From Tomboy to Fashionista

Wearing a cape to work

2011-12-15T09:15:00.002-05:00

I miss blogging, and I miss my readers!!! (Hopefully there are still a few lurking around here.)

Unfortunately, I do not have a camera and tripod setup right now, but I wanted to share my outfit anyway. It is one of the most comfortable and warm office outfits I have worn in a while.

I was a skeptic about the cape trend for a while. But when I found a camel sweater cape at LOFT on super clearance (I paid about $13) I figured it was worth a try. I fell in love as soon as I had it on in the dressing room, and promptly took it home with me and lived in it for several weekends. I had wanted to try in the office for a while but I feared the razzing that would ensue.

When I picked up this cinnamon cowl turtleneck at Target for $12 I immediately imagined it with the camel cape, and finally put on a brave blogger face and wore the outfit to the office. I did get a few comments, like "You look like Supernanny", but for the most part I got a lot of compliments! Moral od the story is, everyone woman should have a sweater cape in her closet!!

-- Kendra the Tomboy

Wearing a cape to work by leehovey featuring a wool cape coat

eShakti Customer of the Week!!

2010-09-22T08:52:00.000-04:00

I won eShakti's Customer of the week contest for my wearing of the purple shirtdress back in June. I am soo excited!! It's thanks to you, my readers, too because you helped me pick which dress to buy, so thank you!!! Check out the little bitty picture of me on the front page of their site, and be sure to "like" their facebook page to see the picture there too!

My prize for being one of three winners is a $50 gift certificate to eShakti, and since your help proved so successful the first time around I figure I can't lose by asking for you to help me pick some thing else out. I have narrowed it down to handful of items. Again, I can't decide between a dress of a blouse. I will get alot more wear out of a blouse, but the dresses are gorgeous!! Please cast your vote

#1 Pleat Waist Chambray Dress

#2 Rosette Pin Two-piece dress

#3 Vintage Embroidered Yoke Blouse

#4 Ruffle Sleeve, Sash Waist Blouse

Featured Retailer: Shabby Apple

2010-09-20T16:44:00.000-04:00

No outfit post today as I woke up overtired and lacking creativity, so I grabbed my brown work trousers, a cream tank and patterned cardigan and minimal jewelry. You're not missing much.

But I have been very impressed with all the fall lookbooks coming out from some of my favorite boutique sellers, so I wanted to feature a couple of them and show you some of my favorite looks. First up is, Shabby Apple; a boutique retailer specializing in modest yet stylish dresses and accessories for Women (including plus sized, maternity, and teen) as well as babies. According to their website, Shabby Apple is "a return to what dresses were always meant to be — a one-piece outfit. No need to add anything...no tank tops, no cardigans, nothing (except accessories, of course!)." (They don't support linking images from the website, so these appear a little blurry. To see them better, click on the image and it will take you directly to their site.)

They also have some really cool tools on their site for shopping by occasion, color, or body type. And be sure to check out the Style Advicepage where you can browse previously asked style questions, or ask your own!

"We're just trying to find some meaning In the things that we believe in

2010-09-15T16:02:00.000-04:00

Green cardigan, Banana Republic Outlet | Grey tee with chiffon embellishment, LOFT via Mom! | Dark wash denim, Gap sexy bootcut fit | champagne ruffle heels, Payless | Grey lambskin cropped jacket, LOFT

(Sorry about the goofy picture, I was caught mid-laugh) I think I mentioned last spring about my current obsession with lightweight jackets; here is another example. I get a lot of use out of light- and mid- weight jackets as I can layer a heavier coat on top in the winter and wear them throughout the day in the office.

This jacket was an exhilarating bargain for me! Usually there are things I can't afford and hope that I can score on sale eventually, but I find that my size range sells out the fastest so these desired pieces never last through the sale. I saw this jacket in the LOFT Spring Lookbook and then saw it in the store and new I loved it. I stalked it through the season, and into sale season. Then there were several weeks where I had no shopping budget at all, and my hopes to obtain this beauty were dashed; until I randomly walked in on the LOFT extra 50% off clearance sale. I perused the racks as usual and found this jacket... in my size range. I petted it and tried it on and admired how it looked on me, then gently put it back on the hanger and walked away. Then I walked back and admired some more, and asked the sales associate if it was included in the extra 50% off, and it was! I was sold! So I carried it to the counter with a couple t-shirts. The jacket was original $298. After several mark downs it was $149 on clearance, with an additional 50% off, plus a store credit I had, so I walked out of the store with my treasured lambskin leather jacket for $50 out of pocket. Done, and done, thank you.

Unfortunately, this season they have the perfect tan leather jacket in the lookbook. My wallet is crying out for mercy, someone please keep me from buying the tan one! (Or at least send down the same sale, sale, sale, clearance, extra sale price god to help me purchase it!)

What item have you stalked and then scored for a killer price recently?!!!

"Release me now cause I did my time"*

2010-09-14T09:54:00.000-04:00

I know this sweater is primarily spring and summer colors, but I love it and plan to wear it all winter. I hope you don't mind; for some reason I have had the urge to wear it with my navy striped boatneck tee. Hmm, train wreck waiting to happen or give it a go?

These jeans are new, and I think I like them. Except that the darn zipper will not stay up! I think I am going to try and exchange them at the store. I am not sure they will let me since I have worn them twice, but I can't wear pants that have a faulty zipper! I would look like I am feeling myself up all day. Quite the image right? Sorry...

It's only Tuesday, but I am every much looking forward to the weekend. I am taking Friday off to drive to Maine so I can have dinner with my parents for my 29th birthday. It's been a tough couple months for me regarding friendships. I haven't been able to see my childhood best friend for a couple months (mostly my fault, and I am sorry Kara! Soon, I promise), and my other closest friend has basically walked away from my life. And that's cool, I can respect the need for relationships to change with the circumstances of our lives as we get older, but I do miss her. So for my birthday this year I wanted to just be with my parents; where I can be myself, no drama, and a guaranteed good time. No matter how old I get I will always want to go home sometimes! (Or a lot, as it has been lately)

How do you like to spend your birthdays??

*Title: Lyrics by Rihanna, "Cold Case Love"

I suck at money....

2010-09-10T12:00:00.001-04:00

No, really I do. I am the type that believes I work hard every day to make the money that I have, so I mind as well use it, and enjoy it. I am not much for savings and investment. I envy others that have this as a priority, but I simply don't have the mental capacity. I like instant gratification! With that being said, the last few years I have done far better at not over spending, and keeping up with financial commitments. I don't have a credit card, just debit, all my current bills are caught up, and I am slowly working toward paying off old debts. I have even been able to make regular monthly contributions to a few of my favorite charities. Call it moral savings :)

But I have enjoyed reading Pretty Pennies money challenges and some of my other favorite bloggers are participating as well, so I thought, "What the heck?! I can only learn from it, right?". So, here is this weeks "Money Check-up" exercise.

1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on: so far, my car payment ($350), but the weekend is young :)

2. Today I feel OKAY towards money.

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free/inexpensive thing I did last week that made me happy was I am heading to Maine to spend the weekend with my family, there is nothing more valuable!

4. I will consider this week a success if: I don't spent all my free cash at the LOFT sale this weekend :)

5. My first job was at a high-end coffee chain called, "Gloria Jeans Coffee" as a certified barista! Loved it!

Do you participate in Pretty Pennies' Weekly money check-ups? If so, comment here with a link to your blog!! I would love to read your entry.

"Don't look in the rear view mirror"

2010-09-09T09:35:00.000-04:00

Animal print cardi, Old Navy | Fuschia tank, LOFT | Khaki dress pants, BR Outlet? | Heeled oxfords, BONGO via TJ Maxx | Mixed media necklace, American Eagle

So, September, huh? I am not entirely sure where August went, but here we are!

With a new boss at work I now have a Thursday lunch-time staff meeting every week, and since I am the only female on the team I feel the need to dress more conservatively on these days; with a little leopard print (or is it cheetah?) mixed in. A girl has got to have a little fun somehow, am I right?

You have seen pretty much all pieces of this outfit, so there isn't much to tell., other than I hate to iron as is evident by the folding wrinkles. I am really excited for the coming of fall weather, which is not to say that I am trying to usher out summer. I will truly miss the warm (hot!), sunny vibrant days of summer, but just like almost all the other fashion bloggers, I am looking forward to the change in dressing required by autumn. I am not much of a skirt person, so pants isn't a big part of the transition for me. The biggest change will be putting away all my sandals and open-toed wedges; and layering long sleeve tops and blouses under cardigans, blazers and jackets. Oh, and the colors! I love fall colors; the deep jewel tones, lots of brown and black and gold. Love it! I have a long wishlist, which I am working on putting together a more visual version for the benefit of this blog.

And before I forget (as if I could forget), did you check out my new blog header?! All the credit goes out to Kyla at Blue Collar Catwalk. Knowing that she does graphic design work on the side (check out her Etsy shop of invitations!), I emailed her a few months ago asking if she would be interested in designing a new header for me. And there we have it!! It's gorgeous, and perfect, and I just love it! Thank you so much, Kyla!!

Title: Lyric from Alicia Keys' "Rear View Mirror"

New Stuff Around Here

2010-07-26T09:47:00.003-04:00

There is a couple new things going on around here. First up is the new tab for "Shop My Closet!", I know this is all the rage around fashion blogs, and I am just jumping on the bandwagon. But I love when other bloggers offer up their fabulous closets for a reasonable price. So before I ship these items off to eBay (or the charity bin), I wanted to return the favor. Check it out by clicking the tab below the blog header. If you see an item you would like or have any questions, email me at the address in the "Contact" section, to the right of the posts.

Another exciting new thing is that in return for providing an honest and helpful review of the eShakti dress I received, they are offering a 10% discount to all Tomboy to Fashionista readers!! This makes buying a custom made dress for that late summer or fall wedding you have coming up super easy and affordable! Especially because they also just reduced the fee for custom fitting, from $15 to $7.50!! Wow, that's incredible!! Don't forget, not only can you send them your measurements for a perfect fit, you can also change elements like sleeve design, neckline, or length. So you can basically build your own dress, and many of them can be done for less than $100. To take advantage of this offer simply go to eSkati and pick your dream dress, then during check out enter the code tomboyfashion123 to get your 10% off!!

The power of fashion forums...

2010-07-01T09:34:00.000-04:00

I have been a member of the style forum called You Look Fab for about 2 years. I have gone through stages of being very active, to missing it for weeks, to just being a lurker reading posts and not commenting. But when I have a style dilemna or just need some honest yet constructive opinions, I always turn to YLF.

YLF is the member forum segment of Angie's blog, YouLookFab, though calling it a blog seems like an understatement. Angie is probably the most style savvy lady I have ever encountered; not only does she have enviable personal style she has an impeccable eye for styling other people in any shape, size, and trend. The blog includes written style guides for different body types and occasions, so if you have something specific you are having trouble styling, you must check out the site!

The YLF forums are member discussions boards which are frequented by hundreds of women who are all so very honest, supportive and encouraging. This is a rare thing to find on an internet community, but truly I have never felt judged or critisized posting on YLF. The environment is open and welcoming, and truly functions on a "the more the merrier" ideal; the more different ladies join the more varied and inclusive the conversations with be.

All this leads me to my point. I recently attended an evening wedding and while finding a dress was easy, styling it was proving to be a challenge. I picked up the dress on sale at Target for $19.99 because I love the color and the fit. I feel like it celebrates my hourglass curviness without being too tight, fussy, or revealing. Needing to stay on a tight budget I headed to Payless Shoesource for a pair of heels. I wavered between black patent peeptoes and the silver cage heels, settling on the silver because they were more comfortable. While I was there I grabbed a black and silver clutch and black cocktail ring, cause I love me some cocktail rings! I immediately went home, put on my outfit and posted these pictures to the YLF forum.

Blue sheath dress, Target, $19.99 | Silver cage heels, Payless, $25 | Black clutch and cocktail ring, Payless, $20

I got dozens of helpful and constructive comments. The overall consensus was that I should switch to a lighter clutch and add a statement bracelet in ring. Many of the ladies even took the time to browse the web and offer links to ideas for items to help inspire me. I remembered that I still had the silver satin clutch that I had carried to my high school senior prom, so I dug it out of storage and cleaned it up, then I headed out in search of some new jewelry. I didn't have alot of time to look around so I headed to Target and Kohls, finding a silver, beaded triple bracelet and coordinating earrings at Kohl's. Here is the final look thanks to the amazing eyes and advice of the ladies at YLF:

Blue dress, Target, $19.99 | Silver cage heels, Payless, $25 | Silver clutch, OLD | Beaded bracelet and earrings, Simply Vera via Kohl's, $25 | Hair and makeup, Orange Salon, Millbury, MA, $30

So if you have never checked out both the YouLookFab blog, and the YLF member forums, run, don't walk, over and start posting!!

eShakti Review -- Finally!!

2010-06-30T19:38:00.000-04:00

Dress, c/o eShakti.com | Headband, Target | Black sandals, Payless | Silver pyramid bracelet, LOFT | Murano glass ring, Target

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to review this dress, compliments of eShakti, but better than than never right? So without further ado.... I am no expert at reviewing, but I am pretty good at having strong opinions, so I will do my best to make this as systematic as possible.

Company/Customer Service:

Its easy for me to get on board with a company that works hard to provide trendy and stylish items to women of sizes 0-26, at a reasonable cost. Not to mention their ability to provide customer fitting for only just a little bit more.
The representative who I exchanged emails with regarding my order was always polite, helpful, and personable. She was a real person not a scripted email message; I like that.

Shipping/packaging:

Shipping was super fast!
Packaging was very thorough and secure. The item came wrapped in plastic, inside inside a large envelope, inside a box. No worries about your item getting wet/stained/ripped!

The product:

The dress is a very soft and natural feeling cotton.
There was no chemical odor on the material, like I often find with other mail order clothing.
The color combo is uncommon yet very flattering.
I sent eShakti my measurements and had the length adjusted on this item and the fit was superb. It pulls a little acrossed the chest, but I think that has more to do with it being a shirtdress than with the construction.
I washed the dress before reviewing it because there is nothing worse than receiving a gorgeous item in the mail, putting it through the was and getting a wrinkled, shrunken, frumpy mess out of the wash. That is not the case her! It laundered great, though came out very wrinkly. I think this can be expected of a thin 100% cotton. I ironed it and the result wasn't crisp, but comfortable.

Final thoughts:

Really the only complaint I might make is the straps; there is alot of fabric overlay which shifts out of place annoyingly when the dress is on. I suppose this extra fabric would make it very easy to have the straps altered to custom fit a larger or smaller chest. So this may be a plus for some people.
I would totally order from eShakti again in a heartbeat! And I will (and already have) recommended the site to other people looking for a unique item, in their size, and reasonably priced.

