Giving In

Yes. That's right. I did it.

I jumped on the bubble necklace bandwagon. *sigh*

And yes, I'd be so super ashamed of myself for giving in to peer pressure, too, except that I kind of (absolutely, 100%, completely, totally, etc) adore this necklace.

I picked up one in pink and one in yellow, and it's taking every ounce of self-restraint left in my body to keep myself from going back and buy it in red and green and blue and turquoise and EVERY SINGLE OTHER COLOR THEY MAKE THIS NECKLACE IN because, yeah...
It's kind of pretty, you know?

Dress: Motherhood Maternity

Cardigan: Loft (outlet)

Shoes: Nine West

Necklace: ebay

No Filter

Yesterday, an assistant on my team who was out of the office last week took one look at my stomach and said, 'Damn, girl. I wasn't gone THAT long!'

(YES. THAT IS A DIRECT QUOTE. I SWEAR!)

This is the same lady who told me that she knew I was pregnant before I told her that I was because she could see that my hips were getting bigger.

Seriously.

I know she means well, but come ON!

My beach ball baby and I are just going to start working from home for the next few months, I think...

T-shirt/Tank: Target

Cardigan: Loft (outlet)

Skirt: Motherhood Maternity

Shoes: Nine West

Belt: Target

Scenes From a Bathroom

Hey! Look!

I STILL WEAR CLOTHES FROM TIME TO TIME!!!

Ok, you caught me: I still wear clothes all of the time. I'm just not nearly as creative with them as I used to be. No shopping and no daily outfit post will do that to you, I guess.

But, you know...I'm adding it to my list*. So I HAVE to be creative now.

Well, after today, anyway...

Sweater: Loft

Skirt: J Crew (outlet)

Boots: DSW

Bracelets: Mango Tree

Earrings: Kenneth Cole (Easter gift)

*(And by adding it to my list, I mean, I'm going to force myself think along the lines of Jess's own Project Wearyoshit, and rely less on pencil skirts in the black and gray varieties to get me through the day...)

(Wear. Yo. Shit. Get it? Ha! I am amused by the simplest things, I swear.)

The last reserves...

I had a ton of pictures stored up from right before Christmas that I never got around to posting, and I figured I could hang on to them to post at a later date, on one of those days where I just didn't feel like getting out of my sweatpants. And now I'm down to my last one. Apparently, I've been lazy these last couple of weeks...

This was my shout-out to the Georgia Bulldogs, the day they lost to LSU in the SEC championship game. We were heading out to meet some friends to watch the game at a restaurant, and since Steve's brother and sister both went to UGA, I thought I should probably show my support somehow. Sadly, the one Georgia t-shirt I own has some bizarre black stains on it, so red shoes were the next best option.

Actually, red shoes were the first best option, if I'm being honest, but I was afraid they might kick me out of the game watch for mentioning that...

Sweater: Loft

Jeans: Gap

Shoes: Kenneth Cole (outlet)

Wristlet: Macy's

Bracelet: Lucky Brand 

A few to clean up...

I have some old outfit draft posts lying around that I might as well put to good use while I hash out any changes that I might be making this year, right? I'll ease into the 'new me', maybe...

My house is a mess. An absolute 'I wasn't home for over a week, and then I took down Christmas decorations instead of unpacking and sorting through mail and dusting and vaccuming' mess. Originally, my big plans for this evening involved cleaning this mess that hasn't been touched since I got home, but I have last night's episode of The Bachelor on my DVR, just begging me to be lazy for one more night, so I can watch the trainwreck that is this show's version of love.

Decisions, decisions...

Dress: Loft (outlet)

Boots: DSW

Tights: Loft (outlet)

Bracelet: Charming Charlie 

Crunch Time

You guys! Christmas is, like, a week away! Seriously!

How did this happen?!?!

Any chance we can all get together and agree to push it back for a couple of weeks? I know that would really help me out, right about now...

Thanks.

PS: Can't you feel the tension in these pictures? Rudy Cat (as Brigid calls him, anyway...he used to be plain old Rudy, but he's been renamed by the two-year old...and it's kind of ridiculously adorable) really, really, REALLY wanted to get his hands (paws) on that darn necklace I was wearing. I'm lucky there are no holes in my sweater after this attempt.

Sweater: Loft (outlet)

Skirt: Loft (outlet)

Shoes: Nine West

Tights: Hue (from DSW)

Bracelet: Kohls

Necklace: Old Navy 

Don't forget, eShakti is offering $20 off of any order through the end of the year, when you use the promotional code NOTAHOBBY0811.

The discount code is not case sensitive. Only one gift certificate can be used per order. The code can be used any number of times until the validity period. This discount code is not applicable on our Overstock category. This cannot be combined with any other offer / discount that may be active during this period.

Also, you can find my post about the skirt the company sent me to review here.

Plaid

I don't know why plaid is making such a comeback right now, but I kind of think I like it. I gave my husband a hard time when he started loading up on plaid shirts once fall hit (in fact, I think my exact words were 'when did it become 1996 again?'), but then I fell in love with this little skirt at the thrift store, and I decided maybe Steve was on the right track.

