It's My Cardi

Ooh La La - 2.23.12

2012-02-23T13:31:00.000-05:00

Blazer: Worthington / JC Penney (2012)
Top: Olivia Moon / TJ Maxx (2011)
Pants: NY&Co Outlet in Gaffney SC (2012)
Necklace: someplace like Claire's or Icing (2005?)
Flats: Nine West / Macy's (2010)

I cannot believe that until recently I was missing out on the blazer as a completer piece to any given outfit. I owned a couple, but typically preferred a cardi. (Hence the blog's name.) But for some reason I have been picking up blazers left and right as of late. This one cost me all of $35 right before we went to Atlanta last month. (Bonus: picking up the matching skirt the week before last for $6 off the clearance rack - who can get a whole suit for $41? THIS GIRL.)

These pants, they are big. I shall try to shrink them (this is the first time I have worn them out; I bought the blue too). Speaking of colorful pants, I am going to rant for just a sec - a PANT RANT, if you will. So this pair? A size 8. Too big. I went to the mall today in search of more colorful pants (aka I told my husband I was going to go buy some sports bras, which I totally did, so I wasn't really lying to him). I wanted to try these in the pale blue color from Gap. As you know by now I do love some roll-up chinos and I have had much success in the past getting them from Gap. Well - not so much luck today. These are too low-rise for me and while an 8 fit everywhere else, I just felt very muffin top-py in them (yes that is a thing... that I just made up). I also saw these in the bright blue and stupidly attempted to try those on as well. If I thought the khakis were low-rise, these were ridiculous. Then I headed off to Old Navy, where I grabbed these in the pink (denim in-store is on sale for $19). I pulled a 10 because the 8 looked too small. Oh my LORD I couldn't even get the 10s even close to buttoning. I'd probably have to go to a 14 to get them to fit. And not fit very well, because again - low-rise. (Skimming the reviews right now online, it looks as though sizing is a huge issue for this particular pair of jeans. Most people are having to size up at least two or three sizes to get them to fit. Now I don't feel so badly!) After I left Old Navy, I headed to Target. I don't know WHAT I was thinking but I took a pair of turquoise size 13 (ugh, junior, I should have known better) in these to the fitting room to try to jam my thighs in to fit. Well, I did get them up and buttoned but it was ugly. Muffin top-py to the extreme. Anyway. What I guess I am trying to say is WHY ARE THERE NO OPTIONS FOR COLORED DENIM (or khakis, in the case of Gap) FOR THOSE OF US LADIES WHO CANNOT WEAR A LOW-RISE PANT? Gah! So frustrating!

Trip wasn't totally wasted though. I did pick up this adorable dress off the clearance rack at Old Navy in the pink color - for a mere $23. It's lined, has POCKETS, and will be so super-cute belted with a contrasting colored belt. (I tried on the lime and L O V E D it, just figured the pink would be more versatile.) Also scored these amazing ankle pants (in a size 8, sheesh) from Target - they're a gorgeous royal blue shade in real life. And a true skinny ankle pant - MID-RISE, what a novel idea.

I just realized I have not eaten today so I probably should go do that before my stomach starts ingesting itself. (It is making a LOT OF NOISE.)

But before I go, I just want to say that today? Is my anniversary. We've been married five years. Lemme tell you something, when you have a child together within the first year of marriage (I got pregnant in March, one month and three days after our wedding - go go bionic ovaries!) it feels like you have been together a LOT longer than the actual length of time you've been together. I don't mean that in a bad way - I do love my hubs, I feel like we are a perfect match. He makes me laugh, he cooks, he's super-smart, and he has a great ass. What more could a girl ask for in a mate, really?

Edit: I realize I talk a lot here about specific pant sizes. I by no means want to give off the impression I care about that sort of stuff. I just gave particulars because I wanted to show just how off sizing can be sometimes. It's all over the map, even within the same brand! So stupid.

Get Up & Go - 2.21.12

2012-02-21T17:16:00.001-05:00

Cardi: Merona / Target (2010)
Top: Liz Claiborne / JC Penney (2012)
Pants: Gap / gap.com (2011)
Ring: etsy / Lealoo's Lovelies (2010)
Bracelet: "gifted" from my mom (2009)
Flats: Rampage / Belk (2009)

It's days like this I look at these pictures and wonder, "Why bother?" Could I get any more "Hi, I'm a mom. I have to go to the grocery store and then drop off some DVDs at the library" than this? No, probably not. (Well, maybe - if my background was a minivan with those stick figure people on it. I HATE THE STICK FIGURE FAMILIES SO MUCH YOU GUYS I CANNOT EVEN TELL YOU.)

On the bright side, this outfit has elements in it that I love, such as a) cableknit, b) polkadots, c) roll-up chinos, d) green + navy color combo, and e) my totes adorbs whale ring. I mean, look at this thing!

Ka-yute.

Yes, it is sitting on a coaster with a giant D on it. I have a thing for monograms, what can I say? Additionally, the day I brought these home, my husband asked, "What's the D for?" !!! (Our last name starts with D. Obviously. Well, I guess NOT obviously.) I will tell you, I looked right at him and said, "Dumbass." I love my husband.

This lovely dotty blouse is one that I picked up as part of my Valentine's Day haul at JCP the week before last. I love this top! I am wearing a size small, though, so you should know it runs large if you're looking into buying it. With the new pricing it was only $25. Even though it's poly it looks more expensive to me. I think it will be so cute tucked into a pencil skirt - I have an orange one or an aqua one... ooh, or pink! Perfection. (That is, if I ever have a job ever ever ever again which would allow me the occasion to wear a pencil skirt. Four and a half weeks of unemployment feels more like four and a half months.)

I'm ready for a glass of wine. I mentioned above that I went to the grocery store earlier - completely forgetting that Tuesday is senior citizen day. Oh, dear. I can't handle it. I try to be kind and accommodating because yes, I do generally have respect for the elderly. But I can only take so much. I don't have the patience. Shoot, even my 81 year-old grandma avoids Kroger on Tuesdays because she says she can't deal "with the old people." So I guess I come by it honestly, huh?

Is it acceptable to start drinking before 5:30? I'm not going to wait on the answer - I'm just going to empower myself and say Y E S.

Seeing Red III - 2.17.12

2012-02-17T15:23:00.000-05:00

Cardi: Cherokee / Target (2008)
Dress: Emma & Michele / Marshall's (2010)
Tights: ?
Belt: probably eBay? / 2010
Earrings: etsy / Lealoo's Lovelies (2010)
Boots: Nine West via amazon.com (2011)

You guys! It's a new day. I'm wearing a dress! (No occasion. I went to lunch with former co-workers and then took the wee one to Target.)

This outfit, I like. I am participating in:

Find it Friday hosted by the lovely Rose from "I Still Choose You." Basically the idea is to "find" lost pieces in your wardrobe that you may have forgotten about. Today I have two - number one is this dress, which I only remembered existed after I pulled it out for my print post last week. The second is this belt, because I literally cannot remember purchasing it. Like, at all. I am assuming it came from eBay because I own a navy one and a green one just like it that I do actually recall buying from eBay. I don't even think I'd ever worn it before now. (I do have a skinny red belt which I have worn multiple times. I guess this one just got lost somewhere along the line.)

Also goin' on today? Pattern-mixing! Dots and... whatever this print is on this dress. Also ALSO I accomplished something today I'd been wanting to do, which would be "winterize" a dress I had only worn in summer before. Here I am back in June of '10 (old blog):

(Those are the shoes I wore when I got married! They have since been retired.)

I actually like today's version better, what do you think?

First time wearing the boots on the blog. I looked high and low for the "perfect" black leather wedge boot. I didn't want suede as I already owned black suede boots - I wanted regular old leather. And then these came into my life. They are so comfortable! I shall miss them when it warms up around here. (Okay, probably not because warm weather = peep-toes!)

As you may have been able to tell, I am trying to make an effort to be in a better headspace today. I bought a big bottle of Moscato at Target to help me with this. Speaking of, I pinned this the other day and loved it so much I have to share:

(No original source!)

So true, venn diagram, so true.

Perhaps I will pop in this weekend to share some of my Target finds today! (Lot of neon going on, truly. My nine year-old self - 1989 - would be so stoked.)

*Edit: I feel I must note that the bag sitting on our dining-area table is not a Chickfila bag I have left out. It is, in fact, my oldest son's Valentine's Day bag from school. I am not the type of person to leave trash laying around. I don't understand on Hoarders, those people who like, dump all their garbage from their latest take-out meal on the floor next to their decrepit recliner. Now, if I do get to that point? I'll really be depressed. And single, as my husband would NOT put up with that crap.

I gotta stop watching that show.

Seeing Red II - 2.16.12

2012-02-16T17:43:00.001-05:00

Top: Old Navy / oldnavy.com (2010)
Tank: ? (brand name washed out) / TJ Maxx (2009)
Jeans: Talbots / talbots.com (2012)
Earrings: gifted from M-I-L (2010)
Tennies: Simple / 6pm.com (2012)

Lighting better, blurry-factor upped. I cannot win.

I fully intended on posting at least on Tuesday. I had my little outfit on and everything - red pants debut! But I hated every single picture I took. And then yesterday I had a migraine all flippin' day and did not get out of my 'jams. (I did shower though, in case you were wondering. Hygiene > migraines.) Basically the last two days can be summed up by this:

This is such a stay-at-home-mom outfit, it's killing me. (Although after I typed that I am thinking about all of the uber-stylish SAHM style blogs on my Google Reader feed whose authors probably wouldn't be caught dead in this. Oh well. I'm keepin' it real.)

This shirt was YUGE huge when it arrived. Like, probably would have fit my 6'3" husband. I had to do some major shrinking and it's still really long. The jeans, are newish (purchased last month for seriously $17 or some such nonsense with free shipping) and I sort of love them. I have roll-up jeans which I adore but I am digging the true ankle jean as well. I had never even tried on a pair of Talbots pants before so I was guessing at the fit - I hit it right on as a "signature" fit in my normal size. (Also got a pair of super-cute teal roll-up cords in the same fit.) So now I know.

Note to self: ALWAYS TOUCH UP YOUR MAKEUP BEFORE PICTURE TIME. My face is like a Christmas ornament!

I got these shoes for $14.99 free shipping last week! They're awesome. The laces aren't even real laces! They're elastic! With tiny polkadots! And also the insert is removable so I can wear them without socks and still keep them clean! Exclamation point exclamation point exclamation point! Lazy girl shoes. Love.

It is really hard to get motivated to get dressed every day, let alone attempt to look cute. It has been four weeks today since I was laid off and I am not nearly "over it" yet. I am still very bitter and resentful and hurt over how things shook out. I feel such a disconnect. Like, I'm not a stay-at-home-mom but I'm not a working mom anymore either. I'm just floating around. Job search is bleak. There's nothing out there. I don't want to sound negative because I don't see myself as a negative person. But I am a realist and realistically I know how lucky I was to have my position at my old work and I know there is absolutely no way that I'll be able to get another job pulling in that kind of money. I'll be grateful to have a salary that was half of what it had been. This whole thing has been very demotivating. I just want to get over this so I can become a functioning, contributing member of society again.

I have been gifted with possibly the best and most understanding spouse in the universe, however, so that is pretty awesome. (And he's good looking too!)

Okay, enough of this. I shall leave you with a picture that my oldest begged me to take when I was setting up my own shots earlier:

Totally normal, by the way. Also please note his Nintendo DS XL charging cord in the wall behind him... in the dining area...where he does his homework. Totally appropriate.

Seeing Red I - 2.13.12

2012-02-13T13:34:00.000-05:00

Jacket: H&M @ Atlantic Station (2012)
Cardi: Willi Smith / TJ Maxx (2010)
Top: Gap (2011)
Jeans: Tommy Hilfiger / Steinmart (2011)
Earrings: Steve & Barry's (2008)
Bracelet: New York & Co (2009)
Pumps: Worthington / JC Penney (2011)

First and foremost, I totally adjusted the exposure in these pictures - the full-length shots were so dark. I need photo help. I am picture-impaired much as I am hair-impaired. That said, my jeans are dark blue, not black. Anyhow, I decided to participate in this week's "Inspiration Monday" put on by the two birds blog. Here's today's inspiration:

(Do you think Blue Ivy has her first pair of Louboutins yet?)

I do have a leopard scarf but I've worn it recently, so instead I opted for my super-fun leopard stilettos. I got these babies for a steal, y'all. Tax free weekend, sitting on the clearance rack - scored for under $20. Booyah! Love me some leopard-print shoes. Also I pulled out my new super-awesome jersey-knit H&M blazer I picked up when we were in Atlanta last month. My only regret is that I didn't get it in pink! (The only eight in any color they had left was in the red.)

I have decided that... I am boring. I am a total yawner. I do better in terms of dressing myself when I have a challenge. So this week I have challenged myself - color challenge time! This week's obvious choice? RED.

After I pick up my oldest from school this afternoon, I have to take him to the dentist. The above outfit was not very practical to take a seven year-old to the dentist, so I made a few swaps.

Cardi: Willi Smith / TJ Maxx (2010)
Top: Gap (2011)
Jeans: Tommy Hilfiger / Steinmart (2011)
Earrings: Steve & Barry's (2008)
Belt (came with a pair of pants): Zara @ Lenox Square (2012)
Flats: Steve Madden / Marshall's (2011)

Glitter belt! Free with pants! Also have one in burgundy! It's like a "free" belt. You have to love that.

So yes, much better for a trip to the dentist, don't you think? And of course, my RED here would be these flats. I LOVE THESE FLATS. It took me months upon months to find the "perfect" red flat. I wanted something plain (non-embellished, no buckles, no hardware), rounded or almond toe, either patent or plain leather, preferably under $50. Enter these babies. Thank you, Marshall's! (Another negative to being laid off - my job used to be about five minutes away from our only Marshall's. My house? About 25 minutes away. But now I have our only TJ Maxx within five minutes away from me here at home, so... fair trade, I suppose.)

So, V-Day tomorrow? Eh. My husband and I, we are perfect for each other due to our ambivalence surrounding holidays, including this one. We're also completely un-romantic. I'm okay with this - I treated myself to a mini-shopping spree Friday afternoon to which his response via text was, "Happy Valentine's Day!" Fine by me!

I did make these Friday night:

Valentine Pretzel Buttons! (Obviously found on Pinterest. Also obviously NOT my picture. Although they did look like that... for the whole hour they lasted.) Maybe I'll make some more today! Hey, I might not care about Valentine's Day but any holiday that allows me to eat chocolate guilt-free, I am all about that.

Lost Outfit - 7.27.11

2012-02-10T11:49:00.000-05:00

I was just over at H & K's Style Journey reading the mother-daughter remix post about their mustard skirt. It occurred to me while commenting that I had liked this particular outfit so much when I wore it - despite not having blogged in about a month at that point - that I took pictures of it! As I recall I got more comments and compliments on this outfit at work than anything I'd worn in a long time, maybe ever.

(Also, this REALLY makes me miss my tan. But not that townhouse!)

Top: Banana Republic / eBay (2009)
Skirt: J Crew Factory / jcrew.com (2011)
Belt: The Limited (2011)
Heels: Nine West / Macy's (2010)

I still love that outfit. I'd probably wear it again, exactly like this - and that is something I hardly ever do.

Love my mustard pencil skirt! I wore it in Atlanta a few weeks ago - with a boring black top, black tights and black pumps. (We were going to a meet'n'greet for people who work in my husband's industry. I think my yellow skirt might have been the most colorful piece of clothing I saw all night!)

I need to come up with an excuse to wear it again, and soon. Will definitely punch it up with some color like this! Ooh, I did just pick up this sweater from Zara in mustard and have yet to wear it. I also have mustard tights. And closed-toe mustard pumps. Ha, I could do all four items together head-to-toe if I wanted to be Big Bird. Yeah, I don't love it that much.

Crown Royale - 2.9.12

2012-02-09T19:01:00.000-05:00

Sweater: New York & Co (2010)
Tee: Merona / Target (2011)
Pants: New York & Co (2010)
Necklace: H&M in Columbus (2008)
Flats: Nine West / ninewest.com (2009)

Who loves ponte knit pants? Show of hands? They're like PAJAMAS. That are respectable to wear in PUBLIC. What's not to love?

I'm watching a rerun of "Toddlers & Tiaras" right now. I have only seen like four episodes of this show - I think I am in denial as I refuse to believe these moms are for real. I've been texting with a former co-worker who loved this show and tried to get me to watch it a hundred times and she suggested that I go on the road with my four year-old and put him in pageants to make some money. Now there's an idea I didn't think of. I'll get myself a big blonde wig and some rhinestone-studded sunglasses so nobody in my real life would know it was me. I'll also adopt a heavy Southern accent and rename the four year-old Alabama. And now I am picturing Jack (his real name, ha) with a fake tan and it is making me giggle.

Anyway! So, it's hard to tell but my tee is a plum shade. I really like the plum plus the orchid tone of my necklace and the teal of my shoes together. I'll have to remember that combo for future reference. I almost went with black flats today on my way out of the house but my gut told me to go with the teal so that's what I did. I'm trying to do that more - just go with the gut. Even though the logical side of my brain says, "No, self - in what universe does teal match with purple?" the other side of my brain is saying, "Yo - why does it have to match, dog? Can't it just go?" (Apparently the right side of my brain is gangsta. Or Randy Jackson.)

I went to Target today to pick up some things ("things" being shampoo, conditioner, Swiffer Wet Jet refill, and a gallon jug of water, if you must know) and I noticed the Jason Wu display remarkably full and intact. I guess people in Roanoke don't care too much about the latest designer collab with Target. (I didn't, if I am any indication.) I mean, don't get me wrong - what I have seen is totally cute but I'm not going to lay down even $30 at Target just because it has a designer's name attached to it. No offense intended for those of you who did buy pieces from the collection - just not for me!

Okay, which terrible child is going to win Grande Nachos Bel Grande Supreme? This mom is about to have a legit heart attack because her kid's name hasn't been called yet. So ridiculous. (Yet I can't stop watching! And here I was on a moral high ground due to the fact I hadn't watched "Jersey Shore" for the last two seasons.)

It's All About The Print

2012-02-08T18:21:00.000-05:00

It always perplexed me / made me sad when I'd see an episode of "What Not to Wear" wherein the contributor declared that she just did not like prints. Did not "do" patterns. I don't get it. How can you exclude printed pieces? I love a good print. Maybe more than others. Judge for yourself!

Tops:

Tees:

Skirts:

Tanks:

Dress trousers:

Dresses:

Sweaters:

Shorts:

Lone sweater vest:

Jackets:

Scarves:

Belts:

Shoes:

Even my slipper booties, which I LIVE IN while inside the house, are patterned:

Let me mention this - I am feeling a bit under the weather today so no return trip to Goodwill. This pattern-capturing project was about all I was up for this afternoon. Anyhow, as I said before - I LOVE a good print! (Should be obvious to anyone with at least one working eyeball.) I see plaid, gingham, floral, abstract, circles, damask, paisley, geometric, polkadots, stripes, leaves, chevron, hearts, swirls, watercolor, fair isle, argyle, animal print, houndstooth, fruit, diamond, pinstripe... am I missing any? Do I have any print "holes" in my wardrobe?

*Please note - obviously I did not take pictures of my underwear... or my socks, or my pajama pants. But rest assured patterns abound there, too! (Including snowflakes. And dogs. My husband has flannel pj pants with moose on them - now there's a print I'm lacking!)

Edit: Ikat! Dude! Need some ikat in my life, ASAP! Talbots has some cute ikat pieces right now... do you think "Because I don't have any!" is enough justification for my husband to purchase a pair of navy ikat wedges? Yeah, me neither.

Goodwill Hunting - 2.7.12

2012-02-07T15:50:00.000-05:00

Tee: Mossimo / Target (2009)
Pants: Gap / gap.com (2011)
Scarf: amazon.com (2012)
Earrings: etsy / Lealoo's Lovelies (2010)
Wedges: Merona / target.com (2010)

Neutral + neutral + POP! + smaller pop! + leopard print = today. Let me talk about my pants for a quick second: I love these pants. I have them in khaki, too. They're just ever-so-slightly too long to even wear with a small wedge, but since they're casual khakis, I'm not going to pair them with a heel. I am kind of at a loss as to what to wear them with, to be quite honest. Additionally, I have complained about this before but I do NOT understand why Gap thinks someone who wears an 8R, that's R for REGULAR, has an inseam of around 34". NO. And they're getting worse - my husband, who wears a 33"x36" so we always have to order his jeans online, the last pair he got he has to roll up at the bottom because they're too long. I don't understand that at all as I know he has not shrunk so shouldn't 36" be, you know, 36"?

