taco Tuesday

Happy Taco Tuesday! I am excited to share another local Denver spot with you, in partnership with car2go! When visiting the Mile High City, you have to put the RiNo neighborhood on your list for mural peeping and brewery hopping, but The Source is also a must visit spot in this hip area just north of Downtown. Located in a gorgeously restored warehouse, The Source has options for everyone - a brewery (featuring sours, my favorite is the rosé!),  yummy farm-to-table restaurant, small batch liquor store, whole animal butcher, florist, coffee shop, bakery & one of my favorite taco spots - Comida!

Don't tell me you don't have a #TacoTuesday dress? I do, & it makes this weekly tradition that much more festive! While Denver is currently experiencing snow, I know the sun is just waiting to make its return, so this dress will be ready to go once it does! 

Do you celebrate Taco Tuesday? Where is your favorite local spot??

{shop these exact pieces + other favorites}

dress: Chicwish pom-pom trim dress (now 25% off!)

shoes: Nisolo slides (forever favorites along with their Serena sandal - both now on sale!)

Shop all Nisolo products (their leather goods make sure to please presents!) with my referral link & you get $25 off your purchase (+ I get $25!)

sunglasses: Ray-Ban aviators (green + gold is a classic combo)

lipstick: By Terry liquid lipstick (makes a great gift set!)

All Photos | Walnut Street Photography

knitted

My usual Christmas present M.O. is to purchase a few presents each month so that by the time November rolls around, all of the people have been crossed off my list & the presents are all ready wrapped & ready to go by Thanksgiving... I know, I was the annoying overachiever kid who always wanted a gold star.

This year however is very different, & I'm freaking out! The intensity of our whole home buying process threw a wrench in my plans, & I haven't even thought about presents since we started the house hunt in the Spring... meaning, I have crossed off no names, & am looking at Thanksgiving looming straight ahead with ZERO presents stashed away (plus a bank account that I have already mentally squirreled away for appliances + furniture).

So this year, I am going to have to buy all of my presents in the next month, on a budget & am looking at uncharted territory! I plan to do just a few gift guide posts over the next couple of weeks, purchasing on unique, budget friendly shops, and am kicking off my share-fest with today's fabulous shop: 7 Charming Sisters.

I love that you can shop for pieces curated by the personality of each "sister", including "social butterfly" & "all-American girl", by style, or by trend - with pieces to impress every lady on your list, for any budget. My favorite include this necklace, & this gorgeous pair of earrings! Shop on to get the necklace from my most recently teacher style outfit.

Are you a buy gifts all year, or wait till the end type of person? Who is the toughest person on your list?

{shop these exact pieces + other similar favorites}

sweater: Chicwish tunic length cable knit sweater

necklace: "Golden Gathering" necklace c/o 7 Charming Sisters (only $27!)

pants: J.Crew Factory "Lexi" cropped trousers - available in 4 colors, and both regular & petite sizes for under $65

shoes: J.Crew Factory leather ballet flats - currently on sale with code BUNDLEUP (I have my eye on the "warm beige" color!)

purse: Vera Bradley leather/calf hair purse

watch: Fossil square face watch

All Photos | Walnut Street Photography

all ruffled up

It's Wednesday, I'm technically on "Summer Break" (AKA not working) & yet I still can't stop from getting giddy about a long weekend away with my husband, dogs, & family in Arkansas for the upcoming 4th of July holiday.

Since being married means splitting holidays & more family members (both awesome things!), I am thankful that my immediate family loves 4th of July as much as I do so we all have a reason to get together in the holiday "off season", & the pilgrimage from Denver to Arkansas is worth it for 5 days on the lake, catching up, & slowing down. My sister & I (she lives in Denver too), will be heading out on a 12 hour drive to first Northwest Arkansas, & then Central Arkansas for a week. Don't worry - the pugs are coming too!

What do you have on the calendar for 4th of July?

I am still on my "pack less, enjoy the moment more" campaign, but nevertheless am trying to work out a way that this outfit needs to come with me to the Arkansas countryside. This ruffle top is so fun & I love that the ruffles are more structured than they look & have a personality of all their own! These are my go to Summer jeans - the ripped jeans are so laid-back, & I finally feel comfortable around bleach (only took 30 years) - so country dirt, you have met your match!

shirt: one-shoulder ruffle top c/o Chicwish

jeans: DL 1961 distressed white jeans (I have been gravitating away from super skinny jeans lately, and this pair of white distressed boyfriend jeans are just perfect!)

purse: Vera Bradley quited mini-bag (now on sale for over $100 off!)

shoes: Steve Madden (these shoes are everywhere, but they are seriously so versatile & worth it. I stock up on extra pairs because I never want to be without them)

All Photos | Noah Berg Photography

{shop these exact pieces}

I like big bells...

