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.

Plaid, Check, Polka Dot, Stripe

Which is the pattern that you like?  This is a ditty played between cartoons on Disney mornings which my kids love, and my daughter utililzes whenever she helps me decide what to wear.  She helped with both of these outfits.  While polka dots usually win out with Stinkerbell, these two days, she picked plaid and stripes.  I had to agree with her :-)



Tunic - BDGB (thrifted);                Dress - Old Navy (thrifted);
Bangles (thrifted)                                  Cardi - Target;
Boots - Charlotte Russe - (thrifted)          Shoes - Madden (thrifted);
Necklace, Earrings and Ring - Steinmart    Necklaces - Express and Premiere
Belt - NY & Co                                                        



Pretty in Plaid

I was in a lumberjack kind of mood this week. Here are a few ways that I styled my plaid camp shirts into business casual attire.

Shirt - Target; Cami - Old Navy; Skirt - Macy's; Belt - Thrifted; Necklace - Macy's; Shoes - Payless

Right: Shirt - Target; Cardi - NY & Co (thrifted); Skirt - Gap (maternity); Necklace - JC Penny; Shoes - Madden (TJ Maxx)

Been a Long Time

 Shirt - Matthew Morrison (Macy's); Skirt - Spiegel; Belt and Bracelets- Thrifted; Boots - Charlotte Russe (thrifted); Earrings - Steinmart

I've been a bad, bad blogger.  It's been weeks.  But a fabulous new promotion led to tons of extra responsibility and a trip to corporate headquarters for training.  And NO time for blogging.  Now that life is back to normal, I'm back to getting my pictures taken in the morning :-)

Dress - NY & Co (thrifted); Sweater - Target; Shoes - Payless; Necklace and Bracelets - Thrifted

There is a preview of 'Hall Pass' where Jenna Fisher is wearing a dress much like the one I'm wearing.  In fact, when I first saw the preview I thought 'I really love that dress'.  So imagine my elation when I was perusing through my local Plato's Closet and saw a dress from NY & Co, in my size (for $8), with the same print and pallette.  Of course, fate had brought us together.  The dress is light enough to be worn in summer, but the color pallette also lends to its ability to be worn with tights and boots in the fall.  Bonus!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Cardi - NY & Co (thrifted), Belt  - Thrifted; Shoes - Mossimo (Thrifted); Capris - Gap (maternity);  Shirt - NY  & Co; Earrings and Bracelet - Steinmart

This outfit was part of my attempt to find yet another non-christmassy red/green combo.  This shirt is a pale bluish green, so I guess it could technically be classified at teal, but I thought I'd give it a shot in my ever present quest for things not black or blue that go with red.  Sadly, my beautiful tomato NY&Co cropped cardi got caught on something (not really sure what) this day and got a ginormous hole in the back. It has since been retired (to the garbage) as it was a hole that I could not repair.  I searched for months for the perfect red cardi.  Now I am again on the quest. :-(

The shoes support my theory that every good shoe eventually ends up at Platos.  I saw these shoes on Target.com for around $25 dollars.  Although adorable, and I still on my mind weeks later, the words 'I'll wait until they show up at Plato's' actrually came out of my mouth in my externalized internal monologue.  And lo and behold, around 3 months later, they showed up at Plato's in my size.  Our union was meant to be.  And they are surprisingly comfortable.  A match made in heaven.

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.

Indecent Exposure

Dress - Target; Shoes and Bangles - Thrifted; Earrings - Steinmart; Necklace - Premiere; Ring - NY&CO

Figures, the day before I chop off my hair it looks great.

I normally try to shy away skirts/dresses that are above my knees, but the reality is above-the-knee is really in right now. As long as I don't go too far, and use Jergens Natural Glow lotion to add a little color to them, I've been getting more comfy with showing off my knees and their immediate neighbors to the north. The tiers, ruffles and gathers on this dress make it quite flattering and I just love the color. Lately I've been thinking how awesome this dress would look with my Gap demin jacket over it, my blue tights and my tan knee boots...maybe this dress won't get put away for the fall/winter :-)

Anchors Aweigh

Dress - INC (Macy's); Belt - Target; Shoes - Payless; Necklace - Steinmart

I'm loving the idea of wearing items as they were not intended. This 'dress' is really a maxi skirt. But look at me...I pulled it up and cinched it and voila! I have a tube dress. I'll have to admit, this idea wasn't mine. But my execution is something I'm quite proud of :-)

You may notice, that my hair is looking a bit rough. I haven't cut my hair since my son was born, nearly 2 years ago...I realized that I was getting a bit scraggly, so I recently got it chopped. Just a preview of things to come....