I ordered this scarf the week before last off of amazon.com - it was all of $5.92. Comes in four other colors in addition to this pink. I have to say, for as cheap as it was, it is rather awesome. I ironed it today without it running or anything so that in and of itself was impressive. Needless to say I l-o-v-e this shade of pink! It's so bright. Maybe I should wear it again next Tuesday! Oh - idea: I could double up this scraf with my red scarf and be THAT mom at the Valentine's parties at school! Yes, it is decided. (My poor children.)

Holy moly do I not miss that blue carpet.

So I did something today that I have not done on the regular since I was a sophomore in high school - I went thrifting! "Thrifting" in this case meaning "went to the closest Goodwill" because we have zero thrift stores aside from Goodwill in this area. Anyway - I didn't have much time because I had to go pick up my oldest from school, but I came across a MAJOR find while perusing the blazer section. Witness:

That, my friends, is a perfect 100% wool, completely lined, Jones New York coat. Yes! I must have inspected this thing for a solid five minutes - looking at seams, buttons, the lining - it is impeccable!

I know it's a bit hard to tell from the picture but the base color is burgundy with pink woven through. Love! Best part - set me back all of $3.68 with tax! Even if I have to pay another $12 to get it dry cleaned, I think a Jones New York coat for around $16 is pretty flippin' sweet, if I do say so myself. Like I told my mother-in-law earlier, I am SO going back tomorrow morning after I drop off the wee one at preschool when I have more time to browse.

That's all for me, folks. Homework awaits!

Say Cheese - 2.4.12

2012-02-04T18:45:00.000-05:00

Tee: St John's Bay / JC Penney (2011)
Tank: Charlotte Russe / (2011)
Jeans: Tommy Hilfiger / Steinmart (2011)
Scarf: Steinmart (2010)
Belt (off skirt): JC Penney (2011)
Earrings: New York & Co (2009)
Boots: Steve Madden / endless.com (2011)

I have worn a scarf belted like this a few times before but for today's look I was inspired by this look I stashed on my "Outfit Inspiration" board on Pinterest quite awhile ago:

Does anybody know where that image came from originally? There was no source when I pinned it. Whoever it is, if they have a blog, I'd like to follow it!

Anyway - we had a birthday party to attend to this afternoon - one of my husband's long-time friends, his daughter turned two today. I felt like this was appropriate for such an event and the pink and yellow were a welcome addition to a very rainy grey day.

GUESS WHAT I DID THIS MORNING? I made a CHEESE DANISH. From SCRATCH, y'all. If you couldn't tell by my overuse of capital letters, this was a very unusual occurrence in my house as I do not cook, let alone bake. It's not that I'm not good at it - I just never do it. But I found this recipe (via Pinterest, where else?) last weekend and I love cheese danish oh-so-much that I had to try it. So I did. And it was GOOD! Like, legitimately good. Huh. In fact I might have some more for dinner. Totally cool, right? Cheese danish for dinner? Yeah, I'll take your silence as condoning my choice. Thanks, interweb.

Lots Of Things - 2.3.12

2012-02-03T14:44:00.001-05:00

Cardi: Merona / Target (2010)
Top: Forever 21 @ Lenox Square (2012)
Jeans: Mossimo / Target (2010)
Earrings: Target (2008?)
Booties: Mossimo / Target (2012)

I am almost 100% Target today! Shocker. I love the bullseye, what can I say?

Today's outfit - totally the result of being immersed into this style blogging thing over the past few years. Before blogging, I wouldn't have been caught dead in skinny jeans. Or red and pink together. Or wearing booties. Yet here I am, with all of it on, appropriately topped with a cardigan. (I have like, ten of these cardigans in various colors. I've said it before - I truly think the 3/4-sleeve cardi is one of the most - if not the most - versatile pieces of clothing in a woman's wardrobe.)

I wanted to wear this top today because it's "Go Red" day. Well, that and I keep seeing red/pink ensembles floating around the internets so I decided to break it out. Also, the coolest thing about this shirt?

Pockets! (That is my OMG I LOVE POCKETS face, if you were wondering.) Even the sales clerk who rang me up was all, "POCKETS!? AWESOME!" and I was all, "I KNOW!" a la Monica from "Friends" in reponse. The top, despite being less than $20 at Forever 21, is pretty good quality. It's lined and has a button closure in the back at the top. It also comes in a fun green/blue combo which I didn't see when I was shopping or else I may have picked that up too. (See above regarding my love of multiples.)

I seriously wear these earrings once a week if not more - that's how much I love them.

Booties! Who knew? I have been anti-bootie for... well, ever since I learned of their existence. But I came across these yesterday marked down to $20 in the clearance shoe aisle, and I couldn't resist. They looked adorable with the black roll-up chinos I was wearing. They're super-comfy as well, being a wedge. They're different from anything else I had in my "shoedrobe" and I know I'll get lots of wear out of them - want to pair them with fun tights and a black skirt next. (See, getting laid off means justifying purchases - ANY non-essential purchases - even if it is something that only sets you back $20. Oh, and in case you're wondering - the $390 spent in Georgia last week, I had saved that ahead of time. Fortunately so!)

This is one very positive thing that has come out of being part of this blogging community, and I'm sure you all will agree - being pushed outside your comfort zone. I love reading blogs and seeing things that I think, "Hey, that looks fabulous!" and having the courage to try it myself. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. (Literally two minutes ago, my mother - who is over here seeing the boys - just said to me, "I do NOT like what you have on," scrunchy-nose face and all. And she didn't even see my booties!) But that's okay. For me it's all about having fun with clothes. It makes me happy! (That sounds so shallow and vapid, doesn't it?)

Anyhoodle, today is Friday? (I'm guessing so because my four year-old was with me all day and he goes to preschool Monday through Thursday mornings.) I will probably check in this weekend at some point. Hope everyone has a good one!

Groundhog or Leopard? - 2.2.12

2012-02-02T15:39:00.000-05:00

Tee: Old Navy / oldnavy.com (2010)
Tank: Old Navy (2005)
Pants: Zara @ Lenox Square (2012)
Scarf: Zara @ Lenox Square (2012)
Earrings: Steve & Barry's (2008)
Flats: DV by Dolce Vita / amazon.com (2012)

Typical stay-at-home-mom ensemble, huh? First of all, let me say - my sister, the lucky duck that she is, works across from Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta. Like, literally right across the street - we walked there from her office one day last week. (Mike and I were in Georgia for a food expo through his company.) Anyhow, she had picked me up from our hotel Thursday morning and taken me to her office, where I sat for an hour and a half until the mall opened. Then I shopped until noon, when she left work, we went to lunch and then headed to Atlantic Station. Oh, the haul - the haul! I came away with some AMAZING buys. I started with $390 and spent every last dime, but for that amount I bought: one cardi, five tops, two tees, eight pairs of pants, this scarf, a sweater, and a blazer. Every store I walked into was having a HUGE sale. The kind of sales where, for example, I got the most darling pair of grey flannel ankle pants from Banana Republic for $18 - original price $120. How often do you come across stuff that is 85% off? Not often, at least in my case.

Let me talk specifically about this outfit. I'd wanted a leopard scarf for awhile and snagged this one the minute I laid eyes on it - for less than $20 it was a no-brainer. These pants, I know it's hard to tell but they're a very soft cotton chino and I have the bottoms rolled up. (I am obsessed right now with roll-up chinos - I have about six pairs to date.) I also got a pair in burgundy which are super-fun. Both pairs? Less than $20 a piece. My top, I also have it in charcoal grey heather and it's a great little basic. It's actually a boatneck. I "probably" need it in more colors. I believe I scored it for $10 during an online sale. Aaaaand I know my tank was bought for cheapsters and I KNOW my earrings were for cheapsters (I'd guess about $5 a piece). Then... my shoes. This is the first time I have worn these shoes and they are like butter. So soft, so comfy. And this color! They're actually a magenta even though they read rather purple in the pictures. I had an amazon.com giftcard left over from Christmas, so I treated myself to these flats as a "I got laid off, boo-hoo" gift the week before last.

Grand total for the whole shebang? A whole $70. Which, for nothing thrifted, not too shabby. Anytime you can get an entire outfit including accessories, shoes and jewelry for under $100 is a winner, if you ask me.

Oh, so shiny.

Well - the session/seminar/event-thingie yesterday. It was... I don't want to say useless, but I never made contact with or even saw any employers. It was basically just a big room full of people that I knew I'd probably never see again, some of whom I'd known for my whole tenure with my previous company. I didn't expect it to be so emotional for me, but it was. So much so, that I came home and started drinking. (Hence why there are no good pictures of what I wore - which, by the way, was the cobalt 3/4-sleeve jacket, a white button-down with ruffles at the placket, black and white print dress trousers, a pink belt, and simple black heels.) Did any of you watch Lost? If so, the last episode, at the very end, when Jack walks into that big room and everybody was there - including everybody who had died on the show? And he's hugging people and shaking hands and saying how good it was to see everybody? That's how it felt yesterday! To see these people (especially the supervisors who I was particularly close to) after only two weeks! Logically I realize how ridiculous that is. But as my mother-in-law reminded me, me losing my job is sort of like a death. When I was being let go, it went so fast that I didn't really have time to process it all. There's no closure there. I know I keep repeating myself but you guys, I was there for OVER ELEVEN YEARS. And I am only 31! It was, shall I say, my first "real" job. A lot of the people that I worked with I had been close to for that whole 11 years, and to just not see them anymore is sad. It's sad. I certainly was not prepared to feel the way I did. It really threw me for a loop.

I do know one thing - despite my son's insurance issues (he has epilepsy) I know I am in a lot better place than most of the men who were there yesterday. A lot of them, they were the primary - if not sole - breadwinners in their households, with a wife and kids to support. At least I have a husband who has a good job who makes good money so I'm not left wondering where my mortgage payment is going to come from, or whether my car may get repossessed, etc., etc., etc. So yes - I am lucky. Just like when dealing with Parker's seizures, I have to remind myself - it could always be worse. Someone always has it worse than you do. As long as I keep that in my mind at all times, I can't feel sorry for myself.

Ah, again - a lot. Too much for a "style" blog!

Stay tuned for tomorrow... be on the edge of your seat to find out what I decide to wear TO THE POST OFFICE. With my four year-old in tow. Oh, high fashion, high fashion!

Tu(nic)esday - 1.31.12

2012-01-31T16:16:00.000-05:00

Tunic: J Crew Factory in Gaffney SC (2012)
Belt: The Limited (2011)
Jeans: Beau / Steinmart (2011)
Necklace: Target (2009)
Boots: Steve Madden / endless.com (2011)

1) These pictures are terrible.
2) I am very, very pale (see number 1).
3) Decided to try a new look, what with the tunic, and I DO NOT LIKE IT.
4) Oh, hi. I guess I'm back.

I have started and re-started this post about a hundred times now. If you're still with me, you should know I have a habit of just dropping off the face of the earth and then re-emerging when I get bored. Well, I'm bored. If you're my friend on Facebook then you already know that I got laid off from my job of 11+ years the week before last. I think I may still be in shock. I have a LOT of feelings about this, ranging from sadness to relief that it's over to flat-out rage, but since this is supposedly a "style" blog (I put "style" in quotes because... dude - tunic?) and not a "feelings" blog.

Being "reduced" ("workforce reduction" is the new "layoff," even though it makes me feel like a sauce) isn't the only life-changing event to happen since we last met. NO I DID NOT HAVE A BABY. (Or get divorced. I have started Google Reader-ing again in the last couple of weeks and MAN! Y'all have been some busy ladies over the last six months or so!) That house that I was so excited about - I am sitting in it right now, typing from a cushy spot on my living room couch. You may have been able to tell by the background change of my picture up there - no more ugly blue carpet! Anyhow, the house is the main reason I stopped posting before. I got so swept away in home-related stuff that my outfits fell by the wayside. It's only been recently that I have become inspired again (even though you can't tell by this outfit) which is quite timely, seeing as how I am now a (hopefully temporary) stay-at-home-mom. (Sarcasm.) My pencil skirts, I miss you already.

(Sheesh, blurry much? I have got to play around with this camera a bit now that I have the time to do it!)

Yes, those are the ubiquitous* Steve Madden boots in cognac that are all over the internets in terms of style blogs. There's a reason for that: they're freakin' amazing. Talk about versatile! I've had them for about two months and I wear them with everything. Skirts, dresses, jeans, skinny pants. Love! I had been wanting them for the past two years or so, ever since they came out, and I regret that I waited so long to pull the trigger.

*Ubiquitous like the Urban Outfitters suede pumps. THE, capital THE pumps, you see, that everyone has in either orangey-red or mustard. (I have them in mustard. I am a total follower.)

Alrighty! Got laundry to put away, then to try to figure out dinner. Homework soon too. Oh, I do not know how you moms who do this do it without feeling all stabby all the time. (Thank goodness for Moscato.)

Tomorrow I shall wear real clothes. (Like a blazer! You can't get any more real than a blazer!) There's a meeting at The Sheraton for all of the "reduced" to attend and there's going to be some employers there as well. Oh, quick question pertaining to this: should I go for a full-on suit (bought one yesterday; a 3/4-sleeve number in brown tweed) or just a colorful blazer, dress pants and heels? I am dying to wear this cobalt ponte knit 3/4-sleeve blazer I just picked up and I think it would be appropriate with a white button-down and black and white print dress pants. Thoughts? Feelings? Anybody out there? Bueller?

LBD - 6.29.11

2011-06-30T20:35:00.001-04:00

Dress: Merona / target.com (2011)
Belt: LOFT (2010)
Necklace: Steinmart (2011)
Pumps: Bandolino / amazon.com (2008)

Yep, you caught me: yesterday's outfit again. Now, I realize that none of you reading out there actually saw me yesterday but I cannot tell a lie. Bad things happen when you tell lies! I believe in instant karma (even though my husband, a Buddhist, says that's not how it works). It's funny - in the past, wanting to get out of something, I have said, "Oh, I can't - Parker had a seizure!" and no less than an hour or two later, the kid actually has a seizure. See? Instant karma.

Yep, this is one of my Merona dresses, of which this is number five of five. I was quite tired yesterday morning and didn't have time to pick out clothes the night before. Solution? Grab a dress. Easy-peasy, done and done.

Oh, and how cute is this belt? What a great find. Just pop it on over a simple black dress and it heightens the adorable factor about 100%.

Permission to be obnoxious for a quic sec: that necklace cost me $3 a few months ago during an extra %-off clearance sale at Steinmart. (The extra %-off clearance sale only happens to be my favorite kind of sale, if you couldn't tell.)

So - house update ('cause I know you're on the edge of your seats): Dad thought it looked good on his walk-through earlier. There are some minor issues but nothing a few hundred bucks couldn't fix. So... we're putting in an offer! So excited. Of course, we'll have to get it inspected before anything happens - if they accept the offer - so if there is a huge problem we'll be able to back out without penalty. I have already received verbal "yes" (I may make him sign a contract, however) that if they accept a lower offer than what we are able to pay, we can completely redo the kitchen, no questions asked! I'm already thinking white cabinets + grey countertops + either yellow or aqua or a light lime on the walls with white trim and baseboards. We'll have to do the floor too... not sure about that quite yet.

I do realize this is a lot of "if" statements contingent upon other "if"s. Many, many "if"s. But I can't help it! This is huge for me. So again, like yesterday - I apologize for all the rambling house-talk.

Guess what I'm having for dinner again? One beer. (I did have Greek yogurt for breakfast and an egg salad sandwich for lunch and a piece of coffee cake this afternoon so... yeah. Okay, no more justifying - I am making a promise to myself that I will have actual dinner. Tomorrow.)

...speaking of - tomorrow is July! Wowzers.

Beer: It's What's For Dinner - 6.28.11

2011-06-29T21:05:00.000-04:00

Cardi: Ann Taylor Factory @ Leesburg (2011)
Purple tank: St John's Bay / JC Penney (2011)
Red tank: NY&Co (2009)
Pants: Josephine / Steinmart (2011)
Necklace: Target (2009)
Shoes: Unlisted / Belk (2011)

True confessions: 1) Despite my overall dislike of Katy Perry's music (California Gurls is just abysmal!), I really dig her new song Last Friday Night (TGIF) and cannot quit singing it. 2) I am having a beer for dinner for the second night in a row. At least it's blueberry lager, right? The blueberry has to count as a fruit. 3) This is what I wore yesterday, not today. We met up with our realtor last night and ended up out until after eight, looking at houses. You see, we (all four of us, lest you have forgotten) are currently living in a two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath townhouse. Which comprises a grand total of 1044 square feet. My husband bought the house before we met at the beginning of 2005. And then when Parker and I moved in a year plus later, it still wasn't so bad. But now? Two kids? Who run amok (I love that word) screamy-faced, wrestling, watching the worst TV shows ever? This place and its 1044 square feet have worn out their welcome. Plus, since my husband had already lived here before me, it has always been his place and I haven't felt very invested in it. But a new place! So excited! Have pinned approximately 999 home ideas to my For the Home Pinterest board! We have one really good prospect - we're doing another walk-through with our realtor and my dad (who is virtually a home improvement guru) tomorrow evening before we put in an offer. This is a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home with a garage and a huge level fenced in backyard and all new carpet downstairs and gorgeous hardwoods upstairs and everything has been redone... except for the kitchen. Which is 1970 to a ridiculous degree. But whatevs, that can be fixed.

Sorry, rambling... just stoked and hopeful right now!

I was feeling very bright yesterday and wanted to pair up my new sheer purple cardi with the red tank. I had to wear my new white ankle pants I picked up on Sunday (for all of $18, no less) and then the shoes, which I hadn't ever worn, completed the outfit quite nicely, I thought.

I was fully prepared to have to ditch the new kicks in favor of a pair of flats at some point yesterday but happily didn't have to do so. Super-comfy! I hadn't ever owned a pair of Unlisted by Kenneth Cole shoes before but I do have some Kenneth Cole Reaction pumps and they're very easy on my feet.

I'm off to look at more house stuff. I apologize in advance - I promise to try to not be so talky about it but if we do end up getting this particular house it is going to be taking up a lot of my time! (Much like a baby would, come to think of it. Huh.)

What Goes Around Comes Around - 6.27.11

2011-06-27T18:29:00.000-04:00

Sweater: LOFT (2009)
Beige tank (unseen): OCI / Goody's (2001?)
Skirt: East 5th / JC Penney (2011)
Earrings: etsy / LeaLoo's Lovelies (2011)
Bracelets: Target (2010)
Belt: Old Navy (2009)
Wedges: Fioni / Payless (2009)

I love this skirt. It's army green (JCP describes it as "deep fern") and I literally own nothing in this color other than this new piece I picked up Saturday evening. (Shopping tip: Sometimes I wait until the kids go to bed to head out to the mall. I can do this because I have a mall literally five minutes from my house. If I know there's only one store I want to go to, it's perfect. No one is there the last hour they're open and I can get in and out with no issue!) Penney's had a ton of stuff in the women's department 50% off and I picked this up for $18 or so. I think JC Penney is one of those stores (along with Steinmart) that just makes you think "old lady" but I find they have terrific work clothes, often times on a great sale. This is fine by me because it just means all the more cute stuff for yours truly.

Pockets, oh glory be.

I do have to say that the overall feel of this skirt today kind of made me feel like a mom from 1982.

Check it out, yo. Same color as the one on the bottom right, same pockets as the one on the top right. 1982 lives on with me. And my awesome skirt. My mom probably had lots of skirts like this. Bought from JC Penney! Ha. What goes around comes around. Hey, I much prefer styles from the early 80s than from the late 80s. I know neon is really big right now and I am okay with that - to a point. You won't be seeing me rocking the same looks as I did in the fourth grade - namely a white splatter-painted tee with music notes all over it in various neon hues, shiny spandex leggings in teal, white canvas Keds, and pink and black layered scrunch socks. Oh, yes I did. That was my first day of school outfit, 1989. I only regret there is no pictorial evidence of that day...

