Winter 30x30 Review

As promised...

 

 

 

So, I was going to try to format and organize the pictures better, but I spent B's naptime just getting them all uploaded, so it is what it is...

I'm really happy with the results of this challenge, I think. Obviously, there were some throw away outfits that I could have maybe done a better job of putting together (a green t-shirt and a yellow scarf? eh, I probably could have put a little more thought into that one...), but I think there were some big wins, too (I am an even bigger fan of the yellow and polka dot cardigans than I was before this started...).

So, yes, I'm happy I did the challenge. But I am also enjoying the heck out of the rest of my closet today.

Happy Friday!

Day Thirty!

And I have successfully completed my second 30x30 challenge!

Second and last challenge, I think because I really, really missed the rest of my closet this month. I don't remember it being this bad during the fall challenge, but around the middle of this one, I just wanted nothing more than to wear another pair of shoes, or throw on a different sweater, or wear pants to work (seriously, why did I not add a pair of dress pants to my challenge items?). My goal was to make it through a full year cycle of these things, but, eh, I think I'm good...

I've learned to look at my clothes differently. I've learned to 'shop my closet'. I've learned there's no need to run out and buy a new outfit for every little thing.

And now I just want to be able to wear anything I own.

Stay tuned for a full recap tomorrow!

Outfit 30 of 30!!

Sweater: Banana Republic

Cardigan: Target

Skirt: The Limited

Shoes: Nine West

Earrings: Old Navy

Copycat

Does anyone else remember that movie with Sigourney Weaver and Harry Connick Jr from years ago? Anyone? No? Just me then? Ok.  

I’ve always had an oddly disconcerting crush on HCJ. Disconcerting in that I don’t really consider him to be traditionally attractive, but a crush nonetheless in that I really, really, really love his voice. Does it surprise anyone to know that I and my friends were Glee Club groupies in college? As in, we went to all of their concerts and we partied at the ‘glee club house’ on weekends. Not every weekend, or anything. I mean, we weren’t that far gone, but it occurred enough for us to be considered regulars. In my defense, they threw really fun parties, and (most of) the guys were just a ton of fun.

I still remember my friend Mandi and I crashing a GC party in Chicago after a concert one year, and hitching a ride with the group on one of the three trolleys they had rented to drive the guys from bar to bar in the city. That was a good time. 

Anyway, this post has nothing to do with that movie. But when Kimmie at Blue Paper Lanterns posted this outfit last week, I knew I’d be following suit very shortly. Seriously what’s not to love? 

Gray dress? Good! 

Yellow cardigan? Good! 

Black belt? Good! 

Thanks for the inspiration, Kimmie!!

Outfit 29 of 30
Dress: Gap
Cardigan: Lands End Canvas
Shoes: Nine West
Belt: H&M
Necklace: Forever 21 

PS: Remember that job I interviewed for a couple of weeks ago? Yeah, I found out yesterday that I got it! So excited!

Better late than never.

I forgot about the final installment of Fabulous in February (brought to you by Melissa! and Hope!) yesterday, and if I've ever needed a good dose of positive thinking in my life, Monday was the day. So I spent my lunch break coming up with my make-up list to post today...because procrastination is my middle name.

(Actually, it's not. My middle name is Lynn. As in "Tara Lynn-pronouced-Leeeyin". Because there is some good old-fashioned country in my background, folks.)

Anyway, my final three positive attributes:

1) I can make my mom laugh

The last time I was back home again in Indiana (Oh, ha! That never gets old. Well, not to me anyway. I apologize to the rest of you...), we were sitting in the kitchen talking about who knows what, when she looked at me and said, 'When did you get to be so funny? I don't remember you being this funny in the past." One, thanks for the backhanded compliment there, Mom, and two, I've always been this funny, you just took my humor to be general teenage snottiness in the past. Same sarcasm, different time in life.

2) I take great, great pleasure in handling my household finances. And I'm good at it, too. 

Well, I think this one is a positive, anyway, although my husband may beg to differ, as I am slightly manic in my "HAVE YOU DEPOSITED YOUR MONEY IN THE JOINT ACCOUNT YET? WE GOT PAID FIVE MINUTES AGO!!! WHERE IS IT?" demands, but I like making sure bills are paid on time and tracking where our money is going and budgeting for known future expenses and planning for financial surprises. When I noticed today that my little built in surplus for big or unexpected expenditures is back above my (completely arbitrary, matters only to me) threshold after a month of two automobile tag renewals and the yearly installment of HOA fees? Yes, the happy dance was performed. 

In my chair. At my desk. At work.

I can only hope nobody actually saw it...

3) I am not afraid to do my happy dance in public.

Because yesterday was not the first time it's been performed at work. And people have definitely seen it.

