old lady floral shirt + kid-type shoe = middle-aged me.

Check out our clean floor. Makes you want to be friends with me and visit, doesn't it. "Here, have some juice, friend. Don't worry, I blew the dust and stuff out of your cup before I poured it. You're welcome. It was nothing. Really."

shoes: converse brand. jeans: kohl's. shirt & belt: forever21. cardigan: rue21. watch: target. bracelet: burntsiena designs. necklace: downeast basics.

Apparently April showers bring...May showers. It's been raining non-stop for three days here. Not that I mind much. I happen to like frizzed-out hair, restless stir-crazy children with the sniffles, and the aroma of wet dog. I'm sure you can relate.

Oh. Wait. No I don't, and no you can't.

Today's jumping-off point was: something floral, to go along with Everybody Everywhere. This shirt wins--the colors are good, the floral print is pretty, and it's (almost) clean. BAM. I was planning on pairing it with a springy plaid skirt, but the weather saw my springtime plans and raised them 6 inches of rain. I folded.

Why am I fluently using poker references here? I think I've played the game once in my life, using stuff like swedish fish and cinnamon bears as poker chips. It was fun...until I had to drop out because I'd eaten all my wagering pieces, which was an embarrassing display of zero-self-control for a 20-something, don't you think?

Anyway. Enough about you, let's talk about me. I like this outfit's ironic combinations of feminine (necklace) and not (red Chucks), preppy (sweater) and racy (Vegas-style sequined belt), happy and dead tired. See my puffy eyes? Yeah. This Queen of Hearts was up all night working.

Happy Tuesday.

p.s. Don't forget to enter the fabulous giveaway -- see the post directly below this one.

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More Converse...

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...

ode to the squeaky wheel's Discovery...

 shoes: mudd brand (i think). jeans: kohl's. shirt: old navy. cardigan: rue21. necklace: don't recall. flower clip: downeast basics. watch: target.

Remember how sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease? [Editor's note: But one must be careful in the manner and timing of said squeakiness, because SOMEtimes the squeaky wheel gets sent to Time Out until s/he is 18 and old enough to move out. So. Buyer beware.] 

Well, not to brag (but, actually, yes to totally brag), but I think all my squeakiness about the annoying winter weather around here has worn Mother Nature down. Marginally, at least. She's sent the sun, my house's roof is currently sans snow, the lawn is nearly green with just small patches of the white stuff (like where we built a snowman and a snow fridge last week...yes, a snow fridge. What, you don't build those? Odd.), and my house's heater is able to take its own type of spring break, at least during daytime.

Hoo to the ray!!! You're welcome, neighbors and local friends. I've got our backs...

But. Now that I've unleashed the Power of the Squeak, I think I'll strategize its direction. Which may or may not (but most assuredly does) involve squeakings about magically inheriting $millions$, putting in a backyard swimming pool, and having Mr. J. Crew himself hire me as a clothing tester. If you need me, I'll be over there in that corner, revving up my non-WD-40'd engines...

Happy Wednesday!

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More Sperry...

how much sleep would a big sheep reap if a big sheep could reap sleep?

Going on about 5 hours of sleep over the last 72 hours, here, guys. So. Be kind.

 shoes: head over heels. skirt: banana republic. shirt: american eagle. necklaces: gift. bracelet: burntsiena design (more on this lovely thing later). belt: thrifted. cardigan: rue21. undershirt: downeast basics.

Rare outdoor shots. They're not great. I recognize this. But it's so blissfully springified that I don't care. Rather, I send you my heartfelt apologies...and a shoulder shrug.

Annnnd...I think it worked. Mental note to next year, I guess?

It's Friend Friday. So, without further ado (or any ado, for that matter...should I be adding some more ado?), here are the questions and my answers...feel free to check out others' responses here.

April 1: Rules of Engagement -- blogging etiquett, unwritten "rules" to help new bloggers, etc.

