Busy Bee

(Banana Republic Tuxedo shirt, Anthropologie Dress, Kate Spade Shoes, Thrifted Scarf)

Today, I kinda felt important. I had places to go and people meet...which is rare if you know me in real life. I have a friend, let's call her the Puerto Rican princess (she makes me call her that:), who ALWAYS has somewhere to go! Always. I call her a soccer mom although she has no bambinos but she's always running here and there. Me...not so much. Work, home, grocery store, mail box...yeah...then work again.

Today, I...

1. Went to church

2. Cooked a kick a$$ Chicken Parmesan

3. Took the best nap that almost made me miss #4!

4. Met a reader of my blog who turned out to be the Don King of Ideas! She was so inspirational and motivating, I walked out of the Dessert Gallery singing the Reading Rainbow song "I Cannnn Do Anythiiiing...Take a look, it's in a book...Reading Rainbow!" (I went too far with the song but I know you remember that show!)

Thank you Ashley...I programmed your number in my cell so that means I'm no longer a friend in just your head!)

5. Celebrated my homie's bday with Sushi and Cake! Happy bday Arianne!

6. Hung out with my bestie/dude!

7. Accomplished a new scarf updo:)

8. Found a new way to wear this old dress.

(I was trying to show how I tied the scarf to do an updo..you can't really tell though)

This is what I wore to church. It's a tulip style dress I copped from H&M this summer.

Jessica Simpson Shoes/ Thrifted Blazer

This look from Style Sample is what inspired my retro look today. Click here:)

Juanette from Fashionnette-work reminded me to shop in my own closet! Thanks!

How did I do?

I've Changed...Really

If you are new to this blog, then you don't know that I have an affinity for kimonos. It's my life's mission to own every kimono in the South:) I may have even threatened a blog diva or two if I see them rocking a kimono that really should be on my body. I guess I should take this time to apologize to Jane from Sea of Shoes (click here).  But I've changed. I have been rehabilitated.  I'm not like that anymore. I promise. I haven't beat anyone down in over a week for wearing something that I should be wearing. God is real people. God is real! HA HA!!

(Vintage Kimono, Goodwill Belt, Kate Spade Shoes)

I instead think I've quenched my thirst for the ultimate kimono/jacket/dress with this little vintage number! I've had it a few months now...just hadn't gotten around to wearing it. What better day to rock a kimono than on Cinco De Mayo! Can you believe it was only 6 bucks! The resale shop was trying to sell it for 60 but let's just say that I worked my jelly:)

I'll let the kimono speak for itself. Can it be anymore perfect? And it gave me a reason to wear my favorite pair of red Kate Spade shoes!

I wore this to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. I celebrated by learning about the history of Cinco De Mayo and volunteering. Okay......I had a Margarita and stuffed my face with empanadas and queso dip.  Don't judge me. I'm thinking I'm going to make this little outfit work appropriate by throwing on some black slacks or my purple pencil skirt underneath. The split is a little too "risky" for the children at the school house.

By the way, I'm feeling better than earlier this week. I'm about at 93% now!

Random note: My students are reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins...OMG, I am hooked! This book is awesome. It has me sucked in like the Twilight books but it has NOTHING to do with Vampires! I highly recommend this book for those adults that aren't ashamed to read a teen book...it's really good:)

Laundry...(just keep reading)

This is just a quick post because I am pretty delirious at this very moment from lack of sleep. This is the vintage 70's shirt that I picked up in Austin over the weekend. I am feeling the colors for Spring.. I thought I would throw a little unexpectedness with the rolled up khaki's and my favorite RED shoes of all time! Kate Spade will be so proud of this whole ensemble! I took the pics at night right before I slipped into my kimono to relax. I have quite the selection of kimonos by the way...they are my version of luxurious lounging. Speaking of luxurious lounging...

A few months ago, I ran into an old family friend who is in  her 70's and quite religious. I am talking about carrying a vial of holy water and a bible with her at all times kind of religious. She has known me since birth and basically is the neighborhood grandmother. Well, we were catching up and she was telling me how she is so happy now with her second husband because her first husband wasn't 'bout' nothin! (Her words, not mine). Then she proceeded to school me on what it takes to "pleasure yourself". I was mortified! This is the same lady who was reading me a bible verse literally 5 minutes before!

She told me that all women..."married, shacking and ESPECIALLY single" ladies should buy pretty "laundry" (I had to use my context clues to figure out that she meant lingerie!), pretty undies and smell goods. She said that every single (insert Beyonce' song here)  lady should put on their "smell goods and their laundry and look in the mirror and say I LOOK GOOD"...every single night. Then she proceeded to tell me about her nightie that she wore on her wedding night at which  point I FLATLINED...DEAD...NO PULSE!

