party central

Dress: Target

Shoes: Cole Haan

The dress that started it all - I wore this dress on my first post ever!

I suck. I know. Believe me, it's not that I don't WANT to blog .... I've just been SO busy!


Between planning a surprise 50th birthday party for my mom, going to Vegas for a work event, becoming an official freelance marketer, loosing the ONLY key to my car (100 miles away from home), AND John being out of town for a week - I've been just a little preoccupied :)

ANYWAY:

1. My mom's surprise party was GREAT! Even though I plan events for my job everyday, It was so much fun to actually plan something start to finish that were all my own ideas! And no, my mom wasn't surprised!


I themed the entire party using inspiration from my mom's favorite flowers: Daisies :)

Mason jars, un-popped popcorn, tea light candles and daisies!

Hanging baby food jars and handmade chalkboards 

Fresh lemons in my flower arrangements :)

The doorstep decor

I folded 50 paper cranes!

My faithful party slave! aka Ellie who helped me set up the party 

while my mom was "sleeping"

If anyone needs a party planned - I'm your girl!

2. This past weekend I went to Vegas to read The Help (best book ever!) ....and host a cocktail reception :) 

3. On Sunday I was offered my first official PAID freelance job! For what you may ask? To develop a marketing plan for a new food truck opening in New Orleans! SO EXCITED!


4. Yup, my sister lost (the ONLY) key to my car. In St. Augustine. A week ago. Needless to say my mom and I have been on the phone for days working with my insurance company, the Jeep dealership, a locksmith, and a tow truck company to try and get this problem resolved. And I am happy to report that as of 5:07pm today I have a new key to my car!


5. John joined his brother and extended family for a week long vacation in the Florida Keys to do some open season lobstering and fishing. 2 lobsters and 39 red snappers later - I STILL have yet to see any of that yumminess. WTF!


And there you have it. The official Maggie update :)

texas crap

Shirt: LOFT

Pants: Gap

Shoes: Target

Necklace: Banana Republic

Can someone please just answer one question for me? 
When the heck is Texas become worthy of 5 different reality TV shows?


I literally just turned on my TV to watch my normal crap TV line up: jersey crap, new york crap, swamp crap, pawn crap, storage crap .... but now I have to add TEXAS crap to the list. I REALLY DON'T need a TV show (or 5) to show me who is Dallas's most eligible, how Texas beauty queens prepare for a pageant (I lived with a Mississippi pageant queen all through college), or how mothers in the Lone Star state bribe their children with boob jobs to get good grades (my mom is from Texas - no boob job here - she must have been sick on the day they learned that in school) ..... But I'll watch it anyway. 


I'm nothing if not committed to my crap TV line up. Especially crap TV with state names.

multiple choice

Dress: LOFT

Sweater: Jcrew

Belt: Target

Shoes: Cole Haan

Why haven't I blogged in a week?

A. It's hot

B. My AC is broken

C. I'm "kinda" in job limbo

D. It was my anniversary

E. I'm Lazy

F: ALL OF THE ABOVE

If you chose 'F'..... ding, ding, ding -  you are a winner!

In addition to all those excuses, I've also discovered the (hidden?) world of Etsy. ya, I'm obsessed.

I've also been a point counting, Remy walking (so I can drink more), food weighing fool with this new weight watchers "program" .... so far so good, 4 lbs last week - and tomorrow is my second "weigh in". All I know is I better have lost more this week, seeing as now I sweat anytime I'm outside as well as anytime i'm IN my car (due to a broken AC), double the sweat means double the weight loss - right?

 

I'll be sure to keep you posted :)

the new normal

Dress / Shoes: Target

(the strap broke off the back, so I cut them both off to make flip flops)

It's your lucky day! 

I'm back (in this unexciting, boring, black dress)!

I'm sorry for not posting an "extended absence" and also for not for warning all you faithful "Hookers" that I would would be breaking from the inter-web for such a long time. Truthfully, I didn't know I would be gone this long!

