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!

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,

When I Roll Into the ...When I Stroll Into the...When I Bounce into...the Wild Wild West!

Big news folks, big. HUGE!

I got a job.

And the crowd goes wild!

It's in Arizona

And a hush falls over the crowd.

Yup...I'm packing my bags and heading out West, back to my college town (kinda...going to Phoenix, went to school in Tempe, just outside Phoenix.)

I'm taking a gig with an issue-based campaign as their Communications Director. This will give me fantastic statewide press experience, and hopefully help me get a campaign job when the 2010 Congressional races start up in the spring/summer.

If you remember from my Tweets, I mentioned that I got cold called by a company because I put my resume up on a political website...well 2 interviews and a lengthy reference check process later, they are the organization who hired me!

Oh yea...did I mention I'll be leaving in about 2 weeks? Yea...awesome.

If you've been following my Tweets, you'll also know that I've had just the WORST luck trying to get a new apartment here in DC...and now I'm thinking that all those rejections (and believe you me...there were a TON!) were for a reason - I was meant to take this job. (This also make me feel better about myself, so I don't think that people just didn't want to rent to me/live with me.)

I am bittersweet about the entire thing...I am going to miss my DC friends dearly (especially my bloggy friends - and especially especially this gal who is moving to my neighborhood as we speak!) and then there of course is the whole Florida issue.

Long story short with Florida: not sure what is going to happen. He's known from the very beginning that I haven't wanted anything serious...so we'll see. After the Badger debacle I'm totally against being in another long-distance relationship.

So if I don't write for a few weeks, know that I still love you all very much and I am just busily packing up my apartment, finding places to store everything, buying a car (no public transportation in Phoenix!), moving across the country (again...), finding a place to live, and oh yea - starting a brand new job.

I guess I'll have to change my header to "Thoughts on life and love in our State Capital city!" haha!

I hope you all have a fantastic rest of the week - thankfully I took the rest of the week off work (my lease was supposed to end July 31 and I knew I'd need the last final days to pack because I might possibly be the worst worst procrastinator EVER) so I'll be starting to pack and go through things and do a ton of research on my new job!

Cheers,



PS - If you happen to have a spare room in your place in the Phoenix area (and you know who you are...) and want a clean-ish roomie, let me know! :)