This is a slight variation on this outfit I wore a few weeks ago: same shorts, same sandals, different shirt but still with stripes. I wanted something comfy to wear home for the weekend while still looking stylish for a family get-together, so this was it. I added the flower clip for a pop of color, and because it’s just super cute.

I love visiting my family, especially when we have so much to celebrate. During this trip, we celebrated a few birthdays, my baby cousin’s graduation from college AND his engagement to his girlfriend (welcome to the family!), and best of all, I got to spend quality time with everyone. I spent the last few years commuting to the eastern part of the state for school so I never had a lot of time to travel to the western part of the state to visit my family. I’m so glad that I can go visit them more often now that I’ve completed school. I try to make it home about once a month or so because my family is very important to me. I also love it when they come visit me and I can take them to all my favorite restaurants, or go a Durham Bulls baseball game, visit one of the many museums, or to the Duke Gardens (my mom is a horticulturist so she LOVES plants), or shopping at the mall or the many boutique stores we have. One thing is for sure: it’s always a good time!

Maybe this a blooper? I dont know, I actually think it looks fine!

Top: Banana Republic | Shorts: Gap | Shoes: X-Appeal | Sunnies, Necklace, Flower Clip, and Handbag: Target

It doesn’t get any easier than putting on a pair of shorts and a comfy tee. It’s even easier when you stick to the same colors! I’m continuing my neutrals obsession with simple black and white, and a pop of cobalt. It’s getting hotter outside so I’m trying to avoid jeans and anything that will make me sweat even more than I already do. I’ve gained a few pesky pounds these past few years during grad school with all of the driving and fast-food eating I did so I’m slightly limited on what bottoms I can wear. I haven’t gained a lot of weight, just enough to make my jeans and skirts feel uncomfortably snug. Anyway, these shorts feel great and I purchased a white and navy pair as well, so you’ll probably see them a lot more often.

I wore this outfit to officially meet the babies I’ll be babysitting for the next few weeks. They’re one-year-old twins and absolutely adorable. I worked with their mom for several years before quitting my job and going to grad school and I’m happy to be helping her out. Plus, I’m earning some extra cash until I can find a full-time gig.

Nick got me a Fitbit Charge HR as a graduation gift. I’ve been wearing it for about two full weeks now and I. AM. LOVING. IT. Seriously, I’ve never been more obsessed with meeting my steps goal, monitoring my heart rate, observing my sleep patterns, and tracking how many calories I’ve burned. It’s the best thing ever. I would totally recommend one.

Also, is it just me or does my hat look funny in these photos? A little misshapen perhaps? I can’t tell!

Tee: Banana Republic | Shorts: Gap | Shoes: X-Appeal | Hat: Banana Republic | Hat, Sunnies, & Necklace: Target

Linking up with Third Thursday Threads @ Work Clothes, I Suppose

I often have trouble deciding what shoes to wear with an outfit. Sometimes it’s because part of me wants comfort while the other part wants style and, honestly, not every shoe I have gives me both. Sometimes it’s because two different but similar shoes look good with the outfit. That’s what happened when I put this look together! I had two pairs of cognac shoes, both with heels, and both looked great with this outfit.

The oxfords were the shoes I originally had in mind when I saw this outfit in my head. I think it’s a great fall transitional look, when the weather is starting to cool down, oh so slightly, so that it’s still warm enough for shorts but cool enough that you can wear a long sleeved shirt without melting into a pool of sweat.

Of course, the same can be said for spring, which is when I would normally wear these sandals. I decided to try them with the outfit because I’ve seen a lot of bloggers wear heels with shorts, which is a bit outside of my comfort zone but I wanted to try it anyway. I think the result is gorgeous!

Oxfords:

Sandals:

I love both pairs of shoes and, even more, I love both pair with this simple outfit. So how do I decide which ones to wear? Which ones would you wear?

Linking up with More Pieces of Me | The Pleated Poppy | Induffinitely Me

Top: Banana Republic
Shorts: Annabella via Francesca’s
Oxfords: Crown Vintage via DSW
Sandals: Banana Republic
Earrings: Wal-Mart
Necklace: Banana Republic

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)