Pastel Plaid & Colored Tights

This is what I wore to church yesterday:

 

black boots: Kohl's

tights: gift

denim pencil skirt: J. Crew

gold skinny belt: J. Crew

pastel plaid buttonup: American Eagle Outfitters

 

Annnnd, in true Forrest Gump fashion, "That's all I have to say about that." 

 

 

Which reminds me: Did you guys realize that Forrest Gump was made in 1994? That's almost 20 YEARS AGO?!?!?!!! Man. Not to go all granny on you with the uphill-both-ways-through-waist-high-snow and all that, but for real. I can't believe I'm getting so old.

 

 

But whatever. I'll enjoy my long hair for the next few weeks of youth until I'm forced to chop it and perm it and dye it blue. Just kidding. I would look terrible with a perm.

 

Happy Monday.

 

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old lady in braids: to trust or not to trust? that is the question

I read somewhere once that women over 30 shouldn't wear braids unless they were stylishly loose and messy.

 

 shoes: Converse
jeans: Kohl's
cobalt v-neck tee: J. Crew
pastel striped cardigan: Gap
green skinny belt: J. Crew
 

Which is like a chicken-and-egg scenario, at least for me, because, hi. My hair is at the disposal of my 18-month-old all day, and believe me...

 

 

...she pulls my hair Loose often and with ease, and Messy is her middle name. Practically.

 

 

So the lesson I think we can all take away is: if you're older than 30, just hang out with an almost-toddler to keep yourself totally young and hip. Which is absolutely true if by "young and hip," you understand that I actually mean "slightly unkempt and exhausted."

 

 

But the tradeoff? Worth it. Absolutely.

 

Happy Thursday.

 

 

Shop similar stuff below:

ModCloth Plus Sweaters · Diesel Skinny Denim · Athleta Sport Tops

{shared: Everyday Fashion & Finance, Get Your Pretty On, Her & Nicole, Kiwi Women's Style, My Fashion Forward Blog, Style Elixir, The Life of the Party Blog, The Mrs and the Momma, The Pleated Poppy, }

snakeskin may be a neutral, but my loathing of snakes isn't

I'm not a short person. I'm 5'8". That's pretty average, right? Maybe on the taller side of average?

 

 

I didn't realize how short I could appear, though, until I sat down to post these pics. Holy shortlegs, Batman.

 

houndstooth shoes: Kohl's (I think)

jeans: Big Star

snakeskin belt: J. Crew

paisley-ish shirt: don't remember

olive green jacket: Kohl's

 

I've had this jacket for a while now. I love its color and cropped length and the front pleating details. I don't love the short short sleeves (especially on my loooong monkey arms) and how it's not quite a military jacket but not quite a school-boy (-girl?) (-lady? yes, that must be right. school-lady. yep.) blazer, either.

 

 

All that aside, let's hear it for a (faux, of course) skinny snakeskin belt and some leather-and-houndstooth loafers.

 

 

The perfect accessories for any stumpy-legged non-military school-lady.

 

Happy Wednesday.

 

 

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Prana Casual Jackets · J Brand Flare Denim · Skechers Shoes & Boots

{shared: Everyday Fashion & Finance, Get Your Pretty On, Her & Nicole, Kiwi Women's Style, My Fashion Forward Blog, Style Elixir, The Life of the Party Blog, The Mrs and the Momma, The Pleated Poppy, }

does this skirt make me look domestic?

 shoes: steve madden. skirt: secondhand (old navy, but then altered by moi). shirt: gift/vintage. belt: forever21.

p.s. [Editor's note: Technically that stands for "post script," but I'm taking artistic license here and saying it stands for "pre script." Don't try this at home, though, kids. I'm a professional.] This skirt used to be this skirt, but because of its previous awkward/unflattering/frumpy length, and because I've worn it only once (ONCE!) since doing this blog, I re-hemmed it today to make it knee-length. I've been wanting a knee-length denim skirt (aside from my more formal denim pencil skirt) for a long time, and I think I'll get more mileage out of it this way. So. Pat me on the back and give me a popsicle, I guess.

