Forgetting My Jacket or Not

I'm ba-a-a-a-ck, and it's not because I forgot my jacket.

"... As you can see, I’ve returned, and it’s not because I forgot my jacket. ... The real reason I’m back is ..."

LOL. 

And see, I really didn't forget my jacket.

jacket — Old Navy (thrifted)

dress — Dressing Clio (thrifted)

shoes — Bare Traps (DSW)

I look all flustered here because I can't get past his striking brown eyes. LOL! Anyway ... I actually wore my Blowfish booties with this dress on the day I wore it ... I got the Bare Trap shoes early in the fall, but they still look so pretty in the box that I've been afraid to wear them. (Yeah. I'm weird. I admit it. I have to save something for a few years before I have the courage to actually use it.)

 shirt — Rayna Morgan (can't remember)

shoes — Blowfish (DSW)

The dress was sleeveless, so my old faithful, older-than-dirt top was pulled into rotation once again. This shirt is probably my most used item in my entire closet. I've had it for more years than I care to remember, and I'm dreading the day when it finally bites the dust. It's comfortable and very thin, so I can wear it under anything — scratchy sweaters, sleeveless dresses, low-cut tops, you name it ... I've been looking for a replacement for the past few years, and I still haven't found one that is half as good.

So ... why am I back, and why was I gone? I'm back because the holidays are over ... whew! I bet you would never guess that I don't remain my normal calm, cool, and collected self during the holidays. (hahaha ... The three Cs — calm, cool, and collected — are rarely, if ever, used to describe me. Honestly? Sometimes it's just hard for me to keep my proverbial sh*t together.)

Even in the best of years, the holidays tend to wreak havoc on my day-to-day stress levels. I never have enough time to do half the things that I had set out to do or wanted to do and then before I know it I am running around trying to do a hundred things in the last 24 hours and then poof! It's over, seemingly in a matter of seconds! Breathe Kari, breathe ... And then ... this year ... it probably goes without saying that my job and my commute (and especially my job) sent my stress soaring to new heights!

Hope everybody had a happy and stress-free holiday season.

A thrifted dress and a thrifted jacket, so I'm linking up to Spunky Chateau and her Thursdays Are for Thrifters link party. 

Blurred Images

First things first. Today is EBEW (Every Body every wear) Colored Pants Day. So without further ado, here's my entry.

shirt — Old Navy (Old Navy)

pants — Fabulosity (JC Penney)

shoes — Clarks Artisan (hand-me-down)

necklace  bracelets — (thrifted)

I'm so frustrated with my camera right now. I keep thinking that I have it figured out, and then I look at my pictures, just to realize that they are all messed up again. I even tried taking them over again, but they still came out blurry. G-R-R-R-R..

I know these aren't technically pants, but they are colored so I thought they would count. (I was cutting the grass and running around, and it was just too hot in Delaware to wear pants, even for a picture.) They aren't nearly as awesome as the ones that Terri wore here — I'll just have to keep my eyes peeled for a pair of Wet Seals — but I still thought this was a pretty good look for me (much, much better than when I wore them here). And it was comfortable!

I tend to wear shorter necklaces, but I liked how this longer one worked. I'm not sure why, but I actually think it's what made the outfit work so well. The bracelets were kind of eh ... I have a simple black bangle — I think I would have liked that better.

 Everybody's wearing colored pants today — go see for yourself.

I used all your suggestions and tried on a bunch more tops with my suit today. I'm going to spare you the pictures though. Basically, I'm just miserable in most of my tailored (a.k.a. professional) clothes because they're too tight, and there's nothing that I can do about it at this point. I'm so mad at myself for not doing something about it before now — I knew that I had been gaining weight, and I just ignored it. (I did sit-ups all day long today, but that's not going to help me for Thursday ....)