Winter White

Jacket: Calvin Klein (similar here), Shirt: J.Crew, Jeggings: Democracy, Boots: Nine West (similar on sale here!), Scarf: Michael Kors, Necklace: Eddie Bauer (coveting this next), Bracelets: J.Crew and Simon Sebbag, Watch: Michael Kors, Ring: Elizabeth Ngo (antique button), Sunglasses: Armani Exchange (similar here)

Every single time I wear this necklace I find myself telling someone, "Guess where I got this necklace. No, seriously, guess. You'll never guess." So why should this time be any different? Guess where I got this necklace, you guys. You'll never guess. EDDIE BAUER. I know what you're thinking. Eddie Bauer? The same Eddie Bauer known mainly for quilted jackets, outdoorsy supplies, and camping gear? Yes, the same Eddie Bauer where I buy my grandpa's Christmas sweater every year. Who knew they even sold jewelry, let alone great sparkly jewelry?! Not I. This discovery was as mind-boggling to me as when I discovered that Ann Taylor was more than just a place for my mom to buy suits and sweater sets. (Hint, they also have young-people clothes and fabulous jewelry.) 

In other unbelievable news, we're having some amazing, unseasonably warm weather here in Minneapolis right now, hence me getting brave enough to take my coat off while shooting these photos. Outdoors, no less! It's like a post-Christmas miracle. Mother Nature must have finally heard my pleas. Rumor has it it's supposed to get up into the 40's in the next few days. That's practically a heat wave! Not even practically. Literally. I'm usually buried under at least a foot of snow around this time and vowing to never leave my apartment again. Who knows, if this keeps up, maybe I'll even get brave enough to attempt a skirt. With tights, obviously. Let's not get too crazy.

Gym-Rat Style

Hard Tail Long Tank

Hard Tail 'Girly' Hoodie

Hard Tail 'Drop-Back' Top

Hard Tail Empire Waist Tank

Hard Tail Roll Waist Flare Leg Pants

Hard Tail 'Empire' Back Cutout Tank

After weeks of holiday eating with absolutely zero exercise to counteract it (unless you count walking from store to store at the mall), today is the day I make myself return to the gym. It's going to be pretty rough, you guys. But if I don't want to turn into Regina George ("Sweatpants are all that fits me right now!"), it's a necessity. I am not one of those perky people who feels energized after exercising. Most of the time, I just feel tired and sweaty and hungry. And I'll be the first to admit that my gym attire is not my best look. When I go to the gym, I just want to get it over with, not dress up for it. I want to listen to some Miley Cyrus and read my trashy tabloid magazines and watch Food Network. That's the only way I can actually survive exercising. By distracting myself with a million other things. 

All of this probably explains why I go to the Y. It's the kind of place where a man in my Pilates class consistently brings a half-gallon of apple cider to class and chugs it like it's no big deal. And the guy at the check-in counter acts impressed when I show up on a semi-regular basis and compliments my hair when I make any attempt at styling it. (Seriously, I wore it down once, rather than up in a messy bun on top of my head, and he  asked me if I'd gotten it cut. It was embarrassing to have to say, "Um, no . . . I just washed it . . . but thanks.") Since I clearly look like I'm one step away from homelessness when I go to the gym, one of my New Year's resolutions is to start collecting some slightly more attractive exercise clothes. I already own a few Hard Tail items (although they're typically more money than I want to spend on clothes I'm just going to sweat in), and they're fantastic. Cute and comfy, without screaming "I'm trying too hard!" (Plus, any clothing line that makes tank tops long enough to fit my freakishly long torso gets a thumbs-up from me.) Above are some of the items on my extensive wish list. What do you guys think? Are cute exercise clothes worth the investment?

Red, White, and Blue

 

Sweater: Calvin Klein, Chambray shirt: J.Crew, Jeans: Paige Denim, Booties: KORS Michael Kors,
Bracelets: Simon Sebbag, Ring: vintage, Necklace: Elizabeth Ngo (antique button)

After several extremely lazy days at home enjoying the end of my vacation, it's back to work this morning. I know it's been pretty quiet on the blog for the past few days, but I was really doing everyone a favor since my outfits basically consisted of mismatched sweatpants and my pajamas for the last few days at home. (There may have even been a Redbox run in there somewhere in old pink Birkenstocks that I'm not exactly proud of.) My mother and several other people commented on my "fresh-faced look" . . . and not in a good way. Since my family didn't seem all that thrilled with my appearance, I figured I shouldn't subject anyone else to it. 

Getting dressed in anything that wasn't sweats this morning was extra difficult considering half of my clothes are wrinkled from being crammed into my suitcase, and the other half are wrinkled from living on the floor of my bedroom (where I threw everything before I left) for the past 10 days. To top it all off, the weather here in Minneapolis is hovering around zero degrees. Zero degrees isn't even a number. That's how cold it is. Needless to say, my body takes that as a sign that I should just lay on the couch all day and watch Lifetime movies instead of being a productive member of society. Lucky for me, this chambray shirt that I got for Christmas (thanks, Mom!) is basically the upper-body equivalent of Pajama Jeans. It's officially the comfiest thing I own (that I can wear in public, that is). And since I immediately spent about an hour pairing it with everything in my wardrobe, chances are good you'll be seeing A LOT of it.