Happy Thanksgiving!

He ate my heart.

Camera died this morning mid photos.
So remember how I hurt my foot? Yeah well wearing boots the last two days? BAD IDEA it hurts worse now then it did the day after I did it. Now I am going against my own fashion no nos.

Boots They were a gift from my dad a few years ago. LL Bean (I know I know I HATE uggs. I KNOW) They are literally the only thing that doesn't hurt and I refused to wear with a dress or skirt. When I am standing you can't even tell. See below.
Trousers Gap
Turtleneck ruched shirt Target
Moto jackety thing Forever 21
Ring MFA store
Earrings I made

Cowl. Gift from the Amazing Daphne of Dlittlegarden the blog and Jean C'est Quoi of Flickr fame! The yarn was from Mamichan also of Flickr! Its called Water Lilies like the Monet painting! It couldn't be more perfect for me.

See you almost can't tell.

We are working halfdays today and driving up to New Hampsha to my grandmothers. We are taking Waffle with us. This could be bad. She isn't what you would call a "well behaved" kitten. She is part terror part pure angel. But she does hang from the drapes and steal clothes from laundry and get in the sink and lick dishes. Here is hoping she turns on the charm. We are also hoping Daisyboo will enjoy a few days peace all to herself. Waffle kinda bullies her. She jumps on her back from up high and tries to bite her neck. She thinks she is a tiny flying vampire. She used to do it to her black kitten litter mate Osita when she was a tiny kitten even.

I haven't even packed. I have to run home and do it all quickly before its mass exodus from the city.

I have easily listened to Lady Gaga's new album 20 times since it came out on Monday. It is just a perfect thing to listen to at work. The only problem is trying to not get caught chair dancing. That and the odd looks from my husband as I randomly sing "He ate my heart"

What is your favorite album at the moment?

Don't call my name

Someone only had 20 minutes to get ready and give the cat her compresses. Someone fell asleep on the couch after the alarm and forgot to wake me up. Said cat saved the day and woke the couch sleeper up.

Turtleneck (under sweater) H&M
Sweater Gap
Leggings Gap
Gold and black brocade skirt SJP Steve and Barry's
Boots Merrell from LL Bean
Necklace Avon
Earrings from my mom
Glass ring Las Vegas Mandalay Bay shop


My back detail is totally blown out. I was facing a window (photography no no) but I was playing with it in potatoshop and I kinda dug it blown out even more. I was just trying to show the back seam in the sweater and my hair.

I find mini skirts and long sweaters both hard to wear on their own but Iike them together for some odd reason. (shush I told you I rewear things similar all the time)

I really hope to do a big closet cleanout this long weekend. I really want to get rid of anything I don't wear or doesn't fit. I don't know why it is so hard! I also have a bunch of missing items that have to be there! I just know it!
I am getting nervous about Thanksgiving. I am one of the few people in the USA that doesn't like Thanksgiving. I don't like the food or the smell of it. I like giving thanks and being with family though. I used to do multiple Thanksgivings but luckily we do one now. I have a tradition with my dad where we listen to Alice's Restaurant. I remember sitting in his VW Bug on the side of the road trying to listen to it on the radio before we got to gram's house.

Christmas? That I love. I love everything about it. I got married at Christmas time. I love being in New England for Christmas. The few I spent in Florida were so surreal to me. Christmas = cold in my mind, snow is just bonus. I have always had to do more than one Christmas due to my parents splitting up and grandparents did too. In all I had 4 sets of grandparents and my mom and dad's places growing up. It can be a bit too much for me and lead me to want to drink. We do 3 on Christmas day now. My grandparents house, Dad's house and Dave's parents. We kinda have it down now, the order and everyone knows when and where. Luckily they are about 45 minutes away from one. I don't get to see my mom on Christmas much the past 14 years. I wish she was here so much. If you are rich and have money you can fly my mom up here and I would love you forever. (neither us can afford it)

What are your Thanksgiving plans? What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving?

I like everyone being there all at once and talking. As I said I don't like any of the food. Dave usually cuts me off a few pieces of the whitest turkey he can find and I spread things around on my plate because at 31 they still harass me about my eating habits.

Dear Santa

Here are some things that are tickling my fancy this Christmas time.

xmas 2009 by miss matilda featuring Forever21

You can click on items to see more about them at Polyvore.

I got nothing witty

Stacks were much darker than they appeared. This is with copious amounts of potatoshopping.

Jeans American Eagle
Olive Corduroy Blazer H&M
Shirt with ruffle SJP for Steve and Barrys
Lace tank Forever 21
Monocle Marc Jacobs
Earrings Husband made.
Hat H&M
Scarf street guy in NYC


I included my "my office is SO COLD and I have wear a scarf all day" look.
I was debating between this blazer and a purple one and my husband said "the olive one is more Veronica Mars" so olive it was.

