Yellow Bellied

Cardi - Old Navy; Dress - Target (thrifted); Belt - Target; Tights - Hue; Shoes - Clarks

I learned some things about these items in my closet today.  I learned that these booties don't look so hot with these light yellow tights.  At least on my legs.  I learned that the purple is such a contrast that I need something with it to transition to the yellow.  I learned that this dress is much better looking on me in the summer when I'm a bit tanner.  I learned that these tights are more orange than yellow.  I also learned that I need to wear some sort of necklace witht this dress.

Overall, on of my least favorite outfits.  I'll try again tomorrow.

Surely Inspired

 Shirt - Style & Co. (Macy's); Skirt - Spiegel; Shoes - Mossimo (thrifted); Belt - Target; Necklace, Earrings & Ring (Macy's)

Everytime I think of pairing blue and yellow together, I think of one of Surely Sonsi's first posts.  And, every time I put on this skirt, I definitely think of her, since she recommended this skirt based upon the red one she owned.  If Kate Spade was my inspiration yesterday, I guess Jessica is my inspiration today.

Color of Summer

 Shirt - Lane Bryant (thrifted); Skirt - Spiegel; Shoes - thrifted; Belt - Dress Barn; Necklace and Bangle - Premiere

Sweater and Skirt - NY & Co (thrifted); Shoes - Payless; Necklace - Premiere

Yellow is the color of the summer.  Not any summer, but this summer.  And not because it is the color of the sun.  Because all my life I have been told that yellow is not a good color for me because I am so pale.  This summer, I threw caution to the wind and started wearing it anyway.  Screw my complexion - I rock out some yellow. 

Freak Flag

Tank, Ring, and Earrings - Target; Skirt - INC (Macy's); Shoes - Charlotte Russe (thrifted); Belt and Bangle - thrifted

One thing I've learned about this belt....it's too small for me. Too small = pain. Too small also = super-cinched waist. Too small = looks thinner. Too small = okay by me :-) Week one of utilizing SparkPeople.com and I'm down 2.5 pounds. I was down 5 on Friday, but had a little trouble with good choices while house sitting at a home where chips, cordogs, and pizza abounded over the weekend. Back on the horse this week.

And now I cringe while I list the details.

Size - 16/18

Starting Weight - 212.5

Goal Weight - 161 by August 1, 2012

Current Weight - 210

I'm a firm believer that you shouldn't do things you are ashamed of. I proudly admit I'm a nerd. I let my freak flag fly. But I was ashamed to detail my body statistics. I'm trying to change that.

B-52 Bomber

Shoes, Belt and Dress - Thrifted; Earrings - Premiere When I woke up this morning, my hair was kind of standing up all over. I kind of looked like a lion. But somehow that made me think of rolling my hair in the above pictured 'do. It turned out better than I had envisioned, and I felt like a 40's pinup girl. Like I should be painted on the front of a WWII bomber. Too bad the belt literally fell apart throughout the day - the faux leather began crumbling off of it. That's what you get with thrifting. Sometimes you find amazing gems that become wardrobe staples (like the shoes). Sometimes they fall apart after one wear. At least it was only a dollar.

Hot Yellow

Shirt - Macy's (free); Pants - Macy's; Shoes - thrifted; Earrings and Bracelets - Premiere

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When I showed this shirt to Hubs, he had the same thought that I did...Our friend the hot artist Lynzie. I fell in love with the shirt, much like the girl, when I first met it. However, the shirt was super duper expensive...around $60 more than I would even consider spending on a shirt. So when it was clearanced and I had Macy's rewards dollars which made it free to me, it came home. Hubs has affectionately dubbed the color 'Hot Yellow' and said that Lynzie and I are the only two people he knows that can pull off the color. I'll take that as a compliment.

Yellow Shoes

Shirt - Thrifted; Tank - Old Navy; Skirt - Target; Shoes - Payless; Necklace and Belt - JC Penny; Ring - Steinmart
Polka Dot Dress, Cardi, and Shoes - Thrifted; Earrings and Necklace - Premiere; Belt - JC Penny
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Yellow shoes. Elusive until recently. These yellow platform T-straps are so darn comfy that they were worn three times in one week. The look and feel remind me of my old ballroom dancing shoes from the early dancing days. And I love the splash of color and happiness they can't help but bring out in any outfit. Best $8 I've spend in a long time!

