Back it up

I'm still recovering from my gum and jaw surgery, so I've been laying low, working on the web app for Texas Style Council and on only dashing out for errands in variations of jeans, tanks, and cardigans. Ever since I saw Krystal wearing a backwards cardigan, I've been meaning to try it, so today I finally did:

The backwards sweater looked awesome from the back. Super flattering. This shaw-front cardigan lent itself very well to the Kris Kross treatment. The front, however? Eh. Needs a little help:

cardigan: courtesy of The Limited* | tank: Target | jeans: AG | boots: courtesy of Wanted (2010)

I think I'll try this sweater normal-style with the classic accordion pleat skirt I picked up from Langford Market today. I'll try the backwards cardigan thing with one of my plain, more fitted cardigans. Then next maybe I'll try baggy backwards jeans and backwards baseball jerseys. Jump! Jump!

*sweater manufactured in China

I'm great at public speaking but not so great at public dressing.

I am the worst when it comes to dressing myself for high profile events. I always end up leaving it to the very last minute (I'm talking, like, 30 minutes before I have to walk out the door) and because of this, I always feel like I look a little unkempt. During Austin Fashion Week I wore an ill fitting dress that made me look like I was smuggling a pillow underneath and threw my wet hair into a bun. During Texas Style Council's dress-up party last year, I donned a plain black frock with a tank top underneath-- no interesting jewelry, horrible choice of shoes. And although I liked what I wore to my StyleX panel, it wasn't indicative of my own style nor did it photograph well.

Austin Fashion Week | TxSX'11 | StyleX

I am determined to step-up my game this year, but I am also determined not to spend a boat load of money stepping up my game (I'm saving up for an 85mm/ 1.8f camera lens and the iPad 3 when it comes out in the spring). I figured my best bet was to rent, so I turned to (who else?) Rent The Runway. After a lot of thought, here's what I chose:

Mark & James limelight dress | Erin Featherston Running Wild Dress | Jay Godfrey Draped Dress | Shoshanna Basket Weave Dress

March is, once again, going to be a crazy busy month for me, but I am so excited to host The Texas Style Council and be able to speak in public at SXSW and StyleX again. Did I mention I'm going to be on panel with The Man Repeller? This is going to be like when I was on panel with The Glamourai last year. Because so many people will be taking her photo, I'll be stuck in the crossfire. When this happens, I'd like to look good, you know? Anyway, I'm excited to hear her insights on blogging.

I'm also excited that I'm not going to be scrambling the night before (or the hour before?) to figure out what I'm going to wear. My RTR order was placed last night, and now all I have to do is figure out my shoe situation. I even started a new shoe board on Pinterest, and I am going to try really hard to not ruin a perfectly good dress with a bad choice of shoe. Any style suggestions for the above dresses?

Recap: Twitter party, Golden Globes

So, live Tweeting the Golden Globes was a total blast. I am pretty sure I annoyed the heck out of my non-Globe watching followers with my attempts to be witty once a minute for two entire hours, but I had a lot of fun. More importantly, one day that mean robot we all call Joan Rivers will die and famous red carpet events will need a new snarky commentator, and if the asking price of the Go Fug Yourself girls and Melissa Rivers is too high, let history show (via this blog post) that I'll gladly do it for a "Save 1.00 on a Hot Pocket" coupon.

On a note of positivity, I wanted to show you my three favorite dresses:
Paula Patton in Monique Lhuillier | Charlize Theron in Christian Dior | Dianna Agron in Giles
I had to Google you, Paula Patton, but despite my not being at all familiar with your work, you were working that yellow gown.
I also thought these were interesting choices:
Claire Danes in J. Mendel | Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang | Kristen Wiig in Bill Blass (holla for my favorite SNL personality wearing a design by a Hoosier!)
Sofia Vergara, you were a beautiful Columbian mermaid, and Kristen Wiig, wha--?, I thought you were the brunett one from Friends at first glance!
As for me? I wore sweats and a cardigan. Alas, I'm still recovering from gum and jaw surgery. I still managed to get out some prime Tweets, though. Here are my top three:
Can I get a "Word, Indiana. Word." for those? See why I need a gig as a professional live Twitterer? How could you even think about unfollowing me after all this pop-culture commentary comes out of me?
P.S.I'll be back soon with some outfits. Don't mind my swollen face, though, okay? Let's all remember that I took my first outfit post seven days after major jaw surgery.

