Michele's Musings

A Little Bit of Love

2012-02-22T16:15:00.000-05:00

A week late (thanks to the flower shop deciding a girl didn't need flowers on Valentine's Day), but exactly what I needed to help lift my spirits today. My favorite flowers from my tall dark drink of handsome.*

*His words on the accompanying card - how could I not love that man?

Inspiration for Adventure

2012-02-20T10:36:00.000-05:00

Years ago I made a huge leap of faith, packed up my belongings and moved across the country to Boston. It was scary and exciting all at once, and once I settled in, I was convinced that I could pick up and move anywhere. Stephen and I have often talked about moving to a new country and we're both keen to learn first hand about a new culture, new government, new language, etc.

Source

This past week I was in Orlando for a trade show, working with a new client who is based in Paris (and opening US headquarters here in Boston.) Listening to the language, meeting these wonderful folks, meeting many additional European folks during the show re-enforced that there is a HUGE world out there, and that I am doing myself a disservice to not experience it. And honestly, I felt embarrassed to admit that I had never traveled to Europe. I mean, I'm surrounded by globe trotters who are speaking multiple languages, and here I am, an American who has never seen the world outside some trips to the Carribbean, who forgot the 4 years of French I studied. As proud and accomplished as I've felt in my life (I moved across the country!!) I felt very aware of how much more I could be doing, and how much more I want to do!

Source

I can't say that I'll be moving anytime soon, but after last week, I'm definitely inspired to pack my belongings once more and look for a new adventure. And I think ithe first place to start is by brushing up on my French. It seems like the most versatile European language, and I feel like even if we didn't go to France, at least we would have a leg up on a foreign language for a country like Belgium. Although looking at these images, how could you not be inspired to go? So tell me, is there any place you've been inspired to move to, and why?

Source

It Gets Better

2012-02-14T12:21:00.000-05:00

Have you seen the commercials for the campaign "It Gets Better" which shares messages of hope to youth struggling with their GLBT identities? The ‘It Gets Better’ campaign is a global video project designed to communicate the message to young LGBT kids and teens that IT GETS BETTER and no matter how hard it is, how dark a place you are in, to hang in there and just hold on to the truth that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that you are not alone.

Recently, my agency invited our GLBT employees to share their stories on film, which will be shared online at It Gets Better. While I don't typically talk about my work or job on here, I felt compelled to share this message. Why? Because I have friends who are gay, and I'm humbled by how amazing my agency is, to take a stand, and proactively commit to supporting our employees, regardless of race, regligion or sexual orientation. It's one thing to accept your employees for who they are, but it's an entirely different thing to encourage them share their stories of struggle, support and love, and to let the world know that it does get better.

The note shared with our team worldwide summed it up best: "At Text 100 we are always very proud of the good that we do for our clients but it’s worth remembering that the core and currency of our business is our people and after hearing so many positive stories I’m confident in saying that we are very rich indeed."

Designer Beauty: Fashion Week Invites

2012-02-07T09:02:00.000-05:00

If you're one of the lucky ones going to Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in NYC next week, the greatest honor you can receive is scoring an invite to your favorite shows. The ladies of Refinery 29 were kind enough to share some of the invites they scored, and if the invites are any indication of what's to come walking down the runway, we are in for a treat!

So tell me, are you going to FW, and if so, what shows are you going to?

Christian Louboutin Bergdorf

3.1 Phillip Lim

DVF (the missing puzzle in my wardrobe, fo sho)

Honor

Titania Inglis

*All images courtesy of Refinery 29

So Proud

2012-02-02T07:25:00.006-05:00

Proud sister alert about to take place. My little brother, who is an incredibly talented musician (no bias here) announced that one of his bands, Clyde and Clem's Whiskey Business, will be playing at SXSW as a showcase band!

As a sister, I couldn't be prouder of him. He works so hard, playing in two bands what seems like every night of the week, trying to make a living doing what he loves. To get invited to play SXSW is just the beginning for them.

In honor, I thought I'd share a video of them performing. Phil, aka Clem, is the one in sun glasses singing. If you happen to be at SXSW, check 'em out.

Shoe Lust: Splurge vs. Steal

2012-02-01T06:03:00.002-05:00

This past weekend had me wandering around Back Bay, which naturally meant dropping into some stores and checking out the latest wares... mostly shoes. Naturally I found some shoes and now have a mad case of shoe lust.


Valentino Studded Wedges via Saks

Do I even need to say anything about how amazing these wedges are? But... with a $700 price tag they're definitely a splurge and I need some time to save up for them.

Kate Spade Eryn Flat

On my way to Sunday's Bar Method class, I wandered by the Kate Spade store. Thanks to an email a few weeks ago, I knew how cute the spring line is, so I thought I'd pop to see things up close and personal. While perusing, I noticed that these beauties were on sale. It didn't take more than 30 seconds of walking around to decide that I needed these. And hey, did I mention they were on sale? At a fraction of the Valentino wedges, these definitely seemed like a steal. I can't wait to style these in some upcoming posts.

Musings on Challenges

2012-01-30T06:34:00.003-05:00

Since Monday is typically the most challenging day of the week (at least that's the stereotype), I thought it only fitting to announce the big challenge I'll be undertaking in a few months.

If you know me in real life, you probably know how much I love running. But as much as I love running, I haven't ever tackled a challenging race. Mostly I've run 5Ks and 5-milers (and a Speedo run in December) but have never really devoted the time to see what my body is really capable of handling. Since I've lived in Boston for four (!!) years now, I couldn't think of a better race for my first half, not to mention seeing Boston in a completely different way.

So I hope you'll indulge me as I add in more posts centered around training, and fitness in general. Also, if any of you are so inclined to join me in May for the run, or any runs in general, I'd love to have you!

Madly in Love

2012-01-19T14:03:00.000-05:00

Holy crap, I'm in love! I just came across these shoes on the Loubi website and need to find a way to make them mine. Ironically enough, they're called the Lucifer Bow, which is fitting given that I'm trying to sell my soul to the devil for work.

Christian Louboutin Lucifer Bow

Moonrise Kingdom

2012-01-13T11:58:00.001-05:00

I am a HUGE Wes Anderson fan. My favorite movie of all time is The Royal Tenenbaums. I could watch that movie over and over and over. Every time I watch it, there's something new I find, something dark, something funny. So I'm thrilled there's a new Wes Anderson movie coming out called Moonrise Kingdom. I've already watched it a handful of times and it gets funnier the way only a Wes Anderson movie can.

Wu-ing over Wu for Target

2012-01-12T07:27:00.000-05:00

If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that I, and every other fashionista out there, was blowing up the microsite earlier this week when the Wu for Target Collection look book was released. This isn't the first designer collab, but this is the first time I've been this excited about a hi-low collection in a LONG time (still sad I missed out on Lanvin Hearts H&M.) I'm a big fan girl of Jason Wu and nearly everything in this collection screams "BUY ME!"

So I'm curious... will you be lining up with me on Feb. 5th to nab this collection? If so, what are you "wu-ing" over? Here's what's tops on my list:

All Images Courtesy of Target via Fashionista

Christmas in Photos

2012-01-03T08:26:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! I'm back from a well rested Christmas vacation in Texas where I ate, drank, shopped and spent copious amounts of time bonding with my family. Of course I loved on my little nephew, who is turning into a really cool kid. Here's a look at how we spent Christmas.

Happy New Year

2012-01-02T07:04:00.000-05:00

Stephen and I were lucky enough to ring in NYE with one of our favorite couples (perhaps you recognize them?) We had dinner at Orinoco in Brookline, then went back to watch the ball drop. While photos were limited, there were enough taken to see that everyone was quite fashionable for the evening. There is nothing I like more than getting fancied up and going out on the town.

Mr. BF, Boston Fashionista, me and Mr. Musings

Boston Fashionista and Mr. BF

Mr. Musings and Truman (aka, one cool kitty)

Winston (frequent guest on Boston Fashionista)

Winston and Truman

What I wore:

Top - Fashion Truck

Leather Pants - Apart Style

Shoes - Pour La Victoire

Happy Holidays

2011-12-23T12:30:00.000-05:00

I'll be heading home to Texas over the holidays for some quality family time, loving on my ridiculously adorable nephew, stuffing my face with my Mom's home cooking, and running a bajillion miles on the road to balance out said face stuffing.

I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

-Michele

Image courtesy of @andgrassi via Instagram

Cookies for a Cause

2011-12-19T08:16:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the Boston #CookieSwap for a Cause, put on by the always fabulous Swapaholics and Boston Food Swap. The event was an all-out, sugar coma inducing event where every cookie brought would provide a donation to Cookies for Kids' Cancer. I'm a huge fan of swapping and a passionate baker, so this was an easy way to combine two of my favorite things into one event for a good cause.

This was one of the biggest swaps I've ever been to, with about 150 other bakers on hand to help the cause. Joining me in the cookie festivities was Kristen, and after setting up our cookies and brownies, we were off to snag the goodies.


Fellow baker-swappers getting the tasty treats

I love this description of the recipe!

Each swapper received a Gladware container to fill with delicious cookies. As you can see, we did some serious damage.

Once we grabbed our tasty swag, Kristen and I had some fun taking photos with Santa.

This was such a great event, and I really hope there are more swaps like this to come! Now if you'll excuse me, there are some cookies calling my name.

Top: H&M (Gift from office Secret Santa)

Skinny Jeans: Ann Taylor Loft

Headband: The Fashion Truck

Black Friday Shopping

2011-11-28T12:04:00.000-05:00

Happy (Cyber) Monday Lovelies! I hope you enjoyed a long weekend with friends, family and food. Did you partake of the retail madness? I tried. Really, I did. It started with cyber shopping on Friday (why brave the mall when you can shop from the comfort of your PJs?) but that unraveled when a few sites I went to, ahem Gap and Anthro, weren't working. FAIL. I actually went to Best Buy, but a check out line wrapped around the store told me I wouldn't be taking anything home.

It started to look like my weekend would be a complete shopping bust until Sunday night. ApartStyle sent me an awesome notification about a sale. The ending result was scoring these beauties at a STEAL. Originally priced at $440, they were on sale for $89. Shopping success.

Nappa Leather Slim Pant

If you haven't already checked out ApartStyle, I strongly suggest you do ASAP. I've shopped from them a couple times for wedding dresses (here and here) and I've never been disappointed. So if you're on the hunt for a little something for yourself today, check out Apart. They're having more killer deals today for Cyber Monday.

Did you have a successful shopping holiday? I'd love to hear what you scored over the weekend, whether it was for family, friends or yourself.

*note - I was not compensated for this love fest on ApartStyle. I'm just a fan girl.

Smiling Stiletto-Marshall's Shoe Event

2011-11-09T06:10:00.000-05:00

If you've ever read by blogger profile (that little blurb about moi on the right hand column of my blog) then you know I believe shoes make the outfit (at least 99% of the time.) That's why I'm a fan and member of the Smiling Stiletto Shoe Club.

