Birthday Outfit & Hair

I am so glad I wore a wool sweater, cotton skirt, sweater tights, and boots for my birthday celebration night downtown. The weather was awful.

The sweater was great because it kept my core warm. The sweater tights, knee high socks, and boots were great to keep my legs warm.

The cotton skirt worked because it wasn't ruined when rained/ hail/ sleeted on, and dried quite quickly.

Vintage sweater (from jake's grandmother). Gap tank tops. H&M skirt. Target tights and socks. Frye boots (love them so much. I can walk in them ALL day). Vintage pearl neackless (from my grandmother).

For my hair, I just did a french braid. Kind of. Instead of three strands, I just worked with two. It came out like this...

I did this on both sides. The molded my pony into a bun.

 Voila and. Easy peasy.

I have a problem

I guess the first step is admitting it.

I can't seem to be able to stop wearing this blazer or these pants. My closet is woefully short of blazers. But, that is just a lame excuse; I really do love it so.

In addition to my obvious obsession with the blazer and pants, this new shirt and these trendy shoes are working their way onto my favorites list as well.

Its like they say, I found love in this shirt when I least expected.

It was just a little mall outing with Melissa and her boys, a chance to leave the house in February. We popped into Gap (because it's our favorite, duh) to browse. Then at the back of the store I saw a comfy looking shirt. I touched it to see how it felt (I touch every piece of clothing on every rack). An old lady sales woman approach and said, "Isn't that a great shirt?"
"Yeah, it seems nice."(You have to play it cool around these people.)
"You can wear it loose or belt it. It can be worn with jeans or dress it up by tucking it into a nice skirt." (Really giving the hard sell
"Yeah, you're right, really versatile."
I grabbed the shirt to try on, not expecting to like. These kinds of shirts have a way of making me feel large and frumpy.
But by-golly, the old lady was right! I loved the length, the casual yet classic feel. It really was a year round, all purpose piece of clothing. I had to have it.
 

The only problem now is that it is a year round all purpose garment that is oh so comfortable, so you won't be seeing me in much else, until it wears out. A lot like these jeans and the blazer. I know what I like, what more is there to say.

Then there is this snazzy new headband. Cute and warm, an early birthday present from my sister. She also gave me the awesome pompom scarf for Christmas.

Yeah, I have a pretty rad sister. Don't be jealous.
 

Gap jeans&shirt (incase you didn't catch that). H&M blazer. Forever 21 belt. Target booties. Gifted scarf and headband.

P.S.: So sorry for the creepy eyes. I really need to remember to edit out the red eyes before uploading. Maybe next time. No promises though.

Sometimes I Do My Hair,

and it actually looks good. I am a big fan of the messy side bun, or messy buns in general. However, it is rare that my hair is anything other than not embarrassing. In other words, I do just enough to not look like I went to bed with wet unbrushed hair. Which is something I do pretty much every night. So when I wake up without weird bumps and random frizzy spots, you know, nice hair; I have to run with it, and get dressed, and find the mini tripod to take pictures of myself.

This post could also be titled "Gap Appreciation". Bright sweater, ruffled blouse, and printed jeans from Gap. Black boots from a random store in Hong Kong.

Costume Change

I'm not going to lie. I have have changed three times today. First, I got dressed for the day. Then, Lauren called to go on a walk, so I changed into walk appropriate clothing. While on our walk I found and bought a pair of pants I have had my eye on for a while. They were $17.95, with an additional 30% off and they still had my size! It was fate. At least that is what I am going to tell Jake.

When I got home from the walk, I started playing with my new pants and put this together.

With the weather being to warm these wedges are not too out of place, even though it is January.

I threw on some mascara and lipstick just for these photos. I was naked faced all day. 

Here is an detail shot of the pants. Pretty awesome. Am I right?

Vintage Pendelton sweater via Jake's Grandmother. Gap tank. Gap pants. Target shoes. Messy hair, courtesy of ten, or so, hours of glorious sleep. I think I am finally back to normal after my Beijing trip. Those trips really do a number on my sleep habits!

I love...

colored jeans!

Last week I bought a pair of red jeans. I never want to take them off. They are so awesome!

Yesterday I tried on a pair of snakeskin patterned jeans that were equally awesome. So maybe I should say, I love colored and printed jeans. Sadly, they were not on sale and I was not out shopping for myself, it is almost Christmas people! 

My dog-in-law, Moses, agrees: Colored jeans are rad.

What super trendy styles are you into these days?

A few things before the weekend

Target has $5 tights in a million different colors. So cute! I controlled myself to buying three pairs.

I'm wearing the new grey pair today. They are surprisingly nice tights, especially considering the price.

I'm not sure if the grey tights and brown shoes are a complete match, but I've made a decision and I'm sticking with it. I'm pretty sure I heard somewhere that all neutrals go together, I'm clinging to that. I guess I'll find out how sure my logic is when Jake gets home. 

Check out these awesome new stamps!

