Boot Uncertainty

necklace - Forever 21 (buy similar) | cardigan - Maurices (buy similar)

dress - Marshalls | boots - Maurices (buy)

I bought these boots almost two months ago, and finally got around to wearing them for the first time. I noticed other people at work noticing them, but nobody said a thing. So I'm not sure if they were just thinking "oh, boots," or "ew, boots."

I like the outfit ... What do you think?

xo, Kellie

My Backyard Jungle

necklace - By Love Designs (buy) | bracelet - gift from Oman (buy similar)

Xhilaration dress - Target (buy similar in different prints)
Xhilaration sandals - Target (buy similar)

I'm still struggling with outfit photos at my new home. I don't have the courage to go out in public like Kendi or Megan, but I may need to find some if I want to keep up this blog without sacrificing what semblance of quality I currently maintain. I also don't relish the thought of acquiring more bug bites every time I go outside to take outfit photos. *sigh*

Anyway, I'm trying to keep at it, just forgive the drop in post frequency, will ya?

xo, Kellie

My New Motivation

earrings - Maurices | blazer - TJ Maxx (buy similar)

dress - Maurices (buy) | wedges - Maurices

I started working in a new department at work this week, so I've decided to use the transition as motivation to hit the "reset" button on my wardrobe. I'm trying to wear outfits that I would be willing to photograph every day ... I'm just having a slight issue because a lot of my clothes currently don't fit. (Yes, I'm still struggling with my weight.)

I'm also hoping to figure out a better spot for taking photos ...

xo, Kellie

Locked Out

necklace - thrifted (buy similar) | Franco Sarto wedges - Marshalls (buy)

dress - Maurices (buy) | cardiwrap - Maurices (buy - ON SALE!)

I've been absent for a little over a week now thanks to my move and the fact that two of my husband's friends were staying at our house over the last week. I didn't feel like explaining to them why I was taking photos of myself in the backyard, and the time just wasn't there to take photos. 

I finally found the time for photos today after I got home from work. Imagine my frustration when I had finished with my photos and headed inside to change into my "at home" clothes, only to find that my dog had manged to lock the front door while I was outside. After a half hour of frustrated pacing, attempts to get Elwood to unlock the door the same way he had managed to lock it, and attempts to "break in" to my own house, I finally managed to get inside.

So that's my tale of woe. Happy Tuesday!

xo, Kellie

Summer Layering

Tarina Tarantino necklace - It's Eclectic (buy similar) | belt - came with a Maurices Dress (buy)

Roxy dress - Marshalls (buy similar) | cardigan - Maurices (buy)

Franco Sarto wedges - Marshalls (buy)

I'm trying not to let my outfit photos drop off so much now that the summer months are here, but I have a much harder time coming up with "blog-worthy" outfits when it's hot out. I feel like an outfit has to have layers to be good, but it's hard to wear layers when you get hit by a wall of humidity and 90-degree temperatures when you walk out your door. Anyway, I ordered a few new items from Maurices (yay!), so hopefully I'll have some new, summer-ready pieces to work with to come up with new outfits.

xo, Kellie

The Lost (But Now Found) Outfit Photos

necklace - Forever 21 (buy similar) | belt - Wet Seal (buy similar)

dress - Jennifer Lilly designs (visit shop) | Mossimo cardigan - Target

Franco Sarto wedges - Marshalls (buy)

These pictures are from months ago, and I'm not sure why I never posted them. The look of surprise on my face in the second picture is from a gust of wind that came through, I think I was planning to put some kind of cute "windy" graphic effect on the image, or something, but that's beyond my design capabilities.

Anyway, better late than never!

xo, Kellie

Semi-Pro

dress - Francesca's (buy similar) | LC by Lauren Conrad blazer - Kohl's (buy similar)

Merona wedges - Target (buy similar)

At my old job as a catering manager this was a typical outfit for me, but now that I work in a setting where flip-flops and jeans are acceptable, I don't do the "business casual" look as often. Today, however, I had a meeting with my boss, so a slightly more professional ensemble seemed more appropriate. Depending on how my meeting went today, I might have another semi-business professional outfit to share next week!

