Cheese with my whine

[Summer 30 for 30: Outfit 23]
Top: Charlotte Russe
Skirt: Forever 21
Shoes: Target
Necklace: Target

On this particular day, I ignored the thunderstorm forecast and spent extra time on my hair in the morning, and I didn't bring an umbrella to work. Pretty stupid, because I ended up getting drenched while running back to the office after lunch. Also, this skirt wrinkles so easily. I swear it looked fine in the morning!

My 30 for 30 this time around is not very exciting. My outfits have all been pretty boring/simple, and I'm not being very creative or inspired. I feel like I've worn all possible combinations already (minus the three pairs of shorts I included.. ugh) and I'm running out of ideas and motivation. Now I'm just throwing together stuff, and posting outfits I don't really like. BUT, I'm not a quitter (just a complainer), so I'm going to keep trekking through these last few outfits. I'm warning you now that there's going to be a few more "filler" outfits before this thing is done. There's my whine-fest for the day.

Hope you're having a good weekend!

Outfit 22

[Summer 30 for 30: Outfit 22]
Top: Banana Republic Outlet
Shorts: Elizabeth and James
Sandals: Old Navy
Necklace: Kenneth Cole

This outfit is from this past weekend, when Seattle finally got a bit of sun! The temps were in the 80s, and I spent it at a church retreat right by the lake. They had water sports available on Saturday- kayaks, paddleboats, inner-tubing, water trampoline thing... if I remember correctly from years prior. But of course, my little guy's 3-hour naptime happened to coincide with after-lunch free-time, and we missed all of it. I tried to wake him up from his nap early so he could at least go play in the water a bit, but he was Mr. Cranky Pants and we never even made it to the lake. So much for enjoying the sunshine :(

I don't really like these photos, but since they're the only decent ones that husband took (guess I'm not as photogenic as I thought), I have no choice but to post them... only to serve proof that I wore this, so I can cross one more outfit off my 30 for 30 list.

Americana

[Summer 30 for 30: Outfit 21]

Striped tank: Forever 21
Denim shirt: Gap (thrifted)
Jeans: J Brand Love Story
Wedges: Target
Necklace: Anirtak

The other day, I came across this following image on a slideshow on the People Stylewatch website. I'd link to it, but it's such a poorly laid out site that I tried for 15 minutes to get to the beginning of the slideshow and COULD NOT GET THERE. Their search function on their site sucks as well, so I'm even going to waste any more of my time.

Basically, it was asking 'would you wear this?' - referring to the open denim shirt. At the time, I scoffed and thought, "heck no!" I used to wear my denim shirts like this in high school, and I'm not about to do that over again.

The very next day, I was trying to think of what to wear over my striped tank to work, and I recalled this image. I guess if Jessica, Kourtney and Jessica are all wearing open denim shirts, then it can't be that bad...

So creative

[Summer 30 for 30: Outfit 20]
Top: Old Navy
Skirt: Old Navy
Sandals: Target
Bracelet: Forever 21
Necklace: Towne and Reese (giveaway win from Laura)

I've had this post sitting in my "drafts" for a few days now, but I have nothing to say about my outfit, except that I wore it. I'm also wearing this exact outfit today, except with a cardigan and different accessories. That's how creative I am.

And because I have nothing else to talk about, my boss needed help getting some paperwork out of a jammed file cabinet yesterday, so I stuck my hand in there to free up the jammed paper, and it got stuck. Good thing nobody saw me because it would have been pretty embarrassing. I stayed calm instead of freaking out and crying, and eventually got my hand out, which survived with only a cut. I put a band-aid on it. The end.

I'm gangsta

[Summer 30 for 30: Outfit 19]

Dress: Banana Outlet

Sash belt thing: The Limited

Flats: Target

Blazer: H&M

I had to go pick some stuff up for work in the more industrialized part of town the other day... a part that I very rarely venture into, which means I got lost. Very lost going there, and very lost coming back. I guess it wasn't too bad because I found this awesome graffiti wall AND happened to drive right by Krispy Kreme, which warranted a visit from me and my wallet.

Oh, so about this wall, it's right up against a rental car lot (separated by a chain link fence), and one of the guys happened to be washing the cars, so I snuck over to take pictures when he was busy at the car wash, but little did I know, he'd come back to get the next car and witness my picture-taking awkwardness in all its glory. I smiled and said hi, because what else am I supposed to do when he's standing 10 feet away and giving me suspicious looks? At least I know I'm never going back there again.

Plus, even if I did want to find it again, I don't think I could because I was so lost at the time. Sort of like the Room of Requirement.

