30 x 30 | Day Eleven

dress and cords | old navy, scarf | charlotte russe

I'm usually a huge fan of our business casual dress code at work, but we're not allowed to wear pants with sewn on pockets and so all of my cords are useless unless I wear a tunic or long cardigan.  So once again the dress as a shirt came back.  Clearly, I am loving this new to me idea.

ring | versona, belt | betsey johnson via tj maxx 

loving all my bracelets today :)

If you're interested in seeing other 30 x 30 looks be sure to check out all the other ladies: Ginny looked amazing in jewel tones, Amber wore the cutest Forever 21 sweater, Jenna rocked one of my favorite combos: a sweater over a button up, Elissa did this really cool pink gingham meets leather jacket combo that I'm still dying over,  Kim had fun with chambray and animal print (LOVE), Daliene introduced me to her incredible sense of style with polka dots and stripes and key patterns (not all at once), Jess dressed up some stripes, and the lovely Sam made me seriously consider burgundy boots.  Seeing everyone's sense of style has been so much fun.

Nicole

30 x 30 | Day Ten

First, I have to share this cute story about Charles the Monarch, a labradoodle that was mistaken for a baby lion.  Here's a video of him:



Isn't he the cutest?

Things that weren't cute: the original outfit I pulled on today. I think being in a blah mood definitely was part of my feelings but let me take responsibility and say I have no idea why I thought wearing a cardigan under a cap sleeve dress was going to be a great look. After changing out of the monstrosity, I still wasn't in love with the outfit but mediocrity is okay when you're not leaving your house all day.

cardigan | dkny jeans via costco, dress | old navy, leggings | ???

This is the first time I've worn these two items during this challenge so the bar is low. Let's see what happens in the next twenty days.

necklace | charming charlie, belt | charlotte russe

It is, in fact, day ten of the challenge meaning I'm 1/3 of the way there. Quick recap of the first nine days for anyone new to the party or not looking to click through pages.

30 x 30 challenge days one through nine.

What I can tell you after ten days:

• There are at least two weeks of outfits in that polka dot chambray shirt. I had to mentally stop myself from going back to it today. Once my shopping ban is over, I will most certainly be investing in another chambray button up.  In the meantime, prepare yourself for an onslaught of outfits including this one.
• Doing a challenge like this forces you to wear things in ways you normally wouldn't think to - I'd never worn a tank as a vest, dress as a blouse or layered dresses before this.
• I don't need to shop as much as I do (this is something I will deny post challenge).
• And an honorable mention bullet for anyone considering a 30 x 30: don't include shoes or outerwear.  I didn't include accessories and I think that these items fall into those categories.  I'm iffy about blazers, personally, I think I'd include them in the count, but I think picking out 30 items from dresses, skirts, pants, blouses and shorts is enough.

Nicole

30 x 30 | Day Nine

cardigan | old navy, lace dress (worn as top) | thrifted, skirt | thrifted, bubble necklace | easy, skinny belt | walmart

Yellow's one of my favorite colors and I was so excited when I thrifted this skirt for $3. 

Jenna from Wearable. Fun. Fashion. and Angela from Selfless Ambition both sweetly nominated me for a Liebster Award.  You can read more below the jump.

30 x 30 | Day Eight

necklace | charming charlie, boots | payless

Today's day eight of the 30 x 30 challenge and I also think it's the eighth day that I've thought 'I really need to do my nails' before taking pictures of my outfits. C'est la vie, yeah?

navy blazer | thrifted ($4), striped knit | forever 21, cords | old navy

This blazer is one of my favorite thrift finds because I'm really picky about how blazers fit - I hate how sometimes they make my shoulders look broader or they're just too loose.  I'm impossibly picky about certain things and blazers happen to be one of them.  So when I tried this one on it was kind of like the moment in the movie where you realize the couple is finally going to get together and you try not to get excited and giggle about it but do anyways.

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday.

Nicole

30 x 30 | Day Seven

Have you ever been completely enthralled by someone's outfit and gone to leave a comment and then this pops up:

And after trying to figure out if that's a byrV or byW, you sadly shake your head and exit the page without leaving a comment? ME TOO. This actually happened yesterday and the spam detector outsmarted me at least five times before I just gave up - talk about adding insult to injury. I promise I'm not a robot, I'm just spam detector challenged :(

polka dot chambray | old navy, striped knit | forever 21, chino pants | h&m

I got dressed twice before I pulled this on and decided it would work.  I have a love-hate relationship with these pants because I love the color but sometimes I feel that it's so bright that it's hard to wear another bright color with without looking too ROY G BIV.

necklace | charming charlie, silver glitter flats | payless

Print mixing is still kind of terrifying to me - I'm totally envious of people who aren't afraid to jump in and throw on three different patterns and manage to make it work. This polka dot chambray shirt has pushed me a little closer to the deep end though, or at least stretched me to my tippy toes in the middle of the print mixing pool.  Baby steps.

closer look at the stack

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who's been taking the time to read and leave encouragement on my post - it means a lot :)

Nicole

30 x 30 | Day Six

When I first saw this black lace dress while thrifting one day, I tried to avoid it.  There were plenty of reasons to not buy it: I want to wear less black, I already owned nine black dresses, it was the beginning of fall and sleeveless dresses were about to be a non possibility, etc.  But eventually, I tried the dress on and how many times are you going to find a LBD for $4. Never, or at least that's what I told myself as I was checking out.

houndstooth dress | h&m, lace dress | thrifted

The other night I was playing dress up with the black and pink houndstooth dress because I genuinely had no ideas on how to style it other than the basics (over leggings and/or tights, underneath a black jacket or blazer) when I got the bright idea to pull the black dress on over top.  Hello, whole new world of styling opportunities.

Linking up with Shanna for Thrifters Anonymous as well as Carly and Molly for YOLO Mondays.

Nicole

30 x 30 | Day Five

I woke up late this morning and it was one of the days where by the time I got home it was like I was already in my sweatpants, glasses and curled up under an electric blanket. I take commitment to sweats very seriously.

shirt | talbot's (thrifted), olive cords | old navy, glitter flats | payless

For my sake, let's pretend this nitty gritty photo never happened especially when I come back later and replace it.

Hope everyone's enjoying their fathers/boyfriends/husbands/friends/selves screaming over the NFL today,

Nicole