Comfort Doesn't Have to be Ugly

I know I said I really liked a new dress I bought recently, but this one is on a different level. I felt like I was cheating today. This dress feels like sweats or pajamas. I LOVE it! This dress is super, super soft. I think I may have to figure out several different ways to wear it, so I can wear it as much as I want without too many comments about how often I wear it.

Dress: Maude via Le Garage Sale
Shoes: Me Too via ShoeStation.com
Necklace: via Emerald's (years ago)
Bracelet: Charlotte Russe
Brooch: I can't remember
Earrings: Handmade by me (I don't think you can see them)

Okay, so I often get told that I'm creative or cleaver. I don't really think that way about myself. I see myself more as a problem solver. For instance, I needed a bracelet today. I took a necklace and wrapped it around my wrist. Nothing others haven't tried. My problem is that I always have just a little too much left over and it falls off my wrist. I was going to tie it with a ribbon, but I didn't have time to pick one out, cut it, blah, blah, blah. I grabbed something easier. A brooch. I don't think it's cleaver. I just think I solved my problem. I am a scientist you know.

Sorry my photos are so dark. I sped home straight from work and had a live talk for one of my classes. It had already started, but I only missed a little bit. That lasted about an hour and then I ran outside to grab a few shots before all of the light was gone.

Hope you all are having a great week!

♡,
D'Andra

Strepto-What?

Whew! I'm tired! I feel like I got absolutely nothing accomplished at work today. I hate that feeling! I don't think I could even tell you what I did do. I even stayed late!

Thanks for letting me get that out. :) I've been thinking about cutting my hair off. I'm just not sure if I should or not. I've been waiting for it to grow out, but I just really don't like the cut right now. I usually don't have crazy layers like I have now. I just can't get used to the layers. I'm ready to have it all one length. I really get frustrated when I put it up and pieces keep falling down. I never know how to really wear it right now. If I leave it down, I just get so hot and it looks bad. I'm torn on what to do.

These are the shoes I actually wore to work.
Shoes: Easy Spirit via Tanger Outlet Mall

These are the ones I really wanted to wear.

Sweater: Maude via Le Garage Sale
Shorts: Forever 21via TXSCC Clothing Swap
Shoes: Joey O via TXSCC Clothing Swap
Earrings: Gifted

Sadly, I have to cut this short. I have to listen to a lecture this evening, plus I need to figure out why the egg salad culture did not grow beta-hemolytic streptococcus. Haha! If that one confuses you, you're not alone.

Saturday Shopping

Saturday, I met up with my bestie to go to the Sunset Valley Farmer's Market. Then, I stopped by the 499 Dresses Project Sale. I snatched up two cute dresses! And said hi to Theresa.

I had no intentions of going to Le Garage Sale, but the hubs convinced me to go. Let me rephrase that. I wanted to go, but I really needed to study. I decided the hubs was right and I should go. I picked up two cute items that I hope to show you all this upcoming week.

Dress: Flying Tomato via Cloud 9 (Baltimore boutique)
Shoes: Decree via JCPenny
Purse: Gifted from a co-worker (she got it in China)
Necklace: Handmade by me
Sunglasses: ? via Sunny Shades

I finished my reading while the hubs drove home and then I watched the lectures I needed to view. Sunday, I spent my time studying. I have planned out the whole term, down to what and when I'll be studying. I want to be able to keep up with blogging, still get A's in both Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and not cause any disasters at work. I hope I can pull it off.

♡,
D'Andra

AFW Fun

Wednesday night was so much fun! I had a chance to meet up with Sharon of If Grandma Wore J.Crew, Grechen of Grechen's Closet, Cathy of Austin Slave to Fashion, and Andrea of A Cat of Impossible Colour. And of course the very lovely Theresa. Theresa was so generous to let me wear one of her dresses to the Doo-Wop Bash. I absolutely love The USO Dress. The moment I put that dress on, I felt like a lady.

Photo taken by Sharon

I picked up the dress around lunch that day and lots of the ladies I work with swooned over how pretty it is. I had to get dressed and ready in the bathroom at work. Not my ideal setting, but it worked. I headed over to the party and the hubs showed up later and started taking photos. I'm so lucky to have a hubby that is so willing to take photos for me.

Photo taken by Sharon

We had great seats for the show! The models and the dresses were so pretty.

'Margaret in Mint Dress'

'Marlene in Plaid'

From left to right:
'The USO Dress'
'Doris in Daffodil'
'Sabrina in Black'
Theresa made her dress for herself and it's reversible!

Andrea did a great job as MC, even without a mic.
Andrea is wearing 'Ava in Honeysuckle' and 'Eloise in Honeysuckle'.

It's a good thing we don't use these soda machines any more.

I couldn't get that bottle out of there.

One of the girls from my work showed up.
It was a total surprise!

Dress: The USO Dress by Tess Dress (on loan)
Shoes: Pink Studio via I can't remember where
Necklace: Vintage (from mom)
Earrings: Gifted
Purse: Banana Republic Outlet (years ago)

I didn't go to any other AFW events. I've just been so exhausted trying to get everything together for school. I had every intention to go Thursday and Friday, but left work late and sleepy both days. I didn't have the strength to perform a Wonder Woman in the bathroom at work. I really wish I could spin around and have a new outfit on. Wouldn't that be great?

♡,
D'Andra

update: I forgot to put what brand my shoes were.

Luxury Tips

In the past 35 years, I've had 3 manicures. I guess one per decade isn't bad. I always do my own nails because it's cheaper. Over the last week, I've been looking for a good place to go that's affordable. I have yet to find a place that comes recommended. I just wanted to have my nails done by someone else. You can take a look at how I do my deluxe manicure.

