Thursday, June 27, 2013

Throwback Thursday


I'm back with another Throwback Thursday story! Today's topic is throwback birthday and I'm linking up with The Life of Bon again.

Before I get into my story, look at this oh-so-cute photo of me on my actual birth day! Look at all that hair! Plus, thankfully I didn't have the baby cone head because I was c-section.


And look at this cute photo from my 3rd birthday. This photo proved to me that my mother intended to spell my name Lizzie and not Lizzy.


Oh my! Check out this picture from my 9th birthday! LOVE the orange shag carpet in my parent's basement. For real, I do love that I am still friends (or at least Facebook friends) with most of the girls in this picture!

mom, Bridget, Jeannine, me, Kasey, Kim, Dana, Melissa, Kendra

But the real throwback birthday I intend to talk about is my 30th birthday. I know, I know. It really wasn't all that long ago (6 years!), but I think it was one of my most memorable birthdays!

I really wanted to have a party for my big 3-0. And I would have loved if somebody had thrown a surprise party for me, but I knew that wouldn't happen. See, my boyfriend at the time was really not a party kind of guy and it would never occur to him to throw a party for me. I also knew that nobody in my family would think to throw me a party either, so that meant I had to do it myself.

I was really into martinis at the time (who am I kidding, I'm still into martinis!) and decided that I wanted to hold the party at a jazz club that had an attached bar that served the best martinis ever - Dazzle. My favorite was called the Jello martini, it was pink and flavored with jello. :) I had my theme and went on a mission to find martini themed invitations. I invited all of my coworkers, my closest friends, all of my extended family, my boyfriend's family. I was going to order a bunch of food for everybody and let them order their own drinks. It would be a ton of fun!

mom, dad, me, kristen
My sister came in from Oregon for the party and made cupcakes, which the bar let her bring in. She had a big tray of them and put candles on them in the shape of 3-0, which looked so cool. It was awesome!

Jen, Briauna, me, Bridget, Michelle
My friend Jen came in from Austin, Briauna was very pregnant and was still there with her husband, my oldest friend Bridget came in from Albuquerque with her boyfriend and even brought her mom, who was like my second mom growing up, and my good friend Michelle was there with her husband. I felt so special to have so many out-of-towners there for my big day.

Erin, Angie, me, Deborah, Pam, Alice-Louise
 My lovely work girls were all there, too. We were a special group and were all really good friends because of how closely we worked together and how much we had to travel together.  All of their husbands came, too.

All of my local aunts and uncles and cousins came, my boyfriend's parents and brother and sister-in-law were there. It was a great big fun group. I had so, so much fun!

When I went to pay the food bill at the end of the night (of which I didn't get to eat any because I was too busy socializing!), I got another great gift - somebody had taken care of the entire bill! I never found out who paid, but it was an awesome surprise.

After most everybody left, my boyfriend and I stayed to have dinner with Michelle and her husband - food was most definitely necessary. It was a nice, relaxing way to end the night.

This was my best birthday ever! I'll probably plan another party for my 40th in a few years, though, so hopefully that one will be fabulous, too! Come back next Thursday for another blast into my past!


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

What I Wore

Welcome back to another week of what I wore! I'm linking up with the ladies at Real Girl Style and the Pleated Poppy again, so check them out, too!


Outfit #1

I've been dying to wear this sweater, but it was still packed away in storage, so I had to do some digging to find it. I love me a floral cardi and this one had a special striped placket under the snaps - super cute. I love pairing it with this lightweight brown dress and yellow wedges.

              

I got these wedges last summer and absolutely love them. They're incredibly comfortable and a great way for me to wear yellow since I don't look great in it in large quantities.

Cardi - CAbi / Dress - Target / Shoes - Bandolino


Outfit #2

Another few items I've had for a while but haven't worn recently. But the shoes are new. :) I don't know why I have a shirt from Chico's - it's so not a store I shop in, but the ladies I used to work with shopped there a lot, so maybe we made a stop there when we were on a work trip or something? Who knows... What I do know is that I've had it for years and it hasn't faded a bit - quite an accomplishment with brown!

                        

I don't have many pairs of brown sandals that I like, so when I saw these at the Rack, I decided to get them even though they're just a tidge (1/2 size) too big. 

