Sad and Lonely

It's Friday, and I have one night of loneliness under my belt. My Guy is off and away to Electronic Music Midwest, a conference/ festival for electro music nerds. Like, REALLY big geek fest. Without comics and add more speaker cables.

Needless to say he wants to photo-document the whole she-bang and I must leave you with a return of the crappy quality photos. Sorry.

Also, I really need to spend time with friends, but I just get so hermit-y and quiet loving when he's gone. Whaddaya think- solitude or pals? It iiiissss supposed to be Friday night Grad Bar (and Bromance texted to say that it's some sort of free food night). I should go with the dog, huh?

I found this silk blouse (asymmetrical neckline goodness) at the Goodwill a few weeks back. I kept hoping I would stumble in on a clothing sale day, but it never happens the way it does for some of you bloggies out there (Megan and Jentine have posted some monster sale experiences in recent memory- if you have too, lemme know what you got in the comments so I can seethe with jealously and beam with excitement for you all at the same time).

Skirt: Banana, thrifted...Blouse: Ann Taylor, thrifted...Cardigan: Target...Shoes: Naturalizer

And this gem is from last evening. I sat down to flip through a few new posts in my Google Reader and I think Eddie was sensing both my loneliness and experiencing some neediness of her own, she clamored up into my lap, pressed her little head into my chest, then laid down along the length of my torso, reached a tiny foot out and hugged me as hard as her little kitty arms could. Talk about a moment that melts you.

Please talk me into being social. I know I should, but I really like being home with snuggly critters.

A lightweight taste of fall

It's still highs of 95 around here. Barf. But I am dying to wear some of my recently thrifted/ resale goodies. So I just went ahead and did it today.

1- Thrifted lightweight wool ridiculously red pencil skirt. I am not a fan of red, but the shape is perfection, the length is so classic and I know pencil skirts are my "thing," so why not get one in color. For $3.
2- BCBGMaxAzria suede pumps. Thick stylized heels, silly rubber grip soles. I. am. in. love. I debated them overnight, because I'm in Texas, and who really needs the warmth of suede in Texas? Seemingly I do.

And I keep giving this little silk floral blouse chances- I really loathe the fit, a little too tight, too short, poofy sleeves, but that print is SO worth it. So there you have it.

Skirt: thrifted...Blouse: Odille via Buffalo Exchange...Shoes: BCBGMaxAzria via Buffalo Exchange

Cardigan: Target...Necklace: Banana Republic

Pardon the dog hair.

Fair warning: my Guy is off to an Electronic Music festival this weekend, so I am without dude and without camera. Double WAH! If I creeper-stalk your blog, I'm sorry!

HUGE EDIT: I clearly had this inspiration in my head and credit it due- Thanks, Kendi.

Compare and Contrast

This is totally shallow and I know it, but I popped into Buffalo Exchange last night for funsies and came across a rockin' grey skirt with pleating and waist detail. It's designer, but I don't remember what, and its 'spensive for resale ($26!)... I put it on hold and wore my closest match that is already in my wardrobe so I can go back and compare the two. Is the newbie as awesome as I think it is? Or is it close enough that I can be satisfied with what I have already? The catch is that I really love the new one, but the back zipper needs a little work, and is it really worth it at $26?

Aaaanyway, I wore basics so I wouldn't be distracted by anything other than the lines of each skirt. My Guy is heading out of town for a convention this weekend, so I really shouldn't be spending, but I really do think I like this skirt.

Told you this was shallow and ridiculous. Guess that happens every once in a while.

Skirt: Banana...Tee: Gap...Cardigan: Banana...Shoes: Le Sportsac via DSW...Belt: Target...Necklace: DIY

Rubbermaid

My work world is filled with boxes. Still. My boss has been moved in for months now and we're still shuffling and shuttling things between the office and house. We have empty unpacked Rubbermaid tubs everywhere from when things were in storage between moves (she spent 3 years living with her daughter and grandkids while searching for and renovating the "right" next house) and somehow we still don't have the correct type of storage. Did you know it is wildly difficult to gauge what style of tub a whole bunch of legal sized files will fit in? I bought and returned two poor selections. Thank goodness Target is just down the road. I now have 3 stuffed full file drawers worth of file folders jammed into 6 enormous plastic bins with lids. Where will we store them at the house? I dunno. But I'll guarantee we'll try 3 or 4 closets before deciding they belong back at the office.

Pants: Zara...Tee: Banana Outlet...Cardigan: J Crew Outlet...Shoes: Steve Madden

My very bad haircut growing itself out- do you like how one side got a thick, ledge-like set of "layers". No blending and movement here- just a top and bottom layer (the bottom gets stuck over my shoulder and leaves me with this delightful one-sided medium cut. Grow, top layers.

My beautiful porcelain shard pendant from Beijing. This is from the same girls my sister buys all her pearls from, too.

Jury Duty

I got stuck with Jury Duty today. I have been called to serve in both Ohio and in Arizona but both had a call-ahead service in place and my group had been dismissed before the day even arrived in both of those cases. Not in Texas. I had to waste my morning downtown, hanging out in the Waiting Room. My number was called to go to the courthouse and be questioned for selection. 65 of us were assigned a number, asked to form lines numerically and wait to be seen. And wait. And wait. And wait. I had the good sense to take two books, thank goodness. As it turns out, one can read a lot when stranded in a hallway with nowhere to sit but the floor. We all spent 2 1/2 hours lined up in a hall. Bullcrap.

