Farren blouse + purple medallion

Farren blouse by Leifnotes:  Anthropologie, spring 2012
No. 2 pencil skirt in purple medallion:  J.Crew, spring 2012
Nude heels:  Tahari

I love all shades of purple.  Violet, lavendar, plum...love.  Apparently little girls share my love for purple.  I was standing at the trunk of my car today in a business parking lot, getting a few work items organized, when I felt some eyes on me.  I looked up and there was a ring of three little girls around me.  "You're SO pretty!" said one.  "We love your outfit!" added another, before their harried mom hustled them away.    It made me chuckle because for some reason I'm always a big hit amongst  little girls, which makes the fact that I have three little boys all the more ironic.   However, I try not to question God's plan for us, and I know I was meant to be a boy mom.  I definitely couldn't handle all the teenage angst that I put my mom through!

Thanks for reading!

Wrap around blouse + flowers

Wrap around blouse by Portrait of a Girl:  Anthropologie, winter 2012
San Pedro pencil skirt in gold:  Anthropologie, summer 2011
Flower belt:  Anthropologie, 2009 I think?
Gladiator heels:  Ann Taylor, summer 2009

You know those peaceful moments you have when you can stare, uninterrupted, into your wardrobe and dream up a fab outfit?  Yeah me either.  Moments like that don't exist in my life right now.  Most of the time, while I'm trying to scheme up an outfit, I have three little boys wrestling, running, and hanging around me.  Good thing I work well under pressure.  I dreamed up this outfit right after bath time last night, when the three little angels were NAKED and running all around me.  I think I deserve a medal for that, as I loved how it turned out and received many compliments today.

Amazing how the harsh morning light pretty much erases all of my makeup in pictures.  Any remedy for this?  I'm such a novice.

Thanks for visiting!

Radler blouse

Radler blouse by Girls From Savoy:  Anthropologie, summer 2011
Khaki shorts:  J.Crew
Gold navajo sandals:  Jack Rogers

 I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend!  We spent both Friday and Saturday evening with our boys and some other families and their children, so it was a casual weekend.  Date nights are awesome but I also love just hanging out with our boys on the weekends.   They're not going to want to spend Saturday nights with their mom and dad forever, so we need to cherish this time.

Back tomorrow!

Pink Cottage + Succulent Green

Pink Cottage Blouse by Sarah Ball Photography:  Anthropologie, winter 2012
No. 2 pencil skirt in succulent green:  J.Crew, here
Patent leather peep toes:  Enzo Angiolini

I am sure you will not be shocked when I tell you that green and pink is my favorite color combination.  Which immediately made this blouse one of the favorites in my closet.  Last time I wore it with pink, here, and loved it.  Today I tried it with my new succulent green skirt. While I love both the looks, and I'm crazy about this green skirt,  I think I prefer it with the pink wool skirt as there's more of a contrast. What do you think?

 Finding a unique blouse like this is the reason I continue my love affair with Anthropologie, but I know this top may be to much "look" for some ladies.  Fortunately I like wearing a pink house that even includes a window to my soul.  I'm deep like that.

Happy Friday!

Why does the scale weigh women down?

 Who likes the scale?

Hi everyone!  I'm taking a break from fashion today to discuss a topic that every woman has an opinion on:  Body image and the scale! I don't know a single woman who doesn't have some sort of battle with the scale.  Whether we have 10, 20, or even ZERO pounds to lose, it seems it's tough to be happy with that dang contraption that looms large from its post in the bathroom, or the numbers that it reveals when we step on it.  I'm less focused on it now that I have a family to care for.  I've tried to come to terms with the fact that it's more important to feel healthy that reach a certain number on the scale. But that wasn't always the case with me.  I've been working on and editing this blog post for weeks now, debating on whether or not I want to share a serious topic on a blog that I want to keep lighthearted and fun.  But I think it's a good topic, a worthy topic, and I have found such kindness through the blog world, I wanted to share a personal story that not many people know...

