It's Beginning to Look at Lot Like...

Okay, I won't spend the next 26 days using Christmas Carols as blog titles! I promise!

I have worn this skirt before. Standing in my closet this morning, I thought "I can't wear that again." Who says? This is not the same ensemble!! Go look, I will wait.

Different tights, a sweater set and different accessories. Ta da!

You can go back to read the skirt story.

The sweater set is 2 years old. It is from Target, and the Isaac Mizrahi for Target line. I miss Isaac, even if I am not buying clothes. I have this same sweater set in black. It is cashmere, and cost a fraction of what it would have cost at a major department store or one of my trendier retailers. Sorry for the Target ad here, but seriously! I love Cashmere, but I do not love the price. I hate when someone advertises cashmere at a great price, and then it is a lightweight piece of nothingness. I love cashmere from JCrew; I have only been able to fondle it in the store. This has weight to it. Thus my love for it! My point? Wait, do I have one? Yes I do. You do not always have to shop at Banana Republic, JCrew, etc. You CAN find high quality elsewhere.

My tights are from Heartbreakers. I liked the funky pattern on them. I hesitated to wear them today because the last time I wore them they hurt. Yes, tights that hurt. It was the shoes I wore them with. I have no issues with the boots. Okay, not true. I did have an issue at one point today when apparently after a trip to the ladies room I did not pull them up correctly. They pinched me!

As you can see, the Christmas decorations are not up yet completely at work. These are in the City Center lobby. I just liked the dark green color as a background to my ensemble.

A pie update from yesterday? Delicious! Bake it, you will not be disappointed.

I am giving the people the power to vote again!

Thanks for checking in!

xo

Kel

Out with the Old; In with the New!

Out with the old Asics Running Shoes; In with the new Asics Running Shoes!

It is with a sense of sadness that I bid a fond farewell to my old running shoes. We have been through a lot together!

They got me through a lot of training.

They carried me across the finish line after my first 5k back in May.

They were with me when I walked 60 miles in the Breast Cancer 3Day.

They were with me every step of the Milk Run 5k.

They were there for the scantily clad James Page Blubber Run.

They even patiently obeyed when I took them out for a cold, rainy 10k in October.

In total, there were 4 5ks and 1 10k, plus the 60 miles...and all of that training!

The average shoe last approx. 500 miles. Between exercise, training, biking, mine last about 6 months or so. I may have underestimated; I may need another pair before August, since I will be training for 10 miles this year. We will see! My right hip and lower back are usually the best indicators for me when it is time to get a new pair. I was feeling the need about a month ago, but wanted to stretch it out until I had completed the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. Race done, Women's Foot Locker coupon in the mail - it was time!

Not being one that likes to break in new shoes, I was more than happy to get the same model I had last time, just in pink instead of blue! The salesperson was trying to tell me that they are now better than my last pair because blah blah blah. They lost me when I saw the color!

Sorry these pictures are not better of the shoes. I took them with the iPhone as the Art Director was not home at the time!

You can see I did some Christmas damage as well today. Except for a few minor items, I am happy to say I got my shopping done this weekend! Between Friday's shopping online (Oh, Etsy how I love thee) and a trip to the almost EMPTY mall today, I can almost say "Done and Dusted!"

Despite the joy from today's running shoe purchase, I did have a very sad moment. I went into J.Crew to hit the sale racks for a gift or two. After I had gathered what I went in for, I let myself dream. There were some amazing things! I can see that they are very similar to items I have purchased in the past. I love the Jackie Cardigans at JCrew and they have newer colors this year. I love the Pencil Skirts at JCrew. I love their Embellished T-shirts. Sigh. I went online to try and find the amazing pink cardigan with black polka dots that almost brought me to tears. I can't even find it on-line. That I will take as a good sign!

I finished my shopping and got the heck out of there! I did not even cave for a fancy coffee drink at Caribou!

Instead, I came home and had my lunch. A turkey wrap with cheddar cheese and spinach; and I had my dessert that was going to be for dinner! Sweet potato pie!

Speaking of pie, check out this baby!

It is a recipe from Joy the Baker. I had every intention of baking this and taking it to Gretchen's house for her daughter Kaylee. It took longer to make than expected; note to self to calculate such things ahead of time! Besides the time, there is also the issue of not looking perfect. I am afraid of pie dough! I have made apple pie before. Correction. I have made the fillings for apple pie before, but I have never made a homemade pie crust before. Me and the Pillsbury dough boy were tight, so to speak.

This is the result. I will make Kaylee a different one, next weekend perhaps?

I hope your weekend was a long relaxing one. I am not ready for Monday, but when am I ever?

Thanks for checking in!

xo

Kel

A Restful Saturday

Hello All!

I woke up this morning with not a plan for the day. It was fabulous! A very lazy morning today; reading some blogs, doing some recipe searching and then deciding to go to the grocery store. I made my list.

I did not shower yesterday; I know, ewww! I took a nice hot shower and then had to decide what to wear on this day. I wanted to be really casual. I put on my bra and panties. A cute matching set! No pictures of course!

I then put on the shirt that I wanted to wear, and grabbed a pair of comfy khakis.

Uh Oh. VPL. You know, visible panty lines! Time for a change of pants! Back into the closet, I grabbed a pair of corduroys. That resulted in a whole different problem, the newly coined VMT. Visible Muffin Top! Chaos ensued. A change of pants to these jeans, that you all told me I had to get hemmed. Oh, well, they will forgive me I thought. A black tank top, a cardigan- yuck. Then I saw the purple peeking out. Ah, perfect. Comfort, casual, and yes darn it I will have to wear a boot with a heel to get away with the pants. Oh well.

The top buried beneath my green pea coat is a purple sweatshirt that I got from JCrew in the fall of 2008. It has long sleeves, and a nice soft cotton sweatshirt material. I have another one just like it in grey.

As I said, you have seen the jeans before; they are a pair of Joe Jeans that has a higher waist band. I guess I was feeling too muffin toppy today!

The boots, the coat. Done and ready for the store.

I am one of those insane people that LOVES putzing at the grocery store. I get a coffee and take my time, walking the perimeter, and then heading into the aisles for only what is on my list. Ben and I grabbed one of those smaller carts as this was to be a relatively light week. By the time I was done, Ben looked like the Grinch trying to balance all of the stolen gifts on his sleigh! You know the scene...

It was the good deal on paper towels, I swear! Okay, a few too many bags of chocolate chips, but you never know when you are going to need some!

On the way home, I reminded the art director that we needed pictures for today. He pulled the car over and selected this spot. These were fun pics for me!

