memorial day

 i hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend! gotta love when it feels like monday, but it's actually tuesday! (it's the little things that make me happy). the weekend was great--equal parts fun and productive. we were very successful on the packing front. i'm talking all my clothes are packed, people! this is a huge deal considering most of my apartment consists of clothes (oops). 

 in order to make said packing easier, on sunday, anthony and i headed to buffalo exchange in dc to sell some of our clothes. i had a huge bin full of all of the items i cleaned out of my closet. some of it was older stuff, but i managed to sell over $100 worth of clothing! in exchange for what they buy from you, you can get either 50% of it in store credit or 30% of it in cash. i took the store credit (duh) cause i do so much shopping there anyway. it was a very successful reverse shopping trip. on the way home, we donated all of the leftover clothing to goodwill. feels great to have a downsized closet and a giftcard to do some more shopping! :)

yesterday, we spent the day relaxing and eating a lot of good food. we had chick fil a for lunch, my favorite. and then we headed over to the movie theater to see neighbors. i was so surprised by how funny it was! we were cracking up almost the entire time. plus, zac efron is just so darn cute. celebrity crush all the way! after that, we did some packing. i hope you're noticing a trend here. there was a lot of packing happening. packing sucks. and it takes forever. the end. 

 we made a small feast for dinner that could have easily fed a family of 5 but nope, it was just for us! safe to say we will be eating bbq food leftovers all week. i made some pasta salad and egg salad, while anthony cooked up some chili dogs and baked beans. there's just something about cook out food that gets me! i love it. we cracked a few beers and enjoyed our day off. i have no complaints! well except for the whole packing thing. did i mention i hate packing?

i wore my new shoes all day and i can already tell these bad boys are going to be my new summer obsession. i ordered them on sale (only 30 bucks) at modcloth and was so happy when they arrived! i feel slightly like a 5 year when i wear them but that's okay. why should 5 year olds be the only ones allowed to wear bright + comfy flower print sandals?! i also threw on a green tee that i easily made into a DIY crop top by tying the front in a little knot and paired it with a cool skirt. it was the perfect outfit for a very summer-like weekend.

thanks for checking in! happy tuesday, folks.
xxoo,
n

outfit details
tee: target
skirt: tj maxx
sandals: saltwater via modcloth
purse: h&m

90s chick

happy hump day, folks! i hope everyone is doing well. this month has been jam packed full of fun things and i can't believe april is already nearing the end. last friday i got to go out with a bunch of my coworkers and celebrate everyone who has an april birthday. we got pizza and my dad made a cake and it was so fun! working with people that you love definitely makes your job more enjoyable.

i hope everyone had a great easter! it was nice to go home for the weekend and get to spend time with the fam. we got all dressed up for church on sunday and my step dad made a huge dinner for everyone that night. there's nothing like tons of good homemade food! and i even stuck to my no candy rule even though my dad gave me an easter basket! but safe to say i'm keeping it in a drawer for emergencies :)

i'm all about the pastel nail polish colors right now. i bought blue, pink, and purple the other day and have been rotating through all of them! i usually gravitate towards darker colors, but there's something about spring that makes having powder blue nails seem like the right thing to do. what's your go to nail polish color for spring?
this lace dress is one of my favorites. i got it from tj maxx a while back and it stays in constant rotation in my wardrobe during the warmer months. i usually pair it with a belt, but i decided to switch it up and tie this thrifted plaid (men's) shirt around my waist. it's a great way to layer for in between temps when it's not quite hot out yet. also, who doesn't love a good 90s vibe, amiright?

i hope you all enjoy the rest of your week! thanks for dropping by.

xxoo,

n

outfit details

dress: tj maxx

shirt + bag: thrifted

boots: groupon

earrings: kensie

denim diaries

over the weekend, anthony and i had our little sisters in town. and by "little" i mean 15 years old and (maybe) taller than me. both of them are awesome and hilarious and it was great hosting them in baltimore for a few days. we tried to jam pack as many fun things as possible in their less than 48 hour trip and i'm pretty sure that we succeeded. i've found that when having people visit for the weekend, equal parts rest and adventure is key. because as much as everyone loves a good brunch, sometimes you just need an extra hour or two of sleep on a saturday morning!

they both got here friday night, and we started off by ordering indian food and watching a movie. neither of them had ever tried indian food before (!!!!!) and there was no way we were letting that nonsense go on for another minute. indian is honestly probably my favorite kind of food ever. so we ordered a lotttt. ya know. for the sake of them trying as much as possible. not so i could eat more than half my weight in naan and curry.

