Introducing... ????

Hi sweet friends - did you forget about me?

Sorry I've been so bad about blogging since the big announcement that I was picking up and moving to Arizona...the move happened incredibly quickly and this week has been a blur!

But, here I am, in an empty office at 5:00 p.m. - such a weird feeling! I have never worked a job where I come in at 9:00 a.m. and can leave at 5:00 p.m. I'm not saying this to show what a hard worker I am (though I do pride myself on my work ethic) but it is just a very strange experience, especially on a campaign where you usually work over 80 hours per week.

But I'm not at all complaining! After all, here I am, chatting with ya'll, singing away to my blaring Les Mis on my iTunes (don't ask...I'm a bit of a diva apparently when the office closes...)

My work hours and musical delusions are not the point of this post, however.

I'd like to introduce you all to my new little buddy!

{Hi guys!}

My brand-new-to-me Ford Escape Hybrid. Super cute, eh???

Just one little problem - little buddy needs a name.

And...that's where ya'll come in! :)

What do you think I should name it? (Ugh, I HATE calling it it, but I don't know if I should name it after a girl, like a car...or after a boy, like a truck!)

Comment me your suggestions by SUNDAY at midnight Pacific (yes, I know...technically that is Monday...whatever) and then I'll post the names and ya'll can vote!

Some names that will already be banned from competition: Lulu (too many friends with that nickname), Delilah, Lucy, and Bo (Florida's truck's name.)

But other than those restrictions - have fun! I can't wait to see what you all come up with! :)

Cheers!

Channeling Mama Bea

Ever stop to realize how silly the things are that we form emotional attachments to?

Mama Bea is notorious for keeping items simply because of their emotional value - my elementary school artwork, Brother Bea's many sports trophies, our graduation gowns and toys/blankets/stuffed animals...and I always tease her because our small house is stuffed to the gills with stuff.

Not artifacts, collections, or anything like that. Just stuff.

Florida and I were moving things around in "his" bedroom in our apartment today and I asked him what this big blue piece of material was. He answered that it was his graduation gown. I laughed.

He blamed it on his mom...but then again if he didn't want it, he could just get rid of it...after all his mom lives in Florida and probably wouldn't notice if it went missing.

And yet, just now, as I clean out my closets and continue the never ending process of packing I find myself channeling my inner Mama Bea (and Lord knows how I try to keep that woman out!)

My denim mini-skirts that I only wear on my birthday...

Mama Bea's vintage t-shirt that says "100% Fat Free..."

or Mama Bea's vintage t-shirt that says "Never trust anyone under 6,000 feet - Lake Tahoe..."

The sequined tube top Grandma Bea made for me...

hell...all my sequined tube tops (there are few. Don't judge...)

The many pairs of pants and skirts that simply no longer fit but were expensive and therefore in my mind should be kept...

It's all so silly...and yet it's causing a major delay in my packing.

I know that I don't want to pack, ship, and store these items...yet my emotional attachment to them is so strong I just know I will break into tears if one day I open my closet and don't see my favorite 100% Fat Free shirt.

Nothing more to this post - just my random thoughts on the packing process thus far (which is terriboo!)

Happy Tuesday evening, sweet friends!

Cheers,



PS - yes I know that I am a woman of a certain age and women of certain ages do NOT wear sequined tube tops and denim miniskirts...

The Business Casual Blues vol. 1

Haven't we all been there? Just when we get comfortable in the rules, regulations, and standard operating procedures of our workplace wardrobes, the game changes* and we find ourselves staring blankly into the void of our burgeoning closet and shout with all that is left of our strength:

I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!

At risk of being fired because we show up to work wearing what the lady in the Bluefly.com cocktail commercials dons, we have two options:

1. Run like mad for the nearest shopping area (because online shopping just won't do in a time crunch!)

2. Shop in our own closets.

As you know, I am moving to the Valley of the Sun in T-one week. After years spent working on Capitol Hill (most recently for the most fashionable Member...a very tough act to live up to!) I now find myself facing the most daunting wardrobe task of all - the dreaded "business casual" office.

Given my recent off-the-Hill and campaign work, I now have the two wardrobe extremes: the "I am a professional, damnit, in a suit 5 days a week balls-to-the-wall on the Hill" wardrobe...and the "I just don't give a damn anymore and no one cares anyways" wardrobe.

In an attempt to save money and have less to pack for my move I decided that I would follow the #2 option listed above: Shop in my own closet. Besides, as the ever elegant (and one of the most fashionable ladies I know) Miss Mindless puts it: at what point do we say, "Enough! I have enough!"

I must admit - I was fairly impressed with the results. Are any of these outfits on the cutting edge of fashion? No. And that's just fine by me - I like classic things and I'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who considers me to be trendy in any way.

Here are some of the pieces I pulled together. It should be noted that, before this exercise, I had never worn any of these combinations before - so to me these truly are brand new outfits.

Shirt: J. Crew Slim Stretch Shirt - White
Pants: J. Crew Original Fit Chino - Stone
Belt: Ann Taylor Wide Patent Belt - Black
Shoes: Enzo Angiolini peeptoe heels - Black
Necklace: Express - Black

Shirt: J. Crew Cashmere T - Black
Pants: J. Crew Original Fit Chino - Stone
Belt: J. Crew Refined Skinny Leather Belt - Black
Shoes: Linea Paolo Patent heels - Red (!!)
Necklace: Banana Republic - Pearl

Up close shot of my shoes, since my pants are a wee bit too long. The jury is still out as to whether these are actually office-appropriate or not. I sure do love 'em!

