Five

Dress: BCBG MaxAzaria via Buffalo Exchange...Belt: thrifted...Shoes: MaxStudio via DSW...Earrings: Beijing market...Bag: Longchamp knockoff

Well, it's happened. Bri Marie tagged me in 5 Things and peer pressure took a firm grip, so here I go. I've already done a few random fact posts, but I promise not to cheat and swipe from the archives.

1. I'm an Elvis Fan. I love his music and kind of despise the jacka-- he was in real life, so, I guess that means I'm a fan of Elvis' legacy and the idea of Elvis. I sing "Can't Help Falling in Love" to my critters all the time.

2. Beaches? Yeah, they're nice. But, I'm a mountain lover at heart. There's something wonderful about feeling so small, looking up from the foot of a mountain. If someone said, "Hey, here, have this 600 sq. ft. house with an awesome view of those mountains to live in with your whole family," I'd say "Sweet! bunkbeds!" and enjoy the heck out of the view.

3. I have been collecting scars on my left knee and I kind of love it. My best friend's husband rocketed a horseshoe directly into my kneecap (no joke, 20+ foot bounce) and it bruised and swelled up immediately. The incident of the metal pedicab gash, the Beijing communal sink wash-off, and bandaid made from tissue and coffee lid tape. And then the time I fell off my bike and had to pedal my bloody stump home since I did it in Hermann Park. Less than a year ago.

4. One of my very favorite things is to host big, enormous dinners for friends. Cooking dinner for 8 and getting to absorb the energy of big group conversation from the kitchen is the best. One level better? An old-fashioned potluck (legit, if I could eat a buffet catered by octogenarians and invite all my friends, that would just about be the best thing ever).

5. I did a lot of ballet as a kid. I was a mouse for 11 years in the Nutcracker. I'm not joking. And when we did a version of Alice in Wonderland, I was the Walrus. Let that sink in. My skinny butt was the Walrus. Momma didn't donate enough extra for a good role. You can't make this crap up. At 14 1/2, I had my first, horrible run-in with petty politics. And quit soon after.

Anne, In Residence
Salazar, 14 Shades of Gray
Amber, Easy Petite Looks
Dotty, Dash Dot Dotty
Audrey, Putting Me Together
Ally, Shybiker
Daryl, Unlost
Nikki, the Ginger Diaries
Terri, Stylish Sass
Lisa, Respect the Shoes
Rebecca, Rebecca Lately
Danielle, Little Bit Of Wo We
Faith, Sweetened Style
Megan, Feathers and Freckles
Marion, Marionberry Style

Overkill list? Maybe. Don't care. Hop on it, crew! And hop over to Pleated Poppy... because it's What I Wore Wednesday!

Saved. For Now.

Skirt: Target...Blouse: Target...Belt: Target...Shoes: Steve Madden...Bag: Longchamp knockoff

We're gearing up for a big big big month. And I'm tired already!

One MAJOR grant due in two weeks, a LOI due the same day, another grant due in three weeks, arranging musician and performers for the gala, menus to replan, decor to check in on, auction items to confirm, speeches to write. At least the bulk of it will be done by April 11.

I'm trying to bring a few pieces of clothing back into rotation, give them a secondary test run. I'm going to get brutal with my wardrobe since we are taking minimal things overseas with us. This blouse is probably going to make the cut, mostly because it looks so good with light and white bottoms. And a long sleeved light-weight blouse is never a bad thing for travel. So, tan oxford shirt, congratulations,  you made it through another round of closet purges.

Bored Meeting

Skirt: Banana Republic...Buttondown: Express, thrifted...Vest: F21, thrifted...Shoes: MaxStudio via DSW...Belt: stolen from sister in middle school...Bag: Longchamp knockoff

Nope, no typo. I had a Board Meeting yesterday. It was supposed to go from 4:00 - 6:00. The majority of the meeting was to be devoted to getting the Board up to speed and invested in the Gala. Which is the majority of my current responsibilities. I assembled all kinds of data, made lists like crazy, printed and copied at least a ream of paper's worth of stuff. And then I passed it out and sat. And sat. I literally contributed four words to the meeting. Dulls.ville. And not only that, but the chitty chat loitering board stuck around until 7:38. I'm not joking.

So, I suppose wearing my very favorite brown leather belt and alligator stamped brown pumps was a good foil to the meeting. Also, I taught my husband how to make spicy sichuan noodle stir fry once I got home for dinner. So now he has that in his arsenal for late-Kate-arrival dinner making.

