I Don’t Go To Sleep To Dream

I want to start off my entry today with a big shout out and a HUGE Thank You to reader and blogger Jen, who let me know last Friday that JCPenny had a brand called A.N.A that was what I said I was looking for. Girlfriend, you were so right. They met all my qualifications. Cigarette cut, dark wash, super tight…and they are denim leggings. But they look more like jeans than any other pair I’ve seen. My friend Kelly did the honor of spending the day with me yesterday and we had a wonderful time. We went to the mall up in the suburbs that has a JCPenny, and not only did I discover the jeans I wanted, but list price is $40. Yesterday however, they were on sale and Kelly had a coupon, making the grand total for TWO pairs $38.00, including tax. I am thrilled to have jeans and I can’t thank you enough. I will wear them Friday.

A big thanks to everyone else for their recommendations as well, I still plan on checking out American Eagle as so many recommended them for the more boyfriend fit jean, but I’ve about decided I agree with Jodie who says “boyfriend jeans are the devil. I swear they’re cut skinnier across the stomach than they should be.” I’m starting to think I’m just too curvy for that trend!

And now back to the hits. Or something.

After a long day of shopping, Starbucks, girl talk and sliders at Steak and Shake, I was too tired to do much outfit planning. I normally don’t plan at all, but it’s been so cold recently that I’ve needed to pull my outfits the night before from the closet and move them into the bathroom, which is heated so they aren’t covered in frost when I put them on!~ Since it’s so cold under the desk at my office*, I tend to start at the legs and go up, and I haven’t worn these thigh high socks yet this year, so I wanted to wear them.



They are from Sock Dreams, and they are lovely. Everything else in the outfit just came from a desire to be cozy!



I forgot earrings today. And my scarf. I didn’t sleep last night and I’m not 100% awake today. I always feel so naked without earrings. What do you feel naked without? (And I don’t mean “pants” smarty).



I love that bag, but I don’t carry it very often as it’s not quite big enough for me. I can make it work some days though and I took it shopping yesterday and was far too lazy to switch bags this AM so I’m carrying it again today!

*my cube farm sits right over the parking garage and as a result, from about November to March, it’s 10 to 20 degrees colder under our desks, which somehow trap the cold air from under there than it is elsewhere. It’s pretty weird. And cold. I bought really flashy ugly shiny gold metallic Ugg type boots to wear under my desk for 10 bucks at Old Navy this weekend. Observe:



NOT FLATTERING. But warm.

Sweater, American Apparel
Tunic/Dress, Target
Leggings, Target
Socks, Sock Dreams
Boots, Matisse
Bag Rachel Nasvik
Diamond Necklace, gift
Talon Necklace, Talonalia

Turn It Up, Turn It Up, Turn It Up

A few years ago a lot of the magazines were doing this sort of Grandpa sweater thing, and I loved it. I wanted one so bad. They would style it over flowy dresses or jeans and boots. But no one (in my price range) seemed to be selling them. Oh, they were selling what I’m sure was supposed to pass as an attempt at the trend, but they were thin, and not wool, and they just didn’t cut it. It had to be COZY looking (and feeling!) So I looked at thrift stores. FOREVER. It was a mission. And I was still having trouble finding what I wanted, because nothing was fitting. I found Grandpa sweaters, but they were so big they were not flattering. And then it hit me. Wool shrinks. So when I found this one, at 2 sizes too big, I bought it.



I brought it home and washed it in hot water and dried it in the drier. I knew it was a risk, but it worked! The sweater shrunk evenly all over, and it fit. And it was now extra warm because the weave was tighter. I don’t normally feel like I need a coat or jacket over it, even when it is 32 degrees out, like today. And because it’s wool, when I get indoors, it breathes. It’s a bit of a deviation, maybe from my normal style now, but it’s still one of my favorite looks.



So my friend Kelly and I were talking yesterday about jeans. I don’t really have any I love and feel great in at this point. I won’t go into how hard it is to find jeans, I feel like that’s been covered, and covered well, by others. But I will say that personally, I’ve given up for now. I have not been able to find a good pair second hand. And the thing is, in my experience anyway, the jeans in the 100+ range really DO fit better. I’d rather wait until we are in a place financially where I can just go to Barneys and get fitted and find THE jeans, than continue to try on pair after pair at the second hand stores, Old Navy and Target. It’s defeating and I quit.



Not that these are horrid. I don’t think they are. They just aren’t perfect, and I bought them during a time when I was pretty thin. I was unhappy, and not eating (it was years ago! I’m much better now.) and as a result, I was really small. I’m not anymore, but all my jeans think I should be! Ha!~ So they look OK, but feel a bit tight. And I don’t want to get back down to that weight. I won’t lie, I looked GOOD. Really good. But I like eating, and contrary to the popular saying, LOTS of things taste as good, and better even, than thin feels.



Anyway, if you just happen to find the perfect mid-rise, cigarette pant, dark wash, stretch denim jean* at a really great price, let me know…but I’m not going to hold my breath!

*I also tried on like a billion pair of the boyfriend jeans and I swear those fit even worse!~ They are supposed to be BAGGY, why don’t they FIT? My waist is not all that big, yo!

