Closet Confessions

As this title implies, I have a confession. 

I have WAY too many clothes. Let it be know that I acknowledge this fact. I think I realized it some time in college when I could have 2 or 3 girlfriends over for a clothing hand out. Literally, clothes I didn't not wear were given away. 

I am not sure that I have a cloth obsession, but I do like to shop. Picking up things here and there as I see them, getting a great deal and buying two, or finding some great fitting jeans then "needing" two pairs (c'mon, good jeans are hard to find!) I also have been given clothes, as it would happen I have been the same size since about 8th grade. So here I am with a closet full of confessions.

This confession shifted into an internet hunt for good ways to slim down my closet. In my never ending quest to make my life simpler, I know my closet needs a diet. I will always have a love to shop, but it's never going to be realistic to have a stuffed closet. Other needs come, and should come, before my latest need for black pants. There is also the fact that giving away clothes is helping others and recycling in one. How great of an idea?! Good can come of this dieting, I just know it!

I have tried to go through my beloved closet each season, getting rid of things I did not wear in a particular season or find I am too old for (let the record show I had a few "brand across my chest" shirts in my drawer. They don't scream successful adult so away they went). This trick however, was not doing the trick. I am still stuffed! What to do? 

Enter: Kendi Everyday

I really like Kendi's mix of style and practicality. I admire her ability to create such an engaging and interesting blog about fashion and life. I also love the fact that the pictures on her blog are her, wearing her own things! How great is that? Kendi posted about a 30 for 30 day wardrobe challenge. Pick 30 pieces (or how ever many you have) and make them work for 30 days. I love the idea!! I know that I can live with less but some times it's hard to figure out which 30 things work the best. I also love the fact that I can try and challenge myself not to shop for 30 days. This way, the money I save can go toward to new items I discover I might need (like perhaps with all the shirts I have I learn I need a skirt!). Not to mention saving money, but helping to weed out my current closet. I think if I can visualize the 30 things I can wear often, I can give up the clothes I think I will wear. 

And what better place to display my findings then here! Perfect match! I will attempt to take photos of each outfit I wear each day (start date to be determined) so you and I can see the progress, and comment on it!

More details to follow for sure!

I cannot wait! This is going to be fun!

Maybe I'll start tomorrow?!

Wanna take the challenge with me?

Purpose

In the realm of usual-ness I think I fall pretty standard. Married, living in the Midwest, working full time.

There is not a day that goes by that I would change any part of that equation (ok, I could live anywhere and be ok with it) but nothing in my life screams "I need to blog about this because I know people want to know!"

 i.e.-I am not a celebrity, I am not a hot new fashion designer trying to launch a new line, and I am not the heir to the British throne. 

Why blog then?

This question lead me to think about purpose the other day. Purpose for my running has become increasingly important. I am following a marathon plan that requires I run a specific workout each day with a purpose in mind (Jack Daniel's Running formula if you are interested!). The book I am reading about it stresses that you need to define a purpose before you start in order to make it worthwhile. And its a good practice. Spend time thinking about the purpose before you feel like you have wasted 2 hours. I rather like having a set goal for each run, a way to not only just run some miles but keeping in mind the reason I am putting in all the work.

I tried to think of other things I do that are purposeful. I found that the things I know the purpose for make me feel more positive, effective and I enjoy doing them. This blog feel in the hmm... purpose category. I do enjoy writing on this blog and I am happy to see page views, but does it serve a purpose? I thought about it, decided to write about it and found this purpose: I like to write. I like my life (as Hollywood-less as it is!) and I like to let people know what is going on. I love writing e-mails, and sitting down to write a letter is always good, but this blog allows to me update instantly. And that is neat. It will probably never get a rave review from the Wall Street Journal or an award for more interesting topics but as long I an enjoy it for myself I will keep it up. 

Purpose-filled. Satisfied. Ready to blog again and again. 

Thank you to those who find my blog interesting enough to read. mushy as it sounds, I am glad!

