day by numbers

My day in numbers:


1. it's hook & stylit's official 1 month anniversary!
2. thanks to mini hurricane Katrina work was cancelled
3. i still went to work
4. 2 hours late
5. left 1/2 an hour early
6. ended up having the most productive day of my month (maybe even all year)
7. it did not stop raining ALL day
8. i wore crocs to work. i told you i would!
9. it's john's night to choose the tv schedule
10. Police Women, Perfect Couples, Swamp People, Mounted in Alaska, Jersey Shore Reunion.
11. what can i say? I'm a lucky girl.


Due to my lack of outfit pictures today (and yesterday... and maybe the day before too) I'm sharin' my pajama love! 


Now you're the lucky one!


have I mentioned were dog sitting for next 16 days?

dear Al Roker,

Dear Al (Roker) 
I'm pissed.
You said it was going to rain. RAIN. No where in your little "forecast" did you mention that it was going to friggin HURRICANE! Today between the hours of 3-5pm (est) there was a full blown mini Katrina going on outside my office. It was a little windy, a little drizzly, a little nasty outside and then .... BAM the skies opened up, the power went out, and in an instant my 9-5pm work day magically became a 9:22 - 4:16pm workday. 


Thank you weather gods. (not Al Roker)


Sincerely,
Weather Channel Fan


My Wednesday afternoon vacation was fantastic. I threw myself a mini hurricane party on the porch with the dogs. Drank the one remaining beer in the fridge (I had to do my part to use up what was in the fridge, just in case it took forever to get our power back), lit every candle in the house, and did my best to think of all the amazing things I could do if magically the power was still off at work tomorrow. It was exactly 3 seconds after I had planned my perfect day that I received an email (via blackberry) saying that power in the office had been restored. dangit.


Hood Lesson #2: (Preparing for a storm)
1. Do nothing. Make sure to leave all dumpsters, lawn decor, and children outside.
2. Go to Dunkin Donuts. Stock up on donuts like you're never going to eat them again.
3. Leave aforementioned dumpsters and lawn decor tipped over in the middle of the road where the wind blew them.


Needless to say with excessive amounts of rain, wind, no electricity and tree limbs in my front yard I did not have a chance to take outfit pictures, which I regret because my totally cute outfit was WASTED on mini-hurricane Katrina.


I did however take pictures of my "hood" puppies watching the storm on the porch and a picture of my living room with all the candles lit.. but the flash kinda ruined the effect.

call me Cash

Tonight is not the night for long blog posts ... since I have a lot to do. And by a lot to do I mean watch Dancing with the Stars (team Kendra), The Biggest Loser, and the season finale of Teen Mom - geez Tuesday nights are busy!


So enjoy my Johnny Cash outfit and I'll catch up with ya'll on on the flip side (meaning tomorrow when there is nothing good on TV). 


I had trouble choosing shoes to wear with this Cash-esqe outfit - tell me which ones you prefer:) 

Shirt: Ann Taylor Loft

Pants: Gap

Tank: Target

Shoes: Target or Tory Burch

ulta-tastic

What do you think about my new background? I'm kind of on the fence about it, so tell me the truth.


It rained today. And if Al Roker (my least favorite of the TODAY show crew) is telling the truth, it's going to be raining tomorrow, the next day, the next day, and the next day. If that's not reason enough to buck up and buy a pair of non-offensive (no pattern) rain boots, I'm not sure what is. However, until I buy aforementioned rain boots, I decided today that I will be sporting my ever-so-classy crocs. I'll be sure to plan my outfits accordingly. 


It's so hard to be positive on a rainy Monday. I have a hard enough time being positive ANY monday, but rain makes the positivity flow rough. 


