Anatomy of a shoe picture

Because obviously, if the camera is out, it must be because I want to take Lola's picture...

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Top: The Limited

Pants: Express

Necklace: Amy Cornwell Designs

Shoes: Alfani

I had a pretty full day planned for today. Lots of preparations for our vacation next week. The last two weeks of time off have just flown by and I still feel like I have so much left to do before we leave on Friday.

I wish I had taken a close up picture of this top. It has the sweetest ruffle at the neckline, but the color makes it hard to see in the picture. I love the color of this top and the drapey effect around the waist.

My heels are a recent score at Macy's Extra 50% off sale. I love my leopard print peep toes and really wanted a closed-toe version to wear when the weather is cold. I was so stoked when I found these Alfani's for $20 (originally $89!).

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Suit: The Limited

Top: New York & Company

Shoes: Steve Madden

Necklace: Amy Cornwell Designs

Bracelet: New York & Company

Today was my big interview at Dream Company. I actually had a series of three interviews with a total of seven people, so it was a long day - but well worth it. I aced it and now it's just a matter of whether I fit what they are really looking for.

I was undecided on what to wear right up to this morning. I bought this suit and it fits like a glove, but Nate eventually convinced me to go a bit more conservative with this navy pinstripe. It's not quite the full on black suit, but still fairly formal. Only later did he tell me he picked it because it made me look 'hot'. Um, not what I was going for, but thanks.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Top: New York & Company

Tank (unseen): Old Navy

Capris: Express

Shoes: Reef

Bracelet: Simply Irresistible

Necklace: Amy Cornwell Designs

It was a little cooler here today than yesterday, so I busted out the three-quarter-length sleeves. I was headed to meet a friend for a pedicure, so jeans seemed inappropriate. I compromised with these denim capri pants instead. My favorite pair of orange Reefs to accommodate drying toenails and I was ready to get pampered! I totally cracked up when my girlfriend showed up wearing head to toe orange too. There's clearly a reason she and I are friends!

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Tank: Victoria's Secret

Cardigan: The Limited

Shorts: New York & Company

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

Belt: The Limited

Necklace: The Limited

After a low key day of not doing much, we met some friends for dinner and drinks at Chili's.

New York & Company was having an awesome sale on their shorts last week - Buy 1, Get 1 for $10. I absolutely fell in love with these brocade shorts and picked up these metallic linen ones as almost an afterthought. Turns out I might like the linen pair better than the brocade pair!

As soon as I tried them on, I immediately thought of this shot of Olivia Palermo shopping at Ann Taylor. I loved the baggy look of the shorts with the belted cardigan. I also took advantage of my vacation preparation tan and wore white. Gotta work it while I got it!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Top: New York & Company

Pants: Express

Necklace: New York & Company

Shoes: Aldo

I was originally skeptical about the whole 'crop shirt' trend coming back. It wasn't a good idea in the 80's, unless you were under the age of say 10, and it sure as heck isn't any better an idea now. I saw this top in the store and would have snapped it up immediately (yay, stripes!) except for the crappy cropped length. However, when I stumbled upon a store closing sale where everything was 80% off? All bets were off. I bought this for a whopping $4.00, intending to wear it to the office, tucked and belted with a white skirt. Unfortunately for me, I neglected to consider the fact that currently, I do not own a white skirt. Um, yeah.

So the top has been sitting in my closet, neglected and gathering dust, until last night. We were headed out for pizza with the neighbors and I was having one of those 'I have nothing to wear for this occasion' moments. Suddenly it dawned on me - maybe, just maybe, I could pull off this top with long skinny denim, a big necklace and sky high heels. And TA DA! An outfit is born, cropped top and all.

See Sara Organize

Our first winter in Indiana, I quickly discovered one of the few perks of moving to a snowy climate after a lifetime in the South - SCARVES! To say I went a bit overboard on the scarf collecting would be an understatement. In fact, since I discovered the wonders of the scarf, I have started to wear them year round! Don't have the perfect necklace? Add a scarf! The movie theater is 32 degrees even though it's 80 outside? No biggie! I wore a scarf!

