SOMETIMES IT REALLY IS JUST BLACK AND WHITE

I anticipated adding a little more color this morning, but I just couldn't bring myself to disrupt the harmony of my black and white.  So, I just added lots of red lipstick.

I love the days where I feel as though I've walked off the pages of The Sartorialist ... or the front page of Lookbook.nu.  I'm so not that cool, but a girl can pretend.

There's also a small part of me that can't stop thinking about Paula Abdul every time I wear these shoes with these pants.  You know - in Opposites Attract?  The one with the cat ...

I keep forgetting to tell you all about my 30¢ finds at Goodwill.  Our local Goodwill has a clearance section.  I'm so cheap, that I even shop the clearance at Goodwill.  Anyway, the whole section is marked down to 30¢ - okay, it's actually only 29¢, but who's counting?

On an entirely different topic, is anyone else kind of excited about the Ladies Skate tonight?

Pants: Thrifted and hemmed, 30 29¢ - Tee: Target, $6 - Necklace: Target, $3 - Knit Jacket: Strawberry, $30

Belt: Express, $10 - Shoes: Steve Madden via Ross, $17

P.S.  Thank you all so much for your kind comments regarding my hair.  It's suddenly feeling very long and my bangs were getting really shaggy, so I'm just styling it a little differently.  Thanks again!

I LOVE LITTLE ELVES

Being married is sometimes* like living with little elves.  I notice sometimes* that little things around the house will magically get done.  I'm sure that's it's because of the husband and not little elves.  But one can dream.

For instance, I decided to try and take photos on the back porch.  As I peered out the window, I was crossing my fingers that the snow would be melted.  Not so much.  However, there was a perfect little shoveled pathway.

My first thought was "oh, how'd that get there?"  Followed by, "those little elves..."

Then, I remembered that the recycling had to go out, so the path was really a necessity and not a lovely gesture to ease the picture taking.

This outfit walks that fine line between cute and cowgirl.  I'm hoping to be a little less on the cowgirl side, but I couldn't resist wearing the last of my 30¢ Goodwill purchases from a couple of weeks ago: a little boys Wrangler shirt, complete with pearly snaps and all.  Giddy up.

Shirt: Thrifted, 30¢ - Belt: Thrifted, $1 - Skirt: Charlotte Russe, $5 - Boots: Target, $35

*I want to stress that this is only SOMEtimes, because OTHER times,

a girl has to ask until she's blue in face.  Love you, honey!

EDIT:  Someone just made a really great point.  SOMEtimes the little elves do not so helpful things, too.  So, beware the little elves!

RAMBLINGS OF A MONDAY AFTERNOON

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend!  Mine went something like this:

1.  I've been working a lot more this month.  Seems impossible, right?  Anyway, for the third Saturday in a row, I worked from 7-4ish.  Blech!  Luckily, they were only temporary hours and just happened to all fall in the same month.

2.  Thanks to the snow (f__  you, winter!), I've been doing a LOT of Jillian Michaels workouts.  Which means I've been doing a lot of push-ups.  Which means my arms are starting to look a little scary awesome.  Which means I've been flexing my muscles a lot.  Which means I've been harassing John until he feels the "guns" ... a lot.

3.  Someone said something this weekend that upset me.  In an attempt at self-growth, I addressed it.  It turned out awesome and completely lifted my confidence.  So, stand up for yourself.  Everyone needs a little feedback now and again.

4.  I don't know where the time has gone today.  There's part of me that doesn't care and then the other part of me that wants everything to stop.  Just for a minute.

5.  Went to see Shutter Island yesterday.  Good stuff, people.  Go see it.

DENIM DAY

First of all, I just realized that today is the 19th.  I've written the 18th on everything today.  Go,me.

I feel like I almost make myself wear jeans on Friday, since the only day of the week that I actually can.  I suppose I could on Mondays, I would just have to change before work.  I never realized how much I really do love jeans in the winter until my new job removed them as an option.

The good side to that is that I'm much more creative and wear a lot more skirts.  It's also made me much less reliant on the wardrobe staple.  The bad side is that some days, you just wanna wear jeans.

I can't wait until it's a little lot warmer and I can pair this sweater and necklace with a pair of long, tattered jean shorts.  It's 100% inspired by a picture of Taylor Swift in a summer issue of Glamour.  If I wasn't feeling so lazy, I'd show it to you, but I am, so I won't.

Luckily, no one is standing behind me here.  Looks like the rear view may be a little scandalous.

booty + low rise = hello, butt crack

Hahaha ...  that reminds me.  I once had a very dear friend tell me that I was lucky that my butt crack starts way low, swearing that hers practically starts in the middle of her back. Hahaha ...  What kind of people have these conversations?  And who the hell would ever repeat it on the internets?!

Love you, Lindsey!

Sweater: JCP, $18 - Necklace: courtesy of Rebekah of Stella & Dot

Jeans: Bitten by SJP, $10 - Shoes: Madden Girl, $23

A MOMENT IN TIME

When I returned from my run this morning, I noticed this.  I couldn't resist snapping a photo.  It looks like it should be in motion, but it's not.  It's just a frozen moment in time.

PURPLE PEOPLE EATER

Anybody else remember that movie?  That's all I can think of whenever I wear purple.

In an attempt to add a little color to the gloomy winter, I remixed this dress with a bright pop or purple.

This is certainly a little on the sweet side for me, but I'll take it!  It's cute enough.

And as long as it has pockets ... well, you know.

Dress: Twinkle by Wenlan, Gilt.com, courtesy of credit

Tights: courtesy of We Love Colors - Brogues: Target.com, $25

DAPPER DAME

Oh, indoor pictures ... you're so boring.  Unfortunately, I just wasn't in the mood to be cold today.  Mother nature on the other hand ... very cold, indeed.  I've officially hit that point in the year where my patience with winter is rapidly dwindling.  I'm counting down the days until I can pack away my heavy coat.

Luckily, these pants are amazing and will certainly help me get through the next couple of months.  I've been wanting a pair of cropped trousers forever.  Well, forever since Octoberish, anyway.  Unfortunately, finding a pair to fit me was a bit challenging.  So many of the fashiony ones are made for legs much more slender than mine.  But I knew Goodwill wouldn't let me down.

I picked these up at the same time I got the plaid ones that I made into shorts.  Of course, these were much longer and had a cuff on them.  They were hideous mom pants (not my mom, though).  It's amazing how a couple of inches can totally transform a garment.  Now, they are sure to be my go to pants in the coming weeks.  They're a super soft wool and are fully lined for added warmth.

And just in case you didn't notice the shoes.

Pants: thrifted and hemmed, 30¢ - Blouse: Sears, $9 - Belt: Ross, $7.50

Cardigan: JCP, $12 - Shoes: Steve Madden via Ross, $17