wearing - 35/50

hat & tee - Target // denim jacket - American Eagle // pants - H&M // boots - Old Navy (similar)

Full disclosure - I wore my hair in this braid for 48 hours straight. One of these days, I'll get my life together enough to do some more hair tutorials.

This past weekend, I took a very quick trip back to Virginia for what can be boiled down to four essential reasons: 1) We had another load of purged clothes to let younger siblings comb through before donating them 2) Golden doodle cuddles 3) The opportunity to do a small photo session of my niece & nephew with pumpkins was far too tempting & 4) With more orange leaves on the ground every day, the tub full of boots, scarves & hats that didn't make the trip up here this summer was like, an ancient lost holy grail that needed to be retrieved. It was a really pleasant, relaxing weekend. I got to squish baby faces with kisses & watch the first 30 minutes of Frozen with my nearly two-year-old niece like, 8 times & leisurely stroll through a Target with only one floor & a car waiting for me in the parking lot.

We are currently watching our third episode of Doctor Who in anticipation of midnight, in which it will be (ready for another list?): 1) The first day of October -- OCTOBER!!! THE BEST!!! THE ONLY!!! The greatest month of the year! 2) & in being the first day of October, I am officially eating/drinking/smelling ALL the pumpkin things, which I always hold off on doing until October begins... which works out REALLY well, because 3) Our Whole30 is over! & even though this is totally not how you're supposed to come off Whole30, we have pumpkin beer & pumpkin cupcakes from Baked & Wired awaiting midnight in the kitchen. We are wild people, people.

In conclusion, the minute Jared saw this hat on my head, he said, "Well, hey, Pharrell!" & now I either want to return it or wear it every day. Can't decide.

wearing - 34/50

turtleneck - Forever21 // pants - H&M // shoes - Target // lips - Revlon's Stormy Pink

As the current reigning queen of Awaiting Job Offers-Land, I've reached an entirely new level of my closet. The 2nd interview follow-up outfit that says "still put-together, but also yes, I can lift that box." My job search is mostly in the retail sphere, since it's a supplementary part-time job, so both of those things are tres importante. Another high priority to these outfits are comfortable, yet dressy shoes, since I'm usually walking at least a mile to the interviews. This outfit certainly got the job done, but did it get THE job? ... Only time will tell. *slowly backs into the shadows*

For now, I'm just super happy to have a wide open, job-less weekend in this divine weather. Happy Saturday, everyone!

wearing - 33/50

top + shoes - Old Navy // dress - Forever21 // tights - Urban Outfitters // locket - vintage (gift from my sweetheart)

What better day to wear tights for the first time since spring than the first day of fall? It was seriously gorgeous here today. A high of 73 with the most crisp wind & perfect September clouds... The forecast definitely got the autumn memo. Fall in DC has been my favorite since I can remember, & to encounter the leaves changing on a daily basis when I walk out my front door is slightly surreal. The pumpkin bug finally bit - I want aaaaall the fall things. Right now.

I almost didn't pair this shirt with this dress because I just recently wore it in this post. But then I decided, what the heck - Wearing the clothes in my closet multiple times in one month (... or week) is real life. Bonus fun fact: It was on sale when I bought it. Ka-ching. 

wearing - 32/50

blazer - Target // tee - Gap // jeans + heels - H&M // necklace - Old Navy

There's a hint of autumn floating in on the evening breeze, mostly in the form of temperature drops around 6pm & my blazers sneaking their way to the front of the closet. This week is Round 2 of the interview gauntlet, & I'm banking on power outfits to complement my shining personality ;)

Hilariously, while we're on the topic of beautiful weather & my side of the closet, I'm basically a shut-in today even though the weather outside is GORGEOUS. Our bedroom closet is the only closet in our apartment, & thus a clustercuss of clothes + shoes + storage + am I dead yet. So, instead of ignoring the mess for one more day (now that my one month DC-iversary has passed), I'm determined to conquer it. Ugh.

