shopping guide: patriotic picnic!

red, white and blue week continues with a shopping guide dedicated to a patriotic picnic! Add your some potato salad, hot dogs and lemonade and you are all set! Maybe even some sparklers for when the sun goes down...

(Shopping Details: 1. Picnic Time Metro Insulated Basket, Chefs.com, $29.99 2. Thomas Paul Melamine Plates, $32 3. Picnic Blanket, Crate & Barrel, $39.95 4. Condiment Bottles, Macy's, $5.99 5. Bodum Picnic Charcoal Grill, Bloomingdale's, $49.99 6. Utensil Holder and Condiment Tray, Crate & Barrel, $6.95 - $8.95 7. Picnic Cutlery, Design Within Reach, $10 8. Mason Jar Mugs, Pottery Barn, $24)

June Round-Up

Seriously, June is over??? My calendar says so... but if I could, I would make a permanent residence in June! No dog days of summer here... we are just zipping by! So if it's the end of the month, that means that we get to vote on your favorite outfits from the past 30 or so days. Here they are in review... for shopping deets check the archives. (that's me being lazy!!!)



As always... vote in the comments! You may vote for more than one outfit too! Have fun!

red, white and blue week...

I'm not a huge seasonal "decorator" - maybe for the exception of Christmas (of course) and I like to put out a few fall themed items as well. I always think that someday I will be better at it when the kids are bigger and I have more time and energy to not only hunt down the seasonal stuff (which I love oggling over at Target and the likes!) and when I have more room to store seasonal decor!

I just LOVE the idea of putting out throw pillows as the season dictates... maybe that is the perfect place to start! Any of these throw pillows would be a blast to have on the sofa for July and August. Not only are they fun and summery, but add a perfect patriotic nod as well!

Flag Lumar Pillow, Pottery Barn, $35


Nautical Pillow Cover, Restoration Hardware, $19


Thomaspaul Octopus Pillow, 2Modern, $80


Sail Pillow, Wisteria, $89


Thomaspaul Lobster Pillow, Design Public, $80


Coral Reef Pillow, Bed Bath & Beyond, $39.99

Do you like to decorate for the holidays and seasons?

red, white and blue week...

I thought it would be fun to do some red, white and blue inspired posts for the upcoming holiday. Fourth of July always seems to sneak up on me... but it's such a fun holiday. Especially with the kids... they love to decorate their bikes with patriotic garb for the local bike parade and then the big candy-throwing, fire-truck blaring, local-shmocal parade that follows. Not to mention fun with friends, fireworks, watermelon and popsicles.

Here's some stylin' patriotic outfits... no applique flags or sequins here though folks!

Shortsleeve Tops by Forever 21
Sandals by Tommy Hilfiger

Wide Leg Pants by Old Navy
Sandals by Gap

Shorts by Gap
Sandals by Steve Madden

Are you already looking forward to the long holiday weekend?

my outfit: pattern play!

Did you have a fabulous weekend? After a hot day at the pool with the kiddos and a little cat nap I was in need of a serious refresher to finish out the day. I hoped in the shower, put on this dress, some earrings and pulled my hair back and voila! I was ready for an evening of making dinner, taking the kids to ice cream and cocktails with my husband later. Ahhhh.... A perfect Saturday!



You have probably noticed by now, but I don't wear a lot of pattern. I love pattern, but have a hard time committing to one that I love. But this dress... I just LOVE it! I look forward to pulling it out each summer. I usually pull it out each year for my birthday (how cheesy is that?). My birthday is next month and I always feel great in this dress. So it's perfect!

Also, this purse is definitely the "bag du jour" - but I'm going to switch it up next week. New month, new purse (well, new purse from the closet!)... I think it's fun to include the purse, I take it everywhere. So really, isn't it part of the outfit?



I originally got this dress at Urban Outfitters when I was pregnant with my youngest. It was a perfect maternity top with jeans. But it really is a dress... although sometimes I still like to pair it with skinny jeans. That a great maternity tip though... buy dresses as tops and pair them with leggings or maternity jeans while pregnant and then you still can wear them post pregnancy as dresses!

Since this dress is long-gone from the stores... I picked out a few fun patterned dresses that would be just as fun and easy to wear this summer.

Day Dresses at ModCloth
Dresses by Forever 21

Details:

Dress, Lux, Urban Outfitters

Earrings, Charlotte Russe (similar)

Sandals, F21 (similar)

Purse, Deux Lux (I got mine on GILT) (in black, blue & red)

what to wear: crazy weather weekend!

Our weather forecast is ALL over the place for the weekend... I think they are predicting: sun, rain, hot & cold. uggghhh...

Here is my little bit of everything outfit for the weekend, a lady must always be prepared!

