Summer Shoes

I've been eyeing some new shoes for summer online.  It's very difficult for me to find good shoes in my size, especially heels (I have tiny feet).  In my search, I discovered that in addition to being a great company, Toms sells my size!  The wedges are really cute.  What do you think?

    

TOMS Canvas Wedges

Also loving these for flats.

 

TOMS Stitchouts

Keds makes some classic summer styles and come in my size as well.

 

Keds Eyelet and Laceless

Naturalizer is also one of my favorite brands because they sell my size.

 

Naturalizer Berlynn & Naya Maize

So, keeping in mind that I'm on a budget and would like shoes that will last me more than one year, what do you recommend?

Winter Weather in May

(Yes, I'm up quite late.)
It feels like winter.  LA winter, not real winter of course.  It has been rainy and chilly.  Today I was very thankful I have good rain boots and a wind-proof jacket.  I only needed the boots in the morning, but I definitely needed the jacket this afternoon.  I actually didn't wear this exact outfit to work today.  I had layered this dress with a bright blue bandeau to stay modest.  But on my way to work, I realized it was still too low, so I tugged it up.  Unfortunately this put the bottom elastic band over the fullest part of my bust, and it was extremely uncomfortable.  I ended up taking off the bandeau in the ladies room and swapping the green cardigan for my black work fleece zipped all the way up.  It wasn't cute, but it was functional for the office.  I still got compliments on my skirt.  Aerospace engineers really do love planes!

 

Dress: Wright dress, Anthropologie

Sweater: LOFT Outlet

Tights: Target

Shoes: Bass

Belt: Old Navy

Necklace: Cost Plus World Market

SWE-LA Professional Development Conference

Last Friday I attended and volunteered at the SWE-LA (Society of Women Engineers, Los Angeles section) professional development conference at the Proud Bird.  It was a fantastic day!  The speakers were great, and I learned a lot.  Plus I love hanging out with the SWE members.  I hosted a fashion show about "What Works At Work" for entertainment during lunch.  I think it went really well.  It was my first time speaking in front of a large group, I was extremely nervous, but everyone said it was amazing!  Apparently no one could tell that my heart was pounding.  I wore a business cocktail dress for the last category of the show, so I used a blazer to make it appropriate for the whole day.

   

Dress: Banana Republic

Jacket: H&M

Shoes, necklace & computer bag: Target

Pantyhose: c/o my friend Sonja

Quick, need some blogger help!

I'm in charge of a fashion show that is during lunch at the SWE-LA Professional Development Conference on Friday.  I have volunteers to model the outfits, started a script, and ideas for slides.  However, I need photos.  For every category of work outfit, I want to show actual pictures of people in these outfits.  I don't want to use catalog shots, I want it to have a scrapbook feel.  This is where you come in...if you have any photos of yourself in these outfits, can you let me know or send me links?  Thank you SO much!
Categories: casual Friday, business casual, professional business-wear, interview, business cocktail and business formalwear.

De Chelly

I love this dress but rarely wear it.  It's a little long for me.  I figured the length makes it good for work though.  Btw, holy cow my legs look pale.

Dress: Anthropologie

Sweater: American Eagle

Shoes: Bass

Necklace: Cost Plus World Market

What month is it?

Los Angeles has forgotten the season again.  All week was perfect pool party weather, aka way too hot for work clothes.  This weekend it was chilly.  Boo for colder weather!  I refused to dress for cold weather though.  On Saturday I went to a bbq/pool party (yes we did swim despite the cold weather...the water was heated).  No pictures of it, but I finally got to wear my new swimsuit that I love.

Dress & sweater: American Eagle

Necklace: Forever 21

Shoes: Naturalizer

Sunglasses that I didn't need: Ray Ban

Today I was freezing outside, but thankfully the mall was plenty warm so I didn't wear a cardigan.  I wanted to wear my "shade of white" dress from last summer.  I found what I hope will be this summer's version on Urban Outfitters website.  I haven't tried it on yet, but it's the same designer.  I hope I can find it when it goes on sale!  (Today I included both with and without flash photos.)