At first I kept them all piled in a cute basket in the closet, but that arrangement quickly got out of control as my collection grew. Then I hit on this idea:


I bought shower curtain rings at the grocery store and threaded each scarf through one. Then simply hung the rings (in ROYGBIV order!) on the rod in the closet. Voila! Instant accessibility to every scarf in my collection.

Love #7

Dear Ann Taylor,

I heart you and all of your lovely dresses. I will take one of each in every available color, please.

Sincerely,
Sara

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Top: Meijer

Vest: The Limited

Pants: Express

Shoes: Payless Shoes

Necklace: New York & Company

Today I just bummed around the house because the weather was dismal most of the morning. The sun finally came out late in the afternoon so I decided to venture out to catch Nate's soccer game after he got off work. I knew it would still be wet and possibly windy, so I decided to keep things pretty well covered up. I would have preferred longer pants and heels to dress this up a bit more, but heels and mushy soccer fields are not a good combination. Not that I would know this from personal experience or anything...

See Sara Organize

I love a good pair of jeans as much as the next girl. Whether you're headed to the office, running errands or dressing for date night, there's nothing better to boost your confidence than a well-fitting pair of jeans and killer heels.

I own about twenty pairs of jeans in varying lengths and cuts. Short pairs for flats, Regular pairs for heels, Skinny pairs to tuck into boots, Trouser cuts for work. And the list goes on. I got so tired of putting on a pair only to realize they weren't the ones I thought they were. So I devised an easy system to organize my denim!

I bought cute gift tags at Target like the one below and labeled each pair with the style and the length. The ones below are boot cuts that I wear with flats. Then I hang them up in the closet according to style - all the boot cuts together, all the skinnies together, all the straight legs together. Inside each subset, I put the shorts together and the regulars together. That way I can immediately see all the Regular skinny jeans together and makes choosing the exact right pair a cinch!

See Sara Shop

I need some advice. I have an interview next week with an organization I've been dying to work at for almost three years. The job is nearly identical to the job that I had prior to my layoff last March.

I've already had a phone interview, but next Tuesday will be my first in-person meeting with the hiring manager. I actually have a series of interviews - HR, the Director of Operations, the CFO and the associates who will report to the position I am interviewing for. Of course, I want to make a stellar impression while also being comfortable in my clothes. I have several suits that would work just fine, but have kind of been toying with getting a new one to celebrate the accomplishment of finally getting an interview! Plus new clothes just make you feel good, right?

Obviously, I have no problem shopping since I do it all the time. But I am struggling with this one a bit. The organization is really laid back - as in, they wear jeans to work most days. I think a black suit might be a bit much? I really like this blue, brown and yellow tweed suit from The Limited - it's memorable and fun and shows a lot of personality. But is it too much personality for an interview? I'd never consider wearing it on certain types of interviews, but given the casual environment of this organization, I'm thinking it might just work. The competition for this job is fierce (seriously, ya'll - like insanely fierce) so I really want to stand out in every way possible.

Thoughts? Would you wear this suit to an interview?

xoxo

Many thanks to new reader V from In a Nutshell for the Beautiful Blogger award. Who doesn't love a little bloggy lovin'?

The rule for the Beautiful Blogger award is simple: share 7 random facts about yourself.

Lucky for me, I'm nothing if not random so here you go:

1. I was so excited about my first date with my future husband that I barely slept a wink the night before, which resulted in me actually falling asleep in the car on the way home from said date. It's a wonder the man ever asked me out again.

2. I keep the good chocolate in my underwear drawer. Although I no longer live in a house full of girls and realize this is no longer necessary to protect my stash, I just can't figure out where else good chocolate should be kept.

3. I eat Lean Cuisine's Chicken, Spinach and Mushroom panini every day for lunch. Every.Single.Day. Never get tired of that sandwich.

4. I always put my contacts in left eye first and then right eye. If I do it the other way around, my day is completely thrown off.

