Snow Disappointing

{target sweater (similar) | ON vest & tights | h&m shorts (cute option on super sale!) | steve madden boots | f21 necklace (similar)}

So, I was about to publish a whole post about how disappointed I am that just when it warmed up enough to melt the skanky snow that's been hanging out for the past few weeks, it goes and snows again.  Like, on the very same day that the other snow finally vanished. But January is a tough enough month to endure without me chiming in to complain about it.  So for a little change of pace, I bring you My List of Positive Things About January:

Positive Thing About January #1:  It's still Christmasy.  My house looks like Santa's workshop for at least half of January (ok, usually a little more).  I just love the fun decorations, and it's still kind of sort of acceptable to have them up throughout the month.  Come February, that crap won't fly.

Positive Thing About January #2:  It's chilly enough to consider purchasing these.  Anyone own a pair?  Good?  Bad?  Ugly?

Positive Thing About January #3:  Sometimes the snow has little ice crystals sitting on top of it = nature's own glitter.  As a female who enjoys sparkly things, I appreciate this.

Positive Thing About January #4:  I get to wear lots of cozy layers.  I know I complain about the cold, but I admit that about 3/4 of the way through summer I'm really missing the option to top my outfit off with a thick, chunky scarf, a cool pair of boots, or an oversized cable knit sweater.

Positive Thing About January #5:  The cold weather provides a perfect excuse to snuggle up on the couch, whip up a batch of hot chocolate and a big bowl of popcorn, and guiltlessly enjoy hour after hour of Shameless on dvd.

*Also, I'm a finalist in a creative photo contest.  If you're the voting type and you'd like to help me win, please click here and then "like" my photo.  Big virtual hugs to all who do!*


Find me here today, too.

In a Frozen State

{h&m shorts & sweater (similar) | f21 hat | payless tights | delias boots (crazy similar) | kohls bracelet (similar) & necklace}

Please excuse my pursed lip, sour lemon expression in these photos.  I think my face just froze like that when I took off my coat.  I was just. so. cold.  I was trying really hard not to be; I was thinking warm thoughts, concentrating on not shivering, and I mean, I was even wearing a leopard print hat.  If the presence of faux leopard can't keep me toasty, I don't know what can.  But when living in NJ, sometimes you just have to grin and bear it....or in my case grimace, groan, grumble, and grouse....that's just as good, right?

On another note, if you haven't already signed up for Crowdtap, then you are just plain cray cray.  Answer some questions and then you can get free stuff, like an Old Navy dress.  Amongst other free stuff I've received?  A bikini, workout clothes, a whole party pack of bbq seasonings, and amazon gift cards.  Seriously, what are you waiting for?  Click here to sign up.

(This portion was in no way sponsored by Crowdtap.  I am a member and get perks when I refer others to sign up.  But so does everyone else.) 

Join the party.

This post is a submission to the IFB project.

Oh Honey, Plea(t)s

{sweater: target  //  shorts: h&m  //  vintage kerchief: gramma's  //  tights: old navy  

booties: payless  //  watch: sprout via pure citizen  //  bangles: f21}

P is for pleats.  At least over at My Greatest Hits it is.  I think this pair of shorts is the only piece in my closet that qualifies as pleated.  Clearly I don't wear a lot of folded fabric.  Unless you count unintentional folds, like wrinkles.  

Because I wear those a  lot.

See Your Shadow?

{sweater: gap  //  button up, clutch, necklace: f21  //  shorts: h&m  //  shoes: payless (old)}

Good morning all.  It's Groundhog Day!  Which in this household means the traditional yearly viewing of Bill Murray in, you guessed it, Groundhog Day.

Even though I've seen the movie probably upwards of 15 times, it still makes me laugh every year.  

To quote Ned Ryerson, "It's a doozy."

In other news, today's outfit was inspired by the Open to Interpretation challenge at Freckles in April.
Click here to see the photo and to see how everyone else interpreted it.

Also, I wore shorts - without tights or leggings - all day!  This is my favorite winter ever.
(Reminder: February.  New Jersey.  'Nuff said.)

