Purple People Eater

If I could eat people, I would have eaten three toddlers, today.

That's all I have to say about that.

Also, did anyone catch my awesome lack of knowledge about what day of the week it is? Yesterday, I posted that I'd be back with We Love Colors Wednesday, today.

Um. Yep. We Love Colors... Thursday version.

yellow tank: Target

purple tank: Walmart

skirt: Charlotte Russe (I know, I'm appalled that I didn't just make it.)

shoes: Sbicca via Ross

fishnets: c/o We Love Colors

tan: c/o outdoor summer nannying

Now, let's be honest. It's 100 degrees, easily, with a heat index of up to 110. 

Humidity is 100%.

I run around with three toddlers, carrying an infant all day.

Did I wear fishnets and wedged sandals to work today?

Hell. No. 

For the record, I can't wait to have somewhere to wear these puppies for real. SO comfy!

But I did wear the rest! With purple flip-flops for easy removal. 

I'm on my monthly Miss P, which is totally wreaking havoc on my general comfort levels, personal body thermometer, and skin. It's really awesome.

Bella's fur is growing back just a bit and her face is getting fuzzy, again.

The poor thing lost about three pounds of fur in the Great Hair Cut of 2011.

I got her an "I love my human" tee to keep her warm in our house.

Another bit-o-random for the day?

Little S. is walking around with my blush brush, talking about putting on her make-up.

I'm in trouble.

Please don't forget to stop by and LINK UP for tomorrow's (second edition) Project Self post! I can't wait to see how you're bettering yourself!

The Wind Blows in Her Hair

This morning called for torrential downpours and insane thunder and lightening, so I braved the humidity and wind and tried to grab some back yard photos before heading to "the office." I bought these shorts at Old Navy, yesterday, and wished there were more colors than black and army green. I really like the comfortable tie waist, excess pockets for kleenex, bug spray, and bandaid storage, and the length is perfect for covering the part of my body I hate most. Add some colorful florals and it's a recipe for a great photo, right?

Pffffft. 

Nope, you get this sexiness.

 yellow tank: Target

floral tank: Walmart

shorts: Old Navy

flip flops: Old Navy

So, I'll just pretend I meant for the wind to split my bangs and for the humidity to be an immediate summer frizz agent. And then, in my eyes, it really was a perfect photo shoot.

For some reason, my blog posts aren't showing up in people's readers. That's really making me want to give someone the stink eye. Anyone have suggestions?

Birthday Party ExtravEmergency

Sometimes you feel like a nut. 

Sometimes you go to a child's birthday party and you ARE the nut.

Because your child is acting like a lunatic. 

And it's awesomely embarrassing, even though you know you have a toddler and stuff like this happens...

especially when you wake your child up from nap after she's only been asleep for approximately 20 minutes... I'm sorry, what? WHO would do that. not this girl. pfft.

Throw some juice in the mix, hype said toddler up on sugar and cheetos, and offer her a balloon.

Forget about it. Recipe for disaster. And disaster, it was. As badly as I wanted to feel for Little S. in her extreme sleep deprivation, I was so mortified that she was screaming bloody murder for no other apparent reason than exhaustion. She definitely stole the show and all I could think was, "These people are not going to want me to bring my daughter with me to watch their kids. We look like part of the funny farm." But those of you with kids of your own know that we're not part of the funny farm at all. We're just normal people with a normal sleep deprived kid and sometimes, at the most inopportune moments, shit hits the fan. C'est la vie, right?

Anyway, I dressed for the occasion, and even wore my bangs down in hopes of re-attracting my husband after a week of coming home with slightly spit upon clothing, new breakouts, and frizzed out hair. He was appreciative enough to buy me a bottle of wine (that I just might finish all by myself... tonight. Don't judge.). If you're looking for a sweet and light riesling, try Relax. Holy mother of all things alcoholic, calming, embarrassment erasing, and delicious. Mmhmm. I'm drinking away my stress. What of it?

dress (you may have seen it, before): Old Navy

cardigan: Old Navy

floral (oh so cute!) flats: Target (kids clearance section! HOLLA for having bitty feet!)

 bicycle necklace: Barberry & Lace

also, holla for as I write, husband keeps coming to refill my glass. good man.

We made a run to Fresh Market, tonight. Husband was craving something from the deli and I found gorgeous nighttime lighting. Two birds? Thank you very much. Also, Relax wine came from the Fresh Market trip, for which I am getting more and more appreciative as minutes pass.

Oh shadows of the night, who cares about my face, anyway?

At least you can see the little flowers on my $4.98 shoes. Hell to the right.

Or is it "everything you own in a box to the left?"

