An Abstract Print Dress and an Award

It should be a crime, wearing a knit drawstring-waist of a pajamas-esque maxi dress out in public. But it isn't. So I'm still an upstanding citizen...the dang comfiest citizen ever. Yessss.

 

mary jane heels: Mudd brand

abstract print dress: Gap

 cardigan: J. Crew

 

I was nominated by cute Kimberly for a Liebster Award, and I'm totally honored. To receive said award, I'm supposed to spill a little about myself. Here are ten random facts about me:

 

1. I have six brothers and three sisters. One sister died as an infant; I've never met her.

 

2. I was deathly afraid of being kidnapped as a kid.

 

3. My eyes squint and look like they're closed when I smile big and/or laugh.

 

4. I discovered I'm not a pet person...shortly after having a pet.

 

5. I'm addicted to sugar. Other than that, I actually eat pretty healthily.

 

6. There are no fewer than three (and probably many more) times in my life when I almost literally died of mortification. The memories make me blush now, decades later.

 

7. I secretly want to author a book but feel like I have nothing to say.

 

8. I have five pierced holes in my ears from my younger years but now only wear earrings in two because the LDS prophet said to. And, deep down, I miss those three other earrings.

 

9. Geez, I have no idea. Ummm...I love steak. Medium-rare.

 

10. I fall asleep to late-night movies but can read all night.

 

 

Okay, so now that we're BFFs (and/or you're weirded out by me and are never visiting this slice of the cybersphere again), here are my answers to Kimberly's questions:

 

1. What was the best birthday celebration you've ever had?

My birthday is on Christmas Eve, which is every bit as big a bummer as it sounds, with so many other things going on at that time of year and on that day. I'm okay with it now, but growing up with this birthday was the worst! 

 

2. What is one thing you can't leave the house without doing (excluding using the bathroom)?

Putting on shoes. And, yes, slippers count as shoes when I drive the kids to school.

 

3. If you were a kid, what would you dress up as for Halloween?

As a kid, I usually went with the easiest possible costumes - cowgirl, farmgirl, hobo(girl). Flannel shirt and jeans/overalls, BAM. Done. I'd probably do the same. Because I'm exciting like that.

 

4. All time favorite song, ever?

How Wonderful Life Is (That You're in the World), by Elton John

In My Dreams, by REO Speedwagon

and many songs by Pink Floyd

 

5. When you get home, do you stay in your outfit from being out/running errands/working or do you change into something cozy?

I'm like that law of physics - Once dressed, I stay dressed until something forces me to change. That's usually either exercise or bedtime. But, let's be honest, bedtime.

 

6. Name one makeup product (including the brand!) that you can't live without and tell us why.

I can live without makeup pretty easily. (Hello, family camping trips.) But for the sake of argument, I love waterproof mascara. Cover Girl.

 

7. What's your biggest pet peeve?

When people are on their phones in public for lengthy periods of time and completely ignoring their kids. Makes me sad for the kids.

 

8. Favorite junk food?

Yes.

 

9. What is your most worn piece of clothing?

Pajamas. And jeans.

 

10. Favorite blog?

Little Green Notebook.

 

11. Tell us a guilty habit!

Reading a good book until it's finished, even if my house is a disaster and a meal needs to happen.

 

 

 Thanks again, Kimberly. That was fun!

{shared: Style Elixir, Transatlantic Blonde}

elementary, my dear watson

 shoes: mudd brand. shorts: express jeans (cutoff) (no kidding). shirt: gap. bracelet & belt: forever21. flower clip: downeast basics. earrings: hawaii.

Confession: cutoff shorts are turning into a major guilty pleasure for me. It feels like cheating, really, wearing them as much as I do. But I can't help it. There's something deliriously liberating about the irony of pairing total garbage (which, let's be honest, cutoffs really respresent nothing more than trashed jeans that needed to be either thrown out or cut up into oil-changing rags) with some sort of socially acceptable top.

The result? For me, it's an Unexpected and Maybe Awesome mix of high & low, trash & treasure, dumb and dumber & pride and predjudice...

Which brings me to my most recent scientific breakthrough that there are, really, only two kinds of people in this world: those who like Dumb & Dumber, and those who don't. My husband loves it. Further evidence, actually, that opposites really do attract. Know what doesn't attract? A peacock to another peacock, because apparently (says my 6-year-old son, who happens to be King o' Trivia Facts) there's no such thing as a female peacock. Those are called peahens.

Feel free to use that little tidbit in whatever way you deem necessary to get ahead in life. I know it's done wonders for me.

Happy Monday.

Want this look? Chop your garbage jeans, then shop below...

More J.Crew...

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.

Want this look? Shop below for similar stuff...

More Lauren Ralph Lauren...

spring has sprung...okay, it hasn't, but it will...you hear me, spring? you WILL.

 shoes: mudd brand. skirt: american eagle. shirt: forever21. belt: thrifted. necklace & flower clip: downeast basics.

