Take my advice: put it on the list

Last night, at book club, the discussion inevitably turned to weddings, as it almost always does. Between girls who are engaged, girls who are newlyweds, and girls (like me) who are new-ish-weds, we run the gamut of "experience" when it comes to wedding planning.

The question last night was about wedding registries (dun, dun, dun) and what to do if you don't really need anything because you have an established household and have been living together already and whatever else. There was talk about honeymoon registries and out-of-the-box registries, like using Amazon to register for all kinds of things, but there was also some emphasis on the value of a "traditional" registry. Trust me - there is value. Let me tell you why...

It can be hard, when you're in your early 20s or whatever, to think way ahead. Like, ahead past your wedding, and certainly further than that down the road. However, your wedding registry is an opportunity where you should try to think way ahead. Try to think about the future, and register for things that you may not need right this very second, but could need in a few years. Sure, right now, you've got all your Craigs-list and Thrift store finds from college. You've got a $10 toaster from Wal-mart. You've got 2/3s of a set of plates and (mostly) matching bowls. That's great. A few years from now, though, you may start feeling like an actual adult, and you might find that the mismatched conglomeration of crap you have isn't really working for you. Guess what! Your wedding registry is a great time to remedy that.

As a favor to you (because I am clearly a wedding expert, having had one and been married for 2.5 years [ha]), I came up with the four things I think everyone should register for, at the bare minimum, even if they are things you "already have." Take a look!

1 // Sheets

[source]

Sleeping on nice (I mean really nice) sheets is one of the best feelings in the world. However, those suckers are expensive! Weddings are a great time to get a few nice sets of sheets that won't look ratty after 10 washes and might actually have matching pillow cases (what a novel concept!). Do it - your dreams will thank you.

2 // Towels

[source]

This is basically for the same reason as above. Towels (good ones) are not cheap. Register for a set, and for more than you think you need. FYI: if there are two of you (now), you need more than two towels, two hand towels, and two wash clothes - unless you A) never wash your towels (ew) or B) wash your towels constantly.  Additional thought: someday, down the road, you might have children who need towels. Or guests who stay who need towels. A second set of towels is another novel concept! There is no such thing as too many towels, and, if you have the storage space, I highly recommend putting them on the list.

3 // Serving trays, platters, bowls, and utensils

[source]

This is one of those times when that foresight business is hard. Sure, you have no use for a giant platter right now or a set of matching serving bowls. Bear with me! Someday, just someday, you might be hosting Thanksgiving. Or Christmas dinner. Or a birthday party for adults. Guess what you'll need? Adult dishes! Do yourself a favor, and get some now - before you realize you have nothing to put the turkey on after you pull it out of the oven.

4 // A Dyson

[source]

This one is a little different. The recommendation here is to register for that expensive thing that you think no one will buy you. For C & I, it was a Dyson. We actually argued about this one - C really didn't want to register for it, because it was so expensive. I insisted to him that it didn't hurt to have it on there; you never know what people will buy. If we didn't get it, we didn't get it, and that was fine. Guess what?? We got it (clearly). His aunt and grandmother went in on it together and used a store discount they had to surprise us with it after the wedding. It was awesome, and it is going to last us forever (knock on wood). If we hadn't asked for it, we wouldn't have gotten it. Put the "stretch" gift on the registry, because you definitely won't get it if no one knows you want it.

So tell me...

• Did you / do you / will you have a wedding registry? Why or why not?
• What do you wish you had registered for that you didn't?
• Feelings on people who stray from the registry? (We got both good and bad gifts that were "off registry"... touchy subject!)

Just what we needed

I believe that I had what could rightly be considered one of the most boring weekends, ever. And honestly, I'm not even mad about it. Why? Because of this:

That, my friends, is my beautiful, amazing new couch, which fits my living room just perfectly, and is probably the most comfortable couch, ever. I know that because we tested it by doing nothing but laying on for for almost the entire day on Saturday.

Don't hate.

In my defense, we woke up early Saturday to finish moving things out of the way and get ready for the furniture delivery guys, and while we were doing that, I realized that I really wasn't feeling well. I was shivery, achy, whiny (never!), and tired, and my throat was on fi-yah. Not so good. Official remedy: tea, cold medicine, and a million episode of this brand-new show you may have never heard of: Breaking Bad! Need me to tell you about it?? Ohh.... no? I'm the only one late to that party? Hmmmm.....

(Side story: C tried to get me to watch Breaking Bad with him when Season 1 came out, and I watched two episodes and was all, no thanks, because that show sucked. Turns out, I was wrong. It does not suck. Unless you count the fact that it sucked me right in this weekend and now I want to do nothing but watch it until the very end. It's a wonder I made it to work today!)

