Shoesday Tuesday: Mint Oxfords

I have a new pair of shoes that are making me ache for spring to arrive:

Isn't the color just the most fabulous shade of creamy, delicious mint? And check out the super cool cut-outs on the sides:

I am absolutely DYING to wear these precious brogues, but it's still just a little too cold. Maybe soon, though...

Happy Shoesday Tuesday, everyone!

Rate My Look: I Did It!

I got the chambray shirt! I even wore it out tonight after work!

I'm not gonna lie, I think I look pretty good in this outfit. These are my new skinnies, too- they are SO comfortable. As good as the chambray shirt looks with my new jeans, I'm even more excited to wear it with a pair of white jeans or even one of my pair of bright color jeans. I think it's the casual nature of this fabric that made me doubt whether it could work with my wardrobe, but it's just so flattering and cute, I know I can make it work. 

I love that my biggest problems in life involve trying to incorporate a new fabric into my wardrobe. I don't know how I do it. Honestly, I think only the Kardashians have lives this stressful. 

A Trip to Le Marshalls Boutique

Today is my day off and I had a few errands to run, but once I was done, I stopped in to one of my favorite bargain stores- Marshalls. I thought it might be fun to show you what I tried on because there were a lot of really awesome pieces.

I've been obsessed with chambray lately. I can't explain why. I know that it's all wrong for my wardrobe, but I'm so drawn to it lately. I find it irresistible. Maybe I've been watching a little too much "Nashville" on Hulu. Anyway, when I saw this chambray top with the super cute little white polka-dots, the mother-of-pearl-esque snap closures, the little hook that holds the rolled sleeve up and the flattering seams that nip it in so well, I could hardly resist. But resist I did. It was $30 and I just didn't see spending that much on something I'm not sure I'll even wear. Looking at that photo, now, though... I'm wondering if I made a mistake leaving it behind... 

I know it was NOT a mistake leaving this particular chambray shirt behind, though. It's not nearly as cute and feminine as the first one. Also, it's a little too long and a little too big all around. But I love the faded denim look. 

I thought this top would be great for work. I could tuck it into a high-waisted pencil skirt or even layer it under a cute blazer. I had a whole outfit in my head- my blue J. Crew pencil skirt, with this top and a mint cropped blazer that I was about to try on. Cue the blazer... 

Ummm... that is bad. Nothing about that works. With my hopes for a fabulous outfit dashed, I tossed both pieces to the "reject" pile and moved on to some dresses. 

This adorable party dress just brings a huge smile to my face. It's so whimsical and fun! The full skirt, the tailored bodice, the little black belt that comes with it- it's all adorable! It even has covered buttons up the back instead of a zipper! Unfortunately, I don't have any parties coming up anytime soon, so this was yet another item that I sent packing. 

I always love the girls who can pull off a blouse-y dress like this. I am just not one of them. (P.S. What happened to my waist? This dress stole it! Reject!)

This dress was a bargain at $24.99, and admittedly, it looks pretty fabulous. It has that magical slimming effect. But for some reason, I just wasn't feeling it today. This one landed in the reject pile, too. 

Finally, I decided to try on a few pair of jeans. You know how that goes, right? When giving women advice about shopping for jeans, I always tell them to plan on trying on what feels like a million different pair before you find a single pair you like. That's what I was prepared for today, but then something magical happened! The first pair I put on fit perfectly, looked amazing, were completely comfortable and were on sale for $17! 

 Just look at those fabulous skinnies! I love everything about them! I probably should have thrown my boots back on to snap the photo, but oh, well. You can still appreciate a good pair of jeans, even without the proper footwear. I can picture these bad boys with some tall wedges and a flowy top come springtime. 

So there you have it- an afternoon shopping excursion with me. I'm sure you agree with most of my purchasing decisions- if you don't love it or need it, or you don't think you'll wear it, then reject it. The only rejection I'm questioning is the first chambray shirt. Leave a comment and tell me if you think I messed up on that one. Maybe on my next day off I can swing back down there and snatch it up if it's still there. Or not. You be the judge! 

