Awesome & Awesomer....

Photos by the amazing Sarah Marcella Photography

Top: HM all gone (love this one!)

Leggings: HM sold out (love these!)

Chucks: Converse 

Awesome: 
-Finding the perfect duplex to rent.. it's spacious,clean, safe, perfect monthly rent... only to realize it's for an active senior community... why must we let a little thing like age get in the way! I wish I could say that it was the first time that happened... 
- While on the way to work discovering that your jeans that you thought were clean, were in fact sporting food that had spilled on to it from the other day... how long has that been there? I do my laundry... swearsies...
- Myself slipping like Bambi on black ice and I landed on my thumb/wrist area... while I didn't sprain anything my right thumb was complaining the entire time saying "you don't appreciate me enough so now you are going to pay"... good luck holding a coffee mug or tying your shoes... I was controlled by my thumb for days... 
- Realizing that this practically this entire outfit was purchased at H&M.... I might have a problem...
- Google+ comments deciding to throw a fit and not show up on the blog at all randomly... "Hey you Google+ comments? Yeah we are breaking up"... #bloggerproblems 

Awesomer:
-Discovering Amazon Prime... where has this been all my life..
- Sephora's return policy... nuff said..
- Sephora in general...
- My husband in a suit everyday... wowza....
- This picture....
- Being surprised with a day trip to Chico for my birthday.. my husband arranged everything and even had sister and brother in-law there to meet us! I was an amazing day...
- Our best friends having their first child.. gosh... life is too sweet... holy moly...
-Seeing my husband hold that sweet new baby...#babyfever... swoon...

What I Wore: Hat To be Good...

Photos by incredibly talented Sarah Marcella Photography..

Hat- Zulily (similar)

Jacket- Ross

Top- JCP

Leggings- Marshalls (fitness section)

Boots-HM

Clutch- Forever 21 (gift similar)

Watch- Relic (Gift -similar)

Bracelet- Kohls (Gift- Similar)

What is it about wearing a hat that transforms you into another world? I mean.. hat off, fashion blogger who generally laughs at her own jokes and thinks that America's Funniest Home Videos is great TV, which it totally is... Hat on, world traveler philanthropist, that is probably famous for her laugh which resembles Julia Roberts, in my dreams...

Hat purchases are rarely a planned excursion.. Like, "I think I will get out today and go shopping for a hat".. nope nobody does that, more likely you are minding your own business in a store like  F21 and you find yourself wandering into the accessories section and as an act of pure nonsense you throw on the hat as a joke and mention to your friends "hey guys how ridiculous is this?" and then you see your self in the mirror and and you have a moment where you and the hat agree, that maybe it's not a wise purchase or how often you'll even wear the darn thing.. but who cares because "holy crap, I look amazing!"

In other news, I've cracked the code on the whole leggings thang.... So here's the deal we can all agree that leggings are the bomb.com however I've yet to find a pair that isn't too sheer.. yikes.. So what do I do? I do what any 30 something girl would do, I reach for my yoga pants.. yup that's right folks those leggings are meant for exercising... gasp, shock awe... And even though I do exercise (not in these ones) I wear leggings on a regular basis so these guys were sacrificed for the sake of fashion... it had to happen... it was for a good cause.. So, here's my secret, I bought long ankle length fitness leggings for when I'm not wearing boots.. when I am wearing knee high boots I wear these guys, which hit right about the mid calf.. I know, it's kind of ridiculous but really if I'm wearing boots no one will know and I now have the most comfortable leggings (not see through) known to man.. and let's be honest we all wish we could live in our crazy comfortable work out gear anyways... am I right?

P.S. I'm sorry for the lame-sauce pun for the title... sorta..

Year of Style: Memorable Outfits of 2013...

Wow...wow.. wow... 2013 is going going gone! Two things hit me about looking over this last year's outfit posts.. 1)  A lot has happened in a year! 2) I miss those aviator sunglasses... wish I could find them...They are probably hanging out with half of my socks.. It's a conspiracy... 

I don't know about you but when I think about a year in reverse I'm always shocked in how fast a year goes by! You'd think I'd be used to this by now... But when I stop and think about wow, so much has happened and I'm so thankful! I'm thrilled that you've been with me all the way! Thanks for making 2013 are truly great year... here's to making 2014 even better!! Thanks for reading!

Happy New Year!

Champagne Thursday & Leather Leggings...

Sweater- TJ Max

Tank- Target

Leggings- HM (similar)

Heels- HM

Necklace & Bracelet- Aldo (similar necklace & bracelets)

Earrings- Gift

Bag- TJ Max

My completely logical reasons for the bubbly... 

