Shorty.

Top: Forever 21 Shorts: Forever 21(same) Necklace: Gift Shoes: Fergalicious via Famous Footwear Sunglasses: Clothes Mentor Purse: London Fog via Burlington Coat Factory

Two things that I have always been pretty certain would never grace my closet were light-colored denim and short shorts. We've been over this. But I was at Forever 21 the other day, and my husband spotted these little shorts and begged me to try them on. Sometimes I will try on hideous clothes for my husband just to appease him (and trust me, some things are much more hideous than these pink shorts could've potentially been...), and that's what I thought these shorts would be. But surprisingly, I didn't hate them. And when it comes to shorts, my standard basically is "not hate". If they meet that standard, I will buy them. Unfortunately, only two have made the cut (see Exhibit A), but summer is not over yet! I can almost smell the end-of-summer shorts clearance at my local Old Navy...

Oh and here. A face made to appease my husband. Because that is what good wives do.

Things that fit the bill.

Top: Forever 21 Skirt: TJ Maxx Necklace: Charlotte Russe Heels: Nine West Purse: London Fog via Burlington Coat Factory

I must have been looking for this exact black peplum top for three months now. I don't know when I decided I needed one. It must've been right around the time that they stopped selling ANY in stores because I literally could not find a single good one. The one I saw at Target was too short, while others I found seemed to be too big around the waist, no matter what. So when I finally bumped into this little baby sitting all by it's lonesome at Forever 21 in my exact size, I prayed it would somehow fit. And it did! It's a bit snug right in the waist (I think you can spy a baby ab muscle in the photo above, whoops!), but that's what my personal trainer is for, eh?! But really though, I think it's a good fit, and the length is exactly what I wanted, as are the sleeves, neckline, etc. And it's a very thick, structured top. Which was surprisingly only $10.80. And I searched the F21 website high and low for this puppy so you could all order it and be peplum'd out like myself, but I couldn't find it. Oh, the anguish and mystery that is Forever 21 stock.

Another thing I've been looking for is the perfect cognac tote. As you may have noticed in some of my recent photos, I've been carrying around this light brown bag for a while. I got it in a clearance bin at some teen store for $10 a number of years ago (back when I bought stuff I didn't like because it was cheap) and I've hardly used it since. But with my job as a real estate agent, I don't really have time to switch around purses to match outfits anymore (and am too afraid of missing something important by switching purses so often!) so I decided I needed a purse that

1. Would match most of what I wear (black is too boring for me, but I figured cognac/tan would be nice)
2. Was structured and professional looking so that I didn't look like a teenager while trying to sell homes (even though I practically am...)
3. Was big enough to carry my giant folder where I keep all of my listing sheets, etc. so I could always have those on me (did you know a real estate agent's job never ends? Not even at home or at the gym or anywhere? Well now you know.)
4. Had handles long enough so I could put it over my shoulder. No more of this elbow-toting nonsense. Ain't no agent got time for a purse to be dangling off your elbow and disabling one of your arms. AIN'T NO AGENT.
5. Was under $50. I knew this price was asking a lot of my purse but I also was not requiring it to be incredibly well made or real leather or anything, so I thought I might get lucky and find something at this price!

So during the same exact lucky trip where I found this peplum top, I found this purse! I also can't hate that it resembles Celine totes (I know, this girl is a bandwagoner if there ever was one, BUT OMG CELINE BAGS ARE SO CUTE), and it fit the bill for everything else on my list (was $49.99!), so I bought it! And I'm quite happy that I did.

Golden Corral.

Cardigan: Old Navy Tank: H&M Shorts: Love Culture Sandals: Forever 21 Purse: H&M Earrings: Claires

This is my last outfit I photographed from vacation! And also proof to all of you that my legs aren't as skinny as many of you seem to think. I just regularly turn myself into a giant optical illusion by wearing 5 inch heels, leading you to believe that my legs are five inches longer than they are. But alas, the truth is out: I am only 5'6" (most days). And not pencil thin. I hope you're not mad. I'm honest about just about everything else on the blog. Mostly.

