Go full Flavor Flav and wear a clock.

I love me a big chunky necklace but some occasions call for the simplicity of a pendant, preferably a nice long one. It always looks so chic and even when it's a really casual outfit, a pendant can make it way more interesting. In fact, I was at a bunco party last weekend and a woman had on a pretty basic outfit of jeans and a t-shirt, but her vintage looking bejeweled owl pendant made her outfit much cooler. (I attempted a belted kimono top but at one point I got a bunco and when I cheered for myself I'm pretty sure I flashed the other two players when my belt untied itself. Sorry, ladies!) I like them long obviously, but sometimes that can interfere in the boob area (or so I'm told) so if your blessed up there, I would go dramatically long or just above of your decolletage.

This is from The Limited and I really like how modern it looks. It also reminds me of my friend LM. I'm taking a sewing class soon and the first thing I'm making myself is a long sleeved mini dress and I'm going to wear this with it. That is assuming I can learn to sew.



These next four are from Forever 21. This green deco pendant is really pretty and I like the addition of the rhinestones to the front to make it more interesting.



This is also deco looking and I love love love it. It's so over the top and I love the chain tassel at the bottom. I bet it makes a cool sound.


HOLY FRAULEIN MARIA! I want this thing so badly so I can Captain Von Trapp my kids.



I just think this one is really pretty and ornate and adds some nice color. I would love to see it in coral as well. GET ON THAT.


These two are from Lulu's and I love how this one joins in the middle. Really pretty and delicate.



I'm really into agate right now and I love the combo of the brushed gold and the bold blue stone. This also comes in a greenish/aqua version that is just as nice.


~amy

I'll be on the lanai with an umbrella drink if you need me.

When we first moved into our house, we waited several months to get any kind of cable or satellite service. At first we couldn't decide and then we went through a phase where liked not having anything because we found shows we liked (hello PBS) but then my kid decided he hated Sesame Street and my options got narrower and then all of our shows got really boring so I finally called DirecTV. We jumped for joy in installation day and thought, hey now we can watch all kinds of things and TiVo what we don't have time to watch but as it happens, we pretty much watch the same channels and the same shows ALL THE TIME. Granted, 85% of it is on Nickelodeon, but when we have time to watch something normal, what do we inevitably end up on? House Hunters. Always. We especially love House Hunters International because we dream of selling all our crap and moving somewhere beachy and warm, which is where they were last night. It was a couple, JUST LIKE US, who sold all their junk and moved from Indiana or something to St. Croix to open a gas station. I would totally move to St. Croix and open a gas station. I did not know this was an option.

Anyway, when they went back to revisit them later and they got to talk about how great their life is and how laid back and relaxed they are now and blah blah blah ( I hate you), I wondered in my head if the wife was going to go from her boring house hunting outfits of shorts and t shirts to long flowy dresses because that's what I would do and I WAS RIGHT. She had gone full island and I am still jealous. January is so dreary so let's brighten up this Friday by pretending we're headed somewhere tropical even though the closest I will get is if I shut my eyes and spray my Hawaiian scented Febreeze. ALOHA!


This dress from Suboo is GORGEOUS in every way but the price means I can only drool and dream. The colors are divine and the flowy silk makes me want to find my own random concrete ledge to stand on in the breeze. (Seriously. What the hell is that? A beach wall? Stonehenge?)




For 10% of the cost of the one above, you can have this cheerful number from Forever 21.


This is from Ruche and is so classic island dress and I love the halter neck. I would rock this at a luau.


I swear that when I saw this at first I thought they were goldfish but instead they're FEATHERS of course. This is my kind of dress. Easy breezy.



This is from Alloy and at first I thought the overlay top was weird but the more I look at it the more I enjoy it. This would be good for going out to dinner after a hard day by the pool. Isn't that the best? When you get back to the room and you're all worn out from doing nothing and your only task is to find some awesome place by the ocean to eat dinner. sigh


The horizontal pattern is suspect but the sherbet colors and cut make up for them. (from Forever 21)



~amy

Color My World

It only takes a quick scan of this blog to know I've never met a neutral I didn't like. Most of my wardrobe is black, white or gray with a few browns thrown in for variety. There are a few colored t shirts and one fuschia dress but that's about it. The funny thing is that I LOVE color and I'm an artist who makes lots of junk with really bright, sometimes jarring colors but when it comes to putting them on my body, I freak out and retreat to the shadows. Winter is dark enough so I thought I'd try to find a few things to let in some sunshine.

Okay, I know this bag from The Limited is beige but look at that cute yellow strap! Baby steps.


These are also from The Limited and I love the burst of bright yellow/green at the face. So Jolie.



This jacket is from ModCloth and lives up to that name. I love the retro shape and could totally see this with a pencil skirt for some sexy secretary action, amirite?! Seriously though, this is cute and the color isn't screaming in your face too much.



This is also from ModCloth and while the blue is pretty bright, I think the black and white keep it sophisticated. This is also all pleating which I'm a little obsessed with right now.


This is screaming in your face but it's screaming "I am very adorable" and the black band is a nice waist definer. Stacy and Clinton would approve.


This yellow jacket from Macy's has an awesome collar and I'm a sucker for a big dramatic collar.