After we got home, we grabbed lunch and headed out for a 16 mile bike ride. Oh, if we only had a picture of that outfit! Bike shorts, long pants over the bike shorts, a long underwear shirt, a long sleeved tshirt over that, and then a hooded sweatshirt on that. I had a knit cap that covers my neck and ears - kind of like the kind a masked bank robber wears, without the ring around the eyes. It was 44 degrees, but sunny, so we had to take advantage of it!

As soon as we got home, I started cooking!

Here is what I made today. I am very proud of myself! I made homemade gnocchi!

It was delicious! For the recipe, click here. Easy, a little labor intensive, but so worth it!

I dressed them with a sauce I made from butter, spinach and sausage. With a little bit of the pasta water and some heavy cream. Good comfort food! I am so glad I burned off 600 calories on the ride!

I also made my very first sweet potato pie. Please. Click here. It is a recipe from Joy the Baker. I am not ashamed to admit I have a girl crush on Joy. I love her site! Make the pie. You will love it! I made the crust too. So delicious! Ben and I shared a piece, after being so full from dinner! There is plenty left, if you want to come over for some!

I also made up a batch of my favorite chocolate chip cookies. See, I needed the chips! I took a tip from Joy. After making the cookie dough, scoop out the cookies just like you would if you were to bake them, but line them up on the cookie sheet and freeze them. Once frozen, you can bag them and have ready to pop in the oven cookie dough! Brilliant! I, of course, had to bake some too!

So, that was my restful Saturday. I hope your day was great!

Thanks for checking in!

xo

Kel

Santa's Helper Has Been Busy!

This is actually a continuation of my Thanksgiving Day!

I used the Santa's Helper reference because of my ensemble yesterday; I certainly have been busy today helping Santa, however!

Yesterday the confidence was apparently through the roof!

I started with a long turtleneck from Michael Stars. I have had this for 3 years or so. Like the sweater on Monday, it is one of those tops that I need to pair with something tight on the bottom; it results in a rather exposed silhouette!

I wore it atop a pair of leggings I got at Ann Taylor. When did leggings start to make an appearance again? 3 years ago as well? When I first started to see them in the stores, I did not buy any. I used my friend Sherri's line:"I took full advantage of them in the 80's and I do not need to wear them again." I promptly went out and saw this pair! They are a very heavy weight. They are not like a heavy pair of tights. They do not get sheer as they stretch. These are good for sucking in what needs to be sucked in! I decided what better way to stay on my eating plan for the day than to wear something tight!

I accessorized with my favorite black belt and boots, and simple cz studs.

Ben and I went over Gretchen's house for Thanksgiving dinner. Here I am with Gretchen (on the left) and Erika. Dinner was fantastic! There was turkey that was really good! Moist and very flavorful. There were more side dishes than you could possibly eat in two meals, let alone one! Sweet potato casserole, 2 kinds of stuffing, tomato pie (it was heavenly!), spinach salad with craisins, apples and walnuts with a white balsamic vinaigrette (I brought that), pumpkin biscuits with orange butter (mine too), green bean casserole, corn souffle and mashed potatoes. It was quite the feast! We finished it all of with an amazing pumpkin pie (it had a gingersnap crust) and chocolate mousse cake (me), as well as espresso or tea.

I can't believe I even needed breakfast this morning!

I am not a Black Friday shopper. For those few items I do need at the store, I will find an evening when others are eating dinner. Hopefully I can run in and get out as quickly as possible.

Remember one of the items I was going to let myself buy when I first started this? Check out the rules on the first blog. It was a pair of running shoes. It is time! I got my current ones last March. Running shoes generally have a 500 mile limit. I can tell I have reached that limit by how my right hip feels. I received a coupon from Lady Foot Locker, and it expires Sunday. It is a really good deal; $15 off of a $75 purchase or $25 off a $100 purchase. I may have to fight the darned crowds on Sunday. I don't mind the parking. I just park as far away as possible and enjoy the walk. Fortunately, Lady Footlocker is right next to the entrance. I can be in and out in no time!

While I am not a Black Friday shopper, I am an online shopper. I was busy today taking care bizzness! I can't say what I purchased, but I got a lot of my shopping DONE! Yay! I stayed in my bath robe until 2:30! Because it was a sunny day, we headed out for a 5.4 mile walk. We even did a little running, but that was just because it was chilly and we needed to warm up!

I came home and promptly got back on the computer. I guess it was no shower no make up Friday!

I hope your day was great, I hope you had the day off, and that you got lots crossed off of your list too!

Thanks for checking in!

xo

Kel

p.s. I am being bad, but no vote today either!

A Wednesday picture posted on Thursday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sorry I did not post last night! Ben and I decided at the last minute that we were not in the mood to make dinner, so it was an impromptu date for sushi. I love love love sushi!

Once we got home, I had lots of baking to do, plus I wanted to get to bed at a decent hour because we were running a 5k this morning.

So, before I get to today's festivities...

Yesterday's ensemble!

I love this jacket! I got this jacket last winter from J.Crew. It was probably the brightest color they offered. I did not hesitate when I saw this hanging in the store. It is a velvet and fun!

In the picture it looks a lot more orange than it is in reality. It is more of a deep melon shade; not pumpkin orange. It has a little pink to it even.

I paired it with my Hudson boot cut jeans and a gray tank top. The tank has a subtle shimmer to it. It is from my friends at J.Crew as well!

The shoes are Naughty Monkeys. You last saw them here. My Art director was good enough to get a close up shot of them for you!

On my shoulder is a pin I had to have! I got it last year when I was holiday shopping. You know, the shopping trip you make and end up finding more things you would like for yourself instead of the people you were supposed to be shopping for? I love all of the different colors in it. Whether they are in fashion or not, I do love a bit of bling on the shoulder of a jacket!

This morning was an early start for Ben and I. We ran in the Turkey Trot in Downtown Minneapolis. It was a cold way to start the day! I was so happy we did it though. There were over 15000 participants! Seems a lot of people wanted to "Earn the Bird" today. That's the saying on the back of our tshirts. Ben finished in 24:20 and I finished in 28:14. That was 5 seconds behind my personal best. I was pleased with the results; I am never there to race anyone other than myself! I did 4 5ks this year, and that was my second best.

I do have pictures of today's ensemble, but at the moment they are sitting in Ben's camera, and he is napping. Shhhhh - I don't want to wake him!

I will continue the Thanksgiving story later, okay?

Thanks for checking in!

xo

Kel

BTW - sorry, I love this stuff too much to let you vote!

I really could get into this!

Every time we have a casual week, I think this would be great everyday! But if we were able to dress casually every day, someone is inevitably going to ruin it. I look at the ensembles at work, holding my breath. Who will be the first to cross over the line? Who will be the first person to dress too casually and make the "powers-that-be" say No More Casual Week! I hope that doesn't happen any time soon! I certainly hope that I am not the person causing such a reaction.