Noodles are my very favorite thing to eat. I'd give up bread forever and eat all carbs in the form of noodles if it made sense to do so. I can't even describe to you all how glad I am Rob learned this meal.

Tan and Cream

Jeans: H&M...Sweater: Target...Cardigan: Target...Scarf: Target...Shoes: BCBGeneration via Ross...Bag: Longchamp knockoff

In our sickie state, Rob and I could only handle hot dogs for dinner last night and a series of dark and brooding dramatic movies. The Departed and Robinhood Prince of Thieves were the hours-long line up. Isn't it weird how you start feeling lousy and your sense of humor float away? Very seriously, all I wanted was to watch people plan and scheme and shoot stuff. Perhaps a longing for my own brainpower and physical prowess.

Dragging

Pants: Gap Really Skinny...Blouse: Gap...Cardigan: J Crew Factory...Jacket: Gap...Shoes: Steve Madden via Ross..Necklace: Wish Boutique...Bag: Longchamp knockoff

Guys, it's been a bear of a week. And I'm really, truly out of things to say. Working 11 hour days because decision-makers are overthinking things is frustrating. Welcome to the world of non-profits. But, man, this feels a little ridiculous.

So, adios, I'll see you all after the weekend! What will you be up to? Tell me your plans (I may swipe the idea so I don't have to think up my own)!

Gross

Pants: Theory via Buffalo Exchange...Sweater: Target...Coat: BB Dakota via Piperlime...Scarf: Target...Shoes: Naturalizer...Earrings: Old Navy...Bag: Longchamp knockoff

Uniform much? I love that I love these sweaters, but they're enablers of lazy, cozy style. And I'm okay with that.

So, a change of pace with my background... because our apartment swapped out the old garbage cans for new ones with lids, and rather than haul away the garbage-bound garbage cans or set them out at the curb, they stacked them behind the carport- right in front of my galvanized steel backdrop. And I was not about to touch them. Or find a new photo venue. So I turned 90 degrees to the right and chose brick.

Thrilling Thursday Tidbit? You're welcome. (It's better than harumphing about poor communication going on at work. Again, you're welcome)

Neutral Fail

Pants: Zara...Turtleneck: J Crew Outlet...Blazer: Gap...Jacket: BB Dakota via Piperlime...Shoes: BCBGeneration via Ross...Bag: Longchamp knockoff

I'm not really sold on this one, but, I wore it out of the house for a day, so it's on the blog. Accountability, transparency. Sometimes I wear turtlenecks that don't have enough contrast with the paired blazer. That's the way it goes down every once in a while. They can't all be winners.

But that's the point of a daily style-geared blog. Wearability. Real-girl. Lifestyle. I'm never going to be high fashion and I'm not going to not post something just because it's a semi-dud. Because even though my readership relatively small, you guys are active and I'm not going to bull-crap any of you into thinking I'm on the ball all the time. That's the point of this for me, to have a reason to get to know all of you. So, if I post a stinker, I post a stinker, and we can have a good chuckle about it.

Hahaha, hey, did you guys see that one post where Kate matched her turtleneck to her hair and her blazer to her roots?

Humbug?

Pants: Gap Really Skinny...Sweater: J Crew Outlet...Blazer: Gap...Boots: thrifted...Bag: Longchamp knockoff...Earrings: Banana Republic

I know I've said it, but I'm just not a Holiday Season kind of gal. Thanksgiving came, I enjoyed it thoroughly, and then it went. And my home is still un-decorated, no tree, a minimum of holiday treat-eating, zero holiday treat baking. Anne has had some incredibly adorable holiday decor posts lately, it makes me feel a little bit guilty for being such a Scrooge. Go check her blog out, you'll be so glad you did (her Pin to Present posts are killer!) So, another neutral outfit for me today. And I think I'll force myself next week to post nothing but Kate-style Holiday Looks. Which probably means the holiday-ish aspect of the outfits will be subtle as crap, but at least I'll feel more festive.

(PS, how do you guys feel about the possibility of a Friday Holiday Look link up? I'll host if you're game!)

Happy Friday, you all! Eat something peperminty and send jingle bell vibes my way. I need to get in the spirit!

Party Prep

Dress: Target...Cardigan: Target...Blazer: Gap...Belt: Gap...Shoes: BCBG via Ross...Bag: D&B via Buffalo Exchange...Necklace: Target

Woo, this morning got all shaken up! I stayed at work late to finish putting together packets for our first host committee meeting, which is today, for the 2013 Benefit Dinner in the spring. For which no When, Where, Theme, Honoree, etc. information has been decided. Good thing I'm well versed in cheerfully taking care of details last minute. Kidding, we'll get a lot of it figured out between today's meeting and a meeting with our potential honoree next week.

