ack.

Good things:

• I finished wiring the clip-on earrings and brooches and made a bouquet prototype using artificial hydrangea. Now I'm mulling over whether I want to make a bouquet using fresh flowers on Friday or stick with the artificial stuff and finish it now. I'm leaning toward the fresh flowers, because I figure if I get completely frustrated and can't get the bouquet together, the artificial flowers will be my backup.
• I cleaned up and vacuumed my room so the makeup artist has a place to do our hair and makeup on Saturday.

Bad things:

• While cleaning, I stubbed my right baby toe. And it's _really_ sore. I iced it and plan to do it again tonight, but I'm wondering whether it's broken. (I can walk on it and all, but it's a little swollen). *Sigh.* I'm hoping that it feels better tomorrow. Also, I think I need to go back to the doctor to get my sprained left ankle checked again (and possibly X-rayed) because while it's better, it's not healed. But I'm putting that off until Monday. So I guess I evened things out and am now gimpy on both sides. ... 

say, "fried calamari" :)

 Esprit silk top, handed down from sis

same ol' jeans, Ross

earrings, gift from sis

     Apparently, this outfit is brought to you courtesy of sis, since I'm wearing her fantastic hand-me-down shirt and the exquisite earrings she gave me for Christmas. And does anyone else think that I look like I'm about to start line-dancing? Now where did I put my boots and cowboy hat?

  
      I wore this to meet up with a friend for happy hour recently. My photo sessions are hit or miss (more misses than hits, usually), but I rather like how these photos came out. Maybe the secret to taking photogenic photos for me is to think about artichoke dip, fried calamari, French dip sliders, and happy hour drink specials? Good thing I figured this out before the wedding photos ...

2 blues and a green

dress, Old Navy

cardigan, Gap Outlet

sash, from dress

     One recent morning the guy and I headed off to the Department of Health to get our marriage license, and this is what I wore.

    I'm kicking off my Spring Break by getting my eyebrows done and going for a contact-lens fitting. I used to wear contacts in college, but I found that they dried out my eyes so much that I'd end up with massive headaches (by that, I mean no-appetite-just-want-to-sleep kinds of headaches). I'm hoping they've made some improvements in contact-lens technology over the last decade!
    Other things on the agenda: start wiring the brooches for the bouquet because I want to make an inexpensive test bouquet ASAP (fingers crossed that the wiring goes smoothly and doesn't take forever); figure out my final project idea for my online class; do a little reading for fun; and sew the sash for my bouquet (hoping the fabric arrives tomorrow!). One more thing I'd like to do is bake something scrumptious ... what better way to celebrate my last week of singledom, right? ; )

triumphant

Source: blog.northjersey.com via Carrie on Pinterest

     This is what I felt like doing at 11:15 a.m. today, after taking my oral exam and passing!
    But I really just went home, ate lunch, watched TLC's "What Not to Wear," then took a few photos for the blog.

 Diane Von Furstenberg silk jersey wrap dress, Nordstrom Rack(?)

blue topaz and white gold ring, gift

silly happy grin, c/o 3.5 years of hard work paying off 

     I've taken two classes from one of the professors who was on my committee and was so pleased that he was full of praise for my exam - he said that my answers were so well-organized that he could almost see the "table of contents" in my head as I was speaking, haha. He has high expectations of students, so it was gratifying to get such effusive, positive comments. The second professor - who I've never met before - actually invited me back to her office to chat for a few minutes.

        Over the last few days, I went back and forth about what to wear to the exam. We had been told to dress as if we were attending an interview. At first, I had my heart set on wearing something colorful, but in the end the quality of this dress won out. It's beautiful and doesn't need much of anything added to complete the look. The fabric is luxurious and comfortable (and has even survived an actual machine-washing when my mom tossed it in by mistake!) and the print and feel of this dress make me happy every time I wear it. This dress is actually a size 8, which means it's a little roomier in the torso and shoulders than I'd like, even when wrapped as tightly as possible. However,  I found it at such a great price that I couldn't pass it by ...
      Whew, I feel like passing the exam has lifted a 1,000-pound weight off my shoulders! Ready to spend the next week focusing on wedding stuff, like wiring the brooches and making a test bouquet.

scarf twinsies

tee and petite trousers, Banana Republic Factory store

scarf, Coldwater Creek, gift

Semantiks cardigan, Nordstrom Rack, very old

    Sis and I are now scarf twinsies! :D Mom gave us both this beautiful scarf for Valentine's Day. 

 

happy Monday, vol. 47

3 things that are making me happy lately ...
1. Spending time with old friends and new friends. :)
2. Window-shopping at Old Navy this weekend. I tried on some really cute things that would have gone home with me if I wasn't still on my shopping ban!
3.  Happy hour! We made sure to balance our meal by choosing items from each food group: deep-fried, creamy, slider ... ;) Obviously, I'm not one of those women who goes on a crash diet in the weeks before the wedding ...

sneaky pattern mixing

     Shirtdresses are the first dresses I felt comfortable wearing, and they're still a go-to when I'm not sure what to wear. 