Any-hoo. The rest of Saturday (and a lot of Sunday) looked like this:

cuties - cat & husband!

And it was delightful.

We made carnitas in the crock-pot on Saturday (pork shoulder roast, orange juice, chicken stock, onion, garlic, assorted Mexican spices - try it, you'll love it) which were OMG, good, and I made a big pot of beef & vegetable stoup (thanks, Rachael Ray, for that word) on Sunday. I also managed to peel myself off the couch long enough to get to the gym and take a BodyFlow class on Sunday afternoon, which was good, but the teacher wasn't great, soo... maybe I should have stayed couch-bound. I am feeling significantly better today, which is good, because it is my BIRTHDAY-WEEK and who can afford to be sick for their birth-week?! Not this girl.

We had a weekend of no plans on the books, and it turns out that we couldn't have planned that better - lots of downtime was just what the doctor ordered.

Anyone else have a quiet weekend? Or just the opposite?

Movin' on up!

Well, I guess it's about time that I spread the news via blog...

We bought a house!

We are positively beside ourselves with excitement about this gigantic piece of news. (If you follow via Instagram, Twitter, or my personal Facebook, you obvi already know... but still!)

This has been in the works for a long time - I'm talking since the end of April. Every cryptic post (...we had a busy weekend), every odd tweet (...so stressed!), has probably been related to the home-buying process. It has consumed our lives. It has consumed our time. It has created stress. It has caused arguments. It has caused happy dances. It has involved a lot of thinking, and number-crunching, and driving, and contemplating, and sleepless nights.

It has been one hell of a ride. But, in the end, it has been so incredibly worth it. We bought our "forever home." Not a home that we HAVE to live in forever, but a home we can see ourselves living in forever. The chips fell right on this one. We lucked out. And we are thrilled.

We are 10 days into the gigantic house-buying adventure. We are knee-deep in boxes. We are trying to remember where we put the plates and the silverware. But we are happy. We are home.

Reaching out

I, like so many others, am horrified and heartbroken over the incident in Connecticut on Friday. I don't know why, but, for some reason, this particular act of violence is hitting me especially hard. Perhaps it's the children involved, or the fact that it was at a school, at one of the singular places where we are all supposed to feel safe. I'm not sure - what I am sure of, though, is that I feel an overwhelming amount of emotion regarding this event. I think what's the hardest is the fact that I am not feeling sympathy in this case, as so many other are. I am feeling empathy - I know how it feels. I have done this.

I feel helpless. I want to do something. I want to help take away the pain - from someone, anyone, all of them. I want to apologize: I am so sorry. I am so sorry that this has happened again. I want to look into all of their eyes and promise them that life will go on. It will never be the same, but there will become a new normal. I want to tell them that they will always have Before and After, as I do, and they will always distinguish life events as one or the other. I want to tell them that I know how it feels to have a gaping hole in your heart, one that gets smaller over time, but that will never truly heal. I want to take away the hurt. I feel tiny and insignificant. I don't know what to do.

I am praying for strength for the Newtown community, and for even just one moment of peace for all of those people who are touched by this event. The people victimized by this will spread far and wide - it never ceases to amaze me that, in events of such deep sorrow, the "six degrees of separation" never fails to prove true. Everyone knows someone affected by this. Reach out to those around you, and let them know that they are loved. Don't hesitate for one second to tell people that you care about them, or to do something nice for someone, or to simply spread happiness. You truly just never know what your last experience with someone will be. Spread light, spread love, spread hope.

I want to share the words (pared down, just a bit) that Nikki Giovanni shared with us in our darkest moments, and hope that now, in Sandy Hook's darkest moments, they may also provide some minute degree of comfort:

We are sad today, and we will be sad for quite a while. We are not moving on, we are embracing our mourning.
We are strong enough to stand tall tearlessly, we are brave enough to bend to cry, and we are sad enough to know that we must laugh again.
We will prevail.

You are not alone.

A Tale & A Surprise

So I have a little story to tell. As it turns out, there was another cat trapped in that bag I mentioned before...

Once upon a time, there was a princess. (This is my blog, I can tell whatever version of the story that I want. Go with it.) The princess's name was Lindsay, and the princess had a best friend, who's name was also Lindsey (aka L2).

There she is.

The princess and her best friend had taken to making each other cards for various occasions - taking a card for a specific occasion ("I miss you!") and turning it into a card for something else ("Happy birthday!"). It's actually quite hilarious... but anyway.

So one day, L2 tells the princess that she's going to come visit, and she asks the princess to make her a delicious dinner. This is relatively normal, so the princess agrees, and they make a plan for a Friday night.