Holiday Switcheroo

I know I posted a blog about how I had this adorable silver sequin dress that I planned to wear to the Madeleine's Daughter company holiday party, but I lied to you. I didn't mean to lie. At the time, I meant every word. And the peter pan collar necklace I made to go with it? Also, not a lie at the time, but I did not end up wearing either the silver sequin dress or the peter pan collar necklace to our company holiday party this past weekend. Here's how it happened:

The Tuesday evening prior to the party, Brandie expressed her need to find an outfit. After work, Juhree and I went with her to Marshalls to help her pick something out. I had absolutely NO intention of shopping for myself while we were there. However, sometimes these things are out of our control. While looking through the racks of sparkly holiday dresses, I came upon the most stunning art-deco dress I've seen in a long time. The price? Just $59.99. Now, 60 bucks isn't much to spend on a cocktail dress but it is a lot to spend when you don't NEED said cocktail dress because you already have a silver sequin cocktail dress hanging in your closet at home. I bought it anyway. And here's why:

1.) I look incredible in it.
2.) I can wear the silver sequin dress to a New Year's Eve party (and I plan to).
3.) I can get another wear out of the second dress by wearing it to my friend Jen's wedding in January.

So, without further ado, I present to you my holiday party look for 2012:

Go ahead and TRY to tell me this wasn't worth every penny. In fact, go ahead and TRY to tell me it wouldn't have been worth it had it cost DOUBLE what it did! It's a phenomenal dress that fits me like a glove. 'Nough said. 

The best thing about this dress is how I feel in it. I walked strutted around that holiday party KNOWING I was the best dressed in the room. Maybe I wasn't actually the best dressed (not likely), but I felt like it. The only regret I have from this night is that it was an event the Professor could not attend. Which is why I'm incredibly excited to wear it again to Jen's wedding! He'll be my date that night, and he's driving 6 hours to be there, so I'm looking forward to dressing up for him. 

Now that I'm done bragging about what I hottie I am, let's talk about why this dress is so flattering. Do you guys remember when Kate Winslet wore that amazing Stella McCartney dress with the remarkably slimming optical illusion? Here's a photo in case you forgot: 

My dress has a similar effect because of the dark sequin banding on the sides. In my opinion, it's a brilliant design idea and one that everyone should try. Just like Kate, I tried to keep my accessories to a minimum- I chose rhinestone embellished black pumps, black rhinestone earrings (not pictured in the photo above, unfortunately) and a sparkly feather hairpiece (unfortunately also not pictured). It's easy to over accessorize a simple dress, but that's just the time when you need to exercise restraint. I actually didn't want to wear anything in my hair, but unfortunately there were some tacky-looking bobby pins ruining my elegant updo and covering them with a headpiece was the quickest, simplest fix I could come up with. The earrings were sparkly, but not too over-the-top and my make-up was actually pretty neutral. 

I'm hamming it up with co-worker Meghan during dinner. 

What did you wear for your company holiday party? Was it formal or casual? Are you dressing up for New Years? Whatever the look, just remember to wear it with confidence and walk strut through the room like you're the hottest one there. Unless I'm there, too and then I hate to break it to you, but you'll be the second hottest one there (wink). 

Shoesday Tuesday: They'll Always Haunt Me...

For months and months, I found myself stumbling across the same pair of ridiculous heels at Marshalls. It was like they just wouldn't leave me alone. They were by Steve Madden and they were so cool-60's-mod, that I knew they would work with plenty of outfits and dresses in my closet. Here's proof:

Just look at that heel!!! The color, the shape, everything about these shoes just screams my name. But guess what- I never bought them. Every time I saw them on the shelf, I put them on. I walked around the store. I showed my friends. I showed my other friends. I showed strangers. I just couldn't pull the trigger. You see, they were unbearably painful to wear. They are the kind of shoes you wear to sit down all day. Guess what I never do. That's right- sit down all day. (Unless you count my lazy days off spent in sweat pants on the couch.) I just couldn't justify them. I thought, "These shoes deserve to belong to someone who will not only love them, but who will WEAR them." That person just isn't me. 

