not so basic

Adulting update: Tyler & I have been saving our buns off to make our dream of owning a house an actual reality, & the time has come for us to pick one out! I am simultaneously so stinking excited/terrified! After living in apartments/shared houses for our entire 8 years together, we keep pinching ourselves over the fact that we might get our OWN yard, driveway, garage, and HOUSE! I don't even care if we have any furniture, every night will be a dance party for 2 anyways!

Denver has a HOT housing market right now, so we have already seen about 10 houses, put in a bid, gotten in a bidding war, lost a house, & kept on trucking! We saw 2 amazing ones over the weekend that checked all our wish list boxes & while I think they might have forgotten some numbers in the price, we are going to put in a bid today (attempt #2) so please cross all your extremities for us!

Another thing that is HOT, is the weather in Denver. People (AKA me before I moved here) assume that Denver is in the mountains, but really it is NEXT to the mountains & that makes a huge difference when we are talking Summer heat! I call Denver the HIGH plains - because it is literally a mile above sea level, but flat as a pancake - a pancake that is baking a mile closer to the sun. During our recent 100+ degree days, I have been enjoying the ease of simple dressing - throwing on a sun dress with my quick sandal slides & hitting the door (makes these last minute house showings less hectic!) - & this outfit is my go to basic combo. I love maxi dresses for this time of year because I am already over shaving my legs since moving to an every day effort when the sun made her appearance in May & maxi dresses transition easily to night (scarf stashed in my tote!), while also easily going from casual to fancy with the right accessories.

I also can't gush enough about my latest Nisolo purchase - these slides! I have been a long time supporter of Nisolo, because they have an incredible mission, my high school friend co-started it, & their products are gorgeous, comfortable + make me feel good when I wear them! I have previously shown you my Nisolo oxfords, strappy sandals, wedge sandals, & leather bag, but these slides might be my favorite yet. The only word I can think up to describe them is BUTTER! They are so soft & just the most delicious color of leather. If you are looking to get on the slide trend in a classic way, this is your ticket!

Shop Nisolo through my referral link & get $25 off your next Nisolo order: https://www.talkable.com/x/9uK9oX

(I also get $25 for each person that uses the link)

dress: Old Navy maxi dress (I love the X-strap back & the fabric feels high end!)

shoes: Nisolo "Isla" slides (available in 4 gorgeous colors, mine are "beige")

Shop Nisolo through my referral link & get $25 off your next Nisolo order: https://www.talkable.com/x/9uK9oX

(I also get $25 for each person that uses the link)

bag: J.Crew straw tote

hat: J.Crew Panama hat

lipstick: Nars "Heat Wave"

All Photos | Noah Berg Photography

{shop these exact pieces}

mellow yellow

I know it is so lame to talk about the weather all the time... but it is H-O-T here, and this fact directly affects my fashion choices... so now that I have justified my right to talk about the weather... I am going to!

 The time of year is upon Nashville where I regularly try to test the bounds of wearing a bikini as a public-appropriate outfit... when it is 98 ˚F and feels more like 106 ˚F you would too... and we haven't even started talking about the humidity yet! (Chances are, if you run into my boyfriend between May - August, he is talking about humidity! Love you babe... but your Oregonian temperament just can't hang in the durrty South!)

So how do I stay cool, save attempting indecent exposure?

Hats, breezy skirts, and loose, but body flattering silhouettes ... oh and sweet tea!

Case in point... this black maxi dress is a LOT of fabric, but the fact that it is loose and light, actually helps keep me cooler than I would be if all my haven't-seen-the-sun-in-months-skin was out and exposed!

{ What I Wore : Old Navy maxi dress (love this one & this one, also from Old Navy) // Target neon belt (love it in orange!) and woven wedges // J.Crew bubble necklace }

 

finally found a replacement for my ratty black woven wedges! yay for Target

So expect to see this and other maxi dresses in HEAVY rotation in the coming months!
How do you keep cool?

Oh, and you can call me mellow yellow

xx

Jessica
P.S. I am liking up to Marionberry Style's Trend of the Month Challenge - it is "Yellow", and I can't wait to check out everyone's sunshiny looks!

chambray makes my day

Good Morning! Monday was surprisingly productive, so let's keep the momentum moving into Tuesday! This week in Nashville is "Restaurant Originals Week" - meaning, local (non-chain) restaurants have awesome deals on preselected menus, with a 2-course meal costing $20.12 and a 3-course meal $30.12. And, people, these are restaurants that I normally cannot afford on my Graduate Student stipend, so I am pumped! Tonight me and my girlfriends are going to check out Mambu for a delicious 3-course meal - a little Southern/Cajun home cooked goodness!

Then this weekend, Ty and I are going to check out Caffé Nonna to stuff ourselves with 3 courses (calamari and scallopini get in my stomach) of amazing Italian scrump-dilly-uptious-ness (yup, just make up that word to describe how amaze it is going to be!)

Whenever I vacation, I usually plan my activities around eating, so it is fun to "vacation" in my own backyard and try out some new eats in the process! I'll let you know how the new places measure up!

In the mean time - I'm still rocking my chambray button down! This is my way of convincing myself that one day I will be able to pull off a 30 for 30 Remix... one day... maybe one day when it is warm again

Maxi Dress - Old Navy (similar)
Chambray button down & belt - J.Crew
Necklace - Spike the Punch
Booties - Charlotte Russe

This maybe my favorite way to layer chambray yet - belted over my simple black maxi dress. I am lame and do not currently own 1 single maxi skirt - unlike the awesome Kenzie Faith {who owns 7!} I haven't found one that "fits"... got my eye out still... so this allows me to pretend!

Oh and this Spike the Punch necklace pretty much makes every outfit I pair it with. I don't wear much jewelry, but give this girl a statement necklace and I will wear it with sweats!

xx

Jessica