Channeling My Inner Animal

 My Threads: Top: Old Navy, Jeans & Belt: Target, Heels: Steve Madden, Clutch & Bracelets: Forever 21, Necklace: J.Crew ebay version, Ring: GoJane

Today, I'm linking up with the always gorgeous Marion over at Marionberry Style for her Trend of the Month Challenge. Today's trend? Animal print.

I own exactly four items featuring animal print. Leopard flats, a leopard scarf, the shirt I'm wearing here, and a zebra printed shirt with zebras on it (which should count as two things since it has stripes and zebras on it...right?). So it was kind of slim pickings. Since leopard flats don't seem like too much of a challenge, I decided to go with the shirt. Go big or go home right? Okay, this isn't really going big. A leopard formal dress would probably qualify as going big. But I never liked that saying much anyway.

And sorry for the frequently repeated accessories this week. They just add the perfect pop of color to a neutral outfit. And I can't resist bright colors. I just can't. 

How do you style animal print?

Also Linking up with The Pleated Poppy.

My Dog's Guest Post

 My Threads: Dress: Nordstrom Rack, Wedges: Target, Belt: Forever 21, Bag: street market in Florence, Watch: Fossil

So as I was sitting here trying to think of something mildly interesting to say, my dog kept climbing on my laptop keyboard. At first, it was kind of annoying. But then I decided he was probably just trying to help. He ended up typing this amazing, inspiring post, and I was totally blown away. But then he accidentally stepped on the delete key, and now it's gone.

Okay, that didn't really happen, but my dog did keep climbing on my keyboard while I was trying to type. Mostly, he kept turning on caps lock.

Anyone else have cuddle obsessed dogs? Or dogs with a lot of blog post ideas? Maybe it's just mine.

Anyway, I'm kind of in love with the print on this dress. I'm not sure why, I think I just really like the colors. And dresses are just so easy to wear! Throw on, belt, and go. Minimal styling required.

These pictures also seem particularly cheesy. I apologize. I'm just not good at the serious model face.

Here's my little co-author:

Crooked

My Threads: Tank and Cardigan: Old Navy, Skirt and Belt: Forever 21, Booties: Target, Necklace: J.Crew ebay version, Bag: Gottschalks

This outfit is kinds of misleading, it's still hot here. I'm starting to think that fall is just not going to happen in Los Angeles this year. I guess it usually doesn't. It maybe cools off a little in November, then just jumps to cold. Okay, maybe not cold, but California cold.

I add sweaters to outfits for the crazy air conditioning, not because it's actually chilly outside. I just pinned about a zillion fall outfits on Pinterest though, so I'm ready, weather. I'm ready for you to cool down. 

Also, I didn't notice before taking these pictures that my necklace was completely crooked. I often go entire days without realizing I look disheveled. The other day, my slip was hanging out the bottom of a dress for hours. And I often discover my skirts get twisted sideways at work. Please tell me I'm not the only one who has trouble properly wearing clothes sometimes...

Hope you all had a super weekend!

Linking up with YOLO Mondays! 

Lace

My Threads: Dress: TJ Maxx, Clutch: Nordstrom Rack, Booties: Target, Necklace: vintage (via my grandma), Bracelet: Forever 21

Apparently, I'm really into the color green this week. This is the third outfit in a row featuring it. Whoops. 

This dress has been hanging in my closet for several months, and this is the first time I've worn it. Not because I don't like it or didn't know how to style it. Simply because it's kind of see-through, and I didn't own a slip. I finally got a slip last weekend, so naturally, I had to whip out all my light colored skirts and dresses this week. Good thing it's still 100 degrees here. Ha. 

Enough about my outfit, want to hear a funny story? Okay, I'll tell you. Marc recently got me a membership to LA Fitness through school for a pretty awesome price. They gym called me and asked if I could come in to pick up my pass thing, so I headed over after work and sat down to give someone my information. After a girl spent about five minutes searching for me in the computer, I realized I was at the wrong gym. 24 Hour Fitness and LA Fitness are not the same place. I sort of mumbled something about needing to figure out details, and left with my little pass. Now 24 Hour keeps calling me. Moral of the story? Read signs. They're incredibly helpful. 

Seafoam

 My Threads: Shirt: H&M, Skirt, Clutch, and Bracelets: Forever 21, Necklace: J.Crew (ebay version), Booties: Target, Watch: Fossil, Headband: J.Crew (factory)

Don't worry, you aren't going crazy. I do have a headband on in just one of these pictures. I was going to take a few with it on and a few with it off to choose which way I liked better, but pretty much all the headband shots were too dark to use. I guess the universe was telling me no headband. Powerful message, I know.