A big thank you to eShakti for providing me this pretty summer dress to try out, and to all my readers that voted to help me choose which one to pick!!

"Hearts don't need to bleed to know what they're for"

2010-06-08T09:43:00.000-04:00

I am participating in Sal's Summer Black Out 2010 Challenge, which obviously is a challenge to not wear black for an entire week. I don't think this will be terribly difficult for me, but I thought it would be a great way to motivate myself to post pictures more regularly.

White drapey cardi, BR Outlet, $20 | Pink and white tank, BR Outlet, $10 | Navy "Ann" fit trouser, Ann Taylor LOFT, $25 | Wedges, Old Navy, $20

So I know I am already a day behind because I didn't post a real out yesterday, just my fitness fashion (which included black, but since I only own about 4 pairs of workout bottoms and 3 of them are black, I won't be counting work out clothes). Convenient, right? :) a real challenge for me would be to not wear white (or cream or tan) for an entire week. I think white is a staple in my wardrobe like black is for most people.

I love my new Old Navy wedges because they are super comfortable, tall, and they are this magic pinky-reddish-orangish color. I wore them with a purple top yesterday and they looked red. Today I am wearing them with a fuschia tank and they look pink! When i held them up near a dress with red in the pattern, they look slightly orange or rust colored. I love it! They are going to be so easy to mix into outfits.

Please excuse the plethora of dog hair on the right pant leg, with two mongrels at home it's impossible to get out of the house without lots of it on black/navy pants. That's why I keep a lint roller in my car and remove it once I am out of the house. It's a good thing those dogs are so cute!

Which do you wear more of, black or white?? Are you participating in the Black Out? Has it been difficult for you to build outfits without black??

Boom Boom Pow

2010-06-07T18:50:00.000-04:00

This post idea is stolen entirely from Sal over at Already Pretty; gotta give credit where credit is due, you know? Thanks Sal!

So now that you have read Sal's post... I completely agree with her that fitness apparel is still a "fashion" area that is hard to find flattering pieces for specific body needs like long torso, large chest, long or short legs, etc... we all have one area we have trouble fitting. For me my difficulty is my bottom half. I have very large thighs and calves, relative to my top half, so it is nearly impossible to find a length and fit that truly flatters me. Here is a picture of me, right after my 2 mile run.

Athletic tank, Nike via Dick's Sporting goods clearance, $17 | Yoga capri, Champion for Target, $14 | Socks, Target | Sneaks, Nike Shox via Bob's Stores, $25.

Some might say, "Kendra, it's just gym clothes! Who cares how you look as long as you go and be active?!" Well frankly, I care! I am the type of person that has to have a full outfit on to go to the store to pick up milk. I don't leave the house in pajama pants, ratty t-shirt, or fuzzy slippers. (um, there were a few times I did that in january, but only because I was post-operative and could barely dress myself, ok?)

Anyway, I thought sharing my own personal fitness style might help other girls out there who, like Sal, overlooked the value of looking good and therefore feeling good while working out. I opt for pieces that are close-fitting, but not tight. Loose fitting pieces can actually be dangerous if you work out in a gym, as floppy pant legs could get caught in machine mechanisms, or could even be tripped over while running. In the summer I wear yoga capris and shorts that hit a couple inches above my knee, no shorter, for running outdoors. When I work out at the gym, all seasons, I usually wear long yoga pants with straight legs. Tights would also work well, but being a pear they are far from flattering on me.

On the top half I stick to athletic tanks for running. I like the close-sitting style so it's not bouncing and flopping around, and find that the built in shelf bra in them provide much needed extra support to prevent the dreaded booby bounce. When I am in the gym doing strength training, or cross training on the bike or elliptical I wear this tee from Target, which I own in about 6 different colors. It is super soft, a touch drapey, and the v-neck is universally flattering. And at $8 a piece, I would definitely recommend it to everyone!

On my feet I like thin cotton athletic socks, and my Nike Shox. I got a great deal on the Shox on sale at Bob's Stores, as they were last years colors.

So that gives you a taste of my fitness style. Never overlook the value of looking good when exercising. The extra confidence you gain from it can help keep you motivated, and may even help break you of some body insecurities!

What's your fitness style like?? I would love to see others post their own fitness style. If you do, please comment on this post with a link to your blog!

"And there is so much we don't know, so we love and we hope that it holds"

2010-05-26T08:15:00.000-04:00

Green cardigan, Banana Republic Outlet | White sundress, Target | Plaid espadrilles, Payless ShoeSource.

We are expecting another 90 (f) degree day today, which called for more white cotton; this time it's a dress. That first picture is a tribute to Erin's funny comments about the "Official Fashion Blogger Pose". Hehehe

I am starting a new gym program today and I am looking forward to it! I have a one hour fitness assessment with a trainer and then they will use the info gathered during the assessment to create a customized 6-week training program built around my goals. The hard part is always sticking with it, but I think the structure of this gym with be a great motivator! My dogs are my other great motivator because they have been loving going on my runs with me lately. It makes me happy to see that little doggy grin as they run and watch them sprawl out on the floor panting away afterward. So satisfying!

It's Wednesday, but it's sorta Thursday at the same time. I took Friday off to get a few things done bring in early in the morning and then hit the road to Maine to spend the long weekend at my parents house with most of my family.

What is your motivation to get moving and stay in shape?? Do you have big plans for Memorial Day weekend??

"So be Careful, warning Fragile heart"

2010-05-25T07:59:00.000-04:00

Aqua printed tee, J Crew Outlet | White linen pants, Banana Republic Outlet | Grey leather sandals, Banana Republic Outlet.

So I lied, and never got around to taking outfit pics last night, sorry! But I woke up in plenty of time to do so this morning. Some people still subscribe to the old wive's tale that you shouldn't wear white before memorial day; but I am all about breaking rules; or ignoring them all together.

I feel like I should be boarding a sailboat to Bermuda or the something today in white linen pants and white and aqua tee (outlet find from this weekend). The weather is supposed to reach into the 90s so I was looking for cool and comfort (if I had gotten around to shaving my legs I would have worn a cotton dress). I also have a doctor's appointment this morning so I needed something comfy enough to get poked and prodded.

What fashion rules do you break or ignore all together?? If you could go anywhere on vacation right this moment, where would it be??

eShakti Update!

2010-05-24T13:04:00.000-04:00

Hey Ladies!

Sorry, no outfit post quite yet. I woke up late and rushed out of the house, though I hope to take pictures when I get home because I had a successful outlet trip this weekend and want to share what I got.

I did want to update you on the eShakti review. I received the piece in the mail today and it looks gorgeous! I haven't tried it on yet, but once I do I will post pictures and write up my thoughts on the experience. I just wanted to let you know that it's coming!!

Thanks for all your input in choosing a dress!

"I get excitement in my bones, even though everything's a strain. "

2010-05-21T08:07:00.000-04:00

Geen shirt, LOFT | Jeans, Calvin Klein via Marshalls | Brown wedges, Target | Cream moto jacket, Target | Beaded hoops, gift from co-worker.

As I have mentioned before I am a jeans addict and own close to 30 pairs I would venture to guess, but I typically only rotate through 2 or 3 of them. Lately I have been trying to wear some of the others in order to decide whether or not to keep or donate them. What do you think about this Calvin Klein straight legs?

I have a busy weekend ahead, though admittedly I am staying home tonight in order to spend time with my dogs (lame, I know) and get some rest in preparation for the rest of the weekend. Bright and early tomorrow I am heading to NH to do a bit of outlet shopping with my best friend. Then I will be meeting an old high school friend for dinner. We haven't seen each other since 2004 when we had a falling out and stopped speaking for a couple years, so it will be good to seer her and catch up on things and let the past be behind us.

Do you have any exciting plans for the weekend??

"You can't go through life letting your pain dictate how you behave... how you live."

2010-05-20T08:48:00.000-04:00

Striped top, F21 | Dressy Shorts, Target | Yellow wedges, Target | Chain necklace, AE

I have totally been in a fashion slump, just like I have been reading alot of my fellow style bloggers complain about. Kristen recently pushed through her slump with this amazing outfit on Low Fat Dressing. I am totally jealous of those boots, and think I really need a new piece like that to get me going. I am hoping to receive my item from eShakti for review soon; maybe that will be just what I need!!

I have been admiring stripes on the other bloggers for weeks now, but had been unable to find my perfect stripey top. I finally found it, and at F21 for $11, can't beat that for a trendy piece! Though I am sure this top, and stripes in general, will be sticking around for the long haul anyway.

So is anyone else noticing that their dogs are shedding way more this year than in the past? My older dog, Tessie is a heavy shedder anyway, but most years we give her bi-weekly brushings using the Furminator all summer and we can stay on top of it. This year so far we have been brushing her 4 or 5 times a week, and it's still shedding off like we hadn't brushed her at all!! It makes it really hard to keep a clean house, even with sweeping and vacuuming nearly daily. I am thinking it must have something to do with the weather this year or something.

Tessie and Kallie

You can see the loose fur all over Tessie, and this is after brushing her!!

Have you hit a fashion slump this spring??? And if you have dog(s) are they shedding like crazy?? What tips do you have to control it??

Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?

2010-05-11T14:05:00.000-04:00

I seem to have forgotten to check the setting on my point-and-shoot because these pictures took alot of color and light adjustment to look like they do. It's really a shame too because I feel great in the outfit.

The weather has been very fickle lately. The temps hover around 40 degrees at night, and get up to high 60s during the day. I have found that sweaters and light jackets are the most practical way to deal with the wild temp swings. By donning a light and airy summer top in white embroidered cotton, underneath a cozy cotton sweater and layering on top with a gooey cropped leather jacket I have layer on or layer off as the day calls for it.(Also, the jeans aren't as feathers as they appear in the pictures. That is a product of the light/darkness correction I attempted.)

Life continues to be very sticky. There are alot of things causing me stress, but I am maintaining a positive and open attitude. It must be showing because I have had a few really important people in my life tell me they are proud of how I am handling it all. Most people say they could not handle some of it as well as I have. These type of compliments and acknowledgments really boost my confidence and my strength to endure.

I am sorry that I must be so vague, but if I go into more detail on some of the stuff going on it could be picked up by certain people that have no business knowing, and that just more drama that I don't want to deal with! Maybe when it's all done and over with on all fronts I can talk more about it. In the meantime I appreciate all the lovely things both my readers and the rest of the blogging community have had to say, and I also appreciate you sticking around through my quagmire. :)

Giving back...

2010-05-03T13:11:00.002-04:00

Photo owned by JOHN FERRARONE for the Worcester Telegram and Gazette

I spent this past Saturday volunteering on a local Habitat for Humanity Women's Build. It was a day dedicated to celebrating the involvement of women, in order to teach them building and renovating skills. It was a great experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone!!

I finished the day covered in paint and sweat, since it was 90+ degrees out, but such a rewarding experience! After several hours I had cut-in and rolled the living room ceiling by myself, helped build a walkway out of pavers, and helped dig a hole to plant a tree in the front yard.

Here's in the article from the local paper.
Women Build works on Habitat for Humanity house

Happiness is.

2010-04-23T20:45:00.000-04:00

Leopard cardi, Old Navy | Cream, sequined T, LOFT | Jeans, Gap (old) | Green studded wedges, ShoeDazzle | Gold beaded hoops, American Eagle

Sorry for the late post! But the good news is, I posted! I am such a slack blogger lately but I will be honest, it's what is working for me right now. So thanks for sticking around amidst my issues!!

This outfit was a fun casual friday ensamble; sequins to the office!! Not much else to tell today, which is all good since I am exhausted anyway. But I did want to share a picture of my new-to-me car that I mentioned. I love it :)

2004 Volvo XC90 T6 AWD

Tucking it In

2010-04-22T11:30:00.000-04:00

Pink blouse, Ann Taylor LOFT | Khaki linen blend trouser, BR outlet | Brown linen wedges, Nine West Outlet | Gold medallion necklace, Old Navy

I had to dress like a grown up today because I had several vendors coming in for meetings. Of course, the vendor showed up in jeans, so I guess I could have worn them as well, but I like to dress up a bit when we have visitors.

It was no loss though because I liked the outfit I ended up with. I am between sizes right now, so most of the dress pants I own are either too big or too small; these seemed to be just right (though maybe a touch long). I love the wide, flattering waist band, which I would have accented with a belt, but I don't have any skinny belts sized for my lower waist.

I picked up this shirt, and it's twin in a nice spring green, at the Ann Taylor LOFT Friends and Family sale last night for $21 for both. They are the softest, lightest cotton with silky trim. I find a scoop neck most flattering on me as I really like my collarbones, and the color brings out some rosiness in my complexion.

It's a simple outfit, but I am very comfortable and feel confident in it. Perfect for a day of meeting with vendors..... and for picking up my new car! I am so excited, I can barely sit through the day at work. It's not brand new, just new-to-me, but it's a much safer and all around nicer car than I have now (dare I call it a luxury vehicle). I also got a 2 year repair warranty on it, so even though I am adding a monthly car payment back into my budget, I am saving money on insurance rates, and won't have the unpredictable cost of repairing it, as I had to deal with on my old car. What a relief!!

Mood Ruffles

2010-04-14T18:24:00.005-04:00

Purple cardi, Target | Ruffle blouse, LoL for Target | Jeans, Gap | Yellow wedges, Target

Thank you soo much for all the votes and the feedback on which eShakti piece to choose. I will reveal the final choice once I receive it and do my review. In the meantime, please check out their site, there really is something for every one in every shape and size, truly! Very few retailers can say that, AND offer their pieces at such an affordable price.

I rocked the adorable Liberty of London for Target ruffle blouse again. I wore it similarly but with a full length cardigan this time. I swear the ruffles are an indicator of my mood because as the day wore on and I got more bad news about various things, the ruffles became more and more disheveled.

I almost didn't even take pictures, but as I was about to change into my pajamas I saw the tripod propped up in the corner and threw my shoes back on and went outside. The light on the deck is much different at the end of the day than it is during the mornings when I usually shoot outfit shots; it took a different setting on the camera to get them to have color.

I had a tough day, but I felt good in this outfit. It is simple and unfussy, but still has some interest and a good mix of colors, you can't complain too much about that. I have been craving dresses lately because I realized that I only feel good in one pair of jeans, out of the 25+ that I own. Those aren't very good odds.

Thats all I got today!! Like I said, it was a tough day. I plan to spend the night in bed with my dogs, and watching SciFi channel. Go ahead make fun, it's ok :)

How do you unwind after a particularly hard day??

Help me choose!

2010-04-12T13:45:00.010-04:00

Wow, what great and honest answers to my last post!! I am so glad that I am not the only one that absolutely will not leave the house without some sort of coverage on my skin. Some of you mentioned your skin problems, and I wanted to say that I can completely relate! I never had acne until about the age of 24, and have struggled with it since. Changing my cleansing products and putting myself on a very strict routine helped some; so did antibiotics and birth control. But to completely clear it the doc says I should think about doing a round of Accutane. So if any of you have tried it, feel free to shoot me an email with your personal experience!

