Blue Collar Catwalk

WINNER!

2012-01-27T15:35:00.000-05:00

Happy weekend for Ness Pas! You won the Stella & Dot earrings from Stella and Dot Independent Stylist Rebekah Coleman-Brahler! Drop me an email stat, so I can HOOK YOU UP!

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flyaway

2012-01-25T18:26:00.001-05:00

Ever get that pestering sensation that you've got a stray hair? Man, I hate that. I also hate the wind. It is hands down, without a doubt my least favorite element. But it does make for some funny pictures.

Enough with the hate, though - time for a little love. I love this combination. No matter what my current style preferences may be, I will always love the classic combination of red, chambray and leopard.

And matching lippy, of course!

Lauren RL shirt, $30 (get the look) - Macy's cardigan, $10 (get the look)

vintage pants, $15 (get the look) - Nine West loafers, $60 (get them here)

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secret identity

2012-01-24T23:36:00.000-05:00

Ugh. There has been practically zero sunshine around here lately. Seems fitting, I suppose - given the somber spirit in (not so) Happy Valley this week. But it sure does make for some icky pictures.

I work for only a few short hours on Monday evenings, after which, I have to go directly to derby practice. Since I'm usually late to begin with (due to work), I've started some secret dressing to make the transition more important. While it's a little harder in the summer, it's a piece of cake in the winter. And let's be honest, I can't think of anything less appealing than changing in a cold, dank skate rink bathroom in the middle of winter! So, strategically slipping a sports bra and booty shorts under my work attire has been an all around lifesaver. The best part? - Every time I get to practice, I feel like Clark Kent slipping into the nearest phone booth as I take on my after hours identity.

Super nerd alert, huh?

Sears bomber, $25 (get the look) - BonTon sweater, $8 (get the look)

Lauren Ralph Lauren skirt, $25 (get the look) - Wanted boots, $30 (get the look)

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weekend warrior: in the kitchen

2012-01-23T15:10:00.000-05:00

Truthfully, I get very little joy out of the act of cooking. I'm okay for a little bit, but then, I just get bored and find myself stuck in the kitchen until the job is done. All that said, I do like having food ready for the rest of the week. Not only does it make it less stressful choosing what to eat for the remainder of the week (saving lots of time in the process), but I'm much more likely to make healthy choices. So, I spent a large part of Sunday afternoon in the kitchen. Now, I get to reap the benefits.

Since I still had soup on hand from last weekend (soup is one thing that I actually do enjoy cooking!), I focussed on cooking a few items that would offer more variety. I started by cleaning and cutting lots of lettuce and veggie for easy on-the-go salads. Then, I roasted some brussel sprouts and cauliflower - my faves! After that, I moved on to some actual cooking, starting with these stuffed peppers:

Ingredients: Red peppers stuffed with a mixture of Boca crumbles, black quinoa, egg, tomatoes, cheese and spices. Of course, I didn't use a recipe, so I was thrilled when they turned out so delicious!

With all those prepared veggie dishes, it was time for a little dessert, which meant a little more experimenting. I took a store bought pie crust and a few apples and turned them into these:

I don't know about you, but I like to keep my treats as pre-portioned as possible. That way, a bad day isn't as likely to get the best of my mid-section. This was so easy! I love pie. More specifically, I love pie crust! I unrolled the store bought dough (I used an all-natural brand called Immaculate) and used a small Tupperware container to cut out small circles (a cookie cutter would have been more appropriate). I placed the cirlces in a muffin tin, molding them to the inside of each hole. I threw some cubed apple in each, topped them with cinnamon and sugar (I used raisins to denote mine, which I replaced sugar with stevia) and finished each with a few strips of leftover crust. I cooked them according to the pie crust instructions and voila! Perfect mini pies - delish!

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lifesaver

2012-01-20T19:48:00.000-05:00

I've decided that this dress looks like a yummy roll of Lifesavers. Anyone?

Since there's not a whol lot of ways to style such a loud dress, I figured I'd throw it into the Delightful Dozen and see what the other girls can do with it. But before I send it off, I wanted to give it one more spin. This time, it was way colder, so I layered it over tights and a turtleneck. Love. It.

This dress is, in fact, a lifesaver. It's so comfortable and for something so body conscious, I feel amazing in it. Every girls needs a dress like that!

