I'm Bringing Blazer Back

I have an intense obsession with cardigans, which has recently translated into a new intense obsession: blazers. Initially {I will admit}, I had a hard time figuring out how to wear blazers; however, my love for layering quickly kicked into overdrive about six months ago, and I have been wearing them ever since. The menswear-inspired piece is so versatile, and more importantly {for this girl who is always cold}, it offers an extra layer of warmth without being overly heavy, bulky and unflattering. During the winter {in a rather poorly insulated classroom}, I have been known to go an entire day without so much as undoing a single button on my jacket. Fortunately, blazers offer a safe alternative to the cumbersome wool coat as they manage to scream style without drowning the victim in a material mess of Titanic proportions. UN-fortunately, blazers hit significantly higher on the price-point ladder than cardigans. This is because {most} cardigans cannot hold a candle to a blazer's dedication to small details: buttons, linings, pockets, and materials {oh my!}. These small details are what make my heart pitter-patter, so my new-found infatuation with blazers is not shocking, by any means. I live by one shopping mantra: Avoid paying full price. I've managed to snag all these babies at a fraction of the cost thanks to some small end-of-season sales and a large amount of patience. Score.

Menswear-Inspired // J. Crew Factory blazer {similar color here}, J. Crew striped chambray, 7 For All Mankind skinny jeans {similar color here}, Zara loafers {similar color here} + pearls & Michael Kors Jet Set watch

Polka Dots // J. Crew Factory blazer {similar color here}, Kensie polka dot blouse {similar style here}, Citizens of Humanity Avedon velvet skinny jeans, J. Crew Cece flats & Michael Kors Jet Set watch

Color-Blocking // Gap blazer {similar color here} + oxford button-down, WeSCO white skinny jeans {similar style here + here}, J. Crew Cece flats & Michael Kors Jet Set watch

Collarless + Colorless + Cutouts // Zara blazer {similar color here}, Ellen Tracy cobalt dress + skinny belt {similar color here}, Anne Klein captoe pumps & Michael Kors Jet Set watch

Stripes // Kensie striped blazer {similar style here + here}, Gap oxford button-down, Joe's black skinny jeans, BCBG bow flats {similar style here + here} & Kate Spade watch

Cobalt Crush

If you walked into my closet-of-old, you would have been confronted with four colors: black, white, gray and denim. Every shirt-in-awhile, you would have stumbled upon something yellow or red, but its presence would have felt entirely out of place. As a recent college graduate, my budget was limited, and I couldn't bare to spend my hard-earned teacher dollars {which didn't come easy} on something that {I thought} could only be worn once. I'm also nearly positive that I rotated five outfits through every five workdays for my first year as a working professional {classy}. My new-found appreciation for color-blocking, pattern-playing and monochrome-matching has led to a deep appreciation for anything not of the black-and-white family.

My husband and I enjoy playing random psyche games like "Would you rather...?" and "If you could only...?" to establish unrealistic parameters for our lives. Questions include: Would you rather be forced to eat your own toenails or have your eyebrows shaved off? If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what song would it be? Obviously {or hopefully}, we would never be forced to make these decisions, but the answers are so comically amusing - and most times, require such intense thought - that we get lost for hours in a sea of inquiry. I can recall one question, however, that required only a split second of decision: If you could only wear one color for the rest of your life, what color would it be?

Blue. Boom. Done.

From cerulean to navy, I haven't met a blue I didn't like {which very much bodes in my favor as a Kentucky resident}, and I'm currently crushing hard on cobalt. There is a certain radiance and richness to it that screams neon without the eye-piercing dazzle {although I also love me a good neon every now and again}. This bright blue is my new black.

Cobalt Bottoms // Gap 1969 always skinny jeans + butterfly blouse {similar style here and color here}, J. Crew Cece flats {similar color here} & Michael Kors Jet Set watch

Cobalt Top // Target Xhilaration tank, Joe's black skinny jeans, Madewell skimmer flats {print also available here}, Coach handbag {same color here}, Tory Burch aviator sunglasses, Michael Kors Jet Set watch & Cara NY jewelry

Cobalt Details // J. Crew yellow lace dress {similar here} + Cece flats {similar color here}, Coach Madison Lindsay crossbody {similar color here} + sunglasses {similar style here}, Michael Kors Bradshaw watch & cobalt flower earrings

She a Gold Digger

Once upon a time {in a land far, far away}, I hated gold jewelry. It distinctly reminded me of something that my grandmother {or any grandmother} would wear, and I couldn't help but stare at it in disgust. When I hit my mid-twenties, I started singing a {much different} tune. Now, if it's gold, I'm probably wearing it {or at least wishing that I was wearing it}. Something about gold pieces just screams sexy-chic, and they have the ability to make any outfit go from drab to fab. Gold. Bam. Insta-droolworthiness. I have five staple gold goodies that I rotate {rather religiously} through my wardrobe:

1. Gemvara Twine Wedding Band :: I am absolutely in love with my vintage, 100-year-old solitaire diamond engagement ring. When I started shopping for my wedding band, I knew that I wanted something simple that would take nothing away from the diamond's sheer wow-ness. Since the setting was platinum, I also knew that I wanted something gold. Yes, some people naysayed my optimism in mixing metals, but I could not be happier with the selection. The simplicity of the gold twine band next to the power of my stunning solitaire {truly} never gets old.

