Gettin' By

Wardrobe Wednesday

Colorado summers are a peculiar season. One moment, the sun is shining brightly and you're reaching for sandals and a tank top. Then without warning, the clouds have rolled in, the rain is pouring, and you're realizing a white tank top might have been a bad choice.

When I took these pictures for WW last week, the weather was still deciding if it wanted to be summery.  So I had to resort to my "sorta-summery" outfit of shorts and a tank, topped with a boyfriend cardi.



Since my current selection of shorts is mostly neutral khaki and denim, I had to add in color with my sweater and accessories. I've had this funky statement necklace for a few years and it definitely goes in the "worth-every-penny" category of purchase. It seems to go with everything and it reminds me of little artfully decorated sugar cookies. Yes, it always comes back to food.

The bag is also several years old, but it's the first purse I pull out when summer rolls around. If you're looking for a simple fabric bag (you can custom order in your favorite pattern combo!) then check out Elisa Lou!

With temps predicted near 99˚ today and tomorrow, this is likely my cardigan's last hurrah til fall. Colorado may have just decided it's summer after all. And me? I've decided that's an excellent reason to shop for some new happy-colored shorts (loving all the options here!). Oh, and eat sugar cookies.

Enjoy your Wednesday!

___________________________________________
Mossimo Boyfriend Cardigan
Merona Tank Top
Old Navy Everyday Khaki Shorts
Anthropologie Yoyo Necklace  |  similar, similar
Dansko Sissy Sandals
Elisa Lou tote
Target Bracelet | similar

 

Five on Friday.

1.  Maritime to Shine Sandal in Dots ($77.99). I had a pair of these wooden-soled sandals when I was about seven years old and loved them beyond compare. Partly because my mom had a matching pair and partly because the slight heel made me feel so grown-up. Finding this polka dot pairs takes me back and reminds me that shoe obsessions are indeed, best cultivated from an early age.

 

2.  JBS Mercantile Historian Kit ($27.75).  Even though I'm not Project-Lifeing in the traditional sense, the Historian Kit is my favorite add-on this month. The mix of happy colors with liberal doses of kraft is perfection and I love the assortment of labels, journaling cards, and tags. Plus there's one of the new Lily Bee Design embellishment bundles included with cute fabric brads, buttons, flair and twine - love!

 

3.  Floral Anchor Motif Tee ($17.00).  I'm seeing lots of anchors in fashion, decor and scrapbook supplies and I kinda love the trend. This simple tee would be cute with a pair of yellow or orange shorts or maybe under a lightweight blazer with boyfriend jeans. Ahoy!

4.  Hello Forever Printables ($3.99).  If you haven't checked out the Two Peas Digital store yet, you're missing out on some fabulous printables, cut files, and Photoshop brushes! I'm loving the June exclusive printables by the talented Marcy Penner. There's also some great freebie downloads, but many are only available til the end of the month, so grab 'em now!

5.  Bananagrams ($14.99). We got this fun (and compact) word game for our spring break trip to Mexico but it's been in regular rotation since we got home as well.  It's simple enough - you form words crossword puzzle style - so everyone in the family can play. Or, if they're playing against me - they can all lose! bwahaha!

Hope your Friday is fabulous!

 

 

Wardrobe Wednesday.

Dare I even tempt Mother Nature by pulling out a pair of sandals before the end of May? I hate to get too comfortable with the streak of warm weather we've been having, lest she remind me of her capacity to dump a foot of snow all over our bare-toed, short-sleeved selves.

I couldn't quite resist the lure of my blue sandals, however. And I did try to pay homage to the (hopefully long gone) chills of winter by pairing up cool tones of navy, aqua, and royal blue. Ah winter, we shall miss ye. Not. Of course, pops of white, yellow and even a little pink can only mean spring is here. Break out the sandals and let's paaaartay!

_______________________________________
Gap Jacket - similar
J. Crew tee - similar
Old Navy crop jeans
Lucky Penny sandals
DKNY clutch - similar
Burberry sunglasses
Forever 21 bangles
necklace - made by me

Wardrobe Wednesday.

Until recently, I've only sported neon footware when I've been out burning off my cheeseburger consumption on the running trails. And I've delighted in purchasing every day-glow pink, purple and green pair of athletic shoes I've ever owned. But not so much as a recent splurge on neon yellow pumps. I was giddy when they arrived, positively gushing when I tried them on, and have been seen wearing them most waking hours ever since (despite my family's insistence that they don't go with pajamas.)

