Bows are my life

Gleaming white girl.

I thought about calling this post Tiny Bow Shoes II: The Return, after yesterday's post, but decided not to. I do have several shoes with bows on the toes, though. Nothing is quite as cute as a pair of flats with bows, I do believe. I spent a few hours last night and this morning helping my dad with tech issues, so it's a simple outfit and maybe some shadows under my eyes to compliment it all. One of the many blessings of having supah-white skin is that it's immediately apparent when I'm tired/need more sleep by the dark shadows under my eyes. It's my lovely consumptive look, and yes, I have it a lot.

I really like this shirt, since it comes with it's own cleavage hider in the lace trim. It's a 3/4 length sleeve, though, which I love in theory. In reality, most 3/4 length sleeves hit my short arms about an inch or so above my wrist bone. And the only thing odder than little T-Rex arms is sleeves that appear to be too short for them. I should investigate and see if I have narrow shoulders. Are your shoulders supposed to be wider than your chest? The same width as your hips? I have no clue. Mine are neither, and sort of slopey/round. I leave you in a quandary.

Shirt - Avenue, Pants - White Stag, Shoes - Dexter, Necklace - pressie.

Tiny Bow Shoes

Life-size.

I put on jeans this morning, and said "Screw this, I need to wear something more comfortable." Hence the linen-like pajama-style pants. I've hit the crabby pants stage again; the one I hit fairly often. I JUST WANT PANTS THAT FIT WITHOUT BEING TOO TIGHT AND THAT FEEL SOFT AND NICE. Pants made out of jersey with elastic waists (because zip up pants are not comfy like pajamas) in a rainbow of colors. Such pants apparently exist only in my mind, though. It seems totally unfair that it's easy as pie to find shirts that fit and even dresses, but pants? It would be easier to win the lottery than fit a great pair of pants!

Top - Simply Be, Pants - Avenue, Shoes - Dexter, Necklace - self-made.

 I do have fancy nails, though. "Fancy nails" for me are nails that are painted and haven't broken yet. Since they look really nice at the moment, I'm waiting in terror for the second that half of them shatter down to the quick at the same time. I like the idea of long nails, but I really hate getting stuff underneath my nails. I should actually use my nail brush or something.

Fancy nails, no doubt due for imminent breakage.

Bohemian Rhapsodizing

Top - Target, Tank - Simply Be, Pants - Walmart, Shoes - Dexter, Necklace - Jewelmint.

I love flowy tops like this. It's like Stevie Nicks/crazy hippie garb that also gets me compliments from all the older ladies in the office. I'm also partial to the fact that it's basically a gauze cardi without buttons, or a sort of kimonoesqe top. Big fluttery sleeves are a constant source of amusement for me.

I've recently become addicted to TED talks. I've been watching a couple short ones a day, mostly work(ish) related. I don't know about you, but I'm one of those people that actually likes the term elitist. Do you know what it actually means? Elitist: noun a person having, thought to have, or professing superior intellect or talent, power, wealth, or membership in the upper echelons of society. I happen to think that uber-smart people and super-talented people are the people who should be helping to run the country. (cough liberal cough)

Cheap Fancy-time Erin

Shaved legs! Woohoo!

In a great feat of accomplishment, I actually shaved my legs this morning and only nicked myself once. (It was right on the back of my ankle, of course, the easiest place to cut.) I also have super smooth legs because in the absence of any shaving gel/fancy razors, I used Vitamin E oil as a shaving oil. It worked very well and left my legs ultra smooth. PRO TIP! If it worked well for me, it's bound to work fantastic for the average shaver.

Ring - pressie.

 I love the idea of rings. And of all jewelry but necklaces, but I'm really fairly lazy, so they just sit in my room waiting until a fancy day. And as you can see by the bits of dirt under some of my fingernails, this was CLEARLY a fancy day.

Top - Fashion Bug, Skirt - Dollar General, Shoes - Dexter.

 The flash blew this top out a bit, since it's really a light purple. The important bit is that my outfit is so dapper, yet cheap. Is dapper only for men or men-clothes? Anyway, a cheapo skirt from the Dollar General and a top I bought years ago on sale from Fashion Bug work pretty darn well together. And this skirt's tag boasted that it can also be used as a strapless dress. Not that I would wear it like that, since I like to look perkier and I haven't had a strapless bra that fit since high school. But it does give me the option of adjusting the length of the skirt by pulling it up or down my torso. Today it's just at my natural waist (aka the smallest part of my torso, also known as not where I wear my pants since that would be ridiculously high).

