Friday's Fancies: Rainy Spring Day

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I know it's only February, and it's cliche to say I'm ready for spring, but here I am, doing it anyway.

I. hate. winter.

A tourist from Florida was behind me on the Metro escalator last weekend and started screaming with excitement when it started to snow. I almost felt bad for the look I gave her. Almost. But then I remembered she never had to clean a car out of a three foot blizzard. Snow makes me a bitter, bitter b.

So today for Friday's Fancies I decided that I would layer it up for a rainy spring day! A trench is always a classic, and bright rain accessories make a rainy day a little bit cheerier.

I'd layer the bright cardigan over the muted colored top, and dress it up with some simple gold accessories. I included flats because I'd wear them around the office, but added nude shoes in case this outfit traveled to a happy hour after work.

Happy Friday, everyone. Hope its fancy!

Hitting the Slopes....or the Lodge, as it were.

For the past couple of years, SK and I have gone out of town over New Year's to go skiing with some friends.

The first time we did this, I was pretty confident about my skiing abilities. When I was younger, my family  used to go skiing several times a year in upstate New York. Although I hadn't been on a pair of skis since age 11, I was sure that the sport would come back to me. Just like riding a bike.

I was so confident, in fact, that I didn't bring snow pants. And when my friend Lauren asked me what would happen when I fell, I told her, "I just won't fall."

Yep.

I fell.

I fell a lot.

(Thankfully Lauren predicted this scenario and loaned me her bibbies.)

At one point, snow patrol came over to check on my progress, because I was laying in a patch of dirt (it had barely snowed that year), bellowing at SK to help me up and for God's sake STOP LAUGHING, since he was laughing so hard he couldn't breathe.

(Side note: The "French Fries! Pizza slice!" method of skiing is really only useful for child skiers.)

This is a long-winded way of telling you that I don't have a ski outfit picked out for today's Friday's Fancies. I do have a fetching hot cocoa and knitting in the lodge option all set to go, though!

From top left:

a) A bright coat -- if I do venture out, I don't want to get lost in a drift.

b) pearls (standard);

c) iPhone touch gloves -- a birthday gift from SK last year, and one of the most useful items I have ever received.

d) Cozy plaid flannel shirt and leggings.

e) a charming chapeau.

f) boots -- I don't care about the cute factor of my boots. As someone who went to college in upstate New York and then lived in New Hampshire, I quickly learned that functionality outweighs fashion -- and I HATE wet feet.

g) As long as I'm cozy in the lodge, I may as well have a manicure party!

Happy Friday, everyone - and don't forget to sign up for the giveaway!

Friday Fancies - Dress Yourself!

Borrowing from my Chrismukkah Wish List for this week's Friday's Fancies...The outfit above is one I'd wear on a chilly casual Friday like today. Perfect for heading from the office to a cozy dinner out in DC!

 

Friday's Fancies - Fall Favorites

Today's theme is "Fall Favorites" -- if it were up to me, I'd spend all of fall wearing the outfit below!

Pearl Earrings: A classic year-round, but I particularly like to wear them in fall/winter.
Mug of Tea: I have recently become a tea drinker - lately I've been sipping Celestial Seasonings "Tension Tamer" blend - perfect for pairing with my favorite Trader Joe's cookies!
Cozy Sweater
Leggings
L.L. Bean Wicked Good Moccasins: These barely leave my feet in the winter. Plus, L.L. Bean has an amazing customer guarantee that allows you to send damaged merchandise back to them for a free repair or replacement. This has come in handy, since I have literally worn through the soles of these slippers, I wear them that much.
Chapstick: This is really less of a "favorite" and more of a "If-I-don't-have-chapstick-nearby-at-all-times-I-will-FREAK-out," but it's a total necessity for fall.
Tall Brown Boots: The fall shoe version of the little black dress. Goes everywhere, does everything. I love this pair especially!

What are YOUR fall favorites?

Friday Fancies - Inaugural Ball

So as you may know, SK and I are a bi-partisan couple. Months before the election, we agreed that no matter the outcome, if we could get tickets to an Inaugural Ball, we would go. I went to one in 2008 -- actually, it was on my first full day living in DC -- and it was one of the best events that I've ever attended. After months of stress, anxiety, worry, and hard work going into an election - for either candidate - it's so fun to just kick back and celebrate a new administration.

While I'm not sure we'll get to go to a ball this time around (I saw one ticket going for $400 today!) I put together a dream outfit that I'd wear to a gala like the Inauguration.