Shortcake - 6.26.11

2011-06-26T17:57:00.001-04:00

Top: Banana Republic Factory in Williamsburg (2010)
Tank: Charlotte Russe (2009)
Shorts: Merona / Target (2011)
Earrings: Gifted via Mother-in-Law (2010)
Wedges: Steve Madden / Macy's (2009)

Posting today merely to have my newfound love of shorts documented. These shorts, in particular. I love these shorts. So much so, that after I bought them in khaki and white, I went back the same week and picked them up in black and navy/white gingham. (They were on sale for $12 a pair that week; I couldn't help myself.) I mentioned back in my Just Say No post that I had just purchased a pair of shorts at TJ Maxx. When I wore them the following week, that marked the first time I had worn shorts other than to the gym or to bed in ten years. That's right - the last time I actively recall wearing shorts out was during the summer of 2001. (When I turned 21, had no kids, had no cellulite, and was a size four.) Anyway! That one polkadotty pair left me wanting more... so when I saw these Meronas on sale one weekend I decided to try them on. And I am so glad I did; LOVE them! I wear them all the time now on the weekends.

I think this may be a 5" inseam and they're mid-rise. This is about as short as I would go. I also had to size up (like the reviewer had to in the link up there) but no bigs. They're a nice, thick, soft cotton - 100% cotton, actually, and they fit great after a wash and dry (on low). I definitely recommend them. I think besides the four colors I bought them in they also came in a dark khaki/taupey shade and denim.

Isn't this shirt fun? It dips down in a vee in the back, too. I see it all the time on eBay for about $20 more than what I paid for it last summer!

I said it last year but I'll say it again: these are my all-time favorite summer shoes and I wear them with everything. The cognac shade is almost a neutral when I have a tan and the cork wedge is so light and walkable.

My six year-old has discovered the old Power Rangers show on Netflix and we're slowly (and painfully) working our way through the episodes. This show, never watched it when it was on (it debuted in 1993 and I was 13 then, watching 90210, probably) but I sure am suffering through it now. It is terrible in every way imaginable. But my kids seem to like it and it's keeping them quiet, so... the things you do for your children, seriously.

Hope everyone has had a nice weekend! I had great shopping juju last night at JC Penney and then earlier at Steinmart. With that stuff + the Gap trip from Friday + the items I still have left from when I went to Alexandria, I hardly know what to wear first! (What a problem to have, right?)

Have to run to Panera to pick up a cake for my co-worker's birthday tomorrow! Have you ever tried their Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake? Oh, it is heaven. Buttery, cinammony, sweet. It's magic! (And I am kind of being self-serving in buying her this cake because I know I will ultimately get to have some of it!)

Thrown Together - 6.24.11

2011-06-24T18:48:00.001-04:00

Tee: Gap Outlet @ Leesburg (2011)
Jeans: Chadwick's / chadwicks.com (2010)
Scarf: Steinmart (2010)
Earrings: Target (2005)
Flats: Zara in DC (2011)

Friends, this here is the direct result of having literally two minutes to pick out something to wear so I'd still have time to iron it this morning before rushing out the door to get to work on time. My thought process was kind of like this: Hey, haven't worn my new stripey tee... or my totes adorbs new blue flats. Since today is my day on Kimberly from Fab Finds Under $50 June Inspiration Calendar (orange + purple) I really have to incorporate orange + purple somewhere. Enter scarf I scored for $4 on clearance at Steinmart last fall. Boyfriend jeans - not at all flattering but who cares... and we have an outfit! Or at least something passable to wear to work on a Friday.

Little bit of pattern mixing, love it.

How cute are these flats? They had them in green and blush as well. The store on F street in DC was the first Zara I'd ever been in; still don't understand why they don't offer online shopping! Even H&M is joining that party come spring 2012. I really, really liked just about everything in the store; needless to say I love bright colors and bright colors were everywhere the eye could see. (If you want to see more great Zara pieces, just go look at my "coveting" board on Pinterest - it's comprised mostly of ASOS and Zara currently!)

Went to the mall today over lunch armed with my $2 per tank Old Navy coupon I linked to earlier in the week. Sadly the wee tiny table they had of tanks in my size, I owned one (or two) in every color they offered. So while my friend Amy loaded up, I headed to Gap. Currently in store, they're offering 40%-off sale items and about half the women's section in my store was on sale. I have definitely seemed to notice that the store prices and online prices vary greatly - the store prices being WAY lower than online. This is good for me, bad for my husband as he wears lots of Gap but he has to get large tall shirts and wears a 33x36 pant which they don't offer in-store. Boo. Anyhow, I'm going to get link-happy to show you what I got...

Got the pleated shoulder cardigan in pink fairy* - online price, $44.99; I paid $11.99.

Got the pima jersey stud tee in heather grey - online price, $14.99; I paid $7.19.

Got the sleeveless cascade top in slipper red - online price, $52.99, I paid $14.39.

Got two of the cap sleeve v-neck tee, one in copper velvet and one in pink fairy which they don't have online - online price for the one, $9.99; I paid $5.99 a piece.

Boo-frickin'-YAH. I also scored two tubes of lipgloss for $1.78 a pop. Total for everything? $51.57 including tax. (Did you know Gap emails you a copy of your receipt now? Technology rules.) Dudes, I couldn't get five tops for that at Old Navy!

You know, I think it's cocktail hour. And by "cocktail," I mean "cheap but delicious Barefoot Moscato waiting to be opened in my fridge," obviously.

*Number 78! My goal of 100 by the end of the year is looking more and more like a reality every time I go shopping! I don't know if I should be proud or ashamed of this.

Patty O'Furniture - 6.23.11

2011-06-23T20:43:00.001-04:00

Cardi: Gap (2011)
Tank: Chadwick's / chadwicks.com (2010)
Skirt: Talbots Outlet @ Leesburg (2011)
Earrings: Target (2006)
Bracelets: Target (2010)
Pumps: Nine West / Nine West store in Charlottesville (2009)

This skirt was $55 and I almost didn't get it 'cause it wasn't on sale and I didn't feel like paying that much for something at an outlet. (Run-on sentence, much?) BUT! Then my co-worker who was with me reminded me that I had a coupon booklet for Leesburg that got me 50% off one full-priced item in the whole store. It was between this skirt and a lovely navy eyelet pencil skirt (also $55). This one won out, obviously. I mean, how could I not add a fruity pencil skirt to my ever-expanding pencil skirt wardrobe?

Actually, the skirt reminds me of patio furniture my grandparents owned in the 80s. It had a very similar lemon-print motif - they had a wrought iron table and chairs (painted green) and the table had a glass top with a wavy sort of texture. The chairs had an intricate twisty back and yellow vinyl square cushions trimmed in green. The couch and other chairs out in the back had the lemon-print... although if I remember correctly there was some orange in there too. Huh. It's amazing I can recall the detail on these particular pieces of furniture when I was just a kid and didn't care too much for interior design, ha. (But I also most definitely remember the hammock and pool out in the back, which is something a kid would be interested in, for sure!)

I literally have zero clue as to what I am wearing tomorrow. This is highly unusual for me. But instead of figuring that out earlier, as I always do while the children are bathing before bed, I opted to pin my little heart out. And by that I am referring to my beloved Pinterest boards, of which I have become seriously (and I mean seriously) addicted to here lately. Today at work, while I waited for some long-running queries to finish, I pinned and pinned and pinned some more. I think I am one of those people who love to collect things. I like to group and sort and be able to have everything that pleases me all in one place just so I can look at it.

Which reminds me, I did this a few weeks ago:

I have seen this done in a much prettier fashion but I knew I'd have so many necklaces to fill the board that it would cover up any "pretty" I'd add to it. This is a beautiful thing. I had four hangers full of necklaces in my closet and I never really wore them all because I couldn't see what I had. Now all I have left on a hanger is this:

Those are the ones which are either too heavy or have weird fasteners which didn't allow me to pin them to the board.

Hey! I LITERALLY pinned things I loved onto a LITERAL board! How about that.

Onward, Friday!

Tin Man - 6.22.11

2011-06-22T20:44:00.000-04:00

Top: The Limited (2009)
Tank: The Limited / Marshall's (2010)
Pants: LOFT in Alexandria (2011)
Necklace: Target (2011)
Pumps: Nine West / Marshall's (2011)

You take the good you take the bad you take them both and there you have... my blog. This? Would be an example of the bad. These pants... no. I tried to step outside my little box and bought a different silhouette from the slim ankle pants I love so much. They were $28 found on the extra %-off markdown rack last week and I liked the texture so much I snapped them up without trying them on - colossal mistake. Turns out I am not so fond of how they look on me, despite the fact they are extremely comfy, cool and even lined. I just feel like they look like pants tailored for someone a good six inches shorter than me. Gonna give them to my co-worker who loved them who also wears an eight. Problem solved! Goodbye, pants. Although the texture and pattern are quite cool:

See, there's a metallic thread running through the white and black. Neato, huh? (I am always trying to sacrifice "flattering" for "different." Never works out.)

Would you classify this top as a cardi? I wouldn't. The bottom is banded; it doesn't button all the way down.

Time to watch some Dexter (season three disc two courtesy of Netflix - and by "courtesy" I clearly mean "my husband paid for it and they sent it to us") while I try to catch up on some blogs!

Mrs Match - 6.21.11

2011-06-21T21:05:00.000-04:00

Navy cardi: J Crew @ Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax (2008)
Dress: NY&Co (2011)
Sash: American Apparel / americanapparel.net (2010)
Earrings: Gifted from Grandma
Bracelet: "Gifted" (lifted) from Mom (2009)
Pumps: Nine West / NIB eBay (2011)

I am not sure why my dress and shoes are reading so red here. The true color is this:

Way more of an orange-based red than a poppy red. Huh.

(Who has two pairs of Nine West shoes in that exact hue and croc texture? THIS GIRL!)

I said yesterday that my outfit for today would be inspired by something I had added to one of my Pinterest boards recently. Semi-true statement. This isn't what I had in mind but I did get the color scheme from another picture I pinned earlier in the month. Behold, an outfit from the Rachel Roy Resort 2012 line:

I died when I saw that color combo. LOVE. And I knew I had all the right pieces to make it come to life!

When all else fails, tie your scarf/sash like an obi, I say.

I still can't get over how red those look! Anyhoodle - this is how insane my shoe collection is: I was searching for a pair to wear with this dress this morning and I had totally forgotten I had these. Totally. Forgotten. Won just a few months ago on eBay and shoved to the back of my closet. Well, I saw them, suppresed a squeal of delight when I realized they were the exact same shade of red-orange as my dress, and decided to own my matchy-ness and wear them proudly today.

I promised myself I'd make this short because I have a brand spankin' new episode of Hoarders DVRd from last night and I am ten minutes in so far and OH MY GOD this lady has 50000 dolls and she TALKS to them and she CUT the arms off one and said out loud, "This one expired, she's no longer alive!" and proceeded to LAUGH LIKE A LUNATIC. And then! The other person featured says like it's totally normal she poops outside her house (her plumbing hasn't worked for years, OBVS), that's why she buys "those diapers." !!! Between Hoarders, Bridezillas and Real Housewives... I feel so incredibly normal, I have to say.

Speaking of Housewives - if you watch the Jersey franchise - did you catch last week when Melissa was singing Amazing Grace and she actually butchered the lyrics so badly to say "saved a wench like me"? A WENCH. Haaa.

(Or am I the abnormal one? I don't have my own reality show. Someday! Someday!)

The Freshmaker - 6.20.11

2011-06-20T20:54:00.000-04:00

Cardi: Old Navy (2011)
Top: Banana Republic / NWT eBay (2009)
Skirt: Banana Republic Factory @ Leesburg (2011)
Earrings: NY&Co (2009)
Bracelet: Steve & Barry's (2008)
Belt: ASOS (2011)
Pumps: BCBGirls / Marshall's (2009)

It seems to me like the more clothes I have to choose from, the harder time I have picking out something to wear. It's a catch-22, really.

(It's hard to tell but I have three rows of silk panels in an inverted pyramid at the top of my shirt.)

Ah, well. I am back, obviously. Back to a world where I have to pay for my own food and my own drinks. Bummer.

This skirt is one of many, many things I picked up while in Alexandria. I know I have said it before but I do so enjoy Banana Republic Factory clothes much better than what they offer in their retail stores, quality be damned. This skirt was too cute to pass up and naturally I had a 20%-off $100 coupon which I forked over quite happily.

The belt and the cardi made their debuts today as well. Picked the cardi up at the additional 50%-off Old Navy sale in-store last month - I think I paid all of $6 for it or something equally as ridiculous. The belt was $10 and some change and it's one of those that I simply had to have yet am only wearing it now after owning it for several months.

Oh, speaking of Old Navy - if you're on Facebook you can grab yourself an awesome coupon here - starting Friday in-store, all women's, girl's and baby girl's ribbed tanks are $2! Now that is a deal! As I told my friend Amy earlier (after we had made a lunch date to hit up the sale on Friday) I am hard pressed to come up with a color in a tank top that I do not already own but I am sure I'll be able to find something!

Best black pumps of all time, right there. Aren't they amazing? Classic, comfortable, all-season.

So, I must share my latest favorite site which I found by way of my last favorite site Pinterest - Design Seeds. Tons and tons and tons of color palettes to scroll through, each one prettier than the last. If you click on the "palettes" link at the top you can actually filter by color. So cool! Super for inspiration - I came up with what I'm wearing tomorrow based upon a palette I pinned earlier in the afternoon.

I don't have much else to report. I have about 100 blog posts I have left unread from last week so I can comment on them when I get time. My oldest is doing vacation bible school this week with Grandma (my mom) so I may actually have time in the evenings with only one child running about! We'll see.

I wonder if anyone had as many cups of coffee as I did this morning... It was quite difficult to change my alarm from 6:45 (last week) back to 5am last night before bed!

I Am Not Dead - 6.15.11

2011-06-15T21:58:00.001-04:00

What I have bought so far in NoVa (Northern Virginia for those of you not in the know):

Pink & white stripey v-neck @ Gap Outlet
Turquoise patent pumps @ Nine West Outlet
Lemon-print pencil skirt @ Talbots Outlet
Purple-pink sheer 3/4-sleeve cardi (# 77!!!) @ Ann Taylor Outlet
Pink & white print silk sleeveless top @ Banana Republic Outlet
Brown, green, white, aqua print v-neck ruffle top @ Banana Republic Outlet
Bright blue patent bow flats @ Zara
Purple, black, cobalt dress @ Ross
Grey belted shirtdress @ Ross
Taupe slingback stilettos @ Ross
Grey & metallic ankle pants @ LOFT

...and we're going to Potomac Mills tomorrow evening! This trip has been VERY fruitful shopping-wise. And speaking of fruit, I have found my new favorite drink at my new favorite bar in Alexandria - the Huckleberry Martini. Oooooh. So! Very! Delish!

Can't wait to show everything off that I have bought! Wish me good shopping juju for tomorrow night, alright?

Blue - 6.8.11

2011-06-10T18:32:00.000-04:00

Dress: Marvin Richards / Steinmart (2011)
Necklace: JC Penney / jcp.com (2008)
Earrings: Gifted from M-I-L (2010)
Pumps: Nine West in Charlottesville (2009)

This is what I wore to Mike's convention reception on Wednesday evening. It was outside so my number one priority was not to swelter to death (temps hovered around the low-to-mid 90s that day into the early evening!) and my number two priority was to not sink into the grass. This dress, I picked up on a spur-of-the-moment mall trip last Sunday after I bought a navy blazer for my husband at Belk. I had to dash into Steinmart, naturally, to peruse their terrific selection of dresses and I am so glad I did! This little number is a linen blend, fully lined, has pockets, and was on sale for $34! Instant love.

(Please ignore Mike in the background. He was on the phone trying to figure out where the hotel bar was we were all supposed to meet up at, ha! It was clearly an important conversation which couldn't be interrupted by Wifey taking outfit pictures.)

It's difficult to tell but the dress has some amazing pleating detailing on the front. Not to mention, the color is WHAM POW BAM! in your face blue. Again, instant love!

I decided to pair the dress with this particular necklace because the necklace goes with everything and anything AND I could wear my pink pumps!

By the way - I got continuous compliments on this necklace throughout the evening and you all should be so proud of me because not ONCE did I say, "THANKS I GOT IT FOR FOUR DOLLARS!" I just smiled and said, "Thank you!"

I knew these pumps would get me through the evening pain-free and that they did. I also knew that the non-stiletto patent heel would be a good choice for walking through grass, and they were perfect!

I have to admit - after all the talk of the black and white print dress and red shoes... I forgot to take pictures on Tuesday night when I wore it. Oops. But I really did like this dress-slash-outfit better so I am glad I thought to capture it on film, at least!

Well now, Friday evening, nice to see you. I have wine to drink and a good book to read AND our department's VP went to bat for us today and won out against the acting controller who had put the kibosh on our DC training scheduled for next week - so the trip is on again! Woohoo!

I'm Down With OCP Yeah You Know Me - 6.6.11

2011-06-09T20:34:00.002-04:00

Brown dress: Sandra Darren / Marshall's (2011)
Belt: NY&Co (2009)
Earrings: etsy / Brittany Chavers Studio (2011)
Necklace: Target (2009)
Pumps: Nine West / (now-defunct) shoewoo.com (2010)

OCP = Oatmeal Creme Pie. I love an Oatmeal Creme Pie. Partly because they remind me of my dad who used to eat them all the time when I was younger and partly because... well, they're delicious. (And the "oatmeal" part of the name kinda implies "healthy" but they're totally, completely, utterly NOT.) I not only ate about three Oatmeal Creme Pies while wearing this ensemble on Monday, I also sort of looked like one. (IDEA: Little Debbie theme week? Dress like your favorite snack? Ha!)

This is the dress I scored on clearance last Friday for $20. It is awesome, to say the least. I felt amazing in this all day. I chose to stick with neutral shoes, neutral earrings and a neutral belt because the fit of the dress is so great that I didn't want to distract from that much and also, I wanted to show off the necklace. I've owned this necklace for over two years now and this was only the third time I had worn it! For shame, for shame.

Mike and I got back from The Greenbrier today! (We left on Tuesday.) It was the fanciest place I have ever been to, ever, for sure. It was, in a word, grandiose. I walked around feeling like I was in a movie set for three days. Crazy. I still have pictures to upload but wanted to get this up at least this evening so you all knew that I didn't decide to abandon my life as a working mother-of-two for a life of leisure, 7&7-drinking, craps-playing, room service-ordering, Lady of the South. (No room service, no casino, but there was definitely some consumption of 7&7s, I will say that much.)

I may still be slightly hungover from last night's activities. I may be going to sleep here before nine o'clock. Don't judge.

EDIT: Good LORD I have 752 unread items in my Google Reader! Y'all have been BUSY! It will be next week before I get through it all... good thing my trip to DC has been canceled. (Mad. More on this later. Prediction - will still be mad later.)

Just Say No

2011-06-04T15:52:00.000-04:00

On my recent trip to Marshall's, I came upon this absolutely lovely midi-length twirly-whirly linen skirt in mustard yellow. What with my affinity for all things mustard yellow, I piled it onto my stack of dresses I had already collected to take back with me to the fitting room. I saved it for last, really hoping it would work. When I got it zipped up and preened in front of the mirror - there was instantaneous disappointment. It looked terrible. The shape is just not right for my body whatsoever. And! And! I knew this. I knew it before I tried it on, before I even picked it up. Yet I hoped it would work anyway. Isn't that stupid? I do this a lot. Even if I know something is on my "Just Say No" list, every so often I'll try it again anyway, just for the sake of it.

Yes, I have a "Just Say No" list. A list of items that despite how cute they look on other people, I know they just won't work for me.

My list includes the following:

*Flat sandals of any kind (I have really knobby ugly toes and the less you can see of them, the better)

*Babydoll or empire-waisted tops (as I said in a comment on another blog earlier, I tend to look very "knocked up" when I attempt wearing this look and seeing as how I have been "knocked up" for realz twice in my life, that is not really a look I set out to achieve intentionally)

*Jersey wrap dresses (way too clingy for my post c-section belly)

*Strapless tops or dresses (I don't have enough on top to keep them up and how annoying is it to have to constantly be pulling up - or pulling down - clothing all day?)

*Tiered skirts (I actually don't have a legit reason for dislking these; I just think most of them are ugly)

*Smocked bottom bands on tops (despite the actual cost of the item, most of these I have seen just look cheap)

*Bermuda shorts (who cares what Stacy and Clinton say on this - I completely disagree that these are flattering on every woman!)

*Capri pants (used to wear them all the time until my husband told me one day how much he hated them and how on any woman he found them awful as they cut the leg off at the worst spot - normally I wouldn't care what any man says but in this case I think he's right)

*Midi-length and full-skirts (I reiterate from what I said above - at age almost-31 I know that the only flattering skirt shape on me is either a slight a-line or a pencil skirt)

I must state my disclaimer for all of the above - just because I don't like it on me certainly doesn't mean I don't like it on anyone else. I comment on people's blogs all the time complimenting them on any one of my "NO" items, and sincerely so. I admire people who can wear the things that I can't wear. Admire and envy.

