Twenty Fifteen: Recap

It’s almost 2016! While I will be hanging out with friends tonight, I wanted to take a minute here on the blog to reflect on the past year. This blog has really seen me through a lot of ups and downs and I wanted to capture some of that here:

Top Three OOTDs (on CPPC):

Casual | Joggers and Beanies

Happy Wednesday!

As I prepare for New Years Eve festivities, I’ve been running around town trying to get details for the various events I’ll be attending just right. I’ve been wearing this kind of outfit during my errands - something comfortable and casual that’s also warm. 

15 Books in 2015

With the year coming to an end, I wanted to take this time to reflect on some of my favorite books I've read this year! I'm fortunate to have a librarian friend who gives excellent book recommendations (some of which have made this list), and I'd like to pass these on to you guys as well! All book descriptions are from Goodreads

Oxfords, Not Brogues | Laced Shoes and Tweed Shorts

Good Monday morning lovelies! 

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! I hung out with my family and ate way too much food (seriously, the more I ate, the more I could feel that I was really testing the tensile strength of my leggings)! 

I watched Kingsman: The Secret Service with my family and while it wasn’t the most brilliant movie ever (despite Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson’s amazing performances), I quite liked the idea of gentleman spies. Galahad (Colin Firth) taught his new protege the meaning of “Oxfords not brogues,” and while I already knew what the two terms meant (thank style blogging for that), I found myself laughing when he said, “Words a man should live by.” As you can see, it’s a phrase that inspired this post - my unbrogued oxford shoes with beading details pair perfectly with my tweed shorts!

Christmas Eve Eve | Plaid Dress and Clubmaster Sunnies

Wondrous Wednesday everyone!

I hope you're all enjoying your week so far! We had a holiday party at work last week and this was the outfit I wore, although I think this would be a good outfit for any formal holiday dinner. I recently got this dress from Choies and while I LOVE the plaid print and the thickness of the fabric (seriously, it's so warm!), I was a bit surprised to find how short it was! Usually, I have a problem with things being too long on me as I'm only 5'3 so I usually disregard reviews that state how short items are because I find that those tend to be a pretty decent length on me. This dress, however was a tad too short and the zipper in the back ends at an awkward place (right above the hips) so it's a bit difficult to put on. Once it's on, though, it fits comfortably. Just a quick review for those who are planning on purchasing an item on Choies anytime soon. 

I struggled to find a good title for this post and I decided to just name it after the actual day - the day before Christmas Eve! Haha I think Christmas Eve is a holiday on its own. I get that day off work so the night before Christmas Eve deserves some recognition, don't you think?

Autumn 2015 favorites

The joke around my neck of the woods is that we have only have two seasons: Summer and Winter. Spring and Fall only exist for about a week. This year was a bit different though - Autumn really pulled through! It's all coming to an end now (today is the first day of winter after all), and before it goes away completely I wanted to share with you some of the things I enjoyed using this past season:

Holiday Festivities | Fuzzy Vest and Lace Skirt

Hello lovelies!

I hope you all had a great weekend! I know I did - my best friend Jen came to visit and we had the most wonderful time!

Jen and I have been friends for more than ten years now. We met in our 9th grade English class and we've bonded over our mutual love of books, art, history, and our English classes (it was our best subject)! Regular readers of this blog may remember that she was the one who designed my blog header and is a regular guest writer/book reviewer. I've mentioned this before but she's a librarian so I take her book recommendations very seriously!

She moved away from the area for her job so it's quite rare for us to see each other in person anymore. It's always a super fun time when we do manage to hang out. We went downtown, had dinner at Teaism and stopped by the Holiday Market by the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Needless to say, we had a lot to catch up on!