Summer Brights

Skirt - Spiegel; Boots - Macy's; Shirt - Steinmart; Sweater Vest - August Silk (Macy's); Cardi - Loft (thrifted)

Although I felt way too bright for my engineering office, I'm pretty happy with how this uber bright outfit turned out.

Dress - Chaps (from sister); Shoes - Unlisted (from co-worker); Cardi - TJ Maxx

This dress was so basic, it was almost boring. Almost because the red was so vibrant, the basicness actually did it justice. I think this dress will be fun to play around with in the winter with sweaters and tights and boots... Thanks to my little sister who lost a ton of weight (jealous) and my co-worker who refuses to wear skirts after her third child (and gave me all of her sandals), my outfit was almost entirely free. Love that!!

Let the Sunshine In

Dress - Lands End (gift from MIL); Belt - Thrifted; Shoes - Jessica Simpson (thrifted); Necklace - ME; Earrings - Steinmart

This dress was so comfy, it was like wearing jammies to work. I see myself wearing this dress a lot. For my first attempt, went with the red and blue, but I'm excited about adding some yellow, or lime to it for this spring. Thought I'd try safe and toned down for the first wearing. I'm finding that my favorite gifts lately are gift cards. Used to hate them, cause I thought they were the cop out gift for those that lack imagination. Now I love them, cause they let me shop guilt free. Hint, hint Hubs.

Skirt - Spiegel; Sweater - Style & Co (Macy's); Shirt, Necklace and Belt - JC Penny; Shoes - Rampage (Macy's); Earrings - Chicos

This was the first wearing of my long-searched for yellow pencil skirt, but the last wearing of one of my favorite memory pieces. These pumps were purchased when I got engaged to wear to my bridal showers. I was in a very classic black & white phase at the time (with a lot of polka dots) and I wore these shoes to nearly every event for the wedding outside from the actual ceremony. Problem is, they kill my feet. They are a bit too big, not being available in half sizes, and the cut of the shoes is a bit to wide for my average width feet. I spend so much time fighting with them to stay on that they hurt my arches. By lunch time at the office, I was barefoot under my desk, only walking when absolutely necessary, cause the thought of putting them back on made me cringe. Not the kind of shoes to wear when you're trying to get your step count up. I recently gave these shoes to the Lovely LaraTelena. Hopefully she can make them fulfill their shoe destiny. I'll post any pics she sends me. Hint, hint, Lara.

It's Easy Being Green

Sweater - Gap; Skirt - Macy's (FREE); Sandals and Belt - Thrifted; Bracelet - Old Navy; Ring - Steinmart

I woke up this morning lackadaisical about everything. I didn't want to put any effort into getting ready, so I gave myself a baby-wipe shower in lieu of a real one. I didn't feel like getting dressed so I grabbed the first thing that caught my eye in the closet - green skirt - and picked the easiest color to style with it - black. The belt was a last minute addition, cause I felt like the sweater was a bit too shapeless and this yellow belt hasn't gotten much play in the last year. I am pleasantly surprised with how it turned out.

Rating - Two Thumbs Up

Bumble Bee Tuna

Shirt - Steinmart (FREE); Skirt - JC Penny; Cardi - Steinmart; Shoes - Payless; Tights - Old Navy;

Ring and Short Necklace- Premiere; Earring and Long Necklace - Me

I love this shirt and the uneven seams and 'shredded' appearance. It is so different. I had to do a little convincing of my sister to try in on in the first place. She bought it, but didn't ever wear it before she lost the weight. This is the inaugaral weariing of this shirt, which is quite a nice addition to my spring wardrobe. If only Spring will decide to get here!!!

Ahhh the shoes. Being a Shoeie (like a foodie), I'd have a hard time choosing my favorite pair. These, however would be on my sort list. They are super cute, the ruffles are adorable, they are comfy, and my nostalgia for the style of yesteryear keeps a warm place for any T-strap shoes.

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Rating - Two Thumbs Up

All that Glitters is not Gold

Sweater - NY & Co; Shirt - Steinmart (FREE); Belt - Trhifted;

Skirt - NY & Co; Tights - Motherhood Maternity; Shoes -Payless

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My little sister turned 25 and developed the family figure. No, she didn't get prego. It's just that our mother is an apple, and all 4 of us girls started out skinny minnie's, but when we reached maturity (and developed thyroid disease), our bodies evolved into the apple shape. Lil' Sis was lucky enough to have it happen to her before she had children, and was able to adopt an aggressive workhout schedule in a bootcamp and get back nearly to her fighting weight. I'm so proud of her, but jealous at the same time because I do not have the hours to devote to working out that she does. My journey is much longer than hers. The good thing for me, though, is that she gave me all of her fat clothes. You'll see quite a few items indicated as FREE from Steinmart in the next couple of months that came from her.

