Collared blazer love

For some reason four day work weeks always feel longer than 5 day weeks. I mean you are really only working 32 hours instead of 40 (if you go by a clock) but the days just drag on. 5 o'clock is looming here and I can't wait!

I wore this to work yesterday and am kicking myself for not picking up more of the jackie sweaters when I got this one... they just look so good and have longer sleeves than the tippi. I think a red and royal blue would be nice... or navy. White? Beige? Oi vey.

 I also have to admit that I really like the new lighting in this office bathroom.

And can I stop for a second and mention how much I love peter pan collars, especially ones that have embellishments on them? When I grabbed this top from H&M sometime last year I thought it was going to be one of those purchases that I always regret. But I'm glad to see that it's versatile and I can pair it under sweaters to add a bit of glam to my outfit.

I've also been searching for a collar necklace or two to add to my collection..so if anyone has any that they've picked up recently let me know. I particularly like this one from C Wonder but the price stops me from pulling the trigger on buying it.

Are there certain items in your closet that you hesitated on purchasing but end up loving?

And because its a Friday... T minus 22 days until Europe!

Blazer & Jeans: Banana Republic similar blazer here, jeans here
Jackie sweater: J Crew
Scarf: Nordstrom, similar rose print here
Peter pan collar shirt: H&M

Everyday outfit

It seems as if autumn has totally bypassed us here in the bay area and instead winter has blown in. All this week we've had chilly (okay, at least by my California standards) temperatures, wind, and rain. Snow has already started falling in Tahoe and there's definitely a nip in the air that I don't mind - I love any reason for cozy sweaters and long socks with boots.

I had ordered the J Crew boyshirt in snow cat after seeing it in store, trying it on, and watching it go on sale more. So I finally caved and ordered it and I think its a great addition to my button down collection. I could see it paired under any number of colored or various fabric blazers, too.

Shirt: J Crew, Jeans: Gap.

I promise (okay, maybe not) but this hopefully doesn't look like a spotted cow print. I took a size 6 in this (hey, who doesn't like smaller numbers?) and since it was still chilly when I left this morning I paired it with my newly acquired blue poncho. Not so great photo below.

And of course, with my newest favorite pair of shoes. The J Crew tassel loafers.

Tassel loafers.

And after looking at todays outfit I'm realizing that I have a major J Crew problem. Okay, maybe its an addition (in which I may or may not have ordered a jacket today..oops..). The girls who work the registers at SF Center told me I should apply for a job to get their discount. Not gonna lie, it's pretty tempting. I might do it - who doesn't love spending money on top of a discount?

In other news DH and I celebrated 10 years of being together today. Where has the time gone? We had dinner at one of our old favorite date restaurants - Chilis - and now are just enjoying being at home with the fur kids.

Speaking of fur kids, meet our newest addition - Cat Food. And he has his own tank set up, mason jar was clearly for transport.

Happy almost weekend everyone!

29 before 29.

As Thursday and another year in my birthday belt notch grows I decided to put something down in writing about what I'd like to accomplish in my 28th year. So, I've compiled a list of the 29 things I'd like to do before I turn 29.

In no particular order....

1.  Read a minimum of 30 books.
2.  Spend less, shop my closet more.
3.  Take more photos.
4. Dedicate more time and effort to the blog.
5. Make homemade pasta and sauce.
6.  Go to a new city where I haven't been before.
7.  Volunteer for more shifts at the holiday window display for the SF SPCA.
8. Less time inside, more time outside.
9. Join a sports team/bowling league/sign up for ice skating lessons.
10. Bike across the golden gate bridge.
11. Take a how to make a terraneum class with my mom.
12. Take a photo every day for 30 straight days.
13. Go to the symphony with DH.
14. Learn to fix/sew a button.
15. Try a new beer once a month.
16. Go fruit/pumpkin picking.
17. Hike Angel Island.
18. Get as close as I can to the city where my grandpa was born in Italy.
19. Bake at least once a month with the new kitchen aid mixer.
20. Go gokarting with my family.
21. Define my style better.
22. Visit the Italian American museum in the presidio.
23. Organize and play a bocce ball day.
24. Be nicer to my cuticles (so I can finally have nice manicures...)
25. Take a spontaneous drive.
26. Make a new friend.
27. Make a stranger's day
28. Clean and reorganize my wardrobe AND keep it up (for longer than a week).
29. Exercise more and eat better.

