A Very Wisco Weekend

This weekend we headed to our neighboring cheese state to see Rob's brother, his wife & their baby {our Godson}. We also took a day trip to Rob's parents' place and hit up an anniversary party. It was sunny, breezy & beautiful.

The party was held in the couples' gorgeous barn & outside on the farm which had a barn roof slide, an awesome balcony, large spools tipped on their side, stocked with snacks & a nearby root beer keg.

I wore lots of thin garments, piled into layers, thick socks and boots & had a jacket handy.

It kept me perfectly toasty.

dress: H&M, long sleeved tee + cardigan: Merona, boots, leggings + shades: Target, earrings: Forever21 {gift from mom}, bag: Miche.

My sweet 'sconie boy.

photos by Peanut.

trans•atlantic petals:amsterdam fine style

The cool daytime temps in beautiful Amsterdam continue to dip with the sun.

This means that my tricky afternoon turned into an emergency evening.

It was time to bundle a bit. I stopped into the H&M: Dam Square and purchased a pair of sturdy brown boots, a couple of cardigans + some knee-highs.

This combination of staples actually sustained me through most of our trip ~ it certainly made a lot more of my items feasible via layering.

This new striped cardigan of I picked up flaunted it's camel colored elbow patches and it was a no brainer.

These boots literally saved our trip. There's no better way to say it.

I made a pretty blatant rookie mistake that I was well aware of & I know better than, and I ended up taking a risk and getting a wonderful pair of boots by the magic of fate.

So I'm not sorry that I made this decision.

dress: Forever21, cardigan, boots & knee highs: H&M, leggings: Target.

photos by Peanut.

Don't Call it a Comeback

There are various reasons which have lead me to this nearly-one-month long absence from this here blog. Some are big {Rob in Europe/no photag, deeper consideration of my philosophies re:this blogging endeavor...}. Some are small {being gone myself to join Rob for 10 days, thinking breaks are good in any case...}.

I really liked blogging when I first started. It felt like a fun stress release, a creative focus & an exciting way to reimagine my personal style & the styles of others. It helped me understand style more as a fabulous art-communication hybrid. Then it became something that I felt tethered to & guilty when I neglected. Then it became something I began to over-think myself out of even wanting to do. But then...

I went on an incredible trip {a couple of weeks ago}, and snapping the sites & moments on our big adventure made me remember something that I always loved about blogging nomatterwhat; I love the avenue that it provides for me to experience 'moments' {outfits, evenings, adventures, et al} that much more, to revel in it that much longer, to remember it that much clearer.

I don't want to give that gift up yet.

I've had some moments lately. I'm excited to share them with you.

blouse & tights: Gap {outlet}, cardigan: Merona, skirt: Uncommon Items {Milwaukee}, belt: Charlotte Russe, earrings: Urban Outfitters, hobo bag: Miche, scarf & oxfords: Amersterdam, nail polish: Sally Hansen Salon Series ~ Summer Plum.

photos by Peanut.

Guest Blog: JennieB!

Hey everyone, I'd like to introduce you to my dear, wonderful friend JennieB from Minneapolis {"Hi JennieB!"}. JennieB is an ultra-cool, wicked smart, style maven and she also happens to be one of my favorite people in the whole world. She came to visit As Good As Her Petals and share a little bit of what life is like from her wardrobe...

Petals: "Hi Jennie, thanks for blogging with me ~ your pictures are great! Can we get the outfit details for this breezy, cute ensemble?"

JB: Thanks for having me! I got this shirt as a give away from a friend who just moved in with her partner and had limited closet space. At first I was a little unsure about it, but putting the pink tank underneath changed my mind.

{Crocheted top + shoes: gift; Pink tank + Jeans: Express; Earrings: gift}

Petals: "Living in MPLS, you must have tons of great chain stores as well as boutiques and shops around, what are some of your favorites?"

JB: My favorite thrift shop is Rewind in NE Minneapolis. It recently expanded & added men's clothing, and their accessory selection is enormous! My new favorite shop is Primp in St. Paul. It's a "cheap-chic boutique" & everything in the store is under $100. It's all fabulous.

Petals: "On average, how many new items do you think you add to your wardrobe in a month?"

JB: Honestly, not much. Last month I think I bought a new broach and that was all. I've been saving for the past couple months and am about to go on a shopping spree in San Francisco for my 30th birthday - holler!

Hello Forever 21 with THREE LEVELS!!

Petals: "How would you describe your style personality?"

JB: Well it's definitely evolved over the years. When I was younger I was basically a walking ad for Express. Now I have come into my own style rather than simply replicating what I saw on mannequins. I've never really thought about myself as being any "good" at styling or as having a particular style. I just like to look nice & have fun with my clothes.

Petals: "If you were taking a trip where you had inside info that you would be stranded on an island with a perfectly alternating (cool + warm) climate, what 10 items (including accessories) would you pack?"

