Monday - Making Sunshine

Once again, the sun was not what it should have been today.  I compensated with this lemon yellow sweatshirt.

Sunday - Spring Dreamin'

I am not going to go so far as to say that it is sunny today.  But, it was not raining and it was pretty bright.  I decided to try a different camera positioning:  I swapped places with my camera and used the bright natural light as a highlight/backlight.  I used the flash to fill.  I kept the exposure of the background a bit blown out (over exposed) because, well, it's not that pretty.  I just wanted to capture the curtains (nice framing element) and a bright, washed out background.  The only issue with this set up is that the highlights that are in the light are also overexposed, and especially since my pants are white they are blending into the background.  

This set up only works when there is bright natural light coming in through the window.  Otherwise you'd just see the flash bouncing off the window and a grey, dreary background.

My first photo was this one:

With the more uniform lighting you can see some of the details in the highlights, but it also doesn't have quite the same depth as the backlit photo.  Also, because the background is being lit directly from the window at the bottom, but only indirectly at the top, the lighting isn't even from top to bottom.

I'm really inspired by shopbop's new "ultimate wardrobe" feature.  13 items and 15 outfits.  Many are iterations of the same thing, but nevertheless it gave me some good ideas for wearing things I already own, and inspired me to look for a dress. 

 I think I'm going to buy these two items as my spring wardrobe adds:

Trouve Sandal Bootie

Suzi Chin Maggy Boutique Jersey Dress

The dress will almost certainly have to be hemmed up, but I was inspired by the shopbop.com wardrobe to get a light-colored casual dress that can be layered with jackets (leather, denim, etc) cardis, sweaters, leggings, worn with my lace-up booties or sandals.  I think it's a perfect basic dress for dressy casual wear and I'm surprised I didn't think of this as a basic before. 

Saturday - out to dinner

Raspberry, olive and grey.  We went to a restaurant called "Lark" which was my pick for a belated graduation celebration.  It was good, but we had so much food!  I was really in a food coma afterwards!

This dress is a Trina Turk dress that I got last Spring in Palm Springs.  We visited the shop again this time, but I didn't spend too much time in it because we were with other people who weren't really in to shopping.

Friday - pinks

You'll be relieved to learn that I got a haircut tonight.  I had a few layers cut in and my bangs thinned a tiny bit.

This is a new jacket.  I was not overly pleased with this pairing, but didn't realize it until after I captured it, and it was too late to change anyway!  It's not bad - this color is a faux neutral and is flattering on me, so it goes with almost everything.

I'm not so sure about this top; it is Elizabeth and James and was initially much longer (washed according to instructions but it still shrank a good bit).

Oh, and I promise that as soon as there is actually daylight in the mornings my photos will be much prettier, without that nasty flash shadow!  I wish I had some softer lighting.  At least it's better than my old iphone photo...

Thursday - Monster

These shoes are cool.  My boss told me I looked cute today!  I didn't make it the entire day in these shoes...I switched into some lower wedges I had lying around the office.  I did a lot more running around that I expected today, otherwise I think I might have made it all day!  The issue is they dig in at the achilles a bit.  I need to wear them more often to break them in.

My outfit list had this outfit with my lace up suede booties.  I'm not sure why I forgot and wore these instead, but I like the black echo'd in the jacket and shoes.

Wednesday - lighter

Another outfit from the list.  You can't tell that I'm wearing pumps!  My husband told me I looked cute today.  I liked the soft colors.  We are having some mild weather and it's beginning to feel like Spring (way too early for real Spring) so these colors seemed seasonally appropriate.

Tuesday - This Blouse Again

Mixed up this top and these colored tights with an outfit from my last outfit ideas post.  It was basically top of the list, so I put it on.

We just got back from Palm Springs.  It was warm, and we had a pool.  Ah.

Wednesday - long and wide

I liked wearing this jacket with wide-leg pants.  I tucked my shirt in because I wanted to show my waist since the jacket is long.

Tuesday - Now You See Why

Do you see that expression? That shows how I'm not a morning person.

This cardi has got to go. It's gone.

With Belt

I ended up going with a belt.  It was perfect.

Preparing for an Interview

I have an interview tomorrow.  I have to leave work and take the bus the Kirkland.  It's an hour bus ride from downtown Seattle.  The job is with a small but growing consulting company.  The actual job would be on the eastside. There is no paid time off, and pay is by the hour.  The benefits, however, are fully paid for and decent.  If I took this job I'd be looking again in a year, and the hiring manager told me as much in the phone interview.  Good for the resume, he said, but not a company I'll spend my career at.  So I'm not sure.  I also have a phone interview for a technical project manager at endless.com on Thursday (we'll be in Palm Springs, which is actually a good omen, if you believe in that kind of thing, since I had my phone interview for my current position while on vacation in Hawaii - I think I relax and sound more confident when interviewing from a sunny local...maybe I should move!).

The issue with this is that I never wear suits to work, especially lately.  I've been dressing in fewer skirts, and more casually lately, so coming to work in a suit and heels is no doubt going to raise some eyebrows.  Combined with the fact that I have to leave at 2 for an "appointment"...yeah.  They'll know.  Who wears a suit to the doctor's?

Not that I mind them knowing.  It might actually serve me well.  I also have coffee scheduled with an old colleague to talk about an upcoming opening in Consumer Insights as a generalist.  Now, THAT sounds exciting!
As far as the outfit goes, it will require a small spot removal from the skirt, an intense de-cathair-ifying, and possibly a change of hosiery to something black and sheer.

Sunday - a new effort

I am on a mission to upgrade my photo quality.  My husband bought me a remote for our DSLR for Christmas, and I finally got around to setting up the tripod, etc.  

I'm still working out the details, so bear with me as I work on my self-portrait skills!

This is a J. Crew cardi that I got for $20.  It's an XL, so I wear it like a wrap sweater.

The skirt (which is a little tighter nowadays than it has been before) is Classiques (Nordstrom label)

The tights are Smartwool, and a bit baggy, and the shoes are an old classic pair of black pumps from Nordies.  They have a pencil heels and a pointy toe, but they also have a higher vamp, so they stay on a lot better than other shoes of their ilk.

Friday - 80% Chance

Thursday - blue

Wednesday - Farmer Taylor

I've become a fan of this denim on denim look.   I know it's not for everyone.

It was a slush-fest this morning since it snowed about 4 inches and then started to pour rain at 3 AM this morning.  I brokedown and bought a pair of Hunters after deciding a while back I didn't need rubber boots in my wardrobe.  I was quite wrong.  I may only wear them occasionaly, but when they are needed there is nothing else that will work in their place.

Tuesday - storm warning

Tuesday - brooch

Monday - moss

Sunday - black and teal

Friday - sparkle in the dark

Thursday - similar shades of blue

Wednesday - monster tweed

Tuesday - floral and fur

Monday - new bus pass

Today I used a regular bus pass for the first time in two years.  My student pass expired on the 31st.

I am logging my food using fitday.com and intend to work out 5 days a week; I'm not off to a good start as I forgot my shoes this morning.  It's tough to remember all the things I need to bring with me to the gym!  But, packing my workout gear is way simpler than packing my things to prepare for work in the morning.  I'll have to work out before work twice this week, since I have plan after work Thursday and Friday.