People you would be proud. I walked into Menchie's today and DIDN'T get ANY frozen yogurt! Now if only I could be that iron-fisted about not spending money, drinking, eating taco bell, and watching teen mom. eh, I choose my battles. But even more exciting than NOT eating Menchie's (which actually wasn't that hard because they didn't have any of the flavors I like) I went to Ulta for the very first time today - and I can tell you already that store will soon become a giant issue for John, my debit card, and my pride. How I've lived here for almost a year, 3 blocks from my mother ship of makeup is beyond me. I'm ashamed of myself. 


I'm also ashamed of my unoriginal, uncreative outfit. 
But get used to it - it's raining for the next week and well, it makes getting out of bed just that much worse.


On the subject of Teen Mom (kind of on subject, i mentioned it in this post already. keep up with me) As you may or may not know, I am obsessed with all things super trash tv, and Teen Mom is no exception, in fact it may be my favorite train wreck of all of them. So you can imagine my excitement tday when i opened up my yahoo news to see my all time favorite trailer trash princess, Janelle's mugshot in the center of my screen (by far her best close-up yet). MTV sure does know how to pick 'em:)

Sweater: Ann Taylor LOFT

Tank: Target

Jeans: Gap

Shoes: Cole Haan

Belt: Banana Republic Factory Store

my apologies.

My apologies for my posting absence. things happen. 


So much for taking a drinking vacation this week. peer pressure.
It was like the week of break-ups, make-ups and friends in town. I cannot be expected to listen to break up stories and speculations without drinking. duh. It was also the end of the sales meeting. enough said. i drank in excess. Not to mention, I totally forgot that the Gators were playing yesterday, and lets just face it, you can't be expected to watch basketball (or any sport for that matter) without drinking. So yes, I caved.  

Ellie resorted to the beer straw

The explanations above should sufficiently explain my absent blog posts.


In addition to caving on my drinking promise, I also caved on my promise to (try) and not shop till i save more pennies. (I've said it before, IM WEAK) I caved BIG time on that little shopping promise - John may not agree with my reasoning, but in my defense I wasn't shopping for fun, I was shopping for necessities. 


MAC foundation = necessity 
6 Bath & Body Works triple thick lotions = necessity
Anthropologie denim dress = "necessity"


YUP - that's right. MORE DENIM!

New denim dress (from the "grocery"store")

As far as John's concerned, Anthropologie is a grocery store, specializing in gourmet food. similar to Whole Foods, but wayyy more expensive. I'd like to keep him knowing as little about Anthropologie as possible - I think it's for the better of our relationship.


In other news I have an update on John's good friend Nate Dogg. 
Snoop Dogg, another BFF of  Mr. Nate Dogg, paid tribute to the assumed rapper/drug dealer by getting a giant tattoo on his arm. I'm crossing my fingers that Wal-Mart will soon release a temporary tattoo version that I can buy for John, otherwise I fear I may come home to a full body tribute. and that I cannot handle. 

Snoop's (were on a first name basis)tribute 

For your reading enjoyment:
(Tid-bit)This evening's text conversation with John:


Me: the tea you made is REALLY GOOD! nothing like washing down double stuff Oreos with sugar water. thanks!
John: Whats r song? Do we have one?
Me: "because i got high" duh.
Me: j/k 
Me: Alan Jackson's "when somebody loves you" - really John? This was the song that was playing the first time you told me you loved me!
John: it was? i did?
John: i think i was drunk. maybe?
Me: i love you too.
John: you like my tea?

hood lesson #1

Similar to my weekend staples (WS) collection, I also have a special sales meeting (SM) collection. It's an entire collection of boring, work-ish, boring, dressy, boring, uncomfortable clothing. In other words it sucks.


After careful evaluation this afternoon, well basically after I took my outfit pictures, I've come to the conclusion that my SM collection sucks. 


tomorrow my friends, i'm stickin' it to the man and wearing jeans. thats right, JEANS!


I'm not saying that today's outfit is all that bad, but I know what the rest of the collection consists of, and well - it aint pretty.


Today the lady across the streets house was broken into. they took everything. Don't get me wrong - that SUCKS and I would never want anything like that to happen to me .. but it made me think, how come they chose her house? Was mine too hood looking for robbery? Does it not look like I have anything bling bling - nice inside? Does my 22 pound wheaten terrier's little yap sound intimidating? 