PS. Not pictured is Jared wearing the boy counterpart of this outfit behind the camera. Jeans, white tee, blazer... But Asics instead of heels.  We laughed when we saw each other, bickered about who actually put it on first, then shrugged & headed out the door anyway. All of that = A sure sign that our 4th wedding anniversary is next month.

wearing - 31/50

champbray top - Pac Sun (similar) // denim shorts - American Eagle // belt - Vintage/Jared's  // flats - Target (similar) // beaded necklace - ClarissaB Designs // party nail - Jamberry Gold Pinstripe

I'm having the hardest time not wearing this necklace every day. My friend Amelia discovered Clarissa's adorable shop set-up at her local farmer's market down in Richmond, & as soon as I saw Amelia's beaded beauty, I maybe obsessed a little until I got to make one of my own. It matches everything, & is easily my most complimented accessory. Get one! Have one! They're adorable!

While I'm here & pimping things out, I'm also rocking a party nail via Jamberry. It's Day 6 & these guys are going strong. I have three other patterns to try out, & honestly, a long way to go in my application techniques. But still, DIY manicures are the best thing that have happened to my non-existant pampering budget line in a long while ;)

Lastly, it was no more than 2 years ago that I was making fun of my dad for rocking denim on denim. Oops sorry dad you were right.

wearing - 30/50

knit top - Urban Outfitters // maxi dress & flats - Target // hat - Cotton On // necklace - Nordstrom

This outfit didn't seem as weird when I put it on. Isn't that just how it goes? I've been watching The Tudors while I finish my enormous organizing task around the apartment, & I think this ensemble was maybe slightly influenced by too many crowns/headdresses & long ballgowns. I was feeling pretty good about it, until we went directly to the grocery store & the bottom of my skirt kept getting mysteriously soaked. So! Moral of the story: pick & choose where you wear your maxi dress. Also, don't marry King Henry VII.

It was the most beautifully rainy day today, & it turned into the most beautifully crisp September evening. Windows open, candles burning, Imogen Heap playing kind of weather. The. Best.

wearing - 29/50

top - H&M // dress - Francesca's // flats - Urban Outfitters

The difference between Norfolk & DC is all in the skirt, folks. This skirt (which is actually a dress) should be a pencil skirt if I wanted to fit in with the streets of DC, or wear this to the hypothetical job interview that I'll eventually get. (Because I will! Right? Right! Whoo! Go team!) Most days, walking down the sidewalk is a mixture of a scene from a 1993 episode of Law & Order & the pages of the most recent J. Crew magazine. Lots of style-watching going on for this girl. Mental notes galore.

My twisty bangs are a result of 1. straightening my hair & lingering on el bangs too long & 2. a photo shoot next month that's permanent enough for my 2014 summer hair to not be documented. Not complaining - It turned out the way I was hoping it would - But ohhh, is this just the beginning over some serious styling creativity. Growing bangs out is a special thing, isn't it?

Jared had today & tomorrow off, so we're finally getting to set-up some of the furniture & shelving we got last week. I'm being beckoned to come hold up a rather large shelf, so I'm off to flex my seriously impressive muscles. *cough* 

Happy Wednesday!

wearing - 28/50

tee - Old Navy // skirt - H&M // sandals - TJ Maxx

Honesty: I don't read style blogs unless I have a particular event that requires a particularly inspired outfit. I don't think I have ever looked at a fashion magazine outside of sheer boredom at the dentist. My style board on Pinterest consists of whatever shows up on my home page. I think I've bought one thing at J. Crew that wasn't on sale or from an outlet. I do style posts for fun, not because I believe I'm an extraordinary fashionista. My clothing budget varies between non-existant & piddly, & at this point in our lives, I'm totally happy to accept the challenge of making it work.