Tomorrow marks my one week anniversary of joining Weight Watchers (standing ovation) - I've known for months that I wanted to start getting my weight under control, it's just taken me forever to finally come to the realization that I lack motivation and that an actual diet with weigh-ins / meeting / guidelines / point values /restrictions was needed for me to take it seriously. I'm sure none of you really care if I'm on WW or drugs, but I feel in a way that by me telling you, it will keep me accountable and make me follow through with my commitment to weight loss / healthy life. 

I have chosen to NOT use the scale in my house (in fact, I have asked John to hide it) so that I don't become obsessive or discouraged. Almost 2 years ago was diagnosed ADHD and prescribed medicine helping me to focus, it was around the same time that I made the drastic decision to eat a gluten free diet (for no specific reason, except that I had read somewhere that people who ate gluten had more migraine headaches), this was also the same time I discovered Ashtanga yoga  .... all this while being a stressed out college student! Needless to say all these things were a match made in weight loss heaven. In a little less than 6 months I was 54 lbs lighter, a straight 'A' student, a 'yogi' interested in learning how to teach, with no more migraine headaches. I was on top of the world.

And then I joined the (dun, dun, dun) REAL WORLD. I no longer had the ability to plan my life around my yoga schedule and no more restaurant cash to buy all my favorite organic / gluten free groceries. In the midst of moving away from home for the first time, struggling to make friends, living with John, and learning a new job, my Dad decided he wanted to leave my mom. All of these things were a recipe for a weight gain disaster! If there was a trophy for depressed eating, I would have it. I was unhappy to say the least.

It's taken time for my sisters and my mom and I to get used to our new "normal" - and for me to settle into my new life away from home, friends and routine ... but joining WW was the first step for me. I have not fully committed myself to stay on their "diet" since I have proven to myself in the past that I do KNOW HOW to loose weight and loose it in a healthy way - I'm planning to use WW as my "starting point."

I am happy to report that over the course of first week on WW I have faithfully followed and stayed within my daily point allotment. I am still able to drink (I know you all were worried) - I quickly figured out that the more exercise I get, the more I can drink. All I can say is that Remy is REAPING the benefits of this new "exercise to drink more" plan! Tomorrow is my first official weigh-in while on the "diet"- and on the bright side, if I haven't lost any weight, I've become a boss at addition and subtraction!

*If anyone knows any AWESOME WW foods, tips, tricks, etc.... hook it up! 

im blue

Dress: LOFT

Sweater: Gap

Purse: Kate Spade

Shoes: Target

Sunglasses: Ray Ban 

I'm BLUE ba da ba be da ba da!


I have managed to wear a BLUE dress EVERY single day this week! how's that for impressive? Just to switch things up - I added my pink sweater in an attempt to "brighten things up."


*Still no peanut gallery comments, but like i said it usually takes 3 times and this is only time number 2. I'll give it another wear before I start swearing off cheesy animal prints altogether. 


I have to say that if every week began on a Wednesday, ended on a Friday, and only consisted of 3 working days .. I may actually be able to handle this whole "work" thing. 3 days is just perfect, not too much that you get overwhelmed and tired, and not too little that you don't feel as if you didn't accomplish anything. 


Needless to say, my 3 day work week still required a happy hour (or 2).

an office winner

Jacket: Target

Dress: Marshalls

Shoes: Tory Burch

It's one of those days people. 


It started off with my cell phone alarm going off and then buzzing itself right off the nightstand falling right behind the bed .. all while slowly getting louder / more annoying. For for anyone that doesn't know, John is a HORRIBLE morning person, like the worst ever. So having to wake him up and ask him to get out of bed and then help me move the bed so I could get and stop the increasingly annoying phone alarm is basically the same as me asking him to please cut off his foot with a dull knife. It didn't go over well. However it took him about 30 seconds to realize that even if I stopped shaking him and screaming at him to get up, he would eventually get sick and tired of hearing the phone alarm on full blast belting Verizon's finest ringtone.


it was a no good, very bad, start to the morning.


