That was easy

I really am such. a. bum. This is dry shampoo'ed and teased hair. A shirtdress. A long sweater. Earrings I've been wearing for days. I took just minutes throwing this outfit on. And a grand total of 3 minutes on hair and eyemakeup. I was simply not in the mood to pay attention. My dog had an attention needy, cuddly morning, and I much preferred snuggling to a blow out.

The result is the reason I adore shirt dresses. I spent literally seconds deciding what to wear and I look okay. I will never profess looking pristine, but I look presentable. Acceptable. Passable.

What are your lazy day go-to's?

Dress: Banana Outlet...Cardigan: Gap...Shoes: Steve Madden...Earrings: Banana

Orly Nail polish: Solid Gold (matte) with shine topcoat

Enjoy your Thursday evening.

My shoes squeak

I am walking and laughing, walking and laughing. The top flaps of my shoes are new leather and they're rubbing and squeaking as I walk. Real life absurist comedy. I love it. The art hanging guy, who is beyond hilarious and cool, is here today and he just about snotted himself as I walked past for the first time. We've been making "couldn't sneak up if you tried" jokes all day.

Aside from squeaking shoes, it's a fun day today. The electrician is also here installing new art lights (he is also super punny and nice). I get to go shopping for light bulbs in a bit, nice guy helps me out at the shop. It's a happy day with nice people.

I also get to eat chili leftovers tonight. Win.

Dress: Gap...Cardigan: J Crew Outlet...Belt: thrifted...Shoes: MRKT via DSW...Necklace: Banana...Bag: Vintage D&B via Buffalo Exchange

Mixing Navy and Black

Ooooooh, scandalous. Navy and Black. I am personally a fan of all kinds of ill-advised color pairings.

I also really love both of these pieces on their own. The blazer was my first big-ticket gift to self when I started working part time at Gap and I adore the fit.  Let's just say my waist is little and I'm flat as a pancake without the help of a push-up... and this blazer nips and fits in all the right place. The dress is just so classic, so interesting, so beautifully basic. And it was thrifted for pennies. I crap you not, I paid $2.50 in change for this little number.

Also- middle part: yea or nay?

Dress: thrifted...Blazer: Gap...Belt: Target...Shoes: Naturalizer

 And one little funny- I thought the memory card I used was cleared off, but here is the summer time goodie I found from a trip back to Ohio in May: My sisters and I all got to pick out drawings and paintings that my Grandpa made when he was younger. Look closely- I picked out a faux-advertisement for racy stockings and bras.

Sissy A, Grandpa, Sissy S, me

I feel so "Audrey"

I love this striped sweater. I like the boat neck, I like the spacing of the stripes, I like the little bit of gathering at the top of the sleeves. I also love that it's a natural to go with pearls. So easy to wear, such a classic. I don't think it hurts that I found it at Zara a year or so ago for only $7. I win.

I also like these pants. I do with Gap would consistently sew pockets into all of their stretch pants, but other than that, the fit is wonderful, and they have a  good level of snugness and stretch. I feel like I'm wearing PJ's. (Which is a good thing because I think the kids who were here last week passed along a head cold. Thanks a heap.)

Pants: Gap...Sweater: Zara...Shoes: Steve Madden...Necklace: J Crew

Menswear, Round 2

Thiiiiiiis is what I wanted to wear during Kalya's 21 Day Challenge Menswear Day. My first attempt was just post-kitty drama and I was sooo tired after being up all night at the emergency Vet, but I had good reason to try it again. Really, really good reason to try again.

Last night was my Guy's 2nd composition recital and it was completely amazing. I sent out a plea a few days ago for help with inspiration and I got some awesome advice about kicking basic black-on-black up a notch with rocking shoes. I switched it to a rocking tie and comfy wedges.

Pants: Gap...Shirt: J Crew...Vest: Trina Turk, thrifted...Tie: borrowed...Shoes: Payless, old

For fun, here's a few shots from the evening... My Guy writes a good chunk of his music with interactive electronics, meaning that some of it is prerecorded that the instrumentalists play along with, some of it is played into microphones which feeds into the computer and my Guy has pre-programmed effects that instantaneously goes back out the speakers. It's fascinating how much work and programming and precision goes into each piece.

My Guy at the helm

my Guy's Bromance is conducting, in the center.

With his quartet performers.

After the concert... he looks relieved, huh?

If you all are interested or even a little curious, the recordings should be on his website in the next few days. Click the picture below and it will go straight to the Composition page. Click around on titles to read more about each and to listen to recordings. Last night they played "Natural Selection," "Untangle my Tongue," and "The Gate."

