It’s The Little Things: Put A Scarf On It

I have been thinking a lot about scarves lately. I have been seeing them pop up all over Instagram. Yesterday I was at Anthropologie and as I wandered the beautiful store, the scarves seemed to be whispering to me, “Cozy,” they murmured. “Flattering,” they promised. “Unique,” they softly said as they caught my eye and winked.

But I live in California.

Buying an expensive scarf just isn’t practical. For my lifestyle. And my budget.

I guess you could say that I am married to Warm Weather but I don’t mind flirting with Cold Weather’s attractive cousins. temperature trollop I ignored their siren calls and promised them I would be back when they went on sale (especially this temptress).

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I happened to be at a different mall later in the day. And I also found myself at Target. I had actually wanted to go to Target that day to view a scarf after seeing it on myfavoritethings25 Instagram feed (sorry, I do not know how to link to Instagram). My Target store did not have that scarf, but they did have the plaid and other patterned one above. Since plaid and blanket scarves seem to be the trend of the season (and leopard. Leopard. Leopard. Leopard. Put a spot on it), I scooped them up for around $30 for both (most scarves at Target are on 20% off sale through the end of today and buy one get one 50% off online).

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At the mall, I went to Forever 21. They had a wall full of scarves. I did not purchase one.

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But I spotted this blue and black flannel number for less than $10 there and I think it is pretty.

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H&M did not have the scarf selection I was expecting. But they did have two different patterned blanket scarves hidden in the clothing section that were huge. The pattern was pretty. This picture is not them. I did not get a picture of them. I had all ready broken a $2 ring at Forever 21 and guilt-purchased it, I did not want to drop anything else and have to pay for it in reaching for my camera. Aren’t I helpful? But I will share this:

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I will admit that I am clueless about styling scarves. That is why I like to buy infinity scarves. They are easy. I like easy. But most of the scarves I admire lately are not infinity. What is a girl to do? Well, I found this video on You Tube and the tutorial to make a regular scarf look like an infinity scarf was so simple. Most importantly, it works!

Are you a scarf styling genius? I have heard that you can make a scarf into a vest? Do you know how to do that? I’m just happy I managed to get the thing around my neck.

It’s The Little Things: more accessories! I love the cooler seasons! Shhhhh! Don’t tell Warm Weather.

Restyling The Bermeja Tunic Dress For The Fall

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This post really could have been called, “creating an outfit with items in your house.” I wanted to show two easy ways I have found to wear the Bermeja Tunic Dress in a different season (other post with this dress can be found here).

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If you do not own this dress, no worries, this look can be created with any ol’ white dress (similar dress here). And if you do not have a white dress, get one. That is an order. Well, unless you are a nun. Then you are all ready in an order. And you should probably skip the white dress. Black looks good on you. Love your habit.

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I wanted to show a day and night transitional look with this dress. Only, unlike other blogs that show the daytime look first (for some such odd reason being that day comes before night. But does it really?). I like to be contrary. I am doing it opposite.

Such as the opposite colors of the styling of this dress.

Nuns, I’m on to something here, I can just feel it. Don’t ya think?

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For my evening look, I pulled my hair up into a fun pony tail. Slipped on some huge turquoise chandelier earrings (old from World Market) and added a black ribbon around my waist.

I am not sure where the ribbon came from.

I was looking for my black belt.

I could not find it.

I found this ribbon stashed in my underwear drawer.

The end.

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Except this leads to many questions.

Nuns, you might want to look away now.

Such as, why was a ribbon in my underwear drawer?

Where did it come from?

Was it part of a box of chocolate?

What? You don’t hide chocolate in your underwear drawers?

Next, you will tell me you don’t keep salami in your boots. And I know that to be a lie. How could you lie in front of these nuns?

And the most important question, who ate my darn chocolate?

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I paired both looks with black tights and high heeled booties.

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For my daytime look, I simply pulled my ponytail out and undid the bow.

‘Cause I am truly a styling genius lazy heathen.

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Underneath the dress dwells my slip from Free People. I kind of hate the slip the Bermeja Tunic Dress originally came with. It was way too short to actually cover parts best left unseen with any practicality. I could not find a different white slip, so this uneven ragged edge little number got some use.

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If you are an even-hemmed kind of gal (or fella), then this look must be driving you crazy.

But I am not, nor have I ever been an exact measurement sort of gal.

Not level headed.

Nor even tempered.

I will have nun of that.

My point being, you can wear any slip underneath this dress and it will be fine.

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Speaking of grabbing things from around the house.

Yes, we were speaking of such things.

Keep up. These voices in my head don’t just speak to themselves.

I loved the chandelier earrings that I wore with this dress and I really, really wanted a turquoise beaded bracelet to pair with them. But I do not own a turquoise beaded bracelet. However, I do own a vintage turquoise beaded sweater clip (I will have a post coming up soon about sweater clips. They are awesome). I just clasped it together at the ends around my wrist and it created a bracelet.

Nuns, take note. I made a bracelet in less than one second with my own hands.

It is a miracle.

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Not as miraculous as this scenery. If we were not completely trespassing, I would have stayed longer. But isn’t it beautiful? Truly worth some jail time.

Besides, I just confessed.

To a nun.

I’m all good now.

I’m a pretty calm rebel.

Probably because nobody cared.

The owners saw us and just waved. ‘Cause they must have known about my miraculous bracelet. Those types of achievements get around.

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Not that I am bragging. Wouldn’t dream of it. Besides, that is not my favorite sin.

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You have a favorite sin?

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Yep. Shhhhhhh. Don’t tell the nuns. I don’t make a habit of committing it.

On purpose.

With regularity.

Accidentally.

Every day.

So, what is it? Greed? Gluttony? Envy? Lust? Wrath? Sloth (Oi)? Pride?

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Sorry. I’ll never tell.

You can’t get it out of me.

It would take a miracle.

Ollie and Me: On The Prairie

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Ollie loves car rides.

No. I mean really, really loves them.

He doesn’t care where you take him. He just likes to get into the car and go.

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The sad part is that he is so short he cannot really see out of the window. This does not bother him. Ollie is a glass half full kind of dog.

On this day my husband decided to take him a little bit past the house. I asked my husband if I could join him and perhaps get some pictures of the outfit I wore that day.

He agreed.

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Ollie did not.

When we got to the location I decided to see if Ollie wanted to pose with me.

You would think based on the photo above that he was not so happy about this (seriously though, how funny is that face? His is pretty hilarious, too).

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I decided to show him how much fun taking pictures can be.

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He decided he really, really liked getting his picture taken.

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I think it is because he got a lot of love.

Who am I kidding?

He always gets a lot of love.

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Dare I say it? It looks as though he enjoyed it more than a car ride.

Blasphemy!

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I think he might be happier than I am with this outfit, too. I paired my grey dress from this post (which has become a layering piece ’cause I shrunk it) with a flannel skirt (similar here) and fringe vest (similar super fabulous vest here) that I scooped up for $10 each at a consignment store last winter. The belt was from Anthropologie.

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If you have a dog do they like car rides or walks better? What is your best score at a consignment shop?

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Ollie did so well taking pictures with me that I might do it again soon. It was much more fun than taking pictures by myself.

And the best part was… He got to get a ride back home.

His modeling fees are odd. But cheap. I pay him in car rides.

No need to tell him we were going back that way anyway.

P.S. * I shared this on The Pleated Poppy and Because Shanna Said So!

*two more photos that did not make it to the blog post can be seen on my Instagram Account (thegnomelover).

A Dress Falled With Embroidery

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My husband and I went on a lunch date on this day. It was not cool enough for the sweater, so I wish I had set it down.

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I also wish I had more pictures of the dress itself, but my photographer that day was all about the closeups.

I hate closeups.

I love my photographer.

You will just have to bear with me.

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Or bare with me. Look at the cute Free People bandeau bra (bralette post can be found here) I simply put over a regular bra for a pretty lace peek-a-boo moment.

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I found this dress at my local Nordstrom Rack for a screaming deal. I could not believe nobody had scooped it up (it is sold out. I could only find one size medium of a similar dress. It is on sale for $30 from $148 on Free People here).

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The embroidered detail is amazing.

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I wanted to pair the dress with some wood accessories. I slipped on this Scrabble Ring for a fun solution. If I was a pumpkin latte kind of gal, I would happily drink it in this dress. This dress screams, “fall!”, with its orange and mustard accents.

Alas, I am allergic to pumpkin. So, I will have to get by just wearing the color.

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I will somehow manage to get through the autumn with regular ol’ coffee.

And closeups of my thirty seven year old face.

Somehow.

The secret is in the sauce a little thing I am grateful to not be allergic to, wine.

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Did you notice something amiss in the previous closeup picture? Something that did not look right?

Was it a bit creepy?

Was it my elbow?

I am double jointed in my elbows, so sometimes in pictures like those it looks as though my head should be flipped the other way.

Just give it time.

Halloween is coming up.

With pumpkins. And closeups. And weird elbows.

And wine.

It’s enough to make a girl’s head spin. What is making your head spin lately? I am definitely craning my head towards this dress. Are you double jointed? I only have it in my elbows and my thumbs…

And my mind.