Alive and Kicking

Hey ya'll!

My Pinterest pins have been generating some hits to this site recently, so I thought I had better post something a little more uplifting than what I last wrote!

I have almost completely recovered from my shoulder injury after 8 weeks of intense PT.  Sadly...I still haven't kicked the "sitting on the couch" habit I developed while injured and recovering.  As a result...no outfit pictures to share.  I did just recently re-wear the above pinkalicious look though..and since I didn't post it the first time around....ta da!

In other news...still working at GFS, still spending most of my earnings on clothes...have had to trade up in size on some of my things due to above sitting on the couch habit...and I still have a shoe addiction that won't quit.

All in all, things here are good.  I am not sure I will ever get back to doing outfit photos for the blog but sometimes I really miss the push to be creative.  We shall see.

I just wanted to say thank you for stopping by if you just found the site, and look to my daily reads for some other ladies to inspire you!  Feel free to email me any time if you have questions on shopping, it's what I do best!

XO,
Alyssa

A Last Hurrah

If you come here on a fairly regular basis, I hope you noticed that in the past few posts, I have been working to upgrade the type of outfits I have been showing so that my readers didn't get bored seeing me in jeans every installment.  None of the outfits were too fancy, all still perfectly affordable options, but none had denim anywhere in them.  That's not to say I actually wore any of them in real life...just that I actually do OWN items that would work for other situations my readers might find themselves in.  I was trying to better the blog, and expand my reach.  I was motivated.

All of the images in the skirt series were taken on the same afternoon...more than a month ago now, and I hadn't been inspired to take a photo since then.  And THEN, on Easter Sunday no less, the Universe said "oh really?" and gave me a nice little injury to prevent even the possibility of taking photos.

I have acute calcific tendonitis with complete shoulder contracture--which is the fancy way of saying a frozen shoulder.  I have very limited range of motion in the shoulder of my dominant hand.  Can't work, can't cook, can't clean, can't photograph, can only type with the computer down on my lap and with a whole lot of pain.  I'm down for a minimum of 6 weeks with intensive physical therapy to get back my ROM.  Super, super fun.

ANYWAY, Universe, I hear you.  Loud and clear.  I'm done. It's been fun.  If I come back again, it will be a new and better incarnation (God willing).  If I don't then I don't and I'll figure something else out.  I just wanted to let you guys know...those handful of people who keep coming by to check if there is anything new here.  I love you guys.

Until then and as always,

XO
Alyssa

Link Collision

What is one to do when a weekly link party and a monthly link party happen to coincide?  Combine them of course!!

Reading a book, any book really, is my favorite thing to do.  If I have had a crappy day and seek some solace, there will always be a book involved to take me away from the world for a while.  If I am putting off some chore I know I SHOULD be doing, like cleaning, you can bet I am instead reading a book.  Going somewhere in a plane, train or automobile? Then I've got a book (or several) to take along for the ride.  When I was a little girl I would climb the tree behind my house with a backpack full of books and snacks and spend entire afternoons nestled in perfect contentment.  Suffice it to say that my love of the written word goes way back.  So what a perfect combination of blog hops/and linky parties than Thursday Favorite Things and Thoughtful Third Thursday?!

Pam @ Over 50 Feeling 40
Katherine @ Katherine's Corner 
Nina @ Vintage Mama's Cottage

I read several books this month...one leading into the next, but I was struck by some works of Virginia Wolfe.  I read A Room of One's Own and am in the middle of reading Mrs. Dalloway.  I have quotes from both that struck a chord with me.

The first, from A Room of One's Own, which is an essay/speech she gave on the topic women and fiction:

"for fiction, imaginative work that is, is not dropped like a pebble upon the ground, as science may be, fiction is like a spider's web, attached ever so lightly perhaps, but still attached to life at all four corners."

