Well, Hello there.

Hi bloggie-land! I am still alive! This is good news, as there were moments in the past 3 weeks that I questioned whether that would be the case. Not sure I was prepared for the stress of graduate school, since my Master's program was pretty easy, while this Ph.D. thing sort of feels like my eyelashes are being ripped out one by one, veeeerrrrryyyy slowly. Hyperbolic? Yes... but sadly, it's how I've been feeling. I know it's just an adjustment period, and YES, I will make it out alive *this is my mantra*.

(p.s., to those thinking about going to get a graduate degree... umm... forget what I said! It's wonderful! La-dee-da, YAY. (believable? I'm trying.))

I'm thinking I'm beginning to regain that groove I was talking about but it's still lagging a tad, so bare with me. But there are some things I need/want to attend to with y'all, so I'm jumping back into the world of blogging. I have been bad and have essentially taken a total hiatus from social media, including reading others blogs, using twitter, etc... so I apologize if you've tried to contact me and haven't gotten adequate response. But I promise I'm regaining my footing in the real world. Promise!

And hey, look what I found! (You can take the fashion out of the girl, but you can't take the girl out of fashion, hmmm?)

The Budget Buster:

 

Milly La Sorbonne Cardi

The Stylish Substitute:

Target Merona Vivre cardigan sweater

Granted, the differences are there... Milly's sweater is much more intricate. But for a fraction of the price, you can get the chain detailed look from Target! I saw this in stores and it's actually adorbs, so I very much recommend.

I'll be back soon with some of my Tucker for Target opinions, a product review and some other nice, non-book/school-related things. :)

When I want to get away, I drive off in my car....

This, my dear lovies, is how I spent the weekend: purchasing a new (used) car. The decision was a tough one.

No, wait. It wasn't. You know why? Our budget was minuscule and our options were, too (had a small chunk of change from the accident settlement and we didn't want a car payment). We only needed a car with decent highway gas mileage to get me through the next 4-5 years until we can get something new and more custom. So this is what we ended up with.

2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder (not my exact car but it's the same thing)

My 17-year old self would be soooo jealous of me right now. Don't get me wrong-- it's a good car. Not many miles and kept up well. Plus a warranty if something goes wrong. But what's a self-respecting almost-26-year old doing with a teenager's dream?

(Sigh.)

When I was a teen living in Peoria, Illinois, there wasn't much to do for fun on the weekends. But the 19-year old boys (ow ow!) would take their "souped" up cars to the AMC down the street and essentially compare their genitals. Inevitably, half the cars in the lot were Spyders... which I thought was the coolest, raddest thing ever. So I can't help but feel a little regressed driving this thing to and from school, an 88-mile daily commute. Hey, the bright side is it's going to be a nice ride once the temps cool down, right? And it's definitely a lot cuter than the 4-door sedan we used to drive. Maybe I can get away with it since I pretty much look the same as I did when I was 17, right?

(Bright side, people. Bright. Side.)

OOTD: tried and true.

I have worn the bejeezus out of these shorts this year, lemme tell ya. One of my best purchases to date, I think! I got them a year ago at F21 and bought a pair in white and tan as well. Somehow, the tan ones stopped fitting after one season but the white and black ones have kept up with my incessant wear/wash schedule. With a record 24 days of over 100-degree temperatures, shorts are a necessity. Thankfully, there really are a plethora of ways to wear them, but I tend to wear them with a tank and sandals. Maybe I can style them a bit more interestingly once the weather cools down (I'll even take a 90-degree day! please?).

Top: French Connection beaded tank, supah-old

Shorts: F21

Sandals: Diba jewel sandals(from DSW)

Also, if you can tell, my hair is darker and roots are harder to notice! Thanks to my MIL for dyeing me right out of the box. It has blended really well with my blonde and I think this will be a great, cheap way to continue to dye my hair when funds are tighter. Yippee, hooray!

Also also, thanks to all who were so kind on twitter to send me well wishes. For those of you who didn't see via my tweets, hubsters and I were involved in a car wreck on Sunday that totaled hubs' car. We're all ok, minus a little neck and back ache. We're hoping to simply get the money from the other car's insurance company and get the same car, used. See, the car hubs had was all paid off, so getting a new one would mean incurring another bill (which we really don't need!). So cross yers fingers that we can find a nice (old) Honda in a used car lot somewhere around here.

Also also also (ahem), T-minus 6 days until my first day back to school in two years. It simultaneously feels like forever and feels like yesterday since I last attended a class, so I'm anxious to get back into the student groove. I don't really know what to expect, but I do know that it's going to be quite a 5 year ride! Here's to living the student life!  :)

OOTD: Vodka tonic.

Man.

We've been having freezer problems since last week. We thought it would be ok! Call service guy, quick fix, okay. But the Best Buy Geek Squad dude came by yesterday (did you know the Geek Squad handles freezer emergencies? Neither did I...) and said we'd have to order parts, and if that didn't work, we'll have to get a new one. And wait for another week until they can get someone to fix this already one week old problem. And allllll that food that's spoiled? Well, we'll give you a few bucks towards the spoilage. Even though your wedding cake is in there and it is now an official carrier of some sort of food poisoning that will wreak havoc in your intestines. Great.

Ahem. So what's a girl to do? Make vodka tonics to deal with the stress that ironically have no ice in them because... wait for it... THERE IS NO ICE IN OUR 52 DEGREE FREEZER. 

In other news (aka, non-gastro-intestinal-discomfort news)-- Here's the Perilla dress in all her glory! Yaaaayyyy.... (sorry. Having trouble not being totally annoyed.)

Dress: Anthropologie Perilla dress (scored on sale!)

Tank: Nordstrom (from TBD) lace tank

Shoes: Charles Charles David tassle pumps (so old but so classic!!)

Necklace: Juicy Couture locket charm necklace

p.s., I realize roots are noticeable heinous. Roots will be taken care of this weekend. Meaning: I'm going brown. Stay tuned... especially since this will be a mother-in-law weekend project. Gulp.

Fetching Fashions Fancies-- 8/5/10

I have been terrible, terrible at recurrent themed posts. I wanted to start ones on Etsy finds/independent designers! Fell through. I planned to do frequent polyvore stylings! Ixnayed. I even started that one on WWJW? and never kept going with it. Ugh.

But since I'm going back to school in about three and a half weeks (EEPPP!), I think I need to really try and get something going again. I talked a little about quitting the blog, but frankly, I think I would miss it too much to totally cut it cold turkey. So the current plan is this:

• I'll blog 3-4 times per week unless otherwise noted.
• I'm going to try and still post 2 or so OOTDs per week since they're actually my favorite and will still do my wishlisting (although to a lesser degree).
• I also want to try a new and simple post for those days I might not have as much time but still want to think fashion: "Fetching Fashion Fancies." I'll post a "pick of the day," where I'll simply feature one or two (if I must!) items that I found on the interwebs and fell in love with. You know, to still get my fashion and blogging fix. :) Who doesn't like eye candy, anyways!

To inaugurate these posts, here's my pick of the day...

Lulu's Cadence Call Jacket, $86. A pretty, suede-esque jacket with gorgeous draping and a fabulous tan/olive hue. I could see this quickly becoming a fall wardrobe staple in my closet! Oh lala!

Photos from my iPhone, part 2.

... and here are some pics from the DC trip I just took. Only a few... I know, I know. I'm so bad at taking out my camera when I'm out and about. I just don't like living my life through a lens, I guess. :)

Georgetown Cupcake, AKA "DC Cupcake" (from the new TLC series!). The line was an hour long and we got there before it was even open for the day! Definitely yummy and worth it... 

NOM NOM. Strawberry. The best cupcake flavor ever.

Rosa's doggie, Lola! Her shirt says proud to be a Democrat, but don't let it fool you: She's a Republican. :)

A few landmarks in our nation's captiol.

Hard to see, but this is chocolate covered bacon. Yes, you heard correctly. Comes complete with two Bayers to prevent your heart attack. (Not really, but they totally should.)

What's a trip to the east without some crab? Crab cake Benedict for breakfast, yummm...

Photos from my iPhone, part 1.

This will be the first of maybe 2 installments of "Randomness on Justine's iPhone." I finally tricked my computer into downloading my iPhone pics from my trip to DC (i.e., clicking DOWNLOAD ALL before it can shut down on me) and had to basically retrieve all of them. Which can be entertaining, especially for you who get to see them. Here we go!

The empty seat next to me on my flight to DC. The rest of the plane was pretty much full. How in the heck did I get this fantastic deal? The Big Man Up Above must have known I needed my space. :)

Our grill, found at my favorite home deco store: Home Goods. $299? Why not!