Last week the club hosted an event, sponsored by Marshalls, at Vlora Restaurant. There were goodies galore up for grabs by playing a few games, like "Guess the Marshall's Price" where, if you guessed the Marshall's price for items like Prada sunnies, you won them. How awesome is that? Unfortunately yours truly did not win any of the clothes/shoes/sunnies, BUT every one walked away with at least one Marshalls gift card.

My favorite part of the evening, however, were all the shoes (natch.) Pairs and pairs of shoes were placed around the event, so naturally I ignored any photos of my outfit and instead focused on the shoes. Feast your eyes.

The Shoe Table

I want these coach boots

I also want the leopard wedges and the purple suede booties


Love at first sight.

What I'm Wearing:

Top - Tilly's (worn here and here)

Skirt - American Apparel)

A Fashionable Affair

2011-10-25T07:04:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share some photos from our trip to New Orleans. The extended weekend was pretty magical - not only did we get to see some of our favorite friends, but the bride and groom got married in style. After exchanging vows in a beautiful courtyard, the entire wedding party was marched through the French Quarter behind the Second Line band Treme, which included a stop in Jackson Square for their first dance.

To say it was beautiful wouldn't do justice to how amazing this wedding was. And because the bride and groom are such stylish folks, you can bet their wedding guests were too. Below are some photos of the grand affair.

Tis True


The tall drink of handsome next to me is my date - we didn't mean to, but we matched!


At the Pharmacy Museum just after vows were exchanged


The twins and I after the reception - feeling the New Orleans spirit

Love this man!

I took some video of the wedding as well, and will share that as soon as it's ready (you wouldn't believe how long it takes a non tech savvy girl to make these things happen!) Until then, I hope you've enjoyed.

All That Glitters

2011-10-17T09:17:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday Lovelies! As you're reading this I'm returning from a weekend in New Orleans. As I mentioned on Friday, we're in the Big Easy to celebrate another wedding (if you're counting, that's 4 this season, none of which were in Boston) and en route back to Boston today. Since I don't have an outfit for you (yet), I thought I'd show you what I wore to the wedding via designer images.

I was lucky enough to score this sparkly Diamante Tiered Dress from Apart Style last year via a giveaway. I wore it once to Stephen's office holiday party, and was never documented wearing it, so took the opportunity to wear it again. I thought it would be sassy enough to storm the streets of the French Quarter.

I have to admit that it was love at first sight with this clutch from House of Harlow 1960. I knew I wanted something in red (there again with my red obsession) and this clutch just looked so bad ass. I love everything about this clutch - from the gold studs to the jaguar head clasp.

I hope your Monday is off to a great start, and I promise I'll have photos from New Orleans later this week. Until then, enjoy the start to your week!

xoxo,
M.

The Perks of Being a Model

2011-10-14T11:58:00.000-04:00

I think nearly every young girl has dreams of being a model when she grows up. I know that I certainly did. And while my HUGE boat feet gave me hope that I'd grow into them, alas, the abrupt stoppage of height at just 5'4" ensured that I'd never have a career careening down the walkway.

After seeing this slideshow from Fashionista earlier this week, I'm a little thankful that I didn't end up a runway model. Take a look at what the various Fashion Week(s) does to a dainty doll (note: not for the faint of heart or those with feet issues)

The Great Escape
It’s tough to keep the pinky toe in check. This was especially evident at Christian Dior, where they were slipping out the sides. The problem? We’re putting our money on the poorly-placed strap at the front.

The Ill-Fit
This is probably the most common runway problem. Either too tight, or too large, models often have to contend with ill-fitting shoes that may fly off at any second, or will cut circulation off completely. Opened-toed sandals seem to be the best bet since the toes at least have somewhere to go.

The Wardrobe Malfunction
Not as common as the others, but the broken heel has been known to happen. These Mugler heels were needle-thin. Too thin, in fact, since many of them seemed to have bent right out of shape. Or perhaps they simply buckled in fright after that bizarre video of Lady Gaga.

The Protective Measures
For any woman who wears heels on a regular basis, you can be pretty sure there will be a few bandaids kicking around her purse. The aesthetics of the bandage are probably the reason why more aren’t seen on the runways, though we wonder whether it’s always the right choice. Scabs are pretty tough to look at, too. Speaking of…

The Wear and Tear
The slow decline of a model’s foot is obvious when looking at the collections from city to city. The pristine skin and tone from the beginning of NYFW takes a sharp turn by the time the model makes it to Paris, none evidenced so clearly than at Louis Vuitton, one of the very last Paris shows. Bruises, cuts, discoloration… it’s a bit scary, to be honest. We hope all the models are now enjoying a good rest. And hopefully a foot rub.

On that note lovelies, I think it's time you kick off your heels and put on some flats to enjoy the weekend. I'm in New Orleans right now celebrating a wedding, so you can bet I'm in my fanciest heels navigating Bourbon Street. Hopefully I don't end up like these models when the weekend is said and done. Enjoy your weekend!

xoxo,

Recipe: Spinach Summer Salad

2011-10-13T10:53:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I woke up with a craving for salad. Recently I discovered an easy-to-make recipe from Ellie Krieger's "So Easy" (remember that delicious Steak Chimichurri recipe I wrote about this summer?) that's just sliced strawberries, fresh mozzerella, fresh basil and a balsamic vinaigrette. Like I said, yesterday I woke up with a craving for salad and I wanted to incorporate this salad but add my own twist to it. It's hard to have a craving for salad before lunch time and have to wait ALL DAY to come home and make it, but I survived.

Because I was coming from Bar Method (have you been yet? If not, check out Najeema's write up on this awesome workout), I knew my butt would be kicked and that a protein rich salad would hit the spot. The result was better than I could have imagined. Doesn't this look mmm-azing?

Recipe: Spinach Salad with Strawberries

1 package of perdue skinless chicken breasts

1 package, organic spinach

1 quart Strawberries

1 package of fresh mozzarella

2 Tbsp balsamic

Season chicken breast with a little salt and pepper - use a grill pan and cook thoroughly, chop into pieces

Slice strawberries into quarters

Cut mozzarella into cubes

Rinse 1 cup of spinach

Assemble into salad bowl

Finish w/ drizzle of balsamic vinegar
Enjoy!

Urban Cowboy

2011-10-12T10:53:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite things about the weather cooling is the ability to throw a blazer on. There are very few other things that instantly jazz up an outfit like a blazer.

I found this tweed blazer for a steal at my local Buffalo Exchange last week and threw it on over a white shirt and jeggings for an afternoon lunch with a girlfriend. I have a feeling I'll be wearing this outfit a lot more often since it's a simple ensemble.

Top - Ann Taylor Loft

Blazer - Buffalo Exchange

Jeggings - Swapped

Boots - DSW

Short Necklace - Shabby Apple

Long Necklace - Jewel Mint

Just a little pop of color

2011-10-11T15:45:00.000-04:00

A colleague recently asked me if red is my favorite color. Confused, I asked her why she would think that and she responded that I'm always wearing something red. For the record, red is not my favorite color. Purple is. How many purple items do I own? Two. How's that for ironic?

Looking through my outfits lately though, it's clear that I've got an affinity for red. Maybe it's because red is my POWER color. I feel good in red. It's such a "look at me" color. But far be it from me to wear all red and really scream look at me! No, for me, red is more of an accent. A little POP of color to an otherwise neutral palate.

Take today's outfit. A simple black and white dress. Nothing extraordinary about it. A simple bow at the neckline. All business in the front. But in the back?

Dress - Shabby Apple

Fishnet stockings - Target

Suede pumps - Urban Outfitters

necklace (used as a bracelet) - Forever XXI

Sunnies - Kate Spade

Lipstick - "Truly Red" Laura Mercier

In the back - BAM. All party. Just a little accent to an otherwise neutral palate.

Red and Leopard

2011-10-03T06:44:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago (yes, I realize I'm THAT far behind) I had the luxury of attending the Boston Globe's Celebration of the 25 Most Stylish Bostonians for 2011 (for a fabulous recap, check out Brilliance of B.) I met up with Kristen and Brittany for cocktails, people watching, and, of course, outfit watching.

Me, Brittany and Kristen

The event was sponsored by Chambord, so most of Boston's fashion elite gathered to sip on pink martinis and nosh on delicious hors d'oeuvres. The show even had a red carpet, so naturally we had to snap a photo or two. Thanks to Brittany for capturing all the photos!

Top - Tilly's

Blazer - Gap

Shorts - swapped

Tights - Target

Booties - Kohl's

For the event I went casual glam. I wore these red shorts and this leopard blouse plus a black velvet blazer. I added some black tights and open toed booties and called it good. Thanks to Kristen for the extended invite to join you and for the Globe for recognizing some of the stylish Bostonians.

Kate Spade Sample Sale

2011-09-27T07:28:00.000-04:00

It's that time again! Today only, Kate Spade is having another sample sale with items up to 75% off, so now's the time to get your hands on some fabulous fall accessories.

Happy Shopping!

Red Fedora

2011-09-15T06:55:00.000-04:00

Last week I had the pleasure of attending Boston's Fashion's Night Out with a group of Boston's local bloggers. Sadly my camera was buried so deep at the bottom of my bag that I couldn't find it, so I didn't snap any pictures, but there are so many good write-ups on the night. In fact, I'd recommend looking at Brilliance of B for a great recap.

While ogling the beautiful clothes from shop to shop, I swore I wouldn't go crazy with purchases, but then I found a red fedora and after trying it on, everyone agreed I must have it.

Image Courtesy of Brilliance of B

This hat is such a statement piece, so it pairs really nicely with basics. Earlier this week I pulled out the fedora with a simple outfit to punch it up. I must admit that I absolutely LOVE this hat and can't wait to incorporate it into my fall wardrobe.

Top - New York & Co (several seasons back)

Capris - New York & Company

Red Suede Pumps (seen here and here ) - Urban Outfitters

Leaf necklace - c/o Shabby Apple

Rocking Wren

2011-09-12T06:02:00.000-04:00

Oof, I can't believe it's already mid-September. Seriously, where does the time go? I'm starting to rock a lot more dark colors and long pants. And with the heavy rain we had last week, it was the perfect time to bust out this new blazer.

I bought this blazer from Tra Tutti, the online sale shop, during it's "going out of business" sale over the summer., which means I got it for 75% off. When all was said and done, I paid $50 for this blazer that retails for $410 - SCORE! This Wren blazer has really nifty details that make it pop. Like the sparkly lapels that add a little punch to the basic black. And the silk pin stripe liner that I exposed by rolling up the cuffs. I kept everything else simple and paired the jacket with a pair of jeans and my PLV snake skin heels. And apologies for the funky shading. It was a late night at the office (like 8:30 pm late) and I wanted to make sure I snagged a photo before I left for the day, so I used one of the walls at our office.