Gold + Navy + Nude // Francesca's striped dress {similar here}, J. Crew schoolboy blazer, Jessica Simpson Calie pumps, Target belt, Solitaire + Gemvara twine wedding band, Inga Creations earrings, Michael Kors Hamilton tote & Jet Set watch

Michael Kors Jet Set watch + Gemvara twine wedding band

2. Michael Kors Jet Set Watch :: This watch is the staple piece of my jewelry collection. You are hard-pressed to find me wearing anything else. My favorite part about it is, once again, its sheer simplicity. There are no numbers. There are no diamonds. It is just a perfect shade and finish of gold that compliments every possible outfit combination.

Monochrome Blue + Gold // BDG colorblock Chambray {similar here and here}, J. Crew Tippi sweater + Cece flats, Gap velvet skinny jeans & Michael Kors Jet Set watch

3. Inga Creations Tusk Necklace :: Aspen-designer Emily Gustafson loves gold just as much as I do, which means that I keep her jewelry line on heavy repeat. My newest favorite piece is an antler strung on a gold chain wrapped perfectly in gold wire {totally Colorado, right?}. Enter code "PUPSANDPUMPS" at checkout, and she'll treat you to 20% off your order {woohoo!}.

My recent haul from Inga Creations

Dressed Up.

{or} Dressed Down.

4. MIA Limited Edition Elana Flats :: I am semi-embarrassed to admit that I had to trade in my Tory Burch Reva flats a few months ago. The elastic backs were digging into my heels so badly that, by the end of the day, I was sporting them as clogs. Plus, I over-pronate ridiculously far {running lingo for "my ankles roll in"}, and anything with an elastic back just doesn't bode in my favor. I started a mad hunt for a pair of black flats with gold detail, and I found these gems. Love them. Plus, super comfortable {in 1/2 size up}.

Gap corduroy skinny jeans, J. Crew Factory herringbone tank, Zara pearl necklace, MIA Limited Edition Elana Flats, Michael Kors Hamilton tote & Jet Set watch

5. Madewell Skimmer Flats {similar here} :: Finally, my Dorothy shoes. While clicking these suckers together won't get me home after a long night out, the gold glitter stays perfectly in tact, and they are sure to garner plenty of compliments {trust}.

Jason Aldean Concert // Blank NYC coated denim + Tory Burch Amanda logo clutch + Madewell skimmer flats {similar here}

Summer Wedding Secrets

I am not a sappy wedding fan {by any means}. In fact, I am what you might call an anti-traditional wedding-ist. I appreciate tradition, but I have a hard time accepting tradition for tradition's sake; however, I am always touched by how people decide to vow themselves to each other before God - so much so that I have truly come to appreciate nuptials on a much deeper level than ever before. One, it reminds me of the commitment I have made to my own husband {which is always worth being reminded}. Two, I enjoy seeing couple's creativity lived out in a very finite period of time. Three, I love not only dressing for the occasion {obviously}, but I also love seeing how everyone else dresses for the occasion. Weddings are such a unique blend of fashion statements that I can't help but get lost evaluating ensembles {in the midst of making a fool of myself on the dance floor and eating entirely way too much wedding cake}.

Jordan and I had two weddings slated for this summer. The first was an outdoor event in a beautiful park. The second was in a gorgeous downtown church. Surprisingly, I have found that any summer wedding requires layers. Outdoor weddings always bring the possibility of rain, and indoor weddings in the southern state of Kentucky usually entail an {overly} abundant amount of air conditioning. My Forever 21 cotton blazer worked perfectly on both occasions.

I feel blessed to have shared in a special moment with two very dear sets of friends. More importantly, I witnessed the greatest father-daughter dance of all time {"Butterfly Kisses" gets dominated at the 1:40-mark}, and Jordan and I made insta-wedding friends who owned the photo booth with us like it had never been owned before {props rule!}.

Outdoor Wedding Wedges // INC International Concepts platform espadrilles {sold out but loving these}

Outdoor Wedding Threads // Kate Spade Robbie pencil skirt, Mossimo collared blouse {local Target but loving this}, Forever 21 blazer {similar here}, & Michael Kors Hamilton Bag + Jet Set Watch

Indoor Wedding Threads // Maison Jules dress {local Macy's but loving this}, Forever 21 blazer {similar here}, Tory Burch aviator sunglasses, Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac, Michael Kors Jet Set watch & Inga Creations pearl dangle earrings

Indoor Wedding Heels // Sole Society Sheila pumps {limited quantities here but also loving these}

Golden Details

Photo Booth Fun

The Art of Introversion

Sometimes, just sometimes, something on Facebook will catch my eye {aside from ridiculous commentary or an inappropriate photo from a long-lost "friend"}. As a high school teacher, I have been schooled by my students {no pun intended} on the de-evolution of Facebook, which is currently being taken over by Twitter and Instagram; however, I am not a high school student, and I still appreciate keeping up with old {genuine} friends from Christmas Past {I do live 1500-miles away from where I grew up} as well as those in Christmas Present. A couple days ago, my news feed informed me that two of my "friends" liked an article titled "6 Things You Thought Wrong About Introverts" {yes, I realize I am personifying my news feed}.

