product review: Layerwear Basics

 shoes: cato brand. tube skirt: layerwear basics. shirt: gap. sash: from this shirt. bracelet: hawaii.

A few days ago, I got this tube skirt in the mail from the nice people at Layerwear Basics. It.Is.Awesome. The fabric is of super high quality and thick, and the seaming and finishes are flawless; I feel like it'll last forever.

And I hope it does, because it's a perfect layering skirt. Being a tube skirt, it's obviously tighter around my hips and waist, so I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing it with a shorter top. (You're welcome, Society-At-Large.) But I'm finding it to be a perfect balancing piece with longer tunic-style tops, especially flowy or more voluminous tops that work best paired with a smaller-scale bottom. Or a schoolboy blazer...wouldn't that be chic?

One thing about wearing this skirt is that, despite being fairly form-fitting (fine, let's be honest: "tight"), it's easy to move around in because it's stretchy. But, after walking my dog around the block in it (relatively brisk walking), I had to pull it down every block and a half or so. But I didn't have to do that just wearing it around the house; I'd reserve wearing this skirt for times that don't require a longer stride. Like jogging. Summary: Tube skirts aren't ideal for doubling as running skirts...

The waist of this skirt is fold-over...able (new word. use it in conversation this week to make yourself sound super smart.), which is nice for adjusting the skirt's length, which is in and of itself flattering and modest at the same time. Score. I can't wait until the weather cools off a bit to wear this with colored tights. Layerwear Basics offers this skirt (and other stuff) in a variety of colors, which is useful to coordinate it with whatever's already in your closet.

Below are some shirts I'd love to have and wear with this skirt. Some of these may or may not already be in my shopping carts across cyberworld. I'm click-happy awesome that way.

More J.Crew...

So, in a nutshell: as long as you're not heading out for a hike or marathon, I'd absolutely recommend this skirt based on its top quality, fit, and style. Check out the other products at Layerwear Basics! 

Happy Thursday.

this isn't goodbye. not exactly.

 shoes: unionbay brand. shorts & shirt: american eagle. bracelets: forever21.

So... [Editor's note: Methinks too many sentences/paragraphs on this blog are started with the word "so." Like we're in the middle of a conversation or something. Which, who knows, maybe we are. One long conversation about my sweet tooth and flosslessness.]

So I'm downsizing my posting on this blog. I've loved it as a creative outlet, but with the start of multiple kiddos at school, a gazillion projects, some interests elsewhere, cookies to bake for after-school snacks, roses to stop and smell, and just an overall need to simplify simplify, posting to this blog on the daily is what will have to give.

There there. Don't cry. Oh, wait...are those tears of joy? Then, by all means. Bawl away.

Thank you, lovelies, for supporting me in my not-so-serious take on style and life. I'm amazed and humbled that so many of you care what I have to say...or at least inadvertently click on my URL before you realize the mistake you've made.

Cheers. And I'll see you soon for an awesome product review of something you'll totally want.

AND and happy Wednesday.

Want this look? Shop below...

More CeCe...

I choose to shoes.

It's not going to happen today, my friends. An outfit post, that is. But I've recently been coveting some sort of pinkish-reddish-purplish pop o' footwear. Check out some of these babies that caught my eye:

 

Platforms by Go Max
Pumps by Ivanka Trump

 

I'm especially in love with J. Crew's ballet flats lately. Such pretty colors. Do I take the plunge? I think I'd go for a flat first, but I dunno. Suggestions?

 

Either way...happy Tuesday.

we all live in a greenish-blue submarine...

 sandals: don't recall. skirt: gap. shirt: gift. watch: target.

So, solids & color-blocking are hot now. Which is great--who doesn't love color, especially in big chunks? It's like eating a milkshake with enormous hunks of butterfinger in there. Which, actually, is a point of contention between my adorable husband and myself. He prefers his milkshakes to be smooth, flavored ice cream. Me? I want them to be a crunchy, chunky food group.

I know. It's a huge marital compromise when we have to share a milkshake. Frankly, it's a miracle we've made it almost ten years together. But there are solutions to every problem, and this obstacle in our marriage is no different: Fortunately for us, we both firmly believe that sharing ice cream is for wimps, and we get our own.

Problem solved. Not to brag, but I think we're masters in diplomacy. It's a shame we're not in politics. And also a shame that politicians don't deal in ice cream.

