My Two Cents - Best Dressed Golden Globes 2011

I've been looking at all the photos, hearing what people have to say, thinking about it (what else are you going to do on a rainy Monday?) and Emma Stone in Calvin Klein gets my vote for best dressed.  I just love the whole look and even her blonde hair.  Fab!

Image via Style.com

My Goals for 2011 and Revisting 2010's Goals

Karlie Kloss at Chanel Spring 2011

So it's about halfway through January and I'm just getting around to getting my list of goals together for this year - ha!  Truth is I've been working on a meaningful list for about a month now, I won't share the whole darn thing here, but I will share some highlights. 

1. Update the resume!  Now this is a biggie, I've got to take the skill set I had as a Textile Designer and translate that into a Paralegal.  This will have to be finished by mid-February at the latest - eek!

2.  Get a (paying) job!?!?  Being a stay-at-home Mom has been wonderful, I'm so happy and grateful that I was able to do this for almost 3 years.  Trust me, being a SAHM is the hardest job I've ever had, but it's time for the next chapter to begin.

3.  Exercise more and tone back up.  This is a total necessity at the moment.  I was on the right track last summer, but having a more and more active toddler and trying to work out at home was not working at all.  I really need to work out outside of the home (without a 2 year old trying to break the Wii balance board and remote - seriously she tried soooo hard).  So I've already signed up with some other ladies in my MOPS group to do the local "Team Lean" at the YMCA.  It's 12 weeks of weekly weigh-ins and you can use the Y (and their fab childcare) anytime you want for a reasonable rate.  I'm getting really excited and will keep you posted about how things are going. 

4.  Continue making the blog better and better.  I've been trying to figure out what direction I want this blog to go in and what series I want to have to make it better.  I would love to build up the readership and make this a place that is helpful and inspirational.  I'll be bringing you all my first outfit post this Friday.  Now, I don't have any fancy backdrops or professional photog skills, but it's a first step.

That's all for right now, these seem to be the most pressing and exciting goals, the ones I'm ready to tackle in earnest.  While we are on the whole "goal" topic, let's revisit last year's goal list and see how I did.

1. Get a new hairdo - sometime after I left NYC and had a baby, my hair became a hot mess that I basically scrape off my head into a ponytail or bun daily. My hubby is over it and I'm over it too. Time to change and feel "normal" again!  Got a major haircut in April but then totally slacked off until this past Wednesday.  So I guess I did and then didn't and then did - lol!


2. Do more meal planning. It honestly works. Not only does it help trim the food budget, but it takes the guesswork out of “what’s for dinner tonight?” My friend CSO over at Junius and Pippi Take the Cake My Convertible Life has tracked her meal planning for a year now, it’s an inspiring read and I’m so proud of her!  Yes, yes and yes!  I meal planned the crap out of this year.  We rarely ate out and I couponed to the tune of saving around $20 each shopping trip!  There is always room for improvement in this area to chop the budget down even more though!

3. Figure out/rework my desired career path. For example, I would love to intern/work for an Interior Designer (commercial or residential). I’ve always been interested in what they do and how they do it. Also would like to take a professional organizing class or two. (this is my main goal for 2010)  Yes!  Hello, totally not what I imagined, but Paralegal seems to fit my skill set nicely.  I'm basically halfway through school now and am excited for the next phase!  I'm still wanting to take some professional organizing classes...

4. Stop complaining. I’m so bad about being a grouch about little things and I need to change that. (if my hubby is reading this he’s probably thinking that me not complaining would be like a bird not flying – LOL!) Getting better, but not quite there yet!

5. Mean what I say and say what I mean.  Still working on that too - lol!

6. Purge, purge, purge. I’ve already started this with the little one’s stuff that she has outgrown and won’t use anymore. My closet needs to be tackled and our books need to be gone through. I just want a more streamlined house full of things that are meaningful, this will make our move easier for sure. Check!  Totally have made a huge dent in all the baby stuff and clothes, that stuff is GONE!  Her closet is streamlined and functional.  I know what she has and what she needs.  I'm also working on my closet and hope to work on my hubby's closet too in the near future.  I'm also compiling a master list of what items need to be added to my closet throughout next year.  I'll be sharing that in the next few weeks.

7. Figure out how to make my blog look and be better. I’ve honestly hit my technological limit as to what I can do, so I need to get some help. Any suggestions about classes, etc?  In progress, working on goals and mission statement (pretty much done).  I'm going to concentrate on this more in the Spring when school is finished.

