Wednesday, February 29, 2012

11 Things

No doubt you've seen this going around, I found it on Jen's blog yesterday. Though I wasn't tagged, I personally love reading little facts about people, so I'm taking the bull by the horns and posting 11 of my own:

1. One of the best days I've ever had was two days before our wedding: it was about 95 degrees out and Chris, my brother, and I went to our favorite swimming hole near where we grew up. My brother had been working on a stone dam there all summer and the water had risen so it was super deep. After so much stress of wedding planning, etc. We were brought nearly to tears at how great it felt to let loose and just go swimming. That is one of my most cherished memories.

2. My sister, Caroline is autistic and developmentally disabled. I've never known how to bring it up on my blog before. So, there I just did. I get nervous talking about personal stuff because I worry that I'll come across as "woe is me".

3. I'm not a very good cook. Chris cooks most of the meals around here. If left to my own devices, I would probably eat brown rice and sweet potatoes every night. Luckily, the man knows how to cook. I do make a good dessert though...which lead me to:

4. I really, really love sweets. Too much. It drives me crazy when people bring donuts in to work, which seems to happen daily. I can't not eat them.

5. I've been missing my family a lot lately. I get a little weepy when I think that the last time I was home was December. I feel a great deal of responsibility towards my family, it's hard to be away, but I can't wait to visit this summer.

6. I feel really old and cranky when I hear people talk about current pop culture. Mostly because I have no idea what they're talking about. I'm embarrassingly out of touch with new music. I recently had to have a coworker explain who Lana Del Ray was. I might be 80.

7. Overt "romance" makes me giggly and uncomfortable. The mere thought of a candle-lit dinner for two with roses makes me itch. It's not that I'm not romantic, I just don't like planned "romance" (i.e. typical ideas of what it means to be romantic). This also counts for PDA...shiver.

8. I wasn't a very good student. Many people seem surprised about this fact, but I came close to not getting into college (I did end up being a very good student in college). I think my teenage slacker-ism is why I sometimes over-extend myself now, I take on lots of projects to make up for all that time lost skipping class. (I know I should just get over it, I'm 28...jeesh).

9. I get very nervous about making the right face when people give me gifts. Because of this I hate opening gifts in front of people. I worry that I'll either look disappointed or not excited enough, I want them to know how much I appreciate that fact that they even thought of me. Giving me gifts basically results in a ridiculous amount of inner turmoil.

10. I know absolutely nothing about make-up. I've been doing an approximation of the same routine since I was 19. One of my goals for this year is to get better at make-up.

11. I hope to someday be able to move back to the Maine coast. I daydream about Maine and the ocean on a daily basis. There are many places I would love to live in this world, but in the end I hope I end up back in Maine.

Jen’s 11 Questions...
1. If money, schooling or time was no obstacle, what career would you choose?
Honestly, I'm happy to say that I'm really, really happy with my current job. But... I always thought that extreme movie make-up would be so much fun to do. Like, horror movie/ zombie movie make-up. I did a few projects post-college using prosthetics, mostly just creating fake wounds for one of my former art instructors, I always thought that it would be so much fun to do as a career.

2. What’s the one thing you look forward to every day?
Breakfast. I know it sounds silly, but I love breakfast. When I have time to make a cup of coffee and eat breakfast before work, I'm very happy.

3. What is your number one, all-time, favorite blog?
It changes daily.

4. Biggest online pet peeve?
I'm going to have to agree with Jen here: I can't stand the rampant negativity that surrounds blogging. It's so easy to just not read a blog if you don't like it. The fact that people spend so much of their time dragging down people they don't even know upsets me. There's so much positivity to be had, why be negative? And yeah, I know to just shrug it off, but c'mon.

5. What is your all-time favorite book?
I love the Chronicles of Narnia. But really, anytime I have to read is my favorite.

6. What would your “last meal” be?
Steamed lobster with butter and corn on the cob. And a gallon of guacamole.

7. Do you believe in love at first sight?
Nope. Personally I think a strong relationship needs to go beyond physical appearance, and friendship and mutual respect trumps good looks any day of the week.


