January 15, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Mushroom Dressing

I sense a theme this week. First gnomes. Now mushrooms. I am nothing if not ~~obsessive~~ predictable.

I purchased this Toadstool Blouse back in September from Anthropologie. I just realized I never really posted about it after I bought it. It is one of my favorite purchases. I love gnomes. Everyone knows gnomes live in mushroom houses. So, it stands to reason that I would love mushrooms. On clothing. Just not to eat. Never to eat. Shudder.

Would you eat your house?
Or just wear it on a blouse?

Sorry. I’m tired.

Anyway, I think this blouse is now almost sold out (there are still some petite sizes available as of this posting), but there might be popbacks of it in different sizes.

A few months ago, I paired it with my green flounce skirt purchased last year at Anthropologie. This is my favorite way to wear it. I kind of showed this picture in my Overheard in October post. But not really. It was mostly a funny story about a man who wanted to use the mushrooms on my shirt for some groovy dreams.

Two weeks ago, I scored the AG Stevie Cords from Anthropologie during their after Christmas sale. I was not sure about them, but I love the color. I could not believe that these turquoise cords are the same exact color as the Toadstool Blouse.

I also paired it with my Ruffled Hem Sweater Vest. I am not sure about this look. What do you think?

Did you get anything during Anthropologie’s huge sale? Do you have any other ideas for me on how to wear this shirt? Do you wear the things you collect? Am I the only one?

* Also, I tried different filters with this post using the Afterlife App. Yay or nay? Thank you!

January 5, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Poor Humboldt Tunic

I feel I owe the Humboldt Tunic (it is sold out online, but some stores might still have it. You can call customer service. Its sku# is 29392131. I am wearing a small) an apology. I think I embarrassed it when I first reviewed it, as I wore it without pants in the dressing room. And then I kind of posted it all over the internet. You can’t even google its name without finding it. I find this hilarious. Humboldt Tunic does not. I guess it didn’t deserve that. It’s not like it is one of my children I can embarrass whenever I feel like it.

Humboldt was thrilled it did not have to go home with me that day. It didn’t realize I was just biding my time. I had fallen in love with it. It just didn’t know it loved me back…yet.

Recently the Humboldt Tunic went on sale for a little more than half off at Anthropologie and I could finally bring it home (last day for the extra 25% off is Sunday. This is how my price was that low).

I could tell it was still a little scared of me, despite my many assurances that never again would I appear in a photo sans pants with it.

Notice I said, “photo.”

No wonder it doesn’t trust me.

I decided to show it a little love.

Look Humboldt, I am wearing you with pants! And, okay, these aren’t super expensive name brand pants. Maybe they were $7.50 at H & M, but hey, they’re pants. When did you get so picky?

Don’t blush Humboldt! Oh, wait. That’s just the color I bought you in.

Let’s cuddle up together in my favorite denim jacket. Do you know what pants are made of Humboldt? That’s right! Denim! So, in essence, you are right now being caressed by two pairs of pants.

You’re welcome.

And, of course, I also tried it with my favorite item (shhhh. Don’t tell Humboldt), my Ruffled Sweater Vest.

Is this covered up enough for you, Humboldt?

Humboldt, if I wear you with my favorite vest, you can hide almost your whole self behind it. Maybe nobody will even know it’s you.

This was its favorite option. Humboldt loved this cuddly vest. It hid its scars.

I think the photo is blurry from Humboldt’s tears…or my husband’s from having to take so many darn pictures.

The next day, in a delirium of fever and stuffy nose, I decided to try on Humboldt with my Paige Skinny Cords from Nordstrom Rack. It just looked too comfortable in my closet to not torment some more.

This would have been fine and dandy if I hadn’t had the thought of pairing it with my Faye Boots I got for Christmas. I just don’t think it goes. What do you think?

And its ~~security blanket~~ vest made another appearance.

I think it is going to take a while for Humboldt to trust me. Right now it is hiding in the closet. It is pressed up against three pairs of pants. Earlier it got its much needed cleanse in the washing machine. It was finally beginning to feel better when I hung the poor wretched wet thing up to dry. And there it lay, shivering all night… Plotting its revenge.

