“For a time in utter laziness”

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Diana

I’ve been sick for the last week and a half with a nasty cold/cough. I spent most of my weekend in pj’s, lying in bed, drinking lots of tea, reading and napping. However, I did have to get decent to go to my nephew’s sixth birthday party, and by that point I was feeling healthy enough. I decided for a casual, comfortable outfit that still had a bit of chic to it. I was really bored with this brown and white tee, but when combined with an eggplant headband and yellow purse, it wasn’t quite so boring.

I’ve been so lazy about outfit pictures lately. I’ve had some cute outfits, but Florida has hit that ridiculously hot time of the year where you start sweating after being outside for five minutes. Most days by the time I get home from work, I just want to put on shorts and a tank top and cool down. Once school finishes up, I’ll have more time, so hopefully I can take pictures in the cooler mornings.

Tee: Gap (thrifted)
Jeans: Levis (thrifted)
Shoes: Keen Barcelona (eBay)
Bag: Timbuk2
Headband: sash from Boden dress

~John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley

“Now let’s go for a ride”

Posted on July 26, 2010 by Diana

After having a few weeks of not really feeling “me”, this outfit was absolutely perfect. The drapey top, the slim jeans, the simple, casual vibe. I loved it. It was also perfect for riding – so I wore this while trekking out to pick up a few things from the grocery store.

Since this top has a super deep v, I wore a black bandeau underneath it. Some may see this as sloppy, but I think that it adds to the casual vibe and keeps things modest.

Top: Coda? (via Revolve)
Capris: Express (altered by me)
Sandals: Clarks Rime (via 6pm)
Purse: Timbuk2
Necklace: Pixisette

Quote: Good Boy, Fergus! By David Shannon

“A solitary Schwinn, casual on its kickstand”

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Diana

After being lazy for a good half of the summer, I finally hopped on my bicycle last week for a trip to the library and the post office. And I’m so glad I did! I didn’t realize how much I had missed riding until I felt the wind on my face, the sun on my back, and that supreme satisfaction that comes from getting around town by your own two wheels. Yes, it’s true that it’s hot and muggy. Yes, I started sweating like crazy when I got to the library. But a washcloth and some extra deodorant later, and I was no more sweaty than anyone else dealing with the Florida heat. Now I’m really, really wanting to try bike commuting. I’ll have to wake up even earlier than I already do, and I might not be able to do it every day, since I often have to go to meetings on the other side of the county, but I’d love it if I could even work up to bike commuting twice a week. Riding a bike is just so much more fun than driving a car, and it’s better for the earth too.

I think that riding a bike is better for me psychologically too. Whenever I drive, I tend to get really stressed out. I’m often really distracted too (not be cell phones or anything, I just have difficulty paying attention). I always feel disconnected from my surroundings. On a bicycle, I can breathe deeply. If I see something that’s interesting, I can stop and look at it. I can wave to neighbors and fellow cyclists and feel a sense of community. I’m also more vulnerable, which can be a bit scary at times, but I always carry pepper spray when I ride, just in case a mean dog (or human) tries to mess with me.

By the way, my bike is a vintage (Chicago) Schwinn Suburban from the 60s or 70s. I love it. It still doesn’t have a name yet – I don’t seem to be very good at naming things.

Tank: Soma (thrifted)
Sleeveless shirt: St John’s Bay (thirfted)
Shorts: Ann Taylor LOFT
Shoes: Keen Barcelona (via eBay)
Cuff: via Classy Consignment
Earrings: Gift from cousin
Purse: Timbuk2

Quote: On The Wings of Heroes, by Richard Peck

“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

“It had a Main Street lined with stores”

Posted on March 15, 2010 by Diana

Last Friday was absolutely awesome. Kate from A Tale of Two Closets was in town, so I met up with her in downtown Sarasota for an awesome afternoon of thrifting and yarn shopping. We went to SPARCC Treasure Chest and Mustard Seed Thrift Shop, and had some awesome finds (you can see mine in my shopping plan post). After that, we went to Picasso’s Moon and bought some beautiful fiber. Kate bought her first spindle, and I taught her the basics of spinning.

It was such an awesome, fun day. This was the first time I had ever met a fellow blogger in person. Kate and I had a great time talking about life, style, knitting and kitschy Florida decorating.

Have you ever met a blog-friend in real life? What did you do together?

Blouse: Anthropologie
Cardigan: Ann Taylor LOFT
Jeans: Express
Shoes: Dansko Sally (courtesy of Dansko)
Purse: Timbuk2
Necklace: Garage sale
Bangles: Jill Popowich Designs

Quote: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, by Judi Barrett

“Wildflowers grow all by themselves”

Posted on February 18, 2010 by Diana

Some people like to dress in head-to-toe black for the entirety of winter. To me, that just feels too depressing. I like lots of fun and happy colors in my outfits. The only time I ever wear head-to-toe black is at funerals.

