I Get All The News I Need From The Weather Report

But you know, only when I watch it. I used to just put my outfits together in the morning, but lately I’ve been putting them together at night as a sort of fun, relaxing downtime sort of thing to do before bed. Plus it lets me sleep an extra 10 to 20 minutes! Last night I ended up with a super cute combo with a sleeveless blouse, a black skirt and sandals.

It was 40 some odd degrees (F) when I woke up today. I should have checked the weather. I had to scramble for a back up.



Hey, you might notice I’m barefoot. Today is One Day Without Shoes. Please take a moment to check out the site and think for a moment about what a life without shoes might look like. Then, if you can, maybe hop on over to Tom’s and buy some shoes so someone else can have a pair too. Look, I admit, I’m not a huge fan of the original Tom’s shoes. But I LOVE the wrap boots, and plan to buy a pair someday, and they are coming out with a wedge this summer that looks to be pretty darn cute!

I’m down with the thought behind the movement, but I have a corporate job, so I am in fact, wearing shoes today.



Cute ones too. Not so much comfortable ones though!



I often wish I had bought a couple more pairs of these Wal-Mart pants when I had the chance. They are, and I know it sounds crazy, but they are the nicest made pants I have ever owned. They are well cut, well sewn and comfortable.



Oh Hi buddy!~ I love you too!



Jacket, H&M (second hand)
Blouse, Target
Pants, Wal-Mart
Shoes, rsvp via Zappos
Bag, Thrifted
Earrings, gift from Pilar
Amethyst necklace, self made

Come On and Rock Me Amadeus

Hi! I had a stomach bug. It wasn’t fun, but it appears to be over now. I laid this outfit out Monday night and then stared longingly at it all day yesterday from my bed. So I’m glad to be wearing it today.



I had this belt for almost a full month before I wore it backwards with my birthday dress and was completely at a loss as to how to use it, but once I finally committed to it, I’ve started to find all kinds of ways to wear it. I love how wide it is, it almost works like a mini corset.



I almost wore heels with this today, but I’m trying to get into the groove of doing the stairs at work three times a day and I wanted to wear something that’s comfortable for that. I start at the top, go down, come up, think to myself, “this is not so bad”, go down, come up, and half way up again I think “Oh. This is hard. Why is this so hard? I am not going to make it.”, but I always do. I huff and puff like the big bad wolf for 5 minutes when I am done, but I do it!~



A little pop of red…



The order I placed when I got that coral had about 10 pieces in it, only this one was strong enough to actually use. All the other pieces broke when I bent them. The druzy I got for the earrings was the same way. I think there were 8 or 9 of those, and 3 pieces were usable. I know going in with certain things that might be the case, and I always try and break it before I make something with it, because I’d rather know up front it’s not going to last than be wearing it and have it break.

Cardigan, Target
Blouse, Pretty Raccoon at Etsy.
Skirt, Target
Sandals, Victoria’s Secret
Belt, Target
Coral necklace, self made
Diamond necklace, gift
Gold Bangle, vintage via Etsy

Fat Bottomed Girls You Make the Rockin' World Go Round

Linda and I are embarking on a challenge to fit into our skinny pants.

Struggle to Fit Into Your Skinny Pants Challenge.





Look, most people have a pair. I have 2 or 3 at this point. And since I can’t afford new pants, and I’m uncomfortable at this size, I intend to fix it. I am astounded at the difference 10 pounds can make on my body, self image and self esteem*. Everyone is encouraged to make their own plan, because everyone is different. This is mine:

~Cereal for breakfast. No skipping breakfast.

~Cereal or a low-cal frozen dinner for lunch (this is because I am lazy. If I had the will power to make creative low-fat lunches I would, but I don’t right now, and I am going to work with myself where I am and stay honest.

~Portion control at dinner (boo, I am normally starving at dinner)

~work out at least 4 times a week

~go up and down the stairs at the office at least 3 times a day every weekday

~Portion control on weekends, with one free meal per week

Every Friday we will post our progress and talk about how we did the past week.

We will start this Friday by posting our measurements (you don’t HAVE to do this to participate, I don’t particularly want to do this. But we don’t care to post our weight and I know having to tell you this will motivate me to make sure I make changes.) I will also post a picture of JUST how unflattering the skinny pants are. I'm terrified of that, to be honest. I do my best to edit what I post online so that you and the rest of the world only see what I feel like are the most flattering of looks and poses. But I really really want to do this, and I know from experience that keeping it in a public forum (Weight Watchers meetings worked wonders for me) keeps me motivated, and in the end, I will be SO proud of what I have accomplished.