Old Navy dress, $6 (get the look here or here) - BC booties, $68 (get the look)

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cut in half

2012-01-18T19:17:00.000-05:00

How is it possible that today's temperature was literally half of what it was yesterday? Don't let that silly face fool you - it was freezing! And if you follow BCC on Facebook, you know that there may have been a tiny mishap while I was frolicking around. But I'll let you find that out on your own.

I played with proportions and oversized details today. While I had mixed feelings when I left the house, I had no choice, because I was running way late. But when I got to work, some told me that it was an exceptionally "spectacular" outfit, so I just went with it.

Lauren by Ralph Lauren shirt, $30 (get the look) - ASOS sweater, $20ish (get it here)

Thrifted skirt, $4 (get the look) - Wanted Akira boots, c/o (get them here)

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just me

2012-01-17T18:56:00.000-05:00

I waited just a tad too late to take these photos. Not enough light. Probably for the best, though, because this is all 100% natural me. After a short day, medium run and long shower. Wet hair. No make-up. Comfy as could be. It's just me.

TJMaxx sweater, $20 (get the look) - Thrifted Gap shirt, $4 (get the look)

Boots via Ross, $17 (get the look) - Target leggings, $13

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for sale

2012-01-16T12:53:00.001-05:00

In an effort to save as much money as I can for a possible upcoming trip down south, I'm selling off my closet. Let's not get too crazy here - it's not the whole closet. But it is some pretty popular pieces that I'm ready to send on to a new home. Do me a solid and check it out?

xoxo

worthington grey blazer - ana ruffle t-shirt

american living striped dress - missoni-like cardigan

vintage plaid blazer - cargo dress

worthington paper bag waist skirt - gap tie neck t-shirt

gap cropped cargos - vintage plaid wool skirt

ny & co ribbed sweater - watercolor flower dress (not shown)

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giveaway! stella and dot earrings!

2012-01-16T12:11:00.000-05:00

Ready for another giveaway?!

Today's giveaway comes courtesy of Stella and Dot Independent Stylist Rebekah Coleman-Brahler!

Leave a comment on this post for a chance to WIN these

Sidewinder Earrings from Stella and Dot!

Rebekah is a self-employed independant lady, so let's help her build her social media presence! Like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter and earn an EXTRA ENTRY for each. Be sure to leave a comment for each!

Not familiar with Stella & Dot? Check out their spring runway show! I can't get enough of all the delicate chain bracelets and those tasseled necklaces. And that tibal bib at the end? Hello!

Contest ends Friday, January 20 at midnight EST. Good luck!

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delightful day

2012-01-13T19:06:00.000-05:00

I'm so, so honored and excited to be named the most recent member of the Delightful Dozen! Eeep! Thank you so much, ladies - I promise to make you proud!

I can't wait to see who else will be joining us!

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blood orange

2012-01-12T20:26:00.000-05:00

No need to adjust your monitor. That giant ball of fire is just me. Isn't it pretty?

And never one to miss a moment to coordinate, my lipstick matches perfectly!

Loft sweater, giftcard (get the look) - Leopard blouse from department store, $7 (get the look)

Thrifted JCrew pants, $4 (get the look) - Jeffrey Campbell shoes, Gilt with credit (get the look)

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the rag and bone on loan

2012-01-10T15:20:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that the majority of my wardrobe is second-hand. I just love the endless possibilities of what you can find when you step into a thrift store or vintage shop. What I haven't salvaged from Goodwill has more than likely come from my favorite local vintage shop The Rag and Bone.

I've had the pleasure of working with owner Shelley on many projects over the last several years. Living in a small town makes it challenging to find like-mided souls, but I'm happy to call Shelley a friend and kindred spirit. Last year, we worked together on some style shoots for her Etsy collection at the time. This year, she's relaunched her Etsy shop, and it's better than ever!

Each week, a new collection goes into the shop. Each new collection consists of carefully edited pieces with a common theme. For example, this dress is on loan from the Black and White collection. And what perfect timing, since EBEW is also celebration black and white this month!

This dress was a piece of cake to style. I mean, look at it! It doesn't need anything, really. I just buttoned it up to the tippy top and tied with my own vintage obi belt. Paired with the best booties a girl could own and I was good to go! If you dig this look as much as I do, jet on over to The Rag and Bone's Etsy shop and scoop it up! Be sure to tell her Kyla sent you!

Vintage dress on loan from The Rag and Bone (get it here!) - BC booties, $68 (get them here)

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wanted shoes winner!