See you all tomorrow. Hope your weekend was lovely!

Friday Funday

Get me outta this week! My Guy is --> <-- this close to his recital and I sure would like to spend an evening or two with him. Asking too much? Next week, I suppose.

Anyway, I am playing hostess, sort of, for a party at my boss' tonight. I am not so sure I did the right thing by pairing this crazed plaid-ish skirt with the red belt. I feel like the poor little pop of red is totally overwhelmed.

Shirt: Gap...Shirt: thrifted...Necklace: Korea...Belt: thrifted...Shoes: Naturalizer

Nails: 2 coats Revlon "Vintage", 1 coat Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear "Very Cherry"

I also took everyone's advice regarding this necklace and you're all dead right- boatneck is the way to go. I thought it would be crafty to give this little red belt a punchy set of friends by way of shimmery pink nails. Thanks, silk necklace. Your crazed color combinations made for a fun manicure last night.

Thoughts on tomorrow's wardrobe for my Guy's recital: What do you girls think about black skinnies, grey leather bomber, and kicky heels? Too dull? Too punky? Not "evening" enough? Should I be doing summer? Fall? HELP!

Hey, there, kiddies.

We hosted a bunch of 8th Graders today to look at my boss' art collection, something about Mexican artists and history. And then we loaded them up with taquitos and cookies. At 10 am. Like that was a good idea. But, they were incredibly inquisitive and had great questions about how the significance of the art itself and the artists affected history and international relations. 8th Graders! I was impressed.

I kept it low key today. I have worn a similar color scheme with white pants earlier in the season, but black seemed to move nicely toward fall. These 95 degree days need to cut it out. I'm ready for highs in the upper 80's. That's like fall, huh?

Pants: Zara...Blouse: Banana, thrifted...Cardigan: Target...Shoes: Nine West Outlet...Necklace: J Crew Outlet

Aaaaand apologies for the leaning photos. I got a panicked 7:30 am call that the guest book had gone missing and I needed to pick one up before the kids arrived. My 8:07ish photos were not meant to be, so these were taken at the office, with my camera propped in a roll of duct tape. Supa-classy.

Whoops, EB:EW edition

I forgot yesterday was the Colored Pants Everybody:Everywear... I'm a day late, I suppose.

Pants: Gap...Tank: via Buffalo Exchange...Sweater: Target...Shoes: Nine West via Buffalo...Bag: crazy China Market

Here are the two other documented ways I've worn them before... I think I'm fond of the one with the mustard cardigan best, but I don't think I've gotten it quite right yet.

THE BIG DILEMMA OF THE WEEK::::::::
My Guy is hosting his second Doctorate of Musical Arts Recital on Saturday. What should I wear??? I don't want to do boring black on black, but I don't want to go too casual, either. HELP!

Just Stuff It

Sorry, I'm feeling crass today. I've been nitpicking my way through a 700 person mailing list. Not a generic mailing list, a deeply personal, intensely "sensitive" if-we-don't-send-it-to-the-right-address-it's-a-poor-indication-of-our-friendship list. My boss lost her marbles yesterday over a name, singular, that I didn't get updated on the 26 pages of labels. I politely told her that we'd fix it and decided that no other retort was neccessary in response to a little crazy.

So, today I'm STUFFING ENVELOPES. HUNDREDS OF THEM.

Blouse: Gap...Sweater: thrifted...Pants: Zara...Shoes: thrifted

Necklace: you guessed it: J Crew Outlet

I really do enjoy my job, I like my boss very much, but she's definitely showing signs of old age, which is a little sad, but she has a good sense of humor about all that "life stuff", so we find giggles in it together. 

I'll just keep a smile on my face and keep sealing envelopes.

A really lame uniform

Okay, this is embarrassing. I am wearing a reeeeeeally dull version of my go-to week-day uniform. I knew I would be erranding, stuffing envelopes, traipsing all over the house, so I went with stretchy crops, a boring ruffle topped tee the color of mud, and a striped boyfriend sweater belted with woven leather... Like somehow microstripes make up for the fact that I'm wearing muddy colors.

 Also, check out my mad skillz with the tripod. I maaaaaybe should have checked my frame height before I started so that 99% of my photos didn't have my head missing. Them shoes are taller than I realize.

Pants: Gap...Tee: H&M...Cardigan: J Crew Outlet...Shoes: Payless...Belt: thrifted

At least I got smart before I left the house and added a long green necklace... Moderately less dull?

Necklace: DIY

I didn't think so either.