Bridal Shower Flowers

Just in case you didn't know, I'm kind of a master bridesmaid. Let's see... I've been a bridesmaid 6 or 7 times and a maid of honor (okay, matron...) one of those times. I think I've mastered some of the skills you need to become a master bridesmaid and one of them is creating a tail kicking bow bouquet. At the bridal shower, one of the bridesmaids uses a paper plate and all of the gift bows to create a bouquet that the bride will use as her stand-in on the night of the wedding rehearsal. Have you seen a better one?

Hey, Jen, please don't kill me for putting you on the blog. I love you! You're the most beautiful bride and I'm sooooo excited to watch you become a Mrs. in less than 2 months!

Jen has been one of my best friends since we were 13! Or maybe it was 14, but I'm pretty sure it was 13. Okay, 8th grade. That makes it a hell of a lot easier. She was a bridesmaid in my wedding (almost five years ago!) and I'm so happy she asked me to stand beside her while she marries the man of her dreams in September! Most of you know that I traveled up to Virginia to visit my parents last week. The main reason of the trip was to get to Jen's shower! I elongated the vacay, of course, to spend time with family! Bridal showers are tricky business when you don't know the crowd, so I had to choose pretty safe attire. I kept it classic and comfortable, but tossed in some color so I could express myself a bit!

dress: Simply Vera*Vera Wang via Kohl's

belt: New York & Company

shoes: Bandolino via Ross, gifted by Rochelle

This little photo shoot was courtesy of my little brother and took place on my parents' deck. I asked him to take interesting pictures and look around for good background opportunities. His idea? Blow Little S' bubbles. Done.

To keep everyone safe and private, I won't name names! But here's Jen (oops, hey name dropper) and some of her bridesmaids (and that amazing bow bouquet).

What are some wedding traditions you love?

Accidental Perfect Purple

So, remember that skirt I was talking about, this morning? 

Oops. I hemmed it too short for a work event.

So I had to get something professional, purple, and STAT.

Kohl's never disappoints!

The rain, however, ruined my outdoor photo plans.

 dress: APT 9 for Kohl's

belt: New York & Company

shoes: Bandolino via Ross, gifted by Rochelle

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the Mommas out there!

I'm headed to graduation, then to the BEACH!

We Love Colors Wednesday: Scout Green

It's my favorite day of the bleek, again! I love when this day happens. Although, it's going to be a sweltering 90 degrees, today. Let's so how much longer I can manage tights every Wednesday. You just wait. You'll be surprised how long I can last! (That's what she said.)

Today, I just HAD to wear this new dress that my MIL bought for me two weekends ago. We were in Target and she basically told me to pick one dress out and she'd get it for me! I reeaaallly wanted to get something from the Go International collection, but for as many times as I remix (not often enough), I didn't want to ask her to pay $40 for something. Then, I saw this beauty. I hardly own any red, so that was my first draw. Second, I remembered this post by Kendi and the little red, floral Target dress went in the basket.

I never claimed to be a talented self-photographer. Setting the camera on top of my grill and hoping for the best in my ill-lit back yard was probably not the greatest plan. But it's We Love Colors Wednesday! I couldn't wait for Husband to come home, tonight!

Ooolala, that dress is SHORT!

dress: Target

cardigan: Old Navy

scout green tights: c/o We Love Colors

heels: Bandolina, via Ross (gifted by Rochelle)

belt: Old Navy

earrings: New York & Company

 

I've checked my work email, had my coffee, and am about to send off a bunch of admissions packets. Hooray for a productive Wednesday morning! Even more hooray that Friday's a holiday and I'm FREE after 5:00, tomorrow. C'mon, Thursday!

Stay tuned for TWO surprises coming up tomorrow & Friday!

Also, have you checked out my AWESOME giveaway?

You'd better do it, now! 

A Royal Blue Disco Ball for SBS Awareness

You may have caught my tweets and facebook requests asking you to wear royal blue, today. Maybe you didn't, but I'm asking you, here! Please wear one item of clothing or accessory in the color ROYAL BLUE before the end of April and email your photo to my dear friend, Happyness Magnet, at stateofmyheart {at} gmail {dot} com.

