{eschew}

Today I needed a blog title.

I was feeling uninspired.

So I looked up the word of the day.

It told me today's word is eschew. 

Which is VERY appropriate for how I feel.

&

After reviewing these pictures, I plan to eschew these outfits in the future.

Cute but plain and somewhat unimaginative.

Could use some layering, some jewelry or accessories, 

maybe a bright pop of color! 

Which gives me an excuse to shop, to make them better:)

{Visits are never long enough}

Monday morning & Devin is officially off to the airport. 

I hate saying goodbye to friends.

  I think it helped that it was 5:45 in the morning,

and we were deliriously tired.

{woohoo for another awkward pose!}

You know you have found a good friend when no matter how long you spend apart,

no matter what big events you miss in each others lives

(ok so it was only our graduations...maybe not THAT big)

it still feels like you haven't missed a step, like you've been together the whole time.

With endless inside jokes, memories of our younger years, reminiscing about awkward middle school times, laughing until our sides hurt, and not nearly enough sleep, the extended weekend was more fun than I even imagined. 

I'm hoping she feels the need to come back soon!

{Winning}

Today is Friday & I have the day off of work.

Therefore I am winning.

I'm going to win every moment.

Cause clearly I'm on a drug, and it's called Charlie Sheen

{Chris kept telling me to 'smile with my eyes'. Well, boyfriend. This is what you get.}

Today is the first day I've taken off of work since I started my adult job.

Feels similar to the days in college in needed to take a 'personal day'.

Leading up to those personal days I always felt exhausted, needing sleep, and pounding coffee after coffee, hoping that overabundance of caffeine would jet propel me through week and deliver me straight into Saturday morning, sleeping in & relaxation.

When the personal day finally arrived, I would wake up earlier than ever, 

bounce out of bed never having felt so rested, even if I got half the sleep.

Clearly, it's in my head.

This Friday-off/personal day is even more awesome,

because I have a visitor.

Devin! 

Seen here and here.

All the way from snowy and cold Ft. Collins, CO, she is in for the weekend. 

Armed with the longest sightseeing to-do list, we're cramming in as much bonding, touring, shopping, partying, picture-taking fun as we can before she leaves. 

Or tries to leave.

What fun plans do you have for this weekend?

{Navy & White}

Have you ever had a color combination that you just can't seem to stay away from?

Navy & white is it for me!

Something about the dark and light contrast, navy being such a rich and deep color, and probably the fact that it is the most used color combo for anything striped! (Which I also fall into patterns of buying)

 Outfit details:

White top, Urban Outfitters

Skirt, Ann Taylor LOFT

Black pumps, Target

Watch, Michael Kors

Also, hurrah for un-covered legs! Win!

This spring is shaping up to be great. 

It's been warm and beautiful here all week, and I hate to admit that I'm starting to get addicted to this whole vitamin D & sun every day thing that all these Arizonans always rave about.

I still miss a cloud or two every couple weeks.

But sun tanning by the pool in march?

Can't beat it.

{Changing Seasons}

Spring is in the air!

Apparently Phoenix has had enough with the "winter" months here, and has decided to switch seasons a little early.

The low this week is 75°...high of 83°!

This of course is terrible news to my wardrobe.

My poor sweaters barely got enough use. 

My puffy vest...only once! Bah!

My Seattle staples are looking less & less useful here in AZ.

Shopping over the weekend proved to be the catalyst I needed to put away the long sleeves, the heavier jackets, the thicker scarves & comfy sweaters.

A trip to Home Depot resulted in dodging maxi dress after maxi, springy floral skirts and bright hues. 

My wool black & gray sweater was not pleased.

Neither was my internal thermostat.

Tights....beware! Your days are limited.

{slouchy hats & side braids}

I love them both.

Looking for a way to hide less-than-fresh hair and still look put together?

Look no further! Slouchy hats to the rescue!

See? You can't even tell I could use a shampoo! 

Haha, well... kind of.

Outfit details:

Dress, Forever 21

Black Cardigan, H&M

Knee Socks, Nordstrom

Boots, Target

Slouchy hat, Urban Outfitters

How was everyone's weekend?

I am very excited to report that I completed one of my New Years' resolutions...

attend a wedding!

Congratulations to Allen & Ashlyn, your wedding was beautiful and no rain could put a damper on how great it turned out. So much love to you both and I hope you are having a BLAST on your honeymoon!

Oh and p.s. - want to see the full wall from all of these pictures? It was awesome!

