ABOUT ME

My life was my job for a few years.  For a variety of reasons, the latter part of my 20s brought on a really unhealthy obsession with my career.  Climbing the corporate ladder took more of a toll on me than I wanted to admit.  Essentially, I forgot/suppressed/abandoned the "real" me, and in attempt to have the career I had always hoped for, I became what I thought was expected of me.  Enter my sudden adherence to Brooks Brothers french-cuffed shirts, Ralph Lauren basic pumps in 3 different staple colors, and an array of Banana Republic and Ann Taylor boring basic suits.  I wouldn't say that I wanted to dress like a man - but in a southern, SUPER conservative corporate all boys club that is the environment where I work - I demanded to be taken seriously so I dressed in a way I thought was best.  All the while, my weekends were spent staring at my favorite fashion blogs (see my 'Daily Inspiration' list to see which ones), living vicariously through these amazing, stylish women who seemed to have the MOST fun lives and even more fabulous clothes.  What do they do for a living?  How do they have time to run these blogs?  Do they all work in the fashion industry?  these are the types of questions I would ask myself... searching through 'about me' pages and posts on their blogs for answers.  I always assumed that I couldn't ever possibly make the time for something like that.  I had no 'real' designer clothes.  I had a business casual wardrobe and couldn't imagine affording weekend wear in addition to that (who has the $ for all those different categories anyway?).  And after all, how was I possibly going to take my mind off of my beloved career long enough to even write something... let alone take pictures of myself in clothes that other people probably won't even like?

Boo.Hoo.

Then a couple of very significant things happened in my life.  For starters - I got burned out on my job.  (Saw that one coming, did you?).  I was not being fulfilled by it anymore, and knew that I needed a balance in my life.  Getting a different job wasn't the answer - I have a good job, and I would get burned out anywhere at this pace.  In addition to this, when January of 2011 came around - I had to force myself to face a thought that I hadn't been able to come to terms with yet.  2011 is the year I turn 30.  THIRTY.  30?  Seriously?  I haven't done enough stuff to be 30.  People who are 30 are married and have kids already and are successful and well traveled and...... well I don't know, they've just done more than I feel like I have and I'm not taking this lying down!  (sorry - I got away from myself a bit there).  So I'm turning 30, have nothing but a good job, and live vicariously through people I don't know on the internet through fashion blogs.  What a life.

Boo.  Freakin.  Hoo.

I don't really know at what point exactly things started coming together.  For one - I realized what a huge blessing it is to have some people in my life who love me VERY, VERY much.  My family is amazing, I have such caring and supportive friends, and even an ex who I still adore as a person and consider one of my closest and most special people to me in my life (grown up stuff, right?).  I also have a best friend, my very best friend - who is the most selfless, supportive, caring, inspirational, strong, compassionate, loving person I have ever known.  In the beginning of this year, he was trying to do something to change his life for the better - and I was supporting him (not my strong suit, but I was doing it!).  So we started eating food that was better for us (I literally JUST ate a donut before I typed this - so I'm giggling a little bit - can't be good all the time, right?), working out 2-3x per week, hiking on the weekends, and just going out to do more fun things.  His commitment to weight loss and to live a healthier lifestyle turned into MY weight loss and healthier lifestyle... which then turned into me buying smaller clothes.... which turned into feeling great and more energy to do fun things..... which turned into 'hey, why don't I decide that 30 is going to be my HEALTHIEST, HAPPIEST year and I'm going to have a huge party and wear a little cocktail dress and have sparklers on my cake and.........!?!?!?'  Yeah.  It got exciting.

Smile. 

So here I was...roughly 30 lbs lighter, about to turn 30, with a successful career complete with hard-earned respect from the aforementioned boys club, a wardrobe full of cute clothes (I had even branched out to more fun clothes at this point), great family and friends, supportive best friend who loves to take pictures of things, and an unrequited obsession love for fashion blogs.  Is anyone wondering what I decided to do at this point??  Have I built this up enough to finally get to the point?? I decided to start Pencil Skirts and Lattes, my very own fashion blog.  I researched, read all kinds of tips and tricks, started putting cuter outfits together, bought a better camera, and off I went.  My birthday is in August and I can hardly wait for it now (hey - it's a chance for some really good outfit pics!).  I've connected with some fabulous, amazing people through this blog.  I continue to be inspired every single day by other blogs.  And I feel like I now have an opportunity to BE inspiring to someone.  (This is a much better look for me than the burnt-out, boo hoo I'm getting 'old,' super conservative business professional look, don't you think?).  I used to hate getting dressed in the morning for work, and now I love it.  It gives me the opportunity to think more about who I am, and incorporate that into a stylish look that meets my corporate dress code.  Hey, I still wear the occasional Brooks Brothers classic shirt, Ralph Lauren Pumps, and DEFINITELY still wear Banana Republic and Ann Taylor suits - but I style it all MY way.  And on the weekends - I take those 2 days and wear whatever my little heart wants to wear.  And my best friend in the entire world takes pictures of it for me.  And then I share it with you.  :)

Double smile.