I know what you're thinking, "What about wearing them out on a date?!?" I know- that thought crossed my mind. But my boyfriend lives in the mountains of North Carolina. Shoes like these just don't work in the mountains. I'd break an ankle just walking from the front door to the car. No joke. It would NOT be pretty. And isn't that the point of shoes like this? To look and feel pretty? 

I suppose they'll forever haunt me as "the ones that got away." At least I have them documented here and I can look at them any time I want. And now, so can you. You're welcome. 

Happy Shoesday Tuesday! 

Rate My Look

I know it has been quite a while since I posted an outfit of my own, so I made sure to have someone take my picture the other day.

Sweater: Marshalls

Skirt: Anthropologie

Boots: Charlotte Russe

Ring & Necklace: Stella and Dot

You'll have to forgive my wrinkled skirt. I did press it after I took this picture, so I wasn't so rumpled for the workday. I was excited about the color combination of this outfit- I just love the mustard sweater with the purple skirt. And I love that neither is new, but this outfit feels so new because of the combination. You may remember the boots from this post. The ones pictured above are the new color, but I have a confession to make. I really preferred the darker brown color, so I ended up ordering a new pair online. I have a problem with buying boots this year. At least I can admit it, right? Anyway, part of the reason I felt compelled to get the darker color is because I really prefer a monochromatic look with my tights and boots. While the taupe color pictured above looks great on bare legs, I know that this winter I'll get a lot more use out of a darker pair that I can wear with chocolate brown tights. 

I'm going to try to be better about taking photos of my outfits- I definitely miss sharing them with all of you. Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think of my look. You know how much I love comments! 

Rate My Look- Typical Work Outfit

Dress: Ganesh Imports

Bag, Shoes: Marshalls

Ring, Necklace: Stella and Dot

My digital camera and my computer have decided to stop speaking to each other. I'm not sure who's to blame or if it's the USB cable connecting them that's stirring up trouble. (It seems like the three of them may be having relationship issues.) Since I'm so accustomed to photographing myself with my tripod, it's not always easy to remember to ask someone at work or home to take my picture on my phone for me. Last night, however, as I was leaving, I asked one of my coworkers to snap a photo of my outfit and I'm glad she did. I've been meaning to show this dress to you guys for a while. I bought it at a store in downtown Portsmouth called Ganesh Imports, which isn't my typical store. However, I saw this dress in the window and it drew me in. At $34.99, I couldn't resist. The natural waist with ruching and slightly gathered skirt make for a very flattering dress. The exposed zipper in front adds a touch of edge to an otherwise sweet-looking dress. The fabric is a super soft microfiber and the details on the shoulders really make it special. It's a perfect dress for work, except that it's a bit on the shorter side, so I have to be careful about bending down for any reason. I love the dusty, rusty color of the dress, too. I bought it earlier this summer and it looked great paired with some of my bright turquoise accessories like this ring and my Marchesa necklace from Stella and Dot, but now that fall is approaching, it's also proving to be a great color when paired with deep honey and brown. 

Since I wanted the dress to be the star of the outfit, I kept my jewelry fairly subtle. I wore some Stella and Dot jewelry, of course: 

Together Forever Necklace, $49

Soiree Trio Ring, $49

I hope you like my casual, comfortable summer/fall outfit. I'd love to hear what you think in the comments section. (As always)

Have an awesome day, everyone! 

Rate My Look- Back in Action!

Hello, all! Thanks for being patient while I took a couple of days off from blogging. I also appreciate the supportive comments on my last post. I think that after 2 years and nearly 800 posts, I was due for a little slump. Thanks for indulging me.

Anyway, I've been meaning to share this outfit with you guys because I really think it is DYNAMITE. (I'm so humble, right?) Anyway, now that I've collected an assortment of pencil skirts, I want to wear them every day. And this denim one happens to be a particular favorite of mine:

Top: So old, I don't even know where or when I got it

Skirt: Marshalls? TJ Maxx? Definitely one of those

Shoes: Daffy's

Ring and Necklace: Stella and Dot

Let us count the ways this outfit is fabulous, starting with the individual pieces: 

1.) These shoes are my absolute favorite shoes that I own and I wish I could wear them every day. However, I also wish to make it into my 40's without bunions, so there's that. But seriously- get a closer look at them here. In the words of Rachel Zoe, "I die." 