(Wish me luck!)

xo, Kellie

You know what's sad?

bracelet - gift from Oman (buy similar) | Billabong dress - Marshalls (buy similar)

Limited jacket - thrifted (buy similar) | wedges - Maurices (buy - ON SALE!)

And by "sad" I mean "pathetic," not go-cry-in-my-closet unhappiness.

I now have a list of outfits to wear (and photograph) once I lose weight. I have managed to put on enough pounds that a large majority of the clothing in my closet doesn't fit the way that it should. I could sit here and make excuses and tell you that between my sedentary job and all of the jewelry orders I've been getting, I just haven't had the time to exercise, but the truth is, it's my own damn fault. Exercise is important to my long-term health, and if setting time aside a few days a week to go for a jog means that my orders will take a couple of days longer to complete and ship, then so be it.

I'm not telling you this in an effort to get "aww, you look great!" comments, so don't bother. I'm telling you this because studies show that if you make a public announcement that you are committing to exercise and lose weight, you're more likely to stick to it.

So there it is: I have pounds to lose, I am going to exercise, and I am posting it on the World Wide Web in hopes that a bunch of strangers knowing my goal will help me accomplish it.

xo, Kellie

All Tribal, All the Time

 necklace - World Market (buy similar) | bracelet - gift from Oman (buy similar) | earrings - Target

dress - Marshalls (buy similar) | cardigan - Maurices (buy) | Xhilaration sandals - Target (buy similar)

When my manager saw this outfit yesterday morning she said something along the lines of "that's it! I'm coming over and raiding your closet!"

That's a good thing, right?

xo, Kellie

Notice anything new?

necklace - Love Culture (buy similar) | bracelet - gift from Oman (buy similar)

Xhilaration dress - Target (sold out) | Franco Sarto wedges - Marshalls (buy similar)

Matt surprised me with a trip to Inskmith and Rogers to get the phoenix tattoo on my shoulder covered up. I liked the phoenix, but the darn thing was so puny that more often than not I found myself wearing clothes to cover it up. I would like to say I wasn't embarrassed, but I was. I am absolutely pro tattoos, but I also think that they should be given more thought than what my phoenix was given. I'll get more detailed photos up once this piece is complete, I've got at least one more session to go.

In other news, I love this dress. So much fun to dress up or down!

xo, Kellie

Florida Music Festival 2013 - Day 3

LC by Lauren Conrad necklace - Kohl's (buy similar) | belt - came with Maurices dress (buy)

dress - Urban Outfitters (buy similar) | Franco Sarto wedges - Marshalls (buy similar)

Florida Music Festival 2013 - Day 1

necklace - handmade | bracelet - gift from Oman (buy similar)

dress - Marshalls (buy similar) | vest - thrifted jacket, sleeves cut off (buy similar)

Franco Sarto wedges - Marshalls (buy similar)

On the Ball

necklace - Love Culture (buy similar) | bracelet - World Market

cardigan - Maurices (buy) | Soprano dress - Marshalls
Xhilaration sandals - Target (buy similar)

Life has been a bit hectic lately, and for a few weeks I had no structure in my schedule. I am a creature of habit and feel more balanced when there is uniformity in my life, even if I am busy during that uniformity ... Does that make sense?

Anyway, despite the fact that I am: (1) trying to work by butt off at work, (2) crazy backlogged on jewelry orders, (3) trying to promote the heck out of a contest I am currently in on Shopbevel (vote for me?), and (4) volunteering as a "SEO coach" for the Etsy team that I am a part of, getting back to a normal sleeping / eating / commuting schedule has made all of the difference.

