96:365

Hoodie by Retro Brand, jeans by Armani Exchange, loafers by Me Too.

Today is Game Day. Not just any game day. THE game day. The day when my Oregon Ducks rival the Oregon Beavers. This is a much anticipated day in the world of Oregon football. Every state and every team has their rival and it always brings out the crowds, the intensity, the not-so-civil behavior, and in the end, the winners and the losers.

Reflecting on previous years of the Civil War, I thought I'd share one of many favorite memories.

It all started when a parent stopped by after school, just shootin' the breeze, and in the midst, asked me in the most calculated way (I didn't notice at the time) what time I typically arrived at school. Clueless to her scheming ways, I replied that 7:30 was go time.

It was two weeks later, Civil War Eve, that I threw open the door to my classroom, only to stumble upon mounds of black and orange balloons, streamers stretched from corner to corner, and shiny black and orange beads draped on every chair. Ultimate rage (not really) built immediately inside, I loaded my arms with balloons and threw them in the classroom of the potential suspect; along with the streamers, and beads.

I watched as the potential suspect arrived. With a confused look on her face she came around inquiring about where all the beaver decor came from. This was a clue that maybe, just maybe, it wasn't her...Hmmmm, then who could it be?!

Soon enough the wired, students arrived, anxious for the day to start. However, one student stepped through the door and from her head to her chin, instant gloom came instilled. "Where did all the decorations go?" Like Sherlock Holmes, I then began to piece together the clues to gain clarity to the culprit.

I came to find out that my student, along with her mom and a friend, woke up at 5:00 a.m. to sneak into the school (with prior approval from the principal of course), and ornament my room, top to bottom, with black and orange!

Then I had to go and tear it all down. I'm a jerk. And I'm sorry for that. Do I regret it? No. Beaver colors are never allowed in my classroom. OK, maybe that's a stretch. But I did what was best for all Duck fans across the nation. You're welcome.

Cheers to a civil Civil War, and may the best team win.  Go Ducks!!

WTD!!!

Jennica

95:365

Sweater by 525 America, shirt by Hurley, pants by Cisono, boots by Loeffler Randall.

Today, I'm going for more of a horse-riding look. Tying brown and black together is vey acceptable and is all the rage. Give it a shot.

Happy Thanksgiving!! As you sit around the dinner table tonight I hope that you're able to laugh, be vulnerable, share dreams and visions, and reflect on fond memories. I wish for you that today is a day to acknowledge the past, present, and future for what it is. And as you sit at the table and need a few conversation starters, tap into a few of these if you need:

1. What is a favorite memory this year?

2. What was your most meaningful moment this year?

3. What are goals you have over the next year?

4. What are you thankful for?

5. Who farted?

6. What is your favorite hobby and why?

7. If you could spend a day with one person (anyone ever) who would it be and why? 

8. What's the latest and greatest movie you've seen?

9. What book should be on everyone's must-read list?

10. If you could change/add/have another personality trait or skill what would it be and why?

Cheers to quality time, new memories, great conversation, and thankful hearts. 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Jennica

94:365

Sweatshirt by Nike, tank by James Perse, leggings by Nike, boots by Report.

There's nothing like the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Everyone is getting their last minute tasks done prior to the big day, whether it's grocery shopping, prepping their homes prior to leaving town, in my case, picking up kitty litter and then grabbing supplies to make jewelry for a photo shoot. My typical rule of thumb is to not be on the road after 12:00 on Thanksgiving Eve. That is not everyone else's rule of thumb.

Unfortunately I am going to have to break my ruling thumb. I bought my kitties reindeer antlers and they don't fit. Tragic. However, I may have found something even better...but that means I have to go to a store and exchange it after 12:00 pm...AND I'm going to attempt Fred Meyer here pretty soon to get Nail Stickers. Haven't heard of them? You have now. And soon enough you will know what they look like and your life will be changed.

Today for What to Wear Wednesday, I'm clearly in my cozies, but I wanted to show you how easy it is to apply these life changing nail stickers and how cool they look! (Courtney will be joining us again after the TG break so tune in next week too!). From my experience they usually last around ten days, and you can remove them just by using nail polish remover.

There are literally three steps. First you find the right sized sticker for each nail. Peel and place it on the nail. Trim the excess off. Viola! You now have awesome nails! Go give it a shot. Maybe grab a set when you're doing your one-stop-shopping and it will give you something fun to do tonight before all the TG festivities begin! It's definitely cheaper than a manicure at the local salon. I will post a picture tomorrow morning with how they turned out. My favorite ones are the lace nail stickers.