Top - H&M

Jacket - Wren

Jeans - Lucky

Shoes - Pour la Victoire

Recipe: Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons

2011-09-01T06:37:00.000-04:00

I have the world's biggest sweet tooth, so I'm always looking to try new recipes. When we were in Texas earlier this summer, my friend Mark ripped out a page of a People Magazine with a recipe for chocolate dipped coconut macaroons (Stephen told him how good these looked, so Mark made sure I knew about it!)

The recipe came from RHNYC Jill Zarin, so immediately I was skeptical, but the recipe was SO easy that I had to give it a try.

Recipe Makes 24:
2, 14-oz bags sweetened flaked coconut
1, 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
2 Tbsp sour cream
1 Tbsp heavy cream
1 1/2 tsp. Mexican Vanilla Extract (you can find this at William Sonoma)
1, 12-oz bag of bittersweet chocolate, melted (I subbed with dark cacao - 60% so the bitterness of the chocolate would balance the sweetness of the coconut)

1) Pre-heat oven to 325º.
2) In large bowl (I recommend your Kitchen Aid Mixer), mix together all ingredients until throoughly combined. Press dough into a soup spoon or small ice cream scoop and release onto baking sheet.
3) Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.
4) Dip one side of each macaroon in melted chocolate and place on a tray lined with wax paper. Refrigerate at least 20 minutes before serving.
*Tip - I melted my chocolate in the microwave for 90 second and it worked brilliantly.

So there you have it. An ULTRA easy, delicious recipe. If you like coconut, I strongly recommend that you make these immediately and share with those you love. I guarantee you'll be a hero.

Maxi Dress

2011-08-30T06:04:00.000-04:00

For the longest time I have been afraid of the word maxi. For me, maxi invokes images of women who easily scale 5'7" and can pull off a full length dress. Does it matter that Nicole Richie - who is 4 inches shorter than me - wears maxis all the time? No. I just knew that I would never be able to pull it off.

But I took the leap and got this maxi dress during an Ann Taylor sale a few weeks ago, and you know what? I was wrong. So wrong. I feel like this dress makes me look like I've suddenly sprouted a few extra inches. Plus the chevron stripes are slimming. Everything about this dress is just right. And because everything was so right about this dress, I figured there was nothing better to wear for my first day in the city. And you know what? I got complimented on the T! Bonus!

Dress - Ann Taylor

Jacket - Swapped

Gladiator Sandals - Target

Necklace - JewelMint

Earrings - Shabby Apple

Ring - Kate Spade

Is there something you always thought you could never pull off, but then you take a risk and it realize it works brilliantly? I'll admit when I'm wrong, and in this case, I was really wrong. But, I've luckily realized the error of my ways can assure you that I'll be stocking up on maxi dresses moving forward.

Feeling Catty

2011-08-29T05:36:00.000-04:00

Based on what I'm reading across the interwebs, I know I'm not the only one who's got a bad case of jungle fever. You know what I mean... a desire to own everything with an animal print.

I picked up this top from Alloy this summer. And yeah, I know it's a site for teens, but 32 is the new 16, right? The thing I love about this top is the bow tie at the top (which you can't see here, grr) and the cut of the sleeves, which allow it to flutter a bit.

This was also the last photo shoot at my old office location. Today is our first day in Boston (woo hoo!) so I'll need to find a new spot to take outfit photos. I'll also need to mentally prepare for creepers, unless you know any good spots around the Common/State House that don't get a lot of foot traffic. Apart from the creepers, I have a serious question for you city commuters. How do you balance fashion and comfort when walking to/fro the T? Do you wear your heels around the city? Or do you wear a pair of flats and switch to heels at the office? I'm struggling with this concept, and appreciate any insights/thoughts.

Shirt - Alloy

Pants - New York & Co

Belt and Earrings- Tilly's

Shoes - Urban Outfitters

Ring - JewelMint

Watch - Citizen

All right, I'm off to navigate my first commute as a city dweller. I feel like today is the first day of school (I mean, a girl has to really think about her "first day in the city" outfit.) I think I've got a good one planned, and can't wait to show y'all. I hope y'all have a fabulous Monday, and we'll see you tomorrow.

xoxo,
M.

Missing You

2011-08-25T12:27:00.000-04:00

Friends, I have been missing you so much. I haven't read a blog for days, and each day I wear a cute outfit hoping to take outfit photos, only to leave work when it's pitch black outside. I guess you can say I'm a little busy this week (3 clients prepping and pitching for one of their busiest trade shows of the year.) Sanity should resume next week. Until then, here's what I'm playing on repeat to get me through the craziness.

See you next week (when my office officially moves into the city!)

The Power of Pink

2011-08-19T06:09:00.000-04:00

Do you have that ONE piece of clothing - or outfit - that makes you feel unstoppable when you wear it? This skirt is IT for me. I LOVE everything about this skirt - the fit, the feel, the deep shade of fuschia pink.

But the thing I love most about this skirt is its versatility. I can wear this skirt with almost anything, and it makes whatever I pair it with look that much better. Many of you met me at the Blogger Event wearing this skirt. I usually wear this skirt when I'm meeting with a client (or meeting a potential client for the first time.) This is my make-a-good-first-impression-skirt.

As much as I wear this skirt, it has never been captured on film and posted here. Well friends, that's about to change. I guarantee you that you're going to see this skirt on this blog - a LOT! It's my mission moving forward to think about what else I can pair this skirt with in my closet. I hope you don't mind seeing this skirt around this ol' blog a bit more.

Skirt - Kate Spade (Sample Sale!)

Top - Ann Taylor

Shoes - Tahari

Ring - Kate Spade

Bracelets - Forever XXI (I think)

Pearl Earrings - Gilt Group

Mad for Mad Men

2011-08-16T09:29:00.000-04:00

I know, I know, I'm way behind, but I have to say that I'm super excited for the Mad Men collection from Banana Republic.

As you know, I like a well tailored, classic outfit, so this line is right up my traditional alley.

I look at this outfit, and I can envision Stephen and me having cocktails at Eastern Standard before going out to the theater. Of course, none of that is true, except for the cocktails at ES part, but you get the idea of what I'm thinking.

The only problem that I see with this line is that there's too much for me to choose from. I would like to have one of each, please, but that's unfortunately not going to happen.

Is there anything in the collection you're dying to add to your fall wardrobe?

Celebrating Love

2011-08-15T07:07:00.000-04:00

This past weekend Stephen and I were in mid-coast Maine to celebrate another wedding. It's hard to believe that we're almost done with this wedding season, but we've now attended 3 of the 4 weddings already.

Each wedding we attend is special because it reflects the couple, but this was, by far, one of my favorite weddings ever. I could see a lot of Stephen and me in this wedding, and Stephen must have too, because he thought the ceremony was perfect.

Oh, and I forgot the mention that the bride made her own wedding dress. MADE. FROM HAND. It was, in one word, stunning. Although I don't think there's a word that captures just how amazing this dress was.

Top - Ann Taylor

Shorts - Swapped

Shoes - Via Spiga

Ring, Necklace and Sunnies - Kate Spade

I wore this outfit to go shop in the town square. I think red is quickly becoming my go-to color because I snagged two pairs of red shorts this summer. I scored these shorts at the recent swap uncapped event, and I'm in love with them. I actually took this outfit to the wedding and changed into at the reception.

And just a little something to make your Monday better. You're welcome. Have a fabulous day!

Black and White and Red

2011-08-12T07:42:00.000-04:00

This was the week for black and white. First Kristen pulled together a super cute black and white combo, then Lissy showcased her version with a Lanvin look alike, and Noelani kept it sweet and simple.Now it's my turn. I'm wearing a Shabby Apple dress - it's seriously the most comfortable dress I own, and the high waist on it makes me look ultra thin. The heels are from Urban Outfitters, and are also ultra comfortable.

I messed with the settings on my camera last weekend in Michigan, and didn't realize it until I posted these photos. Instead, I got frustrated with how these shots were turning out, gave up and went home. I guess that was my blonde moment. You'll quickly learn those are frequent occurrences.

What are your plans for the weekend? We're off to Maine for another wedding. I'm excited about this one - the bride and groom are such a fun couple and they throw great parties. I'm also excited that after this weekend, we'll be down to one more wedding to attend during this season. Enjoy your weekends lovelies, and we'll see you on Monday!

Banks of the Red Cedar

2011-08-10T07:31:00.000-04:00

"On the banks of the Red Cedar, there's a school that's known to all"

This weekend Stephen and I attended our second wedding of the season. This wedding was special for us for a number of reasons. Most important is the couple and Stephen being a groomsman in his school friend's wedding. The other reason is that they exchanged vows at the Michigan State Chapel, the alma mater of 99% of the wedding party.

To celebrate the MSU wedding, I donned my emerald green Kate Spade dress. I thought since I was on the campus wearing my green, that it only made sense to take photos along the banks of the Red Cedar. Plus, I didn't know that the school was actually on the banks of the river.

I have to say that I really love this dress. I'm a huge fan of Kate Spade because her clothing is classic, but has a really fun twist. This dress has the bow detail that's just off center, which keeps it from looking hokey and young. I could have also titled this post the Kate Spade post, because my shoes are also Kate Spade. They also have a fun bow detail at the toe and ribbon threaded through the gold chain.

Dress - Kate Spade

Shoes - Kate Spade

Earrings - Forever XXI

Bracelet - Actually a necklace, forgotten where I purchased

Back to Basics

2011-08-02T05:28:00.000-04:00

Today's post is brought to you by the cold I developed late on Saturday, which had me feeling terrible on Monday. That resulted in this outfit - not my most creative, but I like to think I'm getting back to basics. As in, the basic color scheme. Blue. Check. Red. Check. All I need is green and I'm a primary color wheel's dream.

For some reason, I could not get my tripod lined up properly and only snapped a handful of decent photos. Normally I'm a slave to taking at least some decent photos, but today I was so exhausted after work that I didn't even care.

Dress - Loft

Necklace - my grandmother

Turquoise Ring - JewelMint

Right hand rings - bought at an artist alley in Montreal

Watch - Citizen

All I could hear during these photos is Kristen (of Boston Fashionista fame) saying "Beauty is Pain." So I tried my best to toughen up and make it through the pain. After all, if I took the time to shower and get dressed today, I've already done the hard part, right?

My first ever acting gig

2011-08-01T13:28:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday friends! This morning my company officially announced our move into Boston, and yours truly couldn't be more excited! To celebrate (and have a little fun) we created a video with reasons why we're so happy to make the move into the city. If you jump to about 2:25 in the video, you'll see my first (and probably only) foray into acting. How about them chops, eh?

