Dog Crazy

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There is nothing special about this outfit. In fact, I am not quite sure I even like it. It was a rainy day and like any rainy day, I was most excited about one thing. Busting out my rain boots.

I do, however, love my embroidered rain cloud necklace I purchased from Sew Happy Girls earlier in the year.

Something happened in this outfit that shall always make it a tad bit special. It was the day I turned into a shapeshifter, crazy dog lady Winner Of Most Embarrassing Mother Of The Year.

Here is the story about how I can shame my children no matter where we go. It is my very special talent:

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I was late. Nothing shocking there. Well, actually, that is not true. As ditzy unorganized as I am, I am pretty much always on time or early. OCD and all of that. Can’t be late!

So, I dropped my daughter off at Ms. Lisa’s house (our wonderful, amazing art teacher). I did not even run into socialize, as I usually do. I just drove away.

But I had to turn my car around to get to the main street. As I did so, I noticed her little dog had gotten out. He usually just runs to her planter and back inside, but on this day he had made it all the way to the curb. Having no doubt it was because my daughter had kept the door open, I parked my car in the middle of the street to help.

I jumped out like the maniac that I am. And I tried to chase the dog into the house.

Only, it wouldn’t work.

He liked being outside.

There was a whole new world to explore.

Lisa was calling him.

He ignored her.

He made like he was going to run further up the street.

I panicked. I did not want him to get ran over. Or lost. Or hurt.

Something primal took over.

Without thinking, I began to bark at the little dog.

I ran at him barking. He finally acknowledged me. He began barking back.

I did not back down. I, after all, was the much larger, much older dog. Just call me “Alpha” from now on. I barked and growled as I marched that little dog back into Lisa’s house.

He ran away from the crazy dog woman through the open door into safety.

“Safety” being away from the insane woman in his front yard.

Lisa looked surprised and said, “Well, I guess that’s one way to get the dog in the house.”

It was not until she said that that I realized maybe what I had done wasn’t exactly normal.

I turned from a dog into a laughing hyena in my car.

Later my daughter relayed the embarrassing moment to my son.

His response to his sister, “Oh my gosh! Poor you!”

I was aghast. What did they mean?

I looked at my daughter indignantly. “But you have to admit I sounded just like a dog.”

“Um. No, you didn’t. You sounded crazy.”

There was only one response to that.

“Grrrrrr. Ruff!”

Striped Terry Blazer

I purchased this Anthropologie Striped Terry Blazer on a major sale months ago. And I am just now getting around to sharing the pictures of how I am styling it?! I believe this was in August. Or September.

One of those months. They all blend together, kind of like the three pounds I gained this week from the three pies I ate. Dinner tonight? Salad. Oh. Who am I kidding? Is a Snickers bar a vegetable?

“Sigh.”

The major selling point to me with this blazer (besides the price tag) was the material it was made from. Terry cloth? It invoked images of bubble baths and showers. Plus, it had stripes. Grey stripes! Red stripes! Yes please.

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First up we have the blazer styled with a simple orange embroidered tee I purchased years and years ago. I actually own this shirt in three different colors. I bought a mustard colored one from eBay for $4 last year. The jeans in all of these pictures are from The Gap ten years ago. The boots are vintage from the flea market. I chose to include two pictures, so we can see the weird poses I make with my hands. They like to do odd things for my pictures. I think they are trying to spell “p-i-e.”

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Then I paired it with a bright blue henley.

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The crochet tank was $15 from Marshall’s over the summer. And the floral tank was $10 at Nordstrom Rack in the spring.

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I like the mix of patterns and textures here with the blazer.

Do you wear blazers with jeans? How do you make them more casual? Did you know terry cloth could be worn outside the house? Or the bathroom?

And what did we decide about the Snickers bar?

It’s definitely a root vegetable. Right?

P.S. * I shared this on The Pleated Poppy!

Floral, Floral Everywhere…But Not A Drop To Drink

Do you want to feel completely and utterly feminine? Well, if you are a man reading this, perhaps not. If yes, than come with me. The following outfits were all purchased with my May clothing budget. The floral patterns are divine…

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This dress is from Modcloth. It is called Sculpture Under The Stars Dress. Isn’t that dreamy? Modcloth has the best names for their clothes. I am wearing a medium. It is a little loose. I had high hopes for this dress. I tried it on and my heart sank. It is VERY short! This might be okay for tea parties at home with my husband (hey, don’t you have those too?), but it would never work for me in my real life. Imagine being at the grocery store: “Excuse me sir, while I pick up this apple.” Um, no. The possibilities for embarrassment…and stalking seemed endless. I was putting it back in the box, when I had an epiphany. Remember that tulle skirt I purchased for $10 from Nordstrom Rack? I slipped it on underneath. Voila! I could keep it and leave the house!

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“Where for art thou?” I asked the heavens.

And from the internet (which is pretty close to heaven) this dress replied, “I am right here, my love.”

This dress. Is. Amazing. I want to wear it all of the time. I hope we stay together forever. It is called First Kiss Print Maxi Dress from Free People. I am wearing a medium. This dress has the most amazing back. It has breezy openings with buttons trailing all the way down. You will feel so sexy and regal… And maybe even a little naughty.

The dress has a lot of scrumptious material. It is silky and light. When I hold each side of the dress, I can make the material move like wings on a bird. Please do not ask me how I know this.

The only thing it is missing are pockets. Which, I guess is a good thing, because I probably would not look very ladylike running down the street with my hands in my pockets…flapping my rose printed wings.

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This is my favorite. I do not know how I came up with it. Well, actually, I didn’t. The lovely Emily E. on Modcloth did. I copied her. I love her style photo.

It is called Eye for Ikebana skirt. I am wearing a medium. The best part about this skirt is it goes up to a 4X. Thank you Modcloth. You truly get it.

I adore this skirt. I come alive in this outfit. Does that make sense? The colors are so vibrant. My very being feels brighter. I paired it with a Free People top I got at the Nordstrom Rack. The reason I am wearing a belt is because the shirt is a babydoll. I love that style. It becomes a different pattern where the belt meets the shirt. I like to get multiple uses out of my items. I did not want to purchase another black and white top. I knew I could make this work. I snagged the Calvin Klein belt from Nordstrom Rack. The shoes in all three pictures are my Tracy Reese Corchorus Wedges I scooped up for $40 last year during an Anthroplogie sale.

So, have you succumbed to the floral temptation? Have the flowers woven their way into your heart? Have the vines of the fabric…

Okay! Okay! Enough! What I really want to know is: Have you purchased any floral pieces lately? I am not a shoe girl, but my heart sings to these floral Denimbloom Wedges from Anthropologie. If they ever go on sale, my feet would rejoice.

Thank you for stopping by and reading! Have a great day!