Monday Blahs

It's cloudy and cold and Monday, and while that seems like it should be an absolute bummer, it's also full-on Christmas season, and Brigid and I have spent the day listening to festive music and watching DVR'd holiday specials and eating some of the various holiday treats lying around the house, so it's actually been a pretty pleasant day.

It's also Inspiration Monday at Two Birds, so that always helps, too, because if it wasn't for those ladies, I'm pretty sure I'd be sitting around in my sweats all day, and the fact that I'm wearing pants with an actual waistband is the only thing that's kept me from eating ALL of the holiday treats in the house.

And that's never a good feeling...

Anyway, the inspiration:

And, the outfit:

 T-shirt: Gap

Sweater: DKNY Jeans (from Macy's)

Jeans: MICHAEL Michael Kors (from Macy's)

Shoes: Steve Madden (from Macy's)

Who is ready for Christmas?

I love Halloween. I swear, I do.

I love costumes and candy and I'm starting to recognize the fun in creepy decorations. I love It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and I love that Brigid is now old enough to curl up on the couch next to me so that we can watch it together. I love that we were able to take her trick-or-treating this year, and she was old enough to understand that chocolate is AWESOME!

And I definitely love that while she's old enough to appreciate the holiday, she is still young enough for me to eat all of that awesome chocolate she collected, all in the name of being a responsible parent.

Toddlers only need so much candy, after all. Helping her eat it is the least I can do, right?

But Christmas...well, it will always be number one in my heart. Christmas music starts November 1st, and runs through January 1st. Christmas decorations go up as soon as I can get the Halloween decorations down. And Christmast shopping is basically a year-round event in my life.

So, I get very, very excited when Style Lush posts the annual Holiday Gift Guide, because anything that offers a collection of amazing gifts at under $25 each is kind of perfect, in my book. If you're looking for gift ideas for anyone in your life, you can probably find something awesome on this list. Just at first glance, I see about 8 things, at least, that I want to send my husband the link for...

(And item #3 on the Style Lush list? The scarf? I can TOTALLY vouch for how amazing it is, as you can see below...

I absolutely plan to ask for it in green this year!)

T-shirt: Gap

Scarf: Land's End

Jeans: MICHAEL Michael Kors

Shoes: Cole Haan

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?

Channeling SJP?

It's Monday, which means you should head over to Two Birds for Inspiration Monday! Today's look is courtesy of Sarah Jessica Parker:

This is, by far, one of my favorite inspiration looks, because it is absolutely perfect for spending the day running around with Brigid, which is exactly what I did when I wore this to the zoo for the ridiculously fun Boo in the Zoo this weekend.

And if that's not the longest sentence ever typed, I don't know what is...

Hope you all had an equally fabulous weekend!

Tank Top: Target

T-Shirt: J Crew

Sweater: Alfani (via Macys)

Jeans: MICHAEL Michael Kors (via Macys)

Shoes: Cole Haan

Busy Days

October hasn't even started, yet, and I'm already exhausted by it. Part of it is work-related and out of my control. But the other part of it is completely my fault because October means fall, and fall means a nonstop schedule of weekend activities and the start of the holiday season.

(Why yes, I do consider Brigid's birthday the official start of the holiday season...I like to decorate and throw parties and any excuse is a good excuse in my book...).

So, anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is that when you start to notice the bags under my eyes, or the fact that I haven't had time for a haircut since the beginning of August, or if I seem to forget I've been wearing the same shirt for a week, a gentle reminder would be much appreciated, ok?

Thanks.

And now...it's Inspiration Monday over at Two Birds!

The inspiration (which made me think nothing but thoughts of I have GOT to get my hands on a sparkly jacket!):

And the outfit (which is seriously lacking in sparkle, obviously...):

Tank: WHBM

Jacket: Kenneth Cole (outlet)

Jeans: MICHAEL Michael Kors

Shoes: Nine West

Lady-Like

It's Inspiration Monday again, over at Two Birds, and this week's inspiration is the always stylish Rachel Bilson:

I have to say, I absolutely adore this look. And I really enjoyed putting together something similar, myself...I just felt a little more classy and put-together than I normally do in a pair of jeans. Until I realized that one of the dogs had peed on the floor and Brigid had just rubbed syrup all over her hair, that is.

What can I say? I lead a glamorous life...

Blouse: H&M

Jeans: Michael Kors

Shoes: Steve Madden

Dog Days...

