respect the shoes

The Burn

2012-02-10T13:53:00.000-05:00

So remember when I was crowing about trying some new products to help my skin out? Well, I think I may have been a wee too enthusiastic as I am currently nursing what looks like a facial sunburn and feels like my face is on fire. My eyelids are bright pink, my cheeks feel tight and it stings all over.

I had been using the Olay brush about once a day for over a week now with no ill side effects but a few days ago I started using the retinol serum. Just a bit right before bed time since I’ve heard it can be quite strong. Well, I did that for about three nights straight and then … well, it burns. I guess all those reviews with the ladies saying to start off with the serum once every few days so your skin could get used to it – who would have thought so many women could be right? I know ...

Thanks to cover-up and powder I look normal enough to be out in public but my co-workers have definitely noticed that I am more flushed than usual. Like I've gone crazy with the blush on my eye lids and sides of my face. And I silently sit here in my crunchy-skinned prison while everything on my face just hurts. I've obviously stopped using any of my new products as it literally stings when I smooth moisturizer on my face and it's been two days already. Heed the user warnings on the retinol, ladies, that stuff is secretly fierce!

So throw this on top of my previous hair disasters (tiger striped at-home highlighting / ~~self-mutilating~~ bang cutting), eating well woes and continuing "battle" with style. I'm having a good ole time here being me, haha!

Anyone else have any beauty-related woes they want to share to make me feel more normal? ;o)

Jacket: Juicy Couture (worn here - sim here, here)
Top: H&M (worn here - sim here, pricey here)
Skirt: F21 pleated leopard chiffon (worn here - sim here, midi here, maxi here, luxe here)
Brooch: Blinkeye via Etsy (worn here)
Necklace: c/o JewelMint
Tights: Anne Klein
Shoes: Vince Camuto bronco (worn here - sim here)

My Blogging Best

2012-02-08T08:49:00.007-05:00

I love perusing a variety of style blogs for my continuing daily sartorial education – inspiration for a different way to wear a piece I currently own, insight on how some new items may fit a real person, ideas for unique outfit combinations, general camaraderie. But sometimes I may see a particularly out there ensemble and I wonder about the practicality of wearing that out in the world – who can wear a sheer dress to the office? does that person really trek the hills of San Fran in those 6” wooden platforms? how does that gal wear a mohair sweater and two armloads of blinged out bangles and not snag herself through the day?

I know there are loads of different style bloggers out there – ones who purely put together outrageous concoctions for their readers then go back to their daily lives and normal garb, and ones who show what they are really wearing for the day – good, bad or other. I obviously veer towards the latter group, because honestly I don’t have the brain power to put together trend-making ensembles nor the time in the mornings to change into completely different outfits.

However … I have "fudged" on certain things related to how you see me on my blog and what actually works for me in my real life. Here are some truths about my style blogging -

♠ Absolutely I will do stuff like wear my jacket on my shoulders because I’m pretty much always cold at work. However I only do this when I am sitting at my desk. If I’m outside, I am wearing my jacket (like arms through the arm holes wearing), and if I’m moving around indoors doing stuff, that jacket is over my chair and so I can avoid the whole strolling around like some visiting dignitary look.

♠ I do go bare-legged in the winter. Because winter in the SE is laughable most of the times, and because though I get cold often, my legs don’t seem to feel it. Though my toes do get cold, they are usually so smashed up in my shoes it makes no difference - ah, fashion.

♠ The bags I carry in my outfit shoots are the ones I carry for the day. I am ridiculously organized when it comes to the contents of my bags and I usually just have my wallet, keys, phone and cosmetic bag. If my bag is small, I totally am anal retentive and will switch to a smaller wallet. No purse in pic? Means I either haven't bothered to change it from last time and don't think it is a blogging match with my outfit, or I've also been known to shove my wallet and stuff right into my laptop bag for ease.

♠ I do wear the shoes in my pics to work. But I also am well aware of the days when I will be out and about and the ones where I’ll mostly be behind my desk. I have a pair of flats under my desk for unscheduled activities that I will d i e doing if I had to keep my sometimes awkwardly high heels on.

♠ You get to see my purses – you don’t get to see the giant laptop bag I also lug around.

♠ I usually throw my trench coat over whatever I’m wearing for extra warmth.

♠ My pics are normally taken at the beginning of each day – way before I am at my flat-headed and wrinkled "best" at 5pm.

♠ Sometimes I’ll take off some bracelets and/or rings through the day if I have to do a lot of computer work – I can’t stand to have my jewelry banging and clanking around all the time!

♠ My office is business casual-casual so I can get away with wearing jeans, shorts, minis. But I typically only wear Bermuda-length shorts to work and will only do minis with dark tights and on days I know I don’t have any customer or executive interaction.

So here's a nutshell and there I am. Are there any style blog photo liberties that you take between what you show on the blog versus what you really wear out into the world? Are there some items that you can't believe bloggers would actually wear out to more than do photo shoots in?

Sweater: J.Crew tippi (worn here - sim here)
Skirt: J.Crew no. 2 double serge wool (worn here - sim minty here, bluer here)
Jacket: J.Crew tweed khaki (worn here - sim plaid here, solid here)
Necklace: J.Crew resin colorblock (worn here - sim dark pricey here, here)
Bracelet: Sweet Auburn Studio via Etsy (worn here - sim pricey here)
Shoes: Zara cap-toe court (worn here - sim here, slingback here, luxe here)

Super G-Men

2012-02-06T08:50:00.001-05:00

Congrats to my Giants for pulling out another nail biter of a Super Bowl victory! Those guys sure know to keep the audience hanging on until the very end!

Here's the outfit I wore yesterday in my G-men inspired colors. I did take these pics early in the day. And I did end up trading my heels in for some red flats by the time the game started though, since we were going to a friend's house and I didn't want to stomp around like Rumpelstiltskin whenever I got worked up over the game.

I did manage to have beer and pimento cheese on my shirt by half time and near the end of the fourth quarter I gave up all semblance of trying to look cute because I was alternating between hiding under a quilt on the couch or jumping up and down like a maniac due to the antics on the television. Yes, I am one of those annoying people who get worked up over the game and can't watch certain plays so I hide and yell instead.

As you've guessed by now, I am not one of those "cute" sporty girls with the perfect hair nursing my bottle of Michelob Ultra while I snack on grapes and whole wheat pita points - though I try! I am one of those girls who yell profanities at the television over every play with my mouth full of burger and beans. I am pretty sure by the start of the second quarter my lipstick was gone and my hair was relegated to a ponytail so as not to get in the way of my munching and trash talking.

Honestly though, I am not a huge sports fan typically and honestly I could care less about basketball, baseball (unless the Mets are in the World Series ... and I don't have to worry about that much), soccer, hockey or anything else. I'd much rather spend my Sunday afternoons watching Real Housewives reruns while I paint my nails. I watch college football occasionally if it is a group activity and only keep enough of an eye out on the rest of the NFL just to see who is leading. But my Giants ... I make exceptions for my boys in blue.

Are you a sports fan? Do you get riled up over certain games? Or if you don't like sports, what makes you jumping-on-the-couch-yelling-at-the-top-of-your-lungs fanatic?