saturday we woke up late and headed out to hampden-- an adorable neighborhood outside of baltimore. we browsed some antique stores, did some shopping, and ate at cafe hon for lunch. this little town is so cute and colorful i almost couldn't take it. i mean there were pastel houses on every corner; it doesn't get much better than that. it was the perfect scenery for a gorgeous spring day.

it was by pure coincidence that we all got dressed in varying forms of denim on saturday morning. whether it's chambry, skinny jeans, or a jacket-- we basically have all your denim bases covered here. and when we walked by this purple wall, i decided that it would pretty much be a sin if we didn't stop and take some outfit photos here. the blogger in me just couldn't resist this colorful backdrop and our coordinating looks. :)

the rest of the weekend was filled with duck pin bowling, yummy mexican food, and, of course, more shopping. i'm finding when it comes to hosting friends in town, its extremely difficult to find plans that don't include going to my favorite restaurants and clothing stores. i definitely need to be better about brainstorming things to do that are more creative (and better for the ol wallet). what's your favorite thing to do when a friend comes to town? i need some ideas!

i hope everyone had a great weekend. enjoy the rest of your monday!

xxoo,
n

outfit details
shirt: tj maxx
pants: buffalo exchange
jacket: avalon exchange
loafers: c/o duo
purse: h&m
jewelry: forever 21

spring is here

it's officially the first day of spring! even though the temperatures are basically the same as yesterday, it feels like a fresh start. this new season means short sleeves, cute flats, and dresses with no tights. i hope to finally put my big jackets and knit scarves away for good. and honestly this doesn't make me the least bit sad. this winter seemed like an especially long one. i mean just on monday there was a few inches of snow on the ground! it's giving me extreme cabin fever and i'm ready to start planning some fun outdoor adventures. 

there's so much to look forward to in the upcoming months. my sister and anthony's sister are coming to visit this weekend. next weekend is my niece's first birthday. in april we have some friends coming to stay with us for a few days, my birthday, and celebrating easter with my fam. it's awesome looking at my calendar and having fun plans almost every weekend! i'm someone who likes staying busy (with the occasional lazy netflix binge day every once in a while- obvs). it helps keeps my happy and motivated. are you someone who's more spontaneous or do you like thinking ahead?

it's been a while since i've worn this vest but as soon as i put it on i remember why i bought it in the first place. it's just so fun!! if you don't have a fur vest-- you are making a huge mistake. dramatic, yes. but c'mon. you probably still have a few more weeks, if not months, of wearing it before it gets too warm. and in case you need more of a push check out this one and also this one. ahh, i want both! and don't forget to pair it with a colorful tee and some cool boots (both of which were stolen from my sister's closet. oops).

i hope everyone enjoys the first day of spring! buy yourself some flowers or something :)

xxoo,

n

outfit details

shirt + boots: target

vest: urban exchange 

jeans: tj maxx

necklace: forever 21

obey yourself

the weather this week has been all over the place. warm one day and freezing the next. sunday i was out running in shorts and a tank and tonight it was 30 degrees! i'm ready for the temps to even out so i can put away the heavy coats and tights. it's so much easier to stay positive and happy when there's sunshine. i know that sounds cliche, but for me, it's true. with daylight savings this week, i get home from work and the sun is still up!!! it's amazing. i've never been more thankful to have lost an hour of sleep in my whole life.

i'm most excited for spring because it'll get me outside running more often. i'm doing a 5k in may with my sister jessica and my only goal is to not suck-- i want to have a decent time and not do any walking. it's my first real race so i'm looking mostly to just have fun! it's one of those colorful ones where you throw all that colored powder all over the place and leave looking like a rainbow farted on you. ha! i can't wait.

as you probably know by now, i'm usually a fan of dresses and skirts, but every once in a while you just wanna dress cool and comfy. one of my favorite things are guys t-shirts! they can be so much more fun than girl t shirts. buying from the guy section gives you more leeway with finding a good fit for you. i don't always want something short and fitted. actually, that's exactly what i'm not looking for in a comfy shirt. so i highly recommend hanging out on your boyfriend's side of the store next time you want a fun oversized tee!

and speaking of boyfriends, check out this hottie! he just got a haircut this week and looks extra cute, if i do say so myself :) he's heading home to pittsburgh next week (he's on spring break) and i'm soo jealous that he gets to go back to visit. it's been so long since i've been there and i miss that city. we're in the midst of planning a weekend trip next month for my birthday! only a month until i'm 22! woot woot.

i wish everyone a very happy friday. enjoy your weekend and do something fun! 

