sweater: Forever 21
khakis: Old Navy
boots: Madden Girl via Famous Footwear
necklace: gifted
I had intended to make today's post my January clothes budget recap (to link up to Fran's Budgeting Bloggers series, but this week month kind of got away from me. Spoiler alert: This sweater is in the recap. Spoiler alert #2: I spent every penny of my clothes budget, and then some, at Forever 21 this month. I'm a little embarrassed about that fact, but also not at all embarrassed because I needed a lot of sweaters and now I have them :)
Anyway, I guess I'm adding "write a January budget recap post" to my already miles-long to-do list for this weekend. I'm doing two interviews for a Columbus Bride story, writing another story that I've finished interviewing for, going to the climbing gym with Matt and his aunt to show her the ropes (AAAAHH I'm sorry, I'm sorry, terrible puns are my kryptonite). I also have to start my taxes, work on some photos for said Columbus Bride stories, do some general wedding prep and go to a meeting on a photography project I'm involved in. And finally, I have plans to hang out with my friends Chasity and Kate; the three of us (and Matt) are going to a show on Saturday, and then just us girls are getting together Sunday to watch Super Bowl commercials and do some wedding crafting. Sheesh. It's gonna be one of those "I need a weekend after my weekend" situations, I think.
How are your weekend plans shaping up? Hopefully you'll have a little more downtime than I do!
P.S. I totally forgot to talk about my new backdrop! Here it is :) I love it. It's been such a boon to both my blog photography and my budding semi-professional shoots as well. This was my second outfit shoot with it, and clearly it's a lot harder to figure out if my feet will be cut off when I don't have a point of reference at the bottom of the frame. I wound up repositioning the camera to get my feet in the shots, but I ended up not liking any of them anyway. Womp womp.
blouse and cami: secondhand
capris: Target
sandals: BCBG via TJ Maxx
necklace, bracelet: Etsy
Photo-taking is weird. I am at a complete loss as to why the first photo is so crisp, but the third one is so grainy. They were taken at the same time, with the same settings, same focal points, everything. What's up with that? Any speculation?
I'll be honest; I'm racking my brain for something interesting to say about this outfit, but I've got nothing except that it was stupid-comfortable and I probably need more patterned and/or lace-edged camis in my life. Especially now that layering weather is here!
Anyway.
I've been thinking lately about goal-setting and keeping busy. As I said in my last post, winter's imminent arrival means I have to make a plan for things that will help stave off my SAD/winter depression. I've been brainstorming some home-improvement projects that, aside from helping me complete a 26-in-26 item, will also help keep me busy. And a busy Emma is much less likely to be a depressed Emma. Lethargy, man. It's my mortal enemy.
I'm also meeting with a trainer today, for the first time ever. I probably won't have the budget wiggle room to do regular personal training sessions, but a friend of a friend has her own personal training business, so I figured it would be worth my time/money to sit down for a little coaching session. We're going to talk about my goals and how I can best achieve them. I don't think my goals are all that difficult (increase flexibility, increase upper body strength without getting bulky linebacker shoulders, get a slimmer waist/flatter stomach)...my issue is that every time I come up with a new workout regimen, I inevitably stop doing it after just a week or two. It's really frustrating, and I'm not sure how to change that habit. How do you guys change habits/convince yourselves to stick with a workout plan?
blouse: The Limited via Discount Fashion Warehouse
lace cami: Marshall's
skinnies: H&M
boots: gifted (but they're from Old Navy)
necklace: Express via DFWh
Not woof woof like a dog's bark, but wooooooof like the slightly frustrated/exhausted sound one makes when simply no other sound will suffice. I had yesterday off for Presidents Day, and the three-day weekend felt like a five-day business extravaganza. Which was kind of rough, considering the fact that I have yet to have a real "off" weekend this year.
Usually I like to spend long weekends in one of two ways: Manically cleaning my house/tackling my to-do list, then relaxing and doing nothing for two and a half days; or going on a mini-trip of some sort. This weekend, I did all the things. (I wore the above outfit to none of them; it was just in my backlog of outfits to post, haha. Still, it's a cute outfit that would have done nicely for many of the following activities.)
Friday night, I took my friend Emily out on the town for a little Galentine's action. She was visiting from West Virginia, so we hit up a wine tasting and caught a later showing of Her. (If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen the Valentine's feast Matt and I enjoyed a day early to accommodate Em's being in town. Oh. Boy.) A really irresponsible driver nearly plowed into us on the way home, but luckily we missed a collision. After that excitement, we came back to my house for an impromptu outfit photo shoot — Emily's a really talented photographer, and I can't wait to show you the results! Anyway, she met up with another friend for breakfast Saturday morning, and I headed up to my parents' house to wish my dad and little sister happy birthdays. The adults of the family went to a fun little fundraiser for my old high school's band that night.
