random collage

 

Ughhhh I haven't put up a real post in forever! This one doesn't even count... But I was looking through Erdem (because really, who doesn't love him? And sidenote - while in Whistler, I discovered he's Canadian!) photos and found this dress, then decided to make a pretty, pearl-filled collage around it. Of course I threw in a Reed Krakoff bag in, they're my life, whatever... Today was the first day since wisdom teeth surgery that I actually managed to put on my glasses and a little bit of eye makeup, so if we continue on this trajectory maybe I'll have something post-worthy sometime soon? All these pain medications are making me less motivated to do things, like blog, or wear pants that aren't leggings dress nicely. But oh well. I'd better get well soon because I go back to school Tuesday! I really can't believe it.

Have a good night everyone!

new dress

So it's been forever since I last posted, and unfortunately it not going to get better - my wisdom teeth are coming out tomorrow and surprisingly, I don't think I'm going to be that cute for the surgery. But I just got back from Canada and a ski trip with my family, and got an adorable dress in Vancouver! Here it is:

Our hotel was right off Robson street, one of the big shopping areas in Vancouver. I picked up this adorable, surprisingly comfortable lace dress at Zara, and Natalie got the perfect Betsy Johnson dress for her winter dance at probably the best sale price ever. Overall it was a pretty successful shopping outing and a great ski trip! Send good vibes to me tomorrow morning as I get my wisdom teeth out?

stripes and spots

Sorry for not posting for the last few days, but I just look so adorable today! My friends are making fun of me for saying that, but you know, there are just some days that you're really, super excited about what you're wearing. And when I put on this leopard coat, that's just how I felt.

Christmas present headband

Vintage coat and necklace

J. Crew dress

Michael Kors Watch

Aldo boots

I don't know, I think it's just the combination of leopard spots in the coat and all the navy and stripes from my dress... this coat is one of my mom's, and if I ever thought I'd wear it out in every day life, I would steal it in a second.

One of my lovely new Christmas presents (in addition to the dress). Ever since Jenny got her rose gold watch from Michael Kors this summer, I've been lusting after one of his tortoiseshell ones. And now I have one! I braved the mall again today (Mall of America right after Christmas? Don't know if you all have heard about the crazy fights, but that definitely happened...) and got a few links removed, and now it's perfect! Also loving the necklace from my Grandma. It wasn't as much a Christmas present as much of a "it's Christmas, you're at my house, you should go through my old costume jewelry" - you know what Grandma? I think I can handle that. 

Went out for dinner tonight with a few of my lovely friends in downtown Minneapolis, trying to see everyone before I head off to Canada for New Year's to ski with the family, only to come back and get my wisdom teeth removed. Awesome, right?

Have a great evening everyone :)

new (old) skirt

So, here's one of my cute vintage purchases from the other day! I would show you the cardigan, but my mom just pointed out that the shiny gold buttons look kind of cheap and that I should replace them, perhaps with some cute tortoiseshell ones. So when I put it on all I could see were the buttons and now that I've noticed them I don't think I can wear the cardigan until they're gone. Thanks mom.

J. Crew sweater

Banana Republic tank top

Pendant from a street fair

Vintage skirt

Aldo boots

You guys remember my crazy, tribal-esque blazer? I'm thinking it will look great with this skirt. I'll wear them together, then pick up the small dog in a Navajo blanket I saw walking down the street the other day, and I will be perfect. Hope you guys were all as scared as my family was when you heard that idea.

I don't even know why I put close-ups of this necklace anymore, anyone who has read my blog more than once please tell me that some of you have has already seen it way too much. Well, at least you can see the skirt pattern up close and observe that it does, in fact, practically perfectly match my blazer. Get excited. (Would it be too ridiculous if I did a joke post of the aforementioned skirt and blazer look? No? Good.)

Merry Christmas Eve everyone! I don't know about you, but today has been all about last-minute present shopping (which I will never do again, by the way, it's much too stressful) and watching my mom and Natalie bake Christmas cookies. Not helping, just observing and eating - compared to the two of them, I really shouldn't be allowed in the kitchen. It's the sad truth. But now I have lots of cookies to eat! Eating, that's really my job in this household...

