Cardigan Top and Leopard Shoes

Sweater and cami - Simply Be, Pants - White Stag, Belt - Target, Shoes - Dexter.

I love using this cardigan as a top. It ends up being so very flattering. The camisole is completely necessary, though, because I am not the most observant person on where my cleavage is always going. And with a top that can potentially swing open...it's best for everyone's sake that I wear something underneath! There could be boobs everywhere before I notice. The leopard shoes are just for my enjoyment really. I'm going to pick up a pair of the plain gray toe cap Dexters today from Payless since these are so comfy.

I didn't snap a picture for you, but my niece was wearing a long sundress, a dark jean jacket, a cloth flower fascinator, and some white nylon gloves with little black bows (from one of my high school Color Guard costumes, I think). She's a trip. My dad asked if this was the Miss Havisham Collection, and she did look a little like a tiny crazy old lady. In an utterly adorable way.

Wonky lighting

Top and Jeans - Simply Be, Shoes - Dexter, Necklace - Self-made.

Today you get a toned down version of me because of lighting issues. I decided to not give you a blindingly shiny face just to do proper colors. You can see the dark green jeans here and the flowery shirt here. New secret - I'm getting pretty fond of Google Chrome. I feel like I'm cheating on Firefox, though, so I'm keeping both open at the moment for different things. Because I'm a huge dork who does research analysis, so I'm allowed to have feelings like this without knowing all the tech gobbledegook background of both. Also, if you've been craving some of those Twistband type hair ties,  you can get the same thing at Target much cheaper and the same quality.

Sparklies

Drunken elf photographing.

  This shirt was a birthday present from my mama, who knows how much I love drapey, silky t-shirts, particularly the ones with epaulettes on the sleeves! Plus, it's blue, and blue has always been my favorite color. I'm really copper/brass jewelry these past few years, after a lifetime of only silver. It must be all the steampunk books subconsciously affecting me.

Top - ANA, Pants - White Stag, Shoes - Dexter, Necklaces - self-made.

 After yesterday's French braid in my hair, I just finger combed it out, used some hair oil (Orofluido), and then popped it up into a ponytail. Thus, BIG WAVES that are also vaguely controlled for work. See my pretty silver hairs? I had been hoping that more were coming, but it looks like I just have several scattered around, not streaks or anything. Boo.

Lovely England

Top - Avenue, Pants - Denim 24/7, Shoes - TOMS.

 I love this shade of slightly grayish-lavender. It just makes me think of England and tea time and rolling, perfectly mown lawns and village fairs and all sorts of other wonderful imaginary British things that I've read about in Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christie. It doesn't photograph quite right though, in my eyes. Below you can see the actual color of the shirt.

  

Don't you have Anglophile thoughts too now? No? Just me? All right then. My niece and nephew start school tomorrow (THE EXCITEMENT IS UNBEARABLE FOR THEM). In related news, I am currently obsessed with BBC's Merlin. It is pure fantasy crack and Anthony Stewart Head from Buffy is in it and he is EVIL (magic-hating Giles!). Watch it and get addicted.

Can't see the forest for the trees

Tunic and camisole - Simply Be, Leggings - Avenue, Shoes - TOMS, Jewelry - pressie.

I love the draping on this dress/tunic. So pretty and girly! I did use the wrong conditioner this morning though (chemical one), so it was a morning of allergic sneezes. Thankfully, the week is almost over, so I can rest up soon. The previous full week and this one have really worn me down. Plus the munchkins start school next week, so I need to cuddle them up this weekend.

Every morning my dad fusses at me to smile. And one of my sister's chickens is actually a rooster, and he's started crowing. He crows around the time I leave for work (7am), and he crows poorly, like someone quietly gargling rocks and being shaken. So you get carefully chosen shots where I'm not over-smiling creepily at my father or yelling at a rooster to shut up. My life, it is a wondrous thing.

New Dexters!

New Dexters!

I've been longing for a cute pair of cap toe shoes that are (A) flats, (B) comfy, and (C) affordable. And my beloved Dexter makes them! $24.95 at Payless, people, in adorable leopard, even in wide width, because they're awesome. I feel like I should be sponsored by Dexter (mainly because I would then get FREE shoes), but I'm just a complete addict. They make superbly comfy flats, and you know that's my area of expertise.