Good luck getting ready for the big day!

Jennica

93:365

Scarf from T.J. Maxx, shirt by Xhilaration, jeans by Vince, booties by MIA.

Today I went into DSW to look for heels for a model to wear for a photo shoot. DANGEROUS. I repeat. DANGEROUS. Ladies, you should have seen the amazing heels in there. AND the amazing deals. My heart started pounding, I had to take breaks and try to find ugly things in the store like white New Balance tennis shoes to look at so that I didn't overheat. It was not pretty.

However, I came up with a strategy. I started lying. Yes, lying. (*Kids, don't attempt this at home) Every time I saw a sick pair of heels (yes, heels are my weakness..) I would tell myself "Those are ugly. Why would I make room for those in my closet? No reason. Why would I spend hard earned money on a pair of ugly heels?" Other than having a 365 Project to hold me accountable, it worked!! That's right, I left a giant shoe extravaganza with nothing to shoe for it.

Mission accomplished.

Tempted? Tell yourself it's ugly.

Jennica

92:365

Didn't feel like setting up the lighting kit today folks. This selfie is what you get...

Sweater by Saltaire, tank from Target, jeans by Rock & Republic, heels by MIA.

Though I didn't get my mending done, a lot of other random tasks were achieved. Ah, I love Mondays where I don't have to go into work. Other than sleeping in, I got to the bottom of my hand-washable laundry!!  Hand-washables are the worst. They should actually be illegal - along with dry cleaning. All clothing items should be able to be washed the exact same way, not fade on other clothes, and be dried on tumble dry medium. Do you realize how much time and money we would save if that were the case? I literally spent hours doing the silly hand-washables today. Feels good to get it done, but O.M.G.!!

Speaking of, if you haven't bought Oxy Clean spot treatment, you have to try it out. I used it on a pair of slacks today, and it actually starts bubbling on the actual stain. You have to be careful because I did ruin a pair of jeans from leaving it on too long prior to washing them-faded the color, but overall, it's very effective.

Also, today, I'm officially 1/4 of the way done with my 365 project!! I know I still have a ways to go, but that's definitely progress y'all!

All for now,

Jennica

91:365

Fur coat - vintage, peplum top by mossimo, skinny jeans by Rich & Skinny, heels by Kelly & Katie (DSW).

Alright. You guessed it. I busted out the fur coat. It's a good thing I didn't go over board and sport the boots with the furrrrrr. The truth is, my mom bought this at a second hand store Eons ago, and I recently (prior to my 365 project) gained legitimate rights to this bad @$$ find.

It's been sitting in my closet for more years than I would like to admit and I'm finally pulling it out where it belongs. In fact, it's tragic that this is the first time it's been worn in years...for that, I'm sorry.

I actually had on a different coat, but decided it didn't quite match. That's when I became inspired...that's also prior to meeting Heidi, Carly, and Lindsey, (my new BFF'S). We had our traditional Mapel Boutique Holiday Party, and we have three new employees who I had yet to meet. I basically became instant BFF's with all three of them and I can't wait to spend more time together.

I have to say, I don't think I would ever have the guts/morals to buy a brand new fur coat, but since it was at a vintage store, people have already mad profit and whether I buy it or not isn't going to effect the past (if ya know what I mean...). Am I going to be strategic about where I wear this coat since I live in Oregon? Yes. Am I going to leave it in the closet because it's real fur? No.

Moral of the story? I don't have one.

Jennica

90:365

Hat by Hurley, jersey by Nike, jeans by Anoname, and boots by Loeffler Randall.

Basic outfit today. With winter around the corner (at least it feels like it!!) I'm layering up with my long sleeve underneath. But nothing represents a team better than a jersey (thx DJ!)! 

However, I was no good luck charm for the Oregon Ducks today. It was quite tragic in fact. I thought it would have at least been a close game! Ya win some and ya loose some...

So to cheer me up; I had committed to doing something crafty each day, I pulled my broken earrings out from the jewelry ER. Maybe it's not actually an ER since they've been there for over a year most likely...anyway, I pulled them out and made a few easy fixes and I now have three pairs of earrings ready to wear! At least that's a little pick-me-up from the loss today...

What have you been putting off for way too long? Get it out and do it!

Happy Saturday!

Jennica

89:365

Sweater by Kenar, leggings by B.P., fur lined booties by Michael Kors, necklace and earrings from Mapel Boutique (can't remember which brand they are...)

