Oh It's Just Like Surgery, It's Just Like Surgery

Yesterday, I was reading Already Pretty, as I do almost every day, and Sal was discussing a designer she loves, Dana LeBlanc Designs, and featuring Ms. LeBlanc’s gorgeous, chunky, candy colored pieces. Go have a look, they are divine. It made me think of a piece I made, years ago, for myself. I used all of the leftover stones from a couple years worth of designing, and strung them together on a four strand choker, my tribute to the classic pearl necklace, but tricked up for me.



I still love that piece, and I could never part with it. I think there is only one other like it in the world, and that one lives with Alannah. I’m pretty sure. (Alannah will correct me if I’m wrong. But I can't imagine I made one for anyone other than her, it was difficult and time consuming and really expensive.) But the problem was this: it was a choker, and I tend to gravitate towards longer pieces now. Only, it wasn't a problem at all. I simply removed the clasp, inserted some chain and instantly made something I love wearable again.



I had this outfit sort of planned in my head with a much simpler coral beaded necklace, but since I had altered this one, I swapped it in and I think it works really well.



I am going to try and remember to wear boots as often as I can this Spring, because I have so many of them and come Summer they are not really much of an option in the Texas heat. I almost can’t stand a closed shoe in June, July and August outside of the office, where I proceed to take them off and air out my tootsies as soon as sit down.



So I got through 4 episodes of Skins series 4 last night and oh my goodness is this a bleak series!~ Nothing good has happened to anyone! It’s still totally engrossing though, last night I powered through Thomas, Emily, and Cook* and then it was 10 PM and I really needed to get to bed, but instead stayed up to watch Katie as well.



If the weather holds for tomorrow I am going to wear a shoe and dress combination I came up with on accident (I hung the dress on my shoe shelves and saw it up against these shoes and WOW, I loved it) and am really excited about.

*The episodes are focused on a specific character each time, and the episode titles tell you whom. (Who? Whom? I never know.)


Cardigan, Alternative Apparel
Dress, Target
Boots, Steve Madden
Bag, Thrifted by Nate
Necklace, handmade by me

Groove, Slam, Work it Back, Filter That, Baby Bump That Track

So I read more than one book at once, do you guys do that? In addition to my novel, I am also reading a GEM of a book by Winona Dimeo-Ediger (AKA Daddy Likey).

“Closet Confidential (Style Secrets Learned the Hard Way)” is a style guide. Normally I am not a style guide kind of girl. I feel pretty confident that I know what I am doing. But I will read them if they offer more than just style advise. I’ve read “That Extra Half an Inch” by Victoria Beckham because, well, OK, because it was written by Posh Spice. And I picked this one up because who doesn’t love Daddy Likey?



“Closet Confidential” is great for even those of you who, like myself, already know everything. It is insightful, it is funny and it is packed with personality. My favorite chapter so far has been Chapter Six, which is devoted to handbags and which opens by explaining that “A purse, more than any other accessory or item of clothing, is laden with deep emotional and personal implications”. Girl. PREACH. And also, can I get an Amen? The chapter goes on to include a limerick about the dangers of over-sized clutches*, a look at the “Superlatives section of the Handbag High Yearbook”, and a rant about the wrongs of backpacks.

This is not your typical style guide ladies. This is a must read. Fashion 101 and plenty of wicked good humor.



Loving this outfit. I feel so skinny! I love the combo of the ankle zippers and the platform shoe.



I have had my first lazy shaver injury of the year. I wanted to wear these shoes, and I shaved just the bit of leg from about mid calf down to ankle (I know we have talked about this before, but for those of you who are new, I am the laziest leg shaver ever. I shave only what shows, period.) And because I forget how bad an idea it is every single Spring, I dry shaved it. It feels like I went over my legs with a cheese grater, I swear my legs are on FIRE. Lesson learned. For this Spring, anyway.

