Halloween fun.

I don't usually do anything for Halloween. Sometimes it's because I'm too lazy to go get a costume (also, I don't want to spend the money.. some are expensive!), but the past couple of years it has fallen on a really inconvenient night. Either it's during the week, 2 weeks before my recital (like last year.. didn't want to risk getting sick), or a night before I have church choir in the morning or something like that.

Anywho, I work at Pastabilities, and they are super into Halloween - the whole restaurant is decorated with Halloween stuff and monsters! It's tradition for everyone who works there to dress up for Halloween, and this year, since Halloween is on a Wednesday, to dress up the weekend before! I only worked Saturday, and really didn't want to have to buy a costume, but thankfully I had SAE's Halloween party to go to afterwards. I also found a super cute flapper girl costume that a) was really inexpensive and b) not slutty. Seriously, it is really hard to find those two things together. Either that, or the costume is not slutty, just ugly. No bueno.

It was nice not to have to wear our typical uniform at work, plus it was fun because all of my customers loved my costume! I got tipped really well that night, and I could have just lucked out, but I think everyone was in a Halloween-type spirit. Either way I'm happy about it, haha.

Faux-fur & camel.

[The Limited pants, faux-fur cardigan, and bracelet // Betsey Johnson earrings // Fossil watch // Target heels]

I'm pretty much obsessed with this new cardigan that came out last week. The faux fur is so soft and all I want to do is pet myself when I wear this. Is that weird? One of the best parts about it is that you can unbutton the faux fur collar and have a regular cream cardi! I didn't think I was a faux fur kinda gal for awhile, until I found a faux fur vest on sale at Nordstrom last winter. It was the perfect color, not a shaggy, hairy faux-fur (not my fav), and had a knit back. I bought it and wore it five thousand times. I love it, and thus my love of faux fur (if it has the right look and feel to it) began. There's something so glamorous about it. Maybe it's because of all of the Blackglama ads with all of these fabulous and famous women (and men..... some opera singers! Luciano Pavarotti...) wearing fur (the real kind) and being impossibly beautiful and chic. Whatever the case, when I wear faux fur, I feel freakin' fabulous. And I feel like I kinda stick out like a sore thumb, since I live in Decatur. It's all for "glama" right?

Even though the day I wore this outfit was the start of our unseasonably warm weather this week (the last of it, I think), I paired this wonderfully warm and comfy sweater with my favorite camel colored pants. Also another obsession of mine. They came in the Cassidy fit, which isn't my normal fit in pants at The Limited, but I tried them on and loved them and have probably worn them a million times. The color is perfect for fall, but it's also a welcome break from khaki pants, something of which I am not particularly a fan. They literally go with everything, and I feel so profesh when I wear them. It's always been hard for me to find great fitting slacks, but since working at The Limited, I have no trouble. Our pants are bomb.

But now it's Friday, and the streak of warm weather is gone. The high is in the 50s today, my friends, but I'm excited, because that means it is officially fall, and I can wear my new pea coat! It's the little things that make me happiest :)

Happy Friday!

Oh, and here's a few of those ads for ya....

[The beautiful Maria Callas]

[One of my favorite opera singers, Beverly Sills]

[Luciano Pavarotti]

Quit Under-Kuttin'!

That's what I have to say to this no-good headache I've had since last night. It wasn't too bad yet and I  thought I could sleep it off, so I didn't take anything. I woke up around 6 am to a throbbing, awful headache that made it hard to go back to sleep. I grudgingly got out of bed to go eat a piece of bread in order to take some painkillers. I wake up to find that my headache feels better but my stomach is a little jumbled up because of the medicine. Apparently they weren't kidding about the extra strength thing on the bottle, so my normal of eating a little something didn't work. It needed to be a full meal probably. After taking Nick to work and running to the bank, my headache came back full force and between that and my stomach being funny, I have been forced to the couch. I randomly grabbed this shirt from Nick's side of the closet last night to sleep in, and it couldn't have been more appropriate... I am telling this headache to QUIT UNDER-KUTTIN' on my day off! Boo-hiss. That is all.

Sophie Theallet for The Limited

Page from November's issue of Vogue where you can read ALL about the collaboration!