1. Guest posts are a good way to gain new exposure. What do you think is the appropriate way to go about securing a guest spot? Good question. I don't know; I've never solicited myself as a guest poster. I'm happy to do it (and have obliged others when they've asked me), but I just never really thought about trying to secure one. If this question is referring to asking someone to guest-post on my blog, well, I've never done that, either. I'm helpful, I know.

2. Leaving comments is essential to growing your blog. But how can you leave a comment without coming across as ‘Follow Me. Follow Me!’? Those types of comments don't get published on my blog because they're...how do I put it diplomatically...annoying. When visiting others' blogs, I will say something genuine in every comment I leave--a response to their text, their outfit, their photos. If I can say something funny, all the better. Then I'll leave my URL and sometimes a brief invite to stop by my blog. I don't even bring up the "following" bit in my comments, though. Seems a little tacky.

3. We’ve all gotten a mass email at one time or another asking for blog exposure, a link exchange, etc… But the mass emails don’t work. How do you make your email stand out from the crowd? Heh...I actually haven't gotten one of these... I'm popular like that.

4. In interacting with other bloggers where do you draw the line between seeking support and begging for exposure? Don't get me wrong, I love leaving comments and supporting other bloggers (and I love it when others do the same for me--it's a community, after all), but I simply ignore the fake stuff that comes my way. And I myself am not fake ('cept for two teeth), so I'm safe that way.

5. What’s one rule of engagement error you made and how have you remedied that? I wrote an entire post in response to an unkind Anonymous comment, which now I can't even remember what it was. That was an over-the-top reaction (even though the post was, in my opinion, funny), and I've learned to scale back my knee-jerk response of taking things personally. Don't know if that answers the question, but there you have it. A lesson.

Happy happy Friday!

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More New York & Co....

classic casual: a stay-at-home mom's best friend (well, that and oxiclean...)

 shoes: famous footwear outlet (i think? don't recall exactly). jeans: kohl's. shirt: gap. cardigan: rue21. bracelet: forever21. flower clip: downeast. belt: thrifted (american eagle).

First of all...300 followers via GFC? Wow...thank you all, for coming and returning to my blog as often as you do! I have the most interesting, funny, and inspiring readers ever. I think another giveaway is in order next week to celebrate the big 3-0-0. Hmm... Stay tuned.

Secondly...it's Friend Friday! (See other bloggers' answers to these questions here; see my answers from last Friday here.) This week's questions deal with feminism and fashion. I'd love to hear your honest thoughts on my honest thoughts.

1. Do you think there is an incompatibility between feminism and a love for fashion? First off, for the sake of this discussion, my idea of "feminism" is the act of acknowledging and embracing the power of femininity in a woman. In that vein, no, I don't think there's an incompatibility between the two--a love for fashion, in moderation, can expand a woman's femininity and thereby increase her influence over and ability to enhance and improve her sphere. Taken to an extreme, however, I think a love for fashion (or anything else, in extremes) can be detrimental to femininity, by hindering her ability to pursue and participate in other interesting and useful subjects & activities.

2. There is more to each of us than a love for fashion, how do you incorporate every aspect of yourself into your blog? I don't know that I do. I mean, my conversational text (including both the form and content) reflects aspects of myself to some degree, I suppose (case-in-point: I heart pnut m&ms), but the point of my style/fashion blog is just that--style/fashion. Not the depths of my innermost soul (but, in case you're wondering: her name is Mildred, and she loves purple). 

3. With the fashion industry still being a male-dominated profession, how do you think it would differ if women played a larger role? Ummm... gargantuan bags/purses would always be in style? (Okay, that's a cheeky "mom" comment...I guess, honestly, I don't know a ton about the formalities of the fashion industry... I wouldn't have even known it's a male-dominated profession. Am I going to get blacklisted for admitting that?)

