quiet, but the stress of the week before Christmas left me with little time or energy to post, and the past few days have mostly been spent in sweatpants and hoodies, and I doubt any of you want to witness that. :)

I wore this outfit the day after my sick day (but with my huge flannel scarf), but I looked way too awful to share those pictures last week. When I don't feel well I refuse to do my hair or put on any make up. This outfit was a feel good outfit for me, with the long tee and sweater feeling cozy, while the skinny jeans and booties had me feeling like some style was added to the look. Thankfully my cold is gone, but I'm feeling gross from indulging on all my favorite foods and holiday treats. When a group of us got together for dinner on Thursday night, I knew this outfit would make me feel better!

Inspiring Me

Great quote, but sorry it's not such a great picture. Today's theme for Inspiration Monday over at Two Birds is what's inspiring us. The holidays always cause me to get a sentimental and to think of family even more than I usually do, and a trip to see my great Aunt last night kicked that into high gear. My Aunt Katie is my mom's aunt. My mom never had a great relationship with either of her parents, and and I would say it's pretty safe to say that my mom spent as much time as possibly with Aunt Katie when she was growing up. My Aunt Katie was never able to have her own children, but what she did have was an incredible husband for 63 years (can you imagine?!).

My Aunt Katie is inspirational enough on her own: her neighbors love her and look out for her like she's one of their own, she's hilarious, you're always guarenteed to have fun when you're around her, and she's incredibly generous and kind. But what really has me inspired is the relationship she had with her husband Bob. This Friday will be 2 years since he passed away, so last night (and any visit really) had some reminiscing. She talked about the love letters he used to write her when  he wasn't with her and he missed her, about how they were able to always talk things out with each, and about the incredible patience amount of patience he had.

That patience he had was pretty apparent when you read his favorite quote listed above. My aunt had the quote written in his obituary, and after reading it, I wrote it on a sticky note and taped it to my computer monitor at work. (the picture above is the sticky note!) My previous job certainly had its' rewards, but I was in grad school for Academic Advising at the time and was anxious to be done and in a new job. At that point I had 2 more semesters of school left, and it ended up taking me a year after that to finally find the new job I had been wanting. That whole time, that quote stayed taped to my computer at work. 

There's a lot you can take away from that quote, but for me it means stay focused, work hard, and you'll achieve your goals. No matter how much you may think you deserve it, don't expect instant gratification. It may take you way longer than you want it to, but it'll be worth it in the end. I would've loved to hear him give his perspective of the meaning of that quote, but you know what, I think he'd be pretty happy with my version too...

The Countdown

vest, shoes, jeans: Target, shirt: thrifted, 

This is the longest week ever. We're lucky enough that during our winter break, the entire university closes, so I am one day away from 11 glorious days off work. I love my job, but let's be real, that's awesome! 

This outfit is from the weekend, when we went to a holiday party with some of my old co-workers. I tried taking outfit pictures from today, but I'm fighting off a cold and I'm exhausted, so the pictures were much to scary to share. :) 

Silence

Remembering the victims and thinking of the families of all children involved...

Sunday Social

Sunday Social time again! 

1. What is the wallpaper on your cell phone?
My favorite ladies, being ridiculous on my wedding day. The picture always makes me smile!

how could you not love them?! :)

2. What do you keep beside your bed?
Too much stuff, but my phone charger, a lamp, a book, probably a lot of random things too.

3. What is your least favorite chore?
Cleaning the bathrooms, and it's a chore my husband will never do, but I can't complain because he's the one who completes the majority of the chores, the majority of the time. Seriously, my husband teases me because I don't even know where we keep the vacuum. (It has to be in the hall closet though, right?!)

4. If you could eliminate one thing from your daily routine, what would it be?
Actually getting ready for work. How amazing would it be if you could just snap your fingers and your hair and makeup was done, just like that?!

5. What do you do to vent anger?
I'm glad that I truly don't get angry very often. When I'm frustrated though, I'll usually call my mom or best friend, then a trip to Target usually happens. I don't go and spend too much money, but that time to myself to shop is better than therapy to me!

6. What is your favorite holiday of the year and why?
Thanksgiving for sure. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, but that one is stressful! Thanksgiving you get to just go home and eat a bunch of great food and spend time with family without the time and money spent on finding gifts for everyone.

A Little Insecure

how I wanted to wear the outfit all day...

sweater: thrifted, skirt: hand me down from best friend, tights: Walmart, shoes: Payless, necklace: Claire's

how I actually wore the outfit all day...

and with a jacket from Forever 21

Confession time. The first two pictures are the outfit I wanted to show off all day, but it didn't happen. I forgot about my red jacket until right before I headed out the door, and added the black cardigan because let's face it, 3/4 sleeve winter jackets just aren't practical. I ended up not taking it off all day for a two reasons. First, I spent the whole day being cold. Second, I felt a little intimidated by the sparkly sweater. Like maybe I had overdone it. Overall, I like the look and hope that the next time I can have a little bit more confidence with it!