-Ran three times now... I was the girl wheezing on the side of the road..

-Cleaned out the fridge... Don't judge...

-It's almost November which means it's almost Christmas... my logic is sound.. 

- Totally gave myself fake bangs... see here.. not too shabby..

-Figured out that Starbucks is my workout motivator... if I could run with a Starbucks cup in my hand I would.... it's how I roll...

- Christmas commercials have begun... only 7 more weeks...not that I'm counting...

- Totally rocked the leather leggings...and...my legs make duck noises when I walk...

-Actually used my running playlist while running.... It's a Christmas Miracle! 

- Two words, customer service... #dayjob 

-It's officially sweater weather... Thank you October for giving me my wardrobe back... 

- All four of my houseplants are still alive a month later! #crossingmyfingers

-I get an extra hour of sleep this weekend... It's like a state wide corporate nap... Thanks California... thanks... 

- I baked a Swedish Apple Pie... it was amazing... take that Martha Stewart!

-It's Thursday.... nuff said.

Date Night Dilemma....

Tee- H&M

Jeans- American Eagle

Heels- H&M (similar)

Bag- MMS for TJ Max (similar)

Date night... ahh.. the magic...  sipping Sauvignon Blanc and laughing about about inside jokes... Last night Seth and I stepped out to a little date night to one of our favorite Thai restaurants... OMG... they had me at peanut curry sauce... I digress... 

Oh the dilemma... the epic crisis... I'm not sure what to wear... it's a moment of emptying the closet on to the bed... It's not that I don't have options, am I right ladies? It's the lack of inspiration! So when inspiration lacks... Style your look around the item your most excited about! Which for me was my new tee shirt & bag....  I wanted to wear a cute graphic tee and I wanted to have my new fall bag... what goes with both? easy... distressed jeans or pencil skirt...  I chose distressed jeans since it was a casual date.. however if you wanted to dress it up a little simply just add a pencil skirt instead of jeans, leather jacket and put your hair up in a sock bun sort of thang... and switch out the bag for a clutch..  go for a deeper color on the lips and add a statement necklace...Easy peasy.

For us curvy ladies... make sure you tuck that tee shirt in... must show that you have a waist...No one likes a moo moo... saves my bacon every day... then lastly... add a fun heel... it sophisticates your look and it creates a little balance between casual and chic... and who doesn't want that? Even if your tall.. if you are.. I'm already jealous.. don't be afraid to rock a good heel... you don't see Heidi Klum with legs that go on for days afraid to rock a stiletto.. and neither should you... and for us girls that can't reach the top shelf of anything.. well, most likely your best friend is a 5inch stiletto and a step stool... not to be used together...

In deciding what to wear here is my best advice.. be happy with who you are... yes there might be things you would like to change... Lord knows I do.. however until it happens or you wake up magically looking 30lbs lighter... if that happens let me know what you're drinking! Until that magic happens, don't waste life and happy moments wishing for things to be different.. because you're amazing right now.. and you deserve to believe it... and that awesome guy standing next you deserves to see you believe it too (it'll make his day)... woah.. deep...  Then really the clothes end up just being the frame on a really amazing piece of art!

Step Up To The Plate: A Stripes Love Affair

trying my best awkward foot pose.. nailed it!

Top- Old Navy

Shorts-Old Navy

Sandals- Cotton On

Hat- Stole from my husband

What's this? An outfit post? Gasp... I know, I know.. it's been too long..guilty face.. Last night my hubs and I headed out to a little league baseball field to grab some pictures before the light left... He took 2 pictures.. and what happened? My camera battery died.. fail.. we improvised with my phone, I apologize about the quality.. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do...

Since we were going to go to the base ball field, I felt a baseball cap was in order it added some color to my look and not to mention it hid my "it's the end of the day" flat hair.. I originally wanted to show you a cute 4th of July pic, you know the kind...  in a coordinated red, white and blue look, holding a mini flag .. however that's hard for me to pull off without looking a 50 something grandma wearing fireworks earrings, quilting her way through Indiana... So, this is what you get... I found both the top & shorts at Old Navy.. Which they are totally killing it this season for me! 

If you you were to look in my dresser and closet you would see my obsession with stripes.. I think I secretly feel like if I wear blue and white stripes.. I belong on a sailboat somewhere in the Hampton's living like a Tommy Hilfiger commercial... which who doesn't want that? Paired with white shorts and I'm a total prep... Honestly though this top would pair well with any bottoms, a skirt half tucked in , with  pair of  distressed cut offs or belted with a black pencil skirt.. The options are really endless! 

