My Fall Fashion Resolutions

Well where to begin? I am making so many subtle changes to my wardrobe that my head is spinning.

1) heels, heels, and more heels!

okay, so i know they are so so so bad or our feet and health...but I have recently fallen in love with the feeling of being high up.  Well maybe it is the confident posture I am forced to have when I stand on my toes, but I love it.  I feel like it is part of me crossing from teendom into adulthood, which I do feel as though I am doing in a much more graceful way wearing my heels (a good disguise ;) ) except when the occasional ankle falls into a sidewalk crack or my black pumps slip off my heel mid walking motion.

anywho, here are two of my recent additions to my high heel family (who sit gracefully on my desk in my bedroom at all times)

The first is a pair of Aldo boots ( find them here http://www.aldoshoes.com/us/women/boots/knee-high-boots/84841455-beckerle/20 ) that I got in NYC when I was visiting my parents and siblings in August.  Heck, I got the other pair when I was out there visiting too, in Menlo Park Mall, in NJ.  They are Kimchi Blue Black Linen pumps that I got on sale for 20 dollars (a surprise at the register, as I was set to buy them at 49 dollars ).  At Urban Outfitters of course.

This is my first pair of boots with heels, and I wanted to get something elegant but casual, since most the places I go call for casual.  They are so cute with skinny jeans but I have recently worn them with tights and dresses, or knee high socks.  SO CUTE.  I love them, and they are comfy.  The girl at the store told me to get a size that feels tight because they will stretch.  I am so glad I listened even though I was skeptical, because after wearing them 3 times they now fit perfectly!

The black pumps are simple but have that matte, textured linen look which makes them casual and or elegant, which I said is important because I wear them mostly to classes and out and about.  I pondered wearing them around NYC but it was a day after I got them and I wasn't so sure I was ready to brave hours and hours of walking wearing them!

2)  Figure out how the heck to wear socks with heels/sandals

This is such a difficult thing to do! there is a fine line between nerdy chic and just plain geeky.   I have tried on all my ankle socks with a pair of black almost-wedged wide strappy sandals I have, but I just haven't "felt" the match yet.  Maybe it is women's intuition, but I have this sort of "feeling" system for how I dress.  I can just tell when something doesn't look right together, it is a feeling similar to that of dropping a glass cup and breaking it by accident.  That is the best way I can explain it.  But when it is right, oh you just see yourself walking down a manhattan sidewalk parting the crowds of people with your hair blown back by a fan as it bounces perfectly with your every step.  You know that feeling.  I have a really great imagination, thanks to my upbringing!

3) Blouses

Yes, I consider myself a connoisseur of dresses, of the vintage and new variety.  I have enough dresses (but still not nearly enough) to move onto other things.  What I don't have a lot of is stand up blouses.  And I am working on that.

My favorites that I am finding this Fall are the loose almost cropped dressy T-Shirts, and the loose sweaters with tighter sleeves to roll up and fold unevenly.  Unfortunately my two favorites I purchased were from h&m and they do not have an online store to find them in... and I don't quite have a camera to photograph them (or do them justice at least)

The sweater I love is similar to this one, without the pocket, and in mustard yellow.  It also has a bit of a boatneck which works better on my bustier figure.  It is a good way to hide those extra pounds I am working on losing and still look chic.  It is also super soft and cozy!  

My other shirt that I bought is short-sleeved ends at the waist and is a camel brown with two wide black stripes.  It is made out of Viscose, and it is super cozy and drapes super nicely.  Just don't get it wet, it stiffens it and makes it look lighter where the water hits it. It is great with my skinnies and my black Kimchi Blue pumps.

That is all I have for now! Off to work on my Etsy Shop so I can make some $$$ and buy more clothes!!!!

(and pay some bills)

<3 Chelsa Molloy

a list of ten things to do when i'm blue

i have been meaning to start a meaningful blog for a year, yet I have not figured out the basis of it.   i don't have tales of little children, or a lot of grown-up things (or at least, i don't think so)

i suppose one thing i know is the challenges and triumphs of starting a very small business from scratch and growing from there.

i also know what it is to love someone with all my heart,

and sometimes, raising my puppy feels like raising a child.

being younger than i look and feel is sometimes difficult, i find myself in this world of big decisions and actions and i find myself making many, many, many mistakes.  i am, in my head, a grown-up, but i am still separating myself from those teenage habits, some are tougher than others to break (for example, spending all of a paycheck impulsively, and then struggling to pay rent)

oh, the woes, which leads me to the point of this particular post...

i find myself blue today after a long working day in Des Moines at the East Village Bazaar

i was quietly disappointed with my lack of sales and as the day went on i was feeling more and more blue, and i think i may have done the rest to myself.

a.k.a. gave up

i.e. sat with a semi-pout on my face and left behind all good salesmanship (and heck, my last name is Salesman! done the family wrong!)

i so regret it!  I have compiled a list to get me through those lulls and financial woes that chase me.

1.  first, recognize the issue.  write it down, spell it out, think it through.

2.  write down ways to fix it.  or, ways to get on your way to fixing it.

3.  on a separate paper, write down something that made you smile last.

4.  remind yourself of something you feel or have that is greater than anything else ( for me, my beau, my dog Béla, and my kitties.  also, designing/sewing clothing and hugging my mom. :) )

5.  think again of what is bothering you.  still smiling about what you wrote down in step 3 and 4? hopefully. i am!

6.  re-evaluate the issue with your now more positive mindset.

7.  walk away and have a cup of tea, a piece of chocolate, a play sesh with the kitty, hug your puppy, listen to your favorite song.

8.  come back to both your papers and reread them both

9.  rip up the negative paper into as many pieces as humanly possible. 

10. get to work fixing the issue! or accepting it! whichever is the necessary step for you. 

11. adopt a kitten and name her after my favorite band when i was in 8th grade.

TILLY!

step 11 is optional :)

good luck! crosses fingers

<3

Chelsa Molloy