Surely Inspired

 Shirt - Style & Co. (Macy's); Skirt - Spiegel; Shoes - Mossimo (thrifted); Belt - Target; Necklace, Earrings & Ring (Macy's)

Everytime I think of pairing blue and yellow together, I think of one of Surely Sonsi's first posts.  And, every time I put on this skirt, I definitely think of her, since she recommended this skirt based upon the red one she owned.  If Kate Spade was my inspiration yesterday, I guess Jessica is my inspiration today.

FInd Your Inspiration

Shirt - Steinmart; Pants - Macy's (free); Shoes - Payless; Belt - TJ Maxx

I saw a dress from Kate Spade this summer in navy and lime and white, which I loved, and I've been dying to try the combo myself.  What better way than with Sophie's favorite print??  You can't really see in this photo, but the pants are polka dotted, too.  I'm so glad this turned out the way it did!  If I could do it again, I would not do the belt, though.  It gave me a weird shape, especially from the side.  Next time :-)

Plaid, Check, Polka Dot, Stripe

Which is the pattern that you like?  This is a ditty played between cartoons on Disney mornings which my kids love, and my daughter utililzes whenever she helps me decide what to wear.  She helped with both of these outfits.  While polka dots usually win out with Stinkerbell, these two days, she picked plaid and stripes.  I had to agree with her :-)



Tunic - BDGB (thrifted);                Dress - Old Navy (thrifted);
Bangles (thrifted)                                  Cardi - Target;
Boots - Charlotte Russe - (thrifted)          Shoes - Madden (thrifted);
Necklace, Earrings and Ring - Steinmart    Necklaces - Express and Premiere
Belt - NY & Co                                                        



Pretty in Plaid

I was in a lumberjack kind of mood this week. Here are a few ways that I styled my plaid camp shirts into business casual attire.

Shirt - Target; Cami - Old Navy; Skirt - Macy's; Belt - Thrifted; Necklace - Macy's; Shoes - Payless

Right: Shirt - Target; Cardi - NY & Co (thrifted); Skirt - Gap (maternity); Necklace - JC Penny; Shoes - Madden (TJ Maxx)

Been a Long Time

 Shirt - Matthew Morrison (Macy's); Skirt - Spiegel; Belt and Bracelets- Thrifted; Boots - Charlotte Russe (thrifted); Earrings - Steinmart

I've been a bad, bad blogger.  It's been weeks.  But a fabulous new promotion led to tons of extra responsibility and a trip to corporate headquarters for training.  And NO time for blogging.  Now that life is back to normal, I'm back to getting my pictures taken in the morning :-)

Dress - NY & Co (thrifted); Sweater - Target; Shoes - Payless; Necklace and Bracelets - Thrifted

There is a preview of 'Hall Pass' where Jenna Fisher is wearing a dress much like the one I'm wearing.  In fact, when I first saw the preview I thought 'I really love that dress'.  So imagine my elation when I was perusing through my local Plato's Closet and saw a dress from NY & Co, in my size (for $8), with the same print and pallette.  Of course, fate had brought us together.  The dress is light enough to be worn in summer, but the color pallette also lends to its ability to be worn with tights and boots in the fall.  Bonus!

Take On Me

Shirt - Old Navy (thrifted); Pants - Gap (maternity - gifted); Earrings - Steinmart; Ring - NY&Co; Shoes - Nine West (thrifted)

This is not an optical illusion.  This is not a graphic editing trick. My shoes have lips on them.  Not just lips, magenta and blue lips.  These shoes make me think of the 80's and, more specifically, the A-Ha video for Take On Me.  No, I don't think there were any crazy colored lips in that video.  I just said it made me think of it.

This shirt is another on of the freebie's I took a chance on in the Plato's Clearance grab bag event.  A chance well taken, as I think it is very flattering.  And I discovered this weekend as I was packing for a camping trip, that I don't really own any khaki's or jeans that aren't maternity.  Not because regular ones don't fit me.  But because I rarely wear either.  I was gifted a bunch of both from my bestie's older sister who also has freakishly long legs and I never really saw the point of buying non-maternity ones since I don't wear them enough to warrant.  Plus, all her stuff was from the Gap, and who makes better jeans than the Gap??  I wear them proudly.

