Yellow (sort of)

It's Yellow Day over at Everybody Everywear today... so I tried to get in at least a little bit of yellow in my outfit. The trouble is, I have very little yellow. Two tank tops, and a scarf. I think that's it. Oh, and a pair of mustard yellow platform clogs. Huh. I'm hoping my watch and the wreath in the background give me some extra-credit points?

Black cropped cardigan: Old Navy
Yellow petal-trim tank: Old Navy
Black stretchy jersey skirt: Old Navy
(Wow... this outfit is seriously brought to you by the words Old and Navy.)
Black-and-white wedge espadrilles: Naturalizer
Small starfish necklace: Target
Yellow rubber watch: swag from my husband's old job

Where: Evening meeting.

Running

Today's outfit is brought to you by "keeping it real." It was a hot, muggy, sticky day, and I had a million errands to do. I wasn't about to dress up! But I tried to look at least somewhat interesting.

Raspberry fly-away tank: Marshalls
White tank: Old Navy
Olive long shorts: Lee
Studded thong sandals: Target
Small starfish necklace: Target
Yellow rubber watch: swag from my husband's old job

Where: Daycamp dropoff, dog groomers, doctor's office, grocery store, meeting, watch shop, daycamp pickup, lunch with my grandmother, work at home, dog groomers again, farmshare pickup.

Purple polka-dots

Saturday evening, I took my little boy to a hot air balloon festival (it was amazing; he was enthralled). Once again, he had strong feelings about what I should wear. "A fancy dress with purple polka-dots, Mama," he said. I didn't have such a thing in my closet. I asked him if this skirt would be close enough - it's pink, and sort of dotty. He didn't think so. But we agreed that I could wear this for now and he'd get me something purple and polka-dotted for my birthday next year.

White v-neck t-shirt: Kohl's
Coral print skirt: Old Navy (I shortened it, and doesn't it look better than last time? Much less frumpy. Although I'd like it better still a little shorter.)
Coral and tan sandals: Bass
Pink and green bead necklace: Baked Beads
Yellow rubber watch: swag from my husband's old job
"Hot air balloon" in the background: my son's new favorite thing EVER

Where: Tacos and a hot-air balloon festival! Awesome evening.

Beachy

Friday's outfit! I love the print of this dress - half floral, half fireworks - but it's a tiny bit short for my daily activities. I find myself doing weird crouching maneuvers to avoid flashing people when I bend over. Ah well.

Pink dress: Old Navy
White button-down shirt (usually worn as a beach shirt): TJ Maxx
Brown padded flip-flops: Target
Tree medallion: TJ Maxx
Yellow rubber watch: swag from my husband's old job

Where: Beach with friends, lunch in the sand, making strawberry jam, burger cookout at a local farm. Just about the perfect summer day.

Welcome Back, Frumptastic!

Well, hello! I apologize for my extended absence. I do not have a really good excuse other than I've been lazy about planning my outfits and relatively busy at work and home. It seems like a relaxing summer is not a reality and we have plans every other night. We are traveling to visit family in the Northwest tomorrow and my plan is to post every day out there. We will have different scenery and hopefully some fun outfits. Today The Professor took my photo out on the deck and if you can see in the front lower corner, there is a metal plant holder made to look like a cat. At first I thought I'd crop it out but I think Rusty Kitty sort of fits my style. Huh?

The Wear:
Jean Jacket: Banana Republic
Dress: Old Navy
Shoes: Mossimo

The Where:
Work, bank, pool party, home to finish last minute packing.

Bugs

Last night we were going to dinner over at our neighbors' house, during an afternoon and evening of huge thunderstorms. My son had strong opinions about what I should wear: "A fancy dress, Mama. With bugs on it." I didn't have any bug dresses, surprisingly. But he said that this butterfly-print maxi dress was close enough.
He also took the photo. I may have a budding art director on my hands.

