Showing posts with label Sparkle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sparkle. Show all posts

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Bonne Année, 2012!

Dress: Old Navy ($9!) / Skirt (worn as peek-a-boo slip): ModCloth / Shoes: Ross / Sweater, Belt, Earrings, Clutch: Gabes / Watch: Christmas gift (Fossil) / Bracelets: Christmas gifts (J Crew final sale), F21 / Necklace: Thrifted

Happy New Year! I decided to herald in the New Year in something bright, in hopes of having a brighter year. Finding a bright dress for $9 (amazing deals going on at Old Navy right now!) is certainly a good way to start off a bright year, no?

I've never been super at keeping resolutions, but hey, it's a new year, so let's have a go, shall we?

1. Learn to use camera and Photoshop. Apply to enhance blog with crisper photos of the Hound.
2. Use that treadmill we got for Black Friday. Then run a half-marathon.
3. Work on more meaningful prayers. Perhaps more yoga/meditation will help?
4. Organize and clean out. Everything. Begin with Box Room. Yep, it's a room full of boxes.
5. Get a bun, or two, but please not three, in the oven. Come on, 2012.

That oughtta do it!

P.S. Linked up to the Pleated Poppy's What I Wore Party!

P.P.S. Scott gave up Diet Coke this year. Diet. Coke. I hear it's ever so addictive, so let's all cheer him on. I've been waiting for this victory since we met :) In fact, I've a rather funny story about one attempt in particular, involving this pair of Burberry Boots.  I'll have to get a post up on that story soon...

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Bonne Année = Happy New Year!
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Friday, December 30, 2011

Christmas, in a Chestnut-Shell

Top: Old Navy / Jeans: Guess via Macy's / Boots: Born / Bracelets: Christmas Gift (J Crew) / Watch: Christmas Gift (Fossil) / Scarf: Christmas Gift

*The Hound got to be in the Snow Flake Parade as we chaperoned my school's float. The Husband made her wave to all the kids. They shouted with joy,  trilling "Look, that doggie is waving at me!" She just wanted to lick them. I'm not sure whether Husband or Hound had more fun.


*We roasted plenty of chestnuts while listening to Christmas music. I may be addicted...


*We went to see two of my students debut in our town's musical production of  A Christmas Carol

*We continued to sleep by the warmth of our fire and under the lights of our Christmas tree. Lights per Husband's request, on behalf of his childhood :)



*Then, we headed East to spend the holiday with my family.  First, we stayed with my cousin in DC where we enjoyed PB&J cupcakes while catching up and playing with her baby boy.  PB&J cupcakes. Genius.

*The next day we hit up Dupont Circle, visited a holiday street market and the National Archives, and checked out all the city's sapins de Noël*. First we saw the tree at the capitol, then passed by the White House, and then we met up with my brother and his girlfriend, who'd flown in from Cali, at the National Tree. Oh, Christmas Tree...


*That night we stayed with my uncle and his adorable family in Chesapeake Beach, where we enjoyed playing with our little cousins.  The next morning we walked the Mall and took in the Cosmic Collisions show in the planetarium of the Air and Space Museum before heading to Georgetown. Husband used the show as an opportunity for a nap, which he blamed on the McD's oatmeal we'd had just before. Food comas are his thing.

*We enjoyed loads of festive decorations and lights. The owl tree in the Smithsonian Castle made me want to experience Christmas at Hogwarts. Geek, I know.


*There may also have been some shopping, vintage ogling, and cupcake hunting. Details later! 



*On our way to WV, we stopped to see the lights at the DC Temple, where we were married. Breathtaking. Merveilleux. Incroyable.

 
*There was a really neat exhibit of nativities from around the world in the visitor's center. The Husband's favorite was one from South Africa, which was made of Coke cans. Big. Surprise. I personally preferred their beaded version.


*Our first stop in WV was Morgantown, our old college town where Scott and I met. There was supposed to be a walk down memory lane, which just so happens to be the tree-lined lane leading to Friendship Hill, our favorite park. But it was raining dreadfully. So instead, there may have been more shopping. At Gabes. Where I found Express liquid leggings for $7. Merry Christmas to me!

