Dress: Loft Outlet | Cardigan: Banana Republic | Sandals: Old Navy | Sunnies: A New Day via Target | Necklace: via FabFitFun

Hi, friends! It’s been a busy few weeks but this dress just couldn’t stay off the blog.

I didn’t think Nick had gotten me anything for Mother’s Day – because he hadn’t! – so we went shopping at the Tanger Outlets in Mebane where I picked up this cute dress and a few other things from the Loft Outlet. It’s my favorite color (purple) and feels like those t-shirt sheets we all had on our dorm beds in college, which is to say it’s so comfortable. This particular Loft outlet has a great selection of petites and that’s why this dress fits so well.

Dress: Market & Spruce via Stitch Fix | Wedges: J. Crew Factory | Sunnies: Target

On Wednesday, Nick and I took the day off of work to celebrate his upcoming birthday. We decided we would go to a fancy spa nearby and pamper ourselves with couple’s massages, relaxation, and a fancy lunch. This cute little Market & Spruce dress I got from my latest Stitch Fix is what I wore. The spa day sounded great in theory but, what I didn’t expect when I got there was just how out of my element I would feel in that setting. You see, I’m from a working class family where I was taught that your work ethic should be strong and the little luxuries were buying the name-brand cereal. Taking a whole day (or even half a day) to sit around in fancy robes and sip citrus water elixirs while harps played in the background was unheard of.

I loved this pattern so much that I got it in a shirt AND a dress! I’m actually seeing this a lot lately, where companies are making different articles of clothing out of the same pattern/fabric, and I like it. You get more options for your lifestyle, or if you’re like me, you just add several different pieces in the pattern. I think it works pretty well. I just have to remember now to wear the both in the same week 😉

Finally, an outfit post!

I’ve written about how my lifestyle has outgrown a lot of my clothes, so I’m working hard to clear my closet of any item that doesn’t make me feel like a million bucks every time I wear it. I’m also trying to live a more minimal life to focus more on experiences than material things. It’s harder than it should be due to the emotional value I place on things. I’m working on that, as well. I don’t think I’m quite ready for a capsule (or minimalist) wardrobe yet, but I might be moving more toward that direction.

I’m taking a break from the rain and gloom of today by sharing with you an outfit that I wore last week when we still had some beautiful sunshine. I picked up this faux wrap dress from Target as the Mossimo brand is being fizzled out. It has a satin weave and a breezy silhouette, giving it a style that is perfect to take me from a casual day or the office to fancy formal events. If it were the weekend, I would’ve kept it simple by pairing it with sandals, but since I wore it to the office, I decided to dress it up by slipping on my new open-toe booties.

I love the pink and olive colors. For some reason, the colors, pattern and style of this dress reminds me of Miami. I’ve only been there once and I wasn’t really paying much attention to what folks were wearing, but it’s definitely what I picture Miami ladies wearing. Maybe I’m just imagining things!

Real talk: I had this dress altered for a better fit. I asked to shorten both the shoulders and the bottom hem of the dress and I think it turned out pretty well. However, there is a snap in the front that allows you to choose how deep you want the front V to go. I love this feature but since having the shoulders altered, it’s very easy to snap open with even the slightest pull so I have to be careful, especially while at work! Next time I’ll wear a thin cami underneath, just in case.

Dress: Target | Cardigan: Banana Republic (old) | Shoes: via Rack Room | Necklace: Old Navy | Watch: Target