layer up | long over short

{Today's challenge was actually cropped over long, but I have long abandoned buying anything cropped since the '90s so I interpreted it the opposite way.}


all items remix'd
dress: Missoni for Target
cardi: J.Crew
boots: Nordstrom Rack
earrings: Collignon Designs, gift'd
bangles: India
tights: Loft

Wearing this bright yellow cardi simply makes me smile. So does this fun dress. The weird thing is that with the whole Target-selling-out-of-all-things-Missoni, I have really yet to see anyone but myself actually wearing any of it.
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Today I started the Master Cleanse with the hubs and another friend of ours. Drinking only this lemonade concoction all day is definitely more difficult than I imagined and I am a bit crabby, as the hubs can attest to. We are attempting to do this for 10-11 days; I am just taking each day at a time. Now I think it's time for bed since we can't eat dinner!

layer up week | short over long sleeves

The always adorable and fashionable Megan and Keely are hosting another fashion challenge this week, in which I will attempt to participate as best as I can. Layers can be tricky in the South, as sometimes the weather just doesn't allow for them, even in the dead of winter, so this will definitely be a challenge for me.


all items remix'd except shoes
shirt: Gap
sweater: H&M
skirt: Theory
shoes: Payless
earrings: gift'd
tights: Hue

I really love these red wedges even though they are a bit tight. I am hoping they will stretch out after a bit of wear. The weekend seemed to have flown by and I still can't believe January is almost over! The hubs was out of town this weekend and I am ready to see him tonight :)

project life | week three

Like many scrappy bloggers/instagramers out there, I have really been enjoying this process so far this year. And I can't believe it's the end of January!


Left side: Marathon weekend was on Sunday the 15th and this whole side of the spread was devoted to that day.


Right side: The rest of the spread was devoted to bits and pieces of the week. I included a photo of my desk at work, because even though I feel like work is just what I do, not who I am, I should acknowledge it somehow. I also happened to take two of my favorite photos of the boys this year so far that week. Love that I already have the pics in an album!


Yet another of our friends turned 40 and threw an amazing party last Saturday the 21st so I decided to make an extra spread about it.


I was able to cut the invitation to fit the pocket. I love getting stuff via snail mail and love that I have a place to put it!


And although we had a fabulous time at the party, some sadness abounded too - my dear friend T just learned her uncle suddenly passed away that night. She was understandably upset, but managed to stay through the party with the ones that love her.

I am looking forward to doing this week, hopefully some time today. Happy Sunday!

on the mat | together alone

I have never been good at team sports, especially anything that involves a ball. That hand-eye-coordination is just not my thing. So in high school, when all the cool kids were playing volleyball, soccer or basketball, I was either running or doing conditioning (what the un-cool kids did during soccer season).

When I finally discovered yoga, particularly Ashtanga, I found where I belonged, on my mat, by myself. Yoga is a very personal activity, so I am so glad that the hubs understand my love for it.


Although Joe doesn't love it quite as much as I do, he does practice anywhere from 2-5 times/week, depending on his mood. And he gets why I have such a passion for it.

I am so lucky he has embraced the vegetarian lifestyle that usually accompanies yogis as they become more involved in the practice. I am so lucky he enjoys ending the work week with a Friday evening practice as much as I do. Having a partner who understand that I need to practice 6 days every week and who encourages me to do so makes it even better. So thanks for knowing what I need, Joe.

P.S. Our patient is doing much better, although he is already ready for the stitches to come out!

finally Friday

all items remix'd
top: Anthro
cardi: Ann Taylor
skirt: Uniqlo
shoes: Christian Siriano for Payless
earrings: Collignon Designs, gift'd

Last week felt endless; this week has flown by! Although it is Friday, this will be a working weekend for me, so no rest for the weary.


I love the texture of the ruffles on this cardi.

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Joe swam into the wall of the pool yesterday morning and left himself with a minor injury. Fortunately the wound was superficial and simply required 3 stitches. Our patient is doing better this morning. But he did give his wife quite a little scare and she is glad he will survive.

Comfort dressing

top: Ann Taylor, remix'd
cardi: Target
pants: Gap, remix'd
shoes: Geox, remix'd
earrings: gift'd&remix'd

This week has been that time of the month when I just want to be comfortable. It's also been a week where I have been bored with my clothes (again) so I wore a cardigan that I bought months ago but have yet to actually put on. See, hoarding has its benefits because I am wearing something new but haven't actually spent more money.


These pants are definitely my go-to when I want something easy yet put together. I wish Gap would make them in all colors of the rainbow!

iSmile

I can't believe DD is 10 months old already. He is such a sweet sweet baby.


Everyone should have a chocolate fountain at their birthday party.


Post-yoga smile.


A yummy breakfast.


Taking a walk with the hubs.


Pretty flower.


Don't let his adorable smile fool you - this kid is full of mischief!

Tell me, what did you smile about last week?

weekend casual

all items remix'd
top: J.Crew
jeans: Gap
shoes: Target
scarf: India

Not much to say today except that I am sad the weekend is over.


We attended the 40th bday party of a friend of ours on Saturday night.


Everyone had a great time and the party lasted into the wee hours of Sunday morning.


I really liked my outfit too, but only got a picture of my new booties. They are DV by Dolce Vita that I found at Ross for $20. I decided life is too short to live without sparkly platform booties and bought them. My legs were aching by the end of the night, but they were worth it!

scrappy sunday | project life week 2

I am seriously enjoying the process and immediate gratification of doing this project this year.


I edit my fun Instagram pics in Photoshop so that 2 will fit on one 4x6 photo.