You guys, I am so excited. During the summer, The Limited announced that French designer, Sophie Theallet, would be designing a collection for us. The Limited has done collaborations before, and this designer-for-less idea (like at Target and Macy's) is nothing new, but this is freakin' amazing. She worked under Jean Paul-Gaultier and Azzedine Alaïa before launching her own collection in 2007. Her clothes are beautiful and feminine, and her collection for The Limited will be no exception. You can read her full bio and view her runway collections here!

I was excited then, but I am even more excited now, because the collection debuts in November, and The Limited just sent out their first e-mail about it with pictures of some of the collection! Not only that, but you can read all about the collab in the November issue of Vogue, on newsstands now! If you like The Limited's Facebook page you can sign up for an alert for when the collection debuts. You do ont want to miss this. I believe one of the headlines on the cover of Vogue reads as: "The perfect party dress for $108". The dress really is gorgeous and will come in a variety of colors, including pink, cream, black, and red. I'm still debating whether I should get the pink or the cream one!

A signed sketch of the dress that my boss received at the Holiday Conference last week!

Weekend snaps.

Picked up some more Fall candles at Bath & Body for 50% off! I just had to get a huge "Cider Lane" because we loved our small one so much, and I decided to try "Autumn" and "Pumpkin Caramel Latte". I love them all!

Saturday's work outfit: The Limited necklace, earrings, and sweater // Nordstrom leather jacket // Express infinity scarf

 This weekend was full of work, but it was actually pretty good. Saturday was nice because, even though I had to work a double at both jobs, I got to go home around 2 from The Limited because we were pretty slow. I welcomed the chance to hang out in sweats for a bit and to actually get to see my fiancé this weekend! I also got a quick nap in before going to the restaurant at 4:30. Perfect.

The last two pictures are from a benefit last night for one of Nick's co-workers who has cancer. We got some great food and enjoyed a few drinks (maybe even a few girly ones... boys ;) haha), and then headed next door to the Winery to see a few people. It was my Friday, so I was more than happy to relax with a beer and actually be out doing something for once.

It's Monday, and I have today and the next two days off. I'll probably pick up a restaurant shift either tomorrow night or Wednesday night, but I'm happy to know I at least have the mornings! And it's nice knowing I have all of today to do whatever I want. I made a quick little Wedding to-do list last night and plan on checking a few of those things off today, and I'm so happy I finally have time for that! A voice lesson is also on the agenda, and later I'll probably (and by probably, I mean definitely) make some pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. For now, I'm going to relax with my man before he goes to work and enjoy this amazing storm happening outside right now!

Think pink.

[The Limited copper jeans, sweater, jacket (sold out online), and earrings // Steven by Steve Madden flats // Francesca's necklace]

Please excuse my indoor photos lately... it's getting dark earlier! Also, sometimes the only way I can persuade the fiancé to take outfit pictures (he grumbles) is to tell him he doesn't have to venture outside, haha.

Well, it's Friday, and I'm heading into another weekend full of work, including another double tomorrow. I'm enjoying this morning off before work at 4:30 by making myself pancakes, catching up on "New Girl", and later making a quick run to Target. Have a good weekend!

We got a juicer!!

Nick putting our contraption together.

Nick has been talking for some time about getting a juicer, and as someone who likes to try to stay healthy and make sure I'm getting enough fruits and veggies (which never seems to happen), I was totally onboard. Nick had the morning off yesterday, so after dropping me off at work he just went and bought one! He ended up buying a GE brand juicer at Walmart. I got a text at work saying, "I just tried out the juicer. It's awesome!", and it really is. He picked me up from work and as soon as we got home he whipped me up a delicious and refreshing veggie and fruit juice! This was our version of "Green Goodness", the Bolthouse Farms smoothie we like to buy at Sam's. It was full of broccoli, cucumber, green apple, kale, and kiwi, and it was delicious. Not super sweet, but we plan on experimenting with lots of fruit and veggie or just fruit combinations. I definitely felt healthy drinking this, and this juicer will really help me get more fruits and veggies in my diet!

The first little bit of juice!

Almost done!

Pretty color - it got darker when we added the kale!

Cheers to good health!

