a shmish shmash...

This post has absolutely nothing to do with anything, except for what I have been up to lately.

Monday Mania you could call it!

This past weekend I devoted a lot of my free time to being creative... it's the only thing that gets me out of my own head - and after last week, I needed it. I have a little knitting project in the works for my daughter and while I was working on that I had an epiphany that led me on a bunny trail to a new project. That is what I love about letting the creative juices flow!

I came up with the idea of knitting a simple ruffle (which happen to be my favorite thing to knit - so easy and whimsical) and then gently sewed it onto a old tank. Ruffles are all the rage from the runways, to the fashion mags, to our most favorite retailers (especially jcrew of late!). Here's the outcome:

Ultra close-up of ruffle...

Ta-da...

More ruffle love...

I am just smitten with the outcome! SO simple and sweet for the warmer months!

~~~

Next up... a little shopping. I very quickly swung into Forever 21 this morning with the kids in tow... the finds? Not so bad for being half distracted!

model shot in my powder room quick...


I actually couldn't find the exact pieces online (F21 is kinda weird like that)... but the cardi was $24, the white t $6 and then I layered two gold multi-stranded necklaces that were $6 each. The grand total with tax was just under $40. Not bad and it's a great multi-season look.

~~~

Lastly... Sweetie Pie Pumpkin Noodle is hosting a little blog party today... my fav Happy-Go-Lucky song by far is Young Folks by Peter Bjorn... whistle with me...


Happy Monday all!

the finale

Here is the last and final short skirt/long jacket entry... I have had just a BLAST doing these and letting my imagination run wild. Here are all of them if you care to see...


short skirt - by Jill GG on Polyvore.com

And here's a funny little video that always makes me chuckle...

Here's my fav quotes from the video:
"damn this is good..."
"oh, there you go..."
"how much is this? i'll take two"
"i've heard it a million times..."
"it has therapeutic value"
"i don't like the na-na part"
"some feminist gal"
"it's trying so hard to be important"
"i really don't like these lyrics"
"it's a really nice song"
"if she was like the broad in this song..."
"it rocks"

~~~

Enjoy your weekend!

let the swooning begin...

I don't know why I even step foot in Nordstrom Rack... there is just WAY too much good stuff there! Recently I did go with a solid purpose, but was foiled. I was shopping for some shoes for my little girl, big surprise I didn't find any...

But I did find some fab stuff for me! This is only a glimpse... there was seriously SO MUCH GOOD STUFF!

This is a bad picture... but I found more Tory Burch goodness.  These awesome heels were priced at $169.99.  Sweet shoes - a little out of my price range for two reasons:  I have black pumps with gold accents already and I was going to find $20 shoes for my little gal.  Rats.

This little number was KEEEEY-UTE!  oh, and did I mention it is Marc by Marc Jacobs at the incredible Nordstrom Rack price of $139.99 (I don't know what the orig price was) and then marked 50% off of that!  I am still sad I didn't snag it!  It was so cute and swingy!  Maybe it will still be there... 

Oh well, budgets are a you-know-what!  Plus, I need spring and summer clothes and neither of these really fit in that category. 

"she's changing her name from kitty to karen." - cake

kitty to karen - by Jill GG on Polyvore.com

~~~

Tomorrow is the LAST day of short skirt/long jacket... so sad. I've been having SO much fun with it! Join me here for some more fun and feel free to play along!

"I want a girl with smooth liquidation, I want a girl with good dividends."

smooth liquidation - by Jill GG on Polyvore.com

my new five minute face...

I've mentioned before that I have only two go-to brands for beauty/skincare - that way when I need a product I am not willy nilly picking up things here and there.

However.... These two products caught my eye this weekend at Target (of course!) and against my "policy" I picked them up!

I am so glad I did and they are now the components of my NEW spring five minute face!

More No7...

More No7...

Both are INCREDIBLY easy to use and combined with a bronzer blusher (that I also picked up this weekend of the same brand but can not for the life of my find onlind - boo!) and mascara are my 5 minute face! What's yours?

"with finger nails that shine like justice..."

fingernails that shine like justice - by Jill GG on Polyvore.com

The lyrics for the FINAL week of short skirt/long jacket will go as follows:
TUESDAY: I want a girl with a smooth liquidation, I want a girl with good dividends
WEDNESDAY: At Citibank we will meet accidentally, We'll start to talk when she borrows my pen
THURSDAY: She is changing her name from Kitty to Karen
FRIDAY: I want a girl with a short skirt and a long jacket

Want.

Something is seriously drawing me to this bag...

More Marc by Marc Jacobs...

And no it's not the price tag.

And the thing is usually I'm not much for those "in your face" brand name items like this. You know, the one's that scream what store they came from.

I guess the good news is that Saks has it for $178 and eluxury for a whopping $228.

It likely won't be mine... but a girl can still dream, right?