My Blogging Essentials

I thought it would be a fun idea to let you all in on some of the behind-the-scenes stuff for my blog. I'm always curious and fascinated by how much work goes into people's blogs and the kinds of tools they use to make the magic happen. As for me, I've boiled my blog down to six essentials: 

Let's Get Organized: Emails

Recently, I finally reached the Holy Grail of productivity: 0 emails in my inbox!! I think clearing up email inbox clutter is something a lot of people struggle - I noticed on my boss's phone that she had 8,423 emails that she hadn't opened! Yikes! I think I can safely say that it happens to the best of us. Here are some of my tips on staying on top of your emails:

Closet Strategy: Ugly Sweater Party

This year, I've been invited to two ugly sweater parties! Last year, if you'll recall that I wore this glitzy sequined ornament sweater but this year I decided to go uglier haha! I got this reindeer sweater for both occasions! The great thing about this sweater is that it lights up when you flick a switch in a discreet pocket inside!

The first look was for an Ugly Sweater party for a charity - I knew that I'd be working with children a bit so I wore a pair of well-fitting jeans and my trusty rain boots (it was a bit wet earlier that morning).

Book Club: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Terrific Tuesday lovelies! This month's book review will be on Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy! I actually finished reading this book a while back but I didn't have time to actually write the review itself until fairly recently. That said, this was quite an enjoyable read and if you want more than my two cents, read on:

---

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
By John le Carré

Fancy | Taffeta Skirt and Crop Top

'Tis the season for holiday parties galore! 

I've received an invitation to a dinner party myself and this was the outfit I wore.  

I've often wondered how other people go tights-less in the winter. It gets quite cold in these parts and I've told you guys about my issues with Raynaud's disease. I don't know how others do it but I have been wearing thick wool tights on the metro/uber ride to my destination. Upon arrival, I go to the nearest bathroom and take off my tights and stuff them into my purse. It's usually warm inside anyways.

Product Review: TONYMOLY Magic Food Banana Sleeping Pack

Hello lovelies,

The Best Gift I've Ever Received

While I enjoy the custom of giving and receiving gifts this season, I think it’s safe to say that I sometimes run out of ideas on what to get people. It’s then that I am reminded of the best present I’ve ever gotten from my best friend Jen: Snoopy the stuffed dog.

Cold Front | Trench Coat and Tall Boots

Wonderful Wednesday, lovelies!

I don't do so well in the cold. A few years ago I started experiencing this weird thing where my blood circulation wouldn't reach my hands (and sometimes my toes) when I was cold and the tips of my fingers would feel swollen and turn a bit blue. Once warm they would return to their non-swollen, non-blue state but I thought my body was going crazy for a while! I recently found out that this is a symptom of Raynaud's Disease. Apparently, this is quite common and very treatable - I just need to stay out of the cold. Living in DC, however, the cold is kind of unavoidable in the winter! I would dread my commute because even that 15 minute walk from my apartment to work would cause my fingers to get visibly swollen. I really need to invest in some better gloves!

Holiday Gift Ideas

Hello lovelies!

The holiday shopping season is upon us again and I've put together a little list of some ideas I've had to give some of the people in my life. If you're at a loss as to what to get for others, allow this handy little guide to give you some ideas:

Rain, Rain, Go Away | Chelsea Boots and Cat Beanie

Happy Monday, lovelies!

Last week was the rainiest it's been in a while! While I subscribe to the philosophy that I'd rather it be raining than snowing, it does pose a certain challenge when attempting a photoshoot, mainly in that I don't want to get my camera wet and potentially cause damage to it. The weather did grant a very temporary reprieve one afternoon and I quickly grabbed my camera and snapped these photos of what I was wearing. 

These rainboots were a recent purchase. I have tried many a Hunter boot but I just don't like the way they look on me. They're usually too wide in the calf and the stores don't often carry the size below mine (I'm a size US6 which is pretty small). I've been told to try the kids' section for Hunter boots and perhaps I'll try that someday but I digress. These chelsea boots from J Crew have been a lifesaver! I'm a fan of ankle boots (as I find them to be more flattering on my frame) and the matte texture is chic and work-appropriate as well! I've trudged through the rain for several miles altogether in these and they've held up nicely - no blisters, no sores. Just comfort and style all around! If you are in the market for rainboots and are looking for an alternative to Hunter boots, I suggest you try these J Crew boots on for size! This is not a sponsored post, I just really like these boots!

