TBMD

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.