Turns out the guy decided to represent himself and went with a jail sentence. So the jurors were never needed and we were dismissed just after lunchtime. I am so glad I didn't have to go in and be questioned. I figured I would play the snarky card and the green blazer would be their memory of me. "We would like to dismiss Juror #63, the waaaay too liberal, sarcastic snot in the green blazer." Would you dismiss me for being too non-vanilla and opinionated?

But, books! I finally got to finish reading Kurt Vonnegut's "Cat's Cradle" and started re-reading Ron Rash's "The World Made Straight." "Cat's Cradle" was interesting, a relatively quick read, but I would like to read it again so I can make better memories of the made up terms that pertain to the made-up religion in discussion. I think I would have a more dynamic understanding of it with a second read-through. And "The World Made Straight" is just a great character driven novel, set in the South, focused on small-town decedents of a Civil War massacre that split allegiance between neighbors. The author is my mom's maid-of-honor's little brother, so I'm a bit biased, but if you're looking for a more heart-rending version of Fannie Flagg novels, he may be right up your alley. Ron Rash. Check him out.

Pants: Zara...Tee: J Crew Outlet...Blazer: Gap (old)...Shoes: Steve Madden

Look who got all up in my business... I pointed right back at him. 

Outlet Purchases: a few remixes

Hey, crew. Just a heads up, I snapped A LOT of really horrible pictures tonight and they're kind of more for my memory than anything. Take a peek if you want but fair warning- these costume changes make me look like an obsessive crazy person.

I played in the Outlet with a girlfriend yesterday and bought some goodies- I'm still deciding on some of these items, but here's what I found...

J Crew Outlet Orange & White checked button down:
I was a little iffy on the color, but decided to bring it home and give it a whirl. As it turns out, it's wildly versatile for fall. I thought I might have ended up looking like a clownfish, but I had an easy time of remixing it today. The only time I felt a little like a goldfish was the one with the blue skirt. Add a sweater and that concern is gone.

Neeeext, the J Crew Outlet Striped lightweight sweater:
I like this in a casual application- very soft, easy to throw on and look stylish. It has a certain "look" to the outfits, though. I recently-ish thrifted and wore this striped sweater, but I didn't really love how tight and long and lowcut the thrifted one is, it's awfully hard to layer. THOUGHTS?

Here's the J Crew Outlet striped long sleeved tee:
I bought this light color and a darker one. I thought in store that the dark one was navy and white, but I fear it's actually black. Which I have already. Back it goes. I remixed the light one with the same sweater and blazer just to see dressy vs. casual possibilities.

Aaand Banana Republic tie front silk blouse:
I like it a lot but I fear it's a lot like another thrifted blouse I wore a few weeks ago. Yesterday's find has a bigger bow, more plum color and is a bit more fitted. It also has more shine to the silk, which of course I like. Whaddaya think- too close to what I have or too fab to return?

If you decided to hang in there until the end, I admire you, am grateful for you and pity you just a little. That was a lot of blurry crap pictures.

Please lemme know what you think of these finds. I have a few thoughts but some outside insight and extra eyeballs would be helpful!

Deceptive Weather

This is actually my look from Saturday early morning. Texas has been deceptively pleasant the last few afternoons and the yesterday morning fell right in line with my assumption that fall was on the way. So, I got up, got out of the house by 7:15 and got to the Honda dealership for an early AM oil change. I was in and out in under an hour and by the time I was through, I was HOT. The heat hit me in the face hard as I walked outside to my car from the AC in the waiting room.

Needless to say, I did not wear this outfit long. Which is too bad, it was nice and fall-ish.

Jeans: Gap Real Straight...Button down: Target...Sweater: J Crew...Shoes: Le Sportsac via DSW 

Quick-change

My Guy and I got to spend time with a really good friend for the first time in ages yesterday evening. Of course, I was in crud pants at work (I'm the new MR-16 lightbulb changing guru... Those bad boys get very hot very quickly.) and I was told partway through the day that dinner plans were in place. Leaving me with the following timeline:
5:45 convince boss that I need to move along.
6:05 arrive home to "pee the dog" as we say.
6:15 my Guy arrives home from school, frantically tug on a nicer looking skirt
6:20 use the flat iron to toss strategic waves in my hair so I don't look like I have air-dried half-combed hair
6:25 feed dog and race out the door for a 6:30 dinner reservation.

I was dang close to making it on time. I chose all the right back roads to avoid congestion.

So: part 1 and part 2 of the day-

Pants: Gap...Blouse: Banana, thrifted...Cardigan: Gap...Shoes: LeSportsac via DSW clearance...Necklace: DIY

DIY long strand necklace with Michaels cheapie beads. Interest in a tutorial? 

Same blouse and sweater...Skirt: China-made during my visit to see my sis...Boots: thrifted...Belt: thrifted

I am SO GLAD I changed into a skirt- the restaurant was one we'd never been to and I know our friend's MO- he's a picky eater of Americana staples (think steaks and potatoes), prefers finer dining and a killer cocktail. Dinner in chinos was not going to cut it. My Guy put on a button down vs. the plain tee he had on all day. Let's just say it was good choices all around because the food was excellent, the dining room was quiet enough for conversation and we looked like we fit into the crowd. I even got a "ma'am". And I kinda liked it.

And one more "hooray"- these boots fit properly around my skinny calves. I came to the conclusion that I would cheerfully buck up real monies to buy a nice slim riding boot and then these puppies came along. And THAT is why you stalk your resale and thrift stores.