Under My Umbrella Ella-Ay-Ay-Ay-Ay

Happy Wednesday!

Do you guys remember this post? Even though I'm thankful that the sun has been shining out here in Cali, I am a little bummed that I only got to use my super cute umbrella once this year. I'm not sure what this print is called, but I am totally obsessed with it. I want table cloths, throw pillows and anything else I can think of it in it. So I was extremely thrilled when Jessica Quirk over What I Wore (one of my absolute FAVE fashion blogs) held a little umbrella mini-challenge yesterday and gave me a chance to see how other ladies combat dreary rainy day weather with colorful fashion. It was so fun to participate and gave my cute little umbrella one more day in the sun, so to speak. 

Head over to What I Wore to check out me and a bunch of other gals in umbrella-wear. 'Cause, hey, it's a lot easier inviting someone to stand under your umbrella-ella ay ay ay when it's super cute!

I Love NY!

Cardigan, jeans - F21, Tee - Old Navy, Boots - Target, Bracelet - ModCloth

I'm baaaaack! Just finished my mini-vacay to NYC, and I can't say strongly enough how much I LOVE that city! I actually grew up out there when I was a kid, but for some reason, I just remember the city being scary when I was little. Probably because NYC was a bit scary when I was little (in the 1980s). But as an adult...it felt like a gigantic playground! My favorite thing about the city is that it stays open so late, something that I miss terribly now that I live in a small town that literally is asleep by 10 p.m. Anyway, I had four days of pure vacation bliss, filled with shopping, eating, meeting up with friends I hadn't seen in forever, more eating, and a LOT of walking. I seriously have shin splints. How sad is that? I'm pretty sure the New Yorkers realized I wasn't a local when I was hobbling around Fifth Avenue on my last night, gripping the boyfriend's arm for support. I actually contemplated NOT getting off the subway at my stop once, just so I could sit down for a little longer. OK, I just went from sad to pathetic. Please don't judge me.

This is what I wore for my redye flight to NYC and my first day there after having only slept one hour. I actually wore sweatpants on the plane and changed right before we landed. Smartest travel decision I ever made. I was so comfortable! I opted to wear yellow because I knew the weather was going to be so dreary in NYC and I've mentioned before that I break out bright colors when the day is gray. I kind of stuck out like a sore thumb though...most of the New Yorkers were definitely sticking to neutrals for the winter season. It seemed everyone was bundled in black, camel, or gray.



This is what I wore over my outfit since it was pretty chilly!

 This week's posts will be dedicated to a lot of my trip to NYC, since I didn't have a chance to blog when I was there. I did a lot of remixing because I didn't want to bring too much on the trip. OK, actually I didn't want to bring too much so that I would have room in my suitcase for all the shopping I wanted to do. Anyway, you'll see how I tried to be creative with only one warm coat and pair of boots. Now, please excuse me, I must go ice my shin splints. Sad --> pathetic --> ridiculous. I know. I hang my head in shame.

Mellow Yellow

Jacket - Vertigo Paris (Loehmann's), Shirt - Michael Kors, Slacks - BR, Shoes - Chinese Laundry, Bracelet - ModCloth

I told you once before that yellow, black, and white is one of my favorite color combinations, and to show you that I am a woman of my word, here it is again. I feel like yellow is one of my go-to colors when the weather is icky and gloomy and cold, and I'm feeling the need for a little flash of sunshine. Plus, it's a great way to spruce up a boring black-and-white, corporate-appropriate work outfit like I did here. It's also a lovely color to wear if you're going to be in a crowd. My boyfriend never has a problem finding me when I'm wearing this jacket. I now understand why construction signs are always yellow. Not that I look like a construction sign. Wait, do I?! Well, if I do, I hope it's a construction sign that says something like, "Caution: Cute Outfit Ahead."

Seriously though, wearing a bright color like construction-sign yellow can really turn your gloomy mood more positive...and in some cases, can even make the sun come out! If you don't believe me, look at the last photo. The sun peeked out from some clouds in the time it took me to take these photos. It's the power of fashion. Believe. 

Singing in the Rain...

Rainboots - Target, Jeans - JBrand, Tee - F21, Coat - Old Navy, Necklace - Vintage

OK, so I'm usually not singing in the rain. I'm more like whining in the rain, complaining in the rain, cursing in the rain. I'm rarely singing. But I swear these yellow rainboots make me want to whine/complain/curse in a more sing songy way. That counts, doesn't it?

I actually bought these rainboots on clearance at Target as part of a halloween costume a couple of years back (we were bees)...but I liked them so much that I try to wear them whenever the weather is dreary. Which is a lot these days.  I always thought that wearing yellow and black is a fashion don't, but ever since I saw this one outfit of Gwyneth Paltrow's from the movie View from the Top, the yellow-black-white color combo is one of my faves! You'll see that combo more in future posts.

OK, so now you know one of my favorite color combinations, that I sometimes watch crappy movies, and that you can find fashion inspiration anywhere...even crappy movies. Or at least that's what you can tell people when you get caught watching "13 Going on 30" or "Bring it On" or "Mean Girls."

Haha, what am I saying...those are some really good movies. Don't judge me.