A Tropical Theme Beats a Topical Cream

Top: Nine West, Kohl's; Skirt: Dollhouse, Macy's

Emotion Commotion Necklace

Bag: Xhilaration, Target

Pitcher: Celebrate, Kohl's

Flower clips: Capelli, ULTA; Sunglasses: Mudd, Kohl's

Farm stand feels. 

Tray: Macy's Backstage

Top: Nine West, Kohl's; Skirt: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Necklace: Betsey Johnson, Amazon; Big bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Collection, DSW

Bag: Francesca's

Dress: Nine West, Kohl's; Top: Madden Girl, Kohl's

Shoes: Unisa, DSW

Bag: Amazon

Unless, of course, you need a topical cream, in which case you should definitely use it.  Preferably while wearing a Hawaiian shirt to lend levity to the proceedings. 

Clearly, the pineapple gelati I had earlier has gone to my head.  

And on that awkward note, aloha.

Orange and Onward: Diners, Daycare, and Dentistry

Sweater: Bar III, Macy's

Bag: Delia's, Dolls Kill

Colonel Cutie Necklace 

Sweater: Wild Fable, Target; Skirt: Dickie's, Dolls Kill

Harvest Corn Barrette Brooch

Bag: Nine West, ROSS

Tee: Modern Lux, Target

Jeans: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Coat: Celebrity Pink, Macy's Backstage

Shoes: Mix No. 6, DSW

Sweater: Express

Bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily; Ring: Claire's

Last Thursday, my mom came to watch Charlotte so the husband and I could go to the dentist.  I wore a colorful yet cozy outfit (it's getting cold here in Jersey) centering around an orange checkerboard sweater.  It also included my Technicolor leggings, green corduroy skirt, beloved Colonel Cutie Necklace, never-before-worn taxi bag, and last but certainly not least, silver star mules.  Because if they worked for my flu shot, then why not the dentist?

The visit was good.  No cavities for either of us, although I did see a chunk of tarter fly past my face as the hygienist was scraping.  Oh well.  Since Char Bar was born, I may have become a little lax in the flossing department, but at least I didn't lose a tooth per that old wives' tale.  

On the way home, we stopped at a diner.  We hadn't gone out, just the two of us, since September.  It was nice to talk like a couple instead of an infant care logistics team.  I had pumpkin pancakes, a choice that may or may not have been influenced by my squash-colored sweater.

I ended up wearing orange the rest of the week.  I like to think that the jolt of sartorial vitamin C gave me the extra oomph I needed to run my errands.  Just like that checkerboard sweater made it fun instead of trying to leave the house that rainy Thursday.  When the husband and my mom first saw it, they said, "Doesn't Charlotte have a pair of pants like that?"

And I said, "Why yes, yes she does."

Which meant, of course, that we had to snap this pic for posterity:     

As they say, twin it to win it.  

Because the orange doesn't fall far from the tree. 🍊🌳

Mixed Media Madness and Serpent Time Sadness

Shoes: Nine West, Kohl's

Dress: Betsey Johnson, Macy's

Duster: New York & Company

Rhyolite Delight Necklace

Flower barrettes: Capelli, ULTA

Bag: Current Mood, Dolls Kill

Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Eye of the Tiger Eye Necklace

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Shoes: Chase & Chloe, Zulily

Bag: Circus by Sam Edelman, Kohl's; Charm: Staples

Top: Worthington, JCPenney

Jasper Rapture Necklace

Sparkly and skinny bangles: Target; Wavy bangle: Mixit, JCPenney; Stretch bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily

Headband: Candie's, Kohl's

When I found a bunch of semi-precious gem beads on sale at Michaels (jasper and rhyolite and tiger's eye, oh my!), I instantly knew that I wanted to embellish their mined-from-the-earth natural beauty with a rainbow of manmade kawaii cabochons.   

And I'm so glad I did, because it was tons of fun!  I love the contrast of the bright plastic against the muted stones and am already planning new designs.  What's more, I sold the fruit one (Rhyolite Delight) just hours after listing it!

Now for the not-so-sweet part of our program.  Over the weekend, the husband informed me that he saw "a creature with no legs" in our backyard, then in our front yard wrapped around the small Christmas tree shrub on our walkway.  Yes, friends, it was a snake!  A big black one.  Now, I probably don't have to tell you that I abhor these slithering reptiles.  I can kill a spider no problem, but anything sans limbs gives me the willies.  I even refused to look at the pictures the husband took, not wanting to risk nightmares.  The husband, on the other hand, is, ahem, charmed by serpents.  To my horror, he stood observing this one from the dining room window while snacking on dates, insisting that it "had a cute nose."  (I was facing the opposite wall.)  He even went as far as to name it Lieutenant Dan, on account of the whole no legs thing.  

Needless to say, that's why two of these three outfit pics were taken inside.  (You may recall that the mini Christmas tree is one of my favorite photo op spots.)  I haven't even gotten the mail since the sighting and have been super careful getting into the car (which is thankfully parked in the backyard) the few times I've left the house.  For his part, the husband has been keeping tabs on Lieutenant Dan and recently reported that he saw it in the tree two days in a row but not since.   

Until now.  Just minutes ago, the husband announced that the suspect has shed its skin in front of that fateful tree.  Which means that it's probably taken up residence under the black plastic mulch tarp behind it in the hedge -- and is, gulp, growing.

I've never needed a reason to stay indoors, but this just may push me over the edge into true shut-in status.  Summertime sadness indeed! 

It's a good thing I got those craft supplies . . .

After the Fire, into the Fryer

Dress: Lily Rose, Kohl's; Sandals: Katy Perry Collection, Nordstrom Rack

Barrettes: SHEIN; Necklace: A super old Tote Trove favorite

Bag: Sugar Thrillz, Dolls Kill; Pink bangle: Who Says, Zulily; Striped bangle: B Fabulous; Strawberry bangle: Delia's; Ring: Claire's

Skirt: So, Kohl's; Bag: Mix No. 6, DSW; Shoes: Jessica Simpson Collection, DSW

Studded ring: Wet Seal; Green ring: Making Waves, Ocean City; Sunglasses: Nordstrom Rack, Beaded necklace: SHEIN; Flower Necklace: Dolls Kill; Bangle: XOXO, Ross; Pink bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily

Top: SHEIN

Traffic Stop Barrette Brooch

Tissue paper: Spritz, Target

Dress: Who What Wear, Target

Bag: Circus by Sam Edelman, Kohl's; Shoes: CL by Chinese Laundry, JCPenney

Barrettes: Goody, Target; Necklace: Another Tote Trove oldie but (also, hehe) goody

After the Fire is a book by Belva Plain that I put to the side of the road along with all my other excess books before I moved almost six years ago.  I thought of it today because of the title of this post, which doesn't come from the book at all but from yesterday's 90-degree sun after the smoke finally cleared from the Canadian wildfires.  I was excited to put on a sundress (the red one in the first pic) to run errands because it felt like the first day of summer.  And also because I've only ever worn that dress layered over, of all things, a sweater. 

Some of our neighbors ended up taking those books.  I like to think that they read them, but the husband thinks they sold them on eBay.  Either way, I'm glad.

Because an abandoned book, unlike a banned or burned one, can always still tell a story.