Personality of Meh

a little cold air, so that i know that it's real

2012-01-24T09:00:00.001-06:00

shirt (old navy), vest (vintage), skirt (gap), belt - thrift store

This has been the mildest winter ever. I don't pretend to like the cold or even expect too much much snow here in Texas, but experiencing 70 degree days in January is quite startling. I hope the unseasonably warm temperatures are a vestige of the ridiculously hot 2011 summer and not a sign of things to come.

music monday | let's stay toghether

2012-01-23T10:00:00.000-06:00

In light of President Obama's recent crooning at a New York fundraiser, I thought I'd post Al Green's version of "Let's Stay Together". The chorus puts the song over the top for me, that and Al's golden voice.

happy monday!

short

2012-01-19T09:00:00.000-06:00

scarf - gifted | blazer - f21 | dress - ross | tights - walmart | shoes - seychelles

This dress is perhaps a tad bit short for church, but this is what I wore on Sunday. I like to think that my opaque black tights gave me some cover, but now that I look at these pictures I think I may need to reserve this dress for occasions that don't have a religious bent. It's bad enough that I usually tweet through services, I don't need to add my wardrobe to my list of indiscretions.

the mountaintop

2012-01-16T12:23:00.000-06:00

On this Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, this is the speech I'm remembering. For some of Dr. King's lesser known quotes, check the video I posted last year. I'm also going to take some time to read the entire "I Have a Dream" speech. I hope you will too if you have the time.

have a good week,

wet

2012-01-15T13:46:00.000-06:00

leather jacket - member's only | denim shirt (kenneth cole reaction) & skirt (j.crew) - thrifted | tights - forever21 | shoes - joie

I hate that it was raining on this day. I really enjoyed wearing this outfit and wanted to get more pictures of it. However my penchant for staying dry had me back inside the house after only a few snaps of the camera. Looks like I'll have to wear this getup again if I want to feature it properly on the blog. you see, ladies and gentlemen, I've been infected by what I like to call the "blogger mentality". If it doesn't make it into a post, it didn't really happen.

meanings

2012-01-09T11:00:00.001-06:00

shirt & skirt - thrifted | cardigan & shoes - target | tights - walmart

Last week Rebecca wrote a post about her perceived backlash against cutesy/twee fashion sense. I can't say that I've noticed this backlash, but I do think there is some value in examining the phenomenon. Every person has their own particular reasons for choosing the clothes they wear, but I do wonder about the larger cultural attitudes that encourage women in their 20s and 30s to dress in a fashion typically seen on younger girls.

Now I do want to make it clear that I do not see any problem with what I like to call a "cutesy style" of dress. I'm not particularly fond of the style for myself, but I make a conscious effort not read too much into what others are wearing. The source of my interest is the cause. I wonder what has caused the seeming uptick in the twee aesthetic.

I'm currently obsessed with Matt Corby's "Brother". It's really the perfect song to listen to on a Saturday night when you've had a few too many gin & tonics.

the year that was

2011-12-31T21:53:00.000-06:00

{above are a few of my favorite outfits from this year}

At the beginning of 2011 I listed my goals for the year. Let's see how I fared.

goal #1 -- learn how to crochet or sew
I certainly can't sew, and my crocheting skills are only marginally better than they were last year. I give myself a D on this goal.

goal # 2 -- stop putting myself in awkward situations
A+. I'm much better about this.

goal # 3 -- cook more
I cook as much as time allows and I'm satisfied with that. I'll give myself a B.

goal # 4 -- learn how to use my camera
I still have a lot to learn, I'm much more knowledgeable than I was this time last year. Grade, B.

goal # 5 -- buy clothing I love, wear outfits that make me feel good
This is still a work in progress. I'll give myself a C.

Goal # 6 -- Work out more often
I was an abject failure in this department. An F is the only appropriate grade.

Goal # 7 -- Stick to a budget
Grade, C. I stumbled a bit with this goal (particularly at the beginning of the year), but now I feel pretty confident about my ability to manage my money.

Goal # 8 -- color my hair
A+. The color was subtle, but I dyed my hair a couple of times this year.

Assuming all my goals are equally waited, my grade on the year is a C+. As far as New Year's Resolutions go, that's not too bad for me. It really was a wonderful year. I learned so much about myself and am as confident in myself as I've ever been. I'm excited for the year to come and hope you all have a wonderful new year. See you all in 2012!

holiday cheer

2011-12-22T13:15:00.000-06:00

scarf - gift from mom | shirt - target | shorts & tights - f21 | shoes - aldo

I've been busy this week preparing for Sunday and as is my wont whenever life gets a bit busy, I've been wearing variations of the same outfit for five days straight. It is not much of an exaggeration to say that I have been living in my cowboy-ish boots and this scarf my mom bought me. At some point I'll grow tired of this pairing and make use of the other parts of my closet, but for now this is all anyone will see me in.

Since I haven't been feeling particularly festive, I decided to get into the spirit by making Christmas cookies with my brother. As you can probably tell, we free-handed the shapes since we didn't have cookie cutters. They look a bit wonky but I really like the end result and they were surprisingly tasty. Now the only the task on my Christmas to-do list is wrap the presents. I've been putting this off, but I'm determined to wrap them by the end of the night.

have a great holiday,

music monday: oh holy night

2011-12-12T13:00:00.000-06:00

I posted this video of the Dublin Gospel Choir singing "Oh Holy Night" last year, but seeing as how I still love this rendition of the song, I thought it appropriate to blog again. It appears that the group is just practicing, but the quality is still pretty good. Hope you enjoy!

my favorite time of year

2011-12-11T13:23:00.000-06:00

shirt & shoes - thrifted | fleece pullover - old navy | jeans - lc lauren conrad via kohls | bag - paul & joe sister via gilt

My life has been consumed by school and work these past few weeks, but an unusually productive Sunday has allowed me the opportunity to take and post a few outfit shots. Outfits like this are so basic and simple, but they epitomize why I love this time of year. the weather is cool enough to layer but not so cold that I need a jacket. I love it.

(I don't know what's up with my mouth in this pic. Let's Just ignore the awkward facial expression.)

until next time,

blue + orange

2011-11-30T10:00:00.000-06:00

silk shirt - thrifted | sweater - target | skirt - j.crew via thrift store | tights - f21 | shoes - sperry loafters via thrift store

I've really been enjoying the colder weather we've been having in North Texas. Now that I've adjusted to the change in temperatures, I feel like I have a better idea of what to wear. Earlier this month, I learned that tights are not optional. This week, I discovered that sleeveless shirts are perfect for layering. Wearing two tops at the same time is so much easier when one of them doesn't have sleeves.

happy black friday!

2011-11-25T12:41:00.000-06:00

image via Sociological Images

I hope all who celebrated had a happy and relaxing thanksgiving. I had a wonderful day. Now it is time to partake in my favorite holiday ritual, Black Friday. It's off to the races.

what i've been up to

2011-11-22T22:24:00.000-06:00

This little segment used to be called "Monday Summary", but considering that I'm posting on a Tuesday night, I thought I'd switch this week to a name that is a little more appropriate. Nevertheless, here's what I've been doing these past couple of weeks:

1. name change

I got tired of the old blog name so I thought I'd change my blog name to "Kenda at Large".

2. sunday morning starbucks

Reading over coffee and a danish has become my favorite, high-caloric activity.

3. jay smooth -- how i learned to stop worrying and learned to stop worry and love discussing race

The always insightful Jay Smooth with a smart take on Americans and they way we talk about race. You can watch his initial video on the subject here.

4. ikea candles
I bought a couple of scented ikea candles a couple of weeks ago and they're crap. They only cost me a few dollars a pop, but do yourself a favor and don't buy them. Total waste of money.

5. delilah - go

I'm feeling British artist Delilah's debut single "Go". This isn't really where I'd expect to find a feature of Chaka Khan's "Ain't Nobody", but it was a pleasant surprise.

picture me rollin

2011-11-18T01:38:00.000-06:00

sweater - gap (via thrift store) | skirt - j.crew (via thrift store) | sunglasses & tights - target | shoes - sperry loafers (via thrift store) | purse - paul & joe sister

I left the house this morning with bare legs, but it was so cold at my job I went back home to put on a pair of tights at my lunch break. That's the problem with living in areas that are hot 9 months of the year. It's easy to forget how to dress when the temps drop below 70 degrees.

binary

2011-11-12T07:53:00.000-06:00

scarf - local boutique | cardigan - old navy | shirt - walmart | jeans - f21 | shoes - thrifted

Yesterday while driving to get an oil change, I happened to glance over at the clock in my car and catch the last fifteen seconds or so 11:11 on 11/11/11. That totally made my day.

layers

2011-11-06T10:44:00.000-06:00

button down - dept store | sweater & pants - LOFT | shoes - thrifted

Recalling how to layer after 5+ months of hot weather isn't easy, at least not for me. I'm going to spend the next couple of days scouring pinterest and my many inspiration folders trying to get ideas of what to wear this fall and winter.