Friday night comes around, and Princess Lindsay makes a delicious dinner of chicken enchilada casserole. L2 arrives, and helps the princess in the kitchen as she finishes dinner. While the casserole is baking, L2 tells the princess that she has something special for her. The two girls sit down on the couch, and L2 presents the princess with a card. The princess is very confused, because there is no occasion for a card, but she opens it anyway. Inside the envelope, this is what she finds:

Can you read that? It says "Guess what?"

The princess is still confused, but she has a feeling she knows what she is going to find inside the card...

Can you read that one??

!!!!!

That's right.... the princess is going to be Aunt Princess! L2 is having a baby!!

In case you can't read the inside of the card, is says "Confession: I'm pregnant! ...and I'm not lion!" (The card was originally an "I miss you" card - very funny.) 

The princess almost falls off her couch with shock and excitement, and then tackles L2 for a giant hug.

The end.

And so there you have it - the other secret I've been sitting on, and another reason it's been a bit quiet around here - between changing jobs and getting this big news, there's been a lot going on that I couldn't really write about, and a lot going on that has kept me busy. I am beyond thrilled about the little half-Brit that's going to be born next May, and I can't wait to love the heck out of my little neice or nephew.

So far, everything is perfect - L2 is healthy, the baby is healthy, and she's having pretty much the easiest pregnancy of anyone I've ever seen. Lucky girl!

BFFs <3

Five for Friday: New Job Edition

In honor of finishing my first week at my new job, this Five for Friday features five observations, if you will, from the last few days.

Five for Friday

1. If a male is showing you around the office, he will not remember to show you where the bathroom is, and it will be awkward when you can't find the bathroom key and then the bathroom the first time you have to go.

2. It would be easier to just record a little speech of your name, where you came from, and what you'll be doing... Because you'll have to repeat all that information about a million times.

3. It's very likely that you will not remember the names of anyone you meet on the first day. Practice your memory tricks. I will probably never know That One Guy's name, even though he's turned out to be the friendliest person in the office so far.

4. If you're used to using a Keurig, and your new office has a Flavia machine, which you're not really sure how to use, you should probably not experiment with it when there is a large meeting going on next door. The Flavia machine may turn out to be really loud and awkward, and your banging around in the kitchen will cause you to get glares from the meeting participants.

