Friday, April 29, 2011

Electrodes on my head...not the best start to the day


Today I had the lovely fun of getting my blood drawn AND having an EEG done! (Sarcasm very much intended.) The first was un-fun because I have tiny little veins that like to run and hide. Time has shown that the only real place to draw my blood (without getting stuck a bajillion times) is from the veins on my hands. Which means a butterfly needle (needle without a syringe), which hurts like fire. The EEG is no big deal, I usually fall asleep after they make me do the usual (open and close my eyes and mouth, hyperventilate for a few minutes, shine a flashing light at me). But the paste....They have to attach all the electrodes to your scalp with this conductive paste that leaves a hideous mess in your hair. I rinsed it out there in the room with baby shampoo, but I'll need to wash it twice tomorrow morning to really feel clean.

Luckily the rest of the day was much better: Chinese with my mom and sister, a candy bar at work, dinner with the family, getting a necklace in the mail, and catching up on more of season 5 Doctor Who (whom I have dubbed the dippy Doctor, as opposed to the Kickass Doctor (9) and the Geeky Hot Doctor (10)).

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Cold back and crazy rain


The last few days the weather here has been particularly crazy. Happy sunshine...then immediate crazy thundering rainstorm, rain coming from every direction (including from the ground, I believe)...then happy sunshine. Tornado watches and warnings HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF VIRGINIA. In between all the weather (crazy rain, chances of hail...) the days have been in the upper 70s. But, if you're inside all day and you wear this low vee top, your back will get cold! I truly had no idea that my upper back was so susceptible to breezes. And my hair is now long enough for a little bitty bun!



Top - Fashion to Figure
Tank - ?
Leggings - JMS
Shoes - Dexter

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter Sunday


You always wear something pretty and fresh on Easter. This dress was bought with the intention of being an interview dress until I learned that the woman who interviewed me never wore dresses, only pantsuits. So I saved it up for Easter, and I'm glad I did. It's a faux wrap dress, with the top "wrap" sewn down (no hint of a bra peeking through!) and the same with the bottom layer of the "wrap" skirt. Since I had nothing to do but go to church, I let my hair get big to please my mama. I like it too, but it gets bigger and bigger and bigger throughout the day. Until it gets longer, it needs a little more control in the mornings to prevent a catastrophe in the afternoons!



Dress - Avenue
Tights - Avenue
Shoes - Dexter

"He's mad as a box of frogs, he is."

Okay, I didn't go swimming yesterday...but I wore a coverup! This long-sleeved, drawstring coverup from Avenue is so cute I couldn't wait to wear it, so I repurposed it as a lightweight cardigan. It went so nicely over my tank top that I know you'll be seeing a lot more of it this spring! And it won't be a new confession to any of  you, but I'm completely in love with all my Dexter shoes. It's entirely possible that I'll buy a boatload more of their shoes. They're just so...cute and comfy and oddly preppy but not annoyingly expensive about it.



Top (coverup) - Avenue
Tank top - Avenue
Pants - Lands End
Shoes - Dexter

Friday, April 22, 2011

Who has two thumbs and is starting a new job in May?

ME! In a few weeks, I won't be working in a university library anymore, but in a research position...FULL-TIME WITH BENEFITS!  Yep, I'll be living the good life!


In clothes related news, this top...is fantastical. It looked like it was gauze in the online catalog, but it's really the softest, lightest knit. And it drapes in the most flattering way possible over my hips. The pictures don't quite do it justice. I've got (almost) no junk in my trunk, but I've got hips to spare. This top just curves over them, turning them all va-va-voom. When I pulled it out of the bag, I got worried about the arms fitting, since so much of what I've worn lately has been open. But these are true dolman sleeves; wide where they meet the body, then narrowing to a normal fit sleeve. The tie you use to cinch it up does look doofy in these pictures though...



Top - Jessica London
Pants - Avenue
Shoes - Dexter

Loooooooooooooooooong Day


Good parts of the day: My big shipment came in from Avenue, including these sunglasses! (I won a $250 gift card. Expect lots of Avenue-related outfits from now on.) I now have a Kindle.