As someone I would call one of the more mature (age-wise) I hope I have the sensibility to know the line and to not cross it.

That is a long way of saying - I wore a tank top under this shirt today today to keep the girls covered!

Such freedom! Such a relief to not pull, tug, shift and fidget all day!

I have had this shirt for 3 years, and have worn it once; the one wearing resulted in my own personal struggles. No one sent me home. So, what did I do as a result of that one outing? I did not wear it.

I used to have a rule; if it has not been worn for 6 months, it goes. I used to have to do that because my "purging" rate was far slower than the new clothes rate. Sadly, I had quite a few items that left the closet because of this rule. I have thought back with regret to a few of those items.

This past weekend I was doing laundry, and went into the guest room closet. Yes, Kel's closet is actually a few closets. The one in the master bedroom, the guest room closet, and the shoes are in the coat closet downstairs. I was hanging a dress in the closet when it fell to the floor. I bent down to pick it up, and in my little eye I spied a garbage bag. I dragged the bag out, knowing full well that this was a Goodwill bag that never made it to goodwill. What treasures might lie within?

I took out this top, along with several others. I washed them, I refolded them, and I added them back into the rotation. Kel needs to make it until August without a repeat for goodness sake!

Honestly, most of what came out of this bag was perfect for weekend wear; long sleeves tshirts that I got from Target. But there were a few items that can go to work again. I hope you agree!

As for the top, it is a deep V, 3/4 sleeve mock wrap top. I know with the white on white it is hard to see the details. Plus we had to take pictures at home after work. No good props here!

The jeans are my favorite pair of Joe Jeans. I wish I knew why they were my favorite. What is it about them that I love so much? They make me walk a little sassier and taller.

Well, the taller could also be because of the Naughty Monkeys. Click the name to see the story. C'mon - you know you want to!

The earrings are from my friend Sue's handywork. You can see more at enchanteddesignsbySue.com.

Thanks for checking in. I am off to go read my new favorite food blog:

Joy the Baker

Amazing baking, amazing story telling, and I am accumulating a list of "must makes"!

Please vote below!

xo

Kel

It is Casual Week!

You read that right!

Casual Week!

In honor of the holiday, my company announced it was casual day every day this week, as well as Dec. 20-31 (or something like that!).

The fear in reading a memo like that is - did I misread it? Did it really say casual like Fridays? What will happen if I go to work and I am the only person in jeans? I can't buy a new outfit!

Always have a back up plan!

Make sure your friend Erika is also wearing jeans. Take someone else down with you!

The cute signage in the picture today is courtesy of Starbucks. It says "I wish Grown Ups could remember being Kids." I think that is a great motto to take us through the rest of the week!

Todays long sweater is a 3 year old purchase from Anthropologie. It is soft and fuzzy, and this has only been it's third or fourth outing. It is one of those sweaters that really can't be worn that often. It is just way to recognizable. Plus, I have to be rather confident when I wear it. it does not leave a lot to the imagination! It has to be worn with skinny jeans and a girl is not ready to wear skinny jeans and a sweater like this all the time. Well, not this girl!

The jeans- you have seen them...Hudson skinny jeans

Yes, these black pumps again! As I was examining my shoes today I think my first purchase will be new black pumps. These have seen better days!

Now, for the important stuff. Yesterday's food!

The creme de la creme for the day was the Neiman Marcus cookies. If you love cookies, make them.

The Little Debbie Creme pies...I thought I may have had a disaster on my hands. The cookie part spreads really thin. I used too large a cookie scoop, and could have made them half the size that I made them. They are huge, and they will be taken to work tomorrow. My hands were full! I did share one yesterday and they are an exceptional choice for discretionary calories!

We had the Lentil Stew for lunch today and it was good. By the time you are done with the recipe, a serving is LOADED with sodium. It comes from the vegetable stock, the Worcestershire Sauce, the tomato paste and the dijon mustard. I am exactly at 100% for my sodium intake today from this lunch of 61% sodium. If you think I am foreign and do not understand that I track my food intake, check out Nutrimirror!

The chili is tomorrow's lunch. I am hoping it gets tastier from sitting in the fridge for a few days. The taste I had yesterday was meh.

The Sausage, Spinach and Provolone Pizza was fantastic. Somehow, I managed to only eat one piece. Seeing the 288 calories a piece was okay, but seeing all of the calories, sodium and saturated fat in 2 pieces made me think twice! We will have leftovers for dinner tomorrow night, and I will have a salad on the side.

Thanks for putting up with all of my food talk!

Vote on the outfit below.

Thanks for checking in!

xo

Kel

I love Sundays

I feel like I have neglected to mention in the past just how much I love Sundays. I think I love Sundays because I turn from Fashion Blogger to Food Blogger. I often have no shower no make up Sundays; today I will have to shower because I had no shower no make up Saturday!

I can't really call myself a true food blogger. I don't have amazing pictures of every meal I ate today. There are some terrific blogs out there. Some of my favorites?

Click on the names to go to them...

My Daily Nosh

Carrots'N'Cake

Kath Eats Real Food

and, last but not least...

The Country Tart

I also love love love

Foodbuzz

Foodbuzz is really a collection of all things food! Once you learn how to navigate their site, you can get a ton of amazing recipes! I am not saying all of the recipes are balanced, but when worked into a balanced life you CAN have your cake and eat it too!

At the moment I am making this chili that I got on Foodbuzz. I am substituting ground turkey for the beef and veggie stock for the beef stock. Why? Um, just because? Also, I actually cooked my own kidney beans instead of using canned. That was to control the sodium. I am using less ground turkey, increasing the kidney beans and cutting out the salt altogether. That can be added later if needed. If this is any good, I can say it is my recipe because of the alterations. :) After I brown the turkey, the whole thing is going in the crock pot. This is not for tonight's dinner. Some will get eaten during the week for a lunch and a dinner, and some will get frozen.

Thick and Hearty Chili

After the chili is assembled, I will head out for a walk. Not too cold, and no rain? Take advantage of it while I still can!

The cooking will continue this afternoon with this Lentil Soup Recipe.

As with the chili, we will have some during the week and freeze some for later.

Tonight's dinner will be this pizza. I have been dying to make this!

Sausage, Spinach and Provolone Pizza

And the day is not truly complete if I do not make some sweet treats for my unsuspecting coworkers!

The Neiman Marcus Cookie

AND

Oatmeal Creme Pies

Those sound so wrong - I HAVE to make them!

