Bohemian Sparkle

My MIL came on Saturday and after dinner, she watched Little S. so Husband and I could see a movie. If you're in the market to laugh your bum off, go see Horrible Bosses! Jennifer Aniston is my hero. The end. It's not really the end, though...

You might recognize my "skirt" as the Forever 21 dress I wore to get my hair done for my BIL's & SIL's wedding. Well, the cheapie pieces that it is had broken straps by the second wear. And instead of fixing them, since I'm too lazy and don't feel like breaking out my sewing machine (sorry to the several pairs of brand-spanking-new pants that still need hemming), I chopped off the top portion with my pinking shears and called it a day. Now, it just has that cinched elastic at the top instead of under the breast, making an empire waistline. And I'm just gonna belt the darn thing, because I'm mega short and the length works way better this way. I wore it belted earlier in the day, but knowing me and knowing movie theaters, I was prepared to freeze, lost the belt, and added this sequined long sleeved tee. And then Husband and I broke the cardinal rule of blog photography. We took pictures. In the dark. Without a tripod. Oopsie.

dress as skirt: Forever 21

sequined tee: New York & Company

sandals: Target

earrings: Target

One of these days I hope to get better photos of this dress. I've had two chances and both haven't done the design and color justice. Maybe I'll just wear it once a week.

If you're looking for something to fill your Monday with happiness, check out Aston on YouTube! I think someone grabbed all of the most attractive classical musicians and stuck 'em in a group. They're amazingly talented!!!

Wedding Day: The Hair Appointment

Yesterday, I mentioned that I HAD to go to Forever 21 in the mall. The real reasoning behind that shopping trip was that I completely neglected to bring something to wear for our hair appointment on Saturday morning. Sure, I could have worn pretty much anything I had in my suitcase, but the truth of the matter is that I needed something that unbuttoned or that I could take off down my body, without messing up my hair. Enter: my first maxi dress (other than the one I made a while back). Also enter: I didn't carry my sewing machine on my trip... silly me. Therefore, I had to pick up the most INSANELY high heels of all creation (think Megan). Unfortunately, I forgot to take OOTD pictures amidst the mad chaos that was Saturday morning and luckily, the MOH had these gems on her facebook page. I guess I'll just have to recreate the outfit for you and photograph the shoes, too!

Warning: These photos are rated PG-13 for mad cleavage. The ladies are crazy. I can't help it.

dress, shoes (not pictured), necklace: Forever 21

clutch: Target

I wanted to live in this dress for the entirety of the weekend, but I had to change into my bridesmaid dress around 2 p.m. So... I wore it, again, on Sunday. New group of people. They were never the wiser. Until now...

For those of you who are following my Project Self posts, I've DEFINITELY hit a road block this week. Coming back from semi-vacay has been so difficult for me. Jumping back on the bandwagon as far as a regular workout schedule and planned meals just hasn't happened, yet. Stay tuned for this Friday when I ask YOU for tips on how to get back in the swing. Included in tomorrow's post will be the culmination of the wedding weekend outfit posts, including the best man (ie: Hubs), the flower girl (ie: Little S.) and a bridesmaid (ie: me). 

Awkward & Awesome Thursday: Therapy & Florals

There's a good chance that I'm going to need therapy to get through next week.
Let's just leave it at that.

I may or may not be wearing a dress I've kind of been DYING to own, today. Thanks to my sweet friend Rachel, of State of My Heart, a dress I'd been drooling over from Forever 21 finally became mine. And I'm so in love, it's not even funny. How perfectly Spring is this baby? THANK YOU, Rachel!

 dress: Forever 21
shoes: Lower East Side (stole 'em from my mom!)
belt: New York & Company
photography prop of the day: cutting board on top of trashcan
I'm starting to get pretty crafty, aren't I?

 

Holy colors, right? More, please!

