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.

back from the blizzard

I need a better camera

Yep, I definitely froze. 20 degrees plus 5 feet of snow were almost unbearable to me--currently I am sitting under a fleece blanket, chilled by the 65 degree air outside.

Unfortunately, my trip added to my recently growing feeling of ennui toward fashion. We spent wayyyy too much money on a stupid rental car (never, ever rent a car, especially if you're under 25), very much draining my finances and making clothing shopping veritably impossible for the foreseeable future. The trip brought to my attention the huge absence of cute cold-weather clothes in my closet, which will be a huge problem if we (most likely) leave Florida this fall. As soon as we flew home, I had to go right back to work-- to my job that requires I wear a swimsuit every single day. On days off like today, I just stay home working on law school stuff, and this combination does not warrant for creative outfits or even a desire to dress well. So I'm just spending my day waiting for Project Runway to come on, trying to fight the desire to order a large pizza, and wearing jeans and a gray t-shirt. Ugh I am just so uninspired!

But anyway, tonight they announce Project Runway's fan favorite. I have been trying to guess who it might be. Based on personality, I'd vote for Chris aka the only contestant with the brass to actually fall asleep during a runway challenge. He is awfully sweet and I am just dying to see him succeed.

I was so happy when he returned from premature elimination, and I'm hoping he is one of the final 3 (even though we already know he got to show a full collection regardless).

Based on design alone, my favorites are a toss-up between Jillian and Christian. Jillian's was my favorite by far from the museum challenge. And who could forget the awesome coat she designed mostly by herself?


Like everyone else, I feel like Christian is the one to beat and I've loved his designs since the first challenge.


I'm anxious to see who finally wins...this has been one of the best seasons yet. Every runway show looked like it was done by a seasoned, bona fide designer. If you want, go check out all four final collections. I am going to have to predict Christian for the win.

au revoir!

I'm going out of town for a few days, and part of the time will be spent in a cabin with limited resources. I am going to be in the bitter cold of the Mountain West, so hopefully my wimpy little Florida-acclimated body won't die! I will take pictures and see you all soon.

p.s.- I bought the shoes, and they are coming with me!

hey, um, you don't know me, but....

do you mind if we trade lives for a minute??



All from face hunter

this time they are so right

I'm sure there aren't many of you who don't read Go Fug Yourself, but this picture was too good for me to pass up:
Oh, frick. Scary from top to bottom. It's like she took every trend to the extreme, put them in a blender, poured the result onto herself like "what the hell? It's bound to look hip". Hipster pout + bright lips + decorative scarf + kimono dress + belt-at-waist + stirrup leggings + peep toes. In theory, it's okay, and she is a very cute girl (by law, I can't hate anyone who appeared in "Girl, Interrupted") but here are some options with the same idea, but perhaps better execution and flatter-a-bility factor.
Keep it slightly more simple, and keep a smudgy eye but tone down the lips. There, now isn't that better?