xxoo,

n

outfit details

shirt: thrifted
sweater: urban outfitters
pants: tj maxx
shoes: groupon

flower power

at this point i'm sure you all have entered the Adore Me contest because duh-- free lingerie for pinning. life doesn't get much easier than that, people! and i'm finally back with an outfit post. i'm sure i'm like the millionth person to proclaim that i'm "so over this snow," but dangit, i am so over this snow!! we got another few inches on sunday night, getting me out of work on monday, and half a day tuesday (which is always appreciated), but at this point i'd rather work a 500 hour week and never, ever see fluffy white stuff fall from the sky ever again. or at least until next winter. 

i ordered this gorgeous coat from romwe a few weeks back and was so excited when it came in the mail. i was getting tired of wearing the same jacket to work everyday (#firstworldproblems) and i wanted something fun and colorful. plus, it's light enough that it will easily transition to spring. i am more than ready for some pastel action in my life. who's with me?!

speaking of spring, this floral sweater is great for shining light into the darkness of winter. it keeps me warm and cozy, but on the outside it's fun and bright and i'm pretty sure these flowers are daisies (which happen to be my favorite) and if they aren't, well i'm just pretending they are anyway cause daisies rule.

i got this gorgeous layered necklace from anthony's aunt and uncle for christmas and i just love it. i'm not sure where they got it from, but they said it looked "so nikki" and they were right. it's great! i thought it would pair perfectly with my silver studded duo loafers. throw on some quirky glasses, and you have a casual, laid back look that helps you cope with these forever-lingering winter months. 

thanks for stopping by! i'm heading to my parents this weekend and couldn't be more excited to see my fam :) happy almost friday, y'all.

xxoo,
n

outfit details
sweater: forever 21
pants: tj maxx
coat: romwe
loafers: c/o duo
necklace: christmas gift
glasses: amazon

in living color

hellllooo! to say this week has been a hectic one would be the understatement of the year. my car is currently in the shop (again) and it's really throwing me off my groove! i need that thing to, ya know, get to my job and to the store and basically everywhere important in life. it all started on valentine's day. anthony and i were heading out for our date night, and after a few minutes in the car it made a very loud, unfortunate sound. the sound got worse and worse, but we were able to at least make it to the parking lot of the restaurant (thankfully). the only problem was we didn't know how we were going to leave the restaurant. as soon as we sat down for dinner, we started stressing about how we were going to get the car to the shop. after scarfing down a few crab cakes, we were out of there. 

so the closest mechanic was only a few minutes away, and we risked it and made the drive. if you ignored the BOOM BOOM BOOM everytime the tired rotated, the car seemed just fine. so despite a few startled looks from other drivers on the road, we made it to the shop relatively unscathed. we had to wait for some friends to come pick us up and take us home. safe to say, this holiday will noy go down in history as the most romantic evening because any night that ends up with you holding your heels while standing in gas station is probably one you want to forget. 

but on to brighter notes, i visited my family over the weekend and my mom was kind enough to let me borrow her car until mine is fixed (thanks, mama!) and i couldn't be more thankful. plus, it was awesome getting to see (most of) my siblings and have some good ol fashioned family time. and if you have ever met my family that means lots of card games and lots of margaritas, hehe :)

it's sad to say, but i'm already counting down days til the weekend. i need to catch up on some sleep (and blogging!!) and can't wait to just take a nap. i always feel guilty just wishing the rest of the week to disappear, but sometimes you just need friday afternoon so damn bad! 

i hope everyone's weeks are going slightly better than mine. happy two days til friday!

xxoo,

n

outfit details

tee: urban outfitters

pants: tj maxx

sweater: h&m

scarf: american apparel via buffalo exchange

beanie: forever 21

boots: target

weekend wears

this weekend was a lazy one. anthony and i did a whole lot of nothing. and it was awesome. in between lounging on the couch and watching endless amounts of gilmore girls (we're almost done the fifth season!), we did manage to squeeze in time to go tour apartments. we're looking to move closer to dc this summer, so the apartment hunting has officially begun! it's so exciting look at potential places. we are trying to find somewhere in a nice area, that isn't too expensive, so we have our work cut out for us. already the first place we looked at was amazing! so i think we're off to a great start. 

friday night we stayed in, ordered pizza, and played monopoly (typical night for us, ha!) and it couldn't have been more relaxing. my weekend laziness made me want to escape the leggings and sweaters and put on a nice outfit for our apartment adventure. i ordered this new coat from h&m after seeing pale shadow wearing it in a post a few weeks back. it's just so pretty! and i love the fit. it was on major sale, so i only spent $30! not bad for a stylish winter(ish) coat.

these little booties are also new from a shoe shopping extravaganza i went on at charlotte russe a couple months ago. i hadn't worn them yet (oops!) and now i don't want to take them off! the heel is just right for a tall gal like me and they're just plain comfy. paired with my favorite denim cuffed skinnies i was ready for a fun day out and about.