Today is a great day. It's Friday, AND it's the last day before I get a week off from school! I have to say, I don't think students realize this so let's keep it our little secret...

Teachers love breaks even more than students!

I know. It doesn't seem possible, but it's very, very true. If only I could strategically wave a magic wand and zap my report cards complete. #teacherwishlists

I was contemplating what this break was going to look like, and I think I might get crafty with my bad self. I did a trial run with a bib necklace tonight, and I had so much fun, I just might have to do it again (pic below). But I also have piles (folded of course...) of fabric that I've been scheming what I'm going to sew. So far, scarves is all I can think of...So it sounds like I'm going to be making lots of things that go around my neck.

None-the-less, I've decided I'm going to attempt to have less screen time and take more action this break. It was so invigorating to create something and have an end result! I say all of this to encourage you to think about what truly brings you joy. Do those things. Be proactive. Chances are there will be someone willing to join you!

Happy Friday. Get up. Do something. Experience joy.

Jennica

88:365

Shirt by Hinge, jeans by Seven for all Mankind, booties by Preview.

So many things to write about and so little time. I am currently sitting here cross-legged with laptop in tow, kitty under one arm, kitty foot hanging over the 'tab' key, front right paw on the mouse with little room for me to type. Kitty ain't got time for no blog.

Dodging paws and kitty foot fur, I shall begin.

First of all, what I'm wearing. There are two great things about this shirt. Furrrrrrst, (oops, kitty just got a hold of the keyboard) it has the collar that is all the rave right now. Though it's difficult to see, there are intricate gem details at the edge of the collar. The second fabulous detail about this top is the print. Prints are very in right now too. I have to say, I'm not a big fan of ALL the prints that are out right now, but there are definitely some keepers. Just remember, if you have a loud statement print, make sure to keep everything else toned down. We don't want to make too many statements ya know!

Affirmation. It's something we thirst. We want compliments, we want people to notice. We want our efforts to be recognized. Whether it's in work, whether it's that we cleaned out the fridge, whether it's that we went out of our way for another person. It's not that the reason we are doing those things is to get noticed, but that in doing them whole-heartedly people will catch us in those moments and take the time to thank us. I guess I'm using the word "we," assuming that you too feel the same way as I do.

I may stand alone. But I will be vulnerable in saying that I need people to notice. Is that selfish? I hope not. If it is, then it's embarrassing that I just opened my big fat mouth...This leads to that special Golden Rule - everything always does...

"Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you."

Now this can be used in many contexts. Don't kick your sister because you probably wouldn't want her to kick you either. Pick up your dirty socks in the hallway, because you probably wouldn't want to trip over someone else's. Tell the truth since you would want others to tell you the truth as well. These are all good rules to live by, especially the sock one...no one wants to see/smell/trip over dirty socks. That's the worst. 

But this rule also applies to affirmation. Since we know - there I go using "we" again.. - that as a whole, people feed off of affirmation, then let us all step up and be intentional in noticing others' efforts. We can all then cultivate a culture of affirmation so that we can lift each other up on our good days and bad.

It's affirmative. Give affirmation.

Jennica

87:365

With white blazer

The Brands.
Asymetrical blouse by BCBG, pants by Forever 21, heels by Cathy Jean, blazer by BCBG.

The Look.

I love this asymmetrical blouse solely because it's asymmetrical. It's unpredictable. I think strategic asymmetry is one of my favorite things. I can't explain why exactly but it makes me happy! Also, I busted out the gold heels! They are my special heels but why keep them locked up in the closet?! Cheers to gold. (Check out below for a close up)

XOXO 

Jennica

Gold.  Gold is just fabulous.  It is trendy and festive all in one.  It is one of my favorite colors because it just makes me feel happy.  So I say, with these fab heels, go ahead and rock some trendy nail polish.  And lets go all the way.  Lets do black, with a gold bling finger.  I chose my pointer finger, 'cause I use it a lot when I'm painting faces, but the more popular bling choice is the ring finger.  Tis the season for lots of sparkle!

 

XOXO

Courtney Rogers

86:365

With a jacket

Dress by Max and Cleo, heels by Preview International, jacket by H & M.

At church one day, the pastor talked about a service project they were doing at a local school. Volunteers came in and helped students with a stealthy kindness project.

Mission: students had to do nice things for the teachers without getting caught.

Easier said than done. Teachers have eyes on the backs of their heads, ya know. They can see EVERYTHING. Nothing gets passed a teacher!

