Leopard and Lace

There were a couple cool days a few weeks back (yes....I'm that behind on posting.  Don't judge!) and I had to dig through my closet to find a cardigan.  Even after 7 years here, I still haven't gotten the hang of putting clothes away for the season...I always seem to do it too early or forget about it entirely.  I think this was actually just a lazy day...but I felt like getting a little fancied up.  Fancied up for a lazy day....not like prom dress fancy.  The leopard cardigan did just the trick, and kept me warm!

Don't blink....you might miss me...

Maxed Out

Oh wow have things been busy this week!  So unexpected!!  My shop has started this month off with a bang and my recent vacation has really gotten me super motivated!  So it's no wonder I'm a little tired every night (that and I've moved into night time training my son...that's potty training for all you non moms....not fun)...but I'm proud of myself that I've really managed to get myself dressed and pressed each day despite it being so hectic.  No lazing out here!  I actually can't wait to keep up this pace...it's invigorating to be busy and it makes "lazy days" that much sweeter!

Obligatory little man pic...

Deets:

Shirt: Old Navy

Skirt: H&M

Shoes: Target

Necklace: Target

Purple Fever

Warning...these are the most inconsistent in quality pics ever.  Just so you know.  It was a rush out the door...  

...but I've got a case of the Purps…

Ew…doesn’t that sound like a horrible disease?  It is in a way….because I have a fever…and the only prescription…is more colored denim.

Blouse: BP at Nordstroms; Cardigan: Forever 21; Jeans: Target; Shoes: Steve Madden (Gifted); Watch: D&G; Necklace: Forever 21

YES!!! I know!!! I’m late to the band wagon!!!  But it stopped, and I jumped on.  So what.  I have been eyeing the denim at Target for awhile now, but I’ll be honest…when I held up my usual size 6 I thought “Oh no way in hell.”  Remember now, I ran a marathon about 6 weeks ago…which means my butt and my thighs are not skinny and wee.  They are thick and athletic.  So “skinny jeans” that are truly SKINNY do not work so well.  But when these babies went on clearance…I just had to try them on.  I got over the number conundrum and went up to a size 11.  Yup…11.  And guess what?  I didn’t stop there!!  I grabbed a 13 too.  And you know what?  I like the 13’s.  THAT’S RIGHT PEOPLE!!!  I SAID 13!!!!  Let me tell you why:

1) My legs can fit into them.  Yes they need to desperately be hemmed because my 5’2” frame does not support a size 13 length in leg….but my legs fit into the skinny of the skinny jeans.

2) The rise is higher.  Although I fit into the 11’s, the 13’s kinda came up a little higher to make me feel not so self conscious about muffin top and baby belly pooch.  Remember my post of fit and flattery?  I wasn’t proud of the NUMBER, per se…but I enjoyed the way they fit better. And they are a bit loose, but it’s nothing a little nip and tuck and belt won’t fix.  On the jeans…not….me.

3) They were purple.  They make me feel fabulous.  I. LOVE. THEM.  So no matter what the tag says…when I put them on I feel great!  And besides…I tried on a 6 in a different pair of jeans and they fit too….it’s just what you get from a less expensive (I don’t want to say cheap…oops…just did….) brand: inconsistency.

So I’m fully onboard with the colored  jeans.  Bring me some cobalt, peach, and maybe a hint of pink.  I love ‘em all!

Mama's Night Out

Dress: Marshalls; Bracelet: vintage; Shoes: Gifted

Craig and I got to go out last Saturday night.  No not movies, not dinner….like…OUT, out.  My sister in law (Craig’s sister) turned 40 and we tried to partied like rock stars!  Uh huh…oh yeah.  We went down to Atlantic City, had a lovely and filling dinner at the Continental (I love this place), and went to a club.  Holy lord I haven’t been to a club in years and I felt so old and out of place.  I know 32 isn’t that old…but I guess as my tastes have “matured” I realize I’m way more of a bar person…or at least a “place with tables that don’t cost $300 per person” person.  

And let’s talk clothes. I had the hardest time figuring out what to wear. I wanted to go sexy and sassy, without flashing the bubbies or booties.  And I haven’t bought a “going out” dress since PRE WEDDING.  How long ago is that, you ask?  Or maybe not cuz you don’t really care…but it was 5 years ago my friends.  My first born was a honeymoon baby…so there was really no newlywed period.  And then the whole next year was losing the baby weight…and then we started the whole cycle over again with my second kid. And that’s taken me twice as long to lose that weight.  So…I’ve now started to accept my body and get my groove on and I feel like this dress does me just fine!  I also think it brought me a bit of luck because I randomly saw one lone Casion War table on our way out and won $50!!  That’s right!!!  If you all have never played Casion War….play.  It is mindless.  Remember the game war?  High card wins?  That’s it…..genius….

Birds of a Feather

 

I've seen this shirt circling the blogosphere a couple times around...but when I saw it for $4.99 (what? Hollllaaaaahhh) at Old Navy I couldn't resist picking it up for myself.  I wore this when the hubs took me to go see the Cirque du Soleil Michael Jackson Immortal show.  It was good....not STELLAR...but good.  I may be the most cold-hearted person on earth when I tell you all this...but overly emotional..things (people, circumstances, songs, movies) make me super uncomfortable.  I turn into a tween learning the word penis...I start squirming and giggling and cracking stupid jokes to break up the heaviness.  I don't know why.  It was the same with Titanic.  Didn't help that I went with my best GUY friend so we were super weirded out that it was a love story.   Awk-Ward..........So being that Michael was a very emotional person, and his fans are as well....I fully turned 13 again during the show.  But the music was great!  Woot!

