connected

Today's post sponsored by XFINITY, but all opinions are my own. Please see below for additional disclosure.

sweatshirt: "Killing Me Softly" sweatshirt c/o Lyric Culture (also available at Forever21)

I love that my fellow Nashville blogger, Caroline Margaret Studio, was recently rocking her Lyric Culture style recently too. Check out her look here. 

jeans: Tobi distressed jeans

shoes: classic Converse

purse: old Pour La Victoire - I wear my black cross body bag so much, truly a closet staple! If you do not yet have one to call your own, shop my favorites in the shopping widget below (listed from low - high prices).

All Photos | Catherine Truman Photography

These days we all live on our phones & I am always looking for ways to make my life in a way that is more streamlined, efficient & in sync with my on the go lifestyle. To be honest, I have never paid very much attention to what is on TV, that is until I fell in love with my DVR/On Demand. I mean seriously, these technologies have completely ruined spoiled me when it comes to catching up on my favorite shows.

We are a 1 TV household, with 2 people who often want to watch very different types of shows. The husband wants 24/7 sports, while I am addicted to American Idol (so many Nashville peeps!), The Bachelor (le duh!) & Married at First Sight (& just got hooked on The People vs. O.J. Simpson this week!)

While we are trying to merge our TV watching habits (#marriagegoals), thankfully we have help from our technology too! We have had Comcast XFINITY for years & over Winter Break I finally downloaded all of their apps (currently using & loving the TV Remote & TV Go apps) & I am kicking myself for waiting this long! Now I can record MY shows without the husband's disapproving glares & watch them whenever I want - makes a great companion when I am at school grading late into the evening. 

Seriously, if you are as hooked on keeping up with your shows check out XFINITY & find their entire On Demand library here (with 150,000+ free choices!).

With Google Fiber coming to the Nashville area later this year, I of course want to make sure that we are getting the best deal - best options + best price - &  when XFINITY reached out to me to share some highlights of their service, I was interested to see what they had to offer. After learning more about their products, they are offering some amazing features that are unique to XFINITY and really make life much easier than other providers! I am going to be sharing my XFINITY experience over the next couple of months, so if you have any questions, let me know in the comments or via email! As a longtime XFINITY user, I am so pumped to finally be tapping in to all that they have to offer, & know that my husband & I have the best choice for cable. 

Life is about choices – you choose what you want to wear, what you want to eat, what you’re going to do this weekend…don’t you want to be able to choose from the most options on TV?

XFINITY partnered with bloggers such as me for this program. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about any product mentioned in these posts. XFINITY believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. XFINITY’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Howling Pup

sweater: J.Crew (several years old, but an almost identical style is now available at Old Navy)

tee: ℅ Howling Pup

jeans: ASOS ripped "Ridley" jeans

scarf: gift from my sister (shop similar below)

beanie: J.Crew Factory

shoes: classic Converse sneakers (to look more legit, get the ones from the guy's section, not the girlie girlie ones - although, I have those too!)

All Photos | Kate Davis Photo 

A quick casual outfit to send you off into the weekend with!

Another case of pieces I have had for years & LOVE (sweater, scarf, shoes & hat are all oldies but goodies!)

If you are looking for some soft casual tees, be sure to check out Howling Pup! These are some amazing human beings that are making amazing tees, & for each shirt sold, they give back to puppies in need - focusing on finding secure homes for rescue dogs, saving them from high risk "kill-shelters". Buy a shirt, save some puppies! What is there to loose?

What plans do you have on the books for this weekend?

My big date is with my bed - going to try & kick this cold once and for all!

Day in Nashville: Hillsboro Village

{ What I Wore for a day in Hillsboro Village: Ray Ban sunglasses // dress via Le Tote* // Gap jean jacket // Converse sneakers // Michael Kors purse }
*I was gifted a Le Tote subscription, and I truly love this service!
all photos | Rae Marshall Photography

Oh this dress - one of those that looks iffy on the hanger & then turns out to be what you wear for the next 3 days straight (what, just me??)

This outfit was perfection for exploring my local neighborhood, Hillsboro Village. Be sure to check out my post on where to grab a drink, get your shop on, & explore in this quaint, oh so Nashville 'hood. Crossbody bag for hands-free shopping, sneakers for comfort, & my trusty jean jacket for that infamous Southern air conditioner! 

