Shoe Fever

Sun lights up the day time,

Moon lights up the night.
I light up when you call my name
and you know I'm gonna treat you right,
You give me fever!

I went to title this post, and now I have Peggy Lee stuck in my head. But Shoe Fever more or less accurately describes the frenzy I get myself into around this time every year when making up Christmas lists. Ok, who am I kidding... I get into this frenzy a couple of times a year, and I'm surprised I managed to hold off for this long.

I was on the Charlotte Russe website yesterday looking at shoes because my roommate who works there keeps coming home with the cutest boots, and then my mom's friend came over to drop off an "early" graduation card (and $$). Call me crazy but that sounded like an obvious cue to head on in and pick up these boots I had been oogling on the site. (Actually, they didn't have the specific ones I was looking at, but I like these better!)


The best part is that they are actually practical enough to wear around for all sorts of occasions, including just for daily outfits! I especially love the little ribbed sweater poking out of the top. Of course I couldn't stop there and had to check out the WHOLE shoe collection... plenty of cute ones! Here are some of my favorites. (Click the picture for a link with more information!)







That last pair just puts me in the mood for all sorts of holiday parties! Have you guys started making any holiday wish lists? Did any shoes make the cut?

Don't You Love Her as She's Walkin' Out the Door?

This outfit was for what I guess you could say was a cross between a date and a bar hop with a friend who was in town from Texas. But then again, as far as I'm concerned that's one of the best first dates a girl could ask for: awkwardness really disappears when alcohol is involved. (Ok, at least until you get too much alcohol, at which point awkwardness is probably multiplied.)

For your viewing and entertainment pleasure I have included a cardboard replica of our former President in my photo shoot. I got this on what I think was my 16th birthday from a boyfriend, I think as a joke. He clearly did not come with any cardboard Secret Service members because before the party was over he was covered in little bb gun bullet holes. Poor guy.

Outfit
Dress: Forever 21
Leggings, Scarf, Vest: Old Navy
Boots, Bracelets: Charlotte Russe
Ring: Target

Should Have Been a Cowgirl.

It was one of those days... I know you all know what I'm talking about: You have some errands you need to run or things you need to do that require not just sitting around the house in your pajamas, but you don't want to get FULLY ready for the day just yet. This was the kind of day it was last Friday when I needed to get some things done, but didn't really want to put too much effort into getting ready because I wasn't planning on showering until later in the day.

Cue the "jeggings." And I don't know if you could even call them that because they're not just the super stretchy jeans, but literally just leggings that look like jeans. Oh well, I don't care, they were SO comfortable but still a little bit more structured than other leggings. This shirt has become my new go to "lazy" but "a little put together" shirt... doesn't that always happen with anything oversized and comfortable? The cowboy boots are also just my go to for damn near anything, so alas we have my unintentional cowgirl look. It has to be some cosmic joke that the only thing I ended up buying while we were out was a red bandanna from Hobby Lobby for Saturday's tailgate. Classy!

Outfit
Shirt (dress? Like two sizes too big) and "jeggings": Old Navy
Boots: R.C.C. Western

And I just want to make it clear that this shirt DID completely cover my rear end. I'm not a big fan of the "leggings as pants" movement (Not to be confused with the "leggings with a long shirt" movement. I'm referencing the ladies on my campus who think it's cute to wear leggings AS their pants with only a short t-shirt to go along with them), unless I'm laying around the house and it's laundry day... all bets are off for that one.

Outfit Post: A Cooler Fall Remix

Taking a warm weather outfit and transitioning it into fall can be as easy as throwing on leggings and a cardigan. This is a great way to take summery dresses and keep them in good use well into the fall! This dress is one of my favorites... I'm truly surprised it hasn't fallen apart yet, particularly because it was only somewhere around $20 when I bought it at Target.

Warmer Fall Weather Version:


Remixed:

Outfit
Dress, Belt, Ring: Target
Necklace, First Outfit: For Love 21
Leggings, Cardigan, Vest in First Outfit: Old Navy
Boots: Uggs (First outfit), R.C.C. Western (Second Outfit)

Do you guys have any favorite items that you have found a way to incorporate into cool weather outfits?

