A Missed Opportunity

When I was putting the books I got from my mom at Christmas as part of our yearly book swap (well, what it really is: I borrow books from my mom at one Christmas and return them to her the next while rarely ever contributing any books of my own) onto my bookcase, I noticed this.

Robert said, But they were buy 2 get a 3rd free--I can't believe she only bought two of them!

I can't decide whether having two copies of the same book means that it was very good or very forgettable.  (Or whether my mom ended up with two different people's copies of the book.)

Of course, it could be that my mom was just collecting an Elder Scrolls style library.  In the process of building my libraries in Skyrim, it was not uncommon for me to have over 20 copies of the same book in a single chest in one of my houses. 

But what am I saying?  It's quite natural to hoard Treasure.

Robert's comment, playing on an inaccurate/overly restrained interpretation of the message on the sticker, reminds me of one of the cards from...I think it was the Game of Life board game...which mentioned a 20% off sale at a lumberyard, in which the length of the wood was decreased by 20%, not the price.  Does that sound familiar to anyone else?

I Heart Blazers with Contrasting Edging

I can't quite figure out whether there is a consistent name for this--I have seen it called variously "piped," "edged," "framed," and "tipped."  But what I mean is a blazer that has an edging around the collar and usually the pockets, too, like these. 

My favorite 88 cent tweed blazer with black edging

Cream polka dot blazer by Target, thrifted

Black grid blazer with subtle black edging by Target, also thrifted

What I really want is a true, cool grey blazer with black edging (the grey blazer I have now is the much warmer taupe-grey in the third outfit here) but I cannot find one anywhere!  The closest I have come shopping online is a $500+ Theory blazer in grey with white edging.  This type of edged/tipped/whatever blazer used to be commonplace from J. Crew, Lands End, and Gap (among countless others, no doubt).

I mean, look at the fabulous bright-magenta-with-white version from Gap that Kate at a Journey in Style is wearing here (this week)!  (WANT.)

And looking on Pinterest, I found the grey/black tipped blazer of my dreams, which Lauren at Fizz and Frosting purchased from Target!  (Is it just me or does it look a lot like my thrifted Target blazers above?)

She pointed me to this blazer at JC Penney that is in the realm, but not quite right.  It's 3/4 length sleeves and a very light grey.  Actually, it would be a really nice one for spring.  Maybe I've convinced myself to try it....Hah, so I just went to buy that blazer and by the time I went to check out, they alerted me that it was no longer available in my size.  Thanks JCP!

I even looked at eBay and ThredUp but did not find any edged blazers in my size (I did not do a thorough examination of every size of blazer for sale, but I suspect that there is a size 4 J. Crew one available somewhere for like $250, used, to the desperate customer).

If you happen across a relatively inexpensive tipped blazer in an interesting color or pattern (I am pretty much crazy for this plaid one from Boden, but even on sale, I can't justify spending over $100 for it) or a grey with black tipped blazer at all out there on the Interwebs, let me know!  I am on the hunt for tipped blazers!

88 Cent Tweed Blazer Revisited

Pinspired: Whitney a La Mode--Thursday, 2/12/15

Whitney is a cute French teacher in Washington, D. C. When she wears t-shirts with French words or the Eiffel tower on them, it's legit.

I loved the color combination in this outfit and the idea of wearing a teal skirt with maroon ankle boots.  But see outside her window?  It's not deep Snowville winter when and where she is wearing this outfit, so some adaptation was in order.

Dark teal skirt and red pullover sweater, that I could do.

But I needed to add tights, and I wanted to wear black shoes to match the black tights (the maroon boots on bare legs will have to wait for a warmer day).

Even a cashmere sweater with a thermasilk tank underneath seemed not quite warm enough, so instead of a colorful scarf, I pulled out the 88 cent blazer that keeps on giving.

I was very pleased by my version of Whitney's look--it's winter appropriate and it's in a more classic, less girly key, which is more in keeping with my style for work wear.  Unlike the red skirt and striped T outfit on Monday (which is a wonderful but obvious combination), the "red pullover with dark teal skirt with patterned piece that ties them together" idea is one that I might never have gotten around to on my own, but that feels very me.