Hood Lesson #1:
Contrary to common practice, instead of keeping your yard cleaned up and your grass mowed. The more you blend in and the crappier you can keep the front of your house looking, the better off you are. 


John and I have decided to add a "beware of pit bull" sign to our front door and empty beer (cans) on the yard - just to keep up appearances.  I'm still on the fence about trading in my white barbie car jeep for a black chevy impala with rims and tinted windows - I'll keep you posted.

Shirt: Anthropologie

Sweater: Ann Taylor Loft

Pants: Gap

Shoes: Nine West

blog celebrities

hook & stylit is nearing it's one month anniversary!  

Yes, there will be celebrating.duh. Complete with drinking, dancing, oh, and I will be demanding a celebratory dinner at the restaurant of my choice - John's so lucky.

With that said I think it's due time to pay tribute to some of the most fashion-forward, kind, beautiful ladies that I have met since joining the style blog community. 

They're basically celebrities.

The first time they commented on one of my posts I was star-stuck! I was so amazed that these big-deal, super-bloggers were talking to me! It was a total bonus when I found out that not only did they all have amazing style sense, but they are all the nicest people on the planet! 

They have all in a sense become my blogging mentors. Their posts are the first I read every morning when I get to work (before I open my work email. I have my priorities straight people) and the posts I look forward to reading the next day.  Each of these woman have wonderful, different and unique senses of style that I find myself drawing my own outfit inspiration from. 

I came across each of these pages separately - usually the result of some random Google search or by other bloggers that had referenced or recommended them. Regardless of the way that I found them, I'm glad I did!

Over the course of my first anniversary month I will be featuring each of these stylish ladies so you can get to know them! But until then, check out their blogs and send some love!

Allie at Wardrobe Oxygen

Linley at Dwelling and Telling

Jamie at Work your Closet

sales.meeting.

my brain is fried. 
my eyes are tired.
i cannot event attempt to be "witty" in my current state.


i'm calling it the sales meeting flu. 
the symptoms are similar to the bird flu.
if not treated correctly it could lead to alcoholism. 

Shirt: Gap

Sweater: Jcrew

Belt: Target

Pants: Gap

Shoes: Nine West

2 words: denim tunic

Two words people: Denim Tunic


Over the years I have developed a healthy fear of wearing anything that's denim that it not worn as pants. 


It was a fateful day in the 7th grade cafeteria that I was first introduced to the word JORTS. 


Jeans + Shorts = Jorts
Jorts = Not Cool


I rode the bus home that afternoon, spouting the only 2 curse words I knew, marched through the front door to my house, and promptly disposed of all jorts. 


A year later my perfect little denim world was rocked AGAIN when I learned of ETMD. 


ETMD = Entirely Too Much Denim (ETMD Example)


I don't think I ever wore a jean jack again. Nor have a worn one since. I live in fear of ETMD, complete with nightmares, cold sweats, anxiety, and therapy. Shock therapy.


My mom bought me denim tunic months ago (she never takes my fears seriously. It took 6 rides home from school early from 3rd grade for her to believe that I am for-real scared loose teeth) I took it hoping I would run into the Will Smith circa Men in Black and he could jedi-mind-erase me into forgetting that I've ever been scared of denim. No such luck.


No Will Smith needed - Turns out all I needed to do to get this frightening frock on my body was to make sure I had no other clean clothes to choose from, make sure my dryer was sufficiently broken, and wake up too late to try and talk myself out of it. 
Ta-da!


Today is also the day - you get to meet my curly hair! Another one of those things that can happen when you don't have time to talk yourself out it!

