nine to five

so i realize i haven't done a nine to five post in forever. this feature focuses on what to wear in more professional setting. whether it's a full time job, an internship, or job interview, my goal is to show you that you can still showcase your personal style while dressing to impress. now that i'm graduated college, and working my first "real" job, i wear professional clothes more than i wear my regular clothes. i originally thought that i wouldn't be a big fan of this. but once i focused on incorporating pieces i already had in my wardrobe, with a few new items, i started having a lot of fun getting dressed in the mornings!

 if i wore black slacks and a button down everyday, it's safe to say i would be both bored and depressed. yes, it would meet the office dress code, but there are ways to be much more creative with your wardrobe. both target and tj maxx make it extremely easy and affordable to find fun pieces that can be styled for both work and outside of work. it definitely helps you stick to your budget when you can find items that are versatile. a fun skirt can spice up a simple sweater for work, but can also be paired with a plain tee for a night out with the girls. 

a key item that is more than 100% necessary for a working girl is a good bag. not a little clutch or a small purse, but more like a female version of a briefcase. i got this gray beauty from target and have literally carried it to work every single day. i can fit my lunch, my ipad, and all of my key necessities in it no problem. i can throw a binder in it if i'm heading to a meeting or fit my laptop in it if i'm working on something away from home. it has been such a staple since i started my job! i love the color because it's goes with anything, and the straps allow me to hold it in the crook of my arm or on my shoulder. you can find a very similar one here if you're interested.

you definitely don't want to over-accessorize, but don't be afraid to wear a statement necklace or fun earrings. it's these little things that can make you feel more like yourself and can spice up a simpler look. and, of course, you can never, ever go wrong with a pair of basic, and most importantly comfy, black pumps. they can give your outfit the necessary edge, as long as they aren't stilettos. because ow. nobody got time for that.  

i hope some of these tips can help keep you inspired when getting dressed for work in the morning. looking and feeling good can help keep you empowered and ready to conquer anything! happy wednesday!

xxoo,

n

outfit details

skirt + bag + watch: target

sweater: belk

pumps: payless

earrings: forever 21

winter wonderland

i can't believe it's already thursday! my three day weekend turned into a four day weekend because of a pretty big snow storm that hit maryland on monday night! so i ended up having tuesday off, and then a 2 hour delay wednesday and basically by the time i made it into my office yesterday afternoon i had totally forgotten what it looked like. one of the many joys of working for a university. snow days are just plain old fun. it's something to look forward to that makes the single digit temps a bit more bearable. it always reminds me of the good ol days of sledding and hot chocolate when you were a kid. except now they are more along the lines of sleeping in and drinking wine. yay for being a grown up!

this snow was the fluffy, pretty, perfect kind of snow, so obviously i made anthony come outside with me so i could run and jump around like a 5 year old and he could snap some pics. there's something about falling snow that is just magical. waking up and peeking out the window and seeing the ground covered in all white and pretty flakes coming down from the sky definitely makes for a perfect morning. i spent the day bundled up inside with hot tea, anthony, and gilmore girls. we had soup cooking in the crock pot and it made our apartment smell amazing all day long.

i kept warm outside in my new favorite coat and some fun accessories. i found this coat at marshalls a couple weeks ago. it's gorgeous and i love how the color will match literally every scarf and hat in my wardrobe. the length is perfect for chilly mornings commuting to work and the cinched waist keeps me from looking overly frumpy. it was a lot more than i usually spend on one item, but it's great quality and will last a while, so i think it's a good investment piece.

since every part of my outfit was a tad bit on the monochromatic side, i went with this fun pink patterned pants to stand out in the snow. they are one of my fave thrifted pieces in my wardrobe. there's just something fabulous about finding a kick ass pair of pants in your size for less than 10 bucks. you just can't beat it! and of course a beanie. i'm allll about beanies right now. i have quite the collection going. ones with little puff balls on the top are my favorite. obviously.

hope everyone getting hit by these snow storms is staying safe! happy almost weekend!

xxoo,
n

outfit details
coat: cole haan via marshalls
scarf/beanie: forever 21
rain boots: payless
pants: thrifted

a day in nyc

last wednesday anthony and i hopped on the megabus and headed up to new york city for the day. the city is just so beautiful around the holidays we thought a day trip would be a perfect way to kick off our christmas break. it was only a 24 hour trip, but it couldn't have been more fun. we started our day at 5 am and grabbed some coffee for our bus ride up to new york. the weather was gorgeous, the sun was shining, and the temperatures were way higher than normal. we had no complaints. 