"i want a girl with a short skirt and a long jacket"

short skirt - by Jill GG on Polyvore.com

~~~

As always, I love it when you play along! Leave me a comment with the link to your outfit! Everyone have a fantastic weekend!

"Who uses a machete to cut through red tape."

red tape - by Jill GG on Polyvore.com

~~~

I am switching things up a bit... if you would like to play along tomorrow's lyrics will be:

I want a girl with a short skirt and a long jacket!

short skirt/long jacket!

... will continue tomorrow! In the meantime, check out the previous outfits!

wish i.

Women: Oversized striped canvas tote - orange stripe





Women: Mockneck cardigan - new off white





Women: Lantern sleeve ruffle top - demre




If I implode from not shopping, consider yourself warned. How is it possible to resist these?

"I want a girl with uninterupted prosperity"

prosperity - by Jill GG on Polyvore.com

"I want a girl who gets up early, I want a girl who stays up late."

I want a girl... - by Jill GG on Polyvore.com

~~~

For more Cake's Short Skirt/Long Jacket fun... check out these previous posts!

If you want to play along (and I would love it if you did!)... tomorrow's lyrics are: "I want a girl with uninterrupted prosperity" - leave me a comment with the link to your outfit! I love seeing other's interpretations... at the end I am going to try to compile them all and will link to your posts HERE!

"I want a girl with a short skirt and a long jacket"

short skirt and a long jacket - by Jill GG on Polyvore.com

~~~

Next week's line-up of Cake's lyrics is:
MONDAY: I want a girl who gets up early, I want a girl who stays up late
TUESDAY: I want a girl with uninterrupted prosperity
WEDNESDAY: Who uses a machetti to cut through red tape
THURSDAY: With fingernails that shine like justice and a voice that is dark like tinted glass
FRIDAY: I want a girl with a short skirt and a long jacket

Have a great weekend!

Hooked On: Vintage-y Bandanas!

This week while perusing Target (so dangerous!) I came across these glorious vintage-y bandanas. Aren't they fab? While a bandana is of course a revolving door as far as wardrobe trends go... all I could think of was how to integrate them into my home! And at only $9.99 each - what a steal!

Two sewn together to make a throw pillow...

One in each color used for placemats (or napkins - urban cowboy style!) for a spring dinner party...

One or more thrown over the back or arm of a chair or sofa for a dash of color...

Using one to "reupholster" a dining chair cushion...

... the options are endless!

Yellow


Rosebud


Green


Of course, if price weren't an option... these would be glorious options as well! (At least it is fun to dream!)

More Diane von Furstenberg...

More Christian Lacroix...

More Burberry...

~~~

For more of what the internet is "hooked on" today... head on over to Hooked On Houses!

"She's touring the facility and picking up slack."

short skirt/long jacket - facility - by Jill GG on Polyvore.com

"she's playing with her jewelry, she's putting up her hair"

short skirt/long jacket 7 - by Jill GG on Polyvore.com

~~~

Don't forget... feel free to play along with my Cake's Short Skirt/Long Jacket lyric inspirations! You may use polyvore or any other creative medium you like and interpret the lyrics however you see fit! Leave a comment or an email with your link... the rest of the lyrics for the week will be:
Thursday: "She's touring the facility and picking up slack"
Friday: "I want a girl with a short skirt and a long jacket"

handbaggin' it.

I love handbags, purses, satchels... whatever you will. And I tend to like the expensive brands A LOT. I am not even ashamed to say.

I'm not soon to get over my love of expensive handbags and why should I at mark-downs like this!? Check them out for yourself!

Gustto Parina Bag, $193.50 (from - an offensive - $645)

More Gustto...

(click on pic for shopping details)

Lanvin Duffle $500 (from - a ridiculous - $2,130) Likely still out of my price range, but still. LOVE.

More Lanvin...

Kooba Zip Clutch, $25.50 (from $85)

More Kooba...

Marc by Marc Jacobs, Miss Marc Goes Green Earth Shopper, $38.40 (from $128)

More Marc by Marc Jacobs...

"she's fast and thorough and sharp as a tack"

I hope you are having as much fun reading/viewing the Cake "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" series as I am having coming up with all these fun and inspired outfits!

Today's outfit is brought to us by the brilliant bloggers over at StuffUnderTwenty. The blog that is sure to eat up my pocket change before I know what hits me! Every day they bring on serious goodness for less than $20 - if it is not on your daily blog list you should add it stat. Well, at the risk of your own pocket change that is. Today they bring us an outfit full of items for less than $20

~~~

"She's fast, and thorough and sharp as a tack" - Cake

Sateen Flare Leg Pant - $19.95 at New York & Co

Pintuck Blouse - $18.99 at Charlotte Russe

So® Pansy Dress Heels - $18.99 at Kohl's

Enamel Teardrop Earrings -
$4 at Charlotte Russe

City Style Circle & Square Watch - $18.36 at New York & Co

~~~

And because I just couldn't NOT participate myself... here is mine.

Thanks StuffUnderTwenty - you rock!