5. It is probably not in your best interest to take every single pair of dress pants (and two dresses and a skirt) you own to the tailor the weekend before you start a new job. The tailoring will take at least a week. You will be left with very few options of outfits that are both office-appropriate and warm enough for you to wear, given the cold front that has suddenly arrived. It will be a major source of stress. (Not that I know this one from experience or anything.... Must have been someone else....)

~~~~~

So there ya have it. As expected, this week has flown by. I am so glad it's already Friday afternoon, and that we've got a weekend of no plans!! On the agenda: clean our bedroom, watch the local Santa parade on Saturday, design and order Christmas cards, and see a movie or two. Sounds perfect!

Letting the cat out of the bag

At this moment, I am getting settled into my first day of orientation at my new job!

That's right - I've been holding out with some big news. I haven't posted much lately, and it's because there's been a lot going on behind-the-scenes that I couldn't really share. The past few weeks have been a whirlwind - I've been looking for a new job for months, and had a few interviews that didn't pan out. I've been feeling a bit discouraged, but I really truly believe that everything happens for a reason - if something didn't work, it was because something better was going to come along. That's easier to say than to believe in sometimes, thought... Then, out of the blue, doors started opening and things started falling into place. I received a great job offer, and I'm making a move that, I think, will be very good for me career-wise in the long term (and is a good immediate change).

I took a week off between jobs, and fully intended to do lots of cleaning, cooking, organizing, etc. Instead, we got hit with a hurricane and then C got into a minor car accident (not his fault, he'd like to point out) and hurt his back - so he ended up home with me all week! I may not have gotten as many "things" done as I wanted to, but I spent a very relaxing week at home with my husband and my cat, watching movies, cleaning closets, and taking naps. I think it was just the recharge that my batteries needed before I start my new position.

So, here we are: Day One. I've been having some hilarious (-ish), anxiety-ridden dreams lately: forgetting to go to my new job, forgetting to wear pants, getting lost and showing up late.... thanks, brain. Here's hoping for a great first day. I'm sure I'm doing something thrilling like filling out paperwork. I'm the new girl with no friends again - super! Wish me luck.

I'm not sure what my schedule is going to be like just yet, or exactly what my new position entails - but I promise to get back to regular posting as I get settled. My blogging fingers have been itchy lately. I have some great mental posts written... time to actually get them out there.

Have a great Monday!

The best kind of dinner plans

Yesterday afternoon, as C and I were driving home from a little anniversary-weekend getaway, we were trying to come up with something for dinner. I wanted it to be special (it was our anniversary) but not too involved (we were tired) and not too spendy (we’d already gone out to dinner to celebrate on Saturday night). We tossed ideas back and forth, but had yet to settle on anything that truly sounded appealing to both of us. Then, as if my mother was reading our minds, I got a text with the magic words: Do you want to come over for dinner? Ummm… yes.

We spent the evening making chicken parmesan, with scallops for an appetizer and asparagus on the side, and added some stuff mushrooms I picked up at the store. The conversation revolved around our busy weekends and everything that had been packed into the last two days, and football was on TV in the background. When we were done with dinner, we unwrapped the top tier of our wedding cake that had been in the freezer for the last 365 days, and C & I shared a champagne toast, using our wedding flutes, with my parents. We cut the cake, and had dessert while we reminisced a little bit about the past year and the fantastic party that was our wedding.

Spending the night of your first anniversary with your parents may not sound ideal to some – but to me, it was perfect. What better way to celebrate my first year of marriage than with the very people who taught me what marriage should be like? What better place to spend the evening than in the house I grew up in, with the very parents who set an amazing example of love and commitment for me as I grew up and chose my own spouse? It was a simple and sweet way to wind down a great weekend, and a wonderful way for C & I to kick off Year 2 of our marriage.

One year down, forever to go!

A year ago today...

With my best girls,

and his best guys,

and our families by our sides,

we tied the knot

and changed our lives forever.

Happy anniversary, my love! 

You are the best decision I've ever made.

Here's to many, many more.

Vacation for grown-ups

Tonight, I was going to pack for our vacation... And instead found myself doing 72647 other things, all prerequisites to the actual packing. I'm starting to understand why my mom always found getting ready to go on a trip so stressful - because when you have a home and a pet (and heaven forbid, kids) to worry about, there's so much more to "getting ready" than just throwing your stuff in a bag. All the laundry has to be done and put away. The kitchen has to be cleaned. The refrigerator has to be emptied. The living room has to be straightened. Who wants to come home from a nice, relaxing vacation to a messy house and dirty clothes? Not me! So while I've been "getting ready" for almost four hours now, there isn't actually anything IN my bag. I've just poured a glass of wine, and I've got to admit, I pretty much feel like this little guy:

Well dang... We clean up good!

