Meet Lucy!

This weekend has been all hustle and bustle in our household.  

It wasn't just the normal let's-catch-up-with-all-the-chores-we-missed-from-the-work-week.  It was more of a holy-crap-we-got-a-puppy-and-this-changes-everything type of weekend.

Yup, you read that right-- we got an (unexpected) puppy!!

Lucy is a rescue that J's mom took in over last Easter weekend.  She's a Shorgi (Shih Tzu/Corgi Mix) and she won our hearts over the second we saw her.  Given that we don't have a dog (I've actually never had one), we spent the past week preparing for her arrival, buying all of the necessary things, and puppy-proofing the house.  I finally picked her up and brought her home on Friday. 

I'm happy to report that she's been an absolute delight and we are all adjusting well to our new dog, human, and cat-filled household.  The cats are, of course, taking a little longer to adjust than J & I. ;)  But, they've actually reacted to her surprisingly well.  I think they're mostly annoyed with Lucy's rough puppy-play.  

But, overall, everyone is happy and we are thrilled to be in the doggy club! :)

Welcome to our home, Lucy!  

We love you already! <3

____________________________________________________________________________

And of course, here are a handful of outfits that I've worn lately!

Kendra tunic c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact here)//
Nude pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Tres Medallion necklace c/o Accessory Mercado (Exact here)

Kendra tunic c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact here)//
Nude pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Tres Medallion necklace c/o Accessory Mercado (Exact here)//
Yellow cardi (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)

Navy printed blouse c/o Flourish Boutique  (Exact no longer available;  Love these printed tops here, here, here, here)//
Navy blazer (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
 Mint skinny jeans (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Striped flats (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Fancy Nancy necklace c/o Accessory Mercado (Exact here)//
Bezel Venus Flytrap bracelet c/o Accessory Mercado (Exact here)//
Grey watch from Groopdealz (Exact no longer available; Similar here; Other cute options here and here)

Riley Boyfriend Maxi c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact here)//
Wedges (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Anar Lace Earrings c/o Bauble Boutique (Exact here)//
 Turquoise tile bangles c/o Trade of Hope by Dawn (Exact here)

Top c/o Flourish Boutique (Exact no longer available)//Seamless cami (Exact here)//
Dark-wash skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Ivory blazer (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Nude pointy toe pumps (Exact here; Similar here and here, and love this pair with ankle straps here)//
Bombolulu earrings c/o Trade of Hope by Dawn (Exact here)//Yasi crystal cuff c/o Bauble Boutique (Exact here)

Kinsley top c/o Sugar Love Boutique (Exact here)//
Seamless cami (Exact here)//
Striped blazer (Exact old; Super cute versions here, here, here, here)//
Dark-wash skinny jeans (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Black flats (Exact old; Similar here, here, and LOVE this pair here)//
Saphire grey glam necklace c/o T+J Designs (Exact here) 

Pointedly Perfect top c/o Flourish Boutique (Exact here)//
Ivory blazer (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Skinny Dress Pants (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Nude pointy toe pumps (Exact here; Similar here and here, and love this pair with ankle straps here)//
Scarf (Gifted; Cute options here, here, here, here)//
Earrings c/o Blossom Jewelry Design 

Short and Sweet.

After a delicious Easter dinner and some lovely family time, I'm ready to put on some comfy clothes and relax for the night.
So, I will make this a very short post and just say: here's some work-wear from the last couple of weeks!
Hope you had a wonderful weekend, Loves! :)

White/cream blouse (Exact old; Similar here and here; Love this short-sleeved version here, and these shells here and here)//
Striped blazer (Exact old; Super cute versions here, here, here, here)//
Red ankle pants (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Leopard print pumps (Exact old; Similar here, here, and love this animal print pair here)//
Leopard print belt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Crystal bouquet necklace c/o Sira Mira (Exact here)//
Skinny grey watch (not shown) (Exact old; Great options here and here)