Kitchen Diaries: Lemon and Garlic Dump Chicken

When I moved to my new apartment, the first thing I made sure to pack was my slow-cooker. This thing = LIFE! I don't know how I used to live without it but I've been making so many slow-cooked meals lately and it's been phenomenal! 

I'm not a food blogger by any means but I wanted to share one of my favorite slow-cooker recipes today. I think most of my readers are on-the-go busy people with jobs and an actual life outside of the blogosphere like me. I know I always appreciate when people give me efficient and easy cooking tips so I'm hoping you guys can relate.

I found this lemon and garlic dump chicken recipe on Pinterest and it has been life-changing!! I had most of the ingredients on-hand and it didn't require a whole lot of prep time! Simply marinade the chicken, put it in a plastic bag and keep it in the freezer until you need it. How easy is that?

Since I work so close to home, I usually stop by my apartment during lunch. The day I had this for dinner, I took the chicken out of the freezer and dumped it into my slow cooker, turned it on, and went back to work. By the time I got home, the chicken was done! 

Bundled Up | OTK Boots and Chunky Sweater

Well, it's official: The cold weather has come down on us again! 

While I don't live in the part of the country that's gotten snow yet, I've been having to reach for my some of my cold weather gear like my chunky scarves and my gloves. I managed to snap these photos when we had a "warmer" day (and by that I mean it was 55 degrees Fahrenheit). I want to reiterate how much I love these boots - It's like I don't even need tights (yet)! The only problem with them I've had so far is that they're too wide in the thighs and there's no way to adjust but I think I'm going to add some holes for laces in the back so I can actually wear these without having to pull up my boots haha. 

Empties (Vol. 1)

Hello everyone! 

I know I usually post OOTDs on Wednesday but the weather has been so rainy and dreary and I didn't want to venture out where the camera would get wet, and I couldn't find anywhere with good indoor lighting so here's my last minute post of some of the products I've used up this month instead! I actually enjoyed writing this and I was planning on having this out last weekend but Thanksgiving plans got in the way so I figured now would be as good a time as any to post this up.

Movie Night: Love, Actually

It's finally December and I can finally start getting into the Holiday spirit without people telling me it's too early! 

For me, the Holidays just aren't the same without the movie Love, Actually. It's a wintertime essential film for me and literally as soon as we all got back from our respective Thanksgiving Dinners with our families, I pushed my roommates into our living room and made them watch Love, Actually with me. 

They loved it! I told them never to doubt my taste in movies haha!

As famous as this film is, I won't give you a huge plot summary like I usually do for movie reviews. Instead I've compiled a list of little known facts about the making of this movie:

Monday Morning Plaid | Plaid Midi and Navy Heels

Happy Monday everyone!

I hope you all had a great weekend! I spent Sunday having a boozy birthday brunch for my roommate! I was planning on wearing this skirt that I'm wearing here but I realized that the pencil shape doesn't leave much room for the stomach bulge I'd inevitably gain during a brunch of any kind. I ended up wearing something else instead but I'm wearing this skirt to work today (with a collared shirt and a blazer). I'm really loving the pencil silhouette of this skirt! Most plaid skirts I've seen have been pleated, giving a school uniform vibe. Nothing wrong with that but I feel like I'm a bit too old for that look now. Besides, it's nice to find something unexpected, even a classic item like a plaid skirt needs a modern update once in a while.

November 2015 According to Instagram

Happy Sunday lovelies!

This month has been a whirlwind of travel, work, and play! I think I can safely say that I very much enjoyed this month! Here's some pics from my instagram to prove it:

Pretty Woman | Mini Dress and Tall Boots

Happy Black Friday everyone!

