New Skirt, Meet My Blog

{Shop: Similar top, Skirt, Necklace, Boots}

When I saw this skirt my immediate reaction was "I'm going to remix the h out of you, skirt." And when I have that strong of a reaction, I know that what to do. So I bought this skirt with my Christmas money on super sale (hello, 50% off!) and I love it. I'm having to tell myself not to go back to Loft, I just can't help myself when I see the words 50% off. It's like winning the lottery, but better. OK not better. But my chances of saving money are much higher than winning money. Of course, my chances of spending money either way are very high. This is why I should never play the lottery. Shopping is risky enough. 

I talked my husband into taking me out to lunch and then talked him into snapping some photos. And then I talked him into marrying me. Oh wait, I already did that. No wonder he was confused when I got down on one knee and proposed. 

If you can't tell, this week I am silly. I'm still running on the Christmas-spirit fumes. Don't worry they'll go away in a few days and then I'll be back to my dry, humorless self. Till then, it's silly time. 

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Criminal

How the weather forced me to wear this outfit:

How I wanted to wear this outfit:

{Shop: Blazer, Necklace, Tights, Heels}

Alright so yes, I might be wearing the same shirt I wore yesterday. It's just so pretty and I was still feeling romantic, so I put it back on this morning. If wearing a shirt twice in one week is a crime, then lock me up. My one call will be to Loft. To bring me more shirts to wear over and over again.I also wanted to wear just this shirt with my skirt but Texas has apparently decided that it's winter and I couldn't go without a jacket. One day the weather will do what I say and coordinate with my closet, until then I must comply.Also, as you can tell my shirt has MAJOR static cling. Even after taping multiple dryer sheets to my body, it still clings. Seriously, nothing worked. What can I say? Cute clothes love me. I just can't keep them off of me.

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Remember this guy?

Well my sweet baby cousin (who is actually 22 days older than me) has now opened an Etsy shop filled with warm neck sweaters or cowl scarves, as everyone else calls them. I nagged her to knit you guys one and she did. You are very welcome. This shameless plug is brought to you by the debt I incurred on my cousin during the college years. Thanks Jaci for letting me sleep on your couch, letting me drink your diet cokes and for talking me into dating Bryan. I owe you one.

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Take It Easy

{Shop: Trousers, Boots, Necklace}I had to ease back into blogging this morning. After taking 4 days off from photographing any outfits, and in fact not wearing any outfits, just one pair of sweatpants and one christmas sweater that had to be plugged in to fully function, I was a little intimidated by my closet. And I woke up wanting to wear pants today. (I know this because I woke up to my own voice screaming 'pants!') Denim trousers are a good excuse for pants. Because they feel like jeans but look like business. Kind of like a mullet, but not really. Never mind. I feel very romantic today. I even bought myself flowers, ate lunch by candle light and took myself out for an afternoon stroll, while holding my own hand. This is what happens when I wear lace-covered satin. I get all mushy inside. How was everyone's Christmas? Mine was good. I think everyone was sufficiently unimpressed with my gifts this year. That's my goal. Each year give something someone could use but they definitely don't want. That way when I really give a good gift, they will be really excited. Bryan always wanted a used calculator watch. He just didn't know it. 

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Season's Greetings

{Shop: Sweater, Hat, Dress, Boots}Today Bryan and I searched endless aisles of Target for White Chocolate Oreos, as those are the only cookies Santa will eat. This is a fallacy, as everyone knows Santa isn't... a white chocolate fan. But I can't break my 4 year old nephew's heart. So the search for White Chocolate Oreos is on. Wish us luck. Well, friends this is it. This is my last post ever. Until Monday anyways. I'm signing off to enjoy my family, eat a lot of unnecessary food and not do a thing for several days. I hope you do the same. 

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Create a Working Closet, Part 2: Assess

