blouse: really old, don't remember
cardi: Express via Discount Fashion Warehouse
skinnies: Forever 21
boots: Target
necklace: gifted
I read this Tumblr thing recently that claimed that when corals get stressed, they die. I can't attest to the veracity of that claim, but I can say that I relate a little. Only instead of dying, I just kind of shut down a bit. Like yesterday, when I was trying to catch up on some freelance work and I kept stressing out about what I was/wasn't getting done. So I just stopped. And watched Girls for approximately three hours. And then in Girls, Hannah was stressed about a deadline and she just stopped working on it too, so that kind of validated my decision. Only difference is she had a bit of a nervous breakdown whereas I am just getting really grumpy and annoyed and...well, stressed.
That's, like, a normal thing. Right?
In other news, I'm really digging this outfit. This cardi in general is pretty awesome, but I surprised myself a bit when I paired it with these boots. It looked so much better than I expected it to! The sad news, though, is that I have to retire these boots. They're cheap-o Target deals, and while they lasted me two years, they're about to kick it. (Heh.) But really. The faux-leather stuff is peeling off the front and the toes. Bout time to hit up the end-of-season clearance racks for some new cognac boots! I think I'll go non-slouchy this time.
sweater, flats: Target
slacks, blouse: thrifted
necklace: gifted
Oy,vey. Matt and I haven't even been engaged a week and I'm already trying to figure out centerpieces. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's meticulous planning. If there's one thing I'm bad at, however, it's prioritizing effectively. I'm sitting here, trying to figure out how many adorably mismatched vases I'll need to procure, and I don't even know how many tables we'll need because we don't even have a solid guest list or even a budget planned yet! Objectively, I know those big details have to come together before I can start thinking up the little ones. But the big details are scary and expensive, and the little ones are so light and fun!
Okay, enough about that. I promised I would try to keep wedding stuff in check here on the blog :) Sooo let's talk about dressing for work in the winter. It kind of sucks. I find myself gravitating to one of two extremes:
1. Proper business casual that keeps me warm but is boring as hell. See above. The cardigan/blouse/slacks combo is kind of my go-to on those dreary mornings when the sun doesn't rise until after I leave the house and I just don't feel like trying.
2. Pushing the "casual" aspect of B.C. a little too far, like yesterday's outfit. I wore this shirt, these khaki skinnies and these boots. Definitely not a professional look, but it kept my feet dry in the snow and it was comfy under all my bundled layers. Fortunately, it's the week before Christmas and most of the folks who would care are already on vacation. Yay, loopholes!
So here's my question to you: How do you stay comfortable and stylish when there's four (or six, or ten) inches of snow on the ground? Do you wear skirts and tights and just suck it up, even when the wind chill puts the temps in the single digits? Or do you go for comfort/function like me and just look less comfortable in the dark, cold months of winter?
shirt: The Limited
skirt: Old Navy
heels: Target
necklace, bracelet: Etsy
Forgive my lack of enthusiasm this morning; I'm still kind of exhausted after yesterday's sick day. I slept till 11, napped all afternoon and was passing out on the couch by 9 pm...and yet I still struggled — physically struggled — to get out of bed this morning. Can we all just sign a petition to switch to a 10-5 workday? This 8-5 thing isn't working for me right now...
Eh, I guess I can't complain. I'll be fine once I get a cup of coffee or two in me. Now if only there were a way to get it into my system 20 minutes before my alarm goes off, so I'd wake up energized. One can dream, right?
In other news of note, I finally replaced the nude Franco Sarto shoes that got stolen with my other stuff back in June! I mean, I guess you probably realized that with my August clothes budget post, if you had any inclination to care, but I'm just excited to have a nude pair of heels again. And these have a lower heel height, so they're a bit more comfortable/easier to walk in than my last pair. Great success!
blouse: secondhand
skirt/belt: JCPenney
shoes: Buckle
I read somewhere that if you wake up in the middle of a REM cycle (aka when you're dreaming), you'll automatically be tired no matter how long you slept. So when my alarm went off in the middle of a stress-dream, I was both relieved and annoyed. On one hand, the panic of trying to get back to the airport to find my lost luggage in the middle of a zombie attack while I was on a field trip with my high school marching band was over. (I know, I know...I have really weird and vividly detailed dreams.) But on the other hand, that sense of anxiety lingered, and it was compounded by a feeling of sheer exhaustion.
