Best of 2011

I love looking at year-in-review blog posts, so I thought I’d put together my own! It was embarrassing looking through some of the photos I’ve chosen to post on here, but I finally found one outfit from each month that I felt pretty good about. Some of these outfits received low ratings on Chictopia, and they’re not necessarily the most viewed and shared...but they’re the outfits that I liked best.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August 

September

October

November 

December

Based on my choices, apparently I like belts more than I realized (especially my black one), I like colorful and not-so-colorful outfits, and Southern California clearly does not have real seasons. Yes, my favorite February outfit features a sheer top, short skirt and bare legs, and I was still wearing sundresses in October.

Day After

Cardigan: Charlotte Tarantola

Skirt: thrifted

Tights: Target

Shoes: Nordstrom

I tried to counteract my sadness about Christmas being over with some post-holiday shopping today, but unfortunately I couldn’t find anything I wanted aside from a roll of 50%-off wrapping paper, two rolls of ribbons and two packages of gift boxes to save for next year. So I think I might have to do some online shopping tonight. Yep, I think so.

Today was fun anyway, though, because I got to hang out at the mall with Jasen, my brother Trevor and my mother-in-law, who is really cool (I got lucky there). Later on we went back to my dad’s house, and my dad, my brother Jeremy and a few more relatives showed up, yay! I’m very grateful to have a large family...but I also wish I had more time to spend with everyone. 

Thrifted Thursday No. 32

Dress, cardigan and shoes: thrifted

Tights: Target

Today was my last day of work before the holidays because the company I work for is awesome and shuts down from December 23rd through January 2nd this year! There’s nothing like taking a long vacation and not feeling like an avalanche of work is piling up for you while you’re gone. I’ve never worked somewhere before that provided this much paid time off at Christmas, so I’m REALLY excited.

I was originally going to wear a red sweater over this dress today because I love leopard print with red. But then I saw this cardigan next to the dress and decided to be a little more...subtle, I guess, for the office. Which is funny because I work in the retail/fashion industry at a place that sells a LOT of animal print clothing and where half the employees on any given day are walking around in faux fur. 

White Elephant

Sweater: thrifted

Skirt: thrifted

Bag: American Vintage

Tights: Target

Shoes: thrifted

Yep, I’m holding a little gift in this photo because we had a white elephant exchange at work today. The last time I participated in one of these things, I ended up with a lotto scratcher worth $40, so I decided to be the “cool” team member and bring a lotto scratcher as my white elephant gift today. I disguised it by placing it inside a Trader Joe’s strawberry bar box before wrapping.  

Green Legs and Jacket

Scarf: World Market

Jacket: Mac & Jac

Top: Banana Republic, found at Crossroads

Skirt: thrifted

Tights: Target

Shoes: thrifted

Today was another crazy but productive Saturday! Jasen and I got up early to go to my dad’s optometry office in Colton so Jasen could get an eye exam and order new glasses. Then we did a little more Christmas shopping, bought groceries at Trader Joe’s and put up lights in our apartment windows. Well, Jasen put up the lights, and I handed him pieces of packing tape to affix them.

Now we’re finally hanging out on the couch watching the original Miracle on 34^th Street. I love this movie so much! I also need to get my hands on a copy of Christmas in Connecticut, my other favorite Christmas movie...along with It’s a Wonderful Life, which is just one of the greatest films EVER, Christmas or otherwise.

Now that the lights, a little tree, a wreath and stockings are up, our place is very festive...we’ve never decorated our apartment much before, but I’m so excited we decided to get a little holiday crazy this year that I have to post a Christmas photo overload:

Elf

Top: H&M

Skirt: Fei from Anthropologie

Tights: Target

Shoes: thrifted

All I’d have to do to make this into an elf costume is switch in a pair of green shorts for the skirt. It’s a good thing I didn’t go that far! Aren’t these velvet shoes festive? Well, maybe you can’t tell because the photo isn’t great, but I think they are. I found them at ACTS Thrift Store for $4 and paid to have the heels replaced because I liked them so much.

These photos were taken in our hallway because the days are finally so short that it’s dark when I leave home for work and dark when I arrive home after work. It shouldn’t be like this for too long, but for now I anticipate more indoor blog photos.

No-Stress Dress

Dress: Forever 21

Cardigan: Nordstrom Rack

Tights: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: thrifted

I’m trying, probably unwisely, to squeeze in writing this blog post between a day spent Christmas shopping with Jasen and an evening having dinner with my mom and seeing my youngest brother in a play. Technically I should be headed out the door on my way to meet my mom right about now, but...here’s what I’m wearing today.

I’ve had this dress for years, and it’s one of those things I just throw on when I want to be comfortable yet still look somewhat put together. The polka dots are kind of faded, but I like how it’s short and swingy and pretty loose at the waist — perfect for a day spent running around town and eating way too much! 

Sparkling Cranberry

Sweater: thrifted

Necklace: My So Called Vintage giveaway

Skirt: BCBG Max Azria

Tights: Anthropologie sale bin

Shoes: thrifted

I feel like I should be wearing this to a holiday party because it reminds me of sparkling cranberry juice with the pink foam rising up. I guess it’s also kind of like a glass of just-poured red wine with bubbles at the top.

This skirt got on my bad side today because part of the hem fell out in front. I bought it at a sample sale, but STILL, I don’t think that should have happened the second time I wore it. It’s one of those hems where you can’t see the stitching on the outside, too, so I don’t think I can just fix it myself without making the skirt look weird. For now I’m using a piece of packing tape to hold it up. 

Rows and Petals

Sweater: H&M

Dress: Forever 21

Tights: Target

Shoes: Miss Albright from Anthropologie

Tonight Jasen and I went to a Belgian-themed St. Niklaas party at our neighbors’ place, so I felt like wearing something a little festive. I don’t know if I’ve talked about it before, but our apartment complex is very friendly...people throw parties, go hiking together, hold movie nights and just generally hang out a lot. It’s pretty sweet to live somewhere like this during the holiday season!

Thrifted Thursday No. 31

Sweater, skirt and shoes: thrifted

Tights: Target

Some of you might know that we had an extreme Santa Ana wind event in Southern California last night! Pasadena was hit especially hard as you can see by the debris behind me. Some people’s homes were damaged enough to be uninhabitable, streets were blocked by fallen trees, a lot of neighborhoods lost power and all the local schools were closed today. This is the worst the wind has ever been since Jasen and I moved to Pasadena, but the weather used to get like this at least once a year when we lived in Rancho Cucamonga, which is more inland. Anyway, the Santa Ana winds are super dry and gross. Blech.

So about the outfit: I found this sweater at Goodwill not too long ago. It’s something I might have passed over if I hadn’t been looking carefully because I usually don’t like ribbing and it’s slightly worn. But the cropped waist and sleeves are pretty cool, and I love the color. The skirt is an old favorite from Quality Thrift.

Also, in case you were wondering, I’ve been chosen as an alternate juror...and unfortunately that’s all I can legally say about my jury duty experience right now!

Zeus surveys the damage. 

Oddly, this pumpkin sitting outside our front door
didn't budge in the 80 mph winds.