I can't remember. Thank you, wine.

And tonight, I shall leave you with this disgruntled, yet very appreciative parental facial:

Peace. Love. Riesling.

** Sunday morning update **

OUCH

Interruption...

I hereby interrupt this week's installment of "Intense Adoration" to catch you up on outfits for the week! 

Thursday:

The kids' mom told me that she was impressed with my keeping up my style. It was only day 4, so I didn't feel like I'd been trying too hard (and I took my pictures BEFORE mascara this particular morning, btw). This is the closest outfit version I had to the winner of the Nanny Style Contest, so I guess I didn't get to cropping the pants. Now that I wore them, I'm not sure if I want to chop 'em up. They're nice pants, right? I also tried the Heidi braids for the first time. 

 top: LC Lauren Conrad for Kohl's

chinos: Old Navy

flip flops: Old Navy

Friday:

I allowed myself a more casual day with a t-shirt and jeans, but really wished for a sundress while we walked to the park. It was really sunny and warm and jeans + heat and humidity = lots of discomfort. Boy 4 told me how much he liked spending time with me, yesterday, and I just about melted. Before I left, I was reassured by The Mom (I guess that can be her blog name?) that she was very happy and comfortable with me... I'll rest easy this weekend.

 top: Charlotte Russe

jeans: Charlotte Russe

sandals: Target

 hair: slept in braids

eyes: a purplish brown from my e.l.f. 100 pallet

mascara: Maybelline Falsies

I miss you guys so much!!! I hope to spend some time, tomorrow, catching up on blogs and commenting. You all have been so supportive of me in my new endeavor and I'm SO thankful for all of you! Now, I'm off to make pancakes for a crying toddler, a husband who won't listen to me about not bringing juice into the house, and then I'll be doing housework all day, until Boy 4's birthday party this evening!

Mascara Genetics

If you read my tweets today, you might have seen the one where I said I've been genetically predisposed to not function properly without mascara. I wholeheartedly believe that! If I haven't put mascara on, I haven't full woken up. If I'm wearing the dirtiest, grungiest, ugliest clothes you've ever seen, I'm most likely still wearing mascara. Obsession? Probably.

Know what else I'm obsessed with? My husband's photography.

Know why? 

Because when he's not around, this is as artsy as we get on Fashion Momma:

dress: WalMart

sandals: Target

belt: Target

Nanny rating: 7 out of 10

You can't beat the comfort of this dress and adding a belt makes it less of a muu muu. Breton stripes are a forever classic and a t-shirt dress is a perfect summer staple. I found the length to be a bit hindering when bending over to pick up toys or sitting on the floor to play with the kids. Sometimes it's tough to stay modest in dresses when your job is to move, but dresses also provide easy comfort and are breathable for the hottest months of the year.

I've never been so tired in.my.life.

And I miss you guys!

100% Cotton

The first thing my boss (err... the mom?) said to me when I walked in this morning was, "That's a really pretty dress, but you might regret wearing it!" I looked down and immediately thought, "Ah, yes, the wretched white." But I'm a firm believer that 100% cotton (no blend) + a little bit of OxiClean can be magical. Stain on my dress? Shame on me. No big deal because this is my life now, right?

And what a wonderful life, it is!

I had the morning with Baby Girl (BG), yesterday, and met the boys this morning. Boy 2 and Boy 4 will be the names for all intensive and privacy purposes. They were a bit shy at first... and by "at first," I mean the first 8 seconds I was in the house. Their mom took them to school and I spent the morning with BG, again. We played, I made a delicious (ahem, blech) mush concoction, we sang and danced, we practiced almost crawling, talked about colors and numbers, she took a nap and a half, I got some things done around the house, and then the boys came home at 1:00. I was nervous. I'm not going to lie. I've been quite literally prepared for holy terrors. I think it's standard procedure to prepare a nanny/caregiver/babysitter for the worst, though, right? Because sure, the boys were boys, but MAN I want one, now! They are so much fun. Boy 2 reminds me so much of Little S. because they're really communicating at a similar level right now. They're interested in the same sorts of things and their attention span is about identical. Boy 4 is very helpful and sweet. He's definitely a cheerleader for his younger siblings. It was a crazy and loud afternoon and I'm exhausted. And it feels great. I'm so thankful for this opportunity and really can't wait for Little S. to join us in a week and a half! So, what's the dress in question, you ask?

dress: SONOMA, Kohl's

cardigan: Express

sandals (which don't really count because I don't wear shoes in the house): Cabrizi

I learned on my first day to keep jewelry to a minimum (ie: studs in the ears, only) and my hair pulled back. BG really likes to put everything in her mouth right now! Plus, a woman can work up a serious sweat when she's not sitting at a desk all day (HALLELUJAH!).

