just keep the following the heartlines on your hand

This is how I looked on Nov. 4, 2012:

cardigan: Nordstrom Rack.....top: Target

skirt: Nanette Lepore, Crossroads Trading Co.

shoes: Seychelles, thrifted

I posted before that I was scouring thriftstores. 

Well, there is one store in particular that I love going to: Savers in San Jose. 

That is where I scored a pair of Seychelles heels for $7.99. Ridiculous.

A store that I should definitely frequent is Crossroads Trading Co., also in San Jose. 

That is where I scored this Nanette Lepore silk skirt for 16 bucks. Again, ridiculous.

I dressed up for a special occasion. My niece's music school had a recital. She did such a great job playing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on piano. :)

this fix is more important than you are

This is how I looked the night of Oct. 31, 2012:

hoody: PacSun, gift from Mom.....jeans: J. Crew, thrifted.....hidden tank top: H&M

socks: Target.....boots: Avenue

The best part about losing weight is shopping my closet. I've awakened my addiction to hooded sweatshirts because I can now fit into the ones I already own.

Because I'm being very cautious and kinda pessimistic, I haven't really entertained the thought of buying a whole new wardrobe. It could also be because I'm a cheapskate who'd rather scour thriftstores.

gloria, you're always on the run now

There were two nights on the Disney Cruise when we got to dress up.

Golden Mickeys night. 

The special theatre show that night was the Golden Mickeys, featuring Broadway-style re-enactments from Disney movies.

dress: Liz Claiborne online.....tights: Walmart.....shoes: Nine West

handbag: Dooney & Bourke

necklace and bracelet: my wedding

Fine dining at Palo, the only adults-only restaurant onboard.

dress: Olsenboye at JC Penney.....tights: Walmart.....Steve Madden shows: DSW

see these eyes so green? i can stare for a thousand years.

This is how I looked after working out on Oct. 24:

shirt, sportsbra, leggings & socks: Target
sneakers: Kohls
iPod
wind

I was absolutely exhausted and overheated in this pic, and I had to cool down by standing outside on the balcony.

Sometimes I forget why I climb a grand total of 40 floors of stairs every now and then. Oh, I know. It tires me out faster than the elliptical machine.

i'm just roaming for the moment.

This is how I looked on Oct. 4:

sweater: Target.....t-shirt: Marshalls.....skirt: Ross
mini-socks: Target.....shoes: Zappos

so much to believe in. we were lost in time.

This is how I looked on Sept. 15:

location: Centre Bell, home of les Canadiens de Montreal~!


location: somewhere on the waterfront


location: Vieux-Montreal

dress: kensiegirl via Shop Idee's Closet.....tanktop: H&M.....leggings: Target
socks: Target.....boots: Avenue
coat: Gap Outlet.....handbag: Dooney & Bourke
sunglasses: LensCrafters

The dress.

I love the contrast of the zipper against the floral print.

lay a whisper on my pillow, leave the winter on the ground

This post is brought to you by the wonders of hydroxyzine, better known as Atarax.

I started taking it Monday night because I broke out in hives. Curse my dog allergy!

This is how I looked on Aug. 31, the morning after I got back on the hydroxyzine:

.Wow.
sweater: Nordstrom Rack.....secret tanktop: H&M.....skirt: Ross
socks: Target.....boots: Avenue
binder clip holding sweater shut: work

Needless to say, hydroxyzine is strong stuff.

This is how I looked on Sept. 1:

sweater: Nordstrom Rack.....top: Marshalls.....skirt: Ross
mini-socks: Payless.....shoes: DSW

This is how I looked on Sept. 2:

sweater: Target.....t-shirt: Marshalls.....slacks: Marshalls
mini-socks: Payless.....shoes: Aerosoles

i never died for sweet romance and sleeping beauties.

Last weekend, I went to Sacramento to hang out with Rachel and go to a couple of shows.

The highlight of the weekend was meeting her sweet beagle, Sally.


Hi, Rachel! Hi, Sally!

This is how I looked after the Baby Grand show on Aug. 27:

sweater: Nordstrom.....tanktop under dress: H&M.....dress: Old Navy
leggings: Target.....socks: Target.....boots: Avenue
photo: Rachel

This is how I looked before seeing The Skirts on Aug. 28:


sweater: Anthropologie.....tanktop: H&M.....denim leggings: JC Penney
socks: Target.....boots: Avenue
full belly: a cocktail and the pork cellantani dish at Paesanos
photos: Rachel

And why not? A video I took of The Skirts performing my second fave song of theirs, "Seesaw".


Rachel! Thanks for having me! And scratch Sally's neck for me!

love is a mystery. there are no rules for the heart.

This is how I looked on Aug. 19:


sweater: Nordstrom.....t-shirt: Marshalls.....skirt: Ross
mini-socks: Payless.....shoes: DSW

When I saw this skirt at Ross, I fell so much in love with the print and the price of this skirt that I bought it, even though it didn't fit. Just from looking at it on the rack, I could tell that it was too small for me. This skirt is a size 8, and, at the time, I so was not that size. What the heck was I thinking? Yeah.

This random purchase was done in August of last year. And it hung in the closet until May 24, 2010. I love this skirt to pieces.

trusted you true in the beginning

Last Saturday, I went to the big Salvation Army on Taylor Street in San Jose. I was on a mission to find something to wear to Rachel's birthday party. My BFF is throwing herself an 80s party celebrate the big 3-0.

So, with an open heart and an open mind full of 80s movie memories, I perused the store...and came away with a dress, a jumpsuit(?!?!), and a belt for $11.85. Mind you, I didn't bother trying the clothes on in the store because I could tell just by looking at them that they would fit. And it kinda grossed me out to try on musty clothes.

