Hibernation Mode: Activate

It’s cold. 

I know, I’m not telling anyone anything that they don’t know, but I thought I would add to the extensive Internet literature that already exists and refers to the cold December weather. I’m more insulated than I would like to be, but I’m still not built for this type of weather. All I want to do is hibernate! Unfortunately, I don’t have a job that allows that, and the groceries and Christmas presents aren’t going to buy themselves. So, I layer up and maybe rely on an extra warm, caffeinated drink from a certain place to help warm me from the inside. And ladies and gentlemen, I may have figured out where some of that extra insulation came from!

In other news, it’s Inspiration Monday. Here’s the picture:

I went for an interpretation- scarf, sweater, leggings, boots:

Ugh, grainy cell phone picture. I tried to edit it a little to make it more crisp, but that didn’t really work! It’s been raining for approximately 35 years now, so I’ve been stuck taking pictures inside. Meh. I should’ve at least used my camera! 

I just liked how this one looked for some reason. This was when I was setting up my phone/self-timer. A little soft-focus action for ya today.

Also, I brought this up earlier in the fall, then my life evidently blew up with work, family, etc, but I’d like to try it again! If any of you ever read Fab Finds Under 50, then you may remember the Outfit Inspiration Calendar. She has since stopped blogging, but before she did, I asked for permission to take this over. To submit a look for the January calendar, just fill out the form below by Friday, December 27. This will be a new experience for me, so I’ll try to make it as smooth as possible! =)

Linking up with:

Inspiration Monday and Thrifters Anonymous (since my sweater was thrifted! Woo hoo!)

Style Imitating Art: What does the swan say?

Very quick and very late tonight. My computer, like me over the weekend, contracted some type of virus, so I’ve been battling both of the viruses tonight. Also, the human virus seems to have taken away my writing skills and patience with the man and fur creature in my house. Lucky everyone…

Jess from Animated Cardigan chose Swan Lake as her Style Imitating Art picture. Be sure to read more about it, including who the famous illustrator is!

My interpretation:

Clearly, the swans and I both have the long, graceful neck in common. Also, I think my eyes were closed in this one too! Double also, my kitchen looks so blah!

The pattern on this dress gave me an underwater vibe, plus the blues kind of echoed the blues in the picture (I’m working on my artsy comparisons. Maybe one of these days I’ll use something other than “echoed”). I found this dress earlier this year on the clearance rack at Burke’s Outlet, and it had a lavender sale sticker, which meant 90% off, so it was under $2. I’m working to shop more ethically these days, but sometimes you just have to talk about a good bargain!

Also, here’s my fox earring. Foxes and swans are friends, right?

Wow, I wrote a lot more than I thought I would! Maybe sinus meds make me chatty! Bless my poor husband, then! 😉

30 x 30: Day Five, 01/05/13

Hey, I actually got more than one picture of my outfit today. Progress!

I don’t know how long I’ve had this cardigan, but I don’t think I’ve ever worn it. This is the first example of how 30 x 30 is helping me tap into underutilized items in my wardrobe. Hooray!

Kind of full body shot

Top half of body shot

Tried to get a close up of the diamonds but failed!

What I liked:

• The look of the outfit

What I didn’t like:

• The cardigan didn’t stay buttoned, and the tank top underneath felt a little tight and low cut (especially at church!), so next time I wear the cardigan, I need to try it with a different shirt underneath

Cardigan- Goodwill, tank top- Walmart, jeans- Old Navy, booties- gift from future mother-in-law

30 x 30: Day Two, 01/02/13

Well this just isn’t a good picture at all. It doesn’t show the whole outfit, I had already taken off the cardigan, and the stripes look blue instead of black. Good thing I’ll probably be repeating the entire outfit again in the challenge! Also, I cheated with my tank top again today. Today’s excuse will be “that’s what I packed, so live with it.” That’s the meanest I’ll be on my blog…hopefully…

What it looks like when you’re  trying to do a quick, sneaky picture…

What I liked:

• Comfortable again for riding around in the car and going to the casino for the first time ever. I won $1.97, so this could technically be my lucky outfit…

What I didn’t like:

• Not sure yet since I didn’t get to see a full body shot. 

Cardigan (not shown)- Gap Outlet, shirt- Old Navy, tank top- VF Outlet, jeans- Old Navy, boots- gift from grandma

30 x 30: Day One, 01/01/13

Alright here we go! Just one picture today that I took in the loft of the cabin we stayed in during vacation. The face may have been inspired by the dead fly on the pool table! Also, there’s a non-sanctioned layering tank top underneath my sweatshirt. It’s one of those cheapy ribbed tank tops, so I’m gonna count it as an undergarment to appease myself.