Chili is in the crock pot! I am out for a walk! Catch ya later, and I will give you a review of the foods soon!

xo

Kel

Happy Saturday!

I am refreshed and rejuvinated after a good night's sleep! What a week I had!

Besides Len Druskin trying to kill me, work was on HIGH and kept me staring at a computer screen for too many hours!

So, let me talk about yesterday's outfit before I get completely distracted.

It was Casual Friday and I got the take out another pair of jeans you have not seen. This may have been the last pair! I will have to go through the blog and see!

I got these at the Gap 3 years ago. I remember going mall walking on a Saturday morning. It was a snowy day here in MN, probably in June.

Just checking to see if you are awake yet! No, not June, probably more like January. I am thinking January because these jeans were an after holiday sale purchase.

Anyways, I had gotten to the mall later than I would have liked for mall walking. I liked to get there before the shoppers actually arrived. It is nice to be in there and be able to walk quickly and not maneuver around people who could care less about burning calories. They are there to shop and don't care if you are there to walk. They should not care!

After walking, I decided to hit some sales. Any of you that have shopped at the Gap know that they have had a rough few years. They are trying to make a resurgence back into the fashion world. I think these jeans were purchased at their lowest point, and I had made the purchase ot of pity! I say that now because in looking at them in this picture? I don't think I like them!

They are a skinny jean, and there is no give in these suckers. I don't think there is any spandex at all. I could not wear them once last year with 15 more pounds on me than I have now. The muffin was over the top a year ago! It was not the greatest yesterday either...thus the top I ended up selecting.

Originally, I had more of a straight tunic on. I kept turning around to see the rear view, and all I could see was the muffin. I changed into this more "billowy" top to attempt to hide it. I am not sure if I hid it or simply ended up looking w-i-d-e-r.

This top is from Michael Stars Shine collection. The material has the slightest shimmer to it. I love the neckline; I think a deep V really is my favorite. Must be because I love my collar bones. I purchased this top, and a purple one just like it, at an Anthropologie clearance sale 2 years ago. The purple one has since been discarded due to a hole appearing somehow right in the front. It got stabbed by something somewhere along the way and was not repairable. I love the color of this one.

I picked a bigger bolder earring than I have been wearing of late. I guess I was feeling a little feisty yesterday!

I rocked the Naught Monkeys again. Lots of compliments from strangers on these shoes yesterday. I love complimenting strangers on their clothes; I think I get more joy in complimenting them than when they compliment me! Compliments are interesting. I have learned the difference when complimenting someone in saying "What a pretty blouse" vs "That blouse looks great on you." The first compliment may get you the age of the garment, the purchase location, etc. The second compliment tends to make the person pause, and say "Thank You."

So, on that note, I think it is time to get this day officially started! Not sure what we will be doing today, but I know I need to get ready for a run!

Thanks for checking in. Please vote below!

xo

Kel

I am doing a reverse of last Friday :)

Here is the picture! I will talk about it tomorrow.

I am beat!!

Have a great night!

xo

Kel

Len Druskin is Trying to Kill Me!

A new store.

Within a 2 minute walk from my current work location.

For weeks I have been walking past the windows, covered with paper. The store name was revealed about 2 weeks ago. Len Druskin. NO!

Len Druskin is a clothing store that started in MN. They have some regular high end stores. The one that just opened is one I would call "an outlet". Click on Ken Druskin to see the stores and their typical clothing lines. They are far "too Kel"! I had 3 people email me today to stay away from the store!

Too late. I did not make any purchases, but I had already walked by. The store was opening at 11 a.m. today. Around 12:30 they were packed! Ben and I sashayed over there after lunch. On the way passed the front new, the new clothes smell came wafting out at us. Oh, how I wish this blog was scratch and sniff. Sad pouty face here. Seriously.

On to my same sad OLD clothes!

Well, not too old :).

The blouse today was purchased a year ago or so from J.Crew. It is a light dove grey. I had every intention of wearing a different blouse, and a different skirt for that matter. It was a typical put on skirt, put on blouse, don't like blouse, then realize it is really the skirt that is the problem, seek out new skirt, put on the new skirt, realize it is just a tad too big and that you should give it to your friend Tricia because it would be adorable on her, put on this skirt and say OK!

This has been only the second outing for this blouse; Ben does not ever recall seeing it before. He said I looked sweet today.

The skirt is at least 2 years old and is from Ann Taylor Loft. I remember seeing it in the window one morning as I "mall walked". I kept seeing it lap after lap. After my walk I went home took a shower and headed back to the mall to get it!

So, I don't think Len Druskin is really trying to kill me. A little torture perhaps!

Thanks for checking in!

xo

Kel

A Promise Fulfilled!

See - I wouldn't let you guys down!

Work has been crazy! Left to decide on writing last night or getting a foot rub, well , you know that foot rub had to win!

Above is yesterday's outfit!

Yes, pants, and yes Joe, that means I did not shave my legs! I work with Joe (HI JOE!) and asked if he now looks at me on a day when I am wearing pants or tights and if he wonders if I shaved my legs that day. He wasn't wondering, but I am sure he will from now on!

The morning yesterday was far too much like Monday morning. The alarm went off - several times apparently! I was so tired that I guess I kept hitting the snooze while sleeping. I woke up and it was 6:20. No good! I jumped in the shower immediately. My typical morning routine is get up at 5:55, go downstairs, turn on the coffee maker (which I fill the night before), add soy milk and water to the pats (which I fill the pot the night before) and get my snacks and lunch in the bag to take to work. I then sit with my oats and cruise on over to Nutrimirror to log my food and see who has checked in. All of that putzing takes me about 35 minutes. I was already down 20 minutes in my morning putzing, so off to the shower I went!

I was happy to be ready with enough time to make some toast with almond butter and banana and a drizzle of honey. Tasty!

Wait - this is not a food blog? Oh, the clothes!

For your approval above, a pair of pants that I purchased from Banana Republic this summer. They were on sale - yeah! They just came home from the dry cleaners. It is always good to have those clothes ready to go on a hit and run morning!

The top had to be easy; remember, I was short on time. I chose a cami and a cardigan. You habe seen them both before. Don't make me go look!

As I was getting ready, I decided the outfit needed a little spicing up. Grey and black - SO boring sometimes! I added this brooch that was given to me 15 years ago (I think) by my friend Kim for being in her wedding. Sorry there is not a closer shot of it. It is sparkly, primarily in light blue stones with an aurora borealis (sp?) hue to them. I have not worn it for ages!

Black pumps. Does not get easier!

Ben took me out for dinner and drinks last night after work, as we did not get to have lunch together due to my schedule. The pictures were taken in the parking garage. I thought this sign would make a great addition to the picture. That "snow drop area" is about 6 stories high! Yes, we get snow IN the parking garage!

