b is for Baggu

Happy Easter! My weekend was filled with a whole lot of house work. We painted our front door and did quite a bit of yard work. I'm a grown up. It's still weird. The weather was absolutely glorious and still is! Bare legs! Whoot!

My brother was kind enough to get me this adorable tote for my birthday. Ever since it arrived on my doorstep I have been using it pretty much everyday. Kind of obsessed. West Elm(my fav) and Baggu teamed up to make these fun bags that can be personalized. It's sturdy but not huge and it holds SO much. I throw my work out clothes, shoes, lunch AND my purse in this bad boy. You would think this is sponsored post, but it's not. I just love the bag THAT much. Thanks Kyle!

Perfect wind for model hair

Dress: Gap(similar) 

Jacket: H&M 

Scarf: Express 

Wedges: Target(rip-off of these) 

Bag: Baggu for West Elm (want this one)

Converse Cool

So, I've been having an affair with sneakers lately. My booties are probs super jeal(I don't actually talk like that...most of the time). There is just something so unexpected and cool pairing Converse with a dress. My go-to sneakers are these Nikes. I'm obsessed. I was recently inspired by Kelsey at Snappy Casual to pull my good ol' Chucks outta the closet. And now I've worn them three times this week! I've had these puppies since 2004ish. It's amazing they look as good as they do! I just love items you can hold onto for 10+ years and revisit in a new way. 

Dress: H&M(similar) 

Jacket: Forever 21 (Diggin' this one)

Scarf: H&M (similar)

Shoes: Converse 

Sunglasses: Target(similar)

Out of Hibernation

 Hi there! So I could go on and on about how much winter sucked(any it REALLY did). But I'll just let you know I'm out of hibernating! So take that  for what it's worth and here is a totally "Katie" outfit to celebrate. HAPPY SPRING!

2014

Hi Friends! Long time no talk! Life happened and I got extra busy and blogging just fell off the radar. But I love blogging. So in 2014 I will blog! My life has also slowed down significantly...so that helps.

So you are probably wondering "Why were you so busy, Katie?!" Welllllll we bought a freaking house! I real life, grown up, two story house! It has a garage! It has a back yard! It has a basement! For someone that has been living in a different apartment every year for the last eight years of their life it's pretty HUGE to have all of those things. Especially since we are still in the city of Chicago! It's a quaint little farm style house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It still has that old Chicago charm but also has some fun updates. My father(Who is the greatest father anyone will ever have. Ever. Seriously.) has been helping do some updates and fixing things that need to be fixed. When Chicago decides to warm up and I decide to hang pictures I will share our humble abode with you all! 

I was not very photogenic today but I love this outfit so you get one picture. I am wearing lots of favorites with this outfit. I am also really into the whole black and navy together thing. If you would have asked me that two years about I would have said "EW, I don't want to look like bruise!" But alas, tastes change, fashion changes and here I am. Not looking like a bruise at all. And camo has now become a leopard print to me. It goes with EVERYTHING. Don't get me wrong though. Leopard is always number one in my heart.

Sweater: Zara (similar here) 
Pants: Gap 
Shoes: Zara (love these)
Necklace: Forever 21(similar here) 
Watch: Michael Kors

Yay October!

It's OCTOBER! I think this is my favorite month by far. Still decent weather but the chill of fall is in the air. All pumpkin everything actually applies. I've already made cookies and a crock pot meal. Loki even has a new Halloween bandanna! I need to get working on my costume for this year. Nick already figured out his costume and we are not doing a couple costume this year. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

These pants have served me well in the past year or so. They are a little bold but also kind of a neutral at the same time. My go-to outfit lately has been printed jeans, graphic tee, jean jacket, and flats. I just added a pair of camo jeans to the rotation and I'm pretty excited about them. Camo is everywhere this fall. It made an appearance this spring/summer and it's not going anywhere soon. Go out an buy something camo NOW! I have a feeling it's about to turn into leopard print. And you know how I feel about leopard print...