i won this necklace through a giveaway delightfully tacky hosted a few weeks back and it's just so beautiful! it truly is a statement necklace, and i thought pairing it with dark, solid colors would make it the focal point of the outfit. sometimes, simplicity is key. i love the chic, preppy feel of this outfit. it's a little different than what i might normally wear, but i liked trying something new!

i hope everyone's monday is off to a great start. i'm eating korean bbq for dinner tonight so basically today is going to be awesome. thanks for checking in!

xxoo,

n

outfit details

top: forever 21

jacket: h&m 

jeans: tj maxx

booties: charlotte russe

necklace: juicy dealz via delightfully tacky giveaway

cobblestone streets

the weather was absolutely gorgeous over the weekend. and by gorgeous i mean above 40 degrees! that's almost unheard of in february. it was great to actually go outside and enjoy the sun without stomping through piles of snow. anthony and i try to pack as many fun outings and adventures as we can each weekend, because during the week our schedules are crazy. between my working full-time and him working and taking classes, it doesn't leave room for much else besides eating dinner and binge-watching gilmore girls on week nights. it makes me feel old, but i guess it's just a part of growing up! 

i find that i'm a lot happier if i find time to cook dinner or exercise after work. usually all i want to do is crash and take a nap, but if i do a work-out video as soon as i'm home-- i have a little bit more energy for the rest of the evening. and another benefit of healthy living is it makes me really into cooking! i've been all about the crock pot recipes lately. it's so convenient to make it one night and have soup or chili for the next day's lunch or dinner. one meal preparation that turns into multiple meals is too awesome to pass up. be sure to check out my 'be healthy' board on pinterest for some fun recipes!

so, i've been really trying to stick with my saving money resolution by doing a lot more thrifting. this amazing buffalo plaid jacket was found at goodwill. and i'm in love and it's perfect and i want to wear it everyday. i love finding such awesome and trendy pieces at such a good price. it reminds me of why i started going to thrift stores in the first place. it's so much more rewarding than buying the first thing you see on urban outfitter's website (and i mean that in the nicest way possible cause we all know i have their homepage saved in my bookmarks). all i mean is in order to expand my wardrobe, i can't drop $70+ dollars on jacket, when i could look a little harder and find something like this for $5.

speaking of urban outfitters, that's where this tee is from. and it's from the boy section. and it cost $9.99 on sale. so yes, shopping there can definitely be manageable. you've just got to be a bargain shopper! it's possible and very, very fun.  i thought my new black combat boots would finish off this look with the right edgy feel, and i think i was right. i got them through groupon. yes, they have groupons for SHOES. it's amazing, people. signing up for their weekly emails makes me feel like i need cooking classes, a trip to south america, and mani/pedi/massage every time i refresh my inbox. still haven't decided if that's a good or bad thing. ha!

well, i hope the first few days of february are treating you all marvelously. thanks for stopping by.

xxoo,

n

outfit details

tee: urban outfitters

plaid jacket/bag: thrifted

jewelry: forever 21

jeans: tj maxx

boots: carrini via groupon 

blue skies

alright people. i'm officially done with winter. no more of this "but the snow is so pretty!" or "layering is fun!" talk. i can't do it anymore!! lets just all take a vote and choose to skip ahead a few months to blue skies and sunshine. i'm not talking full blown summer, but just temperatures above the teens and no more frozen precipitation falling from the sky. who's in!? 

these photos weren't from that long ago, but it was a much happier time. the ground wasn't white and a chunky sweater was enough to keep me warm. this post is me looking back and reminiscing on the better days. the days when i could wear only one pair of tights (now i need to double up) and i could leave the house without a sweatshirt/jacket/hat/gloves/ski mask combo. okay the ski mask is a joke but i do hope february is when we say bye-bye to weekly snow dustings and wind chills of below zero (i know it's unlikely, but hey a girl can dream).

this is one of my most frequently worn sweaters and you've probably seen it before. the maroon and stripes are just my absolute favorite. you can see me style it with pants here but i decided to try something new and pair it with this great skirt i scored for $9.99 at tj maxx. the shape is perfect and i obviously bought it in a different color as well. i mean have you met me? how could i resist.

i know it's only wednesday but i'm already looking forward to the weekend. i see a lot of staying inside in my future. on friday, anthony and i are having a little get together in our apartment with some friends and i can't wait! i'm gonna make some fun snacks and drinks and it'll be a great way to kick off the weekend. saturday, we are heading downtown to try this new mexican restaurant that anthony's aunt and uncle got us a giftcard to for christmas! we've only heard good things and i love trying out new places to eat. are you already planning out your weekend or is it just me?

happy hump day to all. and stay warm!

xxoo,

n

outfit details

skirt: tj maxx

sweater: forever 21

tights/boots: target