this cat is back

{jeans, skinny belt -forever 21; tote bag -banana republic; flats -old navy; leopard shirt, watch -target; middle finger ring -gifted from grandma; sunnies -wayfarer}

hey, o.

I've been a bad, bad blogger. I'm sorry, to all eight of you, but on the bright side -I'm back. As I hope all of you already know, it is the year two thousand eleven and this girl is pumped. Last year I had two pretty excellent resolutions and I somehow accomplished both. (Yay, me!) Since it seems, I'm on a roll, lets try again this year. For the record books in 2011 I would like to:

1. be a better blogger. with more frequent (or at least more interesting) posts

2. freaking relax. take a chill pill. yoga. meditation. whatevs.

3. learn to play the accordion. Joan may or may not be a major influence in this decision.

4. kick booty at my job -I really like it and kicking booty. Seems obvious, really.

5. positivity. the secret. good karma. just goodness, ok?

Back to the outfit, do you like it? I do, a lot. I felt like a really hip sixties housewife when I left the house. Since my new job requires a sadly unfashionable uniform, I've been using my days off to rock some serious style. I've updated my inspiration board for 2011 and I've got some good stuff lined up.

until next time.

cheers,

mc

love story

{boots -Return Passage; skirt -gap; trench -target; sweater -jcrew; necklace -forever 21; beret -american apparel}

There were so many possible post names for this outfit, they ranged from:

1. the outfit I wore getting my criminal background check

2. my audition outfit for rugby bar's newest bartender
3. I don't know what the third one was, but lists always sound better in threes.

I settled on Love Story because it's my favorite movie ever and I think Ali McGraw is about as pretty as they come. Also, doesn't everyone want to dress more like an Ivy Leaguer from 1970? Seems pretty obvious to me...

Anyway, I do really love this outfit. By the end of the day I was little too hot, but there was no sweltering, so overall a win.

jane-o-lantern

{shorts -old navy: gingham top -KLou's; orange cardigan -banana republic; belt -forever 21; flats -target; sunnies -forever 21; bag -banana}

I think the only acceptable month to wear a combination of orange/black is October. Agree or not, I plan on doing it this as much as possible until the 31st. I have some funny stories to tell soon, but right now I'm off to my very glamorous job.

I should have put glamorous in quotations...

xo

mc

weekend review: feathered bangs, baking, etc...

{shrimp and grits recipe -cooks illustrated}
{How to Cook Everything -by Mark Bitman: sandwich bread}

{jorts -Rodarthe for Target; tank -Target; aviator earrings -forever 21; bag -Michael Kors; gold rope necklace -vintage}

hey hey,

How was your weekend? Mine was really fun. We hosted a tailgate with some of our new friends then went on to cheer the Classic City Roller girls Saturday night -hence my Farrah Feathered Bangs. It was super fun -if not for the actual derby- the people watching was phenomenal.

Sunday night my sweet Hubs recreated the amazing shrimp and grits we had in Charleston two years -to the day- that he proposed. Awww. I was all sorts of sentimental.

I've also been mastering bread making lately. Last week with the focaccia and this week with some seriously scrumptious sandwich bread. Yeast seems so intimidating, but it's actually really easy... all you need is time, finally the silver lining to my unemployment.

Was your weekend fun and productive?

xo's

mc

the stepford wife

*check out our porch fan -we're the only people in the hood that have one, the hubs is super proud of it..

camel heels -island passage, army shirt dress -target, printed apron -anthropologie, jeweled bracelet -forever 21, aquamarine ring -gift from grandma, nails -essie "Hot Socks", flowers that aren't dead -diy!!

The hubs and I have been married now for over a year and I think it's been awesome. I am a huge fan of this whole marriage thing -but I don't really feel very "wifey." Insert today's outfit and sha-bam! I am lookin' the part. I also haven't killed our mums or our herb garden -so it looks like I'm not too terrible at this domestic thing after all. Just toss this girl and apron and a watering can* and we're in business.

*the watering can was carried by the flower girl at our wedding instead of a basket. I still use it all the time.

march forward

oh hey ya'll.
missed you last week, but we're back and better than ever. wah wah -corny much?

March has arrived which means several things:
1. shamrock shakes -hello minty goodness
2. spring break. wooo hooo! -I understand that this means nothing to most people, but the Huz is a teacher so that means serious quality time (for me!), which I am a big fan of. We might try to take a road trip to Athens, GA. BECAUSE HE WAS ACCEPTED TO UGA FOR A PHD! whoop! whoop! He is such a little smarty pants.
3. further infiltration of Spring/Summer 2010 -meanwhile the weather forecast is still for snow (annoying, right?) I'm ready to bust out some shorts, we live in coastal North Carolina for cryin' out loud
4. The Huz and I are running a 1/2 marathon on the 21st. I'm getting pretty worried, this could make or break us. Literally, I'm so sore, I feel broken. 20 days and counting....
5. My goal for March is to re-do/re-organize our utility room a la Martha Stewart -I am dying to be one of those amazingly organized people. The idea of an organized house makes me really happy. Strangely happy.