Remember the IRO silk shorts I ripped? Here's the evidence. No minor rip, to be sure. Sad.

My shoe cubbies! Yippeee! Love this thing.

Me, in Anthro's Discovered Lace dress. This got very mixed reviews around the blogosphere, but the more i look at this pic, the more I want the dress. I'm waiting for a sale, though, because the price is a little too steep for what it is.

A recent work outfit. UO's silk blouse; F21 leopard skirt; F21 chain necklace.

This is a little creepy, yes, but here's the story: I recently got lash extensions! Before is above, obvi. They're semi-permanent, only lasting 1-2 weeks. They totally looked naturally and only cost me $25! Unfortunately, because I'm weird and a bit obsessive, I ripped them off after 3 days. They were fun for the trip I just made, though.

Part 2 coming tomorrow, featuring some pictures of my DC trip. Yay!  :)

OOTD: A little staycation.

Sorry about the non-warned hiatus I took, readers! I do hate excuses, but I'll offer one anyway: my 17-year old sister was in town until today and spent a long weekend with us. Despite her pleading to "do a blog and let me take the pictures!", I decided to just resume my regularly scheduled posting today instead.   :)  I guess on the topic, I'll mention that this coming weekend will also require a little hiatus because I'm headed to DC on Friday. It shouldn't interrupt all that much, since I don't do too many weekend posts as it is, but just an FYI. I can't wait to report back about all the fun I have, though!

Here's a quick OOTD-- I decided to take my rarely-worn Modcloth dress and make it into a top instead of a short, tight dress. Made it more office-appropriate, I think! Plus, I do love a kinda-retro outfit every once in a while (and yes, retro does equal high waisted, flowy and knee length for me). I revealed my little secret in one of the following pictures.... hehe...

Top/dress: Modcloth, from this past winter

Skirt: Banana Republic white linen skirt

Necklace: F21 teardrop necklace

Shoes: Michael Michael Kors cage sandals

OOTD: Ho, hum.

I tried to deny it. I tried to resist it. I tried....

But it's definitely that time of year.

You know what I'm talking about. The time of year when you've "been there, done that" for fashion and you need to move on to something new, something different, lest you be caught in a rut of the same old, same old. (I can't be alone, right?!)

The problem with this is that it is most definitely still summer and I most definitely still want it to be. But my wardrobe is getting old and my ideas are no longer fresh. As a fashion "OOTD" blogger-- someone who feels a little pressure to come up with new things and ideas-- this can be quite a task. Because when I walk in my closet, the only thing I'm thinking is "What shirt have I not yet sweat through worn with my requisite F21 shorts?" and my inspiration starts to wane when I see I've basically tried it all before. The previously exciting new ideas become stale and tried. What's left? A pair of jeans and a tee. All well and fine, yes, but inspirational? Not really.

So instead of trying to force it today, I'm going to let it be. I mean, this is a fashion diary of sorts, and diaries aren't simple tales of love and happiness. There are funks, too! And ho-hum entries! I'm learning that this fashion thing can't be forced, and if jeans and a tee are what I'm grabbing then so be it.

Therefore, I present: jeans and a tee.  :)

Top: H&M

Jeans: Juicy Couture skinny jeans

Shoes: Liliana Bardor pumps

Earrings: Express gold hoops

(p.s. I am no longer green in hue. I think Photoshop and I have corrected the problem. Plus, my walls look a lot more like their actual color: sky blue. Yay!)

Shifting into fall...

It's a huge dilemma, people: do I fall into fall in the middle of July? Or do I hold out?

I think the problem is twofold: 1. There are so many cute new fall items out there. 2. I will not be able to wear said cute items for probably another 4 months. Sad story, but true for us Southerners. However, if I will be shopping, I ought to be shopping fall since my summer closet is pretty filled to the brim.

With these considerations in mind, I will trek to my local Nordstrom today to see what I can see of the Anniversary sale. Here's what I'll be shopping (lest the 106 degree temps make me faint):

Sanctuary Peace cargos, on sale for $78.90 (and believe you me, that ugly belt will be promptly removed.)

Lily White Banded Skirt, on sale for $17.90 (!)

Nick and Mo Ruffle Jacket, on sale for $39.90 (I am a little worried I'll be sized out of this.)

