lizzypunch

marca shoes: handcrafted seattle shoe brand

2012-02-01T22:00:00.000-08:00

wearing: Bonlook glasses; ModCloth tank; thrifted cardigan and skirt; gifted bracelet and tights; Marca shoes

This was a quick and comfortable outfit for a trip to our local Goodwill to donate 4 bags of clothing and shoes! It felt so good to get rid of the excess that was just sitting unloved in our closet. The best part of getting rid of things is making room for the pieces that you genuinely love, like my new shoes!

Last year I discovered Marca shoes at the Seattle THREAD show. I blogged about my discovery of these amazing handmade shoes back in this post, but I realized I have never blogged an outfit wearing them! This is ridiculous since I've been sporting them quite frequently these last few months.

Marca is a brand based in Seattle by mother-daughter team Martha and Catherina. The shoes are manufactured by a small group of Colombian shoe-makers. I love that by wearing these shoes I can not only support a local family brand of innovators and talented designers, but I know that these shoes were handmade with the utmost care by my own countrymen and women!

Marca is still a small business but they will soon be unrolling their new spring line and I highly recommend that you pick yourself up a pair of these well-made, comfortable, stylish, and unique shoes. I'll be following up with when the designs come out and how you can purchase some, for now you might be able to snag some on Smashing Darling (but I'd contact them first to see if they still have inventory.) Speaking of, Smashing Darling is quickly becoming a favorite online shopping site because it's filled with indie and eco fashion!

*This is in NO way a sponsored post! I just love these ladies, their vision, and the gorgeous ethical products they create!

blogiversary dress

2012-01-29T23:21:00.000-08:00

Wearing: Bonlook glasses; old Romy dress; thrifted cardigan; belt from a friend's goodwill pile; See You Monday leggings from a Boutique in Portland, gifted boots; etsy ring (seller no longer active)

In this recent post I showed how I've worn this green Romy dress throughout the years, it seems like a great way to mark each year of blogging. This simple little dress was the beginning of me branching out of my comfort zone. I had never really worn dresses unless I was going to something formal or it was a simple sun dress. When I wanted to start blogging, I explored wearing dresses with tights in the winter and I loved it! I now consider dresses a staple, especially in winter wear.

I've also gotten quite comfortable with what I call my "weekend uniform" of a dress, cardigan, and leggings. You'll see another similar look later this week. Even if it's just to get our weekly groceries at Trader Joe's it feels nice to put in a little effort. Layering this dress with my favorite thrifted wool cardigan and boots was put together and weather appropriate.

So tell me, have you branched out of your comfort zone and embrace something you never would have tried before?

how to wear a maxi in winter

2012-01-26T22:04:00.000-08:00

I know maxi dresses and skirts seem synonymous with summer but believe it or not you can actually make one work in the winter! I was inspired to write this post after seeing Tieka of Selective Potential post a great look on rocking a winter maxi. Enjoy the photos and tips below from Tieka (Selective Potential), Tiffany (I Am Style-Ish), and yours truly.

1. Layer!

Tieka from Selective Potential

I loved seeing how Tieka made a maxi work in the SNOW! Her boots and jacket are a great contrast to the lightweight fabric of the maxi skirt. You can also wear tights or leggings underneath for added warmth. However, Tieka recommends buying static cling spray to prevent a day of tugging your skirt away!

2. Black!

Tiffany from I Am Style-ish

In this post Tiffany forgoes the bright maxi trend and makes hers more winter-appropriate by grounding the look with black. She even chose darker colors in her accessories by choosing a deep plum for her nails.

3. Midify!

I converted my maxi into a midi dress by folding the top part inside itself and pulling it up above my bust. I really wish I would have shortened it even more, but it looked better in the mirror than in photos (don't you hate when that happens!) Midifying your maxi can allow for a different look in winter. Pair with ankle boots (which I wish I had) and a cropped jacket for a winter appropriate look.

*Photos used with permission from these fabulous ladies!

I hope you enjoyed these tips! Will you try wearing a maxi in winter? Share your link if you do!

what's a lizzypunch?

2012-01-22T21:33:00.000-08:00

On 11/11/11 lizzypunch turned three! I can't believe I missed such a big milestone! The above photo shows how I've worn this green dress throughout the years, full outfit post to come this week.

The Budget Babe recently called me out on twitter about my unusual nickname/blog title, I've never in the last 3 years explained the history of it but this is a good opportunity. When I was trying to come up with a blog title I knew I wanted something easy to remember and share like "Apple" or "Google". It didn't need to make sense to anyone, but it needed to feel personal. I struggled with a title for several days until it hit me! It's difficult to explain in words what "lizzypunch" is, so please watch this video to clear things up (only 11 seconds!)

I would frequently "lizzypunch" Chris when we would disagree about silly things. The name lizzypunch was unique, short, catchy and kind of weird, all the things I wanted! So for the last three years I've gotten used to blog readers referring to me as lizzypunch, even some people mistakenly thinking my name is Lizzy Punch (works for anonymity I suppose!) Overall, I've grown to love "lizzypunch" as my psuedonym and this little spot on the internet I call home.

weekly workfits no. 2

2012-01-19T20:28:00.000-08:00

1. gifted vintage tank, yardsale hoodie, thrifted jeans, TOMS

2. gifted jacket, gifted handmade neck warmer, thrifted black pants, gifted flats

3. Bonlook glasses, thrifted top, cardigan, and jeans, snow boots

4. Bonlook glasses, old turtleneck, thrifted cardigan and jeans, snow boots

I know this week's outfits are a little boring but you see my friends we were under a severe winter weather advisory! So it was hard to stray from warm jeans and water-proof shoes! I can't wait to take better outfit pictures with the top in look 3, it's just as versatile as stripes, love! And I must say I felt very much like a professor in my combination of glasses, turtleneck and cardigan from look 4.

Yay or Nay on "Weekly Workfits?"

easy no-sew skirt DIY

2012-01-18T22:26:00.000-08:00

In last week's "weekly workfits" I wore a skirt that I DIYed. Now was this a well though-out, arduous, and complicated task? No, in fact the idea came to me at 11pm (a very dangerous time for my clothes--see here) when I wielded a pair of scissors over my fresh laundry. I find that sometimes I don't even need to buy something new to breathe some life into my closet.

I had this tunic that I got from my ex-roommate's Goodwill pile (it's always important to sift through other people's "trash" to find treasure!) but I had never been able to make it work as a tunic. I found that there was just too much fabric to be a top, yet not enough to be a dress, and the billowy-ness was not flattering on my frame...so I took matters into my own hands!

I realized I could use a basic brown skirt in my closet so chop I did! Here's the DIY I promised, don't feel overwhelmed by the multiple steps and complicated diagram, I assure you, you'll be able to handle it if you have enough skill and finesse.

Tell me, do you ever chop things up to get something "new"?

burgers and salads at the counter, ballard, seattle

2012-01-17T23:19:00.000-08:00

*I'm so upset these pictures are pixelated...I hope my camera isn't breaking! I must have had it on the wrong settings :(

Wearing: Bonlook glasses, Buffalo Exchange thrifted and DIYed dress, thrifted cashmere cardigan, gifted boots and scarf, swapped bag, See You Monday tights from a Boutique in Portland, gifted reusable shopping tote!

On Saturday Chris and I were headed to do our weekly grocery shopping at Trader Joe's when we realized that it simply isn't smart to shop on an empty stomach. Naturally we decided to fuel up at The Counter, a decadent customizable burger joint. I wasn't really feeling up for a huge burger so thankfully they offer any of their proteins in salad form! I had this tasty Mediterranean chicken salad.

While this wasn't the warmest outfit to wear out on a 30 degree day it definitely lifted my spirits! And if this dress looks familiar, check out how it looked pre-DIY here. I figured it would be more wearable in winter if I modified it a tad! Which do you like better? I hope you say short, because there's no way it's going back!

a trip to the ballard locks

2012-01-15T20:31:00.000-08:00

Wearing: thrifted hat, top, jeans, and shoes, gifted trench, earrings, and bracelet, BeadleBop clutch from an Academichic giveaway

On Saturday the sun was streaming in through our windows and I told Chris we had to make it out of the house to watch the sun set at the Ballard Locks (more accurately the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks). The locks have become an appealing tourist attraction for visitors within and outside Seattle. It may appear unimpressive at first unless you catch it during sunset or when ships are utilizing it, you can also watch salmon migrating up river in the fish ladder viewing room! I like it because it's close to home and in the spring and summer we're planning on having plenty of walks and picnics in the English Garden.

On this day it was extremely cold and I nearly risked hypothermia just to show off my pretty new polka dot top! Looking back at the photos I can't help but notice a bit of sailor-esque styling going on with the navy and white, the flared jeans, and a pop of persimmon for good measure! But nothing beets this adorable little top. I went to Buffalo Exchange on Market St. to search for a going out dress with friends and I found this little gem. It's part of their new merchandise by Peaches N Cream (Made in the USA). I was hoping to find more information about them online but all that comes up is a children's clothing line. Anyway, I rarely buy any new merchandise from thrift stores but the uneven polka dots and the bow-back just appealed too much to me to deny myself a little treat!

Hope everyone has a happy start to their weeks! What did you do this weekend?

weekly workfits no. 1

2012-01-12T22:23:00.000-08:00

1. BonLook Robinson glasses, thrifted tank, cardigan, and jeans, Colombian red leather loafers

2. Bibico via ModCloth tank, thrifted belt, DIY skirt (tutorial to come) gifted cardigan and flats, b.ella tights via Horseshoe, Ballard, Seattle

3. gold Colombian coffee bean necklace, sweater via ex-roommate's goodwill pile, thrifted jeans, Marca shoes (buy at Smashing Darling!)

4. thrifted top and pants, gifted flats

Welcome to a new feature on lizzypunch: my daily work outfits or "weekly workfits"! I don't get any daylight hours to take photos during the week so this might be a fun way to make use of my instagram app and share what I'm wearing. I've decided not to tweet these images anymore in case some of you follow all my platforms (blog, twitter, instagram), don't want to bore you!

Let me know what you think!

macbeth by butter london

2012-01-11T00:18:00.000-08:00

*Not a sponsored post, just sharing an awesome xmas present!*

Ever since I spotted these adorable butter London polishes in local boutiques I knew I needed to grow my arsenal of natural nail products. You see, butter London is a "3-free" company which means there is no DBP, Formaldehyde, Toluene, or Parabens in their nail polishes. Don't know what those things are? Me neither, so why would I put them on my hands?! The idea of non-toxic nail polishes is gaining popularity and it's exciting to know that more companies are focusing on providing more natural products, butter London boasts that they were "the first company to sell non-toxic nail lacquer in the United States." Way to set an awesome trend!

For Christmas I asked Chris to pick out a stunning color and he did not disappoint! Check out my application of butter London's bright and punchy Macbeth!

1. Nail Foundation

My obvious concern was whether this foundation would appear as dark as the jar represents. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the basecoat is relatively sheer and provides a lovely matte shade that would be simple and elegant to wear on its own.

2. Macbeth

This is a very bright tomato red (my favorite) that really stands out. The only con is that I wish this came in a larger size because I expect to be wearing a lot of it during spring!

3. Topcoat

This really lives up to its name of being "Pretty Darn Quick". In fact, all 3 layers dried quickly which was great for last minute application. You can see that the top coat added a great sheen to the original color and of course it added protection.

Overall, I am very happy with this line of products and extremely thankful for Chris's expert artistic eye in picking out this shade! If I could think of one con is that for being a natural nail lacquer, the polish did have a strong scent. I'm not sure if other 3-free companies offer odorless polish but I would love to try it out.

And of course, how could I not share a pic of my manicured Macbeth hand reading Macbeth? A fun story about this copy of tragedies is that while in London to see Macbeth at the Globe, Chris and I stumbled upon a book sale on the Southbank and I found this lovely (albeit heavily worn) copy just hours before the performance! Serendipitous? I'd say so!

