Standing Out on St. Patty's

I was so hopeful these jeans would fit still. I bought them on clearance in a size above my normal and dryer shrunk the crap out of them the last few years pre-pregnancy. Now that my hips got all wide and funky, they're a little too tight, but I couldn't not wear them- this springy color combination was begging for white jeans. And the most fun part is this weird little scarf in my hair has been my St. Patrick's Day go-to little bit of green(it has green cherries and little fuchsia vines on it) for years and years now and I just decided to go for the loud and bright complimentary look. And all my adorably reserved office mates thought it was the most awesome thing ever.

So, moral of the story is this: in the last week of work, wear whatever you want to and all your colleagues and every other Chinese person on campus will stare unabashedly at you and your pregnant belly. No disguising being one of the only white girls working at the University and dressing up anyway, let alone sporting a huge baby bump, so give 'em all something spring-like to stare at.

Brights

Skirt, Cardigan, Belt, Scarf: Target...Shoes: Nine West via Buffalo Exchange...Bag: Longchamp knockoff

Ever have one of those looks where you think it's a cheerful flurry of color and then you realize it's really just a matter of wearing skittles? Or jelly beans. Yup, that happened. The candy-colored rainbow barfed all over me and I wore it to work. I suppose that's what I get when I have all my favorite neutrals packed away into a duffel bag and I'm left with the collection of "I don't reeeeally know if I want to keep it for the move" bits and pieces of bright.

I would apologize for going MIA so often, but I really haven't been feeling like blogging lately. Because it's too soon to really talk about our upcoming move to Suzhou, China (I could only tell you about adventures in banking and making arrangements for a Penske truck rental to get our crap back to Ohio. And I can't really talk about life because it's been a series of busy weeks and a funny cycle of doing the same things with the same friends overandoverandover because we want to pack in as much time with them as we can. And I can't really talk about work because... well, it's just work. I'm writing a lot of grant reports.

Okay, well, I guess you guys are all caught up! Thanks for stickin' around in this really weird phase of life.

Study Session

Dress: Target...Cardigan: Target...Belt: thrifted...Shoes: J Jill via Buffalo Exchange...Bracelet: Target...Bag: D&B via Buffalo Exchange

Pajama Dress for a day full of running errands and hauling sodas over to the office for the first Board Meeting of the season. We're cookin' and moving into crazy planning mode!

I spent my evening last night and my shower time this morning quizzing my Guy on his music history. We only made it through the history of Opera (going back over Romantic Opera a second time), Motets and Madrigals. OVER FOUR HOURS. And, yes, I died of boredom just as quickly as you did. But, for the next week we're doing it every night because I'm a meanie, stickler quizzer and I know it will help him retain information. Wanna see how he's organized himself? A date, piece and composer timeline on enormous pieces of paper. A notebook scribbled long-winded synopsis of the subject, including composers, unique features of their writing style, their important pieces and what makes it noteworthy to the era. A condensed key word version of the information hand-written into a second notebook. So, while he needs to know EVERYTHING about each subject, the essay prompt for the exam may be as focused and simple as "Trace the development of only Mozart's operas." 40 prompt topics, 4 selected for the exam essays. Blugh.

Bear with me while I melt my brain for the week and from here on out, I'll spare you more music story-time. I just won't have much else to say!

Polka Dots and Crazed Colors

Skirt & Belt: H&M...Tee: J Crew Outlet...Cardigan: Target...Shoes: Nine West via Buffalo Exchange...Bag: D&B via Buffalo Exchange...Shades: Coach via TJ Maxx...Pearls: Beijing vendor

Audrey, J's Fashion and Marion have, over the last month or so, each posted an outfit with a polka dot skirt that made me reeeeeally crave wearing my new acquisition (there is an H&M in Houston now, but the selection sucked, so I was able to find this goodie in Toledo when I went home at the end of July), but my timing was extremely poor. I bashed my knee up during my bike fall so soon after I got back, I've only just started wearing skirts again. Well, my appetite for this skirt has been whet and I'm preeeetty sure I'll have to slap my own hand away from it over the next week or so to avoid wearing it for days on end. I forgot it fit so well and is so comfortable. Best/worst discovery of the week.

I grabbed this citron yellow shirt as a first impulse and asked my Guy, "Is this too 'bumblebee'?" No response. Grabbed a fuchsia belt and asked, "Too much?" No response. Swapped fucsia for mint and added a cheerful periwinkle cardigan and asked, "Too crazy?" This finally got a reaction- "Dude, all your color combinations have been super crazy, I don't know. Just wear it. I gotta go." Well, alrighty-Rooney. My mostly neutral color preferences make way for way-weird color combinations, I guess. Overcompensation. I'm cool with that.

Easy Breezy

Two days ago it was green with purple gingham, today I went nuts again with color and paired it with orange. I'm one wild and craaazy guy.

While you know I love a good pencil skirt (see here, here, here, here or here- to name a few in the recent past), there's something wonderful and easy about a slim pair of crop pants, loose blouse in jersey and a stretchy cardigan. And breaking out into color is a little less "the norm" for me, but it's a problem I'm working on. The funny thing is my background is Interior Design, so color theory and pattern mixing and meshing textures comes pretty naturally to me... I just don't like to wear it.

Also, I tried some photos out in the between-apartments clothesline area back by the carport... and my neighbor and his dogs busted me. Oops.

I'll be back tomorrow with my boxy bright green cardigan- let's give it another go-round.

Pants: Theory via Buffalo Exchange...Shirt: Old Navy...Cardigan: Target...Necklace: Target...Shoes: Calvin Klein via Buffalo Exchange

Color Blocked Brights

I'm taking part in a challenge... and it's another one that stretches me a little. Marion of Marionberry Style is hosting an Office Trend Challenge focused on color blocking, which I really don't have much experience with. Her recommendation was to stick with three colors and nude pumps, but I couldn't stop myself. I'm at 5, including my shoes. Overkill? Maybe. Cohesive? I still think yes. Balancing the warmer tones between my cardigans and shoes seems to help with the overall look and give it a little extra weight toward the bottom half.

You can still email your color blocking office wear submission to Marion and take part- the deadline isn't until TOMORROW, the 14th, at 5:00 pm Mountain Time. Dream up something wonderful and join in! Just click here for the email instructions and I look forward to seeing what you submit!

Skirt: thrifted...Tank: Old Navy...Cardigans: Target...Shoes: Target...Necklace: thrifted