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.

December 27, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

The Best Dress Of The West

I keep catching glimpses of folks claiming that this pattern (from here on called Ganado*) days are numbered in its trendiness. But it has been around long before the past few years. In fact, my favorite style, or decade as it were, was the seventies, and this print was all the rage back then. Thus, any time I wear it, I do not think of fads, but rather it being just a tribute to a period of style that I adore.

Besides, who cares about fads or trends any way? I wear what I want when I want to and never ever let what is in or out dictate what I wear.

Of course, this does not mean I claim to be a fashion expert. Ha! Hardly that. I just know what I like. And knowing what you like is most of the battle. Knowing what looks good on your body type is the other part. Mix that with your budget and the chemistry formula for your style is done.

Who knew I was such a scientist?

I purchased this Ganado print inspired dress from Modcloth many years ago. In fact, it was my very first purchase from that company. But you can find a similar style almost everywhere. In looking for a similar dress, I found this one, but honestly look at this whole page of these printed dresses from Forever 21. There are so many of them, and they also come in plus sizes.

I have a confession. Contrary to what you probably were thinking, I am not a gymnast any more than I am a scientist. I know, it is quite a shock. I will give you a moment to let that register.

I cannot believe I am sharing this “action” shot with you. My kids roll on the floor at how very high I can jump.

Let’s move on to something less embarrassing… Hopefully. I had a post up yesterday about the lip pencil products I am currently in love with. These pictures show more of the Iberico color I was terrified of. Whenever I am truly scared of something, I usually make myself do it. Whether that entails ziplining or trying on a lipstick, it is all the same. I do not, however, ever recommend going up behind a cop to ask for directions while he is arresting someone. Don’t ask how me how I know that, just trust me.

Also, stay away from people talking to trees.

Or urinating on them.

Let my past be your guide as to what not to do.

Except for lipstick, always have fun with lipstick.

Do you own any Ganado inspired print clothing? Do you care about following fads or not following them? And what is your stance on public tree affection? I don’t mind a quick hug, but those branches are a bit tough for me to handle.

P.S. Did you purchase anything during the after Christmas sales? I picked up this throw in the orange and green colors, some candles and a Christmas garland for next year. The trees told me to do it. And I cannot resist their call.

*When writing this post, I kept coming upon the terms “tribal” and “ethnic” to describe this print. This felt wrong to me. There are so many gorgeous and beautiful cultures and ethnicities that to clump them all together when stumbling upon a pretty pattern felt gross. However, it seems that some stores have not caught on to this and continue to group everything together. So, I googled the terms and found this article. I learned that the pattern on my dress is more aptly called Ganado, inspired from this pattern originating with the Navajo people.

Now, let’s all stop using those terms and peeing on trees… In that order, of course.

August 15, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

$100 More Or Less: Orange And Yellow

I was browsing through the blog Kendi Everyday’s Archives this week and I stumbled upon an outfit that made me swoon. It was an orange skirt with a yellow top and I lusted after it. I figured I would try to recreate it at home with items from my closet. I love being inspired by something I see so that I can get more uses out of my wardrobe. I previously wore my yellow skirt here.

I adored this outfit so much, it bumped a previously scheduled outfit post for today. I wore this outfit yesterday. This is the closest I ever get to being spontaneous. Hence, the rushed pictures taken in my house five minutes before my husband had to leave for work.

Once I put the outfit together (a flipped mix of colors), I realized that I had inadvertently created a fairly inexpensive outfit. I decided to place it in my new feature, “$100 More Or Less” in which I try to create an outfit for under $100, but still allow myself a little wiggle room (max. $130). I do not want to use shoes that work with my budget but are not the best choice for an outfit simply for the sake of a rule.

I am a pretty laid-back girl so my rules for myself are laid-back, too. As evidenced from this impromptu lovin’ of my baby.

Although I would call myself more laid-front here.

Of course, I had to do an Angelina Jolie move with the slit. I once had a t-shirt twenty years ago that sported a brazen, “I Love Brad Pitt” inscription across the chest.

