Denver

When I visited Disney World in October, I regretted not taking daily outfit photos. My next vacation was to Denver, CO and I made the Beefy Muchacho take my picture every single day.

Day 1
Jacket, Wilson’s Leather. Scarf, Disney. Cardigan, Silence + Noise. Tank, No Boundaries. Jeans, M. Purse, Newport News. Tote, Target. Shoes, Champion (thrifted). Jade pendants, Phai’s House of Jade.

We flew from Cincinnati to Denver, the morning after a big snowstorm. When we arrived, the city was still digging out. While we waited for the road to Beefy's aunt and uncle's house to be plowed, we killed time at the movies (The Bounty Hunter).



Day 2
Sweater, Mossimo (thrifted). Dress, Jovovich Hawk for Target. Tights, Danskin. Purse, Newport News. Boots, Playhouse.

I did my first of many training runs (3 miles) on the morning of Day 2. Then, Beefy's aunt and cousin took us to Sheplers (where I got my boots!) and Boulder. That night, we made a caramelized pear pie.




Day 3
Jacket, Wilson’s Leather. Hoodie, Mossimo. Dress, No Boundaries. Belt, thrifted. Gloves, Target. Leggings, Danskin. Boots, Dan Post.

After a 4-mile run (and a pick-up by the Beefy Muchacho because I hadn’t run in a loop!), we joined my mother for a day at the Denver Botanical Gardens and then dinner at my parent’s house. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any pics at dinner. Shame on me!





I come by my hammy tendencies honestly.
Day 4
Hoodie and tank, Mossimo. Cardigan, Silence + Noise. Scarf, Disney. Purse, Newport News. Jeans, Dollhouse. Boots, Dan Post.

By this point, I was pretty tired, so we had a rest day. I slept in and did not run. The most active thing I did all day was to drink a margarita at Illegal Pete’s and watch Hot Tub Time Machine.




Day 5
Jacket, Dex (swap). Cardigan, Silence + Noise. Belt, thrifted. Dress, No Boundaries. Tights, Danskin. Boots, Dan Post. Purse, Newport News. Owl brooch, swap.

I ran eight miles on Sunday morning. It was a struggle. The altitude was finally catching up with me. (We stayed at 6000 feet.) Then, the whole Muchacho clan and I went to the Denver Zoo.




Day 6
Jacket, Dex (swap). Dress, Jovovich Hawk for Target. Tights, Danskin. Clogs, Kors (thrifted that day!) Purse, Newport News.

I took my sister, Ping, secondhand shopping in Denver. We visited multiple ARC and Goodwill locations and also Boss Vintage, Buffalo Exchange, and the Assistance League of Denver. I will dedicate a full, upcoming post to our thrifting adventure. I hope I don’t spoil it by telling you that the first ARC was in the same complex as a Casa Bonita and, because it was Caesar Chavez Day, parking on Denver streets was free!

(No running on Day 6 – it was my recovery day.)




Day 7
Jacket, Dex (swap). Dress, No Boundaries. Belt, thrifted. Tassel, Epcot Morroco. Capris, Danskin. Sneakers. Champion (thrifted).

I ran three miles and then joined Beefy, his cousin, and his aunt for a trip to the Colorado Springs area. Normally, I would not have worn capris and sneakers with this dress, but they were the only sensible choice for illegal rock climbing. We toured Garden of the Gods, ate at Amanda’s Fonda, and then marveled at the hippiness of Manitou Springs. When we returned home, I borrowed some duck boots to go see a baby horse.




Day 8
Sweater, Mossimo (thrifted). Tee, Gap (dyed orange by me). Jeans, Dollhouse. Boots, Dan Post.

I took my final high elevation run (3 miles). Then I showered and spent some quality time with our hosts’ dog, Ollie.

Some thoughts on my trip:

I'm very proud of myself for continuing my half-marathon training while on vacation and over a mile high!
I wish I hadn't brought any pants at all. Instead, I should have brought more skirts and dresses. I hate jeans.
I want to steal Ollie the dog.
I wish I had spent another day with my family.
The thrifting scene in Denver is awesome!

March Purchases

After gorging last month, I starved for most of March. I didn’t go to Target even once. I went to TJ Maxx, but stayed in house wares.

My single “impulse” purchase was an order from Sequin Appliqués. Surprisingly, I ordered sequin appliqués:

1. Owl appliqué, $4.99
2. Black and gold epaulets, 2 x $5.99 = $11.98

They haven’t arrived yet…but they were shipped to me over a week ago, so I expect them soon.

