March 23, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Stylin’ The Torsade Dress

A few weeks ago, Anthropologie’s Torsade Dress* popped back for me for $30. And I pounced on it. I had been waiting for it for this price because $98 was just too much for me. Unfortunately when it came, it reeked of garlic. This is a mystery I would not like to examine further. This might seem gross. But it was an easy fix with a quick wash in the washing machine. Although if I had to guess, I would say the dress was worn previously by some awesome female vampire hunter. This makes the dress more special. Sadly its special garlic powers washed out of the dress and thankfully I was able to wear it.

But now am weak against vampires. Oi.

Here is the dress as it is. Without playing with it. This is actually the way a vampire hunter would wear it except my accessory would be a wooden stake. I just wanted to give you that visual.

* Pairing the dress with different colored bottoms will momentarily confuse the vampires in order for you to get away.

I thought it would be fun to pair it with rain boots even if this outfit will probably never make it to my reality with California’s drought. I think the teal matches well. I would love to have the opportunity to wear this.

I also hope any vampires near me are having their own drought as well.

My favorite way I paired it was using it as a top. I have been wanting a floral top with some pink in it to pair with my red and white striped skirt. But I did not want to pay for one. And I am not sure the exact shirt I had in my head exists in reality. Then I happened to see these two pieces next to each other and I could not wait to try it!

Or you could use the dress as a skirt. This is perfect for those chilly nights when you need to arm yourself with more than just garlic.

Do you own this dress? A floral dress? What is your favorite way to style it?

* This is the link to the dress, but it is sold out. However a brick and mortar store might still have it if you call customer service. I cannot, however, guarantee that your dress will have any anti-vampire properties. Sorry about that.

** This has not been proven. If you happen to see a vampire, I doubt that the way in which you style this dress would be enough to scare them away. Well, unless you covered the dress in mirrors. But I think I would rather take my chances with the beasts.

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

March 17, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I am not Irish. My husband is. Partly. Mostly. But I am not.

However.

I love a theme.

And a theme revolved around a color?

And little green leprechauns?

Guarding gold?

And rainbows?

How close to a gnome holiday could we be talking here?

Here I am in a green outfit that I put together a few weeks ago. I planned on wearing this today. But it is hot.

So, I am wearing this instead.

I also love to incorporate the green theme into the food. I could just make Irish food. But, well, I don’t really like corned beef. Or hash.

I could make green pancakes.

Or green tuna salad sandwiches.

Mmmmm. Mmmmmm.

Or green butter for toast.

Or green salad.

Or green milk.

Or green pie.

Or Lucky Charms?

Or…

Wait! Who are we kidding? We are totally going out so my husband can have his corned beef. It is a must, afterall, on this day.

And then we will come home and eat the mint chip ice cream I made earlier in the week.

What are your plans for today? Are you wearing green? Eating it? I really want to try this Irish Creme Coffee the Pioneer Woman posted the other week.

Or maybe I’ll just have a green shot. No Patron was hurt in the making of this post. I know it is a scary picture.

Cheers! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

P.S. I shared this on The Cream To My Coffee.

March 16, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

On The Hunt For Rain

It’s Raining

It’s Pouring

The Old Dog is

Snorting?

For Christmas, my husband went to the Nordstrom Rack and purchased me a pair of Hunter Boots in this teal color. He said he wanted me to have the “real” thing after I did that post about buying my rain boots at Costco, but really wanting the Hunter Boots sold online there. Which is so sweet. But they sat in my closet until the last day in February, because California decided to repel rain this year.

When I finally saw rain clouds, I pranced around in my boots for three days.

First, I paired the boots with my other surprise Christmas present from my husband. He bought me this Free People flannel shirt from Nordstrom Rack, as well. I guess I can trust him to shop for me. Because I love all three items he picked out for me.

Then, the next day, I paired the boots with two new popback scores. My Iremel Brocade Skirt ($30 down from $138) and my Ravenna Cardigan ($10 down from $118). And then my husband came home and he saw me in this outfit.

“Heeeeelllllooooo kindergartner!” He said. And it was not good. But, oh, well, I still like this outfit. It is fun and it made me happy.

I probably will wear this skirt with an untucked shirt next time. It will look better, I think. Or a belt. Hmmmm. I am unsure on this one.

Then I met some girlfriends at a little bar. And you know what the perfect thing to wear to a bar is? That’s right! Hunter Boots! No? Well, I can’t always get the answer right. I was not going to miss an opportunity to wear them even if they probably weren’t the right choice for a night on the town.

The top is actually two slips layered together. The cardigan is the Ravenna Cardigan from above. The mint slip is the Trapeze Slip from Free People.

And look at my sweet baby. He had to photobomb the picture. He loves Hunter Boots, too.

And Ollie is irresistible.

Plus, he makes the best photo faces.

I could not resist trying to give him a kiss. But he hates kisses. So, all I usually get is a snort in the face. This is actually sexier than it sounds.

Okay.

It’s not sexier than it sounds. It is actually grosser than kissing your dog on the lips.

But I swear it makes my make up stay on longer.

Okay.

That’s a lie, too.

Let’s end this post before I get in any more trouble. And go off on any more crazy tangents.

Have you worn rain boots lately? How do you wear them?

March 8, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

“This Is Not Really Happening

Yaaaaaaa-wow.

You bet your life it is.”

That is the song by Tori Amos that I am sure was playing through my dog’s head the moment I picked him up for these pictures.

In fact, I think he even sang that weird twangy part, “ya-wow.” Or he growled. One can’t be too sure.

I don’t blame him.

I finally got to wear my Forever 21 Utility Jacket that I purchased a few weeks ago that I thought was a fantastic representation of Elsie’s jacket from the blog, A Beautiful Mess.

I was trying unsuccessfully to copy Elsie’s wonderful picture of her holding her tiny pug in her dining room.

But my dining room table was cluttered with children’s art projects.

And my tiny dog. Well, he ain’t so tiny anymore.

This picture makes me laugh so hard. Look at the pathetic look on Murphy’s face.

I love it.

My hair wouldn’t do an up-do that day. We had gone and seen “Catching Fire” at the discount theater the day before and my hair thought it was channeling its inner Katnis.

So, this is what I get for my sad recreation.

A dog practically singing to be put down.

And my hair that thinks it is much more bada** than it actually is.

I felt like “General Jenni” in this jacket.

There’s only one thing to say about that:

“Ya-Wow.”

I mean.

“Grrrrrrrrr.”

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

Gnome Lover

Stumbling through life while still having fun

green

Stylin’ The Torsade Dress

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

On The Hunt For Rain

“This Is Not Really Happening