Outfit Post: Shopping in NYC

There are some big doin's in my life right now which require some serious apparel purchases. My mom and I went into Manhattan to look for a certain white dress and I wanted to be comfortable, but look put-together at the same time. This is the outfit I came up with and as soon as the weather is crisp again it's going to be one of my favorites:

Flats are my new obsession - I can't believe it myself.

Blazer: Zara (it's navy with black leather trim, kind of hard to tell from the selfies) Sweater: J. Crew Tank: Vince Pants: J. Crew Flats: Chanel Scarf: Burberry Phone case: Kate Spade

Outfit Post: Feeling '50's

The weather pretty much everywhere has been crazy lately so when I woke up to see that temps would be in the 80’s last Friday I decided to bust out a skirt. This skirt actually almost went out with the consignment items because I can never decided what to wear it with (I have a seriously problem with wanting things to match), but V encouraged me to hang onto it. 

One of my steadfast rules is: when in doubt, go with a plain white tee. The shoes and necklace are how this outfit really came together for me (back to that compulsion to coordinate) and now I kind of love it. Well played, V, well played.



Here's the outfit breakdown:

T-shirt: Theory – I own far too many white t-shirts and yet I feel like I never have enough. I’d never thought of wearing this one tucked in before because it has a high-low hem and button details along either side in the back, but it’s suddenly much more versatile in my mind.

Skirt: Club Monaco – This skirt is almost a decade old. I bought it when I got my first job out of college thinking that it was a great “business casual” piece and I totally planned on wearing it with a very structured “shell” with a portrait neckline from Ann Taylor LOFT. My how things change…

Necklace: Old Navy – Up until a few months ago I didn’t even realize that Old Navy sold jewelry. Then my sister’s friend Melissa showed up to a family function wearing a pretty peach statement necklace and I knew my jewelry armoire was destined to get much more crowded.

Belt: Anthropologie – To be honest, this skirt is too big in the waist. If I take the belt off it drops to my hips and looks kind of terrible (very Oz, behind the curtain info here, I know). While this belt does not match as well as I would like it too (who knew this matching thing was so crippling), I think it certainly goes. Just, please, don’t tell me that I can “pull it off”/”get away” with it because that drives me nuts.

Shoes: Cole Haan – I have always loved the look of an oxford, but the last time I remember them being in I was wearing bowling shirts and very pronounced pinstripes (Junior High fashion in the 90’s, what can I say?). Needless to say, I am a much bigger fan of the current interpretation. Wearing these oxfords with a circle skirt or pleated cropped pants (yes, pleated, I have narrow hips, it's allowed) makes me feel like a young Hayley Mills.

Second Time Around - Consign Me Up!

Shopping bags going out instead of coming into my apartment.

After months of procrastinating (okay, it’s been over a year) I finally put a few dozen items up for consignment. Dresses, bags, shoes, and separates, if they weren't my style (regardless of how good of a deal I got on them or whether or not they might someday make a great Halloween costume) out they went.

There are two consignment shops in my town, but one has so much inventory that you can't even see what they have and the other only takes appointments from 10AM-4PM on weekdays and, since I'm not a socialite, those hours don't work for me.

Instead I wound up bringing my items to the Huntington location of Second Time Around consignment. I found them one evening when I was early to meet a friend for dinner (When does that ever happen? Obviously this was fate intervening) and as I browsed I heard the sales girl very politely inform a young woman that they would not be taking the Louis Vuitton bag she had brought in because it was fake. This can be a touchy subject, but the salesgirl handled it in a kind, yet firm manner and I knew this was the kind of place I wanted to deal with.

In addition to their stellar customer service, which they've been providing for 40 years, they have 45 locations in 12 states, tons of press clippings and positive reviews online (for most locations, sorry, Forest Hills) so I feel like they are a reputable company. Plus, they were also featured on Bravo TV's Fashion Hunters. Sure, it was a 1-season-wonder, but it was on Bravo and I take that sh*t seriously.

