The Ice Returns

Ah the return of the snow and the return of Squinty McGee. It was so cold out that I only took one round of photos (my camera does 3 at a time) and ran back inside. This was the best of the bunch. I suggest that you pretend I'm giving you a saucy wink. Does that work for you? No? oh well, I tried.

Since the office was closed again, I took the time to record some more videos. And this time I actually got dressed in real clothes. Amazing. You saw how I looked during the last snow day at home. But this time I kept on the dress Sara sent me in the mail.

What I Wore While Recording Lots of Videos:

• satin dress (INES via Shop Translated)
• blue sweater (via Kohls)
• sweater tights (??)
• purple flats (via DSW)
• brooch (inherited from Gma)
• necklace (new fvia Goodwill)
• headband (Target?)

Don't forget to enter my giveaway for a change to win an Orient Watch

Thanks for all the stuff, Grandma!

I've decided to take up the $20 challenge. In fact, I'm going to make an attempt to compose not one $20 outfit, not two $20 outfits, but an entire week of $20 outfits!! I do not have them all planned out yet, so there is a real possilibility that I will hit Wednesday and have nothing to show. But I'm going to give it the old college try. Wish me luck!

CAUTION: Squinty-Eye McGee coming up...

What I Wore While Heading to My Favorite Bar One Last Time Before It Closes:

• fushia linen pencil skirt (Lord & Taylor, thrifted Goodwill) $3
• cream shell (Target) $4
• fushia geometric scarf (thrifted, Goodwill) $1
• pink strappy heels ($9.99 shoe store) $5 *
• goldtone/faux pearl necklace (thrifted, new stock Goodwill) $0.79
• goldtone chain (H&M) $2
• goldtone/faux pearl earrings (gift from grandparents) free**
• goldtone/faux pearl bow brooch (inherited from grandmother) free ***
• faux pearl clutch (inherited from grandmother) free

* I decided not to wear these shoes to work b/c they are more "going out heels" than "work heels" however the shoes I wore insead were some basic black pumps that I got free from a friend, so I did not go over the $20. in fact, I was under even more.
** My grandparents gave me these earings when I was about 13, way back in the 80s when BIG earrings were in. I thought they were horrible and boring. I never wore them. Fast forward 20 years and they are perfect for work. Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!!
*** the brooch is holding my scarf together in the back. I took a pic of it, but it just blends into the print of the scarf.

What I Did Not Eat At My Favorite Bar on My Last Ever Trip:

We found out that a bar that we go to regularly is closing it's doors due to the economy. So we clearly had to go one last time. We experienced the worst service, worst food, and worst enviroment ever. Clearly everyone who works there just doesn't care any more. (I don't blame them, but it was frustrating.) I ordered fish and chips and ended up just leaving it on my plate. Rand left his shepherd's pie too. It was so bad (after waiting over an hour) that we came home and ate PBJs instead. Not a good sign.

Total for the day: $15.79, extra calories for a really bad meal at one of my two favorite bars.

Work Wear: Purple & Olive

It's been awhile since Squinty McGee took over my face but he's back today. I get my beady little eyes from my father. I'm thankful for the nice full eyelashes and eyebrows he gave me (my mom has almost none of either) but I could do with some less sunken eyes. Ahhh, genetics, how fickle you are with your favors.

What I Wore While Squinting Like a Fool:

• grey pants (Lane Bryant)
• purple shirt (City Chic)
• green wedges (BCBGirl)
• necklace (Dana Buchman)
• ring (Charming Charlie)

This is a really blah outfit. That's not to say that there's anything wrong with it. It's just kinda average, which was all the effort I felt like putting forward. I think if I had bothered to do something with my hair, it might have helped, but as my scraggley ends show, I did nothing but brush it.

What I Ate That Was Too Small:

• breakfast: cheesy egg, banana, iced coffee
• lunch: pastrami sandwich, apple, grape tomatoes, carrots
• snack: Balance bar, cheese stick, banana, cutie
• dinner: WW garlic lamb, WW zucchini ribbon salad, leftover squash bread, red wine
• dessert: Newton fruit crisp (not pictured, but included in points above), WW english toffee ice cream stick
  

The lamb was originally a chop and I was supposed to have 4 ounces, but once I removed the bone I discovered it was really fatty. After cutting out all the fat and bones, I was left with 2.5 ounces. Not enough! Boo. So I ended up having a Fruit Crisp later.

Work Wear: Fake Sunglasses

When I went to edit my photos today, I had the most horrible squinty puffy eyes ever. Now, I'm not very vain and I usually post my photos even when they aren't the most flattering, but even I have my limits. And when my eyeballs look like puffer fish, I must admit that I resorted to photoshop sunglasses. Please don't judge me too harshly - for my vanity or my poor photoshop abilities.

What I Wore Thanks to PhotoShop:

• dress (via Ross)
• brown cardigan (Target)
• green brooch (via Goodwill)
• green shoes (White Stag)
• earrings (Ashley Stewart)
• necklace (via Goodwill)
• green bracelet (satin ribbon)
• crochet tank (Old Navy)

It's Not Easy Being Green

If you are coming here from Kasmira's blog, welcome! I am so flattered that she not only reads my blog, but also thinks I am cool. Contrary to what she said, I'm pretty certain that she is way cooler than I. And I know for sure that she's one of the reasons I decided to do a fashion blog. I was so inspired by her website, that when I decided to track my food, I knew I needed to track my clothing too. So, thank you, Kasmira! I was totally blushing with a huge grin on my face when I read your blog post today. You made my day!

What I Wore While Blushing Like a School Girl:


Sorry for the squinty look today. The only place to take a pic that didn't have major shadows put me with the sun glaring down into my eyes. And just in case you wondered - yes, I am that pale. I reflect sunlight.

• cream cap sleeve shirt (Target)
• green wrap sweater (Target)
• green tweed tulip skirt (Lane Bryant)
• gold/cream T-strap heels (Santana)
• jade elephant necklace (via Ross)
• gold tone & pearl necklace (new stock via Goodwill)
• patina-ed lizard cuff (gift from Mom many many many years ago)
• gold earrings (via Macy's)

What I Ate While Telling Rand That I am Sure To Be Famous Now (ha!):

• parchment fish (from Kath Eats, we made it with salmon, soy, and ginger) - I only ate about 2/3 of this
• 1 artisan roll
• 1 T butter (mmm good - I consider this to be a major benefit to such an otherwise low calorie meal - room for butter calories!)
• 1 glass of sangria that I made from red wine, diet sprite, and grapefruit
• 2 black bean brownies

What I Did While Trying NOT To Get Sweaty:

I walked 10 flights of stairs today at work. I wasn't really doing it for a workout per se, but I had to go to the 7th floor and figured I shoud just walk back up to the 17th when I was done (I won't walk down stairs in heels any more and after falling down an entire flight of concrete stairs a few years ago). Since it was the middle of the day, I did not want to get gross, so I took my time. I was not sweaty, but man I was out of breath!

Total for the Day: 1581 calories, 5 glasses of water, 10 flights of stairs

Hangin' in the Breeze

I don't know if I've let anything slip previously that might have clued you in, but I'm a little green aruond the edges. Maybe it comes from living in Austin for 10 years of my life, or if it's b/c my mom is a major DIY kinda girl, or what. But I like to recycle, reuse, repurpose, upcycle, and do what I can that is a little more enviro friendly, esp if it helps my budget! That's why I carry my own water with me, eat my oatmeal from old glass mayo jars, why I started making my own laundry soap and more recently my own windex (no more buying plastic bottles!). And then after talking about it for several months, we finally started hanging our laundry out to dry. Rand took this picture and sent it to me at work to show me that even though he wasn't sure about it, he was giving the clothesline an honest try. It put a huge smile on my face (although I am not sure what our duplex neighbors think about it.) Next up ... backyard chickens!!! (A girl can dream.)

What I Wore While Our Sheets Dried in the Sun:

(Squinty McKee has made a return. Isn't she lovely?)

• white ruched wrap shirt (Newport News)
• black "mexican" skirt (Lane Bryant)
• black satin ballet flats (via Kohls)
• orange wooden bead necklace (Fossil, thrifted Goodwill)
• white shell cuff bracelet (H&M)
• black/white cameo screwback earrings (vintage store in Austin?)

What I Ate After Finally Deciding I was a Tiny Bit Hungry:

(I'm having problems with my foods pics. I'll try to upload later tonight.)

Rand and I kept going back and forth about wheather we wanted to eat dinner. He had a late lunch and I was starving when I came home so I shoved a bunch of crackers with neufchatel and fig preserves into my mouth. Yum! But not very healthy. We finally had some leftover mojo pork roast and roasted brocolli. I had a truly tiny portion.

Total for the Day: 1947 calories, 1/2 mile walk