Nothing to Wear

Do you ever just have one of those days? One of those days where your mind is all over the place and everything seems chaotic. As someone who has experienced anxiety since I was 4, I understand this feeling well! I was walking to my car at the beginning of my lunch thinking about this, about how this day has been weird and strangely emotional. Not in a, I’m gonna cry way, but in a my head is elsewhere way.

As my head was elsewhere I was thinking about my tendency to over analyze, to complain, to panic, and I took a second to think about how lucky and blessed I am. With everything that happens around me everyday and around the world, I don’t ever want to get to the point where I am numb to the situations of others and apathetic toward my own blessings.

Easier said than done.

I am not sure how to accomplish that, except to tell my family and friends that I love them, that I appreciate them and to tell God the same. Easier said than done when life is speeding by, but necessary. So my challenge to myself is to take a second and focus on the present, focus on the people, focus on my relationship with God.

Easier said than done.

Speaking of challenges (good transition), a less important challenge that I mentioned yesterday in the Nothing to Wear realm, was to wear an item of clothing that you aren’t so fond of and to make it fabulous. Or at least make it better than expected.

Today’s item I will have to explain. This blue cardigan that I am wearing is not ugly, its not out of style (at least as far as I know), and not an eyesore by any means. So why the dislike towards it? One thing, its blue and when wearing blue with bluejeans once again I look like a blueberry. For as much as I make fun of my father for wearing blue and blue, I cringe when I do it myself. Second thing, it is always so boring to wear. I have other colors of this same cardigan that I have found different ways to wear or different tops to wear under that make those boring sweaters more lively but not this one.

Today’s solution to this boring blueberry combo, a scarf and purple shoes. The scarf is not mine, it’s my sisters and she probably wants it back, but it is a fun way to accessorize a boring sweater. Although I feel it is still boring, it is now not boring by lack of effort! Also, I added the purple shoes because I couldn’t find my other shoes and it was early in the morning so I figured these purple GoJane.com shoes would be fine. Perhaps not.

The evidence…

Rating: Still boring, but boring with a cute scarf and purple shoes.

Comments: Thanks Stephie. I will return this promptly.

First of all, Taco Bell Fresco menu. Love it or hate it? For some reason I was under the absurd impression that a bean burrito was 7 calories. Didn’t you see that commercial? No? Just me? Okay I was wrong. Its actually just under 340 calories compared to the 370 calories that is a regular bean and cheese burrito. What is the difference? The difference is that when I have to decide what fast food to eat, I choose Taco Bell because their commercial says I am going to lose weight while eating it. What American can refuse that?

The reason for this topic, I just had Taco Bell. My fave. And for the record I would take the extra 30 calories for the regular bean and cheese burrito. Just a couple extra minutes on the eliptical tonight.

If you didn’t know, the Sunday crew that hangs out at me and my roommates’ house every Sunday has spent the last week in complete war, Biggest Loser Challenge, for more details visit my mom’s blog. She outlines the teams and our goals and all of that. But the point of mentioning this after the Taco Bell incident is that I am counting calories in effort to lose 1-1.5 lbs a week. Impossible? Perhaps. But I lost 1 lb. the first week. (Then consequently gained it back the next week).

I have been working out and eating right, or I try to at least.

This brings me back to my post a couple of days ago when I admitted that “Its hard for me to have motivation (to get dressed in a cute outfit) when I am not going to some special event”. Now that I am going to the gym so much (to be the Biggest Loser) it is even harder for me to put effort into my appearance every day knowing that I just end up sweaty at the gym at the end of the night. Gross.

Well that random train of though obviously (or not so obviously) brings us to today and my outfit today. I am trying to think of different challenges for myself to do weekly. Figuring out the things that paralyze me most in the way I dress and the way I pick out my outfits and confronting them head on. How dramatic!

This week I am concentrating on those things in my closet that for some reason I just don’t want to wear. The things that are old or might point out some insecurities or just aren’t magic pieces of clothing that I can put on and feel good about. How do I bring those into my wardrobe and give them some magic.

Today’s item… short sleeved, bat-winged (again?), grayish blue, bunched blouse that is banded at the bottom and loose at the neck. What makes me cringe at this top yet not hate it enough to throw it out? I think its a little too short for me… I have a long torso and would not feel comfortable wearing it just with jeans and no sweater or accessories. It also accentuates the skin that seems to flow over my jeans sometimes (I refuse to say muffin top) by being banded right in that region.

What could be done with it? Well seeing as Molly D. comes back from Costa Rica manana it is imperative that I wear my favorite black sweater of hers one more time. This long and loose black sweater is the perfect accompaniment to this top, at least I think so. It is long where the top is short and loose where the top is tight. It also covers up my neck and shoulders which sometimes the top’s loose neck exposes. Love it.

