Grown Up Paper Dolls

Good morning lovelies! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! Did you do anything fun/productive/odd?

I...

Spent time with my wonderful parents who came to visit • Had an amazing dinner with them, the hubs, and family friends at Abacus (lobster shooters + truffle risotto + blood orange caramel creme brulee = happy tummy) • Continued our training with a weekend run (fave "Get me up this hill even though I feel like I'm going to hyperventilate" song? Emenim's 'Till I Collapse • Got a haircut (decided against the bangs...) • Napped and read most of Sunday cause it was cold and blucky outside • Made this for Sunday dinner- one of the hubs' favorites • Cleaned up multiple times after our poor Boo who wasn't feeling so good (TMI?) • Watched a marathon of The Tudors • Worked on a freelance Menu Design • Loving tagging on Pinterst and spending way too much time on Fonts in Use • Got the rough cut of our wedding video in the mail- and cried while we watched it.

And...I spent more time on the serious time suck, er, awesome and totally-productive-use-of-my-time site Polyvore. I can't get enough. The hubs calls it my "video game." He likes to play things where you shoot people, I like to play grown-up paper dolls. Sue me. Its just one more way for me to over-analyze my life. I love to make sets of what I've worn in a week. The purpose of this OCD weirdness? Well, a.) it keeps me from wearing the same pants everyday b.) I like looking back over my outfits and thinking of ways to remix items & c.) its strangely relaxing. Plus, I kind of feel like Cher in Clueless with her computerized wardrobe...

Here's what I wore to work the past 2 weeks. Join me in my madness won't you?

 

Style File 1.10 thru 1.14 by OliveandBleu 

Style File 1.3 thru 1.7 by OliveandBleu 

Mean Mr. Mustard (and some Ketchup)

Faux Fur Vest: Old Navy  |  Black Long Sleeve T: Gap  |  Mustard Cardi: Target
Gray Cargos: LOFT  |  Suede Mary Jane's: MIA Coyote  |  Horn Necklace: Shock Boutique
Men's Watch: Fossil  |  "L" Letterpress Necklace: Gift from my Sweet Brother & Sis-in-Law

Its Wednesday people. Not a particularly remarkable day in my life, but a good one nonetheless. Its still super cold, so I am getting as much wear out of what husband refers to as my "dead animal" as possible. I love this vest-and I'm really surprised how much I've worn it. I thought it would just be a silly piece I would reach for occasionally, but I find myself throwing it over everything. Definitely one of my fave fall purchases. 

Speaking of purchases, I did quite a bit of shopping over the past couple of months, so I'm putting myself on a shopping diet of sorts. But that doesn't mean I have to stop looking does it? Here are some treats inspired by the colors in my photos today. Enjoy!

(click on the set to view details)

 

Disclaimer: Please don't wear all of these things together. Unless you want to look like Ronald McDonald. I'm just sayin.

XO
-L 

Style File 1.11.11 & An Award

Blouse: F21 | Cardigan: LOFT | Pants: Gap Always Skinny | Ballet Flats: Guess 
Necklace, Large Ring & Bracelet: F21

Happy Tuesday Lovelies! The hubs and I just got home from a 5K run in the FREEZING cold! I am so proud of us. Week 2 of Training is a go! WOOT! Also, I have to give a shout out to my bestie Laine. She is a badass and is running the Arizona Rock n' Roll Half Marathon this weekend. GO LAINE!

And...I was lucky enough to get a bloggy award from an awesome new blogger right here in Dallas! Cutie-pie Hayley over at Cheap Girl Chic World made my day with a fun blog award. Check out her blog and follow her! Its so important to support and encourage fabulous new bloggers.

So now I'm supposed to share 7 things about myself. (I also received blog awards in December from Jen over at Pretty in PDX and Jo at Daily Haiku. Check out 7 things about me from that post.) But I managed to think of 7 more things to share (hey, no one said they had to be super interesting right?)

1. I'm getting my hair cut this weekend and I can't decide whether or not to get bangs.
    Like these. Any opinions?

2. I LOVE to cook! 3 of my fave recipes: Curried Beef Short Ribs, Tortellini Soup
    & Paula Deen's Peach Cobbler.

3. Right now I'm reading The Pillars of the Earth & The House at Riverton.
    (My fave books are historical fiction.)

4. I am working toward my ultimate career goal of having my own design business.
    (Need a logo? Invitations? Anything wedding or baby? Check my portfolio.
    Insert shameless plug here.)

5. This is embarrassing, but I'll tell you anyway. My hubs and I took dance lessons
    so we wouldn't look like a couple of morons at our wedding reception. On wedding
    day, we head out to the dance floor where I proceed to freak out and tell husband
    just to sway back and forth. Apparently I was too freaked out to box step.
    Husband says I owe him $95.

6. I hit the In-Law jackpot. Seriously. (I'm not even sucking up! Ha!) The hubs has
    amazing parents. I love them very much. Its such a blessing to have another set
    of amazing people to be related to.

7. Fave shows right now: How I Met Your Mother, Chopped, Glee, and yes, its sad, but
    I can't stop watching The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Its like a car wreck.
    With wine & Botox.

XO
-L 

Check Mate

Buffalo Check Boy Shirt: J Crew (Christmas Gift from the Hubs)  |  Black Wool Cardigan: 
Banana Republic  |  Jeans: Seven Dojos  |  Seychelles Kiss at Midnight Pump: Anthro
  Braided Belt: Gap  |  Key Necklace: Gift from Hubs on our Honeymoon  

Ok, is anyone else watching the Biggest Loser right now and bawling like a baby? Um, cause I am. This show just kills me. So many of the contestants have had hard lives and gone through lots of things and you just want to see them succeed. It also feels poignant as we are doing our half marathon training. On our run tonight I just kept thinking about my mom and dad, and my mom's best friend KJ, and so many runners that inspire me-along with people that I have lost to disease. I get a little emotional thinking about it, but it gives me strength to know I can take care of myself and run for those who can't. I can't wait to see where this journey takes me- it already feels so rewarding.

I truly love stories of triumph over adversity-sometimes I even cry when people when on game shows. Does that make me emotionally unstable? Possibly. But I'm cool with that. 

On another note, I don't know if you guys have noticed, but I've kind of turned this into a personal style blog. With some craftyness, life stuff, recipes, design & decorating thrown in for good measure. I think I like where this is going...I hope you do too. I am always open to (hopefully constructive) feedback.

XO
-L 

First Whisperings

First Whisperings Dress: Anthropologie  |  Gray Tights: Hue  |  Boots: J Crew
Bomber Jacket: F21  |   Key Necklace: Gift from Hubs on Honeyomoon

I. Love. This. Dress.
Yay for Anthro's big sale!

And yay for Christmas Date tonight with the Hubs- we're going to have yummy dinner and exchange our gifts- just the two of us. I am giddy with excitement.
Gosh I love that man!

XO
-L