4. How is your self-image and the way you carry yourself informed by your beliefs? Different phases of life (e.g., high school, college, married, professional, pregnant, mom of 1, mom of 2, mom of 3) have resulted in my developing a different, more personal (and, I believe, increasingly accurate) self-image. I believe that as a human being I have a divine heritage and that as a woman I have innate abilities and roles and responsibilities to fulfill my purpose in this life. Because of that, I try to do what I believe I'm supposed to do...including taking care of, being fair to, and carrying myself in the best way possible as I see it from my current developmental vantagepoint. (Does that even make sense?)

5. Do you think clothing/makeup/hair helps communicate the truth about yourself or are those things superfluous add-ons? Both. For better or worse, I'm initially drawn to people who look approachable, clean, and nice; I can only assume (although it is an assumption) that others are initially drawn to me for similar reasons. Sometimes I probably project a more confident, happy image than I actually feel; sometimes the opposite is true. But in my reality, in the process of truly getting to know someone, somewhere along the way their insides start to speak louder than the outsides. I guess, in summary: it's important to look one's best, but it's infinitely more important to be one's best.

Happy Friday, friends!

Want this look? The easiest, most comfy ensemble EV.ER. Shop below:

More Reebok...

he's got plans...and he might just maybe figure out how to use 'em

boots: target. tights & faux pearls: don't recall. skirt: gap. shirt: thrifted. cardigan: rue21. flower clip & polka dot sash: downeast outfitters.

Every week, my son's 1st grade teacher sends home his past week's completed schoolwork. Last night's was a typical compilation of oversized jaggedy penmanship and sloppy abstract coloring.

[Editor's note: My son's strengths are many, but fine-motor-skills-requiring schoolwork is not one of them. Which is fine. I have a brilliant, successful 41-year-old brother whose current handwriting looks like a 9-year-old's, so I'm not losing sleep over here.]

So. Glancing through the schoolwork, I come across a page that made me laugh. Out loud. It started with the printed words, "I need my teeth..." followed by three lines for the student to fill in the blanks about why they do, indeed, need their teeth. My son's reasons were as follows: (ahem)

(1) to smile. (yep)

(2) to chew. (absolutely)

(3) to atrakt a mate.

There you have it, folks. A 6-year-old on the fast-track to dental-dom and wedded bliss.

Happy Tuesday!

p.s. It's polka dot day on everybody, everywhere. I forgot and wore polka dots yesterday. Heh. Silly me. So today's look featured the sash that came with yesterday's shirt. Nice save, right? (Answer: Yes. Very nice.)

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More Asos...

Just another manic Sunday...

Roman numerals?! Brilliant! Why didn't I think of these before...like on Superbowl Sunday? Sheesh...

boots: target. tights: forever21, skirt: j. crew. shirt: gap. cardigan: rue21. necklace: downeast outfitters.

This week, I'm particularly grateful for...

- Date night. Especially when it involves my two favorite men: Pocket and Brian Regan. In that order, but it's gotta be close...

- Snow. Beautiful, deep, lovely, sparkly, fluffy stuff.

- Having a pair of boots in my 30x30. Which have totally overstayed their welcome this week (along with colored tights). But. Snow, guys. Snow.

- Having smart readers who correct me on my TOTally inaccurate spellings of foreign words. Like segway (segue) and capeche (capisce). Learn something new every day. (Like the fact that I shouldn't speak, read, or write anything remotely foreign...)

- Family time that involves jumping around the basement and laughter. Which happens a lot around here.

- Grocery carts and the fact that the handle side flips up so my kids can crawl like tigers into the cart themselves and I don't have to lift them up-and-over because, let's face it, they are growing and I am aging.

- Sharing accessories with my daughters, who are old enough to be responsible and put things away.

- Finding the accessories that my daughters have lost because, come to find out, they're actually NOT old enough to be responsible and put things away.

- My daughters. And my son. And everyone else whom I love.

- Quesadilla makers.

- Internet.

- A big-picture perspective.

- Being able to laugh at myself. And encouraging you all to do the same. For example:

(Reeeeeally not sure what I was going for in attempting the poses above...but I'm glad they're all equally lame. And by "lame" I of course mean "awesome.")

