[OOTD] Waitin Over Here for Life to Begin...

Well.

First things first.

Tomorrow, I will welcome this new addition to the family:

A Kodak bridge camera. Yay!

Until then, old outfit photos.

Top: TJ Maxx, $12 | Jeans: Gap, $30 (old) | Scarf: Tres Chic Boutique (local), $5 | Shoes: Christian Siriano for Payless, $20 | Sunnies: FL Boutique, $15 | Earrings: Ardene's, Canada, $10 | Watch: Target, $13 | Grand Total: $105

Ya'll, I'm not sure if I mentioned - but I am so, so, so not a mixing patterns person. I just don't know how to do it. I see all these fabulous bloggers mixing patterns and I just don't know how they do it and make it look good.

This is my first attempt. In sticking with advice from Marion at Marionberry Style, I opted for two prints in the same color family, with the scarf and the top.

 

I think it turned out alright, but I still don't know that I would be comfortable with crazy patterns on both my top and my pants.

This is about as crazy as I'm going to get with patterns. I just really, really like to match. Is that so wrong?

(earring close up since they disappear on my skin)

How do you feel about pattern mixing?

Have a lovely Wednesday!

[OOTD] Funny the Way it Is

Hello readers. I've been sporadic with posts these last few days, due to both my laziness and my lack of camera. But mostly laziness.

Gotta love the Lexi-bomb in the background.
Top: Target, $15+20% off coupon (recent but can't find online) | Jeans: Hydraulic via BonTon, $20 (old) | Shoes, Earrings: Kohl's, $25? shoes and $4 earrings | Bracelet: Charlotte Russe (recent), $2.50 | Grand total: ~$63.50

This past weekend my camera decided to die. I find this a bit funny, because just a week or so ago, I was telling Hubs that I wanted to buy a new camera. Ya'll may remember the recent post about my refund that I'll be getting from Sony - well, the speakers I returned were a Christmas present from my hubby, so I told him I wanted to use the money to get a replacement Christmas present :) and that present would be a new camera.

I wore this to go see my friend's Bf's band play!

Which led to a conversation with the hubs about why a camera when I have one that already works. Well, the why was simple to me. I've been using a point and shoot camera since we got one as a wedding gift 3 years ago. I want to try my hand at learning more about photography and to do that I would like a better camera. Husband, on the other hand, couldn't wrap his brain around getting another camera when I already have one that works. He can't imagine the pictures from one to the next would be that different.

Now, I'm not looking to get a DSLR. That is entirely too much camera and waaaaaay too much money to spend on something I may not be good at or enjoy. However, there are some really decent bridge cameras out there that are priced well, and will give me a lot of the setting functionality that a DSLR has. I know there are some limitations, but if I find myself really loving photography and wanting to get a better camera, well, then I can save for a DSLR.

Saturday morning, Hubs started emailing me links to cameras while he was in class. That was his way of saying he was on board. :) How cute. Then Saturday afternoon I went to turn on my point and shoot camera. And it wouldn't come on.

Thinking I must have drained the battery Friday night unknowingly, I plugged it in. After charging, I tried it this morning and the camera still wouldn't turn on. I did some research and tried a few things, but to no avail. I think I need to take the camera to a camera shop and see what they have to say. Regardless of a new bridge camera, it would still be nice to have a lightweight, easy to put in your bag point and shoot camera. But if it costs more than $20 or $30 to fix, it might not be worth it.

So right now I'm camera-less. Which means I'm being super lazy about putting myself together on a daily basis - at least for now since I have a stockpile of photos to post while I sort out the camera sitch. I haven't gotten Sony's check yet, and I might not get it for another month (they said 4-6 weeks) but just this morning the camera I've been eyeing for a couple of weeks now came available on one of those daily deal sites for half price. I just might scoop it up. Regardless, I'm planning on taking the point and shoot to the closest camera store and just seeing what they have to say.

I liked how my hair turned out!!

What do y'all shoot with? Mostly DSLRs? Have you ever used bridge cameras?

[Life] Sunday Soup #2

WOW, what a busy weekend so far! Friday night I went out dancing with some of my girls and went to bed at 4am (side note: I CANNOT do this any more! I'm 30 years old!!! lol) Then Saturday Hubs and I went to a welcome home party for our friend JT who is back from Afghanistan. And last night we got to celebrate the marriage of our dear friends Neal and Liz. It was such a wonderful, yet busy day and I'm looking forward to a Sunday where the most pressing thing to do is straighten up the house and maybe run the vacuum. I do have to say, though, that I'm completely bummed to have nearly zero pictures from the weekend. My camera died on Friday night and I wasn't home enough to recharge it. My phone was also having a hard time keeping charge (this started with an Android software update this week...connected?) so I was only able to take a few, few pictures. That stuff always happens at the most inopportune times, no? Now, on to the soup.

Random thoughts stemming from blog posts I read this week:

• Some folks are just discovering Joe Mangianello after seeing him Magic Mike. If you are part of this group, do yourself a favor and start watching True Blood. Joe is only mid-level hot on the comparison scale of male hotness in that show. 3 hotter reasons to watch? Ryan Kwanten, Sam Trammell, and Alexander Skarsgard.
• Speaking of Magic Mike, there is little hotter than a man who can dance. Enter Channing Tatum. I've loved him since Step Up. True story.
• Emily's ponytail clip in thingy from last week's Bachelorette was fugly, as was her outfit. Seriously, with her clothing budget for that show, you'd think they could do better!!!

Flashback photo of the week:

My sophomore year roommate Lisa and I cooking in the dorm

This picture made me laugh when I came across it. I don't remember who took it or why we look so ridiculous but it's a pretty good one!

Interesting/funny/awkward news of the week:

• Chumbawumba got knocked down and they're not getting up again
• Bachelorette Emily chose her final two (and I called them!)

Aaaaaand my favorite links of the week!

• What the real Christian Grey would look like (does anyone else think he looks like Arie on the Bachelorette?)
• Radiators vs Drains (good read about people)
• The evolution of rap
• A super smart way to easily hang small items
• Clare talks about being happy with less
• This is so 2006

[OOTD] A Face for Aviators

In Atlanta summers, we get a nice, long stretch of three digit temps (or at minimum 90s). This makes it difficult to dress, because outdoors it's crazy hot, and indoors it's frigid. My office likes to keep it freezing to the point where yesterday I sat at my desk with my little heater on because my feet were cold. 

So what's the answer? Layers!

Top: Gap, $18, I got it for 30% off on a sale day (here) | Jeans: Chip & Pepper via TJ Maxx, $7 (recent!) | Belt: Target, $10 | Shoes: Kohl's, $25 (spring 2011) | Cardigan: Elle via Kohl's, $? (2010) | Scarf: London street market, $5 | Earrings: Charlotte Russe, $3.30 (Winter 2012) | Bracelets: INPink, $? | Sunnies: New York & Co, $5 (2011)

When I wore this earlier in the week, hubby said "I think you have a face for aviators" after complimenting me on how I looked in my sunnies. He's not the first one to love these sunglasses on me - so maybe I do have a "face for aviators"??

When I got too hot in the office, off came the scarf.

And when the workday is done, off goes the cardigan.

Arm party!

I am totally aware my bra straps are out, haha...just wanted to show off the fun back of this top! I only took my cardi off for these pics.

Last night I spent all evening baking some "crunkcakes" for ladies night tonight. A group of my girlfriends and I are meeting up at one of their apartments in Atlanta and having a few cocktails before heading out to shake our booties all night. I made margarita and strawberry margarita cupcakes, as well as kir royale cupcakes (and of course I had to drink both a kir and a kir royale while I was baking - HA!). And yes, the margarita cupcakes have tequila in them and the kir royales have champagne and creme de cassis for some boozy goodness. I'm really excited and hope they taste as good as I think they do!!

**For those who are unfamiliar, kir is white wine mixed with a little creme de cassis, which is blackberry liqueur. A kir royale is champagne with creme de cassis. I found this drink in Brazil, I believe (or was it South Africa?? I'd have to double check my journal, haha) when I was on SAS and it's been a favorite for nearly 10 years now. I just gave you your new favorite drink. You're welcome. (Oh, and some places use Chambord instead of creme de cassis - slight difference as Chambord is raspberry instead of blackberry, but it's the same idea.) Cheers!

Happy Friday!

[OOTD] Bauble Swap and an Outfit too!!

Many of you may know, and some may not, that Shanna of Because Shanna Said So is in the midst of a fabulous BAUBLE SWAP!!!




Shanna paired me up with the amazing Karen who writes Patching Hearts.

I was ecstatic when my bauble came in the mail at the end of last week....

Pretty packaging!!

My gorgeous bauble!!

Slightly better pic...

I was ecstatic with Karen's pick - I'd actually been eyeing up a number of beaded bracelets and loved the orange color of this. I don't wear a lot of orange because I don't think it looks all that great in large quantities because of my skin tone, but I love little pops of it and this bracelet was perfect!!!

I loved getting to know Karen through the bauble shop - she's kind and caring, and her blog is a must read. Be sure to go check her out here!

I wore my new bauble earlier this week with some purple and gray. (Excuse the picture lighting...we've been having some goofy weather and these pants were downright reflective in the cloudy sun I was getting!)

Top: New York & Co (Winter 2011) | Pants: Limited (old, similar here) | Shoes: Boscov's | Bracelet: ILY Couture gifted from Karen | Earrings: H&M (Fall 2011)

  

This week has been rather uneventful, but I'm looking forward to spending some time tonight baking boozy cupcakes for my ladies' night out tomorrow night. Hubs is going to get to be my taste tester. Lucky guy!!!

On an unrelated note, it's a little scary to me how much I look like my mother in these photos!!

[OOTD] Sunshiny Day

After 3 rounds of outfit photos in the crappy lighting of my hotel room, I ventured out to a local shopping area to take my pictures the second night in Toronto. This worked out much better.

Coat: Old Navy | Top: Izod via TJ Maxx | Jeans: JCPenney | Wedges: Shoe Carnival | Scarf: H&M  (UK Summer 2012) | Purse: New York & Co | Sunnies: Old

This outfit was perfect for a lowkey dinner at Kelsey's, also a Canadian chain. It's a wings and beer type of place, and I actually ended up eating there two nights in a row because the second night I was craving wings!

After dinner, I spent an hour at the hotel bar getting some social time in. One thing that I find difficult about traveling for business alone is that it can get a bit lonely when your only interaction with people is in the classroom. Often I try to seek out ways to be a bit more social outside of work.

[Fashion] Toronto Day 2

The outfit I wore for my second day of teaching was actually inspired by another fashion blogger, Katie of High Heels and Bubble Gum. I loved the idea of a summery white "suit" with a busy design underneath. Her post is here, and this is what she wore:

Katie's Original Outfit

While Katie wore a cardigan on top, I chose to go with a white blazer.

Top: New York & Company | Blazer: H&M | Capris: The Limited | Shoes: Shoe Carnival

I had also packed a plain green button down and couldn't decide whether to wear it underneath or this black and white print with the ruffled neckline. I liked the texture added by the ruffles, although the green color definitely popped a bit more.

Ring: Forever21 | Necklace: Gifted (made by my friend Lea) | Watch: Japan

Don't you just love the awesome hotel room background?! hahaha

I debated this outfit because I thought it might be too much white - while Katie's outfit is a bit more subdued by the soft white of the cardigan, my blazer is a bright white like my capris. Even looking at these pics, I wonder if it was too much white...

What do you think?

[Blogging] 3 Posts in ONE Day!!

I will make this quick, I promise - ya'll might notice on this post and my previous post there is a new commenting system! I wanted to try this for a few reasons - 1, to make it easier to reply by asking commenters for an email address and 2, so that ya'll can link up your most recent blog post in your comment!

If you really don't like it, please let me know - I obviously care most about what you think. I really wanted to be able to send replies via email because I was never sure if anyone was coming back and seeing my replies to their comments. And now you can plug your latest post! Whoop!!

Ok. I'm done for today. I swear.

PS. I added an FAQ page to my tabs at the top. There isn't but one question in there because I haven't been asked any yet....but feel free to ask away if you have a burning question! I'm an open book (mostly). :)

[Life] What the Heck, Georgia?!

I was checking out the forecast for the next 10 days and all I can say is WTF, GEORGIA?!?!

10 days of scattered thunderstorms?!?! TEN DAYS?!?! At 50% chance each day? Oh, maybe I'll rain, maybe I won't. Guess which it is and try not to ruin your hair or your shoes if you guess wrong! Psh. Go kick rocks, thunderstorms.

[Fashion] I live inside the elements

A little while back, I wrote this post about Macy's and Miss Me jeans. I busted the jean out for the first time while I was in Toronto. Each night, after I taught, I'd come home and change before I headed out to dinner - gotta be comfortable, right? This was what I wore the first night.

Top: Macy's | Bottoms: Miss Me from Macy's | Shoes: Boscov's

I love the pocket design on this pair!! This one is the one I imagine I'll wear for a number of performances with my dance team. I also really like the hemline of the top here.

I wore this to a restaurant called Milestones. I think it's a chain, but they had fantastic steak. Whenever I travel, I always try to go to places I could never go to at home.

I generally sit at the bar, too - at the right place, you can spend your meal chatting with others instead of eating alone!

All jewelry is the same as shown in Thursday's post.

Happy Monday, ya'll!! As always, I'm linking up with my girl Molly for YOLO Mondays!! Go check out her blog and find some new reads!!

Oh, and bonus points to whomever knows what song lyrics are in my post title without looking it up!! :)