If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice.

I'm sure the last week of no posting needs no explanation - i've been celebrating thanksgiving with my family....well, families. I count my boyfriend's family too : )

After a way-too-big meal, failing at 4 am Wal-Mart black friday shopping (but I made it too the gap for 50% off before 10am) , and finally getting all but one person on my list the PERFECT gift, we are finally decorating the family tree with our mismatched, children made ornaments and then heading off to St. Louis to celebrate a holiday well-done.

Although Thanksgiving is a "break" and a very welcome one from work, I think by tomorrow I'll be ready to return to my little house with Darrell and collapse on our couch .

Although I'm always sad about a holiday ending, there is one light to Thanksgiving being past us: I now consider it completely legitimate to blast Christmas music at all hours. My favorite!

plaid shirt, fur vest, and boots-f21, jeans-gap

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

"That is your fur coat?" "It is." "Kramer says you need it cause you're desperate for attention." "That's true." - Seinfeld

You know, I understand that fur is a little extravagant for the everyday. Hell, I understand that it's a LOT extravagant for the everyday.

Sure, there are other options for truly frigid weather. Parkas, pea coats, hoodies, fleeces, trenches, they're all fine. But they're not l-o-v-e-l-y.

There is nothing as soft, as warm, or as pretty as a really fantastic fur.

images-tumblr

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own.

So despite the autumnal nature of these photos, I spent all day today thinking about Christmas. I made Christmas music playlists for my iPod, my office was decorated for Christmas today, and I actually made my Christmas shopping lists! I love to buy presents, and half the fun is trolling around for the perfect gift on the internet - I am not a mall gift shopper.

What will I be going to the mall for? A sparkly frock. I'm going to two Christmas parties for sure, and I'm going to have to find the perfect dress - it will ideally be totally covered in sequins.

wearing: dress-charlotterusse, aviator-forever21, boots-jeffreycampbelllitas

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

A leaf fluttered in through the window this morning, as if supported by the rays of the sun.

I know my boyfriend hates the time I've got him waking up, but it's hard to deny that there's any other time of day that better suits capturing a beautiful image. I may hate the darkness that begins at just 5 pm, but I don't hate the bright, glittery sunlight that comes in the window so much earlier that it did before. It certainly beats being woken up by a buzzing alarm clock.

Today we have one of those fantastic Sundays where there's really nothing we NEED to do. Sure I have laundry going, and we'll probably take the dogs on a walk later, but other than that it's likely that I'll fill my day with coffee, reading blogs, and catching up on my DVR.

wearing: flare jeans-gap1969, bird blouse-charlotterusse, felt floppy hat-forever21, clogs-poppybycoach, jewelry-forever21&limited, "daisy"dog-myown

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

"action is character. i think that means that if you never do anything you'll never be anybody."

So after a few months of obsessively following the photography on my favorite blogs of late (song of style & late afternoon) and being bitter that their boyfriends took their lovely pictures every day, while I was stuck with a self timer camera and my front door, I finally struck up a deal with my boyfriend. I do the dishes - his absolute least favorite chore - and he wakes up an hour earlier and takes my blog pictures before I go to work at 8. I figured it was a fair trade, an hour of sleep for 10 minute of dishes every day....in the long run, I really think I made out well, but don't tell ; )

Today's weather was sort of hilariously bipolar: 40 degrees when I woke up, 65 by lunchtime, 70 this afternoon, and down to 50 again by nightfull, hence the fur vest, cardigan, scarf, and t-shirt I layered up.

wearing: fur vest-ebay, oatmeal cardigan-dkny, tshirt-trulymadlydeeply, chinos-americaneagle, scarf-nightmarketinchina, booties-forever21

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Allure & Warmth

Was there ever a more alluring piece of outerwear than a cape? Sure, coats are lovely, but capes are so elegant. Coats make me think of nothing but cold, while capes inspire images of Russian spies a la Bond girls, their intentions hidden behind their dark hoods, a satchel hanging from a leather gloved hand.

My favorite affirmation from the day I wore it? An older (well...much older) co-worker of mine said as I passed by "I love a cape. I had a cape when I was a girl.." in a wistful, reminiscent way, as though she was picturing herself in the early 50s, probably in something quite similar to the one I had on. I had to suppress a giggle, but not a smile.

wearing: cape-asos, jeans-gap1969, boots-gojane, bag-chinese night market

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse

Fads are the kiss of death. When the fad goes away, you go with it.

Wonder of wonders, I actually managed to sleep through my jet lag haze last night and get dressed like a human being this morning! Most of the outfit is comprised of clothes that I got while on my trip to China. My favorite newly acquired piece would definitely be this jacket. A camel coat is something I'd been contemplating for a while, and when I saw this version in the window display at H&M in Hong Kong I literally marched in, tried it on, and got in the checkout line!

The booties are my low-budget answer to the perfect shearling Burberry booties everyone's been obsessing over. Honestly, they're as comfortable as my Litas, and have a rugged quality that's perfect for marching around in the cold.

I realize this outfit is a little bit of a trend overload, but in my opinion, all the 'trends' that are so in style this season aren't really so "un-classic." Camel? Regardless of its ubiquity at the moment, it's not like camel won't be cool ever again. Military? It's popped up so often that I hardly think it's fair to say it'll soon be "out." A shearling aviator jacket is arguably a completely classic style

As for this Mulberry Alexa look-a-like? Well, let's just say that I hope someday it WILL be timeless. I love the style that much.

wearing: coat,dress-h&m, boots-gojane, bag-night market, scarf-f21

"Maybe if they all could be combined - art, rock and fashion. Those were always my favorite things."-Stephen Sprouse