What do you wear when it rains all weekend so the only time you leave your house is to go to the grocery store? Well, I wear a comfortable summer sweater with rolled denim, canvas shoes, and a messy bun. I switched the canvas shoes for the rubber rain boots when I took the dogs for a walk but, luckily, it had stopped raining for a spell when I went to the store so I could wear the canvas shoes. And to look at least somewhat put together, I added earrings and these necklaces but no make up because let’s not get crazy.

Sweater:  Banana Republic
Jeans: Kensie via Stitch Fix
Soes: Target
Gold Necklace and Earrings: Old Navy
Turquoise Necklace: I can’t remember but I’m thinking it was Caroline Grace Jewelry on Etsy?
Clutch: Coach via gift from my MIL

You may (or may not) have noticed that I’ve taken a short break from blogging. That’s partly because I had a lot of work to do as the summer session and my internship came to a close, but partly because I’ve been a little unhappy with my clothes and with blogging lately.

I started style blogging because I was really inspired by the amazing bloggers I’ve been following.  I was really excited about my outfits and wanted to share that with others. I felt good, I was getting a lot of complements and, most importantly, I felt comfortable; I felt like myself. I’m sure this happens to all bloggers, especially when starting out, but soon I started to feel like I was trying to keep up with the Joneses, and that I was dressing for the blog instead of dressing for me. I was doing way too much shopping (read: spending too much money) and purchasing pieces that I didn’t really like because I thought they would look good on the blog. And that’s not what I wanted my blog to be. I want it to be about having great style with easy, inexpensive pieces.

From a recent shopping trip

So, I’ve still been getting dressed these last couple of weeks but without constantly wondering if what I was putting together was cute/trendy/stylish/whatever enough for the blog, and the result has been great: cute outfits, a few complements, more confidence and comfort. Throughout all of this, I’ve also tried to take a good, hard look at what my style really is, and I’m thinking I’ll do a closet inventory post soon to get rid of the pieces that aren’t really me so that I can show you outfits that I really love and feel completely comfortable in. So, if you’ve followed me on my journey thus far, I am so thankful to you, and I hope you’ll continue to follow along. I have some cute outfits that I’m excited to show you!

source: Pinterest

Have you ever had days where you get dressed and think, “Eh, this looks alright” and then go about your day feeling less than stellar? Happens to me all the time. But then, there are days when I get dressed and am like, “I’m so cute I can’t even…” and then my husband responds with, “me either” and I strut my stuff all day because I love my outfit so much. This was one of those days for me. In hind sight, I should have worn some dressier shoes, like heels or wedges or something. I’ll remember that for next time!

I’ve had this top/shorts combo in my head for a while and finally put it together to wear out of the house.   I purchased this adorable cap-sleeved blazer for my Barden Bella halloween costume last year and am just now wearing it for real, which makes me super excited. I wore this to an internship meeting and then to sit at the library for a few hours to finish some writing assignments, so very few people saw me. But that just means that I get to wear it again tomorrow! 😉

Linking up with Third Thursday Threads at Work Clothes, I Suppose today!

Top: Banana Republic
Shorts: Banana Republic
Blazer: Saks Fiftth Avenue
Sandals: Target
Earrings: Accessorize It
Bracelet: Old Navy
Necklace: gift from my MIL

I don’t have a whole lot to say about this outfit except that before I started reading style blogs, I never would have worn stripes with polkda dots. However, I did hear one of the nurses at the clinic where I intern once a week say that he knew “stripes and dots don’t mix” and I had to hold my tongue because, as you can see, sir, they most certainly do!

I thought about wearing my new pink sandals but I didn’t want to go overboard with the pink, so I opted for the white canvas shoes instead. Shorts and Keds definitely take my back to my childhood because I lived in them every summer.

It was way too hot out for a cardigan so it had to go! We were lucky at got these photos in just before it started raining, so it was really muggy out, too. Ugh, sometimes summer is just too much.

This is the charm bracelet Nick got me this past Valentine’s Day and of course I adore it (mostly because I picked it out, hehe). I would like to add an ampersand charm and another ‘n’ charm. Maybe even a c. And maybe a 2 to make it squared!

Top, Shorts & Cardigan: Old Navy
Shoes & Belt: Target
Earrings & Necklace: Wal-Mart
Bracelet: Etsy

I call this my “Doppler Effect” shirt because it reminds me of Sheldon’s Halloween costume in one of the first seasons of The Big Bang Theory. The stripes are great, of course, but what really sold me was the crossed-straps in the back. How cute is that? And no color goes with navy better than pink, hence the sandals.

I wore this outfit to lunch, and then to sell an arm and a leg for new tires. Seriously, they’re so expensive but with the amount of driving I do on a weekly basis, car maintenence is very important.  There’s your PSA for the day!

Top, Shorts, and Cardigan: Banana Republic
Sandals: Target
Necklace & Earrings: Wal-Mart
Charm Bracelet: Etsy
Pink Bracelet: Old Navy
Sunglasses: Target