Orange, White, and Blue

Another color combo that I love is orange and navy. I added the striped orange cardigan for a stripes on stripes look. I always bring a cardigan with me if I know we're headed to an indoor place during the summer because the cranked up AC makes me shiver! I also added some of my fun new orange accessories for an extra pop of color.Do you think orange and navy are a perfect combo?

Dress: Loft (summer 2012)
Cardigan: Loft (spring 2011)
Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction (summer 2012 still available and on sale!)
Bracelet & Ring: Sunshine Daydreams local jewelry shop 

Typical

Today is one of those days that you either have to be at the beach, in a pool, or inside with the AC on. We have the AC/pool plan going on today. First with errands that have to be run, in places like the supermarket where it's always cold. That's why I'm wearing a sweater on a 95 degree day. Then we'll go home and go in the pool. And then probably back inside the with the AC. And this is pretty much a typical summer mid-week day for us. And a typical mid-week summer outfit for me!

Shirt: Target (several years ago)
Cardigan: Loft (summer 2011)
Shorts: Loft Outlet (summer 2012)
Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction Flower Gem (Summer 2010)
Jewels: Sunshine Daydreams local jewelry shop

Shades of Blue and Red

The heatwave has broken in the northeast which means I finally felt like attempting to style my hair and put on a pair of flats because I didn't have to worry about my toes sweating. Actually, I had white sandals on at first and then felt like I needed a little punch of color so threw on the red flats. I'm not a huge fan of wearing closed toed shoes in the middle of the summer, only because I have to wear closed toed shoes the majority of the year here in NJ, but I figured I would step outside of my comfort zone.. flats in the summer, wow I am really living on the edge :)
You can't really see in this picture but the tank top has these cute metallic details on the shoulder which makes it a little more interesting then your plain tank.

Tank: Loft Outlet (last summer, but they had the same tank in other colors, I picked another one up in a bright pink shade last week)
Shorts: Loft (last summer, but they had a similar style in the Outlet also)
Shoes: Gap Outlet (spring 2010)
Necklace: local jewelry shop Sunshine Daydreams 
Bracelet: local jewelry shop Sunshine Daydreams 

Wake Me Up When September Ends!

This week has been nuts! First full week of school, open house, loads of paperwork, a little girl who cries every single day and doesn't speak a word of English.  Plus I still have my little boy and household to look after. Wow, is that really my life right now? I'm exhausted just reading it!

I've been tired and not kept up with this blog. It is pretty typical of me to start something and not follow through. I don't want this blog to become another example of that. The problem is I get down on myself over stupid things, like I see my traffic has gone up, but not my comments or followers. This makes me think that I have crappy content! Oh that pesky self confidence thing.. I just keep reminding myself that I'm doing this for me and no one else.

Anyway, enough of the pity party and on to an actual outfit. Not really thrilled with this one, but in my defense the AC in my classroom is broken and it's been pretty hot here in NJ so I've just been grabbing easy dresses to wear all week. I did love my open house outfit but was way too sweaty and tired to take a picture! Here is my favorite part of this outfit:

The accessories of course! 

Dress: LOFT outlet
Cropped Sweater: Old Navy
Shoes: Blowfish (via Macy's)
Necklace: Sunshine Daydreams Accessory Shop

Don't Drink the Water!

Wow, let's hope it doesn't come to THAT this weekend in the northeast. My area of the country is NOT equipped to deal with a storm as large as this Irene is predicted to become. I am hoping that all the hype is for nothing and she goes way off course, but we are ready with water, non-perishables, flashlights, candles and etc. My parents live along the NJ shore and I keep encouraging them to come stay with us this weekend, but they are being typical stubborn little Italian people!  I was going to make a last minute Home Depot run but I called ahead and all items we were looking for were sold out! So this is what wore to run the rest of my last minute hurricane errands. Be safe fellow east coasters!!

Dress: Gap Outlet (a couple of summers ago)
Cardigan: Gap (a while ago)
Belt: Gap Outlet (spring 2011)
Shoes: Gap Outlet (spring 2011)
Necklace: Lia Sophia
Bracelets: Sunshine Daydreams 

"Goes to visit his mommy...

she feeds him well, his concerns, he forgets them, and remembers being small... playing under the table and dreaming..."