Shirt: J. Crew Slim Stretch shirt - White

Pants: J. Crew Original Chino - Pink
Belt: Ann Taylor Wide Patent Belt - Black
Shoes: Enzo Angiolini peeptoe heels - Black
Necklace: Express - Black

Shirt: J. Crew Slim Stretch shirt - White
Pants: J. Crew Original Chino - Mustard
Sweater: J. Crew Jackie Sweater - Navy
Shoes: crappy kitten heel boots - Brown

Necklace: "borrowed" from Grandma Bea's closet - Orange

Shirt: Express Sleeveless Wrap - Leopard

Pants: J. Crew Original Chino - White
Sweater: J. Crew Jackie Sweater - Black
Shoes: Engo Angiolini peeptoe heels - Black

Necklace: Nordstrom Long pearl strand - Pearl

Shirt: Express Sleeveless Wrap - Leopard

Pants: J. Crew Original Chino - White
Sweater: Ann Taylor Cardigan - Green
Shoes: Engo Angiolini peeptoe heels - Black

Necklace: Nordstrom Long pearl strand - Pearl

Shirt: Gap Lace-trim Tank Top - White
Vest: J. Crew cable knit vest - Navy

Pants: J. Crew Original Chino - White
Jacket: J. Crew Seersucker - Navy
Shoes: Payless Linen kitten heels - Yellow

Necklace: Nordstrom Long pearl strand - Pearl

Up close of yellow kitten heels. Pretty darned cute for $15, eh?? Pretty darned comfy too!

Shirt: Gap Lace-trim Tank Top - White
Vest: J. Crew cable knit vest - Navy

Pants: J. Crew Original Chino - White
Belt: Ann Taylor Wide Patent Belt - Green
Shoes: Enzo Angioloni Peeptoe heels - nude (not shown!)

Necklace: Nordstrom Long pearl strand - Pearl

Shirt: Ann Taylor Cashmere sleeveless sweater w/ tie - Turquoise

Pants: J. Crew Original Chino - White
Sweater: J. Crew Jackie Cardigan - Black
Belt: J. Crew Refined Skinny Leather Belt - Black
Shoes: Kenneth Cole Patent Flats - Black

Brooch: "Borrowed" from Grandma Bea's closet

Shirt: Banana Republic Silk Blouse - Black

Pants: J. Crew Original Chino - White
Belt: J. Crew Refined Skinny Leather Belt - Black
Shoes: Kenneth Cole Patent Flats - Black
Necklace: Nordstrom Long pearl strand - Pearl

Upclose of the BR silk blouse - love me some polka dots! :)

See? Like I said, nothing major or earth shattering. But, at least for now, my new business casual wardrobe provides me with several options. Add on top of this my dress collection (including a new DVF dress I got at Bloomingdale's for a scant $60!) and some other separates to be posted about later, and I'm actually feeling quite good about presenting myself in a good manner!

If you have any comments, critiques, advise, or suggestions - please fell free to let me know! As I mentioned I've never been in a business casual environment before and therefore perhaps don't understand the intricacies of what is appropriate/expected.

On this note, by the time you are reading this I will be off to the mountains with Florida, The Northerner, and her hubby and puppy for some quality camping time. If you've ever seen the four of us together...you know we are in for a veeeeeeeeery interesting, and fun, weekend.

Have a wonderful weekend, Sweet Friends!

Cheers,

* For Capitol Hill staffers, this change of policy is usually called August recess...where far too often professional staffers are confused for tourists, save for the ID badge. Sigh...

PS - I apologize for the rumpled state of some of my clothes...they had been thrown into a suitcase in a makeshift attempt at cleaning the apartment before the landlord brought over a potential new tenant. Also, I know most of the pants (except for the rumply white ones) are too long...I unfortunately rarely wear them, as they were all (except for the rumply white ones) purchased during my last campaign when it because clear that my jeans - my only non-suit pants - were simply not going to zip any longer. And since I needed to wear them ASAP, I just rolled the cuff up and wore them like that. Pretty? No. Practical? Yes. Win some, lose some...

PPS - If you want some fun while shopping in your own closet, head over to here and join in the fun! I plan on playing once I am settled in Arizona.

*jewelry without jewels* Giveaway!

Hi Ya'll - happy Saturday!

I am having a GREAT day - enjoying a Saturday off to spend time with my man (who is currently snoozing on the couch) and getting things done in advance of my big move to Arizona in a few weeks.

BUT - that not the point of this post. :)

If you remember, in honor of my 100th post, I held a *jewelry without jewels* giveaway, which was won by the lovely Wearing Mascara.

Well, Erica, the creative force behind *jewelry without jewels* is at it again - hosting her own giveaway for one of her fabulous necklaces from her new season to celebrate her new website!

Head on over to enter, or visit her Etsy store (don't we all just love Etsy??) to pick up some gifts for your besties today!

Have a lovely Saturday!

Cheers,