Day 3 of 30 Popsicle girl

This is a boring outfit, sorry. It was so cold when I left to work this morning I thought my face would fall off. But as of this afternoon we are now back into the double digits!!!  So many layers of tights...I will wear a much more celebratory outfit tomorrow, promise.

Turtle: JCrew $159 XS

Skirt: Ann Taylor Loft 0P '04

Tights: WalMart $5

Boots: Steve Madden $49.50

I didn't even plan on having a black turtleneck sweater in my lineup. It was in my alternates, because I thought it was kind of lame. I still think it's lame, but today it was necessary!

Hmm I haven't worn this skirt since last winter. It is a little big for a petite. Usually petite skirts are too short on me, but this one sits around my hips. I probably should have it taken in a little to fit better, but that might tweak the length. I know ATLoft makes 00Ps now but I haven't tried them yet.

Standing in a certain way makes it look like I have a butt.

Too bad I can't stand like this all day. Alterations pile.

You only get side pics today because all my front-facing ones were crazy amounts of blurry. However, I am looking at cameras every day. $$$

The walk from my commuter lot parking space is a little over half a mile from my building. So in reality, the walking part of my commute consisted of

my beloved PugsGear mittens, bought at a Tesoro gas station (Thor & 2nd) in Spokane for $10 in '06.

Bonfire snowboarding jacket '06

The sunglasses in this pic are creeping me out, but they are part of the package to keep the wind from my stinging eyes!

Union Bay wind-proof, slippery semi-snowboarding pants (flannel lined!) '00

Hey at least these my pants were OVER these in this outfit :)

Hunter boots 7.5

I tromped from my car through Siberia in this getup and then changed into my boots and skirt when I got to work. I have a long black coat I could have worn, but I didn't want any 30mph gusts of wind flapping up my front or around my knees. I hate being cold! I also don't trust myself in heels on ice and prefer not to ruin my shoes with salt and road chemicals.

I guess I have reached that age where you don't care how ridiculous you look in negative temperatures...that is, as long as no one can recognize me.

Don't buy

Saturday. I am supposed to be revising an article but instead have been looking at J.Crew's 40% off sale/Free shipping on $100. Argh. I will refrain. It isn't that hard. It is annoying to see the things I have been waiting for (heather grey cashmere turtleneck sweater!!) go on sale so drastically. But I know J.Crew will make these items forever, and I have enough in my closet.

But if I WERE normally employed (non-GPTI salary) and had some extra money to burn, this is what I would buy:

• Cashmere turtleneck sweater in Grey Heather $119+40%
• Factory Always Striped cardigan in Navy 39+40% The contrasting stripes are great!
• Always Perfect button-down in white $60 [reg price]. They stretch after a while, and I am on my 3rd one.

 And I am oddly attracted to:

• A cashmere Henley in an unexplainable orange-red color called Cherise $99+40%. Not sure what the attraction is... Yes I do: it is all the bloggers wearing really bright skirts lately against the snow/grey skies, and the closest thing I have is a (dark & somber) maroon fluted skirt from Ann Taylor Loft '05.

Unfortunately, I just looked up how much I would be saving and the total cost would be about $167 down from $256. I want those items! But I am refraining. I have stuff to wear here. And $167 is groceries for a whole month, and gas, and if I spent that much at J.Crew, it would only be for three items. Yes, one is regularly priced at $158 , but I will not die if I don't have it. It would just be nice...

I have been really proud of myself for not spending hardly any money on clothes this school year, but I think I could do better. The only items I have bought were some neutral cardigans (on a drastic sale) from J.Crew in mid-October. It is harder to refrain from basics like sweaters or cardigans or white shirts because I can see where I would immediately wear them, or that having them would help me wear XYZ. Shoes are less of a problem. I used to buy a few pairs of shoes per season, but the only ones I have bought this school year were my running shoes (which I desperately needed) and the boots I found for $50. I am glad I already have what I need to get through most of the days.

I feel better about blowing off that J.Crew sale! I just need to get a grip sometimes.

UPDATE
Was just reading a blog post about not being able to find work after earning advanced degree...sobering! Now I am extra glad I refrained from that sale.