Top: J.Crew sequin stripe (sim tank here)
Jeans: J.Crew destroyed matchstick (worn here - sim here)
Bag: Kate Spade quilted signature ellen (worn here - sim here, here)
Shoes: Sam Edelman kody (worn here - sim peep here, wedge here, flats here)
Necklace: J.Crew resin colorblock (sim here, -ish here)
Bracelets: F21 stud / Old Navy enamel (sim here, here)

Poppy

2012-02-03T09:34:00.000-05:00

Keep your fingers crossed for a(nother) big NY Giants Superbowl win over the Pats for this Sunday, ladies! I’ll be decked out in my obligatory Giants red, white and blue in support as I power my way through BF’s(in) famous taco bean dip and about 65 Blue Moons (calories don’t count if you’re team is in the Superbowl - it’s a law in at least 46 states, I believe).

I’ve always been a big believer in “rewarding” myself for accomplishing numerous bits of otherwise daily minutae. It's a nice little self-motivator. Just got back from a long business trip? Think I deserve that new pair of Charles Davids. Finished a big project? Time for some varsity bar hopping. Vacuumed the house? Pizza for dinner. Got the empty bottle into the trash on the first try? Virtual self high-five – and a crusty fresh baguette. (Have an idea yet that I loooove rewarding myself with food? That’s why I am always trying to lose that extra 5lbs …)

What’s your favorite indulgence (food or otherwise) when you’re in a celebratory mood?

Dress: J.Crew blythe (sim cas here, here, w/bow here, striped here)
Coat: Banana Republic factory (worn here - sim here, here)
Belt: J.Crew piped glitter (worn here - sim here, here, luxe here)
Shoes: Michael Kors hamilton (worn here - sim here, peep here)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff navajo studs mac (worn here - sim here, here)

(I'll be back to my regular posting - and reading - in the next few days, ladies. Don't you hate it when "work" gets in the way of blogging?)

This Post is Brought to You By ...

2012-01-31T09:13:00.002-05:00

In the past few weeks, I’ve noticed that a few handfuls of really popular style bloggers have announced that they are no longer accepting “courtesy of” items from retailers. Now I don’t know what the real reason is behind this change of heart (was it becoming an ethics issue for them? did they see a noticeable decline in freebies from retailers, so they decided to just give it all up? is it some sort of tax thing? are they going a different direction with their blog? is that just the “in” thing to do right now?) but the general reader consensus was that this is a good thing.

I think we all understand the reaction. Style blogging becomes more editorial and less realistic when bloggers trot around in tons of free swag all the time. As readers, we don’t know if someone is wearing something because that’s what their sponsors wanted or if they would have chosen it themselves. Posts look like commercials. Outfits become seemingly more out of reach because bloggers are toting pieces their readership may not easily be able to afford. I also read somewhere that courtesy items really also undermine the blogger because they’re giving up valuable Internet space that's worth much more than a $20 hat or $50 sweater.

I commend those ladies for deciding to make a change to their blogging lifestyle. But in keeping with my “to each their own” philosophy for life, I don’t see anything wrong with bloggers who do receive freebies. Blogging is a hobby for 99.9% of us in this community and we spend a lot of time doing it for little physical reward, so what's a nice trinket now again? And as a reader, if I see a "courtesy of" item and it makes sense to the blog and doesn’t throw me down and slap me in the face, I have no problems (plus I have fingers, and can click, click, click myself right away if I do).

I’m going to use myself as an example because … well, that’s about as many style bloggers as I really know, but I think (?) my stance would be fairly typical. I have a “real-world“ job and I started my blog for fun. Yes, blogging sometimes feels like a second job considering the time I spend on it, but I never hit “enter” on my Blogger account with the intention of wanting to be compensated or wishing for blogging to be my full-time gig. I know next to nothing about stats or advertising and don’t actively go pursuing sponsors.

I think I’m lucky that a few companies have reached out to me about sending me something to wear or review, and I’ll only do it if it is something where I can give my honest opinion, it is something I would purchase on my own anyways, and is related to fashion. Do I think I’m selling myself out or selling myself short? I don’t think so, because I can still be me - and I’m not here to make money blogging anyways, so I consider getting a cute necklace for free is bonus.

Now I know everyone doesn’t agree with me here (plus it’s not like I’m an expert or “above it all”), so please feel free to be honest: What do you think about bloggers who receive “courtesy of” items?

I'll never stop being amazed that how much better my skin looks in pics than it does in real life ... sigh.

Top: J.Crew vintage tank (sim here)
Sweater: J.Crew factory ocelot (worn here - sim here, darker here, long here)
Pants: Gap modern tuxedo (sim here, here, here)
Shoes: Boutique 9 via Anthropologie botanist heeled (worn here - same on sale here)
Necklace: Laila Rowe (worn here - sim here, here)
Bracelets: F21, T+J Designs neon cuff, Asos pyramid stretch (sim here, here, here)

Five Minutes With Kathryn {In Pursuit of Pretty Things}

2012-01-30T09:09:00.030-05:00

This edition of Five Minutes With ... features one of my favorite bloggers - a stylish fashionista with a penchant for Anthropologie, a wicked sense of humor, and a healthily unhealthy love for all things Mighty Ducks. So I won't bore you with my words anymore, but I am happy have spent a few (virtual) minutes with Kathryn, half of the style blogging dynamic duo who bring us In Pursuit of Pretty Things!

1. Most people don’t know that I was once asked to participate in filming a major motion picture.

2. My husband makes me smile.

3. I hate having to decide on "grown-up things".

4. Raiding the food table is what I am most likely to be found doing during a party.

5. The best thing I like about blogging is connecting with other people who have shared interests.

6. My least favorite thing about blogging is when Blogger decides to crash and burn, deleting your entire post in the process.

7. Traveling to Europe after a painful breakup was the moment that changed my life.

8. I can’t live without my family and friends.

9. My favorite part of the day is ...hm. You’ll have to check back with me on this one in the future, but my favorite part of the day used to be when I’d go and visit my mommy.

10. Those Chinese herbal medicines I had to drink when I was really sick were the worst thing I ever consumed.

11. To be brave is to admit weakness.

12. You can tell I am angry when I get super passive-aggressive. Or start yelling like a madwoman. Or both.

13. Musical improvisation scares the heck out of me. I can play notes written on a page, but I can’t come up with my own thing.

14. My favorite useless skill is uh, I dunno? I used to know Will Smith’s dance routine from the “Men In Black” music video, does that count?

15. My co-blogger, Carol, cracks me up.

16. If I had a theme song, it would be ...this is an ever-changing thing, but at the moment? Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the USA.” Why? Because it’s a ridiculous song and I am nothing if not abso-freaking-lutely ridiculous. And besides, sometimes all it takes is a certain song to come on the radio to make you feel like everything’s gonna be okay. So I put my haaaands up…

17. Hm. I’ve just come off of a tough year, so I’m not quite prepared to answer this one at the moment… is what I am most looking forward to about the start of a new year.