This is how it works:

You'll need at least three pieces to start an account. STA allows you to either set up an appointment or drop your items off to be reviewed (you can also consign online, here's how, but be forewarned that the unwanted items are donated, not returned to the consignor).

Once they decide what they're going to take they research the items and mark them at approximately 30-40% of the original retail value and if the item sells the profit is a 60/40 split ("luxury" handbags are a 50/50 split). You can keep your earnings as a store credit (which entitles you to an additional 10% off) or request a check (checks under $100 must be picked up, but checks over $100 can be mailed to you) which is available on the 1st of the following month. If your items don't sell in 3 months you have 1 week to pick them up or they will be donated to charity.

Not content to just collect, I felt compelled to create a spreadsheet that would take what I originally paid for the item (because I'm crazy and I keep records of everything) and subtract what I make back to see if I can get out of the red and back in the black. While I’m not taking into account the old shopaholic Price Per Wear equation (cost of item/times worn), some items were gifts and others were sample sale finds, so I'm optimistic. Either way the items are doing more for me at STA than they were piled up in the corner of my apartment.

So far I've sold one item, a fringed black leather Kooba bracelet bag, and made $38. Five of the 36 items are AllSaints and the salesgirl informed me that they have a customer who comes in on the regular asking for the brand, so I'm just hoping that she and I are the same size. All in all I feel like I'm off to a strong start, but I'll still keep my fingers crossed that it keeps trending that way.

Outfit Post: Last Call for White Y'all

Friday night we were heading out for a simple dinner at a rooftop restaurant in town. I've been seriously neglecting my heels lately and with just one weekend left in summer I decided it was time to bust out the white pants.

Here's the outfit breakdown:

Pants: Free People - Found these at a sample sale ages ago. Wide leg pants have come in and out of style, but in my later years I've become a believer that, regardless of what's 'in,' you should wear whatever style works for you.

Shirt: Gap - V-necks are my weakness. While I typically prefer Old Navy to The Gap, you just can't beat a Favorite Tee.

Belt: J. Crew Factory - It's hard to tell from this pic, but this is a gold fabric braided belt (which I cannot say without thinking of Cappie from ABC Family's Greek saying, "And also shame on guys who wear braided belts, they just give me the willies," but I digress). Metallic belts really are essential (here's a silver option in a similar style) and this one has completed more looks than I can count.

Bag: Kate Spade - This bag is from the outlets ages ago. It's small, but it fits the necessities: iPhone, "going out wallet" (which, in my case, is the Coach Wallet my sisters bought be for 8th grade graduation), keys and a lip gloss. Perfect for a night out.

Shoes: Marc Jacobs - Ah, my very first pair of designer shoes. I cannot speak to the quality of Marc Jacobs shoes in recent years, as this is the only pair that I own, but if this pair is any indication I say they're worth every penny. My amazing mother bought them for me at Century 21 almost ten years ago.  They've held up remarkably well and they've never even seen the inside of Augie's Shoe Service (if you don't have a skilled shoe repair shop on speed dial, get on it).

Necklace: Gorjana - Layering necklaces has been in for awhile now and the Gorjana website is one stop shopping for these sort of pieces. They host a decent amount of sales as well as offering deals through their facebook page and you can find their pieces on flash sale sites like Gilt and RueLaLa too.

Poncho Perfection

Summer has never been my favorite season to shop for. No matter how peppy my personality may be, that doesn't mean I long for Lily Pulitzer sundresses paired with Jack Rogers sandals. On the contrary, my summer style generally consists of cutoffs and t-shirts. The higher the temps rise, the more I dread getting dressed.

When it comes to my summer wardrobe, the only thing worse than stifling heat is rain. You're dealing with someone who flips out when the shower curtain liner gets stuck to her leg for a hot second, so you can imagine how well I handle an entire outfit getting soaked through, but this summer I made a purchase that may have changed all that - I bought a poncho.

