just a tease

top: Old Navy / cardi: JCrew / skirt: Anthro / shoes: Geox / tights: Hue
So the boots made a guest celebrity appearance but unfortunately the warm humidity has returned. {Sorry about the washed out photo; if I don't change the settings on the camera it does this sometimes}
Yesterday was a better day, today is already Thursday and we are that much closer to the weekend. Have a great day :)

put a fork in me

top&boots: Anthro / cardi: Target / skirt: Old Navy / necklace: gift'd / tights: Hue
It's only Wednesday and I feel like I should be done with the week! Yesterday afternoon was super busy at work; yet nothing significant was accomplished. Those kinds of days are frustrating to me but I am hoping to shake it off and have a better one today.

Happy hump day :)

project life | week 40

{Sept 30 - Oct 6}

full spread
40 weeks in and loving this project even more now than when I started.


left side
The quote card is printed from an online scrapbooking class I am currently taking. {Yes, I am complete geek and proud of it}


right side
I love using both digital elements in photoshop as well as my own handwriting to add a more personal touch to the pages.

weekend casual | stripes, please (and some accountability)

dress: Gap / shoes: Sam Edelman / sunnies: Dsquared / bag: Marc by MarcJacobs
Shopping seems to occur the most for me during the changing of the seasons. Down here in Texas, when stores are bringing out fall sweaters and boots, the temperatures are still in the 90s so I am not so inclined to by a sweater. Conversely, summer items end up going on sale and I love a good deal, like this dress, which was on sale with an additional 40% off.


Insanely out-of-control closet
That said, even though I think of myself as a good bargain hunter, my closet is so full I really don't need another dress. And since moving into our new place, I have been really bad about sticking to my 1-in-2-out rule. I am writing this now so I can keep myself accountable to you, dear reader. Please keep me to it!

that time of year

Joe and I love Halloween - probably more than grown adults should, but there you have it. And attending Burning Man has really inspired us to go all out this year. Can't wait!

finally Friday

top&skirt: JCrew / cardi: Target / shoes: Jeffrey Campbell
These early days this week have been great because I feel like I have more time in the evening to get things done; however, the week itself has felt loooong...mainly because I have been to the office everyday since last Tuesday, and that includes driving to and from Austin. So looking forward to a restful weekend!


One thing about keeping track of daily outfits - they are daily self-portraits as well. This tank has lasted me through super short hair, super "blonde" hair and now bangs!

Here's to a fantastic and restful weekend.

keeping it classic

top: Loft / skirt: Uniqlo / shoes: Tory Burch / sunnies: Dsquared
I had a professional event last night so kept the outfit a bit more polished and clean than usual.


I love the ruffled collar on this white shirt - makes it a bit more interesting and fun to layer.

new schedule

tunic: Missoni for Target / pants: J.Crew / shoes: Marc Jacobs / bangles: Calypso for Target
We started new hours at work this month - only one late day and only one working Saturday a month. While I will miss our every other 3-day weekend, I am looking forward to having a more "normal" schedule and more free Saturdays.


POTD: where I stand
I love these brown flats, but can only wear them during cooler temps as they are made of velvet. And this month, to mix things up, I will be taking my photo-of-the-day with the Hisptamatic app on my phone. I would love to get the new iPhone 5 just for the better camera, but I still have 1 year on my current contract and would also like them to fix the map app on the new iOS. Maybe Santa will be good to me this year ;)


And these pants haven't been outside my closet since last year. I wore them to death before and still love them, but have too many choices now. Yes, the closet is getting out-of-control again; more on that later.

Happy Hump Day!

project life | week 39

{Sept 23-29}
full spread
I am patting myself on the back for keeping current on this project, even when I was out of town last week.


full spread, insert right side
And I even made 4 extra 6x6 layouts as an insert.


left side
Designer Digitals

 was having one of their quarterly sales and I went a little crazy with the digital brushes that I purchased. But I love them, they will never run out and only take up a little space on my hard drive.

insert, front
I wanted to document some outfits on paper as well as document where I usually stay when traveling for work.


insert, back
Joe bought an iPad for "us" last week. We're supposed to share it, but I really haven't been using it much because the other person in my house is hogging it up!


right side
More random tidbits from our week. The last time I saw my nephews was last Sunday and I don't think I will be able to see them this week, so going through major baby withdrawal right now.


full spread, insert left side
This has been one of the most fulfilling memory keeping projects I have done yet. If scrapbooking makes your nervous, this is the simplest way to go. Photos go in pockets, add a few words to tell the story and you're done. Anything else is just for fun.

Happy October

As we enter the last quarter of the year, I am trying not to be overwhelmed at the amount of stuff we will have going on and stay focused and more organized. Texas has actually received a bit of fall-like weather this past weekend and I am can't wait to start wearing my boots (well, as soon as I figure out where I packed them away!).