The second, from Mrs. Dalloway early on in the book when she is walking up the road and looking into shop windows and thinking to herself:

"She had the oddest sense of being herself invisible; unseen; unknown; there being no more marrying, no more having of children now, but only this astonishing and rather solemn progress with the rest of them, up Bond Street, this being Mrs. Dalloway; not even Clarissa any more; this being Mrs. Richard Dalloway."

I wanted my outfit to be a more modern day take on classic "strolling up Bond Street" outfit.  The brocade in the skirt reminiscent of the gowns of the day, the flower broach an adornment nodding back to the finery of the gentility, and yet still imaginative and "attached to life".  I think it was successful?!

On this blog, if no where else in life, I remain Alyssa.

Go see what everyone else is reading!

Stylish Sweatshirts

Hi there!  It's been a while, huh?  Sorry about that.  I haven't been taking any outfit photos recently because I have been dressing in my most casual duds for work.  We did a major overhaul of our back stock room which required a whole lot of kneeling and sitting and sweating and climbing around in dust and dirt.  Needless to say, this outfit is NOT an example of that kind of look!

I found this super-cute printed sweatshirt at Old Navy when I was last there and couldn't resist scooping it up for around $9!  I had planned to just wear it with my yoga pants to update my lounging look, but then I tried to come up with some different ways to wear it as well.  I have seen a few other ladies dressing up their sweats and thought I would give it a shot.  

Sweatshirt:  Old Navy (you are not getting it at $9 online, maybe in store)

Skirt: Forever 21

Heels:  TJ Maxx

Lanyard Necklace: Dress Barn (you heard me)

To dress up my printed sweatshirt, I chose to add in a textured skirt and some mixed metallics with my heels and jewelry.  Even though the sweatshirt is pretty loose, I still felt the total look came out much cooler than I had expected...I just need an occasion to wear it!  

Don't forget, it's Manic Monday linkup time...click the button on my sidebar to join us!!

mixed metals for my necklaces

As an aside,  let me ask you something...seriously...should I go back to taking my pictures inside?  Is it really that much better of a background, this outside shot of my vines?  Tell me your opinion, please!!  Thanks!

XO,
Alyssa

I Know What I Like

I know what I like, and this is all of it.  I like navy, I like hot coral, I like seersucker.  BAM, outfit done.  I am not too sure that I like the layered necklaces, but I wanted to do something a little bigger than one or the other.

Know what else I'm NOT sure about?  How to take photos in the sunshine...because this is what happens.

It's a light zebra. 

Jeans:  Gap Factory Store

Top:  Gap Factory Store

Blazer:  Banana Republic Factory Store

Necklaces:  Target

Shoes:  Last Chance 

Since I totally missed this week's Visible Monday, AND Manic Monday link parties, I will for sure be at the Favorite Things Thursday link hosted by the lovely:

Pam @ Over 50 Feeling 40
Katherine @ Katherine's Corner 
Nina @ Vintage Mama's Cottage

A Happy Accident

So today is the Thoughtful Third Thursday linkup with My Closet Catalogue and A Bibliophile's Style which I have had on my calendar for a month now.

The idea behind this linkup is to share what we are reading or have read the past month and design an outfit to relate to it.

When I first planned my post for this link I was reading Twisted Sisters by Jen Lancaster.  I wouldn't recommend it, but one of the sisters in the book resonated with me.  You could possibly call her the perceived antagonist, because this book has no real antagonist...the main character is supremely flawed and all other characters get skewed via her point of view.  What you got from the main character's asides about this sister were that she was the baby of the family, she was loved by everyone she knew, she was a hairdresser and loved her job, she was currently living in her parents basement and was a few rolls over the perfect body type.  So I dressed in my happy hairdresser outfit and snapped some smiley photos.

