catty dresses and afternoon teas

Today's outfit is a cutesie print at its finest.
It's hard to do a cat-print right, but I think this dress definitely pulls it off.
Thanks to LOFT for producing such an adorable dress!
It was one of my favorite holiday-shopping finds.

Dress: LOFT (shop), Cardigan: Ireland, Tights: Target
Booties: Urbanog (shop), Necklace: Lia Sophia, Earrings: Chelsea Girl Designs 

I've gotten really used to having pockets on my dresses - almost to the point of being disappointed when I try on a dress without them!
But there's nothing better than a sweet, comfy shift dress with a cutesie print and side pockets.

This picnic area on our street is completely overrun by the hand of winter.
All the leaves in Lynchburg have somehow managed to congregate here, taking over every inch of ground with brown, crunchy foliage.
It was like a storybook, or some old poem.

The Land of the Leaves

The leaves go dancing, twirling 'til dawn.

They swirl until the night is gone.

They join together in amber-hued songs,

Browns and oranges joining the throngs.

Before the sun rises to see what they've done,

The leaves are all gathered enjoying their fun.

Every step taken brings a sweet crunchy sound,

The leaves have joined forces to cover the ground!

It was amazing to be out in the afternoon sunshine, after such a freezing week!

It was almost up to the 40s, which seems warm in comparison. It was such a beautiful day!

This morning, I slept in a little and and finished the book I had been reading, making coffee and taking my time getting ready.
I had an afternoon date with a friend to go to our little tea house downtown! I had been wanting to go for a few months, and we finally had a reservation set up for a relaxing hour or two sipping on hot sweet tea and munching on scones.

Sometimes there's nothing better than some fancy girl time.
It was the perfect Saturday!

I hope you get to take some time this weekend to get a little dressed up and enjoy a special outing.
Enjoying the simple things (like cat-print dresses) is the best way to spend a Saturday.

Cait

layering: collars and sweaters

I just recently discovered layering.
I was a classic dress + cardigan, or jeans + t-shirt kind of gal.
I had no concept of using my dresses as skirts, or using a collared shirt to peek out of another top.
It's literally doubled, maybe tripled, my potential clothing usage.

Which actually makes it a lot more stressful to get dressed in the morning.
Question: what do you start with to create an outfit every day?

It's really no joke when a girl looks at a packed-full closet and says: "I have nothing to wear."
What that really means is, "Goodness, where do I start?"

It has been frigid here.
I love skirts and dresses, so they're still the first thing I reach for in my closet even when the temperatures are ungodly.

Coat: Gifted/Zulily, Scarf: Gifted, Top: Banana Republic, Sweater: Express, 
Skirt: Ruche, Tights: Target, Booties: Urbanog (shop)
Necklace: Gifted/Etsy

This long skirt is so comfortable. It's soft and flowy and I love the colors. It was difficult to accept that longer skirts are accepted now, because for a long time all I could think of was Little House on the Prairie. 
And I still kind of think I'm channeling Laura Ingalls, especially with this wintery wilderness for a backdrop.

I'm trying my hand at curling my hair again.
In college, I was in a choir that was dead-set on killing any and all desire to ever curl hair again.
We had to meticulously curl-curl-curl for every concert. I think I've only curled my hair a few times in the last two years because of the residual disdain for the process.
Also, I feel way too fancy curling my hair around here. People look at me like I'm on my way to prom if I'm too dressy, so I'm trying to find my "it" hair style, my daily look.
I'm also in search of my "it" haircut, because I still haven't found it after 24 years. Well, maybe 20-22 years, because I was a pretty bald baby.

I plan on a good haircut this weekend, so wish me luck!
And feel free to send me some ideas.

Cait