Rule breaker

[Summer 30 for 30: Outfit 18]

Tank top: Karen Kane

Skirt: Karen Kane

Belt: Nordstrom

Shoes: Target

I'm breaking all sorts of rules today. Mixing patterns AND wearing brownish shoes with with black*. I would have worn black shoes, but last time I wore this skirt with black flats, my legs looked like stumps. My 30 items doesn't include black heels, so what could I do? But the stripes and floral is something that I've been intending to try out, and I kind of liked it.

I also cheated a bit and wore a cardigan over this outfit at work. It was necessary because the majority of the shirts I included are tank tops, and I only have two cardigans and a blazer for cover-up. Bad planning on my part. I'm not going to wear just a tank top into the office! Not that we have a rule against tank tops, but it's just not tank-top weather here in Seattle. It's a little depressing when stores are bringing out their fall lines and we're still waiting for summer to start.

I thought this picture was hilarious and accurate:


Yep, that about sums it up.

* I wear black and brown together ALL the time, but I usually try to tie in something brown like a brown belt or brown-ish tones elsewhere in the outfit. This outfit was an exception.

Yet another outfit

[Summer 30 for 30: Outfit 17]

Top: Forever 21 (hand-me-down)

Cardigan: Hazel (hand-me-down)

Skirt: Old Navy

Flats: Target

Husband took these pictures the other day after dinner. I know I used to be proud that I took 98% of the pictures on my blog with my self-timer, but... having husband take them is just so much easier, and I think he's getting better too. Either that, or I'm becoming a great model. TOTALLY KIDDING.

Anyway, I'm almost certain that I have a virus on my laptop, which really sucks. It's such a pain to back up everything, and the thought of installing all my programs all over again is already giving me a headache. I'm crossing my fingers that if I ignore it long enough, the virus will go away on its own. No such luck... yet.

If I were a boy

[Summer 30 for 30: Outfit 16]
Denim shirt: Gap (thrifted)
Skirt: Ralph Lauren (thrifted)
Belt: Banana Republic Factory Store
Sandals: Old Navy

A couple things:

1) Apparently, I'm unable to do the mouth-half-open thing that the model behind me is doing in the last photo. I look like I'm about to sneeze.

2) I need to stop attempting to cut my own bangs. I was sick of how long they were getting so I went ahead and cut them myself. But now they're impossible to style, so I just pinned them back... which makes me look like a boy. Not a very good look, and I've learned my lesson.

3) I should not wear this shirt around P anymore. Two-year-olds like opening buttons.

Starting... now.

[Summer 30 for 30: Outfit 15]

Top, belt, jeggings, shoes: Target

Necklace: swap from Frances Joy

I had no idea my entire outfit was from Target until I started to list everything out. Shame on me for being so cheap.

I am pretty proud of myself though, because I went to Target last night and didn't even step foot in the clothing and apparel sections. I know there's a lot of really good clearance things because I was just at my other Target the previous day and they were already making room for fall boots and back-to-school clothes, so all the summer shoes and sandals were marked down. AND we went to the mall last night to pick up a new baseball hat for P (because I accidentally left his favorite hat on the airplane) and I resisted going into all my favorite stores despite their huge SALE signs. It was pretty painful.

But... I'm already super over-budget ($188 is supposed to last me through the end of the year. THAT SUCKS.) and I'm supposedly on a shopping ban during the 30 for 30. I'm going to try to stop shopping for realz though (except for spending my Old Navy Groupon by the end of the month). We'll see how long that lasts.

P.S. I totally feel like I've written this post before. Being over budget is the story of my life I guess... or maybe I just need to convince husband that I need a bigger budget?

I'm back!

[Summer 30 for 30: Outfit 14]
White T-shirt: Old Navy
Cardigan: Halogen via Nordstrom Rack
Jeans: Old Navy
Wedges: Target
Headband: J.Crew outlet

I got back from Boston on Wednesday, and while I loved hanging out with family, relaxing, and having no sales tax on clothes (and no budget), I'm so glad to be back in Seattle where it's not unbearably hot and humid. I also love my own bed (we were sleeping on two twin sized mattresses on the floor and I kept falling in the crack), good water pressure, having my own space, and my laptop.

I had planned on taking outfit pictures while on vacation, but most of the time I was just too lazy to bother dressing nice or doing my hair. Plus, it was too hot to accessorize or layer and I spent most of the time lounging around the house in my workout shorts and a ratty t-shirt. It was all family after all... no need to impress.

Looking through the pictures, there's a couple that prove I stayed true to my 30 for 30 (I had no other choice, that's all I packed), so I'm going to knock outfits #10, 11, 12 and 13 off, even though they don't have their own posts.

In case you couldn't tell in the bottom right photo, I'm dancing against a green screen in the Arthur & Friends exhibit in the Boston Children's Museum. I WAS ON THE TV.