Hue Cords leggings, on sale for $21.90 (looks cozy!)

And, because Shopbop is like crack, I also bought this pretty little fall piece last night:

Alice + Olivia Wrap Around Cardi

OOTN: I must be crazy, but...

The forecast has called for 106 heat-index temperatures all day. What do I decide to do? Go to an outdoor play. Awesome.  :)  Here's the outfit, which is honestly a little more "tribal" than I typically go for, but hey. I've been lately inspired by all the utility-pocketed shirts and cargos I've spotted for fall. Plus, it's so super hot and I don't feel like wearing my go-to white or black F21 shorts tonight. Sigh.

 Top: F21 beaded tank

Shorts: Mossimo army green shorts

Belt: EPIC Apparel beaded belt

Shoes: CV for Target sandals

1. Please ignore my totally horrible photoshop skillz and the fact that I had to photoshop out my bra straps because I forgot to put on a strapless. Ooops. (maybe I just shouldn't have said anything and then you wouldn't have noticed? Too late.)

2. I think I'm teetering on going overboard on the beads, but I also think it works. So I'm sticking with the latter.

3. Who is ready for the weekend? I feel like it should be Friday already. I'm ready for some pool-time, the Anniversary sale and relaxing. Come quickly, Saturday!

Conclusions to Which I've Come.

...Some good, some not-so-good.

1. Having a house means you're a grownup. There is no way around it. It also apparently means handymen knock on your door Sunday morning without warning to fix the crack in your ceiling and put the varnish on the door. And you'll inevitably be in your PJs still and not fully awake and trying to remember the Spanish that you haven't studied since 4th grade. "Coma estas, Mr. Handyman? Ummm... uhhh, el sol es brillo, no?"

2. Fall is coming, no matter how much I want to pretend it's not. Well, ok. So there are several months left for wearing tees and shorts, but in the world of fashion, there's no escaping it. The only good thing about this is the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. But once that's over, I swear! I'll be hating fall again! Promise!

3. (Although this is seriously making me want to change my mind. But I'm holding tight to my summer! Damnit!)

4. T-minus 18 days until my uber-girly weekend in DC, during which time I will gorge on good food, good shopping, and good cupcakeries. (Wahoo!)

5. This makes me even more sad that the shorts died over the holiday weekend. I miss them! (But, thanks to Meggy for the shout-out!! Totally flattering.)

6. Cheese made of 75% butterfat is the equivalent of heaven on earth. Fo'realz. (you can get it at the grocery store, too!)

EDIT: I also want to draw quick attention over to my sidebar and show you a new addition: Until the end of the month, you can get 10% off your order at eShakti by using code fetchingfashions123 !! :) Also, don't forget, the code for 15% off at Selfish Style should still work, too. (Let me know if it doesn't!) 

Happy Monday!

New nook, boring look...

Yes, you are correct. I have not been posting OOTD pics recently, despite my excitement over my new blogging space. This has been for a few reasons:

1. My new space relies on a lot of natural light. If I use the ceiling light for pictures, I look like I spray tanned way too much and have orange hair. Not pretty.

2. There has been a lack of light in dallas this week due to massive amounts of rain. Massive. Amounts.

3. I don't feel particularly cute yet. In fact, I barely feel inspired to look cute. I know it will come back to me soon, but I just don't do well with change. Like, not at all. I even managed to mutter to husband that I miss the apartment. (The stinky, gross apartment! I miss it! How crazy am I?!)

However, I really wanted to take a shot at it and test out my lighting options, even if my outfit was totally uninspired. So, to debut my new nook, here is a boring look (teehee). (Please disregard the really frizzed out hair. It can't handle this humidity and the rain. It puts up one hell of a fight.)

Top & shorts: old F21

Shoes: Bandolino zebra flats

I think that may be the smallest list of outfit deets to date on Fetching Fashions. See? Uninspired. I'm also in a closet rut for some reason... you know that feeling when you have a closet full of clothes but feel like you have nothing that you want to wear or that you think would make you feel better? That's just where I am. Grrr.... I will get over this rut. I will!

On another note, ya'll will see the transformation of this nook over time... I plan on getting some fun wall decals and maybe some throw pillows. I'm going to play around with it but will try and make it fun and unique. Yippee!

Have a fun Fourth o' July, and enjoy your sun if you have it!