*We made our way to OH where we enjoyed Christmas Eve at my sister's house and the boys laughed as the girls took turns shooting her bow. Turns out you need muscle to even pull the darn thing back.


*At home in WV, my mom made our traditional Christmas morning breakfast of Cocoa Wheats and toast. Do you know what Cocoa Wheats are? Heavenly, that's what.

*After opening presents, we had Christmas dinner at my Grandpa's with cousins and aunts and uncles and plenty of sweets. Did you catch my sparkly new watch up top? Ha- how could you not with all that smarmsing going on? { If you can smile with your eyes, you can with your arms...} I finally joined the trend after admiring my sister's version from her bf. 

*Despite the fact that we got a wet Christmas, rather than the preferred white, it was a jolly good way to spend the holiday. I hope yours was just as merry and bright!

P.S. I just realized I have no photos with my family. They need to get over their photo aversions. New Years Resolution: Stop taking so many photos of yourself and take a few with others...

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*sapins de Noël = Christmas trees
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Sparkle, Sparkle

Skirt: Thrifted / CK Top: Ross clearance / Gloves: Target / Belt, Monet Earrings & Necklace: Gabes / Shoes: Miz Mooz / Bracelets: Vintage, F21, AE

As I sit here trying to think of something witty to type about the sparkling ensemble I wore for no special reason { EBEW got me in the mood }, Slurpee is hiccuping at my feet while begging for my long gone sweet potato, of which she ate half.  Nothing like a Hound with a penchant for beta carotene and a myoclonic twitch to bring you back to the real world, where need for such fanciful outfits is minimal at best. {Though I do keep hoping the Husband will remember one more party he forgot to tell me about..

Not that lack of need has every stopped me from parading around in sparkles and velvet before. I've been planning this outfit for quite awhile, actually. Since Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince premiered, in fact. Don't judge. Remember the scene where Harry stands up at a dinner party when Ginny enters late? Well, friends, even before I delighted at Harry's awkwardly gentleman gesture for his taken crush, I noticed Ginny's outfit. Her sparkly blue and black outfit, to be precise. 

Fast forward a few years and I've acquired a similar top and skirt. Fast forward to last week, when I saw the plethora of sparkly black and blue on the Louis Vuitton Fall 2011 RTW runway { photos 50-51, specifically }, and I knew the time had come. Yes, it was a combination of Harry Potter and Louis Vuitton that brought me here. 

Suddenly, a hiccuping Hound who has found her way into my lap makes perfect sense.  

P.S. Sorry for the flashy flash. Our camera is quite old and with the teensy screen, it's difficult to tell if the level is okay. 

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Sparkling Soirée

Skirt & Top: J Crew final sale / Jacket: Gap final sale / Shoes: Ross / Belt & Express Purse: Gabes / Earrings: AE / Necklace: Grandmother's / Bracelets: F21, Gabes, J Crew Factory

I just love it when J. Crew has one of their "take an extra 40% off final sale items" sales. Christmas came early for me with this top and skirt. I got them a few weeks back, but right now they're having an extra 20% off final sale.

Thank heavens for Everybody, Everywear, which provided me at least one opportunity to get festive for the holidays. Festive, in my mind, clearly involves sparkle. Classy sparkle, that is. I've a grand total of 3 ugly sweater parties to attend this year.  I briefly considered protesting by throwing my own sparkling soirée { have you seen Ruche's holiday lookbook? It's to die for...} But then I remembered that I don't have time because I'm too busy attending ugly sweater parties.

I was invited to one last year and just didn't participate. I have a difficult time purchasing something I don't anticipate wearing again, even if it is inexpensive, and I didn't realize this was a trend.  So this year I searched high and low till I found a vintage dog sweater and plaid skirt, which I intend to wear to every ugly sweater party from now to the end of eternity.

I planned to have a photo for you here, but an Episode of the Missing Hound ensued this evening and all havoc broke loose. { Thank you, Mr. North Wind, for breaking down our door...} After scouring the hills behind the house, we found her deep beneath the neighbor's brush, happily sniffing out rabbits. Completely ruined my plans, she did, so now I'm grading rather than decorating for Christmas and dressing up the Husband in his ugly sweater. He was a big hit at our first party. But no worries. Our next party is Thursday.