-ciao

stripes and such

2011-10-25T13:00:00.000-05:00

sunglasses - target | button-down shirt - thrifted | skirt - h&m | shoes - f21

I have a confession to make. These are not the shoes I wore with this outfit; they're just the shoes I wanted to wear. I had to walk around a muddy construction site on this day and seeing as how I'm not particularly graceful, I needed to don something a bit more practical, i.e. flats. Once I got home, I changed out of my dirty shoes and into these babies. It's kind of weird. Who would've ever thought I'd fall in love with a pair of shoes from Forever 21?

monday summary - what i've been up to

2011-10-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

1. fried foods galore

I made my annual trek to the State Fair of Texas this Friday to partake in a glorious feast of fried foods. The first picture is deep fried oreos and the second is fried. I had the fried oreos last year, and they were just as good this time around. The fried beer, on the other hand, was terrible. I threw them away immediately after taking this picture

2. peaches & greek yogurt

Best. Snack. Ever.

3. school
It's kicking my butt. But what else is new?

4. rangers
They're trying to win the World Series. I really hope they do it.

5. heart of the city - jay z

I can't escape this song. The instrumental is in a this Chrysler commercial that plays a couple times every time I watch a football game. Good thing I actually like it.

have a great week!

cool tones

2011-10-19T21:00:00.000-05:00

jacket - levis | blue silk shirt - thrifted | purple sweater - h&m | pants - LOFT | shoes - f21

On Monday, the high for Dallas-Fort Worth was in the low 90s. On Tuesday, when I wore this outfit, temperatures started out in the 50s. I think it's safe to say that fall has arrived in North Texas.

bring it back

2011-10-10T19:23:00.000-05:00

cardigan & sunglasses - target | shirt - thrifted | skirt - madewell | shoes - messeca

I've been wavering on whether or not to post these pictures because a.) I'm not sure I like this outfit and b.) my skirt is wrinkled. I don't mind wearing wrinkled clothing out in public {obviously}, but jeez is it noticeable in pictures.

It's the beginning of the week, but I don't have a "Monday Summary" to share. Instead I'll post this song that I'm rather smitten with at the moment. The lyrics of Flight Facility's "Crave You" bare no resemblance to my platonic youth, but I like it nonetheless. The video's simple visual aesthetic along with the female lead's clothing have compelled me to watch it multiple times, something I am otherwise want to do.

have a great week!

saying goodbye to summer (i hope)

2011-10-01T15:26:00.000-05:00

top - target | belt & skirt - thrifted | shoes - messeca

I don't use the term "Indian Summer" because I always thought it was somewhat derogatory, but after seeing it pop up all over the blogosphere this week I thought perhaps I was mistaken. A quick google search did not bring up any reliable links on the etymology of the phrase, but I still feel kind of icky using it. "Indian Summer" and "Indian Giver" are just two terms that are not going to be a part of my lexicon, at least not until I get some reliable information proving they are not offensive.

ciao!

monday summary: on a tuesday

2011-09-27T13:36:00.000-05:00

I was so wrapped up in the Cowboys win over the Redskins on Monday that I didn't get a chance to post last night. Nonetheless, here are some of the things that caught my attention last week. I was a bit wordy this week, so I'll limit myself to four observations rather than five.

1. car trouble
I put my car in the shop on Wednesday and have been grounded ever since. Herein lies the problem with living in an area without public transportation. You either have rent a car or bum rides when your car has to go in for routine maintenance.

2. the prettiest cooking tutorial

beet cake from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.

This is easily the most stylized cooking video I have ever seen. It's almost enough to convince me to give beets a try.
h/t The ModCloth Blog

3. lana del rey
A couple of weeks back when I wrote about my interest in Lana Del Rey I was completely unaware of the controversy surrounding her authenticity. Vulture has the deets but in short Del Rey has changed her image considerably (with the help of her management) since she entered the music business and was recording under her given name, Lizzie Grant. Now some sites (Hipster Runoff in particular) are essentially calling her an manufactured wannabe-indie fraud.

While my view of Del Rey has certainly changed now that I know her current persona is a product of industry insiders rather than the organic result of her own creative process, I do wonder what this means for young artists. Lana is only twenty-four years old, an age at which I think change should be expected, and I hope that the general listening public is open to accept the idea of artist evolution . I can't help but wonder if anyone other than pop stars and Atlanta-based rappers can change their image without having their authenticity called into question.

All that being said, I still love her songs "Video Games". Give it a listen if you haven't already.

4. "twins" - gem club

Thanks to NPR's Fall Music Preview This somber tune has been stuck in my head for the past few days. This description by Indie Shuffle sums up pretty nicely why I like this song:

“Twins” starts off slow and dim and holds steady to that throughout the entire song. It begins with an echoing piano and is soon accompanied by clear, lulling vocals. Next comes a beautifully weeping violin and soon thereafter, a cello and a delicate xylophone. All the while, the lyrics yearning for something more.

have a great week!

last day of summer

2011-09-23T00:30:00.000-05:00

dress - shabby apple via goodwill | shoes - messeca

I had the text for this post all planned out in my head around midday. I was going to talk about how I wore this shabby apple dress in honor of the end of summer and how it reminds me of 1950s picnic attire. The problem is, none of that is true. This dress does remind me of a picnic, but I didn't wear it for any reason other than I bought it at goodwill a two weeks ago and I've been itching to wear it out. In fact I didn't even know that this (Thursday) was the last day of summer until I heard it on the radio.

I'm not sure how I feel about this dress. It's not really my style and I generally prefer not to wear the same print from head to toe, but I have to say that I do like this silhouette on my body and I think the color works well with my skin tone. For the time being, I'm going to keep the dress, but I think it will be a while before I wear it again. This isn't the kind of outfit I think I could get away with wearing too often.

monday summary: last week & then some

2011-09-19T18:42:00.000-05:00

Time has been flying by, but to the best of my memory, this is how I spent the past week:

1. schoolwork

With a presentation last week and two tests this week, I think it's safe to say that the honeymoon is over. School is getting real.

2. corinne bailey rae

Ms. Rae's style was killer at New York Fashion Week. I'm going to have pay more attention to her from now on.

Images via Tumblr and WDUGT Street Style. Plus check out The Sartorialist for another great look of hers.

3. texas longhorn football
I'm not the biggest college football fan. There's too much stupidity involved with the sport (this article is a perfect example) for me to get too invested, but I do cheer for my team and right now we're 3-0. Hook 'em Horns.

4. face stuff

I'm a recovering product junkie and recently I suffered a relapse. A recent bout of break outs on my chin led me to the Vitamin Shoppe to buy some Thayers Witch Hazel. I'm not entirely sure how it happened but I found myself walking out with bentonite clay and a bunch of tea that was on sale. This is why I need to stay out of stores.

5. big k.r.i.t. - the vent

I've been listening to this mixtape consistently since the night it was released and I somehow managed to miss one of the best songs. I probably should have paid attention once SPIN named "The Vent" one of the best rap songs of the year back in July, but sometimes it takes me a while to get things.

have a great week!

the importance of thinking things through

2011-09-15T23:33:00.000-05:00

top - i heart ronson via thrift | skirt - zara | shoes - messeca

This is one of my favorite outfits of the past couple of months. I love the fall-inspired color palette (never mind that it was nearly 100 degrees on this day) and I think this top is perfect for pairing with skirts. That being said, I should have worn something that stopped below my knees, not above. I had to sit in front of my class and give a presentation on this day which meant 30 minutes of keeping my legs positioned perfectly so as not to put on a peep show. Let me tell you, that was fun. But no worries, I aced the presentation and could not be happier about the way things turned out. So you see, all's well that ends well.

labor day

2011-09-11T13:09:00.000-05:00

shirt - target | shorts & belt - thrifted | shoes - messeca

This is a pretty basic warm weather outfit. Nothing to write home or blog about. I'm mainly posting these pictures because of my hair. I was having such a good hair day on Monday and I have no explanation as to how it happened. I don't remember what I did to achieve this look making it doubtful I'll ever be able to recreate it again. I'll only have these pictures to remember my hair by.

monday summary: memorial day edition

2011-09-05T21:40:00.000-05:00

It's been nearly three weeks since I've posted a summary making this post a more of synopsis of the end of August/beginning of September rather than a weekly review. Nevertheless, here is what I've been up to:

1. corn chowder

On Monique's recommendation (from the comment section of this post) I decided to make corn chowder with all the excess corn I had. The food prep was a little labor intensive, but the end-result was worth it. You can find the recipe here.