* In fact, I wanted to carry one today in honor of Winona, but she’s right, they are ridiculous. It is a gorgeous GAP oversized black leather clutch. It’s too big to carry at nightclubs and yet too small for me to make it work for day.

And P.S., I pay for most of the things I review. I review them because I think someone might be interested. If I ever get something for free, or get paid to write a review, I will totally let you know.

Book, Closet Confidential (Style Secrets Learned the Hard Way) by Winona Dimeo-Ediger
Cardigan, Alternative
Blouse, Target
Denim Leggings, Target
Sandals, Me Too via Nordstrom Rack
Bag, Nordstrom Rack
Earrings, self made
Big beaded necklace, vintage , gift from Mikal, refashioned by me
Key necklace, made by me

Been Saved Again By The Garbage Truck

I took a sick day yesterday. I haven’t been feeling super. I still feel kind of meh, but there is only one day left so I can make it!



Yes. It really is that warm. It was in the upper 40’s when we were taking pictures, but they are predicting 70’s by next week!



The Coupland read is going OK, better than before. Hillary and I talked about it a bit, and I explained the reason I am giving him a third chance is basically Chuck Klosterman. I tried Chuck Klosterman a couple times and he just got on my nerves. I really didn’t like it, but he’s pretty much the only thing Nathan reads (that and books on the history of various record labels), so I really wanted to get what all the fuss was about. And on the third try? I did. And I am going back and re-reading the books I didn’t like and loving them. Hillary said she had the same kind of thing happen before, sometimes it just takes a while for an author to click.



The tee is a recent birthday gift card purchase from the men’s department at Target. I prefer dark colors and the men’s department had more of those. A snip here and a snip there and I ended up with a tee in the colors I like in a more flattering, less boxy looking cut. Plus…



LOOK how perfect the colors are for a little pattern mixing with my new wedges! I saw these during the first round of birthday shopping and I did not get them, but I could not stop thinking about them. So they are the one thing (OK, OK, and a $5 lip gloss) I broke the ban for, and I am not sorry. When I went back a week later, they were on sale for an additional 25% off! The foot bed is padded, and they are so comfy. Plus you know I love a snakeskin shoe!



Tons of necklaces make for an automatically dressier outfit. I made the bead and key one yesterday while Nathan watched some show about hip hop feuds on Fuse . I did not understand a single word. Once in a while Nathan would explain it to me, but I swear they were speaking a foreign language.

Cardigan, Alternative,
Tee, Target, men’s department, modified by me (recent)
Denim Leggings, Target
Sandals, Me Too via Nordstrom Rack
Key and bead necklace, handmade by me
Large mixed bead necklace, vintage, gift from Mikal, remade by me
Skulls, Etsy
Earrings, made by me

So Sing, While You Have Time

I’m not super impressed with this outfit. If it weren’t for the pin, I think I might hate it, which is strange, because I love the cardigan, blouse and skirt together in Spring and Summer, I just wear different shoes. Snakeskin pumps. And I think they really add some pizazz to an otherwise quiet look. These boots do not. I really wanted to wear the pin though, and I struggled to come up with one more conservative look to get to me casual Friday.*



I just love that pin. I went back and forth over this one and a cream colored one just like it. There was also a spiral shell on a stick pin that would have looked really great with this, but you know how it is…I wanted to be gracious and not take EVERYTHING that I thought was cool. So I choose this one. It’s so pretty!



The fabric of the cardigan is very, very thin, and in order for a pin to sit right on it and for me to feel it was secure enough not to damage the fabric, I cut a small piece of fabric (I used denim since it is quite sturdy) into an oval and used it as a backing on the inside of the cardigan. It worked really well. The pin is sitting nicely instead of drooping and it is not pulling the fabric the way it did when I tried just putting it on the cardigan.



I have big plans to wear my favorite piece of the bunch tomorrow. It needed some super glue but it's all better now.

I have to tell you, I have not seen a single one of these mythological creatures known as “VPs”. My office mate says she saw a couple yesterday, but I must have missed it.

