Fanned Flora Dress

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I rarely will pay full price for anything.

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But when I saw Anthropologie’s Fanned Flora Dress all logic went out the window.

I fell hard.

In love.

With this dress.

It is called The Fanned Flora Dress from Anthropologie.

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Granted I did have an amazing 25% off coupon that I used for it, but it was still more than I usually spend… And it looks like Anthropologie is currently having a promotion featuring 25% off dresses right now (I also love this different sleeveless dress for less than $30 right now. Although the reviews about laundering it scares me), so you would get the same deal! Yay!

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It was worth it.

This dress is ah-mazing.

Sorry about the wrinkles. I wore this all day before we took pictures, and it happens. Oh, well. Tis the way it is. Here is the picture of the back of the dress with the zipper some people have had a problem with. I did not have a problem with my zipper or the zippers on the other two I tried on. It might be a problem on a certain batch. I recommend trying this on in the store to check the zipper, size (I sized down to a small), and pattern (which is completely different on each dress).

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I have never, ever, ever gotten as many compliments on an item of clothing as I did this dress. An elderly man stopped me in the parking lot to tell me that my dress was just beautiful. “It looks like a watercolor painting.”

That is exactly the reason I purchased this dress. It looks like a piece of art.

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Of course, I immediately did the thing I feared the most. I got food on my dress. See that spot?! I need to figure out how to get it out. It is mayo. This girl is a slob cannot resist tuna salad. It is a problem.

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I tried on three different dresses to find the pattern I preferred (my original review of this dress can be found here). Each dress has a different pattern placement. I like how my arms on this one match up with the sides. I also prefer the wide space of blue at the neckline. The pattern at the neck is not as flattering.

I also want to note that in the picture of this dress on Anthropologie’s page, the model is wearing a necklace with the dress. I really think that is a mistake. It takes away from the gorgeous pattern and breaks up the flattering blue. Oh, this braid? Why that’s completely different. That’s organic. Come to think of it, so are the wrinkles… On the dress.

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I strongly believe this color will look good on every skin tone. I think the swing shape will look good on a variety of body types.

Do you like swing dresses? In the window of the store, they had this dress belted, but I do prefer the swing shape to structure… On the dress.

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

Blue And White Easy Summer

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This outfit is pretty boring. Jeans, top, the end (Oh! And a bandaid, but we’re going to pretend it is not there). But I wore it. And so it is here amongst the other outfits.

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I purchased this Bea Embroidered Blouse two summers ago at Anthropologie when it hit sale (slightly similar blouses on sale here and here). The embroidery beckoned to me.

Um, what do you think of my prop?

I grabbed the flowers from my house on the way out the door.

My husband said, “What are you doing?”

And I said, “I thought these flowers would be pretty with this top for the pictures. You know, a prop.”

To which he replied, “Whoa, slow down. I don’t think we’ve graduated to props yet.”

Which sounds funny and made me grab them anyway.

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This picture is awful.

Let’s blame the prop, shall we?

But I wanted to show the pretty ruffles on the sides of the shirt.

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My husband had been wanting to take pictures in front of this ivy covered wall for quite awhile. Hmmmmm. Isn’t that kind of a prop? How do you graduate to props anyway? Who hands out the diploma? Does the diploma hand out itself?

Fashion blogging is so confusing.

An Antique & Artsy Date Night

A week ago, my husband and I ventured out on a date. We are always hungry early, and so like the old folks that we are, we decided to leave our house at 5:00. Being the procrastinator that I am, I had not changed clothes for the date. It was 4:45 and I was still in my pajamas…

From my closet, I yelled over my shoulder to my husband, “I have nothing to wear!”

To which I heard a grumbled, “Seriously?”

And then my muffled response, as I choked and gagged on my gluttonous amount of clothes, “I’m just kidding!”

And his muttered-under-his-breath-but-consciously-loud-enough-for-me-to-hear-from-the-bedroom-to-the-closet reply, “No you’re not.”