Brown cardigan: Target
Butterfly-print maxi dress: Old Navy
White tank: Old Navy
Bronze ballet flats: Target
Giant starfish necklace: self-made at bead shop
Yellow rubber watch: swag from my husband's old job

Where: Dinner at our neighbors' house.

Me time

So last night it was hot, I was grumpy, and my son was incorrigible. So I did something I never do: called a sitter for no reason at all, and grabbed my book, and took some time for just me. It was wonderful. I went to a local restaurant, sat outside, and drank lemonade and read my book. A friend showed up to join me, and then we went to TJ Maxx and tried on clothes. I loved it.
In other news, these olive-drab linen shorts are quickly becoming an MVP of my wardrobe. I've worn them three times in the past week, in very different outfits. (Here's one. I didn't photograph the other, sorry!) And to think, I almost returned them.

Brown cardigan: Target
White cowlneck tank: Old Navy
Olive-drab linen shorts: Gap
Beaded ballet flats: Naughty Monkey (see them better here)
Lobster necklace: gift from my sister (see it better here)

Where: Reading, eating, shopping.

Keepin' it real

So yeah. This is what I wore on Sunday for a day of lazing around and pre-Fourth festivities. I know I'm not completely coordinated and possibly in danger of looking hopelessly suburban... but oh well. It was a Sunday.
And I have to confess that knee-length shorts like these are a summer staple of my wardrobe. I love that they don't expose any thigh so I never feel self-conscious even if I have to squat down for toddler-wrangling. But they can sometimes skew quite frumpy if I'm not careful. And I may shorten this pair by an inch or two.

Peach cardigan: Target
Ruffle chiffon tank: Old Navy and shortened by me (after this incident)
Knee-length cargo shorts: Lee
Coral and tan leather sandals: Bass
Yellow rubber watch: swag from my husband's old job

Where: Lots of cartoons with my son, grocery store, nap, picnic, concert in the park, sparklers in the backyard, and fireworks.

Thin Mints

Hi there! This is Friday night's outfit... an old friend was in town so we had a girls night out. There was wine. A lot of wine. In fact, in the interest of full disclosure: I was a little drunk when I took this photo upon returning home. There may or may not have been a two-hour-nap needed today in order to restore equilibrium.
I had to do some self-convincing to leave the house like this. The blouse is a brand-new thrift store acquisition and a radical departure from my usual style. But I like the bold pattern and 70s color palette. The shorts are another pair of these, just in olive drab this time, and the shoes are my beloved wedges. The total effect is slightly "naughty Girl Scout." The pattern on the shirt, especially, makes me feel like selling Thin Mints.

Patterned silk blouse: Banana Republic, thrifted
Olive-drab linen shorts: Gap
Brown & silver platform wedges: Mossimo/Target (see them better here)
Lobster necklace: gift from my sister

Where: dinner and lots of wine with girlfriends.

Doesn't matter if you're black or white

(...to quote the late, great Michael Jackson.)
I put a little bit of effort into getting dressed today, just because it's Friday. You don't really need a reason, do you? Actually, this outfit is super comfortable. I got this stretchy jersey skirt (and this purple one) at Old Navy for a steal recently, and I love them. Like skirty pajamas. If there was such a thing.

Polka-dotted blouse: Allen B for JCPenney
Black camisole: don't know
Black stretchy jersey skirt: Old Navy
Black-and-white wedge espadrilles: Naturalizer
Octopus necklace: gift from my sister (see it better here)
Yellow rubber watch: swag from my husband's old job

Where: Daycamp dropoff, bank, tons of work from home.

Ocean

I'm pretty sure I wore almost this exact outfit on vacation. Oh well. You're allowed to repeat every few months, right??
I adore this color, it makes me think of the sea. So I paired it with my lobster necklace. Even though I spent the entire day running errands and doing housework, looking down at my dress still made me smile.

