More From the Back of the Closet

Continuing on the back of the closet trend, I pulled out this Tar-jay beauty. I bought it on clearance and paid about $10 for it. I feel very Mad Men- it has a really high waist and the collar ties into a bow on the side. It's funny, I didn't feel very cute all day, but like how the pictures turned out, so I take it back.

I love these shoes. They're a wonderfully strange brown/dark purple color that goes with everything. Each one has a half bow that opens to the outside. Sadly, they're too big and slip off with every step-it gets very uncomfortable and I end up walking like a duck. So off they must go. I gave them one more try and they still hurt my feet ;(

Sigh. Good bye pretty shoes. I my eyes will miss your looks, but my feet will not miss your pain!

Reaching into the Back of the Closet

Waay into the back. All the way back to 2007.

I'm making a point of wearing what's in my closet. If I don't feel like wearing it, off to Goodwill it goes! I have too many clothes and I don't wear half of them. How can I be a curator of my collection if I don't edit once in a while? Plus, I have no room for new stuff. Granted, I'm not really looking for new stuff, but it's important to be prepared. For new stuff. Those Boy Scouts are pretty wise kids, even if they do try to sell popcorn instead of cookies (just copy the Girl Scouts and come up with some sweet new flavors.)

Anyhoo, I wore this skirt to our rehearsal dinner. I love the scalloped bottom and the super cute pockets (which you can't see, but they have little bows-adorable!) I used to wear this with a navy button-down, but I like this green combo better. I also like that this coat is even older than the skirt. I took the buttons off over a year ago. For now, its safety-pinned shut under the belt. I'm fancy like that.

Great American Sportswear

I felt much cuter while I was wearing this outfit.

I definitely didn't feel as wide as I look in this pic. Oh well, it just goes to show that you don't always look how you feel. That can be both a good and a bad thing. But I'm still happy with this outfit. I wanted to do something different from the skinny pant/high boot that has become my pant standard. I also wanted to try something loosely tucked. So we'll call this one a work in progress. I probably got these pants in 2004. J Crew khakis were part of my standard uniform back then and I still have a soft place in my heart for them.

This is more the "look" I was going for-relaxed but not too slouchy:

And here's the skinny looking pic ;)

Top-J Crew

Pants- J Crew

Belt- J Crew Outlet (noticing a theme here?)

Flats- Banana Outlet (oh well, pretty close)

Plays Games, All Sorts

Every time I wear this top, I get that line stuck in my head. All day long. It's sweet, but a little annoying. Just in case you're not a huge Julie Andrews fan and you have no idea what I'm talking about, I'll go ahead and fill you in. It's a lyric from Mary Poppins. Remember, when the kids are singing their list of criteria for their new nanny? Then their mean dad rips the list up and but Mary Poppins shows up with list anyway?! I know, crazy!

This top is from my favoritest store, Anthro. I love the colors. I also love that it looks like polka dots until you get closer and realize that it's candy! Allsorts to be exact. That crazy mix of licorice chewy bits. Maybe not my favorite candy in the world, but still amusing on a shirt. It's candy! I love candy!

When I got a little colder, I threw on an old scarf. It matches close enough for me and my back hallway.

Oh Mondays, how dull you can be. Thank goodness for amusing candy shirts.

I just don't know what to do with myself...

It's 4:11 am and I'm awake. I'm cold, I can't stop yawning and I have a wicked stomach ache. Unfortunately, I didn't sleep very well last night. In part because of my stomach and in part because I can't stop thinking about work. I don't want to be there, but I can't stop thinking about it and worrying that I missed something. That I'm behind on a due date. That a coworker had to pick up my slack. My rational side tries to remind me that I can't do anything about it immediately, everything will be taken care of in the morning, I need to sleep now, I'm not saving lives, etc. But I still can't turn the worrying off. I know part of the worry really is work related, but at least 75% of it is actually personal.

Deep down inside the scary questions keep popping up. What the heck do I want to do with the rest of my life? Why am I such a bad person? Why am I so hard on myself? Why the heck can't I worry about this during daylight hours so I can get some sleep??

And the super scary one-is it even possible to build a life around doing something I actually enjoy as my job?

In my darkest moments, the only answer I see is no. I see no other options. And I'm 31.

What the heck is wrong with me? I have no idea. But I'm finding that once I see it all written down in black and white, it seems so silly. I can do whatever I want to. As long as I try.

Rome wasn't built in a day. Progress is made in a multitude of small steps. It took me a year in a half to pay off my credit card bills. Why would my dream career happen overnight?

I feel better now. I don't know all the answers, but at least I can go back to bed. Small steps taken every day will help my life change for the better. Step one today was proving how silly I am at 4:11 in the morning. Step one is going back to bed and getting some rest for tomorrow.

4.4.11 Outfit-Ships Ahoy

I love all things nautical. Mostly because I am obsessed with French sailor shirts (I really have a thing for the French don't I? I had no idea it was this bad...) Nothing says "timeless classic" to me like a simple striped boatneck shirt. I love it! And a nautical theme always works in home decor...it reminds me of lazy summer nights and relaxing afternoons at the beach. I would probably cover my house in ropes and stripes and miniature ships and starfish if I really let myself go. But instead I'll just rock the striped tee with jaunty candy apple red flats. Do you see the little bows on them? Adorable! And a cardigan because its still freezing here.

Tee- J Crew (I loved this so much I bought 2 and paid full price for BOTH!)

Cardi- Gap (old)

Jeans- Target (the zipper's broken and I use a safety pin to keep it up)

Flats- Enzo Angiolini via DSW

Earrings- Christmas Tree Shop (seriously)

4.4.11 Outfit- Moody Monday Mode Math

My first blog post as a 31 year old. How super exciting! How could life possibly be more exciting?!? The alliteration and French in the title keep it fancy. Mode=Fashionable. Oh la la.

Today I rocked my tried-and-true cool weather outfit formula:

Colored tights+skirt+tshirt+cardigan+boots+belt=generally adorable

It's a good solution for a dreary Monday. It doesn't require too much thought, I probably have over 200 possible permutations and the results are usually cute.

Or cute enough to stare at Excel spreadsheets all day in my cube. I'm currently suffering from Excel-itis and general blah. I may as well try and look the part of a cute spunky girl. If I keep playing the part, I'm hoping the spunk will follow.

Cardi-Loft

Tee- Target

Skirt- Ann Taylor via Goodwill

Belt-Goodwill

Tights (they're forest green BTW) Hue via Marshalls

Boots-Ciao Bella via DSW (I love you boots!)