Puissent vos vacances de Noël scintillent de la joie!*

Sequins + Sparkles | Everybody, Everywhere 

P.S. Sorry for the ridiculously inordinate number of photos. Husband should become a photographer, should he not? He makes it difficult to choose.
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*Puissent vos vacances de Noël scintillent de la joie! = May your Christmas holidays sparkle with joy!
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Thursday, June 9, 2011

Awkward and Awesome Thursday: Ruffles and Sequins

Jacket: Piperlime (Trinity) / Top:  Charlotte Russe / Pants: AE clearance / Shoes: Elder Beerman clearance (Privo) / Necklace: Ruche / Earrings: Gabes (Monet) / Sunnies: Urban Outfitters clearance / Bracelet: Made by Yours Truly :)

Awkward / Maladroit:

- Spelling the flour like the flower when writing it on the board during a vocab exercise for baking in my ESL class. Then, having a student point out the mistake. While being observed by the principal. Whoops...sorry there, Mr. Principal. I promise I know English better than my second language learners.
- Being the new teacher in a high school and being asked for my hall pass while in the office or halls during my prep period. I guess it didn't help that I still dressed like a student at that point.
- The next year, being the new teacher in a junior high and having the same issue of being mistaken for a student. At first I found this ridiculous { junior high? Come on...} but soon learned that junior high kids can appear to be anywhere from 7 to 20. I kid not. This was the kick I needed to start dressing my age :)
- Having students guess your age. I got everything from 20 to 44. Seriously? They have no concept of age, clearly.
- While we're talking about age, at least my students' concept is better than our banker's. When we first moved here, I'd just gone for a run before meeting up with the Husband to open a bank account. The banker asked the Husband if he was wanting to open an account for "his daughter." Granted, I was in a ponytail and my chicken legs were on display, but come on!

Awesome / Génial:

- Sparkles. I'm in LOVE with this jacket! I just found it on Piperlime's sale section for $12, and they always have free shipping!
- Ruffles. With dots. Des jabots et des pois. Oh, je les adore *!
- Sparkles and ruffles and dots together! It's like fleece and flannel for the Husband. Only fashionable.
- I won Bunco. Again. My odds are now 60%. I don't know how this is happening.
- I'm on a winning streak. I just won this fabulous necklace from a giveaway at Meet Virginia Design, my very first blog giveaway win. AND last month, well, do you remember this little storyboard I created? It won. For reals. The lovely and talented Sarah from Edelweiss by Sarah chose my board and I won the Luther. I think the world must be making up for the 20-some odd years I went without winning a darn thing, save one measly Burrito at Qdoba, which was useless to me since I don't eat beef.
- My upcoming 30x30 with a special twist. You might even say a French twist. I'll divulge the details Saturday and post my 30 items!

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*Des jabots et des pois. Oh, je les adore! = Ruffles and dots! Oh, how I love them!
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Thursday, May 19, 2011

Springtime Confession

Top, Tank, Belt: J Crew final sale / Skirt: H&M / Shoes: Express / Bracelets: France / Earrings: Gabes (Monet)

I've got a bit of an addiction to J. Crew's final sale. Especially when you get to take an extra 40% off. And end up with paisley and matte sequins. That's better than my birthday. Loads better. Which doesn't speak volumes for my birthday, I suppose. Though last year I did get darling flats from my fashion savvy mother-in-law. Perhaps one day I'll get a party, too. Till then, I'm happy with shoes, sales, and free shipping codes.

It's warm again! AND today was the first 3rd Thursday of the year, a fun party our little town hosts on Main Street. The street's closed off to cars, little shops have sales, vendors sell crafts and yummy food, performers sing and dance, and there are art and car exhibits. It provides an excellent date night venue for the Husband, me, and our Hound. The Hound was particularly excited. She hams it up and gets lots of attention at 3rd Thursdays. And ice cream, since there's inevitably some poor kid that's lost his top scoop. An unfortunate child's loss is a lucky hound's gain. Unless she steals it. Like she stole a Twizzler from my friend's 3 year old last winter. Nicked it right out of her hand as she walked by. Then she's just a naughty hound.

 
Who, me? 

Joyeaux Printemps!

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Joyeaux Printemps = Happy Springtime!
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