Red cashmere pullover sweater (Macy's)
Dark teal pencil skirt (JCP)
Colorful tweed blazer (thrifted, Sag Harbor, 88 cents)
Black tights
Black heeled oxfords (thrifted, Aerosoles)
Gold chain link necklace (Ann Taylor)

I've had these shoes for a zillion years and I absolutely love them.  I don't wear them very often (hence their longevity, considering they were bought used), but I enjoy pulling them out every once in a while.  Despite their (modest) heel and pointy toebox, they are quite comfortable.  I mean, I won't be chasing squirrels with my sister's dog at the park while wearing these shoes, but they are just fine for wearing at my desk while crunching data.

Speaking of which....I finally finished the "missing data" project today!  Although some of the data didn't make it into our data submission, we did at least figure out where all of it is, and the guy in charge of those programs is well-informed now about what data practices are working/not working in his department.  Now it's time to start tackling my list of "projects on hold while quarterly reporting/this never-ending missing data issue/preparing for the data presentation on Wed. were going on."

Navy Pinstripes and Grey Trousers Revisited

How to Dress to Give a Data Presentation--Wednesday, 2/11/15

The full body shot was just not cooperating with this outfit, but here you can get the gist of it (with bonus cutie snake in the background).  It's the same blazer and pants that I wore a couple weeks ago with the light blue lace sweater--I wanted to wear something I knew was comfortable and traditionally professional, and this fit the bill.  A cashmere sweater and silk scarf add warmth and a bit of class.

*Burgundy cashmere sweater (Macy's)
Grey pants (thrifted, Loft)
Navy pinstriped blazer (thrifted, Express)
Floral silk scarf (thrifted, Art Institute of Chicago)
Grey ankle boots by Seychelles

See, I really am wearing pants and ankle boots!  There is not a pair of raggedy cut-off shorts and glitter flip flops hiding behind that bathroom vanity.  Everyone knows only high-heeled flip-flops are professional enough to wear when giving a presentation at work, and mine are at the cobbler's shop having rhinestones added to decorate the 2" platform and faux fur added to pad the footbed for extra warmth in this long Coldville winter.

My presentation went fine.  My boss said I did a "really great" job--both to me and, perhaps better, to our department head at a time he probably did not expect that I could overhear.

I had no idea until one of my co-workers mentioned it this afternoon that we have off work on Monday for President's Day.  Yay!  After getting to work at 7:15 this morning for the meeting with my presentation (which happened later, around 8:30), and having a somewhat restless night's sleep (featuring an extended dream about having married into a criminal family and spending days and days on the run with my non-Robert husband, trying to get away from the skankiest and most dangerous of that crew), I am pretty exhausted.

Lace Revisited

After making my light blue lace sweater look reasonably professional with a navy blazer, I thought I'd take a stab at toughening up my light pink lace sweater.

Pink with an Edge -- Tuesday, 2/10/15

Take pastel pink lace, add a comfy knit pencil skirt, a moto jacket, and cool ankle boots.  Sprinkle with sparkly beads.  Mix well. 

On our last trip to Target, Robert had helped me look for fleece-lined tights but they had nothing--just a couple pairs of fleece-lined leggings with a kind of weird horizontal metallic thread stripe that were on sale (as Robert says, No wonder).  This astonished me because we have a couple solid months of winter left, but whatever.  Target corporate must not be taking local weather conditions into account...even though their headquarters are local.  But they did have some sweater tights, so I decided to try those because I'd read that they were also often warmer than normal tights.  Look at the nifty pattern!

Horizontal metallic stripes, nope.  Subtle vertical sweater stripes, I'm in.

I had fun trying to take one of the down-the-body selfies that I see all over the Internet.  It's actually a nice way to get a close up of the outfit's textures (see how the jacket has a waffle texture) AND it makes me look like a giant, which is always awesome.

Pink lace sweater (Kohls)
Black moto jacket (JCP)--an unexpectedly useful item
Grey/black polka dot knit pencil skirt (JCP)
*Grey sweater tights (Target)
Black sparkle necklace (Kohls)
Black ankle boots by Sam Edelman

Valentine's Week of Red and Pink

Day 9 of the Pattern Challenge is Hearts.  I do not own any heart patterned items (not even an I heart bunnies t-shirt!) but in the spirit of the holiday, I decided to pick a red or pink item to wear every day this week.  Of course, the hyper-observant reader of this blog may have noticed, But you started wearing red and pink last Wednesday!  True, but that was accidental.  I'm now wearing pink and red with intent. 

