Poker Face

I could not, in fact, keep a poker face while taking these photos. This bit of pasture is outback near our chicken coop where my dad keeps a radio playing to ward off prowling predators (gotta keep those hens and eggs safe). I wasn't paying much attention to the background noise until a particular anthem from a few years back came on. And it made me laugh. Who doesn't like a little Gaga on their Easter Sunday?

  

Vintage cardigan: thrifted, Vintage pin: gift/Etsy, Skirt: thrifted, Tights: Hue via Marshall's, Wedges: Target

Speaking of Easter, I hope those of you reading (who celebrate) had a happy one. This might just be my favorite Easter get-up in recent memory and that partially has to do with this buttercream cardigan. It's been designated to my collection of favorite spring cardigans and has been in some of my favorite spring outfit sets here on ye old blog (this one and this one). Isn't the color just delicious? As for actual buttercream (heavenly stuff!), I'd had it on my mind for the past few days and satiated my want of it by making some brown sugar cupcakes with buttercream frosting for dessert today. Also delicious!

I suppose since it's in some of these photos I'll talk about my little purse. I've wanted a vintage straw/basket purse for about as long as I can remember, but all the ones I ever come across are either in tatters or smell weird (or, exaggerating aside, have something not quite right about them). So, I don't know, 6 or 7 years ago I stumbled upon this small basket at Pier One, tied a vintage scarf to it and voilà! a basket bag with vintage flair was born.

And, finally, I couldn't resist sharing this photo of Little Bunny Foo Foo! 

 

The woods are never solitary

Cardigan and dress: Target, Sunglasses: Cynthia Rowley via TJ Maxx, Shoes: H&M

The obvious choice of cardigan to wear with this dress was white or mint, but since it's still technically winter I thought another round of wearing more earthy colors was in order, hence this soft, coppery-rust beauty. I could have easily gotten away with wearing sandals today too (it's so warm and mild!), but these smokey grey/stone brown flats are rather perfect with everything. Sadly, though, I don't think I had owned them for a full 24 hours before tripping on cobblestones and scuffing the toes. Bah! Erin suggested fixing them with nail polish and voila! Not great, but not as bad as they were either.

So, this dress was another one of my I-can't-leave-Target-without-buying-more-than-I-went-in-for purchases. I am famous for those. There I was heading toward the health & beauty and grocery sections when passing the young girls department my peripheral vision beheld this fine navy eyelet piece. I gasped, my eyes got wide, and I snapped the largest size up as fast as humanly possible. Some of my favorite cardigans have come from the girls department at Target (oddly enough, or maybe not, at springtime too...), so it's no wonder that eventually I'd encounter a dress I couldn't resist.

Eyelet is one of those fabrics I have always loved. There was a specific period during my growing-up years where I had a hard time embracing my love for stereotypical girly things. I'd collect little bits of eyelet for projects I'd never undertake or envision myself in eyelet-detailed blouses, but hid behind excessively wide-leg denim and band/skater t-shirts. I think a dress like this would have broken me out of that shell! Any awkward phases of your own to recount? Let's hear!

Out of practice

Vintage cardigan: thrifted, Blouse: Jason Wu for Target
Ring: hand-me-down, Shorts: H&M, Shoes: Steve Madden

I realized today that I hadn't set up the ol' tripod for an outfit shoot since December. "Might as well document this one," I thought. I'm not sure how much I like it, though. I think it looked better in my head than in reality, or, maybe it's just that it's rather spring-y and it's not quite spring yet...

Speaking of spring, I have a feeling that this blouse will be my go-to item when the temperatures start to climb. I was pleasantly surprised to get my little mitts on it as I had waited about four days to scope out the Jason Wu for Target collection in person. I wasn't expecting much to be left by the time I got there, but I still was holding on to some hope because the Target I frequent is out of the way and in a nearly run down shopping mall. Hope prevailed.

Shorter locks and Snow

There is a rare sight outside today: snow. It won't stay for long, as has been the case this winter, but I am resolved to revel in its prettiness while it lasts. Oh, and early last week I visited my favorite salon out-Albany-way and had my tresses trimmed. After sporting a side braid for most of January it was time for something new. I'm loving the fun that comes with a fresh haircut, but I know one of these days I'll absentmindedly reach back to braid it and won't find much to work with.

What else is new? Just the usual cycle of working, reading (The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Remains of the Day), and watching TV on DVD (mostly Downton Abbey and The Vicar of Dibley). I did take the train to Boston this past weekend to visit with my dear friend Erin. We had a marvelous time adventuring along both the south and north shores, namely shopping in Braintree and wandering around Salem (on quite possibly the coldest day this winter thus far, mind you). I did not, however, capture any of these moments on camera which was rather uncharacteristic of me, I know. It is good to note, though, that photographs aren't always necessary to remind us of the fun we have.

P.S. I am aware that all of my entertainment choices of late are of the British variety. Sometimes that just happens.

Wallet-friendly Wednesday

It's been quite a long time since I shared a Wallet-friendly Wednesday post (or any type of regularly featured post, for that matter). On and off throughout 2009 and 2010 I would chronicle my Wednesday Salvation Army thrift store hauls (Wednesday being half price day). Even though I fell out of doing this, today's loot was too good not to share!

