Friday, November 30, 2012

Christmas at the Peacock Place


After spending too many Christmases deployed, including the last two, I finally broke down and bought a Christmas tree. My first, very own, Christmas tree as an adult. I know, its about damn time. I had been collecting ornaments for a few years anyway and on Thanksgiving weekend I finally got to use them. I didn't do too bad if I do say so myself.


And if you can't see it, my tree comes complete with a Tardis and C3PO:



A nicely, geeky Christmas tree up and lit, a full Maple Crown and Coke, and Die Hard on the TV. Yes its Christmas time. Life is good.

Bringing the Lakeview at Fontana Home


While Southern Helle and I have talked about our awesome spa vacation, we mentioned the amazing breakfast they provided. They had a very tasty granola that we ate every morning we were there. We were told it was from Out of The Blue, a company that makes small batches of the granola and hires women who need a leg up as workers. Its an awesome company and the best granola I have ever eaten. Its not sold anywhere near my home turf so I broke down and ordered some several weeks ago. I've been fighting off a cold all week and after spending all day into the evening (for a low light gun shoot) at the gun range to requalify on the 9MM yesterday, my cold reared its ugly head and left me with my well known man voice. Needless to say, I was not feeling well nor in a good mood today. When I got home however, this was waiting on me:


Made my day and made me feel a wee bit better. It brings Southern Helle and I's trip back, and yes, Southern Helle, tastes just as good as we remember!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The One That Almost Got Away

I saw this dress online on both Modcloth and Ruche. I kind of stalked it. It even made its way in to my cart but I never managed to pull the trigger. Then it sold out. And I was sad.

Luckily, I stumbled across it again, this time in person, while Leather Peacock and I were in Bryson City, NC at the Humanité boutique. The dress was now stalking me. So I succumbed. Gladly. It is the perfect little corporate dress but with a funky print that I really dig.

Dress: Humanité
Shoes: Merona at Target (Not to brag but only $7 on the clearance rack!)
Cardigan: Forever 21




Monday, November 19, 2012

Breakfast At Tiffany's, A Peacock's Gotta Show Her Colors


Last weekend I drove down to NC to visit my most awesome blogmate and to attend Aqua Fedora's Breakfast at Tiffany's event (and to hopefully find a dress for my command's Christmas party). I was looking forward to the cupcakes, mimosas, and early shopping. However, my LBD was more suited to a night at the club than a 10AM Tiffany's style shopping expedition. I used the opportunity to show off my new coat from Humanite and an amazing but super comfortable dress from Modcloth.




Coat: Tulle picked up at: Humanite
Dress: Modcloth
Shoes: Jessica Simpson, Dillards
Purse: Picked up in a small shop in Capetown, South Africa





Guys Don't Make Passes At Girls Who Wear Glasses




Sweater: Missoni for Target
T-shirt: American Eagle
Skirt: Modcloth
Shoes: Mudd

I hate wearing glasses. My husband has some weird librarian fetish and thinks they are cute but I can't stand them. One of my contacts was bothering me the other day and I threw it out while driving (and drove with one eye closed all the way home. Like a pirate. Arrrr!) I thought I had another set at home but no such luck. So I am stuck wearing glasses until I can get to the optometrist. This morning's photo shoot (sorry for the indoors shoot but it was still dark when I left) began with me wearing my specs but then vanity quickly took over.

Needing a boost from my four-eyed despair, I dug in to my closet for my favorite piece: my Missoni for Target sweater! This is my "if my house is on fire, this is what I would save first" item. During last year's Missoni craze, I heard how Target stores in the big cities were selling out within minutes. I decided to dedicate my lunch break to a quick Target run. Lucky me: Nobody in my podunk town even knew what Missoni is so there was a decent selection left and I manage to score several items. This sweater takes the cake though. It paired quite nicely with my Clover The Moon skirt from Modcloth. A match made in heaven!

Sunday, November 18, 2012

More Breakfast Club Than Breakfast At Tiffany's




Dress: Alloy
Jacket: Kohl's
Belt: New York & Company
Hat: World Market
Necklace: Modcloth
Boots: Modcloth

My lovely blogmate is in town again this weekend! Perfect timing since the Aqua Fedora, a local boutique down in Wilmington, NC, was hosting an early Saturday morning event called Breakfast at Tiffany's. It was complete with mimosas, cupcakes and slashed pre-Black Friday prices. We were supposed to don our most posh Audrey-esce LBD for the event but I ended up going with a black maxi and leaning more towards bohemian. I blame this hat I picked up at World Market a few weeks ago. I have been dying to wear it. It became the centerpiece from which the rest of the outfit was built.

