Toppling Towers

I've been on the hunt for affordable (read: super cheap and super steals) clothes that I can wear to work this year.  I'm not quite sure if these sparkle espadrille wedges were wholly justifiable, but I loved that they are fun with an air of elegance, and that the espadrilles make them daytime appropriate but the shimmer of the fabric can make them work for a casual night.  I found this skirt at SoLa a couple weeks ago when they marked down everything in the store that was from the summer stock.

 
Lennon comes back from being gone on tour for over two months, but only for a quick visit and to dog and apartment sit for me while I go to a conference in Albuquerque next week.  I'm not excited to fly - my dad was a pilot, but somehow I was born terrified of flying, (well, technically of crashing).  After I get back Lennon is moving to Dallas and my program year sets into full gear.  I hope the year is busy and wonderful and fun and if the grant cycle isn't renewed next year, I hope the principal hires me as a teacher on campus for 2011-2012.  I can't believe how much I miss teaching.  I can't believe I'd contemplate having to wake up at 5:30 A.M. every day again.

 
This is the outfit I wore in Arkansas to go out to dinner for my grandmother's birthday, but I also wore these shoes to go out last night to downtown.  I love The Ginger Man pub, because I love beer, and I love being able to make the call that a beer is too hoppy or too citrusy, or some other distinction.  For years I'd aspired to be a wine connoisseur, but I don't think that's in my cards anymore.  I'm certain I'll be a full fledged beer snob in a matter of years.  Luckily, I didn't stumble in these shoes while walking around downtown Austin at 2 A.M.  I actually think that two pints in, the fluidity of my ability to walk in an extra four inches improved, sort of like my Spanish skills.  Tonight was swimming, movie, and dinner with my friend Elizabeth, and the fact that I fell asleep on her couch is probably indicative I should be going to sleep now.

Dresscapades Part Three: In Which I Try To Look Tough

The last in the series of the floral dress, but by no means the last of the dress. I love this thing.  Maybe if I'd put the petticoat I bought underneath my dresses that don't come with one built in, I'd love those just as much, too.  Maybe...

Coat: from Goodie Two Shoes on SoCo
Dress: Charlotte Russe
Tights: Target
Heels: Aldo
Necklace: my mom's
Attitude: all my own!  I'm working on my "attitude face."

I can safely say I've swept the floor since this picture was taken.  Not that it will have done any good by tomorrow.  It's a good thing dogs are worth all the effort.  (I love my puppy).

Lennon hates these shoes, and they kind of make me feel like a pony, but I still like them, and they were on clearance.  I saw a more expensive pair in a store during the Boutique Crawl, and the clerk suggested wearing them with denim shorts and a white t-shirt, which I might have to try.

Keds, Sailboats, & Bicycles

Sunday was beautiful and sunny, and I threw these shorts on to take a ride to Epoch coffee to, -gasp-, sit and talk to Lennon!  No laptops, no headphones... actual conversation!  Does that ever happen in coffee shops anymore!?  Maybe on first dates.  And business lunches.  And study groups.  No, wait, those last two don't count.

We sat on the patio and drank coffee and tea just to be outside and have a destination for our bike excursion.  These flats double as my house slippers in the summer, and Chictopia is having a Keds sponsored contest, so I delayed our trip to have Lennon take a flurry of pictures of me in my polka dot Keds.  I actually have this pair in brown and blue as well, because I got them 50% off, which means you have to buy two, right?  Maybe that rule only applies if there's rick-rack on the shoe.  These have rick-rack.

 
Sweater: Forever 21
Tank: Target
Shorts: Target
Shoes: Keds
Glitter headband: from Goodie Two Shoes

Now if I could only teach Lennon to take pictures without cars in the background...   :)
I shouldn't give him a hard time.  When I get a place to myself I'll have to buy a tripod, and be even more embarrassed to take pictures of myself outside.

No More Second Guessing Shoes

Friday before last I went shopping with my step-mom and step-sisters in Austin which is a huge treat.  Trying to be fiscally conservative, I begrudgingly decided not to buy these studded, high heeled, normally almost $300 Frye oxfords that I found at Nordstom Rack.  Did I mention they were the only pair in the store?  I've had dreams about them since then, and when I showed these pictures I took in the store to Michelle, she said she could find them online for me, no probs. 

And she DID!

And I ordered them!

And I had to pay shipping.  Boo.

Next time, I buy the shoes, no dilly-dallying.  I intend to wear these every day this summer.  I just hope they aren't left on the doorstep of the wrong apartment like my last mail order purchase!

I Got Old Man Shoes

I still can't decide if I think these shoes are cute or look stolen from a geriatric gentleman, but they do add a vintage look to this, or probably any, outfit.

I didn't want to wear tights as I was afraid of looking like a doll, but it was too cold to go without.  Then I got to work and Elizabeth told me I looked like an American Girl Doll.  I had Felicity, Samantha, and Girl Of Today (Abby), thank you very much.  A student later told me I looked like Alice in Wonderland.  I am going to see that Saturday... but I plan on going as the Queen of Hearts in my new thrifted (threw!) red dress.

My grandpa doesn't actually wear shoes like this.  He's more of a white tennis shoe kind of guy.

This brooch, is, in fact, my grandmother's, though.  (Well, not anymore... long term loan).

Skirt: Target
Jacket: White House Black Market
Tee: Target
Brooch: Grandma
Tights: Target
Necklace: gift from high school sweetheart
Shoes: from SoLa

And I'm sure when I actually am old, this is how I'll look at kids who step on my lawn.  Snarly face.

This look works for me now.  I should buy a cane.  And get a chia pet.