January 25, 2015 by gn0mel0ver

Cockatiels and Stripes?

This outfit pretty much represents what is going on in my brain at any given moment.

Colorful cockatiels trying to mate with bright stripes. It is like a smorgesboard of crazy, but I think it works.

But again, I think in cockatiels and stripes, so my thoughts should be taken with a grain of salt.

Unless you’re a cockatiel.

I’ve heard salt is bad for birds.

Not as bad as rocks. Or airplanes. Or cats. Or stripes.

But close.

Can we please be ~~sober~~ serious for a moment?

I purchased this red and white striped skirt from eShatki years ago before I had a blog. It remains one of my favorite pieces in my closet and I previously wore it here.

The cockatiel top was another older purchase. It is by Daniel Rainn (I cannot find it or a similar enough top to link to, but I have seen this top on eBay). I bought it for $13 at Nordstrom Rack many years ago. I had never worn it before. It is a tricky top. It has a sheen and it is a peplum shape (hidden by the skirt).

I scored the Anthropologie Waterfront Wedges on a popback for 85% off recently (sold out, similar here). I have wanted to wear them with everything.

What do your thoughts look like? Are they bird and stripe shaped? Peanut and alligators? Polka dots and rabid wolves? I think I may have a problem. My thoughts don’t go together. But at least I can pretend that my outfit patterns do.

October 7, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Flit And Flare

I bought this dress so long ago I cannot even recall its name. I have searched for it and I believe it was called Floral Fit And Flare from Free People. It is now sold out, but I actually think this dress they are selling now is so much prettier.

Am I the only one who cannot get enough of white or creamy lace? You would think that I am secretly wishing for a white wedding.

Maybe with this little guy. The moon necklace can be found on Etsy here. The pink necklace was an older Anthropologie find.

A similar sweet ~~groom~~ gnome can be found at this shop on Etsy.

My husband loves this dress. He likes any fit and flare dress and any pencil skirt. I like big flowy pieces, but I can appreciate his tastes, too.

Hey! Maybe we should get married?

Let’s not worry about weddings. Let’s talk about footwear instead. Those awesome boots were a late season sale find from Anthropologie last year. I think these boots are very similar in looks.

Anyway a future wedding is out.

No renewal of the vows for me.

No ceremony.

Nada.

Why?

I once went to a psychic who told me I would marry the same man three times.

Sounds lovely right?

Well, she also told me my expiration date. Which I am hoping is wrong. So I figure if I don’t remarry the same man, I can ignore the other part of the prediction, too.

I recognize how crazy that sounds.

But, um, did you happen to notice I am a grown woman flitting through the “forrest” holding a felt gnome? It’s a miracle that I got married even one time.

Do you own a lot of fit and flare dresses? I think they are the best fit for all body types. Do you love white dresses? If you are married, what did you do with your wedding dress? Mine is hanging up in my closet. I used to take it out once a year and flit around the house in it.

But that scared the gnome.

And we can’t be having that.

September 2, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

$100 More Or Less: Happy Dress Sad Girl

I started a new feature a few weeks ago in which I pull together an entire outfit for around $100 ($125 being the max). This is one of those outfits. I realize that, of course, you can create an outfit for around $100 using cheaper brands or thrift store pieces. However, my theory is that you can shop anywhere on a budget (including the mentions above, but also higher priced retailers) and still create a great outfit.

If you read my post, “You Can’t Cry In Costco”, then you know I had a sad day a bit ago. It happens. I found a swivel chair that made all of the difference. This is what I was wearing that day.

I love how the curves of the crescent moon necklace fit perfectly with the swirly pattern of ~~my tears~~ this dress.

I had not realized that I was not really smiling for the camera in this outfit photo session. I just did not have it in me on this day. I am really bad at ~~needless dramatics~~ faking it.

However, the price I paid for this outfit should have lifted my spirits. Just a little. This outfit post is more a post to convey my love of waiting for an item to hit sale instead of indulging in the immediate satisfaction of full price. I do the latter, too. Sometimes I just cannot help it (as was the case with this dress). But the outfit shown here was my ultimate showcase of self restraint. I waited until the items hit rock bottom prices until I pounced.

Or I lucked into them…

Either way is probably a little right.

I feel like this dress is very reminiscent of a circus. I think it is the stripes, sequins, and over-the-top sleeves. All of which I love. Although on this day I guess I was playing the very sad clown.