We went shopping a bunch, and I didn't really buy anything the first week and a half... BUT THEN we went to the outlets. To make matters worse, the next day we were bored and wanted to get out of the house, so we went to the nearby mall and shopped even more. I bought a lot of clothes... way over my normal budget, but since we were on vacation, it was okay :)

1. J.Crew Outlet headband: $5
2. Banana Outlet striped T-shirt: $7
3. Banana Outlet pink ruffle shell: $19
4. Banana Republic linen top: $15
5. Banana Outlet tee: $12

6. Forever 21 bracelet: $9
7. J.Crew Outlet cardigan: $14
8. Gap jeans: $11
9. Banana Outlet tee: $12

10. Banana Outlet tie skirt: $16
11. Banana Republic blazer: $82

Total spent: $202

Dang!!! But I'm super happy with my purchases.. I'm still debating whether to keep the blazer or not because it's going to get dirty SO easily. On another note, I kind of like taking pictures of my purchases.. I may start incorporating that into my budget update page.

And for some even more randomness, the winner of the Essie nail polish 4-pack was Mary Elizabeth! Congrats! :) Thank you everyone for entering. Hope you guys are having a good weekend!

Closet tour time!

A long, long time ago, I got a request on Formspring to do a closet tour post. Um... I'm finally getting to it about 4 months later. So, to the reader who asked, I'm sorry to keep you on the edge of your seat for so long.

First off, husband and I share a walk-in closet. We split it down the middle, and mine is the messier side. I cleaned it up especially for you guys so you won't think I'm a slob.

On the right side, we have my dresses and cardigans and a few blazers. The top shelf is my "house clothes" which consists of ugly sweatshirts and sweat pants and work-out stuff. I used to organize my cardigans by color, but then got lazy, especially since I've started to switch out the wood hangers to the plastic ones, so they're all jumbled together. There's plastic drawers for my socks and underwear underneath this, along with my hamper that I throw stuff into when I don't feel like hanging it up. We're looking to get a nice wood dresser eventually, but it's not a high priority right now.

On the top left side, I have all my tops, organized from sleeveless to button-ups to regular shirts. There's a shelf below that holds sweaters and things that I don't want to hang up.

On the bottom left side, I have my skirts and slacks hung up, and then my jeans and shorts folded and stacked on top of my out-of-season-clothes storage boxes.

And because I'm Asian, we take off our shoes inside the house, so I keep them all in the garage. We bought an Ikea Billy bookcase off Craigslist for real cheap and bought some extra shelves (which don't match, but whatever).

I took these pictures right after I put away my winter boots in storage boxes, so there's more space than usual. The top plastic storage bins hold shoes that I don't wear much (like wedding shoes and dress-like-a-hoochie shoes).

Seeing that I bought the majority of these shoes within the last 6 months (aka when I've had my blog), I'm really not sure what I wore this time last year. I think just my Chucks and flip flops.

I keep my jewelery (aka all 5 necklaces I own) and my jackets and winter coats in the closet of my sewing/crafting/putting-stuff-in-piles-on-the-floor room along with formal dresses and stuff I don't really wear anymore. That room is perpetually messy, so no photos there. 

The end! I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into my closet. I'd love to see how you organize your guyses' closets! I'd love it if you could post a link if you have a closet post! :)

Guest Post: Mr. Kimmie

Hey guys! I've got a very special guest post for you today. I was thinking about what kind of content to publish on the blog while I was gone, and jokingly asked my husband if he wanted to do a guest post, and he said yes! :) But... only if I did the Boba Fett head on him. -Kimmie

Hi, it’s Mr. Kimmie filling in for the day. This is my second appearance on Blue Paper Lanterns. You might remember my first appearance here.

When I’m not busy searching the galaxy for Han Solo or collecting bounties, I enjoy looking sharp while doing it on a budget (just like my wife!). So what do I know about fashion you might be asking yourself? Nothing, really. But how many husbands have done guest posts on their wives blogs? Really, it’s never been done! Adventurous. Reckless. Freak-of-nature. That’s me!

Having a style blogger wife has pushed me to pay closer attention to what I wear and how I look. Besides, no guy wants to hear people ask, “Uh…why is HE with her?!”

Being in my early 30’s, I have to say it’s been a little difficult transitioning my style from my 20’s. There has been a time or two (or five) that Kimmie has told me, “Yeah, you’re too old for that” or “You’re wearing THAT? With THAT? Ohhhhkaaay.” So my goal is to aim somewhere between the guys on the Jersey Shore and my dad (who buys his clothes at Costco).

Dang, posing is hard! How do you do it without looking like Derek Zoolander?

Here goes nothing…

Shirt: Target
Shorts: Quicksilver
Shoes: Sanuk
Watch: G-Shock