Gettin' By

Five on Friday.

Today's list features some items that are helping me cope with the end of Spring Break! (sniff!)

1.  Kona Brewing Company's Koko Brown Ale ($15.99/12-pack).  There's nothing quite like the taste (and smell!) of coconut to remind you of the islands. The Kona Brewery says "the delicious heart of this island treasure has a nutty, toffee flavor and aroma that sends you straight to the beaches of Paradise."  And while I can't really say my dirty house and piles of laundry equal paradise, this beer helps me overlook them for the time being.

2.  Sunless Strip Self-Tanner ($26.00).  With my Bahamas Beach tan fading daily, I'm supplementing my glow with this natural self-tanner.  It doesn't have that characteristic self-tanner stench and won't leave you looking like an extra from Jersey Shore (bonus!)

3.  Cinquain Sweetie Heel ($97.99) Shoe shopping is a sure funk-buster for me, and with a wedding to attend next month, I'm looking for a new pair of heels to make me smile.  And these fun loving striped mary janes from Poetic License are doing just that!

4.  Unforgettably Fashionable Ring ($9.99). Another way to get rid of the post-vacation blues? Add a cheap but fun little bauble to your hand!  I love this sweet bow ring in a lovely aqua hue that just so happens to look fabulous against sun-kissed skin.

5.  Gazela Vinho Verde ($11.00).  The worst thing about returning home from a beach vacation? The fact that you can no longer parade around in your bikini and drink fruity tropical drinks for breakfast. (Hmph.)  To ease the pain, I'm keeping some of this fresh, fruity, and slightly effervescent white wine around for happy hour.  And drinking it with a paper umbrella in the glass makes it taste even better.

Hope your Friday (and weekend!) are fabulous, my lovelies!

 

Six on Saturday.

A random list of things making me happy this weekend!

1.  The Lorax. We had no school on Friday, which means the kids & I got to see this movie on opening day!

2.  Dear Lizzy Neopolitan Line.  I'm got several of the products from Liz's new line on my work table right now and the candy-colored palette and unique textures (hello crepe paper!) are so much fun to play with!

3. Subtle Flirtation Sweater ($64.99). Yes, I know Valentine's Day has come and gone, but I'm still coveting this cute striped sweater for the chilly days of spring!

4.  Stamping Secrets from Ella Publishing ($8.79). I need all the help I can get in the stamping department, so this newest release from Ella is on my wish list!

5.  Retro Rosie Earrings ($9.99). These sweet little rose earrings look like candy and I adore the soft aqua color (though they come in pink, too!)

6. Make A List Journaling Tags by Elle's Studio ($4.25). I love list-style journaling for Project Life, and these new tags from Elle's are the perfect colorful and quirky addition for documenting everyday details. Love!

Hope your weekend is filled with favorites, too!

Five on Friday.

On Saturday night, Mike and I get to get all fancied up and attend the NCMC Gala, which is always a fun evening and raises money for a great cause. I'm secretly hoping they got a new photographer this year, as last year pictures were um, less than good? At least this year's theme of Carnivale should eliminate the accompanying acrobats in the photo, but it's highly possible they have hired these guys to pose with us. ------->   (photo credit)

Anyway, I thought I should let you know that I'm being fiscally responsible and wearing a dress I already own. Not that I've gone all budget-crazy on you...but mostly because I've already spent my monthly clothing allowance on new shoes for CHA. But it's always fun to window shop for formal wear, so here's five dresses I would love to consider for future events!
1.  When the Night Comes Dress ($96.99).  I love this sophisticated black lace dress. This silhouette is so Audrey Hepburn-esque and I can't imagine not being the picture of grace and class and while wearing this frock.  Oh wait, this is me we're talking about.

2.  Pisarro Nights Beaded Sheath Dress. ($148.00).  It's 180-degrees from the first dress style-wise, but I kind love this platinum sheath adorned with beads and paillettes. It's just so sparkly! And disco-ball like! Which means you'd most certainly have a ball in it, no?  Yes, I went there with the cheesy pun. It's just that kind of Friday.