2. spotify

I'm hardly an early adopter when it comes to new technology, but any application that allows me to legally listen to just about any song of my choosing deserves a look.

3. traveling
In the past three weeks I've been to Atlanta and Oklahoma twice visiting my cousin and my brother. I used to a little tepid about traveling on short notice, but now I don't think twice about a spur-of-the-moment five hour road trip.

4. football
Football's back! I enjoy most sports, but my heart belongs to football. This week I'll be in heaven when the NFL starts.

5. gotye ft kimbra - somebody that i used to know

Initially I was simply fascinated by this music video but as it turns out, I actually like the song too.

have a great week!

remember me?

2011-09-02T15:41:00.000-05:00

My name's Kenda. I use to blog here before my school & work schedules took over my life.
I think I've finally adjusted and I hope to be back to regular posting next week. In the meantime, try not to focus on my ashy knees. I swear I use lotion. I don't know why they look this way in the picture.

sometimes i procrastinate

2011-08-21T17:16:00.000-05:00

blue shirt - thirfted | gray shirt - old navy | pants - LOFT | shoes - messeca via ideeli

I've been trying to get these pictures up since Tuesday but Tuesday turned into Wednesday and then it was Friday and now I'm at my cousin's house posting on a Sunday afternoon. I decided to make a weekend visit to Atlanta as a last vacation before the start of school. This is my third stay in Atlanta and I think this is the first time I've actually appreciated the city. I've never noticed before, but Atlanta is quite pretty. All the trees are a bit much for my tastes, but this probably has more to do with me growing up in the plains region of Texas than anything else.

It took me nearly eighteen months, but I've finally come to realize that I prefer outfits with clean lines. Frills and intricate details look great on other people, but simple outfits look best on me.

until next time,

monday summary - let's talk about music

2011-08-15T19:09:00.000-05:00

Time flies, but I feel like I'm in control when I document it. Here it is:

1. my favorite outfits

Clearly I've got a thing for a certain H&M dress.

2. corn
My local grocery store was selling eight ears of corn for $2 and being my mother's daughter, I bought eight ears for myself. Nevermind that I live alone and cannot possibly eat that much corn before it spoils. One day you will see me on an episode of Hoarders.

3. central texas
I took a trip down south to visit an outlet mall. I was there to buy a birthday gift for my cousin, but I couldn't leave without purchasing something for myself. Self-control is not a virtue of mine.

4. watch the throne

Because I waited until the weekend to pick up a physical copy of this album (I'm old-school & didn't just want a digital copy) I've only listened to Watch The Throne straight through a couple of times, but so far I'm enjoying the album. This review by Brandon Soderberg pretty much sums up my feelings.

5. j.cole

The sentiment from 1:40 to about two minute mark absolutely melts me. I swear I'd marry any man that says that to me on the spot.

have a great week!

a slight break

2011-08-14T15:25:00.001-05:00

shirt - f21 via thrift | vest -thrifted | bracelet & skirt - zara | shoes - target

After a forty-day stretch of 100+ degree weather, the streak was broken on Thursday (it was only 97 degrees!!) and Saturday we even got some rain. Summer is finally subsiding. Okay, not really. It'll probably be hot here for another two months, but I'll take (and be grateful for) whatever cool weather I can get. You know what they say about choosy beggars.

no time to cut

2011-08-11T12:45:00.000-05:00

necklace - gift | top - h&m | dress(worn as a skirt) - new york & co via thrift store | shoes - chinese laundry

I'm thinking about turning this dress into a skirt. Since the top portion is cut in such a way that I'm never going to wear it without a cardigan/jacket/shirt over it I'd probably get more use out of it as a skirt, at least in the warmer months. The problem, of course, is that I can't really sew. I can do a little hemming here and there, but by and large my sewing skills are pretty basic. Plus I already have a pretty sizable pile of clothes in need of altering. I guess for the time being I'll leave the dress as is, but one day I hope to chop off the top.

subtle mixing

2011-08-09T19:49:00.000-05:00

I don't normally posts outfits on the same day I wear them, but I've cut the procrastination aspect out of my usual blogging schedule so that I can participate in Every Body Every Wear. Even though I'm quite fond of pattern mixing, my attempts here are a bit timid because I haven't yet mastered the art. I think this would have been an easier task had I been able to layer my clothing, but it's entirely too hot for layering right now. For the time being I'm going to peruse the other submissions for a little inspiration.

monday summary: slightly wordy

2011-08-09T01:54:00.000-05:00

Due to some computer problems this post is going up late Monday/early Tuesday, but here's a five-point rundown of the previous week:

1. blog crush

My new favorite style blog is PANGCAKES. I'm enamored with Yin's style. If only I could've been this cool at 19 (or even my current age).

2. stubborn nails

I'm not sure what the nail tech did to me last week when she painted my nails, but I had the hardest time getting the polish off. After spending an hour removing it from seven of my fingers, I wised up and wrapped my finger tips in strips of paper towels soaked in polish remover and then covered them up in foil for a few minutes. After that, it came off like a charm.

3. face brush

I have oily, acne-prone skin {tmi?} and have been wanting to try out a facial brush in hopes of correcting my break-out problem. The consensus holy grail pick seems to be the Clarisonic brush,but I'm not about to drop $200+, at least not right now. Instead, I'm going to start small and give this Olay Advanced Cleansing System a try. So far so good, but I've only been using it for a couple of days.

4. oklahoma
I went to Oklahoma Thursday night with my dad to help my younger brother move into his first apartment. Apparently, my parents didn't tell my brother we were coming so he wasn't at his apartment when we arrived at 4am on Friday morning. Consequently my dad and I ended up sleeping in the car parked in the complex parking lot for about 3 hours. Thank the heavens no one called the cops on us.

5. heat wave

The heat is getting to me. It is so blooming hot, and there doesn't look to be any relief in sight. I'm ready for fall.

have a great week!

tie it up

2011-08-07T11:19:00.000-05:00

cardigan - target | top - thrifted | dress (worn as skirt) - old navy | shoes - chinese laundry

Don't let the cardigan fool you, it was exceedingly hot on Wednesday (or Thursday, at this point I can't remember what day I wore this outfit). The cardi only came on at the job where the A/C works well in the morning and pitifully anytime after lunch.

I've grown quite fond of shirt-tying trend. It gives me the opportunity to make my dresses look like skirts, and the style is quite forgiving when I've had a big lunch.

monday summary: birthday week

2011-08-01T21:27:00.000-05:00

1. painting

I'm painting my spare room. Here's a before pic.

2. farmer's market

While I was in Dallas celebrating my birthday, I stopped by the Farmer's Market. It's much bigger than I expected, and I need to return on a weekend when there are more sellers.

3. x-men the animated series

Thanks to this post by Alyssa Rosenberg, I've been revisiting one of my childhood favorite cartoons, X-Men: The Animated Series. I always find it interesting to see how one's old tastes hold up to his or her current likings. Surprisingly enough, my haven't changed much.

4. pedicure

I got a pedicure and I'm kind of in love with how my feet look.

5. i've got to use my imagination - gladys knight and the pips

I've been on a soul kick lately, making Gladys Knight & the Pips a must on my playlist.

Have a great week!
-kenda

twenty-five

2011-07-30T12:40:00.000-05:00

Thursday was my 25th birthday. To celebrate my mom made me a cake that is probably better suited for a five-year-old, and I loved it.

And because celebrations, for me, are all about food I went to Meddlesome Moth to partake in my favorite meal, Shrimp & Grits with Jalapeno sauce.

(gratuitous sweets shot)

vintage stripes

2011-07-27T12:00:00.000-05:00

sunglasses & belt - f21 | dress - vintage via etsy | shoes - target

I've felt rather ambivalent towards this dress ever since it's come into my possession. I bought it last year and this is only my second time wearing it. The first time was to work and I quickly realized this is not something I feel comfortable wearing on the job. It's too casual for my 9-to-5, but I'm starting to think it's pretty great for a casual Saturday of errand running and cleaning.

