Office style

How I Spent My Summer

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OOTD 09022016

White Pants | Shoes | Purse | Earrings | Bracelet 1 | Bracelet 2 | Lipstick

Good news, guys, I’m still around! My Labor Day weekend has kicked off with a trip to the Minute Clinic to find out my husband has a sinus infection and bronchitis, so I thought it might be a good time to explain my absence while he hopefully sleeps those antibiotics into his system. You may notice a bit of a change of scenery there in the background there, as we’ve started redoing our bedroom this summer! I’m obsessed with the changes so far, but that’s a post for another day.

I said awhile back that I needed to press pause, and at the time, it was because I was just too overwhelmed with work, training for the half-marathon, and just general life stuff. Although my training ended, work didn’t start to slow down until very recently. I was so exhausted by late nights (the kind where your husband asks if he was dreaming or were you actually on the phone with your coworker at 1 a.m. – yikes), deadlines, and everything else we had going on this summer, that the idea of getting back on my computer and blogging was just too much. I missed it and still took lots of pics though; my phone is basically an “I should blog about this” graveyard.

I’m excited to say that things have finally slowed down enough that I think I’m finally able to make my return. I’m ready to share outfits, recipes, and all of the other stuff I’m excited about again. To make up for a complete lack of posting all summer, and in honor of the time-honored tradition of starting the school year by sharing all of the details of your summer break. I figured why not finally share some of my photos, so get ready to scroll!

Run 317 Circle

My cousin and I ran a 5k through downtown Indy less than 2 weeks after the Mini Marathon. The Run 317 series goes through Indianapolis neighborhoods, supports local charities, and comes with two beers at the end from Thr3eWiseMen! This one started and ended on Monument Circle – so fun!

Indy 500

We went to the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500. It was an awesome day with our friends and family. It was also HOT, so this one is me in all of my sweaty, unfiltered glory.

Colin-Liza Wedding

We celebrated the wedding of one of our oldest friends (Colin, my chili-adoring bestie)…and thought we were still young enough to close down the bars in Bloomington like college kids (we’re not). If you’re ever in B-town, check out The Big Cheeze! True love is your husband surprising you with a grilled cheese at 2 a.m.

Happy Camper

We spent a weekend in Chicago catching up with old friends and celebrating one of my best friend’s baby shower. The picture is a little blurry, but the look of pure joy on my face is because the Happy Camper is a bar with tire swings. Beers with friends from high school, pizza, and tire swings made it basically the best thing ever.

Run 317 Mass Ave

We did another Run 317 in the Mass Ave area of downtown Indy, and this time my sister joined us for her first ever 5k! It was the kind of ridiculously hot and humid day where you sweat just standing still, so they had to turn it into a non-timed “fun run,” which was just fine for us. We have one more Run 317 left in October, so hopefully my sister will be joining us again!

My very favorite weekend of the year every year is Dave Matthews Band weekend with my husband, brother-in-law, and our friends. Dave plays two shows in Indy, and each night is a totally different show and setlist, so we go both nights. Our first night was up-close and personal in the pit so you can really see the band, and then the second night is on the lawn and dancing barefoot on our blanket (although that part is more just me…). It was SO HOT – are you noticing a theme here for this summer in Indianapolis?

Alyssa Wedding

August kicked off with my cousin’s wedding and an after-party at our house that lasted into the wee hours of the morning. I have a lot of cousins, and I LOVE hanging out with all of them. It was so much fun, and will definitely be a night we remember for a long time.

First Anniversary

Speaking of weddings, we celebrated our first anniversary on August 15th! I cannot believe it’s been a year already, time truly does fly when you’re having fun. I honestly planned to do so many wedding-related posts about how I got ready for our big days (we had two weddings: one on 8/15 at a church with just our family, and one that was a great big party with our family and friends on 8/21), but we’ve already been over my lack of posts. Now that we’re getting ready to ramp up planning my sister’s wedding, I fully plan to share my tips, tricks, lessons, and memories from ours as we go, so stay tuned!

Speaking of our anniversary, Kendra Scott just happened to open a store in Indianapolis the weekend before. My sweet husband knew I’ve been lusting after this necklace forever, so he played detective to find out when exactly they’d be opening, and he even figured out that if we went on opening day, I’d get this (perfectly Colts blue) bracelet for free! Isn’t he the best? Did you know that if you go to Kendra Scott during your birthday month and show your ID, you get 50% off of a piece of jewelry? August just happens to be his birthday month, so it was even more of a bargain. You can guess where I’ll be heading in October!

So that was our summer in a nutshell. Can you believe it’s already September? I love summer, and it’s my favorite season, even when it gets ridiculously hot. I have to say though, I’m ready for the calm that comes with fall. Fall means calmer schedules, bonfire and chili nights with our friends, football Sundays (and the snacks that go with them!), and so many other great things. I love my sundresses, but I also love the fashion that comes with the cooler temperatures.