18. My idea of a dream come true is ...you know, I used to think about “if only this” and “if only that” and stuff. After caring for my mother through her illness, I feel like my dream come true now would be to have happy dinners around the kitchen table with my family again, my father telling stories and my mother laughing alongside him, with my brother periodically interjecting random facts.

19. I love being asked to go out for Korean BBQ. Or dim sum. Do you get the feeling I like food a lot?

20. Snuggling with a good book and my fluffy anteater stuffed animal is my favorite way to stay warm in the winter.

Thanks so much for participating, Kathryn! Your thoughfulness, humor and style are well-noted and have made your blog one of my favorite reads. You and Carol have put some fantastic creative energy into your outfits, photo shoots and blog posts that are informative, sweet and hilarious.

May 2012 bring another fantastic year of pretty things worth pursuing!

Red for Me & Mint for You!

2012-01-27T08:59:00.006-05:00

So a tee is a tee is a tee - or is it?

The folks behind StyleMint have generously asked me to try some of their collection pieces recently and I opted for the Venice tee as my first pic. StyleMint is a subscription clothing club where you buy pieces designed by Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen. Tees are $29.99 each, which includes shipping, so it is a heckuva modern-day deal. Tops run the gamut from the classic striped tee to rocker chic and back again.

It's run by the same folks who do JewelMint (see my review here), so the process is simple and pain-free. You can join StyleMint for free and won't get charged anything until your first purchase. After that, you have the option of opting out each month if you don't see anything you like, plus you can cancel at any time.

If the weather was more appealing and I was going to go out with the girls, this is how I'd want to wear the Venice tee:

Top: c/o StyleMint (I opted for size 2 for the looser fit, I think their size chart is pretty accurate)
Skirt: H&M pleather (worn here - sim here, here)
Belt: J.Crew metallic skinny (sim here, here)
Shoes: Sam Edelman kody (worn here - sim here, patent here, wedge here)
Necklaces: Definitely Different & The Circle is Cast via Etsy (sim here, here)
Bracelets: F21, J.Crew (sim here, here, here)
Clutch: Kate Spade shuffled embossed stacy (sim here, here)

But let's come back to reality and remember how cold and wet the SE is this time of year - and that my girls and I would prefer to hang out over pizza and beer while shoulder dancing and talking like truckers, so this is what I'm actually wearing:

Coat: Banana Republic factory (sim here, here)
Pants: F21 ankle skinny (worn here - sim for a steal here & here)
Necklace: White Owl via Etsy (worn here - sim here, gold here)

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

And here's a great bonus for you ladies! StyleMint is offering 20% off your first purchase! Use code RPCTSM when placing your order - it expires in 10 days (February 5th), so don't miss out!

They Tryin' Catch Me Ridin' Dirty

2012-01-25T15:47:00.002-05:00

Thanks to me, most of you already know that my BF is terrible with laundry so I do all the washing. My love for over-sharing has also made most of you aware that BF has a habit of wearing things once (once meaning any stretch of time between twenty minutes to two days straight) before tossing them in – OK, in the proximity of – the hamper.

I do all the laundry because I’ll actually take the time to separate darks or lights and use the different settings on the washer or dryer. I also do all the laundry because then I can toss clothes that are still “pretty clean” to me (meaning those that have been worn in a climate-controlled, splatter-free zone for a period of less than one work day) straight into the dryer with a sheet to "refluff" them for another wear.

I certainly do this pseudo clothing "spin cycle" with my own clothes. Skirt and top worn for a four hours where I pretty much sat in front of my computer? Tumble, maybe iron, then hang it back up, it is good to go. Sweater I may have worn for two hours before deeming it was too warm and tossing in my car for the rest of the day? May just get folded again and replaced straight back into my drawer. Dry clean clothes – I may very well wear them again (and maybe again - and maybe ...) dependent on condition after each wear.

Does BF know that I don't automatically wash everything he's already touched? I don't think he can tell once everything is freshened, flattened and folded or hung. Plus as far as I know, he doesn't read the blog, so he'll never know, bwahah- oh, not a bwahah-worthy moment?

Now I am assuming this is pretty normal behavior, but I’ve never asked before, so are you gals reading along and mentally nodding, asking for where the big “So what?” is? Or are you instead kind of grimacing at the monitor hoping you’ll never be unlucky enough to run into me and grubbies in a dark alley?

How do you keep your clothes fresh between cleanings? Or am I just naively a dirty person and clothes need to be laundered after each individual wear?

Top: J.Crew spangled stripes (worn here - sim here, here, tunic here, cardi here)
Skirt: F21 fitted knit (worn here - sim here, here, lighter here)
Collar: Asos gold sequin (worn here - sim necklace here, luxe here)
Bag: Cooperative by UO mixed media neon (worn here)
Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction swim n fool (worn here - sim here, here)

Fuchsia Green Grey

2012-01-24T10:12:00.001-05:00

So this outfit looked better in my head, even though I know in real life it's not terrible (it's not terrible, right?) I've always been a fan of those gals who can rock a pair of crumbly baggy pants with sky high heels, a ratty men's undershirt of a tank and some sort of jacket and make it all seem like a legit ensemble. It has always seemed so laidback cool to me - like she cares but she doesn't, she's polished but in a really casual comfort-first way, she's sexy but doesn't need to flaunt it. Sure, most of those gals are usually named Beyonce or Halle Berry or at minimum 5'10" tall sans shoes, but who gets hung up on details?

I figured if I played around with the fit of the pieces, add in a collared shirt and some color, I could make it work appropriate and more realistic for a shortie like myself. And though I don't dislike this look, one of my first thoughts after I glanced in the mirror was "wannabe hipster farmer flight attendant" so that started things off well. Hey y'all, would you like some raw Spanish peanuts or pretzels with organic fleur de sel?

So that's me explaining away my outfit, like I need to defend (or excuse) myself for my style choices. Which I know I don't. And if something doesn't work, well, chances are that I'm the only one that'll really notice and lesson learned. But I'm really comfortable. And I'm fairly certain that I may try another similar ensemble again because as much as it doesn't really fit my body (remember these?), I can't help loving a baggy tapered cropped pant.

What do you do when the outfit you're wearing is not quite right? Do you roll with the excuses when someone makes a comment about it, mess with it work, or rock it like you meant it? If a trend you like doesn't seem to work for you, do you still keep trying?

Jacket: Zara jersey blazer (sim here, here, pricey here, neon here)
Top: Old Navy (sim here, tunic here, pricey here or pink-er here)
Pants: Loft ripstop cargo (1/23 now on super-sale)
Necklace: Definitely Different via Etsy (worn here)
Shoes: Nine West aroundtown (sim flats here)
Bracelet: F21 faceted cube (worn here - sim here)
Clutch: Coach signature poppy demi (old, sim here)

Wise Men Say Only Fools Rush In

2012-01-23T09:07:00.003-05:00

First off, big props to my boys, BIG BLUE! That was a nail-biter eye-covering bit of a game last night, but the Giants know how to pull out a dramatic victory!

Second, Happy Lunar New Year to my asian peeps! Year of the dragon, rarrr!

