What I Wore Wednesday: Work Christmas Party

I've been working since I was 15 years old but in all those years (you decide how many) I've been to exactly 3 work Christmas parties.  I know it doesn't seem fair to me either; one in 2001 when I worked for night club/concert venue in DC (oh the stories I could tell...), one in 2008 when I worked for an alcohol education charity and my third last Friday for my current contract.

We went to Brown's on George Square in Glasgow where the regular Christmas meal suspects were present: turkey, crackers with crowns and games and lots of wine.  I really love the people I work with so it was a great night to just hang out and relax with them.  I wasn't sure what I was going to wear but then when my fellow Lassies mentioned buying new dresses I went into a panic.

I hit up pretty much every stores at Glasgow Fort on the Wednesday night before our night out: HM, New Look, River Island, Next, TopShop, Wallis, Oasis....I even ventured into Quiz. NOTHING. Thursday day I spy a super cute sequin skirt in Marie Claire from Primark so I go and buy it in two colours to coordinate with tops at home. Get home and my super cute skirt looks really frumpy on me. So I raided my closet and after only one possibly viable option decided to take a last ditch trip to my lover: TK Maxx.  I should have known just to go there from the start!

Velvet Hair Bow Headband- ASDA

Black and Red Keyhole Dress- TK Maxx

Black Ankle Boots-New Look

So I had a rotten time trying to get photos but the dress is black on top and deep red with a sort of damask pattern on the bottom. I've never work a keyhole dress before as I wasn't sure if it would suit me. The dress was great standing up but sitting down it was probably a bit more boob-a-rific than anticipated. Luckily the top part of the keyhole meant I didn't look too pornographic--at least I hope that is what it did!

I really wanted a big glittery Crown and Glory hair-bow ala the always fabulously accessorized Miss West End Girl but I couldn't find one in Glasgow to save my life. So I settled for this massive velvet bow headband from the little girl's section at ASDA-- keeping it classy as always.

I'm convinced I look like a demented Lady Gaga in a Christmas crown--what do you think? Does your work have a Christmas party?

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What I Wore Wednesday: Nail Art

One of the things I've gotten back into fashion-wise since starting back in an office is painting my nails. I'm not sure why but plain nails just bum me out and I've convinced myself manicured nails are more professional some how. Sometimes I just go for a plain manicure but I've been getting more and more adventurous with trying out nail art.

I'm nowhere near good enough to try anything too crazy but I have been mixing it up and stepping out of my statement nail or glitter top coat comfort zone.  To be fair there is still a lot of glitter and a plethora of statement nails but I'm trying a few different things, too!

I went to HM to buy something and saw a black nail art pen in that "impulse buy" bin while I was waiting to pay---you know what I mean where everything is just cheap enough that you HAVE to have it? It took three of us probably about 10x each before we figured out how to open up the stupid pen but I was pretty happy at my first attempt at a funky French manicure.

I really wanted to try using masking tape to do some nail art but I'm lazy so I only did it on one nail. I'm actually pretty pleased with how this turned out even if it is a statement nail, nail art hybrid. Masking tape isn't really ideal for nail art though so I'll need to find something else that works better.

Finally I did a caviar manicure statement nail. Again I'm lazy and one nail alone on each hand was hassle enough. I like the idea of a caviar manicure but like I mentioned it wasn't easy and the beads chipped off the edge of my nail overnight and by 3pm the next day I'd picked the rest off. I'm also just not really sure about this colour either.

Have you ever tried nail art? What is your favourite colour or design to wear?

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What I Wore Wednesday: Kenneth Cole Reaction Purple Coat

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, it's cold in Glasgow. I almost feel bad saying that because I know there is snow back home in Ohio and I didn't even have to scrape my windshield this morning but comparatively it is cold. I can't get away with just a jacket and while most of my 2009 Zara coat has held up well (I lost a button do to pregnancy boobage) it isn't particularly warm enough for shivering at the bus stop.

So after much heckling from my co-workers to put on something warm I decided to get a new winter coat. I'd give you three guesses where I went to look for a new coat but really you'll only need one. Blondie Boy and I headed to TK Maxx who have tons of coats and jackets in store right now. I wasn't entirely sure what style I was going for and had tons to choose from so lucky me when my boy pulled out a coat for me that I loved! That kid has great fashion sense:)

Purple Puffy Coat with Fur Hood-Kenneth Cole Reaction via TK Maxx
Old Navy Turquoise Boatneck Sweater with Button Detail on Shoulder

Old Navy Sweetheart Jeans

Black Studded Pumps- New Look

I love purple and the coat is SO warm. There are sweater cuffs inside the arms so your wrists don't get cold and it is super fluffy and feather-filled. The inside is super soft minky and then of course there is the fabulous detachable faux-fur hood. To top it off there are toggles at the waist so you can cinch it in so you aren't a giant puff ball! 

It is absolutely the perfect winter coat for me and I'm glad Blondie Boy grabbed it and told me to try it on! Normally he'd get in trouble for grabbing stuff off the rails but not this time! To top it all off the coat was reduced/on sale, too!

Also do you see all those lights? My new office is right on the main square in Glasgow so we look out directly onto all the Christmas lights and attractions! It makes going to work and leaving work in the dark a little bit easier to deal with!

Have you gotten a new coat this winter or have you dug out an old favourite?