On the way back to Columbus Sunday morning, I nearly wrecked again — this time because I took a sharp curve too fast on a slick road. Again, I managed to avoid disaster and made it home safely, just in time to rush off to rehearsal for a dance performance I'm in...and on the way, yet ANOTHER driver nearly plowed into me when she merged into my lane without signaling or (presumably) checking her mirrors. I was forced into the oncoming traffic lane, but I was lucky that no one was occupying it at that moment. Emily took me out to dinner after rehearsal, and Monday morning we did a little shopping at our favorite store, Discount Fashion Warehouse. Oh yeah, I have another haul to show you guys at the end of the month ;)
I got to relax with Matt a little Monday afternoon while we caught up on Walking Dead, but then it was off to the gym for a swim lesson and some climbing. Needless to say, I passed out nearly the second my head hit the pillow last night...and of course, I overslept this morning.
TL;DR: I think I need a weekend from my weekend.
Lots of photos today, so I'm going to keep the words short and sweet. So Ohio has really ridiculously bipolar weather, and when seasons change things can get really crazy. Forty degrees one day, 80 the next. That is not an exaggeration. So we Ohioans often have to switch our wardrobes from hot-weather-wear to cool-weather-wear, often more than once in a week.
So this is how I styled an outfit — a new shirt and black bottoms — two different ways last month. The warmer-weather outfit I wore to brunch with some friends, on a day that reached a high in the mid-80s. The cooler-weather outfit I wore to a microbrew "festival" put on by my friend and some of his homebrew buddies, where the lows that night got down into the upper 40s, if I remember right. But there was a lot of beer there, so who knows.
shirt: Express via Discount Fashion Warehouse
shorts: thrifted J.Crew
sandals: Target
necklace, bracelet: Etsy (two different shops)
shirt, necklace: see above
skinnies: Forever 21
boots: Target
jacket: thrifted
So there you go. A warm-to-cool outfit in just a couple easy swaps. And now, I present to you an outtake, because my friend Ally always compliments my poses and I suspect she doesn't believe me when I say I take some real duds. Ally, this one's for you:
Don't worry folks, my neck isn't broken. And I'm not turning into an owl, either :) So yeah, hope that gave you all a giggle. Have a fabulous weekend!
blazer, blouse: Discount Fashion Warehouse
jeans: thrifted
flats: Target
So it only just occurred to me that I'm basically wearing this exact outfit again today, just with a different blazer. Weirdly enough, it looks different enough that I don't think anyone will call me out. We'll see, I guess?
But the "notice anything" in the title doesn't actually apply to that. (Well, how could it since you can't actually see what I'm wearing this second? Anyway.) It refers to my photos, which received a little extra editing attention today. Jess from Here & Now recently did a post on sharpening your photos before posting. I didn't do any of the metering tips, because these photos are from like two weeks ago, but I did use her Photoshop tips! I took them a step further and turned them into actions for more convenience. In retrospect, I think I went a little overboard on a few of these (I was excited, ok?) but overall I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. (Except for that backwards pose. It's awkward as hell but I wanted to show off that lace!)
And then I got lost in the link-dumps that Jess linked to (specifically this and this), and I got really inspired to try shooting in manual. I kind of derped around with the camera yesterday evening, but only took photos of my living room, my feet, the cat...I didn't use it for outfit shots yet because I was in my PJs by 6 pm yesterday. Don't judge. But shooting in manual is WAY easier than I thought it'd be, thanks to my having a little more experience with the camera itself and some great tutorials I dug up. I got pretty excited, though, and started babbling to Matt about how cool my camera is. Again. He has the patience of a saint and I'm pretty damn lucky for that :)
So. Would anyone out there be interested in some tips I picked up while playing with my manual settings? Or creating Photoshop actions? Or...I dunno, anything else I talked about today? Holla at ya girl :)
Okay. So for those of you who have been long-time readers (or as long-time as you can get for a blog that's two and a half years old) will recognize this as the post where I apologize profusely yet somehow lackadaisically for the upcoming infrequency of posts. Yup, that pesky thing called "life" is happening again (go figure) and I'll be a bit quiet for the remainder of the month. But instead of the old "freelance work is burying me alive!" excuse, I actually have a fun reason.
Matt and I are moving!
We'll still be in Columbus--in fact, our new house is only about half a mile from our current one--but the new place is a major upgrade. It's a side-by-side duplex, so we have an upstairs for the first time! (Our current place is a one-over-the-other duplex, so our neighbors live above us.) Also, it has air conditioning, about 50% more space, a claw-foot bathtub, and an enormous six-by-nine-and-a-half-foot room that will be my very own closet. Needless to say, we're chomping at the bit.