Awkward:
- Coming to work when everyone knows you're leaving. And it seems like they're happy about it.
- Dropping Little S. off at daycare and making small talk with her provider for the first time in two years. Because she's mad. Or sad. Or something.
- Talking to my trashcan, telling it to take photos at a better angle this morning. Yep. That happened.
- Waking up in the middle of the night to get water and not remembering how the cup of water made it to my bedside table upon waking up.
- My skin. And how it hates me. But I can't figure out why.

Awesome:
- Learning that sometimes it's okay to not please everyone when you're doing what's right for yourself.
- Chasing dreams. And catching them.
- Watching my daughter read all of the letters on four different recycle bins, yesterday.
- My homemade chicken pot pie.
- Amazing amounts of support from my friends and family about my new endeavor.
- The sweet contest I've got going on where you get to STYLE ME for my new job!
Ahem, go enter, please!

For more Awkward & Awesome, click Sydney's cute little self right below and link up or read other bloggers' weekly overshares!

p.s.- My best friend, Jackie, is holding an amazing Mother's Day giveaway at Jackie Ranson Photography! Better check it out, fast!

We Love Colors Wednesday: Rust

Good morning, lovely readers! If you follow me on Twitter, you already know that it's my favorite day of the "bleek" (blogger week), We Love Colors Wednesday! I've been stoked about this post since Saturday because as soon as I received this GORGEOUS dress in the mail, from Happyness Magnet, I knew it would be the perfect frock to pair with my rust tights!

You may also be happy that these photos were taken the day I got my bangs, so the stylist made them look much better than I can. :)

navy and orange chevron dress: Forever 21, gifted by Happyness Magnet

heather blue cardigan: New York & Company

rust tights: c/o We Love Colors

short boots: Soda, via Shoe Department

bicycle necklace: Barberry & Lace

... and that dang hair tie I can't seem to part with

I wore this on 4.9.11 to go out with Husband and some friends.

But I promise, I'm wearing it, again, today! I just have a different cardi and am sans tights because I actually shaved my legs for once. It's a momentous occasion that was in need of bare legged celebration!

FTR: I'm also wearing a navy cami so I don't show what my momma (and pregnancy) gave me at work.

I had a dream last night and I woke up with such a feeling of fulfillment. To realize it wasn't real was kind of disheartening. Picture this:
I'm on the front porch of a light blue, early 1900s farmhouse. The porch is painted white and wraps all the way around the house. I'm watering the hanging basket flowers and Little S, who is about five years old, is chasing her little brother. He looked about two, had on blue jean overalls without a shirt underneath, and a head full of blonde curls. Little S kept saying, "Momma, look at my baby brother. He's runnin' fast!"
And they were both running, barefoot, through our big, green yard.
Just imagine it...

Color of the Moment: Coral

I've been reading and reading and reading. And in all of my magazines and several of the blogs that I follow, coral is all over the place, again. I thought it would overstay its welcome, overflowing from Spring/Summer 2009 into 2010. But here we are in 2011, and coral isn't going ANYWHERE.

Which is really excellent news, because after reading Suze's "How to dye your clothes" post, I just haaad to get myself some red pants! Everyone's doing it! And I love red pants! And I have this crappy cream pair that I hate and won't wear because the color and fabric combo is very unforgiving. Perfect for dying! Except... these pants were a poly-blend. I knew, after reading Suze's tutorial, that polyester and poly-blends didn't grab dye very well, so I was prepared for a fail. I didn't really care too much about the pants, anyway.
Instead of a fail, though, I got this gorgeous Springy coral color!

floral top: Target (clearance, woo!)
pants: New York & Company, dyed by me!
sandals: Target (I plan to wear these almost every day)
necklace: F21, gifted by Happyness Magnet
polish on toes: Wet 'n Wild's Blazin'

Sadly, one of the only two photos that wasn't of me falling over or of my rear end was this one... 

And you can only imagine how pleased I was to share it with you!
Also, ahem, Mister Photographer, sir... I need your help to remind me that removing my hair-tie bracelet would benefit future photo shoots, immensely. pleaseandthankyou.