*This was actually a second application, due to having my first manicure destroyed by doing a 3 mile high pile of dirty dishes, hence the shorter nails!

All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand (V.i.50-51).

colombian embroidered shoes

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

wearing: BonLook glasses, handmade neck warmer, thrifted top and jeans, gifted jacket, gifted shoes

Why not start my first outfit post for 2012 full of color? I wore this outfit to grab some groceries at Trader Joe's on Saturday, and got to try out the shoes an Aunt sent me from Colombia. My parents just got back from a month long trip and I'm excited to share all the little gifts from my country!

I just had to throw on this coordinating neck warmer that my dear friend Heather made for me. We saw a similar style in stores when she came to Seattle for a visit and she insisted she could make the same thing, so instead of paying for one at a fast-fashion retailer I bought one from her! (I'm trying to convince her to sell on etsy!)

I think this look reinforces my love for a strong neutral background with an intense pop of color! At least that's what I'm going to try to rely on when I have difficulty planning outfits. How do you introduce and balance color in your outfits?

Lastly, here are some blurry attempts at getting back into posing and capturing photos for the blog. Not complaining since I'm so happy Chris is willing to take photos for me!

2011 resolution review

2012-01-02T22:50:00.000-08:00

Last year I made four shopping resolutions (original post). Let's see how I did:

i. buy less
I definitely think my mentality towards shopping has changed drastically. I no longer shop with the intent of getting the most items for my money, instead I focus on quality. (Not to mention that the above tiny, shared closet is a big motivator!) I also don't find myself "going shopping" without specific goals in mind, which prevents buyer's remorse when unpacking bags at home.

In 2012...I will continue this mentality and now that I have an actual adult paycheck I can focus on quality pieces that will last a lifetime.

ii. avoid chains
I am very proud of myself for not shopping at Walmart, Target, Urban Outfitters, Forever21 etc this past year. The few times I've purchased new items I sought them out at small local boutiques, or sweatshop-free American Apparel. The only new purchases I made from chain stores were: underwear/bras/socks/workout pants which I purchased at Gap and Victoria's Secret. Besides a few gifts from family and friends, I never purchased any clothes with my own money from a chain store (besides those mentioned above!) It was actually not as difficult as I thought and a lot more rewarding to put money into local businesses, or recycling clothes by thrifting! I also was able to discover great companies like Marca Shoes that produces handcrafted gorgeous shoes!

In 2012...I'll continue my avoidance of chain stores and seek out sources for ethical underwear/workout gear. Just because it's harder to find, doesn't mean that it isn't out there!

iii. thrift
The reason avoiding chains has been easier is because I can seek out trendy new-to-me pieces from thrift stores. I can't believe that years ago I thought thrifting was gross and now it's my number one source for clothing, outerwear, shoes, and trendy pieces! You can see one of my thrifting "hauls" pictured above, so much variety in one place!

In 2012...I will definitely continue to frequent my favorite second-hand stores for items, because it feels great to know that I'm not supporting the making of new items that will end up in the garbage, but rather recycling and giving new love to pieces!

iv. ~~made in the US~~ ---> ethical shopping
This is a very very grey issue for me lately. I purposefully sought out some basics at American Apparel, because they were sweatshop free and made in the US, and also was delighted to find there is a great section of US-made items at ModCloth and in local boutiques. But I can't really be sure of what the "Made in the US" label means. I've heard rumors that to get that label items just need to have the final stitch or button added on US soil to constitute having that label, and that makes me uncomfortable if people are getting exploited and I'm actually a part of that system.

In 2012...I'm going to try and focus on ethical clothing that is sweatshop free and handcrafted. It's better to buy handmade shoes by Colombian cobblers, and woven tops from Ethiopian weavers, then to get a top from ModCloth that says Made in the US but offers no other background. I am also FINALLY going to read the book pictured above (that I got last Christmas) to help educate myself on ethical shopping.

Last year I had very lofty dreams of turning Lizzypunch into your first stop when looking for ethical shopping. But as we can see by my recent track record of not blogging, that didn't really happen. Maybe 2012 is the year I can truly focus on highlighting ethical, indie, eco-friendly, sweatshop-free clothing and accessories. I said I would share books, articles, and websites of ethical resources, but I didn't follow through, so that is my biggest resolution for 2012!!

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T21:58:00.001-08:00

Happy 2012 everyone! (If anyone is still out there!)

2011 was a year of ups and downs for me (isn't it always that way?) but for now let me highlight some positive events!

1. Graduated from college!
2. Completed an internship.
3. Moved to Seattle, WA!!
4. Got my first temp job which...
5. Turned into a permanent/full-time/salaried(!) position with a great company!!!

So there are many many things to be thankful for in 2011.

My New Year's resolution you ask? Well one of them is to start documenting 2012! I miss blogging, so I'll be seeing you about!

THREAD Show - Seattle

2011-11-11T20:19:00.001-08:00

top - Buffalo Exchange
pants - Crossroads Trading Co
wedges - Buffalo Exchange
necklace - handmade, Sosie Designs
bag - Crossroads Trading Co

That's right an entirely thrifted/indie outfit! I love that this is becoming a more common occurrence in my wardrobe. And where else should I wear this recycled/indie look but to THREAD Show Seattle?!

In case you haven't heard of it, THREADis an event put on in Seattle, LA, San Diego, and San Francisco that showcases local indie designers in art, fashion, and music. I attended the Seattle Show at the Seattle Center on October 23rd and had a fantastic time scoping out handcrafted, unique, indie clothing and jewelry.

Two of my favorites from the show were:

Sosie Designs - Sonia makes beautiful handcrafted sterling silver (and a few gold) accessories that are delicate and unique in her San Jose home. I picked out the necklace above because I'm very much a gold gal and I loved the simplicity of the piece. For only $30 I got a classic necklace that goes with EVERYTHING!

marca shoes - Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon a booth selling the cutest handmade shoes I'd seen in a while. It get's better. Mother-daughter team Martha and Catherina (hence the brand name marca) design all the shoes and they are manufactured by a small team of 6 artisans in Colombia. Yes, readers, authentic shoe makers from MY COUNTRY! Not only that, but they are actually made in the town where my family is from. Can you imagine my delight? Stay tuned later this week to see which pair I chose and where you can get your own.

halloween 2011

2011-10-31T22:57:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a while. Life got a little crazy and things happened that made blogging go down to the very bottom of my list of concerns. Instead of waiting for the "right" moment to get back into it, I've decided to just post when I can/feel like it because it is something I genuinely enjoy and it's my hobby that I've neglected for too long.

So my posts my by sporadic and out of order but really I just need to write things down and reflect because I really love looking back at past posts. I sort of feel like this is my own personal scrapbook that I've chosen to open up and share with strangers (very stylish and sweet strangers!)

~~~HALLOWEEN 2011~~~

I had two opportunities to dress up and I'm sad I didn't get to share these earlier, but maybe they'll be inspiration for next year?

leopard & frida kahlo

First, I dressed as a leopard for a night out with my two best friends in downtown Seattle! J went as a bright red fire-bird, G went as a zebra, so all together we were a trio of wild animals! (J and G know I have a blog but I have yet to ask them if they want pictures/names on here so for now we'll stick with their new short nicknames and no photos!)

I used this makeup tutorial to create the cat eyes, nose, and spots. I didn't do all the contouring he suggested, but it still looked pretty good IMHO. I also added ears and a tail!

I didn't want to get a literal costume to go with this look so I wore a new top from Aprie (Made in the US) and a thrifted skirt and wedges from Buffalo Exchange! Some old bangles, red nails, and a leopard cocktail ring and I was set.

Dancing the night away & finally getting home to take off our shoes! I thrifted those black wedges for $15! Overall, it was a super fun night and I love that none of us dressed too "sexy". I seriously don't get the point in that, just have fun with a costume and stay warm! In total, I spent about $30 on the ears/tail/face paint/shirt.

Today, we had a Halloween costume contest at work but I didn't feel like re-doing the leopard makeup and walking around downtown like that so I went with a classic Frida Kahlo costume.

I was so surprised that so many of the people at work didn't know who she was! Not even, "oh yeah that one artist, what's her name?" no, instead it was blank stares (sadness). Well I educated some people, and if you don't know who she is, please please google and be inspired!!
For my Frida costume 5 things were essential: the unibrow, silk flowers, long skirt, mexican inspired jewelry, and a shawl.

Starting the brow transformation. I sort of love the thicker look of that left brow (my right), maybe I'll start defining them a bit more? I used a mix of brown mascara and eyeliner to thicken up my natural brows and then brought them together with just the brown mascara. It took a bit of perfecting but I think I finally got the iconic look.

Do you know she just got fed up with plucking her eyebrows at eighteen and that one act of defiance toward popular culture has made her into the much loved icon she is today?

Next was adding some silk flowers to my simple, middle-parted, up-do. Now Frida wore her flowers on the very top of her head, but again, I was chicken and modified it because these flowers were huge! I just bobby-pinned them into my bun. I added earrings from Ashley (A Fashion Fixation) and this orange necklace, and a gifted bangle.

This skirt is really a dress (worn here) but it worked perfectly with my new Bibico via Modcloth ethical fashion top! The black pashmina was my shawl and really helped make this more like Frida.All together this outfit cost...$0! I had everything already :)

Chris and I ended the evening by crossing the street to our favorite Mexican food restaurant and dining on enchiladas suizas and tacos de machaca!

P.S. I didn't win the contest, but I got runner-up! Pretty good for no one knowing who I was!

So let me know what you think and tell me what were you for halloween?

chop!

2011-10-09T20:31:00.000-07:00

Finally feeling better! I thought I was doing just fine until Friday when I almost fainted :S Went to the doctor and it turns out I am prone to vasovagal episodes (a classic fainting spell!) I guess since my body was fighting off the illness it was telling me to take it easy, so I listened and stayed home on Friday and have been resting most of the weekend.

Anyway, now that I'm on the path to recovery I can finally share the most exciting thing I did this weekend! I was in desperate need of a good haircut since my hair hadn't seen scissors in over 5 months! I headed to VAIN salon in Ballard for a refreshing new cut!

It is so great to have real body to my hair and not have to try to get volume up top from the weight of all my hair. The other great thing my stylist Lucie did was give me bangs that can actually sweep left or right, which gives me more versatility when styling!

If you are (or will be) in Seattle I highly recommend Lucie at the VAIN Ballard location. First off, you get hot tea while you wait, an amazing scalp massage and minty shampoo, and a stylist who listens to your needs. I wanted a bit more fringe than just a short layer, and Lucie gave me the most perfect bangs ever! I told her I was very open to the length and while it was shorter than I was thinking of going when I went in, I'm really happy with the fun change! (I'm even tempted to go shorter next time?)

So thank VAIN and Lucie for refreshing my style!

under the weather

2011-10-04T21:35:00.001-07:00

I had all the best intentions to blog at least every other day this week but I caught a bit of a head cold and have been coming home straight to bed the last two days.

I have an exciting adventure tomorrow though, so I hope to update soon!

Take care of yourselves, have vitamin C and lots of water and rest!

jackalope

2011-10-02T18:36:00.000-07:00

Sitting on our vintage truck my parents brought from home for us. We've had it stored all year just waiting to get to put it in our apartment. I think it looks pretty great next to the brick wall!

Have you ever heard of a jackalope? It's a mythical creature from the midwest but we found this little guy in a shop in Ballard. When I saw him, I knew I needed him to live in our home. On to the outfit, this was on the first day of October so I dressed in appropriate fall colors.

Wearing: Michael Stars top, thrifted jeans, cape, and belt, gifted boots, and old scarf

I'm actually very excited to start dressing for fall. I can't wait to go thrifting for some great new layers, anyone want to come with?

farmer's market lunch: pasta, caprese, and chevre on baguette

2011-09-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

Chris and I have been enjoying stopping by the Ballard Farmer's Market (practically in our "back yard") every Sunday. A couple weekends ago we picked up some delicious bread, cheeses, and tomatoes to accompany our plain pesto pasta.

Farmer's Market Tomatoes, our own Basil, and Golden Glen Creamery fresh Mozarella for Caprese

Mmm, beautiful hand-crafted cheese that tastes so much better than processed blocks!

These tomatoes were SO sweet and tart!

Ever since I went to France in '07 I've been obsessed with Chevre, it is so tasty on bread!

Not quite Farmer's Market but the best processed pesto we've found.

Voila! A tasty, hearty, healthy meal for a sunny Sunday!

blurry in the city

2011-09-26T22:09:00.000-07:00

wearing: thrifted top, bag, and jeans, old pashmina and shoes

So I thought these pictures weren't so blurry when they were on the camera! Darn! I wore this one evening to go get Pho with Chris. We found a great place on Market that is super cheap and gives you tons of Pho and free dessert, (plus I've never had such yummy spring rolls!)
I swear I'm going to get back into to taking decent photos, my camera is just acting really funky. It jumbles up the photos when they get imported which makes it a pain to search for a set! Maybe I'll save up some paychecks for a real upgrade!

favorite dress and flowers

2011-09-25T21:51:00.000-07:00

During my first week of work I came home one day to a gorgeous bouquet of flower from Chris! I was so ecstatic that I got dressed up in my favorite vintage dress and took him out for a tasty Indian dinner! I believe in returning nice favors!

wearing: Goodwill thrifted handmade dress, thrifted belt, very old gladiator sandals, and gifted earrings from Ashley (A Fashion Fixation), smile provided by Chris!
As you can see we are up to our knees (and above) in boxes but the place is coming together. One of the first things we did was string twinkly lights around our window frame and it gives off such a nice glow in the evenings!
Well it's about time for me to crawl into bed and get ready for another work week! I can't believe the weekend flies by so quickly! What do you do to ward off the Mondays?

Teeny-Tiny Apartment: Before

2011-09-24T20:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to our 350 sq. ft. apartment tour!

View when opening the door.

To the left of the entryway is the door to the bathroom. The toilet, sink, and mirror are to the left of the door. So when the door is open it touches the toilet, tiny!

Continuing on in we have our closet on the left and the kitchen door at the end.

Taking a sharp right and looking back we see the bed alcove!

Our lovely car lot view nestled on the exposed brick wall. At least they're fancy Volkswagens!

View from the SE corner. Bed alcove, entryway, bathroom, and closet from left to right.

From the NE corner. Living space, bed alcove, coat rack/entryway.

The kitchen sink and window.

Fridge and gas stove.

So that's what the place looked like on moving day! We now have all our furniture except for a couch and have put the kitchen together quite nicely. The biggest project to tackle is clearing through the last 15 boxes taking up all the living space so that we can get a couch! I'll hopefully be able to post an update with the most finished rooms next weekend and maybe a final round next month! It's a work in progress but living in such a small space almost feels natural, it's almost unimaginable to live somewhere bigger.

It feels so good to be editing each item that has a place in our home and narrowing it down to essentials. I hope to share more soon, but in the meantime if I'm not able to blog it's because I'm working on the above!

Have a terrific fall weekend!

blush

2011-09-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

wearing: American Apparel button-up, Crossroads thrifted skirt, LOFT belt, gifted earrings and shoes

This is an old outfit I never got around to posting but I really love how it turned out. The crisp button up with a full skirt has a great balance and it was fun to add too subtle matching details of gold in the earrings and belt. I've had to retire this skirt as the zipper part started bunching in a very strange way and I noticed that backview was not as flattering as you see here but I hope I can fix or find a good replacement.

I used to reprimand my sister for wearing too much blush when she was a teenager and I was an all-knowing kid. Now I understand her affinity with rouge and find myself catching my reflection in the mirror and mistaking it for a circus performer. Funny how things change, but I do agree with her now since a good dusting of a blush on the cheeks does wonders on waking up a sleepy face or giving a healthy glow for a night out. Thanks Nina!
Well I'm off to sneak in a few pages of a good book before I go to bed early like an old person who has to wake up for work the next morning :) Planning on buying batteries soon and uploading more posts shortly! Night!

P.S. I really need a haircut, my hair is currently four inches longer and flat, flat, flat because all the layers grew out! I'll be finding a great local Seattle place to visit soon and hopefully revive the mop on my head soon because these pictures are making me jealous. Do you just KNOW when you need a haircut or do you go regularly?

P.P.S. Sorry this post is so disjointed! Out of practice with blogging!

feeling fifties

2011-09-18T22:19:00.000-07:00

wearing: very old soon to be replaced glasses, Michael Stars top, Buffalo Exchange thrifted skirt, Crossroads Trading Co thrifted flats and bag

This here look was worn to work during my first week. I love the vintage vibe of the high collar and a-line skirt. I felt quite elegant the whole day except when I had to literally sprint at high speed to catch the bus from downtown so that I could sign the lease on our new Ballard apartment! Pictures to come!

Mobile blogging!

2011-09-08T17:24:00.001-07:00

Just when I said I was back I disappear for a while! Well I've been moving so I don't have real Internet :( thankfully this blogger app came out so I can say hi and hang in there! I'll be back next week with lots of updates!

Liz

parisian

2011-09-01T21:54:00.000-07:00

What is it about classic pieces that make one feel sophisticated and foreign? Perhaps because we don't tend to dress up anymore, but I remember being in France and seeing everyone look ridiculously put-together. So this look was an ode to stylish European women and a little Audrey with the cropped black pants. It also struck the perfect balance between what I consider to be appropriate for a business setting and the lack of any type of dress code in my office! Even though I've already witnessed many tennis shoes, jeans, leggings and an instance of a tube top (!) at the office, I'm intent on keeping it classy! Although I am very thankful to be able to wear jeans :)

wearing: CrossRoads thrifted top, pants, bag and flats, gifted sunnies and coat

Chris and I headed to Greenlake after work ( I will update soon, so far so good!) and found this terrific spot by these bright little canoes for photos! Sorry for the photo overload, it was just such a gorgeous day!

Au revoir!

relaxed bohemian

2011-08-30T22:06:00.000-07:00

Wearing: Buffalo Exchange thrifted tank, Audrey 3+1 maxi dress as skirt (purchased at Buffalo Exchange), Ross sandals, gifted sunglasses, Crossroads thrifted bag

On Sunday I wore a very relaxed bohemian look to show my two good friends around my new neighborhood! Instead of wearing this fun printed dress the regular way, I just tucked the top portion down and wore it lower as a skirt. See the original here.

My newest favorite addition to my wardrobe is this thrifted bag (only $15 at CrossRoads!) I went on a thrifting mission for a roomy, neutral bag to take downtown to work with me and this fit the bill! It can fit so much without looking bulky, don't you love those kinds of bags! While waiting in line to buy this, I was approached by a reader! I guess moving to a city makes it more likely to run into fellow bloggers/readers! I was really stunned to be "recognized", as was Chris! Anyway, if I do have any more Seattle readers, don't hesitate to say hello!

You might just catch me being this surprised! Actually, Chris took this after accusing me of looking grumpy, I didn't believe him obviously.

young urban professional?

2011-08-28T22:20:00.000-07:00

wearing: gifted Express blouse, skirt, and cardigan, gifted pearl earrings, and old (very uncomfortable) Kohl's pumps