Looking at these pictures, I'm glad I resisted my initial urge to hem this dress. I don't know what I was thinking at the time. It's plenty short already. In fact, I think the cashier at Costco may have caught a glimpse of my bum while I was bending over.

On a completely unrelated note, I've found a Bon Iver song I like. Now I feel like I belong. Kidding...kind of.

monday summary: the heat

2011-07-25T13:33:00.000-05:00

1. iced coffee

I've started making my ice coffee rather than buying it. I'm going to save a fortune.

2. makeup & the like

And what am I going to do with said fortune? Spend it on makeup (or more generally, beauty products).

3. mini twists
I put my hair in small twists for the first time (you can see them here), and boy did it take a long time. I'm not sure I'll be doing that again.

4. little kids dancing
I cannot get enough of this video. Is there anything more adorable than kids singing and dancing to Outkast?

5. lizzy grant aka lana del rey

I'm loving "Video Games". This Nancy Sinatra doppelganger's voice and style have me intrigued. I'm interested to see where here career goes.

my unmade face is a product of haste

2011-07-23T17:12:00.000-05:00

lace top & belt - f21 | dress - ross | shoes - bcbgeneration via ross

My alarm clock gave up the ghost causing me to wake up two hours late Tuesday morning. Miraculously I managed to make it work only 10 minutes late, but I didn't have any time to eat or {gasp} put on makeup, hence the glasses. Normally going without makeup is that big of a deal for me (I almost never wear it on the weekends), but I feel funny going without at work.

I need to get over this weirdness because I don't plan on wearing makeup at all once school starts. Trying to touch up my oily face between classes is too much for me.

RIP Amy Winehouse

prescription for a fashion rut

2011-07-19T15:48:00.000-05:00

necklace - etsy | blouse - vintage | belt - f21 | skirt elle via kohls | shoes - aldo

Lately I've been in a bit of a sartorial rut as it's been blazing hot here in Texas. An unfortunate side effect of said rut is that my blog has become nothing but a compilation of lists since I don't have any outfits to share and I haven't been documenting my cooking. Thankfully, I've kicked the boredom and have a renewed interest in clothing. It's going to be hot for another three months here, so I can't just give up to the heat. Just in case anyone else is having a hard time finding inspiration, I thought I'd list my steps for beating the funk:

VISIT THRIFT STORES -- I'm fortunate to live near a couple of good thrift stores, and I always find the most interesting clothing in them.
PERUSE SITE LIKE PINTEREST -- My Outfit Inspiration Board as well as the pages of other users are good source of inspiration for when you're mind goes blank.
PLAY DRESS-UP IN YOUR CLOSET -- I just start trying on pieces to see how different items look together. This usually ends up in a big pile of clothes spread out on my closet floor, but I think the mess is a fair trade if it gets rid of the fashion doldrums.

I hope this helps!

monday summary: it was a hot, busy week

2011-07-18T11:38:00.000-05:00

1. random black girl

This video amused me all week. Thanks to Sociological Images for posting it.

2. heat

I try not to complain about the heat too much. It's July, and I live in Texas. It's going to be hot; there's nothing you can do about it. However, right now I feel justified in my whining. The A/C at my job has totally given out and for the past few days I've been working in a building where the thermostat read 95 degrees. I didn't even wear makeup to work on Friday because I knew I'd sweat it off.

3. harry potter

My dad, younger cousins, and I went to the midnight showing of Harry Potter on Thursday night/Friday morning. That was my first time attending an opening night showing of a Harry Potter film and I was a bit taken aback by the number of people dressed as characters from the movie. Some of the costumes were really good. I wish I'd brought my camera to take a few pictures.

4. my favorite outfits of the week

5. jay-z - roc boys (and the winner is)...

I heard this cut on the radio a couple of days ago. Man, I forgot how good this song is. In fact, I don't think I fully appreciated it when "American Gangster" first came out. I'll be revisiting the album soon.

Speaking of Hov, these pics I saw over at Fasasha have got me jazzed about the Jay-Z, Kanye West collabo. I am definitely looking forward to that album.

monday summary: the past couple of weeks

2011-07-11T14:40:00.000-05:00

Since I didn't get around to posting one of these last week, here is a rundown of the things that have been occupying my life over the past fourteen days:

1. a lost phone

For the second time in less than a year I lost my cell phone. Just as last time, I left the phone of the top of my car and then drove off. The phone stayed in place for nearly a mile only to fly off when I accelerated to enter the highway.

2. texas rangers

I went to the Rangers game just one night after a fan sustained fatal injuries after falling out of the stands. I thought the mood would be somber but a quick series of runs in the first inning had the place rocking. If I hadn't seen the story on the news the night before, I wouldn't have known anything was amiss.

3. the perfect pink

I've been searching for the perfect shade of pink to go with skin tone and I think this just might be it. I've had it on my toes for about two weeks now and if I can force myself to sit still long enough I'll put it on my fingernails sometime this week.

4. oklahoma
My parents and I took my little brother to Oklahoma to start the second session of summer school. Last year he went to school in San Antonio, but now he has decided to transfer north of the Red River. It's near impossible to spend time in Oklahoma and not see signs of Native American culture, both past and present. Makes me think about cultural appropriation and respectful ways for non-First Nations people such as myself to appreciate Native American culture. Check this video for more on cultural appropriation.

5. bon iver

A number of people with musical opinions that I trust have raved about Bon Iver so I've been trying to get into their music, but so far they've left me cold. Now don't get me wrong, I don't dislike the music. It just doesn't move me. I'm going to keep listening for a while longer, but I think this might be one of those trends I just don't get.

without shape

2011-07-10T19:44:00.000-05:00

top - madewell | necklace - f21 | bracelet - target | skirt - thrifted | shoes - blowfish via marshalls

This outfit is rather boxy and makes me look a bit shorter than I'd like. I didn't realize it until I got to work, but the low neckline emphasizes the widest part of me. Nevertheless, I really liked wearing these items. I probably won't pair them together again (at least not exactly like this), but I do like these colors together. I think green has become my favorite color to wear.

fruit pizza

2011-07-07T21:48:00.000-05:00

This fruit pizza (adapted from Our Best Bites) plus a couple slabs of ribs were my contribution to my family's fourth of July festivities. If you're looking for a light summer dessert, give this a try. It wasn't too hard to make, and it was a hit with everyone.

monday (or late tuesday) summary: halfway through this week, i talk about the last

2011-06-28T23:03:00.000-05:00

1. father's day

Father's day was actually last week but since my dad and I were both travelling last Sunday my family decided to celebrate this Sunday. I made Spicy Caribbean Honey Baked Salmon and it seemed to be hit. My younger cousins especially seemed to liked it.

2. staining furniture

Staining isn't particularly hard, but I've been putting off finishing this piece of furniture for months. Now all the painting is done and I just need to get some nobs and lining to the drawers.

3. what's going on - marvin gaye

I purchased this album on a whim last week, but I don't think I'll be feeling any remorse over this buy. Marvin Gaye was one hell of an artist....but you already knew that.

4. visiting relatives

My tween cousins have been visiting from Alabama for the month and boy is it difficult to blog when you're vying for computer time with a 9, 12, and 14-year-old.

5. oh land - rainbow

I've been humming this song off and on for days now. I'm not decided on whether I should buy the whole album, but I do like this joint.

shots from LA

2011-06-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

Next stop, San Francisco! Ok, not really. I'm back in Texas now. But I do want to visit San Fran soon. I think I'm in love with California.

monday summary - a whirlwind of a week

2011-06-20T22:46:00.000-05:00

1. victory parade

This past Thursday my cousins, my brother, and I headed to downtown Dallas to watch the Mavericks victory parade for winning the NBA Championship. The day was hot and the streets were crowded, but I had so much fun.

2. los angeles

Just a couple of years ago I would have told you that I don't like the West Coast of the US. I don't know what was wrong with me. California is a beautiful state and Los Angeles is a great city. The traffic is bad, that's for sure, but I wouldn't mind living there. The weather is a breeze compared to Texas and it's becoming more and more apparent to me that I was meant to be a city dweller.

3. food gawker + pinterest = time-wasting heaven
In this week alone I have spent hours pinning recipes from food gawker. My goal is to actually try some of them before the year is done.

