Create28 Lovely Spring Looks

Happy Spring, my lovely friends!  Are the temperatures rising in your neck of the woods?  I am currently spending my Spring Break in chilly Michigan so it's not quite time to break-out the shorts and sandals.

I don't know about you, though, but a little vacation (even to the icy tundra) and the impending start of April have me feeling in a sunny mood!  Are your clothing choices reflecting the beginning of this season?

If you are ready to don those floral patterns and pastels, then I have a fun challenge for you!  During the month of April, Carrie of A Lovely Little Wardrobe and I will be hosting Create28: Lovely Spring Looks.  What does this mean exactly?  Each day, we will give you a simple little prompt to inspire your next day's look.  The prompt will be something simple like "green" or "stripes" and will hopefully inspire you to create a new look around this little idea.  Then, Carrie and I will be showing you our ensembles and we want to see yours too!  You can post daily to Instagram with the hashtag #Create28SpringLooks.  We will also be doing link-ups on Mondays where you can post any or all of your Create28 inspired looks.

Are you in??  Great!  The inspiration for April 1st and 2nd is "Pop of Pink!"  Ready...set...go!

Blogging Besties: Pattern Mixing

Hello, friends! Thank goodness it's Friday, right? Last week, Whitney featured a lovely outfit, pattern mixing her blanket scarf with stripes! 

I chose to feature a pattern mix with my new striped jersey maxi! It was new with tags from J. Crew, but I got it for $16 at a thrift store--a steal! I'm in love! I added a floral tank (hence the patterned mix) and finished it off with a denim jacket, a statement necklace, and gold sandals!

Tank: Thrifted (similar, similar, similar)

Skirt: J. Crew (similar, similar, similar)

Denim Jacket: H&M (exact, similar, similar)

Sandals: Jack Rogers (exact)

The elements of this outfit are: pattern mixing maxi skirt, flowy tank, denim jacket, sandals, stripes, and florals. Can't wait to see what Whitney comes up with! 

Other Editions of Blogging Besties

What did you pass on from Whitney's look last week?

An InLinkz Link-up

Swing Dress Love

Oh, ASOS!  You've done it again!  You are quickly becoming my go-to site for fun, comfy and adorable dresses (in other words, my favorite pieces to wear).  And you definitely didn't let me down with this little polka dot number!

If you haven't ordered from ASOS before, I would highly recommend checking out this British clothing site!  You could spend hours browsing the dress section alone, let alone admiring their cute tops, bottoms and accessories.  I usually spend a few months saving all of my favorites while awaiting one of ASOS's fantastic sales.  When the discounts start rolling, I'll place a huge order.  Given the company is British and they sell clothes from lots of different designers, I purchase each item in a couple of different sizes.  Obviously I return all duplicates and, truth be told, many of the items completely (returns are free).  But since I order so many things, I typically find a few gems!

My favorite style of dress from ASOS is the swing dress closely followed by the skater dress!  Both are comfy and flattering...plus they come in brilliant colors and fun patterns!

Here are a few of my other finds from ASOS!  Click on the links below to see the original posts.

black swing dress/polka dot dress/paisley dress/bright skater dress/bright shift dress

What I'm Wearing:

Dress: ASOS (similar, similar)

Tights: Nordstrom (exact)

Flats: Loft (similar, similar)

Jacket: Pimkie (similar, similar)

Purse: Nine West Outlet (similar, similar)

Linking-Up:

The Brandied Pair and Style Honestly- Fab Five Friday

I Do DeClaire- Confident Twosdays

Pink Sole and ChaCha the Fashion Genius- #HowIFall

I Mustache You Some Questions

A couple of weeks ago, my great blogging friend Selah tagged me in her post, "I Mustache You Some Questions," and fun little way for us to get to know a bit about each other!

