Heat Wave!

Tee - LOFT / Jeans - Old Navy / Booties (super similar, I also love this pair that has the cutest bow in the back!) - Sole Society / Bag (similar) - Ann Taylor / Necklace (similar) - Madewell

Oh hey there, happy Tuesday (aka, my Monday ;)!! I had yesterday off of work for President's Day, and as usual, I had big plans of accomplishing a lot, but ended up crossing one thing off the list and then spent the rest of the day shopping - whoops! I tried on a lot but only managed to buy one thing, but I took a lot of fitting room snaps so I think a little review is in order for tomorrow. At least I made it out of the house yesterday - the last time I had a three day weekend I ended up spending all of my Monday on the couch. I'm nothing if not an excellent couch potato.

Of course, I basically had to go outside, because Chicago has been in the middle of a heat wave the past few days. Like a no coat, windows open kind of heat wave. It's absolutely nuts for this time of year in Chicago. I basically had to pull out some of my warmer weather pieces, like these white jeans. Usually they wait at least another month to make their first appearance of the year! I actually only have one pair of white jeans in my closet right now but I'm thinking I need a backup - maybe this pair that claims to resist stains. Because if you're wearing white jeans, it's basically a given that you'll spill something on yourself. Or that a strange dog will jump on you and leave muddy footprints behind, or that a guy will hit you with his bike tire, both things that have killed my white jeans in the past. RIP.

I also was excited to wear this bell-sleeved tee again, except this time without a jacket! That is, until I drove up to my parents' house where it was 10 degrees cooler, and then my sister made fun of me for not selecting a weather-appropriate ensemble. Whoops. This tee has quickly become a favorite in my closet - the blush pink is so pretty, plus it's really easy to wear. I saw a ton of them in stores yesterday, and discovered it also comes in black and olive, in case pink isn't your thing ;)

  

Tee - LOFT / Jeans - Old Navy / Booties (super similar, I also love this pair that has the cutest bow in the back!) - Sole Society / Bag (similar) - Ann Taylor / Necklace (similar) - Madewell

Previously on KDTI - blush tee:

 

Linking up with Style Sessions, Style Me Wednesday, Confident Twosday.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

This Weekend...

This weekend I...

...Enjoyed the crazy warm weather by grilling out and hanging out on the deck with Jeff on Friday night. Seriously, you know that whole global warming thing? Because it was freaking 65 degrees on Friday, and then on Saturday we hit 70! That's literally unheard of in Chicago for February, we broke a 140 year old record. I'm worried for the planet, but we still had to enjoy the weather so...
...We ended up inviting people over for an impromptu roof party on Saturday, because who can say no to drinking a bottle of rosé in the sunshine, especially in February?! It was seriously so gorgeous out. A couple of our friends stayed late, so we ended up at O'Shaughnessy's - definitely our favorite bar in Ravenswood!!
...Saw that this embroidered tunic that's been on my wishlist for months went on sale for half off at Vineyard Vines (use code WINTER17 for an extra 30% off sale prices) so I had to order it, fingers crossed it fits!
...Chopped off what feels like all of my hair, but in looking at before/after photos it appears to just be one inch. But, it's that important inch between being able to put my hair in a regular ponytail and only being able to gather it at the nape of my neck. But I think I like it ;)
...Drove out to the suburbs for another volunteer training for Destination Imagination, and then headed over to my parents' house to grill out for dinner. Enjoying the weather seems to be the theme of this weekend, huh?

I hope you had a good one! I have today off of work, so my weekend is still going ;) Hopefully I can cross a lot off the to-do list today!!