I have always pondered where to file myself in the introverted/extroverted conversation, so I happily opened the link for a quick read. My world was rocked. My husband is a total extrovert {like a-walking-poster-child, find-his-picture-in-the-dictionary kind of extrovert}. It is very clear that he feels most alive when being surrounded by as many people as humanly possible. He has never met a stranger, and if you need something fixed, he has a friend to do the job {I love this about him, by the way}. I, on the other hand, find {or did find} classifying myself in one of the two camps very difficult. I enjoy people. I mean, I am a teacher, so I interact with {on average} 120 students throughout the course of my day. But, this same job also offers a great deal of solo working time - lesson planning, grading, etc. I enjoy being at home, and I enjoy being alone {and when I say enjoy, I mean love to such an intense degree that I might even feel guilty about it}. Because my husband is so outgoing, I have spent the last few years trying to understand my own psychological makeup. I, too, would classify myself as outgoing - I am not timid around new people or when faced with a new experience, yet I have such a strong desire to recharge away from large crowds of people. I love running, and I love racing, but when people ask to go running with me, I hesitate for {probably} much longer than I should because it is such a sacred solo moment in my day {so sacred, in fact, that I leave my headphones at home}. For so long, I've been trying to fit myself into an extroverted box because I felt such a shame about being introverted; I thought that being an introvert meant that I was shy, awkward and, frankly, downright boring. God Bless the Huffington Post for opening my eyes to a long list of introverts who are, in fact, very sociable but also pensive and independent - Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, and Gandhi.  I can now walk through life as a proud introvert, relishing my quiet moments alone and being all the better for it.

Summer Picnic // Target racerback tank, 7 For all Mankind Roxanne skinny jeans {similar here}, gray polka dot Tom's, Coach Madison Lindsay crossbody {sold out color, but available style here} & Michael Kors Bradshaw watch

How Frank approaches boxes in the back of the car {sit on them}

Home, Sweet Home

Extensive traveling does two things: (1) allows you to see and appreciate other cultures and (2) allows you to yearn for and appreciate your own. I have such an intense fascination for learning that I was {almost} overwhelmed with going abroad. The history is unparalleled, and the nuances in lifestyle genuinely piqued my interest. In Prague, I fell in love with the wall graffiti. In Germany, it was the endless bike paths. Paris amazed me with the Arc de Triomph. As for London, I am still boggled why they chose to drive on the left side of the road, but their public transportation system more than makes up for it {plus, I have a small obsession with their style}. One of the other things that I loved about Europe was their abundance of fresh fruit stands. It's no wonder they are all so thin. They eat fruit like Americans eat Snickers bars and gas station hot dogs. 

While traveling, I quickly learned the priorities of my regular life's guilty pleasures. Aside from the standard yearning for my family and friends, my body craved some American specialties {most of which are comparable to Snickers and gas station hot dogs when it comes to caloric intake}:

1. Powerade Zero {orange}
2. Skyline Chili {4-way with beans}
3. Qdoba {naked vegetarian burrito with queso & guacamole}
4. Brookside Chocolate-Covered Pomegranate
5. Pizza {from one of the many locally owned shops in Louisville}
6. The Bachelorette {shhh, I know, I've been watching it since college}
7. My bed {for obvious reasons}
8. My closet {I made it 18 days on 4 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of shorts, 2 skirts, 7 tops, and ONE purse}
9. My cell phone {wifi is awesome, but life without 4G gets a little ridiculous}
10. MY PUPS {oh. em. gee.}

Now that I've been able to get my grubby little hands on these goodies, I can {more deeply} sit back and appreciate the arduous adventure that has now come to a close. It is so easy to look at other countries and imagine an alternate universe, but the learning happens when one can recognize how similar we really are {as human beings}. Ultimately, we are all connected, and we grow when we see how other people of our same age, job or social status interact with their geography. Traveling only made me realize that Ponyboy knew his stuff oh-so-long ago: “It seemed funny that the sunset she saw from her patio and the one I saw from the back steps was the same one. Maybe the two worlds we lived in weren’t so different. We saw the same sunset" (The Outsiders).

Prague's Graffiti // "Before I die I want to ________."

Germany's Bike Paths // view from one of my morning runs

France's Arc de Triomph // Paris

London's Hipster-Prep Style // Gap skimmer jeans {sold out, but loving these} + black tee {similar here}, Polo Ralph Lauren cardigan {similar here}, Inga Creations tusk necklace + leather wrap bracelet, Michael Kors jet set watch & Jessica Simpson captoe flats.

The Pups // they have staked claim on my side of the bed