Then I went back and re-read Selah's description of T3.  You see...I missed the little detail where a quote was supposed to be chosen and THAT creates the link back to the book. There wasn't a quote worth sharing in that whole book.  Really.  Luckily for me, I also read another piece of fluff called Rum Punch Regrets by Anne Kemp (and possibly also titled All Fruits Ripe or that was a prequel attached to it?)  While this was a fine book to read for an afternoon in the sun, it was also no great work.  I did however manage to find a quote I liked which by happy accident seemed also reflected by my outfit photos.

Maria, the wise Kittian housekeeper, tells Abby the main character, during one of her many self reflecting musings:

" Trust me, there's a bigger picture here.  We only just see a corner of it.  That's life.  You don't want to unwrap it all at once.  Enjoy the journey."

So I'm looking at the bigger picture and preparing for next month's T3 with my sights set on reading a better book and preparing to capture a great quote along the way!!  

Go check out what everyone else is reading and wearing.

Denim Duplication

Sometimes the flow of the universe is hidden from me and sometimes it is not.  I am not talking about deep, metaphysical relationships here...just the ordinary coincidences that can occur in life.  Yesterday I was trying to find a new Thursday home to link with and wasn't happy with anything I found.  Today in my bloglovin' feed what do I see?  My girl Pam @ Over 50 and Feeling 40 (and two of her bloggy friends) hosts a Thursday link hop!  Even better?  It's a Favorite Things theme!  Providence?  I feel that it is since my pictures for today were these.

What topic would be more appropriate for me to discuss in a "Favorite Things" post than my adoration of denim?  I wear denim almost every day.  I wear it to work, and to play.  Heck, I have some jeans comfortable enough to sleep in!  Denim is such a hugely versatile fabric...jeans, shirts, jackets made in every iteration and style, it is used throughout the fashion industry.  Washed out, tailored, distressed, double dyed, processed, coated or color; denim is where its at.

It's safe to say that denim is my favorite neutral.   It plays well with every color in my closet and is the perfect foil to all my [many] printed tops.  There are cuts that flatter every body size and shape and can be worn successfully by all age groups.  Trends in denim may ebb and flow like every other style out there, but surely it's a wardrobe staple.  Or it should be.

Please go and visit these fine ladies, and all their friends as we enjoy sharing our favorite things!  You will find links for fashion, beauty, recipes, crafts and more.

Pam @ Over 50 Feeling 40
Katherine @ Katherine's Corner
Nina @ Vintage Mama's Cottage

Thanks for sharing my favorite thing today!

XO,
Alyssa

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Olives

Hmmm...do I need another pair of olive colored pants?   Let's see.  They cost me exactly $7.   They are skinny instead of boyfriend (like my other ones).  I already have about a dozen inspiration photos for them.  Is it really even a question?

Of COURSE I NEED THEM!  And I love them already.  Be prepared to see them often.

Please also note that the only print here is on my shoes.  Yay me!!  Plus...three posts in a matter of two weeks?!  Could I be getting my groove back here?  ;o)

XO,
Alyssa

I found a cute new Linky team for Monday! I added the button to my sidebar but the hosts are More Pieces of Me and On the Daily EXPRESS.  I can't believe I hadn't found these girls yet!

Closet Problems

The "shirts" section of my closet

I had the day off yesterday and went shopping.  An unusual past-time for someone who works in retail probably but something I really do enjoy.

I knew I only had a few hours to browse around and wasn't looking for anything in particular...that "list" everyone recommends not anywhere in my consciousness.  I went to TJMaxx first and although I tried on about 7 different pairs of shoes came away with nothing.  Possibly a first for me and that store.

Then I went into Old Navy which is conveniently located right next door.  This is, after all, part of "my" company and I always check in for deals.  I immediately found some adorable camo super skinny jeans and was sad that they looked terrible on me, even in a size up.  They did have some great deals in their clearance section though, and  I ended up coming home with two printed tops and a pair of navy, 7inch shorts.