Here is today's ensemble!

Hey Joe - I am wearing tights. Yup, you guessed it!

The skirt is a corduroy skirt that I got about 3 years ago from Ann Taylor. Sale racks. A beautiful thing!

The sweater is from J.Crew - I know, you are shocked, aren't you? It was an online purchase last year. It is a combination of cashmere and wool. It is quite soft! I like the mustardy shade - it went quite well with the coloring in Starbucks today! I did put a tank underneath, to keep myself, and the deep V from getting overexposed!

For the life of me I cannot remember where I got these earrings! I hate that!

I had every intention of wearing boots today. When I came downstairs, Ben suggested these shoes. They are from the line "Not Rated". This brand is the "daughter" company of Naughty Monkeys. I ordered them from Endless. If you have a shoe issue, don't click and go! Don't say I did not warn you! I love(d) Endless; they have free overnight shipping on most styles!

What attracted me most to this shoe was the name of the style; it is called "Miss Daisy". You have heard me refer to Ben and I driving to work together as "Driving Miss Daisy". When I discovered these shoes, it just seemed like a sign that I had to get them!

They have a much rounder toe than I normally wear. I think they worked today. I hope you think so too!

To make this fair, today's vote is on today's outfit only. I can tell you, I do not have many pants so it would kill me if you voted yesterday's off, and a cami and cardigan are just too much of a basic to let them go!

Thanks for checking in!

xo

Kel

p.s. I am curious for your thoughts on how I have been styling my hair!

Choices and Decisions

Write in the blog or get undivided attention from Ben?

Good night folks!

See ya tomorrow!

xo

Kel

(I promise - 2 pictures tomorrow, k?)

Blah Blah Monday Monday!

Sing along with me people "Blah Blah Monday Monday..." to the tune of the Mamas and the Papas of course!

I don 't think I got to enjoy enough baking yesterday. I did not get enough feet up on the couch have Ben rub them time yesterday. It was a "the alarm can't be going off already" Monday morning!

4 snoozes, or 36 minutes later, I finally dragged my butt-ocks out of bed. I only plan for 3 snoozes. Damn, already 9 minutes behind! Fortunately I did not take too long to figure out what to wear.

I love getting clothes back from the Dry cleaners. Skirts that have been cast aside in a basket for far too long, and then left unattended at the dry cleaners for too long as well, arrive home giving additional options once again.

I love this skirt. I am not, however, loving the fact that the shirt I chose is bunched up under said skirt! Grumble grumble...

I got this skirt at Anthropologie in the winter of 2004. Yes, it is almost 5 years old. I love the color, I love the ruffles, and I love how it is long enough to cover the tops of my boots, swinging to and fro' as I walk. I remember finding this skirt. I was shopping with my friend Sherri (Hi Sherri!!) and I held it up and thought "Oooh this is beautiful!" My size was not on the rack so I took what was there and held my breath. This was the ultimate in "vanity size gotta have this because you won't believe what size I got" purchases. I paid far too much money, but it was the first time I fit into the big "0". I know it was vanity sizing, because there are many women much smaller than me...the women that they had to add 00 to the sizing for. People - how can someone be sized less than nothing? Can we not go back to normal sizing where people do not have to buy clothes that have two zeroes? Regardless, it got me to purchase this skirt!

I always pair it with black, simply because that is the easiest way to go. I was a little at a loss this morning, as I could not find the black top I wanted. I grabbed this one and made due. It is incredibly soft, but I am sad to say that is about the only nice thing I can say about it at this point! I will keep it, if only to wear around the house. Everytime I walked into the ladies room today I just said "ugh".

The belt and the boots are repeats!

Ben got a nice shot of my "goth" fingernails. I not only got a pedicure on Saturday but I decided to get a manicure too. I love a good manicure; I do not love chipping said manicure within 1 day of getting it done. Anyone have any secrets to maintaining a good manicure? The only one I can think of is to stay off the computer and no typing! Hah! That is like asking me to not talk!

Pictures today were taken in Butler Square. I met Ben closer to his office today for lunch. We shared a bowl of posole. Posole is basically a pork/hominy soup with spices of black pepper, garlic, cayenne (lots) and a little clove in a beef broth. I ended up using a different recipe than the one I shared Saturday after Ben said "that recipe is not posole". As always, lunch was good but the company was better!

This office building is very nice. The inside is open all the way up. I am not sure how many floors it has, but the walls of the offices surrounding the inside are all glass. For those working in them, I imagine it can be like working in a fish bowl. From the outside, however, it is pretty cool!

I am going to work on being in a better mood for you all tomorrow :)

Have a great night and thanks for checking in, and checking out the ensemble! Remember to vote below!

xo

Kel

Ha Karyn! This was not a Repeat!

So, here is the picture I promised...this is what I wore on Friday!

I first must bitch, er vent, about the poofiness of my hair.

"Does it really look like that, or is is the camera angle?" I asked Ben.

"Yes" he said.

"Yes, to which one?"

"Um...". He was pleading the 5th I think!

Ugh. I need to try and style it so that it does not look like this!

Friday we had another winter coat to share. I finally picked up my dry cleaning on Thursday and was excited to get this green pea coat back. I purchased this 4 years ago at the Banana Republic outlet in Gurnee, Illinois. I lived way to close to the outlets in Gurnee! I love this coat, and it has more than paid for itself.

The pants are a black corduroy that I bought in Jacksonville, Florida at a boutique. I visited it whilst on a business trip. It was within walking distance of my hotel in a cute little area. They are the brand "AG". I have to be very careful when I wear these pants. They are quite low-rise, and things tend to bubble over, or muffin over, I should say. I had a different top on with these until the last minute when I changed.

The blouse is from J.Crew. I purchased it last year. I like the pink and the pattern, and the fact that it does not gape at the boobs! Well, it did accidentally come unbuttoned at lunch, and I am fairly certain that the patrons at Baja got a free show! Nothing Janet Jackson-ish, but enough to make me say "oops!"

I hope your weekend is going well so far. I got my grocery shopping done yesterday, and made some wheat germ corn muffins to go with dinner last night, as well as a batch of magic bars. I added an ingredient to the magic bars, attempting to make a salty/sweet combination...the layers were: graham crackers, condensed milk, crushed pretzel sticks (my addition), coconut, semisweet chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and pecans. Ben said they are tasty, but did not say the pretzels made a noticeable difference. I will let you know after I try one!

Today I AM going to make the posole! Damn it!

I am making chicken broth at the moment, as I also want to make a chicken pot pie today.

A cookie may be on the agenda for today as well!