Ah, yes, the poncho, a garment which bares a striking resemblance to a garbage bag, in both appearance and feel, that was once relegated to tourists and the ill-prepared. One may even call it the fannypack of the outerwear category, but as with the Gucci Belt Bag, there are always exceptions. Enter my River Island polka dot hooded rain poncho:

A month or so ago I was channeling my inner Rihanna and shopping for crop tops on RiverIsland.com. I was pleasantly surprised at their selection and pricing, it's like an edgier Asos, so I continued to browse the site and that's when I came across this cuteness.

For a mere $26 you get an adorably patterned poncho (it also comes in camo) with a handy carry bag (the bag is attached so you don't even have to worry about losing it - bonus). Not only did it come in handy when the skies opened up at OSHEAGA music and arts festival, but I just wore it for the majority of a rainy weekend away in Williamsburg and, since I'm only 5'1", the length kept my tush dry on all of the rides at both Busch Gardens and Kings Dominion.

The fabric is light enough to keep you cool, but heavy enough to stay down. My outfits underneath always stayed dry and comfortable. I kind of wish that there were snaps or velcro on either side of the body to hold it in place a bit, but that would probably be more of a hassle than it's worth seeing as how the poncho gets the job done just fine without them. Bottom line: this poncho may be the perfect solution to my rainy day dilemma.

Added bonus: I got to constantly reference my fave Macklemore song, "Castle," in which he raps, "From England to Stockholm I'm wearing a cape it's like a poncho!" That didn't get old fast or anything, nah...

Outfit Post: Brunch, My Favorite Meal of the Weekend

So this post is a bit delayed, but a few weeks ago I went to brunch in NYC. I was long overdue to catch up with one of my favorite friends and we finally pinned down a day and time. On a sunny Sunday there are few things I would rather do than meet a friend for brunch in the city. We found a great deal for a bottomless brunch on UrbanDaddy at a cute little Spanish place on the Upper West Side called Andanada. The Yelp reviews are mixed, but we were pleased with our experience. I highly recommend the Tortilla de Patatas (translation: Spanish omelet) and the white sangria. The staff was lovely and the garden in the back allows for beautiful natural light to drift into the space (although I don't think I'd want to sit directly in the sun as I'd imagine it gets pretty hot).

Anyways, I went for a roughed up preppy look. I'm basically a fan of all things J. Crew and Jenna Lyons and on a Sunday I just don't think there's a better way to dress. Here's the outfit breakdown:

Jeans: AG Adriano Goldschmied "Ex-Boyfriend Crop" cut - they are my go-to denim from the moment it's warm enough to bare my super-pale ankles.
Shirt: J. Crew - No one makes a better button-down for my tiny frame. No one. It's hard to tell my from terrible selfies, but the shirt is actually pink and white striped.
Belt: Hermes
Jacket: Black Gap moto jacket that I scored on sale ages ago.
Scarf: H&M.
Bag: Deux Luxe from a Gilt sale. They're bags are quality, lightweight and vegan to boot! I highly recommend.
Shoes: Matt Bernson black snake print leather 'Skimma' wedges - this was only the second time that I wore them and they're a tad small, so I wound up hobbling my way back to Penn Station; they are definitely going to need a trip to the shoe-maker to get stretched before I can wear them comfortably. They also have a low, slim wood wedge, which you can see better here.

Outfit Post: "Spring" Saturday Night

Spring in NYC can be really tough to dress for; one day it's 81 degrees and the next is mid-40's and raining. On this particular Saturday night the temps were definitely on the chillier side, but a girl can only take so many months of black opaque tights, so I went with black leggings instead.

While you can't see the back of my shirt in the pics, it does have a high-low hem, so I didn't break from my firm belief that "leggings are not pants." The aforementioned shirt is a recent purchase from Target and I love it because the quote is a reference to Belgian surrealist artist, René Magritte, who is also referenced in the amazing book I am currently reading called The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (seriously, I've laughed, I've cried, I've reread entire chapters just so I won't finish it because I'm enjoying it that much).

But I digress, we were going to a lounge on the Lower East Side of Manhattan that I haven't been to since we made it a stop at a bachelorette party a few years back (my point being that this would probably not be a high fashion crowd), so I wanted to look fun and be comfortable. I'm a little obsessed with the intentionally visible black bra look - I blame early Madonna - and it really seemed to lend itself to this outfit without looking trashy.