8. What would your ideal Sunday morning consist of?
Waffles and/or cinnamon buns, lots of good, strong coffee, then packing up and going on a hike.

9. Why do you blog?
So many reasons but mostly for community and to keep myself thinking creatively!

10. If you had to choose one color to wear forever, what would you pick?
Navy blue

11. What is your all-time favorite band?
The Ramones...always and forever.

I'm tagging anyone who wants to do this! If you do, let me know in the comments section! I'm keeping the same 11 questions above because I think they're good ones...

Here are the rules..
1. Post these rules.
2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.
3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.
4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you’ve tagged them.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

On Tuesday

 
 
In This Outfit: 
Dress: vintage via Avolon Ex. ($13)
Jacket: Forever 21 (so old)
Belt: J.Crew (sale...old)
Tights: AA ($25)
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell "Rumi"
Bracelet: Forever 21 ($3)

Hello! I'm writing to you from the haze of what has been the Worst Cold Ever. It's been a long time since I've been "little kid sick", what I mean is, the whole she-bang: vick's vapo rub, humidifier, chicken soup,  sleeping for almost an entire day, watching Cher movies... Ugh. Today I can finally breathe a little, although I'm definitely still out of it and weaving around the house like a drunk toddler.

Anyway, let's try to make some sense here. I've been experimenting with pinning my overgrown bangs back lately, and I have to say, I'm enjoying the change. Having my hair tied back always makes me feel more awake, and generally "with it". I can actually say that I was inspired by a runway look here, the undone ponytails at Pamela Love's fall 2012 presentation. See? I'm "with it"! Outfit wise, this jacket has been in and out of my "donate" pile for the past year and a half. I think I should just give up and keep it.

Cheers!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Life Lately...



...According to Instagram. The typical wealth of cat photos. This post is late coming because I was finally brought down on Friday by the sickness that has been slowly picking people off at my office. One by one, they dropped like flies...and then there was me. Am I even making sense? Let's blame this on the cold medicine. So as to not make more of a fool of myself than I need to, Here's what I'm loving this week:

- Ruche's new lookbook is making me dream of Spring!
- Vogue Paris as Wham! (so good to see some serious fashion ladies let their hair down)
- I'm loving coral hues for spring, this crop top from Lulu's would look great with a high-waist maxi skirt.
- Such a sweet necklace.
- The perfect summer sunglasses, yes, I'm dreaming of summer already!
- I love Elsie's pony dress! This is a DIY I'm dying to do (once my nose stops running of course)!
- The Gypsy Sandal is the perfect vintage-inspired sandal for warmer months, enter BFORCHID15 for 15% off!
- After Jen's post about meal planning, those note pads are on my want list!
- Love this cozy dress. Enter grey10 for 10% off!
- And one last spring-y dress for you, can you tell I'm pining for warm weather? Enter orchidgrey for 15% off your order!

OK, I wish I had more for you today, but well, I feel like crap. So I'm going back to the couch to watch another season of Friday Night Lights. Now get outside and enjoy this beautiful sunny Sunday for me, ok?

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

A Little Lace


In This Outfit:
Jacket: Urban Outfitters ($30 sale, 2010)
Dress: ModCloth
Cardigan: J.Crew (sale)
Tights: TjMaxx ($4)
Booties: ModCloth
Seductive cat pin: Thrifted/Vintage ($2)
Bracelets: Gift

Despite this being the first time you're seeing it, I've been getting an awful lot of wear out of this little lace dress the past couple of months. Shift dresses lend themselves perfectly to layering, with a collared shirt underneath, or a cardigan over, the same dress can be styled multiple ways. This time, I chose to toughen the lace up a bit with my olive jacket and black booties.

I've been keeping my jewelry simple lately, opting to utilize my ever growing collection of cat pins (and bird pins, and boat pins, etc.). I like how casual this little green eyed kitty is, he just lounges on my lapel, lookin' so seductive.

