Date Night Wear, Take 30

Target Cardi (here); Scarf made from old sweater (similar); Thrifted Vintage Tee (similar); Old Navy Jeans (here); Payless Booties (similar)

Oh hey internet. My computer decided to stop working this week, so that's what you have to thank for the radio silence.

I threw this outfit together for date night a few nights ago, which consisted of the hotdog stand at the mall and some Christmas shopping. Also thrifting, which I had not done in weeks, so that pretty much made my night.    

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Lazy Days

Tunic via thredUP; Target Cardigan (here); State Necklace via Cents of Style; Hue Leggings (here); Modcloth Boots (similar)

You guys, I've been so lazy this week. Do you ever get in that mode where the less you do, the less you feel like doing? Yep, totally this week. I'm still jobless, and have very little to do beyond housework. I've found the key to times like this is just to get dressed and leave the house, if only for a little while. Today I went to the post office and city hall to pay a bill. Neither of those things needed to be done until next week, but hey...I needed to get out.

How do you beat laziness?

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Nanny Style: Summer Dressing

Gap Tee (similar)
Gap Outlet Jeans (similar)
Minnetonka Moccs (same ones on sale here)
Necklace via Sassy Steals

I've been wearing a lot of this lately. Easy tees, jeans/shorts, and moccasins. Summer dressing is always something I find difficult, especially since nannying for small children doesn't allow me to just throw on a dress everyday like I'd like to. Oh well...that's what weekends are for, right?

Happy Friday! Any fun plans for the weekend?

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Jeans Fail

Thrifted Top (similar); Gap Scarf (similar from Gap); Target Cardi; JCPenney Jeans; Thrifted Booties (exactly)

Guys...these are kind of the worst jeans ever. I`ve been super happy with JCP jeans in the past so a few months ago when I needed a replacement pair, I just sort of grabbed these. NOT GOOD. They`re probably the worst fitting jeans I`ve had in a while. Plus, the seam on one leg is crooked. Lame. They`re getting donated like tomorrow.

Bottom line: always try before you buy. The company you love may have just gone and changed the fit of your favorite pair of jeans. And that`s never fun.

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Lost

JCPenney Chambray (similar from ON); Gap Factory Jeans (similar at Gap); Thrifted Booties (exactly); Earrings via Sassy Steals

J and I watched Lost in it`s entirety 3 years ago and recently decided to watch it again. It`s so so different watching such a complicated series like Lost when you know how it ends. It also brings back memories of the last time we watched it, just a few months after we got married. I cant hear that little Bad Robot jingle at the end without thinking about those fun times. :-)

How is your Wednesday shaping up?

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Wide

Target Cardigan (on sale under $12!); Fair Trade Necklace (similar); Thrifted Lace Top (similar) and Pants (similar); Payless Wedges (similar at Target)

I`ve been a skinny pants devotee for the past few years, so I`ve totally forgotten how flattering a good wide legged pant can be with a pair of heels. My legs felt so long in these!

In completely unrelated news...are you guys as excited for the Olympics as I am? Seriously cannot wait. I`m not much of a sports fan, but something about the Olympics has always made me happy. My favorites are hockey, curling, speed skating and bobsledding.

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Bare

Target Cardigan; Scarf via Burlington CF; Thrifted Tee and Skirt; Swapped Boots

Why heelllooooo! So..we moved! Unfortunately we're still without internet at our new place which is why you haven't seen much of me recently, but that shall be remedied this week. In the meantime we've been unpacking, tearing up linoleum, and generally getting settled in. Let me tell you, life in a house in a quiet neighborhood is pure bliss. I haven't heard a siren in weeks and never get woken up at night by the sound of someone's fight. Bliss I tell you.

I wore this outfit last week to church. Definitely the last bare legs day for the season. We've had temps in the teens since then so my tights have been getting a workout.

Oh, and my 30x30? Still going strong. Much of it hasn't been documented due to the move but I can assure you I'm still on track.

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Busy, Busy

Thrifted Jacket; Gap Tee; JCPenney Skinny Ankle Jeans; Swapped Boots

Oh hiiiii! Just thought I'd check in at the end of this crazy busy week. Here's what I did:

-A pile of mystery shopping. I spent this past weekend getting signed up with a bunch of new companies and they delivered. Mystery shopping is fun, but can be oh, so time consuming.
-Work. After a 2 week break it was good to see my little L again. She's 8 months old and crawling full time now. Madness.
-Interview + new job! I accepted a new nanny position that will add about 20 extra hours of work to my week. Which is about 2-3 times as much as I nanny now. In other words, I'm about to get super busy. I'm excited though. I've been nannying for a year now and I'm way more confident in my ability to work so many hours now. Plus the extra money will be great. J and I live in that tight financial spot where we usually don't have a problem paying bills on time, but we also don't have any extra to put aside for later. I'm really excited to actually start putting money into an emergency fund again, save to (hopefully) take a nice, long vacation next year, and just generally not feel so pinched during the month. Yay!

