What I Wore {post 65}

Yikes ... sorry for the quiet blog this week.  I just didn't have a spare moment last weekend and this week to blog about my training or house projects (and there is stuff to share! lots!).  I will get those posts up next week for sure.

Anyway.  Whew.  We made it!  Week 1 of February is done.  Even though it's the shortest month, February is always a very rough ride.  Always has been.  Just a handful of weeks to go and it's March, which is practically Spring!  

* Blue Printed Dress *

I got this at an Anthropologie after-Christmas clearance.  I can't remember the price ... but I think it was around $50, which is a pretty good deal for Anthro.  I actually had a store credit, so it was free!  I loved the cut and the fit.  The back is a bit low, so I had to wear a black cardigan at work.

* Black Sweater, Multi-Colored Tweed Skirt, Pink Scarf *

This was a fun outfit to put together.  I pulled the tweed skirt (Banana, last year) out of my closet and pulled the outfit together from that.  I wore my black fitted sweater, black tights, brown flat boots and a bright pink scarf.

* Cream Sweater & Skinny Jeans *

This was a casual lunch out ... I wore a cream v-neck (front and back) sweater that I picked up on sale at the Limited in the Fall for a steal with a cream cami and my favorite skinny jeans.  The sweater is on the sheer side, so a cami was a must.  And ... haircut time.  Wow. 

Have a great weekend! See you back here on Monday.

See you swoon,

What I Wore {post 64}

Friday! This was a fun week with a bunch of snow and a lot of cold temps on the way.  I like weekends (um, of course) in general, but in particular because in the Winter I can wear my super soft Uggs.  Yay.  Here are some non-Ugg outfits.  

* Skinny Jeans, Black Top, White Striped Scarf *

I wore this out to dinner with Amy on a super cold night.  I wore my favorite skinny jeans (the jegging style by American Eagle) with a black v-neck top and a brand new white/cream/sparkle scarf that was a gift from Loft, from my work assistant.  I liked the outfit.

* Orange Cardigan, Multi Colored Top, Navy Pencil Skirt *

The top was the inspiration for this outfit.  I was in Target (LOL! of course! like every weekend!) and decided to check out the women's clothes.  I found this printed top and fell in love and could not walk away, especially for $20.  I threw it in my cart and took it home with my other Target treasures.  I wore it with my navy pencil skirt (Banana Republic) and orange cardigan (Banana Republic outlet).  I also wore my chunky gold necklace.  I think it would have looked better with a darker brown leather heel.  That's on my list of something to get soon!

* Black & White Optic Print Wrap Dress *

I found this sucker at an after-Christmas clearance sale online at Banana Republic.  I think I paid about $30 for it.  I liked the print and figured it would be either really cool or really awful when I got it.  Thankfully it was really cool.  This dress doesn't need much: just boots or heels and a necklace and that's it.  The print is very me me me look at me! 

Ahh, another week in the books.  See you on the other side of January. It's February next week, ya'll!

See you swoon,

Living Room and Dining Room: A Softer Color Palette

I look at my ever-present "to do" list much like I look at my shopping list at Target - it's not an exhaustive list of what I will get or do, but more of a reminder of the things I actually need so that I don't forget.  Every year, I share my resolutions for the next year, and that list basically serves as my "to do" list for the following year.  Every year, I add new projects as I go along.  Today's project is one of them.

I really liked my living room/dining room and how it evolved.  Here's the space awhile ago:

I've enjoyed the color palette for the past two and a half years ... but lately, I've been itching to change it up a little.  Maybe it's the change in seasons and the cooler temps.  Maybe it's the gold and soft peachy art that I made.  Whatever it is, I decided to take the plunge and make some changes.  The good thing is, all of these changes are easy and pretty inexpensive: just new pillows and pillow covers.  

The first step was a new rug.  I blogged about that before the holidays.  That alone has made a big difference!  It's so soft!  Like the softest lambs and kittens.  

The pillows were next.  I've noticed in the rooms that I've been loving on blogs and Pinterest that the colors are much more subdued and subtle, and there's a lot more texture.  My current coral-pink-yellow-seaglass blue color combo was lovely, but I was due for a change.  So I measured my pillows and went searching for new pillow covers.  I wanted lots of gold, pale pink/peach, creams and whites and lots and lots of cozy textures.

First, all I needed to do was remove the patterned covers on my large sofa pillows.  I bought the champagne and white striped covers at IKEA years ago and I've brought those suckers back.  Perfect.  Next, I bought these pale pink pillow covers from Bead and Reel on Etsy.  They replaced the old pink and white chain link print pillows.  I absolutely love them.  I found the gold and white patterned pillows at Target, which conveniently came in a set of two.  Finally, the silver and cream linen covers are clearance buys from Ballard Designs. 

On the sofa, I used some of the same pillows.  I also kept my cream textured pillow from Target.  The oversized pillow on the right is from Ballard Designs and is a soft wool.  It, too, was a clearance buy. 

I am loving the new look. It's a subtle change, but has a huge impact.

Of course, as is often the case, this snowballed into more unexpected projects ... this softer palette made me look at my dining room with a kind of critical eye.  So, I took care of the shelves and the buffet top in the dining room.

