Up & Running in Two Skirts

And back to our regularly scheduled programming…. Ok, so I figured out how to do the photo editing in Windows Live Photo Gallery (what came with the new laptop). So I am back to blogging and all that jazz. It’s actually easier than using Picture Project, which is what our Nikon came with. One of these days, I’ll play around with Photoshop and Picasa…

Whew – crazy week! We got back from the river on Tuesday, were home less than 2 hours and then ran out to do a couple quick errands and meet friends at the Splash Park, including a great friend and previous neighbor who, sadly for us, crossed the river and moved over to Leesburg-ish area. And then I went into the office all day Wednesday for a meeting, so the laundry was shoved into the hamper, the counters were cleared, and the cleaning ladies were able to come do their magic. (Literally, hubby & I would eat mac & cheese all month to afford this – it’s my most basic luxury, if that makes sense.) Keep in mind, this is the longest we have been home since school ended, so I think maybe it’s about time we got to the kiddies’ backpacks from school – which are still hanging on their hooks in the back hall, full. Yes, it’s on the list. As much fun as it was to travel, I am happy to be home and get some organizing, cleaning up, throwing out done!!

Back to Wednesday…office all day, meeting all day…comfort important. Great chance to wear the J Crew charmeuse pencil skirt. I love this skirt. I love even more that I only paid $29.99 for it! And funnily enough, here I have it again with a white bf tissue tee – only this time with actually accessories! It was a great comfy outfit for the day. The skirt did get a bit wrinkled as you can see here, since I took the pic after I got home. I am already planning my fall & winter outfits with this skirt – black cashmere shell, charcoal Michelle cardi (ok, mine’s from BR, but you get the idea), white shirt, cream boatneck sweater, tangelo Cambridge cable turtleneck, lots of options.

I wore with my twisted crystal necklace and the faux gold/pearl necklace of my grandmother’s. Plus Dina hoops, the gray stretch beaded bracelet, and Isaac for Target bronze gladiator sandals. (I am going to be so so sad when these actually fall apart. Maybe they’ll be in bad enough shape for me to replace them for real next year.)

Polyvore for Wednesday:

Wearing Today-7/9/09 by HeidiGblog featuring J Crew

Thursday involved lots of errands since I was gone all day Wednesday. We hit up Target to get sneakers for the kiddies since camp starts next week. I finally got to wear my new Boden skirt – the Button Through Mini in dark denim. For Thursday, I just went with easy – navy bf tissue tee and my old olive green J Crew sneakers – no idea how old these are – maybe 5 years or so? So the skirt is fab; I love it. Great fit. As I was driving around, I noticed that the buttons do work really well – they keep the skirt together enough, but you really don’t want any gaping in a button front skirt, ya know? Much as I love it with the bf tees, as soon as I got it, I was…as with the silk charmeuse pencil skirt…imagining it with just about every winter sweater I have, plus tights & boots. I think it actually could be a 12-month skirt. I am very happy with it, and think I will take a closer look at Boden in the fall.

When I was on Boden last night, they still had the dark denim skirt in 8L and 12R, on sale for $43. There are also 2 prints and a white cotton solid. For the record, I did not get a long; I got regular…because the long was out and I really, really, really wanted this skirt. In fact, I was going to get it, it disappeared, and then re-appeared half a week later, so I nabbed it. But like I said – 12 months of wear, I do believe.

Polyvore from Thursday:

Wearing Today-7/9/09 by HeidiGblog featuring Converse shoes

ps - Let me know what you think of the pics compared to previous. Since I have a new display (duh) on the laptop, it looks different to me, so if they look worse, I'll try to work on it.

3 Skirts

I really haven’t done much else in the way of outfits, but I do have a few skirts and such to share with you from shopping. And yes, I took these as successive shots in a white tee & sports bra, which is clearly not how I will be styling IRL. Ok, maybe a white tee, but a bit more put together than this…I hope. :)

First of all, IRL pics of the ATL tiered knit skirt that I posted on before we left. (Just for you, Patina.) Totally worth the $24.50 on sale price. This is the navy (deep sea blue, I believe), but I have the (saddle) brown as well. It also comes in white, black, and green. I am wearing it right at my waist because it sits there easily, and then it’s above the knee. But I have also worn it lower on the hips, which makes the length at or just below the knee – there’s flexibility here. I will note that the length of this surprised me. I have an extra-long femur (it’s where most of my height is), so for a skirt to be this long on me…well, I can just imagine how long it would be on someone with normal height.

I have worn it with my tissue bf tees (albeit a bit better styled than the pic at left, like I said - sports bra, no jewelry, etc). It was also way cute with the striped ringspun cotton cardigan and a tank underneath.

Second, my Boden skirt that I ordered arrived. So excited about this! It’s their Button Through Mini. What a great skirt. Medium weight denim – perfect for year-round wear. Light enough for summer. But heavy enough to wear with sweater and tights in the winter. It has pockets and buttons up the front – big, chunky brown buttons that match the stitching on the skirt. And it even has front pockets, with the cute stitching trim. So I am no officially a Boden fan. The only thing I wonder about is if the skirt will look silly with a cardigan if it has 2 different rows of buttons going up the front. Maybe an open cardi? And now I can submit sets to Dina’s Polyvore group, Boden is Bodacious. (Best PV name ever.) And by the way, Boden is having their summer sale online now.

Third was a purchase here at the Lake. I went to Danbury Fair Mall with my mom & E earlier in the trip and hit the J Crew store, of course. Didn’t get a lot done as E was with us and a bit cranky – well, tired, really. But I finally got the Silk Charmeuse Pencil Skirt in pewter (#11652, orig $98, curr $29.99). I have tried this on multiple times and eyed it many more. I know, I know, the wrinkles are just *appalling.* Please pardon me – it has been sitting in a bag in a corner of my room as I really don’t have plans to wear it this trip, you know? And you know I hate ironing unless absolutely necessary...

I can’t say I would recommend ordering this online unless you are sure of sizing. I will say that I got it in a 10. I usually go with an 8 in skirts, but I wanted it to be a little loose and not hug too much…the whole point is comfort, not having to wear Spanx with it. I am planning to wear with a tissue bf tee and sandals this summer, maybe even a white blouse. And in fall/winter, I’ll trade the tee for my black cashmere shell or a turtleneck. The fabric feels divine. I also picked up a gray beaded stretch bracelet – never got it at my B&M and it sold out, but picked up here on sale for $14.99, yay! And, a fab silk scarf – large square with pewter border and bronzed twig center square – for $9.99. The tag says Spring 2009. Anyone remember such a scarf? I guess I was on a total gray kick at JC that day.