Bad parts of the day: Everything else. I've been randomly waking up at 4:50 instead of 6am. I got a backache from stress. Oh, and the stress? We sent out over 3,000 fine emails (for the first time) and this completely confused all the students at the university. Since none of them bother reading, they all assumed they were the usual overdue item notices and started calling. And calling. And whining and moaning and being horrible human beings. We had hundreds of phone calls (rather than our usual 20 or so) and hundreds in fines paid. It was altogether a super super busy day, one that I was not expecting at all.


Then it was church for the Maundy Thursday service, then home for dinner and bed. And up this morning at 4:50 instead of 6! I am not a morning person. I might start kicking small dogs and children.


Closeup of vintage pendant

Cardigan - Lane Bryant?
Top - Target
Pants - 24/7 Denim
Crocs
Necklace - Vintage pendant restrung

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Now make sure you watch me, people!


The choir leader at church had to be gone this Sunday, so I directed the choir. So I needed an outfit I looked good in from the front AND the back. No, I don't have a music BA, but I have (I think) the most practical musical knowledge of anyone in the choir. And I'm willing to get up and conduct! I was in band for around a decade, various choirs (high school, college, churches) since I was 16, and basic conducting skills just got assimilated. But the one thing most people don't know about conducting: it takes a whole lot of arm strength! Next time your favorite song comes on, try moving your arms directly in front of you, in time with the rhythm, for the whole song. My arms are always sore the Sundays I direct.



Top - JMS
Pants - 24/7
Crocs
Necklace - JewelMint

Friday, April 15, 2011

Black, black, black is the color of my wardrobe


I would say at least a third of my wardrobe is black. It just...goes with everything. And it makes life so much simpler to be able to pair a bright top with black pants, or a black top with a super-charged skirt. But. Matching blacks is the bane of my life. Unless it's a two-piece swimsuit, two different black clothing items will never be the same shade. And this torques my obsessiveness massively. So, I've come to a personal compromise. I can pair blacks that are made of different materials, or I can pair heavy cotton/jersey tee shirt materials. But nothing else. It's the law (of Erin). And even though my hair looks black in these photos, it's still just a dark brown. My hair takes on a life of it's own in photos, just like my eyes. In real life, my eyes are blue-gray, but in photos they tend to look a blurry hazel brown unless it's a super clear and very well lit photo.


Top - Avenue
Pants - White Stag
Pashmina - Ebay
Necklace - JewelMint
Shoes - Dexter

Friend Friday: Gratitude

Gracey has been doing these for a while, and I keep thinking they look like fun. BUT I kept reading hers on Saturday! I finally managed to catch one on an actual Friday, so I'm diving in.

1.  When it comes to me personally – I owe a lot of who I am to:

My mom. I am practically a carbon copy of my mama, just plus-sized. I am so grateful for the fact that my mom is a very feminist, pro-choice, liberal who has always supported me and my sister. And I am so glad that she's just as introverted as I am, so we can band together against my sister and my dad!
 
2. When it comes to me professionally – I owe a lot of who I am to:

My dad, who is incredibly pushy in the best way. My dad thinks that I can do anything, anything, if I put my mind to it. He's my biggest cheerleader, and when I've lost out on jobs, he always tells me that the company is the loser for not hiring me. He gives me confidence.

3. When it comes to the art of blogging, I’m grateful to these people for helping me through some rough spots: 

I have learned so much just from reading bloggers like Sal (Already Pretty), and Lady Smaggle (Smaggle Style). Some of the bloggers who've been very supportive of me are my favorite girl Erin (Work With What You've Got) and the lovely Rosin (Dolly Clackett) and my (non-fashion but totally supportive) girl Rmb (Whats That?!).

4. One blogging challenge I’m grateful happened because it made me stronger was… 


Luckily, I haven't really had any big problems...other than getting used to taking my picture!

