perfection pressure

 

I almost always take my pictures before work, except today when my battery died after one picture because my camera had somehow turned on in my purse and drained the battery. After work, my co-worker Emily came over so we could make the bouquets for her wedding (we made them like this!) so I again coerced her into taking my pictures. The problem with taking pictures at the end of a work day is that clothes don't really look as nice as they do 45 minutes after putting them on in the morning. I suppose the point of my blog is to show what a girl who works under a lab coat all day looks like, and so this is it, wrinkled pants and flat hair and all. 

I do feel a sense of pressure from myself, and just the blogging world as a whole, to be more put together. I wish I could be so effortlessly beautiful, just swipe on some red lipstick in the morning and go, but I feel lipstick draws attention to my small mouth and chubby cheeks. I wish I could wear heels to work and therefore on my blog because wearing flats all the time means stumpy legs are a constant issue when I take pictures of my outfits. I wish I didn't take 30 pictures just to find one that I feel okay with putting on here. There are a lot of things I wish were different, but I think the biggest thing I've learned from blogging my outfits is that it's okay that it's not perfect. Personally, I read blogs because I like to see what real women out there are actually wearing to work and in life. If I wanted to see fake perfection, I'll crack open a magazine. Seeing what woman wear on the job, or while raising a family is more inspiring than anything I've read in Glamour.

So I guess my piece of advice is to accept your so call "imperfections" because it may be what people like the most about you.

Blouse: H&M [similar]

Pants: The Limited [similar]

Necklace: Forever 21 [exact]

Watch: Kate Spade [exact]

Belt: Old Navy [similar]

Shoes: Sam Edelman via Nordstrom Rack [exact]

blog worthy?

Well I since I've been feeling chatty lately, I figured I might as well continue with that. 

In the past 5 days I've taken pictures of 3 different outfits and have not been happy enough with any of them to post them. They're all fine outfits, but really nothing that I feel deserves to be blogged. And that's how I feel now - that everything I wear now should be worthy of standing in the cold, taking pictures, editing, uploading, writing a post, tagging, and pushing publish. Truth is, sometimes pictures don't turn out the way I want (oh hey puppy butts in all of these pictures) or it's snowing too much, or I'm not really feeling the outfit, and so then I feel that I shouldn't put them on the internet for all of you to read since...it is not blog worthy.

But...that defeats what I want my blog to be. The outfits I wear on my blog are actual outfits I wear. I don't have someone to take my pictures during "the magic hour" - I take them myself with a tripod set up in the trunk of my car before I have to be at work by 7:30, and I don't have an endless supply of money to buy new things (or buy things, wear for the blog, and return). That's fine that that's how some people run their blogs/lives, but that sounds exhausting. Not everything (anything?) I wear is pinterest-worthy, but it is what a real girl wears in the real world and if nothing else, I learn something about myself and my closet every day, and that's what matters in the end.

So here are three of the outfits I felt weren't blog-worthy but will blog about anyway because like I've said, this is real life and not just dress up.

Outfit 1: 

Shirt: J. Crew Factory  [save | exact]

Sweater: Gap  [save]

Scarf: H&M

Jeans: Urban Outfitters  [exact]

Shoes: Tory Burch  [exact]

Watch: Fossil  [similar]

Bracelets: Tiffany & Co. [exact], J. Crew

Outfit 2:
Shirt: H&M  [save | splurge but on sale!]
Cardigan: Ann Taylor Outlet
Jeans: American Eagle  [exact]
Belt: Gap
Shoes: Tory Burch, thrifted by my mom!
Watch: Kate Spade  [exact]
Glasses: c/o Firmoo

Outfit 3:
Blazer: Christian Dior, thrifted  [save | splurge]
Jeans: Urban Outfitters  [exact]
Boots: Nicole via DSW  [exact]
Scarf: H&M
Watch: Target

Linking up with Mix and Match fashion!

To the Fatherland

Hello! I'm currently sitting in my Oma's living room in a food coma from all of the German food I am stuffing into my mouth. I'm here for the week to celebrate my cousin's 30th birthday. We're all really excited to get together - I only see my family every few years, and we've recently added some new members to our small extended family so this trip was needed! Here's what we've been up to the last few days...

Cuddling with my favorite aunt's pets. This is my sister Viktoria and my aunt's new kitten...

...and here I am with her dog. Doesn't she look good in her glasses?

Yesterday we drove up to the city my parents studied at, where they married and where I was born. My dad was in a fraternity there, so we went for a vist. We brought over a beer pong table from the States that we gave to the house.

Then shenanigans ensued.

I found new clothes to wear...

....my dad and his fraternity brother showed the youngins how it's done...

...we practiced our dance moves (please note my sister on the floor)...

...and I found a car plate that combines my two homes.

The next couple of days will include shopping, picking out new glasses,  more eating, and family! I also will be posting pictures on instagram (@fhasselhof) if you want to follow along :)

I'm wearing:

Shirt: H&M  {similar}
Jacket: Forever 21  {similar}
Scarf: Scarf Obsession (the one I won!)
Jeans: American Eagle  {exact on sale}
Hat: Forever 21  {similar}
Shoes: Tory Burch  {exact}

Five Favorites: Pieces of Clothing

1. J.Crew Schoolboy Blazer

It goes with everything, I took the time to make sure it was the fit and style I wanted, and because it took me several months to save towards.

2. UO  Black Mid-Rise Cigarette Jeans 

I actually own 2 pairs of these, and wear them at least 3 times a week. They are so comfortable, they help cover any stomach issues without being mom jeans, and you can wear them with everything. The material is also more of a jean, not jegging, so they don't suction your legs like certain other "skinny" jeans do.

3. Forever 21 Striped Top

Because it's perfectly worn in, even if it is missing a button.

4. H&M Floral Tunic

One of the few floral things I own, but I'm complimented on it every time I wear it. Plus it's perfect for pattern mixing. 

5. Old Navy Pink Chambray

Between the pink and the blue chambray, the pink pulls ahead because you can wear it with jeans without looking like a cowboy. It's so soft, and since I ordered it in a tall, it's long enough.

Your turn! What are your five favorite pieces of clothing?

P.S. Because I couldn't decide on just 5 total pieces, I'm going to write a 5 favorite accessories post too...eventually.