One More Reason a Shopping Budget is Necessary

Well, I think this technically qualifies as two reasons, but who wants to be picky about it?

Those right there are two sweaters, of the exact same design, but slightly different colors.  And I've had these sweaters for a couple of years, but I only just realized that they were the same freaking sweater today.  This seems like a bad thing, like a terrible habit that I may need to work on correcting. 

Good thing it's already on my list, eh?


I tried to take pictures of myself in these sweaters, but I could NOT get them to come out correctly, no matter how many different angles or what different types of lighting I used.  I don't know what I am going to do about this problem.  Any suggestions??

The Never Ending Snow Day

With the exception of a couple of hours out on Friday night and another couple of hours out on Saturday night, it has been FIVE DAYS since I spent any significant amount of time outside of my house.  This, my friends, is starting to affect my sanity.  I have done nothing but watch updates on the Tucson shooting (on Fox News, because my in-laws are staying with us, and that is my FiL's channel of choice) and updates on the Atlanta ice mess (also on Fox News, or a local news channel if we want to change it up a bit...), and honestly?  I don't even know what day it is today.

I do not have whatever internal fortitude it is that would make me a productive member of society without the specter of going to work hanging over my every decision.  When I don't have anybody there to tell me that I have to leave the house?  Chaos.

Should I shower today?  Eh, there's no one around who will care if I start to smell.

Make-up, clean clothes?  Nobody is going to see me.

Should I eat ice cream for lunch?  Sure, it's not like my sweatpants can't stretch to accommodate to extra calories.

I never thought I'd say this, but I really need to get back to work!

Resolution Update

Yesterday was a snow day, so I have no outfit update to share, since my outfit consisted of knee-high Hunter wellies (because owning snow books isn't generally a requirement to live in Atlanta), fleece socks, and a ski jacket.  And while it all kept me warm and dry, I don't think it would necessarily pass as anything remotely close to 'fashion'.  But, I do have some New Year's resolution updates, so...yeah.

First of all, I finished my second book of the year.  Again, it was a short read, and one that I didn't need to put too much thought into (especially since I had already read 75% of the book, and this was my second time going through it), but I kind of enjoyed it.  Kind of.

The book was Home Game by Michael Lewis (the author of Moneyball and The Blind Side), and it was the compilation of a bunch of columns he wrote about the first years of each of his three kids' lives.  And it was an interesting take on fatherhood, but I'm not necessarily sure that I like Michael or his style.  Because I can form that opinion from the hundred or so pages of his book that I read.  I feel so judgmental.

A more constructive update?  Yesterday was my biggest blogging loser weigh in, and I weighed in at...

146!  A 2 1/2 pound loss for the week!  I'm pretty excited about it.  Unfortunately, I think it's all 'low-hanging fruit', if you will, because I stopped eating cookies for every meal, and that could mean nothing but good things for me, but still.  I lost weight in the first week of the challenge, and I'll just try to keep the momentum going from there.

Of course, it might help if I could stay away from the snow day ice cream and the snow day chips and the snow day M&Ms, but I do have my limits...

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...

Never Again

Never again will I wear this skirt.  Disaster, my friends.

I had planned out my outfit the night before work, because Steve was out of town, and not in bed laughing at me for spending 45 minutes in my closet trying to figure out what to wear or yelling at me to just go to bed already because it was 11:30, and the dogs refused to relax until we were both in one place (they do that, a lot...and it's very, very annoying).  I had never worn the vest, and I'd only worn the skirt once, so it seemed like a good combination.  The next morning, I actually decided to sleep in a little, knowing that the hardest part of my morning was already over.

And then I got dressed.  And I started getting ready to leave the house.  And I remembered that this skirt gets very wrinkled, very quickly.  But I was running late, so I snapped a quick iPhone picture, thinking I'd mess with my real camera when I came home, because Steve was still out of town, and once I put the baby to bed, I could finally figure out how to take a decent picture of myself.

And then my day started. And then I remembered that the skirt doesn't fit quite right.  And I remembered that the lining on this skirt always hangs out at the bottom.  I think the top layer bunches up, the lining stays in place, and I end up with a white fringe on the bottom of my skirt.  And I hate that.

So, instead of an impromptu fashion show when I got home?  The skirt went directly into the donate pile.  I will not be making that mistake three times.

Also?  I am now on the hunt for a decent gray skirt, slightly above-the-knee, if you have any suggestions.

Vest: Express

Cardigan: Express

Skirt: H&M

Shoes: Jessica Simpson (I know, right? I can't help it...I love her shoes!)