the perfect white shorts.

wow...it's been a while!

last we spoke, our office [of 15 years] was transitioning to a new location. it was a long process, but we are finally moved in and slowly getting settled. unfortunately, i spent most of my time in jeans + tees while packing and cleaning...nothing quite blog-worthy. now that there is some kind of normalcy, it feels great to get dressed again...although we are in a much different environment. while the old office was close to the beach, the new office is literally on the beach warranting much more casual attire.

i love the crispness of white. these shorts from express were the right length and fit that i wanted...paired with my favorite button-down + summer slippers = my perfect summer look.

what's your summer look?

(J.Crew Ikat Shirt; Express shorts, Franco Sarto slippers via Nordsrom)

get the look here:

weekend style.

if there's one store i hit up on black friday, it's Express. the entire store is 50% off until noon, and i like that. most times i'll walk out of a store with a bag full of stuff that wasn't on sale (isn't that always the case?!), then wonder why i got up so early on a day off. at Express, it's a no brainer. i like knowing that whatever i grab is on sale. and if you're in the store before noon, you might even get a card that entitles you to two more hours of shopping at 50% off. but even if you miss all of that, the entire store is still 40% off for the rest of the day. Express, you rock! same time next year?

catch me on the weekends, and i'm usually in an outfit similar to this. button-up shirts are definitely my go-to because they create a look that's slightly more pulled together than shorts and a tee. if it's cold, i may swap out the shorts for jeans and throw on a utility jacket...then finish off the look with a hands-free crossbody bag.

what's your go-to weekend style?

(LANY half crescent clutch c/o)

(Express love portofino shirt & trouser shorts;

Nine West sneakers; Libi & Lola necklace)

shop the look:

a week of high-waisted shorts. monochromatic.

the high-waisted short is something i usually steer clear of. i have a shorter torso, and high-waisted bottoms usually accentuate that. i bought these high-waisted denim shorts for mini-she (she wears them well), but decided to take them for a spin before passing them on. i'll be styling these shorts for this 'week of'.

this look combines textured and patterned blues for a seamless transition through the waist. while i like the clean look of the front [of the shirt] tucked in, leaving the back untucked helps to elongate my torso.

luckily, i took these photos last weekend. this weekend we were hit with another hurricane-turned-thunderstorm, and it has been raining non-stop since friday. last night i was able to step out for a little me time to go to a fun wine tasting party. the cool rainy weather was perfect for this outdoor get together.

how was your weekend?

do you wear high-waisted bottoms?

(BaubleBar ring; Capwell & Co. necklace)

we tasted four reds and four whites, guessing the aroma, body, taste, etc...

...and my friend and i won. love the cool merlot bottle.

(Deb Shops high-waisted denim shorts (on sale!);

J.Crew shirt (on sale!); Sole Society boots; JustFab bag)

the ankle boot.

if there is one boot you need for fall, it's the ankle boot. it's versatile and can be worn year round throughout the seasons. it works with shorts in the summer, skirts in the spring, and pants during fall and winter.

i'd normally rock this favorite button-up shirt + denim shorts combo with sneakers, but i decided to break out the boots...in the spirit of fall.

how are you rocking your ankle boots?

what is your boot style..tall, flat, riding?

(f21 shirt, DIY levis; JustFab luxe boots; love & sunshine clutch)

shop the look:

one down.

january is gone, and in looking back at my resolutions,

here's a quick recap of the month:

drink water - check! no measurable amount, but i know i have been sipping more often at work. (btw, anyone know of a widget to keep track of how many cups of water you drink?)

try something new - i had my first jello shot (more on that soon), saw wicked, and i'm trying a new face soap, conju.

be on time - check! the mini's have been getting to

school on time.

 eat breakfast with the minis - i started the month off strong, but will need to work on this next month.

simplify & declutter - check! i started off by cleaning out my files of old bills, receipts, and statements, made one pass thru my closet and filled one bag.

improve my photography skills - check! i'm starting by reading my manual and browsing online tutorials.

timely & organized posts - check! caught up on a few reviews for the uptown bag and the pearls of wisdom bracelet from JustFab.

how did you start off your 2013?

motto.

simple is my motto this year.

especially in the wardrobe area;

it has made mornings so much easier.

i have an early meeting tomorrow, so i'm off to bed.

there's a new post up on mobile morsels...

if you use a laptop, you may want to check it out.

(what's mobile morsels? click here.)

one week left to vote!

will you give [oomph.] a click?

simple.

whew, what a great weekend.

hope everyone enjoyed theirs by eating a lot of good food, spending time with family and friends, and even checking a few things off their christmas lists. that's what we did!

scroll down for the deets.

did anyone brave the malls on black friday?

what kind of deals did you score?

preschool luncheon for mini-he...they sang a few songs before lunch and even prepared a special dessert for us.

hosted and cooked a simple thanksgiving lunch at our house for my sister's in-laws. turkey and baked salmon on the menu, followed by bingo for prizes.

i was one number shy of a blackout!

next up was a catered thanksgiving dinner at my sister's house. honey roasted bone-in ham & honey roasted turkey with mochi rice, veggies, salad, shrimp/egg rolls/wings/dumplings appetizers, and pumpkin crunch on the menu.

we also celebrated my sister's birthday.

and finally, a bit of black friday shopping.

stocked up on my favorite button-ups and long-sleeved tees.

(gilly hicks shirt; old navy pants; go jane shoes; libi&lola bracelet)

shop the look: