(28) through jenny's eyes

The wonderfully, fabulous Jenny Skinner took my outfit shots on Sunday, just a day after launching her very own photography and design business! (you can check out the rest of the pictures from our shoot on flickr here, and some of her other photography in her photostream) It was my second photo shoot of the weekend (I haven't seen anything from the first one yet, but I will post them when I can!) and a lot of fun!

It all came about when Jenny and I were on our Sunday morning long run (9 miles, thank you!) and she was filling me in on her photo and design business and the pictures she has been taking with her new camera, and I was telling her about my shoot with Julian the day before, when we decided to get together later in the day to have her do my outfit shots!

I think they came out absolutely beautifully! Jenny has also expressed an interest in contributing as a photographer for my blog on a regular basis. It's a very exciting idea to have my wonderfully talented photographer friends help me with my blog. It means so much to get the support from them. Even though the processing turn around time is kind of intense!

Look at me, talking all about the photos and I haven't even mentioned the outfit!! Jenny calls it "the all American, girl next door" and I can't agree with her more! It's comfort and classic style, in red, white, and blue, you can't really go wrong!

When and Where:

• Sunday, February 27th, 2011
• out for a photo shoot with the Amazing, Jenny Skinner and to dinner

What I'm Wearing:

• jacket - LC by Lauren Conrad from Kohl's
• top, skirt - Gap
• belt - Kohl's
• tights - Target
• necklace - via Loehmann's
• shoes - Clark's thrifted from Unique

Photo Credit to Jenny Skinner of Jenny Skinner Photo and Design

Here are some more photos from the shoot:

what does one wear to a photo shoot?

The answer: sweats! 

Okay, so I mentioned that on Saturday I had an incredible photo shoot with AMAZING photographer, Julian Vankim (here is the link to his photostream on flickr and previous shoots I have done with him). I am so lucky that he and I are friends, remember when I said how I have the most amazingly talented friends in the world? Just take a look at his work and you can see why I fee that way! Julian is working to flex some new photography muscles, by venturing outside of his studio. We did two kind of exaggerated "style me" looks at my office, and then one of an exaggerated "me" working on my blog. And I am super lucky that he also wants to work with me to shoot an outfit or two a month for this blog!

Now, these pictures were taken by me, my trusty tripod, D5000, and nikon remote. This is what I wore to meet up with Julian, to coach diving, babysit, then to my sisters party. What can I say, I like sweats on the weekends! Now I think my sweats are kind of a cute look, but where is the line between style and function? Which one should win out - style over function, function over style, or is it all about moderation? ;)

When and Where:

• Saturday, February 26th, 2011
• to a photo shoot, to coach diving, to babysit, and to celebrate my sister's (11 days later) and Will's (2 days early) birthdays

What I'm Wearing:

• UVA swimming tee shirt - a gift
• sweatpants - Target
• shoes - Mizuno, wave precision 7 (they are soo old but I love them!)

(27) night look

Okay, so remember how I said that I cheated? This is what I changed into when I got home so that I could go out on the town on Friday night. I have also decided that I do not think that it's cheating. I have resisted borrowing and shopping, and I have even been able to stay on schedule!

I don't mean to toot my own horn, but toot - toot! I have 3 more looks until I am done with this remix! Remember all the pre-shopping that I mentioned that I did before the remix? Well, now that I have paid the bill for all that pre-shopping, I am so excited to get to finally wear those things! Plus, I have a new excitement for the clothes that already own! In fact, remember that little surprise that I mentioned? Well, I got to use my own clothes for a photo shoot with an amazing photographer, Julian Vankim, over the weekend! I am hoping to post pictures sometime this week!

When and Where:

• Friday, February 25th, 2011
• out on the town to Reston Town Center

What I'm Wearing:

• jacket - LC by Lauren Conrad via Kohl's
• sweater, jeans - Gap
• dress (worn as a top) - swapped with DC 
• shoes - Target
• necklace - Givenchy
• scarf - a gift, handmade by my sister, Alix

(26) day look

I'm in the home stretch of the 30 for 30 remix! It's super exciting! I have loved the challenge of trying to come up with different outfits with a limited number of items. (I think shoes are the toughest part) But I am so excited to crack open my second closet (yes, I have two closets - it's amazing), where all my non-remix items are hidden away from me.

