Long-time listener, first-time caller

Do any of you ever listen to talk radio? I have Sirius satellite radio in my car, and I tend to listen to a lot of it when I'm driving, generally of the sports talk kind.

(Except for these next two months, of course. Because these next two months are Christmas music months!)

(No, I don't plan on talking about Christmas every day until it finally gets here...)

(Actually, yes. Yes, I do...sorry. I love the holiday season.)

And it never fails that, anytime you listen to the call-in portion of any talk radio show, you always, always, ALWAYS hear someone who calls in to tell the host that, although they've been listening to the program for years, it was the subject of discussion on that particular day that made them realize they just had call to share their opinion. And these callers are usually my favorite part of these shows, because it's always interesting to see just what that topic is that made them realize they didn't want to sit by and not share their thoughts. Sometimes it's surprising to see just what might get someone worked up.

Of course, this has nothing to do with anything today. But I've had this skirt forever (seriously....like, years, forever), and I've never worn it. Not once. But I've kept it around because it's too pretty to donate, and I knew I'd eventually work it into the rotation. And now seemed as good a time as any...

Long-time closet inhabitant, first-time outfit participant, I guess.

Sweater: Gap

Cardigan: NY & Company

Skirt: Kenneth Cole

Boots: White Mountain (from DSW)

One Pink Belt

I own one pink belt. One.

And other than one pink bracelet, and maybe a pair of earrings, that is the extent of the pink accessories that I own. So during the month of October, as I've been trying to stay involved in the Blogging for Breast Cancer Awareness challenge, this poor belt has had quite the work-out. Remember when I started this whole thing, and I was excited because I noticed I had more pink in my closet than I thought I did?

Well, it turns out, I was right the first time.

Thank goodness for my little pink belt, I guess.

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(Oh, and one side note on the pants from yesterday...based on the pictures that I posted, I don't think the pants look completely terrible, which is one of the reasons that I chose to keep wearing them, instead of frantically trying to change clothes at the last minute after the photos have revealed what a complete disaster my chosen outfit really is. Not that that has ever happened, of course.

The problem came later in the day, when every time I looked in the mirror in the bathroom at work, they started looking worse and worse. I don't know if it was the fading of my morning optimism (which doesn't actually exist, unfortunately), a general loss of shape in the fabric, or just a really, really bad mirror/lighting combination in the office bathroom, but everything started looking...droopy, I guess. The pants seemed too long, the thighs seemed to baggy, the butt seemed too shapeless. It was just off, somehow.

And that right there would be reason #892 that I don't like pants...not only is it overtly painful to make them work on me, they are sneaky little saboteurs, too, waiting to take down my whole day when I least expect it and can do nothing to change it. I'm burning them all...)

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(Ok, not really. I'll just try to wear them again when all of the hard feelings have worn off, of course. The definition of insanity, and all of that...)

T-shirt: Forever 21

Sweater: New York & Co

Skirt: J Crew (outlet)

Belt: Target

Boots: DSW

I've got nothing...

Today is one of those days where I am at a complete loss for words. I've racked my brain, trying to come up with something to say about my day, my outfit, or my life in general, and there's just nothing there.

I mean, I'm trying to get back into running, now that the weather in Georgia doesn't make me want to cry every time I leave the house, and I'm into week two of the Couch to 5K program (for my second time around, because I've lost the ability to run for longer than two minutes at a time since this past spring), and my tailbone has been a little sore since the last run. But really, how is that at all interesting, right?

Although, it apparently doesn't stop me from talking about it, so at least there's that...

(Today's blogging tip, from me to you: When in doubt, ramble aimlessly, and hope nobody notices. Also, try to time your rambling with an outfit that consists of more than a black skirt and gray sweater, if you want maximum distraction power. Oops...)

(Oh, and I am taking recommendations for new running shoes (I'm pretty sure that's where the tailbone issue is coming from), so if you have any ideas/preferences, let me hear them!)
Enjoy your Thursday!

Tank Top: Target

Sweater: New York & Co

Skirt: Calvin Klein

Shoes: Kenneth Cole

Someone needs a haircut...

The problem with my neighborhood is that everybody is too friendly. And everybody has kids, so everybody is always outside, and you never know when you're going to be expected to carry on a conversation with some random person that you can only identify by what flag they have hanging from their front porch or what their landscaping looks like.

And while this isn't really a terrible problem to have, it does mean that I feel guilty taking Brigid out to play without doing my hair first.

Luckily, I am immune to guilt these days...

Tank Top: Target

Sweater: New York & Co

Shorts: Ann Taylor

Shoes: Cole Haan

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

Friday, revisited...

Editor's Note: This was scheduled to post on Friday, but Blogger didn't post it. Go figure...

But since I didn't write anything on Monday, and then I spent all of Monday night catching up on reading other blogs instead of coming up with something for my own, I figured Tuesday was as good of a day to re-post it as any. Hope everyone had a fantastic holiday weekend!

