What is yellow, cool, and worn around your waist but is not a fanny pack?

 

Today’s morning came quick and I am tired.  But I had to try out my new belt.  However, I am not so sure that I want to be wearing something constricting around my middle after all the Christmas cookies I have put in my face…

you'll poke your eye out

naughty santa sweater

Today is the manifestation of my yearly habit of wearing my awful holiday sweater.  A huge evilish santa.  The sweater is just plan ridiculous.  And sparkly.

This year, I am pairing it with my bright awesome red pants and black danskos.  A word on these pants.  These are another closet item that does not get used as often as it should.  I have to be ready for them; I have to prepare.  You cannot just make any day a red pants day.  But with my ugly sweater, it is a perfect match of glamour and horrific-ness.

Merry Christmas everyone!

no, I do not work at the Olive Garden

“I would like the chicken parmesan with salad and breadsticks”, said hubby.

“Would you like a wine, perhaps?  Our house red?” asked me.

“Yes, the chianti would be nice.”

This was the scene from the bathroom this morning. Today I felt like wearing one of hubby’s ties and he is correct in thinking that my outfit is a bit Olive Gardeny.  However, I am moving forward and wearing it today.  The shirt is a favorite used find – white with small yellow dots.  I am a bit “more” than the buttons close up so a tie is perfect for covering up the gapes.  The tie is my hubby’s tie.  And I am wearing navy pants and sneakers to dress down the look.  If it was warmer, I may have tried to do a jean skirt, but it was not happening this morning with everything looking wet and cold outside.

I like ties and I rarely wear them.  Part of the issue is not having the right shirt to wear with them.  And, the rest of the part is having the gumption to leave the house while wearing one.

the skirt you love to love

Today we have a holiday party at work, so I broke out of my pattern of pants to wear a skirt that I love to love - however, I rarely wear.  I probably wear once or twice a year but I keep it in my closet since it is too cute.  It is wool and lined, so it is a winter skirt.  I am a pansy and rarely wear outfits that are cold in the winter.  Also, the skirt is brown and blue and I find it a challenge to find something that goes with it.  Now that I am getting more comfortable with clashing, this skirt may find more use.  Plus, it has pockets!

Today I paired it with gray tights and mustard shoes that are dressy and nerdy.  And on top, went with a sweater from Target and a simple gray t-shirt.  It is a bit matchy (note the mustard in the sweater), but I went forward with the outfit since I had like 1 minute to leave the house before I would miss the bus.  So, this outfit is inspired by the lack of time, but I think that I like it.

twice recycled.

This awesome shirt was a find by fellow blogger and sister-in-law, Krisrobot from Forever 21.  She wore it, she altered it, she passed it along to me, where I wore it and altered it further.  This is one of my staple go-to for casual everyday affairs.  Today I was meeting a friend for some Indian cuisine.  I threw my hair a messy braid, turned up the bottom of my Gap jeans to show off my plaid $8 Rocket Dogs and wrapped my  neck in a scarf, like usual.

A short memoir of Kris's time with the shirt:
"The white top is soft and has an unusual pattern, and so when I saw it at Forever 21, it was a no-brainer. However, once I washed a few times it became a bit too tummy-showing and I was not wearing it often. I was inspired to cut apart an old red t-shirt and add to the bottom of the white patterned shirt.  This was a nice sewing machine challenge since the patterned top was wider than the red tee.  I had to stretch the red shirt as I was sewing it to the top. The end result was great and it almost looks like the red shirt is underneath the white top. But again, I was not wearing it often so during one of my many closet clean-outs, I gave it to a good home - Katie."

When I first received the shirt the added red band on the bottom was about twice the length as shown in the picture.  It was cute and fit like a bootie huggin' dress that looked smokin' with leggings and boots.  But that was just the problem.  A little too smokin' to wear for everyday with kiddos, but I was still in love with this top.  And so my solution was simple.  Cut the bottom half off the red shirt and turn that piece into a workout head band.  Double win.

Katie May

Current Fav

One of my current favorite outfits is my light teal jeans from Gap with my sheer snake skin  blouse from Express with my light pink cardi over the top.  And of course my nerd plaid Rocketdogs.   This outfit will get lots of love...

katie may

 

jingle bell run

 

Hubby and I did our annual Jingle Bell run and here is my costume.  Santa hat, 5K run shirt (black), turleneck (blue), sparkly mini skirt (black and gray), black leggings, red and white stripped socks. Of course the exciting part of this costume is my mini skirt.  It is actually a tube top (from forever 21) and it was superfun to run in.  Most of our 5K runs have a lot of female runners in tutus and I am happy to report that I do not follow that trendy line of skirt with my costumes.