I was feeling good about today's thrift trip even before setting foot in the store, but really couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this green wool blazer. And in my size, too! I almost bought one from L.L.Bean last week, but didn't want to part with so many pennies. This one only set me back $2.50. Pictured next to it is the newest addition to my cardigan family: a slightly over-sized, tweedy merino-cashmere blended, elbow-patched specimen of coziness! I happily forked over a few dollars for it.

My dad has a nice collection of both blue and clear glass bottles and while he usually just finds them (in the ground, in old houses, at the dump, etc), I don't mind spending a little bit when I come across nice ones such as this. For 20 cents, I'll probably use it as a vase. What about those porcelain puppies, you ask?

One is a pencil holder and the other a pencil sharpener! 98 cents for the pair. I know, it takes a moment for the awesomeness to sink in.

For auld lang syne

I am not sharing any of my Christmas Eve or Christmas Day outfits on my blog this year. I planned on it, but the photos my sister and I took came out either too blurry or grainy (and I wasn't really up for trying to re-do them as there were more important things to worry about - visiting and eating, for example). That said, my family's Christmas was nice and merry; I hope yours was, too!

Even though my blogging was more sparse this past year, I have managed to compile my favorite outfit photos as per usual. So, without further ado:

January

February

February

March

April

May

May

May

June

July

July

August

September

September

October

October

October

November

{2010 review}
{2009 review}

Thank you for continuing along on this journey with me for another year, dear readers! See you in 2012. Happy New Year!

Hanging On

Cardigan: TJ Maxx, Skirt: thrifted, Shoes: H&M

I'm hanging on to what's left of Autumn and decided today was as good a day as any to adorn myself with little bits of orange. A vestigial tribute of sorts to my favorite season now replaced by snow...

A favorite view

Cardigan: Land's End Canvas, Brooch: flea market, Dress: Target, Shoes: Aldo

This view from out beyond our house has always been a favorite of mine. I love how dusky the mountains look in the distance and the smattering of trees stretching toward the horizon. The sunrises over this little spot are especially beautiful. It's always a treat to see them.

Frock on!

If you read the blog Much Love you'll have noticed that Anna is participating in Frocktober. She has pledged to wear a dress every day during the month of October to raise funds for ovarian cancer research. While Frocktober is based in Australia, a handful of bloggers from all over the globe have come together (albeit virtually) to share their favorite frocks in support of Anna's endeavor. If you have a moment, do check out Friends for Frocktober!

Cardigan and dress: thrifted, Rings: H&M, Loafers: Bass

So this is your favorite frock, you ask? Yep. I wear it all the time be it spring, summer, autumn or winter. The brown floral print is extremely versatile and the dress itself is very comfortable (except for when it gets all static-y and bunched up at the waist, like it did the day I took these photos. Gah!). My mom actually got it for me at a thrift store some 6 or 7 years ago now, so I can't really take the credit for finding it. Thanks Mom, it was definitely a few dollars well spent.

Mum's the word

This outfit came together in my mind, last week or so, while we were stuck in a stretch of cold, rainy days. We've been precipitation-free for a few days now, but the thing is I really wanted to wear these wedges one last time sans tights. That meant waiting and hoping that even though it's October the temperatures would comply with my sartorial whims. And comply they did. I took full advantage of today's climbing temperatures and disregarded stockings of any kind.

This dress used to be my mother's and was among a few items (mostly maxi skirts; exhibit a and exhibit b) that she handed down to me a few years back. Oddly enough, I have no recollection of her wearing these and only remember seeing them in her closet. For whatever reason, when I think back to my childhood she is forever wearing a khaki maxi skirt with either a fuchsia t-shirt or a dark green silk button-down. The brain is a strange, strange thing.

Cardigan: Land's End Canvas, Dress: hand-me-down, Belt: thrifted
Locket: childhood gift, T-strap wedges: Target

On a clear day

It feels like ages since I last did any sort of wardrobe documentation. In reality it has only been three weeks. To be honest, part of me didn't even feel like taking these photos (don't worry, I'm not going to stop blogging or anything. I've just been feeling a little "meh" lately), but the inkling was partially there, I had some free time and I was wearing one of my summer dress splurges. And by splurge I really mean that I watched it like a hawk and bought it on sale. My only gripe with it is that it's not the pretty shade of green it appeared to be online. The lining is, but it's not possible to wear it inside-out. I wasn't sure about wearing this dark olive green cardigan over it, but my little white one was crumpled up in my laundry pile. However, I was certain about wearing these traditional Catalan espardenyes with it. My blogging friend Emily of Ruby Slipper Journeys so graciously sent them to me while she was in Barcelona not too long ago. They have more than satisfied my yearning for an espadrille summer shoe (it had been far too long since I owned a pair) and I spent the day imagining that I was wearing them somewhere near the ocean... walking along a pebbly beach or on a jetty, perhaps.

Cardigan: Target, Dress: Land's End Canvas, Locket: antique mall
Sunglasses: TJ Maxx, Espardenya shoes: gift