The Wilding

So I finally finished up a book. Whew! I was going at a fast pace for a while, but lately it's been ultra busy, so reading The Wilding just kept not happening.

Lavender undershirt - Express, Magenta shirt - Forever 21, Denim skirt - H&M, Boots - Frye

I didn't put the most effort into how I looked today because all of my energy went into putting together a Mother's Day lunch for Parents, In-Laws, Sister, Husband, and Child. The food was yummy and we had a fun time playing a word/card game.

Once everybody was gone, though, I said, "Screw the dishes," and started reading. Curious about The Wilding? I gave it 3.5/5stars.

Fave of the week: April 30 - May 6

You know what I realized on Friday after I wah-wahed all over my outfit and my crap day? I realized wearing something that didn't make me happy was my own fault. I didn't plan ahead enough (don't just have one Office Casual Friday outfit, have a back-up), and even if I was left without a plan, why couldn't I come up with something more exciting on the fly (because that takes practice, which I still need).

Then I looked through the week's outfits and looked through my own favorite style blogs, and I decided that Tuesday's outfit was my favorite of the week:

It got a lot of compliments, including, "You look very fashionable today!" pause, "Not that you normally don't look fashionable...." And some awkwardness while I processed and finally spit out a thank you. But it was more fashionable that my other outfits of the week. It reminded me of what my favorite fashion bloggers do: thinking outside the box while shopping your own closet to make a never-before-thought-of combination. Not just putting on something pretty (which some days that's what we all do). But taking the time to think about mixing patterns made a big difference in how I looked, and then, how I felt about myself.

With those thoughts in mind, I retreated to my closet and came up with some new combinations of things, mixing patterns, mixing old with new, mixing casual with fancy. It made me remember one of the reasons I started this fashion blog--to challenge myself. Am I a girl that just wears pretty things? Or am I a girl that is truly into fashion? A girl that can play with looks, isn't afraid to try new things.

Then I kind of patted myself on the back for Friday's outfit. Okay, it wasn't my best, it didn't make me feel great, but sometimes you fail in fashion, and that's okay too. Because it shows that you tried. So that's what I'll do for now--try to be a fashionable girl.

Harem pants

Let's just pretend I posted this yesterday, shall we?

Shirt - Lacoste, Belt - Primark, Gold bracelet on left - Don't remember, think Dad brought it back forever ago during his traveling days, Gold bracelets on right - Uniquities, Harem pants (yes, that's what I said--harem pants) - Primark, Sandals - Jeffrey Campbell

In the morning, Mom, Child, and I went strawberry picking, which is basically my favorite springtime tradition that kind of stopped happening...maybe seven years ago. Not this year! I called Mom, she was game, I asked Child, she whooped, and so we went. I feel like it's a new tradition now since Child came along, and that made my heart happy.

What did I do with the strawberries? Why, I made a strawberry glace pie for the next day's Mother's Day lunch. Then I made banana walnut chocolate chip cookies. And I made fancy ice cubes in anticipation of the lemon mint cooler we'll be drinking. And then I made an old-fashioned layered salad. And when it was time to celebrate Mother-in-Law's birthday, what did I want to wear? Basically something that was even more comfortable than pajamas. And look how completely thrilled that made me:

That's a genuine smile of pleasure.

I do realize that the revival of harem pants is over with. And since I bought these as kind of a curious joke, I honestly thought that I could throw these in the back of my closet and forget about them. But you know what? I like them and I don't wear things according to trends. I wear what makes me happy.

Off-balance

Everything was off today. The outfit I had planned out required a white tank top. No white tanks available. Ooookay, I could have rolled with a pink tank top. Both of those dirty too. So I had to throw something on, and felt okay about it until about two hours into work. I hate that feeling. When you've worn something long enough that you can't just change it, but you still have a full day of feeling not-so-cute.

Headband - Goody, Tunic - Arden B., Jeggings - American Eagle (Husband found), Wedges - Target

I decided about two hours into the work day that I should have worn black leggings and multi-metallic wedges. Or gone with this but put on a long, dark-colored necklace. I just hated the lighter colored headband with light beige on top, and dark jeans and dark shoes on the bottom. It didn't feel mixed in enough. Or maybe I didn't cuff my pants enough, or I shouldn't have worn shoes that cut across my foot just so. Or maybe no headband and just put my hair in a bun because it was just a mess. It got a lot of compliments today, though.