Ok, I caved on the "statement" sleeve trend, & I have to admit that these sleeves make everything more fun! I was a little worried about the effectiveness of my hands while wearing this top (kind of like how I feel about using my arms with those off-the-shoulder-tops...), but the open slit makes the sleeves move out of your way for full hand use - SCORE! Have you ever put on dangly earrings and wanted to move your head all day... that is my exact craving with my arms in this top! I'll just be over here waving my arms in the air... like I just don't care... Have you adopted the statement sleeve trend for yourself yet?

Also - my jean shorts, sunglasses & sandals are all from Nordstrom & all staples in my Summer wardrobe. Having grown up in Arkansas, I didn't step foot in my first Nordstrom until several years after I moved to Tennessee in my mid-20s, & at first I was overwhelmed with the over abundance of choices, but over time have learned my own strategies to find everything I need & am a total Nordstrom-convert!

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is coming up (are you already sick of hearing about it - SORRY), & I wanted to share a tip for those of you who do want to shop for next season's pieces at killer prices.

Get first dibs on the sale by applying for a Nordstrom debit or credit card! If you are approved before July 9th, you will receive a $20 Nordstrom Note toward your first purchase during the sale! Plus, as a cardholder, you will receive Early Access to shop the best arrivals at their Anniversary Sale discounted prices.

If the card isn't for you, you can join Nordstrom Rewards (what I do), without applying for the credit card & you will still receive a $10 Nordstrom Note to spend on the Anniversary Sale! 

I will be putting together a list of items in my closet that are available at the Anniversary Sale shortly, but would love to know if there are any items on your wish list that you would like for me to keep an eye out for - holler at your girl :)

shirt: bell sleeve top c/o Chicwish

shorts: Levi's 501 jean shorts (I like to order my jean shorts at least 1 size up to get that "boyfriend" look; this style is also available in a black wash & with a longer, rolled hem)

sandals: Jack Rogers whipstitched flip flop (If you are indecisive about color: platinum is so versatile!)

sunglasses: Ray Ban aviators (green & gold)

All Photos | Noah Berg Photography

{shop these exact pieces}

Bloggers Who Budget: Dresses For Less

We had our first wedding of the season this past weekend, & it was such a beautiful & totally "Nashville" shin-dig! I wore this dress, & I've gotta say, it was very nice to receive many compliments on it, and ever nicer to be able to brag about how affordable it is!

This month, the Bloggers Who Budget are showing off the budget friendly dresses that we have been loving lately! Check out these babes below & their warm weather looks:

Pearls & Twirls | Living in Color | Here&Now | Stylin in St. Louis | Sharing My Sole

dress: pink satin dress ℅ Chicwish

When I first tried on this dress, I was admittedly underwhelmed & shared my "blah" feelings on Snapchat. While the dress did have some fit issues, I loved so much about this dress (the open back, perfect blush color, length, thick satin fabric) that I was dedicated to find a way to make it work. I considered getting it tailored, but the open back straps made that route more complicated than I wanted to deal with. Then I remembered my favorite armadillo belt (leave it to Kate Spade to make a chic armadillo belt!) - and as it cinches to any size, it did the perfect trick for making it fit along my waist, & made the back ruffle detail look much, much better.

The wedding involved lots of dancing, and I felt secure and confident in this dress all night. Sometimes just playing around in your closet leads to the best outcomes!

*Backless/open-back dresses do come with their own underwear issues, but I have a low back bra (similar to this one) that I wore on my own wedding day, that I still wear with any open back dresses - I love that the bustier style stays up so much better than most strapless bras do on me!

belt: similar skinny gold belt here & here (both under $40!)

shirt: Suburban Riot graphic tee

shoes: Steve Madden heels

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

Have you had any recent triumphs in solving a clothing fit issue?

Any one else super excited for wedding season?? I love getting to party with my friends & see their love cemented into something so special!

watercolor

Yesterday was our 2nd wedding anniversary, & my husband was actually in Denver interviewing for jobs, which perfectly sums up this chapter of our lives - moving & shaking!

These past 2 years of marriage (& 7 years total together!), have been so incredible. It is wild to think of the person that I was when I met Tyler at age 22 & the people that we have grown up into in the intervening years. I can honestly say that we are better together. 

