Not hugely original or inspiring, but it's what I'm wearing. So.

 shoes: head over heels. jeans: kohl's. belt: thrifted. shirt: gap. cardigan: j.crew. watch: target.

Knock knock.

Who's there?

Pinky.

Pinky who?

Pinky who lives in a pack of diapers!!!

[enter hysterical pint-sized laughter]

Repeat. Including the hysterical laughter. Repeat some more. Repeat as a monologue when the adult party refuses to "answer the door" anymore. Repeat to siblings, repeat to barbies, repeat to strangers and neighbors. Repeat over ice cream, repeat over vegetables, repeat over strawberries dipped in powdered sugar. Repeat repeat repeat.

You all want to come to my house now, don't you, and befriend and swap jokes with my 2-year-old. I just know you do. My husband and I can't figure out why she loves this joke so much, other than the fact that she made it up herself. (No kidding. I mean, the punchline is clever and all...) (Oh. Wait. Nope. No it's not.)

Love it or not on the 10-milionth go-round, I'm afraid Pinky is here to stay.

Happy Thursday.

p.s. If you happen to meet up with diaper-dwelling Pinky, please pass on this message: no.one's.home.

p.p.s. I know my ensemble is winter-esque and unapplicable to many of you in warmer temps. But, despite the sunshine outside, it's downright chilly around here, and I spent my pre-dressed morning goose-bumpily all over. So. Warm & cozy it is.

Want this look? Rewind (or fast-forward) to November, then shop below...

More MICHAEL Michael Kors...

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....

breakfast of champions

shoes: head over heels. jeans & shirt: gap. jacket: banana republic. sash: old navy (came with matching shirt). flower hairthings: gifted. earrings: hawaii.

This morning everyone at our house ate whatever they wanted for breakfast. Pocket ate something healthy and was gone with a kiss on my sleepy forehead. My 2-year-old requested oatmeal. With raisins. My 4- and 6-year-olds feasted on chocolate chip pancakes (the recipe of which I have committed to memory. Sadly.).

Me? I ate yesterday's cookies. Snickerdoodles. With milk. Guiltily hunkered down in the furthest darkest cobwebbiest corner of the kitchen with my back to my darling children so they couldn't see me and follow my bad parental example.

[Editor's note: Actually, bad example, schmad exschample. Mostly I didn't want them to see me because then they'd want cookies too and there wouldn't be enough for my lunch.] Mother of the Year, baby. I'm pretty sure the plaque is in the mail.

Then I got dressed and added a satin sash for a belt. With a tuxedo shirt. And a bolero. And heels. 'Cept I cheated and wore my ugg-knockoff boots to take my puppy for a walk in the snow. Because my puppy is crazy and I happen to like having non-sprained ankles. I know. I'm weird like that.

Anyway. I like this ensemble. I felt comfy and useful and sassy all at the same time. Annnnnd, bonus, since I cleaned all the bathrooms yesterday, I'm done housekeeping for a month or two. My legs are already on vacation.

Happy Saturday.

p.s. Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Want this look?  jeans   tuxedo shirt   bolero   shoes

More Gap...

black turtleneckishness

I missed church today...didn't want to spread the strep-love. But I think I'm over the throat-on-fire hump now, and I know I've milked the sympathy, so... I won't bring it up again. Pinky swear.

shoes: head over heels. tights: don't recall. skirt & turtleneck: gap. belt: taken from a skirt from kohl's. necklace: gifted.

Today's jumping-off point was on the hit-list from yesterday's closet purge: turtleneck. I almost purged it because it has an awkward length--can't really be worn with a belt or without one. (And you know me and my belt love... "unbeltable" is pretty much a death sentence in my closet.) But I didn't WANT to toss this shirt.

Here's the thing about turtlenecks: ridiculous name. And they have a bad rap. (No offense, but I think schoolteachers in general have singlehandedly over- and ill-used this item of clothing to the point of its becoming an eye-rolling brunt of jokes and mocking. Like the Christmas sweater.) But still. I happen to like a turtleneck. Just like I like Def Lepard. Can't explain it, and some of you may never visit this blog again because of it. All I can say is...pour some sugar on me.

(ahem) I paired this black necky-neck with a brightly patterned skirt (the reverse side of this one) and added a chunky wooden necklace. So it wouldn't seem so stuffy. And so dark. Because, a turtleneck causes a looooootttt of unbroken mass-o'-black [Editor's note: An abyss, if you will.] [Assistant Editor's note: Oooh, abyss! Good word.] on a body's top half, especially if that body is also broad shouldered and built like a box. Like mine.

So. Wear the skirt a little higher-waisted than normal, add a wide belt, some thick (but not opaque--too much color-chunkiness already, what with the turtle) tights, and brown heels. I like their stitching and buckle detail, but I think booties would look cute here too. I was tempted to pull my hair up today like I did here, but it just kind of fell into this 'do. And I don't like to fight with my hair. Because it usually wins.

Happy Sunday.

Want this look?    skirt    turtleneck

gap womens turtleneck