The jacket/blazer is Zara (you can never go wrong with a tuxedo jacket, am I right?), the shoes Gucci (I swear I could run a mile in them and have definitely run for cabs and trains in them) and the earrings are from a little shop in my town. The only thing I would've changed is that I wore a shoulder bag instead of a cross body and, since I'm totally spoiled by the ease of the cross body, it irked me all night. Other than that? Spring outfit success.

That Sh*t Ain't Right

A former friend used to say this frequently. It applied to so many different situations, whether it was a bleach-blonde pot-slut passing out in a tube top and pajama pants in a common area of the dorm or a guy one of our friends had made out with who gave her the head drop instead of a hello, it was always the perfect statement to sum up when an outfit or an action just ain't right. So without further ado I bring to you the newest segment of KimboNotKimmy, "That Sh*t Ain't Right."

This morning at hot yoga the girl in front of me was wearing a tube top. Personally, I believe that the type of woman who wears a strapless top to work out is the same type of person who wears her underwear to the beach because "it's basically the same thing" as a bathing suit. It's not like I was decked out in LuluLemon H2T, but my souvenir t-shirt from Hawaii and Adidas crops are way more functional than a shirt with no straps in this situation.

In addition to her inappropriate attire she also repeatedly hit my feet with her hands during stretches. Yes, I am new to yoga and the room was crowded, but if my feet are down first, isn't the proper etiquette to reposition your hands, not swat at my feet like a bunch of gnats? Just sayin'...

...that sh*t ain't right.

LuluLemon Yogabowl Warehouse Sale

In case you hadn't heard, LuluLemon is currently holding one of their massive warehouse sale out on Long Island (for those not familiar with the area, it's about 1/2 an hour outside of NYC and these things never happen out here). After a long work week I wasn't sure if I was up for it, but the brand's Twitter handle assured me that there was no line to get in, so I headed off to the home of the Islanders, Nassau Coliseum. 

As a bargain shopper I feel that is it my duty to share my findings with my fellow shoppers, so here's the skinny on the sale:

Pricing was good, but not great. Remember, this is a warehouse sale, not a sample sale; this means that there will be a lot in terms of quantity, but not so much in terms of markdowns. Here's the pricing they had posted when you walked in (there were also smaller signs throughout and each item had a tag with a corresponding sticker, very user-friendly).

From what I saw, keep in mind that I was looking mostly in the 2/4/6 sections and running clothes as opposed to yoga-specific items, the biggest selection was in pants and crops for bottoms and long sleeved shirts and tanks for tops. It was slim pickings in the accessories departments, probably because these items are one size fits all.

Rumor: Parking is $10
Truth: There was no one in the booths when I arrived -- hooray, free parking for me!
Update (Saturday AM): My sister went this morning and they were enforcing the $10 parking fee -- womp, womp.

Rumor: Mandatory coat and bag check.
Truth: Coat and bag check was optional on Friday evening, but it's also complimentary, so I seriously advise that you take advantage of it. The place is packed, you're going to be bumping into racks and people and working up a sweat, trust me, the less you have hindering you the better.

Rumor: No strollers allowed.
Truth: I almost ate it tripping over a stroller. The poor child inside had no idea, nor did she seem to notice or mind the fact that her mother was using the handles of her stroller to hold a variety of garments. Since it wasn't that crowded this wasn't a huge deal, but I'm sure Saturday and Sunday will be packed, so I would advise against it. Even if you bring someone else to watch your little yogi, there aren't many places on the sales floor for them to rest. People made makeshift seats on a couple of low platforms, but they definitely did not look comfortable.