2012-01-09T13:01:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to...

Dana Tosici!

Drop me an email, so I can hook you up with your new kicks!

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professional details

2012-01-08T22:28:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago, I was invited to participate in the "Present Your Best You" Online Contest hosted by Monster.com in support of their new Facebook app, BeKnown. Monster.com recently launched BeKnown as a way to give young people the opportunity to network professionally within the world’s largest and most popular social network, set up a professional profile directly on Facebook that is completely separate from your personal Facebook page, and even conduct a job search of Monster's database of jobs without ever leaving BeKnown or Facebook.

As for my part, I was asked to give my own tips for dressing professionally, whether it be for an interview or building a career in a professional setting. Living in a college town, it is evident that personal style and professional style are completely disconnected when it comes to young graduates. Typical daytime dress consists of leggings, sweats and uggs, while a typical night out requires barely there minis, sky-high (barely walk-able) platforms and plunging necklines. When the semi-annual job fairs roll around, the professional dressing advice doled out by our academic institution leaves a bit to be desired. The standards consist of a black or navy suit, white or blue oxford, modest pumps in black or navy and minimal jewelry. While it's a good foundation, it lacks any sort of personality. And when you're one of a thousand qualified candidates for one position, personality is everything!

I understand the difficulty of combining all these worlds, because I've been there. While professional clothing can be expensive, the little details don't need to be. And we all know that it only takes a few small touches to make a big impression.

So, I took the basics and added a few ... footnotes. After all, details make the difference.

Disclosure: This post is my official entry as a participant in Monster.com’s “Present The Best You” Online contest. Please also note that I was provided with a participant gift that included a makeup kit and professional business card holder. All artwork is original, created by myself exclusively for this post.

dab of mustard

2012-01-05T20:21:00.000-05:00

A year or so ago, I stocked up on tons of colored tights. And then, I realized that I don't particularly care for colored tights. I'll take my leg-slimming black every day, thank you very much. Luckily, roller derby has me pulling these tights from the depths of my closet once again, and they're managing to work their way back into my daily outfits. Though this time, I'm using them a little differently.

While I've worn them in the past with shorter skirts/dresses like here, here and here (okay, so I still really like the maroon), I just can't get completely on board with the look. I can't help but feel that the look came off a little too young and girly for my current taste. But - paired with this season's midi length skirts like this wool plaid number (and again here), they're the perfect hint of color to add just a bit more interest (and warmth) to an outfit. The warmth was a big deal yesterday, because it was cold! These were the fastest outfit pictures in the history of outfit pictures. Anyway...

How do you feel about colored tights? Do you like a little or a lot?

Lauren Ralph Lauren pussybow blouse, $30 on sale (I LOVE this version) - thrifted skirt, $4 (get the look)

old NY & Co. belt (get the look) - Hue tights, cheap on clearance (my favorite brand of tights by far!)

BC booties, $68 (their fancy big brother that I'm OBSESSED with at the moment)

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4 years and counting

2012-01-04T16:20:00.000-05:00

September 2007 - yeah, that's me.

New Year's resolutions get a lot of flack. And rightfully so. How many of us have flaked on a new resolution in the first week of the year?

But it just takes one resolution to completely change your life. And for every new year's promise I've ever broken, well ... they've all been worth it for that one that I kept.

Four years ago today, I made the choice to change my life. I walked into Weight Watchers for the very first time and made a commitment to myself, my health and my future. My resolution was actually not to lose weight. It was to get healthy. And find control. If nothing else, I desperately needed to stop gaining weight.

I truly had no idea if it was going to work. Or if I was capable of making it work. But lo' and behold, I lost 30 pounds that year and have managed to keep it off since. It's still a choice I make everyday. And some days, I don't make the better choice, but in the end, I've learned to be in control of food, my body and overall well-being. (Like 80% of the time - but it turns out that's all it really takes!)

Beyond losing weight, the experiece of gaining a healthy lifestyle resonated through every aspect of my life. A year and a half after joining Weight Watchers, I quit my full-time job (one that I had grown to hate with every fiber of my being) and took a leap of faith in a different direction - something I never would have had the confidence to do pre-2008. After all, I had spent 6 years at that job. Oh, and I also started a little blog that year - which has brought such amazing experiences and incredible people into my life!

