Careless Whisper

I felt like "Careless Whisper" was a good title for this outfit as it was so soft and ethereal and shit. But then I started laughing because last time I was visiting Nate's family, the two of us went to an antique shop and on the ride back, I had on some random mix CD in my car. Careless Whisper by George Michael came on when we were almost back to his parent's house, so Nate drove me around town for all seven minutes of the song because "it suddenly got sexxxay up in here." That saxophone slays me, so ridiculous.

Blouse - thrifted vintage
Sweater - Gap
Skirt - American Apparel
Tights - TJ Maxx??
Shoes - Bakers

Sorry for the absence yesterday, I came down with a cold over the weekend which screwed up all my weekend plans. No hanging out with Henrik and my mom (except for breakfast with Nate right before she left.) Eh, oh well, I would have felt terrible if I'd gotten a baby sick. And no going to a MN blogger meet-up on Saturday. Stupid germs!

I had taken a half-day from work yesterday for some afternoon appointments so I figured it wasn't worth going in for 4 hours in the morning when I was half-sick. Also, yesterday... TMI warning... I stupidly made my yearly OBGYN check-up for the same afternoon as my dentist appointment. Worst. Afternoon. Ever.

Psst! I also listed 13 vintage pennants on The Roof is on Fire (my homegoods etsy shop)! I have a few of them hung up around my house and I think they are so cool and the graphics are awesome! But I don't need so many, so off they go!

P.S. Thanks everyone for the support on Friday's "Story Time" post... I still get nervous doing video blogs, despite doing Improv and theater for years, so thanks for making an awkward thing slightly less awkward!

Story time: The Snatching

Ok, it's finally time for another edition of Story Time! Yes, I'm wearing the same shirt from yesterday because I have the day off and a hat because I'm about to go running and didn't feel like doing my hair. Enjoy!

Untitled from Christine FutureLint on Vimeo.

P.S. I find it necessary to point out that the boyfriend in this story is NOT my boyfriend now. I say this in the video but don't want any confusion due to something I accidentally mention in the video... oops. My big mouth!

I'm not Veronika (or Betty, for that matter)

Whenever I wear a suede skirt, I think of Veronika from Tick Tock Vintage... probably due to outfits like this and this and this!

Headband - tie from the shirt

Shirt - thrifted Juster Woman

Necklace - thrifted

Skirt - thrifted vintage

Brown tights - ?

Shoes - Michael Kors

I've got the day off tomorrow (it's a teacher development day but since I'm not a teacher I get the day off)! I'm excited to go to some estate sales, talk to a tattoo artist, and then go hang out with my nephew, Henrik. My mom is in town for a few days, pulling grandma babysitting duty because my sister's husband is a pilot and out of town flying for a few days and my sister just went back to work as an interior designer after her maternity leave. I'll also try to leave you another edition of "Story Time" tomorrow, which I've been meaning to do forever. So come back tomorrow to watch me ramble about the time I ran down a mugger and got my purse back!

Black metal

A black leather pencil skirt with attached gold chains isn't something I'd normally consider "work wear." But I've worn it once before to work (and once to a Mr. Leather contest) and after seeing this photo of Ahn (of 9to5Chic), I decided to dig it out and wear it again. My outfit is pretty different than hers (um, hello? HER NECKLACE - no one is about to lend me a necklace that Kate Moss wore in Vogue.) Anyhoodle, the photo reminded me that there is a way to wear this dominatrix of a skirt to work...

Shirt - thrifted little boys Cherokee
Necklace - thrifted
Skirt - thrifted Firenze Santa Barbara

Bangle - thrifted
Tights - TJ Maxx maybe??
Shoes - Seychelles

I threw in a front and side view because it's hard to tell what it looks like in only one photo due to the side chains:

I also didn't want to wear black opaque tights with this but realized that I don't own any sheer ones except these argyle ones and two even crazier pairs (if you can believe it). Oops!

By the seashore

Cardigan - Old Navy

Collar - thrifted vintage

T-shirt - Target

Belt - thrifted vintage

Skirt - American Apparel

Tights - Cynthia Rowley

Shoes - thrifted newstock Target

Can you tell I spent a Groupon to American Apparel over the weekend? I bought this skirt and the cobalt pleated one from yesterday. I'm one of those people who wants to wear "new" stuff right away, which usually doesn't happen because I mostly buy thrifted things and have to wash them first. It's funny because the skirt yesterday definitely had a vintage vibe, but it fit so perfect and I loved the color, length and weight of it (I do have a few vintage accordion pleated skirts but they are mostly maxi skirts or a neutral color). Today's skirt is very similar to my coral, mustard, red, and green stretch knit pencil skirts, but again I loved the color and the texture of this one. Eh, I guess I know what I like and I like having lots of colorful separates! It helps me wear all my crazy statement pieces when I have a variety of solids to pair them with!

