January 6, 2015 by gn0mel0ver

Sunny Skirt

When I first saw this skirt at Anthropologie, I fell in love with the Otomi-like pattern (now sold out but my llama skirt is slightly similar).

The price was much too much for me, but it eventually went to more than 75% off and I was able to bring it home. The reviews had stated that it was very small in the waist. But I have big hips and a small waist so it sounded like it would work for me.

And it did!

And I was happy.

Because I could still breathe.

The waistband pattern is the best part of the whole skirt. It has small little colorful animals running around. How could anyone be sad with animals tickling their waist?

I have spoken here before of my husband’s love of pencil skirts. I like that this skirt has the shape he loves and the pattern I adore.

Let’s talk about these fringed booties. I adore these booties. They were inexpensive and I love the way the fringe moves when I walk. They, like the skirt, make me happy. I will be wearing them a lot this season.

When I wear this skirt the song, “Happy,” plays in a loop in my head.

The necklace was a sweet gift from Simply Livly on Etsy. I love the colorful fabric wrapped beads.

Do you have theme songs for your clothes? Do have a piece that makes you “Happy”? What kind of animal would you say is on my skirt? I am trying to figure it out.

*this post contains affiliate links. Clicking on or purchasing from certain links will provide a small income for ~~“Happy” thoughts~~ this blog.

This post was edited using the app VSCOcam’s C1 Filter at level 3.

January 5, 2015 by gn0mel0ver

Ruffled Dreamy Madness

“It’s snowing!” My husband’s excited shout filled the quiet and dark house as he happily exclaimed from the kitchen. He had gotten up to do something and was surprised to see a vast white landscape of snow looking at him through our backyard window.

I grumbled something unintelligible and rolled over in bed.

This was not the first time my husband had shouted odd things in the dark. Remind me tell you about “the pipes” one day.

Lights began to come on one by one throughout the house.

My husband burst into our bedroom and gleefully exclaimed, “I’m going to wake up the kids!”

Before I could stop him, he bounded down the hallway. I heard him wake the kids up and tell them to quickly get dressed in warm clothes. “Quick! We have to beat the sun! It will all melt once the sun comes out!”

On his way outside, he stopped in our bedroom again, “Why don’t you get ready and we could take some pictures for the blog?”

I turned into my pillow. If only I could get back to my dream. I was climbing a stadium full of people. Brad Pitt had waved me up to the top. He stood up so I would see him. When I got there he looked at me in disappointment. This did not dissuade me.

I quickly grabbed his head. Not his face. Not his hand. Nope, his head. And I jerked it down towards mine. Then I kissed him. Or made him kiss me. Either way it was awful. He was dismayed. I was dismayed. This was not the way it was supposed to go.

If I could just close my eyes again, maybe I could redo that scene…

But the lure of my family playing in the dark in the snow broke my Brad Pitt concentration.

I sighed and sat up. Then I got ready as fast as I could. Faster than one runs up stadium steps to get to a waiting Brad Pitt. Faster than one jerks Brad Pitt’s unyielding lips to their own. Faster than the dismayed look upon a one Brad Pitt’s face can chill thy blood.

So, I got ready fast. Brad Pitt fast. Not quite Tom Cruise Mission Impossible odd-running fast, but close.

I put on the same clothes I had worn the day before. These Mothers Jeans are my favorite. I own two pairs. I got mine on a popback in 2013, but it looks like they came out with ones without the distressing because these have the same name as the ones I purchased. They are great for girls with a wide hip to waist ratio. I am hoping to snag another pair at a great sale price one day. I am in Brad-Pitt-love with this ruffled sweatercoat that I just cannot get enough of (I think it might be sold out online but you might still be able to find one in a store if you call around). I purchased it on sale during their 25% off sale sale promotion. It is the plum color. In case you cannot tell. The pictures are a bit fuzzy… like a dream.

What is Brad Pitt like in your dreams? Is he a seat saver? An unyielding tease? A disgruntled victim? Have you ever gotten ready in a hurry? In the dark? To take pictures in the snow?

I’m not sure I have either.

It might all have been a dream.

P.S. I shared this on The Pleated Poppy and Reasons To Dress.

January 4, 2015 by gn0mel0ver

Building A Snowgnome

Oh the joy! In my secret heart of hearts was a dream that I did not think I could even dare to close my eyes to think of. It involved my children playing in the snow. In our yard. Building a snowman.

It doesn’t seem like a big dream, but there it was in my heart of hearts.

So when my husband woke me up on New Year’s Eve excitedly exclaiming that it was snowing, I thought I was still dreaming. It was still dark outside, and it did not seem real.

But it was. In Southern California, it snowed.

We woke our kids up and told them to quickly get dressed in warm clothes and shoes. And we all traipsed outside to play in the snow in the dark. Our silhouettes were lit by the streetlamps and Christmas lights twinkling on the street. It felt surreal and I understood how Harry Potter must have felt when Hagrid greeted him in the lighthouse that very first night.

Anything seemed possible.

My kids built a snowman with my husband that I turned into a snowgnome.

He was much happier that way.

As one always is in a red pointy hat.

Did you build a snowman or snowgnome this season? Please tell me I am not the only one with a gnome hat or two.

*Outfit details: My sweater is one that I purchased from the flea market last month. I talked about it more in this post. Anthropologie has a cool cardigan out right now that is also reminiscent of an afghan or blanket. I also found this one on Etsy. If you can crochet, there are many different crochet cardigan patterns available for purchase there for around $3 so you could make your own. I was very lucky and only paid $30 for my sweater. The sleeveless chambray dress was an Anthropologie popback last year from Cloth and Stone (now sold out, similar shaped dress here).