Over the last four years, I have had more victories, self-discoveries and moments of pure self-satisfaction that I could have dreamed possible. It all sounds so trite and candy-coated, but I can barely put into words what the experience has done for me. I could once barely run to the end of my street (seriously, I used to try and it always ended in a near-death experience), and I'm currently training for my second half-marathon. On New Year's Eve, I ran a 5K with a personal best time that I never imagined I could do. And I spend a fair amount of time comfortably rolling around in booty shorts and fishnets. Something that would have seemed completely foreign to me four years ago. Even though these have been all new experiences, they somehow make me feel more like myself than I ever have before!

This is not a post to brag about what I've done or to guilt you into losing weight or anything of that effect. My intent is to inspire and motivate you to grab you life my the horns and make it everything that you want. Our health is one of the most precious gifts we have - when it's under control, everything else is so much easier.

So, if this is the year you want to resolve to lose weight, work out more or adopt a healthier lifestyle ... what are you waiting for?! Make it happen! I say this on a weekly basis (after all, it is my job, now), but I'll say it again: If I can do it, anyone can do it. You will never ever regret it!

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christmas past and present

2012-01-03T20:06:00.000-05:00

Since this week is getting off to a slow start, I've been sporting a more casual look as I hole up in local coffee shops to get caught up on emails and such. Oh, and did I mention that it's finally gotten winter-like with sub-freezing temperatures? Ugh.

While posting these photos, I noticed that 2 of the items were Christmas gifts from my mom! Last year, we went to NYC in early December, where I picked out this wool vest (sold as a dress, but I love it as a vest). This year, she surprised me with this soft, furry scarf. LOVE! It's no secret how much I love soft fur around my neck this time of year. It's the most comfy way to feel bundled up and stay toasty warm.

How are you keeping warm these days?

vest, gift (get the look) - old button-down, $10 (get the look) - jeans, c/o Lucky Brand (get your own)

BC booties, $68 (get your own - on RIDICULOUS sale!) - scarf, gift (get the look)

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one for the road

2012-01-02T11:11:00.000-05:00

Well, my 9 glorious days of no work, no alarms, no commitments and whole lot of movies, relaxing and household organization have come to a close. And it's back to reality. Back to work. Back to life. Ho hum.

Before I get back into the full swing of things, here's one more outfit from 2011. These pictures were taken the day after Christmas, which my mom and I spent tooling around the mall (total bust) and just traveling back to my home. It's always nice to have that one day to just bum around and hang out.

Whenever I visit my hometown, I can't help seeing everything as a potential backdrop for outfit photos. Everything is so perfectly rustic and photogenic. This locale is no exception. Formerly a coal station, positioned right on the railroad tracks, it's been used for many years as a family warehouse. You know, the kind that stores all sorts of forgotten treasures. I still love poking through it whenever I have the chance. And of course, overalls seemed like the perfect sartorial complement!

Homemade hat - Trhifted blouse, $2 (get the look) - Sears cardigan, $10 (get the look - on sale!)
TJMaxx overalls, $15 (get the look) - Nine West loafers, $55ish (get the look - on sale!)

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12 in 2012: yours truly

2011-12-30T21:23:00.001-05:00

Since my girls Elissa, Desiree, Jentine and Terra were kind enough to search their minds and hearts for 12 things they were looking forward to in the new year, I thought it only fair that I do the same. So, here goes nothing...

Be more organized. This year was the first of many that I did not keep a day planner. Big mistake. Life is just so much easier when you can write it all down. My brain can only retain so much and remembering everything that I have to do requires way more energy than I'm willing to give it this year.

Take more deep breaths. And relax.

Take myself on a weekly date. I want to find an hour each week to take myself out for breakfast or lunch or coffee, and use the time to plan, make lists, journal and reflect. All part of the "be more organized" and "take more deep breaths" movement.

Pass my Level 3 roller derby assessments, which means I'll be able to officially bout other leagues. Yay!

Be more aggressive. I keep myself pretty busy and have a general sense of what I want out of life, but I fear that I don't always push through to see everything I dream of come to fruition. It's good to be able to re-navigate and re-assess, but sometimes, you just need to buck up and push through a road block.

Find what will define my 30's. My 20's were easily defined by taking chances, claiming my independence, finding love and making mistakes. While I hope to continue those things into my 30's, I feel like there should be more. So, I don't know what that will be, but I know I'll keep looking.