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

Friday Finds

Happy Friday, and cheers to the three day weekend to those of you who get one!! I don't know what my deal is, but my favorite find this week is definitely the sequined yellow cardigan. I don't usually go for yellow and I rarely wear sequins in my day-to-day life, but for some reason this guy is just calling to me. I can picture wearing it buttoned up with my favorite pleated leather skirt for work, or unbuttoned with a tee shirt and boyfriend jeans for the weekend. It definitely isn't in the budget this month, but I'm hoping to be able to afford it in March - or that the birthday fairy brings it to me at the end of the month. You guys, I'm turning thirty! And all I want for my birthday is sequins. There's something wrong with this picture ;)

one / two / three / four / five

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

The Cutest LBD

Dress (sizes keep popping in and out of stock so keep checking! I also love this one and this one) - Felicity & Coco / Heels (these are surprisingly comfortable, I also want them in black!) - Sole Society / Earrings - BaubleBar / Clutch (similar and budget option) - Target (this is the insert from another bag)

How did we get to Thursday again?! I swear, the weeks go by so fast these days - not that I'm complaining that we're almost at the weekend. I get Monday off of work for President's Day (which was a surprise to me - I just realized it haha ;) which means three day weekend!! Jeff doesn't get the day off so I'm planning on using it for a lot of me time - hopefully a barre class, a mani pedi, and a little organizing are on the menu.

I think part of the reason why this week felt so short was because of Valentine's Day. Jeff usually works from home most weeknights (and I'm usually busy freelancing or blogging!) so our weeknights usually follow a pretty standard routine. It was so fun to break up that routine with a mid-week date night!

Let me tell you, I heard so many people complaining this year about how they didn't want to go out to dinner for Valentine's Day because of the crowds and the prices, but that was not the reality I experienced. Seriously, the restaurant we went to wasn't even full (and you usually need reservations even on a weeknight!) and didn't have a fancy special menu. Maybe all of the Valentine's Day haters out there helped us out because we ended up having a great night (thanks in part to that bottle of wine we shared ;)

I don't usually dress up for Valentine's Day - Chicago is seriously so casual that I really only ever see people dressed up for New Year's. I decided to go for it this year though, because, you know, dressing up is fun. Plus, I managed to snag this pretty bell-sleeve dress on sale - it was initially sold out, but I stalked it obsessively enough to notice when my size was available again and jumped on it. The dress is really just a simple black shift, but the pretty lace-trimmed sleeves make it! Paired with some pretty blush accessories (would you believe that the clutch is actually the insert from one of my work bags?!) and I was Valentine's ready. Well, my hair helps too ;)

Dress (sizes keep popping in and out of stock so keep checking! I also love this one and this one) - Felicity & Coco / Heels (these are surprisingly comfortable, I also want them in black!) - Sole Society / Earrings - BaubleBar / Clutch (similar and budget option) - Target (this is the insert from another bag)

Linking up with Trend Spin Linkup, Friday Fab Favorites.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

What to Pack for a Beach Vacation

Are you going on a trip any time soon? If yes, please tell me that we're in the same boat, and that planning for a trip makes you feel like you need to buy all new things. I don't know what the deal is, but every time I start planning a trip I start thinking that I obviously need a whole new wardrobe to bring with me. Right now we're planning a trip to Southeast Asia at the end of March, and I've basically been shopping non-stop. And, because this particular trip is going to involve a lot of beaches and pools, a lot of the shopping has been for bright and fun pieces - because if you can't wear neon pom-poms at the beach, then when can you wear them?!

Swimsuit / Beach Tote / Panama Hat / Sandals / Beach Towel / Earrings / Dress / Heels / Clutch

I've already added a couple of items to my closet, including this off-the-shoulder dress, these pom-pom earrings, this tote, and the white Lily Pulitzer dress I snagged during the after party sale. I'm hoping to snag a few more things to bring with me though, including some new sandals (because I usually can't handle even looking at my sandals from the year before - gross!) and a few tops with some fun details. But because I'm bad at sticking to the plan of shopping only what I *need* I'll also probably add another new dress or two too - there are just so many cute options out there right now!!

Here are a few things on my current dream beach vacation wishlist:

So, February budget, you'd better watch out. I'm coming for ya ;)

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

Stripes, a New Watch & a Giveaway!