Four names people call me other than my real name:
1.  Weebopper
2.  Honey Bear
3.  Cupcake
4.  Mademoiselle

Four jobs I've had:
1.  French Teacher
2.  English Teacher in France
3.  Soup Server
4.  Bridal Boutique Consultant

Four movies I would/have watched more than once:
1.  Love Actually
2.  Beauty and the Beast
3.  My Big Fat Greek Wedding
4.  Elf

Four books I would recommend:
1.  And Then There Were None- Agatha Christie
2.  Pride and Prejudice- Jane Austen
3.  The Secret History of the Pink Carnation- Lauren Willig
4.  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire- J.K. Rowling

Four places I have lived:
1.  St. Joseph, Michigan
2.  East Lansing, Michigan
3.  Bordeaux, France
4.  Alexandria, Virginia

Four places I have been:
1.  Cardiff, Wales
2.  Reykjavik, Iceland
3.  Munich, Germany
4.  Madrid, Spain

Four places I would rather be right now:
1.  Sitting on the couch watching MSU basketball with a certain handsome someone
2.  Laying poolside somewhere warm and sunny
3.  Wandering around Schuler's bookstore
4.  Riding Splash Mountain at Disney World

Four things I don't eat:
1.  Green Bean Casserole
2.  Canned green beans
3.  Milkshake with fruit chunks
4.  Yogurt with fruit chunks
(not very diverse, I know, but I like most food!)

Four of my favorite foods:
1.  Strawberry anything! (on their own, pie, shortcake, etc.)
2.  Million Dollar Spaghetti
3.  Fire Roasted Tomato Bisque from Zoup!
4.  Pad Thai

Four TV shows that I watch:
1.  Bones
2.  Downton Abbey
3.  Parks and Recreation
4.  Sherlock

Four things that I'm looking forward to this year (2015):
1.  Increasing amounts of time in Michigan
2.  A 4th of July wedding celebration with friends
3.  Watching my niece, Eloise, continue to grow
4.  Really just living my best year yet!

Four things I'm always saying:
1.  J'attends! ("I'm waiting" en français...to my students when I'm waiting for them to quiet down)
2.  Go GREEN!  (to which the proper response would be "Go WHITE!")
3.  I love you! (because I'm blessed with the best family, friends and boyfriend)
4.  Izzo!  Stop trying to tip the lamp over!  (because my cat is a maniac)

Four people I tag:
1.  Danielle @A Little Bit of Wowe
2.  Inge @ This Ever Evolving Life
3.  Carrie @ A Lovely Little Wardrobe
4.  Ada @ Elegance and Mommyhood

Blogging Besties: Skinny Jeans

Can we all take a collective sigh of relief that we've made it to Friday?  Do you have anything fun planned this weekend?  I will be celebrating a belated St. Patrick's Day with a few girlfriends on Saturday and plan to spend Sunday relaxing!

Alex looked beautiful and feminine in her look last week!

From this lovely look of hers, I chose to pass on the skinny jeans.  Boring, I know!  To an extent I passed on the color maroon but I'm not sure I should count it since it's just one of many hues found in my scarf.

As the temperatures are on the rise (that snow you see was in the process of melting), I wanted to get one last wear out of my beloved blanket scarf for the season!  I've seen so many inspiration photos featuring this scarf being warn as a poncho, particularly over a striped shirt, and has been on my "to try" list all winter!

Well, I finally tried it and guess what?!  I didn't like it!  I loved the way it looked but I fidgeted all day.  I felt like I couldn't move my arms and every time I did, I had to readjust the scarf (despite my best efforts to anchor it with a cognac belt).  Oh well!  I'm glad I tried it anyway!  Have you ever tried a new look only to be disappointed?

And without further ado, here are your choices of what to pass on for next week: a striped shirt, a plaid blanket scarf, a scarf as a vest/poncho, pattern mixing, skinny jeans, a cognac belt or moccasins!