I have to thank you all for your immense amounts of support on the blog and on twitter the past few weeks. You've been really awesome about my changing jobs and having to swap a bit of style for comfort with my new gig. I'm so happy and feel so rewarded at the end of my day (and all day long!), so I know this was the right move. I hope to take some time this weekend to catch up on blog reading, because I'm spending my late evenings after Little S. goes to bed working on online personal style portfolios. So, if you're waiting on one, thanks for your patience! It's coming soon.

Lesson learned: One portfolio client at a time. Not five. 

Ahem, anyone interested in a personal styling "sesh" with me?

email: kimberly.s.parham{at}gmail{dot}com

Nanny Style Contest Winner!

Thank you all for participating in the Nanny Style Contest, whether you submitted an outfit set or helped choose the winner! The winning outfit was #3, submitted by Marie-Eve of A Pretty Nest!

Here is the outfit she submitted:

I own this LC top already, so that's great. And as far as the shoes go, I tried them on at Old Navy over the weekend and as cute as they are in the photo, they look like old lady shoes on my feet. No can do, but I'll find something suitable. I decided to go with jeans and a polka dot tee for my first day and I've learned my lesson, already: photos must come BEFORE work. I'm disheveled, but happy! Teeny tiny baby S was a gem and I get to have all three of the S kids, tomorrow. Their mom warned me that today was as easy as it gets and tomorrow might be a nightmare. I'm up for it. I felt guilty leaving, today, because it was like I didn't do anything. Feed and play with a baby for only four hours? Um, yes, please! Tomorrow is 9 hours and I have baby in the morning and all three kids in the afternoon. I have a pair of navy chinos that I hardly wear (because they look too much like jeans), so I think I might just crop them to these walking shorts' length and find a good, strong, sturdy bracelet. Shoes are the big mission. I'm thinking my navy and light blue polka dotted flats in place of the shoes in Marie-Eve's set. As much as I prayed they'd be perfect, they just looked awful on me!

Congratulations Marie-Eve! Please email me at kimberly.s.parham(at)gmail(dot)com to tell me where you'd like your $25 gift card from and for your address!

Thanks, again, to all who submitted. :)

Back with an outfit in the morning!

Vote for the Nanny Style Contest Winner!

First, I want to thank all of you who submitted outfit sets. I had about 17 entries that I left open on my screen for over two hours last night, trying to narrow them down to the top five. I just couldn't do it, so I have a top six! These entries are going to be posted anonymously, so if you see yours, CONGRATULATIONS for making it this far, but please don't comment with, "Yay! You picked mine as a finalist!" I'd like to keep these anonymous so people aren't picking their favorite blogger, but their favorite OUTFIT, which is what the contest is all about- How to help me be a stylish nanny. Trust me, all of the entries will be saved in my inspiration folder for practical style ideas. You all did a wonderful job!

Here are the top six finalists!

(in random order)

{one}

{two}

{three}

{four}

{five}

{six}

So, my sweet readers, all I need you to do is leave a comment with your vote! You can tell me why if you want, but also, just saying, "One" or which ever number you love will suffice! The winning choice will be announced on Sunday night (May 15) and I will be recreating the outfit that gets the most votes (to the best of my ability) on my first day of {new} work!!! Don't forget, the winner will also get their choice of a $25 gift card from Target, Kohl's, Old Navy, or New York & Company!

Thanks, again, to all who entered!

Paper Doll Project #2

Suze of Miss Vinyl Ahoy coordinated another Paper Doll Project this month! I had so much fun doing it in April that I decided to play, again. Amidst the madness of trying to tie up loose ends at my current (old, after today) job and traveling to the beach for Mother's Day weekend, Daphne of Fashion Confessions of a Mommy and I finally got our stuff together between last night and this morning! It just goes to show that mommas are busy ladies (ahem, and that we can endure)! Last night, I sent a photo of my dress to Daphne. I got it at Charlotte Russe, on the clearance rack, a month or so ago and have had trouble styling it ever since. The colors are so wintery to me. Daphne suggested adding bright, springy pops of color with my teal accessories. She hardly knows me, yet knows me so well! Here's what we came up with! Thank you for dressing me, Daphne!

dress: Charlotte Russe

belt: Old Navy

heels: Predictions, handed down from Whitney

necklace: The Body Shop

And, you know, since my self-photography skills are so amazing, I had to take a shot of my shoes for you... or else you might have missed them. No idea why, though...

What do you all think? Personally, I think the teal moved this baby right from drab winter grey to a fab spring piece that can be reworked with lots of different accessories! Thanks for opening my eyes, Daphne!

