Park attire

// top: American Apparal // bag: Windsor // belt:  vintage // jeans: goodwill //
necklace: local designer // tumbler: Starbucks.  'nough said.  ;P

easy fix to necklace with a broken clasp: use a brooch

good grief

a girl walks into a cute charming vintage store. There's a darling little black & white checkered skirt hanging on the stores' 3 foot long rod of bonafide one-of-a-kind vintage clothing that catches her eye immediately.  She grabs it before anyone else can and heads to the fitting room and excitedly goes to put it on.  It doesn't go over her hips. {wwwwwhhhhhhyyyy!??}  Her head hangs low as she puts it back on the hangar, and hangs that adorable little skirt back on the rack.  She curses those damn hips of hers and does a mental one-two-three punch at herself for not sticking to that "clean eating" and workout program she's been avoiding for 389 days.  She wanders around the shop for another 15 minutes, unable to let herself leave cause that skirt is taunting her, it is soooo cute. I mean, she could wear it to work, and everything. And it's the only one.  It won't be found again, anywhere.  A gravity force pulls her back to the little rack, and off comes the skirt again, and back to the dressing room she goes.  I mean, maybe if she tugged and pulled it would claw itself over those hips.  Maybe she just didn't pull hard enough the first time.  Nope.  There is just not enough fabric to make it over those mountains below her waist.  She takes it off, hangs it on the wall hangar in the dressing room stall and stares.  Well, it'd probably only take 3 inches or so.. so say, 30 maybe 45 days of good clean eating and hip shaving exercise?   Yes!  That's all it would take.  So she got the damn skirt!!!!  And it hung in her closet, untouched, for 285 days.  (Yes, I counted, it was 285 days).  But, FINALLY, she hit the fit trip, 42 days passed, and she reached for that little skirt, and with a big breath to suck it all in, she slipped her toes into it, reached down, pulled it up... and it fit!!!!!!!!!!  And then she wondered if it was really as cute as she thought it was.  ;P

Good grief, does this ever happen to anyone else, or is it just me????

I got 'em from my mama

jacket: boutique find eons ago / tank: Nordstroms BP / boots: Naughty Monkey
sunglasses: Target /  bag: Jessica Simpson /pants: from my mama

a few weeks ago, when I saw my mama, she gave me the remains in the bag of her hand-me-downs she'd brought for my sis-in-law, Jani, to go through.  To my great delight, Jani-Belle passed by these leopard pantaloons.  What a score for me!  They are sooo comfortable, to the comfortable tune of yoga pants, and are the perfect pop to black - a color I tend to live in.  I woke up Saturday and wore em around the house, wore em out around town running errands later in the day, and then threw them back on again to run over to a friends' house party after our evening playing Super Hero's.  How lucky am I to have a mom more fashionable than I?  VERY.  Thanks mama!  [and sssseeeriousssly, did you seeee the oh-so-hot-right-now-hot dripping C's shirt my mom was wearing when I saw her last?? mama's got Style!]

been a minute since I've paid attention to some fashion, check out the fashion inspiration all over blog world!  Random Wednesday's with Because Shanna Said So | The Pleated Poppy | Style Sessions with Style Elixir

an evening as the Incredible's

Tristen's school's auction fundraiser was this past weekend and the theme was Super Hero's.  Thanks to Rhett's bro and sis-in-law for letting us borrow their Incredible's costumes, and Thanks to the good lord for providing the inspiration to whomever the genius was that created high waisted spanx.  A full size tight body suit is a short curvy girls' worst nightmare!  At least for this short curvy girl. But it was darn fun to wear.  And how about Rhett.  Can I get an applause all the way from the peanut gallery for this man?  Not just did he wear the suit, but to indulge me with a photo shoot, AND let me post the evidence on my blog??  What a guy.  ;)

and how about Tristen, our photographer, and my sis Aubrey for inducing some fun shots.  Thanks fam!  XOXO

the evening was great!  Rhett took home a Keurig machine for the office in the silent auction,
and lots of support was shown and money raised for the school during the lively live auction.
about 50% of the attendees dressed up.

Monday Morning Gossip / Weekend Shenanigans / YoLo Mondays

prepping for gym success

I haven't been fitting in the gym.  Over our belated Valentine's dinner this past weekend, Rhett and I discussed what needed to happen so I could be successful and decided that realistically, the gym has to happen in the morning, or it's probably not going to happen.  We also decided that it would be best if I could get ready for work at the gym, rather than going back to the house to get ready for work.  