So. Solid color-blocking. Awesome and all, but this girl [Editor's note: Two thumbs pointing backwards at myself] loves prints. Solution? Block together prints of the same color. Which, when that color happens to be a greenish blue like what dominates this ensemble, doubles as a costume for a walking piece of seaweed. Total win-win. 

 Happy Monday.

Want this look(ish)? Shop below. No, seriously, click on some of this stuff...

More Asos...

a wide belt and some knee-high socks

 shoes & socks: don't recall. skirt: gap. shirt: gift/secondhand. necklace: forever21. belt: kohl's. bracelet & earrings: hawaii.

 And an early Christmas present to you all: a little photo I like to call "Most Awkward Outtake EVER"...drumroll please...

This week I'm grateful for:

- family reunions.

- food at family reunions.

- relaxing afternoons at a beach, including a short swim in the waves and a cuddle with my tired toddler and a riveting book in my hands.

- freedom and peace and safety. I've been reading "Unbroken," which you should all rush out to your local libraries and/or bookstores and pick up and read. It's fascinating, appalling, amazing, life-changing.

- sunglasses.

- summertime sleeping in...drawing to a close too swiftly...

- fly swatters.

- my now-3-year-old Little Miss Independent. She is one unique duck, and my husband and I adore her.

- air conditioning.

- night swimming and watching my kid experience the exhilaration of jumping off the diving board time and time and time and time again.

- having a waffle iron, waffle batter, and a fresh batch of huckleberry syrup all at the same time and place. As in, this morning, my kitchen. Mmmmm...

Happy Sunday.

stripes + plaid = a glorious day to be alive & dressed

 shoes: forever21. skirt: american eagle outfitters. shirt: don't recall. cardigan: gap. necklace: gift. watch: target.

 This outfit was extremely comfortable and functional. I mean, look--I could even talk on the phone in it. (Because usually I wear stuff that doesn't allow for that kind of elbow-bendage or something? Please...)

Hey guys, it's Friend Friday! Today's topic is: goals, dreams, & aspirations. Aside from being able to decide what's for dinner every night (default: quesadillas. Guess how often we eat those guys?) (You may or may not have nailed it with "at least three times a week." I'll never tell), I have fairly simple aspirations. 

1. Fess up - if you could do anything professionally what would it be? I've always had a dream of being a librarian. But lately I wish I had a natural knack for interior design. What a dream job that would be.

2. What draws you to this? Beautiful spaces are inspiring to me, and I'd love to be able to actually create those. Combining and balancing color, texture, pattern, layout...it's all so awesome when done right.

3. When did you first start dreaming about this ideal? Maybe a year or two ago. But...I think I've gone off the wrong track in answering these questions again. That's a dream of something I would love to do but don't necessarily have the talent/ability to do it. So. Wee clarification.

4. What's holding you back from going all in? Oh, let's see: my shortage of taste, vision, ability, and skill, just to name a few. And, when I'm not basking in the view of beautiful spaces, really, being a mom is my #1 thing. And, bonus, I can be "successful" in momhood even if my house looks like a pigsty or is a throwback to the 90s or is a one-room-dirt-floored shack. As long as there are fresh homemade sweet rolls available on occasion. So.

5. Sometimes the first step is the hardest... what's one step you can take now on the way to realizing your dream? I enjoy home design blogs and magazines and books. I enjoy fiddling around in the building I'm lucky enough to call home. And I can bake sweet rolls while doing it. I think I'm probably living my dream.

Happy Friday!

Want this look? Click on stuff below...

More Miu Miu...

stripes, glorious stripes

Not to be all throw-myself-in-front-of-the-bandwagon-so-that-it-slows-down-enough-for-me-to-jump-on or anything, but...I love stripes in fashion. Loooooove them. They're neutral(ish), bold, interesting, mixable, flattering, whimsical, and sophisticated all rolled into one. And the last time THAT has been achieved was when my older sister made herself a long cardigan out of brightly-colored newspaper-print jersey knit in 1988.

She was the cat's meow, people. I'm telling you. My 7-year-old memory wouldn't lie.

So. Stripes. In case you missed it or I didn't make myself clear: I love them.

What about you all? Is there a particular pattern you love? Or, better yet, one you particularly loathe?

Check out the striped stuff below to inspire you--all beautiful and comfortable and awesome.

More BCBG MAX AZRIA...

How to hem denim & keep the factory edge

Hey guys. So, some of you have asked how I hemmed my denim skirt by myself while keeping the factory-edge look. I've got bad news and good news for you. The good news: I'm not a great seamstress but it still wasn't hard! The bad news: I have nothing to hem right now, so for me to show you how I did it, you'll have to make do with the pics of the finished product.

