headed to the east coast.

I"ll be on the East Coast for the week...first Washington DC, then New York City. My posts won't be as frequent, but I'll make up for it with plenty of photos when I return!

xoxo,

what i wore: gray + yellow

dress: H&M (via eBay)  |  shirt: H&M  |  belt: Forever 21  |  shoes: Ann Taylor  |  coat:  H&M  |  necklace:
Tiffany & Co (gift)

Shift dress have become a staple in my work wardrobe, and I'd been eyeing this particular dress at H&M for a few months, but was never able to find my size (which is often the case at H&M). Luckily I was able to find it on eBay recently for only $20, and decided to pair it with this yellow patent bow belt from Forever 21. Layer a simple button up shirt underneath, throw on a pair of heels and you're good to go! Perfect work outfit :)

P.S. Please excuse the semi-blurry photos...it's a learning process! Who knew it could be so hard to get 4-5 good shots!?!

xoxo,

friday finds.

[striped cotton fabric I found at Ikea for only $7.99 a yard...new DIY project coming soon!]

I've been a little under the weather with a cold for most of the week so unfortunately the blog took a back seat this week. Thankfully I'm starting to feel like myself again today, just in time for the Santa Cruz 10k/Half Marathon on Sunday. I'll be running the 10k while Nick completes the half...then on Tuesday I head out to the east coast for a week long vacation! :) So excited...many photos to come!

Have a great weekend!

[awesome home state t-shirts - they come in every state!]

[monogrammed coffee mugs at Anthrolpolgie]

[the not-so-healthy-but-completely-worth-it coffee cake at my favorite breakfast spot - Hobees]

xoxo,

this vs. that: graphic sweater + skinny jeans

1. J. Crew Gold Bangles, Kate Spade Heart Earrings, J. Crew Cashmere Sweater, J. Crew Perfect Shirt, 7 For All Mankind Jeans, J. Crew Leather Ballet Flats  |  2. Forever 21 Bangles, Forever 21 Heart Earrings, Old Navy Graphic Sweater, H&M Shirt, Forever 21 Classic Skinnies, Target Merona Cap Toe Flats

Layering a sweater over a classic button up has always been a wardrobe staple for me. This is a combo I'll often wear with slacks, a pencil skirt, or skinny jeans and flats as shown above.

However, sometimes this combo can feel a little stale, or a bit too "preppy." This season I've seen a lot of "graphic" sweaters, and I don't know about you, but I couldn't justify paying almost $400 for the J. Crew version shown above and I wanted to find a reasonably priced version (since I don't think this trend will be around for long).

I've put together two similar outfits above, down to the smallest details. I own several of these H&M button-up shirts and they fit amazingly well! In addition, if you've never tried a paid of the Forever 21 skinny jeans I highly encourage you to try a pair the next time you're there. Seriously, they're only $10.80 and fit, look, and feel just like some of the more expensive brands I've owned.

Happy shopping!

xoxo,


P.S Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin since Google Reader will be gone in a few months!

what i wore: denim + red

jacket: Old Navy  |  tank: Forever 21 (old)  |  jeans: Wal-Mart (also seen here)  |  shoes: Target  |  necklace:
Tiffany & Co (gift)  |  watch: Timex

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend!

One of my favorite fashion inspirations is the "nautical" look. I probably own more striped shirts/tops than anyone you know, and I absolutely love anchors...so much so that I even have a decal one on the back of my car!

This is an outfit I put together last weekend to go out for lunch with friends. I've gotten a lot of use out of my red jeans, and I really liked mixing them with navy stripes and a denim jacket.

Have any of you come across any great nautical pieces lately?

xoxo,