The good news is that we had meeting with two potential locations yesterday, so I received a delicious sampling of ceviche and "lobster bisque pops"- yeah, as in tasty lobster corn dogs. On a stick. Yum. I'm pretty sure that counts as a perk of the job!

MVP

Skirt: Target...Button Down: Target...Sweater: Gap...Belt: stolen from sister in Middle School...Shoes: MaxStudio via DSW...Trench: Target...Bag: D&B via Buffalo Exchange

Nothin' better than a thick leather belt. Oh, yeah, there is. One that you've stolen from your little sister. Which has been broken in to perfection. That you used to wear around your hips. Because you stole it in Junior High. I think this silly belt would make it onto my top 20 most valued belongings list. I don't wear it often, but every time I do, it's a good day.

Also on my list of Most Valuable Possessions are the first Christmas gift my brother made for me (it's a drawing of a ladybug with a photo of him in a ladybug costume, laminated and with magnets on it), my pearl earrings thoughtfully selected by my sister when she first moved to Beijing, a collection of Hull Brownware from my grandma (I drink out of the enormous "root beer mug" at least three times a week), a tee shirt and hideous wool blend sweater from the 80's from each of my parents, Essie In Stiches polish, my cotton blanket (each family member has been gifted one!), my cedar chest/coffee table... some good stuff.

What's on your list of favorite possessions? I love knowing what is near and dear to people, like a litmus test of some sort... and there's usually a fun story behind it, too!

I just found a new Monday LinkUp- #YOLOmondays over at Still Being Molly. It looks like it will be a fun, uplifiting cocktail of links. Looking forward to it!

Reasons Technology Rocks My World

Skirt: Target...Cardigan: J Crew Factory...Bow Blouse: Banana Republic, thrifted...Belt: Gap...Shoes: Naturalizer...Jacket: Armani Exchange via Buffalo Exchange...Bag: D&B via Buffalo Exchange

You know you're a fashion blogger when: You yank out a leopard print cardigan and wear it like it's nothin'. And then realize you also have the option of leopard shoes, leopard skirt, leopard sweater, leopard headband... Between leopard, polka dots and stripes, my selection of on-trend classics is outta control. And I love it.

I'm so happy for this short week! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, I'm looking forward to spending it with dear friends here in town, eating until I want to burst, web cam-ing with my family (my sister is hosting my aunt and uncle in Phoenix and grandparents, parents, brother and any other siblings we've picked up over the years will be gathered in Ohio). We have a standing Saturday evening date to gather and chat on Google Hangouts, which is so much fun to see faces and hear voices and get stories while we're all "together" online. With family in Ohio, Arizona, Hong Kong, and us here in Texas, having a way to gather regularly is such a treasure. I've been doing it all month on Facebook, but I'll post a daily thanks for the rest of this week... Day 19: I'm grateful for a family filled with supporters and cheerleaders and sounding boards. And I'm even more grateful that we get to see one another pretty much weekly.

Taupe, Tan and other neutrals

Jeans: Gap Always Skinny...Tee: Gap PureBody...Sweater: Banana Republic, thrifted...Blazer: Gap...Boots: thrifted...Bag: D&B via Buffalo Exchange...Shades: via TJ Maxx

There's something wonderful about grounding an airy, light palette look with warm cognac boots and a leopard print scarf. Yeah, the blazer gives it a little gravity, yeah, the jeans are a nice mid grey, but it's all pretty simple and basic with the grey bottoms and light grey loose sweater until you add a kick of warmth with the deep tan hue. Color theory, my friends. And balance. between an accent above and below the waist. The tan and taupe in that scarf work with everything, including my boots.

I've been pulling a lot of black lately for my new job, it's easy, ladylike and gives me a little credibility. This look was a nice break from the strict professionalism of pencil skirts and lends itself well to a day of hauling bookcases. Yup, that happened.

Have an amazing weekend, you all! Keep your eyes peeled for this easy peasy look on both Work Clothes, I Suppose Third Thursday: Knits and EB:EW Boots!