Oh! I got bangs! For those of you who don't follow me on twitter and/or facebook, you probably didn't know that, yet. So, here they are, after a day at work, 90 degree heat + humidity, and lots of wind. Sorry their debut isn't much fancier. I think I'm going through a quarter life crisis and I needed a big change that wouldn't prove to be detrimental to my health or well-being. Bangs did the trick and I love 'em. Just kinda wish that I was going through my crisis in cooler, dryer weather. 

I loved dying clothes so much that I already dyed a shirt that I've not worn due to it being the ugliest color on the planet. Can't wait to show it to you, soon! That one actually turned out the expected/intended hue!

So, I went out with Husband on Saturday night and met a few friends, including Mr. Mansome, himself. I was appalled at how women are dressing themselves for attention. I mean, I've so been there. College was a giant experiment. And I was once the girl who thought that leaving little to the imagination would land me a hot guy. Yep... maybe so, but not a good one. So Mansome's wife and I came up with a very important list for:

"What Not to Wear When Looking for Quality Companionship" 

-aka- How to Land a One Night Stand

1. Dresses/skirts easily mistaken for shirts

2. Boobs so fake that they hit your face

3. A thong bikini in public... not at the pool or beach

4. An orangey tan

5. Make-up that will have to be removed with a chisel

6. A piece of clothing so tight that it's mistaken for body paint

7. So much hair product that your hair could rival the Eiffel Tower

8. Taylor Momsen-esque eyeliner with a cocktail dress

9. Shoes that are as tall as the Washington Monument and could also be worn while giving a lap dance

10. Looking like you could be taken out with the Tuesday morning garbage.

Obviously, that's just our take.

Birthday Wish List

In light of the fact that I'm moving offices and will be subject to sweating and heavy lifting, I'll spare you photos of how ravishing I look in my sweatshirt, jeans, and tennis shoes. Although, it's nothing you haven't seen before, right?

So, my birthday is on February 13. I know, I know. I might have mentioned it a few times, already. I, like gee, am NOT thrilled about turning a year older. I only hope that year 27 treats me better than year 26. I'm just going to opt out of FBFF, today, and be lighthearted. I hope you all don't mind.

- On with the goodies -

NY&C Red Label Embellished Tunic Dress

The Gramercy Cable Turtleneck Sweater

Scroll Graphic Print Tee

Sequin Cardigan

Two-In-One Chiffon Tie Front Cardigan

Wave Texture Cardigan

3/4 Sleeve V-Neck Sweater

Embellished Shoulder Stripe Tee

Chiffon Sleeve Top

The Hudson Wide Leg Pant

Super Flare Trouser - Indigo

Chic Bar Tab Tote

Skinny Snakeskin Pattern Belt

Glass Stones Embellished Bow Flats

Tiered Ruffle Tank

Floral Print Chiffon Dress w/ Sleeves

Gauze Crochet Trim Dress

Floral Print Chiffon Dress - Sleeveless

Pintucked Lace Trim Tank Dress

Smocked Tie Belt Dress

Fab Flowers & Lace Print Dress

Lattice Knotted Dress

Rose Tunic

Brushed Satin Dress w/ Leatherette Belt

Lace Accented Dress

Canvas Mary Jane Flats

Smarty Oxford Flats

Fab Suedette Heels

Suedette Platform Pumps

Classic Medium Heels

And the big sha-BANG!

Drumroll, please....

Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote

Nikon D3100 14.2MP

Digital Concepts TR-60N Tripod with Case

Alright, thanks for letting me get that out of my system. I figured if I focused on fun things, in my fantasmical world, I could check out for a few. Thanks for letting me. Now, let's just cross my fingers that I get a handful of these things in real life! Have a happy weekend!

P.S.- I have a really exciting collaborative project coming up with We Love Colors. More information will follow, soon! Can't wait to share!