Taking A Step Back

What I'm wearing: Forever 21 top, Old Navy skinny jeans, Ciao Bella boots via DSW, Target scarf, Forever 21 earrings

This morning I stood in front of my closet, on the verge of running late, and felt absolutely clueless. Nothing was jumping out at me, and I started to panic a little that I was never going to make it to class because I wasn't going to be able to decide on an outfit. I decided to step away and do my hair and makeup first, which isn't my normal routine. By the time I made it back to my closet, I felt much calmer and ended up loving the comfortable/casual combination I came up with. Sometimes, you just have to take a step back and not take it so seriously. Getting dressed in the morning should be fun. Now if only it would warm up so I can put on some bright colors. It just doesn't feel right to wear rainbow brights when it's so cold and gray outside, even if it is almost April. Who else is excited for all of the fun, bright colors that spring is bringing this year?

Ta-Da!

Remember that dress refashion I was talking about the other day? Well this is it! I'm loving the way it turned out and cannot wait for warmer weather so I can wear it! Unfortunately, it snowed today so I think it may be awhile, but I'm already dreaming up cute combinations for spring. This is the first time I've ever transformed an item already in my closet, and it's exciting to feel like I have a new piece of clothing, even though it didn't cost a cent. I can't take all the credit though; my mom did all the labor on this one (I'm still not too handy with the sewing machine, although it is a goal of mine!). I've also been working on some beaded jewelry lately, so hopefully I'll have some pictures to share soon. Have you guys done any DIY's lately? I need more ideas...once I start crafting, I just can't stop!

Grand Plans

What I'm wearing: Old Navy button-down, Old Navy skinny jeans, J.Crew flats, Urban Outfitters earrings, Forever 21 cowl scarf

Whoaaa boy, the new quarter is already in full swing, and it just started today! I left bright and early this morning and wasn't back until after 9 PM, which is why I'm blogging so late. Hopefully, I'll get into a new routine soon with regularly timed posts. These pictures were taken on my second to last day of break, a full day of errands. Every break, I have a full list of things I want to accomplish. I have all these grand plans, and then at the very end of break, I realize I haven't done any of them and try to cram them all into one day. This particular day involved dropping off a bunch of stuff at Goodwill, heading to the consignment shop to sell some clothes, stopping at two different thrift stores, and multiple runs to the craft store. I left the thrift stores empty handed, a decision I'm now regretting. I found this great vintage cross-body Coach bag for only $17, but since it wasn't something I was looking for in particular, I passed on it. Now I'm kind of wishing I hadn't. It's not often you find great things like that in thrift stores in Cincinnati. Is there anything you regret not buying?

Getting Crafty [Spring Break Edition!]

Because this spring break has had many unforeseen circumstances, my long list of things I wanted to do while home only has a few things crossed off. But you know me; I ALWAYS make time to go to the craft store a time or two. Here is what I've been working on...

These are my finished flower pins. I was at Michael's craft store the other day and was reminded of Kendi's simple DIY post when I passed all of the fake flowers. I picked the most colorful ones I could find, and I can't wait to debut them with a great spring outfit.

I've been longing for more color in my wardrobe. Color is huge for spring/summer. I can't afford a whole bunch of new clothes, so accessories are the way to go. I've been on the hunt for colorful belts and jewelry, but I've been having a hard time finding jewelry that matches what I have in mind while staying on budget. What's a girl to do when this happens? Make your own! Can't wait to show you the finished product!

During my closet cleanout, I came across this old Forever 21 dress in my closet. It's empire-waisted and very "babydoll" looking, and the dress is a little short. I haven't worn it in a few summers, so I was thinking about giving it the boot. Then I realized that it would make a great skirt! According to the instructions I've found online, it should be pretty easy to convert, but I'm not a very skilled seamstress. I'll probably be enlisting Mom's help for this one! Before and after shots will be coming your way once this project gets underway!

