Pretty, Polished, Perfect.: August 2011

Monday, August 29, 2011

Ikat, Ukat, Ykat, Bang.

All along I've been pronouncing it as "eye-cat".  Oops.  After a little bit of googling, I've learned it's pronounced "ee-kot".  I learn something new every day (actually, I'd like to think I learn lots of new things every day.....) 



Top: JCrew
Belt: JCrew
Pants: JCrew
Shoes: Elle (via Kohls)

Sometimes I don't realize that I am wearing entire outfits from one store until I list them here.  I also never realized how I start changing my color palette before the seasons even change.  It's still hot (of course, compared to 100+ degree temperatures, this feels like spring) and there aren't any signs of fall, but I seem to gravitate towards fall colors more and more each passing day. 

I also decided it was time for the bangs to return.  Straight hair, bangs.......only in the cooler months for me.  Why?   Those bangs get dang hot in 94 degree weather! 


Friday, August 26, 2011

Polka Dots, Three Ways

I found this skirt at Forever 21 and thought I just had to have it.  I wore it, styling it with a basic button-down and "mis-matching" it with a leopard print belt.  I thought I looked great.  Then I had my little sister take pictures and you know what?  I think I was in love with the idea of this outfit.  At least I didn't pay too much for the skirt ($15.80.)



Top: Kohls
Necklace: F21
Skirt: F21
Belt: Target (seen here)
Bracelet: Nordstrom
Shoes: Calvin Klein (via Nordstrom)

I know the chunky heel is back again this fall, but I will always, always, prefer the classic thin heel.  Always.  As for the tattoo?  There are times I wish it weren't there, there are times when I forget it's there, and there isn't enough regret in me to spend the money or endure the pain of having it removed, yet.  In other words, would I recommend that you get a tattoo?  Not really.  No. 


Sweater: F21 (I really thought it was going to be so much cuter than it really was!)
Shoes: H&M

This is where I realize the skirt doesn't pass the "sit"test. 



Top: F21
Belt: Target

That is how I do polka dots, three ways. 



Thursday, August 25, 2011

Fall Colors

I know this is in direct opposition to Monday's post, but it's that time of year when fall settles into the cobwebs of my subconscience.  I start dreaming of cool fall nights, bundled up in my favorite jacket or sweater, huddled around campfires.  I start wishing I had a pair of boots to go with this outfit instead of sandals.  I start remembering those favorite jeans I have stashed at the back of my closet; will they fit? will I still love them?

Then I step outside to check the mail and feel the oppressive humidity seemingly stealing the breath right out of my lungs.  The cobwebs have cleared and I'm back in summer (with only a few short weeks left to go!)

So I go through my closet and pull out clothes that are not summer colors, pairing them with textiles that are rarely worn in heat and humidity.  I call it rebellion.  You can call it whatever you want.



To dress it up a little bit, I change the shoes (and location, haha.)



Shirt: F21
Necklace: Banana Republic
Belt: Target (seen here)
Skirt: F21 (see the original, in black here)
Shoes 1: H&M
Shoes 2: Elle (via Kohls, seen here, here, and here)
Umbrella: Totes (via Target)

I bought this skirt on clearance for $3.99.  It was originally a maxi skirt.  The Mr was out of town so I was watching an old movie on the tellie, In Her Shoes.  At one point, Cameran Diaz is wearing this asymmetrical knit skirt that I instantly fell in love with.  Unable (this is years after the movie was even released) to find one like it online, I took this cheap skirt and cut it up, hoping it would be cute.  It wasn't quite the same, but hey, it was only $3.99!


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Rockies in the Summertime

The celebration was held in Ft. Collins, CO.  Have I ever mentioned how much I love the mountains?  I swear, my smile got bigger and bigger the closer I got to those Rockies!  Even the traffic couldn't phase me!  I couldn't wait to get out of the car and take a nice deep breath of that crisp refreshing mountain air.  I also couldn't wait to see my family (seriously, my Uncle Mark and Aunt Rebecca make me feel so loved.) 

Back to the wedding celebration.  In the backyard, Colorado style (casual, laid-back, carefree - have I mentioned how much I love Colorado??)


Below: The Guest Book.  Where were these creative ideas when I got married?? Oh, that's right.  The Internet hadn't been invented yet. 





Below: The Goody Bag Table.  Guests (read: the children) got to make their own take-home favors.

Below:  I can't resist lil guys in suspenders! 
(grown men in suspenders....sorry, you just aren't as cute.)



What did I wear to a casual outdoor wedding celebration?


Earrings: c/o The Mr
Necklace: Target
Dress: JCrew
Belt: I still can't remember where I got this, sorry
Shoes: Unionbay (via Kohls)

p.s.  The Bride changed out of her wedding gown and into this dress.  Great minds think alike, right?(wink, wink)


Monday, August 22, 2011

Summer Isn't Over Just Yet

It's still hot.  It's still humid.  And my children still want to play outside.  Their faces get red, maybe bright pink if we're lucky.  They are terribly thirsty, but once they throw back those few large gulps of water, they are off and running again.  I'm sitting there trying to enjoy the moment, hoping and praying I don't come home with any new bug bites (I swear my sons are immune to them,) and trying not to think about just how humid it is.  All this while trying to look pretty, polished, and perfect, lol!


