Back to Work

I kind of consider today to be my first official day back to work, even though I came into the office on Friday, because Fridays are for jeans, and what's the only silver lining of leaving your babies at home for the day (*sob*) if not the opportunity to finally pull the fancy clothes out of the closet?

Or, in my case, the fancy shoes and jewelry out of the closet, since most of my fancy clothes still don't fit me (*double sob*), yet?

Please don't judge me when I tell you that these heels from the Nine West outlet were one of FOUR pairs of shoes that I bought while I was out on leave, just to make myself feel better about the fact that my leave would end eventually, ok?
Or when I tell you that I ALSO bought myself a new work bag, while I was at it?
What can I say? I'm on a diet.

Eating my feelings just wasn't an option this time...

Vacation Shopping

Well, it was a lighter than normal haul for me this year, seeing as how NOTHING IN THE WORLD WILL EVER FIT ME AGAIN (sorry...pregnancy dramatics tend to be my new normal these days), but I still managed to snag a few things for myself while we were on vacation last week. The best part about our end-of-summer vacation is that all of the little shops around town are having their end-of-summer sales, so I was able to add to my already-too-large flip-flop and bracelet collections at 50% off.

(Notice that I focused on the two things...shoes and jewelry...that fit no matter how much weight you gain? Well, shoes, jewelry, and household knick-knacks, I guess. But you don't really want to see pictures of the new lantern or creepy ceramic skull I bought for the house, do you?)

(Well, even if you do, it's too bad, because I didn't take pictures of those. Maybe tomorrow...)

Mayhem

So, last week, the Missoni for Target craziness happened. And while there was definitely some cute stuff in the collection that I wanted to pick up, I did not want to brave the stores at the crack of dawn to get any of it. So I waited until my lunch break to make my visit, and basically EVERYTHING was gone, except for the shoes, and most of the sleepwear.

Luckily, it was a pair of shoes that I was after, so it all worked out in my favor

(Oh, also, there was a dress that I wanted, and I didn't think that was going to happen, but I managed to be standing at the rack (possibly on purpose) as a woman (that I had maybe been slightly cart stalking around the store) returned one in my size. So, well done me, I guess?)

Sweater: J Crew

Skirt: Calvin Klein (from Macy's)

Shoes: Target

Bracelet: Kohl's

excuses, excuses...

So, don't share this with anyone, because I don't want my secret to get out, but I am an inherently lazy person. I would like nothing better than to spend the day lying on the couch, watching tv, reading a book, and eating ice cream or cereal. The only reason I don't do this (other than the fact that Brigid would never stand for it) (and the fact that I need money to keep myself equipped with said couch, tv, and cereal, hence the dragging myself into the office most days of the week) is because I am also an inherently guilty person.

You would be amazed at how well guilt works on me most of the time.

But back to that lazy thing? Yeah, I still don't have any outfit pictures to post here. Because our camera? That I normally keep upstairs in my closet for a quick photo shoot before I head off to work?

It's been downstairs in the office ever since I unpacked from our trip. And every evening, I forget to take it upstairs with me. And every morning, I am too lazy to go down and get it for the picture taking that is necessary for posting outfits here.

And rinse, and repeat.

In place of this, I will show you the shoes that I almost bought at TJ Maxx yesterday, but didn't, because I have self control. And no money. But mostly...self control.

(photo credit: BCBG.com. Also, these aren't the exact shoes that I almost bought, because these aren't being sold at TJ Maxx, but they're close. The ones I wanted had the same pattern/shape, but the stacked sole was covered in the print and the heel was black. So pretty...but so not under the catagory of 'necessary purchase', sadly)

(Also, thank you guys for the encouragement yesterday. You really are the nicest bunch of people, I swear!)

Luck of the Irish?

We took Brigid to a St. Patrick's Day festival last Thursday evening, and my original plan was to take the camera with me so I could get some great outdoor outfit pictures, with Brigid coming along for the ride. But I ended up working later than I'd originally meant to work, and by the time I met Steve, Brigid, and various other family members/friends at the festival, I had forgotten the camera at home, and all I really had time to do anyway was feed B a piece of pizza before taking her home and getting her into bed.

So...foyer it is!

Shirt: Old Navy

Jeans: Gap

Boots: Something from DSW

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

A Weekend Post?

Oh, look...guess who's all caught up?!?!?

Friday was a quick change kind of day, with my at-home-with-Brigid outfit during the day and my date-night-with-Steve outfit for the evening. This, of course, gets me back on the 30x30 track after my sick day a couple of weeks ago, which means I won't be stretching this challenge out any longer than I have to. Also? It means that skirt Steve bought me for my birthday can be worn sooner rather than later. And the boots that I bought yesterday?* Same goes for those.

