TBMD

Labor Day sales have begun and I've already done damage. We'll see how much beating my wallet can take by the time Monday rolls around.

1) At Banana Republic, take 40% off (exclusions apply) through 9/2 with code BRWEEKEND.

I placed an order for the piped open cardigan, which unfortunately is excluded from the promo. However, the 25% first-time email subscriber code does work (thanks Elle!) I've been drawn to multiple shawl-style sweaters from Vince for fall, but I'm not sure if I can bring myself to pay in the hundreds for a sweater. I'm expecting BR's version to be thinner, but hopefully will be just as cozy. Fingers crossed!

2) At Express, take 40% off everything through 9/2. Prices as marked.

My order includes: Stella extreme stretch jean legging, (minus the) leather yoke silky zip front top.

3) At J.Crew Factory, take 40-50% off everything through 9/2. Prices as marked.

Recent buys/popbacks/on-going styles include:
- Printed silk blouse - $58.00 (TTS - I'm wearing sz XXS / outfits: here, here)
- Stripe racerback cami - $27.00 (TTS - I'm wearing sz 00 / outfit below, also here, here)
- Skimmer pant in wool - $53.50 (last season's fit TTS / outfits: here, here, here)

For more holiday sales, see the right side bar. Happy shopping and have a good weekend!

I figured the navy stripes on my top would be dark enough that I can get away with wearing black pumps. But whether due to the lighting or the blue bag (or a combination of both), the black pumps turned out to be such a glaring contrast in photos. Perhaps I should've worn another neutral color instead? Nude pumps? Snakeskin pumps?

Even though I live in a region with four distinct seasons, sometimes I feel like I dress for spring/fall year-round. The perks of an office job, I suppose? Aside from obvious items reserved for specific seasons (ie: fur vest in the winter), everything else is fair game for my daily mixing and matching. Such is the case with today's outfit of ankle length pants made of lightweight wool. Normally worn in the cooler months, I summerized (an actual word according to The Free Dictionary!) the outfit with a short-sleeved tee.

A quick post to end this weekend. Have a good one!

When all else fails, I turn back to tried-and-true favorites. A casual outfit composed of blues and whites is simple and easy. Have a good weekend!

Sale alert: At J.Crew Factory, take 30% off everything through 8/25 with code SALE30.

Recent buys/popbacks/on-going styles include:
- Printed silk blouse - $68.60 with code (TTS - I'm wearing sz XXS / outfit below)
- Stripe racerback cami - $31.15 with code (TTS - I'm wearing sz 00 / outfits: here, here)
- Accordian-pleat mini - $45.15 with code (looks just like the wool bell mini from years past / outfits: here, here)
- Skimmer pant in wool - $55.65 with code (last season's fit TTS / outfits: here, here)

Also at J.Crew, take 25% off $150+ through 8/26 with code FALLSTYLE. Free shipping today 9/21 only.

A classic style brought back again this season:
- Majesty peacoat - $223.50 with code (last season's fit TTS - I'm wearing sz 00R / outfits: here, here, here)

The dress code at my workplace is fairly lax, though the casual environment is nowhere near the heydays of the dot-com bubble. As I geek out at home in front of the computer in casual clothes, sometimes I just need to put on a pair of shoes before walking into work to do the same thing. It is nice to be able to wear weekend attire to the office, but sometimes the lines between work and home do start to blur. I'll then turn to slacks or pencil skirts for the daytime, items that have a decidedly professional vibe, but worn in a business casual way so I don't stand out like a sore thumb.

As my birthday came and went this year, I'm finally getting around to accepting that I've entered a new decade of my life. I jokingly compared it to the stages of grief, but of course on a much smaller scale. As silly as it sounds, my closet has helped play a role. I've begun to look at certain items I own a different way. Whoa, I must be maturing if I think bright blue tights are juvenile now. Nevertheless, I gave it one last hurrah before adding it to the donation bin.

I was in no hurry to refill the bright blue accessory hole in my wardrobe. However, seeing Phiphi and Kelly in two of my favorite outfits of theirs ever, each complete with blue suede shoes, I knew I've found the blue item for my slowly maturing self.

Like Jean, we both eyed the J.Crew Everly pumps. While the shoes worked wonderfully for her, they unfortunately were much too uncomfortable on my wider feet. What I ended up keeping are these Sole Society Desirae almond toe pumps in twilight blue (sold here). I typically wear 6-6.5 in shoes and took these in a size 6. I'd compare the fit to Nine West and Zara shoes. It's probably best to size down if you have narrow feet.

