Toned Down Neon

We had a small cold snap in the middle of all this 70 degree weather, which I found the perfect opportunity to get one last wear out of my fave sweater of winter, this neon "grellow" super bright knit.  I like how it's so bright and cheery for Spring, yet nice and cozy for Winter still!  It's the perfect contradiction!

I paired the acid green bundle of goodness with some, what I consider, more neutral pieces, which made it such an easy to wear, everyday piece.  The checked shirt peeking out and the brown boots are the perfect casual compliment to an otherwise loud piece.  And by doing this, I don't feel like the color totally overwhelms me.

Somebody got mad...I hollered at him for touching the tri-pod.

Now it's just funny...but he stayed there forever....

Seriously....forever.

The Deets:
Checked Shirt: Old Navy
Sweater: Old Navy
Jeans: Old Navy
Boots: Kohls
Leather bracelet: Nordstroms
Watch: D&G
Necklace: Coach

A Little Classy...and Little Trashy

I got this leopard print cashmere sweater a couple months ago but this is the first chance I've gotten to wear it.  I'm a little intimidated by animal print...because I think it can go really classy, or like the title of this post, really trashy.  However...being that this was a demure cardigan, it was automatically a class act.  I tried to casual it up with my favorite pair of casual jeans...but I think they may have been toooooooo casual.  Perhaps holes and leopard print don't mix.  Wop wop wop.  However...I highly enjoy my hair...and it stayed all throughout my 15 mile run too!  Yay!!

PS: I don't recommend 15 milers at the gym.  I literally went cross eyed.

The Deets:
Tank: Old Navy
Cardigan: Kohl's
Jeans: H&M
Boots: Target
Necklace: Old

Stripe on Stripe

I am so sick and tired of cold weather.  You know...I don't think I'd be THAT tired of it if there were snow on the ground...seriously.  It's almost justified that way.  But being cold and sunny...that's just a tease.  So to warm up a little of my day I put on my most comfortable sequin tee.  I did nothing but lay around the house and blog and drink coffee...but at least I felt a little sparkly and bright on this bitter cold day.

{closeups make me feel awkward}

The Deets: 

Shirt: H&M

Cardigan: Ann Taylor

Jeans: Old Navy

Watch: D&G

Shoes: Target

Flashback

Craig and I were supposed to go to a fantastic party on Saturday themed in the best decades ever....the 80's/90's!  Heck yes!  That's  my era, baby!  But...ish hit the fan and we didn't end up getting to go.  First the baby sitter got sick and then when she was better, the dog slipped a disk in her back.  It was so sad.  She kept falling over like a drunken sorority girl because her back legs wouldn't work right.  Poor Pepper.  So I decided, since she IS my first baby ever, I had to stay and keep an eye on her.  So no 80's/90's fun for us.  Which is why I decided to bust out a little best-era-ever fashion today...moderned up a bit.  Considering alot of this fashion is back in style now...it really wasn't hard.

This sweater is from Forever 21 from a couple years ago.  I just love dolman sleeves so that's what initially attracted me to it.  And I got it right after having Hunter...and I just felt that the banded bottom and the dolman sleeves were super forgiving to my post partum figure.  I think it even looks better now!!

Sorry about how noisy these pictures are.  It's fah-reezing outside and I really didn't feel like going jacket less out there.  Anyway.  I don't know if anyone knew this...but I used to be a AVID, nearly obsessive, earring collector and wearer between ages 10-15.  Then I started doing cheer and wasn't aloud to wear them and that obsession faded.  When I was in California visiting my parents not to long ago I got to go through my old jewelry box and found some insane (and some insanely cute) pairs!  This was one of the cute ones.  Seriously!  I bought these just about 20 years ago!  AH!

{My favorite flats...and my favorite little pairs of feets next to mine.  He's between sizes, hence the totally long pants}

The Deets: 

Sweater: Forever 21

Jeans: Old Navy

Shoes: Loeffler Randall for Target (about 4 years old

Necklace: Gifted (My 21st birthday present from my parents.  Still a treasured item!)

Earrings: Old...old old old....