2.) The citrus-y top is so on trend right now- bright oranges, yellows and pinks are so hot for spring and summer. I love when an old piece from years ago suddenly becomes trendy again somehow. This top is so nicely structured, but it also has a bit of stretch to the fabric. I've been known to pair it with high-waisted sailor pants. Also a stellar combination, if I do say so myself. 

3.) The skirt. Seriously? This skirt is phenomenal. It's so unique and interesting to look at. Strangers complement it every time I wear it. Flattering AND interesting? I'll take it. 

4.) The jewelry- I will try not to sound all sales-pitch-y when I say this, but the Stella and Dot Sofia Pearl Bib Necklace literally elevates ANY outfit to classy and sophisticated in a heartbeat. Literally. This outfit is great on its own, but with that necklace? We've entered a whole new dimension Seriously, I die. (I am SO channeling Rachel Zoe throughout this entire post!)

Need I say more to convince you of the fabulousness that is this outfit? I didn't think so. 

Rate My Look: Mad Hatter

I couldn't wait to wear my new hat, so I made sure to work it into an outfit right away. This is what I wore yesterday and I love it all:

Dress: Target

Cardigan: Old Navy

Ring: Stella and Dot

Shoes: Marshalls

Hat: Puttin' on the Glitz

My hat, made by Cha-cha's House of Ill Repute, is so stinkin' awesome. I don't even have words. Yes I do. They are as follows: This hat has such amazing details- from the lace-like, almost cobweb-esque trim over the grosgrain ribbon band, to the feather embellishment on the band, to the suede-like trim along the brim to the perfectly tea-stained color of the straw to the folds and creases that make it appear as though it's 100 years old, every detail of this hat is awesome. I should have taken a better close-up picture. It has SO much character, it's unbelievable. And yet, at the same time, it's incredibly neutral and versatile. What convinced me to splurge on this hat was the fact that it can truly be worn with just about anything. I know there are many of you who don't think so, who think that hats are so hard to wear! I know what's you're thinking: "When on earth could you ever wear this hat once, let alone in enough situations that it could be considered versatile!" 

First, it's a light-weight straw hat, perfect for protecting my face from the hot summer sun. That quality alone makes it appropriate for a stroll in the park, a trip to the farmer's market, a day at the beach, an outdoor BBQ and an afternoon shopping in any fabulous downtown you like, to name a few scenarios. The day I bought it, I was torn between it and a much dressier fascinator. In the end, I decided the hat could be dressed up OR down, while the fascinator was specific to dressing up situations. I promise to show you plenty of outfits with this hat to prove to you how versatile it is. Of course, I may not even need to convince you. Why not leave me a comment and tell me what you think- do you need convincing that it was worth the nearly $160 price tag? I want to hear what you have to say!  

Rate My Look- Where is Spring?!?!?

At this point, we're more than half-way through the month of May and it has yet to feel like spring around here for more than 48 hours. It definitely makes getting dressed in the morning a little more difficult. I've been getting some use out of my spring jackets, particularly my trusty short denim jacket.

Dress: BCBGMaxAzria via Marshalls

Jacket: Ann Taylor 

Shoes: Payless

Ring and Necklace: Stella and Dot

I've struggled with finding sandals for this summer. I'm not a fan of gladiator sandals- they just don't work that well with my wardrobe. Unfortunately, that's really all there is out there right now! I spent an afternoon shopping for shoes last week and I managed to purchase four new pair of shoes for the summer including the sandals pictured above. Since it was BOGO, I also got a pair of cute, white ballet flats. Here's a better view of the sandals and a picture of the ballet flats for you: 

Popstar Embellished Gladiator Sandals, Payless, $19.99

Feebe Bow Flat, Payless, $22.99

The other two pair of shoes I bought were from Marshalls- a pair of flip flops and a pair of basic black sandals in a smiliar style as the ones from Payless above. Outfits will come with those shoes soon. As for the dress, this is one that is at least a year old, but it is SO comfortable- I really love wearing it. The jewelry is of course Stella and Dot. On this particular day, I wore the Sofia Pearl Bib Necklace and the Camilla Ring.