Random story of the day: My little* dog, Peyton, is such a neurotic mess that she can't stand being separated from us for longer than five minutes at a time, especially if she thinks we may be having fun without her. And while I usually find it funny that she has to be right on top of us, this has started to become a problem when Brigid's bedtime rolls around.

See, we always keep B's door closed because we don't want the cats to get in there and make themselves comfortable in the poor kid's crib. Cats shed, and it's kind of gross. And if we leave the door open for any period of time, they will come in and hide under the crib, until they can make their move.

They are sneaky little things, my cats.

So, at night, Steve and I head upstairs, with Brigid in tow, and confine ourselves to her bedroom for a good hour at a time, while B gets a bath, and we all dance to Gaga for awhile. And Peyton CAN'T STAND IT!

But...well...she's found a way around all of this, because, it turns out, Peyton can open the door. Granted, it's a lever knob, and B's door does open into the room, so all the dog is doing is doing is pulling down on the lever and leaning, but still...

My dog can open doors. And she's gotten really good at it, too.

They're readying themselves for a takeover, I can feel it. We're outnumbered by the animals, and they're going to win. If I disappear from this space any time in the future, at least you'll all know what happened to me.

Unless she also knows how to type, too. Then you'll never even know that I am gone...

*It should be noted that 'little' is a relative term here. Yes, she's smaller than our 50lb dog, but she's getting pretty close to the 30lb mark, herself, so she's a little tubby. Someone needs to stop eating two different dinners every night, I guess...

Tank: Target

Cardigan: Macy's

Jeans: Michael Kors

Shoes: Cole Haan

Sleepy...

Every time I pulled up to a stoplight on my way into work this morning, it was all I could do to not close my eyes for a few minutes, while I was waiting for the light to turn green. I'm pretty sure most traffic schools would frown on that kind of commuting technique. If only I traveled via public transportation instead of my own car...I definitely would have been out in the first 30 seconds of the trip.

On second thought, it's maybe actually a good thing Atlanta doesn't have a very reliable or widespread form of public transportation. I'm pretty sure I'd be stretched out on the train or bus with my own pillow and blanket, and that's probably not really an ideal situation, either.

Also, I may have picked the wrong day to start cutting back on the caffeine.

I think the coffee pot is calling my name...

Sweater: Banana Republic (outlet)

Jeans: Michael Kors

Shoes: Steve Madden

Watch: La Mer

Here's Hoping...

The worst part about the Friday before a holiday weekend is wondering whether or not your boss is going to give you the go-ahead for early dismissal. Since Steve, B, and I are heading up to my in-laws' place on the lake for the weekend, and traffic heading north of Atlanta starts to get a little intense around 3pm on a normal Friday, I either need to be out of the office by 2pm, or Steve may just leave without me, and I'll be making my way up there on my own after traffic dies down later tonight.

First world problems, huh?

Have a great holiday weekend, all!!

Sweater: Ann Taylor Loft

Jeans: Michael Kors

Shoes: Nine West

Bracelets: Alex&Ani/James Avery

Necklace: Tiffany

Watch: Gilt.com

Casual Friday

Ok, so I've used this post title before, but now it actually applies to me in an office setting, instead of a stay-at-home kind of setting, so it's totally being recycled today.

Due to my previously mentioned schedule change, I am now off on Mondays and in the office on Fridays. And Fridays in our 'new' office (where I spend most of my time these days) is a casual day, a lesson I learned the hard way the one other time I had to go in on a Friday, and I was the only person in the complex not wearing jeans, with the exception of the investment banker types we share the office building with.

I've done the banking thing, thank you very much. I don't want to be confused with those types...

So, jeans it is!

Tank Top: Gap

Cardigan: NY & Co

Jeans: Michael Kors (from Macys)

Shoes: Steve Madden

Summer Swimming

I found this dress on my last little outlet mall shopping spree, and I knew I had to have it for the summer, because it just screams 'POOL LINING!!', and obviously, that's the look I'm going for this year.

Really, though, there were two salespeople in the store wearing this dress, one in navy and one in tan, and they both looked so adorable that I couldn't pass it up. I am shockingly open to the power of suggestion, obviously. Plus, it was on sale, and who am I to argue with a sale?

I'd be lying if I said that the pool lining look wasn't an added bonus, though...

Worn to dinner with the family a couple of weeks ago

Dress: Michael Kors (on sale at the outlet)

Shoes: Target 

It's about time...

