30 x 30 | Day Thirty

knit | forever xxi, (dress worn as) skirt | old navy

Yesterday was the last day of the 30 x 30 challenge and this was the outfit I wrapped up with.  And it was a slight challenge for me; I know it's fine to break the navy with black rule these days but I still struggle with it.  This dress isn't a dark navy so I felt okay going with the black tights (especially when I saw it was snowing this morning...no bare legs for this girl!).  The yellow striped shirt had only been worn twice so I pulled it over and I really liked it - this dress has pockets so I was a little worried about it possibly making me look hippier than usual, but it didn't so A++ to this dress. Or I said yes to the dress, insert various rhymes/puns here.

I'm so excited to wake up in the morning and wear whatever I want from any part of my closet, but this was such a fun challenge and one I definitely want to repeat on the blog.

I won't get all sappy on everyone yet - I'll be back sometime today with the 30 x 30 recap and some last thoughts on the challenge, advice for anyone considering doing one in February/March/whenever, my favorite and least favorite outfits and maybe even some outfits that didn't make it into the challenge?

"See" you soon!

30 x 30 | Day Twenty Nine

chambray | old navy, chinos | h&m

I never wear this polka dot skinny scarf so I decided try tying it a bow around my neck and then eventually my collar so I could rock polka dots on polka dots for day twenty nine.  I really wasn't sure how it would turn out, but I love this idea.

This was the fifth time I wore my polka dot chambray top during this challenge, making it my most popular blouse.  Here's a quick look at the different ways I styled it:

prior days: 2, 7, 18 & 21

Do you have a favorite?

30 x 30 | Day Twenty Eight

oxford | brooks brothers, skirt | jcpenney

tights | charlotte russe

I started reading Heather's post yesterday morning and had to put on my love bangle as well - yay for being bracelet twins!

The good: two days from the end of the 30 for 30 challenge (!!!) and my friend/coworker asked if I had picked up all of these items in a recent shopping spree - I guess that means I'm remixing kind of well :)

The bad: even though yesterday's post was all about how much I dislike tights, I couldn't turn these down when I found them for $3.  Slightly different, but for a serial tight killer like me much more price appropriate than the ones I'd been eyeing from Gap.

The ugly: I was so, so proud of myself for trying these on Monday night and taking them off and then putting them back on for this outfit and making it through the day.
...And then I went to take them off and the tiniest of snags happened.  I may have glared at the tights.

Linking up with Shanna today!

30 x 30 | Day Twenty Seven

oxford | brooks brothers, dress | h&m

Let's talk about tights.  I think they're great in theory: they can be opaque or patterned, they make it possible to wear dresses and not shave your legs (guilty as charged), they keep your legs warm (debatable) and make an outfit look put together.

And here's why I only like tights in theory: This is the only pair of tights I haven't ruined after wearing them one time.  It's heartbreaking.  Without fail, I will snag, run or accidentally poke a nail through a brand new pair of tights and sigh dramatically as I realize that in my hand I'm holding twelve to fifteen dollars that would have been better spent elsewhere.

Eventually, I gave up on spending more for the slim chance they may last and started buying Target tights figuring they were cheaper to replace.  Somehow, these black ones have stood up against my apparently rough nature and I can confirm that they are still unscathed as I write this.

Here's to you, Target tights.

30 x 30 | Day Twenty Six

Confession time: I didn't actually wear this on Sunday.  Sunday was spent cleaning, reflecting, napping and then reality tv-ing.  In my defense, keeping up with the Kardashians and Chips Ahoy is hard work best done in sweats.

I did, however, wear this for part of Day 16 so I don't feel as bad about being a lazy bum.  Also, so sorry but I could not edit out the fact that I was possessed by demons while snapping this pictures.  You win some, you lose some.

gingham shirt & tank | old navy, jeans | target

Tracey from Versatile Style by Tracey nominated me for the Very Inspiring & Versatile Blogger Award - Thanks Tracey, so sweet that you thought of me :)  I don't want to bore everyone (and myself) with another group of facts about myself but please be sure to check out Tracey's blog if you have a minute.

30 x 30 | Day Twenty Five

blazer | thrifted, shirt | talbots (thrifted), chinos | h&m

I was determined to bring this shirt back so here it is, under a blazer as Ginny suggested (you're the best, thanks a million).  The blazer really looks black in this picture and all I can think about right now is how cool it would be if navy and black pieces could change based on what you were wearing.  Kind of like a mood ring.  And this has been deep thoughts with Nicole!