*I’m having a “fat week”. It’s bad. It’s biological and not my fault, but my self esteem is really struggling with it. It makes getting dressed a little less fun.

Cardigan, Alternative
Blouse and Skirt, Target
Boots, Arturo Chiang
Bag, Nordstrom Rack
Pin, vintage, gift from Mikal

She Used To Just Stand There And Stare

I bought this dress when the Jovovich Hawke line came out, and I remember that in the store, I loved it. It was so flattering and I loved all the lace and the way the stretch fabric bounced when I walked. And then I got it home and all the sudden it looked like something you were to Salsa lessons. I wore it once. To a Salsa club in Cabo. And Alannah wore it to a Goth Club in Dallas, but I just couldn’t seem to figure out how to make it less costume-y. And then for some reason, I figured it out.



The wrap makes it less costume and more Grown Up Goth. The shoes and shape of the dress keep the all black look from being to funereal. And the skirt is the perfect length for me with tights.



I felt like this was just a really playful, fun combo that the 17* year old me would have appreciated, and 33 year old me can actually wear.



The temps dropped down into the 70s, which meant I needed soup for dinner, am I right? So I went to the market after work and got some (tomato basil) and while I was there I snagged this necklace on something and broke one of the skulls off. But you know what? I had a pair of tiny pliers in my bag and I fixed it, right there on the soda isle. Then I got some Dry Soda in Lavender, because we saw them make it on “Unwrapped” and I was super keen to try it. It was great BTW. (How’s that for a lot of random unnecessary information?)



I wore a lot of bracelets.



The leather cuff is a gift from my college roommate, Jamie, who recently went on a trip to Italy. Coincidentally, so is the little James Avery Bangle. The hugs and kiss gold bracelet is a gift from Nathan, the “dada” cuff is from a vacation to NYC with Alannah . The ball and tube bracelet is from a time period where I, and many of my friends, were totally obsessed with a website called Silver Jewelry Club. Have you heard of it? Back in the day it was one item every, what? 5 minutes? And it was sterling silver and often had gemstones, and was free. You paid, I think, $5.99 shipping? And then they split the screen and it became 4 items at once and I *think* it’s still going on today. I try not to look. I lost too much of my time to them already, and it’s too addictive, hoping that the next ring will be your size, or that bracelet so and so got will come back up again.



These shoes still make me feel like a Manga character. I love them for that.

*the 17 year old me was really into sitting around her room feeling sorry for herself, obsessing over dark twisted skater boys who needed to go to reform school, listening to The Cure and wearing long black lace dresses with Doc Martin’s. She may have needed an attitude adjustment. Or 3.

Dress, Jovovich Hawke for Target
Wrap, Alternative
Tights, Target
Mary Janes, Doc Martins
Necklace, self made
Leather cuff, gift
Various Bracelets

You Are Also Very Stylish

I’ve been down you guys. A combination of factors has made me in not such a super mood and also really affected my self esteem. I’ve had to really make an effort to dress well, as what I really feel like doing is wearing my “giving up” pants and tee shirt.

So it was especially uplifting and welcome when I got a compliment from a stranger today. An older gentleman came up to me at the grocery store today and said:

“I just had to cross the store and come say to you that not only are you very pretty, oh no, you are, you are*…but you are also very stylish. That ensemble is just wonderful. And I couldn’t see them across the store, but those earrings are just fabulous! I just thought you should know it is wonderful to see such a pretty girl with such style these days.”

OH MY GOODNESS. I mean, I cannot think of a better compliment, can you?
And here is the outfit he liked so much…



I didn’t even think much of it to be honest!~ I was lacking in accessories and I felt kind of underdressed.





I was going to stop wearing boots until it got closer to Fall, but you know what? It’s cold indoors, y’all!~ And also, I don’t know if you have noticed or not, but I tend to do what I want. And I want to wear boots. So I am.