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What I Wore Wednesday: Polarn O. Pyret Children's Clothing

Winter is officially here in Glasgow. It is cold freezing. Luckily just because it's freezing doesn't mean Blondie Boy has to become an abominable snowman with no style waddling around with just his eyes peering out from some massive snowsuit. Y'all know how much we love Polarn O. Pyret's gender neutral and sturdy but stylish children's clothing and their winter collection does not disappoint.

Polarn O. Pyret Padded Winter Child Coat

Polarn O. Pyret Hooded Child Jacket

Polarn O. Pyret Mid Blue Regular Fit Jeans

Clarks Diggy Ray Inf Boots

It's hard to tell from the photos but the winter coat has little thumb holes on the cuff to help keep wrists warm but I just think they look all emo and cool too! I love the detailing on the hoodie; I love a good hoodie and the pockets and buttons really dress this hoodie up and make it really cool. I love that PO.P clothes look amazing but I don't have to worry about Blondie Boy ruining them. They hold up through all his crazy dance moves, crashing out and wash wonderfully.

Right now Polarn O. Pyret are giving you the chance to win a trip to Sweden for a family of four! To enter the PO.P prize draw just take a moment to become a PO.P+ Member (for free!) on their website--good luck!




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What I Wore Wednesday: Drag Super Star

So here's the thing. I love drag queens. LOVE drag queens. I actually wish I could be a drag queen (anyone out there want to be drag mama to a faux queen?) ala the movie Connie and Carla minus the whole running away from murders bit and a bit more fierce. That being said I've never been to a drag show in Glasgow; I'm not sure how I saw that Raja, the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3, was coming to Glasgow but oh honey the second I found out I KNEW I was going and somehow I luckily convinced Steph to go with me.

We decided to go ALL out and splashed out on the VIP tickets so we would also get to meet Raja and get our photo taken with her plus a champagne reception. I say splash out but seriously y'all it was less than a single concert ticket costs these days so it was actually a bargain!

I'd never been to the club the show was in before but friends told me it was an anything goes, OTT type place so in my mind that meant glitter and sequins needed to be on the agenda. I also took it as an excuse to break out all my make-up and hair styling tools that I don't normally have occasion to use.

Black Asymmetric Shoulder Stud Top-River Island

Spike Cluster Earrings-New Look

Spike Cluster Ring-New Look

Leopard Heels-Dune

Booty Up Bootcut Trousers-Hold Your Haunches

Studded Bag-Versace for HM

You know I had to break out the cat ears Liz got me again; I honestly need more events in my life where I can wear headpieces! I didn't realize until afterwards but I wore the same outfit I wore when I went out for Julie's 30th earlier this year!

I bought hair chalk last year in Ohio and this is the fist time I've gone out with it. I'm kinda in love with my candy-coloured my little pony hair. As much as I love skulls and spikes I also love pink and purple so it was such fun to have a trial with dip-dye hair. Now I have to decide if I could take the plunge to have it full time.

Raja's performance was just amazing and it was so great to see her and get the chance to briefly meet her. It was also just fun to get out and do something I've not done in a long time, too. Could I come home at 4am every weekend? Oh hell no but once in a while for a special event I think I can handle it.

What's your favourite OTT fashion trend?

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What I Wore Wednesday: Homemade Robot Costume

Things have been so busy between work, launching Lassies Who Lunch and getting ready for Halloween that I totally spaced on What I Wore Wednesday last week---oops! I did get a post up about our amazing trip to France, including vlogs from the cutest little vlogger ever--Blondie Boy! I love Halloween and this was the first time in two years we were home in Scotland and not in the USA.

I'm not a fan of the Pinterest inspired competition to be the best Mom ever but personally I think that birthday cakes and Halloween costumes should always be home made. Nothing I make is ever going to look professional but I don't care. Unless there are circumstances beyond my control Blondie Boy is always getting a home made costume

This year he decided he wanted to be a dancing robot. So I bought some chrome effect spray paint, diamanté, buttons, sparkly leggings and flexible silver ducting and went to town. We already had some rain boots that a friend had given us as hand-me-downs so those got spray-painted, too. I finished it off with some white hairspray (couldn't find silver) and some loose silver make-up glitter and CR3 The Dancing Robot was born!

He also requested robot fingernails so who am I to say no when I own holographic silver polish already :) I think his costume came out really cute and he definitely stood out from the other kids. All of my costumes growing up were home made so I'm glad to carry on the tradition.

For work that day I had on cat ears and some drawn on whiskers (only my team dressed up at work and there were no full-on costumes) but I wanted something a bit more fun for trick or treating with Blondie Boy. Normally I try to match my costume to his but after getting him ready I only had ten minutes to sort myself. So I decided to take a risk and made myself a Dia de Los Muertos sugar skull type look.

The gems were a bit big and it wasn't as elaborate or colourful as I would have liked but not bad for ten minutes! It kind of makes me want to go to the tanning bed though as I definitely don't suit being super pale. We had a fun time visiting houses but it definitely is not the same as being home in Ohio.

I much prefer specified trick or treating times and knowing that if a light is on you know that it is okay to knock. Here I was hesitant to take BB up to a door unless they had a pumpkin out or I'd seen bigger kids go up already. That being said Halloween is much bigger than it was when I first moved here. Hopefully next year though we can be back in Ohio!

Did you dress up for Halloween?

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