30 for 30, before I'm 30?

My first attempt at fashion blog posing. Can't keep a straight face. Looks like someone needs some practice.

Over the weekend, inspired by some of my favorite fashion bloggers, I decided to participate in Kendi Everyday's 30 for 30 challenge. If you haven't heard of it yet, you choose 30 items from your closet (accessories not included) that are the only things you can wear for the next 30 days, and share pictures of your ensembles on your blog.

The remixing of clothes doesn't scare me so much, but I can tell you that I'm rather terrified to post pictures of myself for all to view. That may sound silly since I often post weekend or vacation pictures, but, I'm feeling terribly self-conscious about my ability to pose for the camera as cutely as girls like Emily and Sydney do.

So while my outfits may not be high fashion, and my poses rather unmodelesque, I do hope that the project will inspire me to get creative with my closet, and also provide you with some budget shopping tips and perhaps a good laugh at some awkward pictures of yours truly.

And since this blog is meant to be lifestyle focused, I won't detour from my regular recipe, project, and DIY postings. I also confess, that because I work from home, I sometimes spend the entire day in sweats, and I won't include those days in this project. With these two caveats in mind, you can expect one weekly fashion-related post that will include all my remixes from that week and a hope that I find enough days to get dressed up that I finish my 30 for 30 before I'm 30, six years from now.

So without further ado, here are my 30 for 30 picks, also known as, that which must be moved before Derek comes home and freaks out about my mess!

The whole crew:

Details:

Top row: Gap, Urban Outfitters, Kenar from Marshalls, Ralph Lauren at Marshalls, Elle for Kohls
Second row: Target, Banana Republic (thrifted), Vera Wang for Kohls, Lauren Conrad for Kohls

Third role: Marshalls, NY and Co., Ralph Lauren from Marshalls, Old Navy

Fourth role: (green dress) NY and Co., Tommy Hilfiger at Marshalls, Banana Republic, J. Crew, Old Navy, Gap

Fifth role: Lauren Conrad for Kohls, Old Navy, Polo at Marshalls, Calvin Klein at Marshalls, Marshalls,
French Connection at Marshalls
Shoes: Boots from Endless.com, Old Navy Flats, Candies for Kohls heels, Red heels from Kohls, boat shoes thrifted.

Weekenders

Welcome back from the weekend friends! Derek and I had a fabulous time this weekend attending the PGA tour event at nearby Torrey Pines. I'm not much into golf myself, but Derek was like a kid waiting for Christmas ever since we got the tickets. Excited as I was initially not, I actually had a fabulous time! The competition, crowd, sun, and a few beers turned me into quite the golf fan. I even got a thumbs-up from this guy.

Unfortunately, cameras were not allowed at the event, and thus I have zero golf pictures to post. Instead, I thought I 'd share the above pictures taken a few months ago when Derek took me beach horseback riding for my birthday! Random, I know, but I was reminiscing in my Picasa albums today and thought why not?

What did you do this weekend? Are you a golf fan or more the mini-golfing type like I am? Happy Monday!

Foodie Friday

This week we found out our favorite corner frozen yogurt spot is going out of business in one month! Argh! So what did we do? We went there for dessert every night. Coupled with the delicous meals below, it looks like I'll be putting in some extra gym time this weekend!

Happy cooking (and eating)!

Rating Key:
Taste rated by Derek to eliminate cook's bias: 1 (wouldn't make again) to 5 (an eminent kitchen comeback)
Difficulty: 1 (could cook it while talking to a live-audience) to 5 (left the kitchen sweating)

Monday: Mushroom Marsala Pasta with Artichokes from Smitten Kitchen
Rating: 4
Difficulty: 2
Sides: salad
Tips: I couldn't find the recommended type of pasta so I used what I had on hand! It was still delicious

Tuesday: Chicken Prosciutto from Simply Recipes
Rating: another 6! Simply Recipes can't stay on Derek's scale
Difficulty: 2
Sides: Steamed green beans, salad, and homemade bread
Tips: Just a word of warning - the prosciutto really sticks together in the packaging!