Go on vacation. For the love of all things holy, go on vacation.

Cut myself some slack. Period.

Run another half marathon. Wee!

Watch more movies. I've been watching movies like crazy lately. I almost forgot how much I love them.

Keep my house a cleaner, more organized place that fosters creativity and productivity.

Find a place away from home to work when my house is an inevitable dirty and disorganized mess.

Stay optimistic. It's been a trying year, and there's been some moments that have really tested my powers to Pollyanna the crap out of anything. But I'm still here and still happy. So, here's to more of that!

Oops! That's 13! I must be feeling exceptionally ambitious today.

I wish you all a very happy and healthy new year. 365 more days of love, life, smiles, tears, friends, family and new shoes - who's with me?

xoxo, Kyla

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12 in 2012: terra

2011-12-29T17:14:00.000-05:00

Another PA blogger for you - Terra from Stylish White Female!

Hey BCCers... Let's light this candle. Here's my 12 for 2012.

Execute DIYs that I like more often. I usually just say, oh wow, I could do that. And then I watch another episode of Property Brothers.

Think bigger than 140 characters. I've found my attention span dwindling over the last four years since I began tweeting. That is dangerous.

Be proactive about exploring new music. I usually just rely on my husband and friends to introduce me to new bands.

Plan ahead. With a baby, this will become more important than ever. No more seat-of-the-pants flying.

Refresh my blog layout and come up with a new way to engage my readers.

Get better about speaking to Stella in French. That child will be bilingual if it kills me.

Sew more, including new pieces from scratch and taking in the thrifted items that I purchased a bit big for the sake of practicing taking them in.

Feel comfortable in my post-baby bikini. I'm doing what I need to do in order to tighten up. I just need to mentally get there.

Read more quality literature. This would mostly be books, but can also include magazines {no Cosmo, People or Ok!}, web content and newspapers.

Meet at least one internet friend in real life.

Work out at least once a week in the morning. {Related: ignore the voice in my head saying this will never happen.}

Mail more cards. It makes me feel good when I receive a hand written note. I have to imagine at least a few people I know feel the same.

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12 in 2012: jentine

2011-12-28T18:17:00.001-05:00

And today, I give you my favorite, most clever Canadian, Yentine of My Edit. Man, I hope I get a real life squeeze this year!

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Here's my little 12 for 12 list... I tried to keep it mostly light and fluffy because else I might treat this list as a therapy session...

Eat more veggies.

Make Matt eat more veggies.

Make our bedroom an inviting (dare I say, sexy?... no, I don't...) place instead of a dumping ground for laundry.

Have the courage the finish the potentially crazy but very pretty formal landscape design I started in our front yard.

Enjoy the moments as they happen instead of feeling guilty about what I didn't accomplish that day...

Do a post on my closet.

Drink less aspertame (for shame...)

Watch less crappy TV.

Watch more crappy TV (I am obviously torn on this one).

Keep thrifting and writing about it.

Meet my new nephew in Holland...

Give some of my favourite bloggers a real life squeeze... because I am hands on like that.

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12 in 2012: desiree

2011-12-27T10:43:00.001-05:00

Blazer: vintage, thrifted - Plaid: Walmart - Jeans: Gap - Shoes: White Mountain Shoes
Necklace: Walmart - Bag: Foley & Corinna

Hi BCC readers, I’m Desiree and I blog over at Distinctly Desiree.

I am all about lists. I love them. I have so many that I am constantly losing and/or forgetting about them. So, naturally, when Kyla told me about her 12 for 2012 theme, I was pretty pumped.

Here is my little list of things that I look forward to achieving/experiencing/exploring in 2012:

Enjoying my first year of marriage. Holy cow, I’m married (as of October 22, 2011). It still seems surreal to use my new last name and the word “husband.”

Becoming acquainted with my new town. I recently moved back to my home state of PA (yay) from Texas and I can’t wait to explore my town a bit more.

Improving my blog. I’ve got some ideas a-brewin’ for vamping up my blog, as well as my own personal style.

Attempting to be more carefree. I’m a stick to the plan type of gal. I’d like to strive to be a more spur of the moment kind of gal.

Pay off our credit card debt. This one isn’t a fun one but it is definitely a necessary one.

Be more outgoing. My husband can (and will) strike up a conversation with anybody - from the grocery store check out lady to the guy in front of him at the post office. I make fun of him for it but if everyone were just a tiny bit more outgoing, I think the world would be a happier place.

