November 5, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

The First Kiss Of Autumn

One’s first kiss is usually not special. At least mine wasn’t. I was seventeen.

First kisses can go either way.

I was not going to go on another date with my husband after our first date (I was twenty one and it is a long story for another day), but he asked if he could kiss me when he dropped me off back home. I did not have the heart to say no. He kissed me. And I happily never went on another date with another person.

He knew how to seal the deal.

As he tells it, he knew that if he kissed me I would go on another date with him. And he was right.

We were married four months later.

Free People’s First Kiss Dress is definitely on the positive end of the first kiss spectrum. It is one of my favorite dresses. I purchased it last year (previous post here).

It now comes in more colors but I continue to love the black and white.

I paired the dress with Anthropologie’s Vegan Leather Bomber Jacket (previously styled here).

If I were ever to make out with an inanimate object, this jacket would be it. Wait. That might be too much information. Can we forget I said that? Kiss that thought good bye.

It is absolutely perfection. Lightweight. Slimming. It looks great more fitted like I purchased it (size medium) and looser the way my daughter wears mine.

Are any of your fall items kissable? I love so many of my cozy items.

Which other items do I love? I will have to leave that a mystery for now.

I don’t always kiss and tell.

October 30, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Ruffle Me This

I was aching to wear Free People’s Mia Ruffle Dress (sold out, but this one is similar) on a date night. And the other night I finally did.

We are creatures of habit. We went to the same restaurant as our last date night.

This is because the restaurant we had decided to go to in town did not start their live music until 9:00 at night.

How young do they think we are?

That is past my bed time.

This restaurant we ended up going to closed at 8:00. We are early birds. And not zombies, even though this picture would make you believe otherwise.

And the musician here was great. He played until 8:10. I just realized that he probably went to go play at the other restaurant after he was done with this engagement.

You might think that that is stretching it.

Why would I assume he was playing at the other restaurant? There are a ton of talented performers in our town.

Well, because he mentioned he plays there right before he left.

I am quick.

It was not a great date night.

It was fine.

But not great.

It happens. Both of us were not really into it that night. He had burned his arm pretty badly right before we left on the date and would not let on that he was in pain and I was in the middle of my September funk. It was a rare quiet meal.

We are going on a huge date this weekend and I am hoping we have a great time. I bought some sexy pink shoes that I plan on wearing with the dress from this post. But I need to practice walking in the shoes in the house. If I can’t do that, they have to go back.

In the meantime, I will be wearing all of the ruffles I can muster. I am so looking forward to the dinner this weekend. And spending time with my husband.

Have you gone on a date night recently? Do you wear your most impractical shoes? I will hopefully show my shoes on Instagram soon (if I keep them). I just hope I can walk in them. This time, there will be no ruffles to cushion my fall.

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

October 18, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Winner of the Anthropologie e-Gift Card and Cravings?

Congratulations to Keiko for winning the Anthropologie e-gift card! I hope you get something good!

This question and answers set for the giveaway was my very favorite. I feel like you can learn so much about someone through their pets. And it was so nice to get to know each of you better. I do not typically respond to comments on giveaway posts (since I manually type in each person’s name and then go back and recount and recount to make sure I am correct, it would be too confusing), but I will be responding to each entrant throughout the week because your comments touched my heart so much. And I have so much to say to each of you! It will take me awhile, so please bear with me. : )

Today my daughter turns fifteen! Fifteen! It is a big age. In some cultures, it is the age of becoming a woman. I am going to bury my head in the sand for a bit and pretend that that is not happening.

The only thing she has requested today is for me to come up with an elaborate cracker spread. I was at a loss as to what to do, but yesterday I met a woman who majored in cheese and crackers. She knew every kind of dip and what kind to get. It was kismet. She should really consider getting her doctorate. The lady knows her stuff. I will Instagram some pictures of what I make my daughter today. I am going to do my best to make it special, along with some surprises (horseback riding lessons! Be still, my heart). Since she is sleeping until noon and will not read this post, I can write that.

I also got her this cool ring. Guess who is going to ~~steal~~ borrow it?

Happy Birthday My Sweet Girl!

This month I splurged on a few items. I bought this jacket and I cannot recommend it enough. It is amazing. I own it in brown but I love every single color it comes in. I have a post coming up about it next week, but it is just my favorite thing ever. Eighty degrees in California? Leather jacket. I scoffed at all of the sandals I saw traipsing past as I ~~sweated in~~ enjoyed my find.

I am pretty content this month. I am not really craving much of anything. Especially after all of my indulgences. Burp. There is this coat that I think is gorgeous, but I bought a dress last week (it is on my Instagram) when I went to a holiday workshop. I decided instead of making a list of things I am craving, I am going to post things I am glad I all ready own and that I am excited to wear this coming cold season:

The Miles of Henley Dress. I own this in three colors (previous posts here and here), so it is fair to say that I recommend it. I think it is so pretty and I love that there are a variety of ways to layer it. I also like the price.

I think this season is the season of grey tights. I bought my fleece lined ones (also in black in the picture) from Nordstrom Rack this week for $8 each. And the Hue grey cable tights were $11. I am excited to wear them. The fleece lined ones are so cozy. I have tried them on all ready.

The First Kiss Dress. I wear this dress all of the time. I bought it in the spring of 2013. I can wear it for three seasons in Southern California. And I have. When I purchased mine, it came in only one pattern and now it comes in a few more. I will style it in an upcoming post. I have the black and white version and I hope they bring that color combo back. It is my favorite.

I will be wearing my Anthropologie Ponte Bell Skirts (previous posts here and here) with tights (possibly the ones above) all season. The brand is Girls From Savoy. Their online store happens to have a skirt that looks like the same skirt in different colors. I have no idea if it is actually the same shape, only that it looks like it might be. It is on sale and available here.

Also, my vintage boots. I have seen them on eBay for a little more than what I paid for them at the flea market ($50) but they have lasted for years and years (they are probably older than me) and I think a vintage pair of boots should be in every girl’s closet. I own three pairs, but these are my favorite.

What is your seasonal favorite that you all ready own? I plan on combining and layering my collection of slips with cardigans all winter. Are you craving anything? Did you get to one of Anthropologie’s Holiday Workshops yet?

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.

Gnome Lover

Stumbling through life while still having fun

fp

The First Kiss Of Autumn

Ruffle Me This

Winner of the Anthropologie e-Gift Card and Cravings?

Flit And Flare