I've always liked the idea of tall over-the-knee boots because if you think about it, it's pretty practical - they keep your legs so warm! On the other hand, they've gotten a bad rep until fairly recently. Maybe we can blame Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman for that...

That said, Julia Roberts looked fantastic in Pretty Woman and when I saw these boots, I was reminded of Vivian Ward for a moment. I think that tall boots are a fantastic piece to have (not to mention again, practical). I like that mine are suede which tones down the boldness of this piece, and they have a bit of stretch so I can pair them with jeans or thicker socks or something. The only con about these particular ones are that they are a bit too wide at the thighs. I kinda wish they would come with the lace up part like the Stuart Weitzman Highland boots do but... maybe that might be my DIY project in the future?

Turkey Day | Soft Knits and Flippy Skirt

Hello lovelies! Excuse the late post!

I hope you are all well and ready for Thanksgiving! I will be heading to New Jersey as my family is gathering at my aunt's house up there this year. I actually haven't seen my extended family in four years so it's going to be a pretty exciting week! I'm probably going to wear this outfit - colors are lady-like and family friendly while the a-line skirt offers comfort for all the food I'm going to eat!

Toasty | Burgundy Ribbons and Cozy Sweater

Good Monday everyone!

I love sweater season! I wore this dress a few times earlier in the fall because of its lovely burgundy color and the cute and whimsical bows. Now that the weather has gotten cooler, I love wearing this dress with my warm, cropped sweater! I actually wore this outfit out people thought this dress was a skirt. I've done something similar on the blog before, wearing a dress as a top or as bottoms so again, I insist that if you want to get more mileage out of your closet, repurpose your dresses!

A Mile in My Shoes: Work Day

I liked the responses I got from my last "Mile in My Shoes" post. I talked about how I spent a weekend day but this time I wanted to share with you guys what a typical work day looks like for me. To be honest, my work days aren't usually too interesting. Unless you find US politics and policy fascinating like I do, a typical weekday in my shoes won't be terribly fun. I cut out some of the 'boring' stuff and came up with this little schedule:

5:00am - Wake up and start the day with a quick trip to the gym. On nice days in the Spring and Summer I run outside but since the weather is colder and it's quite dark at this hour, I've been taking advantage of the treadmill in my building.

Knots | Printed Shirt and Navy Trousers

Wondrous Wednesday, lovelies!

I bought this shirt back in July. I LOVE popover shirts because they seem so much less stiff and more casual that crisp button-downs while still having an element of professionalism about them. I like the stripes on them as they give the shirt a more classic feel while the knots are a nautical and whimsical detail that I just adore. This shirt has been my wardrobe workhorse as of late! 

If you've followed my blog for a while, you'll know that navy is my favorite color to wear and around a formal office, I think that navy is perfect if you want to go for a more approachable look. I tend to avoid wearing all black because I think it makes me look like I'm going for a job interview everyday and grays tend to wash me out. I like navy because it's a bit more relaxed and gives a more inviting feel. 

Looking For a Job When You Already Have One

As some of you may remember, I left my old job I was with in August to start working somewhere that was more up my alley. One of the questions that came up during the interviewing process was "If you already have a job, why are you applying for this position?" It's a good question, and at the very least it's a fair question. I linked above to a post back in September detailing that I was quite unhappy in my previous position and was experiencing burnout. I want to state for the record that the association I was working at is a very fine place to work and I loved all my co-workers and my former boss (I'm still in touch with them, in fact! We text each other often even now!). I had to leave, however, because of a conversation I couldn't stop thinking of: On my first day of work at my old job, my boss told me that she had been at that association for 30 years and that that place "was her calling." The longer I stayed, the more I felt that that place wasn't my calling and I wanted to be somewhere that was my calling.
I'm hoping there are some of you guys out there that can relate to my experiences and I want to share with you some tips on how to go about looking for a job when you already have a (seemingly) perfectly good one already.

Humpday Mesh | Mesh Skirt and Dotted Shirt

Why hello there, readers!

