Interview Interlude

I interrupt this edition of 30x30 to bring you my interview outfit. I did not wear 30x30 items to my interview the other day. One of the skills that is required for the job I was applying for is a sense of style and a working knowledge of fashion and trends, so I needed to really let my personal style shine.



I went with a thrifted red leather pencil skirt, black tights and boots and a satiny top. I'm not sure the detail come through in the shots, but the pattern on that top is actually a print of sequins. I thought it was so clever (and so did Elissa, she got the same one!)



I also went with almost all DIY jewelry because I think the jewlery I make for myself really showcases my personal style.



I felt stylish, confident, classy and just sexy enough to be appropriate.



For my second interview I went with this:





I'm a big fan of a mixing casual with dressy so this combination of a band tee and blazer worked really well.



AND...I got a job offer, which I totally accepted. I start Wednesday. I'll be working as an entry level buyer at Buffalo Exchange, a clothing and accessories store where you can buy, sell and trade. Basically it recycles within the community. It's a concept I really believe in and I've been a longtime seller and shopper and am really excited to be starting as a buyer. I'll be getting paid to be around clothes and people all day and stay up to date on fashion trends, which as you may have noticed, I really enjoy doing.


Outfit #1
Blouse, Forever XXI
Skirt, thrifted
Tights, We Love Colors
Boots, Docs
Necklace, DIY
cuff, Target
Bag, LUSH

Outfit #2
Blazer, Forever XXI
Tee, Hot Topic
Skirt, Forever XXI
Tights, We Love Colors
Boots, Docs
Earrings Forever XXI

Day 23 (3 + 14 + 24)

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OK. I admit. I'm over it. I feel like I made my point. I learned my lesson. I get it. And I want to quit it. I'm not going to. I have 7 outfits to go , and I am going to deliver. But I'm frustrated by it. I got cute things to wear for my birthday. I'm getting bored. I want to wear open shoes. But the real kicker is that I'm not working in an office and I should have total freedom to wear whatever I want, but I'm shackled to these 30 items for seven more outfits. *Exhale* OK. Enough whining. This is still a cute outfit.



I'm glad I put those cammo boots in this mix because they made the floral dresses more bearable and because if I get the job I want? I'll not be wearing them much at all.



Seven more outfits. I can do this...



(I skipped FBFF this week, and A Working Mom's Closet covered why pretty eloquently.)

Cardigan, AA
Dress, Target
Belt, Forever XXI
Boots, Aldo
Necklace, yard sale

Day 22 (12 + 21)

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I can practically hear the 90210 theme song when I look at this.



Du nu nu nu, nu nu nu nu, ch ch!

(Thanks to Elissa for taking the pics today!)

Dress, Target
Boots, Docs
Sports Bra, Forever XXI (purchased 45 minutes prior because I forgot to put one on, and was exposing more than I intended and it was coraly pinky gorgeous.
Bag, Buffalo Exchange
Necklaces, Moon Raven Designs

Day 21 (29 + 10 + 20)

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I have had a great day. And just to be fair, this is not what I was wearing. This is what I was wearing yesterday, but my day has been so great, I want to talk about today, today!



I met Elissa for breakfast and shopping. And had a wonderful morning with her. Relaxing and fun and happy. And then I came home and prepped for an interview this afternoon, which, as fair as I can tell? Went really really well. Dream job stuff. So. I feel good. I feel happy. And I hope you had a great day, too.



OK, fess up. Who did I see do this? It was chunkier copper pipes. Not these smaller gold ones, but it was the same concept. And I filed it away in my memory, and when we were in Home Depot this weekend and I saw these, I just had to copy you. So speak up and take credit! And thank you for the inspiration!



Jacket, thrifted by Nathan
Dress, Target
Tights, We Love Colors
Necklace, self made
Boots, Docs

Day 20 (4 + 13 + 20) + (A Giveaway)

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I'm actually really pleased it got cold again even if it's just for a minute! My 30x30 combinations are so much more exciting to me with the addition of sweaters.





Today I have a sweet little necklace to give away courtesy of Birnam Grove.





All you need to do to win is leave me a comment. One entry per person please, and make sure I have a way to contact you if you win. I'll draw a winner next Tuesday. Birnam Grove is also offering a 10% discount with the code "SWEETIE" at checkout.



Cardigan and Dress, Target
Boots, Docs
Necklace www.etsy.com/shop/birnamgrove

Day 19 (3 + 18 +9 + 20)

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Ehhhhhh. I always love the way this skirt looks when I see other girls wear it with the blouse tucked in. But I think...not so much on me. I think it's much more flattering with the blouse out. Lesson learned.



I had an impromptu and brief but exciting discussion yesterday with someone about a new career opportunity I hope works out. It would be a totally new direction for me, and I'd have to start over from the bottom, but I'd be doing something I love and working in a field where my hobbies and passions would actually contribute to my success instead of being just something I enjoy in my free time. Wish me luck!

