Jean Love

Getting to wear jeans to work is one of my favorite things about my job. In fact, I wear jeans pretty much every day, year round. (I know, I need to spice it up some, but change takes time.) We won't go into the math of how many jeans I own, the frequency with which I wear them, and how often I wash them because that is sad math and math is already sad enough without leading to gross personal revelations. But suffice it to say I need all my pairs of jeans, and when my favorite pair is starting to show some wear in all the wrong places, action is required.

And then the good news of 40% off at LOFT arrived...

These might be my favorite pair ever. *sigh* Jean love.

An Ampersand Found in the Wild

I have a thing for ampersands. They're the prettiest button on the keyboard: &

I found an ampersand on my shoe the other day and that was pretty happy.

Pearls

I don't know why, but I love wearing pearls.



I pulled out all my pearls yesterday, just feeling fancy.

The pearl earrings from my aunt for my Confirmation, that at the time seemed like a horrible gift (I was 12 and confused.) but I now love dearly. The one necklace was my grandma's. Another, my father-in-law made me. The third was $1 at a garage sale.

Why do I love putting on my pearls? I think this has a lot to do with it...

Surviving the Cold

I hate winter. I was amused by the snow last week for a couple days, but the cold! Ahh...the cold! I can't remember the last time it was above freezing!

But I'm trying to keep my spirits up and focus on the positives:

Another excuse to drink coffee other than not being able to function without it. (Yes, I like coffee with my peppermint mocha creamer.) (Actually, I tend to drink tea because it's cold and coffee because I'm sleepy but I just have the picture of the coffee.)


The cold kills bugs and the one thing I hate more than winter (Other than war, rapists, child molesters, murder, drugs (like cocaine. Valium and Tylenol, etc., are cool.), poverty, hunger, and Nascar.) is bugs.

Soup.

Wednesday the temperatures will be back above freezing and starting Thursday it's in the 40s for the rest of the 10-day forecast! I can deal with the 40s. (I say that now...)



On a side note, I couldn't think of a non-serious hate to include in my list of things that I hate more than winter, so I asked Jenn, and this was the conversation that followed, shared to show how it takes me awhile to catch on to the latest fashion trends.

me: I'm working on a blog post and need to think of something silly I hate. My hate level on Uggs is dropping at an alarming rate, which has me very concerned.
Jenn: Belts around the waist? Boots over jeans?
me: I love those now.
Jenn: Oh wait, you caved.
me: I'm wearing my boots over my jeans right now. 

No More Fancy Pants

I'm one of the lucky ones. I can wear jeans to work. If there's a major ice storm, I'll even wear sweat pants. Sometimes I'll wear T-shirts and sweatshirts. Yes, it's a charmed life I lead.

I have not always been this lucky. I have had to conform to business casual standards. Friday was all the more valuable if it was Casual Friday. For awhile, I could wear heels semi-comfortably because I got used to it since I wore them everyday. (My current policy is no more heels. Ever. Kitten heels are okay sometimes. I heart flats.)

But now, I wear the jeans. Everyday. Except yesterday.

Last night I went to go see A Chorus Line at the Kentucky Center. Combine that with the feeling that I need more casual non-jeans pants because I have three pairs of jeans and yeah, the math on how often I wear them and do laundry is not math to be proud of. Plus it gets a little boring. So yesterday, to prepare for my evening outing and jazz up my work wear, I wore dress slacks. All day. And by 10 a.m. I was miserable.

Yesterday/Today by KatieEarley featuring Old Navy

From now on, no more fancy pants. Unless it's church, a funeral, or some other rare fancy event in which I will keep my jeans handy.

I'm a Carnivore for Polyvore

I'm not sure that headline really makes sense. I mean, you can't eat Polyvore, but if you could I would. Anyway...

I just found my new most favorite site ever (for this week): Polyvore.

Polyvore allows users to create their own fashion spreads using clothes from stores across the price spectrum, from Forever 21 to Alexander McQueen. So while you're shopping for clothes and you click on a cute top, it will show you the other items that users have paired it with. Exactly what I've always wanted clothing websites to do! And of course, you can go in and pair things together to make an ensemble! There is so much to love here!!!

It's also a fabulous place to get ideas. For someone who can be a little retarded when it comes to color combinations and being creative with fashion (Which I'm working on because my clothes are very dull. Jeans and top everyday. One of three different pairs of earrings. My wedding bling. That's about it.) (Actually I can be pretty dull on most decor and fashion fronts, as I frequently discuss, most recently here.)

I've played around with it some (Okay, a lot.) and here's my first two creations! Ta da! They might not seem like much, but so much more fun than what I wear everyday!

Summer Shopping by KatieEarley featuring American Eagle Outfitters

Fun with Leggings by KatieEarley featuring KaTang shoulder bags

And of course, all items were priced under $50 because I'm budget friendly.

Now go forth and Polyvore! You can post your creations in comments!!