In My Closet-New Boots and a Memorable Shirt

I love a bargain! Especially when it comes in the form of footwear like these boots...

Talk about being at the right place at the right time! I found these little darlings for $10 at a local shop that was going out of business and I happened to be there on the very last day they were open. (Not that I was happy to see a boutique close, but it was because the owner was retiring, not due to the economy.) Soft cognac suede and military detail, how could I go wrong?

Normally I pair them with denim and usually a tee, and they look great with my thrifted olive shirt dress, but I wanted to dress them up without going with the full on military trend.

So I pulled out a shirt that I rarely wear. It's way more pattern than I usually cover myself in, but I always get tons of compliments on it. Hmm...maybe I don't wear it often because it seems as though it's so "memorable." As in "Oh, she's wearing that shirt...again..."

Anyway, it is really pretty and has great beading on it as well...

(Close up of the beading.)
Not that I don't want to be "memorable." I mean, who doesn't?

But now that I think about it, who hasn't purchased that special dress for a friend's wedding and then a few months later contemplate wearing it to another friend's wedding (or other special occasion,) but don't because you don't want to be caught in the same dress...am I the only one who thinks this way?
All this being said, it's not as if it doesn't ever get worn again, especially if your boyfriend is like mine...I could add a belt to a shirt and jeans (or said dress) that I've worn a million times and he'll ask me where/when I got that new outfit...
Yup.
J.

Forgotten In My Closet

I swear my closet is a treasure trove of surprises! As I was cleaning it out and doing the mandatory summer to winter swap, I came across this top that I had purchased this past summer at a 50% off sale...

I got it for something like $22 - or was it $12? Either way it was a bargain. While the oversized style isn't something I usually go for, the not quite olive color, super soft fabric and details made me fall for it. I had only worn it once and then it disappeared into the depths of that all too small space of a wardrobe.

(Back view.) I love the rusching down the back, it sort of becomes skeletal. To top it all off, it's so comfortable which, after a few weeks of crazy allergies, is exactly what I've been needing.

So what amazing finds have you lost and refound in your closet?
J.

Halloween Preparations

Hooray! Autumn is here! And along with cooler weather comes preparations for that all time favorite holiday, Halloween. So a Saturday of crafts with the family it was...

Anything that can potentially create a fun mess was pulled from the art box, paint, glue, fabric, glitter, you name it, we had it. (And thankfully it was not at my house...)

Who says a pumpkin has to be orange?

We made plenty of ghosts to hang from the trees...

My nephew's idea of a scary pumpkin. You can never have too many google eyes!

What Halloween preparations are you making?
J.

Closet Double Debut

I let my inner child talk me into a strawberry waffle today...

(Gratuitous food shot.) Oh local Pancake House, you make me wonder why I ever skip breakfast!

Anyway, this is sort of a double debut. I purchased this dress in June and posted it then, but have since shortened it. (Now that I look at the pictures, I'm wondering if I need to shorten the sleeves as well.) Since the weather is finally cooling down, today was the perfect day to finally wear it. I picture it with tights but it's still a little to warm for them...

I love the length now and I predict it will be on heavy rotation this winter. (Notice different background finally!)

Also making their first showing are these boots from Urban Outfitters...

I purchased them online last month but they are too big and I've been debating about whether or not to return them. The problem is, I have a really small foot (I ordered the smallest size,) and I really like them! But after playing around with various sock thickness I decided that they work too well with my closet, are very comfortable and I'd be back to hunting for a new pair of boots. So they're staying.

I've been shopping for autumn since June and I love that I can finally wear the things I've stashed away...like a squirrel...hiding nuts...hmmm...
J.

Closet Color Obsession-Olive

Finally back. No excuses, except for being busy. Enough said.

Lately it seems I've been purchasing everything and anything in the shade of olive. Well, really for the past three months. Yes, it might be a problem. I've always really liked the hue. I can even remember a pair of pants that I wore non-stop my 6th grade summer...I still wish I had them! But I'm sure they wouldn't fit now and these trousers certainly fit the bill...

Although they do require a bit of starch and ironing, the cotton fabric has been perfect for the humid summer months.