Happy Sunday.

Want this look? You got it...

More Steve Madden...

very casual casualwear

 You should see the outtakes of me trying to make a #12 in one shot. Actually, you shouldn't. They're mildly depressing, because nowhere was a "12" to be found. And also, ouch on the contortions. You'd cry for me. After laughing very very hard. Thanks a lot.

It's Saturday, and my kids have been begging Pocket and me to please pretty please come build some block/lego constructions, the likes of which the world has never seen. You'll forgive me, then, for this very brief, uninspiring, and non-humorous post.

Because, you see, it's not just building with blocks. It's building the stuff of life. Like ultra bragging rights when the girls' structure ROCKS the boys'. So.

Happy happy Saturday.

p.s. If you missed it, don't forget to read my product review on a fabulous skirt from Kosher Casual. It. is. AWESOME. (ehhh...to clarify, "awesome" refers to the skirt. not necessarily the post. capeche?)

ready, set, be funny...

Use your imaginations, kids. There's a "10" in there somewhere.

boots: target. tights: don't recall.  slip: a slip shop. skirt: gap. shirt: banana republic. cardigan: rue21. necklace: gifted. belt: forever21.

May I have a re-do of yesterday's post? Pretty please? I meant it to be light-hearted and optimistic; I'm afraid it read as a somber prelude to depression. So let's lighten the mood, shall we? With some wit. And humor. Real soon, I'm going to write something funny. Hilarious, even. Useful for humorous ice-breaking fodder at your next party. Wait for it. Waiiiiiit for iiiiiittttttttt.... 

Dang. I got nothin.

My roommates in college (the same ones responsible for Item #1 here. tsk tsk. such bad influences on poor innocent bystanding me...) were all hilarious. All of them. Well, okay, MOST of them. And the ones who weren't funny (i.e., me) usually laughed so hard we turned purple and couldn't breathe and were thereafter dubbed "Purps." But we most assuredly drew the line at peeing our pants. Maybe.

ANYways. Sometimes if things got too serious or quiet or boring, one of us would turn to someone at random and demand, "be funny!" The person then had to do/say/be something funny. Which is virtually impossible to do on-the-spot. It's like when people say, "what's your most embarrassing moment?" or "think of two truths and a lie" or "what's your kid's name?" Can NEVER think of a response right then, but give me about 15 hours, and I'll come up with something sweet. Something hilarious and clever and repeatable.

[Editor's note: Actually, I can remember all my kids' names. I was just kidding about that. It was more of a lighthearted jab directed at Pocket, who, after the delivery of our third child, couldn't remember her name to save his life. Or his good-standing with my dad, who was waiting patiently on the other end of the phone for his newest granddaughter's name and deets. Those poor husbands, man. Poor poor little dears. So exhausted after watching their wives give birth... :) ]

On a completely unrelated note, remember this fabulous slip from A Slip Shop? It always makes me want to break out in some sort of dance in that day's photo shoot, and I won't even apologize because, frankly, it's not my fault. The slip just makes me so happy! You should all get yourselves one, too.

Then you could dance in front of your camera and post the pics for all the world to see. Your mother, like mine, will be so proud of your feminine dignity. Right mom?...mom?... Hmmm...she must've stepped out for a sec. But trust me, guys. She's way proud and not embarrassed of me at all.

Happy Thursday!

p.s. This skirt that I'm wearing today? Same as this one. Do YOU have a magic skirt?
p.p.s. Another product review coming up this weekend from Kosher Casual! You guys, I couldn't be more excited about it. The skirt they kindly sent me is cuuuuute.

Want a look that makes you dance? Check out the stuff below AND Kaity's shop...

More Enzo Angiolini...

are you sitting down?

There's not a belt to be seen on this outfit. I know. It's like a shift in the Force.

 boots: target. socks: smith's marketplace. tights: f21. skirt & tee: don't recall (no labels anymore). cardigan: rue 21. necklace: gifted. watch: citizen brand. belt: nope.

I don't want to become predictable or stale, so I opted for beltlessness today. Then sealed the deal for unpredictability by doing some weird unexpected poses. You're welcome.

So, actually, I'm going to be honest with you all: I did have a belt on. For about 3 minutes this morning. But then I looked at myself and decided it was too much. And back on the belt hanger it went, to party with its macho belt friends and flirt with the scarves (you ask her. no, YOU ask her...). Anyway, for me, that's Unexpected and Maybe Awesome.

Jumping-off point: this skirt. On the closet purge hit-list because I never wear it because it's too big. WAS too big, I should say. Because this morning I took in the side seams. 10+ years of hanging in my closet practically unworn, and it took about 4 minutes to fix. That's mildly embarrassing. I love how the plaid is diagonal in front straight in back of this skirt. And the colors. They're fun and bright and a deliberate tongue-out-thumbs-in-ears gesture to Old Man Winter with his nasty ice ice and more ice outside.

Which probably isn't a polite way to treat the elderly, come to think of it. But sometimes the elderly aren't as innocent as they might have us believe. Case-in-point: Old Man Winter, who's actually probably the weird brother-in-law of Mother Nature, behind whose back they all talk at nature family reunions.

Wow. Let's refocus, shall we? Skirt is great. White tee alone would've sufficed in spring/summer, but I added a cardigan because it's (ahem) cold. [Editor's note: Yes, I think that's been adequately established in the duration of this post, along with my personal feeling toward said temps...]

I like the layering of colored tights, long grey socks, and boots on my legs for some reason here. And, always, the pop of color in this salmony necklace. Which I've worn here and here.

Sooo...I'm dying to know. Do you secretly wish I'd worn a belt with this? Be honest.

Happy Thursday.

p.s. Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Want this (kind of) look? plaid skirt   cardigan   tights

More Forever 21...

just another manic monday

 boots: target. jeans: so brand. cami & cardi: vintage. tunic & bracelet: F21. belt: pocket's.

Bad news, guys. I'm kind of having a closet crisis. Like, I want all new stuff and am creating a mental shopping list of, conservatively speaking, about 5.3 million items. And they're calling my online username and credit card number. Must....fight....urge....

(ahem) But that's neither here nor there. [Editor's note: I'll tell you what IS here, though: freezing-cold-icy-subzero temps. Well, not actually subzero. That was an exaggeration. But it FEELS like 80 or 300 below. So. Just roll with it.] Today's jumping-off point: this striped tunic. Last time I wore it, I amped up the coloration with some blues and purple. But I think the iciness around me crept into my brain and froze part of it so I can only think in b&w. Which could be good OR bad (for example, Bad: those old tiny static tvs. And mimes. Good: It's a Wonderful Life. And black licorice with something white. Like my teeth. Eating it.).

But even though the starting piece was b&w, I actually wanted to go less stark-contrasty today. More along the lines of grayscale. Hence the grey skinnies and default ivory cardigan ("default" because the length seemed good paired with the tunic, and it was a solid non-color).

To warm up the wintery tones a bit, I added some neutral earthy brown via belt and boots. Oh, and cami. Even though it's frigid outside (and in the guest bedroom in my house) [Editor's note: But don't be alarmed; no guests around to notice. We already moved the last frozen bodies out...] [Assistant Editor: Come ON. Gross.], I didn't want a scarf today. Thought it would be a little too much with these stripes. I like how the brown cami doesn't speak much in terms of color but gives an interesting neckline to what would otherwise be a *cough* low one.

Um, what else? Kept my hair down purely for warmth. Is that too cavemannish to admit? If so...oops. (And pass the medium-rare steak, please.) Oh, and the bracelet. Last-minute decision to add a pop of color but not too much. And I love its oversizedness. A little bit Unexpected and Maybe Awesome. 

I feel good today. Comfy. And, really, I'll probably grow to love these icicles growing on my eyelashes, so...no big deal there either.

Happy Monday.

womens striped tunic