Spring Maxi Dress Guide 2014

Last year I did a round up of spring time maxi dresses, and it's been one of my most popular blogs! An update seemed in order, especially given the abundance of MAG-freaking-NIFICENT dresses I've been seeing around zee web lately!

SIT BACK LADIES (and gent?) and let's get to browsing some of these diverse maxi dresses from Modcloth, Forever21, H&M, Urban Outfitters, and Victoria's Secret!

MODCLOTH

Flow This Way Dress

I love that this dress mixes neutrals and brights for you. 

And check out the cute crochet detail on the back!

Lower Haight Lady Dress

This bohemian-esque dress has ALL THE STRIPES and a crazy cage-style back.
I really like the "sea glass" colors of this dress.

Plethora of Panache Dress

Classic navy and white combo. The white lace detail on the arm area is slimming, and the lace on the lower portion of the dress is so pretty! It even has a cute keyhole in the back.

Woo Me with Whimsy Dress

This patchwork style dress brings out the country girl in me. The ruffly panel in the bodice area would also be pretty flattering for a small-chested lady such as myself!

Bon Vivant in Vegas Dress

Black and white is looking reeeeal good in this dress. 

I love that the chevrons vary in width towards the bottom.

Artisanal Arrangements Dress

This is one of my favorites because it's so simple, yet so pretty! 

And you all know that I'm a sucker for orchids.

FOREVER21

Strappy M-Slit Dress

I love the colorful pattern of this dress, plus the slits that make it easier to walk in. Perfect for me because I like to walk REALLY FAST.

Cutout Rose Maxi Dress

UM this floral dress is gorgeous. And dat back doe.

H&M

Patterned Maxi

Just give me a beach, some sun, and a coconut to sip out of, and I'll be ready to rock this dress.

Sleeveless Dress

This black hi-lo dress is so versatile - you could probably find a reason to wear it once a week from now till September.

URBAN OUTFITTERS

Sparkle & Fade Open-Side Colorblock Maxi Dress

This one seems effortless and sporty, with cutouts in just the right place! There are other color options available - including a navy/grey one that I also liked.

VICTORIA'S SECRET

Chiffon Trim Maxi Dress

Heyooooo gypsy dress. This has a "beautiful rags" feel, doesn't it??

Knife Pleat Maxi

This super pleated, flowy dress comes in lots of colors, but I love this Aqua Frost the best.

In the navy picture, you can see what the back looks like.

Short Sleeve Maxi Dress

I adoooooore this dress!! It reminds me of mint chocolate Dippin' Dots, which isn't weird at all. As a bonus, it's on sale right now.

Hopefully this maxi dress round-up has been helpful or inspiring for you! I had a few other dresses picked out, but they are already sold out! Better snag 'em fast guys.

Did you have any favorites from above?
What are some of your favorite stores to find spring and summer dresses?
Don't you just love Dippin' Dots? Mmmmm....

FACEBOOK TWITTER PINTEREST INSTAGRAM

{Linking with Monday Must Haves}

Beach Walks, New Shirts + Workouts of the Week

Howwww the heck has your weekend been so far? I hope you've all had plenty of relaxation and productivity, or whatever blend of that makes you feel like your weekend has been successful. I've been crossing some things off my list (if you follow along regularly, you might know that I try to make a to-do list every weekend), taking walks, and buying the occasional "thing" for myself. Because.

My weekend kicked off well with the Friday afternoon news (via mail) that I won't owe anything additional for my 2013 taxes after all! Big "phew" for that one. This was my first year earning contractor income, so it was a bit of mystery for me how those taxes would play out. I'm also happy to report that not only will I not owe any more money, I'll actually still be receiving a nice refund! #HEYOOOO! High fives all around to everyone else who gets some money back this spring. Go shoppin'. Or save that shit. Your choice. (I'll probably do a bit of both.)

