Who needs a little black dress on New Years Eve?

I want to wish all of my Fresh readers a happy new years eve, and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Thank you to all of you who are reading this blog of mine, and for sending me your input and ideas.  Please keep it up!

I have never been the type to get all dolled up in a little black dress (for many reasons) on New Years Eve. Mostly because I spend it with loved ones at home playing games, and we all know when you're playing board games at the kitchen table its most comfortable in sweats.  With that being said, I felt like trying to bring out the *very small* cowgirl in me.  I absolutely love this shirt my mom and I found in New York this past spring at Macys.  My jeans, are the only pair I own that have a tear in them.  I like to buy nicer jeans so I can get away with wearing them at work, so its hard to justify a big purchase on ripped jeans (even though they're in style).  

This photo isn't great as far as picture quality is concerned, for several reasons.  But I did the best I could without a photographer, and unable to find my tripod (which I found right when I finished).  The shirt, TUCKED OR UNTUCKED? Ehh, I couldn't decide.  I love these cowboy boots.  They were a find and a half, and I went on a wild goose chase to find my size.  I love a good competition. 

Why I love these boots:  a) they're short b) not very heavy c) don't make my jeans fall weird d) they're comfortable and f) waterproof!

Does anyone have any New Years Resolutions?  You can bet I do!  I'll be sharing them soon.  Until then, Happy New Year!!  

Snowed Inn

You know when you find a new piece that catches your eye and you absolutely love?  Well this blazer/jacket/top/sweater did just that for me the other night.  You know when you get Christmas money from your loved ones and they say to buy yourself something you want? Well that's exactly what I did.  I wore this outfit to work today, but when I finally got inside, I changed the boots to heels.  Although to be honest, I love the boots with this outfit.  What do you think?

I love that this piece is fitted, yet comfortable.  It is so versatile I can't wait to try it out with other pieces.  The pants I've had for about three years, and am so happy they still fit :) The boots are another Christmas gift from TT.  These are my "practical" boots.  I love them.  I love my other boots too much to take them out in the snow, but these booties are made just for that.  *please excuse the no makeup, my photographer was leaving before I was done getting ready*

How would you wear this outfit?  Was the sweater/shirt combo underneath my new jacket too much? I almost just wore a plain t, but then looked at my heaping  pile of laundry and realized it wasn't an option.  Have a wonderfully snowy day!

Daniel's Hat

Speaking of style, check out this awesome hat someone gave Daniel in Taiwan.  It's one of the few souvenirs he came back with.  His own personalized hat.  Awesome.

Christmas Day

A little peek into our glorious Christmas day.

Christmas Day Dinner.

 A festive kitchen, dishtowels and all.

My very own appetizer.  

Candlelit dinner.

Peace, love, joy.

Mr. Snow Man

Christmas ornaments.

Welcome to Christmas Village.

The view from the window.

The view from the stairs.

 

The meaning of Christmas.

 

The Noel Home in Christmas Village.

 

Crafty Santa.

 

Poinsettia Lady.

 

Santa by the fireplace.

Peace On Earth.

*if you want to know where any of these beautiful decorations are from, please email me!*

A Crew Christmas

 our favorite pup would like to wish you merry christmas  we hope everyone has a wonderful day!

we love you!

From Work To Play

Disclaimer: this picture was taken close to 9 pm, and I believe I put it on close to 7am.  So, while I may look slightly glazed, I think it was from the pain those heels caused me after 10 hours of wearing them (not to mention walking all day long).  This is one of those outfits, I want to believe looked better than it photographed.  I apologize for the boring background, it's more difficult than I thought it would be.  This outfit: cords, J Brand (a San Fran purchase), shirt, Zara (brought home from Paris), sweater*, Anthropologie, watch, Zodiac (the band smells like vanilla...forever).

What I see: these are the TOTAL wrong shoes for this outfit.  Flats would have been much more flattering.  The sweater probably didn't wear best buttoned like that, but to be honest, the collared shirt, was slightly see through, so it was buttoned for a reason.

What could make this outfit better: the sweater unbuttoned? Something needs to change with the hair, it maybe should have been pulled back.  It's getting in the way. 

* At work, there were at least 4 customers (if not more) while helping them that said one of the following:
"What song does your sweater play?"
"If you take off your sweater and put it on the piano, could you play it?"
" Wow, I really want to know what song that plays."
"That sweater..."


 And then came night.  I would have kept this outfit on to go out, but since we were going to a movie I felt a sudden urge to get really comfortable.  I wanted those heels as far away from me as possible. 