Color of Summer

 Shirt - Lane Bryant (thrifted); Skirt - Spiegel; Shoes - thrifted; Belt - Dress Barn; Necklace and Bangle - Premiere

Sweater and Skirt - NY & Co (thrifted); Shoes - Payless; Necklace - Premiere

Yellow is the color of the summer.  Not any summer, but this summer.  And not because it is the color of the sun.  Because all my life I have been told that yellow is not a good color for me because I am so pale.  This summer, I threw caution to the wind and started wearing it anyway.  Screw my complexion - I rock out some yellow. 

Bag of Free Clothes

 Dress - Chaps (thrifted); Shoes - Payless; Necklace and Belt - Steinmart

My local Plato's Closet had a clearance sale recently.  $15 was all it would cost for each plastic shopping bag (smallish) that you filled with clearance items.  I was pleased to find that the clearance items were all sorted and in their own section.  I was not pleased to find the limited amount of items in my size that were on clearance.  Well, I guess I shouldn't have been two surprised...it is Plato's Closet.  But I digress.  I found this sundress pretty early on and for the cute plaid pattern and good construction of the dress, I would have paid $15 for it.  Which basically made everything else in my bag free.  I've already worn the dress twice since the sale, so it was definitely worth it.  While not everything in my bag ended up being a winner (I took some long shots since they were essentially free...I'll probably end up donating them), I ended up with quite a few really nice pieces in addition to the dress.

Shirt and Scarf- NY & Co (thrifted); Skirt - Ralph Lauren (Macy's) ; Shoes - Payless; Belt - NY & Co

This purple sweater was one of my gem 'freebies' from the bag.  It totally matched the scarf I had thrifted from there last year and is pretty seasonless, as I see myself putting this over a buttondown and wearing with a skirt and boots in the winter as well.  In fact, most of the items I own from NY&Co have been thrifted from this Plato's.  I have a theory that there is a plus sized teenager whose gramdma buys here beautiful conservative things from NY & Co, but she would rather wear flannels, tees and tanks, so she brings them in to trade. Did I mention that many of the items have NEVER been worn and still have original tags??

I don't really care how they got there, though.  I'll take it!

Smocks are NOT Just for Painters

 Shirt - TJ Maxx; Vest - Thrifted; Pants - Macy's; Shoes - Jessica Simpson (TJ Maxx); Necklace and Earrings - Steinmart; Ring - NY & Co

I don't really have that much to say about this outfit aside from it was super comfy and I loved the way this smock shirt flows and covers a bunch while still being feminine.  It even has pockets to store my paintbrushes or sticky fingers and paperclips.  I love dresses with pockets...I super love Tunics with pockets!

Dye Job

Dress - Macy's; Shoes - TJ Maxx; Necklace and Earrings - Dress Barn; Owl Ring - Bakers

This post is a rarety. It's comprised of two outfite with NOTHING thrifted. This is so not me. I wore the red white and blue number for July 4th (yes, I'm a month behind in my blogging) and and the other was just a want-to-be-comfy day, so my fave flats and shirtdress. And holy wow...I knew my hair needed to be cut, but didn't realize how badly I needed a dye job!!
Dress - Target; Shoes - Old Navy; Bracelet - Premiere; Earrings - Steinmart

I like to call this outfit the Reverse Dorothy. I like it.

Freak Flag

Tank, Ring, and Earrings - Target; Skirt - INC (Macy's); Shoes - Charlotte Russe (thrifted); Belt and Bangle - thrifted

One thing I've learned about this belt....it's too small for me. Too small = pain. Too small also = super-cinched waist. Too small = looks thinner. Too small = okay by me :-) Week one of utilizing SparkPeople.com and I'm down 2.5 pounds. I was down 5 on Friday, but had a little trouble with good choices while house sitting at a home where chips, cordogs, and pizza abounded over the weekend. Back on the horse this week.

And now I cringe while I list the details.

Size - 16/18

Starting Weight - 212.5

Goal Weight - 161 by August 1, 2012

Current Weight - 210

I'm a firm believer that you shouldn't do things you are ashamed of. I proudly admit I'm a nerd. I let my freak flag fly. But I was ashamed to detail my body statistics. I'm trying to change that.