I will try to keep it full of life's little moments that are so great. Oh, and maybe some beautiful shoes.

Always,

EAA

ode to the pumpkin

Ode to the pumpkin

with a delicious recipe!

Pumpkin Spice Cookies

1 box Spice Cake Mix

1/4 Cup Water

1 can Pure Pumpkin (the smaller can is plenty!)

1 5 oz. bag of Dried Cranberries

Pecans (optional if you don't love them)

Mix all ingredients in one bowl. Spoon onto cooking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Yum!

New York, New York

 officially (of course, I still need to purchase the actual train tickets) I am heading to NYC for my birthday (which just so happens to be during the most beautiful time of year, Christmas!)

Nothing better than turning 24 in the big city. 
Shopping at Macy's done up in its holiday best.
Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center.
Running in Central Park.
Navigating to the best Thai food.



One of my very best girlfriends, my maid of honor at the wedding, moved to NYC in pursuit of her very first big girl job. Although she works crazy house right now because it is earnings season, she has been begging me to come when I could. I finally find a weekend, free and totally available, to visit. I will be taking the Amtrak train on a Friday an returning on Monday. I cannot wait! Expressing my excitement on a blog is difficult. I need more explanation points!!!!


 I am looking forward to seeing my friend, and getting a chance to talk with her. I do love being with my husband, but some times being with my girlfriends brings such happiness. And, she appreciates beautiful shoes. 


Already. I must carve a pumpkin!
 





 

Rain Delay

Long time, no update huh?

The last week has just flown by! 

I have been living up to the definition of work at my job. It is hard to sit for so long, but there is so much to do. I come in every day with a seemingly longer list of "to dos". Once I get finished with one task I immediately turn to another "hot" issue. phew.  I am still enjoying the job, and I love being busy. I have had a few extra task come across my desk in the last few weeks. I become the local expert at Excel spreadsheets since my daily work is almost entirely run in them. I am not an expert, trust me, but I think the longer I look at them every day I will get it all eventually.

I have even managed to start the creative aspects behind a new local website for our branch. The parent company has come up with the prototype for the website in terms of layout, but our branch gets to come up with the content. I am super excited as I get to be a little more creative than working on a spreadsheet all day.  I have employed a few of my fellow employees to help with the content and copy, so the task is divided up. I cannot wait to spend more time working on it. In fact, I better get more work done to have more time for it. This is the kind of marketing and sales I always envisioned.

My husband had a lot of test this last week and the stress seemed to take a toll on him. He paced a lot around the house and was antsy to take the test. I think after you study for 16+ hours on a subject you would just like to take the test and get it over with. He has been working all semester on anatomy, which is by far the hardest class so far. The entire semesters worth of work came down to this one test. There is so much pressure built into going to medical school. I know doctors need to know everything all the time, so the pressure to get it right is necessary. My husband handles it so well, I would be a mess lying on the ground crying under all that stress.

 It has been awfully rainy here the last few days (ok, its been the whole week) so I have retreated to the gym for many of my runs. Although I do like staying dry, running around that 200 meter track can be a little daunting. I put in an hour on it on Saturday, and boy I felt like a hamster. Winter here is going to be harsh, so there will be lots of indoor days for me. It takes some getting use to, and I feel like my former teammates would make fun of me for being such a pansy. At least I am still out there running. Right?

Upside of rainy days is the influx of movie watching! I do like to have time to watch a good flick, and no better time then when its pouring out. My husband and I took in a few good ones last week; Four Brothers, Franklyn, Nine and In the Land of Women. I highly recommend Nine if you are the musical loving type. I really enjoyed Four Brothers as it is set in Michigan. It has a lot of twist and turns so it is very engaging. Franklyn, um its dark, not recommended.  And In the Land of Women, I liked it and it has Kristen Stewart pre-Twilight, its kind of strange but humorous.

Until I decide I need to write more, Ciao!