{Almost daily outfit of the day} Catechism 4.16.12

Forever 21 denim jacket; Vintage thrifted Neiman Marcus silk blouse; vintage thrifted skirt; vintage thrifted python clutch; Jessica Simpson kitten heels; Forever 21 bracelets

This is my I Don't Know What To Wear To Church So I Wore Black outfit. Dressing for church is complicated. Not as complicated as trying to understand Middle Eastern politics or why ABC canceled My So-Called Life after one season but complicated nonetheless. When Sunday comes, I struggle between making appropriate, if somewhat bland, sartorial choices, or sticking to my more fashionable, often tattoo-revealing uniform. It's not easy.

I felt like this outfit was a decent compromise. I was covered up and respectful, but still felt like me.

Do you struggle between dressing "appropriately," and dressing like yourself?

{Almost daily outfit of the day} A short story 4.4.12

Fossil jacket; Gap plaid shirt; Gap Outlet cutoffs;  Miz Mooz wedges; Old Navy belt; thrifted Gucci tote ($17 from the Salvation Army); Forever 21 and Neiman Marcus bracelets; thrifted Michael Kors watch

You might have heard about the tornadoes that tore through south and west Dallas yesterday. I was at home, hot gluing gold braiding on a thrifted navy suit for a Robert E Lee costume for one of my twins. Then I saw this pic come across my twitter feed:

There are two things that happen when you learn about tornadoes located a short distance from your house. First, you FREAK THE HELL OUT. Then you hyperventilate, hysterically text your husband (who isn't helping by being out of town. Thanks a lot, husband), obsessively watch the news, and madly clean out your coat closet which will serve as a makeshift tornado shelter and is crammed full of random things like baseball bats and tennis balls and wool coats and hangers and scarves and OH MY GOD WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE SAVE YOURSELF AAAARRRRRGGHHHHH.

Today, having faced my imminent death and survived to tell about it, I wore shorts. I hate wearing shorts. But when you've sailed through a terrifying crisis like a tornado outbreak, shorts don't seem that bad.

{Almost daily outfit of the day} In which I face my own death 3.26.12

Thrifted Thomas Pink shirt; thrifted Anthropologie skirt; Old Navy belt; Steve Madden pumps; vintage estate sale clutch; Forever 21 and Neiman Marcus bracelets; thrifted Michael Kors rose gold watch

On Saturday night I was driving home from a perfectly lovely tapas dinner with Stephanie, Erin, and Hilary when my front tire blew out. I've spent quite a bit of time behind the wheel, as evidenced by my long history of speeding tickets and traffic violations, but I've never gotten a flat in such a spectacular manner before. In case you're wondering what it's like to have your own front tire blow out, here's what happens: there's an ear-cracking BOOM! followed by uncontrollable swerving into the opposite lane and the terrifying realization that OH MY GOD, I AM GOING TO DIE, LIKE LITERALLY DIE A HORRIFICALLY PAINFUL DEATH RIGHT HERE ON THE FREEWAY AND I HAVEN'T MASTERED PATTERN MIXING YET AND I'M GOING TO MISS THE SEASON PREMIERE OF MAD MEN SWEET BABY JESUS AAARRRGGGHHH.

Of course, everything turned out okay. I made it off the freeway and my husband picked me up and had the car towed. When one emerges unscathed from such a treacherous event, pattern mixing doesn't seem so challenging after all.