Sweater, Thrifted
Gloves, Target
Vneck (under sweater), American Apparel
Jeans, Steve and Barry’s
Boots, Matisse
Bag, Banana Republic, Thrifted by husband
Diamond Necklace, gift
Talon Necklace, Talonalia

Make A Move, Do Tha Thing, Turn Around and Strike A Pose

My husband found this jacket at a thrift store for like 2 bucks.



It was a couple sizes too big, so for less than $20 I had it tailored. When I took it to the shop, the guy who manages it fussed over it and so did the woman who is the actual tailor. Saying how fashionable it was and how this was coming back. Then yesterday when I went to pick it up the girl behind the counter remarked that she had noticed it and really liked it. She asked if it was vintage and she remarked what a lucky find it was. I always feel like I’ve found a real treasure when it causes a stir at a place that sees clothes old and new all day long!



It’s almost over the top in its hipster-trendiness, I know. Acid washed, colored denim, military style, cropped…I don’t even care. I LOVE IT. I call it the Jacket of Awesome Town, and when I am wearing it, I am clearly the Captain of Awesome Town. Feel free to salute me.

The little loops that the buttons go through as so tight it’s not actually possible to button the jacket, which most likely explains its “like new” condition. But I don’t care. I’m still the Captain.



I’m always so thrilled by my husband’s thrift store finds. He has the touch. I do not. Have you noticed that some people find awesome things and some people don’t? I don’t. I am up for one, maybe two stores, and if I don’t find something AMAZING at one of those I am ready to call it a day. Nathan can go to store after store after store, find nothing and be content. I just have no patience, so I’m glad he does!

Jacket, Thrifted, vintage
Tank, Wal-Mart
Skirt, Target
Tights, Target
Boots, Vintage
Diamond Necklace, gift
Talon Necklace, Talonalia

Oh, The Weather Outside Is Frightful

It started to snow as I took my pics today!


(Look at those huge silver hoops that Pilalex got me in Mexico last week, they are amazing!)

It’s true that down here in Dallas we normally get a couple days of snow each year, but not normally this early. It’s nice though, to be honest. I still don’t have a car, which means I didn’t have to drive in it. And it won’t stick, which means we won’t get an ugly dirty sludgy mess. Snow here is really just pretty, and then gone.



No pics without the coat today, kids, it was too cold. But you can see my blouse. I am recklessly mixing patterns there. I love a floral with an animal print. I got that coat about 10 years ago. I had just graduated university and it was one of the first major purchases I made for myself. I needed a new coat, so we went and shopped the department stores, because back in the day you couldn’t get nice things at Target, and the selection at discount store was nothing like it is now. I adored this coat, still do. I don’t remember what I paid for it, but I do remember it was a lot, even on sale. It’s by Guess and it has held up really well. The texture of the faux fur is still nice and other than re-sewing the snaps in a couple places, it’s never needed repairs.



I also remembered to wear gloves today, my hands hurt they were so cold by the time I got to work yesterday. These are the short leather gloves I got last year…



Yesterday I saw the weather report, saw that it was going to be cold, and promptly ignored it. I don’t know what I was thinking, but I was cold all day. I needed a cardigan in a serious way. Lesson learned. Respect the weather report.





And just because I think it’s funny…last night we had pizza rolls for dinner. And I had mine with a tiny bottle of Champagne in a vintage champagne glass. Pizza rolls and champagne. I think it captures me pretty well, to be honest.



Coat – Guess, but at this point I might as well say “vintage”
Cardigan, Target
Blouse, Target
Denim Leggings, Target
Ankle Boots, Zappos (Blowfish)
Gloves, Target
Earrings, Gift
Foks, celapiu at Etsy

I Know It’s Hard to Achieve, But Can’t a Girl Believe?

My pictures today make me look like I’ve been living hard, but really I’m just not sleeping well. It’s true what they say, you look better when you are well rested. I’ve had trouble sleeping for years now. I am one of those restless sleepers who wake up several times a night. To go to the bathroom, to worry, to think. I am not sure why. I’ve tried over the counter pills but so far it has never gotten bad enough to move to prescription pills. I have to be honest, those scare me!



We are supposed to get our first freeze tonight, so I broke out the over the knee socks. I actually tried wearing them with some chunky leather platform sandals, but just was not feeling it. I still really want to try that look, I just think I missed the mark this AM.



That’s a scarf made to look like a vintage fox stole. I have always loved the look of vintage fox stoles, but they are…well…creepy. I am not a huge fur person. I had a mink once that I got for $20.00 at a thrift store, and it was really nice, but kind of gross. I know that makes no sense at all because I love any and all leather goods. But fur just gives me the willies.



When I saw this on the front page of Etsy I just could not resist, even though it cleaned my paypal account right out. I’m hoping to open Love Erin Designs up again soon, but I just have not had the time yet.



It has a little clip under its head, and you can clip it to its own tail, vintage style, but I clipped it to the jacket collar for today. I just thought it super cute and kind of funny to wear it on the jacket.



Tail…





A reader recently asked if there was a trick to layering necklaces, and I personally have a couple. One is that all the chains need to be different. Two necklaces made of the same chain tend to tangle really badly for me. Another is that the pendants need to fall at different lengths, even if just slightly, like with my diamond and talon necklaces, so that you can see each one. What are your tricks or tips for layering necklaces?

Jacket, Bona Drag
Dress, Temperly for Target
Leggings, Target
Socks, Target
Boots, Steve Madden
Foks, celapiu at Etsy
Talon necklace, Talonalia
Diamond Necklace, gift