{via Pinterest}

So you've purged your closet already right? Of course you did! What else were you doing the week before Christmas? Since you've done step 1 to creating a working closet, let's keep going. Step 2 is assessing your closet's needs. I didn't say YOUR needs, I said your closet. There is a difference. Your needs are simple: to be clothed. But your closet on the other hand has a responsibility to cloth you every single day. This can only be possible if you stock your closet accordingly. 1. Take inventory of what you have. This could just mean figuratively or literally, however your brain works. I take a mental inventory of everything in my closet every once in a while; it's a nice reminder of what I have. I am Kendi and I have short-term closet memory loss. It's nice to have a refresher of what I have.2. Make a list of closet needs. So let's say you went through your closet and you discovered that you don't have a black pencil skirt that fits any longer. A black skirt would work perfectly with what you already own,  so this would be a basic need. Create a list of items that would really tie your wardrobe together. Everyone's is different but mine would looks something like this: black pencil skirthigh-waisted khaki trouserscable-knit sweaterflatsPut this list in your purse or type it into your phone. That way the next time you are out shopping you will know what you really need. It's just like a grocery list, you don't need three loaves of bread just like you don't need three black identical skirts. Also, it helps to have direction when you are shopping. Misguided shopping leads to a misguided closet.Make sure that everything on your need list fits into your current wardrobe. Remember, you want a working closet -- a closet that you can walk into and create an outfit by simply choosing a few items. If everything works together, then this is possible. (Working together doesn't mean everything has to match. It just means that you don't throw something random into your closet that you'd never wear but you bought because it was one sale.)3. Now make a want list. I treat this list as a splurge list. Maybe there is a new trend I want to try or maybe I just want something that isn't a direct need. That goes on this list. So my want list looks like this:full a-line skirt from Anthrobrown suede heels from Urban Outfittersdrapey cardigan from GapYou notice that I got really specific on this list. These are my wants -- I've seen these items online and I know that I'd like to add them in. But they are not essential to my working closet, although they could work. Your Want List should also be saved somewhere. But this list does not get fulfilled until your Need List is fulfilled. Once you buy your basics, you will find that your wardrobe will be easier to build upon. I like to think of the want list like the frosting on a cupcake. It's the first thing you taste but the last thing you need. 4. We touched on this a little bit last week, but set your two lists aside and step back into your closet. Since you've assessed what you want and need, now look at what you have. Put your remix skills to work and start creating outfits. As you are putting items together, try them on and make sure the outfits work. Yes, that's right play dress up in your closet. Or as I like to call it "Kendi's going out and trying to figure out what to wear". Just be sure to hang up your items after you take them off and don't toss them on the ground like I do. Not that I do that, I'm just saying that to help you, of course.5. Wear some of your experiment outfits that you put together. You'll quickly figure out what you like and don't like to put together. This also helps with your need and want lists. Maybe you hate pencil skirts after all. Mark that off your list and figure out a new style. Maybe you love them and want more. You get the idea. But mainly get to know your closet and figure out what you expect from it. Soon you'll be on your way to figuring out your style and telling your closet exactly what that is.As always, leave your tips below! Seriously. You guys have really good tips. Leave them, or else.Read:Part 1: Purge

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Win a Blue Topaz Silver Pendant!

I bet you woke up today excited for a new giveaway didn't you? No. That's okay you can still enter. Just be sure to include a few extra exclamation points, so I can sense your excitement. This week's giveaway is a Blue Topaz Silver Pendant from Jewel Valley! How do you enter? I thought you'd never ask:

1. Visit Jewel Valley and leave a comment below from now until Sunday, December 26th at 10 p.m.

2. Cross your fingers and check back next week to see if you are the winner. 

3. Have a Merry Christmas :) 

Giveaway open from Wednesday, December 22nd to Sunday, December 26th, 10 p.m. CST.

And now for the winner of the Lulu's.com Giveaway. Drum roll, please:

Congrats, Megan! Email me to claim your brand new dress!

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Matchy Matchy

{Shop: Skirt, Shoes, Necklace}

As promised, I'm wearing heels. But I have to say, shoe choice aside, I think my distraction and brain mush is caused by the holidays. So I've given up on trying to concentrate on work, which only leads to hours of blog reading anyways. I've now given in to wrapping Christmas gifts. No matter how crappy they will turn out.And they will turn out crappy. Family, friends, other people I give presents to -- by the time you receive our packages it will look like it's been wrapped, opened and then re-wrapped, opened again and wrapped once more. It hasn't. It's just I never fully developed the proper use of my hands, that's all.I'm not normally so matchy-matchy. But this outfit called to me, right down to the matching necklace. Which is kind of creepy, hearing clothing say your name. But I've been hearing those voices for years, so I try not to let it bother me too much. Except for when they call me Cindy or Kendra, then it gets really annoying.

