(faux) leather skater skirt

faux leather skater skirt / cropped sweater (old, similar here and here — also love this one!) / black tights / black booties (old, similar here and here) / chain clutch / Versona sunglasses (similar here) / NARS lipstick in "Scarlet Empress" 

I'm usually a jeans-and-sweater type girl when it comes to the colder months, but lately I've been trying to break out of that sartorial box and challenge myself to create some looks that involve a little more effort. Because let's be honest: jeans and a sweater is pretty much the go-to for those freezing days in January. That's why I donned the tights and a chic faux leather skirt to add some spice to this cropped sweater.

With regular jeans, this cropped sweater tends to look a little blah, with the shorter hem getting lost in all the denim. With the sweater, I think it plays dual roles as both the statement piece and the blank canvas. The leather skirt draws the eye, so the plain sweater doesn't draw too much attention from it, yet the shorter cut makes it really pop (if that makes sense!). I love how the all-black from my skirt to my boots allows the dark wine color of the sweater to stand out, but it still keeps a sophisticated look perfect for a date night. I got this leather skirt last year, and let me tell you: If you don't have a leather skirt in your closet, head to the nearest mall because you need one! It is so versatile and easy to dress up and down.

What's your substitute for the jeans-and-sweater monotony of fall/winter? I could use more ideas! ;)

P.S. A wine-inspired wish list, my fall wish list and my favorite cardigan

Date Night Des Moines: exploring the city

The weekend before my surgery, I told Adam I wanted to do "lots of walking activities!" since I knew I'd be laid up for a while afterwards. Sadly, the weather was cold, windy and rainy both days. We had plans to explore downtown a little bit, but decided it wasn't worth the drive if we were going to end up hiding out from the rain. So instead we made our first trip to the West Des Moines Public Library (it's been years since I've been to a library outside of studying!), where we found a beautiful pond with walking trails...

So even though it was a chilly 50 degrees and we were both underdressed for it, we stayed out for a while and walked around, taking in all the strange sculptures and beautiful weeping willows (both Adam's and my favorite tree) and the geese swimming/flying around.

Walking has always been one of my favorite activities. Whether it's with a friend, a date, my sister or my dad — it's a nice way to talk without pressure or expectations; it's just relaxing and free. And what's even better is walking somewhere that you're not completely familiar with because you never know what you might discover.

P.S. Mini-golf date night, coffee, books and Lent and Creme Cupcakes

Date Night Des Moines: Double dates and dive bars

I live in Grimes, which is a mostly residential suburb of Des Moines, and even though I've been here almost a year now, I really haven't explored much. My mom has lived here for four years though, and her favorite local place is (surprisingly) a dive bar on Main Street. If you knew my mom, who found beer disgusting until about six years ago, you'd be as shocked as I was when she told me about Stevie C's.

Date Night Des Moines: board games for two

Adam and I got into Settlers of Catan last year while we were both still in college. His roommates played it and taught us, and then it became a growing thing in our friend group — like to the point where we would have plans to go out and then end up staying in just to play it! Have you ever played before? It's such a fun game!

Mini-golf date night

My boyfriend Adam and I have been together for almost a year now, and we try to go out at least once a week on a date. But with our jobs and busy schedules, sometimes even just dinner and a movie turns into dinner and asleep by 10 p.m. We're too young for this!

But tonight we decided to forego dinner and try out mini-golf at a new place called GlowGolf that opened in West Des Moines this summer. And it was so much fun!

My one and only experience with mini-golf was on a family vacation when I was about 6 years old and my dad put my ball two inches away from every hole so I could hit it in. And as it turns out, I haven't improved very much...

These little loops were my nightmare. I always hit it too hard and nearly made the ball come back through it. Adam got a few holes-in-one, because he's really good at sports, but I did still manage to beat him at a few of them :)

This was such a cute, fun way to spend date night. We had a great time; it was so relaxing and a nice change of pace for us. We'll definitely be going back again — and hopefully I'll learn how to aim a little better :)

What are your favorite date night ideas? Ever tried mini-golf before?