Shirt - Chico's / Belt - Target / Skirt - Loft / Shoes - Coach via Nordstrom Rack - $99.97 sale from $198.00


Outfit #3

When I wore my strapless maxi dress last weekend I determined that I really needed a new maxi that had straps or sleeves. Sometimes the strapless just isn't appropriate. I found this one at Target and it is looooooong! I hope it shrinks up a bit in the wash otherwise I'll never be able to wear flats with it. As it is, I'm wearing one of my highest pairs of wedges with it and it still touches the floor!

                        


Dress - Target - $29.99 / Necklace - my Grandma's / Belt - Target / Shoes - Sam Edelmann


Outfit #4

Such a happy day! I'd gotten my hair done for the first time in more than 7 months the day before. The highlights look a little extreme after so long with dark roots, but I'll get used to them. And I am so much happier with shorter hair! He only cut off 4 inches, but it was so needed. Now, onto the outfit! Usually a shirt this long would really stumpify me since I'm only 5'4", but for some reason it doesn't. And I think it helps that I paired it with sky high wedges. I absolutely love this shirt - the body is a lightweight linen blend and the top part is a slightly sheer knit. The color is unlike anything else I have, too, so that's how I justified buying it. It is super comfortable, too!

                   

Top - Marseille via Nordstrom Rack - $19.97 sale from $58.00 / Necklace - Target / Capris - Dockers / Shoes - Nine West


Outfit #5

Casual weekend wear. I saw Lindsey at the Pleated Poppy put together an outfit with these colors - hers was watermelon pink shorts and a lime necklace - and it inspired me to wear this. I like it enough, but I still wish I had what she has. :( Though I will never have shorts like hers; I do not do short shorts - my thighs just do not look good in them whatsoever. So long shorts it is for me. It's not so easy to find them, especially this year, but I've had these for a couple years.

Top - J. Crew / Necklace - Charming Charlie - $13.00 / Shorts - Target / Flips - Tory Burch


That's all I have for now! Please stop by again next week for more outfits!

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Throwback Thursday

Welcome back to volume 2 of Throwback Thursday! I'm linking up with Bonnie again, and we're all writing about our Elementary School crushes this week.

For some reason I had to really  think hard about this one. For the life of me I couldn't remember very well any of the boys I might have crushed on in elementary school. Middle school? No problem! But elementary school? Wow! That was a long time ago! So I went digging for photos in my parent's basement to jog my memory.

I have a faint recollection that I had a crush on the son of the owner of the day care I went to in San Antonio. But I can't remember his name - maybe David? - and I don't have any pictures of him, so that doesn't make a good blog post! 

Then we moved to Denver and I started third grade at Cheltenham Elementary. There I am down there, second row from the top, third from the left. In a seriously cute pink sweater with a hippo holding a balloon with his tail embroidered on it. And right above me is the first crush I can remember - Chris Anderson. He lived down the street from me, so we rode the bus together to school. I seriously think he was one of the cutest boys in school. 


But I'm pretty sure I never had the guts to really talk to him. See, I was new in town and I had this (at the time I thought) stupid southern accent. I also had this scar on my face from a playground accident and I wore glasses. Even then I felt awkward and that didn't go away for many, many years. And back then Chris was really quiet and shy, too, so that didn't help make us friends.

We ended up continuing on to Samuels Elementary school together for fourth grade. This was our neighborhood school and we all walked to and from school with our siblings and friends. I was still crushing on Chris and to show him how much I liked him, I kicked him in the junk one day during recess. Isn't that how all girls show they like a boy? No? Maybe that's what I'm doing wrong...

I liked Chris on and off through at least sixth grade, which is when all us kids started "dating". Which really meant that you would sit next to your boyfriend on the bus, at lunch, in the auditorium. You might even hold his hand. But you wouldn't actually talk to him! But Chris wasn't interested in me - he decided to date Lauren. Another neighborhood girl. So I moved on to other boys.

I went to middle and high school with Chris, and during high school he changed quite a bit. To the kind of guy who really wasn't my type. I never actually thought of him as my elementary school crush until now and thinking of how much he changed makes me kind of sad to remember him as the sweet, shy boy he once was.

One summer my sister and I and a group of friends all went to the same summer camp. I believe this was probably fifth grade. I think it's a right of passage to have a crush on a camp counselor and below is said guy for me. Of course he was older - I'm guessing he was 17? But I don't even remember his name now. I just know that I took and saved this picture, so I know I really liked him. And because I found the picture, now you get to see him!


Now, if this post was about middle school crushes, I could go on forever and write tons of stuff because I definitely remember those boys! But as it's supposed to be elementary school crushes, this is all I have!

Hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into my past! I hope to see you here next week for another story!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

What I Wore

Welcome back to another What I Wore! I'm continuing with attempting to wear at least one item per day that is either new or hasn't been seen on my blog yet. That makes it seem like I've been doing a lot of shopping lately, but I haven't! A lot of these "new" things were bought over the past 8 months and are just now getting in the rotation. I'm linking up with Real Girl Style and the Pleated Poppy again, so be sure to click on their links to see the other bloggers!


Outfit #1

Trying to mix up my black and white pants and the high-low peplum top that I've worn separately before. The shoes practically match the contrasting zipper placket on the back of the top, so even though they look a little bright and out-of-place, they really do go together - I promise!


Top - Labworks via Target / Necklace - Loft / Pants - Dana Buchmann via Kohl's / Shoes - J. Crew Factory - $58.50


Outfit #2

Our office has been really hot this week - the A/C is broken and it's been in the 90s, so casual clothes are totally acceptable in my opinion. :) I could not get a good picture of the detail on this tank, so I downloaded the image from the company's website. It has a really pretty crochet detail along the top edge that dresses up the otherwise very casual tank.

isn't it pretty?


I kind of accidentally bought these shoes. I went into Nordstrom to buy perfume and it just happened to be the last days of the semi-annual sale. And of course, I had to pass through the shoe department on my way to the Chanel counter. And of course, I had to check things out. And then I accidentally bought two pairs of shoes. :)

Top - Coldwater Creek - $14.99 sale from $49.95 / Belt - Target / Skirt - Bopeau via Nordstrom Rack / Flips - Coach via Nordstrom - $73.96 sale from $150.00


Outfit #3

Another hot day at the office. But this is what I meant last week when I said I would wear long shorts to the office, but dress them up with heels. I think this is totally appropriate for a casual office. I haven't worn this top since my sister's bachelorette party about two years ago, when my boobs were a bit bigger, and this deep of a v was a little risque for the office. Now that I'm down practically a cup size, this is fine office attire. 




These are my other new shoes from Nordy's sale. :) I love all the different materials on them - the black patent, the tan leather, the dark brown wedge, the striped footbed, and the leopard lining. Very cute!

Top - Chadwicks / Belt - ? / Shorts - Target / Shoes - Jessica Simpson via Nordstrom $39.47 sale from $78.95


Outfit #4

I wore this out to a nice dinner at Shanahan's Saturday night to celebrate Father's Day (and apparently a very belated birthday celebration for me and my Mom - my bday is in February and Mom's is in March!) Even though this dress is essentially very casual, it felt more dressed up with the belt and cardi. And since this is Colorado, I was right in the middle of the range of fashions that people were wearing in the restaurant - from shorts and jeans to semi-casual cocktail dresses on some ladies.

Cardi - Worthington via JCP - $20.00 / Necklace - Charming Charlie / Dress - Chadwicks / Belt - ? / Shoes - Target


Outfit #5

The A/C repairman was coming by the office today, which meant I would be cold in there for sure! Hence the jacket in the middle of summer. (And from now on, I'll have to have a coat or a sweater in there!)

Jacket - J. Jill / Top - Target / Necklace - Gift / Pants - Loft - Shoes - Coach


Hope you liked my outfits this week and that you'll stop by again next week!

P.S. Scotty wanted to get in on the picture taking action again!


Thursday, June 13, 2013

Throwback Thursday


I'm doing a new series of posts this summer and linking up with a very funny chick's blog - Bonnie from The Life of Bon. I've been following her for a bit and really appreciate her view on life. She's started a new link-up series called Throwback Thursday, where she (and now me!) will write about different fun memories from the past. The first topic is - A memory of learning how to drive, your first car, or early driving days.


I didn't get my drivers license until I was 17 years old. I was in a foot cast when I turned 16 and since all of my friends had their licenses and cars, I didn't feel any pressing need to drive myself around. When I did finally get my licence I was given my first car - a hand-me-down from my parents to my sister to me - a lovely 1981 Dodge Aries K two-door in a beautiful shade of yellow. The ad below shows the car in what has to be the color we had, because why on earth would they have multiple yellow cars in the line-up? I'm not they type to name my car or even call it a "her" - so this was just the Aries.


My car was not a 6-passenger vehicle as the ad says, though. It had two front seats that folded forward without any hooks or handles to move them - they just folded freely. Safe, right? We had those front seats covered in incredibly thick sheepskin seat covers. Cozy. Especially in the middle of summer. I also added a deluxe console thing between the seats that had cup holders, change holders, a cassette tape holder. I was stylin! We must have upgraded the radio to one with a tape deck at some point. Later I put a Grateful Dead dancing bear sticker on the back window and eventually a sorority sticker, too.

better pic of the car (though the wrong color) - sexy, huh?