Pinspired: StyleUp -- Monday, 2/9/15

For my first outfit, I used this photo I pinned on Pinterest as the inspiration.  I have been pinning outfit photos recently as a substitute for shopping and it's crazy how many I have lined up. 

Black and white stripes with a red skirt and (less weird, more winter-compatible) black boots.  Got it.  I considered wearing my black/white herringbone blazer (to substitute for the houndstooth clutch she's carrying) but decided to put my velvety black blazer into the mix instead because I haven't worn it yet this season (and I've worn the herringbone blazer with this skirt already).  I think I prefer the cleaner lines and hello sailor, it's winter vibe I've got going here.

Black velvet blazer (thrifted, Talbots)
Black/white striped T (Kohls)
Red corduroy skirt (thrifted, H&M)
Red scarf (Target)
Black leggings
Tall black boots by Fitzwell

In work news, I about had a heart attack mid-morning thinking it was Tuesday--I had a bunch of stuff due on Tuesday that I wasn't close to finishing.  Man, what a relief to realize I was a day ahead of myself.

Leaf It To Me

In work-related news, I was in major awesomeness mode today.  My complicated index-matches populated my quarterly reports perfectly, and my macros were all cooperative, so I'm on track (knock wood) to deliver on schedule even though the data were two days late.  I completed a report specifically requested by our Biggest Wig on behalf of my over-burdened office mate, yielding an ALL CAPS WITH EXCLAMATION POINTS! email from our department head.  My planning prowess was remarked upon with great favor by my direct supervisor.  The head of the programs I have been searching for missing data on told my supervisor that he was amazed by my work (I think I have figured out where all of the data are!--even if some of the data are not immediately available to us).

I haven't had a day this good since (maybe a week and a half ago?) I was selected by my department head as the analyst from our department to sit on a new research/IT joint committee with "Excellence" in the name; the other analysts were assigned to a group tasked with playing around with data to come up with new reporting ideas for our new data visualization tool.  She told us that she made the assignments to play on our strengths (which is something she is really good at and that I like a lot--I cannot tell you how nice it is to be an environment that acknowledges and celebrates your strengths instead of constantly reminding you of your myriad deficiencies). Robert commented that my strength is in Excellence, which is no doubt true, but a small leadership committee tasked with planning, quality assurance, establishing best practices, making strategic decisions, making recommendations to senior leadership, etc., is a really good fit for me--a better fit than an innovation group.  I am all for innovation...but innovation with excellence!

Yep, these boots are made for kicking ass. 


Pattern Challenge Day 9: Conversational Item (Leaves) + Day 19: Leopard -- Friday, 2/6/15

And finally, the last day of pattern + dress/skirt challenge week!

I love this skirt so it was an easy choice for my conversational item pattern.  I recently purchased this bright pink sweater, which again was a no-brainer to pair with the skirt.  But the sweater is definitely too lightweight to wear alone on a winter day in Coldville, so I needed another layer.  This brown quilted jacket is something I forget I own, but it really comes in handy.  The pink/coral/orange/whatever leopard infinity scarf adds some subtle pattern mixing to the outfit and helps obscure the fact that the sweater has a zipneck.  I love me a zipneck sweater, but it did look a bit overkill to wear a zipper sweater and a zipper jacket together.

*Bright pink zipneck pullover sweater (thrifted, Foxcroft)
Pink/brown leaf skirt (thrifted, Talbots)
Brown quilted jacket (thrifted, Walmart)
Pink leopard infinity scarf (thrifted)
Brown leggings
Tall dark brown boots by Fitzwell

I'm getting some good use out of my collection of riding boots this week!  I really need to weatherproof my new cognac riding boots so they can come out and play this winter, too.

Blast from the Past--I wore this bottom half together before (5-19-14) in an outfit that once again demonstrates that my clothing choices are a lagging indicator of the seasons.  This would be winter in most parts of the country.  It really would be fall here.  (I mean, fall + leaves is a natural combination.)