I know I’m a little late with this post but better late than never. Before the baby came along, we spent the Fourth of July watching baseball, eating hot dogs, and watching fireworks.  It’s what we’ve done ever since we moved to Durham, and I love it. Baseball is my favorite, hot dogs are delicious, and fireworks are fun! It’s a win-win.

Durham Bulls

Monday is feeling a little like this outfit looks: not that great.

First, the outfit: It’s one of those combos that worked better in my head. The problem is the pants: they’re a pair I had before I got pregnant when I had a little more weight on my bones and now they’re just too loose to pair with this flowy top, so the whole thing looks too big. I have another pair of pants in mind that I think will look much better; they’re tighter and longer. Jeans look pretty good with it, though.

HOWEVER, this shirt is awesome. It’s from a new local boutique in Durham called Liberation Threads and their principal business practice is to only sell goods that are ethical and fair trade. This shirt is made from the leftover fabrics of other clothing, and it’s so soft and comfortable. I love the open back because it’s on trend without making me feel like my whole back is on display. Anyway, I only discovered Liberation Threads a few weeks ago and plan to become a regular there.

Next, the Monday: All Mondays are bad enough and, while there isn’t anything in particular about today, I’m just not feeling it. I had a not-so-great Friday and the weekend wasn’t long enough to offset the fatigue of having to be back at work and in the swing of things today. I’m sure these feelings will subside soon, but I’m just over it, y’all. Over. It. As I mentioned on my Facebook on Friday, I’m having a woe-is-me moment. I’m trying really hard to stay positive and keep things in perspective but I’m completely failing at it. I’m sure it won’t take long for me to see that things are fine and life is grand, and then I’ll bounce back to my usual happy self. But right now, I just feel sad and hopeless, and I don’t know what to do to not feel sad and hopeless. Maybe I just need a nap.

Top: via Liberation Threads | Trousers: Karen Kane via Stitch Fix | Shoes: via Ross | Necklaces: Old Navy

I know this is likely just a bump in the road and I’ll be fine. I just have to make it through another day. Another stinkin’ Monday.

I’m a little jealous of Nick because he gets to wear shorts to work. Like, every single day. And not just for his current job but the one before that, too. I guess I understand it. Their work is online so I suppose there’s no need to dress to impress… there’s no one to impress but each other.

Taking a page from his book, I decided to wear these shorts to my own office. I figured if any office would allow it, it would an awesome nonprofit and if any shorts would be appropriate, it would be these. They’re classy and fancy and about the same length as any skirt I would feel comfortable wearing. When you pair them with a bright top and heels, you get a nice, polished look. I think I look pretty darn cute, and no one at my office complained.

Also, I got a haircut! I love this length and think I’ll stick to it for a while.

Anyway, happy Friday everyone! It’s been a long week and I’m ready for the freedom of the weekend. We’re thinking about painting our bathroom tomorrow – a project we’ve been meaning to do for years. I’m not even kidding, we’ve had two paint swatches on our bathroom wall for several years now. Here’s to hoping we can follow through this time.

Shirt, Shorts, and Shoes: Banana Republic | Necklace & Bracelet: Old Navy | Watch: Target | Handbag: Anne Klein via Belk

P.S. I could be a walking ad for Banana Republic in this outfit. I didn’t plan it, but all the pieces are from BR. Hey Banana, please pay me to be your real-life model?

When I say that these are the perfect shorts, I mean it. They’re stylish (I can pair them with just about every shirt in my closet), they’re comfortable (not too short), and they don’t look too bad all wrinkled! I used to hate wearing shorts in the summer because they always felt too short so I’m getting a lot of use out of these. I love them so much that I have to make myself not reach for them every time I leave the house in the evenings/on weekends.

How cute is this necklace? It was my very first Mother’s Day gift from Nick and he did a really good job, even though I picked it out 😉 I wish the chain was slightly shorter so I’ve been looking for a new one without much luck. I often have that problem with necklaces: instead of an extender, I need a shortener. Such are the perils of being a short person.

I tied my t-shirt to give the outfit a little more visual interest. I think I like tying my shirts more than doing the half tuck because the tie seems to look better on me, with the short torso and all.

Shorts: Target | Tee: Old Navy | Shoes: via Rack Room | Sunnies: Target | Necklace: Etsy

I think I’m going to start a new series called “A Short Girl Wears… ” because there are a lot of fashion styles and trends that sometimes only work for us shorties when we put in some effort.

Take maxi dresses, for example. When you stand just over 5 feet tall, it’s hard to find a cute maxi dress that doesn’t drag the floor and trip you up every five steps, so they often have to be hemmed. I was delighted to find that the length of this maxi dress was pretty much perfect sans alteration! Well, I did have to have the shoulders hemmed because they were too long, but that’s a common problem I have as someone who has a high waist.