we still bundled up in layers to fight the winds and i wore my lovely (and extremely puffy) steve madden coat i picked up from burlington in pittsburgh when the weather started getting colder. burlington is truly the best place to buy a coat-- i mean come on, it is called a coat factory for a reason, people. i got this baby for quite the steal; only 50$! i love the color and it's perfect for keeping warm and dry in the winter rain and snow.

we arrived in the big apple around 10 am and our first stop of the day was a cute little bakery to pick up some breakfast. i got the most delicious almond croissant ever. they are one of my fave morning treats. we then reviewed our plan for the day. anthony had already made us an itinerary (he loves plans and scheduling if ya can't tell haha) and we had so many fun places to visit. next, we made our way to chelsea market to do some christmas shopping. we had quite a few little presents to pick up for some family members and were extremely successful. the inside of the market was beautiful all decorated for christmas.

i was glad i was wearing my favorite rain boots because the streets were super slushy and i was able to keep my feet nice and toasty. i got these from payless last year for a great price and they have served me very well. i always pair them with some knee socks, and these army green ones are awesome. i kept my outfit all neutral colors with a thrifted grey striped sweater and a patterned infinity scarf. to top it all off, i borrowed anthony's green messenger bag to carry around all my purchases for the day. and by the time we left, it was full to brim. who woulda thought? 

next on our list was the union square holiday market. we perused all the aisles while i restrained myself from buying every cute little knick-knack and trinket i came into contact with. there were mini buddhas and sugar skulls and hats and scarves and it was pretty much my own little personal heaven. after the market, we stopped off at a pub to grab a beer before hitting up some awesome vintage shops. i may have gone a little over board with shopping but hey, i was in new york city! what did you expect? ;)

after our shopping adventures, it was dinner time. we went to brother jimmy's barbecue and got a feast of yummy ribs, brisket, and chicken wings. moral of the story: we were two happy campers. the final stop of the trip was making our way over to madison square garden, to see the broadway version of a christmas story. it is anthony's favorite christmas movies of all time and he found an awesome groupon deal for two tickets to the show. we've seen a couple other broadway shows together, and this one definitely did not disappoint. all of the kids in the show were so amazingly talented and we were laughing so hard we were in tears. bravo!



after the show it was time to head back and catch our megabus home. we were so exhausted at this point we couldn't wait to sit down and take a nice long nap until we were back in baltimore. we had such an amazing trip, i honestly couldn't have asked for it to have gone better. we saw so many beautiful christmas trees, did so much holiday shopping, and just enjoyed taking in all of the breath taking sights that new york city has to offer.

we definitely want to keep up our yearly tradition of making a trip up to new york. the energy and beauty cannot be beat. 

xxoo,

n

outfit details

boots: payless

sweater: thrifted

jeans: american eagle

headband: forever 21

coat: steve madden via burlington

alley cat

i am currently writing this post from seattle, washington! i'm on a little vacation visiting my best best best best friend brittany for her 22nd birthday/halloween. we have so many fun plans for the weekend and i'm so happy to be spending time with one of my favorite people in the whole world. this morning, were drinking coffee and eating birthday pancakes and listening to taylor swift's "22" on repeat lol. i'm one happy camper.

i've never been to the west coast before so i was super excited to make this trip. brittany just moved here from nebraska (i've visited here there a few times before) a couple months ago. i was excited to leave pittsburgh for a bit and experience a new city. make sure you are following me on instagram to keep up with my seattle adventures!

so i probably have about a million chunky sweaters because why wouldn't i have a million chunky sweaters? most are thrifted, but this one happens to be from forever 21! i love that it's just plain white because it can dress it up or down, pair it with any color pants or skirt, plus it's just simple and pretty. whether its a cardigan or a pull over sweater, oversized knits are the perfect fall wardrobe essential.

black and white with a pop of red is a classic color combo, so i couldn't help but pull out my 90s chick roots and tie this plaid top around my waist. i feel kinda weird for being so obsessed with tying shirts/sweaters around my waist lately but it's just such a cool trend! it's an accessory, like a cool necklace or a colorful bag, and i'm a fan.

i will be back soon with some photos from my trip. brittany is the queen at planning fun outings and finding awesome things to do-- so i'm sure i will only have awesome things to report. we have been best friends since high school and only get to see each other once or twice a year, so each trip is really special. does anyone else have a long-distance friendship with a best friend? they're tough sometimes, but it's always worth it.

