Book Club Attire (and why you can't necessarily trust someone just because they're in a book club)

I'm going to my first book club meeting tonight. The book club is an established entity, but I'm a shiny new member this year.

 

red patent flats: Kohl's (maybe?)

b&w striped maxi skirt: eBay

coral v-neck tee: American Eagle Outfitters

denim jacket: Gap

cluster necklace: Downeast Outfitters

 

I must admit, I'm a little nervous. I don't know how many of the ladies I'll know.

 

 

For security blanket purposes, I'm wearing my comfiest knitwear. But as a nod to the societal nature of the event, I tried to accessorize appropriately.

 

 

Because nothing says "literary pundit" like a girl in pjs and a bobble necklace.

 

 

Wish me luck. And happy Thursday!

 

 

Shop similar styles below:

INC International Concepts Long Skirts · Tory Burch Flats · Splendid Tees

{shared: Coffee Beans & Bobby Pins, Her & Nicole, Katherine's Corner, Kiwi Women's Style, My Fashion Forward Blog, My Girlish Whims, Penniless Socialite, Style Elixir, The Mrs. and the Momma, The Pleated Poppy, Two Thirty-Five Designs, Vodka Infused Lemonade, }

maybe I'm practicing being a pumpkin

I had a very witty and pithy blog post written to accompany these pics.

 

flats: J. Crew

jeans: American Eagle Outfitters

chambray shirt: J. Crew

orange cableknit sweater: J. Crew

 

The post was warm and endearingly clever and funny and would've made you all want to be my friend, even though I self-deprecatingly referenced Jay Leno's love for denim-on-denim and coined the phrase "pumpk rock" in reference to my sweater.

 

 

 Somehow the whole post got deleted. *poof*

 

 

So you're left with these photos, an incomplete pop culture reference of questionable style, and a view of my feet.

 

 

At least the flats are cute.

 

Happy Monday. (or is it?)

 

 

Shop similar styles & products below:

MICHAEL Michael Kors Crewnecks & Scoopnecks · J.Crew Factory Button Front Tops · CeCe Flats

{shared: Style Elixir, SuburbsMama, The Pleated Poppy}

the blinding whiteness of my legs is second only to the sun itself...

strappy sandals: forever21. skirt: gap. shirt: downeast basics. watch: target. faux pearls: don't recall.

Hey guys, it's Friend Friday! Today's topic is: outside influences. And, may I just preface today's post with: Before you read on, I'd like you to lower your expectations of my awesomeness, if that's even possible... lower... lowerrrrrr... There. Keep 'em right there. NOW you may continue.

1. What magazines do you subscribe to? I enjoy an occasional magazine. But, sadly, aside from church magazines, National Geographic for Kids, Lonny & TradHome e-magazines (free), Jr. LEGO Club (free), and the monthly American Girl catalog (which my 5-year-old fondly refers to as her "girl magazine"), I don't subscribe to any. Dunno why (oh, wait, yes I do: it's because I'm cheap).

2. Do you watch any fashion TV shows? I used to watch What Not To Wear and Project Runway, but we don't have those channels anymore. Because, as I mentioned already, I'm cheap. And I'm cheap because we're trying to save our pennies to do some major house reconstruction in the near future.

3. Beyond blogs, what websites do you frequent for fashion inspiration? None. Ohp, I lied--I check out the J.Crew website every so often. Heh.

4. Advertisements play a huge role in forming public opinion about a product or brand… what ads do you like and why? Hmm. None come immediately to mind, although I'll tell you which ones I despise: Old Navy's tv commercials. Most annoying specimens of cinematic advertising ever produced and/or aired.

5. Do you own any fashion books? Nope. But (*tangent alert*) 10 years ago for my wedding I was given an old book called "Any Bride Can Cook," published in about the 1950s. It.is.awesome. And hilarious.

Happy Friday!

p.s. Don't forget to enter this week's GIVEAWAY! No, seriously. It's awesome, and you'll want to enter.

p.p.s. Life is beautiful. And I'm constantly reminded of this in little ways. Like the carefully-thought-out scene I stumbled upon this morning in our basement kitchenette freezer: 

My 6-year-old son has some mad problem solving skillz... and empathy.

Want this look? Check out the stuff below...

More Forever 21...

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!

Want this look? Check it...

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!

Want this look? Shop below...

More New York & Co....

gratitudiness

I honestly don't know what happened/where I was in the middle photo below. But I like it.

 boots & sweater: kohl's (I think). tights: gift. skirt & shirt: gap. earrings: hawaii.

Birthday girl struck the pose to show me what to do. Like her belt? She's killing me with the cuteness. 'Cept those shoes. Ohhhh, those shoes...the loves of her life...

This week, I'm grateful for:

- my kids. and how, in their world, transformers marry barbies, very (very) worn red sparkly shoes are still beautiful, and statements of fact ("charlie licked my FACE!") are hilarious and repeated as often as a good knock-knock joke. which means oft.en.

- disposable plastic tea-ware.

- sentences that begin with, "okay, mom, I'll try..."

- when things turn out to be easier/faster than I thought they'd be.

- soccer practice and a typically not-a-sports-guy kid thoroughly enjoying himself during said practice.

- a husband who bakes the birthday girl's cake. and is so proud of it (and rightly so) that he calls it "my precious." but tries to cover it up by pretending he's talking about me.
- prayer.

- concealer. seriously. the zit queen of the universe has waved her magic wand in my direction, and my face has, with open arms, welcomed her spell. stinking face. so. thanks, concealer.

- 13 four- to eight-year-old girls at a tea party.

- family. and heart-to-hearts with family members. and those conversations of nothingness that are just as important as the heart-to-hearts.

- the satisfaction of eating a perfectly crunchy apple. (and, fine, who am i kidding, a perfectly drool-worthy mint chocolate chip shake.)

- sleep.

- sleep.

- sleep.

Happy Sunday.