Outfit Fail

I think I'll be having quite a few of these outfit fails while I'm trying to fit my between baby and normal body. Should be fun. This dress is a go-to for me whether pregnant or not. It's just been an awesome tent that I can belt or wear a cardigan with. I even want to get a slouchy sweater to wear over it in the fall for a completely shapeless look. Sounds sexy, right? I think I lost my style over the last year. I've got some work to do. Anyway, I wanted to wear my dress, but it's strapless and I'm nursing... I really need a good, supportive nursing bra and can't go strapless right now. I thought if I threw a top over and belted it, I'd still get the boho vibe I love from the dress and cover my straps. In looking at this, though, I remember how much I really dislike short sleeves and man, I look matronly. I tried.

 dress: F21, top: Old Navy (it's going to Goodwill), shoes: Fergie, belt: Old Navy

awesome lioness hair: c/o Summertime

I need to do myself a favor and not wear a belt until the belly is all the way gone. And while I'm at it, I'll do myself another favor and not wear sleeves this length, ever. Win some/lose some!

Baby Bean Update: 34 (point five) Weeks

My parents and brother spent the weekend here for Memorial Day, so I didn't get to do a baby update! I'm so glad they came, though, and left my brother. Now I have someone here with me other than Little S while Husband's at work all day. It's good to have that security in case of an emergency! I became 34 weeks pregnant on Saturday, May 26, and today's May 29! That means ONE MONTH until d-day at the latest!

top: c/o maurices, jeans: Motherhood, sandals: Fergie

4.5 weeks. 4.5. weeks. 4.5 weeks. 

Apparently in that last photo, that's all I'm thinking. I definitely forgot to smile. Sorry 'bout that. Also, Readers, meet my Summer Hair. Summer Hair, Readers. I don't blow-dry in 100% humidity. Because, really, that's just dumb. I'm sorry if you choose to fight that battle, but I have wavy, frizzy, baby-fine hair and it's a super huge pain to dry it and have it go all lioness on me within 10 minutes.

So, 34 weeks... Let's see what we're working with, here. Back pain, pelvic pain, lots of contractions, my tummy is SO TIGHT that I feel like it's going to rip open, sciatica in both legs, but mostly the left one, numbness in my left elbow/forearm/wrist (pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel), and major feet swellage... on the other hand, though, I'm feeling happy, hopeful, uplifted, and almost (alllmost) ready. Can't ask for more than that!

Exciting news: Check out Mommy Moxie on Etsy!

I have some awesome things to show you at the end of this week and a fun giveaway coming on Monday!

Don't forget that if you place an order with Bitty Bug Designs through June 15, 50% of the proceeds will be donated to the Fund for Officer James Winslow!

Floral and Neon

Guys, I have a confession to make. I miss regular outfit posts! Truth is, I do get dressed most days, so there really isn't a reason not to do them. Would you mind if I started doing more? Guess I shouldn't make any big promises that I can't keep... I'm trying!

dress: Filene's Basement, cardigan: Old Navy, shoes, Guess (from Whitney), belt: Target

My hair is neon. Like the highlighter. Some colors bring it out more than others and I guess blue is one of them because they're almost opposite on the color wheel. Almost. I asked for it! I'm so glad I found this dress in the back of my husband's side of the closet. I forgot about it and it's so soft, cottony, and nightgowny. Yes, that's a new adjective. Friends, only 9.5 weeks left. Phew.

Dots on Copy

Well, I couldn't find my camera yesterday, but I read Tara's blog post early in the morning and she'd already decided my outfit for the day! I couldn't go without giving her credit for dressing me with hardly a thought of my own! So, thanks, Tara. And sorry my tribute is via crappy iPhone pictures!

blouse, sweater, jeans: Old Navy, shoes: gift from Whitney

Since you can SORT OF see my hair here and because I never shared the story I promised, here goes (short version): Basically, I hated the color it was when I box dyed it before. So, I decided to go get the same brand dye in a lighter, ashier color and tried to neutralize the red/orange/yellow tones. Hah. I turned out looking MORE like a highlighter. This is my street hooker hair, as I've been calling it. My OB complimented me yesterday and I could barely hold in my life. Barely smirking, I thanked her. Thank goodness, my best good friend is taking some time out of her busy law school life to visit me on Friday and she's going to fix it. The right way. I'm so over boxes.

She Matched Her Hair to Her Sweater

I dyed my hair. From a box. Christina is going to kill me.

And of course, because I used neutral beige instead of ash, it turned reddish. My hair *always* turns red if I don't use ash blonde. Also, my hair *always* turns red when I do illegal things like dye it from a box. I'm a firm believer in hair color, but I also know that blondes should never use box dye because... well, just because. I also should have thought my outfit through a bit more before hopping to church on Sunday. Perhaps my first day in public with my newly strawberry blonded locks should have included clothing that wasn't the same shade as my hair color. Oops!

 top: Motherhood, tank: Kohl's, pants: Motherhood, sweater: Agar, shoes: Ross, necklace: Gift from Husband

Here's hoping that my bright, bright hair will calm with a few washes.

And heck, if it doesn't, here's to not pulling out the mustard hues again for a while!

Don't forget to enter for your chance to win these beautiful pearl earrings from Scarlet Samples!

New Hair

Dull...

Bright!

