in tandem

top: Jcrew clearance

skirt: Jcrew clearance

cardigan: GAP sale

wedges: Mia sale

necklace: Premier Jewelry

sugar skull earrings: [un]possible cuts

After a whirlwind summer that was bonkers even for me, we are in Texas and settling in. Aubsent no longer. Clearly, this photo is from my Castro Valley photo spot and was taken before school got out. Life has been so full, wonderfully so, and I have yet to find a place for blogging in my life. Leaving behind my dance group in the Bay is going to leave a huge gaping hole in my life. I was rehearsing or performing 2-5 nights a week. So maybe now is the time. As life in Texas takes shape, adjustments will have to be made and new routines will form. I am happy to be back while, in tandem, mourning the life I left behind. It's strange to feel two such opposite emotions at the same time. Joy and grief. 

crazy folk

skirt: Lauren Conrad for Kohl's clearance

top: Target

cardigan: GAP clearance

cupcake necklace: [un]possible cuts

sandals: Lela Rose for Payless sale

I am one week into my summer vacation and already I am struggling with the great amount of free time I have. This happens every summer and I spend more time trying to convince myself to enjoy it than actually enjoying it. sigh. What's wrong with me? Who has to tell themselves to enjoy doing nothing???? Crazy folk. That's who.

Luckily, tomorrow my annual Peace Corps reunion unofficially begins. This our sixth summer to get together over a super long weekend and this year it is in my neck of the woods. Let the fun begin!

riding a real train

dress: Lauren Conrad clearance
cardigan: GAP sale
tights: Target
boots: Steve Madden clearance

I rode all over the bay area today on the train. Had I not had my library book with me I would have gone crazy. An hour train ride to the city for a 10 minute bang trim. If the guy who cuts my hair wasn't so darn good at what he does I would find a place closer to home. After my 2 second trim I hopped back on BART for the hour long ride back to the East Bay. But I got on the wrong train. Well, the train I was on my fine but I didn't registrer that I would need to change trains until I was a good 15 minutes beyond that point. So I got off, made my way to the other platform and 2 trains and 30 minutes later I was back at my car.

Just tell me my hair looks fabulous and the 3 hours on the train was totally worth the quarter centimeter he took off my bangs.

if it ain't broke

dress: vintage from New Bohemia
cardigan: GAP
tights: Old Navy
belt: H&M
platforms: Jeffery Campbell from Nordstrom Rack

I have got Spring Break on the brain. I can't blame my kids at all for being squirrely, actually they have been great. But I am so ready for a nice long week off. I'm going to get out of town, hopefully see some PC friends and get some beach time.

Can I sing the praises of New Bohemia enough? I don't think I can. That place rocks. This dress is from Montgomery Wards, remember that place. Is it even around anymore. The tag and label look pretty ancient so I am thinking no. The couple times I have worn this have always been with these sky high platforms. I probably should switch things up next time but they work so well with this dress. And if it ain't broke...

big freakin deal

dress, belt, tights: Target
cardigan: GAP
boots: Kohl's

So I got my first spam comments. Does this mean that I am a big freakin deal now? Nothing says the big time like a plug for penis enlargement. I got an email saying I had a comment and when I clicked on it, imagine my surprised to see a message promoting penis enlargement. Those kind of comments are strictly for my super secret scandalous blog. (no such blog exists if anyone asks) So I deleted the spam and promptly added the word verification thing to my comments. Then I thought how annoying it is to have to do that everytime I comment on someone's page. So I am taking it off. Let the penis enlargement spam comments do their worst. Because I am so not a big deal. This blog is low key enough that I don't need to filter comments. But, mark my words, once I hit the big time, Mom, you'll have to quit with the penis comments. I'll then have a rep to protect.

christening the new chair and bum catching

Yes these photos are silly but I just couldn't resist. It was cold outside! Plus I took today off and the light in the apartment was just right.

This outfit sends out all sorts of the wrong message though! Or prehaps it was just my mood...After taking these I headed to Berkeley and was walking through downtown. I was propositioned not once but twice!! First, I passed this young man who asked if I would like to snuggle. When I raised my eyebrow and walked by he just asked again. Then not two blocks later I passed another man who told me that if I would like to go to dinner, come back later and he would be waiting. Oh, yes! Did I mention that they were both bums. That is of course not the PC term but when they are my age, sitting on the side walk asking passersby for money and me for dates I am inclined to call them bums.

