Nearly New

Twice a year, one of the local hospitals hosts a Nearly New Sale to raise money for their departments. I went with a friend last night (it was half off day - holla!) and managed to get a fabulous butterscotch colored jacket and a black swishy skirt (much like the teal one I thrifted several months ago). The skirt is a tad tight, so I have to pull it up to my natural waist, but that's okay. It ends up being midi length when I wear it that way, and it's super cute. The jacket is definitely a throwback, has a strong menswear inspiration and fits like a dream. It hits right about at my hip bone, which I love! Such a great length.

I'm in the middle of packing for Mexico, so my closet (and my free time) is sort of out of control at the moment. I'll try to get a picture tonight and post it sometime soon.

I'm excited for our vacation! There's a hurricane expected to hit the resort area before we even get there which could delay our arrival, AND it's supposed to rain the whole time, but still. Vacation is vacation. I'll take what I can get :o)

The Hunt for Red October

Okay, not really. I did do some "hunting" in October, but nothing red came of it.

Remember a while back when I said I'm going to Mexico soon? Well, I still am. In 9 days, to be precise. And it was the opinion of O that I needed more "casual" tops.

Let me back up.

I'm not a "casual" dresser most of the time. I either get all schlumpy in my sweat pants when I know not a soul will see me, or I have heels on. I wear heels about 98% of the time I'm in real clothes (not schlumpy ones). So yeah, I'll throw on jeans but it's a rare rare day in my world that a t-shirt of any kind goes on with them. I wear tops - flowy, empire waist, strappy, printed ... the list goes on. But I'm not a jeans and tee kinda chick.

That being said, O thought I should have more "casual" tops for vacation. So we went shopping.

Let me back up again.

I'm pretty much planning to be in a bathing suit and cover-up MOST of my waking hours. So the reality is, a dress each night for dinner and something to wear ATVing, plus whatever I wear on the plane home, are all I really see me needing.

But whatever. The hubs thought I was crazy that there would be so little variety, especially of the "casual" kind (I tried to explain the wonders of a sundress, but he didn't get it).

I ended up at TJ Maxx. The goal was "tank-top style tops." I failed miserably. I did, technically, get one tank top. Technically. But it's long (covers the bum), has an asymetrical neckline and has the cutest ruffle running down the length of it on the front. It's purple. I agreed that I could wear it with my gray and purple plaid bermuda shorts on the day we take the ATV tour. Not as casual as O thought I should go, but a decent compromise.

Everything else I bought wasn't even close. I got a sweatshirt-style crop top to wear at the gym (it's got zebra's on it) and a gray t-shirt with a giant screenprinted butterfly on it (perfect with a mini skirt as a bathing suit cover up). Then I got three tops that are all the same, but slightly different. Slouchy, bat-winged, off the shoulder kind of stuff that is cute with dark wash or dressy shorts.

I did actually hit up Express the week before and got a strapless top that was on sale and I had been drooling over. Plus a very sparkly, silver sequined bandeau bra to go under a dress I'm taking with me. A complete necessity, obviously.

Anyway, I think I'm pretty set. I should have enough "casual" items to make O happy, and plenty of pieces that really speak to my style - which is becoming "grown up sexy elegance in comfortable fabrics that stretch and are forgiving." So me.

I'll put photos up after we get back.

PS. We'll be there for Halloween. I've got a DIY costume all lined up :o)

A Great Day for Wine

Here's a photo of me and my bestie in the Poconos! We went to a winery for a tasting and this is the gazebo on the property. Nothing special about my outfit, but it was cozy and felt like fall. My sweater dress is from WetSeal, the leggings are Forever 21, my boots are from Bakers (six years ago?) and the jacket is Target. I was warm and comfy all day and we had a blast buying wine and joining our boys for a brew tour.

Fabulous weekend :o)

Quick Post

I know it's been a few weeks since I posted last. It's been crazy at work, we're re-financing our home (which has been a headache), we were away last weekend and in three weeks we leave for Mexico ... so a lot is going on!