Outfit 17 of 30

Blouse: Banana Republic

Jeans: Michael Kors

Shoes: Cole Haan

Necklace: beach market in Florida

Outfit 18 of 30

T-Shirt: J Crew

Skirt: Club Monaco

Heels: Nine West

*Yes, I know that shopping is not part of the challenge.  But I had two $10 reward certificates from DSW, plus $5 off for my birthday, plus they were running a $15 off $49 purchase, plus free shipping.  Really, they were paying me to shop.  How could I refuse?

Last Day

I usually run a day behind on outfit posts, because I take pictures in the morning, then put everything together in the evening, with a scheduled posting time for the following morning.  So, what you see today is actually what I was wearing yesterdays, because that's the best way I can work it with my schedule.  And, also?  That means you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see my first remixed outfit.  I know you're all devastated. 

But, to tide you over?  Here's what I can make with the items that aren't part of the chosen few...

Shirt: Banana Republic Outlet

Sweater: Lands End Canvas

Pants: The Limited

Necklace: I wish I could remember!

Shoes: Nine West (they're the brown version of the black ones I wear all of the time...that's how much I love those darn shoes!)

PS: I've asked for a tripod/remote for my camera for my birthday, so fingers crossed, there will be better pictures in the near future! 

Wake me in the spring?

I've been in a rut this week, and I have no idea why. The days seem to be twice as long as normal, and I'm either not going to bed early enough (most likely, since I used to go to bed at 10pm, and it's been inching closer and closer to 11pm lately...and I am a delicate flower who needs her beauty rest to function), or I'm just not sleeping soundly enough (also a distinct possibility because I unfortunately sleep with dogs that wake me up several times a night, trying to get more comfortable and steal my pillows) to feel refreshed in the morning.

When the alarm goes off at 5am? There is a lot of snoozing. Which leads to a perpetually late lifestyle and a slightly unhappy husband, since he doesn't have to get up until around 7, but I make him try to sleep through 45 minutes of my alarm two hours before his own alarm rings.

I think I'm just going to blame it on the weather because it's been too cold, too cloudy, and as of yesterday, too rainy to spend any significant amount of time outside, and being cooped up always makes me feel like this.

So anyway...what do you do to break yourself out of a rut? You wear red shoes, of course!

Or, you just wear them because, rut or no rut, you know a boring outfit when you see one, so you find something to spice it up at least a little bit.

*Ahem*

Sweater: Gap

Pants: Express

Scarf: White House Black Market

Shoes: Jessica Simpson

Sally Shoes

Have you seen the movie Nightmare Before Christmas? Because I have these shoes, that I ordered two or three months ago, but they were on backorder, so I didn't get them until earlier this week. And I wore them yesterday, and I like them, I really do.  When I look at them on myself, in the mirror, that is.  It's just that, from the top, well, they look like this:

And all I can think of, every time I look at them, is Sally, the rag doll from the movie. And then I giggle. I am a child.

Blouse: Banana Republic Outlet

Sweater: New York & Co

Skirt: The Limited

Shoes: Nine West

It's All About the Shoes

I'm not going to lie, my Friday outfits are usually pretty boring.  I spend Fridays chasing Brigid around the house, around the yard, around the store (if I'm feeling brave, that is), and I need to be in something comfortable.

Sweater: BR Outlet

Jeans: Express

Shoes: Nine West

And while I'm on this honesty kick, I'm going to let you know that I absolutely planned this outfit, as boring as it is, around the shoes.  Oh, the shoes!  I love these shoes. 

I got these shoes for $13.87.  I still get excited, every time I think about it, because I'm weird like that.

I had heard about this amazing website called shoewoo.com, and I decided to check it out, because I've been on the hunt for a pair of shorter heels for a good price.  And I was not disappointed, because the deals were beyond ridiculous.  So I ordered a couple of pairs of shoes, and I celebrated (and docked my budget) accordingly.  And then...AND THEN!

And then I found out they were shutting down the site.  This was going to be my go-to shoe site for future purchases, and they were SHUTTING IT DOWN!  Heartbroken.  Apparently they have some stores, and they're going to keep those open, but there doesn't seem to be one anywhere remotely close to me.  So, so, so sad.

Anyway, if you're interested, they have some great clearance deals going on right now, and they charge a $5 flat rate for shipping.  Although everything is final sale, it might still be worth a quick look.  I'll just be sitting here on my couch, crying silently into my new empty shoe box...