Still as sweet
I’m not usually one to be inspired by fashion blogs. I mean, I love reading them, and I’m always prompted to dress well when I see other people dress well, but before today, I’ve never seen an outfit and thought “Oh, I want to recreate that!”
So this outfit is special. It’s the first outfit I’ve put together inspired by someone else’s beautiful attire: Charlotte’s post today was so pretty I had to reinterpret it. I was wearing something completely different and not feeling it at all, and thank goodness I’d been browsing bloglovin’… because I like this so much better.
Also, thank goodness the weather has taken a turn for the rainier so I can wear tights. I’ve been wishing that it would get colder, since I read quite a few Australian fashion blogs… and they’re in winter right now. Which makes me jealous. I miss tights. So I was quite happy to wake up and find it raining this morning.
I know I had a reason for my blog title, but I thought of it while I was eating breakfast, and by the time I got dressed and took outfit pictures, the reason completely eluded me. Ah well.
I wish I’d gotten a better shot of my hair today. I did little hairband-esque braids, and I really like the way it turned out.
I don’t know why the bottom of this picture is blurry. I wasn’t moving. The camera is just all sorts of wonky right now. The rechargeable batteries (new, I might add) won’t recharge, it doesn’t like to focus, it comes out blurry when I didn’t move… methinks the camera is getting old. I really should save up and buy my own camera. This one belongs to my mother.
And can we all just bask in the glory of my shoes? Because they are glorious. I’d forgotten I had them (my shoe shelves are hard to get into right now. Things I don’t wear all the time get shoved to the back and forgotten in the shadows). They’re actually quite comfortable– I wore them for a wedding I was in, and I think I lasted for most of the day before I took them off.
So I have decided that I really need to get back to eating healthy. My biggest problem has always been that I don’t eat breakfast; I usually wake up, down some coffee, and go about my day. And because I don’t eat breakfast, I usually just nibble here and there throughout the day, and the only real meal I eat is dinner. Which is not good for me.
Plus, ever since my sugar allergy was done away with, I’ve been eating too much sugar. Thus, today is the first day of getting back to healthy eating. I’m going to try to photograph my breakfasts– since those are the meals I need to work on eating– and include them in my posts… and then I’ll try to photograph the rest of my meals and post them on twitter.
I’d also really like to reach my goal weight (142lbs), and while I’m not too concerned about losing weight, it would be nice to get there eventually. (Don’t worry. I’m not going for stick-thin, here. I just really, really want to fit into that vintage yellow-roses dress I found.) I have about ten pounds to lose. Give or take. I might lose five and decide that’s enough. Who knows? I’m not so picky about my weight so long as I stay below 150.
Anyway! Today, my breakfast was:
Oatmeal with all-natural (organic… no sugar added, once-you-try-this-you’ll-never-want-Jif/Skippy-again) peanut-butter, milk, and honey. I wasn’t quite sure how this would turn out, but by GOLLY it was good. And the “one serving” portion was definitely way too much for me. I ate about half of this. (Exacts: 2 tablespoons peanut butter, one tablespoon honey, 1/2 cup of oats, 1 cup milk). And it was so quick to make that I’ll be able to eat it before work (when I get up at 6am), and so easy to make that I can take the ingredients to work and make it there (when I get up at 2:45am).
So yes. This breakfast is definitely a keeper on my list. And I’m not a breakfast person.
And now that I have run out of things to say, I’m off to the library!
I hope you all have a beautiful Monday!
Details: Shirt, too old to remember; tights, stolen from my mother; shoes($22.80), Forever 21; Skirt($12.97) and belt ($0.99), thrifted (but the skirt is Forever 21); necklace, gift.
Approximate outfit cost: $36.76
29 Comments
Booksphotographsandartwork
Very cute. Tights! I can’t imagine. In SC we are all trying to figure out how to wear the least amount of clothes possible!!!!!! Trust me at 51 and all the fat in the middle thats really difficult.
Mara
Haha, yeah. The weather here is usually pretty mild– yesterday was 75 or so, and then today it dropped 10-20 degrees with the rain. I can imagine you not wanting to layer anything, though! I lived in Mississippi for four months, and now any time someone says “It’s so muggy today!” *here*, I just think “Nothing in Washington is EVER muggy compared to Mississippi in the summer. Nothing.”
midnitechef
Papaya first thing in the morning (and then nothing else for 2 hours) is supposed to help you lose weight. But I don’t know how many papayas you’ll find in WA. I never thought of peanut butter in my oatmeal, I’m a cinnamon raisin kinda girl.