3.  Rosè Bubbly Dress ($157.99).  If it's wrong to pick a dress solely for the fact that it reminds of champagne, then I don't wanna be right.

4. Halston Heritage One Shoulder Dress ($117.97).  I've never worn a one-shoulder dress but this one makes me want to!  It looks comfy while still being elegant...kind of like wearing bunny slippers with your lace negligee.

5.  In Love with Life Dress ($297.99).  I love just about anything by Corey Lynn Calter because her designs are so feminine and girly. This ivory crochet dress is perfectly pristine, but the bow adornment makes it fun and just a little bit funky.  Like a girl who sips champagne, dances under disco balls, and brings her bunny slippers in her purse.

And that wraps up another Friday...enjoy yours!

Five on Friday.

This edition of Five on Friday is brought to you by the color RED!

1.  Crown Vintage Kimberly Pump ($79.95).  I just purchased these adorable red mary janes for my upcoming trip to CHA at the end of the month. While I know I'll be on my feet all day and require comfy shoes, I can't totally give up my heels. These are the best of both worlds!

 

2.  Athleta Long Sleeve Twist Top ($69.99). This athletic top was one of my Christmas gifts and the crimson color is a nice, bright addition to my mostly-black running wardrobe.  Not only do I love it for winter running (the wicking fabric is fab and the extra-long torso stays tucked in and keeps my muffin top warm!) but I've also paired it with jeans for a casual weekend look (that I wear, of course, while eating muffins.)

3.  Jane Iredale PureGloss in Cherry Sparkle ($20).  As much as I'd love to be one of those girls that can pull off a perfectly red pout, I've never found a red lipstick that looks decent on me.  I've tried (believe me) but I always end up looking a little girl that found her mama's lipstick and decided to play dress-up...it's messy, uneven, and always ends up on my teeth. But this lip gloss is a bit more forgiving. It's a deeper shade of red without being too opaque and it stays for a remarkably long time. Even if you're eating muffins.

4.  Big House Wines Big House Red ($14.98).  You didn't think I'd forget to include red wine, did you? And since New Year's resolutions are in full force and we're only drinking on the weekends around here, I need a way to keep my wine fresh for longer. This Big House Red box wine fits the bill perfectly, keeping my libations fresh for up to 6 weeks in the vacuum-sealed packaging.  It's a nice blend of flavors from dark berries to cherries to vanilla and it pairs nicely with just about anything.  Yes, even muffins.

5. Glad to Adhere it Tape Set ($8.99) I can think of lots of crafty purposes for these cute masking tapes in red & white!  They'd be fabulous for wrapping up valentine goodies, as a decorative border on scrapbook pages, or a cute way to seal the envelopes on cards.  They'd also come in handy if you need to tape your mouth shut to prevent yourself from eating anymore muffins. Ahem.

Enjoy your Friday now! {And don't forgive the birthday giveaway below is still open!} 

 

Wrapping Things Up.

Well with my recent preoccupation with pantyhose, I've neglected to realize that it's already December 6 and I've yet to share any of my Jenni Bowlin kit layouts for the month.  But I plan to resolve that today, after posting a few photos from last Saturday evening to put the whole hosiery discussion to bed:

What's that you say? You can't actually see my pantyhose in this shot? Well, forgive me. Shooting into a hotel room mirror with crappy lighting and the wrong lens didn't make this photo shoot very easy.  How about this one?

Oh right. That's a headshot.  But please note the perfectly applied eyeliner that only took me 45 minutes and many, many do-overs to get right. Yes, I know this has nothing to do with pantyhose.  I can talk about other things, you know!

OK, no pantyhose here either.  But I'll end the suspense and tell you I went with the grey lace tights and also popped a grey cardi on before heading out for the night.  See, I listen to you all!

