Hot Flash

{f21 top (crazy similar!) & shorts | kamik boots | fossil watch | asos socks (similar) | boyfriend's belt}

You know what I love more than a pretty, cream & gold polka dotted shirt?  Getting to wear it during summer!  After enduring July's month long hot flash of 90+ degree days with >75% humidity, August seems to have evened out a little bit with some much needed rain and cooler days & evenings.  Hence, the much-awaited wearing of the long sleeved shirt.  It's been a month in the making.


Linking here today.

Freudian Sleeps

{target top (similar) | f21 shorts | jcp jacket (similar) | aldo booties (similar & on major sale!) | fossil watch}

Sometimes, usually as I'm drifting off to sleep, I'll get these mini sartorial epiphanies.  It may be an idea to pair a top with a skirt that I might not have thought of in my fully conscious mind, it may be a witty line or two to write for my next post, or it may be a simple vision, like "wear taupe glitter booties with denim shorts."  What can I say, I'm at my cleverest when only barely awake.

Not one to argue with my subconscious's sense of style, I decided to try out the bootie/jorts look and wore this to a party last week.  And even though after a few hours I could hardly stand in these heels anymore (never forget your high heel cushiony insert thingies!), I was somehow able to dance a little salsa when we discovered that two of the party goers are instructors and had an impromptu lesson at 1 in the morning (and hey! I only stepped on my partner's toes twice).

p.s. - Montreal was pretty amazing.  More on that soon!

p.p.s. - Linking up here.
p.p.p.s. - Don't forget to enter the UD Naked Palette giveaway going on here!

The Illusionist

{sears dress (cute option) | i heart ronson jacket (similar) | steve madden boots | boyfriend's belt | inpink necklace (similar) | f21 & gifted bracelets (similar 1, 2, 3)}

I bet looking at these photos you can't tell that I was so full after going out to lunch that I could barely walk, let alone smile.  And I also bet you can't tell that we only happened to stumble onto this beautiful secret garden because we went poking around behind the back of a Target.  Also on the list of things you might not have guessed - this was the first time I wore this dress and accidentally left the tags on it all day long.

This is why I don't usually give behind the scenes peeks.  I like to maintain the illusion that I actually have it together.


{Linking here today.}

In the Past

{target sweater | ON jeans | gap top | payless heels (similar) | diy scarf (similar) | f21 necklace}

Please look at and admire my outfit at your leisure.  I'm way too distracted by this song bouncing around in my head to concentrate on writing a coherent post today.  Also, I wore this outfit and took these photos about a month ago, and am just getting around to posting them now.  I am really on top of stuff around here.

I like to party.

A Wrinkle in Time

{top  //  shorts  //  scarf: diy  //  sandals: delias (similar)  //  watch}

I love this shirt, but it just might be the highest maintenance article of clothing I've ever owned.  It wrinkles at the drop of a hat, and sometimes even if I just look at it wrong.  The frequency with which it must be ironed requires a Cinderella-like devotion, only I don't get the added benefit of a team of bird & mouse seamstresses while I toil away, pressing out the creases.

 Normally I'd throw my hands up in the air and pledge never to wear a top that demands so much of my attention.

But I've already got the iron heating up, and this will be the second time I flatten out those folds this week.

 What can I say - I'm a sucker for a prima donna with a scalloped edge.

I'm linking up with these gals today.

No Pain, No Gain

{dress: target, cute alternative  //  shoes: target, similar  //  cardi  //  belt  //  necklace: delias  //  earrings: handmade}

Have your muscles ever been so sore that the pain actually wakes you up in the middle of the night?

Well, I got to experience this oh-so-lovely of phenomenons last night.

There is no way to describe it other than that it feels as if my muscles are literally broken (which I guess they actually are; go figure).

Maybe popping in a P90X dvd after ignoring it for over a year and expecting to keep up with the amount of reps I was able to do when I was on the program might have been a little optimistic.

Either way, I can hardly straighten my right arm.  And it's times like these I'm glad to be a lefty.
(The times when I'm trying to use normal scissors or a non-wireless mouse - not so much).

