totally thrifted

hello! i finally have internet!!! this may not seem like a big deal, but alas, anthony and i have been living in the stone age this week because our apartment has not had wi-fi for 10. whole. days. as soon as we moved in we were supposed to be able to set everything up, but after many, many problems with comcast we were told there was something wrong with our connection or box or something. i am not aware all of the details here people, i am no rocket scientist. all i know is that i have not been able to watch orange is the new black on netflix and i don't know what i did to deserve this cruel and unusual punishment. they finally sent someone out today to fix it. so praise baby jesus i can finally see what happened in the piper/pensatuckey brawl at the end of last season. (no spoilers, please!)

 our first week in dc has been incredible. in between unpacking and decorating, we've been eating fro yo, drinking beer, going to the movies, etc. basically it's the same stuff that we usually do except now it requires a lot more walking and we are constantly surrounded by tourists asking us to take their photograph in front of the [insert whatever monument is closest to us here.] but honestly, i love it! there's just something about the hustle and bustle of the city that makes me feel more awake and more alive. it sounds cliche, but it couldn't be more true.

i can already tell this little denim dress is going to get a lot of use this summer. it's comfy, lightweight, and bonus-- it has little studs on the pockets. i paired it with a slouchy bag, a skinny belt, and my trusty brown sandals and i was all set to walk around and explore our new neighborhood. you can easily recreate this look at h&m. i linked to some cute and affordable items that will help you master the comfy + chic look this summer!

dress//belt//bag//sandals

i'm happy to be getting settled into our new place and excited to share some fun stuff here on this little blog soon. as always, thanks for reading! 

xxoo,

n

white hot

i honestly don't think this weekend could have been any more eventful. thursday night, anthony had his last final for grad school!! so he's officially done with his master's degree. i couldn't be more proud. i threw him a little mini grad party with dollar store decorations and a crumbs cupcake. it was fun and i am so happy for him! now we have the whole summer to enjoy not being students before i start grad school in the fall, ha!

the weather here has been magical lately. sunny, warm, and perfect. i love bringing out all of my summer skirts and dresses. this skirt is one of my favorites because the fit and length are just right. it's thrifted (as is this shirt) and i thought it made a great outfit for work. so this look is half totally thrifted and half 9-5. i couldn't decide which to pick, so we will say it's both. :)

with this simple look, i continued the trend with some simple accessories. i usually prefer gold over silver, but this vintage silver bracelet is too pretty not to wear. and my two biggest spring staples so far this season have been my nude old navy sandals and my trusty h&m bag. you can catch me wearing at least one of these two items 99% of the time. you can never go wrong with the basics. what is your spring staple right now? 

in other news, anthony and i officially signed the lease for our new apartment (!!!!!!) and i couldn't be more excited. we are moving in on may 31st and i can't even put it into words how wonderful our little apartment community is. great location, nice neighborhood, and a pool! i can't wait to do some swimmin' and sunnin' this summer. it's going to be amaazinnggg. we've already started furniture shopping and scored an awesome couch at an antique store on saturday. things are really falling into place! 

i hope every had a fabulous monday. thanks for stopping by!
xxoo,
n

outfit details
shirt + skirt: thrifted
bag: h&m
shoes: old navy
bracelet: vintage

maximum fun

hello everyone! i hope your week is off to a great start. i've definitely had better tuesdays considering i had a dentist appointment at 7 am this morning. it's just not right to have someone looking at your teeth before the sun comes up. i'm on my third cup of coffee today so that should tell you how much i am not a morning person. but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. yay for being a grown up (insert sarcasm here).

this weekend was one of my favorites. my grandparents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on saturday. 50 years. it's crazy! all of my family and their friends threw them a big surprise party and it was so much fun. there was food, wine, and lots of dancing. i should've gotten a video of the two of them on the dance floor because i don't think i've ever seen anything cuter in my entire life. it's such a special thing, especially in this day and age, to stay married for so long. i feel privileged to have witnessed their love for my entire life. 

i wore my new maxi dress from h&m to the party. i'm not kidding when i say i've been on the hunt for the perfect black maxi for over a year. i'm not sure why but i just had the worst luck finding one that i loved. then bam! i saw this one hanging in one of my fave stores the other day (for 18 bucks, no less) and i snatched it right up. paired with my fave chunky sandals and turquoise accents (typical me) i was good to go for a fun night with my family. 

thanks for checking in. enjoy the rest of your day, folks.
xxoo,
n

outfit details
dress: h&m
vest: thrifted
sandals: buffalo exchange
necklace: c/o chicnova
wristlet: target

9-5

this week is officially the three month mark at my new job! it's so exciting to think that i've been working full-time for three whole months. it's honestly gone by so fast and i've enjoyed this "adult" life more than i ever thought i would. yes, i loved college and roommates and eating pizza all the time and going to bars on weeknights, but i've found there's something so awesome about getting into a routine and focusing on myself. 

now that the temps are warming up, i've (hopefully) put the tights away for good. and i feel like a whole new world has opened up! don't get me wrong, i sometimes do like wearing tights, but nothing is better than a dress with bare legs. and it feels as though it's been forever since i was able to do this! i can wear bright colors and focus on simple layering, rather than bundling up and stomping through a foot of snow. 

one of my fave work combos is layering a dress and a cardigan with a belt cinching the waist. i'll take any excuse to wear more accessories and sometimes just a dress seems a little plain to me. nothing spices up a gray dress like a highlighter orange (neon, if you will) sweater. it's light and breezy and added just the right amount of oomph to this office outfit. plus, it's thrifted! woot woot.

thanks for stopping by! happy almost weekend!

