Take a Look at Me Now

Man, I love the blouse in this post. Look:

Wow, a weird face. But a clear shot of the upper half. Upon reflection, I think that I could've used a lighter bottom piece. (Not that I don't love these pants, I do. I completely adore them.)

Cue lighting . . .

Cardigan: New York & Co. Dress: Ann Taylor Loft. Pants: Ann Taylor Loft. Booties: Payless.

Surprise: it's no blouse! It's a tucked-in dress! WOW! So I don't know that this outfit is really incredible or groundbreaking or anything, but it is definitely comfortable and colorful . . . and makes use of a dress that I would otherwise only wear on Sundays! Yay 30 for 30, forcing me to wear my things in different ways! I think the great beauty of this challenge is that it gives us our own closets back.

I, for one, appreciate that.

Note: I love the song that inspired this post title. You may think, 'which version?' but the answer is that I love Mariah's interpretation, the Phil Collins original, as well as the most recent Postal Service imagining. I think it says so much for a single song if it can be reinterpreted by many very different musical groups and always be interesting and beautiful. That means it's well-written, I think.

Second note: The traveling soldier that I love has arrived at his fob now. Yesterday, actually, and I got to talk to him earlier today! It only took a week. Also, that means I have lived through a week of deployment, and I am DANG proud!

The Show Must Go On

Hey there, Lazy McLazypants here, just stalling through my 30 for 30 . . . I began this challenge WELL before the official start date, which, I think, lulled me into a sense of mistaken complacency. Now, on my 16th outfit, I'm behind many people! I would like to get this over with, and with that goal in mind, I am going to try to post everyday. This shouldn't be too hard, right? I mean, I have lots of outfits that are already photographed and ready to be blogged about, I just need to hurry up and paste 'em up on here. So now I've told you my ambitious goal, please nag me into getting it done.

Oh yeah, here is an outfit.

I'm hoping you find this look to be intentionally disheveled and purposeful . . . rather than exhausted after a day in front of jerk students.

"Wait, what am I wearing, again?"

      

Cardigan: New York and Co. via Nikki! Button-up: Polo (male) childswear via Plato's Closet. Belt: New York & Co. Skirt: Ann Taylor Loft. Boots: Payless.        

Details:

Note: Non-waist belt, waisted into submission.

Cable tights and argyle socks! (Pulled up to show pattern. I did NOT wear them like this, I swear.)

I would just like to speak for a moment about the inequalities of quality clothing. These little booties here were purchased during an odd (for me) fit of "I want to look older"-ness during my junior year of high school. As that purchase was over seven years ago, these are one of my favorite and most long-standing (hah!) pairs of shoes. I own few (if any? maybe sandals) that have been in my possession longer, and am amazed at how they've held up. Sure, the toe is scuffed, but I have 4-month-old boots that probably cost more by an entire order of magnitude with a bigger scuff problem.

And my biggest complaint with a shoe of any price range is when it's uncomfortable. When shirts or pants are uncomfortable, they suck and don't get worn as much, but it doesn't hinder you from walking around! And cheap shoes (in my opinion) tend to be much worse offenders than expensive ones in the comfort area. Not these, though! They are perfectly comfortable for spending a day on my feet, yelling (read: trying not to yell) at band kids.

So the issue is, how could I have known these would work out so well? I couldn't. Which makes them a very fortunate counter-example to my semi-new rule: no Payless. I've basically given up on getting shoes at such cheap places, as gems like these are few and far between, but I don't know what the better option is. I don't always have the money to just buy as nice of shoes as I can find (and when that doesn't lead me to a really comfy, long-lasting shoe, I am very extra-PISSED!), but I also don't have the time to take hours shopping for shoes, with probably-neccessary extended try-ons and much picking through rack upon rack of dreck.

So, few readers that I do have, (and the even fewer who are still reading this ranty treatise) how do you find great shoes? If you go into a store, how do you tell from just a moment or two of trying-on whether they will be comfortable for all-day use? I need some methods and suggestions.
Help!