Friday, November 16, 2012

My Fashion Manifesto



 



A few months ago, I vowed to quit buying fashion magazines. I really hate them. I have enough people in my life telling me what to do (Hi mom! And don't get me started on my mother-in law...) I would buy a fashion magazine in the hopes of keeping up with the latest trends but you could find me an hour later, curled up in the fetal position, lamenting on why I never whipped up a feast for twelve of my friends in less than thirty minutes or why I was wasting away my fertility or why I couldn't have eyelashes like Kim Kardashian. Fashion magazines aren't about fashion; they are huge guilt trips for women. With the rise of Pinterest and fashion blogs, I figured I could get my cues from there instead. So I quit buying Cosmo and Glamour and Marie Claire and In Style. And I don't miss any of them.

At first, fashion blogs freaked me out too. I am a suburban soccer stepmom who drives a SUV and lives in a town that finally got a Kohl's last month. I doubt I will ever find myself at New York City Fashion Week. The closest I come to designer clothing is when Target rolls out a collaboration. I am not a size zero or twenty two years old or even a real blonde. Some fashion bloggers made me feel almost as guilty as magazines had.

But I started to dig deeper in to the fashion blog-o-sphere. And I started to find people who had quirky and chic styles that began to inspire me. But I never found someone like me (well... except my blogmate but I have a theory that Leather Peacock and I were separated at birth).

So here I am: a thirty four year old size 12 who shops at Marshall's and blogs with her like-minded best friend. I am true to myself, I have found new inspiration and I no longer feel guilty.

Sweater dress: Mossimo at Target
Necklace: Humanité
Tights: Target
Boots: Lane Bryant






Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Rain Check

Even though it was grey and rainy, today was awesome! My husband and I didn't have to go to work because of the four day Veterans Day holiday but the kid still had school. We decided to do a day date: lunch at our favorite sushi place, followed by a movie (I finally got to see Argo and I highly recommend it!) and then some shopping for the final pieces to our Tacky Christmas Sweater photo shoot. More to follow on that... but, trust me... it will be EPIC!!!!

Cardigan and jeans: New York & Company
Tribal print shirt: Forever 21 (I thought it looked Fair Isle but the website lists it as Southwest print)
Boots: Modcloth
Earrings: Modcloth



Making 237 Years Old Look Good

This Saturday marked the 237th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. While Leather Peacock (a sailor) and I (an Army veteran) love to give the Marines hell, it is all in good fun and we love those Jarheads. Me especially, since I married one. The Marines sure how to throw a party, and they really roll out the red carpet for their annual birthday bash. It also means that I get to pretend to be Cinderella for the evening (and act like a Co-Ed on Spring Break when we hit the bars post-ball).

At the Ball

Dress: thrifted but tag says Dress Barn
Earrings: Forever 21
Necklace: from a clothing swap with friends
Bracelet: Lauren Conrad from Kohl's
Shoes and clutch: The Shoe Department

Post-Ball:

Dress: Found at Ross for only $8
Leggings: Forever 21
Cardigan: Modcloth (one of their Stylish Surprises where you gamble $15 and give them your size and they send you something that they are trying to clear out of their warehouse)

I have dropped major dough at past balls but getting my hair done was actually my most expensive undertaking this year. Because, you know, budget cutbacks ain't just for the bureaucrats...

The only dignified pictures of us were when it was still light out.

All downhill from here...

Don't let the Monster can fool you. I forgot my flask so this is my makeshift one. It is actually full of vodka.

Uh-oh... Jell-O shots... Who's idea was this?

Whatever the hell was in those boots did me in for the evening. It tasted like Sweet-Tarts but the big gaping hole in my memory starts right here.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Most Versatile Shirt (MVS???)

Chambray shirts are having a Renaissance. They are everywhere these days. And for good reason. If you don't own one (and, believe me, I was rather reluctant), you should. It will quickly become the MVP of your closet.

Inspired by a Pinterest pin, I rolled up the sleeves of mine and tied it at the waist over a long black skirt that I originally bought for my bellydancing class.