In other news, sometimes I lose my balance and make this face:
 

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Let's Go To School!


In this outfit:
Coat: J.Crew (sale, 2010)
Backpack: Fjallraven (ModCloth)
Sweater: Thrifted ($4)
Top (under): Thrifted ($2 ish?)
Skirt: Thrifted ($8)
Loafers: Thrifted ($3)
Necklace: Flea market ($1)
Bracelet: gift

I'm not really off to school, but this outfit made me feel like I was. Or, at least made me look like an overgrown kid. That's cool. I wore this the week before last to work, then again on my weekend trip to New York. I was very comfortable, and very warm, which lately is all that matters. I've been amping up my thrifting these days, I've fallen in love with vintage and second hand again after a rather fruitless last few months in Massachusetts. Either way, I've found some great stuff that I can't wait to share with you all, along with some thrifting tips!

On a side note, I wanted to say thank you to all who left a helpful/supportive comment on Friday's post, either in response to our box-spring situation or my hair situation. Moving is tough, and the transition is only made tougher with four months of unrestful sleep and bad hair days. Ok, I'm being a little dramatic, they weren't all bad, but I think some of you may be able to relate to how I feel. It's the small things. Anyways, I'm planning a larger post about our moving experience soon.

In the meantime I'll leave you with this look of general distress:

Monday, February 20, 2012

NYC in Pictures

 
(Image via Ruche)
  
(image from The Daybook)
   

In New York, I: 
Spent eight hours on a bus. Met up with Jen. Participated in the Lulu's Style Studio Event (follow this here link for pictures). Ate the best ever corned beef hash and eggs at 3AM. Had brunch with Sydney Natalie (and their sweet babies), and the lovely ladies from Ruche. Ate more food. Explored the Brooklyn Flea. Found two amazing things for not a lot of money at Beacon's Closet. Ate even more food at the Brooklyn Bowl (and ran into the very awesome Caroline!). Stayed with my best friend from high school. Ate even more food at the Ace Hotel. Had two glasses of wine and got real chatty (sorry for the TMI that most likely happened, Kate). Saw the back of Matt Damon. Got back on the bus for another eight hours.

In New York, I did not:
Take a single outfit shot. Go to any runway shows. Get enough sleep.

The takeaway:
I would much rather spent a weekend catching up with good friends and meeting other amazing bloggers then running around fashion week like a madwoman. I'm officially over feeling pressured to participate in things that I don't feel strongly towards. I packed clothes that were practical. I was comfortable all weekend. I had a great freaking time, but was happy to return home. I feel as though I stayed true to myself this time, I didn't stress myself out, I somehow managed to not get sick. I just had a- relatively simple- weekend away for once!

A big thank you to Lulu's for inviting me to participate in their event (which was lovely and I am so glad I was able to go), to Ruche for inviting me to brunch (that croissant was the best ever), and to Caroline for treating us to some kind of delicious dessert at the Brooklyn Bowl. Come to Pittsburgh and I'll buy you some pierogi (or just a donut)!

How do you feel about Fashion Week?

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Life Lately...


...According to Instagram (user name: OrchidGrey). I'm a so SO happy it's Friday. Last weekend in NYC was great, but I'm happy to have a weekend to myself. This week was hectic. Some good, some bad:

The Good:
- I have a cat on my lap right now.
- I finally got back to the gym. I've been pretty unmotivated lately (for the record I blame the month of February), so it was great to get back into what will hopefully be a new routine.
- I made this gem.
- Chris took my excessive hinting and bought me a sweet Valentine's ring (I bought him a wallet).
- We had a great Valentines dinner at Piccolo Forno in Lawrenceville, one of our favorite restaurants.
- Today I enjoyed "Food Court Friday" with co-workers at the Robinson mall. I had a coke (I brought a tuna sandwich, which I ate later. Sometimes it's nice to go on a field trip, even if it is to the mall)..
- It's staying light out later and later!