I wore this out on a hot day in Tennessee with my family. We went to a rainforest zoo and then ate at a buffet called Golden Corral, which is where the best humans America has to offer come together to eat everything in sight. Buffet's are not safe for me. I remind myself of what my vet said about my parent's dog a few years back: that you can't just leave food out for her because she will literally eat until she dies. She need someone to portion out her food, or else she'll never know to stop eating. I'm kind of like a dog. You can't just release me into a never-ending supply of food. I don't know when to stop. Usually my husband has to intervene, and often tears and stomach aches are involved. It's fun for everyone. 

Now that I've disgusted you all, I hope you're having a great Wednesday! :)

Summer sweaters

Sweater: Forever 21 Jeans: JCPenneys Shoes: Fergalicious via Famous Footwear Necklace: Target

Another outfit from vacation! This sweater is quickly becoming something I have to stop myself from wearing every single day. We've been having some hot days lately, which means that everyplace indoors has their AC cranked to somewhere between Antarctica and Alaska, so having a lightweight sweater like this seems to be handy. Well, unless you're me. In that case, a thick, winter jacket would be handy. Or your husbands shirt. 

It's not weird... 

But what is weird is that my husband has a chambray shirt and I don't. Who's the style blogger here, anyway?!

Home!

Dress: Wal-Mart Scarf: Gift Hat: Wet Seal Sunglasses: GlassesUSA

After a lovely six days in paradise (commonly known around my apartment as "Gatlinburg, Tennessee"), I'm home.  And just wishing I could go back. I've decided that vacation is officially the greatest thing ever and plan to start viewing my job as the Enabler of More Vacations. Makes it a lot easier to have to be back at work 12 hours after being home from vacation.

This is the outfit I wore on the long 10 hour drive down to Tennessee. And what I wore back up. When stuck in a car for that long, all I really want is clothing that kind of doubles as a blanket. Which, obviously, is a maxi dress. And I rarely wear flip-flops (I honestly have like two pair, both of which I think are from dollar stores) because they just don't look nice with outfits most of the time, in my opinion, but I hate wearing shoes on long drives. So flip-flops it is! It was also lots of fun taking these photos outside of Fazoli's in Kentucky at dinner time. And by fun I mean really awkward, because everyone was staring at me from inside the restaurant while they ate. Kind of like dinner and a show, right? Hmm. Maybe not...

Either way, I took a couple more outfit photos while I was on vacation so my next few outfit posts will be of that. I also may post a couple photos from the trip, but possibly just host the photos on another site and leave the link. Because I know some people are annoyed by onslaughts of vacation photos when they expect to just see outfit photos.  But I'm nosey. And I love snooping through everyone's vacation photos. So to accommodate both, I will probably host the photos elsewhere and leave a link. :) Hope you all had a great week!

Vacationed!

So just in case some of you were beginning to wonder if I've abandoned my blog again, I just wanted to pop in and say: I'm not! I'm just on a much, much needed vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. One that I was so busy planning for that I didn't take any outfit photos ahead of time to post or find any friends to post for me while I was away. Whoopsies! But the good news is, I'll be back on Saturday. Rested and able to think straight, probably. Hope you all are having a great week!

Tribal

Top: Forever 21, $15

Skirt: Forever 21, old

Bracelet: Charlotte Russe

Shoes: Charlotte Russe, $35

My apologies for the poor quality of these photos. They were taken later in the evening. Though to be honest, I've not worn this outfit yet: it's so summery and vacation-y to me, I'm saving it for my upcoming vacation! There's something about a tribal print that feels slightly inappropriate outside the confines of a vacation. Even a non-beach vacation. Even a vacation where I'll be staying inside a cabin and spending most of my moments hiking in the mountains. If I wear heels 6 days of the week, you better believe I'm brave enough to trek into the mountains whilst donning a skirt. Brave, or stupid, whichever...

Wings, lace & cookies.

Top: Forever 21, old

Jeans: Macys, old

Purse: H&M, $18

Shoes: Charlotte Russe, $35

Bracelets: Various, probably mostly Forever 21/Charlotte Russe

Earrings: Windsor, $6

Nails: Essie's "Sunday Funday" from the Summer 2013 Collection

All-lace shirts aren't really in any more, are they? I don't think so. Because when I think about it, I don't really see them at Forever 21 anymore. Is it sad that I feel the be-all-end-all of what's "in" can be answered by the stock at Forever 21? Probably.. Either way, I can't let go of this shirt. I bought it when I was 20 pounds heavier, so it's not as fitted as I'd like it to be. But I. Love. This. Color. And yeah, I could go out and buy another top in this color that fits and stuff, but I mean. Whatever. I still am into all-lace tops. Even if Forever 21 isn't.