4. fast food.
I'v eaten way to much of it lately. I blame my dietary slip up on all the traveling I've done this month. I'll be grounded for the next couple of weeks which should allow me to get back on track.

5. california love

Between spending some time in LA to this past Thursday being Tupac's 40th birthday, I've had California Love stuck in my head for the past three days. Oh how I love jamming out in the car to this song.

coming up roses

2011-06-19T15:50:00.000-05:00

blouse & skirt - thrifted | shoes - aldo | bracelets - world market & f21

It's only the 3rd week of June and the season hasn't officially started yet, but I believe this is going to be the best summer ever. There's been some sadness this month with the passing of my grandmother, but I've also had the chance to have fun with people I love. I'm currently flying back home from a weekend in Los Angeles celebrating my aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary. I had the time of my life hanging with family and I cannot wait until we get the chance to see each other again. At times we're a dysfunctional bunch, I honestly feel blessed to be part of such a loving family.

To all the fathers of the world (my daddy especially), Happy Father's Day!

now that the season's over

2011-06-15T10:44:00.000-05:00

image via Star-Telegram

My Dallas Mavericks are NBA Champions and let me tell you, the feeling is so sweet . For the past few weeks all of my free time has been devoted to following the Mavs in their improbable playoff run and the payoff was enormous. I didn't get anything productive done (aside from my 9-to-5) in this time, but who cares? Dirk, JET, and Jason Kidd now have a title.

(What a post about a championship be without Queen's "We Are the Champions"? Total schmaltz, I know. But I legitimately like this song.)

Now that the season is over and I still have about 2 months before school starts, I want to jot down a few projects I need to complete before September. I've been living in my current home for about 9 months and I still haven't utilized all the space efficiently. Here's a list of things I think will turn my little nest into a happy home (plus a few other random things).

1. Organize the garage
That space is a scattered hodgepodge at the moment. It needs some order.

2. Finish decorating guest bathroom
This has been an ongoing project for months. It's about time to wrap it up.

3. Paint the spare room
This space has been serving as a storage room, but I have plans of turning it into a play room. Never mind that I don't have kids. Twenty-somethings like playing too.

4. Finish decorating my bedroom
I've got some ideas, but I'm not sure how they'll pan out. Stay tuned.

5. Cook 5 vegetarian meals
I'm never going to become a vegetarian, but I would like to eat less meat.

6. Put myself on some sort of workout regiment.
I'd like to say that this is about my health, but it's not. I am vain. I'm heavier now than I've ever been and I don't like it.

7. Read Code of the Street by Elijah Anderson and Jay Z's Decoded.
I bought both of these books so, yanno, I need to read them.

8. Redesign my blog and tumblr.
I'm not at all tech-savy so there a good chance this doesn't happen.

This list is pretty modest, right? I think it's completely reasonable to believe I can get all of these things done in eight weeks time. Of course, I'm a pro at procrastination. I've wasted time when much more urgent tasks were on the line. Hopefully posting my list for all to see will force me to spend my time wisely. Or, maybe it won't. Who knows?

toodles,

finally....this post

2011-06-03T11:15:00.000-05:00

grey & blue shirts - old navy | shorts - new york & co | bag - cegca via ideeli | shoes & sunglasses - f21 | bracelets - world market & jc penney

This is what I wore on Monday, otherwise known in the States as Memorial Day. I'd planned on posting these pictures on Tuesday but I experienced a minor crisis that kept me offline for most of the week. I locked myself out of the administrator account on my computer. In an attempt to keep ~~my brother~~ a certain someone from using my laptop I changed the password and promptly forgot said password within five minutes. EPIC FAIL. This has to rank in Top 5 Stupidest Things I've Ever Done.

I was worried that I was going to have to pay a bunch of money to correct the problem and that I was going to loose all of my files, basically my worst case scenario. Luckily I ran across this video that explained step-by-step how to reset the password. This whole experience has convinced me of two things: number one, I need to stop procrastinating and backup my files and number two, your computer is not nearly as secure as you think it is. Believe me, if I can figure out how to override a password ANYONE can.

do you like?

2011-05-26T12:51:00.000-05:00

shirt - i heart ronson via thrift | vest - thrifted | skirt - target | shoes & belt - f21 | bag - cesco via ideeli

This outfit came together somewhat haphazardly. I was in a rush on Saturday evening and all I knew was that I wanted to wear a short skirt. Usually I plan my outfits out in advance so that I don't end up relying on my go-to ensemble of skinny jeans a v-neck shirt, but I wasn't in the planning mood on Saturday so I just started throwing things on and I came up with this. I'm rather pleased with the result. This is definitely one of my favorite outfits of the year.

and my week went like this

2011-05-23T17:59:00.000-05:00

1. i can't write left handed

Man, is this a great song. I wish I discovered it earlier. I need to listen to more of Bill Withers' work.

2. yard work
I am not a fan. When I was a kid my parents rarely made me help outside, and I thank them for it. The next place I live will not have a yard.

3. my favorite outfits of the week

1. The Mod Revival Blog 2. Style Bubble 3. Les Mads 4. Red Carpet Fashion Awards

4. prom

My brother just finished his freshman year of college, but he went to a high school prom this weekend with a childhood friend. Her family through a viewing party where I was the "official" photographer. Nothing too serious, but I found the whole experience to be pretty interesting. Hopefully my photography skills don't disappoint.

vid of the week: successful alcoholics

2011-05-21T15:48:00.000-05:00

Successful Alcoholics from TJ Miller, Lizzy Caplan & Jordan Vogt-Roberts from Lizzy Caplan

If you have about 25 minutes to spare, check out this video. It's an insightful look into alcoholism in a way that we don't typically talk about addiction. I hope a full-length feature picks up this theme.

{source}

feeling inspired

2011-05-20T12:07:00.000-05:00

button down shirt - f21 | scoop neck shirt - GAP | pants - LOFT | shoes - seychelles | bag - cesca via ideeli | glasses - warby parker

Ever since reading this post over at Bomani Jones' blog I've been inspired to put a little more into the text of my blog posts. I don't necessarily harbor aspirations of becoming a professional writer, but I do want to hone my skills. I've always considered writing one of my strengths and improving my ability to express myself clearly and concisely on paper can only help in the future.

In an effort to present my authentic self on this blog, I have tried to match my writing style to my speaking style. I wouldn't publish a post if I couldn't imagine those words coming out of my mouth. I didn't want to be fake. For however limiting this line of thinking can be, there's nothing fundamentally wrong with it. It served me well for the last year or so, but now I'm ready for a change. I'm pretty shy and reserved in the flesh, but I want to be slightly more expressive on the blog. Nothing too dramatic and especially nothing phony. I'm just going to try to present myself the way I imagine I would act if I could allow myself to open up to folks that aren't my immediate family.

have a great weekend!

what i've been up to

2011-05-18T11:38:00.000-05:00

I haven't been as active on the interwebs as I would like these past two weeks. School, work, and family obligations have got me beat. Generally speaking, I'm pretty good with allocating my time, but every now and then I try to cram in a little too much. Now my life is starting to calm down and I hope to get back to posting and commenting on other blogs soon. In the meantime, here's a rundown of what I've been up to:

1. finals
My first semester back in school is over! I really enjoyed my classes and am feeling pretty confident about my decision to study sociology. Finals weren't too bad and I'm satisfied with my grades. I think it's safe to call this semester a success. {I should note that I haven't actually seen my final grades. I reserve the right to change my mind if my GPA isn't as high as I was expecting.}

2. trip to alabama
As I stated before, some of my family affected by April's tornadoes in Alabama. The damage to their property was pretty minimal and they weren't harmed but they were a bit shaken up by the experience so my mom, my aunt, and I all decided to drive to Tuscaloosa to offer a bit of moral support. Below are some pictures of the devastation throughout the city.

3. retirement parties
My aunt retired last month and this past weekend my cousin and I planned a party for her. I'm pretty shy and downright antisocial at times making putting on a party a bit challenging for me. All in all, things went pretty well. Big thanks to my mom who came through in the ninth hour to help me with the food.