Crafts

Warning: NOT an outfit post. Which is maybe silly, as I am definitely getting behind on those things. But right now I want to show some crafty things I did recently. Both were projects for my husband, which he needed before he left. Obviously, these were begun and completed the night before he left.    : P

First: A company patch sewn onto his "Bail-out Bag". (This is a bag carried in the cockpit, full of extra ammunition and supplies. Pretty obvious what function it serves, I think.) I took all of this post's pictures with my mac's Photo Booth, which does not show things as you'd see them, but a mirror image of that. I don't know why. Obviously, you don't usually know this, but this looks like the words are backwards. They're not.

I didn't have black thread (???) but I did have gray, so you can definitely see the stitches almost all the way around. Also, I should have taken a picture of how destroyed the needle became, pushing through all that thick fabric. Whew!

Oh, the magic of Photo Booth Effects! The right image is what the patch actually looks like. KILLER SPADES!!!

Second: Laptop bag creation. Well, not bag, exactly. Mostly my honey wanted a sleeve, and was lusting after this one on Etsy. I agree that it's a great-looking, probably-sturdy sleeve. But holy freaking freak! Expensive for my taste. I wanted to copy it, with the pocket and snaps and cushion on the edge and all, but I didn't have much time, and the hubs didn't want the closure. So mine really is just a sleeve with a flap.

I bought some inexpensive wool suiting and thick-ish fleece to line it. I basically folded the seam allowances of the wool over the edge of the fleece pieces,

sewing it with a straight single stitch, then with an overlock stitch at the edge. At the corners, I snipped excess and just kind of ran over it a bit. The nice thing about these thick materials and the texture of my wool was that the stitching didn't really have to be pretty, you really couldn't tell anyway.

So then I just folded up one end to make a pocket big enough for the computer, and the rest is the flap! I sewed right on the right side with a triple-stitch. If I were smarter and more creative, I would think of a way to show no or fewer seams, but my husband doesn't care, and it was getting late as I cooked this up.

See that bag? That's where the computer goes.   : P

That's what it looks like with the little Macbook Air inside. I tried to make the pocket wide enough, especially at the top with the wider end of the computer, to allow it to fit.

Okay. (See my marks where I had measured on the fleece? Pretend you don't.)

If I had this to do again, I would maybe put in an insert to widen the sides, or just leave a little MORE room for the thing. Currently, it's pleasantly snug, but I would've liked to have left more room between the edge stitches and the edge. Look:

See how I can just barely pinch the edges? I don't think there is danger of the stitches coming loose or anything, but it would be better if there were more room.

Okay, silly picture time!

The good news: he really liked it.    : P

Here I Go Again

(On My Own)

Time for another outfit post! That's right, posted on a Saturday. Amazing!

Wow! I know what you're wondering - how could I find time to put up such an incredible post on my weekend? Right? . . . Right?

Okay, (obviously) this was taken in bed on my computer. You can't even see my bottom half. This day was simply exhausting, no time for pictures, and I couldn't get myself up to take any at the last minute. So I will just tell you: I was wearing jeans. Not the skinny ones, just the other, boring ones.

You're right, this shouldn't count as an outfit. And this doesn't really count as a post. I promise not to do it again, please just don't kick me off my blog!

To help appease you, here's a little bit of joy for your weekend.

Taken when I was home in Lawrence for the holidays. Look at that 'stache!

Okay, folks, I promise to have a real outfit up tomorrow - both halves included. Enjoy weekends, all!

Ease on Down the Road

Okay, okay. Last days of hubby in the country: over. Tearful good-bye, check. Radio silence on my blog: done.
It has been pretty crazy around here, what with the chaos of preparing for that departure, then actually going through it; but I'm through now. It's time to get back to the remix! Here's the next outfit picture. Sorry for the delay.

I think I began to post this outfit before, but I was pressed for time and all that, and I wasn't all that pumped about it. Obviously, the latter has more to do with it than the former. But it has got to go up or I'll never finish this silly challenge. (Note: though most people began on Feb. 1st, my first outfit post - of the challenge and ever - went up a month ago. Yikes.) So here it is.

Very shortly before I took these pictures, we obtained this neat bookshelf from Crate and Barrel. I was so enamored of it that when I chose to pose in front of it, I guess I thought, "It's so good-looking that it won't matter what pose I'm in or face I make - the shelf will make it work!" I'm sorry about the result.