The Little Lightbulb

What I'm wearing: J.Crew painter tee, Gap Always Skinny jeans, Steve Madden flats via DSW, Vintage earrings, Scarf via NYC street vendor

I had never thought to pair this top and scarf together before, but as I unpacked when I got home for break, they ended up next to each other in a stack. I liked how the colors looked together, and a little lightbulb went off in my head. I love when that happens--it's like your wardrobe does the work for you. It also makes me wonder how many untapped combinations exist in my closet. When I buy new items (which I've been doing a lot lately...oops), I need to make more of a conscious effort to immediately play around with them and see how they look with things I already own. Basically, I need to learn how to play "dress up" in my own closet. Along those lines, I've also been working on a major closet cleanout since I've been home. I have tons of stuff just sitting in my closet at home that I NEVER wear, so I've started a big donation pile. I also have some items that I'm hoping to refashion; if I do, I'll share some before and after pictures!

A Rare Treat

What I'm wearing: J.Crew outlet button-down, Gap Always Skinny jeans, Payless heels (2008), Forever 21 necklace and earrings

I'm always saying that I wish I wore heels more often. Unfortunately, as a student who lives on a very large campus and doesn't have a car (meaning I have to walk everywhere), heels just aren't very practical for my current lifestyle. So when my parents decided we were going out to dinner last night (which involved very minimal walking), I jumped at the chance to pull out an old pair of heels. It always feels like a rare treat when I get to wear heels; no matter what, they always make me feel just a little bit prettier than I did before. I had worn this outfit earlier in the day for lunch and shopping at the outlet malls with the boyfriend, so adding heels and a pretty necklace was the perfect way to kick it up a notch for dinner.

Hair Rut

What I'm wearing: Uniqlo sweater, Gap tee, Loft Outlet jeans, Steve Madden flats, Forever 21 necklace

Another casual spring break outfit. I wore this on Saturday to go shopping with my mom. She's my favorite person in the world to shop with; she always give me an honest opinion and helps me find the best stuff. Saturday's big find? A black maxi dress from H&M for under $20...I can't wait until warmer temps to see how many ways I can style it! Speaking of styling, does anyone know of any good hair tutorials? I am in such a hair rut these days. I'm growing my hair out, and I've entered that awkward phase where I feel like it doesn't look good no matter what I do with it. Suggestions?

Also, according to the countdown I started awhile back, today was supposed to be my Etsy shop launch. Unfortunately, it's going to have to be put off a little longer. My grandpa got sick last week and passed away on Friday. Until things start to feel back to normal around here, a lot of things have been put on the back burner. I know you guys understand! I promise the shop will be up one of these days!

Spring Break Uniform

What I'm wearing: Forever 21 sweatshirt, Gap tee, Loft Outlet jeans, Sperrys, Forever 21 headband, UO earrings, Thrifted necklace

Spring break is here. Unfortunately, I'm not laying on a beach somewhere, but Cincinnati will have to do. We've had a couple of sunny days though which have been really nice. I've been wearing a variation of this outfit everyday--laidback and comfortable. No need to get fancy when I'm just hanging around the house catching up on Grey's Anatomy episodes and reading. I've also done a bit of shopping since I've been home; I've been able to cross quite a few things off my summer wishlist! Also, today is the last day of the family and friends event at Gap, BR, and Old Navy (30% off!), so make sure to check out your local stores!

Fashionable Reading

So I'd be lying if I said I've worn anything not resembling workout clothes since I've gotten home for spring break. I always have the best intentions to get so much done on my breaks from school, but usually my inner lazy girl kicks in. Hopefully I'll have an outfit post for you tomorrow? Until then, I'll be catching up on some fashionable reading. There was no time during finals to read my magazines, so I'm happily devouring them now that I have abundant free time. I also got these three books from the library. "Wear This, Toss That" seems like it's going to be a dud, but the other two look promising. What are your favorite fashion reads?

