I had a moment the other day. I was looking around in my closet and noticed I did not own any normal colored (read: jean colored) pants. I had a zillion colored and printed ones, but not any traditional pairs. I remember I had a major cleaning session in there awhile back and donated a ton of things. I like to do that. I am the opposite of  a hoarder. I throw stuff out and donate things constantly because I hate having too much stuff.  Anyway, long story short, I went to Target and found these dark rinse, boot cut jeans for $22. I forget sometimes how flattering a dark rinse pant are. In my quest to own every pair of patterned skinny jean ever made I lost sight of how versatile this type of pant can be. Dress up for casual Friday, dress down for running errands.

I am also obsessed with my Zara necklace, seen here and here. It adds a fun factor to the most basic of outfits and my four year old thinks it is “super fashion-y.” I’m not sure if that is good or bad that I wear things the pre-k set love, but I’m gonna do it anyway.

 Photo courtesy of Heather Rigney

 

I wanted to send a little love out to my extremely talented sister in law, Heather Rigney. Not only is she a very creative artist with artwork all over New England (her blog is here), but she also authored a book that is for sale on Amazon today! You can buy it here (and it is only $2.99!) Just think, if you type her name into Amazon a book comes up. She’s famous!

She also has an Etsy shop here and a super funny toothbrush blog, here (believe me, the toothbrushes are hilarious.)

So go, run now and see what how amazing Heather is. And did I tell you she has platinum hair with hot pink tips? AND she has the cutest apartment ever? It looks like a magazine photo shoot, with striped walls and everything.

Zara top; F21 skirt (similar); Target wedges (similar) and sunnies.

 

I’ve been having a lack of inspiration lately. And feeling blah. I look in my huge closet and see nothing. Fresh, fun, inspiring (to me) clothing options are just not there. And I can’t bring myself to care (today.) I like to think of this space as a place to share my personal style as well as my life stories. And lately I have been coming up blank there, too.

So I ask your patience. I only want to post things that mean something to me, not just because I feel I have to. I want this to showcase the real me and sometimes the real me is sitting in yoga pants watching movies with my kids.

 

Zara tee and necklace; Target pants and sunnies; Shoemint wedges.

 

1) When your cat sits up all alert on the bed at night and stares intently at the door when you are alone (watching true crime shows, see below) and you are convinced there is a killer outside your bedroom door.

2) Walking around all day with a tag hanging off the back of your shirt because you forgot to cut it off. Classy.

3) Forgetting what day my anniversary is. October 7th? 9th? Oh, how soon we forget.

4) Getting sized at Victoria’s Secret for new bras and finding she was way off. As in not even close. Shouldn’t they know what they are doing?

5) Telling my daughter (after she exited class with bitter tears) that she doesn’t get a medal after gymnastics class. This isn’t London, sweetheart.

 

1) Watching true crime shows on the I.D. channel. I’m a sucker for a good mystery and love seeing these real life shows. Note: DO NOT watch, “The killer next door” while your husband is away. Lesson learned.

2) Having your three year old tell you that he “doesn’t have a tongue, its a licking thing.” Okay, we’ll go with that. Weirdo.

3) Your four year old telling you that unicorns are different than real horses because “they have rainbow manes.” And then looking at you like you are an idiot for not knowing the difference.

4) Watching my kids in gymnastics and planning on how I will spend the money they make on endorsements after they win gold in the Olympics.

5) Moscato wine. At night. So delicious I could literally chug it from the bottle.



 

 

 

This is what happens when I let my daughter loose in my closet. She finds my hoochiest dress and puts it on, along with my most sparkly necklace. She is my biggest champion in me dressing up fancy. In fact, she’s always a little disappointed when I wear my yoga pants and tank tops. Which is admittedly most of the time.

Good grief am I in trouble with this one… 

 

I usually get about 10 minutes to change for a night out. Typically with two small children in the way hanging out while I get ready. My daughter has a field day in my closet, let me tell ya. I find that if I put on my new (faux) leather pants it instantly dresses up anything, even a basic black tunic. This one is new, super soft and has a cool leather detail on the trim. And only cost $20! I love basics with a bit of a punch.

I also love wearing fun or interesting necklaces. They are conversation starters (the teenage bag boy at Winn Dixie loved my collar necklace!) and make me feel like I put in more effort than I did. I especially like pairing a dressy necklace with everyday tees. It’s a nice contrast.

As for shoes, my daily life typically calls for flats. Hauling two, forty pounds kids around in heels just isn’t practical. So when I get the chance to bust out my heels I pick the tallest, craziest ones I can.

And may hair? That’s called, I went to the gym and am going back tomorrow so why bother. I think a slicked back, messy bun looks just right with everything. I figure the fancier the outfit the less done hair should look.



 

 

It’s Tuesday which means it’s time for Loving Lately!

 

Okay, so there are two things I am dying over this Fall. I LOVE peplum everything, like this here, here and here. And I LOVE the super trendy burgundy color that you see everywhere. Which made this top a match made in heaven. It literally put itself into my online shopping cart and arrived at my doorstep. Or that’s what I tell my husband. Poor thing never knew what hit him.

I love that I can dress this top down with skinny jeans and flats or dress it up with a pencil skirt (I’m loving the thought of a jewel colored skirt in emerald) and great leopard wedges. These babies may end up in my online cart, too. I can’t help myself. I need Shopper’s Anonymous.

So tell me, what are you loving lately? Link up and tell me!

It’s a linky party after all!

Visit some of the other posts in the linky and say hello!

Help us promote and grow this party! Send a tweet and let everyone know you linked up!

 

 

I’ve never been what you would call an “athletic” girl. I’m not very coordinated and in high school I was a little chubby and didn’t put in as much effort into being in shape as I do now.

Ahhhh, what I would tell my high school self…

Don’t you sometimes wish you could bottle up the self esteem and knowledge that you have learned and send it back in time to your teenage self?

I do enjoy pushing myself now and seeing how hard I can work. I love getting all sweaty in boot camp or jamming to some great tunes while pushing myself on the elliptical. However, I will probably never be an organized sports kind of gal. That is a version of torture for me. I just don’t like it.

This look above is a version of the real me. Some parts sporty (baseball tee) with a lot of girliness thrown in (fabulous statement necklace.)