Swim suit

Sarong

Flip Flops

My boyfriend

Wine key

Long sweater

Party dress

Wedges

Earrings

Scarf

Petals: "What new trend/s are you loving most?"

JB: I'm obsessed with the faux fur vests and infinity scarves.

Petals: "And what are you hating most trend-wise?"

Nothing yet!

Petals: "If you had an unlimited budget, what city and what stores or kind of stores, would you choose to clothes + jewelry shop in?"

JB: Ohh..this one is tough. Honestly, probably Minneapolis/St Paul. There are great stores here that have everything I need! With an unlimited budget I would stick to boutiques like Primp, Picky Girl, Stella Blu +Cliche. And this amazing store called Fun Sisters.

Petals: "Any special items on your Christmas list this year?"

JB: I need to have this skirt.

And I'm really liking the new OPI line "Burlesque" from the new movie I can't wait to see with her majesty Cher.

photos by Hard-Up Photography.

Can you spot JennieB in this flashback photo? Hint: that lady loves shoes.

A Good Egg

This was my interview dress when I was job-seeking. It's about the most basic, practical, conservative item I own. It's also quite comfortable. It's a good egg.

* in the background is the painting that our friend Cory did that I mentioned in a recent post, the subject is of P's photograph/the cover art for his current film project. You can learn more about it here. *

black wrap dress, tights & boots: Target, floral hoodie sweater: Forever21, lime hoop earrings: gift.

*Forget-Me-Not*: Floral sweater hoodie ~ Forever21.

photos by Peanut.

A Little Something

This dress (+ these earrings) also entered my life among my birthday goodies. There is just something so delicate about the pin-dot pattern & dessert-y colors. I just find the inexplicable 'little something' so exciting and sweet. The charisma of some things. I had also been envisioning a mis-match of this coral cardigan + these cobalt blue tights for quite some time. This seemed like a good opportunity.

dress: Mata Traders ~ Chicago, IL, earrings: The Electric Fetus,

cardigan: Gap, tights: Target, necklace: ?, flats: Rocket Dog,

nail polish: Sinful Colors ~ Shine on Me.

photos by Peanut.

Seeing Spots

This crazy outfit is an example of going into one's own wardrobe, pulling out 3 items that are older than dirt, and making a "new" outfit.

I will probably not enjoy weather warm enough for clothing this lightweight for quite awhile now. I can't believe I wore this all cotton number in November!

tank: thrifted, cardigan: Target, skirt: American Apparel, belt: Charlotte Russe, tights: gift, yellow flats: Lolita Milano, necklace: Vintage Duluth, earrings: Rewind (Northeast MNPLS), nail polish: Sinful Colors ~ Shine on Me.

Isn't this necklace/watch magical? Peanut and I found it when we went vintage-ing on my birthday this year. The lady bugs spots were the initial inspiration for the spotted blouse from yore, the spot earrings I frequently pass by, and ultimately the whole dotty dress-up.

photos by Peanut.

Right On

I wear a lot of floral. I am really starting to realize this. When I pulled this top out for today, I vowed to myself not to wear a floral print for the rest of the week. With today's touch of 70’s vibe though, I had to have a little flower child.

I have a little matchy-match left in me from yesterday. Today is also the first day I have braved wearing my cowboy boots (which I have adored so much for so long) to work. I have wanted to wear them with several different ensembles, but always talked myself out of it - even on Fridays, deeming them inappropriate office-wear. But today, suddenly, with the very long pants to shade them in, I did it.

earrings, turtleneck & floral blouse: Target (all oldies), vest: Charlotte Russe, gray dress pants: ?, cowboy boots: Vintage Duluth, nail polish: Sinful Colors ~ Shine On Me.

Forget-Me-Not: wide leg gray dress pants ~ I don't remember where I got them, sadly.

photos by Peanut.

CatFish

Ok, this title might be a bit of a reach. I thought the leopard print tights and the aqua tones warranted a feline/fin reference. I know. Lame.

BUT, boots and outfit towing the line of work appropriate in true Friday form. So, at least I delivered there, right?

I didn't wear the hat to work...

tank & cardigan: Charlotte Russe, skirt: Gap, tights, boots & hat: Target, earrings: gift.

photos by Peanut.

In the {Citrus} Navy

I love this dress. Love. It's comfortable, it's cute, it's flirty. It's perfect. I got it in Nice, France this summer and the first time I ever wore it was a few days later in Milan. See what I mean? Perfect.

Thursday comes at some cost -- overslept by 90 minutes, literally FLEW around the house and down the road, made it on time (!) and then my boss was out sick anyway. Life is hilarious.

Tonight we are going out for a joint bday dinner with another couple, they are also giving us an original painting that was commissioned for Peanut's bday over the summer. It's of a photograph he took upon which he is basing a feature film project. I'll post pics of the painting.

dress: Nice, France, cardigan: Merona, tights: Gap, boots: ?, earrings: Forever21, scarf & headband: Target, pop: Tootsie.

photos by Peanut.