Some Mammals May Have Been Harmed

...while making these shorts? Idk. I should know where suede comes from...Uh, oh.

At lease I look cute?

The Fashionista

Boots And Leggings: Revisited

Leggings and a blouse: comfy, dry, and cute. The nonprofit world is pretty casual which as you might suspect, is a huge disappointment.

The Fashionista

Not Your Average "Sweatshirt" Sweatshirt

I don't wear sweats.

But when I do.

It's fabulous. Thanks Norma Khamali! <3

The Fashinista

Sweater Weather

I reeeeallly had a great time with this over-sized sweater. Like, the level of chill this sweater afforded me was so amazing.You're right, I did  wear an over-sized sweater, rain-boots, and leggings to work. Ann Taylor Loft occasionally suits my snugly sweater needs. 

You can take the girl out of college, but can't take college out of the girl! (Oops!) 

The Fashionista

Fashion in 1980: Michelle Beckles

Guess what, this is my mom in 1980! She was in some fashion show with the original "Kanye West" glasses.

"Those glasses were around BEFORE Kanye West Mia! We were cool before Kanye." Fair point mom. The shades are from Commander Salamander in Georgetown...
Yeah, she was pretty cool in her heyday (Note, CS no longer exists but it's pretty punk. According to mom:
"We weren't PUNK in the 80s Mia, we were NEW WAVE! New Wave was classier.")
Read more about Commander Salamander here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/commander-salamander-washington?nb=1(I just like how the name sounds)

So here's the rundown:
 Izod vest and polo shirt (popped collar, of course), Ralph Lauren knee socks and Izod shoes.

*Fun fact: My mom's name before she married my dad was Beckles (so If I did the whole Panamanian thing before I get married, my full name would be Mia Alyssa Beckles-Simms. It's a Hispanic thing.  TMI much?)

Enjoy!
The Fashionista

Good Morning @Starbucks, I Love You

How I begin my day: informed, caffeinated and planning for the day ahead WSJ layout-wise is probably my favorite of all the major newspapers. 

Oh and Hazelnut Macchiato is my bevy of choice. Needless to say it's a very intense love affair. 

Every. 

Single. 

Morning. 

...it literally just occurred to me this is why I'm kinda chunky these days. My lover Hazelnut Macchitao makes it so worth it. 

The Fashionista

"The Pirate Shirt" #Seinfeld

Anyone remember the episode where Seinfeld wears the Pirate Shirt? 

This is nothing like it. 

Just thought the reference would increase my SEO ratings haha. Not to mention my Sam Edelman black wellies. First rainy day at the office! Enjoy!

The Fashionista

Skinny jeans never fit me. Problems abound.

A Slice of Life

Or rather a scoop? It was one of those really bleak fridays where the mind just yells "BEN AND JERRY'S" and the body  follows to satisfy that inner calling.

Ok, put simply I had my 90 day review and I've met most, if not all of my 12 month objectives in 90 days. Flying colors. But I was still a bit stressed out, even though I've become a meticulous workaholic.

So Ben and Jerry are always across the street to fix my inner craving. It's the next best thing to a shopping binge (and might I say less costly)!

SO OF COURSE I DOCUMENTED IT! Geez, who'd you think I am if I didn't!? BAHAHA!

The Fashionista

How to model Lemon and Mango sherbet: 

Wait, how do I take my own picture? Gahh!!! Hmm...

I hope this tastes as sexy as I look with it!

Ah caught mid taste! Omg sooo goood! :D

Again, mid taste! Yummm haha

OMG this is so much icecream!?! Let's take another picture!

***Pauses to furtively consume the whole thing in 30 seconds***

Omg look at my life, look at my choices...what am I doing... 

Then it gets kinda gross...

AHMNAHMNAM! EVERY DROP MUST BE CONSUMED BY MEEEE!!!!!

Mister and Misses Duck

This I like to call my "Audrey Dress" Granted, there are many "Audrey" dresses in my closet: meaning black classic-cut dresses that pay homage to my favorite person of all time Audrey Hepburn.

She was such a classy lady! And this day I volunteered to read to 3 year olds in a Southeast DC school. After, we colored pictures of characters in the story. 

One of them was of a duck. So I sat at the table meant for 3 year old bodies (and surprisingly I fit in the chair, go figure) and colored alongside the students. We worked furtively for a few minutes in silence, trading colors as needed for certain parts of our pictures. Of course I used this as a teaching moment asking for each crayon by color name, even though I only used yellow. Oh, and of course orange for his beak. Well, I could have given him a serious makeover with a green or purple beak but that might have given my present company the wrong idea about duck beaks. We can't have that! 

After coloring my duck a vibrant yellow, I aptly named my new friend "Mr. Duck". 

It piqued my neighbor's interest.

"MISTER!?!?! DUCK?!! That's MISTER DUCK!?!?!" Not an inside voice, but OK kiddo. 

"Why yes, yes it is Mr.Duck! Do you like him? Hello Mr.Duck, how are you!?!" I held up my work proudly at arm's length to inspect it. Did I stay inside the lines? Check. Did I name my picture? Check. My neighbor took in my work critically. After a beat or two of silence, he piped up.

"If that's--if that's MISTER DUCK, then where is MISSES DUCK!" DUH! Why didn't I think of that myslef!?! Where IS she? Oh shoot, think fast, think fast! 

"Y'know what, Misses Duck is on vacation from this picture!" His eyes widened. I continued, "Mister Duck had alot of work at the office so he couldn't take time off to go with her. Y'know how that is."

I saw the wheels turning as he struggled to absorb my statement. This kid probably thinks I'm a nut. He shrugged and returned to coloring. 

And that is the story of Mister and Misses Duck 

The Fashionista

Fatigued By Camo

No camo doesn't make me tired, nor am I hunting. (Even though I have experienced manual-reload hunting firearms and I'm a rather good shot if you must know.) I love to reinterpret office wear. My friends, welcome to my non sequitur office wear and life. Well, if you've read this blog since it's inception over 3 years ago (yes, that long) you've come to know my nonsense first-hand.

Where was this going?

CAMO! OMG, ok... INDULGE! :)

The Fashionista

Ummm, what happened to my knees and feet? Posture, yikes!

Cyber Monday with @polkatheprinces

It's Cyber Monday, and this means one thing, and one thing only!

SALES!

I like sales, and I think you do too! Just for visiting this blog, I'll share a coupon code with you for FIVE PERCENT off your entire purchase when you shop our "Shop" tab, or just visit

www.polkatheprincess.com

The promo code is: POLKACYBERMONDAY

Not bad huh!? Especially when the stuff is so cute!

Stay shop and have a sparkly day!

The Fashionista

#MissDCUSA 2013!

It just occurred to me, as I was leaving the pageant this evening, that I've competed in more pageants than I've watched. And I experienced the same highs and lows as competing. Both Teen and Miss categories competed and ohmigoodness, twice the fun! There were a few moments where I teared up, but didn't (because of course I couldn't ruin my makeup)! I LOVE LOVE LOVE being in the audience, I should do it more often! 

Here are (a few) photos from this evening, hopefully you'll enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them! 

The Fashionista

The X Factor winner Marcus Canty! He's dropping an album soon by the way! Haven't herad it yet but if it's  anything like tonight's performance oh boy I can't wait! ;)