As much as I'm trying to incorporate more color into my wardrobe, I always go back to the basic colors - black and white (and sometimes navy). Part of it is due to the fact that I work in an office with a somewhat conservative dress code and DC in general tends to gravitate towards neutral and muted colors so I can't help but try and fit in. Still, I think the interest is all in the details. Take this skirt for example - it's got a mesh overlay and is midi-length. It even has pockets! Thank goodness for pockets!

Book Recommendations for Millennial Working Women

Good Tuesday afternoon everyone!

As an avid reader and a hard-working millennial, I am always on the hunt for a good book to read during my downtime, and I know many of you guys out there are as well! In the spirit of this month's career-related theme, here are a few books my friend Jen (also a brilliant woman with a fantastic career) and I absolutely recommend for all young women who are currently in (or about to enter) the workforce. #Hustle girls!

• Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg: Filled with anecdotes about women in the workforce, this book inspired me to not be afraid to ask for what I want and work efficiently. Sandberg is someone I greatly admire and seeing her insight was incredibly eye-opening. I can't recommend this book enough to all of you smart ladies out there!
• The Little Black Book of Success -  Laws of Leadership for Women by Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha Haywood, Angela Burt-Murray, Rhonda Joy McLean: This book follows three successful black female executives and discusses their strategies, wisdom, and how they deal with stereotypes. As a young white woman at the start of my career, I found their advice and tips to be universal, interesting, and good conversation pieces with coworkers. Leadership comes in many different shapes, sizes, and directions - I recommend this book because it is important to have perspective and diverse sources of mentorship.
• The Good Girls Revolt -  How the Women of Newsweek Sues their Bosses and Changed the Workplace by Lynn Povich: This book looks at Newsweek between the 1940’s to the 1950’s, in which a large cultural shift led a group of apolitical women to take a stand for their own civil rights. This book discusses feminism, discrimination, and many other difficult topics with respect, humor, and perspective. This was a wonderful book to read and I recommend it to everyone.
• Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office - Unconscious Mistakes Women Make that Sabotage Their Careers by Lois Frankel: This is not my favorite book about women in workplace, but I recommend it for the valuable self-examination it promotes regarding professionalism and confidence. I recommend this book, because it explain how women can learn “to play the game,” how to act professionally and with confidence, how to brand and market yourself, how to speak with clearly and with confidence, and how to respond to people and difficult situations. We could talk about feminism until we are blue in the face, but at the end of the day we all still want careers and make it to the point in those careers where we can affect change; this book will get you there.
• Woman Up! - Overcome the 7 Deadly Sins that Sabotage Your Success by Aimee Cohen: This book provides a fantastic outlook about certain behaviors women are more statistically likely to do and how they can harmful to ourselves. Cohen gives real world examples uses shared experiences to provide context to advice and tips for women who want to take control of their careers. This book isn’t asking its reader’s to change to win at a man’s game; rather Cohen asks us to see ourselves as we are and how our actions are effecting our outcomes as players. 
• The Power of Habit - Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg: This book is all about how the science of personal habits and how to understanding personal habits is the key to success. Duhigg uses CEOs, cultural leaders, and communities as case studies providing example routine, reward, change, success, and failure. For women in business I suggest this book because as we aim to be successful it is important to understand the science and habits that will either help facilitate or disrupt either or personal or professional success.
• Creative Confidence - Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All by Tom Kelley and David Kelley: Creativity isn’t just for artists, hipsters, or young people. Creative people make effective and innovative leaders. For woman, statistically we are more creative than men, so I suggest this book as way to optimize our statistical advantages…. plus its just a great read for everyone!

Employed Hippie | Patterned Shirtdress and Tall Boots

Happy Monday, lovelies!

In a post back in September, I mentioned I couldn't find a shirtdress that was flattering on me so I generally avoided them all. Well, I think it's safe to say that I'm a shirt-dress convert, as evidenced by this post, this post, and today's outfit! I clearly haven't been looking hard enough.

