The Casual Professional

tee: Old Navy, blazer: Target, jeans: thrifted (Gap), shoes: Payless, necklace: The Jones Market

I've wanted to try the blazer, boyfriend jeans, and heels combination for awhile but have always had two challenges. First, jeans are reserved for casual Fridays at work or the weekend. By the time Friday rolls around I'm usually in the mood for something more casual than a blazer and heels, then the second challenge is that I can't even think of the last time my weekend plans would involve wearing this outfit. 

One of those fundraising weeks where we were allowed to pay to wear jeans was the perfect opportunity to try it out because while the feel all over campus was more casual than usual all week, it still was a normal work day with student appointments and meetings. Heels and a blazer are my go-to items for instantly feeling more professional and they certainly didn't disappoint on this day!

Linking up with Bri...

New Favorite Denim

shirt: Target, pants: Kohl's, shoes: thrifted, purse: gift from my SIL

If you caught my March Spending post from Monday then you've already heard about my good find in the form of a denim shirt, but thought it needed another post that would have you feeling like I'm writing a love letter to a piece of clothing. Because seriously, this may be my new favorite shirt. It's structured enough while not being too fitted, thick enough that it prevents wrinkling, and so comfortable that it may be replacing the black t-shirt that's often being paired with black jeggings on days I just can't mentally pull it together enough to form an outfit. 

On the day I wore this look, I wore my favorite pointy toed leopard flats with it but when the forecast threatened rain and I had plans to walk to lunch with some co-workers so I decided to throw on some sneakers for my lunch hour instead. And you know what? I really liked it! Although I joined in the #momstyle link up with Anne and Jenn last week to talk about how I typically style my sneakers, this look felt decidedly mom-ish to me but in a good way! Like a "I care about how I look enough to wear my denim on top instead of on bottom and I'm tricking you into thinking I put in more effort because I have a button up on but don't make me give up my sneakers because I want to comfortably chase my 1 year old all over the damn place" type of way. Is that a thing?! Let's make that a thing. :)

March Spending

Discount Fashion Warehouse (all items are Express brand) - shoes (see here) $5 / flares $10 (similar) / dress $18 (exact) / necklaces $7 each (similar & exact)  = $47

Kroger - chunky knit sweater (similar for a way different price) = $11.24

Target - denim shirt (exact) = $24.99

Total = $83.23

Although we're more than halfway into April, I still wanted to talk about what I spent on clothing in the month of March. For awhile I thought that the denim shirt from Target would be the only thing I bought, but we had Good Friday off of work and I already had an appointment meaning Jacob went to daycare so I couldn't resist a solo trip to my favorite store, Discount Fashion Warehouse. I was hoping to find some skirts, but no such luck. 

I didn't walk away empty handed though! I couldn't resist a new pair of flares for only $10. I had held on to an older pair in my closet and gave them another chance back in the fall. I liked the look but the fit is a little bit big on me so they weren't as fitted through the thighs as I like them to be for this style. I'm hoping they'll be a cute option this spring and summer with a wedge or maybe even some heels if I ever decide to break those out again. ;)

Other finds included the olive dress that should be perfect to throw on this spring with sneakers or sandals on the weekend or layered up with flats for work, plus some longer necklaces just for some fresh options. Lately I've been feeling like if I'm not wearing something from The Jones Market then it needs to be a little bit more simple and delicate option. 

All in all I'm comfortable with what I went. The hunt continues for skirts so maybe in April I'll get a little more serious with that effort!

Sneakers

tee: Discount Fashion Warehouse (Victoria's Secret brand), sweater: Old Navy, jeans: Discount Fashion Warehouse (Express brand), shoes: Converse

On the weekends I literally live in my black Converse. I'm pretty sure mine are a pair of men's shoes, and I know they were picked up on clearance back when Target carried the brand. Do they even do that anymore? I feel like it's been awhile since I've seen them around, but my ventures out to Target are at an all time low which is very much a good thing for the family budget. 

But either way, these shoes are comfortable even with no socks and laces undone like I always do. I can easily throw them on for a walk around the neighborhood with Jacob (a favorite past time of his), for errands, out to lunch, and pretty much anything else we seem to get ourselves into on the weekends. Our free time is spent pretty casually!

I've found that sneakers don't have to always be paired with the jeans and a sweatshirt route I used to always lean toward. Pair them with a plain tee and a necklace from the Jones Market and I'm good to go. Need an extra layer? Throw on a cardigan! I'm not sure they're even still considered to be in style, but the grandpa style is a favorite of mine and I live in the couple I have on the weekends. 

tee: Kohl's, denim jacket: Old Navy, pants: Target, shoes: Converse

Granted, I work in an office that's really casual but I've found my Converse can even have their place in a casual Friday look. While I could easily throw on a pair of jeans and a university t-shirt (I work as an  Academic Advisor at a local university) and call it a day, my favorite way to wear them is paired with pants that aren't jeans and a denim jacket for good measure because can a denim jacket really do any wrong?!

Linking up with Anne and Jenn...

Funky

I feel like I'm coming up out of a funk I fell into for a few weeks and between work being a little bit challenging lately (and not in the positive leads to personal growth type of way), a very close friend unexpectedly losing a family member who was a teacher and coach to us all throughout our childhood, and finally feeling the 5 extra pounds that snuck back on it was hard to pull myself out of it. But a couple of lunch hours spent on walks last week, an early release granted on our Friday work sentence ;) and some time to myself to go thrifting which hasn't happened since maybe before I had Jacob I think helped me start to rise above my own attitude.

Then we woke up on Saturday morning to a dusting of snow and a text from my mother-in-law saying they got 7 inches of snow overnight and guess where we were headed for the night? Right to their house! I couldn't help but be annoyed because I don't want to wear boots and freeze my ass off anymore, I want to be able to let my kid run off some energy outside and I want to take him to the zoo damnit! I don't know why I'm so obsessed with this, but he's never been and my parents bought us a family membership as early birthday presents so the first nice weekend we get I swear we're going. 

But we got up to their house and it was so pretty it was hard to stay annoyed, and as much as I love living in the city it was just relaxing to surround yourself with sights in the country like this gorgeous snow covering hay bales in a field by a weather beaten barn. It kind of made me want to move back home (our parents live relatively close to each other so it all kind of feels the same) for maybe all of a day. Thankfully some sunshine, a break in the attitude our 1 year old has been throwing my way, and some much needed rest is helping me start to feel like myself again. It feels good to be back...