7 for 1 (The End is the Beginning)

I have sort of run out of time for the 30x30. My new job starts tomorrow and the pieces I selected are not suitable. I choose these pieces when I was living a different life. Now that my life is changing, the way I dress will be too. I hope that you will continue the journey with me. I think the next evolution is going to be a good one.

I can't stand the thought of quitting unfinished, and the truth is? I could probably knock 10 more outfits out of this, no problem. So I spent some time yesterday planning, putting together and photographing 7 final outfits for you to wrap up my Winter 2011 30x30. I hope you like them. (You can see larger versions of the pictures by clicking though to my Flickr.)

24 (29 + 18 + 8 +24)


25 (13 +22)


26 (25 + 22)


27 (19 + 8 + 24)


28 (29 +14 + 20)


29 ( 26 + 14 + 20)


30 (26 + 17 + 9 + 20)


The 30x30 was a wonderful learning experience for me. I learned that I have a LOT more clothes and so many more combinations than I ever dreamed. I flexed remix muscles I didn't even know I had. But I am ready to move on now, and put my new skills to use with the rest of my clothes.

You can see all 30 outfits here.

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

Day 22 (12 + 21)

+ =



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)

+ + =



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)

+ + =



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)

+ + + =



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)

+ =



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

Day 17 (9+5+20)

+ + =



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

Day 16 (3 + 11 + 22)

+ + =



How cute is that little bag? I got it with a credit to CSN Stores that I won from T Minus T Plus and the boots are a give away prize from Sperry and Between Laundry Days! Not bad for free, eh?



I met Elissa from Dress With Courage for lunch today. Here are some things I love about Elissa:

* Her blog. It is well written and super interesting. Almost every single day you can learn a little bit more about Elissa as a person and I love that. I'm a big fan.

* Her smile. It's wide and geniune and goes alllll the way up to her pretty eyes.

* When I talk, she really listens. You can see it in the way she looks you right in the eyes.

* She laughs when I say stupid things, but not at me. She laughs because she thinks I'm funny.

* She is real. She tells the truth and she opens her heart.

* Her shoes today were ADORABLE.

*She can talk clothes for hours and she is an expert thrifter. Having no real skill myself, I am drawn to excellent thrifters.

And those are just a couple things. I could go on and on. But don't take my word for it. Go give her a read for yourself.





Cardigan, AA
Dress, Target
Boots, Sperry
Bag, The Sak