Fortunately, we find ourselves with a bit of an overlap. Or a lot of an overlap. More than three weeks' worth. We got the keys last week and started painting over some ugly trim, narrowing down paint choices for the rest of the house, and just generally figuring out how much furniture and whatnot we'll need to fill the space. This weekend we'll paint pretty much every room in the place, thanks to some help from friends, and next weekend we officially move in. Then it's just a matter of cleaning up the old place, filling a multitude of nail holes, and all the other little things that will help us get our deposit back.
So what does this mean for Verbal Mélange, you might be wondering? Or not, I mean, I'm sure no one is as deeply interested/invested in this little corner of the internet as I am. But in case you're curious, I'll tell you. It means the aforementioned shortage of posts for now, but also a HUGE FLOOD of house-related posts in the near future. I'll still post outfit photos, of course, along with the occasional recipe. But the DIY- and decor-related stuff around here is gonna be featured in a big way. What can I say? I love to nest. And this house is actually worth nesting in, unlike our current one that features not-up-to-code flooring, teeny tiny spaces and generally sub-par potential.
So for now, I leave you with these unfortunately blurry photos. Sorry, guys...I didn't realize it until I deleted the others from this shoot. Womp womp.
dress: secondhand
button-down: New York & Company
shoes: Buckle
necklace: The Limited
You guys, it's finally happened. Someone caught me while I was taking outfit photos. Horror of horrors. I was shooting outside in my backyard just now, and my hippie neighbor was outside watering her garden. And she stared. And then she said hello. I felt like I needed to explain myself — I'm not vain, I have a personal style blog, that's why I'm taking photos of myself in the backyard before work. But then I figured, "I have a fashion blog" probably doesn't make me any less vain. So I didn't say anything.
blouse: secondhand
jeans: RVCA
shoes: Buckle
necklace: gifted
This outfit has actually been sitting in my backlog for quite some time. It's from Matt's and my four-year anniversary date night earlier this month. We went ice skating and got dinner at The Melting Pot. Gosh, I love that boy. He's pretty special. His birthday's tomorrow...can't wait to tell you guys about his birthday surprises!
We don't have any real plans for Memorial Day yet...mostly just catching up and enjoying the extra day off, I think. What about you guys?
Oh, and before you go start your weekend, don't forget to enter my giveaway. And Monday is Bloggers Take the Town. We'll be leaving the link-up open all week, so if your going-out outfits aren't ready by Monday, no worries. You have time :)
Not much to say today, folks. I'm feeling kinda blah/anxious this week (thanks, hormones) and am having a hard time keeping positive. Still, I'm getting by all right, by reminding myself that freaking out when there's nothing I can do about a situation doesn't help anything and that my current low self-esteem is pretty much unfounded. I've gotten quite good at talking myself out of these funks. You know what helps? Looking at bright, cheery photos from last week when I was in a super good mood.
shirt: thrifted
cami: Marshall's
jeans: Guess via Macy's
flats: Target
necklace, brown bracelet: don't remember
beaded bracelet: gifted from my momYou know what else will probably help my funk? Watching New Girl with the girls upstairs and a glass (or two) of wine tonight. It's all about appreciating the little things and making sure that the big things don't overwhelm you.Hope I didn't bum anyone out with this post today. With any luck, we'll be back to our regular randomness and goofiness soon.Oh, and one more thing before I forget. Thanks to those who linked up to Bloggers Take the Town yesterday! If you missed it, don't fret. We'll be back again on Monday, April 30. Mark your calendars!
Sometimes, outfits just don't work out. Like yesterday, I wore a dress with a white Oxford layered under it and a belt. I was getting ready to take my outfit photos when I turned to Matt and asked, "Does this make me look pregnant?"Naturally, he got pretty wary right away. I assured him it wasn't a test, and I just wanted to know if I should refrain from taking pictures. We agreed that I did, in fact, look a little preggers. So even though I wore that dang outfit all day, it'll never appear on the blog. The outfit I changed into, however, will likely show its face around here in the next few days.
lace shirt: Forever 21
cami, shoes: Target
short-sleeve Oxford: New York & Company
skirt: thrifted
necklace: The LimitedThis outfit here is another great example. I was so excited to bust out this lace top again, as I haven't worn it on ages. But once I got it on, I noticed that there were little strings hanging off of it...everywhere. At first I just tried to trim them down, but then I realized that the shirt itself (which is made of this elastic-y, stretchy material) was unraveling. So, with a heavy heart, I took some photographic evidence and put the shirt in the trash. Sad.The Plan B outfit wasn't bad, per se, but I spent the whole day thinking about the shirt I had to toss. I guess that's what happens when you pay eight bucks for a shirt at Forever 21. Rest in peace, lace shirt. You will be missed.
