outfit details: worn for small group on
neccklace: forever 21
sweater: liz claiborne, thrifted
bracelet: camera strap, altered
shorts: target, gifted
sandals: walmart

I’m back!  Thank you so much for sticking with me while I took a much needed blogging break.  Taking a break helped me not feel so pressured to post as many times per week.  This blog is for fun, and that many posts was just too stressful.  Thanks to feeling less pressure, there will be a few things that are going to change around here, and the biggest change is that Ways to Wear will be the only weekly feature.  Something Old, Something New will still be here, but every other week instead of weekly.  I highly doubt that I will be able to keep my opinion to myself, so I’ll review products in posts when I find ones that I really like.  

This sweater was another random thrift store find.  I look at pieces like this sweater as challenges.  It isn’t exactly my typical kind of sweater, and in fact took me a little while to figure out how to style it so that it didn’t look too preppy.  A little black did the trick to tone down the sweater and create a look that is actually my style.

One project I’ve been working on while taking a break from this blog is starting another blog.  My new blog is a photography blog, where I’m finally sharing some of the photographs I have taken over the years. If you would like to check it out it is http://srochellephoto.wordpress.com/.
Let me know what you think of how I styled my preppy sweater!

outfit details: worn for running errands on June 9, 2011.
earrings: forever 21 (they are owls too!)
tank: weaver’s girl via consignment
cuff: ??? via pike place market
jeans: guess via anna banana’s
sandals: payless

This little owl statue is probably my favorite thing we have bought in Okinawan, to date.  We were wandering around a flea market out in town and a man was selling a few owls, but most of them were mainly made with white shells.  The second I saw the little black owl I knew he would be coming home with us!  I adore how unique it is, and even though we lived near the beach in North Carolina I have never seen an owl statue made of shells before.  (I may or may not have hugged it the rest of the time we were wandering around the flea market, for protection of course!)

This outfit elicited one of the most interesting responses I have ever gotten.  I was at a hardware store on base and the clerk asked how long I had been on island.  I responded that we’d been here for a month and a half and he looked a little puzzled.  Then he motioned to me and said that the UV rays have been pretty intense lately, and I was quite pale.  Yep, that’s me… I’m the glowingly pale one, even after we’ve been having “intense UV rays”.  At least I know my sunscreen is working very well!

James and I have been looking into trying more vegetarian dishes as it is incredibly warm and muggy.  I am fine with just warming up a bowl of mixed veggies and calling it a meal, but James prefers for it to at least resemble a main dish.  So if you have a favorite vegetarian dish let me know!  (And let me know what you think of my little owl statue!)

outfit details: worn for small group on June 7, 2011.
earrings: walmart
top: banana republic, thrifted
watch: target
pants: gap, thrifted, restyled
shoes: target

These pants started their life looking more like this picture I pinned.  Then I found them in the thrift store and loved how well the top fit and decided to make them into something I would actually wear.  It wasn’t the easiest restyle, but I traced the pants legs of one of my favorite pairs of jeans and then sewed along the traced line.  I love how they turned out!  I would never wear them as wide-legged pants, because it is an incredibly unflattering look on me.  However, taking the legs in a few inches turned them into one of my favorite pairs of pants.

Transforming seems to be the topic of the day and Katy, of Modly Chic is asking us to share if and how our taste has transformed since we started blogging.  I look forward to seeing every-one’s answers to these questions.

1.    Since you began blogging do you notice a change in the types of things you gravitate towards while shopping?
Oh yes! And I think people who know me have noticed the differences.  I used to only buy clothes that were within my “safe” set of colors.  That was essentially limited to dark, cool tones and neutrals.  Now I have a wardrobe full of all different sorts of colors.  Before blogging, I rarely found any sort of patterns that I loved, and if I bought them I rarely wore them.  This shirt is one thing that I would not have found before I started blogging (partially because I found it at a thrift store, and I started thrifting after I started blogging).  It is patterned and has ruffled sleeves, which I was a little unsure of.  I really like it though, and it was a great find!