I realize minty shades of green were sort of the happening thing in the spring, but I've decided to keep wearing mine in the fall. And probably the winter. It's just such a good color! 

And this is totally unrelated to anything, but if you are vegan or lactose intolerant, go get yourself some Daiya cheese. It's pretty amazing. So amazing, you'll almost forget it isn't actually cheese. And I'm probably totally late discovering it, but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway. 

Do you plan on taking pastels into fall with you or leaving them all behind?

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy.

Restless Sweaters

My Threads: Tank: Old Navy, Jeans: Target, Sweater: H&M, Boots: a local boutique, Belt: Forever 21, Bag: street market in Florence, Italy, Watch: Fossil

Okay, so it's still 100 degrees here. but I've been getting pretty excited about fall clothes after perusing so many of your blogs. So the other day, I made a compromise. Marc and I had a movie date in the evening, so I pulled out a short sleeve cardigan.  

It totally says 'end of summer, beginning of fall,' right? Too bad there's no sign of fall here. 

Anyway, I'm back in sundresses and skirts now. I have a feeling my shorts and tanks are gonna hang around for several more weeks yet. I really shouldn't be complaining about Southern California weather, but this summer has definitely been a hot one. My sweaters are starting to get whiney just sitting in my closet. If I don't let them out soon, I may have an uprising on my hands. 

How are you transitioning from summer to fall?

Cleanin' Out My Closet

My Threads: Shirt & Clutch: Forever 21, Skirt: Macy's, Heels: Steve Madden, Necklace: J.Crew (ebay version), Bracelets: H&M and Forever 21

This weekend, I purged my closet. I managed to fill a couple bags with clothes, purses, and shoes, yet my closet pretty much looks the same as it did pre-purge. How does that happen? Do clothes just expand when you take things out? 

While I unfortunately didn't find a door to a magical land in the process, I did manage to recover a few things I had forgotten about. This shirt was hanging next to a sweater, and it had managed to get pushed back so I couldn't really see it. It isn't exactly the most exciting shirt in the world, but it's still nice recovering clothes that 'disappeared.' 

On another note, I got these shoes for $2. That's right, 200 pennies. The Steve Madden outlet store was having a buy one, get one 90% off promotion on their sale shoes (which were already marked down about 60%). So I bought a pair of $19 clearance wedges, and scored these for $2. It's possible I may get a little too excited when I score crazy deals...but these are probably the cheapest shoes I have ever purchased. So I had to share. 

What's the most amazing deal you've ever scored? 

Hope you had a fabulous weekend!

Back to School

 My Threads: Dress: ANGL, Sweater & Flats: local boutique, Belt: Abercrombie & Fitch, Necklaces: ?, Bracelets: Forever 21, Watch: Fossil, Bag: Kenneth Cole Reaction

I'm not really going back to school. In fact, this Fall is just the second year I haven't had to head to class   in September. Sometimes I miss the excitement of new classes and new teachers, but I definitely don't miss spending nights and weekends doing homework. So I'm glad this isn't me right now.

Anyway, you've probably guessed what this month's EBEW challenge is. Plaid seemed like an obvious choice for a school theme (even though I never actually wore a uniform). And what school outfit is complete without a giant textbook? This one belongs to Marc. Don't worry, he wasn't frantically searching for it to finish his homework. I asked before using it as an accessory. 

I'm pretty sure fatty books like this one are responsible for my bad back. Now I have to carry rocks around in my purse just to feel evened out. I'm kidding, I don't really do that. 

What was your favorite 'Back to School' outfit? 

Muggy

 My Threads: Dress: LC Lauren Conrad (Kohl's), Wedges: Kohl's, Belt: Forever 21, Purse and Bracelets: street market in Florence, Flower: H&M, Necklace: ?, Watch: Fossil

If your dress is more interesting in the back, does that mean you should walk around backwards? When I asked Marc what he thought of this dress, he just sort of shrugged. Then I turned around, and he said "Oh! It's cute!". Which is the same response I had to the dress on the hanger.

How do you work with that? Do you just make sure you stand in front of people a lot? Or do a lot of twirling? Perhaps wear your blazer or sweater backwards so you don't cover it up? So many possibilities to consider.

On another note, it was super hot and muggy here this weekend. And overcast. Like, 95 degrees and slightly rainy. And just moist. That's not supposed to happen in Southern California. It's super uncomfortable. I feel for all of you who live in humid areas.

Hope you had a happy weekend!