Live Famously } Sweepstakes and Twitter Party

My love for Perez Hilton has been blogged here before. I have been reading his blog for years... before it was even called Perez Hilton, actually. He is a really nice guy (is sincerely incredibly thoughtful), and with all his endeavors, I truly believe he is one of the busiest, hardest working bloggers in the country. He has turned the tone of his blog around in the most recent years, and it's still one of my morning haunts and my guilty pleasure for Hollywood news.

Something else that I love is film and tv. I know that it's uncouth to say one loves tv nowadays, but I have mad love for 30 Rock, Parks and Rec, The Office, Once Upon a Time, New Girl, Project Runway, Hart of Dixie, and Glee (well, I have a love/hate thing with Glee; I really just watch it for Emma Pillsbury's clothes and Quinn's hair). It's still my dream to become a television writer and to write and produce screenplays.

That's why I was super excited to be asked to host a Twitter party this Sunday in conjunction with Lean Pocket's "Live Famously" sweepstakes.

As you may know, this Sunday is a big night in film and television, and six other blogger and I are teaming up with Perez Hilton and Lean Pockets to have a live Twitter party from 7pm- 9pm ET. We'll be hilariously live Tweeting the red carpet and the awards show. I hope you'll join us. Simply hastag your commentary with #LiveFamously. What's even cooler is that during our Twitter party we'll be giving away lots and lots of swag bags that include spa gift certificates.

The best part about this whole promotion is that you can win one of literally thousands of prizes with the ultimate prize being a trip to LA that includes a $1000 shopping spree, spa services, dining out, limo transportation, and a concert experience with Perez Hilton himself.

You can enter every day from now until March 30:

The no-purchase necessary way is to enter here.

As for Sunday, I'll be recovering from gum surgery, so while I won't be dressed to the nines, I'll be online offering up my best Joan Rivers impersonation as the stars walk the red carpet. Join me!

disclosure: In accordance with FTC Guidelines, Adored Austin discloses that this is a sponsored post and part of the LEAN POCKETS® ‘Live Famously’ campaign. Some compensation has been received.

It's been delightful

I mentioned this on Friday, but I have decided to leave the Delightful Dozen. I have enjoyed swapping clothes with these ladies for the greater part of two years, and I marvel at the friendships that have been formed between us.

Here's our original line-up as announced in February of 2010:
In two years time, our members (past and present) have hit major life milestones. Mel, Jessica, Julie, and Elizabeth got married. Krystal landed an amazing job with Google and moved. Julie got a job with ModCloth and moved. Jessica moved back to Indiana and published a book. Jessie moved to Pittsburg. Elizabeth drove around the country in her Winnie Brave. Jen and I had our first babies. James had another kiddo and got married. In two years time, some of us have become style blog superstars, others of us have turned into lifestyle bloggers, and a few of us have scaled things back a bit. Kristin stopped blogging.

Some of my Delightful Dozen clothing swaps (#8 is one of my all-time favorite outfits)1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10I was able to work with some great brands including JessLC and 80's Purple

I've met Jen, Julie, James, Elizabeth, Jessie, and Katy and will be meeting Andrea, Tieka, and Veronika this March. I count Jen as one of my closest blogger confidants. She's the one I go to when I'm questioning myself or when I just need a listening ear of someone who has seen the good, bad, and ugly side of blogging.

I have loved being a part of the Delightful Dozen, and I'm excited that there are now five open spots in our lovely group. They're looking to fill some big 'ole empty shoes over there (Jen, Julie, Veronika, and Coury and I are leaving), so be sure to apply. It doesn't matter how big your blog is or what size you wear, they're looking to mix things up a bit and get back to the basics of swapping.

As for me? I'd love to do some swapping, too, but something that's more amenable to my schedule and things I won't feel required to blog. I'm considering adding a whole slew of stuff to Swap.com. Anyone else want to join me over there? I'm game if you're game.