Before.

1. I don't like fake nails for myself. I would rather have a natural look, so I trim my nails to desired length. I like mine short, because they are easy to keep clean and they don't break as easily.

2. I smooth the edges with a file.

3. I give them a light buff to smooth out any ridges.

Now comes the luxurious part. I have mentioned that I have extremely dry skin. My hands crack and bleed during the winter and because it is such a dry summer they are in bad shape right now. My cuticles keep cracking no matter what I do, so...

4. I use Bath and Body Works orange ginger scrub. It's a very relaxing scent. I put a generous amount on my dry hands and scrub all areas of my hands (around cuticles and between my fingers). Then, I add a little water and continue to scrub. I rinse and pat dry.

5. I add Kinerase HydraBoost Intensive Treatment. I love this stuff because it is so hydrating.

6. Next, I add Caudalíe Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Cream. It is such a good moisturizer.

7. Then, I add a good helping of Yes To Carrots Daily Body Moisturizer. I also like Bliss Naked Body Butter.

8. The most important part is putting on gloves. I used to use cloth gloves that were meant for this purpose, but I felt like they didn't work because they absorbed the lotion and not my hands. I used to wear gloves all day at work. I noticed when I put lotion on before the gloves it helped, but only temporarily. I found that when I exfoliate I get the best results. So, that's when I came up with this formula.

I leave the gloves on for about an hour while I do other things. You don't have to use the Kinerase or the Caudalíe, if you don't have the money to spend. Just use the lotion and gloves more often and for a longer time.

Can you tell a difference?

I plan to continue using just the gloves and lotion for the rest of the week while I'm studying. Hopefully, my hands will be soft and pretty by the weekend. I'm also suffering from extremely dry and cracked feet (my feet never get cracked and dry). I tried this on my feet and because I don't have gloves for my feet I wrapped them in saran wrap.

Let me know if any of you try this.

♡,
D'Andra

Come and Join the Party!!

It has been begun...Austin Fashion Week is here!!! 

There are so many events and I'm not sure which ones I will be attending. I do know one event I will definitely be attending. The lovely Tess Designs has invited me to wear a Tess Dress to the Doo-Wop Fashion Bash next Wednesday, August 24. Tess has teamed up with Touch of Sass to host a fifties-inspired party. There will be burgers, fries, pies, and cocktails. Yuuummmmm!! If that's not enough to motivate you, the first 100 guests will receive an awesome swag bag. So, please come on out and get your picture taken in a hot rod.

Click here for more info.

Hope to see you there!

♡,
D'Andra

Amazing Mom Friends

I have girlfriends that I don't always get to see or talk to, so I like to send them little gifts to let them know I'm thinking about them. They are easy to make and fun to put together.

Materials Needed:

          4 cellophane bags
          4 wands (any shiny/sparkly one will do)
          4 winner medals
          4 party horns
          8 party poppers
          bag of trinkets (I used buttons and beads)
          bag of feathers
          wire
          scrap ribbon
          4 pieces of scrap craft paper
          stickers
          hole punch

How to Assemble:

1. Divide wands, medals, horns, poppers, and trinkets among the four bags.
2. Arrange several feathers together and secure with wire. Repeat three times and add to each bag.
3. Write a little note on each scrap of paper. (Mine say: "just a few things to celebrate the amazing mom that you are!")
4. Add a pretty sticker or two to your note.
5. Punch a hole in paper.
6. Close bag using ribbon. Be sure to add your note to the bag before tying the ribbon.
7. Ship to mom friends.

*Note: I added a small pretty bar of soap or lip gloss to each bag.

Whatever you do, it doesn't have to be outrageous. Whenever your friends open their package, they will smile knowing you care. I've sent summer fun gifts (water fun pack for mom and kids: water balloons and water guns) and sweet gifts (bars of chocolate and note cards) and my friends always enjoy the gift.

I would love to know if any of you try this or something similar.

♡,
D'Andra

A Tess Designs Evening

Here is the promised post.

Let me start by saying, I really wish I had taken my other camera, because I have trouble taking good photos with the one I took. Most of my photos were blurry, so you'll have to deal with it like I am. Last Thursday I met up with some amazing Austin bloggers for a lovely happy hour. Bloggers in attendance were: Grechen of Grechen's Closet, Cathy of Austin Slave to Fashion, Andrea of A Cat of Impossible Color, Sharon of If Grandma Wore J. Crew, Joyce of My Closet My Life and me of course. I had such a great time. We talked relationships, fashion, and body image. Thanks to Grechen for setting it up for us. After drinks and some food, we headed across the street to take a peak at the Tess Designs studio. The building and studio were very Mad Men-esque.

I was so intrigued by all of the work that goes into making dresses. Tess talked about the intricate details of pattern making and mock-ups.

We all loved this mock-up, but somehow it wasn't the right fabric for that pattern. I don't think any of us cared about that though. I mean how could you not like that fabric?

Tess was so gracious! She let us go wild and try on anything we wanted. I think I touched all of the dresses and separates.

We even got to sneak into her closet of inspiration. What fun!!!

Tess has her upcoming Fall and Spring lines up on her board with fabric swatches for each look. So very exciting! Pockets are coming for the Spring looks. I love pockets!

Head on over to Sharon's great post "Exclusive with Tess Dress" for more photos from the evening. You'll even see me in a Tess Dress.

Austin Fashion Week is upon us! Next Wednesday, August 24th is the Doo-Wop Fashion Bash hosted by Tess Dress and Touch of Sass.

♡,
D'Andra