Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

Sunday Lately, 97

Sunday Lately is a weekly link up brought to you by the Blogger Tribe. Link up and see what's been happening lately!Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (which is being fearlessly lead by Meghan, Nicole, Katy, and myself). We e-hang out every Sunday, sharing a small glimpse into the last week of life in our own worlds. We’d love if you could join us!
This week’s themes: Doing, Appreciating, Designing, Humming, Expecting

 

Doing

I have been drinking all the coffee, so I’ve been doing all the things. I have a few spray paint projects that I’ve completed and I’m mostly happy with them. I took an old plant stand that was rusty and gave it a fresh coat of paint so I can use it inside this winter. I also gave a plain cork board a layer of paint, though I’m not totally happy with it. I really wanted something over my desk to tack notes and clipboards to, but it doesn’t quite work. We’ll get there.

Plant stand makeover in progress. Spray paint is a miracle worker!

This is the WIP of the plant stand. I’ll share completed pictures of both projects later!

Appreciating

I have really been appreciating the warmer weather this past week. It was so warm, I was sitting outside with short sleeves on and was actually starting to sweat in the sun. I was also able to pull the plants out of the garden and lay down newspaper to keep the weed growth to a minimum when it was sunny. It’s a nice change from doing it in past years in really cold temps. That is perfectly fine for me in November. Anything to keep the Vitamin D flowing and the heating bill low.

Designing

I’m trying to slice up a shirt to wear for this month’s edition of On a Shoestring. The theme is holiday parties and I have a shirt that fits fine, but it has a weird splotch on it, so I’m trying to refashion it into something holiday-worthy without spending anything. I know Amy is going to come up with something so spectacular for this one!

Humming

I’ve plugged my old iPod in my car again and I’ve been jamming out to a friend’s indie band, Mariage Blanc. So I’ve been alternating between them and that annoying Judah and the Lion song I keep hearing every time I have the actual radio on. It’s like Mumford & Sons to the banjo power. Now, this is just my opinion, but it is the most annoying song ever. I don’t think it’s a alt song, but I keep hearing it on the alt station. It’s like a weird bluegrass/rap combo that just doesn’t make sense to me. Maybe the band has other songs that are less banjo-y. Maybe my tastes will change. Who knows.

Expecting

I’m sadly expecting the weather to get a bit cooler and it’s making me sad. Or maybe it’s just Judah and the Lion stuck in my head.

What’s been happening with you lately? Link up with us and share!


Sunday Lately, 95

Sunday Lately is a weekly link up brought to you by the Blogger Tribe. Link up and see what's been happening lately!Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (which is being fearlessly lead by Meghan, Nicole, Katy, and myself). We e-hang out every Sunday, sharing a small glimpse into the last week of life in our own worlds. We’d love if you could join us!
This week’s themes: Completing, Visiting, Repeating, Writing, Scheduling

 

After a few really warm days here in Pittsburgh, I’m finally getting into the fall feel of things. The rain can stop at any time, though…

Fall fashion with Gardening In High Heels

Completing

So the last time I wrote a Sunday Lately post (ahem, wonderful consistency, no?) I mentioned that I was doing a Pilates challenge at Dragonfly Pilates where I was taking 30 classes in 25 days. The official count was 35 classes in 21 days. Next up is a Matwork challenge. People don’t really like Mat, apparently, because there isn’t the help from an apparatus; it’s just you and the mat. It’ll be an awesome challenge.

Visiting

I started to go back to the gym. And I didn’t totally hate it. But it really wasn’t as much fun as a Pilates class nor did the time go by as quickly.

Repeating

It feels like doing the dishes is never-ending. I have a dishwasher, but I tend to just wash everything by hand because it’s usually just a plate and a fork. Or just a spoon if I’m feeling particularly lazy (and I mean, a serving of ice cream is one container, right?)

Writing

I started a new series with Amy from Amy and Angie called On A Shoestring focusing on dressing, decorating, and dining….on a shoestring budget. I’m so excited to get back into writing fashion-y posts. I was hit by a brain wave the other day that just because I don’t want to spend money on new clothing like I see other bloggers doing doesn’t mean that I have to. So I decided to make my own rules. It felt weird to get in front of the camera again, but after a few awkward shots, I’m really happy with this fall look and 3 simple (basically free) things to add to a summer outfit to make it fall-appropriate.

Transition Your Closet To Fall--add dark lipstick.

Scheduling

Some meetings, finally. It feels like I’m finally starting to make some headway with AngelicaRoss.co and I’ve talked to a few great women from the Propelle Rock It group that I belong to. It’s nice to get some collaborations and some brainstorming going again.

What’s been happening with you lately? Link up with us and share!


On A Shoestring: Transition Summer Clothes

Okay, I don’t know about y’all, but I don’t really dress seasonally appropriate. I don’t put summer clothes in storage and bring out the winter stuff. I like to have it all at my fingertips (sometimes to the detriment of my schedule in the morning), but sometimes that leaves me looking really not right for the season. And cold. I’m a person who likes to be warm. Oh, and save my money.

Enter a new series: On a Shoestring. I’m collaborating with Amy over at Amy and Angie on a series of posts to re-imagine fashion, food, decor (sorry, there’s no f-word for that) and more all on a shoestring budget. It doesn’t take a Rockefeller-sized closet (or house) and budget to look good.