I was saving for my pennies for a trip to Denver during the last week of March. On the second day of my vacation, I bought my real cowboy boots.

3. Dan Post boots, $200

Also while in the Denver area, I spent a day secondhand shopping with my sister, Ping.

Goodwill:
4. Converse One Star striped shirt, $5.99

ARC:
5. Worthington paisley skirt, $6.99
6. No Boudnaries pleather skirt, $3.99
7. Scarf, $2.99
8. Belt, $3.99
9. Max Studio dress, $6.99
10. Chain necklace, $5.99

Assistance League of Denver:
11. Chadwicks black and white dress, $4.99
12. Kors clogs, $4.99

Buffalo Exchange:
13. Necklace, $10.50
14. Shearling gloves, $15.50

On my last day in town, we went to the Garden of the Gods and I bought three bracelets in the gift shop.

15. Bracelets, 3 x $1 = $3

The total is $292.88. I knew I’d go over my budget in March because of my planned boot purchase. I couldn’t resist the thrifting goodies. I don’t have plans to buy anything in April, although I do have a thrifting trip scheduled with Londyn. I’ll concentrate on finding things for her wardrobe, not mine!

IRL Awkwardness

This blog started as a secret project. Even after I told Londyn about it and started participating in Wardrobe Remix, the blog remained my shameful secret. I thought it incredibly vain to post my picture each day and the trolls told me that it was, not only vain but, a big waste of time. I was running and swimming with my best friend Erin Fancy Pants for almost a year before she found out about it (and she heard from someone else). I suspect that this is no longer a secret blog, but I remain painfully shy about it in real life.

I’m sometimes recognized on the street or at work. Perhaps I meet someone new, while in the company of friends, and my current acquaintances tell the new one about the blog. I die a little death each time the blog comes up for the first (or second or third) time. I change the subject or just run away.

I am, perhaps, overreacting, but I certainly can’t be alone in my discomfort in reconciling my online and offline lives.

• Do you have a blog (style related or not)?


• Do you tell people about it?


• How do you deal with strangers who recognize you from your blog?


• What do you say to someone who says, “I love your blog!” (“Thank you” is not sufficient when you’re trapped in the elevator with them!)


• If you were to come up to me and mention the blog, what would you want me to say to you? (Is "thank you" enough, after all?)

Seeking the Perfect...

There has been much discussion of late in the blogosphere on the subject of buying multiple, identical items (or the same item in various colors). This post isn’t so much about multiples…it’s about permutations.

I’ve been fixated on the idea of the perfect gray cardigan for years now. It’s that cardigan that goes with everything, is appropriate for every occasion, and makes you look fabulous. I can’t help it, every time I enter a shop, I’m on the lookout for the gray cardis. Could this be it? Is this the holy grail of gray cardigans? As a result, I have a few of them in my wardrobe.




1. Things started off with the gray cardigan (with a detachable faux-fur collar!) from New York and Company. Then someone commented that it was too bulky and I cast it aside.


2. Very soon after, I found another, lighter, knit at Wet Seal and declared it “perfect!” But then I noticed that one side grew to be longer than the other and continued the search.


3. I found a cute gray Bitten cardi at Steve & Barry’s, but there was only an XS left. I bought it and wore it only twice because it was truly extra small.


4. The next one, from Pangaea, looked to be perfect and had pockets to boot! But the fitted shape, while great with jeans, didn’t work with my a-line skirts.


5. Then (oh, this is getting ridiculous), I found a light-as-air cardi with chiffon trim at Wal*Mart. It’s pretty, but not quite structured enough.


6. I ordered an adorable, scrunched-sleeve cardigan from Forever 21. It is a perfect fit except that I can only (barely) button it across my chest. There is no chance of buttoning it around my hips.


7. Lastly, I bought a short-sleeved cardigan from TJ Maxx that looked great in the dressing room but has disappointed me at home.


The saddest thing of all is that I don’t even have a mental picture of this “perfect” gray cardi. I’ll just know it when I find it.

The holy grail madness has begun with navy cardigans as well…




1. The Merona swing cardigan is, perhaps, a bit too swingy.


2. The Sparrow cardigan is a hair too big.


3. The Limited cardigan…oh, wait! Stop! I’ve found the perfect navy cardigan!

Now if only that came in gray.


What are you searching for?