And, oh yes, my outfit.  It's just something I threw on to go for a picnic at a nearby lake.
But really, I just wanted to give you something to look at while I complain about how I can't recover from a workout like I used to.

Today I'm linking up here.

Highlights & Lowlights #6

{sweater, boots (similar): old navy  //  shorts}

Lowlights:

(This week there's really just one that takes the cake).

• Having a totally embarrassing moment in front of hunny bunny.  After parking at a store, I glanced out the window and noticed that we were slowly rolling backwards.  Even though I saw him put the car in park, put the hand brake on, and shut the car off, I yelled at him to stop.  It was like every nightmare I'd ever had involving a car come to life...for about 3 seconds until I realized that the SUV parked next to us had simply started driving forward and we hadn't moved at all.  Oh, what my poor boyfriend must have thought of this crazed girl sitting in the car next to him.  I must have sounded insane.

Highlights:

• Being able to do nothing but laugh at that embarrassing story now.  I mean, really Kym.  I am ridiculous.
• Discovering the wonderful deliciousness of mustard added to my grilled cheese sandwich.
• Running out of creamer and improvising by adding a little almond milk and almond extract to my morning coffee - yummy!
• Hunny bunny shaved himself a fu man chu as a belated birthday gift to me, and I just can't get enough of it!  Yep, I have strange taste in facial hair.  (Next up, I'm going for mutton chops).   Sexy.

I'm linking up today.

Mumus, Scrunchies, & Oversized Comfort

 

{target jacket: similar  //  sweater: old navy  //  tulle skirt: similar  //  boots  //  tights  // watch  //  f21 bracelets, belt: similar bracelet, similar belt}

As I sit here typing in my pajamas and scrunchy-bedecked hair, waiting to switch my third load of laundry from the washer to the dryer, I can't help but feel a little bit frumpy and whole a lot house frau (minus the mumus and Oprah viewings, thank goodness).  It's nice to think back to this past weekend and feel much more glamorous when I look at myself in the above photos.  Oh, to be that girl again...so confident, so colorful, so carefree...

But then I remind myself that sometimes wearing soft, roomy drawstring pants and a big, oversized hoodie can be better than any pretty outfit.  Because let's face it, on Saturday after drinking a few beers and scarfing down a veggie burger, onion rings, and a salad while wearing the clothes above, all I really wanted was to be wearing exactly what I'm wearing right now.

Shoes & Sock(bun)s

{sweater: gap  //  skirt: delias  //  tights, cowl (diy from scarf): old navy  //  shoes: payless}

After wearing heels all day, there's nothing better than coming home, kicking them off, and putting on some plush slippers.  Especially if you were me, wearing these heels all day yesterday.  It seems that no matter what I do - add cushy inserts, loosen the laces, take tiny steps, walk lightly on my feet - these shoes just HURT.
Do you have any shoes like that?  Or could I possibly be the only girl in the world who's feet can't handle a pair of oxford shooties?

Also, I have stumbled upon the formula for a successful sock bun (for fine hair).  The secret?  Spend 20 minutes painstakingly trying to curl your hair into big, soft romantic waves like this, only to have it look too flat on top, and too poufy on the bottom.  Ignore it while you get dressed and apply makeup.  Glance in the mirror and be reminded of how awkward your hair looks.  Attempt to salvage your hard work by re-curling some pieces.  Get frustrated and pull the whole thing into a high ponytail and on a whim decide to attempt the sock bun.  Fail the first few times.  Tell yourself you'll try one last time and suddenly...
Voila!
You now have a successful sock bun.
This has happened exactly two times.  I'm convinced it's the only way to get it right.
(True story.)

Anyway, happy Leap Day!

Today I'm linking to:

Whatever Whenever Wednesday @ Rolled Up Pretty

What I Wore Wednesday @ Transatlantic Blonde
What I Wore @ the Letter 4
Real Style @ Momma Go Round
What I Wore Wednesday @ the Pleated Poppy
What We Wore & Made @ Rau Gun Ramblings