Major Appliance-buying outfit May 10, 2008

Hi, guys! So, the last few days have been very crazy with all of the packing and everything, but I’m super-psyched to tell you that yesterday we finally signed all the paper work and closed on our very own house! Yay! It’s a very cool thing, though I’m not totally sure that the fact that the husband and I really, really own something has completely sinked in.

Today we’re off to buy a washer and dryer, our very first major appliance! It’s a really big step that solidifies our transition from unattached apartment-dwellers to real, semi-responsible homeowners. Here’s my outfit for today’s major appliance hunt:

I have just woken up and haven’t actually bothered to brush my hair or put on any war paint. Such is my devotion to my craft…

I’ve had the khakis for a few years now and you may notice that they have battle scars from multiple furniture staining and room painting excursions. I still wear them outside because I think they have kind of a likeable, worn-in character about them. On top, I’m wearing my little gray puff-sleeved thing from H&M over a shirred white tank top from Old Navy. I’ve got a real jones on for layering right now. And yes, I do plan on putting on some shoes at some point, probably a sandal or something.

In bra news, on Thursday night I ordered that Le Mystere bra I’ve been talking about as well as a Coolmax Sports Bra. Do yourself a favor and click on the link–HerRoom.com has an awesome demo video of the Coolmax Sports Bra in action. You’ll find yourself wondering, “Is that bra made out of fairy guts? Because there is no damn way that it controls bouncing that much.” I had to get it. Especially since I’ve started considering upgrading my morning walk with the puppy to a morning jog with the puppy.

I’m really excited about getting these bras. Now that I’ve decided to really commit to finding bras that are appropriate for me, I’ve started to notice how my current selection is too small, rides up in the back, and tends to put a lot of strain in my shoulders. Women always say that finding their proper bra size changed their lives. I’ve upgraded a cup size and changed my band size–looks like I was way off-base when it comes to sizing up my boobies. I don’t expect the new bras to change my life (unless they can help my pick the winning lottery numbers) but I am certainly looking forward to being able to stand up straighter and have fewer neck/shoulder pains. That would be awesome.

Spring Outfit Search May 5, 2008

Today is an all-office day, so you would think that I might try to wear something a bit more fancy than another t-shirt and jeans combo, however that was not to be. Apologies for the lack of pic–rest assured that it looks pretty much the same as this outfit, but with shorter sleeves.

I do have some valid excuses, though. Well, semi-valid. I did let myself sleep about ten minutes too long, so I ended up taking the dog on our daily walk just a little bit late. By the time I got back in the apartment, it was too late for me to change into a prettier outfit, so the original t-shirt/jeans combo stayed.

On days when I don’t have anything to do but stay at the office, time seems to go by very, very slowly. So much of my job involves being out in the community with moms, preparing for visits with moms, and doing paper work about what happened during my visits with moms. The only problem with this is when my moms either cancel on me or don’t show up to our visits. Right now things are pretty dull at work (at least for me.) I note with some resentment that all the other new hires seem to be building up their client bases whereas mine is looking pretty pathetic right now. Not that this is intentional or anything, but it’s hard not to feel frustrated.

According to my calculations, I’ve got about fifteen minutes of actual, honest work to do today. After that, my plan is to surf the web looking for the perfect casual spring shoe, fantasize about how we’ll decorate the new house, and troll around Etsy for cool handmade clothes. One slight problem with this situation is that, covet though I may, I will probably have to wait about a month or so to make any fun clothing purchases. I allow myself one splurge for each paycheck and this week I’ll be buying the Le Mystere bras that I’ve been blogging about.

Still, depending on how finances come out I may be able to buy a new outfit from Old Navy, a trusty old friend of mine. I’ve been looking into exploring different stores, but Old Navy has always been one of my staple brands. I’ve been a very, very good girl this last week and a half or so–mostly because I’m too paranoid to buy anything online because we’re moving so soon. So as it turns out, I might actually have a bit of extra money once payday rolls around this week. I plan to buy the Le Mystere bras and also possibly this cute little outfit retailing at about $50…

I do like cardigan-type things very much. Ditto on subtle puff-sleeves. I think the combination is kind of sweet and retro. I plan on wearing this with a cute tank underneath or maybe even a cute button-up shirt. And the polka dots are adorable. I think that my wardrobe is sorely lacking in polka dots.