Next, I need your help! I have been generously been offered an opportunity to review a product from eShakti. You have heard me rave about eShakti's website here, and I still have yet to purchase something. So when they contacted me to offer me a complimentary item of my choice I was overjoyed!! Then comes the dilemma.... there are so many amazingly beautiful and stylish items on their site, how am I supposed to choose??? I have narrowed the selection down to a handful of items, so please vote and help me pick which item to review!! (Or, check out their website, which you should do anyway... and if there is another item you think would look better on me, let me know!!)

Items in this set:

Floral print ensemble dress, $45
Floral cowl neck dress, $50
Gold fish block print dress, $50
Color block trim shirtdress, $50

Items in this set:

Drawstring shoulders voile print top, $40
Cascading ruffle sleeve print top , $40

Ruffled dot print tunic, $40

Vote in the poll in the side bar!!

Got nothin'...

2010-04-07T08:57:00.005-04:00

White collared shirt, Target | Jeans, Old Navy | Yellow sandals, Target.

I picked up these sandals last night, as I am in desperate need of spring and summer shoes in something other than brown. I was drawn to this mustard yellow color because I know that it can be combined with so many other colors. But when I woke up this morning, on only 4 hrs sleep, I couldn't for the life of me figure out what to wear them with. A nice white shirt is a great fallback, and I really like the detailing on this one.

As you can see, taking pictures in the yard, in spring, a few days after record setting rain storms, in new shoes?? Not my smartest blogging move.... I ended up with thick gross mud all over my feet! Yuck!

I have been very uninspired by my jewelry lately. I have this big beautiful jewelry armoire, and some really great pieces inside of it, but I guess I am in a simplicity phase. I haven't even been wearing my sentimental pieces. Heck, I can't even be bothered to put on mascara lately, LOL. This is me in as little makeup as I typically wear out of the house. Just some sunscreen and cream foundation.

Do you go to work bare faced? Or are cosmetics part of your daily uniform? What is the one cosmetic you would never leave the house without applying?

Boy Scout Scarf

2010-04-06T09:04:00.007-04:00

There are so many ladies whose blogs I follow that look amazing in their scarves. They have scarves all all colors and patterns, and use many different knots to style them. I have admired this for a while, especially on Kristen from Low Fat Dressing, and Kari from In Kari's Wardrobe. I picked up this lavender polka-dotted scarf from Old Navy weeks ago and have hidden it away, uninspired. With the spring weather that has finally arrived I wanted to make it work, because I do really like it. I am not quite sure I got it right here.

Cream moto jacket, Target | White scoop neck T, Target | Jeans and belt, AE | Brown wedge sandals, Target | Lavender scarf, Old Navy.

I also realize that these jeans are not very flattering. They are too large on the waist, so when I pull them up at the hips it's creating this funny V crease around the crotchal area. NOT very attractive. I have always been a jeans fiend, buying any and all jeans I find that fit me. But right now, with about 15 pairs in my closet, I think I only have one or two pairs I really like; it's hard to imagine. I think it might be time to invest in a pair of premium denim, just to see what the hype is all about.

Anyway, once I got to work I loosened and moved the knot further down on the scarf a couple inches, so I hope it looks less like a Boy Scout uniform scarf. I am still not sold that I can even pull off the scarf looks. What do you think?

Should I ditch the scarf all together? Should I tie it differently? Should I pair it with different elements than I have here??

Fashion blogging in the news...

2010-04-02T13:39:00.005-04:00

I am sorry for being a lapse blogger, but life is, well.... stressful right now. By the time I get home at the end of the day I am showered, in my pajamas, and under the electric blanket with one of my dogs before I even realize I forgot to take pictures. I really have no better excuse...

But, I did want to share this article that I saw in my local paper (via Associated Press) today. It mentioned a few blogs that are very well known both in and outside the fashion blogging community. And it's ironic, because I just had a conversation with a coworker the other day that was about exactly the same thing as this article. Hmmm, I wonder if the AP has my cubicle bugged... you think? :)

Teen bloggers find fashion world at fingertips
by Jamie Stengle
Associated Press
Friday Apr 2, 2010

Jane Aldridge hoped to get a few readers when she started a style blog at 15. Today that sounds impossibly modest.

Aldridge, now 18, gets about 70,000 hits a day at her blog Sea of Shoes. She’s been featured in magazines like Vanity Fair and Teen Vogue and has designed shoes for Urban Outfitters.

"I didn’t realize at the time that I started my blog that blogs would ever become what they are now," she said.

Young bloggers like Aldridge have become an unexpected powerhouse in the fashion industry, gracing front rows at Fashion Week, teaming up with top magazines and working with mainstream clothing brands. Aldridge is among those who have been read by editors and designers for the last couple of years, said Jane Keltner, fashion news director for Teen Vogue.

.... Click here for the full article.....

Rare Weekend Sighting

2010-03-20T15:24:00.008-04:00

Hello... my name is Kendra and I am a jacket-aholic. Seriously, I think I have a problem with buying light weight little jackets this year!! I think I have bought 6 or 7 jackets in the last 2 months, and I want more! Some I won't get much more wear out of as the weather warms up, but will reappear when cooler nights of autumn arrive. Others are more business like and thus will see most of their wear in the cool air conditioning of my office. A few, and hopefully a few more soon, will see lots and lots of comfy weekend wear.

This one is my newest buy. It's a little above what I would usually spend for an item, but it was on sale, I love it, and think it was totally worth it for the quality.

Grey jacket, Ann Taylor LOFT, $49.
White embroidered tee, Banana Republic Outlet, $14.
Skinnies, Old Navy, $19.
Chestnut flats, Target.
Piramid stud earrings, Target, $14.
Black and silver ring, H&M, old.

I felt very comfortable and casual chic in this, and I chalk most of that up to the jacket. It has just the right amount of structure and tailoring but is made out of the softest of cottons. The drawstring high on the natural waist cinches in at the waist without being the least bit constrictive.
I have been thinking of having these jeans altered to be true clamdigger length. They are a cheap Old Navy pair of skinnies that shrunk to be too short for even flats. In the meantime, I don't mind the way they look cuffed up, though I think Angie from YLF might consider this a very unflattering length on me.

Have you ever altered pants to be clamdigger/capri/shorts?? Did you do it yourself or have it done professionally? Does the altered hem look funny?

Have a fabulous, beautiful, first day of spring!! Get outside and enjoy the fresh air and soak up some vitamin D. I will be spending the rest of my day with this amazing little creature... I am so lucky :)

Why, hello there, my little blog....

2010-03-19T17:55:00.005-04:00

First off I want to thank each and every one of your for all your good thoughts and support, and for still reading my blog! The fashion blog community really does have the best participants ever!! I am honored to be a part of it.

So let's get to the point.... here is what I wore today! Yes, I am back at work, have been for 2 weeks actually. I have just been having a really hard time getting adjusting back to my normal schedule, mentally and emotionally, but I am starting to get the hang of it. It also helps that the weather has been so gorgeous. The sunshine really helps my mood!

I finally got to check out the Liberty of London Collection at Target, and I was very impressed! I tried on 2 sleeveless blouses and the shift dress in orange. I adored the fit of the shift, though I found it to run a bit large. I tried on my normal size 10, but would size down if I were to purchase it. The fabric was nice and heavy, and the pattern was very pretty, though a little too bold for me, which is probably the only reason why I didn't buy it.

Next I tried on this blouse, but didn't buy it. This is probably my favorite pattern out of them all, but the fit of the blouse was not very flattering on me. So I passed. Instead I purchased the blouse you see me wearing in the pictures.

This blouse has a tiny but bold and graphic floral, with 2 layers of ruffles on the shoulders and a keyhole at the neck. Some other bloggers have complained that the tops are all polyester, but I found the material to be light and floaty, and perfect for summer since it doesn't cling to the body. It would also be perfect for packing into a suitcase since I bet it wouldn't wrinkle at all. Lastly, I really agreed with the pricing. Alot of the designer collections at Target have had unreasonable large price tags, which has kept me from sampling them. But the Liberty of London line prices seem top be right in-line with the average Target pricing. For example, alone with the blouse I am wearing today I bought 2 Merona tops (one cotton, and one a silky poly) which were in the same price range ($16.99 & 19.99).

Cropped lavender cardigan, Old Navy, old.
Floral, ruffled sleeveless blouse, Liberty of London at Target, $19.99.
Dark washed straight legs denim, Old Navy, $19.
Chestnut flats, Target, old.
Sterling silver key necklace, RueLala, $29.00.
Fushia flower earings, F21, old.

Have you checked out the Liberty of London for Target line?? If so, did you buy anything? What did you think about the quality, style and prices of the line?? What designer for Target line has been your favorite so far??

Commerical Distaste

2010-02-09T18:38:00.002-05:00

I know a lot of others, men and women alike, were rather put off by the misogynistic vibe of most of the Superbowl commercials. This post over at Fashionable Academics perfectly sums up my feelings towards the whole thing.

Don't get me wrong, I understand the need for men to be men and to bitch about women (just as women bitch about men), but these ads took it to a whole new level, and certainly served to alienate a large part of their viewership. Football is no longer a MAN'S PAST TIME..... time for the commercials to grow up.

Do you agree? Or do you think we are just taking things too seriously??

Blog Love leading to Site Love

2010-02-04T11:31:00.005-05:00

So I am sure all of you already follow Kimberly at Fab Finds Under $50, so this isn't a new blog, but today she posted a "1 dress 5 ways" feature, built around her new dress from eShakti. Though I have been following her blog for a while, I had never heard of eShakti. The dress Kimberly picked out was so gorgeous I decided I had to check on that site too; and I am so glad I did!

Their mission at eShakti is "To make every customer look her absolute best by providing amazing drape and always carrying any size she wants, and by letting her change the style too to suit herself", which any one of us can get behind, no?

And they accomplish that mission stylishly for sure! Here are a few of my favorite pieces from the site.

Cotton Floral Print Peasant Dress, $44.95

eShakti - Day Dress by LeeHovey

Blockprint Stripe Ruffle Tee, $34.95

Casual Date Night by LeeHovey

They also have some really great fitted wool blazers, and some awesome jewelry including multi-chains and bibs; all for really reasonable prices. So go check out, eShakti and pick out your own favorite pieces, and don't forget to stop by and check out how Kimberly styled the dress she picked out!! Happy days to all!
~~kendra

New boots....

2010-02-01T18:23:00.005-05:00

I have been spending alot of time window shopping while stuck at home, on bed rest. I have made a few purchases of things I have needed for months and just finally found a great deal on.

First up, I have finally found a pair of brown boots to fit my large calves. They are from Ruche and artificial leather, but the material seems like it is soft enough that with some wear they won't look so stiff and shiny.

(Please ignore the unkept look. I haven't worn makeup in a week and literally just took my pajama pants off and put skinnies on long enough to try out the boots.)

What do you think? Honest opinions!

I also won a pair of brown boots on eBay for $8.00, which should be here later this week.

Thank you!!

2010-01-30T23:20:00.003-05:00

Hello, blogland! Gosh I have really missed posting to my blog, and connecting with all of you by commenting on your blogs. I have been reading each and every one of your posts, but I often don't have the energy to comment, so I am sorry for that.

I just wanted to write a quick thank you to all of you who have sent me such heartfelt, sincere and encouraging words. Your thoughts have bolstered my will to recover, and do it quickly, and makes me feel very special. So again, THANK YOU!

Obviously I survived surgery just fine, and am on the road to recovery. The surgery itself went as expected and my discs were as bad as they expected. I spent a day and a half in the hospital, and though I could have stayed longer because I could barely get out of bed, it was really nice to get home to see my dogs and be in my own environment. Since then the pain has decreased a little each day and my mobility has increased.

I have been able to stop taking all pain meds, which is a huge victory for me! I was even able to put my own socks on this morning! WOOHOO! Honestly I haven't been able to do that for weeks. My BF has been wonderfully supportive and sympathetic, while at the same time giving me some tough love by forcing me to get up and out of bed to walk around when I least wanted to.

Between BF's tough love, and all the kind thoughts prayers from my co-workers and the blogging community I have been getting better much faster than the doctor anticipated. I still cannot drive for 3+ weeks, and will not return to work for about 6 weeks, but my stitches came out this week and I was able to wear jeans today, so I am starting to feel more like myself.

One last final, THANK YOU!! Much love!
~~ Kendra

Surgery Today

2010-01-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

I have schedule this post to launch sometime during today, because I have to be at the hospital at 6:40 AM. I am guessing, I won't be awake enough that early to jump on and post. I hope to post an update as soon as I am feeling better. In the mean time, all you fashionista's out there, work on posting some super fabulous and inspiring outfits in the meantime, so that I will have plenty of awesome reading material in a few days!! And a big thank you to all the lovely ladies that have already sent me lots of get well wishes and prayers.

2010-01-11T11:16:00.001-05:00

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Hiatus and Blog Love

2010-01-08T11:47:00.007-05:00

I am sure you have noticed my absence recently, and I apologize for that. The holidays were busy as usual, but my continued back problems have compounded the busy-ness. Unfortunately, you won't be seeing new outfit posts on a regular basis again for a while. I am scheduled for spine surgery on Jan 13th, and will assumingly be living in my micro-fleece pajamas for a couple weeks post-op; I am sure seeing that would not contribute to the fashion community in the least bit. But with my mandatory time in bed resting I will certainly be following all our your wonderful and inspiring blogs through my bedrest. I will comment whenever I am feeling up to it to try and stay in touch with you all as best as I can. I also hope to post every once in a while with and update to how I am feeling and to share any new blogs I find.

To start it off I am really excited to share one of my new favorite blogs. I haven't seen this one on many other blogs yet, so I wanted to help her get the visibility she deserves. The Hidden Seed by Elsita has a beautifully simple aesthetic, with wonderfully cheerful commentary. She provides incredible quality photos on top of hand drawn backgrounds, and the feature shots of her footwear are simply drool worthy. I envy her modern and vintage mix of styles and super feminine shapes which fit her enviable figure to a T. She wears alot of Anthopologie items, but mixes them with other vintage items and accessories, to create something so very unique; in fact I think I would die happy if I could own her entire closet and look half as good in it as she does. Please check her out, I guarantee you will love it as much as I do!

Here are a few of my favorite pics from some of her recent posts (click the picture to go to the post):

This is by far my favorite that I have seen so far. It's just gorgeous! And I have been stalking those boots online for weeks, and I can't find them anywhere. They are my dream boots!

I must have been on the "Nice" list!

2009-12-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

So BF and I decided to just give each other our gifts last night since we both got large items, it didn't make sense to bring them all the way up to my parents' house in Maine. I got him a large leather desk chair for his "Man Room". He spends a lot of time in there watching sports and checking his fantasy teams online, so he will really enjoy that.

