Nov 29, 2010

The Conservatory

I'm listening to the rain hit the roof and it is calming my restless spirit. Especially after the day I've had. I had to keep my door shut at work for most of the day just to be able to complete one task in its entirety. This time of the year is horrible - everything has to be done yesterday. Oh well - work crap is boring. No one wants to hear that.
Brian and I took off to the Biltmore Estate one day for lunch and snapped a few pics at the Conservatory. It was nice to get away. It was like we slipped into another world for a few short moments in time. When we are driving up to the house, I like to picture what it was like for the Vanderbilt women to come home after traveling abroad. Were their minds buzzing with what they had to do when they got back? When the next party was and what had to get done before the guests arrived in a few days. Were they snobby? Were they even real? Its just that they seem so dreamy and far away. Hard to imagine people actually living in a life so full of decadence. Something I will never know. No complaining - I am blessed with so so many things. It's more like peeking into a foggy window watching lavish parties unfold with women in gorgeous gowns and men smoking cigars. Then young loves sneaking around this conservatory....trying to find a place to kiss....

Photos by Brian :)

Blouse: Thrifted
Vest: Thrifted
Skirt: gift from my aunt
Tights: Target
Mary Janes: old!
Coat: Old Navy
Bag: Thrifted
Necklace: Premier Jewelry

Nov 26, 2010

Shoot for the Moon

Post Thanksgiving bliss! I am enjoying a day off in my new home. Its the first day off at my new home that I am allll by myself and its not the weekend. I wish I could freeze time. I woke up amazingly early which was strange but great because I've got a lot to do today. I would really like to have all the boxes out of my bedroom today. Its a big goal but I want to shoot for the moon. Just as soon as I finish watching Annie Hall....

Photos by Brian

Sweater: Thrifted
Tee Shirt: NY&Company
Pants: NY&Company
Boots: Steve Madden
Necklaces: Kohls

Nov 24, 2010

Bows and Ruffles

I loved the girly-ness of this outfit. The minute I snapped the bow belt on I realized I was somehow channeling a Keiko Lynn inspired look! Only she is ten thousand times more chic than I am but it does feel good to be girly! I took a little time at lunch to run down to Biltmore Village a few minutes from work to drag out the ol' tripod and snap a few. I had about three different strangers ask what the hell I was doing. For the first inquiry I was honest and told them I was taking photos of my outfit for my blog. It was two men and they looked like I had told them the sky was green. Utter confusion. Forget that. The next comment came from a lady who ended up standing just out of the shoot and asked "Are you taking photos of yourself?" I answered yes. I got that same bewildered look from her as well and a muttered "Oh". The last guy asked me if I was doing a photo shoot for the "Doors of Asheville". No clue what that is dude. All in all it was one of my favorite shoots. I totally lost my inhibition and just went with it. It was very liberating! Then my heel caught the edge of the sidewalk and I landed flat on my ass. Nice move Jess.




Photos by me

Skirt: NY&Company
Black Sweater (worn as top): NY & Company
White sweater vest: Thrifted
Belt: Charlotte Russe
Tights: randomness...
Booties: Madden Girl

Nov 22, 2010

Caramel Apples, a Dog, and a Toddler Named Riley

This past weekend Riley and I made caramel apples. Evidently the way I say caramel made him think I was saying carnival.So for the rest of the weekend he told everyone we made carnival apples. Which, now that I think about it, doesn't sound that bad. They sound rather appealing! After complete, the apples themselves didn't last that long....Riley nibbled and whittled one down to where he was actually getting to the apple part and it fell off the stick and onto the grass. He was heartbroken and mad at me because at first I laughed because it was just funny! but that didn't go over so well. I immediately got him another one. Then one for me...one for Brian...one for Brian's son and that was about it. Poor puppy Josie just got to smell the smells and lick Riley's fingers.

Meh.