 

Dress: Thistlepearl from Urban Outfitters

Slip: American Apparel

Necklace: Aeropostale

Belt: Old Navy

Shoes: Naturalizer

Braided Hair

While staying in Slidell, LA, I went to the mall frequently because it was across the street from my hotel and it had the BEST Forever 21 ever!  On my second trip, I purposefully under-packed so I could buy a few things.  One of those things is this top.  I love lace trim and blush color.  I tried to get photos with Zadie today, but she didn't want to cooperate.  All I ended up with are silly pictures with her!

  

Top & cami: Forever 21

Cardigan: Anthropologie

Jeans: Paige

Shoes: Clarks

Necklace: Cost Plus World Market

 Today I also wore my newest favorite hairstyle.  How to do it: part hair where a headband would sit, from ear to ear.  Secure hair in the back out of the way.  Brush front hair to one side.  Starting by one ear, do an inside out french braid.  Braid hair a few inches past other ear and tie off with small hair-tie or clip.  Take back hair down and brush into a side pony-tail behind ear and include braid.  When all hair is secure, remove hair-tie or clip from braid.

Cinco de Mayo

Yesterday I didn't do much to celebrate America's favorite Mexican holiday.  I wore a festive dress and had take-out Mexican food for dinner from my favorite little place.  Btw, it was so hot while I took these photos that my necklace was stuck to me.

 

Dress: Tucker for Target

Cardigan: LOFT Outlet

Slip: American Apparel

Shoes: Clarks

Belt: Target

Necklace: Cost Plus World Market

Strawberries, Greek Yogurt & Tupelo Honey

Dessert

One of the perks of living in Los Angeles is the fresh local produce.

Spring Bronchitis

I considered titling this post "Urgent Care Chic", but then I decided to include the soup I made today too.

This morning I went to urgent care to find out if my bronchitis had turned into pneumonia since I was having pain with deep breaths.  Thankfully it wasn't busy, and the doctor on duty was a pulmonologist.  I had a chest x-ray, and it is not pneumonia.  Somehow after a month, I still just have bronchitis but now with back pain from coughing so hard and so much.  I got an antibiotic this time, and I'm going to focus on just resting as much as possible this week.  Oh, and I thought I'd be the only person in the hospital this morning in a dress and heels, but I was wrong.  I picked out this dress bc it was super comfortable, but there were plenty of women dressed nice or at least presentable.  Oh I love LA!  There's even fashion in the hospital.

Top: Victoria's Secret Pink

Dress & necklace: Forever 21

Shoes: Bass

Also, when I arrived back to my apartment on Friday, the formal gown I ordered from HauteLook had finally arrived.  The verdict?  It's beautiful, but the fit is horrible.  The tailor can do a lot to fix it, but closing the zipper takes an act of god and it can't be let out.  I have to lose a few pounds before Memorial Day weekend!  I can't work-out while I still have bronchitis, so I'm focusing on my diet.  Tonight I made an asparagus soup.  It's spring in a bowl!

Asparagus & Potato Soup

1 carton of chicken or vegetable broth
handful chopped onion
1 bunch of asparagus
1 potato
salt
pepper
olive oil

Microwave or bake potato until cooked (mine was already wrapped up with instructions to microwave for 7 minutes) then let cool.  In a saucepan, boil a handful of chopped onion in the broth for 7 minutes.  While onion cooks, wash and snap off woody ends of the asparagus.  Cut off tips and set aside.  Cut bottoms into 1/2 inch pieces.  Add 1/2 inch pieces of asparagus to the onion and broth.  Cook for 3 minutes.  Peel potato and cut into chunks.  In batches, blend the soup and potato chunks until very smooth.  Put pureed soup back into the saucepan over medium-low heat.  Add the asparagus tips.  Season with salt & pepper to taste.  When heated through and tips are cooked to your liking, serve with a light drizzle of olive oil.

Although I only used one bunch of asparagus this time, I'll use two next time.  I liked the potato taste, but I'd want the asparagus taste to stand out more next time.