I don't know what made me think of that conversation...maybe it's because I'm in my laundry kimono right now and I see my reflection in the mirror...let me pause a moment to say to the mirror I LOOK GOOD.............................................................Okay. Done!

Kate Spade Shoes... I love these shoes with all thine heart and all thine soul!

On a random note, can you tell me some things that you have always been told to be "fashion rules"? Fashion rules like not wearing white after labor day, black is slimming....etc.

I'll tell you why you are helping me out sooner rather than later:)

(sorry  about me looking so tired in the pics...trust me those were the best of the bunch)
I guess this post wasn't so quick after all:(

Trying Something New!

Photos from Style.com

First of all, I am still feeling the effects of the blog love from being the Feature at SITS.com yesterday! I have already made new blogfriends! Believe it or not...but believe it...I really did read every one of your comments!

Back to business, I've noticed the new trend in some of the magazines that I check out from my school library (a girl knows when to save her money!) is mixing patterns. I was looking through some DKNY and Kate Spade ads and knew that I could easily pull off these looks for less. I love what I came up with!

This is sorta how that conversation went...

Self: You totally can rock this look with what you have in your closet already.

My other self: Yeah, I really can, can't I?!?

Self: Girl, yes. You don't have to spend $675 on a red trench coat from Kate Spade! You already have one hanging in your closet from 5 years ago.

My Other Self: I sure do!

Self: Yep, and you remember you just bought a polka dot dress from Goodwill a few months ago.

My Other Self: I love that dress.

Self: So why don't you go shop in your own closet and show those magazines models that real girls can rock the runway look too!

My Other Self: You are so Smart!

Self: I am, aren't I? I get that alot!

.......end scene........:)

P.S...Thank you to Cane Wife for my blog award!

Photo above from Kate Spade.com

I did a darn good job, didn't I!?!

Black Out Challenge...Sorta

Okay. Let me explain. I know I'm not supposed to wear black all week...I know, I know. I KNOW!! It was an accident! I didn't realize that this dress was black! I SWEAR!! I completely thought this was NAVY BLUE! Honest! This dress has been hanging in my closet for weeks and I've never worn it until today. I was under the assumption that I was wearing a navy blue dress. It wasn't until I got to work, sitting in a meeting... bored to tears that I realized that this was BLACK PLAID, NOT BLUE PLAID!! AGGH!! I felt disgusted at myself!
How in the hell am I going to initiate a challenge and FAIL at it!Ralph Lauren Taffeta Wrap Dress, Kate Spade Shoes, Old Gap Jean Jacket

Yes, I could have run home to change into something all colorful and challenge worthy but that's just psycho and an honest mistake. Doesn't it look navy to you? It does right.



(Are you wondering if I am actually standing in the frozen yogurt shop posing for pictures? The answer is yes. I was thinking it was a cute place, why not take a picture there...lol)

Since I am confessing...let me go ahead and tell it all. I didn't wear that jean jacket to work. Because I thought I was wearing a navy dress, I wore my Navy blazer with it. When I was in the meeting and made the horrible discovery, I felt dirty. I hate not matching...well not matching in an ugly way. All of a sudden, I started feeling paranoid. I kept thinking people were pointing and laughing at me. My left shoulder started twitching as if I was having an allergic reaction to the discovery that I was wearing navy and black together...not that I'm against that combo...but this was not one of those cases where it was cute. I finally just took the damn jacket off because I kept scratching like ants were crawling over me(not really)...ALL OF THIS BECAUSE I WASN'T MATCHING THE WAY I THOUGHT I WAS! So just may be I am a little psycho.
(Kate spade Shoes)
As soon as I got home, I knew I had to take pictures but I couldn't handle wearing the wrong jacket any longer. For your sake, I threw on the jean jacket. Ay de mi'!!. Extreme mental exhaustion today...all behind the color NAVY!

(Here is the dress posted on Ralph Lauren's site. Overlook the fact that the model doesn't do the dress justice like I do...but doesn't it look navy? LOL)

So, I'm guessing I failed at this challenge today? In my defense, I really believed I was wearing navy. Really I did. That's got to count for something? In my heart, I was wearing navy:) God knows my heart! LOL

Birthday Eve...!

This is what I wore to church today. I felt pretty much like I should have been on the 80's show Dynasty or Falcon Crest and I loved every bit of it. Shoulder pads are trying to make a come back, I tell ya. I won't go overboard with them but it was fun to rock the look:)

The entire outfit sans the shoes is completely vintage. Let me put it this way, I handed the cashier a five dollar bill for the dress and belt and still got change back! Ummm hmmm...go ahead and clutch your pearls, I did. I didn't have to make one alteration to it either. For a hot second I contemplated taking the shoulder pads out, but decided against it. It would take away the subtle drama of the sleeves.