Linking up with Sam today for the first 30 x 30 linkup also! =)

I’m as tall as the Christmas tree!

What I liked:

• Easy, comfortable outfit for riding around in the car, doing a little shopping, and seeing a guy that looked just like the old Elvis. Be jealous.

What I didn’t like:

• These pants show every little speck of dirt, fuzz, etc. The more I wear them, the more I realize that. Blerg.

Shirt- Forever 21, tank top- Old Navy, pants- Burke’s Outlet, boots- gift from grandma

What I Wore: Monday, November 12, 2012

Rainy, blah Monday. I also had 2 classes to teach, desk shifts to swap out, etc. Blah times a million…

Also, just a quick update on 30×30 for January. I’ve chosen my items, taken pictures of all of them, and started organizing how I want my outfits. However, it takes about 45 years to put pictures on this blog (thanks to an around the world method I have to use in order not to have to buy more space on Picasa), so I may not have the selection post ready until later this week. Shoot, at the rate I’m going (as far as being behind), I may not even have the whole thing up until March or so. Le sigh.

The full body shot

The jewelry shot

The “artsy” shot

What I liked:

• Quick and easy and warm on a rainy day

What I didn’t like:

• The dress is a little worn looking. The perils of Goodwill, I suppose

Dress- Goodwill (can’t remember brand), tank top- Walmart, leggings- Target, boots- Christmas gift from Grandma

What I Wore: Thursday, November 1, 2012

Today was my last crazy class teaching day this week, and I confess, I had this outfit planned for today well before the week started. I had been wanting to wear a blazer/jacket to work because I thought it would make me look more professional. When I found this one on the clearance rack at Rue 21 back in September, I held onto it, waiting to bust it out for today. Unfortunately (well, no, fortunately for me but unfortunately for it), I had lost a little weight since I bought it, so it wasn’t as fitted as when I had first tried it on. I guess I’ll take the weight loss over the fitted-ness though. 😉

Phone shot

Blurry body shot

Blurry side shot

Ze jewels

What I liked:

• The idea of the outfit
• The scarf. Must. buy. more. scarves.

What I didn’t like:

• The blazer/jacket needed to be more fitted

Blazer- Rue 21, shirt- Walmart, scarf- Walmart, pants- Burke’s Outlet, boots- gift from future mother-in-law

What I Wore: Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy (extremely belated) Halloween! I’ve worked at my current job for nearly 5 years and have never dressed up for Halloween, but day 3 of teaching meant that I still had to look reasonably professional. I decided to dress up as a straight-haired librarian. Who says creativity disappears when you get older? ;-P

Wish I had zoomed in so you could see my “I voted” sticker!

Blurry-ish side shot

R2D2 and I wish you a Happy Halloween!

My librarian glasses

The boots look kind of purple at this angle

What I liked:

• The blue and brown combo
• This was easy. No ironing required but still looked pretty put together

What I didn’t like:

• The shoes aren’t super comfortable. Then again, I taught 4 classes, walked to my voting location, stood in line for 20 minutes, and went to Walmart. The shoes may be really comfortable on a normal day…

Dress- Old Navy, tank top- Old Navy, tights- Walmart, boots- Hot Kiss (gift from future mother-in-law)

What I Wore: Monday, October 15, 2012

We had one last interview at work today, so I tried to continue the habit of dressing a little nicer than usual to convey the idea that I’m kind of put together and reasonably professional. Ha. Fooled him…

What I liked:

•  I didn’t love the outfit while I was wearing it, but the pictures show that it’s a little better than I thought
• The dress has pockets!

What I didn’t like:

• The weird white tie on the dress. It’s not quite long enough to make a nice bow in the back, and it’s too short to look right in the front.

Dress- via my grandmother, cardigan- via Mom’s closet, tights- Burke’s Outlet, booties- gift from my future mother-in-law

What I Wore: Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Nothing much to say about this one today. My pictures are in a different order than usual, but I’m leaving them. I’m rebellious like that sometimes…

What I liked:

• The shape of the outfit
  
• The pop of color from the tank top underneath, when it decided to show

What I didn’t like:

• Nothing that I can think of!

Shirt- Burke’s Outlet, via Mom’s closet, tank top- Old Navy, pants- Burke’s Outlet, boots- Christmas gift from grandma