Happy Mother's Day!

Shirt and Pants - TJ Maxx; Cardi and Earrings- Steinmart; Shoes - Old Navy; Belt - Thrifted;

Necklace - Premiere; Owl Ring - Bakers

I generally shy away from the Junior's Department. Firstly, I'm plus sized, and Junior's Clothes typically run smaller, meaning an XL would make me look more like a wrapped sausage than a woman. And secondly, because I have had two children which have left me with an excess of skin and fat in the belly region that Junior's shirts are often too short to cover up. This floral sheer gem is technically Junior's and passed the belly test on both ends. I love how the flowers are so bright and varied that I can dress it many ways. This day I went dark, but I could easily go pink or lilac or even yellow with ease on a more springy day. Although technically Spring, the record rainfall in my town this month has really got me down and it's tough to pull off the brights just yet.

You'd better pay attention. Mr. Owl is watching you. Dress - Liz Lange Maternity (thrifted); Belt - Steinmart; Necklace, Earrings and Ring - Various Anniversary gifts from Husby

I LOVE these jewelry items from Husby. They are bold, yet neutral. They are statement and classy. The only part I regret is that I feel that the shells are only appropriate in the spring and summer. Maybe I'll get over that. But for now, I'm just happy that their season has returned. The dress is a maternity dress that I just cannot retire, because of the gorgeous color. And since I discovered that my 70's hooker clogs of the previous post match it exactly this resolve is further reinforced. Happy Day in extreme maternity comfort.

Things that suck in the transition of pregnant to mother, that No ONE bothered to tell me:
1. You are no longer able to proudly display your big fat belly.
2. You feel guilty about everything non vegetable that you put in your mouth.
3. Feeling the kicks. God, I miss feeling the kicks still. It's like you lose a part of you.
4. You lose the comfy excess and stretchyness of Maternity Clothes. You don't realize how much you hate zippers and buttons until you spend 5 months in expandawaist maternity pants.
5. You have to worry whenever you sneeze if it's going to be a sninkle. (tinkle + sneeze)
6. Freaky crazy big, milk engorged, painful breasts. Then, you fall in love with them, right before you stop nursing and lose them.
7. Post freaky crazy big, milk engorged breasts that you now need to fold up into a braziere.
8. Three other things that I can't remember because my babies ate my brain cells.

But GOD, I love those beautiful babies. Happy Mother's Day!

Pajamas in the Workplace

Dress - Merona (thrifted); Boots - Marshalls; Sweater - NY & Co (thrifted); Necklace - Target;

Ring - Steinmart; Earrings - Premiere; Belt - Thrifted

When I bought this dress, I couldn't figure out whether it was a nightgown or a dress. I was thrilled at the delicious ambiguity. It's soft and loose, yet clingy. It's delicate and feminine, yet super duper comfy. I felt like I was in Jammies all day, which made it the perfect Friday dress. My office mates and I walked to the BW3 that shares our parking lot for some discount wings for lunch and while the guy at the front dest told the male customer in front of me, they didn't have anything open for lunch, when I stepped up to the desk, he told my breasts that he'd find something for me.

When you are a female engineer, you get used to being terribly outnumbered by men...in school and then in work. And no offense to the amazing and well adjusted male engineers out there that I am sure exist, most of the ones that I have worked alongside are a bit awkward. I'm used to my boobs getting talked to. I learned early on that it's not a form of harrassment....it's a man not used to having conversations with voluptuous women.

So when the girls were being stared at by a total stranger, I took advantage of the situation and got my co-workers a table. It is right? Probably not. And if I used their power for evil, on a regular basis, I'd feel guilty. But since I spend nearly every day pretending that I don't have them, I felt they were due for some recognition.