Hair Fork from Leginayba

SHINY HAIR. That's all.

Little Ghost

Carrie, you said you wanted to see the leopard print shoes! They simultaneously make me feel awesomely sexy and like a crazy old cougar lady. Bring on the shuffleboard! Gracey knows how cool the cap toe shoes are, though.

My dear father was taking my picture this morning and was commenting on how very pale I am, "like a ghost", I believe he said in a loving sort of way. My little Mama has the same fair coloring as me, where my father, sister, and her munchkins are all olive-toned. The munchkins literally came out of the womb darker than me. I never had any real desire to tan, though, since I always burned like a little lobster every summer.

Top - Avenue, Cardigan - Simply Be, Pants - Denim 24/7, Shoes - Dexter, Necklace - Self-made.

Purple Obi

This was yesterday, but it was very busy. So you get two posts today! (Maybe.)

This obi belt came with a top I won from Igigi. It's lovely, but it does wiggle around on me throughout the day. I just couldn't resist giving this top some shape. Igigi itself makes really lovely stuff, although it does tend to have very low-cut stuff (and you know when I say it's low-cut, there's cleavage everywhere!). It's a designer plus-size brand, and you really need to study their size chart before ordering - think at least 2 sizes smaller. What is it with brands? The cheaper the clothes, the smaller the relative sizes, while the more expensive the larger. Vanity sizing will do your head in if you let it. If the size on the label bothers you (truly and really) just cut out the label. YOU are the same size whichever brand you wear. And you know what? Other people can't see it, and unless they're heinously cruel, they don't care. I have clothes in my closet from a size 14 to a 22 that fits me. But things that don't fit me don't get worn (and eventually when I have time, I give them away to Goodwill or people I know that would like them). So rock your clothes, not your size.

Top - Avenue, Belt - Igigi, Pants - Denim 24/7, Shoes - TOMS, Necklace - Vintage.

Empire Waists

So, the magic of empire waists is that they make your teeny-tiny short little legs look normal length! Or even a bit long! Plus, they highlight your boobs which is always great because boobs make the world go 'round. Or at least, they're one of your (my) most awesome body parts. Also, empire waists can let you pretend that you're living in a Regency novel. (Does anyone else have a fondness for the occasional Traditional Regency Romances?)

You can see my adorable new gray cap-toe Dexters in these pictures - super comfy and just under $25 at Payless. Which is why I felt perfectly justified in buying the gray and the leopard! This is another comfy outfit that is definitely staying in the rotation. Long flutter sleeves, empire waist, and RED!

Top - Simply Be, Pants - Avenue, Socks - uh, ?, Shoes - Dexter!

ParaNorman

Top - Target, Pants - Denim 24/7, Shoes - Dexter.

I tried my best to get a video of the horrible rooster crowing for you, but Cupcake decided that he would only crow when I wasn't recording (it's been determined that it's not Forrest crowing, but Cupcake). I left in such haste after that I forgot to put on any jewelry at all. I feel like the plainest girl at the ball.

This weekend, my sister and I took the munchkins to see ParaNorman at the theater. It's fantastic, and it has some of the funniest lines I've heard recently. Probably my favorite kid's movie I've seen in the theater since Ponyo. ParaNorman is a stop-motion animation done by the same company that did Coraline and Corpse Bride. You should all definitely go to see it, and if you know any munchkins, take them too.

Don't you fret, my dear, it'll all be over soon

 What a long week this was! I got my reimbursement check for my work trip back, and along with my last paycheck, I paid off one credit card completely. Ahhhh. Such a freeing feeling. I promptly hid it in the back of my wallet so it stays all lovely fresh and empty. Also, I tried out a sample curly hair product from Birchbox again this morning in my hair and it was not a winner. Two times is a reasonable test, I think. It felt good going in, but it just isn't working well. Once my hair thoroughly dried, the frizz came with it. The issue doesn't lie with the product, though. The issue is that it's made for super curly hair, and it just doesn't work well on my hair (wavy, thick, coarse hair). I'm sticking with my hair oil.

Top - Target, Pants - agenda, Shoes - Target, Necklace - pressie.