The upside to the dress, the draping is uber flattering where it needs to be. The downside...it's 100% polyester. Which means that I am grateful for air conditioners in cars and in buildings. This is my new favorite Little Black Dress, hands down! I forsee me wearing this dress everywhere this fall!

It's the eve of my birthday and I really want to wear this to work tomorrow. Somehow, I don't think my freshmen students could care any less that I am overly dressed for work. Fashion is so underappreciated in a building where most teachers where khaki's and sweaters with apples and crocs:(

Anywho, I just wanted to share how great it felt to find something so fly by thrifting.

Dress: vintage Sakowitz via thrift shop

Belt: Thrifted
Shoes: Kate Spade via Marshall's

Clutch: Charles David via TJ Maxx years ago (it's my favorite clutch)

Earrings: Forever 21

Bracelet: So old, I can't remember...possibly Urban Outfitters?

P.S...My mom thinks I shouldn't tell my "business" about where I get my clothes...lol! And yay for me, I just figured out that the the camera had a timer on it...duh duh...I took my own pictures finally:)

Challenge: Week 2

Here are some dresses that I have had altered. The black dress is what I wore Monday ( I really just threw that picture in to fill up the boxes). I had the bottom made into more of a pencil fit because I always prefer skirts tight around my hips. The red dress is one of my Goodwill finds. (100% silk) It's actually really cute as is but I think it looks more modern with a shorter hem. It looks bubbled because it was pinned...it will be a straight hem when it is done. Doesn't the short version look much better? I think so:)

Here is week 2! I did it...No repeats (accessories don't count). I even managed to squeeze some mini-challenges in this week. I wore some shoes that were clearly too dressy to wear to work but they simply made me happy. It was a four day work week, which is always great.

Monday: Labor Day

Tuesday:

Dress: JC Penney (earlier this year)

Bag/Belt: Goodwill

Shoes: Nine West

Wednesday:

Dress: Anthropologie (Summer 2007

Belt:Goodwill

Shoes: Nine West

Thursday:

Dress: Vintage (Atlanta last year)

Belt: Goodwill

Shoes: Kate Spade via Marshall's

Friday:
Dress: H &M (Philly trip in January; I had the neck made into a square neck..I am top headed...the girls need to breathe:)

I LOVE the Black and white Flowered Dress! This is only my second time wearing it.

Shoes: Kate Spade...(These are way too dressy for work but I needed a "pick me up" and these did the trick...they do hurt like hell though:)

Nordstrom is torturing me, slowly... seriously I'm dying over here!

I received an email from Nordstrom highlighting the latest selections from the Salon shoe department and I came across these,

Kate Spade Hudson Oxford

and these,

Nanette Lepore Corset Bootie

and these.

Stuart Weitzman Overview Pump

Now I know the first two are completely impractical, ugh but I want, I want, I want!!! Ha, ha so didn't mean to sound like a spoiled child. And the Mary Jane, well, my love affair with the elastic strap continues. Argh! What's a girl to do?

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Get out your party hats ladies it's time for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! I LOVE this sale. If you're not familiar with this annual event you are in for a treat. What makes this sale so special? This is THE fashion event of the year. It's a unique opportunity to get your picks for Fall 08 - ON SALE! There's no waiting until the end of the season. You can get what's hot RIGHT NOW! Visit the link above to check out all of the fabulous fashions. There are some seriously amazing coats and bags. Below see my picks for shoes. (You can click on the catalog image for a larger view)




From the top: Michael Kors Morgandy Quarter Strap Platform in Deep Red $89.90 after sale. ($138.95)

Pictured just below: Peep Toe sling back in cherrywood snake by BCBGirls $69.90 after sale. ($109.95)

Bottom: Stuart Weitzman lace up oxford pump with cut out sides in bronze snake $199.90 after sale. ($305.00)





Top section left: Stuart Weitzman Bouffant Pump in Gray Flannel $199.90 after sale. ($320.00)

Top section middle: Cole Haan open toe sling back mary jane in tortoise patent $179.90 after sale. ($275.00)

Top section right: Nanette Lepore French maid bootie $229.90 after sale. ($350.00)

Mid section left: Kate Spade double strap mary jane $299.90 after sale ($478.00)





Pictured right: Cole Haan Aliya Air Boot with snake skin covered buttons $299.90 after sale. ($495.00)














Top Left: Me Too mid heel oxford $59.90 after sale. ($98.95)

Right: Max Studio lace up boot in deep red $229.90 after sale. ($359.95)

Bottom: Enzo Angiolini menswear inspired bootie in dark purple $79.90 after sale. ($119.95)







Top Section left: Naughty Monkey stacked heel loafer in purple suede/brown leather $56.90 after sale. ($84.95)

Mid Section right: Steve Madden leather slouch boot $99.90 after sale. ($159.95)




The sale starts Friday! Quantities are limited so log on or hurry to the closest brick and mortar near you.

I can't wait to go shopping!