Anything but Ordinary

outfit: cardigan -- gap; top -- thrifted via buffalo exchange; shorts -- quicksilver via marshalls; shoes and ring -- f21; purse -- mbmj; belt -- cotton on; sunglasses -- raybans

Hello!
Are you all having a lovely long weekend? I know I am! I wore this outfit last Friday. I practically lived in these shorts this past week, and to think I was hesitant to spend $8 on them at Marshalls. Marshalls, when I'm in the mood to sift through lots of clothes, is a nice place to shop. These shorts are super comfy and have some cute button detailing that's covered up by my cardigan. They were on sale and had been marked down several times since there were a bunch of red stickers on the tag. It's a nice basic to have around and having them in black make me feel better about wearing them to work. I think it's the fact that they are black that made me so hesitant. Apart from tights, I don't really own a lot of black clothes. I know a lot of bloggers favor it, but you know I love my colors. I've been loving wearing nothing but a braid in my hair lately. It's just so simple, and I save like 30 seconds debating which of my pile of bows I should wear. There's just something about braids that scream Spring and Summer to me. I've also been favoring wearing nothing but shorts and relaxed tops. I'm definitely getting over Spring fever and slowly catching Summer fever where super simple, fuss-free outfits seem to be the main symptom.

This bag is the same as my black MBMJ one, except it was my mom's. Last Fall, we got matching bags on impulse since a Saks Fifth Avenue was closing down near us. A little while after, she realized she didn't quite like it so much, now it's mine! I like the nude for these warmer seasons and will probably go back to my black one in the colder months. She handed it down to me right before Mother's Day. I think she was trying to play that she didn't have that many bags so that we would buy her the Chanel bag she wants. Sorry Mom. I'm a teacher, but thanks for the bag.

Until next post,
Jasmine

Dynamic Duo: Spring Edition

my outfit: top, romper, headband -- f21; shoes -- swedish hasbeens x h&m
jen's outfit: top, shoes -- uo; romper -- f21

Hello!
Jen and I are back with another Dynamic Duo. While planning this one out, we knew for sure we wanted to do something floral for Spring. This is our first romper together and I feel like we should do shorts real soon since we've already done some skirts. For those of you who are new to our DD shenanigans, Jen and I started DD February 2010 by styling the same accessories, but over a year later, we have expanded to doing actual clothing. It has been one of the most fun, if not the most fun, part of blogging for me. I absolutely adore Jen, and ever since we met in September, I've been aching to see her again. We first pick the items to style together, but we don't see how each other styles the item until after we have taken photos of our own outfits and emailed each other. So it's kind of funny and purely coincidental that we both styled this romper with lace tops and sandals.

Surprised to see this lace top so soon? You shouldn't be. I already told you it'd be a Spring and Summer staple. Don't worry I didn't wear it two days in a row though. These photos were taken before Tuesday's photos/post. Originally I wanted to style the romper with a striped top for some pattern mixing, or my chambray blouse, or my peter pan collar top (so many options!), but when I got this lace top, it was just a no-brainer to pair them together. I'm so glad I decided to splurge on these clogs too--they seem to go with everything. Even my mom, who usually hates my shoe options (she thinks they're grandma-styled), wishes her feet were smaller so she could wear them too. They're getting easier to walk in. I'll have to test them this weekend during a family outing.

Until next post,
Jasmine

Mustard and Lace

outfit: lace top, nude cami -- f21; skirt -- uo; belt -- topshop; shoes -- aldo; hair pin -- h&m; purse -- mbmj

Hello!
I am in absolute love with my new lace top (even though I do have to wear a tank underneath). It's blush pink--my new favorite color to wear this Spring. This top seems to go great with a lot of things--practically all my bottoms, and I can't wait to wear it underneath dresses so I don't need to wear cardigans on hot summer days. I thought I'd pair it with my mustard yellow skirt first. There may not be many more days with this skirt in my closet. A lot of my skirts are getting a bit too loose. I definitely have to wear belts with them. I officially made it to the 20-pound mark this past Sunday! I've been getting some questions about my weight loss journey so far so I think I'll be doing a post on it soon. I'm 1/3 of the way to my goal weight, so here's to the next 20 pounds!

Shopping has definitely become more fun now that I've lost a bit of weight. Now that school is over, I'll have to clean out my closet to make room for the new smaller sized clothing I'll be getting. It'll be kinda bittersweet giving away the clothes that are too big because they were once my favorites, but I know I'm moving onto smaller and better things.

Until next post,
Jasmine

Letting Loose

outfit: top -- uo; skirt -- zara; bow -- f21; shoes -- aldo

Hello!
I'm done with finals and I landed the job so all in all--a very successful week! Somehow in the midst of all the chaos this week, I managed to do a bit of shopping. I guess it was my way of breaking away from studying. Lately, I seem to be drawn towards thing that aren't typical me, like my Swedish Hasbeens x H&M clogs last week. This week showed a similar pattern: I bought...jeans. Jeans! I haven't bought jeans since high school. I forgot how comfortable and easy they are. One of my style resolutions of the New Year was to post an outfit featuring jeans so hopefully that'll happen soon. I need to get over the mindset that I can only post "blog worthy" (whatever that's supposed to mean) outfits here on my blog, because every outfit of mine should be blog worthy. I feel like I've lost partially lost myself in this blog--becoming too stressed over numbers and dressing to impress my readers. I used to be the girl who took 5-minute showers and got ready within 10 minutes, but lately--especially on blogging days, I become so flustered and stressed while getting dress that it sometimes takes me a good half hour to get ready. This week though, I took a step back, and got dressed for me. I really enjoyed that. I hope I can keep it up. Sometimes I think we all forget that blogging is a hobby and shouldn't be taken so seriously all the time.