Happy Friday, friends! Who's excited for a long weekend?

Steve and I are heading up to his parents' house to dog-sit for them while they go to a wedding in Tennessee on Saturday, and I am kind of looking forward to a few days of doing nothing but swimming with Brigid. And it's a good thing that that's how I want to spend my weekend, since there's not much else to do in Georgia when the temperatures start to top 90 degrees.

Helloooooo summer!

Worn to work on this past week

Sweater: NY & Co 

Skirt: Calvin Klein

Shoes: Steve Madden (from Macy's)

Purse: Kate Spade (So, apparently, posting a list of things you are coveting right before Mother's Day sometimes leads to you being gifted one of those things that you are coveting...thanks, honey! You really are the best!)

Spring Cleaning

My closet was starting to get a little out of control again, full of clothes that I don't wear, that don't fit, that are starting to show some wear and tear. And it was starting to stress me out, because I don't handle clutter all too well. I hate not being able to find what I want, and I hate thinking that I have no pants that fit me anymore.

So, I tried on every single thing in my closet. I packed up two huge trash bags of things to donate, made one large pile of things I don't wear anymore, but couldn't quite get rid of, and kept only what I knew I'd use. And wouldn't you know it?

I totally have pants that fit! Good to know...

(Also? These are the second pair of uncomfortable shoes that I've worn in as many days. They didn't hurt to walk in, they just hurt to have on while I was sitting. Bizarre. And I will most likely be wearing flats tomorrow. I just don't know how much more my poor feet can take!)

Pants: The Limited

Blouse: H&M

Sweater: New York & Co.

Shoes: Steve Madden

Cheap Date

This is a big week for me, friends.

A haircut (to be introduced tomorrow, although it was just a trim, so don't get your hopes up for anything spectacular...), some new tights (ordered before Lent started, delivered yesterday), a few new accessories (ditto), and the conclusion of the Biggest Blogging Loser challenge (I will post a recap of the competition next week, complete with before and after pictures, so stay tuned!).

 So, yeah...rereading the last paragraph to myself now...that doesn't seem like anything too exciting, does it?

Ok, then. It felt like a big week for me, up until I actually listed it out for this post. Now I just realize it doesn't really take much to get me excited.

That's totally a good thing, though, right?

T-Shirt: J Crew

Sweater: New York & Co

Skirt: The Limited

Shoes: Nine West

Necklace: Old Navy

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

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 

Who loves sparkly things?

I most definitely do!

I've had this skirt for several years now, and I've always considered it more of a warm weather skirt than a cold weather skirt, for reasons beyond my current understanding.  I think it may have had something to do with the color, or the material, or the silver threading...I honestly have absolutely no idea. 

Because now?  It seems like a fantastic winter weather skirt to me!

(Although, I do think I'll try it with a darker colored top the next time it comes up in the rotation...)

Outfit 9 of 30

T-Shirt: Gap

 Cardigan: New York & Co

Skirt: Club Monaco

Scarf: White House Black Market

Ring: Charlotte Russe

Shoes: Nine West

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

The camera? Yeah, I'm still learning...

I read my first book of the year! 

Ok, technically, I finished my first book of the year, because I had started this one a really, really long time ago. I have a pile of about seven books like that, so it seemed as good of a spot as any to start my 'read more' resolution. Most of the books, I will probably have to start reading again from the beginning, because I have absolutely no idea what's going on in them since it's been that long since I've picked them up. But this one? It was Al Franken's Oh, the Things I Know!, and I didn't really feel like I was missing that much by picking up where I'd left off. So book #1? Check! On to book #2...

And on to today's outfit, which I will admit, is not the most exciting thing I've ever put on. But I love the dress, and I was in a hurry, and at least I put a necklace on this morning! That's more than I would have done in the past, believe me...

Also, I don't have a tripod yet, and I haven't quite figured out how to use the digital screen to preview my shot, so it's all trial and error right now.  And that means that I end up with pictures like this:

Oops.  Anyway, I tried again...

Awkward. Oh well...I'll get there, eventually.

Dress: Calvin Klein (from the Saks outlet...during a 60% off sale!)
Necklace: New York & Co (I think...)
Boots: DSW

Let's give this daily outfit thing a try, shall we?

At some point, I will learn how to use the self-timer on my camera, and I will take absolutely adorable pictures like Kimmie over at Blue Paper Lanterns.  But, until then, I will be taking pictures of myself, in a mirror, with my iPhone.  And only when I feel like it.  Because I am lazy.

T-shirt: J Crew

Sweater: New York & Co.

Scarf: White House Black Market

Skirt: The Limited

Tights: J Crew

Shoes: Nine West

I thought, hey, there's a line of sparkles running down the middle of these tights!  That will be a nice way to change up a pair of plain black tights.  Do you know how hard it is to keep your tights from twisting up, so that the line of sparkle doesn't turn into a loop?  I most definitely didn't.  But I do now...