Anyway, what else have I been up to the last few days? I took a couple of walks... this one along the beach on Thursday was particularly nice:

And on Friday night David and I finished off our evening with a sunset beach walk:

I walked downtown a couple times and picked up some new shirts, because my closet isn't full enough yet. (Full disclosure: That was sarcasm.) Seriously though, I had it on good authority that Victoria's Secret was having a sale on their popular v-neck t-shirts, and I a) needed a cute white v-neck that didn't suck, and b) wanted to see what all the hoopla was about with these tees. They definitely ARE cute and have a really flattering fit, so I grabbed two (since the sale was 2 for $34) - a white one and an orchid colored one:

So far I absolutely love them both, and the girl at the counter told me that she owns a few of them too, and that they stand up well to washes.

I also grabbed something that I've been looking for FOREVER: a light-colored chambray button up. You might think that a top like that is completely ubiquitous and not at all difficult to find, but it's been really hard for me to find one that fit me right and didn't have any wacky rogue details like spikes on the collar or weird cowgirl-esque embroidery on it. I got this one from Old Navy after seeing it on a mannequin in one of their window displays. Bonus - it was on sale for $20 (marked down from $39!)

So basically now that I have one of those, things are really going to start happening for me. I CAN FEEL IT!

Yesterday it was raining alllllll day long, so the walk I took downtown yesterday was a wet 'n chilly one.  I originally went into the city looking to get myself a haircut, but the salon I went to was booked up for the day so I made an appointment for Thursday instead. I will take some before and after pictures at the appointment because my hair is loooooong right now, and there's no telling WHAT could happen to it on Thursday!

Today is looking like a GORGEOUS day so far. The sky (from what I can see from my living room window) is completely blue and the sun is shining. Practically bikini season already!!! Just kidding, we're not quite there yet. But David has started wearing his Keens, which means warmer weather is on its way! (His Keens are a bit like Punxsutawney Phil, in that respect.)

Alright, so enough blabbering. On to my workouts from the past week!

3/17 (cardio)

15 mins elliptical

15 mins biking

3/18 (lower body and core)

10 mins rowing

2x:

   - 40 jump squats, alternating wide and close stance

   - 30 weighted v-sit twists, holding 15 lbs

   - 30 diamond clamshells on each leg

   - 30 alternating weighted side bends, 15 lbs each hand

   - 40 side lunges + plyometric push off, each side

   - 30 Brazilian crunches

   - 60 bridges

   - 1:00 plank

10 lat pulldowns, 30 lbs

10 lat pulldowns, 40 lbs

10 lat pulldowns, 50 lbs

3/19 (upper body)

5 mins elliptical

3x:

   - 12 chest press on exercise ball, 12.5 lbs each hand

   - 12 deltoid flys, 5 lbs each hand

   - 12 close grip chest press on exercise ball, 12.5 lbs each hand

   - 12 deltoid raises, 5 lbs each hand

   - 12 tricep extensions on exercise ball, 5 lbs each hand

15 squats, holding 10 lbs

15 squats, holding 15 lbs

15 squats, holding 20 lbs

10 lat pulldowns, 40 lbs

10 lat pulldowns, 50 lbs

10 lat pulldowns, 60 lbs

3/21 (lower body)

5 mins elliptical (1/2 mile)

2x:

   - 30 jump squats, alternating wide and close stance

   - 12 deadlifts, 15 lbs each hand

   - 5 single leg squats on bench, each leg (I'm practicing this one - not strong enough yet!)

   - 40 calf raises, 15 lbs each hand

   - 40 side lunges + plyometric pushoff on each side

   - 30 diamond clamshells each leg

15 squats, holding 15 lbs

15 squats, holding 20 lbs

15 squats, holding 25 lbs

I plan to get to the gym today as well, but not before enjoying this sunshine! 

Did you do any random shopping this weekend? 

Has spring begun to sprung where you are?

FACEBOOK TWITTER PINTEREST INSTAGRAM