8. Work on getting more “me” time – which has been really difficult since the little one came along. I’ve thrown myself 100% into being a Mommy and have let other things slide (see goal #1). This includes finding and joining a gym (with childcare).  Yep!  Little one is in Mother's Day Out two days a week, I'm in school and getting out more on my own.  Could be better, but it's 100% better than last year :o)

9. Work on my focus, I’m so not good at being focused. I’m all over the place most of the time.  Better, but still needing work.

10. Finish up my Greece scrapbook (from our 2007 trip), get caught up on the little one’s memory book. I have the supplies, I just need to assemble.  Whoops, totally dropped the ball on this one.  I know where the stuff is I just need to carve out a Sunday to work on it.  Put it back on the list.

Thanks for reading this very long and totally self-indulgent post! 

Image via Vogue.com

Happy Weekend, Pantone's 2011 Color of the Year

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend!  I've got two more Saturday classes before Christmas/New Year break so that's exciting.  I love going to school but driving to and from Atlanta can be a grind!  Anyhoo, in case you haven't heard Pantone revealed their 2011 Color of the Year yesterday (here's last year's pick).

What do you think?  It's a bold choice for sure (though I did see it coming in a way).  I'm going to put on my (former) color forecasting hat for a minute and just say I think this will relate more to fashion than home.  I'm not saying it's not for interiors, it is, but I'm seeing it more as an accent or paired with other colors for a fresh twist.  I did a quick search for some pink clothes and accessories (all are under $50) you can find right now and my picks are below.  It's hard to say how close the colors actually are to the Pantone pick but we'll just say they are - ha!

Shortsleeve Tops by Old Navy
Longsleeve Tops by Gap

Boots by Old Navy
Clutches by Forever 21

My Take: Gucci Resort 2011

I'm so ready for Fall, more so than I've ever been.  It's been so darn hot and humid this summer that most of the time, the little one and I had to find places to go and things to do that involved being in air conditioning.  I'm ready to go outside for more than 10 minutes at a time!  Point being that I'm longing for the lovely changing of leaves and being able to wear layers again.  I decided to tackle a look from Gucci's outstanding 2011 Resort collection (this look was one of "my five" picks way back in June). 

It's a great Fall look, lovely browns and layers (how about that scarf?  adore!).  Just perfect for September's cooler days.  I did two versions inspired by this look, not a direct copies, but using a similar color palette and dash of leopard.  Enjoy!

Raincoats & Trenchcoats by DKNY
Sandals by Vince Camuto

Cardigans by J.Crew
Totes by Spiegel

Runway image via Style.com

My Take: Carolina Herrera Resort 2011

Here's a look that I wanted to tackle for a "my take" from Carolina Herrera's Resort collection (it was part of my five favorite looks from the collection).

Lovely!  I like the grey and pink combination, it should seem a bit dated, but comes off as really fresh.  It's just the way it works sometimes.  I decided to tackle it with both dressed up and casual versions (I really dig the casual one, I wanna run out and buy it now!).  First up, the dressed up version:

Button Front Tops by Jones New York Signature
Pumps by Rockport

Next, the casual version:

Wide Leg Pants by J. Jill
Belts by Vanessa Bruno

Runway image via Style.com

My Take: Another Chris Benz Resort 2011

Another Chris Benz Resort "my take" you ask?  You'd better believe it!  Like I've said before this collection was strong and full of inspiration.  So, I picked another look to tackle.  This one is a more work-friendly look (Fall-friendly too):

I added leopard print shoes - brace yourselves, this week's posts feature lots of leopard print, I gravitate towards it!

Cardigans by J.Crew
Pumps by Nine West

Runway image via Style.com

Chado Ralph Rucci Resort 2011

I've mentioned before how much of a fan I am of Ralph Rucci's work (here and here).   Well, this collection is yet another lovely and extremely wearable mix.  Needless to say, I had more than five picks:

Images via Style.com

Happy Weekend and I'm still loving yellow...

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  Next week I'm going to do my Couture roundup (yee haw! yep I just said that), each day featuring a show with the looks I thought were important, along with some fun "my take's".  On that note, I'm still really into yellow, I love it going into Fall too. 

Beautiful golden yellow dress from Reed Krakoff's Resort 2011 line.

So I came up with a little dream outfit for late Summer/early Fall (down here in Georgia it doesn't really cool down so much until October).  I say "dream" 'cause some of the items are a bit pricey (hello, necklace and purse) but not totally outrageous.  It pretty much sums up how I want to look in the coming months (switch out the white pants for some dark denim or dark brown pants later on if you want).  *sigh*

Cardigans by Anthropologie
Totes by Foley + Corinna

Runway image via Style.com