P.Bitty likes to hang out and get all underfoot and be a blur in pictures and really hassle me, but the second I actually try and let him be in the picture he looks like I just took away his Dingo**. Am I right?



I think we might be required by law to have at least one pair of cowboy boots to reside here in Texas. I have two, so I think I’m safe. But I thrifted them both. If I could have any boots I wanted, I'd want distressed brown leather, the kind you have to oil, with turquoise textured inserts. Maybe Ostrich.



The earrings you could not see from across the store, but are in fact fabulous…



*I made that face you do, you know the one, when you get slightly embarrassed at being called pretty. But you really LIKE being called pretty and also do not want to be rude? That one.

**rawhide treat

Cardigan, Alternative
Dress, Target
Boots, Thrifted
Earrings, PersephonePlus.etsy.com

I Got Me Some Horses

Once upon a time, this tank was over 40 bucks. It was beautiful, and I longed to have it. But come on. More than 40 bucks for a tank top? No.



And then one magic day, (seriously, I was on my way to see Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince, so, it was a magic day) I went to visit it, and lo and behold…it was 9.99.



And then it was mine.



It costs less than the movie!



I originally tried on a Large, because the sizing at Urban (I know, I know, the devil, but…9.99!) is not all that friendly, but as it turns out this particular brand is all about vanity sizing so I ended up with a small.



Just look how pretty the pattern is!



This gorgeous cuff is by TrilbyMade at Etsy.



It is made of recycled leather, it is cut so that your arm doesn’t get all sweaty, and it is reversible! The other side is solid black leather. And it's super comfortable!

I love a good deal, and you know I love Etsy. In fact, the main reason I keep up the shop is so that I can have some spending money. I put almost everything I make on Etsy, back into Etsy. I buy my supplies there and I buy clothes, jewelry and handbags there as well. Since Nathan has been unemployed and money has been really tight, that flow has been invaluable to me. I would have totally lost my mind without it.



These are from mark (by Avon), but I customized them when I got them. They are really great, I love the way they swing.



I love those boots. When I put them on in the AM, they seem like they are going to be super comfortable all day, right? And then around noon, I think I am going to die, but it passes. It’s so weird, but by 4 I’m fine.

And last but not least…another handbag thrifted by my husband. For $4.25.



(I was meeting one of my girls after work and I stopped in a random parking lot to take these pics)


$4.25! It’s in perfect shape, and it’s a great size. I love it!




Cardigan, Alternative
Tank, Silence and Noise
Denim leggings, Target
Grey ankle boots, Payless
Earrings, mark, customized by me
Cuff, TrilbyMade at Etsy.
Bag, Vintage and thrifted

I Can Totally Get Away With It.

So I think I’ve mentioned it before but I am not a fan of people claiming that they love something but “can’t get away with it”. I dislike it because I feel like you should like what you like and wear what you want. I’m not taking about wearing things that are unflattering, or not right for your body type. I’m talking about being brave, stepping outside of the box and having fun.

However, I will accept that not everyone can get away with this dress.



The top is a floral linen.


The bottom is a tribal cotton.


The zipper is gold and aqua.


I can get away with it, and I will. :D

I adore this dress.




When my husband was helping me out of it (undoing the hook at the top) he commented on how well made it is. The top is boned and the bottom is beautifully gathered.

I did wear a wrap at the office.


And a bib at lunch.


I just felt so pretty and curvy and fabulous all day. The skirt swishes in the best way.

I also wore this beetle pendant. I got the pendant at the craft store this weekend for $3.99! All I had to do was throw it on some chain. How perfect does it look with this?


I also wore my signature turquoise bird.


FABULOUS wood and leather platforms.




And an amazing leather bag from my trip to Mexico last year.

Dress, Tracy Feith for Target
Cardi, Alternative
Sandals, MIA at Urban Outfitters
Beetle necklace, Self made
Turquoise Bird necklace, Love Erin Designs
Handbag, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico