Take It Down a Notch

Today’s Everybody Everywear Black and White was a good chance for me to take things down a notch. Fewer colors, fewer patterns, fewer layers.


Jacket, Heart, Moon, Stars (altered). Dress, Melton. Tights, Urban Outfitters. Boots, Rampage. Spiky bracelet, Serket Jewelry. Studded cuff, Hot Topic. Sunglasses, Girl Props.

(I still managed to sneak a pattern mix in there, though.)



I also took this jacket “down a notch.” Originally, it had two hook-and-eye closures at the bust. I always thought that the placement was unflattering and uncomfortable (I couldn’t raise my arms). A while back, I removed the upper hook to give myself a little more breathing room. Recently, I took another look at the jacket and realized it would make much more sense if the closure were at the empire waist seam. So, I moved the remaining hook down two inches. Perfect!


2008, 2010, 2012 progress of the hook(s) and eye(s).
Now I can move my arms!
And an outtake to knock my ego down a notch or two:


Nice face, huh?


Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Second Verse

Some combos are just too good not to revisit. I wore this sweater and dress together to the Savings Summit in May of 2010. I really like the way the shapes of the two garments interact. For January of 2012, I layered it up a bit with a (leopard!) button-front shirt, lace leggings, knee-socks, and boots.


Sweater, The Limited. Shirt, Liz Sport (thrifted). Dress, Lipstick. Leggings, Forever 21. Boots, Nine West. Bracelets, thrifted and swapped.



Today and 19 months ago:

Which verse do you prefer?

Second (today's outfit) First (Savings Summit outfit)

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P.S. Although I didn't photograph it today, I'm carrying the same purse as I did with the Savings Summit outfit. It's a perfect match for the teal in the dress and leggings.

Hot Pants Cold Legs

Despite wearing short denim shorts in January, I did not have cold legs. I didn’t get a chance to be cold. I was too busy rushing around. I had an 11 mile run, rehearsal, and baking time with Beefy (making Top Secret Recipe’s version of Cranberry Bliss bars). All that activity keeps me warm. The legwarmers and hot oven help, too.


Scarf, Walgreen’s. Cardigan, Takeout. Sweater, Ann Taylor Loft. Shorts, Arizona (thrifted). Leggings, Target. Legwarmers, Sock Dreams. Boots, Matisse. Belt, swap. Earrings, Style & Co.

Toast and Jam

Random fact of the week: the song Bread and Butter is sung by three white men. Seriously. Check out the YouTube video.


Blazer, BSB Jeans (thrifted). Cami, Deep Los Angeles. Scarf, Gap (I think). Trouser jeans, Express. Pumps, Colin Stuart. Socks, Urban Outfitters. Earrings, vintage.

Now that song is stuck in your head, too.

Personally, I like toast with jam AND butter. But I don’t have a toaster.



…and that’s a wrap on some of the most off-topic text to accompany my outfit photos. I guess I’m hungry. And this blazer makes me think of toast with strawberry jam.

The Enchiladas Are in the Oven

When I share examples of my daily or weekly schedule, I’m often asked, “How do you do it all?” I usually answer with a list of things I don’t do: raise children, drive, attend church, socialize, watch tv. (Well, I do the last two things – but very little.) My other “trick” is to fill all the little holes in my schedule with something productive.


Jacket, H&M (thrifted). Cardigan, NY & Co (thrifted). Skirt, Leslie Faye (thrifted). Belt, Buckle. Boots, Style & Co (thrifted). Bag, Fossil. Earrings, Ali’s Boutique.

For example, I took these photos while dinner (refried bean enchiladas) heated in the oven. I run at lunch and eat while I work. I practice my voice lesson while I clean the kitchen. I learn lines on the bus. I review blog comments as I wait in line. I dream up outfits while I swim. And I still wish I could do more. Maybe learn a language while I sleep?


...because I spend a lot of time sleeping. I'm an 8-to-10-hours-a-night kind of girl. I guess I wear myself out.

Put a Bow on It

Again, I’m glad I planned my work outfits and pulled all the components on Sunday. I definitely wouldn’t have come up with something this sassy on the fly.


Sweater, Banana Republic (thrifted and gifted). Skirt, Herman Geist (thrifted and shortened). Scarf, don’t remember. Tights, We Love Colors. Boots, Nine West. Bag, Fossil.

If only I could figure out how to get my hair and make-up done ahead of time, too. I’m stuck with floofy hair and tired eyes, this morning. At least I feel put together from the neck down.

Are You Ready for This?

Following the winter break, I’m always itching to get back to work. After eleven days of thrifting, gifting, and dreaming, I have loads of crazy outfit ideas.


Blazer, The Limited. Skirt, Outlander (thrifted and gifted). Bag, Fossil. Tights, Hue. Boots, Rampage.

I can’t say that I’m excited about returning to my insane schedule. Today, I got up at 4:30 a.m. and went to bed at 11:30 p.m. These pictures were taken about an hour before bedtime…after a day of swimming, working, running, and rehearsing. I was pretty cranky, but hid it well.

Yesterday and Tomorrow

I wore this turtleneck yesterday. And I’ll wear these leggings (really my running pants) tomorrow (to run 10 miles). I’m resolving to do less laundry in 2012.


Sweater, Bloch. Turtleneck, Mossimo. Dress, thrifted and gifted. Leggings, Reebok. Boots, Vince Camuto. Necklace, thrifted and painted. Belt, thrifted. Bag, Allstate Leather (gift).




Photos by Beefy Muchacho