Waffle had her surgery on Friday. You can see more about it on her blog. That consumed our Friday and Saturday. Sunday we actually left the house and did REAL activities that normal people who aren't in school and aren't Celiac do!
First Dave and I went to breakfast at the Omni Parker House (they invented the Boston Cream Pie and the Parker House Roll) This was the first time he and I went to breakfast in 6 years. Since Jan 1 2004. We went out once for a late brunch in 2007 with is parents but this was a first for me and him in 6 years. (Pre-Celiac we went all the time)

I obviously didn't like mine.

We then went to the movies to see New Moon. I KNOW! We never go to the movies. We had seen 2 movies in the theater this past year. (Again years ago back in Florida we went every couple days)
I really liked it. The best part though was right when the credits popped up and my husband, my soul mate turns to me and says "Why would anyone pick Jacob?" My sentiments exactly. heeeee. I asked him when we were hobbling home (yea more on that later) "Team Jacob or Team Edward" he is instead "Team Alice"

So the hobbling? I dropped a full glass bottle on the top of my foot Saturday. Hurt like a mofo. I have a lovely purple and blue foot now though.

So what did you do this weekend?
and if it was see New Moon "Team Edward or Team Jacob?"

Weekend roundup

Had quite the week. Lots of stuff went on. I did the collage backwards this time Thursday being the first and Monday the last.
I kinda dig Thursday even though it is a huge departure for me. Skinny jeans and big top just isn't something I typically go for. ( I feel like it adds weight) The jeans I got this summer at Kohls and they have no zipper so they lay much flatter which I think helps.

I made a natural fiber pledge to myself awhile back. (6? 8? months ago) Now it is very hard to do all natural fibers on a budget but for the most part I'd say 80% of what I have bought in that time has stuck to that. Forever 21 actually has a TON of cotton items. Who'd a thunk it? I bought one pair of fake boots and totally regretted it. They were hot, didn't breathe at all and feel apart in 3 wearings.
I wanted to move towards natural fibers because it helped me focus on quality over quantity and I don't feel like I am suffocating in my clothes. I was starting to feel like I couldn't breathe in my clothes. I kept getting rashes and was itching. I can really tell the difference now when I wear one of my polyester dresses. I am just uncomfortable all day in it. The brown sweater I wore on Wednesday is all fake fibers. I have had it for 7 years and it is from Ann Taylor. I almost pitched it when I got home that day. I was hot and sweaty in it and it wasn't even warm at my work. I had those cold sweats in it. (TMI?)
Why am I telling you all this? Maybe to get you to think about your clothes and what you buy. All that cheap shit stuff made over seas just isn't good all the way around. Cheap labor, poor conditions and bad quality and filling the landfills. I admit I am not 100% there yet in my own clothes but I really want to be eventually.
Things I look for now. Union labels, fiber content and seams. (too many things have tiny seams and makes it hard to alter clothes)

Also? Once you own silk and cashmere you wonder how you ever lived before! There also is nothing nicer than a cotton dress on a hot summer day.

Unhealthy iPhone addiction and live in a cold climate? Read on! REVIEW

On a recent trip to Target while looking at all the lovely leather ladie's driving gloves I discovered a hidden gem.
You know you see those flip top mittens and you think OH these will be so handy and then you are waiting for the T (or subway to the rest of the world) and need to "do things" and then you wear them realize that while you can use your 4 main fingers your thumb is still covered up and wait a minute your hands cold and these aren't so practical after all. (or is it just me?)
While I have a collection of lovely mittens and gloves I find myself always pulling one off to get some change, get out my T pass or most importantly obsessively play with my iPhone. You can't do this without fingertips.

So this gem I found? I like to call them iphone gloves!

They have small flip tops only on the thumb and pointer (what do you call that one?) fingers. Basically the 4 fingers you need to obsessively play with your iPhone to the point of hurting your wrist (who did that?)

Basically they are the perfect commuting glove. I can get out money for coffee, get my T pass or work id, hold the grubby pole on the T and play with my iPhone without having to take them off. Now while I will still wear my beautiful collection of gloves and mittens I think these will be my work gloves. ( When it gets really cold I plan to wear mittens over them)
The gloves can be found here and they retail for $10. They come in black, pink or green.

EDITED to add I looked it up and it is indeed your pointer finger or the proper name of index.

I'm so starsturck, baby could you blow my heart up?

Sweater and necklace Banana Republic I got it at the friends and family sale. It usually is $100 which is way too much in my mind but it was on sale then 30% off so that was much more realistic, especially for such a casual sweater. It is kinda the color of oatmeal but is photographing a tish gray.
Jeans Kohls. They are denim but they are pull ons and they aren't tight. So what are they? Jennings?
Boots Clarks
Shirt Target
Earrings craft fair
Watch Kenneth Cole
Ring MFA store
Wallet and bag Coach
Coat Target

OUTSIDE look

Oh did you notice it has a hood?