I just don't know about this thing - this dress? or whatever it is. I put it on one morning and thought, Meh. Blech. It's basically a big shirt that when you don't belt it, it just hangs there like a sack. Like a really busy printed sack. I tried taller boots and it felt too pirate-y. I tried a wider belt and it just made me look cut in half. I tried heels and they just weren't chunky enough. I tried booties, but just felt blah about that. Maybe its the royal blue tights? Maybe its the fact that I have to pull the top half up a little bit to slouch around the belt and that just leaves weird gaps and hills in the chest. Maybe its the hair? Maybe its too much accessories or the lack. Any way you cut it I just wasn't feeling it. I gave up. I know I could have eventually found something better but seeing as how I needed to get to work sooner rather than later, I just took it as it was and went, promising myself I would do better next time. In the back of mind thinking "I've been out of the house in worse than this" and that made me feel ten times more lame. But I thought I would post it anyway because I'm thinking I might do a little bit of remixing to see if it feels better. Then I can pull these pictures up and maniacally laugh at myself while petting a hairless cat.
 I may hem it. Of course, that means it will just go in a big pile in the corner of other lonely things waiting to be altered - never to be seen again. I don't like it at the length it is so it has to be done. I might add a cardigan or jacket to it to break up the pattern. That's what seems to keep reverberating in my mind. Too much of that pattern in my eyes. My eyes! My eeeeyyyyes!!
pitiful photos by me

Dress: Thrifted...probably the worst thrift ever
Tights: Target
Boots: Steve Madden
Fur brooch: Thrifted

UPDATE: I passed by this thing this morning quietly laying in a creepy ball in the floor of my closet. I knew immediately. I chucked it in the donations pile. Done.

Nov 18, 2010

Crisp

I fell in love with this blazer...love. Its so very Lulu Letty! I hold a special place in my heart for Lulu Letty. Maria's blog was the very first fashion blog I ever ran across. Ever since then I have been smitten. Decided to give it a go myself. Of course, Maria, is always so chic and crisp. It has become a ritual everyday to see how she styles her outfits and to hear about her life. She is classic and a little preppy, with clean lines and a touch of wimsy. Thus this blazer making me think of her immediately.
Thanks for the inspiration Maria!



Photos by Brian

Blazer: Thrifted
Sweater: Thrifted
Jeans: Thrifted
Hair bow: Thrifted
Shoes: Seychelles, Etsy

Nov 16, 2010

I am still Jessica, but a mom too

I read the most amazing post on Jen Loves Kev today. It is a mommy that is talking my language. The mommy that remains an inspiration to her child while staying true to herself. What a clarifying post! I really fight against my own self doubt and guilt and it was good to see that other mommies in the world have felt the same way and have come to the same conclusion. Jen talks about how influential seeing mommy painting, crafting or cooking a delicious recipe is very special in itself.
Good way to start the afternoon.
Thanks Jen!

Nov 15, 2010

In the Mood


Just a quickie post before I head to bed. I got 3 boxes of clothes unpacked tonight and a stackable shoe rack put together. Only to find out it doesn't fit in my closet. Yay.
I'm the mood for a little black and white.....


Photos by Brian

Sweater vest: Vintage
Polka dot blouse: Vintage
Pants: NY & Company
Trench: Thrifted
Shoes: Thrifted
Bag: Thrifted

Nov 12, 2010

A Little Bit of Winery


Took a couple of minutes at lunch time and went down to the Biltmore Estate Winery for a few photos. I have been meaning to do more photo shoots on the estate since it is so beautiful there but I just never take the time. Brian and I won season passes for this year and I don't think we have been quite enough! Although I think we've been about 10 times. Sometimes just to walk, sometimes just to take a slow drive and once to take Riley to the Easter egg hunt. I tried to take Riley into the house but he's not much into looking at old Vanderbilt memorablia from 1920. Of course I am drooling but all he can yell is "Mommie I have to pee!" The place has like 40 plus bathrooms and I can't find a place to take a 3 year old to pee. Thank God one of the tour guides let us slip under the velvet rope to take a short cut downstairs.The actual entrance to the estate is just about 3 minutes from my work but once you go through the gate it is about 3 miles to the house. It seems like it takes forevvver to get there. But the winery is a little bit closer than driving all the way to the house. I hadn't eaten lunch before I got there and all the delicious smells wafting from the restaurant was sooooooooo distracting!



Photos by me

Heart pattern blouse: Thrifted
Sweater vest: Thrifted
Wool skirt: Thrifted
Tights: Target
Boots: Restricted