To the New!

This holiday season has been a whirlwind of good things all around. Engagement, birthday, Christmas with family, outings with friends visiting from out of state. So much to celebrate as I close out 2012 and ring in 2013! And it wouldn't be a proper celebration without a great dress (thank you Kiyonna!) and all the trimmings. And a frosty winter's night background that somehow complements it all perfectly.

Betsey Ruched Dress  - c/o Kiyonna / Shoes - Kelsi Dagger / Coat - Larry Levine

Truth be told, Bob and I have gone back and forth about how we wanted to welcome the new year. In many ways, our engagement only just 2 weeks ago has brought us so much excitement that there doesn't seem to be any way to make the end of the year much better! We have forgone our traditional NYE/anniversary meal at our favorite local restaurant in favor of Potbelly sandwiches and cookies (our bank accounts need the reprieve after so much holiday spending anyway) while Bob clears out the DVR and I whip up this blog post. (Full disclosure: the party gear, complete with Spanx, was donned earlier for the photo shoot and now lies in wait...while I've spent the last few hours relaxing in comfies.) Instead, we'll venture out late to share a bottle of wine and the festivities of downtown just in time for the stroke of midnight. Mother Nature brought plenty of snow, so I just know the sights will be lovely (even if the sidewalks aren't...)

Clutch - ? / Earrings - Anniversary gift / Necklace - LOFT / Ring - Banana Republic
Nails - Essie "Waltz" and OPI "Mauve-ie Star in Making"

But here's the kicker. I'm all dressed up with places to go, looking and feeling fabulous, but that's not even what excites me tonight. What excites me most is the fact that I've been blessed with such a wonderful partner in life - and now for life - to share it all with. We'll start the new year together, with so many more wonderful things (and the not-so wonderful, too) to look forward to.

I hope all of you will start off the new year in ways that make YOU the happiest!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Waves Hello

So I spent some time in Orange County, CA recently and I took some pictures.

Bob's father

Huntington Beach at sunset

Laguna Beach at sunset

And maybe I'll start posting outfit pictures again soon...

Birthday Boy

That's one handsome man. How could I resist starting off this (little later than usual) post by featuring the birthday boy himself? Especially when he's wearing the crap out this blue Ted Baker suit, a crisp white shirt, and BR pocket square (that he picked out for one of his birthday gifts). My outfit pales in comparison after that anyway. =)

Melrose Mesh Top - c/o Kiyonna / White pencil skirt - Macy's (Charter Club)

At least, I feel much less dressed up than I would have liked to have been. Quite disappointingly, the dress I was planning to wear didn't fit, so I had to scramble to put something else together that I could feel comfortable and confident in and wasn't too much fuss. This was Bobby's day, after all, and I wasn't going to let my frustrations damper the cheer of the day. I immediately thought of this great Kiyonna top that flatters all my assets and camouflages everything else, paired with, of course, a pencil skirt.

The real stars of the outfit were my accessories, however. I'd been plotting to debut some fabulous new shoes and my Trina Turk for Banana Republic pieces on this occasion, so it was imperative that whatever I wore would let them shine anyway. I do suppose it's hard to let a little box clutch and fabulous cocktail ring take center stage just by virtue of scale, but I sure as hell had to try.

Box clutch and Ring - Trina Turk for Banana Republic / Necklace - Anthropologie /
Earrings - Banana Republic (eBayed) / Sandals - SM Evan's Pump via DSW

Meh, the birthday boy still wins. =)

As has become customary, we dined at our favorite restaurant in town for the birthday meal itself, having course after course of delectable bites and a helluva bottle of wine to celebrate. Good people watching, excellent service, and just a relaxing evening spent together.

An upside down wine label has to mean good luck, right?

Today? A day off, a firmer footing on Weight Watchers (with a hope to fit into that dress eventually) and being ever so thankful that I get to celebrate birthdays and all manner of life's milestones with such a wonderful guy.

Made for Each Other

Happy Monday, everyone! (Even though it's almost over. Thank goodness...) I thought I'd take advantage of a Monday off to finally post pictures from a wedding I attended in September. I guess it doesn't seem that far away, but I sure have been sitting on these for a while! The wedding joined two good friends of the family, and specifically of my sister, who'd been together for so long that their wonderful union was a matter of course. (Kinda like the BF and I whenever we decide to get hitched.) For Bob and I, not only was it a meaningful day to celebrate the special couple, but it was a chance to get home and see family, to get dressed up, and to enjoy the last bit of freedom we had before work got (very) crazy for the both of us.

Pezza Dress - Anthropologie / Nude patent pumps - Guess (via Piperlime) / Instant Sleeves in Taupe - LucieLu

And get dressed up we did. Our first few little snapshots (necessary, of course) grew into a sassified full-on photo shoot during cocktail hour. We had a few onlookers (the bridal party was away doing their own photo session), but I'm glad we got to document the day. Not only did I get pictures of myself (duh), but also of Bob (and his phenomenal new Oxxford suit - stay tuned for a probable guest post!), my glammed up mom, my sister (who was matron-of-honor), and of course the whole wedding event. Scroll down to the end of the post for pictures of all that awesomeness if you're interested.