Oh - I almost forgot. One of my former "NO"s turned into a yes (at least, for now) on Monday after the purchase of these at TJ Maxx:

Shorts! (Of the non-Bermuda variety, obviously.) I literally have not worn shorts outside of to sleep in or work out in since 2001. I am not even joking about that. I bought a longer pair last year at Target and ended up returning them. I didn't even really want to try this pair on but I did anyway (who could resist black and white polkadots?) and then bought them when I didn't totally hate how they looked. They were only $15 after all and I thought if I decided I didn't like them later I could take them back. I still haven't taken the tags off; in fact I am not entirely sure what to wear with them. I put them on for my husband when I got home and he said, "They're not short enough." Oh, honey. I replied, "Can you see my cellulite? Because that is my primary concern." He asked, "What cellulite?" He had his glasses on and everything so yes, I love him so.

Do you have a mental "Just Say No" list? If so, what's on it? I'd love to know!

Fruits Week: Kiwi - 6.3.11

2011-06-03T19:15:00.000-04:00

Cardi: Gap (2009)
Top: NY&Co (2009)
Tank: Gap (2009)
Brown skirt: Merona / Target (2009)
Necklace: Goody's (2009)
Earrings: Target (2010)
Brown flats: Aldo / aldoshoes.com (2010)

This is my not-so-creative take on a kiwi, today's fruit for the Fruits Week Challenge. I must say that it is a weird week when I don't wear a pattern anywhere on anything! I think I took the color of the fruits each day too literally. I really wanted to pair aqua or pink with this today but in my wackadoo brain I felt like that was compromising the integrity of the fruit so I couldn't bring myself to do it.

(Sometimes? I am unnecessarily dramatic. Last time I checked, fruit didn't have integrity. Or any other human attributes, for that matter.)

This tank and cardi separated by the tee is the closest you will ever see me come to wearing a twinset. I bought them months apart but yes, they were in-store the same time and they are the exact same color.

Hidey-ho there, lumpy crotch. The fabric covering the zipper will not lay down correctly!

You can't really tell but this is an adorable little skirt with pockets on the sides which I also happen to own in blue. (I know, me, multiples? Shocking.) I have already said it this year but I don't know why Target hasn't offered anything in the way of cute casual skirts this summer. I have a cotton-twill plain a-line skirt in khaki and black from last year and the year before and then this one and the blue one just like it from two years ago. This year, nothin'. Way to be lame, Target.

I have to show off my two dress finds from Marshall's today.

Hope & Honey, lightweight cotton, FUN color (gee, can you tell I enjoy this particular shade of green?), pockets. The buttons only go halfway down the dress. This set me back all of $19.99. I envision this belted (wide brown woven belt?) with pops of navy or purple, perhaps both!

This dress is brown; I know it's kind of difficult to tell. This is a Sandra Darren number, on clearance for $20. It too has pockets! It's actually identical to the grey Sandra Darren dress I purchased at TJ Maxx last month with a different belt and sleeves instead of being sleeveless. This dress was cut for my body and I am in love with the way it's sort of shimmery instead of matte. I'll definitely swap out the brown belt for a fun color like pale yellow, or mint green. I'll also pop the simple, classic neckline with a great necklace. This is my ultimate perfect work dress! I love the slight a-line and it hits me right at the knee which is super-flattering. I love Marshall's!

Natalie from Two Preps in a Pod has done two great discount store features this week on Ross and TJ Maxx. I intend at some point to do my own and I am most definitely starting with Marshall's! I have found the most fantastic dresses at our local store - I walked out one day last summer with five, all under $25! Can't beat it, honestly.

Hope everyone is having a fabulous National Donut Day Friday!

Shoe Gods

2011-06-03T15:13:00.000-04:00

As you all know, I have talked (at some length) about my unsuccessful and never-ending quest to find a pair of red stiletto peep-toe pumps before next week to wear for a "fancy" dinner out with my husband.

Remember the ones I gave to my sister last month because they were just too big?

Well! I went to Marshall's today at lunch in sort of a last-ditch effort to find something suitable to pair with the black and white dress and guess what I found on the clearance rack?

The SAME EXACT PUMPS. In my size. On clearance. For $25. I literally had to stop myself from jumping up in the air and clapping enthusiastically.

What are the CHANCES? The shoe gods must've been shining down on me today, that's all I have to say. (And the dress gods too; I found two for $20 a piece that fit me perfectly.) Oh Marshall's. You are awesome.

In summation:

YAY.

Fruits Week: Banana - 6.2.11

2011-06-02T19:06:00.001-04:00

Cardi: Gap (2009)
Brown dress: Merona / Target (2010)
Tank: Charlotte Russe (2011)
Belt: random pop-up store in mall (2010)
Earrings: Target (2011)
Pumps: Nine West / Macy's (2010)

Confession: This belt is yesterday's belt's twin. I rotated it so the buckle was out of sight because I didn't like how it looked. (So my belt was backwards but I promise you my underwear was on right today.)

Today's Fruits Week Challenge fruit is... banana! This is my version of a banana, which would be one that has been left behind from the rest of its bunch by my husband and abandoned on top of the fridge for awhile. I am a very matchy-match over-ripe banana today, and I like it.

Whenever I think of banana, immediately this pops into my head:

Classic. I love how they're standing on podiums painted to look like banana slices.

This is the tank I picked up yesterday at Charlotte Russe. They have a bevy of colors right now, all for $5 each. (Not as great as last Friday's Old Navy $3 tee sale, but I'll take it.)

Thanks to everyone who left me a link or a suggestion for a pair of red heels yesterday! You guys are awesome. I should have been more specific for your sake, though - I wear a size 7 which is typically one of the first sizes to sell out, especially on sale at a good price. I think all the links but one, none of them had a size 7 left. And I had already checked all my usual online resources - DSW, Aldo, amazon, endless, 6pm... nada. I found lots of beautiful red peep-toes, just either not in my size or about $150 (or higher, in the case of one beautiful pair of Kate Spade I may just trade one of my children for at a later time).

This morning I expanded my search to include bright yellow, cobalt, bright purple... still nothing! (I also have found that there is a direct connection a lot of the time between price and sheer ugliness of a shoe. That could be a whole 'nother post in and of itself.) I think I'm going to head to Marshall's tomorrow and see what they have. I checked TJ Maxx last weekend: nothing. I should look at Ross too.

One more thing before I go: I have to say that I am not a fan of little dogs, for the most part. But I found this dog's page via my sister's Facebook the other day and almost keeled over due to a cuteness overload:

!!! This dog! Is five! He looks like a wee teensy bear! I want him! !!!

Here's his Facebook page if you want to "like" him or just check out all of his pictures. Prepare to be "Aw!"-ing lots and lots if you do visit, though. Aw, Boo. (I'd trade the other child for him, if you want to know the truth.)

Fruits Week: Grape - 6.1.11

2011-06-01T18:43:00.000-04:00

Cardi: NY&Co in Charlottesville (2009)
Top: Merona / target.com (2010)
Skirt: NY&Co (2008)
Belt: random pop-up store in mall (2010)
Earrings: NY&Co (2009)
Wedges: Nine West / amazon.com (2011)

Today's fruit for the Fruits Week Challenge? Grape! Aren't you impressed with the way I managed to interperet a grape whilst maintaining my typical summer uniform? (And I only had ONE guy make a Barney crack at me today. My mother-in-law said I looked very Lilly Pulitzer so I'll take that instead.)

I am so glad I bought this skirt when I did. It was the middle of winter and it was hanging on a clearance rack marked down to about $9 all sad and lonesome. I thought to myself, "White skirt, not practical in December BUT I will surely find use for it in warmer weather!" It came home with me and I socked it away, just right for 95-degree days like today.

I went to the mall today over lunch (on a completely futile search for open-toed red stilettos, more on that in a bit) and wandered by the random store I bought this belt from last winter. There was a sign that said they'd only be open for seven more days so I ran into peruse their belt selection but came away emptyhanded. I bought four or five belts at once because a) they had great colors and b) they were super-cheap. I was really looking for cobalt but they didn't have anything close. Oh well. I say this like an idiot when I have about ten belts hanging in my closet right now that I "had to have" yet have never worn.

So, why was I searching for open-toed red stilettos? Well, my husband has an expo he has to attend next week - his industry holds one every June and every December - and I actually get to go with him this time because they're hosting it an hour and a half from home. At The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. Please, click on that link and prepare to be jealous of yours truly. Now, we're only going for a two-night stay but seeing as how we have not even had an overnight to ourselves since last August, those two nights might as well be two weeks. (I plan on spending all the time my husband is attending meetings during the day at the completely fabulous spa. So excited.) Anyhow, we have two dinners we're supposed to go to where we need to dress up. He'll be in a suit of course. I picked a dress for one of the nights that I bought last summer at Marshall's (for all of $25!) that I have never worn because it's too short to be appropriate for work. It's a cream and black print:

There's a band of ruching around the middle; it's kind of hard to tell just on the hanger like that but it makes it incredibly flattering on my body. I love this dress! However, I need shoes. (I know, me? Need shoes? Ha!) I really wanted a pair of red peep-toe stilettos - I gave my pair to my sister as you might recall - but I literally cannot find a pair that meet my criteria for under $150. Seriously. I have looked everywhere online and then today I hit up Macy's, Belk, Shoe Dept Encore, even Charlotte Russe and walked away with nothing. (Not totally true: I bought a turquoise stone necklace and a dark yellow tank at Charlotte Russe and spent $12. I am not a robot who is immune to a good buy while on a mission for something else.)

I think a fuschia would work too - but I can't find any in that color either. I want: a name brand that I am familiar with where I know a 4" stiletto will fit me and be comfy. I want: a peep-toe or strappy sandal, not something that will show too much toe (I have really ugly toes). I want: to not spend more than $70 or so. Patent leather would be perfect - I have two pairs of closed-toed red pumps but they're just leather and not fancy enough for the dress, in my opinion. And my red patent peep-toe wedges just won't do either.

In essence: HELP!

(Tomorrow: Banana day. Fun fact, I hate bananas. Okay, that's not so much fun but it is a fact. HATE. BANANAS. But I am not opposed to dressing like one!)

Fruits Week: Watermelon - 5.31.11

2011-05-31T19:48:00.003-04:00

Megan from Megan Mae Daily and Keely from Casual Chic Kiki have come up with a great theme week: Fruits Week! Yesterday was actually day one but since all I did was TTP (not Gym-Tan-Laundry; rather TJ Maxx-Tan-Panera) for the day, I didn't participate. Today, day two, is watermelon day!

Cardi: NY&Co (2008)
Tank: Mossimo / Target (2008)
Skirt: NY&Co / Ross (2006)
Necklace: Target (2009)
Belt: The Limited (2010)
Pumps: Nine West / 6pm.com (2010)

I admit I was a bit perplexed trying to come up with a suitable watermelon-y color schemed outfit last night. (I realize I had a two week lead time to figure out what I wanted to wear but as usual I waited until the last second.) I feel like I copped out a bit seeing as how the majority of what I am wearing is black - but I do feel like I took a risk of sorts (at least for me!) by throwing on the green necklace with the bright melon-colored cardigan. Two colors I never would have put together before, that's for sure.

I found myself saying something I never say today over lunch: a sentence starting with the words "I am so glad I am a girl because..." when normally I am cursing my sex, not praising it. However, along with all the negative aspects of being a woman (UTIs, cramps, childbirth, shaving your legs every three days in the summer, etc., etc., etc.) there is one huge positive. This time of year, anyway. It's 96 degrees outside? Well hey, it's totally appropriate for me to wear a pencil skirt and short-sleeves to work! Not like a man, forced to wear long pants. (Unless you're the guy who at one point worked as our HR admin - long since fired - who actually wore a kilt into work one day. Didn't go over so well. He looked like Milton's twin from Office Space. There's a visual for you.) Ha HA. Hey, it's the small victories sometimes, you know?

Speaking of small victories, I mentioned earlier I stopped by TJ Maxx yesterday. I came across a pair of super-high black patent peep-toe cork wedges identical to these Steve Maddens at DSW for a mere $19.99. Super-comfy, super-cute, super-high! My husband asked me after I got home and tried them on for him, "Why do you want to be so tall?" Why would I not want to be so tall? I have said it before - I LOVE being taller than the men at work. When your coworkers average 95% male, it is an advantage, believe you me. These new wedges? I clear six feet, easy. Awesome.

Say, it's bathtime for the kids. And also time for me to go sort out what the heck I'm going to wear for grape day tomorrow. Too bad I wore my lone purple dress last week.

By the way, I am dreadfully behind on blog-reading and blog-commenting. I didn't get online much over the weekend - I drank lots of blueberry lager and read books and ate a bunch of stuff that was very, very bad for me. Typical holiday weekend, really.

Thinking purple thoughts...

Lucky - 5.26.11

2011-05-26T19:24:00.000-04:00

Top: Gap (2009)
Skirt: Pantology / Ross (2009)
Belt: TJ Maxx (2011)
Earrings: NY&Co (2010)
Bracelet: NY&Co (2009)
Pumps: Nine West / (now-defunct) shoewoo.com (2010)

This was my second attempt at taking and uploading this shot. I can only blame myself for its blurriness as I am not currently wearing my glasses so everything seems sorta blurry.

I don't have a lot to say about this. I totally love this shirt - it's so soft and I dig the fun sleeves - but it's extraordinarily long so I can only wear it tucked in without it looking stupid. (Additionally, it is a lot more orange in real life than it looks like here.) This shirt, this was a case where multiples just didn't work out for me. After buying this full-price, I found the same shirt in a steely-blue/grey marked down to about $5 months later. I liked this top so much that I didn't think twice about purchasing the other one. However - it was the weirdest non-color color ever. It didn't look right with anything. I ended up wearing it once (with a khaki skirt because literally nothing else worked with it) and then gave it to my co-worker to give to her daughter who had lost weight and needed clothes. Oh well, live and learn.

Threw on the animal print belt today just 'cause.

While I know the premise of this blog is style/clothes/shopping/nonsense, I feel it necessary to mention something that has been weighing heavily on my mind.

I had two Access reports running today which were taking forever so I spent quite a long time on CNN's site reading coverage on the Joplin tornado. I may have cried a bit at work, which is not something I necessarily like to do, but I just couldn't help myself.

I'm weird about these things - I know the tsunami/earthquake disaster was on a MUCH larger scale than this tornado yet I feel way more moved by this. Reading these people's stories was killing me. I am just so sad which I know is a completely stupid and trite comment to make but I don't know how else to express how I feel in words. It's not so much the loss of property/homes/cars/whatever that's affecting me so profoundly - that is all just stuff which can be replaced. No, what I cannot get out of my mind are all the articles and interviews I read where people lost loved ones. I can't... I can't even imagine. There was one story where a family of four can't find their mom. She went out for pizza and then the storm hit 20 minutes later and now her husband and two kids haven't heard from her since. I mean... my God. I'm tearing up now just thinking about it. And the little kids... I can't help but to think of my own little kids and how absolutely horrifically terrifying it must have been for them to be sucked away from their parents out into that pitch black cloud.

Anyway. I don't really want to go back there thought-wise (although I know I won't be able to escape this for quite some time) but I'm mentioning this because I need a reminder sometimes of how truly lucky I am. I am lucky because I have my children and I have my husband and I have my mom and dad and sister. So many of those people don't anymore. Every time I get irritated by some stupid little petty thing I need to remember this. Life is precious, not to sound like a total cheeseball. But it is.

It is most definitely a night for wine.

Really - 5.25.11

2011-05-25T20:39:00.001-04:00

Cardi: LOFT / loftonline.com (2010)
Top: LOFT (2010)
Skirt: Francess Rita / Steinmart (2010)
Earrings: Target (2010)
Bracelets: Target (2009 & 2010)
Pumps: Bandolino / (now-defunct) bandolino.com (2009)

That is a genuine smile on my face and I shall show you the uncropped version of that picture and you will see why:

He has become quite the little photo-bomber lately, huh?

Anyhoodle. This is totally my summer uniform. Cardi + top + pencil skirt + heels. (Swapped out the ankle pants for the skirt to change-up from my self-proclaimed spring uniform.) This is the outfit I have to invest no thought whatsoever into putting together. Sometimes I just do not have the energy, effort or desire to even try and this is the result.

I bought this top on clearance - one of LOFT's infamous additional %-off markdown rack sales - last fall for like $9. It is weird. Pretty, but weird. I wore it once back in the winter and found it really hard to style. I think I must've worn it out and not tucked in and it just looked off. I like it much better tucked into a pencil skirt like this. The colors are amazing. LOFT has great patterned pieces.

The bracelets are from about five various groupings-of-bracelets all from Target. I am not kidding when I say I have an entire drawer-full of elasticized bracelets in the bathroom. And then I have a whole shoebox full of hard bracelets shoved under my side of the bed. I told you, I am a collector of things.

L O V E these shoes. The heels look all scuffed but it's not as noticeable in real life because they're a bronze-y hue and not matte. These are some of the very few slingbacks I own that don't flop off my feet when I walk. (So annoying.) They're actually comfortable and easy to walk in, too - love the platform.

Well. Super-sweet and super-adorable Claire from Spinning Threads gave me an award earlier this week! (Which one, I am not sure as she had been bestowed three herself.)

I had to answer a few questions and then "tag" three other bloggers to do the same. So here goes:

If you did another blog, what would it be about?
If I could reclaim my cloak of anonymity I had back in the day (early 20s) I'd keep a true online "journal" again. I miss that. It was a good outlet.

If you could change your name, what would it be?
I wouldn't. When I was little I hated Taylor. Growing up with a bevy of Ashleys, Jessicas, Jennifers, Amandas, Heathers, and Nicoles - I didn't want to be different. I actually wanted to be Cindy and named every last Barbie I owned Cindy. (I am SO not a "Cindy." It's a good thing seven year-olds can't choose their own names.)

If you could be born again, would you like to be a man or a woman?
Woman. I don't think I'd ever get used to my bits just... hanging out and just being there dangling about while I walked around all day.

If you could realize one wish, what would it be?
That my oldest son would never have another seizure. He can't really be a little kid and it kills me.

If you had a power, which one would you like to have?
Teleportation. Sometimes I am too lazy to make the 20-minute drive to Target and it would be amazing to merely wish myself there.

If you had to buy a lot of perfumes from one specific brand, which one would it be?
This is an odd question. I've never liked multiple scents from the same brand so I can't really say.

If you had won a holiday, which place would you like to go to?
An amazing relaxing spa weekend where I could just laze around, get massages, drink wine, and not change out of a robe!

Three bloggers I'd like to tag:

Tara from This Life, Redefined & Tiffany from Breakfast with Tiffany & Kate from Divergent Musings.

...and Party Down on Netflix continues. Only a few episodes left to go in the series! Whatever will we do when we're done? (Probably start Dexter or Weeds, that's what.) That right there is a prime reason as to why an online journal at age 30 wouldn't be so great - my life is about "which TV series are we going to start next on Netflix" and not much else. Oh, domestication.

Get A Clue - 5.24.11

2011-05-24T20:34:00.001-04:00

Cardi: NY&Co (2010)
Dress: Mossimo / Target (2009)
Earrings: Target (2009)
Pumps: Nine West / Macy's (2010)

This shall be short but sweet as we are making our way through all the Party Down episodes on Netflix and I cannot fully concentrate on the awesomeness that is Adam Scott and blog at the same time.

I feel like the lovechild of Colonel Mustard and Professor Plum today. I really liked the idea of this outfit in theory but am not loving how it turned out. I do so enjoy mustard and purple together but it is just not working for me here.

But... fun embellished cardi! Dress with pockets! It's not all bad.

And also I have not yet eaten dinner and also also I have already had two glasses of vino (I have to drink during Real Housewives of NJ which I watched earlier... favorite line from last week: Theresa on her idiot husband Joe - "Joe had the runs, if you know what I mean." Yes, Theresa. I have cracked your code) so... what was I saying?

I believe it is egg salad o'clock! (I love some egg salad.) Until tomorrow... when I shall be less tipsy and more focused on not Ben from Parks & Recreation (aka Adam Scott, if you didn't know).