The Bad:
- Our apartment is a mess (as usual).
- My hair is a hot, hot mess and I'm toying with the idea of growing out my bangs. I need to do something with it but I'm chicken and don't have the guts to try a new stylist.
- Our mattress is still on the floor. When we moved in, out box-spring wouldn't fit up the stairs of our place. We've been sleeping on the floor for four months.

A few more: 
- There's still time to enter the Bonlook giveaway!
- I love this simple clutch from Le Lapin D'or. Get 10% off your order with the code Grey10.
- This made me cry.
- This post of Joanna's has me thinking about what we choose to share vs. what we choose to keep private on our blogs.
- Pretty shoes for spring.
- I love this map art project, I want to make one with Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
- Would you wear color-block shoes? I love them!
- Homemade Samoas? Yes please!
- I've been looking for flats lately, the new collection from Blowfish is perfect! Enter BFORCHID15 for 15% off!
- Another clutch to add to the list, handmade perfection.
- The perfect moto jacket, and it's vintage! Enter code orchidgrey for 15% off!

Have a happy and safe weekend!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Snow Day

 
In This Outfit: 
Cardigan: J.Crew ($30 ish?)
Dior Belt: Thrifted ($2)
Tights: AA (old)
Ralph Lauren Loafers: Thrifted ($3)
Brooch: Gift from Punky
Coat: J.Crew sale (2010)

The snow you see here is long gone, we're back to rain by now. Though, it was nice to experience winter for a few days! I'm really, really, looking forward to warm weather.

After my trip to NYC this past weekend, this whole week has been a whirlwind, so I'm keeping it short and sweet today. I'll be sharing my pictures from New York early next week!

Have a great Thursday!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Bonlook Giveaway!

 
 I'm so excited to be bringing you this week's giveaway from Bonlook! They are offering one lucky winner a $99 voucher for frames and lenses (frames and lenses start at $99)! Even better? If you don't need a prescription and don't want to rock the faux look, they also have sunglasses available! I just ordered these, and I can't wait to wear them!

To Enter:
1. Visit Bonlook and leave a comment with a link to the pair you would choose if you won, and...
2. Like Bonlook on either Twitter or Facebook

Tiny print: One comment per person. This giveaway is open to U.S. and international readers,but shipping rates will apply for international entries. Be sure to leave me an email address if you do not have a blog where I can easily reach you. Giveaway ends Monday February 20th at 10PM EST. Winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Be My Valentine

Bear with me here, this was meant to publish on Friday, but due to the impressive nature of Mega Bus's internet connection, did not make it to the internet. So, I'm publishing it now...


Another year, another Valentines day of unrealized projects. I swear, I had DIY's planned! We were gonna make stuff! It was gonna be awesome! Oh well, maybe next time.

I know people have varying opinions about Valentines day, but I've grown to like it over the years. I think it's a nice reminder to take some time- in the middle of cold, dark, seasonally depressing winter- to show the ones around us that we love them. Whether you have a significant other or not, it's not a bad thing to show a little love to your family, friends, coworkers, cats, whathaveyou.

Above are a few gift ideas, but you certainly don't need to spend money to show your feelings. Make something! Write a letter! Bake! I'm sure most of these gifts seem really cliche, you're probably thinking: Cologne? Jewelry? Lingerie for christsakes? But these are all items that you (I) might not purchase for my/yourself.

What are you doing for Valentines day? Any Special plans? Do you like to celebrate it, or forget about it?

Monday, February 13, 2012

Monday Morning

Just something I found on Kaelah's blog that I immediately added to my Pinterest. I can't get get it out of my head. Every time I feel a little homesick, which comes in waves, I remind myself of this and feel affirmed of our choice to move. I'll admit though, it was really nice to see a seagull this weekend.