These last two pieces are from Forever 21. I think they're both totally rad and are simple ways to add bright color without going too nutso. These both might make their way to my jewelry box.




~amy

I am a woman of many layers

When I actually have the chance to brush off the crumbs, put on non-stained clothes and go out into the adult world, I always wear layers. I pretty much wear layers all the time anyway, but my standard going out outfit is a tank/tee/plain dress with a cardigan over it. This is obviously boring so I've been looking for something to make it less sad. I know I should add jackets in the mix but they make me feel like David Byrne when he wore that big suit because I feel like I have broad shoulders for my height, so I tend to default to the cardigan and even worse, it's usually the same boring black one so I found these cute vintage-y looking toppers that are all adorable and way more interesting.


I love the edge details on this cape from Topshop. It's a little bit lady goth.

This jacket from Mango is SO DISCO and makes me want to roller skate to the Bee Gees.
This is also from Mango and I am nuts about it. It's so delicate and old Hollywood glam and makes me want to wear it over a long satin nightgown and swish around the house with a martini, talking in my Old Timey voice. These are the things I do when I'm alone.



This is from Ruche and at first I was like "huh?" but then I was like "nice!" It really grew on me the more I looked at it and I think it would make a really dramatic statement. It's ladylike and yet the metallic open weave makes it kind of edgy.

I have a love/hate relationship with capes in that I love them, but I hate that they are absolutely ridiculous and dumb. It's like your arms are in prison. However, I will make an exception for this lacy number from ModCloth because it is gorgeous and sexy.
Forever 21 has quite a few options and they're inexpensive enough to splurge on a couple. This is a nice subtle neutral and I love the metallic pattern and the cropped length. Perfect over a long dress.


This is from Forever 21+ and I think the fluttery sleeves and beading at the neck are both really pretty.


I love love love this one, also from F21, but I HATE they way they style their models. This has a fabulous 20s vibe to it and deserves so much better than this baloney colored business shirt.


~amy

It rhymes with orange.

There is this other mom at preschool that always drops off looking really great. I'm usually wearing pants that probably have crust on them somewhere, a t shirt I probably grabbed off the floor and a hat. Always a hat. The other day she had on this beautiful bright orange scarf with her brown track suit and it was so cute I wanted to find one and make an outfit. The scarf, not the track suit.

This is from Forever 21. I like the color and the subtle pattern. Kind of Bollywood.



I love orange with gray and this jacket from ModCloth is drool worthy. The cut is fantastic and totally flattering and the frayed edges give it some character.



I wanted a white tee but this has some nice detailing to keep it from being boring. (from Mango)




These high rise trouser jeans are from the Gap and they're just a little sharper than regular dark denim, but that would be another good option.




I wanted some contrast so I added these gold accessories with blue accents from Forever 21. They blue will play off the orange really well and keep it from being too matchy-matchy.
~amy

Fringe Benefits

I've been seeing these fringe necklaces around in magazines and junk and I'm kind of starting to really dig them. At first I thought they were too Stevie Nicks for me but now I think they can be cool statement pieces, especially with something simple and casual.

I saw this one in Lucky a few months ago from Joomi Lim and it's a little wacky and way expensive ($400+) but I liked the idea so tried to find a few others that were more affordable and a bit more wearable.


Okay, so this one IS wacky but hot damn, I really love it. This would look so cool over a white shirt and black skinny jeans. ROCK THAT. (from etsy shop Three Horses)



This is also from Etsy but it's from vintage shop Purple Daisy Jewelry so I'm going to assume it is vintage. This is also so cool and would lend a nice vintage-y, glam edge to anything.



The next three are from Forever 21 so they're all under $20. This one is also kind of sparkle galore but ladylike and edgy too.

SHOCKING, I KNOW.


This one I actually purchased and I love it. It adds a great bit of color to my boring outfits.



This is from Harajuku Lovers and I love the links and the color combo. For reasons unknown, it also reminds me of cereal also and since I love cereal I am drawn to it.
~amy

I Do....again

We're taking our family to Hawaii this spring and my husband and I have been joking about reenacting the episode of Dog the Bounty Hunter when Dog and Bethie renew their vows because it's our 10th anniversary and the place we're staying is where they did it (stop judging me) so we thought WHY NOT? Isn't this what all normal people do? Then the other day I came across a dress that was slightly reminiscent of my wedding dress and it got me thinking about what I would wear if we really did do it. I loved my wedding gown but I can't say it wouldn't be fun to get all gussied up again. These are some that I would totally wear. Like tomorrow.

Okay, so this is Alexander McQueen from 2008 and yes, it's THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS of dollars and I would have as much of a chance wearing it as I would of winning the lotto but don't crush my dream. This is so dreamy and I have loved it since I saw it for the first time and yes, of course it has feathers. It would be kind of hard to pack, though.



This is so disco diva and I love the spangles. (from Mango)

I am a huge fan of anything mod so this dress, also from Mango, is on my wishlist. It's so simple and so chic and the color is perfect. J'adore.

This is from Modcloth and HELLO, pockets. Enough said.

These next three are also from Modcloth. This one is a little muted for my tastes but I love the textures so I'll let the taupe pass.


This is very Grecian goddess lite and I love the gold details. No jewelry required!


This is ridiculous but I just love all the sheer petals. You can't say this isn't a fun dress.
~amy