The blue suede color is brighter in real life than on the website. The first photo below is a pretty accurate representation of the color. The shoes are comfortable right out of the box and didn't require a break-in period (no blisters). I can't attest to the comfort level when it comes to walking/standing for hours. But for work purposes when I'm mostly sitting behind a desk, these shoes look and feel great.

Sale alert: LOFT F&F 40% off everything through 8/18 with code FRIENDS.

- Modern skinny jeans - $20.93-$53.70 with code (review / outfits: here, here, here)
- Pamela scalloped Mary Jane pumps - $53.70 with code (I'm wearing size 6 - review / outfits: here, here)

I placed an order to try the pleated tie neck shell - hope it works out!

Also at J.Crew, take an extra 30% off sale items through 8/20 with code SHOP30.

It was surprisingly chilly the other morning -- lows 60s in mid-August?! So I donned a lightweight jacket for my morning commute to work. If I had taken photos in the late afternoon, the jacket would've been nowhere in sight. As is, today's outfit is a preview of what's to come this fall.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Today's outfit is inspired by a photo found on Pinterest (I much prefer to credit the original source, but can't seem to find the link). The theme is light blue on navy with the addition of a scarf. I chose casual brown sandals to round out the look. As someone who mostly wears neutral colored shoes, I was surprised to realize that the only brown pair of shoes I owned prior to this summer were a pair of booties. I'm so glad I went out and bought brown summer sandals this year because I sure have worn them enough to get my money's worth!

As expected by now, a week can't go by without another maxi dress outfit ;)

Casual meets dressy is the theme for today's outfit. I'm not one to buy duplicates often, but I couldn't resist this Saint James x J.Crew striped tee from recent sales. I've gotten so many wears out of the green/navy version from last season that I figured a classic navy on white pairing would be even more versatile. Luckily the sizing of this year's remained the same, but unfortunately the material is not as soft.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Pinterest's home decor section is one that I browse daily. Sometimes I don't even know why I bother pinning images to my own board because turning decor inspiration into reality is daunting, especially for someone as lazy as myself. If only transformations were a mouse click away! Yep, first world problems.

When DH and I moved into our current home over a year ago, we pretty much transferred over our existing furniture and added a couple new essentials (couch, TV). Then we just sat back and enjoyed our bare-walled and spartan living space. It wasn't until recently that I started to "decorate," a term that I use loosely. I started with one side of the living room since it's where I spend a lot of my time at.

[Photo above] I still joke that our home looked its best on moving day when it was completely empty. Gleaming wood floors, sparkling countertops, and clean white blinds are all just a distant memory now.

Looking through my Pinterest board, I see similarities between what I find aesthetically pleasing in home decor and in fashion. I gravitate towards light colors (a lot of white), clean lines, and nothing too cluttered or fussy. My approach to decorating is pretty simple: buy and decorate with practicality and maintenance in mind while staying away from overtly feminine designs that DH would wince at.

My reading corner may just be my favorite spot in the house. A comfortable chair and cozy blanket were musts. A rug would certainly pull the space together and make for prettier photos, but it'd just be another thing to clean (plus we'd have to buy a vacuum, lol). I do think the walls could use a piece of art/photo, but I'll save that for when I find the right shot.
Target lamp / CB2 chair / Room Essentials stripe throw / West Elm pillow insert with DIY cover thanks to SIL (fabric from G Street Fabrics) / Coaster Contemporary side table

Across from my reading corner is where I've set up my workstation. My earlier spiel about my decorating approach went right out the window when it came to my desk area. I normally don't like displaying random accessories for the sake of staging because dust gathers so quickly, but most were gifts and hold sentimental value.
Crate & Barrel desk / IKEA chair / The Container Store trash can / Coaster Contemporary side table serving double duty!

Up next on the home improvement to-do list is hanging up photos and artwork. Some I'd like to place on wall shelves, so I'll have to step up my persuasion game and convince DH that they won't just topple over one day and leave a gaping hole in the wall. At the rate we're making progress, it might be another year before I have something to update ;)

Today's outfit may look new, but it's really made up of old pieces worn in ways that have already been seen on the blog. Scarf knotted at ends, unbuttoned chambray shirt, and lace dress with casual sandals. For a puzzle nerd like me, mixing and matching various items and methods is like putting together combos in Tetris -- there are so many ways to build it, but the challenge and pay off are worth the effort.

An easy, casual outfit on this gorgeous weekend to run errands. Hope you have a good one!

Finally, a reprieve from stripes! The next item on heavy rotation this summer has to be this chambray shirt. I've been loving the baggy fit, which works well unbuttoned as a jacket or buttoned up like a tunic. I try to keep proportions in mind, whether it's covered on top with bare legs (or vice versa), or in this case, a looser-fitting top with skinny jeans on the bottom.