The Eleventh Hour

Mild weather today allowed for a lighter sweater! I much prefer the sunshine to the rain and wind we've been having here the past few days.

Top/Dress: thrifted, Sweater: Gap (thrifted), Skirt: Zara, Boots: Clarks

I think I have blogger's block! I read blogs all day long likes it's my job. I love all the wonderful things these women have to say and then I sit down to write and I've got nothin! Nothin I tell you! Nothin! What's a girl to do? Is my life really so sad and boring that I can't find inspiration anywhere? Or is it just that I'm still overcoming my childhood shyness and unable to open up and be candid with people? I mean I do things. I'm a busy bee. Really! I love to bake, I {attempt to} cook creative dinners every night, I sew, I go shopping {although not right now because of 30 for 30 rules}, I work....and yet despite it all I'm sitting here feeling uninspired with nothing to write about. I feel like my job is partly to blame. Many funny things happen at work - silly, startling and down right unbelievable stories, but due to HIPPA I can't talk about it. {damn HIPPA regulations sometimes}. So really I suppose I'm not boring at all. I'm full of stories - I'm just legally obligated to never tell them to you....oh how sad! Well - maybe I'll just have to start getting my act together with more crafty adventures (I've been feeling ambitious lately) to share which are always full of true "adventures" - like the time I accidentally hot glued my hair to my sweater! Mental Note: Always tie back your hair when playing with adhesives!

Day 10...

Top: Banana Republic, Sweater: Old Navy, Skirt: Zara, Boots: Clarks, Belt: Hand-me-down

I'm having one of those days....you know where despite everything working out you're still remarkably annoyed at the world for no apparent reason. I really can't explain it. I got a million things done today. Work went well, I made it to the dentist without getting lost (that is a big accomplishment - I'm seriously directionally impaired!), ran errands and dinner was on the table by 7:30. But yet I still have this thing sitting on my shoulders that is driving me mad and I can't seem to shake. I'm thinking some leftover birthday cake will do the trick! Sugar always improves my moods! ;-)

Freebie Roundup

I feel like it has been a while since I posted about some online freebies - Here are a few that are available right now!

Sign up HERE for a FREE sample of HUGO Fragrance (Male or Female).

Grab a FREE O.b. Trial Pack HERE.

Sign up for FREE Avery Shipping Labels HERE.

Go HERE to sign up for a FREE sample of Tropical Breeze Fragrance.

Click here to sign up for a coupon to get a free bottle of Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce.

Sign up for a free sample of Mist8 All-Purpose Cleaning Spray.

Note: During the sign up process it asked if you'd like to complete some additional offers, I just ignored them and clicked "continue" and was still taken to a confirmation page stating 4-6 weeks for delivery!

Click here for $.50 off any Green Giant Vegetables.

This is a bricks coupon - so use your browser back button to print twice! If your store doubles coupons, pair this with a 10/$10 sale to make for FREE veggies!

A busy day #9...and some laundry

Sweater: Vera Wang via Kohls, T-shirt: Kmart, Jeans: Gap, Shoes: Apt9 via Kohls, Earrings: Gifted

I bought two boxes of those 3-in-1 Purex laundry sheets a while back. They were next to nothing with some coupons and sales and I thought they would be handy as it takes the thought out of measuring liquid detergent – I’m all about mindless chores! Anyway – I finished my first box and have now started onto my second. Today when doing laundry I noticed that there was a packet stuck to the back of the package that read “Valuable Savings!” I of course became extremely excited to find a coupon and quickly tore off the packet only to reveal that the coupon had an expiration date of 12/31/09. 2009 people! Really! I only bought the detergent like 3 months ago! Outrageous – you would think a store would have better product turn over than that. Well, at least my clothes still got clean!

7, EIGHT, bananas

Yesterday was yet another birthday party - this one was for the bf's momma - Happy Birthday J! After a long morning or running around, then Party! Party! Party!, we didn't get home till very late and I immediately crashed on the couch. Needless to say, pictures of yesterday's outfit did not make it onto my "checked off, things completed list". So today I wore what is basically the same outfit as yesterday - but yesterday I was minus the green sweater.

Shirt: H&M, Sweater: Zara, Jeans: Gap, Belt: Thrifted, Shoes: Dunnes Stores (Ireland)

In an attempt to be healthy I try to pack a piece of fruit into my lunch everyday. Today it was a banana. On normal days I get to work, pull out my lunch box, remove fruit (many times it is banana) and cereal, which I eat then and there and the rest of my lunch goes into the fridge until I decided it's lunch time - which usually is around 10:30 lol.

Today was not a normal day. Today I left work early to go to school and create a program plan and register for classes. Today banana sat in my lunch box all through the morning and into the afternoon. Lunch time didn't come today until 1pm. And at 1pm I made a new mental note: banana packed in lunch box all day makes everything else taste like banana. So rather than enjoying my lunch, I force fed myself banana flavored food. Have you ever tried BBQ banana potato chips? or Tomato, cheese and banana sandwich? No? Take my word for it, not so appetizing. Why couldn't I have packed a peanut butter sandwich today? WHY!?!

Day 6: Party Time!

Today my family celebrated my aunt's 80th Birthday! WOW! Happy Birthday Aunt D - love you! I had a really fun afternoon/evening with my family spending time and sharing stories. Big thanks to my cousin and her adorable hubby for hosting at their new(ish) home - its beautiful guys!