I am not on my game this week. Minneapolis wore me out. This was the third iteration of what I was planning to wear, and you know I veered far from the original when I tell you that it started with leggings and a red tunic. The red tunic ended up being a little too short with leggings - they may cover my bottom, but that doesn't mean I need to wear skin-tight leggings to work as full-on pants.

But I am being rescued by this glorious necklace I got on sale at H&M. I'm overjoyed that cobalt blue is having a moment, because I love it so much. I love most blues (not you, teal) but what with my Doctor Who obsession and the pure beauty of it, cobalt is coming close to an obsession with me.

Top - Avenue, Pants - Denim 24/7, Shoes - Dexter, Necklace - H&M.

Bra Issues

The moment I saw this top (last summer) I desperately wanted it. Guess how many times I've worn it? This is the first.  See, that awesome twist on the side with the asymmetrical neckline? That makes the strap on that side thinner and it doesn't want to stay in place. At least not the place I want it, which is covering my bra strap. And yeah, I should have worn a black bra, but it needs to be washed, so chill, okay. I worked around it all with a drapey scarf. This little lesson goes to show you that if if shows your bra/panties/any kind of underwear in the store, it will do it at home. Because you're lazy and all your underwear is pretty much the same.
 

I do love the neckline though. I just need to find one that has decent straps on both sides. Or try taking apart the knot up there at the top, and hitching up the straps BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE A FOOT OF SPACE BETWEEN MY SHOULDERS AND MY CHEST. I have no idea why plus size designers seem to believe that, but a large portion of my tops desperately require camisoles. And I'm not anti-cleavage by any means, I'm just against showing the under portions of my bra with a shirt!

I'm both overjoyed that my hair is long enough for hair forks again and full of the desire to trim the back portion so it's all completely even. I'm struggling both ways.

 Disney/Chibi eyes! This shot makes it look like my eyes are giant, almost a third of my face. And the dark shadows underneath are très sexy, right?

Top - Avenue, Jeans - Simply Be, Scarf - Send the Trend, Necklace - self-made, Shoes - Dexter.

Pink Pop

Top - Toto Collection, Skirt - Jessica London, Shoes - Crocs, Necklace - Self-made.

It's supposed to rain today (and has already sprinkled), so I thought I'd wear my little black Crocs. But unlike my plaid Crocs, these never stretched enough to fit my wide feet. So I have cranky feet because they're rubbing my pinky toes to death. I'm thinking of putting a ton of my shoes on sale in my Etsy store. I'd sell them pretty cheap, I just don't want to end up donating so many pairs to Goodwill because of my stupidity if there are some other bloggers out there that are interested. They're all either a 7-8.5. Anyone interested, particularly in heels?
 

This outfit was a mish-mash of quickly thrown together pieces. I try to pick out an outfit every night, but this was definitely separates the morning of, not an actual "outfit"! I love both pieces separately, but together they really obscure my waist-line and also manage to chop me up visually at the middle. Let's make a note not to wear them together again....

APRA HO!

Mia in our fabulous conference room!

So, Mia and I are both at APRA. Our eyes met, she loved me immediately, and I was totally not lame. (Okay, she's completely awesome and nice enough to hang out with the old lady.)

Carpet of horrors.

Important thing number one that I've learned here: when I have to listen to people talking into microphones 10 feet away from my head for hours, it gives me raging headaches. Two: Mia calls my blank face my bitch face, which is exactly what it looks like. Three: convention food can actually be good, although it is all made up of salad, cherry tomatoes, and chicken.

 

Top-ANA, Pants-White Stag, Necklace-self-made, shoes-TOMS.

Also, protip: the Mall of America is big and H&M is a very seductive store. But I am easily seduced by cobalt blue things (*cough TARDIS cough*). 

I now have blue suede(ish) shoes. Am I not awesome?

I had read that H&M's sizing was strange, and I can fully attest to that. They had a very sad little corner of plus size items, but this regular large burnout tank fit me perfectly.