30 (and 31?!) of 30: you can't *handle* the dress!

Dress: Lands' End Canvas // cable knit hoodie: thrifted, Gap // denim pencil skirt: thrifted, dyed by me // black tights: thrifted, Ralph Lauren // grey socks: the dollar store! // boots: gifted, Rieker // watch necklace: local store // leather belt: thrifted

I was hoping that this outfit was going to work, because I knew it would be cute and stylish if it did. When I put it on, I was happy to discover that the high waist on the skirt hit the dress at just the right point. I admired my outfit in the mirror. It looked like what would happen if The Clothes Horse and Delightfully Tacky's closets mated. In a good way.

And then, at work, I ate breakfast (chocolate mint tea with honey and key lime cheesecake with rapsberry sauce and lime cream. I regret nothing). I felt… slightly uncomfortable. Then, a little later, I ate lunch. And then I took outfit photos, in which I looked bloated (side note: and I took them OUTSIDE! It was FREEZING!). And then I started to feel constrained, and a little fat. I was worried about getting cold on the walk home, but my comfort right now was more important.

So off to the bathroom I went, removing the offending skirt, but keeping the belt, loose, around my waist. I took off my watch (kind of pointless, when one's necklace has a watch in it), and replaced it with a darling red bangle I bought at the dollar store (sister to my beloved black-ish bangle).

Voila, a very unexpected outfit 31.

Dress: Lands' End Canvas // black tights: thrifted, Ralph Lauren // grey socks: the dollar store! // boots: gifted, Rieker // watch necklace: local store // leather belt: thrifted

Also, last night was my first time trying out argan oil in my hair. You've probably heard of Moroccanoil? Yes, well, same oil, different price point.

Considering I dyed my hair this week (so much dyeing lately!), my hair feels very soft and smells nice. And holy volume! My fine hair doesn't usually have bounce! It has waves, but not bounce! And look at it! Bouncing!

I think I may be in love.

And now, here is my "30 for 30" completion happy dance!

29 of 30: Plainly preppy.

blue button-down: Joe Fresh // navy cardigan: Joe Fresh // a-line mini: thrifted, J. Crew // tights: Joe Fresh // pumps: Seychelles // crystal studs: the drug store // chunky necklace: estate sale

This was not the outfit that I had planned: that outfit only has the blue button-down in common with this one. I wanted to be sleek and feel a bit preppy. I blame reading through the archives of Privilege (not that reading said blog is a bad thing at all, no! Just reading about Sturdy Gals tamped down my Artsy Cousin urges, I think...?).

Also, a neat discovery was made. The sleeves on that cardigan are too long. They extend over my hands, which looks pretty, but makes it hard to type. I had a brainwave today, though, and cuffed my sleeves. It completely transformed things for me. Why have I not done this before? It's so much easier than trying to cuff a pair of pants, and so cute!

28 of 30: Androgynous much?

embellished tee: Gap // red cardi: thrifted // black skinny pants: Banana Republic // Rieker granny boots, not seen // white and plum scarf: gifted, dyed by me! // crystal earrings: the drug store!!! // beaded bangle: the dollar store!!! // watch: gifted, Roxy

Have you ever woken up in the morning with no idea what to wear and browsed through some of your favorite fashion blogs, looking for inspiration? I do. Today, I was inspired by (read: copied) one of Elaine's outfits. She looks much cuter in androgynous get-ups than I do.

Of course, I added my own touches to the look - I need a bit of frilliness in my outfits. I just can't get myself to embrace minimalism. It's okay, though, because my last-minute scarf addition got my husband's unanticipated approval (as in, usually he doesn't comment unless I'm wearing something he likes in general, like long skirts or pink items). Woo hoo! Score another one for dyeing your clothes!

tune of the moment: Young Bride - Midlake

27 of 30: 90s-tastic.

blue maxidress: thrifted, Old Navy // floral cardigan: thrifted, twenty one // amber necklace: mall kiosk // gold M necklace: estate sale // watch: gifted, Roxy // gold twirl earrings: Le Chateau // black boots: gifted, Alfred Sung (not pictured)

I accidentally hit the zoom on my camera today, and didn't notice until after all the photos were taken.


I'd say I'm sorry, but I think they look kinda cute.


And even if I felt a little skimpily dressed for work, I still love this maxidress.