So I am now naming this my bum-catching outfit.

cardigan, skirt: Target
t-shirt: gift
tights: Kohl's
boots: Steve Madden clearance

double trouble

Oh how life gets busy. I am still having trouble with getting outfit photos in while it is light out. Also, I have been trying to take better care of myself. Leaving work at a decent hour, getting to the gym, sleeping for 8 hours. My sweet little blog got kind of shuffled aside. Shame on me!
I'm going to post both Saturday and today's outfits.

On Saturday I went to the city to visit my friend Jessica of Cupcake Dangerous. We have known each other for 20 years! How crazy is that?? She is doing a 30 cupcakes in 30 days challenge and I have been desperately wanting to get in on the cupcake tasting at her place. So I crossed the bay bridge and "helped" her with her baking. And by helped I mean ate cupcakes and talked. Jess is my San Francisco tour guide and has been since I moved here 2 years ago. So true to form she took me to two places I've yet to try. Sushi Zone and Zeitgeist. Cupcake tasting seemed like as good a reason as any to get dressed up. I attempted to dress this dress down. Not sure if I succeeded.

Dress: Kohl's sale $35
Cardigan: Target $18
Tights: GAP $10
Boots: Steve Madden clearance $50

And on to today. As I said I have not been posting and I kick myself daily for it. I was happy with how today turned out. It was a morning where I woke up with no outfit in mind. I pretty much just added layers until i ended up with this. These wine tights make everything fabulous.

Cardigan: American Eagle (circa 2003)
Dress (worn a a top): H&M $25
Skirt: Banana Republic resale $20
tights, belt: Kohl's $6, $10
Heels: Target $20

Inspired by: keiko lynn

I'll admit that this is a whole heaping lot of a hodgepodge. Honestly, I have not idea where this outfit came from. I dove into my closet and came out with this. I feel like it's kinda weird but that's why I like it. I've been reading keiko lynn's blog for a while now and it is one of my favorites. The blog itself is heavily outfit driven, which I love. And her style is impeccable. So sweet and girly but not overly so. Ruffles, bows, sky high heels, knee highs and tights galore. She layers so well. What's not to love I ask you?

So I love her style and was planning to use her as my Thursday inspiration. Last night I was scrolling through her page waiting for my "aha!" moment and nothing was taking hold. So I got up and started rammaging through the closet. Really, it was her whole look that inspired me, in all it's ruffly, jacketed, belted, heeled glory. I layered this sheer cobalt dress over a tiered ruffle skirt. I added the red bow belt and heeled mary janes. Then topped it off with a long gray cardigan, hoping to tone down the explosion of red, white and blue. I seriously looked at this and was like "hell no," took the whole thing off and started form scratch because I was like, "I just freaking wore these colors today!" But my mind kept coming back to this outfit. Sometimes I put something on, know that it is kind of out there and that just makes me want to wear it more. This inclination has definitely left me walking around looking ridiculous more than once.

Dress: Sway clearance
skirt: Anthropologie
Sweater, Button up: Target
MaryJanes: Target (cicra 2003!)
Bow belt: H&M

bringing the sunshine

Today got cold! The temperature in the air just took a nose dive. My response? Sundress, light tights, and a paper thin cardigan. It's not like I was pounding the pavement today. I had a baking day at a friend's house and was indoors. I will admit that the moccasins came out while we were baking. Even I am not so impractical as to pair my apron with heeled boots :)

These boots are my very first pair of Seychelle's. I've been lusting over heeled, lace-up, ankle boots. I decided since they are all expensive, I may as well shell out the money for a brand that has a reputation for comfort and quality. I originally bought a pair from Aldo but took them back in a fit of buyer's remorse.

This outfit made me feel sunny and bright despite the cold overcast day. I almost went with a marigold sweater but decided to tone it down. The grey works better. Have I mentioned that I looooove these boots.

Dress: H&M
Cardigan & Belt: Target
Tights: GAP
Boots: Seychelle's