We backed into how long my workout needs to be (45 minutes to start), and determined what time I need to leave the house to make it the gym, get in my workout, be dressed for work, and in my office by 8am.  Rhett had serious doubts about me getting ready at they gym.. mainly because, "well babe.  You usually change your outfit 5 times before you get out the door."  True, True, True, True, TRUE!  It's true.  I am totally that girl.  So, I told him about a little thing called "closet shopping" that has been storming blog world, and how I have paid close attention to how Shanna, one of my favorite bloggers, has personal style services where she goes in and "shops the closet" to create outfits, and how she takes pictures of each outfit so there's an outfit guide to lean on when you're staring at your wardrobe wondering what the heck the wear, and how I would do something similar... so my outfits would be planned.  By doing so, I'd know exactly what to take the gym every day, and I'd know exactly what outfit I was putting on.  One day of outfit planning, a week full of setting myself up for success.  

And so I did it.  My President's day was spent "shopping my closet" and getting myself ready for gym readiness.  

First.  

I laid out everything I needed in my gym bag.  My workouts (that I want to laminate), ear buds, wrist weights, curling iron, shower bag, flip flops, & swim wear (hoping I'll have a time or two I can slip into the hot tub).  

Second. 

I put together work outfits.  

Third. 

I put together a slight alteration to the work outfit that I could put in the "after work bag" to take into work, to change into on my way out of work, to take my work outfit to casual.  Why?  Cause here's my deal:  I get home, strip off my work clothes, and promptly slip right into my yoga pants.  And hey, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that.  But I can tell you that I am in a dang rut.  I don't want to only wear work clothes all week!  And I swear to god, those expandable yoga pants are doing me no favors when I get home and decide, well hell, why not have a bowl of ice cream, my yoga pants will stretch.  

So with this in mind, here's what I came up with... 

(note, shopping your closet by yourself is NOT the same as having someone else style your closet!
I still ended up with the same black and white 'ish I always do)

the work outfit is displayed in the middle of the frame, the accessories needed on the left side of the outfit.  To the right, is a slight variation ~ typically jeans and shoes to change the outfit up a bit to something I'll wear after work.   

THEN, I created a Secret Pinning Board called "My Private Closet".  And I pinned my outfits to it.  

The Secret Board is PRIVATE.  You can pin all day long to a "Secret Board" and no one else can see.  I thought it'd be the perfect site to host all the outfits.. from MY closet.  I can open it up day or night and grab the articles of clothing needed to create each outfit.  I detailed each outfit, so I'd know exactly what article of clothing was pictured.  

And voila!  I'm ready for a week of gym going.  Does this guarantee I'll be successful?  No.  I still have to get my butt up every day, and I have to commit to the 15-20 minutes every day of loading and unloading my bags, but I'm hoping this is really going to help.  Here's to Hoping!!  And gym going.  And 10 lbs vanished from my bod.  ;) 

sweaterville

ever have a piece of clothing that you just decide to live in?  you throw it on top of everything and anything?  yes?  me too.  right now, that piece of clothing for me is this sweater.  darn thing isn't even flattering!  but do i care?  Nope.  out of the past 7 days, i've thrown in on for 5 of them.  over jeans, work pants, a skirt, a dress.  no shame.  it's just comfy and cozy and i'm loving it.

find me at The Pleated Poppy

thanks a lot, fat pants

necklace: Banana Republic {old}, bag: Jessica Simpson, recently spotted at DSW
sunglasses: Target, bangles: Buckle, boots: Naughty Monkey @ Nordstroms, leggings: Target
shirt: Gypsy Soul, tank: JCP

gad, first of all, sorry about the low quality photos.  my camera's settings are a hot mess right now.  grrrr!

moving on.. look at those thighs, my mamasieta's. look at em! can I admit something?  I had a bestie girlfriend, with all the love in her heart, tell me about a year ago how great I looked and that "my thighs didn't even touch!"  and you know what?  I had never, ever, ever, ever even considered that.  I never had looked at my thighs, or anyone else's thighs, and noticed whether they touched or not.  and now, now all I see is that my thighs touch.  crazy how if you are unaware of something, it would never cause you pause.  but once you're aware, it can change everything you see.  ignorance is bliss?  in the case of touching thighs?  YESSSS!

that said, ignorance is not bliss in the case of me ignoring the fact that I've packed on TWENTY pounds [yes.  it is twenty pounds.  I could take a pic of the scale, and prove it, but I'm going to save us both that] cause I have been living in bliss, eating a lot, of whatever I please, not exercising, at all, and saying in my head "oops, another 5 pounds.  I'll lose it, when I decide to lose it".  problem is those 5 pounds times 4 are now 20 pounds, and def not something I can just drop off with one run up the street.

and so.. I wear a lot of fat pants.  ie. leggings.  ya, ya, yea, I know.  leggings are so in.  and so are over-sized shirts which is a blessing and a curse all rolled into "yes, please, I'll have dessert too, my fat pants leggings will stretch out just fine for a big fat slice of that red velvet cake."  And so with a big ball of buttery love, hate, sarcasm, and gratefulness, I say..  Thanks a lot, fat pants.

