#46 Wallflower

Oh... hey. I didn't see you there. Good to know you're still reading. Merry Christmas by the way. Remember that time I moved to New York and things were really hard and usually fun but especially hard? Remember that time I had a terrible situation with my landlord and four months after my move to NYC I had to move to a different apartment? Yeah, that was fun. Don't ask.

Excuses aside, it has been a very challenging first few months in NYC. I don't regret for a single second making the move from Ohio --> NYC. I love my job, my students, and the opportunity to experience new things, culture, art, and amazing food every day. But it isn't easy. Definitely not easy. Thanks to everyone who kept up with my little blog and asked about my whereabouts. You are awesome.

I wore the following outfit to a Holiday party for work. I'm obsessed with these ASOS line of wiggle dresses. They elegantly accentuate curves and you may know about my affinity for dresses with pockets. I'm not one for below the knee length dresses that aren't maxis, but there's something so classy and regal about it. I got a lot of comparison to Joan from Mad Men that night. Pardon the bags underneath my eyes-- these photos are not photoshopped and wow, it's been a challenging month.

DRESS Wallpaper Wiggle Dress, ASOS | BELT Golden Bug Belt, ASOS Curve | SHOES Red Suede Wedges, ALDO

Happy holidays & happy New Year!

#42 A Tourist's Experience: Chicago

Over Spring Break last year, my boyfriend and I got to take a really fun vacation-- we spent half the time in Hocking Hills, Ohio in a little cabin (future entry) and the other half in Chicago (this entry)! My boyfriend currently lives in Germany, and feeling a little blue, I decided to perk up my spirits by reliving some of my favorite moments together during this trip, as April was the last time I saw him. I can't believe it's already been over 4 months now. I know I *just* posted about being in Chicago, but I realized I hadn't posted any pictures from our trip, and wanted to post some for you now!

Cherry trees in the park

Buckingham Fountain. Strangely empty on this cloudy day.

Casual outfit for the day, paired with my favorite tan platform sneakers from ALDO.

Ugliest sweater ever. I love it!

Beautiful bib necklace by ALDO. Dig the straight lines of the cut outs paired with the curve of the bib.

My satchel in my favorite color.

Incredible fields of tulips near S Lakeshore Drive.

Cloudy horizon on the waterfront.

No photoshop here! The water of Lake Michigan was actually this beautiful turquoise. Crazy!

It had to be done-- the bean!

We got a good deal on the Hilton on Michigan Avenue. The interior was really breathtaking-- very ornate and vintage looking.

We also went to the top of the Sears Tower. I refuse to call it Willis Tower-- lame! Look at that water!

We had to go to in the Skydeck boxes, of course.

Even though your rational brain knows it's quite safe, the experience is still somewhat terrifying! But so cool to look down and see the street below you.

Beautiful sunny skyline on our way to the Shedd Aquarium, which while expensive, is a must for any animal/ocean lover like me and was the highlight of my trip.

Beautiful blue poison dart frogs! One of my favorite animals. It took me forever to get this shot because there were so many frogs and they were hopping around so much!

Pretty insane looking spider crab.

Color-blocked shrimp :)

We paid extra for the jellyfish exhibit-- aren't they gorgeous?

Look at these cuties! Yet another of my favorite animals.

SWEATER Aztec Shawl Sweater, Forever 21+ | SHIRT White V-neck Tee, Forever 21+ | JEANS Dark skinnies, Eloquii | SHOES Tan Wedge Sneakers, ALDO | BAG Green Satchel, H&M | NECKLACE Geometric Black & Gold Bib Necklace, ALDO

Overall, although I had a blast, I was a bit unsatisfied with what I saw of Chicago. I feel like we did a lot of touristy things and the areas we visited seemed deserted. I wished we could have had more of a locals experience and see where hip Chicagoans hang out. We stayed pretty much in the touristy areas and the city seemed so large and spread out, it was difficult to decide where to go and explore in such a short time period. But I know next time, I'll do a lot more research. And for sure, go to the Field Museum. One of my favorite bloggers, Chaplin from Mini Penny (who also happens to be from my town in Ohio), LOVES Chicago and always has amazing posts about her experiences in Chicago, events she is invited to, amazing outfit photos, and lots of ideas about where to explore in the city. If you ever go there, I highly suggest you check out her blog!