I wore this outfit on one of the days of my internship and it's what I'll be wearing Monday to start my career!

Today I start a new chapter of my life, I'm officially a young (urban!) professional. While it is an exciting realization, I also feel nervous and nostalgic. While I don't have to worry about lugging around a heavy book bag or studying for exams and staying up late to write papers, I also won't be taking new classes, writing notes on crisp paper or getting to chit-chat with other students.

It's a strange thing to be transitioning into something I always looked forward to and yet wishing I had just a little more time of walking around a campus and meeting friends for lunch at the cafeteria. I know it's just the beginning of new adventures, getting to know co-workers, learning more about the professional world, and meeting people for lunch in the city, however I can't help but feel incredibly nervous and unprepared!

How did you feel when you started your first post-grad job? Was it the career you always dreamed of or not? Did you miss going back to school in the fall or where you thrilled to be done? If you aren't in that stage yet, how do you think you'll feel?

back

2011-08-28T00:32:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

I don't even know where to start. The last few months have been a blur, but I have exciting news! First, Chris and I found a terrific (tiny) apartment in Ballard which will officially be ours on Friday! Secondly, I got a job downtown...and I start Monday! So while the next few weeks will be amazingly busy, they will not be filled with anxiety about where I will live or what I will be doing! Which means more time for blogging!

Thank you for your patience and for those of you who will be sticking around to hear about my new adventures! If you would like, lately it's been easier for me to tweet/instagram the little details so check it out here.

I'm actually 100x happier than it looks like in this picture I've just been having fun with the effects on Instagram :)

~Liz

I miss...

2011-07-28T00:31:00.001-07:00

BLOGGING!

Be back soon...

~Liz

when neighbors threaten your photo ops

2011-05-25T22:59:00.000-07:00

I hesitate to post these terrible photos but I figure even with chopped feet and sun glare you do get a feel for this outfit I wore to work on the first (and apparently last) sunny day of the year. And the yes the reason these photos suck is because apparently people like to be outside with the sun, thanks a lot people walking their dogs! I had to rush inside awkwardly like 3 times!

wearing: Mostly old stuff and a thrifted skirt, plus my favorite necklace my sister got me from NY

When I started my internship it was interesting to try and figure out what I should wear. The dress code is pretty business casual. At first I dressed in black pants nice tops and heels until I realized sometimes I was more overdressed than some professional staff (all to just sit in my little cubice and do data-entry) so for a few weeks I just wore nice skirts and dresses. However, now the intern staff is growing to four people and it seems we're all back into dressing in mainly black dressy clothes. I've taken a few photos to share later, but it isn't terribly exciting.

And a great self-time shot! Hi t-rex claw!

travel chic

2011-05-24T15:34:00.000-07:00

wearing: old sunglasses, scarf from San Fransisco Chinatown, thrifted, tank and jeans, gifted flats

I wore this ages ago to make my customary Seattle-Vancouver drive (I will not miss those 2.5 hour drives). I had the shades and the scarf, but alas not convertible :(

Short and sweet. Wish me luck on my motivation test tomorrow, thus far I have no motivation to actually begin studying for it. Summer school sucks.

a photo

2011-05-22T15:28:00.000-07:00

Just a photo from a few weeks ago. Sadly it still isn't warm enough to go sans coat on a consistent basis. Yesterday we had some nice weather and today it's forecasted to rain (sigh). Who else is sick of this crazy "spring" weather?

This is also pre-haircut. I love my new look but I also miss having long crazy hair!

caps for slats

2011-05-18T23:30:00.000-07:00

Some shots from the "Caps for Slats" installation in Capitol Hill, Seattle.

cherry blossoms

2011-05-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

If you've been to Seattle you might be aware of the famous Cherry Blossom trees on the UW campus. Several weeks ago (I can't remember when!) Chris and I headed over to campus to take some pictures!

wearing: Goodwill thrifted via Chris tshirt (it shrank!), Buffalo Exchange thrifted jeans, gifted boots/cardi/bag, stolen jacket from sis

Looking back I could have actually planned a cute outfit to go with this backdrop, but it was a lazy day :)

I just liked this bright green tree against the building.

Outtake of the day! I was being all modeling and flipping my hair too vigorously until I strained my neck!

i've forgotten how to blog

2011-05-16T23:46:00.000-07:00

It feels very strange to be back! I almost don't want to believe that all the dust may be settling for fear that some new major event will occur! Here's a quick rundown of the last month in no particular order:

- Finished my spring semester
- More officially started my internship
- Had the "3 week cold" that was going around
- Planned my club's Final Fiesta event of the year (despite some roadblocks)

- Marched at Commencement

- Went clubbing for the 1st time

- Chopped 4 inches off my hair

I just can't tell you where the last month went, I took a few pictures here and there, even uploaded a few batches but never had the time to actually post! I hope to get back in the swing of things, thanks for the concerned comments/emails all is well!

I now work all day M/W/F and am taking summer courses on T/H then I'm FREE and will move up to Seattle to be with my love :)

So stop by here more often and I'll try to have something for you!

wallet winner

2011-04-18T21:49:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I've been MIA this weekend because not only did my cold get worse and develop into a lovely sinus infection, I also had a bought of food poisoning last Thursday! I'm on the road to recovery now though!

My apologies for not announcing the winner of the wallet giveaway earlier! I was planning on doing another little video but I'm all congested and gross, haha!

I used random.org to choose a number between 1-27 (that's how many entries I tallied up with bonus twitter entries) and the winner is...Dotty of Dash Dot Dotty! I'll be emailing you shortly to get your address!

Thank you to all how entered and to all you dear followers, I wish I could give you each a wallet! Stay tuned for a giveaway coming up at the end of the month, you're going to like it!

bright florals

2011-04-13T22:44:00.000-07:00

wearing: LOFT cardigan, Buffalo Exchange thrifted tank and jeans, vintage locket, CrossRoads Trading Co thrifted flats

When I first got this cheery floral tank I considered pairing it with my favorite orange cardigan but I put it off for a warmer day. Do you ever let the weather dictate how bright your outfit is? I felt like the nude shoes and my trench (not pictured) really helped ground this so I that I didn't get too many strange looks from people on campus!

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, perhaps because yesterday was the Dessert Deluxe feed at school and I had way too much sugar! Cross your fingers this scratchy throat/cough doesn't turn into a full-fledged cold!

Don't forget to enter my wallet giveaway and you get an extra entry for following me on twitter!

how to wear a maxi

2011-04-12T20:24:00.000-07:00

It's time for another Everybody Everywhere! Today the challenge was to wear a maxi dress or skirt!

wearing: Kohl's sunglasses, vintage Gap jacket, thrifted cardigan, ModCloth belt, Buffalo Exchange thrifted Cherish dress (made in usa), gifted Melissa flats, etsy ring

It was still a bit too chilly to wear this dress alone and while I struggled to find a good layering option I finally settled on a coordinating black cardigan and my summer essential: the denim jacket!

As a recent convert to maxi dresses I thought it would be appropriate to share my tips on wearing a maxi dress. Here's how I've styled my other one:

I always thought I'd look short and stumpy wearing one but my adhering to these guidelines I feel long and lean!

1. Empire waists elongate your legs: my printed maxi just floats away from under my bust and makes my legs look and feel miles long!

2. Belt a maxi for a defined waist: if you have a big shapeless maxi a skinny or wide belt will cinch you right in

3. You can pair a maxi with heels for added height: I have yet to do this, but I'm sure it will be great in the summer. Don't be afraid of wearing your dress with flats, you won't look stumpy, just casual chic.

4. Avoid tiered maxis that draw the eye way down: I'm pretty sure this was the main reason I avoided maxi dresses. Tiered maxis are just so visually heavy on any frame. This is just my personal preference, if you can make it work, kudos to you!

Finally it's sunny enough to wear shades!

copycat and a giveaway!

2011-04-11T23:16:00.000-07:00

This here is a look from about three weeks ago! (I think I've taken about 2 outfit pictures in April, eek!) I was heavily influenced, okay I copied, Alicia's look from this post!

wearing: gifted jacket and flats, Gap scarf, old H&M sweater, Buffalo Exchange thrifted Lush shorts (made in usa), mystery tights

So am I a full-fledged style blogger now? I've tried shorts with tights! Although I'll have to say I can't wait to wear these cute shorts without tights this summer!

Okay so are you ready for a mini giveaway?

cute paisley print!

I have too many wallets and I want to pass on this super functional and cute Gap wallet to one of you! Just a tiny token of my appreciation for all the continued support even through my sporadic blogging! I've also tucked in a few little perfume samples from my Avon days!

To enter: Be a follower and leave a comment, easy!

Bonus entry: Follow me on twitter (look at me, so legit!) @lizzypunch

Two chances to win! You have until Saturday, April 16 at midnight PST!

bow peep

2011-04-07T20:02:00.000-07:00

wearing: Lulus earrings, Maurices cardigan, Buffalo Exchange thrifted Everly dress (made in the u.s.a.) and belt, mystery tights, and gifted boots

How sweet is this subtle polka dot print?

I have been on a dress kick lately. I've been having such good luck at the thrift stores scoring dresses in all styles. This one in particular caught my eye for being a bright blue with a big bow on the front, how adorable can a little dress be? I don't usually wear much blue so this will be a fun addition to my spring wardrobe!

How awesome are blue and brown together?!

guy styled

2011-04-06T22:04:00.000-07:00

I can't even recall when these photos was from. Two weeks ago? So behind. Anyway, on this particular day I asked Chris to pick my outfit and he did quite well. It always surprises me how much guys like a more casual look though! We really do dress up for other girls don't we? It seems the majority of guys would prefer to see girls in t-shirts and jeans!

wearing: Buffalo Exchange thrifted shirt, gifted jacket, Express jeans, Colombian necklace, and TOMS

It was such a bitterly windy day a few weeks ago, but I think I prefer wind to HAIL! Which occurred today! Isn't it supposed to be spring? What's up with the NW not getting that memo?

For those of you who were interested, I did get an internship. It's not in my major but it will still be beneficial to work in a professional environment. I now work 9-5 two days a week which leaves me a bit pressed for time, but I will hopefully get into the swing of things in the upcoming weeks!

my barefoot day

2011-04-05T20:50:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, I was planning to just update the previous post but that would mean deleting what I had typed, so I'm updating you all in this new post!

My school (WSU Vancouver) hosted a One Day Without Shoes event that included a campus awareness walk, footprint art, and trivia. I saw over 40 supporters!

We also kicked off a shoe drive for Shoes for Kids started by an young girl named Isabel who want to "Make Happy Feet". What a good-hearted kid!

Unfortunately I didn't get to go the entire day without shoes, but the hours I spent barefoot really made me aware of how difficult it is to go about your daily life without the comfort of shoes. It's also amazing how many times I complain about not having the right type of shoe to go with an outfit when so many million children don't have the option!

Thank you for those of you who participated in any capacity and remember to be thankful for what you have! Connect with non-profits in your area to see what you can do for children!

One Day Without Shoes 2011

2011-04-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

Today I will join a group of students on the WSU Vancouver campus in raising awareness about children who don't have the option of wearing shoes, or even going to school.

If you can, please join us in posting your look today without shoes! You can go above and beyond by organizing a shoe drive that would benefit local non-profits, donating money to charities, or buying yourself a pair of TOMS (they will donate one pair of shoes to children in need for each pair you purchase!)

You can go barefoot for the entire day, the lunch hour, or even ten minutes. Start a conversation with someone! Change your facebook or twitter photos to a One Day Without Shoes photo! You can tweet @TomsShoes and #withoutshoes! Or wear your TOMS in support of this cause.

My day looks like this:

Wake up barefoot!

Training in an office I have to wear shoes in for just one hour (what a luxury).

Go to school and participate in a campus mural project, campus awareness walk, and kick off our shoe drive to benefit Shoes for Kids a non-profit that will send gently used shoes to children in Haiti.

Go about the rest of my day without shoes in the cold and rain!

Let's bring awareness to this issue and experience what it is like to go One Day Without Shoes! Share your link below! I'll be posting my full look later today!

to the max

2011-04-03T23:05:00.000-07:00

This outfit post is super late, but oddly enough I ended up wearing almost the same outfit to go pick up Chris from the train station on Friday (I'm so behind I have 5 sets of photos on my computer! Better schedule some posts this week!)
Chris and I went out for some Mexican food last weekend and this little guy was outside, I just had to snap a photo!

wearing: vintage jacket (the 90s are vintage now right?), thrifted belt, Buffalo Exchange thrifted maxi (Made in USA by Audrey), gifted cardigan, scarf and shoes, misc. bracelets (see below)