I also added one of my favorite necklaces with three silver strands (what is that word?) and chunky purple accents.

The whole shebang:

Rating: Better than expected!

My challenge to you… ressurect something in your closet. Find a way to make it fabulous or at least better than you thought! Just look at this piece of clothing and think to yourself… What would Beyonce do?

I am not sure whether or not to consider my outfit an outfit. Is a top and jeans with no accessories and no layers an outfit? Something to ponder, if it’s worth pondering.

There was a company meeting today that culminated with Pizza. I am doing everything I can to not eat every piece. I am obstained completely. Magic. Instead I will eat my black bean soup that my mom made from her Trader Joe’s cook book that my sister and I GAVE her which technically means that we MADE it right? We made it happen. Cocky.

Well my thoughts are scattered because I am overwhelmed with the pizza aroma. So for now that will be all.

Besides the outfit (or non-outfit)…

Rating: Lame

Comments: Not an outfit, fix your hair!

Short lunch today so bear (bare?) with me. Today is kindof a crazy day. In the office at 730 out at 430, rehearsal for church worship team, and then the gym. Maybe its the same for you, but I have a really hard time getting all doll’d up for the day when I know that at the end of the day I will end up at the gym and get all gross. Also its hard for me to have motivation when I am not going to some special event. I tend to want to save up all of my good outfits for good days and the rest of the time I end up looking like a slob.

How to balance this? I don’t know. Just presenting an observation. This is why I have enjoyed this challenge so much. Having to think about my every day outfits and present myself as an overall professional image. Maybe.

For today’s outfit I have gone with Stacey and Clinton’s (of What Not to Wear) principal of shiny. Adding shine to my outfit with an adorable loosely fitted sinched waist top. I love it. (Gift from Stephanie and Sean for xmas. Thanks guys xoxo). It a shade of gold as well which is why it is so very much fun to wear.

Here it is with my usual combo of jeans and flats and a long necklace.

What is our thought on the hands on the hip pose? Beyonce enough?

Skipping all of the boring stuff…

Rating:

Top Knotch Top

Comments:

Love the shirt (blouse?). Have I mentioned that yet? Well I do.

“Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.” -YSL

The quote that I have featured on the top right of my newly formatted blog (with the new adorable header that my bf designed for me) is by Yves Saint Laurent, famous French fashion designer. I think this quote explains a lot of what fashion should mean to me in that fashion isn’t necessarily about what clothes you are wearing but how you are wearing them, not in the way that you wear them right but that you wear them with confidence. A challenge, to myself, to you (if you’re reading) to take a day and be a complete knock out. Who cares what you are wearing? Sounds dumb coming from someone who writes about what she wears everyday, as if anyone cared… but it is important that amidst the fun of writing about different pieces of clothing and different outfits to remember that its not the dress that matters its the girl.

Today’s knock out outfit… Would I normally call this a knockout outfit? No. But even with an overly bloated belly (not sure why, but it could have something to do with my usual salt content +1500mg, probably an overshare!) I will pretend its a knock out… Or say confidently? Maybe pretend for now, baby steps.

{When you think about it, Beyonce in Vogue and me in the office is really the same thing}

I think it’s important that I finally set the scene for how I blog most days and how I am blogging today. As usual I blog during my lunch break at work. At the beginning of lunch I walk over to Emily’s desk and ask her to take a picture of my outfit with my iphone. We laugh at the awkwardness of the background and how she is practicing taking pictures incognito for “People of Walmart”.

After that I write my post and then email the pics to myself and then post them as well. I like to make it a super quick process so I don’t spend all of my time editing and tweaking the post. It is meant to be verbal vomit (gross) of what I am thinking at the time.

Today’s situation, almost the same except that Emily went out for lunch before I asked her to take my picture so I might just have to add the picture later. Also in the mix today, spaghetti and a white tank. If you saw me eating my lunch at my desk today you would think, did the girl just learn how to eat? How do you graduate from college when you can’t even eat spaghetti? Well maybe you would agree with me, that eating spaghetti is hard because of the noodles. They are long and hard to twirl around the fork… but the main reason I am eating like a complete dork is to avoid spilling red sauce on my shirt. Good luck. It will probably end in complete disaster. Even dogs can eat spaghetti…

So anyways, there is one piece of clothing that always makes me laugh, well not exactly the clothing itself but the adjectives used to describe it. Batwing (Batwinged?). You know what I am talking about right? You probably don’t find it at all funny, but when my sister and I were doing inventory on my closet, any time that we had to label something batwing (ed?) I died laughing. She laughed too, but mostly because we are sisters and she is obligated to.