Have a great weekend, y'all!

The Deets:
Shirt: Old Navy
Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: Target
Earrings: Forever 21
Bracelets: Target, Nordstrom, Vintage

Holy Moly...

...Is it THURSDAY already???  Where have I been??  Well I'll tell you...I've been working hard at my Etsy shop, Lemon Squeezies, I've been planning and executing a 2 years old's bday party....this guy here..

{Yes I made his shirt...I love!!!}

...planning and soon to execute my sister in laws 40th bday party, and just generally trying to get my life back in order!  So I guess this week has kinda flown by without me doing much else!  But I did manage to throw together a half decent outfit on the first day I could wear shorts!  Yay!!!

Fun fact about these shorts...they were skin tight in January.  Craig even asked if they were new and I practically yelled "NO!!! THEY'RE OLD!!!  LIKE, PRE WEDDING OLD!!!!!!"  I got a little excited....

Oh...and I read some "scare the pants off of me" article about skin cancer and I've decided to embrace the whiteness....and to use self tanner.  Jergens is a miracle worker!  No more booths for me!

The Deets: 

Shirt - Jason Wu for Target (pays to wait!  Got it on 50% off clearance)

Shorts - OLD...so I don't know where I got them

Shoes - Target

Tribal Dress

I found this dress on clearance at Target...and I wasn't 100% sold on it...but figured for $7 I may as well take it home and try it on.  I LOVE it!  It was the perfect dress to wear on a near 80 degree day, and an outing to the aquarium, and I'm really loving the bold print!  I'm so happy to finally be getting more color and more exciting prints into my wardrobe (thanks in part to this lil ol' blog!) and excited to actually get to wear them with all this gorgeous whether about!

The Deets:
Dress: Target
Cardigan: Ann Taylor
Shoes: Macy's
Earrings: Forever 21

Modern Day Hippie

Saturday night my neighbors through me a birthday party.  Well...not just me.  We have a group of 3 couples that we love, and coincidentally, 2 people have birthdays within days of each other.  So we get together 3 times to celebrate that duos b-day...am I losing you? Possibly.  But anyway, it's always a fun get together with drinks, and food and games.  My birthday rocks because it's held at my next door neighbors house, so we never need to find a sitter, we just bring the monitors over to there house.  No seriously...look

I don't even plan to wear shoes over there ever since it takes about 7 steps to get inside their door...where I take my shoes off.  So in order to enjoy a totally relaxing and fun night...I wore a totally relaxing and fun outfit!  It was perfect for loads of eating, drinking, laughing, and celebrating!

You ever feel pretty good about your outfit...and you start getting stupid and silly?  That's fair warning for the remainder of these pictures...

The Deets: 

Tank: Target

Shirt: Target

Jeans: H&M

Leather Bracelet: Target

Watch: D&G

Beaded Bracelet: Gift

Easter Dressing

 Ah Easter...it was never a huge holiday for my family when we were growing up, as we are not church going folk.  Not saying that I don't doubt there is a higher power out there...but we had limited time together as a family because my dad traveled so much that on Sunday's, we spent as much time doing other family activities.  Celebrating the higher power in our own way, if you dare to say.  But Easter with my new family is a very celebrated occasion, and I love the fact that it's another excuse to get dressed up.  My first dress for this day was an ULTRA cute dress from H&M that my mom got me...but sadly...it didn't fit and they didn't have any in the store to exchange.  I found this, though, at Macy's.....for $11!!!!  I literally saw it, grabbed it, and ran....after paying for it of course.  It's the perfect spring outfit!!  And I'm just going to toot my own horn and say that I made Hunter's seersucker pants too.  WHAT?  Yup...I'm supa mom!

{We had to wake them up from naps to get them going...clearly...the like their sleep}

{Just look at that gorgeous tailoring!  lol!}

The Deets:
Dress: BCBG at Macy's
Shoes: Old....unknown source
Earrings: Francesca's Collection
Watch: D&G
Necklace: Gift from the hubs

Slack-a Lackin!!

Holy shnikies I have been slacking around here lately.  I guess after that long run...I've had 2 weeks of jello time.  Meaning I've literally been a blob around the house.  But no more!  I've made an April 6th resolution to get the bootie back in gear...which means more good posts coming up!  I did manage to pull myself together last weekend though, for an outing with my handsome hubs, some Dunkin Donuts, and a birthday party at my in-laws!  Can't wait to get crackin' again next week folks!  I've missed you all so much!

The Deets:
Shirt: Jason Wu for Target
Sweater: Old Navy
Jeans: Express
Shoes: Macy's
Cuff: From my mom's closet (I think it was originally bought in Arizona)
Sunnies: Target

Thirty Two

Today I turn 32.  The big Three Two.  Do I feel older...not so much.  Do I feel wiser...absolutely not.  But what I do feel is stronger.  Stronger in my beliefs, my goals, my convictions.  I don't feel like I'm intimidated by much (except other mom's....still gets me sometimes), and I feel very secure in where my life is headed.  Sometimes I look back at the past 7 years and can't believe I went from a single California girl working her way up in the design world, to a married New Jersey mom of 2, working on 2 blogs and working to grow a little business in her Etsy shop.  It's really kind of hard to believe.  And I can say with 100% conviction...that I would not change a thing.  Times have been tough...but I feel a change in the air that mine and my family's life are only going to get better from here.  So bring on being "IN my thirties"....it'll be the best decade yet!

The Deets:

Top: Target

Skirt: Old Navy

Shoes: Macy's

Necklace: Forever 21