Why hello there!

What have we here? A sad and lonely, extremely neglected blog? Yes, I thought it was familiar. Last post was welcoming Spring, and here we are now...July 1.

I've been doing a whole lot of workin', and workin' out. I've been looking at beads, but not doing much with them. I did, however, make my cousin a gorgeous prom necklace:



And it got me thinking. Really long and hard thinking. The kind of thinking where I just have words and thoughts running through my head and I get reeeal quiet. That kind of thinking. Dan would catch me deep in thought while he was talking. No, husband, I was not thinking deeply about the Pawn Stars episode we just watched, sorry. But I've essentially come to a conclusion...

STOP THE CRAP, ERIN

This applies to much I have had going on in my life. Writing is what calls to me. You have no idea how many little thoughts I've had where I was then followed with "I should write about that" and not just for this little bloggity-blog...but in all areas. I have a writing degree, I've always been a writer...ever since I could write...and before then, I drew out my stories and thoughts (you should see my "stories" from when I was 4 in which our heroine, yours truly, goes to get jelly beans with her Finny...if you know my Nana, she'll proudly show them.) So, here I am....writing.

Much like what I like to do with my jewelry, my writing (and thus, the direction of this blog) will be everywhere. Fashion? Yup! Food? Oh you betcha! Etsy and jewelry? Oh yes! Trashy Real Housewives gossip? omg. gimme! Random thoughts and stream of conscious flow? Yes, and I apologize in advance.

Also, along with the cutting of the crap, my etsy will be undergoing similar reconstructive procedures again. But don't worry, it's still going to be way more pretty than Joan Rivers. (Oh...she's not pretty, her reconstructions have kind of gone bad, haven't they?) well I guess gettin' pretty will be easy then! Huzzah!

In conclusion, I've always had my voice, but now I'm going to vocalize it. If for no other reason than to make sure Dan doesn't think that I'm really that interested in what Chumlee does when he's allowed to ride a tiny vintage motorbike.

Happy Spring!

(photo credit, moi)

Spring has (temporarily) sprung here in Boston! (shush, no talk of the rain and 40 degree weather next week) It makes me want to go outdoors, take long walks on my lunch break, go hiking, sit and read under a tree...you get the picture. On my lunch break today, I saw lots of girls in their cute flip flops, open toe shoes, and pretty pedicured feet. Which made me long for my flip flops (and maybe these wedges, yet to move into my closet), but alas, I didn't get my pedicure for the spring yet.

Who would have expected 70 degrees after a monsoon and freezing rain earlier this week (oh...New England Weather). It just means one thing...my couch and I have a hot date tonight for an at home pedicure so I can at least wear my flippy floppys (ha) tomorrow while this warmth remains. My color of choice you ask? My favorite bright hot magenta-y pink. OPI's La Paz-itively Hot! (Also the color I wore for my wedding day, what what?)

Enjoy the weather!!!

Craving Summer

And here comes that time of year...

Not spring, not winter. Yesterday it was a balmy mid-40 temperature here, today...snow. The daffodils are no doubt saying "wtf" to mother nature. I start itching for spring clothes, bright colors, and no more winter anything. I was looking into my closet the other day realizing..."man it's boring in here." I had a distinct lack of color. Granted some of that is due to my spring/summer clothes being packed away, but I did start to think...I need yellows! Orange! Grape-y shades of purple! I tend to load up on blues and greens in the warmer weather, but this year I'm making a vow. I'm buying yellows, and oranges, and even purples...AND WEARING THEM!

So while bored at work, I've been slowly collecting yellows and oranges and purples in polyvore over the span of the past 2 weeks. And behold my springing into summer set. A bit of inspiration for me. Hopefully, some of this will wind up in my wardrobe and brighten up my closet.

Springing into Summer by eecummings featuring J Crew

The dress so nice they named it twice

New York, New York Dress

(Anthropologie, $168)

Every now and then (okay, almost daily) I take a little trip to a few favorite websites of mine. While looking around Anthro, feeling a little spring in the air, I came across this little number. Love. I'm always looking for fun Spring/Summer dresses, and this one is perfect. I love the water color painted look to the print. The shape is what I do best, and the colors are so fun and feminine and subdued and just waited for me to play them up. This might just have to come home with me...eventually. But for now, I just wait and hope for a sale.

Dear John Cusack...

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!?

Holy Cats! A blog post!

And Happy New Year to you!

I was recently searching for a new day-to-day winter coat. My old J Crew one has finally seen its day. Call me silly, but I don't actually like spending a lot of money on winter coats. I hate winter, I hate all things winter...snow, cold, static (I'm a walking spark), dry EVERYTHING. Ugh. So I get less than enthusiastic about spending my money on all things winter.