{wine, wedding & pinapple chunks}

Things on my mind this Friday:

• It's National Wine Day. Yes, today is a good day.
• I'm going to a wedding tomorrow. Huzzah! 
• Beyond excited for said wedding.
• Also, stressed about said wedding. I STILL don't have anything to wear. No amount of 30 for 30 closet shopping is going to fill this void. It's time to bring in the big guns (Scottsdale Fashion Square).
• Cheating on my 30 for 30.
• Does it count as cheating if I only put 29 items in my allowed items pile, because I knew this was going to happen?
• Who exactly is the master of fine print of the 30 for 30?
 

• This outfit is a favorite. It's been abused. 

• If only I had remembered to take the hair tie off my arm. 
• It makes me feel like a highschooler.
• There is a small chance these boots are ruined.
• My big ol feet got stuck in one of them and ripped the lining.
• I had to have them mercilessly pulled off me while laying on the ground, legs in the air and all (thanks boyfriend).
• Then we went through my iPod on shuffle.
• I used to listened to some very extreme stuff. ie emo & loud & rockerish.
• Perhaps that's why I got my eyebrow pierced at 17.
• Odd decision.
• I've never regretted it. Anyway...(sidetracked much?)
• It takes me a really long time to ready myself for pictures.
• Cause i'm awkward.

 {proof}

• I realized my lower body didn't move at all in the above pictures. I should be a hula dancer. 
• Or is that when you can move your lower body and not your upper?
• Someone send me to Hawaii to research.
• On that note, I'm off to day dream about beaches, daiquiris, being tan(er), bright beach towels, and fresh pineapple chunks. mmm.

Happy Friday! 

{Everyday Sparkle}

I have a bit of an obsession with this skinny belt. Originally saved for special holiday occasions, I recently decided that this beautiful piece of sparkle should not be forced to cower in the dark corners of my closet for 11 months out of the year. Sparkles are meant to be shared. 

Woohoo! 10 seems like a great milestone. 

10 down, 20 to go...(ugh.)

Soo sparkly!

Outfit details:

Navy blazer, Zara

Stripe silky, Forever 21

Jeans, Nordstrom

Pumps, Target

Belt, Forever 21

In other news,

it's Thursday! Which is almost Friday! Which is the weekend! 

And I need the weekend. Oh boy do I. 

(Please go fast two days, pleeeeease!)

{Easy like Sunday morning}

Not the most exciting outfit I have ever put together,

but some mornings before work I look at the clock, 

realize I'm WAY behind schedule,

and grab the very first thing that stands out to me.

Skinny black jeans are always a good go to, a comfortable bright top, & quick jacket to cover for the few and far between gusts of breeze we get in Arizona.

Unfortunately, I went straight from work to watch my friends Dani & Sarah play in the opening ASU women's softball game, and was FREEZING the entire time. 

Desert weather is impossible.

{Ocho}

Posing near a pink door felt right, with all of the Valentine's hoopla this time of year!

This is also the first time I've ever worn a scarf like this.
Thank you, 30 for 30, for forcing me to ignore my closet and expand my fashion boundaries!

There's a first for everything!

Outfit details:

Sweater, Forever 21
Skirt, Forever 21
Booties, Payless
Scarf, Ann Taylor
Polish, OPI Black Cherry Chutney

{Mellow Yellow}

I wish that I could recreate the delight and fantastic feeling that came over me when boyfriend and I were touring around Scottsdale, looking for somewhere to shoot outfit #7 for the 30x30.

I suggested a 'cool gray wall' off in the distance, which got a chuckle in response, and as we got closer it turned less from a cool and artsy looking gray wall, and more into a gray, dull & dirty industrial building with dying plants all around it. We continued driving down the alley to turn the car around, and as we reached the end the alley stretched just barely to the right, where we found this gem!

Old & beat up yellow car. 

Well, can you even call that a car? More like old and beat up yellow shell of a car.  

It makes me wonder things like, how did you get here yellow shell?

Who do you belong to?

Does someone plan to fix you up and make you pretty again?

Great find. Sometimes life is just lucky.

Outfit details:

White shirt, Ann Taylor

Gray sweater, Banana Republic

Black skinny jeans, Forever 21

Oxfords, Urban Outfitters

My favorite detail: my Eiffel Tower necklace. 

Purchased at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris this past summer.

I love it and wear it almost every day.

It reminds me of travel, my favorite city in Europe, being in love, warm baguettes on Rue Cler,

Alicia Keys, feeling on top of the world at the tip of the Eiffel Tower, and so much more. 

{Sports Fanatic}

I seem to be masquerading as a sports fan. I wonder if people notice that I'm faking, that I'm usually in attendance to these events because I love the things that go on around sports. I love fans, cheering, rivalries, tailgating and of course the food & drinks. I could care less about player statistics, rankings, which team offensive line has been successfully making new plays, or whatever other jargon I can't even make up.

