monday (halloweeny)

 

handmade (by me) skirt   gap mesh panel cardigan {thrifted new}

merona leather belt {thrifted new}   old navy sliver wedge boots

i don't often participate in dressing in any given holiday's signature colors, but i just had to wear this skirt today.  halloween is my least favorite holiday (i'll be honest, i'm a real grinch about it), but i figured i could at least embrace the beauty of fall that we're still experiencing here in the midwest, and this skirt definitely screams "FALL!" to me.  my coworkers must think every time i wear a new skirt to work that it's one i've made, but i'm okay with that.  they're right.  one asked what number i'm up to now, so i had to count when i got home... i'm up to 10.  i've become a sewing machine!

since i've proclaimed my love for making skirts so loudly, i've decided that i will give one away to one of my readers once i reach 35 followers.  hopefully that won't take too long since i'm only a few readers away, so if anyone doesn't follow publicly through GFC, please do!  i'd love to give back to those who take an interest in this silly blog and share some of my creativity and new interest with others.  thanks again to everyone who drops by or leaves a comment!  have a happy (?) halloween!

friday (bullseyed)

old navy sweater   merona doubleweave skirt {thrifted target stock}

mossimo belt   simply vera tights   old navy bauble flats

i went to target yesterday afternoon to buy rice krispies and marshmallows because i was craving rice krispie treats, and ended up leaving with an armful of other odds & ends.  why is it that one can never go into target and come out with only the items on their list?  i suppose all the browsing is worth it though when you find super clearance accessories, like this belt... it was marked down to $2.14!  so i couldn't just leave it there.  it's kind of fun & different!  i like taking little risks like this just to add some pizazz to my wardrobe. 

happy weekend!

wednesday (cozy)

old navy open knit cocoon cardigan   old navy long sleeved tee

merona doubleweave slacks {thrifted new}   target necklace

target belt {thrifted new}   blowfish blyth booties

i feel like this look is a little different for me, but i love it.  when i placed an oldnavy.com order recently, i scoured the website for days so i could meet the free shipping requirement and also take advantage of another % off promo they were having, and this cardigan is one of the items that made its way into my cart!  there's no closure and looks a little silly left open (maybe a size smaller would work better), so when i doubt... belt it!  i felt comfy & cozy all day.  thanks for stopping by!

tuesday (table-clothing)

thrifted tablecloth turned skirt  old navy cardigan

target belt {thrifted new}   mossimo kachiri boots

i've mentioned a couple times how i bought this yellow tablecloth at the goodwill for $1.99 and it was big enough to cut two skirts out of with some leftover fabric for pockets for future skirts.  so, two skirts for $1 each?  yes, please.  i've found myself gradually wanting to add more yellow into my wardrobe, with the first skirt i made and an embossed yellow belt and now with this skirt.  i used to worry about wearing certain colors, not knowing if they "went well" with my skin tone or hair color, but now i just wear what i love... and right now, i definitely love yellow!

here is a picture of the tablecloth before i got cutting:

 thanks for reading!

monday (deactivated)

 

handmade (by me) skirt   mossimo sweater

merona tights   lela rose for payless finsbury heels

forever 21 belt   loft necklace (won in giveaway)

today was definitely a monday, wasn't it?  i had a really hard time getting activated to do anything today.  yet if i were home all day, i'm sure i would have whipped up half a dozen skirts like the one i am wearing.  i mentioned this on friday, but it feels so good to be engaged creatively with something i am interested in.  i really think i could sit at my sewing machine and crank out skirt after skirt, but my closet is overflowing as it is so i don't know how well that would work after a while!  well anyway, i am going to watch the sing off and finish another skirt this evening and hopefully end this day on a more positive note.  here's to looking forward to tuesday!

friday (sewing)

i find my attitude towards clothing shifts every so often, and i'm sensing a new pattern emerging.  i will always be "thrifty" and frugal and it will always be difficult for me to go beyond the threshold of money i am willing to spend on certain items, which is really low.  but for that reason alone, i'm excited about my latest adventure - sewing. i have the most fun when i have a free afternoon and can wander the clearance shelves at joann fabrics for fabric to make skirts out of. you've all read my major gushing about my ability to craft these items with no prior sewing experience. it has been such a great creative outlet this past month and something that i'm really proud to have stuck to. i've never had patience to learn how to knit or crochet and i love the idea of making my own jewelry, but after making a few pieces my creativity was blocked and my plastic container of beads and supplies has gone untouched, hidden in the bottom of my closet.

