The Winner Was...



As I mentioned in the previous post, our camera is currently sans battery charger so I had to be lame and post the same picture of this outfit as the original post. But, I promise this is what I wore today to my first day of classes. Thank you all for voting!!

Tomorrow's posts will continue with the daily style diary and keep a lookout for some new segments I've been working on!

First, I have to get my camera charged!

Notice the new header design? What do you think?

Warby Parker Voting Poll!

Whoa, what a turn out for the voting poll! 29 people voted, which is way more than I had anticipated. I think the last time I ran a poll on one of my blogs I had 7 people vote. Thank you so much to all of you who have been reading and giving your  two cents!!
As some of you know, today is the first day of Fall Semester. Classes officially begin tonight but I won't start my full schedule until tomorrow. Because I had to take my student ID photo today, I didn't wear the winning outfit (white does not photograph well). So, keep your eyes peeled for that post tomorrow!

Today, because this last poll went so well, I thought I would incorporate another one. Have any of you heard of Warby Parker (or as my Momma calls them, Wibbly Jibbly)? It is an amazing eyewear company that produces great looking and top quality frames. They will only cost you $95 for frames and your prescription lenses AND WP will donate a pair of glasses to someone in need.

"Where's Need? Those people sure get a lot of stuff!"-My silly hubby

Warby Parker also has a great program called the Home Try On where you get online and pick 5 pairs of glasses to try on at home, for 5 days. And it's completely FREE! I'm on my second Home Try On kit and I love it!

Here's where you come in:

I've been looking for a great pair of reading glasses that will last me for a long time. I have 2 pairs already, one doesn't fit my head anymore (figure that one out), and the other pair is more playful and young than I want to portray all the time. I'd love to have the options. So, I need your help to decide which pair (if any) you like best on me.

Like last time, please vote in the poll in the upper left hand side of the screen!

Vote using the names that correspond with the column in the photo that you like best!
Sorry about the lame webcam pictures. My nice camera ran out of battery and we can't find the charger...sad day.

Voting will run until Thursday at noon.
Thank you all!!

Voting Begins Now!

You've seen the outfits, now it's your turn to vote! Please use the poll on the upper left side of the page to vote for your favorite Back to School outfit. Notice the corresponding numbers in the pictures? I made that pretty easy for you, eh?

Voting will run all weekend, until Sunday night at 10:00pm.

Thank you all for your support this week and for casting your vote! If you haven't already, remember you can follow using your Google account or by submitting your email. Both follow options are on the right side of the page.

Have a lovely weekend!

Back to School: 4

Here is option 4 for the Back to School poll!

The top, skirt, and shrug that are used in this outfit are from years ago and I have no idea where they came from anymore! Shoes: Target, about $8; Necklace: chain from a necklace from Rue21 (about $5) and a brooch I've had for a long time.

For those of you just tuning in, I am running an opinion poll to help me decide what I should wear on my first day back in classes. All week, I've been posting photos of the options. Today is the last day of outfits and tomorrow I will put the poll up so you can vote! I'll run the poll all weekend and on Monday I'll post what the winning outfit was when I wear it to registration and to my first class. Don't forget to vote for your favorite!

Also, if you've signed up to follow by email, please remember to activate your email. You should have been sent an activation or confirmation email, just follow the directions within that email and it should work (how many times can I see email in one paragraph?). If anyone is having problems, please let me know!

Thank you all for reading this week, check back in tomorrow to cast your vote :)

Back to School: 3

Here is option 3 for my Back to School outfit!

Top: Target, about $11; Jeans: Old Navy, about $19; Blazer: Goodwill, $3; Wedges, Steve Madden, gift; Bangle, Forever21, part of a 3 piece set for about $5

If I chose this outfit for school, I think I would exchange the silver snake-skin wedges for some black flats, but this way was much more fun to style and wear.

Back to School: 2

Here is option 2 for the back to school poll! Can we all please take a moment and notice how well my hubby is doing with these photos? I mean, really.

Top: Charlotte Russe, gift; Pants: Urban Outfitters at a discount store, $9; Shoes: My Momma's from her days in college; Both necklaces: gifts; Belt: Goodwill, $2; Lips: L'Oreal Colour Riche in True Red, about $8

...And then we took some Senior Photos.



Back to School: 1

School is about a week away for me, and many schools started today or even a week ago. So, for the next week or so I'll be posting ideas for my "First Day of School" outfit. How very 5th grade of me. I may even make a clothes-person on my floor the night before!
At the end of the week, I'll post a poll so you can vote on what you think I should wear. Wee!

Here is option 1:

Dress: Ruche, birthday gift; Shirt: Target, my hubby's, $6; Shoes: Target, $8

See that awesome panda ring? My hubster brought that home for me today. I think he likes me.