After washing them and hanging them to dry, I tried on the clothes, and they did fit!

This is how I look in the dress:


dress: $6.70.....belt: $2.00

What sold me on this dress was the teal and black print. Even the buttons are covered in the print. And did I already mention that it's teal? It was my lucky day!

And thanks to the clothing label, I have "Promises, Promises" by Naked Eyes stuck in my head.

This is how I look in the jumpsuit:


jumpsuit: $3.15.....same belt as before

Bwahahahahahaha!

I can't believe that I actually LOVE this jumpsuit. I purchased this outfit only because it made me laugh when I came upon it. And, even though it's going to be a major pain to undo this outfit just to go to the bathroom, I'd wear it to Rachel's party!!

I showed the jumpsuit pics to Maria, and she said it made her think of Pat Benatar. Success!

Chris said that if I got the dress hemmed a few inches, I could wear the dress on a normal basis. Success!

So, now, my next mission is to buy shoes and accessories to go with these outfits.

i'm on my feet. i'm on the floor. i'm good to go.

This is what I wore when I hung out with Rachel on Saturday, July 31:



sweater: H&M.....secret tanktop: H&M.....dress: Shop Idee's Closet
leggings: Target.....socks: Target.....boots: Avenue
purse: Dooney & Bourke
uncropped photos: Brian

These photos were taken on the way to Los Cubanos in San Pedro Square. That restaurant is, hands down, my most fave restaurant in DT SJ. It's all about the braised oxtails and quatro leches cake. Also, a pitcher of sangria will make the night twice as nice!

so i dream of things like your golden wings

sweater: Nordstrom Rack.....top: Gap.....skirt: Ross
mini-socks: Payless.....shoes: Payless

I look very matronly in this outfit.

The only other time I wore this skirt, I paired it with a snug sweater, and it just looked right.

Oh well, back to the drawing board, but, at least, today's outfit was comfy.

you want out, but we're off the ground. so, pick out your parachute.

This is how I looked on June 22:


sweater: Target.....dress: Old Navy.....t-shirt: Marshalls
mini-socks: Target.....shoes: DSW

This is how I dressed down for the SJ Sharks select-a-seat that night:

sweater: JC Penney.....leggings: Target.....shoes: Payless

I tried my hand at trying to find slightly better seats for the 2010-2011 Sharks season, but I didn't have any luck. So, we're keeping our original seats. But I had lots of fun wandering through the empty arena, trying out lots of seats.

Yep, select-a-seat = fun for me on a weeknight!

knowing you're beside me, i'm all right

This is how I looked on June 7:

dress: Old Navy.....handbag: D&B
socks: Target.....boots: Avenue
jacket: Wilson's Leather.....scarf: H&M

This is how I looked sans jacket and scarf:

bean necklace: Tiffany & Co......emo facial expression: purely accidental

Yesterday, Brian and I walked to The Grill On The Alley in downtown San Jose for our anniversary dinner. It was a bit chilly out, so the jacket and scarf were necessary. Also, I wore these boots because I didn't feel like wearing nylons or tights.

sky rocket to Mars, straight to your heart

T-shirts and jeans days.

This is how I looked on June 4:

t-shirt: Fiorucci for Target.....tanktop: Mervyn's.....jeans: Bitten by SJP, Steve & Barry's
socks: Target.....Etnies shoes: PacSun
I wore a tanktop under the shirt because the shirt is flimsy.

This is how I looked on June 5:


t-shirt: a Sahara Hotnights show.....jeans: Bitten by SJP, Steve & Barry's
Fit-Flops: Downtown Disney, WDW

Back in 2008, I bought a pair of size 8 jeans at Steve & Barry's in the hopes that that would motivate me to get back in shape. Haha! Uhm no. Yeah. I think I cursed myself with those pants because I proceeded to gain more weight a week or so after purchasing them.

After going through several donation purges of my wardrobe, I still kept those pants. Even though I was disappointed in myself, I was being an optimist. Or maybe it was just my hoarding tendencies kicking in.

Back on Febuary 28 of this year, I decided to take better care of myself by eating healthy. I started keeping a paper journal to track my eating, and I started eating veggies and beans. Originally, I was someone who would only eat meat and starchy carbs. So, adding such items like Swiss chard and chickpeas to my eating routine is a really big deal.

Well. Last Friday, I tried on those pants....and they fit! I was so happy about this, I wore them again on Saturday. I am still in a state of disbelief.

Woo-hoo!

my moods, they change like the weather

I wore skirts sans tights twice this week because the weather has been cooperating (sort of).

This is how I looked on June 2:

cardigan and top: Express.....skirt: Ross
mini-socks: Payless.....Steve Madden shoes: DSW

This is how I looked on June 3:

sweater: H&M.....tanktop: Sears.....skirt: Ross
mini-socks: Payless.....shoes: Payless

Bonus picture that shows a bit more of my bookshelf:

Why yes, there's a Buffy the Vampire Slayer action figure on display.
One of the best shows EVER.

stilettos and broken bottles. i'm spinning around in circles.

Calvin Klein Jeans sweater: Macy's.....Liz Claiborne skirt: Ross
tights: Kohls.....Hush Puppies shoes: DSW

One of the few skirts in my possession that isn't solid black.

I am such the bargain shopper. The sweater was on sale at Macy's. The skirt was scored for $7.00 at Ross. The shoes were in the clearance section at DSW. And I can't say enough about Kohls whenever tights are marked down.