Spring arrived! At least for 2 days..

Illinois is really toying with my emotions right now.....

Last week the cold finally settled in, and it was bitter, true to Illinois form. I didn't really want it because I was enjoying the more mild weather we were having, but I thought, hey, if it's going to come I might as well accept it. So I did....

Until Monday and Tuesday, when the highs were in the 60s and it was deliciously warm enough out to only wear a fleece and not have to bundle up with 3 layers, a scarf, and gloves. Oh my goodness it was wonderful! I forgot what it felt like to just feel comfortable when you walk outside, not chilled to the bone. I mean, global warming aside 'cause that kinda sucks, I was really hoping that the weather would just stay around the 50s and that would be that. I like snow, but we still haven't had a real snow yet, and I'm kind of over it now.

Especially since our first huge spring floorset came out this week. I love love love it. So many colors, cute tops, and soft shirts. I just want to be able to wear it without freezing my butt off! And I was fine yesterday when I put on this outfit in the morning and left for work, but when I got off work, it was a different story. Try a 30-degree drop in temperature to 26 degrees from the time I drove to work to the time I left, not to mention a windchill that actually made it feel like 14. Why don't the weather people just stop beating around the bush and trying to make us feel better about the whole thing by just saying, "hey, let's be real, it's 14 degrees outside, we're not going to make you think it's warmer just to be nice.... it's f****** cold. You might hate your life today"

The good thing was that I stopped at Target on my way home to pick up some hair stuff but also stumbled upon all of the clearance. Don't worry, I was good and didn't buy all of the shoes, but I did buy some fuzzy boots that were on sale for $11.98, ones that I have been wanting for awhile for days such as yesterday and today, when the snow is covering the ground finally and going to work with bare ankles really sucks. You bet your little butt I put those on as soon as I got back in my car. My feet loved me for it. Glory hallelujia.

So, now that the snow is finally ont he ground, I'm trying to be positive and think, "I really wanted snow and here it is, and it makes everything so pretty!" but I'm sort of still daydreaming about those balmy days we had and swingy skirts, wedge sandals, and flowy tops... *sigh* I guess I just have to be patient, but I'm not happy about it, and I will show my disdain for this weather tease by wearing all of the new spring things that I bought this week. Take that, Mother Nature.

[The Limited navy slim leg pants, chambray shirt, striped shirt, bracelet, necklace, and earrings // Steve Madden flats // Revlon "Fuchsia Fusion" lipstick]

[Oh hey, shower curtain]

An Outfit.

[The Limited blouse, skirt, and tights // Nordstrom faux fur vest // Vince Camuto booties]

Why, yes, I did take these of myself in my room at home (I'm so cool) and yes, that is my wedding dress in that pink garment bag in the background. No, you can't see it, but I can assure you it's the prettiest wedding dress around ;)

This is clearly an old outfit picture (I wore this Christmas Eve) that I am just now getting around to post. I don't have much for ya lately, folks, sorry... I am currently on day 9 of my 10-day-in-a-row work stretch and boy, am I feeling it. I actually technically work 11 days in a row because I am scheduled at the restaurant on Friday night! Kinda sucks, but I could use the money seeing as how my paycheck this Friday is going entirely to bills (wahhh) and I have a sad amount of money in my account right now because of having to fix my stupid car (and being gone a week didn't help my last paycheck, either). BUT it will all be worth it because Nick and I get to take a little trip up to Chicago this Saturday for his first grad school audition! It's around 11 am on Saturday so we are just driving up bright and early that morning. We plan on spending the rest of the day registering at Crate and Barrel (EEEE!), seeing friends, and hopefully catching University Choir in one of their last tour concerts! It will be so nice to have some time away from Decatur, even if it's only a day-and-a-half. At least I know I'll be back up there in another week or so!

