The Day Her Camera Died...

There was nothing groundbreaking about this outfit, other than the fact that it marks my first post wearing full pants in quite some time. The weather in the DC area has been super-sweltering this summer, and, as evidenced by this blog here, my summer uniform has consisted mainly of skirts and dresses.
Finally, we had a few days that took a break from the "kill me, it's so hot" sort of heat. It was more "my, it's quite warm outside, isn't it?" kind of hot instead.



Top: Old Navy
Pants: Marshall's?
Shoes: thrifted
Earrings: Target?

Closeup:


I attempted to get some other more detailed shots of the outfit, but my camera battery was literally breathing it's sad, pathetic last little breaths, just to get these shots. Quite literally -- I had to turn of the camera, wait, turn it back on, and grab a quit picture before the camera caught on to the fact that there was no juice left.
Yknow that scene from the second Hellboy movie where they reanimate the dead little tooth fairy to ask it a few more questions about the underground troll market? (Sure ya do, right?) Well, it was kinda like that to get these coupla shots.

So, instead of schmancy outfit shots, I shall distract you with pattern mixing (florals and stripes, oh me!) and these shoes, which you all seem to love so much.

Dress Your Best: Eyes...

Day 1 outfit for the Dress Your Best Challenge:



Top: H&M
Sweater: H&M
Pants: NY&Co
Shoes: Sam and Libby via Marshall's?
Earrings: Claire's

Closeup:


One of the body parts/areas I really love about myself are my eyes. My eyes are mostly blue, with a gray tone and little touches of green. I love that my eyes turn more gray when that color is predominant in my outfit or green, likewise. I love that whenever I have been crying, my eyes turn a bright aqua blue. (I may be an ugly crier, but at least there's still something beautiful there!)

When I was little, just a toddler, I used to love making faces with crossed eyes. As everyone's parents have said at some time or another, my mom used to say "don't make that face or it will stay that way!" Who EVER believes that? Well, I do -- it happened to me!
Once I was making a face with crossed eyes, and I had some sort of muscle spasm or something -- and one of my eyes was STUCK. I actually had to have surgery to fix it! I am very lucky to have nor only normal, but truly lovely eyes today. I always had perfect vision growing up, but these days I do wear contacts. It's a small price to pay for the wonders my eyes have let me see throughout the years.

Totally unrelated side note:
Are there any bloggers in the OBX area?

Pop of Blue...

I was so excited to spy this belt at NY&Co for half off. I have really gotten into the habit of belting my outfits in the last few months, and I love having a colored belt that can instantly add a pop of color to an otherwise neutral outfit.



Top: H&M
Vest: H&M
Skirt: Land's End, swapped (actually a skort)
Shoes: American Eagle for Payless
Belt: NY&Co
Earrings: Claire's
Necklace: made by me

Closeup:


I had dear fiance play photographer for me again, as it was late, dark, and raining outside. Between experimenting with Kasmira's tips and directing him better, I think I am getting the hang of having a personal photographer!

I had an evening where I was actually able to pull out some of my jewelry supplies and play around. This necklace was the result. It's not exactly what I had envisioned (my skills are very elementary, so I'm still figuring out how to create when I picture in my mind), but I'm really pleased with how it turned out!

My mom surprised me right before I left work to let me know they were in town, and would I like to meet them for a drink? Why yes, it's Friday, it's been a long week, and I think I will have a drink, thankyou. This was a great outfit to transition from work to happy hour with my parents.

Do you make jewelry? If so, do you plan your creations, or do you let them organically take shape?

A Toe in the Water...

I'm dipping my toe back into the fashion waters today.
This post almost didn't happen because I didn't get home until late last night, and when I pulled the camera out, the battery was dead. I almost went to my bedroom to change into my PJs, but then I decided to have the fiance take my photo on my cameraphone. The quality is utter crap, but at least there are pictures!



Striped Sweater: Pretty Good via Marshall's
Yallow Top: H&M
Pants: NY&Co
Shoes: Payless
Earrings: gift from fiance from a stand in the mall
Bracelet: thrifted

Nothing fashion-forward here; this outfit was more for function. My feet have been hurting, and I had a happy hour after work, so I wanted to wear flats. It's been chilly (and with the oncoming of summer, I know my skirts will get a workout) so I decided to wear pants. I love this sweater because it's easy and comfy. A little pop of yellow in the tshirt and accessories.
Easy Peasy.

And because Kristen requested a larger image of the full outfit:



Are there any other changes/features you'd like me to incorporate into the blog?

Stay Fabulous or Get Slapped Friday...

As most of you probably already know, Erin over at Work With What You've Got has instituted a new holiday entitled "Stay Fabulous or Get Slapped Friday." The rules are pretty simple:
(1) Stay Fabulous.
(2) If rule #1 is broken, get slapped.

This is what I wore while hoping not to get slapped:



Striped Turtleneck: Target
Sweater: H&M
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: American Eagle for Payless
Flower: H&M
Earrings: Gift from fiance

I have been coveting the stripes I've seen on other bloggers for WEEK now, and I'm excited to have landed myself an awesome striped turtleneck! Of course, the weather is finally supposed to turn warm on us, so I will have to pack this baby away soon until fall/winter, but maybe I'll have one or two more chances to wear it before its too late. (I haven't yet crossed "Long Sleeved Striped Top" off the Want List on my sidebar because I still want one that isn't a turtleneck. Still hunting...)