All kidding aside, I wore this outfit on my birthday (how's that for slumming?) and I wanted something to accent my b-day shoes (which you can't even see in this video (boo!)

top - Eva Khurshid (scored on ideeli)

jeans - Old Navy

Shoes - Pour la Victoire

Black and Tan

2011-07-29T06:49:00.000-04:00

I've read on the blogosphere that black and brown is a good color combo, and I have to agree. I mean, if the combo of Black and Tan results in an excellent beverage, why wouldn't that transition to fashion?

I have to admit that I really like this combo for a few reasons, but most importantly, it's about the shoes. I bought these open toed wedges this past winter and prayed for the snow to melt so that I could bust these beauties out.

Trouve Wedges, Nordstrom

I bought the dress from online dress site eShakti last summer and only got to wear it once before the air turned crisp, but I love the military style on the front so much that this is a closet staple of mine this summer.

I can't remember where I got these bangles (Forever XXI maybe?) but I know that I love them because they're an easy way to dress up my wrists (an admitted accessory point I often neglect.)The ring is from JewelMint, one of my favorite of-the-month clubs. Seriously, if you haven't checked out JewelMint yet, I strongly suggest you do. The pieces are $30 (shipping included) and each month you get presented with new options that are geared toward your fashion style. There is never a month where I'm disappointed with the selection, and the jewelry is of good quality.

I don't know about y'all, but I'm now in the mood for a Black and Tan, and even though it's only the morning, Guinness is the breakfast of Champions, right? I keed. In all seriousness, enjoy your weekends! For my Boston friends, I'm still debating about the Swap, so maybe I can convince the dear b/f to come with me and check it out. If so, I'll see you there!

The Little Musician

2011-07-26T07:12:00.000-04:00

In honor of my recent trip back home, I thought I'd share the video I took of my nephew playing his drums. The little man is just three years old - can you believe the beats he picks up? Keep in mind he has no formal training either. Can you tell I'm a proud aunt?

Enjoy your days ladies!

It's All In the Wrist

2011-07-25T08:36:00.000-04:00

I have some excellent news! After 2.5 years of being unemployed and then underemployed, my darling Mr. finally has a full time job! I'm so proud to see this finally happen for him - he's been on countless interviews and worked hard to stay as positive as possible.

Ever since there was a possibility of this job becoming reality, I've been dreaming of ways to celebrate this momentous occasion. While shopping at Nordstrom a few months ago, we found some beautiful cuff links from David Donahue, and I knew these would be the perfect gift when the Mr. finally got that job.

So now the possibility is reality, and with this new position, the Mr. will be more client facing and therefore needs to dress more professionally. So, this gift will be extra special, not to mention practical. I've narrowed it down to a few pairs - tell me, what do you think?


All Images Via Nordstrom

I already know I'm going to have a hard time deciding which pair to purchase, but I'm leaning toward the mother of pearl or the red paisley pair. For me, there is nothing sexier than a well dressed man sporting an equally beautiful pair of cuff links, so regardless of which ones I ultimately pick, I can't wait to surprise him with this gift and especially can't wait to see him wearing them! Cheers friends!

Feel Good Friday - B-Day Style

2011-07-22T07:38:00.000-04:00

I know I recently mentioned how much I like celebrating my birthday, and there is nothing better for me than finding a really nice birthday present for a REALLY good price.

But before I go further, I have to say that I've been on the hunt for the perfect pair of snakeskin pumps for about 5 years. I've never been able to find what I was looking for until recently. I finally found a near perfect pair on ShopBop last month. They're from Pour la Victoire, and, while reasonably priced, they were still more than my shopping diet allowed. I want these shoes so badly that they even went on the birthday wish list that I oh-so-kindly shared to the Mr. last month. What can I say? I'm such a nice girlfriend to give him ideas on gifts. :)

This morning, when reading the Bon Bon Rose Girls, I saw they were doing a ShopBop gift certificate giveaway. Huzzah! This is the perfect time to try to win a gift certificate to get me closer to these shoes. So while I was on ShopBop's site to get the link to the shoes, I suddenly saw that the shoes were on clearance. 70% off original price. With only one pair left in my size. So I did what anyone would do. I bought them. And let's be honest, the Mr. is not going to buy me a new pair of shoes. The iPad2? Probably.

These beauties will arrive on Tuesday, the day of my birth. Aren't they just the perfect birthday gift? I have a feeling they'll go really nicely with the new UO shorts that came last week.

Pour la Victoire Haya

Friends, have a very happy Friday and enjoy your weekends. I'm headed back to Texas for a restful weekend to celebrate my birthday with some very special peeps. I'll tell you all about it next week.

The Worst-Dressed City ?

2011-07-20T06:50:00.000-04:00

According to a recent Boston.com article, GQ ranked Boston #1 as the worst dressed city.

SAY WHAT?

I'll admit, being a Texan (and a southerner) we take our appearance very seriously, and when I first moved to Boston I was appalled at most people's outfits. In Texas, no self-respecting woman would ever be caught dead outside her home in sweat pants (ignore the juicy sweatpant suit - we're human and make mistakes). Plus, we put on our full face just to grocery shop at 9 am on Sunday.

Here's where GQ said Bostonians get it wrong (via the boston.com article):

Branded flip-flops from a Sam Adams giveaway, distressed jeans baggy enough to shelter a family of four, undershirt with vomit stains from latest Boston sporting event, a print collared shirt two sizes two large, hair gel, Boston Red Sox baseball cap. Boston is like America's Bad-Taste Storm Sewer: all the worst fashion ideas from across the country flow there, stagnate, and putrefy.

But I have to disagree with GQ's statement about being the worst dressed city in AMERICA! I read way too many personal style blogs from beautiful, well-dressed women in this city, so I know that GQ got this one totally wrong! Here's just a few instances of where I say Boston gets it right:

Mon Petit Chou Chou


Lani and her super cute Chihuahua

Noelani of Mon Petit Chou Chou is definitely one of my favorite style bloggers here in Boston. Her writing is beautiful, her photos amazing, and her style enviable. She's got this chic, European style that belongs in magazines, and it applies to everything she touches. Don't believe me? Look at the way she transformed her balcony for the 4th of July! This girl has major style, and I'm sure that if GQ looked at her blog while writing this article, she would have single handedly made Boston the best dressed city in America.

The Boston Fashionista


Kristen of Boston Fashionista

Boston Fashionista is admittedly the first blog I go to for style inspiration. Kristen's a Southerner like myself (a native Oklahoman) and her outfits closely match my personal style, so you know she's got good taste. Kristen has a knack for pulling together color combos I never imagined and manages to make all of them look good. Plus, I'm insanely envious of her ability to wear the mustard shade I dream about so much (but can't pull off) and bright neon hues. I've got to say that not only does Kristen have great style, but she keeps her posts real (and funny) - just read her post about the "creepers". In addition, Kristen is the nicest blogger in Boston. When I first shifted my blog to focus more on style blogging, she was the first one to start commenting and saying nice things about my outfits - complete validation when you put yourself (and your outfits) out there so publicly.

These are just two of the MANY women (and men!) who make Boston far more stylish than even I could imagine. I admit that I felt GQ's sentiments when I first moved here, but once you step outside Fenway Park you'll see that Boston is pretty freaking stylish. GQ, next time may I suggest that you actually do your homework and check out the Boston Bloggers network to check out the amazing, fashion forward folks who roam our streets daily?

Blush and Black

2011-07-18T08:15:00.000-04:00

This weekend I played tour guide for my friend Kelly, and the heat was on! I ~~wanted~~ needed something cute and cool to walk around the city, and this outfit did the trick. I think this skirt is pretty short, so normally I only wear it during the winter with tights, but I thought I'd be a little more daring and show some skin. Plus, the whole heat thing - no tights today, thankyouverymuch! I definitely stayed cool but, um... I didn't anticipate the breeze! Apologies to whomever was standing behind me today!

I've also been rocking a red lip lately. I found the perfect shade of red from Laura Mercier, called "Truly Red" and I've been having a lot of fun rocking the shocking hue.

Did you also notice I got my hair cut! After all was said and done, about 5 inches came off! I have to give credit to my stylist who knew exactly what I was asking for. I swear, that man is a miracle worker!

Top - Ann Taylor; Skirt - American Apparel; Flats - Coach; Sunnies - Kate Spade

These are the Coach flats I scored when I was in Dallas. They're super cute, and once I break them in, will be super comfortable. Today though, they blistered the heck out of my heels! That's what I get for thinking I'd break in a pair of shoes walking around town!

Did y'all have a wonderful weekend? I hope you stayed cool in this heat, and can't wait to hear about your weekends!

Birthday Blitz

2011-07-14T07:15:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you, but I'm a HUGE fan of my birthday month. It's not that I like getting older (believe me, that's not the case) but rather because there are some major discounts and goodies that are bestowed upon me by my favorite retailers. I did a little pre b-day shopping over the weekend, and not only stuck to my shopping diet (hello, difficult during a b-day month!) but picked up some really great pieces that I can't wait to mix with my current wardrobe. Here's what I picked up:

Annabella via Alloy

Brandi Blouse via Alloy

The "Kendi Everday" red pumps - looking for a year for these - Urban Outfitters

Scalloped shorts - ON SALE - Urban Outfitters

Sparkle jacket by Wren - ON SALE for 70% off at Tra Tutti's site

I can't believe how much I scored! Each piece was under $50, and I'm most impressed with the Wren sparkle jacket. I can't believe the deal I got it for, and I'm ~~sad~~ ashamed to say I'm looking forward to fall when I can rock this jacket.

So do you enjoy your birthday month for the same reason?

Hair Inspiration

2011-07-13T11:39:00.000-04:00

I've been contemplating a hair change recently, but have been holding back for a few reasons. First, I've been scared because part of why I love having long hair is that I don't have to think about it. I can wash it, throw some sea salt spray in and go. Or, I can pull it in a pony tail, or just flat iron it. The problem is, I have so much hair, that even these simple things aren't so simple.
I've also been waiting to pull the trigger because Mr. bf is a huge fan of long hair, and while it's my hair and I can do what I want, I do take his thoughts into consideration. It's partly why I'm not rockin' a red hue right now.

But, the siren song of shorter hair is too loud, and I need a change. I've been wearing this same cut for 3 years and while I've been begging my stylist to keep it going longer, it's clear that he's over that notion, and now, so am I.

But I don't want to get too drastic, so a subtle change is in my future. And here's what I've been thinking about for a while - let me know what you think.

Image Courtesy of AOL News

Jennifer Aniston has been my hair muse for a long time. Well, her and Gwyneth Paltrow. And if Jen can chop off her gorgeous locks, then so can I! Plus, I think these cuts are great lengths and will give me the comfort of having longer hair without the weight and drag of having longer hair.

The great news is that I showed these cuts to Mr. BF and he loves them! He actually thinks I should go shorter, but what does he know?!

I have a date with my stylist this week, so I'm feeling really confident that I'll be rockin' a new 'do come this weekend!

