Falling in Love with Camo

Oh my gosh, does it feel good to be getting back into the swing of blogging!  I've missed "visiting" with my blogging friends through reading your posts and commenting back and forth to each other.

Speaking of blogging friends, over at The Blended Blog we've just begun our Fall Fashion Frenzy series.  Each Wednesday, we would love for you to post an outfit following our weekly prompts and link-up with us!

This week, we are showing our love for camo, which is shaping-up to be a pretty popular print this fall.  Admittedly, I haven't always been into camo.  I've liked it on others but it hasn't felt very me.  I've found, though, camo with a touch of femininity is something I can be on board with!

I grabbed this super-soft, camo sweatshirt during a recent American Eagle sale and was so excited to wear it that I chose it for our very first cool-weather day!  I love that it's in pinky, soft hues instead of the typical green camo (it comes in blue as well).  If you are a traditional, green camo-lover, they also have this comfy-looking sweatshirt!

What I'm Wearing:
Sweathsirt: American Eagle (exact)
Vest: Eddie Bauer (similar)
Leggings: Fabletics (similar)
Sneakers: Keds (exact)

Where I'm Linking-Up

New Year Styled: Utility Vest + Link-Up

Military vest?  Utility vest?  Cargo vest?  Regardless of what you call it, this was one of my first blog-inspired purchases.  When I first started reading style blogs, I will admit to buying many items because I wanted to be just like the bloggers who inspired me.  Most of those purchases have since been donated but this vest is here to stay!  It really has been a great layering and point of interest piece to add to outfits.  I'm still so happy that I purchased mine in this pretty purple color instead of the traditional olive green because it is very me.

I usually wear this vest with neutral combinations.  A great example of a typical outfit featuring the vest is this ensemble that I wore this exact week but last year!

For my New Year Styled challenge with The Blended Blog this week, I wanted to do something a little bit different than I've done before.  So I added color!  I started by finding a scarf that went well with the vest and built my outfit from there.  I'm so pleased with the results.  I think this is one of my favorite outfits I've created recently!

How are you styling your new year?  Are you enjoying the seasons latest trends or are you remixing what you've got?  I would love for you to link-up with us below!

What I'm Wearing:
Sweater: Target (similar)
Vest: Eddie Bauer (similar)
Scarf: American Eagle (similar)
Jeans: American Eagle (exact)
Boots: Nordstrom (similar)

Casual Teacher Style

I wore this outfit last week on Tuesday for a teacher in-service day.  I enjoy these days for a number of reasons.  For one, we usually get to sleep-in a tiny bit because our meetings start later than the typical school day.  It's also nice to have a change of pace every once in awhile.  Obviously I enjoy spending my days with students (or else I wouldn't have become a teacher), but a quiet day spent in meetings feels good from time to time.  Finally, I like that I get to dress down in jeans with a cute top!  We are typically allowed to wear jeans on Fridays but only if we wear a shirt that supports or school or a college (in order to encourage our kids to continue their education beyond high school).  I have certain tops that I only like to wear jeans and it feels good to get to pull them out of the closet every once in awhile!

Do you have tops that you only like to wear with jeans or is your wardrobe fully mixable?

What I'm Wearing:

Top: LOFT (similar, similar)

Vest: Eddie Bauer (similar, similar)

Jeans: American Eagle (exact)

Booties: Old Navy (similar, similar)

Linking-Up:

DC In Style- Monday Bloom

Fizz and Frosting- Mix It Mondays

I Do DeClaire- Confident Tuesdays

The Modern Austen- Sunday Best

Pink Sole and Cha Cha the Fashion Genius- #HowIFall

Style Elixir- Style Sessions

Easy Does It

Today I'm linking-up with Caitlin at Greater than Rubies for this week's Remix Rewear Restyle session.  This week's challenge has been, in my opinion, one of the easiest so far...fall boots!  Who doesn't love a good pair of boots when the weather turns chilly?

It seems that when the leaves start falling, boots are the easiest shoes to throw on with any outfit.  I wore this ensemble for a casual evening on the town.  Boots, a vest and a scarf are such easy and comfortable ways to dress-up the basics!  What is your favorite way to wear boots?

I would also like to take a moment to talk about these pants.  Franziska recently reviewed them here on her blog, Franish (one of my favorite personal style blogs)!  These Gap 1969 Ponte Legging Jeans are possibly the most comfortable pair of pants I've ever worn!  For those of you unfamiliar with ponte, I would call it a glorious mix between dress pant material and leggings.  I am apprehensive about wearing leggings in public but with these pants, I feel both appropriate and comfortable.  They are thick enough to be flattering on my not-so-perfect bottom half!  I would most definitely recommend these pants!

What I'm Wearing:

• Shirt: Dressbarn (similar, similar)
• Vest: Eddie Bauer (similar, similar)
• Scarf: LOFT (exact)
• Pants: Gap (exact)
• Boots: DSW (similar, similar)

Halló frá Ísland!

Hello, or perhaps I should say, "halló!"  I promise I haven't fallen off the face of the earth!  Although I do feel like I've been to the ends of the earth and back.  I just returned from a trip to Iceland!  My vacation was full of adventure and relaxation...it was absolutely perfect!