Chambray shirt: Aerie for American Eagle
Tank and skirt: Mossimo at Target
Bag: Modcloth
Aviator sunglasses and snakeprint flats: Old Navy
Earrings and bracelets: bought on vacation in Bryson City, NC. I think the name of the store was Purse-onality. I wish I was kidding...




Sunday, November 11, 2012

Why I Refuse To Wear Camouflage Again (No Matter How Trendy It Becomes)

Happy Veterans Day! Not only are we geeky fashionistas here at Millennium Falcon of Fashion but we are also an Active Duty Sailor (Leather Peacock) and a former Army Soldier (me!)

This picture never fails to make me laugh!

A Tale of Two Boots

I have a fall/winter uniform when it comes to running errands on Saturday mornings: boots, skinny jeans or leggings and tank top underneath a button down, cardigan or sweater. These easy combinations are comfortable and require little thought but somehow (maybe it is the boots) make me feel a little more polished than I would just throwing on sweatpants.

Blouse: Kohl's
Tank: Old Navy
Jeans: New York & Company
Boots: Old Navy

Which brings me to the story about these boots. I have a hard time finding boots that fit my ginormous calves. On a quest to find a dark brown pair of equestrian style boots, I stumbled across these at Old Navy. I own another pair of Old Navy boots and find that their wide calf boots are always roomy and pretty affordable. I picked mine up for about $36 during a sale. This was my inaugural wearing. Later that day, I spilled nail polish remover all over the floor and splattered some on the boots that I had carelessly thrown to the side. Now the boots look tie-dyed. I am pretty bummed, especially since my own klutziness is to blame. Not sure how I will fix them (tips??? suggestions??? All would be appreciated) or if I will have to break down and buy another pair. They are worth it though.







My hair normally does not look this good. One of my Saturday errands was a hair appointment for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball later that night.




Thursday, November 8, 2012

Decorating Style Part Duex; I Have A New Favorite Online Store!



My current abode is humble, but that never stops me from constantly updating my style or planning for when I have a larger place. As part of my continuing bedroom forest-ish redecorating I found a new favorite store: The Evolution Store. It has animal skulls, taxidermy, framed insects and much much more. I am both fascinated, excited and a little bit worried about how much I like it. For my first purchase, I did limit myself to only two purchases:


agate coasters. Love, love love them!


deer antlers

I am torn as whether to leave the antlers loose in my bedroom as if they might have been left there, as part of my theme or be crafty and attach them to some wood as a jewelry/scarf holder. Decisions, decisions.

One thing I do know, I see many more purchases from the Evolution Store in my future!

The Only Thing Thin About Me Is My Blood

I woke up and it was below freezing. I had to scrape frost off my windshield. In light of everyone in the Northeast being pounded by a blizzard, I shouldn't whine but I am a less-than-hearty North Carolinian who hates anything other than beach weather. Funny thing about North Carolinians: you will often find people down here bundled up with a beanie and a sweatshirt and long johns and gloves when temperatures dip... but they will still be wearing flip-flops. I am guilty of this. Today's outfit involved a sweater dress, a parka, boots... and bare legs.

Sweater dress: Mossimo at Target
Parka: New York & Company
Boots: Modcloth
Purse: Target
Necklace: World Market
Sunglasses: Mudd at Kohl's

Trying to get brave enough to remove the parka

Terrified of the cold

In other news: who knew that World Market had such cool (and affordable!) jewelry? Yet another reason to go there, besides to replenish my wine supply.


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

I Vote Straight Ticket For The Cocktail Party

Election Day 2012! Susan B. Anthony and the gals worked too hard for us ladies to just sit on our asses and not vote.

Dress: Modcloth
Long sleeved T-shirt underneath: Old Navy
Cable knit tights: Target
Shoes: Blowfish from Shoe Carnival
Trench Coat: New York & Company
I Voted! Sticker: North Carolina State Board of Elections

Wearing red doesn't not necessarily indicate party preference. And, yes, I was asked several times today.

Modcloth's ubiquitous Coach Tour dress. My first Modcloth purchase that started my obsession with their site.

I am such a sucker for tweed!

I just hope today's grey, cold and miserable weather is not an indicator of the next four years


The best accessory you could wear on Election Day!