my new year

I didn't realize it has been 2 weeks since I posted, shame on me. I have been busy with work, celebrating my birthday and other various lame things. Probably the most exciting happening? My first etsy purchase. I have been obsessed with the website for months and have an extensive list of favorites, but I finally had enough $ saved up to make the plunge. Pretty Little World Vintage had a buy-2-get-1-free sale that I just couldn't resist, especially since our thrift shops in this area never have a good dress selection. They arrived this past week and I debuted my first one today, at church.

these are purple tights & my report booties, sorry for the blurriness, my real camera died

I got some strange looks from people, probably because of the large shoulder pads and the bum-ruffle. My mom said "where did you get that? it looks like a dress I would have worn...25 years ago" I go to a very conservative church (with my parents), where most of the women dress like this:

...but even more boring.

I'll show you the rest of my pretty new dresses later :) I have to confess though, that now I have already made another etsy purchase and am about to make yet another...it's sooo addictive. Well, I also have the worst addictive personality ever, so it could be partially that, too.
I also made out pretty good for my birthday, new perfume (Versace Bright Crystal, which I had never heard of but it suits me quite well) a suit for school next year and some business-y clothes, and a bunch of F21 goodies. More importantly, I got a night out to cut loose with my guy and some friends which hasn't happened foreverrrr! This should be a great year for me, I was born in the year of the rat and it's finally back, and a lot of changes are happening that are making me quite happy.
Here's to my happy new year!

glad to be a florida girl

So, there are a lot of things I don't like about our current living situation, but on days like today, there's nowhere I'd rather be. The air is just heavy with the smell of orange blossoms, and I can walk my dog at night wearing just a t-shirt. I really appreciate this since last year at this time, it took a parka, 2 pairs of pants, gloves, scarf and hat just to take Lola on her last walk of the night.
Also, it is warm enough right now to wear the Jovovich-Hawk for Target dress that I broke down & bought.

It is the dress that's had my eye since preview pictures came out, but I kinda avoided checking out the collection when it first arrived--low funds still plague my bank account! I had to go to Target today and decided to swing by the clothing section. It was very well picked over- everything left was a size 13. But, stuck in a corner of Mossimo shirts was this arrow-print dress in size 5. What luck! I had to have it. It's a little big, but it looks good loose, the colors are adorable and I love the ruffles on the bottom.
Also at Target? Every pair of tights on clearance. Um, double score?!!! It was hard to stop myself from getting more than the 4 pairs I brought home.
I'm sorry to all who are still stuck in the snow & ice, but you can come visit whenever you want.

update: Oh man, I totally forgot about this! I had to return the dress, boo! Even with its supposed-to-be-loose look, it was just far too baggy up top. My little A's just weren't gonna cut it. I haven't found a suitable replacement at all.

and it continues...

Oh boy. The ennui continues. I had forgotten how much of your life is taken up by full-time lifeguarding. Yes, that sounds pathetic and believe me, it sure is. This is a job that practically anyone could do, and it's not very rewarding. But yet it kind of consumes your whole life. Working outdoors on your feet makes you very un-stylish, among other things. On a hot sunny day, you only dream about a cold shower and a nap in the dark with the fan on high. On cold, wet miserable days (like today, omg it was horrible) you dream about a hot shower and a nap wrapped in all your fleece blankets. If tomorrow is your day off, it no longer means "yeah! let's go out tonight!" but "yeah! I don't have to shave my legs tonight!" The days are 10 or more hours long, and by the time I get home and wash the chlorine and sunscreen off of me, it is past 8:00 and it doesn't leave much time to look cute (or have a life).

hmmmm....what shall I wear today...decisions, decisions...

Of course, there are some perks. Lots of overtime pay, it really is an easy job, and no matter how much SPF 30 I put on, all those hours make for a deep, natural tan (just ignore the gosh-awful tan lines that make low-cut shirts impossible)! But luckiest of all, this job is very definitely very temporary...I am officially going to law school this fall. I am accepted, just haven't decided where I'm going yet. It means, among other huge life changes, many fashion adventures in my future.
I am trying hard to not become a sun-baked zombie and trying to get re-inspired. There is a massive amount of cute shoes out this season. I can't remember when so many unique, fashion forward, detailed shoes were available at all price points...it's almost overwhelming!

these mirror one of my favorite silhouettes of the season. great detailing, too.


These shoes from Antrho
are almost too sweet... but not quite enough to deter me from coveting them anyway. yes, those are shimmery pink resin candies on the toes.


Granny-ish, cute, multi-seasonal, and only $38? yes, please.


Ok, so these aren't even close to affordable, but I love them.


Michael Kors has similar wedges for over $100, but I'll take these, from Target, for only $19.99


I can picture these with just about any outfit, ever.


These are the last pricey pair, I promise!


Do you like these? well, you should...because I just bought them yesterday and they are more of a cream color in person, so I plan to wear them daily.