Once home, I shot some photos of recent purchases so I could update my GCOGH closet and start thinking of ensembles for the newbies.  While hanging up my new shirts I realized something.  I have a closet problem.  I have a printed shirt addiction.  I vaguely recall making a sweeping edict that I was only going to shop for solid neutrals some time ago, but obviously that hasn't taken root in my brain.

Why do I think it's a problem?  You can't really do toooooo much remixing of a shirt with such gregarious prints...plus...most are certainly memorable in their loudness and color.  Hard to wear too close together in time, thus rendering them once a monther's at best.  Is that really a good investment?  Perhaps if I were BETTER at the whole remixing thing it wouldn't be such a drag.  I wear every one of them with jeans.  I have created a new uniform for myself.  I match my shoes to the top.  I am still Matchy-Matchy.

I rest my case.

XO,
Alyssa

Burning Questions

It is always a lovely thing to be appreciated for your contributions in this world, be they small familial niceties or large, humanitarian actions.  Even the things that fall somewhere in-between; like the blog you created.

In the past week I was given two generous awards:

A Leibster Award here), granted to me by a dear friend at GCOGH and fellow blogger/book-hound Selah from A Bibliophile's Style.

(this will be my third, see the first here)

If you don't want to go back in time to see my first, that's okay...but it was probably the funniest thing I have written here so you might want to reconsider.

and

A Golden Blog Award from the most eloquent, kind and beautiful Jan from Fort Smith Stylista

Since the "Golden Blog" nomination only requires the revelation of 10 random facts and the "Leibster" requires 11 and then some, I am going to roll the random facts together...figuring I probably couldn't come up with 21 facts anyone would care to read about!

Onward to the facts.

1.)  I read everything that my children are reading (for school and pleasure) so that we can have actual conversations about it.  I have been able to read and re-read some amazing literary works this way!

2.)  I love landscape and point of view photography, and when traveling I often forget to take pictures of the people I am with.

3.)  I hate making decisions.  Big ones, small ones, any ones.  Hate It.

4.)  I used to think I was "good with animals" until I got a puppy.  She turned out amazing but I hated that dog for her first 2 years...she fought me for Alpha Female the whole time.

5.)  I started writing a children's book that seemed pretty good, but was never able to come up with an ending that resolved everything.  I lost the flow of my story and it never came back!

6.)  Sometimes I dream of a bohemian life, one unencumbered by possessions and lived across the globe.  Usually after my children have utterly destroyed my house.

7.)  I watch a crazy amount of shows about Alaska and Hawaii, and am a reality TV junkie.  (not The Bachelor or that kind of stupid reality TV, but like Life Below Zero and Deadliest Catch and Sister Wives)

8.) I have been married for almost 18 years, and still adore my husband.  There are days I look at him and can't believe we ended up together.

9.)  Parenting teenagers has been the most challenging thing I have ever done, and I fear I am not doing it at all well.

10.)  I would rather drink my vegetables than eat them.  Blendtec rules.

11.)  Laziness is my biggest flaw, and is something I find very difficult to overcome.

Selah posed some excellent questions...here they are with my answers, but feel free to answer them yourself and send them to me!

#1 Who is your style icon and why?  Perhaps Audrey Hepburn because she always wore simple, beautifully tailored clothing.  Currently its also Beverly from the blog Beverly Like Hills because she is bold and brave and mixes textures and patterns like a pro, as well as having a shoe closet I would kill for.  My body shape is like neither of those women however, so there is a small problem with that!

#2  What was your favorite book as a child?  I am not good at picking any one thing as a favorite (please reference above #3) but I recall reading  Island of the Blue Dolphins and the entire Ursula LeGuin Earthsea Trilogy hundreds of times.  I was disappointed that my daughter enjoyed neither.

#3  Have you ever been compared to a famous person?  When I was younger and had longer hair people thought I looked like Demi Moore.  Which I never got.