Pics from home, pt. 3 (be warned...most are of my sister's dog and my cat)

[Just trying to emulate Chuck Bass in honor of GG ending]

[Christmas night fire]

[The Kate Spade shoes that almost became my wedding shoes... also the shoes that I will stalk until they go on sale]

[The clutch I definitely need]

[Nail twins and boot twins!]

[Sisters in Pioneer Square.. we HAD to take a picture with the Christmas tree!]

That ends the picture dump from my trip home.... about time, right? The posts will be few and far between this month because all I want to do is hibernate (January tends to do that) and I'm picking up more hours at work. The good news is that I have two trips to Chicago planned in the next 3 weeks! Thanks for auditioning for grad schools up there, Nick, I really appreciate it. At least something exciting and good is about to happen besides work and finding out I'm going to have to pay $175 to get the wiring for both headlights replaced in my car (yup, found that out this morning... happy Friday to me). At least January is already half over! Optimistic pessimism at it's best....

Golden Globes Gowns

Nice alliteration, eh??? 

Anyway, I love awards season because it's exciting, but my favorite part (obviously) is seeing who will wear what! Not to mention all of the extra special Fashion Police episodes on E! God, I wanna be on that show....

I wasn't able to catch the Golden Globes Sunday night, but you bet I was online almost instantly trying to see what everyone was wearing. Here are my favorites!

[Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Haute Couture - in love with that color on her!]

[J. Lo in a dress only she could rock - Zuhair Murad. Damn, she looks good]

[Jessica Alba in Oscar de la Renta. Orange looks good on her]

[Lea Michele in Elie Saab]

[Michelle Dockery in Alexandre Vauthier]

[A pregnant Kristen Bell glowing in Jenny Packham.. that beadwork! The color! Hope I look that good pregnant...] 

[Naomi Watts in old Hollywood glam Zac Posen]

[Anne Hathaway in Chanel]

[Taylor Swift all grown up in Donna Karen]]

[and my favorite look, Kate Hudson in Alexander McQueen]

What were your favorite hits from the night? What were the worst misses??

Pictures from home, part 2 - The coast

Instead of presents, my parents rented a house in Lincoln City on the Oregon Coast for a couple of days. It was super super cute and a short walk from the beach, complete with queen-sized beds for everyone! Not to mention the most comfortable down pillows and comforters ever (I slept like a baby). My mom charged my sister and I with each planning one breakfast and one dinner for the 2 full days we were there, and it was so nice for someone to basically make me take the time to plan the meal and cook it. Also, it was nice to have someone give me the money to go grocery shopping instead of me buying it :) Thanks, mom! We decided as a family that, from now on, we'd like to do mini vacations like our beach getaway instead of presents if we can all get together for the holidays again. The only one missing, of course, was Nick! Though I felt like he was there since we Face-timed on our phones a lot :) Gotta love technology. Here are some phone snaps from the beautiful Oregon coast!

[Our adorable little house]

[The moon at the Lighthouse McMenamin's]

[Lola making friends on the beach]

[The dinner I made: roasted veggie tacos with avocado cream - recipe to come later!] 

[One of the privately owned homes on the street.... want!]

Pictures from home, part 1

FINALLY I am getting around to posting some of the pictures I took while I was home. I wanted to take more, but it was nice to kinda just not do a whole lot, including trying to capture every moment on camera. Sometimes, that's the best way to really enjoy something. It was a whirlwind trip, and there were so many people I wanted to see but didn't get to, but also people I got to see but for not enough time (example: Chelsea, whom I hadn't seen in 2 years!!!)! I got home late the 23rd and spent Christmas Eve at my Grandma's, as is the tradition. Christmas Day was nice and laid back. We didn't do a lot of presents this year since my parents planned the 3 nights-stay at the coast for later that week, but we did have heated blankets to open that morning and snuggle up with! We did a lot of hanging out in said blankies and caught "Django Unchained" later at the movie theater (great movie, by the way). I'll post about the beach portion tomorrow!

[Reunited!!!!!]

[Bailey was helping me wrap presents :)]

["I'm Chuck Bass..."]

[Me and Grandma]