Rumors: Yoga demonstrations and dance contests.
Truth: These happened earlier (I know this because I saw pictures on Twitter, seriously, if you are even thinking about attending this event you'd be foolish not to check out their account), but by the time I go there the only yoga "demonstration" was a random, really fit guy in a tank top doing some fairly impressive* yoga poses at the base of the escalators on your way in. Props to him though.
*take my terminology with a grain of salt, I know all of 3 yoga poses, most of which my 3 year-old niece can do better than me.
Update (Saturday AM):  Little kids were doing a dance routine around 8:30, we hope they gave them and their parents a discount.

Rumor: Crazy lines
Truth: 5:15 on Friday evening must have been the time go because the only line I waited on was for the fitting room and it couldn't have been more than 5 minutes. We'll see how my sister fares with this factor when she goes tomorrow morning.
Update (Saturday AM): The line is back, big sis waited about 1/2 an hour, gave me her haul report about an hour later: 2 tanks, 1 long-sleeved top and 1 pair of crops.

What I walked away with:
(2) pairs of crops @ $45/ea (Yes, they are 2 different pairs of grey pants. The pair on the left fits like harem pants, the pair on the rights are cropped sweats with a back pocket - I do love a pocket.)


(2) long-sleeved tops @ $39/ea (All of the l/s shirts had the thumbs holes. As someone who grew up in the age of grunge and made her own thumb holes, I am obsessed with these things.)


(2) pairs of running shorts @ $29/ea (Both pairs have a pocket in the back, perfect for putting your ID, keys and a few bucks.)

(1) "Brisk Run Headband" @ $4

Favorite item purchased: Pink/purple/black running shorts.
Total spent: $240.64
Total time: Just under 1 hour including walk to and from car.

Added advice
Tweet them: seriously, whoever is handling the sale's Twitter account is amazing. They give constant updates about the size of the line, they post pics of outfits put together from the current offerings and they answer any questions you tweet them. Before leaving work I tweeted asking if there were any accessories left and they replied "hats, undies, mat bags, scarfs are looking good!" (We will ignore their misspelling, they're answering an absurd amount of tweets.)
Size yourself up: I went in knowing that I had a handicap -- I had never tried on any of their clothes before! This is a rookie move in the sale world, so the first thing I did was try on a variety of items in the 2 sizes I thought might work for me. Just so you have an idea, sizing for LLL gear is kind of like bridesmaids dresses -- whatever size you wear, go at least a size up (i.e. I normally wear a 0 or a 2 and everything I bought was a 4 and if I'd gone for the tight crops I would've needed a 6). It's funny because I often comment on how I have no ass... and then I try to put on yoga pants.
Leave your modesty at home: If you plan on trying anything on, you had better not be shy. The group fitting rooms are basically just a big black curtain separating you and 50+ other women from the sales floor. Which leads me to my next point...
Clean your sweep: Wash everything you buy as soon as you get home. This might seem like an obvious statement, but the fact that there were women trying on yoga gear without underwear was kind of disgusting. I was seriously the only woman in the group fitting room who had on boys shorts, it was either thongs or commando, so clean those fatigues!


Happy shopping and namaste*!
*Again, not a yoga person, mostly know this term from LOST. Thanks, DHARMA Initiative.

A Bachelor/Tough Love Crossover Suggestion

While last night's episode of The Bachelor was chock full of cattiness and strategery (I'm willing to bet that many of the contestants think that's a real word, so I'm going to use it like one), there was one shining star of craziness that stood out for me: blogger Jenna's meltdown-dismissal-meltdown sequence.

Let me start by reiterating that I still cannot believe she made it past the first round of eliminations; with her fried attempt at ombre hair, ill-fitting clothes and tendency to cry at the drop of a hat (or a sip of wine as the case may be), this woman is clearly in need of some serious help.

Then it dawned on me - Jenna should be on VH1's Tough Love, not The Bachelor!

As a big fan of both Tough Love and Steve Ward in general I think this is the perfect opportunity for him to show us what he's got. Anyone who watched the first 2 episodes of The Bachelor witnessed the unbridled craziness that Jenna brings to the table, but that's not to say she doesn't deserve to find love (and after last night's post-rose ceremony interview, we also know that she feels like she deserves it too, yikes) and who better to help her than Steve? I can just see her in the hot seat now...

