Sunday, December 21, 2014

Today is the Christmas program at church, and I am singing in the choir. Usually I wear red, but this year I've been rather enamored of blue, so I decided to go blue instead. Blue is a Christmas color, right? I love how the diamanté buttons look peeking out of the 3/4 sleeves of this jacket--love the blue boots--love the fringe net scarf--just love the whole outfit together. I'll probably change into black jeans for the family Christmas party this evening.
Hue Sweater Tights in Black, Macy's; Piped Houndstooth Skirt, Diamanté Cuff Merino Sweater in Cobalt, Talbots; 3/4 Sleeve Wool Jacket in Black, Talbots; Jewelry, Talbots and Shopko.

Blog Giveaway

Three people entered my giveaway, so I am going to have three winners. Unfortunately, I don't see contact information for TeachRuiz and living with grace. Please contact me with your shipping information, and I'll send you a surprise package. The other winner is the lovely Gigi from Gigi's Gone Shopping. Thanks for celebrating with me!

Bling Collecting

This jewelry set I'm particularly fond of. I first bought the green jade necklace and the bracelet on eBay about three years ago for about $15. The green stones are real jade, but the turquoise is just plastic cabochons. A year ago I found the earrings for $5, and then this summer I found the bib necklace for $15. I love this set together!

I Didn't Know Dyeing Would Hurt So Much...

Dyeing hurts. Stirring that big pot of unwieldy clothes for hours and hours is hard on the back and arms. So, I've deciding to have a bit of a painting party and wait to do my last batches of dye (black, navy, yellow, pink, and green).
Here are some of my latest painting projects:

These adorable Mary Janes never really got much wear as pink snakeskin. Perhaps as shiny black snakeskin, they will see the light of day for special occasions. They are way too high for me to wear to work anymore -- darn plantar fasciitis!

These sandals were pretty old to begin with, but they have always been very comfortable. I just slap dash painted them with black and then changed the color of the hardware to silver.

This pair of pointy toe flats is dearly beloved and has been a real workhorse in my work wardrobe. I'm trying to keep the same neutral color vibe here with Lumiere silver metallic paint. I think they will need a second coat, and then they will be good to go.

This bracelet from Banana Republic is still pretty wearable. The gold is pretty hidden by the diamond bling. I have this same bracelet in white, blue, and green, and I wear those all the time. This one I wasn't wearing as much because of the insipid melon color. Now it is a very saturated pink, and I think it will go into rotation as soon as possible. I painted each stone with nail polish.

I decided to paint this pair of gray alligator loafers purple. I think I'll just do one coat so that the black variegation still shows through. I think these will look so cute with jeans!!

Friday, April 4, 2014

As long as the weather is going to stay cold, I will run with it. Today I'm wearing this fuzzy plaid skirt with a bright blue sweater on top. I added the pambil jewelry that I haven't worn much lately, just for kicks. This is only the second time I've worn this sweater, and it has a hole already. Bummed.
Buffalo Plaid Skirt, Talbots; Merino Charley Sweater in Brilliant Cobalt, J. Crew Factory; Jewelry, Chicos. Hue Ribbed Tights in Gray, Macy's.

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

This is what I wore for a simple New Years Celebration at home with my kids. Our big celebration of New Years has traditionally been New Years Day, where we have about thirty people over for lunch, snacks and serious board gaming.
This is a sweater that I've had for about 15 years. It's been through many a New Years and Christmas Party. Sadly enough, when I put it on this year, I kind of wasn't feeling the love as much as I used to. The dolman sleeve style just really isn't my thing as much anymore, and even though it's been a special occasion article (obviously), it's beginning to show it's age a bit.
Ah well, it's 2014, a new year, in with the new, out with the old, right? I think I will send this sweater to a new home.
Sparkle Sweater, Macy's; Black Crepe Pants; Coldwater Creek.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

This is what I wore to our ward adult party in the evening. It looks very dressy but feels very comfy. I love this bling necklace I got sort of originally from Chicos. I say sort of because the bigger one is actually a bracelet that I restrung into a necklace. I added a closeup shot of the bottom on the skirt to show you how cute and lacy it is.
**I like this skirt so much I also wore it last Thursday night to Mark's work party, too.
Diamante Sleeve Merino Sweater in Red, Talbots; Crochet Midi-Skirt in Black, Chicos. Jewelry, Chicos and Designed by Denee.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

 Today is my birthday (for good or bad) so I decided to bling up this simple outfit with the addition of the fan fringe necklace. My little bracelet from the J Crew Factory was a nice added touch. The BHW brought me a cute balloon bouquet at work, so pretty much everyone knew it was my birthday.
Merona Pencil Skirt in Flame, Target; Sailboat Tee, J. Crew; Jewelry, J. Crew.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

This outfit doesn't look like much here, but this was actually very cute on. This trompe l'oeil sweater looked cute with the groupdealz necklace. This is the first time I've worn this necklace because I thought it looked pretty cheap when I got it, but it felt like it added just the right touch of color in just the right place with the sweater. I wish all my skirts were as comfortable as this ponte skirt -- it's so comfortable to wear.
Halogen Ponte Skirt, Nordstroms; Merino Tippi in Trompe L'oeil, J. Crew; J Crew Knockoff Necklace, Groupdealz.

