black, white & gold

Here's a story about me and Marshall's. I went there once to return something and meandered over to the purses, where I found a gorgeous leather tote bag with a long gold chain handle. It cost $200 and I bought it. About an hour later I realized I was crazy for spending that much on something when I had just bought new tires (ugh) and am trying to save money. So I went back to Marshall's to return the bag and meandered into the dress department, where I found this dress. It cost $19.99 and I bought it. And I'm keeping it.

I felt kind of French and kind of chic in this outfit, although I also felt kind of scandalous wearing an over-the-knee skirt to work. In a place where 90% of the women wear black pants every day, I like standing out. And knees? They stand out. (Actually, I don't know if anyone even cared, by in my mind I pretended they thought, "oh she's so young so she can wear such a short skirt and it's OK.")

Sidenote, this is one of my favorite necklaces of all time. Got in at H&M in London 2 years ago and I feel like it's kind of Harry Potter-ish. Speaking of Harry Potter, I'm going to the midnight showing of the FINAL movie on Thursday, oh my gosh!

all my red, white & blue

I did 4th of July weekend this year, with all of the festivities and red, white and blue everything. 

watermelon mojitos to kick off the weekend

outfit 1: 

red and white necklace

white lace crop top

blue and white striped tank

jean bermuda shorts

red canvas shoes

veggie burgers for dinner with appropriately dressed friends

blueberries, strawberries and whipped cream to bring to the fireworks

on the way to Worcester's fireworks

yay! freedom! independence! fire! 

I'm from NH where fireworks are legal, so we usually set off our own. My dad does quite a good fireworks show, but it was fun to see the city show with everyone else. I haven't done city/town sponsored fireworks in a while. 

post-fireworks smiles

outfit 2:

red and white necklace

blue shirt

cut-off jean shorts

(can't remember what shoes I was wearing)

Annie's Clark Brunch (a favorite of most Clarkies and Worcester-ites)

beach!

outfit 3 (which you can't really see):

black bikini and black cotton dress cover-up

red cut-off tee

nautical red tote (same one that Anna has here)

blue beach towel

more lovely times with friends

outfit 4:

blue dress

white belt

blue beaded necklace

natural/bronze flip flops

red tote bag

There was so much excitement, fun, and sun, and so little sleep that I actually went to Boston for dinner on Monday and left before the fireworks. A good long sleep seemed so much more appealing. 

A delightful weekend! Thanks to our founding fathers for the excuse to celebrate :-)

just an outfit post

Signs of beautiful summer weather (finally): I am really behind on indoor things, like reading blogs (seriously, so many posts in my google reader), reading magazines, ironing, and laundry. It's great. 

new shoes! 10% off, my favorite way

I've been doing so many great summer things between 4th of July weekend and this past weekend. Pictures and stories to come, of course.

nightblogging

This is a post-lounging in the pool with snacks and drinks and then getting rained out and watching Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix outfit. Which is what I did on Friday, and what I wore.

I love when something effortless actually works on me and doesn't make me look like a shlub. Usually what I wear is effort-ful. I don't mind that, but the effortless look is one I usually envy. So I'm giving myself an A+ and a pat on the back for effortlessness!

in the details

Today's bracelet, slip & epaulette...(the slip wasn't showing, but it's just so pretty!)

another summer day...

...another cotton dress, same straw hat

This was a feel good, lots of compliments outfit and so perfect for a summer day. 

Turns out, riding your bike is not just good for you and good for the environment, it's even good for the economy! Not just your personal, less-gas-buying economy, the national jobs-needed economy. Check it out! :-)

rock, flag & eagle!

Happy Independence Day! The United States of America is 235 years old! Well kind of...we weren't really independent until the British surrendered in 1781, right? And then the Constitution didn't even go into effect for another 7 or so years...but hooray for independence and patriotism nonetheless, right?

It seems that I don't have very much red to wear, so I had to rely on my glasses and bag to get in the holiday spirit, clothing-wise. Thanks to our friend Pia, Sasha and I both have these awesome nautical red totes! For some reason nautical and patriotic go together. If only I had a sailboat, the look would be complete.

Most of my day off has been spent watching the HBO John Adams miniseries and doing stuff around the house, but there might be some fireworks in my future if it doesn't rain too much.

I think this clip from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia pretty much sums up America, don't you?

strawberries!

Fresh produce season (also known as summer and fall) in New England is the best time of year. My family picks and freezes strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries so we can eat them through the cold, dreary winter. It's a basic 4-season survival tactic. 

I went strawberry pick twice in the same weekend this year, to make sure I got enough. 

YUM!

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday weekend. Mine has been full of all appropriate activities: fireworks & friends with most of worcester, veggie burgers, berries & whipped cream, watermelon mojitos, friends and new apartment cat-adoption adventures (more on that later), ocean beach fun, and more fireworks & friends tomorrow. It's been great, needless to say. 

fringe benefits

First of all, I wonder how many bloggers have used "fringe benefits" for a post about bangs before, probably a ton...but I like it.

I got my hair trimmed, and I let the stylist (who I totally trust) give me an asymmetrical bang. At first I was kind of wary, thought I looked a little Vulcan-like (hi, I like Star Trek.), but everyone else (mom, dad, boyf, people in salon) seemed to react positively.

After 24 hours with my new look I realized, I totally have the Emily Fitch bangs I always wanted! At least I will when they grow out a little.

summer day: cotton dress, straw hat, sandals

This straw fedora is easily one of my favorite summer items. It goes with everything and almost every situation and it makes everything outfit that much more summer fun. 

This dress is from Target last summer, but they're selling it again this summer in so many pretty colors! Purple and turquoise, anyone? Quite possibly coming soon to this blog. 

And this is what my bag looks like on a busy, but organized morning:
keys, camera case (the flowered thing), sunglasses, iced coffee and smoothie - homemade breakfast to go, and of course my wallet, checkbook, and sparkly daily toiletries/make-up pouch

(and if you can't tell, it's a pretty big bag to carry all of that)

Today was kind of stressful at work (website technical issues and grant writer's block) but then I ended the day with a compliment on a different work thing, got a few little things fixed on my bike for less than  $10 and took a bike ride in the lovely lovely summer weather, and even had yummy leftovers so I had a great dinner with no cooking. It make tackling the website and grant tomorrow seem so totally doable.