What I'm Wearing:

Shirt: Banana Republic (similar, similar)

Scarf: Cotton On (similar, similar)

Cognac Belt: Anthropologie (similar, similar)

Jeans: American Eagle (exact)

Moccasins: Target (similar, similar)

Linking-Up:

The Brandied Pair and Style Honestly- Fab Five Friday

My Closet Catalogue- TARDIS Tuesday

Rachel the Hat- Passion 4 Fashion

Previous Editions of Blogging Besties

Featured On:

Whitney à la mode

Undergraduate Style

What did you pass on from Alex's look last week?

An InLinkz Link-up

Blogging Besties: Lace Shirt

Hey y'all! It's Friday, which means it's time for another Blogging Besties! I loved Whitney's cozy snow-day look last week:

Her necklace-stacking skills are legendary! For this week's look, I chose to "pass on" the lace shirt. I wore this look to a blogger event last week, because I wanted an outfit that I really loved and that accurately represented my style. This ensemble has some of my favorite pieces and elements, and I feel like it represented me really well!

Top: J. Crew Factory (similar, similar, similar)

Cardigan: J. Crew Factory (exact, similar, similar)

Pants: Forever XXI (similar, similar, similar)

Flats: Forever XXI (similar, similar, similar)

The elements of this outfit are: lace shirt, cardigan, skinny jeans, ballet flats, lace, blush, and maroon!

Previous Editions of Blogging Besties

Before you link up with your outfit that you "passed on" from last week, have you entered my March Madness Giveaway with Lillybee U? Because there's only 2 days left and you totally should!



Okay, NOW you can link up. :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Marsala Day to Night

Have you see Pantone's Color Report for 2015 yet?  The gurus of color have announced Marsala to be the "it" hue of the year!  "Much like the fortified wine that gives Marsala its name, this robust shade incorporates the warmth and richness of a tastefully fulfilling meal, while its grounding red-brown roots point to a sophisticated, natural earthiness," (Pantone Color Report).  Fortified wine and a fulfilling meal?  Where do I sign up?

To compliment Marsala, Pantone has chosen nine other colors to be the Spring 2015 En Plein Air palette.  Lucky for you, Alex of Undergraduate Style has already done a wonderful job of showcasing and describing these lovely shades.  Today she's hosting a link-up where you get to show the world your favorite Pantone-inspired ensemble!

In a perfect twist of fate, the Anthropologie dress that I purchased in February just so happens to be Marsala!  Here are two ways I've worn this dress already!

Wearing a long-sleeved shirt under a sleeveless dress is quickly becoming my favorite way to layer!  This pairing makes the dress daytime (and school) appropriate and is perfect while there is still a bit of snow on the ground.  I'm also going to claim that this shirt is Classic Blue.  What do you think?

This is how I spiced up the dress for a special Valentine's Day date!  Suede wedge booties, a denim jacket and a tassel necklace were perfect for catching a stand-up comedy routine, attending a screening of The Princess Bride and eating deliciously greasy food with my handsome guy!

I'm also linking-up with Bri of Work Clothes, I Suppose today for Third Thursday Threads.  This month the theme is "Favorite Sale Purchase."  Anthropologie is one of my favorite stores but rarely can I afford to buy their beautiful items at full price.  For that reason, finding a great deal there is like finding a hidden treasure.  Purchasing this lovely Marsala dress for $52.95 when the original price was $158 makes this my favorite sale purchase of late!

What I'm Wearing:

Dress: Anthro (exact)

Gingham Shirt: Banana Republic (similar, similar)

Pearl Statement Necklace: Simply Charming Boutique (similar, similar)

Blue Tights: Nordstrom (exact)

Blue Flats: France (similar, similar)

Denim Jacket: Hand-Me-Down (similar, similar)

Tassel Necklace: LOFT (similar, similar)

Black Tights: Nordstrom (exact)

Booties: DSW (exact)

Other Link-Ups:

I Do DeClaire- Confident Twosdays

My Closet Catalogue- TARDIS TUESDAY (I'm claiming that Classic Blue is the same as TARDIS Blue)

Blogging Besties: Moccasins

March: in like a lion and out like a lamb, am I right?!  Whitney here, enjoying yet another snow day while preparing this week's edition of Blogging Besties!  Here is Alex's cute, layered look from last week!

