A very hairy Christmastime

Once upon a time, I found the most amazing "big-ass coat from the thrift shop down the road."  (*SHOUTOUT--Macklemore!!! That song is my liiiiiiiiiife!*)  It seems only fit to put on my mirrored shades, a coat of slick red lipstick, and mean-mug like a boss while wearing it.

Tomboyish

Mmmmm lookit those pasty white ankles poking out.  ;)

Actually, while I'm on the subject, I'd like to make AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

I am going to try to fight peer pressure

and stay pale this summer.

There: now it's out there, and I can't take it back.

I mean, honestly, I'll probably end up with a slight glow: I love laying under the warm sun.  But there are so many reasons for me to really try to avoid sun exposure:

 

1.) It's healthier for my skin.  Hopefully I'll age better.  And skin cancer-y stuff kinda runs in the family, so I'd like to avoid that, too, if possible.

 

2.) I wear more of my vintage wardrobe in summer, and it looks sooo wrong with tanned skin.

 

3.) It'll be cheaper/less stressful.  I won't have to worry about having ugly tanlines, I won't have to pay to go tanning, I won't have to buy tanning oil and lotion (and sunburn ointment...heh heh).  All I'll have to do is work a sunscreen application step into my morning ritual.

 

4.) I will never look like a beach bunny or Cali girl or surfer girl or whatever other sterotypes you can think of for tan females.  My body and face just aren't set up that way, and whenever a person tries to be something they're not, it just looks sad.

 

Anyway, the whole "pale is pretty" thing really seems to be making a comeback right now.  "Safe sun" is HUGE.  And the pin-up look is always "in."

 

Anybody else gonna join me in the

fight to stay fair-skinned this summer? 

I know it'll be hard when my pasty thighs start hanging out of shorts, so I could use some back-up and support! 

Let me know in the comments!

Before I go, I'd like to point out that by shopping secondhand, this whole outfit cost me less that $40.00 (accessories included).  I love secondhand shopping!

Sorry so blurry: wanted to show off my shoes, but it only kind of worked.

Hat, Blouse, Shoes, Watch, & Bracelet: thrifted || Sweater: thrifted (orig. J.Crew) || Jeans: Forever 21

need a Little Leopard in my Life

Sooooo these past few days, I've been doing some serious lovin' on the bag I bought Monday!  :)  Basically, I've been making outfits around this bag. 

Anybody else do that?  Style themselves "backwards" by picking an accessory first?

I wanted to ask y'all another question:

Does it bother you that most of my photos are now taken in the same exact corner of my bedroom? 

I try to keep things interesting enough by posing all quirky and editing the photos a bit differently...but I can only do so much.

Also: I'm sure that, by now, most of you are aware of the conundrum facing those of us bloggers who operate chiefly on Google...Google reader (GFC) will be ripped out from under us starting July 1st.  :(  It'll be a bloggernational day of mourning, especially for yours truly, but everyone else is doing a lot of complaining, so I won't burden you with any more of that. 
I figure, if my blog is meant to grow, it'll happen (whether it's via GFC or Bloglovin' or whatever), so I'm just gonna keep posting a button like this in all my posts, so you can keep on being my blogfriend by following with Bloglovin' instead of GFC!  :)

Hat: thrifted || Shirt: thrifted (orig. from Target) || Pants: Boston Store || Booties: Payless (old) || Blazer: old || Necklace: Charlotte Russe || Bag: Target

Thanks again for reading!

 

and Don't Forget to  Please!!!

Valentine's Day Outfit

SORRYYYYYY I haven't posted in so long! 

Yes, I am just now posting my outfit from Valentine's Day.  :)  I didn't do anything romantic-looking, 'cuz I didn't see my husband, but I love holidays, so I at least dressed in red.

I struggle with ways to wear these bold pants; they're just TOO MUCH AWESOME to style easily.  ;)  But this is my favorite way I've styled them so far.

They're oh-so-punky, and not really in a couture way, 'cuz they're Abbey Dawn--Avril Lavigne's line for Kohl's.  Anyone remember Avril???  Where has she gone???  I loved her music when she first emerged onto the American music scene (in her awesomely baggy '90s grunge pants).  I'll admit it!  I was obsessed with the songs "Sk8tr Boy" and "Complicated."  Dude, I'm pretty sure I still know all the words. 
#guiltypleasures

 And these equally awesome shoes are definitely going to see a lot of wear, so be prepared, my dear readers, to see them up on the blog a lot!

They're right on trend right now: a pointed toe, ladylike silhouette, and metallic cap-toe.
 
<3  Love at first sight...

I lusted after them when they were at Target, but didn't want to splurge (they were like $39 or something, and I have what I call "Secondhand Syndrome:" if the price is double-digits, it's high.  lolz).  So I drooled and drooled to myself while watching the price drop as they first went on sale, then clearance, then final clearance, and then--lo, and behold--I found a pair in the color I wanted in my size with the tags still attached at my local Goodwill! 

Don't get me wrong: the shoes are definitely worth the original asking price, but God saw fit to let me get them for $6!

Hat: thrifted || Button-up: thrifted || Coat: oldie but goodie || Pants: thrifted (orig. Abbey Dawn) || Shoes: thrifted (orig. Target)

THANKS FOR READING!