Excited

shirt: Forever 21, sweater: Old Navy, skirt and shoes: Target, tights: Walmart

Tomorrow is our work holiday party. We all have a nice lunch at this historic building in downtown Columbus that I'm looking forward to going to for the first time. They even shuttle us from campus to the event. We have to dress up, no casual Friday attire allowed. It'll be strange to have to dress up on a Friday, but I'm truthfully a little excited! I have a thrifted sparkly sweater that I think will finally making its debut after sitting in my closet for the past year...

Lesson Learned

shirt: Ambiance (in SF), vest: thrifted, pants: New York & Co., shoes: Target

Inspiration: Jessica Timberlake

I got all excited when I saw the picture for this week's Inspiration Monday because I thrifted a jacket a little while ago that's really similar to the one in the picture. I tried it on Sunday night, and it's a little snug. My size didn't change, it fit that way when I bought it, but I thought it would work. Do you ever find yourself in that trap when you're at the thrift store, being so excited about such a great deal that you're willing to overlook things like fit and how well it truly fits into your wardrobe? I do, but I'm getting better at telling myself no. It's a good lesson to learn! 

My Reward

shirt: Old Navy, skirt and tights: Walmart, shoes: Payless, scarf: thrifted

There’s plenty of things I could/should be working on right now, but instead I want to talk about my outfit. This skirt was my reward last night. My reward for suffering through the usually miserable experience of braving the Walmart near our house. Lots of people, long lines, I just can’t stand it really. I was looking for something specific, which I didn’t find, but as usual I found plenty of other things to bring home with me. I’m determined to be crafty this year for Christmas and picked up supplies for an idea I have, then when I sped through the clothing section, I found this fun skirt for only $14.44. I totally earned it, right?

Unedited

tank: Target, sweater: Old Navy, skirt: The Limited, tights: Walmart, shoes: Kohl's

My outfit let me feel pretty pulled together today, which is good, because that made my lack of make up feel acceptable. I could use an excuse like that I was going for a natural look, or maybe that I was giving my skin a break, but you probably know that's not true. Let's be real, I was just far too lazy to get myself out of bed in time this morning!

Linking up...

Sunday Social

Sunday Social! Just because I think it's fun. :)

1. What is your favorite holiday season tradition? 
My family has gone to the same Christmas tree farm every year. You get to walk around, pick out your tree, then cut it down yourself and take it home. I'm 28 years old and this is the first year I've ever missed it. (My parents, brother, and his girlfriend went yesterday, but we didn't make the 2 hour drive since we were just there last weekend) I may be just a little devastated and may have made my dad send me the pictures already...

brother, momma, me, oscar - with my parents tree from 2010

2. Do you have a certain holiday movie you watch more than others? If so what is it? 
I'm not a huge fan of watching movies I've already seen, but I have to say Christmas Vacation because my husband loves it. Also, he insists on watching Die Hard with his dad each year because it takes place on Christmas Day, so can I say that one too? :)

3. Show us your favorite decoration or pinterest decoration you wish you could have. 
Recently I've been in love with wreaths, so this one caught my eye, even though I have a homemade one from a close friend that I already love!

via Pinterest

4. What is your favorite holiday song? 
I promise I'm not a Scrooge, I just really don't like Christmas music. I don't need it to get into the Christmas spirit, so i can do without.

5. What is your favorite holiday dessert? 
It's strange...my family doesn't usually have desserts around, unless my brothers girlfriend makes it. My husbands grandma makes some damn good sugar cookies though so those are probably my favorite...especially when we get to decorate them with my niece and nephew!

6. What is on your wish list this year? 
Clothes and jewelry always are, although I usually don't have anything specific picked out. (I think that drives my mother and mother-in-law crazy!) This year though I asked my mother-in-law for a sewing machine, as long as its not too expensive!

Copycat #2?

shirt: thrifted, jeans: Old Navy, heels: Kohl's

via Pinterest

I apparently had to keep the copycat thing going. I had been wanting a pair of dark wash straight leg jeans with no detail on the back pockets, and found this pair from Old Navy for only $10 last weekend (that was the extent of my Thanksgiving weekend shopping experience!). I wore this outfit to work yesterday. It's already possibly the most professional I've looked on a casual Friday, so even though I have a gray blazer, it was a little over the top for how casual our office is. Don't let this look fool you though...I'm currently curled up on the couch in yoga pants, and I don't have high hopes for my outfit choices tomorrow either. Chances are pretty high I'll be found in my cutest Browns tee...it is football Sunday after all!