hope you guys have a happy halloween! me and brittany will be dressing up and heading out on the town tonight. have fun and be safe, everyone! 

xxoo,

n

outfit details

sweater/necklace: forever 21

plaid shirt: thrifted

pants: tj maxx

boots: payless

a fountain for fall

howdy, folks. it's that time of year in pittsburgh where the sunny days are  few and far between, and the normal color you see in the sky everyday is grey. plus, it's raining today. womp womp. oh well, gotta make the best of it! i woke up and made some hot tea this morning and caught up on blogging. a pretty good way to start the day if i do say so myself.

in case you missed it, i'm hosting a giveaway with chloe + isabel and we will be raffling off a gorgeous pair of earrings next monday, along with a coupon for $25 off your next order of $75! how awesome is that?! their jewelry is just amazing, so be sure to check out their site. 

this outfit combination is pretty much my fall uniform. jeans, comfy tee, funky scarf, and oversized jacket. it's perfect for when i want to get ready quickly and rush to class and still look cute. i'm not one for wearing sweats or hoodies out in public. i like to look semi put together, even if in reality the outfit only took me .921 seconds to put on. and moccs are just the cherry on top to any casual fall outfit, am i right?

i recently ordered this jacket online from jolt, through amazon, and i looove it. i'd been searching for a reasonably priced military style jacket for fall and wasn't having much luck.  then i was shopping in the clothing section of amazon one day (totally normal) and came across this bad boy. how cute are the little jewels on the pockets?! and the length and fit is just perfect. 

 

speaking of amazon, that's also where i ordered this cute little mini tote bag. funny story: i didn't actually think it was going to be mini. i wanted a big ass bag to carry around all my books for school in and this one looked perfect in the photo. when it arrived in my mailbox, i pulled it out of the box and was like yaaaa--ohhh. :( but now it's growing on me. i love the color, and it can still fit one notebook or two for class. lol. #onlineshoppingprobs

well i'm off to grab lunch with the friends and then it's class time. i'll be braving the 40 degree temps and the autumn showers today so wish me luck. happy wednesday!

xxoo,

n

outfit details

tee: tj maxx

scarf: urban outfitters

bag: amazon

jeans: american eagle

jacket: jolt

mocassins: payless

sunnies: doubledutch boutique 

pretty in pink

so it feels like summer is officially over. i went to happy hour yesterday evening and had to wear long sleeves and jeans because pittsburgh was so chilly! just a few short days ago it was in the 90s and i was still wearing tank tops and sandals. it sucks but it seems as though autumn isn't much of a season in pittsburgh. it goes from hot to cold and there isn't really an in between.

while i'll be sad to put the tanks and bandeaus in the back of my closet, i couldn't help but style a summer outfit one last time. bright colors, fun sunnies-- this outfit was perfect for the hot september temps. and the great thing about these pants is how transitional they are. if i throw them on with a slouchy sweater and some boots, i'll be set for a lovely autumn day. they will be the perfect pop of color in my fall wardrobe.

                

can you believe how fast september is flying by?! it's already halfway over! i have a very relaxing weekend in store full of lots of mad men on netflix, a bit of homework, and plenty of sleep! i'm excited because my first flag football game is tomorrow and i'm interested to see how it goes. besides running on the treadmill, i haven't played any sports since the beginning of high school! eeek. i'm afraid i'm going to be in for a rude awakening playing football with the boys, ha ha!

i'm usually not a fan of pink and black together, but for some reason this floral bandeau made me want to try it out. this striped tank is one of my faves. the buttons down the front and the little pocket are just too cute. i love pairing together different patterns, and stripes and floral make for a great combination (if i do say so myself).

i'm probably going to retire these sunnies til next summer, because the mint/pink combo doesn't really strike me as very "autumn-y" and i'll stick with my handy dandy maroon ones to beat the fall sunshine! i'm one of those people that literally never leaves the house without sunglasses. rain or shine, i just always prefer to wear them outdoors. is anyone else like that?

this summer was so amazing, and i'm so glad to have had this lovely little space on the internet to document it. blogging is such a good way to record all the fun adventures i've had and all of the interesting outfits i've worn along the way. i would encourage everyone to start a blog! not to make money, or get 1,000 instagram follows, but just for yourself. it's a great hobby and an inspiring community. i've enjoyed the few short months i've been doing it so far, and look forward to continue blogging in the future. thank you to everyone who has been keeping up with my journey along the way! i means a lot to me <3

happy end of summer everyone!

