holla. {another fab. find

{Street Level bag from Piperlime. $99.}



{ Destination Tote from Francesca's Clollection. $48.}

{31...and a genius}

so I was looking online at Nordstrom for a dress and saw this adorable number...then I saw the price tag. {blech...it's obscene}

{$546. marc{ripoff} jacobs}

THEN! I found this little number at Ruche...I couldn't believe the similarity.

{$46}
{ruche clothing}

THEN even better...I found this baby.

{now $19.99 at Urban Outfitters}

(I ordered the ruche one...we shall see how it actually looks on )

I should SO be hired as a fashion consultant on the Today show or something, showing these dresses, in a segment called, " runway fashions at a price you can actually afford." I'm pretty amazed that I was able to find three of these dresses that were so alike in style.
{alright, I know that this isn't really THAT monumental, but it was a fun proud moment for me...so let me bask in it thankyouverymuch! :) }

{fall 2010 trends}

polarn o. pryet

tea collection


j.crew {crewcuts}


orla kiely


shabby apple


anthropologie


j.crew


pottery barn


cb2

1980....30 years later.

the cake. Totally rad right? My friend Gina did it. She is like totally awesome.


some rockin' chicks. Gina, Allison, Me, Carrie, Lindsey, Beth.


like totally hot guys. {Kieth, Kevin...OH MY WORD he is ridiculous with that pose}, Anthony, Justin, Paul and Ryan}


Just & I.


the radical kiddos. {Silas, Ruthie, Caleb, Max, Clay, Evan, Aubrey, & Faith}


the totally awesome dudes again.


the radical chicks again.


group photo op.

Like TOTALLY!

yellow.

I used to hate yellow. I hated that country yellow that it seemed so many houses had in it.

Things however... have changed. The shades of yellow have changed, developed into something much more appealing and much more desirable.

I'm now the proud owner of a Shey*B camera strap, and I'm L-O-V-I-N-G it. And how cool is it that the day it arrives I'm wearing that sweater with yellow in it?

Pretty awesome if you ask me.
It also doubles as a neck warmer.

woot for sweet camera straps!

some major randomness.

1. I LOVE babylegs! They are AMAZINGLY convenient for quick diaper changes and protect legs when baby is crawling on hardwood floors.
I think they are fabulous. Justin on the other hand was calling Liam Rainbow Bright yesterday.
Alright, I admit they are a BIT girly, but they are so dang cute on his chubby little legs, and dang it, they are so great for crawling around in.
I told Justin that I don't let him wear them in public.
It's all about compromise folks.




2. Justin was in his little brother's wedding this a couple weekends ago and he had to rent a tux which included an aqua blue vest which was very bright and very much didn't fit. Justin has a long torso but he looked like a, " FAT MAN IN A LITTLE COAT"...or vest...pretty funny....and he isn't fat...well maybe a little...well no, he's not...but kind of...but not.


3. We are at Target, I have Evan unloaded into a cart and am getting Liam out when I hear Evan say.... NO he screams,

"GRANDMA! Hey, GRANDMA," {and he pauses...then in his best sing-songy voice} "GRAND...MA! GR.......AND...............MA!"

I look back through the door window (which is tinted, thank goodness) and see a woman {who is CLEARLY over 60, but trust me, he has called people in their late 30's Grandma, which is embarrassing let me tell you, what do you say?} making her way into the bulls eye...she heard Evan.

While she was clearly old enough to be a Grandmother, I'm still not sure if she felt alright with Evan hollering it at her across the Target parking lot. She wasn't sure if she should ignore him or come over and say hello. I could read her mind like that.

She chose to keep on trekking into Tar-jay...wise choice.

Pretty much anyone who has even a HINT of grey hair is Grandma to Evan.

4. While we were waiting to pick up Max after school last week, a form appears over the hill....clothed head to toe in denim. I KID YOU not, I went back to 1989. I time traveled folks.
The ONE day I leave my cell phone at home this woman appears in the best
Anyway, appears this woman, with NOT ONLY white washed jeans (that I'm pretty sure are hard to find these days) that are tapered but to top it off she is sporting a pale denim LONG SLEEVED top.

Did I also mention it was 90 degrees out yesterday, and EXCRUCIATINGLY humid?
Now this top was not just any ol' jean shirt. It was a scoop neck with the biggest, craziest, frilly jean collar. It was INCREDIBLE. Then with the tapered jeans to complete the look... it was PRICELESS.

I hope she makes an appearance in that get-up again soon, and this time I will have my cell phone ready.

5. We always pick up Maxwell via walking. There are two exits from the school. The bottom is kids who aregoing by way of bus, daycare van, or whatever else. The upper level is for walkers and kids getting picked up by car. I've never picked Max up in the car, we've always walked since we live close and it's been such great weather! As cars arrive they are to line up in an orderly fashion and show thier number in the car visor which matches a number on their childs backpack. It seems to be a great system and once kids are out of school the line goes fast.
Here is the thing...you know how people like to be first in line at things? Well this is NO exception. The earliest I personally have gotten to the school is about 2:50...and that was because I was DYING to know when people got there to get in the car line. The line was halfway down the drive (which is probably 2 football fields long) at 2:50! School doesn't get out until 3:15. I think these people get there at like 2;15 and wait in their cars for ONE HOUR for thier child to get out of school and so they can be first OUTTA there.
This are the things I wonder people.