AND THEN! And then, when I was doing my post-Thanksgiving, pre-detox spending spree at the outlet mall, I came across this skirt at the Loft outlet, and...well...gray and purple plaid?

There was just no saying no to this one.

(And that's why I put myself on the shopping ban...

The clothes were winning, my friends. The clothes were winning.)

 Cardigan: Gap (outlet)

Skirt:Loft (outlet)

Shoes: Nine West (outlet)

Tights: Hue (from DSW)

Necklace: Charming Charlie 

Don't forget, eShakti is offering $20 off of any order through the end of the year, when you use the promotional code NOTAHOBBY0811.

The discount code is not case sensitive. Only one gift certificate can be used per order. The code can be used any number of times until the validity period. This discount code is not applicable on our Overstock category. This cannot be combined with any other offer / discount that may be active during this period.

Also, you can find my post about the skirt the company sent me to review here.

Old Navy

Hey, look...today's neutral is navy! This might just be my favorite look of the week. I LOVE this dress! For other navy ideas, you can always visit Megan Mae Daily or Keely to see the other participants!

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I am so happy that this week is finally over. Except for the fact that I have a crazy deadline on Monday, which is supposed to be my day off, but I can't really expect my team to have everything into me a day early, since we're already operating on a shorter calendar than we need, so I will be trying to juggle work and Brigid on Monday.

So...that's something to look forward to, I guess.

Next week. If I can just get through next week, we'll have hit most of our year-end deadlines, and things can start slowing down a bit. 

And then I can concentrate on packing lots and lots of layers for Christmas in Indiana...

Dress: Banana Republic (outlet)

Cardigan: Macy's (from somewhere in the Juniors section)

Tights: Loft (outlet)

Boots: DSW

Don't forget, eShakti is offering $20 off of any order through the end of the year, when you use the promotional code NOTAHOBBY0811.

The discount code is not case sensitive. Only one gift certificate can be used per order. The code can be used any number of times until the validity period. This discount code is not applicable on our Overstock category. This cannot be combined with any other offer / discount that may be active during this period.

Also, you can find my post about the skirt the company sent me to review here.

Let's see what I can do...

Last week, a friend mentioned that her spending was getting out of control. And she wasn't just talking about shopping for clothes and accessories, but also make-up and nail polish and Starbucks and household things that she just didn't need. And to 'reset' her habits, she had decided to begin a year-long no-spend adventure, starting November 1st.

And, well, I was impressed by this. Inspired, even.

You see, I have a job that I like well enough. And working in this job leaves me with some disposable income that I like to spend on useless stuff. But, despite mostly enjoying what I do, I still have it in my head that at some point in the next couple of years, I would like to be a stay-at-home-mom. And to do that, I need to make sure we can make ends meet as a one income household, which we should be able to do, if I can manage to cut out the previously mentioned useless stuff.

So, I'm doing just that.

I'm too scared to commit to the full year that Christina is taking, but I'm going to use these last two months of this year, when my shopping is usually at its worst (I am a 'one for you, one for me' kind of Christmas shopper, sadly...) to see what I'm made of.* I need to see if I can rediscover the line between what I actually need and what I just really, really want, because I know it's there, but I've lost track of it. And then, just maybe, I can officially declare 2012 the year of no-spending.

Wish me luck!

*Also, it should be noted, I'm already failing in my attempts, because I'm making a pre-established exception for Black Friday. We're talking a midnight trip to the outlet mall, and I just don't want to miss it. But other than that? NOTHING!

 Dress: Loft

Cardigan: Banana Republic (outlet)

Boots: DSW

Bracelets: Mango

Earrings: Banana Republic (outlet)

First Impressions

Last night, I went to dinner with a group of moms from my neighborhood that I'd never met before. Well, I'd met one of them before, obviously, because a group of moms from my neighborhood wouldn't just invite me to dinner if I didn't have some sort of 'in', I guess.

I mean, I am awesome and amazing, of course, but you can't tell that just by looking at me. It only comes out when I talk.

(And by it, I mean the insane amount of social awkwardness that actually makes up my personality. And the fact that one glass of wine with dinner is all it takes for me to start talking and NEVER SHUT UP AGAIN. So...who wants to hang out with me now?)

Anyway, it was fun. The women were ridiculously nice, they told funny stories, and all were work-outside-the-home mothers, so we could commiserate on those lovely days when you see your kid for all of fifteen minutes because of some work related disaster or another. And not one of them gave me anything remotely resembling a side-eye for the unshowered mess* that I was, thank goodness.

Not that this means they weren't judging me for it, of course. It just means they were very, very skilled at passing that judgment in secret. Which is a skill I can get behind, you know?

I just hope I made the cut for next month's outing...