Mara
Interesting! I hear it’s also good for you to drink a glass of water first thing in the morning.
And we can get papaya at the store. It’s just expensive. And I’m really not AS focused on losing weight as I am on developing better eating habits. Skipping breakfast is just not healthy.
Demy
Hi!!! Ah, I saw Charlotte’s post earlier as well, and I saw you comment too 😀 I like that you decided to try this look, because I really think that it’s your style! I LOVE the shoes, they’re probably my favorite shoes from you lol! They’re amaaazing, you should definitely were them more often! The skirt and the top are really beautiful as well! Just like you are 🙂
I have to say that I’m kinda jealous of your tights-permitting weather 🙁 Here the heat is simply unbearable! It’s a good thing that the beach is only a 3-minutes walk from my house, but it’s a bad bad bad thing that I have to study and I don’t have the time to go 🙁 Oh well, August will come and then… VACAAA!!! <3 Anyway, I digress! Hmmmm..breakfast! What's that? lol! I haven't had breakfast in more than a month. Yes, I'm unjustifiable. But this heat is getting on me and I don't want to eat anything. Not even lunch or dinner. Good thing is I lost weight. Bad thing is I'm torturing my organism and I have to bare my mother's screams to eat (just like every Greek mother, she can't imagine a day with at least eight meals lol :P) I think I should start eating breakfast. Yes. I'll be with you in this try 😛
Your sugar allergy went away? Is that possible? I didn't know allergies could go away! This is cool! I mean, sugar is in many foods so now I guess your life is a lot easier 😀
See yaaaa 😉 😉
Mara
Aren’t they amazing shoes? I love them, and I need to wear them more often! I get loyal to certain pairs of shoes and then forget I have other ones. Hehe.
Haha, that’s Washington for you! It’s pretty mild here. I like it. 😀 Winter does get a bit long and drawn out, but I love our summers because they’re always changing. Although hot weather does sound lovely right now, too.
Oh, you’re like me! That’s not good for us, to skip breakfast! Funny enough, for me I usually lose more weight when I eat breakfast than when I skip it. Which is weird. But makes sense, I guess, cuz then your body doesn’t think “oh, I’m not being fed, I’d better hang onto excess weight!” 😀
Hehe. I eat at least six meals a day. If you count snacks! 😀 You should eat healthy with me!
Yes, there are natural-medicine doctors who can get rid of allergies! It’s kind of crazy to think about, but it works!
<3
audrey
fantastic shoes, and i HEAR you on the tights! i miss them so. i keep nearly buying more and then thinking. . .what for? i won’t be able to wear them until november. . .
good for you for trying to eat healthier – it’s something i think about all the time but rarely have the self-discipline to stick to it. you look healthy, happy and beautiful, so only do what feels good and makes you happy.
Mara
You could always buy new tights in anticipation of the cooler weather? And you’d be prepared when the cold came! That’s a good excuse, right?
Thank you. 🙂 I’m more focused on the fact that I need to develop good eating habits than I am on losing weight– losing weight would be (or will be) nice, but I know I always feel better when I’m eating right!
Annebeth Bels
mmmm the oatmeal looks yummy and so do you! 😀 adorable little look and definitely kick ass shoes.
Mara
Hehe, thank you! The oatmeal WAS yummy.
Danielle V
My, that breakfast sounds delicious! And your skirt is so beautiful and those shoes are absolutely amazing! 🙂
Best,
Danielle
loveandlookpretty.blogspot.com
Mara
It was very delicious– more so than I was expecting! Thank you. 🙂
Whoa
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet” …your take on the outfit (rose skirt and all) is still as sweet as the first rendition 🙂
Tights seem unthinkable where I am. Sadly, they would be good indoors at work as the ac chills me.
Mara
There we go! I don’t think that was my thought, but it works! 😀
I hate it when the weather and the workplace differ where temperature is concerned. I may not be able to get away with wearing tights to work,because the espresso machine heats up the inside of the shop like nothing else.
Bad Joan
Great skirt! Love how you styled it!
GTBB,
http://badjoan.com
http://badjoan.blogspot.com
Mara
Thank you!
Jamie Rose
That oatmeal looks wonderful. I love peanut butter so much, so putting it in oatmeal is a great idea I’ll have to try soon! I really like to use the natural stuff too. After eating it for a while, I don’t know why one would ever need all that extra oil and stuff added to peanut butter. It’s tasty on its own!