Black sleeveless top (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Red printed blazer (Exact old; Similar here)//
Beige pencil skirt (Exact here <-- Beware, this particular H&M skirt wrinkles like CRAZY; Similar here, here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Pointy toe black pumps (Almost exact here; Similar here, here, and a gorgeous pair with ankle straps here)//
Crystal frosting necklace c/o T+J Designs (Exact here)

Briella Dress c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact here)//
Black cardigan (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Black round-toe pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Skinny black belt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Skinny black watch (Exact old; Similar here, here)//
Earrings c/o Blossom Jewelry Design

Unfolding Petals dress c/o Flourish Boutique (Exact here)//
Yellow blazer c/o Teodora B. (Exact here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Pink pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Neon statement necklace c/o Accessory Mercado (Exact here)

Introducing the Hello Gorgeous/Avery Lane Boutique Look of The Month!

One of my favorite things about being a style blogger is having the opportunity to be involved in fun and creative collaborations with some pretty marvelous boutiques.  Today, I am beyond excited to tell you about a brand new monthly collab that I'll be featuring with the fabulous Avery Lane Boutique!  The fantastic thing about this collaboration is that that you'll get to see it on the blog and take part in it!  

So, what exactly will be happening?  

Each month, I will be teaming up with Avery Lane Boutique to handpick an exclusive "Hello Gorgeous Look of The Month".  The looks may have themes, will always be budget-friendly, and they will, of course, be gorgeous!!

The best part is that the entire look will be available for purchase through shopaveylane.com!  

I hope that y'all love this collaboration as much as me-- Lord knows *this* girl is giddy!

To start off the "Hello Gorgeous/Avery Lane Boutique Look of The Month", this month's theme is a "Wear-to-Work/Wear-to-Easter-Dinner" look.  Of course, some of you may not celebrate Easter.  But, a classic blue tweed and pearls can be paired with a blazer for a chic work look and the it can also be easily transitioned into an Easter dinner/bridal shower/baby shower and other day-time celebration look.  

I promise that I'm not being biased when I tell you that the cut and material of this dress is absolutely exquisite.  And would you believe me if I told you that you could get this beautiful dress and the pearls for around $50?  Well, you can!  Right here.

Enjoy! :)

Blue for You dress and Pretty in Pearls necklace c/o Avery Lane Boutique (Exact pieces here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Black round-toe pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Skinny black belt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Skinny black watch (Exact old; Similar here, here)

Blue for You dress and Pretty in Pearls necklace c/o Avery Lane Boutique (Exact pieces here)//
White blazer (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Black round-toe pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Skinny black belt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Skinny black watch (Exact old; Similar here, here)

Blue for You dress and Pretty in Pearls necklace c/o Avery Lane Boutique (Exact pieces here)//
White blazer (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Black round-toe pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Skinny black belt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Skinny black watch (Exact old; Similar here, here)

One Pant, Three Ways.

I remember the exact day that I bought my first pair of skinnies.  It was July 2006 and skinny jeans were just starting to break into the average person's fashion comfort-zone after years and years of flared and boot-cut jean domination.  I decided to try on a pair of skinnies at Express, thinking that I probably wouldn't like them too much.   

I reluctantly pulled them on, and voila!  
It's as if a dream that I didn't know I had was just realized.  

That might seem dramatic, but it's totally true!  Given that I'm short and petite, almost every pair of pants that I ever bought had to be altered and shortened.  Needless to say, I always dreaded buying pants because having to tailor every pair was really not feasible at the time--especially on a college student budget.

With skinnies, if they were a little long, they could just bunch up around my ankles and they would look fine.  And if they were short, well then they looked like cute ankle pants.  I realized that I may never have to get pants altered again.  Shut.the.front.door!

The next best thing that happened in my skinny pants journey was that I found a pair of perfectly fitting skinnies made out of dressy pants material (perfect for work!).  This little bit of heaven was from The Limited and I proceeded to buy them in every color that they offered.  Which brings us to today-- one day after I online binge-shopped on my favorite Limited pants.  To be fair though, I wear these skinnies so much that I've worn them out and the color is starting to fade.  And after three years, they've truly stood the test of time.  Plus, look how many different ways they can be styled!