My LOFT List

I was in the Springfield area dropping off some clothing I don't need anymore (more on that later) and decided to head to the mall there. I had never been, and I thought I'd creep on their Limited and see what else they have. I mean, I drove the 45 minutes out there, I might as well stay awhile!

I stepped into the mall forgetting that they had recently opened a White House/Black Market, Francesca's, and a LOFT. Not only that, but they are soon to open an H & M! Yikes. Can you say trouble?? So of course I had to check everything out ;)

I walked into LOFT and pretty much wanted everything. It's definitely my kind of style, with lots of great sweaters, feminine tops, and gorgeous jewelry. I tried on some things even though I knew it wasn't a good idea (because then I might buy it). I was regretting it, because I really wanted a few things but couldn't let myself do it.... I am very proud of myself and you should be too, because there was a sweater that absolutely screamed my name. I'm still a little heartbroken about it. Here's my favs from yesterday:

These are the Modern Skinny Velvet pants in "Snow Tiger". They fit like a glove and were so comfortable! Not to mention cute. I was trying realllly hard to justify these.

This dress for the "Live in Pink" collection with Giuliana Rancic and some of the proceeds go to breast cancer. Don't need a pink dress, but it was so adorable!

Sequin pink skirt for the "Live in Pink" collection. Both the dress and skirt are no longer available online even though when I looked yesterday after I got home they were on there! They sold fast for obvious reasons.

Cute sweatshirt tee (so comfy) with a feminine touch.

Here it is folks, the Hanna top. It also came in a solid taupe color, but I couldn't get enough of these stripes. SO FREAKIN CUTE I COULD DIE.

That striped bow sweater was in my hand for quite some time before I finally triumphed over my shopping addiction and left. I could've cried. I showed Nick of course because I wanted to let him know how proud of me he should be for not buying these things and then put a little bug in his ear that I wouldn't mind this for a Christmas present. In the meantime, I'm going to be stalking the site in case it goes on sale, or just in case I come into some extra money all of a sudden and can just buy it :) Here's hoping!

Basically I decided that Springfield's mall is much better than Champaign's and I know where I will be doing my Christmas shopping! Here's hoping that H & M opens soon so I can "start shopping early"... for myself.... :)

Just an update.

So I've been a little M.I.A. with my posts lately, and I'm sorry to those of you who read this. Getting back to reality after homecoming weekend has taken a little longer than expected, partially because there was so much catching up on sleep that needed to happen, not to mention just lazing about because us old folks over here weren't used to 1 am and 2 am bedtimes anymore and it took a lot out of us. Work hit us both hard, too. I realized today on my day off that my last day off was last Sunday, meaning I have worked 7 straight days in a row. Woof. I worked at the store of course, and when I wasn't there, I was at Pastabilities, and two of those 7 days were doubles spent at both jobs! I really meant to post my outfit I wore to work Sunday, which included my adorable hot pink blazer, my recent purchase of black boots from Target, and a topknot that actually turned out well (I was very proud), but it just didn't happen.

The good news is, even though mine and Nick's schedules have been pretty much opposite as of late (and the weekend we both had off we barely saw each other anyway), we had most of Friday together. He didn't work til 5, and I didn't have to go to the restaurant til 4, so we could really get some quality time with each other. It was very much needed. We just get so caught up in work and only see each other in the morning before work or before bed or, if our schedules are somewhat the same, for dinner AND before bed, we kind of let the romance slide. Hey, it happens to the best of us. We are crazy about each other of course, but it's really stunk that we've had to spend so much time apart, even though we live together. We slept in, got McDonald's breakfast because I had been craving it ever since my day of hangover shame (it was the only thing that sounded good but sadly it was evening so I couldn't go get it haha), watched movies, laughed and played together, and even took a little pre-work nap. It was bliss, and it really helped me go into my entire weekend filled with work. I'm satisfied for now after that day, but I'm glad that Nick is getting promoted at work and is now going to have control over schedules, meaning he can make sure we don't have so many opposite days!

