All in the family [outfit]

Vintage sweater - given to me in the 1990s by my mom / Joie shorts from Nordstrom - 2011 - $26 (using gift card) / Old Navy belt - cheap? / LOFT sandals - 2009 - $10 on sale / American Eagle chain necklace - 2011 - $4 on clearance

I was digging through the boxes under my bed the other day when I rediscovered this sweater. It was my mom's before me, and was given to her by my dad's mom. It is unclear whether my grandma owned it and wore it before she gave it to my mom or whether it was purchased by my grandmother as a gift for my mom. Either way, it's older than I am.

Bonus—it looks like a sleeved version of the sweater Debbie Reynolds wore in the "Good Morning" segment of Singing in the Rain (my favorite movie of all time).

[Image source: Rotten Tomatoes]

Colors for a cause [outfit]

Banana Republic sweater - 2008 - ?? but on sale / Target t-shirt - 2011 - $7 on sale / Target jeans - 2011 - $18 on sale / Calvin Klein pumps from Off Broadway - 2007 - $70 on sale / Scarf - 2010 - swapped

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

I'm wearing purple because relationships should not be abused for power. Because everybody deserves respect. Because you don't have to just sit there and take it, but you do have to take the first step and be committed to changing your life.

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors — physical, sexual, psychological, and economic coercion — used by one intimate partner against another (adult or adolescent) to gain, maintain, or regain power and control in the relationship. Batterers use of a range of tactics to frighten, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, often injure, and sometimes kill a current or former intimate partner.

1 in 3 families are affected by domestic violence.  If you look at the ladies you're lunching with, chances are one of their families has been affected by it. Some people that I love dearly have been affected by it. It crosses all racial, economic, educational, and geographic boundaries.

If you are in danger, please call 911, your local hotline, or (in the U.S.) the National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233 or TTY (800) 787-3224.

 Spread the word. Purple and pink go well together, don't you think?

Throw on and go [outfit]

Ann Taylor top - 2010 - $20 on sale (similar) / BR Factory Store skirt - 2011 - $20 on sale (similar) / Enzo Angiolini pumps via Piperlime - 2010 - $35 on sale (available) / H&M leather mini duffel - 2007 - $40 on sale (similar) / Premier Designs faux pearl necklace - 2010 - free with purchase (similar) / BR Factory Store sunglasses - 2011 - $8 on sale

Outfit analysis: I'm not sure if green and purple are supposed to go together, but I was feeling it. Another qualm I had about this outfit was the pleats on the skirt and the top...I have a preconceived notion that if one piece is detailed, it should be worn with a simpler piece. But this seemed to work okay, too. I like how the paper-bag waist of the skirt stands out more because the upper ruched part of the skirt blends into the top (does that make sense? Not sure how to explain it). Neutral accessories help the colors stand out.
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This had to be one of my laziest mornings ever, and to be honest, I loved the result! This outfit was pretty random. I picked out the skirt and top separately as things I might want to wear together, and just put them on. I air-dried my hair (usually I blow-dry with round brush...not really a blow-out cuz my hair is straight already). And to top it off, I even ate almost the same meal for lunch and dinner: chicken and french fries. Out of one rut, into another.

What odd color combo do you like to wear? How did you discover it?

Silky smooth [outfit]

Ann Taylor Factory Store top - 2011 - $12 on sale (similar) / Mossimo tank via Target - 2009 - $7 on sale (available) / BR Factory Store trousers - 2009 - $20 on sale (similar) / Mossimo gladiator sandals via Target - 2010 - $25 (similar) / American Eagle outlet necklace - 2011 - $4 on sale (similar) / Silver ball studs via Target - cheap (similar)

Outfit analysis: I'm sure this outfit breaks some rules...I have a loosely fitted top and relaxed trousers. No belt. No real shape to the shirt. But you know what? I love it. I found this great silky blouse a few months ago at the outlets, and I stuck it in my closet and forgot about it. I pulled it out last week to remind myself to wear it, and I decided just to keep it simple (I start small, remember?). It's one of those things that doesn't makes sense, but just works.
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I'm back! I know, you barely noticed I was gone (thank goodness for scheduled posts), but I was running around like a madwoman most of last week prepping for K's graduation and our family time in town. We're really lucky—our families get along swimmingly, and we basically spent Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning together (all 10 of us...whew).