Angelina might have done the leg pose first. But I loved her husband first. Let’s call it even.

Cost Breakdown:

Anthropologie Zocalo Skirt: Paid $60 Original price $118
Anthropologie High-Low Peplum Pullover: Paid $10 Original price $58
Anthropologie Corchorous Sandals: Paid $40 Original price $128
Anthropologie Necklace: Paid $15 Original price $58 I think. I cannot find it online.

Total Spent: $125
Retail Price: $362

I went a bit over, but I wanted to include this outfit in my “$100 More Or Less.” This is because for $7 more than the original price of the skirt, I was also able to score shoes, a necklace and a top. I felt it was budget appropriate.

Here is where it gets tricky. Everything I am wearing is sold out. Because it is my budget post, I feel icky linking to items that cost more than my outfit. So, I am only going to link to similar inexpensive items, while I try to recreate the outfit for around the same price I paid. I could have done it cheaper, but I thought the following items resembled the items I am wearing as best as I could find. The prices are as of this writing. I cannot guarantee that they are the same price now. Just as I cannot guarantee that I will never sport that “I Love Brad Pitt” tee on this blog. Especially if there is ever a “Legends of the Fall II.” My exposed leg probably would not be able to support my swooning, especially as it was kicking a certain long-legged brunette out of the way.

Similar Outfit Options:

$55 skirt
$32 Shirt
Most Sizes In This Shoe Are $27
$14 Necklace

What are your favorite colors to pair together? Do you wear two separate colors often? Yay or Nay to this new feature, $100 More Or Less (probably running once or twice a month)?

*this post contains affiliate links. Clicking on a link may result in a small commission for ~~a new Brad Pitt Stalker Tee~~ this site.

This post was lightly edited using the App Visco’s C1 Filter on level 2.

August 14, 2014 by gn0mel0ver

Chess Squares

I do not know why, but I want to say the name of this recipe in the way Spongebob would do it. Okay, I do know why. It is because his last name is Squarepants and the title has the word “square” in the name.

Don’t leave me hanging. Let’s do it together in a nasally twang, shall we?:

“Cheeeeeesss Squuuuuuuuaaaaarres.”

Whew! I feel better. Although, any recipe that starts with a paragraph about a children’s cartoon and then proceeds to use the verse, “nasally twang” generally isn’t something that wets one’s appetite. Sorry about that.

I had first seen this recipe on Pinterest and then looked it up on the internet. I found it on so many sites, with no one really knowing where the recipe originally came from. I followed the Duncan Hines’ version, but used butter instead of margarine.

I generally do not post directions if it is not my recipe, but in this case I will. I needed to mention a few tips in the directions below that were not found in the recipe I followed. This is not my original recipe. It is someone else’s. Perhaps a certain sponge’s who dwells under the sea?

Ingredients:

1 package of yellow cake mix
3 eggs
1 stick of melted salted butter
8 oz. of softened cream cheese
1 pound (16 oz.) powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. If you have a convection oven then preheat to 325 degrees F.

In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer in a bowl, beat together one egg, cake mix and melted butter.

Press the dough into a greased 9 X 13 baking dish. I like to use a clear one, because it is pretty seeing the different layers.

Set aside 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar.

Combine the remaining powdered sugar, two eggs and cream cheese in your stand mixer or in a bowl with your hand mixer on medium speed until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed together.

Pour the mixture over the dough in the 9 X 13 pan.

Bake for thirty five minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool for forty five minutes. Sprinkle the powdered sugar you set aside earlier over the dessert.

Check.

Cut into squares.

Check.

Serve (refrigerate remaining dessert).

Checkmate.

Crown yourself King Of The Sea and keep this yummy indulgence away from Patrick and Mr. Krabs. You will not want to share this.

Gnome Lover

Stumbling through life while still having fun

yellow

Monarch Magic Metamorphosis

The Best Dress Of The West

$100 More Or Less: Orange And Yellow

Chess Squares