#4  Book first or Movie, and why?  I have never met a movie that I enjoyed more than the book from which it came, so I prefer to read the book and skip the movie.  Half the time with movies though, I didn't even know there was a book so there you have it.  No decision made, yet again.

#5  What made you start blogging?  I found GCOGH, started taking outfit pictures for that and began to think that if I was going through all the trouble to take the photos I ought to do something else with them.  I love to write, so a blog made sense to me at the time.  Had I done ANY research at all on the "over 40" blogs out there though, I never would have started.

#6  Favorite color combination to wear?  Denim and black or denim/black/white.  There is something so chic and clean about it.

#7  Favorite literary genre, and book/author within?  I read everything and anything and (again referring to fact 3 above) don't like to pick a favorite.  HOWEVER, I love a good comedy and snort gleefully while reading anything written by Christopher Moore (LAMB being so good I cried AND snorted).  I also enjoy a good dystopian world story, and anything written by Jane Austen.  [Although I will admit that I read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies before reading the actual Pride and Prejudice.]

#8  Describe your style in 5 adjectives.  Easy, layered, accessorized, patterned and denimy. (I made that one up)

#9  Who is your oddest celebrity crush?  I think it's an obsession more-so than a crush, but The entire Kilcher family from Alaska's Last Frontier.  (an aside...the singer Jewel is actually the daughter of Atz Kilcher)

#10  Do you pattern mix?  Why or Why Not?  I am TRYING to do it, but I seem to gear toward all the same size prints which are very hard to mix together.  I can put stripes with anything though!  ;o)

#11  Do you say pa-JAM-as or pa-JAHM-as?  I say pa-JAHM-as.  And that was my favorite question!!!  I also say the word water so that is sounds like wadder, in case you care.

WHEW!  That is a whole lot of information.  Here are a couple more pictures to distract you.

weird, smirky face 

I have to do a little digging to find some people to pass on nominations to...if you want one, hit me up!  ;o)

XO,
Alyssa

Is It February Already?

Hi everyone!

I have about five minutes to sit down and write, but it is the first Monday in February and I swore I would post something to share today so here I am.

Tons of things happening in my neck of the woods.  My oldest has passed his road test and so is officially a teen driver.  My husband bought himself a new (to him) car so the new driver actually gets his old car.  Not too bad a deal for a first car since the old car is a 2001 Mustang convertible!

We just had winter formal come around again, and in case you don't remember my sad rant about that last year you can click here to remember.  This year it only got worse since my youngest is now old enough to attend as well!!

Can we note these shoes?  They have already become mine! And my son...LOVES this outfit, bow-tie especially!

Hubby and I are headed to Hawaii shortly without our kiddos, so really looking forward to that.  Our return will shortly be followed by a visit from my very dear friend and her family.  We are planning lots of fun activities since she is coming in from the snow-bound East Coast and is looking forward to lots of sunshine.

Lastly...I told my Mom about my blog.  And she was proud.  So here's a shout out to my Mom, who has always been my cheerleader regardless of how ridiculous my current "sport".  Love you.

Missed you all...I hope to get back to outfit picture taking very soon!

XO,

Alyssa

Back to Reality

Hello everyone!!

It's almost time for me to come back to my blog, I'm seeing the light at the end of this very long tunnel.  Only 8 more games to get through over the next three weeks, and one Driver's License to acquire.

Work has undergone its normal shift from holiday madness to January emptiness so I have many less hours on my schedule.  All of this equates to more free time for yours truly.

I would like to say that I have a "grand plan" for my return and a focused outline for the coming year.  Sadly, nope.  I am going to wing it like I always do.  This is going to be an interesting year, of that I am certain.

I hope that you all had a fantastic time over the holidays with your loved ones, and that you have entered 2014 with renewed vigor and zest.  I am looking forward to chatting with everyone again, I have really missed you!

Until February...

Let this terribly bad, but hysterically funny picture summarize how I left 2013 and entered into 2014.  My husband and sons do not feel quite the same as I do, hm?

