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.

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More CeCe...

in which the photos don't match my insides.

 shoes: don't recall. shorts: american eagle. shirt: j.crew. belt: thrifted (american eagle). bracelets: forever21. earrings: hawaii.

Traveling in Europe about 10 years ago, I was stopped and scrutinized at customs after handing them my passport. When I smile, my eyes nearly disappear into squintiness, and my smiling passport photo looked nothing like the straight-faced me. I'm sure it was for less than 10 seconds that they alternated between looking up at me and down at my photo, but it felt like an eternity. An eternity packed with crimes that I never committed but felt guilty of.

[Epilogue: Eventually they let me through, and I proceeded to eat my weight in Italian ice cream.]

My best friend growing up called them "happy clown eyes," because she said they turn into two rainbow-shaped arcs like what jolly clowns paint on their faces. Which is nice of her to try to say, but...really? Clowns? Yipes. Those guys are creepy, whether their eyes are painted happy or sad or dead.

I've always been surprised to see photos of when I'm smiling, because I look so different (a.k.a. weird) from how I feel (a.k.a. normal). Regardless, it's how my face is built, and I figure I've got a few pretty solid options for how to deal with it:

(1) botox and/or plastic surgery. With such a face, I wouldn't physically be able to smile, which means no disappearing squint-eyes ever again! Tempting. Oh. Wait. Nope. Not tempting. At all.

(2) practice and perfect a mouth-only smile. Hello teeth. And also goose-bumpy insincerity.

(3) never smile again. But I find myself too funny for that option...and my husband would miss my solo hysterical laughing fits, I just know it.

(4) just go with it. Done and done. Exhibit A:

Happy Friday!

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More Forever 21...

i've thought about it...and i think maybe money CAN buy happiness.

 shoes & shirt: forever21. shorts: american eagle. belt: thrifted (american eagle).

Is the greyishness of my legs in these photos as disturbing to you as it is to me? Yes? Even moreso? Oh. Okay. Just checking.

This ensemble couldn't be more yawn-worthy than if I'd dressed in head-to-toe pocketed khakiwear. And even that would've been an upgrade, because let's be honest--pockets! They hold everything, like chapstick and a camera and money and lint and the back of an earring that you thought you'd never see again but, lo and behold, there it is right next to the couch, but don't feel too bad that you hadn't seen it there before because those spilled popcorn kernels were keeping it well camoflauged. So. Pockets = A+.

The only thing this outfit has going for it is the fact that today's almost over, and the clothes will all hit the laundry hamper in a few short hours. It's like a time-out for clothes. "You just sit there and you think about what you've done today, young lady shirt."

But some outfits are like that, and I embrace that fact. Know what else I embrace? When a hairstyle has been going for a few hours, and there's some natural "falling out" happening, like on the opposite side of my side ponytail here. I like how it's lived-in casual, it's effortless, yet still (kind of) pretty and approachable. And also, it's a step up from this guy...maybe:

Happy Tuesday.

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More American Eagle...

a Jazzy ride down memory lane...

 shoes: cato brand. shorts: american eagle. shirt: j.crew. necklace: gift (downeast basics). bracelets: forever21. turquoise bracelet & earrings: hawaii.

I'm loving shorts with heels lately. Unfortch for me, I only have three pairs of shoes in this 30x30, and just one of them is heels. Are heels. Be heels. Whatever. FORtunately, though, these wedges go with any and everything I can throw at them. So they win. And I win. We all win.

Which reminds me...in college, I had two roommates who made up a card game called Pearls. The rules changed every time it was played, but it didn't matter because they the whole point of the game was to unexpectedly, at some point, throw the entire deck of cards up in the air and/or at the person's head and shout at him/her as loudly as possible, "YOU WIN! YOU WIN! YOU WIN!"

Maybe you had to be there. Actually, no, no you didn't. Because it was as entirely pointless as this description makes it seem. But ridiculously entertaining for those of us on the sidelines, seeing how baffled the unsuspecting victim participant became.

Speaking of...Know what else was baffling about college? The sheer number of amateur male acappella groups, 100% of whom specialized in busting out the song "Woooooah...for the longest time" whilst winking and grinning and expecting us females to swoon as though we hadn't heard that exact same song about 4 minutes ago in another dorm hall.

Ah, dorm halls. But that's another chapter for another day.

Happy Tuesday!

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More The Limited...

the 1st part is lame...and it goes downhill from there...

I apologize in advance for this post. Any shred of creativity and humor I once may have had has been zapped by UV rays and chlorine. They need to make a sunscreen for THAT kind of protection, if you ask me. C'mon, scientists. BE somebody.

 shoes: converse brand. shorts: american eagle. shirt: forever21. necklace & flower clips: gift. watch: target.

 This crown braid? Yeah. Awkward. I took it out because it's too weird, and I can't concentrate knowing that I look like a lopsided pinhead. Not to offend the lopsided pinhead population out there...I'm sure you're all very capable crown-braiders.

So, here's the deal, guys. I love this top, but I'm finding it hard to style differently. This is the case with several of my 30x30 shirts, actually. In cooler weather, it's easier for me to change things up by layering differently. But when it's hot, like it is now (not complaining, here. just, y'know, stating facts), the last thing I want to do is layer stuff just so it looks different on the ol' blog.

[Editor's note: So we've come to that, have we? "Ol' blog"? Ouch. Like Ol' Yeller...didn't he die at the end?]