Wow, what a weekend. Matt and I both took a much-needed mini-vacation from just about everything. It was kind of wonderful. Friday and Saturday we did nothing but sleep in, lay around the house in comfy clothes, watch Netflix and eat leftovers. (And on a whim, had a casual date night at Red Lobster to satisfy a sudden and inexplicable craving for crab legs. Mmm.) Sunday we did a bit of work/errands, but it was also mostly chill. I love weekends like that :)The only down side to the weekend? Well, I suppose there were two. The Buckeyes lost to Michigan, which was kind of heartbreaking since it hadn't happened in years. And I blew through my "spending allowance" (part of my Financial Diet) by Sunday. That really sucks. Other than that, an amazing and wonderful weekend.But this, like all good things, must come to an end. So it's back to the grind for Matt and I (and the rest of the country, I suppose, so there's no use complaining). So. On to today's outfit! And I have just one question...Why have I never worn my midi skirts with heels before? It's truly a mystery. Because I love this look.
lace shirt: Forever 21
cami: Old Navy
skirt: H&M
shoes: thrifted
necklace: really old...possibly a gift?I really love the 50s vibe that this skirt/heels combo provides...but I also like how the lace top is just edgy enough to keep this outfit modern. Especially from the back...quite a bit of my back is visible, since the cami comes down so low and the lace is...well, lace. And see-through.I'm afraid though that this top may be on its last legs. The last time I pulled it out of the washer, I noticed some elastic threads poking out. Ah, well. I guess that's to be expected with an $8 top, right?On an unrelated note, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who commented with suggestions and encouragement on my last outfit post. I definitely got some inspiration from your comments, so I think I'll give those boots another try before I sell/donate them! You guys are truly awesome. Thanks, everyone, for reading :)
Running a bit behind this morning, so I have just a couple quick photos to post, and some shopping tips and info for y ;)First, the shopping. I have a promo code for you to use on eShakti! Buy some cute clothes for you or get a jump start on your Christmas shopping with the promo code EMMA0811. That will get you $20 off your purchase now through December 31!Want $50 to spend on whatever you like at The Limited? Of course you do. Click here to enter! Giveaway ends TONIGHT at 11 pm EST, so hurry up!
sweater, scarf-turned-belt, cords: thrifted
lace shirt: Forever 21
cami: Old Navy
shoes: TargetI had to adjust the second photo a bit more than the first to show the detail of the shirt. I swear, I've never once been able to photograph this lace shirt well! The photo gods must dislike it. Too bad, photo gods, because I love this shirt!I'm slowly but surely bulking up my thrifting skills and thrifted clothes. My goal? To create an entirely thrifted outfit before the end of the year. Looks like I have some serious $1 holla shopping to do!Disclaimer: I am an affiliate of eShakti, so I get perks when you use that promo code. And even though I said it on the original post, I'll say it again...The Limited compensated me for this giveaway as well.
Oh, they exist. And they don't like me. At least, not when I'm wearing this shirt. Remember last time? Yeah. The sun and my camera just team up every time I wear this shirt. It's a conspiracy, I tell you.Oh well. It's a good reason to re-wear or re-style this top...which is fortunate, because I freaking love it. Not sure if I like it just for it's sheer awesomeness, or because I bought it for only $8. Probably both.
shirt: Forever 21
tank: Old Navy
skirt: H&M, thrifted
shoes: Target
necklace: Short North Gallery Hop street vendorJust now, I couldn't remember where I got these shoes. So I scrolled through my archives for a while and finally found them...apparently, I haven't worn these in ages. Or at least, I haven't blogged them in ages. (I don't blog every outfit I wear. They can't all be winners.) But what I was going to say, before I got distracted, was that I love looking through my archives! I've put together some outfits that I really love. And that I probably wouldn't have worn if I hadn't started blogging, since blogging forces me to be creative and come up with new ideas most days.I mean, I do repeat outfits sometimes, but not nearly as often as I did before April. (Confession: I had about 10-15 outfits that I just sort of cycled through. Yikes.) And it's funny, because I worried when I started Verbal Mélange that I wouldn't be able to come up with new outfit ideas. I thought I'd fizzle out. And here I am, 5 months later, still going strong. With my attention span, that's REALLY saying something!So, anyway...oh look, something shiny!
The "lacy" is for this outfit, worn a week and a half ago. The "late" is for what I am today, because I just could. not. decide on an outfit. Don't you just hate those kind of mornings? Ugh.I bought this shirt the other weekend when my mom and sisters and I all went shopping. We stopped at F21 and even though I completely blew my budget, dropping $20 on this top (hey, it was only $8, how could I pass that up??), a necklace and a bracelet, I comforted myself by realizing that my sister spent $100, so the situation could have been much worse for me. (Granted, I was insanely jealous that my sis had $100 to drop on new clothes, but she's always been a better budgeter than me. She deserves that one.)
top: Forever 21
cami: Old Navy
skirt: New York & Company
shoes: thrifted
necklace: F21?
bracelet: thrifted
