I Broke The Shape Sorter...

Worn to Work Tuesday, February 28

Blazer-Old Navy/Top-Missoni for Target/Pants-Gap/Shoes-Toms/Jewelry-H&M, Francesca's

My inspiration for this outfit came from two different places... First off, these fabulous Toms...love me some sparkle.  The second inspiration for this outfit came form one of my favorite bloggers Dotty of dash dot dotty...I love the way she styled this blazer last week...with a patterned shirt and fun necklace...all in neutral tones.  So when I was trying to decide what top wear along with my new kicks, my eye was caught by this blazer hanging in my closet.  Then, I remembered Dotty's outfit that I had loved and decided to pair it with this fun patterned Missoni for Target top!  I had been looking for an excuse to wear this necklace and I thought it would go well with all the other shapes and patterns in this outfit.

I must admit...these sparkly shoes with the black pants makes me feel like Michael Jackson...but I cannot moon walk!!

I Am A Mess-terpiece...

Worn to Work Monday, February 27

Skirt-Loehmann's/Sweater-LOFT/Booties-Steve Madden/Jewelry-Black Sheep,Bauble Bar, Madewell

I bought this skirt about 5 years ago for Easter...love the color panels and the silky fabric.  Not sure why, maybe because it is easy, I always pair this skirt with a black or brown top.  Maybe next time I style this skirt I will try a red top!  With the below the knee length of this skirt...I thought heels were a must...so of course my favorite Steve Madden booties were perfection.

So, my mom bought me those black sparkly Tom's I have been lusting for....so excited...Thanks Mom!

My boys love to see themselves on my blog...

 Alex had a birthday party yesterday where they painted picture frames...fun but messy

I told Jack to smile for a picture...he insisted on posing with this Legos

You Know You Better Go And Get It...

I am still lusting for a new pair of loafers...last time I posted a lust list they were on there...still are now.  But, I am thinking maybe some springy colored ones might be in my future.  Still on the shoe kick, I really want a pair of Toms.  The leopard pair would satisfy my desire for a leopard patterned shoes perfectly...a sparkly pair would be wonderful too! 
There is a red theme going on here...it has always been one of my favorite colors.  I just purchased that red trench coat from Target and I cannot wait until the temperature hits 40...I plan to don it everyday...it is a lined and waterproof piece of happiness.  Love me some new red jewelry...skulls are so fun! 
Last but not least is the denim.  I wear my denim shirt form Madewell so much that I think I need to put a new one into my rotation...just so versatile.  My boyfriend jeans from last year are just too big...Old Navy has some cute ones I am coveting.  I love how they can be dressed casually with flats, but also dressed up with heels and a blazer...I think they might be my first spring purchase, since I can start to style them in the cooler weather.

Hope everyone has great weekend!

Supress The Memories...

I felt great in this outfit...

 

Pants-Zara/Shirt-Old Navy/Boots-Steve Madden/Jewelry-Black Sheep, Shop Bop

Simple as that...skinny pants...button up shirt...ankle boots! With all the complications of daily life, sometimes you just need an easy outfit that makes you feel good...

Just Breathe...

Dress-Loft/Sweater-Free People via Fox's/Boots-Kenneth Cole/Jewelry-Black Sheep, H&M, Bauble Bar

When I woke up feeling the beginnings of the sickies coming on, I wanted to wear something comfortable and non-restrictive...this slightly shapeless a-line cotton dress seemed to fit the bill.  This sweater is like wearing a big blanket... too bad I was at the stage of sweating it out...not fun sweating in a sweater... 

I am not very creative when styling this sweater...the few times I have worn it it was over different incarnations of plain back dresses.  Hmm...I guess I could wear it with jeans.

The fact that I am sick again really pisses me of.  I thought I had kicked this flu/sinus thing...guess I was wrong.  I might just have to suck it up and get a CT scan to see what is constantly clogging my sinuses. I have had more than enough poking, prodding and tests over the last few years...I was hoping to avoid more doctors...

Alone In A Crowded Room...

Pants-Zara/Sweater-Old Navy/Shirt-Madewell/Shoes Bass/Jewelry-LOFT, Black Sheep, Fox's

It was a lot colder out than it looks...

This is pretty much my typical weekend wear...skinny jeans or pants, oxfords or flat boots styled with layers on top...a button up shirt, usually denim, under a cardigan.  The accessories queen that I am, I always have a stack of bracelets and possibly a scarf.  So, these pants are the skinniest pants I have, aside from leggings.  I did not think I would be comfortable in them, but I they have wormed their way into my heart and I love them.  The are stretchy, skinny and have fun zippers on the ankles.  I can wear them with flats or boots, so they are pretty much perfect! I think I might just have to go back to Zara and buy them in another color...hopefully they have them in brown.

Bonus weekend outfit...

Jeans-Old Navy-shirt/Cardigan-Target/Boots-Sketchers

Today is take your kids to work since they have the day off for the dead presidents and you don't Monday...Also know as get no work done because of the crazies day!!

I Wu...Do You...

 Skirt-Benetton/Blazer-Gap/Shirt-Jason Wu for Target/Booties-Steve Madden via Gilt/Jewelry-Accent Shop

I had all the plans in the world to get up early and wait, hopefully in a short line, while sipping my coffee, for my local Target to open so I could get a good look at the Jason Wu collection...there were a few items I was hoping to scoop up.  But I got sick the Friday before, and barely moved off the couch until Sunday afternoon. By the time I got up the strength to get dressed and get my butt to Target, I had to go anyways so I had groceries for the boys lunches, the racks of Wu were empty... not an item in sight.  I was not that disappointed since I have been trying to slow my roll on buying clothes anyways...at least that was what I told myself!  Fast forward a few days and I mention to my mom about the collection when she mentions that she has to make a target run...so I tell her to look out for the collection and see what she could find. The wonderful women bought me the this neck shirt...great choice...love the shirt!!  The tie neck makes me feel classy and all ladylike, but it being a t-shirt gives it a casual vibe.
I had a meeting with a client that I always like to impress, so I decided to style it with this grey pencil skirt, blazer with satin lapels and of course my new Steve madden booties. I call this my casual corporate look...

