Anything but Ordinary: Snap Shot Edition

1. An afternoon work break

2. Exploring Old Town Alexandria

3. Seattle beach

4. Kayaking in Georgetown

5. Beautiful succulents

6. Playing tourist around DC

1. Starting the trip off right with a Carolina Bell

2. Browsing a used book store

3. The Old Well at UNC

4. Wandering the UNC Arboretum

5. Lucky Strike, Durham

6. Flower gazing on a lunch break

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Bright Sun Shiny Day

{Shirt: Classiques Entier via Nordstrom Rack | Skirt: Loft | Scarf: Halogen | Shoes: Seychelles | Sunnies: Marc by Marc Jacobs via TJ Max}

When I look at these pictures, all I can think about is the song lyrics, "it's gonna be a bright, bright, bright, bright sun shiny day".  I normally try to take photos earlier in the morning or in the evening, when the sun is less harsh. But this week, I am traveling for work and therefore my photo-taking time and locations have become more limited. To snap these babies, I was hanging out on the roof of a parking garage mid-afternoon. Hence the brightness. 

The good thing about these pictures reminding me of song lyrics is that it brings my life one step closer to being like a musical. Where I bust into song to describe each part of my day, and everyone around me sings along too. How great would that be? (at least for an hour or two...then it might get old).

Bold Stripes

{Shirt: Urban Outfitters | Skirt: Loft | Shoes: Payless | Necklace: DIY (made from a broken earring)}

I went all out BRIGHT on this outfit. The skirt, the stripes, the necklace. Everything is bright and bold in character. When I tried on this skirt, I debated about the color for quite some time. A neon yellow skirt isn't what I would classify as a highly versatile item. Let's be honest, there is nothing mellow about this yellow. But I decided to take a risk and have some fun with color matching. Turns out, I love pink and bright yellow together. Plus, when I'm wearing this outfit I know one thing for sure; if someone is trying to find me, they can't miss while I'm wearing this skirt!

WHITE TEE: 3 WAYS (a dailybuzz style 9x9)

When I was selected for the DailyBuzz Style 9x9: How Would You Style The Classic White Tee Shirt, the first thing that came to my mind was the simplicity of a casual jeans and tee look. A white tee shirt has always been a go-to item for me when I want to look comfortable, relaxed and effortlessly chic.

But for this feature, instead of sticking with familiarity, I decided to stretch my creativity and come up with three unique ways to style a white tee. I chose this Loft tee, but any simple white tee will do the trick for all three of these looks.

LOOK ONE: WORKING GIRL

(Skirt: Loft (similar) | Necklace: Bauble Bar | Shoes: INC | Watch: Michael Kors}

For this look, I combined the white tee with a classic, black pencil skirt for a polished, office friendly feel. The addition of a staple necklace in a bright, bold color really pops against the black and white and makes the whole outfit look and feel more fun (and in my mind, fun is always a welcome bonus for office attire!)

LOOK TWO: STATEMENT VEST 

(Vest: H&M (similar) | Jeans: Paige Denim | Shoes: Payless | Belt: Banana Republic | Necklace: Eastern Market DC}

For this look, I added some character to my jeans and white tee look by adding a simple black vest. This gives the look a more styled feel and would be perfect for a casual date or an afternoon on the town.

LOOK THREE: SHAPED MAXI

(Dress: Off 5th | Shoes: Anthropologie | Necklace: Anthropologie}

I've had this maxi dress for a while, but sometimes the tie-dye like coloring and the boxy shape leave me less than satisfied when I try to style this dress. Tying a white tee over the dress is the perfect way to tone down the pattern and most importantly, it adds a flattering shape. 

So there you have it. Three not-so-ordinary ways to style a white tee shirt that can easily be recreated with similar items in your closet! And as always, thanks for reading!

Too Hot

{Shirt: Anthropologie | Skirt: Banana Republic | Shoes: Target | Necklace: Target} 

I picked up this skirt on mega sale at Banana this weekend. Don't believe the price online. One thing I have learned in my ventures as a bargain shopper is that you can often find better discounts in store. And I sure do love a good deal!

Unfortunately, today was too hot for this skirt. It was too hot for any skirt. But the alternative wasn't an option. So I did the best I could by pairing this delectable skirt with a breezy top and made a day of it.

Summer Time

{Shirt: Piperlime | Jeans: Citizens of Humanity | Shoes: Seychelles | Watch: Michael Kors | Necklace: Eastern Market DC} 

I've been slightly MIA lately because it has been one of those crazy weeks (or two). And to be honest, things are still a little crazy. BUT, summer is officially here, and even though it is currently 100 degrees and HUMID in DC, I do love summer.

So amidst all the craziness, I am going to put on a smile and take the season head-on with some stylish shorts, skirts, and sandals. And as soon as I remember to start taking pictures of these stylish outfits, I'll be back to posting them much more regularly on the blog! For now, here's an outfit from last weekend, before the HEAT WAVE came to stay.

Happiness

{Shirt: Piperlime | Skirt: Zara (similar) | Watch: Michael Kors} 

The colors in this blouse make me feel HAPPY! and who doesn't like feeling happy? So in honor of happiness, I plan on wearing this blouse a lot. 

Another happy factor is that I wore this blouse to one of my favorite DC events- Jazz in the Sculpture Garden. Every Friday night during the summer, the National Gallery of Art hosts a free jazz concert and DCites come with their blankets and picnics to crowd the gardens. It's always a popular event and it gets so crowded that you can't get from point A to point B without walking on other people's blankets. So things get really cozy, especially as the pitchers of Sangria start flowing.  If you live in DC or plan on visiting, it should be a must do on your to-do-list! 

Purple Art

{Dress: Target | Belt: Anthropologie | Shoes: Payless | Necklace: Target} 

Apparently I forgot to look at the camera while I was taking these photos. Sometimes it can be intimidating to stare at the tripod, so I managed to look anywhere else. I guess you can just call me artsy!  

In other news, it's FRIDAY! I am so very, very happy for the weekend. I see surf, sun, sand, and a cold beverage in my near future :) Have a fabulous weekend and thanks for reading!