Weekend Wear: DIY Social Butterfly

There were a few things going on this weekend on top of of normal weekend activities (grocery/laundry/tidying up/mulching) like, brunch breakfast on the Upper East Side with a friend visiting from out of state and a baby shower out on the (almost) end of Long Island for my cousin in-law. Did I mention they were both in the same day? Nope, well you can imagine the travel involved... You're not from here? Trust me, it's a substantial amount. Since I needed to be ready to go from spin class to breakfast to baby shower I may or may not have resembled a bag lady in the morning leaving the house. Baby Gift? Check. Gym Bag? Check. Awesome outfit to seamlessly transition through the days activities? Check, although it took me a while to get there.

It was particularly challenging to identify something from my current wardrobe options that fit and was appropriate for the prescribed setting of the baby shower. Two words: Country. Club. After going through my options I wasn't left with many choices. Thanks, less body... The whole process was frustrating, to say the least, and I was about to give up when I caught a glimpse of this fun, forgotten dress in pile of clothes to be tailored/sent to the tailor. When I tried it on I resembled (the child of) a housewife (playing dress up) which felt (ironically) appropriate. I just needed to find a way to make it work despite the lack of an all night tailor in my area. Enter tiny sewing kit! I made a few simple adjustments and the dress went from falling off and almost flashing people to what you see, how do you think it came out?

• Top: yellow hot air balloon printed dress, eShakti.com
• Shoes & Accessories: blue Orissa peep toe pump, Nine West (my wedding shoes;) pearl earrings, Macy's; bronze clutch, Brahmin c/o Vogue Magazine (not pictured)

I'm linking up with Watch What I'm Wearing and Sunday FUNday

Work With What You've Got: Last Minute Wedding Guest

I have "lovingly" dubbed this chronological point in my life my transitional twenties. "What does the transitional twenties entail?," you might ask. Let me give you the breakdown: recent college graduate, being significantly underpaid and/or under appreciated at an entry level job if you can get one, being in debt; whether it's credit cards, student loans, or both, in/applying to/graduating from grad school, buying a house, moving out of your house (if you haven't already), moving back home with mom and dad (because you can't afford to be on your own), moving forward in significant personal relationships if applicable (i.e.: getting engaged, getting married) being part of other people moving forward in significant personal relationships (i.e.: bridesmaid, wedding guest) Although none of these life events are exclusive to one's twenties it seems that this definitely the inception of when the proverbial *&^% hits the fan.

While many of these things apply to me the one that keeps popping up recently has been: being part of other people moving forward in significant personal relationships (i.e.: bridesmaid, wedding guest) specifically as the wedding guest. While being part of people's special day is all good it is not really when you only have a week or two notice before you have to show up and on top of that it's not someone you are particularly close to (i.e: BF's co-worker) What is an indebted underpaid/under appreciated recent college grad working an entry level job with aspirations of going to grad school to do? Well, I'll tell you what I did... I dug in my closets (and mom's jewelry box) and came up with something! The only monies spent (by mom) were for a voluntary mani/pedi because... What do you think?