i'm determined to stick with sewing and hopefully take it a step farther by finding other ways to engage in this interest like re-purposing items that others no longer want into items that i do - i mentioned that i found a great mustard yellow tablecloth at the goodwill last weekend that i can probably make three skirts out of (want one?).  you never know what you might find at the goodwill & how low it will be priced!  i'll probably still stick to scouring the red tag clearance fabric at joanns, too.  the picture above is what i left with yesterday.

i'm finding that a little creativity goes a long way & it feels good! do you ever find it difficult to stay engaged in your interests? what works?

thursday (frosty)

merona leigh crosshatch dress, merona cardigan, & target belt {all thrifted target stock}

old navy tights   lela rose for payless finsbury heels   target necklace

today was the first morning that i had to scrape frost off my window shields.  as soon as i approached my car and ran my fingers down my back window and realized it was indeed ice and not condensation i thought, "here we go."  i have some interesting winter-related car ordeals.  the best from last winter was getting a car wash on a mild day, my doors freezing shut over night (this has happened a previous winter as well.  if i mention any time between now and march that i am going to get a car wash, feel free to kindly discourage me not to), and not being able to open either of my two car doors.  there are only so many options you have in situations such as these.  i was finally able to pry the trunk open and crawled into the trunk and through the backseat wearing a skirt and the boots i was wearing yesterday.  you know, when it's winter in minnesota you do what you have to do.  after this morning i'm realizing... winter is calling.

wednesday (ordeals)

mossimo draped elastic waist dress   gap cardigan   f21 medieval filigree bangle

merona leather belt {thrifted new}   old navy sliver wedge boots

i had a long night last night.  i brought my car into a shop to get new tires at 5pm, expecting it would only take about an hour, as that is the time i was quoted.  i also thought that by making an appointment, they would be prepared for my arrival and stagger any other appointments or walk-ins they received.  well, what i thought was logical definitely wasn't reality as it took three hours for the tire installation to be completed.  although i received an explanation about the length of time it took to complete the job, i could barely squeak an apology out of the sales associate despite my thanking them for getting the job done.  it made me feel like my time wasn't a concern.  it takes so little effort for people in retail or service industries to make customers feel validated and that their business is appreciated, and i think i have clout to say this because i have worked in three different retail jobs over the years and the managers i had at each one were adamant about providing good customer service, greeting every customer, and always doing something within the store and not just idly standing around.  anyway, i feel better now that i have new tires on my car for the impending winter, but the experience didn't leave me feeling good about giving the company my business.  has anyone else noticed this trend?

tuesday

merona eden skirt   merona turtleneck {thrifted target stock}

banana republic cardigan {thrifted}   mossimo kachiri boots

i loved my outfit the first time i wore this skirt and had to force myself not to wear the exact same outfit again today.  i still pulled in the olive green with the scarf and pulled out the pinkish hues in the skirt's pattern with the cardigan.  it's getting colder here in the midwest, so i'm layered with a turtleneck underneath that and knee highs under my boots!  i know i wear these boots all the time, but when the temperatures dip down i feel less like wearing other foot wear like heels.  tights, knee highs, and boots are so comfortable and cozy when it gets chilly outside!  i'm ready for winter!

monday (monday?)

old navy turtleneck   old navy blazer {thrifted}

merona doubleweave slacks {thrifted new}

forever21 necklace   mossimo kat booties

i feel like i've kind of been hit & miss lately.  i went to the goodwill yesterday and had two items in my hands that i carried around the entire store only to put them back on the rack and leave instead with a mustardy yellow tablecloth for $1.99 that i think i could probably make three skirts out of (maybe i will and give some away!  would anyone be interested?).  today i went to joann's and had three bolts of red tag clearance fabric in front of me but couldn't pull the trigger on any of them.  maybe i've just reached a saturation point of shopping & buying... that's definitely not a bad thing, but it sure doesn't make going to my favorite stores that much fun!