Even my PJs are vintage

Polo - from when I was a bev cart girl at a golf course
Sweater - Old Navy (old)
Brooches - thrifted
Skirt - American Apparel
Tights - Cynthia Rowley
Shoes - MIA

I had a pretty fabulous weekend. Saturday, Nate and I got up early and stood in the cold to go to an estate sale. I found a bunch of vintage tourist pennants, a crazy pair of shoes from India, and an old boy scout knapsack. Then we went out for brunch and spent the rest of the day and night holed up from the cold and snow in front of my fireplace, playing Trivial Pursuit a million times while watching AFV (which I love a pathetic amount and I was so happy when it appeared on Netflix). Sunday we made fancy tacos and margaritas and watched football all day. My goal was to be as lazy as possible and stay horizontal the whole day. Nate fashioned me a giant straw so I could drink a margarita while laying down and watching football at the same time. That's love, folks. I even have the photo to prove it. Prepare yourselves for the glamor of "the laziest day ever:"

Yes, my shirt says "I've got the crabs." I bought it for fifty cents at a garage sale when I was 15, and I've worn it constantly for the past 15 years. It's so soft and old and awesome. It's from a crab shack in Florida, originally. Hey, I can't be dressed up all the time!

The pink matador

This vest. My goodness. So, so good. Good, good, good. (It doesn't even seem like a real word anymore, does it?)

Oxford - Polo Ralph Lauren, inherited from aunt
Vest - thrifted Cambridge Dry Goods (previously worn 1, 2)
Bangles - thrifted
Skirt - thrifted vintage (no tags)
Tights - Cynthia Rowley
Shoes - Sam & Libbey, inherited from sister

Last night was pretty awesome. My special needs buddy, Daniel (whom I hang out with every Thursday) is in California, so Nate came over early and we I made fondue! Which was amazing. Living like it's the '70s! Actually, last Thursday Nate came over after Daniel left and brought me a bottle of champagne to celebrate the return of 30 Rock, which was cute! Thursdays, my favorite days! Really!

Middle aged lady swag

 Sweater - thrifted Izod Lacoste

Orange necklace - Kohl's

Yellow "necklace" - Seoul Folk Flea Market

T-shirt - Target

Skirt - thrifted vintage (no tags) 

Tights - ???

Shoes - Linea Paolo

Today's hair adventure... my "mouse hair" (which is what the girls at my previous school used to call it... because they said it made me look like Minnie Mouse? IDK.) I basically just throw my hair up in a pile on top of my head and stab it with bobby pins until none of it is falling down anymore. I've done it once before on the blog, but don't do it very often because I feel like it makes me look younger.

After the monochromatic outfit yesterday, I apparently decided to dress like an exploded box of crayons today. This outfit already prompted the following conversation at work:


"Miss Christine, you the only old, errr, not old... how old are you?"
"Thirty." 
"You the only middle-aged lady I know who dresses with swag... 'cept my momma." 

Um, thanks for the back-handed compliment 13 year old girl. Volunteering at the food shelf last night was awesome. I got to make up boxes of food for people to take home after they went to a soup kitchen. A meal there and a meal to-go is the idea. It was hard trying to put a variety of things in the box, that could still go together as a meal... like if you gave them noodles, you had to find a sauce and a veggie and maybe a fruit or some cereal for the next day, etc. It was fun though and we got enough done to feed over 4,000 people. Yay!

 Yes, I volunteered with a group from a local brewery (and makers of my favorite beer!)

In the navy

Yet another dress that I struggle to style... with the ruffled collar and ruffled sleeves, there's not much room for accessories so I took it in the other direction and went totally monochrome on it today!

Dress - thrifted Lady Carol Petites of NY (previously worn 1, 2, 3)

Tights - DKNY

Shoes - Madeline

I was torn today on whether or not to blog today... I totally oppose SOPA & PIPA, which you can read about here, among many other places. I totally understand what they are trying to do with the bill (end piracy), but I also understand what the bill will do (destroy the internet, basically). 

In other news, I'm volunteering at a food shelf tonight and I'm so excited! For some reason, when I was little, I thought it would be so fun to work in a grocery store. Scanning items and listening to the beep just seemed like the best job ever. I've never worked in a grocery store, but I do enjoy the self check-out lanes for that exact reason! The scan and beep! So... maybe tonight will be like working in a grocery store too? Stocking shelves! Woo! My mom told me when she was little, she wanted to work in a toll booth, because she loved making change with coins. My dad told me that his dream job as a kid was to be the guy on the caboose of the train, who signaled if the cars became detached. What about you? Any strange jobs you dreamed of as a kid that you would hate to do now?