He got me the perfect jewelry armoire!! I had initially wanted a different one that was mirrored and just really glamorous, but I realized that it was really too large to fit in the space that I needed it to. So I picked out this one instead, and I am soo happy with it. It really does fit perfectly standing between my two closets in the bedroom, and has just enough storage space without being too much. Here is a picture of how I have been storing my jewelry for the last 2 years.

It worked well at the time, but obviously my collection has grown and it was getting more and more difficult to really see what I have and retrieve a piece from the mess. necklaces kept falling off the hook and sliding all the way down behind the drawers. This is what I am working with now, with my new jewelry armoire.

I am able to fit all my rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, scarves, and belts in it. It's a gorgeous piece of furniture and really does fit perfectly in the room.

I hope you all get whatever it is you want for Christmas, whether that is some item you are coveting and just some special time with special people. Lucky for me, I am getting both!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Outfit: Another skirt

2009-12-22T12:20:00.006-05:00

Sorry for the unintended hiatus from my daily outfits again. Life has just been, well.... stressful. I will spare you the details. I am just really looking forward to heading to my parents' house in Maine on Thursday night. Both my sisters, my brother-in-law and all three of my nephews will be there! I think this is the first Christmas in a couple years that we have all made it up there at the same time. I can't wait!

This is my "It's cold!!" pose, 25 degrees F, 11 degrees with windchill, to be exact.

I am told this skirt has a hint of 80's in it, but I love it. the ruffles hide any lumps in bumps in my larger bottom half, and it's a touch girly without being over the top. I tried to add some edgier (outside zip boots, multi-chain necklace) pieces to contrast with the ruffles, and I added purple. I know... more purple! I swear half my closet must be purple, but I seem to just be drawn to it. This caridgan was $10 from Target and it is sooo soft and stretchy! I would definitely recommend it!

I hope you all have a fabulous holiday, whatever you celebrate, full of lots of good food and warm family time!

Outfit:
Purple cardigan, Target, $10.
White men's v-neck undershirt, Target, $2.
Black ruffle skirt, Old Navy, $15.
Black tights, Target, $10.
Outside zip boots, Payless, $22.
Skeleton key sterling-silver necklace, RueLala, $9 (with $20 credit).
Silver multichain necklace, Old Navy, ?? (I will admit I didn't even look at the price, it's something I had been looking for for a while).

Outfit: Casual comfort

2009-12-10T12:05:00.004-05:00

Sorry about the lack of post yesterday, but I was not about to go outside in the middle of the snow storm to take pictures! Plus, after a 1.5 hr commute (for which usually takes 20 min), and getting stuck in a snow bank 4 times... all I wanted to do is crawl back into bed and snuggle with the dogs.

Today I was still looking for some post-storm casual comfort. It started with my favorite purple cowl neck, and a desire to try and make this sheer button down work in my wardrobe. I figured I would give it one more try before tossing it in the donate pile. I know, I wore these cords on monday too, but they are soo crazily comfortable, I just had to wear them again!

So, the shoes don't match, LOL. When i left the house I was wearing my winter boots, and figured I should just grab a pair of flats to throw on during the day. I went to my closet and just grabbed these because they are comfortable. When I got to work and put them on, I laughed because they don't really match. I don't care though, I am comfortable and happy today. Unfortunately, my camera battery died so I couldn't get a detail shot, but I braided my bangs and pulled them to the side before putting my hair into a low ponytail.

Outfit:
Sheer print button down, Target, OLD.
Purple cowl-neck, Target, $12.
Grey slim cords, LOFT, $16.
Teal flats, Target, $25.

Outfit: I heart leggings!

2009-12-08T12:10:00.005-05:00

Much better pictures today, thanks to beautiful sunny (yet still 30 degress F) weather. This weather is perfect for trying out my first pair of legging, and I am in love people! I bought them a couple weeks ago on a whim, and have been too chicken to wear them yet, but when I knew I wanted to wear a dress today I figured the leggings would be a perfect way to keep warm. I love that they function like tights, yet they are warmer and much less restrictive around the midsection. Paired with this soft and stretchy jersey dress, this outfit is like wearing pajamas only work appropriate.

I tried doing something different with my pseudo bangs today. I don't think you can see in the pictures but I used a small jewelled barrette to pin them back before pulling the rest of my hair into a half pony. I like it!

Outfit:
Blue patterned dress a.k.a. the YLF Dress, H&M.
Navy lace trim cami, Old Navy, $5.
Black leggings, Target, $10.
Black zipper boots, Payless, $22.
Pearl earrings, Gift.

Outfit: Another pair of skinnies

2009-12-07T13:05:00.006-05:00

This outfit is what happens when I don't wake up until 8 AM; officially late for work. Luckily, I had this outfit vaguely in mind the night before so it was easy to just grab the pieces and throw them on. I didn't have time to really do my hair so I grabbed an elastic and a headband in my haste and put it up in the car. I am lucky I at least got some foundation and mascara on my face.

The pants and shirt are new from LOFT clearance. The grey cords are their skinny fit and I love them! They fit comfortably on my large legs without being tight, and they have just the right touch of lycra stretch to them. The shirt is a basic black T with ruffles down the front for some added texture, and the shoes are my new favorite wedges from Target.

So my hair is officially a disaster! I am growing out my long side swept bang, though not necessarily on purpose, more out of laziness. See, I hate getting my hair cut! It costs too much money for me because my hair is not a priority. I would rather use that money for a new pair of shoes or something. Plus, all those mirrors in the salons freak me out a little. I am not sure we are meant to see ourselves in so many unflattering angles. Anyway, I really do need to do something about this hair though, I mean, look at the bangs hanging over my headband in that last shot! Not my best look.... so I suppose a visit to the dreaded salon is needed, very soon.

As you can also see, we got our first snow of the year. We got about 4 inches of snow; the thick clouds and 30 degree temps have continued to hang around, which explains the dark, gloomy photos. Sorry, it's the best I could do! But at least you get to see me all bundled up for work with my favorite scarf, grey leather gloves, and my favorite purse. I have been meaning to do shots with my purse, and always forget!

Outfit:
Purple Jacket, Urban outfitters, $125.
Multi scarf, Gift.
Grey patent purse, Coach Outlet, $120.
Black ruffle shirt, LOFT, $12.
Grey skinny cords, LOFT, $14.
Black snakeskin wedges, Target, $24.
Silver hoop and ball earrings, AE, $5.
Jeweled skinny headband, Old Navy, $4.

Outfit: Denim and Wool

2009-12-04T13:20:00.010-05:00

So I finally get to post about my new Urban Outfitters wool jacket I bought a couple weeks ago. I love it! I will admit when I first received it I was a little unsure of whether or not it looked good on me. But since I have worn it out a few times and gotten several compliments on it, I am totally loving it. The off-center zipper and the bold color are fabulous, and I am very glad I extended my budget a little bit to invest is such a great statement piece.

This whole ensamble is somewhat of a departure from my usual. First off, I am in a skirt. I now own 2 skirts, total; and they are both black/grey. But it's a start! I am very self conscious of my large legs, but I find that wearing tights helps minimize this and I feel much more comfortable. The other departure for me is that I am wearing my hair down; literally all I did this morning was run my fingers through it. Every once in a while when I go to bed with wet hair, I wake up and my hair looks great, just as it is. With plenty of body, no fuzzy sections, and shiny. I try to take advantage of those days, like today.

Since it's friday I dressed the wool skirt down with knee high boots, a t-shirt, and jean jacket. I am not totally satisfied with this, but I felt comfortable all day. I look forward to trying some other outfits with this skirt all winter.

It also seemed like the perfect outfit to debut my new silver multi-chain necklace from Old Navy. I have been looking for a multi-chain necklace for a while. Many of them were too short or too long, and some were too chunky of chains for my taste. This one seemed just right, and I like how it adds a touch of shine to an otherwise muted outfit.

Another thing to add is that I am officiallyloving tights from Target! They have the best selection of colors and textures; footed or footless, cropped or control top. The prices are reasonable and the fit and quality is awesome! Many tights I have tried, I need to purchase Queen size (which is tight-speak for Plus) in order to fit them over my large thighs and still have enough inseem so that the crotch ends up where it should (and not half way down my thigh). I have YET had a pair get a run unless i caught them on my toe nail putting them on or something.

Outfit:
Purple wool, zip jacket, Silence + Noise via Urban Outfitters, $125.
Jeans Jacket, Old Navy, OLD (like from high school).
Butterfly T, Walmart, $8.
Wool skirt, Merona via Target, $20.
Tights, Target, $7.
Knee-high outside zip boots, Extended Calf size from Payless.com, $20.
Silver multi-chain necklace, Old Navy, $10.

Wish List: Santa... pretty, please?

2009-12-03T21:20:00.008-05:00

Hayworth Jewelry Armoir, Pier 1 Imports, on sale for $249.99

I asked DBF for a jewelry armoire for Christmas. I am secretly praying that he lets me pick it out (and fund half of it) so that I can get this piece. It's gorgeous!
The doors open and have 2 rows of hooks on both of them on the inside to hang necklaces, and reveal 4 drawers with pockets to sort bracelets, earrings, rings, etc.
The mirroring is actually antiqued so it has an aged touch. I think it would look amazing in our otherwise casual and androgenously decorated bedroom. I would place it right between the twin master closets which house my wardrobe. I could sit in bed and admire it before I go to sleep every night.

Santa, if you are listening.... I have been a very good girl this year, I swear!!

Outfit: No Jacket Required

2009-12-03T13:42:00.011-05:00

It's December 3rd in Massachusetts, and I am outside with no jacket, and not freezing my booty off. Can you believe it? It's gorgeous out! The only thing better would be being at my parents farm in Maine on a day like that. Instead I am in the park nearby my office, but I am still thankful for the amazing weather.

I have begun preparing for surgery. I plan to stock up on some comfy pajama sets, a couple different pairs of slippers (including a pair I can wear outdoors), and other convenience items like a husband pillow and a tray for eating and reading magazines in bed. The surgery date is 6 weeks from yesterday and as much as I am anxious for it to get here so I can start to feel better, I am also really nervous about the anesthesia and post-operative pain; though there is no way it can be worse than the pre-operative pain, I assure you!

I will say that today and yesterday have been really good. The pain has been more manageable than it has been in weeks! So much so that I have been able to limit the pills I am taking to control it. So I am very thankful for that! Tonight is my last physical therapy appointment until march. I am glad it's over, because I am looking forward to getting back to a normal schedule. But I plan to continue doing alot of the exercises on my own, it can only help!

Today's outfit is super comfortable, except for my jeans being too loose on the waist so I keep having to hike them up. I clearly need to invest in a cute skinny belt to throw on with jeans. The pink shirt is this amazingly soft drapey jersey (which didn't translate well on the pictures), with a pretty folded organza effect around the neck. The cardigan is the one I bought to wear to a wedding with my green Etsy dress this summer. The jeans are AE Akinnies, though they are much looser than my other AE skinnies, and seem more of a straight leg.

I had planned to wear a skirt today but it turned out to be too warm for tights, and I am not as comfortable wearing a skirt too work without them.

Outfit:
Grey Cardigan, Marshall's, $15.
Pink jersey and organza top , Target, $17.
Jeans, AE, $30.
Black snakeprint wedges, Target, $25.
Black jeweled necklace, AE, OLD. *

*I didn't realize that my necklace was missing one of the black jewels until I had already left for the house! Needless to say I was kinda bummed, but I kept it on throughout the day, just because I like it! I think I will grab a pair of needle nosed plyers and try to rearrage the remaining jewels to even it out.

Shopping: Modcloth... yes, please!

2009-11-21T18:52:00.017-05:00

No outfit post today because I was only dressed for a couple hours before the pain in my legs from my back became too much and I had to go back to bed. I did buy some really cute ankle boots on a whim at Target though, so look for them to premiere soon! I really need some outfit ideas from you all to help me make them work.

In the meantime I am drooling over the new arrivals at Modcloth, but really who isn't?? They aren't paying me to promote their merch, I am just that much in love. Here are a few of my favorite pieces:

A study in Chic Blazer, $54.99

Harbor Tour Dress, $47.99

Rock and Floral Top, $44.99

Midnight Showing Tank Top, $37.99

Greatest Love of All Wedges, $84.99

Road Ruler Sweater in Rain, $49.99

Ctrl + Alt + Del Necklace, $64.99

Shopping: Flats Necessary

2009-11-18T17:54:00.008-05:00

I have mentioned a couple times that I have problems with my back; in fact I have had back problems since high school when they diagnosed a 1 cm leg length difference. The difference isn't bad enough to wear lifted shoes, but after spending my childhood playing sports, the leg length had really taken a toll on my spine alignment.

Fast forward to nowadays and this alignment problem has developed into having 3 severely herniated discs in the lumbar region. I did one round of physical therapy 2 years ago and felt great! Until all of a sudden I woke up one morning a few months ago and couldn't feel my legs. Not good... do I expect to be having surgery to relieve some of the symptoms in the next few months. In the meantime I have to find other ways to mange the pain. The most obvious is to stick to flats and low-heeled shoes. This is especially difficult for me because I truly enjoy wearing heels. Being a somewhat pear shaped girl I like how heels reshape my legs and give me height. So the biggest change has been an adjustment in how I feel about my body and learning to feel just as good in flats.

To aid in this I really need to expand the flat and low-heeled sector of my shoe wardrobe. Here is my current wish list for items less than $40:

The Versatile wedge: I love navy and I love patent leather.
Target, Mossimo Winni Wedge in Navy, $22.99.

The edgy flat: neutral color, texture and studs.
Piperlime.com, Coconuts Edie Flat in black, $39.99.

The purple: yup, you know me and the purple!
6pm.com, Steve Madden Bay Wedge in purple, $37.95.

The splurge: I would never pay this much for flats, but they are gorgeous!
Banana Republic, Pia Jewelled Flats, $120.

Outfit: I think I like grey this season.

2009-11-18T12:38:00.008-05:00

I am enjoying the days that are cool enough for jackets, but still warm enough to take pictures with my outerwear AND without my outerwear. Today was another one of those gorgeous days with the perfect sunshine and brisk temps. I have been taking my pictures at a park nearby my office where the sun is good, the area is pretty, and there is very little traffic during lunch, so I don't have to feel self-conscious about taking pictures of myself. :)

This outfit is sooo very comfortable, and I also got alot of compliments. I have very few outfits I have been able to say both of those things about. The fabrics on these pieces are airy and forgiving, yet structured enough to be flattering.

This is the closest I have come to pattern mixing, though I tend to think of a pinstripe as part of a neutral and less of a pattern. I will admit I have always paired pinstripes with a solid blouse, but when I got this blouse and saw it hanging next to these dress pants in my closet, it seemed like a natural pairing.

