Here’s another dress that I swapped with Joy. I remember loving it in the store but leaving it there because it wasn’t on sale enough. I love that it’s in my life now.  It’s a cute little navy number. Notice the tie around the waist. You may not be able to tell that it has a ruffle at the neck and the whole thing is swiss dot. Pretty much everything I want in a dress.

Dress: Loft, swapped with Joy Cami: Target Shoes: Toms

Ole, Ole! Feliz Cinco de Mayo! Silly French, why did you think invading Mexico was a good idea? They just wanted to talk it out. 

In other news… Today was a day. Probably the most exicting thing that happened was that Mary Beth came home from Dallas! We did some shopping and checked out a new yogurt place, Oso’s.  It’s so San Fran. It was incredible to see Downtown Waco alive and kicking. Way to go city planners!

Okay, down to business..

Top to toe: Jacket: Fossil, thrifted Shirt: Loft, swapped with Joy Skirt: American Apparel, thrifted Shoes: Target

Day four was filled with progress. I’m totally caught up with e-mails and phone calls. Some things that are up in the air at work are starting to come together, too.  Shocking, I know.  I’ve decided I’m going to bask in it’s glory because I know it is quite fleeting.

I also rearranged the furniture in my office today.  My parents moved the furniture around in our house a lot growing up.  I suppose it’s fair to say that I come by it honestly.

I love this dress. It’s the first time I’ve worn it, actually.  I got it in a clothes swap from my (now pregnant) friend Joy.  I totally pays to have friends to share clothes with.  We’ve got a pretty good system worked out when she’s not growing a child in her body.  We swap and then swap back – making old things seem new again.  Ah.

Top to toe – Cardigan: Loft Dress: Loft (swapped with Joy) Shoes: Antonio Melani (fancy, I know)

Confession: Tonight I was doing some wash and thought “Oh, I want to wear those grey pants tomorrow.” SHAME ON ME!

Free of stringent social restrictions, day 3 is an outfit that I LOVE.  Comfy but put together, neutral but distinct.  Here is day 3, the perfect outfit for paperwork, planning, and loving.

Top to toe – Shirt: Loft Skirt: Target Leggings: Target Boots: Macy’s

I actually didn’t wear a dress for most of day 2. Sorry! It was very cold, which usually doesn’t keep me from dresses. Because of something at work, I had to look super sharp and professional. Unfortunately, my usual cold combatants (colored tights and knee high boots) aren’t super sharp and professional. I didn’t take a picture because A. you don’t care about my pants and B. I was a running around like crazy mess. In the evening, I had dinner with a friend from grad school and sent to 3spoons. This was my outfit for the occation. From head to toe – Long sleeve tee: Loft Dress: Target Jacket: J. Crew Leggings: Target Boots: Lands End

What’s that tacky tacky sheet doing up over your door, Katie? SO glad you asked!
The Zoo has some new foster doggies! Mama and 6 new born puppies!  Mama looks like a shepard mix and the puppies are a variety of colors.  Some look like their mama, some are all black and some are all white.  They are so sweet! They are all available for adoption through the Waco Humane Society.  Mama is pictured below.   She doesn’t have a name except for “You’re such a good Mama!” which is very true!  She takes care of her babies and makes sure they’re clean and have enough to eat, but she also lets us help her out a little.  She is also so very desperate for attention.  Even with all her puppies she still wags her tail and is excited to see us when we come to see her.  She LOVES belly rubs, too!  The babies are too tiny and squirmy to take pictures of yet. Their eyes aren’t even open.  I’ll put some up as soon as they’re bigger.

I hope you are having a lovely day 3!

Until tomorrow,

Katie

I’m so happy you’re reading about our journey through the merry month of May!

A little about me:  I’m Katie.  I’m a social worker, a year out of grad school, employed by a large non-profit serving children and families – a hopelessly hopeful, absent minded, beg for forgiveness kind of young professional. I live with three other lovely ladies (including Mary Beth who’s also risen to the dress a day challenge) in a giant old house.  Also in our giant old house, affectionately referred to as “the Zoo”, are two cats and three dogs.  Personally, I only own one dog, Evie, but it’s kind of a group effort.  I’m a busy body and always have been.  I love to Zumba and run with aforementioned pooch and counterproductively go to 3spoons.  I’m kind of an old soul on an unrelenting quest to save junky antiques from whatever they need saving from.  I also enjoy portraiture, social media, diet coke and yoga pants.