I plan to go back in 6-8 weeks and get a partial just to lift the front a bit more, but I'm so excited about brightening up my dishwater blonde. I've been really good and haven't colored my hair in a year, but I just missed my sassy highlights and I'm already feeling more like myself! Hope you're having a great Friday and have fun plans for the weekend!

Drastic Measures

If you ever wanted to know how much Drastic measures on a ruler, it's seven inches.

Remember how I was talking about putting yourself up at number one on your "to do" list? I did that today by chopping all of my hair off. Whatcha think?

Tangerine

First, I want to to send out a big "Hi!" to my newest readers! Thanks for stopping by and deciding to stick around. It's a little crazy up in here! But it's all real and I'm so glad to have you! If you'd like to connect more, always feel free to find me on twitter or email me!

My family and I started being regular church-goers just a few weeks ago and I cannot say enough great things about our church! There's *so* much music, which you all know is my favorite. And it's cool, casual, and very oriented toward our generation. Our preacher teaches the Bible in terms that I can relate to my every day life and... well, like I said, I can't say enough good things! Little S. is loving Sunday school, too. She adores playing with kids her age and when we pick her up, she tells me all the things she learned. When I took her to the bathroom after Sunday school last weekend, she said, "Mommy, "God's not scary. He's fun. God's happy to see me and God's waiting for me to go potty." I.LOVE.THAT.KID.

I've had this cardigan hanging around for a while. I dyed it back in April and have only worn it once since the incident. I was trying to take it from white to mustard, but as you can see, it turned more tangerine. And I finally found something perfect to wear with it! Can you believe I overlooked this dress? I've only worn it a zillion times (ahem, it goes with all of my awesome tights).

dress: Filene's Basement

cardigan: Motherhood (self-dyed)

belt: Old Navy

wedges: Target

I should really wear my hair wavy/curly more often. It might just be a better look for me. Maybe we'll have a side-by-side photo post and you guys can vote. What do you think? I'm always leaning toward straight looking better, but now that I stare at these two photos, I think it's looking like it could use some body. And I have that naturally. WHY do I fight the nature?

Have any of you ever altered a piece of clothing and then been at a loss for how to style it?

p.s. - I put up a teaser for my new guest bath and promised a post for last weekend. That totally didn't happen. Can I make it up to you this Saturday? 

Catch the Wave

I have that insanely frizzy, wavy but not quite curly, beachy hair that people tend to like. Well, people who don't HAVE this hair like it and people who do have this hair better love product. I don't like product because I don't know how to use it. If all things were truly right in the world, my hair should totally look like these photos.

via

via

via

via

via

All of you hair experts out there, what gives? What do I need to tame the frizz, keep the wave, and wear my hair down without looking like I just woke up (even though that might actually be the case)? I know my hair does this! I just don't remember how it does this!

Crisp & Classic

I've been so envious, lately, of the skinny minnies wearing skin tight jeans and crisp white blouses. Ashley Hebert (the Bachelorette) does it all.the.time. And now, a few of my favorite bloggers are in, too. Check out Leslie's take on the trend. Isabel's done it recently, too! While I'm not far enough into my weightloss venture to try tucking a top into skinny jeans, I did recreate the look with my straight leg denim from Gap.

jeans: Gap

blouse: H&M

belt: Old Navy

shoes: Target

watch: NY & Co.

necklace: Christmas gift from Hubs (Zales)

Perhaps my clothes are still a bit ill-fitting, but I'm not going to moan about it. I was able to button these pants for the first time in a year and I took it and ran. And the top? I bought it last year when we went to Boston and the tags were still on it this morning. I couldn't pull it over my boobs 'til now, and although it's snug, once again, I ran with it.

To the dingbat who said I need a hair makeover, well... fine, I'll give that to you. HOWEVER, that was not a critique of the blog, so, yeah.

I hope everyone's having a really nice holiday weekend (if it's a holiday for you)! Be safe and don't drink... more than you can handle. I'm off for three weeks, now, and have TONS of stuff I need to catch up on. For instance, I'll have to get a big ol' prize package together! Today's the last day to enter my ginormously humongous 400 Follower Giveaway, and I'll be announcing the winner, tomorrow!

Awkward & Awesome Thursday!

 

 tunic (skirt): Handmade & thrifted

jeans: Charlotte Russe

sandals: Target

belt: Target

Awkward:

- thinking I would be comfortable wearing a strapless top to work

- deciding to curl my hair in extreme heat, humidity, and wind

- putting my personal creative writing out there for all of you to read and being that vulnerable 

- the photo above that actually makes me look like I have to pee

- trying to make small talk to avoid silence and being completely shut down

- getting dressed in the morning and Little S. looking over while I'm half nakie, saying, "Momma! GET DRESSED! Nakie bum!"

*actually, that was adorable and kind of awesome*

Awesome:
- the fact that tomorrow is Friday AND I get to see my momma!
- I'm actually ALLOWED to wear strapless to work.
*even though I totally have a deep royal purple cardigan on, now*
- visiting sweet family this weekend
- coming to a huge realization last night (Separation)
- realizing that dreams might actually have a way of coming true

Click the button below and link up to Sydney's Awkward and Awesome Thursday!


*****
And the winners of the Doe Run Jewelry giveaway are:

Congratulations, ladies!!!
Email me at kimberly.s.parham{at}gmail{dot}come with your address!
Packages will be mailed out, tomorrow!

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.