I can't tell you how much I love these two jewelry pieces. They were two items that I knew I would like, but that I didn't necessarily expect to become every-day pieces. But that's exactly what they are! I wear the Camilla Ring ALL THE TIME! It's very comfortable and it really seems to go with just about everything. The Sofia Pearl Bib Necklace is such a classy, elegant statement and it really elevates every outfit to a completely different level. I've even worn it with a simple t-shirt and jeans and a great pair of heels. I love it! 

Rate My Look- Inspired by Brittan

Today was an absolutely fabulous day, and I'm not talking about the British sitcom. I started off my day by picking an outfit to wear out with Gigi- we had plans to get our nails done at a little salon in Portsmouth. I pulled out a dress that I haven't worn since last summer and felt instantly inspired:

Dress: Target

Shoes: Burlington Coat Factory? I think...

Sweater: Old Navy 

Bag: Michael Kors via Marshalls

Ring and Earrings: Stella and Dot

Remember Brittan and her fabulous polka-dot dress with the citrus-y accouterments? Well, she was truly my inspiration for this outfit. I wish it was exactly the same color scheme as hers, but sometimes you need to make do with what you have. In my case, I had the polka dots and I had the citrus-family colors. Rather than the lemon and tangerine she sported, I had just a splash of lemon with a bit more of lime and grapefruit. Overall, it works and it's a super fun, bright, spring-y outfit. 

My mani/pedi with Gigi was also great and afterwards we had a nice afternoon shopping in downtown Portsmouth. She went home with several new pairs of shoes. I went home without a single new purchase, but it wasn't because I didn't find anything fabulous. On the contrary, I found several super fabulous items, but all of them were selling for a lot more than I was comfortable spending. For example, take a look at me in this AMAZING hat: 

I LOVE IT!!! It's like a super chic version of a mad hatter top hat and I had a lot of trouble leaving it behind. At $158, it would have been a major splurge. Maybe I'll go back in a few weeks and see if it's on sale. I have to say, this hat would be worth every penny and if I were made of money, I'd have snatched it up in heartbeat! I found it at an adorable little shop called Puttin' on the Glitz where there are dozens of equally fabulous hats as well as gorgeous handbags and tons of jewelry. The hat itself comes from Cha-cha's House of Ill Repute, but I would caution you against clicking that last link unless you are prepared to either drop a few hundred dollars on some amazing hats, or to have your heart broken because you can't drop a few hundred dollars on some amazing hats. Seriously. 

After leaving behind that amazing hat, we stopped in to a few shoe stores, another serious weakness of mine. I found these incredibly comfortable and incredibly chic sandals:

Sorry for the poor quality of the photo.  We were in the "outlet room" at JL Coombs when I found these babies. (P.S. How cute does my pedicure look?) Heres a better photo of them from Zappos: 

Pikolinos Gomera, Zappos, $155

Super fabulous, right? And the most amazing part about these wedges is that they feel like they are flats! It's magical and I really don't understand how it's done. They felt so amazing on my feet, I nearly purchased them. At $155, even buying them in tax-free New Hampshire was still out of the question. Although, much like the hat, I believe they would have been worth every penny. I suppose that was the theme of the day- finding absolutely fabulous items for around $150. 

Do you ever have days like that, when you wish you could buy really nice things, but you know your budget just won't allow for it? The shoes were of course far more practical than the hat, but still not entirely necessary. It's hard to walk away from something I know I will wear a lot, even more so than walking away from something a little impractical, but that I absolutely adore (like that hat)!

I may have gone home empty-handed in terms of shopping booty, but I still had a wonderful girls' day with Gigi and that is really what matters. Time spent with loved ones- friends, family, etc. is so much more important than any pair of shoes or mad hatter top hat. Don't you agree? 