Sweater: New York & Co. Shirt: Ann Taylor Loft. Skirt: Ann Taylor Loft. Tights: Target? Boots: White Mountain, I think, via DSW.

Here's to keepin' on keepin' on. Love to all, byeeeee!
Pineapple

I'll be thinking about you

So this morning the hubby and I woke up ultra-early, quickly made some Valentines, (I've been trying to get these done since about Saturday, but we haven't had time. This morning I finished one up to put in a package, from which my Honey will open one envelope at a time each month during his deployment) packed up his parents' suv, and headed out to the hangar on post where we would say our good-byes.

We sat in that huge, open space with tons of other soldiers and family members for about an hour and a half trying to keep our spirits up for our last moments together before he left and mostly, I have to say, it was awkward. Of course, I could have just bawled thinking about how long it will be until I can hold him again; I probably won't even hear from him again until he gets all the way to his FOB (forward operating base) and set up there, probably about ten days. But that wouldn't help anyone. Not his parents there with us, certainly not Josh, and not even me. I couldn't talk at all for the last two minutes before his formation, and I definitely cried some, but I tried to send him off with as many smiles as I could muster. I also could have spent the whole time just making empty conversation and jokes, but I also wanted some important hugs and pictures and kisses before he left. The hardest for me to see were the families with kids at an age where they won't understand why a parent has to leave. Why he or she won't be around for so long - I couldn't even look at those poor kiddos.

After the soldiers formation-ed-up and boarded the buses and drove away, the in-laws and I went out for breakfast (G's Pancake House bills itself perhaps a little optimistically as "a reason to wake up" but we did enjoy our pancakes and pigs in blankets) and then they took me home. This morning has been so emotionally draining that I feel like I've been through a few days since last night, but now I feel like I have all the time in the world and am just trying to think what to do to with it all. (I do have an exciting project to begin, though - two cushions for a loveseat and another seat in my Bonus Room. I'll show the fabric soon.) It's extremely odd to be alone here, mostly because it definitely hasn't sunk in yet. I keep thinking I hear Josh wandering around in the other room - maybe in the office or garage - but have to realize over and again that he's not here. I also keep thinking I need to ask him to pick up his shoes from the middle of our bedroom, or what he wants to do about silly mail that comes for him, or whatever. "I'll ask him when he gets home" I almost think, obviously imagining this afternoon, not 2012. He won't be home today. Or soon . . . this is SO WEIRD so far.

I really didn't mean for this blog to be about my military-wife-dom, I just can't really seem to write anything else until I get to what is really on my mind. If you aren't related to someone in the military, and/or have no idea what it's like, please don't be alienated. (You're just like I was about 3 years ago!) Don't feel like you have to say something deep and meaningful (of course, you can! That's appreciated, too!) or nothing at all. I mean, if you're a praying person, I sure would appreciate some prayers for the safety of my husband and his company, and for all their families throughout this year. But really, I just need diversion more than anything. So normal comments ("That outfit looks great!" or "You seem to have that on backward") would be great to get. Okay? Okay.

Anyway, it should be back to somewhat-newsy and mostly-outfit posts soon. I don't know if I'll get around to writing one before tomorrow, but I certainly may! The good news is that I got a half-day job to work this afternoon, so I'll be occupied for at least that much time today. Yay!
Take care, all. Hope to hear from you.
Pineapple

P.S. I'm really going to try to remember to post pictures of the crafty things I did at the last minute before Josh left for him.

Eat them up, YUM

Hey, recipes need trading, and this is one I love as of late.
(Posted by a blogger, suggested by another blogger, and now put up again by me. Oh, the world wide web is such a small space.)
Make some!

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/07/make-ahead-muffin-melts/

If you didn't go to the link immediately, here's why you should: egg. Cheddar. Bacon. Worcestershire sauce. Easy breakfast mix on an English muffin, with preparation actually possible before you head out in the morning - it only has to broil for 5 minutes. Amazing! (Also, I think this would still be great with good turkey bacon and other healthier substitutions.) GO THERE NOW.