Versace for H&M

2011-07-12T11:15:00.000-04:00

I know I'm not alone when I say that I'm a HUGE fan of the designer collaboration with budget friendly lines. So imagine how thrilled I was to read in WWD that H&M is collaborating with Versace for its next designer line!

According to WWD, the line will launch on Nov. 17th in 300 stores across the U.S. and will be dominated by dresses featuring studded leather, silk and colorful print, with accessories including high heels and costume jewelry. Here's a sneak peek at some items from the collection.

Images Courtesy of Vogue.com

I've already set the date in my calendar and will not make the same mistake as when the Lanvin collection launched. I plan to get to my local H&M super early and snatch up one of these beauties.

Monday Musings

2011-07-11T11:05:00.000-04:00

San Francisco Sunset

I'm always amazed by what I learn on my work trips
Did you know that San Francisco has something like 1,000 micro climates?
That means the weather is crazy depending on where you're at
it can be hot inland and yet, really cold near the water.
plus it means there's rolling fog at sunset and sunrise
It was amazing to watch the fog roll in with the sunset
San Francisco is such a beautiful city - I could move there immediately
I also got to test drive a new product and technology

The Google Chromebook
Check 'em out on Virgin America if you're flying out from Boston
Free Wi-Fi makes it worth it
And on a Red Eye - it's the perfect opportunity to catch up on blog reading
Don't you just love new technology?

A Much Needed Break

2011-07-04T20:54:00.000-04:00

Friends,

Have you ever been so busy in your life, that you forget the things that REALLY matter? I've been like that recently. Work has been working me to the bone. Literally every waking moment is spent working, and my "down time" is usually an hour or two working out. The rest of my waking hours has been dedicated to work. It's horrible, I know, and while Mr. BF was VERY patient, that patience ran dry last week. Without going into too much detail, it was not pretty, and I suddenly realized that I've been putting off the things that really matter.

So, thanks to a very generous gift from work, (as a token to say thanks for all those additional hours) I took Mr. BF to a long weekend getaway in Ogunquit, Maine. I'll have more photos from the weekend later this week, but here's what we did:


Maggie May doing a lovely imitation of us

I've got to be honest, it was exactly what we needed. One weekend without our laptops, iPhones, Crackberries, etc. Just two young~~-ish~~ lovers unplugging and reconnecting. We spent hours ~~giggling~~ cracking up, people watching, and stuffing our faces with the best seafood that Maine has to offer. We walked the beach hand in hand, kayaked, rode bikes, and just thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

I hope y'all had a fabulous long weekend, and enjoyed the 4th of July. Tomorrow I head out for San Francisco for the week, so I may limit the outfit photos, but I *should* have time for regular blogging. If I don't, I'll see you on the flip side of this week!

Sherbet Stripes

2011-06-28T06:08:00.000-04:00

There is something to be said for making the most of your Monday. For me, that's rocking a really bright print. Bright colors = bright mood, and you know what? It worked. My Monday was pretty awesome.

I didn't realize it until I saw these photos, but those nude pumps are really nude. I'm wearing my shoes in every single photo except for the very last shot, and yet... it looks like I'm not wearing any shoes. That's ok though, because this dress speaks for itself.

Dress - Zara

Jacket - Shade

Shoes - Via Spiga here

Earrings - previously worn here bought here

Recipe: Steak Chimichurri

2011-06-27T07:46:00.001-04:00

As a Texan, I love anything that includes the flavors of Latin America/Mexico, and anything that includes steak. So something that combines the two? Perfect. Now make it healthy and you've got what could be the best meal known to man.

This recipe was made from "So Easy" the second cookbook from Food Network host Ellie Krieger. If you don't have this book, I highly recommend it. Each meal is easy to make, healthy and really delicious. I've made a bunch of the dinner recipes in here, and each one has been really flavorful and doesn't taste like it's healthy.

Steak Chimichurri:
Chimichurri sauce:
1/3 cup packed fresh cilantro
1/3 cup packed fresh Italian parsley
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1 large clove of garlic (we used two)
1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon water
1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes (more if you want it spicier)
1/4 teaspoon of salt (we skipped this)

1 1/4 lb shoulder center steak (we used a top sirloin steak) - make sure it's relatively thin - about 1 1/4-inches thick
salt
pepper

Puree all the ingredients for the chimichurri sauce in a food processor until it reaches the consistency of a sauce.

Spray a grill pan with non-stick spray. Cook the steak on medium-high heat, about 5 minutes on each side for medium rare.

The Chimichurri sauce was light but packed some serious flavor. We also added fresh grilled corn and fresh steamed green beans with grainy mustard. The Mr. ended up putting Chimichurri sauce on his corn and said it was so delicious that I followed suit (and he was right!)

The best thing about Ellie Krieger's book is that it gives you nutritional values for each meal. The steak includes 7 strips of steak and 1 tablespoon of Chimichurri sauce for 270 calories, 16 G of fat and 32 G of protein. Our entire meal was under 400 calories!

I highly recommend this recipe if you're looking for a great summer meal.

Orange Crush

2011-06-23T06:53:00.000-04:00

I love the color orange. Doesn't matter the shade; if it's got a hue of orange, I'm instantly smitten like a school girl crushing on the captain of the football team. Did you see how Kristen rocked sherbet orange last week, with the bright blue shoes? Fabulous!

This top is no exception. I picked it up during my trip to Dallas and I've already worn it twice. This top makes me feel good, makes me look ~~good~~ tan, and perks me up on a rainy day. I have to admit that these earrings rock my socks too. I love picking up jewelry at Forever21 and knew as soon as I saw them how well they'd go with this top.

Do you have a go-to color that you can't live without?

Top - Forever 21

Jeans - Lucky Brand

Earrings - Forever 21

Shoes - DSW, worn here

Bracelets - Alloy

Shake Your Tail feathers

2011-06-21T10:29:00.000-04:00

Dress - Apart

Shoes - DSW (I think) a few seasons ago

Bracelet (Can't remember)

Feather earrings - Shabby Apple

Clutch - Kate Spade

Sunnies - Kate Spade

Handsome Mr. - picked up on a blind date with a friend (but that's another story)

There is nothing better than wearing a peacock dress and shaking your tail feathers at a wedding. After a beautiful ceremony, we headed to the Stockyards Hotel for some serious dancing. But before we boogied down in the 100-degree heat (seriously, Tejas, could you not have gone easy on me?) I needed to grab some shots of the dress.

The Mr. was less than enthusiastic about snapping photos of me, but quickly relented when presented with the option of sitting in the car while I set up the tripod. To make things better, he got all "professional" on me, and started running around taking photos, which is where the images of me cracking up come in to play.

The best part though had to be when we walked up to the hotel and a street vendor offered to take a photo and told me that "Brittany Spears got nothin on you." I don't know if that's a compliment or not, but let's pretend it is, ok?

Monday Musings... On Love

2011-06-20T06:50:00.000-04:00

The Love Shack, Fort Worth Stockyards

The beautiful couple's first dance

My handsome Mr.

Love is all you need

Love is definitely on my mind today
Watching two soulmates' journeys on their path
and the culmination of those two becoming one
I can't help but think about my journey
And how lucky we are to have each other
How he's made my journey more adventurous, and somehow safer
How I've never laughed harder than when he's being silly
How I still get butterflies when we kiss
That no matter where we are, as long as I'm with my love, I'm home
How The Beatles had it right
All You Need is Love, Love is All You Need

In Between Parades

2011-06-16T08:01:00.000-04:00


Dallas

It's been an honor to be part of two of the greatest cities in the world, and to celebrate their athletic achievements. Unfortunately I'm in between these two cities at the exact moments that each are having their celebratory parades.

Boston

I'm missing Dallas' parade by a matter of hours, and while I'm in Dallas celebrating a wedding, I'll be missing the Bruins' parade.

In the grand scheme of things though, I think that's ok. At least I got to watch two of my favorite teams win championships, and when it's all said and done, that's what counts, right?

I'll try to post while I'm in Dallas, but no guarantees. If I don't see you until Monday, have a great weekend!

Feeling Japanese

2011-06-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

If I were a mathematician, I'd create an equation that took the cost of an outfit and divided it by the cost per wear. If I were good I'd math, I'd do that equation now. But I'm not, so you have to take my word that the cost per wear of this outfit is pennies.

This kimono style dress is from Lucky Brands, but I scored it at TJ Maxx 3 years ago. I can't remember if I paid $20 or $30 for this dress, but, regardless of the difference, I'd say I got my money's worth.

I'm a huge fan of the bell sleeves. I'm also a huge fan of this dress hiding the half dozen cookies I ate the day before.

Dress - Lucky Brands, Scored at TJ Maxx 3 years ago

Shoes - Kate Spade Outlet last year

Necklace - Merona for Target

Sunglasses - Kate Spade

Earrings - Tilly's

Watch - Citizen

Monday Musings

2011-06-13T06:42:00.000-04:00

Kate Spade "Cheers" Necklace via

Cheers! It's a phrase I repeat all too frequently now
One of my clients is from England and we always end our phone calls with this phrase
It's now spreading to my other, non-British clients
I love saying it though because it just feels so cheery
This necklace would turn any frown upside down
I'm definitely adding this to my birthday wish list
I have 6 weeks to go - that's not too early to send the b/f a wish list, right?
On my list (as of right now:
Those Kate Spade shoes (at the top, natch), iPad2, a gold Citizen watch, and now, this necklace
Of course, always something sparkly for my ears or all important finger
Speaking of, Dallas this weekend
Wedding one of four for the season
Ready to rock my feather dress
Ready to rock a faux tan
Ready to see our friends
No matter how long we're away, it feels like we've never left
There really is no place like home

I cheated

2011-06-07T15:13:00.000-04:00

I sort of cheated on my shopping diet. Crazy, I only lasted 6 days before I cheated. If this were a New Year's Resolution, I'd be shamed to eternity. Except...

There is one purchase I never factored in. The one that helps my aging, weak knees. The one that is the difference between a healthy, active me, and the one that says if I don't give in I won't even fit into my clothes (thought that might be good for upcoming clothing swaps!)

I made the decision to break down and buy a pair of new running shoes today. My IT Bands have been getting destroyed lately, and while I work on rebuilding the strength in my legs with more weight training, I'm also going to try updating my shoes. Cheating is ok as long as it applies to your overall health, right?

Adidas Response Stability - get them here:

The good news though is that I switched to a different type of running shoe, which saved me about $60 on the price of my previous shoes. So while I paid more than $50 for running shoes, I saved a boat load from my usual pair. Now hopefully these shoes will improve my running, because let's face it, paying a little more for a pair of shoes is much cheaper than paying for having my knees rebuilt, right?

