#21 - Forever Young

This is an outfit I created on Polyvore, and it looked like a good idea on the collage.  Then I put it on, and decided the polka dot scarf was too much.  Then I felt like I was trying to look younger than I am.  Each of these items is somewhat "junior-ish," so combining them all just didn't quite work out.  But I had to get to work, so I just went with it.  Not my favorite look, but hopefully no one judged me too harshly.  Be honest, do I look like a 29-year-old pretending to be 19?  Because if you can't trust strangers on the internet to give reliable feedback, who can you trust?

Jacket: Target
Dress & Tights: Old Navy
Belt: Limited
Boots: Steve Madden

Third Thursday Winterization

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This month's Third Thursday Threads theme is Winterizing a Summer Item!  

I'm a big fan of making summer items work all through the year.  One of the easiest ways to do this is take a summery dress and add a sweater, tights, and boots.  Boom!  When I bought this dress, I had vacation and summer in mind, but then I noticed that it would match perfectly with my fuchsia tights and orange cardigan.  I sort of expected to get some looks from my co-workers, since this is a pretty loud outfit, but I didn't notice anyone staring awkwardly.  One person did tell me I was very bright.  I just said thanks!

How do you wear summery items when it's cold outside?  Any brilliant tips to share? 


Dress: Kohl's
Cardigan: J.Crew factory
Tights & Belt: Old Navy
Boots: Target

Snow Day!

 

Take One, Pass It On Item:  purple tights from last Tuesday's post

Well, Winter Storm Q finally arrived yesterday after much speculation about how much snow it might bring.  I worked from home, because the news said getting to work would be fine, but getting home would be tricky.  I figured it would be best just to stay home, since I can remote into all the programs I need.  I was starting to feel foolish, but the snow finally started around noon, and I think we got about 7 inches by evening.

I'm glad I am a few days ahead on outfit photos, because what I wore today was definitely NOT blog-worthy, unless I start a side blog about how to wear sweatpants and slippers.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  


Shirt: J.Crew Factory
Dress and Tight: Old Navy
Necklace: H&M
Belt: Limited
Boots: BareTraps

Ruzzle Addict

Take One, Pass It On Item: pearl necklace from last Tuesday's post.

So, have you all jumped on the Ruzzle fad yet?  My brother and sister got me hooked on this game.  It's basically Boggle for smartphones, with a little bit of Scrabble thrown in.

I'm going to brag a little bit and say that I am ridiculously good at Boggle.  I mean, no one will play with me, because it just isn't fun.  For some reason, my brain is really great at seeing words in a random assortment of letters.  Surprisingly, this is of no use to me in my every day life and career.

My biggest problem with Ruzzle is that it tells you how many words you found, and then it tells you how many words exist to be found.  In Boggle, I just know that I found 50 words and my opponent found 25, so I get to feel really awesome.  Ruzzle tells me that there were 297 total words, and then I feel bad about myself, even when I win!  Why can't this game just let me be happy that I found more words than the other player?  Seriously, Ruzzle, stop ruining my life!   (at least I'm not being dramatic.)  

I don't believe there are 275 words to be found!

Dress and Cardigan: Gap
Necklace: gift (from China)
Tights: Old Navy
Shoes: BCBGeneration

On Confidence

On the day I wore this outfit, I had 2 different random women say things to me that basically boiled down to "Cool outfit!  I would never have enough confidence to wear that!"  I never really know how to respond to comments like that.  I just said thanks and giggled awkwardly at one of them.  I told the other lady that she should try wearing something kind of crazy, because it is fun!  I don't think she will.  

A few random thoughts:

• On the spectrum of confidence, I would put myself in the very average category.  I don't think it takes any confidence at all to wear neon purple tights.  As I was thinking about this, it reminded me of this post.  I think confidence is much like bravery (and most attributes that we consider positive).  It's not difficult for me to wear crazy colored tights, but for someone else, it might be terrifying.  But maybe they don't scream when they see a spider (not that I would ever do that). 
• Since I spend so much time reading other fashion and style blogs, I now think it is super normal to wear sort of ridiculous outfits.  I can think of one person I know in real life who has worn crazy colorful tights (in a non-Halloween situation), but most of my blog friends were colorful tights on a regular basis.  
• On a more serious note, it just made me kind of sad that both of these ladies seemed to think they weren't capable of branching out a bit.  I say wear whatever you want to, and don't worry about the crazy looks you may receive at the library.  

Other fashion bloggers, do you get crazy comments like this?  How do you respond?

The giveaway  is still open - don't forget to enter!

Sweater: Old Navy
Skirt: Bass Outlet
Tights: Old Navy
Shoes: BCBGeneration

Tale As Old As Time

Last Sunday, I went to Beauty and the Beast (the musical) with my mom-in-law and sis-in-law.  At that point, it had snowed just a little bit, and we could still take pictures on the deck. Now, we have about 6 inches of snow outside, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to venture out there again.

Anyway, the show was fabulous!  I knew it would be.  I just love the story, and the songs, and the costumes.  Disney Princesses were not as big of a deal back when I was a kid, but I do think Belle was my favorite.  Back in 2010, Beauty and the Beast was in Omaha when my sister and nieces were visiting, so we all went.  That's probably another reason I love this musical - it was SO MUCH FUN to take the girls and experience it with them.

So, I have to ask - who is your favorite Disney Princess?

