Navy and Wavy

Outfit Notes: Cardigan-old // Dress-thrifted for $4 // Tights-Target // boots-old // naked vintage  lady necklace-old, found in a craft shop

Ever since I had Simon, my hair has changed. It is thicker, and naturally a bit wavy if I allow it to air dry. Because I spent the first 28 years of my life with stick-straight fine hair, I have had no idea how to deal with this, and usually just round brush or flat-iron it out. Recently though, after letting my hair air-dry, I decided to leave it alone and see how it felt for a day to have waves in my hair. I ended up liking it and getting a lot of compliments. So when I went in for a much-needed bang-trim the other day, I asked my stylist if she could teach me how to style my waves, and cut some layers back in to encourage them more.

She showed me how to scrunch my hair up after washing it, and use my diffuser to really make the waves come out. She showed me a couple of products that would help the hairs curl and hold them, and then she told me to avoid drying my hair all the way, so that the air drying could help my hair do its thing.

I absolutely loved the result, and the waves lasted even the next day after I ran a brush through them in the morning. I will definitely be “wavin’ it up” on the days when i have more time to get ready in the morning.

Peachy Keen

Outfit Notes:
Necklace-Gift
T-shirt-Thrifted
Cords-Kohls, old
Shoes-TJ Maxx, old

Here I am, on a casual Wednesday. The weather cannot decide what it wants to do. It is sunny one minute, dark, cloudy, and wanting to rain the next. I spent the morning and afternoon tidying up after my toddler, getting an adjustment at the chiropractor, and reading parenting articles.

I almost didn’t bother to post today, fearing this outfit to be too boring and plain. But, I prefer the style blogs that show everyday outfits–stuff I can imagine myself wearing, and that seem doable for every budget. Real-life style. Clothes you can play with play-dough in. 🙂

When I wear simple, casual clothes like this, I always feel like I need at least one little pop of personality. A chunky necklace, some crazy earrings, fun shoes. Just something to spice it up a bit. Today I added my orange stone necklace to this peachy colored shirt. This creates a focal point to the outfit because the two colors are similar, and makes it more fun. I am also wearing an orangey-colored lip gloss that matches the shirt almost perfectly.

I suppose if the weather won’t stay bright, at least my outfit can. 🙂

Pops Of Coral

(Outfit Notes: Necklace-a gift // Shirt-Kohl’s, old // Dress-Kohl’s, last year // Tights-Target // Shoes-Target, a couple years old)

I posted the other day, three ways to wear this dress. One way was under a top, as a skirt. That is what I decided to do again today for Easter dinner with family. I knew I wanted to wear floral print, as an homage to the return of Spring. The dress has some orange in it, so I thought adding the orange tights would be fun and unexpected. That led me to adding this coral colored necklace, which was a recent gift from an aunt who shares my love of chunky, bold jewelry.

If you love the color coral, check out this post over at Juggling Chic and see her awesome outfit incorporating the color.

(I didn’t get around to taking pictures until late, so the lighting here kind of stinks.)

Turquoise and Marigold

(Outfit Notes: Earrings-made by me // Sweater-JC Penney clearance rack // T-shirt-too old to remember // Skirt-Target clearance rack // Tights- too old to remember // Belt-Target, last year // T-Strap Heels-JC Penney clearance last year)

Three things about today’s outfit:

1-My husband, Jeramy, and I are going out on a date night tonight to a late 1950’s/early 1960’s-themed drag show, after dinner. I wanted to dress somewhat suitable for the occasion, and so, this marigold and turquoise combo was born. I felt the colors of the ensemble, and the t-strap heels fit right in to the time periods being represented. (Though, with it being March in Maine there will most likely be a cardigan thrown over the top when we go out later, but I haven’t decided yet.)

2-This outfit was cheap. Very, very, cheap. The sweater was a recent 2 dollar find at my local JC Penney. (I bought two fun shirts for just 2 bucks each that day.) Score! The skirt is listed at full-price on the website, but someone ordered it online and then returned it to my local Target store. So, I got it for only 5 dollars instead of full price. Another score! The clutch bag was also marked way down, which I wrote about here. Triple score! The heels were also in the clearance section, last winter, for only 5 bucks too. Quadruple score! Add to all of that the t-shirt being only a few dollars on clearance, the fact that I made the earrings myself, and the tights being marked down…the most expensive item in the whole outfit was the belt, but I paid less than ten bucks for that. The whole ensemble for less than 40 bucks!

3-Lastly, this outfit is my offering for this week’s Style Imitating Art challenge. The lovely Jess, of the blog Animated Cardigan, chose this piece:
(Roses jaunes dans en vase), by Gustave Caillebotte
The title of the painting translates to: “Yellow Roses in a Vase”.

When I first saw this painting I thought: “How am I going to work with that when I don’t own any pale yellow?“. But Jess encouraged everyone to click on the image and look at it as large as possible to appreciate all of the flecks and strokes of color in the paint. Once I did this, I appreciated fully just how many rich colors really were in this seemingly pastel work.

If you look closely, you will find many shades of yellow in there, including the same marigold shade as my sweater. There are also ticks of orange, which I brought in with the beads on the earrings and the flowers on my tapestry print clutch. I also thought it fitting that the orange earring beads and the clutch print were roses, the subject matter of the painting. Finally, the dark background swirls with different browns, which show up in my tights and shoes.

(Be sure to check Jess’ blog on Monday when she posts all of the outfits that people submitted for the challenge!)

Not Quite Spring Flowers

(Outift Notes: Necklace-a gift // Sweater-Thrifted // Long-sleeved tee-Maurice’s clearance rack // Cords- Kohl’s last year // Booties-TJ Maxx)

This was my casual and comfy, yet Library appropriate, work outfit from yesterday. I almost changed about ten times, because everything I was wearing was so grey, but comfort won out. Plus, I felt like the necklace was the real star of my ensemble anyway, and it stood out nicely. It was a Christmas present from my Mother-in-law, and it matches this recently thrifted  purple-flecked sweater very well.

Today  we are having yet another snowstorm, despite the fact that tomorrow is the first official day of Spring. Apparently, if I want to see flowers, I will have to wear them in the form of clothing and accessories for now.