Pete & Repeat - 5.23.11

2011-05-23T18:36:00.002-04:00

Cardi: Gap in Charlottesville (2009)
Top: LOFT (2010)
Skirt: Grace Elements / Steinmart (2011)
Necklace: NY&Co (2010)
Pumps: Etienne Aigner / Shoe Dept Encore (2010)

One of our engineers today (the one who is HUGE into the Civil War and who I would consider my "work husband") asked me when the next time I'd wear this outfit would be because he liked it so much. (Grey + yellow = Confederate Army + Cavalry, see.) I said, "Never." Which is true. I will never wear this exact combination of clothing items again. I've worn all the pieces before (besides the skirt as it is new, bought a few months ago to replace my now too-big light grey pencil skirt) but never together, and I will wear them all again just not like this. I mean, is that weird? I don't think it's so weird.

Isn't the waistband of this skirt great? Additionally - POCKETS. (This always excites me.)

I wrote last post about our bargaining unit employees signing their contract to avoid going on strike. Well, last week at work I happened to delve into my old blog that I had kept from the period they last went on strike in 2003 and about stroked out when I read the two following things:

July 22 2003

"Hi, my name is Taylor, and I'm a Fatass."

(all together now)

"Hi, Taylor!"

After being thoroughly disgusted with myself the past few weeks, I've decided to become one of those uber-annoying people who are 100% obsessed over their weight. I don't know how I managed it, but my carb intake yesterday was less than 30. I had a Java/lowfat milk drink in the morning (29), and then I didn't eat until dinner, where I had the Bleu and Black Salad from O'Charley's (no dressing, and the salad was composed of lettuce, carrots, onions, cheese, and bits of steak), and then I bought a diet Sprite to take with me to the gym last night. I don't know if I can do that every day, but I'm damn sure going to try. I have *got* to lose weight. I feel so gross and so sluggish and so unattractive. My goals are to a) be able to fit into my pants (any pants) again without having to squeeze into them, b) not look like I have a double chin in pictures anymore, and c) get to the point where my thighs don't rub together.

I know it's going to be a hard road, but I have to do this. I must do this. It's as simple as that.

Goddamn, I'm a heifer.

Just by looking at pictures of me, you might think that I am a "normal" size, and that I am not fat by normal standards. Well, I'm huge for my standards. I found pictures the other day from right around my high school graduation, and I was tiny. My bone structure even looked completely different. Even in a white dress, I looked small. Now? Not so much. When you go from being 5'7" and weighing 110 lbs. to weighing 140+ lbs., you do look overweight. At least I do.

What else? Let's see here... nothing. I'm a fatass and that's all there is to tell this morning, I think. Oink oink moo moo.

And from four days prior:

Oh, I went to the Atkins diet website yesterday. I plugged in my height (5'7"), weight (approx. 143), and how much I wanted to lose (20 lbs.).

Wow. WOW. Can I say, almost eight years later, that I weigh 140 lbs and I think I am a GOOD size to be a) 5'7", b) almost 31 years old, and c) a mother of two? Reading the above makes me want to vomit. How could I have been so hard on myself? Referring to myself as a "heifer" at 143 lbs? For reference here are two (not very great but hey this was before digital) pictures of me from a few weekends prior:

(Please do not ask me what the heck I am doing in either of those pictures. It was July 4th weekend, we were in Charleston SC, I had consumed a LOT OF ALCOHOL. A LOT. Of booze. LOTS of booze. LOTS OF BOOZE.)

Anyhow. I am mad at my almost-23 year-old self and want to go back and kick her a little bit. On what planet is 143 lbs at 5'7" acceptable to compare to a COW? No.

All I have to say is - thank GOODNESS I am not in my early 20s anymore. I know my liver thanks me as well. I would also tell myself (besides "Shut your face about your weight, idiot") to quit making out with so many boys. Okay, well probably not that. That was fun and harmless. (Also amusing: continuously raving about the "new" McGriddles from McDonald's.) But I would suggest to maybe quit dying my hair that horrid almost-black color. And I'd probably insist on more nap-taking as that came to a grinding halt after I had my first child. And I would most definitely tell myself to invest big in Apple. (If I had taken all the money I spent on boozin' it up every week and bought stock in Apple I'd be a millionaire at this point.)

I am curious: If you could go back and tell your early 20s self something, what would it be?

Working For The Weekend - 5.20.11

2011-05-21T19:19:00.001-04:00

Sweater: The Limited (2009)
Tank: St John's Bay / JC Penney (2011)
Skirt: Liz Claiborne / eBay (2011)
Necklace: NY&Co (2009)
Wedges: Steve Madden / Ross (2010)

This is what I wore yesterday. Instead of blogging last night I opted to drink 3/4 of a bottle of wine and not eat dinner and watch a bunch of Oprah DVRd from last week and cry over Oprah's most memorable guests. Yeah. I party hard on Friday nights, let me tell you!

Oh, the outfit. Not very notable. The sweater does have a cool texture, though.

So, can we talk about denim skirts for a second? And the overall unavailability of a cute denim skirt that is not 12" long or does not have a slit in the back that goes halfway up the butt? I had to stop wearing my little denim skirt I've had for the last few years - it's just too short. And I do have another one but it's clearly a pencil skirt - stretchy denim from Target so it is OH-SO comfy but not practical for "casual" Fridays. I mean... I looked and looked and looked for a cute denim skirt. There was ONE I found on gap.com but by the time I saw it they were completely sold out in my size and they didn't have any at my store. I finally resorted to eBay where I found this adorable little Liz Claiborne number for all of $8. Winner!

How awesome are the wedges? Made even MORE awesome seeing as how I got them on clearance at Ross last summer for $12.99. Oh yeah! The perfect purple-pink patent, lightweight cork, 4.5" wedge sandal. It was love at first sight. My only disappointment was that they didn't have any in my size in the blue they also had on the racks. I have seriously scored some amazing shoes off the Ross clearance rack. A pair of Seychelles flats for $9.99. A pair of black patent Nine West pumps for $24.99. A pair of Report hidden-wedge knot flats for $12.99. Places like Ross, TJ Maxx and Marshall's are the best place for finding brand-name shoes on super-duper-sale, no doubt.

I had to work today. In production. Our union had to vote on their new contract (which they passed, thank GOODNESS) and one of the areas has work that must be done 24/7 so they asked people to come in to man the stations. My husband just asked me why I didn't take any blog pictures today since I did go into work. I laughed - I am wearing a v-neck tee, a tank, raggedy-hem jeans (my FAVORITE that I can no longer wear to work because the bottoms are all threadbare) and a pair of Pumas. I say "thank GOODNESS" they agreed on the new contract because otherwise this would have been my standard work-wear until who knows when. Tees and jeans every day do not make for good blog pictures. Last time the union went on strike was in 2003 and they were out for 10 weeks. Ten weeks! Ten weeks of tees and jeans. Ugh. I would have been bored out of my mind by day four. Or day three. And I'd have to wear SAFETY GLASSES. I am not cut out for production work only because I like to dress up too much and pencil skirts and peep-toe heels and fun scarves are a major no-no for work out on the floor.

I keep hearing intermittent screams from both of my children upstairs. Fortunately bedtime is only 40-some minutes away. Unfortunately I drank all my wine last night.

Miss America - 5.19.11

2011-05-19T20:44:00.000-04:00

Sweater: Gap (2010)
Tank: Old Navy in Charlottesville (2011)
Skirt: NY&Co (2009)
Scarf: Talbots / TJ Maxx (2011)
Belt: eBay (2010)
Earrings: NY&Co (2008)
Wedges: Nine West / Belk (2011)

This outfit was planned solely around this scarf. Picked this beauty up on a TJ Maxx run last month and absolutely had to have it. It's a silk blend and the $59 Talbots tag was still on it - TJ Maxx price $9.99. Yep. Mine.

I knew I ran the risk of looking very patriotic in this. My husband says to me after kissing me goodbye this morning, "Go USA!" all snarky-like. Ha HA, Michael. I did at least wear a khaki skirt (not white) and threw on this baby blue cami to try to deter from the flag theme just a bit.

Second try at belting a scarf. I think I may like it with a skirt a bit more than when I initially attempted the look with ankle pants last month.

I think I may have a future style blogger on my hands. Once again he immediately ran over to have his picture taken after he saw me doing it, abandoning his crayons like there was no tomorrow.

Big brother is not so sure.

I finished my Tina Fey book earlier and was actually disappointed. Not disappointed in the book - disappointed that there's no more to read! My friend Amy bought the latest Jen Lancaster book, If You Were Here last weekend at B&N and I can't wait until she finishes it so I can trade Bossypants for it. If you've never read Jen Lancaster, you don't know what you're missing. I've read all in the order she wrote them starting with Bitter Is the New Black. She is another one who is literally laugh-out-loud funny. And she writes about her LIFE, not fiction, which makes it all the better because it's so real. You should also check out her blog. (I am always stoked to find a truly funny woman writer! If anyone has any recommendations, please feel free to share.)

I love books, y'all. I am not so different from the seven year-old me who perpetually walked around with the latest Babysitter's Club book in front of my face. (I was, in a word, obsessed with the BSC. Kristy was my favorite only because we looked similar. I thought Mary Ann was a pansy. Stacey was too cool for me to relate to and I thought Claudia was kind of stupid and that her clothes were weird.)

I have other non-style things to ramble on about but I'll spare you since this after all not a personal blog and instead go back to my dear old friend, white wine. (You can thank me later.)

Jack, Get Back - 5.18.11

2011-05-18T20:44:00.002-04:00

Sweater: NY&Co (2008)
Tank: Old Navy (2010)
Skirt: Worthington / JC Penney (2011)
Earrings: Target (2006)
Bracelets: NY&Co (2009) / Claire's (2005) / etsy - penorus (2010)
Pumps: Nine West / (now-defunct) shoewoo.com (2010)

I shall take one of these skirts in every color, s'il vous plait. Especially the mustard - which they didn't have in my size when I bought this one. And the purple. And the taupe.

I realize you cannot see my tank from this shot so here:

Just a teensy bit of bling. (I mistyped "blong" just now. BLONG. Blong: Someone who has hair that is blonde + long. BLONG. Or, a long blog entry. "Goodness I could hardly get through that post, it was so blong." I enjoy making up words due to accidentally typing them wrong. My favorite thus far has been renaming our neighboring city Lynchburg "Lunchburg." I don't care to go to Lynchburg, really, but sign me up on the next bus to Lunchburg!)

That was blong.

Do you want to know how I know that I have had these earrings since 2006? This:

That was taken on my husband and I's first "dating anniversary" in 2006. Check out my brown hair! (Not blong. Brong.) Weird.

I may have mentioned previously that I own five pairs of these shoes? I strongly encourage you to click on the link up there under my "full" picture to purchase a pair. (Or two. Or five.) They're down to less than $50 with free shipping on Nine West's site right now. It's such a classic shape and heel that I'll wear these until they just fall apart.

This morning on my way to work I heard Footloose on the radio. Major car dancing action ensued. I'm sorry; you can't NOT be in a good mood after listening to Footloose.

The actual movie was on about six months or so on TBS or something and nothing else was on so I watched the last half-hour or so. When it came time for the final scene, the much-anticipated prom, my three year-old was absolutely enthralled and delighted and insisted that I rewind it so he could watch it over and over again. I think he liked it so much because Kenny Loggins says his name - Jack - in the chorus. Or maybe he just appreciates an awesome 80s dance scene at a very early age. Probably that.

Seriously - you can't deny it, this is all kinds of amazing:

Now I just want to go put on a polyester gown and DANCE! (Okay, I'll probably just sit here and drink my Diet Sunkist in my pajamas instead.)

Been Caught Stealin' - 5.17.11

2011-05-17T20:47:00.001-04:00

Sweater: Merona / Target (2008)
Tank: ? (brand name washed out) / TJ Maxx (2009)
Pants: LOFT (2011)
Earrings: Gift from M-I-L (2010)
Necklace: NY&Co (2009)
Pumps: Nine West / eBay (2010)

What do you call it when you ~~steal~~ ~~borrow~~ are inspired by someone else's look? Okay, then what do you call it when you blatantly plagairise yourself? Witness: Daily Outfit, April 29 2009:

(Probably time to replace that IKEA rug.)

I really try not to wear my clothing in the same way with the same pieces each time I wear them. But with this sweater - I just can't help but to pair it with grey. Grey and yellow go together like... like pizza and beer. Like Ernie and Bert. Like Captain and Tenille. No apologies.

Close-up:

If it seems like I have about 12 pairs of these earrings in different colors, it's because I do. My mother-in-law, a QVC addict, bought me the most darling little set of these earrings in... well, 12 different colors last summer. I wear them all the time.

You know, as much as I love a pencil skirt and pumps, I actually like how ankle pants and pumps (particularly a pointy-toed pair) look together better.

I am in the middle of Tina Fey's book Bossypants. It is literally laugh-out-loud funny. I had to share this - while not funny, it truly resonates with someone who works in a very male-dominated workplace (language - potentially offensive!):

On Amy Poheler, regarding an exchange between Amy and Jimmy Fallon wherein Jimmy told her to stop saying something dirty because he "didn't like it," her response being, "I don't fucking care if you like it":

"With that exchange, a cosmic shift took place. Amy made it clear that she wasn't there to be cute. She wasn't there to play wives and girlfriends in the boys' scenes. She was there to do what she wanted to do and she did not fucking care if you liked it."

Love.

Uh. Yesterday? I was wearing a thong. However it was not one of the butt-floss variety. It was a very respectable thong I bought from Target. TMI? Probably. But I felt compelled to (over)share! Just keepin' it real, folks.

Backwards - 5.16.11

2011-05-16T20:20:00.000-04:00

I feel like I must confess: I discovered I had my underwear on backwards during my first post-coffee pee this morning at work. Underwear. Backwards. Monday.

Top: NY&Co (2008)
Skirt: Merona Collection / Target (2011)
Earrings: Gifted from... somebody? (Sometime?)
Bracelet: The Purse Lady (2011)
Pumps: Nine West / (now-defunct) shoewoo.com (2010)

Hubs and I had a few hours to ourselves yesterday so what did we do? Went to Target, of course. We had various household items to pick up but along the way I saw this darling little skirt - only two sizes left - calling my name. When I veered over to the rack to look at it and saw that one out of the two sizes remaining was mine, I thought it was fate. And... I know, olive green again? Yes, olive green again. Olive green was my very last hold out in terms of colors I would NOT wear. (Still not fond of most pastels or beige but I do wear them on occasion.) Olive green, I have learned to like you. (Much like Daddy Warbucks and the painting of the Mona Lisa to be hung in his bathroom. Was I the only little kid obsessed with Annie in the early 80s?)

Hi! Pockets! And - it's lined. Not too shabby for $27, I have to say.

Oh, I forgot to briefly mention my shirt. This shirt is amazing. The way it drapes - the back mirrors the front just cut higher up. It's a super-soft jersey with a bit of a sheen. Best part? Never needs ironing. Hi-yo!

I am wearing square peridot stud earrings. The picture came out crappy but I am almost positive you can picture what square peridot studs look like. Hello.

So, the bracelet. I call it my "Yavid Durman." I know a lot of people get all up in arms regarding designer fakes. However - it's peridot. And it was $20. I liked it not because it was a knockoff of an expensive brand, but just because I liked it. So sue me.

I hadn't worn these until today - I've probably had them a good six months or so. They're a great neutral. (I own them in purple too.) Very comfortable as always!

I thought I had more to say but I am suffering from a wee bout of carpal tunnel today. I set up a report with 46 queries in Access earlier. FORTY-SIX QUERIES. If you're not familiar with Access I realize this means nothing to you but lemme tell you... I could go my whole life without writing another "Iif" statement and I'd be a happy gal. Whew.

Until tomorrow!

Buy Two Get One Free - 5.14.11

2011-05-14T10:26:00.001-04:00

I realize I have been MIA for the past few days. Not much going on, just... you know... life. This is going to involve mostly pictures, not many words. I haven't eaten breakfast yet and it's 10 o'clock!

Wednesday:

Cardi: LOFT / loftonline.com (2010)
Dress: Sandra Darren / TJ Maxx (2011)
Necklace: JC Penney / jcp.com (2008)
Pumps: Enzo Angiolini / Belk (2009)

Super bad picture, sorry. This dress is awesome. It is sleeveless and it has a very 1960s vibe about it. Also, POCKETS.

I got this necklace from JCP's online clearance outlet (when it still existed) for literally $4. It came with a giant tacky silver-ish pendant in the center which I wasted no time in removing after it arrived. I love this necklace and don't wear it nearly enough as it matches almost anything.

These shoes may just be the most comfortable pumps I own. The royal blue patent finish is amazing too. These I found on an additional %-off table at Belk two summers ago - they had been trucked in from a Raleigh store and promptly marked down to about $40 with another 40% off. I can't say I like anything more than scoring a pair of $100 pumps for less than $25. (Actually there are a lot of things I like more, but that's not as dramatic.)

Thursday:

Sweater: Liz Claiborne / TJ Maxx (2009)
Skirt: Dalia / Marshall's (2011)
Necklace: NY&Co (2010)
Pumps: Fioni / Payless (2009)

FYI this skirt is navy. And it has lots and lots of pockets. Two things that up the awesome-ness level of anything, I'd say.

I think I'm going to dump this sweater. It's too shapeless for me and I only spent about $5 on it (another clearance rack find from TJ Maxx) so it's not like I'm out much.

How cute are those? So cute. These pumps break my "no cheap heels" rule but that's okay; they're actually comfortable. I think I've only worn these twice in the two years I have owned them now. They're just very... specific. The last time I wore them I also had on a pink top and navy skirt. Any suggestions as how I could remix these puppies?

Friday:

Sweater: The Limited (2010)
Jeans: Gap (2011)
Necklace: JC Penney / jcp.com (2009)
Wedges: Jessica Simpson / Nordstrom Rack at Potomac Mills (2010)

Yes, another blurry one - but you see why I had to use it, don't you? He ran right over and "posed" with me; too funny. And then he wanted to do it himself:

Tee: Old Navy / oldnavy.com (2011)
Shorts: Osh Kosh Genuine Kids / Target hand-me-down from brother (2007)
Socks: Hanes / Target (2010)

Three year-olds crack me up. Most of the time. Not when they're dumping full cups of juice on the floor. Or throwing a pull-up in the toilet. Or unplugging and re-plugging in a lamp over and over. Or refusing to eat any of their fries and instead wanting to eat all of yours. Or waking up at 3am for no reason whatsoever. I could go on. But I won't.

I bought these shoes last August at Nordstrom Rack for all of $27. And then they showed up at Macy's and Belk just a few months ago for $79. Huh? Even on the J-Simp website, it says they're a "new" style. Again, huh? Oh well; I am willing to be confused about it if it means I got a sweet comfy pair of wedges for over $50 off retail price.

That's about all from me. I have over 700+ items in my Google Reader unread right now. That is intimidating. However it like everything else will have to wait until this girl gets some food in her belly.

Breakin' The Rules - 5.10.11

2011-05-10T21:06:00.000-04:00

It's Everybody, Everywear: Florals day!

Tee: Old Navy (2011)
Tank: Mossimo / Target (2008)
Skirt: Adrienne Vittadini / Steinmart (2010)
Scarf: LOFT (2010)
Earrings: Gifted from M-I-L (2010)
Bracelet: NY&Co (2009)
Pumps: Urban Outfitters / urbanoutfitters.com (2011)

So, I want to call attention to the fact that I straight-up broke one of the dress code rules today at work: I wore yellow shoes. That's right, yellow shoes are strictly forbidden at my place of employment. Nah, just kiddin'. Really, I am wearing a t-shirt and this is in fact a NO-NO according to our written dress policy. (Even though men wear them all the time. Very wrinkly ones, in fact, and nobody says anything to them. Ahem.) However due to the fact that I paired my little $5 purple tee with a pencil skirt and pumps, it doesn't come off looking so t-shirt like after all. (Unlike the men, who merely do the half-tuck into rumpled pleated khaki pants and call it a day.)

What does purply-pink + dark purple (my skirt is dark purple, I promise) + yellow + floral equal? All kinds of awesomeness, that's what. I love this scarf oh-so-much. I scored it last year on one of the extra-% off sales for about $8, I believe. I have only ever worn it as a sash because it is quite voluminous. I think I may try to wear it belted but it just looks ridiculous around my neck.

Look, I finally wore my yellow shoes! They were way comfortable besides the fact the right one kept slipping off my foot throughout the day despite a foam insert. You know, before I got pregnant the first time, I wore a size 6.5. My feet were the same size. Then after I had my oldest son, they went up to a 7. My feet were the same size. After I had my second son, the right one stayed a 7 and the left one grew to a 7.5! What is that. Seriously if you don't know, pregnancy will eff your body up in ways you never thought possible.

