layered like an onion. a 1-layered onion, sure, but an onion nonetheless...

 shoes: steve madden. dress & necklace: forever21. belt: kohl's. shirt: eddie bauer (?). watch: target. flower clip: downeast basics. earrings: hawaii.

My brain is still on vacation. And by "vacation" I of course mean "absent and/or scattered and/or eating cotton candy." Remember those one posters from the 90s, "this is your brain, this is your brain on drugs"? I don't actually remember more than that on the posters, 'cept eggs were involved somehow. And maybe bacon.

Speaking of...my husband loves bacon. Personally, I could live without it, mostly because whenever I cook it, my house reeks of 1-, 2-, and 3-day-old bacon stench. Which, if you've never experienced it, isn't something to live for. Unless you're my husband and son. Then, by all means, feel free to build a life's motto around the wrinkly crinkly strips of meat-speckled-fat somehow. And I'll stitch your words onto a pillow. After I learn to stitch.

Know what I don't need to learn anymore? This: despite their festive and brightly colored plastic coverings, hot glue guns are not kidding around about the "hot" part of their name. Three blisters later, this girl's got herself some serious Life's-Lessons-turned-Motivational-Speech fodder. Bring on the auditoriums full of impressionable youth; they'll learn from me and believe. Booyah.

Happy Wednesday.

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More Forever 21...

life is like a pair of houndstooth tights...

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 shoes: don't recall. tights & belt: forever21. skirt & cardigan: j.crew. shirt: eddie bauer. necklace: downeast basics.

I went to my children's great-grampa's funeral yesterday. It was a bittersweet day. He was a good man who leaves behind millions of good memories. Forgive me that I'm not feeling particularly funny today.

But I'll say this: I've thought a lot about life and how I use my time and what's really --no seriously, really -- important. A much-needed introspection. Timely, because guess what's pretty much at the bottom of the Important barrel? The fact that my tights got some snags in them and I forgot to reapply lipstick for these photos.

So. I'm happy and grateful to be clothed and alive. Now I'm off to use today's precious life-hours well.

Happy Tuesday.

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More J.Crew...

they might be giants...

shoes: steve madden. tights, necklace, & earrings: gifted. skirt: j.crew. belt & stripes: forever21. button-up: eddie bauer. bracelet & flower hairthing: downeast outfitters.

"Woahhhhhh. You're taaaaaaalllllll." First thing I heard, all prepubescent-chorus-like, when I walked into my son's 1st grade class this morning for my volunteer hour. Which is a comment I'm not really sure what to do with. Thank you? You're welcome? I'm sorry? I know? Get off me? Endless possibilities for responses, really. [Editor's note: You'll be relieved to know: I just smiled at the kids and sat down. There. Crisis averted.]

Bottom line: I attribute my newfound height to these SHOES. I heart them.

Today's jumping-off point was this denim pencil skirt. It needs some slight tailoring, but I haven't had time, so I decided to wear it with a chunky belt to hide the waistband until it's fixed. I'm afraid Sunday's ensemble got me into a total stripedy-stripe-stripe mood (PLUS it's breton stripes day), so I went with this little number. If you'll recall, it's a tunic length (some might go so far as to say it's a "dress" length, but not I, my friends. Not I.), so I tucked it here, over a pale yellow button-up.

The button-up was slightly problematic. It looked off when I wore the collar down, but so did it also look a little strange when I purposefully flipped it up. So I just opened up the back of the collar and let the front fall where it may. That's right. Living life on the edge. I'm famous for this kind of thing, you know. Like one time I went to bed without brushing my teeth.

[Editor's note: That's true, but what she's failing to admit is the END of the story, which is that she got up a sleepless hour later to brush in the dark because she couldn't handle her fuzzy teeth. So. Probably "living life on the edge...of a secure 10-foot-buffer zone" would be more accurate. But, you know, tomayto tomahto.]

I love these bright blue tights from my friend Val, and I thought this would be a great day to wear them. In this ensemble, they come across as kind of a neutral, really--just an extension of the blue denim skirt. A bright, glow-in-the-dark extension, of course, but still. They're pretty Unexpected & Maybe Awesome for me here. And I like how they're downplayed, just slightly, by the taupe booties.

Question for you all: How do you wear earrings? They are currently the bane of my style existence. I normally default to my beloved diamond studs, but my friend RaeLynn wanted me to try some danglies, which I did here (you know, that life-on-the-edge thing again). I feel like these are all wrong with this ensemble, but I'm not sure what I should do differently. Please! Earring advice! I'm begging you!

(ahem) Regardless...happy Tuesday.

Want this look? pencil skirt  striped top  booties  yellow button-up  blue tights

More Forever 21...

because i felt like being a newscaster today. that's why.

Today's jumping-off point was these wide leg pants. Subtle grey pinstripe on that lovely is-it-blue-or-is-it-black? color, and we're in business. And I wanted something neutral but still an actual color on top: pale yellow button-up it is. Originally, it was topped with a baby blue short-sleeve sweater. But the sweater was smaller (translation: tighter) than the shirt was, so I looked suuuuper lumpy. No thanks.

I switched to this grey vest. At first I was hesitant because everything just felt so bland. But after adding a shiny turquoise and green brooch at my neck and my favorite shimmery braided metallic belt and a couple simple bracelets [Editor's ntoe: Because I'm a recovering bracelaholic. Actually, not even recovering. Full-fledged still ensconced in bracelethood and in serious denial that there's even a problem.], things felt more balanced.

[Editor's note: Oh, and...see those socks? Worn oh-so-confidently with my favorite flats? Yeah. That's because it's snowing outside. And while I naturally have a body temperature that rivals what's-his-werewolf in Twilight, I'm not in love with snow falling in my shoes and melting on my bare feet as I walk. So. Yep. Socks. We good here? Good.]

And with my hair straightened, I feel like a newscaster. Which makes me want to make an announcement. [Editor's note: 10 points for an excellent segway.] [Assistant Editor's note: Really? 10 points? It's like a pay raise!] [Editor's note: Don't get ahead of yourself...]

(ahem) Announcement: Recently, a man mentioned to Pocket, "I saw your wife's blog-thing the other day... Man, I'm glad MY wife isn't like that! I wouldn't have any money left to buy toys!"

Although I'm happy to be the cause of another man's reiterating his preference for his own wife (always!), I feel like I may have not made myself, and the purpose of this blog, clear. Let me do so now: This blog is based on the fact that I have many many old clothes that were gathering dust in my closet. Many of my clothes are hand-me-downs, or yard sale finds, or from high school/college days. My body shape has changed several times over the past decade, and therefore the majority of my wardrobe is comprised of hodge-podge, somewhat ill-fitting pieces.

The whole point in taking pics of myself every day (a somewhat embarrassing and extremely vulnerability-inducing endeavor in and of itself) is to show that a normal girl can still make do with what she has--she can look modern and appropriate and at least moderately stylish even with old stuff. It doesn't take a lot of money (which I don't have). It simply takes some thought and creativity. And a very big smile.

Happy Wednesday.