Rules are For Fools, And Fool's Paradise is Hard to Find

Shortly before the TxSCC, Jentine challenged herself to thrift me a sequined top. I hear she tiptoed dangerously close to the deadline, but she totally came through!



And I, of course wore it to work. With cutoffs. Because I'm classy. In fact I was working at the buy counter that day and I had a wonderful seller come in with some fun sequins and lace and even a Betsy Johnson dress (new! with tags!) and she talked about how she loved all her sequins and lace and fun things, but where could she wear them? And I just pointed at my top. "The grocery store" I said. And she laughed, but I think I may have planted a seed. Sure there are "appropriate" times and places to wear your fancy duds...but who wants to wait?



I can't wait to style it up different ways as well. Skinny jeans, a body con black skirt, who knows? Black sequins are my new neutral.



I also wore dark blue boots with it. Because they were new to me and I wanted to and rules are for fools. I have been trying on every single pair of these little fringe boots that have come in since I started working at Buffalo Exchange and these fit really well.



Nathan said he noticed them all over Austin and the thing was to wear them with cutoff shorts and super ripped up pattern tights. Have you seen this trend? Austin ladies? Was it a SXSW thing? I mean, I'll try anything once, but that sounds strange...

I wore my geode slice earrings...



And this beautiful new pyrite and sterling silver ring I got from My Own Little Universe.* I love Katie. She's so talented and she is also beautiful, and smart and really genuine. I love love love knowing a little bit about the artists I buy my jewelry from!



(I got al little carried away with the editing trying to obscure my dry winter hands! Sorry about that kids...)



I love pyrite. And I love the color contrast of the pyrite against the darkened silver. She has another similar ring in the shop right now, so if you love it, hop on over and grab one for yourself!

Blouse, gift from My Edit (blog)
Shorts, Wal-Mart
Tights, Target
Boots, Buffalo Exchange
Earrings, self made
Ring, My Own Little Universe
Watch, Swatch

* I purchased this ring on my own, it was not a gift, and I was not compensated to promote MOLU. I just like Katie's work.

Spice Up Your Life!

Are you tired of hearing about work yet? I swear I don't mean to bore you but it's so exciting to enjoy my work after all these years trapped in an office! So I've gotten a bit of training behind the buy counter and it's totally fascinating. And I'm really enjoying all the personal interaction. Our customer base is by and large really friendly and I love talking to them. My feet hurt less each day, and the time! It goes so much faster. I'm not saying I never look at the clock, I do. But I don't check it more than once an hour (until that last hour!). I'm busy, and moving and engaged in The Now.

I wore a painfully adorable outfit yesterday, but I choose dinner and drinks with Elissa and Tina over pictures last night. I'm sure you agree I made the right choice!



Today I went a little more casual but you know what was exciting? Being able to wear my Spice Girls tee shirt to work!



I love that tee shirt. That was the BEST concert. Maybe not the most outstanding musically, but as far as dreams coming true? Winner. Hands down.



I'm wearing my awesome new watch by TIKKR, a sponsor of the TxSCC who generously sent one to several of the attendees.



And these gorgeous earrings Elissa scored on sale and got for me...



I'm soooooo far behind on reading your blogs and I miss it so much. I know I'll get it figured out soon and my schedule will even out but that has honestly been the hardest part. The good news is I'll see so many of you this weekend! I CAN'T WAIT!~

Tee, Spice Girls concert
Jeans, Target
Jacket, McQueen for Target
Boots and bag, Buffalo Exchange
Watch, courtesy of TxSCC and TIKKR
Earrings, Gift from Elissa

I'm Fierce And I'm Feelin' Mighty

After Day 1 my feet were like "Eh, we don't feel so great but it's not so bad." But after Day 2 they were more "We hate you, please die". Oh my gosh. I am so glad I have today off. My co-workers promise my feet will adjust. Let's just hope they do it fast!



I had an exciting day though, with my fist training session behind the buy counter. I learned a lot. I spend most of the day right now working the floor, which means direct interaction with customers and lots of back and forth between the dressing room and racks. SO MUCH FUN. I seriously get paid to talk to people and handle clothes.







Plus I had a co-worker remark that she noticed that I was doing really well, and that my customer service skills are excellent. Feedback from managers is nice, sure, but feedback from fellow staff members is priceless. I don't mean to gush (OK, I do) but I have at least 3 moments every day where I just take a deep breath and breathe it all in. I am so happy. I don't remember the last time I was this stress-free. I'm focused when I'm there, and I don't have to struggle to pay attention, because I'm interested. It's interesting.