How was your week?

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Nanny Style: Orange + Olive

Thrifted Jacket, $4 (similar)

Thrifted Top, $2 (similar)

JC Penney Skinny Ankle Jeans, $25 (exactly)

Minnetonka Moccasins via TJ Maxx, $30 (exactly)

Total = $61

This is a pretty typical nanny outfit for me.  Jeans, flats, and some sort of interesting/colorful top.  I've been working on adding more pants to my wardrobe since that's usually the most practical thing for my day to day wear now.  I thrifted a pair of pink cords and a pair of cargo pants a few days ago that I'm planning on refashioning, and then I'll have a few more options. :-)  

So Kate tagged me in 5 Things a few days ago.  And because I just know you all are dying to know 5 random things about me, I shall jump right in:

1. I love peanut butter.  Specifially JIF peanut butter.  We've done a pretty good job at getting rid of all the sugary, chemically junk out of our home, but the JIF just keeps finding it's way back in.  I can't help myself.

2. I vastly prefer manual over automatic transmission in a vehicle.  I grew up on a farm and learned to drive a stick shift tractor long before I could drive a car.  Even when I got my license, I drove around my parents cars, which where all manual.  I didn't drive an automatic on a regular basis until I got married and it was weird.  We bought a little manual Jeep last summer and I adore it.

3. One of my favorite things to do with Jeremy is tour lighthouses.  We did that a lot when we were dating, and are looking forward to seeing a lot more now that we're back in the Great Lakes State.

4. I have a thing for frogs.  Our bathroom is decorated entirely in frogs and I have quite a few others scattered throughout the house.  I even have a cute little frog ring that I love to wear.

5. I have all girl cousins.  In fact, my brothers at the only boy grandchildren on either side of my family.  It's kind of weird.

I tag...

Stacia, Free to be Stacia Lee

Maggie, Finding Myself

Callie, Coffee and Cardigans

Rachel, for the birds

Chey, A Skirt a Day

Happy Friday! Hope you have a great weekend. 

Fashion Challenge: Pumpkin

Gap Hat (men's), $5 on clearance (similar)

Thrifted Scarf

Thrifted Top, $0.99 (similar)

JCP Skinny Ankle Jeans, $25

JCP Boots, $50 (similar)

I don't usually think of orange as a fall color, but paired with browns, it's pretty fallish.  Although, most any color paired with browns is pretty fallish. :-)

I threw this on earlier in the week to get groceries and a haircut. I was going to be bold again and take pictures outside, but it was raining.  Also, it feels weird to be posting an outfit everyday.  I'm not really sure how I did it back when I first started the blog.  Hope you guys don't get sick of me. End paragraph of random thoughts.

P.S. If you're looking for a good beanie this season, check out the men's section of your favorite store.  Not only are they cheaper, they're actually warm, and have the nice slouchy look you're probably going for. :-)

P.P.S. Happy World Diabetes Day!

Chill Weekend

Thrifted Chambray Top, $3 (simliar)

Target Rust Cardigan, $10

Refashioned Skirt (similar)

Payless Booties, $30 (similar)

Handmade Earrings, Gifted

This outfit has been on my "to wear" list for a while.  I'm glad I got it in before it turns too cold.  This past weekend was super rainy, but relatively warm, which is always interesting to dress for.

My husband and I had a pretty chill weekend.  Saturday has become our weekly date night, and we enjoyed some yummy Mexican food, then came back home to watch our latest Netflix pick.  Sunday was church, lunch out, and we drove around a bit looking at the leaves.  With all the rain we've had, they'll probably all be gone this week so we wanted to enjoy them while they last!

What did you do this weekend?

Thankful

Oh, these boots.  They have served me so well over the last 2 years, but they are falling apart, worn out, and generally uncomfortable.  I recently found a pair that remind me a lot of these that will be taking their place in my closet.  Although they're not Fryes, they'll do until the day I can afford some.  

Modcloth Dress, Gifted

Target Cardigan, $9

Thrifted Belt, $2 (similar)

Wanted Boots via The Shoe Dept., $30 (similar)

Mudd Earrings, Gifted (similar)

Ever have a time in life where nothing seems to be going right?  And then all of the sudden, things just start clicking into place.  Things you thought were impossible, just start happening and you feel so blessed you could cry?  

This past month has been one of those times for us.  Just when we think we're not gonna make it, just when I think I'm never going to make it to a doctor again, or have diabetes supplies, things happen and prove me wrong.  A few examples:

-Our Jetta died, but we were able to sell it quickly, and that cash gave us just enough to get through Jeremy's first month of working part time on commission before I found work.