Rating - Two Thumbs Up with a basket of Wings

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

Stylish Librarian

Shirt - Thrifted; Vest - August Silk (Macy's - FREE); Skirt - Chico's (FREE from MOM);

Shoes - Madden (Thrifted); Belt - NY & Co; Necklace - Target

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Husby wasn't fond of this outfit. He said, the skirt and vest matched, but the shirt just looked weird. The shirt was my favorite part. Husby and I don't always agree.

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The OHW in this outfit is the shirt. I got it quite a while ago, and wore it with a brown cardi, but wasn't really sure what else I could pair it with, since it's a bit snug around the belly. I'm really happy with how this turned out. And the sweater tank being worn as a vest has given me ideas of other things I can do with this one. This is the first time wearing the Chico's skirt. It's kind of an odd sweater material, but the color is a great oatmeal neutral. I'm going to try to wear this as much as I can before the weather gets so warm that it starts to bother my thighs.

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I've also been trying to experiment more with my hair. I started growing my hair out in the first place because I was tired of looking the same every day. But now that I have long hair, I fix it the same way nearly every day. A lady in the bathroom at work told me I looked like a stylish librarian. I can handle that.

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Rating - One Thumb Up, One Thumb Sideways

And the Hits Just Keep on Coming

Shirt - Old Navy (thrifted); Sweater - Gap (maternity); Pants - Target (circa 2001); Shoes - Steinmart; Bangle - Old Navy; Earrings - Chicos
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Boring. This outfit was super-de-duper boring. But so very comfortable. I could have put on some tights and heels and really spiffed up the deal, but I knew this was going to be a crazy work day for me and my knee was really hurting from wearing heels the day before (because I fell down the stairs with a huge basket of laundry and landed square on my left knee) and it was going to snow and I just wanted to be comfy. I was very happy, despite looking boring.
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The OHW (one hit wonder) in this outfit is the blouse. I have to be a little careful how I wear it because it is exceedingly short, even for a short-waisted leggy dame like myself. The first time was with a blazer and high waisted skirt.
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Rating - Two Thumbs Sideways

Ugly Pretty

Cardi - Macy's; Pants - Target; Shirt, Tank and Loafers- Steinmart;

Necklace and Earrings - Premiere; Belt - NY & Co (thrifted)

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One of my favorite movies, Kissing Jessica Stein, has a scene where they discuss sexy ugly. You know, guys like Nicholas Cage and James Woods who are not empirically attractive, but something about them makes them sexy. This sweater is the apparel version of sexy ugly. The sweater is so ugly that it's actually really pretty. When I first saw it, I thought it looked like vomit. Teal, orange, purple, mustard, olive in a floral pattern....but I was so drawn to it. And I love how it pairs with this orange shirt. The teal belt was just icing on the cardi cake. So many options.....

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What I love most, though, is that I found a way to style pants that I thought was flattering on me. See, I'm a pencil skirt kinda gal. My body type and curves leave me feeling frumpy in most full-length slacks. Not today, my friends. YAY!!

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Rating - Two Thumbs Up

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!

Pewter Suiter

Blazer - thrifted; Skirt and Belt - JC Penny; Shirt - Lane Bryant (thrifted); Shoes - Target; Necklace - Anne Klein (thrifted); Earrings - Steinmart; Bracelets - Premiere

Wow! That suit makes me look thin. Either that or it's the way I'm standing, but I like what I see. When I put on the jacket, I felt like my arms looked really beefy, but they aren't that bad. I was really apprehensive about the shirt/skirt/jewelry combination, too because the shirt is pewter and black up close, but when you look from far away, it's goldy looking. I think this looks great together. And I got quite a few compliments on my outfit today, from near strangers, so I think the world agrees with me. Why do my attempts at professional always end up looking like a 60's secretary? Damn that Zooey Deschanel!!

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And when I got dressed this morning, trying to find the perfect shoes to go with this unique shirt, I realized that I have 3 pairs of said shoes. The satin peep-toe flats in the picture were worn for the trek to and from work, while metallic pewter pumps (New York & Co - thrifted) were donned for the office. I LOVE MY SHOES!!