HOWEVER. Every. Freaking. Year. New York Fashion Week rolls around & I die. I die a thousand times. I want to beeeee there. I want to watch the shows! I want to watch the shows because I was invited. I know, this is total crazy talk. & with all of ^^ that up there being said, it doesn't really make any sense. I want to be more immersed in the fashion world, but I think I pass up on the blogs & magazines because I'd rather avoid the pangs of jealousy. Someday, NYFW. Someday, I will enjoy you. [In the mean time, I'm following along with my Minnesota cutie/true fashionista Chelsea's adventures on insta.]

Anywho, just had to get that out after a morning of #NYFW tweets & instagrams. Talk about feeding the monster.

This outfit got me up, down & all around town as we did our massive Ikea/Container Store/Target shopping trip to finish organizing our new place. We decided once I got up here to live a car-less life. This has meant lots of walking, which is fantastic, but a lot of shoe drama for me. I have pretty classic (horrific?) dancer/soccer player feet, & finding shoes that don't hurt after a .5 mile walk has been difficult. In fact, I thought these sandals were okay walking shoes, but NOPE! Nope. Not so much. My friend Elsa has lived up here for awhile now & offered some advice for breaking my shoes in, so hopefully I'll start making strides (har har) in comfort for les pieds.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends. I'm off to make a loooong hike to the closest Target. WISH ME LUCK/NO BLISTERS!

wearing - 27/50

shirt - Old Navy // shorts - Gap // wedges - Cotton On // bag - Francesca's // necklace - Walmart, yep, Walmart

ALRIGHT, GUYS. Back in the saddle. I have 7 missed weeks to make up for (assuming my math is correct...) & a new photo wall to seek out. Taking these photos was real weird. Weird to have Jared behind the camera again, weird to try to find a spot to take pictures without people on the sidewalk staring us down. But it's a start!

I'm currently going through a fashion crisis, as all of my clothes seem... wrong in this city. I know, that's totally 100% stupid. But for now, it's motivating me to put my wardrobe to the test for the third time this year, in yet another attempt to mature my sartorial options and bonus! Make space in our tiny closet.

& yeah. Walmart necklace. I know.

wearing - 26/50

hat - borrowed from Kelsie // kimono - TJ Maxx // dress - Target // boots - Old Navy // June Jar (1/3 grapefruit juice, 2/3 water)

You may someday find yourself in a TJ Maxx, sifting through rack upon rack of "Is this actually cute or comparatively cute?" clothing items, none of which you actually need but, hey! You're feeling a little stressed. This is therapeutic. You may even think to yourself, "Maybe there's soft sheets on sale!" which there never are, & you know that, but you mosey on to the back of the store anyway. You may see, out of the very corner of your eye, a pretty water color pattern that you're sure you saw a little fashion fairy scamper behind after she sprinkled her trend-finding fairy dust over your head. You may gasp a little, because it's a darling kimono & you've been searching for one for 2 months. You may also be confused for a second, because MY! those are some fancy house-dresses on the rack next to it & ohhhh, yeah, this is the lingerie department. But you will definitely decide "To hell with it!" & convince yourself that this was obviously just put in the wrong place because YOU were meant to find it. This could happen to you -- & I know, because this happened. to. me. It's adorable, right? Not too pajama-y? You know what, don't tell me. I love it.

I keep avoiding writing a new post since my brain is a steady stream of apartment hunting thoughts. I have been subconsciously replacing words in every day conversation with the word "apartment" (ex. "So, then we went to the apart... beach! The beach.") & continually catch myself working the hunt into conversations, even though I know no one cares as much as Jared & I do. We have 3 weeks left on our lease in Norfolk, & theeeen... Well, I'd really love to have a new place to move our things into, instead of a storage unit.

Omg, see? A PARAGRAPH. Just like that. In conclusion, send 1BR+ not-scary-neighborhood + Hardwood Floors-y thoughts in our direction, please.

Iiiiiiin other news, it rained so hard this afternoon that our entire city was basically underwater, & I walked home, & I'd really love for my car to be unscathed when I get to work tomorrow morning. ... & I just remembered that means I have to wake up a half hour earlier UGH.

So, pretty kimonos for days & days! < -- Happy thoughts!