My body has always been tall and athletic, through my childhood, teen years, and on to adulthood.  I always played sports and exercised, even in college when people thought I was crazy for running in the snow, rain, or whatever weather we were having.  But eleven years ago, the summer that I got engaged, for some reason I decided I wasn't thin enough to be a perfect bride.  Looking back now, it is clear I quickly developed a problem.   At the time I was a television news reporter working the night shift, so I worked 3 to midnight.  That gave me plenty of morning hours to work out...and that is all I did when I wasn't working.  I'd do 80 minutes (!!!!) of cardio at the gym, lift some weights, and then come home and RUN for another 30 minutes.  I wouldn't eat a thing until 2 or 3 in the afternoon, when I got to work.  I had all these weird food  and exercise "rituals" and I'd get really stressed out if I couldn't follow them.  I weighed myself weekly, at the gym, and always had to wear the same exact outfit when I weighed in.  I was so weird about everything related to my weight, and I lost nearly 20 pounds.

My hip bones and collar bones jutted way out.  The entire time I was in this phase, even though I was the thinnest I had ever been, I still wasn't happy.  In fact, I was miserable.  I was exhausted and freezing all the time.  No one ever guessed I had a problem, not even my mom, my friends, or my then-fiance, who is now my husband.  I guess they didn't realize anything was wrong, because I was never to the point that I looked sick...just very thin.  I was also alone a lot during the week, due to my odd work schedule, and I did a good job of keeping my strange eating habits to myself.  When I was around my friends or family, I ate "normally."

This continued for a year, and then, the next summer, the summer of my wedding, everything changed quickly.  My mom was diagnosed with cancer two months before my wedding.  I was so terrified of losing her that I starting eating more, out of stress.  I gained enough weight that the seamstress actually had to let my wedding dress OUT (when does that ever  happen?)  I was distressed about gaining weight, but I simply had no more energy to continue that exhausting lifestyle.  I literally couldn't push myself anymore to work out for 2+ hours a day and starve. Plus, with my mom being sick, and then me being newly married,  I had other things to focus on.   And even though I didn't like that my size 2's no longer fit, I had to admit I felt better  when I wasn't starving myself. 

Luckily, my mom's cancer went into remission and she is still with us today, we just celebrated her 72nd birthday.  Less than a year after getting married, I quit reporting and moved on to a different career path.  I also became pregnant with our first son, quite unexpectly.  It was the greatest surprise ever!  I feel fortunate that my extreme exercising and dieting did not compromise my fertility.

Now, 11 years and more than 15 pounds heavier (that still bothers me to say, I must admit), I still exercise daily but not obsessively.  I have always been a runner, I go to the gym, I just try to be healthy.  Do I wish I were 5 pound lighter?  Sure, what woman doesn't?   But I will never let it control me again like it did in my 20's.  Life is too short and too precious.  When I look back, I feel sorry for that younger version of myself, trying so hard to be perfect and never quite reaching my own impossibly high standards.  What a waste of time and energy.

Me feeling victorious and healthy after the Columbus, OH half marathon last October. 

It really is a mystery to me why we, as women, myself definitely included, often times mistake  thinner  for    better.  Most men will say they prefer a woman with some curves.  But it's hard for us to listen, or believe that message.  I know part of that is due to the media, society, and Hollywood.  I also think women are simply hardwired to be critical of themselves and have difficulty being completely happy with their appearance.  I still fall into this trap...but I force myself out of it.  If I wouldn't say, "You look terrible today," to one of my friends, why would I ever say that to myself?

I appreciate you reading.  I'm not sure why I felt compelled to tell this story.  Maybe it will help another woman who is struggling with her weight, or overexercising, to remember that there are so many things that are more important to life than the scale or those last 10 pounds.  I want you to know I've had my body image struggles just like everyone else.  I truly think that each and every woman can be beautiful, no matter what her size.

Thanks for reading!  I'd love to hear your own thoughts and experiences!

Stripes + Casbah

Navy/green striped top:  Banana Republic, spring 2012
Pencil skirt in casbah print:  J.Crew Factory, summer 2012
Password pumps: Seychelles

Disclosure:  This was yesterday's outfit.  I didn't post it after my J.Crew reviews as I figured you'd seen enough of me posing in front of the dress room mirrors.  Today I actually wore this dress in the exact same way as last time, so I didn't want to bore you with an outfit repeat.  So I decided to post this little pattern mixing number from yesterday.  What do you think?  When I first started this little blog in April, I had very little experience with pattern mixing.  I still think it can go very bad, very quickly.  But keeping the color schemes in the same family really seems to help pattern mixing make sense.  And it can take a simple outfit like a top and a skirt to a much more interesting level. 

Do you like to pattern mix?  What are your tricks for keeping it cohesive? 