And so this isn't totally boring, my outfit for today. I picked this necklace up on Monday and just adore it.

jeans: banana republic, blouse: jcrew, necklace: h&m, blazer: frenchi

necklace details

Well, that's it for now! On the eve of my 29th I feel... good. :)

Monday stripes & One Lovely Blog Award

If you took one glance outside the windows today you'd think that it was winter. Ah, summer in San Francisco usually involves fog - so take note visitors - wear layers.

And with today being Monday (and me being tired) with the new work week ahead of me I decided to play it casual but warm. I picked up this striped tippi sweater yesterday that was marked down at J Crew (I couldn't resist, it was stripes..I love stripes) and just paired with a white button down for a casual but still work appropriate look for Monday in the office.

Tippi sweater: JCrew, jeans and button down: Banana Republic; shoes: gift from Morocco; watch: Michele

I kinda can't get enough of stripes. I'm still on the hunt for a striped blazer and am considering a few - there's one I'm eying from Lands End. And of course there's the J Crew Factory maritime stripe blazer. Decisions, decisions!

Life has definitely gotten busy. We are officially 33 days until our wedding day (yay!) and life has been consumed by the small details outside of my 9-5 - so thanks everyone for being patient over the past week while my posts got few and far between.

And speaking, of a huge thanks to Jeannie of Colorful Corporate who awarded me with the One Lovely Blog Award.

As part of getting this award I'd like to go ahead and nominate 15 lovely ladies to receive this as well.

Lisa of Respect the Shoes
Katie of Hello Katie Girl
Phiphi of Phiphi's Closet
Cori of La Vie Petite
Glistenpearls at Glistenpearls
Cindi at PurrinCup
My4Boys at Tweed and Toile
Katherine at Feather Factor
Cate O at A Package A Day
Rosa at Love at First Shop
Chris at Granola2Glam
Mez at Domestic Divinity
Aili & Ailyn at Jane Squared
Hannah at 17 Inch Heart
Tokki & Oliver of Tokki & Oliver

And thank you to everyone for reading/commenting/coming along this ride with me - you all are so great!

Casual Thursday

I have to admit that today I just wasn't in the mood. Perhaps its been the few hours of sleep I've been missing the past few nights by laying awake contemplating everything from work to the wedding, or maybe its the fact that when I check the weather at night before bed it says one thing and then drastically changes when I wake up in the morning.

Jeans: Banana Republic; Blazer: Frenchie; Blouse: JCrew; Necklace: Franchesca's Collection; Scarf: Gift

Regardless, today I just decided to err on the casual side, especially since I have a meeting at our wedding venue after work (and I have to put up with air conditioning blaring down on me for 9 hours a day at the office so layers are always nice).

I have to tell you that I'm really excited over this scarf. It was a gift and I had ordered something just like it a few months ago and then bam. It was lost in the mail. So imagine how thrilled I was when this popped up!

I also feel as though I took a bit of a chance on the beaded necklace. It was on uber sale for 9.00 and I don't normally gravitate toward orange but I really like this combo. It's the first of a big chunky necklace kind that I've purchased and I really like it. I'm hoping to branch out a bit more with statement necklaces/chunkier pieces to add a bit of pizazz to my outfits. That way, I can mix and match and feel as thought I can turn an old favorite outfit into something new.

This weekend is my bridal shower... I'm so excited! I can't believe that it's almost July. We've started to get more and more little pieces of things in the mail for the wedding and the RSVP's are still trickling in.

So... talk to me about accessories. What's your current favorite piece and why? I do have a necklace coming in the mail from etsy that I'm so excited to have come and that might be my new favorite piece. :)