friday (quintessential)

old navy v-neck sweater   handmade (by me) skirt {fabric from joann's}

merona leather belt {thrifted new}   target bauble necklace   old navy sliver wedge boots

today's fbff is highlighting our quintessential fall look, and this is mine!  i am not sure if there is anything better than wearing tights, knee highs, and boots when there is a little chill in the air, which was definitely the case today with a temperature this morning of just about 50 when i left for work.  thanks to iris of 260 days no repeats for hosting!

in case you're getting sick of seeing me in so many handmade skirts {1, 2, 3, 4}, this is the most recent one i've made and i don't have any others waiting in the wings to be worn.  chances are, you might not even see this one again as it's made out of home decor fabric {if i look like a curtain, that's why} and my mom so wisely informed me that the fabric might not be suited for regular machine washing.  up to this point in my sewing adventures i've gone by look and touch and haven't read the labels on the fabric bolts to learn about the fabric or its care... i'm more drawn to the print or feel of the fabric, and the price - if it's less than $3-4 a yard, it might get taken to the cutting counter.  so, we'll see what becomes of this skirt!

happy weekend!

thursday (powerful)

merona artist v-neck cardigan   mossimo trs herringbone skirt {thrifted new}

lela rose for payless finsbury heels   simply vera tights   forever 21 bangle

today was a tough day for me.  my profession isn't all roses & rainbows, but it's even less so when one of my clients is going through a crisis.  i tried to feel powerful through presentation today with my dress, even though i was only speaking to people regarding this crisis over the phone... but it did help me to feel confident in what i needed to communicate.  after my tense morning, i went outside for a breather and sat in my car to eat lunch and go through google reader on my iphone.  ten minutes later, a car drove up and three people got out of it and started looking at the car that was parked to my left... opening the hood, commenting on the tires, starting it up.  i'm assuming the car was one of theirs and maybe it was having some trouble, but it was awkward.  no longer could i enjoy any peace & quiet or sit there oblivious to those people and continue to eat my lunch, even though my windows are pretty tinted.  yet i didn't want to get out and leave my car there because i couldn't figure out what these people were doing and one of the car doors was opened so wide, mine would have hit it if i opened it!  so i turned on my car and drove to another part of the parking lot.  at least i know what part of the parking lot to now avoid! 

tuesday (red)

daisy fuentes dress   old navy sweater   target scarf

simply vera tights   mossimo kachari boots

hello, from tuesday.  i realized that i never posted this outfit that i wore yesterday because i was too busy catching up on my google reader instead.  i get really overwhelmed when it reaches over 200+ unread posts!  the reason why i am posting my outfit from yesterday instead of what i wore today (even though i am wearing my new blowfish bylth booties today that i will be swearing by all winter), is because of a dream my coworker told me about this morning that featured the two of us.  she said we were both sharing a work apartment and she had books & clothes strewn everywhere (that sounds more like me, i should show you all my bookcases sometime) and there was a cat there as well that had eyes she described as red as the tights i was wearing yesterday.  now, i realize that my photography isn't really showing the true color of my tights here, as they are really a rust color...  but if i am leaving that sort of impression with my coworkers that the hue of my tights pops up in thier dreams... well, maybe my tight color choices are too crazy.  i don't know!  what do you think?

monday (handmade)

 

mossimo long sleeved tee   handmade (by me) skirt

kohl's necklace   old navy quilted flats

it feels pretty odd to list out what i'm wearing today and not have the {thrifted} tag behind any items!  aside from this great plum colored skirt that i made yesterday (it still feels so fun to be able to say that!), everything else that i'm wearing is pretty old - a plain black tee from target and these flats from old navy that i threw on because they match the belt so well.  i really love this skirt though and the cute pockets i made with leftover fabric from another project, but pretty soon my closet is going to be bursting with skirts... this is the fifth one i've made!  at this rate, i might need to start giving some away!