30 x 30 | Day Twenty Four

dress | old navy, leggings | h&m

scarf | target, necklace | charming charlie

Yesterday's look is what I call "being woken from a deep sleep by a panicked phone call and throwing clothes on" chic.  Luckily, my friend's car accident wasn't bad and I didn't look like a hot mess when I showed up to make sure she was alright - all thanks to the '30 x 30 outfit ideas' album I have on my phone.
Have a great Saturday!

30 x 30 | Day Twenty Three

cardigan | old navy, lace dress (worn as top) | thrifted $4, skirt | worthington for jcpenney

necklace | target, belt | walmart

We got crazy great wonderful news in Louisville yesterday -- we're finally getting an H&M!!! I had to use extra exclamation points to show you all just how excited I am. H&M is one of my favorite stores and I've been making the hour and a half drive up to Cincinnati or Indianapolis to stock up when they have sales.  I'm so pleased that I'll be fifteen minutes away from one this fall :)

What store are you still waiting to locate closer to you?

Happy Friday!

30 x 30 | Day Twenty Two

cardigan | dkny via costco, yellow striped knit | forever xxi, cords | old navy

Scarves are such a great accessory, but I really love that you could wear the same shirt for a week with a different scarf each day and no one would notice...not that I've ever done that ;)

Obviously a huge fan of this knit with yellow being one of my favorite colors.

30 x 30 | Day Twenty One

sweater | ralph lauren via tj maxx, chambray | old navy, chinos | h&m

I'm a couple days behind so prepare yourself for an onslaught of outfit posts :) I've officially worn this chambray more than any of my other items and I can still see it popping up in the remix challenge a few more times.  Give me all the chambrays, okay?

studded bracelet to match my studded loafers

30 x 30 | Day Twenty

cardigan | old navy, striped knit | forever xxi, chinos | h&m

In my head, I thought this would look really weird and planned against wearing it, but then I got bored and tried it on and really liked it.  Proving once again, just because it sounds bad in theory, doesn't mean it will actually be bad - and in a similar fashion, just because it sounds like it will look great, doesn't mean it will.

So dalmation and stripes is now a thing I can work with. Who knew?

Happy Tuesday!

30 x 30 | Day Nineteen

cardigan | old navy, tank | charlotte russe, jeans | target

As we get closer to the end of the 30 x 30, I find myself planning out what clothes I would like to add to my wardrobe with my February budget.  While shopping a bit too much in December, I received Old Navy cash and when I checked their web site Sunday morning, I saw that they've brought back the gingham button ups in almost every color - now if only I could decide which colors I wanted.

Linking up with Molly and Carly today.

30 x 30 | Day Fifteen

chinos | h&m, leopard loafers | target

I honestly could not believe that I hadn't worn my cable knit sweater already.  So much so, that I had to pull up my chart in my notebook, my spreadsheet and eventually my blog before accepting that I'd apparently overlooked it in the 30 x 30 section of my closet a few times.  I debated between pulling it over a button up before deciding to just pull it on and throw a scarf on.  So cozy and I love this scarf.

Speaking of things I love: LOGG for H&M chinos - give me all of them in all of the colors.  Shopping for pants is one of my least favorite things.  I'm pear shaped and can hardly ever find pants that fit in a way I consider flattering to my figure, but these pants never make me feel too hippy.  I bought my first pair in coral last spring and have four different colors now.  They're so comfortable and you can cuff the hem or roll it a few times to make them appear cropped.  On top of that, they're great casual pants; I've found that I rarely wear jeans now.  I could go on and on about these pants but it's just really great to find clothing that doesn't make you worry about your body insecurities.

scarf | bb peppers, sweater | polo ralph lauren

30 x 30 | Day Thirteen

One of my favorite bloggers, Angela from Selfless Ambition nominated me for another Liebster Award, so I've updated my post from Day Nine to include her questions as well.  She raised one of the best I've seen so far: What is your take on J. Crew? Love it and shop there often or cute but way overpriced?  Sound off below :)

shirt | talbot's, thrifted ($3), button up | brooks brothers, chinos | h&m

Still brainstorming (and struggling quite a bit if we're being completely honest) different ways to style this shirt.  Send me a message via comment, email or carrier pigeon if you have any thoughts on this pressing matter.

