BBCA 5 - Friend Friday: Fall

Cardigan: J Crew
Shirt: Target
Cami: Target
Pants: Lauren Conrad via Kohl's
Scarf: vintage, thrifted
Shoes: Steve Madden
Earrings: Turkey

So this week for the visual Friend Friday, we're linking up our quintessential fall looks over at 260 Days, No Repeats. Of course, it's also the last day of my BBCA week, so my fall look also has a touch of pink.


I have to say that at this point, I consider myself an expert in fall looks. I've mentioned before that I live in the land of eternal fall, so I've built a lot of outfits around boots, cardigans, and scarves. To me, fall is about classic silhouettes, mixed neutrals, and piled layers.


I really like the simple white button up, navy chinos, and cognac flats, but I like them better with the purple cami, chartreuse cardigan, and patterned scarf. I love the pops of color peeking out, especially when all those pops serve to keep me warm.


Feel free to ignore my award winning under eye circles, mmkay? Let's talk about this scarf. How pretty are those pink and green and turquoise swirls? So pretty. Also, it keeps my ears warm and hides my crazy hair - both are bonuses in my world.

BBCA 1 - Family

Cardigan: Target? gift from my mom
Tee: Ann Taylor
Pants: New York & Co.
Scarf: gift from my mom
Brooch: vintage
Earrings: Target
Shoes: Steve Madden

Well, hello, y'all. Can I start by saying that sometimes a week off is just the right thing? It's been a rough couple weeks. Let me go ahead and confess that it's been a rough nine or so months since we moved. Things haven't been easy and the blog felt like one more thing on my to do list, which wasn't cool, so, a break.


But! I am participating in BBCA, started by Melissa over at A Working Mom's Closet (breaks are apparently going around these days...). I don't own a lot of pink; I don't really like it, but I did want to participate so I've been digging out my pink.


I love this outfit and I honestly built it around this brooch, with its pops of pink. When B and I were back in the States, his grandmother pulled out her jewelry box and let me and B's sister M take whatever we wanted. I fell in love with this brooch, and I love the sense of connection I have with B's family - now my family, too - when I wear it.


And, yeah, I think I've just come to a point where I feel like they're my family, too. Apparently it takes me visiting them four times to get to that point; that's the problem when the family lives all over the place.

Inspired

Pants: New York & Co.
Top: Banana Republic
Cardigan: J Crew
Shoes: Naturalizer
Earrings: Turkey
Sunnies: Puerto Rico

Y'all, I've been having a hard time getting dressed for the past couple weeks. It's gotten to the point where I take a shower and then stand in front of the closet for the twenty minutes it takes B to shower. And then he STILL gets dressed before I do. Meanwhile I'm all standing there trying to figure out what I can do with a wardrobe that fits in two suitcases.


BUT! My mom brought me a few magazines when she came to visit. And so, on this particular morning, instead of staring at my closet waiting for my clothes to put themselves on me, I pulled out the May issue of Lucky and flipped through until I found my inspiration. Y'all - I totally had the necessary pieces to put this together!


The two suitcase wardrobe pulls through! And I'm dressed! This may not be the most flattering look - cropped pants, flats, a top that's a size too big - but I felt almost as if I were finding my way out of a rut.


Someone tell me I'm not the only one with this problem....

Welcome home

All remixed except cardigan and earrings
Cardigan: Apt. 9 via Kohl's
Tee: Target (men's undershirt with DIY neckline)
Pants: New York & Co.
Shoes: Target
Bangles: gifts
Earrings: ?

So, I have to start by saying that this outfit was inspired by Elaine's outfit yesterday. Y'all, I have QUITE the backlog of outfit pictures, but I thought you deserved to see some scenery. These pictures were taken today by the side of the house where B and I will be living once we he builds a bed frame. Getting settled has been a slow process - I mean, we've been here a week and we're still living out of suitcases - but I'm starting to think that by the end of this week, we'll have things more settled.


I got this leopard cardi for Christmas from my mom. It's cashmere and leopard, which means I'm bound to love it. I also love the picture of it right next to these gorgeous flowers. I've decided that of all the flowers on the property, these might be the most dramatic. Does anyone know what they're called?


I have to admit that I can hardly believe it's January; I feel a little as though I've lost track of time. We've been crazy busy settling in and getting oriented with the work we'll be doing and the context in which we'll be working. Not only that, but we've met a lot of people and have had some great opportunities to network. This is my first time living in a rural area, and it's quite different from what I'm used to, but I'm super excited to finally put my degree in International Development to work.


Kiku, by the way, is loving the country life...except for the calf that walks around by the goat pen. She's not so much a fan of that calf.

Lazy and winners aka Outfit #29

All remixed, of course.
Sweater: H&M
Scarf: H&M
Pants: New York & Co.
Belt: came with a blazer
Boots: Noble Town Vintage via Etsy
Earrings: Turkey

I am not super proud of this outfit. It feels a little lazy, but I was tired this morning and needed something warm to get me to and from work. They were calling for flurries, and the last thing I wanted was to be the girl on the train who's totally inappropriately dressed for the freezing cold weather. Also, I hate walking to the train in heels because the sidewalk is totally broken up and it's a treacherous walk.


This scarf is pretty much the best thing about this look, let's be honest. I love it.