Transitions

I hate this time…this time RIGHT between seasons where you have no idea how to dress appropriately.  Today started off in the 40’s…still too cold to go without tights (plus my legs are blindingly white), and it was still raining after downpours all day yesterday so my Hunter boots were totally needed. But then Bill Henley (my local morning weather man….I heart him!) told me it was going to be near 60 and sunny later.  UUUGGGHhhhhhh!!!!  I hate that.  So, light layers it was, with a super fun bright skirt, and no jacket, which means I would just have to shiver a little on our morning errands.  Oh well.  All for the sake of looking cute!

The Deets:
Turtleneck: Old Navy
Cardigan: Old Navy
Skirt: Missoni for Target
Tights: Target
Boots: Hunter
Watch: D&G

Gut feeling

This outfit started the day of with no leggings.  I threw them on at the last minute while the kids were waiting for me in the car and I'm SO glad I did!  I severely misjudged the weather (yes its 65...but WINDY...), and upon taking the kids out of the car at school...somebody decided to have a mini meltdown which required me to hunch and squat while picking him up.  Would not have been so good sans leggings.  Which leads me to firmly believe that you should ALWAYS go with your gut feeling!

The Deets:
Dress: Old Navy
Vest: F21
Leggings: Target
Boots: Target
Watch: Gifted
Bead Bracelet: Gifted
Leather stud Bracelet: Target
Belt: Kohls

Cheer up, Chawlie...

Alright...I'm back.  And ready to rock.  I don't know what the heck was wrong with me yesterday...but you guys were so great in cheering up a whiny little self pitier like myself.  I DO NOT know why a couple of raised brows got under my skin (raised brows about fabulous boots no less)...but they did.  I do not typically care what others think of me...really I don't.  And even less about what people's opinions are about what I'm wearing as long as I love it and am comfortable.  But ever since I became a mom...it's like a whole different level of the typical girl jealousy, behind the back talking, and cattiness.   Not only does it involve YOUR personal character...but you feel like it involves your children too!  Like if they think A, B, or C of me....am I projecting that onto my kids so THEIR friends think of them in a different way?  BUT NO MORE, folks.  NO MORE.  I'm totally over it.  Yes in a day.  I was so pissed at myself for letting others get to me that I just put my foot down and in not such nice words said "forget you!"  So this is for all the raised eyebrow peeps who jusdge me by my BOOTS (so stupid...so stupid by the way)

"Screw you haters...I am totally over you"

"Yes you managed to pull me down into your spiral of insecurities...and I'm totally ashamed to say that you succeeded.  Applause, applause for your ability to make me feel low...you're super talented like that"

"But I'm turning away from you now because I am totally beyond that.  I wear heels to drop my kids off.  I wear patent flats to play with them outside.  I wear nice clothes to the grocery store and Target.  And I even wear pearls with flannel....so freakin' what"

"I am a rockstar no matter what because I AM ME.  You?  You have your hatred to keep you warm.  Congrats.  I do not envy you."

"Are you still there?  I definitely can't hear you...and can barely see you.  If you are still there....thank you for supporting my blog.  But you shall be mentioned here no more."

"And this is my 'small butt' pose....jealous?"

"So...now I'm done with you and going back to my happy self.  Goodbye negativity.  You will no longer be apart of me and there will be ABSOLUTELY no more self pity on this blog.  Peace out"

P.S.: I seriously did not set up the photos to write this....i just captioned the ones I took and it all kinda worked out.  That...my friends...is positively fantastic!

The Deets:

Flannel shirt: Hand me down from friend 

Tank: Target

Sweater: Express

Jeans: Old Navy

Flats: Target

Necklace: Coach

Earrings: Gifted

Typical Day

There's is nothing fancy about a sweatshirt and jeans...but sometimes it's just what you need to get out the door.  I've been having a little bit of trouble lately with personal style.  My birthday is approaching and I'm going to be (gulp) 32.  For some reason...32 is hitting me.  30 didn't feel like much, perhaps because I was pregnant and didn't really get to enjoy it, but 32 is getting to me.  I know there are things that I should be doing to "improve myself"...I don't mean plastic surgery or anything...just taking better care of my skin/hair/clothes/etc...yet it's hard to find the time.  I want to dress "my age" without compromising who I am.  So...I guess I'm in a bit of an identity crisis.  To add fuel to the fire...for some reason...these boots got the eye from a couple mom's when I went to drop Hunter off from school...and I just don't get that.  I like platforms, and heels, and I really don't like wearing running shoes unless I'm, well, running!  I feel like in the environment that I'm in (the mom world) the plainerI look, the more accepted I am.  And I'm just not a jeans and tee kind of gall.  See my crisis?  Any advice would totally be helpful!  So for today...I wore my sweatshirt, fishtailed my hair...but wore my new favorite boots.  So PLEH!

