busygirl

fashion friday: bring on the sunshine.

Seriousy.  There is snow on the ground and I am not pleased. So I guess I have to pretend that it's even remotely close to spring by scouring my favorite shopping sites for flirty dresses that can only be worn when the temperature exceeds 50 degrees.  Come on Ohio, work wth me here.

1. I'm loving this yellow/white print dress from Charlotte Russe - the matching belt does it for me.

2. For a sportier look, I'm channeling my inner nautical tennis star...that doesn't actually exist but I'd still rock the dress from Old Navy.  Also loving this pleated shift dress from Old Navy - I'm into yellow this year.  And bright blue and orange.

3. My favorite fashion blogger Jessica recently sported the Be My Valentine pattern from ModCloth in a skirt, but I'm loving the dress as well.  Especially the neckline!  She even has a dress on ModCloth dedicated to her because she's just that awesome!  Also loving the pattern on this dress, and with ruffles, swoon.

4. I had to talk myself out of buying this dress from Target - I love that the floral print makes it casual but the navy blue background means I can throw on some heels and take it dressy. 

5. And if I had an unlimited budget, I'd probably have every dress on Anthropologie!  Like this one , and this, oh and this!  Did I mention I'm really into yellow this year?

6. Adam and I saw this dress at Express the other day and I'm sold.  I'm kind of liking their graphic tee dresses for something different.

7. And my go-to for affordable, trendy clothes - Forever 21.  Especially this picnic dress...with a vintage print and cap sleeves.  Paired with a pair of sandals and large yellow bag.  Perfect!

Now if only the snow would go away then I could shop without feeling guilty because these dresses are just going to sit in my closet until warmer weather finally makes an appearance.

Oh Ohio, why can't you just let winter go?

so you want some wine with that...wine.

Seeing as yesterday was my last day of work, a new vampire diaries episode was on and we are the proud owners of the New Moon DVD, my little sister and I decided to break open a bottle of wine to celebrate.

And by break, I mean attempt to open with what could only be described as the world's smallest cork opener that obviously was purchased at the gas station during our college tenure.

The result was pieces of cork all over the kitchen floor and two very frustrated girls looking a still unopened bottle of wine.  So I took matters into my own hands (bad idea) and decided that it would be a great idea to try to stab through the cork with a steak knife.

Do you know what happens when you do that?

WINE.  EVERYWHERE.

It's like uncorking a bottle of champagne.  Wine in my hair, wine in my eyes, even wine all over the cabinets, counters, floors and microwave.

#epicfail.

From now on we're going classy - only $9.99 and under bottles of wine...cause they have the screw-offs caps.  We are not cultured enough for this cork business.

#1 reason why i'll miss living with my little sister.

I won't get to spend my Thursday night creating a makeshift bandage after she forgets how to use a steak knife.

Yes, that is a concoction of paper towels and pre-wrap, we really should invest in some band-aids.

freedom, tears and red lipstick.

I'm done.  My computer is handed in. My badge is gone.  Even my company credit card.  I walked out those doors at 9:34am and didn't look back.

Mainly because I was focused on quickly getting to my car before the tears started streaming down my face.  I'm going to miss my job, but the more and more that time has passed today, I'm getting excited for the new.  New adventures, new coworkers and a new badge picture that might actually resemble me. 

Things are looking up.

Not to mention that I have two whole days to watch season 4 of dexter pack and clean.  I've been oh so productive between Starbucks runs and random bouts of dusting.  Not to mention packing up little things here and there.  Most noteably today was my bathroom.  I decided around 2pm to pack up all my makeup.  It is now 3pm and I'm sipping Starbucks, watching Dexter in my pjs and enjoying the little rim my bright red lipstick leaves on the cup.

Hopefully I'll get around to packing up the bathroom at some point today.  Or maybe tomrorow because let's face it, season 4 is going to take me all night.

wordless wednesday: happy 2nd birthday to my nephew colin!

We love you!

Auntie Nicole, (Uncle) Adam & Ricki (arf!)

wishful wed: handbags

I'm spoiled.  I'm so completely spoiled.  Adam has gotten me a Coach bag almost every year that we've been together.

So spoiled.

But I can't help it.  And I want this one to be my new baby - I'm all about big and colorful.  And since I'm lacking a trustworthy, goes-with-everything blue purse, this would be perfect!

I've also been on the hunt for a smaller bag to offset my love of larger-than-life bags that can fit everything from my computer to my dog.  I came across this little number from Burberry that I would gladly spend my pennies on it if my piggy bank weren't so empty.