Indecent Exposure

Dress - Target; Shoes and Bangles - Thrifted; Earrings - Steinmart; Necklace - Premiere; Ring - NY&CO

Figures, the day before I chop off my hair it looks great.

I normally try to shy away skirts/dresses that are above my knees, but the reality is above-the-knee is really in right now. As long as I don't go too far, and use Jergens Natural Glow lotion to add a little color to them, I've been getting more comfy with showing off my knees and their immediate neighbors to the north. The tiers, ruffles and gathers on this dress make it quite flattering and I just love the color. Lately I've been thinking how awesome this dress would look with my Gap demin jacket over it, my blue tights and my tan knee boots...maybe this dress won't get put away for the fall/winter :-)

From Paris, with Love

Skirt - NY & Co (thrifted); Shirt - Loft (thrifted); Shoes, Bangle, Necklace and Belt - Thrifted

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While I own a crap-ton of items from Plato's Closet, this is the first time I've created an outfit entirely out of items from my hand-me-down Mecca. The skirt I totally love because of its 50's feel and the fact that it is covered in little pictures of women having coffee at outdoor cafe's in what I can only assume is Paris. ADORABLE!!! Add that it has a stretchy waist and will (hopefully) shrink with me as I lose weight, and it's quickly skyrocketing to the top of my skirt list. And this outfit is probably my favorite combo of red-white and blue yet.

Yeah, gonna try that weight loss thing again. Wish me luck. If I don't lose some lbs, my back pain will never get any better and it's starting to really interfere with my everyday life. Cross your fingers for me ladies!

Anchors Aweigh

Dress - INC (Macy's); Belt - Target; Shoes - Payless; Necklace - Steinmart

I'm loving the idea of wearing items as they were not intended. This 'dress' is really a maxi skirt. But look at me...I pulled it up and cinched it and voila! I have a tube dress. I'll have to admit, this idea wasn't mine. But my execution is something I'm quite proud of :-)

You may notice, that my hair is looking a bit rough. I haven't cut my hair since my son was born, nearly 2 years ago...I realized that I was getting a bit scraggly, so I recently got it chopped. Just a preview of things to come....

My Blue Heaven

Skirt, Shirt and Boots - Thrifted; Cardi and Earrings - Steinmart; Belt and Ring - NY & Co; Necklace - PremiereI've been in love with cobalt blue lately. Any way I can incorporate it into my outfit, I do. This outfit was my Blue Heaven.

Shirt and Belt - NY & Co; Pants - Thrifted; Shoes - Stuart Weitzman (thrifted); Ring - Macy's

Black & White

Dress - Old Navy (thrifted); Cardi - Steinmart; Shoes - Old Navy; Belt and Ring - Steinmart

Shirt and Cardi - Steinmart; Pants - NY & Co; Belt - Baby Phat (thrifted)

Cardi and Dress - TJ Maxx; Tights - We Love Colors; Shoes - Anne Klein (Stienmart); Earrings, and Bracelet - Steinmart

This last look is for my daughter, who is currently in love with Dorothy Gale. There's no place like home, sweetie.

School's Out for Summer

Skirt - Ralph Lauren (Macy's FREE); Cardi - Gap; Shirt - Style & Co (Macys FREE); Belt and Ring - NY & Co; Shoes - Jessica Simpson (TJ Maxx); Earrings - Premiere; Necklace- Thrifted.
I took my last two exams for the spring this week. I aced them both. Now, maybe I can take a moment or two to blog occasionally. I'm really behind.

Let the Sunshine In

Dress - Lands End (gift from MIL); Belt - Thrifted; Shoes - Jessica Simpson (thrifted); Necklace - ME; Earrings - Steinmart

This dress was so comfy, it was like wearing jammies to work. I see myself wearing this dress a lot. For my first attempt, went with the red and blue, but I'm excited about adding some yellow, or lime to it for this spring. Thought I'd try safe and toned down for the first wearing. I'm finding that my favorite gifts lately are gift cards. Used to hate them, cause I thought they were the cop out gift for those that lack imagination. Now I love them, cause they let me shop guilt free. Hint, hint Hubs.

