That's better

Well, it looks like the worst of whatever had me down yesterday is over. Still feeling a bit blah, but at least I know I'll make it through the entire workday, unlike yesterday when I left at 11:30. Blech. I hate being sick.

But you know what I don't hate? You guys! (Terrible segue, I know.) But seriously, you guys rock. Comments on my Monday blah post and my yesterday blah post really made me smile. And, without going into too much personal/professional detail, I need all the smiles I can get! So thank you. Truly.




shirt and cardi: Old Navy
skirt: thrifted
shoes: Target
necklace: Canal Street in NYC
So I just noticed my cat creepin' in that first picture. She's a little stinker for sure. Thanks for the photobomb, Spazzcat!

Let's see, what else is going on? We're supposed to get our first real snow of the season tomorrow (previously, we got about an inch, if that). Which, for Ohio, is just absurd. Though I have to admit, I've been just fine with the warmer weather lately. What can I say? Guess I'm truly a southern girl at heart. Give me a skirt-without-tights Christmas over a white Christmas any year :)

Blerg. (An accurate description of me today)

Well, it's safe to say that I'm feeling kind of terrible today. I don't know if it's the flu, or if I ate something that didn't agree with me, or what. All I know is I'm struggling to pull myself together for work today. And since a looming deadline kept me from posting yesterday, I thought I'd just check in with some fun Pinterest pins. Because after all...

Source: Uploaded by user via Shawn on Pinterest

So. Here's what I'm pinning lately.

Source: kendieveryday.blogspot.com via Emma on Pinterest

Source: girl-and-closet.blogspot.com via Emma on Pinterest

Source: beautylish.com via Emma on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Emma on Pinterest

Source: clothedmuch.com via Emma on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Emma on Pinterest

Source: livingwithlindsay.com via Emma on Pinterest

Oh man. I wish I had some fairy godmother who gave me money for clothes shopping on a whim. Because I need to recreate just about all of these outfits. And the nails, though I might be able to do that on my own. I'm also loving this gallery wall...what a unique take on it!

Monday already?

You know what's super annoying? When you spend all week planning to be productive on the weekend, but exhaustion and other commitments completely prevent you from getting almost anything done. Guess who that happened to this weekend. It's almost tempting enough to consider using a PTO day this week, but I only have so many of them and I have about a billion weddings coming up in the fall, so I want to try to save them for when I will really want to use them!






shirt: thrifted
slacks: New York & Company
scarf: The Limited
pumps: Franco Sarto via Marshall's
You know, I'm actually a firm believer that sometimes, you just have to take care of yourself first. Maybe my history of panic attacks is what makes me really force myself (not that it often takes much convincing) to have at least one day a week in which I don't do anything at all. I really think that's what helps me keep my sanity most of the time. When you're as busy as I am, having one day a week where you're not working from 9 am until 9 pm is really a pretty luxurious and incredible thing.

Oh, who knows. I'll probably be kicking myself tonight after work, when I'm trying to catch up on all the things I should have done this weekend. But that's the other thing that having panic attacks has taught me: There's no use worrying about the future if you can't do anything to change it now. So stop worrying, and cross that bridge when you come to it.

This really isn't the direction I saw this post going today. Oops. And oh well :)

Food Fridays: Tomato Orzo Soup

A quick recipe today, because I overslept (again) and have to run out the door in a minute. Hey, I've been up late every night this week working. Don't judge my inability to get out of bed by Friday morning :)



Ingredients:
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups tomato juice
- pinch of dried oregano
- 1/2 cup orzo pasta
- salt and pepper
- feta cheese (optional)
- dill (optional)

I got this recipe from Food Network Magazine or Every Day with Rachael Ray. I can't remember. I think it must not be a Ray-Ray recipe, since there are only a handful of ingredients. Anyway.

Start by bringing the chicken broth and tomato juice to a boil. Add the oregano. (I like to throw in a dash of dried basil as well, but that's just me.)

Add the orzo—if you're not familiar with orzo, it's just regular pasta that's shaped like longish grains of rice, carried by most grocery stores—and stir occasionally, so the orzo won't stick to the bottom of the pot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook until the pasta's tender, I think around 15 minutes or so, but check the package to be sure.

Top with a bit of feta and dill, if you like. I'm not a fan of feta, so I usually top it with Parmesan or mozzarella and dill instead. Serve hot and enjoy! (Don't you just love easy, one-pot meals? I know I do.)