Please Shut Off My Brain Now...

Too much thinking...

Dress-Gap/Belt-H&M/Jewelry-Bauble Bar, F21, Accents Plus/Shoes Steve Madden via Gilt

I also over thought taking these photos...editing these photos...I just plain gave myself a frackin headache...must stop obsessing!  I went out and took photos three times today and I still am not thrilled with the final product...but here I am!  I hate to say it...but I don't think it was the photos, but the mood of the subject of the photos.

I finally found this dress...it was buried at the back of my mom's closet...I had been searching for it for a while.  I had a big meeting, so I wanted to wear something sophisticated, but not stuffy.  I usually accessorize the dress with a wider belt and I had planned on cinching it with my new red one...wearing the red to compensate for Valentine's Day blah outfit and mood I did not deem photo worthy.  But, since the dress has pockets, they laid funny with the wider belt, so I went with the skinny leopard one.  

I have been lusting after these Steve Madden booties forever...and now they are mine! I have been stalking them on Piperlime and Steve Madden for months and never could quite find my size, in black, on sale and at a time my bank account was not doing a vanishing act.  Well last week, I spied them on Gilt, but 5 minutes into the sale, my size was sold out.  About ten minutes later, they popped up in my size and I snatched them up...real quick like!! When they came in the mail, I wore them around the house...love them!!  I cannot wait to style them up with skinny pants and jeans and dresses with bare legs come spring!  Yeah for my new booties!!

Spreading the Love Around...

Since we have had a mild winter here in Chicago, some of my heavier pieces in my wardrobe have been feeling jealous...neglected.  But, as it is pretty cold here today, I decided to show those pieces some love!

For instance...this fur collared sweater vest.  The few times I have styled this vest it has been over a button up shirt.  Today, I wanted to try something different...

 

Sweater, T-neck-Gap/Skirt-Tessuto/ Jewelry-BR, Urban Outfitters, Madewell/Boots-OTBT via Lori's

I wasn't 100% sure how this outfit was going to turn out.  I had the vest and the turtle neck one, and had no idea what to wear on the bottom.  So, I decided this springy skirt might juxtapose the fur sweater vest.  Before I could change my mind, Alex started screaming because he could not find his shoes and Jack was screaming because Alex was screaming...so I grabbed some jewelry...found Alex's shoes and ran out the door...boys in tow!

Not Everything Is A Toy...

From the file of a working mom's guilt...

When I got home last night from work then the gym (must sweat out frustrations),  I announced that I was home and no one came up from the basement to greet me.  So, I clomped down the stairs and I noticed that Alex had this red ring around his mouth, like a fruit juice mustache, but more on the bottom lip than the top.  After wondering what he had gotten into, since he doesn't drink red juice and I had hid the markers, I hurried him up stairs, against his will so I could scrub his face clean.  After much after much struggling and scrubbing, the red mustache was still there.  I gave up and it was bed time.
Much to Alex's frustration, I scrubbed his face again this morning trying to get him clean...no such luck...he was pretty annoyed from all the face touching!  At school drop off, I noticed a few kids also had the same red face epidemic, so I mentioned it to his teacher... She proceeds to inform me that in the dry weather the kids lick their lips and around their lips a lot and it tends to get chapped...

The moral of the story...the insistent scrubbing just made it worse...poor Alex is now miserable and I assumed he was just dirty!


On to big blue...and the awesomeness it possesses

Shirt, boots, shirt-LOFT/Jacket-Tulle/jewelry-F21, Black sheep

Dress-Tucker for Target/Cardigan-Old Navy/Jewelry-Bauble Bar, F21/Boots-Williams

So, I picked up this thick blue infinity scarf along with the sunglasses at Nordstrom's the other day...had a small gift card burning a whole in my pocket.  Infinity scarves are wonderful...they are like a giant necklace that keeps you warm...The boys saw the scarf last night and proceeded to drag it around the floor saying it was Big Blue the snake then they wrapped around both of their necks at the same time and ran around screaming it was attacking them...ha!

Wonderful, it is snowing here today in Chicago...my drive home with Alex should be painfully long and slow...

Well, here's to a good weekend!

I Work...I Dress...I Conquer...

What I wore to work...as simple as that!

Wednesday

Sweater-LOFT/Pants-Gap/Shoes-Bass/Jewelry-F21, Presence, Target

I am not sure how I feel about this sweater...besides the fact it is a bit itchy, it makes me look busty...and I really don't need that help.  These oxfords are a favorite of mine...they make me feel like a kid again...carefree life, with endless possibilities...ok back to adulthood!

Tuesday

Too cold to go outside.  But cold is a relative term these days.  When it is 45 degrees in Chicago in the winter, 31 degrees just seems way too cold.  

Skirt-Michael Kors/Cardigan-BR/Shoes-Old Navy/Necklace-Anna Sheffield for Target

I am not sure how I feel about the lighter skirt, with the darker tights, then the lighter shoes...kind of chops up the body... I just love to wears these shoes as much as possible...they are comfy and, more importantly, make me feel tall!

Still fighting the sickies here...please send soup and tissues...