Thanks for checking in! Please vote below!

xo

Kel

Currently experiencing technical difficulties!

Sorry I do not have Friday pics posted. Ben sent them to me, but on my work email, and I can't download attachments from my work email at home, blah blah blah!

Today is quite a dreary day in Minnesota. To perk me up a bit, I am going to go get a pedicure. A pedicure can solve a lot of problems, don't ya think? Actually, I am needing a pedicure. It is not even a question of pretty toes for open toed shoes anymore. Running can be hard on the toe nails, and I like to keep them short. And yes, the foot rub and scrub that come with it are nice too. Okay fine, I am too lazy to do it myself!

I am going to head to the grocery store after that. My plan today is to make posole. Ben is from New Mexico, and has talked a lot about this traditional holiday fare. I am going to give it a try today using this recipe.

I am sure some baking will get done this weekend as well. I have two pie pumpkins I bought last weekend that need to get cooked. Now that I have made my own pumpkin puree, I feel so Martha Stewart. Truth be known, I want the seeds, and it really does taste better than the canned stuff!

Any ideas on what I should bake?

I will get the Friday pics up this weekend! I promise!

Hope you all have some planned relaxation in your day today! See ya!

xo

Kel

Doing Much Better, Thanks for Asking!

I took control over the situation that caused me such grief yesterday. Thanks for your kind words!

On to today!

A repeat item! Not just one, but two!

You have seen this blouse before on a Casual Friday. For the story, click here.

The shoes are a repeat as well! Here is when you saw them last!

Now, remember my rules: I cannot repeat an ensemble. Individual pieces can certainly make a reappearance.

These pants are from J.Crew last winter. They are a wool pant, but fully lined so nothing itchy is going on! I have the same pair in beige; I had purchased the black ones in the store. Later, when the beige went on sale online, I scooped them up! They could probably be taken in a couple of inches; they are supposed to sit a little higher on the waist, which would make them just a little shorter. I have to be careful what shoes I wear with these pants. If I rock one of my platform shoes I look too much like Herman Munster. Not a good look!

The earrings are from...nope, can't remember. I loved the antique romantic look to them. They were purchased ...nope, can't remember that either :). I can tell you, however, when they were worn the first time - today! Yes, I guess I just never had the right outfit to pair them with. Today they just felt right.

Did you all notice I snuck a haircut in on you? I got it trimmed Tuesday evening. I announced it to my hairdresser - we are officially growing it out! Can't be sure where it will end, but not too long. I usually get it to shoulder length, and then decide to chop it all off!

Thanks for checking in! Please vote below.

Thanks again for helping me get my juju back!

xo

Kel

The Phoenix Rises From the Ashes

Friends - I am dealing with some significant personal issues today. Not my health, not my sweet Ben, not any drama in NM land. I cannot go into details, as, well, this is the internet.

Suffice it to say: when these pictures were taken today, I loved the symbolism of the Phoenix flying over my shoulder. The legend of this mythical creature said that only one Phoenix lived at a time; at the end of it's lifetime, the Phoenix would build it's nest, and then set it on fire. After 3 days a birth, or rather rebirth, of the Phoenix occurs, as it rises from the ashes.

I have often felt like a Phoenix rising from the ashes. I was given a second chance and rose out of the flames. I am dealing with issues today because someone is grabbing on to the wing of this Phoenix and pulling me back into the flames.

Perhaps too mysterious a post, but it is all I can do to stay together at this moment. I did not want to miss a post, and I greatly appreciate you stopping by today, even if I am not able to share a witty story about where my clothes came from.

Thanks friends.

xo

Kel

Ever have one of those days?

I get to vote this one out of the closet!

It is cute, huh? I got it at Banana Republic a year ago. A year. I have had many items I have shared with your far older than a year...so, what is the problem? As I was sitting down after a trip to the rest room, I was flattening the bottom under my butt...you know, the move you make so that your dress is not all bunched up as you sit down? I felt it. A hole. Not a rip on a seam, not the hem coming down...nope, a hole. About the size of a dime. Now, without too much detail as to my undergarments today, let me say I hope my ass was not exposed to all of Minneapolis today! Erika and Ben, both forced to look at my ass as I walked 6 feet in front of them, assured me you could not see it.

This all had to happen on top of the fact that this was the second dress I put on this morning. The first one? As I was washing my hands to get some makeup off of them, the soap dispenser must have been clogged; it sprayed all over my dress. Seriously? This led to the quick change.

I put the dress on and grabbed the green belt out of my drawer. I have had the belt for several years. I like it because it is fuzzy. You can't see that detail in the picture, but it is!

In the year of tights, I am still going without some days. Hey, a good leg shaving cannot be wasted on tights!

Black pumps, earrings Karyn loves, outfit done and dusted.

I do love a black dress! Just not one with a hole in the ass!

Thanks for checking in!

xo

Kel

Old Habits Die Hard

Hello all! Happy Monday!

Did I sound sincere? Did I make it at least sound like I was happy to have Monday arrive?

No?

I didn't think so!

A poor night of sleep and the morning seemed to arrive far too quickly. From the moment I got up to the moment I walked out the door, I felt like I was in slow motion...one of those mornings when you feel like you are rushing, but when you look at the clock, it seems like it is moving faster too?

I went for an easy dress today as a result. (Well, actually I went for a different dress that was hanging to dry in the guest bathroom but it was not dry.) &^$#!!

In my opinion, this dress did not photograph as cute as it really is! I got this dress last year at QVC. You recall, I have told you that I stopped purchasing clothing there long before my shopping hiatus, as it was hit/miss with the sizing. I liked the dress the moment I put it on. It is a swing dress; it fits well in the shoulders and trapezes from there! It is a short sleeve, thus the cardigan. A cardigan, a pair of tights and boots and it becomes a fall outfit!

The black cardigan is one you have not seen before; I know you haven't because I discovered it in the deep dark corner of the abyss I call my closet. It is a wool sweater I got at Banana Republic a couple of years ago.

Ben and I headed outside for our pictures today. It was a lovely afternoon and we could not resist it. I laughed when I saw what Ben had put together. Any time my head gets cut off in a picture, that means I could not have been making a very nice face! It was quite breezy, as you can see from the pic on the right, when my hair was having an Alfalfa moment. (If you are too young to know who Alfalfa is, it would take far too long for me to explain it. Google "Our Gang Alfalfa" and you will understand.)