Huge collars and band jackets

Saturday night I had to work a corporate holiday party for the photo booth. I don't know what this particular company does, but man they must have some $$$. They were giving away laptops and ipads and DSLR cameras and even had a "talent show" with only three participants and the winner got a thousand dollars. A THOUSAND.  I know that working at a school and for non-profits my whole life, I will never make any real money, but jeez! That is just so crazy to me! Anyway here's the photo booth outfit:

Dress - Target Go International

Watch - Michael Kors

Tights - Cynthia Rowley

Shoes - Sam & Libbey, inherited from sister

And today:

Jacket - vintage via eBay

T-shirt - Target

Jeans - Gap

Shoes - thrifted Enzo Angiolini

I bought this jacket a few years ago when the whole "band jacket" thing was all the rage. It has a tag inside that says it belonged to Joe Abrams in 1922. As in 90 years ago! It's from the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and it's awesome. I had yesterday off for MLK day and spent the whole day babysitting my nephew Henrik, then I went ice skating and out to dinner with a friend who is in town from San Fransisco! A perfect day off!

Shoulder turbans

Shirt - some little boutique in Seoul, Korea

Vest - thrifted (relativity)

Necklace - Shabby Apple via Two Birds giveaway

Jeans - Armani Exchange via consignment

Shoes - thrifted Joan Helpern Signature Collection

I LOVE this shirt and it's little shoulder turbans but it's pretty form-fitting (aka tight) on me, so I've never worn it to work. I tried it with a vest today and yay! Work appropriate! Don't think the shoulders look like turbans?

Do you now? It's a sexxxxay lady in a turban. Like Kelly Wearstler. Sorry. Clearly I am bored today. Can I also say I'm a little bit proud? Picnik didn't have any noses so I made that one out of three crescent moons. Skillz.

Anchors Aweigh

I'm not usually into the whole "nautical" look, but I couldn't resist wearing this little anchor sweater! I found it over Christmas break at a resale shop that was going out of business in a town in Wisconsin that's so small it's not even a town; it's an "unincorporated township." It cost $0.25. Score!

Glasses - thrifted American Optical, lenses replaced

Cardigan - thrifted vintage (no tags)

Anchor sweater - thrifted vintage Joyce

Necklace - thrifted

Jeans - Gap

Shoes - thrifted Minnetonka Moccasin

Sweater detail (look at the little knit rope!)... and showing you that it's short sleeved, which will be cute when it's not 5 degrees out. 

Unfortunately everything else at the little shop sucked, which was too bad since everything cost a quarter. Seriously. But it's one of those weird small town in the middle of nowhere things... like when I spent 10 hours wandering home from my parents house in WI last summer, stopping at a ton of tiny thrift stores. Often times, unless someone recently cleaned out 50 years worth of clothes, most of the stuff in the store is going to come from Wal-Mart, because Wal-Mart is the only store around. Eh, as they say, I'm in it for "the thrill of the hunt" anyway, so I don't mind digging through terrible clothes for an hour and only coming away with one awesome $0.25 treasure. It's still a "win" in my book!

Burgundy and bike

To tell you the truth, I kinda forgot I had this skirt. I have a pretty massive wardrobe but lately I've been trying to pare it down. It's hard because I just see the potential in everything somehow (That style will come back! I'll sew something else out of it! One day I'll wear it, just not TOday! These four jean jackets are different from each other and necessary!) So I was doing a big skirt/dress clean-out last night and found this one dangling from a hanger way in the back. Sadly, I have not worn it in 2.5 years! Gaa! Not okay! So, my loss, your gain! I've got a big pile of vintage to put on the etsy, a big pile to donate, and a big pile to try to sell to Everyday People. And slightly more room in the walk in closet. Now to tackle the rest of the closets! And then try to put myself in that "one in, one out" frame of mind so things stay under control in the wardrobe department!

Glasses - Prada
Polo - from when I was a bev cart girl at a golf course
Sweater - thrifted Target sample
Bike pin - thrifted
Skirt - thrifted Calvin Klein Jeans
Tights - Target
Shoes - Michael Kors

Besides, I figured I better wear this skirt again while the whole "vaguely southwest" thing was still in style!

Gimme a "B"

Even though this is just a cardigan, not a letter sweater, it has that vibe to it... so between that and the headband, I feel excessively preppy today! 

Necklace - belonged to my great-gma
Cardigan - thrifted vintage Tarni
T-shirt - Target
Seagull pins - thrifted
Jeans - Gap
Boots - Seychelles

I used to wear this necklace every single day, for years in high school. It belonged to my great grandma, who we all called "Grandma B". For some reason, in middle school, I thought she was really cool and wanted to go visit her all the time with my mom. We would always stop at an apple orchard on the way to her retirement community and buy apple cider donuts to eat with her (I still want to cry like every time I eat one.) When she died, I got to pick a few of her things to keep. This necklace is my favorite! It's five pieces of jade on a tiny chain. I used to call it "the pickle necklace." Now I'm too paranoid I'll lose or break it, so I keep it hung up in my bathroom so I still see it all the time, but only wear it once in a while.