Mama Told Me There'd be Days Like This

Whoo, this outfit was a learning experience. Do you ever have an outfit that you find yourself adjusting all day long? That's what we had here.

Cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft. Ruffley shirt: Ann Taylor Loft. Pants: Ann Taylor Loft. Scarf: India Store. Shoes: Thrifted.

So the original idea here was this outfit from Bri over at 49 Dresses. I just saw that cool scarf over the ruffley shirt, topped with the long cardigan, and loved it! I was bummed that I don't have any more interesting scarves like she wore, but I wanted to try with what I had. So I put this together . . . yeah. All day I was fiddling with the scarf. When I was taking the pictures, I took it off and, while I love that scarf, was relieved to see the outfit without it. Still, I look at these and wish my shirt had been untucked, and maybe the whole top had been belted? And while I love these shoes and was excited to wear them all day, the color of the socks with them, and both with the pants, well, it's all just plain distracting.

So this is a blog post of repentance. Thank goodness for outfits that teach me something.

Teacher Marks Our Height Against the Wall

The day I wore this outfit, I taught kindergarteners, and it felt perfect for that day. Like, if I were to pick out a costume for that exact profession, this would be it.

WHOA crazy-eyes!

Blazer: Thrifted Banana Republic. Turtleneck: Old Navy. Flower: NY&Co. Cords: Ann Taylor Loft. Socks: gift - Aeropostale? Shoes: Thrifted Chinese Laundry.

So the shoes and the little bag are two of my favorite new pieces from my favorite thrift shop (remember the polka dot shirt?) and I'm THRILLED to have them. I recently discovered that I love Mary Janes, so I was delighted to find a really quality pair of them, and the little purse is just great. It helps me quickly move from my backpack to my purse every day, and is SO CUTE! I love the tapestry look on the front. I also love that it was a dollar.

I have had some issues with dressing myself since the 30 has ended, but I think this was one of my most successful outfits.

Anyway, I promise I did NOT mark children's heights on the wall of the classroom where I subbed. I just love that White Stripes song.
: P

Give Up

The pictures of this outfit have helped me decide that these pants are not worth hanging on to. They were in my first outfit of the 30, (also of my blog) and I don't remember ever finding them to have photographed well. I think the shape is just not good for me, so I think I'm going to get them out of my closet and into my get-rid-of bag. But in the mean time, here's the outfit:

Jacket: Ann Taylor Loft. Button-up and flowers and pants: NY&Co. Shoes: Payless (ages ago.)

As I look at it now, this just looks like such an odd outfit. I like the flowers on the shirt, but the jacket is just the one I grabbed on my way out the door because I was cold. Then I sort of accidentally wore it all day like it was part of the plan. And the tucked shirt with no belt? It's screaming at me now. Sorry if it's screaming at you, too. But it is these things, these outfits that I'm unhappy with, that I learn from. A great outfit leaves me nothing to learn, but this one, well . . . let's just say there is plenty of room for improvement!

I Hope You Had the Time of Your Life

I figured it out! I got pictures to work on here! WOO HOO! Three cheers (at least) for helpful people on the internet who let you know how to do the cool things you want to do.  You all are great folks, thanks for the help!

Okay so, here's the 30 of 30 FINALLY:

Yes, these pictures could've used a bit of cropping, but by the time I got them onto flikr and up on here, (which won't be so difficult any other time, I'm sure) I was not ready to start all over to have them more attractively sized. Sorry.

Blazer: Ann Taylor Loft. Dress: Alex Evenings. Skirt: Ann Taylor Loft. Tights: Target. Flats: Chinese Laundry.

So this last outfit was great, for me. I was extremely glad to get to wear my cream dress again - it actually made it into the challenge a lot! I was thrilled about that. Again, prior to the challenge, I had not worn it since my wedding day. And I've officially decided that it's too cool a piece, and obviously too appropriate for everyday work wear, not to wear it ever.

This outfit was also more comfortable than you can possibly believe. I think it needs a belt, looking back, but I do like the way it came out. Funny story about these tights: I bought them before Christmas, but hadn't worn them for literally months because I kept worrying that they would be really cheap-feeling and thin and hang loose on me or whatever. But I pulled them out so my 30 could go out with some color, and I kept thinking that day, "Man, these DO feel loose! Target tights, ugh. So cheap." Until I got home, and saw the wrapper-thing that I had thrown out that morning. I noticed the size was like, 1/2. I didn't think it was measured in numbered sizes, so I was confused . . . until I looked at the sizing chart and realized I was wearing tights for a XL or XXL lady!! Bahahaha, that completely cracked me up! Honestly, I'm amazed they didn't bunch up around my ankles, and the resulting feeling, of extra-large tights, is overwhelmingly comfortable. Apparently four sizes up is like wearing the sweatpants of tights. It was honestly pretty great.

Okay, so here's an update from my real, current life. Last night I went to a place nearby called Sips and Strokes. You show up with wine (or your beverage of choice) and follow directions and an example given by an instructor, using provided materials, and you create a painting that you get to take home! Here's my finished product:

I'm honestly pretty excited about it! I have some things I wish I had done differently, but I think I will actually put it up in my home, so that's pretty great. Also, it was a really fun night!

Oops! You're out of storage . . .

Okay, I have a problem.

Thanks to my proclivity for large, high-resolution pictures (and lots of them per posting) on this blog, I am out of storage. I am not really sure how I missed completely that there was a limit to how much space on could use on here, but I need help. Does anyone know how I can get around this and finish the challenge? Seriously, I have several post-30 outfits photographed and ready to post, and I can't wait to finish and move on . . . but I don't know how to do it. I'm certainly not paying for more storage.

Should I just quit blogger? Is there one of these thingies that will allow me to keep going as long as I want without worrying about storage space? (I'm used to gmail and picasa, so I think that's a reasonable expectation from my blog platform. Just call me spoiled.)

So really, if you have ANY suggestion of what to do, (other than 'quit taking pictures and just wear the darned clothes already') please leave it below! Thanks!

Ta-Da!

Here's the finished (?) product window shade: (Look close, I'm going to be demanding opinions!)

So I noticed that my curtain is definitely droopier on the sides than my inspiration's is, which kind of makes it look heavier. I could try steaming out the folds I have made and make smaller folds (It looks like the yellow ones have maybe 1" folds, whereas mine are probably 3-4" wide.) to see if that clears it up, but I am not sure if I need to. Please vote: try making it less droopy-looking, or leave as is? Also, I tied it at the height I thought looked best at first, but would love votes on that, too. Higher? Lower? Just right?

Please let me know what you think! I would love to hear.

From End to End

I have a full idea-to-actualization craft post for you! I was thinking about curtains for my kitchen window, remember what it looks like bare . . .

Right. Okay, it needed something. So I started Google Image-searching for ideas for diy blinds and came upon Making it Lovely and this lovely (and very very easy!) idea for a very sweet window treatment. Inspiration:

Um, how inspired are you by that? I loved the idea and had to try it out! So on a recent trip to Hancock, not even looking at the upholstery fabric until I realized it was ALL 50% off, I spotted this great fabric:

I love it! So I cut it up and added the backing and put it on the curtain rod-thing and tied it up with little bows. Check out the next post for the finishing pictures.