Casual Wednesday

I work at a casual law firm (meaning most days I usually am more dressed than most coworkers-even though I think I'm being casual!). I was out sick the past couple days and got ready for the first time since Saturday and did not feel like fussing much. Threw on some skinny dark jeans, an off white top and a black blazer (that I wear to death with many outfits) and some leopard flats. Usually I zazazu it up a bit more, but you really can't go wrong with a blazer and jeans.

I did not have the energy to fuss with my makeup either, so did a quick sweep of winged black liner, some very light eyeshadow and a pink pout with some bronzer and was out the door. Again..I usually zazazu it up with my makeup a bit more too, but this works for work!

Please do ignore the background. I took the photo in my office bathroom just out of pure convenience. It was just one of those no fuss, no frills days!

Peplum blazer (similar) and skinny jeans: Nordstrom, Top: Forever 21, Flats: Target (old), Purse: Michael Kors, Jewelry: ByBellaCollection (etsy), Makeup: Chanel Prelude, Revlon cream eyeliner in Black Noir, MAC LS in "I love winter" (old)

Keeping up with the Joneses...err..bloggers..err youtubers

This is a topic I have sent many a rant text to my best friend on. Today was no exception. As I'm lying in bed at home sick with a change of season related illness, I got tired of watching lifetime movies (we all know their plot beginning to end anyways from the title) and grabbed my laptop to browse my typical sites. Nordstrom... some blogs that shall remain anonymous...some youtubers that shall also remain anonymous.. BCBG...Piperlime, etc... I create a wish list in my head (and that is usually how it always remains..strictly a wish list) and then I get annoyed at my own bank account (or lack thereof) and then I think..

I think back to about four years ago when I discovered this entire youtube/blogger world. (This was also on a day not much different than this one, shortly after my Dad died and I had nothing better to do with my time than to mindlessly browse the web). I stumbled upon a nail tutorial and was hooked ever since. BUT...but ..but..about two years ago, this entire community of girls..regular, normal, everyday girls that I once felt so connected to, turned into this over-marketed, over-advertised, over- product-shoved-down-our -throats world. At that moment, they became out of my league and into the world of mini celebutants. Sigh. I no longer felt akin with them and when I visit their websites, it just makes me feel .. defeated. I can't afford all the designer brand stuff and I wear the same top and the same skirts and the same pants over and over and over again. Most of my shoes are scuffed and worn down so much. Although I have Tory Burch shoes, those babies are so warn in you can see past the leather in some spots. Yes part of this is out of jealousy of not being able to have stuff sent to me for review and not being able to afford a new designer bag every few months..or ever really, but I miss the girls I once knew and connected with. I did not create this blog in the hopes of one day gaining enough followers or advertisements to make money off of. I created it to share my stories, to relate to others and for pure fashion and beauty vanity.

This world is filled with enough Hollywood celebrities that can flaunt the designer stuff and can well afford to. Yes, I would like to be able to buy that stuff on a whim and not think twice about it, but I am just not in that position. I have gotten close a few times after months of saving for some coveted item and then I just can't bring myself to do it. I have looked at the same designer watch and same designer purse online now for two years and haven't budged to buy it. Simply because I already have one designer watch and one designer bag and my hard earned money is better spent elsewhere (like on paying off my neverending student loans). I feel like I am majorly splurging if I buy one of my BCBG skirts every other month. And to many that is a splurge. But when I see a purse or a piece of jewelry that another guru is wearing and I eagerly go to the website to see the price tag attached of ...sigh again..over $300.00..over $400.00..over $800.00, I just write it off as a loss. Maybe one day that will be in my reality, but for now, I have to count my pennies. I don't have a credit card and live just fine without one. I certainly am not going to get one just so I can have the next new thing.

I am not trying to sound like a "hater"-(another celebutant youtube phrase). There are some of those beauty and fashion gurus that I still watch religiously and I enjoy and I am so happy for your success. And as one wise person once said, if you have nothing nice to say, just don't say anything at all (so I never leave any nasty comments like some of these viscous girls that cower anonymously behind a computer screen do). Just maybe mix up some of the stuff you post to remind us viewers that you are still a regular, normal, everyday girl.