5. I keep a running To Do list in Word and print it out every morning. Currently there are 24 items on the list.

6. I keep tweezers in the cup holder of my car. Red lights are the best place in the world to pluck your eyebrows.

7. I want a pair of zebra print flats for summer. Know where I can find some?

Monday, May 10, 2010

Top: Gap

Sweater: The Limited

Pants: Express

Shoes: Mia

Necklace: New York & Company

The temperature is hovering in the fifties again today, so I had to pull out the long sleeves again. Let me tell you, I am so not okay with this crazy weather. I want to wear shorts! tank tops! maxi dresses! sandals! Not tights and long sleeves! Boo, Spring.

I had a bunch of errands to knock out today so I decided to keep it simple and warm since I knew I'd be running around in the wind and the chill. Fun bejeweled flats for comfort and I was out the door!

How's the weather in your neck of the woods? Hopefully better than ours lately!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Dress: The Limited

Ring: The Limited

Earrings: New York & Company

Tights: Hue

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

Last night we attended the wedding of one of Nate's coworkers. It was an evening outdoor garden wedding, black-tie optional. My first thoughts when I got the invitation were: Um? What does that mean?

I know what to wear to an evening wedding. To an outdoor garden wedding. Even to a black-tie wedding. But all three together? I was sort of panicky. Eventually I decided to play it safe and wear this dress that I bought a few months ago - a bolder color than a normal garden wedding, appropriate evening material but not quite black-tie because of the length. Panic attack averted.

Or not. I woke up yesterday to a temperature barely in the fifties and 30 MPH winds. SO not sleeveless, bare-legged outdoor wedding weather. So it was back to the drawing board. I was disappointed to miss out on wearing my red ruffled number until I remembered this fun one-shouldered cocktail dress. I thought it looked great paired with tights (for warmth!) and some fierce heels. Too bad it was so cold, I never even got to take my coat off! Even in the tents for the reception, it was just too chilly to go bare shouldered. All that worry over what to wear and no one ever saw more than the bottom two inches! Oh well. At least I felt pretty!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Top: The Limited

Pants: Express

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

Necklace: New York & Company

Bracelet: New York & Company

Today was my last day at my short-term contract job. Now I have three glorious weeks off before my new permanent job starts the first week of June. I plan to enjoy my time to the fullest!

I found these heels a few months ago while hunting for a pair of gray patent booties (which I never found!). I love the sweetness of the 'laces' up the front paired with the toughness of the 'cage' look on the sides. They just make me smile when I look at them. I'm so glad it's finally warm enough to bring them out of hiding!

Do you have an item you are stoked to bring back into your wardrobe now that warmer weather is upon us?

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Top: The Limited

Pants: The Limited

Shoes: Impo

Bracelet: New York & Company

Earrings: ?

I've been a wee bit obsessed with black and white stripes this winter. Until a few months ago, stripes weren't something that I really ever looked twice at but I came down with the Swine Stripe Flu something bad this season! Looks like I still haven't fully recovered because I couldn't resist this black and white striped (and ruffled!) top on clearance at The Limited. Something about the stripe and ruffle combo just made me feel totally sassy! I thought the skinny ankle pants were just screaming '50's sock hop today, so I paired the look with a flirty pony tail.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Top: The Limited

Pants: The Limited

Belt: The Limited

Bracelet: (I'll give you two guesses!) The Limited

Shoes: Baker's Shoes

I may have created a monster. Behold my second 'tucked in' shirt of the week. I think I like it!

I had planned to wear this top with some light gray trousers but apparently I only dreamt I owned a pair, because there certainly isn't a pair in my closet. Not sure what I was thinking! I had to make do with these black and white checked ones instead.

I love the gauzy, girly detail of the petals on the top. So perfectly Spring time!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Sweater: The Limited

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft

Belt: The Limited

Shoes: Nine West

Bracelet: Gifted

Today was primary day and our county had some important stuff on the ballot, so I was up and on my early so I could 'Make My Vote Count!'. Lucky for me, my polling place is the local fire station at the end of our road, so I didn't even have to go out of my way to do my civic duty.

I love all the little old ladies who (wo)man the polling station (and not just because they told me I looked pretty today)! They were telling me all about their tour of the fire station and the 'good lookin' fellas' they'd met upstairs! I hope I'm that fun and spry when I'm in my 70's!