We would love to have you join us if you want to. If you have a pair of skinny pants that are just hanging there in your wardrobe, or folded away in a drawer, taunting you, let us know.

*Look, I am not saying I am fat. I am not fat. I am not saying you are fat. You are lovely. I am saying I am uncomfortable with my size and would like to be smaller. That's all.

On the Avenue, Fifth Avenue, the Photographers Will Snap Us

I don’t know if it is a Southern thing, or a Baptist thing, or just an Easter thing, but all my life I’ve had a new dress for Easter, an “Easter Dress”. I even got one last year, at the beginning of all of this*. But this year, no dice. I didn’t even really think about it. I have plenty of dresses, and it’s just one day, and it happens regardless of if my dress is old or new. I didn’t even plan my outfit for church until Saturday night, and when I did, I picked through the florals and the pastels…and then I decided that if I was going to buck tradition by not getting a new dress, I was going to buck it all the way and wear whatever I wanted.



Check THAT out. Fall colors for Easter.



I hadn’t worn that dress in a while, because it had been too small, but it looks like I’m making progress, because it was tight, but it zipped! Score!



It was FREEZING in the church (is it just me, or is it pretty much always freezing in every church all the time?) so I was glad I went with tights and a cardigan. Most years I get fooled by the whole “Spring” thing and go barelegged and wear sandals, but this year I remembered!



I love love love those little flowers. The picture makes them look a little dull but in real life they are the prettiest shade of lilac. And I know they are a weed, but I don’t care, they are so pretty. Prettier than plain ole grass.



I made the druzy slice earrings a while back. Just chain looped around a couple slices and put on hooks. They are asymmetrical, and I wasn’t 100% sure about them but I get tons of compliments on them and I love the way they feel. They are super swingy.

And I can’t not post these adorable pictures of my baby boy…




*And by all of this I mean my husband’s unemployment. I did not know then it was the beginning, I mean how could I? He’s smart, and good at what he does and fun and good looking and an amazing conversationalist, so I had no idea the market was bad enough he would still be unemployed, but I suppose that’s a rant for another day.

Dress, Vintage via Etsy
Cardigan, Target
Tights, Target
Belt, Target
Mary Janes, Target
Bag, LUSH
Earrings, self made

And You're Struck Down by a Hammer ...

Last night my house caught fire. Just a little, and we put it out, but it was still pretty dramatic. Artist in residence Nathan T (not the same as my husband, we live in a duplex, and there is a Nathan on both sides. Nathan J is the musician in residence; Nathan T is the artist in residence. I am the hot one.) is a smoker and it seems a cigarette butt made its way under the porch and into a pile of leaves and started a fire. We could smell that there was something burning. And we could tell it was in or about our house, but we had a hard time finding it, because due to the airflow, the smell was strongest in my bedroom. But Nathan T found it, and put it out. And we still have a house. So, yay!

Wendy B did a great write up on Daring Damsels in Double Denim (how GREAT is that title?) and the look I wore for her is featured along with some other really great looks. I am particularly fond of Sharon's McQ playsuit. Jealous!

I have been looking forward to this shoe and dress combination since February, when I first saw them next to each other in my wardrobe and said “Oh!~ Look at the pattern mixing there!”. No, really... look:



I love it!~



It was Nathan’s idea to have me stand by the matching tree, isn’t that pretty? I was lit from behind, so the lighting is not amazing, but the pictures came out really pretty regardless. I admit to lots of adjustments though, so you can see my face. Because faceless girls are just creepy.



I wasn’t sure what jacket to wear, and I tried a few that all worked about as well, and a couple that didn’t work at all, but I settled on this one because it gives a bit of a waist when worn and the dress is so floaty.



I’m meeting friends to celebrate a friend’s promotion (Congratulations, Jesse! We love you!) later and I’d love to wear this, but the chances I’ll make it that long in these shoes are not good. They are comfortable enough for what they are, but they are not exactly walking shoes, now are they? Plus I suspect after the sun goes down there will be a chill in the air. That’s OK, I’ve got alllllll Summer to wear this out.



You got any amazing plans tonight? Do you have to work tomorrow? I took a vacation day because my office does not close for Good Friday, but I do!~

Jacket, Forever XXI
Dress, Target (recent)
Shoes, Alice and Olivia for Payless
Bag, GAP
Necklace, self made, skull by mrd74 at Etsy