4. dallas mavericks
My Mavs are making a run at the NBA Finals and I'm loving every minute of it. Two weeks ago they swept the Lakers, last night they beat OKC. Here's to hoping they can win it all.

ebew: florals

2011-05-10T14:43:00.000-05:00

scarf - f21 | blazer & shirt -thrifted | pants - LOFT | shoes - rocket dog via DSW

This outfit is pretty light on the florals, but I've been wanting to participate in everybody everywear for a while now, so this black scarf with white flowers will have to do. I wore this outfit last week when temperatures dipped into the 50 to 70 degree range. I can't remember the last time it was that cool at the start of May, but it was a nice surprise.

weekend attire

2011-05-03T18:10:00.000-05:00

scarf (worn as headband) - thrifted | faux leather jacket - people's liberation | chambray shirt & tights - f21 | blue shirt - old navy | shoes - urban outfitters

This is what I wore on a rather pedestrian Sunday that consisted of grocery shopping, cooking, and clothes washing. I'd normally wear dowdy sweats and a t-shirt on a day like this, but not having posted any outfits last week, I wanted to make sure I wore something "blog worthy".

I've read some discussion on other blogs about the standards we hold ourselves to and what makes an outfit blog worthy. For me, it comes down to two criteria. I'll post pictures of my outfit if a.) I like what I'm wearing or b.) I think the outfit is interesting. There's a natural imperative to come up with creative clothing combinations when you're documenting you're personal style, and I think that is fine. So long as I don't allow myself to get caught up in some sort of rat race where I'm overspending my budget, I don't think there's anything wrong with being choosy about what outfits make it onto the blog.

monday summary - week in review

2011-05-02T10:00:00.000-05:00

1. take off your shirt - mind bokeh

2. rabbits

There are at least 20 rabbits outside of my job every day. Soon we'll be overrun by these bunnies.

3. veronika's mango citrus tart
I tried out {this} recipe over the weekend and it is quite good. I need to work on my tart-making technique, but this one's definitely a keeper.

4. donald trump

Donald Trump is a pompous jerk. I hate that he's received so much media attention as of late, but Saturday's White House Correspondents Dinner made it all worth it. Trump was the butt of all the best jokes and from the look of the scowl on his face, he did not appreciate the attention.

5. tornadoes in the south
Many of my relatives live in Alabama and my aunt's neighborhood was badly damaged by a mile-wide tornado. Luckily her house is still standing, but many others in the area lost much more. If you can spare a moment, please keep them in your thoughts.

late monday summary - week in review

2011-04-25T23:24:00.000-05:00

a word of warning: this is a food-heavy post.

1. my favorite snack

My favorite snack is actually Blazin Buffalo & Ranch Doritos, but in the interest of eating healthy foods I've supplanted my normal chips with pineapples and blueberries mixed into Yoplait Key Lime Pie yogurt topped with almonds.

2. beer

I'm trying to start drinking beer. My beverage of choice is usually wine and occasionally I drink the hard stuff but I've never really gotten into beer. This weekend I tried Dos Equis. It wasn't too bad. Much better than the keg beer I drank my freshman year in college.

3. time machine

Big K.R.I.T. is quickly becoming my favorite new artist. I listen to this song at least three times a day. I love it.

4. cheesecake

My contribution to Easter dinner was a cheesecake. As usual, my mom did all the serious cooking and I added desert. One of these days I'm going to get around to helping her with the entire meal.

good friday

2011-04-22T21:51:00.000-05:00

scarf - f21 | v-neck shirt - target | skirt & belt - thrifted | shoes - ALDO

Easter is big in my Evangelical family. Each year we had egg hunts, church programs, and new dresses. Since leaving home my religious commitment has waxed and waned, but I always enjoy celebrating Easter. I have a massive sweet tooth and I pretty much like any holiday where I can get candy. Hope you have a good one!

vid of the week: look at me now

2011-04-20T10:00:00.003-05:00

I don't even like the original version of this song, but this cover is seriously impressive.

h/t postbourgie

the poetic juices are not flowing

2011-04-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

shirt - thrifted | cardigan - old navy | belt & shoes - f21 | jeans - new york & co

I couldn't think of a title for this post. I've literally been thinking about it for hours and I've got nothing. My creativity meter is at a zero. Hats off to all those bloggers who come up with clever titles every single post. I don't know how they do it. On this day, I've got nothing.

I wore this last Friday. My goal for the next few months: post outfit pictures closer to the day I actually wear them. It's hard to talk about an ensemble when you can't remember wearing it. I really should be able to remember Friday. It was only four days ago, but my memory is bad.

until next time,

monday summary - week in review

2011-04-18T10:00:00.019-05:00

1. blown budgets

I totally overspent my clothing budget for the month on these shoes. The ALDO heels were an impulse buy. I need to stay out of malls. I have no self control.

2. spring cleaning
I finally cleaned my house. A few areas still need some attention, but the main rooms now look decent.

3. lemon lift

This tea is both cheap and yummy.

4. macklemore

Love this kid's flow.

5. taxes
I waited until the last moment to pay up. My pockets are definitely lighter, but I'm not going to complain. Americans pay fewer taxes than just about all of the Western World.

plain white

2011-04-15T12:57:00.000-05:00

scarf & belt - thrifted | shirt & shoes - target | pants - LOFT

For some time now, boyfriend v-neck tees have been my staple. I think the cut flatters my figure and they're an easy option on those days when I'm out of ideas of what to wear.

Would you believe I actually ironed these pants before wearing them? I'm not a fan of ironing, but these bad boys were soooo wrinkly. I had no choice. Clearly, I didn't do a very good job. Next time I'm going to throw them in the drier and hope the heat smooths them out. That would probably be more effective than my ironing job.

fiesta

2011-04-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

I was in San Antonio this past weekend during its Fiesta Week. I'd never heard of Fiesta before but apparently it's been taking place in San Antonio since the late 19th century. I think most of the bigger events won't be happening until this coming weekend, but the parts that I was able to observe were interesting.

This wasn't my first time visiting San Antonio. I've actually been to the city quite a few times as a child and my brother lives their now, but this was the first time in at least fifteen years I've done any of the sort touristy things.

It's was rather fascinating getting to see some of Texas' more famous sights. I recently watched the movie Texas (a hokey three-hour production that I do not recommend) so the history of the state was fresh on my mind. My traveling partner (aka my mom) was not so interested in the sights. She preferred lounging in our hotel room.

After a bit of coaxing I was able to get her into the city for a look around. I think she enjoyed herself, but she did not seem to be as entertained as I was. Perhaps my two years of Texas History (thank you, Texas public schools) give me a different perspective.

channeling my inner alexa

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

dress - modcloth | cardigan - old navy | shoes - steve madden

Thanks to a Modcloth sale about a month ago I decided to step out of my comfort zone and give this dress a try. The style is outside of my norm and at I times I did feel a bit uncomfortable wearing this dress. Something about the collar threw me off.

Now that a week has passed since I wore this outfit, I am starting to come around to the look. It wasn't all that bad. This dress is definitely different from anything I've worn in the past 15 years, but I'm glad I bought it. At only thirty bucks, it wouldn't have bothered me too much to donate it if I ended up not liking it.

I look REALLY big in this photo. I was trying to capture the detail of the dress, but this might be too much of a closeup.

dreamin

2011-04-04T13:40:00.000-05:00

shirt & shoes - target | cardigan - old navy | skirt - thrifted | belt & necklace - f21

I thrifted this skirt back in the fall, but I've been hesitant to wear it because of how bright it is. I normally like color, but for the past 6 months or so I've been digging neutrals. Perhaps it's all in my head, but I think neutral colors make me look more like an adult. Of course wearing the same color combo for months on end can get rather boring. Now that spring is upon us, I feel compelled to bust out the brighter hues. Every now and then a change of pace is nice.

Big K.R.I.T. released his mixtape Return of 4Eva last week and I cannot get enough of it. I listen to it every day and "Dreamin" has quickly become one of my favorite tracks. Even though K.R.I.T.'S only 24 and a relatively new artist, this song is a wistful look back at his youth. The whole tape's worth a listen and you can download it here.

monday summary - week in review

2011-03-28T09:00:00.000-05:00

1. reading

Since I've been procrastinating a ton lately I had a lot of reading to do this week in order to catch up at school. In fact, reading was really the only thing I did this weekend.

2. biscuit bingets

This biscuit beignet recipe is absolutely divine. It isn't going to do anything to help my goal of losing ten pounds, but some food is worth the extra calories.

3. in california - joanna newsom

Joanna Newsom is hands down the best artist to study to.

4. cardigans

I went on a bit of cardigan spree this week buying three and salvaging two from my give-away pile. The red and white striped one was a completely gratuitous purchase, but I think I can actually justify buying the two cardigans on the left.

