My Apologies

I apologize for my lack of communication in the past week or so. To be quite honest this winter break I've spent most of my life disconnected , and it's been actually enjoyable. Who knew there was a life without a phone and computer on your hip? (Joking. Kind of). The past few days I've been in lower Michigan spending my time with The Boy and his family. It's been very relaxing and great. Yesterday we went for a long walk, in the sun (!!!!) on his grandparent's property. I must say it was beautious.

So maybe I'll post tomorrow. Maybe I'll wear an outfit. Maybe I'll talk about New Years goals and the good things about 2011. Maybe I'll post again in my New Year's Eve sparkles. Maybe. You'll have to wait and see. I like to be mysterious like that.

The Thing About Red Pants

Sweater: Old Navy, Shirt: Forever21, Pants: NY&Co., Shoes: MIA via DSW, Necklace; Gift

So I had every intention of posting these pictures yesterday, but sometime between taking them and posting I came down with a pretty viscous flu that I'm still trying to completely get rid of. Appears though I am not alone in fighting the flu, since a large portion of my facebook feed is full of flu complaints.

Now let me tell you what I have learned about wearing red pants (I've been coveting a pair of these bad boys for a while and Santa thought I needed them). You have to be ready to be stared at. Red pants kind of demand attention, so if you don't want people looking don't wear them. Also, be ready for comments from family. Such as rude ones from your little brother, and nice ones from your mom :). But, in all seriousness I dig these pants and like the idea of pairing neutrals with them so they aren't super shocking around your closed minded brother.

Best Laid Plans of Mrs. Claus

Jacket: Thrifted, Top: NY&Co., Jeans: American Eagle, Belt: Thrifted, 

Shoes: Payless, Watch: Kohl's 

You ever hear the term best laid plans of mice and men? Well, I experienced the meaning of that yesterday. The boy was flying home yesterday (he lives out in Massachusetts right now, I don't know if you all knew that), and of course holiday air travel got the best of our plans. Instead of getting back into the mitten around 2pm, he didn't get here until 7pm. Which of course caused a lot of anger and stress for everyone involved. Luckily though, my favorite Christmas present made it back at all, and we were able to go share a very late dinner with family and friends. Now he is here for an ENTIRE WEEK. All mine (and some other important people's) for a whole week. I'm so excited!

So about my outfit... this is what a modern day Mrs. Claus would wear. In case you were wondering. This is what I would wear to a big fun holiday party. Sparkles and bright red are exactly what the holidays call for, but due to my plans of just family parties this weekend I toned the outfit down with a less crazy blazer and no belt. More classic with sparkles (naturally).

I hope everyone has an exceptional weekend of holiday happenings with your loved ones! I know I will! Of course I will have some great photos to share in the next couple of days.

Merry Christmas Eve my friends! Eat those cookies, open those presents, and experience all the love of Christmas!

Evil Knievel

Shirt: JcPenny, Skirt: Urban Outfitters, Tights: No idea, Boots: Nine West,

Necklace; NY&Co. Belt; Grandma

These pictures are not high quality. I literally had to beg my youngest brother (Yes Isaac I AM calling you out) to take them, and he was very uninterested in such an inconvience to his video game playing. Regardless it felt nice to put a skirt on today instead of my jeans, or sweats, that I've been living in. This is also the playground I grew up on, at my elementary school and in my neighborhood. I'll probably have to revisit it for another picture session.

In other news, I mixed black and brown today. Call me a Evil Knievel, 'cause I'm a risk taker! I like it too. I just had to Google how to spell Knievel, lets just say at this elementary school spelling wasn't my best subject.

Cookie Decorating!

These are some pictures from the cookie decorating extravaganza last night with some of my cousins and brothers! So much fun for everyone. And that really cool bell in the last picture? Yeah, I made that. And yeah, I'm going to brag because that's as artsy as my non domestic skills get.

The Thing About Braids

Sweater: Macy's, Tshirt: Banana Republic, Jeans: NY&Co., Belt; Grandma's, Boots: Nine West,

Bracelet: American Eagle, Ring: Threadsence

This is what you wear when you plan to wrap presents for Grandma, take your cousins shopping for their mom, and decorate Christmas cookies all day. Although in retrospect the beige shirt doesn't mix with colored frosting well.

Getting ready for Christmas around my family requires a lot of multi-tasking and being able to go from one activity to another without major hassle. This simple outfit did just that for me today, and comfortably. I also threw a braid in my hair today for two reasons. One is because it's a cute way to keep my hair out of my face, and second because my grandpa gives me extra kisses when I have them. I'm pretty sure braids move you up in the favorite grandchild pole (not that I needed a big boost). But don't tell my cousins that ;)

Rawr!