This week I'm grateful for:

- classic (albeit cheesy) movies like "The Music Man" that I can and do start introducing to my children.
- a husband who comes home from a 2.5-day fishing trip unshaven, fulfilled, and happy to be home. And who also didn't get mauled by a mama bear when he & the guys spied a lone grizzly cub on the trail. Yipes...
- Campbell's chicken noodle soup for lunch. My kids love it. And I love Ms. Campbell for creating it. It's mmm-mmm-easy.
- Internet.
- Internet shopping.
- craigslist scores and the reupholstering/refinishing projects that ensue.
- having cute kids and taking the time to notice and appreciate their cuteness.
- chips-and-salsa as a snack.
- dishwashers. Specifically, mine.
- freshly shaved legs.
- my husband's employment.
- living in peace and (globally relative) prosperity. Believing in God. Enjoying good health. Being free. I'm so humbled to be so blessed.

Happy Sunday.

singin' (and wearin') the blues

 shoes: converse brand. skirt: american eagle outfitters. shirt: vintage/gift. belt: forever21. bracelets: don't recall. earrings: gift/homemade.

 I'm super grumpy today, guys. My poor children. I thought that throwing on a pair of Chucks would help, and it did, for sure. Meaning that everyone's still alive, and I'm keeping my voice pleasantly neutral 87% of the time, despite my wanting to yell and/or lock myself in my room all day and let the forces that be...be. Like the force of milk spilling out of the carton alllllllll over the floor. And the force of polly pockets being flown at siblings' heads. And the force of toy box after toy box being dumped out everywhere.

So. Here's what I wore. It's nothing out-of-control inspirational. But it's cool. And it's comfy. And it's not a full-length spandex bodysuit in color: nude, like what I spied a team of female runners wearing for a recent race. So, I figure, that's 3 points in the black. Booyah.

Happy Wednesday.

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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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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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simplicity doesn't have to be boring.

 shoes: converse brand. leggings: old navy. skirt: thrifted. sweater: vintage (american eagle). belt: forever21. flower clip: handmade gift.

Last night after tucking her in, I told my 2-year-old daughter, "I'll be back in 5 minutes to turn out your lamp." To which she responded, "I wuv you too, mom." Talk about unexpected and maybe awesome.

Know what else is unexpected and maybe awesome? (Queen of segues, right here.) These shoes. With this skirt. With this sweater. With some leggings. This outfit is pretty basic, but I love it so much! How can that be? I think it's partly because each piece speaks for itself; it's not hidden or manipulated in any way...which is what I feel like I do too often. Cheat.

Annnnd the other-partly reason I like it is because my lips match the Chucks. And the Chucks are bright red.

But, enough about me. Let's talk about Ahnold. Whut the...? Okay, enough about Arnold, let's talk about The Voice. Love its entertainment quotient (minus Christina's "unfortunate bleach job," as Elissa so aptly put it). Okay, enough about The Voice, let's talk about how I'm going to sort through about 28 boxes of baby/kid clothes and de-junk.

Wait. Let's not talk about that. Makes me depressed.

Happy Wednesday.

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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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keep a pastel skirt from floating away...

 shoes: ebay (cato brand). skirt: american eagle. jacket: kohl's. watch: target. bracelet: burntsiena designs. belt & necklace: forever21. undershirt & flower pin: downeast basics.

Happy Mothers Day! For today's photo shoot, and as part of her celebratory contribution, my 5-year-old wanted to decide on the poses and have me copy them for each shot. She tried to trick me and would switch it up at the last second. A delightful and entertaining time, even if the photos themselves didn't turn out the best (it's super dark and grey outside, so the lighting is...how shall I say...crappy in my house).

This week I'm grateful for:

- lindor chocolate truffles.

- and, on a related note, Mothers Day. Specifically for the kidlets that make the celebration personal for me. And for my own mama.

- rocking chairs.

- weeks when kids aren't sick.