I am LOVING maxi dresses! I mean dresses are already easy enough to wear, but with a maxi you don't even have to shave your legs! Haha, and this one is very forgiving for going out for pizza, beer, and on top of that ice-cream sundaes! I also felt surprisingly tall and elegant, not short and stumpy like I imagined with long dresses!

Left to right: Colombian bracelet, set of golden grass bracelets from Brazil, coconut bracelet from Puerto Rico! Looks like I'm representing Latin America on my wrist!

Now my secret for staying warm in a maxi dress in cold weather? Besides layering, I had one more trick!

I cannot wait for it to be warm enough to wear this dress without a sweater and just pretty sandals instead!

Outtake of the day! Sometimes I get a little grumpy and Chris managed to capture my moodiness!

But in the end, he knows how to make me smile! Sorry for the sap you guys, just miss this man a lot! Only a few more months until I can move up to Seattle and be with him!

kick off your shoes!

2011-03-30T20:50:00.000-07:00

Today I did a little promoting at school:

wearing: TOMS t-shirt, gifted tank, thrifted jeans, and plum cord TOMS
Next Tuesday, April 5th is One Day Without Shoes by TOMS! It's a day for everyone to raise awareness about children without shoes! The easy part is that you can do it for as long or as little as possible, or even join in virtually on Twitter or Facebook!

How amazing would it be if all style bloggers posted their One Day Without Shoes look next Tuesday! Participate, comment, tweet, discuss, and blog about this! It's the easiest way to show your support for children!

Want to know what else you can do beyond just raising awareness?

Run a shoe drive in your community!
Raise funds to donate to charitable organizations!
Buy a pair of TOMS! Did you know for every pair you buy (maybe some cute red wedges) they will donate a special pair of shoes for children in need?! It's One for One!

Well-loved!

NOTE: This is NOT a sponsored post! Just sharing a cause I truly believe in!

seattle bloggers

2011-03-29T21:23:00.000-07:00

I have a little update from the Seattle Blogger Meet Up last Saturday! Thanks Lindsay for the photos!

Me, Lindsay, Andrea, Emily, Kimmie, and Amber Lena

Such great laughs with these ladies!

Trying to mix it up with some more stoic poses, but the giggles got to us.

I didn't get to taking any "real" outfit photos but you can see I wore a Buffalo Exchange thrifted lace top and skinny jeans with some CrossRoads thrifted red pumps! The earrings and clutch were gifts from friends a while ago. I really struggled with what to wear due to laundry and weather but ultimately I picked something that felt very "me". I did feel a little out of the loop amongst the dresses and layers, but that's okay :) Next time...

Kimmie, Andrea, and Amber Lena

Emily, Lindsay, and Me

We met up at the Shelter Lounge in Ballard for happy hour, discussed our experiences with photoshoots, commenting, the big bloggers, privacy, our fave bloggers, and much more! It was such a blast, please check out their blogs, they are just as sweet and genuine in person as they are on their blogs!

Also, I've decided to join the Twitter bandwagon! I don't really have a clue as to what I'm doing but hopefully it will be fun, follow me if you are so inclined!

flower power

2011-03-28T15:15:00.000-07:00

First off, I've been a bad blogger! Oops! Let me update you:

I'm still in the midst of getting not one, but possibly two internships! Send good vibes my way :)

I guest posted about Portland Style on Fashion Therapist!

On Saturday I went to the Seattle Blogger Meet-up and took no photos (bad blogger again!) But Lindsey will be sharing photos as soon as her finger heals, go bombard her with get well wishes!

Lastly, Amber Lena gave us some gorgeous flower clips and emerald city necklaces! I'm wearing the flower below.

wearing: hair clip from Amber Lena, Buffalo Exchange thrifted cardigan, mystery tank, CrossRoads thrifted skirt, Fred Meyer tights, gifted flats

We all agreed to wear our new flower pins today! I didn't realize how many flowers are actually present in these shots until now - pin, floral cardigan, and daffodil background!

Thanks to all the lovely ladies I met last Saturday, I hope to do it again very soon! Check out their blogs here:

Andrea - Peanut Butter Hand Print
Amber Lena - Fashion Bargain Shopper Extraordinaire
Emily - Bright Tights, Cloudy City
Kimmie - Blue Paper Lanterns
Lindsay - Lindsay Living

Now I leave you with some lovely flowers to spread cheer your way this week!

faux leather faux pas?

2011-03-22T22:07:00.000-07:00

I know it's only been two days but I feel I've neglected this blog! Just had a busy weekend, a club event on Monday, tests, interviews, deciding about internships, etc. I have taken outfit photos for quite a few days so I need to start sharing them! Here is one from like a week ago?

wearing: gifted jacket, Maurices cardigan, CrossRoads thrifted dress*, vintage belt, gifted bracelet, mystery tights, and gifted boots

This outfit came together pretty quickly but looking back I wondered if it was normal to mix two shades of faux leather? I love mixing black and brown regularly, but for some reason this felt a little off. Perhaps the biker jacket and cowboy boots aren't a good mix? Ah. I think that's it. But I needed to wear a jacket and this seemed like my best option. What would you have paired it with?

*It's so important to envision what a thrifted item could look like if slightly altered! This dress originally went a few inches past my knees and it felt a little dowdy. But since the color and fit were so great, I had it hemmed for $10 and it looks brand new and made for me!

belt tying tutorial

2011-03-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

At last here is my double knot belt tying tutorial! I tried filming this but it was too difficult to see! Please note that I used an XL belt with an extra long "tongue" so that I had enough material to belt with.

step one: place the belt on your desired belting position. loop the tongue through the buckle but do not use the prong.

step two: while holding the belt in place, thread the tongue underneath.

step three: pull through and tighten, creating a loop.

step four: take the extra tongue and thread it through the newly formed loop.

step five: tighten.

if you wanted a single loop, you're done! if you have extra "tongue" remaining, read on...

step six: with the extra tongue thread from below once again.

step seven: tighten, creating another loop.

step eight: thread the tongue through the loop. this time it will go in the other direction.

fin.

lucky

2011-03-17T21:22:00.000-07:00

In the midst of the crisis in Japan I realize how lucky I am. We can help those in need right now by making a donation to one of many charitable organizations. I donated $5 on LivingSocial.com and they matched my donation. I know it isn't much, but if we all donated $5, $10, or more we can help in a small yet significant way. Consider donating to the Red Cross or Shelterbox or even join me in the Blogger Day of Silence tomorrow.

On a lighter note here is my St. Patrick's Day outfit.

wearing: LOFT cardigan, vintage tank, Buffalo Exchange thrifted jeans, CrossRoads Trading Co. thrifted flats

Can you spot the bit of green in my cool 80s tourist tank? I'm in love with this nerdy top, I have so many remixing ideas for spring!

Don't forget to count your blessings and help victims of the earthquake if you can!

in the studio

2011-03-16T15:36:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Chris had to work on his Printmaking final so I kept him company and took a lot of pictures in the studio!

wish i could steal this.

as i waited I pulled my hair up in this little braided bun.

roller thing-a-ma-jigs for the ink.

the big bad printing machine.

wearing: Chris's scarf, vintage blouse, Buffalo Exchange thrifted jeans, gifted flats

A close friend of my family's (basically my aunt) gave me a few bags of vintage goodies. I will have to pass on some of the itty-bitty skirts but I snagged this silk blouse for me :) I'm amassing a steady collection of any and all stripes!

my spring break...

2011-03-15T23:50:00.000-07:00

...involves eating chocolates in bed while playing the Sims 3. Sure it's not the beach but I take what I can get.

wearing: ModCloth tank, AA cardigan, Buffalo Exchange thrifted jeans, gifted boots

let's just ignore the terrible frizzy 3-hr car drive bun, k? thanks!

pseudo color block

2011-03-14T21:33:00.000-07:00

wearing: gifted jacket and flats, old dress and scarf, black tights

Perhaps all this talk of color blocking for spring has me craving some new color combinations. I was drawn to pairing my orange pashmina with this lavender purple dress for some visual interest. I wore this to travel up to Seattle and let me just say people definitely noticed, I got a few stares from head-to-toe black wearing Seattleites!

That is all.

spring forward

2011-03-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

This outfit wasn't actually from today but I figure I should stop hoarding pictures on my computer!

wearing: gifted tunic from Sweet Jayne, Portland OR, vintage belt, pashimina stolen from sister, old jeanas, gifted boots, earring from One Sydney Road via Maddy Chronicles giveaway (you can get your own pair here)

This tunic was actually about 2 inches longer, still too short to be a dress so but my mom suggested we take it to a tailor and sure enough now it's the perfect length and I have a little scrap to make a headband out of! I realized that spring and summer are much easier for me to dress for. I love bohemian style, flowy pieces, bright colors, sandals, pedicures... I'm so excited that it's coming soon! This top will definitely be a staple with shorts or maybe tucked into skirts! Thanks mami!

I'm on break, yay! But that means I have a ton of work to catch up on. Why do professors assign so much during our holiday? I also have to work during a bit of it, so no fun vacation pictures! Can I live vicariously through any of you?

red pumps for women

2011-03-10T23:41:00.000-08:00

Today I wore my new thrifted red peep-toe pumps to raise awareness for woman and girls with HIV. I didn't actually wear this outfit today but I still wore the shoes! This look is from last weekend, I didn't get to photograph what I was wearing today, so this will substitute! Click here for more info on the project.

wearing: thrifted cardigan and pumps, Express jeans, old tee and necklace

These items are both thrifted and gifted from my lovely mom! I love how this neutral cardigan still has a cute pattern and while the pumps aren't the most comfortable in the world, how could we pass them up for $9!

Sorry I've been absent from visiting your lovely blogs and replying to comments! I have a mere 7 weeks until the end my last semester and everything just feels rushed! Hopefully things will start to settle? Or get worse? Either way, please bear with me and my inconsistency!

peek-a-dot

2011-03-08T20:53:00.000-08:00

I have been complimenting myself on this blog title all day, please tell me you find it punny!

random scarf as headband, thrifted silk polka dot blouse, Maurices vest, gifted faux-leather jacket, Gap jeans, Rocketdog flats, Dad's old watch, gifted Turkish bracelet, gifted bangle
It's polka dot day on Everybody Everywhere and I'm wearing just a peek of it: polka dot, peek-a-boo, peek-a-dot? get it? Okay I thought it was great!

Sorry I've been so bad of visiting blogs! I'll catch up next week during spring break!!

winter 30 for 30 recap

2011-03-07T22:49:00.000-08:00

There you have it! All 30 outfits! Looking back, I didn't get as creative as I wanted to this time around, mainly because of the weather, but also because I got lazy with laundry near the end!

In this previous post, I wrote about some style resolutions such as wearing skirts, patterns, and accessorizing more, so here are the stats from this challenge:

I wore jeans 21 times (still a true jeans and tee kind of gal!) but I'm glad I stepped out and wore skirts or dresses almost 1/3 of the time, that is very new for me!
I wore some sort of pattern 14 times, that's almost half!
I mixed prints only twice (sad face) I had many more ideas that I'll have to try in the future but it just didn't happen during this challenge!
I accessorized in some way (besides just earrings) about 13 times.
I never wore my green skirt! I feel like it's more of a warm weather item.

Here are some of my favorites:

Outfit 2 - Inspired by Angie and inspiring to Indiana!
Outfit 10 - Simple, academic, put-together, I liked this a lot!
Outfit 19 - Styled by Shea!

Highlights:

Outfit 4 was showcased on CollegeFashion as I wore my flared jeans in preparation for spring!
Outfit 8 was Everybody Everywear Blazer Day and I loved wearing my new striped tank, this was also featured on CollegeFashion
I wore my cardigan backwards in Outfit 14
Outfit 17 was a guest post on ModlyChic and a successful pattern-mix!
I wore Outfit 20 to see Young the Giant in concert!
Felt like a snow bunny wearing denim on denim in Outfit 23

over it!

2011-03-06T23:22:00.000-08:00

Whoa, where'd the last four days go? I have finished the challenge but haven't blogged in forever! I was very busy helping out with Latino Family College Night at my school and it went great! Then since my parents were in town to present for the event, we've been hanging around Portland, eating yummy lunches, and thrifting (thanks mom!) I'll have many many updates this week but for now here are my last three outfits!

wearing: 6, 14, 20, 27, black tights, thrifted belt, and DIY leopard scarf as top
I got a little creative this day and wore my circle scarf as a top. I simply placed it over my head and tucked the bottom into the skirt. Perfect solution since I was sick of all my other tops!

wearing: 2, 9, 15, 26
Super simple outfit, I swear these last few outfits were tough! I was so over it!

wearing: 3, 14, 23 and what I thought was 19 but was really my black AA cardigan not the navy one, but it was too dark in my room that morning and it's what I picked up off the floor, true!

So glad to be done! Check back tomorrow for a full recap and maybe just a few lessons

almost there

2011-03-02T00:18:00.000-08:00

wearing: 7, 16, 25, black tights and gifted earrings
This skirt has no black in it but I knew that by pairing it with all black elsewhere it would be a great fit. This is probably one of my favorite outfits thus far, with only 1 more outfit picture to take!

P.S. I had an internship interview today and I think it went great! It's not in my field (HR) but it sounds interesting, manageable, and it pays so fingers crossed!

Chris sends many thanks for all the advice and congratulations! He actually got as many comments from you dear readers as on my birthday! He better not steal my spotlight ;)

Happy Birthday Chris!!!

2011-03-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

This handsome guy is 22 today! Sadly, I can't be with him to celebrate :(

Chris,

I am so proud of you, you inspire me with your dedication to your art, your creativity, and your sensitive personality. You bring out the best in me and I can't wait to share more birthdays with you, in the same town next time!

Love you lots,

Lizzy

Let's all wish him a very Happy Birthday in the comments! Maybe some advice from when you turned 22?

catching up

2011-02-28T21:16:00.000-08:00

*My new car under the snow!

This was the result of the "snowstorm" last Thursday. It was a bit slick but completely melted by noon. Now for some outfit recaps!

wearing: 2, 17, 25 and I cheated and wore water-proof boots!

wearing: 6, 16, 17, 22, grey tights, yellow belt and white cami. This looks cute, but it was really uncomfortable. The button up under the dolman sleeve sweater just didn't work!

wearing: 2, 20, 30, grey beanie and Keds I am such a cheater! My feet were k.i.l.l.i.n.g. me from wearing the same black flats over and over again, so I wore these and my feet thanked me! I promise I won't continue to screw up this challenge!

*Remember when my car burnt? This was the awesome replacement!

beanie baby

2011-02-28T14:41:00.000-08:00

I've had Beanie Baby since I was 9 years old but this past week my parents had to put him down. He was 13 years old and deteriorating every day.

My mom named him Beanie Baby because when we got him he was the tiniest of his litter and was literally the size of a beanie baby toy!

He fathered many puppies and we even still have Oscar Meyer, his son (on my lap)in the photo above.

Throughout these last few years he's experienced back problems, poor eyesight, and overall poor health, so we knew it was time.

We know that he isn't suffering anymore, and it was expected but we will miss him!

I'll be back with a plethora of photos tonight, just wanted to honor my childhood dog! And don't worry, I'm doing fine, it will hit me most when I go back home and he's missing! Losing a pet is not fun, but he truly lived a long and happy life!

lumberjill

2011-02-25T21:05:00.000-08:00

wearing: 3, 24, 27, and snow boots

I wore this the day it was supposed to snow a whopping 2 inches, but it didn't come until nightfall and it melted completely the next day! I felt like dressing the part of a lumber "jill" with casual denim on denim with these boots. Yes I cheated and got shoes outside my 30 for 30, but there was not way I was going to walk around snow and ice in heels or flats, I've learned my lesson!

P.S. My Young the Giant concert photos are featured on this blog!

P.P.S Thanks Dorothy and Rose &Violette for nominating for FBFF awards, I'm so flattered!

that leather jacket again

2011-02-23T23:08:00.000-08:00

It's funny that I've only really missed one day of posting but it feels like ages! I'll post two outfits to make up for it :)

Wearing: 3, 8, 16, 19, 28, JCPenny orange pashmina, LOFT belt, and Payless bag
Are you sick of seeing this faux-leather jacket? It seriously goes with everything, thanks Mom! I wore this to hang out at UW while Chris worked on his art project. You can't really tell but I layered up a tee, cardigan, scarf, and jacket to keep me warm, but the scarf really took center stage.

Paccar Hall (School of Business)

Me being weird, which is not at all out of the ordinary!

Denny Hall is the oldest building on campus! Chris has German in this building.

Wearing: 1, 15, 29, gifted aqua camisole, and Colombian necklace

On my day back at school on Tuesday I really struggled with what to wear but I finally settled on this bright pairing of aqua and pink! I think the trouser jeans and neutral shoes really grounded the busyness up top, I liked it!

I am currently in bed taking occasional peeks out the window since the NW is currently under a Winter Weather Advisory. This should make all you Midwesterners scoff: we're expecting 4 inches! Eek! No really, if it's "bad" I'll probably stay home tomorrow, I just hope the roads clear up for the weekend so I'm not stuck the entire time!

dinosaurs and young the giant

2011-02-21T23:41:00.000-08:00

First of all, thank you to all who posted on my body image post! It's great to hear that it was well received and that I was able to inspire a few of you to reevaluate how you perceive your shape! The great thing about this blogging community is the support that exists between bloggers and readers alike, thank you so much!

Now let's get to how I spent my 3 day weekend...
SATURDAY - Burke Museum

wearing: 8, 10, 16, 21, black opaque tights, and Colombian ring
This look was styled by Shea! Thanks for the great tip on mixing these patterns!

I wore this outfit two days in a row actually! Now I'm no longer ahead of the 30 for 30! Again, I belted this dress a little shorter, I'm definitely going to hem it up soon because this length is a lot more versatile. Chris and I went to the Burke Museum to check out some dinosaur bones, cultural artifacts and shiny baubles. We took lots of cheesy, blurry photos :)

Hm, my thigh is not nearly as big as this dino's!

The most awesome dinosaur ever: The Stegosaurus!!

Chris with a new to me dinosaur: The Plesiosaurus, it had a really long neck to attack predators, this lived in the water!

This is me inside a rhino! Well the cast anyway!

SUNDAY - Young the Giant and Mother Mother @ the Tractor Tavern
Ever since I saw Young the Giant open for Marina and the Diamonds in September I've been obsessed with them! They are my favorite new band, and we got to see them again on Sunday!!

wearing: 3, 8, 16, 21, 30, and DIYed t-shirt necklace

Sorry for the crappy quality, we took these while waiting for the bus! Before the concert we grabbed some amazing enchiladas from Señor Moose Cafe in Ballard, seriously tasty, but I didn't snap any photos! Anyway I leave you with photos of the concert and some videos so you can rock out this week after the jump!!

What did you do this weekend?

See photos from the concert...
Mother Mother

Chris and I really loved this new band, they hail from Vancouver B.C. and have such a unique sound! Check out their video for Hayloft!

Young the Giant!!

I can't recommend these guys enough! Check out these two videos for My Body and Apartment you won't be able to stop listening!

winner winner...

2011-02-20T16:35:00.000-08:00

Congrats Katie! I've emailed you :)

I'm thinking of making a thrifted giveaway a more regular occurrence, what do you guys think?

P.S. I'm so sorry but I forgot my leopard print belt this weekend, so the tutorial will be up sometime next week!

body image

2011-02-18T23:47:00.000-08:00

With so many women blogging about the clothes they put on their body there is no doubt that issues of body image are prevalent in the blogsphere. From comparing to how trends look on others or evaluating their photos, it's too easy to fall into the trap that we don't measure up.

I have been wanting to address this issue for a long time on Lizzypunch. I remember the first few times readers complimented me on a feature that I felt self-conscious about. Could it be that no one else sees the flaws that I do? Are we all too critical about our bodies?

~~So you want to know what I struggle with?~~ I started writing this out and it was a ridiculously long list, which really upsets me. Why should we focus on negatives? No one else judges our bodies as critically as we do!

ModlyChic's Friend Friday post is about this very topic this week:

1. Since you started blogging has your image of yourself changed?

I started blogging in November 2010. The funny thing is that I've always been self-conscious about my body in varying degrees, but looking back I always think "hey that's not so bad!". My weight fluctuates with the seasons, I don't keep up with working out in the winter but in the summers I'm more active and feel overall healthier and happier. I never weigh myself because I find numbers on a scale to be a completely arbitrary way of measuring your health. For me, I know when I am healthy by the way I feel!

I'd say that in the last couple of years I have definitely been more self-loving and have focused my attention on features that I like about myself and realizing that supposed "flaws" are a part of me and no one loves me less because of them! However, those days of low self-esteem pop up and photos that make me gasp are taken and that doesn't make me feel great.

2. Are you self-conscious about any aspect of yourself? If so, do you go out of your way to avoid it or do you post it/talk about it anyway? Oh I am self conscious about many features and of course I pick photos that I find more flattering, it's difficult to be candid about one's flaws. I do hope to be more transparent on Lizzypunch and not always pick the most flattering shots because I don't want to create a promote a better version of myself on the blog, I want to present my real self!

3. Based on how you are feeling now, what do you think the future holds in the evolution of your body image? I am embracing my body more and more each day and luckily the BF is a huge factor in helping me love my shape. Poor guy has to listen to my ups and downs about how I feel about my size and he always tells me I'm beautiful no matter what, and you know, that really helps! I'm also just learning to love myself more wholly from what my brain can do to the creativity I have or skills to my humour, all of that leads to me recognizing that my body is something to be appreciated as well.

4. Do you photograph yourself for your blog? If so, how do you feel about the experience when you’re having your picture taken? I sure do! I am very conscious of angles like I've mentioned before and I try to post flattering pictures, but again I'd like to start sharing more "real images" the not-so-perfect ones that are still ME!

5. What would you want every person who struggles with body image to take to heart? No one else sees the flaws that you see in yourself. I could list all the things that stand out to me and I bet you each and everyone of you would disagree! It's proven that we're all more obsessed with ourselves than with others and we don't notice other people's mistakes or flaws as much as our own. So let's all learn to let go, embrace our bodies, and support each other!

*The photos in this post have never been published on Lizzypunch because at the time I found them too unflattering and heaven forbid a style blog has flawed photos! You know what I've realized though? These photos, these features, they represent ME during happy times, candid times, and real times! I don't want to put up some front where everything is perfect, our bodies are real and functioning and beautiful in any form they come in!

long day

2011-02-18T00:08:00.000-08:00

Wearing: 3, 9, 15, 28 and Maurices necklace

This was not a scheduled post, I'm actually up this late! I'll be more wordy this weekend...

Stay tuned for the giveaway winner and a belt tying tutorial...

Goodnight!

cold feet

2011-02-17T09:50:00.000-08:00

I took this photo at 8 in the morning yesterday.

An hour later we had 3 inches of wet slushy snow! I really hate snow and I was not dressed appropriately so I was quite miserable until it melted later in the day. Did you not get a chance to see what I was wearing yesterday? My poor feet were freezing!

Here's the link to my post on ModlyChic. I miss your feedback! Go show Katy and the other guest bloggers some love :)

Remember, tomorrow is the last day to enter my 200+ follower giveaway! Wouldn't this cardigan look great in your spring wardrobe?

Alright I'll be back later this evening with my other non-weather appropriate look! (Why didn't I pick boots?!!)

ModlyChic Guest Post

2011-02-16T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hi Lizzypunch readers! This is Katy from ModlyChic Liz and I are swapping 30 for 30 posts today. Sweet, right?! This sweet dark green skirt, goes with a lot of items and is so easy to wear and comfortable. Don't you love a fashion find like that?

I haven't worn it much in this 30 for 30 challenge yet, but am hoping to work it into more outfits in the days ahead. I tucked this shirt in but wasn't thrilled with the way it looked as is, since it is made of a thicker material than a normal shirt. I added the scarf to put a little more dimension into the outfit and break up the thick white shirt. I think it did a great job at that.

Want to check out Liz's 17th outfit for the 30 for 30? You'll find her over at ModlyChic today.

take two and thank you!

2011-02-15T23:03:00.000-08:00

I should be studying for two exams and finishing my negotiation reflection but I can't not post my outfit!

wearing: 2, 15, 19, 27, and farmer's market earrings
So I feel like this is such a lame reproduction of look number ten but I did swap out the earrings and top! That counts right! Right? Well forgive me for being uncreative I promise I have some exciting remixes on the agenda!

I will now distract you from my boring outfit with something awesome.

I won the Apartment Therapy's Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces from the fantastic Bon Bon Rose Girls! They had a reader appreciation week full of giveaways in honor of their blogiversary and I was lucky enough to win this great book! Thanks Kristin and Megan!

I can't wait to get inspired by the pages! This will be particularly useful for decorating my first Seattle apartment this summer, woo-hoo!

Thankfully Chris and I have a similar comfy/cozy/boho style, can't wait to realize those design dreams!

Okay I really must go now, I hear getting a good night's rest is beneficial in recalling information so goodnight!

be mine

2011-02-14T21:30:00.000-08:00

Today's post is dedicated to my Valentine!

I'd never had a Valentine until I met Chris and now this is our 4th Valentine's day together. Well actually we are apart because of a silly thing called university but we had a pizza dinner Skype date. Anyway, he's the best boyfriend a girl could ask for! Chris, I love you so much, thanks for being my Valentine!

I'm going to post my last two outfits in reverse order because today's was way cuter...

Wearing: 6, 16, 20, 26, Fred Meyer tights, and ShopKim ring
I was saving this studded tank for Valentine's because it's the perfect raspberry color! I felt cheery all day, I know it's kind of a cheesy thing to dress for holidays, but I love it! Now to Sunday's look...

Wearing: 2, 16, 21, Lulus earrings, gifted trench and white cami