Shirt: Old Navy, Jeans: American Eagle, Blazer: Thrifted, Jewelry: Forever 21

I am really fighting with the light these days. Since tomorrow is the first day of winter it means the shortest day of the year is a night away, and in turn means I was trying to take pictures at 4:30pm up in this northern state today and it was super dark out already. Total bummer.

I took some blazer advice from Jentine at My Edit from THIS post. If you don't read Jentine's blog, then you are unaware of her magic thrifting abilities. They are preeettty cool. So anyways, I took her wisdom and used it to pick myself out some blazers on the cheap. In fact I got this lovely lady for $2.50. Yes you heard that! $2.50! Making it ten times awesomer than it was before I spent the money.

P.S. Thanks to my Dad for taking pictures of the leopard in the tall grass tonight!

The top tree is from my apartment. The giant overgrown bush with lights in the second picture is the supposed tree at my home, home. Oh the disappointment of the grad student budget.

Getting dressed in acceptable picture taking clothing was not an option today. It was a long week last week followed by an exhausting weekend, and my body is attempting full recovery mode (which I'm not sure if it's accomplishing). Pictures tomorrow I promise.

Talking Clothes

Coat: JcPenny's, Shirt: NY&Co., Jeans: AE, Boots: borrowed from the closet across the hall, Necklace: Express, Ring: Threadsence, Purse: TjMaxx

I don't know if this is normal, but for most of my college career when I buy clothes they have to meet one major requirement. Does the item say, "I'm professional, but I like to party"? And by party I strictly mean have a good time, whatever that may be. This python print shirt however, probably leans more towards the second part of that question. I dig it though. The fit on it does good things for me and there's something about animal print that makes a girl feel good. You will be seeing this shirt a lot more.

I wore this out with friends last night to celebrate finals being over, along with the semester. This girl had a great finish for the first semester of grad school. Pretty happy about that.

Side note: I think these boots need to become mine. Luckily though I have a roommate the same size as me, which means I can steal them easily :) Sorry in advance Ash! 

While I Was Out

Cooking the bird!

A little burnt (still yummy!)

Cutting the bird wasn't exactly easy...

After everything was served. SO GOOD!

After dinner Euchre

The women of the family at the Annual Shopping Trip

So this is what I did while I was gone, aside from my studying. And the elephant juggling. Last Thursday some friends and I made Thanksgiving: The Second Coming. We fried a turkey, which I had never had before. Pretty good even if it was burnt. And I had some of the best mac n' cheese I have EVER devoured in my entire life. Leftovers of that did not last long in my fridge. Even though we all should have been studying, I have to say I enjoyed cooking, eating, and laughing with great friends much better.

The last pictures is a picture of all my aunts, my grandma, and a few friends who are practically family. Once a year everyone comes down to where I live to go Christmas shopping. This is literally 12 to 15 hours spent in stores and restaurants. It's long and tiring, but the shopping is worth it (duh). So are all the laughs we have :)

Survival of the Smartest

Shirt: Old Navy, Vest: Charlotte Russe, Jeans: NY&Co., Boots: Nine West, 

Headband: F21, Key Necklace: from the boy toy

I'm baaaaaaaaaack! I survived finals week. However my stomach lining may not have from the massive amounts of caffeine I digested over the past week. I'm clearly not completely recovered. This outfit involved little effort or thought (which is great since my brain is still in liquid form and hasn't congealed back to an actual brain yet), but I decided a new post was needed to get life back on track.

Hopefully if you're taking finals this week they are going well. It's half way through the week which means there is light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck to you lovely people, and finish strong!

If you are lucky enough or not, to be a real person out there working hard fo yo money, I hope that's going great and your holiday preparations are going in a holly jolly direction.

Incredible Tasks

Sweater: NY&Co., Tshirt and Earrings: F21, Jeans: Target, Scarf: Urban Outfitters, Boots: DSW, 

Bag: TjMaxx, Ring: Threadsence

You know what's incredible about studying for finals? I always seem to find time do things (that I would never usually have time for), instead of studying.  Clean my room? sure! Go for a jog in the freezing wind? of course!! Learn how to stand on a ball, on my head, while juggling an elephant? ABSOLUTELY! (actually if I could do that I wouldn't be studying for finals, I would be making mad cash in a circus).

Anyways... I'm sure you catch my drift. And because of my procrastination I am anticipating my blog posts to be far and few between until finals are over for me. Which is technically Monday, but the I'll need a day of recovery from all the academic stress on my brain. So, if you don't hear from me for a while, don't send a search team. I'm just in sweats staring at my computer hoping a ten page paper starts flowing through my finger tips.