During a season of skinny pants the loose, wide leg is very comfortable, and a little unexpected. I didn't hem these as I would normally do, but instead cuffed them to keep them a little more casual and work they surprisingly well with many of my shoes, from heels to a sandal.

(I look like a deer in headlights! And this picture makes me think about getting a hair cut...)
I dressed them up a little with this cream cropped cardigan and pearl bracelets. The cardigan looks like it has roses at the shoulders but they're more like epaulets, making it more modern than romantic.

There's more olive to come...a dress, cargo pants, jacket, a sweater...I can't stop myself! Do you ever find yourself color obsessed? What shade dominates your closet?

J.

Prep Factor in My Closet -New Buttons

I purchased this velvet blazer 2-3 years ago from Old Navy. Which means I didn't spend a lot on it because velvet in Texas is really hot and I wasn't sure how often I'd wear it so I didn't want to make a huge investment.

As it turns out, I love the cropped style, and it fits me quite well. I didn't wear it much last year but velvet seems to be making a come back for fall and I since I no longer have a dirty job (like last winter,) I think I'll get more use out of it. Except....

I hate the buttons! Some of the little gems have fallen out and I sort of think they make the jacket look cheap anyway.

So on to Joanne's. They had so many great buttons that I had a hard time making up my mind! I was torn between going in an 80's direction (think big, gold and Dynasty,) or upping the prep factor...

Prep factor won! And so did I! For under $10 and 30 minutes, I have a new velvet jacket that I can't wait to wear!

I'm thinking skinny jeans, something in a stripe for the top, boots and fingerless gloves...I can't wait to wear it!

Blurry button close up.

Now, if only it didn't happen to be 100+ outside...
J.

Homework-New Chandelier

Those of you who have followed me for a little while know that not only do I love fashion, but I also am a bit obsessed with home decor as well. When I rented, I used to rearrange my furniture at least once a month and was also constantly painting things like bookshelves or sewing something like pillows and curtains. Creating my own custom living space out of a cookie cutter apartment or old house was very important too me.

Now that I'm no longer renting, this has become even more important. The house I live in now has been a work in progress in some way or another since moving in 4 years ago. The carpet has been pulled up, the powder room completely renovated, tons of painting and more. Last year the kitchen was remodeled and while I am in love with the outcome, the process was really not so much fun. So instead of becoming overwhelmed with more big projects, I've stuck to some easier things, such as reupholstering kitchen chairs, as seen here, replacing brass door knobs with silver and adding new/more shelves in my closets. My latest labor of love was installing a new chandelier in my dining room. Sadly, it's been on my to do list for a year and I just really never got around to it until this weekend. But I am thrilled with how it looks and thought I'd share it with you...

So this is what has been hanging in the dining room since we moved in and probably since the house was built in the 80's. It's much uglier in person. I was a little surprised that it wasn't upgraded when it went on the market for selling reasons but the house was previously owned by a bachelor who clearly wasn't so concerned with it. (Nor was he concerned about the carpeted bathroom...gross.)

Here's what it was replaced with. I can usually do something like this within an hour or so but the directions had NO WORDS! Just pictures. It didn't even label the pieces, so it became a guessing game as to how to attach everything and it took me a good part of the morning. Oh well.
Originally I thought I wanted a pendant light but this works out so much better because I think a pendant would have blocked the art on the wall...

This is just one of the many paintings my bf did. I had this one framed for him as a gift and we originally had it hanging in the living room but we recently acquired some new art and sort of did a complete flip of everything. I was surprised that it looks as lovely as it does on it's new blue wall, it's actually better than it's previous home.

This is how my dining room looks now. Well, from this angle anyway. (I now have a deep appreciation for those who photograph rooms for a living...it was hard!) The rug used to be in the same room as the painting but it just made much more sense to pull it into the dining room as well. To the left there is a counter/bar that you can see into the kitchen from and to the right are the sliding glass doors that lead to the porch and backyard.

The doors let in tons of beautiful light but it's also on the list of things that need to be replaced...which will sort of be a big project and it's out of my expertise. As is replacing the porch and landscaping the backyard...All on the to do list!

Ok, now I'm off to donate the old chandelier...I'm certain there's a bachelor out there who'd just love this in his home! (Not only do I shop at Goodwill but I also donate to them as well. It's a give/take relationship.)

J.