This is why we can't have nice things...

The thought of having to use what I already own to actually get dressed up was something I was half dreading, and half looking forward to. I have a whole bunch of fancy crap in my closet that almost never gets worn, and some certain items I've literally never worn. I just always revert back into whatever outfit makes me most comfortable, and even though I like getting fancy, I would always rather feel underdressed than overdressed.

So when my friend Kate invited me to a semi-formal event for her boyfriends gaming company, I was super excited to try and find something original in my closet. I was only slightly tempted to raid my fabulous roommate's collection of nice things, but thought I ought to play dress up on my own for this.

Part of the reason I have SO much stuff is because I buy so much CHEAP stuff. One of my jobs is as a nanny, so I'm constantly getting marker, sauce, and bodily functions of all kinds on my things. I also can't really afford nicer things on a poor starving art student income, and thus I am the antithesis of a [former] fashion student shopping at Forever 21. I've also had in my possession my mom's Gap credit card (thanks mom!) (sorry mom!) with a seemingly flexible limit.


After a little while playing dress up (my FAVORITE pastime) I decided to go with a sleek and sophisticated look. A black pencil skirt and a black top that I modified a little to make it a tiny bit sexier. It was not too flashy, and I still felt like myself, ready to take on the Nerd Convention with my tall, leggy, blonde counterpart.

About 2 and a half drinks into the open-bar event, Kate and I excused ourselves to the ladies room. The skirt I was wearing was tight enough to keep me feeling skinny as I continued to imbibe, and let's face it I was really pushing it trying to fit in to it in the first place. I remained as calm as possible when I realized that getting me back into my skirt would be a two person job.

Kate was awfully determined to fix this skirt, and we laughed as passersby watched us struggle. Ultimately, it was a fancy outfit fail, but I'd consumed enough wine that I played it off like nothing was wrong. The best part about it was the extra inch or so it gave me to enjoy a piece of cake.

I don't have nice things because I don't take enough care or attention to the details, and then this happens. When I start buying clothes again, if anything I'll be more considerate of my purchasing, and I'll definitely check the zippers more than once.

Moral of the story, always have a friend on hand to get you back in your clothes and back out to the party. Sadly, Kate is leaving me and San Francisco behind to follow her dreams in Texas, and I suddenly feel like I didn't take full advantage of having a friend taller than me while we were here together. I'll miss you Kate!

Make Up your mind

This week I learned that the impulse shopper in me isn't dead. Neither is the fiscally irresponsible persona I'm trying desperately to shake. I decided to stop shopping for clothing, accessories, and bags, but I didn't put a limit on things like make up and essential items like socks, underwear, etc. But the line of necessity is thin and when you start to think that new leggings are an "essential" item, it is a slippery slope. 

As for make up,  well I'm not going to live like a total barbarian in 2012. Having no limits with my make up allows me to dress up the boring stuff. I'm a big fan of brightly painted lips with a really basic outfit. But herein lies my financial issue, my make up habit is not cheap. I am all about drug store stuff for some things, but for others, department store quality is just non-negotiable. And that can get expensive.

So this week I was in need of new concealer and I waited patiently until payday to go to the MAC counter and grab a couple of things. I wasn't going to splurge, but I decided to pick up a new lipgloss because I'm a sucker and I'm easily sold sometimes. I tricked myself to think I deserved a little treat. That's why I have so much stupid clothing. It was all a reward for something I never really did. 

I had that lipgloss in my possession for no more than 3 hours before it was gone. History. Escaped from my purse and sacrificed to the wild streets of San Francisco. Twenty precious pay day dollars metaphorically ripped to shreds. My heart actually hurt a little bit when I realized it was gone. I had applied it just moments before I frantically ran myself to the bus stop. 

The truthful words of a coworker didn't help the sting "that's what you get for spending twenty dollars on lipgloss". He was right, but as a straight male, he doesn't get it so he doesn't get to say things like that.

I didn't think before I shopped. I was impulsive, and I was punished. And I'm so mad about it.

Pinspiration

If you haven't at least heard of Pinterest yet, you've probably been living under a rock or you are a dumb boy, and in that case I am wondering why you are reading about my shopping woes. But never mind that. Pinterest has sucked me in and there is simply no looking back now. It satisfies palettes of all kinds. Whether you are looking to share DIY tricks, trendy outfits you like, or ideas for decorating your dream home, there is just something about Pinterest that everyone can appreciate.  It's a mecca for all things visually appealing, it is indulging my inner blogger, and it's sort of changing my life a little bit.