Let's be honest, there's no chance that she's going to be the next Bachelorette, in fact, she's lucky that the show's audience is primarily female because any guy who saw her, um, performance would surely run in the other direction (or just try to bed her, but you get the point). Even so, that kind of instability can't stay hidden for long so, unless she seeks help, she's doomed to make more of those awkward "I'm not like your typical girl" speeches.

Honestly I have no idea how reality TV contracts work, but if it is at all possible for Jenna to join the next cast of Tough Love, that would make me beyond happy. I also don't think it would hurt their ratings.

***Side note: when I was selecting 'labels' for this blog post it was a natural instinct to select "charity" because, quite honestly, that's exactly what getting Jenna on Tough Love would be.

Image courtesy of flickr.com user DartmoorGiant.

Let the Bachelor Bashing Begin!

Another calendar year has gone by and after the usual Christmas/NYE bacchanalia it's time to start fresh. Having an additional day off from work I chose to spend yesterday rife with cliche - cleaning the house and working out.

As a reward for all of my clean-slate-ness I indulged in the season premier of The Bachelor (along with a turkey burger with mozzarella on a toasted sesame seed bun and a glass of red wine - it's good for the heart! - for dinner). While I haven't watched this show in several seasons, I was happy to see that it's basically the same. Chris Harrison is still my absolute favorite part of the show - what I wouldn't give to hear his inner monologue! The girls are all bat-shit crazy, their mental conditions only exacerbated by wine and competition. And the gowns they wore for their arrivals ranged from fab (Jennifer's blue sequined floor length number) to fail (blogger Jenna's insecurities were hinted at the minute she stepped out of that limo in that sparkly white sack which also appeared to be missing sections of sequins).

Any of the women who arrived without a gimmick critiqued those who did (while I do see Brittany's move of bringing Grandma Sheryl along as a bit of an easy in, I didn't think it was necessary for the other girls to point out the poor woman's wrinkles - she's a grandmother for crying out loud! And she's obviously got more spunk and personality than most of you crazies). My personal favorite was the girl who just walked past Ben and into the house. Sucker that he is, his only response was, "bold move!"

But gimmick or not they all seemed to have really strange opening pick-up lines that were primarily profession related. Someone obviously suggested they do this, but one has to wonder if it was a clever producer looking for a laugh, an intern looking to earn brownie points or perhaps one of the ladies themselves (who then of course didn't use whatever cray-cray line she posited since she actually just hoping to make the rest of them look stupid).

The episode went on to capture the usual cattiness, that bizarre moment when Monica seemed to be hitting on one of the other female contestants and of course the final melt down of Jenna, which of course lead to her not getting a rose her securing a rose from Ben.

Lesson learned: perhaps Ben is still single because he's a bad judge of character, which conveniently makes for excellent TV.

Image courtesy of flickr.com user DartmoorGiant.

A Healthy Obsession

As a new iPhone user I'm still getting familiar with the whole 'apps' thing. While there are so many practical ones (flashlight app, anyone?), there are also a ton of fun ones, particularly if you're into fashion.

A few weeks ago I was reading an article about the best fashion apps and I came across "Pose" which is all about sharing and discovering style by posting items that you see, outfits you put together or just images that inspire you. Users can <3 poses or comment on them and whenever a fellow user is nice enough to do either or both to one of my poses I make sure to check out their poses as well.

It is this process that led me to the most fantastic store's website: http://www.philanthropyfashion.com/ (Special thanks to Pose user "spiciehott.")

Philanthropy Fashion is a boutique in Franklin, TN that was founded in 2007 under the idea that, "a business built around charitable works and grounded in Christ could make a difference in the world."

Now, I'm no holy-roller, but you don't have to be religious at all to subscribe to the ideas of compassion and paying it forward and that's basically what this store, their website and the brands that they sell are about.

If, for whatever reason, you don't give a hoot about that either at least check them out because the clothes are cute and the accessories are awesome (I've already e-mailed them about one of their "Large Sentiment" pieces, metal plates inscribed with clever/inspiring quotes that can be attached to a variety of leather bracelets, of course the one I want is on back-order - arg!).