Pioneer lady

I don't know why, but this outfit kind of made me feel like a pioneer woman. Maybe it's the midi-skirt-and-boots combo. Maybe it's the brown and gray palette. Who knows. I'm not even sure if I like this outfit all that much, but I figured I'd post it and get some feedback.








shirt: old, possibly thrifted?
skirt, belt: Spotted Moth
boots: Target
necklace: The Limited
bracelet: Forever 21
Meh. I'm not crazy about this one, I guess. I think the only reason I decided not to delete these photos is because my hair looked pretty nice, haha. Oh well. They can't all be winners, right?

Oh, and one more thing. Notice that giant new Shabby Apple ad in the right sidebar there? Yeah, they're having a sweet 20% off sale ALL MONTH. Just enter the code NEWYEAR at checkout to get 20% off your whole purchase (minus the Side Saddle line). Just make sure you click over to their site using one of the buttons on the right of that page. Cause then I get paid, haha. Kthanks :)

Holy cow, a nighttime post!

This might be the first time I ever posted at night, haha. But I need a break from cranking out all my freelance writing...between today and Friday at 7 pm, I have to crank out about 8,000 words. I have about 2,000 down. Not bad. But I wanted to write about something other than Mac external hard drives for a little bit, and I still have New Year's Eve photos to post, so...




dress: New York & Company, last year
tights: Target
pumps, clutch: thrifted
broach: came with a NY&Co shirt
bracelets: don't remember
hoop earrings: gift from Emily


Matt and I, just before midnight.
I look nervous in that first picture because, well, I was. Turquoise tights. TURQUOISE tights, people!! This is unprecedented. I know it's a bit lame, since I've been doing the style blogging thing for nine months now, but I truly never would have worn an outfit like this one in December of 2010. In fact, I bought this dress for NYE 2010, couldn't figure out how I wanted to wear it, and promptly forgot to return it. This dress sat in my closet, tags on, for a full year! The fashion sacrilege. Now, I think it might be one of my favorite dresses. (It's kind of hard to tell, but it's got this chiffon-like fabric ruffled all down the front. Very pretty.)

In fact, this outfit throws into sharp focus just how much has changed for me in the past year. Some of the big things have remained the same, of course—Matt, and my job—but so many other details have changed. We moved into our first house (okay, we're still renting, but it's a house!) and got a spastic kitty. (Who I love dearly.) I went on a Financial Diet, saved more than $1,000, and got on a solid plan to get out of debt. I worked three jobs for a time; something I never thought I'd have the determination or energy to do, but somehow managed anyway. And I started this blog.

I'm not one for resolutions, but I've been trying to improve my life, health and well-being in general these past few months, so I'm going to continue with that. I'd like to go down to just working one job, but I'll do what I have to do, to get where I want to get. And I'm going to keep up with this blog; something I wasn't really sure I'd be able to do when I first started it.

Sorry for the rather long post. I get this way when I start reflecting and whatnot. Anyway, here's to a bright, productive, blessed and happy 2012...for all of us.

Belated holiday outfits

So my life is finally starting to resemble something close to normal again. That's good. This weekend seemed a lot longer than last, even though they were both three-day affairs. Maybe because I wasn't travelling across half the state and was actually able to get some things done. Go figure.

This includes re-shooting the holiday outfits that I never took pictures of, out of forgetfulness or sheer exhaustion. You'll know the reshoots because I'm not wearing makeup and my hair is wavy in all its air-dried glory ;)


shirt: old, don't remember; vest: New York & Company; skinnies: Forever 21; belt, boots: Target
#1, worn to a Christmas party thrown by my friend Allory and her boyfriend a few days before the holiday.


credits: see here
#2, worn to dinner with Matt's parents, his sister and her fiancé on Christmas Eve eve. Yes, I pretty much repeated this outfit from early December...only I swapped the necklace for a belt under the cardi. What can I say? I love this outfit.


sweater tunic: old, don't remember; skinnies, bracelet: Forever 21; flats: Target
#3, worn at Christmas Eve with my immediate family, and that evening with Matt's dad's side of the family.


shirt: thrifted; skinnies: Forever 21; boots: Old Navy, Christmas gift from my mom; necklace: The Limited; bracelet: Forever 21
Reshoot of #4, worn Christmas day with Matt's mom's side of the family and that evening with my mom's side of the family. Doesn't my mom have great taste? Loving these boots she got me :)


shirt: Old Navy; skirt: The Limited; necklace: Forever 21; tights: Target; booties: Burlington Coat Factory
Reshoot of #5, worn the Tuesday after Christmas at my dad's family's party, where we talked about my blog for a while and I felt awkward because I always forget that people I know in real life sometimes read this thing. Which is kinda funny. (Hi Luke. Lol.)
So there it is! I have a ton of 2011 outfits left to post, including my stepping-outside-my-fashion-comfort-zone New Year's Eve dress. Kind of excited to show you guys that one. But for now, I'm running a bit late for work. Of course. Ta ta!