The Dark Side

I found this cute dress at Target, or as I like to say it Tar-jay.  We all know how much I love a good deal and Target.  This dress is pretty simple but I like the black trim and detailing.  Also, it is extremely comfortable.  Something I always look for in clothes.  I think next time I wear it I need to add a little color to brighten things up a bit...maybe add some accessories. 

 

Entire look from Target!

Fan Club

In an effort to cheer on our local baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals, the students and staff at work wore t-shirts in honor of the run to the World Series.  Unfortunately, we didn't make it that far, but we all had a good time dressing down and rallying support!

 

Sweater and shoes: Old Navy

Jeans: Banana Republic Outlet

T-shirt: gift from my dad

Checklist

Throw together some of my favorite things and you have an outfit:

Favorite necklace....Check

Polka Dots.....Check

Sweater......Check

Jeans.......Check

High bun (so I don't have to fix my hair)....Check

 

Sometimes you just go with whatever works.

 

 

Sweater and shirt: Old Navy

Jeans: Gap

Necklace: Francessca's

Shoes: Anthropologie

Hearty Heart Heart

Sensing a pattern here with the colored pants?  Yep, it is not at all weird that I've made three colored pants posts in a row.  Get ready for a lot more posts with the colored trend, you guys. 

 

At least I'm not wearing polka dots, stripes, chevron, or my favorite necklace, right?

 

 

Shirt and sweater: Old Navy

Pants: Lauren Conrad for Kohls

Shoes: Toms

Just Dots

Hello again!  This is obviously the season of the colored pants for me.  I'm a little obsessed with all sorts of colors available for me to wear!  And this sweater is a new favorite.  I think I've worn it at least 4-5 times in the last several weeks.  Crazy much?

 

 

Sweater, shirt, pants: Old Navy
Shoes: Toms
Necklace: Otavalo Market

Colorful

Hey, hey, hey! 

This lovely outfit was from a little while ago when I attended baby Kailee's first birthday!  I had not worn these pants before and I have to say I like what I did here.  I wanted color but to not look like a clown.  I ended up moving the belt, but looking back on pictures, I actually like it over the sweater.  Please pardon the weird look on my face in these pictures.  Clearly, I need to work on my blue steel.

 

Sweater: H & M

Shirt: Loft

Belt: Target

Pants: Old Navy

Shoes: Toms

Necklace: Francesca's

Confession

Here's what I wore today...well, not quite.  These pants are actually lounge pants from Old Navy.  No, I did not wear these pants to work today.  I wore regular black dress pants but they were a little, ahem, tight uncomfortable, so I immediately changed into these stretchy pants as soon as I got home.  I figure you get the gist of what I wore without the actual pants I wore. I totally forgot I had this shirt and adding the necklace made it look just a little more dressy. 

Shirt, cami: Old Navy
Pants: Gap (the real ones I wore)
Shoes: Target
Necklace: Francessca's Collections

Falling into Fall

Well, it seems that fall is finally here.  The weather is starting to cool off a little so I can finally break out my scarves and not feel too guilty about it!  I've been waiting to wear this scarf for almost three months now.  I picked it up at one of the markets in Ecuador for just a couple of dollars which is crazy because this scarf would cost probably $15-20 here.  Just another reason to love Ecuador!
Cardi and Shoes-Target
Tshirt and Pants- Gap
Scarf-Otavalo market in Ecuador

Old Favorites

When looking for something to wear to church yesterday, I didn't have to look very far. I just put together a couple of my favorite pieces and....VOILA! Instant outfit!  I know I've spoken of my love of chambray before and throw in a good animal print skirt and I'm good to go.  The only thing missing here is a pop of color.  I'm thinking next time a brighter necklace and maybe a bright pair of pumps.

 

Shirt: Old Navy

Necklace and Skirt: New York & Co.

Shoes: Bandalino

POC

Hello, again! 

I've had a very busy few days of work and I'm tired!  I failed to take a picture this morning so you are getting the haggered look of the end of the work day. 

This time of year is always a little sketchy weather wise.  In spite of the storm looming this morning when I got up, it turned out to be a beautiful day!  I'm so glad I decided to go for the dress.  I'm not sure how much longer the weather will allow me to go without pants or tights.

Here is today's look, pretty much a copy of something previously worn. I wasn't feeling too innovative today.

Entire outfit is from Target today!

Hello, again

Well, hello there.  Long time, huh?

Let's get down to business, shall we?

A couple of weekends ago, I went to the Hispanic Festival in downtown St. Louis.  There was food booths, maragaritas, clothing and other items, music, and dancing.  It totally made me miss Ecuador but it was lots of fun.  I met one of our Spanish teachers and a former Spanish teacher there and we walked around, watched the dancing, caught up, and ate!  The weather was lovely-it was a little hot in the direct sun, but other than that we couldn't have ordered better weather!