Last week was a busy one and I included a 6x12 insert in between the 2 main pages. This insert includes the best photo I snapped of the men's Olympic marathon trials. We were happy that Ryan Hall made the cut!


I am also trying to make an effort to include more of what the hubs is doing during the week as well. I finally got him hooked up to Instagram, but I don't think he's taken one photo yet...need to work on that.


The other insert includes 12 photos I took on the 12th of the month. These days, taking 12 photos through out the day is really no big deal. I think this kind of page will be especially fun to look at 10 years from now and see what parts of our everyday life has changed.

on the mat | some flexibility helps

One of the biggest reasons/excuses people tell me that they don't practice yoga is that they just aren't flexible enough. And I nod, like I understand, and let them go their merry way. But inside I am screaming, "But that's what yoga is for!"

Being a runner for some 20+ years, I understand about having a stiff lower back and hamstrings. When I was training for the NYC marathon, I could tell that the longer runs (+2 hours) definitely made my yoga practice suffer. But continuing yoga throughout the training certainly kept me injury free. I have long since decided I much prefer the difficulty of yoga over the difficulty of running, but that's a story for another day.

My point is that, yes, yoga can be hard when you are not that flexible, but even if you go once or twice a week over a period of time, you can start to feel the difference. And you will become more limber. Not overnight, but what really happens that fast anyways?

Yoga doesn't just help with flexibility of the body; it can help with being more flexible in your mind too. Like accepting that today maybe a certain bind just isn't going to happen. Or no matter how much you try, your knees are in too much pain to sit in full lotus. But that's ok. Just do what you can. Namaste.

finally Friday

all items remix'd
turtleneck&tights: Gap
top&boots: Anthro
cardi: M+O
skirt: Loft
earrings: Collignon Designs, gift'd

Looks like I am practicing for layers week here. Just gotta take advantage of the coolish weather when we have it!


all items remix'd
top: J. Crew
cardi: Gap
skirt: Old Navy
boots: Anthro
earrings: my wedding earrings :)
necklace: AE
tights: Loft

I feel like I've been in a fashion-rut lately - top, cardi, skirt and boots, repeat, repeat and repeat. Because I am trying to limit what I buy this year, I feel like I am limited in my choices, but really I am just being lazy. I'm hoping this next fashion challenge gives me some inspiration!


I guess I could take some inspiration from myself as well. Maybe I just need to remember to accessorize :)

I can't tell you how happy I am it is Friday and to have the next 3 days off. We've got a good weekend planned and I am ready to get started!

Let's enjoy the day

all items remix'd*
top, skirt, & belt: Anthro
boots: Loft
earrings: Stylemint* (except these)
cuff: gift'd
necklace: Collignon Designs, gift'd

I was just thinking how long this week has felt and then realized it's already Thursday, so I shouldn't be complaining. Funny how the individual days seem long but the month has flown by - we are already closer to the end of January than the beginning. So now I am reminding myself to just enjoy every day for what it is and stop whining.


I love this tunic. It's long enough to cover what needs to be covered, but thin enough to layer and tuck in without adding any bulk. Now time for me to start and enjoy my day. I hope you do to!

iSmile

We had a fun-filled week and weekend with much to smile about.


Selfies with the nephews. I know I may be biased, but they are the cutest faces I know.


Teaching the hubs about Instagram. Still don't think he's taken any photos, though.


Marathon time again.


New kicks purchased at the aforementioned marathon expo.


Billy's cheering squad


Our besties from NYC.


Going off our gluten-free diet for some Tollhouse cake. It was worth it!

Not so serious

all items remix'd
dress: CK
shirt: Gap
shoes: Jeffrey Campbell
earrings: gift'd
necklace: M+O
belt: H&M

You would think that after taking near daily outfit photos I would be more comfortable in front of the camera. And I am, to an extent. Sometimes I just feel a bit narcissistic so I just try to get it over quickly with my few go-to poses.


But I also like to remind myself not to take it all so seriously.

weekend casual

all items remix'd
sweater: Old Navy
pants: Anthro
boots: Loft
sunnies: Dsquared
scarf: India
earrings: Collignon Designs, gift'd
bag: Gucci

A year or 2 ago I would never have worn a bright pink sweater with bright orange pants. But I adore this color combination and after seeing it so much in fashion magazines as well as blogs, I thought I would try my hand at bright color blocking. This outfit is so me, which is why I was happy with it.


The weekend has been packed with activities, all involving this boy, one of my besties from high school. He and his partner came down from NYC so he could run the Houston half-marathon. He did a fabulous job and finished in under 2 hours! Needless to say, our regular routine has been interupted and we will be trying to get back on track this week. But spending quality time with him was worth it!

scrappy sunday | project life week 1

My first Project Life album was completed in 2010 and housed my daily photos. Then I thought, "This is crazy. If I do this kind of album every year, I will have to build a new addition to anywhere we live to house all my scrapbooks!" So last year, I thought I would just make some mini albums to hold my photo-of-the-days:


About halfway through last year I started regret not having a full album, so I thought I would jump in full steam, join the PL bandwagon again. In an effort to keep it current, I have started printing my photos at Walgreens instead of waiting at the end of each month to print online. Luckily WG seems to have lots of different coupons every week, which makes the printing fairly inexpensive. So here is week one:


This year I will use the weekly approach, instead of the daily approach and include photos that speak to me, not necessarily my photo-of-the day.


I am obviously keeping the spread fairly simple, an adding only a little bit of stamping, stickers and some ephemera from the week. I enjoy the tactile nature of real photographs, as opposed to viewing them on the computer screen or in my phone, so this is a seriously fun way to document life but keep it simple.