Here is a typical walk home from school for us:






Maxwell gets to ride his scooter, Liam and Evan get a nap, and I get a nice little workout.

How is that for random?

Hope you are having a good week.

ps- did you watch the video below...It is SO worth it.

Ganggeang Lay pants

Packages from overseas are just so fun. I mean it's just a boring ol' box, but I just think it's so fun.

This particular one is all the way from Bangkok, Thailand! Some rockin' new fisherman pants for spring.

I LOVE them. Thank you to
NUNU.

aurelia & annalise

Got these cutie patooties off of Etsy(three cheers for Etsy!)...and if I don't have a girlie, someone is getting some great shoes.

spring 2008

*WARNING: If you are a man, you will probably care less about this post.
I get spring fever, and I get it bad. I have been sick over the last week and a half that finally today I got a chance to get out the ol' spring/summer bin of clothes and take stock. I am definately good on pants, but I can always find room for new shoes and t's. :)

A few spring/summer clothes rules/observations I live by.
1. Shorts are out....permanently. Look if you really must wear shorts, do it, but I ain't gonna pretend I love them. Those board shorts are actually pretty cute, but anything too above the knee isn't doing much for you.Hey, somebody had to come out and say it. But again, if you must carry on.
2. Capri's ROCK! If capris ever go out of style I will probably still wear them. I love them THAT much. I have a couple pair that I got when I worked at Limited, and I will wear them until the day I die, they are so comfy, stylish, can be dressy or not, and just rock!
3. Satan invented low-rise jeans. I swear, who can really pull those off without showing their entire behind? They are nast. I mean so are skinny jeans, and mom jeans but at least they don't show off your entire rear end. EW. We need more normal jeans. What happened to a good pair of flairs? I got this pair of jeans about 4 years ago at Gap for $14.99 as they were special pair for the season, and I still love them. They are my favorite, they have cute rear end pockets, and I ALWAYS get compliments on them. I should have stocked up...if only I would have known my slim pickings years later...and the fact that my body isn't quite the same but these jeans are still workin' it.
4. You can never have to many cute summer shoe options. Sure flip-flops are cute, and a dime a dozen, but you gotta go beyond the flip-flop people. Some cute flats, wedge sandals, if you are brave; heels, a nice strappy sandal. You get my drift. I am a sucker for shoes, especially in the summer since your feet are seen more.
5. Why am I able to buy a shirt with kitties on it? Ok, so this is totally random, but I have to say something. Our mall has a Sears right smack dab in the middle of it. So to get to stores on either side you have to go through it. Talk about bad clothing options. Sure here and there I see a few items I would consider taking a second glance at, but for the most part I wondered who could really shop at Sears? I had to stop at a rack full of shall I say, old lady shirts. Now I know all old ladies don't fall into the trap, but enough still do that they continue to make these clothes. I just could go on, but I will stop since I know all you who read my blog are stylish to the max!
5. A cute sundress/skirt always makes me smile. I honestly think I look bad in dresses, but in the summer they make some really cute and breathable dresses that I can't resist.

Apparently he IS 4 popped collars cool.

for my husband.

the high (heeled) life I never had.

"Woman ask me all the time to see my shoes, and when I lift up my pant leg they are disappointed that I am wearing flip-flops." -Sarah Jessica Parker.

(*ps- a little side note...check out SJP's new line Bitten...nothing over $20, it is a beautiful thing)

I have tried to do the whole high- heels thing. I guess they made you more girly, and I have always been more of a tomboy. I love girly things, but I also love my gym shoes. After Sara borrowed us all her Sex and the City DVDs which we became instantly addicted to, and Just and I (yes, my husband loved the show) watched all the seasons within a matter of two weeks. I, as with any woman who has watched the show felt I had a renewed sense of style.

One of the biggest fashion loves of Carrie (Sarah Jessica) is her beloved shoes....more specifically her Manolo Blahnik heels. These heels are known for their high style and highness. They are crazy.

A few years ago I was going to try and wear heels... everyday. The first week went OK. Alright, who am I kidding it was awful. There was no way I was going to admit that though since plenty of woman do wear them everyday. Actually, the first day was not bad, the heels I wore were actually comfortable but after about the third day my feet just did not feel right. I think I lasted a week. If that. In fact I hated them and quite frankly never wanted to see them again.

I have come to grips with the fact that I am not a high-heeled woman. It could have been amazing relationship, I could have known what it was to be taller, I could own some really beautiful shoes, but it just wasn't meant to be for me and the stilletto. Out went all high heels except for one black pair, (that are wearable for about one wedding ceremony and reception) and my very special pair I just cannot part with although I probably will never wear them again. I do own a few pair of wedge sandals and those are much more doable but the heels had to go. Had to.

Nowadays I long for a fun pair of wedges, some cute flats, and more than anything a great pair of sneakers. Love the things, and you know what I still feel like a darn cute gal in my pink pumas thankyouverymuch!