Well, I guess it worked none-the-less. Students delivered papers (whether the teachers wanted them or not), messes were tidied up, even an occasional coffee was secretly delivered, and great joy was brought to all through minor acts of kindness, because it was done with great Love.

"Do small things with great love."

~Mother Theresa

This too is easier said that done. But these little things, done with great love, can change the world.


Speaking of little things, I keep looking at the Red Cross donation add at the top of my Facebook page, but have I clicked on it and donated $10? No, I haven't. As I'm writing I'm actually feeling more and more convicted of this. That alone is a small thing that can make a big difference on the other side of the world. When I'm done writing, I will make the commitment to donate $10 (the least I can do) helping with relief from the recent natural disaster in the Philippines.

My friend Vida is also collecting supplies to ship over to the Philippines on November 25th. If you would like to contribute a lending hand, supplies, or money, I know that it will all be put to good use. See information below if you are interested in helping out.

Go out. Do small things. Do them with love.
~Jennica

SHIP GOODS:You can buy boxes from LBC, a shipping company all over the Philippines with several stores in the US. The LBC Foundation has generously waived shipping fees through November 30th. All you have to do is buy the boxes for $3.50 from their warehouse and fill them with the items below. Then they will give you Bill of Lading paperwork to fill out for each box. Plan to get at least 10 boxes- if not 20 if you plan to drop off at churches, schools, or business, etc. 
If you are in the Yamhill County area, just drop your goods off at the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce (115 N. College) and Northside Community Church 1800 Hoskins St) in Newberg. We hope to send at least 10, maybe 20 from our community by November 25th.
The LBC Foundation is working directly with the Philippine Red Cross. The gals at LBC here in Portland are deeply connected with the people on the receiving end, who have disseminated thousands of boxes to the typhoon victims already. 
Here is the address for box purchase and drop off:LBC Warehouse13509 NE Whitaker WayPortland, OR 97230

(503) 775-6888
Please address boxes TO:LBC FoundationLBC HangerGeneral Aviation CenterDomestic Airport CompoundPasay City, Manila, Philippines
Please address boxes FROM:Your NamePartners in Prayer (PIP)1711 NE 104th Ave.Portland, OR 97220
Our friends at Partners In Prayer can provide you with a tax deductible receipt, so be sure the return address is written as above. 
Please SEND COPIES of the Bill of Lading receipts issued by LBC with the value in dollars of goods donated to:Your NamePartners in Prayer (PIP)1711 NE 104th Ave.Portland, OR 97220

Here are the items needed:

• water!!
• ready-to-eat food
• first aid kits
• meds for colds, cough, fever, and diarrhea
• diapers
• sanitary napkins
• biodegradeable toiletries
• blankets
• towels
• sleeping mats
• socks and shoes (tennis shoes and rubber boots ok)
• NEW underwear

MONEY DONATIONS:

• Arbonne: $20 donation will go towards purchasing much needed protein bars, bio-degradeable soap, and toothpaste. There will be no profit made on these purchases. Credit cards acceptable or checks made out to Vida Ice, PO Box 393 - Dundee, OR 97115. Call or text 503-750-9062 or email me.
• Partners in Prayer (PIP): Money donated to Tacloban City Pastors through the leadership of Pastor Manny (a resident of Leyte) of Phillippine Challenge (a church development ministry). They will mobilize the local churches to provide supplies, food, and spiritual support for the typhoon victims. Money will also be sent to the Bicol Region through Dave Matthews of Faith In Action Mission Outreach. The whole area there is in a typhoon belt so this area is always at risk. The president of PIP, my friend Minda Tay, spent her childhood there, so the connections run deep. They do not have a means yet to donate through their website. You can write a check marked "Typhoon Relief", made out to Partners in Prayer and sent to:
• Your Name, Partners in Prayer (PIP), 1711 NE 104th Ave., Portland, OR 97220
• Little Children of the World (LCW): This is a non-profit interdenominational Christian service agency dedicated to helping develop caring communities for the world’s children at risk. Its focus is on children & their families who are victims of extreme poverty. It is in the heart of Leyte and also serves villages on the outskirts of Tacloban City. Most churches and homes are destroyed as well as their multi-purpose building, a vital asset to this ministry. I know the founder, Marci Hope, personally, and she has spent her entire life to this worthy cause. You can make a donation through their website, www.littlechildren.org and select "Urgent Needs" in the payment window and write "Typhoon Relief" in the comment box. Or you can send checks made out to Little Children of the World to:
• Marci Hope, Little Children of the World, 10909 NW 4th Ave., Vancouver, WA 98685
• Philippine American Chamber of Commerce (PACCO): I've been affiliated with this group for a number of years. They are accepting donations for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which will be matched dollar for dollar up to $200,000 until Dec 31, 2013! 100% of these funds will go to Medical Teams International. All of your donation will be used to purchase and ship medicines, medical supplies, and to send expert medical professionals to treat those in need. They will not be used or reserved for future disasters or work in other parts of the world. They deployed their first medical team and sent enough kits to help 10,000 people fo 3 months. Checks marked "Typhoon Relief" can be made out to PACCO and sent to: 
• PACCO, 5424 N. Michigan Ave, Portland, OR 97217
• Women's Ministries International: I know the president personally as she is my brother's mother-in-law and a dear friend, LaWanda Bullock. 100% of proceeds will be for the typhoon victims. Here is their website http://www.fmwmi.com/. Click on Donate and next to amount click on drop down menu and choose Philippine Relief. Checks marked "Philippine Relief" can be made out to Women's Ministries International and sent to: 
• Women's Ministries International, PO Box 535002 Indianapolis IN 46214