Memorable moments from this weekend:

• Almost missing K's walk across the stage at graduation because the emcee called K by the WRONG NAME. 
• Hearing my 3-year-old nephew exclaim, "Your bed is in your living room!" when he saw our futon made up as a bed (for my brother).
• Discovering that I left my car unlocked for three days, parked four blocks from my apartment. Good thing we live in Davis.
• Eating. Lots of eating. And I cooked a meal for everyone, too.
• Watching my nephew tried using chopsticks for the first time. He plays the drums daily, so it was one stick per hand. While eating fried rice.
• Sending Ashlee home with three whopping bags for this weekend's Stitch Swap when all she came over for was a bike (she got the bike, too).

Although my two days off last week were great (and I got to unplug a bit...lots of catching up to do), it's good to be back!

Do you use your vacation days or do you let them gather dust?

The lazy shoes

H&M top - 2010 - swapped (similar) / LOFT pencil skirt - 2009 - $13 (similar) / Franco Sarto Hot sandals via Piperlime - 2011 - $45 (available) / Boys canvas and leather belt - 2010 - swapped (similar) / Nancy Rosetta circle ring - 2010 - gift (similar) / Ball chain necklace (similar)

Outfit analysis: This outfit kicked last week's rut right in the butt. Color? Check. Better silhouette? Check. Good mood? Check, check, check. I waffled a bit on adding the belt, but I really like how it brought in the colors of the skirt and shoes. This whole outfit put me in a happier mood, perfect for spring.
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For the past few Mondays, Bruno Mars "The Lazy Song" has been playing during my morning commute. I don't mind the song at night or on weekends, but it is a major mood-killer when I'm starting a new workweek. Does this kind of stuff bother anyone else?

But speaking of laziness, I feel like mine has taken to new lows (or highs, depending on how you look at it). I realized a few weeks ago that I didn't have any brown strappy sandal heels. I don't know how that happened, but I knew it had to be remedied. So I set about scouring the interwebs for some new kicks. I love the caged look but I found myself thinking about how annoying it is to have to buckle and unbuckle shoes.

Enter these beauties. Caged goodness galore, and a convenient zipper. Plus they were on sale and I used Ebates (need an invite?). Case closed.

Do you look for convenience when you shop or are you willing to take a few more minutes for the sake of style?

Best laid plans

Three dots cardigan via Anthropologie - 2010 - gift (similar) / Worthington ruffled blouse - Linley's (similar) / BR Factory trousers - 2009 - $12 on sale (similar) / Nina Paladin pumps via Ross - 2009 - $16 on sale (similar) / J.Crew belt - 2011 - $10 on sale (available) / Premier Designs faux pearl strand - 2010 - free with purchase (similar) / Forever 21 leaf necklace - 2010 - $5 (similar)

The last photo above is what I was planning on wearing. The top photo is what I actually wore.

So...I have a new word of advice for y'all. When choosing outerwear in the spring (or fall, or any other month where you'll be in air conditioning), consider the fact that you may not get to take your outerwear off at any point during the day. Otherwise you'll end up like me with a mish-mash of pinks and purples. Not a terrible look, I'll confess, but it wasn't what I had in mind.


What worked
I'm in love with belting a looser top for a nice relaxed silhouette. These pants are getting a bit tight at the waist, but the muffin top is safe behind the untucked shirt, and the belt keeps it from looking messy. And you know I love ruffles.

What didn't
Not sure how I like the flowy cardigan with the rest of the outfit. Like I said, I didn't intend to wear it this way. It did feel comfy, though! I also couldn't figure out the necklaces...in between the girls or on the outside?

Do you work your outerwear into your outfit or is it an afterthought?

Btw, this belt is a good example of what I'm talking about in my in-store tip on this week's shopping post. It's still $24.50 online, but I got it for $9.99 last week in store. The Gap top in my Facebook outfit this week is also a good example...I bought it 2 weeks ago in store for $13.99 and it's currently online for $29.99.