Rate My Look- Winning Combination

I realized after browsing through my recent photos that I basically wore the exact same outfit three times this past week. In every outfit, I'd paired one of my pencil skirts with a long-sleeve turtleneck or cowl neck top. The accessories varied (more on that later), but the silhouette and pieces combined to create that silhouette were all very similar.

It all started on Sunday:

Skirt: Ann Taylor

Cowl Neck Top: Fair Indigo

Sweater & Boots: Marshalls

Earrings: H & M
Brooch: Vintage

The next day- Monday- was a LOT colder, so I took out the cashmere: 

Sweater: Christmas gift

Skirt: Marshalls

Necklace: Forever 21

Shoes: DSW

Forgive the wrinkles in my skirt- I snapped this photo AFTER driving 45 minutes to work, so my skirt wasn't looking its best like it did in this post. Finally, I put together this look on Tuesday: 

Sweater: TJ Maxx

Skirt: Daffy's

Shoes: DSW

Necklace: DIY

Tuesday's version of this look is definitely my favorite. The skirt is super cute and I love the combination of the olive fabric and the purple jewelry. Something about those two colors just makes me smile. And if you like my necklace in Tuesday's outfit and want to know more about it, check back tomorrow- I'll tell you all about it! 

But back to the clothes- sometimes you have to step back and take a look at the pieces in your closet with a fresh perspective. Think about different combinations of clothing and accessories- you'll feel like you have a whole new wardrobe! 

Leave a comment and tell me what you think about my outfit creations! 

Rate My Look- Emma Pillsbury Style

Ever since I purchased my new glasses, I've been faced with the challenge of incorporating them into my outfits. While I love how fun and funky they are, that same funky-ness is what makes them a challenging wardrobe element. There is not doubt about the fact that they are a statement and a bold one at that. I've found myself struggling not so much with the major elements of my outfits as I do with the accessories. Honestly, I've hardly worn earrings since I got these glasses. Accessories are the part of creating an outfit that I find most interesting and enjoyable. Earrings are often my "go-to" accessory along with large cocktail rings. Sometimes I mix it up with a bold necklace. This week, I decided to channel Emma Pillsbury and use a chic plaid scarf tied in a prim bow to accessorize my look:

Dress: Banana Republic

Boots: Marshalls

Sweater: Old Navy

Scarf: Vintage

On this particular day, I was pretty disappointed with the temperature- it was about 37 degrees Fahrenheit that day- just a smidge too chilly for my taste at this point in the year. I'm starting to go beyond feeling sick of wearing tights. My feelings toward them currently border on hatred, but I keep reminding myself that it's not their fault I live in New England and winter sticks around until April. I have to remind myself that they've served me well for many months now and if they had feelings, they'd be just as sick of me as I am of them. I decided to finish the outfit with one of the six cardigans I bought at Old Navy not too long ago. I'm a little sick of cardigans, too, but since this one is new, I don't mind it. But tights and cardigans aren't the point today. Nope- it's all about accessorizing those glasses. In a subtle mix of prints, I've combined the florals from my glasses with the plaid on my scarf-they really complement each other nicely, don't you think? It helps that they both have a teal/blue color scheme and the prints are on the same scale. As much as I enjoy wearing my glasses, I'm looking forward to getting back into my contact lenses in a couple of weeks. I think I'll have worked my accessorizing muscle enough by then and I'll be ready to get back into earrings.

Do any of you glasses-wearing readers have similar issues with your glasses? Even if they aren't quite as bold a statement as my floral frames, do you sometimes feel as though your glasses add a challenge to creating your daily look? Leave a comment and let me know!

Rate My Look- Howdy, New Glasses

Today I worked from noon to 5:00 and the sun was still shining when I left work. Isn't daylight savings so great? Just when you're ready to lose your mind from the short, dreary, winter days, the middle of March rolls around and all of a sudden, the days are longer again. It's awesome.

