Night Owl

I was going to take pictures of this during the day, but I got distracted by Polyvore. Seriously. It is becoming a real problem. I was at my sister's house all weekend watching the dog niece Beyonce. Shes dramatic. Lovable, but dramatic and I swear I walked more this weekend than I have all year because she refuses to just go out and potty like my dog. Prissy is like, "listen lady, its hot out here can we just get what we need to get done, done?" ...I'm a little nostalgic since I havent seen my babies in a few days.

I should have tied my shirt a little further to the side, but it worked for what I needed. This is a top from Asos in a size 24 (sold out now) with a simple black tank under. It is a cropped length, but since I'm so short it hit me in an awkward place so I just tied it up and moved along. We were just heading to dinner at our favorite restaurant/bar (Angry Dog) which is super relaxed and in a walkable neighborhood (meaning you park and walk a block to get there if you cant find a meter) so I threw on the blue flats and away we went!

Take it to the Maxi

 Summer, Summer, Summer...

I wish I knew everyone's fascination with it. My hair doesnt want to cooperate, my makeup slides off, I sweat literally everywhere, I pay higher electric bills--- its just not a sexy three to six months depending on Texas' mood. I struggle through it every single year. This year I wanted more maxi options and I found this one on Asos for like $25, so of course I bought it. Also, can we talk about how hard it is to find a maxi with sleeves?! Entirely too hard.

Belt or Nah?

I gave you fair warning that the last week or so would be Prissy heavy. The girl is a diva and wants to be in every picture. Who can say no to that face? We are still working on the posing. "Sit" doesnt work so well, because shes old enough to be my Grandma in dog years and I can see the hate in her eyes when I try to tell her what to do.

You saw the crop top from Monif C two weeks ago with the blush midi skirt. (Its a skirt month apparently!) I am mixing and matching some of my favorite items lately and this crop just gives me life! Ok so the top pic I'm showing tummy and it feels so good! As you can see, my much talked about vampire skin is out all over. To the girls that think you have to be tan to show skin, well- here I am... in all my white glory. I really dont think anyone will die from the glare. 

Side tangent: The only time I will tan is when I am going to be out in the sun a lot over a period of several days, for example, a beachy vacation or a day camp with lots of hours in the sun. I try to build up a gradual tan in the bed (this maybe happens once every two years) so I don't turn lobster all in one day. Is it the healthiest method? I couldnt tell you. Will I get cancer? Maybe. But you know what I wont be? Slathering myself in aloe so I can actually sleep and having peeling parties. 

Anyway...

Secretary-ish.

First, Id like to apologize (but only kind of because I'm human, and we wrinkle) for the wrinkles in my shirt. This is one of the first sets of this cut of shirt from Torrid and the material is hell to keep straight. I cant dry it, so I wash it then hang dry- then I steamed it to get the wrinkles out. I packed it and it was wrinkled again by the time I was ready to shoot it. Seriously though, don't dry these shirts. They shrink badly. The material has changed in the different seasons of Torrid, so the new ones don't wrinkle nearly as badly, but they do still shrink. 

Ive got a preeetttty cute outfit planned with this skirt for next week, but I wanted to profesh it up a little bit since most of us are not going to work showing midriff (yes, that's a spoiler). This is totally work appropriate. This is walk into the office and make everyone nod as you walk past good. I've seen dresses with the white button up top and pencil skirt bottom called Secretary Dresses. I feel like we can easily take that all the way up to CEO if we wanted (though you may want to make sure your top is extra pressed at that point. sheesh.)

Youre Making Me Blush

This weekend, Prissy and I had a day date with my sister and her new pug dog Beyonce aka, Bey. (her picture is on my IG @casualtyofwear) Really all we did was have a House of Cards marathon, eat pizza and take blog pictures since her house is really just the prettiest. A.) look at that view B.) she has the best eye for decor (and the budget to match). 

So I told you before that my goal was to start making new outfits out of pieces I already have so I can show you how a piece functions in different ways. Money saving is the name of the game. I really am sorry that most of these items are sold out, but there are dupes EVERYWHERE. If you find one, link it in the comments section! Over the next few weeks, you'll see a few of the same pieces just mixed in different ways. I had a lot of fun with the mix and match and I think we may have to keep this budget friendly trend even after I'm done saving for vacation. (Seriously, Bahamas this October. I hope youre ready for beach pictures after youre already sick of everyone else s beach pictures.)  

More Pics after the jump

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

We were heading to a Memorial Service this weekend for one of our friend's parents and all of my black dresses are for Fall and Winter. I have no idea how it happened, but it did. I was running around trying to figure out what I was going to do when I realized... I'll just make my own. Links after the jump.