xxoo,
n

outfit details
dress + belt + mocassins: target
sweater: thrifted
bag: h&m (only $35)
necklace: forever 21

cherry blossoms

this past weekend was one of the best weekends i've had in a while! we had some friends in town and on sunday we hit up the cherry blossom festival in DC. this is usually the peak time of the season, but (i'm assuming) since it's been such a cold winter, the blossoms are a bit behind schedule this year. you could tell they were thisclose to looking their best. but oh well, we still had so much fun walking around the tidal basin, snapping some pics, and enjoying the sunshine. 

we had the most picturesque day in the city. the blue sky set the perfect backdrop for the beautiful monuments and it was a great day for lots of walking around. all you needed was a light jacket and you were good to go. i can already tell that them denim number is going to be a closet staple this spring. i got it for steal from avalon exchange in pittsburgh last fall. i'm so glad i was thinking ahead!

besides visiting some big monuments, we also went to the botanical gardens. i don't know if i'm a huge nerd or what, but i love that place. a huge greenhouse full of every kind of plant you could imagine. the theme this month is orchids, so they had what seemed like hundreds different variations of orchids all more beautiful than the next. but the cacti were still my faves. i wanted to steal one of these little guys for my apartment!!

visiting the botanical gardens and seeing the cherry blossoms seemed like the perfect opportunity to wear one of my favorite floral dresses. i got this one from h&m a while ago and it's just so pretty. i swear, i could live in floral dresses alone. they're so feminine, yet can be dressed super casual as well. as spring continues to slowly enter the picture, i see many more floral dresses in my future. and moccasins. lots and lots of moccasins.

thanks for stopping by, y'all! i'll be back later in the week with a fun birthday wishlist. i turn 22 on friday! woot woot.

xxoo,

n

outfit details

dress: h&m

jacket: avalon exchange

purse + shoes + tights: target

sunnies: doubledutch boutique 

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

mix and match

it was a beautiful and sunny weekend for the first time in what feels like forever! i spent the weekend at home with my family and it was so nice to be able to actually spend some time outdoors without being all bundled up. weekends at home are always my saving grace. it's nice to escape the daily routine of waking up, going to work, coming home, working out, and going to sleep. every once in a while you've gotta indulge in some extra sleep, yummy food, and lots of blue moon. and trust me, that's just what i did! :)

this floral dress from forever 21 is a current favorite piece in my closet. i love the pattern and the fit. it's loose and comfy, but i can still dress it up with a blazer for work. as i mentioned in my last 9-5 post, a key point for me when it comes to shopping lately has been whether or not i can wear something for fun and for work. it's so much easier than i thought to find pieces that can be styled for both! especially since i love dresses so much. dresses > pants. any day/every day.

i kinda love how much is going on in this look. the patterned dress, the colored tights, a studded bag, it's all a little over the top, and i looove it. and the icing on the cake? this cardigan has elbow pads!!! there's nothing in this world that a love more than a good elbow pad (well i'm sure there is, but you catch my drift. i love these things).

this outfit really makes me think of my best friend brittany. she gave me these tights for christmas (along with a green pair, very holiday spirited haha) and we both have a love for elbow pads (we're weird). when i visited her in seattle last year she wore my favorite sweater (featured here and here) the whole time i was there. she loved it so much i knew that i had to get an elbow padded sweater of her own for christmas. i found a similar one to mine and she was so happy! yay for christmas successes. it's always nice to have little reminders of each other even though we live on separate coasts.

i'm praying for the sunshine to stick around for as long as possible. but, we'll see how this week goes! sending you all warm vibes <3

xxoo,

n

outfit details
dress: forever 21
sweater: buffalo exchange
tights: h&m
shoes: urban outfitters
bag: studio c
sunnies: doubledutch boutique 

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

city limits

it is officially closer to the end of the week than to the beginning and i could not be happier about it. this week has been just a tad bit on the slow side cause i'm getting antsy for thanksgiving break! i get a whole week off (how awesome is that?!) and i could not be more excited to be hopping on the megabus tomorrow night to go home.

i'm visiting anthony in baltimore for the weekend and then spending the rest of the week with my fam. we're making the trek down to south carolina to visit my stepdad's family right outside myrtle beach. they have a huge party and invite pretty much everyone they know. they roast a giant pig, have sooo much food, we ride four wheelers, sit around the campfire, etc. we went a couple years ago and it was just amazing! there's nothing better than spending a few days with my family.

no matter how hard i try i cannot stop wearing this sweater! it's just so darn comfy. plus it's warm enough that on a nice day it can basically serve as my jacket. this navy infinity scarf is also becoming a daily staple. the solid color means i can pretty much wear it with anything. i got it from this cute little boutique in the south side called figleaf. they had so many cute dresses and shoes and i want to go back and buy this lovely scarf in every single color. because that's just what you do when you like something a lot. 

i got this cute little purse a while ago from h&m. it's just so small and tiny and is perfect to throw my phone and wallet in for a little adventure. and it has all the colors so it matches everything. also, if you don't have a chambray shirt i don't know what you're doing with your life. i could literally style this shirt differently every single day and would never run out of new ideas.

i think the theme of this outfit is versatility because all of these pieces are closet staples that i wear on a regular basis, and this outfit just happens to showcase me wearing them all at once. solid colored accessories and denim shirts are things that will never go out of style. i guarantee that in 5 years i will still have this outfit and would happily piece all of these items together again. it's just simple and classic.

what are some staple pieces in your wardrobe that you know will never go out of style?

xxoo,

n

outfit details

chambray shirt/pants: tj maxx

cardigan/purse: h&m

shoes: zooshoo

infinity scarf: figleaf

sunnies: doubledutch boutique