2.    Do you find, as a fashion blogger, that you dress differently from your family and friends? Do they comment on that?
Yes, I do dress differently than my family and friends, and they do comment on it occasionally, though rarely negatively.  Often they want outfit advice or just want to let me know that they really like what I’m wearing.  I actually came up with the name of my blog thanks to friends and family, who (still) ask if an outfit or item of clothing is “Rochelle Approved”.

3.    What’s the weirdest fashion that you secretly like, even if you aren’t bold enough to wear it?
Neon and the bright orange and yellow tones that are everywhere are trends that I like on other people.  Those colors are ones that have yet to make it into my closet as most of them make me look dead.  I love to decorate with them and those colors can be found all over our apartment .

4.    Looking at current trends – what would you like to try but need to build up the courage to do?
White pants.  But I need to find a pair I love before I can work up the courage to try wearing them.

5.    Toot someone’s horn – what fashion blogger out there inspires you with her bold fashion choices?
I just found the blog Fashion Curious, and Cait is already inspiring me with her choices.  I love how she wears yellow in a pair of summer wedges and isn’t afraid to carry a flea market purse with her outfit!

Your turn!  Have you seen your style transform and your tastes change?  Or is there a fashion trend you’ve been wanting to try, but don’t know how to wear?

outfit details: worn for a last minute walk with James on June 5, 2011.
hat: ???, okinawa
necklace: key from my parents house, self-made chain
tee: gap, thrifted, okinawa
cuff: ??? via pike place market
jeans: express
shoes: puma via zappos

Have you ever had to figure out what to wear and be ready to go in 5 minutes?  Well for this walk, James made me get ready really quickly, so I threw on jeans and a tee shirt.  It may not be the most interesting outfit in the world, but jeans and tee shirt does not have to be the worst outfit in the world either.  One way to keep it a nice outfit is to make sure that your basics fit well.

Another thing that can make it look more pulled together is the throw on some key accessories.  A long necklace (or a few layered) adds a fun look and can be found easily.  This summer another accessory to try is a straw hat!  Seriously they are so fun and they block out some UV rays, which means you should be able to avoid getting a sun-burnt part in your hair.  For your third accessory pick one that is your favorite.  I love bracelets and rings, so one of those would be my first choice, but if you love earrings try a bold pair to balance out how casual the outfit is.

Enough about how to make a jeans and tee combination look pulled together.  James has been gone for the last few days doing training for his work so I’ve been working on projects for the apartment.  So far I have re-arranged quite a few shelves and closets, making them more organized and putting some things in our in-building-storage.  I’m also working on some pretty fun DIY projects that I will show off on Saturday, and you should make sure to have your projects of the week ready to link up for this week’s Something Old, Something New!

How do you make a jeans and tee combination look more pulled together?

outfit details: worn for church on June 4, 2011.

necklace: forever 21

dress: te chichi, thrifted, okinawa

belt: wet seal, thrifted

ring: charlotte russe

purse: ???, thrifted

shoes: target

I found this minty green dress at a consignment store out in town here.  I was pleasantly surprised, as it is long enough.  Most of the dresses I have found in town here have been closer to tunic or mini length, which I find much harder to wear.  The dress makes me want to think it is vintage, though from what I can tell it isn’t that old, so I carried my vintage purse and updated the look with chunky wedges and thick belt.  It is amazing how quickly a few accessories can update a look into vintage inspired, from dated.  Keep an eye out as tomorrow I have a surprise for you that involves crafty projects and a linky tool! 

We ate at this restaurant last night and the lined up delivery mopeds are just adorable.

Once again it is Fashion Beauty Friend Friday and today the topic that Katy, from Modly Chic asked for us to answer has nothing to do with fashion or beauty.  She asked for us to share our favorite summer recipe!!!  If you want to see what everyone else loves to cook in the summertime they are all linked up here!  (I may bookmark that page so that when I am stumped for what to cook I know there will be some tried and true recipes!)  I’m going to share with you my absolutely favorite Guacamole recipe! 

Guacamole

2 ripe avocados

2 ripe roma tomatoes

1 cup cottage cheese

2 Tablespoons sour cream

1/4 cup salsa 

tortilla chips

Scoop out avocados and mash into small bits.  Add cottage cheese and sour cream.  Add salsa to taste.  Slice tomatoes into small pieces and add. Devour with tortilla chips.

What is your favorite summertime food?