Twenty Eleven.

Happy New Year, readers. I have been hemming and hawing about what to publish on this blog with the coming of the end of the year. I have only been writing this blog since August, so a retrospective would seem a little silly. But, I still might do it :)

Aside from Anthropologie purchases and swooning, 2010 was rather odd. Fashion-wise, it was VERY good! I replaced 90% of my wardrobe over 7 months. I love everything in my closet now. Getting dressed is a joy and I have begun to appreciate how much looking good makes you feel good!

There could be definite improvement in other areas of my life which took a hit this year...musically, I fell apart this year a little and I need to use 2011 as a stepping stone to get back to the great place I was before. Next Wednesday, I have my first vocal coaching of the year and I will have my first meeting of the year with the colleagues from the outreach program I'll be working for. My lack of motivation has caused my artistry to suffer. The high point of the year was my two-week stint at Vancouver Early Music Festival where I met 11 other AMAZING early music singers, with beautiful voices, and lovely souls. I also met and worked with the amazing Ellen Hargis, who inspired me to think a little more of myself artistically but also see myself as human. It was a cleansing experience, but I somehow lost my way after my first car accident and the horrendous audition. I stopped actively practicing and my motivation to audition again for anything or take any coachings waned.  I did as much work as my remaining gigs needed and that is all. But 2010 is over.

My car is still in the shop from the last accident, but I am looking forward to getting it back. I'm also looking forward. Looking forward in general. Everyone has New Year's Resolutions and my only resolution is to find my way. I will keep posting about Anthro, I will keep doing reviews, I will keep taking pictures of my clothes, but my blog will also change in 2011 as will I.

So, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year! I rang it in, quietly with friends at a small private dinner party, wearing my brand new Wightwick Manor Dress (which I didn't photograph!). I actually found one that seemed to run TTS (not big) and scooped it up! I also bought a pair of Delancey Boots on a popback and they are due to come on Wednesday! I'll let you know how they fit as they have popped back in lots of sizes! I am not impressed with Anthro's latest new arrivals, but I'll try 'em on anyway.

Wishing you peace and happiness and popbacks for the New Year! Thanks for reading!

Anthro-therpy

Good morning, Ladies. I want to thank everyone of you who chimed in yesterday about my bad morning. I just could NOT believe what had happened and I found myself so unbelievably frustrated. I had originally planned to go to the mall with my two good friends yesterday after work, but I was so freaked out by the morning incident, I considered backing out. After I talked to the insurance company and gave them the run down and had evaluated myself physically, I talked to both of my parents. My mom insisted that I still go out shopping with my friends to take the edge off. Sometimes, when I am frustrated or sad, I tend to stay in and feel sorry for myself. So, I took her advice and let my friends kidnap me for a Christmas shopping excursion. I am very glad I did because their support meant the world to me. There are some other things that are going on right now in my personal and professional life that are both upsetting and scary and it was nice to have friends to lean on and cry too. I am not going to really get into details, but this Autumn has not been the best and I'm hoping that the new year will result in my luck turning around, even though I realize part of that is my getting out of my own way.

Our trip to the mall was really fun! While I was in Nordstrom looking at pretty dresses, I received an email (don't you hate smart phones sometimes?) which I found incredibly frustrating and slightly insulting. I won't go into details, but I will say it wasn't from a friend or family, if that paints a clearer picture. It made me pretty upset, especially since the day had been so incredibly annoying. I didn't need THIS too. Minutes later when we arrived in Nieman Marcus...a guy in a suit handed me a glass of champagne with a raspberry in it. Was that perfect timing or what!?!? A glass of champagne took the sting out of the frustration and added an air of festiveness to the whole trip :)

It would not be complete without a trip to Anthro, would it? I picked up a couple of things for my parents and my friends...picked out the Tria Sweater Skirt were like; "You have to try this!". I was basically ganged up on by both of them and ended up taking it home! I also grabbed a Curry Comb Cardigan which I have been admiring for several months, but had been horrified by the price. But at the second cut to $59.95, it was much more palatable. I actually hadn't tried it on either before, but I found it incredibly flattering, comfy and beautiful! I love the color and it is not itchy, I don't care what the reviews say. I also picked up a black version of the Fastened and Knotted Belt, which I had been after forever. It's $9.95 now!

Tria Sweater Skirt $69.95

Curry Comb Cardigan $59.95

As a sidenote: I actually own several REAL curry combs because I used to have a horse. She HATED being groomed because she had sensitive skin, so I bought all of these different curry combs trying to find one she liked. I don't think I ever succeeded in making her comfortable, LOL.

So, here's my OOTD. I considered just going in jeans, but I didn't want to dress according to my mood, I wanted to make sure I looked better than I felt.

Sweater:Anthropologie Mallard Bay Cardigan

Skirt: Anthropologie Weave-The-Ring Skirt

Scarf: J.Crew (2008)

Boots: Payless

Sick of the Payless boots yet? They frigging go with everything and they're comfy. Eventually, I will probably wear these out, but for $30, who cares?! The Mallard Bay Cardi is VERY WARM. I was very pleased to be comfortable everywhere I went and I never thought of pairing it with the skirt. I didn't even realize that they are both navy based and work perfectly together. So...here is the second POST-accident picture of 2010. Let's hope there are NONE of these photos in 2011...or 2012 for that matter. I could use a break.

So, the day ended much better than it began. Tomorrow, we'll be broadcasting the Dereck and Kay Show at an earlier time (4:00pm EST) because we BOTH have Holiday Parties to go to that evening. I am leaning toward the Traced Twirls Dress, but we'll see. Hopefully, I'll be able to do some Anthro reviews soon

Worst Luck Ever.

Well readers, it's not a happy post. I had great plans for today. I was going to go to work from 5am-9am and then two of my good friends and I were going to go shopping (including Anthro) I was on my way to work this morning and I was just chillin' at a red light waiting for the light to change at 4:47am or so. Then BAM!!! A car comes between me and the other car waiting at the light, sideswipes me and presumably the other car and PWNS my driver's side mirror and scrapes up the drivers side. I was completely terrified and also PISSED.

If you are a reader of my blog, you know that I was involved in another accident a few months ago, in which someone hit me in a rotary and I suffered a minor back injury for which I was in Physical Therapy. I am still in some pain, but I was just released from PT (to do the exercises on my own at home) on the 23rd of November and I also received my car back that VERY SAME DAY.

AND NOW THIS.

I don't think I'm hurt, but I am still recovering from my last impact. Luckily, a sideswipe isn't as powerful an impact as a direct hit to the side panel, I totally tensed up when it happened. I'm hoping, this doesn't further my yet-to-be-healed back injury and that I will be fine soon. I will be needing a rental as I cannot drive without a driver's side mirror. I would need to be changing lanes eventually. I was totally going to wear my Blooming Lattice Cardigan and High Tea Blouse to the mall...so here it is...in the car. My poor car...

So...that was going to be the OOTD. Thanks for listening to my whining. I'm going to buy some lottery tickets, because my luck should be turning around soon. This is just too messed up.