As for my shorts.. gosh, I bought the white version and I'm honestly thinking about going back and buying one in every color.. they are just that good.. the perfect length, material and goes with literally everything! Again, Old Navy.. thanks for saving my summer wardrobe.. If you're needing a couple of great summer pieces, head on over to your Old Navy and pick up these shorts or top! Honest.. they are the bomb dot com. 

White Denim & Fried Chicken....

Top-Old Navy (similar)

Jeans- Old Navy

Heels -BCBGirls via Marshalls

Sunglasses- HM

Is there nothing more magical than white denim and leopard print... it's like combining two epic neutrals for one spectacular finish....  I read somewhere that wearing white creates an emotional response of feeling alert and alive..  Well I'm not sure about that unless of course we are talking about that I'm extremely alert to all the potential coffee spills and stains... It's a gift I have a real gift... however I would like to thank Clorox bleach and Shout pre-wash for making my white denim dreams come true!

I put together this little ensemble for ya'll... and of course a little Friday night date to KFC... yeah, that was a low moment... however I do not regret it... I had been craving fried chicken all and day and the only way to get some was (other than making it myself which we all knew was not going to happen).. yup KFC...  Seth was like, "are we going in?" to which I responded "OH NO...we are using the drive through"...  I'm not sure how this whole running to KFC got out of control but it felt like we were cheating on our healthy lifestyle just a bit... Only we would start juicing and go to KFC in the same week! Uhhh... I judge myself...  I must say... it was delicious.... and I don't regret it... well maybe a little... I wanted to feel young a free and how I do that is going through the KFC drive through... 

So enough about our poor decisions... and back to fashion... If you don't  own any white denim... put down the coffee.. close the computer and run, don't walk to your closest Old Navy...   Tons of choices in white denim and they are on sale! The jeans I got are in the Flirt line and for a girl with some curve it's heaven sent.. with a little stretch to help the fit.. I paired it with a silky leopard print top... I wish I could say this is still available but it's from a couple of seasons ago... however a leopard print top, shoes or clutch is the perfect pop to any outfit.. I feel that leopard print can easily fit into the classic "must haves" for any closet... I put on a pair of black pointy stilettos (because they make me feel powerful)... and I was ready for my night with a bucket of fried chicken! Because that's how I roll...

Gold Stars & Pep Talks....

Top- Joppa

Jeans- AE

Shoes- Bass

Sunglasses-HM

Have you ever been so busy that you're not sure what to start first? It's like ADD on steroids sometimes... I read on Pinterest once "if a man wants to know what's going on in a woman's mind, just open up 250 tabs on your Internet browser and just bounce around all of them." Haha.. so true... Us ladies are are like the ultimate multi-taskers... Right now, my "real job" has entered it's busiest season... I'm also the wedding coordinator for a friend that is getting married on Saturday and 2 weekends ago my mom was in town... and it doesn't stop there! But I will... because any further it will sound a bit like whining... unless of course wine is involved, in which then I'm totally OK with that...

So now, here I am with this little conversation in my head... "I've got to get an outfit post up on the blog, it's been like ages and my readers are going to think I've disappeared .. How the heck can I squeeze in time for a little photo shoot?.. not to mention writing"... and then the little voice says, "other bloggers do this everyday... if you can't do this then I guess your not cut out to be a blogger..."  To which I say... total crap... I've got other words for that but my mom reads this and well.. ya know...

 Life happens, and I happen to be in one of the busiest times right now, so what? I'm a toughie... made out of more than just red hair and hazel eyes...  and I know that this is what I'm meant to do.. so little voice in my head.... you can go to hell... just sayin...that's my little pep talk...

I think it's really easy to look at others with the perception that they've somehow tapped into their superpowers and have endless amounts of energy and can always get everything done... Well, I'm not one of those people...  It's bare your soul Monday over here folks... To me, it creates all of these unrealistic expectations... Ahhh the pressure! 

It's a lot what we do, as bloggers, as women, as people... on a daily basis if we are not congratulating ourselves for the little accomplishments then I think we should all go back to 1st grade when everything is celebrated... Gold stars all around! .. Cue my Oprah impersonation... "you get a gold star and you get a gold star and you get a gold star!" As, for a style tip... take it easy on yourself... If your like me and fighting feeling overwhelmed don't add to it with unrealistic expectations... just be you... and slap on some lip gloss, curl your hair, pour yourself a drink... and breathe... then maybe watch a little YouTube... because nothing says "coping" like a cat falling into a bathtub...