OOTD: Summer Night In The Park

Shirt: American Eagle  Cardigan: Dynamite Skirt & Tank Top:  Charlotte Russe  Necklace: JmundoDesigns Bracelet:  Headband worn as wrap bracelet from Walmart  Shoes: Aldo  Lipstick:  Estee Lauder "Sunstone"  Legwarmers & Earrings: Gift

Monday Review: Wedding and Interview

So we're back from the interview and the wedding, had a day of rest, and now I'm making myself get stuff done.  On a frustrating note, Derek didn't get his visa approval right away.  Everything went well - they told us that everything looked good (apparently we convinced them that we were married and that we made enough money) but the only issue was "establishing domicile."  That means that we have to prove that we are in fact moving to the states.  That seems so stupid to me, because why would we have gone through all that trouble to NOT move?  (Guess I should have worn something red, white, and blue :P) Haha.  Anyway it's quite easy, we just have to send in a few more papers via mail - we don't have to go back to Quebec, thank God.  It should be fast, as well, so we should still be moving soon (mid September, perhaps?).  So all in all, a very good outcome, but quite frustrating after spending five hours sitting in a building knowing you have to be in Traverse City in less than twenty four hours. 

Dress: Express Shoes: Aldo Necklace: Designs By Annika Headband: Feather Your Nest

We did, in fact, make it to Traverse City in time, and my friend Sharayah's wedding was so lovely.  It was incredibly emotional watching her tie the knot, and seeing her so happy.  Her classic fashion sense was evident in the sand-colored tuxedos she chose for the men, the hints of color to her ensemble (blush colored sash and veil) and amazing hairdo.  I will have to share more and better pictures when I stumble across them.  As to the matter of what I wore, the above was not my carefully planned outfit.  My carefully planned outfit is actually in Quebec, where I left it, hanging up in our hotel room.  -_-  The dress I ended up wearing is this gorgeous, colorful number, and I received it from my in-laws for Christmas.  It actually ended up being a better choice than my original plan, so hey, not all a loss.  I tend to purchase black dresses, but I don't like wearing black to a wedding.  Other dresses of mine have a white base with a print over it, but I also don't like wearing white to a wedding, so this dress will actually probably be a staple for attending weddings.  It's celebratory, formal, but still very wearable.  I can't say the same for my stilettos, but I fail-danced the night away in them regardless.  Also worth mentioning, Sharayah managed to seat us probably with the best people...ever.  It was the most successful seating chart in the history of seating charts.  Most likely.  

We gave the bride and groom somewhat of a creative present, but I won't tell you what it is in case they haven't opened it yet.  Maybe in a couple of days I will.  Well, little hands of panic are closing around my throat as I contemplate the workload before me, so I better get crackin'.  Just try not to think about what it's going to take in order to be packed up and ready to move across the continent in a month, Elizabeth...

Would you let the husband of this woman into your country?

Shirt:  Dress worn as top from Charlotte Russe Skirt and Belt: I think from JC Penny Heels: Payless Bracelet: Necklace worn as wrap bracelet from Ben Moss Jewelers

Tomorrow, Derek and I leave to head to Montreal, Quebec, to attend a visa interview.  My husband is trying to become a permanent resident of the states so that we can live in California!  This should hopefully be the first and only interview, and we don't really know what to expect.  They should give hubby the green light for moving right away, but the process could (fingers crossed, let's hope not) take longer still.  Anyway, I don't even know if I'm being interviewed, but I'm sort-of sick with dread.  My horror of any sort of test and my penchant for forgetting normal things that everybody knows like their own address make this not the sort of situation I would succeed in.  Furthermore, the determining of where I am going to live is a lot to rest on how an interview goes.  Of course, we will eventually live in the states, but California has been calling me home for too long now as it is.  To compensate for my utter lack of prowess in interview situations, I have put together the perfect outfit.  I wanted to look like a contributing member of society, wealthy, and respectable.  I may have overdone it, but it's basically either jeans or this.  Haha.

After that, we're driving down to Michigan to attend the wedding of my dear friend, Sharayah.  I am VERY excited for that, but I can't even really focus on that until after the interview.  I would show you my outfit for the wedding, but I don't want to spoil the surprise.  ;)  Meanwhile, Linus will be staying with the in-laws (he loves his "grandparents," and they are total champs about it) so he received a bath and trim two days ago.  We used watered-down baking soda and lemon juice to wash his fur, since that's what we've been using on our own hair for the last two weeks, with great results.  It got Linus really clean, and as with my hair, it made his fur REALLY FLUFFY.  Linus is not usually very fluffy for a male rough Collie, but not using a heavy pet shampoo on him really gave his coat a lot of body.  He looks great, and I'm really excited, because I always wished he was a bit more fluffy.  In this picture, he isn't as fluffy as he was after drying off from his bath two days ago, but he's still more voluminous than usual.

I won't be doing any posts for a few days since I'll be out of town, so while I'm gone, be sure to read the awesome guest post that my friend Abby did yesterday.

Anyway, wish us luck!

Layering, Dressing For Your Body Type, and OOTD

This outfit of the day shows what I wore for some quick family pictures taken the other day.  My husband's sister, Sabrina, is leaving for college TODAY and we are sure going to miss her.  Such an exciting time for her, though, I really hope she has a blast as she embarks on this new adventure.