So, the old habits? In somewhat of a funk today from the lack of sleep, I headed to Target. I had necessities to purchase; dishwasher detergent and a lint remover. I went out of my way to walk through Off Saks! At first, I told myself I would just look at the clothes for style ideas. Instead, I made my way over to the shoes. I did my usual routine of looking, touching and drooling. I even went so far as to try on a pair of Betsey Johnson pumps. I tried to take a picture with my iPhone but it came out fuzzy, most likely because my hands were shaking at the thought of NOT buying them! They were amazing; a black platform pump where one half was patent leather and the other was suede. $129 and 25% off. Such a short time ago they would have come home with me, curing whatever ailed me at the moment.

I realized something. I can't (or won't) eat decadent treats so I make them for my co-workers. I cannot purchase so I still shop. I am seeking out comfort; I still have some emotional issues I need to address apparently! I put some thoughts into an email and sent it to some friends and they helped me see that I did not need a new pair of shoes, or a pumpkin whoopie pie to make me feel better. Getting the words out did. By the way, for the pumpkin whoopie pie recipe just click here. I used one LESS stick of butter in the recipe than the filling called for, and substituted some whole wheat flour in there too. The bite I had yesterday was fantastic!

I hope that was not too much for a blog that is supposed to be about clothes!

As for this past weekend, I had put links to some recipes...the chili - AMAZING! The pea soup was fantastic, and I did not even need to add the cream at the end, saving a few calories. The lemon burst cookies were delicious and easy, and I also decided to make a pumpkin beer quickbread, the recipe which can be found here. Simply fantastic! But I was glad that Ben and I had ridden our bikes both Saturday and Sunday! It was too good!

The laundry got done... the bathrooms? Not so much!

Thanks for checking in. I feel better just by talking to all of you! Please vote below!

xo

Kel

Pole Dancing, Anyone?

No, I am not back in Las Vegas!

Ben and I met up with our friend Paul for lunch today. Hi Paul! He is one of the nicest people you will ever meet in your life! We will have lunch again soon!

Paul got to be a witness to the photo shoot today. This was taken on one of the famous "skyways" in downtown Minneapolis. The city is full of these skyways that connect one building to the next. It is about survival in the winter! Picture the "habitrails" that connect one section of a hamster cage to another section. It is exactly how the skyway system here works!

I guess I was in a particularly playful mood when these pictures were taken. I decided to grab the pole and take a swing! (There was no alcohol involved in lunch today - check my logs!)

The top today is a long sleeve tshirt from J.Crew that Ben bought for me this past Christmas. The v-neck is lined with layers of chiffon. As least that is what I think it is! It is a very comfortable T! I decided on wearing it today by literally reaching blindly into one of the piles at the top of the closet and seeing what I pulled out. Justagirl asked about my closet at one point - it is really a chaotic mess! I like the salmon pink shade. It reminds me of a carnation.

The jeans you have seen on a previous Friday. They are my straight leg Hudsons that I got at OffSaks. I needed the balance of a skinny jean with the top.

The shoes? These are my maryjane skechers. This is how I get from the parking garage to the office on most days. I had packed a pair of heels, but was so comfortable in today's ensemble, that I decided to take full advantage of Casual Friday and be, well, casual!

The earrings are from the collection of jewelry I have from my friend Sue. You can click on her name and it will take you to her website! It has been really hard not buying some of her most recent designs. Seriously. You have to know I am committed to this if I am willing to not purchase some of Sue's designs! I almost caved before Erika's wedding on this pair. They are beautiful!

Any plans this weekend? There are things I know I need to do:

1. Pick a winner of a tshirt on Nutrimirror for the Friday post.

2. I need to do laundry. Badly

3. 2 good workouts. We may even ride the bikes tomorrow!

4. Clean the bathrooms. I was inspired by Blazin's NM post to get it done this weekend.

Things I want to do this weekend:

1. Make a pot of chili. Check out the recipe here. I will be adding beans to it!

2. Make a batch of split pea soup. Check out the recipe here.

3. Give these lemon burst cookies a try.

4. Try my sister's Italian Cream Wedding Cake recipe that I finally got from her.

I am happy that I can do laundry and bake/cook at the same time! It is called multi-tasking!

Enjoy your weekend, doing whatever it is you choose to do!

Thanks for checking in! Vote on the ensemble below!

xo

Kel

Who Can Turn The World On With Her Smile?

Today was officially "Lazy Thursday"!

I don't often participate in lazy Thursday, but today I decided to take advantage of it.

What, exactly, is lazy Thursday, you ask?

I have mentioned before, I think, that I work for Target. The "uniform" at Target is red and khaki. Go to your local Target store, and you can recognize all Target team members by their red and khaki. Part of the Target Headquarters dress code is that red and khaki are acceptable any day. So, at any time, you can be in a meeting with men or women is suits and you can wear khaki pants and a red tshirt. Somehow, Thursdays are days when it seems everyone decides to wear red and khaki. I decided to join the fun today!

The top is from, well, Target! I got it 2 years ago, and is from the Merona line. I have the same shirt in black, and another one in black and white stripes. Hey, it was a good price! Why not buy more than one?

The skirt is yet another Target purchase, and I think this is also about 2 years old. It is from the now discontinued Isaac Mizrahi for Target line. I think this is only the second time I have worn it!

Because the outfit itself was a little, ah, boring, I decided to spice it up with the shoes. I wore my Naughty Monkeys. You have seen these before, but on a Casual Friday with jeans. Remember this?

I accessorized with a heavy link silver necklace.

Karyn had mentioned recently that she wanted a picture in front of Mary and Rhoda's house from the Mary Tyler Moore Show. Until we find that house, hopefully this statue of Mary will be a nice substitute! She is standing in Downtown Minneapolis. The placement of the statue, from what I understand, is that this is where she stood in the opening credits when she tossed her hat into the air. Cool, huh?

Thanks for checking in. While I would love to turn this over to a vote, I need to keep all my red and khaki pieces!

xo

Kel

Treats, anyone?

How fabulous is this sign? I am really enjoying these on-location shoots!

This was in City Center in Downtown Minneapolis. This is the lobby of the building in which I have been spending most of my work time of late. After our lunch today, we set off of on adventure to find today's location. Was I ever excited! This sign is perfect! It was love at first sight! And, it will go perfectly with this week's TGIF post on nutrimirror.

On to the ensemble!

The blouse was actually a purchase this summer! It may have been one of the last ones I made, as a matter of fact. I got it from Banana Republic. What is it about button down shirts? I love how they look when you are standing; everything is good, nothing is gaping, then BLAM you sit down at work and there is your belly hanging out for everyone to see! Okay, it was not that bad. I think had I worn it with a less padded bra, I might have been okay. It made me fidget! The good thing was that the only thing staring at my gaping blouse today was my computer screen!