I am so excited about these stamps. I bought two books of them. If you get an envelope with one of these stamps on it from me, you know that you are very special. 

Thursday night TV was pretty hilarious last night. Danielle and I were so happy (almost moved to tears) that Leslie and Ben (from Parks & Recreation) got back together. The guys from The League definitely crossed a line. When our mouths weren't gaping open in shock, we were laughing so hard (almost moved to tears). Most importantly, no one came through the door without me showing off my cool new stamps. Everyone was equally excited about them (as in, almost moved to tears).

I have never cooked with or (as far as I know) eaten Kale, until this week. I love it! It might have replaced spinach as my favorite green. Which is a good thing as I can't make spinach anymore because I burned Jake out on it. Sad face. 

I tried two new recipes featuring Kale this week: Kale and Sweet Potato Soup and Curly Kale Quiche With a Twist (the twist being that the curt is on top, and that it is vegan)

Both recipes are going into the (figurative) favorite folder. 

The fake quiche was such a hit that everyone (including a tofu hater [gasp]) went back for seconds.

To make your own Kale and Sweet Potato Soup you can get the recipe over at Joy the Baker.

The quiche recipe came from a book, so if you want that you will have to 

a) Buy Vegetarian Cooking by Jeanie Burke, R.D.

or

b) Ask me for it and I will send it to you.

Tomorrow we are heading to Michigan to check out Julia, Jake's sister, in her high school play! We are pretty excited about it. Anyone else have fun weekend plans?

You can't win 'em all

Well hello there. How are you today?

Yesterday was a busy day. It was also a rainy day. I decided to cheer it up with this sunny yet practical outfit. 

Yellow skirt, sunny. Red rubber boots, practical. Plaid shirt, demonstrating Jake's ability to pick out my new favorite piece of clothing. It happens every time he comes shopping with me.

Jake: That shirt is cute. It would look good on you.

Kelsey: Button downs are never quite right on me.

(in an effort to prove my point I try in on)

Jake: It fits great, you should get it.

Kelsey: grr. ok. :) (foiled again, but I got a new shirt out of it)

I went to the gym, straightened up the apartment, did a quick exchange at Old Navy, went grocery shopping, and tried a new soup recipe. 

We both liked the soup. Turnips, parsnips, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, and a big boiling pot of water were made for each other.

While we both agreed that the soup was good. We couldn't agree on my hair. He hates high buns, or buns in general. I don't know if he just doesn't get it or if my hair truly looks ridiculous like this and I just can't tell. Either way it is a "covers many sins" easy 'do, so I'm going to stick with it on those kind of days.

While we were sitting watching the Bears beat the Eagles (hooray) Jake looked over and said, "How is your tuft?" (apparently the new name for my 'do). He thought it was hilarious and laughed at his joke. Then took a close up picture of it. Then laughed some more when I looked at the photo discovering it was just a photo of my hair and not my face.

Shirt: Old Navy, Skirt & Belt: Forever 21, Tights: Target, Boots: Banana Republic

Hair: I grew that myself

ORD, SFO, IAD, ORD

That is what I have been doing the last couple if days.  Work called and luckily I was feeling better. 

The trip started off a little sad. From ORD-SFO, I had my Chicago magazine in my jump seat to read during down time. When I returned to my seat at the end of the flight my magazine was gone! A passenger stole it, how shady! I made an announcement and everything, the perp didn't return it. Sad face.

The trip ended a little better. From IAD-ORD I saw one of my passengers reading a Chicago magazine! I told him the story of my stolen magazine and how I was really looking forward to keeping it because of all the great breakfast suggestions.  He offered to give it to me once he was finished with it and he did. How sweet is that?!  Also he told me the breakfast place Orange was a tasty place to check out. 

Today I decided to get myself dressed and go for a little shopping trip. I haven't looked presentable since I've been sick so I really wanted to step it up with a skirt and a cute sweater. Sometimes dressing up just a little bit really makes a person feel better. I didn't so crazy as to put on makeup or do my hair though. Baby steps back to normality people, baby steps.

Sweater: Banana Replublic, Shirt: Urban Outfitters, 

Skirt: H&M Belt: Forever 2, Tights: Target

Now I'm ready for some Thursday night NBC comedy with Jake and Danielle. 

I Love...

...GAP

Sometimes after I get dressed in the morning, I sometimes notice and say to myself, "Everything I am wearing is from Gap (or is it The Gap, I don't know anymore). 

Sometimes I even am wearing all Gap while shopping in a Gap. For some reason I get embarrassed when that happens. 

This (simple) outfit is entirely from Gap.

I love this skirt in the summer because it is a mini, much to Jake's chagrin.

I love this skirt in the winter because it goes great with leggings and a pair of boots and a cozy sweater.

I love this top because it is oh so comfy and soft. 

I love this top because it has just enough of a twist (the sleeve length, the under arm cut, the squared back neckline, and extra stitched lines) to not make me feel like the most boring dresser in the world.

Who else has love for Gap?