I LOVE love & wedding season is such a fun celebration of the very thing I've signed up for, for the rest of my life #tilldeathdouspart (just realized #TillDeathDoUsParty would be a killer wedding hashtag!). Weddings are all my favorite things - getting to see all of your friends, travel to new cities, & dance the night away (now if only plane tickets and hotel rooms grew on trees!). This outfit below is my Nashville wedding guest look - most of the weddings I've attended here have been dressy, but as Nashville is a slightly more casual city, this is the perfect look for a day time wedding in our part of the world. The best part is that all of the individual pieces can all be worn other ways - both dressed up & down!

skirt: floral maxi skirt c/o Chicwish

top: Ann Taylor ruffle neck shell (the neck has a clasp that can be work open or closed - check out the stock photos to see how it looks open)

shoes: Nisolo "Serena" sandals

purse: convertible clutch c/o Gigi New York

earrings: Bauble Bar ear jackets

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

What are you wearing for wedding season? 

Any fun destination weddings on your planner for the coming months?

hopeless romantic

skirt: swan print midi skirt c/o Chicwish (Love the fit of this skirt! The back has several inches of elastic, so it easily slips on, & fits perfect. I ordered the S/M size & it fits great, no alterations needed)

sweater: bedazzled neck sweater c/o Chicwish (last worn with jeans here)

heels: Steve Madden Stecy heels (I adore the minimal look of these heels!)

clutch: "Carly" convertible purse c/o Gigi New York (get ready to see A LOT of this cutie - it is love!)

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

Maybe I'm the only one, but I think it is hilarious that we have made personalities for so many different types of animals. Polar bears like to party with Coca-cola, Pandas are couch potatoes, Raccoons are little robbers, pugs are the best dogs ever (duh!) & Swans are obviously birds of romance. I mean, they do mate for life, so I'll just go on assuming that they are die-hard romantics!

I also think that this skirt is so cute for Valentine's Day! This is going to be my teacher outfit on Friday (with my black Tieks of course), but it is equally adorable for a chilly date night look too!

What are you feelings on animal print clothes? Are you pro-swan?

Shop these exact pieces below:

cozy casual

sweater: oversized sweater c/o Chicwish

jeans: ripped white jeans c/o DL 1961 denim (shop the non-ripped version here)

shoes: Chukka booties c/o Hushpuppies

purse: monogrammed cross body bag c/o Gigi New York

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

2 of the major factors that govern what I bring into my closet are where I live & the size of my closet.

Because we are lucky here in Nashville to have relatively mild Winters, paired with the fact that I have limited closet space in my 700 square foot apartment, the majority of my closet space is dedicated to the pieces that I can wear all year long. In fact, year long wearability is one of the biggest factors I have been considering when purchasing new items recently - especially when we are considering moving to the Pacific Northwest in the next year, which also experiences fairly mild year-round temperatures.

What I like about this outfit is that I can wear 80% of these pieces in any season & just by switching out the sweater for a lighter option top, this look instantly goes from Winter to Spring (just around the corner y'all!) 

I already wore these jeans + shoes + sunglasses (& the purse would have totally matched too!) in Fall (see the outfit here), so now I am dedicated to making this outfit work for every season. What can I say, I like a good wardrobe challenge!

This is one of the 20 murals I posted in my Nashville mural guide - check it out here.

Do you like to rock your clothes all year long or do you prefer switching over your wardrobe for each season?

This sweater is super cozy (loving the side splits!) & now on sale!

Shop the rest of my outfit below:

bling bling

sweater: J.Crew Factory "Teddie" sweater (J.Crew Factory currently has 9 green sweaters on sale, shop them all here)

skirt: faux leather skirt c/o Chicwish

shoes: Chris booties c/o Sole Society

jewelry: All items loaned from Kendra Scott Green Hills store. Featuring Tristan choker necklace, Gavin cuff & Naomi 3 stone ring. 

All Photos | Kate Davis Photography

If you talk to a teacher, they will tell you that the two worst months are October & February. Hard to understand if you aren't in the profession, but for some reason the kids are just extra rowdy around these times, & the stretch between where you stand & the next school break feels like FORRREVVVERRRRRRRRR!

To combat the February blues, I plan on pulling out my brightest clothes & faking an ear to ear smile all the way until Spring Break! Oh and LOTS. OF. COFFEE.

I just got this neon sweater as a little Christmas surprise from my parents & it makes me endlessly happy - if you can believe it, it is even more electric in person! When I spotted these gunmetal pieces from the Spring 2016 Kendra Scott collection, they instantly asked me to be paired with my new little slice of neon - although, now I'm dying to try them with some creamy whites too! My go to jewelry metal is gold, but I think Kendra Scott has finally gotten me officially out of my jewelry rut comfort zone

I have been having so much fun showing off the new Kendra Scott collection over the last week. Did you miss a post? Catch up below:

Distressed denim + polished crystal necklace + earrings

Mosaic skirt + stained glass inspired jewels

Shop exact pieces from this outfit:

This faux leather skirt is really soft & luxe looking in person - oh & did you spot those pockets?! Money!