Just kidding. 

Seriously, this is one of my normal boyMom Summer outfits.  It's not fancy.  It's only pretty because it has pink (and pearls.)  My toenails are polished (nail polished that is) and my children are having a perfectly good time.  That's a Triple P right there!  Haha!

Here are a few more slightly less, um, cheeky photos:




We do have fun.  Usually.  I can't wait for the weather to start cooling off though!!

Top: H&M (worn here)
Necklace:Vera Wang (via Kohls)
Shorts: Old Navy
Shoes: Kohls (worn here)


What did you wear most this summer?

Friday, August 19, 2011

Day Dreamers

This week's FBFF questions ask:

Q: If you could do anything professionally, what would it be?
A: How do I narrow it down?  College was a bit of a disaster - I couldn't make up my mind which major to choose!  I started with Fashion Design, but thought that wasn't going to be a broad enough degree, so I switched to Boring Business.  I can't remember why, but I took an Art History class and fell. in. love.  I started that track but fell to pieces over the four years (!) of Latin.  I always thought if I was going to learn a second (or third, or fourth) language, it would be a language I could use more often, like Spanish, or German.  Back to the Business track, I took Economics and couldn't wait to take Economics II; I had dreams of politics and economics swirling in my head.  Surprised I haven't mentioned math yet?  After my first Calculus class, I was convinced I wanted to be a math teacher; it didn't take very long before I realized I only wanted to teach students who loved math, not the students who were just there to fulfill requirements.  Then there was the bout with photography, visual merchandising (I even did an internship for this one, that I loved,) nursing, dental hygiene, turf management (yep, you read that right,) physical fitness..........anyway, I ended up with Business Administration.  Practical and terribly boring (in my mind, anyway.)  Now that I've had time to regret my final decision, guess what I would love to go back to school for?  That's right.  Fashion Design. 

Q: What draws you to this?
A: My love for fashion, art, photography, creativity......the list goes on.

Q: When did you first start dreaming about this ideal?
A: I suspect this dream began before I was even born.  I can't remember a time when this wasn't what I wanted!

Q: What's holding you back from going all in?
A: I need to get back to school.  Anyone want to babysit?  Haha!

Q: What's one step you can take now on the way to realizing your dream?
A: This blog is it.  This is my first step.  Let's see where it takes me!
*fingers crossed*

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Come As You Are

After watching Project Runway's first episode, Come As You Are, I decided I had to do a post about pj's.  Why?  For starters, I gawked with incredulity when I saw what some of those designers were wearing to bed.  Tacky pajama pants?  Sweats?  Clowns puking rainbows??  Not only have they chosen the worst pajamas ever, it seems that these people who are so particular about their personal style chose to forego any style when it came to their boudoir!  Why would you dress like a 50s pinup during the day and then wear flannel pajama pants and an old t-shirt to bed?  Where's that 50s pinup lingerie??

I learned two important life lessons from that episode (insert eye roll here please.)  First, you should always have tasteful pajamas; who knows when you might be asked to roll out of bed and walk through Times Square?  Second, always have a two minute back-up plan for makeup and hair (it took me 103 seconds to put my hair up, I timed it and I wasn't wearing any makeup - which I'm sure you could tell!)  Seriously.  The girl frantically putting her makeup on while staring at the camera instead of the mirror?  Not a good moment for her.  Or women anywhere.  (This is why we can't get rid of those darned cliches, thank you very much.)  Now that I've learned these important life lessons, I give you these:


That's right.  Satin.  Tacky, I know.  I made this mistake before I was considered legal.  Let's chalk it up to being young and stupid.  Regardless, these are my pajamas.  If I was on a reality tv show and had to pack up the next twelve weeks of my life into two suitcases, I would bring these nude heels.  They would get the most mileage (and sorta match my pjs, just in case.)  If I had to wear my pjs through Times Square, I'd roll up my hems and tie the front of my shirt.  It's the least I could do.  At least I'm not walking around in my underwear (what a spectacle that would be!)

 

That's right.  Plaid.  I bought these when I was pregnant, because Darnit!  I was going to feel like crap after I had my baby so I might as well be dressed in bright plaids!!  As Bert, the older dude who is a recovering alcoholic (is anyone else afraid that he might fall off the wagon if he loses??) shows us, if you have to incorporate what you are wearing into your design, it had better not be flannel bows or clowns puking rainbows into a toilet!!  Of course, that model was wearing his nasty underwear across her chest.  And then the judges were ooh-ing and ahh-ing over his dirty underwear strewn across her shoulder, blech!  But hey!  He won the challenge! 

I know, I keep writing and I'm almost done, but I just have to point out one other small problem.  Back to the girl frantically putting on her makeup - all I know is this: the only think I kept thinking throughout the entire episode was please, please tell me they were allowed to brush their teeth!  I can go without makeup, my hair can look like crap, I could be wearing The Mr's old sweats but please let me brush my dang teeth!!