-We've been without health insurance for 6 months now.  Jeremy is covered through the VA, but this type 1 diabetic hasn't been to a doctor since January (see: not good. I should be going every 3 months).  I was getting super worried about running out of diabetes supplies (see: extremely expensive goods that keep me alive) when we found out that we'll be covered though Jeremy's work as of November 1st.  

-I have just enough diabetes supplies to make it until mid November.  Just enough.  Amazing.

-I found work at just the right time.  In addition to my work, my Etsy shop has picked up over the last month and I've been able to sell some old clothes on eBay.

And there's more.  All that to say: worrying is silly, and God always provides for all of our needs.  I am so thankful.

Good Busy

Thrifted Top ($0.99); Target Cardi ($10); Thrifted Jeans ($5); Gap Flats ($10); Thrifted Locket

I was scrolling through old posts and thought to myself.. "wow, I haven't worn that top in a while!"  So I did. :-)  It'll be a great fall piece and it's nice and toasty warm without being too warm.

I had something written out here about how my job search is going, but I'm happy to be able to delete it and tell you that I accepted a job yesterday!  It's just for the next six weeks, but I'm super excited about it.  I had 4 interviews just this week, so I'm sure I'll have no problem finding more caregiver work when this job ends.  I think I just had to get past the hump of all-the-college-students-just-came-to-town-and-are-looking-for-work-too before I could find work myself.  All I can say is, it's been a long week, and I'm glad things are gonna start settling down now!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Chevron Tops

Thrifting for All

Target Dress, $12 cheapo similar

Target Cardigan, $9 same perfect color

Payless Flats, $5

Thrifted Belt, $2 almost exactly

DIY'd Necklace

It may still be hovering in the 80s outside, but I am so ready for fall.  So I dressed for the weather I want, not the weather I have yesterday while grocery shopping and thrifting some new work clothes for my husband.  I haven't mentioned it here yet, but he's actually working as a portrait photographer. :-)  The unofficial uniform for his new job is khakis and polo shirts.  Before he started he had about one of each of those, but we managed to find him another pair of pants (which are really difficult to thrift cause he's a small guy!) and 5 shirts for less than $20! Oh the power of thrifting...

What did I get at the thrift store, you may ask? A bread machine! I've been wanting one for quite some time, just waiting until we got ourselves re-settled into a new place.  I made some bread in it last night and oh...it was divine.  I've never really minded making bread myself...the entire process is fun and rather satisfying.  But I'm still really excited to have this machine. :-)

Hope you all have a great weekend! I'm looking forward to date night with my husband tomorrow and church on Sunday!  What do you have on tap?

Pre-Fall

rue21 Dress ($9); Target Cardigan ($10); Thrifted Boots ($6)

Like everyone else, I'm all about fall weather.  We usually only get a few weeks of it here in Michigan though...it generally goes straight from summer to winter.  I therefore like to trot out my boots and cardis a little early just to give them some wear.  I bought these particular boots in the worst of the July heat and couldn't wait to wear them. :-)

Do you guys ever use actions in Photoshop?  I had no idea such things even existed until last week when Lisa blogged about it.  I've been using The Pioneer Woman's actions on my photos lately and totally loving the effect.  These ones have the "boost" action on them.  I have Photoshop Elements and PW has a version for that too!  It takes a bit of extra work to get them installed but it was so worth it.

Copy Cat Kendi Style

Let me just apologize right now for the mirror photos.  My DSLR camera battery is dead and the charger got left at my parents (despite my desperate efforts to find it before we left).  However, I wore this specifically for copy cat Friday so I was not to be deterred from documenting it.

For this edition I chose to copy the always lovely miss Kendi:

source

Target Cardi ($9); Walmart Tee ($5); Burlington Scarf; JC Penney Shorts (clearance, $10); Gap Flats (clearance, $12)

Would you believe that it's taken me a whole year to find the perfect black shorts?  Who knew plain and simple black shorts would be so hard to find.  So glad I stumbled upon these last week during a quick trip into JCP.

Cool Weather

Target Cardi ($9); Old Navy Tank ($7); Old Navy Jeans ($25); Payless Wedges similar ($8)

We experienced a small miracle two days ago.  The weather was...cool.  It didn't get much above 70 degrees all day long.  I had a hard time deciding what cardigan to wear I was so excited.  Hopefully we get a few more of these days so I can give the rest of them some love.  They're terribly lonely.

Also, I got my hair cut this week. I usually take this photo to every new stylist I go to and I get a slightly different cut each time.  Can't say I mind.  It's fun to switch it up a bit. :-)