2009 Year in Review

I'm stealing this blog idea from my friend Colette at Modern Wife. Because frankly I need something to blog about, and I haven't been too inspired lately. It's too frigid outside for me to want to experiment with any OOTDs that don't involve sweatpants, fUggs, and a Snuggie.

Okay, so 2009 started off with a NYE party and a bottle of wine.

Also in January some girls from work had a Golden Girls party. Check out my ode to Rose Nyland. She wore Uggs, right?

February marked our city's annual Mardi Gras festivities. I'm appropriately festive in the blue cardi. And beads. (Not earned honestly)

In March it looks like the only exciting things to happen were eating leprechaun cookies and starting my Macy's wedding registry.

Oh wait! I'm leaving off our annual trip to the Finger Lakes for the Cruisin' the Tropics two day wine tour! 32 wineries in two days is exhausting.

In April my grandmother turned 90 years old! Look how cute she is. She is in slouched/hand on hip position to show her exhaustion at all the picture-taking, but I like to think it's to show off her Italian sass.

In May I had the first of my bachelorette parties and my bridal shower, where I got to open lingerie from my future grandmother-in-law -- every girl's dream.

That night was the bachelorette party. Yes, I was that bride who made her bridesmaids wear matching BM tanks. And yes, my top had the word "Bride" emblazoned in rhinestones. Judge on.

Also in May: I got laid off (well, semi laid off) from my job.
In mid-June I had a small bachelorette #2/birthday party. I turned 28 but it went by basically unnoticed. PSA: do not plan a major life event within a week of your birthday. Because no one cares.

Something else happened in June. Crap... what is it?
Oh yeah. I got married.  Best decision ever.

We took a mini-moon to the NJ beach. The "Jersey Shore" you might say. But less skeevy. No guidos in sight.

In July we went to Pittsburgh to hang out with one of my besties. We caught a Pirates game while we were there.

Also in July I found another excuse to put on my wedding dress by doing a Rock the Dress session with my new hubs and my bff. Check out our "Bride Wars" homage.

Also in July I said farewell to my '00 Sunfire (first ever car) and said hello to my pretty '09 Honda Civic.

August and September were pretty lame. I used this time to hone my wifely Donna Reed/Martha Stewart skillz. I even made chocolate chip cookies.... from scratch!

In October, I returned to my job full-time. Then there was Halloween. Everything else was a blur.

November went by without much fanfare. I did get to visit with one of my oldest friends who on this night asked me to be her matron of honor! I bet she's hoping I won't be such a zilla when it comes to a wedding not my own.

December was busy and stressful per usual. But we got to celebrate our first married Christmas. Yay!

OOTD: They just don't get it

A few weeks ago I picked up this Converse All-Star plaid dress from the Target clearance racks. Having the choice between a rusty red vs blue I purchased the rusty red since blue's too safe for me, and I'm trying to take some "risks" lately. Not knowing how to style it, I let it collect some dust in my closet with the tags on.

Oddly enough my friend D sent me her OOTD Friday. My dress. In blue! I loved how she styled it by craftily using the dress's fabric belt to tie around the dress AND cardi.

Here's my version:

Dress: Target (Converse)
Sweater: Old Navy shawl collar cardigan
Sweater leggings: Target
Boots: Bearpaws in black











Even though I was feeling mildly self-conscious (especially when I compared how much better it looks on D thanks her long and lean frame), I thought, "Eh, just go with it. You're just wearing it to the freaking mall." But then my husband came home.

"You look like a grandmother. That looks like an outfit my grandmother wears to bake in."

Then again, D's husband told her she looked like a farmer.