What is ironic is within my circle of friends or within my coworkers, I'm pretty sure some days they view me in this light. With the fabulous clothes and the fab jewelry..so it is all relative. I am thankful beyond words for the position I am in. But one thing I am not naive to, is I have a very defined sense of style. I know how to recreate more expensive looks for less. And part of that is thanks to these gurus that I am referring to. Sometimes when I come home with another MAC lipstick, the fiance will murmur something under his breath about money and "did you really need that" and my quick response is "Well..you should see some of these bloggers collections- it would put mine to shame!" He has a valid point. It is all relative. 

However, I thank you bloggers and youtubers that have not moved into the "celebutant" circle. I thank you girls that still take your own photos and purchase the things you want with your own money that you earned outside of our sacred little beauty world. You make me feel..well..normal.

"War Paint"

One of my favorite memories of my Dad is when I was back home living with him when he was sick and he would watch me get ready in the morning. He would always say as I grabbed my makeup case "Are you getting ready to put your war paint on for the day?" I would always smile. That is what it is in a way. A face we present to the world to face our day to day battles. It's the first impression you give. So I have always believed that a lady should present a face you are proud of. Have it put together. Especially if you have to go to work. While we all have some mornings where makeup is the last thing we want to fuss with, just go ahead and put even just a little on. You will be glad you did once you are out for the day. You never know who you will meet or run into, so be prepared just in case.

Now my exception to this rule is on weekend mornings when I run to get coffee or go to CVS to grab a few drugstore items or at the gym. The most I will put on during these occasions is a splash of lip gloss. Makeup has a time and a place. Makeup is a big part of my life. As silly as that sounds, I have a logical reason behind that. It is my hobby. I enjoy studying and recreating different looks. I have done makeup for a couple of my friends' weddings and really enjoyed it!

I have come to the point where I know what I like and I know what I don't like and I try to stay true to that. People have put so many rules out there for makeup on "dos" and "don'ts". While I think some of those are true, it doesn't hurt to bend the rules sometimes. Experiment with it. Test your comfort zone. The worse that can happen is you don't like the outcome and it just washes off as if it was never there. Be proud of your war paint. It's one advantage we have over the men.

The Rack



     I have always admired and dreamed of having a celebrity inspired closet. Unfortunately, a two bedroom apartment does not make that possible, nor does a "real" girl budget. So what is the next best thing?! A clothing rack. After my best friend picked one up, I realized hmmmm..I think I need one of those too! I am terrible, let me reiterate, terrible about hanging my clothes after the wash. For someone who is as into fashion and decor as I am, you would think I would be so quick to put my clothing items away, but I don't (unless guests are coming over). I let them hang draping over the door handles where I left them to dry or sitting on the bench at the end of our bed. I don't have a good reason or answer for this. I am generally a good housekeeper and like things in their place, but when it comes to my clothing I hit a road block. I know if I had a huge walk in closet or some place pretty to display them, I would be better about this, but my mini sliding closet door, just does.not.inspire.me. Period.

     So in comes the clothing rack. (The fiance by the way, thought this was ridiculous. He threw a fuss about me displaying it in "his" bedroom ..i.e. the office. He says this is his one place in the entire house that is his. The desk is his little sanctuary away from my girly deam apartment..even though the desk itself is pretty girly. After some discussion, he agreed to let me put it in there and there it has stayed). I display my nicer clothing items on there that I wear on a daily basis. I should mention that I am BCBG bandage skirt obsessed..I think I have a total of 12 at the moment. I wear them to work, out on the town or running errands. They are so versatile! I just scoot them down when going to work and pull them up a bit when going out. Add some solid tights during the cooler months and they can take you year round. If you know me, you know that is my "signature" style. A bandage skirt with a flowy top or a structured blazer and some flats. That is my go to look. I digress.

     So for now, the clothing rack will serve as my walk in, chandelier and candle strewn closet. It is as close as I am going to get to pretending to be Rachel Zoe...for now.

