Hi everyone, I’m still here; I’m just trying to get my life together. I spend most of my days searching for and applying to jobs. Honestly, when I’m at home, it’s difficult for me to get dressed. Not physically, but mentally. Most days I sit at my desk, writing cover letters and tailoring my resume, and I do it all in my pajamas. When you have no job and nowhere to go, it doesn’t really matter what clothes you put on. So, I spend most days in PJs or yoga pants. When I’m not doing that, I’m either babysitting or volunteering.

I’ve noticed the time that I really enjoy getting dressed is when I volunteer. I spend one day a week at a public health organization that I admire and wouldn’t mind becoming a permanent part of someday. On those days, I get to dress in my office clothes.  I even brush my hair and put on makeup, two other things I never do when I’m at home all day!

This has made me realize how my identity as a professional really defines my style. When I was in grad school, I wasn’t quite sure how to dress because everyone was so casual but my warbdrobe consisted mainly of office attire. When I’m at home, unemployed, I feel useless so I don’t even bother getting dressed. But when I’m working (especially in an office setting) I’m in my element and, aside from following whatever dress code they set forth, I dress the part. My closet is full of pencil skirts, trousers, high heels, and cute tops. Since I don’t have an office to wear them to these days, they get tucked in the corner of my closet, along with my self-esteem. I’m sure something will come along eventually, but until then, I’ll just have to admire my clothes that make me feel the most like me from afar.

Here are a few photos that I’ve taken on my phone from my volunteer outfits. I’ll try to get real posts of them up soon but for now, bathroom pics might be the best we’ll get:

I took some of my babysitting money and went shopping with my friend at the outlet mall (wow, do I sound like I’m 15 years old, or what?). I bought the dress in the above photo from Loft Outlet, which I wore this week to volunteer. I also bought a few pieces that I think will make for good interview attire, if I could ever get one! I also got the casual dress below from Banana Republic Outlet. I plan on wearing it this weekend to a friend’s birthday celebration where we will drink a lot of beer and eat a lot of food from trucks!

Finally, Nick and I are seriously getting our butts back into shape. We’ve started a strength training program together, consisting of a lot of lifting of free weights which makes me feel a little awkward but really empowered at the same time. I have to admit that I love it. It’s my favorite type of work out so far, and I’m getting more comfortable with pushing myself to do more (safely, of course). I took a photo during our last workout, but it’s really blurry because I had just worked my chest and tricepts, so my arms were shaking a bit when I took it. Oops. I’m definitely going to feel that later!

Me, being all badass with the free weights at the gym!

So, that’s been my life lately. I’ve worn a lot of cute outfits that I want to put on the blog, I just have to get it together to take/post pictures. Soon, you guys. I promise!

Photo 1: Pants, Shoes, & Jewelry: Old Navy | Blouse: Gap | Sunglasses: Target
Photo 2: Dress: Loft Outlet | Shoes & Necklace: Old Navy
Photo 3: Dress: Banana Republic Outlet | Shoes: Target

Linking up with A Pocketful of Polka Dots & Charming Lucy

How gorgeous is the beading on this tank? I fell for it as soon as I saw it. It’s a little heavier than a normal tank with all the beading and it *kind of* feels like I’m wearing a suit of armor (or at least that chain/mesh hand glove they use at restaurants when cutting meat), but it’s so pretty.

I wore this outfit for dinner at our house. Nick invited his coworker and coworker’s girlfriend over for dinner because they are in town from Argentina. It was such a fun night, and I really enjoyed learning about their culture. It’s so different and yet so similar to our own here in the U.S. It also made me realize how much I miss speaking Spanish and learning about other cultures so I might start taking some classes and make more of an effort to immerse myself so that I can be fluent again. It’s true that if you don’t use it you lose it. Stay in school, kids.

Cardigan: Banana Republic | Blouse: search for sanity via Nordstrom Rack | Crop Trousers: Karen Kane via Stitch Fix | Shoes: Old Navy | Jewelry: Old Navy

Happy Monday! I call this my ‘Pinterest Outfit’ because the day I wore it to work, a girl told me I looked like I stepped right out of a Pinterest board. I’m not going to lie, it made me feel pretty good. I’m sure it’s the necklace and the red coat (photos below) that made it feel so Pinterest-y but it works. I also think this is my favorite outfit because it feels very me. It’s simple yet classy and put together, and that’s how I like to think of myself.

I’ve realized over the last few months that my style preferences are changing and I’m drawn to more neutral, classic pieces. Actually, my preferences seem to be doing a bit of a 360 because I’m finding myself gravitating toward pieces and outfits I liked before I started blogging. I’m amazed, actually, at how much I let blogging influence my style decisions. I was constantly trying to convince myself that I needed to step out of my comfort zone and try to be like the other bloggers. After I realized that I didn’t like getting dressed and that I didn’t have to be like the other girls (because we all have something beautiful and unique to offer), I started stepping back into my comfort zone and getting dressed got instantly easier. So, if I have any advice to give to anyone, it would be this: stay true to yourself!

I’ve been wanting a red coat for a while now, and I finally found this one. It’s perfect. My last coat lasted at least 7-8 years, which is amazing, but the lining started to rip and it was getting old so I thought it was a good time to invest in a new one for the next 7-8 years. And doesn’t the red look great with the navy and gray?

Button down:Banana Republic | Sweater: Banana Republic | Pants: Old Navy | Coat: Banana Republic | Necklace: Hawthorne Collections | Shoes: Anne Klein via DSW

Linking up with More Pieces of Me | InDUFFinitely Me | Walking in Memphis in High Heels | Life of Meg | Still Being Molly

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

All of my red, white, and blue is taken care of in this skirt. Done and done! I didn’t decide what I was going to wear until the day of because I knew it was going to be hot and we were going to be outside for a baseball game, so I wanted to be comfortable. This skirt is surprisingly comfortable, and the white tee was really simple but cute. I “tied” it to add a little interest. I actually think I was a little more patriotic, as far as colors go, in the winter when I wore this skirt with a red sweater. I probably would have worn it with a red t-shirt, if I had one!

I wore these earrings because I thought they had some red in them, but, as Nick pointed out, they look more purple than red. A deep burgundy, maybe? Eh, either way, still cute.

I say I “tied” this tshirt because I really just balled it up and secured it with a hair tie. I did this because if I actually tie it, it will stretch and then fit funny (I learned that the hard way with another tshirt) but if I secure it this way, it isn’t quite as bad. This tee is from Old Navy, but I have a few similar ones from Target and I can tie those all day long and they’re just fine after. So, points for Target.

Here’s the fun one because of the face I’m making. I love it! I’m pretty sure Nick gets this face all the time – I was probably asking if he was done yet or something of the sort.

Top: Old Navy
Cami: Target
Skirt: Banana Republic
Sandals: Target
Bracelet and Earrings: Old Navy
Necklace: Claire’s (old)