Having loved boutique shopping for as long as I can remember (even as a kid I'd insist on going into thrift stores and antique shops, despite having no real use for their goods) and it's just so cool to me that an application on a smart phone, can lead you to a web search, which brings you to the website of a boutique with locally sourced goods. Oh technology, you teach me something new every day...

"It’s a new era in fashion - there are no rules. It’s all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-and-coming designers all together."
— Alexander McQueen

Obsessed with this quote this morning, but then again I'm obsessed with McQueen in general ever since seeing the "Savage Beauty" exhibit at the Met. Why else would I have waited on this line (or the "McQue" as the Twitterverse was referring to it) for 2 hours?

Inspiration Board? More Like Inspiration Book

Ever since I was a little girl, collecting leftover Sassy and Seventeen magazines from around the house, I have been tearing out "looks" that I love. Over the years I've collected these images and when I came across a leftover art journal I knew that those fashion tears had found their home.

While I've been really good about continuing to tear images that inspire me, I've been a bit lax about organizing them. But recently I've been struggling with my closet and, in an effort to edit down my wardrobe and reveal my style, I have revisited these images.

Watching design shows you see design boards and that's great for one look, but when it comes to a wardrobe I need more room to work -- and so the rebirth of the inspiration book. Out came the images, out went the ones I'm already over and on went the rubber cement to secure the keepers. It's my hope that my style progresses along with the book and, when I'm having a fashion meltdown, it will serve as a place to go for answers.

Originally I wanted this to be a style blog, but I'm so sick of the standard style blogs; put-together women in their 30's being photographed by their significant others in whimsical poses and whatever setting mimics a soft filter on their SLR camera (which they probably received as an out-of-the-box wedding gift from their equally hip friends/family).

Like so many women my age, I don't quite have it all together. I'm getting there, but I'm not going to post phony photos that make others envious of my Brooklyn loft and my impeccably groomed puppy. I'm 29, I live on Long Island, I work in a small office and see the same handful of people every day; so my day-to-day attire simply does not call for high fashion. The problem is I'm also tired of the jeans/tee/hoodie combo, not to mention that I'm terrified of Stacy London and Clinton Kelly ambushing me for the new season of "What Not to Wear," and I think it's high time that I figure out how to adapt my dreams of everyday dressing to fit my reality. Yes, I escape to the city and the Hamptons as frequently as possible and when I do I use that as an excuse to wear the clothes I dream of, but it's still not my reality.

So this isn't an established style blog in the traditional sense, it's a finding-my-style blog. Let the editing down begin.

Time Flys When You're (Busy) Having Fun

After a hectic couple of weeks I woke up this morning and said, "Oh, hello Spring!"

Between Moxy, working out, going into Manhattan, applying to and interviewing for jobs, celebrating birthdays (my exceptionally awesome niece turned 1!) and my cousin's bridal shower it's been non-stop plans. The bottom line is that life is good and I am a lucky gal.

There are so many new places I've tried and a number of outfits that I've thrown together (and wound up being extremely fond of - I even repeated one - GASP!) and I can't wait to share all of it.

Spring and Fall have always been my favorite times of year because they represent change (and weather perfect for dining al fresco - LOVE), so as I embark on another fresh new season I look forward to sharing all of my new experiences here.

Cardio Sculpt: The Morning After

Last night I tried my 4th new class at the gym: Cardio Sculpt with Cleo.

I'm getting more comfortable and creating more of a routine with this whole gym thing; I remembered to bring a water, I realized that there are lockers in the corner of the room (I'd been keeping my bag and sweatshirt on the workout floor, thankfully no one tripped on them), and I'm more social with the people in class.

Cardio Sculpt seemed to involve a lot of upper body work, but that could just be because that's my weakest area so I noticed more. (It's like my muscles get less toned as your move up my body.) So while it did feel like my arms may fall off in the middle of our 80 push-ups, I made it through.