xxoo,

n

outfit details

pants: tj maxx

tank: urban outfitters

sandals: payless

bandeau: forever 21

jewelry: forever 21  

sunnies: double dutch boutique 

back in the burgh

guys! i'm back in pittsburgh! and it's awesome. this week is my first week of classes, and it's actually gone really good so far! it's such a good feeling being back in the city again. i'm living in an apartment downtown with some awesome girls, i love my job, and there's so much to do! living downtown means having an unlimited supply of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops within walking distance.

as per usual, the weather in pittsburgh has been less than exceptional since my arrival. it's already rained like 5 times and it's been hot and humid. but i'm just trying suck it up and deal with it because before i know it, it will be winter and i'll be wearing so many layers i won't know what to do with myself! ha. but despite everything, i feel super sentimental about this being my last semester in college. i'm trying to do everything i can before december. i even signed up for a flag football league with my roommate! you know i'm feeling crazy when i willingly play sports lol.

if my house was on fire and i could grab one thing out of my closet, i would have to say that i would grab this black denim vest. i just love it and it's one of the most used pieces in my closet. i loved pairing it with these high waisted shorts. and bonus points: they were both thrifted! woot woot. i love thrifting denim items because they already have a worn feel to them.

this ying yang shirt is the bomb dot com. i got it on super sale at urban outfitters a few years ago. i love when urban puts their sale items on 50% off! they usually do it a couple times a year and i never miss it. you can buy tons of cute things and not break the bank. i'm all about having lots of clothes that don't cost as much instead of a smaller amount of more expensive items.

i wanted to make an outfit with more of an urban, city-like feel since i'm back in pittsburgh again and i really liked how it turned out. plus, the shirt totally reminded me of the cool mural i showed above. pittsburgh has the best street art ever. i'm totally crazy about the one i showed in this post, and it's actually right on my school's campus. i'm sure you will be seeing a lot more of cool stuff like that on here so get ready! when i took a photography class last semester i actually did my final project about street art in the city and it was so much fun. i'll take any excuse to venture around downtown with a camera!

what city's your favorite? i'd love to hear. thanks for stopping by, folks!

xxoo,

n

outfit details

shorts: thrifted

tank: urban outfitters

vest: thrifted

sandals: payless

lawrence county fair

last weekend while i was in anthony's hometown with his family, the county fair was in town! anthony, his mom, sister, and me decided to head out and explore it for the night. fairs are so much fun because you pretty much just walk around and eat junkfood the whole time. ha ha! it was a gorgeous night and we had a lot of fun. we looked at the different booths, saw some cute animals, and had lots of yummy food.

i wore this great fringe top from urban outfitters that i got on clearance last season. i love the design on the front and fringe is the best. i decided to keep it simple and pair it with my fave gray skinnies. everyone at the fair was wearing like  plaid, overall, and cowboy boots, so it's safe to say i stuck out like a sore thumb, lol. i don't have one ounce of country attire in my closet. oooops.

                      

caramel apples are my favorite fair treat and when i saw they also had one with tons of sprinkles, i almost bought like 5 of them and asked for a to go box. i wish there were more foods in this world that you could put sprinkles on but unfortunately there's only a few. but eating an apple and sprinkles was most definitely a new and positive experience. i have such a sweet tooth! if i haven't mentioned it before, i could pretty much live off of gummy bears.            

yes, as you see in the photo below: i fed a goat, people! it was so hilarious. we were just looking at them (and i was keeping my distance and trying not to step on poop) and this lady just handed me and bottle of milk and was like go for it! it was really crazy and all the goats were trying to get some food, but it was fun!! i was laughing so much because these little baby goats were crazy and jumping all over each other to get to the bottle. ha! it was definitely an experience. 

i'm still in total denial that summer is over and school starts on monday. aka i will spend this last weekend sleeping and watching all the episodes of the latest season of glee (yes, i am behind and also a little lame, i realize). because in 48 short hours life is gonna get busy! and i know that the fall is going to fly by before i graduate in december. its bittersweet in many ways. i'm excited to move on to the next chapter of my life, but living in pittsburgh and attending point park has been so amazing these past few years, i will be sad to say goodbye.

thanks for reading, folks. happy saturday and hope you enjoy a relaxing weekend.

xxoo,

n

outfit details

jeans: tj maxx

shirt: urban outfitters

sandals: payless

purse: h&m

sunglasses: doubledutch botique