I wore this outfit to my nephew’s’ 2nd birthday party. I wanted to be comfortable and warm, since there would be lots of standing outside and kneeling down to play with toddlers. The length of the dress and the leggings helped to preserve some modesty, while the boots, sweater, and scarf kept me nice and cozy. I think I’m going to be wearing this scarf I just got at Anthropologie quite a bit.

I always get my nephews and niece books for their birthdays, because I feel that books have greater long-term worth to the children than toys, and most of them have plenty of toys anyhow. I got my nephew Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, and it was so cute, because when his mom gave him the gift to open and told him who it was from, he got confused and tried to give it to me. I eventually had to open it for him and show him the book to explain to him that “No, this is actually for you”. Too adorable.

Do you like to dress colorfully in the cold months, or do you prefer neutral ensembles?

Dress: Boden (via Ebay)
Sweater: Ralph Lauren (garage sale, re-conned)
Leggings: Target
Boots: Fluevog Heather (via Ebay)
Scarf: Anthropologie
Purse: Timbuk2

Quote: Fancy Nancy: Explorer Extraordinaire!, by Jane O’Connor

"At least try to act cool"

Posted on January 12, 2010 by Diana

This beautiful Boden sweater vest was one of the last items I purchased during my recent shopping ban. And I adore it. More and more I am falling in love with Boden and their beautiful, colorful clothes. But they’re so expensive that they’re often out of my price range. However, I’ve found that buying them second-hand on Ebay can work, if you’re willing to be flexible. Once I’m in a better place financially, I plan on buying a lot from this company.

This vest had perfect timing too, because only a few days after I got it in the mail, Florida began experiencing a cold spat (meaning temps in the 40s, which is really cold for us). Nothing like a cozy wool vest to keep you warm when the temps drop.

I wore this for a trip to visit family on the weekend. I wanted to be warm and casual, but not frumpy. Flats are a must for chasing after toddlers.

And here you can see the detail on my Fetching mitts. I knitted these a long time ago and they continue to be excellent at keeping my hands warm on chilly days. I actually don’t own a pair of leather gloves, mostly because I rarely need them. Still, I’d like to change that, when I can find a pretty pair that’s affordable.

Oh, I’ve realized now that canvas does not keep your feet warm. I ended up changing into leather boots later that day to keep my toes from freezing.

Coat: Target
Long Sleeve: Gap (garage sale)
Vest: Boden (Ebay)
Jeans: Express
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylors
Scarf: Kohls
Bag: Timbuk2
Mitts: Fetching (handknit by me)
Ring: from my mom

Quote: The Homework Machine, by Dan Gutman

"Being wooly feels nice"

Posted on December 31, 2009 by Diana

I often wonder how people who don’t wear wool make it through winter without freezing. I for one, have found that a cozy merino/ cashmere layer can make all the difference on chilly days. This winter, I’ve been wearing this cashmere blend cardigan that I knit last year pretty much non-stop. It’s such a fun layering piece, but it’s also made me realize that I really need to knit a lot more sweaters and cardigans before next winter. This will be one of my New Year’s Resolutions. (Oh right, I had planned on doing this last year, but ended up only knitting one sweater, a vest, a short-sleeved cardigan , some socks, and some toys (this one was crocheted). Oops). I think this year, I’m going to try to create a better plan, choosing which patterns I want to make in the next year ahead of time.

This photo shoot was pretty hilarious, because my boyfriend was home at the time, and he kept making faces at me and jumping in front of the camera. If any of our neighbors were watching, I’m sure it was quite entertaining.

In this picture, you can see one of my mom’s rings that she gave me. She doesn’t really wear jewelry much anymore, and I love having another piece with meaning and significance to it. I’m thinking about getting it resized so that it will fit on my ring finger instead of my pinkie.

Dress: Express
Cardigan: Minimalist (handknit by me)
Tights: Target
Socks: Bella, Village Shoes
Boots: Dansko Risa
Scarf: Bought in Chinatown
Earrings: Sara Westermark
Ring: Belongs to my mom
Bag: Timbuk2

Quote: Woolbur, by Leslie Helakoski

Daily Outfit: Weekend Casual

Posted on October 5, 2009 by Diana

While I’m feeling quite ready for fall weather to arrive, I’m also trying to enjoy the last blast of summer. Last weekend, the temps were moderate (as in 80′s instead of 90′s) so my boyfriend and I went out for some nice summer bike riding. I love that I’m learning how to blend style and practicality while out riding my bike.

I ended up with a nice blue, yellow and brown color scheme. Someone commented a few weeks ago that I seem to like blue. Yes, it’s very true. I’m trying to expand my color spectrum now, but I must admit that it’s still my favorite color to wear. It brings out my blue eyes.

One nice thing about Florida is that I’ll probably get to go riding more often once it cools down. I find biking much more enjoyable when I’m not pouring down sweat.