Tommy Hilfiger chambray shirtdress, Macy's

Cejon scarf, Ross

I'd like to mix it up sometime by trying out this look from JennifHsieh:

Source: jennifhsieh.com via Carrie on Pinterest

     Great things about this week:

•  it's spring break at work, so no tutoring job this week.
• we'll be getting our marriage license!

Scary things about this week:

• the test looms. I am slightly reassured that I have classmates who have passed in full without having to retake a section. Time to buckle down and practice, practice, practice.

black and brown

Blue Plate dress, Ross

chambray top, passed down from mom

belt, ?

Dansko sandals, 6pm.com

bracelets, gifted and DIY

Fossil key necklace, Nordstrom Rack clearance

     I've never felt comfortable mixing black and brown, but I think this is a good first attempt. I'm trying to wear these sandals more, so going with the brown belt made the shoe choice appear less random.

    With great surprise, I've realized my exam is in a week. Yikes!  I'm daydreaming already about walking out of there in triumph late Friday morning, and about how great it will feel to successfully wrap up almost 4 years of rigorous study. But to make that daydream come true, a little more study is required ... which totally explains why I already made plans to go out on Saturday night. Throw in the fact that I'm planning to go out and enjoy some high-calorie appetizers during a week when I'm avoiding all physical activity thanks to the sprained ankle and the whole thing makes perfect sense, right?  Good thing I'm not someone who obsesses over calories ... I do strive to eat a balanced diet, but there always is some wiggle room for something decadent. :)
     I hope your weekend includes a little decadence!

girly delights: wedding makeup and hair trial

      On Saturday, I had a wedding makeup hair and trial done. It is an additional expense, but some people I know have not liked their wedding-day makeup, so I figured it was worth the price.
      To get some ideas, I Googled "wedding makeup" first, but I found it difficult to imagine how makeup shown on mostly Caucasian models would translate when applied to my features. I ended up Googling "Asian makeup." Here are the looks I shared with the makeup artist:

      She recommended the leftmost look as a good choice, so that's what I went with.

      This is the hairstyle I wanted:

 After 90 minutes of curling, dabbing, airbrushing, the skillful application of almost 3 dozen bobby pins, and more, here's the results:

    Most people do their makeup trial on the same day as their engagement photo shoot, but the guy and I had no such plans. However, we did go out for Italian food, then shot a few candid pics in our natural habitat (at home, on our couch). ; )

on the rocks

     Velvet Heart chambray tunic and Beau skinnies, Ross

Countess Mara tie, thrifted

     On Saturday I sprained my left ankle. My ankle tends to buckle unexpectedly, but so far I've managed to stumble vs. fall on the sidewalk, which is what happened on Saturday. I can walk on it, but it's swollen and a bit painful.  This is the outfit I wore to see the doctor yesterday (so glad they were able to squeeze me in on short notice). While the sprain was deemed mild, doctor's advice is to elevate it, ice it, and avoid any unnecessary walking - so no exercise. :( 
       I didn't tear anything in my ankle, but she warned me that a similar incident could end in me breaking my ankle or suffering a severe sprain. Yikes. She also said not to wear heels, but since I have yet to figure out how to wear heels gracefully, that's not a problem. ;)

 
      Wearing a tie as a sash/belt with one end hanging down always makes me feel dashing and piratical ... which is nice on a day when I'm feeling gimpy.

happy Monday, vol. 46

3 things that are making me happy lately ...
1. My dojo friends put together an impromptu pizza celebration after class last week in honor of my upcoming marriage and graduation. Such a sweet surprise. :)

                                                                                           Source: amazon.com via Carrie on Pinterest

2. Finished "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie last week (click on the image for my micro-review on Pinterest).  Now I'm reading "Divergent" by Veronica Roth and trying not to get sucked in to the detriment of my schoolwork but it's a struggle. :)
3. Went for my hair and makeup trial this weekend! :) Then the guy and I went out for some delicious Italian food because I didn't want to waste my dolled-up look by staying at home. ;)

fast fashion and essentials

 

top, cardigan, necklace, Forever 21

same ol' jeans, Ross

turquoise and wood bead bracelet, InPink

     Fran of Franish recently wrote a thought-provoking post on "investment" purchases and the struggle to wisely allocate shopping funds. The comments were just as fascinating as the post, as everyone seemed to have a different viewpoint and strategies.

     I was thinking about this issue last weekend, when I picked out a silk tee for my sis. At 35, I'm starting to realize that I'd like a better-quality wardrobe. Better quality doesn't mean prohibitively expensive, but it does mean clothing that meet the following criteria: 1) made out of practical fabrics (breathable, washable);  2) flattering in fit; and 3) mixes well with other items. 

