Ordinary Amy: Blush Moto Jacket

I have gotten away from my monthly columns for a while, but now feel like I can get back at it. For today’s Ordinary Amy post, I chose to build my outfit around a blush moto jacket that I found at Nordstrom Rack back in May. I had been looking for a lighter colored moto jacket and this one fit the bill perfectly.

I know I am not the only gal that has a love affair with motorcycle jackets. They have always been a favorite of mine, for as long as I can remember. When I was young, my brothers used to race dirt bikes (motocross) and I loved the thrill, the noise and the dirt of going to watch them ride. I always thought that would have been so much fun. Needless to say, growing up with the two wheeled noise makers around gave me an earthy, edgy perspective on life.

Another factor that solidified my love for moto jackets, motorcycles and writing, was a book that I had to read in my 8th grade English class. The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton was a coming of age story about a group of boys from the poor side of town and how they dealt with the difficulties of broken homes, strained relationships and maneuvering adolescence in the midst of night time rumbles with the rich kids and running away from home. Some of the first stories I wrote followed a very similar thread to S.E. Hinton, as I struggled with my own acceptance of adolescence, my place in the socioeconomic strata and who I was becoming as a young woman.

Just as my fashion sense has grown and changed, so has my writing ability and interest. I still love to revisit those early stories and remember the feelings associated with them. I’m now trying to learn new genres of writing, in the hopes that one day, I might actually make publishing a reality. In the mean time, here is an outfit for you to peruse.

My daughter quickly took these pictures on my camera while she was over with her pups to help me rake my yard. Cottonwood trees are big and give plenty of shade, but they shed terribly and the leaves they drop in the fall are exactly as you see here, brown and crunchy. This was after my spouse and I had already raked a good portion of the yard into huge piles.

This jacket is a crop length and has a beautiful metallic sheen. I am excited to see how many different ways this can be styled, both casual and dressy. Since this is about my regular way of dressing I paired it with a blush and camo knit top, a pair of Rock & Republic jeans and my SO olive booties.

Do you like moto jackets? Do you have any in your closet? I think everyone, should have at least one. They can be a very versatile piece and are perfect for the cooler weather of fall.

I hope you enjoyed this post and reading more about extraordinary me. Ha, ha.

I’ve included a few shopping links for you to look over. These are affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Saturday linking up with Rena of It’s All Fine. Whatever…

Ordinary Amy - Denim Love

If you follow fashion bloggers at all, then you see loads of cute outfits and put together looks, that sometimes leave you feeling a bit overwhelmed. I know I feel that way. There are many bloggers who show lovely outfits and gorgeous photos. For me they are a source of inspiration, but they can also be a source of dissatisfaction.

There are times I come away from looking at another blog feeling like I want to crawl under a rock! Unfortunately, I feel that way more often than I would like in the long winter months. I want to hide and become invisible, yet, at the same time, I want to be noticed and recognized for something, not sure what, but for something. This is a dichotomy I have struggled with most of my life. Being an introvert often leaves me being misunderstood as aloof or stuck up. It also puts an added burden on my shoulders to push myself outside my comfort zone. That alone, is not a bad thing. It forces me to grow and learn as an individual. It has helped me to overcome fear and be able to reach out to others who have similar feelings. 

Unfortunately, it also weighs on me most of the time. I never really feel free to express myself or my opinions. Yes, I am one of those individuals who has had my opinions shot down, laughed at and even ignored. Obviously, that makes it harder to be confident and bold, not only when it comes to my writing, but to my fashion as well. I often reach for what is comfortable.

When I was growing up, my mom always hung the laundry out on the clothes line when the weather was nice. I remember when I was really young, we still had a ringer washer. I always thought washing day was so much fun, because my mom would let me help her feed the clothes through the ringer, which squeezed the excess water out. I loved to put my hands in the cold rinse water, especially on hot summer days. When I was tall enough, my mother would let me help her hang clothes on the lines outside that ran from our house to a large maple tree.

I used to play amongst the flapping clothes, imagining they were the curtains to a stage where I would be a singer. There weren't many kids in our neighborhood, as we lived out in the country, so I learned to play by myself using my imagination. Sometimes I would sing a story and other times I would imagine I was lost in the jungle and dinosaurs were after me. To this day, I still love to imagine and I also love to do laundry. Hey, everyone should have at least one household chore they like to do! 

When I took these pictures a few weeks ago, the temps had gotten up into the mid fifties. I had a set of sheets and a few smaller throw blankets to wash, so I decided to hang them outside. Ever since those early years, I have loved how things hung outside, smell! 

This is me. Denim, cozy knit vest, sneakers and a little bit of jewelry. I am wearing my Christopher and Bank jeans. The knit vest I have worn on the blog before here. It is Chaps brand. Chaps is a brand found at Kohl's. It has a little higher price point than some of their other brands, but the quality is good. Sizing seems to run a little small, so I usually size up. I found this vest on clearance.

In the above picture you can see some of my pearl jewelry and details on the shirt and vest. The polka dot chambray shirt is SO brand and was thrifted. And looky there, I did some print mixing! Ha, ha. 

Once again, my satchel, from Walmart is making another appearance on the blog. I love the neutral colors and the firm structure. Many of the bags I use are more a hobo bag and slouch when put down. This one is a tote and stands up well. Here is the same one.

I'm also wearing my Keds sneakers that I have had for a while. Here is another cute navy pair, or there is this slip on. 

What is your go to outfit, when you want something comfortable, but don't want to just hang out in your sweats or pjs? Let me know by leaving a comment below. I love hearing from you!

I hope you enjoyed this post and that you'll have a wonderful weekend! 

I've included a few shopping links for similar items. These are affiliate links, meaning if you click on a link, I get a few cents. If you purchase something through my blog, I get a little commission. I appreciate all you do. All opinions are my own. 

Friday linking up with Nancy of Nancy's Fashion Style.