In other news, I'm convinced I have some weird version of 20-something onset Alzheimer's. My forgetfulness has really taken itself to a whole new level lately. That or my blatant lack of observation of what I'm doing during the day. Earlier I was wondering why my cousin had never responded to a text I sent her only to realize I never actually sent it. Oops? This has come up with a few blogs as well, who I was completely convinced I was following until I saw them comment here, popped over to their blogs, and realized their posts weren't showing up on my post updates. I'm really way too out of it sometimes... at least I got several of those blogs added to my blog roll, FINALLY. (Specifically talking to you, Jennifer and Anika! Haha)

The End of an Era

It's official: I have completed my last tailgate as a college student. I'm sure there will be plenty more to come, especially with my little brother expecting to come to IU, but I have a feeling they just won't be quite the same. (But then again, my dad probably thought that too, and he clearly still keeps right up with the best of us!)

So without further adieu, I give you a picture summary of the ridiculousness that was Saturday:

(Completely normal to start drinking at the bar at 7am before it is even light out, right? That's how we do it at Kilroy's Breakfast Club! Maybe the only upside to noon games.)

(Kelly, the roommate!)

(Dad and some of his IU girls!)

(Storm Trooper time!)

("Adam, why do you have that weird look on your face?" "It's not a weird look, it's called sobriety")

(Free shirt from Kilroy's Breakfast Club. Getting up at 7am to go to a bar has its perks!)

(Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, anyone? Aka, me and my dad.)

(We'll call this: Why you don't pass out at an IU tailgate. Demonstrated by Steven. Thank goodness we thought to buy those 50 cent mustaches and beards from the machine at Kroger.)

(Tobasco wake up call!)

(Enticing him to take pictures while he still is completely unaware that he has a Hitler mustache)

(Steven: "HEY! MICHELE! What's your problem!?")

(Recipe Bonus: Dark Chocolate Ganache Topped Brownies that I made for the game!)

Outfit Post: Scarves and Jackets!

Cold weather means it's finally time to break out the coats and jackets and really play up the scarves! I'm really bad at transitioning from warm fall weather into the colder kind, and I haven't actually been wearing jackets all that much lately. This was from a week ago when my roommate Kelly and I went out to dinner with her brother and cousin who were in town. Unfortunately we were in a rush to get out the door so we didn't get too many pictures, but I'm sure there will be plenty of variations of this outfit to come in the future. I wish I would have gotten some in better light!

Outfit:
Scarf: H & M
Leggings: Old Navy
Necklace: For Love 21
Belt: Forever 21
Booties: Payless
Dress and Purple Bomber: Target

Picture Post: Halloween Social

I'll be back to a regular outfit post tomorrow with pictures of today's outfit (always a day behind, aren't I?) but I wanted to finish the Halloween series given Halloween was 4 days ago and I am still trying to get these up.

These pictures are from a social I hosted for a national honors/service organization that I am a chapter officer for. I basically serve as both the secretary and VP of public relations, so I get to do the social organizing! For Halloween, I knew I wanted to do pumpkin painting, watch Corpse Bride, and do a game called the Donut Dangle (You'll understand with pictures, but basically you're trying to catch a powdered donut with only your mouth while it furiously dances around from a stick). We don't always get a ton of members that actually show up, but the officer group has been about the same for a few years now, so we're all friends and it usually turns out to be fun nonetheless!

(Devil's Food cupcakes with Pumpkin Icing!)

(Lauryn's dog Dolce in his aptly chosen Satan costume)

Still planning on doing a giveaway very soon! I have been all kinds of a mess lately trying to get everything done, but after today's round of tests are over I should have a bit more free time to get some other things taken care of.

Costume Recap: Jane of the Jungle

This costume first made it's appearance on Halloween Weekend in 2008 and I was completely eager to bring it back out this year. It was a ridiculously simply "thrown together" costume the first time around, and my favorite part about it is the makeup and wild hair. Well, I also love the dress, which might be a little too much to wear on any other night that didn't involve a costume part of some sort.

It was only perfect that Kelly chose to be an Amazonian Woman for one of her costumes and made her brother a Cave Man costume to go along with it, and that we ended up wearing them all on the same night!!!