Skirt - Spiegel; Sweater - Style & Co (Macy's); Shirt, Necklace and Belt - JC Penny; Shoes - Rampage (Macy's); Earrings - Chicos

This was the first wearing of my long-searched for yellow pencil skirt, but the last wearing of one of my favorite memory pieces. These pumps were purchased when I got engaged to wear to my bridal showers. I was in a very classic black & white phase at the time (with a lot of polka dots) and I wore these shoes to nearly every event for the wedding outside from the actual ceremony. Problem is, they kill my feet. They are a bit too big, not being available in half sizes, and the cut of the shoes is a bit to wide for my average width feet. I spend so much time fighting with them to stay on that they hurt my arches. By lunch time at the office, I was barefoot under my desk, only walking when absolutely necessary, cause the thought of putting them back on made me cringe. Not the kind of shoes to wear when you're trying to get your step count up. I recently gave these shoes to the Lovely LaraTelena. Hopefully she can make them fulfill their shoe destiny. I'll post any pics she sends me. Hint, hint, Lara.

Comfy Sexy

Cardi and Shirt - Old Navy; Pants - Style & Co (Macy's); Shoes - Steinmart; Belt - Thrifted; Necklace - Premiere; Earrings - Lia Sophia (gift from MIL)

This outfit is pretty basic. Nothing out of the ordinary and super comfy. Great outfit for work and school. That's about it.

Sweater - Steinmart; Skirt and Tights - Old Navy; Boots - Macy's; Belt - Dots; Earrings - Chico's; Necklaces - Premeire

Husby went so far as to call me sexy in this outfit. He told me multiple times that I looked really good. I guess he must like this one :-P This is one of those way-after-winter-on-the-clearance-rack-for-$3.50-becuase-it's-the-last-sweater-in-the-store finds. And it is the only sweater that I didn't pack away for the summer because it's warm yet light weight enough to slap on over a tank while sitting by a fire drinking a beer with my neighbors. This is my new go-to sweater.

Happy Mother's Day!

Shirt and Pants - TJ Maxx; Cardi and Earrings- Steinmart; Shoes - Old Navy; Belt - Thrifted;

Necklace - Premiere; Owl Ring - Bakers

I generally shy away from the Junior's Department. Firstly, I'm plus sized, and Junior's Clothes typically run smaller, meaning an XL would make me look more like a wrapped sausage than a woman. And secondly, because I have had two children which have left me with an excess of skin and fat in the belly region that Junior's shirts are often too short to cover up. This floral sheer gem is technically Junior's and passed the belly test on both ends. I love how the flowers are so bright and varied that I can dress it many ways. This day I went dark, but I could easily go pink or lilac or even yellow with ease on a more springy day. Although technically Spring, the record rainfall in my town this month has really got me down and it's tough to pull off the brights just yet.

You'd better pay attention. Mr. Owl is watching you. Dress - Liz Lange Maternity (thrifted); Belt - Steinmart; Necklace, Earrings and Ring - Various Anniversary gifts from Husby

I LOVE these jewelry items from Husby. They are bold, yet neutral. They are statement and classy. The only part I regret is that I feel that the shells are only appropriate in the spring and summer. Maybe I'll get over that. But for now, I'm just happy that their season has returned. The dress is a maternity dress that I just cannot retire, because of the gorgeous color. And since I discovered that my 70's hooker clogs of the previous post match it exactly this resolve is further reinforced. Happy Day in extreme maternity comfort.

Things that suck in the transition of pregnant to mother, that No ONE bothered to tell me:
1. You are no longer able to proudly display your big fat belly.
2. You feel guilty about everything non vegetable that you put in your mouth.
3. Feeling the kicks. God, I miss feeling the kicks still. It's like you lose a part of you.
4. You lose the comfy excess and stretchyness of Maternity Clothes. You don't realize how much you hate zippers and buttons until you spend 5 months in expandawaist maternity pants.
5. You have to worry whenever you sneeze if it's going to be a sninkle. (tinkle + sneeze)
6. Freaky crazy big, milk engorged, painful breasts. Then, you fall in love with them, right before you stop nursing and lose them.
7. Post freaky crazy big, milk engorged breasts that you now need to fold up into a braziere.
8. Three other things that I can't remember because my babies ate my brain cells.

But GOD, I love those beautiful babies. Happy Mother's Day!