Thanks for bearing with me while I took some time to re-group, and I promise to be a much better blogger in the weeks and months to come.

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M.I.A…

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At this point, it’s no secret that I’ve not only failed at posting more, I’ve gone longer than I have without a post since I started this blogging adventure. I’m still alive and have not abandoned my little corner of the internet, I promise! 

I’m not here to make excuses. I don’t think there’s any glory in being sooo busy all of the time, and “I don’t have time” is one of my least favorite statements ever. But sometimes there’s so much happening at one time, you have to choose to press pause on some things to focus on others. It’s not because you want to, but for the sake of maintaining sanity, it’s gotta happen. 

There are only so many hours in one day, and right now, mine are pretty much dominated by some things that are outside of my control. In the remaining hours I can eke out, I’m squeezing in my final weeks of training runs (16 days to go!) and pretty much just thanking my lucky stars for an amazing husband who’s keeping me going. 

In the meantime, I’m focusing on the little things that get me through the day. I put on this Lilly Pulitzer for Target dress for work yesterday because I couldn’t think of a better cure for being sleep-deprived than a bright yellow dress with flamingos on it. (You know, other than that giant cup of coffee I’m holding. There have been a lot of those too.)   

Does the flower crown Snapchat filter make anyone else feel like they at least look like a serene goddess who has their life totally under control? The warm weather and pretty Lilly Pulitzer patterns don’t hurt either. (And check out that sweet running tanline…time for sunscreen and dreams of evening it back out poolside.) Like I said, it’s the little things that get you through. 

I promise, I’ll be back to the regularly scheduled programming as soon as I possibly can. Until then, deep breaths, happy thoughts, and lots of room for grace.
  

OOTD 3.31.2016

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Dress (white) | Necklace | Lipstick

It’s important to have some clothes for the office that make you feel like you’re ready to kick some butt that day. For me, a good sheath dress does exactly that, so I always reach for one when I have a meeting or I know it’s going to be a busier day at the office in terms of who’s there that day.

I shared my love for this particular dress from J. Crew Factory when I almost wore it for St. Patrick’s Day, and I wasn’t kidding when I said I was ready to get it out for the year. Though it seems the green isn’t available anymore, this white option is just as polished and chic – especially with little white dresses being a must-have this spring and summer. My other go-to sheath dress is this one from The Limited. I currently have it in black, navy, and gray (and now that I’m seeing it in khaki and light blue, I may need to expand my collection…). Whether you work in an office that tends to be on the dressier side or just need an alternative to a suit for big meeting days, the sheath is an always classic way to look pulled together with minimal effort. Use your jewelry to either make a statement or keep things simple, you’ll look great regardless!

This top knot has become one of my favorite styles for day-two hair, partially because I feel like I’ve finally figured out that perfectly full Lauren Conrad-esque version I’ve loved for years. Yes, I’m still doing the not washing every day thing, and no, I haven’t forgotten about still needing to post about it. In the meantime, I’ve been trying all sorts of dry shampoos, and I’ve definitely found some favorites and some I probably won’t be buying again once the can runs out. Training has added a new layer to my little experiment, but I have to tell you, I’m pretty hooked…the extra bit of sleep in the morning thanks to the shortened shower is a pretty solid selling point too!

I know I’ve been slacking on the posts lately, and I promise, I’ll work on it. As the race gets closer (just over a month away!), my mileage during the week is increasing, so long days at work plus the time to put in my miles is zapping my weeknights. Like I mentioned in the beginning, this is my fun spot, so when time is short and I have to choose between a post and time with my husband, he wins every time. I swear, I’m still around and will get better at the posting thing.

Happy weekend!

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OOTD: 3.17.2016

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green top | black pants | monogram necklace | lipstick

Can you believe I was the only person at my office to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day? I love dressing up for holidays, mostly just because I love themed anything. (I firmly believe adult life needs more theme parties, college totally spoiled me.) I also just love wearing a bright, springy green, so this holiday works out well for me.

To be completely honest, I half expected to be the only one even in the office on Thursday. Had I realized I wouldn’t be sitting alone all day, I would’ve pulled out one of my favorite spring dresses for the office. This green dress from J.Crew Factory was a favorite last year, and another dress I couldn’t wait to pull back out this year. But you know how you hate to waste a good outfit on a day you don’t really see anyone?

Instead, I went with my green, flutter-sleeve top, which has been a favorite since I ordered it last spring. Luckily J.Crew Factory is good about bringing back classics and brought it back again this year, along with my green dress (although the fabric on the dress is a little different this year). The flutter-sleeve top also pairs perfectly with jeans or tucked into a pencil skirt, and I can guarantee this won’t be the last time you see it on here.