So... my little shopping spree is justified, right? ;)

Black & White chiffon top c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact here)//
Ivory blazer (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Skinny Dress Pants (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Nude pointy toe pumps (Exact here, here, here, and love this pair with ankle straps)//
Mint statement necklace (Absolutely love these options here, here, here, here, here, here)

Mayla tank c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact here)//
White blazer (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Skinny Dress Pants (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Skinny gold belt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Gold cap toe pumps (Exact old; Cute pair here; Love this one here and this slingback here)//
Yasi crystal earrings, bracelet, snakeskin bangle watch and c/o Bauble Boutique (Exact here, here, and here)

Hot pink chiffon blouse (Exact here; Great options here, here, here); Love these sleeveless versions here and here)//
Skinny Dress Pants (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Leopard print flat (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Leopard print scarf (Exact gifted; Cute ones here, here, here)//
Skinny black watch (Exact old; Similar here, here)//
 Earrings c/o Blossom Jewelry Design

Knocking on Spring's Door.

Lately I've picked up a certain habit.  It's not a necessarily good or bad habit (though, it can be a little disappointing at times).  The habit that I'm speaking of is that every single day, without fail, I log into weather.com and check the 10-day weather forecast.  It's been such a long and dreary winter and I am so desperate for warmer temperatures.  So, each morning, I check the 10-day weather forecast (which almost always looks drab) with hopes that on the tenth day the weather will somehow be miraculously warmer than it was forecasted to be the day before.

But, even though the temperatures feel nothing like normal spring temps, I have not been deterred from wearing spring colors.  Maybe if I dress for it, it will come?! 

Mint green blouse c/o Flourish Boutique (Exact no longer available; Similar here, here, here; Cute sleeveless options here and here)//
Seamless cami (Exact here)//
Ivory blazer (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Geo pencil mini skirt (Exact here; Other cute versions here, here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Navy round-toe pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Gold pave triangle necklace c/o T+J Designs (Exact here)//
Renegade bracelet ℅ Erika Lehman

Black sleeveless top (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Red full midi skirt (Exact no longer available; Similar here, here, and one for the tall girls here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Pointy toe black pumps (Almost exact here; Similar here, here, here, and a gorgeous pair with ankle straps here)//
Gold panther necklace c/o T+J Designs (Exact no longer available; Love these versions here, here, here, and a kick-ass one here)//
Houndstooth jacket (Exact old; Similar here, here, here) 

Angelique dress c/o Catch Bliss Boutique (Exact here)//
Green cardi (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Black round-toe pumps (Exact here; Similar here, here, here)//
Gold framed jade earrings c/o Bip and Bop (Exact here)

Chambray shirt (Exact here; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Wine red pleated skirt c/o Teodora B. (Exact here)//
Wide stretch belt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here (just turn the buckle to your back) )//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Leopard print pumps (Exact old; Similar here, here, and love this animal print pair here)//
Fancy Nancy necklace c/o Accessory Mercado (Exact here)//
Skinny black watch (not shown) (Exact old; Similar here, here)

Green cardi (Exact old; Similar here, here, here, here)//
Multi-color printed skirt (Exact old; Love these options here, here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Gold cap toe pumps (Exact old; Cute pair here; Love this one here and this slingback here)//
Chunky pearl necklace (Exact from eBay; Similar here, here)

Purple cardi (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Full khaki skirt (Exact here; Cute option here)//
Leopard print belt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Black opaque tights (Exact here)//
Leopard print pumps (Exact old; Similar here, here, and love this animal print pair here)//
Chunky pearl necklace (Exact from eBay; Similar here, here)

Black sheath dress (Exact old; So many great options!!-> here, here, here, here, here, here)//
Floral blazer (Exact no longer available; Cute options here, here, here, here)//
Lace floral patterned tights (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Pink belt (Exact old; Similar here, here, here)//
Nude pointy toe pumps (Exact here, here, here, and love this pair with ankle straps)//
Baroque crystal bracelet c/o Sira & Mara (Exact here)