5 Things and a Red Jacket

Jacket? Thrifted  (similar here) Purse? Thrifted  Boots? Holt's Last Call (very similar here) 

Hat? Banana Republic (very similar here) Bracelets and Rings? Thrifted and gifted

OK, I'm going to do one of those '5 Things' posts. I actually really like reading them and they give me a chance to insert some random info into the blog without an awkward segway. Besides the last time I did one of these, it was 2010 and a lot has changed since then. Errr... no, actually most of those are still true. Except for #1, my breakfast is different now...

Anyways...

1. My one cat wakes me up at 4 a.m. every morning by running circles over my body, purring loudly and sometimes swatting my face. At first I thought that it was because she wanted more water or to be fed but it's not. She is honestly just a little crazy (we think from the neglect situation she was in before she ended up with us?) and has daily patterns established that are hard to break. So I get up every morning at 4 a.m. to lock her out of the bedroom and then she goes to sleep downstairs. I could just lock her out all night and save myself the trouble but I am a bleeding heart for that crazy thing.

2. I got my first ticket EVER last year. It was for... parking too far away from the curb. Matt aptly summed up the whole experience by stating 'Wow, that's an embarrassing ticket to get.'. Indeed.

3. My second ticket ever came a few weeks later. I had driven for 7 months without an updated sticker (I'm sure I have an explanation for this...) and a week, a week!, before I took that truck off the road, I got pulled over for my sticker. Can't say I didn't deserve it.

4. When I am sad or stressed, Matt texts me cute pictures of animals to make me feel better. Mostly it's pictures of kittens being ridiculously adorable but a bobcat kitten and a fawn cuddling also works. I can be sitting across the room from him ranting about something and a picture of a frolicking kitten will pop up on my screen. I appreciate it. Sometimes I need some cute to get a grip again.

5. I have two new nephews! My bro and sis-in-law in Holland (not to be confused with my other bro and sis-in-law in Holland...) just had twins a month ago and they were 11 weeks early. That's quite early and they will be in the hospital for a while yet, but things are thankfully going really well. It sucks being so far away because we haven't met the new kidlets yet and because we can't help so much from over here. Boo to distance. Yay to new nephews.

(6. I like my outfit.)

Thrift Regret

Check this blazer.
It's navy. It's 100% wool. It's Ralph Lauren. It fits perfectly. It's $12.99.
And I left it behind.
I can tell you the exact reasons why I didn't buy it.
First of all, I had given myself a budget. I was really hoping to actually stick to it and between a floral silk blazer (what up!) and a blazer I found for a friend who I am giving a thrift wardrobe make-over to (be excited for that... I'll blog it), I was getting close to the max. Secondly, I already have two wool Ralph Lauren blazers and I have a really similar jacket in red as well. I need to watch out because I seem to be on a mission to collect all the blazers in the whole wide world... of thrifting.
And so, I left the jacket behind.
And I'll get over it, but I'm not going to lie, right now I'm kinda regretting leaving it behind. I could wear it with boyfriend jeans. I could wear it with my green dress slacks. I could wear it with a red pencil skirt.... Maybe it'll still be there next time and then I know it was meant to be. Probably not though. That's the thing with the thrift store, you gotta get it or it's gone...
What's your greatest thrift store regret? What have you left behind?

Tricky

Skirt/pants? Vintage, Netty Vintage (amazing pleated ones here) Lace top? Vintage, Netty Vintage (similar here) Jacket? Costa Blanca Purse? c/o Jess Rizzuti Boots? Aldo Necklace? Vintage, gift from my Mama

This skirt is giving me trust issues because it's tricky; doubly so. First of all, it's not a skirt...

And second of all, it's not black but navy. Which is fine but it's something I didn't notice at night when I laid out my outfit. If I had clued into the fact that the culottes were navy before I ran out of the house and into the truth exposing light of day, the outfit might have been a bit different. Meh. I still like it. 

And as much as I am hoping for spring, I do want to wear these heavy woollen culottes one more time this season... maybe with a little red cropped sweater? It's nice to finally have a 'skirt' one can high kick in without flashing anyone. Not that I can high kick so well but I appreciate the possibility. 

Background Check

Blazer? Escada, thrifted Ombré sweater? Gap (similar here) Jeans? 7fam, swapped and DIY (similar here) Shoes? Ralph Lauren (here) Clutch? Thrifted Watch? c/o BCBG Bracelet? gift

It's kind of my thing to take pictures in front of a wall that matches my outfit perfectly. This is still one of my favourite matches and it was intentional, but these pictures from last weekend were a happy accident. It wast the wall that was on hand (walls are on hand now?) and things happened to match. I'm just thrilled to have some colour on the blog, things have been feeling a little blah lately (this might just be me, insert giant whine...).

I totally appreciate a good graffiti wall in an outfit post though. The only thing is that you need to scout your location to make sure there isn't anything wacky that you are happily posing in front of. Nothing worse than giving your best over the shoulder smoulder and having to discard the picture because there is a something awkward painted on the wall behind you. It's happened before... 

I think we're ok this time, good thing because I quite like these pictures. Thanks Julie!