Now I have to admit, I cheated a little on Friday. This post is titled day look because after work I went home and changed before going out. Is that cheating? Can I add that I didn't get dressed in anything other than sweats on Sweats on Saturday? Okay, so that's not entirely true... but it's a surprise ;) (unless you follow me on twitter or facebook, because I'm not very good at keep surprises a secret). If you ask nicely, maybe I will tell :)

When and Where:

• Friday, February 25th, 2011 (daytime)
• to work

What I'm Wearing:

• sweater, cords - Gap
• top - Banana Republic
• boots - via TJ Maxx

(25) blues and grays

I hate to say that I have been feeling kind of blue and gray lately, but I have been. I love this outfit and even though the colours aren't the most cheerful in the world, I did feel rather upbeat while I was wearing it. I am venturing into the land of belting things (both here and the day before!), because it is a style that I like so much on other people! I am determined to make it work for me!

I am also making an effort to high light some of the wonderful jewelry that I have. I mean, what's the point in having it if you don't wear it! What styles are you trying to incorporate into your life? And where do you find your inspiration?

When and Where:

• Thursday, February 24th, 2011
• to work

What I'm Wearing:

• sweater, cords - Gap
• top - Banana Republic
• shoes - Enzo Angolini (2004)
• belt - thrifted from Unique
• necklace 1 - Simply Vera from Kohl's
• necklace 2 - Givenchy 
• ring - gift from Julie Moreland
• hair bow - handle of a LOFT shopping bag

Reston On Location: Reston International Center

7 things...

"...your hair, your eyes, your old levi's, when we kiss I'm hypnotized, you make me laugh, you make me cry, I guess that's both I'll have to buy, your hand in mine when we're intertwined every thing's alright..." Okay... so there is the first thing, I like Miley Cyrus, Britney Spears, and pretty much all pop music! 

It was super nice of Yvonne to tag me in her 7 things post for a "stylish blogger award!" So here I am, trying to come up with seven things that will help you get to know me without making me sound like the huge dork that I am! :)

Okay so I have already divulged that I have horrible awesome taste in music. I used to be a figure skater and can still do all my single jumps and some spins. I coach springboard diving at the youth rec level and high school level. I run. I have run races of all distances up to 1/2 marathon and will do my first full marathon this fall. I have a serious shopping/money spending problem that I am working on overcoming. I love my life, but worry everyday that my love for my current life will keep me from moving forward and that I will be living this same life in 10 years. I can get awkwardly deep without meaning to. And that looks like seven!

I have to throw an eighth one in because it is just too important! My friends are some of the most talented people on this planet! They amaze me everyday with all of their super amazing talents :)

So here are my seven pics:

Molly, DC, Linda, Linley, Brittney, Michelle, and Lisa!

Tell me the seven things you like about you! :)

(and yes, that is me on the left, dressed as Hannah Montana)

(24) playing paper dolls!

At the beginning of the remix, Liz and a couple of other lovely style bloggers played paper dolls and dressed each other with items from their 30 for 30. I soooo wanted to play, so I sent a little email to Molly to see if she would play with me! Luckily, she is a super cool chick that was up for the challenge of dressing someone else!

We each played it kinda safe and let the other one pick out their own shoes, but this was Molly's choice for me! It is super similar to this outfit, but with the change of shoes and the addition of a scarf, it has a totally different feel! You should check out what I dressed Molly in today! We are actually wearing the same cords, just in different colours. Want to play paper dolls with us sometime?

When and Where:

• Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011
• to work, lunch with Stephen

What I'm Wearing:

• sweater - Loft, a gift from Jenny
• top, cords - Gap
• shoes - Target
• scarf - borrowed from my Mom
• necklace - combined a gift from the Whaley's and from Erin

Reston On Location: Plaza America

(23) I need more purple in my life!

My roommate and I always joke about needing more purple in our lives. A little over a year ago, I wanted to paint our apartment purple, that got voted down and we ended up with a crazy clown wall of literally 25+ different colours. It was great for a year, but I am not sure I would want to live in a house with a clown wall for much more than that!

So this outfit is my attempt at adding a little more purple into my life! I am not even sure why I included this shirt in my remix... This is the first time that I have worn it (other than as a layering item) since the summer. I am sure it will be the least remixed item, unless I can put together another way to wear it in the next 6 days!

When and Where:

• Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011
• to work

What I'm Wearing:

• sweater - thrifted Banana Republic via Unique
• top - Threads4Thought via Nordstrom Rack
• scarf, cords - Gap
• necklace - a gift from Auntie Laura
• boots - via TJ Maxx