I haven't had a chance to read blogs or comment over the last couple days... I am going to have a lot to catch up on when I get a break! I still love you all. (I know you were concerned, riiiiiight.)

I will leave you with something I forgot about today when I was looking at an online news story about Will Ferrell's craziest roles: The Landlord.

"Can I have four beers?" Still funny four years after the debut. That kid has got to be in first grade by now!

The Landlord from Will Ferrell

And If I Had An Aeroplane I Still Wouldn't Make It On Time - 5.9.11

2011-05-09T20:43:00.003-04:00

You know that saying, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?* That's today. Monday, you sucked. A lot.

Cardi: LOFT (2010)
Top: Mossimo / Target (2011)
Pants: NY&Co (2010)
Earrings: Target (2010)
Bracelet: NY&Co (2009)
Pumps: Bandolino / Marshall's (2009)

(Totally adjusted the exposure in this picture, hence the Snooki-esque skintone. I really shouldn't have bought a camera that has all sorts of fancy settings on it. I need a Playskool one instead.)

My cardi, it is poppy red, not pink. And the shirt, it is dark grey. And the pants, they are black with a metallic sheen. Maybe I shouldn't take pictures anymore; I'll just describe my outfits in words. Ugh.

Anyway, I bought the top off the clearance rack at Target a few weekends ago - they also had it in black and a silvery-grey. They were less than $10 in-store but they're still $19.99 online. Booyah.

(Speaking of Target - I was watching last night's Season 25 Behind the Scenes Oprah and one of her executive producers joked that the others were calling her "Devil Wears Target" because of the clothes she'd go out and buy for when she was on camera! I love that.)

The only redeeming part of the day: Taking a huge tote (my last one from storage, hooray) to Once Upon a Child and getting $122 for it. Oh yeah oh YEAH. Socking that check away for the Leesburg outlets next month! (The LOFT outlet is opening in a few weeks and I've never been to one; can't WAIT.)

Here's to Tuesday being significantly better than today. That wouldn't take much.

*I prefer the saying "If you don't have anything nice to say, come sit by me."

For The Greater Good - 5.8.11

2011-05-08T16:30:00.001-04:00

So, picture is clear but lighting is totally off. Bear with me - I am still getting used to the new camera.

Cardi: The Limited (2011)
Cami: NY&Co (2010)
Pants: ASOS (2011)
Earrings: Target (2010)
Bracelet: Steve & Barry's (2008)
Pumps: Nine West / ninewest.com (2010)

(Excuse the grocery bag on the floor - my grandma sent about 10 new books home with me earlier.)

Wore this to Mother's Day brunch at O'Charley's this morning. It is still NOT WARM HERE, to which I say a resounding "What the hell?" because it is always ALWAYS upper 70's consistently at this point in May here in SW Virginia. I wore ankle pants to a baby shower yesterday too. Clearly Mother's Day and a baby shower are cause to wear a cute dress, but no thanks to the weather, that didn't happen. At least today was a good excuse to pull out these awesome new pink pants I hadn't worn yet. I think next time I wear them (most likely to work) I will pair them with another bright instead of the neutral greys.

Does anybody else miss Steve & Barry's as much as I do?

My sister came in this weekend from Atlanta. She has recently started a new job - her first "adult" job, one might say - so she asked if I had any clothes or shoes I could give her because after spending her whole working life so far at places like Abercrombie, she has nothing appropriate for office work. I loaded her up with a whole storage tote full of stuff, including many pairs of shoes that are a half-size too big for me. (She wears a 7.5 to 8 whereas I wear a 7 to 7.5.) Sadly - I "donated" the matching pair to these metallic grey peep-toes in red to her as they were half a size too large for me and even with foam inserts and heel grips, they still slid off my feet. How much did I hate parting with those cherry red patent pumps? OH SO MUCH.

I do still have lots of stuff that I have purged. (Purged into two storage totes, that is.) I just haven't had time to get pictures and post them anywhere. I thought smashion may be a good idea but again, I just never have the time. Someday... someday!

Happy Mother's Day to all the fellow moms out there in bloggyland! My mom got a big box of Godivas and a big bouqet of "rainbow" roses this morning. I of course got my new camera, and my parents were thoughtful enough to give me a giftcard to Starbucks which was nice.

Now for my final Mother's Day act, I shall overrun the children's programming on Nick Jr and instead watch last night's SNL with host Tina Fey. (I am halfway through her book right now; you must go buy it immediately. She is supremely great.)

Nothing Rhymes With Orange V - 5.6.11

2011-05-06T19:25:00.005-04:00

Tee: St John's Bay / JC Penney (2011)Jeans: Chadwick's / chadwicks.com (2010)
Scarf: Target (2010)
Earrings: etsy / chica123 (2010)
Flats: Sam Edelman / Belk (2009)

Notice anything? Mainly that the full-length shot is CLEAR and not super-grainy? New camera arrived today! (I bought this one after doing lots of research. So far, in the hour I have been playing with it, I love it!) Tripod/gripper-dealie hasn't come yet. Soon. Then you will see more of my house/outside besides right in front of the downstairs closet doors and against a wall.

Had I owned a pair of bright pink flats, I would have worn them today. Alas, the only pair of pink flats I own are pink/black reptile so I said "to hell with it" and added another POP! of color to this already very colorful outfit with my yellow flats.

I bought two of these scoopneck tees a few months ago (they were on sale for $7 a piece as they are right now and they come in tons of colors!) and they are fantastic! Super-soft but durable. Also wearing my ~~boyfriend~~ husband jeans from Chadwick's. Chadwick's is hit-or-miss for me. I initially bought these in an 8 and they were big. Not so big that I sent them back; instead I washed and dried them on hot in hopes they would shrink to a suitable size. No dice. So, these are the 6 and even they're slightly large after washing and drying them on hot. They used to be dark blue but after all the sanitize cycles through the wash (the water gets heated up to like 180 degrees or some such ridiculous thing to get rid of all the germies - I swear I love my front-load washer and dryer like I do my germy children) they're now a medium shade. Whatevs, still wear them, still like them.

Of course for my Everything Goes with Orange week finale, I threw on one of my favorite scarves, this little number I picked up last spring for about $10. My earrings are bright orange too:

I... am tired and I have like 16 episodes of Oprah and 25 Years: Behind the Scenes Oprah to watch. I have never really been into Oprah until recently and now that I know the show is ending I'm trying to absorb as much of it as I possibly can, I guess.

I'm sure I'll be checking in some this weekend. I have a baby shower to attend tomorrow and then we're going out for Mother's Day brunch on Sunday. Check ya' laterz.

Extra shiny! Yikes.

Nothing Rhymes With Orange IV - 5.5.11

2011-05-05T19:15:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the apparent fall edition of Everything Goes with Orange week.

Sweater: The Limited (2009)
Tank: Mossimo / target.com (2008)
Pants: NY&Co (2010)
Necklace: NY&Co (2008)
Pumps: Style 9 / 6pm.com (2008)

(I realize it's a bit hard to tell but I am wearing a plum tank AND my pumps are plum.)

I am so uninspired due to the chilly weather we've had for most of the week. I mean, look - I am wearing BROWN PANTS for the second day in a row! (Granted they're not the same pair of brown pants, but still.) This is virtually unheard of in my world. This sweater, the particular shade of orange, is very "fall" orange to me. I really picked a bad week for orange! I may have to attempt it again in June or July, when I know the weather will be warm. I have looked longingly at my orange skirt and orange dress all week. It's only going to be 60 degrees again tomorrow and I am dreading picking out something else orange to wear for cool temps!

I love this particular necklace. It looks like it's coated in chocolate like a Thin Mint.

These babies were my very first purchase via 6pm.com. Style 9 is a Nine West brand. These are terrific pumps but I'm thinking by looking at how worn they are on the sides and near the front that I might have to retire them after today. The soles are completely worn down too for the most part. This makes me a bit sad as I can't say that I have seen too many plum-colored pumps.

Today was one of those days at work where all the men were acting like idiots. Number one I LOATHE when people start off a conversation or sentence with the words "I need you to..." No. That is so rude. I only respond to that if it's my boss or my boss's boss needing something. For anyone else who I do NOT report to, NO THAT IS RUDE. Second of all, self-important people abound in my department. Included in that population are the men who deem women inferior to them and feel that just because we have vaginas that we're there to clean up their messes, bring in food, fetch things for them, etc., etc., etc. Guess what? I AM NOT AN ADMIN. Not that there's anything wrong with being an admin, if that is in fact your job. However it is NOT MY JOB. I am a DATA ANALYST and the last time I checked my job duties did not include throwing your trash away that you couldn't walk three feet to the trashcan and drop in yourself, or making you a pot of coffee, or scheduling a meeting for you, or refilling the copier because you're too lazy to do it yourself so you send your stuff to print somewhere else, etc., etc., etc.

Wow, I'm sorry. I am a little ansgty today! I guess that's bound to happen when you're one of five women in a department of 75 people. (And one of them is an engineer so she doesn't really have to deal with the BS the other four of us who are Data Analysts do.)

I think I may need a beer!

Nothing Rhymes With Orange III - 5.4.11

2011-05-04T18:29:00.001-04:00

I hate this.

Sweater: H&M in Short Pump (2009)
Tank: Mossimo / Target (2009)
Pants: The Limited (2011)
Bracelets: Target (brown) & etsy (orange) / penorus (both 2010)
Pumps: Nine West in Charlottesville (2009)

Last night I laid out a short-sleeved v-neck orange sweater, a plum tank, a dark teal ponte knit pencil skirt, and plum croc pumps. However the dumb stupid dumb weather decided to be like, 50 degrees and rainy today so my initial outfit just was not going to happen. So instead in what little time I had to think about something orange this morning, I pulled this sweater/pants/pumps combo out which I ended up hating all day. (The hate continues as I am still wearing the outfit minus the pumps.)

Do you see how committed I am to Everything Goes with Orange week? So committed, one might say, that I sacrificed feeling great for the cause?

I can't quite put my finger on what I hate about this so much. The sweater is alright; got lots of compliments on it throughout the day. Maybe it's the color combo. The orange + green remind me of peas and carrots. I also don't like the green shoes with the dark brown pants. Oh well, live and learn. That's all part of the blogging experience, no?

In better news, I found out yesterday that I will be going to training in Alexandria again the week of June 13th! I went last August for the second time through this particular company and it was awesome. I love the area where we stay. It's a four-day class so we'll (I'm going with three other people) drive up on Monday and then come back on Friday. We already have our metro route to The Cheesecake Factory all planned out. (Priorities.) Cheesecake Factory and Potomac Mills, sounds heavenly. Oh, and I guess I'll be learning valuable Sharepoint 2010 skillz too.

Someone else wore orange today too!

Oh, in OTHER good news, I ordered myself a new camera and tripod earlier! Happy Mother's Day to me. (I love the arrangement I have with my husband. I order things with our shared credit card number and then he pays for it.) Soon enough there will be no more suffering through grainy pictures all shot in the same exact spot in front of our downstairs closet. Woo-hoo!

It's supposed to FROST tonight, can you believe that? Totally wack. (Also going to bring back "WACK." Or is it "WHACK"? Why are all the 90s slang words so hard to spell?) This makes me most unhappy as this means I will have to create another pants-based orange outfit. (No, Melissa I will NOT wear tights in May in SW Virginia! I refuse out of sheer principle! I saw your comment!)

That reminds me. For those of you who have switched to Disqus, do you like it? Is it easy to install and maintain? I'd love to be able to respond to comments and I like how Disqus notifies you when you get replies to comments made.

I have got to go change out of this outfit. It is making me grumpy.

Nothing Rhymes With Orange II - 5.3.11

2011-05-03T20:06:00.000-04:00

Cardi: LOFT / loftonline.com (2010)
Tee: Merona / Target (2011)
Pants: NY&Co (2010)
Necklace: NY&Co (2009)
Shoes: Nine West / endless.com (2011)

Everything Goes with Orange Day 2! I decided to go a little more casual today. I picked up this super-cute printed tee at Target on Saturday and thought it would pair with this blue cardi (have triplets - one in blue, one in pink and one in purple) nicely and I was right. Of course I had to bring out my orange patent wedges again too!

In case you were wondering, I am still obnoxious:

Lady who works in bbq restaurant at lunch today: "Oh, I love those shoes!"
Me: "Thanks!"

Lady who works at tanning salon earlier: "That top is so cute!"
Me: "Thanks! It was TEN DOLLARS! I bought it from TARGET!"

Seriously. Now, did I inform the lady at lunch that my shoes cost $79? That they were full-price and not even on sale, not in the least little bit? No, no I didn't. But the MINUTE someone compliments me on something I hardly spent any money on, the words come flying out of my mouth before I even think about what I am saying. Cripes. You can't take me anywhere.

Stay tuned for tomorrow! Gonna pair orange with TEAL and PLUM! Not a neutral to be found! Livin' on the edge! (Or something like that.)

Nothing Rhymes With Orange I - 5.2.11

2011-05-02T19:14:00.003-04:00

Official declaration: This week shall be the week of orange, or "Nothing Rhymes with Orange but Everything Goes with It" week.

Top: The Limited (2009)
Cami: New Directions / Belk (2008)
Skirt: Banana Republic Factory in Williamsburg (2010)
Belt: Target (2009)
Earrings: Target (2010)
Pumps: Nine West / ninewest.com (2011)

This is such a great skirt. It's a linen-blend with flap button pockets in the front and slit pockets in the back AND it's lined. I picked it up for about $25 last summer. I don't know what it is about Banana Republic Factory but even though I logically know that the clothes aren't as good quality as the regular BR retail store clothes, I like them better. They're happier. The colors are brighter, the patterns are more interesting. And of course it helps that they're a fraction of the price the retail clothes are.

My goal this week is to show how many colors "go" with orange. I like to treat bold hues as neutrals a lot of the time. In fact, the pair of shoes I wear most often are my teal patent reptile flats. I wear them with anything and everything but last time I checked, teal was not a neutral. Same thing with orange. The only kind of crappy thing about deciding to do this this particular week is that the weather is not going to be great and I don't think there's another day warm enough to wear a skirt or a dress. (I have a new orange dress I am dying to bring out.) That's okay though - that will just make it more challenging.

I just thought of something funny - this pair of earrings came in a three-pack and the other two colors? Purple and orange. Brown, purple, orange = my outfit today, see.

These shoes are actually half a size too big even in a seven. I guess that's what foam inserts and heel grips are for, huh? I mean, they were walkable today but I'm definitely going to need some assistance for next time I wear them. I love these shoes anyway - they make me six feet tall and therefore I towered over 90% of the men today at work. I have often been jealous of the tiny petite girls. You know, the 5'2" or shorter. (Being able to buy skirts and dresses from Forever 21 without them threatening to expose my bits would be nice.) But since I know I will never, ever be one of those girls I might as well go the other direction, right? The taller the better. Doesn't hurt that my husband is 6'3". (My only other "serious" adult relationships prior to him, they were both 6'2". What can I say, I have a thang for tall and lanky.*)

I have had this top for over two years now and I still love it just as much as I did the day I bought it. The pleating, the color, the fact that it is actually slub-knit cotton yet I can get away with making it look work-appropriate? Hope it never wears out!

Well. I have bought myself some brie, turkey, whole wheat wraps, and tarragon in an attempt to recreate the amaaaaazing wrap I had the weekend before last at the Irish pub. I am sure it will fail but hey, at least I can say I tried. (And then have a popsicle instead.)

*I had a crush on Bob Saget for ages and ages and ages when I was younger. Okay, I sort of still do. I blame this entirely on my sister who loved Full House - she is a year younger than the Olsens - so I was forced against my will to watch entire VHS tapes full of nothing but the show. Normal girls went for John Stamos. Not this weirdo - I was Team Danny Tanner all the way. And who is the epitome of tall, lanky and sort of goofy? BOB SAGET. That was clearly the beginning of my attraction to that "type"!

Three Items & Five Pairs of Shoes

2011-04-30T18:59:00.000-04:00

Firstly, no outfit post yesterday. It was one of our quarterly inventory days at work and because I knew I'd be up and down the stairs a million times, going in and out of production areas and handling product all day, I dressed for function, not fashion. I wore a lime green v-neck tee, a pair of Gap Long & Leans, Nine West navy patent flats, and a patterned scarf with navy, teal, lime, aqua, white, and purple in it. Cute, but definitely not notable.

Secondly, did anyone else read Sal from Already Pretty's post on being a "clothes" collector? I read through nodding my head the whole time. That's me. I am a collector. A collector not of things but of scarves and necklaces and ankle pants and cardigan sweaters and brightly colored tees and tank tops and bracelets and pencil skirts and... I could go on and on. That is exactly what I will do - if I spy something I think I "need," I only "need" it to fill a hole. A hole in a collection.

Thirdly, one of the things missing from the above list? Shoes, but of course. I thought I'd highlight a few pairs I've bought over the past two months that I haven't worn yet. I took pictures of the shoes actually on my feet because I find a lot of times you can't tell much about a shoe from just the plain standard studio shot of the shoe itself. (I love zappos for having the little videos that actually show you what the shoe looks like in motion on the foot. Genius and I think every shoe site should do the same!)

Without further adieu (a-shoe):

Pair one, the Urban Outfitters Suede Pump in yellow. The style is a major blogger favorite, as I mentioned the other day, for a good reason! (I just realized how stupid it is to include these shoes here as I am sure everyone has seen them on feet a million times by now!)

Pair two, the Dolce Vita for Target Cork Wedge in pewter. Miss Heidi from heidiluxe kept wearing her pair in gold and I liked how they looked so much that I had to go check them out for myself. However I am not a gold person so I got them in the pewter instead. They are amazingly comfortable, a great neutral and look a lot more expensive than they actually are, in my opinion.

Pair three, the Unlisted Life Long Bond in natural. I actually forgot I even bought these last month until I saw them in the back of my closet while reaching for the DV wedges! Terrible. Anyway, these shoes are so frickin' amazing on, and for non-leather shoes they are comfortable and surprisingly easy to walk in. The platform doesn't hurt, either. I can't wait to wear these with a bright dress/bright cardi combo.

Pair four I found at TJ Maxx the week before last and I can't find a style name on it anywhere, or even find them online just searching for the brand. They're Charles by Charles David and as soon as I saw them in their electric blue with polkadotty lining sitting on the shelf in my size I snapped them up. They were $40 and I didn't see any in any other color. No matter, I would've bought the blue anyway!

Last but not least, pair five is the Nine West Fanatical in orange multi suede. These arrived yesterday and as soon as I popped them on my feet I was in love. Well, I lie - as soon as I opened the box, it was love. Shoot, as soon as I spied them online Tuesday, it was love. These have a really high heel - I compared them to my Steve Madden Quinnes which have a five inch cork wedge heel and they were slightly higher! (They'll make me over six feet tall when I wear them!) No matter - because of the platform (it's got to be at least an inch) they are easy to walk in and fit my feet perfectly. Best yet, they're still only $59 on sale - I am tempted to get the pink!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend! My husband is having some people over to watch the UFC fight tonight. Meaning I won't be able to go to sleep until it's over and they're gone. Oh, the joys of living in a townhouse...

Peggy Bundy - 4.28.11

2011-04-28T19:17:00.001-04:00

Sweater: The Limited (2011)
Pants: NY&Co (2010)
Necklace: NY&Co (2008)
Belt: NY&Co (2009)
Pumps: BCBGirls / Macy's (2009)

I had not planned on wearing a belt with this today but I decided I needed one after being kind of grossed out by some back fat. (Wide belt = fat coverer; if you didn't know before, now you do.) It wasn't until I got to work and was prancing around in my peep-toes that I realized I felt decidedly like Peggy Bundy. Swap out my purple top for leopard print, add a Bump-It and a cigarette, and there you go. Peg Bundy in da house! (I also realized almost immediately afterwards that Peggy Bundy would make a super-fun Halloween costume.)

I've said it before but I'll say it again, I really really miss New York and Company's jewelry. They had great colors, great shapes, great prices. I say that like I need another piece of jewelry. Ha!

These shoes were a fantastic Macy's extra %-off clearance rack find. I believe I scored them for about $23 if I am not mistaken. Super-comfortable too. See, I almost went with a mustard yellow peep-toe this morning but then decided to do the matchy-match thing just because I hardly wear these.