Monday Musings

2011-06-06T18:20:00.000-04:00

A photo I took of the George Washington statue in the Common

I love Boston in the spring time
Sun is shining and the birds are singing
Running in this weather makes me so happy
Clearly in a good mood today
Excited that my post on the solemates shoe project posted
How cute is my cat?
It helps that he loves shoes as much as I do
The other kitty is meowing for dinner now
Time to get out and feed those little lovable monsters

P.S. If you haven't seen it yet, go leave a comment about my solemate and me - we've got a photo post up on the Good Girl Gone Blog.

Feel Good Friday Faves

2011-06-03T06:35:00.000-04:00

Don't you think at the end of a week we need something that makes us feel good? Each Friday I want to bring some of my all-time or new faves. So without further ado, here's my inaugural Feel Good Friday Faves:

Summer Fridays at the office - I talked about it last week, but I love that each Friday over the summer my office closes early at 3 pm. It's so refreshing to have those extra hours added to my weekend.

Shopping Diet - I'm all about challenges and this will be a fun one. But I thankful for the support of the Boston Fashionista and Miss Neira for saying "heck yeah, honey, you can find good stuff for not a lot of money."

Tripods - I don't think I've been this excited in a long time, but my tripod shipped, which means I can finally start taking outfit photos again, thus relieving the boyfriend of his duties.

These shoes - You'd think I'd be devastated to find these shoes just after I declared a shopping diet, but I'm going to buy these as a gift to myself with some of the money I've saved from my diet. Aren't they to die for?

Kate Spade Thea via Zappos

So tell me, what's making you feel good today?

Fashion Skinny

2011-06-01T09:15:00.000-04:00

There are a few things that need some skinnying up in my life. My work schedule. My candy habit. And probably most importantly, my shopping habit (or more precisely, the spending that comes with supporting my habit.) The thought dawned on me as I was talking to a colleague. As we discussed some of our favorite brands (Kate Spade for me, Marc by Marc Jacobs for her) she also threw out a comment that her mom made about "expensive brands" and this colleague mentioned that she had to spend to fit in at the office.

The comment bothered me for multiple reasons, but the biggest is that you don't have to spend a lot to look good. I quickly learned that by reading multiple fashion blogs (FFUF, Frugal Fashionistas, The Look For Less, etc.), so it got me thinking. About change. About going on a diet.

So, I'm making a pledge. For the next 60 days I'm going on a fashion diet. I'm imposing a strict limit of what I'm spending on clothing, accessories, shoes... you name it. I will not be purchasing any article of clothing over $50, shoes included (yikes!). And to make it even better, I'm cutting my monthly budget in half. I'll spare ~~myself the embarrassment~~ you the knowledge of what that is. I'll highlight the purchases I make with the goal of showing that you can be fashionable and savvy without spending a ton of money. To kick it off, here are few pieces I'm eyeing:


Kimchi Blue Paperbag Skirt - via Urban Outfitters - $49


Deena & Ozzy Summer Skimmer via Urban Outfitters - $30

Striped Jersey Dress via Zara - $40

How rad are those blue skimmers? And that striped jersey dress from Zara is perfect for summer. It also reminds me of another dress, don't ya think?

I've got to say, I'm actually looking forward to this challenge. It should be really interesting, especially as my birthday is the end of July and I'm notorious for purchasing myself some wonderful gifts (we all deserve it, don't we?)

So, dear readers, are there any sites you love for reasonable fashion? I'm open to your recommendations.

Summer Friday

2011-05-27T07:45:00.000-04:00

Lovely Ladies - It's FRIDAY! And it's a holiday Friday to boot, which means an early release from work (noon can't come soon enough!) What are your Memorial Day weekend plans? I'll be doing some of this


Veggie Kabobs

and I'll also be drinking plenty of this

Summer's Perfect Beer

Whatever your plans are for this long weekend, I sincerely hope you have a fabulous time doing it. I'll be back on Monday with normal posting. Hopefully I can ~~twist strong arm~~ convince - with batted eyelashes - the boyfriend into taking some outfit photos. Gosh, could my tripod take any longer to get here?

Have a lovely weekend and we'll see you on the flip side.

California Dreamin'

2011-05-24T06:20:00.000-04:00

Laguna Beach at Sunset via

Friends, by the time you read this I'll be in the air for a quick trip out to Laguna Beach for work. I wish I could say that I'll see this sunset while I'm there, but the timing won't work for me to actually see anything outside of an office and a hotel room.

I'll be back on Thursday with a new post, so until then, I hope you enjoy your Tuesday and Wednesday. Can't you just feel the long weekend around the corner? Now THAT'S something to dream about!

Monday Musings

2011-05-23T05:52:00.000-04:00


1957 Balloon Dress by Scasi - Image via here and originally found here

Happy Monday friends! Tons on my mind this morning

This photo found on the Kate Spade Tumblr is so rad
I typically go to Kate Spade for feel good inspiration
Back to another rainy day in the Bean - at least Saturday was sunny and beautiful
Another Harpoon 5 miler race in the book
I love working out and feeling sore in a good way
Off to California tomorrow for work
Two days out of the office
Blessing and a curse simultaneously
How is this weekend Memorial Day Weekend already?
I'm looking forward to Summer Fridays in the office (early out on Fridays? Heck Yes!)
Lots of mini trips around the country this summer for weddings
I can't wait to see our friends get married
I love taking inspiration from their ideas
And I love wedding parties
What's your favorite part of weddings?

Today Only - Some Fabulous Shopping Sales

2011-05-18T07:32:00.000-04:00

In case you missed it, there are some fabulous sales going on today, and I highly recommend you check them out.

First up, my go-to shop, Kate Spade is having a sample sale. If you haven't already checked it out... GO NOW! While I'm on a tight shopping budget and can't enjoy the sale now, here are the items I'm crying over:


Gina Dress

Houndstooth Rose Coat

Another one of my favorite shops for the most beautiful dresses, Apart Style is having a friends and family sale. Today only (ending at 6 pm ET) get 30% off your order with the promo code FAMILY. Here's what I'm contemplating:


Beaded Silk Dress

Feathered Day Dress

Honestly, I think I'm going to snag this feathered dress (budget be damed!) I think it will be perfect to wear while enjoying cocktails somewhere in the city this summer (when summer arrives.)

And don't forget to hit up each of these sites through ebates. You'll earn cash back on your purchases at both of these stores, so it's like you're getting an even better discount! Here's the link if you're interested: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=hinnvV4tX%2FeeDORRolitKg%3D%3D

Enjoy the shopping and have a happy hump day!

**Update: I couldn't resist the siren song of sales, and bought the Feathered Day Dress (only $71 after discount and shipping). My question for you readers is: do you think it's appropriate for an afternoon wedding? I'm always nervous about wearing anything with white on a wedding day, but this doesn't scream "stealing the bride's thunder" but would love your thoughts.

How Ideeli Saved Me (and my Blog)

2011-05-17T13:36:00.000-04:00

Remember last week when I said I had the raddest skirt I wanted to show you? And remember the time before that when I said how great my boyfriend is for taking photos of me in my outfits?

Well, it turns out he's not so patient. And I'm not such a great poser. And when you put the two together, we're a hot mess of outfit photography. So the photos I have are tragic. I'm making funny faces. He remarks on said funny faces and says we're done. To be fair though, we're usually doing this as we're walking to the car to head to work (already ~~fashionably~~ late, mind you) so it's not the ideal situation.

But today that all changed. After Kristen made the brilliant recommendation that I invest in a tripod, I've been thinking a lot about that. And today (as if by fate) ideeli had Targus tripod stands on sale. SUPER sale. Such a snazzy sale that I got a tripod for $10. Which means that now Stephen won't have to begrudgingly take photos of me while we're rushing off to work. And it means that I can actually spend those 10 minutes I have in the a.m. (waiting for him to finish getting ready) taking photos of my outfits to post up here. Yes, you read that right. I'm usually waiting on him to finish getting ready.

So I promise more outfit photos soon. In the meantime, aren't these photos of my kids really cute?

Max in a shoe box. Is this my cat or what?

Maggie May looking adorbs

Monday Musings

2011-05-16T10:23:00.000-04:00


Happiness blooming in my front yard

On my mind this morning:

Rain rain go away
A week's worth of rain on the agenda
This bright pink bush in my front yard makes me so happy
Wanted to do an outfit photo in front of it today
but ran late to work instead
plus I was wearing a coat
48 degrees today in Boston... in May
Why am I not back in Texas?
One month until we're back in the Lone Star State for a visit
Then home for a week in July
Lots of traveling lined up this summer
Thinking about the shoe project I'm working on
Wonder what Stephen will think when I tell him what he needs to photograph next
He's such a good sport
and a really good man
Rain or no rain, let's make this a great week

Fitness Thoughts: Why do we freak out about body image?

2011-05-10T07:27:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking a lot about weight and size and health lately. One of my friends has been touching on it a lot on her blog recently (email me if you want the site) and that has naturally affected my conscious. My friend has been beating herself up over body image, and it's so frustrating to read about someone so healthy suffering through a stupid mentality.

I spent years wasting time thinking about my weight and hating my body image. It started probably as early as my teens and went on until my late 20s. And I hate saying this, but I used to be chunky. I ate in the most unhealthy manner, and it showed. Case in point:

After being over active in high school, I gave up all exercise when I got in college and didn't take up exercise again until I was in my late 20s. So this is what I looked like through most of my 20s - chunky and so much older looking. Now that I've been personally invested in my health and regularly working out, my look is much healthier. But it's still hard not to get wrapped up in a number on the scale, to have dropped 3 pants sizes and still say "I'm fat." Even fabulous models like Crystal Renn are damned for being too big or too skinny.

Model Crystal Renn

But you know what? I feel lucky. And fortunate. I have a body that has shown me what it can do when pushed to the limits; how good it can look with hard work. How amazing and toned my arms look with just a few pushups a day. It's not to say that there won't be days where I struggle with my body, or think I'm fat, but at the end of the day, I love my body for all it is, and all that it's not. And to my friend who's been thinking too much about her body image - you're gorgeous. You're strong. You're amazing. Celebrate the strength of your body for all it allows you to do.

Birthday Wishes

2011-05-06T09:34:00.000-04:00

Happy birthday to my best friend Devon. You make 25 look REAL good. :)

Duck Tour

All kidding aside, I couldn't ask for a better friend. You're the calm to my crazy, and seriously the hottest mom I know. I hope I look half as good as you when I'm your age (which won't be soon, I know!)

I hope you have a fabulous weekend of celebrations, and can't wait to see you in July!

You get paid to do what?

2011-05-05T09:45:00.000-04:00

Friends, I'm so sorry I've been MIA since last week. I was planning to put up a blog post telling you I'd be MIA, but then I got busy getting ready to be MIA and forgot to tell anyone where I was.

So I'm sorry I've been missing, but this is what I was doing

It's about 15 miles to the LOVE SHACK!