My criteria was as follows:
1. Under $100
2. Cute
3. Something that will still be acceptable next winter (and hopefully even more than that)

I had it narrowed down to 3 contestants:

Calvin Klein Zip Front Melton Jacket (88.90 Nordstrom)

This coat was under $100, and a GREAT steal at 50% off. However, the white struck me more than the black did, and as a day-to-day jacket, I feared the crispness of the color. It also has a classic style that would last many winters to come with its trench coat-meets-pea coat vibe. However, this wasn't screaming me. It just...lacked.

ModCloth Scotland Yard Coat ($67.99)

This was really cute, and also well under my price point. I'm a sucker for plaid, and the belted waist leads to a super feminine silhouette. My main concern with this...the plaid. I feel like it's such on trend right now that even as something classic, it will look off when plaid calms down (and I'm assuming it will, we can't all walk around looking like Seattle grunge rockers from the 90's forever...as fun as it may be)...but still, this coat made it to the final two.

ModCloth Your Royal Purple Highness Coat ($77.99)

I immediately fell in love with the retro styled collar on this coat. It's so...me! The double breasted button front was really sharp, and it is a classic look that will forever be with us. The way it nips in the back (see additional photos on ModCloth) so feminine! Then...I saw it. The it that sold me....what's that I see? Is it a...ruffle?! *Squeal* I was sold. I had to have this. The little ruffle detail on the hem of the sleeves? I can't pass that up! I am slightly concerned with the reviews about this jacket...it appears that the color might appear to be more technicolor McDonalds Grimmace purple and not the smooth deep plum purple it appears in pictures. I guess we'll have to wait and see. Be sure to expect a review when it arrives!

Also...this may have also fallen into my cart before purchasing. I love the colors in this scarf!

It's a Crewel, Crewel Scarf ($15.99)

I'm very excited about my first purchase from Modcloth. I've been admiring them for some time now, they've got some great pieces. It's a happy blend of Anthropologie meets Urban Outfitters with their own creative aesthetic.

Until they arrive, I'm hoping to just stay warm inside. Who knows, maybe this new coat will make me want to go out and rock the coat all the time! (although I find this highly unlikely...)

Victory!

(and thus ends my Entourage moment)


But, if you remember back here I posted about NEEDING a particular cardigan from Anthropologie:

Well let me tell you a funny little story about this cardigan. Shortly after creating that post, I wandered around the city on my lunch break...not too out of the ordinary for me when the weather is nice--however, this day I was feeling gross, and bloated, my hair was doing whatever-the-hell-it-wanted despite my best efforts, and I was just feeling down and out. So I took a break to walk and clear my head. I stopped by Starbucks, got an iced drink of some sorts (this was a while ago and my memory isn't the best with the wee little details, but the drink is enough detail for where this story goes). Anyway, I'm wandering around, just trying to enjoy the weather, get my vitamin D for the day and perk up...and I all of a sudden realize that I was near Anthropologie. Retail therapy will cheer me up!

Or so I thought....I rushed in through the doors--a girl on a mission. I grabbed this lovely cardigan and made a dash for the fitting room, fat day and all, I mean I wasn't trying to squeeze into pants. While trying to hunt down someone to let me in a room (why are they never there when I need one?!) it hit me--mybladder was full. So now, I'm a disaster wind blown, messy hair, fat day, bloated gross, omg is that a pimple coming through?!, already down-in-the-dumps girl trying on a cardigan for weather it is not yet appropriate for, and oh yeah, it's my lunch hour and I will have to wander back to work shortly, waiting to try on one. little. cardigan. STRESS!!!!

I get into the fitting room and pull the cardigan on and....

...disappointment.

I HATED IT! Couldn't take it off fast enough. It was unflattering, and made my gut look big(ger at the moment) and man there was something just off (no, it couldn't possibly be my self defeating attitude at that moment).

Discouraged, I left Anthro with nothing but a full bladder and rushed back to work.

So, this past weekend when I figured it was time to put away the flip flops, strappy sandals and open toe anything and purchase those sweaters I needed. It was off to the mall for me!

I was in a much better frame of mind. I knew what I needed and I was a girl on a mission! I went into Anthro and knew exactly what I was looking for...and no, it was NOT the Frilled and Thrilled cardigan.

But wouldn't you know...we crossed paths again! There was 3 hanging on a sales rack, I looked and wouldn't you know, there was ONE in my size! This is a sign for me. I'm a stalker shopper and when something I want is in my size and on sale it NEEDS to come home with me. But, I remembered our previous nightmare of an encounter. However, I remembered my down-and-out day, and figured trying it on in a better state of mind couldn't hurt me...

I. LOVE. IT.

I didn't try on the one in the colors pictured, but rather its bordeaux/chartreuse partner, it's a lovely combination and I'm glad to have found it, and this time it did come home with me.

Let this be a lesson (to me, but feel free to listen, too) that shopping with a negative mindset can have a negative impact on my wardrobe!