I received some happy snail mail over the weekend and will be paying it forward some time soon. In this electronic age, there's something just a tiny bit thrilling about seeing your name on an envelope. My challenge to you is to mail something to someone just for the fun of it!

Have a great week! ox

currents

time: 6:32AM
location: the desk of my hotel room
drinking: the first cup of coffee for the day
waiting: for breakfast to be served
hearing: the drizzle of the rain from outside
hoping: that the hotel people correct my incorrect receipt {which they just did - woot!}
loving: that the hubs was able to come on my work trip with me
wishing: that he was still here :(
thinking: about our Halloween costumes...it will be here sooner rather than later
wanting: to be happy with what I have
needing: to fill up the gas tank before I drive home after work today

inspired by her and her.

stripes and dots

top: F21 / cardi: Old Navy / skirt: Loft / shoes: Tory Burch / necklace: Collingnon Designs

This cardi is the only new clothing item I have purchased in Austin...so far. On sale, it was just too cute to pass up and since the office is too chilly for just a tank, it was a perfect layer. The hubs is leaving me to my own devices this morning, but luckily just 2 more days and one more night before I return home.

what to do during a long lunch

top: Anthro / skirt: J.Crew / shoes: Tory Burch / necklace: Collingnon Designs / chains: Calypso for Target

Still enjoying our time in Austin. Not much to report except that I am TRYING my best not to shop too much (it's hard when the office is near a few outdoor malls, lunch hours are actually 2 hours long and a credit card burning a hole in my pocket!).

hello Austin

top: Ann Taylor / skirt: Loft / shoes: Tory Burch / sunnies: Dsquared

The hubs and I are in Austin this week: me for work and him because I am here. Despite being a work trip, being here feels like a mini-vacation: less hectic schedule, meeting up with friends for meals, good yoga studio and great biking for Joe. Having cooler temps helps as well. {and can you believe it's the last week in September? where has this year gone?!?}

Here's to a great rest of your week!

project life | week 38

{Sept 16-22}

full spread
Even though I have been going through a creative lull in my photography, I still love this project.


left side
I think what I love best is just recording random little moments from our days.


right side
I also want to not necessarily record minute details of challenges in our life, but to remind myself (and anyone in the future that may happen upon this book) that things aren't always perfect but that makes us appreciate the good times even more.

weekend update | hammer time

We had some out-of-town guests this weekend. Joe worked with J way back when and J&A actually got married the same year we did. They have 2 beautiful little girls and not much time for themselves so we were lucky to be able to spend some time with them over the weekend.


Much of the weekend was spent practicing yoga as well as buying cute yoga clothes, eating, catching up and the boys finished a triathlon in Galveston (the hubs finished 2nd in his age group!). I could use more weekends like this!

on the mat | right vs. left

As with any physical activity that is performed routinely, yoga comes with its share injuries, at least for me. While most of the poses are symmetrical (i.e. lunge on right side, then lunge on left), some of the binding poses are not quite as much.

Lotus pose typically involves putting your right foot on your left knee then your left foot over your right leg onto your right knee:.

Similarly, Supta Kurmasana, or Sleeping Tortoise, a pose I have been trying to master for 2+ years now, typically involves placing your left leg over your left shoulder then your right leg over your right shoulder: .

Y, my teacher, suggested this week that I try Supta Kurma with my right leg over my right shoulder first. I have also been doing the lotus poses with the left leg up first. I did this twice this week and, boy, what a difference alternating legs makes! My a$$ has been sore all week and switching legs makes it feel like a completely new pose. Goes to show you how one side of your body can become more flexible than the other.

This has definitely been a humbling week in my practice. But I am happy to challenge myself in new ways. Now excuse me as I go take an Advil...or two.

feeling flirty

top: Loft / skirt: JCrew / shoes: Tory Burch / earring&necklace: gift'd

Another secret to feeling good when you're having a "fat" day - wear a long, flowy skirt with ballet flats. Can't get any more feminine then that!

Back to basics

top: Anthro / pants: Gap / shoes: Geox / earrings&necklace: gift'd

On days when I am feeling less than inspired to think about what to wear (a.k.a. feeling lazy), a fun top and comfortable pants are a go-to.


Every girl should have a good pair of black pants (IMHO). They are especially good for "fat" days as well (a.k.a. ladies holiday, that time of month, etc.).

project life | week 37

{Sept 9-15}

full spread
Halfway into September and I am patting myself for keeping current with this project. Having virtual inspiration and encouragement through blogs and IG definitely helps.


left side
Digital templates and making an effort to upload and edit photos daily helped keep the stories I wanted to tell fresh in mind and easy to complete.


right side
My own messy handwriting included in each weeks helps to keep this project "scrappy" for me and nothing beats the quality of a good dSLR photo.