85:365

Dress by Espresso, sweater by Mossimo, boots by Cole Haan, tights from Nordstrom.

November is a unique month in that a lot of people stop, think, and acknowledge specific areas of their lives that they're thankful for; in the Facebook world even daily. It's actually a beautiful thing. That means 1/12 of the year people are engaged in a culture of thanksgiving. It's contagious. When one person writes something they're thankful for on their Facebook wall, or shares with their friends, it causes the rest of us to stop and think what we're thankful for.

Why does this have to happen only one month a year? Why can't we create a culture of thanksgiving that occurs twelve months out of the year. Why can't "What are you thankful for today?" be a question we ask in our conversations everyday? Does it really take a holiday for us to acknowledge and appreciate joys in our lives? Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful that these holidays can create awareness in general of the positive side of life. But isn't it time we wake up every morning asking ourselves what we're thankful for instead of waiting for a holiday to arrive? 

I challenge you to take this November momentum all the way until next November. Then do a soul check.

Jennica

The back without the sweater

84:365

Vest by Nike, long sleeve by Tresics, pants by Fire Los Angeles, shoes by Steve Madden.

This outfit isn't that exciting, but gets the job done. Tonight, I'm going to join some friends and make hard cider for the first time ever! (It's my favorite bev, other than a legit glass of wine...) Since this is my first time, I'm not sure exactly what to expect, so I wore pants and shoes that I wasn't too concerned about. Though you can't tell from the pic, these pants have spots on them where another clothing item faded on them. Super annoying...so this is the first time I've worn them since the tragedy.

According to www.doityourself.com you should soak bright colored clothing in a solution of 1 cup white vinegar and 1 quart of water for 24 hours prior to washing for the first time. This prevents fading and helps the dyes set into the fabric.

If only I had known that prior to washing these pants!

Take the extra steps. Make your clothes last longer.

Jennica

83:365

The Brands.
Sweater by Mak, headband by Elizabeth Perry, leggings by B.P., boots by Loeffler Randall.

The Look.
I wanted to wear this sweater because it was cozy. I love this sweater because I can wear it off the shoulder, as a cowl neck, or a boat neck. Today I was in the off-the-shoulder mood. ;)

Thoughts.
Today has been a checklist day. Ya know, those tedious things that keep hovering over your head until they're done, but the motivation is lacking? Of course I haven't gotten to all of them, like mending, renting a Rug Doctor, grocery shopping. But for a lazy Saturday, I've made progress. I heard from a friend one time the phrase:

If it's not on a list, it doesn't exist.

Pretty catchy. The only problem is I have to keep telling myself that, or things will never make it on the so called list...So congratulations to myself, because some things made it on the list and they are now checked off.

Cheers to a Saturday where I had nothing scheduled!

Jennica

82:365

Sweatshirt and tank by Nike, jeans by Seven for all Mankind, loafers by Me Too.

Double standards. I'm sure no one is going to stand up and openly admit they have double standards. It's an interesting thing that we go around pointing each other's faults out, when we too have our own faults. We too probably do that thing that we were so irritated about earlier. I can say for sure that I'm guilty as charged.

It makes so much sense to be on my cell phone whenever I need to be, but if I'm with someone else who is on his/her phone all the time, it's the worst...The sink needs to always be rinsed out, but if I leave it, it's all of a sudden OK. Who didn't refill the ice cube tray?? But when I'm running out the door, with my iced drink there's no time to fill the ice cube tray.