Today my chest and back are sore, but (so far) that's it! Must be getting the hang of this whole "fitness" thing. That's not to say that my chest and back won't be racked with stiffness and discomfort tomorrow, but I'll worry about that when it happens.

Cardio sculpt wasn't all that different from Bootcamp, not that I can see anyway. They both combine a cardio warm-up with muscle toning exercises in the middle and a cool-down. The music was high energy at both classes, which really helps to keep me motivated. Cardio sculpt was more crowded last night, but I'll attribute that to the fact that Christmas is over and everyone has more time on their hands. It definitely wasn't a New Year's Resolution crowd as I seemed to be the only one who didn't know what she was doing at points.

When comparing Cardio Sculpt to the Bootcamp class I took, the two instructors are the main difference. Cleo's more maternal and Nia, of Bootcamp, is more of the hardcore trainer type you might see on The Biggest Loser. It's just a matter of who I respond to better. Cleo is quicker to say you can stop if you can't handle it, so I felt less compelled to push myself, but she's a good back-up to Nia who I obviously prefer.

I'm still avoiding the main gym like a hornet's nest. I had to go in last night before class because my card wasn't registering and my glasses fogged up the minute I entered and I just felt like people were looking at me (perhaps my stellar gym outfit of my burnt orange bar softball t-shirt, black cotton shorts and black leggings had something to do with it) and I wanted to exit ASAP.

My goal is to continue taking classes so that I'm toned and healthy at my cousin's wedding in May. If I keep going at this rate I should be right where I want to be.

From Old T-Shirts to New Activewear

One day on my drive to the tanning salon, which was just a few minutes from my house, I realized that, if I lived in the city, I could easily walk the distance.

However, I'm an impatient person and walking takes too long, so I decided I'd run it. You inevitably smell like tanning booth when you leave anyway (I describe this as a medley of tanning lotion and sanitizer, which kind of smells like Malibu Rum, which I hate), so what's a little perspiration added to the mix?

I clocked the distance on Gmaps Pedometer, which is an amazing site if you've never heard of it, and figured out that it was .98 of a mile. Seriously do-able.

That was 4 years ago and, while I no longer tan, I recently started running again and I'm up to 3 miles 2-4 times a week.

Unfortunately the weather is getting colder and, thanks to daylight savings time, it's now dark when I get home so I need to figure out an alternative. So it looks like I'll be doing the unthinkable: joining a gym.

The beauty of running is that it's free and, as an added bonus, you don't have to talk to anyone. With my headphones on "I'm in the zone, Chief" and no one can bother me. I also get to wear a frighteningly beat-up workout ensemble of old college/bar/vacation t-shirts and lacrosse shorts or cotton leggings. But now, while I don't plan on socializing while I'm at the gym, I know I'm going to feel out of place if I don't look the part, at least a little bit.

So tonight I'm going to Old Navy , armed with a 30% off coupon that also gives to charity, to spend as little as possible on active wear.

I hate paying money to replace my perfectly functional ratty old lax shorts, complete with paints stains from a summer gig a few years back, but at least I'll be doing good for charity. And working out improves my mood, which is charity for the people who have to see me everyday as well :)

Don't Feel Down, Dress Up!

In college I dressed for class. Skirts, nice pants, cute tops, fitted sweaters, any combination of these items really; I put effort into my daily dressing routine.

My secret was that the days I dressed up were actually the ones I was feeling down. Whether I was hungover, or tired, or sad, rather than wearing PJ's to class I took a deep breath and sucked it up as I sucked myself into stockings and an outfit and I was on my way to a better mood.

My standard issue Loyola hoodie was relegated to the apartment and late-night adventures to other peoples' apartments because I believe that any bad mood could only be made worse by a bad outfit.

A good outfit on the other hand makes you look good, when you look good other people notice, and when other people notice you it boosts your self esteem and, hey, look at that, you're feeling better already.

My point is, if you're feeling dumpy, don't dress frumpy (I couldn't resist the rhyming, that makes me happy too)! Dress up and you won't feel down anymore. It's as simple as a white favorite tee.