Bloggers Who Budget: Prints + Patterns

We're baaaack! This month the Bloggers Who Budget group is showing off our prints & patterns! All of my items in today's outfit rang in at well under $100 & I consider them all work horses in my closet. During the work week, button downs get tucked into pencil skirts & are worn with heels. But come the (freakin') weekend, I like to knot up my tops & pair them with comfortable sneakers. Be sure to check out how the rest of these ladies wear their prints & patterns for Spring too!

Sharing My Sole | The Style Letters | Let It Be Beautiful | Here & Now | Pearls & Twirls | Stylin in St. Louis | Living in Color | The Pumpkin Spot

{ What I Wore for weekend errands: J.Crew button down (similar 1, 2) // J.Crew Factory pencil skirt // Converse sneakers // Gap jean jacket // Tolani scarf }

all photos | Zipporah Photography

How have prints & patterns been making their way into your Spring wardrobe?

Dear Mother Nature,

{ What I Wore: J.Crew striped peplum // Paige Denim shorts* // Converse sneakers** }
* gifted by the Southern Blog Society
* seems to be a popular week for chucks around these parts!

Dear Mother Nature, 

I get it, it's still Summer. If the 90 degree days didn't fill me in, the 100% humidity sure did. Sorry for all those posts about Fall booties, sweatshirts & layers... Apparently I have pissed you off.

Please cool down soon... is there a furry rodent that can help me estimate when this might occur? I'm pretty sure the pugs predicted Fall would come early... that counts for something, riiiight!?

Until then I will wear my skimpiest clothes in efforts to not sweat to death, but proudly sport my new wool hat inside my air conditioned home. Sorry, I'm NOT sorry!

P.S. It's the last full day to enter to win a stunning Stella&Dot statement necklace {here} (you might recognize this top from that post too!)

no words

{ What I Wore: denim vest c/o Chicnova // Old Navy tee // thrifted Calvin Klein skirt (love this one!) // Converse sneakers // sunglasses c/o FantaEyes // Nisolo tote }

I'm just as shocked as you are, I have nothing to say today!

So I will just leave you with a question that has been weighing heavy on my mind lately: 

what do you want to be when you grow up?

working 9 to 6

Here's the deal, I'm a full time graduate student. I work 9-6 (on a good day), on weekdays & weekends. Despite the long hours & the fact that I never really stop thinking about my experiments when I get home, the most incompatible part of my work habits & online hobby is the dress code. Because I work in a research lab I have to abide by the strict dress code, I have to cover my legs, wear closed-toe flats, avoid loose layers that could catch fire/drag through chemicals & generally dress conservatively.

{ What I Wore: tank c/o Skip N' Whistle // J.Crew skinny cargo jeans // Converse sneakers // Anthropologie sunglasses }

Most of the outfits that I show you are the ones that I wear after 6, on the weekends & while traveling. I'm not trying to hide anything from you, but these are just the outfits I get to flex my fashion muscles more in, where I get to practice more stylistic freedom, and really explore my own aesthetic.

I honestly want to try to incorporate more of my work appropriate attire here on the blog. I know I have an unconventional work environment, but I hope that you ladies like this new type of outfit posts.

I must say, buttery soft tanks like this adorable anchor print skip n' whistle number make my pre-coffee weekday dressing so much easier!

What dress code hoops do you have to jump through for your chosen profession?

awkward&awesome

{What I Wore: Gap men's shirt // Target leopard denim // H&M clutch // Converse sneakers}

{awkward}

- FOUR people found my blog yesterday by Googling "grease pants"! Maybe I should just own that I like shiny things, including these pants (yes, I'm a magpie!)
- the smell that Left brain, right brain, pug brain mentioned in this post... it is in my house somewhere... can't find the source yet... there are no words!
- So far the weather in Nashville during July has been either 110 ˚F or raining... seriously, is there a happy medium that can be found? I have some outdoor business to take care of... a little thing called fashion blogging photo-sessions... let's work this out together, Weather

{awesome}

- Sunday motorcycle drives in beautiful parks, with a return trip past houses of the rich and famous 

(but seriously, if you have that much money why would you build this?)

- Did you see how I stuck that landing up there? Yup, I still got it! 

(and by "it" i mean my 3rd grade swing skilz)

- This blue shirt? It's the boy's ... my outfit possibilities just doubled!

- My camera is currently charging because I am headed home this weekend, and I can't wait to get some time with my beautiful baby nieces #bufflogals

- um, did I mention that I have decided to go home this weekend? Lake here I come!

- Less than 1 month till my bestie's bachelorette party on the beach! 

I may or may not have an official count down on my phone! ha

How has your week been awkward & awesome!?
xx

Jessica