Remember that time I had surgery and disappeared for a while?

Outfit details:

sweater: via TJ Maxx (sequins and lace)

skirt: Sparkle & Fade, via UO (exact)

tights: Kohl's (similar)

flats: via Burlington (similar)

scarf: left behind by an old roomie (similar)

belt: Betsey Johnson, via Marshall's (similar)

Hello, hello!

I am back (again) after an unexpected hiatus.  I had surgery last Monday to remove a mass above my thyroid, and recovery was a little more trying than I anticipated.  I thought I'd be back to normally scheduled blogging in no time, but, quite obviously, that did not happen.  I am feeling so much better now, but I still have stitches across the front of my neck.  The first thing I remember hearing Caleb say to me after I got out of surgery was, "It looks like someone slit your throat!"  Thanks, dear.  That was quite appreciated.  I experienced a LOT of swelling afterward, but most of that has gone down now.  I'm looking forward to getting my stitches removed this Thursday so I can feel normal again and take pretty outfit photos - I don't want to expose any more people than necessary to the gnarliness that has become my neck.  The stitching technique used involved leaving 'wiskars' poking out from the incision, and it's definitely not pretty.

But on to brighter things!

These photos were taken before my throat was slit surgery.  It was a pretty cloudy day, but I didn't mind.  As long as it's tight-wearing weather, I'm happy.  Unfortunately, the lighting wasn't the best because of the lack of sunlight.  This sweater is actually a pretty light lavender, but it looks pretty close to white in the pictures.  I love the lace details on the shoulders and the buttons on the back!  Don't you just love small touches?

Anywho...I hope you (Americans) had a fantastic Thanksgiving.  I was just relieved that I could chew and swallow normal people food by Turkey Day!  No surgery was going to hold me back!

I'd also just like to say that, now that Thanksgiving has passed, we can officially start celebrating Christmas.  I like to give Thanksgiving its due time, but now I'm in full Christmas mode.  Is it too early to start saying "merry Christmas" to strangers on the street?



Falling in love with fall

I am beyond excited that fall is here!  The summer heat really dragged me down, and I've been looking forward to cool temperatures, cardigans, colored tights, and pretty scarves.

Of course, Texas still has awhile to go before I'll be prompted to put on all those layers, but the recent temperature dip makes me excited about getting dressed again.  As far as fashion goes, I felt so uninspired during the summer months because I was completely focused on staying as cool and comfortable as possible in 100 degree + weather - it was just too hot to think about being fashion-forward!

Fashion's Night Out in Southlake

{image via Southlake Town Square's Facebook page}

Last Thursday, I met up with Jenni from Engineered Style and two of her friends for Fashion's Night Out in Southlake, TX - one of many DFW area suburbs.  There were events going on all over the metroplex, but I opted for something I hoped would be more low key, and I wasn't disappointed.  The larger crowds migrated toward some of the more "major" events in Dallas, but I enjoyed getting to take advantage of some of the free services at local shops without having to push my way toward the counter.

Lavender lace and running late

For me, this outfit was the perfect combination of lace, pretty colors, and femininity.  In other words, it was calling out my name long before I ever put it on, and I felt terrific wearing it.

Last full day in Riviera Maya

Like every other day on our Riviera Maya trip, our last day was full of fun and excitement.  It was definitely Caleb's favorite day because we got to visit the ruins in the old Mayan city of Coba.  It's in the thick of the jungle, so it included a lot of walking (and, ahem, sweating), but it was so cool to visit what was once a thriving city.

Bloggers do it better: All dressed in white

 

I love that Kristina of Pretty Shiny Sparkly started Bloggers Do It Better (BDIB).  It lets us fashion bloggers showcase just how fabulous we truly are, and it's a fantastic way to bring the blogging community together.

Silly things

Some times I do some pretty silly things.  Say, for instance, spending 20 minutes taking photos of myself with a self-timer only to realize that I forgot to put my jewelry on.  Oops!!

Juxtaposition

I love fashion.  It's just so fun to play around with!

I was still gravitating toward really feminine pieces like my super springy outfit, but I decided to switch it up.  I couldn't resist this lacy blouse, but instead of wearing it as feminine as possible (which wouldn't be anything out of the ordinary for me), I decided to add a little bit of edge to it.

V-Day and a double-duty outfit

Hello, lovelies!  I hope you had a fantabulous V-Day.  I took the day off from blogging to enjoy all my free time with mi amor.

An emerging favorite

This white lace skirt has been one of my favorites to remix this season.  I was excited when I picked it up on a thrifting venture in December for just $3 with the tags still attached, but it's proven to be even more versatile than I thought. You can see the other ways I've worn it here and here.

It's June!

And by June, I of course mean my wonderful pup.  I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but our adorable little dog was a wedding gift, and since Caleb and I married in June, we named our sweet girl after the memorable month.  June is a wonderful companion, and she keeps me company while I study, work, and do, well, everything else I do around the house.  In fact, she's sleeping on my lap as I type.  She's so precious.

A magical dinner

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The last "fun thing" Caleb and I did with Keira was dinner at the Magic Time Machine.  If you've never been there, the waiters and waitresses act like popular characters, i.e. Batman, Woody, Captain Jack Sparrow, Snow White, etc., so it's a lot of fun for kids.  Our waitress was Luna Lovegood, but the table ten feet away from us was being served by Cinderella.  Keira got so excited every time she saw her, and she was even more excited when Cinderella made a special visit to our table to meet Princess Keira.  We had a great time!

I usually enjoy dressing nicer for dinner, but I didn't want to overdo it with a toddler, so I tried to keep it simple but chic.  Did I succeed?  I always love to hear your thoughts!

blouse - via TJ Maxx

skinny jeans - Express, via Plato's Closet

oxford pumps - Impo, via DSW

blazer - via Ross

earrings - Kohl's

ring - Forever 21

purse - Nine West, via Ross

Packing for events

I have missed my blog posts!

I have been visiting with family to celebrate my older sister's college graduation.  I've had a wonderful time, but, unfortunately, have fallen out of my nightly routine...including my blog posts.  But I promise my outfits have been just as fabulous as ever!

It's always fun to travel, especially when you get to see family, but I absolutely hate packing.  It's so difficult to narrow down a closet to a small suitcase.  I often ask myself, "What do I feel like wearing today?"  But it's so difficult to predict this several days out.  I've been notorious for overpacking for years, but I've gotten a whole lot better.  Some things that have helped me are :

1) Pack mix and match items.  These kinds of items can be worn in several different ways, so you can figure out how exactly to create an outfit once you get to your destination.

2) Pack multiple accessory options.  Accessories don't take up much space in a suitcase, and they can easily transform an outift.

3) Pack key staple.  These are go-to items that are reliable and easy to style and incorporate into outfits.  This time around, my staples were a pair of black flats and brown boots, a great pair of jeans, and a couple basic tops. 

4) If you're attending a special event while travelling, always plan that particular outfit ahead of time.  Also, try it on before you pack it to make sure the entire ensemble looks the way you planned.  You don't want to get ready for an event to find out that the zipper on your dress is broken or your tights have a run in them.

Of course, the special evening this time around was my sister's graduaton ceremony.  Unlike most, this one was short, quick, and to the point (which the audience and graduates appreciated).  My family went out to eat afterword at a wonderful Italian restaurant.  I anticipated sitting at the ceremony much longer and filling my belly with lots of food afterward, so I wanted to be comfortable but still fashionable.  I chose a looser fitting dress with a ribbon tied at the waist, paired with some fabulous tights.  I liked the look and thought it was appropriate for a graduation ceremony and dinner.

What do you think?  Would you have styled the dress differently?

Smile worthy:

Floral print tights

and a flower in the hair.