Outfit:
Grey drapey shrug, TJMaxx, $9.
Navy and grey ruffle neck blouse, ATL, $15.
Grey pin stripped dress pants, BR Outlet, $35.
Grey felt heels, Target, $25.
Silver dangle earrings, OLD, ??.
Black and silver ring, F21.

Outfit: Shades of Grey

2009-11-17T12:15:00.012-05:00

I really need to work on my outdoor photography. The park was beautiful, the light was near perfect, yet I can't seem to pay enough attention to how my clothes are bunching up and not looking pissed in the shot!

I felt more confidence in this outfit than I probably should have. I love this sweater coat, but now that I have seen it in photos, I think I need to make some alterations. I don't think it's fitted enough around the middle, so it's adding pounds to my appearance. I was thinking I would move the button a couple inches in from where it is so that the sweater overlaps when it's buttoned, therefor cinching in at the waist a bit.

I also don't like the way these new jeans look now after washing them once. I didn't dry them because I was afraid they would shrink too much, but the knees are all stretched out and they look funny. I will try only half drying them and see if that does the trick.

Outfit:
Blue patterned trench, Target, $20.
Grey sweater coat, Target, $28.
Black lace-trimmed tank, Gap Outlet, $8.
Skinny jeans, AE, $40.
Black outside zip boots, Payless, $22.
Gold heart and peace necklace, AE, $5.
Multi chain and pearl necklace, AE.
Sunglasses, Old Navy, $5.

Outfit: Details Only

2009-11-13T12:32:00.005-05:00

For some reason I could NOT get a decent full length shot today. I was going to go to a nearby park during my lunch break to take outdoor pictures, but it's freeezing out! So just detail shots today, which is ok really cause at least my accessories look super cute.

Welcome to my disorganized cubicle.

Outfit:
White T with graphic butterfly, Walmart.
Brown cardi, Ann Taylor Loft, $24.99.
Slimboot jeans, AE.
Brown flats, Target.
Mixed media necklace, AE.
Gold bow headband, Ann Taylor Loft, $12.00.

Yay or Nay: Winter bootie??

2009-11-12T12:50:00.005-05:00

Is it wrong that I really like these?? I am usually not a big fan of boots with fur, but.... these are adorable! I can see wearing these with my dark skinnies and plum long wool coat. Hmmm, I feel a polyvore coming on.

So if these are really tacky just tell me!! Thanks :)

Shopping: Search for brown boots continues

2009-11-10T18:01:00.002-05:00

Well I received the brown suede boots, but despite the top circumference being 16inches, half way down the shaft it's wayyyy too skinny, so they are a no go. I am really disappointed because I have no other prospects and they were actually really pretty in person!

Alas, the search continues.....

Yay or Nay: Skinnies, Take 2

2009-11-10T07:51:00.006-05:00

So, it seems I have gotten some really positive feedback on my skinnies, but many of you wanted to see them with other shoes, especially flats. I have to say, I was highly skeptical about skinnies with flats on me because I have very large legs and hips, and I insisted that I would just look like an ice cream cone. But... I think I am pleasantly surprised! So much so that I actually bit the bullet, and wore this look to work today! I was nervous leaving the house, and a touch self-conscious, but I haven't gotten any weird looks or negative feedback, so my confidence is on the up! Tell me what you think!

My only complaint about these skinnies is that the pockets are really shallow so that they creep up and the lining starts to poke out at the hip. The pocket opening itself isn't tight, like it may appear in the pictures; I can comfortable put my hand in the pocket without cutting off the circulation to my finger. This is a way I usually determine if jeans are too tight in the hips on me.

I also tried them with my other black boots; I think I like this look too. It's a little edgier with the zippers on the boots, and seems to accentuate a longer leaner line. Though maybe a bit too edgy for work?? I think this would look better with a longer top, maybe a sweater coat. I have been wanting to copy Kyla's look since I saw it on her blog.

My new brown boots, blogged about here, should arrive today, so I will probably wear them tomorrow (if they fit and I like them), since the other most requested attempt for skinnies was to pair them with brown boots to up the contrast factor.

* And yes that IS a red feather boa hanging in the left side of that photo! I purchased it for my Halloween costume in 2008 when I went as a flapper, and I just thought it was too pretty and fun to put away in a closet. So it's been hanging from the curtain rod in our bedroom ever since. Rawr. ;-)

Shoes for SALE!

2009-11-09T18:51:00.008-05:00

EDIT: The Tahari heels are labelled 8M, but they fit me tightly and I am usually an 8.5/9.

Hey Ladies, I am selling two pairs of brand new, in the box shoes. It pains me to sell these as I was saving them for special occasions, but with my back injury I have decided it's probably in my best interest to give them up.

Tahari Snake print Platform Peeptoes
Black, white, and aqua.
Brand new, in the box, never worn.
Size 8 (fit like a tight 8.5)
$25, shipped*!!

Michael Antonio via ShoeDazzle.com
Grey suede and snake skin textures peeptoes.
Brand new, in box and original packaging.
Includes ShoeDazzle dust bag.
Size 8.5, though the fit more like a small 9.
$25, shipped*!!

*Shipping is to the USA and Canada only, sorry international gals!

I take payment via Paypal, and ship out 1 business day after payment is received. I have more pictures if you would like to check out all the detail. If you would like to buy any of these please email me at leehovey916 @ gmail.com (NOTE: remove the spaces before and after the @. I have added those to keep it from hyperlinking, in order to protect myself from those pesky spider computers on the interwebs.)

Yay or Nay? New dark wash skinnies

2009-11-08T10:41:00.004-05:00

After this post I realized from the pictures that despite my excitement of finding skinnies that fit, that the wash wasn't ideal, and they were a bit too loose. So I bought the same skinnies in a new darker wash, and they are also a touch tighter with more stretch. I think they are big improvement, but was looking for opinions.
(Please ignore from the waist up. I am planning on sitting around and watching football all day so this is my comfiest T and sweatshirt, but not the most stylish thing in my closet.)

Shopping: Urban Outfitters Wool Coat

2009-11-07T18:08:00.004-05:00

I received the purple UO zip up coat today and it is absolutely gorgeous!! But I think I am going to size up on it; it was just a touch too snug around the spare tire area.

This was my first UO purchase, and so far I am very impressed! Ordering on this site was super easy, and shipping was faster than I expected (and than they indicated). I am even impressed with the return/exchange policy. Most stores you need to return the item and reorder to get a new size, but for UO you can just indicate what you want to exchange it for on the return invoice and they will process the order for you automatically and keep you updated by email. I would highly recommend purchasing from UO online!

Outfit: Black "Friday"

2009-11-05T11:00:00.007-05:00

Today is like friday to me because I don't have to go to work tomorrow (since I have worked about 45 hrs in 4 days), so this outfit was all about comfort! Unfortunately I really didn't get any good pictures. I leave for work around 6:45am now, so there is little daylight, and I haven't be able to find a spot indoors that provides good lighting without showing of the mess that is my home currently!

The boots and the jacket are new to the blog, though I have owned them for about 2 months. The boots are one of the pairs I have mentioned many times that I got from Payless when I discovered they offered a few boots in extended calf. These are plenty roomy even with my pants tucked in, which is a feat on my 16inch calf!! And since they are flat heeled boots, they really feel very much like slippers. I do wish I had bought 2 pairs of them as I think they will fall apart pretty quickly.

The jeans are also new to the blog. They are my very first, and only, pair of skinnies! Unfortunately I am between size right now, so they are a little looser fitting than I would prefer, but the next size down is much too tight. I really like them though I thought they looked better on me than they are appearing in pictures. I am not liking the whiskering, which might be worsened by the editing I had to do to the pictures. Hmmm.... time to look for a darker solid wash??

Thanks again to the lovely ladies that helped me to decide to purchase the brown boots I had blogged about. And to Kristen for helping keep in perspective and not settle if they aren't perfect when they get here! I will be sure to blog them when they come so I can get your opinions then.

Today's Outfit:
Black and grey plaid knit moto jacket, AE, $55.
Black cowl sweater, F21, $15.
Black lace trimmed cami, Gap Outlet, $8.99.
Skinny leg jeans, AE, $39.99.
Black slouchy boots, Payless.com, $29.99.

Yay or Nay?

2009-11-04T15:49:00.006-05:00

I am looking high-and-low for casual brown real suede or leather tall boots with 16" or larger calf size, preferrably in a low or flat heel since I have a pair of heeled ones from J Crew that I am hoping to find a cobbler to add a zipper to them for me.

This is the best I can find so far, what do you think? Like? Or Keep looking?

I like the suede and the slight wedge heel... not keen on the gold hardware or the multiple buckles, but really need the opinions of uber fashionable blogger ladies out there. :) I really want the Clarks Cami boot, but I can't find it ANYwhere is an 8.5 or 9.

Outfit: More Purple

2009-11-04T07:37:00.006-05:00

I swear, every outfit post I have been able to manage over the last couple months have been purple! Maybe I have more purple in my wardrobe that I think. I mean, I love purple, it's one of my favorite colors, but I don't want to pigeonhole myself as the purple-wearer! :)

This week is super busy, and I can't believe it's only Wednesday. Monday I worked from 7am until almost midnight, got 6 hours of sleep and was back at work for 7am Tues. I have an hour of physical therapy for my back Tuesdays and Thursday so I didn't get home till 7pm. Today I have to work until at least 7pm again. Luckily I was able to switch my thursday PT appointment to Friday morning so that I can go home and make and enjoy a normal dinner with DBF on thursday, because friday afternoon I leave for NH for the night. I am meeting my parents in NH and we are going to see the World Famous Lipinzaner Stallion show!

Phew, so I am surprised I managed an outfit shot this week considering how busy and tired I am. But today's schedule explains the outfit. I need something that is pulled together enough for the normal workday, but comfortable enough for working in the server room for a few hours tonight, which means it must be comfortable enough to throw a jacket on top and still be able to move around, because the server room is always cold! And I had to go with flats because my back is killing me today, even with the meds.

Outfit:
Brown cardigan, Ann Taylor Loft, $24.99.
Purple shirred jersey top, Banana Republic Outlet, $20.
Slimboot jeans, AE, $39.99.
Brown woven belt, AE, OLD.
Orange floral flats, Old Navy, $9.99.
Black and silver ring, my favorite, worn so much I can't remember where I got it.

Nov. ShoeDazzle Pick

2009-11-03T19:49:00.004-05:00

What do you think?

The heel might be a little too high for me to get more than a couples hours of wear at a time, but I really like the criss crossing detail and the brown color.

Is this tacky??

2009-11-03T14:40:00.007-05:00

... please say no because I love it, and I think I will have to buy it at some point.

Halloween is for the dogs...

2009-11-02T15:41:00.005-05:00

No really it is. I am not a big fan of dressing up for Halloween, purely because I am not creative or handy enough to create a really sweet costume, like all you other awesome bloggers out there. And when I have gone with store bought costume before I just felt totally lame!

But kids and/or animals in costumes = FUNNY, ADORABLE, and an all around GOOD TIME! And since my two dogs are like children to me, I hit all the notes above by dressing them up to great the trick-or-treaters at the door.

Now, please note that there were NOT the costumes we had wanted. We really wanted Kallie to be Yoda, because when she gets happy she folds her ears down in such a way that I swear she looks just like Yoda! And Tessie... well she is one of the most skiddish 75 lb dogs I have met, so naturally we wanted to dress her up as the cowardly lion from Wizzard of Oz. But alas, I wasn't prepared to spend $50 on the dogs costumes, so I picked these up for 30% off at target (for a whopping $14 total). Enjoy!

Here is DBF with the girls; Tessie is the pumpkin, and Kallie is a sausage. Now, I know that it's technically a "hot dog" costume, but since Kallie is long and fat we think she looks more like a sausage

Bad luck with Online shopping lately

2009-11-02T14:28:00.004-05:00

So, my Target.com order (with the dual-toned booties and black wedges), is being returned to seller by the USPS. The tracking information says it made it to the next town over and was determined to have the wrong address, and they are sending it back. I checked my order invoice online and it shows the correct address, so I don't know why they would be sending it back?!

I called Target customer service and the representative was pleasant, but provided no explanation for the mix-up nor any compensation for the hassle. She said when they receive the package back, they will issues a full refund so that I can reorder. ARGH..... The only good thing about that is that they still have my size available *knocks on wood*, and they are on sale now so I would be paying less. But now I have to wait for the refund before I can re-order them, and who knows when that will be?

I'm sorry Target, but that's a bad mark for you! I will not be recommending ordering from Target online to anyone anymore. Too bad for them....

In other news, though I didn't don a costume for Halloween, my dogs certainly did! So look for pictures of Tessie and Kallie later tonight. :)

Found them!!

2009-10-30T21:21:00.002-04:00

Yahoo, I found the peacock wellies on the nordstrom site!! They even have my size.... too bad I spent the extra money this week, so it will have to wait till tuesday. Looks like I will be buying my wellies and a gorgeous new coat next week... so much for the budget!!

Wool moto jacket search continues.

2009-10-28T22:53:00.005-04:00

I got the plaid wool Moto Jacket from Forever21 in the mail today and it's an awesome product, unfortunately it's too small for me. It fit perfect with just a blouse on, which means I wouldn't be able to wear an layers underneath, rendering it purely a fall jacket. I was really looking for something to workhorse through winter.

The fabric was a great soft wool, the colors were muted but interesting and the construction seemed acceptable for the price. I am really disappointed it doesn't fit, and I am starting to think I may need to up my budget for this item to find exactly what I want.

My next attempt will probably this pretty thing from Urban Outfitters.com. Its a long coat, instead of the hip length, which is probably more functional for me anyway. And that color is fabulous isn't it?? You know how much I love purple; and the large exposed zipper, another favorite of mine.

Anyway, I couldn't seem to download any better picture of it, so definitely click the picture to check it out on their site. What do you think? Anyone familiar with Silence and Noise brand sizing??

You won't believe it....

2009-10-28T08:29:00.003-04:00

After encouragement from Mary and Kristen to just go ahead and buy the wellies, they don't have my size anymore!! My size is the only one sold out... I will do some hunting around, but if anyone else sees these in a size 9, send me the link!

Peacock Passion

2009-10-27T07:14:00.012-04:00

First of I wanted to truly thank all my fellow bloggers who read my blog and always leave such sweet, encouraging and supportive comments! (Kari, Diana, Mary, Kristen and many others) In a time in life where I could use all the support and positive thinking I can get, you can truly brighten my days! Thanks Ladies!!

So you all probably know that I have this "thing" for peacock feathers. I am not sure what it is about them but I love the rich jewel toned colors, and the combination of colors. The dramatic plume of feathery texture, really whats not to love? This season I have found so many new peacock feather inspired wears, and they have all been done is a very tasteful way. I am excited to pick up a few pieces, but I can't decide what I should start with.