Alex chose so many great pieces that are easy to incorporate into a variety of outfits that I had a hard time choosing an item to pass on this week.  I ended up settling on my moccasins since I wear them so often!  They are truly a staple piece in my wardrobe.  I mean, shoes that feel like slippers...does it get better than that!?

I wore my beloved moccasins with a cute and comfy outfit since today was a snow day.  There's nothing like a crisp white shirt and some skinny jeans for a classic and easy look.  The lace in my shirt adds a little texture and interest to the combination.

For my accessories, I chose to layer a few necklaces.  I've noticed around the style blogosphere that the multi-necklace look is in lately.  I personally love it because I can wear my dainty necklaces that carry sentimental value with some of my bigger statement pieces.  If you are unsure of how to layer the necklaces already in your jewelry box, you can buy pre-layered jewels like this one or this one.

Edit: Maricel kindly pointed out that I forgot the list of items that you can pass on for next week.  Ooops!  Soooo, here you go! Skinny jeans, a plain white top, lace, layered necklaces, and moccasins!

What I'm Wearing:

Shirt: LOFT (similar, similar)

Delicate Necklaces: Gift (similar, similar)

Tassel Necklace: Rocksbox (similar, similar)

Jeans: American Eagle (exact)

Moccasins: Target (similar, similar)

Linking-Up:

The Brandied Pair and Style Honestly- Fab Five Friday

Rachel the Hat- Passion 4 Fashion

Previous Editions of Blogging Besties

Featured On:

Whitney à la mode

Undergraduate Style

What did you pass on from Alex's look last week?

An InLinkz Link-up

Currently: March

dreaming: About my upcoming trip to Michigan to celebrate this handsome guy's birthday!

planning: Another upcoming trip to Michigan for my much needed Spring Break.  I have time with my family (including my niece, Eloise), friends and the aforementioned handsome guy to look forward to!  Not to mention I'm pretty excited to celebrate my BFF's 30th birthday and the upcoming birth of another friend's little one!

making: White Beans with Tomato and Sausage...another delicious recipe from Budget Bytes!  Seriously, if you haven't checked-out this blog, you must!

baking: Who needs to bake when one can order a Nutella, peanut butter, chocolate and banana stuffed crêpe from the neighborhood café?

watching: All four seasons of The Killing on Netflix.  It's the story of one murder told across an entire season (or two) of this hour-long drama.

Linking-up with Anne and Jenna for Currently.

Create 28 Recap

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I have been participating in my friend Carrie of A Lovely Little Wardrobe's Create 28 Challenge during the month of February.  For the past 28 days, Carrie has given us a prompt for getting dressed in the morning.  Due to the craziness of real life, I didn't have time to take "official blog photos" of most of these outfits...but I did have time to take a few selfies!  Here are a few shots of my Create 28 ensembles.

Day 1: Your Go-To Look- When in doubt, add a fluffy, blush pink scarf!

Day 2: Monochromatic- Purple vest and a purple cardigan? Don't mind if I do!

Day 3: Neutrals- Grey and navy for the win!

Day 4: Colored Bottoms- Does it get any more colorful than red pants?

Day 10: Bright Colors- A neon floral dress.

Day 11: Stripes- Stripes + cheese + wine, oh my!

Day 14: Valentine's Day- A red dress and a handsome date <3

Day 17: Vest- A puffy vest to hide all of the donuts that I promptly ate out of that box!

Day 18: Leopard Print Pattern Mixing- Polka dots go pretty well with leopard print, don't you think?

Day 23: Pattern Mixing- Pink plaid with pink stripes make me pretty happy!

Day 24: Spring Transition- What's more springy than pastels?

Day 26: New Pattern- Haven't worn gingham yet this month.

Which look is your favorite?