Day 18 (30 + 20)

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If we do 30x30 this time next year, I'll remember to add some open toed shoes. I think this looks adorable with the Docs, but my feet long to be free. I am actively NOT painting my toenails in order to avoid sandals.



I am glad it is warm enough to show you the gorgeous flutter sleeves on this dress. This dress which was all $15.00. I got it at Nordstrom Rack, which means it originally sold at Nordstrom(or I assume so anyway, perhaps they have brands that go straight to NR?)and the truth is, while I am happy to have it, and I think it is very pretty, I would not have paid more for it. It's not any more well made than most of the dresses I get at Target. Which is not to imply the dresses I get at Target are not well made. I think a lot of times people assume that discount clothes are not made very well, and that is absolutely true some of the time, but no matter where you are buying, Target, Forever XXI, Saks or Barney's, it's up to you as the consumer to inspect that garment inside and out and determine whether or not the price and the quality are a match for you.



Dress, Nordstrom
Boots, Doc Martens

Poindexter

The other night I went to a new Hibachi place with my friend Laura. For those of you who have never been to Hibachi, the tables seat 6-8 and when you have a party of 4 or fewer, you are seated with other restaurant guests. Laura and I were seated with a couple who were in town from California on business. The wife was of a very "Las Vegas" aesthetic. Fake tan, fake boobs, face lifted a little too far. Now there's nothing wrong with that. It's not to my taste, but I am always happy for you if you're happy with yourself. She was not so happy for me though.

Over the course of the meal, she told me no less that 5 times (probably more, I stopped counting to be honest) that my glasses were too "Poindexter", too nerdy, too unattractive and I needed to get contacts. She said "you are a pretty girl, but you need to do something about those glasses". I told her I liked my glasses. My husband likes my glasses, my friends like my glasses. This is who I am. A girl who is bespectacled. I am comfortable and happy with that. But she just didnt understand. (To be fair I'm sure some of that had to do with the straight citrus vodka she was downing by the glassful). It quickly went from being mildly amusing, to being really irritating. And by the end of the meal, I just wanted to get away from her before I said something rude about her style choices to get back at her.

All of that to say, I love my glasses. I feel good in them. My friends compliment them. And I'm happy this way. And with that I leave you with these pictures of my friend Marla Jo and I celebrating my birthday* last night. Her glasses just came yesterday and she could not be more adorable in them!







*Yep! I'm wearing my birthday dress (much different than my birthday suit)! I get a new dress to wear out on my birthday every year and this year my birthday fell right in the middle of 30x30. It's not cheating, it's just tradition!

Day 17 (9+5+20)

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Today's Friend Friday questions dictated both my choice of outfit and my photo selection.



1. Since you started blogging has your image of yourself changed?
I'm not sure. Not much I don't think. The change for me came before I started blogging, and in fact was the reason I had the courage to start blogging at all. You have to have a certain level of confidence and comfort with your body to post pictures of yourself everyday!

2. Are you self-conscious about any aspect of yourself? If so, do you go out of your way to avoid it or do you post it/talk about it anyway?
Absolutely. I'm self conscious of both my chin (or depending on how you look at it, chins) as well as my arms. I have what I call matronly arms. My arms are larger than I'd like and less firm. I don't normally feel comfortable in sleeveless tops or dresses without some sort of jacket, shrug or cardigan. And my chin is sort of a family curse. It's the first thing we check on a baby and we always apologize to them when we realize they have in fact inherited it. I do normally choose photos that showcase these at the best possible angle and I tend to really loath candid shots of myself from any angle. I am that girl who untags the picture you tagged of me on Facebook 10 seconds after you tag it. But today I've chosen pictures that highlight both my double chin and my bare arms, because really, neither is that bad.


3. Based on how you are feeling now, what do you think the future holds in the evolution of your body image?
I've noticed that I feel more comfortable with myself the older I get. I hope that continues to be the case as I age. I'd like to be 50 and feel absolutely at home in a bathing suit at the beach!

4. Do you photograph yourself for your blog? If so, how do you feel about the experience when you’re having your picture taken? If you choose not to post pictures of yourself, what prompted that decision?
I take most of my own photos. My husband does sometimes as well but I'm back to taking most of my own pictures now. I don't remember the last time I didn't post photos. I've only done it once or twice and it was always down to the quality of the pictures and nothing to do with how I looked in them. Since I take most of my pictures myself and have been doing it for a couple of years now it feels like the most natural thing in the world to me. I get up and wash my face and brush my teeth, I put on my make-up and style my hair, and then I get dressed and document the results. It's second nature.

5. What would you want every person who struggles with body image to take to heart?
Whatever the flaw is that you see, whatever it is that bothers you, NO ONE, notices it the way you do. In fact, I bet most people never notice it at all.

Tank, Urban Outfitters
Jeans, Target
Boots, Docs