one

 

I'm done! Yesterday was my last day of work and now I'm frrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeee. Alright, so I'm only exaggerating a little - I was very lucky to have the job I did for two years. It taught me a lot about the pharmaceutical development world, how to get the job done, and how to be an adult. There are parts I will miss a lot - the stable hours, the ladies I worked with, the insight to developing crazy new drugs, having my evenings for my hobbies - but there are also certain things I won't miss, such as never seeing the sunlight, having to wear pants all the time, and being around hazardous materials eight hours a day. 

This is what I wore on my last day. The shirt is the shirt I wore on my first day of work two years ago - I don't have a full length picture but you can see it peeking out on my work badge. I bought it when I was a sophomore in college when I worked at the Gap (man do I miss that employee discount!), and while it mostly fits, it's now too tight in the bust so I've only been keeping it specifically to wear on my last day at work. What can I say, I live for that kind of sentimental stuff ;)  The skirt also has a story behind it. As I was looking through the skirt section of Goodwill last week, I found this amazing tweed skirt. The tag looked interesting, so I googled it to see what came up -turns out it's a brand from Anthropologie. Unfortunately for my closet, it was a size two, but I figured I could sell it on eBay for a little extra spending money. As I was looking for the general prices on eBay for the skirt, I found the skirt in my size! Like the exact same one. So I bid on it, and ended up winning it for $20...and then I sold the one from Goodwill for $35. So...win win! 

I also didn't wear tights because what are they going to do, fire me? REBEL.

So now I have six free weeks and I'm cramming as much in as possible. I'm doing a bit of shadowing on Monday, then I'm off to Chicago for two days, then on Friday I leave for Germany for ten days. Then I have a fun little appointment with immigration services before I hop onto another plane for Seattle for another six days. Then I have a week left and then I move! I'm proud of myself for completing another one of my 30 before 30 - saving enough money to not work for a bit. It wasn't always easy to put as much money, including my work bonus and tax refund, away but I'm now happy I did. Let the festivities begin!

Shirt: Gap [similar on sale with code GAP35]

Skirt: Anthropologie via eBay  [similar]

Necklace: Forever 21 [very similar]

Belt: Gap [similar]

Watch: Kate Spade [exact]

Shoes: Tory Burch via Goodwill [similar]

Nails: Essie Spagetti Strap

ok, no more countdowns! ;)

and the last time I beg for votes (even if you voted before) - thank you!!

playing favorites

I think I have fallen madly in love with this Gap shirt. I'm not one to choose favorites with my clothes (I want to love all of them equally!) but I wore it on Friday, and then again on Saturday. I think popovers/button up tunics are my favorite of all the types of shirts, as evidenced by this, this, and this purchase. What can I say, I'm loyal! I like that it can be both more dressy (because of the collar and buttons) but also casual when worn untucked, or with a fun scarf. 

Plus sometimes you don't have to iron them if you are going for that more casual vibe ;)

Blouse: Gap [exact]

Jeans: American Eagle [exact]

Scarf: Forever 21 [save for under $10 | splurge]

Belt: Gap [similar]

Purse: Madewell [exact]

Shoes: Crown Vintage [save | splurge]

Watch: Fossil [similar]

Earrings: Tiffany & Co. [exact]

Rings: Galisfly [exact]

Nails: Color Club Age of Aquarius 

P.S. I really wanted to participate in the Pantone-inspired challenge today but I realized I don't own anything emerald. I've actually wanted an emerald scarf for several months now, so I went looking for one in the mall last Thursday but didn't find one anywhere! If I don't find one this weekend in Minneapolis, I may look for one on etsy. This one is adorable, and this one is simple but the exact color I want.

P.P.S. Have you entered both giveaways going on right now? You can enter to win a scarf/clutch here and a $50 Gap card here. Good luck!

5D5W: Dresses!

 

I don't really own a lot of dresses that I really like. In fact, I'm taking a bunch to be consigned soon because I feel guilty about them hanging in my closet. I've actively been working on getting rid of any clothes I don't wear in my closet, but what tricks me is the other closet that we don't use that holds all of my dresses. Every single dress since my senior year of high school hangs in there, and I don't wear a single one. Most don't fit correctly (please, like you fit into the clothes from when you were 17), are too short for a 25 year old lady to wear, or just have no place in my life. Anything that hasn't been worn in 2+ years is getting consigned in the coming weeks.

But not this dress. This dress is like wearing pajamas but without having to be embarrassed about wearing them in public. She's soft, surprisingly flattering for a striped tee shirt material, and best of all, didn't cost me more than $20. The cost per wear is lower on this dress than I think any dress I've owned before, and I've only worn it 4 times (twice not blogged - I know, I'm shocked too). I wish Fran from 3 years ago would have made smarter shopping decisions.

Dress: Old Navy  [save | spend | splurge]

Chambray: J.Crew Factory [exact]

Tights: Target

Shoes: Tory Burch [exact]

Belt: Gap

Watch: Fossil [exact]

Necklace: gift from Whitney

via instagram

How have you worn the dresses in your closet? Are you a remixing master when it comes to dresses, or are you a shameful neglecter like I am? Link up with Whitney for the second to last day of 5 Days 5 Ways. Tomorrow is Casual Friday...which means you can just show us 5 ways you've worn a more casual outfit, or how you've worn jeans 5 ways, or a comfy skirt, or...whatever you feel defines a casual Friday for your life! Can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve :)

 1 | 2 | 3

black blazed

A black blazer is something I've wanted in my closet for a really long time, but never really made an effort to look for because I knew finding something that fits me exactly how I want it to wasn't going to be that easy, especially with a limited budget. I got really lucky during a Saturday color tag sale at Goodwill where I got this blazer for $4. The sizing is strange since my other favorite blazer is a 10 Tall, whereas this blazer is a 12 Petite but somehow it works since it fits my shoulders well. The only down side is that the arms are too short which isn't really a problem for me since I insist that all my sleeves be pushed/cuffed up - I hate full length sleeves. It is a bit more casual but I think it'll serve my closet well for now. I'll still be on the look out for a more formal black blazer but I'll probably wait to buy that as part of a suit - something I don't really need at this moment.

Blazer: Thrifted  {save | splurge}
Tee: Gap
Jeans: American Eagle  {exact on sale}
Scarf: H&M  {similar}
Belt: Gap
Shoes: Tory Burch  {exact}
Watch: Boccia
Earrings: Tiffany & Co. {exact}

Linking up with wiww

wind like woah

You guys. It was so windy this morning. I had no idea what to do with myself...or my hair which was all over the place. That's what I get for even attempting to do anything with it - a face full of wind. I was doing all these unnatural (more unnatural than standing in front of a camera taking pictures of yourself already is) poses and nothing worked. So this is what you get today. At least I tried...

Blazer: H&M  {similar}

Chambray: Old Navy  {exact}

Jeans: Urban Outfitters  {exact}

Belt: Gap  {save / splurge}

Shoes: Tory Burch  {exact}

Watch: Target  {similar}

Ring: Stolen from my sister Karoline

I'm in love with this belt. I bought it when Whitney and I went shopping and got it for a song. Since I now realize what I was missing out on with mustard colored items (hey, only like 4 years behind), I am trying to play catch up.


via Instagram