Because I knew I'd be out in the sun, I wanted to wear something that would keep me a little cool, so this is what I wore:

Shirt: Gap
Dress: Old Navy
Necklace and Hat: market in Otavalo, Ecuador

Green With Envy

I promise I haven't fallen off the face of the earth!  I have been crazy busy at work and after. 

Here is what I wore to church yesterday.  I saw this dress in Target and knew it needed to be mine!  Peplum and an jewel green?!  Yes, please!  Add in my favorite necklace and we have a winner of an outfit!
Dress: Target
Necklace: Francesca's
Shoes: Bandalino via Amazon

Back in Business

I have no clue why I couldn't post pictures yesterday, but today there seems to be no problem at all!  Wahoo! 

So, this is an outfit for a month ago but I love it.  It involves several of my favorite items: chambray shirt...check, coral necklace from Ecuador....check, animal print sandals....check, and hair in a high bun...check!

Expect to see a lot of that shirt and necklace, in case you haven't already noticed them.  I fully expect them to be staples in my fall wardrobe as well...

Shirt: Old Navy

Skirt, Belt, and Sandals: Target

Necklace: Otavalo Market in Ecuador

Houston We Have a Problem...

Argh....my computer doesn't want to let me upload anything.  WHY, computer, WHY?  This is irritating.  So, look for a new post soon!

We Were on a Break

Okay, so I guess I took a little break from the blog.  Totally unexpected but things have been so busy since school started back.  Not a good reason, but an excuse nonetheless. 

I think mentally I have been in la la land.  I've been running from work to meetings to meeting up with friends to physical therapy (more on that in a minute) and just haven't felt like I was back in the swing of things.  Plus, coming back from Ecuador I managed to gain a LOT of weight.  I'm not feeling very good in my clothes, hence the impromptu break that I wasn't planning. 

I'm hoping after I get my knee straightened out-I found out I was double jointed and have very loose joints-I can get back into an exercise routine.  Because of my loose joints, specifically my left knee cap, my left knee has become irritated and the doctor ordered some PT in order to strengthen the muscles around the knee.  I was told I probably shouldn't run anymore-so I guess I will be looking into the dreaded elliptical machine and bike!

Anyhoo, this wouldn't be a style blog without a little style so here is an outfit from last week.  I love love love this striped sweater so look for it to be featured often.  Acutally, I pretty much love every piece of this look separately and together. 

Sweater, shirt: Old Navy
Jeans: Kohls
Sandals: Target
Necklace: market in Ecuador

Routine

Well, I'm headed back to work today.  I have to say I'm a little torn.  I like having a routine to follow because it keeps me more accountable for the time I waste BUT I really like being able to watch daytime tv and read books and go out to lunch with my friends. 

Anyway, sorry for the lack of posts.  I think it has just taken me this long to get back into life here in the states and while I've been running around meeting people for lunch and dinner, I've just been using my old standby outfits so I didn't have to think too much. 

Here are a couple of pics from the last few days....

This one is of me and baby Theron!  He's the adorable son of my friends Joi and David.  We had a great visit with lots of smiles.  I think he likes Auntie Anna!

And then on Saturday evening my parents threw a party for my brother and sister-in-law.  This was for people that were not able to make it to the actual wedding.  Lots of food and conversation was had!

Now, I have to get in the shower so I can go to work.  yay.

Ecuador Day Ocho-the last day!

And just like that, the trip was ending!  I was sad to leave but ready to head home, but first we had some sightseeing to do!

Ready for our last day

 Oops, forgot we went to church at Advent St. Nicholas again first.  We went back and changed and then started sightseeing!  Martha, who is a member of the Kiwanis club and also worked as a tour guide for the Embassy, was our guide for the day.  She took us to a very nice lunch to start off our tour.  Then we went to see the Our Lady of Quito statue, which you probably noticed as the GIANT angel statue in the pictures from the unfinished church.

Our Lady of Quito statue

Closeup of OLofQ

 We had a great view of Quito from the statue!

Looking down onto Quito

Close up of Quito from near the Our Lady statue

Me with Quito in the background

 We then went down to Old Town, the historical part of Quito.  Our group did some of this earlier in the week and at this point I was just over it, so I didn't really take any pictures. 

With Christian, who works for Habitat Ecuador and their translator

We went to an interesting restaurant before going to the airport.  The menu had testicles, heart, entrails, liver, and other such treats on it.  YUCK!  I had french fries.  I figured those were safe!

Then it was airport time!  We said our goodbyes and started the process of checking in, getting bags checked, going through security, and then having my carry ons riffled through before I could enter the gate area.  But, we made it through and I was asleep before we even took off from Quito. 

I got home early Monday morning and boy was I exhausted.  I'm still not sure I'm fully caught up, but it was an awesome trip and I hope to return next year on the Habitat build.

Hope you enjoyed my recap!  We will now return to our regularly scheduled style blogging!