I just noticed you can see my six year-old's tiny little bean sprout inside the styrofoam cup sitting on the back deck. I am stunned that it not only survived but remained upright during all the wind and rain last night! We didn't see any actual tornadoes here but funnel clouds were touching down all around us. I didn't go to bed until 12:30 because I was obsessively checking local news radar. Check out this screenshot I took around midnight:

The purple megaphone-shaped thingies are tornadoes and the line was headed right towards us. I was... more than a little freaked out. I think so far the death count in VA is up to eight which of course is only a small fraction of the overall number of fatalties but it's still a very scary thing knowing that people lost their lives only a few hours away from here. Like with every tragedy, I spent a good portion of the day on CNN's website watching videos and looking at pictures and reading accounts of the devastation. I can't get over Tuscaloosa. I cannot fathom something like that happening. But it could happen, anytime.

Okay, happier thoughts! Uh, my friend Amy bought these today:

That is the classic Nine West Ambitious pump. She already has them in several neutrals and couldn't help but to order the pink once she saw them. However, she said she had no idea what to wear with them. My response was one of !!!* I'm like, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! You can wear ANYTHING with that pink!" She said black and white, yes. I'm all, "NO! Kelly green and olive green and navy and grey and yellow and orange and purple and aqua and pale pink and cobalt!" And then I proceeded to send her every picture of myself I could find over the course of the blog(s) wherein I am wearing that shade of pink. She found a black and white skirt at The Limited she was going to pick up after work. I used some time this afternoon to work her up four Polyvore sets (two using the b&w skirt; two without):

amy PINK by Taylor Wears Everything featuring round toe pumps

amy PINK dos by Taylor Wears Everything featuring a bow brooch

amy PINK 3 by Taylor Wears Everything featuring v neck tops

amy PINK 4 by Taylor Wears Everything featuring a crew neck cardigan

Now, I realize these are pretty tame outfits (although I am fond of the third one with the grey pants and will possibly recreate this for myself next week) but this is for a girl who for some reason doesn't think she can pull off more than one color at once (unless it's in a print) and it drives me nutty because she's so pretty and has a rockin' bod and she could basically wear a potato sack and look amazing. I told her she should really start reading some style blogs and soon enough she would be pushed outside of her box and her comfort zone! At least that's how it worked for me. I mean, shoot, I had to make an effort to be matchy-match today with my shoes instead of popping the purple and brown with yellow! Would I have even thought of that two or so years ago? Absolutely not.

I asked for advice styling my yellow pumps yesterday - give me some ideas to feed back to Amy for her pink pumps!

*!!! can either mean "disbelief" or "love" or "OHMYGOD" depending on the situation. !!! came about when my husband and I started dating. It transpired at the same time as "heart cubed" which is the in-between stage of "like" and "love." Despite what you may believe we were not 12 years old when we met - we were 25. Lame, I know.

Sacre Bleu - 4.27.11

2011-04-27T19:37:00.001-04:00

Cardi: Mossimo / Target (2008)
Shirt: Banana Republic Factory in Williamsburg (2010)
Skirt: Worthington / JC Penney (2011)
Earrings: Target (2009)
Necklace: Target (2008)
Wedges: Bandolino / Steinmart (2010)

From the Urban Dictionary:

Sacre Bleu: A stereotypical French curse that is actually never used by real French people. Same as the mustache and the beret - something only non-French people think is typical of the French.
Non-French Guy trying to be French: Sacré bleu! I hev left my béret and stripy chemise in zee Café.
Real French Guy: *rolls eyes*

Hee. We had a discussion today over lunch regarding bleu cheese. Apparently bleu cheese is as polarizing as Sarah Palin: you either love it or you hate it, there is no middle-ground. (I, for the record, LOVE it. I have been eating bleu cheese dressing since I was a wee little kid and my favorite kind of steak is a black and bleu steak.)

Also today my shirt is blue.

Um. I'm sure everybody (nobody) is wondering where I was yesterday. My "allergy" attack from Monday manifested itself into a sinus infection. A nasty, terrible sinus infection wherein my face hurt SO BADLY that I felt like I had a sunburn from being stranded in the desert for three weeks straight. I hurt so badly that I actually ventured out in public with no makeup, wet hair, wearing gaucho pants that normally would only be slept in. It was not pretty. However thanks to modern medicine (Z-Pack and Mucinex D for the win!) I am back at it today.

I love this skirt; isn't it fun? It has pockets. This is as short as I will go in terms of workwear skirts or dresses. It also doesn't have a slit and I chose to wear a lower-heeled wedge with it rather than a sky-high stiletto. I don't ever (ever!) want to give off a "trying to be sexy" vibe at work because not only is that completely inappropriate it is also so not me.

I lost an earring back on the way home today. And boy, that necklace is in bad shape.

Look, black shoes again! When I just wore a black pair last week! Weird.

Yesterday was not altogether unproductive as I found a gorgeous pair of shoes ON SALE:

I mean, could you just DIE? (I can't wait until The Rachel Zoe Project comes back on Bravo.) That is the Nine West Fanatical, a brand new style, currently $60 down from $100! (Also available in pink, nude and black suede.) These are for sure going to plug a hole in my shoe wardrobe (yes I realize what a ridiculous statement that is) and I can't wait for them to get here on Friday!

While I'm on the subject of colorful shoes, I ordered these:

Urban Outfitters may as well rename the UO Suede Pump to the "Style Blogger Pump of Choice" with as many bloggers I have seen rocking them. Anyhow, I LOVED the yellow and I had been looking for a yellow pump for eons. However... I have now been in possession of them for several weeks and am completely stumped as to what to do with them. Everything I have tried with them just looks weird and/or off. I initially put them with navy pants and a light blue top and it just didn't look right. Then I tried grey and... no dice either. I think maybe I just need to suck it up and wear the things; just get over it. Or else that's $49 plus shipping down the drain. I am open for suggestions as to how to style this fun (and scary, I guess) yellow pump so please comment away if you have any ideas!

Ta-ta for now.

My Face Hurts - 4.25.11

2011-04-25T19:36:00.001-04:00

Top: The Limited (2009)
Skirt: NY&Co (2009)
Belt: Random Pop-Up Store in Mall (2010)
Earrings: Target (2008?)
Bracelet: NY&Co (2009)
Pumps: Steve Madden / Macy's (2009)

This was my first conscientous effort at color-blocking. (My skirt is a lot more magenta in real life.) Initially this morning I had on a cobalt top and nude shoes but I liked this a lot better. Wait, is it still technically color-blocking seeing as how my top is a neutral? Perhaps not.

My mom hated my belt today; one of the Team Leads at work only liked the belt. You can't make everybody happy. In fact I don't really care about making anyone happy but myself.

This bracelet and its resemblance to a crueller actually inspired me to stop at Dunkin' Donuts this morning to make a donut run before work. Now all I need is a piece of jewelry shaped like an elliptical machine and perhaps that will be the push I need to get my butt back to the gym.

I realize the seriousness of what I am about to say but I must say it anyway: these are my favorite shoes. That's right: these are my favorite shoes. They just make me so happy, I can't explain it. The color kills me with its awesome cobalt-y-ness. I don't wear these pumps often enough. They are amazing.

I drank a couple of glasses of wine Saturday night and went on a little buying spree. (I also decided yesterday that "drinking wine and buying things off the internets" is to my 30s as "drunk dialing" was to my early 20s. Not that I ever did that. No sir.)

I got these pants:

I really wanted the blue but they were out of my size. I do think the pink are awesome in their own right, however. Also scored these which I plan on hemming to ankle-length after they arrive:

Also, I got two belts, one in red polkadot and one in mint:

Then I (virtually) meandered on over to Target where I picked up these gorgeous things. My store only had them in gold when I went in today. They are WAY cuter in person than they are online. I love this as a neutral and they are oh-so-comfy.

A friend of mine had posted on Facebook that she had added some items to her etsy so I went to check them out. I ended up with an adorable pair of lime florette studs, a fun ring made out of a man's old tie and a really unique necklace:

So! Bought some new stuff! Yep!

Oh-em-gee my allergies are killing me. My face... my teeth... my eyelashes... they all hurt. Stupid Target Claritin. Not really working too well. I will most definitely be taking a Xanax tonight before bed! I don't want to have to coordinate an outfit around red eyes in the morning.

A Moving Target - 4.23.11

2011-04-23T18:03:00.000-04:00

Cardi: Merona / Target (2010)
Tee: Merona / Target (2009)
Skirt: Merona / Target (2009)
Scarf: Gifted by my Momz (2011)
Earrings: NY&Co (2008?)
Wedges: Merona / target.com (2010)

Yes, every single thing I am wearing today - with the exception of my earrings and scarf (which is Liz Claiborne that my mom picked up at her favorite store - insert eyeroll - Big Lots for all of $5 last week) came from Target. Including my underwear AND bra! (TMI? I don't care.)

I am surprised that Target didn't bring this skirt back again this year. I bought this khaki one two summers ago and then a black one last year. That's one thing I love about Target - if they have something that is really popular and sells well, they'll continue to sell it year after year, such as my beloved dress that I own in five different colors that they've been selling since 2008!

My parents took the little monsters away this morning - went to some Earth Day festival or something. I didn't really care where they took them as long as they took them away. (I was cooped up in the house with them all day yesterday and they were, in a word, busy.) Hubs and I actually got to go out to lunch. We went to Annie Moore's Irish Pub and I got the turkey and brie wrap. (Menu description: Roasted turkey, bacon, and warmed brie with tomato, sprouts and tarragon mayo in a whole wheat wrap.) It was PHENOMENAL. Might have to try to make it at home. Then we went to the grocery store which was weird. Usually I go by myself on Sundays but since tomorrow is Easter we went ahead and got everything today. I can count the times on one hand that Mike and I have gone grocery shopping together and after ~~arguing~~ discussing the merits of one kind of roll over another (to take to my parents' tomorrow), I wondered, "Is this what we're going to do when we're old and don't have kids at home anymore? Go to Kroger every weekend and ~~fight~~ debate on which food to buy?" Huh.

These wedges are awesome. They're so comfy and the color will literally go with anything. They have some very similar this year - here - just with larger cutouts. I have another pair of nude wedges (faux suede, ruched from Payless) but I find myself reaching for this pair more frequently.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter Sunday! We have brunch at my in-laws' at 11 and then late lunch/early dinner at my parents' at 4.

Okay, floor has to be dry by now - my three year-old dumped a whole cup of Vitamin Water Zero (even he likes it!) on the floor in the kitchen awhile ago so I had to mop. I have to go put the table, chairs and trashcan back. Ah, a mother's work is never done. At least I bought myself a big ole' bottle of wine at the grocery store earlier!

Oh yeah - two quick pictures:

My oldest got his face painted at the festival earlier. He specifically asked for lots of color! That's my boy.

Also had to show off this rad (yes, I said "rad") shoe shirt I picked up for him last month at The Children's Place. (Ignore the eyepatch; sometimes they like to play pirates.) Hello, shoes! He is TOTALLY my child, y'all.

Okay, now I am really, truly out.

The Inane Clown Posse of One - 4.21.11

2011-04-21T21:36:00.003-04:00

"Blue, purple AND orange? You look like a clown."

Top: Banana Republic / NWT eBay (2010)
Tank: Old Navy (2008)
Jeans: Gap (2011)
Earrings: Gifted by Non-Crazy Grandma (2009)
Necklace: NY&Co in Charlottesville (2009)
Wedges: Fioni / Payless (2008)

I have no reasonable explanation as to why I threw this outfit together today. I knew I wanted to wear my new jeans (which are literally as soft as cotton pajama pants, seriously) and by wearing the new jeans, I also knew I had to wear shoes with at least a 3" heel. I didn't want to wear pumps since it was semi-casual day (we can always wear jeans the day before a holiday) so I pulled out these orange wedges. The blue print top was already out because I was going to wear it yesterday and then didn't, and then when I held it up to one of my two drawers'o'tanks, the purple really stood out next to it. Ta-da, instant ensemble.

(By the way, I look irritated in this picture because... I was irritated when the picture was taken. Go figure. My little monster children, the wee one almost got flattened by a Mack truck because he wouldn't listen and ran down my parents' driveway and almost into the street earlier, and then the older one thought it would be a good idea to rip open a pack of Fun Dip he got at school in my still new-ish and therefore CLEAN car after being told millions of times that there is NO EATING IN MOMMY'S CAR and being told 30 seconds before we got into the car that he was to EAT NO MORE SWEETS BECAUSE IT WAS ALMOST TIME FOR DINNER. My children: utter failures at listening.)

One of our production supervisors is responsible for the clown remark today, not an engineer. (I think Charlie was kidding though. But even if he wasn't, I told him that I DID NOT CARE WHAT HE THOUGHT, period-end-of-story.)

Had someone told me when I picked these cheapie wedges up at Payless three years ago that they'd be a staple in my spring and summer wardrobe I would have never believed them. But these shoes (and another pair of orange wedges I own... who owns two pairs of open-toed orange wedges? Taylor D, that's who) have really stood the test of time! They're way more versatile than I initially thought. I've worn them with purple and teal and jeans and grey and white and blue and yellow and a denim dress and a silk printed multi-colored dress and cobalt blue and a khaki skirt and brown and and and and yeah. Orange wedges are THE BOMB. (I made a declaration via email yesterday to my friend Amy at work that I was going to try to bring back "THE BOMB." Or is it "DA BOMB"? "DA BOMB DIGGETY"?)

The totally adorable Tiffany from Breakfast with Tiffany tagged me in a "Ten Things I Love" post* - so, here we go:

1) NARS Orgasm blush. I am on my fifth one - also have Super Orgasm, the Orgasm Multiple and the Orgasm Illuminator. Maybe I'm a little obsessed. But it truly is amazing!

2) Coach Factory Outlet. I love a Coach handbag but do I want to pay $300-upwards for one? No, no I don't. Solution? Enter Coach Factory Store, chock full of GORGEOUS bags at a fraction of the price and there's always helpful salespeople giving out additional %-off coupons at the door. Love, love, love.

3) Barefoot Moscato. The best cheap wine EVER in the history of EVER. I prefer to buy it in the bucket-sized bottle which sets me back a whole $11 at Kroger. And it doesn't give me a headache!

4) The Bravo Network. Real Housewives (Orange County, Atlanta, New Jersey, and New York only... I have some standards), Top Chef, Tabatha's Salon Makeover, Kathy Griffin, the OG Project Runway which introduced Tim Gunn into my life. As irritating as Andy Cohen may be, I can't dislike him too much because I just love that channel SO much. And lest you forget it brought you Queer Eye for the Straight Guy back in the day!

5) Tina Fey. I want to be her when I grow up. That is all.

6) The library! I mean, I understand the draw of a reader, I really, truly do. But there's just something so satisfying about going to the actual brick and mortar library and browsing. They're building a brand new headquarters for our county like, TWO MINUTES away from my house - right across from my six year-old's school, actually - and I could NOT be more excited. There's going to be a coffee bar!

7) Gummi bears. One of our Team Leads at work LOVES his gummis and insists that we keep a drawer stocked with them. My favorites are the sour gummi bears but the worms will do in a pinch.

8) Etsy! I freakin' LOVE etsy. I could spend hours and hours (and actually have) just poring over everything on that site. I just love the idea of being able to buy something unique and vintage or handmade that nobody else has. There are so many talented people over on that site, it never ceases to amaze me.

9) Brinner, aka Breakfast for Dinner. Enough said!

10) This:

*I did not include things I have already expressed my undying love for here on this blog, such as Murder Shows, Nine West, Vitamin Water Zero, the color orange, my car, Little Debbie cakes, What Not to Wear, my husband and/or children... so don't think that I don't still love any of those things! I just wanted to mix it up a little.

Big Bird - 4.20.11

2011-04-20T19:47:00.001-04:00

InStyle's May issue (came in the mail today) has a two-page spread on their "it" color for the month: marigold. Yeah, one step ahead of you, InStyle!

Cardi: Worthington / JC Penney (2011)
Top: The Limited (2010)
Pants: Mossimo / target.com (2011)
Earrings: Target (2010)
Pumps: Fioni / Payless (2011)

(I refuse to call them "shooties" just because I think they are more sandal-y as they're strappy and open. Shooties to me are closed with maybe an open-toe. Not a look I particularly like on myself. I've seen people wear them and look way cute.. they're just not for me. Kinda like gladiator sandals. Any flat open sandal, really. Or open-toed flats. Or clogs. Or, or, or... I could go on but I'll spare you.)

Of course I heard the inevitable "black and yellow black and yellow" reference today. I'm okay with that as I REALLY love how this looks. As much as I enjoy red/black/white, I also love yellow/black/white. This is my 75th cardigan, peeps. I was up to 72, found two more previously MIAs in storage... and I couldn't resist this one when I saw it on Saturday! I had been scoping it out online but it is just so darling in person - polkadots, ruched sleeves... uber-adorable.

The ruffles on my shirt are chiffon or something and make me feel quite Big Bird-esque. But that's alright; I still love you, yellow top.

These look like Junior Mints. I love some Junior Mints. Second favorite movie candy after Sno-Caps.

Hm, perhaps these are classifed as shooties due to the back being enclosed? Huh. I don't know what made me try these on because I thought they were rather ugly in the box, but I'm sure glad I did because they are awesome on the foot. I got lots and lots of compliments on them today! They're also surprisingly comfortable being from Payless. They proved my standard "cheaply made flats and wedges = okay, cheaply made pumps = ouch times fifty" rule wrong! (Don't confuse "cheaply made" with "cheap." The two pairs of peep-toe pumps I wore on Monday and Tuesday I scored for $20 per pair which is how much these Fioni shooties cost me!) I had brought back-up flats just in case but I didn't need them at all. Well played, Payless.

Despite what this picture may have you believe I do own a hairbrush. However I also own a car with a sunroof and you bet your bottom that I had that thing completely open today, all windows down, on the way home.

Oh, no dumb comments from engineers today but one in my friend Amy's department told her that her dress looked like a green bandana but he "liked it anyway." Her dress looked nothing like a bandana. Oh, engineers, bless your hearts. Your chino-wearing little hearts.

Don't Smoke, Richard - 4.19.11

2011-04-19T18:52:00.003-04:00

Top: The Limited (2009)
Cami: American Living / JC Penney (2009)
Skirt: Talbots at Pentagon City Mall (2010)
Necklace: Belk in Charlottesville (2009)
Pumps: Nine West / (now-defunct) shoewoo.com (2010)

Yes, yes I am wearing the same shoes I wore yesterday, just in a different color. I could potentially wear this shoe for the rest of the week as I also have them in natural, black and yellow! (By now you all should be well aware of my love of multiples.)

Just a shot of my shirt detail - I wore a lace-trimmed tank under the top because it was a little boob-y otherwise. And... the up-close on the skirt just because I love this skirt so very much. Kelly green + eyelet + pencil skirt? Yes, please! Thanks, Talbots! (Even if I did have to go to DC to buy the skirt when I have a Talbots literally three minutes away from my own house.)

Today's "Dumb Thing An Engineer Said" goes to one of our failure analysis guys who exclaimed, "Hey! Your dress looks kinda-see through or something!" My dress. See through. No to both of those things. Hm, perhaps I should have a regular feature called "Dumb Thing An Engineer Said." Sure seems like I would have lots of material, huh?

I simply couldn't just let the green and blue reside peacefully with one another today - had to throw in my POP! with this yellow beaded necklace.

These aren't exactly navy, as another one of the engineers thoughtfully pointed out to me this morning. I said, "Close enough."

I heard one of my most favorite! songs! of! all! time! on the radio on the way to pick up my children after work: Faith, by George Michael. I love this song, OH SO MUCH. I was seven when the tape (yes, tape) came out in '87 so I don't really remember it from back then. I actually started loving the song after viewing the absolutely terrible, awful, horrendous movie Rules of Attraction. Sad to say I ultimately bought the terrible, awful, horrendous movie on DVD - solely for this right here. (Sorry - it won't let me embed!) Yes, that is Swoozie Kurtz, Faye Dunaway and Boone from Lost before he was Boone from Lost. Best scene ever. Two hot boys dancing on a hotel room bed to George Michael? Hello! (And yes, I watched the entire clip after I found it earlier, even though I have watched those scenes approximately 790 times.) The rest of the movie? UGH. Dawson Leery, Kevin Arnold as a drug addict, Jessica Biel as a cokehead, some idiot committing suicide in the dorm bathtube (dorm BATHTUB?) because Dawson doesn't love her... ugh. UGH. (It is a three UGH kind of film.) But the restaurant/dancing scenes? TOTALLY redeem the rest of the movie. I'm just sayin'.