As for my outfit, I was able to snap a photo on my drive home, when the light was absolutely perfect. My pictures over the winter have been dull, with poor light- it was too cold to take pictures outside and the inside liht was rarely very good, at least at home. Needless to say, I'm happy for the better light for my photos and for my mood!

Top: Marshalls

Skirt: Old Navy

Belt: Super old, I don't even remember where I got it

Ring: Target

Cowboy boots: Consignment Shop

Necklace: Garment District

Glasses: FYSH UK

The skirt is re-mixed from this outfit, and the shirt is pretty basic, so I have never really talked about it. It's good to have basics in your wardrobe, but I'm often guilty of having too many quirky things with too few basics to pair them with. Speaking of quirky things, would you like a close-up view of my new glasses? No one seemed to want to venture a guess on my post yesterday, but I think if you know me well, the answer was obvious: 

Yup, I got the super funky flower-y ones! Are they fabulous or what? I've actually ENJOYED wearing them these last few days! The color looks great against my eye color. Normally, I don't like wearing glasses because they tend to cover up what I consider to be one of my best features. These glasses seem to do just the opposite. I'm sure I'll be back to contact lenses before long, especially with spring and summer fast approaching- sunglasses will be more appropriate soon. 

So what do you think of my outfit? Is it a little too cowgirl for you (especially with the "Howdy" necklace)? Or do you just think it's fun? I like it- and it was remarkably comfortable to wear at work. Those boots are magical- they are the only pair of heels I can not only survive in for several hours at work, but my feet don't even need "recovery time." They are magically comfortable, despite the three-inch heels. I can't explain it, but I'm not going to complain. Magical cowboy boots are fine with me. Fabulous glasses and cute necklaces? Also fine. 

Accessories Anonymous: Spring is coming...

Do you guys realize that it's less than a month till the official start of spring? For my birthday this year, my mom was very generous and bought me this Michael Kors leather handbag:

It's the most fabulous shade of kelly green (it looks a little lighter in the photo, sorry) and I think it is going to be the perfect bag for spring. In fact, a week or so after my birthday my mom asked me why I hadn't used it yet. When I told her I was saving it for spring, she said, "I don't know how you can wait that long! When I have something new, I have to use it right away!" Most of the time, this is true for me, too. But if you recall, I've been on a quest for the perfect bright green handbag for quite a while now. It all started back in October of 2009 and you can see the original post here. Nearly a year later in September of 2010, I found an amazing green bag, but it was right before I quit my job, so I didn't want to splurge at that time. Don't remember that post? It's here, if you want to read it again. About a month after I moved to New Hampshire, I found a job, and once again I blogged about the elusive green handbag. Don't remember? Visit here. Now, nearly a year and a half after the original pursuit began, I've finished my quest. And so I guess since I've waited so long, I may as well wait until spring- after all, it's less than a month away. 

Rate My Look: Valentine's Outfit

Happy Valentine's Day! I didn't wear this outfit today- I wore it one day last week, but since it was so Valentines-y, I decided to post the picture on the actual hearts and flowers holiday.

Dress & scarf: Marshalls

Vest: Maurice's

Boots: Gap

Ring: Much Love Illy Etsy Shop

My shiny face is reflecting almost as much of the flash as my shiny scarf. I promise neither of these are nearly as shiny in real life as they are in front of my little Kodak Easy-Share. 

But more important than my camera, is my fabulous ring. Want a closer look? I thought so: 

Yet another fabulous Etsy find has made its way into my accessories collection. I just can't help myself! And it's deep red color is SO appropriate! For more fun, red Valentine's-inspired pieces, visit my Valentine's post from last year! 

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! 

Shoesday Tuesday- My Birthday Shoes

For my birthday, my mom took me shopping. She bought me a pair of shoes to match my birthday suit:

Get it? They match my "birthday suit?" Get it? 'Cause they're NUDE!!! I crack myself up. 