The concept of an online dream/mood/vision board (whatever you choose to call it) is exactly what I needed to make this blog project work. It's such a process to get myself involved and focused, and Pinterest helps me take those baby steps of getting my thoughts organized. The just-right combination of clean lines and easy to read font, paired with a plethora of beautiful photos stimulates my creative brain, and things just work. My main goal when I'm perusing the selected boards I am following is to find outfit inspiration based on items I have in my closet, or might be able to recreate using something else. 


Making do with what I have, and getting creative with my wardrobe are what all this is about in 2012. Pinterest helps me decide how to pair certain things in ways I didn't think of before. This is great because lately, at any given moment, you could find me in my room staring at the floor with my hands in my face repeating "I hate my clothes. I hate my clothes. I hate my clothes." 

And I really mean it. I hate my clothes.


So, I've been making it a point to try and recreate a look at least once a week, and this happens to coincide superbly with my goal to wear heels more often. If you pay any attention to the best looks on Pinterest you understand that outfits just look better when paired with heels. It's a fact. I'm all about looking my best these days. So I will now formally declare a once a week Pinspiration post. I can't promise to be all that creative, but I do hope you enjoy it.

You can follow me on Pinterest here.

Check out my Steal This Look board and leave a comment on a look you'd like to see me try and pull off! 

Heels and Hills and other Hells.

My driver's license says that I'm 5 foot 7. It's a lie. 

In the same way that a young child tells people that they are "4 and 3/4", I say am "just under 5 foot 8", when what I mean is I'm totally 5 foot 8. I sprouted up like a bean pole during the awkward years, and not too many of my friends caught up with me. I've always wanted to be like, a little bit shorter. When I tell people that, it seems to offend them- as if I should look at my height as a blessing. But sometimes I think I'm allowed to feel just as cursed as my friends who maybe can't reach as many things as I can on high shelves. We always want what we don't have.

Because of this, I have always hated wearing heels. While I do feel glamourous when I wear them because of my long legs, it's overshadowed by feeling ridiculous when I stand up and have to look down on 75% of my friends. I am always slightly awkward in heels. And as if dating isn't hard enough, not knowing how much taller than you someone will be is totally anxiety inducing. Even though I have all of these reasons to not like heels, the actual truth is I love them and just wish I could pull them off a little better than I do.

I guess the secret to pulling things off is just about faking it. Pretending like you know what you are doing. Part of not buying anything new is about learning to get creative with the things I have, this means shoes especially. I have had a habit of buying heels because they looked awesome, and then never wearing them because I would always make an excuse. But suddenly I am so terribly bored of some of my flats, and really it is just time to gain a little more confidence in my own shoes. That can be taken metaphorically too, if you wish.

So yesterday, I wore these bad boys. I bought them 'cuz I'm impulsive and they looked awesome. I have worn them less than 5 times in almost 2 years. It was time.

 Do you have any clue the amount of core strength it takes to walk down a hill in 4 inch heels? the answer is a lot. 

The Weather Outside is Weather

I woke up each morning this week in the early stages of gloomy January mornings. Yesterday in particular was a blustery one, and I not so secretly love waking up to the sound of rain. It tends to bring out the worst habits in me though, like taking a cab to work, or drinking one too many hot toddys. I'm a really big fan of being cozy all the time, but I feel that I am doomed to spend the rest of this winter and let's face it, half the cold San Francisco summer in the same stupid sweaters. I see people on the street who have awesome sweaters, and I am viciously jealous, because I want more sweaters. and I want to ask if they want to give it to me. I have a sweater obsession and I didn't think this plan through! I have resolution remorse.

My favorite days of the year are the days I get to wear my beloved christmas sweater with pride. 

I logged on to Facebook yesterday morning and saw that I wasn't alone in my desire to stay in and be warm and cozy- the east coast was hit with a bit of snow for the first time since the freak storm they got in October. I used to be a little bit jealous of the snow, and would wish it would snow here in SF, but after a few years of walking up those hills, I can't imagine, nor would I enjoy them as much if they were covered in snow.

It hit me with a little bit of sadness that I don't have the opportunity to wear my snow suit anymore in California, but I can always enjoy the memories.