All that talk about dressing "professionally" got me thinking, and I realized that my sister DOES pretty much get to wear pajamas to work every day! I am in the wrong line of work, folks. Nat teaches high school PE - that's right, she wears t-shirts, shorts, sweatpants, and tennis shoes to work every day. Comfies, every day! While I'm in heels and skirts and blah. Just. not. right. (Down side... she teaches high schoolers. I do not know how she does it. She's a saint.) Meaning, most days we find her like this:


Rough life.

Sometimes, though, the joke's on her - like when she's going to be observed by the principal while teaching - and she has to wear "real" clothes to work. Hence, the call I got last night: "I need something to wear!" Don't you worry - I worked my "professional attire" magic, and today I got this picture from her:



So cute. Not your typical high school PE teacher, methinks... Oww oww. Hottie with a body! Mwahahaha. She cleans up pretty well though, don'tcha think?? Though I still haven't forgiven her for looking in the mirror and yelling, "I LOOK OLD!" Ahem. That's basically what I wear every day. Rude!

I told her the kids were going to fall over when they saw her today, since they've probably never seen her in "real clothes." Point proven - I also received this text:

Cannot. Stop. Laughing.

Not to be outdone, I obviously have to show that C & I aren't too bad ourselves, when we try... We managed to pull ourselves together this weekend to attend the wedding of a childhood friend of C's, and I had to admit, I was pretty pleased with how we did.


Fall leaves make me happy.

Not too shabby. As luck would have it, it turned out to be a perfect September day for a wedding - we were nervous about rain up until about an hour before hand, but then the clouds parted and the sun came out, and this was what we got as a backdrop to the sweet wedding ceremony:

My cute husband was channeling his inner GQ:

And there were cupcakes:

What more can a girl ask for?? BTW - that Pancake Maple Bacon cupcake was amazing, and I think I'm going to have to try to recreate it. Add that to the list of potential baking adventures!

Pajamas at work are frowned upon

Contrary to how it may appear, I have not forgotten about posting my last piece of the “How to Dress like an Adult” puzzle. I actually put together the pictures (saying that makes it sound legit, and not like I did it in Paint) one day last week, and then life happened (doesn’t it always) and I never got around to writing the accompanying post. C’est la vie.

So here it is – Week 4 of “professional” outfits. I’m actually really impressed with myself regarding this little project, for two reasons.

• One: I forced myself to think about what I was putting on a little bit more than usual. I wanted to ensure that I had no repeats, and I wanted to show outfits that had potential for other people –  because I, personally, hate it when I see an outfit post and a blogger is talking about her “totally affordable!!!” whatever and I find the same article of clothing and its $200. Because there is nothing in my wardrobe that is that expensive, and I like to think that that is applicable to the majority of other girls my age as well, despite what the blogosphere would like to indicate. So, like I was saying. I thought my way through these last four weeks with the goal of showing actually inspiring combinations that normal people could recreate or use.
• Two: I actually finished this project. I took pictures of my outfits every single day for four weeks, just like I said I would. I didn’t have to recreate anything – I actually remembered to take the picture every day. And I didn’t abandon it after two weeks! For someone who is a chronic start-and-not-finish-er (so, so guilty), this is a major accomplishment. Gold stars all around! Hooray!

Enough chit-chat; on to the pictures!

 

Week 4

• Monday: Shirt – Express; Pants – LOFT; Sandals – DSW; Necklace – “borrowed” from a friend (AKA she left it at my house – thanks, Lush!)
• Tuesday: Dress – Target; Sandals – DSW
• Wednesday: Wrap – Express; Tank – Express; Pants – The Limited; Shoes – Calvin Klein/Macy’s
• Thursday: Shirt – Express; Pants – The Limited; Flats – Target
• Friday: Blouse – Target; Jeans – LOFT; Flats – Target

Fin.

I really, really appreciate the comments I’ve gotten regarding this series – it makes me happy to know that there are a few people out there who have found this useful, or at least worth taking 60 seconds to write a comment. Writing a comment means you didn’t immediately dismiss the post, and that, in itself, is worth my taking the time to take all these ridiculous pictures.

It is 100% likely that I will never be a fashion blogger, or a fashionista, or anything related to fashion. I will still always be happiest in sweats, and I will always be most comfortable in my workout clothes. It’s just who I am. However, I have embraced the fact that, during the day, I have to be dressed appropriately for “public” and therefore I do my best. As the title says, pajamas at work are frowned upon. The reasoning here will always be a mystery to me, because I maintain I'd be more productive if I was wearing flannel pants... Sigh. Anyway. I take my inspiration from the people I see around me (the ones who aren’t frumpy old ladies – because there are some. Avoid avoid avoid!) and I repeat what works and nix what doesn’t. I get by until I can get home from work and immediately put on my "comfies." That is the only goal most days. Normal!

And now that you’ve completed reading this post, you’ve successfully finished this Crash Course in Dressing like an Adult! A+, everyone. A+.  

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

That Pie in the Sky (Or at the Lake)

You may have noticed, here and there, references to the current Big Thing going on around here – it’s been a bit behind-the-scenes, but as of this past weekend, I’m officially ready to share. Drum roll please……..

My parents have made something amazing happen. They have fulfilled a major dream of theirs. They bought a LAKE HOUSE!!

