“Glad you could make it for tea”

Posted on April 26, 2010 by Diana

I had some trouble looking up an exact definition of a tea dress. Most sources seem to agree that the length is mid calf, and that it is generally flowy and feminine and pale or pastel in color. According to Wikipedia, the term originated with dresses that women would wear at home for tea and dinner in the late 19th century. They were seen as more intimate than a dinner dress which was designed for wearing out. So while this dress may not be exactly a tea dress, I still like to think of it as one. It’s light, feminine and floral, and seems like the perfect thing to wear while drinking tea on a sunny afternoon. And my pretty little green cardigan made this outfit feel all the more springy.

I would love to have a closet-full of dresses like this for the summer. The fabric is so nice and light, and the print is so pretty. Too bad I have such a small closet

What is your definition of a tea dress? Do you like researching the history of fashion?

Dress: Jonathan Martin (via Classy Consignment)
Cardigan: J Crew (via eBay)
Sandals: Dansko Novalee (via eBay)
Necklace: Jorgensen Studio
Cuff: via Classy Consignment

Nail Polish: Essie Calypso

Quote: Don’t bump the glump, by Shel Silverstein

“Double-decker strawberry ice cream cone”

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Diana

Wow! Now that I’m working full time at a job where I actually have something to do eight hours a day, I’m finding myself with significantly less free time. I really love my new job though. I love what I’m doing, and the hours seem to fly by because I always have something to be working on. I’m just having to learn how to budget my time outside of work. It’s hard, because I have so many things that I love doing. I love to blog. I love to workout. I love to cook. I love to knit and watch movies with my boyfriend. And while I don’t love it, I also have to take care of everyday tasks like cleaning, grocery shopping, laundry, etc. And fitting all of these things into the hours between 3:30 pm (when I get home from work) and 9:00 pm (when I go to bed) is no easy task.

I don’t want to give up doing the things I love, so I’m finding compromises. Some days, I’ll go to the gym and not have time to comment on blogs. Some nights, I’ll stay in and catch up on the blogosphere. I’m learning quicker recipes to cook during the work week, and saving the more complicated stuff for the weekend. I’m still wishing I had about five hours more in every day, but I’m learning to live with less free time. The fact that I love my job helps a lot.

In order to keep myself from stressing out, I’m changing up my blog posting schedule a bit. Starting this week, this is what I’ll be posting: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays will be daily outfits. These are my favorite posts to write, so I don’t want to cut back on them too much. Wednesdays are Etsy Love, because I love supporting handmade. Saturdays will just be Links a la Mode. On occasion I will post feature articles on Saturdays, but they won’t be regular. And Sunday’s will be Shopping Plan posts. Changing things up will let me still post daily, without feeling stressed out. I love this blog, I love the blogging community, and I do not want to stop. I just have to cut back a bit. I’m still visiting other blogs and commenting, but not as much as I used to. I still love and appreciate all my readers, and I try to visit your blogs as much as I can, but please understand that often I won’t have time to read blogs until the weekend.

How to you budget your free time to make room for all the things you love?

Blouse: Anthropologie
Cardigan: Fossil
Jeans: Gap Curvy (altered by me)
Shoes: Born Sokal (via eBay)
Necklace: Jorgensen Studio
Purse: Morelle Charlotte

Quote: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

“Driving will be no fun at all!”

Posted on March 16, 2010 by Diana

On Sunday, I rode bikes with my boyfriend and some friends of ours up to the Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market. It was a beautiful spring day, and the market was a lot of fun. I found some delicious produce, local honey and organic coffee. There were also several local jewelry vendors that I plan on checking out later. I kept my outfit simple and casual. I don’t wear my Chucks too often anymore, but I still love them for casual weekend outings.

I’m so glad that we live in a neighborhood that has events like this. It feels so good to be able to support local businesses, and it was a lot of fun to meet up with family and friends too. Plus, they had some super tasty food vendors.

It’s great to get back on my bike again too. It languished during the winter, when I was too wimpy to deal with the cold in anything other than a heated car. Now that the weather is warming up, I definitely want to do a lot of riding.

Do you like to get around on your bike in the spring and summer? Do you have local markets that you like to go to?

Tee: Style & Co (via clothing swap)
Jeans: Gap Curvy (altered by me)
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylors
Purse: Timbuk2
Necklace: Jorgensen Studio
Bangle: Vintage

Quote: Tin Lizzie, by Allan Drummond

“I enjoy them just the same”

Posted on March 8, 2010 by Diana

Sometimes, a fallback combination with a few new elements makes for the perfect, last-minute outfit. I’ve worn this sweater, pair of jeans and boots together before. Last week, I mixed it up a bit by layering a gray graphic tee underneath, and adding pops of dark pink in my sakura necklace and ring. This outfit was very comfy, but still put together enough for work.

The weather has started to hit a turning point, so I’m trying to get as much wear as possible out of my cashmere sweaters and leather boots. Soon it will be too warm to wear them (except maybe in over air-conditioned offices). I’ve already noticed my shopping and browsing habits shifting. There’s not a lot of point in my buying any new sweaters or boots right now, when I won’t be able to wear them regularly again until October. I know that a lot of the best sales on winter items happen right now, but on a budget as tight as mine, I prefer to buy things I can wear sooner rather than later.

Have you already started mentally shifting into Spring? Do you tend to purchase items that you can wear in the current season, or do you go for the off-season deals?

Sweater: J Crew (via eBay)
Tee: Style & Co (via clothing swap)
Jeans: Express
Boots: Dansko Nena (via eBay)
Necklace: Jorgensen Studio
Ring: From my mom

Quote: The OK Book, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

“They smiled at the good”

Posted on March 2, 2010 by Diana

Thank you for the kind words yesterday. I’m feeling a bit better. I know that things will work out before too long, I just need to keep positive.

I wore this outfit for another nice, relaxing Sunday. I caught up on things around the house, deep conditioned my hair, gave myself a mani/pedi and took a nice afternoon nap. I think taking some time for myself every weekend is starting to become my therapy – it’s so nice to relax and not feel rushed and catch up on everything.

I was in the mood to be both girly and comfortable on Sunday. The weather was a little bit warmer, so I was able to get by with my lovely new Anthropologie floral blouse and my blue cotton cardigan to add a little bit of warmth. I wanted something that would let my beautiful new necklace shine.

I had e-mailed my boyfriend a wishlist of items I liked on Etsy for my birthday, and after picking out what he got me, he forwarded it along to his mom. She got me this gorgeous Sakura branch necklace from Jorgensen Studio that I’ve been eyeing for months. I aboslutely love it, and it’s even more beautiful in person.