Have you ever seen an outfit on another blogger and totally fallen in love with it and filed it in the back of your brain... then one day, you get dressed, totally NOT imitating another outfit, only to realize that your outfit is completely inspired by the one you loved? (Did that thought totally not make sense to you?)
While there are several differences between the two, I think my outfit today was utterly inspired by Hillary's outfit from a few months ago.
True, the sweaters are different colors, and hers is a cardi whereas mine is a pull-over, but I remember loving that she had the striped peeking out past her sweater sleeves. And since I don't have a striped scarf to tie bow-style around my neck, I added my striped flower as an extra stripey pop (and they also mirror the flowers that are part of her cardi).
Still love that outfit, Hillary!

Mixing high and Low...

I wore this outfit on Monday, and I must admit, I felt rather smart in it.



Top: swapped
Jacket: Nordstrom Rack
Pants: Marshall's
Shoes: NickelsSoft, thrifted
Earrings: Claire's
Necklace: Laila Rowe
Bracelet: Tiffany

I love the idea of mixing high-end and low-end pieces in one outfit.
I don't recall the brand of this jacket offhand, but I bought it at Nordstrom Rack, and it is definitely something I couldn't have afforded if I would have had to pay full price for it. Likewise, this Tiffany bracelet was a gift from my parents for my 30th birthday. (Every girl needs a little piece of Tiffany, dontcha think?)
However, the pants were purchased at discount retailer Marshall's, the shoes were thrifted, and the top was free via a clothing swap.

This is of of those outfits that proves that you don't have to pay an arm and a leg to feel like a million bucks.

PS: Let me introduce you to Raul Duke. Some people have children, some people have "fur babies," and some people, such as my fiance and myself, have these adorable little monsters waiting for us at home:

Where is my Disco Ball...

Looking at the photos of this outfit, I think I was late for a night of disco-dancing. Or maybe, I was late for my job as a flight attendant aboard a flight straight out of 1974!



Dress: swapped
Shirt: thrifted
Tights: Target?
Shoes: Fioni, thrifted
Belt: Marshalls?
Earrings: Claire's
Nail Color: OPI Russian Navy

You get a pretty good picture of my engagement ring in the nail-color photo -- dear fiance did an amazing job picking it out! It is exactly the style I wanted: a center stone with a circle of smaller stones around it. I love that it looks like something my grandmother could have handed down to me.

I got this dress from a clothing swap I went to a few months ago. I didn't love the dress, and this is the first time I'm wearing it. I decided to go ahead and take it on the off-chance that I could style it in a fun way. When I picked up this shirt a few weeks ago when I was thrifting, I fell in love with the colors and the stripes, but I found the pattern overwhelming. In theory, I think the shirt and dress work well together, but in reality I thought the dress was a little too tight for work and the shirt was a little too... well, Three's Company.

What do you think -- is this fashion-forward or a fashion flop?

One for the Road...

Despite saying I wouldn't be posting again until after the weekend, I ended up with a few minutes to snap some shots and drop in a quick post before hitting the road -- lucky you, readers!



Sweater: NY&Co
Tshirt: Torrid
Jeans: Levis
Boots: Torrid
Earrings: Claire's
Scarf: Claire's?
Sandwich: dear fiance

I have decided that we desperately need a space heater in our computer room. It is almost the same temperature in here as it is outside -- the computer is near the front door, and despite the maintenance crew putting in some weather stripping, if you hold your hand by the door, you can actually feel the wind coming in from outside.
Thankfully the rest of the house is comfortably warm -- just walking upstairs, you can feel exactly where the temperature changes!

Anywho, I will be spending a few hours in the car today, so I dressed to be comfy. Jeans, tshirt, sweater. These boots are insanely comfortable, but I thought they would bump up my style quotient a bit more than sneakers. I threw on a scarf for warmth, and played with it until I came up with this knotting technique. Or, at least I *thought* I came up with this technique -- as it turns out, Audi showed us how to tie a scarf this way over in her scarf tying tutorial video. This technique is the second one in the video. I remember watching that video saying I would have to try out her tips, and subconsciously, I did! The scarf stays put, and the knot is attractive and a little more unique than the everyday knots we usually see.
Thanks Audi!

Movin on Up...

Today the fiance and I found out that our application for the new rental house has been approved! That is great news. Of course, that means that in the next two weeks I have to pack up everything I own, move, compete in a dance competition (which includes extra rehearsals), and still fare well at work while things are getting busier. Somewhere in there I am hoping to hit up another bridal show and get some wedding planning done.
*WHEW!*



Yellow Tee: Target
Striped Sweater: Marshalls
Vest: H&M
Pants: NY&Co
Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction
Socks: very old
Belt: TJ Maxx
Earrings: Claire's

I don't own many items with stripes, and this is a problem I seriously need to remedy! I have seen several bloggers layer striped tees and turtlenecks in the cutest way, and I am totally inspired!

I am realizing more and more how much I love this vest (another item I bought after having been inspired by you bloggers!) I love layering it for funky casual looks and for professional looks with a little bit of flare. It creates a defined waist even when worn beltless, but sometimes, like today, I like throwing on a belt for an added oomph.

Are there any items you were inspired to go out and buy after seeing other bloggers rockin a great look?