Tonight's outfit: shoes-Gold UGGS (last seasons), leg warmers- FALKE from Germany, leggings-Free People, sweater- made by Kenzie a Nordstrom brand,  scarf- from B.P.

This outfit was so comfy, and I felt cute, but not realllly cute (I know you know the difference).  Maybe because I decided on it so quickly.  It was really warm which is so important to me.  I'm all about staying warm.  The movie we saw: Invictus.

Well, how would you have worn these outfits? And which one do you like better? And have suggestions on cute hair styles for long hair?  Let me know!

Thanks, and happy styling!

Stylish boys

This is TT and our dog Crew (I'll tell you bout him another time), and they want to wish you all

a MERRY CHRISTMAS! Aren't they so cute? no one will ever know how many shots it took to get this dog to look at the camera, and not everything else in the room

It's SOO fashionable to cook!

I have been wanting to make these pancakes since I got Pioneer Woman's Cookbook.  Oh man, these were on the first page the cookbook fell open to, and looked delicious.  Finally, today after church I made them.  As you can see, I can't make them look as pretty as PW can, but I definitely recommend this recipe for pancakes...*there is a secret ingredient in these!* Anyway, TT and I downed this pile of goodness faster than you can say "Merry Christmas!!"

This was one meal that I wasn't worried about having too much butter, because I figure it's okay to splurge once in awhile.  These were delish! I can't wait to try these recipes PW's cookbook:

• Meatloaf
• Homemade Ranch with Iceberg Wedge
• Lasagna 
• Breakfast Bowls - - sounds exciting, right?

Want to know another cookbook with fabulous recipes?  The Gathering Of Friends, has amazing recipes, with memorable table scapes, and interior decor ideas too! I just love good ideas!

More style posts coming soon, but for now, happy eating, and happy holidays!  Have a killer recipe? Send it my way, puhleeze!

After all, it's SOO fashionable to cook.

Little Miss Erika

Since it's finals this week, I've been buried in books and really the last thing I have had time for is thinking ahead for what to wear.  This has resulted in jeans and a different jacket, zip-up, or t-shirt everyday this week, and that's just not really blog worthy at all.  However, my good friend Erika, always knows just what to wear.  This is one girl whose not afraid to embrace her own style. I love her love for fashion. 

What I love about this outfit: this is classy, and simple at the same time.  Who doesn't have a black top, jeans, and boots?  Erika makes a simple idea look very fashionable.  Plus, I think I could recreate something like this straight from my closet- and I love that.

Top: J.Crew (she should model for them) - looks like a shirt, but it is really more like a sweater.
Jeans: Banana Republic skinnys Boots: unknown.

The outfit is complete with just a few simple accessories.  Note the watch, and painted finger nails.  I always consider freshly manicured/painted hands an accessory.  Finger nail polish can draw attention just as well as a fun pair of earrings, or a necklace.

This is so helpful for me!  I think I can create my own version of this outfit, simply with what's ALREADY in my closet.  Thanks Erika for being so fashionable!

Birthday Girl

Okay, first of all, I'm just now realizing that if you didn't actually see me in this outfit, then you wouldn't know that there is a darling black scarf draped around me, because you can't see it in the photos.  I threw this outfit together on my way to a girl's birthday lunch for me! My mom, niece, and favorite sister took me to CPK amidst all our busy schedules. Doesn't it feel like the holiday season should really be called crazy season?

Things I'm learning from looking at these photos: I like the cowboy boots more than I thought.  They're probably 3 years old now, but look brand new.  I LOVE leggings, they're so comfy.  This sweater was a find, when I was shopping with my mom she picked it off an Ann Taylor sale rack for $14.99 (killer! I wish I had a pic of sleeves to show), and then a wool jacket from Banana Republic that is also probably 3 years old.

Before I met them for lunch, I was shopping in Anthropologie (the sale rack, with my 15% birthday month discount in hand*), and Jen, an employee, told me how much she loved my outfit.  Funny thing is, the main pieces of this outfit are at least a few seasons (years) old!  But she thought it looked fresh and new! Love that!

To ALL those of you who made my 23rd a great one, both friends and family, thank you, it means the world. I couldn't have asked for a better day.  I feel so loved.

What I did learn about this outfit: it looks slightly European I think, and maybe a little less bulkiness on top, and my hair looks like a mop - - gotta tone it down! But its not like this is a hair blog. Maybe it should be. And also, don't look at my face, I didn't know what to do. Thanks for the previous comments and advice! I need it!