Only made worse when I had the brilliant idea to try and wear that dang mustard yellow skirt that makes me late every time - needless to say I walked out the door late (i only feel bad about todays lateness because it was WAY later than normal). mustard yellow skirt on the floor. wearing outfit combo #18. and OF COURSE the outfit that I put the LEAST amount of effort into is what I like to refer to as an "office winner" ... aka ... the office people (kinda like the YMCA people minus the hard hats) liked it.

it happened.

Shirt: old nasty (aka Old Navy)

Pants: Gap

Shoes: Target

It's finally happened. 
Exactly what I knew would happen the moment I found out we would be moving into my pre-school office.


I'm sick.


Sore throat, runny rose, sore throat, sore throat, sore throat kinda sick. And as far as I'm concerned that's the worst kind.


I mean there are probably other contributing factors to my sickness .. like maybe a lack of sleep. But I'm one of those "put all your eggs into one basket" kinda girls - and well - I prefer to blame todays sickness (and everything else that sucks) on pre-school.


So on my way into work this morning in an obvious attempt to be even later than normal I stopped into Publix and stocked up on everything a sick person should eat to try and get better:

• Naked Juice (NOT Red Machine, b/c as I've mentioned before - my Publix has apparently decided to  stop carrying the best juice known to man kind)
• EmergenC 
• Bananas
• Simply Orange Juice
• Cough drops
• Blueberry muffins (b/c they were on sale & they're my fav)

$22 dollars later I should start feeling better in no time!

In other news: Remy still hates me. I didn't take him to the dog park, instead opting to give him a bath. yea. NOT his idea of a good time.

right on time.

Sweater: Jcrew

Dress / Shoes: Target

As far as Remy is concerned I am checking my email - NOT blogging. I promised the little house destroy-er a trip to the dog park, hoping that he could find it in his heart to forgive me for going out of town last weekend ... and stop potty-ing in his crate and ruining the air quality of my house. That little rem-rod sure knows how to hold a grudge!


Needless to say - todays post will be short.


The same super glue that held me to the bed yesterday morning was apparently still in full force this morning. It took every bit of will power and my hatred of the Casey Anthony case to get out of bed and out of the house before the trial began for the day. Had that all gone according to plan I would have broken my cardinal rule and been on time to work. To ensure that rule was not broken, I took a left out of the driveway and headed to the bank, and then to kill some more time I drove to 2 gas stations looking for "Red Machine" Naked juice (my fav) which apparently Publix (without consulting with me first) has stopped carrying. 3 pit stops later I strolled into work ... right on time.

goin' bare (escentuals)

Dress: Marshalls

Sweater: Target

Shoes: Nine West (via Piperlime)

Thanks to a little stomach bug and that had me paralyzed between the hours of 1-7am last night - todays outfit didn't stand a chance. There wasn't enough coffee in the office / world that was going to wake me up this morning. So I didn't. 

I did the responsible thing and had John (the next best thing to my mom) write an email (subject line: I'm Not Pregnant) to my boss and explain the situation - properly getting me out of work until noon. And lets just be honest - it wouldn't be normal for me to show up on time, so for the sake of my reputation and tradition - I strolled in right around 12:25 - right on time.

Today was also the first day of my new make-up routine. Due to the close proximity of Ulta to my office and the greasiness Orlando is causing my skin  - I've decided to experiment with Bare Escentuals. Yesterday I went to Ulta and bought the "starter kit" complete with brushes, foundation, mineral vail, and bronzer. I've been a religious MAC make-up user for 8 years ... I have extremely red(ish) skin and always opt for extreme coverage makeup. I'm a little weary about going from a liquid to a powder - and I worry that a powder wont cover up the redness of my skin or last all day ... I guess only time will tell :) 

Does anyone have any experience with Bare Escentuals or suggestions on how to deal with oily skin suggestions? 

