in which i've got new shoes in the shade

It seems a shame to take photos in the shade when it is so gloriously sunny outside, but the blinding light just isn't working out. There has to be some sort of happy medium, but I haven't discovered what it might be yet. I need a yard.

(dress/tunic: tjmaxx; hat/belt: thrifted; necklace: diy; shoes: tilly's)

I received an enormous box of shoes in the mail yesterday--hooray! These wedges are basically meant to replace my favorite sandals from last summer, which are looking a little bit worse for wear (and wedges are more fun anyway, right?). I do have to exchange one pair of the wedges I ordered because they don't fit, even though they were the same size as the other two pairs. Such is life and sizing.

This dress was part of another major haul (I'm buying in bulk lately--whoops), which also resulted in this dress. I almost didn't buy it because the apples are rather autumnal, and, well--wrong season. But obviously I bought it anyway. I think I can probably get some good use out of it while it's warm, since it is sleeveless and all, and it will be perfect when autumn eventually rolls around again (as it tends to do).

Hope you're all having wonderful Wednesdays, and that it's as warm where you are as it is here!

in which i debut my gingerbread shoes

First order of business: new shoes!! Secondly, please disregard the spot on my face. At one point while taking these photos I brushed something off my cheek and ended up with a squashed mosquito and a bunch of blood on my hand (TMI?). I got a little freaked out, as I tend to do around blood that I'm not sure came out of my own body, but when I looked back at these photos it became quite apparent that the little devil had been happily suckling on my face for at least five frames. Isn't bug season over by now?

(dress/hat/belt: thrifted; sweater: h&m; shoes: poetic license)

I enjoy my new shoes :) They remind me of a gingerbread house, which is always a delight. Still being wishy-washy about whether or not to spring for the yellow (or if I should perhaps purchase an altogether different pair of yellow heels--I blame you, Steph)... I need a bigger closet.

Not feeling terribly loquacious today. Just trying to get over the hump. Excited for the weekend, optimistic about learning (basic) German and finishing a draft of my novel by the end of the year (!), generally pretty content (even though I have to do laundry tonight... blech).

big bad braid

This outfit was a complete deviation from the plan for today (I'm a rebel). I've been choosing outfits in advance recently because it's nice to grab&go in the morning (showering at night has also helped my morning routine less miserable). However, last night I had a moment of divine inspiration while watching Funny Girl (Netflix Watch Instantly = awesome). Barbra's amazing beehive-and-braid hairdo reminded me a bit of the amazing thick braids at Erin Fetherston for Fall, but my hair isn't long enough (boo) to recreate the look organically:

Ta-da! I decided to braid three of my longest scarves together to (sort of) achieve the desired effect.

(dress: h&m; skirt: goodwill; blouse/belt: bargain boutique; necklace: uo; boots: aldo; scarves: various)

Also, I apologize for my death stare in the majority of these photos--I have a very serious problem with squinting. My eyes are incredibly sensitive to light (I even squint on cloudy days) and today the sun was shining brightly so instead of screwing my face up in all kinds of wacky ways, I just look mean.

So my federal tax return came through yesterday and even though I was supposed to save it all for emergencies, I also happened to find out about Modcloth's Cabin Fever Sale that afternoon. Oh, dear. I went on a bit of a rampage, and although I did eventually narrow my cart down to five (very lovely) little dresses it was still a bit of bad behavior on my part. Especially after the little UO sale shopping spree my state tax return inspired. Anyway, I feel like I deserve a little treat after the stress induced by figuring out how to file the damn things (I swear they try to perplex me with their roundabout phrasing). Soon to be mine:

story of a saturday

On Saturday, we got stood up by the "huge thunderstorm" that threatened the New England area. There was even a tornado warning! We cancelled our plans to drive up to Montreal and opted for some VT adventures instead. After the drizzly morning, the clouds started to clear, and by late afternoon we even saw blue skies! I was actually kind of mad about it.

K was nice enough to take these photos of my rainy-day-grey outfit:

The first stop of the day was at Jo-Ann fabrics. Actually, the first stop was at a thrift store in Williston that I always drive by but have never stopped at--it was specifically for babies and mothers. Needless to say, we didn't stay long, as I am neither. The second stop was at Rags and Riches, a huge fabric store that never seems to be open. We didn't stay there for long, either--it was for upholstery. So, technically, Jo-Ann was our third stop of the day, but that's just if you want to get technical. Poor K, we were in there for over two hours.

I've been meaning to bust out the sewing machine that my mother gifted me for Christmas, but this was my first attempt at actually stocking up on supplies. I have never really sewn anything in my life (other than a hem), so I was kind of running around like a chicken with my head cut off--looking at patterns, picking out fabric, finding cool fabric that wouldn't work with my patterns, finding new patterns, picking out zippers and thread... hoo boy. It took forever, and I thought I might die when my purchases totaled $60. Sixty dollars! Sewing is not the answer.

(Funny story: this scarf is actually just a huge piece of fabric I bought at Jo-Ann's last Halloween for an owl costume that never saw the light of day)

I then purchased six new movies from Blockbuster (An Education, Crazy Heart, Up in the Air, Knocked Up, Couple's Retreat and The September Issue) and K and I went home to drown our spending sorrows (me, for spending money, he, for spending that much time waiting for me to spend it already) in this:

We make these nachos practically every week (and we eat them all).

1 bag corn chips

2 8-oz bags Cabot cheese

(1 sharp cheddar, 1 fancy blend)

1 can spicy fat-free refried beans

jalepenos

Green Mountain Gringo salsa (hot!)

Guacamole:

4 avocadoes, mashed

salsa to taste

lemon juice to taste

My friend S taught me to make guacamole in college (for all of those late-night post-party binges), and it's so simple and delicious! I never use mayonnaise, so it's a lot healthier (but still pretty unhealthy in this quantity--especially on top of all of that cheese! Who am I kidding?). Try it!

When I eat nachos, all is right in the world. Sadly, our blender broke a couple of weeks ago mid-dacquiri blending, so we were going to buy a new one on Saturday. Then I called my mom and discovered that I still had my old blender in storage from my Boston years! So, no dacquiris on Saturday, but it certainly saved me from more unnecessary spending!

(dress: Goodwill; scarf: Jo-Ann's fabric; socks: TJMaxx; shoes: GoJane.com; sunglasses: UO; belt: Bargain Boutique)

a love affair: the chambray story

This weekend, I fell in love.

It's only natural. I mean, K was out of town (in Maine, visiting his grandfather).

So, I'll admit it. I cheated on him with this lovely chambray shirt. We spent some quality time on the town, shopping together until my credit cards hurt. And in that time I discovered that, well, we just fit.

So I fell. Hard. Can you blame me?

(chambray shirt: Walmart, $10; skirt: UO; belt: thrifted; shoes: Kohl's; socks: Walmart)

I am rather ashamed to admit that we (chambray and I) met at Walmart. (I'm even more ashamed to admit that Miley Cyrus was apparently somehow involved in the design and/or production of this particular shirt. I chose to overlook that fact.) K and I went in to find some cheap bookcases and I walked out with a shirt, socks, and hangers (no bookcases... yet). I'm a sucker for a bargain! I am not a sucker for supporting child labor in third world countries, which is why I try to avoid places like Walmart until I realllllly reallllly need something cheap.

I also wore this shirt on Sunday. To go shopping. Again. You'll have to wait until tomorrow to see how I styled it :)

Happy Monday!