So Close

Jeans: Gap Perfect Boot...Blouse: thrifted...Blazer: Gap...Shoes: via Buffalo Exchange...Bag: D&B via Buffalo Exchange...Pearls: Beijing vendor...Shades: via TJ Maxx

Hahahahahahahhaha, even though this outfit is more of the simple same... my face in the first photo shows what's up. I'm tired, it's cold, we're walking right up to deadlines and flipping them the bird, people are clinging to information, thinking that if they give us the scoop only a day prior to the Gala that everything is okay. Nope. We went to print on Monday. Don't get ticked that your item isn't prominently featured in the catalog.

ONLY 48 MORE HOURS OF THE MADNESS! Catch you all on the flipside. I can't wait to get totally adjusted and really learn my new role for my new job. Full time non-profit gig for the WIN!

Oh, and my costume for the Gala tomorrow is adorable. I'll show you guys on Sunday! Thanks for hanging around while I chatter nonsense at you all (and I CAN'T WAIT to start really reading your blogs in earnest again. I've missed you all!)

Blazers and Glue

Dress: Beijing tailor...Blazer: Gap...Belt: Target...Shoes: Nine West via Buffalo Exchange...Necklace: Target... Earrings: Banana Republic...Bag: D&B via Buffalo Exchange

A return to neutrals, and I like it better. Blech, yesterday was way too "loud" and I feel so much more like myself in stuff like this. Also, I bought this blazer over 3 years ago- it was the first thing I purchased when I started working at Gap part time and I was dirt poor. We'd just moved cross-country (again), had to spend all our monies on rent deposits, yearly vet bills, beginning-of-school fees with very little coming in while I was hunting for full time jobs in earnest. And it was marked down twice, with an extra percentage off, but still hovering around the $40 mark. Which I really didn't have, but it called to me. Big time. Good thing I listened, it's been a cherished work-horse item that keeps showing up every fall and winter. I have the worst time finding a good blazer, but the cropped silhouette, taupe-mushroom brown tweed and (for Gap off-the-rack) great fit were all right on. And I looove a good neutral layer.

In tragic news, I broke my camera. Nothing big, but the battery and memory card cover got swung too far backward when it was opened, so it bent and snapped off. I've got it pieced back together with glue, which seems like, assuming I got the fit tight enough, should work to keep it put back together. We'll see tomorrow when I pop the battery back in and try to close and lock the little flap. I'm feeling good about it. I've been known around Boss Lady's house as the "glue guru." Let's hope I live up to the name with repairing something of my own.

And, as always, I'm linking up with Pleated Poppy's What I Wore Wednesday!

Great News!

Pants: Gap Really Skinny....Sweater: Banana Republic Outlet...Blazer: Gap...Scarf: Target...Bag: D&B via Buffalo Exchange...Shoes: Naturalizer...Earrings: Banana Republic

Big, big day. New meetings, new people, transitions... I've been a holding out on you guys with a little bit of information.

I started, very very part-time, a new job. I'll go full time after the Gala (that Boss Lady helps run) on November 5. Grants management, special projects, in-a-little-over-my-head... But I'm so excited and am really thrilled for the new opportunity!

So, with that, two videos in celebration. Try not to giggle. I dare you.

Linking up, of course! Pleated Poppy's What I Wore Wednesday.

A Jeep-Shaped Catapult

Pants: Zara...Blouse: H&M, thrifted...Cardigan: Target...Shoes: Nine West Outlet...Scarf: Target...Bag: D&B via Buffalo Exchange...Bracelet: Target...Earrings: Banana Republic

Whoops. I guess I wasn't done with the whole animal print thing.

I had a crazy/ scary drive yesterday. I went north of town by about 50 minutes to pick up a chair we had repaired. My Guy took our Honda Fit for the day so he could pick up his bike from a tune-up. So, the Wrangler and I had a play day. Until I got on the freeway, hit 54 mph, and the car started to shimmy like mad. As in shake the steering column so hard, my arms feel weirdly toned from trying to maintain a death grip. As in crazy, uncontrollable bouncing that felt like I was going to get launched off the roadway by an enormous spring at ant moment. Usually we get up to about 57 and the shimmy quits. Nooooot this time. By the time I reached 3 people honking/ flipping me the bird for hovering around 49 mph, I gave up on the 50 minute drive. And took surface streets. Absurd.

Once my Guy is done with his last round of exams on Wednesday, we'll take the poor Jeep into the tire shop... and keep our fingers crossed that we only have to replace two to correct whatever balance this was. Two tires = $ Well, dang. Four tires = $ Ouchie. But, as always, there's a silver lining. In this case, it's that I didn't launch off the roadway. And got to use the incident as an excuse to check in, chat with my dad and get advice about the car. Perks, all around!