So here's an ensemble I think they do work with: my white cropped jeans (also making their debut appearance for spring), a simple tee and my trusty jean jacket. It's just as comfy as pjs, and undoubtedly more publicly appropriate. I am wearing heels, after all!

I kinda adore this yellow paired with aqua, as evidenced by my goofy grin in several of these shots. Proof that the mood-boosting powers of good shoes (and electric yellow?) should not be underestimated.

Happy Wednesday, fashion friends!

_______________________________
jean jacket & graphic tee - Old Navy
cropped jeans & skinny belt  - Target
canvas tote - Gap
Calvin Klein neon pumps - Zappos
watch - Fossil
similar earrings - Etsy

Wardrobe Wednesday

Spring has popped in for a bit here in Colorado - this weekend it was near 75 degrees! - and I took that opportunity to dust off a pair of shorts and sandals and style a spring-ish outfit:

Granted, with the cool morning temps, I had to pair them with a chambray shirt and cardigan, a look that was totally inspired by this outfit in a recent Garnet Hill catalog:

 

I topped my trusty chambray with a favorite sweater that I got a few years back at Anthropologie since it has a similar embroidered pattern across the front.

And of course I had to add my obnoxiously yellow clutch because despite my deep, deep love for this color, there's only so many outfits it works with. Gotta go with the neon when you can!

And it will tide me over until my neon yellow pumps arrive...which should be just in time for the six inches of snow we're supposed to get today. Bah.

Rest assured that when spring does arrive, I'll be celebrating it by wearing copious amounts of neon. You have been warned.

 

___________________________________
Tabitha embroidered cardigan |  similar; similar
 J. Crew chambray shirt
Banana Republic bermuda shorts
Old Navy wedge sandals | similar
Isaac Mizrahi patent clutch | similar

 

Five on Friday.

Time for another edition of Five on Friday, otherwise known as the posts where I list five things I've got my eye on and will inevitably end up buying after all my internet friends tell me how much I really, really need them. So let's get the enabling started!

1.  Skirt Sports Marathon Chick Skirt ($60.00). Spring is definitely my favorite time to run in Colorado. The weather is cool enough that you're not sweating buckets (and, in my case, complaining the whole time) but warm enough to sport bright and cute running attire like this skirt. I am a die-hard running skirt girl because, duh! Exercise is all about looking cute (both during & after!

2.  Calvin Klein Dolly Acid Yellow Pumps ($62.99). For about the past 8 months, I've been coveting a pair of neon yellow heels. Actually, I should say my 12-year old self has been coveting these heels. And my 41 year-old self has sensibly admonished (and squelched) all such requests for trendy neon footware. But after seeing my favorite fashion blogger sporting a similar pair, I may just be rockin' these babies like it's 1984.

 
3. To & Fro Tote ($35.99) Love this coral cotton tote for everything from schlepping library books home to smuggling adult beverages into the community pool, er, I mean healthy snacks for the children! Yeah, that's the ticket!

 

4. Hawaiian Tropic Shimmer Effect Sunscreen ($7.99). I think I've already mentioned this fabulous sunscreen before, but I plan to stock up on this stuff again this summer. It's a really light, non greasy sunscreen that adds a slight shimmer and sparkle to your skin. And the scent is classic Hawaiian Tropic - coconutty, beachy and exactly how a sunscreen should smell!

5.  Bryant Park Scarf ($59.00). It's likely to be quite a few more weeks before it's truly spring here in the Centennial State. So scarves will still be an accessory I'll be reaching for. And what better adornment to go with my neon yellow heels than this fabulous pink wrap? (It also comes in blue, green, poppy and tan if you're not feeling the 80s flashback like me.)

Happy Friday, my friends!

 

Wardrobe Wednesday.

Since we returned from our spring break trip to Mexico, it's been snowing every Monday and Tuesday. I'm starting to get the feeling it's Mother Nature's way of assuring us we didn't miss out on any of the Colorado winter with our little tropical getaway (gee thanks, Ma!)

Anyway, for the past two weeks, my Wardrobe Wednesday posts have been derailed by weather because (1) I can't figure out how to take decent photos indoors and (2) shots of me in snowpants, oversized sweatshirts, and puffy down jackets do not a suitable fashion post make. So I put my Wardrobe Wednesdays on a bit of hiatus until things warmed up a bit.

But this past Monday dawned (deceptively) sunny and warm, so I headed out for a quick shoot to compose this week's post. Despite the building wind, I managed to get in one decent (though slightly overexposed) shot:

And then the gusts heightened, threatening to blow my camera off it's perch, but I donned a smile and snapped on, refusing to let weather ruin yet another post.