Someone commented the other day how tired they were of seeing people in winter scarves and tights and boots. I hadn't really thought about it until now, but...me too! Sick sick sick of wearing them. So. In a fit of "in-your-face-Old-Man-Winter" (which could, in a pinch, also double as "whose-legs-are-whiter-Old-Man-Winter's-or-mine") I'm treating you all to a delightful view of my non-tighted (and alarmingly colorless) legs. You're welcome.

Today's jumping-off point was this springy floral shirt. (I don't know if the universe is susceptible to subliminal messages, but, hey, it's worth a shot.) Paired, and I don't know why, with this mini-plaid skirt. That's "mini" as in the plaid pattern itself, NOT "mini" as in the skirt. Again, you're welcome. Some days my benevolance-ness is just overwhelming, I know.

I was absolutely digging the combo...until this polka-dotted belt flew out of my closet and landed at my ankles. Obviously, a belt around one's ankles will never ever do, but...dared I add a third print to this already jarring-ly busy ensemble?

(Here's where, if this were a TV show, we'd cut to commercial, and you'd spend the next 2.4 minutes discussing the options before me, the pros and cons of each, and how your sister's-best-friend's-niece once faced a similar dilemma and what she did about it. However, circumstances being as they are, I'll just take this moment to say: don't forget to check out this week's giveaway!)

Annnnnd, we're back. And, oh yes. I dared. A trifecta of mixed-pattern spring-y-ness, and legs that glow in and of themselves like the very sun in the sky. It's a win-win-WIN. Flowers will be sprouting forth wherever I walk today, I daresay.

Happy Wednesday.

Want this look? Shop below...

More Biviel...

how to wear a satin shirt on a Wednesday

 shoes: mudd brand. pants: gap. shirt & belt: kohl's. cradigan: j.crew. watch: target. earrings: open jewelry market in hawaii.

So, it snowed last night. Multiple inches' worth. Raise your hand if you think I was happy about that little discovery. If your hand is raised, take this opportunity of fingers-near-head proximity to flick yourself in the forehead, because you're WRONG. Snow snow go away.

Can I just say, for the record, that I love this shirt? The collar is among my favorite collars of all time, and the sheen and color are so sweet yet sophisticated. (My daughters loooove the very most assuredly authentic "diamond" buttons.) But here's the deal: for some inexplicable reason, I don't wear it that much. I always think of it as too "fancy" for everyday wear, for me anyway. And it's an odd length that makes a to-tuck-or-not-to-tuck-that-is-the-question decision frustrating.

But it was today's jumping-off point, simply because I haven't worn it too much. I needed it to be appropriate weekday attire, so I picked other pretty casual items. Like these ooooold wide-leg pants and simple cardigan and nudish mary janes. (I like how my feet just kind of disappear in this ensemble--Unexpected & Maybe Awesome.)

I added the wide slightly-formal pinstripe belt to serve as kind of a mediator between simple and schmancy here. I like how it turned out. A perfect ensemble for performing a vehement snow-melt dance, which I may or may not be doing every hour on the hour today. I'll never tell, but if the snow mysteriously disappears from my lawn before everyone else's, it won't be a coincidence. I'm just sayin'.

Happy Wednesday.

Want this look? Sweet. Bust out your snow-removal dance moves, then shop below:

More Forever 21...

confession: today's other posts were pre-programmed

 Sorry about today's post-overload. But here's what I wore to church:

 shoes: mudd brand. tights: gifted. dress: ralph lauren. shirt & flower hairthing: gifted. necklaces: don't recall. watch: citizen brand.

I loved this outfit today. I love how I didn't wear black shoes, which I normally would've (because of a black skirt) but for some reason didn't. I love how I wore a button-up over a wrapdress. And tied it. I love how the colors don't match but "go." I love the random bits of hairness--braids, bun, barette, headband, flower--that are numerous but not in-your-face. I like the purple tights and the mass of necklaces.

Not like I think I'm so cool or whatever. I just happen to like how this ensemble is entirely Unexpected and Maybe Awesome and exemplifies the whole "method to my madness" thing.

Speaking of madness: my stomach is growling. I'm off to eat.

Happy Sunday. Again. But for real this time.

More Chico's...

  

i'm a little bit country...i'm a little bit OCD...

Please. Not a step further until I apologize. The flats that you're about to see are atrocious. I'm thoroughly embarrassed and would redo all these photos if I had the time. And wasn't lazy. But...I don't and I am. Sorry. (I actually switched to these mary jane heels and took one photo, below. Your imaginations will have to shoe-swap the rest, okay? C'mon, we've all seen Barney [unfortunately]. This is what he trained us to do.)

 shoes: mudd brand. pants, shirt, & jacket: gap. (i have too many gap clothes. this is embarrassing.) belt: don't recall. scarf: sweden. bracelet: f21.

Chipped fingernail polish, anyone? Don't mind if I do...

This whole week is dedicated to my closet purge hit-list. As in, I have to find a way to wear these clothes this week or they're outta here. The pants and shirt you see here were actually borderline gone. I like these plaid trousers but have a hard time wearing them for some reason. (And if paired with those flats ever again, they'll be banished forever. That's a promise. And, sure, a threat too. Double-whammy.) And I like this lightweight cable-knit tee, but I feel like the neck's a little too high for my build and makes me look super square if I'm not careful. Or even if I am.

