I love coffee. It wasn’t always this way; I used to think it smelled great but tasted gross. Why couldn’t it just taste the way it smelled? In undergrad, I had a few 8 AM classes so I bought a small coffee maker, thinking it would help me wake up and get to class on time. I probably only used it three or four times my entire undergrad career. That all changed when I was about 26 years old and started working as a communications assistant at a non-profit in a few towns over, requiring at least an hour commute, one-way. I had to get up really early to try to beat the rush-hour traffic on the interstate so I pulled out that little coffee maker and my love affair began.

Over the years, I’ve developed my palate and learned that I like really strong coffee with a touch of cream and sugar. Maybe the t-shirt is a little misleading because I rarely drink it black, but if it’s *good* coffee (my personal favorite is Counter Culture here in Durham) I’ll drink it straight up!

As far as the outfit, I wanted to jump on the graphic tee train so I purchased this one because I do love coffee so much and because I have a lot of plans for it as inspired by Pinterest. Now that it’s getting warmer, I can’t wait to recreate some of those Pinterest looks. I wore this outfit to the dealership to get the oil changed in my car, and the guy still thought I was only about 21-22 years old. I don’t look THAT young, do I?

T-shirt and Blazer: Banana Republic | Jeans: Kensie via Stitch Fix | Shoes: Old Navy | Earrings: Old Navy

This is not a suit. It looks likes one, though, which is great because it works really well as a spring/summer interview or office outfit without having to spend a ton of money on an actual suit. All you need is black crop trousers (or slacks) and a black blazer, and just about any blouse would look excellent with it. The secret is to make sure the blacks match as closely as possible. For this outfit, both the blazer and trousers are from Banana Republic so I was pretty confident they would be the same color.

By the way, I’m loving this blouse. Nick picked it out and surprised me with it and it’s perfect for spring, really comfortable, and really versatile. I can’t wait to wear and style it more.

Sometimes you just need to walk barefoot in the grass!

And here’s the fun one:

Linking up with Perfectly Coutured | Everyday Fashion and Finance | Delusions of Grandeur | Simply Lulu Style | Sunny + Turquoise | Stylin’ in St. Louis

The weather briefly warmed up a bit and I could wear this cute skirt and thin tights without freezing my tooshie off.  Nick picked out the skirt because he has awesome taste and I know he would want me to let you know that. My favorite thing about it is the bow in the front. When I tuck my shirt into skirts, it sometimes feels too plain, like a belt is needed as a completer piece.  But this bow adds that little something extra and makes the skirt even more cute.

I wore this to have coffee and talk wedding shop with my best friend who is getting married this summer, which is so exciting! Then I wore it to dinner for Nick’s mom’s birthday. I’ve been trying to find more pieces that can be dressed up or down and this skirt is perfect for that.

I love the way the wedge ankle boots look with this outfit, but I decided to change into heels for dinner. The heels are more dressy than the boots, which is what I wanted in a dinner look. I would also wear the heels in the office for a more professional look.