These jeans are actually from 20 pounds ago as well. They were super-tight skinny jeans when I bought them, but now they're more like boyfriend-ish jeans with a really, really big waist band. Which is perfect for where I wore this outfit: to a dinner event at my husband's work where I knew chicken wings and cookies were going to be served. Even with 6 wings and 3 cookies in my belly, I didn't quite fill out the waist band of these pants. I'm thinking I'll start buying all of my jeans 2 sizes too big. All the more room for chicken wings, my dear!

Repeat.

Top: Gap, $9

Skirt: Forever 21, $17.80

Shoes: Target, $15

Scarf: Gifted

Purse: Old

Earrings: Forever 21, $2.80

Sunglasses: Clothes Mentor, $5

I almost didn't post this look because I knew I'd posted it here this past winter, but I decided that it was accessorized differently enough to be worth posting. I think I like this look better, though it definitely doesn't feel very summery to me. But Michigan hasn't been acting very summery this week. Thankfully, I'm heading down south to Tennessee next weekend for some much (much much much much) needed relaxation, and the forecast looks nice and toasty. Because this wimpy girl practically needs gloves and a parka if it's not at least 80 degrees out. Am I the only one??

And please pardon my wrinkly skirt. I hate ironing and often convince myself that my wrinkly clothes "aren't that wrinkly" and that I'll be fine wearing them. But the blog spares no detail and no secret, and forces me to realize: I need to start ironing more. Whoopsies.

Short & white

 Top: Forever 21, $15.80

Shorts: Love Culture, $14.80

Necklace: Forever 21, $6

Shoes: Target, $15

Bag: Old, not sure where I got it from!

Nails: Essie's "Naughty Nautical"

Pretty much since the time I entered puberty, shorts and I have not been friends. I've always felt uncomfortable in shorts because I've never had skinny legs. In the last year, after losing a ton of weight and figuring that I'd have to start looking good in shorts now, I've searched high and low for a flattering pair of shorts. But, alas, it turns out that there is no such thing as a pair of shorts that magically turn thick, muscular legs into skinny, long longs. Can you believe it?!

But in the corners of a semi-trashy teen store, I found a pair of shorts that I actually didn't hate myself in. And they were white! Another trend I thought my thighs were going to stop me from every participating in! It was my lucky day! $15 and a dozen bleach-pens later, I was the proud owner of shorts. White shorts.

I've been dreaming of an outfit like this for months. Since the beginning of spring, really. When wearing a sweater with a pair of shorts made more sense than it makes in 85-degree-June-weather. But thankfully, I am constantly cold and will probably be cold in this outfit unless it's 85 degrees out, so I suppose it works out. I would love this outfit with a pair of sandals as well, but I just couldn't resist wearing it with a pair of heels first!

A little beaded number.

Top: Elegantees c/o (same!)

Blazer: H&M, $50

Jeans: Indigo Rein via Marshalls, $15

Shoes: Guess via TJ Maxx, $28

Bracelet: Rue 21

Purse: H&M, $18

Nails: Essie's "Naughty Nautical"

Look at me! Two posts in 24 hours. I'm two for two, guys! And just trying to prove that I legitimately plan to regularly update again. Have I convinced you? I hope so. :)

Anyway, I'm really excited to be wearing the top in these photos because the company that sent me it, Elegantees, is more than just a clothing company. I've always been involved in or supported charities and non-profit organizations for all of my adult life, so when Elegantees reached out to me, I was more than happy to work with them. Just to quickly explain who they are and what they do, this paragraph was on a card that came with the top:

"Elegantees are sewn by women rescued from sex trafficking. We've joined forces with the Nepali Rescue Project and Restore NYC in the fight to end trafficking. By doing so, we have been able to give fair-trade sewing jobs to rescued women in Nepal and New York City. Positive employment, along with the counseling to put on their new and true identity, is key to providing survivors a new hope and reason to overcome. Elegantees is helping to restore lives on tee at a time."

Such an awesome company that I am more than happy to support. You can check out their beautiful, colorful line of clothing here, and read more about their mission here.

Oh, and I found a bug on me in the middle of this shoot. Cute face, Lynette: