Friday. Saturday. Sunday.

171, 170, 169 more days to go...

Friday. Stayed up way too late celebrating. I wore a cute little silk romper, a boyfriend blazer, and sky high heels. Had I known it was going to be such a late night, none of that would have been part of my outfit. First off, we had dinner with co-workers downtown at a crazy spicy Chinese restaurant. I forgot that Old City streets were still cobblestone, so walking around wasn't exactly a breeze. Second, I drank about two gallons of water from the aforementioned crazy HOT Chinese food....but felt the need to hold my pee all night because of the romper (TMI? probably.) I mean, they are adorable, but who wants to strip down in a dirty downtown bathroom? The night in the city was topped off with ice cream and shakes...yummm!

Next stop, Molly's Birthday Party!!!! Happy Birthday, Molly:) No one else I know could throw a fried chicken and chocolate cake party quite like my New Orleans cutie. Every party at her place feels like Mardi Gras...hence the beads and boas and jazz! Didn't get home until the wee hours of Sunday but I'm pretty sure Molly's Mom is still going strong.

Saturday. Still recovering from last night. The day included lots of sleeping, chocolate milk, and hiking with the pups...quite a good recovery method. And never under estimate a pair of giant sunglasses to cover tired eyes and dark circles.

Sunday. What, it's already Sunday? Cutoffs and a tank is my favorite Sunday outfit. Sloppy, I know...but it's Sunday.

Color Pops

173, 172 more days to go...

I would write a cute little story about how I love color and all the ways I want to play around with it, but I'm pretty sure my dog is going to throw up now....gotta run. Night!

Sheerfulness

174 more days to go...

Take a sheer, floaty fabric, throw on a handful of sparkle, and ta da....a perfectly cheery top. Which is good since this morning was bit of a disaster. All trains were suspended, a fifty dollar cab ride would of been alright (not really) but there were no cabs, and a ninety minute bus ride through what I would like to call Stabby-town was just icing on top of the not very tasty cake. But the good news is that I made it to work before noon, and I got to spend all morning with my Love. Amazing how a simple smile, hand-holding, and a dose of cheery-ness can turn any not-so-ideal situation into something pleasant....or at least not unpleasant:)

Pick Pockets

175 more days to go...

I officially think it should be required for all clothing to have pockets. I mean, who doesn't love pockets? They're functional, super cute, and you have a place to put your hands when taking a picture (death grip hands?). My JCrew skirt is one of my favorites. So much so that I have another in a different color (fuchsia!). Just like the pockets, they are functional, super cute, and look good with just a cotton graphic tee. And look Ma, no death grip hands.

Work It Out

176 more days to go...

So after eating so much food last night, I decided to spend most of today in the gym. Nick had to go into work today anyways so I just went with him into the city. After working it out for an hour, I ran a few miles, and then decided that I was hungry again. I was all sweaty and didn't feel like changing and I wasn't really dressed to eat anywhere fancy....so we went to a noodle house in Chinatown. SO GOOD. Noodles are my favorite foods....my ALL time favorite food. There is never a time that I am not in the mood for pasta. In fact my top five favorite foods are 1)Noodles, 2)avocado, 3)crab, 4)clams, 5)chocolate. Lucky me that they have hand drawn noodles in a seafood broth with clams...which is exactly what I woofed down. All that for the cost of a subway sandwich.

After lunch, we decided that we needed ice cream. Basset's Ice Cream was just a few blocks away at Reading Market so of course we couldn't resist. Strutting around in stretchy workout wear ended up being a blessing in disguise...I'm sure that if I had on a little dress it would have been too tight by the time I was ready to head home....but my outfit today had plenty of give.

You (and I) Tube

177 more days to go...

Tubing Day! Yay! A whole day spent wearing a bathing suit! Nick and I headed to the North Brook Canoe Company to go tubing down the Brandywine River today. The last time we went tubing, we were both still in college in VA...but I remember the New River being kinda rough with little rapids and semi waterfalls that could flip you over if you were lucky. Let's just say that the Brandywine was nothing like that. First off, the place was adorable. I immediately felt like I was at summer camp. There were farm animals and barns and school buses and snack bars...everything so campy:) The river was soooo sloooooowwwwww. It took us like 3 hours to float the 2 miles downstream. The day happened to be perfect for floating lazily down a river so we had a wonderful time.

The last half an hour seemed to drag on forever so we decided to paddle with our arms to get to the dock quicker. It was exhausting. Apparently our limbs don't make very efficient paddles in close to still water. By the time we got to where we were suppose to be, we were famished! Good thing down the street was the cutest country market ever. I think it was called the NorthBrook Country Market. I haven't had chicken pot pie in like 10 years. It was so good...yum yum. They also had a apple cinnamon doughnut bread pudding....OMG....it was delicious...I'm pretty sure I am going to have a heart attack after ingesting that....

TGIF

178 more days to go...

Hurray for Friday! I'm feeling relaxed and happy and ready for more relaxation and happiness. It's really been a good week. I also received a few great presents from Nick....I think he can tell that I am slowly suffering from my lack of shopping...especially with stores starting to put out all their Fall stuff (my favorite time of year). A few new tops ought to do the trick. Part of me feels like this is cheating....but I think I'll be okay with letting this slide....who am I to turn down a gift?! (will the guilty feeling ever go away?!) Anyways, I found another coral colored dress in my closet. I'm shocked to find out just how many cute dresses from Forever21 I own....this one included. Speaking of Forever21, I hear that they are launching a maternity line. Ooh, I would totally have to buy new clothes if I were to get preggers.....don't worry, I'm just kidding:)

Happy Friday, everyone:)

Digging for Treasure

179 more days to go...

What a treasure filled day....or night, I should say. Day started out normal. Got up, got dressed, went to work. I put on a lightweight button down, silk blend cargo skirt, and some white stilettos.

Ended up going for a loooong walk/jog with my girlfriends after work instead of hitting the gym. Turns out there's a track and golf course around my part of town that I wasn't aware of before. Afterward, I went over to another friends house to help her get rid of some of her neighbors things since the neighbor was moving out and had too much stuff to take with her. I have to say that it was like walking into a time capsule. I've never seen so many old books, magazines, and just random stuff...everywhere...from floor to ceiling. I just can't believe that someone would just throw all that stuff away....
After digging through each room for things that I would be able to use, what did I get? I found an entire container full of vintage handbags, clutches, purses....that came with me immediately. I found some costume jewelry, an entire drawer full of ribbon and gift packaging accessories (I love wrapping presents!), a sturdy little bench that's just dying to be repainted and upholstered, gorgeous sequined tops, some old binoculars...just to name a few. Can't wait to 're-finish' and update my new treasures so that I can have a whole new collection of accessories:)

Yay for Nick!

180 more days to go...

Nick just found out that he passed his last exam for his architect's license! I am SO proud of him...his boss even told me that the exam has a 20% pass rate the first time around so I am so impressed:) Congrats, Love. So tonight, his firm took us out for drinks to celebrate. I didn't know about this get together until after I had already gotten dressed and left for work. I love the combination of coral and sea foam green...something island-y, vacation-y about it. And now that I am looking at this picture, I find that I look quite demure in it. The little silk slip dress underneath, I've had for almost a decade.

I met up with Nick and his co-workers at Ladder 15 downtown, a place that I have never been before. As soon as I stepped into the bar, I immediately felt out of place. Almost like I was dressed like a granny and too casual. The place was pumping with such loud music that I couldn't have a conversation with anyone without screaming at them. And everyone looked so trendy and chic. Oh well, you live, you learn. I will most likely not be returning to Ladder 15 anytime soon....at least not unless I'm dressed like a 17 year old:)

To Bead or Not to Bead

181 more days to go...

How many beads are too many beads? Beaded neckline, beaded tassel-y flappy things, beaded belt? My brain was telling me, 'overload!', but my heart was saying, 'go for it!'. I love embellishment, maybe even too much...sequins, glitter, beading, lace, grommets...am I leaving anything out? If so, I love those too:) Regardless, I think my outfit today is adorable.

When I got home today, I found the September issue of InStyle lying on my front doorstep....full of all the beautiful Fall fashions that I am just dying to try. What's a girl to do?!?!? (insert picture of me biting my nails in distraught, here).

Monday.

182 more days to go...

Monday. Seersucker skirt and a cotton tee....easiest outfit when running late...bye!

Sundays = Errands

183 more days to go...

Why is it that I always save all the chores for Sunday? I'm old enough to be able to figure out that if I do a little bit here and there throughout the week, I wouldn't be stuck doing 5 loads of laundry, cleaning out the basement, buying groceries, vacuuming, dusting, washing dishes, sorting through mail, and making phone calls... today. That is exactly what I did though...and now my weekend is officially over:( At least it's an easy outfit day. Comfy top, corduroy shorts, and some flip flops...that's all that's needed on an errand filled day.

Have a good night:)

(not so) Secret Garden

184 more days to go...

A garden filled Saturday is just what I've been craving lately. Nick and I started the day out having brunch at Terrain where they seat you in a whimsical greenhouse complete with wondrous looking plants, bread baked in flower pots, and drinks in mason jars. The rest of Terrain is just as fantastic. Beautiful plants and landscapes and furniture all set up and styled so amazingly, you'd think you were wandering around in a movie set for the Secret Garden. For the day, I donned on a long floral print maxi dress...so airy and light, it was the perfect mid-summer's day dress.

After brunch and browsing through the store, we headed to Longwood Gardens...a beautiful arboretum in Kennett's Square. We hiked through their forest grounds, climbed their tree houses, saw the most amazing lily pads we've ever seen (they were bigger than me!), and lingered by their fountains...which led us to a magnificent field...

Amazing how something can make me feel so small and at complete peace:)

Later on the night, we had our usual get together with our dear friends for some yummy foods and always interesting conversations. Nick and I made fresh salsa with veggies from our first successful garden ever! We even planted our first terrarium...she's adorable:)

Longing for something

185 more days to go...

I know that I always want what I can't have...doesn't everyone? When it's summer, I long for winter and when it's winter, I can't wait for warm weather. Well lately, I've been longing to wear sweaters and boots and scarves and coats. But I guess I will settle for semi-long pants and a long cozy cardigan. Can Fall please get here already?

Under the Weather(ed old t-shirt)

186 more days to go...

There will be no picture today...in fact I will let you use your imagination. (hint: I look terrible!) Not feeling so great mentally or physically, I took a mental health day from work and stayed home. What did I do? I laid around in Nick's old weathered, beat up, holey t-shirt watching really bad movies on tv with the pups. It ended up being the most perfect day for it...so gray and rainy outside. It's amazing how therapeutic cuddling with a couple of warm, furry puppies can be.

Black and Tan

188, 187 more days to go...

A black and tan is a beer, right? I'm trying to draw from my old waitress-ing days but am drawing a blank here. Probably doesn't help that I don't drink and if I did, it probably wouldn't be a beer. Anyways, I have to say that I love the combination of the two colors. Remember back in the days when it was wrong to wear blue and black? And brown and black was a no-no as well...and orange with anything? I'm glad that nowadays everyone just does whatever they want. Designers are always mixing patterns, polka dots with stripes, plaid with florals....which I find so refreshing. Now if only I could manage to put together an outfit with red and pink and make it look good...

Bow Tie

189 more days to go...

Now that the biking to work is officially over (it's been over for awhile now..oops) I suppose I should start being on top of my daily entries that have become weekly entries. At least they haven't become monthly entries yet:) I think that the past few months of wearing workout gear and grungy looking duds have robbed me of my ultra feminine inner self. So to kick off the unleashing of girlie girl in me, I chose a little cotton and chambray pleated dress with a bow tied in the front. Nothing makes me feel more girlie than a twirly dress with a big ol' bow tie sash.

My husband says that it's really unfair to be a guy because most things involving fashion and attire are geared toward females. Men only get to choose from pants, shirts, and some shoes. (Although in college, he went through a stage where he wore homemade skirts.) (His explanation was that it was easier to make than pants) (True.) But he is so right! How lucky are we? We can wear pretty much anything and it's socially acceptable....and there's so much variety! Oh, how lovely it is to be a girl:)

Finding Inspiration

203, 202, 201, 200, 199, 198, 197, 196, 195, 194, 193, 192, 191, and 190 more days to go...

I'm not even past the half way mark of my little journey here and I'm already starting to wonder what it will be like the day this is over. There is this sense of accomplishment and enjoyment of systematically going through my closet and wearing each thing, but once the challenge is over, will I revert back to the same old me? I've been reading about all these new blogs with people doing similar challenges...one guy is not using or getting into a car for a year, a couple is trying to eat for $1 a day, and plenty of people not shopping. My favorites include: The Uniform Project about wearing only one dress 365 days a year, 365 ways. Another is New Dress A Day ...about a girl who is transforming something old into something new for $1 a day. I've also heard about one where a woman wore the same 6 pieces of clothing for 3 months and nobody noticed! I think that these people are so inspiring and creative...maybe I'll have to try a new challenge once mine is finished:)

I went and dug around the guest room closet ( I really do have too much stuff) and found all these cute dresses and skirts I hadn't worn in awhile. At least my Summer wardrobe hasn't gotten too boring...although I find myself wearing cutoff shorts a whole lot lately.


Nick and I have been so busy these last two weeks with work, having visits from in-laws, etc. We did get a chance to do a few fun summery things: checked out the Philadelphia Orchestra in an outdoor concert, biked all around town to visit friends, scored some treasures at nearby yardsales, dined outdoors at a neighborhood restaurant...it's been a great couple of weeks:)

And the most exciting news of all, my best childhood friend just got engaged! Woohoo! :)