So. I thought a scarf would "hide" the neckline of the shirt (or at least distract from it), and this scarf in particular picks up one of the colors of the plaid pants. Bingo. Throw on a bracelet that matches the scarf, and we've got the blind leading the blind on some sort of express train to...nowhere. But sometimes nowhere is a nice place to visit. Especially if they leave mints on your pillow there.

I added a belt simply because I'm addicted. There, I admitted it. I have a belting problem. And I added a jacket because my arms were getting cold. I would've loved a navy or dark brown drapey cardigan here, but I have neither of those items, so I found an alternative: white denim. Hah! Like, in the total other direction as a soft cardi, but I'm okay with it. I think it goes with the overall look just fine.

I'm off to disgrace those flats in front of their peers now. Ciao.

Happy Monday.

Want this look?   trousers   cableknit   scarf

women brown plaid wide-leg dress pants

cellllll.uh.brate good times, COME ON! let's celebrate.

Warning: I'm in kind of a crazy-giddy-do-weird-stuff-and-laugh-really-hard-about-it-for-no-reason-much-to-the-annoyance-of, well, everyone-around-me mood.

I don't often get this way, actually. But when I do, it's serious. I lose all control. See those karate kicks? That's what I'm talking about. Random. And juvenile. And inappropriate. [Editor's note: But also...entertaining...] 

 Shoes: Mudd brand. Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters. Shirt: Gap. Belt: F21. Necklaces/bracelets: Who the heck knows. Flower: gifted.

  

Chances are, you're laughing so hard [Editor's note: She's flattering herself again; you and I both know that you're just rolling your eyes. And for good reason.] at today's pics that you (a) haven't even noticed what I'm wearing, (b) don't even care how it came together, and/or (c) forgot you left the iron on downstairs and need to go turn it off. Stat. Go ahead. I'll wait. 

So, for many of you, New Year's Eve parties involve lots of sequin and gold and fanciness. For me, it (ideally!) involves a small gathering of close friends and family. And lots of kids. And games and food and attempts to squelch the urge to turn the clocks ahead 3 hours to "ring in the new year" at 9 and get home and to bed by 10 because I'm a granny and can't seem to stay awake that long anymore and, really, what's the difference, the new year's here when we wake up tomorrow.

Geez. Those of you who are not yet 31 are reeeeeeally scared of the middle-ageness you're seeing evidenced here. Live it up now, you young fries. Live it up.

ANYwee. I'm wearing my favorite black button-up, some pegged jeans because they just seemed to match my crazy unexpected mood (and I think they're Maybe Awesome here), and some heels (mary janes! I love.). Not wanting attention drawn to my feet, I kept footwear neutral.

Sequined belt tied in a cuh-razy knot. Tons of random jewelry. And my favorite lucky flower headband (recognize it from here and here?). I'm loving how I feel a little glamorous but can still do whatever my mood desires. Bring it on, new year! I love ya already.

Happy 2010.

On flipped up collars and sweet rolls

What say ye about an outfit's jumping-off point being a lovely coral necklace? Because that was mine. Given to me yesterday by my fabulous friend Brooke with delicious taste. I couldn't wait to wear it in an ensemble that would make it the star.

It's a perfect salmony-corally-pink, the one and only pop o' color in this outfit (minus the sash belt, which I'll explain in a minute). Mostly, I didn't want to deck myself all out in different shades of pink to go with the necklace today because (a) too matchy-matchy, and, more importantly, (b) that would turn me into a walking piece of valentine's day vomit. And I try to avoid that look whenever possible.

So I donned my faded black skinnies and a fully buttoned-up pinstripe lavendar number. I buttoned the top button so as to cover my neck and, hopefully, draw all attention to that great crochet detail on the top necklace bit. I figure there's a 50/50 chance of that happening. The other 50% probably goes a little something like "psst-check-out-that-girl-over-there-with-the-top-button-done-what-a-nerd-alert." I'll take my chances.

Unexpected & Maybe Awesome: The mix of tough (olive jacket) & feminine (heels) in this outfit. I added the jacket to neutralize, slash, downplay the lavendar. And, just because I was feeling sassy, I flipped up the collar. Add a pair of taupe mary jane heels (read about my mary jane obsession here), black pearl oyster shell earrings from Hawaii, and an attempt at a top-knot bun. [Editor's note: No, nothing died up there, people. That IS my hair, sadly enough.]

Ohp! Almost forgot. As you can see, I started out with a sash for a belt today. I don't know exactly why. But after a couple of pics, I realized I really didn't like it, so I swapped it out for a real belt. A shiny little skinny number, which I'm wearing now. Much better.

"That's all well and good, but what about the sweet rolls you mentioned in the title?" you ask. Nuts. I kind of wish you'd forgotten about that... Just like how I wish that I'd forgotten about them mid-photos this morning. But you didn't and I didn't. [Editor's note: Enter an instrumental take on "This Little Piggy"...]

Happy Tuesday.