I wore this outfit on our first day in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland.  It is much cooler there so I truly got to break-out my fall attire (making me a very happy girl).  The collared shirt layered with the cardigan were perfect for sitting in cozy cafés sipping on hot chocolate or nibbling on Nordic fish for dinner.  Adding the vest kept me warmer while I explored the city in the crisp, cool ocean breeze.

I love the purples, pinks, reds and oranges of this shirt.  To me, this color scheme screams fall while keeping the look bright and cheerful.  I think the neutral cardigan adds even more of a fall feel to the outfit.

I am quite pleased to have found another outfit that looks great with my vest, featured in this post.  This purply-grey vest was the perfect travel companion and added an extra layer of warmth from the airplane to the Icelandic air.

And the added bonus?  My new Coach purse made the pink in my shirt POP!

Stay tuned for more Icelandic ensembles!

What I'm Wearing:

• Shirt: Old Navy (similar, similar)
• Cardigan: Target (exact)
• Vest: Eddie Bauer (similar, similar)
• Jeans: Old Navy (exact)
• Flats: DSW (similar, similar)
• Purse: Coach Outlet (similar, similar)

Fall Capsule Wardrobe: Go Green Edition

Now, there is something really important you should know about me.  I am a HUGE Michigan State University fan.  As a second-generation Spartan and a two time graduate from MSU, I practically bleed green.

When Caitlin from Greater than Rubies proposed the Fall Capsule Wardrobe Remix Challenge, I knew that I had to include a Michigan State sweatshirt.  I mean, fall is football season, right?

Typically I pair MSU gear with a pair of jeans and that's it!  I'm so happy that this challenge has encouraged me to think outside the box because I absolutely adore some of the spirited ensembles I have put together.

This is a perfect tailgating outfit!  The leggings are comfy.  The boots are warm.  The layers add extra protection from the midwestern fall chill!  I will hopefully get to make the trek home for one MSU football game this fall and I'm already planning to wear this outfit.

This ensemble is a little more jazzy with the high-heeled booties and vest.  I think this would be cute to wear to a sports bar to catch the latest game (which is the way I have to watch most of my Spartan football these days).

What better bottom to pair with an MSU sweatshirt but a GREEN skirt?  Who knew that a sweatshirt tucked into a skirt would look so cute?  This wouldn't work for all sweatshirts but this slimmer style tucks right in.  This look would also look cute with a team t-shirt.

This hot pink blazer and bright purple flats add pizazz to my spirit-wear.  On Fridays, I'm allowed to wear college gear and jeans to work.  These extra pieces are a perfect way to brighten-up an outfit and the end of my work week!

Who is your favorite team and how do you spice-up your fan gear?

Oh, and GO GREEN!

What I'm Wearing:

• Sweatshirt: SBS (similar, similar)

• Chambray Shirt: Old Navy (similar, similar)
• Leggings: Old Navy (exact)
• Ugg Boots: Gift (exact)

• Vest: Eddie Bauer (similar, similar)
• Jeans: Old Navy (exact)
• Booties: Target (exact)

• Skirt: Banana Republic (similar, similar)
• Flats: DSW (similar, similar)

• Blazer: JCPenney (exact)
• Jeans: See above
• Purple Flats: Aldo (similar, similar)

One Piece Many Ways: Military-Inspired Vest

Before I started reading personal style blogs, I never even contemplated wearing a vest.  For some reason I just assumed that vests "weren't me."  But then summer arrived...and it got hot...and I needed cute ways to spice up outfits without adding sweat-inducing layers.  I noticed other bloggers wearing cute outfits featuring vests and I thought, "hmm, that might work!"

I initially started looking for a denim vest but I have yet to find one that fits my criteria.  Speaking of which, do you have any suggestions for a decently priced, classic looking, medium-dark wash denim vest??

Anyways, during a recent trip to the outlet mall, I happened upon this adorable military-inspired vest!  I fell in love with the purplish-grey hue and the adorable back detail...and I decided that this is a look that I have to try!

When Audrey over at Putting Me Together announced another "One Piece Many Ways" Link-Up, I knew that this was the perfect moment feature and experiment with my new vest!

My first look is extremely casual.  Black leggings and a chambray shirt are comfy basics and the vest adds a bit of color and interest to the ensemble while maintaining a laid-back style.

This is exactly what I had in mind earlier this summer when I wanted a vest to add interest to a summer outfit because blazers and cardigans just aren't an option in the heat.

I put this last look together as a work ensemble.  I think it looks just a bit more put together than a simple top and dress pants.

(and look at the adorable back detail!)

This is just the beginning for my adorable, purply vest and I can't wait to show you lots more of my vest creations!

What I'm Wearing:

• Vest: Eddie Bauer Outlet (similar, similar)

• Chambray Shirt: Old Navy (similar, similar)
• Leggings: Old Navy (exact)
• Flats: DSW (similar, similar)

• Dress: Target (similar, similar)
• Purple Flats: Aldo (similar, similar)

• Striped Top: Banana Republic (exact)
• Pants: Gap (similar, similar)
• Black Flats: Younkers (similar, similar)