5. the trailer park boys (NSFW)

It's my brother's fault that I've even heard of this show. He introduced me to the Trailer Park Boys two weeks ago when he was home for spring break and in that time I've watched all seven seasons on Netflix. The show is vulgar, stupid, and pointless but I can't get enough of it. I can't think of the last time I laughed so hard at a TV show.

flats will do

2011-03-26T16:56:00.000-05:00

shirt & belt - thrifted | cardigan & shoes - target | pants - old navy

A shoe with some sort of heel would have been a better choice to pair with these pants, but my feet were in no mood for anything higher than an inch. I don't generally find heels to be comfortable and I have trouble wearing them two days in a row. This probably explains my ridiculous collection of flats.

I know a woman who wears stilettos Monday thru Friday to a job that requires her to walk a lot. I have know idea how she makes it through the day, but I'm in awe of her ability to show no hints of discomfort. It's been suggested that I make high heels a more frequent part of my wardrobe since I'm relatively short (I'm somewhere between 5'2 and 5'3), but that's not going to happen. The stigma of being short is not great enough to compel me into abandoning my flats. For my purposes flat shoes (with the occasional heel mixed in) will do.

going to longer lengths

2011-03-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

jacket - people liberation via ideeli | top - arizona | skirt - thrifted | shoes - urban outfitters

It's funny how quickly tastes can change. Last year at this time, I was only wearing skirts that hit a couple of inches above my knee. Now that midi skirts are all the rage, I've felt compelled to give the trend a try.

The thrift stores in my area are absolute gold minds for longer skirts. I see a couple that I like every time I go shopping. In fact, I'm limiting myself to one thrift store visit a week. I really don't need to buy anything else until I get rid of some of the clothes I don't wear.

monday summary - week in review

2011-03-21T18:20:00.000-05:00

I'm a bit pressed for time, so I'm going to keep this short.

1. Jalen Rose

Jalen's come under fire for calling black Duke basketball players Uncle Toms. I think this controversy is really much ado about nothing. I find it hard to believe that anyone can watch this short clip, let alone the entire documentary, and come away thinking that these are Jalen Rose's current feelings. Nevertheless, some folks have decided to take Jalen to task totally devoid of context. The whole conversation has been rather frustrating, but if you're looking for a good nuanced analysis check out Post Bourgie and Bomani Jones.

2. Wildflower

To be completely honest, I don't know what this song is about. There are a couple of nice lines, but I don't really think it has any overarching theme. I mainly like "Wildflower" because Cee lo's voice is nice.

2. 8 PM Sunsets

The sun is setting around eight at night, and I couldn't be happier. Life's no fun when your day ends at 5. I know it's all in my head, but I really do feel like I'm getting more hours in the day.

have a nice week!

30 for 30: the final days

2011-03-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

blouse - banana republic via thrift | skirt - elle | nylons - target | shoes - walmart

And here are the last three days of my 30 for 30 challenge. As per my usual, I waited until the end to wear this elle skirt. I would like to wear it more, but I have such a difficult time styling it.

scarf & shirt - f21 | cardigan - secondhand | jeans - ross | shoes - walmart

I kept things pretty casual on day 29 since I was going to school on only a few hours sleep.

blouse - banana republic via thrift | vest - thrifted | belt - f21 | pants - LOFT | shoes - walmart

And I wouldn't necessarily say I ended things with a bang, but I do like the sleek look this belted vest and fitted riding pants give me. I actually felt like a working professional while wearing this.

monday (make that tuesday) summary - week in review

2011-03-15T14:05:00.000-05:00

1. all of the lights

To be completely honest, I wasn't feeling this song the first couple of times I heard it. Only recently has it grown on me and I now realize it's kind of epic. Unfortunately, the video is a bit of letdown.

2. arts & crafts

I finally got around to buying the materials to make this bracelet.

3. faulty phones

I can no longer make phone calls on my blackberry. I hate talking on the phone and have always primarily used it for texting and tweeting, but not being to make any calls is becoming a bit of a problem. Hopefully I can get a new phone without too many problems.

4. toms shoes

I've decided to give into my inner egghead and buy a pair of Toms. Last spring I wanted Keds, this year I want Toms.

30 for 30: weekend in georgetown

2011-03-13T12:31:00.000-05:00

shirt - arizona | shorts - LOFT | shoes - steve madden

I'll keep this short since I've been procrastinating all day and have a few things I need to get done before tomorrow. I thought I might have difficulty finding an appropriate spot to take pictures when I was at my aunt's house in central Texas, but it turns out her back yard is an even better location than mine. I do like my wooden fence backdrop, but it's nice to have a change of scenery every now and then.

cardigan - secondhand | dress - old navy via thrift | shoes - steve madden

30 for 30: black with a dash of brown

2011-03-11T09:23:00.000-06:00

blazer - dept store (couple yrs old) | v-neck shirt - target | jeans - ross | shoes - steve madden

It took 24 years, but I have finally managed to mix black and brown. I honestly can't even tell you why this color combination made me so apprehensive before.

30 for 30: it's not winter anymore

2011-03-08T12:00:00.001-06:00

scarf - unknown | cardigan - secondhand | jeans - f21 | shoes - thrifted

This is the part of the challenge where I began having a bit of difficulty. I picked my items for this 30 for 30 challenge with cold weather in mind. I didn't consider the possibility of an extended period of warm weather. Yeah, some of my items are not going to see the light of day.

monday summary - week in review

2011-03-07T18:41:00.000-06:00

1. Purple Berri

It's like Pink Berry but better. The one downside is that they don't have a wide variety of yogurt flavors and my favorite (pomegranate) is seasonal.

2. Poppin' Bottles

I'm on record as a Drake hater, but I have been banging this song constantly for the past 2 weeks. Drake's flow is actually kind of nice (though rather monotone) and TI's dynamic delivery makes up where Drake is lacking. The song's not for delicate ears and is tinged with homophobia, but I like it..

3. Coke

I'm giving up sodas for Lent. In preparation, I'm binging until Wednesday.

4. Long Skirts

I tried wearing a long skirt for the first time this weekend. I've been slow to this trend because I felt I was too short, but the color of this skirt is amazing (this photo isn't doing it justice) and it was only a few bucks at the thrift store. Had to pick it up.

30 for 30: black, white, and grey

2011-03-06T11:00:00.001-06:00

button down top - new york & co | v-neck shirt & skirt - old navy | shoes - walmart

I love grey (or is it gray?) and black, but I need to broaden my color palette. It can get boring after 3 consecutive days.

shirt - banana republic (via thrift) | sweater - target | jeans - f21 | shoes - steve madden

Let's pretend my shirt collar was straight in this picture.

button down shirt - old navy (via thrift) | dress - gap | shoes - walmart

I've had this dress for months, but I never thought of wearing a long sleeve button down under it until I saw this {post} by Kendi. Sheer brilliance. I love her {blog}.

30 for 30: rinse and repeat

2011-03-02T09:00:00.000-06:00

scarf - h&m | blazer - department store (couple years old) | shirt, jeans, sunglasses - f21 | shoes - seychelles | bag - target

The above picture was taken at work. Since no one else was around I snuck outside and snapped a few pictures of my outfit.

cardigan - secondhand | vest - thrifted | dress - h&m | shoes - walmart

I actually can't see or remember what shoes I was wearing this day, but I'm going to assume they're the flats I bought at Wally World when I was in Atlanta last year. To be so cheap, these things have held up pretty well.

scarf - target | dress - h&m | shoes - steve madden

Same dress, different day. Don't worry, it didn't stink, and I only wore it for a few hours while I was grocery shopping. After that I retreated back into my PJs.

I'm really glad I included this dress in the challenge. It's gotten pretty warm here and a lot of the heavier items I included are about to get packed away for the next eight months. That's the thing about living in Texas, the winters are short and the summers are loooooong.

ciao,

30 for 30: i don't even like talking on the phone

2011-03-01T09:00:00.000-06:00

headband - f21 | v-neck shirt - target | grandpa cardigan - thrifted | jeans - ross | shoes - walmart

Normally I'd say taking pictures while talking on the phone is a bad idea but when the sun is going down and you can't get the person on the other side of the line to hang up, you do what you gotta do.

Please ignore my wrinkly shirt. A full day of slouching around in class doesn't exactly leave me looking fresh.

'til next time!