I paired my green top with my trusty black pants and basic black peep-toe pumps. I love the floral jewelry trend this spring, so I decided to join in with these fun white flower earrings that were my Grandma’s. She’s always been ahead of the trends.

Nars’ Cruella is a matte, scarlet red has been my go-to red lip since I got it with my Sephora birthday gift in October, but I was ready to trade it in for something with a little more pop. Bite’s Pomegranate is a perfect brighter red for the warmer days, while still staying a rich, true red.

I may love a good holiday theme, but this is a spring outfit I’ll definitely be wearing again!

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OOTD 3.7.2016

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I’ve been so excited to share this outfit all week. Yes, all week, because it’s been one of those weeks. I thought I’d post Tuesday, or Wednesday, or…you get the idea.

I said last week I was ready to pull out my Spring wardrobe, and I wasn’t messing around. One of my favorite bloggers/Instagrammers, Sara Matthews (check out her blog, Lilly and  Leopard!), has been posting adorable outfits with this blazer for as long as I’ve been following her, and I’ve been drooling over this blazer for just as long. I’ve been working on adding more blazers to my wardrobe, but the issue is those things can be pricey. Not this striped beauty from Old Navy though. It’s already super affordable, and I was able to snag it for an extra 30% off a couple weekends ago, making it a perfect Spring steal. I knew a Monday meeting day would be the perfect debut, and I couldn’t wait to wear it. I also can’t wait to wear it again, so expect to see (a lot) more of this one. (PS, the reviews are right, go down a size from what you’d normally wear.)

When I went to pull out some of my Spring dresses, I knew exactly the dress I wanted to pair with my blazer. This coral scalloped shift from J.Crew Factory has been a favorite since I got it last Spring. So much so, it was my Easter dress and I wore it for our engagement pictures. It’s a perfect shift for wearing to work, and for just about everything else you may need a dress.Easter 2015Engagement Portraits -93 copy

After a crazy week, I was elated to hear my husband say his thoughts on dinner Friday night were to go to our favorite Mexican restaurant, Chile Verde. It’s actually owned by my sister’s fiancé’s family, and is some of the best Mexican food you’ll find in Indianapolis. They even let me customize my favorite enchiladas to be shrimp instead of chicken since it was a Friday during Lent. Chile Verde has become a staple in my family – and I mean my whole, extended family. They don’t mind when we need to make a reservation for an intimate family dinner for 20+ (I have a big family), and they’re amazing when we want to get carryout catering. Full disclosure: I skipped my scheduled workout for this:

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Don’t worry, I still did all of my other training this week, and have 5 miles to put in today. Sometimes, you just need some beer and queso.

If you look closely, there’s also a tiny peak of my first wear of one of my dresses from the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale in January. Who else is ready for Spring dresses?

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OOTD 2.24.2016

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It seems that despite my best efforts to be done with winter clothes, Indiana is not yet done with winter. Womp womp. 

Today was a return to temps in the 30s and snow tonight (remember when it was 72 degrees just four days ago?), but fear not, we’re supposed to be in the 50s by Saturday and 60s by Sunday. This is Indiana, after all. Transitioning weather calls for transitional outfits, and although I posted a version of this one here, part of what I love about it is you can change the outfit up just by changing the scarf. 

Today was a black-and-white plaid blanket scarf from Old Navy last year, but it can just as easily be swapped for a lighter and brighter scarf when the days get warmer. Draping the scarf lengthwise around your neck and belting it gives a bit of a polished, faux vest look, while secretly keeping you warm and cozy at your desk all day. A basic black long-sleeved top  (like I said, I may have a slight obsession with black tops), my favorite Minnie pants from J.Crew, and some black pumps provide a sleek base for the outfit. Topped with my faithful Kendra Scott earrings, monogram necklace, and this pop of bright pink lip color I can’t get enough of, and I was ready for the day. 

Here’s hoping this is the last of the winter things for awhile! 

  

OOTD 2.18.2016: OTK Boots & The Office

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We’ve officially reached the point in February when I am so over winter and winter clothes, I can’t stand it. When the temperatures first dropped in the fall, I was excited to pull out the wools, tweeds, darker colors, and tights. Now? Over it. Soooo over it!

Today wasn’t nearly as warm as tomorrow is supposed to be (62 degrees! A heatwave for Indiana in February!), but I decided to ditch the tights and go for bright colors, despite the temps in the 40s. That’s where my beloved OTK boots came in.

The key to OTK boots at the office ensuring you’re not showing much – if any – skin. OTK boots can pack a whole lot of va-va-voom, which is the opposite of what you want for your standard 9-to-5 office environment. I never wear mine to work without opaque black tights and/or as much coverage as possible to tone them down, usually in the form of a knee-grazing skirt. Since I was boycotting my tights today, coverage was extra important.