For as long as I can remember, my family has always talked about The Lake House (capital letters required). It’s been the “someday,” “when dreams come true,” “when we win the lottery,” "pie-in-the-sky," pipe-dream thing for my parents – they love to be at the lake, and the idea of owning their own special place was always in the backs of their heads. Visiting The Lake House, fixing it up, retiring there, the whole nine yards, has been regular conversation in our house. In fact, it sort of became a running joke – “Dad’s on the computer again! Searching for The Lake House!” “Dad picked up another real estate brochure – maybe it has The Lake House!” In the last few years, as my sister and I finished up with college and such, my dad has started talking to realtors and actually going to look at houses. A weekend here, a weekend there, house after house. It was such a big dream, he and my mom wanted to find the perfect house. And the perfect house just never really presented itself. They weren’t willing to settle when it came to The Lake House. So it remained a lofty goal, a “someday when we’re older…”

And then one day, earlier this summer, they found it. The Lake House. The one they’ve always looked for. It had everything they’ve always put on the “want” list – the screen porch. The garage. The dock. The fireplace. The big driveway. The house was kind of old, but it was in great condition. The appliances worked. The paint was fresh. The price was right. And suddenly, The Lake House wasn’t such a faraway dream anymore. It was right in front of my mom and dad. And so, they took the cross-the-Grand-Canyon leap, and they bought that house. They made their dream come true.

House-warming gift from the realtor!

Keys to the house!

Dad with the very first carload of "stuff" for the house

Left at the fork in the road...

Proud home owner!!

My parents, obviously, inspire me in a lot of ways. I think they’re great. I think they’re wonderful people, and parents, and have set an amazing example of how a marriage should be for my sister and I. I know that the two of us were never the easiest kids to raise, and there were times when we all made each other crazy, but looking back, with a more mature eye, I see how truly great my sister and I had it. This purchase, though, this is something entirely different. My parents have taught me how to have dreams, how to have goals, and then how to make those things happen. They set their mind to something, and they took all the steps to make sure it happened. They worked hard for years, and they saved their money for years, and they took baby steps far in advance so that, years later, they'd be able to do what they wanted to do. It was a long process, but they were patient – so patient – and waited for exactly the right house to come around. And they got exactly what they deserved, exactly what they’d worked and waited for for so many years. They got The Lake House. And the minute I stepped foot through the front door this past weekend, it felt like home – it felt like it had always been ours. I cannot wait for the years to come and the memories that we will make at that house. I can’t wait to have Thanksgiving there this year, and to bring my babies there someday. I can’t wait to play on the dock every summer, and chase the dog that I’m pretty sure my parents will have someday. There is so much that awaits us with this house. It’s already a dream come true, but it’s going to get better with every visit.

I am so proud of my parents, and so excited about what’s in store for them. I know that they are going to make this house their own, and it’s going to be absolutely perfect. They have earned it. They deserve it. And I get to reap the benefits of having amazing parents.

The Lake House. Finally!

View from the dock

Sadly, I do not have Carrie Bradshaw's closet

...but I still manage to make it work. It's Week 3 of "How to Dress Like an Adult (Or at least fake it!)" and we're still going strong. I'm actually shocked that I've managed to take a picture every single day and haven't had to recreate my outfit a single time... thought for sure that would have happened by now!

This week's lesson: taking pictures like this is really awkward. It's also really hard to hold an iPhone steady while trying to get your entire body in a picture and have the picture turn out clear - solution to this problem is obvi to have your husband take the picture, but then there's a lot of pressure because he will only take the picture one time (unless I beg really bad for a second try) so I have to not look awkward and make sure my clothes are straight and blah blah blah..... pressure, I tell ya. I can't imagine actually being a model and needing to do these things correctly. Although, I guess, in that case, there would be a hundred people standing around making sure everything was correct for me and taking a zillion shots and then someone else could pick the best one..... that doesn't sound so bad........ ok sorry. Distraction. Onto the pictures!

Week 3



• Monday: no picture - it was a holiday! Honestly, I spent the morning wearing a Ninja Turtles T-shirt and compression socks (so cute!) and I'm sure that no one wants to see a picture of that. The afternoon and evening were spent in various VT gear while running errands and watching the football game.
• Tuesday: T-Shirt - LOFT; Pants - LOFT; Brown Pumps - Target
• Wednesday: Dress - LOFT; Belt - LOFT; Sandals - Unknown/DSW
• Thursday: T-Shirt - Express; Pants - The Limited, Black Flats - Target
• Friday: Button-Down Shirt - The Limited; Pencil Skirt - The Limited; Belt - Target; Black Pumps - Nine West

Two some-what casual looks balanced with two dressier looks - that's what I call "business casual." Easy-peasy. You may have started to notice some repeat pieces... duh! Mixing and matching is essential to a good, functional wardrobe. The majority of articles of clothing that I own can all be mixed with a number of other pieces to create "different" outfits. No one notices, believe me! Those staples are essentials. A few unique items and a few bright spots of color totally work to stretch out the "boring" pieces, like plain black pants. And mixing and matching means its usually pretty easy to find an outfit in the morning! Which is perfect for someone like me, who hates (I mean, truly hates) getting out of bed.