Get up earlier. I am not a morning person, yet I always feel better about the day when I get up earlier.

Summer in Pennsylvania. It is so much different than Texas. I am really looking forward to introducing my little girl to all of the things that I grew up doing.

Weekend trips. There are so many place within driving distance that I’m excited to explore.

Being more patient. I struggle with this every day. To those with children ... please tell me I’m not the only one?!

Becoming more active.

Let go and give my daughter a little more room to make choices. So what if she insists on wearing her rain boots and tutu for the third day in a row? Does it really matter in the long run? (This kind of goes along with #4 and #10, I suppose.)

Kyla,

Thanks for asking me to do a guest post for you! I can't wait to read what everyone else has going on in 2012. I hope you had a great Christmas and are looking forward to having a Happy New Year.

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post holiday shoes GIVEAWAY!!!

2011-12-26T21:12:00.004-05:00

Carlton - Trip - Castle - Steeple

YAY for new shoes! Want a new pair of shoes from Wanted Shoes?
I don't blame you!

Just leave a comment on this post before 12/31/11
for a chance to win your choice of Wanted Shoes! Good luck!
UPDATE: Open to U.S. residents only.

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12 in 2012: elissa

2011-12-26T11:16:00.001-05:00

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas (or just a wonderful weekend) with all of those you love. This weekend, I'm taking a much needed week off of work. A whole week, you guys! I haven't taken a vacation this long since September 2006, which I spent painting, remodeling and moving when we first bought our house. This week will be filled with similar, non-glamorous activities such as cleaning the basement and unloading unwanted crap. And you know what? I couldn't be looking forward to it more.

Since I won't really be in blog-worthy shape this week, I've enlisted the help of some of my favorite bloggers to keep thing interesting around here. I love the new year and fresh start it brings, so I've asked a few ladies to share 12 things that they are most looking forward to in the new year. I can't wait to take it all in! Do you have a 12 in 2012 list? Do share!

I'm Elissa, a personal style blogger, vintage enthusiast, and freelance writer, and I blog over at Dress With Courage. I was so flattered when Kyla asked me to guest post and share twelve things I am looking forward to in 2012. I typically avoid making resolutions, and instead chose to focus on special events, milestones and occasions that make me energized and inspired.

Here's my list of twelve things I'm looking forward to in 2012:

Publishing my book on thrifting and vintage shopping, and hosting a launch party here in Dallas
Acting as community outreach and social media coordinator of the Texas Style Council Conference (March 9,10,11th) and spending more time with Kyla (here's hoping!) and other bloggers from across the country
Teaching my twins to ride their bicycles without training wheels
Taking a road trip to Austin, my favorite city, for thrifting, antiques, music and great food
Getting back into a regular running routine and completing my first 5k
Visiting the Dallas Arboretum for their Spring Blooms! event
Meeting more local bloggers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area
Learning to bake a pie from scratch (this one has been on my bucket list for years!)
Reading more, journaling more, writing more
Celebrating my 38th birthday in July with friends and family
Exploring more of the museums here in Dallas and Fort Worth, particularly the Kimble and Dallas Museum of Art
and looking into taking English riding lessons with my daughter.

With each year that passes I become more committed to making my own needs as much of a priority as those of my husband and children. I'm hopeful that the coming year brings as much joy as 2011 did!

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candy striper

2011-12-23T18:46:00.000-05:00

I think you could make a fair assumption that stripes are like candy. Once you get going, it's hard to stop. And the more you have, the sweeter it gets. John's take on the look? "I like your vertical and horizontal stripes." I'm sure he meant, "You look sweet." At least that's what I heard.

I don't know when I will be posting over the next week or so. For the first time in ages, I'm taking 7 whole days off of work. I cannot wait! I'm not even going anywhere. My most exciting plan is to clean my basement. Really, it's a little disturbing how much I'm looking forward to doing so.

Anyway, stay tuned, because I will have some inspiration and entertainment from a few of my favorite blogging ladies coming your way, starting on Monday. Until then ...

HAVE THE BEST, HAPPIEST, MOST EXCITING, MOST LOVING HOLIDAY EVER!

And thank you for making this year one for the books - I love you guys!

ASOS sweater, $20ish (get the look) - Thrifted pants, $4 (get a similar look) - BC booties, $68 (get 'em here)

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