I titled this post "Employed Hippie" because this dress has a bit of a retro '70s feel to it, especially in terms of the loose fit and old-school print. In fact in the store, they hung this dress in a section specifically for those looking for a 70's hippie style of clothing. I'm usually more into structured looks so the 70's style isn't my usual aesthetic. This dress, however, made me want to give the look a chance. I'm gainfully employed, fortunately, but it's not going to stop me from rocking a more flower-child-y outfit!

My Office Essentials

With my new job came a brand new office! Admittedly, it's not a big office but I went from working in a cubicle to a more private space so it looks like I'm moving up! One of the big challenges was figuring out how to decorate the space so that it was still professional but not completely devoid of personality. After hanging my university diploma, I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do but as I got to know my coworkers and saw what they did for their offices, I picked out a few essentials for office decorating:

Let’s Get Organized: Finances While Moving

Everyone knows that moving is expensive. As you all know, I just moved to a new place downtown and while I absolutely love my new building, getting here was not cheap. I compiled a few tips on how to save money and move on a budget, for those of you in a similar situation as myself or will be soon: 

Spot of Tea | Floral Dress and Peep Toe Booties

Hello lovelies!

When I moved in, I hosted a housewarming tea party and this was the outfit I wore! I’m not exactly the biggest partier so no loud and crazy festivities for me. Just a few close friends over for some tea (I picked up a box of PG Tips), scones and stroopwaffels. So much yum!

By the way, if you follow me on Instagram or Twitter you may have seen my new haircut but here it is in all it’s glory. I was initially annoyed by how short it was but it’s starting grow on me now. What do you guys think?

Taking a Risk: My Career Journey Origins

I usually reserve the month of November to talk about career-related posts and even office-appropriate OOTDs. In the spirit of the tradition, I want to open up a little bit about my career journey and hopefully you guys can learn from my mistakes and my successes.

I attended college with the goal of becoming a journalist. I was the editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper and I wanted to write professionally for a newspaper (print journalism ftw!). Well, I can tell you that that goal didn't exactly pan out. I wasn't entirely happy with the job outlook and I found my resolve wavering when I thought about the student loans I would have to pay off on a reporter's salary. I was incredibly disappointed with myself that I would "sell out" to Public Relations but that's exactly what I did - I switched majors where I was confronted with another challenge: which direction do I want to go with this particular field of study? 

Navy | T-Shirt Dress and Classic Heels

Magnificent Monday, lovelies!

It's no secret that navy is one of my favorite colors. It's universally flattering and a "daring" neutral - definitely my kind of color. I decided to go with a monochromatic outfit today with this simply navy dress and a simple pair of navy pumps. I added this cobalt bag to break up the navy a bit so I don't look so much like a crayon but since cobalt is still in the same color family as navy blue, I think this was a rather successful attempt at monochrome, don't you think?

October According to Instagram

Good evening everyone!

I haven't done an Instagram roundup in a while and it feels pretty good to be back!

As you guys remember, I made a big move to downtown DC and outfit posts have been pretty sporadic to say the least. My schedule is back on track now that I have a kind of routine going on so hopefully I won't have to keep writing "sorry I've been away" posts as often in the near future!

Also, in other news, I got my haircut this weekend! I usually like my hair a bit on the shorter side and I decided to go with an asymmetrical bob. I kinda like it but I'm still trying to make my new length work. We'll see how things go, shall we?

Now without further ado, here is what my Instagram looked like for the month of October:

Crafty Hour: Wineglass Painting Night

Happy Friday everyone!

I am so lucky to live with fabulous people in a fabulous building in a fabulous town! On Wednesday night my apartment complex hosted a wineglass painting event. We had some chardonnay, appetizers, some wineglasses and paint and we had a ball!