I wore my cardigan backwards just too be different, but honestly the no-neck look is not very flattering on me! Oh well, at least I tried something new!

Hope your day was filled with hugs, kisses, lot of chocolate, laughs, and love!

<3<3<3

Tell me what you did to celebrate (keep it kosher) in the comments!!

good things come in threes

2011-02-14T00:03:00.000-08:00

Or is that bad things? Well anyway, are you all ready for some photo overload? I have so many outfits to get caught up on!

Thursday
Wearing: 7, 14, 24, gifted necklace, tights, and ring
I actually put this together before Lydia suggested it because I knew it was a combination I wanted to try. During this photo session I was spotted by a neighbor, eek! That's why I moved from the backyard to the front yard, she saw me twice as she walked her dog. I must look like a narcissistic weirdo now!

Friday
Wearing: 2, 16, 20, 23, and white camisole
We'd been to SureShot before but this was the first time we played a little PacMan while sipping coffee, it was the perfect thing to do while it rained outside! This outfit felt a little bleh and out of season, but I can't wait to wear this blouse in the spring!

Saturday
Wearing: 1, 8, 14, 30, gifted necklace and Chris's belt
We spent Saturday doing a bunch of new things like eating breakfast at a new brunch spot, finally going to the Farmer's Market, visiting the Henry Art Gallery and then grabbing pastries while perusing Chris's new Gauguin book ($10!) at another new to us cafe! It was so delightful to be out taking pictures during a bit of windstorm before the rain fell too! I sort of consider it our Valentine's day because the whole day was just perfect!

*I'm also super thrilled that the INDIE Conference taught me how to use Photoshop and create this super cute vintage effect on my photos! Thank you Tieka and Elizabeth!

be my stylist!

2011-02-11T17:01:00.000-08:00

Most of you know the drill! Ten outfits into the 30 for 30 challenge I have asked YOU, dear reader, to be my stylist! Check out the previous examples here and here. Now for a recap of my outfits thus far:

I posted my original items here, this is a quick recap:

*Item 30 is my striped ModCloth tank top from look 8!

Do you see any interesting combinations you think I should try?
Any intriguing color or pattern combos?
What about layering options or use of accessories?

Get creative in the comments! I always link to my stylist!

Have you entered my giveaway?

collegiate

2011-02-10T21:31:00.000-08:00

I woke up to a wonderful surprise today! Have you heard of the Indie Blogger Conference started by Elizabeth and Tieka? Well they did a giveaway to win a spot and I won! I've checked it out and I'm sure it's going to help me out immensely! It's only $25 to gain access to the blog and the content stays up forever, so you can refer back to the posts as needed! I wasn't asked to promote this, but I've got to share a good thing when I come across it!

wearing: 2, 15, 19, 22 Colombian earrings, and thrifted leopard print belt (please see winter 30 for 30 post for details)

This poor little belt will not last long through all my twisting and tying!

I felt very preppy and put-together in this look, the oxford and cardigan were almost too much but the addition of this great little belt funks it up a bit! It's funny that a year ago I never belted around my waist, I felt it only emphasized my thick middle but my problem is I never belted high enough! Sure sometimes there a few bulges but it's okay! And it's great that belting is so in style and I can finally participate!

Have you been converted to a new trend since you started blogging?

Enter my giveaway!

quickie

2011-02-09T22:35:00.000-08:00

wearing: 1, 12, 20, 28, LOFT belt and Maurices necklace (please see winter 30 for 30 post for details)

Quick post since I'm getting ready to go up to Seattle again! I wore this on Monday and I think I'm falling more and more in love with wide-leg trousers, they are so comfy! The only problem is working the proportions. I feel like the top needs to be very fitted, or at least the base needs to be. I added this cardigan for warmth and at first I felt like it was too much volume but I think belting it really helps.

Anyway, got to run! Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

blazer day

2011-02-08T13:36:00.000-08:00

I almost forgot to join in the fabulous Everybody Everywhere today! I'm mixing up the order that I post my outfits, but I doubt you'll even notice! I decided to debut my new ModCloth striped tank to make up for not participating in Breton Stripe day last month!

I kept it simple today, which is what I think a blazer does best. Jeans and a tee are quickly transformed into a more posh look with a blazer! I added a bright scarf to keep it from being too plain!

wearing: 3, 9, 12, 30, gifted teal pashmina, and Down and Out Chic earrings (please see winter 30 for 30 post for details)
*after I took these pictures I realized my toes were killing me (I wore these shoes yesterday) so I swapped them for flats!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

giveaway time!

2011-02-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

I'm having a pretty crummy day so far. I woke up late and feeling a bit under the weather, burnt my breakfast, was late to class, then forgot an assignment for another class (I got it excused to turn it in late without penalty though), and received a not so great score on another assignment!

Sigh, here are some photos from my trip yesterday:

Super simple travel look, I'm not crazy about having mixed the crew neck with this particular cardigan, but you live, you learn!

wearing:3, 15, 19, 29 and a bracelet purchased at a Turkish store in Portland (please see winter 30 for 30 post for details)

SPRING FORWARD GIVEAWAY!!!
Looking on the brighter side, the sun is out and I'm going to have pizza and almond roca for lunch (that my sweet parents mailed me!) and I have an awesome giveaway to celebrate 200+ followers!

A few weekends ago when I was thrifting I was finding so many great things. I finally decided to stop and check out, when this gorgeous number got my attention! Isn't it perfect for spring? The bright oranges and pinks are grounded against a nice brown color! The perfect pairing to jeans and a tee or over a simple spring dress!

It is such a great find and it looks new to me. It has 3/4 sleeves and a sequined collar and is super soft. I'm sort of regretting not keeping it and using it in my thirty but I love you all too much to do such a thing.

So for your chance to enter:
1) be a follower of this blog
2) comment with what you are looking forward to about spring, or something that will cheer me up

Make sure your comment has a way for me to contact you if you win! Either an e-mail or link to your blog!

You have until Friday, February 18th midnight PST to enter! Good luck and thanks for all the support!

weekend wrap-up: thai and tullys

2011-02-06T19:20:00.000-08:00

My apologies in advance for these lackluster outfits. I knew all the praise on my first few would set the bar too high! All I can say is that when I'm with Chris in Seattle I'm too busy eating yummy food and laughing to worry about how I look. Promise I'll kick it up a notch this week!

I swear I straightened those bangs in the morning, but the darn humidity curled them right back up. Frustrating.

wearing: 3, 8, 16, 17, 27 and Gaby Burger necklace via Down and Out Chic giveaway (see winter 30 for 30 post for details)

I layered my big fuzzy red sweater underneath my faux leather jacket and I like how it transformed the look. I wore this out to get some delicious Thai food.

Lunch and a show at Thai Tom!

The end result: Spicy Broccoli with Chicken

Wearing: 10, 16, and 24 with black tights (see winter 30 for 30 post for details)

Chris has the uncanny ability to elicit belly-laughs from me :)

Studying at Tully's then went home for some Fable II, I'm officially addicted!

Now I'm home, frantically writing two papers that I procrastinated on, wish me luck!!

wide-legged

2011-02-04T18:09:00.000-08:00

Is anyone else excited about seeing wide-leg pants for spring? It's definitely a welcome rest from skinny jeans! I decided to put these thrifted pairs in my 30 items and forgo any skinnies (and boots) I may or may not be regretting that decision.

Wearing: 4, 8, 12, 25 and Brazilian earrings (please see winter 30 for 30 post for details)
I know I need to hem them a bit but I wore my tallest heels to try and combat dragging hems!

*Wow I have 200+ followers :) Stay tuned for a chance to win a little goodie next week!

pucker up

2011-02-03T21:40:00.000-08:00

Cover Girl Continuous Lip Color Really Red 575

Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush in Juiced Berry

layer up

2011-02-03T14:42:00.000-08:00

You know Wednesdays are my long and early days right? Well yesterday I came up with a combination that would keep me warm and stylish by layering 3 pieces!

I started with my ModCloth "dress" that is too short to be worn without pants! I tucked into my jeans slightly, then added a cream cardigan for extra warmth under the blazer. Except for getting out of my 9pm class I was warm enough all day!

Wearing: 2, 9, 11, 15, 20 and no accessories because my main concern at 7 in the morning is to leave the house clothed, accessories don't even cross my mind! (please see winter 30 for 30 post for details)

That's all for now! I'm headed up to Seattle to spend a few days with Chris! I'm a happy girl to say the least :)

Tonight I'll post my secret combination for ruby red lips!

red lips and leopard print

2011-02-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Hey don't get any ideas! Those two things are the only sensual parts of my outfit, the rest is practical, and sweet.

I was inspired by Angie of Fashion Me Blog and decided to blatantly copy her outfit from Monday. I really liked combining the chambray with the dressier skirt and the leopard belt is just too fun.

For those of you that are often curious of my hair-styling:
Today I have squeaky clean hair! Yesterday's? Not so much! I let it air dry a bit and then straightened my bangs with my EarthStik straightener, added some Redken #16 gel and scrunched the rest. Easy-peasy for a day when I've overslept!

Wearing: 6, 16, 24, thrifted leopard print belt, a ShopKim ring, and patterned tights (please see winter 30 for 30 post for more details)

Just a little silliness to get through the week!

soft stripes

2011-02-01T09:16:00.000-08:00

I started the challenge on Monday to give me a leg up on posting, we'll see how long it lasts!

The first thing I wanted to wear during the challenge was one of my new thrifted finds. I literally gasped when I put on this sweater in the dressing room. It is so soft and cozy, and Made in the US, score! I basically just want to live in this for the rest of the winter!

Wearing: 3, 8, 13, 18, 28 plus a Forever 21 chain necklace (please see winter 30 for 30 post for details)

NOTE: I forgot to mention in my last post that I have one exception to the 30 for 30 shopping ban. I have to buy a suit this month for upcoming internship fairs and interviews. It is simply a matter of necessity, and unfortunately I can't thrift one, so I'll have to step into a retail store and get one :( It won't be included as an outfit during the challenge, but I may take a photo for you to see how I look all professional looking!

winter 30 for 30

2011-01-31T10:24:00.000-08:00

Wow, has it really been nearly two weeks? In a way my little blogging break seemed to go on for ages, I guess it means I missed you guys! Well now I'm back and ready for a fun and challenging 30 for 30! Kendi's hosting the winter edition and today I'm supposed to share my items, so here goes:

Item Details
1. Thrifted jeans via Buffalo Exchange
2. Thrifted jeans via Buffalo Exchange
3. Thrifted jeans via Buffalo Exchange
4. Express jeans
5. Skirt stolen from sister
6. Thrifted black skirt
7. Thrifted floral pencil skirt
8. Gifted faux leather jacket
9. Thrifted black blazer
10. Gifted pink polka-dot dress
11. Gifted ModCloth tunic
12. Kohl's black pumps
13. Gifted Melissa flats
14. Target brown mary-janes
15. Thrifted nude flats
16. Gifted black flats
17. Thrifted red cardigan via Crossroads
18. Thrifted striped sweater via Buffalo Exchange
19. Thrifted navy AA cardigan via Crossroads
20. Gifted Maurices cardigan
21. Thrifted black and white floral cardigan via Buffalo Exchange
22. AA white button-up
23. Thrifted floral button-up tank via Buffalo Exchange
24. Chambray top via Orchid Grey
25. Kohl's ruffle and black top
26. Embellished tank via Buffalo Exchange
27. LOFT cream floral t-shirt
28. Anchor Blue black t-shirt
29. Gap pink sweater
30. On it's way from ModCloth...

That's 12 thrifted items! And 8 gifted or stolen items :)

I'm definitely going for a recipe to beat winter blues by wearing a lot of warm shades: pink, red, magenta, and a lot of feminine details like ruffles, florals, and polka-dots. I guess I'm aching for spring?

Best of luck to all you remixers out there, leave a comment so I can pay you a visit!

P.S. This is long overdue but thank you to Anne at WobiSobi and Courtney of Charmed in PDX and Minute Obsessions for the Stylish Blogger Awards! Anne just restyled a white jacket into a vest and Courtney just posted her 30 for 30 items, also check out the cute puppy picture Minute Obsessions posted! Thank ladies!

break time

2011-01-18T18:12:00.000-08:00

I know I don't have to explain myself but I feel bad leaving you all hanging. I just need to take this week off to get more settled with school, finally get over my stuffy nose and just have some me time without worrying about looking happy in pictures. You know? Hope you are all doing well and I look forward to getting back soon and having higher spirits.

casual friday

2011-01-14T16:21:00.000-08:00

AA cardigan: thrifted, DIY necklace, gifted boots

I wanted to pair my new necklace with softer blues and greens and this combination lent itself well to the bright pop of yellow. I drove up to Seattle yesterday evening so I could enjoy my four day weekend with Chris! We moseyed about the campus and down the Ave today, Chris found some fantastic thrifted jeans and a sweater both for under $24, but I unfortunately was not so lucky, although that means I saved a few bucks!

Check out what we had for dessert last night...

Granted. It's just plain cheesecake but with a little bit of mango puree it becomes divine! (Compliments of Taste of India in the U-district. If you go, don't ever ask for dessert, it always comes free!)

And now for some friend friday questions and answers about outfit planning:

1. How do you determine what you will wear that day? Mood is a big factor, do I want to dress up or be comfy? Also the events of the day, class, work, going out? Sometimes I'll wake up wanting to wear a certain color or item like a skirt or specific shoes. It just sort of depends!

2. Do you plan outfits out in advance for a whole week, month, weekend? Occasionally I'll plan for a week or two. I'll try things on and then hang them or fold them neatly. Often after a thrifting trip I'll begin coordinating outfits so that I have many options to seamlessly introduce new items in my closet. This week for example, was entirely planned on Sunday but tweaked each morning.

3. Do you have any specific way of tracking outfits and items already worn so you don't repeat? I have no problem repeating an outfit if I felt good in it. Sometimes when I'm lacking in the inspiration department I will purposefully look at archives to plan an outfit! It doesn't happen often though, I don't avoid it, but I seem to always try new things.

4. How do you discover new combinations of items in your closet? When I'm sensing boredom in my wardrobe I'll pull things out and just play stylist for an afternoon. I have also asked you guys for help during my 30 for 30 challenges! Other times I see someone in real life or in the blog world wearing something I want to emulate.

5. To streamline the process for 2011 what is one new thing you can do to cut down your dressing time? What takes me the longest is sometimes changing my mind. So I think what could help is putting together outfits that I feel really great in beforehand. If I'm not convinced when I'm planning but I set it aside anyway, I'll end up searching for something different to wear!

How do you guys get inspired and organized?

P.S. My dear Shaki is lagging in votes for best Solo Female Artist, if you like her click here to vote!

le chat noir

2011-01-13T21:49:00.000-08:00

tee: gift from sister from France, blazer and flats: thrifted, Crossroads, cuff and earrings: gifts from Mom

I haven't worn this shirt in ages, and it is a little too short for me know but I layered a tank underneath. I thought it would look great peeking out from my new blazer! I love the contrasting liner when the sleeves are rolled up!

Sleek hair provided by the new flat iron I bought with some Christmas money! My first instinct was to go with a CHI but they're so expensive! I found this great eco-friendly EarthStik with great reviews on Amazon, and it was 45% off! It's made of 50% recycled material and 14% recycled components! I'm also happy that it not only works for my bangs which was my intent but it can manage straightening my whole head of hair! Tomorrow I'm going to curl it and we'll see how it goes! *A note, the first one I ordered did not work but the 2nd replacement is working fine, I think it was an issue with the individual one I got sent first.

Check out my guest post on different ways to wear a faux-leather jacket on Mad Dress Game!

thirteen hours later

2011-01-12T22:47:00.000-08:00

Today I went into work at 7:45-12. Had two classes back-to-back from 12-3. A 1 hour break. Class from 4-5:30. Then a final class from 6-8:45. That's a thirteen hour day dear readers and I am not a morning person! I could have gone the easy way out but I opted to dress up to tackle this challenging day!

skirt: thrifted, Crossroads, earrings: One Sydney Road (Maddy Chronicles giveaway win)

You should be very proud I got this shot right at 7:25 as I was getting ready to leave! I really liked how this outfit came together. I was originally going to wear a navy blouse with the skirt but since I wanted to wear these blue tights I opted for cream on the top half. I also started the day wearing my brown boots because the weather was supposedly going to be dreadful (that's just PNW paranoia, it was fine!) but at the last minute it just didn't look right so I went with these mary-janes.

{i just love the print}

How do you cope with long days?

super cardigan

2011-01-11T16:48:00.000-08:00

Jen from Jen Hemming and Hawing Again asked her readers to wear a cardigan today and strike a superman pose! It couldn't have been planned better since I had decided to wear my thrifted cardigan today! Here's my entry:

{how fun is this cardigan?}

cardigan and flats: thrifted, Crossroads, ring: gift from sister, France

I know this probably isn't the most flattering cardigan on earth, but you know when you see something and it doesn't matter if someone tried to convince you out of buying it, it just resonates with you? Okay, maybe that's a little deep but I just knew that this would the be the kind of chunky sweater I'd reach for on a bundled-up day or an evening spent cuddled up with a good book. It's super warm too, which helps since today it's supposed to snow!

{i love the bit of lavender in these new thrifted flats!}

A funny story about these earrings. I remember one day standing in line at some store at the mall ready to check out when I saw these earrings and I thought, "man I wish I could wear those". I didn't have my ears pierced yet, but I thought it was about time to get it done so I waltzed over to Claire's and waited, and waited. Some of you may remember that I had to re-pierce my ears because they never healed! Well at least now I can sport them with pride and satisfaction. I don't know why I wanted them so badly, they're pretty simple!

Do you ever buy something a bit out of the ordinary just because?

first day {back} at school

2011-01-10T22:19:00.000-08:00

trench, necklace, and flats: gifts, button-up: American Apparel, skirt: thrifted, Crossroads

I wanted to look very put together and professional today since I was meeting two new business/management professors and first impressions are very important right? I hope they aren't too important though because although my voice is beginning to return my nose is starting to run! Nothing makes sitting in class more awkward than having to sneak out to blow your nose or discretely wipe your nose when no in is looking. Sigh, not a great start to the semester!

I used a GroupOn certificate to get a discount on this AA button-up and I'm so happy to finally have a great staple piece. I really recommend this top since it is unisex and not fitted like most women's button-ups it doesn't gape on those top buttons and has a really relaxed feel. This was officially my first purchase of 2011 and I think a good representation of the kinds of items I want to focus on!

{i know these photos are a little off, I had very little time to take them!}

{you see? I'm accessorizing!}

opportunity

2011-01-10T15:24:00.000-08:00

Are you a small business, an etsy shop, an ethical online retailer? I know a lot of you readers are extremely talented and some have shops, I'd love to help get the word out for your business!

E-mail me for ad rates and sizes at lizzypunch{at}gmail{dot}com

this weekend i...

2011-01-09T22:47:00.000-08:00

1. didn't speak due to laryngitis and I still haven't recovered!

2. made a t-shirt necklace with the help of Keira's tutorial:

My necklace didn't stretch out long enough to loop around so I had to cover up the two spots were the seams met. Stay tuned to see how I wear it sometime this week!

2. went thrifting:

AA cardigan (extra points for being made ethicallly and thrifted!): $15, blazer: $14, sweater: $18

new flats: $14, belt: $2.25, DIY necklace, printed pencil skirt: $13.50, black skirt: $7.50

All thrifted items found at the Hawthorne, Portland Crossroads!

I went thrifting with a purpose this weekend, with the new year I've been tossing around more sartorial resolutions. I've already written about how I want to shop, this list is about what I want to look for:

1. basics - I think I've gotten a lot better at focusing on the workhorses of a wardrobe instead of greedily shopping for a plethora of stand-out items. During this thrifting trip I found the perfect black blazer that can work with anything from a dress to a suit to a pair of jeans. I also found a replacement for that black skirt I attempted to make work, looking back it, it was meant to be a dress and just never fit right as a skirt.

2. wear more skirts - although I have and probably always will be a t-shirt and jeans kind of gal, I've realized that skirts offer an incredible potential for remixing that jeans just can't live up to! This weekend I found the black skirt and this great printed pencil skirt.

3. embrace prints - that thrifted skirt is one of the few printed items I now own. I sometimes shy away from prints because they look daunting but in reality it's easier than ever to pull colors from it and remix in new ways! And how will I be able to mix prints if a I don't have any!

4. shoes, shoes, shoes - now I don't want to be the next Imelda Marcos but I do have a soft spot for beautiful shoes yet I often limit myself to what's practical. Thrifting will really allow me to grow my shoe collection without breaking the bank! The brand new nude flats I found are a step, no pun intended!

5. details matter - okay I'll admit I sort of suck at accessorizing. I tend to stick to the same belt or cocktail ring time and time again. It's time to spice things up in 2011 and really focus on the little things. When I saw the leopard print belt for $2.25 I knew it would be just the kind of accessory that could take an outfit to the next level! Expect to see me use my accessories more from now on!

denim on denim

2011-01-07T23:45:00.000-08:00

chambray button-up: purchased from Orchid Grey, cardigan: thrifted, flats: Melissa Shoes, gift, necklace: FENNOfashion via Adored Austin

So it only took me until this year to try the double-denim trend! As soon as I saw Julie had listed it for sale I snatched it up, it was my last purchase of 2010. It's much softer than I expected and I love it paired with black, I have many more ideas for it too. I also love this stunning necklace from FENNOfashion, it is just the right amount of "bling" and matches every outfit!

In other news, I shelled out $400 for my textbooks this quarter. I'm taking 5 classes all very important to my major, it should be fun and stressful!

I'm also sick with laryngitis! I have plans to stay in bed drinking tea most of the weekend and being very quiet. Hope you all can have a more exciting weekend!

feeling rosy

2011-01-06T21:55:00.000-08:00

{it was rainy so the photos came out all grainy!}

trench: gift from mom, dress: gift from sister (ModCloth Made in the USA), leggings: Aprie, shoes: thrifted, Crossroads, necklace: gift from mom (ModCloth)

You guys without my family I would never be dressed! They really spoil me, I think I should give them special sponsor ads on my sidebar! As soon as I saw this dress I fell in love with it and my sister kindly gifted it to me for Christmas. It is on the short side but with black leggings it's a little more decent, I also wore this in Seattle where I feel infinitely more daring in my clothing choices! I may hem it up into a shirt sometime soon since I doubt I'd feel comfortable wearing it sans tights!

{this is my "i'm freezing my butt off but trying to smile" look}

what to wear at university

2011-01-06T07:59:00.000-08:00

scarf: borrowed from Chris (his mom knitted it), jacket and flats: gifts, tee: borrowed from Chris, bag: my mom bought it for me in the airport before my trip to NY, earrings: gift from Ashley

{me pulling a Sydney pose}

I call this a university uniform because it's what I could see myself wearing everyday as I rushed to various classes. On this day I was just pretending to be a student on the UW campus. The flats are essential for comfortable walking, the jacket/skinnyjean/scarf combo helped me fit in effortlessly in the art department cafe and the earrings add a unique touch of color. I promise I won't wear my new jacket everyday.

{the real UW student and the poser}

listening to: young the giant - my body

stripes and leather

2011-01-05T08:27:00.000-08:00

I am getting so much wear of this faux leather jacket. I am still living out of the suitcase I took to Walla Walla over two weeks ago so bear with me and my similar outfits!

jacket and flats: gifts, blouse: gift, ModCloth made in the US, purse: What I Wear in a Little Town giveaway win, jeans: thrifted, Buffalo Exchange

I mentioned that my sister asked what ModCloth items I wanted for Christmas and I chose from my special Made in the US wishlist and this top was one of them! It is unfortunately out of stock at the moment but if you ask to be notified they might get more!
We took these nighttime photos in the U-Village a few days ago. Chris used up his Gap giftcard for Christmas. Then he bought a few tees at H&M. I was very good and just looked!! It was most difficult since I love everything those stores have to offer, but I walked away empty handed and proud of myself!

These aren't the best photos of capturing my hair before and after but they'll have to do. My stylist added some sideswept bangs, what she calls "invisible" layers (when straight you can't see them but when curly they add texture), and cut about 2 inches off the ends.

{before}

{after}

new comment system

2011-01-04T10:39:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note on the new comment system, Disqus.

You will notice that to comment you can either login as a guest with your name and e-mail, or create a quick Disqus account so you never have to enter in that information when you comment here or on many other sites!

Why the change?

I often have trouble getting back to someone who asks me a specific question if they don't leave an e-mail. I also tend to pay a visit to every blogger who comments me but if someone glanced at the comments they'd think I didn't take a very active role in conversation.

I will still stop by your blogs when you comment me. This is an additional method of communication that I hope will make Lizzypunch better! So from now on, ask away in the comments for quick feedback!

last of 2010

2011-01-04T00:01:00.000-08:00

I'm sure that a few weeks down the road I'll round-up some holiday photos from my family but for now this is the last outfit from 2010! One primarily composed of gifts and that I'm mighty proud of for putting together.

{like the new fringe?}

{isn't this polka-dot print divine?}

jacket and shoes: gifts from my mama, dress (worn as skirt): gift from the sis, scarf: borrowed from Chris (his mom made it), earrings: Adored Austin giveaway win, bag: What I Wear in a Little Town giveaway win, leggings: Aprie

{a photo from the stroke of midnight}

Lastly here are some of the shots that Chris captures. It's much easier to be silly in front of the camera when your cute boyfriend is taking your pictures rather than posing in your backyard with a tripod, but alas I have to make due with that most of the time! At least I have a few more days with him before I have to go start my semester!