Tank Top: Target

Sweater: Loft

Jeans: MICHAEL Michael Kors (via Macys)

Shoes: Nine West (via ShoeWoo.com)

Bracelets: Mango Tree

*As mentioned on Twitter last night, Steve was out of town on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Unfortunately, this meant that when I turned my alarm off in my sleep on Thursday morning (which happens more than I'd care to admit these days), I didn't have his alarm going off an hour later as my back-up plan. And that, in turn, meant I didn't get up until a full two hours later, when my mother-in-law showed up to watch Brigid. So, I left the house, showerless, to get to work. I thought I could squeeze in a shower between work and dinner, but that didn't really happen either.

Do I know how to do first impressions, or what? Seriously...you totally want to hang out with me, don't you?

In the Mood

I've spent the last couple of mornings listening to a combination of wave sounds on my phone and beach music on my radio.

I think It's safe to say that I'm ready for vacation.

I don't think I can be held responsible for my actions if I show up at work tomorrow in my bathing suit...

Dress: Loft

Shoes: Steve Madden

One Week

I am leaving for vacation in one week.

(Yes, I know I just got back from a vacation. But this one is on a beach! Which is something I need very, very badly right now!

And no, I didn't put in for vacation at work until yesterday, even though we've had this trip scheduled for months, because I felt bad about leaving AGAIN. Thankfully, I am really very lucky in the boss department, so it's all approved.

And I will be leaving in a week!

But seriously...vacation guilt? What is this all about?!?!)

Next week is going to be kind of tough, trying to get everything in order because there are some things going on at work that I have to take care of, and Brigid has her first appointment with the cardiologist in a year (think happy thoughts for us on Monday morning!), and I have to pack for three people and a dog, and we're boarding our other dog, and I have to clean the house from top to bottom so that when the neighbors come by to feed the cats, they aren't disgusted by the mess we've left behind, and...

...yeah.

 I will be earning my vacation next week, is what I'm saying.

Please send coffee. And wine. I may be needing some of both!

Tank: J Crew

Blouse: Target

Skirt:Loft

Shoes: Steve Madden (from DSW)

Ring: Kate Spade 

And on a less whiny note...
(because who whines this much about going on vacation, right?)
...Happy Friday to all!!!

Early Mornings...

Do they make alarm clocks that pour you a cup of coffee as they are buzzing annoyingly at 5:30am? Because I'm pretty sure I'd have a better chance of actually getting up at 5:30 if I had one of those. As it is, I'm starting to get a little tired of always running late.

And yet, I just can't bring myself to get out of bed at the first ring. What can I say?

I'm a snoozer!

Worn to work last week:
Dress: Ann Taylor Loft

Shoes: Kenneth Cole (outlet)

It only took me all day to realize this post didn't have a title...

I really, really love this dress. It's super comfortable and super cute (in my opinion, anyway). It has a pretty onyx-ish jeweled neckline, and enough coverage that I can wear it without a cardigan, if I wanted to wear it anywhere other than my ice-cold office building this summer. And, while the dark color isn't exactly sunshine-event friendly, it is Brigid-event friendly, and that's kind of more important to me on most days.

Plus, it was on sale.

I mean, come on...it's pretty much the perfect dress.

Unfortunately, I had a 'helper' while I was trying to take a couple of outfit pictures, in the form of a diaper-only clad toddler who wanted to be in every single shot that I took, so I didn't really get a single picture that does the dress justice.

I guess that's why they say there's always next time, right?

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft

Cardigan: Target

Shoes: Bandolino (via the much, much missed shoewoo.com)

Boring...

Ever have one of those days where you just don't feel like getting dressed in the morning? But you really don't have a choice? Because your office kind of frowns upon you showing up at work in sweatpants and a ratty old t-shirt?

Yeah, me neither.

Worn to work last week:

Sweater: Ann Taylor Loft

Pants: Express

Currently Coveting...

I have done a really, really, really terrible job of taking outfit pictures recently. Part of it is because I haven't been sleeping as well as I should be, so the creativity needed to put a decent outfit together has been sorely lacking in my morning routine. The other part of it is because I haven't been sleeping as well as I should be, so I haven't been getting up as early as I need to, and there just isn't enough time in the morning for me to take pictures before I leave for work (and trust me, NOBODY wants to see me at the end of the day!).

But...um...at least I've pinpointed the cause of my problems?

Anyway, I did a little online shopping last night, while I was trying not to think about the BTI and tornado couplets and straightline winds that the weatherman was describing about an hour north of my house (I am not good in storms...it was either anxiety eating or anxiety shopping to get me through the evening, and anxiety shopping won out...), and after picking out a couple of new bathing suits from Land's End, I decided to update my wishlist.

Because window shopping is always a nice distraction!

From Banana Republic {photo credit: bananarepublic.com}: pretty jewelry and a versatile skirt!

From Ann Taylor Loft {photo credit: anntaylorloft.com}: gorgeous blouses!

From Gap {photo credit: gap.com}: the perfect casual jacket!

From Kate Spade {photo credit: katespade.com}: no explanation necessary.

Land's End Canvas {photo credit: landsendcanvas.com}: blouses and dresses and skirts, oh my!

What have you had your eye on lately?