Looking for more ideas? Check out Week 1 and Week 2.

**Kudos & a cookie if you noticed something change between Wednesday and Thursday of this week... that would be my hair color. Back to dark brown for fall! Wheeeee!

Nope... still not a fashion blogger.

Last week, I started something new – a month’s worth of showing you what I wear to work, week by week, in order to demonstrate some ways to dress professionally and fit into the working world.

This is generally hilarious, because I’m pretty much the worst adult ever and have a really hard time being a “Working Professional” but c’est la vie. I will do my best. I’ve been told that I have “good fashion sense” which I also think is a joke, but people keep asking where I get my clothes and how to shop on a budget, so maybe those people are serious… which I find shocking. I will ALWAYS be that girl who wants to wear my “comfies” at all time – I hate being dressed in real clothes. Give me sweat pants, leggings, PJ pants, old t-shirts, and hoodies any time, and I will be your best friend. Promise. (Sorry, L2, you’re easily replaced. Love you!)

Anyway. 

Week 2

• Monday: Button-down shirt – The Limited; Pencil Skirt – The Limited; Black Pumps – Nine West
• Tuesday: Cardigan – J. Crew; Tank top – Target (actually a deep ocean blue, with ruffles on the front… photo skillz lacking); Pants – LOFT; Flats – Target
• Wednesday: Cardigan – Target; Tank – Target; Pants – Express; Flats - Target
• Thursday: Blouse – The Limited; Skirt – The Limited; Black Pumps – Nine West
• Friday: Cardigan – Target; Dress – LOFT; Sandals – DSW (Brand unknown, as they are so old that it’s completely worn away)

And there ya have it. Days 5-10, in the books!

Tips for this week:

• Again, I shop sales. Sale, sale, sale. It’s rare that I purchase something (from anywhere other than Target) for full price – I always look for free shipping, coupon codes online, and/or in-store sales.
• Take full advantage of discounts! Don’t be afraid to ask if a store offers discounts. Some of my favorites are the Teacher Discount that LOFT offers (my mom pays for everything with her ID, then I pay her back) and the student discount that The Limited and J.Crew offer. I carry my student ID everywhere – yes, I graduated 3 (EEEEEK) years ago, but that baby has no date on it, and I pretty much still look the same. Except for my hair color. But that’s never the same. Totally fine.
• Everything you own does not have to be name-brand. Embrace Target. Just do it. You’ll thank me later. Are the clothes the absolute-best quality? No. Is that fine for staples that I wear the heck out of, like my black cardigans, and definitely get my $15’s worth? You betcha. Trust me: no one knows the difference between my cardigan from Target and my cardigan from J.Crew. And honestly, I think I like the Target one’s better… they hold their shape better, and they are a little thicker.

I have successfully been taking my pictures to go with Week 3, and will have that up sometime next week.

Any secret tips for me? Anyone actually reading this and enjoying it? I’m enjoying the fact that this is forcing me to (somewhat) keep my bedroom clean… HA!

Also, C is clearly enjoying this project as well - or at least, he enjoys photo-bombing me while I take silly pictures of myself.

Yup.

Proof That I'm Not a Fashion Blogger

I've found that it can be hard to piece together outfits that work in the "professional" world when you're fresh out of school (or a few years removed...), especially if you're working on a limited budget. There is an art to the mixing of cheap and expensive pieces, and there is skill required to put together a combination of "the basics" plus some pieces that are unique and fun. I'm certainly no fashion blogger, and I don't claim to have to amazing, fantastic outfits that everyone wants copy - but I do think that I put together outfits that are office-appropriate, comfortable, affordable, and not too entirely shabby. Mostly.

Jill over at Strawberry Blonde Life recently did a series where she photographed herself every day during the week to show her outfit and then went on to describe where she got the pieces and some basic details about how she gets dressed for work. After seeing her posts for a month, I figured that was something that wasn't too difficult - even I can commit to taking a picture five times a week! And so, here you have it: Week 1 of "How to Dress Like a 'Professional'" (because I'm not entirely sure I really qualify as a professional yet).

**Disclaimer: As it says in my profile, I am NOT a professional photographer (duh). I am not a fashion blogger. I am not anything other than a girl who got a college degree, has a job she's good at but doesn't necessarily love, and doesn't particularly like getting up at 5:15 AM therefore gets dressed with her eyes half closed. What do you expect from me?? Jeeeez.

Week 1

• Monday: Sweater - Target; Shirt - LOFT; Skirt - LOFT Outlet; Pumps - Nine West
• Tuesday: Shirt - Express (it's actually purple... hmph); Pants - Express; Flats - Target
• Wednesday: Shirt - Express; Pants - American Eagle (they have an indistinguishable blue, white, and black plaid pattern); Flats - Target
• Thursday: Dress - LOFT Outlet; Sandals - BareTraps (DSW)
• Friday: Dress - Lands' End; Belt - Express; Sandals - BareTraps (DSW)

And there you have it. The majority of these were purchased over the course of the last three or four years, so I can't tell you where to find it right now. There's your first hint from me: buy items that last. If I buy a dress, I don't want to get two wears out of it, I want to get two years out of it. Same goes for pants. Shoes should also be good quality - it's so much better to get a good, sturdy pair of pumps that fit well and feel good, and have to get the heels repaired a year later, than to buy crappy pair after crappy pair. Trust me - investing is worth it! As long as you will actually wear whatever it is you're buying.

