How to Wear Jeans to the Office

Jeans aren't for every office, but when worn the right way you will most likely get away with wearing them.

1. Do choose a jean with a dark wash. A dark wash looks more professional and sort of camoflauges that they are jeans.
2. Don't go for an ultra low-rise. Instead, choose a trouser cut or a straight leg jean.
3. Do have the hems tailored to fit you. Fit your widest part first and then have them taken-in where needed. (I've had many pants taken-in.)
4. Do make sure the length is right. If the hem is too short, it can make your legs look short and you look heavier. If the hem is too long, it can look sloppy. (I have to have all my jeans tailored, unless I thrift a pair that is my length.)
5. Do pick a comfortable pair. If they aren't comfortable, you won't wear them no matter how good they look. The idea is to be able to wear jeans to the office, right?

Wearing a jacket/blazer with jeans helps add structure and looks more professional (Can you say, adult?). Add some jewelry and you are ready for the office.

The sun was so nice on my face. I felt like my cat in the sun.

I love this gold sparkly top!

I don't like my hems much longer than this, otherwise they can sometimes drag on the ground.

Shirt: Ann Taylor via Goodwill
Jeans: Joe's via Saks Off 5th
Jacket: Joy Joy via Goodwill
Earrings: STRUT
Shoes: Nine West via I can't remember
Ring: Banana Republic

Price Tag: Shirt-$4, Jeans-$50, Jacket-$9, Earrings-$10, Shoes-$20 to $30, Ring-$38 = $131 to $141 (I'm glad I'm cutting back on my spending.) 

I've been contemplating cutting my clothing budget to $100 or less a month. I'll have to think about it and let you all know if I do start it. 

Do you have a clothing budget? If so, how did you decide how much?

♡,

D'Andra

Tasty Over-Sized Vegan Tacos

I don't post a lot of food photos or recipes on here, but I just might start doing so. I'll start with Friday's dinner. The hubs made super sized tacos!

Doesn't this make you hungry?

Tasty Over-Sized Vegan Tacos

Tofu, extra firm
12-inch tortillas
1 c. lettuce, chopped
2 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped
1-12oz. can corn
1-12oz. can black beans
1/4 c. grape tomatoes
1/2 avocado, sliced
Vegan sour cream, optional
Diya shredded vegan cheese, optional

The hubs cubed the tofu, seasoned with taco spices, and baked at 350°F until lightly browned. He warmed the corn and black beans in sauce pans (sometimes we just warm in the microwave). We assembled our tacos and endulged. Delish! I overfilled mine, but I couldn't help it, it was so tasty!

Plate: Villeroy & Boch (I got these when I worked at theV&B outlet)

If you try this recipe, let me know how it turns out.

Here's to a good week to you all.

♡,
D'Andra

While I Was Away

I tried my best to take my own outfit photos while at school, but I failed at that. As is evident by the following photos, it was a big failure; hence, the reason why I didn't post while there. Well then why didn't I post when I got back? I spent all of last week very ill. I felt so bad that I asked the hubs to take me to the ER when I got off the plane. The hubs knew then that I was really bad. I'm much better now!

Anyway, let's talk outfits. I was away at school for only one week, so I packed clothes that were interchangeable. Plus, I didn't want to check any luggage, which meant I had to maximize everything I packed in my carry-on. I ended up reworking the shirts and sweaters in these photos.

The only photo from this outfit with my whole head.

Shirt: Luella for Target via Goodwill
Sweater: Banana Republic Outlet
Jeans: Paige via Goodwill
Earrings: via STRUT

Outfit #1--Price Tag: Shirt-$5, Sweater-$20, Jeans-$8, Earrings-$10 (Boots not pictured $25) = $68

I'm doing pretty good with copying the bright colors of the J. Crew catalog.

Shirt: Jones of New York via Goodwill
Sweater: Cashmere by Pringle via Goodwill
Jeans: William Rast via Hem (local boutique)
Boots: Qupid via UrbanOg.com
Earrings: via STRUT

Outfit #2 Price Tag: Shirt-$5, Cashmere Sweater-$5, Jeans-$150, Boots-$25, Earrings-$10 = $190 (I know the jeans were pricey; however, I love these jeans and have gotten my money's worth.)

I can't wait to show you the other cute items I have thrifted lately.

What is your favorite or most recently thrifted item?

Here's to a good week for all!

♡,
D'Andra

A Larger Country

This one is all about the hubs. As you may know, the hubs is a poet. He has been writing ever since we first met. It wasn't until 2000 that the hubs changed his career path and started pursuing writing poetry. He started his MFA and continued writing poems. He has had numerous poems published in various literary magazines and journals throughout the country and then some. He has been featured on public radio a couple of times here and here, been invited to give readings, and even included in Best New Poets in 2007. And despite this recognition, he has not had any luck having his manuscript accepted for publication. It has now come to the point that almost every poem in his manuscript has been published except for one. He constantly has seen his friends have their books published and he has been nothing but genuinely happy for them. I know that he wants his book to also be published and his talent validated. It is hard to watch someone you love get rejected and you see them start to accept that it will never happen. I am happy to announce that he no longer has to accept that.

 The hubs has won the 2012 APR/Honickman First Book Prize!!!! 