#40 - Love Is In The Air

Allow me to start off by saying that I have an awesome brother. He is super smart and stylish, not to mention that he makes me crack up laughing until I pretty much pee myself. He's definitely one of the funniest people I know. He's only about 2 years older than me, but he had a big influence on me growing up-- I was such a copycat and I wanted to be just like him! I was always stealing his cool vintage t-shirts that he got from thrift stores (to his dismay), I learned to played guitar soon after he bought his first, and I was constantly bugging him for new music to download and books to read. He just proposed to his girlfriend of several years and I couldn't be happier for him-- they are perfect for each other! So this weekend, our family headed up to Chicago to meet her family for the first time.

For an event like this, or really any event, I am just loving dresses by the amazing designer Adrianna Papell. Her straight sizes go up to a 16 and she also has a plus-sized line that is beautiful and goes up to a 24. I have found my favorite AP pieces at Nordstroms, but her line is also available at Dilliards. I think this bright and whimsical dress is 1) extremely reflective of my personality and 2) perfect for a gorgeous outdoor soiree in Chicago! My soon-to-be sister-in-law's family decorated the yard so perfectly-- it had DIY and Etsy and magic written all over it!

Love that parking lot shot!

I'm wearing Schiap (bright pink lipstick) by NARS which just adds to all the bright goodness.

Love my color-blocked bag by Aldo. I take it everywhere!

The beautiful bar decorated with handmade paper decorations!

All the drinks were served in mason jars. ETSY magic!

Beautiful table set up inside with flowers, pies, customized cookies and beautiful pictures of the lovely couple.

Gorgeous tablescape.

So much detail in every single part of the table.

Beautiful flowers.

A shot at the end of the evening. Such a romantic, beautiful night!

DRESS/BELT Cap Sleeve Striped Dress, Adrianna Papell via Nordstroms (sold out in plus size) | SHOES Black Faux Suede Wedges, Target | BAG Black & White Color Blocked Shoulder Bag, ALDO

I was impressed by every detail and the thought that went into planning this wonderful occasion. I sort of thought we would all just be sitting at a dining room inside, eating family style, and I was really blown away by the effort of my sister-in-law's family. They made quite an impression on me. Above all, each and every one of her family members were so lovely and made us feel so welcome. I know my brother was a little bit nervous, but clearly it was a successful meeting of two awesome families! Now on to plan what I'll wear for the wedding...!

#30 - Welcome to Harlem

I officially moved to Harlem on July 2 (then had to go back to Cleveland for a family reunion) and in the approximately 10 days I've lived here, I just am so amazed by this city and by my neighborhood. Harlem is a beautiful, vibrant place, and deserves SO much more credit than it is given. The people here have been so welcoming and kind to me in every possible way. I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of this community. I can't wait to start work and get to meet my students in about two short months!

Moving to NYC from Ohio has been quite a lifestyle change. I'm slowly feeling myself turning into an authentic New Yorker (annoyed by tourists, figuring out how not to fall on the Subway, running in heels/wedges to catch a train) and there are some things that have been hard to get used to-- no driving, no public restrooms, and no large sodas! Damn you, Bloomberg. However, there are so many things that I have always loved and am growing to love more and more. Walking everywhere is certainly not convenient, but I'm so amazed by what I see. The subway, too. I get to listen to music now and chill (road-rage free!), I get to be physically active nearly every moment of every day (my body is rejecting it but, soon I'll be used to it!). And the fashion! I'm trying not to be that creepy weirdo staring all slack-jawed at people on the subway, but I'm so inspired by what all different people of all different shapes, sizes, colors, and ages are rocking every single day. I can't help but make mental notes when I see a unique piece, or an accessory worn a certain way, or a color combination that I've never thought of before. It's been a little bit lonely sometimes (not a ton of close friends here... yet) but I have to say that I'm utterly inspired and awed by being here.

I hope to get a tripod and a remote soon so I can take some real outfit pictures, especially while I'm exploring, but I hope these cell phone pics will do for now!

DRESS Black Silk Ruffle Wrap Dress, Banana Republic| SHOES All Caps Wedges, Jeffrey Campbell | BAG Nickoley, ALDO (on sale for $32!)

I have to pat myself on the back-- er, head-- for what I would like to say was a phenomenal hair day! This dress is my go-to dress when I want to look classy and fierce. You can't see the ruffles too well in the cell phone pics (my bad!), but they add a very feminine touch to this classic silhouette. It's also very "flattering" for every body type, if you're into that kind of thing. BR is definitely a place I like to shop for work-to-evening kind of looks (and they go up to a size 18/20). The bag is my dream-- a pretty classy color-blocked bag that is HUGE. It fits my 13" laptop and pretty much everything and anything else, and still zips!