I like this picture...it makes my butt look small....be prepared for many more poses like this :)

Color from the Block

Well...I'll be honest.  This was the outfit I WANTED to wear last weekend...but after it dumped a little bit of snow and a lot of ice on us...big heavy boots were more called for.  So instead I just dressed up for the sake of dressing up during my kids nap time.  What.  You guys don't do that?  You should.  I believe in playing dress-up just as much as an adult as you did when you were a kid.  It's too fun not to!  This sweater I totally stole from my mom's closet when I was visiting California.  That place is like a thrift store** in itself...she keeps EVERYTHING.  I actually found a bright pink blazer that I loved...but the 80's Dallas style shoulder pads were not happenin'.  She's taking them out for me, though!  Hooray for free clothes!

This is also being featured on Marionberry Style today for her color blocking challenge!  I feel so honored!  Have you all read her blog yet?  She is one of the most funny, sweet, and genuine bloggers that I have come across in both my fashion and DIY home blog worlds.  And let us not forget she also has killer style!  Check it out here!

** Note: I want to clarify something....my mother's closet is not like a dirty, dingy, dusty, ugly thrift store.  It is more like a boutique of vintage treasures.  I like/love/want everything in there...and have stated so above...so CLEARLY I did not mean that in any negative way.  I just meant that there is a lot of cool stuff in her closet that is free for me.  I apologize if I have offended anyone or given anybody the wrong idea.  Again...it is a collection of wonderfully enchanting goods, a treasure trove of high quality pieces, a plethora of beautiful items.  Ok...I hope that is somewhat cleared up.**

The Deets:
Sweater: Vintage (My mom's closet)
Skirt: Target
Tights: Target
Shoes: Target (I think...they are old)
Ring: Vintage (mom's closet)
Neckalce: Gifted

i heart you

My darling husband took me to a wonderful brunch this weekend to celebrate Valentine's day.  I've never really been into this holiday at all, as I believe in expressing your love every single day of the year, not just a designated one.  That's just me, though.  But, I must say, Craig picked a WONDERFUL little place, we went without the kiddos, and he even spotted this wall and said "let me take pictures of you for your blog."  Awww...see...THAT'S showing love...you listen and you care about all my little pet projects.  However, being that it was in the teens with a wind chill in the single digits...we were both pretty eager to be snap a few and call it quits!   But I will say...yay for my new Jason Wu for Target shirt and my cute hair!

The Deets:

Blazer: Target

Shirt: Jason Wu for Target

Jeans: Old Navy

Boots: Hunter

Glasses: Target

Necklace: Vintage ("stolen" from my mom)  :)

Watch: Gifted

Nights Out

One of the great things about visiting my family and friends in California is I get a little break from the kiddos!  I was lucky enough to get 2 nights out with my best girlfriends after my little guy went to bed (with the g-rents making sure he wasn't running around upstairs naked...as it's been known to happen).  As it's in the 20's in NJ at night, I wasn't positive how to dress for CA.  The first outfit, with my girl Megan, I think would have been really cute without the tights.  And I can't tell if it's the angle of the camera that's making my legs seem super short, or if it was the mirror I was getting ready in that made me think my legs looked really good.  Anyway...I felt cute in my Grellow colored sweater.  But something about this worked when trying it on at home and then was off when actually putting it into application.  And of course...I didn't have time to really do my hair as it was a bathe-the-little-butt-and-get-him-in-bed-so-I-can-go-out kind of night. But isn't my little Megan so totally adorable?  She is this cute ALL the time....I know...we were roommates once...

The next night I got to go out was with my chicky, Heather.  You guys saw her when I featured her here.  This was kind of an unexpected going out event, so I worked with what I packed in my suitcase already.  It's nothing spectacular...but I felt great!  Easy pieces, worn in a casual way.  And we munched alot and drank some..so the oversized sweater was quite perfect.  And doesn't Heather look fantastic too?  I was loving that scarf she was wearing with the owl print.  If it wasn't tied around her neck, I totally would have stolen it...

And don't you just love the homecoming-esque picture in front of the piano?  It was like my parents go to back drop and prop for when we were little.  Apparently when we are not so little as well!