30 for 30: catching up

2011-02-27T10:00:00.000-06:00

30 for 30: back from the dead

2011-02-25T09:00:00.001-06:00

dress - gap | scarf (worn as a belt) - marshalls | shoes - walmart

Phew, I finally got my computer and camera problems taken care of. I'm not at all a tech savvy person so it's a bit of miracle that I even figured out what was wrong in the first place. Nevertheless, here is the 13th outfit of the 30 for 30 challenge. I kept this outfit pretty basic and simple mainly because I was running late for work. I didn't even put on makeup because, you know, looking pretty is nice but getting paid is even better.

Music Monday: Radiohead - Lotus Flower

2011-02-21T11:00:00.000-06:00

Radiohead - Lotus Flower - MyVideo
{source}

At some point I'll figure out what's going on with camera & computer. Until then, I'm going to keep posting videos.

vid of the week: adele: tiny desk concert

2011-02-18T18:49:00.000-06:00

It's fascinating watching Adele perform. She has such a big voice and it's interesting seeing how she controls it all. Hard to believe she's only in her early 20s.

Have a wonderful weekend!

30 for 30: the shorts

2011-02-16T09:00:00.000-06:00

scarf - h&m | cardigan (worn as top) - secondhand | grandpa cardigan - thrifted | shorts - LOFT | brogues - steve madden

A couple of years ago, I refused to wear shorts because I thought they made my legs look bad. Now, I'm in love with shorts. In fact, in my last go around in Kendi's 30 for 30 challenge I regretted not including a pair in my list of items.

This past Saturday the heavens saw fit to give us a bit of sun allowing me to break out this pair. I like the color and that they're not too short on me. I've found that the shorter my shorts, the younger people think I am. I don't have any particular interest in dressing modestly, but I also don't want folks thinking I'm a teenager.

30 for 30: the second third

2011-02-14T09:00:00.000-06:00

headband - f21 | top - old navy via thrift | grandpa cardigan - thrifted | jeans - ross | shoes - thrifted

I put on this headband to add a bit of color to my outfit. Had I checked the mirror a little closer I would have noticed that my bright pink lips were providing more than enough color. Funny how I don't see these things until I'm editing my pictures.

30 for 30: replace the last "X" with a "Y"

2011-02-13T14:07:00.000-06:00

shirt - arizona brand via dept store | sweater - gap via thrift | jeans - f21 | shoes - thrifted

This sweater is boxy and gives me a boyish shape. My main reason for wearing it was warmth, but I'm also digging the sort of androgynous look it gives me. My only problem with this outfit is that if I get a bit bloated after lunch, I look like I have a baby bump. Not flattering at all.

30 for 30: unexpected delays

2011-02-12T12:58:00.001-06:00

scarf - gift | cardigan - secondhand | dress - h&m | tights - walmart | wedges - seychelles

I've gotten behind on my posting, but this time I have a legitimate excuse. The USB ports on my computer have gone dead leaving with me no way to download any pictures from my camera onto my laptop. Lucky for me, the computer at my job works just fine so here I am at work at noon on a Saturday banging out this post {who's a good blogger?}.

Hopefully I can fix the problem within the next few days because editing photos at work is weird. I hope no one asks what I'm doing because explaining this kind of stuff to people who are unfamiliar with the whole concept of personal blogging is really really weird.

30 for 30: back to normal

2011-02-09T15:22:00.000-06:00

scarf & jeans - f21 | sweater - target | boots - nine west

The snow & ice have subsided (at least for a couple of days) and I was finally able to go back to school. It's weird having a week off when you're only a couple of weeks into the semester. It's like you never started. My professors seemed just as out of sorts as I was.

30 for 30: the problem with taking pictures

2011-02-08T20:01:00.000-06:00

scarf - thrifted | shirt & jeans - f21 | boots - nine west

At night, there isn't enough light.

shirt - banana republic via thrift | pants - LOFT | nylons - target | wedges - seychelles

In the morning, I'm usually running late and fail to realize that I cut my shoes out of the picture. I need to get up the first time my alarm goes off.

music monday: big k.r.i.t. - hometown hero

2011-02-07T21:40:00.000-06:00

I already posted the live version of this song on my tumblr, but I like "Hometown Hero" so much I thought I'd post the studio cut on the blog too. Hope you enjoy.

30 for 30: super bowl

2011-02-06T12:56:00.000-06:00

v-neck - target | vest - thrifted | jeans - f21 | socks - unknown | boots - nine west

Check it. Two posts in one day. I'm on a roll.

Yesterday my family and I went Sundance Square in Fort Worth to check the ESPN setup. Steelers & Packers fans were everywhere. Not the greatest sight for a Cowboys fan.

30 for 30: snow day, for real this time

2011-02-06T09:00:00.001-06:00

blazer - unknown (purchased at some department store 5 or 6 years ago) | button down - new york & co | v-neck - old navy | pants & socks - f21 | boots - nine west

I know that I said day 1 was a snow day, but that was really ice. Being a Texan, I call any wintery precipitation "snow" but the stuff you see here is legit. I got ready this morning thinking I'd be able to go to work only to see 5 inches of snowed piled up on my driveway. Ice + snow = no driving for me. I tried driving on snow last year and I think my car moved about 2 inches before I gave up. Who knew you have to shovel the stuff? But I'm not going to front, I've actually been enjoying the weather. Playing in the snow is so much fun.

30 for 30: easy as pie

2011-02-05T09:00:00.003-06:00

scarf - gift | shirt, tights, socks - f21 | dress - h&m | boots - nine west

I know I'm only a few days in, but I'm beginning to think this 30 for 30 challenge is going to be a breeze. Last time around I planned out most of my outfits a couple of days in advance and was somewhat apprehensive about the whole venture. This time I haven't done any planning and things seem to be working out fine. Of course, I've been snowed/iced in for the past few days leaving me with as much time as I wanted to get dressed. We'll see how things go once I have to go back to work and school.

30 for 30: day 2

2011-02-04T09:00:00.001-06:00

hat - gift | scarf & top - f21 | jeans - ross | boots - nine west

It's the second day of 30 for 30 as well as my second day of being stuck in the house. There's a ton of ice right in front of my garage preventing me from backing out my car. I gotta tell you, this whole limited wardrobe thing is really easy when you can't go anywhere.

30 for 30: Snow Day

2011-02-03T14:16:00.000-06:00

scarf - unknown | sweater - gap via thrift | jeans & socks - f21 | boots - nine west

I kept it pretty simple for the 1st day of 30 for 30 since I didn't actually leave my house. School was cancelled because most the roads were iced over and I couldn't even go to work because my job was closed. I wish I could say I was productive on this day off, but I ended up spending most of my time sipping hot apple cider, browsing blogs, and sleeping. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I never seem to get anything done on the weekends either.

better late than never

2011-02-02T20:17:00.000-06:00

This post was supposed to go up this past weekend, but I'm just getting around to it today. On the plus side, I have been keeping up with my outfits & taking pictures. So let's get this posted so I can show off what I've been wearing.

1. LOFT riding pants | 2. f21 jeans | 3. ross jeans | 4. LOFT shorts

11. LOFT top | 12. old navy v-neck top | 13. target v-neck top | 14. gap sweater via thrift | 15. target sweater

16. thrifted vest | 17. thrifted grandpa cardigan | 18. eddie bauer knit cardigan via thrift | 19. unknown blazer (i bought this about 5 years ago) | 20. second hand cardigan

21. old navy dress via thrift | 22. gap dress | 23. h&m dress | 24. elle skirt via kohls | 25. old navy skirt

26. thrifted booties | 27. walmart flats | 28. seychelles wedges | 29. steve madden oxfords | 30. nine west boots

Music Monday: The Civil Wary - Billie Jean

2011-01-31T09:00:00.001-06:00

The laughter from the audience is slightly distracting, but I do like this rendition of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean.

bare legs and freezing

2011-01-25T09:00:00.000-06:00

grandpa cardigan - thrifted | v-neck shirt - target | shorts - f21 | booties - thrifted

Every now and then I get dressed with little regard to the weather and wear something wholly inappropriate. Today was one such day. North Texas winters are relatively mild, but even here it's too cold for shorts without tights. It's just that I'm having a love affair with my legs right now, and I don't want to cover them up.

A guy at the drug store congratulated me on being tough enough to wear shorts in the winter. It was weird and I didn't know how to respond. Next he complimented my hair. By then I was completely freaked and out. My mom calls this flirting; I call that being a creep. I'm probably going to be single for the rest of my life.