One day when the car was parked out in front of our house the horn started going off. An incredibly loud, constant HONK! The entire neighborhood came out to see what was going on. Nothing would make it stop except cutting the wires. We never bothered to get that fixed, so from then on I never had the pleasure of honking at people. 

I drove the Aries through the rest of my highschool days and into college. It took me to and from Fort Collins many, many times. I packed it to the roof with clothes and stuff when I moved out of the dorm back home and then into the sorority house. I let friends borrow it all the time, and jammed way too many people in it to go to parties. I drove this thing into the ground (though I never got in an accident!).

One day during my sophomore year, I was driving home to Denver when all sorts of random things began dying on me. First it was the radio, then all the dash lights dimmed, then the turn signals went slow-motion. Eventually even the speedometer stopped working, even though I was most definitley moving. I was freaking out and didn't think I'd make it home, so I got off the highway as soon as I could and drove to my grandparent's house. The car never went anywhere again. Bye-bye Aries. :(


Hope you enjoyed this totally random glimpse into my past! I'll be doing these posts on Thursday throughout the summer, so be sure to check back next week!

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

What I Wore

Welcome back! I have lots of outfits this week with lots of new items for you to see! I'm linking up with Real Girl Style and the Pleated Poppy, so check out their sites to see what the other bloggers are wearing!


Outfit #1

This day was so chilly, I really could have worn more clothes and been more comfortable. Later I had to change to seriously warmer clothes because we were going to the Sting concert at Red Rocks and I knew it would be really chilly there at night. The cardi and the khakis are items I found at Goodwill a while back. The khakis still had the original tags on them - never worn - what a deal!


Love these flats! They are as comfortable as slippers and I got compliments on them from random strangers when I went out to lunch.

Cardi - Ann Taylor, thrifted Goodwill - $4.00 / Tank - Dana Buchmann via Kohl's / Belt - from a skirt / Khakis - Gap, thrifted Goodwill - $6.99 (originally $49.95) / Shoes - Target - $19.99


Outfit #2

The day after the Sting concert I was a bit tired and wanted to wear something seriously comfortable - nothing binding and no high heels for me this day!

Necklace - Charming Charlie / Top - J. Crew / Skirt - Target / Shoes - Steve Madden

Outfit #3

In reality this necklace matches these pants, but the pictures make them look so different! Please trust that this Interior Designer can match better than this looks!



I bought these wedges last summer when this style was so popular and I still love them.


I recently got this gold link bracelet from J. Crew Factory. It really like the look of it, but it definitely not worth the full price - it's plastic! Not metal at all! Also, though I'm not a thin girl, my wrists are not large and this just fits. I'm going to go to a bead/jewelry store to find another gold link that I can add myself so that this is easier to put on.

Necklace - J. Crew / Top - Joe Fresh via JCP - $29.00 / Link Bracelet - J. Crew Factory - $19.50 sale / Bangle Flower Bracelet - Stella & Dot / Capris - J. Jill / Shoes - Black Rooster


Outfit #4

Just running some errands this weekend meant very casual attire.

Top - Target - $3.00 sale from $10.00 / Necklace - J. Jill / Jean Capris - ANA / Flips - Land's End


Outfit #5

Another very casual day. In fact, I still had wet hair and no makeup when I took the picture - that's why I cropped out my head. :) These capris are definitely not the most flattering, but they're very comfortable, so I keep them around.


You can see the beginnings of a flip flop tan on my feet!

Top - Joe Fresh via JCP - $12.00 / Capris - Gloria Vanderbilt / Shoes - Old Navy - $22.94


Outfit #6

I seriously almost wore shorts to work this day. My boss was still out of town and it was going to be almost 100 degrees. But because the top and the wedges are so casual, I thought white jeans were a better option. I have no problem wearing long shorts to work, but I usually like to dress them up a bit with heels.

Top - Target - 19.99 / Jeans - J. Jill / Shoes - Candies


Outfit #7

Another 100 degree day meant a lightweight dress was in order.

Necklace & Earrings - Charming Charlie / Dress - Old Navy - $7.99 sale from $29.94 / Belt - ? / Shoes - Target


Hope you enjoyed my outfits from the past week! Please come back next week to see what else I put together!