Jacket, Old Navy
Smiths shirt, Everything English
Shorts, Wal-Mart
Tights, ?
Boots, Docs, thrifted
Watch, Swatch
Bead bracelet, self made

Day 23 (3 + 14 + 24)

+ + =



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

Who Wants To Come In My Candy Shop?

My new camera arrived and we are slowly getting acquainted. I know most fashion bloggers upgrade from a point and shoot to a DLSR, but I like to do things a little different and downgrade from a DLSR to a point and shoot.



Yesterday I took the day off work to lounge, read and go to a book signing. One of my favorite authors, Richelle Mead was near town, up in Allen and I was super excited to get to see her in person.



I had to carry two bags as no bag could contain both all of the books I wanted signed as well as my everyday things.

Behold: the books I wanted signed:


That’s the first book from each of the series by her that I read as well as the hardback of the book the actual tour is for. She technically only signs three books person, but my girlfriend only wanted to have two books signed so she carried my fourth through the line for me.



I wore a tee shirt that my BFF Alannah sent me that I got Saturday and have already worn twice. You know how I do.



I also made a necklace for Ms. Mead based on a design that is important to the characters in the Vampire Academy series. Of course I made one for me as well. I really like that it’s subtle but also very specific to the books. I can be a fan-girl without wearing something silly like an “I love Dimitri” necklace, which might be great if I were 15, but is not so cool at 34.

(IDK what I'm doing here but I like my hair cape)


After seeing the pics, I wasn’t super excited by the way the leggings looked and changed into black and white patterned tights.

And to cap things off, a lovely picture of the super friendly and amazing Ms. Mead..



Is she not ADORABLE?

And a slightly horrid picture of me in which Ms Mead is signing my books.



I had a great time with my friends, sitting around talking waiting for the signing to start and Ms. Mead was so friendly and accommodating. She read from the new book, did a Q and A and signed up to three books for around 350 people and she did it all with a smile.

Sweater, Target
Tee, hand me down from Alannah
Shorts, Wal-Mart
Leggings, Target
Boots, Doc Martins
Black leather handbag, Steven
Book bag, gift
Necklace, self made due to extreme nerdiness

I’ll Be Gone, In A Day Or Two

This outfit was really just an excuse to wear these vintage pumps Jessica G gave me. I knew I wanted to keep it simple so that the focus could be on the fabulous patchwork detail of the shoe.





They are tremendous and I love them. However, I broke a heel tip straight in two before I got through the day. That makes a total of 4 pairs I know of off the top of my head that need to have tips replaced, and I know it’s not expensive, but I’m not looking forward to the combined cost. The alternative is not being able to wear them anymore, and nothing is more frustrating than something you can’t wear because you have been too lazy or cheap (or legitimately broke!) to have it repaired, so I am planning a trip to the cobbler this week!



I kept everything else really simple. I don’t think it translates as nice as it was in pictures, but the green of this jacket was just beautiful against the purple of this top. So much so that I didn’t even care about the difference in styles. I just went with it!




Jacket, Blouse, and Denim leggings, Target
Earrings, self made
Bag, Grandmama Bea, Liz Claiborne
Shoes, vintage, Jessica G’s Grandmother

Brand New Clothes And A Big Fat Place On Your Rock And Roll TV

I. Love. This. Outfit.



I know that the Some People are all worked up and upset over the return of 90s fashions, but not me. I’m totally down with floral, flannel and clogs. I wore this on a Saturday with knee high black socks and clogs, but for work I felt tights more appropriate.



I got this dress at a thrift store a while back and it was floor length. I was like “Look, Nathan, we can hem it.” He said “I don’t think that is going to be as easy as you think it is.” But you know I had to try. The thing is…I can’t sew.

I mean, at all. I no longer remember how many times I broke a machine in college. It was eventually suggested that maybe I costume shows using rented pieces, or thrifted. Maybe not so much with the sewing when I was costuming…



But still. I wasn’t GOING to sew, see I was going to use Stitch Witch. And I did. And well, I sort of miscalculated, and now it’s more of a long top, or a tunic than a dress, but I did do it. So not AS easy as I thought, true. But it is shorter, and the hem is straight, and it did hold. So there’s that. So I threw on a lace skirt, a little number I refer to as my “Kyla” skirt, and if you take a look at her blog I think you might be able to figure out why…



Overall I’m happy with the outcome. I prefer the additional layer of the lace aesthetically anyway. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Flannel, thrifted by Nathan
Dress, thrifted and shortened by me
Skirt, Target
Tights, Target
Clogs, White Mountain via Amazon.com
Bag, Nordstrom Rack
Necklace, Wendy Brandes Jewelry

Now I’m Stronger Than Yesterday

I was super crazy excited to wear this outfit. I thought of it on a Thursday night, so I had to save it, because as you know, Fridays are casual. It’s some sort of rule. But I wore it first chance I got! And I loved it.