I was worried that whatever I painted wouldn't turn out as great as Pinterest-inspired ones. I expressed my lack of artistic ability concerns to the instructor who told me not to worry and that "after a few glasses of wine, you're probably going to be happy with whatever result anyway. It's not about getting it perfect, it's about having fun and bonding with your roommates and neighbors!" She was absolutely right! My roommates and I had so much fun and we met quite a few of the people in our building (which means no more awkward elevator rides!)

I went for a Harry Potter inspired painting but I was a bit disappointed with the way it turned out. Maybe not quite a Pinterest fail but his glasses weren't as perfectly straight as I wanted them to be. Turns out the instructor was right though because two glasses of chardonnay later I didn't care too much. And besides, Harry's glasses were always a bit wonky in the book anyway so it's canon :P

Some Nights | Drop Waist Dress and a Cup of Tea

Hello my pretties,

Sometimes all you need is a cozy night in with a mug of hot tea. This week has been absolutely hectic but it's nice to know that I can come home and wind down. 

Book Club: Furiously Happy

Every time Jen sends me a review of a book she's read, I get really excited! Longtime readers will know that my librarian friend always has solid book recs at all times. When I received her email with the following review of Jenny Lawson's Furiously Happy, I went on Amazon to order it myself! Hope you enjoy her take on this funny book!

---

Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

by Jen Muller

I am guilty of sometimes judging and buying books based on their covers; this book was product of an impulsive buy. I saw the happy raccoon on the cover and purchased it. I immediately regretted the rash decision I made. However after reading the description and some the reviews online, I decided to give it a shot.

Settling In | Olive Shirtdress and Ankle Boots

Marvelous Monday lovelies!

I'm finally back with a new OOTD! If you haven't been following my blog too closely, I mentioned that I moved to a new place in downtown DC and I've been a rather busy bee! The move has been pretty intense but I'm settling into a new routine and a new 10 minute walking commute to work now(!) I love my new place and my new roommates are wonderful. As sad as I was to leave my old place, I'm excited for the immense possibilities and new memories I'll make here.

National Coffee Day

Happy Coffee Day!

In case you didn't know, September 29 is National Coffee Day. With a blog called, Coffee, Prose, and Pretty Clothes, it makes sense to celebrate it, wouldn't you say?

Here are a few links to some of my favorite coffee recipes:

• Butterscotch Caramel Coffee - Perfect for a crisp Autumn day like the ones we've been having here in DC. 
• Homemade Frappuchinos - For those still experiencing hot temperatures (looking at you, Californians), have a Frap on the house!
• Dark Chocolate Mocha - Chocolate lovers rejoice! Here's a great recipe for those with a sweet tooth.

Here are a few links to some of my favorite coffee houses in the city:

• Quartermaine Coffee
• Tout de Sweet
• Paul

Happy Drinking!

Autumn Breezes | Utility Jacket and Leopard Spots

Happy Monday everyone!

Did you all manage to catch the lunar eclipse last night? So amazing! I gotta say, Autumn has really come through because I haven't been able to walk out the door without a jacket. It almost makes me miss the warm and humid summer nights.

I finally pulled this dual textured utility jacket from the back of my closet. I figured now is the perfect time, seeing how crisp it's been. I wanted add some interest so I paired it with my leopard shoes and some pink accents.

On a completely different note, I signed a lease to a new apartment in downtown DC! I will be moving quite soon, which is why my posts have been sporadic lately - this move combined with my new job has been keeping me quite busy to say the least! I'm hoping that this will die down a bit in the next few weeks but for those of you who have been coming by to read and leave a nice comment, I truly appreciate it!

Texture Mixture | Suede, Leather, Nylon, and Boucle

Wondrous Wednesday lovelies!

I was inspired by my shoes to mix different types of textures together - Suede and leather make for such an interesting combination so I decided to add a few more. A nylon bag, cotton joggers, and a boucle jacket, I mean this is probably the most I've experimented with textures! The key to make this work was keeping the color palette neutral. More black and white for me!

A Very Happy Birthday | Pleated Dress and Strappy Heels

Saturday was my birthday! 