friday (fads)

cherokee girls denim shirt {thrifted new}   merona doubleweave pencil skirt {thrifted new}
target bauble necklace   target belt {thrifted new}   mossimo orabel studded flats

happy friday!  there is something really appealing about a nice denim shirt... and one that only cost $4.99!  thank you target stock at the goodwill and being able to fit into a girls xl!  sometimes it pays to check the kids racks at thrift stores.  i'd still love to find a cute little (well, appropriately sized for me) navy blazer one of these days!  i really am so glad today is friday, i need some major r&r and a weekend without a lot of plans or company.  i was so clocked out at work this afternoon; i was so drowsy and could barely sit up in my desk chair!

today i want to participate in modlychic's fbff because it's all about the fad bandwagon.  this is something i've been thinking about a lot lately, so i am glad to have the opportunity to share my thoughts in this format!

1. do you ever see a fad hit the stores and immediately dislike it? has that fad ever began to grow on you? 

since i don't often shop at malls, follow high fashion, or read fashion magazines, i'm probably not the first one to be aware of what is "on trend" each season, but i get a sense of what seems to be popular by what i see on bloggers... like maxi dresses, those army green sleeveless vests, buffalo check button-downs, hunter boots, neon colors, brogues, sperrys, giant lapel flowers, colored jeans, nail art... yikes!  none of these fads are appealing to me.  

2. has the popularity of a certain piece of clothing or line ever convinced you to try on something (or purchase something) you dislike? 

again, no.  all of the aforementioned pieces seem to be pretty popular among bloggers, but i don't own any of them.  my thinking is, why should i follow what others tell me is "cool" or "in"?  i'm okay that i'm not drawn to these items, as they aren't reflective of my style or something i would feel comfortable wearing.  i'd rather wear pieces that work well for my lifestyle, career, and workplace environment than what everyone else on my google reader is wearing. 

3. have you ever changed your mind about a trend after seeing it around for a while? 

the only example i could think for this question is belted scarves.  i wasn't sure how i felt about that for a while, but i tried it out last winter and was glad that i did, just for the sake of trying something different.  i think it can come across looking really cute with the right scarf and belt combination!  i don't know why trends need to come & go though--if you like something, wear it with confidence all year round, not just when everyone else is wearing it.

4. do you feel a certain pressure to have specific items in your closet because 'everyone' else does? 

not really, since i'm not drawn to a lot of the fads other bloggers partake in.  but that's totally okay, as we all have preferences.  if i see a particular blouse or skirt on someone that i really like, i may try to find a similar piece at the goodwill but i never feel pressured to add items to my closet just because something is popular in the blogosphere.  i mean, how boring does it get if every other blog post you read shows someone wearing the same mustard colored capri pants from h&m or a striped shirt paired with a floral skirt?

5. be honest, what do you think of the missoni line? did you grab any items? is it worth the ebay prices? 

i didn't care for it at all.  phew, it feels good to say that!  i didn't go to target the entire week that it debuted and haven't had any interest in scouring the aisles for any returns or pieces that are still hanging around.  i think it's all about personal taste, and i'm just not drawn to the aesthetic of the line, and the fanaticism that surrounded it was enough to put me off as well.

well, thanks for reading!  i think the point i want to make is that we should wear what we love and not what someone else is telling us to wear or what seems popular... so that's why the idea of a trend or a fad is confusing to me.  anyway, have a great weekend!

thursday (yellow)

j crew frances blouse   mossimo cardigan {thrifted}   xhilaration serenity heels
isaac mizrahi for target skirt {thrifted}   forever 21 skinny textured belt    

 

i think blue & yellow might be one of my new favorite color combinations, which is funny because i only have about five yellow items in my wardrobe.  there's something about taking a little bit of a color risk and realizing how much you like the outcome though, and that's how i feel about yellow.  these heels were a mega clearance find at target a couple years ago, but i haven't worn them that often.  whenever forever 21 offers free shipping, i always pick up a couple belts or pieces of jewelry, and this belt was a recent addition (click the link above if you're interested, it's still available online).  i don't have any clothing from forever21, but i definitely swear by their accessories!