Anyway, I'll put pics up tonight (hopefully) of our weekend away. We went to the Poconos for a little down time with some friends and had a chance to really enjoy the mountains and foliage with decent weather. We visited a brewery and toured/sampled there and then went to this adorable winery and did a tasting there as well. Some eating, shopping, star-gazing ... it was a fabulous weekend.

So keep an eye out for that tonight. Hope everyone is enjoying their fall - the weather is still up and down here, but I've settled into a nice mix of layers to help combat the confusion :o)

Just Like Dirty Dancing

Next weekend, O, myself, my best friend and her husband (plus our dog) are all going on a little mini getaway to the Poconos. 'Member the Poconos? Known in the '80's for swanky honeymoon suites with tubs shaped like wine glasses. It's where Baby met Johnny. And where they danced.

Well, lucky for me, a wonderful long-time friend of ours has a home in a residential community inside one of the resorts up in those beautiful mountains and we're using her place for our little retreat. There will be wine tours, brewery tours (gotta keep the boys happy) and a festival that celebrates the foliage in the area. Tiny towns, postcard scenery, wildlife, and some of my favorite things about fall: firepits, fireplaces, cozy meals and warm sweaters, and that satisfying crunch of leaves beneath really cute boots.

I know it's been a while since I've posted. Remember that burn I got about a month ago? It's finally healed and I'm wearing normal clothes again. Hopefully I'll get back on the bandwagon with outfits soon. For sure there will be posts from the mountains.

In other news, in just about a month we have yet another trip planned. We, plus our other very close couple friends, are going to Mexico for a week of relaxing and playing in the sand. I'm very excited! I've only been out of the States once, when I went to Italy with my brother last fall, so I'm hoping that this will be just as great, albeit totally different. PS. I've been mentally packing for that trip for about 2 months ... I've narrowed it down to about 15 outfits for the 7 nights we'll be there (when I know for a fact I'll be in a bathing suit about 90% of the time). Ah well.

Wedded Bliss

I realize that this is not a very good shot of my outfit, but I love this photo. One of my younger cousins got married yesterday and this is his little boy. He was seriously the best looking person in the whole joint. I adore tuxes on kids and he looked so grown up in this three-piece number.

I'm wearing a dress I bought at Goodwill. It's a really amazing royal blue and the straps are twisty which I love. I wore nude snakeskin heels - latticed booties, really - by Steve Madden, and carried my hot pink clutch, also thrifted at Goodwill.

I will admit to throwing on a pair of braided sandals from F21 after dinner. I wanted to dance comfortably!

Congrats to my cousin and his lovely new wife! It was an amazing night!

So What Season Is This Again?

I'm still recovering from The Burn Felt 'Round The World and have been living in my yoga pants for days now, so no cute pictures of clothes I could be wearing. However, I did want to post on the fact that this ridiculous East Coast weather is making my head spin. I'm pretty sure I've got a cold developing because it was in the 60's yesterday and it's in the 80's today. Also, it's been raining buckets because of these tropical storms to the south of us and the humidity and fog are outrageous.

All of that is to say, I have no idea what to wear anymore. Is it gonna be short-sleeves? Do I need long pants? Should I bring a jacket? I've given up and embraced my pjs. I'll get dressed again eventually, but hopefully by that time the weather will decide what it's doing and just pick a season already.

Oh! Remember that post from a while back- the one about my fall wish list? Well, I've been doing some thinking about it and I'm going to really just concentrate on red jeans, leopard and maybe a good coat. Plus colored tights, which I really want to be good at wearing but I fear will just look silly on me. But we'll see. I always need to stock up on sweaters and long-sleeves, but maybe this year I'll concentrate on accessories and the few big items I want. I'll be planning for a thrift trip by the end of the month too.

::sigh:: This weather makes me want to cook. On that note, I think I'll have a quick workout and then make something delicious! Happy Hump Day, y'all!