My dad always joked that I did better when my plate was full, and I think it's still true, but take away my structured schedule and everything -- including my outfits! -- falls to pieces.

xo, Kellie

Vested

necklace - Forever 21 (buy similar) | bracelet - gift from Oman (buy similar)

Calvin Klein dress - Marshalls (buy similar) | vest - thrifted jacket, sleeves cut off

Franco Sarto wedges - Marshalls (buy similar)

I must thank my dog, Elwood, for my genuine laughter in these photos. Husband and I had come home for what we only intended to be a few minutes so that he could change out of his uniform, so we decided to leave Elwood in his crate. The room his crate was in was right next to where I was taking photos outside, and he was whining so pathetically. Big on the drama, our pup.

xo, Kellie

Rehearsed

bracelet - gift from Oman (buy similar) | earrings - Brighton (buy similar)

dress - Marshalls (buy dress with identical print) | wedges - Maurices (buy)

I know this makes two outfit posts in a row that I wore this dress, and I'm sorry.

I had a rehearsal dinner to attend for a wedding this weekend, and the getting dressed process was a bit hurried. I've been itching to wear these wedges since they were delivered last week, and I felt like pairing them up with this dress would make for a very appropriate outfit to rehearse for a spring wedding. 

I would also like to bring attention to my hair. Normally it lies flat on my head, but today, for the first time ever, I teased my hair to put a bit of volume in it. I have this YouTube video and a slow work day to thank for my newly acquired skill.

xo, Kellie

Sun Spots

dress - Marshalls (buy similar) | Limited jacket - thrifted (buy similar) | Xhilaration tights - Target (buy)

MIA boots - Dillards (buy similar) | necklace - F0rever 21 (buy similar)

I had a hunch that the photos for this outfit would be unusable because I could see the sun shining into my camera as I was taking them. But I was pressed for time and wanted to cuddle with that pup next to me--he's been a little under the weather lately.

However, I kind of like how this turned out, I feel like the sun glare kind of fits with this desert-inspired dress. Or am I just reaching?

xo, Kellie

Birds & Boots

dress - Jennifer Lilly designs (buy) | jacket - PacSun (buy similar)

MIA boots - Dillards (buy similar) | bracelets - Target, gift from Tanzania (buy, buy, buy similar)

I have been having so much fun styling this dress. The fun print keeps boots and an army jacket feminine, but it can also be styled to be more romantic. I'd say that this impulse Etsy buy was definitely a success!

xo, Kellie

Hat Lady

dress - Francesca's (buy similar) | Franco Sarto wedges - Marshalls (buy similar)

hat and belt - Stein Mart | necklace - heirloom

My friend Jessica's bridal shower had a "fancy hat" theme, and after some agonizing and confusion over where to find myself a fancy hat, I wandered into Stein Mart and was greeted by an array of huge floppy hats. I originally had a magenta colored one in my hands, but when I found a belt on the racks that was the same shade of pastel pink as one of the hats, I knew what had to be done.

I had to check over my shoulder any time I wanted to turn my head or change location at the party in order to avoid running into anyone with my oversized headgear, but I'm quite pleased with the end result!

xo, Kellie

Date Night - Valentine Edition

dress - Urban Outfitters | jacket - Forever 21 (buy similar)

tights - Target | necklace - Forever 21 (buy similar) | MIA boots - Dillards (buy)

bracelet - gift from Oman (buy similar)

I had an awesome Valentine's Day, Matt definitely went above and beyond to make our first one together special. My day started with a trip to the spa where I got a full body massage, a facial, a manicure, and a pedicure. Then I came home to chocolate covered strawberries and a bouquet with all of my favorite flowers in my favorite color (purple).

Our plan for the evening was a nice dinner followed by an acoustic show, so I needed something that was both fancy and concert venue appropriate. My cropped jacket once again came to the rescue by "toughening up" an otherwise dressed up look.

Happy Friday!

xo, Kellie

Homecoming

Calvin Klein dress - Marshalls (buy similar) | Limited jacket - thrifted (buy similar)
Lower East Side boots - Payless (buy) | necklace - heirloom

My sailor came home from hunting pirates today! Homecoming is a fun event, it's exciting to watch the ship being towed up to the pier and then seeing the sailors get off the boat with flowers in hand.

Now we're off to eat out for lunch and do some shopping. Happy Saturday!

xo, Kellie