wednesday (summer, part 2)

old navy blouse   merona cardigan   old navy skirt

forever 21 belt {thrifted new}   mossimo kachiri boots

i'm not sure if it's technically an "indian summer" right now in the midwest, but the weather pattern we've been experiencing in this week has been beautiful!  so is that cover of "indian summer" by ben gibbard.  i'm just going to stare out my window now and listen to this song while i gaze at the yellow orange leaves!  happy wednesday, indeed.

tuesday (loser)

gap cardigan {thrifted}   j crew daphne blouse   target necklace

merona doubleweave pants {thrifted target stock}   mossimo odell flats

i was thinking that this outfit isn't much of a winner, and the opposite of a winner is a loser, right?  well, maybe i shouldn't be too hard on myself!  i was really dreading the progression of this day when i woke up this morning and that translated into the little energy i put into this outfit today.  i had an early morning meeting at 8am to present a case review of one of my clients that i didn't feel prepared for (it ended up being okay and i got great feedback of how to continue working with this individual).  then i had to teach a 2.5 hour long class on healthy eating (not really relevant to my field, but i've committed to doing it and it doesn't end for three more weeks).  next i had to sit in on a webinar and then go straight to a care conference at a nursing home.  despite how busy a career as a social worker can be, i don't often have days like this where i literally go from meeting to the next, so it was a little draining.  

i dropped by old navy on my way home (i haven't been to the mall in SO long) to look for this top, but it wasn't in the clearance section so i'll place an order online for it today while the 30% across all gap brands is still in effect.  i'm already putting a dent into my clothing budget for the month and it's only the first week of october! 

sunday (marathon)

on sunday, my sister ran her second marathon through minneapolis to st paul.  three friends and i followed her along the route, stopping & cheering and overall trying to make the other runners smile.  we had a great (and exhausting) time seeing her at these spots along her route.  our only mishap was around 11 and 14 in which we just really did not have enough time to get there, park somewhere, and see her.  thankfully she had many, many other friends along the way who were also at various spots cheering her on!  days like this kind of make me feel like i would never want to be anything other than a spectator! 

mile two:  quiet, empty streets in minneapolis before the race began // my sign

mile seven: still in minneapolis, we started giving out some free high fives.  it was a big hit!

mile twenty-one: this spot was hoppin' as the runners crossed the river into st paul

mile twenty-six: finally, the marathon ended in downtown st paul at the state capitol

 _____________________________

as for hanson, i ended up not going to the show.  it's taken me all afternoon & evening to be okay with this decision.  i've never missed a show of theirs in a state that i've been living in, so it was difficult for me to back out, because more than anything i felt like i was backing out on myself.  despite the fact that my sister is the one who ran the 26.2 miles, i was exhausted from planning the route around the marathon course where we would stop to see her, driving to said locations, finding somewhere to park, scanning the crowds of runners for her, and clapping & cheering my heart out... and doing this all afternoon.  it was really stressful.  i really had to listen to what my body was telling me and i knew i wouldn't be able to handle a hanson show tonight.  i joked with myself, "hopefully hanson will forgive me for missing one show," but really i just hope to forgive myself... forgive myself & let myself off the hook because it's perfectly okay to let certain things go.  i think that's hard for me, as someone who has the responsibility & discipline strengths. i like structure, routine, knowing what i am going to do & when, and sticking to a plan.  today i had to let my best laid plans go out the window many times, and so i feel okay that i didn't go to the concert too.  i know this may seem like something really simple to be writing such a long paragraph about, but maybe it will also resonate with someone else out there.  so, here's to the start of a fresh, new week!

friday (to do's)

cherokee cardigan   merona double layer v-neck tee {thrifted new}   thrifted silver belt

old navy perfect pencil skirt   xhilaration knee highs   old navy faux suede boots

 

happy friday!  this is going to be a big weekend... my sister is running a marathon on sunday and then i'm going to the hanson (yes, hanson) concert later that evening.  it's going to be such an exciting day--lots of planning left to do though.  i need to make some posters, tie ribbons on cow bells to make them easier to hold, bake some celebratory funfetti cupcakes, make a banner to hang in our apartment ("you are awesome" perhaps), finish cleaning/straightening said apartment, and most importantly plan several spots along the race course where our friends and i can watch for my sister as she runs by.  i hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!