Friends, that's me singing karaoke to Love Shack. I know what you're thinking. "Michele, that's nothing. Everyone does karaoke. And every one sings 'Love Shack' when they sing karaoke." Not so fast.

I'm not only doing karaoke, but I'm doing karaoke at a client's trade show. And my duet partner to my right, is one of my client's customers. Oh, and did I mention that this client is a brand new client that I just met face-to-face for the first time on Sunday?

Now how big is this photo?

So I was at my (new) client's user conference coordinating and supporting their on-site social media efforts. So I promise that I was really working. In fact, I was working so hard, that I needed to have a little fun. So when the customer (whom I'd met the night before "networking" at the hotel bar) said he wanted to do karaoke, and asked if I'd be interested in singing with him, I couldn't say no. I mean, we were only singing in front of about 2,500 professional people.

I don't mean to brag, but we tore the house down! It was such a fun experience, and was special to walk off the stage and get high fives from people who really thought you were good. So needless to say, sometimes my job is REALLY awesome, especially when I'm getting paid to support on-site social media in a really fun location, and sing karaoke to thousands of adoring fans.

Oh, and about my outfit. It's my new favorite. I have some picture posts for you coming soon, but it's pretty fair to say that I might have a crush on that skirt.

Dark Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Cookies

2011-04-28T09:29:00.000-04:00

At our resort, one of the better desserts I tried was their chocolate chip cookies. Sounds simple, but they had extra cinnamon and it was delicious! I knew that I had to recreate the magic when we got home.
I like to get fancy, so I modified an M&M cookie recipe. Instead of chocolate chips, I took 2 bars of dark cocoa (90%) and broke them down into chunks. I also added a teaspoon of cinnamon.

Baking Up


Don't those chunks look awesome?

While the cookies were pretty good, there are two important lessons I learned.

First, I need to use chocolate that isn't so bitter - next time I'll try the 86% cocoa. Second, like Blue Oyster Cult needed more cowbell, these needed more cinnamon. The cinnamon was too subtle for what I envisioned, so next time I'll try two teaspoons; hopefully that will give it a little extra kick.

Half Said Fred

2011-04-27T09:12:00.000-04:00

Every so often at work, we have really important clients who come visit. I expect this trend to grow when our office moves from the burbs into the city. But I digress.

When these VIP clients visit, we get notifications about how to dress. Apparently jeans and flip flops aren't acceptable VIP attire. The extent of fanciness gets designated by Fred. As in Fred Astaire. Full Fred is super fancy attire and Half Fred is business casual.

I'm typically dressed Half Fred four days out of the week, but today I REALLY wanted to wear yoga pants and sneakers. For the record, I've never worn my yoga pants to work unless I was going to or coming from the gym.

I'd like to call today's outfit my conservative attempt at color blocking. I stood in front of the mirror for about 5 minutes going back and forth about which shoes to wear, and ultimately decided on the ones I'm wearing. For the record, I have severe shoe guilt - I should have worn the other pair. Oh well, next time, right?

Laughing at Stephen's expressions here.

Top, Skirt, Cardigan, Shoes, Necklace

And this, ladies, is why the boyfriend rocks my socks. He may have laughed at me a few times and shook his head with disbelief, but when it was said and done, he grabbed the camera, kneeled on the sidewalk and took outfit photos. I think he did a great job, but I have a question for you other fashion bloggers: how did your hubby react the first time you asked him to take outfit photos of you? Stephen isn't a photographer, so it may have been a strange request for him, but I'm curious if anyone else got the strange look the first time.

At any rate, I think he'll come around. Before you know it, this routine will become the norm.

You Rock My Socks

2011-04-26T12:34:00.000-04:00

I'll explain more in another post planned for tomorrow, but I just have to say that the boyfriend is pretty awesome. He takes my level of silly with a grain of salt, and believe me, that is no easy task. I ask him to do absurd things sometimes, and as long as I explain it, he's down for whatever.

Cryptic, no?

Promise, you'll understand tomorrow.

Monday Musings

2011-04-25T09:58:00.000-04:00


Image Via

Random Musings on my Mind:
Easter - so nice to see so many Facebook updates about Christ and not the Easter bunny
Not that I hate the Easter bunny
The weather on Sunday was awesome
Maybe a sign that winter is finally on the way out and spring is in?
I'm having trouble learning how to use my new Mac. Maybe I was meant to be a PC
I need to work out some more
That week off probably wasn't awesome for me
Considering how many Whoppers Robin Eggs I've eaten
Those candies are addictive
Thank God they'll be pulled off the shelves tomorrow
Kate Spade's Tumblr makes me so happy
Aren't these tulips lovely?
I need to remember to plant tulips this fall
I need a mani pedi. Stat.
Better make sure I get one before heading to Orlando next week.
Super excited to be heading to Disney World. For Work.
Oy vey, work. Where did the weekend go?

#SwapLove

2011-04-23T11:22:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned, on Thursday I needed a quick break from work, and met my friend Laura down in Fenway for our first ever clothes swap, hosted by The Swapaholics.

When we arrived, we were in shock at how awesomely organized this event was, and Laura summed up the vibe best. "Boston feels like such a small town and you know everyone, then you come to something like this and realize you don't know anyone."

We hung around and talked with some really nice girls, Christine from Moss and Ferns, and her pal Nina, who was visiting from Arizona. We dished about our favorite red lipsticks and kept laughing about how we somehow kept ending up at the back of the line and how that probably meant we wouldn't get anything good.

When 8:30 rolled around, we finally got to shop. And shop we did. I managed to grab 2 bags of clothes in less than 15 minutes. I got some really nice new things and I'm looking forward to showing you photos of those soon.

The highlight of my evening though, was meeting Jen, of famed blog Jen Loves Kev, and Julie of Orchid Grey. They were super sweet in person, and were gracious when I blabbed on and on to them. They were even sweet about commenting on my outfit, which is an added confidence booster for someone who's shy about putting herself out there for the fashion world to criticize. So, expect some photo shots soon - I've got some new found confidence and some new found wares I'd like to share.

Boston Blogger Clothes Swap

2011-04-21T09:22:00.000-04:00

It's been one of those weeks. You know what I'm talkin 'bout, Willis. The type of week where you put in 3 days' worth of week (time wise) into 2 days. The type of week where you need a coffee drip inserted into your arm because you can't think straight. Where you think of pulling a George Castanza and curling up under your desk for a few winks.

So yeah, one of those weeks. Which means that this lady is in dire need of a break, and what better break to take than to meet fellow fashion bloggers and exchange clothes? I'll be at the Boston Fashion Bloggers Earth Day clothing swap sponsored by The Swapaholics. I'm really looking forward to getting out and meeting some of Boston's other fabulous bloggers and getting rid of those clothes that Buffalo Exchange wouldn't take a few weeks ago. If you're looking for me, I'll be that exhausted girl curled up in the corner catching a few winks.

A Thrifty Bride

2011-04-20T07:33:00.000-04:00

Via

Before you get excited about the title and think I'm getting married, lemme stop you right there. I don't have anything to announce yet. BUT, when the time comes, I've got to admit I'm super stoked about this post.

As I caught up on my Women's Wear Daily over the weekend it really struck me that EVERYONE is on the wedding bandwagon. This is good news for brides-to-be though because it means that there are good deals to be had. But the REALLY good news came in reading about ready-to-wear gowns.
It turns out that one of my favorite designers, Marchesa, has announced that they are planning to offer a high-low bridal combo, and will be launching a more affordable collection of gowns through a deal with Priscilla of Boston.

Without even having to think about it for reals (yet), I appreciate the options that brides have now a days, especially when it comes to wearing a dress that you're only going to wear once Kudos to designers for making their designs more readily available to brides on a budget, and helping to make a bride feel even more special on her day.

Welcome Back!

2011-04-17T20:58:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the new Michele's Musings. Version 2.0 if you're so inclined.

This blog will focus on me waxing poetic on a host of things, including fashion, fitness, life and... wait for it... some self fashion photos. I can promise that it won't be every day (not until I learn how to mix like Kendi) but I think it would be fun to take a more personal spin on fashion blogging, and showcase some of my favorite outfits.

If you know me in real life, you know that I fancy myself a baker, and when the Mr. and I are in the kitchen, we team up like the Neelys. So in that spirit, I'll be opening up my vault of recipes for cupcakes, cookies, and delicious recipes we whip up together in the kitchen.

Thanks for joining me on this new adventure. I hope you'll enjoy the ride. Feel free to follow my blog (over there --->) so you get notifications when I write a new post.

Thanks, and until next time.

I'M MOVING!

2011-04-17T20:39:00.000-04:00

Well friends, after 3 years, it's time for a change, and I'm so happy to say that I'm moving.

This blog has been a great sounding board for me over the years, and it was a godsend to have while I was in grad school and trying to balance the stress of work, school, a new relationship and moving to Boston.

But more than 3 years later, my focus has changed. My passions have changed, and so... this blog must change.

I'll still be Michele's Musings, but I needed a smarter blog address to help narrow my focus and build my following, so from now on you can find me here: MicheleMuses.blogspot.com.

I really hope you'll come on over to the new blog. It's the same me with a new address. Don't worry, no housewarming gifts necessary, unless of course you're into that sort of thing. In which case, feel free to send me a gift.

My First Attempt to Thrift Sell = FAIL

2011-04-12T06:27:00.000-04:00

My weekend with one of my favorite gal pals fell through after her work event was canceled this week, so my plans changed significantly. After feeling awesome about my scores at Target, I decided to do some spring cleaning of the closet variety.

I hand selected about a dozen items (about half with tags on them) to sell at Buffalo Exchange, a national thrift shop with a good conscience. When I arrived there was a line of folks looking to sell their wares, so I waited patiently. I chatted with the woman in front of me who had some ridiculously awesome wares from around the world (think red leather knee high boots from Ireland, a leather cream motorcycle jacket, and an ultra fab tweed coat) and each item the BE buyer pulled from the bag was better than the item before. When it was said and done, BE rejected almost half of the stuff (and seriously, I would have snatched everything up if the shoes had only fit.) Once I saw that, I knew my stuff didn't stand a chance.

Included in my wares today were a pair of studded suede pumps that I wore once, plus cropped black silk pants, olive ankle pants and a white linen skirt, all from Ann Taylor Loft. After going through all my items, BE took ONE top - a cheapo top from New York & Company. When I asked why, the girl said that most of these items were too "worn" to be considered. HOW could clothes with tags on them be considered too "worn" to take?

Since this is my first time to thrift sell, I'm curious if this is the norm, and if so, what should I consider when taking clothes to a consignment shop?

Have you Seen Target Lately?

2011-04-11T07:28:00.000-04:00

Once a go-to staple for shopping, I admit that I've neglected Target for a while. Every once in a while I see something cute, but for the most part I haven't seen anything inspiring, even the recent re-releases of the Go Collection. I know, I know, that's almost blasphemous; please don't hate me or take away my fashion card for saying that. But everything changed this past weekend when I went to pick up some toiletries.

