I'm Cool

{kohls sweater (similar)  |  shorts  |  payless shoes (super cute option)  |  dogeared & gifted necklaces}

Please excuse the abundance of photos featuring my giddy yet smugly triumphant expression.  It was actually cool enough (for one day) to wear a sweater (!!!).  I love summer with a passion that's usually only paralleled by the likes of school children, but being able to put on my first sweater of the season just made me....supremely happy.  ...And apparently also gave me temporary delusions that I am somehow vaguely responsible for mother nature's amazing achievements.  The first glimmering of fall will do that to a girl.

I'm linking up with these lovlies today.

Happy Little Weekend

{top: target  |  shorts: gap  |  sandals: o'neill  |  necklace: jenny present (similar) }

Lately I've kind of been on a lace kick (see here, here, and here).  It just makes me happy.
And also, mellow painters with white-guy afros do it for me, too.
Enjoy Bob Ross's words of wisdom and have yourself a happy little weekend.

(Linking up today)

Setting Sale

I realize my legs look super dark in this photo - blame it on strange lighting and an over-zealous application of self-tanner.

{top, shorts: gap  |  sandals: o'neill  |  watch: sprout}

After hardcore cleaning almost every day last week, and then having a garage sale over the weekend and dealing with people who wanted to haggle for a better price on items that already cost only a dollar, hunny bunny and I felt we deserved a nice night out.
We had grand plans to go for dinner and a little bar hopping in a hip, fun town nearby, so I brought this outfit to change into after the sale was over. 
We got all cleaned up, took these photos, got in the car....and realized we were too pooped to go anywhere but home.
So we headed straight for the kitchen where we had ourselves a nice, relaxing drink, and chilled the night away watching TV while sprawled out on the couch.

Find me here.

Working Girl

{top: ny&co  |  shorts: gap  |  sandals: delias (similar)  |  ring: c/o anjolee  |  watch: sprout }

Last week my dad's ex-wife moved out of her house and out of the state, and left the place a completely cluttered, trashy mess.  I'm talking clothing still in drawers, a pantry full of expired food, dirty girdles, basement filled with 8 years worth of Christmas decorations, doors off closets.  Unfortunately, my dad's name is still on the lease, so in order to get his deposit back we have to go clean up after her mess.   
Gee, thanks.  How......considerate?

Anyway, I knew I'd need to wear something that would keep me cool and comfy and that I could move around in (separating hundreds of random items into piles of keep, trash, or donate, then hauling leftover furniture and garbage to the dumpster we had to rent requires major range of motion).

But, you know, a girl still wants to look cute even when she's performing dirty, sweaty, manual labor.

On a happier note, I received that pretty little ring up there from Anjolee.   They sell beautiful, completely customizable fine jewelry like stud earrings and diamond bridal sets.  I chose one of their gorgeous anniversary rings for women with topaz to review.
 I have to admit that this is probably the nicest, most delicate, prettiest ring I've ever owned (sorry Fair Lawn class of '97 ring - you were cool when I was 17, but I've moved on; I hope we can still be friends).  It came packaged in a lovely little box, and just makes me feel uber girly and fancy when I wear it.

It's so alluring that I find myself making excuses to don it even when I probably shouldn't, like say, when cleaning out a filthy house.  Luckily I remembered to protect it in my pocket when things got really messy.  Which is more than I can say for my toes.  Sandals + carrying lots of heavy objects + accidentally dropping one of them on your foot = major pain and muttered profanity.

I'm partying over here today.