Ahh, from the classic DMB song Ants Marching. That line of the song reminds me of home, and being with my mom. My parents sold our childhood home a couple of years ago which was very sad. So many great memories were created in that house and it was hard to let it go. But I find that, for me anyway, home is where my mom is. The familiar smell of espresso brewing, or sauce simmering, and I'm home again, under the table and dreaming.

On an outfit note, this LOFT dress has been one of my go to pieces for the entire summer. I love the colors, the stripes, the drawstring at the waste. I think it might even work for fall with a cardigan and flats. What do you think?

Dress: LOFT (summer 2011)
Shrug Sweater: NY&Co (a couple of years ago)
Flip Flops: Old Navy (old)
Necklace: Sunshine Daydreams

Sunshine Daydreams

This is not a post about me dreaming of sunshine on a cloudy day :) It's actually the name of a cute little shop in Point Pleasant Beach NJ. Let me start off by saying I am no way affiliated with this store, I just think they sell super cute stuff and wanted to share.

Sunshine Daydreams is mainly an accessory shop. They sell great costume jewelry, hair accessories, tote bags, scarves, and fun whimsical items (think key chains, travel mugs, jewelry cases and catch alls). This shop is located very close to where my parents live and I literally have to stop myself from pulling over and going in whenever I visit or I will spend major $$. It's a great go to place for gifts (and I almost always end up getting a gift for myself as well :) They are affordable as well. So if you are ever in the NJ shore area or know anyone who lives in NJ, let them know about this great little place! Here are some of my favorites:

My most recent purchase! I love the colors, perfect for fall!

This outfit brought to you by... a house centipede!

I've been stuck in a little bit of a fashion rut, which usually happens to me around this time of the summer. It's just too easy to get into the routine of shorts and tank tops when I'm home all day. Most people who work and get time off embrace this, but I am a person who loves to get dressed. I like to look cute. I'm a "girly girl" for sure.  I know fashion bloggers get their inspiration from other bloggers, celebrities, clothing websites, etc. I figured why not take my inspiration from something that's a little closer to home. Centipedes. That's right, centipedes.

Here is the scenario: I'm on the phone with my girlfriend and we're chatting it up about the usual gossip, kid stuff, etc. I am multi tasking as all moms do, talking and cleaning up the dishes in the sink at the same time. We were in mid conversation about a book that I had just finished reading when all of a sudden I let out a "AAHAHHAHAHAAHAHA!" blood curdling scream.  And then I instantly stop and start banging a spatula in the sink. My friend is frantic on the phone, thinking I've just been murdered. "No, no, I'm fine, it was just another centipede." Oh she understands now, as does anyone who knows me fairly well because I talk about how these nasty creatures have taken up residence in my home all the time. 

If you've never seen a house centipede, consider yourself lucky. I hadn't before we moved into this house and now I have a sighting on an almost daily basis during the spring, summer, and early fall (winter is our only safe time). If you are not easily grossed out here are a couple of pictures of what we're dealing with.

OMG I just had to take a moment to calm down after reading a comment on that blog about how one of them crawled across someone's FACE. OK, deep breaths, let's continue.

They come in from outside and find moist areas in the house (pipes, basements) to crawl in. We see them in our basement and our upstairs, rarely in our 2nd story bedrooms, thank the Lord! We found out through an exterminator that they are almost impossible to get rid of. On the bright side, they keep all other insects away, because, well, they eat them. And even if they didn't, heck, they sure are scary enough, they've nearly driven me out of my own house! So I figured, if I can't beat them, I might as well try to blend in and join them! Here is my earthy colored, centipede inspired ensemble:

 Tank: Gap Outlet (last summer)
Sweater: LOFT (summer 2011, no longer available)
Cargo Shorts: Target (last summer)
Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction hand me down flip flops from my sister
Bracelets: Sunshine Daydreams Shop, Point Pleasant NJ
Necklace & Rings: Lia Sophia

I come in peace centipedes! 

Hey, I need a little wedge heel for stomping on the suckers.

So what do you think? Would the centipedes approve? Do I blend in enough? I know! I should start an outfit challenge of dressing like your favorite insects! Monday, ladybugs, Tuesday, grasshoppers... just kidding :)  Hope I didn't gross out offend anyone too much and you enjoyed reading about my daily horror of living with centipedes!