I got my first big girl wallet last night and it matches my shirt. (see it doesn't have hello kitty on it) I had a"life is short, live it" moment. So I tapped my "Ladies Nice Things" account and got a wallet and a Ocelot keycase. Of course now I am a freaking out and want to return it all especially since Waffle has surgery tomorrow.

Holy roots batman! Who do I think I am Carrie Bradshaw? (mind you I LOVE her)

I wish they were as dark as they appear here. It is just the contrast they are very light in natural light. I even have blonde ones growing out of my head. What is up with that I don't know. I have never been a blonde. I want it this color with sunkissed strawberry blonde highlights.

Thank you all for your kind words about my Aunt Lil. I sadly didn't know her as well as my dad did. It was a bit hard on my family because we lost her brother only a few weeks ago. My Uncle Paul. I found this fun photo of a part of my family I wanted to share with you that includes both of them along with my gram.
Please click to enlarge. They are a handsome bunch. My Aunt lil was the top left and Paul is bottom left. I like to say my grandmother is the most attractive lady of the bunch a point she likes to argue but I have never had someone guess wrong when I say "prettiest" What can I say I am biased!


I have more a request for you. I want to see a picture of you when you were little!

I will even start you off.

Das Caramelini REVIEW

Some may remember back in May I wrote a review about one of the most amazing food stuffs I had ever had. Salted ginger pistachio caramels by Das Foods.
Being a happy consumer I let them know what I thought about it. My grandfather taught me that you should complain and compliment companies when you are extremely satisfied or extremely dissatisfied. They were kind enough to send me a box of their plain salted caramels and some of their "unique" flavored lollipops.

The caramels are AMAZING. I hate to describe it like this but they are salty caramels. The best of both worlds. Also I have a special salt/sweet tooth I never seem to be able to satiate. This does it and it does it well. Dave liked them too. We nommed on them last night and make mmmmh noises.

As for the lollipops. I have had the salted caramel one so far. I really liked it. It is a bit more salty than the caramels but it soothed my 3pm snack monster. The other two I am handing off to Dave as he would appreciate Lemon and Pomegranate flavors more than I would. I plan to share the Maple Bacon one with him! I need to at least try it!

Fairly obnoxious note to companies: (I am allowed. It's my blog :) )
If you are interested in me reviewing your product please email me at hillary AT byhillary DOT com

The post that runs the gamut of topics.

See I can be wicked boring. Still not much sleep. Death in family last night left me with no outfit this morning. I had to get up early for a doctors appointment before work and this was what I came up with. You totally can't see the cardigan here. The orange makes me happy. I think I look cute yet boring. I got to work too late to take a stacks photo so I took this quickly in my cubicle farm. I could see the person in the next cube moving around and prayed they didn't see what I was doing. Those blue bags are from the benefits fair I just went to! Free tissues, hand sanitizer, toothbrush and 15 minute chair massage!

Shirt Target
Sweater Ann Taylor sweater I sewed buttons on. All these buttons are off other clothes I own. You know how they come with a little packet of buttons? I save them in a jar. Dave likes to point to one and say "what is this one from"
Pants Ann Taylor Loft
Boots Aldo

I liked my detail photo but I cut off my feet when I took it! buggah!

The pants are pinstripe. The boots I wore yesterday.

But I got a hair cut! Photo on left is Tuesday night, photo on right is Monday night. It was the best and most recent hair photo despite wearing the beret.

I skipped my Weight Watchers meeting today to go to the Benefits fair. I missed it the last 3 weeks because of work commitments. But I never stopped tracking (I have daily since oct 26 2006) I feel icky when I miss that many.

In the vein of thinking positively. For the first time ever someone actually said something about having kids to me last night. I have friends who say people ask them all the time "when you having kids" No one has ever said it Dave and I (well once but only because I told her to. *waves* hi megan) So you know who said it? MY DAD. It was the most beautiful and touching thing ever. If you know my dad (few of you do) he is not an emotions guy. He doesn't compliment, share emotions or let you know how he feels about you. It just isn't him. But hearing him talk to me about having children just made my life. It told me that my dad was glad I was born. That I was the best thing that ever happened to him. (technically he said "kids are the best thing to ever happen to you" but I am an only child so HE MEANT ME!)

ENOUGH SAP lets talk Vampires.

Now before you say anything negative let me say this to you.


So who is excited for New Moon?
(let me refer you to the above picture once again)
Dave and I aren't big movie goers since he went back to school but SOMEONE *coughmegancough* bought me two movie tickets! That means I have money for SUGAR! Dave is actually excited to go. He is impressionable. I am excited so he gets excited. (or as Teresa's husband on RHWNJ says "happy wife happy life")