I have never worn this batman shawl, I have had it since this summer when I bought some things that would be more work appropriate at TJ Maxx, but never really thought of a good outfit to wear it with. You will probably laugh when you see this picture because, it is a black sweater basically and shouldn’t be too difficult to put into an outfit with just about anything, but I always found it difficult.

Today I conquered the batwing (ed?). Together with my new H&M white tank, not very new purple necklace, and pretty new purple knotted suede flats, I did it. We did it. Oh yeah and I also added a headband because my boyfriend turns to me the other day when we are shopping and says “I like it when you wear headbands.” (PS he has never seen me wear a headband but…) I said “okay” and today I wore a headband, ironic thing is most likely I will not see him today. Oops.

{Photo Updates}

Batwings and non batwings. Still trying to figure out how to not make my face look like a 12 year old. One day

Taking a second to write about something other than clothes…

The life of a TV Camera Operator. Late nights, early mornings, and a lot of driving. A lot of days and nights spent on your feet and not enough time between shifts to recover, so you get sick. Welcome to the life of my amazing and adorable bf Jason Ippolito.

Just thinking of him as he is working another 18 hour day with another early call time tomorrow morning and a head cold that makes him feel like crap.

{xoxo}

After watching Stacey and Clinton in TLC’s  “What Not to Wear” all day Saturday, I was inspired and I decided to start spending some of that graduation gift card mula. I made sure to make a list of all the things that my closet might benefit from obtaining, then went off to Old Town to get my shop on. It helps me not to overspend when I have a clear idea of what I am looking for, then I don’t so much deal with the “BUT ITS SO CUTE!!!” dilemma.

One of the items I had in mind when I arrived at H&M was a thin brown belt. Something that I could use to accessorize an outfit without overdoing it on a thick high-waisted belt. You might have seen outfit 6/365 where I wore a skinny brown belt, exactly like the one I am describing, and think “Lizzy you’re dumb you have that already” but just like anything good that I wear it didn’t belong to me. My sister.

So while I was shopping this Saturday I used some of that glorious gift card mula to buy the belt that I wore today. I love it. It is comfy and adorable and I recommend everyone have one as an option to spice up any outfit. But what do I know? Not much.

I also got a cute texturized white undershirt (not the one I am wearing) and some new makeup products. It was a great day to say the least.

Today’s outfit once again lends itself to the argument that most of the cute stuff that I wear does not belong to me, except my belt! The printed sweater belongs to the lovely Molly D. who has hopefully shown me some grace and forgiveness while reading my blog in Costa Rica on a missions trip watching me wear her clothes. Oops. Love ya Molla.

New makeup products. I tried to get a close up picture of my eyes and my new eyeliner but it didn’t work out. The new eyeliner is a midnight blue or something like that, which I bought after Carmindy on “What Not to Wear” (of course) told one of the make-over guests to wear a dark blue to accentuate her dark brown eyes. I thought to myself, “I have dark brown eyes that could use some accentuating!” and proceeded to take Carmindy’s advice and purchase some of that eyeliner for myself. Love it.

P.S. I love my watch. I have never been a watch person, but my sister and bro in law bought me a watch for graduation and I love it. I actually use it not only as an accessory but to tell time. Imagine that! If you haven’t seen it, here it is.

“There’s an app for that”.

My cousin Chris, is jealous that every member of the Sunday crew besides him, his wife, and my dad, has an iphone. His jealousy and bitterness become even more evident when we sit around between football games on Sunday and play “words with friends” with each other on our phones. He feels left out. Poor Christopher.

It’s an app. We love it.

I had never played scrabble before this month when I was introduced to “words with friends” by none other than my friends. It has become a vital part of our Sundays and a way to keep in touch throughout the week.

I have left my “words with friends” family high and dry since I started working. I can’t keep up with the games that I am playing, and I don’t have any good letters to play.

Oh the misery.

You should play. I miss you my words with friends friends.

XOXO

“LizzyRae”

Thursday, I realize today is Saturday, but Thursday was a crazy busy day at work and I didn’t get the chance to blog. So here is my first post on my new blog page. I have been very stressed that all of my readers wouldn’t be able to find my new page. Yesterday I turned and told my roommies where my blog had moved to so I think my readers are taken care of. (Love you M&D, mom and dad!)

Well, I am watching TLC’s “What Not to Wear” and inspiration is setting in. I am thinking of going to H&M today with my graduation gift card and get some of what Stacey and Clinton preach- color, texture, pattern, and shine.

But for now here is my outfit from Thursday.

I was asked in the morning what I was wearing on my head, I told them an adorable feather! It’s what I wore to hope that I hadn’t worn this outfit already. I know for a fact that I wore different jeans and my shoes in a different way, but I added the feather for a stand out accessory that would shift this outfit completely.

Anyways. Here it is in a different way.

Rating: Eh

Comments: I love feathers