*I shared this on The Pleated Poppy.

January 3, 2015 by gn0mel0ver

Keepin’ It Real: December 2014

Happy New Year! I hope you are all safe and well! 2015?! Ready or not, here it is.

Can you believe it? It actually snowed at our house on New Year’s Eve! And I mean snowed! My husband woke us all up at six in the morning and we played in the snow while our neighbors slept. I am going to hope they were sleeping and were not peering out their windows at this getup. It was so peaceful and odd and thrilling. I managed to squeeze in five outfit pictures. I had worn these clothes throughout the week (minus the gnome hat, but now you know I have it. The secret is out), but my husband was gone until dark most nights so we could not get pictures. So this setup worked out perfectly. I got to quickly photograph what I wore and it was so fun! This sweater was one that I picked up at the flea market a few weeks ago. The snow was mostly gone by the time the sun set. Wouldn’t it have been crazy if it had done this last week? It was never something I ever hoped to dream of. A white Christmas. But now I ever shall do so in the future.

Here is another peek of an outfit post coming up that I took that day. I went to Anthropologie on Monday and did some reviews that I will be posting soon. This is the one thing I bought besides the most amazing Christmas tree skirt for next year’s small Christmas tree. I just had to quickly talk about this ruffled sweatercoat while the 25% off sale promo is still going on. It is amazing. It is slimming. The color (plum) in person is a zillion times better than what is shown online. This might be my best buy of the season. I used some of a gift card on it. I sized down to a small. I am wearing a black tank underneath it so it is kind of hard to see the exact shape. I am so surprised that this hasn’t sold out yet at its sale price. It is reminiscent of vintage Anthropologie.

Oh my goodness. My husband and I were driving through our town the day it snowed and when we drove by this park we saw it was filled with about thirty to forty snowmen that different children had built throughout the day. It made my heart surge with joy at the rare sight. At this point other kids had come along to destroy the creations. I wanted a picture of the snowmen while they still stood. Well, I was wearing my slippers so I could not get out of the car. As one is wont to always do after a snowstorm. My sweet husband got out of the car and as he was walking along taking pictures with his phone, the other parents (that actually had kids at the park, imagine that) stared at him leerily. I dissolved into giggles so hard that I was crying because the poor guy looked like a creeper at the park. Oh, I owe him big time.

On Monday we also drove down to Los Angeles to go to The Pompei Exhibit. I had wanted to go all year and had been planning for months to get there during Christmas break. Well, it was poor planning. The exhibit was sold out. I tried not to cry and succeeded but it was a huge disappointment.

We went to The Natural History Museum. We had planned on going there after The Pompei Exhibit, because we make a trip there any way once a year. There used to be the coolest exhibits in the children’s wing for kids, but it was different this time. Their extensive live bug collection used to be worth the trip alone, but it has dwindled in size, which was a bummer. We did enjoy the dinosaurs. They have an amazing dinosaur exhibit.

I think this mask at The Natural History Museum looks oddly like my husband. I wasn’t going to say anything, but the lady next to us looked at the mask, then looked at my husband and said, “Hey! It’s you!” So I had to get a picture of it.

Christmas presents. I received the sweetest and most thoughtful presents for Christmas this year. My mom and stepdad actually found me this antique gnome book from Poland. My mom handmade me a sweet present I will post about in a few months. My dad and stepmom gifted me the sweetest bracelet and bird hooks. My sister and brother-in-law hunted down the vintage letters with my husband and my initials and I cannot wait to display them! And my mom and stepdad gave me three unique pieces of jewelry from Etsy. Every time I will wear them, I will think of them. My sweet friend gifted me the yummiest treats, most awesome peacock ornament and a beautiful trivet.

I found my mom a vintage mother of pearl brass jewelry box along with a few other things (including framed self portraits the kids painted) and the Tavia Peasant Blouse from Anthropologie. For my stepmom I purchased a Durango Vests in purple like the one I have. My sister and brother-in-law wanted Disney gift cards to buy passes this year so we contributed towards that and I picked up my sister this shirt in the khaki color from Anthropologie. And now I want it after seeing it on her. I hope to grab mine on sale one day.

Now get thee to a Trader Joe’s stat. These Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Salted Caramel Truffles are the very best things ever. Ever. Must go hoard some more.

It is hard to think of things that happened in December without Christmas looming ever present. We went and saw the final installment of “The Hobbit” a few nights ago. I really enjoyed it, but I have liked them all.

Coming up in January:

The Perfect Dress
Cheesy Salsa-Chicken Empanadas
The Talent Show
Making a Snowgnome
Reading: Throne of Glass (series)

I cannot believe it is January. Instead of making a giant goal for the year or resolution, I have decided to break it down and try to do small monthly goals instead. I need instant gratification or a realistic thing to shoot for. I am trying to lose the fifteen pounds I gained last year. So, in January, I made a monthly goal to not eat anything after dinner or 7:00. Back to iced water only for me at night for the next twenty eight days (and then I hope it becomes a regular good habit again) .

Yesterday was the second anniversary of my grandmother’s passing. Instead of the usual “Overheard In” post that would typically follow this one, I wrote about the last conversation I had with my grandma. It was hard.

What did you enjoy most about December? Are you excited it is a new year? Did you make resolutions? If you live in Southern California, did you make it to The Pompei Exhibit? You still have a few days to get there before it ends and moves on to Seattle. I don’t drive on the freeway so my opportunity to see it is unfortunately gone. Maybe one year I will make it to the real Pompei.

Gnome Lover

Stumbling through life while still having fun

anthropologie

Sunny Skirt

Ruffled Dreamy Madness

Building A Snowgnome

Keepin’ It Real: December 2014