Hope you're having a happy Monday!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

You're Invited: Lulu's Style Studio!


https://mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com/attachment/u/0?ui=2&ik=850473c32c&view=att&th=1353b4d147e9285a&attid=0.1&disp=inline&safe=1&zw&saduie=AG9B_P8TAAJFWJJvh3bP3eGLgccG&sadet=1328719621754&sads=-q1GqCEeubd8ByE2IbjwWsdydwo&sadssc=1 I'm so excited to announce that I'll be participating in Lulu*s Style Studio on Friday night, and you're all invited! Join me and four other amazing bloggers for a fun NYFW set in the beautiful Openhouse Gallery in the heart of Nolita, Style Studio will feature tons of free LuLu*s merchandise in five of our favorite styles: Vintage-inspired, Edgy, Vixen, Sweetheart and Uptown Prep with a blogger representing each style, you will get the opportunity to discover your personal look and then get styling advice from the blogger of your choice! Even better? Everyone takes home a special piece courtesy of Lulu*s! With giveaways, prizes, food, drink, and more, this will be a fun-filled fashion event to remember!

I would love to meet anyone who can attend! Style Studio is a free event, go here to register!

Hope to see you there!
xo

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Leopard and Leather



In this outfit:
Top: Thrifted ($5)
Skirt: Thrifted ($1.50)
Belt: Thrifted ($2)
Jacket: UO- last year ($30 sale)
Boots: Jeffrey Campbell/ModCloth
Tights: AA (old)
Bracelets: Gift
Necklace: Gift

Man, I've got some roots going on, huh? This was one of those outfits that I wasn't totally sold on when I left the house. Basically, it came down to having to leave for work, and this was what I was wearing at that time. I'm glad I was forced out of my comfort zone though, even though I may still not be sold on it- I've been so bored with my closet lately, I think it's a good thing to be a little uncomfortable (metaphorically) every now and then. Something about this time of year, I feel like I've worn everything in my closet at least a million times- I haven't, for the record -and I'm so sick of tights! I'm pining for the days of throwing on a dress and sandals. This is when thrift shopping is a god send, I can add something "new" to my closet and get a little refresher, without breaking the bank or feeling guilty about it.

Mandy, Terra, and I hit up Goodwill, Thriftique, and Salvation Army this weekend, and I came away with some good winter finds. For you Pittsburgh residents, Thriftique is having a 75% off sale on clothing, shoes, and accessories, which is amazing.

Did you watch the Super Bowl this weekend? We didn't, although *cough*cough* I was a little interested to see how the Patriots would do, but all we have is Apple TV/Netflix so instead we watched Friday Night Lights- which I'm now obsessed with.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Happy Friday!

 
It's Friday! Are you excited for the weekend? I definitely am, especially if this weather holds up, it's beautiful and sunny and all around perfect. Plus, I'm planning a thrifting excursion with two lovely ladies, fellow PGH bloggers Mandy and Terra, and I can't wait to have some much-needed girl time. This past week was crazy busy and I'm looking forward to having some time to relax. How was your week?

Here's what I'm loving from around the web this week:

I love these words on Kaelah's blog, don't let anyone get you down.

In need of some stress reduction? Here are some cats. Eating fruit. Wearing clothes.

I'm so excited to welcome Bonlook as a sponsor! With a husband who has quite the prescription, glasses for $99 is a steal, and these sunglasses would be perfect for 20/20 me!

An elegant lace skirt.

Always on the hunt for a good pair of loafers (especially after I stupidly tossed my favorite-falling-apart pair), these would be perfect for spring.

This is on my to-make list this week.

I am swooning over this skirt from Ruche! I can't wait for warmer weather, but this would still look lovely with grey tights for February.

 Avocado + Egg? Life = Complete.

This color block skirt would look great with a navy sweater for winter, and a creme tank for spring. Enter the code grey10 for 10% off!

Winter's not over yet, these would be perfect for a chilly winter morning, plus they're on sale. Enter the code BFORCHID15 for 15% off!

Jumpsuits are not for the faint of heart (I'm a fan), but I'm loving this striped number. Enter the code orchidgrey for 15% off!

I have a new hair post on the ModCloth blog that I'm very proud of, go here to check it out! 


Have a great weekend!