Oddly enough, this was what I was planning on wearing before I knew we were doing pictures - I had decided I better do a more polished look for an OOTD post, since this has been my primary go-to style and I haven't shown it to my readers yet.  When I found out about the pictures, I freaked out and tried on tons of things in my closet, but ended up wearing my original plan, anyway.  This was even the first time I wore this ensemble!  Sometimes, what you picture in your head actually does work.  

So the big deal about this outfit is that the adorable "top" that I'm wearing is actually a dress!  That's something I've been wanting to try, to get more mileage out of my wardrobe, and this was the first time I've tried it.  In the following picture I bent over to try and show what the top of the dress is like - it isn't tucked in and bloused, it's basically just a long, hanging ruffle of sorts.  

Skirt: RW & co. Shirt: dress worn as top from American Eagle Shrug: don't remember, and I took the tag out Belt: The Limited Wrap Bracelet: headband worn as bracelet from Walmart Necklace:Jmundodesigns @ Etsy

 I really love that dress (worn as a top) from American Eagle.  I'll have to show a picture of it by itself so that you can see it.  I think it's a good example of shopping for your body type.  Normally I'm not hugely into shopping for your body type, I don't know why that is, and it's probably bad.  My body type is either pear or rectangle.  My hips are the largest part of me, so I'm supposed to select pieces that emphasize my upper body to balance myself out.  This dress has a soft, hanging "ruffle" that falls to just above my natural waist line.  Meanwhile, the rest of the dress is a jersey fabric that is form fitting in the waist with more of an A-line skirt.  It makes my chest look more normal sized (read here: makes it look as if I actually have one) and my waist look tiny.  In other words, it gives me that ideal "hour glass figure."  I feel divine in this dress, and I bought it in two colors.  I guess I should shop for my body type more often, eh?  

Family pictures coming soon.  

P.S.  Want to start shopping for your body type, or looking for dresses to layer?  The very cute blog, Kendi Everday, is having a terrific giveaway of a $200 gift card to Karen Kane!  All you have to do is comment on her blog post.  Go get on that, folks.  

Date Night, Marriage, and Memories

 Last night, we went to the movies, as we do every Tuesday night.  We got a (practically) flat tire, and had to go put air in it before we went home.  I decided I ought to take a picture of my wonderful man.  While he was refilling the tires, he reminded me of the time that we had to do the same to our previous car while on a cross-country road trip.  He had forgotten to put the caps back on and drove away, scattering the caps across the parking lot.  In his defence, I was just sitting in the car being useless as usual.  He realized what had happened and we drove back and hunted for the caps.  At the time, it probably wasn't the most fun thing ever.  Yet we laughed to remember it, and honestly, it just...took me back.

Derek and I have been through a lot together, and though we've only been married for two years, already it feels like a life time.  I think that's a good thing, but it can also have its downsides in that if all you can remember is now, then you forget the things that led you to now.  Spontaneously remembering that random, minor, silly misfortune that befell us nearly three years ago did something strange to me.  As if I had become numb without knowing it, something opened and I fell even more in love with my husband in that second.  Just like how the best memories are often the ones you didn't even intend to make, it's funny that the best part of my date night was an unscheduled and inconvenient stop.  Life is strange like that.

Cardigan: Dynamite Shirt: Charlotte Russe Tank Top: American Eagle Wrap Bracelet: headband worn as bracelet from Walmart Jeans: Fidelity Denim

OOTD: Boyfriend Flannel

My poll indicates that what you guys want to hear more about is marriage, by a slight margin.  Of course, I know one of those votes was my husband, who was not aware that the 'marriage content' I was referring to could be better named as 'jokes at husband's expense.'  (Clearly this is not the place to come for marriage advice.  ;) Anyway, to satisfy the cravings of my readers and to excuse the fact that this Outfit Of The Day (ootd) post is neither very fashionable nor enlightening, I bring you: boyfriend flannel.  Which is me raiding Derek's closet.  It was so comfortable, I loved it.  I feel a dangerous tradition in the making.  Don't worry, I have ideas for more stylish ways to wear boys' shirts, which you will see later.

Also, Derek really liked this outfit.  A COMFORTABLE OUTFIT THAT A MALE LIKES?!  A BAGGY comfortable outfit that a man likes?  I might as well close this blog.  You have no need for me, I leave you with the only piece of advice you'll ever need: go steal your significant other's clothes and live in comfort all of your days.  I'm just kidding, but in all seriousness, why is it that men love it when their ladyfriend wears their clothing?  It's funny, and great.

 Softest, yummiest flannel shirt ever: American Eagle for guys

 Shorts:  Hydraulic (possibly purchased at Target?)  Skinny braided leather belt: Forever21 Ribbed tank: Hand-me-down Necklace: JmundoDesigns

Sunglasses: somewhere embarrassing like Claires Lips: Maybelline ColorSensation lip stain in Cherry Pop Random Straps: handmade purse

Have I revolutionized your life?  You're welcome.

OOTD: Nautical

Outfit Of The Day

Skirt: homemade Shirt: American Eagle Cardigan: Dynamite Belt: Forever21 Purse: homemade Wrap Bracelet: headband worn as bracelet from Walmart Earrings: Gift; purchased from stall in Europe Necklace: Jmundodesigns @ Etsy

I love nautical things (hence the necklace which I wear near-constantly...the whistle also doubles as a dog whistle!) stripes, cardigans, and belts worn at the natural waist line.  Finally, I whipped up this tote because I desperately needed a larger fabric purse for carrying dog stuff in.  Viola!  You'd never guess dog stuff was in that tote, right?  ;)