First of, I have to mention the peacock feather wellies... YES wellies!! I have been looking for a fabulous pair of peacock wellies for 2 years. The biggest obstacle has been the calf circumference. Most wellies are around a 15" circumference which is much too small for me. I found this pair of Chooka wellies while browsing Piperlime.com recently and I think I am in love. They have a 16" circumference, and the perfect shades of purple, yellow, and blue. The only stumbling block is the price. At $60 they are reasonable, but still a little out of my price range for a non-daily shoe. So I will be keeping my eye out for great sales and coupons for piperlime this season.

There is also so great peacock inspired jewelry being offered. My favorite is this necklace from charlotterusse.com, it's a little bit vintage, a little bit modern and sparkly without being too fancy. I think this would look great with a black v-neck t-shirt, nice jeans and a great pair of heels for a simple going out outfit.

Now on to clothing; there has been alot of peacock clothing items popping up this season! Some are very tacky or childish, but a few pieces have really nailed it. Here's just a couple of my faves.

Recent Ramblings

2009-10-25T16:11:00.007-04:00

So, guess what I found yesterday??!! My battery charger for my camera! Yes, the original one that came with it, which I had then lost, replaced it with an eBay purchase, then spilled water on that one. So I have been battery-less for a couple months. Unfortunately, I left my camera at my parents house in Maine 2 weeks ago. So though I have my charger again finally, I have no camera until I meet up with my parents again, so there won't be any new outfit shots for another week or more. Sorry!!

In other news, I thought I would share some recent purchases. I am trying to beef up my fall/winter wardrobe with more functional and stylish pieces that fit more flattering than what I wore last year. I went through my closet and donated a good third of it. I am also planning on going through my shoes tonight and sorting out worn, outdated and uncomfortable shoes to make room in the closet.

The first thing I bought was this wool biker jacket from Forever 21. I love my knit biker jacket from American Eagle so much that I wanted to find a wool version to get a few more weeks of wear out of the style kick. AE also produced a wool one, but the fit was really bad on me, so I have been looking everywhere else for a more edgy wool jacket. The traditional wool pea coat bores me. I am looking for something in a less traditional cut, or something with zippers, studs or anything else with a little edge. If this one from F21 fits well I plan to remove the belt to keep a simpler, cleaner look. I expect it to arrive in the mail on wednesday.
(Heritage 1981 Plaid Wool Blend Moto Jacket, forever21.com)

Next I tried to tackle my shoe problem. Alot of my shoes fit poorly or aggravate my injured back; other pairs are simply outdated or not age-appropriate anymore. I recently purchased these flat, slouchy boots, and these heeled zipper boots from payless.com, both in black, and LOVE them! I highly recommend them to anyone looking for an affordable boot in either style. Especially for other girls like myself who have large calves. Both those boots are available in extended calf (though many sizes are currently sold out), and provided a 17" calf circumference for me.

Those are great for skinnies and tucking, but I should try to get wear out of my other jeans and dress pants too. So I purchased these black and slate booties. I like the subtle two tone color, and the slit down the front of the shoe. I haven't seen these in person yet, so I haven't tried them on. Hopefully the heel is comfortable enough for me to get 5+ hours of wear. (Mossimo Valma Pumps in slate, target.com)

I also purchase these basic black wedges because my dog Kallie, ever the puppy, chewed up my favorite black wedges recently. I had had that pair of black wedges, originally from target for almost 4 years. I wore them all four seasons both casual and for work. *sigh* I was very disappointed when I saw them destroyed. These new black wedges have a lower vamp then my old pair, which is probably better for my back. I noticed they also come in a very pretty navy blue patent which I could really use too. So if the black ones arrive and fit well I may go back and order the navy blue as well. In fact the navy would match a shirt I purchased from LOFT today.
(Merona Maura Embossed Wedge, target.com)

I expect both pairs to arrive on friday. So what do you think of my recent purchases for fall?? What is your favorite newly purchased fall staple this season in your closet??

Proof of Life

2009-10-14T19:38:00.016-04:00

You have probably heard all the excuses in the book, so I won't bore you with mine. The fact is I lost my fashion mojo for a while. So, though I haven't been posting I have surely been keeping up with the other fashion blogs I follow in order to try and find my mojo again. Just as I am starting to feel it return... then .....well, I spilled water on my camera battery charger. Yes, the charger I bought a couple months ago after losing the original charger that came with it. FAIL

But, in an effort to keep the momentum going (yes, my mojo momentum), I thought I would share a few items from my Anthropologie wish list. So many things at Anthro are gorgeous (ok, pretty much all of them), but limiting the list to the pieces that would seamlessly fit into my daily lifestyle makes it easier to pick favorites. Now the only other obstacle is my dang budget....

To really appreciate this perfect Little-Black-Dress you should click the link and go see the other shots, but it has a cool exposed zipper in the back which adds a little edge to it. Believe it or not I don't own a LBD. I know, a travesty. I think this would be the perfect one for me. Worn on it's own with statement jewerly and shoes, or with a rich colored belt and a blazer for work.

This tee is the perfect casual friday top for me. Its a t-shirt, yet it has such interesting and unique detail. The gray color is a perfect staple for laying rich jewel tones on top, or for under a brown blazer with dark washed trouser jeans and boots.

This is another you need to go to the link to really enjoy. The back has several buttons in the small of the back that add interesting detail and shape, keeping this otherwise basic white button down from being truly basic. I own one other white button down but it is really a size too small, cut too high on the hip and a scratchy poly-cotton blend stretchy material. This Anthro blouse would be such a great way to upgrade.

This top is gorgeous! I love the color, and would wear this with either pairs of my new boots. One pair is a black, faux-suede slouch boot. I would wear the top and those boots with skinnies and a navy blue boyfriend cardi. The other pair of boots are black, knee high heeled boots with an exposed zipper on the outside of the leg. Kinda edgy, very cool. Again, I would pair this top and those boots with skinnies and a cropped jacket or blazer.

Being a girl with large calves I have a very difficult time finding tall boots. Now that I have finally found skinnies that not only fit me, but flatter me, I am obsessed with finding several pairs of the perfect boots. Since I now own 2 pairs of black I really want a pair of brown suede boots for casual outfits. These boots fit the bill! They are brown suede, with the trendy exposed zipper I love so much, plus they are a 16" circumference! If I owned these I might wear tall boots and skinnies every single day of the winter!! I warned you :)

Purple

2009-08-28T11:07:00.009-04:00

I seem to be wearing alot of purple lately. What can I say? It's a rich color that comes in so many versatile shades, and I like to think it is flattering on my complexion.

So I decided to round out the purple phase with what I think is my last post-worthy purple top. I really like this top because 1) it was ridiculously cheap 2) I am an embellished top addict. But people keep asking me if I have paper pinned to my shirt. Argh, very annoying. You think I should just remove the fabric flowers?

I am going to Maine to visit my parents this weekend. Life has been so crazy around these parts, it's time to get out of dodge for a bit, and I really miss my family.

Today's Outfit:

Purple top, Target ($7).
Dark wash slim boot jeans, AE.
Brown wedges, Diba via Marshall's ($10).

Marketing Gripe

2009-08-27T13:18:00.005-04:00

Sorry readers, no outfit post today! After working till 3am and getting only 3 hrs sleep, and waking up to an incredibly frustrating work email, I spent my morning taking a really long hot shower, snuggling with the dogs and then ironing my white linen pants. Phew, quite the morning. So I had to rush out the door with no time for whipping out the camera. It's a shame too, cause I look cute!

Anyway, I just had to post this. This picture was part of a marketing email I received from Loft for 20% off. Awesome, who doesn't like coupons? But look at that model! That's disgusting! Loft is one of my favorite splurge stores, and honestly I had expected more from them than this. The model is unnaturally skinny, with legs like that of a flamingo.

I just wish that clothing stores, marketing to the average American women could use models that reflect the avg American women. I realize they would never use "plus-sized" models, since those gorgeous ladies are reserved for stores like Lane Bryant, etc. But maybe something between plus-sized and skeletore! YUCK.....

What do you all think? Do pictures like this in your favorite store's marketing make you sick?

New jewelry

2009-08-26T12:36:00.007-04:00

I picked up some new necklaces and a pair of earrings from AE recently, so I wanted to wear one of them today.

Today's Outfit:
2 necklaces, AE (1 is old, the one with the darker chain and pearls is new, $3.95)
Purple ruffle trim tank, Gap ($10.95)
Dark wash slim boot jeans, AE
Red patent pumps, Mossimo (old)
Necklace worn as bracelet, AE (old)

Fall Target

2009-08-21T13:42:00.007-04:00

Sorry for the lack of outfit posts this week, work has been insane. I am soo overtired! But I plan on catching up on my rest during the weekend and hitting the blog hard again next week.

To tide you over I have put together some of my favorite fall wardrobe must-haves from Target!

Mossimo Kalila Seemed Ankle Boot in Brown ($29.99)

Love that rouching!

Converse One Star Margot Shirtdress ($29.99)

I have been looking for the perfect shirtdres. I love the ruffles and stripes on this one with a madarin v-neck.

Converse One Star Belted Jacket in Ebony ($32.99)

This is sort of a moto jacket - trench coat hybrid, and I am really digging it. Kinda which is came in some other colors though. Like make a deep purple?!

Retro with a Twist

2009-08-18T08:33:00.008-04:00

This blouse has a touch of a retro feel to me; must be the little side-neck tie. But the color and embroidery give it a more contemporary twist. I threw it on with wide leg trousers, though it might have been better with dark wash straight legs. I paid more for this top than I usually would, especially at an outlet, but I just loved it too much to walk away. I like the color and the neckline, and it fits me perfectly. Well worth the $32.99.I think this might be the last wear for these trousers; or at least until I can find a pair to replace them with. The length is that annoying in-between length. They are too long for flats, and just a touch too short for heels. I am sucking it up and going with the heels for today, but I am not crazy about the way it looks.
I skipped accessories again today because I thought the neckline should stand out and a necklace or dangly earrings would detract from it. What I would have liked to wear is a pretty bangle and a pair of diamond studs, unfortunately I own neither. I thought of wearing pearl studs but thought they looked a little too "sweet".

Today's Outfit:

Purple embroidered blouse, Loft Outlet ($32.99)
Jeans, AE (old)
Heels, ShoeDazzle.

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!!

2009-08-17T15:35:00.006-04:00

Work, that is....
I woke up 2 hrs late for work this morning, yikes. I don't think I have done that since I first started working in the real world post-college. Luckily I am a salaried employee with a forgiving boss.Waking up late didn't keep from wearing a nice outfit, though having done some shopping this weekend made it that much easier, but it did keep me from having time to take pictures. I took pictures of the highlights while at my desk this morning so I could share them with you.I love this top! It's made of a thick t-shirt cotton so it's super confy and light, but it has gorgeous embroidery on the front that dresses it up a bit. I paired it was my new trousers from Loft that my best friend convinced me to get; can't beat the price. The pants are perfect for the 90 degrees/90% humidity weather we are having right now. They aren't nearly as constricting as jeans, and the lightweight cotton is cool as can be.
Today's Outfit:
White emboridered cotton blouse, Banana Republic Outlet ($25.99).
Khaki cotton marisa fit trousers, Ann Taylor Loft ($9.88).
Brown leather wedge sandals, Merona via Target (old).
Gold love and peace necklace, AE (??).

Yay, Pictures!

2009-08-13T09:04:00.007-04:00

Hiiii!! Remember me? It has been wayyy too long. I finally got my camera battery charger! Gosh, eBay can be such a pain, but I saved about $20 doing it there. So sorry about the ridiculous break!

I guess I need to relearn how to take good pictures with this camera again. The lighting was terrible this morning! It is cloudy and raining out, so outdoor pictures were impossible. The best light in the house is the kitchen, so I did it there (with the clean laundry pile in the background, haha) I tried a couple different settings on the camera but couldn't get it quite right. But I was anxious to start posting pictures again so I will live with what I got.

I love this blouse! I received it in the mail about a week ago but I chickened out on wearing it until now. I have been having some body image issues since I let myself gain a bunch of weight when I hurt my leg this spring. I have started going back to the gym, but it will be a good couple months before I start to feel better about my body. When I first tried the blouse on I thought it highlighted these trouble spots. But today, with the dark washed jeans and basic pumps, I think I have tricked the eye into seeing me as long and lean. The fabric is featherweight, almost as if I am not wearing anything at all! And with the cooler weather today I can hopefully avoid the speaty-pit problem I have had with silk tops in the past. Finally, I have already recieved several compliments on the blouse including one co-worker who insisted this is now her favorite thing in my closet.

Today's Outfit:
Peacock Feather print silk Blouse, Banana Republic via Ebay ($14)
Dark wash jeans, AE slim boot ($29.99 before coupon)
Basic black pumps, Isaac Mizrahi for Target ($20)
Gold necklace and earrings, AE (BOGO)

**NOTE: Hmmm, maybe I should have ironed this top before wearing it. LOL We are going out to dinner at a nicer Italian restaurant in the neighborhood tonight, so I will try to make the time to iron it before we go out.

Loving Alloy right now!

2009-08-06T10:05:00.015-04:00

Sorry that there is still no outfit pics. I ordered a new charger for my camera on eBay, but the charger they sent doesn't work. They are sending me a new one, hopefully this one will work!

I remember getting the Alloy catalog when I was in High School. They always had the cute edgy stuff I admired on girls, but never felt comfortable enough to wear as a Tomboy. But I would pour through that catalog over and over again picking out what I would wear if I were one of them. I did the same thing with the Delia's catalog.

So now I am only a couple years from 30.... I know, the shock; when I think of shopping at Alloy or Delias now I have to wonder if I am too old. But the new Alloy catalog is awesome! Still very edgy, but in a more mature way. From the looks of the models it seems they are marketing more towards the college aged, or early-mid twenties age group. As opposed to the high schoolers I remember in the catalog 10 years ago.

Here is a short synopsis of some of the items I am loving from Alloy.com right now. (Click the image or the item name to go to Alloy.com)

How cute is that? Perfect for transitioning feminine sun dresses into fall.

Motorcycle Jacket
$59.90

Beautiful drapey jersey dress, in the perfect blue!

Drapey Cowlneck Dress
$39.90

Dark wash, stretch and with just the right amount of studs on the pockets.

See Through Soul Studded Stretch Trouser Jean
SALE $63.12

Just a little rock and rock, and a lot comfy!

Beaded Racerback Tank
$29.90

Can't wait to get me some plaid for the fall.

Plaid Chiffon Top
$26.90

I have been looking for a great, reasonable priced boyfriend cardi!

Boyfriend Cardigan
$29.90

OMG, studded bootie.... for less than $50??... Yes, Please!!!

Studded Bootie
$46.90

Perfect multi-strand necklace. I especially love the braided detail

Ines Necklace
$19.90

Boot Bug

2009-08-04T13:09:00.013-04:00

It's official I have the boot bug! I am determined to find the perfect pair of boots for fall, and I am starting early this time. Last year I started mid-season and found the selections already picked through.