The awesome and amazing Claire at Spinning Threads both tagged me to share 10 things I love AND gave me the "One Lovely Blog" award over the course of the last couple of weeks, and because I am always late for everything, I am just now getting around to thanking her for being so sweet. You should absolutely head over and check her out if you haven't before, because she has a fantastic way of putting outfits together that I can only dream of replicating, and she has two of the most adorably stylish daughters, ever, to boot. It's too bad they all live so far away from me, because I'm pretty sure Brigid could pick up a tip or two from those little ladies!

And now 10 things I love, 7 random facts about myself, and a little weekend outfit thrown in for good measure!

(I'll combine the first two so as not to give you an overloaded look into my personality...I'd like you to come back to visit!)

1) I absolutely love to watch sporting events, live or on tv. Any sport, actually, I'm not picky. (Random Fact: I will travel to see almost any sport live at least once...NASCAR, Indy Car, golf, football, baseball, basketball, soccer...I'm in. The only (American-ish) sport I've never seen live, in either a professional or collegiate setting? Hockey. I really need to get on that.)


2) I love to travel. (Random Fact: I may love to travel, but I am scared to death of flying. In fact, we're flying to Indiana in a couple of weeks, and I'm already getting sweaty palms thinking about the plane.)


3) I love spreadsheets! I am a true numbers nerd, my friends.


4) I love purses. Hoo, buddy, do I love purses. (Random Fact: I was a total tomboy growing up...I couldn't have cared less for clothes or accessories or anything of the sort. Then I went to college, and one of my roommates introduced me to the mall...and it's been all downhill since then.)


5) I love the beach more than any other location in the world, but I think I've made that pretty clear around here.


6) I love Joel McHale. He is both adorable and hilarious. (Random Fact: I tivo both The Soup on E and Community on NBC, because I love him. And I am watching The Soup as I write this...)


7) I love Christmas. It is by far my favorite time of year, even though I despise cold weather. (Random Fact: I start listening to Christmas music the day after Halloween, and I keep it on, nonstop, until January 1st. And it's all I can do to make myself stick to those restrictions, as it is.)

8) I love the Harry Potter series. (I think this counts as a random fact, also...I made my mom keep buying me the books for Christmas all through college, and I've been to see several of the movies at midnight on opening night. I told you I was a bit of a nerd.)

9) I love movie theater popcorn. It's the only reason to go to the movies, really.

10) I love animals. (Random Fact: I have two dogs, one that I named Peyton, after the Indianapolis Colts QB. When I watch Colts games, and I yell at Peyton the QB for screwing up this or that, it seems to freak Peyton the dog out a little bit. That may not have been my best idea ever.)

Your turn! I'd love to hear your list of loves or random facts...please share!

 Tank Top: Gap Outlet

Jeans: MICHAEL Michael Kors

Shoes: Target

Watch: La Mer

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

Calling All Captains!

Apparently, I have a future in modeling...

...if by modeling you mean posing for Captain Morgan rum ads:

Seriously...what was that?

Anyway, I hope everyone had a lovely, lovely weekend. I spent Saturday day hanging out with a suddenly clingy-when-tired toddler (yeah, so, sleep regression? apparently not a myth at all...) and Saturday night at a small party with friends, where there was a bonfire, red velvet cake, and an owl balloon. Because that's how I roll on the weekend.

Outfit 19 of 30

Sweater: Lands End Canvas

Jeans: Gap

Boots: DSW

Scarf: Lands End Canvas 

Sunday? I did laundry. Good times, good times.

Sorry, uninspired outfits call for very, very small pictures...

Outfit 20 of 30

T-Shirt: J Crew

Sweatshirt: Michael Kors

Jeans: Express

Shoes: Nine West 

And now, my second installment of Fabulous in February, a month of positivity (brought to you by Melissa and Hope):

1) I don't take myself too seriously. I'm the first to laugh at myself when I do something dumb, and sometimes, I'm just the first to do something dumb, because life is too short to be too concerned about about how you look.

2) I can walk really, really well in heels. And since I love, love, love my high heels, that is a skill that I cherish.

3)  I am sometimes uncomfortable around new people or in awkward situations, but I don't think it shows. I have a great poker face, or so I tell myself, and I can talk to anyone, uncomfortable or not. It's definitely come in handy a time or two. (Like the time Steve and I flew to Denver for his college roommate's wedding, to a girl I'd only met briefly once before, and we went to the groom's parents' house for a 'casual little gathering' that turned out to be the bride's wedding shower. And involved all of the guys (the only people I knew at the party) hiding out in the basement for a couple of hours. Awkward. I made friends, it was fine, but I'm still not quite over that one. Thank goodness the bride is one of the sweetest people I've ever met...)

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?