What's your latest bag obsession? 

blue pens for sale.

I'm cleaning out my desk today for good.  Which means I've officially come to terms with the fact that I could possibly be a contestant on that 'Hoarders' show.  It is astounding the amount of 'crap' in my desk.  Enough computer wires to create a small spaceship.  An umbrella that is not only pee-green in color, but that doesn't even work.  A roll of sparkly silver ribbon that I cannot for the life of me remember why this would be in my desk.  Business cards from about three years ago with the wrong title on them.  Boxes of printer labels - I have never used nor needed to use printer labels at all, why I have three boxes of them is beyond me.  A gazillion blue pens for the person who only writes in black.

HOARDER.

Oops.  My bad.

The scavengers are already circling.  Fights over who gets my chair (I do have a brand new chair WITH a reclining option, it's in high demand).  My monitors are being pilvaged.  I managed to steal away my mousepad before it was stolen away from me.

No takers on the blue pens though.  Come on people, they're BLUE pens for FREE!

My stapler is even gone.  My stapler.  What is this, an office space remake?  It's not even a red stapler, just plain black.

Oh and there aren't any staples in it, because let's face it, I probably couldn't find them in my desk if I tried.

And so the vultures are circling.  I guess I can't blame them since the majority of my prized desk possessions were the result of picking through the desks of those laid off last year.  It's the circle of life, for office supplies.

For pete's sake though, will somebody take all these pens?

oh wait, i'm getting married too?

You'd never know it.  I spent more time being excited about my brother's wedding this weekend than even remotely remembering my own.

I had the joy of going wedding dress shopping with my future SIL on Saturday morning and it was 100x more fun than when I went dress shopping for myself.  Not that I didn't appreciate my mother's sudden bursts of laughter as I toppled over in a cupcake-layered dress.  But being on the other side, obviously the less stressful side, was beyond awesome.  I loved watching Megan play dress up.  Watch her scrunch up her nose and loudly proclaim that she resembles a doilie.  Watch her mouth drop open as she glides out in what can only be described as THE DRESS.  I loved that we pretty much caused a scene jumping up and down and skipping around the store.  That all the salespeople looked at us like we were slightly crazy but thought it was wonderful all at the same time.

I've never had that experience...without being the bride.  I was too young when my older sister got married and most of my friends are still hitting up the singles bars.  I loved getting to be a part of the excitement without any of the stress.

We had a wonderful day, checked out the wedding venue (GORGEOUS) and lunched to our heart's content.

It's rare that I get to spend a whole day with her, just the two of us.  Our family is so big that it's often a whole group of us girls heading out for a day of fun.  I don't get the one-on-one time with my sisters very often but it's something to cherish when I do.

must. stop. to. breathe.

And blog.  Since I haven't stopped moving since last week.

I sent out the 'hey I'm outta here' email at work last Thursday.  I'm honestly kind of surprised by some people's reactions.  Some wrote such heart felt emails making me feel guilty I'm leaving.  And some who I expected to have a reaction had none at all.  Even while I'm sitting at work today less than ten feet away from them.  Oh well, work friends are not always true friends I suppose.

It's strange to think I need to start cleaning out my desk today.  I refuse to be someone walking out with a big box.  I'd rather be a bit more discreet with a picture frame here, my coffee mug there.  I really like my chair though, maybe I should pull a Rachel and take that too.  Although I'm pretty sure that's frowned upon.

It hasn't really hit me yet.  I'm sure it will on Wednesday.  Followed by a mental breakdown.  I was never great at accepting change.  The only way I deal is by completely detaching myself emotionally.  Or by not thinking about it at all.  I'm trying to stay more focused on what lies ahead than what I'm leaving behind.

And truth be told, I'm terrified.  To be leaving a place where I know everyone and everything.  For a place where I don't even know where the bathroom is.

Yikes.

It will be a good change though.  I just need to get through the next couple days.

bride on a budget.

We're down to a little over THREE months before saying 'I do.'  THREE MONTHS!!

Which by means of subtracting equates to nine months that I've been "actively" planning my wedding.   Well, more like three months, because I'm pretty sure that from September to January I didn't actually DO anything wedding-related.  Except maybe nag Adam about picking what he's going to wear...because regardless of what he says, shorts are NOT appropriate groomsmen attire.

And so, I thought I'd take a moment to share some of money/time saving tips I've discovered along the way during my 'three' months of planning.