30 x 30 | Day Eleven

dress and cords | old navy, scarf | charlotte russe

I'm usually a huge fan of our business casual dress code at work, but we're not allowed to wear pants with sewn on pockets and so all of my cords are useless unless I wear a tunic or long cardigan.  So once again the dress as a shirt came back.  Clearly, I am loving this new to me idea.

ring | versona, belt | betsey johnson via tj maxx 

loving all my bracelets today :)

If you're interested in seeing other 30 x 30 looks be sure to check out all the other ladies: Ginny looked amazing in jewel tones, Amber wore the cutest Forever 21 sweater, Jenna rocked one of my favorite combos: a sweater over a button up, Elissa did this really cool pink gingham meets leather jacket combo that I'm still dying over,  Kim had fun with chambray and animal print (LOVE), Daliene introduced me to her incredible sense of style with polka dots and stripes and key patterns (not all at once), Jess dressed up some stripes, and the lovely Sam made me seriously consider burgundy boots.  Seeing everyone's sense of style has been so much fun.

Nicole

30 x 30 | Day Nine

cardigan | old navy, lace dress (worn as top) | thrifted, skirt | thrifted, bubble necklace | easy, skinny belt | walmart

Yellow's one of my favorite colors and I was so excited when I thrifted this skirt for $3. 

Jenna from Wearable. Fun. Fashion. and Angela from Selfless Ambition both sweetly nominated me for a Liebster Award.  You can read more below the jump.

30 x 30 | Day Six

When I first saw this black lace dress while thrifting one day, I tried to avoid it.  There were plenty of reasons to not buy it: I want to wear less black, I already owned nine black dresses, it was the beginning of fall and sleeveless dresses were about to be a non possibility, etc.  But eventually, I tried the dress on and how many times are you going to find a LBD for $4. Never, or at least that's what I told myself as I was checking out.

houndstooth dress | h&m, lace dress | thrifted

The other night I was playing dress up with the black and pink houndstooth dress because I genuinely had no ideas on how to style it other than the basics (over leggings and/or tights, underneath a black jacket or blazer) when I got the bright idea to pull the black dress on over top.  Hello, whole new world of styling opportunities.

Linking up with Shanna for Thrifters Anonymous as well as Carly and Molly for YOLO Mondays.

Nicole

30 x 30 | Day Two

I got my inspiration for today's outfit from Phoebe at Musings of a Cardigan Fiend.

product info available here

She tried on a cardigan over a chambray top before deciding against purchasing, but I love the way the yellow popped against the gray and chambray.

via

I consider this the perfect outfit: dressy enough to look put together as I scour Half Price Books for some new DVDs, but still casual enough to lay in bed while eating vanilla pudding cake and watching Pitch Perfect...not that that's what I'm planning on doing - it totally is.

headband and necklace | charming charlie's

Picked the headband because of the polka dots to tie in with the chambray and the navy color to match the detailing on the cardigan.  The necklace is shiny, but didn't feel to over the top.

I've gotten so many wonderful comments from many of you about the 30 for 30 remix challenge so thank you so, so much and please be sure to check out the other ladies participating.  They're all taking some risks and getting creative.

Sam from Sam ipsa Loquitur

Ginny from My New Favorite Outfit 

Jenna from Wearable.Fun.Fashion
Jess from J's Style
and Kim from Kimbercrafts

Today I'm linking up with Mary from Trusty Chucks and Carly from Texas Lovebirds for the Copycat linkup.

Have an aca awesome Thursday!
Nicole

the colors in autumn so bright just before they lose it all

- overview of today's outfit -

Lots of mint and various shades of blue today - it's not noticeable until you're close up, but this shirt features a light lavender as well.

3/4 sleeve shirt | talbots, thrifted
mint chino pants | h&m
leatherette saddle bag - old navy (clearance)

I recently got into thrifting and love the rush a good find gives me.  I grabbed this Talbots knit top at the last minute and I'm in love with the way it fits. The shirt is very colorful as I mentioned before and features a richer green at the bottom - perfect for fall, right?

This saddle bag is one of the best cheap finds I've made.  I found it in an Old Navy's clearance section and ended up getting it for $4.  It's a smaller size bag than I typically carry, but I can fit my iPhone, small wallet, Ray Bans, a pack of gum, and car keys into it.  Considering I used it for the end of spring, through the summer and am still carrying it, I'd say it's a pretty well spent $4.

necklace | charlotte russe

This style was (and still is!) featured on Baublebar over the summer and I loved the wide variety of color they've come out with.  I wasn't thrilled about the $35 price tag so I held out and browsed Etsy and Ebay to look for similar styles at lower prices.  I was so surprised when a friend of mine told me to check my local Charlotte Russe -- she'd found the same necklace in two colors at hers and they retail at $6!

double wrap logo stud bracelet | tory burch (similar here)

I got this last year as a Christmas gift and don't wear it nearly enough. The color is beautiful and I love the logo studs.

xx,
Nicole