On another note, I bought a bun form at the drugstore and used it on my hair in this picture.  LOVE it!  I already have a lot of hair so using the bun form gave me the most gigantic ballerina bun ever.  (You can kind of see it in the pictures from the J.Crew reviews in the previous post.)  If you haven't tried on yet, go buy one!  They're less than $5.00 and if I can do it anyone can.  Looks a lot better than my normal half-ass half ponytail! 

J.Crew fitting room reviews

Hello there!  I had a moment this evening to pop into J.Crew so I decided to try on some of the items that have not hit sale yet.  The store was pretty empty between the huge sales they've been having and the fact that the new fall items have not yet arrived. My favorite sales associate told me they are expecting the new fall lineup to be delivered tomorrow so I am sure I will stop back to see the new arrivals in person!  Until then here are a few of my picks from what's left:

Colorblock sequin tank in seamist/navy
Size small
$65  here
Ankle stretch toothpick jean in classic rinse wash
Size 28
$125 here

If you are not sequined-out, this is a really lovely tank for a not too crazy price.  I love this color scheme so much.  I tried on a size small and it was too big in the armholes and chest area...I would size down to an extra-small.  So this one definitely runs big, because it's a rare day that I take a size extra-small.  Other than that, I loved this top and it is on my wishlist.
I really liked these jeans a lot.  These are a 28 and they were pretty tight.  The muffin top was not pretty folks.  I'd probably size up to a 29 in these, so I'd say they run on the smaller side.  I'd also like to see how they look in size Long, but I don't mind the length on these.

Top in colorblock stripe in festival green
Size 4
$128 here

Oh dear, this top is not good.  The color scheme looks like something my 5 year old boy would like, and $128 for RAYON?  Come on J.Crew!  We thought the silk colorblock top was priced steep at around this price in the spring...to charge this price for rayon is unacceptable.  Not to mention the material just doesn't feel nice, and it's very shapeless.  I'm wearing a 4 and it was pretty big on me, so size down.  But this is a definitely PASS for me.

Tippi sweater in heart me
Size small, color pink peacock
$89.50 here
Cafe capri in kaleidoscope dot
Size 6
$148 here

I am torn on this tippi sweater.  On one hand I love it, and I love the colors.  But on the other hand, I feel like it looks juvenile.  I swear I had a similar Espirit sweater in the 4th grade.  (Remember before Justice there was Espirit?  Ahhh I am showing my age!)  I think this could look darling under a blazer, but then would I be too hot?  I guess I could save it for weekend wear.  I'm definitely on the fence.  On a sizing note, the small had tight arms.  But the body was fine, and I think sizing up to a medium would make it baggy.  Has anyone else noticed this?  My leopard tippi is a small and the arms aren't tight, so not sure why this one seems to be squeezing my arms like sausages.

On the pants:  I tried these on for the blog only.  I know lots of lovely ladies who look great in capris, I don't think I am one of them.  I feel so dowdy in them.  These are a size 6 and they were huge.  I'd definitely size down to a 4.  But these are a pass for me, the material was nice but the pattern screamed "jammie bottoms" to me.

Ankle stretch toothpick jean in garment-dyed twill
Color: Dark poppy, size 28
$125 here

I'm going to show my age again here by telling you I rocked red jeans in the early 90's as a young teen.  So these took me back to my youth, and I must say I loved them!  They were not too low-waisted either, so my muffin top did not spill over.  The size 28 fit great with a bit of stretch, and they felt soft too.  The color was saturated and pretty.  These are on my wishlist for sure.  I promise not to wear them with a black body suit circa 1994.

Dree Dress in Deck Stripe
Size 4
$148 here

Why am I making that face, do you ask?  Because I'm saying to myself  "Toooooooooooo short!"  Wow!  This is a 4 and I could tell it looked tiny but my store didn't have a 6 for me to try.  I would definitely need a 6 as this felt too tight.  However, I don't think sizing up would make the dress any longer, so it is a pass for me.  I liked the elasticized waist and material though, and I think more petite girls will look adorable.

Stripe derby dress
Size 4, navy
$138 here

I saw some girl wearing this dress one evening when we were out and I thought it looked adorable.  I knew I wanted to give it a try.  I thought it was really cute on, and a good length.  The size 4 was good, so I'd say this is TTS.  Love that it has pockets!  This is wishlisted for me. 

That's all of my reviews for today, I hope they were helpful!