Don't forget to head over to the Paper Doll Project at Miss Vinyl Ahoy to check out what other participants did! And when the call comes out for next month, you should play along, too! It's fun to have a stylist for a day!

*****

Speaking of... Have you had your chance to be MY stylist, yet?

Choose my wardrobe for my new job in the Nanny Style Contest!

If you've been meaning to submit an entry, go, now! Tomorrow's your last day! ALL of your help is so appreciated and one lucky winner will get a $25 gift card!

 

3 Days

 Yes, friends. 

Three more days until I'm done working at the university. It was all sweet until it became bittersweet at graduation on Friday. I cried like a baby, watching our graduate students walk across the stage, listening to my favorite faculty members speak, hearing the chair's closing remarks... As much as I'm ready to leave and as tough as the road has been, there will be things I miss about this place.

And people. Like you, down the hall. You know who you are.

In other news, I had a wonderful time at the beach with Christina. We went dancing on Friday, I had too many drinks, and we walked on the beach with some new friends that we'll never see again. The wedding was beautiful on Saturday- perfect bride, perfect location, perfect weather. And the gloom got us packed up and on the road in time for me to eat Mother's Day lunch with my family, yesterday. I came home to a pristine house (thanks, babe) and a baby girl that was bounding with energy and lots of hugs! I really couldn't have asked for a better weekend. All I wish is that I hadn't left the four hard ciders that I'd just bought in the hotel fridge. Oh well... Hopefully housekeeping enjoyed them.

 dress: Sonoma via Kohl's

cardigan: New York & Company

flip-flops: Mossimo via Target

headband: Goody via Walgreens

purse: D&L Fashion, handed down from Shelly

I could totally wear this to my new job, right? That's why I bought this dress (50% off!) on Friday. Man, have you been to Kohl's, lately? LOVE that place! And speaking of what to wear to my new job, have you entered my Nanny Style Contest, yet?

You know that when you submit an outfit set (which is actually FUN), you're entering to win a $25 gift card to your choice of one of the four stores I shop at, regularly?

Yep! I said it. MONEY for SHOPPING! Who doesn't love that stuff?

So head over there, nizzow and dress me up!

Click the picture, below, and submit your entry before Friday evening!

Important notes:

I guest posted about pregnancy on The Frugalista Diaries, yesterday! Stop by and check out some important tips and see some of my professional maternity photos, taken by Jackie Ranson Photography!

I was also featured, today, on Blogs from the Heart at My Heart Blogged. Wonder where I shop for deals, how I make the most of my closet, and how I suggest incorporating color into your wardrobe? Head there, now!

And stay tuned! Mansome Monday is coming up in just a bit!

Ombre' Nails! Plus, Required Reading

Yesterday, I received a box of lots of fun make-up from e.l.f. that was sent to me by my sweet friend, Vanessa! Little S. freaked out, immediately, over the Bright Trio nail polish set, while I was swooning over everything, especially the amazing eyeshadow pallet! So what did we do? Of course, we painted our nails! Little S. was very patient while I painted her toenails AND fingernails. She got the color on my pointer finger, which came in the e.l.f. Bright Trio set. It's called Bright Coral. The three colors in the middle of my hands and toes were in the trio set, while my thumb and pinky are painted with colors I already owned. I know the pinky color is a bit dark for the ombre' effect, but I did my best with what I had.

What do you think?

Yes, I'm doing a Lady Gaga Little Monsters claw. What say you of it?

I'm pretty certain I'm going to love playing with this effect throughout the summer. On my list is a set with blues, turquoises, and greens!

It's a busy day with working half a day, going home for the second half to shower, pack, hem a skirt and get ready for our department's graduation ceremony, then leaving for the beach! But no worries, once I get the skirt finished and get dressed, I'll be SURE to post an OOTD, this evening! And don't forget to stop back by tomorrow for this week's Intense Adoration post!

You also HAVE to go to Amazon and buy Kori's new book, Murder on the Boulevard! I'm SO proud of her and will be making the purchase for my Kindle app, this afternoon!

AND don't forget to head over to Blonde Episodes and link up to Kori's Fashion Friday!

I'm also getting some really amazing entries for the Nanny Style Contest, so if you haven't entered, yet, you should! Not only are you inspiring me to stay well-dressed while I change jobs, but Polyvore is just REALLY fun. Don't believe me? Try it out! And I'm calling Whitney out, because she said she was going to submit a set and I haven't seen one, yet. Ahem, best friend? Get on it. Please and thank you. (I love you.)

Enter the Nanny Style Contest!

Don't forget to stop back by, later, to see my graduation ceremony outfit!