So. This top is like an outfit unto itself. I don't really know what that means, actually, despite the piece of embossed cardstock somewhere in my house that says some PhDs think I know 4 years' worth of something about the English language. (Suckers.) Basically, if I wear this top, it doesn't really matter what else goes with it, because it's bold and detailed and can't really be paired with a non-neutral bottom like plaid because...ouch on the brain and on the eyes.

Speaking of pained brains: "apparently" you're "not" supposed to eat "crappy" foods "late" at night every "night" if you're "trying" to lose tummy "flub." [Editor's note: Admit it...you're a huge fan of an overuse of the arbitrarily placed quotation mark, aren't you?] Guess who's going to actively embrace her tummy flub? That's right. Me. Because some things are totally worth a romantic m&m snack by TV-light.

Happy Tuesday.

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More Converse...

a monkey in zebra's clothing...

 I almost didn't get dressed today, because it's going to get hot. Then I thought that all you peeps should be able to see an outfit that, although ineligible for any ground-breaking style awards, is perfect for a hot day at the zoo. So. Here.

 shoes & jewelry: forever21. shorts: american eagle. shirt: j.crew. watch: target. ribbon belt: my daughter's hair accessories box.

 I've been doing Jillian Michaels' ripped-in-30 or whatever workouts. And I'm out of shape and sore. Which is why I had to stretch to do a flexing photo. Worth it? Nope. But here you go anyway:

It's Friend Friday! Today's topic is: (maybe) odd style-related things I like.

1. Since you began blogging do you notice a change in the types of things you gravitate towards while shopping? Yes. Previously, I mostly shopped clearance racks for whatever was cheap--like basic solid tees. Now I gravitate toward more prints, color, and stuff with unique detail. I'll pay more for something that fits well and that I love, because I'll actually wear it. (Unlike that floral muu-muu gathering mothballs in my dresser that was, like, $3. Worst $3 ever spent...)

2. Do you find, as a fashion blogger, that you dress differently from your family and friends? Do they comment on that? Not necessarily. I notice that lots of times, moms (including myself) get into a style rut of, like, capris and tees and flip-flops during the summer. I try not to do that. But I have family and friends who are super stylish and also others who could care less, so I say to each his own and love 'em for it...as long as they share me a slice of their fruit pizza.

3. What’s the weirdest fashion that you secretly like, even if you aren’t bold enough to wear it? Stripes or bold color chunks in hair (including feathers), when tastefully done. I think it's funky and fun...but I'm way too old for it.

4. Looking at current trends – what would you like to try but need to build up the courage to do? Large-scale neon color blocking. Yipes.

5. Toot someone’s horn – what fashion blogger out there inspires you with her bold fashion choices? Love how Elaine wears totally "normal" stuff but in a unique, chic way. And Suze for her fearless color choices.

Happy Friday!

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More J.Crew...

not to brag, but I'd be an AllStar de-motivational speaker.

shoes: cato brand. shorts: american eagle. shirt: vintage. jacket: gift (talbot's). watch: target. necklace & belt: forever21. earrings: hawaii.

When we first got married, my husband wanted to be an inventor. His two “best” ideas (ahem… debatable… but you didn’t hear it from me) were: (1) a toaster hooked up to a conveyor belt that would serve you toast in bed, and (2) a snow shovel that sent out a laser beam in front to semi-melt the snow before the shovel blade got to it.

Needless to say, he never quit his day job.

What can we all learn from this sad story? Merely this: sometimes you CAN’T be anything you want to be. I think it’s a disservice to teach kids otherwise. Take today's outfit, for example: my brain envisioned a sassy, slender, sophisticated ensemble when I put this together. What my camera envisions is a hot sloppy mess.

But here's the deal [Editor's note: Geesh, sounding a little defensive, aren't we? Why yes, yes we are]: It's lace day at Everybody, Everywhere. I neither own lots of lace nor like it in large quantities on me. So. What you see is a little lace trim on a lightweight cotton shirt and some crochet-lace peeptoe wedges. Balanced with some masculine tweed and random turquoise. And when I say "balanced," I of course mean "for some reason I dreamed last night that these would all work together. Right before I dreamed that my husband was frantically in charge of his work's Sub For Santa...in June."

Do with that information what you will.

Happy Tuesday.

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More The Limited...

a mom in the 'burbs... and also, a vow to never use the word "burbs" again

 

 sandals & belt: forever21. shorts: american eagle. denim shirt: thrifted (gap). hairclips: gift.

We're baaaaack! Didja miss me? Huh? Huh? Didja?

Couldn't've started out this post in a more annoying vein, could I? But let's not dwell on that. Let's instead talk about what is a perfect ensemble for a day that consists of mowing the lawn, doing the "travel laundry" (translation: washing every item that touched a suitcase over the past week because, let's face it, even if it went unworn, it's still not "clean"), trimming the one surviving rose bush, flaunting some uber-white legs (I prefer to call them "ivory"), visiting the library, checking your toddler into InstaCare, and making dinner. Specifically, tacos.

You're looking at it. The outfit that does all that, I mean. This one totally fits the bill. And I officially love sandals that zip up the back. So easy! Know what I officially don't love? Mosquitos and cold sores. I've been trying for years to think of a benefit to either one of those guys, and I got nothin'.

Either way, I heart Disneyland and family vacations.

Happy Tuesday, everyone.

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More Lauren Ralph Lauren...