I spent at least half an hour in the dressing room trying on everything I could find, and eventually settled on these two items:

Buy here

This Merona striped tee is normally $20, but it was on sale for $17 - hello deal! This will be perfect for a casual Friday at the office with some sandals, or on weekends when I want something comfy and still a little dressy. I can picture a pair of Chuck Taylor's being the perfect shoe for walking around Boston and soaking up the sunshine.

Buy here

Also from Merona, this Phiona faux lace skirt is really cute and totally office appropriate. I picture pairing it with a melon or pink shirt and nude pumps for the office.

Despite only settling on these two items, I loved half a dozen others, so if you haven't checked out Target lately, I strongly suggest you get down there ASAP. I guarantee you'll find something you can't resist.

Happy Friday

2011-04-08T10:30:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday lovelies! TGIF! I thought you'd enjoy one more picture from my Jamaica vacation. Each year I take a photo of my feet lounging at the beach, and these always end up being one of my favorite photos from the trip.

I have to say that my first week back from vacation was really tough - ouch! - but luckily I have a friend visiting from Texas and the weather in Boston is supposed to be downright balmy, so it's going to be a doubly good weekend if I do say so myself!

What do you have on tap? Whatever it is, I hope you have sunny skies and warm weather so you can get out and enjoy the time.

Swimsuit Fashionista

2011-04-06T06:41:00.000-04:00

I got the sweetest email from Pop.Bop.Shop commenting on my outfits during Jamaica, and she sweetly suggested I share those photos with you. Never one to turn down a request from a loyal reader, I present my Jamaica fashion for those .001% of you who are not my Facebook friends (but we can change that if you really want - just e-mail me.)


With the fabulous twinlets, Jess and Jo. The necklace belonged to my grandma - it's one of my fave costume pieces. Dress, from Hemline boutique in Dallas, TX.

With the handsome hubs. Weird that I already call him the hubs and we're not engaged yet? Nah! Wearing a SeerSucker dress picked up from Francesca's Boutique in Cambridge, MA.

Roasting marshmallows at the beach. Wearing a top I got at a gently used boutique in Dallas (best $5 I ever spent) and white pants from Second Time Around (again, gently used.)

Lounging on the beach in one of my fave Victoria's Secret bathing suits (and congratulating myself for working out so hard.) :)


In my new favorite Victoria's Secret bikini. At the private waterfalls in Ocho Rios. Can you believe how tall Stephen is (and how handsome)?

So there you have it - my Jamaican outfits (the ones that were good enough to show you.) I don't normally like showing off outfits (especially when there's not much to show) but this could be the start to doing more fashion outfit photos. Let me know if you'd be down for seeing more - I can't promise it will be often, but, like I did for P.B.S. in this post, I'm happy to oblige my readers.

Rested and Relaxed

2011-04-05T06:21:00.000-04:00

I'm finally back from Jamaica; rested, relaxed and back in full force. I'll have photos from my trip up later, but Stephen and I had a wonderful trip. We spent the first half of the trip with my twinlet friends, where all we did was lay by the pool, reading and drinking fabulous drinks (you can read about it here and get a sneak peek at my very handsome beau.) After the twinlets left, we moved our selves down to the beach (to read and drink) but ended up getting way more active. We took out the Hobie cats and sailed on the ocean, played numerous games of beach volleyball, and went hiking up the famous Dunn's River Falls.

The trip was exactly what I needed to recharge my batteries and continue strengthening my relationship with Stephen. It's amazing how much a week away from the routine can do you good.

I hope you all had a wonderful week while I was out, and I look forward to catching up on everyone's happenings as well. I'll be back to usual posting tomorrow. Yeah, mon!

The Gift of Being Valued

2011-03-23T06:31:00.000-04:00

Today I learned that a former colleague from my Dallas agency is finally moving on to the next step in her career. She described the feeling as bittersweet, and I know exactly what she means because I was there when I left the agency too.

As I reflected on how awesome my old agency was (hey guys, miss you!), I can't help but think about how great my new agency is. It's challenging to be sure, but one of the things that makes it so right is that I feel like a valued team member. It's one thing to be treated like a cog in the wheel, and something totally different to know that you're valuable and valued by your employer. It makes all that hard work and time put into doing my job seem worth it.

So thank you company, for giving me a voice, for letting my voice be heard, for guiding me through a new and challenging position, and for trusting me and trusting in me. You guys rock!

Live it Up, Will Ya?

2011-03-21T14:43:00.000-04:00

I don't normally pay attention to my horoscope, but today's was funny enough that I had to share:

Leo (July 23 - August 22)

Spring is in the air and it’s time to quit it with the old married couple routine. Even if you are single, whatever schedule you have yourself running on, time to end it and throw some interesting monkey wrenches into your life. Adventure is calling and it's time to step out of your usual routine! Dare yourself to take that next step to realizing your dream.
This was particularly funny because I feel like Stephen and I are an old married couple, and we're neither old, nor married (but our cats do make our lives exciting.) If we're this bad already, what happens when we do get married and start having a family? How lame will we be then?

I shared my horoscope with Stephen, and while his recommendation was fun, it was also a little reckless and irresponsible, something not even an old married couple should be. So I'm turning to my community for some suggestions on things we can do to shake up our ~~boring~~ laid back routine. I'd love to hear your thoughts on things we can do that are out of the box, fun, and will get us back to being a young, hip couple.

For Japan

2011-03-18T10:42:00.000-04:00

Please join me, alongside my fellow bloggers, in a donation to help those in Japan who are facing a serious struggle in the immediate future. My heart aches for those who lost their lives and families last week, and the least we can do is donate a little money to help them recover. Thanks, and God bless those of us who are so fortunate right now, and God bless those in Japan.

Trouve, What a Find

2011-03-18T06:18:00.000-04:00

My French skills are ~~not so awesome anymore~~ a little rusty, so I admittedly had to Google what Trouve means in English. Turns out it means "found" which is awesome, because my latest shoe purchase was a major find. I guess you could say that these shoes found me.

If you're not familiar with Trouve, it's an in-house line from Nordstrom (and if you know anything about shoes, Nordstrom is one of the key places for shoes.) I happened upon these shoes while walking through the shoe department on my way to Ann Taylor (well played Nordstrom, well played.)

Trouve Bridgeport

These wedge booties are just so cute, and it doesn't matter that I can't think of a single thing to wear with them, I had to have them. I've got a few ideas of what to wear these with, but I'd love any suggestions - are they too dressy for shorts, or not dressy enough this pencil skirt and top?

Please share your thoughts. I'd love some feedback!

Brad's Blog

2011-03-17T06:58:00.000-04:00

I have two confessions to make. The first is that I recently canceled my cable. Yeah, it was crazy on my part, but "regular TV" isn't ~~killing me yet~~ so bad.

My second confession is that The Rachel Zoe project is one of my favorite shows. I've faithfully watched Zoe from season 1, where that nasty girl, Tay Tay, tormented my favorite reality gay, Brad. I guess karma has a way of catching up because where is Tay Tay now? I know, I know, she's doing fashion, but still. She does not have the star power of Brad. I love Brad, and while I was sad to see him leave TRZP, I can now get a semi-regular dose of Brad thanks to the launch of his new blog!

Brad Goreski via

The aptly named Brad's Blog will give you the innermost thoughts of Brad, including where he is in the world and what he's working on. While I'm super stoked about reading about Brad, the thing that struck me the most is that Brad's blog is hosted on Blogger. It's such humble beginnings that I can't help but love Brad even more!

So go check out Brad's Blog when you get the chance.

Bridezilla Beware!

2011-03-16T06:44:00.000-04:00

When I think of Bridezillas, I can't help but giggle. I never understood how the "happiest day of your life" could be so stressful that it sends brides to be into crazy mode. So, I couldn't help but laugh even harder when I came across this nifty gift from Refinery 29.

Buy here

The bad-ass bridal brass knuckles. I don't think any Bridezilla would have to get all Bridezilla on any offending person just by flashing this set.

It also makes a really nifty gift for the girl who's dying to get engaged (do you hear me boyfriend?God?) If all else fails, one whack upside the head to your beloved with this four ring bling might have him seeing diamonds in his sleep (do you hear me now boyfriend?)

Texas Hold Em

2011-03-08T07:06:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that I love all things Texas. To be a Texan (especially a lady Texan) is to be bold and assertive (and still maintain the southern ladylike charm.) Loving all things Texas means I was especially excited when my favorite nail polish company launched their latest line dedicated to, you guessed it, Texas.**

The Texas collection by OPI has 12 lust worthy shades with even better names. "Do You Think I'm Tex-y" is the ultimate spring berry shade that I imagine most women in Dallas are wearing right.this.second. Want something a little more daring? The awesome orange, "Y'all Come Back Now, Ya Hear?" is right up your alley. But my absolute faves have to be "Big Hair, Big Nails," the epitome of Texas (what? I know there are photos of me with big hair. Just ask my parents.) and San Tan-tonio, the perfect greige. And of course, our girl Suzy (you can find her skiing the Pyrenees) loves Cowboys too. Pampered and Polish and That Leanne both have nice write ups and you can see these colors up close (don't they just look awesome on?)

You can see close ups of all the lust worthy shades here, but if you're dying to channel your inner Texan (and who isn't?) I suggest you get your butt to you nearest salon and tell them you want to be Texan. Big hair optional.

*shout out to Pop.Bop.Shop girl for e-mailing me this weekend and telling me I need to blog about this collection. She was right.

Black Betty

2011-03-01T06:55:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. I spent all weekend, and most of last night working on taking home this:

Meet Black Betty, my new girl (named after a favorite classic song). She's a 2011 Ford Escape XLT 4wd. I honestly was only "looking" at upgrading Holly, but Ford offered can't-be-beat financing, and 72 hours later this girl is mine.

Betty has so many bells and whistles that I've never thought about before, including Ford's Sync system powered by Microsoft. I can't tell you everything it does yet, but on the list of cool includes the ability to say commands, make hands-free phone calls and sync up and play music from my Blackberry or iPod. It's pretty crazy and a little overwhelming, but I'm excited to discover all the nifty tricks this girl can do.

I've got to admit, it was a little sad to say good bye to Holly (and a tear or two may have been shed) but Betty will be a nice upgrade.

Have a Fabulous Weekend

2011-02-25T07:01:00.000-05:00


Image via

Hello Friday! I'm so glad to see you! Have you noticed how short work weeks seem to turn into the longest?

What are you up to this weekend? We're expected to get more snow (grrr!) so I'll be dreaming of our upcoming Jamaican vacation to get my thoughts on the positive track. There will also be some serious gym time and some serious Oscar's watching.

Whatever you're up to, I hope you have a fabulous weekend!