Third, thanks to you ladies, for all your great skincare recs last week. I ended up skimping on the Clarisonic (I'm intrinsically cheap, I can't help it) and instead purchased the Olay cleansing brush, along with the cleanser. I also got a new anti-wrinkle daily moisturizer with SPF at the rec of a friend, and did splurge on a retinol serum, Replenix (serums are the thing, right?). I'm also going to start doing the hote towel before washing, cold towel after washing thing. I may or may not be getting more than I need right now, but I figure better earlier than too little too late?

I also thought that I need to act fast to take care of my skin because when I am on my own with it, I do it no favors. Case in point, blatantly picking at and squeezing a pimple last night and ending up with more angry than I intended (though, what else did I expect?) I am going to spare you ladies the sight of my heinous blemish and instead post these pics from an outfit I wore last week - though I may need to figure out how to use that Picasa touchup tool! Wish there was a "touchup tool" for real life though ...

Since I'm going ahead to admit to that, I may as well let you know that I used to be a chronic nail biter - and still sometimes to resort back to it when I am highly stressed. My left forefinger is my most likely victim as it usually happens when I am sitting in front of the computer at work and typically my right hand is on the mouse.

Waaaaay back in the day, like elementary school, I used to chew on my hair too - not even sure why, probably because I saw some of the more popular gals with the long gorgeous locks doing it and I was just so thankful to have hair long enough to stick in my mouth. Nowadays, I apparently just like trimming my bangs between pro cuts and doing them way too short - yes, this is the second time I've done so in a few months. Just randomness!

Do you gals have any horrible habits that you totally know you shouldn't but can't help it?

Sweater: Ann Taylor marled wool shrug (worn here - sim here, casual here)
Top: J.Crew evie (size 2 sold on my blog sale here - sim here, here, tunic here)
Skirt: Loft patch pocket scuba (sim pencil here)
Tights: Anne Klein herringbone (sim here)
Boots: Vince Camuto bronco (worn here - sim here, here)
Necklace: Asos (sim plain here, here, red here)
Bracelets: J.Crew bangle / F21 stretch pyramid stud / J.Crew crystal abacus (sim here, here, here)
Lips: Dior creme de gloss in cream rose (441)

Skin(ny) Dipping

2012-01-20T09:23:00.003-05:00

I partly chalk this up to watching too many episodes of the Real Housewives - and I know the ridiculousness in wanting to compare even a bit of my life with those well-to-do well-kept women who seem to pretty much spend their days lunching but not eating, tossing back the pinot and going to their plastic surgeon's office to get "touch ups" (between bouts of wig-pulling and snarking, of course). But let's face it, I'm not getting any younger here and it about time that I start taking care of myself and my skin - and I mean really start taking care of it, and more than just in the wash and moisturize daily way.

Problem is, I've always been a bit of a DIY-er when it comes to skincare. I have the requisite bottles of ointments and serums to keep my face all soft and shiny, I Biore strip, I use a home microderm kit. I've only actually been to the spa twice in my life and have had a whopping one whole facial (you can thank my old tomboy ways and my not-a-stitch-of-makeup wearing mom for thinking things like that were "frivolous.")

But I am realizing that as I get older, regardless of how cool my heels are or what a nice skirt I have, it won't mean a thing if I have a face full of sallow wrinkly dark spots. I already have a love/hate relationship with my freckles. I still occassionally get acne. I dark circles under my eyes and am starting to see wrinkles. My pores are not invisible nor immaculately clean. And honestly I am kind of scared to death of getting (OK, looking) old. So I think I need to do something - but I don't know what!

I am a professional skincare newbie and know next to nothing about the various peels, lasers, facials out there. I don't even know how or where to start (should I be going to a spa, med spa or plain ole dermatologist?)

So I need your help, ladies, and some advice. What would you recommend for a gal who wants to start really taking care of her skin (and vainly looking youthful) but doesn't know how? What are some of my options that don't break the bank or aren't too evasive?

Sweater: Lands' End performance (worn here - sim here)

Shirts: Lands' End Canvas floral poplin (worn here - sim here) / J.Crew neon gingham (worn here - sim here, here)

Jeans: J.Crew destroyed matchstick (sim here)

Belt: J.Crew embossed (sim here)

Necklace: Old Navy ethnic statement (worn here - sim here, blue here)

Shoes: Sam Edelman kody (worn here - sim here, wedge here, peep-toe here)

As a "bonus" for your Friday, doggie attack:

Give Me Your Tired ...

2012-01-19T09:15:00.003-05:00

This has been said by me many-a-time, but my style has changed greatly from when I first started my blog. Mostly for the better, I think - I am unafraid to wear skirts now, I have learned to accessorize, I have more than one purse and have realized that I need to make at least a halfway effort with hair and makeup when I get ready in the morning. Because a frizzy-haired splotch-faced girl in a dress is still a frizzy-haired splotch-faced girl regardless of how nice the dress is.

I spent a bit of time over the weekend looking back through my blog archives and those first few months after I started posting outfits. I know we're supposed to give ourselves a bit of slack and understand that not all our outfits are going to be super innovative interesting or real winners. But I kind of feel that part of the "responsibility" of style blogging is to post stuff that someone might actually take inspiration from, or that we may be proud to share. We may not do blog as full-time jobs but we also don't go around sharing with the world pics of us in our sweatpants and circa 1998 ratty tees.

So I was kind of surprised myself with how many cringe-worthy outfit moments I found in my archives. I'm glad that my style is ever-evolving and my tastes change - but at some point in the near past I had put together these ill-fittng pieces and felt good in them? Can I chalk it up to "youth?" See examples of just some of my poor previous fashion choices:

Wanna drop a link in the comments and share some of your not-so-awesome early blog day outfit posts? Or if you don't want to start a case of digging up that old shit, wanna share in writing some of your non-stellar clothes pairings in the past? And how do you think you've grown sartorially from your original days of blogging?

Sweater: Loft dolman sleeve poncho (sim here)
Top: J.Crew striped perfect boatneck (worn here - sim here, v here)
Jeans: J.Crew corduroy bootcut (worn here - sim here)
Shoes: Boutique 9 via Anthropologie botanist heeled (worn here - same here / here)
Bag: Cooperative by UO mixed media neon (worn here)
Necklace: Anthropologie tinsley strung (worn here - sim here, here, pricey here)
Bracelets: F21 & Asos pyramid stretch (sim here, here, rose here, stacked here)
Outfit inspired by Dea.

Clean House

2012-01-18T09:31:00.003-05:00

BF is away on business this week so "woe is me" aside, I am kind of looking forward to some good ole me me me time. I'm typically the neat one in the relationship, so when BF is home, I sometimes feel like a live-in maid because I spend quite a bit of time figuratively trailing behind him cleaning up.

I call the BF "Crumbs" sometimes because he leaves a path through the house of everywhere he's been or touched - wadded up tissues on the counters, half-drunk water glasses everywhere, remnants of mail all over the living room, worn clothes on the floor, shoes all over, sunglasses in the pantry, car keys next to the sink, vitamin bottles scattered throughout the kitchen, dirty dishes on the coffee table, crumbs on the couch, blindly stuffing more trash in bin when it is clearly full.