Tanks by Forever 21
Flats by Chinese Laundry

Have a great one!

speaking of leopard print...

Since posting my outfit yesterday I couldn't stop thinking about how a dash of leopard print can really jazz up an outfit... but in moderation. The thing I love about leopard print is that it acts as a neutral so it can pretty much go with everything.

I would love each and every one of these pieces in my wardrobe to dress up a simple outfit:

A little leopard clutch like this would be perfect for a night out on the town or to stash with the basics and throw in your diaper or gym bag. (Bebe, $19)


Leopard Print sunnies would be fun for a day at the beach... I love the retro look to these. (Urban Outfitters, $10)


I love the idea of having just a little bit of leopard print peeking out on your feet. These sandals are adorable! (Steve Madden, $39.99)


Similar to the belt in my previous post I just LOVE this one from JCrew... (JCrew, $39.50)


I'm currently on the hunt for some great leopard print flats... these may fit the bill! (Steve Madden, $89.95)


How do you feel about leopard print?

my outfit: summer time!

Well, I am just about beside myself. Seems as if I have my blogging mojo back (last week was bad folks.... baaaaad!) But look at me all getting dressed (always the first step to success) AND taking pictures AND editing them AND posting them here. Whew. I knew I had it in me! Also, hiring a sitter for a few hours a week may be changing my life. May, might, maybe. Yes, I think so indeed.

We have been having this crazy midwestern weather where it gets very hot and muggy and then thunderstorms like the dickens. I should point out, it's not so crazy for us - we're used to it. If you didn't live around here and got caught in one of these you might think you are going to die or that the world is ending. It was dark as night yesterday morning at 10am - as night, people. Sheesh.



My point in retelling my weather woes is that it really does a number on my hair. I'm growing it out and the thought of spending the time to blow dry and straighten and then walk out in the humidity only to have it all undone makes me as crabby as a red ant.



So I am trying to embrace my wave with a little trick my hairstylist (Hi Summer!) taught me... twirling my hair around my flat iron. Sounds crazy, but it kind of works. And then I don't care if my hair wigs out from the humidity... it almost helps.



Any way, I feel like I should say something about this outfit. So I will. This chambray shirt is a dream. SO soft and so light-weight... and leopard print. I'm all over it. And I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I am further all over it this fall. Look for it in the looks:book when it comes out in September. Just this little belt is great. Adds instant style. I felt like I needed some jewelry, but didn't really feel like it, so I just tied this scarf around my wrist. I was inspired by someone doing the same somewhere on the internets and the Korean Air commercials. (seriously, they make me want to go to Korea for no reason except the flight attendants outfits!)

Details:

Top, Old Navy (similar)

Shorts, Old Navy

Belt, F21 (similar, similar)

Sandals, F21 (similar)

Scarf (on wrist), Thrifted
Bag, Deux Lux (I got mine at GILT for way cheaper!) (in black)

good look for less: Griffin!

You all may remember Griffin... I did a consult for her earlier this spring. She was transitioning from being a personal trainer to staying home full time with her new baby. She came back recently for another more extensive consult since she has lost her "baby weight" and the clothing I chose for her last time was beginning to fit too loose. (yeah!)

Last time she wanted a feminine transition wardrobe... this time she wanted to keep on the feminine track and also include more classic and glamorous looks a la JCrew. (Funny side note, when I first started blogging everyone wanted an anthropologie look for less... now everyone wants a JCrew look for less - we just can't get enough of that JCrack, huh?)

Griffin had a wardrobe budget of $1,000 that she wanted to spread out over this summer and fall - she lives in LA, so there won't be a huge swing in temps... so I focused more on layering than on actual "fall" pieces. Here is what her shopping list looks like (click the image for the full list):

More Forever 21...

Now let's take a look at some outfits... there are so many of them, it's hard to choose favorites!

I absolutely love this first look! It's perfect for a day at the park or church or lunch with friends. So versatile and easy!

Tanks by Forever 21
Sandals by Forever 21

And the best thing about white pants is they are so versatile. This outfit has a totally different look than the first, but the same pants...

Sleeveless Tops by LOFT
Sandals by Me Too

Same with this top... you can switch it up in so many ways. This look is another one of my favorites!

Cropped Denim by Gap
Flats by Steve Madden

Shorts are all kinds of popular these days... I love the laid back and relaxed feel of these. With a pair of wedges, they are instantly modern and chic!

Shorts by J.Crew
Sandals by Me Too

Same goes for jean shorts... they had their heyday in the 90's and I have a feeling they are here to stay, once again (or at least for a few years!)... don't fret about investing in some (or making some from jeans you already own) - as I'm pretty sure we will be sporting them again next season!

Tees by Old Navy
Flats by Steve Madden

Happy Shopping Griffin!

~~~

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