The skirt is a 3 year old purchase from Ann Taylor. So much of what I purchased in the last 3 years was done on lunch hours! I remember heading over to Ann Taylor and picking this up on sale. I got a few other one's that same day. When I shop it is like Lays potato chips; you can't buy just one! The skirt is blue/black; hopefully you are able to see it in the picture. I can't tell you if it is blue flecks on black, or black flecks on blue. I just know I like it, especially the flouncy little hem.

I really am not fond of wearing the shame pair of shoes 2 days in a row, but the basic black pump works!

I grabbed the belt on the way downstairs this morning. I am not sure if it worked or not, but I knew I need something just could not figure out what. Any suggestions?

I have been having hair issues of late; you are going to hear a lot about my hair, most likely in the form of whining! I am officially growing it out! I must say I was influenced by being accused of dressing in drag in Las Vegas. I am not going for long, flowing locks. My hair is far too thin for that!

Off to go frost a cake! I made a pumpkin pound cake and I am frosting it with Cinnamon Brown Sugar Buttercream. Want the recipe? Check it out here!

Thanks for checking in! Have a great night!

xo

Kel

ColdStone, Anyone?

Ben and I set off for the car this afternoon; our picture location for today was yet to be established.

I could smell the cookies from Mrs. Fields baking as we approached this part of the skyway. The aroma was mouthwatering! I was tempted to stop and stare at the cookies, but was distracted by the ColdStone Creamery sign in the distance.

I do love ColdStone; we got an ice cream cake for my youngest son's birthday this past July. When you plan for it in your day, it is delicious!

Enough about ice cream! I am drooling here! On to the clothes!

Had I gotten ice cream it would have been birthday cake ice cream with graham crackers and strawberries...oh, sorry, I was lost in fantasy!

You would have thought with today's ensemble I would have chosen pistachios to be included! That is the color of today's cardigan choice. This cardigan was purchased at J.Crew after the Christmas holiday this last year. Honestly, if you need new clothes, keep an eye out after the holidays for a sale at J.Crew. Go straight for the sale racks. 30% off of the sale price can get you a sweater like this for $19.99. I am not kidding! I love the "bling" on the buttons. It is just enough sparkle!

The skirt is from Macy's 3 years ago. It is some brand, which escapes me at the moment; I guess the brand had little impact on me! It was another sale purchase, and another time that I was a sucker because the size was smaller than I would normally wear. Vanity sizing; it is the enemy of those trying to save money! It is a fine corduroy. I could not wear it a year ago as well, there was too much junk in the trunk! Junk being the operative word!

A t-shirt cami from the Gap outlet completes the look.

No boots or tights today; yup, I shaved my legs! I went with my simple black Steve Madden pumps.

I wore marcasite line earrings that are about 4 years old. I cannot remember when I wore them last. Honestly, I do have a good memory! It has been that long since I wore them last!

I like my outfit today; I hope you feel the same!

Thanks for checking in! Hmmm, I think I have some mint chocolate chip in the freezer...

xo

Kel

Accessorized by Starbucks!

Technically speaking I bought a new accessory today! A cup of Starbucks!

Ben and I met at Starbucks for lunch today. We pondered the various locations where we could take today's pictures and we decided that the entry way would do just fine! It is chilly out there!

I started the morning with pants, and after 2 shirt changes, I knew the shirt was not the problem - it was the pants! I felt like they were just too tight and did nothing for my butt! I cannot be sure if this is a permanent decision or not; time will tell!

Left with not many minutes to get ready, I knew it had to be tights (read that as no, I did not shave my legs!). Skirt and top? Dress? The dresses are first in my closet, after the suits, so I went ran through them. I came up with this dress. Ben had never seen it, so it has been at least 18 months since I have worn it. I think it is actually longer than that.

I got this from QVC over 3 years ago. It is the slinky fabric. I do like the no wrinkle, slinkiness of the fabric. This dress is very shapeless without a belt. No matter your size, if you had this dress, it would need a belt.

I opted for this silver belt that I got at Target 2 years ago. The belt purchase was a result of leaving the house without one that day, and deciding I was tired of pulling my pants up!

The boots? You have seen them before!

The Starbucks? A tall Pikes Place with a tablespoon of half n half!

Lunch? Homemade pea soup with homemade wheat bread, and a chocolate chip cookie.

Any questions?

Thanks for checking in!

xo

Kel

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

Halloween - a day for orange, of course!

I started the day off with pumpkin oats - of course!

Ben and I had a great run this morning, and gave me a ton of energy. That was a good thing as I had a nice long list of errands and things to complete.

Since it was Halloween, I grabbed my orange sweater. I got this at Anthropologie 3 years ago. I usually pair it with a tank underneath, but I decided that since it was a Saturday, I would be a little more daring! The sweater is actually a little more "melon" than it is orange, but the bagger guy at Trader Joe's said it would count, especially since I was too lame to wear a costumer. Yes, that is what he told me! It was all in good fun, and not insulting in the least!

I paired it with a pair of jeans from J.Crew. I have had these for 2 years, and I believe I got them when they were on clearance. I have mentioned before how much I love J.Crew; however, now that I no longer receive their emails dangling free shipping or 20% off with a $150 purchase, I am much better off! I am certain that many of the J.Crew items I have today were because I needed "just one more thing" to take me over the limit to qualify me for whatever it was they were offering. Clever bastards! I fell for it time and time again.

Anyways, these jeans are actually a very light weight denim, and are designed to "slouch", which is a great choice for a Saturday. Comfort is needed when reaching on the bottom shelf at Trader Joe's for the last bag of Organic Blue Corn Chips, or when one is headed to Costco for toilet paper!

I am wearing my brown boots; I thought about wearing my sh*tkickers today, but, I have a blister on the back of my right foot! I wear heels all the time, and can escape without injury. I have shoes that I wear to and from the office. I have a pair of really cute black sketchers from last year. Problem is they tore up my heel n Friday! The 15 minute walk to the office resulted in blister! I did not want to aggravate it, so I went with the boots. (How can shoes designed for comfort injure me?)

I am wearing my orange ring today. I got this in Las Vegas 4 years ago at Landau. I reach for it whenever I am wearing orange, melon, rust, or anything with predominantly fall colors.

The little silver bracelet? I never take that off. I got it last Christmas from my oldest son. It was a complete surprise for me, given to me after the actual holiday. The only time it came off is when the clasp broke; Ben fixed it for me so that I could put it back on the next day. It is faux everything; silvertone and crystals. I had to laugh when Ben and I went to Tiffany's to browse when we were in Vegas. The sales woman said "Oh, you have the diamonds by the yard bracelet. It is beautiful!" Thank You , I said, and walked to the next case.

Hope you Halloween was grand!

Thanks for checking in!

xo

Kel