Now I'm no Miss Perfect Everything, but I am a bit of a Type A with some OCD thrown in - so when BF doesn't do something the way it should be done in my head, I can't help but to fix it.

But when BF is gone and there's no one for me to set an example for ... well, I may lax a bit. Like forget to make the bed or fold the clothes or pick up the dirty towels kind of lax. Like sit on the couch all evening watching Real Housewives reruns while the dishes pile up. Eating chips and painting my nails. In my jammies. At 7:05 at night. Like a total crumbly hypocrite.

And then the day that BF is scheduled to come back ... mad dash to clean, tidy, wash, hide all traces of my secret slovenly ways. Be found gracefully reading on the armchair with my coastered cup of tea sitting on the immaculate coffee table, pillows perfectly fluffed, dog brushed, floors gleaming.

OK, fairly certain BF knows that I am a clost slob, but he's too nice to say anything. But I appreciate that he plays along. Probably because of fear, haha!

When you're home alone for a few days, what do you like to do (or not do) that you can't when other inhabitants are around?

Top: J.Crew tissue t-neck

Skirt: Left of Center by Anthropologie diagonal divide (worn here - sim solid here, -ish here)

Jacket: Juicy Couture (worn here - sim here, luxe here)

Belt: Asos metal keeper (sim here)

Shoes: Etienne Aigner ethel (worn here - sim here)

Necklaces: The Circle is Cast & c/o Simply Livly via Etsy

(Ugh, still having Blogger issues, so I'm not able to comment on some of your blogs - hopefully this glitch will be fixed soon!)

Caught Red-Legged

2012-01-17T10:46:00.001-05:00

I wore "bit" of red yesterday in honor of my Giants, who trounced another team on their way to the NFC Championship game - you're next, 49ers!

This is my first foray into colored tights - a trend that until now I've really been deathly afraid of. I'm a big fan of bright colors but the candy-coated leg hues seemed a little too in-your-face intentional to me, a little young. Plus I have a personal thing on tights and shoes that don't match - it's just one of my weird personal sartorial quirks.

Because I had loads of fashion quirks - Like until recently, gold and silver accessories couldn't co-mingle. Or if it is a brown-tone, then my belt and shoes need to match. Skinny pants must be paired with a long top or jacket. I can't wear earrings, necklaces and bracelets all together. Unless they are the bermuda type, then shorts can only be paired with flats or wedges. For proper business attire, my hair must be pulled up. Navy doesn't get paired with grey or brown, unless it is more like a camel or tan. I could go on, but your eyes will start watering.

This kind of color I can live with - kind of. Gloomy weather has brought about terrible lighting, so you can't really tell how bright I feel these tights are, but only exposing a bit of leg and keeping everything else toned down keeps this in the wearable realm for me, and doesn't make me resemble a cast member from Disney Clubhouse. Sure, some of you ladies may retch for a variety of pretty legit reasons, but for some reason, this is acceptable to all the funny rules in my head.

Do you have any personal style rules that you abide by? What are your quirks?

Dress: Asos sweater shift (worn here - sim here, collared here, strappy here)
Jacket: J.Crew Robert Noble herringbone (worn here - sim here)
Belt: Anthropologie infinity (worn here - sim here)
Tights: Asos 80 denier red (sim here)
Boots: Type Z (worn here - sim here, here)
Brooch: Blinkeye via Etsy
Rings: Banana Republic flower & c/o JewelMint (sim here, here)
Clutch: Rebecca Minkoff (worn here - sim-ish here, as a tote here, w/navy here)

Making Friends

2012-01-13T12:51:00.002-05:00

This is old news by now, but I still can't help but still be miffed that Google Friend Connect is going away, at least for non-Blogger sites. As a non-techie gal, my introduction to the world of blogging came through Blogger because it was easy to get set up. I started following blogs through GFC because it was an easy extension of my Blogger account and it seemed like the GFC tag was everywhere, at least for the blogs I frequented. But now - this change?

Now if you host your site through Blog, you apparently are unaffected and can continue to utilize GFC to your heart's content. But if you're not on Blogger? Well, it is sounding like you have until March 1 to figure out another way to have your readers follow your site. (Kelly did a pretty thorough overview of this here, and it was also covered by IFB here).

I know this is mixed news for people - you either don't care, are running down the halls trying to figure out what to do with your blog or you're relieved that "the popularity contest" of GFC numbers may be behind a lot of us. I am admittedly pretty naive when it comes to blog following - I always thought GFC was the only way to follow a blog. Why else would everyone have a GFC gadget displayed so prominently on their blogs?

Is GFC a bit of a numbers game to see follower figures in that kind of awkward box? Sure, absolutely, but you can just as easily see it on Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin, etc. Do I think that the number of GFC followers affect whether or not someone chooses to follow - or not - a blog, or what its content is worth it? Heck no. Though yes, advertisers do look at that sort of stuff, but come on, how many of us are making any sort of living with our blogs?

I use Blogger so I am technically unaffected, but I can't help but to hate change. Especially on a platform where I feel precarious as is - platform for me meaning computers in general - one change usually signals the start of more changes in my brain (Google+, anyone?). And as much as I'd like to just sit here and be all like "numbers don't mean a thing," my numbers do mean a lot to me. It has taken me over two years of actively posting to have the following I do now on GFC, and I continue to be extremely flattered that so many of you choose to read my blog. I feel like I "know" so many of you and love this little hobby of mine - I know I'm totally being selfish and vain here, but I 'd hate to think of anything that could affect it!

What are your thoughts about GFC going away for some blogs? Are you affected? How do you keep track of the blogs you read?

Sweater: For the Republic (worn here - sim-ish here, BW here, purple here)
Top: Lands' End Canvas floral poplin (worn here - sim big dots here)
Skirt: H&M pleather (worn here - sim here)
Tights: UO graphic scroll (worn here - sim sheer here, color here)
Necklace: White Owl via Etsy (worn here - sim pleather here, flower here, beaded here)
Belt: Asos metal keeper (same in baby blue, lavender)
Shoes: Franco Sarto gamble (worn here - sim here)
Bracelets: Old Navy enamel, F21 animal (sim here, here, here, here)

(BTW, looks like Blogger is making some updates recently - hello "reply" button! But has anyone else had any issues accessing some blogs? Some blogs are blanking out on the screen if I try to click to specific posts to comment - assuming these are temp glitches? Maybe?)

Shopping Someone Else's Closet

2012-01-12T14:49:00.002-05:00

Let's get it all out on the table here: I don't thrift. None of my gal pals thrift so it never comes up as an option on shopping trips, my first few forays into attempted thrifting left me fleeing stores packed with bad smells on stained aceta-poly-on, and honestly I don't have the patience to look through the racks of meh to find the treasures that are out there. I know awesome deals can be had, unique pieces can be found, and for the really crafty, old frocks can be re-engineered into something custom and gorgeous. But I don't do it.

My idea of thrifting is typically Ebay or Etsy, which means most of the dirty work is already done for me and I can just "tra la la" my way through a selection of sorted goodies. But I hate to battle it out on Ebay and sometimes the "because it's vintage" pricing on Etsy is less than awesome. So that was just one of the reasons I was thrilled when my blog friend Eleanor decided to open her online shop, Katy-Did Vintage, because now I have another alternative (and I like my alternatives) to find unique, pre-loved goodies.