Favor: Please don't judge me on today's wardrobe choice!! For anyone new reading this blog -  I swear the lack of creativity and "rough" look are not normal. If all goes according to plan - I should be back to my normal self tomorrow. my fingers are crossed.

stupid trial

Dress / Belt: Target

Shoes: Payless

I'm almost 100% positive that John super glued me to the bed this morning - making getting up nearly impossible.... which is conveniently the excuse I'm going to use to explain the lack of creativity in this outfit. Had I not been so sick of hearing about the stupid Casey Anthony trial on the news I probably would still be laying in that bed - but thanks to that stupid trial Orlando has taken it upon themselves to cancel all normal TV. In short: they have screwed me out of watching Regis and Kelly - inevitably making me early to work ... and well .. people might start getting used to it. i can't handle expectations like that. 


Not only has the trial made watching normal TV impossible - and screwed up my normal work lateness .. it's also begun to dictate when I can take lunch ... everyday I wait till the dang judge lets the jury recess for lunch so I can insure that when I go home it's not on EVERY channel. Not to mention it has totally messed up my Saturday morning routine - because for all you lucky non-Orlando residents that may not know - the trial is also conducted on Saturdays. 


I've had enough.

buckeye

Dress/Jacket: Target

Shoes: Tory Burch

Necklace: Forever 21

I'm going to Ohio .. I'm going to Ohio ... I'm going to Ohio.. but more importantly - NO WORK TOMORROW! 


Of course I still have to do laundry, pack, find some travel sized conditioner, and get Lil Rem Rod some dog food. 


Needless to say, I have lots to do tonight - but please enjoy today's outfit pics .. and this gem :) 

potty training

Dress/Belt: Target

Sweater: LOFT

Shoes: Cole Haan

The camo dress debuts again! While posting these pictures I realized that I have paired a different sweater with this dress each time I've worn it .. and progressively those sweater sleeves get shorter and shorter as the weather gets hotter and hotter .. next time there may not be any arm covering. And once again, Orlando is slowly but surly ruining my ability to dress myself each day.


In other news, I think my new pre-school office is officially effecting my ability to think like an adult .. it's almost like I have some Benjamin Button syndrome attacking my brain and I'm slowly getting dumber each day. It literally took me ALL day to START doing something that would normally take me 2 hours. It was like my first day of work all over again. unacceptable.


If thats not reason enough for a required afternoon nap, I'm not sure what is. 
OR a stronger dose of adderall. 
Due to the fact that I currently take the highest dose of adderall legally allowed - My vote is for the nap. I brought my Snuggie to work in anticipation.


This photo may bring me the same joy that a parent feels when their over-grown kid goes potty on the toilet for the first time ... lil Rem Rod has FINALLY lifted his leg. John was so pumped he took a picture. enjoy.

... just lazy.

Shirt / Shoes: Target

Sweater: Jcrew

Skirt: Gap

Hello stylish friends - long time no post (I'll take the blame for that one)!


Disclaimer: This is the I wore yesterday but was too lazy to post. You can call me a lot of things, but a liar is not one of them :)


So when I ordered this skirt a few months ago I was obsessed with it ... but apparently obsession and wearing are 2 different things. Every time I put this skirt on I'm inevitably 30+ minutes late(r) to work .. I have the HARDEST time pairing it with tops and figuring out which shoes to wear ... and then as soon as I get to work I decide I hate my outfit and immediately want to go home for a wardrobe intervention. It was also a bad choice of outfits for me to wear because I had to move into the pre-school yesterday and well... getting under tables to plug all your teenage electronics in is not best practice while wearing a skirt.  

I want to tell you all about my weekend, but it's Tuesday - and I feel like I'm a day late and a dollar short to be explaining events that feel like they occurred 10 years ago! so I wont. Please just know that my first Judy Levitz day celebration was a total drunkin' success. 