Even now, I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. I'm taking advantage of my office's $2 dress-down days, where you pay $2, which goes to charity, and get to wear Casual Friday clothes on a non-Friday. I'm clutching my coffee cup like it's the Holy Grail in between typing each sentence.
Can this morning get a do-over?
Eh. Here's a photo from a day when I was feeling more awake. Only four more outfits from the old house before I can start posting outfits shot at this one :)
white shirt: thrifted
pink shirt, necklace: The Limited
cropped pants: New York & Company
flats: Target
I'm at a point in my life where time and finance have finally balanced out. For the first time in my life, I have nearly complete freedom to do what I want, even at the last minute. In college, money issues usually prevented me from affording fun trips or whatnot--and if it wasn't a finance issue, it was a matter of scheduling. And the same went for the first year and a half post-college. But now, I'm discovering this newfound freedom and I'm completely in love with it.
Like this week, a spur-of-the-moment half-plan turned into a full-fledged trip to the New River Gorge in West Virginia. And, like our last two trips to the Red, it was pretty awesome. Unfortunately, I kind of wore myself out on routes that were a bit beyond my skill level on the first day, meaning my attempts on the second day were a bit of a letdown. But I always like to have a "project" to return to--some sort of vendetta I want to carry out on a wall, to motivate me to return. So there's the upside.
I also did a bit of deep-water solo climbing. That's where you climb without a harness or a rope over deep water, and when you fall or reach the top, you just jump in. I'm not a very strong swimmer, and I have a pretty healthy fear of heights anyway, but I did do a bit of climbing and even jumped in from a (very, very short) height. Mostly I just swam around in an inner tube, though. Matt jumped off a 25-foot ledge and said it was pretty terrifying.
(For anyone who's wondering, the fear of heights thing is one of the reasons I like to climb in the first place. It's all about getting out of your comfort zone and conquering your fear. Still, doing it in a harness with a rope is very, very different from doing it solo over water. Maybe next time I can conquer that fear a little more. We'll see.)
We got back late Sunday afternoon, and after a quick nap and dinner, I went to the Tegan and Sara/fun. concert. I'm not a big T&S fan--I don't really know any of their music--but fun. put on a pretty sweet show. It was nice to be able to hang toward the edge of the crowd, sit on a blanket and chill or get up and dance around, instead of being squished in the sweaty front-of-the-crowd area the whole time.
And now it's Monday, and I'm exhausted. But it was totally worth it!
dress, heels: Target
shrug thingy: thrifted
necklace: gifted
I'm not sure why I look so stern in that first photo. The weird faces we make when taking blog pics, amiright? Also, these pics are maybe the best I've ever taken on my point-and-shoot. The lighting was pure perfection.
So last year, I was a bridesmaid in the weddings of my sister (Abby) and of one of my dearest friends (Tiffany). Usually, as a bridesmaid, you just kind of accept the fact that whatever you are wearing will be banished to the back of your closet until you eventually decide to give it to a thrift shop for some thrift-happy girl to wear to prom. But this dress right here? That was my bridesmaid dress for Abby's wedding. It was $20 at Target. How awesome is that? I got so many compliments on it when I re-wore it last week. And my necklace was a gift that Tiffany gave all her bridesmaids for her wedding. So I was really channeling my former bridesmaid-ness with this outfit :)
The dress for Tiffany's wedding was a bit more like your average bridesmaid dress...satiny-y and fairly formal. Not something I could probably ever wear again. (As if I could even fit into it...I gained weight between ordering it and wearing it the day of, meaning I was gasping for air most of the day. And I've gained a couple more pounds since then, too, so...yeah.) But I have a pretty cool idea for re-using the dress later on, so it won't go to waste! I can't post it here, because it's going to be a surprise for Tiff, but when I do get the chance to do it, I'll post pics :)
Speaking of pics, I got some AHH-MAZING shots of fireworks last night! I'm going to try to upload them this evening/weekend, despite a full schedule. (My parents and some of my sibs are coming down to Columbus to visit today, I'm heading up to Cleveland to see Book of Mormon tomorrow, and on Sunday I'll be in Akron to see Abby and her husband, who are up visiting from South Carolina--busy weekend!) So keep your eyes peeled for a special weekend-edition post, maybe. (Oh and hey, if you're a robber thinking, "Sweet, the house will be empty all weekend," you might wanna think again. Matt will be home most of the time, as will our upstairs neighbors. Sorry, everyone else. You can't be too safe.)
