Winter to Spring Style

Moto Jacket: Old Navy// Loafers: Coach (these ones are on sale for $97. I love the olive!) // Linen pants: Free People "Wild Coast" pants (sold out but similar linked below) // White Sweater: H&M

Well hi there! It's been awhile. I feel like all my posts in the last year seem to start like that. Time escapes me every day so I'm pretty darn happy that my pal Sandy and I could meet up (with the kiddos at daycare) and take some outfit photos. Guys. It's been too long. I pretty much forgot how to smile, walk and look at a camera.

This is the look I wore to school yesterday and it was mighty comfy. I picked up these linen pants last summer at the Shopbop sale and haven't worn them much since, until today. I must have gotten 5 compliments on them at school so they are teacher approved.

I think my most worn pairs of shoes are my driving loafers and I'm partial to my Coach loafers that I have in white and gold. I remember being so hesitant about buying both pairs but years later they are still my go-tos for comfy on-my-feet-all-day shoes.

This knit moto jacket looks like suede but happens to be really soft stretchy knit material. It was so popular last Fall that they re released it in 7 new colors! Great price point as well. I may need to pick it up in another color. Bonus that it comes in tall sizes as well.

The Perfect Spring Floral Maxi Dress

Dress: "Avant Garden Maxi Dress" by Free People  // Purse: Rebecca Minkoff // Flats: Zara (almost sold out but on sale for $22) // Sunglasses: T&J Designs

No other store's products sizing confuses me more than free people. Am I alone in this? I swear, I own mostly XS and S items from them and I'm NOT small. it always leaves me wondering what the actual small girls are wearing or are they just REALLY embracing the flowy slouchy look and wearing the same size as this 5'9 girl??

Case in point, this dress. I saw it in the Free People store at City Creek Mall and all they had was a small. Normally this would be enough for me to stop looking at an item but I remembered this is Free People, where sizes are merely a suggestion so I gave it a go. The slip that came with it was comically small on me, like more of a tank top length than a slip. Luckily i have an extensive collection of vintage slips and knew I wouldn't need it. 

This dress was just too pretty to pass up. That is the other thing you can always count on Free People doing, taking all your money. You win again, Free People. But then again, with this gorgeous floral dress that's perfect for spring, so do I.

Photos by Sandy Chang

Free People Perfectly Victorian Dress

Dress // Trina sandals // Sun Glasses

I admit, I have this Free People "Perfectly Victorian" dress in two colors because it's just so easy. It's great for pregnancy or anyone who loves a comfy flowy dress and it hides my dreaded pregnant arms! This dress is available in a few places so you can find it here, here and here in different colors.

These pictures were taken in the park right near our house. It's massive and gorgeous, seriously like 4 blocks wide! I had just gotten my hair done by my amazing new friend and fellow redhead Kate! She is great and also the salon, Lunatic Fringe,  she is at, is right down the street from my house! I've never been able to walk to my hair salon before so it's super convenient! I don't think I've ever been so happy about my hair as I have been since I started going to her. Plus the lack of humidity here in SLC is a serious contributing factor. I've never been able to go more than two days without washing my hair, but here I can honestly go 4-5! It's like a dream come true and I think the lack of heat damage is finally making my hair grow!

From Your Heart Dress

Dress: Free People "From Your Heart Dress (on sale here and here) // Shoes: Hush Puppies  Cyra booties c/o // Bag: Rebecca Minkoff

Today is the day that it all starts to feel real. The packers are coming and I'm probably going to freak out! I'm the kind of person who needs everything to be in order and in it's place to even be able to go to sleep at night. If I get home from a vacation, I have to unpack immediately. It's not a healthy habit and is super stress inducing. 

So when the packers start to splay my earthly possessions all over the house, it's not going to sit well.  Don't forget that I haven't moved in 15 years, by the way. I told Andrew that I'm going to need to leave at some point just to take a break and get away from it. 

We also have a game plan on the other end when I'm stressed about being in an empty new home and not having my things to put away. That plan is: GO TO THE SPA!! You see, once I'm in, I'll stay all day in my robe and drink cucumber water till the cows come home! I think the best place for me to chill out is in a place called the "relaxation room."

Ok, wish my hyper-organized, nutty self some luck on not having a panic attack in the next week before we reach our new home in the beautiful state you see in the pictures above!

Big News!!!

Leggings: Lululemon Outlet (similar) // Shoes: New Balance via J. Crew // Hoodie: Free People (similar here, here, and here) // Hat: Zara (similar here)

Ok. Big news. We are leaving Chicago! 

Andrew and I are moving to Salt Lake City at the end of this month!!

It all started a few years ago when we went out there for a half marathon Andrew ran in Moab, Utah. We stayed in Salt Lake City before driving the three-ish hours to Moab, and I was shocked at how much I liked the city. It was nothing like what I was expecting. It was so clean, modern, and had great shopping. Anyone who knows me knows this is a very important factor. 

We went out again a few months ago and began looking at the city through a different lens. We started to think about how our lives and interests could translate to SLC. We immediately began googling our favorite things like yoga studios, Bar Method, and Cuban and Greek restaurants, and found so many great options. Through the help of some of my favorite Utah bloggers, I was able to find some really incredible places that we both really liked to eat, hang out, and visit. Not to mention a bunch of things to do. Andrew and I both love being active, so the hiking appealed to us, not to mention the beautiful scenery!

A few weeks ago, we went back out for the same half marathon Andrew did on our first trip there. This time, we began looking at places to live and investigating neighborhoods. We are happy to say that we found something really great that we are super exited about. More on that to come.

I hope all my Chicago people, as well as my awesome readers from all over, will follow along as we embark on this exciting new chapter of our lives. While this move may be filled with the sadness of leaving my amazing friends, family, and my school and students behind, we couldn't be more excited to try something new on our own terms. 

It's freeing to know that we can make whatever we out of our lives from this point on. Not many people are lucky enough to have an opportunity like this, so we are seizing it while we have the chance. 

And there you have it. Here we come, Utah. We are ready for you!

Black and Blue

Sometimes inspiration comes from the most random details. Like the other day, I was driving to work and saw a woman on the street wearing cobalt and black together and I loved it. Seems so simple but I was pretty sure I had never tried it. 

Fortunately for me and my very colorful wardrobe, I had the cobalt J. Crew skirt you see below (it's old, but I just picked up this style in two colors - or splurge on this lookalike) and had just picked up this sheer plaid top at the Topshop sale for just 20 bucks. I also had a really fun black feather necklace on from H&M, but once we tried to photograph it outside the wind blew the feathers straight into my face until I had enough and just took it off. It only made it into the first photo. Ah, the joys of the windy city.

If you are looking for a pleated skirt for the summer, try these out. I'm loving this one that is a lookalike of the one I missed out on at Zara. This striped one here is to die for too!

Zara shoes (very similar) // H&M feather necklace // Skirt // Top // Vintage bracelet // La Mer Watch // H&M jacket

Blue Pleated Skirts/ Cat Eye Sunglasses / Pointed Toe Flats // Sheer Black Tops // Motorcycle Jackets