Dress: Ann Taylor
Sweater: Urban Outfitters
Belt: Charming Charlie
Tights: Steve Madden
Boots: Wanted via Piperlime
Necklace: InPink

Losing It

 

Well, I'm finally going crazy in my old age.  I have never been a forgetful person, but in the last few days, I am really starting to wonder what is wrong with me!  I am so scatterbrained!  Here's some evidence:

• On Sunday, I went to Beauty and the Beast with my MIL and SIL.  We met for dinner before the show.  When I got to the restaurant, I noticed my wedding and engagement rings were not on my finger.  Cue panic attack.  I was sure I hadn't taken them off for any reason that day, and was terrified that they had fallen off somewhere as I was walking around downtown.  Turns out, they were on the dresser.  I had taken them off when I put on hand lotion. 
• On Monday morning, I got to work and my computer was not on my desk.  Apparently I took it home for the weekend, and completely forgot to bring it back.  I had to drive back home to get it, thus starting my day about 45 minutes later than originally planned.
• Monday evening, I was getting ready to ship all the presents out to my family, so I was sorting everything into piles.  There are 4 presents under the tree to John from me.  I remember buying and wrapping 3 presents.  I have no idea what the 4th present is, and since I put everything in different sized boxes to be sneaky, I don't even know which present is the mystery one.  The next day, I realized that the mystery present isn't "to John". It is "to Jason", my uncle-in-law.  Apparently, I am illiterate.  

I am hoping this is just short-term memory loss due to holiday stress and I will be back to my usual brilliant self in January. 

Dress: Gap
Cardigan: Urban Outfitters
Necklace: H&M
Tights: Steve Madden
Boots: Wanted via Piperlime
Coat: Old Navy

Out of Africa

Today's outfit is very similar to my monochrome outfit from the winter challenge.  I just went with pink tights, a darker blue sweater, and a different necklace. 

 

It was one of the windiest days ever, so a flowy skirt wasn't the best idea.  I think I avoided any serious Marilyn Monroe moments, though.   I need to pay attention to more than just the temperature when I check the weather each morning.

 

So, background on the necklace:  In 2006, I went to Kenya with my Dad and a group from our church.  One of the days, we went to a place (I can't remember the name), but it was a kind of refuge for women with AIDS, and they made various items to sell.  This shop was full of gorgeous necklaces.  It was so hard to pick just one, but I ended up with this one.  

I tracked down the picture below from the trip.  The quality is pretty bad, but that's my Dad and me, at the farm "at the foot of the Ngong Hills" where Karen Blixen lived, and then wrote about.  I've never read the book, but the movie is BO-RING.   

Here's another picture from the trip, at no extra charge.  This is at The Giraffe Center, where we got to feed giraffes.  As you can tell from the picture below, these giraffes were not shy at all.  Some of the workers were putting the giraffe food in their mouths, to get a giraffe kiss.  They tried to convince us to do that, but I declined.  A lady has to draw the line somewhere!

Tank top and Sweater:  Gap
Skirt:  George
Tights:  Steve Madden
Boots:  Wanted via Piperlime
Necklace:  from Kenya

Pleat Repeat

Didn't I wear this skirt last Monday?  Yes, I did.  But, the ABC theme for today was Pleats, and this is one of my few pleated items.  Last week, I kept it simple and classy with all black, so today I had a little more fun.  Inspired by Kendi, I put my striped sweater and purple-y tights with my purple skirt. The cold and snow means I will be wearing boots most of this week.

I'll be honest, I really loved this outfit.  I kind of felt like a teenage rock star.  Maybe that's not a good thing, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.

I was looking at my list of labels, and I realized I haven't worn pants on the blog yet.  And then I realized I almost never wear pants.  I mean, I wear jeans, skirts, and dresses.  I have pants, I just apparently haven't worn them at all in the last few months.  Maybe I should try that sometime...
Go check out the other pleated bloggers here. 

Sweater:  Old Navy
T-shirt:  PacSun
Skirt:  Gap
Tights: Steve Madden via DSW
Boots:   BareTraps via DSW

Layer it on

I'm so excited to be linking up with Freckles in April for the Winter Challenge.  Today's prompt is LAYERS.  It's winter, so I am pretty much layering every day.  I decided to try something new for today:

Button up shirt under a faux wrap dress!

I realize this isn't as crazy as I think it is.  I got this dress several years ago on clearance at Target for I think $6, and I rarely wear it, because it seems kind of boring.  I guess I just need to layer it with bright colors and then I like it.

I'm even trying the tights/socks/boots combo that is everywhere.  I almost always wear socks with my tights and boots, but today I pulled them up so they can peak out and say hello.  I think I like it.  I should probably get some chunkier knit socks or leg warmers.  I think that would be cuter.  

Go check out what other bloggers did here!

Tomorrow's theme is Monochrome.  I'm still not sure what I'm wearing! 

Dress:  Target
Button-up shirt:  Gap
Tank:  Gap
Cardigan:  Loft
Tights:  Steve Madden via DSW
Socks:  Target
Boots:  Wanted via Piperlime

Pleather Jacket

I've been on the lookout for a black moto jacket for awhile, and somehow ended up choosing this white one instead.  Oops!  Guess I'll just have to keep looking for a black one, preferable in real leather.



Jacket: Relativity
Skirt:  Kenneth Cole Sweater
Tights:  Steve Madden from DSW
Boots:  Bare Traps from DSW
Scarf:  Gift from my sister, about 7 years ago!