Fash'nspired: Ketchup?

So after my super stylish mood last week, I decided to go simple today. I wore my pinstriped dark gray slacks with a light gray sweater over a white top.

Typically when I wear this outfit, the white top I wear is just a spaghetti strap tank top. But for whatever reason, I decided to wear my white cap sleeve sweater under it today (maybe for warmth?)

Turns out it was a good choice! This afternoon as I was sitting at my computer and just finished talking to someone who stopped by, I leaned over to pick up a pen I knocked on the floor. As soon as I did something red caught my eye. Was I bleeding? No, I had ketchup stains ALL OVER my shirt. Seriously, all over. I had been back from lunch for at least 45 minutes. How did I not notice this...worse, how did no one else notice (or not tell me???) Melissa?!?

Haha, well I quickly headed to the ladies room (with my notebook strategically held close by) to clean up. No luck. It was totally obvious I had stains all over myself. So fast on my feet, I decided to make my undershirt a sweater vest.  It turned out alright I guess. While I might not put this look together again, it did the job for this afternoon.

The Silver Lining

Yes, I'm a glass half full type person and someone who always sees the silver lining.

While I've been in freak out mode over getting everything done before the holidays & vacation, I've had to step back and remember that the whole reason I need to get these things done is so I can enjoy my time off without worry!

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season and taking time to sit back & relax, too!

And speaking of silver lining, I decided to share the outfit I wore to my husband's Christmas party earlier this week. This was my first week working back in the office, and I feel like I've been overcompensating my work outfits this week to make up for looking like such a slum last week. Haha. On Monday, I wore a cute dress with black sweater tights and some fun heels, whipped out my new pink burberry style scarf on Tuesday, etc., etc.

On Thursday, I decided to make an easy day to night outfit change. I wore the following dress & boots to work, but styled it with a gray belted blazer instead of this ruffled coat layover which I put on for the party. I have to say this may be one of my favorite new outfits.

Both the dress and the coat are from Forever 21. Boots are from lulus.com. The only recent purchase is the dress but I didn't have any luck finding it on their web site. Here's another cute one if you like the general look: Starry Night Dress.

Welders Don't Wear Pink

Ever since I received my contingency job assignment, people have gotten quite the kick out of the fact that I'm going to be a welder. First of all there's not many women welders, second I work in HR and third, people definitely have a hard time picturing me in something other than my heels.

Well there's no need to try to picture it anymore, the people I work with have seen me all week in my factory attire. It's quite fashionable. Huge steel-toe boots, dirty jeans, t-shirt and my weld cap are what I'm sporting around the office after I'm done with my shift (surprisingly the weld cap is kind of cute - - it's what I wear under my weld helmet).


In the shop I'm covered in a large green weld jacket, weld apron, helmet, etc.

But when I went into work last night, one of the salvage welders came up and told me, "Welders don't wear pink,” which I replied, "We'll see about that."


Besides what I'm wearing, the training's actually going pretty well. I'm definitely tired, but I'm proud of myself. So if you see one of these out in your travels, just think I may have welded the frame it sits on all together!

Just add leggings

Soon enough I'll be enjoying fine wine and stinky cheese in the fashion capital of the world!

I've got a lot of work to do to finalize details (and figure out how in the world I'm supposed to pack light...for Paris...in winter!)

But I've got my priorities straight. My NYE outfit is coming along.

But in 30 degree weather, I might need to add some leggings...or at least tights!