Office Update: As I mentioned above, I have officially been relocated into the pre-school section of my office. Complete with a white board and desks with no dividers .. however, I'm still in the process of organizing my petition for nap time. To make my pre-school transition complete I've been having John drop me off in the mornings and make me lunches in the afternoon. I'm still trying to gauge when it will be appropriate to ask for snack time and colored pencils. I'm picking my battles. 

miracles DO happen

As soon as I walked into work I decided I hated my wardrobe choice. too short. too clingy. too green. 

Then a miracle happend. Halie, my friend from college, texted me and asked if she could still send me her "guest blog" post even though I was back from vacation....

2 words: YES. PLEASE.

So without further ado .. please meet Halie from Penguins, Pasta and Polka Dots! 

 

Hello Hook & Stylit Readers!

 

This is my first attempt at any sort of a "fashion blog," and to be honest, I'm a little nervous about it! I wouldn't necessarily consider myself fashionable, however I do think I at least have an eye for a cute-ish wardrobe!

 

Dress: Target

Sandals: Target (not pictured)

This is my favorite dress right now. I got it about two months ago as a pat-on-the-back sort of purchase for myself after losing over 30 pounds! I decided it was my Easter dress because of the bright yellow color, and all the cute tiny flowers. Since Easter, I've worn it probably five or six times already, and that was just a month and a half ago! So, clearly, I'm getting my money's worth out of it!

 

I love this dress because it is so dang comfortable. (I like being able to wear sleeveless, without having to always wear a strapless bra. I mean come on - those are just not always the best idea for us girls with a larger chest. Am I right people?!) But with this dress, no strapless bra necessary. Also, it's super breezy and cool, which is key for the steaming summer weather here in my beloved state of Florida.

 

My favorite part of the dress? The ruffle around the neck line. It's so flowy and bouncy, and it just feels like spring-time-in-a-fabric. It just makes me feel super girly and pretty and I love it :)

 

Oh, and I didn't get my sandals in the picture, but I always wear my flat sandals I recently got as well. They're the "Emeline Braided Flat" in Pewter from Target. I'm a little obsessed with these sandals, and wear them with virtually everything. In fact, I love them so much, I'm also going to get some in black as well!

 

Thanks everyone for reading my version of a blog post about fashion! And Welcome Back Maggie - I'm sure your readers are glad they don't have to read any more of my ramblings :)

 

I'm back!

Dress: Target

Shoes: Tory Burch

I'm back and better than ever!
I hope you loved meeting my guest bloggers as much as I love reading their posts everyday! I cannot thank them enough for helping me out and keeping your reading attention while I was on my 10 day computer hiatus. 


Basically I have come to the conclusion that weekends are just wayy to short and to really be re-energized 10 days of vacation is required. you hear that job? T-E-N days!


ANYWAY.... Key-West was perfect, we couldn't have asked for better weather :) I wish I had some long lengthy, exciting explanation of how I spent my vacation days, possibly including visits to museums, meeting pirates, visiting a topless beach, discovering a lost shipwreck .. but in order for me to have done ANY of those things, I would have had to quit my lazy, day-drinking, sun bathing ... and well, that was just NOT going to be happening. There are few things in life I love more than sitting on the beach, beer in hand, friends on either side of me, reggae music, stacks of magazines, and no obligations. I really don't think there is anything better. really. 


In honor of vacation I also chose to only wear clothing that didn't require a (real) bra, that could easily go from wet to dry, and that wouldn't hurt a potential sun burn ... basically the bigger/flowier the better. I managed to stick to my vacation-wear commandments through the entirety of my vacation. 

This year I have decided to make myself a lot more comfortable (less self conscious) at the beach/pool and jump onto the one-piece bathing suit band wagon. Basically, I'm obsessed. Over the past few weeks in preparation for my trip I was able to find some really great suits!


Ann Taylor Loft:

Jcrew Long-Torso Suits:

Sorry I'm not able to better explain my trip - I am in the middle of baking carrot cake cupcakes (from scratch, thank you Barefoot Contessa) for a co-workers birthday tomorrow and the timer is beeping! 


BUT .. until then, please enjoy some of my vacation pics!