All Black Casual With A Chance Of Spring

A little quickie today! It has literally rained over half of the days this Spring here (aprox 50 out of 80 days). Im. Dying. My cousin and I decided to do a little shopping this weekend and I have to say- the rain is starting to affect me. I didnt want to get up, I didnt want to go do anything but sleep in  my cozy bed and watch Netflix. I decided to take comfort in my love of all black, and layers.

You have seen these pants before, they are my Torrid stiletto skinny jeans (size 24)- but they have faded terribly. I'm thinking its time for a little self distressing to complete the look. The flats are also Torrid from last season- they are a lace crochet and super comfortable (good for our soggy shopping adventures). The tank is a Lane Bryant basic cami with lace, The bralette is Torrid (size 3), belt is Torrid (size 1) and the black cover is just a DDs Discounts find and it is so comfortable! Its actually the second one I've bought (they were like $6) because I tore the first one on accident.

From Office to Happy Hour

Since I can remember, I have always wanted to be a powerful business woman. Some girls want to grow up to be mommies, some want to be teachers or wives or other amazing things... I wanted to be a single 30s business woman living downtown with a cat. That way I could finish work and run down for happy hour with coworkers or some nice person I met on the street and then walk home to my cat that doesn't care that I've been gone for 14 hours a day. I could just see myself sitting in my high rise apartment looking out over the city at night with a glass of wine in my silent house. I was an odd child with very specific wants that grew up into, well... an odd adult with very specific wants.

I currently work downtown in one office and very close to it in my other office, but I don't live in either downtown. I replaced the single woman with a wonderful boyfriend and the cat with a high maintenance toy poodle. Overall, I really wouldn't change anything about it for now except that my closest coworkers are both married men so there isn't much happy houring going on. If I'm lucky, one of my girlfriends will agree to go with me to dinner one night after work and on that day I am the most excited woman in the world!

Brunch is a Must

By this point, we should all know of my eternal love for brunch. If brunch were a person, I would court it, send it flowers and then propose to it when I took it on a romantic trip to France. Seriously, marry me brunch. Marry me...

Most days when we head out for brunch, we keep it pretty casual. Some days, I don't even leave my house for brunch. I just brunch it up at home. How many times can I say brunch? A brunch (ha!).We will go out and sit on a patio or at a bar somewhere they have bottomless mimosas and have girl talk. For those days I'm down with regular old jeans and a top or a sweet maxi, but today was a little different. My sister wanted to take me out for a birthday brunch, which was very nice of her. She picked a place in Uptown called Nick & Sams Grill. Its the more affordable/casual version of a very nice steak house here in Dallas. It has a sweet patio and huge doors that open up to the outside so it is perfect for a nice Spring day (which we have about six of here in Texas.)

Birthday Suit

Disclaimer: I'm not naked. You're welcome or I'm sorry... pick whichever fits your reaction. 

Can we talk about that face!? Hilarious.

First, Id like to apologize for the horrible lighting in these pictures. I really do look a little like something has possessed me. I assure you that is not the case. I planned on taking some pictures before leaving the house but I didn't get out of work as early as I intended and then bad weather came, like tornadoes,  so I couldn't get any in the daylight. Mother Nature (or life in general) just wasn't making this blog life easy on Friday!

OOTD: The High-Low Down

The last few weeks have been a blur for me. We are in the middle of a remodel, buying and moving furniture and getting ready for a garage sale... this is what your late 20s is about kids, get excited.

Sweet Country Easter

Even if you are not Christian, I think we can all get behind the idea of a big bunny bringing us candy and treats. Like, I'd even house and clothe the big bunny the rest of the year if he'd make a second candy run somewhere around August. Not to mention, how amazing would it be to just have a large cartoonish rabbit roaming about the house 12 months a year? ..okay, I've gone too far.

My family always does an event out at my parents house the Saturday before and it is a big deal (as are most of our family events) because there are just so many of us. I'm talking 30 ish people, food for days, fishing in the pond, bean bag tosses, Easter egg hunt and ... wait for it... an Easter Bunny pinata from a legit Mexican Market. Complete with stereotypical Mexican mustache. Before you are like, "ohhhh white people..." I'd like to mention that my family is just about as diverse as they come and as one of the resident white people I have taken a "How Offensive Is This" survey and the results came back as "Only Mildly Offensive."

Saturday Nights Alright

So since I'm a little older now and don't have a job that is nearly cool enough to be getting turnt up on a Tuesday, I have to make my Saturday nights count! I was actually just reliving my past with a friend yesterday and we talked about how much crazier our nights were almost 10 years ago. We would be out at lingerie themed parties and I'd be in my little white blazer with only a peek-a-boo red bra on under and some sweet ass flare jeans (ahh the early 2000s)... I just dont have many lingerie themed parties to go to anymore.