I think I hear it whimpering. Or whispering.

Who’s going to tell it I’m wearing it again tomorrow?

How do you think it would look with leggings?

Or, better yet, as a swimsuit coverup?

Poor Humboldt.

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

December 27, 2013 by gn0mel0ver

Dog Crazy

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:

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!”

December 20, 2013 by gn0mel0ver

“Where Oh Where Oh Where Is…

Shadow?” Anyone? Oh, please disregard my wandering thoughts. I am completely losing it over here.

Where did the time go? Seriously, I have approximately 5% done that I need to have done right now. But instead of doing those things I am writing a post. Funny how I always choose the more fun thing to do.

And I forgot to remove the darn garland again! For every single picture. On each and every day. You think I could remember one time. I did remember yesterday and today, so there is that advantage. Yep, that word (ho) appears in almost every single outfit photo in this post. Is the universe trying to tell me something? Well… ho, ho, ho! I’m jolly!

I purchased the Anthropologie Petalblush Dress on sale in a size small during the additional 20% off sale dresses promotion. I am very glad I did, but I am almost wishing I would have kept the medium and not the small. The small might be a little…too small.

I paired it with a grey scarf and mustard cable knit tights from H & M.

I wore this on a day I knew was going to be really tough. I figured the bright colors would be cheerful. They were. The day ended up not being as draining as I feared.

And the muppet fringe? Well, I gotta tell you, it actually made me happy. It is nice to have a little extra support even if it is in the form of a dissected puppet. Comforting.

This photo was taken the next day. I look as tired as I felt. It was really a beautiful day in Southern California, though. It was nice to wear short sleeves and bare legs. I wore my mustard Circle The Globe skirt that I bought off of eBay last year. It had previously been too big, but I recently had the waist taken in. Gotta love a good tailor.

The hedgehog shirt (Creature Feature Top ) is one of my favorites. I previously wore it here. The necklace is the Corallina Necklace from Anthropologie now missing a link. And the shoes are Anthropologie’s Ruffled Shooties (I purchased my usual 8 during the Black Friday sale. Probably could have sized down one, but they were all sold out).

I paired my Anthroplogie Ruffled Sweater Vest (previously worn here and here) with my Free People Miles Of Henley Dress in charcoal. I have said it before, but this vest is my favorite purchase of the year. Yes, year. I find myself wearing it at least twice a week. There is another mom at school with one. I hope we do not show up on the same day wearing it.

The earrings are Lucky Brand. The boots are vintage.

How are you holding up this week? I am just completely and utterly overwhelmed. I have no idea how I am going to accomplish ~~everything~~ anything. Any suggestions?

* Oh, and tonight I am going to go see The Nutcracker with my family. I could really use some help. I want to wear a tulle skirt. I was thinking of my Anthropologie Emeline Tulle Skirt from Anthropologie or I have my BCBG tan tulle skirt from last year. With the Emeline I was going to wear the Peony Applique Pullover. With the BCBG I would wear either a tan long sleeved shirt or maybe a lace pullover. The only shoes that I own (I only own about four pairs of heels) that may work are my plain nude pumps or my new ruffled shooties. The other dilemma with that is it is probably going to be freezing. I might need to wear tights. But I don’t think either shoe would look right with them. I did get a pretty pair of dressier boots, but they are currently wrapped under the tree. So, my only boot choices are vintage or black. What should I do? Please help. : )

Thank you!

UPDATE: I was all set to wear my Emeline skirt, but then my daughter came out of her bedroom in the most beautiful tulle dress. And I knew tulle belonged all to her tonight. She looked so pretty.

So, I ran to my closet and I spotted the Bourgeois Dress with the ballerinas on it. In fact, I recreated the whole outfit the model is wearing, except the necklace. I wore my daughter’s foxhead necklace, because I thought it looked a bit ratlike. I love a theme! Thank you for all of your help. I think I will wear the Emeline Skirt on Christmas Eve. Have a lovely weekend!

Gnome Lover

Stumbling through life while still having fun

vest

Mushroom Dressing

Poor Humboldt Tunic

Dog Crazy

“Where Oh Where Oh Where Is…