Moving forward to: the outfits -in the spirit of Marching Forward

I learn a lot from ole K Lou, she is truly the master of transitional styling. Specifically, she can integrate pops of color into a seemingly "winter" outfit. See below and prepare to be impressed.

oh hey gurl. I like yo tights. you look fine. See what she did here? Bright blue tights scream spring, hear that? sprrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiingggggggg. sprrrrrrriiiiiiiiinnngggggg. Am I being too weird? Back on track: check the gingham print shirt, do you love it? I do. I'm pretty sure it's a spring trend and if it isn't, it should be. Someone get Jenna Lyons on the phone, stat!

blue tights -Marshalls, white skirt -Jcrew, gingham shirt -Kohls, black cardigan -the Gap, black flower (so goth, right?) -forever 21, patent leather mary janes -TJ Maxxx, blue belt -bargain box

I have the same pair of patent mary janes and I keep pushing them away with an inner monologue that goes something like this: "those are too holiday-ie, you can't wear those in Spring, fool." K Lou laughs in the face of my inner monologue. Her mary janes are made for walkin' anytime of year, all it takes is a little cre-ate-iv-it-eeeeee.


oh hey, my turn? ok. lets do this thing. I spent way too much time Saturday looking a pictures of Jackie O. I doubt anyone would debate her claim to fashion royalty, I'm certainly not going to. What really inspired me was her style -after Camelot. dun dun dunnnnn. Seriously though, Jackie after JFK, seventies Jackie. cOOl. very cOOl. The kind of cOOl that warrants copying and uppercase o's.

check the trench. so cOOl, so spring, so awesome. so seventies? I think the hair down, aviators, and geometric skirt helped my case. I find sometimes it can be tough to wear a skirt this length and still look young and fresh, I think the boots helped the skirt find some "edge."

I'm also a huge fan of the geometric pattern to the skirt. It looks vintage, without the polyester (yay!).

black boots -banana republic, pattern skirt -the Gap, teal sweater -Jcrew, trench -old navy, scarf -street vendor, aviators -Ray Ban

K Lou said this should be my head shot. for what I asked?
in general, she said.
awesome. Do you have an "in general" head shot? K Lou thinks you should.

rock 'n' roll

...emphasis on the roll

-please don't worry, she didn't actually fall

plaid skirt -forever 21, bow belt -belks, turtleneck -vintage, jean jacket -vintage, hipster scarf -roses?, black pumps -belks
pulling off this scarf without looking like a hipster

we were seriously silly

turtleneck -banana republic, jeans -jcrew , leopard flats -target, leather jacket -Mango, eye glass necklace -Forever 21

isn't this the most ridiculous thing you've ever seen in your entire life... ever?

-not really, huh?

I'm easily impressed.

ok, on to more pressing matters:

I thought this outfit was cool for two reasons

#1. Ever since the kooky irish guy at starbucks told me I looked good in red, I've taken it to heart. Lame? Maybe, but hell it's February and isn't everyone a sucker for red in February?

#2. I could totally be a part of the Pink Ladies -for the record Frenchie was my favorite. Except maybe I would be forced to start my own girl gang -maybe the irish guy at starbucks can direct me towards other ladies in red.

Caution: Women at Work

Home improvement super centers have their finger on the pulse of America. On any given day one can find every slice of American pie DIYing their way through life, we are not the exception. Our adventures began in the parking lot and brought us through the vast wasteland that is the garden center in January. Kinda depressing.
We walked away with emery cloth, acetone, and a sense of adventure...
god bless America.

btw, I wore:
Black Sueded Pumps: Urban Outfitters
NO TIGHTS, BECAUSE THE WEATHER WAS SO NICE (sorry for yelling)
graphic wrap dress: Marshalls


gray floppy hat: American Apparel
gray floppy bag: Banana Republic



This was the point when a friendly associate asked us, very nicely, not to climb on their structures. oops.
K Lou wore:
Hard Hat: Lowes Home Improvement
Navy cardigan: J Crew
White ruffle blouse: "random store in Key West" -yes that was a direct quote
cluster necklace: Target
skinny gold belt: J Crew
skinny jeans: Forever 21

No, your eyes are not deceiving you, those are my shoes. My feet began to throb during our excursion and K Lou was sweet enough to switch with me.
Patterned Jacket: Target
Metallic Flats: Belks
Shopping Cart: NFS