And did you notice that Mike totally foiled my plan to have semi-matching outfits by switching up his sweater color on me? He's never been big on coordinating clothing ever since I made him dress like this:

Holy big bow. And ruffled sleeves!  Mike looks like he's in pink taffeta shock. So you see, pantyhose really is the least of my fashion emergencies.

And since the abundance of embarrasing photos here today would surely overshadow any layouts I'd planned to feature, I'll be back tomorrow with those, I promise!

Enjoy your Tuesday!

 

 

OMG. She's Still Talking About Pantyhose.

After reading your comments yesterday (thank you, thank you, thank you!) I did a little experimenting on my own with hosiery. And of course, I feel compelled to share it here with you, my fashion consultant panel. (Realizing, that yet another post about pantyhose could possibly forever doom me to the infamous title of Girl Who Blogs Incessantly About Pantyhose. But hey, whatever. I've been called way worse.)

I know that nude hose was a favorite suggestion among you, however, I've been unable to find a pair that doesn't my legs look incredibly plastic and shiny. Is this the effect they are supposed to have? Wearing them, I kind of feel like I should draw a Sharpie joint line on my ankles where my feet can be detached, because I look like a mannequin.  So I'm thinking that if nude is the winning vote, I'll just go bare legged.  Pasty white winter skin be damned.

Beyond nude, I took the suggestions for cranberry and grey tights to heart and have these examples to share. This is me modeling three options:

And this is a close-up of the two grey patterns:

And this is me doing the Elaine dance from Seinfeld:

You're welcome.

My thoughts?  I think the red tight is a bit too Mrs. Claus looking, though I love Mindy's suggestion to pair them with boots (so less red is evident) and a cardigan, and I plan to keep them for that very reason. Plus they will pair nicely with my chicken costume. (What?!?)

I'm leaning toward the lacy patterned grey tights because they look more festive and are also a bit more sheer than the dotted.  And I happened to spot a grey embellished cardi at Target yesterday that might be the perfect topper in case I get chilly.  Though with an open bar and plenty of vodka + sodas in my blood, it's a safe bet I will be feeling no pain. (Cue the music for the Elaine dance here!)

So offer up your opinions now, my friends. And a big 'ol smooch for putting up with my neurotic ramblings about hosiery.  MWAH!

 

 

 

Seeking Fashion Advice (Yes, Again)

Looking back over my past three years-o-blogging, the most popular posts have been the ones when I've complained about my client's questionable design sensibilities, or vented about bad drivers, or solicited fashion advice (more specifically, when it relates directly to the hot topic of pantyhose - woo hoo!)

Today I'm going to indulge you with the latter because (a) I respect your opinion, dear readers, and know you will steer me in the right direction, and (b) my real-life friends are too busy to deal with crap like this.  I KID!!  I have no real-life friends.

So anyway, Saturday night we are attending one of two Christmas parties for Mike's company, and this one is the more casual of the two.  If history serves, the night will be host to a whole span of dress attires, ranging from classy LBDs and suits to hot pink latex minis and brushpopper shirts.  Yes, really.  I'm shooting for somewhere in the middle.

My proposed outfit is a simple dark denim a-line dress to which I'm adding a silk sash cummerbund that's black/red/grey/navy paisley print.  For my entrance, I'll be topping it off with my Oma's vintage cream suede trenchcoat. Because I only get so many chances to dress like an extra in a Dick Tracy movie. Would a fedora and cigarette holder be too much??

For shoes, I've got two options (one that I'm already leaning more heavily towards): a taupe suede Mary Jane with red patent sole & heel, or a taller, deep cranberry heel. Which do you like better? And probably more importantly, what would you wear on your legs??  Were the forecast for Saturday not a high of 32º, my choice would be to go bare-legged (and yes, I will shave the winter woolies off my legs before then!).  But since bare is probably not a viable option, I'm thinking grey or black tights....or do I need something sheer? I tend to avoid sheer black hosiery, as my legs look like sausages in them. What about fishnets? Knee socks? Legwarmers?  (Have I made it painfully obvious I NEED HELP?!)

