I spent a little bit of time putting together a few outfits that I can wear this week, or sometime in the future. This first outfit will be best for wearing in the evening after the sun has gone down and it’s not quite as hot, since the top has long sleeves. Shorts will always be welcomed in the summer, though, especially in the North Carolina heat!  Other ways I’ve worn this top here and these shorts here.

Shirt: Tresic via ModCloth | Shorts: Gap | Sandals: Target | Necklace: Claire’s (old) | Clutch: Coach (gift)

You can’t see it in the photo but this blouse is also 3/4-length sleeve so it might be best worn when indoors (in the air conditioning) or after the sun goes down. Other ways  I’ve worn this abstract chevron blouse here.

Blouse:  41 Hawthorn via Stitch Fix | Shorts: Gap | Sandals: Target 

Purple is one of my favorite colors but I don’t have a lot of it so I couldn’t resist purchasing the dress and matchy cardigan. I can’t wait to wear this cute little outfit, hopefully this week.

Dress & Cardigan: Old Navy | Necklace: Claire’s (old) | Sandals: Target

What do you think of these outfits? Maybe you’ll see them on the blog again soon.

Linking up with More Pieces of Me & Sincerely Jenna Maria
 

Perhaps I was a little naive in thinking that I wouldn’t have any problems getting a job right after graduate school, but it’s been over 2 months and I haven’t found anything yet. I’ve heard stories of it taking 6 months, 9 months, a whole year for some people to find a job after getting a master’s degree so I’m only freaking out a little. However, I mentioned on Wednesday that I have gotten a few interviews lately, and after successfully completing a phone interview, I was invited to an in-person interview this past Friday with a local Girl Scouts office. If you know anything about me, it should be that I am extremely passionate about women’s empowerment and girls’ leadership development, and I would love to work for an organization like GS that does just that. Plus, those infamous cookies! It’s not exactly public health but I have many passions and this is just one of them. So anyway, this is what I wore to my interview.

I didn’t want to go ‘all-black suit’ because I read somewhere that it is intimidating or something ridiculous like that but I thought it looked great and I felt really confident, so I went with it! I followed my own advice about faking a suit when you don’t have one. Also, the second I laid eyes on this top I loved it. It feels so grown up to me, and the neutral colors in the floral print will go with both black and brown.

I’m pretty sure I crushed the interview questions and that it went very well. I should hear back within the next few weeks about whether I got the job or not. *Fingers still crossed*

 Blouse: Loft Outlet | Blazer & Trousers: Banana Repubic | Shoes: Brash via Payless | Jewelry: Old Navy | Sunglasses: Target

Linking up with Charming Friday | Walking in Memphis in High Heels | Tucker Up | Mix & Match Fashion | The Tiny Heart | Coffee Date wtih Gold & Bloom

It’s the middle of summer and I probably don’t have to tell you how hot it is. But, friends, it. is. hot. I wore this to an outing for a friend’s birthday where we had dinner and drinks at an outside bar/grill and I felt like I was melting, literally. I like wearing light colors in the summer; it’s about the only way to survive the heat. My favorite way to wear white bottoms must be with an orange/coral/peachy colored top because I’ve done it a lot lately. But that’s just peachy with me!

This is one of the purchases I made with my babysitting money (that I mentioned in my last life lately post), making me sound like I’m 15 again (half my age). I am happy to report, however, that I’ve been getting some interviews with a few organziations so I’m hoping one of them will lead to a full-time position. Fingers crossed!

By the way, look at the cool way I rolled my pants! I wanted to add some interested so I folded them up once to about the middle of my calf and then rolled the bottom of that roll up to the seam. Sometimes I’m so cleaver I can’t even! It works because they’re pretty long. Being short makes it really difficult to find really cute cropped pants because they’re either still too long or they cut me off in an area that makes me look even shorter. Fashion is so hard!

Oh, and I also wore this outfit to our weekly trivia night this past week. We did not win and it was sad (because winners get money) but better luck next time.

Here’s the blooper: I was adjusting the strap on my purse.

Top: Banana Republic Outlet | Denim: Old Navy | Shoes: Rack Room Shoes | Necklace: Claire’s (old) | Sunglasses and Handbag: Target

Linking up with Charming Friday | Tucker Up | Mix & Match Fashion | The Tiny Heart

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

The thought of wearing clothes right now is almost painful because of the heat wave. I’m lucky in that I get to stay mostly inside where there is air conditioning and cold drinks. In the event I have to venture out, it’s 100 degrees in the shade so I’m drawn to tank tops, shorts/skirts, and sandals. And white is perfect for summer! I wore this outfit to eat delicious tacos for dinner at one of our favorite taco joints, NanaTaco.

Oh, look what we have here: Nick has decided to make an appearance on the blog again, and he’s wearing summer whites, too! Nick wore this outfit to work with a tie and nice shoes, then changed into a pair of casual shoes when he got home.

Hers – Blouse: miami via Francesca’s | Shorts: Gap | Shoes: impo via Ross  | Sunnies & Handbag: Target | Necklace: Banana Republic

His – Shirt: Slate & Stone via Trunk Club | Pants: Banana Republic | Shoes: Clae via Trunk Club | Sunglasses: Oakley (prescription)

Linking up with Mix & Match Fashion | The Tiny Heart | Tucker Up | Walking in Memphis in High Heels | I do deClaire