My dress, the Pezza Dress, is one of the few items I've ever purchased full price from Anthropologie. I tried it on a whim, but the minute I put it on I was smitten. For such an amazing fit, special details and gorgeously saturated color, I needed to take it home with me that very moment. I haven't regretted it one bit.

Almond Tiers Necklace - Anthropologie

For accessories, I went with this amazing statement necklace, also from Anthropologie, and one I scored on sale for $10! I had gotten so many comments and compliments on the piece (many of them from men, interestingly), ranging from "Now that's a necklace" to "Did you buy the necklace especially for the dress?" Nope, I didn't, actually. For better or for worse, I buy my jewelry purely because I like a piece, that it stands out to me in some way and that I could see myself wearing it. It's only when I'm actually putting outfits together that I really figure out what jewelry I have works with what. So I guess when I decided to wear this necklace with the dress, I apparently struck gold! It doesn't "match" per se (and good), but it does add such a striking bit of color and attention to my neckline that they really do seem made for each other. I therefore went neutral with everything else, from the Instant Sleeves in Taupe to the gold flower earrings to the topaz cocktail ring to the nude patent platforms. My favorite Lodis clutch, one I grab whenever a special clutch is called for, complemented the color palette surprisingly well, too.

Dot clutch - Lodis (eBayed) / Earrings - Banana Republic / Ring - Banana Republic (eBayed)

I can't help but share a few shots of the others, too, especially since we all looked so good! First my mom, looking as pretty as can be (and styled by my sister and me). We put together this look piece by piece, each on super-sale! The belt didn't even come with the dress, which was a sheath, but you'd never know it!

Dress - Talbots / Stretch navy belt - Kohl's / Navy satin clutch (TJ Maxx) /
Grey patent heels - TJ Maxx / Peach wrap - mine (eBayed) / Necklace - Talbots

My fabulous sister and I. Though it looks like we could be twins, right down to the hairdo, we are actually three years apart. (I'm the old one.) We had some goofy outtakes, but I thought I'd go with a semi-distinguished one instead. =)

See, Kinsey? Just rock the bandaid. =)

Bob and I. Seriously, that suit is amazeballs. We'll definitely be doing a guest post on it. He's pretty darn hot, I must say...

Grey Suit - Oxxford (via Filene's Basement - a mega-score) / Pale green button-down - Banana Republic /
 Baby blue tie - Banana Republic / Pocket square - Banana Republic / Shoes - Donald Pliner

Last but not least, the ceremony, the lovely couple, and their remarkable son. It was a beautiful day for the wedding of a beautiful couple.

Kirsten, Steve, and Austin, thank you for letting us be a part of your special day!

P.S. Be sure to enter my two giveaways for the necklace and earrings/bangle combo!

Birthday Celebration

We celebrated Bob's birthday last Friday! Per his request, we went to our favorite restaurant in town (the same place we went for my birthday) and had a truly mind-blowing meal. We also had more than our share of wine (note the empty bottles and glasses in the last picture), making us grateful for a Saturday of nothing that allowed us to recuperate. (And boy, did we need it.)

Dress - Anthropologie / Shrug - LOFT / Nude patent pumps - Guess (via Piperlime) /
Purple patent clutch - MAXX New York (gifted)

For the event, I wore this Anthropologie sale score (it has pockets!!) that I had intended to wear for Valentine's Day, but since we didn't go anywhere, it continued to languish in my closet. I must admit that it doesn't fit as well as it could in my bust/back area (gimme a few more weeks on Weight Watchers, though...) but fortunately its full a-line skirt is very forgiving. (And thank goodness for shrugs and Spanx.) Besides, Bob insisted that I wear it because he simply loved me in it, so the decision was made for me. =)

Necklace - LOFT / Earrings - LOFT

The print is pretty spectacular - blue and purple and orange and lime green brush strokes - which makes accessorizing fun, and I sure took advantage of it! I even got a manicure in a bright violet shade just for the occasion.

Bob's Outfit: Faux-linen blazer - Lauren Ralph Lauren (Kohl's) / Shirt - Robert Graham / Pocket Square - Banana Republic / Jeans - Polo Ralph Lauren / Shoes - Donald Pliner 

The man of the night was looking mighty fine himself, I might add. But he always does.... =)

And the food!! The food!! Here's just a "taste" of some of the amazing dishes we enjoyed.

Fried sweetbreads with black summer truffles and garlic scapes; Copper River Sockeye Salmon with smoked fingerling potatoes, greens and a mustard sauce

Happy Birthday, my dear Bobby!