Thankfully it was warm enough today that I didn't have to wear tights. The weather has really warmed up this weekend - the bf and I even got in a few quick yard sales the morning!

Turtleneck: Target, Dress: BCDG, Boots: Clarks

Sorry these photos are kinda blurry...bad lighting and a sleepy photographer don't mix well.

And this is the "What do you want from me? I'm not good at posing for pictures" face. ridiculous. 

It's been a late night so we stopped for some delish sustenance on the way home - Vanilla Soy Latte - oh how I love thee! 

I just love that Starbucks hands out free music! Who's with me? I pick up a new card every time I stop in...which is more frequent than I should admit.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! ♥

Day 5: TGIF

Shirt: Zara, Sweater Vest: Forever21, Jeans: Gap, Shoes: Apt9 via Kohls, Necklace: Handmade

“50 Reasons to Be Pretty Damn Euphoric You Live in New York City” I read this today – I loved it. Subsequently I have also decided that I think I need to move there. I should tell you though that this is not the first time I have come to the conclusion that I should move to NYC and I’m sure it won’t be my last. (Thankful it is only a short train ride away). For whatever reason I haven't moved there yet. I'm sure it is due to some profound reason that I have yet to uncover and will reveal itself at an incredibly inopportune moment...can you tell I'm a psych major? (Self diagnosis is my worst enemy). Anyway – read it, even if you’re not a New Yorker and just an admirer like me, its great! I may have actually laughed out loud at some of them.

Retail Therapy:

For those of you not taking part in the 30 for 30 Challenge who are still allowed to shop - don't forget about the Give & Get Sale going on now!

Now through Sunday November 14th get 30% Off at Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Gap Outlet and Banana Republic Factory Store in-store or online and 5% of what you spend will go to a charity of your choice.

Go HERE to sign up to give to the charity of your choice as well as get your 30% savings coupon to use at checkout!

The word FOUR has 4 letters.

Did you know? ...In the English language there is no other number whose number of letters is equal to its value. Useless knowledge...

Scarf: China Town NYC, Turtleneck: Target, Belt: hand-me-down, Jeans: Gap, Boots: Kmart, Mittens: gifted

I felt like some Red, White and Blue was appropriate today in order to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Happy Veteran's Day!

If two wrongs don't make a right, try THREE.

Dress: Thrifted, Sweater: Annie Sez, Belt: Hand-me-down (thanks Mom), Boots: Clarks

On Saturday as an unbelievably adorable 4 year old dug through multiple boxes under my coffee table that I had completely forgotten existed (isn't it interesting what the world looks like from a 4 year olds point of view - they see all kinds of things we don't), we came across a large box of yarn I had stashed away. There are large balls of yarn, small balls of yarn, scraps of yarn and everything in between. So I have decided that maybe I should start crocheting again and create a patchwork quilt out of all these pieces I have. Truthfully I thought nothing of this box of yarn we uncovered until I saw this picture in Ready Made magazine yesterday and felt über inspired!

The natural number following 1 and preceding 3.

Here's a hint...it's TWO!

Turtleneck: Target, Sweater: JCPenneys, Belt: Flea market in Italy, Jeans: Gap, Shoes: Dunnes Stores (Ireland)

Turtleneck, check! sweater, check! super knee high socks that you obviously can't see, check! I also had on a scarf, mittens and jacket this morning. Needless to say I'm not adjusting to this sudden change in temperature well. The entire month of October we had above average temps and now suddenly it's only 45degrees when I leave for work and my car is covered in frost! BRRRRR!

Outfit Numero Uno

I had the day off work today. I love having Mondays off - it feels like a quiet holiday! And a quiet holiday was just what I needed after this past weekend. Things were BUSY!  I worked both Saturday and Sunday (I'm only scheduled half days on the weekends thank goodness), met a friend for lunch and visited his new art display at a local coffee shop in town (may I just say its AMAZING!). My college roommate and her adorable daughter came to stay with us this weekend! It was the first time we have seen each other since graduation 2 years ago - so nice to catch up! I had the normal errands to run and chores to complete and trying to squeeze in time to pick out my 30 for 30 picks was a challenge all on its own. However, I got it done and here is outfit numero uno...

Dress: BCDG, Jacket: Gap (thrifted), Scarf: BCDG, Boots: Clarks

...the skirt of this dress was a little flowy for the heavy winds we had here today. Thankfully I was indoors most of the day.  But when I did have to face the elements that scarf kept me comfy-cozy all day long!! Hopefully it will continue to keep me warm tonight cause I'm off to a Women's Board Auxiliary meeting at the hospital....we're planning our Casino Night fund raiser tonight! YAY!

My 30 for 30 Remix Picks

I meant to have this posted much earlier today, but as things tend to happen, today was terribly busy!

So lets not drag this out any longer...here are my 30 for 30 Remix picks!

I had a harder time picking items from my closet than I thought I would. The first 15 were easy - all the pieces I love and wear regularly. The second 15 was not so easy and I soon came to find that my closet is limited to only a few colors - which one would think makes mixing things up easier, however, it can also make things kinda boring. My plan is to try and add splashes of color via my accessories, fingers crossed! Tomorrow the creativity and remixing begins - I'm really looking forward to seeing all the great outfits and inspiration everyone brings to the table! Check out the full list of participants HERE!