Christmas Shopping

 

I wore this outfit on Saturday for about 2 hours, so I went ahead and wore it again yesterday.  It was one of those zero degree mornings and I was just not inspired to figure out anything else.

After work, I met up with a friend to do some Christmas shopping.  The good news is that I'm done shopping for 10 of the 15 people I need to get presents.  The bad news is that the tricky people are left, so I need to figure out what to get them!  There's only 2 weeks until Christmas, so I better get my act together.

Have you finished (or started) your Christmas shopping?

Sweater: Old Navy
Shirt: Gap
Jeans: Limited
Boots: Steve Madden

Pass It On

It probably won't surprise you that I'm taking the most basic item from yesterday's post to pass along to today's.  And if you described these two outfits, you might say the same thing: white button-up shirt, pink, polka dots, cardigan, boots.  But they are really quite different.  

Also, this outfit was inspired by Brynn, who styled her polka dot jeans in a very similar way the other day.  I love it when my blog friends have items like I have, so I can steal their ideas!

And finally, these are my new birthday boots!  Hooray!  I've been looking for a nice pair of flat black boots for a few years and I love these!  I'll probably be wearing them a ton this winter.  Now I just need to find a similar pair in cognac!  

1/2

You'll never guess what I'm passing along for tomorrow!  Or maybe you will.  I really don't know.  You have about 3 options, so your odds are pretty good.

Shirt: Gap
Cardigan: Marisa Kristina
Jeans: Limited
Boots: Steve Madden

Take One - Take Two

Back in February, I did the Take One, Pass It On Challenge with Sarah from Sarah's Real Life, but I kind of cheated and made up my own rules.  She's at it again and I'm going to do it for realsies this time.  We're starting off with an outfit that I wore a couple weeks ago for the Pantone color challenge, but never posted, because I was lazy on my birthday.  If anyone asks, my boots and cardigan are "carafe."  Not brown.  

This is another outfit that seemed like a good idea in my mind, but just didn't translate when I actually put the clothes on.  Maybe if the cardigan was longer, or maybe if the top was shorter, or the skirt was a pencil instead of a wrap.  I tried tucking the top in, but I felt fat when I did that.  I added a belt, but then it felt like I had too much going on.  After work, I played around a little bit and actually liked it best when I tied my shirt. Which is what I did the first time I wore this skirt.  Maybe it's just a tricky skirt.  Who knows.

Anyway, make sure you come back tomorrow to see which item is being passed along!  It's so SUSPENSEFULLLLL!!!

Top & Cardigan: Gap
Skirt: Chaus via Dillard's
Boots: Rampage

Literary Junkies Time

Hi there!  It's book nerd time again.  Argyle is sort of bookish, right?  Right!  Here are the questions for this month:

What are you currently reading? Tell us about it!
The Shepherd of the Hills - set in the Ozarks around 1900, it starts with the arrival of a mysterious stranger form the city, and then the story starts to build from there, and we learn more about the folks who live in the mountains.  So far, I really like it.

Let's learn about each others Reading Habits!! Answer the following questions either with a simple answer or with lots of details!  

• Amazon or brick and mortar?  library
• Locally owned bookshop or big name chain store?  library
• Bookmark or dog-ear?  usually bookmark, unless I can't find one, and then I dog-ear.  A friend recently got me in trouble for this and said I should have learned not to fold corners in elementary school.  Oops!
• Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random?  by author mostly
• Keep, throw away, or sell?  keep favorites, sell or donate others.  I really try not to buy books, because I rarely re-read them, and they just take up space and are difficult to move!  
• Keep dust jacket or toss it?  keep it
• Read with dust jacket or remove it?  remove to read
• Short story or novel?  novel
• Collection (short stories by same author) or anthology (short stories by different authors)?  no preference.  I don't read a lot of short stories, so I guess it would depend.  If it was a favorite author, I'd pick a collection.  If it was a favorite topic, I'd pick an anthology.  
• Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?  I have to get to a stopping point!  
• “It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?  Well, I'm not a big fan of scary stuff, so I guess "once upon a time"
• Buy or borrow?  borrow
• New or used?  either is fine
• Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation or browse?  combination.  I get a lot of recommendations from friends, but sometimes I just wander around the library.  
• Tidy ending or cliffhanger?  I prefer closure
• Morning, afternoon or nighttime reading?  If possible, all of the above.  With my current life schedule, I mostly read at night.  My favorite thing is reading outside on a nice day.  
• Single volume or series?  I like both.  I usually try to be patient until the series is complete to start the first book, because I don't like having gaps between each one.  
• Favorite series?  This is a tough decision.  The first ones that popped into my mind were The Hunger Games, Lord of the Rings, and the Chronicles of Narnia.  
• Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?  probably the book I am currently reading - The Shepherd of the Hills 

Have you read any good books lately?  

Outfit details:
Sweater: Old Navy

Shirt and Jeans: Gap

Shoes: BCBGeneration

Anchor Sweater DIY

At some point in the last year or so, I decided that I really wanted a navy sweater with a giant anchor on the front of it (like this or this).  Then about 6 months ago, I realized my current navy sweater (worn here, here, and here) wasn't great for layering in the winter, because it is so thin.  Then, I found this one at Gap for about $6, and it's perfect for winter time.  At that point, I began scheming about how I could turn my thinner one into an anchor sweater.  I did some research on the best way to paint clothes, and found this great tutorial from one of my favorite bloggers.  Winning!  I won't rehash her instructions, but here are some pictures of my project.