Always Be Prepared

{sweater, tights: old navy  //  shorts: h&m  //  scarf: target  //  boots: payless  //  watch: sprout}

This is another vacation remix outfit.  I just realized it's very similar to this one, except I wore a different sweater and added a scarf because apparently Las Vegas gets quite chilly this time of year.  We strolled through the garden at the Flamingo Casino and stopped by this pretty waterfall for some photos.

As we continued to walk through the garden, we came upon a gorgeous outdoor wedding area.  I made a mental note that if hunny bunny and I wound up making a drunken impulse decision to tie the knot in Vegas, this would be the perfect place to make that mistake.  I figured if we woke up the next morning wondering what in the world we'd done, at least we'd have some beautiful pictures of a semi-classy place to help us fill in the gaps.

In my opinion, the only thing worse than not remembering your wedding would probably be to have pictures of Elvis officiating it.

Las Vegas Suitcase

This is what's in my suitcase, more or less.  

For this vacation I was determined to get away with only a carry on, something that I would have scoffed at and called impossible for a 7 day vacation mere months ago.  

It wasn't as easy as packing normally is, but then again, I normally just pull pretty things out of the closet and throw them into the suitcase without much thought as to whether I'll actually be able to create stylish outfits with them (I usually can't, and I usually exceed the airline's luggage weight limit, too).

This time I spent a little longer in the planning phase, complete with an excel spreadsheet mapping out all of the remixing possibilities.  (I'm a nerd).

But I think it paid off.

I may not look terribly flashy or colorful, but I will look put-together.  Besides, I'm in Vegas, baby!  It has enough sparkle for the both of us.

p.s. - this is a pre-scheduled post because I will be away until Sunday.  I'll answer comments when I get back!

Oopsy Daisy

{top: joyce leslie  //  shorts: h&m  //  tights: old navy  //  boots: payless  //  bracelet: f21  //  watch: sprout}

Welcome to my rule breaking Monday post (inspired by Clothed Much).  This week's rule breaker is shorts with boots (I couldn't be happier to comply with this one; I wear this kind of look all the time!).  But I did accidentally break my own, self-imposed rule, which is to never ever feature the same item of clothing twice in a row.

But you can plainly see here that I did.

Grey shorts on Friday, grey shorts on Monday.

Can you ever forgive me?

Expressing Mys(elf)

{jacket & shorts: h&m  //  tee: old navy  //  tights: payless  //  shoes: dsw  //  necklace: gifted}

This outfit is one of my favorites that I've worn recently.  Except for one little teeny tiny detail.
The shoes.
I bought them close to 6 years ago, and I vaguely remember telling myself that they were only to be worn with pants.  And now I remember why.  While they are extraordinarily comfortable (as far as heels with pointy toes goes - always buy a half size bigger!), they're mildly reminiscent of elf shoes.  When worn with pants flowing over them, just the pretty little points stick out and look very chic and polished.  But worn with shorts, the whole shoe is on display, and well, I look like I tried to escape from Santa's Workshop in disguise.
But I think the good hair day makes up for it, don't you?

Fugazi

{jacket & tank: target  //  cardi, sheer top, shorts, & tights: old navy  //  boots: steve madden intyce  //  necklace: handmade}

To be honest, I'm not quite sure how I feel about this look.  I think it might be one of those "better-in-theory" kinds of outfits.  In my head it looked amazing (especially with the first two sweaters I tried on, only to realize that it did not, in fact, look amazing).  But in practice...I'm not so sure.
I've said it before and I'll say it again - a camera will be blatantly honest with you, while at times your mirror will lie straight to your face.
For instance, my mirror told me that these shorts look stylish and slimming and cool, but in the photos I think they look poufy and a little too long and maybe a bit baggy as well.
But I just want to love them so badly.
What do you think?  Do they stay or do they go back?  Be honest with me here - I've kept the tags on just in case.

Full disclosure: I only wore this outfit for about an hour.  I put it on, took the photos, then promptly took it off.  My tights were squeezing the life out of me, the little bit of wool in the shorts was itching me through my tights!, and it was way too cold to pretend I wanted to be wearing anything other than flannel pj pants and a hoodie.
And now you know all my shameful little secrets of yesterday's outfit.
I feel like such a fraud.