If you have followed my blog from the start you may be aware that I have very large calves (a product of growing up playing soccer); that is to say my calves have a measurement of approximately 16.5 inches. The average knee high boot measures somewhere from 13" to 15.5". Some brands provide a larger calf circumference with their boots sized for wide widths, but that leaves my foot floating around inside; NOT comfortable. There are a few plus sized brands that offer boots, but I have found most don't use real leather. To top it off, I still don't think I pull off the boots over jeans look very well. It makes me appear even more "hippy" than I am otherwise. But I still like to wear knee high boots under my jeans in the winter for walking through the New England snow piles.

This year I am looking for the perfect casual boot in brown leather, no vinyl. I prefer a moderate heel or a wedge vamp. I would settle on a mid-calf boot if they were perfect.

So for the benefit of other large calf'ed ladies out there, here is some of the best wide-calf beauties I have found.

F ranco Sarto Umido in Cafe
3 Inch Wedge Heel
15.5" Shaft Height, 16" Shaft Circumference
SALE $120

Fitzwell Fallara in Cognac Leather (Wide Calf)
3 inch wedge heel with gel coushioning
Stretch PU on the back of the calf for a more comfortable fit.
16.5" Shaft Height, 16" Circumference
SALE $100
Timberland Charles Street Lexiss in Dark Bro wn (Tall)
Waterproof leather
1.5 inch heel
15" Shaft Height, 16.25" Circumference
$159.95
Naturalizer Jadis (Wide Shaft)
Leather and suede
1.25 inch heel
14" Shaft Height, 17.5" Circumference
SALE $109.73
Frye Carmen Harness (tall)
Vintage tumbled leather
2.25 inch heel
15" Shaft Height, 16" circumference
$362
(I know, I know, way out of my price range, but I have never seen a Frye with a 16" circumference. Makes me wonder if that is a mistake on the site?)

Nine West Dervla
Suede with faux fur trim at collar and lining
2 inch heel
15.5" Shaft Height, 16.75" circumference
$178.95

So maybe after last year when the popularity of fashion boots skyrocketed brands took the hint that not just fashion models and others with skinny or average sized legs want to wear their boots. I feel like there are many more options for us large-calved ladies this season, including lots of high quality, leather/suede, and designer names offering larger circumference. I, for one, am celebrating!! I just better start saving my pennies now, eh?

First Etsy Purchase!

2009-08-03T13:29:00.016-04:00

I have been lurking the shops of Etsy.com for a couple months, but had not purchased anything until recently. With a friend's wedding coming up in September I wanted to get a new dress. I think I have mentioned before that I have some embarrassing scars on my back from a skin condition, and I have been having a really hard time finding dresses that are still summery, and feminine while maintaining back coverage.

AmandaArcher has some gorgeous dresses in her shop, and I honestly had a hard time choosing between a couple different styles; and once I settled on a style I had to choose from several colors. Phew! But with the help of a couple friends (and my sis) I decided on this pretty Olive Green Pleated Color number. (Click on the image to go to the dress on Etsy and see more detail.)
The dilemna now is how to accessories. So far I am thinking of a graphic clutch and heels. Since I can't import Etsy photos into Polyvore I can't montage my options up against the dress, but I put together some of my ideas below. Please let me know what you think! With both options I would probably wear a pair of simple drop earings, and no necklace.

#1 is my favorite:
I am drawn to black and white for the clutch. I feel like the pattern brings some interest but keeping the colors neutral will really let the green of the dress stand out. I would pair it with black sling backs. I just love the color combo of the black and white with the fresh green.

#2 Too daytime?
For option 2 I would go with a similar graphic clutch, but this time it would have a punch of color. I would offset this color with nude shoes to let the dress and clutch speak.

Which would YOU choose? Or would you put together something entirely different???

M&O and Grey Love

2009-07-29T21:01:00.014-04:00

I am loving the new Martin and Osa stuff, just not the prices. I will admit their sale prices are fab, but if you can clearance a $90 dress for $35, then do you really need to list it at $90 to begin with??

Enough recession fueled ranting... on to the goodies. I hope grey will be in this fall because I am seriously craving me some gray lovelies of all kinds. I would love to pair grey with chestnut brown (taboo, I know!), deep purple, navy, etc.... here are a few of my Martin and Osa wish list items.

This bag is amazing! A nice big tote bag size that would fit the bottle of water and other paraphenalia I carry around, and a couple zippers to keep it from looking preppy. Not to mention they have already mixed the brown and grey here for me!

A couple bloggers have been rocking studed belts and bracelets lately, showing us that studs can be a great addition to a classic feminine style and are not just restricted to edgy punk rockers.

WOW! So hot... though I am not sure I could get my wide foot in these beautiful babies, but I would certainly try, given the oppurtunity. From the stiletto heel to the zipper up the back, these are a work of art for straight leg jeans and a big drappy fine knit sweater on top.

I have not the style nor the figure to pull this one off, but if I did you bet your cotton socks I would be rocking this puppy allllll through the fall; with everything from skinnies to skirts and dresses.

Speaking of skinnies... how about these cute grey pair? I like that they don't have any whiskering or other effects that date and age jeans alot. (so, the site says they have light whiskering, but that doesn't count, ok?)

Have you started building your fall wish list yet???

Etsy Love!

2009-07-28T16:16:00.006-04:00

Etsy.com is a marketplace site dedicated to "all things handmade". Like most fashion bloggers I know, I have a fascination with all things Etsy. You can get almost anything; from jewelry and apparel, to housewares and even furniture (in fact, I have my eye on a great platform bed). I love the idea of buying handmade goods and much prefer my money go to an artist than to a big corporate store. The best part of Etsy is that you can find things soo unique that you will probably never run into someone on the street that has the same thing.

Today's Etsy love goes out to the Shop, HankieTankie. They use vintage fabrics to add flutter sleeves and bows to the basic tank top. These would be perfect for the hot humid days we are having in New England, but still conservative enough for my business casual office.

This one, "Butterfly Flutter Chocolate Brown" would look great with my new dark jean skirt and a pair of sandals.

And this "Moulin Rouge Red Hankie Tanki" would look great with a pair of dress bermuda's and white sandals. I love the vintage fabric used on this one!

Be sure to check out their shop on Etsy, click here.

Bedroom and casz....

2009-07-24T14:56:00.005-04:00

June 24 by LeeHovey featuring American Eagle Outfitters

Well, it was pouring rain all through the night and into the early afternoon again, which has continued to affect my wardrobe. That, and the 3+ hr drive I have tonight, explain my super casual duds for the day. I typically don't play into the casual attire at work, even on casual Friday. But today, I could barely rip myself out of bed, where I was perfectly snuggled in between 2 dogs at 7am, so I am lucky I made it to work at all.

Today's Outfit:
Purple hooded sweatshirt, AE (old).
Grey v-neck T-shirt, AE (old).
Boyfriend Jeans, AE ($39.95).
Baby pink Converse One Star Sneaks, Target ($29.99).

What I WISH I Wore:
Today's wish list items are all interior design items. I am about to buy a new bed and mattress and this is similar to what I want. It's a platform bed so I don't need to buy a box spring, and it will be low enough for the dogs to get onto without getting hurt. We painted the walls when we moved in 2-years ago, and it's a gorgeous pale minty aqua that looks pale blue in dim light. I would love to bring out the green in it by creating a palette of mostly neutral colors on the bed and area rug (which will sit on top of rich, dark toned laminate wood floor) and use the drapes (silk hopefully) and throw pillows to pop a bright cheery green. I like espresso wood tones for the bed and dresser because they will bring out the grain in the floor and contrast against the neutral bedding. But I am dreaming of a mirrored lingerie chest next to my closet.

Java Bed, Amazon.com
Gazebo Brown Area Rug, roomstogo.com
Burano Dresser, jysk.ca
Closet Organizer System, eurodesigncenter.net
Green Wallpaper Floral Curtain Panels, landofnod.com
Hayworth Lingerie Chest, pier1.com

Inside and Out

2009-07-23T09:29:00.007-04:00

June 23 by LeeHovey featuring Old Navy

Today's Outfit:
Purple Sleeveless top, Old Navy (old, clearance).
Dark Indigo Slim Boot Jeans, AE ($39.95).
Gold flats, Old Navy ($9.99)
Tote Bag, Target Limited Edition.

What I WOULD have worn:
Like many other fashion bloggers I also have a strong interest in interior design. I love to pick out lighting, furniture, paint colors, and fabric choices for random rooms. When I go to someone else's house that all I can focus on is how I would have decorated the room, or arranged the furniture. I don't think I am particularly better at this than the normal person, but I truly enjoy it, and admire those who do it professionally.

Oly Serena Drum Chandelier: Isn't this gorgeous? I love using circles in design. It's an easy way to integrate otherwise very different elements. I also really like the strong structures metal edges, against the delicate shells. If I had this I would hang it over our pub height dining table.
Fabio Cammarata People Ball Earrings: Again with the circles. I can't help it! I also really like how these earrings use both gold and silver. Alot of people don't believe in mixing gold and silver, others just avoid the question all together. I love mixing them! But I feel like it has to be done in an intentional way, like these earings.
Bohemian Pink Stretch Bangle: My hands are very wide across the knuckles so it is impossible for me to wear traditional bangles. I am instead relagated to stretch or hinged bracelets. I just think this one is gorgeous, and the pink plays off the purple top really well.

She's Alive!!

2009-07-22T09:38:00.008-04:00

It has been a couple weeks since I posted, and I apologize to all my fellow bloggers who had started to follow my blog. That wasn't very nice of me.

There are 2 real reasons why my blogging fell to the wayside for a while. First was that we had like 40 some-odd days straight of rain.. not just drizzles, but pouring!! This is very unusual for New England, and my wardrobe and sanity were both ill-prepared! After the 10th or so day of rain all I wanted to do when I crawled out of bed was to throw on my comfiest jeans and a t-shirt. And by t-shirt I am not talking a nice interesting graphic T; there were actually days that I wore Hane's V-neck men's undershirts to work. Awful!

The rain finally broke about 2 weeks ago, and now I can't find the battery charger for my camera. It's a sin, I know!! But I have been searching and searching and it's no where to be found. I think I have finally come to the conclusion that I need to just buy a new one on eBay or something. *sigh*

In the meantime I have been lurking daily on my list of 50+ favorite blogs (be sure to check them all out!). After taking some heat from a few people on my lax blogging, I have decided that I will post a polyvore of my outfit each day until I receive the battery charger in the mail finally.

Hopefully my absence and continued lack of real life pictures hasn't caused me to lose too many followers, I really do enjoy hearing from each and every one of you!! Feel free to continue to comment on my Polyvore'd outfits, and/or razz me for my absence. Thanks!!

July 22 by LeeHovey featuring American Eagle Outfitters

Today's outfit is brought to you by almost entirely, American Eagle (AE).
White tank, AE, OLD.
V-neck banded T-shirt, AE ($14.95).
Jeans, AE ($39.95).
Brown wedges, Nine West (outlet).
Gold and Agate necklace, AE ($3.50).
Earings, AE ($1.50).

What I WOULD wear:
To make the polyvores more fun I will also include some "I wish!" items that I would have worn if I owned them.

Peacock printed Wellies: First off I want a pair of wellies so bad! But I have thick calves and can't find a pair to fit. The weather is drizzly again today, so I really could have used these to keep the hem of my new jeans dry. And not many people know this but I am obsessed with Peacocks and peacock print. I just love the richness of the colors, and how so many different colors are included. I noticed that Forever21 has alot of Peacock inspired accessories right now, I really need to go pick up a few.
White knit cap: I have never thought of myself as much of a hat girl, but this hat is soo adorable! On a day like today with this drizzle, I could use this hat to cover my bad hair day, and I like how it picks up the brown of the Agate necklace and shoes, and the white from the under tank.

Polyvore Challenge

2009-06-29T12:57:00.004-04:00

As seen on "A Cat of Impossible Color",

The lovely Mademoiselle Lady Finger and Fleur Delice have started a Polyvore social experiment in personal style. The concept was based on a question MLF posed in this post: "How do you add your personal stamp to your outfit? If I asked you to slip on a pair of jeans, a simple top, a pair of flat shoes, and any accessories you liked, what would you come up with?"

Feel free to take part and share your ideas as well. Just follow the instructions and let me know when you've posted it!

MLF Polyvore Challenge by LeeHovey on Polyvore.com

My version of this Polyvore set is an affordable combination of day and night. I think clean, dark wash jeans and a fitted, v-neck T shirt can work for anybody! I have worn this to work, and out with friends. On the left you can see how I used bright colors (purse and shoes), mixed with shiny textures (everything!) to build a outfit perfect for a pub crawl or dinner at a trendy restaurant. On the right I have used more subdued tones combined with the warmth of gold and brown to make it appropriate for a smart casual work environment. Also to note is that every item is under $50, making it all pretty affordable. What do you think?

You look like a flower!

2009-06-17T09:05:00.005-04:00

Thats what my co-worker told me today. I am not entirely sure I get it, but I thought it was cute.

I finally started working out again this week. After almost 6 months off, it feels good to get my muscles moving again. Keep your fingers crossed that I don't get any new stress fractures!

I really like the colors in this outfit today. The shrug is a deep purple, the cami is fuschia, the tank is a lighter shade of purple with a small print, and I put it together with my orange Clarks.

Today's Outfit:
Purple Shrug, ON ($10).
Fuscia Cami, ON ($10).
Purple print tank, AE (old).
Jeans, Express ($80, old).
Orange Clark sandals, via eBay ($20).

Shameless plug

2009-06-13T15:59:00.003-04:00

For any of my readers who are also interested in quick, and casual cooking, or sharing recipes, check out my newest blog, "Can't Even Boil Water".

Where's my follow bloggers/images at??

2009-06-11T15:42:00.000-04:00

I am just noticing that of the 50+ blogs I read daily, they have all been very quiet today! Come on ladies blog for me, I am bored at work and need something to read! :)

Also, for the last couple days the images on the blogger template haven't been working. Is this the same for me readers? (can you see the header and the background image?) I have tried everything to fix it! I have moved the images so they are hosted on my own Picasa album and re-linked the code, and I have done research up the wazzoo on google, and I can't come up with an answer. I ever tried another template, which had the same result! UGh, any tips out there from my fellow bloggers??

Blah, blah, blah....

2009-06-11T08:04:00.009-04:00

That's how I am feeling today. For no particular reason, except maybe the complete lack of sunlight for several days, and today's weather is only supposed to get worse! Blah! Luckily there is sunshine on the forecast for the weekend, I can make it!

