Look Back: December 2010

December of 2010 was when I officially started posting to Reston Style! I cannot believe that it's really been a year of (nearly) daily photos and outfit posts! Looking back at the beginning, my poses totally sucked! Hands on hips, big smile... wow, I looked like a huge dork! :)

I think when I started this blog I had dreams that it might lead me into doing something with clothes. They weren't well thought out dreams, just ideas that maybe it would lead me somewhere - but that the somewhere would be fashion related. The funny thing is, I think I am less interested in clothes and fashion after blogging for a year than I was when I started. But that doesn't mean it didn't lead me somewhere! I am more inspired by photography than I have been since I was in high school. I get excited just thinking about getting to take pictures! I can't wait to rush home and edit and share the images that I have taken. My roommate's mom's boyfriend is a photographer, and he told her that the world just looks right through a camera, and I couldn't agree more!

Even though my motivation for starting this blog has evolved, I think it's still a good exercise in finding something fun about getting up and getting dressed everyday! And make sure to check out my photography blog for some of my work!

...and I have a leggings problem

I am fairly certain if there were something called "leggings anonymous" I would have to go. I believe that this was the 3rd or 4th day in a row that I sported leggings as pants. Then after returning from Grand Cayman (when I was sick/lazy and stopped taking pictures) I wore them for another 5 days or so.

Now I'm all for leggings, but everyday is pushing it. And what's worse? I have started wearing my cropped leggings pretty much anytime I am just hanging around. Sure, they're great for coaching or working out, but they're not real clothes. I should be getting dressed in real clothes, not just slobbing it up in cropped leggings and a sweatshirt every chance I get. (today I am only slightly better in jeans and a sweatshirt!)

I have bad news though... I lost my tripod. I have no idea where it might have gone to. So for now, no new outfit shots. :( Luckily, I did order a new one and it should be here between tomorrow and the 4th. Hopefully it will arrive in time for NYE group pictures, but if not, I have some clever ideas on how to get around it!

When and Where:

• Thursday, December 1st, 2011
• to work

What I'm Wearing:

• sweater - loft
• tee, socks - target
• leggings - danskin (old)
• boots - Jessica Simpson via Loehmann's
• scarf - Gap

over a month ago...

That's when I wore this. See, I figured posting what I have is better than not posting at all. And since I have been fighting daylight with my work schedule, well... this will have to do!

I can't decide if I am excited about the new year, or just want this year to end. Maybe it's half and half. Tonight I head to Amanda's house for her bachelorette get together! This might be the last time that all of us are in northern Virginia before we do officially planned bachelorette duties!

I'm also trying to come up with some new years resolutions that I can keep... any ideas?



When and Where:

• Monday, November 21, 2011
• to work

What I'm Wearing:

• sweater - LOFT
• jeans - Levi's via Kohls
• boots - NineWest via DSW

broken link and lost outfits

I have been a horrible "daily" outfit blogger. I mean, I was only in Grand Cayman for 5 days, yet I have only posted 3, and the last post had broken images for the better part of a month! Shame on me! I have also been horrible about taking pictures (though I assure you that I have been getting dressed)while my efforts have been focused on my photography business/blog. Okay, well, it's still more of a blog, since at this point it has only broken even as far as the actual money I have spent to launch it. So basically my SmugMug pro account is paid for this year and next... and that's it. Guess I have more work to do!

Anyone in the Northern Virginia area want some portraits done? ;)Seriously though, email me if you do! How about heading over to Facebook and "liking" my photography page?




When and Where:

• Wednesday, November 30th, 2011
• to work

What I'm Wearing:

• top - Zara, purchased in Brussels
• sweater - LOFT
• leggings - Danskin (old)
• boots - via TJ Maxx

Grand Cayman, day two

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I was on such a roll! I was taking tons of photos, finding time to edit them, and posting from vacation... then I got a sore throat. Turns out from the end of the first day on vacation until the day after I got back, I had a horrible case of strep throat. Good thing I didn't realize it until I was flying home, but it explained why I kept falling asleep by 9pm each night!

Maybe I didn't get at much editing and posting done as I would have liked, but it didn't really stop me from playing with my camera. After the photos from the first two days were such a nightmare to edit, I decided to get up early and take picture on the beach while the sun was low in the sky on the other side of the island. Basically, I pretended to be a swimsuit model. :) I actually ended up swapping the top out for my pink one, but I liked these pictures, so I'm posting them!

When and Where:

• Monday, December 5th, 2011 (my dad's 55th birthday!)
• Grand Cayman

What I'm Wearing:

• sunglasses - RayBan Cockpit
• dress - American Eagle via Plato's Closet
• bikini - Victoria's Secret

Here are some pictures from the day:


And the best picture ever, Rowan's self portrait:

Grand Cayman, day one

My family and I pretty much just hung around the hotel on Sunday, since most of the shops on the island are shut down then anyway. It was a day of playing in the ocean, snorkeling, building sand castles, swimming and the pool, and relaxing in the hot tub! We even got Rowan, who take practically freezing baths, to get in and enjoy the hot tub.

When and Where:

• Sunday, December 4th, 2011
• Grand Cayman

What I'm Wearing:

• cover up - Target, hand-me-down from Laura
• bikini - Victoria's Secret
• sunglasses - RayBan via Nordstrom Rack

Grand Cayman, day zero

I love being on Vacation! We headed for the airport at 4am on Saturday. Surprisingly, Michelle and Nick were on our flight to Miami, so we got to coordinate tomorrow in person! It's the best luck that they will be stopping here while I am here!

I wasn't sure if we were checking bags, so I packed my tripod... so I didn't get any pictures of my travel outfit. But this is what I wore down to the beach and pool when we arrived at the Grand Cayman Marriott! Sorry the pictures aren't great... I didn't have much time to take them and had forgotten my flash trick for hotel room pictures!

When and Where:

• Saturday, December 3rd, 2011
• to the beach and pool in Grand Cayman

What I'm Wearing:

• Sunglasses - RayBan Cockpit (NEW!)
• coverup - Target
• bikini - Victoria's Secret

Here are some pictures from Day Zero: