Brown Goddess

 

Hello ya'll:

Between moving into our first home during the end of November and counting down the days until winter vacation, I've definitely been missing in action. I'm still reading and lurking, however, lol! Anyways, I'm so glad that I decided to hold onto this brown bolero sweater. Can you believe that it was on my chopping block at one point?!

brown bolero sweater La Redoute
mixed brown blouse thrifted
brown cropped slacks thrifted (Talbots)
brown boots Born

Red, Tan, & Gray Leopard

 

I'm a pattern mixing beast--that's all! lol!

red & tan cardigan--remixed thrifted
red wool skirt thrifted (Savers)
gray leopard blouse--remixed Old Navy
brown & tan tights DKNY (TJMaxx)
brown flats--remixed Blowfish (TJMaxx)

Mustard & Plum

Mustard & Plum, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

I saw this scarf and had to have it! It's the perfect drape (and color) for Autumn!

mustard & plum scarf thrifted (Savers)
mustard turtleneck--remixed Marshalls
plum corduroy pants TJMaxx
tan loafers--remixed thrifted

Too Cold for a Photo

Sorry,

I'm skipping the Fall Brights trends. It's wicked cold today in Massachusetts and I just want to bundle up. I'll try again tomorrow!

Fall Trends: Stripes

Fall Trends: Stripes, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

I call this my 'Freddy Kreuger' sweater, haha! I love this clear shade of red so expect to see this sweater often. This whole outfit is made up of thrifted items :).

brown & red striped sweater
gold blouse--remixed
red necklace
brown slacks
tan loafers--remixed

Fall Trends: Midi Skirt

Fall Trends: Midi Skirt, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

This is one of my all time favorite looks!! Yes!!

purple floral scarf--remixed Rainbows?
taupe sweater TJ Maxx
light pink blouse thrifted (Savers)
mauve pleated skirt thrifted (Savers)
tights ?
burgundy wedges--remixed Softspots via DSW

Fall Trends: Menswear

 

I really liked the way that this outfit came together! Originally, I wanted to wear my black pinstriped vest, however it did not come up far enough to really 'pop'. Then I was going to wear my black wedges, but switched them out for my tan loafers at the last minute. It's cute, menswear-esque, and slightly college prep all in one!

black blazer Filene's?
maroon shirt--remixed thrifted
purple, black, and red striped sweater--remixed thrifted
black tweed pants--remixed TJMaxx
tan loafers thrifted

Fall Trends: Leopard

 

Hey--I'm participating in Megan (and Keely)'s Fashion Challenge: This or That. Click the badge on the right side for further information. Today, participants had a choice of snake print or leopard print. I actually saw a similar outfit on Jessica's whatiwore and knew that I had the pieces to recreate a similar scheme. I think it came out well considering that this photo was taken at the end of a very long Monday!

blue silk shirt thrifted (Savers)
leopard print belt thrifted (Savers)
turquoise skirt Chadwicks
black tights TJ Maxx
black wedges Me Too via DSW

Stripes & Dots

Stripes & Dots, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

Ahh... so happy it's Tuesday because it's that much closer to Friday, haha! I received a ton of compliments about this outfit at work so I consider it a success!

taupe and black striped dress Ann Taylor Loft
black, tan, cream, & gray scarf Old Navy
black tights remixed--Target
black bootsremixed--Naturalizer

Skirt of Awesomeness

Skirt of Awesomeness, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

I have to get back in the swing of posting my outfits on the regular. I'm ready to move on to adding basic makeup to my morning routine. Any suggestions on how to make the transition from no makeup to some?

brown/gold necklace gift
black cardigan Old Navy
orange/red/brown skirt Savers (Jones New York)
black tights Target?
black booties Payless

Purple Coordination

Purple Coordination, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

Ah... Mondays! I recently found this shirt and skirt, kapow--ready made outfit! lol!

plum blouse thrifted (Savers)
multi colored purple skirt thrifted (Savers)
blue/green necklace thrifted
blue/green earrings Target
plum tights Target?
magenta wedges Softspots via DSW

Back to School

Back to School, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

Hey everybody! I'm still getting used to my teaching schedule. I have a LOT of 6th graders this year. Apparently, 1999 and 2000 were the years to have babies!! Y2K will do that, I guess, haha! I'm proud of this outfit because: a) it's comfortable and b) I love how the patterns play off each other. Happy Thursday!!

floral blazer thrifted
tan, black, & brown dress Marshalls
tan loafers thrifted

Stripes

Stripes , a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

Hey... long time no see! I've been a lady of leisure all summer... well, it's ending soon because my school's staff is due back next Tuesday.