What about y'all? Any fun weekend plans?
shirt, skirt, belt (came with skirt): JCPenney
heels, necklace: Target
So I had these photos all edited and ready to post last week. And then stuff happened. And kept happening. And, just as the weekend hit and I thought I'd finally have time to get my life back in order, MORE STUFF HAPPENED. Sorry to be vague, but some things just aren't blog-appropriate (or blog-worthy), I guess. Suffice to say: I'm still feeling a bit frazzled. But I'm cautiously optimistic about this week, and especially about this weekend, so I'm just going to shake off the dust of last week and try to start fresh.
Easier said than done, perhaps, but I know I can do it. Confidence! Empowerment! Blah blah blah etc!
In other news, this skirt is one of my favorite items in my closet, but it's also one of the least-worn items in my closet? Any ideas why? If you guessed, "Because it's white and Emma is a huge klutz and always spills things," DINGDINGDING you're a winner. Thankfully, I made it through yet another day without any stains. It's like a miracle, you guys.
Also, I totes didn't mean to create what is essentially an all-JCP outfit, but I wanted to pair this skirt with a lot of bold color and grabbed this shirt without really thinking about brand. In fact, it didn't even occur to me until I sat down to write this post. Anyone else ever accidentally become a real-life model for a certain brand or store?
...is pretty much what I need to do with my life.
shirt: thrifted
skirt, tights, necklace: The Limited
heels: Target
belt: came w/ a skirt from JCPenney
I often feel like there's not enough time in the evenings to do all the stuff I want to do. Work out, shower, blog, make a delicious (read: not frozen/takeout) dinner, occasional freelance work, relax...actually, when I list it all out, it really doesn't sound like that much. But it sure feels like it.
The obvious solution would be to do some of those things (work out and/or blog) in the mornings. But I'll be honest: Mornings are NOT my strong suit. I am so anti-mornings that I've turned Matt, who used to be a huge morning person. Now we both just hit the snooze over and over, curling up under the blankets and trying to avoid the inevitable moment when we actually have to (gag) get out of bed.
I would love to get up an hour earlier to head to the gym or even half an hour earlier to write a blog post. But honestly, dragging my sorry butt out of bed at 7 (okay, let's be honest, 7:15) is hard enough as it is. I know. I'm the worst.
Yes, this post title is a reference to this video, which is so old in terms of Internet memes that it's practically ancient. But I don't care. Every time I shop for shoes, that is what I think of. Because that's normal, right?
blouse: old, don't remember
blazer, slacks: thrifted
heels: Target
earrings: H&M
necklace: Etsy
This outfit has so much going on, I almost can't even handle it. Ruffles. Mismatched blazer/slacks combo. Pretty little earrings. A necklace I've been obsessed with lately. Snake print. (I just typed "snape print" by mistake. Now THAT would be something.)
These shoes have been on my "to-buy" list for literally months. They finally went on clearance to just $15, and I couldn't pass them up. Best part? I have the exact same shoes in black already, so I already knew my size and didn't have to visit a million targets to find a pair that fits. I just ordered them, used my Target card to get free shipping, and BAM! They were at my door before I knew it. (I paid off the card as soon as the charge posted. Because I'm responsible with my credit now.)
All around? I call this outfit a definite winner. Boo-yah achieved.
shirt, skirt: thrifted
boots: Target
necklace: gifted
Yes, I just pretty much compared my life to a video game. And I'll explain. But first, a few things about these photos:
- They are crazy old. Hence the bare legs. And the reddish, not-yet-re-dyed hair.
- My friend Chasity shot these, only we used my camera instead of hers. So while the pics are still better than my self-shot images, my camera can't compare to the awesomeness that is hers. See for yourself, here and here.
- I apparently can't resist getting "the butt shot" in pencil skirts. Proof.
But as for this achievement. Yesterday, as you may or may not know, was Cyber Monday. Basically a more humane version of Black Friday, in which we can get all the deals from the comfort of our couches, without waiting for hours in line, freezing our butts off, missing Thanksgiving or, you know,getting trampled half to death. Anyway, I decided to do all of my Christmas shopping last night. I already had my entire list ready to go, thanks to Pinterest-secret-board method, so I grabbed my credit card and my laptop and got to it. Two hours, $300 and 15 transactions later, I entered my card number for my second-to-last purchase. And it didn't work. I retyped it and tried it on a different site. Still no dice. That's right, I used my credit card to death. Had to put the rest on my debit. ULTIMATE SHOPPING WIN!