My fit and flare dress is a few years old from Old Navy, but a good fit and flare is always a comfy classic. This one also comes to my knees, so only a centimeter or so of skin would show when I was walking, meeting the coverage requirement. Not satisfied with the bright dress alone, I had to add in my Lilly Pulitzer Murfee scarf (a birthday gift from a sweet friend a few years ago), and my hot pink Kendra Scott earrings. I topped it all off with some bright lipstick. For being described as a balm, the color of this bareMinerals “Lip-Oil Balm” sticks around all day.

Bring on spring!

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OOTD 2.11.2016

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Do you ever have those weeks when it seems like everything is on fire? That was this week. Lots of long and crazy days, and Wednesday was an especially late night of work. Going to sleep on nights I’ve worked late is near impossible for me – it’s like my brain just can’t turn off and still needs hours to wind down again. While it gives me some solo quiet time to catch up on the day’s social media I missed, it’s not so great for waking up the next day at my normal time. On day’s like that, I like to have some easy outfits I don’t have to think about, so I can just throw them on and go.

Black and camel is one of those color combos that never fails to feel classic and polished, with minimal effort required. These wool skimmer pants are actually from last year, but I can always count on J. Crew Factory to keep the classics in stock. There’s no camel left, but it looks like the ones they do have left are marked down to half price (love the crimson or black). Add on a black top – I have so many variations of black tops, my husband thinks I’m crazy when I come home with another one – my favorite Kendra Scott earrings, black heels, red lips, and you’re out the door!

I was exhausted, and it was another crazy, long day, but I felt put together enough that I still looked ready for the invite from one of my girlfriends for a much needed impromptu sushi and beer break after work.

How do you make late nights and long days better?

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OOTD 2.5.2016: Travel Days

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It’s been a crazy busy week, but what else is new. I realized I hadn’t done any OOTD posts this week, so I thought I’d share a travel day look from Friday. My job requires a decent amount of travel to our other offices in the state, so I’ve gotten used to figuring out what travels well and is comfortable for the long days.

The key factors for travel day outfits are how comfortable I’ll be in the car for two (or more) hours there and back, and how well what I’m wearing will hold up through the drive. There are few things worse on travel days than leaving the house looking your best, then arriving looking like a wrinkled mess after sitting in the car for so long. My pink skirt is a thick wool find from a few years ago in the J.Crew sale room, but they have a pretty consistent variation of it from year-to-year. This year’s is on sale with an extra 30% off, and I love how they come in classic colors that go with everything and hold up over the years.

I’m a big fan of stripes (just look in my closet), and I love how spring time seems to mean stripes are everywhere every year. My shirt is an oldie from Ann Taylor Loft, and you can’t see it very well, but it has the cutest bow on the neck to jazz things up a bit. This version doesn’t have the bow, but is still just as cute and versatile.

Another thing I’ve learned over the years is that driving in my heels will tear them up. I wore my go-to black booties for this pic, but one of my comfort and shoe-preservation secrets is that I always drive in Uggs, flats, or sandals depending on the weather. This is a lesson learned from experience, because these little booties were in need of some desperate repair after the backs of the heels were DESTROYED from driving too much in them, plus walking around on the salty/snowy sidewalks when our office was downtown. Tip: Find a good cobbler near you to revive your shoe investments. I have my father-in-law to thank for introducing me to the guy who SAVED these favorites from the trash and my wallet from a new bootie investment. I’ve also learned to wear boots when I’m commuting, then change into my heels or booties once I get to my office – live and learn.

Add on some sparkly crystal drop earrings (mine no longer available from J. Crew Factory, but look how pretty these are!), and I felt comfortable and polished for the long day!

Do you travel for work? What are your travel day style tips?

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OOTD 1.21.2016

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A bit delayed, but I meant when I said I could not wait to wear these new Kendra Scott beauties – I wore them the very next day! I kept it basic with black pants, a black long-sleeve, and a black and white blanket scarf so that the pink really popped. Cold days in January need more hot pink.

My black pants are a J.Crew winter favorite I’ve had for a few years. Mine are a wool dress pant, although the link is a new version in a cotton twill, but either way they’re a great slim-fitting dress pant for the office. You can’t go wrong with basic long-sleeve tees that can be dressed up, dressed down, and worn a million different ways. Old Navy is a favorite for picking them up in a rainbow of colors for super cheap. Blanket scarves are by far one of my favorite “trends” that’s lasted a couple years now. They instantly make you feel pulled together, while keeping you cozy whether it’s just starting to get cold or when it’s well into winter’s freezing days. What are your winter fashion go-tos?

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