in which i hippy gypsy shake

This is really a springtime dress, but I got it at Goodwill a few months ago and it jumps out at me every time I rummage through my closet (probably because it's chartreuse--did you know that chartreuse is the easiest color to spot from a distance?), so I decided to attempt a winterization and wound up with a sort of gypsy-sixties medley. I'm not going to lie--it felt weird to wear so many bright colors all at once. I used to go crazy with color all the time but I feel like I've become more sartorially subdued in the past year. Maybe this is my way of subconciously trying to counteract the fact that I'm 26 and I still dress like I'm 16 most of the time...

(dress/scarf: thrifted; tights: hue; shoes: lulu*s)

So, I didn't go to the gym last night. But I did get groceries and do the dishes and make chili and write a bit and watch several episodes of The League... so that's a lot. And tonight I'll go to the gym, I promise. Being good is so hard around the holidays. Not only are there Christmas cookies to eat and eggnog to drink, but it's just such a damn BUSY time of year. It's hard to find time and still maintain some semblance of sanity. After this weekend, it's Christmas! Craziness. Actually that kind of freaks me out... I thought I had so much more time... blargh.

in which with monday comes the blues

I've been super lazy when it comes to dressing lately. It's cold and dark in the mornings and I am a bum. I had just about the laziest weekend of all time, after my Friday night, which I tried to cram too full (dinner, play, party) and ended up wasting all of my energy for the next couple of days. Anyway, I suppose that I'm back in the game today--not-so-eagerly anticipating all that I have to do this evening, since I put it off all weekend (gym, dishes, groceries, dinner), but up and at 'em all the same.

(sweaterdress/belt: thrifted; scarf: f21; shoes: lulu*s)

This week is going to be a busy one. K leaves early on Saturday morning, so we're doing some shopping together on Wednesday evening and having "our" Christmas on Friday night. I am also supposed to bake some cookies for work (I might just make some macaroons so I don't have to worry about using gluten-free flour again...). Ohhhh the holidays...

in which it's friday, friday, friday, ohhhh!

Today I wanted to be cozy, and nothing is cozier than plaid. But I also have big date night plans tonight so I also wanted to easily transition to a more classic look--if I lose the plaid shirt and swap out the shoes, voilà! Simple LBD style.

(dress: tjmaxx; scarf/shirt/belt: thrifted; boots: seychelles)

I don't have much else to say at this point, except that I'm really excited for my fun-filled weekend! I'm definitely going to have myself a merry little eggnog latte, do some shopping, maybe even bake some cookies (it's that time of year when my college girlfriends and I exchange cookies and books--best tradition ever)! Or that might happen next weekend. Or both. Anything could happen! It's craaaaaazy!

Boy, I need a weekend.

Have a great one!

in which it has begun

So, it finally snowed again, and I think this time it's here to stay (if the cold air is any indication). Also, my photo spot is free of intruders once again. All is right in the world, it seems.

(dress: banana republic, gift; sweater: tjmaxx; belt: thrifted; boots: seychelles; gloves: gift)

My dear friend sent me this dress (thanks, Bonnie!) and I think it's fabulous. The print has a tribal-meets-chic-meets-sixties vibe, and I love it paired with brown. I also love that since starting this blog my friends sent me their sartorial cast-offs :) I am always standing by to remix!

Last night's meeting of Art Club was everything that I expected it to be. Mostly we just drank wine and ended up getting really fired up about politics, but art and politics have a historically important/difficult relationship, no? I mean, I honestly cannot believe this came out of our country:

This is why I can't bear to watch the news anymore. Not that I watch Fox News anyway, but it's incredibly painful for me to imagine that this is the world I live in. No apologies today for getting political on the blog... I'm too riled up.

Tomorrow is Friday, yay!! It's our last full weekend together before K leaves for the west coast for the rest of 2011 (and then some), so we're going to fill it up with good times. For starters, tomorrow night we're going to see a local production of White Christmas! My holiday spirit seems to have dropped off in recent days (I'm not as excited about Christmas songs on the radio, etc.), so hopefully this weekend can jumpstart my merriment.

in which dooney meets bourke and a bag is born

Life's been busy lately! I feel like I'm booked up all the way through the holidays (which isn't true, but obligations stretch as far as the eye can see)! It's been a struggle to get to the gym three times a week, since every other evening seems to be spoken for! Last night I went to the gym after work and then K and I met up to do laundry (and for me to eat sushi), and by the time we got home I was ready to go to sleep. Tonight I have another meeting of Art Club, so once I've run the multiple errands I have lined up for the afterwork hours, I'm looking forward to lounging around with my ladyfriends, drinking sweet wine and discussing art/writing/etc.

(dress/scarf/purse/belt: thrifted; tights: tjmaxx; shoes: lulus.com)

I suppose 'tis the season for fun tights! While I stuck to basic brown and earthy green throughout the autumn months, I'm looking forward to busting out my wilder (it's all relative...) pairs when winter is underway. My legs will basically need to be covered 24/7 to keep out the cold, which means I have to keep it interesting with playful patterns and bursts of color. The chill has definitely descended over my little corner of Vermont, even if the snow hasn't.

Have a merry little Wednesday, everyone!

in which diamonds are a girl's best friend

It is a gross rainy day, so I figured I could use a little color in my life. These jewel-print tights are really fun, but I don't wear a lot of bright colors so I wasn't sure how to incorporate them into my wardrobe--and then it hit me. And this outfit was born:

(dress: h&m; heels: seychelles; tights/hat: gifts)

Speaking of gross rainy days--WTF? Weather like this is why I left the Pacific Northwest, and while I do get rather irritable when I have to clean snow off my car, this is just weird. Also, what is up with all of the people swarming my photo spot? The location I've been using lately has had about eight cars parked in it for the past two days. What gives?

Sometimes I like working in an office. I like my morning ritual--pulling into the parking lot, starting up my computer, going downstairs for my coffee, sipping from my toasty-warm mug while waiting for the day to begin... and then I'm over it. The A/C kicks on, there is a crisis or two, my butt falls asleep from prolonged sitting, my coffee goes down my gullet and is gone, somebody starts eating something that smells delicious, the clock seems to stand still... and then I wonder if mopping the floor of the coffee shop was really that bad. But oh yeah... $$$$.

Whine, whine, whine. Tonight I'll be hitting the gym and doing laundry--but don't worry, no tanning for me.