Wednesday: Out for the night!

Thursday: Shaved Asparagus Pizza from Smitten Kitchen
Rating: 5
Difficulty: 1
Sides: salad
Tips: I swapped the Mozzarella cheese for Fontina since I had it on hand. I also added the leftover prosciutto from Tuesday's recipe and the addition took this recipe over the top!

I'm so flattered!

CasaSugar posted my felt rose wreath on their homepage today! Thanks Casa! You can check it out here.

And if you're a Casa-cronie coming over for the first time, welcome! Here are some posts I think you may like:

I love my jute twine lotion holder. The chicest way to moisturize!

This DIY plate decor was also featured on Casa. Serving it up again.

Looking for other wreath ideas? I've got you covered.

Join me in my closet challenge!

Want to learn some more about me? Check out our holiday break or this trip to Keystone!

Confession: collections

When I was about 8-years-old, I wanted a dog, bad. My parents wouldn't let us get one, so I found ways to substitute - I read books about dogs, made homemade treats for my friends' dogs, and finally, I collected dog figurines - about five shelves full to be exact. I may have been on my way to becoming a candidate for this show.

When I was 11, I finally got a real dog.  And as most kids do with their collections, I grew bored of my dog statue menagerie and it soon moved from a prominent spot in my bedroom to a box in my parents' attic.

Since then, the only thing I've collected are vintage aprons, of which I have about 10, most of which were sent to me by friends and family who know I love these frilly things.

I'm confessing my collection because I want to know, what do you collect? Did you have any strange collections when you were a youngster? Traumatized by any porcelain doll collections of your grandmothers'?

I also wanted to share my thoughts on five things that are FREE and perfectly non-hoarderish to collect:

1. Restaurant matchbooks - free, fabulous little souvenirs to remind you of the great places you've eaten. Plus, when placed in a bowl they provide a classy air freshener for your bathroom. We keep ours in this seashell on our bathroom counter.

2. Seashells - bringing a little ocean into your house always brightens things up and seashells can also be used in so many cute ways! Like as a hurricane filler here, also in our bathroom.

3. Memories - I took a class in college called Life Histories/Narratives for which I had to write a biography about my mom. Though I'd already heard plenty of stories about her, it was really special to chat about her life uninterrupted. Take time to sit down with grandparents and other older family members and record their stories from small to big, down on paper or with a video camera. Years from now, the collection of those memories will be something generations of your family can enjoy.

How cute is my mom?

4. Compliments - I can't say enough about how a compliment can brighten someone's day. Be liberal in your giving of compliments and hang on to your favorites! You can write down compliments that really impact you in a journal or, like me, save a email folder for "Yays!" I have one in my work and one in my personal account. I stash nice emails there to remind myself how good things can be when I'm having a bad day.

Image from here.

5. Coupons - OK, I don't mean you should go to the extreme of this other show, but clipping those totally free coupons and collecting them someplace non-crazy like this cute antique coupon box that I use can save you big bucks. You know, so you can collect all those things that aren't totally free.

Ghost writer

I've had so little time to read lately, I'm wondering if I should opt for one of these nifty alternatives to my real book case!

Bookcase wallpaper on Design*Sponge

Bookcase chalkboard wall by Inspired by Charm.

Aren't they awesome!?

Have you read anything great lately? Would love our recommendations for when I finally get around to my real shelves!

Smell the roses

I've had a spare grapevine wreath hanging out in my storage closet for a couple of months with no inspiration of what to do with it. So you can imagine my excitement when I saw this DIY wreath on Linley's lovely blog Dwelling & Telling.

Linley's version required 25 sheets of felt, but my local Michael's only had five sheets in the color I wanted to use, so I improvised! To create my roses I used the same method as on this project. I then clustered them off-center and added a pretty green ribbon.

I love the outcome! The perfect mix of wintery branches and light blooms for this time of year.