Although you know I love my A-line skirts, pencil skirts are also comfortable and cute. Plus it’s nice because one doesn’t have to worry about random gusts of wind embarassing the hell out of you. This linen skirt should be a sweet addition to my wardrobe.

Now to find some cute spring shoes…

Another boring outfit April 29, 2008

It’s not a bad outfit, really. It’s just not a really good one, either. It’s been pretty cold outside these last few days and my main focus has been to wear something that won’t leave me shivering. I suppose that I could have slapped on a pair of thermal tights (and may do so tomorrow morning) but I really didn’t think about it today.

Perhaps my feelings about this outfit is tempered by the fact that, underneath, I’m wearing a less-than-satisfactory bra. As a larger busted woman, I find it really difficult to find a decent bra. I used to think that going to Victoria’s Secret and the like was the answer, but I just can’t afford to spend $40 on a bra.

So, I turned to eBay. Perhaps not the best place to shop for undergarments, but these are desperate times and, hey, 30 bucks for six bras is hardly a deal one could pass up. I have to say that the fit isn’t bad, really, and I suppose that I can live with the non-luxe fabric. The jury is still out as to whether or not I am satisfied with the support it provides. Ditto on the silhouette.

Forgive the lack of pics regarding the bra situation. While I’m willing to post pictures of my fashion choices (good and not-so-good) I already feel as if my boobies are the focus of enough attention and speculation without <pun> exposing them </pun> to the blogosphere. I’m sure more in-depth and illustrative posts about my bra situation might up the readership on this blog, I just don’t think I’m ready to make that leap yet.

Brown and Gray Milkmaid April 27, 2008

For some reason, this outfit makes me think of ye olde Renaissance faire. Maybe it’s the flowiness of the skirt (ah, the joy of a flowy A-line) or the subtle bit of “puff” on the short sleeves, but it’s an outfit that almost takes on the style sensibilities of Disney’s Snow White.

Almost. I downgraded my outfit from “princess-y” to “milkmaid-y” because of my choice in colors. The brown and gray are a bit on the dull side, but I think that the more muted color combo gives the outfit a bit of credibility for day-to-day wear and/or errand-running. I’m not sure a brighter color scheme would have really worked as well.

I did end up pairing the outfit with some sparkly blue sandals for just a little bit of pop but, alas, had to retreat back into my apartment and change when I realized that spring hadn’t yet fully sprung in my neck of the woods.

Although it may seem to be at first, rest assured that this is not just a gratuitous boob shot, but rather a close-up to illustrate the nice shirred details on this top and the tank top I wore underneath. I’m starting to really like little details.

Cupcake-y April 25, 2008

Today’s outfit was a big departure for me. For work, I generally wear some sort of bland t-shirt and jeans combo–thus the main purpose of this blog. At first I did dress up a little bit, but when I realized that I could actually get away with wearing jeans to work, I quickly reverted to my old ways.

Today I chose to mix it up a little as part of my new commitment to try and dress a little better. The combination of pink, brown, and pale yellow reminds me of a box of cupcakes.

Today was just a sit-around-the-office day, so I’m not quite sure how well something like this might hold up in the field when I’m doing home visits with clients. I could see it being a little annoying getting in and out of the car, getting on the floor to play with the babies, and generally doing the usual stuff.

During my lunch break, I also discovered that light, cotton-y A-line skirts like these do tend to “bloom” a little bit when a stiff breeze blows through. Generally, I’m less of a Marilyn, more of a Jackie, so I didn’t recover from this little surprise with very much grace. Suffice it to say, on breezy days I’ll be keeping hold tightly of my skirts from now on.