Ecuador Day 7

We are in the home stretch, folks! Day 7 is here with only one more day to go...

First stop.....Equator!  Yes, I've officially been in two places, two hemispheres to be exact, at once!  Below is the proof!  This was pretty cool.  There were some shops around this area as well as a bug museum (gross!).  Some of the group ended up going up into the museum, but I didn't because I thought it was too expensive.  Kind of kicking myself for that one now...

I'm standing in two hemispheres!

Melissa and I attempting to do something cool.  The photographer didn't quite catch it!

With our translator for the week, Erick, at the Equator

After visiting the Equator, we started making our way to the Otavalo Market.  It was quite a drive, about two hours, so we stopped for lunch along the way.  We stopped at a really nice little restaurant that was right against this lake.  The water literally lapped up to the glass walls of the restaurant.  There were some little bungalows that people could rent and stay there.  Also, there were llamas.  This lovely little place was called, Puerto Lago. 

Beautiful view at Puerto Lago

Pastor Lori, Melissa, and me

 We walked around Puerto Lago for a little while after eating and then loaded up and continued toward Otavalo.  Otavalo had a HUGE market.  Seriously, so big we only went through a fraction of it in a couple of hours.  This is where I got the majority of the stuff I brought home.  You had to haggle with the vendors, which I am terrible at, but I managed to get some good deals.  This was mostly due to Pastor Lori's great haggling skills.  Didn't really see animals at this market, it was mostly crafts, or at least the part we saw.

Shopping at Otavalo Market

Vendors at Otavalo Market

 Erick bought a hat at Saquisili and I could not be outdone.  So, I made it a point to get a similar hat at Otavalo, so of course we had to take a picture. 

Modeling our matching hats

 One last final look at Otavalo and we were off.  On the way home we stopped at a chocolate place.  I wasn't feeling well (to be fair, I didn't feel well the entire time-pretty sure it was altitude sickness) so I did not partake, but I hear the hot chocolate was awesome!

Goodbye Market!

We finished the evening at Pizza Hut for dinner and then went back to our respective hotels for the night.  We had to pack up because the next day was our last!

Ecuador Part 6

Since some of us decided to stay to work at Habitat, we awoke ready to work! Turns out there was a little bit of a different plan for us that morning. Instead of heading straight to the work site, we went to Cotopaxi National Park.

At a rest stop on the way-bought a hat and gloves here because it was SO COLD!

Pastor Lori at our rest stop

The views were so incredible!  And it was COLD!  I ended up wearing a t-shirt, a hoodie, and a fleece jacket-and I could have worn more layers!  

Can you believe this view?!

AH-MAZING!

Melissa and I

 We drove up a little further to a lake that was nestled in the mountains.  Again, magnificent views!

There was a lake in the park which provided for more beautiful pictures!

Could've stayed there for hours...

 And then we were off to visit Lisa's Angels again.  The Habitat group had not had the opportunity to visit the daycare, so we stopped by there before we went to the hotel for lunch.  Some of the kids were graduating and there was a little ceremony complete with caps and gowns and music.  I danced with a little girl for about fifteen minutes. 

Pastor Lori and one of Lisa's Angels

The graduates-don't they look excited? haha!

All dressed up in her uniform

 We had lunch at the Cotopaxi Hotel and then went to get our work on at the Habitat site.  The concrete mixer had been delivered so it was all about getting concrete poured into the rebar at the corners and sides of the house.  We formed a concrete line where we'd pass three buckets of concrete back and forth.  Lots of stopping and starting as we adjusted for the next column but we managed to get all six completed!

Making some progress

 There were two little puppies running around the site and I'm pretty sure they had never had that much attention in their little doggie lives!  I was concerned Pastor Lori was going to smuggle this one in her luggage!

One of the puppies at the site

 The grandchildren of the family gave some of the teenagers gifts.  Here was a picture created for them!

Tyler and the picture the kids made for him

 Even though we didn't get the entire house built, there was a great start!  At the end of the day, since we were all leaving, there was a ceremony with the family.  They each got an opportunity to say thank you to everyone that helped and I'm pretty sure there wasn't a dry eye around!  The family also gave us each a small gift as thank you.  It was amazing that even though they had very little, they wanted to give something to show their gratitude.  A wonderful family!  We heard that there were four Habitat houses being built at this time and so it would probably be two more months before this family home would be completed for move in.

Ceremony at the end of the day with the family

 The family wrote a thank you note for us.  No clue what the entire thing says, but I know thank you was there at the end!

The thank you note that the family wrote for us

That night we had dinner with the family and then loaded up for the trip back to Quito and back to the Charles Darwin for our group.  With only two days left in Ecuador, it was starting to get sad-although I was missing ice, taking a shower without fear of accidentally getting the water in my mouth, and being able to flush toilet paper (their pipes cannot handle toilet paper so you had to throw it away-ick!).