April is Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness month and Happyness Magnet lost her 10-month-old daughter, Madilyne (Madi) when a licensed child care provider shook her to death. Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is very serious and much more common that we think or would like to admit. If you are a pregnant mother-to-be, I plead with you to watch the video about SBS when you are in the hospital. Your nurse will give you the option. I said, "No, thank you. I would never shake my baby." And thankfully, I knew better. But some people truly don't and some people let their emotions, sleeplessness, and frustration get the best of them, leading to a time when they don't even notice what harm can be done by hardly a shuffle.

Happyness Magnet is bringing SBS awareness to the surface, discussing the risks with families across the country. Since the passing of Madi, my friend has created Shaken Baby Support, which as grown from 100 to 5500 families strong in five years. She organizes yearly vigils or families who have suffered a loss due to SBS, and will be streaming this year's event LIVE on April 15, 7 p.m. ET. For your friends, family, and loved ones, I ask that you tune in.

 image via

This post is in NO WAY meant to scare you. It's meant to help spread awareness and prevention. In support, I ask that you post this blue ribbon, in memory of children lost to SBS, on your blog for the month of April. If you want to link back to Happyness Magnet's story to help support her journey to peace of heart and success in educating families and supporting those who have lost children, I know she would be so touched.

sequined dress: Charlotte Russe

grey ruffle cardigan: New York & Company

black pumps: Bandolina via Ross, birthday gifted by Rochelle

long crystal bead and chain necklace: Christmas gifted by ML

lucky horseshoe necklace: Birthday gifted by Jen in college!

blogger bun that's mega huge: Inspired by THIS post of Collette's

I've been *patiently* waiting for an appropriate time/event to wear this sequined stunner to work. As soon as I read Happyness Magnet's post, asking us to wear royal blue in support, I knew this was the number to help bring awareness. What better way to raise questions and get a chance to speak when people are asking me why the heck I'm wearing a disco ball to the office? I got to wear my favorite dress AND I'm raising awareness everywhere I go, today. 

Take THAT for a win-win!

 

Last night, Happyness Magnet caught one of my pins on Pinterest, via a tweet. She wanted to buy me a dress I've been coveting for weeks. I declined and declined and hesitated, as my tweet was a sarcastic remark, like most things that come out of my mouth. When she told me, "You'd better send me your address or I'm not sleeping, tonight!" I adhered. She told me she wanted to celebrate my motherhood. During the wee hours of the morning, I was forwarded a confirmation email from Forever 21, including FIVE items from such a giving lady. All I could think was, "I am blessed. I don't know what to say..." I realized that I gave my dinner leftovers to a homeless man on the corner of the two busiest streets in town last night. And this was Karma... the good kind. So, pay it forward, my friends. And stay tuned for Pay it Forward posts in the future. I hope you'll all join me, not only in supporting our friend, Happyness Magnet, and all of the families affected by SBS, but also by making this little world of ours a happier place because of random acts of kindness.

It sure does feel good.

So wear your royal blue this month and please send an outfit photo to

stateofmyheart {at} gmail {dot} com

before the end of April.

Photo submissions will be used in a Royal Blue Roundup to help bring awareness to the blogging community! 

Dress Me Up Like a Paper Doll

During Kendi's Winter 30 for 30 Challenge, three lovely style bloggers decided to cohort and become each others' stylists for some of their outfit choices. I thought it was a genius idea and was so excited when Suze of Miss Vinyl Ahoy decided to open up this "Paper Doll Project" to style bloggers, everywhere!

The ladies who participated in the original project are Suze, Erin, and Liz. If you haven't checked them out, yet, you should! Trust me, you'd want their styling tips, too!

Today is the first installment of the group Paper Doll Project effort, which Suze singlehandedly organized! I was paired up with Nicole (my stylist and own little personal doll!) of Employed Panache! She asked me to help style this skirt, and I asked her to help me style my sack of a butterfly dress!

