have i told you how much i love karen carpenter? and also floral on floral.

 shoes: mudd brand. tights, belt, & shirt: forever21. skirt: gap. cardigan: rue21. bracelet: BurntSiena Designs.

 I feel like I've worn this before...and if I have, I apologize. But one thing I know for certain: I haven't worn this while doing these dance moves. So.

I was an Irish dancer for a few years--even have the scuffed hardshoes and short plaid skirts to prove it. I was paid to perform with a dance company...does that make me a professional dancer? If so, I'd like to publicly apologize to the Dancing World for single-handedly demolishing its legitimacy. 

I have nothing really to say today, so I'll commence with a few stream-of-consciousness sentences then bid you all a good day. Raise your hand if you're not up for that deal. Aw, c'mon. Raise an eyebrow? No? Too lazy even for that, huh. Fine. 

So far, today can be summed up in the following Marie Osmond lyrics (a great song with an ironically happy tune in light of the somewhat depressing lyrics...I'd highly recomment a listen on grooveshark):

A day late and a dollar short,

All th' sweet cookies in the store been bought.

The prize fish in the creek's been caught.

Everything choice is gone.

Might as well travel on.

Only, here's the problem: as I spent my morning trying to travel on, as the song recommends, I apparently didn't realize it was National Old Man Behind the Wheel of his Slow-Moving Pickup Day. (Frankly, I didn't even know such a holiday existed, but it most obviously does, because I lived the celebration, full-fledged, on my town's very own Main Street.) 

 

So. I think I'll forego any more 2 m.p.h. travel and instead curl up with some new home design books in my basement for the rest of the afternoon. Dinner will make itself, right? Right.

Happy Thursday.

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More Lauren Ralph Lauren...

because I'm the mom, that's why...

shoes: converse brand. socks: smith's marketplace. skirt: gap. shirt & belt: thrifted. cardigan: old navy. watch: target. earrings: hawaii. necklace: don't recall. balloon: dollar store on valentine's day.

It is with full understanding that I'll probably be shunned by the fashion purists of the world (all of whom flock to this blog on the daily to adjust their own style decisions. Natch.), but I couldn't help myself: Red chucks it was, and had to be. They make no sense here, and I recognize that. The beautiful thing, though, is that they fit right in, because in all actuality, NOTHING makes sense in this ensemble. Some days are just like that, at least for me.

Mysterious, no?

No? Just plain weird? Drat. I've always wanted to be that woman-with-a-hint-of-a-what's-her-story?-aura. Okay, that's a lie. I've never wanted to be that woman. I've mostly wanted to be the woman who is able to eat like a horse and end up losing weight. Got myself an O-fer.

Instead, I guess I'll settle for being the woman I actually am: an active mommy who enjoys doing pleasantly unexpected things like baking cookies at dinnertime (check), reading 4 stories at bedtime instead of 2 (check), and wearing red converse with a floral pencil skirt and uber-bright sweater (check-check).

Oh, and for the record, I would've nixed the knee-highs in lieu of bare legs to simplify this a bit, but it's still too blasted cold for that. So. I figured another faux paux (sp?) couldn't hurt...this one's on the house.

pssst...Purists? See y'all tomorrow, right guys?....ladies?...oh esteemed ones?...aw nuts.

Happy happy Thursday!

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More Talbots...

and never the twain shall meet...

 

Boots: Target. Socks: Don't recall. Skirt & cardigan: Gap. Button-up: Some nice tailor-man in Germany. Necklaces & hair-thing: gifted. Belt: Pocket's. 

Ever wondered what would happen if you mixed hippie + preppy + glam + backwoods + schoolgirl + some-other-look-that-I'm-forgetting-but-that-obviously-play-a-role-in-this-ensemble-too? Wonder no more. And, now that you can spit out THAT space-consuming wad of mental chewing gum, your mind is free to explore other interesting realms...

...such as why WOULD that chicken ever cross a road? Obviously, its coop and entire social network, not to mention its nest and food, are all right there. Really, people, their crossing the road makes no sense. So, yes, you're free to ponder topics such as this now. You're welcome.

Today's jumping-off point: striped cardigan. I haven't worn it in months, maybe years, because it's a little oddly shaped, and the colors are a bit too much that's-what-little-girls-are-made-of-sugary for my normal persona. Anyway, I've been trying to figure out how I could tone down the sickly-sweet pastelliness without making it seem totally out of place in an outfit.

Baby blue button-up ties in the pastel but doesn't cater to an aura of newborn-babe. Green floral pencil skirt courteously nods to the mint green in the sweater but brings in an interesting, more grown-up print (not to mention turns the green into more of an olive/forest hue). Overdo the accessories, bring in some brown leather (who am I kidding? like my boots are real leather...) to ground the whole look, and add my favorite above-the-knee socks. Because it's cold. And they're grey. And warm. And not tights. (Nothing against tights [love them!], but it was time to change things up a bit.)

Unexpected and Maybe Awesome: the double braids in the hair. A mildly sophisticated twist on a classic girl's hairdo. For some reason, I love how this turned out. 

Know what else I love? Getting through a post without any Editor's notes. Again, you're welcome. Man, I'm just so generous today, I can hardly stand it.

Happy Tuesday.