And maxidresses in general. How can you NOT love wearing what is basically a blanket that can't fall off?

tune of the moment: What’s Your Angle - Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire

26 of 30: stripes week, day 5.

striped shirt: Joe Fresh // cable knit hoodie: thrifted // full skirt: Joe Fresh // black tights: thrifted, Ralph Lauren // granny boots: gifted, Rieker // sheer floral scarf: thrifted // leather belt: thrifted // crystal stud earrings: the drug store! // opal necklace: gifted // watch: gifted, RoxyWanted to look especially cute today, in celebration of six months of marriage to my wonderful husband.

I think I succeded, don't you?
Even if my earrings do look like they belong in the 80s.

tune of the moment: tie between Don't Stop Believin' - Journey & Not Alone Anymore - The Travelling Wilburys

25 of 30: stripes week, day 4.

striped top: Joe Fresh // denim pencil skirt: thrifted, dyed by me! // black tights: thrifted, Ralph Lauren // brown socks: gifted // grey socks: the dollar store! // black boots: gifted, Alfred Sung (not pictured)

Just like Sydney of The Daybook, today is "Awkward and Awesome Thursday"!

Awkward:

Complimenting my bank teller on her haircolour without getting a stylist recommendation! Argh! I am a fool!

Buying so many groceries on my lunch break that I have to call my husband and ask him to walk me home so that he can help me carry them all… d'oh!

How gung-ho SCDers would say that cocoa is totally FORBIDDEN on the diet. As is MSG… and powdered spices… all of which we use…

After those wonderful outdoor photos on Wednesday, it has been so ridiculously cold outside that I haven't dared take any today.

How I've noticed lately that my clothes have a habit of disappearing. I've been looking for my black jersey maxi skirt for months now!

I was feeling a bit nervous about wearing my newly dyed denim skirt today. Even though I spent a good half-hour rinsing out all the colour and it's been sitting, dried, on a clothes rack for about a week, I was worried that the dye would run the second it got wet (any rain or snow, a wet hand brushing against it, any sweating at all...). Luckily, that hasn't been the case… which is awesome.

Awesome:

How huge the bananas at the fancy grocery store were… and cost half the price of the bananas at the regular store…? Not sure why, but hey, no complaints from me!

My husband's discovery that we can make SCD-legal chocolate! The man is a genius, I tell you.

After years of being embarrassed by my thick wrists, I've finally started to embrace them by wearing bracelets regularly. My new black cuff has been getting TONS of wear so far.

So many different colours are in my closet/corner! It makes me smile every time.

How I manage to keep that corner of the bedroom organised most of the time (unlike my side of the bed…).

Boots on sale! I've never bought shoes online before, so this is exciting. Plus they were 75% off!

Naps with my husband. And our cats plopped down on top of us.

Exclamation points!

tune of the moment: Juliette - Hollerado

24 of 30: stripes week, day 3.

striped top: Joe Fresh // cable-knit hoodie: thrifted, Gap // green draped skirt: Joe Fresh // navy tights: Joe Fresh // brown boots: gifted // brown leather belt: thrifted // maroon hat: gifted // green fingerless gloves: gifted, handmade! // white scarf: not sure, dyed by me

Another busy day at work - today, I didn't even stop for lunch. Luckily, now the sun is still out for outfit photos once I get out of work. I had to do a bit of searching to find a semi-secluded and pretty spot for some photos, but I definitely succeeded. It was so warm and sheltered in my little corner, I even managed to take off my coat! I was feeling a bit blah about this outfit, but having actual surroundings instead of a white wall had me so excited.

This scarf was one of the items that I dyed. I think it turned out pretty, if I do say so myself, though I would have liked a bit more colour on the ends instead of so much in the middle, but so it goes. The problem now, though, is that dyeing scarves is very easy, and now I want to dye even more...

Now, it's time to go skating with some friends, and see if we can make an SCD-legal frozen yogurt when we get home!

P.S.: It worked! We made rich chocolate frozen yogurt, and topped it with sliced banana and strawberry sauce to make a "banana split" of sorts. So rich, but SO GOOD.