Basically, you can do this to any garment in which the original hemline is as wide as or wider than the new hemline. As in, it won't work with skinnies or tapered anything. Here's how:

First, figure out how long/short you want the denim garment. Measure it. Measure it again. Make sure, then once you're sure, cut it. Then head on down to the original hem (where the factory-edging resides) and cut it about a 1/2" up from the original edge seam. This will give you something to sew on that's not 18 layers thick. See the photo below.

 Then pin the cut-off factory hem to the cut-off garment, right sides together and cut edges together. Here's a tip, though: depending on the garment you're doing, you'll want to match up any perpendicular seams first. For example, my skirt has a seam going all the way down the front-middle, so I lined up that seam as best as I could first, then pinned outward toward the back of the skirt. See photo below.

In the case of my skirt, because it originally was a slight A-line, the factory-hem piece was longer (horizontally) than the new hemline. After lining up the front seam and the back edges (where the skirt slit is), I then determined where the side seams needed to be and took in/shortened the cut factory-hem piece there. Does that make sense? As in, because there's a side seam anyway, that's where I adjusted all the pieces so they were exactly the same length and all the factory seams could then line up when I sewed them together.

[Editor's note: You guys, I just realized, I'm terrible at explaining things. Sorry if this is muddled. But now you know how my husband feels, and he's stuck with me forevah, so you guys really don't have it so bad. In fact, I redact my apology to you all.] [Assistant Editor's note: Not sure if "redact" is actually a word...]

So. Now we've cut everything, lined up the seams, taken things in if necessary, and pinned them (right sides together). Next, you just sew a straight line as close to the factory hem as possible. (See below, although I labeled this spot better in the first photo.) Here, I also took the opportunity to zigzag the raw edges together to minimize fraying.

 Wah-lah. (Or "viola" if you're French.) Open up what you've sewn (as in, unfold it. Not rip it out...hopefully...) so that you're looking at the right sides. Iron it flat if you want or need to (I didn't). Then, to keep it flat, sew a topstitch. Ideally, you'd have a matching thread color. I didn't, so mine's chocolate brown. Surprisingly, though, it's hardly noticeable, so whatevs. See how the factory edge looks almost seamless here, even though you actually transplanted it? Magic.

 Maybe it looks obvious in these ultra-close-ups, but I promise...this is a great way to keep that professional-looking factory edge after you've done a home-grown hem job.

If you're not convinced, check out how this skirt looks in "real life." It took about 20 minutes to do and saved me at least $50 for a new skirt. Worth it.

Happy Wednesday!

Want this look but are confused by my tutorial? Shop below...

More Levi's...

love letter

Sometimes I think I would make an awesome Hallmark employee, specifically the cards focusing on L-O-V-E.

For example, here's a personalized one for you all. Picture this: The front of a card is left blank, then you open it up and read the following:

"I spent the day in my swimsuit and am not including a photo of my outfit."

That's a lotta love I have for you, my friends.

larger than life

 shoes: converse brand. leggings: old navy. skirt: thrifted & modified. shirt: gap. watch: target. bracelets: forever21.

So our across-the-street neighbors had a yard sale on Saturday because they're moving. I got a set of jumper cables for $2, which I'm appreciative of, but beyond that I'm pretty mad at them.* 

[*Neighbs, if you're reading this, know I'm not really mad at you. Just, y'know, at the situation.]

My kids really really wanted to go to their yard sale after my jumper cable purchase, so they all got themselves dressed and their chores done (a prerequisite for such an excursion), and my daughter found her wallet in which all three kids' collective earnings were stored. I stayed in the kitchen doing the dishes, leaving the front door open and my ears hearing this:

[nothing for a while, then my son's adorable voice explaining] "Yeah, but we only have a five-dollar and two one-dollars, so I guess we can't buy it."

[muffled voices heard over my sigh of relief that more stuff was not going to be accumulated as a result of this venture]
[relative silence for about 3 minutes]

[kids enter the house; girls are squealing, son is grunting as he plops THIS in the entryway]:

I'm less than thrilled about it. The thing's enormous. The kids couldn't be more proud of themselves. (Their grampa's proud of their "wheelin-and-dealin," but their grampa doesn't have a life-size stuffed animal in his house, either. So.)

If you need me, I'll be smashing down walls for an extension to fit the new guy. Or dropping one of the kiddos off in a basket on the neighbor's porch. One of the two; I haven't decided.

Happy Monday.

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More Forever 21...