Shirt: Ann Taylor LOFT

Pants: Gap

Belt: Target

Shoes: Nine West

Check out these non-denim fearing women that definitely know how to wear it right! Linley, Jessica Quirk, Allie, Kendi 

Birthmas

This weekend was basically the epitome of Christmas and my birthday. Combined. AKA: Birthmas


St. Patrick's day is my absolute favorite holiday - so combine the best day of the year with getting to wear E.T.M.G. (entirely too much green), green beer, friends visiting from home, a three day weekend, day drinking, pool hopping basketball games, and wall street people watching and you've basically described my reason for existence. I live for weekends like this.


Thursday between the minutes of 5:18 and 5:30 my cube transformed into the stairs (aka: holding cell) of my parents house on Christmas morning. The stairs is where they keep us all in waiting as they take pictures, ask if we heard Santa (always say yes, it cuts down the number of questions) and try their best to steer us towards breakfast before presents (ya right), etc, etc, etc... Time was not moving, I was trying my hardest to play multiple games of words with friends to keep my eyes from looking at the clock (that was moving slower than John doing a load of laundry). FINALLY at 5:30 the bars on my cell opened, little green angels started singing, Jesus called my cell phone and welcomed me to heaven and I slowly floated down the stairs into the bar.


I love St. Patrick's day.

Ironically, I have no pictures of my St. Patricks day (this is probably for the better). 


Blog friends please meet real-life friend Ellie. 

mystic tan

Today was one for the history books folks. I lost my spray tan virginity. I'm telling you what - If I would had I known how easy/amazing/harmless it was I'd of been asking Santa for my very own Mystic Tanning booth  instead of that stupid mini-pony for the past 22 Christmases. 


If all goes according to plan, I'll be "fitting in" with my hood friends by Friday.  


So today was totally one of those days where the outfit in my head is way better staying exactly where it was conceived (I hate that word) - in my head. In reality the outfit in my head actually looks like crap on my body. It's like my brain thinks I'm 20 lbs lighter than I am, that all my clothes dont have stains on them, and that I actually hang things up and own an iron. My brain needs a reality check.


Today was also the day that my Blackberry decided to die while I was sleeping and not wake me up. Thank goodness for God's gift to the technology retarded - iPhones and annoying survey callers at 8am. Without the combination of the two there is a very likely possibility that I would not have made it to work at all.  The cards were stacked against be from the start. Kinda.


Today I was also reminded what an old man my boyfriend is. I get 3 phone calls in a row, 2 voicemails, followed by a text frantically informing me that Nate Dog died. 


2:13pm - 2:45pm
Me: Nate who?
Me: Who died?!?!?
No reply from Old Man Boyfriend 
Me: Hello??? Nate who???
Me: Are you ok?




5:18pm
Old Man Boyfriend: Sorry I was taking a nap
*because old people require afternoon napping
Old Man Boyfriend: Nate Dog died
Me: yes I know! you told me, whose Nate??
Old Man Boyfriend: Your not gangster


From what I have been able to conclude with my limited info: 
Nate Dog may or may not have been a rapper/drug dealer.


Today's outfit sets a new record for work lateness: 33 mins 

Shirt: Gap

Pants: Gap

Tank: Target

Belt: Target

Shoes: Nine West

oh Tuesday.

WTF Tuesday?!? 
People say that Monday is the worst day of the week, but their dumb. Tuesday is obviously the worst day of the week for SO many reasons. 

I'll list (some) of them for you:

• Everything that people didn't email you on Friday afternoon or Monday because they didn't want it to get lost in your loaded inbox is waiting for you on Tuesday.
• On Monday you can reminisce about your past 2 days of freedom with friends and co-workers, which can take up anywhere from 30% - 50% of your day (depending on how fun your weekend was).
• No presidents or Jewish people have holidays on Tuesdays (they usually attach those to a weekend for obvious extended vacation reasons).
• You are expected to be productive on Tuesdays.
• Everything that people forgot to tell you to do on Friday and didn't remember to tell you to do on Monday they magically remember whatever that was on Tuesday and it is without a doubt an emergency and all other things must be dropped until the (forgotten) emergency is attended to.
• On Monday the clothes in your closet are all hanging up and ready to be worn and styled. On Tuesday the clothes you tired on and didn't wear on Monday are on the ground and all the creativity you had for your outfits over the weekend is missing.