Another reason I was thrilled is because I get happy whenever I see a fellow member of our style blog community do something that they are truly have a passion for. Eleanor is a long-time style blogger who formerly had a jet-setting but exhaustive lifestyle. She willingly gave up the grueling hours to spend more time with her family and pursue her true interests, and I applaud her for her daring to go against the grain of what is expected and do what she chooses. From that, Katy-Did Vintage was able to evolve organically out of Eleanor's love of thrifting.

And boy, am I am glad when someone else can do the weeding for me!

Eleanor generously sent me this dress to try from her collection at Katy-Did. I'll admit, this is probably not something I would've picked out on my own as I tend to veer from maxis, but that's where I give credit to Eleanor for seeing potential. After trying the dress on and playing around with it, I was really surprised at how much I liked it. You can see another example of Eleanor's thrift prowess in Pamela's post here and in her daily outfit posts on her own blog.

Do you thrift? What are your tips for a successful trip? Or if you're like me, why don't you thrift?

Dress: c/o Liz Claiborne via Katy-Did Vintage
Belt: Anthropologie (worn here - sim here, here, here)
Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction swim n fool (worn here - sim here, platform here, pricey here)
Necklace: Anthropologie gold finger (worn here - sim on sale here, here, pricey here)
Bracelets: Old Navy enamel (sim here, here, here)

Fitting My Pants

2012-01-10T08:52:00.000-05:00

There’s nothing quite like the feeling you get when you pull a pair of trousers out of the closet that you haven’t worn in a while because they’ve always been a bit too big, and you find that they now fit you. Curve-hugging, in fact. Quite. A. Feeling.

I’m the first to admit that for the last month or so, my workouts have diminished to about nothing and my diet has suffered from a weeks-long bout of “it’s the holidays, so calories don’t count.” I know it is no dire straits, that it isn't all woe-is-me-look-how-chunked-out-I’ve-become because I know I am not that big, but I think that for a gal my height (5’2” on a good day), I need to take special care with what I eat. The days of munching whatever right along with the guys are behind me now. Literally.

I don't know about the rest of you ladies, but I feel like the first few pounds of weight gain come almost imperceptibly, but when you notice them, it hits like a ton of bricks. I don't need to be stick thin but I want to be the same size that most of my clothes think that I am. And it is exactly those "just a handful or two" of pounds I want to lose that for me are the hardest. Because I don't want to be all fad-y, and just drop them all at once because I love food too much to eat like a bird all the time. I want to be able to lose my weight gradually and be able to maintain it. Unfortunately even before the holidays, I feel like I've been on a health stalemate and whatever weight I do gain, it pitches a tent and plans to Occupy Lisa.

So please help me out, ladies. I think there's a different mindset between having to lose a bunch of weight and doing a total lifestyle change to accomplish it, and just having to take a few pounds off the top. What do you normally do to just lose a bit of weight? What are the little things that you do every day to help you maintain your weight and keep away the muffin tops?

Sweater: J.Crew tippi (worn here - sim cable here)
Shirt: Lands' End Canvas gingham poplin (worn here - sim here, here)
Necklace: Anthropologie tinsley strung (worn here - sim here, -ish here)
Pants: Loft chambray trousers (sim here, here, here)
Bag: Cooperative by UO mixed media neon
Shoes: Etienne Aigner ethel (worn here)

High Style

2012-01-09T08:53:00.003-05:00

The beginning of a new year usually makes a person reflective of the time that has passed. Like thinking about old best friends. And wondering how anyone could be crazy enough to be friends with me considering my non-style style way back when.

In high school, my style was ... in development. I had zero sense of what looked good on me, so I pretty much wore whatever fit - which at the time for me meant living in J.Crew men's wool rollnecks (remember those thick, cozy old school ones with the rolled hem too?), men's puffer jackets and baggy jeans. I wore absolutely no make-up and can not remember for the life of me what my hair looked like, but it probably wasn't encouraging.

I went through a phase of trying to look more feminine by wearing cheapie sheer floral tops from Strawberry's - does anyone still remember that place? I kind of can't believe they are still around - with men's tanks underneath and my typical ill-fitting jeans. Yes, I was clearly channeling an uncoordinated Fly Girl.

I believe my ultimate high school fashion coup (and by coup, I mean "I can't believe that I survived that atrocity") was wearing big jeans with Doc Marten-wannabes, a blue and red striped men's puffer jacket and a sheer white lace billowy blouse over a men's tank with my white sports bra showing through under the arms. For realz.

I'm still not sure what kind of impression I was trying to make with that outfit, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't what I came across as. Who I really was back then was a mousy bookworm but would've rather been nose-deep in Wuthering Heights than Glamour magazine, a quiet gal to everyone except to those whom I was close to - to them, I was a big mouth (sorry, friends). To those I didn't know, I must have seemed like some trying-too-hard wannabe with a penchant to flash my non-existent cleavage.

Everything else from high school was a mass of of fashion-deprived blur: cast-offs from my big sis mixed with no-brand sneaks, bad jeans (there were loads of bad jeans), too-big-for-me men's jackets. Mostly dark colors - not goth-y black, but navys, hunter greens, deep burgundies. Enough to make me resemble a murky brown blob from a distance. That was high school.

In the spirit of reminiscing (and cringing), what was your high school style? Do you recall any specific teenage outfit "triumphs?"

Forgive me for the terrible picture quality - I wore this over the weekend and this is
what I get for taking pics in the late afternoon in the winter!

Sweater: J.Crew shawl popover (worn here - sim here, here)
Shirt: Zara animal print (worn here - sim here, here, luxe here)
Jeans: Loft modern bootcut (worn here - sim here)
Bag: Kate Spade quilted signature ellen (check stores, sim here, here, croc here)
Shoes: Zara cap-toe court (on sale, check stores, worn here - sim here, delicate here, luxe here)
Necklace: The Circle is Cast via Etsy (sim here, here)
Bracelets: Old Navy enamel & F21 studded (sim here, here)

From the Frozen Tundra ...

2012-01-06T08:19:00.001-05:00

You know when it is mid-August and all you can stand to put on your body is a thin tee and a pair of shorts, cuteness be damned? Well, I am getting the reversed winter version of that now, as in the SE we are just beginning to get really cold (or at least it was earlier this week - and I completely understand that 40-degree weather is not defined as "really cold" by ~~some~~ most ... and I am acutely aware it is still early January and we've got two and half more months at least of bone-chilling ahead of us) and suddenly all I want to do is wrap a warm scarf about twenty times around my neck and get into my snuggliest woolens.

Which means that it is getting difficult to get myself dressed in the mornings, even after jumping into the steaming shower and cranking up the heat. It is hard to motivate myself to think of interesting clothing combinations when all I want is a sweatshirt, jeans and big fuzzy booties.

It also doesn't help that I have been all about the skirts this past year and pup makes it difficult for me to look decent winterizing my look with dark tights, as I literally have to put them on at the last minute before dashing out or spend time tape-patting down my legs at the office. Her hair, it is Everywhere. Plus I realized that I don't really like to wear tights. And I pretty much only have a dozen variations on black tights, since I am still scared of color on my legs.