This post is sponsored by JORD. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sweater - LOFT / Jeans - Madewell / Watch - c/o JORD / Earrings - BaubleBar / Bag - Sole Society / Booties - TOMS

Oh hey there, happy Valentine's Day!! No matter if or how you celebrate, I'm over here wishing you a day of love and happiness and hopefully a little champagne and chocolate! Okay, a lot of chocolate ;) 

If you are celebrating the "holiday," what are you up to? We just have plans for a little dinner date, and I have plans to wear this cute bell-sleeve dress. I usually don't dress up for Valentine's Day, but I decided to go for it this year - there are so few reasons for me to dress up in Chicago that I have to take them when I can get them! Jeff and I never go too crazy for Valentine's Day as far as presents, but I always do something little to show him some love - this year I went for a card and his favorite candy. That I hope to have a few bites of too ;)

So not to do a complete 180, but are you super super super over winter at this point? I look in my closet every day and am totally uninspired because I've worn every sweater in there approximately nine thousand times in a row. Which is why I went on a little LOFT binge when they were having one of their many 40% off sales, and ended up coming home with this cute striped lace-up back sweater. I love that the shape is a little different than most of my sweaters - something about it being slightly cropped and boxy makes me think I'm a character in That '70s Show in the best way possible. Plus, I mean, the lace-up back. Dyyyyying. I think I only have one item with a lace-up front because they're usually way too low-cut for me, but a lace-up back? Perfection! 

To go along with my new sweater, I'm also super excited about my new wood watch from JORD! I had kind of been over-doing it with my other watches, so I was so excited when JORD reached out to me about partnering. They make really unique watches because they're made out of wood. So cool! JORD makes men's and women's watches, and I love the women's versions because they're big without being too oversized. The watch they sent me is such a beautiful blonde maple - isn't it pretty?! I've basically been wearing it non-stop, the blonde color seriously goes with everything. 

If you're looking for a pretty new watch for yourself then I have a little Valentine's Day surprise for you! I'm currently running a contest with JORD to giveaway a $100 credit to JORD for your own cool watch! And just for entering you can get yourself a $25 credit. So really, it's a win-win (which, if you read this little bloggy often, you know is one of my favorite things ;). To enter, just click here and fill out your name and email - easy peasy! The contest runs through February 19th (this coming Sunday!) so enter now for your chance to win.

Sweater - LOFT / Jeans - Madewell / Watch - c/o JORD / Earrings - BaubleBar / Bag - Sole Society / Booties - TOMS

Photos by Victoria C Photography

Linking up with Style Sessions, Confident Twosday.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

Watch Gift Ideas

This Weekend...

This weekend I...

...insisted that I was going to have a quiet Friday night at home, only to wind up at happy hour with Jeff at The Allis - whoops! I love The Allis because it's in the middle of restaurant row which is always crazy crowded and busy, yet you can always get a table and have a quiet drink, even on a Friday night. After a couple of cocktails we wound up at Bar Siena for dinner, and let me tell you, the sausage brussels sprouts pizza is so freaking good. I was really looking forward to the leftovers, but somehow they never made it into the fridge. As which happens with about 90 percent of the leftovers we bring home. Whoops.
...survived a week of barre!! I don't think I was doing any better at the class this weekend than last weekend, but at least I know now what I'm supposed to be doing instead of just flopping around on the floor like a confused fish. And then to celebrate, I ordered a bunch of new workout clothes including another pair of these super cute mesh panel leggings.
...finished booking a bunch of our flights and hotels for our trip to Southeast Asia!! You guys, that means it's really real now. We're headed to Hong Kong, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and I am so freaking excited. And nervous, but mostly excited. And now, it's time to shop all of the resort wear - helloooooooo pom-pom tote! And pom-pom earrings. And pom-pom clutch. And well, basically anything with a pom-pom.
...drove out to the suburbs for a simchat bat for our friend's new baby, which is a Jewish naming ceremony for baby girls. It felt like a very grown-up way to spend a Sunday afternoon ;) So many of our friends have kids now, it's completely crazy to me. We had all of the babies sleeping and lined up in their car seats for a little bit which was so adorable, until, you know, one of them had to poop.

I hope you had a good one!

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!