I was wandering around Soho yesterday, checking out some swanky places on and off of Prince Street, doing a little furniture browsing in the beautiful Room & Board on Wooster. I popped in to the Miu Miu store inspired by the wonderful Nicolette Mason and was blown away by the shoes and sunglasses. Maybe after I receive my first paycheck I'll blow a good chunk of it on these absolutely mind-blowing sunglasses:

If you're gonna live in NYC, you gotta look the part! More adventures forthcoming...

#28 Swag: Warm and Spiky

What up beautiful curvy girls of the world! I am almost at 100 followers and that feels pretty stupendous! 9 more followers and I might just do a giveaway or something rad like that. Anyway, while I don't have an awesome outfit post for you, I did want to give you an insight as to what I've recently tucked away in my closet. I made a tasty photo collage which you can see below. I've entitled my swag masterpiece, "Warm and Spiky."



From top to bottom moving left to right:

Fashion to Figure, Arachnid Top
Lane Bryant, Braided Maxi Dress in Orange (sold out in all colors)
Eloquii, Red Denim Skinny Jeans
Fashion to Figure, Arsenic and Lace Chiffon Button Blouse (available in Mocha only)
ALDO, LaRose Purse (on sale for $13.99!)
ALDO, Blye Flats
H&M, Pink Caged Wedge (not available online)
Sam Edelman, Beatrix Flats (on sale for $89.99 at Nordstrom!)

As you can see, warm colors and interesting patterns and details are really catching my eye. I've always been a fan of spiky things (most likely because punk music really changed me at an early age!) and I'm really into unusual patterns. The citrus pattern on my purse is so cute and perfect for warmer weather-- ALDO has this pattern in several different styles on their site, all on sale! I'm also really pleased with my first Fashion to Figure purchase. The items I got were fabulous and for the most part, fit well. I even got the coral dress Gabi Gregg featured in her makeover post and it looks hottt with three t's. Keep it curvy, ladies!

#23 Spring in January

Yesterday was an insanely beautiful day... finally, some sunshine in the midwest! It didn't feel like January, more like a blustery fall day. I picked an outfit with a splash of bright neon blue to match the gorgeous sky. My best friend and I hit the mall and walked around outside for the entire day. Sorry about all the squinting! It was so bright outside!

JACKET Brown Leather Jacket, F21 | TOP Color Blocked Silk Blouse, Ann Taylor Loft | JEANS Skinny Jeans, Old Navy | SHOES Tan Buckle Boots, F21 | NECKLACE Rhinestone Compass Necklace, Target | EARRINGS 1/2" Turquoise Spirals, Body Art Forms | SUNGLASSES Gold Prescription Aviators, Ray Ban

I'm not a big "brown" person. Most of the more neutral colors in my wardrobe are black and white. Recently, I've really been getting into shades of brown, taupe, and cognac. They are so beautiful. I really think pairing brown with bright neon blue or cobalt is a really unusual but gorgeous color combination and it's something I'm definitely going to continue on in the future.

I'm a huge fan of bright pastels for spring. The top I'm wearing is from Ann Taylor, which I normally associate with more mature work-wear. However, they have a ton of cute stuff for spring, including pastel colored skinny jeans and gorgeous, bright silk tops. It may be winter time, but that doesn't mean we can't be colorful.

Some of my favorite pastels and brights for spring include:

There are so many to choose from! I just purchased the leopard wedges at H&M on our mall trip. They are so comfortable and inexpensive! I also bought the black and white wrist cuff from F21 and the wedges in black from ALDO (not pictured). My favorite items here include the pastel bunting necklace from ASOS, all of the floral print, the gorgeous lilac wedges from ALDO (sold out in my size... *SOB*), the Dior Garden Party collection nail lacquers, and the pastel Jeffrey Campbell studded loafers, which come in a variety of pastel colors. The ALDO Calcagni wedges are fabulous and come in a ton of Spring colors. Just beware-- they are about 1.5-2 sizes smaller than you would normally buy (I bought an 11 and I'm a 9).

I love pastels and brights! I'm looking forward to absorbing as much color as possible into my wardrobe this year. What are your favorite pastel and bright colors that you're looking forward to wearing this Spring?