Turquoise jersey dress: Target
White cardigan: Target
Beaded "peacock" sandals: Chinese Laundry
Lobster necklace: gift from my sister
Yellow rubber watch: swag from my husband's old job

Where: Daycamp dropoff, K-mart (ugh, ours is grody), gas station, bank, thrift store, Homegoods, Michael's, town offices (twice), bakery, market, daycamp pickup, laundry, sewing new curtains, work at home. Phew.

Blousey

Sunday's outfit! We were having some friends from out of town over for dinner. (I made carne asada with homemade salsa. Yum.) I was feeling a little muffin-toppy — if that's not a word, it should be — so I pulled out this new purchase, a blousey floral tank. I like the combination of orange and maroon in the pattern, and the looseness was great so I could eat a lot.

White cardigan: Target (I have two, so this isn't the same as Saturday's stretched-out version!)
Orange-and-maroon floral tank: Kohl's
Jeans: Calvin Klein lean bootcut (sadly, these are too short so can only be worn rolled-up)
Bronze ballet flats: Target

Where: Having friends over for dinner.

P.S. If you didn't notice yesterday, please look at the window in the background. Someone with four legs and claws got a little excited at the arrival of the UPS truck and shredded my side-window curtain. Now it's all horror-movie-you-can-see-into-my-house-at-night around here. I've got to get sewing.

Play ball!

Hello! I'm a few days behind. This is actually what I wore on Saturday, to go to a minor-league baseball game here in town. I know I'm wearing yellow and not red, but this outfit always seems a little patriotic to me. Maybe it's the pinstripes on the shorts. Anyhow, the game was great; it was the first time the little man had seen a baseball game in person and he was smitten. He got hotdogs and popcorn and a baseball signed by the mascot. It was wonderful. And it didn't even matter that the game got rained out in the fourth inning. However these were perhaps not the most practical shoes for running to the car in the mud.

White cardigan: Target (looking a little stretched out; I keep forgetting to replace it!)
Yellow petal-trim tank: Old Navy
Navy pinstripe shorts: Dockers
Navy-and-white wedge espadrilles: Naturalizer (the sisters to these)
Yellow rubber watch: swag from my husband's old job

Where: Baseball, baby!

Weekend Wedding

This weekend my husband and I made a 1000 mile whirlwind tour to go to his brother's wedding. The ceremony and reception took place in Southie so needless to say, I was excited. Of course the only thing I know about Southie is Good Will Hunting. And yes, it is kind of like that. The wedding was in a reception hall above a bar and pretty low key. The bride and groom looked happy. The dress code varied from a long ball gown to jeans and a t-shirt. I have no idea where I fell in the spectrum other than I am in LOVE with my new Lilly Pulitzer shift dress that I found at...wait for it...T.J. Maxx. SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!! It might not have been the most flattering dress in the world because it was so straight but honey badger don't care because the pattern! Oh the pattern. Turquoise, yellow and black koi fish? Yes, please! I will need to work a little harder at Zumba to make this dress fit better because of late I've been slacking and well, it shows. We have another wedding at the end of July and hopefully this dress will work better for me. And again, it's another 1000 mile (that's round trip total) but it's all worth it.

The Wear:
Dress: Lilly Pulitzer (from T.J. Maxx!)
Shoes: Franco Sarto

The Where:
Wedding in Southie (our waitress even had a thick Irish brogue!)

Bows and ruffles

I don't have all that much to say about my outfit today... it's a weird day today. Rainy and grey, and I've felt like I've had my head underwater all day. I could really use a nap. Ah well. Maybe tomorrow will be better!

Ruffle tank-top: Lauren Conrad
White cardigan: Target
Jeans: Levi's Curve ID bootcut
Purple bow ballet flats: Payless
"Moonstone" teardrop pendant: Target

Where: Errands and ... you know what, I can't even remember.