*get an Anthro card, they send you deals! and if for any reason you need to return anything, you don't need your receipt if you have one...very handy. and - if its your birthday, they send you a fancy card in the mail with a 15% off an entire purchase - yes please!

oh geeze

So the point of this blog, or the goal, is to help me really.  What I want this blog to do for me: help me wear my clothes BETTER.  That means, mixing it up more often, not always going for the same two pair of jeans, the same three shirts, etc.  I have clothes, I just need to maximize them.  This means I need to be more creative.  And in order to do that, I need to document, and then learn from myself.  Hopefully, I'll get to be so creative, I'll find my unique style.  A style that is still comfortable, mostly classy, sometimes trendy (or vice versa), but ME.

So, without further uh-dooo...

From the ground up: Jessica Simpson Heels, Cimarron pants (from Paris), Banana Republic V-Neck, Grey sweater from Anthropologie, Giant Scarf.

Surprisingly I was really comfortable today.  The only complaint would have been the heels, but they are the most comfortable pair of heels I own.  I do a lot of walking around at work, so I need to find more dressy flats.  I don't like ballet flats so much though.  How should I have worn this combo? Or would would you have added/subtracted? HELP!

The Griswaleys

Last night, we went to Cumming's Trees and got our very first Christmas tree, old school style.  We picked this beauty from about 150 trees, and this was our favorite.  We only have two of our own ornaments, but we'll see what the finished product looks like.  Pictures soon.

Just call him Clark Griswald.  Both of these were taken with the 50mm. Love it.

Windy McCindy

One of my favorite things we did in San Fran was all of the walking.  So fun, we walked around the bridge, around the wharf, around Columbus St, Geary St, Lombard St, Union Square, Painted Ladies, and so many other places.   Please note, TT's crazy curly hair.  He has not cut it since before the wedding.  In fact, I remember being frustrated that he cut it the day before we got married.  We all know that boy haircuts can be scary sometimes, but it turned out looking pretty good!  And now it's been 4 months since that hair cut.  Who knew he had curly hair? Speaking of hair, I have an issue.  My hair is so dry right now, and is getting tangled underneath (eww.).  I need help! 

Not quite Golden Gates.

We Ate Good Food.

Just wanted to post a quick picture or two from San Fran before I get a chance to edit them all.  We had such a great time, and if anyone ever goes to San Fran I have some MUST-EAT places for you.  Gosh, it was delicious.  Sunday morning came all too soon.  We filled every minute with something fun.  Now I know why there is that song about leaving your heart in San Francisco.  I have no idea how it goes, or who sang it, but I agree!

Down at the wharf, where crabs (these are crabs right?) are all over the place, and you can smell it!

Blue skies!

The first night on our cable ride back into Union Square, it became an instant favorite.

View coming in from Union Square.  How great is this photo?  Everything I took here is a SOOC (Straight-Out-Of-Camera) shot, thanks Pioneer Woman (that's what she calls pre-edited photos).  I took only one lens.  The 50mm 1.8 by Canon.  And I left my flash at home, on purpose.  I tried to focus on using only natural light.

If you want to know more on how/what I shot these photos at, feel free to ask!  There are a bunch more photos to come! For now, its off on a quick jog, then to work!

HAPPY DECEMBER!

Open Those Golden Gates

TT and I are leaving for the Thanksgiving break! I'm so excited.  We're off to San Francisco.  I plan on doing some amazing "black friday in san francisco" shopping, and taking great photographs, lots of walking, some gooood food, and lots of fun! I'm so excited.  So, thank you for the ones that made this trip happen! I'm so excited!

It's All About The Secret

Okay, so about a month ago I was shopping online, and came across these beauties.  Now that I'm married, 200 dollar UGGS aren't really in my newlywed, newlypoor budget.  But I've continued to look at these boots every day, as I'm trimming down my wishlist.  It's not that I need new boots, or even need new uggies, but my sweet father purchased them for me as if he knew I'd been eyeing them the last few weeks.

What do you think about the ones on the left? I almost got those ones because look how cute they are! But when I put them on, I felt like a grandma.  So, I went with my instincts.  Here is to my UGGs for this winter season! I can't wait to show them off.

Oh about the secret, my mom recommended the book The Secret, its pretty insightful.  Pretty much, if you think positively about things you want to accomplish in life, you'll find a way to make them happen.  I thought about these uggies practically everyday,  and look what happened.  Brilliant.