It's so easy to take your summer outfits and make them fall-ready and fabulous, even on a budget!

Today’s mission: transition summer clothes. I love my summer dresses, but they don’t always scream autumn. And I’m like, I paid for it, I’mma wear it as much as I can! Gotta keep that cost-per-wear low.

I took this adorable summer dress (from Rosewood Boutique in Sewickley – they’re currently having a going-out-of-business-25%-off sale) and added three really budget friendly elements to make it jewel toned and weather-friendly.

Take any summer dress and easily transition it to a fall-ready outfit.

It already started out with a fall color, navy, so the transformation process was pretty simple.

First thing’s first: add in structure, especially with a flow-y dress like this. Nothing screams structure more than a good leather jacket (yeah, yeah, yeah, leather jackets aren’t cheap, but find one that fits within your budget and buy it. Take care of your clothes and it’s great investment.)

After the leather comes some tights. Stay warm, right? I buy most of my tights on clearance at Target. They have amazing patterned tights and beauties like the ruby-hued ones I’m rocking.

Finally, a dark vampy lip. Hell, even a berry lip will do.

Transition Your Cloest To Fall -- add leather! Love this jacket!

Transition Your Cloest To Fall -- add tights

Transition Your Cloest To Fall -- add tights

Transition Your Cloest To Fall--add dark lipstick.

You absolutely have to check out how Amy refashioned a white lace dress into a cute skirt and totally nailed a cozy fall look. For $3. Three stinkin’ dollars! Killin’ it.

Here’s the details on what I’m wearing. Everything was already in my closet. I just had to mix it together.

Dress: ETWO (from Rosewood Boutique)

Jacket: BB Dakota (from No. 14 Boutique – see it here another way)

Tights: Merona, Target

Booties: Old Navy

Lips: Notion, Ultra Matte Lip from ColourPop Cosmetics

Transition Your Cloest To Fall-Three Easy and Budget Friendly Steps

How do you transition your summer clothes?

Save

Can you hear you?

“I wanted to make sure you could hear you.”

Colleen Donaghy, played by Elaine Stritch, spits out this line in the “Hiatus” episode of 30 Rock. Let me set the scene… She’s at dinner with Jack and his fiancee, Phoebe. Phoebe says that she wants to get married in the spring as the petunias start to bloom. Colleen asks what she said and Phoebe repeats herself. Again, Colleen says, “What?” and Phoebe turns to Jack and asks if she’s hard of hearing.

That’s when this line comes out: “No, no, no. I can hear you. I just wanted to make sure you could hear you.”

Brilliant. How many times do we speak without really hearing what we’re saying? We’ve all been there. We think what we say is the funniest, most intelligent, most supportive, most whatever thing we’ve ever said…and it’s hot garbage.

This is your reminder to listen more than you speak, ask questions, and make sure you can hear you.

Can you hear you? Awesome reminder to think more than you speak.

(And if you’re interested, here’s a Google search for the episode. Find a YouTube video that looks good and go to town.)

 

Sunday Lately, 90

Sunday Lately is a weekly link up brought to you by the Blogger Tribe. Link up and see what's been happening lately!Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (which is being fearlessly lead by Meghan, Nicole, Katy, and myself). We e-hang out every Sunday, sharing a small glimpse into the last week of life in our own worlds. We’d love if you could join us!
This week’s themes: Completing, Visiting, Repeating, Writing, Scheduling

 

I feel like I’m really good at Sunday Lately for a week or two and then I skip a week, then I come back. Bad Blogger Tribe Leader.

Completing

Today I’m completing the NOCC (National Ovarian Cancer Coalition) 5k walk at a park here in Pittsburgh. I’ve done it for the past few years in honor of my grandmother.

Visiting

In an effort not to mention Pilates classes for 3 out of the 5 prompts…. Seriously, though, all I do is drive to Shadyside. I did get to meet up with Amanda from North Ave Candles at The Vandal the other day and that was definitely fun to connect. It’s great when you find someone that has a similar flavor and energy.

Yes, we ate all these fries. And it was glorious.

Amazing fries and mac and cheese at The Vandal in Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, PA

Repeating

Pilates classes. I’m doing a Fall30 Challenge with the studio I go to (Dragonfly Pilates – it’s wonderful!). For 25 days, we’re challenged to attend 30 classes. It runs from September 6 to September 30, though I didn’t start my classes until September 8th. I have everything scheduled out until the end of the month and in my 23 days, I will have attended 35 classes and only missed 3 days. Most days, I’m there for 2 classes (AKA: 2 hours), but the time goes by so fast, you don’t really notice.

I can feel muscles develop, but they’re still being protected by a layer of fat. Of course.

Morning sun coming through the window at Dragonfly Pilates in Shadyside, Pittsburgh, PA

Writing

I’m trying to write some blog posts for my content marketing site, AngelicaRoss.co. I’m definitely falling into the Pinterest trap of “all the topics I want to discuss are already covered.” Does that happen to anyone else? Anyway, I’m thinking short bites that are easy to take action on (not long, verbose posts that take forever + a day to read) that slightly expand on the emails that I’m sending out.

Scheduling

Pilates classes! Ooh a two-fer.

What have you been up to lately? Link up with us and share!


Let’s Play

           

People Really Dug These

We Belong in the Garden Together