Yes, this whole post has pretty much been one big whine because the weather is not 75-degrees perfect everyday, I hate to bundle up, and I don't really have a winter coat. I am resigned to being cold and am going to wah wah wah all about it. Lucky yous. And don't even look at the forecast for the SE for the remainder of the week because as I sit here sniveling about the cold, the temps are rising ...

I did get dressed appropriately yesterday and managed to be mostly pup fur-free through most of the day, so with that, let's look on to brighter things. What are you looking forward to donning once the weather becomes more pleasant? How do you survive the winter chills?

Dress: Lands' End Canvas pleated tartan (worn here - sim here, here, here)
Sweater: Gap v-neck (worn here - sim here, here)
Belt: Anthropologie infinity (worn here - sim here)
Tights: Anne Klein
Boots: Vince Camuto bronco (worn here - sim here, here)
Bracelet: F21 facted cube (worn here - sim here, bling-y here, mixed metal here)

Acid Jeans, Huskies, Chicken Nugs

2012-01-04T09:05:00.004-05:00

The timeframe is a bit fuzzy for me, but it was either in 7th or 8th grade when I first met my soon-to-be bestie, S. I sat behind her in homeroom and introduced myself by kicking the back of her chair and making lewd jokes. Shortly after that, we were inseparable in our goofy acid washed denim, bobo branded sneaker, over-sized jacket togetherness. Through junior high and high school, we were two geeky kids who hung out at each other's homes gossiping, shopping, eating and doing stupid but fun things.

In my inexperienced eyes, S's life was eclectic and fascinating. She and her little sis got to speak to their parents like equals and crack jokes and sit in with the adults when they had people over for poker. S at one time had one Siberian Husky, two fish and no fewer than four cats. She got to fly down to Atlanta during the Olympics to sell pins - what seemed like exotic freewheeling to me. S got to join the USA Shaolin Temple to learn kung fu, took guqin classes, volunteered at a museum. When we went to see movies together, S often bought, snuck in, and consumed by herself an entire 20-pack of Chicken McNuggets.

In comparison, my family and I were straight-laced Asians. My parents and big sis worked. I was a studious latch-key kid with no fashion sense and a quiet demeanor. But we complemented each other and "got" each other. S and I went to the same high school, shared a limo for prom, cried over not going to the same college. S majored in art history, had trouble finding a job once out of school, then decided to go back to study accounting.

We started growing apart around college because we didn't go to the same school and started making friends in ever-differing circles - you know the deal. I moved away right after graduating and though we tried at first, it became increasing difficult to stay connected and stay close. S and I still vaguely stay in touch, but we aren't in each other's lives. I don't think we could really consider each other friends anymore - but that's okay, that's life. We move on, make new connections.

Who is your bestie? Are you still in touch? What do you like the most about your pal?

Jacket: J.Crew Robert Noble herringbone (worn here - sim brighter here, cas here, tweed here)

Top: Market via Anthropologie standby ode (pinned up)

Pants: Loft modern corduroy bootcut (worn here - sim here, pricey here)

Scarf: gift (sim here, cashmere here)

Shoes: Etienne Aigner ethel (worn here)

Rings: c/o Jewelmint & Banana Republic (sim here, here, simpler here, sim feel here, here)

Back-to-Back

2012-01-02T10:46:00.068-05:00

Jacket: Boden fringed tweed (worn here - sim here, pricey here, luxe here)
Dress: Gap ponte knit (worn here - sim here, here, sequin-y here)
Belt: J.Crew piped glitter (worn here - sim here, luxe here)
Shoes: Seychelles via Anthropologie raines aka ring in the new year (worn here - sim here, flats here)
Tights: Anthropologie berry bush (worn here - sim here, here)
Necklace: Definitely Different via Etsy (sim here, silver luxe here)
Bracelet: Tiffany 1837 sterling (worn here - sim wide here, here)

★ ★ ★ ★

Happy 2012, ladies! I hope you've all had a terrific holidays with too much of almost everything.

Mine was fantastic, if not exhausting. I know that I'm blessed to have been able to visit my fam in NYC, then have BF fly up to join me for a few days while we stayed at the Tribeca Grand, before flitting down to visit BF's mom and big sis in Knoxville, then a drive to see his dad. We had not attempted to visit all our family for the holidays before so it was am exhilirating mix of excitement, exhaustion, and tons of dirty laundry into two crammed carry-ons.

BF has only been to NYC briefly before and I have not lived there in years, so it was nice to play tour guide / tourist and fall back in crush with my hometown. Despite the c-c-chilly weather, we did a ton of walking and stopped by most of the major Manhattan sites - ate, ate, ate - and let ourselves go with the flow despite the holiday crowds. We hope to be able to go back when it gets warmer and spend more time revisiting some neighborhoods that we only had time to glance at.

Below is a medley of pics from last week - it was fuh-reezing in NYC when I was there, so I bundled as best as I could:

And in less than 24 hours, I went from "bright lights, big city" to visiting BF's dad, chopping trees, feeding cows and driving a track loader (for realz):

Back to our regularly-scheduled blogging this week and I'll be catching up on your blogs shortly!

There are a Few of My Favorite Things: 2011 Edition

2011-12-29T09:08:00.001-05:00

Year-end almost always means a time for reflection. This being a fashion-related blog, I felt the need to reflect on some of my best purchases from 2011 - what items really spoke to me and did I purchase happily without regret? Here's my top ten from 2011:

1. Rebecca Minkoff - where was my life before you?

2. J.Crew's "modern red" - sure it is not really red, but this punchy orange color has been my constant go-to through summer and fall. Keep these brights up!

3. Dressed up sweats - J.Crew, I live in your sweats on the weekends.

4. Sam Edelman adena - These weren't cheap but also not that expensive for a pair of comfy shoes that also made me feel very high fashion.

5. Anthropologie hello sunday blazer - This is cheating because I technically purchased this jacket in 2010. But I didn't really start to wear it, and love the bold statement, until this year. I think this jacket was the start of my striped obsession.

6. Lands' End Canvas gingham poplin - This was a favorite in 2010 but I had it give it another round of adulation since I purchased more colors this year.Gingham continues to be a favorite of mine and I adore wearing it as a neutral.

7. Anthropologie greybar coat - This is an old Anthropologie item. I tried it on in-store years ago and had always regretted not purchasing it. Then a few weeks ago I spotted it on Ebay. And I had to buy it and had to mention it here, even though I haven't even had a chance to wear it in an "official" blog capacity yet. And yes, for a person who normally loves to wear patterns and bright colors, it is hard to not look like a crazy pattern blast lady in this coat ... but I loves it!

8. Xhiliration by Target teanna platforms - The best cheapie shoe purchase for me. I loved the look so much I bought them in two colors. Trendy platform comfort for only $20 a pair? Score!

9. Forever 21 leopard pleated skirt - Cheap, on trend, flippy fun. What could be better?

10. The ring - okay, I didn't buy this, but this is probably the single most important purchase made in my household for 2011. I've been told this is going to change my life. Eeps!