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This particular day I was returning to work after a week off with a stomach bug and bronchitis, so I wanted to look sparkly, even if I didn't quite feel it. I never thought to put these colors together in this way before, but I'm glad I did. Compliments abounded this day and I ended up feeling almost back to normal by the end of the day. I think the skirt definitely helped.

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My hair was also kind of feathered when I woke up, so I went with it and did my impression of Kardashian hair. I'll be leaving this hairstyle to the professionals from now on.

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Rating - Two Thumbs Up

Snakeskin Strappies

Shirt - Loft (courtesy of Shessica's Smashion site); Cardi - TJ Maxx; Pants - Style & Co (Macy's);

Shoes - Thrifted; Necklace - Bakers; Cuff and Ring - Premiere; Belt - NY & Co.

These shoes are my favorite part of this outfit, although I'm quite happy about how the outfit came together. Mother Nature can't quite figure out if she wants it to be spring or winter, so I've found that my best bet with classes and work is to dress in layers. But the fact that it has warmed up enough to be able to wear open-toed shoes is flippin fantastic! These puppies were found at Plato's Closet for $8 if I remember correctly. And worth EVERY Penny. THeya re actually pretty comfy, too. I've worn them to work a couple of times. I struggled for quite some time to find a necklace that mixed metals as well as the fabulous cuff that husby bought me for Christmas last year. This gem was spotted as a co-worker and I breezed through a mall in Columbus to eat at the foodcourt before heading home from work meetings. My company's Columbus office is located within a mall....while I briefly considered relocating there when the office first opened, once I found that out I took my name out of consideration. We'd be bankrupt if I worked that close to shopping all the time!!

I loved my hair so much I made Husby take a side shot.
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Rating - Two Thumbs Up

Sprung Spring

Sweater - NY & Co (thrifted); Shirt - thrifted; Pants - Target;

Shoes - Steinmart; Jewelry - Premeire

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So the sun is shining on a relatively basis around here, except the weather can't decide if it is spring or winter, fluctuating from the 30's to the mid 50's and back again within a week. So, I brought out some spring colors to brighten up the inside of my office. I really love this crazy 70's print shirt, especially since I have both a purple and green skirt which can be paired with it when the weather gets nicer. Lots of possibilities.

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Rating - Two Thumbs Up

Sunshine Yellow

Shirt - Inc (Macy's FREE); Pants - Style & Co (Macy's FREE); Scarf as belt - Jones NY (TJ Maxx);

Ballet Flats - Jessica Simpson (thrifted); Bracelet - Premeire; Necklace - Street Vendor

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The necklace is the OHW here. Normally I wouldn't let myself get off so easily on a challenge, if it weren't for the fact that I've had this necklace for years and have been actively trying to find ways to wear it. So far, it's only been worn with my emerald green maxi dress in the summer. I'm pretty proud of myself for finally figuring out that this scarf has the yellow in it. Duh!! The necklace and scarf gave me the added bit of color I needed to brighten up this navy and gray ensemble. Plus, the whole thing was pretty comfy and casual, which is sometimes nice when you have a 10 hour work day followed by a 3 hour class.

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Rating - Two Thumbs Up

Copy Cat, Before the Fact??

Cardi and Belt - NY & Co; Shirt and Tank (worn as vest) - Steinmart;

Skirt - Macy's; Boots - Marshalls; Jewelry - Premiere
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Please ignore everything above the neck. I had a client workshop this day, which I had to be at by 7:30 am after getting donuts and some brew for the crew, so husby was not awake when I left. 14 hours later, after workshop and school, I was a haggard mess. But I loved this outfit so much I wanted a photo of it for prosperity. Mustard and Purple...it's genius. This outfit is from January 13, before I saw Sonsy use it. I was holding up my purple skirt to various blouses and cardis in my wardrobe before I passed this tank and went VOILA! But....I remembered that the room I would be workshopping in was very toasy and I'd be taking off my sweater most likely and my pits hadn't seen a razor in a few weeks. Solution....tank as vest! I love wearing items for uses other than their intended :-)

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The OHW in this outfit are both the sweater and the tank. And I've NEVER worn them together. Ah...the possiblities that this OHW challenge is presenting me. I LOVE IT!!!