Like I said, this week I dressed for myself and this outfit was the perfect way to end a hectic week: fuss-free and relaxed. Ever since I started hoarding cropped tops, I've been looking for a cream one. I couldn't resist this one. I just love the material and the asymmetrical cut. It was also the last one in the store and it was in my size. I always take that as a sign of destiny.

I hope you're all having a splendid weekend!

Until next post,
Jasmine

Many the Miles

outfit: dress -- victoria's secret; chambray blouse -- uo; shoes -- aldo; ring -- f21

Hello!
I've had this chambray top for a few weeks now and finally got around to styling it. When I got it, I knew I'd be wearing it like this. It's so soft and comfortable. I've been looking for one since last Spring and it was waiting in UO's sale section all along. Robert said this made me actually look like a teacher. I'm pretty sure I'll be wearing it to Thursday's interview tucked into a skirt and black tights since it's the only button down blouse I really own that isn't from my piano recital/orchestra days. I have been loving this tied-blouse-over-dresses/skirts look. It's just so casual and summery. I now want to find a gingham plaid button down to do this with too.

These next few days are going to be crazy with studying for finals, taking those finals, working, preparing for my interview, and getting back on track with my diet. Last week was a complete fail, so I'm letting it go and making this week count. The next time I'll update will probably be after all this chaos is over. I've been feeling more anxious than usual lately. I don't know what I'm more afraid of: finals or what comes after finals. I feel like I'm on a ship seeing black clouds in the horizon, preparing for some hurricane that will come my way...Good luck to the rest of you with finals this week!

Until next post,
Jasmine

Never Grow Up

outfit: caridgan, belt -- gap; top -- h&m; skirt -- f21; shoes -- aldo

Hello!
The morning of this day was pretty hectic. I woke up at 10:45. I got a call at 10:46 from a school that I applied to asking me if I would like to come in for an interview that day. Since I had work later at 1:30, she asked if I could come in at 11:30. Depending on how many traffic rules I felt like breaking, the place is about 20-30 minutes away. That gave me...15 minutes to get ready. And let me tell you, my hair does not look like this when I wake up, especially since the night before I fell asleep with wet hair. So I must've been entertaining to watch as I rushed between my bathroom and my room. I left the house in this outfit (with black tights of course) at 11:15 and raced to the place. I got to the street and looked at my scribbled directions to find out I wrote only 4 numbers when the addresses had 5 numbers. Of course that would be the day I would leave my cell phone at home too, so I had to guess which building it'd be. Luckily, the first one I knocked on was right. I was late...but...I got a second interview on Thursday so keep your fingers crossed I get this one! Lessons learned: wake up earlier; don't go to bed with wet hair; don't forget cell phone; must shop for some interview clothes; and check the address before hanging up.

Blogging may slow down over the next coming weeks: I have finals next week; some serious job hunting once school ends; and the first of my credential exams is less than a month away. The future kinda has been freaking me out recently. Sometimes I just get so content and comforatble with how my life is that I totally forget that one day I have to move out of my parents house and well...grow up. I've always dreamed of the day when I'd finally move out and have my freedom, but now that the day is approaching closer, I never wanna leave the comfort of this room that has been my safe haven for 16 years. Hopefully though, by this Fall, I'll be in my own apartment, applying to graduate schools, finished with my credential exams, and have a job that I love. We can dream a little can't we?

Until next post,
Jasmine

Such Great Heights

outfit: cardigan -- shae; dress -uo; belt -- gap; shoes -- swedish hasbeens x h&m; ring -- charlotte russe

Hello!
If you follow my Twitter, you probably already know all about the newest addition to my closet (and my last one for a month): my Swedish Hasbeens for H&M wooden clogs. I'm so lucky to have many H&Ms around me. So at the first one I went to, they had the red pair but it was a size too small so I had them reserve these white pair at a different store. But I didn't even need to reserve a pair since the next one I went to had a bunch of white ones. I still wish I had gotten red (or that my feet were smaller), but white will be perfect for Spring and Summer and will be a nice contrast with black tights in the Fall and Winter. I'm just so happy to have gotten a pair of Swedish Hasbeens!

I've been super...for a lack of a better term--yucky lately. Up until yesterday, I hadn't worked out in a few days, but I made it up by going to the gym twice yesterday and hopefully today as well. I tried to bring myself out of lethargic styling with my new shoes, an old dress, and my favorite red things. I loved this outfit and wish we could've gone somewhere grander for photos, but here we are. Don't fret about not being able to see my new shoes too well. I'm determined to get accustomed to wearing (and driving) in heels by NYFW in September so I won't be a shortie again.

Until next post,
Jasmine

Throw me a Rope

outfit: top -- thrifted; skirt -- h&m; belt, flower ring, headband -- f21; leaf ring -- charlotte russe; shoes -- aldo

Hello!
Are you sick of this skirt yet? I'm not. I still get giddy when I put it on. It just makes me feel good since it's the perfect amount of femininity without going overboard. And to think it was only $10 at H&M. The mint green one in my last post just can't compare. I went shopping on Sunday with an old friend and went accessories happy: I bought three rings (two of which are worn here) and this rope belt. I've been looking for a belt like this for so long to complete my nautical looks and I found it at F21 for cheap. It'll do until I find a more sturdy, more actual rope-like belt. I think stripes is slowly returning to its #1 spot in my heart. I'm pretty sure these rings will be worn on an almost daily basis. They just make me so happy when I look at my hands, and they're not bothersome like some of my other rings.

Your eyes don't deceive you. I am back in tights this week. It went from 90+ degrees to 60-degrees and rain. Ugh. I guess this will make finals next week a lot easier to study for...!

Until next post,
Jasmine