January 18, 2015 by gn0mel0ver

Winner Of The Blog Giveaway and Cravings Similarities

Congratulations mintpearls for winning the $25 e-Gift Card to Sephora! I hope you get something good! My mom just sent me a care package from Sephora with two packages of my favorite facial wipes that I use every night on my face. Thank you Mom! I swear by these. I think my skin has been so much better since I started using the wipes almost two years ago. And she sent me Bumble and Bumble Surfspray for my hair, because I was lusting after the bottle in the gift I had given her for Christmas. Does anyone use this? How do you apply it? Do you have any tips?

I enjoyed reading everyone’s responses to the giveaway question. The love for your friends, family and even bosses and/or co-workers was beautiful to read. It made me think of all of the people in my own life who are amazing individuals. Thank you for participating and making me smile!

January is a tough time for me shopping wise. I am usually burnt out from Christmas shopping, so I don’t like to buy anything. On the other hand, there are always the best sales in January and I have gift cards burning a hole in my pocket. So far, I have scored some amazing popbacks with my gift cards, but have only purchased one thing out of pocket. It was this jersey dress from Free People in seaspray because my size had been sold out in that color for months and when one popped back I snatched it up. I also bought a headband and Feather Hair Picks to get free shipping.

So, cravings. Hmmmmm. Mmmmmmm. Oooooga. Boooga. I am not in love with any new thing that has come out this month. Like, yes. Love, no. It seems like everything that is coming out has been done before. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if you missed it the first time around.

Instead of cravings because I honestly don’t have any right now, I thought I would show some pieces from the past in my closet whose twins seem to be making an appearance in case you liked the items but they sold out before you could acquire them. I think this is a case of fashion repeating oneself and a true indication that I have too many clothes. Just don’t tell my husband that:

I loved this Ikat top when I scored it last year on a huge sale (blog post here). Anthropologie has a very similar top out right now. It is pretty, too. It is called The Palamba Top.

I just realized I have never done an outfit post with my Puella Swing dress from last year. I need to fix that! I do have this sad little pic from a dressing room review post (here). The Semitone Swing Dress this year looks very similar in a different color, but with no elbow patches. Sigh. I love the elbow patches.

The Horizon Lines Skirt (more pictures here) is easy and comfortable. This Sketched Stripe Maxi Skirt looks very similar.

I love my denim overalls (blog post here). I was worried the trend was over until I saw the Paige Sierra Overalls on the Anthropologie site.

The Deva Printed Henley reminds me of my Charleston Henley that I also just realized I have never shown here. My closet is a black hole, my friends. I like to wear it with extreme bell bottoms (also never shown here. I am a bad blogger).

The Patchworked Panel Dress reminds me of my Free People Sunshine Dress I bought many years ago. I could have sworn that I had shown this dress on my blog before, but I can not find any pictures so I must have been mistaken. Need to remedy that ASAP. I love the blue color of the Patchedwork Dress. I own the Sunshine Dress in purple, but I showed it in blue for a true comparison.

The Tallulah Shift Dress is a really cool red. It is very similar to my vegan leather shift from 2013. I posted about it here.

I adore my Striped Hem Pullover from 2013 (more photos here). It has a sweet bow in the back, too. This year Anthropologie came out with a grey version. It is called The Ruffle-back Pullover. I actually prefer the grey, but do not need another one.

I went out on a date with my husband on Friday night and wore the outfit in the photo of me above. I am working on the post. The red embroidery is a conversation starter. Any time I wear this people will talk about the pretty embroidery to me. My dress is by Johnny Was via Nordstrom Rack many years ago. I like Anthropologie’s Embroidered Peasant Dress and think it looks like it was made in the same love-of-red-embroidery-vein.

Have you seen any similarities in your closet this season? Did you score anything great during Anthropologie’s 40% off sale sale? I ended up getting this vest on a popback with a gift card. I thought I would surely find some amazing popbacks during the sale, but only found the one thing. Sigh. I guess it’s back to shopping my closet. But that’s no fun at all.

January 15, 2015 by gn0mel0ver

Zig Zags and Plaid

“I don’t really think that goes together,” my husband bravely said when I tried on my new popback score of The Draped Plaid Top (sold out but similar here and similar plus size here) with my zig zag skirt from 2013.

I was slightly disturbed by this because I had purchased the shirt with the sole intention of it going with this Waverly A-line Skirt (sold out, similar here).

“Well, I like it. A lot,” voiced my daughter from her spot on the couch.

“Thank you!” I exclaimed. “I like it, too!”

She studied it some more, “In fact, I don’t think that top would look good with anything else.”

I turned around and looked at it in the mirror.

“I don’t know.” I pondered. “I bet it would look amazing with a brown floral skirt.”

“Oh yeah!” My daughter agreed. “But you don’t own a brown floral skirt. I was just thinking of things that you all ready have.”

I almost completely agree with her. I could still wear this top with a black, denim or cream skirt but it would not have that “special” factor one looks for in an outfit.

I love this shirt and skirt together so much. I lived in my pajamas while my kids were on winter break and it was so nice to be able to dress up again.