And he was kinda right. I never know what to wear on a date. I love free-flowing bohemian maxis. My husband likes short fitted dresses.

Never the two shall meet.

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I ended up picking this Modcloth dress (similar here) from last year that I had purchased when I went and saw Cindy Lauper (post here and here). It was a good choice, because my husband really liked it.

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It was his choice as to where we would eat that night and he picked a trendy little hipster restaurant in the old part of our town. That part of town is now filled with antique stores and gourmet restaurants. My husband loves the hamburgers there. I love the decor.

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Look at this chandelier made from honey bear jars. Wicked cool right?

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I can’t believe I just said, “wicked cool.” Next thing you know, I’ll be saying “uber”. If that happens, just hang me up with those bears, okay?

Let’s pretend that never happened.

I took pictures of the art on the walls, whilst unbeknownst to me also attracting the attention of the chefs.

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I pored over the menu, even though I always get the same thing.

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The hamburger.

I had to include the funny picture, because I hate pictures of me eating. Don’t you?

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It was a beautiful evening and we planned on just heading home and watching a movie.

Oh! But before I move on, I have to talk about dessert! We had amazing homemade cheesecake. Or restaurant-made cheesecake. All I know is that it was good and made on the premises. I do not like going to restaurants that serve desserts they have ordered from other companies.

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We decided to walk down to my favorite antique store. Thankfully, my husband likes antiques as much as I do. Although on this night, he was antsy.

Look at the cool letters with my husband’s and my initials. I want them. Desperately. I think it is kismet that they happen to be our initials. I also love the colors. But they are very expensive. So, I am holding out.

Maybe one day…

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Other antiques we liked: an old door. Oh! The colors on this door (but I all ready have this one). Another want. An old toy horse. A really cool tractor part that had the prettiest patina.

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Then we made our way outside where unbeknownst to us, there was an art festival going on that had started mere minutes before. The artists were setting up booths and some were doing sidewalk chalk art. The picture above is the beginning of an art piece by my children’s art teacher, Lisa Owen Lynch, setting up her awesome Star War’s Princess Leia drawing. We randomly ran into her and it was neat to see her at work.

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Look at her shoes! She is the coolest!

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And we left her just as the hair was coming together. She is so talented. My kids are very lucky to get to learn from her.

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I ended up purchasing a small bird painting for $30 from one of the artists there. It looks like a strange bird at first, but it is actually two birds. Because of that, I thought it was weird and neat enough for a place in our home. Plus, the colors are great. The artist was super sweet, too.

I love that what started out as a simple dinner turned into a fun antique browse and art walk. There is something romantic about spontaneity. And I treasure when an evening turns out better than planned.

Where have you gone on a date recently? Do you always decide the restaurant or do you trade off with your partner?

Paisley Dress: You Wreck Me

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Oh, Paisley Dress, you have me torn.

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I purchased this Free People Paisley Dress from the Nordstrom Rack awhile back (link goes to a different site). And I really liked it.

Except, after wearing it for a day I realized the pattern (on the dress I purchased) does not sit correctly in the middle. Which is probably why I paid so little for it.

My OCD self tried to ignore this. I had all ready worn it, so I had to keep it. Despite that flaw, I still like the dress. It can be worn with a slip and sandals. And in the winter time, skinny jeans and boots. The colors are ethereal.

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I also liked my hair… Until my daughter came home. I just knew she was going to love my hair. I was so excited to show her.

I said, “Do you like my hair? I tried something different.”

And she said, “Oh. You wanted to look like Miley Cyrus?”

Argggghhhh! Aaaahhhhhh! My OCD self officially withered into a ball but not before I tore the hairstyle out and put it lower on the nape of my neck.

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Have you ever really liked something you were wearing? Or a new hairstyle you were trying? And then hours later completely second guessed yourself?

It happens to me all of the time.

But that’s just part of the fun.