08.22.11

Shirt: Free People (new!)
Cardigan: Banana Republic (gift)
Jeans: Woman Within
Shoes: Off the Beaten Track

Sorry for that little break I took from blogging! Just when I was getting back into the swing of things, I headed off on a few long-weekend vacations. All that traveling pretty much rendered me totally incapable of looking cute or taking photos. Never fear, there aren't any other vacations on the horizon and I did manage to go on a bit of a shopping spree while visiting my parents, so expect to see some exciting new items around here! Actually, who am I kidding? Even my old stuff counts as new if I haven't blogged it yet, right?

So, I hope ya'll like my new shirt! The ruffles and trim at the bottom hem seemed a little girly for my taste, but the high quality and the 50% off price tag meant that I just couldn't pass this one up. Maybe it will help me push my style boundaries? What do you think, any styling suggestions that don't involve my old standby of a cardigan?

08.08.11

Dress: Ross
Cardigan: Target
Shoes: Birkenstock

One of my co-workers got married a couple of weeks (ok, maybe months at this point) ago. I actually had my whole outfit planned out weeks in advance because I have to take advantage of every opportunity I get to dress up here in the extremely casually and outdoors-ily styled northern New Mexico. Mind you, I was still planning to be over dressed, but its all relative, right? There was just one problem, I didn't have a pair of shoes that I thought would work. This was obviously before the purchase of these babies, which are clearly perfect for every occasion. See, further justification for their purchase! But, I digress.

I was running some errands in Santa Fe (the closest city of any consequence) and decided I would just pop into Ross and see if they had any deals on shoes. Well, I should know myself well enough by now to know that I can't ever just pop into Ross to look at shoes. A visit to Ross that does not include a full perusal of the dress section would practically be criminal! Well, I emerged at least an hour (if not two) later, with this dress, another dress, and a pair of shoes. Because this dress was so shiny and new, I just had to wear it to the wedding, eschewing the previously plotted outfit! Fortunately, another co-worker is getting married in a few weeks, so that outfit should get its time in the sun!

I didn't manage to snap any photos of this dress at the wedding, so I set out on Monday to re-photograph the dress. I swapped out my shoes for something a bit more practical for rambling about in the woods, and I like how much more casual it made the outfit. Now, instead of considering these re-photos, I'm going to consider them pre-photos. I must wear this again as soon as humanly possible (which means sometime I am not going to work, as I just don't think I can convince anyone that this insane print is office appropriate).

08.04.11

Dress: Made by me
Belt: Etsy (came with vintage dress)
Sweater: Woman Within
Leggings: Kohl's
Shoes: Target

Last Thursday, I went in search of some new scenery. We have a ton of beautiful locations in my town, but a lot of the best views are on someone's property or right next to a road that is next to a steep cliff. We have a lot of cliffs around here. I don't know about ya'll, but I'm not so into posing it out right by the road. I'm fairly certain that I look totally ridiculous while attempting to take my photos (as evidenced by the out-takes), and I'm not quite ready to explain to the world why I think personal style blogging is so awesome. I'm sure ya'll all know how I feel. However, the locations for my last three posts are all within 15 minutes of my house. I know that if I keep seeking them out, there will be plenty more for me to find. When I found this spot, I was even rewarded by a rainbow! Doesn't get much better than that after a long day spent in the office. The desert is a truly spectacular place.

08.03.11

Dress: Boutique in Santa Fe
Sweater: Columbia Sportswear
Shoes: Nine West
Sunglasses: Oakley via steepandcheap.com

Ya'll, I seriously can't stop with the neutrals! What's wrong with me? A simple click through my archives will quickly prove that I'm not typically a neutrals kind of gal. Maybe I'm getting more boring in my old age? Although I'm currently loving beige and white, I think (both you and) I might get a bit bored, so let's hope it's a passing phase! I promise to punch it up next post with some bold colors.

I thought the (non-) colors in this outfit would look perfect with some aspen trees, so I had to seek some out for these photos. I love their white bark and the beautiful color and shape of their leaves. I think they are my favorite tree (though I am also partial to maples), which is perfect, because this is definitely becoming one of my favorite dresses. I'm hoping to take better advantage of the beautiful surroundings that I get to enjoy every day here in northern New Mexico and share them with ya'll in my outfit photos. Check back tomorrow for some of the best scenery I've posed with yet, including a rainbow!

07.28.11: In which I succumb to a few blogger trends...

Shirt: Old Navy
Cardigan: Old Navy
Jeans: Woman Within
Shoes: Kork-Ease
Bag: Gift from sister
Necklace: Vintage Egyptian Faience Beads, Gift (restrung by me)

Ring: Made, Jackson Hole, WY

Last Friday I wore an outfit that proves that I am not as immune as I'd like to think to the influence of the blogosphere. As spring progressed and the weedy, dry, grasses of New Mexico grew, so did my desire (nay, need) for a pair of vintage inspired wedges. Flats and flip flops would simply not do this summer, as they had in many summers past (27, to be exact). On this, the summer of my 28th year, I would buy myself a real pair of grown up sandals. It seemed that every time I opened up my laptop, I would be inexplicably drawn to ebay or zappos, searching for the perfect (on sale) pair of sandals. And, though it broke my little deal loving heart just a tiny bit, in the end I settled on this pair and paid full price. However, I love them and have justified the purchase by telling myself that this style has been made and worn by fashionable ladies for 50 years, so surely I will be able to get 50 years of use out of them. Right? 'Cause a neutral-colored, cork wedge never goes of of style? Right? And to go with my new shoes, I just had to buy a pair of skinny jeans. And, that's the end of my story about how I succumbed to the evil (genius?) influence of the rest of the personal style blogosphere.

7.18.11

Skirt: REI
Shirt: Gap (ancient)
Cardigan: Ross (?)
Shoes: Target ($5!!)

So, my office is super casual, as you could have probably guessed from this all knit/jersey outfit. However, what might surprise you is that my office is SO casual that an outfit such as this (as in, one in which I am not wearing jeans) still garners comments such as "why are you so dressed up?". Yes, that's right, welcome to New Mexico, also known as the the land where people are confused if you aren't wearing pants. Ok, so maybe that also has something to do with working in the environmental consulting field, but sometimes I just want to look like a girl!

Please feel free to admire three of my current obsessions, found below. The first is my new bag, which was a gift from my sister. She recently returned from a two year stint in Nicaragua and brought me this lovely bag as a (much belated) birthday gift.

The second is my new $5 pair of shoes. While trying to escape the heat and smoke (from all the wildfires in the state), I took an ill-founded trip to Target in search of some air conditioning. I did manage to enjoy the AC, but only just barely, as I was distracted by all the pretty colors and amazing prices. When the closest Target is an hour away, it suddenly transforms from "ugly big box store" into an exciting wonderland!

Ok, I am seriously in love with my third obsession. I purchased this bracelet on a recent trip to visit a friend in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (photos forthcoming). She took me to this store called MADE, which was seriously amazing. Just imagine walking into a store featuring items from all of your favorite Etsy sellers. Yes, it was that good. Anyways, the note that came with this bracelet said that it was made from a 1920's era spoon.

P.S. I missed ya'll, promise I am still reading everyone's blogs. I just need to get better at commenting!