XO,
Alyssa

Hitting the Pause Button

My image; San Diego, CA

For the next four months my life is going to be crazy hectic due to work and after school activities for my three children.  I decided to give myself a little break from the guilt and just admit that I won't be blogging for a while.  I have been sporadic at best recently but still feel guilty for not posting more often...now I can just relax knowing that this at least is officially on hold until life calms back down.

I'll still be checking in on all of you though!!  Enjoy your lives over the next few months and think of me in all my scheduling craziness!!  See you in February!


XO,
Alyssa

Transitions

It's Hot/Cold season in Arizona.  What season is that you ask?  57 degrees in the morning and 92 degrees by the late afternoon.  A sticky situation when you need to be gone from your house all day and can't do complete outfit changes to accommodate the climate.

My solution was a summer tank dress with a boyfriend cardigan thrown over top.  Bare legs weren't the best idea for the early morning cold, but I adore these shoes and it needed to happen.

Had. To. Happen.

XO,
Alyssa


{California was great and if I could afford it I would totally live there in a shack on the beach.  It made me a lazy blogger though...sorry!}

Pink Pants in October

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness this month, I am pulling out my favorite pair of pink pants.  Such an important cause deserves mention...and any excuse to wear these pants a few extra times will be taken!

I can't seem to get my photos to capture the outfit as it is in real life, alas these oddly stiff renditions.  The truth is, this vesty/jacket thing is so cute in person!  I really, really felt great in this, and while I am sure that an adorable pair of silver, pointy toe pumps would have looked amazing with this I wouldn't have lasted 2 hours in them before I switched to flats.  I decided to just skip that whole painful time and go straight to what would last all day.

Enjoy your weekend!  I am off to San Diego with the family for a bit of a holiday, so stay tuned for vacation instagram photobombs!

XO,

Alyssa

Milestone Moment

One year ago today I hesitantly wrote my first ever blog post.  Since then I have almost stopped the blog twice along the way, feeling that my input was neither educational nor inspired.

I still feel that way but have settled on the fact that my posts aren't really meant to be either.  I hate being the focus of photos, so seeking out avenues to make them more beautiful isn't going to happen...remember when I tried that?

Since I'm okay with it, and you guys are all so great and I would miss you terribly if I went away forever, I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing and sharing the woes and miscellany of my midlife with you as we go.  I hope you'll all stay with me now that I have admitted I'm okay with the status quo!

On to my current issue.  My misguided love for the printed, elastic bottom blouse.  I went and bought another one.  I couldn't help myself.  Seriously.  This pattern is so beautiful and all in neutrals so that has to count for something.  I made sure I could think of at least 5 ways to wear it so it followed that portion of my rules at least.  Putting it into my first outfit however, was more challenging than I had thought.  Please see the following examples:

tucked all the way into the skirt

untucked but still poufed up higher

fully untucked and pulled low

Yeah so, hmmm.  Not sure I really liked any of the ways it came out!  This skirt is tight fitting, so I was thinking it would balance out the bigness of the shirt.  I'm not really sure it works though?!  So I'm putting it to you all...what's your vote?  How do I wear this shirt with this skirt?

XO,
Alyssa

p.s.  Thanks for sticking around this year, and I hope to continue to see you all around for year two!!  ;o)

Skinny is Just a Six Letter Word

Is there a word out there that defines you?  Is there a word out there that you strive to become?  Is there a word out there that exemplifies your most heartfelt desires?

There are a whole host of words out there; 470,000 entries in the unabridged (English) edition of Merriam-Webster's dictionary.  Because language is fluid and ever adapting, that number is by no means finite.

Some of these words could be considered lofty: generous, unselfish, benevolent, magnanimous, altruistic, munificent, charitable.  Some of them are not so: greedy, gluttonous, avaricious, grasping, covetous, voracious, piggish, indulgent, intemperate, materialistic, insatiable.