What about you, ladies? What have been your personal best purchases for 2011?

(BF and I have been on a whirlwind visit-all-the-families-now-we-know-why-we-have-never-done-this-before holiday trips this week - I'll be back to regular blogging and regular reading in the next few days - thanks!)

Happy New Year's, ladies!

Luck of the Draw: Meet the Parents

2011-12-27T12:51:00.003-05:00

It was New Year's Eve a few years ago when I was introduced to BF's family for the first time. I was already nervous for many reasons - BF confided that I was the second girl he's ever brought home to his family, he's incredibly close to his mother so her opinion mattered a lot, I knew nothing about social graces, and - this is not fair at all - but BF's fam grew up in the rural TN and I am very evidently ... not from TN, so I was fearful that I'd be treated differently. These were the nervous thoughts swirling through my head.

Once we were through the front door of BF's mom's imposing house - big white house up on a hill, ablazen with seeming a million holiday twinkles - I was immediately whisked into a flurry of introductions. Seems the family was having a party so all friends and extended family were also in attendance. I was getting to meet everyone all at once.

BF's mom surprised me by greeting me with her I-didn't-know-it-at-the-time trademark teethy red lipped laugh and open-armed embrace. BF's mom is like ... think of Paula Deen, but brunette with a penchant for online trading, blingy baubles and fast Cadillacs. I liked her immediately.

BF's stepdad - who is like 6'6" and a few entire human sizes larger than I - followed suit with another bear hug. Then came the cousins, the friends, the neighbors, the aunts, uncles ... it was a swirl of faces, floating names, southern twangs, hugs, welcomes, cocktails, smoke, fried chicken.

At one point near midnight I recall sitting down at a card table with BF, his mom and her friends with wine and blackjack. Almost everyone else was smoking. It was all a haze - the literal cloud hanging over me. My head was throbbing. I think when the clock finally struck midnight - was there ever a longer night, it seemed - I was slouched on the couch watching Dick Clark with the partied out kids.

It was overwhelming, confusing, relieving. I survived meeting the parents. I think they even liked me a little.

Now this doesn't qualify as my craziest, most fantastical New Year's Eve ever! but it certainly was the most important in my life. And I couldn't help but to think back on it as we approach the conclusion to another year and the unwrapping of a brand new fresh one.

What has been your best NYE story so far? And if you're in a sharing mood, how was it when you first met your honey's parents/family?

Dress: Asos sweater shift (worn here - sim sleeveless here, longer here)
Shirt: J.Crew solid perfect (sim 3/4-sleeve here)
Tights: Anne Klein
Bracelets: F21 / J.Crew (sim pricey here, here)
Ring: Banana Republic (sim here)
Boots: Type Z (worn here - sim here, luxe here)

Shared Sparkles

2011-12-26T08:10:00.000-05:00

Hi ladies, I hope you're all in the midst of thoroughly enjoying your holidays! I'm home all snug and cozy with the parents up in the NE and it has been grand - even despite the sis, bro-in-law and little nephew are all feeling under the weather. So this is an outfit from last week, because when I'm with the parents, I'm most likely in some sort of fleece pant with wooly socks.

One thing that I enjoy doing when I am home is to spend time cooking with my mom. Now that may not sound like a big to-do - and it isn't - but I only get to see my mom rarely during the year, my dad is typically pretty territorial about his stuff in the kitchen (for reals - don't be messing with his stainless pans), and my mom normally hates to cook. Get the idea who the regular cook of the family is yet?

But when we get together, we enjoy nothing more than to spend an afternoon messing around in the kitchen when my dad is out, specifically for me because she can then teach me her Chinese recipes.

Now we don't aim high here - I sadly know how to cook pretty much a whole lotta Asian nothing and we're not hand-making dumplings or anything like that because no one can make them as good as grandma anyways - and we're probably not making any "traditional" Chinese cuisine. But we mesh together stuff that I remember eating at home with the family while I was growing up and that's tradition for me.

Pork meatballs with minced ginger and scallions. Savory egg pancakes stuffed with veg. Lemon-steamed salmon fillets. Soy-braised pork. Almond dofu (okay, this one is from a box, but I never eat this stuff except when I am at home, so it counts). And other stuff that I am too bad a daughter to remember right now.

The food is good, sure, but what I appreciate most is the time I get to spend with my mom and the history and family tradition she is passing down to me in the pleasant manner. I don't mind the mess we make, the splatters on my sweater, my mom correcting me on how to chop scallions / wash onions / oil a pan ... Or the recipes that sometimes don't turn out. Or even the second or third trips to that one specific Asian food market a good thirty minutes away because they are the only ones that carry a specific brand of whatever.

Are there any traditional family recipes that you love to make for the holidays? What's your favorite recipe that's been passed down to you?

Sweater: J.Crew spangled stripes (sim here, cardi here)
Shirt: Lands' End Canvas floral poplin (worn here)
Skirt:: J. Crew dorrie (worn here - sim mini here, midi here)
Tights: Anne Klein
Shoes: Vince Camuto bronco (worn here - sim low here, here, suede here)
Necklace: J.Crew cluster pearl (worn here - sim here, here)

JewelMint & Bonus for You!

2011-12-22T10:35:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago, the folks over at JewelMint contacted me about trying a few of their collection pieces and I jumped on the chance. Have you ladies heard about JewelMint? It is an unique members' only jewelry club where you can get on-trend pieces designed by Kate Bosworth and stylist Cher Coulter. Signing up for JewelMint is free and you get to select a new piece of jewelry each month for only $29.99 (which includes shipping).

I've never joined a membership club before because I was concerned about being automatically charged for items and potentially questionable quality. Well, my first experience with JewelMint has alleviated most of my fears. Members have the option of skipping months if they choose not to purchase (and won't be charged) and can also return items or cancel their membership if they are not happy with something. Plus until you make your first purchase, you won't be charged at all. See all the faqs here.

I went ahead and placed my order through the JewelMint web site and the process was pretty easy - take a quick style quiz so the style gurus there can gage your taste, choose from a selection of jewelry picked for you (and you can always opt to see more options or delete certain pieces). Purchase an item and then sit back and wait for it to be sent right to you.

I received my JewelMint order in less than a week and each piece was beautifully gift boxed. I was also pleasantly surprise with the quality of the items. The pieces themselves look and feel high-end to me - plus they are styles you won't be able to find at your local department store.

As a great bonus to you ladies, JewelMint is offering 60% off your first purchase! Use code RSPCTJM when placing your order - and it is only good through the end of the year, so check out their site now for some glammed out personal holiday treating!

Happy Holiday-ing!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Blazer: J.Crew Robert Noble herringbone (worn here - sim here, luxe tweed here, double-breasted here)
Sweater: J.Crew Factory ocelot (worn here - sim here, here)
Tee: Lands' End Canvas
Skirt: Lucky Brand (worn here - sim here)
Shoes: Michael Kors hamilton (worn here - sim here)
Cuff: Tiffany 1837 sterling (sim wider here, here)
Ring: c/o JewelMint neo bedrock duo
Necklace: c/o JewelMint fantasia