PJ's: Victoria Secret 
Shoes: Elle (via Kohls)

Would you wear your pj's on the street??




Wednesday, August 17, 2011

In An Octopus's Garden

After receiving some rather difficult news about my momB, The Mr and I decided we needed a night out on the town.  We met up with some friends at the (free) Summer Concert Series, which was yes, featuring the Beatles' cover band, Liverpool (can I get a woot! woot! for overusing commas in one sentence?)  It was the middle of summer, outdoors, sans kids.  I stood in my closet for a good 20 minutes trying to decide what would be the right thing to wear (think bugs, grass stains, dirt........)  I settled on something I didn't really like:


Meet the Mr and pardon our bluish tint.  And yes, I specifically didn't take a full shot of my outfit.

It has been a really long time since I last attended an outdoor concert of any Big Band variety (or should I say, denim variety?)  As I watched fellow concert goers walking around in various clothing, including white (yes, she had brown spots of something on her backside,) and Band t-shirts (lots of Beatles, one Beastie Boys.)  I turned to my friend and admitted that I was really out of the loop - how could I forget that you could wear the bands' t-shirt??

Fast forward one week, and while at Kohls, walking through a center aisle, this tee caught my eye:





Necklace: F21
Shirt: Kohls
Bracelet: F21
Belt: I cannot remember to save my life and I tore out the tag (like 4 years ago.)  sorry.
Skirt: H&M
Shoes: H&M
Chignon gone wrong: c/o.........me.

 I had to add this picture because my absolutely most favorite thing about this skirt is how it swings and sways!

Now you know what I would have worn, if I had actually owned it at the time.  Maybe next year.  On a side note, I have to give a shout out to my city.  They rock!  The taxes are high, but the benefits are worth it.  The End.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Linen 'n' Lace

I'm back.  I took a little hiatus to attend a family function.  I'm also finally getting around to posting my version of the spring/summer lace trend (I'm a procrastinator with a capital P.)

I actually found this jacket at Kohls months ago, when it was still too cold to even consider a jacket that really provides nothing but aesthetic pleasure.  I also thought it looked like crap on a hanger.  Months later, on one of my "I'm going to pick up everything I see and try it on because it could be a diamond in the rough" days, I picked it up off the clearance rack and tried it on.  I should have brought a camera because, literally, my mouth was hanging open for a full two minutes.  I couldn't believe how much I liked the fit of the crap-on-a-hanger jacket!!  Sometimes my "try it on anyway" days pay off (and sometimes it really sucks.)






Necklace: F21
Jacket: Kohls
Dress: Old Navy (worn here)
Bracelet: Vera Wang
Shoes: Elle (worn here)

See you all tomorrow! (I promise, with a capital P!)

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Mixed Matches (Say That Three Times.)

I hate making decisions.  Which is why I wore two different pairs of shoes with this dress.  Maybe it's Mix and Match, or maybe it's I Change My Mind Like I Change My Shoes Day.  The only things I could agree upon were my dress, my jacket and my hair (and my hair really had no other options.)


Sunnies: Target
Dress: F21
Jacket: Old Navy
Shoes: Kohls
Necklace: George (that's right, from Wal-mart.)

p.s. I like my mix-and-matches to be subtle, not blaringly obvious (yes, I do make up my own words.)  I'm afraid the in-your-face mix-and-matches are the ones that make me feel like I'm trying too hard.  Just sayin'.   


Everybody, Everywear | Pattern Mixing

Monday, August 8, 2011

Dumpster Diving

While there was no actual dumpster diving, there was an industrial sized dumpster willing to serve as my backdrop:




 

Necklace: Twisted combination - Target + a gift from The Mr.
Top: JCrew
Jacket: Old Navy (buy it)*
Bracelet: Forever21
Belt: DIY grosgrain ribbon
Jeans: JCrew (buy them)
Shoes: Forever21

I know, by now you are super-duper impressed with my awesome WonderWoman-like abilities to find perfectly hued and aged dumpsters.  I know I am.  Just kidding............everyone knows She-Ra was far more cool! 

 
*This jacket is on clearance in stores - $22.99 the last time I checked, two weeks ago (it used to be on clearance online too.....) and now they have it in RED!

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Parties, Parties and More Parties.

The Bloggers Do It Better challenge is Arm Party.

The Tea Party: where I pretend to be prim and proper (read: pinkie out required.)



Bracelets: The Mr and Vera Wang, Teacup: vintage

The Date-Night Party: where I try to convince The Mr that I enjoy both pearls and diamonds.


Bracelets: Vera Wang and Vera Wang

The Office Party: where I try to fool corporate executives into thinking they can take me seriously.


Watch: Nordstrom, Bracelets: Chaps (via Kohls)

The Family BBQ Party: where I try to intimidate pit bulls with my chain linkage.......


Bracelets: F21, JCrew, South Beach Vendor

Lastly (and the Mr's favorite) The Nudist Party: where I bare it all (bahahahahaha!)


I've always preferred a more "intimate" party.  You can't possibly greet all of your guests if you invite too many ;)