Here’s day 1!

I didn’t get around to wearing a skirt/dress for a while today. After a lovely walk with Caryn and an attempt to take a dip in her pool, I ended up with this outfit.  Definitely more for comfort and function than style, but it’s what I wore none the less.  One of my favorite jersey skirts, two comfy tank tops and some fresh out of the box Keds! Perfect for cuttin’ a rug!

Here are the goods…
The little buds are a reused shipping envelope from the Bows and Whistles dress from Etsy (Thanks, Lacey).  She made it out of vintage wallpaper.  Not so thrilling supplies include: a marker, embroidery hoop, thread and needle, scissors, and a tiny amount of scrap fabric for the tail.  Don’t forget a not so little helping paw.

After I started, I realized I needed some more fabric.  I ended up using a lot of scraps from a vintage store and a shirt that was no longer acceptable to wear on my body.  This evening was one of the many times I do not regret keeping warn out clothes.  Re-purpose, folks.. re-purpose.

After mutilating the wallpaper envelope with scissors, I had some heart-ish shapes of various sizes.  With my chin high, I was ready to put the pedal to the metal and realized I had no glue.  Thankfully, Marbt brought her genius hat and reminded me that I was working with WALLPAPER. Duh. With some help from some water, a towel and my favorite little polka dot bowl, I coerced decades-old glue to come out of hiding and the wallpaper stuck itself together!

After sandwiching the hearts in between one long string of embroidery floss and ripping up some fabric and tying some bows I had a loverly bit of loverlyness for room 4.

The last little bit for the cousin of the “have a heart” string makes it infinitely cooler than any of the cute V-day decorations at Target that I covet so.

Sweet world… always remember…

“In non essentials – liberty, in essentials – unity, in all things – love.”

I am thinking… about my afternoon

I am thankful for… Gary and Steph, Lara’s parents who spent 7 weeks at our house redoing our kitchen.  What a gift.

I am remembering… how glorious the past few weeks have been, slow at work, time off.  How I’ll miss it in a few weeks. 

I am going… to go home for lunch… and hopefully make it a habit. 

I am reading… Blogs? Books are boring.

I am creating… patchwork curtains for the windows in my room.  Once I get a more significant start on them, I’ll post some pictures. 

On my mind… that to do list. next to the pile on my desk. 

From the learning rooms… I need to brush up on infant care before a meeting this afternoon. 

Noticing that… Diet. Coke. Almost. Gone. Meep!

A few other plans for the week… Zumba with Marbt, making those curtains, kitchen warming party.

From the kitchen… the posibilities are endless with the new kitchen!

Around the house… puppies sleep, kitties pussy-foot, fridge hums.

One of my favorite things… New Sodastream. It was so delightful not to lug cans from the store last night.

From my picture journal… Lara, Grams and Pops in the NEW KITCHEN!

I wish I were the kind of person that was anti-new-years-resolutions. Those folks are so cool.  I guess I partially embody this dimension of coolness.  I am the most whole when I think about my life in new ways every day.  I have to say that I fall short of that pretty frequently. I think most people do.  However, reexamining our lives once a year is better than not at all. So if you need a new year to look at your life and make changes for the better, please make new years resolutions.

I have fallen extremely short of the lovely thought of reflecting on and changing my life every day.  I have a lot of resolutions.  Let’s call them commitments. It makes me feel better.

Loose 25 lbs. Just kidding. Loose 10. Also kidding, kind of. Really, now… Cook and grow more of my own food, shake it something furious at Zumba (in cute Zumba pants, of course) and maybe do a little Yoga, too.

Commit 100% or don’t commit. Even if I disappoint.

Be more proactive about contributing to my house community – increase my awareness of when there are things to be picked up, dishes to be done, replenishing shared things before I’m reminded.

Follow through on the little things so others feel like they can trust me with the big things.

Love this face! Give her the things she needs to be sweet, smart and healthy.

Resolve v. to come to a definite or earnest decision about; determine (to do something):