fail safe dress

This DVF dress is one of those "instant win" pieces in my closet - it's a shift, but not a tent-y shift, so it's body-conscious enough to feel a bit sexy, but comfy enough to feel like I can still eat a slice of pizza (or four). It's one of my very favorite dresses - polished, yet comfortable as PJs. It doesn't get much better.

dress: Diane VonFurstenberg, shoes: Ciao Bella, necklace: Paige Sargisson (close-up below)

birthday part deux

I couldn't lay my birthday to rest without posting a few photos of our dinner at Abacus that night. It was our first time there, and everything was amazing. Like one-of-the-best-meals-I've-ever-had amazing. I was basically in a food-induced euphoric haze the entire time.

But before we move to the food, my ensemble of the evening - I swapped out the top & skirt in favor of this Martin + Osa dress & Banana Republic clutch:
This drink is called the Big Daddy (which reminds me of Blanche Devereaux's father on the Golden Girls. I'm sure that's why I ordered it.):
While we were still at the bar, the bartender brought us this delightful melange of Spanish tapas. From left to right you have olives & almonds, Serrano ham, pan con tomate, and croquettes. This got me both nostalgic for the year I spent in Spain, and excited for the trip we booked recently for this spring. Both Rod and I had enough airline miles to fly round-trip to Spain FOR FREE, so we're going for two weeks in April/May of next year - so. excited.And then there was dinner. Rod ordered filet, and I got the lemon sole, both of which were conveniently divided/presented in two pieces, so halfway through we made a switch. I love being able to try more than one thing at a great restaurant, and fortunately Rod is the same way.

Finally, this stupid good chocolate slab I had for dessert:This look on my face says it all!

high/low: the birthday edition

So today's my birthday, y'all. So much has happened already, and it's only 10:15. Rod made me a kickass breakfast, played me a birthday slow jam that he wrote and recorded on the new T-Pain app, Ruby (one of my bunnies) came in for a birthday snuggle, and I've already gotten countless calls, e-cards and messages. I feel trés spéciale. Let's see, am I forgetting anything? Oh yes, I got YSL cage sandals (!!!):

I've been dying for these suckers since I first laid eyes on them, and by some stroke of luck (and a Barney's sale, and an extremely generous fiance), that dream became a reality.

It amuses me that I'm wearing them with the aforementioned Miley Cyrus Wal-Mart blouse. I love a good high/low combo, and I think YSL/Miley for Wal-Mart pretty much takes the cake.

I'm full of little sidebar comments today, but it's my birthday so I'm allowed. I realized that this Tahari skirt, my perfect, staple, fallback, basic black skirt is now way too big on me. It's a good problem to have, but still kind of a bummer. I've had it for years and years, so I may get it tailored or I may just replace it if I can find one just as perfect.

One more time for the cheap seats. **swoon**

shoes: YSL, top: Miley Cyrus for Wal-Mart, skirt: Tahari, bag: Hoakon/Helga (etsy), belt: Max Mara, shades: Dior, random silver cuffs/bracelets

the wal

Hope everyone's holiday was fantastic - we had a lovely time in Wisconsin with my family and friends. It was hard to come back, and even harder to get up for work today...bleh.

I had a helluva great score at Wal-Mart this weekend - two clearance swimsuits for $7 each, a sweet ruffle blouse from the Miley Cyrus line (don't judge), some Op shorts for Puerto Rico, and this blouse:

top: George (Wal-Mart), skirt: Mango, shoes: Bally, enamel cuff: Old Navy

This blouse comes in several other colors/patterns, and it took some restraint to not buy them all. At $12 I could've come away with one or two more, but in an effort to not overstuff my closet, I thought I'd stick with one for now. It really is a great buy, though, and looks spendier than it actually was. The ruffle detailing isn't popping all too well in the pics, but if you enlarge them you can see it a bit better.

One day I will get better at remembering to take detail shots.

last hurrahs of summer

Summer is winding down, which is good for some reasons (no more gross, hot weather that makes you sweat immediately upon walking outside) and bad for others (weekends spent in the pool are numbered). Whichever way you cut it, I realized I need to hurry up and wear a handful of frocks that don't really translate to fall. This Old Navy number is one of them:

dress: Old Navy, shoes: Steve Madden, bag: Rebecca Minkoff, necklace: self-made, cuff: Craisfrod Leather (etsy)

free stuff

One of my favorite shopping haunts, Martin + Osa, is offering some pretty sweet swag over the holiday weekend. With any full-price denim purchase you get either a Love Story scarf (for the ladies), or a belt for the guys. And you can take 20% off of your order of $100 or more with 87888515. I can't keep a good deal to myself, so I wanted to share with my lovely readers. Have a fantastic, safe, shopping-filled holiday weekend!