For more information on the Paper Doll Project and a full list of participants/partners, click the sweet button, below!!!
If you're participating and haven't grabbed one of these cuties, yet, be sure to do that, too!



And onward, we go! Nicole seriously styled the heck out of my dress. Ever since I bought this baby, I've stared at it with complete confusion, viewing it as a challenge. While I was in the store, I thought the dress had such a whimsical pattern and could be adorably paired with a navy or mustard cardigan. Well, I did the navy, already. And as far as mustard goes, you probably know I'm obsessed with the color and have yet to purchase ANYTHING with it. You'll be surprised to know that I scoured Nicole's wardrobe via her blog and out of envy, dressed her in a mustard cardigan! Stay tuned for Nicole's outfit post, this evening!

I would never have styled this dress how Nicole did. I'm pretty brave when it comes to breaking rules, pattern mixing, and stepping out of the box. But for some reason, I just can't picture navy and black together. I'm so closed-minded! I LOVE how this turned out. The only change I made, veering from Nicole's suggestion, was that I decided to wear my black pumps instead of the booties. It's already 80 degrees, here, today! Those booties are suede and Wintery to me. She approved of my edit, so all is well!

butterfly dress: Old Navy
blazer: Christy Miller, via TJ Maxx
pumps: Bandolino, via Ross, birthday gifted from Rochelle

Really? THREE pieces? I'm wearing three simple pieces and I look so much more put together than I could ever have given this dress credit for. Thank you, Nicole! You saved this dress from being cut up and restyled into a "Who knows how this is gonna turn out project..."

 

How about the electronic love of my life died this morning? Don't worry, she's not dead forever, just needs a recharge. So, in haste to not lose the opportunity to post my Paper Doll outfit, husband whipped out his handy iPhone 4. And the man is so genius with photography that I can't even tell these were taken by a camera phone. Also, check out my ombre hair, today. I had no idea I was so on trend.

Man, I had so many things to talk about today.
Potty training, skin problems, no heat styling challenge, shaving my legs (or not), food...
I guess it'll all have to wait for another day.
Like tomorrow, for instance. See you, then!

Posh on the Sidewalk

Last night, Husband said, "I already have tomorrow's location picked out." 

Instant pressure! What colors do I have to work with? Is it modern? Shabby? Outdoors? All I got was "Grey with a red stripe." Well, I don't think he could have described it any better than that... I showed him four outfits and he approved this one. I didn't want to match the background, but I wanted to be simple.

Have I ever told you all how much I love my man? I swear, no one (other than my mom) understands me better. I sat up with him until 2 a.m., discussing life and things I want to do/work on/change, goals for the next few years, things I want to do with him and how I want us to participate in things together. It was such a great conversation and he was so receptive. Sometimes, I'm totally afraid I'm going to bombard him and he'll shut down. I don't get to spend a lot of quality time with Husband, you see, because he works night shift and we're on a wonky schedule. So when I DO get to see him, I feel like I have word vomit, and pack his brain full of a week's worth of thoughts/information/events. He took it so well. I love you, babe.

And once, again, I have to thank you for finding my beauty in a way that I haven't known how to, through today's photos.

blue dress (worn as tunic): Posh via Catalog Connection (local boutique)

leopard cardigan: APT. 9 via Kohl's

grey slacks: New York & Company

black patent heels: Bandolino via Ross (gifted from Rochelle)

We took Little S. to Sonic, last night, to play with her cousin on the big playground. They were so sweet together. Cousin was helping Little S. climb the stairs, go over the bridge, and go down the big slide. They held hands and slid down, together a few times, until Little S. felt comfy doing it, herself. But Cousin was never far behind. And always there to help when S. called. It was adorable. And it was good to catch up with Clarke's cousin and his wife. We live so close to each other, and originally, Little S. and Cousin were in daycare, together. But now Cousin goes to big girl school, and we miss out on seeing them too often! I think the mommies and girls are going to get together this weekend!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

 

 

If you've been holding off, don't do it any longer! Tomorrow's the last day!