On the house hunting tip, the sellers accepted our offer! So now we have to get a lawyer and inspection done as soon as possible. I don't think it will hit until we get the keys in our hands. It's still crazy exciting though!

black & white polka dot scarfthrift
black camisole Wet Seal
black & white shirt Old Navy
tan capris TJMaxx
black sandals BOC by Born

Maroon & Leopard

 

Hey,

Still living the 'lady of leisure' lifestyle. Training for staff (aka teacher workshops) start in about 2 weeks and I ain't ready!! I've basically been living in casual clothes for the last month but figured I'd document today's outfit. I actually like the darker red against the snow leopard blouse. I hope that everyone has an awesome weekend planned!!

maroon lace blouse thrifted (savers)
leopard print blouse JCPenneys?
tan capris TJMaxx
brown sandals LifeStride

Update

Hey everybody! I haven't been taking outfit pictures lately because... we're house hunting! Oh, the ups and downs are insane!! But I know that it will pay off soon :)!

Bright Bottoms

 

Forget what I said about yesterday's outfit... this combination is rocking my world!!! Gold + peach = magic!! The best part is that this whole outfit is thrifted--woohoo!!

Maxi skirt/ Neutral

Maxi skirt, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

I'm participating in two challenges with this one outfit. Pretty Shiny Sparkly has her Bloggers Do It Better challenge out there for maxi skirts. In addition, black & white totally qualify as neutrals so I'm still good for Megan & Keely's summer trend challenge. I absolutely adore this combination and hopefully ya'll feel the same!!

tan sweater--remixed thrifted
black & white skirt--remixed thrifted
black & white necklace--remixed thrifted
brown & cream necklace--remixed Burlington Coat Factory
brown, tan, & black sandals TJMaxx (Lucky Brand)

Eclectic Print

 

Forgive my expression; it's been a long day. I just wanted to document this outfit before I go to bed. I found this cool cardigan a few weeks ago at Savers--I love everything about it. I played it safe this time by pairing it with brown but you best believe this cardigan will meet other colors sooner than later!

brown multiprint cardigan thrifted
brown jersey skirt Old Navy
brown sandals Lifestride

Military & Feminine

 

This was a hard one to figure out. I knew that I wanted to wear an olive top, since that is typically found in army uniforms. However, I had to think hard what items of clothing I own qualify as feminine. Ah, a dress! So, granted this is more of a tunic. And, I'm giving bohemian vibes with the beads and brown bracelet. However, it's all good, haha!

olive vest--remixed TJMaxx
mustard colored tunic Marshalls
multicolored earrings Target
brown bracelet ?
olive gladiators--remixed Steve Madden

Stripes & Floral

 

I didn't get a chance to take a photo of this outfit yesterday but I thought it was so cute that I put it on again just for ya'll :). This little vest is perfection! Expect to see it multiple times come autumn!

striped vest thrifted (Savers)
blue floral dress--remixed Old Navy
blue earrings and bracelet--remixed made by coworker
black gladiator sandals--remixed BOC by Born

Olive and Brown

Olive and Brown, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

I originally was going to wear these tops with my light orange shorts. My husband thought that the proportions were off, so then I threw these cargos on. I really like the result!

I'm on the hunt for a replacement for these sandals--preferably leather and a little bit lighter brown (dark tan, caramel, or tobacco). Please let me know if you see something within reason--I'm not trying to spend $100 on sandals!! haha!

scarf (tied around my dome)?
wooden earrings made by coworker
Olive button down shirt Old Navy
leopard tank Old Navy
zebra bracelet Kohls
wooden bracelet?
olive stretch cargos--remixedGap
brown sandals--remixed Lifestride

Orange Sensation

 

Yay for summer!! I never thought that I would give leggings a chance--you know the saying, never say never! For running errands and lounging around, leggings (and tunics) are the way to go!

orange paisley tunic thrifted
black leggings TJMaxx
black gladiator sandals BOC by Born (DSW)

 

Hey lovely bloggers!! I had a chance to use my husband's backup camera to document this outfit. My oldest daughter did an excellent job capturing me chillin' :)! There's nothing like the simplicity of a black & gray outfit. What's awesome is that I got this necklace for FREE from a coworker. It pays to be nice to people!!

gray & black necklace gift from coworker
black camisole Old Navy
gray maxi skirt thrifted (Savers)
black gladiator sandals-remixed BOC by Born

Camera Issues

I had all intentions of taking outfit pictures this week. Well, I go to take a picture today and my camera (Canon Powershot A3100) had a weird lens error!! Ugh!! It's less than a year old. Unfortunately, I don't know where the receipt is and I'm pretty sure I opted out of the additional warranty. So, I may have to figure out how to use my husband's fancy camera or pay him to take shots of me every other day, lol!

So, for folks who have had a similar issue, is it worth trying to have this camera fixed or should I just save up for something more substantial?

Picasa v. Flickr

 

I normally use Picasa to edit my outfit photos, upload them to flickr, and then use a flickr interface to publish my post here. I just cut out the middle man (flickr) and this post seems to be just fine. Don't get me wrong--I like the sense of community that flickr has as far as groups and communities go, but as my photography has evolved from photos of my baby and nature to daily outfits, using strictly Picasa might be the way to go!

Outfit details: Everything is thrifted except for the orange camisole (it's from Old Navy).

