trans•atlantic petals: i amsterdam packing mistakes

•Wise decisions I made on this trip;

1. Deciding to try to see things even if they might be closed.

2. Carrying this rain jacket with me at all times.

•Poor decisions I made on this trip:

1. Not checking to see if things might be closed...

2. ...while walking long distances to them in flip-flops.

Probably the two most important things to have with you on a trip to Europe are a positive attitude & a sturdy pair of walking shoes. I overlooked the latter. I checked the weather in Amsterdam & London every day/3 months leading up to our trip. It turns out that the 2 cities have very similar climates as each other as well as to Duluth.

So I packed a bunch of stuff that I would wear in my location during the current season. What I did not anticipate was that the weather {in all 3 cities} would shift and become very cool & rainy for days on end.

I did pack my new wonderful rain jacket that I got for FREE with Amazon credit - suckahs.

But I did not pack (or dress) warm enough on my first afternoon. Amsterdam has many broken, cobblestone sidewalks with sharp curbs, tram tracks & puddles.

My feet were cracked, swollen, muddy & freezing by 4:00pm {and I nearly snapped my ankle about a dozen times}.

It was time to {cautiously} march myself into a solution.

{A little over exposure and some red toenail polish really gives the illusion that my toes weren't actually bright purple & quaking.}

dress, earrings & headband: Forever21, cardigan, scarf & leggings: Target, flip flops: Old Navy

photos by Peanut.

Peachy Keen {leftover} Jelly Bean

It snowed. $%^&! I just...hold on...let me check...yup, it is April. Amazing.

No, it's not unheard of. No, that doesn't make it any easier. I couldn't wear my shoes for the pictures because they were covered with mud. From the snow.

I dressed to match the climate; basically drab but wrapped in the optimism of spring.

Between the lingering winter conditions and all-too-familiar post-Easter leftover jelly bean remorse, my internal calender has no idea what season it is.

tank: In Cognito, cardigan: Gap {outlet}, khakis: Aeropostale, socks & scarf: Target, earrings: vintage {gift}, nail polish: Sally Hanson Salon Series ~ Plum Luck.

photos by Peanut.

Erin Go Bragh

Well, I did promise the return of the 30-for-30 in my next outfit post, but I decided that I just had to make one exception for the holiday I love so dearly; St. Patrick's Day!

I did it up Oscar style this year {no, I didn't wear a green gown -- though that would've been awesome}, but I did do a mid-evening ensemble switch. Here is my first go; what I wore to work + out for our first stop at an Irish pub {coffee & Bailey's for this tired working girl} and dinner {Smithwick's & wings}...

tee, cardigan, scarf & belt: Target, skirt: Wet Seal {about 7 yrs old}, tights: We Love Colors, cuffed ballet flats: Geneva, Switzerland, earrings: Electric Fetus {gift}, headband: Forever21 {gift}

And this was my latter-half of the night getup. We headed over to a friend's place and walked to a party {Jameson was passed around. I did not partake}, so I needed something a little more comfy. Enter: the green sundress {"Old Reliable"}...

tee, dress, scarf, & cardigan: Target, earrings: Electric Fetus {gift}, tights: We Love Colors, boots: Minnetonka, frillie: handmade by Adeline :)

McPhotos by O'Peanut.

Black Friday

I wore some of my brightest colors in protest of Black Friday and the mayhem it represents. If you are brave enough to venture out into the insanity on this famous day, I applaud your adventurous spirit, you are far braver than I.

Peanut + I had brunch with a lovely friend, picked up a Pumpkin Spice Latte (black coffee for P) on the way home, and mostly did a lot of work and holiday planning (dreaming really, we accomplished nothing tangible). It was the perfect way to nudge ourselves out of the turkey coma.

It is cold + snowy here, and the dreamy fog of the long, luxurious summer/fall we enjoyed is undeniably over. When we were getting ready for photos, I headed out in the cold and Peanut reminded me that besides being practical, winter stuff is fashion too (i.e. "dress warmer crazy lady!"), so per his advice I bundled for most of these shots.

dress, turtleneck, leggings & boots: Target, belt & cardigan: Charlotte Russe, earrings: The Electric Fetus, coat: gifted from mom, hat: knitted by my mom :)

outtake: it was coooolllddd!!!

photos by Peanut.

Cold Comfort

It was 16 degrees out this morning. In a few months I will get out a sarong and sip margaritas at the mere notion of this temperature. But right now I'm not acclimated and I'm not thrilled. Brrr.

This outfit wasn't really warm enough, but I wore my new boots, and I got my herr did (if you don't know me personally, you will quickly learn that salons are my Mother Ship. If you do know me personally and you didn't know that nugget, then you don't really know me personally. Sorry, it's true). Anyway, my joy kept me warm. That and about 8 cups too many of coffee. Which is a wretched torture that I will take care to avoid in the future. Yikes!

sweater: thrifted ($2!), skirt: H&M, leggings: a mart of some variety, boots: heaven, earrings: gift from my mother-in-law.

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.

How would you like your steak?

I kind of feel like a waitress in this. But it's super comfy. I got a tattoo the other day & took this scarf in for color inspiration. They turned out very similar to this scarf. Thanks, scarf.

top: T.J. Maxx, black skirt: Be Bop, teal cardigan, Merona, scarf: thrifted, purple tights & black boots: Target, bird earrings: Forever21.

photos by Peanut.

complimentary

Monday was...well...Monday. I utilized my new hair color, as well as the help of sunny outerwear, to counteract the bizarre weather.

I thought since my hair is reddish-orange, that a greenish-blue would be the most accurate way to compliment the 'do, at least as far as the color wheel is concerned.

Tiered dress: Forever21,

cardigan: Merona,

brown graphic tights: Gap,

brown wedges: Personal Identity,

yellow coat: DKNY,

necklace: Gordman's,

earrings: Urban Outfitters, glasses: Nike.

photos by Peanut.