    At the same time, I don't feel quite ready to upgrade my wardrobe. I'm still figuring out my style, and it's hit or miss which purchases will go on to be closet essentials and which ones are cute, but should stay in the store. For example, this cardigan and necklace have proven more versatile than I imagined, and when they wear out I'm willing to spend a little more for higher-quality replacements.

      

       Buying these items at Forever 21 meant that I got to experiment with different styles and see how I liked them for a reasonable price. I'd like to shift the focus to thrifting, but for now Old Navy and Forever 21 are still places I like to browse from time to time. 

      Happy Friday and weekend, all! I'll be getting my wedding makeup trial done on Saturday, and I'll make sure to take a few photos to share. :)
     What are some of your unexpected closet essentials? And how do you find a balance between buying trendy, inexpensive items and items that will be staples for years?

lend me your eyes: pick a fabric for my sash! :)

      These are my wedding colors, and I plan to make a simple fabric sash to wrap around the bouquet. I'm hoping it will turn out something like this. (I keep thinking that this whole "I'm going to DIY my bouquet!" business could turn out beautifully, or like a hot mess.) But in the event of the latter, I'll just leave the sash off. :)

Source: hawthornethreads.com via Carrie on Pinterest

       I've decided that it might be fun to do some pattern mixing and make the back of the sash a different pattern. For reference - the white flower is 7 inches.

      Here are some options that pull out colors from the sash:

Source: hawthornethreads.com via Carrie on Pinterest

I like that it's a tatami pattern, and the print is small enough that it would make a nice contrast.

Source: hawthornethreads.com via Carrie on Pinterest

     Recently I've developed an absurd fondness for elephants, and I think this would be a great whimsical option. For reference, the elephants are three-quarters of an inch in diameter.

Source: hawthornethreads.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Another small scale print - I like how it plays up the turquoise and is geometric to balance out the floral.

Source: hawthornethreads.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Henna multi: A crazily huge option: web site says outer circle of medallion is 15.5 inches in diameter. I really like these colors, but I think the print might be just too much.

Source: hawthornethreads.com via Carrie on Pinterest

Last but not least, another large print. There's no red in the main fabric, but I thought the reds would play well with the blues.

 

Which fabric do you like best for the back of the sash?

simple Sunday dinner

J. Crew tee

petite trouser jeans, Macy's

earrings, gift from sis

Tignanello bag, thrifted

     Life is crazy right now, so I'm reluctantly shelving Try-it-out Tuesdays until post-wedding and post-exam. Note to self: don't schedule two major life events for the same month ... 
    Anyhow, this simple look is from a recent weekend dinner. I knew the other folks weren't going to be dressed up, but I thought the earrings and bag added a touch of style to what's basically jeans and a tee. :)
    Dinner was at Macaroni Grill, and I thoroughly enjoyed the lasagna bolognese. Adding it to my list of recipes to attempt to re-create at home!  
 

inspiration Monday: sizing woes and happy dots

The inspiration: Hilary Duff

My take: 

BCBG Max Azria top, gift from little tin soldier

trousers, Banana Republic Factory Store

Semantics cardigan, Nordstrom Rack

bracelets, gifted and DIY

      I usually take outfit photos before leaving the house, but I'm still adjusting to my work schedule (although I must confess that on Friday, I got to come in two hours later than usual). Anyhow, imagine my horror when I came home, took photos, and realized how poorly these pants fit. I have a few BR Factory pants that fit great, but they seem the change the fabric all the time (my favorite pair is made of a rather thick, stretchy material that skims my curves without being clingy). Add in the fact that I never really know what size I wear there -- I think every pair of BR pants I own is a different size! -- and this is the result. *Sigh.*  I'll take these photos as validation of my decision to stop buying work pants from BR Factory and seek out a new brand. Anyone have a reasonably priced brand that offers petite sizes that they love? 

     On the bright side, I got to wear this beautiful top that Linda of little tin soldier so kindly thrifted for me. I love the colors and interesting neckline! And I think this swingy little top would look so cute with that pair of black skinny jeans that I've been craving lately. :)

       Linking up with two birds inspiration Monday! Check out the other looks here. :)

all dressed up and somewhere to go

top, Calvin Klein Outlet

petite trouser jeans, Macy's

pearl bracelets, HauteLook

     This week has been a little busier than usual because I've started a new part-time job, but I'm enjoying the work and the opportunity to get dressed and get out of the house a few times a week!

      Put me down as officially astounded that it's already March ... yikes! Two big endeavors (wedding, exam to earn degree) will be happening this month and there's lot more work to do to ensure success on both fronts (considerably more anxious about the exam than the wedding, but I suppose that's better than the other way around). ; )

       Have a relaxing weekend! Do you have any big plans for March?