Ring Around the Rosie...

Hi friends!  I have some exciting news to share...

Eek!!!  That's right, the BF (Sean) and I are getting married!  We're absolutely thrilled and can't wait to start the planning process.

This past weekend, Sean flew to California to ask for my parents' blessing.  He had coordinated the trip with my younger brothers, both of whom came home from college.  The visit was kept secret from my parents until the day before his arrival.  He arrived in California around noon on Saturday, spent the day with my family, and left first thing on Sunday morning.  Throughout his trip, I thought he was paintballing with some friends in the Pocono Mountains.  After all, the paintballing story was very believable: Sean had told me about an upcoming paintballing tournament, I had heard a friend call to give him the details, had watched Sean pack all his paintballing gear for the weekend, and hadn't been able to get in touch with him at all on Saturday, which was to be expected given that I thought he was in the mountains.  Sean's original plan was to propose sometime over the next two weeks...but he ended up proposing the very same day he flew back from California. 

Here is a sampling of the responses we received from our family members once we spread the word:

• "Wait...what? Really?" (one of my brothers, who had been expecting the proposal to happen over the next two weeks, rather than within the next 24 hours)

• "Well, it's about time!  That's great.  And tell Sean I have some film for his projector" (my grandfather) 

• "He proposed?  To whom?" (One of my uncles, who has a quirky sense of humor) 

• "Is she pregnant?" (Sean's grandfather, who also has a quirky sense of humor.  And no, I am most definitely not pregnant)

Familiar

Happy Tuesday, everyone!  BF and I both had the day off from work yesterday and it was such a treat to be able to spend the extra time together.  We agreed to go out to lunch and discussed the merits of a few neighborhood restaurants.  This was our chance to try something new!  Someplace exciting!  But in the end, we settled on the local diner.  He had an omelet and I had a chicken sandwich.  Not so new or exciting.  We're typically adventurous eaters, but sometimes the familiar favorites just hit the spot. 

I think my eating habits are similar to my dressing habits.  Although I'm very willing to take risks when assembling outfits, my default mode is to rely on the familiar.  Take this gingham shirt and v-neck sweater.  I almost always wear them together.  And I almost always style them with red (see here for proof).  I know that both items fit well and that they work well with a variety of bottoms.  And I know that they allow me to look work-appropriate without looking the least bit stuffy.  Sometimes you just have to go with what you know, right? (And I would be remiss if I neglected to credit Lisa's post with the inspiration to combine black and white with this particular shade of tomato red.  Thanks, Lisa!)

J. Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Vibrant Flame (splurge, but 25% off) (similar)
Ann Taylor gingham button down. Thrifted for $5 (similar)
Theory v-neck sweater. Thrifted for $5
AK Anne Klein boots.  Gifted
J. Crew thin hand-enameled bangles.  Retail: $20/each. Sale: $11/each (buy)
Marc by Marc Jacobs "Daisy" perfume ring (very similar without the perfume)

Thanks for reading!

Everybody, Everywear: Black and White

Hi friends!  Did you all remember that Tuesday was the "Black and White" challenge over at Everybody, Everywear?  Be certain to hop on over and see what the other folks are wearing!

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you may notice that I'm donning a new pair of spectacles.  I usually wear contact lenses for the sake of convenience, but truth be told, I actually prefer the look of glasses.  When I was in third grade I wanted glasses in the worst way.  I can distinctly remember admiring the glasses of a fellow third grade student.  She had these amazing teal and purple plastic frames that were just so cool.  I was so, so envious and concluded that that I would be eternally happy, if only I could have a pair of glasses as cool as hers.  So I wished, and wished, and wished for glasses.

In fourth grade, it became clear that I actually needed to have my vision corrected.  So I picked out a pair of frames...and quickly concluded that wearing glasses wasn't as fun as I had imagined.  When I went to the optometrist in fifth grade for my annual eye exam, I learned that my vision had become four times (four times?!!!) worse over a twelve month time period.  Be careful what you wish for, right? 

French Connection wool cropped jacket. Retail: $298. Sale: $60 via TJ Maxx (similar)
J. Crew Wave Tank. Retail: $88. Sale: $35
Brooks Brothers lace pencil skirt. Thrifted for $15 (similar)
Ann Taylor wide patent belt. Retail: $58. Sale: $20
AK Anne Klein Diver pumps. Retail: $80. Sale: $36 (buy)
J. Crew bangles (buy wide bangle. buy thin bangle)

Thanks for reading!