Your outfit today is super cute too. I love the vibrant skirt against the black pieces in the rest of your outfit. And those shoes are awesome!
Mara
It is definitely my new favorite breakfast! And I agree- the natural peanut butter is SO much better. 🙂
Thank you!
audrey
I like the idea of photographing breakfast! The forgotten, American meal — shooting it provides a bit of inspiration to do a really good job at making it! Good luck… I should try eating that more often, too!
Mara
That’s true, Americans don’t really eat breakfast a lot, do they? And it definitely helps to take pictures of the food I eat(especially when I have the blog to post it on to keep me accountable!)
Charlotte- University of Birmingham
wow, i feel famous!! i love that i inspired you to create such a gorgeous outfit!! i really, really love your dress- it makes a wonderful skirt!!
good luck with your weight loss, but i don’t think you need to lose a pound!! eating healthier is always good though, and i’m glad you aren’t getting too obsessive about it!! when i was trying to lose weight earlier in the year I used a great ipod/iphone app called MyFitnessPal which tracks your calories and exercise. I lost 13 pounds in the end and while i’d love to lose another 5, I reached my goal!!
For me, the best thing to eat in the morning is eggs. I am a total girl and have to eat every like 4 hours otherwise i practically die, and eggs are the only thing that keep me going for more than 2 or 3 hours. if i have cereal or toast I’m starving again in a few hours!!
thanks so much for all your support on my blog- it means so much :]]
Charlotte xxx
Mara
I’m glad you like it! As soon as I saw your outfit, I had to try to recreate it! It was just so pretty!
Thank you! I’m definitely more concerned with just eating healthy, but it’s always nice to shed a few pounds to reach a goal. (And good job on reaching yours!)
You’re welcome! I love reading your blog; you have such lovely style and writing!
Asia Morela
I think I like your version even better! 😉 It’s the more flowing skirt…
And yes, your shoes definitely rock. They caught my attention in the very first picture.
Mara
Thank you. 🙂 I like them both the same, I think. Although I NEED a necklace like Charlotte’s. Sigh. I covet that necklace.
😀
Avra-Sha Faohla
You got rid of your sugar allergy! When did this happen, and why don’t I know about it?! That’s great!
Ooh, your breakfast looks scrumptious. Seeing as there’s honey in it, that might have something to do with the title. I want to try this! How are the ingredients put together—you make the oats normally, and then just mix in the other ingredients before eating? Or do you stir them into it with the oats still on the stove, and let that cook a bit?
I’ve grown up on natural peanut butter; my mother NEVER bought Jif or Skippy. I’m so grateful. The main reason people prefer it is because when it separates it’s very annoying to mix. It’s a whole process . . . I usually scoop everything out of the jar (otherwise I can’t manage to scrape off the really hard, dry bits from the bottom) and make a huge mess in a couple paper bowls (it doesn’t fit in one) as I attempt to mix it around enough that I can then mix it more efficiently inside the jar again. It takes time, and it’s never as smooth as unhealthy peanut butter, but it’s worth it. I’d much rather spend five minutes dealing with the mixing than put those awful hydrogenated oils inside my body!
Mara
It happened quite a while ago. I thought I’d mentioned it on my blog somewhere, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I forgot.
No, I just microwave it (instant oats) and add the honey+peanut butter. 😀 Quick meal for a lazy person. Hehe.
I agree! It’s much better to take a few minutes mixing it up than to eat the other stuff.
Avra-Sha Faohla
Wait . . . so you microwave the oats in the milk instead of water?
Mara
Yes. I was going to say, that way you wouldn’t have to do half ‘n’ half (I only add that if it gets microwaved too long).
Avra-Sha Faohla
Can I just say that this oatmeal is amazing? I usually eat a quick bowl of cereal for breakfast, but now I keep taking the time to make oats just so I can use this recipe! You’re right; it’s a large portion. I halved the ingredients and then sliced up a banana to make up for it. It’s lighter but still satisfying, and the banana tastes SO good with it. It’s also great with cinnamon, although you have to be very careful to put in only a little. Too much and the cinnamon takes over, and you don’t really taste the rest. Oh, and I couldn’t find the half-tablespoon measure, so I used a teaspoon of honey. It still tasted nice and sweet!
I even made myself some milk-cooked oatmeal plain, because I’d never tasted it in milk. It’s good. Nice and creamy, and as the milk gives it a flavor, I don’t need to add anything like I do when I make it with water. 😀