 As did my shoes.

 I seriously think both each cost $6 at Target. Along with stressful things at work and chores and errands after work, it was a busy day. And I'm pretty certain all the badness started when I looked in the mirror at the work bathroom and thought, WTF.

Bunnies hopping along to the Warblers

Today was a completely gorgeous day, but chilly in the morning. I didn't have a specific outfit planned for the weather, so pulled on a warmer-weather dress and shorter-sleeve cardigan then added elements right for the morning chill.

Cardigan - Express, Dress - Erin Fetherston for Target, Boots - Frye

Those elements are: (1) Short cowboy boots. The closed-toe option was necessary and plus I can wear thick socks with these. Also, by the way, when I first got these boots, I thought, What the heck am I going to wear these with? I happened to wear them with some boot cut jeans when I went to see Target's Go International dresses, and so I was wearing them with every dress I tried on. Um, the answer is: They go with everything. Something else that goes with everything? (2) Black leather motorcycle jacket. And actually, also (3) Black scarf.

Jacket - Michael Kors, Scarf - Gift from Mom

As I was running out into the cold morning air, Husband threw the latest Glee CD, with only Warbler music. I truly love the Warblers. They sing songs that (1) I'm so sick of but gain a new appreciation for ('Teenage Dream', 'Hey, Soul Sister'), (2) I would consider my guilty pleasure songs ('Bill, Bills, Bills', 'Silly Love Songs'), or (3) I completely, insanely love ('When I Get You Alone'--Hello? Robin Thicke is my husband. Not Husband, but just a husband, like an extra one. And I was pretty sure only Best Friend, Husband, and I knew this song even existed.). Oh right, so my title only half makes sense. Check out the details on my dress:

What happened to spring?

When I woke up this morning, I felt like, Brrr, what happened to spring? It wasn't even too cold; it's just been so warm and sunny and happy lately. Luckily, I had a warmer clothing option in my arsenal of planned outfits.

Collared shirt - Express, Gold cardigan - H&M, Skirt - Anthropologie, Gold Heels - Salvatore Ferragamo

I have the hardest time wearing these shoes. As soon as the hot weather hits and until the last day of summer, I live in open-toed shoes (except for sneakers and cowboy boots), but these shoes won't allow for tights when it's cold out. So basically I have a very teeny, tiny window in which it's not too cold nor too hot to wear these. Maybe I should just get over my warm weather = only open-toed shoes rule. I mean, look at how pretty these are:

Speaking of pretty, got an email from Alinitini today. She sent me a list of 111 Male Characters of British Literature, In Order of Bangability. Aslan at #32 cracked me up--very upstanding character...but he's a lion. I was just thrilled that Mr. Darcy wasn't #1 since everybody normally goes ga-ga over him, and pretty much forget about every other hot Brit lit character (you know, like Aslan).

Enjoy being a girl

Remember those Gap ads with Sarah Jessica Parker? I completely adored them and still think it's one of their best ad campaigns ever. And there are some days where I put on an outfit and hum to myself that I, too, enjoy being a girl.

Necklace - Target, Striped cami - Gap (stolen from Sister ages ago), Blue button-down - American Eagle,  Skirt - Charlotte Russe (found by Husband), Bracelets - Uniquities, Watch - Michele Watches (anniversary gift), wedges (Michael Kors)

I am a completely matchy-matchy person but I think I got pretty good over the fall and winter (when I discovered style blogs) at becoming more of a mixing person. Now that the weather's changing, I feel like I have to completely relearn and rethink the mixing. Today I went with stripes and polka dots, which might be my favorite mixing patterns. I know a lot of people dig stripes and florals, but I don't have too many floral things in my closet.

Then I kind of fell back into my matching slump by trying to match my skirt with my watch and bracelets and necklace. I looked in the mirror and thought of that adage that says before you leave the house, you should take off one of your accessories, so as to avoid accessory overload. Well I'm a girl darn it, and I felt like overloading the accessories. And putting on gold shoes. So there. I'm just going to enjoy it.

Speaking of enjoying, I'm over halfway through The Wilding by Benjamin Percy, and it's excellent. I left my book at work last night and felt like I had left behind a limb, and was dying to read it. My full review will be up soon.