I love my dining room shelves.  They were a much needed addition to the side of the room and are both pretty ...

and functional!  Check out all of that storage.

When I bought the shelves a few years ago, I painted the backs coral. And now I painted them back to their original cream.  Funny, too, because before I did this, Bill asked "what unsuspecting piece of furniture will you paint white this weekend?"  The answer, Bill and internet, is the shelves.  I realize how insane it was that I painted them back to their original color ... but it's my house and I'll paint if I want to.

Once the backs were returned to their original white (color is Cream Delight by Valspar - a close match to the Ikea white), I had to fill them.  Some of the things stayed, while I added new or different things.  The only thing I purchased was the rope & glass lantern in the top shelf.  Everything else I had in my decor stash.  Look at how beautiful and neutral and white!

The buffet was next.  Another "unsuspecting piece of furniture" was about to get a whole bunch of white!  Before, I had a turquoise runner with a coral urn.  It worked with the former color palate.

But not so much with the current one.  I took those off and added some frames and decor.  As with the shelves, I had everything on hand except the cream/gold/glitter! vase in the middle.

That vase was a $7 clearance find at TJ Maxx.  I wish I could say I acted completely normally when I found it, but this is what happened.

And here's some final shots!

So what's left?  I bought fabric to recover my cane back dining chairs - this lovely neutral (read: LOTS OF WHITE) floral fabric.

I want to recover the chairs, get a new pillow cover to replace the yellow one, get a rug for under the table and figure out something fun and new for the top of the table.  And then ... at long last I can cross the dining room and living room off my list!  For now! Until it's time to change things up again! 

See you swoon,

2015 Training Recap: weeks 3-4

Hello! Happy Monday! Happy gonna get some snow day!  

So, the past few weeks have been rough, only because of the weather.  I mostly kept to my training plan but had some bumps along the way.  Winter training is just a tough slog ... you not only have to figure out how you'll fit your workout in in your schedule, but you also have to contend with conditions: snow, ice, wind, cold.  [insert horizontal smile here].  But like the post office, "neither snow, nor rain, nor heat [ha ha ha], nor gloom of night", stays this runner from swift completion of her appointed workout.

I apologize for the lack of post workout selfies.  I did my best.  And I promise I will take more.  I know.  You're like this cat.

Jan. 12-18:  3:59:09 hours

Swim: 0 hours/miles

Bike:  0 hours/miles

Run: 3:59:09 hours/25.4 miles

Yah. This week was a pattern that I'm getting used to: Monday-easy 30 minute run; Tuesday-walk and run; Wednesday-speedwork; Thursday-rest/swim/bike; Friday-long run; Saturday-rest/swim/bike; Sunday: longish run with speedy intervals.

I ended up taking rest days on both Thursday and Saturday, which I don't like to do at all. The weather was a variable, as was my kid and work schedule.  Just not easy to fit it all in.  

Sunday's run was in my hometown.  It was a rainy, soggy mess, but I got it done! Look at this ...

1991 gas prices aside, this was the weather on my run.  8 miles in the rain! I did it!  Nothing makes me feel more badass than a hard run in the rain. 

Jan. 19-25: 4:28:46 hours

Swim: 40:15 minutes/1800 yards

Bike: 30 min (on trainer)

Run: 3:18:30 hours/22.1 miles

My workouts this week were the same as the week before.  I had to work late on Tuesday, so I took an unintended (and much anger-inducing) rest day.  So for Thursday I biked and Saturday I made sure to swim.  I actually asked my coach to schedule a day of swimming for me, so I would be sure to do it.  

Wednesday's track day was a bust.  Because the track was iced over.  So I stomped on the track, called it a bad name, and drove myself to the Y where I did my speedwork on the treadmill.  Gotta do what I gotta do.  I ended up switching my Friday long run with my Sunday run/speedwork because I was at a conference for work.  See how exciting?

Unfortunately, I had to cut the Friday treadmill at the hotel workout short because the hotel bed was HORRIFIC (all caps) and jacked up my neck and back.  But by Sunday, I rallied and ran an amazingly wonderful 11.5 mile run with a 8:51 average pace.  Yes!  

Austin Half Marathon is just a few weeks away.  I can't wait! Yee haw! 

See you swoon,

What I Wore {post 63}

Friday! Again! What I Wore! Again!  Looks like everything is pretty black and white with these outfits. 

* Black Skinny Pants, Black Fitted Cardigan, Polka Dot Shell *

I wore this to work on a day when I knew I'd be heading out for a happy hour with colleagues.  So the black skinny pants may have been pushing it just a bit.  I maintain that the outfit was work appropriate.

* Black Turtleneck, White Mini, Black Heels *

I channeled my inner mod girl for this look.  I wore my $11 Eddie Bauer black turtleneck with my wool white mini and black tights & heels.  

* Cream Blouse & Tan Pants *

I've had this cream blouse from Ann Taylor for years.  It's very feminine - it has bands of silk with a silk tie at the top.  I love the fit and the draping effect.  I wore it with my tan pants and taupe patent heels.  

Enjoy your weekend, friends! See you back here next week.

See you swoon,