- the magic of a pinata and the joy in the eyes of every kid reaping its pummel-induced bounty.

- the public library.

- my husband. He is a fabulous component of humankind.

- wearing a tank top on my jog!!! (translation: it was warm enough this week. finally!)

- references to King of Queens. That show = hilar.

- talking girl-talk over delicious cake with 2 of my closest girlfriends for "20 minutes." An hour (and a half?) later...

- non-nasty toothpaste.

- books. A glorious stack of endless books that bespeaks giddiness when I get a chance to read them.

Happy Sunday!

life is like a pair of houndstooth tights...

.

 shoes: don't recall. tights & belt: forever21. skirt & cardigan: j.crew. shirt: eddie bauer. necklace: downeast basics.

I went to my children's great-grampa's funeral yesterday. It was a bittersweet day. He was a good man who leaves behind millions of good memories. Forgive me that I'm not feeling particularly funny today.

But I'll say this: I've thought a lot about life and how I use my time and what's really --no seriously, really -- important. A much-needed introspection. Timely, because guess what's pretty much at the bottom of the Important barrel? The fact that my tights got some snags in them and I forgot to reapply lipstick for these photos.

So. I'm happy and grateful to be clothed and alive. Now I'm off to use today's precious life-hours well.

Happy Tuesday.

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belt askew on purpose...

 boots: target. jeans: kohl's. shirt: gap. cardigan: j.crew. scarf: smith's marketplace. belt: forever21. bracelet: hawaii.

So, my camera battery died a few minutes into today's outfit documentation. Which is why I ended up with a grand total of 8 photos. "But there are 9 shown above," you say. Actually, you probably don't say that because, really, who's counting. (Actually, you are, now, because I've brought it up. I'm awesome that way.) Yes, one of the photos above is double-dipped.

Which, coincidentally, is exactly how I like ice cream cones in that magic shell stuff, so it all works out.

Today's weather is snowy and dark and beautiful and mildly depressing all at once. Sometimes I think Mother Nature is passive-agressive. Let's face it, there's tons of evidence, for example: graceful deer destroy tulip bulbs, lengthy summer sun exposure is simultaneously blissfuland cancer-causing, and the existence of mosquitoes in general is proof enough.

I chose everything I wore today because I wanted to be comfy and warm. And comfy. And warm. Annnd I've been missing my houndstooth scarf, frankly, and he's been missing me, so today was a perfect day for catching up. (He's had a bit of a cold but is feeling better, thanks.)

Happy Monday.

p.s. Do you ever do odd things when you get dressed, like move your belt buckle to the side, and then just stick with it because you either like it or forget about it? Yeah. Me too. Like today.

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i'm a simple girl with simple needs...wearing simple stripes

 shoes & brooch: don't recall. jeans: old navy. tank: motherhood maternity (yes, you read that right...but don't go jumping to conclusions...you'll be sorely disappointed 9 months from now with no baby in sight). sweater & belt: forever21. watch: target.

You know your priorities are intact and that you are successfully passing those ideals onto the next generation when your 2-year-old spies a mini muffin tin and exclaims, "A cupcake machine!" 'Cept it actually comes out sounding more like: "a tuptate maseen!"

Good girl. Never mind practicing proper pronunciation...apparently what we're hardcore about is our bakery/pastry bakeware identification around here, complete with flash cards, pop quizzes, and "the strap" if they get one wrong. A little harsh, you say? I prefer to think of it as "tough love."

My 4-year-old is turning 5 tomorrow and is having a birthday party today. A girlified feminine flowery dainty pastel-laden thing. The excitement in the air is tangible as we await our first presents guests. Which is absolutely true as long as we replace the word "excitement" with "one billimeter away from going off the birthday-freak-out edge." And, no, I've never heard of a billimeter either, but I'm pretty sure it's veryveryvery small, and that's the analogy I'm looking for.

Know what else I'm looking for? The perfect banana split. Which is irrelevant but true nonetheless.

Happy Saturday.

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