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.