Blue & Green + Five

I had a wonderful weekend with my family in town!  We did some shopping, and I have a few new dudes to show off this week (mostly courtesy of my grandmother!)

Today's outfit is supposed to be functional but fun - I wanted to wear my new cobalt flats today!

Also, thanks so much to Andie for my Stylin Blogger Award!  I'm supposed to list 5 random facts about me as a result of the award.

1.  I’m amazed that I haven’t developed a bruise across my face yet. As I mentioned on Friday, I nearly knocked myself out with a doorknob Thursday night. I bruise INCREDIBLY easily. I used to take iron supplements but have discovered that a regular multivitamin helps for the most part, but all throughout my childhood and teenage years, I constantly walked around with black and blue (and green and yellow) marks up and down my legs and arms due to all the sports I played. Yay to no bruised cheekbone!

2.  Most people consider me a very social person, but I still think of myself as shy. In high school I decided that I was tired of being shy, so I taught myself to be more outgoing. In new social settings where I don’t know many people, I find myself wanting to regress back to that wallflower, so I make a point to go up and introduce myself to people. THAT’S why I look especially gregarious!

3.  I have four dogs: a Chihuahua named Duke, a rat terrier named Ellie Rae, a Lab named Remi and a German Shepard mix named Max. Duke and Ellie live inside, and Max and Remi live outside.

4.  I am by nature one of the most unhealthy eaters you will ever meet.  I grew up on amazing family recipes that rival Paula Deen's on both taste and butter content.  I gorge myself on cheese and fatty products, and then wonder why I have suffered from stomach issues for years. Over a developing process, I have taught myself to eat healthier and less fattening foods. I can credit a large portion of this learning process to Weight Watchers, whose formula helped me become more aware of just how much those numbers behind calories and fat and fiber affect my life. I’m very lucky in that I haven’t really had any major weight issues, but I am learning that what goes into my body is an important part of what this body produces mentally and physically.

5.  I am a huge Texas Tech football fan, and am gearing up for the season opener over Labor Day weekend! I can’t wait to break out my Tech gear, hit up our tailgating party, listen to that Goin’ Band, and check out Tuberville in action. 27 days and counting!!!

"OWL" be comfortable today!

Woke up this morning with a terrible headache...which was no surprise since I went to sleep with one.  I've had a recurring headache for the past week now, and it had just gone away for the entire day yesterday.  I think I mentioned my family was going to visit this weekend, so last night I was cleaning the house in a frenzy, and went from room to room emptying little trashcans into my big kitchen trashcan.  Finally, I got to the garage entrance and attempted to tug the bag out of the can...and nearly knocked myself out on the doorknob!  Seriously, I may be the clumsiest person you know.  Anyway, this caused a major headache last night, and the bruise on my cheek is lovely too.  Actually, its not a bruise yet, just a little red streak...and it makes me look quite modely (on one side of my face) because it accentuates my cheekbones.  Hmm, shall I bottle my clumsiness?

THIS IS INTENDED TO BE A PICTURE OF MY OWL, NOT MY BOOBS!

HOW PRETTY IS THE BACK OF THIS CARDIGAN?

DETAILED EYELET

Blousy!

Feeling blousy and businessy today!  I had a goal in mind for my day, and I made it!  Gearing up for some house cleaning tonight (because my family is coming to visit this weekend) and just a half-day tomorrow here at work!

Double Duty Shirt

There's something about hot pink and black that makes me happy and I suspect its because the colors contrast so well with no extra effort on my part.  Pairing a black and white jacket with a pink silk "going out" top makes it work appropriate, and the flats make it efficient and comfortable.

Couldn't resist throwing in some torquoise earrings!

What's Black and Blue and Khaki all over?

Needed to be comfortable but professional today, and this outfit fit the bill.  I nearly retired this black top a few months ago because the straps were too thin to wear alone, but found it a couple of days ago and realized it would be perfect to wear as a vest!  I'm really liking the way this all came together.

Brr! It's cold in here!

I complain about freezing almost daily here at work, so I'm not sure why I haven't learned to dress more accomodatingly for my own working pleasure!  Today is no exception, as I'm decked out in a full skirt and a sleeveless shirt.  But really, who could resist this Anne Klein detailed top?  So pretty!

A shocking thing happened last night in my Watch-Every-Buffy-The-Vampire-Slayer-Episode-10-Years-After-The-Fact goal.  Buffy's mom died!  I really should have posted some kind of spoiler warning before that sentence, I guess, but really...I'm probably the only person in America watching it episode by episode anyway.  Spike is getting cuter and more exciting as the series goes on, and he's competing with my various other vampire crushes (you know: Lestat [Tom Cruise AND Stuart Townsend], Angel, Constantine from Sunshine, and [sigh] Eric).

That's my exciting life right now:  Buffy, Angel, and True Blood.  I'm definitely getting my fang fix these days!

Yesterday, we ran some errands around town, and I was happy with my casual outfit.  I took a picture outside since it was such a pretty day (and I wasn't rushing to the office!)

Something worse than vampires...

I have a fear that just struck me last night during an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  It has nothing to do with vampires (quite the opposite in fact), Quellar demons, or other things that go bump in the night. 

I'm afraid I'm going to fall victim to 90s era fashion. 

In last night's episode, I thought to myself, Buffy's hair always looks great.  I bet I could do my hair like her's.  And then it hit me.  Its 9 years later.  I probably shouldn't want to be doing my hair like Buffy/Sarah Michelle Gellar circa 2000.

But I did anyway.  And I like it.  One of my co-workers who is the same age as me likes it too.  I think we are both victims of Generation Y.  Sigh.

I'm all into red accessories today!

