First Day in Utah

As some of you may have seen via Instagram and Facebook, my husband and I recently took a mini-getaway to the mountains. 

It was for a combination of things, really. Our two-year wedding anniversary was the 8th of October; my birthday was the 22nd of October, and Andrew wanted to run a half marathon in the state he was born: Utah.

So this is were it all began! Park City, UT had great accommodations since it was the off season, so we stayed in a ridiculously fancy suite for less than $200 a night! We then went to visit the state capitol building, and then do a little shopping at City Creek Mall in Salt Lake City. A lovely way to begin our vacation. 

Stay tuned this week for more from our mountain adventure!

Sweater: J Crew Factory

Jeans: Theory

Blouse: Joe Fresh via JC Penny (on sale now!!)

Shoes: Zara

Purse: Target

Necklace: J Crew

Puffy vest: J Crew (old, but love this one)

Polka Dots & Stripes

I wore this outfit to school for casual Friday. My students are always pretty mystified when they see me wear pants, so I had to explain to them that on Fridays the teachers get to wear jeans. I guess they like my skirt/dress ensembles better. Tough crowd, those 10-year-olds.

Jeans: Target (on clearance)

Belt: Old Gap

Striped top: Anthropologie

Cardigan: J. Crew

Shoes: Zara (similar here)

Bows & Dots

While in San Francisco my husband wanted to do one thing most: Go to a baseball game! I didn't oppose this, but he knows as well as I do that I would have been painfully bored there. So while he and a few of his old friends went to the game, I took to Market Street on my own and did some shopping. I've always believed the best way to experience a new city is to shop it, and so I did!

I got to visit my old friend Uniqlo (a store, not an actual person) and went on a wild goose chase for a pair of old-school Nikes. Turns out being at the airport and watching everyone in their comfy travel shoes reminded me that summer is coming and that I needed some walkin' around shoes. I finally decided on these Nike Victorias but had to order them once I got home! Pretty sweet right?

Top: Forever 21 (buy here for just $15.80!)

Jeans: Target

Bracelets: Park Lane

Watch: Charming Charlie

Sunglasses: Forever 21(exact same and in floral)

Sandals: Sam Edelman "Trina"

Pink and Polka Dots

Since I'd only ever worn these pants with safe options like a navy sweater and chambray shirt, I decided to pick something unexpected this time. This bright pink silk blouse was anchored by my favorite and surprisingly comfortable pink leather heels. Throw in a heavy metal chain necklace and I've managed to make an outfit of simple yet girly pieces look quite put together for work!

Also I just noticed that this outfit is made up of our wedding colors: hot pink and navy. Maybe that's why I put them together.

I hope this week's bright outfits have given you some spring inspiration. 

I promise to get pics from our San Francisco trip up on the blog next week. Beware, there might be sweaters involved!

Pants: Forever 21 (on sale now here)

Blouse: J. Crew Factory

Heels: INC from Macys

Necklace: Shop HRH

Bracelet: Forever 21

Watch: Charming Charlie

Vegas: Daytime Casual

In all of Las Vegas, I might have been the only person wearing a blazer who wasn't a hotel employee.  

Mine however is super thin and casual. A vacation blazer if you will. It's like a slighlty structured and polka-dotted hoodie that gave me a nice little layer of warmth that was much-needed during my shopping trip over to Fashion Show Mall!

I wasn't adjusted to the time difference the first day, so I was up really early. I took a cab over to the mall and got there just as they opened. It was really nice to leisurely shop on a weekday morning. Everything in the stores was so perfectly organized, like it was all waiting just for me.

If you didn't see on Instagram, my favorite purchase of the day was a beautiful elongated vest in the softest blush shade now on sale here! 

Blazer: Nordstrom Caslon (buy here)

Sandals: Steve Madden

Shorts: J Crew Factory (old)

Top: Forever 21

Necklace: Forever 21(similar)

Pink bracelet: Forever 21

Spike Bracelet: eBay ("Renegade" by Stella & Dot knockoff, available in 3 colors)

Bag: Gold Coast Ginnie by Kate Spade

Lips: Yu by Nars

Negative/Positive Polka-Dots

I have no idea where, maybe Instagram, but I saw a picture of someone wearing a red cardigan and polka-dot top like the one you see here. I didn't want to pair it with a boring solid bottom so I went for the negative version of the top! It works because the dots are pretty much the same exact size. I added a few red accents and off to work I went!

Skirt: Target

Blazer: LC by Lauren Conrad at Kohls

Belt: J Crew Factory

Blouse: Forever 21

Bracelet: Banana Republic Outlet

Shoes: Old Navy

Lips: Heatwave

Sunglasses: Target

Theme: Pattern Mixing Look Three

This was a really hard day for pattern mixing. It was so icy, I really didn't even know what shoes to wear, let alone how to mix patterns together. Add to that the possibility of falling on the ice with every step and the cold wind, and it made for some silly pictures.

I played it safe with all black-and-white patterns. But hey, it still counts as patterns! I even managed to make that trifecta I talked about on Monday: three patterns in one outfit! Dots, bows and stripes.

I wore my glasses, which pretty much was the highlight of my students' day. They always notice the smallest changes I make to my appearance.

Dont forget to send me a picture of your pattern mixing successes to be featured on Friday's final pattern mixing post!

Pants: Forever 21

Striped Blouse: The Limited

Sweater: Forever 21

Scarf: J Crew

Hat: Nordstrom Rack

Necklace: Vintage via Ebay 

Lips: Up the Amp by MAC

I will leave you with this shot. I'm not sure what was really going on but it looks like I'm busting out some sweet dance moves...

Bows, Polka Dots and Fur

This "new" black-and-white trend has taken over the way I dressed this past week. I noticed it worked its way into just about every outfit I put together. I could just blame it on the trend, but I'm wondering if it goes a bit deeper.

You see, I think we all use black as a safety color. It's slimming, forgiving and matches with everything. I find whenever I'm feeling a little on the larger side or uninspired, I veer toward black as I'm sure many of you do. I may have been feeling a little of that this week. What I'm hoping, though, is that the ease of this trend doesn't send me into a self-indulgent pizza binge just because I can disguise the damage behind my black magic pants.

Good luck to you all and just remember, spring is just around the corner which means no more hiding under big furry vests and layers.

 I noticed that black and white REALLY makes my red hair stand out! 

Blouse: Forever 21 

Fur Vest: Forever 21

Boots: Etienne Aigner (Celtic)

Bow Scarf: J. Crew

Lips: Revlon balm stick in Romantic

Bow/pearl earrings: Kate Spade