Sometimes you think of an outfit and when you go to make it work, you find you have to tweak a thing or two here and there. Maybe the shoes didn’t work, or the cardigan you choose is the wrong length for the dress, but this translated perfectly from inspiration to wear.



I do love to add a bit of edge here and there to my dresses, I know, but it was really fun to push the envelope of my personal style and just go all out lady like with this one. I loved the proportions of the cropped jacket and short dress, and I loved the way the nude pumps worked with the darker navy blue tights. The pumps are one of three pairs a co-worker recently passed down to me from her Grandmother’s collection, and the bag is from my Grandmama’s stuff.



I had so, so much fun wearing this! BUT, what’s even better is it was just the beginning of a week that went really well for me outfit wise. I am on a streak of getting it just right and just really loving the combinations I am putting together and you know WHY? FALL. That’s why. TIGHTS! JACKETS! CLOGS! YAY!~

Jacket, Target
Dress, Tucker for Target
Tights, Target
Shoes, vintage, gift from a Jessica G.
Bag, Grandmama Bea
Belt, Grandmama Bea
Pendant, Moon Raven Designs at Etsy

You Can’t Carry It With You If You Want To Survive

So I have this striped top from Target, and so do approximately 4,897 other style bloggers. Am I right? And every time they wear this top I think “oh la la” and I adore how they (you!) have styled it. And then I wear it and…eh.

But I think this look was a winner!



I was especially proud of the pale pink beads with the pale pink shoes.



Plus is was crazy comfortable!. Denim leggings + Tee shirt + flats? Yes, please. It sounds like a boring look but it wasn’t!



Tee, Target
Denim Leggings, Target
Oxfords, Ralph Lauren via Buffalo Exchange
Bag, SMAK, second hand
Beads, Grandmama Bea

Silly Boys, Just Shut Up And Watch Me Walk

It is less than 100 degrees here today and we Dallasites are all super excited.



Nathan chose my necklace today. It was down to these red beads and some jet beads, and Nathan said, “I always love a pop of red.” And I fell in love all over again. I know not all guys have an opinion and I love that mine does!



Sally was JUST saying she was excited about upcoming boot weather over at Already Pretty’s Facebook page (are you a fan yet? You should be! There are great discussions over there that are related to but different than the blog itself), and so am I. So excited that I went ahead and wore them! I knew it would be freezing in the office today since the building will take a couple days to catch up to the cooler weather, so I wore thick leggings, a jacket and boots. Full on Fall style.



Jacket, Forever XXI
Blouse, Target
Pants/Leggings things, mark
Boots, second hand
Bag, SMAK
Beads, Grandmama Bea

She Took The Midnight Train Goin’ Anywhere

People at work thought this was a Def Leppard tee. It’s not. That would also be cool, and I would totally wear that, so if you have one and you need to find a home for it, I’m here for you.



I can see how you might be confused. That is not a super clear picture and I mean, a hair band is a hair band is a hair band without a logo, right?



And the back is not a lot more helpful. I had to point to just where the band name is before anyone could really tell who it was.



I felt like an extra from “Dazed and Confused”. Those earrings are pretty great too, they are basically tiny wind chimes that tinkle every time I move my head. Very occasionally it is problem, and I miss something someone said because I moved my head while they were talking, but mostly it is just a really pleasant thing to listen to all day.

Can we talk about those shoes please? They are really pretty. And they go with almost everything. But they hurt. Right at the very front of the shoes they rub my toes along the edge. I think I am going to try putting some moleskin along the edge unless you all have a better suggestion. The shoes are suede but the lining where they touch my feet is, unfortunately, man made.

Journey Tee, Vintage and thrifted by Nate
Jeans (denim leggings), ANA at JCPenny
Shoes, Target
Bag, LUSH, secondhand
Bag charm, Tokidoki, gift from Alannah
Earrings, gift from Alannah
Swatch, vintage and thrifted by Nate