This is my substitute for the watch I can't live without.  Much like a smoker will suck on a carrot stick if you convince him it will ease the craving, I HAVE to have something around my wrist.  I wear my watch primarily as a bracelet and secondarily as a timepiece, so a rubber band is a surprisingly nice substitute!

A Terrible No Good Very Bad Day

Yesterday was a pretty crappy day for me, and I'm afraid I took it out on everyone around me.  Today I was determined to be in a better mood, but my willful proclamation is dying as the day goes on.

I even tried to dress cute and sunny to arm myself with a good mood aura.  And look, I'm smiling!  Ha...

Feeling Pink

Changed my mind at the last minute today about what to wear, so to avoid ironing, had to pull out some dry cleaning.  I haven't worn this skirt in forever...its one that I love and I catch myself "saving" it...which in the end means I just don't wear it very much.  That's a silly concept, and I really need to stop that.

Here's a close up of the hot pink pin-stripe on the skirt.  So pretty.

Mixed up the business of the pencil skirt with some hot pink heels and funky necklaces!

Leopard & Stripes

Saturday we went out to dinner with some friends, and it was a pretty casual affair.  I wanted something that didn't look like I'd just rolled out of bed after watching episodes of Buffy and Angel for hours...er, cause I definitely DID NOT do that...but was still comfortable and relaxed for our fried seafood dinner!

There's just something about mixing leopard print and owls!

Today at work, I'm taking advantage of cold office temperatures and pairing some summery pants with a lovely cardigan.  This silvery shirt was bought as a "going out shirt" so I love wearing it under something for work purposes!

I think this is such a fun shape!

Watermelon!

I've been craving fresh watermelon lately, and I'm dressed in watermelon colors today. I'm not really sure why I associate lime green and pink with watermelons...since I typically think of an actual watermelon as regular green and red, but nonetheless, that's what I feel like today! 

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About to leave work for the day and noticed a Farm Fresh Seedless Watermelon truck near my house yesterday evening...might have to make a run by there before I hit the gym this afternoon!

It's just orange-ier than peach and slightly pinker than red

I desperately wish I could find another magical shirt like this one.  I read a tip in a magazine once that the best way to learn your "colors" is to experiment with different ones and take notice of people's comments.  If people compliment you when you wear one of shade of red but not another, you can bet that you look best in either red-oranges or red-blues, and you just have to look at the shirts to tell.

I get compliments every single time I wear this shirt.  Rarely do people say, "I like that shirt!", because let's be honest, its just a basic coral oxford.  But people say, "You look cute today!" or "Your hair looks blonder; did you color it?" or sometimes they'll even sum it up like no magazine article can with: "That color looks amazing on you!"

I do have a few other coral shirts (seen here and here recently) and I do notice similar comments sometimes, but they are nothing like when I wear this shirt.  I really should just fill my entire closet with New York & Company's coral!

I got this belt at the Bass Outlet in Allen and fell in love with its preppy vibe.  I'm pretty sure I pictured myself in white shorts, a polo and Sperrys when I bought it, but I haven't tried that yet.  Maybe this weekend?

Denim and Black

Pulled a photo out of my "Inspiration Book" last night -- the woman was wearing a white tee, a short black skirt, a denim jacket with the sleeves rolled up, and a statement necklace in silver.  I've been freezing at work lately, so I figured a denim jacket was the perfect solution to that, and this morning I just WAS NOT in the mood to wear a skirt, so I broke out some pants.  I originally was going to wear this white tee untucked to give the layering some contrast in length, but I was just drawn to the clean line of the tab buckle on the pants (I tried to lighten up the second picture so you can see what I mean).  I also wanted to add a little color with this necklace (and I've vowed to attempt to wear it more anyway!)

I'm not happy and not unhappy with the shoes.  I've been working out and attempting to play tennis again lately, and am feeling the results in my muscles, and just couldn't handle a pair of heels today!

A Little Bit Different

I'm trying out a new format for my blog today, and I think I like it.  I've never been happy with the random posting of the brand/store names, and I think I like this better.

That being said, I'm not a fan of the new "look" but don't have a lot of time to mess with it today.  I plan on putting forth a little more effort on that later.

I could resist pairing this scarf with this skirt.  It always makes me feel so girly!  And for some reason, I haven't worn these shoes all season, so I made a point to wear them today.  I think they fit perfectly with the oh la la summer theme!

Friday and Monday Casuals

FRIDAY:  Gray cargo capris: NY&Co., black and gold stud top: Merona/Target, black wedges: Target

MONDAY:  khaki pants: Victoria's Secret, black ruched tank: Target, black bow heels: Chinese Laundry

Things I've thought about today:

--It hurts more to get one stitch taken out than to get one stitch put in (I suspect it was the lack of numbing injection this time around).
--A small sandwich a Schlotsky's is about twice as large as I want it to be.
--I will open and eat ALL of the cracked pepper chips before I ever get back to the office to start my sandwhich.
--I bet that a "small" Schlotsky's turkey breast with cheddar and ranch + cracked pepper chips is not really part of a balanced diet plan.

pink v-neck: Old Navy, gray dress: Target, black sandles: Cato

This gray "skirt" is actually a dress, as seen here:

Went to Outback today with my husband and some of his co-workers for a fundraiser lunch.  The tables are only big enough to fit 6, and we had 7, so R and MR had to sit by themselves at a giant table behind us.  At one point during the meal, MR left to go to the restroom and R was left at his table alone.  He got up and stood between our two tables, telling what I'm sure he assumed was a hilarious story.  The real comedy was going on behind him, however, as the Outback busboy bussed his table!  Luckily, it was just silverware and tea at that point, but we all laughed hysterically...because that's what you do when funny things happen to R.