and has DOTS of fun.

As much as I love this outfit, I have to admit I was a little nervous about wearing it today. My trepidation is based on two things that happened the last time I cloaked myself in these polka dots:

1. I split the seam of this pencil skirt right up back. Worse, I had zero clue and had a very nice stranger tell me in a very public food court. 
2. I did think about leaving work early (ahem, see #1), but decided to be a big girl and wear my jacket/stay in my seat all day long. A wrench was thrown into this plan when I started acting all concussed from hitting my head in the shower that morning and had to go home anyway. Not dots of fun.

Luckily, I came out of today with my skirt and my head both in one piece. Victory!

skirt: J.Crew shirt: Land's End Canvas tights: J.Crew shoes: J.Crew necklace: Kate Spade 

and goes back to reality.

Hola! I took a pretty long break from blogging while on my honeymoon in Mexico- it's good to be back. Not really a fan of this 25 degree weather and whole returning to work tomorrow thing, though...

I wore this outfit to the office the week before last. I'm loving the not-so-basic black tights I bought for my last project and herringbone print dress, which I picked up from H&M for $25! The shoes, however, were terrible. I'm hoping they get more comfortable, because I can't take 4 cabs every time I wear them (I literally couldn't walk anywhere, it was pathetic).

dress: H&M. tights: American Apparel. shoes: Calvin Klein (from DSW). 

necklace: Kate Spade (sold out). bag: DIY American Apparel

and feels like a very lucky girl.

I am feeling very fortunate and very happy today, for many reasons:

1. There was a special gift left on my desk this morning...new bright purple tights!!! My bestie/co-worker/former roommate, Jenn (of the fun foodie blog vegonomics), scooped up a pair for me at J.Crew last night. Just couldn't ask for a better friend :)
2. My husband indulges my animal print obsession. Check out the adorable belt he surprised me with from Eliza B (in the picture below).
3. We're leaving for Mexico tomorrow!!! Sun, sand & cervezas- here we come.

and tried for a grape day.

Oh my bad day.

I had to be to work early today, so I thought wearing my bright purple tights and pleated skirt would ease the pain. And they tried their very best, my faithful servants, they really did- it just wasn't my day today! You ever have one of those want to scream kind of days??

I'll just tell you about the end, because it includes the most painful parts. First, my Black Friday Shopbop order arrived...and it was ALL WRONG! Not one thing was what I ordered. Next, I find out that all of the items I did order are now SOLD OUT. Horror. Absolute disaster. As I was moping around, woe-as-me-ing and generally being very pathetic, my husband's eyes drifted down to my legs. Oh, I thought, at least he finds my purple tights adorable. I glance down to check out my goods and what do I see? A RUN. A flipping run in my brand-new, great grape tights. This is when I started crying. Yes, actual tears. And no, I'm still not over it.

Here are some pictures of me fake smiling in my outfit of the day:

       

jacket: J.Crew (last year). sweater: Gap. skirt: J.Crew Factory. 

tights: don't even. shoes: Kate Spade Outlet.

to give thanks.

If there's one thing my husband and I love, it's theme dressing....enter Rick's corduroy turkey critter pants.

Hope everyone had a very happy and delicious thanksgiving, and enjoy the rest of the long weekend!

shirt, skirt, tights & shoes: J.Crew. Too much of the Crew, I know, shush. 

necklaces: Kate Spade & F21.

Rick's watch: J.Crew.

P.S. these Swiss dot tights are from my most recent project!

for more tights than she can handle.

When I set my budget at $100 for a whole season's worth of new tights, I thought I might not be able to get all of the styles and colors I desired. Thankfully and joyfully, I was wrong! I got a whopping NINE pairs of tights for $100. I'm really happy with how this project turned out- the shopping provided me hours of entertainment and I didn't break the bank. Plus, I know these nine pairs of tights will help me create an endless amount of outfits and keep my legs toasty warm this winter. Here's what I got:

• Four basic pairs by Hue, from Bloomingdale's. They were 2 for $22, plus an additional 25% off! Total $40.
• Three pairs from J.Crew- one bright purple pair on sale for $6, one nude Swiss dot and one black/brown herringbone (buy 2, get 25% off on those last two). Spent about $35 here.
• One very cool pair of split seam tights from Topshop for $15- can't wait to wear these ones! I might have to double up with a nude sheer pair underneath, so I don't freeze my butt off.
• And of course I couldn't resist some stripes- picked up this awesome pair from American Apparel for $20.

Apparently this doesn't add up to $100. I suppose I didn't count the American Apparel tights, because I used my Groupon ($50 for $100 of apparel). I'm thinking since I already paid for that it doesn't count...right?

Get ready for about 4 solid months of rotating these new purchases. Hope everyone is having a great short week!

to tighten it up.

Winter is officially setting in in Chicago (so I hear, I'm down in FL for work, tee hee hee), which means it's time for some new tights. I've been wearing my very sad, worn and holey black tights from last year, and my toes have started picketing to be covered up again. Ok, little toes, I shall go shopping. Twist my arm...

I need the basics- black, navy and brown- but I also want some fun patterns and textures to keep things exciting on those cold winter days. I also saw this InStyle article about layering tights to stay warm, so I'm going to pick up a couple of pairs of nude tights as well. My budget is $100 and I'm hoping to come home with 7 or 8 new pairs to keep these chicken legs warm and cozy.

from L to R: American Apparel , Madewell , J.Crew , Lands' End Canvas , American Apparel