Outfit 28 of 30

Blouse: Banana Republic

Cardigan: New York & Co

Skirt: The Limited

Boots: DSW

Outside!

We spent this weekend at my in-laws' house, and since I was without all of my normal camera equipment on Saturday, I enlisted my husband's help in photographing my outfit.

Of course, after spending the day at a flea market/playground/playing with my mother-in-law's new puppy, we were left with very little daylight, but we made the best of it. I tried to get Brigid to pose with me, because we were wearing matching skinny jeans, and a toddler in skinny jeans? Quite possibly one of the most surprisingly adorable things I've ever seen. She would have none of it, though.

However, when we were done with pictures? And everyone else was getting ready for dinner? And I had neither camera nor camera phone on me? Brigid took me back outside, stood in front of the garage doors, and smiled sweetly, while I took pretend pictures of her for ten minutes.

She's a trip, that kid...

Saturday:

Outfit 26 of 30

Blouse: Banana Republic

Sweater: Lands End Canvas

Jeans: Gap

Shoes: Cole Haan 

Sunday:

Outfit 27 of 30

Sweater: Banana Republic

Jeans: Express

Shoes: STEVEN by Steve Madden

Scarf: Lands End Canvas

Friday Funday

Quick post today, as Brigid is waking up from her nap, but I wanted to get this out there...

At the start of the year, I joined the blogging biggest loser challenge hosted by Jennie, who I have loved reading from the first moment I clicked on her blog. She is honest and sweet and owns the same kind of dog that I do, which means nothing in the long run, but I always thought it was cool.

Anyway, I know that I'm not exceptionally overweight. I know that I will never be a size 0, and really, I don't want to be. I want to be healthy, I want to get rid of the extra padding that I've had my whole life, but that has expanded exponentially since I had Brigid.

I want to eat more fruit and less chocolate. I want to exercise more. I want to take the stairs instead of the elevator. And I have been.

Today, I tried on a pair of shorts that were just this side of too tight on me last summer. Now? They're about a size too big. I jumped up and down, posted it on twitter, and threw myself a little awesome party. And then I spent the rest of Brigid's naptime trying on every pair of "skinny" pants I owned.

And they all fit.

Outfit 24 of 30 (Thursday)

T-Shirt: Gap

Cardigan: Lands End Canvas

Skirt: Club Monaco

Shoes: Nine West

 

Outfit 25 of 30 (Today)

T-Shirt: J Crew

Cardigan: Target

Jeans: Michael Kors

Shoes: Nine West

Location, Location, Location

So, everyone getting tired of my foyer yet? I hope not, because I'm usually in such a hurry in the morning that the familiar set-up of camera by the stairs/zoom in on these parameters/use these settings is all I have time for most days. And let's be honest, even if I did have more time, where else am I going to take my pictures? My kitchen is generally a mess. My family room lacks proper lighting.

My bedroom?

Nope. Because the mess and the poor lighting will follow me there, with the added con of my husband laughing at me (in the most supportive way possible, of course) while I try to set up the shot.

Outside?

Ha! I live in a lovely neighborhood, where my neighbors are super friendly and everybody leaves for work at the same time and we all smile at each other while we let the dogs out before the day starts. I am not subjecting these poor people to the early morning experience of me running back and forth from camera to picture spot, setting things up, checking my hair, adjusting my skirt, etc. And there is nowhere in my yard where that can be avoided.

So foyer it is. At least until I become as motivated (and creative!) as Kimmie, anyway...

(Ah, forget motivation and creativity. Maybe I'll just invest in one of those sweet back-drop rolls that they use at various department store photography studios instead...)

(Ha! You're totally imagining pictures of me standing in front of some sweet, fall-type leafy piece of canvas, aren't you?)

(How do I look?)

Outfit 23 of 30

Sweater: Lands End Canvas

Skirt: Banana Republic

Boots: DSW

What do you know? It worked!

Apparently, writing a post complaining about your hair makes your hair stand up (or lay down, in this case) and listen. And behave a little more like you want it to. I should maybe keep that in mind in the future...

I wonder if that works on anything else?

A list of other things I'd like to write into compliance:

-The ridiculous people in my office who can't handle a simple task without hand-holding.

-My dogs, who like to sleep all day and play all evening. And scratch at the door every five minutes, while I try to squeeze out a few minutes on the couch.

-Those same dogs, because no matter how late at night I take them out to go to the bathroom, they refuse to sleep much past 7:30am.

-My husband, who refuses to stop bringing sugar into my house, despite my ongoing diet and my weakness for the sweet stuff.

I'll let you know how things go.

 

 Outfit 22 of 30

Shirt: Lands End Canvas

Sweater: New York & Co

Skirt: The Limited

Boots: DSW

Necklace: H&M