Outfit Breakdown:

Anthropologie Sunpass Dress (now sold out): I paid $30 Original Price $198
Anthropologie Nazare Sandals (now sold out): I paid $24 Original Price $118
Anthropologie Crescent Necklace (now sold out): I paid $10 Original Price $42
Forever 21 Gold Cuff: $6

Total Spent: $70
Retail Price: $364

What do you wear on sad days? Do you have an item in your closet that showcases your ultimate shopping self restraint? Do you own this dress? How else do you style it? And don’t worry, the sad day passed, today is fresh and new. I am hoping it is a happy one for both me and you. : ).

*this post was edited using the app VSO filters at C2 at level 3, temperature at level 3, and contrast at level 2.

March 4, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Pistachio Pudding Pie

This green pie is perfect for Saint Patrick’s Day. Or any other day without a saint in it. And you just want to have a creamy green pie.

As you are wont to do.

But here is where I lose you. I don’t really like nuts. I will eat peanuts. Plain. Salted. By themselves. But I do not want or like them in any of my food. I do not like the unexpected crunch and/or texture. Well, besides a Snickers bar. But Snickers is a perfection above all mundane rules.

If you are a child, like myself, keep reading for a sweet dessert using easy ingredients…

I love pistachio ice cream. And gelato. Or at least I thought I did, except my heart would sob whenever I tried a new brand of pistachio ice cream. I would lift the lid. And see… Beige?! No. No. No. I want the artificial green stuff, please. You can keep your organic, all na-tur-aaaal. Give me dye. Give me sugar.

Give me fake.

I discovered Jello’s Pistachio Instant Pudding the other day ( um, Wha..?!). Upon immediately dumping four boxes into my cart, I stood in the aisle-of-all-that-makes-life-worth-living, contemplating how many more I needed to hoard for my new collection. What if they stop making this? I just discovered it. What if because I hadn’t been purchasing it, they think nobody wants it? How could I go on? But my husband interrupted my panic by asking, “Don’t you think that’s enough?”

“Oh. For tonight? Yea, that should be plenty.” I rushed home and read the back of the package.

“Pistachio Pudding Pie.”

Let me repeat.

“Pistachio Pudding Pie.”

The most perfect three words I had ever read.

I read the list of ingredients as quickly as I could. And, miracle of miracles, I had them all.

Ingredients:

3.4 oz. package Jello Pistachio Instant Pudding
premade graham cracker crust
1 and 3/4 cup whole milk
8 oz. tub of cool whip (or similar nondairy whipped cream)

First, I strained all of the disgusting bits from the pudding. AKA nuts.

I did this three times, because I wanted my pudding as smooth as possible.

I made the pudding according to the directions on the package. Essentially it is as easy as beating the milk and pudding mix for two minutes.

I slopped it into a pre-made graham cracker pie shell.

I put it in the refrigerator and patiently waited three hours for it to set.

Huh? What? Who are we kidding? Remember, we have all ready tested my patience for food before during my chocolate pie experience. It allows for thirteen minutes. At thirteen minutes I frantically grabbed a spoon from the drawer. And I skimmed the side of the pie with it. And my thighs wept. No, wait, that sounds gross. And my soul sang. And my thighs secretly rippled with excitement. Or they just rippled, ’cause that is their way…maybe pie is an ~~excellent~~ not such a good idea afterall.

Then I topped it with cool whip, covered it and reluctantly placed it back into the refrigerator.

I made this again a few weeks ago and doubled the amount of pistaccio pudding. I could do this, because I finally had hoarded enough pudding to the point I felt safe using some. I did this slowly over time, when my husband wasn’t with me and have packed the boxes into our pantry hidden from any pantry raiders that might come (or my husband who might commit me). In fact, I am rich in the stuff. So, I was all, two packages? Make it rain. Only instead of making it rain green paper, I let green powder rain into a bowl. I am frivolous like that. But I really liked the doubled recipe. If you are feeling super fancy when you make this, I would double the pudding packages. If you do this, you need to increase your milk to 2 and 3/4 cups. And follow the recipe above.

Have you made this? Do you like artificial green pistachio products or the real pistachio products? There’s no judgement here. I’m just sayin’ if you want some boxes, I know a guy who knows a guy who knows a girl who can get you some. I heard that some crazy lady is buying them all, so they might be running out.

But that’s just a rumor.

I’m sure.

P.S. I shared this on Savvy Southern Style.

And My Romantic Home.

Gnome Lover

Stumbling through life while still having fun

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Cockatiels and Stripes?

Flit And Flare

$100 More Or Less: Happy Dress Sad Girl

Pistachio Pudding Pie