Also great? My hair. My curls are fabulous today.
I promise that tomorrow's look will be more exciting. And if there's nothing good tomorrow, then I guarantee that WEDNESDAY'S look will kick. I will do an extra day if I am boring tomorrow.

And now, giveaway time.


We went old school and wrote everyone's name on a slip of paper. By we, I mean me.

Then I made B choose a name:

He did this by pushing the papers onto the floor. There were two left on the table, so he put them in front of Kiku and chose the one she sniffed first. I don't have pictures of that because I fell down laughing at his method.


Who did B and Kiku pick? Liz of Lizzypunch!

And since we were feeling generous, we decided to choose one additional winner. This time, B was normal when choosing:


And the second winner?

Fellow Philly girl, Besos, Lynn!

I'll be contacting you both soon and crossing my fingers that you don't want the same item. Ha ha!

Light on words aka Outfit #24

All remixed
Tee: New York & Co.
Cami: Kohl's
Pants: New York & Co.
Jacket: Apt. 9 via Kohl's
Booties: Aldo
Necklace: Banana Republic
Earrings: India

I'm exhausted. I subbed, went in to my other job, and had friends over for dinner. Now it's ten thirty, and I've finally got a moment to myself. And you know what I want to do? Sleep. Shower and sleep. So today, all you get are pictures.






This is just to show you the subtle pinstripe in the blazer.


Awkward hands.

The end.

P.S. Have you entered the giveaway?

Halfway aka Outfit #15

All remixed
Pants: New York & Co.
Tee: New York & Co.
Cardigan: New York & Co.
Earrings: Banana Republic
Ring: Swapped
Booties: Aldo

I didn't realize that everything I had on today was from NY&Co until I got to work. What can I say, they've got great sales.


This outfit would never have happened if it weren't for the 30x30. I never would've thought to pair this fancy-schmancy cardigan with my leopard print tee, and I certainly never would've worn that bright yellow with black.


That said, I think it works. I feel like a rock star, which in my world is the sign of a good outfit. Also, this is the first time I've worn this cardi during this remix. That bring me up to 29 items worn. The item I haven't yet worn?


The sweater dress that I hadn't worn before the challenge either. The face I'm making in the picture above pretty much sums up my feelings towards that dress. I am NOT putting up with its foolishness. I want it to work with me, and it's not. B and I had a conversation where I told him that I was conflicted about kicking the dress out of my remix (and my closet) and subbing in another piece.


I still haven't decided what to do.... Anyway, tonight we're driving down to my parents' house in VA. I should be able to use part of the long weekend to catch up on the blogs. Between NaNoWriMo and the usual busyness of life, I've been slacking....

Black and blue aka Outfit #2

All remixed
Blazer: Apt. 9 via Kohl's
Shirt: New York & Co.
Cami: Target
Pants: New York & Co.
Flower belt: J Crew
Shoes: Steve Madden
Bracelet: won in a giveaway
Earrings: New York & Co.

I may have worn this before. I wasn't feeling creative as I was stumbling around at six fifteen this morning - it's been way too long since my days started at that ungodly hour. Also, I don't think camis should count in the 30x30 because I never wear them on their own. Is that cheating? I'm pretty sure it's not.


My second day of subbing went quite well - just two more days of subbing and I'll be back to my regularly scheduled volunteer work, part time work, and translations. The good thing is that there's no school tomorrow, the bad news is that I'll be at my other job all. Day. Long.


Also, I took the most AWKWARD pictures today! I don't know what's up with that. Maybe it's the pants. I always feel awkward in pants....



I was a little nervous about wearing the flower belt, too. I thought maybe it was too much, but then I told myself that it totally changed the outfit and as long as I was wearing pants, I might as well keep on pushing myself out of my comfort zone. What do y'all think? Too much?




For more remix fun, click here.

Pink

All remixed except blazer and tee
Blazer: Kohl's
Tee: Target
Pants: New York & Co.
Pumps: Steve Madden
Bracelet: Kohl's
Earrings: New York & Co.
Belt: came with a dress

Another day of BBCA sponsored by Melissa. Y'all I've finally done it: I'm wearing a pink shirt. I toned it down with a whole lot of black to be weather appropriate, but that's a pink shirt!


It's our second straight day of rain in Philly, and it looks like we're in for more of the same tomorrow. Last Thursday it was, like, 80 degrees and today we've got highs in the 50s. I was so not prepared for this. I did manage to pull out some of my sweaters on Sunday and I rediscovered this jacket. I love the nubby texture of it and the crazy sleeves. I couldn't find the belt that I most like to wear with this, but I did find a decent replacement belt. Of course, I only settled on the replacement after searching for ten minutes. I hate that.


So I called my parents about getting together to see El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico live here in Philly. My mom was so excited and asked about the date. I told her and do y'all know what she told me?! That she was supposed to go see VeggieTales that day. VeggieTales. I was turned down for a talking cucumber. I'm still a little broken up about it.


This picture makes me feel a little better, though. What I love about this picture is that I'm all serious, aloof style blogger in the foreground and Kiku is looking all crazy in the background with her favorite toy EVER: her blanket. It's hard not to laugh at that.
Oh, and y'all? I did my nails. I. Did. My. Nails. B was totally impressed.


It's this shade here.