I [heart] JCrew

A couple weekend's ago, I met my parents down on Michigan Ave to do a little shopping.

My mom managed to find this skirt (in my size!) on  the sale rack.

You know me, I love a good pencil skirt.

And this one is teal and actually the LONG version they are selling now.

Yay, JCrew!

*skirt & cardigan - JCrew, shoes - DWS (Franco Sarto)

It's almost the holiday time...

For most of you reading this blog, you know how much I absolutely LOVE - L.O.V.E. - the holidays.

The last couple of years have I have been forcing myself to get out of this breakup related funk that seems to creep up around the holidays.  Thankfully, last year was much better.  I anticipate that the funk has finally lifted and I can't wait.

As soon as Halloween is over, I'm going to start thinking about how I'm going to decorate my place... and getting a little tree.

I don't know why I'm already telling you guys all this except that I just noticed the month of October is already half over!  November will be here before we know it.

Totally unrelated, I grabbed an outfit photo this morning.  This outfit was inspired by my Madonna concert outfit.

*pants - Macys, shirt - Nordstrom (old), jacket - H&M, shoes - Steven (old)

I'm back

I'm sorry - time has gotten away from me recently.  I feel like my "to do" list is completely overwhelming and it's not stopping... it's just getting worse.  I'm so glad that I am done traveling for a while so I have time to get things done.

So, since the last time I was really able to write, I have been up to Madison to the World Dairy Expo and down to Dallas to finish the last fall conference for our clients.

Getting me through the trips were photos like this - sent from my mom or my sisters.

Kayla loves shoes just like the rest of us girls! :)

When I got home from Dallas, I had a busy weekend ahead.  First, we went up to Milwaukee to celebrate my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary.  I grabbed a bathroom photo of my outfit.

*dress & belt - Banana Republic, purse - old

I finally got to see Lauren, Kevin and Liam again.  I enjoyed getting some time holding him.  Lauren grabbed a couple photos for me (I'm trying to do my best to equal the photos among all the niece/nephews).

The little guy made the funniest stretching faces.

Then, on Sunday morning, my mom, Melissa, Lauren and I got up early to do the Color Run.  If you haven't done one, I suggest you try one next year.  We walked and it was a blast!

Here's the before photo.

And the after.

When I got home, I finally saw what my face looked like - ew.

I rounded out my weekend of activities with a pumpkin carving party at Marie and Stephanie's place.

Here was my creation.

I'm not going to lie - I'm pretty tired today.  I could use a do-over weekend to just rest and get things done.

Hopefully, I will be back to regularly scheduled blogging this week.  I have to tell you about my online jewelry class and other stuff I have in the works.

And - rounding out this ridiculously all over the place post, today's outfit.  Happy Monday!

 *Jeans - R&R, sweater - JCrew, shoes - Steven

Lots of Traveling

Things have been crazy for my schedule right now.

I was up in Madison on Thursday and Friday last week and tomorrow I leave for Dallas until late Friday night.

I will do my best to get back on blogging track when I return home. :)

Perspective

Last night my friend, Marie (HI MARIE!), came over to see my place and then grab a bite to eat.

She made a comment to me about how nice my place was and in what a great location it was in.  She's not the first person to say it, but her timing was perfect.

At a time when I am constantly stressed and angry about what I don't have done in my apartment, it's hard to remember that from anyone else's perspective my place is pretty decent.  It's so easy to be stuck eyeballing your situation with deep scrutiny and only noticing the bad/not done things.

So this is a thank you to all those family and friends that have said how much they like my place.  I needed that.

And hopefully you will love it even more when I'm actually done. :)

Black and White

It doesn't happen very often that I wear an outfit with NO color at all.  This morning was just one of those mornings when I looked at my closet and thought - "I like nothing in here... not one thing."

*shirt - Victoria's Secret, sweater - JCrew, skirt & belt - Express (old), shoes - Franco Sarto (DSW)

The DIY Weekend

This weekend was super productive for me - apartment wise.

On Friday, my mom, Kayla and I headed out to Ikea to pick up the things I was looking for to complete the projects I talked about last week.

First (and un-DIY-related) I FINALLY picked out a duvet cover.  I don't know why this was so difficult for me, but I finally caved and bought one.  Next is some throw pillows.

source

Then I started tackling the DIY vanity.  In total, the shelves, mirror, baskets and lights costs me around $100.  Which was about what I would've paid for a piece of furniture to fit in the space.  I still need to find the right stool, but this one that I already had was a good holder for now.

I also bought a few things to start to hang some of my jewelry.  These are actually paper towel holders.  It is certainly not a completed project, but a great start.  I had forgot I had some of these necklaces because they were at the bottom of the tub I was storing them in.  Next is something for the dresser to hold rings and earrings and something to hang on the wall for longer earrings.

Last, I put together the expedit shelf to use for my banquet table in my dining room.  I added the besta legs for more height.  I bought it in the natural color because I plan to paint it.  I didn't think that room could take any more dark furniture.