I would like to say that the word that resonates with me is one from the lofty list, and I am happy to add that it isn't from the lesser list either.  For me, the word that tops my thoughts is SKINNY.

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you will remember a few posts from the past year which refer to parts of my issue.  For those who may be new(ish); This one is a bit tongue-in-cheek; this next one is the whole truth.

I thought I would bring up my word association for two reasons.  The first being that some very kind readers commented on my last post that I looked skinny (or skinnier).  I'd like to say thank you sincerely for that!  However, you could have commented "you look like a skinny crack whore" and I still would have taken it as a compliment, because my mind would have shut off after I read the word skinny.

Today's truth is that I AM a little skinnier, and for now I have jumped off the metaphorical mental Merry-Go-Round.  I did a significant amount of research on macro and micronutrients and the benefits of juicing/blending as well as making some small changes in my daily life.  Just like all those years ago when just giving up regular soda and stepping over baby gates made a difference, so too are the small changes I made this past couple of months.

Pineapple, peach, red kale, collard greens and Anutragrain

I bought myself a Blendtec blender (sort of like a Vitamix) and have been making a whole fruit/greens smoothie for breakfast every morning.  I change up the fruits and greens during the week so that I can get the most out of every drink.  I even make power "red" smoothies that include beets and ginger for powerful kidney and liver detoxification (which is helpful since I certainly haven't given up my wine!).  This one small change has added about 20 times the amount of vegetables (and thus micronutrients) I had previously been consuming and removed one of my major stumbling blocks.

I also began exercising regularly again.  I am 100% certain that this is the key that unlocks the door to change.  It regulates those damn hormones like nothing else does and changes the body composition better than just losing "weight".  I have no weight loss goal this time, either long term or short term.  I am just changing the way I live to be healthier than I was before.  Nothing ever changes if nothing ever changes so I made the choice to change. (Again)

Skinny is just a six letter word after all...it isn't a goal, or an ideal, or a better than me place to be.  It. Is. Just. A. Word.

XO,
Alyssa

It's Still Hot Here

As a side note...this maxi is hiked up to under my boobs and is still this long!!

This is one of the worst times to be an Arizonian (or whatever the heck they call us). Probably sucks in Texas too...and Florida.   The calendar tells me its Fall, but the weather is still screaming Summer.  What to do, what to do.

Sorry sweaters and boots, you are just going to have to wait patiently in my closet for your turn...because I refuse to roast.  Weather wins in AZ sadly, weather always wins.

I am loving seeing all the cool weather wear on other blogs though and dreaming of how I will style my new things once it drops some degrees in my neck of the woods!  

XO,
Alyssa

Remembering the Rules

You know how you get "on a roll" with clothes sometimes and every outfit you create looks great?  I THOUGHT I was on one of those until I went through my photos this morning.  What I found instead was that I have forgotten a key rule for dressing my frame.  Observe....

Here we have a color combination that I love...pale aqua skinny jeans with black and silver.  Note the loose, blousy top, and tight bottom.  Comfy to be sure and it feels safe to wear because it easily hides all my less than stellar bits.  Example Two...

Hmm...it's a purple, blousy top and some skinny jeans.  I see so much of this look out there in the blogosphere but I have to tell you that as comfortable as it is for me to wear, when I look at these images I notice that this type of shirt does not really do my figure any justice.  I am big busted (I wear a 36DD) so the loose fabric hangs off of those bad boys and makes my whole top half look larger than it might actually be.

This is not to say I feel I should be wearing bandage dresses all the time to emphasize my Kardashianesque frame, but that I need to be vigilant about keeping my proportions in mind when I shop.  I have to stop letting what is prevalent in the stores, and beautiful on other people sway my purchasing decisions.

[And if I'm going to go for this look for the comfort factor perhaps limit it to once a week and not every dang day!  LOL.]

XO,
Alyssa