I'm quite a fan of large sweaters

If you haven't noticed, I do seem to have a thing for oversized tops, especially if they used to belong to my dad and are cashmere... Yesterday he saw me in this one and asked if I'd stolen it, apparently he kind of likes it - oops? Promise I didn't steal it! Or if I did, I wouldn't be stupid enough to wear it at home...

vintage necklace

Dad's old sweater

target dress

aldo boots

 The sweater just goes with everything though! And coziness is always appreciated when you live in Minnesota, even if there's apparently no snow for Christmas... First time showing off my Target zipper dress in an outfit post though! Still sad I didn't show you the last time I wore it, it was really outfit perfection.

Isn't he cute? Mom got him awhile ago on Goodwill.com I think but then figured he would be too crazy for me to wear - because I never wear anything crazy? (see tribal-print blazer...) I mean he's huge, way too fun to play with and fiddle with, and has crystal eyes. I mean he takes a certain outfit to work with, but clearly I'm in love. 

Just noticed Tilly's tail in the bottom of this last photo - she just loves our photo shoots! Still trying to find a good place in this house for photos, the whole house is just filled with little corners that you think would be cute for photos but are actually just awkward with bad lighting. Oh, for the days when I could go out on the back porch and take self-timer photos for myself.

It's almost Christmas, get excited everyone! And have a lovely day :)

home for christmas

Wow. Just wow. This may actually be the worst I've ever done at blogging - barring the whole broken foot fiasco last semester that is (fiasco is a nice word for it, doesn't even begin to cover all the issues...). Point is, it's been over a week since I last posted, and I looked so cute this past week! I mean, it was finals week, but I was a very well-dressed college student in finals, if I do say so myself. These are pictures from yesterday, my first full day back at home! 

topshop necklace

Dad's old sweater

gap jeans

minnetonka moccasins

 Another sweater stolen from dad! Well, this one was already stolen by mom, who gave it to me when I was rummaging around in her closet for a cardigan (its' cotton, so she knew it would be perfect). And surprisingly, it's really not too light for the weather we've been having lately - as in, there's no snow. As in, no white Christmas for Alison? I'm kind of in shock. Why else do I live in Minnesota?

The puppies wanted to join in the photo shoot - we have Tilly, our old labradoodle to the left, and Sophie, my aunt's little dog (can't remember what she is again?) on the right.  Look how fluffy she is! Basically her winter coat makes her look ridiculously chubby, and I love it.

Now that I'm home from finals, it finally seems like the Christmas season! As evidenced by the little gingerbread man I've so awkwardly posed with? It's been really lovely to be home. Yesterday, Natalie and Mckenna and I went out and about for a little vintage shopping, and I found some adorable new pieces! Will probably make an entire outfit around them for tomorrow, so clearly I can't wait to show them off... Now I need to go make myself some breakfast before yoga, hope you are all having a lovely week!

 

odds and ends

Why is everyone leaving/studying for finals/taking finals and not here to take my pictures?! Leave me alone and this is what you end up with...

 My lovely new Minnetonka Moccasin boots - if I wear them with a dress they don't make my legs look as stubby! Quite the ringing endorsement, right?

My pendant and close-up of the pattern of my vintage dress. And yes, below is a camera-in-front-of-the-mirror photo. Yes, I did just die a little inside. But I'm dressed so nicely for finals and wanted everyone to see! Actually I'm not really dressed for finals, since today I did no studying whatsoever. Turned in my papers and now I have a break until Saturday! Which would be exciting if, I don't know, I could spend that break at home? But no, no going there until Tuesday...

One more random thing, don't think I've shown you this -  it's actually another one of my purchases from my Columbus Day weekend in New York? Yes I know I'm behind. It's actually pretty light, perfect for the 50's and 40's we're having right now (I know. Not real December) if I want to be a little nicer than my Northface.

Less than two weeks until Christmas! Can you believe how quickly this year went by? I'm slowly starting to realize that I'm halfway done with my second year of college, and kind of starting to freak out... Regardless, have a lovely evening everyone!