Today's clothes fit my blah mood. I was seeking comfortable pieces and material. I am not sure why but I desperately wanted to wear one of my plain white Hanes T-shirts, and tried a few different ways to make it semi-work appropriate. First I just threw a colorful scarf on with it, but then realized it was a little chilly out, so I tried a sweater with that and felt like I looked too frumpy. So then I reached in the back of my closet and found my uber-comfy jersey drapey-wrap type cardi. I am sure I look a little too "casual friday", but I don't care frankly! :)

I used a deep-moisturizer and glaze on my hair last night and today it looks greasy even though it's clean! Hopefully that wears off after a wash or two, because greasy hair is a pet-peeve of mine! Yuck!

To complete the look I added another pair of new flats I picked at on clearance up old navy this past weekend. I do like the color contrast of the teal and the red-orange.

Today's Outfit:
Jersey drape/wrap cardigan, Marshall's.
White t-shirt, Hanes via Target ($2).
Jeans, Gap (old).
Red-orange flats, ON ($10).

Silky

2009-06-10T07:51:00.005-04:00

My schedule has been off for this week due to several doctor's appointments. In order to go to my appointments without taking time off work, I had to get to work 1.5 hrs early and skip my lunch. This explains my lack of posting because the early mornings didn't afford me extra time to take pictures. So I apologize to any faithful readers I have out there that missed me!

The doctors appointments determined that along with my hypokalemia (potassium deficiency), I also have a Vitamin D deficiency which explains the string of stress fractures I have been suffering. I am told that VitD is what makes it possible for your body to use calcium for bone building. Obviously without VitD, I don't get enough calcium. Ironically, I picked up a copy of Women's Health on my way to the appointment so that I would have something to read while waiting, and there is an article on VitD deficiency in it this month! I highly recommend anyone interested in health read it. Apparently it is really difficult to get enough vitD from food, and with skin cancer being such a big deal now-a-days, we must protect ourselves from the sun so much that we can't get enough vitD from sunlight either.

Anyway, I adore this top! It is an Anthropologie top I purchased on ebay for $20. It still has the original tags on it, marked with the original price of $118! Wow, what a bargain! I love the sliky sheen and the lightweight of the fabric. One things that bugs me is that it's lined in a flesh-colored fabric and the edges of the silk along the v-neck roll back a little, showing the liner. When I take it off tonight I will play around with it and see if maybe a seamstress could do something about that. I also love the saturated colors on it.

I know the cardigan doesn't really match because the trim in green and the shirt has blue, but I think it works, and I really like it! The flats I picked up on Old Navy clearance this weekend, since I am relagated to flats and trainers for a couple weeks.

Todays Outfit:
Cardigan, ON ($2).
Blue lace-trim cami, ON ($10).
Silk sleeve-less blouse, Anthropologie via eBay ($20).
Jeans, Express.
Gold flats, ON ($10).

Marseilles Dress SHABBY APPLE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-06-04T21:52:00.000-04:00

Marseilles Dress SHABBY APPLE GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Back to flats...

2009-06-04T09:52:00.004-04:00

I had my follow-up appointment with my sport's medicine Doctor for my leg fracture. Unfortunately during my rehab training I have started getting a similar pain in my foot. So after an exam and x-rays he determined I have the beginnings of another stress fracture in my foot. This is a huge setback for me, but I am trying not to be depressed about it. I convinced the doc not to put me back in the boot, which luckily worked, so I have 2 weeks on light walking or swimming before I see him again.

So I will be back to flats for the next couple weeks, and may resort to just wearing trainers, as that is what he recommends. Maybe I should go buy a new pair of trainers, and use my current running shoes as daily sneaks. Luckily I recently bought a pair of Clark's Sandals which are very pretty and not completely flat, but nearly. They will be good for if I grow tired of the trainers and want some style for a few hours.

Today's Outfit:
Lavender shrunken cardo, ON.
White cowl-neck, racer-back T, Target ($9.99).
Jeans, AE (old).
Orange Clark's Korbin sandals, eBay ($20).
Gold beaded earings, AE.

Summer layers?

2009-06-03T09:09:00.006-04:00

I keep finding myself going back to this drapey cardigan. It seems to be the perfect "summer layer" for when I want to wear sleeveless, but I know the office will be chilly. I also utilize my jean jacket the same way, though that can only be worn with non-jean pants and dresses. I am thinking maybe I should get a white jean jacket, or a cropped jacket in a neutral color to add to my summer layer collection. What items of clothing do you use for your summer layer?

My afternoon off was fabulous yesterday! I went to target for some odds-and-ends for the house and I picked up this purple sleeveless v-neck. It is the perfect stretchy cotton and I love the saturation of the color. I also grabbed a white racer-back drape neck T. I am going to have to buy the appropriate bra, or wear another shirt under that one though, but for anyone looking for cute drape neck tops, I think you would love the ones at Target!

Today's Outfit:
Infamous grey drapey cardi, Creative Worldwide via Marshalls.
Purple sleeveless, Target ($9.99).
Jeans, AE (old).
Black heels, ShoeDazzle.com ($39).
Beaded necklace, Target (old).
Silver hoop earings, Payless ($4).

Sunny yellow

2009-06-02T16:25:00.005-04:00

My boss let me take the afternoon off because my cable was having issues and a technician was supposed to come by to fix it. When I got home I found a voicemail telling me that it was a headend problem, which was fixed, so we no longer needed a service call. So I had an afternoon off, what ever would I do with it?

Well I spent the first hour and a half back in my pajamas, laying in bed with my dogs, watching television. Then I got dressed and went out to do an hour of errands, and now I am sitting in the sunroom with my feet up, blogging away!

I do need to be a little more productive in the next couple hours. I need to make dinner and hopefully get a good jog in, and finally my dogs are hounding (haha) me for a couple games of fetch. It's a tough life today...

BTW, this is my new Anthro shirt I bought off eBay for $20, and I just bought another one too. What do you think?

Today's Outfit:
Jean Jacket (not shown), ON (old).
Yellow cotton top, Anthro via eBay ($20).
White crops, ON (old).
Green wedge sandals (not shown).

Inspired by Sally

2009-06-01T14:25:00.004-04:00

If you haven't yet you must read today's post on Sally's blog, "Already Pretty". Sally frequently posts about body image, self esteem, and other womens' issues, but I found today's post particularly inspiring. So, thanks Sally!

"Never let anyone tell you that you are not a real woman. NEVER. Not even another woman who seems wiser or more worldly or prouder or louder or prettier or sexier or stronger than you. No one can take your realness from you."

Hate my wardrobe right now!

2009-05-30T20:19:00.006-04:00

I am in one of those phases where I hate every single thing in my closet. Not really pieces themselves, but how the fit and how they look on me. Maybe it's the 15 lbs I gained when I broke my leg, that are just not melting off fast enough. Or maybe I am just in a "glass half empty" kinda mood.

I went through at least 4 different outfits, and a couple iterations in between, though I only took pictures of two of them. I had a particular outfit in mind when I woke up but once I had it on I realized that the ruffles on the front of my navy blue linen gap blouse really needed to be ironed flat, and well, I hate to iron. So I swapped the blouse out for a green rouched sleeveless top which I thought would hide my belly.... well, I was wrong. Once I took the pictures and looked at them I realized it makes my arms look really big! I am thinking this shirt will be added to the donate pile. What do you think? Am I being too critical? Or should I let the shirt go?

So then I swapped the sleeveless shirt for a basic green, Gap scoopneck T. This was a big improvement and I felt like it cut me on my hips in a much more flattering place. I actually did get out of the house for the first half of my errands in this, though I uncuffed tha jeans and swapped the brown wedges for my new orange Clark sandals.

After a couple hours of errands with the dogs I returned home to a package from the mailperson, which contained the Anthropologie top I bought on eBay. I changed into it immediately, and I love it!! I didn't have time to take pictures but I will probably wear it to work this week and will be sure to take pics this time.

In my new top, I hit up ATL because I recieved a coupon in the mail a few days ago. I tried on 3 skirts, 2 dresses, and 2 tops and I wasn't completely happy with any of it except this adorable navy blue skirt with tiered eyelet. But had trouble justifying the cost of it since I am still technically on shopping ban. Next I hit up ON where I tried on 5 pairs of shorts/capris, 4 tops, and 2 misc items. I ended up purchasing a purple bolero sweater ($19.99), a racer-back T with a peacock screenprint ($3, I LOVE peacock motifs), and a fuscia jersey swin cover-up ($19.99). Not a bad haul.

ShoeDazzle!

2009-05-29T08:40:00.005-04:00

I finally received my first shipment from ShoeDazzle.com, and boy are they gorgeous! Thats why I decided to feature them as my opening picture instead of the whole outfit. If you love shoes, but have trouble picking which ones to buy, and you haven't joined ShoeDazzle yet, then check out the site! And do it soon because I heard they will be limiting the memberships to 5,000 at first. The way it works is, for just $39 a month your personal stylist sends you 5 styles to choose from. Once you pick your favorite they are shipped to you within 14 days. If none of the styles suit your fancy you simply skip that month, at no charge to you. Does it get much better?

I recieved these beautiful babies last week and couldn't wait to wear them. I will admit at first one shoe was very uncomfortable as it dug in to the joint on my pinkie toe. But because they are a linen material they have loosened up quickly, and now fit like a glove! I know I have said that I own too many black and brown shoes, but because the shape and style are so different on these I really think they are the perfect wardrobe addition! I think they will be easily matched with skirts or dresses as well as they can be dressed down a bit with some comfy jeans. What do you think?

Today's Outfit:
Jean jacket, ON (old).
Torquiose lace-trimmed cami, ON ($10).
Teal scoop neck, F21 ($5).
Black dress pants, Target ($10).
Black linen and cork pumps, ShoeDazzle.com! ($39).

Mixed feelings...

2009-05-28T09:04:00.005-04:00

This outfit is strikingly similar to the one just a few posts ago, but the comfort of this cardigan is undeniable, and that's exactly what I need today. I am finding the color of the cardigan so much more versatile than I expected, which makes me want to get a couple more pieces in this steely gray. Maybe some shoes?

I have an interview for a position with another municipality tonight. As with any change, I have very mixed feelings about the possibility of switching jobs. On the one hand I really hate my job right now. My boss micro-manages the hoohaw out of me, and I am bored stiff. Not that I don't have anything to do, it's just that what I have to do is mind numbing. I feel like I paid $100k for my bachelor's degree, and I am not even using my brain at this point! If I stay here I mind as well not even have gone to college. But on the other hand, I adore the people I work with, and the environment. I like that my schedule is flexible and that I can have a life outside work! (Alot of IT jobs, this is hard since you are always on-call.)

But, any change can be scarey. The positives are that since it's another municipal job all my benefits would carry over, including my pension, and would probably be completely the same, and the office is much closer to where I live. Not to mention that it would be alot more responsiblity and definitely alot more challenging!

Anyway, I guess I don't even need to think about that right now. I should just focus on representing myself as well as possible in the interview, and see what happens! If I have time I will post my interview outfit, I am actually still undecided if I should just wear my matching suit, or wear seperates. What do you think?

Today's Outfit:
Grey drapey cardigan, Absolutely Creative Worldwide via Marshall's. ($14.99)
Teal ruffle neck T, Target.
Straight-leg jeans, AE.
Black pumps, Mossimo for Target.
Multi-strand pearl necklace, F21.

Monday... I mean Tuesday...

2009-05-26T10:05:00.007-04:00

I apologize for the lack of posting lately, and this morning I don't have any outfit pics to share (you aren't missing much). One of my two dogs was found to have Lyme Disease, despite keeping up with vaccinations and monthly tick prevention, and I started her on the meds last night. Unfortunately, this morning she was very sick from the meds, so I was too consumed with caring for her to take pictures.

I did want to keep you updated on my thus far successful shopping ban. I have wanted to shop but I found myself really trying to justify shopping in my head before setting out, and realized that it was an emotional need more than a physical need for more "stuff". So I haven't bought anything! Well, until today, as I have made a couple eBay purchases.

Now that the weather has warmed up I have found my old summer wardrobe to be terribly age innapropriate and inadequate. I have almost entirely spaghetti strap tops which are not really flattering on my current figure and do not cover the insecurities I have with the skin problems I have going on. So I desperately need pretty, work appropriate sleeveless tops, and tank tops that cover the back. I also need a couple pairs of interesting sandals. My shoe wardrobe from last year consists mostly of flip flops. Though some are really good quality leather and or beaded thongs, they are not work-worthy and are actually very uncomfortable.

So with the end of my ban nearing I decided to invest in a couple pieces that fill those needs described. First up, I found an adorable pair of Clarks' Artisan Korbin sandals on eBay for $22.00. They are slightly used, but they don't show any signs of wear. They have a very practical wedge heel, and are a fabulous shade of orange.

I also found a gorgeous Anthropologie (Anthro for short) top. It is sleeveless with a flattering v-neck in a yummy shade of Yellow, and check out the great embroidery and embellishment at the waist! The tie back shape of it should hide the jello-tummy I have right now. I can't wait to recieve this, as this will also be my first Anthro piece! (Anthro is my favorite dream shop) I scored this top New:Without tags for $21.00.

Girl time!

2009-05-21T20:52:00.004-04:00

Tonight was girls night with my friends, Erin and Kristin! We went to the Olive Garden for comfort food, cocktails, and venting. I don't have any pictures of the two different outfits I wore today, but my girlfriends are soo stylish I wanted to feature them. Aren't they puurty? :) (Even with squinty eyes from staring into the sun)

I don't know where some of their garments are from, but I know for sure almost everything Erin (left) is wearing is from White House, Black Market (isn't that dress to die for?), and I am going to guess Kristin's (right) adorable outfit may be a mix of Target and somewhere else. They are so cute and trendy I could kill them. Love ya girlies!

Blueberry Pie Refashioned Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-05-21T09:47:00.000-04:00

Blueberry Pie Refashioned Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Monday Blues

2009-05-18T09:35:00.004-04:00

I am just not feeling it, on this chilly new england morning. I enjoyed my weekend too much to go back to work today. I didn't even really do anything, mostly just relaxed and hung out with my dogs. I watched a couple really interesting documentaries on TV, so at least my brain got some action.

Todays outfit is built around my need for comfort and my frustration with the 10 lbs. I gained during this leg injury. I mean, my clothes still fit and all, but I have quite the rolly-polly action going on, making me very uncomfortable in my own skin right now. So I will be sticking to loose flowy shirts and muffin-reducing jeans for a couple weeks. I just started going back to the gym last week on an interval training program, which means I have to build myself up from walking to elliptical, to speed-walking and running. Hopefully once I start running the extra lbs will drop off quickly.

Today's outfit:
Grey drapey bolero, Absolutely Creative Worldwide via Marshall's. ($14.99)
Teal macrame-neck T, ON. (old)
Jeans, Gap.
Champagne ruffle t-strap heels, Payless.
Silver earings, Payless.
Black and silver ring, F21. (remixed daily)