Within minutes, the temperatures started to drop. And I was wishing I had grabbed a jacket. But I needed just a few more pictures.  The wind was relentless, blowing my hair annoyingly in my face where (of course) it stuck to my lip gloss and whipping the scarf off my neck and sending it tumbling across the backyard, with me running (in heels) after it.  But are we having fun yet?!

So yeah. I decided to give up and work with the few shots I got. And less than an hour later, my location looked like this:

In the end, I resorted to shooting just the clothes, while I happily relaxed in flannel pants, fuzzy slippers and a giant sweatshirt.  I'm just hoping that next week spring shows its face and I won't have to resort to renaming this blog feature [Wacky, Windy Winter Weather] Wardrobe Wednesday.

 

__________________________________________

Gap Jean Jacket
Old Navy crepe blouse 
Hollister cargo pants | similar
Marshalls scarf | similar
Dollhouse mary janes | similar
Kohls earrings & bracelet
Ray Ban shades

Wardrobe Wednesday.

 

'Tis the season for spring break and zipping off to tropical destinations to treat the cabin fever that's been brewing for the last month! (or maybe that's just here in Colorado!)

At any rate, I'm dreaming of beaches and swaying palm trees (and the fruity umbrella-laden drink, natch!) and the outfit I'd wear en route to that destination!

It's always tricky to dress warm enough not to freeze your hiney off in the airport parking lot at DIA, but cool enough that you're not sweating bullets when you arrive at warmer destinations. To solve this multi-range temperature dilemma, I love this maxi dress (or as close to maxi as this tall girl can find!) because it covers my legs, but still feels cool & breezy when the mercury rises.

To stay toasty on the flight, I've got a lightweight scarf that can double as beach wrap once I'm on the warm sand. And the jean jacket can be peeled to reveal the short-sleeves beneath.

Of course, you can't forget the trusty waterproof beach bag (I adore this one from Thirty-one!) that's big enough to hold your beach essentials but also doubles as a purse/carry-on. And did I mention it has six exterior pockets that are perfectly sized for, I dunno, a cold Corona with lime?

Did someone say Corona? Well, yes, I believe I will!

_________________________________

Nordstom maxi dress  |  similar, similar
Old Navy jean jacket
Cynthia Rowley scarf
Reef sandals  |  similar
Thirty-one tote
Smith "Cameo" sunglasses

 

Wardrobe Wednesday.

So what's a girl to wear to her husband's surprise 40th birthday party? Well, it has to be comfortable -  to hide your excessive anxiety about the impending surprise. And pair nicely with your go-to staples of a jean jacket and cowboy boots. And um, a quick-dry fabric that hides nervous wine spills is an absolute necessity!

So here's what I came up with. An easy, breezy coral dress cinched with a brown belt and paired with some decidedly western accessories.


I usually don't like such blouse-y tops, but this one seemed to work (and I loved the ruffled edging). And not having to worry about bra peekage is always a bonus!

Luckily the warm temps of the weekend that we needed to get the guys on the golf course also meant I could go bare-legged, though a quick spray tan was definitely in order!

Another reason I love this outfit? It lets you move effortlessly from party host to (almost) pro golfer:

 

So when the ladies of the LPGA start wearing boots, you'll know who started the trend.

_____________________________

Modcloth Dress | similar, similar, similar
Old Navy jean jacket | similar
Old Gringo boots
Forever 21 necklace | similar, similar
Forever 21 bracelets
Target belt

Wardrobe Wednesday.

Hey peeps!  I'm popping on today with a Wardrobe Wednesday involving a quick and easy outfit. It's perfect for trips to the grocery store, carpooling children to various activities, or speed-dialing the pizza delivery guy when you have forgotten to go to the grocery store because you're too busy shuttling children around to various activities. Not that that's ever happened around here.

This tunic makes my inner hippy girl very happy (I'm a child of the 70s! How can I not like paisley??) It's flowy, breezy, and cleverly camoflauges the problem-area thighs.  On someone shorter, it might work as a dress but I've paired it with denim jegging to avoid showing off more hippy girl than is publicly acceptable.

I also added a corduroy motorcycle jacket (since we're technically still experiencing a bit of winter here!) and gold pendant necklace.

And now I'll take a brief intermission to sing some John Denver refrains: Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy.... (I warned you the hippy girl was surfacing!)

 

Don't be fooled by the dreamy look - I'm really just imagining which pizza toppings I'll be adding to my order tonight!

Hope your Wednesday is wonderful!

_________________________________

Diesel Jacket
Ruche Tunic
Target jeggings
Frye Boots
Guess Necklace
TokyoBay watch | similar, similar