 

The run was fun and noisy (lots of bells...) and it is for a great cause.  The weather was in the 40's and barely raining, so it was actually a good weather day as well (compared to past years).  We attempt to do offical 5K runs each month and the next one will be on New Year's Day!  I may have to get more sparkly costume pieces...

ode to the scarf

I have many.  However, I only have a few that I are my favorites; they go with everything and if they do not go with everything, it still goes with everything.  This is one of my new favorite scarves.  I happened across this while scarf shopping for someone else at forever21.  (side note: if you have not shopped there for scarves or jewelry,  you are missing out – inexpensive and a huge variety.  You will not feel bad purchasing something on a whim just to see how it works out.)  I have worn this scarf a few times this week already and it has made an ok outfit (boring solid sweater with pants) something bright and more interesting.  It dresses something up and it can be wrapped, tied, and folded in different ways.

I remember in college seeing individuals who wore scarves and I wanted to be like them.  So European I thought.  I did not own any scarves then.  I got this beautiful red one at a consignment shop and then I got another one at Goodwill and started to wear scarves every once in while – but it felt strange.  I got a few pashminas when in Sydney and started to get into how to wear these big, thick long scarfs.  Really in the last several years have I caught scarf fever and feel 100% natural wearing them – not like I am trying too hard or trying to be someone that I am not.  Besides a fashion thing, it is odd that if you neck is warm, you stay warmer as well which is a super bonus since I am rather always cold.  Bonus.

So, back to my new favorite scarf.  It is this off-mustard color with flashes of floral colors.  Soft.  Tassel-ly.  Long and thin.  Inexpensive.  And yes, it goes with everything.

Here we come a-cowl’ing...

 

I am loving the cowl look.  Big thing of material around the neck.  The shirt I am wearing today is from Anne Taylor, which is one of my favorite “adult” stores.  I do not mean “adult” as in sexy… but rather “adult” as I feel older shopping there.  

I was on the look out for sweater vests (and I am still on the hunt) and thought that they would be a great option.  But no.  But I found this shirt.  The neck is more than a turtleneck and is almost like a built-in scarf.  The stripes are what make it extra fun.  Today it is paired with a pair of pink pants (strangely, also Anne Taylor, but used).

and i'm back!

Hello everyone!

I am back after a crazy couple of weeks. My brother in-law got married last week in Belfast. We had a grand old time. Today we are moving from our flat in Polwarth to a HOUSE in Shandon. I am sad to be leaving our flat. We had some amazing times there.  At the same time i am so happy to have more space and *gasp* a backyard! Luckly, i got out of the grunt work and went to work. I left euan at home to do the moving. He didnt have to do all of it. We hired movers. Much much less hassle!

So anywho. Lots of outfits came and went. I did not take the time to photograph any of them - until today!

Its freezing here. Ive been wearing tights and leggings with wool socks. This trick has been keeping me toasty. The skirt is an ebay purchase. Everything else is stuff i used to wear with my jeans.

Fancy but nut to fancy.

What: A night out to a local production of the Nutcracker Ballet.

 

With: my 3 and 4 year old daughters who would not allow anything less than "fancy".

 

Where: the local high school auditorium.  Not exactly the Ordway.

 

Why: a treat after being quartined from society for 4 days due to a public health ailment.

 

Cost: the husband paid $45 for two hours to be alone.

 

Top: mustard scoop neck top under my black shrug made from bamboo.

 

Skirt: pleated irish green skirt from a garage sale for $2.  With pockets!  This is reason to celebrate! My husband says that no one should wear this skirt unless it is St. Patty's day.  I never listen.

 

Legs: knitted tights from Target with my tan booties.

 

I opted for no jewelery and a low pony to keep my "fancy" outfit casual.

 

This outfit resurfaced later in the week for church and work.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



sweet sweaties.

You will not see me lounging in a matching pink velour jogging suite.  But possibly as ridiculous is my baby obsession with pairing sweaties with cute fitted tops.

My weekend lounge wear consisted of the best grey sweaties in the world with my floral mock turtle neck.  I adapted this look from an age-old friend, Brenna-Lynn.  She has always and forever worn sweaties with the cutest stinkin' tees! (literally if she just finished with soccer.)  I have clung to this style into my old age -even if I am not the jock I once was- and proudly prance around in it wear-ever I may be whering it.  Yes, that is my poor humour you were forced to witness. 

The sweats came from my college years of playing softball.  Then I had no idea of the attachment that I would endure.  The top is is a blue and white mock turtle neck from a thrift store in Laguna Beach, CA.  They wanted $12.  I got it for $8.  I always negotiate the price.  Sometimes I feel like negotiating is theft.  I guess they could always so no.  I am not exactly holding them at gun point.   

As cute as this shirt is, it does not lend itself as cool when paired with jeans.  It comes across stuffy.  Sweaties are the way to go with this shirt.

Yes, I wore this all weekend.
Katie May