Weekly Gratitude

Image via WeHeartIt

Taking a quick little study break to dish out some weekly gratitude. Here it goes...this week I'm thankful for:
-Target! I was so excited for the GoInternational 5 year anniversary dresses, and they didn't disappoint!
-All of the awesome people I've "met" through blogging. I love that there are people out there that understand why I'm geeking out over these Target dresses or why I get so excited the day my fashion magazines arrive. You guys get me, and I love you for it!
-To go along with that, I wanted to thank Amy from ApronsAndALines who let me in on the secret to finding the dresses on Target.com this morning. I tweeted about it because I thought literally every dress had already sold out, but Amy clued me in on how to find them. Tricky Target.
-Nail polish. I found the perfect shade of light blue yesterday (Blue Away by Sally Hansen Insta-Dri, also a Target find), and there is nothing like bright colored nails to brighten my mood while studying my days away. A great little pick-me-up!
-Great roommates! My roommate Joslyn made the trip to Target possible by offering to drive us. I don't have a car at school, so I'm super thankful when someone offers to take me places.
-Chocolate. Copious amounts of chocolate and caffeine are always necessary to make it through finals week.
-The Cincinnati Public Library website. You can search for any book and put it on hold, and they'll ship it from any of the local libraries and call you when it's arrived at your local branch. Basically, I have a big stack of fashion books waiting for me when I arrive home for break :)

Okay well I've already taken FAR too long of a break to write this post, so I need to get back to the books. The next time you hear from me, I'll be done with finals...yay!

Target Dress Success!

The day has finally arrived: The Go International dress launch at Target! It came at a pretty bad time since I have a final tomorrow and Tuesday, but it was worth taking a break from studying to head over to Target and try on some pretty dresses. I went with two friends, and we had so much fun! We all went back to the dressing rooms with our arms full of dresses. I was so excited to see the Rodarte dress in my size; this was the dress that I had searched all over for when it was originally at Target and could never find! Of all of the dresses, this was the one I had my heart set on, so I'm so glad I found it. The Tucker dresses were close contenders as well, but I decided to skip on them so I can have a little money to shop with over my spring break. I know I wasn't the only one who rushed to Target today...what did all of you ladies walk away with?!

Hamburglar Chic

What I'm wearing: H&M sweater dress, H&M striped blazer, Target tights, Ciao Bella boots via DSW, Forever 21 earrings, Thrifted necklace ($2!), Forever 21 belt

It's official...I made it through my last week of winter quarter classes! This is what I wore for our end of the quarter banquet for my honors fraternity. It was "business-casual" which for us basically means anything but jeans. I hadn't worn this blazer in forever so I made sure to work it into my outfit. My roommate Alex told me it was very "hamburglar chic" haha. I really like how it turned out with the dress and gold accents. I can't wait until it gets just a little warmer so I can start doing outdoor pictures again; these indoor ones are so grainy and crappy quality. Okay, well I'm off to spend a relaxing evening with the boyfriend and then the rest of my weekend buried under a stack of schoolbooks. I'll be back again on Wednesday once all of my finals are over!

Spring and Summer Inspiration

Confession: bad blogger here. The past few days I've been so focused on the end of the quarter that I haven't taken time to document my outfits (although they were actually picture-worthy! aka not sweats). So instead I thought I'd show you my finished spring inspiration board and some of the colorful dresses I've got my eye on!

1. Sunny Day dress
2. Stitched Polka Dot dress
3. Geometric Bow Waist dress

Ever since I found out about my internship, I've had a running list of "needs" and "wants" for my summer wardrobe. After re-reading some of my posts from last summer, I remember how important dresses and skirts were for beating the ridiculous heat in NYC. All of these dresses would be great additions to my summer wardrobe. The best part? All three are under $30!

Polka Dots and Animal Print

What I'm wearing: Old Navy polka dot blouse, Gap cardigan, Banana Republic outlet belt, J.Crew outlet bootcut jeans, J.Crew flats.

I'm in a great mood today. Here's why:

-The sun is out! And it was even warm enough to wear flats to class without freezing my toes off. A true sign that Spring is on its way.
-One week from today, my finals will be over and I'll be heading home to Cincinnati to spend a week and half with family.
-It's polka dot day at Everybody, Everywear! So excited to see what everyone else has come up with.
-I'm loving the print-mixing I have going on here. It's subtle, but I like the polka dot/zebra print contrast.
-The Target Go International dress launch is this weekend! I've been itching to shop ever since I found out I got my internship, so this is the perfect excuse to pick up a few new pieces I can wear this summer.
-It's my roommate Alex's birthday today! Happy birthday Alex!

