stripes + plaid = a glorious day to be alive & dressed

 shoes: forever21. skirt: american eagle outfitters. shirt: don't recall. cardigan: gap. necklace: gift. watch: target.

 This outfit was extremely comfortable and functional. I mean, look--I could even talk on the phone in it. (Because usually I wear stuff that doesn't allow for that kind of elbow-bendage or something? Please...)

Hey guys, it's Friend Friday! Today's topic is: goals, dreams, & aspirations. Aside from being able to decide what's for dinner every night (default: quesadillas. Guess how often we eat those guys?) (You may or may not have nailed it with "at least three times a week." I'll never tell), I have fairly simple aspirations. 

1. Fess up - if you could do anything professionally what would it be? I've always had a dream of being a librarian. But lately I wish I had a natural knack for interior design. What a dream job that would be.

2. What draws you to this? Beautiful spaces are inspiring to me, and I'd love to be able to actually create those. Combining and balancing color, texture, pattern, layout...it's all so awesome when done right.

3. When did you first start dreaming about this ideal? Maybe a year or two ago. But...I think I've gone off the wrong track in answering these questions again. That's a dream of something I would love to do but don't necessarily have the talent/ability to do it. So. Wee clarification.

4. What's holding you back from going all in? Oh, let's see: my shortage of taste, vision, ability, and skill, just to name a few. And, when I'm not basking in the view of beautiful spaces, really, being a mom is my #1 thing. And, bonus, I can be "successful" in momhood even if my house looks like a pigsty or is a throwback to the 90s or is a one-room-dirt-floored shack. As long as there are fresh homemade sweet rolls available on occasion. So.

5. Sometimes the first step is the hardest... what's one step you can take now on the way to realizing your dream? I enjoy home design blogs and magazines and books. I enjoy fiddling around in the building I'm lucky enough to call home. And I can bake sweet rolls while doing it. I think I'm probably living my dream.

Happy Friday!

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More Miu Miu...

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...

Decisions...decisions...

Boots & belt: Kohls. Tights: F21. Skirt & denim jacket: Gap. White tee: Don't recall. Scarf: Smiths Marketplace. Bracelet & barrettes: gifted.

Today's jumping-off point was comparable to those synchronized divers in the Olympics. Well, kind of. Actually...not really. Here's the deal: just because one thing (i.e., diving. Specifically diving with talent. Not the will-she-cannon-ball-or-belly-flop kind of diving I tend to entertain all pool-goers with) is super cool doesn't necessarily mean that it will be twice as cool if it's doubled in exact replication and judged accordingly. Despite what those old double mint gum commercials would have you believe.

Except in the case of synchronized diving. Because, really. Kind of incredible.

Wow. Tangent. Anyway. Basically, I had two equally exciting jumping-off points, each of which held their own in this we've-all-seen-something-like-this-before kind of outfit. Guesses? No? That's probably because now you're thinking about that one time where that one synchronized diving team got robbed and it cost them a medal and you were so mad you spit your sunflower seed shells at the TV. No? Just me? Oh, okay.

Oversized salmon-colored bracelet & houndstooth
scarf. I love love love love love. [Editor's note: On the scarf, I found this sticker from the manufacturer: "Softer than cashmere?" The question mark kills me. C'mon, marketing department! Be bold! Your future in scarf sales just might depend upon it, and you've worked too hard to throw it all away with a punctuational slip of the proverbial tongue.] [Assistant Editor's note: Wha?...]

I like how the houndstooth is b&w and will go with anything. As a classic pattern itself, I decided to pair it today with another classic color/texture combo--denim & khaki. I also added a wide black pinstripe belt (that originally came with this skirt) for waist definition. And I thought the pinstripe would add a little class to the fairly casual look. I was deciding between black or red tights, and I finally decided on red because (a) they're actually more orangey than red, and (b) I therefore thought they would add a little boost, backup-singer-style, to the bracelet.

Tall black boots and a little color in the hair, and we're done here. Overall, I like it. Highly functional and comfortable. Although some people (my mother included) might wrinkle an eyebrow at the denim-to-church decision, I'm okay with it. Feel like it was upgraded a bit with a little accessorization. [Editor's note: I have GOT to stop making up words. My excuse is that I'm just too lazy to rewrite a sentence to make an actual word work... Please accept my apologizations.]

[Assistant Editor's note: That was Editor's idea of a joke. At least you don't work here. Pity me.]

Happy Sunday!