Colorful

I never would have thought of pairing coral and purple until I read this post at academichic. But I like it! I wore this to the beach to meet old high school friends who were in town. We chatted while all the kids played in the sand. (I have to say, I was far and away the most colorfully dressed there. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about that. Leave it to high school to bring back insecurities about not fitting in!)
After the beach the little man and I went out for lunch at a local diner. We were doing great until it was time to come home... which is why when I took this photo, there was an Epic Meltdown happening very loudly in the next room. This is the only photo (of the four I took) in which there is not a dog cowering at my feet due to all the screaming. Such a glamorous life I lead.

Coral v-neck t-shirt: Ann Taylor
Purple jersey skirt: Old Navy
Studded thong sandals: Target
Wooden bead "luau" necklace: local jewelry shop

Where: Cleaning the house, beach with friends, diner lunch, epic toddler meltdown, swim lessons.

New favorite dress

I had an early doctor's appointment this morning and wanted to look cute but comfortable. This dress is my new favorite. I really wish they made it in more colors so I could buy a dozen!
(There was a brown cardigan involved here at one point - no joke, I put it on the counter to take this photo and it fell into the dog's water bowl. So the dress stood alone for the rest of the day. It looks better that way anyhow.)

Tan stripe jersey dress: Target
Ivory/gold ballet flats: Aerosoles
Petrified wood necklace: From a trunk show in Boston many years ago

Where: doctor's appointment, taking a "day off" to play with my son in the yard, farmshare pickup, library.

The Suitable Alternative to a Suit

Thankfully, I work in an office where I do not have to wear a suit very much, if ever. Although I like wearing skirts and dresses, and suits are flattering, they are just too much effort. They are stiff and uncomfortable and I feel like I should be in court. Well, if I am wearing a suit, I usually am in court so yeah. There you go. Tonight we have our big board meeting and I might have to say something so this is my quick fix for a suit. Because it's a 174 percent humidity, I am not going to wear a suit. Instead, I am wearing a light white blazer with a full skirt as a suitable alternative. The skirt is actually brown and white but the damn iPhone makes it look black and white. It's comfortable and cool and I don't look completely frumpy in it. Frumptastic, maybe but not frumpy.

The Wear:
White summer blazer: Merona
Brown tissue tee: J. Crew
Brown and white full skirt: Willi Smith
Pink shoes: Mossimo

The Where:
Daycare, work, lunch with coworker, daycare, Co-Op, home, board meeting.

Of stripes and florals

Sunday brought two outfits! I know, it's fascinating stuff. It was a gorgeous day - sunny and cool in the morning, warming up later.

Striped dolman top: TJ Maxx
Tan cargo pants: Old Navy
Ivory/gold ballet flats: Aerosoles
Yellow rubber watch: swag from my husband's old job

Where: laundry, groceries, work at home.

Later on I hosted a Father's Day cookout at our place. I didn't get to take my picture until after everything was over, but this dress was perfect: casual and cool. And I have to say, I adore the waistline because I can eat as much as I want and not have to worry about sucking in my gut.

White floral dress: Old Navy
Beaded flip-flops: can't remember

Where: cookout at our house

Glorifed Jammies

For some reason the little fella woke up at 4:40 a.m. and didn't feel much like falling back asleep. On top of that, I had some GI malfunction and felt pretty much like bleck. And for an extra special cherry on top, because I'm generous that way, the significant other left for a conference for the week. So needless to say, I did not feel like dressing in anything more than glorified jammies. Oh, and for a little something special, I didn't have enough time to do my hair so I put it back in headband. I look a bit like those Irish Step Dancers with the fake curly wigs. But hey, I'm half Irish. It comes naturally.

The Wear
Cardigan: Merona from Target
Dress: Old Navy
Shoes: xhiliration
Necklace: Superhero Jewelry
Headband: Etsy shop which is not longer available
Engagement Ring & Wedding Band

The Where:
Airport, daycare, work, ophthalmologist, work again, daycare again, home.