My day off today was refreshing, and I'm once again realizing I don't need more than one day off really because sometimes I just don't know what to do with myself! I guess I'm a workaholic, or maybe I just really like my job(s). Even though I like playing with clothes more, serving at the restaurant is still great and it's finally picking back up from the slow summer. I made good money Friday and Saturday night and I'm hoping that continues, even though right now that's going to bills (at least I can pay my bills!). Nick and I had a little Skype meeting with our DJ last night and I'm getting more and more excited about our wedding (not that I wasn't before). I'm also realizing how much more I still need to save! Being that it is now halfway through October (how is that, by the way????) and the wedding is about 9 months away, I'm ready to hunker down and be a lot better at saving my pennies. Ah, the reality that no, I cannot buy everything I want. Darn. Visualizing how great our wedding will be and all of the little details that I will be spending my money on definitely helps, though :) Wouldn't it be nice if I could just win the lottery? Yeah, I thought so, too.

I'm heading in to another busy busy work-week, but I'll try to post more regularly. Nick made homemade beer cheese soup on his day off last week and it is absolutely delicious (one of my mom's recipes) and I will definitely be posting that soon! Other than that, hope you had a great Monday and I'll post something hopefully more interesting tomorrow ;)

Happy Birthday to my Mama!

Where do I even begin about my mother? How about the fact that she is one of the most hardworking people I know, or the fact that she is beautiful, or the fact that she is so kind and loving, or maybe that she makes the best food??

Honestly, there are a million things about my mom that make me feel like I have the absolute best mom in the world (I know, most people think that about their own mom). I swear, moms just know everything about everything, and mine is no exception. I still call her from time to time and ask questions about cooking a recipe of hers or if that "dry clean only" label is really legit and if I can, in fact, wash it in the washer. Whenever I'm stressed about something or homesick I know I can call her and instantly feel better just by talking to her. She has such a way of calming me, reminding me that yes, I can in fact do whatever it is I need to do, and that everything will be ok. It's like Mama Magic. And I'm not joking about that hardworking part. She had those kinds of jobs as a kid that would make any of us cringe... like picking strawberries all day in the hot sun or working at a cannery (yuck!). She paid her way through college and didn't get into nursing school the first time around, so she took a year off and worked. She stuck with it and got into OHSU's nursing program the next time around. It's an inspiration to me because, sometimes you don't get what you want the first time around - you have to work really hard for what you want (and that it's ok to do things at your own pace, like me not going to grad school for a few years). My dear mother even went on Outward Bound! It's this thing you can do (I believe she was in high school) where they give you some training and then you basically live in the wild for like, 2 weeks and all you have are a few tools and a tarp. Yeah, my mom is a beast. She's been a nurse for over 30 years and is fantastic at her job, sometimes working a bunch of 12 hour shifts. Even when she was working when we were little, she always seemed to have time for us and had dinner on the table. She's incredible, and sometimes I feel like I'll never be a mom like her. Her and my dad have given us absolutely everything my sister and I could have ever wanted and always encouraged us to do whatever we wanted to do. I only hope I can be half the mom she is to my kids!

So here's to you Mama! I love you!

Yeah, I'm still alive.

Sorry I've been M.I.A. for the past couple of days.... I've been recovering from homecoming weekend. Also, it was back to the real world for me and back to work, including a double today between both jobs. Woof. Talk about a reality check.

But it was a great weekend and it was so nice to see friends again, some I haven't seen in a long time. Even though I was in physical pain alllll day Sunday (and a little on Monday), it was completely worth it. Here are some pictures from the weekend!

Ian, Nick, Brian. and Greg

Nick and his Littles: Ian and Zach.

Oh ya know, just pretending we're still in college.

Ashley!

Me and some of my lovely Delta sisters.... and then there's Ryan in the bottom right.

111 North Park Place - Happy 100 years to Tri Delta at Millikin!

Myself, Michelle, and Allison (all the way from Connecticut!)

My beautiful Pearl family (minus my little Pearl sis): Me, Cami, and Allison.
 

Little!

Re-enacting a picture we took when we all roomed together in Delta. Our door dec was "The Not So Single Ladies" (since we all had serious boyfriends at the time). Now we have fiancés!

Taryn and her Big, Jordan.

My Millikin bridesmaids :)

Me with Candace and Danica.

More Deltas! Erica and Lauren.

Erica, Leanne, and Jordan.

Me and Jordan.