Crop tops and high waisted bottoms

That description sounds frightening, doesn't it? Crop tops are making a come-back in the fashion world but all they make me think of is cheerleading competition. Regardless, there is a tasteful way to incorporate this trend. When crop tops are paired with a high waisted bottom, it elongates the leg and leaves the top hanging at the very tip top of the pants or shorts, or whatever bottoms you're wearing. We don't have to walk around looking like we just time traveled to the early 90s and took a trip to the gym. You can also opt to tuck the top in, which is what I did. I'm not nearly bold enough to allow any part of my tummy to show.

So, here is the look I pinned:

And here is my version:

Top: $2, Goodwill; Shorts: $9, Urban Outfitters at a discount store

I think tucking in your top is definitely the way to go with this look, especially if you're wanting to define or create a tiny waist. Also, having a graphic pattern on the top and a more subdued color on the bottom distracts from the possible "Mom jean" effect of the high waisted trend.

As long as you don't stand around like you have a back ache....ehem.

In other news:
Who else is ready for fall? Dressing for cooler weather is so much more fun. I have a kajillion outfits lined up and ready.

Classic Casual

What I love about this look is that it doesn't follow an obvious trend. All of the pieces are classic staples in and of themselves. You will start to notice a trend in this feature, however. I am a bit of an Olsen twin fan. Call me crazy, or immature, whatever. They have such great style these days, especially Ashley.

Here is the photo I pinned:

And here is my version:

Shirt: birthday gift, around $30 from Express; Pants: back of my closet; Shoes: about $8, Target; Watch: gift, Fossil

This look is so great because not only is it super comfy, but it can be so versatile. Pairing the outfit with some heels and a nice blazer could easily go to the workplace. The shirt being tucked in makes everything look a bit more tied together and, while I'm not sure if this is really true, it seemed like it made my midsection feel more controlled.  The men's wear-style watch really adds to the laid back nature of the ensemble. And I personally loved my leopard flats, I think they add a little interest.

What do you like to wear on a casual day?

Maxi and Jackets

A trend I'm seeing a lot for the coming fall is carrying over the summer maxi dress and pairing it with a jacket or blazer to make it a good fall transition outfit. I am a big fan of fall and, like many of us here in Kansas, I'm so over this summer heat. Maybe if I start to dress like the weather is already cooler, I can convince myself? Probably not.
Okay, so here is the picture I pinned:

And here is my version:

Maxi dress: Forever21, around $15; Jacket: back of my closet, I've had that since about 7th grade

Keep in mind that I am a grand total of 5 feet and 2 inches, so the maxi dress is realistically not the most flattering shape for my frame. But c'mon, they are so comfy and easy--how can I resist?
This look is so easy to duplicate--just 2 pieces! You can also opt for using a long skirt and simple top, and I've seen a lot of people pair a maxi with a blazer which is adorbs! Yes, I just said adorbs.

Hey, do you like this photo size better than the size I've been using?

Hats off to my lovely hubby for taking my photos for me!

My Style Project

Those of us who have discovered Pinterest know that it's a great place to gather inspiration for the home, recipes, and DIY projects. Perhaps my favorite thing about Pinterest is perusing the fashion tab and looking through all of the fabulous outifits and street style photos. If you're like me, many of those ensembles seem unattainable, or unrealistic for your lifestyle. There have been many times when I have pinned something and thought, "if I didn't go to a small mid-western college, I could totally wear this".
During the school year, I usually try to wake up, put make-up on, and look put together for my classes. I realize that is out of the norm for many college students, but I find that I pay attention and focus better when I am dressed like school is my job. Also, I am a young married chick, so I don't exactly have a budget that lends itself to shopping every weekend to keep up with the latest fashions. So, I've come up with a plan.

My idea is far from original, there are many bloggers out there taking pictures of what they're wearing (sometimes everyday), but I'm not doing this to have a hit blog. I'm doing this to feel better about myself in the style of clothes that I want to wear, I'm doing this to challenge myself and expand my clothing comfort zone, and I'm doing this to hopefully show my readers what you can do on a limited budget.

I'll be frequently posting pictures of my outfit du jour, each of them inspired by something I've seen on Pinterest.

So, without further adieu, here is my first day:

I've been seeing so much color on Pinterest lately. Think Kate Spade pops of color. I'm loving it. Here is a photo I've pinned:

I love that pop of pink and the graphic black and white contrast. Of course, I don't have these exact pieces in my closet, but I knew I could recreate the overall effect.

Top: back of my closet (a piece I've had for about 4 years); Skirt: thrifted $4; Shoes: birthday gift last year, from Journey shoes; Watch: gift, Fossil; Ring: Rue21

The inspiration outfit looks much more carefree, but I'm happy with the more professional look of my outift-and it's still very comfortable. Inspiration is more about taking an idea and making it your own than it is about completely trying to copy what you've seen.

How would you interpret the "Pops of Color" trend?