And just in case you need to know, Mike is wearing jeans, a cranberry-colored sweater over a white button-down and plaid green/pink/black tie. He will look effortlessly elegant and casually cool. That's why I married him, ladies.

So enlighten me!  Pick a shoe and tell me how to dress the gams! I need specifics here, people! Or you can tell me to flag the whole thing and go with the hot pink mini...though it could be awkward when someone else shows up in the exact.same.outfit.

Thanks my darlings!  And enjoy your Thursday!

Five on Friday.

Have you discovered the addiction that is Polyvore yet?  I know am probably the last person on earth to stumble upon this little treasure of a website that lets you select from thousands of articles of clothing, jewelry, accessories and make-up and put together custom outfits (and each item is linked to its shopping source - dangerous!). I love putting together virtual outfits - especially ones that feature items already in my closet - and pinning them to my Pinterest fashion files for future reference.  It's the lazy way to play dress up...and I might have wasted an afternoon (or ten) playing around with this fun, fun site.  Here's five of my favorite current sets...

 

 

flowy tunic + skinny jeans by bluestardesign featuring crystal earrings

 

stripes for fall by bluestardesign featuring flat heels

 

casual dress w/ frye boots by bluestardesign featuring a stretch belt

 

safari jacket + tee + aqua accents by bluestardesign featuring stretchy jeans

 

fall feminine by bluestardesign featuring pink rings

Hope you have a wonderful (and fashionable, natch!) Friday!

Thankful Thursday

Just a few things I'm feeling grateful for today...

...the crisp morning air that feels definitively like fall.

...the fact that this guy is home (and snoozing at my feet) after an overnight visit to the vet with a fever and tummyache.

...the reaction to my first online class (at Ella Publishing!) has been positive.

...both kiddos seem happily settled into a school routine and are doing well.

...my October Jenni Bowlin Mercantile kit arrived yesterday and looks absolutely delightful.

...an hour of down-time on the couch with Mike last night (and the hilarious return of Modern Family!)

...the discovery of a decent box wine that doesn't give me a headache the next day.

...a job that provides me flexibility in my schedule and an outlet for creativity.

...cozy cardigans and scarves (and the cool weather to wear them!)

...pumpkin spice lattes.

 

 

What are you thankful for today?

Five {Random} Things

1.  I have spent my life spelling out my first name, Elisabeth (it's an S, not a Z) and the last 13 years spelling out Dickinson (it's two Is, no Es). Which is why I've given Riely the same gift (curse?) and christened her with a uniquely-spelled family name rather than the more common Riley.  If nothing else, she'll be forever diligent on the correct spelling of other people's names.

2. It is possible I might have an obsession with what I call June Cleaver dresses, as evidenced by my recent ModCloth wish list containing all these cute frocks:

            

 

3.  I had gone all summer running no farther than 6 miles and being perfectly content. Then I went on 10-miler this weekend with some friends and realized that I did indeed miss that post-long-run-euphoria that often lasts the remainder of the day and gives you an excellent excuse for consuming large plates of nachos.  Damn this addictive sport. (Today, I'm shopping for new running shoes.)

4.  My kiddos are not the only ones going to back to school this fall.  I'm going to be teaching at Ella Publishing's Boot Camp (Sept. 19-24)  and the Spawn of True Scrap (October 20-22).  I'll be the nervous one, sending up silent wishes that you don't pelt me with spitballs and put tacks on my chair. I'll be bribing you with giveaways in the near future. :)

5.  In case you need some convincing to get the September JBS Mercantile kit, take a look at these yummies:

The exclusive stamp this month (the oval frame) is fabulous and so is the acrylic mask. Plus, you'll get an exclusive edition of The Gazette newsletter, filled with inspiration and ideas for using your kit.  Kits will go on sale September 1, or you can sign up for a membership subscription to guarantee fabulous scrap goodies in your mailbox every month!

Happy Tuesday!