5. To my readers, I’d like to say… 

Dear Lord, I can't believe you guys came! And stayed...and are still here! I mean, we all know I'm fascinating, but sometimes the pictures have gotten ROUGH. I just want to let you know that it seriously makes my day when I get a comment on a post, so thank you for making me blush and laugh and smile.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

It's going to be spring if I have to drag it kicking and screaming


If I wear a happy spring colored shirt, it will totally become spring, right? RIGHT?! It was the teensiest bit warmer today, which according to our crazed weather lately, means that tomorrow it'll rain or snow or be 100 degrees. It's all random crazy time here.

Close-up of the lovely leaves





The potential new job has gone into weird territory. The wink-wink-nudge-nudge that I'm getting from everyone is that I have the job, but they're not confirming anything until Monday. So I'm just going crazy from not really knowing! I'm planning to splurge and buy myself a Kindle as soon as I know for sure, BUT THEY WON'T TELL ME.


Top - Fashion Bug
Tank - Hanes?
Pants - Land's End
Shoes - Dexter

Why I...love my body

Why I...

Disclaimer: I'm not saying that any one size, any one body type is better/worse than another. This is just the story of how I learned to love my body.

As a kid, and early on in high school, I wasn't very interested in clothes. I didn't have the plus-size common experience of being a plus-size kid, either. I was a short, teeny-tiny kid until about 9. Then, I hit puberty, and grew breasts. Around 10, I got my period. Once I got into high school, I started to put on a bit of weight. And it continued (along with the breast growth).

I weigh more now than I ever have before. But I'm also happier with my body than I ever have been. I weigh 215 pounds, and stand 5'4". I wear a 40DD, and a size 20 pants. I exercise (almost) every week, and do a lot of walking during my job. I love the softness of my curves. I love the way my niece can curl up in my lap for a nap, and use my chest as a pillow (because it's both cute and hilarious). I love the ultra-femininity of my body, all exaggerated curves. But mostly, I love accepting myself as I am. This is my body. It's the only one I have. I'm not going to starve it. I'm not going to belittle it. What purpose would that serve, other than making myself feel horrible? Looking back at my Dad's family, it's genetic. I was made this size. And I love myself, just like others love me. I love myself and celebrate myself as I was made, not as I used to wish I was. I am beautiful. You are beautiful. We are beautiful. It's time for us to accept it, to be glad about it, and to love ourselves.

If my best friend was this size, I would love her, without any size reservations. So why wouldn't I do the same for myself?

Monday, April 11, 2011

This is the warmth before the storm


I've had this tunic for ages, waiting for it to get warm enough outside to wear. It's a very thin rayon with one flaw - the sides need to be slit! Every time I sat down today, I had to arrange it like a very short dress, but the back billowed up because it's so light. If it was fuller, it wouldn't be such an issue, but with my hips, I need more of an A-line or slits on the side.  BUT it's gorgeous! (and sold out.)

Tunic - Fashion to Figure
Bandeau - Fashion to Figure
Moto Leggings - Avenue
Shoes - Mossimo

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Weekend Outfits


This was Saturday's work outfit, also known as "It's sort of gross outside and I want layers, but pretty ones." Driving to work, it was super, ultra foggy the whole way; Sherlock Holmes' London foggy, Victorian heroines on the moor foggy. Ridiculous, and yet people were STILL driving without their lights on and around 60! Listen, sir, most of us in area know our way around these curvy mountain roads. But not blindfolded! And we certainly don't know that YOU are there! Lights during the day are at least 3/4 so other people know you're on the road. (Barring other weather considerations requiring their use.)


Cardigan - Jacyln Smith
Shirt - Avenue
Pants - Denim 24/7
evil pair of crocs


Yay for new shirt! This style is my new favorite, the whole belted square thing. That made it sound super attractive, huh? I went with HUGE earrings for fun. Once again, my shoes got compliments, like they do every time I wear them. And of course they're out of stock. This is a pair of shoes that's comfy and cute. And just like all my favorite things, they're sold out! The horrible pair of crocs, the ones that look okay, but hurt my feet  (that I only wear if it's going to rain and the red of this pair would clash with my outfit) are still in stock.

 

Shirt - Avenue
Pants - JL Studio
Lovely, nice crocs
Huge earrings from Fashion to Figure

Friday, April 8, 2011

All over but the hiring...