I have double standards. I don't want to have double standards. But I do. Therefore, I freely hand out grace, because there's a good chance I'm going to need to receive it too.

Give grace. Don't have double standards, but if you do, admit it.

Jennica

81:365

Brands.
Sweater by Mossimo, shirt by jpark, scarf refashioned from an old dress, leggings by champion, boot socks refashioned from an old sweater, boots by ??

The Look.
This outfit is comfy, cozy, a little eclectic, and and perfect for this November day. I intentionally wore the boot socks higher to get the effect of the tall boot look, and to show a little more color contrast in my outfit.

Thoughts.
Sometimes you stay up late, having a ladies night, talking over background music, sipping on red wine, eating homemade cheese balls with ritz crackers, crunching on gingersnaps until there are only three left and then there are only three people left, so you each have to eat Just. One. More.  And sorting through life together. And there's no time for an in-depth blog post.

That night was last night.

The end.

Jennica

80:365

Brands.
Dress by Bailey 44 from Anthropologie, sweater by BCBG, heels by Preview International.

Outfit.
I LOVE this dress. It's comfortable, modest, colorful, and I can just slip it on and walk out the door. The other great things about this dress are the stripes and angles of the fabric. This kind of dress is going to look great on a lot of different body types. Try it out for yourself! With a dress like this, there are also a lot of different colors you can pull out from the dress with accessories. I chose to play on the orange today.

Thoughts.
The other day I noticed something after cleaning up my place. Laundry was done, carpets were freshly vacuumed, everything was in it's place. I can't say that's always the case, as with a lot of people's homes I'm sure! But it was the case that day.

What I noticed was that when everything is clean and in order, my cats are really calm (at least one of them..). Maybe it's because they don't have a sky scraping, Leaning Tower of Pisa in the middle of the room to prance on, or a five star obstacle course on my bathroom counter. Maybe it's because they don't have to play eeney-meeney-miney-moe, to figure out which shoelace to chew off this round. Though all of those things may be the case for my little furballs, I think...I know it has the same affect on me. That Leaning Tower of Pisa sure is tempting...When everything is put away, organized, uncluttered - I can breathe. I can slow down, and enjoy life. Just like my cats.

So I have a recommendation to share, from my cousin Jane, which will help you if you're struggling to keep the house whipped in shape. As you may have heard, it takes 3 weeks to create a habit, and 3 days to break it. So Fly Lady's theory is to create a new habit each month. Obviously there's more to it than that, so check it out for yourself - Fly Lady. People have sworn by this Fly Lady, so it's worth checking out!

Build habits. Don't break them.

Jennica















Look.

The Look ~ With Court, Lisby, & Megan

With the busy pattern this outfit. Brings, let's keep the hair super simple. You the ballerina, or sock  bun that's all the rage? Well the top knot is just as hot and even more simple. Those with thinner or fine hair will love it!! And it is wonderful for those bad hair days, greasy hair days or running late days.



Brush through your hair so it's tangle free. Pull it all on top of your head and loot twist the pony. Then tie it up with a rubber band and pull it a little so it's not too tight. It's supposed to be a messy look so don't let your perfectionism kick in :).

On the Runway

XOXO

      

Courtney

79:365

 Top by Frenchi, slacks by BCBG Maxazria, heels by Cole Haan.

The Outfit.
Since it's November, don't worry, I'll wear a coat, or sweater or something! Today, I'm going for a classic look with the high-waisted plaid slacks, sophisticated necklace and heels. I love these pants because they're slim fit, but not quite skinnies - very comfortable. I will pair this with a blazer or cardigan as I'm heading out the door.

Thoughts.
During half time of the Blazer game yesterday, they did a segment honoring the Veterans and all of the service they have given to our country. They featured 3 people specifically, but one in particular really moved me. I can't remember the exact story, but this man, we'll call him Steve, lost both of his legs fighting for our country. He was determined to to do everything he could to get walking again, and be able to stand again, and live daily life again. He wanted to be able to stand when the rest of his troops came back from Afghanistan. Surely enough, he worked - blood, sweat and tears, and was the first one in line, standing, when they arrived home. And he stood before thousands of people last night, while those thousands of people gave him a standing ovation.

We have no idea what those men and women go through and I am so grateful for their courageous sacrifices in serving our country.

Thank you to all that serve our nation.

Jennica