My bun is slightly out of control

Tee: Forever 21 Men's (SO comfy) 

Jeans: Express (similar here) 

Jacket: H&M 

Flats: Zara (wanting these)

Watch: Michael Kors

Grunge and Teddy Eyes

I'm back in the alley! It wasn't haunted this time either but it was empty! Usually there are a ton of people chilling or walking through this alley but this afternoon it was all mine. This outfit is a little grunge. Muted floral and combat boots. This is also my first time wearing tights to work this season. Tights are definitely made for 9-5. When I get home it's like race to get them off. Like I'm going to explode if my tights are not off in the first 40 seconds of walking in the door. They sure look cute though!

So these pictures are from yesterday. Yesterday was a little bit of an emotional roller coaster for me. I'll start from the beginning. So Mon-Wed our dog walker Bill comes around lunch time to walk Loki. Thursdays I go home over lunch and walk him and Friday Nick works from home and walks him. Loki gets to chill in the main parts of the house and the cats are confined to the bedroom. Well I left the door open to the bedroom. And I get a text from Bill saying the door was left open and there was a bunch of paper shreds everywhere and things looked askew. Loki has a vendetta against Kleenex boxes when we leave so I assumed that was the paper everywhere but then I couldn't let it go that something else had happened. Did he eat Nick's Ugg slippers? Did he chew up the bedding? Are the cats still alive?! I couldn't take the suspense so I decided to run home really quick. I got home and Loki already looked guilty. When I opened the bedroom door I saw the paper was indeed Kleenex. A slipper was on the other side of the room but there was no damage done. The bedding was messed up but nothing chewed. And then I saw him. My beloved teddy bear, Teddy. His eyes. Completely chewed off. I was devastated! So now you are thinking. Teddy bear? A 26 year old married woman and a teddy bear? Yes. I still sleep with Teddy. Every night. He has been my main man since the day of my birth and I'm not letting go anytime soon. Anyone who knows me well knows about Teddy and knows how deep our bond really is. So I get a little emotional and call my mom. No answer. Call my brother. He answers. I break down. 

Katie: "(Sniffle sniffle)Loki ate off Teddy's eyeballs!!!"

Kyle: "(Stifles laugh)OH NO! What happened?!" 

Can you imagine your adult sister calling you to cry about her Teddy bear's eyeballs?! How ridiculous! Kyle handled it so well. Shortly after I got off the phone with him I got a text from him with a link to teddy bear replacement eyes. "Teddy's getting LASIK!" What a good brother. I felt so silly when I finally calmed down. Needless to say, yesterday was just a little rough. Loki got a firm talking but I can't stay mad at that fluff ball for long. I do have a feeling he wont be touching Teddy anytime soon though.

"The alley is all mine" twirl

Also! Meet the woman behind the iphone, Nuhamin! Isn't she the cutest?! She is pretty darn fashionable herself. I am totally buying the shoes she is wearing in this. They RULE. Love you Nunu!

Dress: Forever 21(similar here)
Cardigan: LOFT (wanting this) 
Tights: American Apparel 
Boots: Madden Girl

Circle in the City

So about those allergies...turns out it's actually a bad cold. I woke up yesterday morning feeling like death. I went into work thinking maybe I would get better later but then my ears started to hurt and my throat started to swell. At that point I thought if these are allergies I am not going to be able to have a normal human life! Went to the clinic and it turns out I'm just suffering from the common cold. SO glad it's not allergies but this cold still blows. Literally.

So today's post is short and sweet. I'm still under the weather and It's very surprising I was able to look remotely presentable today. So this circle thing is a new addition to the median in the middle of State Street. I have seen kids skateboarding on it and people just sitting in it. I googled and I still don't know what it is or what it's doing there but it's pretty cool right? So since this thing is in the middle of State Street, I was in the middle of State Street. And if you know anything about that intersection at 5:30 there are quite a few people standing around. Looking at me. Posing. In front of a giant pink circle. Slightly awkward but, hey why not? Maybe I'll come back with my skateboard for my next photo shoot! Since I totally own one and know how to use one...

Dress: Loft (love this for fall) 
Jacket: H&M 
Booties: American Eagle (loving these) 
Watch: Michael Kors