I spent the day hanging out with one of my closest friends, poolside with gin and tonics and a delicious cake. There was no singing, no big deal made, and no fuss. My kind of birthday!

For this post, however, I decided to wear my fanciest dress and strappiest shoes. It's my birthday, I can look as glamorous as I want to, right? :P

Labor Day | Coral Shorts and Denim Jacket

Melodious Monday lovelies!

Just a quick hello on this lovely Labor Day. I hope you are all having a relaxing weekend or taking advantage of some of the sales that are going on today.

Checked | Shirt Dress and Lace Up Flats

Wondrous Wednesday lovelies!

I have never owned a shirtdress before - I just didn't find one flattering on me before. A lot of them just made me look like a little girl trying on her dad's shirt or something. Not exactly the look I'm going for. I finally found a very cute dress that fit me well (and even comes with pockets!) and perfect for Autumn. I decided to add a belt to reclaim my waist so I don't look so much like I'm wearing a sack.

Hustle | Coral Dress and Pointy-Toe Pumps

Happy Monday!

Brunching | Leaf Dress and Strappy Heels

Wonderful Wednesday everyone!

In DC, weekend brunches are taken quite seriously. I know that there were times early in my career (senior year of college mostly) where I sacrificed good meals throughout the week so I can save money to go to brunch (#noregrets). It's actually paid off - In fact the job I have right now, I got from a contact I made through a brunch meeting months ago! It's funny how it’s little things that can lead to something great -  a mimosa with a few friends can lead to a whole new career!

Fun in the Sun | Loose Shirt and Neon Maxi

Magnificent Monday lovelies!

I love finding new ways to wear old clothes - getting more mileage out of a closet item is my jam! I think one of the easiest ways to restyle a dress is to wear a shirt over it, which is what I did with my neon maxi. I wore this dress a lot this summer- music festivals, concerts, girls' night outs, etc. I'm not completely ready to give up on this dress just yet for the fall so toning down the loudness of the color with a white shirt is all right with me. 

Romping Around | Chiffon Romper and Lace Up Flats

Fantabulous Friday lovelies!

Does this romper look familiar? It should! I wore it in my last outfit post, only as a top! 

I say this a lot but I like finding new ways to wear old items. In the past I’ve worn dresses as tops and vice versa but I really liked the delicate-ness of the chiffon so I paired it with my more structured shorts last time. Today, I wanted to showcase this romper in its full glory. What do you think? 

Coffee Break: Paul

I tend to avoid most chain coffeehouses (though I am certainly guilty of going to Starbucks every fall for my mandatory cup of Pumpkin Spice Latte), but I couldn't help but pop into Paul's Bakery this month. Paul is a French chain that was started back in 1886 in France and is still owned by the original family today. They recently arrived in several locations here in the US, though still mostly on the east coast and Florida. I remember when I was studying in Europe, I saw quite a few Paul Bakery shops and I remembered them being so good but it had been ages since the last time I had a cup of coffee there so I walked in with a book before heading into work and ordered coffee and a pain au chocolat. 

Cattitude | Loose Shorts and Soft Chiffon

Wonderful Wednesday lovelies!

I’m normally not a cat person so much as I am a dog person but something about these shorts made me look twice! They’re just so sassy and cute! I wore them to hang out with my friend who actually has a pet cat and lots of cat puns were made! “I don’t much like your cattitude,” for one and “You get out of here right meow!"

Book Club: Go Set a Watchman

There was quite a bit of controversy surrounding this week’s Book Club book but I wanted to add my two cents in. From rumors of elder abuse, the fall of the mighty Atticus, and just the general timing of the release, the circumstances of the publishing of this book has been dodgy to say the least. I know almost everyone who grew up in the US has at the very least heard of this book if they weren’t required to read it in school. To Catch a Mockingbird was my favorite book I read in high school so it was with eager anticipation that I picked up this sequel/prequel. I hope you all enjoy my honest review.

---

Go Set a Watchman

By Harper Lee