Anyway, I love watching sports. Close games are the best, when you can feel the excitement and tension in the air. Proof of my sports fanatic status started on Thursday, when I attended the ASU Women's Basketball Game. 

Then Friday for date night, Chris & I sat in a suite at a VERY intense Suns Game. The Suns played the Oklahoma City Thunder, a.k.a the former Seattle Sonics. Chris wore Oklahoma colors. Apparently it was an "accident". We were sitting with ALL Suns fans, who had also given us the tickets. I was tense. 

But then the Dancing Dads showed up. Baha! I love this. 

The love started here.

Saturday was filled with fun errands (Whole Foods, Trader Joes and Fry's in Scottsdale, yes please!) 

Does anyone else have big love for markets? I could spend hours perusing the aisles! Which is why I always get sent alone.

Saturday's outfit details:

Sweater, Forever 21

Tank, Forever 21

Black Skinny Jeans, Forever 21

Flats, H&M

Then Sunday morning we were up bright and early to get ready for a sports-filled day. 

I made 7-layer dip at 8:00 in the morning. Have to say that was a first. 

Sport stop #1 was the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Sunday's outfit details:

Copped jacket, Urban Outfitters

Tank, Forever 21

Black Skinny Jeans, Forever 21

This was unfortunately the best picture I have from the day. There were no cameras OR cell phones allowed at the event (crazy people), so a parking lot photo did the trick. I wore all black to support my losing team, the Steelers, which apparently didn't help them in the Superbowl AT ALL.

Sports stop #2 was our Superbowl party where we watched, ate tortilla chips & dip, listened as Christina Aguilera and the Black Eyed Peas butchered their performances, and saw the bland Superbowl commercials roll by. Hoping for better next year!

My favorite?

It's a tie for Darth Vadar & the beaver. 

Beaver, not Bieber. Only disappointment for that one.

{Bird is the werd}

I put this outfit on, and the first thing Chris said was 'are you going horseback riding today or something?!'

Uhh no, not that I am aware of. Thanks for that.

 Today will be filled with lots of working, the inevitable Friday crash at 5 p.m., then the second wind once I realize it's the weekend! Not enough sleep this week has left me with the need to be in comfy & easy clothes. Thank goodness for casual Friday's at the agency.

Outfit details:

Pinstripe button up, Forever21

Jeans, Nordstrom

Boots, Target

Suns game tonight for work, shopping & cleaning tomorrow, the return of 70 degree weather & the defrosting of my toes, WM Phoenix Open Sunday morning, then Superbowl in the afternoon to watch the Steelers win! (knock on wood). And also the Justin Bieber/Ozzy Osbourn commercial. Because I seriously can't wait.

This weekend will be packed!

It will also include another scouting trip to find more cool places in Phoenix to take my picture. Any locals out there who have some tips they want to share?

Happy Friday!

{Month of lovin}

It's February!
Go put on some red!
Kiss your lover!
Tell someone you love them!

Outfit details:

Red shirt, Forever 21

Black&white skirt, Forever 21

Black Pumps, Target

I understand that this is the winter version of the 30 for 30, and in an effort to be wintery I threw on a scarf with my outfit this morning. Not only that, it was about -100 windchill yesterday (says the girl in Arizona). But somehow I got hot. The scarf had to go.

 It's also the day of the arm-pop pose.

Which according to my photographer, needs to be retired.

See?? It just wouldn't quit.
I need to knock it off. Or else I will be a blogger without a photographer, taking awkwardly self-timed pictures (which I never seem to make).

Accessories:
Watch, Michael Kors
Pumps, Target
Scarf, Italian street vendor

Back to love. I love love. That's probably why I love this holiday so much! 
Has anyone put up their Valentines Day decorations yet?
I have been moving slow on the holiday decor this year!

{I have a secret}

On occasion I throw on an outfit, look in the mirror, squint my eyes reeeeal tight and pretend that I am a member of the Kardashian family.

Outfit 2 details:
Blazer, Banana Republic
Teal silk top, LOFT
Black skinny jeans, Forever 21
Black pumps, Target

This is one of those outfits. And I'm only slightly embarrassed to admit it.
So thank you to to the many hours I have wasted watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami, Kourtney & Kim Take New York.
And of course now Khloe & Lamar!
And thank you to everyone withholding their judgment,
I seriously cannot get enough.

This lightrail stop and I got pretty comfortable over the summer.
During my first few car-less months in Arizona, Chris would have to wake up early, drive me to the lightrail at 6:45 (let's be honest, it was usually 7 and I was usually running to slip in the doors before they closed on me).

I always thought the artwork was great, almost every stop along the route has a different and interesting piece to look at, markers along my hour journey to the agency.

Sometimes I get distracted. (still!)

Accessories:
Necklace, Forever21
Watch, no idea!