Prince Charming

I should put it out there that I am in the process of planning a wedding. As I don't want this blog to be strictly wedding related, but more so about my personal experiences, it might pop up quite a few times throughout the next year until the entire circus is over. Given that, I figure it is fair enough to share some history on the fiance's (I hate that word by the way-so formal- I feel like I should say it with a snob accent and my nose in the air) and I relationship.

My loooonggggggg time boyfriend, James, finally popped the question in December 2011. I met James in 2003 when I moved to San Diego to attend SDSU. My naive freshman eyes were filled with the glitter and allure a big city had to offer- so many new experiences moving from a suburb, family town to the big city. I had no idea what I was doing, nor what was in store for me, but I sure was ready to find out!

On one fateful night, my friend got caught in the dorms with alcohol. Tsssk Tsssk! ;) Thus, he was booted out and moved into a house around the corner from the dorms. The friend would invite my friends and I over to "social gatherings" often and James (the fiance') lived in this house. I could say the rest is history, but I feel like that leaves out so much! At the time, I had no interest in finding prince charming and he had a girlfriend. Fast forward to May 2004 and with the girlfriend gone, our friendship status morphed into a relationship status. Throughout college, we dated off and on (more so on) and when college was wrapping up in 2008, I went through a personal tragedy (my Dad passed away) and life took me back to my hometown to be with my Mom. My life as I knew it stopped at this point. I had taken a leave of absence from work when my Dad got sick so I could spend time with him and after he died, I realized I hated my current career path (working at a bank) and that life is too short to do something I hated and decided to start fresh. Easier said than done. So at this point I had no job, no social life, no place to live, no money and my relationship with James had ended. I can honestly say this was the most challenging time in my life. I sat around depressed for about 2 1/2 months. I was going stir crazy and felt like a useless blob not contributing anything to anything! I finally got myself out of the fog and hightailed it back to San Diego!

James was nice enough to offer me a place to sleep until I could find a job and get back on my feet. Well, one thing led to another and we found ourselves back in a relationship. By some stroke of luck, I immediately landed a job at a law firm in La Jolla and got back on my feet rather quickly. Life resumed as I knew it in San Diego. Within a 2 month period I went from no relationship to a relationship. No job and no money to a job and money. No social life to a social life. Things were "normal" again. I could breathe once more. So here we are... nine years later and engaged with a pup named Oreo at home.

James means the world to me. That man has stuck with me through the worst times and lowest of lows in my life. We both have tempers the size of the Empire State Building and can butt heads with the best of them at times, but we have a great love and friendship. He makes me laugh everyday. He is one of those people that can talk to any stranger on the street as if they had been friends for years. I miss him when I'm at work. I miss him when he runs an errand for a few hours. We have made a pretty good life for ourselves after nine years. He is my prince charming in the real world sense! No white horse or castle necessary!

I am so excited for him to be my husband. He is a good man, a good friend and a good partner. <3

 

*****Fun fashion and beauty blogs to follow...Figured I should start with who I am first***** 

A New Beginning

My name is Katie. I decided to start this blog ..well..because I love to write. I needed a creative outlet and facebook was just not cutting it. I previously created a blog and just stopped writing in it one day mainly because I got lazy (and I didn't have a proper camera). Now that I am at a more stable (and exciting) point in my life, I wanted to create an outlet to voice my  ideas, feelings, fashion, beauty, relationship, friendship and everything in between thoughts.

I chose the name of this blog due to the simple fact that Breakfast at Tiffany's is my all time favorite movie. I have fond memories of visiting my Nana as a little girl and watching this movie over and over with her. I also feel like in some remote way I can relate to the title character, Holly GoLightly (aka Lula Mae Barnes). Lula Mae Barnes grew up dirt poor in Texas. She left her past life in search of adventure, riches and the sophistication that 1960s New York had to offer. Although Ms. GoLightly presents a strong and vibrant character, there are moments in the movie in which she reveals that her vulnerability has not been left behind in Texas, but followed her to New York. Her dreams are big and her vision of life is grand, but somewhere in between Texas and this grand life she envisioned, love (and a cat) came her way and changed everything. And to boot, she has a not so secret love affair with Tiffany's. I mean, what girl can't relate?!

To be continued...