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On the other hand, I went through my closet this weekend and reorganized to put all of my OHWs in the front so that I could see them and focus on building outfits around them. I am almost ashamed to say that the amount means I will be rolling OHW month into February. I'm trying to double up to get through them all, and some of them are quite challenging, but I'm actually kind of excited about it. I guess that's what engineers do. Find a problem, come up with a solution. Execute the task until completion. Even in fashion.

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Rating - Two Thumbs Up

GI Goose

Tank - INC (Macy's); Pants - Macy's (gift); Shoes - Nine West (Thrifted);

Cardi and Belt- NY & Co.; Jewelry - Premiere

I loved how this outfit came together. The glitter of the cardi and belt, mixed with the camo tank....just a bit of edgy with the very feminine. This was a fabulous ad fitting way to end 2010, as this was my last outfit of the year.

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Rating - Two Thumbs Up.

Black on Black

Shirt - Jones New York (Macy's); Vest and Tights - Steinmart; Skirt - Old Navy; Scarf - Thirfted; Earrings - Premiere; Bracelet - Sears

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So days after confessing my bad-day tell to Style Underdog, I had one of the worst nights of this year. An incredibly stressul day at work was followed by an extremely frustrating night at school which culminated in me crying myself home from school. I went to sleep feeling defeated - by my job, my school, myself.

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I woke up this morning down in the dumps and feeling kinda numb. You know the feeling when you've cried too much. So I resisted the urge to ensconce myself in black and blend into the woodwork today. I put together the most colorful combo of navy week. My clothes alone are making me feel quite a bit better. That and the thought of actually being able to go home tonight at dinner time to see my Husband and kids. Man, I miss you guys!

Protector of Sherwood Forest

Shirt, Belt and Vest - Steinmart; Pants - Macy's; Shoes - Jessica Simpson (thrifted); Earrinngs, Necklace and Bracelets - Premiere

You know that go-to shoe that is always comfy and makes you feel super fab? These are one of my two pairs. The other ones are silver and glittery all over. These babies are an awesome red plaid, with gold jinglies and a little red patent bow to match the trim. Got them for $4 at a thrift store and I couldn't figure out why they were not only thrifted, but clearance. Why would no one want these beautiful shoes? I finally figured it out.

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Despite Plato's Closets efforts to keep things organized, shoes never quite end up in the right places. While I am a size 9.5 - 10 (just call me Sasquatch) I look through all of the sizes until around 7, and I've found some gems put in the wrong places. I found these babies in the 8-9 section and despite saying 8.5, they looked awefully big so I tried them on and they fit. I can see how someone with size 8.5 feet would try these on and pass them by. Oh how I love manufacturer's defects that work in my favor!!

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I was very pleased with this color combo until I got to work and everyone was calling me Robin Hood. I'll still most likely try this combo again, just in a more feminine way. Oh, how I love being compared to a boy.

The Outfit That Broke the Rules

Shirt - Steinmart; Scarf - Nordstrom (thrifted); Pants - Target;

Belt - Thrifted; Shoes - Payless; Earrings - Chico's;

Bracelet (really a necklace) - ME; Ring - Premiere

I think this is my new favorite picture of myself. Have I mentioned recently that I love that fall is here because my colors are back? Well, I didn't care that it was 95 degrees the day that I wore this outfit. It was officially fall, damn it!

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This scarf was a super steal with the Nordstrom tag still on it. I paid $3. The shoes I've had from Payless for about 3 years, and they are one of my faves. I was wearing brown shoes when I saw these and had to add them to the outfit. I love how all of these colors work together and will be revisiting this combo again. And, as I was starting to get upset because I haven't lost any weight in 3 weeks (mostly because I haven't been trying too hard) I realized that the pants I was wearing have been in my closet for 8 years. And they still fit. In fact, they were loose by the end of the day (and driving me nuts cause they kept falling down). So, I won't be too hard on myself. I have it on Husby's admission that I look better now that I did when he met me. Maybe he was just saying that cause it's what I wanted to hear, but I feel prettier and more stylish now that I ever have before, so even if the change has only been internal with my level of confidence, I'll still take it. Love you Husby!