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Comfortable

{Shop: Cardi - bright cinnamon, Scarf, Boots}

It's hard to be honest sometimes. Not like in the sense of telling the truth, just in the sense of not telling the whole truth. See the difference? So here is the truth: My brain and most of it's creativity is gone. I don't know if its the holidays, the traveling, my week-long cold that I did in fact conquer or the fact that I've eaten chocolate truffles and french fries every single night for about a week but something in my brain is clogged. Gosh, so many things to blame it on, how will I ever choose?This is weird because I'm not sad or anything, I mean for goodness sake Christmas is 5 days away how could I possibly be sad? Just distracted, I suppose. It's just that my brain doesn't want to move. Is this happening to anyone else?In other news, I don't want to take this outfit off, ever. It's like wearing pajamas, but better. I also have a small blanket around my neck, so it's easy to nap at anytime. I can just use my scarf as a pillo...  Oh okay, I see what's going on. It's becoming clear as to why my brain won't wake up. I'm dressing in nap-time chic. Expect heels tomorrow.

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A Dress by Any Other Name

{Shop: Dress, Blazer}

And here she is... the ol' Kendi Everyday dress. Who knew that there would ever be a dressed named after me? Well besides all of the other dresses in my closet that I go ahead and re-name in variations of Kendi. But that's beside the point. Anyways, a month ago or so I was Modcloth's Blogger of the Moment and now I'm wearing myself. There's got to be a better way to say that.My blazer was the first purchase after my 30 for 30. I'd be vying for a black blazer, such a closet staple, and I found the perfect one at Target. It was marked $29, which I was like "eh, okay Target, I'll give you $30 for this blazer. It's lined, so that's cool." But when I checked out it was only $19. So then I went ahead and sprung for a pack of gum. After all of my silent bargaining, I deserved it.The only sad part about this dress is I have no more parties to wear it to. Apparently we're losers and only get invited to a few holiday parties a year. I suppose I can wear it to my pity party that I'm having. I'd invite you but then it would be kind of fun. And I'd have to share my wine. Party for one it is.

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Party Down

{Shop: Top, Skirt, Earrings}

My outfit coincided perfectly with the FBFF questions this week! And since I'm a lame member of the group, I thought I should chime in with my answers. Thank goodness they don't have dues, or I'd already be out of the group.1. Which holiday party are you looking forward to attending this year? Actually my husband's company christmas party (this past week) was the one I looked forward to the most. It's casual, over lunch and you don't owe anyone a gift. Now that I think about it, I've never been invited to a tacky sweater party. This elates me and hurts my feelings at the same time.2. What is your go-to holiday party outfit? Normally my party outfits are either black or shiny. This outfit is both. I try to keep it pretty simple and then add a few accessories. I try not to go too trendy either;  I don't want to be the party foul.3. Do you go dressed in something that would be impractical to wear at any other time of the year? Yeah! That's the beauty of holiday parties -- the more impractical the better. Of course with this outfit, I'd wear each of these pieces anyways, just separately. This is pretty posh for daily attire.4. If you are going to a house-party what gift will you bring to the host/hostess? Oh, that's nice. Normally I just find something in their house and put it in a bag, then give it to them. I tend to go with it's the "thought that counts" kind of gifts. I'm kidding...maybe.5. If you could buy only one trendy piece to update your holiday party wardrobe, what would you get this year? I already bought it! My sequined top from Loft. It's like Barbara Bush -- conservative, but a little bit wild. Perfect.Just so you know, I wore a coat over my cold little arms. I think you can actually see chill bumps in one of the pictures. And if you are wondering just what FBFF is, learn more about it from Katy at her blog. Interested in joining the group? Just submit your email address to the Google Group to become a member. Happy party-going!

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Truth or Dare

{Shop: Dress, Scarf, Boots}

Truth or Dare?Hopefully you said truth, because that's what you are going to get. This is a different outfit for me to be honest, but I wore it so I'm going to blog it. That's how I roll. Sometimes new is scary. So let's see things I like about this outfit: the sweater of the dress + belt combo. I thought that was new for Kendi. And I also really like my cowl, but maybe for another outfit? Maybe it's the color? Or maybe it's the crazy cold medication talking and my outfit looks just fine. Any of those could be possible. Speaking of possible hallucinations, does anyone else see that unicorn? No? Oh I guess it was just a regular horse.If you said dare, I've already run through my neighbors sprinklers wearing a panda bear suit once today, okay? Isn't that enough?Thanks for all of your feedback on the closet post below! You guys have some GREAT tips. Instead of giving my advice, I should have just invited you guys over to clean out my closet. And while you're at it we could really use an extra pair of hands in the kitchen. This dinner is not going to make itself.

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