 

Tell me what you did for Valentine's Day! 

Hope it was sweet!

Bummed-out face. 
(It was right after choir rehearsal, and I just really missed my Valentine.)

She's a Mixed-up Girl in a Mixed-up World.

Song of the Day: "Meddle" by Little Boots. 
It works, 'cuz it's sassy yet sweet, and I'm wearing little boots with this outfit.  :)

This look is a bit hipster-fab, ain't it?  I realized that during the day and got a little self-conscious...but then I reminded myself that labels shouldn't matter.  We love what we love.  And I love this outfit.



My beloved broken Rolex. I never bothered putting a new battery in this thrifted beauty, 'cuz its second hand just quirkily floats freely around inside the face, soooo....really, what's the point? I have a cell phone to tell time with, after all. (But I will never use an e-reader to read books. Some things just shouldn't be digital.)

Thought I'd share my quirky dinner with you, too, since this post is so full of quirkiness:

Yes, yes, ladies and gentlemen.  That is some LEFTOVER MCDONALD'S AND PINK CHAMPAGNE.  How do you like me, now?

cute sleeve buttons  :)

Hat, Watch (orig. Rolex), Bracelet, Shirt (orig. Ann Taylor LOFT), Skirt (orig. Land's End): Goodwill

Leggings, boots: old || Faux Spectacles: Forever 21

New Year = New Layout

What do y'all think? 

This new layout seems much more congruent...the other one had sepia and black and white, teal and maroon...It was kinda hard on the eyes...just wasn't feeling it anymore.

While I'm at it, I'll probably start posting different kinds of things...like, I've been dabbling in decorating my home, and so far I'm pleased with the results. 
I think I'd like to share them with you...  :) 
Would you mind, dear readers?  Let me know in the comments!

But before I got off on any more tangents, here are the outfit photos I promised (in the midst of yesterday's 2012 mash-up):

This outfit is making me laugh while I'm putting it against my new layout...such completely different facets of my personality are all mushed together!  But, hey, the ability to design and love both a grey-pink-sweetly-elegant blog layout and a gold-red-plaid-in-your-face-prepster ensemble makes a girl more interesting, don't you think?
Looking at these pictures, my constant inspiration--Audrey Hepburn--came to mind.  The sweater/men's shirt/high-waters/loafers combo was a thing she would do...but I have a bit more drama in my outfit! plaid and metallics...  That means it gives a nod to Audrey without being too copycat-ish.

Shoes and Sweater: Rock & Republic for Kohl's || Pants: Wal*Mart || Shirt: American Eagle Outfitters || Bag: thrifted || Headband: Bangles and Bags || Necklace: old

I Shop Secondhand First.

Lots of photos with my dog lately, I know, but she's just such a great costar!

This past weekend it was so warm that I wore a skirt this day, and shorts the other (post to come)!!!  All of us Wisconsinites couldn't believe it was November!  Buuuut our lovely state cured our doubt yesterday by snowing. 
This is why I love good old WI: it always keeps me on my toes, I'll never be bored.

I love the colors I got to wear in this outfit...jewel tones are so rich and beautiful, and the pattern on this skirt is one of my favorites.  It's the same pattern my grandma has on some wallpaper in her house that I've always loved. 
And this tweed hat is the first hat I ever thrifted.  I've had it for years.  It's definitely a man's hat, and very old, and I love it.

Hat: thrifted || Sweater: Target || Skirt: thrifted (orig. from Express) || Shoes: Target || Scarf: old || Bag: thrifted (Louis Vuitton) || Belt: H&M

 

Speaking of thrifting, I wanted to share a pledge I've recently taken.  I hope you, my dear readers, have all noticed the new widget on my sidebar.  Please, join me in taking the pledge below, if it's something on your heart. 

This whole thing was started by Bella at the Citizen Rosebud, a wonderful blogger who has inspired me for quite awhile.  Check out her original post regarding this pledge and see how you can get involved!  :)

 

 

How's my tie?

I went to an outdoor wedding in the middle of September...It was lovely, but freezing!  And the invitation expressly forbade the wearing of heels.  :(

Puzzled, I thought for three days about how to dress for this affair...and came up with this at the last second.

I may have out-dressed the groom.  ;)  Just kidding!!!
I did receive lots of compliments, though. 
And the best part?  I was toasty warm!  I put on leggings and two pairs of knee socks underneath my slacks, and four shirts underneath my button-up shirt...heh heh.

This outfit was inspired by Ralph Lauren (my favorite).  They always use black, white, and gold; and their Fall 2012 campaign photo in circulation is a lady in a tophat:

Loooooooove itttttttttttt...
Of course, I'm no gorgeous blonde, but I had an awful lot of fun wearing my black, white, and gold outfit with my top(ish)hat, too.

Hat: little shop in Cedarburg || Blouse: thrifted || Blazer: MaxRave || Vest: thrifted || Tie: stolen from Hubby || Slacks: old || Shoes: thrifted || Watch: thrifted || Clutch: David's Bridal || Pin: hand-me-down

Wanna see what my hubby wore? 
He picked it out all by himself! 
Except for the hat...which he actually did wear!!!  I was amazed...
I think he looks smashing.

Thanks so much for reading!!!