Since I have been dieting since January 1st, I have to feel good during the day or I will fail. I will eat until I feel bad about myself. Then I will feel bad about myself and eat. It is an endless cycle. Putting on something that gives me more confidence is kind of like a food barrier.

Speaking of food, I wore this outfit out to lunch with my husband and the waitress was so complimentary about it. She yelled out the door at me, “Keep rockin’ your style! I love it!” Which is the sweetest thing to say ever. I will admit it put a bounce to my step as I skipped back to the car.

I am trying really hard to wear what I all ready own this year. I have so many outfit ideas swimming around in this head of mine that I cannot wait to try. I love this skirt. I have previously worn it here and here. I like that the plaid top breathes new life into it.

And I have a crutch. These boots. They were $50 almost four years ago at the flea market. The best $50 I ever spent. But since they go with everything, I tend to be lazy and pair them with an outfit without any thought to the other boots in my closet. And I have lots of other boots that I do not utilize enough.

But these are my favorite.

Plus they’re always out in plain sight so I don’t have to tear apart my closet looking for them.

Do you have an outfit crutch? Are you trying to break the habit or are you okay with it? I think I am a little of both.

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

January 13, 2015 by gn0mel0ver

The Perfect Dress

You know I do not say that lightly. But this is it. The perfect dress. For me, anyway. It was another item I waited for a fantastic sale price on. I bought it in the spring. It nips in at the waist and then flows out into an old-fashioned dream. It is the palest of pinks which makes it more interesting than another white dress. I even purchased one for my daughter, because she loved it so much.

I knew I wanted to take pictures of this Free People Heart Dress (sold out, but similar dress in pink here) in front of an old building. I had the perfect spot in our town. It was an old building with a giant head of an 1800s woman in a flowered hat. Well, we went there the other day and guess what? The new owners painted over it! What a travesty!

When I was at my dad’s house, I knew I wanted to take the opportunity to style this dress in front of Rusty’s house.

Who is Rusty? You ask.

That is a long and short story.

Let’s go with the short version.

When my mom and dad moved into our home, they rented the property from her family. They later purchased it. Rusty kind of came with the deal.

Rusty was not related to the family. He squatted in a ramshackle old house next door to our own that was also on the property. In fact, this house is pictured in the B-movie, “Skeeters.” But that is a story for another day.

Rusty was a hobo.

For real. Although, I realize that is not a politically correct term. It is what I knew him as and I will not change it. It is meant with no offense, because Rusty rode on railroad cars and was a transient, which is how that term came about. He was the real deal and I loved him. He came and went as he pleased. The house is still full of the remains of his travels.

One day I will share with you my memories of Rusty. He died when I was almost four. But I still have fond flashes of moments with him in my mind. I called him, “Uncle Rusty.” And he was a harmless sweet man who happened to bunk on our property. I had an interesting but wonderful childhood.

I think Uncle Rusty would have liked this dress. Although, it wouldn’t have been practical.

I could never catch a train in this.

Maybe it isn’t so perfect after all.

Nah. That’s silly. I’ll just take a bus.

Did you have any interesting characters in your childhood? What is your perfect dress?

January 11, 2015 by gn0mel0ver

Two-lle Sisters

When I was a little girl my parents would reiterate over and over that one day, when my sister Mandi and I grew up, we would be friends.

I felt that was about as likely as finding a yellow brick road outside of our house.

And believe me… I looked.

We are four years apart. The same amount of time that separates my own two children. But it must have been a gender thing. Or a personality thing. Either way we could barely be in the same room together growing up.

But grow up, we did.

And my parents were right.

Don’t ever, ever tell them that I said so, though.

Because having a sister is the best thing ever. I love Mandi with all of my heart.

Although there is one thing that is irksome. Her hair. It is naturally that color and I have to dye mine. Sigh. Lucky girl.

But editing these pictures was the most difficult task I have had with this blog yet. It is hard enough getting a good enough picture to post on the internet of one person, but two people? Impossible.

I love the picture of my sister here. Me? Not so much.

But isn’t that what being sisters is all about? Teaching one to be less selfish. To think of others. To learn to share.

Nah. It’s about having an insane amount of fun.

We could not stop laughing at these gnomes. She mentioned somethin’ about their looks. It had me in hysterics. It was a very unprofessional photo shoot.

Did I say we grew up? Scratch that.

The cameraman was second guessing his ~~marital partner choice~~ “career” choice.

Thanks Mandi for taking pictures with me! I love you! And hey, I am missing my pink gnome. I don’t suppose you know anything about that… Just kidding. I think it ran away. Too much sisterly love… Or gnome jokes.

Do you have siblings? Do they make you laugh like nobody else? Isn’t it wonderful?

Outfit details:

On me: Free People Tutti Fruitti Slip (sold out, similar here and previously worn here), Anthropologie Pullover, vintage boots, Anthropologie earrings, World Market Bracelet

On Mandi: Anthropologie Puckered Placket Turtleneck (old), BCBG tulle Skirt (sold out, similar here), Black Fringe Booties, Anthropologie Bracelet

Gnome Lover

Stumbling through life while still having fun

outfit

Winner Of The Blog Giveaway and Cravings Similarities

Zig Zags and Plaid

The Perfect Dress

Two-lle Sisters