Linking up to the style party at Pleated Poppy and because I think this qualifies, over with Shanna at Because Shanna Said So for a little Wednesday Randomness!  Happy Hump Day Mama's!!  XOXO -m-

chevron + sequins + randoms

dress: Olivia Mathews {Ross}

boots: thrifted

the food & wine festival we swooped into last weekend recommended "Cocktail Attire" and I was thrilled to oblige and wear this darling sequined chevron dress that has been hanging patiently in my closet, tags attached.  I found it at Ross a few months ago, and Had to have it, but hadn't had the right occasion to wear it to.  I downplayed the dressiness with my cowboy boots, because, well, Portland is Portland and "dressy" could be considered throwing a scarf on it, if you know what I mean.  While it was fun to wear with the boots, next time this little number makes its way out of the closet, it'll be with black tights and some killer black stilettos!

and now... for a little Randomness!!

brought to you by your's truly,

Because Shanna Said So 
{she really did, click the link}

and onto the rumble inside my head.. 

1.  How the heck is a girl to choose the very perfect pair of boots these days when there are SO MANY TO CHOOSE FROM, and I swear, every woman that walks by has an even cuter pair than the last pair I saw that I had to have!?  Hmph.  It's making my decision almost impossible. I did found these, in black, and I loooove them, and they are staying right where they are~ on my feet for a very long, long time.  But I also came home Sunday with these and these and I think I'm going to take them back for these and these. Tho, what I realllly want, are these . Hmph x2!  What to do, what to do.  Opinions? 

2.  Since I can remember, my child has begged me to do an Advent Calendar, and I am shamed because I have never done one for him.  I think this may be the last year he would find it exciting and I'm bound and determined to do it.  So now I need to know:  how the heck does one make this whole Advent Calendar thing work?!  I mean, I get it that you open something every day, and I know that's what has him uber excited about it.  ;P  But, where does one get a cool one, and how does one make an Advent Calendar fun and meaningful- for an almost 12 year old.  Opening a square of chocolate a day is not gonna cut it, and I want it to be more than That, anyway.  Know what I mean?  Maybe one day we go to the store and he picks out a toy for another child?  A few things like that? AND, is this going to break my budget!?  Any personal experience out there?

3.  I've been fighting the urge to turn my house upside down and inside out for a few weeks now, and I'm just not sure how much more fight I have in me.  I want a new look!  Which means I need some new things.  Which means I will tear my house apart, spend too much money, I'm sure, will stay up way too late and waste spend massive amounts of time that I don't really have, and it will all likely end with me pulling my hair out and curling up, fetal position, underneath my bed, cursing myself for even considering this around the Holiday's.  So, all that to say ~ should I, or shouldn't I? 

phew 
feels good to get all that outta my head!  ;)
Have a Happy Wednesday!

-m-

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cutsy slippers & shirts meant for teenagers

shirt: F21 {old}
jeans: Earl Blue {Macy's}
slippers: Target {old}
bag:  Jessica Simpson {recently spotted at DSW}

truth be told,

that above, is what I could wear all day, every day.

Slippers meant for at home use only +

 shirts meant for teenagers = I have no shame.

I'd wear it almost anywhere,
and totally did to T's basketball games last weekend.
Yep.  I embarrassed him.  Again.
isn't that what mom's are for?  ;)   

check out these style parties today!
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The Pleated Poppy

def not an impulse: Bar III

sweater dress: Bar III
boots: thrifted
bag: Jessica Simpson
nail polish: Nordstrom

I am obsessed with the sweater dress right now.  They are such a fab fall to winter transitional article of clothing.  Perfect to layer with leggings, as the weather gets cooler.   I saw this one at Macy's in the Impulse department.  It's by Bar III, a line I am currently head over heels for, and I had to have it.  I wore it out this past weekend on our dinner date.  For me, it's the perfect combo of comfy, casual, and cute.  And I just couldn't help myself, I painted my nails bright neon pink to wear along with it.  oh how I love the bright neon nail polish.  I may wear it all fall and winter long.