Things I learned: 

1. Wax Paper is not the same as Freezer Paper.  When you try to iron wax paper onto a sweater, nothing happens.  
2. Freezer paper is surprisingly difficult to find.  I actually had to go to Wal-mart!  
3. Self-healing mats and rotary cutters are magic.  I re-remember this every time I use it.  I'm not sure I would have been able to cut out the stencil shape properly on my own.    
4. The paint I bought took 4 hours to dry.  Kayla's tutorial said the paint would dry pretty fast, so my patience was being tested!  I wanted to finish the project on Saturday, but the first coat wasn't dry, so I had to apply the second coat on Sunday evening.  I wanted to wear this sweater RIGHT NOW, so the slower than slow drying paint was annoying. 

Overall, this was a pretty simple project (once I had the appropriate supplies).  I would be interested in finding a paint that dries faster, if such a thing exists.  Don't be surprised if I do more freezer paper stencil projects! 

Sweater: Gap (DIYed)
Shirt and Skirt: Gap
Shoes: BCBGeneration

5 Days, 5 Ways - Dresses

Most of the dresses that I wear on a regular basis have already been the subject of a remix collage, so it took some digging to find another one that I've worn enough times.  I landed on this faux wrap dress from Target.  I think I bought it in 2007, because it was on sale.  Then I hardly ever wore it, because I thought it looked weird with a cami underneath, and it wasn't decent alone.  Once I got a little more creative, I realized I could layer a button-down under the shirt, and I really like it that way! I also noticed that I usually wear it with crazy tights.

5 ways:  

1/2/3/4/5

 Shirt: Gap
Dress: Target
Belt: Limited
Necklace: Dillard's
Boots: BareTraps via DSW

Black and White (and Neon)

 

Take One, Pass It On Item:  booties from Friday's post (and boyfriend shirt, which I didn't even realize!  I should get some bonus points for that!)

**I'm also linking up with Marion for the trend of the month!

I very rarely wear all neutrals, but I was really going to try for this link-up.  I put this outfit together and it just felt a little boring, so I had to add the neon belt.  It's still mostly black and white, right?

Since it wasn't quite pitch black outside when I got home, I braved the frigid temperatures and wind to take some pictures outside.  I was not brave enough to take my coat off.  I shouldn't be complaining about the weather, because we are supposed to get about 8-12 inches of snow, with blizzard-like winds on Thursday.   Is it spring yet??

Shirt, Sweater, and Coat: Gap
Belt: Chinese Laundry
Skirt: Autograph via TJ Maxx or Marshalls (I can never remember)
Boots: Target

Tough

Take One, Pass It On Item: boyfriend shirt from last Friday's post

I recently learned that someone in my office described me as "tough."  When I told various other people (husband, sister, friends), they all laughed heartily.  I'm about as NOT tough as is humanly possible.  There are several definitions (according to Merriam-Webster):    

1. characterized by severity or uncompromising determination <tough laws> <tough discipline>
2. capable of enduring strain, hardship, or severe labor <tough soldiers>
3. very hard to influence : stubborn <a tough negotiator>
4. difficult to accomplish, resolve, endure, or deal with <a tough question> <tough luck>
5. stubbornly fought <a tough contest>
6. unruly, rowdyish <a tough gang>
7. marked by absence of softness or sentimentality <a tough critic>

The only one that I could maybe believe about myself is #4.  I'm sometimes "difficult to deal with", but that is because I am so sensitive, so I'm not sure we can really apply it in this case.   

I just thought it was funny - the perceptions others have of us are sometimes very far from reality!  And I figured I should let you all know the truth, just in case you haven't figured it out: I'm not really tough at all. 

Shirt and Cardigan: Gap
Belt: Old Navy
Skirt: Kenneth Cole Sweater (refashioned)
Boots: Target

My Boot Broke

 

Take One, Pass It On Item:  orange cardigan from last Thursday's post

Remember how I recently found a hole in my brand new dress?  Well, I've had another wardrobe malfunction.  This time my boot broke!  I was talking with a co-worker, and I have a habit of rocking back on my heels (kind of like a little kid).  Anyway, I did this, and heard a crack, and sort of fell.  Broken heel.  Way to go, Andi.

I swallowed my pride and emailed my co-workers hoping someone had some superglue so I could fix it.  One guy was at home for lunch, and was able to bring some back.  As my nieces used to say (every day), he was the "hero of the day."  I glued my shoe back together, and it definitely helped, but I'll still need to take it in to the shoe repair place, and I hope they fully fix my boot!  These are relatively new, and I haven't worn them a whole lot.

2 other quick things:

1. This outfit was really awesome in my mind, and I actually felt pretty fancy all day (sort of like the quirky librarian from a movie, or maybe Emma Pillsbury).  Now that I am looking at pictures, I'm not sure I like it very much.  Does this happen to anyone else?
2. I don't usually tuck in my shirts, and I think it is because it adds extra fabric/bulk to my middle.  Is there a trick I don't know to avoid this?

Shirt: Gap

Cardigan & Skirt: J.Crew Factory
Boots: Guess via TJ Maxx