February 13, 2015 by gn0mel0ver

Monarch Magic Metamorphosis

First, I know this pattern resembles a Tiger Butterfly more than a Monarch. I must have been a little loopy when I first typed this up, because here I am now editing it before it goes up in a few hours and I am wondering what I was thinking with the title. Who can really say?

I have found in the last year that a swing style dress is my favorite.

The Sarita Swing Dress is beautiful. I do wish it was one inch longer but otherwise it is perfect. It is made from silk which is a rare thing to find nowadays. My grandma used to keep silk worms in her house so we could watch how they worked. She also would occasionally raise a butterfly through the stages. Green and yellow were her favorite colors. She would have loved this dress.

I paired the dress with my Simply Livly Turquoise Necklace and a wooden turquoise ring. I also wore my favorite Chie Mihara booties with it. They were one of my favorite sale scores last year. Her shoes are amazing.

I think that every girl dreams of a fantasy world. It is kind of what is thrown on us as children. Castles, princesses, animals, pink and flowers. Butterflies fall right into this.

Now, I do not know for certain that this dress is based on a butterfly. It seems obvious to me that it is. But I also frequently mix up the words, “prescription and subscription” so I am absolutely no good mental evaluator.

I looked up the name of the dress, “Sarita.” It means “flowing” in Sanskrit according to the website, behind the name. It is subtle. But, oh, the missed name opportunities this dress had.

It has the most lovely crochet lace edged lining. The dress is short, but in all of my pictures (including spinning), I did not encounter one wardrobe snafu.

It is perfect for a windy day. The sleeves flutter magnificently. I honestly felt like a butterfly in this dress. Groan. I can imagine someone quoting that and I realize how lame that sounds, but it is true.

This dress might not have the right name, but it does not matter.

It simply made me happy. When I wore it I smiled. It felt like a metamorphosis was taking place. And that is all that matters to me.

November 21, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

“Is Your Mama A Llama?”

Did you ever read that book? If you have children, I can recommend it. Although it might remain in your head for all eternity. Especially of you purchase this llama skirt.

This Anthropologie llama skirt embodies everything that I adore about Anthropologie. It is fun. It has bright colors. And the pattern is unique and different. I was able to get it for 25% off because when I went to a holiday workshop they offered all of us girls that discount. It was sweet and I happily used the discount on a few items.

I paired my skirt with a top that I scored this summer for $8 and a necklace that I recently picked up (and gave away an additional three during my blog giveaway last week). The wood bracelet and turquoise beaded bracelets were both recent clearance finds at Macy’s.

The tights are those fleece tights and I want to live in them. I purchased mine for $8 at Nordstrom Rack and I am going back this week for more.

I love them.

And these boots… Well, these boots I hope to have forever. Someone once wrote something nasty about them, but I do not care. These vintage boots have been around longer than those nasty words, longer than that person and longer than me.

I think they have a pretty tough skin.

Do llamas have tough skin?

I am not sure that I want to know.

All I know is that I adore this skirt.

And that I am, indeed, not a llama.

It took me awhile to figure that out, but I checked. Turns out llamas can’t stick out their tongues. Poor dears. And as many folks around here know, I… Can.

Have you jumped on this llama trend? Did you purchase anything with llamas on it this season? I have seen the animal at Anthropologie and Modcloth. I am keeping my eyes peeled for more examples.

July 11, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Lemon Fields

Lemon wine
Thir-ty seven
A day without kids
I ate everything.

Isn’t that catchy? I think it is the next big hit.

Actually, I did not go to a lemon field. And I had neither lemon wine nor wore lemon or wine on this day, but I did visit a vineyard. I wore a lemon color and I drank enough wine to lead me to believe that this post should be entitled, “Lemon Wine” and then promptly changed my bleary mind. Does that count?

When my husband and I visited this vineyard, our children had embarked upon a weeklong camping trip with their grandparents. We were footloose and family free.

We ate so much I got sick.

I would say drank, but both the waiter and myself concurred that it must be the food and not the wine that had my head spinning. Who am I to argue with an expert?

Speaking of spinning, I spun through their gorgeous vineyard.

I had previously reviewed this skirt here, and I had dismissed it. But then Jessica from Breakfast at Gigi’s went and bought the skirt and I loved it so much on her, I decided to try it again. This time I ordered the Zocalo Maxi Skirt in a medium (it is sold out, but you might be able to call customer service and find it in a store). It was on sale and I loved pairing it with turquoise.

Another brilliant thing Jessica did was to iron the sides of the skirt closed. I contemplated doing this. And I eventually might go this route, but for now I simply paired my skirt with a lace slip. I like the extra dimension and coverage that it provides.

I cannot get enough of my Simply Livly’s Turquoise Necklace.

Who says romance is just for kids?

Wait. Does anybody say that? That is just wrong.

Either way, I definitely had a moment with that creme brûlée.

And nobody can tell me differently.

Have you spun through a vineyard? Or from a vineyard?

And who thinks lemon wine should be a thing?

Those strawberries are sweet and all, but lemons… they’ve got some tang.

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

June 16, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Lavender Farm

If my husband’s favorite part of our Maui trip was The Crater, then mine would have to be Maui’s Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm. At only $3 a person and free parking, it is a bargain to get in and wander the beautiful property. They give you a map and a treasure hunt piece of paper that you stamp as you walk through the grounds (I recommend adults do this as the prize is age universal). My son LOVED this.

This picture was taken on the drive up. The drive is just beautiful.

There are many different paths. I like the name of this one.

And, of course, lavender farms means pictures of lavender.

We wandered through trees.

And up high. The views on the farm are incredible.

I even had a Buddha friend to keep me company.

Beautiful flowers.

And creepy ~~girl~~ flowers.

My husband and I split a lavender scone. I wanted a picture, but he ate half of it before I could get the full thing.

It was really good.

Now. My favorite part. I love chameleons. And we were lucky enough to spot three Jackson Chameleons while we were there.

My husband said he’s never seen me so happy.

But, how cute is this little guy?! Those horns! He is a baby. And I was madly in love. I could have spent the whole vacation up there playing with those lizards.

What are your thoughts on chameleons? Have you been to a lavender farm or eaten anything with lavender in it?

Outfit details: this dress is an older Anthropologie dress called Espejoa Mini-Dress. I am wearing the dress backwards. I would rather a keyhole be in the back. The closest dress I can find to it now is this dress. The shoes are Gentle Soul’s tall gladiator sandals and the necklace is Simply Livly’s Turquoise Necklace.

*These photos were edited using the app Afterlife’s Sailor or Bay filters (depending upon the darkness of the picture).

Gnome Lover

Stumbling through life while still having fun

turquoise

Monarch Magic Metamorphosis

“Is Your Mama A Llama?”

Lemon Fields

Lavender Farm