1.  Friday, Sunday and off-season weddings can save you THOUSANDS of dollars.  And scheduling headaches since most venues have vacancies.  We're getting married on July 2nd which is the Friday of July 4th weekend.  On top of saving some cash, we also get to see our out-of-town guests for the whole weekend rather than just saying hi and bye at the wedding.  We're actually throwing a huge party at my mom's house the day after so we can make our hungover-morning-debut.  And I can show off the many bruises given to me by Adam during our many attempts to dance together without causing serious injuries.

2. GUEST LIST!  When you make your initial list it seems like you have hundreds of people that you MUST invite.  If you're sending out save-the-dates, then it is ABSOLUTELY important that you go through your guest list beforehand and separate our the MUST HAVES and the MAYBES.  Make an 'A', 'B' and 'C' group.  'A's' get save-the-dates, 'B's' have probably heard about the wedding, and 'C's' are those people that you're still trying to convince your parents NOT to invite.  Don't send save-the-dates to your 'B' listers just in case you need to cut down your guest list a little.  In looking over my 'B' list the past month, I found about ten people that after taking a second look I decided not to invite - that's a huge savings!  A quick rule of thumb for choosing guests: if you wouldn't invite them over to your house for dinner, then you probably do not need to invite them to the wedding.  Or if you're like me and inviting people over for dinner involves cleaning your house (disaster) then if both the bride and groom must be introduced to them at the wedding, chances are they shouldn't be invited (unless they are the guest of one of your friend or relatives).

3. Also on the topic of the guest list - you don't have to add a Plus One to every guest you invite.  Especially if there are going to be a lot of other people attending the wedding that the guest will know and can sit with.  Note though: if someone is engaged or married, it is common courtesy to invite their significant other.  If the subject gets brought up, assess your guest list and let someone bring a plus one if your numbers are lower than expected.

4. Limit your bridal party.  Yes, they buy their dresses and yes they buy their shoes and yes they buy their tux/suit, but it is still a LARGE expense to the bride/groom.  You have to buy that many more bouquets, boutonnieres, thank you gifts, jewelry you want them to wear, etc etc.  So before you invite your entire sorority to stand up there with you, think it through.  A smaller bridal party also makes the wedding feel more intimate.  And there are that many less opinions involved in what colors, what style, what everything.  Don't invite people to be in your wedding party just because you're avoiding a confrontation - there are plenty of other ways they can be involved.  Being included in someone's wedding regardless of the role is an honor.

5. THE dress.  Mine happened to be the very first one that I ever tried on (lucky me, it was an easy decision!)  However, I did look around at other boutiques to see if they carried it as well.  I wasn't so lucky with mine since it is a newer style, but a lot of wedding boutiques carry the same lines - you can price shop and sometimes save more than $100 on a dress.  Also, shop around for your alterations.  If they need to do an overhaul (like taking the zipper out of mine because it's too big) then chances are you might want to shell out more money to have the boutique do it.  If your dress is simple and just needs to be hemmed or have the straps tightened, then shop around for a tailor.

6. Veils.  This to me seems like such a silly expense.  I'm going to be wearing mine for maybe an hour and they are just so gosh-darn expensive.  It's a piece of fabric glued to a comb, why does it cost over $200?  So my thrifty mother scoured the internet and found that there are lots of discount wedding veil suppliers.  I'm actually purchasing mine from one for a fraction of the cost that it would be in the boutique.  And by a fraction, I mean 20% of the cost.

7. For flowers, go with what's in season.  My colors (fuchsia, orange and red) not only compliment the summer season, but luckily are found in many inexpensive flowers.  If you have a favorite flower that's slightly more expensive, include a few and surround the flowers with less expensive kinds.

8. And the more satisfying part of the wedding - the cake!  Decide if flavor is more important to you or the overall look of the cake.  Trying to combine those two elements will most likely cost you a fortune.  Compromise a little on one and you could save a lot of money.  Also, check out your local grocery store bakery departments, a lot of them will create comparable wedding cakes for a lot less than a high-end bakery.

9. Design your own invitations.  Although I have my own personal reasons for doing this (as in, I hate everything I've found so far and apparently am picky about this), it's actually going to save us quite a bit of money.  I designed our invitations, rsvp cards, reception cards, programs and table cards in Adobe Illustrator and am using Vistaprint to print them.  Or if you do order invitations, print the addresses on your computer at home instead of paying a printer to do so.

10. NEGOTIATE!  Having a Friday wedding or having referrals has saved us money on everything from the DJ to the limo to the photographer.  It never hurts to ask.  Most wedding venues or providers are referral based businesses so they are willing to work with you so that you are happy.

Happy wedding planning - I'm sure I'll have some more little tidbits to share once we get closer to the day!