For any of you who follow my Fiscal Fridays and the whole path-to-being-debt-free thing I'm doing (hi Dad!), don't worry. I only charged the gifts out of convenience; I'm paying the whole thing off (every cent of every purchase!) when I get paid on Friday. Savvy shopper right here! Except for the whole credit-card-being-declined-from-overuse thing. That's not so savvy.
shirt: old, don't remember
blazer: thrifted
slacks: New York & Company
necklace: Forever 21 or H&M? not sure.
flats: Payless
I don't usually pre-draft blog posts. I'm more of a stream-of-consciousness writer. But just now, I drafted a whole post for the (probably temporary) return of Fiscal Fridays, and let me tell you, I am all worded out. I don't even really know what that means, but it makes me giggle to say it in my head so I'm going to stick with that phrase.
I'm hoping to return to Pinspiration Mondays as well next week, with my first-ever Pinspiration recipe. Well, it's not a recipe, per se. It's a drink. Which is vaguely recipe-like, only instead of making me (and my friends) feel full, it will make us feel drunk. Because it will make us drunk. Woohoo?
shirt, cropped pants: The Limited
coverup: Marshall's
shoes: Target
hair flower: H&M
necklace: gifted
First off, a major thank you is in order. To those of you who emailed/commented/Tweeted with kind thoughts and words regarding yesterday's post. You guys are the reason I keep blogging. And a thanks to those who read but didn't laugh at my overdramatic-ness. I know you're out there.
I'm happy (thrilled, delighted) to say that as of this evening, Matt and his friend are still fine. They checked in with the GPS thing last night, after my post, and again this evening. And this afternoon, they climbed to the highest point in Utah (King's Peak) and were able to catch enough of a cell phone signal to send a few texts. Matt and I were able to do the whole "I love you/I miss you exchange," and I was able to scold him for not checking in more regularly, haha. (I didn't really scold him. It was more of a "It sucks when I don't hear from you guys every day.") He said they're kicking some major ass on this trip so far, and everything's been going well. It was one of the best texts I've ever gotten.
So today's post title isn't just the name of a great Jack Johnson song. It's what I'm doing the rest of the week: sitting here, waiting for Matt to come home, wishing it were Saturday. But in the meantime, I'm trying to jump back on my "projects" list to keep myself busy and distracted and not worried :)
shirt: don't remember
skirt/belt: set from JCPenney
shoes: Target
necklace: The Limited
For some reason, I've always devoured a good book. And I mean that in as literal of a sense as I can. I don't just read books; I consume them. Even as a kid, I could get lost in a book for hours at a time. I always maxed out the library summer reading program prizes. I was a voracious reader, until I hit high school and college and forgot what it was like to have more than an hour — or less — of "down time" in any given day.
Now, I'm working one job, not two or three. I don't have homework, or rehearsals, or meetings. And I've been devouring book after book since I got a Kindle for Christmas. I just finished Game of Thrones (I know, a little late to that bandwagon) and as I read the final words, I sat back with a satisfied sigh and just kind of...digested it. And it struck me as a little funny that I reacted the same way to ending a good book as I usually do to finishing a delicious meal.
Any other bookworms out there? I can't be the only one who gets so invested, right?
Phew. Nothing like jumping back into the work week full force after four of the best days I've had in a long while. Friday through Monday this past week were just incredible, so waking up and going to work on Tuesday was a little bit of a struggle, naturally. And it didn't help that Tuesday was one of the busiest work days I've had since starting this new job. Still, I'm not complaining...just kind of trying to catch up with myself, haha.
blouse: secondhand
skinnies, heels: thrifted
earrings, necklace: InPink
bracelets: gifted and don't remember
I wore this to the Aveda Earth Jam Fashion Show earlier this month. In retrospect, it's kind of funny that I wore an entirely pre-loved outfit to a fashion show, but I think I looked pretty appropriate, if I do say so myself. A lot of the girls were wearing short black dresses and big, Jeffrey Campbell-esque colorblock heels. I suppose that was in keeping with the "colorful" theme of the event. As for me, I'm quite happy with this outfit.
In other news, don't forget the other things going on here at Verbal Mélange. You still have until tomorrow at midnight to enter the totally rad eShakti giveaway. And you have until Friday to link up to the awesome Bloggers Take the Town, hosted by Sydney and yours truly. What are you waiting for? Get to clicking :)