Flower Lattice on the Cheap

When I first saw this flower lattice necklace at J. Crew, I was smitten and really wanted one. I just couldn't justify the $228 dollar price tag, though.

Then, a few weeks ago I saw instructions on how to make your own replica.

I gathered up some pins, and purchased a few on the cheap. While I was waiting for them to show up from China, I played around with a few design ideas.

This is what I ended up with. I don't have the two little pins hanging off the bottom because I couldn't get them to look good. The layers were just getting too tricky, or maybe my pins were just too bulky. Anyway, I can't wait to wear it with something!!!!

Updating my Jewelry Storage

I picked up this holder on Etsy, mainly to hold my rainbow of earrings. It's been nice to get everything out of the jumble in the armoire. (It's not hanging crooked; it's just the way I was holding my camera.)

Monday, April 8, 2013

I didn't blog outfits for the weekend because I got a massive migraine on Friday that lingered around until, well, actually, through today. Hormonally related, I'm afraid, and getting worse every month. Argh...
Anyway, I went with a matching tank and sweater today, along with my trusty pink jeans. The weather today was nasty, so I added this blingy jacket as a topper. I figure I might as well get a wear or two out of it.
NYDJ Alisha Skinny Jeans in Fuchsia, Nordstroms; Watercolor Cardigan, Talbots; Watercolor Silk Tank, Talbots; Jewelry, Talbots; Tweed Bling Jacket, Chicos; Flower, Chicos.

Friday, March 29, 2013

A while ago I blogged about getting this shirt and taking it back. Well, I really did, but then when I went by my local J. Crew to do some returns, I saw it for $19, so I repurchased it. I added some bling to liven it up a bit. It is a very comfortable shirt, which at the end of the day, is sometimes all that matters.
Side-Seam Sailor Top in Black Champagne, J. Crew; Fan Fringe Necklace in Vibrant Fuchsia, J. Crew; Animal Bracelets, Target; Black Platinum Jeans, Chicos.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

I am going all vintage Talbots here. The top and the bottom are from several years ago, and the jacket is from last summer. This made a very nice airy look for a beautiful spring day.
Talbots Floral Pencil Skirt in Sea Glass; Talbots Tee in Sea Glass, Talbots Jacket, Belt in Green, Talbots, Jewelry, Target and Talbots.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Today I decided to pattern mix with the striped shirt I just got and the sunshine peonies skirt. I really liked the way these two went together. I added a fair amount of bling with my Ily Couture Bubble Necklace and some more arm candy at $6 a pop.
Sunshine Peonies Skirt, J. Crew, Sailor Side Seam Top, J. Crew, Jewelry, Ily Couture, Target, and Kohls.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Today seemed like a good day to break out the Easter egg colors. I went with this bright spearmint skirt from the J. Crew Factory, a silk paisley shirt that I'd almost forgotten was in my closet, and to keep the Spring chill away, a bright yellow jacket. This made for a very cheerful outfit overall. I added a fair amount of bling with this zebra bracelet I just got at Kohl's for $6. I went without tights today, but it was still really a little too chilly for that to be comfortable -- much warmer than it has been, though.
Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Cotton in Bright Spearmint, J. Crew Factory; Silk Paisley Shirt in Blues, Coldwater Creek; Belt, Talbots; Jewelry, Chicos, Talbots, and Kohls.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

I got a package from J. Crew today, but this is the only thing I guess I'll keep. This is the Side-Seam Sailor Top in Paris Pink. I like it quite a bit. I'm trying it with my crystal flower necklace that I just got from Kohl's for $13.
Side Seam Sailor Top in Paris Pink, J. Crew; Denim Stretch Jeans, Coldwater Creek; Jewelry, Kohls.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

This is what I wore to church today, except I went with a different necklace (the green faceted one with the tan ribbon) and a different black jacket (the wool one with the wide collar and 3/4 sleeves.
Hue Tights in Black, Macy's; Watercolor Skirt, Talbots; Talbots Merino Diamante Sleeve Sweater in Emerald, Talbots; Jewelry, Talbots; Wool Jacket in Black, Talbots.