Floral & Stripes

Floral & Stripes, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

I'm pretty sure I paired this top and skirt before but I don't think I documented it here on flickr. Anyways, I have ONE MORE DAY LEFT of school!! Yippee!! Everything is remixed. Also, everything is from Old Navy, with the exception of the flats (Target) and the earrings (thrifted).

Better photography, Or Taking this Blogging Thing to the Next Level

Lately, I've been thinking about how I can invest more time into taking better outfit pictures. Namely, finding better locations and learning how to really operate my point and shoot camera. Any tips or suggestions are welcome!

Brown & Cream Tribal

Brown & Cream Tribal, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

3 more days of school left!!! So so close I can taste it, lol!

white 'poet' blouse-remixed thrifted
brown, tan, cream necklace and earrings--remixed made by coworker
brown & cream sleeveless dress thrifted (Old Navy)
brown sandals--remixed Life Stride

Mix up Purple, Pink and Floral Print

Mix up Purple, Pink and Floral Print, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

I took today's color mix straight from Kimberly's Fab Finds Under $50 calender. I'm still looking for the perfect shade of orchid purple to match this skirt! Everything has been worn before.

coral cardigan Old Navy
lavender camisole thrifted
red floral skirt thrifted
rose colored flats Target

Introducing... the 'granddaddy loafers'

Introducing... the 'granddaddy loafers', a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

Omgoodness, I absolutely love these loafers I found the other day at Savers. Dude, they are crazy comfy and tan goes with everything, lol! Expect to see way more of these badboys!

yellow (& blue flower) camisole--remixed Old Navy
blue earrings & bracelet--remixed made by coworker
black floral tunic--remixed thrifted
olive stretch cargos--remixed Gap
tan loafers Dexter

Go Soft in Pastels

Go Soft in Pastels, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

I really like how the addition of a small leather belt gives this blouse a little more definition near my waist. The darker blue of this blouse is rocking my world!

I'm featured in FabFindsUnder$50 calender for today--yay! Here's another take on pastels :).

blue multicolored blouse thrifted (Savers)
turquoise necklace--remixed made by coworker
black leather belt thrifted
gray denim skirt--remixed
turquoise sandals--remixed Cabin Creek

Wow!

I may not be updating anytime soon... Massachusetts had a freak tornado touch down last night. Tons of buildings and homes are gone... I'm a school teacher and the schools are closed today and tomorrow. My family and I are okay... however, please send positive vibes to those who've lost everything.

Fruits Week: Grape

Fruits Week: Grape, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

This skirt is 100% silk and is perfect for the hot summer heat in an unconditioned classroom full of sweaty, stinky 12 year olds, lol!

blue/green necklace--remixed thrifted
olive cardigan--remixed Marshalls
purple camisole--remixed Old Navy
purple, green, and blue skirt thrifted (Norton McNaughton Petite)
olive gladiator wedges--remixed Steve Madden

Fruits Week--Watermelon

Fruits Week--Watermelon, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

I swear that this cardigan isn't as loud in person, haha! I think that this is a better attempt than yesterday. 17 more school days to go!!

pink & green cardigan Dress Barn (thrifted)
orange & green earrings--remixed made by coworker
fuchsia t-shirt Gap (thrifted)
blue/green necklace--remixed thrifted
gray denim skirt--remixed Old Navy
rose colored flats--remixed Target

Fruits Week--Lemon Lime

Fruits Week--Lemon Lime, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

Apparently, I don't wear a lot of mellow yellow or bright green because this outfit was hard to come up with. Eh, not too bad for a first attempt!

lime green cardigan--remixed thrifted
blue/green necklace--remixed thrifted
green ruffle top--remixed Old Navy
tan capris TJMaxx
gold sandals--remixed Cabin Creek

Lavender & Floral

Lavender & Floral, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

TGIF before a 3 day weekend!! Woohoo!!

brown statement necklace--remixed Target
lavender camisole thrifted
purple floral skirt--remixed Old Navy
brown shrug--remixed Old Navy
brown sandals--remixed Lifestride

Menswear w/ a Feminine Twist

Menswear w/ a Feminine Twist, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

I really love all the elements of this outfit. I'm definitely going to try this again with some different color bottoms.

dark pink necklace--remixed thrifted
tan wooden earrings--remixed made by coworker
light gray vest--remixed NY & Co.
sheer leopard print blouse Old Navy
brown belt--remixed thrifted?
gray slacks--remixed Gap
gun metal high heeled oxfords--remixed CL by Laundry

Black & Blue

Black & Blue, a photo by The Chocolate Wonder on Flickr.

My husband can't stand this dress... I want to hate it too, but I can't seem to let it go. The black wrap dress tempers down the pattern somewhat. Everything is remixed in one way or another.

turquoise necklace made by coworker
yellow (& blue flowers) camisole Old Navy
black wrap dress Old Navy
blue & green dress Kohl's
turquoise sandals Cabin Creek