♡,
D'Andra

It's All Whizzing By

I think everyone has those days or weeks where everything is just a blur and you can't really remember where your time went. The past few days have just been a huge blur. I tried to get a blog post together before I took off to Baltimore, but obviously that did not happen. Saturday, I had lunch with my cousin and her mom. It was great to catch up with them. I used to see my cousin quite often, but since I started graduate school I haven't had time to even breathe. Saturday evening, we had dinner with a friend of the hubs. She was in Austin on vacay, so we met her and her boyfriend and their friends for dinner at Koriente. Delish!! I had never been and I was surprised that the hubs really liked it. Sunday, I spent a good portion of the day in the airport. After I finally made it to Baltimore, I met up with friends for dinner and the weekend was gone. Today, I was able to sleep in a bit and then head to campus for my afternoon class. After class, I met with up some new people (never met until dinner new) for dinner.

So, here is what I wore on Thursday of last week. I now I'm late in posting it, but better late than never, right? I'm still keeping with the bright color scheme and the I'm an adult and dammit I need to dress like one when I'm at work idea. I just think you get more respect when you dress with your job in mind. I want people to know that I can do my job and not think that I'm too young to do my job. I think it's funny that sometimes people see me as very young when in fact I'm older than they are or I'm the same age. I think it has to do with the fact that I look young. Dressing young definitely doesn't help. That's why I'm taking responsibility and dressing more my age. I think it's working.

Shirt: H&M
Cami: Charlotte Russe
Skirt: Dana Buchman via Goodwill
Shoes: Pierre Dumas via ShoeStation.com
Tights: Banana Republic Outlet
Belt: Charlotte Russe Outlet
Necklace: Banana Republic

Price Tag: Shirt-$15, Cami-$10, Skirt-$5, Shoes-$20, Tights-$8, Belt-$2.50, Necklace-$40 (I can't believe I spent that much) = $100.50

Doing this is really helping me see how much I used to spend on clothes, shoes, and accessories. I'm so glad that I've changed my philosophy on my spending.

Do you dress for your age or do wear what ever you want?

♡,

D'Andra

p.s. Just as lunch time was finishing up, today, I got the best news ever!!!!! I will post about it tomorrow!!

It's Been a Good Week

This has been a good week, but it is really going by fast. It's a good thing I'm almost completely packed for Sunday. Yes, it's that time again to go to Baltimore. Next week is going to be super hard, but I'm excited to meet up with friends from school! I hope I have a chance to do some thrifting while I'm there.

I was so surprised to receive a blogger award!

This award is given to bloggers with fewer than 200 followers by other bloggers. In order to accept the award and post it, I need to do the following:

          1. Link back to the giver. THANK YOU, Margaret of too few beacons! You have inspired me    
              more than you know!
          2. Pass it to five more bloggers and let them know I chose them.
          3. Obviously, I copied and pasted the award (see above).
          4. Pay it forward!

The lovely bloggers I've chosen are (in no particular order)...

1. Natalie of The Closet de Natalie. Natalie has an easy, chic style and is such a sweet and inspiring lady. I remember the first day I met her. She has inspired me from that moment on.

2. Laurel of Trophy Boutique. Laurel is a style-savvy woman. Laurel is not afraid of colors. She has that special gift of wearing any color and looking great. I'm hoping to learn something from her.

3. Joyce of My Closet My Life. Joyce is a woman that wears what she wants. I like that she doesn't wear the same style or colors all the time.

4. Diana of Smiles Go with Everything. Diana wears the cutest dresses and of course she has a beautiful smile! I love her arial shots of her shoes.

5. Camille of I Get Dressed. Camille really knows what works for her body. She has a great eye for layering. I need to take notes from her.

♡,
D'Andra

How I Mix Patterns

Okay, I took these photos a couple of weeks ago, but never wore the outfit until now. I have to take photos on the weekends, since daylight savings leaves me in the dark. It's dark when I leave and dark when I get home, so I really have to plan ahead. I don't always feel like wearing what I have previously photographed, so I don't always post right away. I do try hard to keep up with everything I photograph. I promise I did wear this today. Of course I wore a coat over this, but who wants to see my coat?

These shoes are more blue than in this photo.

Shirt: H&M
Skirt: Tucker for Target via Target
Tights: Banana Republic Outlet
Belt: Charlotte Russe Outlet
Shoes: via STRUT
Bracelet: via Cricket's (local boutique)
Earrings: Gifted

Price Tag: Shirt-$20 or less, Skirt-$20, Belt-$2.50 Tights-$8, Shoes-$35, Bracelet-$20 = $103

Much more than I would have normally spent on an outfit, but I continue to wear every piece, so I think I've gotten my money's worth. I love the mix of patterns and the colors complement each other well. The shoes are amazingly comfy, which in my book makes them fabulous! I spent more than normal for that reason alone. It's hard to come by great looking shoes that are also comfortable. I think I'm going to be wearing these shoes a lot this season.

To get the same look, you can mix any patterns that you already have. I like to keep the mixed patterns to two, especially when I'm mixing colors too. More than that it starts to get a little too busy for me, but that's my opinion, which is why I kept the tights in the same pattern as the skirt. I kept the jewelry to a minimum, so the patterns could really pop. Try to keep the colors complementary when mixing patterns, that way you don't look like you just woke up and threw on the first thing you found laying around. Some times I do that though.

What patterns/ colors do you like to mix?

♡,
D'Andra

Blogger Conference!

March 9, 10, & 11 in ATX!






I'm excited for the blogger conference. It's right before my birthday and I thought ahead this year and asked for time off from work. 
Will you be there?
D'Andra