Tune of the moment: Speeding Cars - Imogen Heap

23 of 30: stripes week, day 2.

striped top: Joe Fresh // floral cardi: thrifted, twenty one // draped dress: Joe Fresh // champagne tights: H&M // black pumps: Seychelles // silver hoops: gifted // orange and yellow beaded necklace: estate sale // black cuff: the dollar store (!!!)

Back to my old digs. I didn't have much time to run around on my lunch break, unfortunately, thanks to yet another crazy-busy day. Since it's year-end, it's only going to get busier until April. At the end of this month, I'll probably treat myself to a major (professional) massage, since my husband will probably be sick of giving them by then.

I was worried this outfit wasn't going to work, because the dress' neckline is so high. It did poke out a little on the sides, but my hair covered it nicely. The ensemble seemed a little boring, though, so on went my freebie piece: a 90s-esque floral cardigan. I love mixing florals and stripes, plus it gave me a chance to wear my matching but oft-neglected yellow and orange necklace.

Not sure I'm digging the shiny champagne tights, though.

Tune of the moment: Innocence - Björk

22 of 30: stripes week, day 1.

striped top: Joe Fresh // brown pencil skirt: thrifted, The Limited // 3/4 sleeve cardigan: Joe Fresh // navy tights: Joe Fresh // brown boots: gifted // paisley scarf: gifted // red-faced watch: gifted, Roxy

Welcome to stripes week! This (work)week, I'm wearing one of the two striped shirts in my 30 for 30 items every day. In not-stripe-related news, I hope to write a bit about my experience dying two clothing items on the weekend.

I am a big fan of Diana Vreeland, mostly because I think she's very witty and utterly charming. A few weeks ago, I picked up an autobiography of hers, "D.V.", at my favorite used bookstore, but I put it back. I've been regretting it ever since. Since I've been working really hard lately, I decided to reward myself, and now I'm really excited to read it! I also picked up the recommended-by-Cleolinda "The Devil in the White City", which I think is also becoming a movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio (if it is, I know my husband and I will be seeing it, since he loves himself some Mr. DiCaprio)?
I also thought that the bookstore would also make a nice place for some photos. It was hard to find a place to put my camera (no tripod), and I didn't want to get caught (so embarassing!), so it ended up being a bit less cute, a bit more awkward. Oh well.

Tune of the moment: "Pour un infidèle" - Coeur de pirate

21 of 30: errands.

blue puffer jacker: thrifted, Patagonia // green hat: Joe Fresh // green fingerless gloves: nit by my friend Sarah // green purse: thrifted, Liz Claiborne // orange pashmina: gifted // yellow sweater: Lands' End Canvas // long black tank: H&M // black skinny pants: Banana Republic // brown knee-high boots: gifted // earrings: Le Chateau

Somehow, a very windy and rainy last night turned into a lovely sunny today, with a light coating of snow making everything look especially pretty. My husband and I took advantage by paying a visit to the farmers' market, hoping to find cheap honey and a hat that would actually keep my head warm. We succeeded in the former and now have a giant jar of honey, but as for the latter, it looks like I'll have to learn how to knit this dream hat myself or commission a friend.

We also petted cute dogs, disovered a new SCD snack (Jennie's Coconut Macaroons, which are so tasty), bought a bizarre print of a dog requesting "bone marrows of desire" at the thrift store, ate some Indo-Caribbean food, and continued watching episodes of "Bleach" obsessively (I've also developed an uncanny ability to guess plot twists in advance).

I am officially in love with weekends. Second only to my husband.

20 of 30: plaid it again.

plaid shirtdress: Lands' End Canvas // black tights: thrifted // athletic socks that I wear so my boots fit properly and my tights don't snag // hematite studs: gifted // black pumps: Seychelles (not seen) // red lipstick: Revlon "British Red"

Friends, it has been a heckuva week. Two of my colleagues were gone at work, and it was very, very busy. Today I was actually on my own, for the most part, and I kept things under control! I'm pretty proud of myself for handlings things so well, but now I am POOPED.

Luckily, my sweet husband called me at work and was advised of my challenging day. He came and picked me up from work, we did a bit of shopping, and I came home to find the fixings of a delicious-looking dinner! I am so spoiled. After squeezing in some outfit photos and some cuddling with the cats, I'm all set to continue this lovely date night with my wonderful husband. Hooray for weekends!

Tune of the day: "Late Bloomer" by Sarah Harmer