Rate My Look- Opposites Attract

You know how I'm often saying you should pair edgy with soft, dark with light, shiny with matte, menswear with feminine? Well, I wore an outfit to work the other day that was relatively new and one of my coworkers said, "I love how you matched military-inspired with sparkly and fun. Smart girl- she's on to me:

Top: Ann Taylor Loft, $19.99 (on sale)

Skirt: The Garment District, $9 (second hand)

Boots: Marshalls, $34 (on sale)

Ring: Salmagundi, $40

The whole outfit is one big bargain, if you ask me. Well, maybe not the ring, but everything else, for sure. The top I found while out shopping with Beth- we popped into an Ann Taylor Loft in downtown Boston so she could find a dress to wear to a friend's wedding (which she did). While she was in the fitting room, I found the sequin top on the 50% off sale rack and just HAD to try it on. Earlier that day, I'd been at The Garment District in Cambridge trying to spend my $40 gift card from Groupon. Do you guys know about Groupon? More on it later for those of you who don't. Anyway, the skirt was in their second-hand/vintage section, but I loved the way the pockets were sewn on and the fuller silhouette. I have been mildly obsessed with slimmer skirt silhouettes lately, but I still love me a nice gathered skirt. The boots I found while out shopping with Beth's mom a day or two before. She's a shopping pro, too. The boots are suede, from Born, which is not a cheap shoe maker, so to score these real suede boots for only $34 felt like a real accomplishment. 

It's funny how pieces in your wardrobe find their way to each other. The boots were so well made and classic, I knew they would be a good investment. The skirt was too cute to pass up at that price and then when I saw the top, I realized that I was on the verge of a really fun outfit. Shopping your closet can be much the same, actually. Pull out pieces you don't always wear and you might surprise yourself with the outfit ideas that come to mind. And if to pieces seem so completely opposite that they can't possibly go together, try it anyway. There's a reason they say opposites attract. 

Rate My Look- Hell Froze Over

Dress: Banana Republic

Sweater: Marshall's

Boots: Payless

Boots not pictured: Ugg

Sunglasses: Chinatown, NYC

You may be thinking, "What's up with the title of her post?" I don't see anything major in her outfit. And you'd be right. But what you don't know is that I actually wore this outfit with a pair of real- that's right, REAL- Uggs. Not even my F'Uggs that I occasionally break out, but real, honest-to-goodness, authentic UGGS. And that, my friends is how you know that hell has frozen over. Why aren't the Uggs pictured? I changed into the sleeker boot for work and didn't have time to snap photos of both outfits, that's why. Some other time, I'll try to snag a picture, but let's be honest, you all know how I feel about Uggs, so it's not likely to happen anytime soon. The thing about Uggs, is that while I may not ever appreciate them for their aesthetic value, I certainly do appreciate them for their warmth and comfort. Shearling-lined boots are never a bad thing when you live somewhere that has single-digit temperature readings for several weeks in a row. 5 degrees Fahrenheit? I think I'll break out the Uggs, in spite of how they look, thank you very much. 

Rate My Look- Getting Back in the Groove

I have been really terrible about taking photos of my outfits lately. Call me lazy, call me forgetful- either way you'd be right. But the past couple of days, I've been ready for work a little bit early AND the weather has cooperated for some nice outdoor shots with me and my tripod. (Side note: I love my tripod.)

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I spent the weekend with my friend Melanie and we did a bit of damage at good ol' Marshalls. I promised to take pictures of what I bought and then I never did! SLACKER!!! Well, yesterday I finally decided: today is the day I photograph myself in at least ONE item I bought on that shopping trip. So here it is after much anticipation, the new Cynthia Rowley felted wool jacket:

Is it precious or what? I love it- I've been wearing it ever since I bought it. Not only because I like it, but also because I have yet to unpack the wardrobe case that is currently holding all of my winter coats as well as my hats, gloves, scarves, etc. I have a feeling I'll be unpacking them very soon. Not every day is going to be as gorgeous as this one. In fact, get a better look at the amazing blue sky in the photo: 

The leaves may be past their peak, but I actually like how easy it is to see the blue sky between the empty branches of the tree. My favorite, though, is when those branches are covered in a layer of snow and the ground around them is pristine white. I enjoy the beauty of snow, if not the shoveling of it. 

Happy Monday, everyone!