The last interview was today; at least my part of it was. At that's left is for them to check my references (who all love me) and then (fingers crossed) they should make me an offer! I went a little more casual in my outfit choice, but still pretty staid. Apparently my happiness level (or the way my neckline potentially dipped forward) was too enticing for one college undergrad, who took the opportunity today to blatantly hit on me. Which was nice; it made me feel old, but also sort of hot.


Shirt - Avenue
Skirt - George

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Busy busy night



Tomorrow's the big interview...keep your fingers crossed for me! I've got to get my clothes ready, shave my legs, re-prepare for the interview, eat dinner, and then fall into bed early enough to get lots of sleep. Simple enough, right?


Tunic - Fashion to Figure
Light Blue Tank Top - Hanes Her Way
Pants - Land's End
Boat Shoes - Dexter
Jewelry - self-made

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Interview outfit


I had an interview today, so I pulled out the uber-professional wear (aka a blazer)! Also, very lightly painted nails, full makeup, and a nervous tummy. I've made it through the first step of a phone interview to land a face-to-face interview, so we'll see how it goes. I keep getting to this point and no further with lots of different jobs. Curse you, recession!



Edited to add: I totally rock! The interviewer called me back for the second round of interviews 1 1/2 hours after I finished the first one!
 
Blazer - Chico's
Top - Merona
Pants - Denim 24/7
Shoes - Mossimo

Sunday, April 3, 2011

"Well, you're like my HALF-mom..."


I so definitely do not have the stamina to be a parent! We had the kids Saturday evening through lunch today, and they just WEAR ME OUT! Of course, even when they misbehave, they're still funny as all get out. The title of this post is another little gem from the mouth of my nephew, who was searching for justification after accidentally calling me mom.  This is the same kid who told me that his mom NEVER makes him brush his teeth, and hasn't made him take a bath in 5 months.  Get real, munchkin! Your mom is my sister, and I know you're just trying to get out of it all! The kids do love staying at our house, though, and it's probably not just because we have cable.  They look soooo cute all cuddled up asleep, and due to confusion about the DVR, do believe that I can fast-forward through all commercials. (Hey, my father tends to think that as well...) And I get to comb and style my niece's hair when she stays over, and cuddle her up. (Killy saves all his cuddles for his mom. Period.) But I stand by my belief that I was designed to be the most kickass auntie ever, instead of a mom.

Cardigan - redoute
Shirt - Valerie Stevens 
Pants - White Stag
Crocs

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Doctor Who and Boat Shoes


Yes, I know. I go on rants about jeans, then I wear them again in just a few days. But we're having freak April snowstorms here in the Appalachian Mountains, and my legs need to be as warm as possible! Plus, with this long sweater, all of my waist issues with jeans are covered up. And speaking of issues; I watched the season 4 finale of Doctor Who today during my lunch break (on Netflix Instant)...no spoilers, but DEAR LORD IN HEAVEN, I WAS NOT HAPPY.  Out of all the companions so far, I think Donna is my favorite. But I always get that way, and decide I can't possibly like anyone else (or any other Doctor) as much as the one I'm watching. I'm also holding off on watching the 3rd season of Torchwood, since I read spoilers and I know how it's going to all go down. I don't know if I have enough Kleenex for that.


Here are my new Dexter shoes! Uber-preppy boat shoes that are cheap AND fit well from Payless! If you like them, I suggest you go on in and get them while they're on sale. For me, at least, deliberately preppy items like this make me amused. I don't know...I just find something about the whole Prep aesthetic ridiculous and funny. But I do love a well fitting flat shoe.


Sweater - Roaman's
Jeans - Avenue
Shoes - Dexter

Friday, April 1, 2011

April Fool's Day deserves a (mostly) wordless post

My mama hates my head scarves. She says they look like Russian grandmothers.

Mother Nature gave us the April Fool's joke of snow during lunch.

My brother-in-law turns 33 tomorrow, so we had a party tonight. Happy pre-birthday, David!

New feather earrings!