Short on Words

What I'm wearing: Anthropologie top, Forever 21 leather jacket, Gap Always Skinny jeans, Target ankle booties

The birthday boy and I

This is what happens when Alex gets behind the camera and tells me to "whip my hair back and forth"

I'm a little short on words today. Last night I celebrated two friends' birthdays, and it was a lot of fun but boy am I tired now. Tomorrow starts week 10 of winter quarter which means finals are looming in the near future. It's time to hit the books!

Weekly Gratitude: Part 2

*Another "Weekly Gratitude" post inspired by
Love, Life, Lace

This week I'm thankful for:
-Amazing parents that were willing to drop everything they were doing to drive me to NYC for my interview. They kept me company and offered moral support, and I couldn't have asked for more.
-All of the congratulations and kind words I've received. I feel lucky and very loved.
-Being given such an amazing opportunity. I still can't believe it :)
-Crumbs cupcakes! They make a visit to NYC that much sweeter.
-Veronica Mars. Best TV show ever...it kept me company on the long drive home.
-A weekend filled with TWO birthday celebrations for friends. I'm ready to have some fun!
-Online shopping. My Dolce Vita for Target wedges arrived, and I'm in LOVE!
-Lunch dates with the boyfriend at the on-campus diner. It's our "just got back from traveling" tradition.
-Getting to spend another summer in New York City. Who's coming to visit?! Blogger meet-up, anyone?

Big City, Big News

What I'm wearing: H&M blazer, Loft Top, J.Crew Minnie pants, Tahari heels (2007), J.Crew bracelet, Vintage ring

In case you hadn't guessed from my previous post, my little roadtrip took me New York City. It was the quickest trip ever, but it ended exactly how I had hoped: I was offered an internship! I found out Friday that I was being considered for a position at a fashion magazine, and it's been absolutely killing me to keep this a secret from you guys (I didn't want to jinx myself before the interview!). I'm feeling a huge range of emotions right now: excited, relieved, grateful, a little nervous...but mostly excited! I feel so fortunate that somehow my resume and cover letter made it into the hands of the right people and that they were impressed. Little old me, just a girl from Ohio, is going to be interning at a fashion magazine! It feels surreal. When I found out about the interview, one of the first things I thought was "What am I going to wear?!" So clearly a little shopping was in order. After hearing Linda rave about the J.Crew Minnie pants awhile back, I had to give them a try. And I really like them! I topped them off with a top from Loft and a loose blazer from H&M. I completed the look with my favorite heels (I've had them for years and I'm still in love) and my J.Crew cuff bracelet. I felt really good, and I think that came across in my interview. After finding out I received the internship (I got an email about 10 minutes after leaving the office), I went to Crumbs with my mom and dad to celebrate.

No trip to NYC is complete without a trip to Crumbs! Now I'm headed back to Columbus, and I can't wait to share my good news! Bye, bye New York...see you again in June!
*Also, if anyone has NYC housing suggestions, I'm all ears!

Hitting the Road

What I'm wearing: Forever 21 striped sweatshirt, Gap tee, Gifted scarf, J.Crew boyfriend jeans, Sperrys, Urban Outfitters sunglasses and earrings, Vera Bradley duffel

This is my "I'm going on a roadtrip and want to be comfy" outfit. Normally I would just wear sweats, but I decided to step up my game a little. Plus, I was overdue for some outfit pictures; I've been a bad, busy blogger lately. I'm currently blogging from the car in the middle of a 10 hour car drive. A lot of good things have been happening these past few days. So here I am, on my way to one of my favorite cities for a brief visit. My fingers are crossed that I will be able to share more details soon. Well, my netflix instant queue, a stack of magazines, and a nap are calling my name, so look for another outfit post tomorrow. It's going to be a good one, I promise!

{The view. Lots of dead trees, but at least the sky is nice and blue!}