I'll be honest - I'm currently having an issue because a lot of the things I bought right when I graduated from college don't fit me anymore. I was probably a good two sizes bigger then (let's not talk about it... or at least talk a different day) and I needed 'professional' clothes that fit, so I had to shop. Now, those things look ridiculous on me. I can't tell you how many times my mom has looked at me and said, "Lindsay, your butt looks so saggy in those pants." It's NOT because my butt is saggy - it's because my pants are too big and therefore loose and silly looking! So that's a struggle. I don't really want to replace my whole wardrobe, so I'm working with the pieces that sort of fit (belts are fantastic) and researching how much it is to get a few pieces tailored rather than discarding and rebuying. Hint #2: tailoring can be very, very worth it. It's amazing what a stitch here and there (or ten or a hundred) will do for an article of clothing that you didn't think fit. So consider that as an option, too! (Also, I've realized I need to get the pants I wore last week hemmed, or stop wearing flats - those make me look shorter than I already am. Sigh.)

I realize that this post is coming almost a full week after Week 1 finished - sorry 'bout it. I'll try to get Week 2 up quicker. I've been taking the pictures, and finding that knowing that I have to document what I'm wearing makes me think a little harder in the morning - even if it is the crack of dawn and I'm more or less still asleep.

Any suggestions of your own for dressing like an adult? I love a good sale, I love coupons, and I seriously love outlets. Where do you shop??

But comfort zones are so... comfy!

Comfort zones are called just that for a reason: because they are the places where we feel safe, secure, and calm. They are the easy places, the places where we are sheltered and protected, the places where we just float along with the gently bobbing current. It’s so simple to get into an area where we are comfortable and just stay there, for days or weeks or years even. It happens in all facets of life – family, friendships, fitness, careers, hobbies. We find the things that we like that come naturally to us, and we hunker down. I, most definitely, am guilty of this. I am a creature of habit and comfort. Hell, I prefer “comfort” everything: comfort zones, comfort clothes, comfort foods… I just like to be comfy!

Every now and then, I have to give myself a little kick in the rear and force my way out of those safe places that I find. It isn’t easy. It makes me look long and hard at myself, and really evaluate the situation, and it forces internal honesty that sometimes makes me uncomfortable. But it is so necessary. It is so important to get outside of comfort zones, and find the amazing things that lie around you that you may never otherwise see (there is a possibility that I am just trying to convince myself of this, but I'm pretty sure it's true).

An easy current example of this is my fitness comfort zone. I have found routines and workouts that I like. I do the same mix of things week in and week out – I take the same classes, go for runs in the same areas, and stick to the same basic schedule. I like what I do. I’ve seen results from what I do. I still work really, really hard, and find myself out of breath and sore and sweaty – it’s not that my comfort zones are simple, they’re just my habits. And I forget sometimes to push myself just as hard in other directions. Sometimes I need a good shove.

In the last couple of weeks, I was coerced attended not one, but two new group fitness classes: Body Attack & Body Combat. And they were hard. It was pretty much as bad as I imagined, even hiding in the back of the room. I was uncoordinated. I didn’t know the moves. I was sweating like crazy and working muscle groups that I’d forgotten that I don’t necessarily work all the time. Let me tell you, I figured that out, because the day after Body Combat, I was so sore that it literally hurt to brush my teeth. I work those muscle groups (shoulders, arms, back) regularly – but not like that. It was such an eye-opener for me. Attending both of those classes reminded me about muscle memory – that even though I’m regularly working my muscles and my body hard, it’s necessary to throw myself for a loop sometimes, just to recharge and reactivate the muscles that get lazy and comfortable in their very own comfort zones. Besides, I actually really enjoyed both classes, which I’ve always previously said were “not my thing.” Maybe they are my thing, after all!

I’m currently out of my comfort zone in my professional life as well, and it’s not by choice, but it is necessary. I’m trying very hard to see it as a positive thing, and keep telling myself that perhaps this is the universe kicking me in the pants. Perhaps this is life’s way of pushing me out of the very comfortable spot I’ve been in for the last few months. After all, growth and learning do not occur if everything always stays the same. Change is necessary. Sometimes you find yourself in a big black hole, and it’s really scary – but if you walk a little farther, you realize that it isn’t a hole at all; it’s actually a tunnel, and you just hadn’t gotten far enough before to see the light. I had a serious talk with myself last night (not uncommon, apparently) and came to the conclusion that I can do this. Comfort zone, schmomfort zone. I feel like breaking into some sort of inspiring song and dance. Or hugging someone. Or at least high-fiving? YEAH. Hooray for pep talks!

Moral of the story: do the scary things. Do the hard things. Do the things that are “not your thing.” Get yourself out of your comfort zone, and grow a little, in ways you hadn’t even imagined. Annnnnd I’m off to take my own advice… (in my comfy clothes. Some things do not change.)