If I have not convinced you yet - email me and I'm sure I can come up with at least 50 more reasons about why Tuesdays are crappier than Mondays.

Have you ever had one of those days when you leave the house in an outfit, get to work, and then decide that you absolutely hate it? Hate it do much that you consider telling your boss that you've developed a rare bird / swine flu and need to leave immediately?


Today (Tuesday) was that day for me.


As soon as I got to work, my super cute skirt felt way too short, my tank top kept riding up, my shoes were all wrong, and my hair went from decent to grease ball all in a short 3 minute trek from car to office. I lasted 2 hours, I couldn't take it anymore. I ran out of that building in my (mini) skirt, B-lined to my car, and took my grease-ball self home for a wardrobe intervention.


ahh ... comfort.

introducing my new FAVORITE shoes:

I hope you like 'em because you will be seeing a lot of them! 

 Shirt: Gap 

Sweater: Ann Taylor LOFT 

Pants: Gap 

Shoes: Nine West

breaking news

BREAKING NEWS: I actually decided to give something up for Lent. 
After process of elimination (what haven't I done or eaten since last Wednesday?) and a guilt trip from my mom I narrowed down my options. It was between showering and frozen yogurt. 


It was a tough decision, but frozen yogurt won. John threatening to lock me out of the house if I quit showering made my decision a little easier.  T-minus 35 days and counting.


MORE (important) EXCITING BREAKING NEWS!
My website www.outfitchec.com is now officially up and running! 
Outfitchec: Not experts just the second opinion you need to make an informed outfit choice.
As of today, there is a button that allows  you to upload pictures directly to the site - for anyone that knows the trauma I've dealt with getting this functionality working knows how important today is! CHEC IT OUT :)


Today my bff / drinking buddy came and kidnapped me out of my office (I'm still trying to figure out how she got through our high-tech security system) and we partied like it was the first Monday after "Springing Forward" ..  and by this I mean we took a field trip to the Shipyard Empourium for some happy hour beer and lobster. It was basically like I was back in college, but better, because instead of coming home and having to curse at myself for getting drunk and then trying to do homework, I got to come home and blog to all of you about it! Don't grade me. 

taxi-cab yellow

All I know is that it took some balls (and lack of clean clothes) for me to wear this shirt today.It is literally the brightest, yellow-ist piece of clothing I own. The lack of comments that I received on my previous outfits this week was made up ten fold by the amount of conversations I had about my taxi-cab yellow tunic. It's a wonder what taxi-cab yellow will do to bring out the black in someone's un-natural hair color. Between the shirt and the hair I should have come prepared with flyers announcing my getting dressed objectives.


Needless to say,  I will be wearing this thing again. and again.


Funny story: Today when I was walking out of work, towards the bar (duh), right out in front of the entry to alcohol heaven was the blood mobile. oh the irony.

Shirt: Salvation Army

Tank: Suddenly Skinny (Target)

Jeans: Gap

Shoes: Tory Birch

temptation

I think God enjoys torturing me. Specifically by putting my office above a bar. Not just any bar, a bar with a happy hour that takes place conveniently during leaving work time. A time when I'm hungry, very, very thirsty and have not an ounce of will power in me to just keep walking towards my car. I'm weak.


I'm quite certain that if the bar were to turn into like a dentists office, or a blood mobile I would be a much more productive member of society/better puppy momma/girlfriend/house-cleaner. I am also certain that the bar below my office might face bankruptcy if I were suddenly to loose my alcoholic tendencies and were to stop being the loyal and devoted customer that I have proven myself to be.


Obviously this rainy day brought out some outfit creativity. NOT.
And yes, my hair is that black. I don't want to talk about it.

Shirt: Banana Republic

Tank: Target

Pants: Gap

Shoes: Aldo

Belt: Target