Okay, my kids just finished dinner so I'm sure there's parmesan cheese all over the kitchen. Time to put my mom hat on and go clean up after the little monsters. No more bloggy funtime.

Olive Juice - 4.18.11

2011-04-18T21:00:00.001-04:00

Cardi: Old Navy / oldnavy.com (2009)
Dress: Hope & Honey / TJ Maxx (2011)
Belt: NY&Co (2009)
Earrings: Gifted from my Momz (2005)
Pumps: Nine West / (now-defunct) shoewoo.com (2010)

No, your eyes are not deceiving you: I am wearing my (former) nemesis, olive green, UP ON TOP NEAR MY FACE. Holy geez. I wasn't kidding two weeks ago when I said my new pair of ankle pants in olive green were the first article of clothing I'd bought in that shade in YEARS, and now here I am wearing a whole dress in the color!

Actually, I was at TJ Maxx yesterday and I saw this dress on the rack in black and I just loved it but couldn't justify spending even $20 on yet another black dress. Then I saw it in olive green and bought it anyway. My love for the general shape, material and price outweighed my dislike for the overall color. Go figure! Turns out despite the fact I'm still not very fond of the shade, I really, really felt good in this today. In my non-neutral neutral outfit. The cardi, it's not a true navy - it's a lighter shade of blue which I like. It's very lightweight and has six little buttons up each cuff. I really appreciate it when Old Navy (or any manufacturer of inexpensive clothing, for that matter) pays attention and adds little fun details like that to what would otherwise be a very boring ho-hum sweater.

My mom gave me these earrings years and years and years ago and today was the first time I'd worn them. I'm weird like that.

I thought these shoes might be an issue this morning - the left one was very, very tight and they're not real leather so I had concerns about it not stretching. I even brought a "backup" pair of pumps to work with me just in case I had to switch out at some point during the day. Turns out my worrying was all for naught because within an hour or two, it felt great. Seriously Nine West, will you be my boyfriend?

So, I did some shopping this weekend. In addition to this dress, I also bought another (grey sharkskin with an a-line skirt, belted with pockets!) from TJ Maxx. I stopped in yesterday before I went to the grocery store and found these within ten minutes, buying them before I thought twice about it. Needless to say I was a very happy camper when I tried them on after I got home and they both fit wonderfully! How many times does that happen? Also, on Saturday I hit up JCP because they had this amazing pencil skirt in about 17 different fun colors I wanted to try on (and purchase, if it worked). I ended up getting one in teal and this black elbow-sleeved cardi with white polkadots I had been eyeing on their website. (Yes, another cardi. I am not even ashamed.) Then I went to Steinmart as I had coupons (if I was going to be buried my tombstone would surely say "Here Lies Taylor D - She Had A Coupon") that were begging to be used. I got an adorable orange, taupe and white tweed pencil skirt (too big - I'm going to see if I can exchange it tomorrow evening), a sleevelees hot pink patterned silky tie top and a pewter metal pink beaded necklace. I also snatched up a pair of black strappy shooties (I hate that word almost as much as I hate the word "jeggings") from Payless while I was at the mall. Guess how much I spent?! JCP = $40, Steinmart = $40, Payless = $20, and TJ Maxx = $50 for a grand total of $150. For two skirts, two dresses, a top, a cardi, a necklace, and a pair of shoes? Hell-to-the-yes.

(By the way, my sorting/pictures-putting-upping on my flickr for all my stuff I need to get rid of that I pulled out of storage? Should happen on Friday as I am off work and will be home with the boys.)

OH! FYI: My TJ Maxx had these:

In the red, black and natural patent yesterday. Run, don't walk, to go pick them up for yourself. I have them in a dark grey metallic in addition to the red and they are great pumps. Gorgeous, fun, easy to walk in... what more could you ask for in a shoe, really?

I Failed At Eating A Burrito - 4.15.11

2011-04-15T20:25:00.001-04:00

Top: Perception / Steinmart (2010)
Pants: Gap (2011)
Necklace: Goody's (2009)
Ring: Random Pop-Up Store In Mall (2010)
Flats: Decree / JC Penney (2009)

(I realize it's hard to tell with the craptastical quality of the camera that my pants are rolled up and they were CUTE. Just trust me on that one.)

Not enthusiastic about this today. This is what happens when you pull stuff together in about a minute and a half for a casual(ish) Friday at work. Yesterday was mustard and navy day on Kimberly's April Inspiration Calendar but seeing as how I was wearing a man's hooded sweatshirt, seven year-old mesh athletic pants and green flip-flops for the majority of yesterday... that just didn't happen. (I spent yesterday cleaning out our storage unit. I was highly successful. It was awesome. At least, that's how I spent my morning. My afternoon was spent washing baby clothes in preparation of taking them to Once Upon A Child and "pinning" everything I love on the whole internets to my Pinterest boards. Seriously, ADDICTIVE. If you have one please let me know! I'll follow you. Like a stalker. But an up-front stalker. This is a lot for parentheses.)

I liked this outfit a whole lot more when I wore it last summer, albeit tweaked:

See? Way cuter. Too bad I got rid of those wedges - just too big and no amount of foam insert/heel grip magic could make them work. Sadface.

Okay, I must go back to a) last night's DVR'd Parks & Rec, b) my glass of wine, and c) pinning everything I love or don't know I love until I see it on all the internets onto my Pinterest boards. (I wasn't lying when I said I was addicted!)

Happy Friday!

*Oh, I did fail at eating a burrito earlier. Hubs and I had Baja Bistro takeout and the freakin' burrito was too big and it fell apart. I got disgusted with it and gave it up for some Reese's Cup gelato. Upgrade!

Put It In The Pantry With Your Cupcakes - 4.13.11

2011-04-13T19:43:00.002-04:00

Sweater: Autograph / TJ Maxx (2010)
Top: The Limited (2011)
Pants: NY&Co (2010)
Earrings: NY&Co (2010)
Bracelets: NY&Co (2009 & 2010)
Pumps: Nine West / overstock.com (2009)

My six year-old told me last night that I should wear red tomorrow (today) so I did just that. I basically ran around telling everyone today who complimented my outfit "THANKS MY SWEATER COST $3!" I must stop doing that. I think it's probably equally as obnoxious as someone who tells people how expensive their clothing is. (My sweater really did cost $3. As much as going through the clearance racks at TJ Maxx sucks sometimes, you can really find some good stuff!)

If I had to choose one reason why I miss shopping at New York & Company, it would be their Buy One Get One Half Off perpetual jewelry sale. Probably 75% of all my jewelry came from that store! (And also: that b&w bracelet? I GOT IT FOR $4! Obnoxious?)

Um, I am slightly embarrassed to admit that these are not the same pumps I wore and posted a few weekends ago. That would be these:

The ones I wore today, the Testinos, are more of an orange-red and the ones from a few weekends ago, the Fredas, are a true red. (In full disclosure I also own a pair of rounded-toe red J-Simp pumps which I got married in and don't wear anymore and a pair of low-heeled suede Bandolino ruffle-toe pumps which are pretty freakin' amazing in their own right. What can I say, I love red pumps!)

Nice stray strand of hair there.

Well! Miss Cupcake Adventures gave me a New Blogger Award (thanks, lady!) so now I'm supposed to tell you all seven random things about myself. So here goes, right off the top of my head:

1) I don't paint my fingernails but my toenails stay painted all the time. I'm too anal retentive to deal with all the chipping that comes with painted nails, not to mention the fact that I am too uncoordinated to do my own manicures left-handed. So naked my fingernails shall remain.
2) I have eaten Reduced Fat Wheat Thins and 1/3-fat cream cheese for dinner every night this week. I am addicted to cream cheese as is my three year-old, who calls it "crim cheese."
3) I like my showers so hot that sometimes I feel faint when I turn the water off. I was actually so afraid of boiling my baby while in the shower the last time I was pregnant that I altered the temperature of the water for that whole nine months!
4) I rocked out to Big Pimpin' this morning on the way to work, followed immediately by Mrs Robinson. Yes, I have an eclectic taste in music.
5) I am obsessed with Murder Shows. Disappeared, 48 Hours on ID, Stolen Voices Buried Secrets, Forensic Files, etc., etc., etc. If I am ever murdered I hope it's sensational enough that I get my own murder show. Then when they interview my husband he can be all, "It's ironic really... she sure did love Murder Shows."
6) I subscribe to Playboy magazine. The new May issue came earlier today. When my husband and I started dating, he had a subscription and I would always look at the mags when I was in the bathroom. He stopped getting it at some point and then after a few beers one night I decided to be the best! wife! ever! and get a new subscription via amazon. I think I look at it more than him. (Bad boob jobs = entertainment.)
7) I hate shorts. I haven't worn shorts (other than to the gym) in YEARS and YEARS. I bought a pair last year to see if I still hated them - I do. I like them on other people, abhor them on myself. Go figure.

Hope that was random enough!

Bathtime! (Kids, not me.)

Glow - 4.12.11

2011-04-12T20:45:00.001-04:00

Cardi? Check! Top? Check! Pants? Check! Colorful shoes? Check! See, I wasn't lying yesterday when I said that this was my spring uniform.

Cardi: Gap (2009)
Top: LOFT (2010)
Pants: The Limited / TJ Maxx (2010)
Necklace: Target (2008)
Belt: The Limited (2011)
Pumps: Nine West in Charlottesville (2009)

Can I just talk here for a moment about how cheap this entire outfit was? I mean, I have seen some bloggers wear completely gorgeous ensembles they picked up for a piddly little sum of money, but my total here ($4 necklace, $8 belt, $12 cardi, $15 top, $15 pants, and $40 shoes) is $94 top to bottom. And none of it came from thrift or resale stores! I love clearance racks like I love Little Debbie Marshmallow Puffs and let me tell you that is A LOT.

(Also I have to mention this: While I was perusing my old blog for how much some of these items cost, I found that I wore this exact same top last year on April 12! Seeing as how my wardrobe is so... uh... expansive, shall we say, I think that is pretty darn weird.)

I was told today by an engineer (of course) that I looked like SweetTarts.

While that was true, I was going more for this:

Somewhat contradictorily, my love for the aforementioned Little Debbie Marshmallow Puffs can only be rivaled for my love of Vitamin Water Zero. I am obsessed with Vitamin Water Zero. (Between it and my adoration of Diet Sunkist, the only calories I drink are in my coffee every morning. Oh, and the occasional - ha - glass of wine.) Anyhow, I get excited (lame) when I see there's a new Vitamin Water Zero flavor at Kroger and I found this one last week - it's called Glow. And it is delish. There's another new flavor out, Drive, which I tried for the first time earlier tonight. It is incredibly tasty as well. Good job, Vitamin Water Zero people!

I also realized earlier in the car that my umbrella (pink) and my iPod (blue) are these exact shades as well. It was just meant to be.

Also: I think... that every woman should own a pink belt. It should be a staple just as a pencil skirt and black pumps are!

The clear beads are to mimic the clear top on the Vitamin Water Zero bottle!

Yep, pink Nine West pumps. Very Barbie-esque. (If only I had a silver Corvette with purple interior... oh, 1983.)

Ran by Target today at lunch to pick up a few things (a platter, a new hamper as the wee one was using his old one as a "disguise" and broke it over the weekend, shorts for the wee one, a dry erase board, two plastic cups with monkeys on them... I love Target) and of course had to swing by the women's section to see what was on sale. There was a whole shelf display full of clearance cardis and I had my hands on a lovely sunshiney yellow stripey one when I thought to myself, "Self, put this down and walk away. You do not need a 73rd cardigan sweater." So, I did. I put it down and walked away. I liken that to the crackhead saying to buddy of crackhead who is offering up a spoonful of crack (is it a spoonful? I don't know how one "does" crack) "No thanks, fellow crackhead. I'm good." and going on about their crackhead-y day, which I'm sure would include a trip to Walmart if peopleofwalmart.com is any indication of their patrons but that is neither here nor there.

I think I have said enough for the evening!

Oh, but wait! Have you checked yourself onto the Style Bloggers Map yet? If not, get to it! (Thanks to Kimberly for posting this to Facebook earlier!) Way cool.

Now, I am truly done. Time to tackle my Google Reader.

Sounds Familiar - 4.11.11

2011-04-11T20:33:00.000-04:00

I own 72 cardigans. SEVENTYTWOCARDIGANS. That is not normal. Not even for someone who has a blog with the word "cardi" in the title. That is enough cardigans for me to wear a different one for ten weeks and two days straight. (Guess who pulled out her spring/summer stuff from storage yesterday?)

Cardi: NY&Co (2009)
Top: The Limited (2009)
Pants: Mossimo / target.com (2011)
Earrings: Target (2006)
Pin: NY&Co (2009)
Wedges: Nine West / amazon.com (2011)

I had done a preliminary cardi count a few weeks ago - 55, which turned into 56 after I bought a pink one at Gap. Then while unpacking storage totes yesterday, I discovered 16 more. However, I still might be short a few - I am missing a tote.

Well now - this here is what I would call my "Spring Uniform," which consists of a cardi, a top, pants, and a colorful pair of shoes. So expect this to be the norm until I get tan enough to brave a skirt sans tights.

That pin is smooshed. I tried to re-smoosh it in the right way at work today by placing it under a box filled with some heavy parts that an engineer had me order and then decided they weren't the right parts after they had arrived and had been paid for (as they are wont to do because they never tell us details on anything ever and expect us to be mindreaders all the time always) but it didn't work out so well.

Shocker, another new pair of Nine West. This was my first wearing of these beautiful, wonderful, the exact right shade of green wedges since I received them back in February and like 99% of Nine West shoes, they fit my feet like they were made for them. Much like my little orange flats, I had been searching and searching for a kelly green summer shoe for years with no luck. I have a pair of flats in this shade of green but every woman knows that sometimes flats just won't do and I thought it necessary to have either a pair of heels or a pair of wedges in this shade. Needless to say as soon as I saw these online, I snapped them up. (And just like the orange flats, I paid full-price for them. No regrets!)

(I swear this Nars lip gloss I have been wearing is the exact same shade as my lips! What a waste of moolah.)

Speaking of shoes, my mother-in-law informed me last week that my sister-in-law (a J Crew addict) bought the Rainy Day Bow Ballet Flats in grey for $58. Plasticky, rubber shoes for $58. Now, I am well aware of the Melissa brand/Vivienne Westwood rubber shoe line but at least those are interesting to look at. These are flippin' ballet flats which are sure to leave your feet smelling terrible. I'd be much more likely to pay $17.50 for this very similar Chinese Laundry Annabella Flat in yellow. But I probably wouldn't buy those either because they all remind me of Crocs which are AWFUL and are about as bad as Uggs are to me in terms of the ugliest footwear ever. (Also strong contenders: Tube Flops and any Converse-esque shoe with a high heel. Just... NO.) Also not a fan of clogs even though they have made a huge comeback in the last year or so. Not for me, thanks.

What do you think is the ugliest shoe?

Talk amongst yourselves; I'm off for a glass of vino.

Sting Like A Bee - 4.8.11

2011-04-08T19:38:00.003-04:00

Cardi: Merona / Target (2010)
Tee: Old Navy (2011)
Cami: Mossimo / Target (2008)
Jeans: Mossimo / Target (2010)
Scarf: Old Navy / oldnavy.com (2010)
Earrings: Gifted from M-I-L (2010)
Flats: Aldo / aldoshoes.com (2010)

WOW I could NOT care less where the potential honeymoon spots are for Price William and Kate Middleton, thank you stupid seven o'clock local news with the self-important anchor who Facebooks and Tweets all throughout the show. (Sorry, husband is watching TV. I am highly distracted this evening; it is Friday!)

Well. I really wanted to wear this scarf today - I was feeling the yellow. It just didn't look right around my neck in any way so I just made it an obi belt!

Pretty stoked about the pattern mixing here too. Funny, I never even tried to pattern mix until last month and now I can't get enough of it!

This is the twin to my blue stripey tee I picked up last month for $5. The jeans are skinnies just rolled up. These are the ones I have mentioned before that just have this weird smell about them. Not an unpleasant smell, just odd and it hasn't gone away even after eight or so washes. I don't know if it's the dye or what. Oh well, they were cheap - $25 - so no complaints.

Not much to say this evening... just hoping the House gets it together so we can avoid a shutdown. My company, while not a Government agency, sells product to the Government. Most of our product, actually. We have three Government auditors who will not be at work if this happens. They're not at work, the shipments cannot get signed off, the product cannot ship, we do not get paid. It could get very, very ugly.

Don't want to be a downer so...

Look! A baby panda riding a playground toy! Yay!

Buckeye - 4.7.11

2011-04-07T18:48:00.000-04:00

Embarrassing: Having to answer "Viva La Juicy" when someone asks you what perfume you're wearing. Cheesiest name ever for such an amazing, sweet scent!

Top: The Limited (2011)
Pants: The Limited (2010)
Belt: NY&Co (2010)
Necklace: NY&Co (2009)
Wedges: Nine West / Belk (2011)

I have declared today to be the official peep-toe debut day of 2011. (This was serious; I sent out text messages with this proclamation last night.) I really wanted to wear these wedges today. I had this shirt hanging in my closet that I bought months ago yet hadn't worn (as I do) and I decided to do the obvious by pairing them with my new candy apple red wedges. (At least I threw on the necklace for some contrasting color!) While red, black and white is a classic color combo, I do love how red, grey and white look just as much. These pants are fab, check out the detail:

I so enjoy a "different" dress trouser; pinstripes and solids get so old after awhile!

At the risk of repeating myself, once again Nine West comes through with an incredibly comfy-on-the-first-wear pair of shoes! (Seriously: Where is my sponsorship?!)

It has been a long day. It was one of those days where random snippets of conversation seemed to make their way over - our feelings regarding Sarah Palin, a recent divorcee (well, soon) and his non-sex sex life, how many times women want "it" according to a 56 year-old man, who does what laundry in the household... all whilst running three different Access databases at once! Women - the ultimate multi-taskers.

Is it too early to have a glass of wine? Somebody be my enabler.

"Why Are You Wearing An Apron?" - 4.6.11

2011-04-06T21:04:00.001-04:00

Three reasons why today was awesome:

1) iPod treated me to Skee-Lo "I Wish" on my way to work.
2) Chocolate chip canoli for lunchtime dessert.
3) I did NOT have to drive four hours anywhere!

(Excuse the paper grocery bag.)

Top: Merona / Target (2008)
Pants: Mossimo / target.com (2011)
Earrings: gifted from Crazy Grandma (2003)
Bracelets: Target (2010)
Scarf: TJ Maxx (2011)
Belt: The Limited (2011)
Pumps: Nine West / Belk (2010)

Three notable things about this outfit:

1) I have not worn olive green in... I can't even remember how long. It is one of the only colors I cannot STAND - at least next to my face. As a bottom, it's alright.
2) This is the first time I have worn a scarf belted like this and I love it!
3) I don't have a third thing; I just wanted to mirror my "three things" from above.

My department's director, Roger, says to me today, "Why are you wearing an apron?" I was quick to retort, "I am NOT taking fashion criticism from a man wearing pleated pants and cowboy boots." Burrrrrrrn. Honorable mention for the "Men Are Clueless" comment awards goes to my dad, who after seeing me get out of my car earlier says, "You stepped into your pants too far." Oh, me. Men.

I think I'm alright with olive green as a neutral. Still wouldn't wear it near my face but I do enjoy ankle pants OH-SO-MUCH that these are totally cool with me. (I got three pairs of these pants, by the way. $25 a pop? Sign me up! I got a khaki pair and a black pair too. They also have them in white and navy, FYI.)

I used to think my birthstone was the ugliest. Now I embrace it fully! Team Peridot!

It should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone that I own these shoes in three other colors/textures besides this pair. I snagged these for less than $20 on an additional %-off clearance rack last year. Speaking of multiples in shoes... I bought these last year (full-price) at Macy's as part of my celebratory "I Kept My Job!" purchase post-company layoffs:

Kick-ass, right? Love these shoes. Didn't love the price - $79. Imagine my delight when I spied the same style, the Escher, on shoewoo.com marked way down with an additional %-off before the site closed down a few months ago. I ended up with four more pairs which totalled $82 (free shipping!) TOGETHER! Witness the amazing-ness:

Navy suede, black patent reptile, natural suede, and burgundy patent reptile - all for the same price that my one yellow pair set me back last March. This is a great shoe - classic shape. I'll have these for ages. I love a good deal like I love a chocolate chip canoli. (And 90's rap.)