Red, White, and Rainbow: When Stripes are the Stars

Tee: Arizona Jeans, JCPenney

Allie Avocado Necklace

Bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Fun with flags.

Hat: On 34th, Macy's

The wheel deal.

Top: Wild Fable, Target

Bag: INC, Macy's

The husband's shirt: IZOD, Kohl's

Whenever I try to wear red, white, and blue, I always end up overpowering the white with yellow.  Because, as I once said to a fellow (bewildered) preschooler, no drawing is complete without sunshine.  And what's an outfit, after all, if not a 3D illustration?  So, I added a shot of vitamin D -- and C! -- to my Fourth of July fits.  I carried my lemon wedge bag to Smithville on the actual holiday, then my rainbow-chain, yellow bag to the family BBQ later that weekend.  It definitely boosted my mood.  Even if I did drop a dollop of sunscreen on the lemon on its inaugural outing.

Still, safety first, am I right?  Because despite being cheerful, the sun will burn you to a crisp. 😏🌞

Having Your Cake and Feeting it Too: Going Fourth With Cute, Comfy Footwear

Top and skirt: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bag: Madden Girl, Kohl's

Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Socks: Zulily

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Skirt and shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Top: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bag: Amazon

Scarlet Stuff Necklace

Bow: A New Day, Target

Forget flag cakes and fireworks (but not really -- you know how I feel about cake.)  This Fourth of July, I'm declaring my independence from uncomfortable footwear.  Which is why I started wearing my memory foam-padded LC Lauren Conrad pumps and sandals to work this week.  Now, before I go on, please know that this isn't a paid partnership post.  Although if you're listening, Lauren-slash-Kohl's, then I wouldn't be at all opposed to such an arrangement.  Because your shoes really are cute and comfy, even the heels, and I had a splendid time wearing them.  I'd be lying if I said that I'm not excited about a new category of things to wear and collect.

That said, Fourth of July may be over soon, but the weekend's just getting started.  So I'll be back with reports of more festive fits.  

And hopefully star-spangled cake.         

Mama Makes a Necklace

Patriotic Pop Necklace

The Fourth of July may now be a firework ember, but that didn't stop me from making this Patriotic Pop Necklace.  Charlotte was asleep, the laundry was (mostly) done, and the bottles were (more or less) washed.  So I celebrated my independence by having a grand old time crafting this tribute to our grand old flag.  And, of course, lollipops.  

Still, I'm not reopening my Etsy shop just yet.  No nightly midnight crafting for me until Charlotte sleeps through the night. 😏

Fourth of July Pie and Other Sweet Eats

The husband's root beer float pie.

Dress: B. Smart, Kohl's

Flip flops: Katy Perry Collection, Nordstrom Rack; Basket: Michaels

Dessert array buffet.

Sunglasses, Michaels

Since Charlotte was born, I've been working my way through my post-gestational-diabetes wish list.  Which means pizza, pasta, pancakes, cake, ice cream, and all kinds of other previously contraband carbs.  One item on the list was a root beer float, and although I haven't yet had the pleasure of guzzling one, the husband made a root beer float pie Fourth of July weekend.  It was as delicious as it was decorative, and I gobbled up my slice.  Not that that stopped me from inhaling my mom's blueberry crisp and chocolate cake.

So it was a very happy and hearty, if not-heart-healthy, Fourth of July.  

As they say, let food freedom ring!

Peachy Keen and Key Lime Green: Fun With the Fruits of My Labor

Top: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Flip flops: Katy Perry Collection, Nordstrom Rack

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Amazon

Watermelon and lemon hairclips: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Cherry necklace: Candie's, Kohl's

The skinny on Minnie: She's awesome!

Top and sandals: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Hairclip: Wild Fable, Target

Flamingo flowers from Daddy to Charlotte.

Hairclip: Marshalls; Bag: Luv Betsey by Betsey Johnson, Macy's Backstage

Perhaps it's bad form for me to refer to my baby and handbags in the same breath, not to mention with the irreverent phrase "fun with the fruits of my labor."  But then again, I'm an irreverent sort, so I might as well begin the way I mean to go on.

Life with a newborn means limited time for sleep, sanity, and personal hygiene.  So outfit shots are out of the question, at least in the traditional sense.  But when we take Charlotte to the doctor, or my parents visit, I seize the opportunity to shed my PJs and dress like a person.  And the same goes for Charlotte.  (Although her PJs are awfully cute with their flamingo, koala, and bumblebee feet.)  I even adorn her precious noggin with headbands.  Not that she tolerates them for long.  Just see Exhibit B, a.k.a, baby makes three, in which Char Bar is brazenly bareheaded.

So for now my fit pics include my mini me.  Which is, ahem, very fitting.  Because when I said I was losing my sanity, I was joking.  Since Charlotte came on the scene, I've never felt saner.

I did mean the part about hygiene, though.

Fingers crossed I floss for the Fourth of July.

Not Quite Through With Red, White, and Blue

Bag: Amerileather, Zulily; Shoes: Katy Perry Collection

Top: Simply Vera, Kohl's

Deep Blue Twee Necklace

Bad: INC, Macy's; Shoes: Katy Perry Collection

Flag Swag Necklace

Nine West, Kohl's

Top: XOXO, Macy's; Bag: Royal Monk, Modcloth

American Anchor Necklace

Sunglasses: Wild Fable, Target

Some stores already have their fall stuff out.  And to that I say boo hiss!  Because here at The Tote Trove, we post Fourth of July flare a week after the Fourth.  Some may call it procrastination . . . but I call it reliving the moment (and also, yes, procrastination).  So it's with pride that I display these baskets of hot-off-the-grill red, white, and blue baubles:

Baskets: Michaels

I just love these baskets, which I found at Michaels for half off just before, not Fourth of July, but Memorial Day.  (See?  My procrastination knows no bounds.)  

Who knows.  Come December, I may channel Blink-182 and have Halloween on Christmas, festooning my tree with ghosts instead of gumballs.

Well, ghosts with gumball eyes.  Because it's not Christmas -- or, for that matter, Halloween -- without an unhealthy dose of high fructose corn syrup.

Flag Day Replay: Putting the Fourth First

 

Bag: Old Navy

Skirt (a dress!): O'Neill, Macy's

Howdy Howlite Necklace

Shirt: Izod, Kohl's

Katy Perry Collection, Nordstrom Rack

Top: So, Kohl's

We celebrated the Fourth of July yesterday, with a BBQ at my parents' house.  Indeed, I took most of these pictures there.  My mom always makes everything so festive, and I couldn't help but capture it.  I asked her if she minded me posting her utensil setup and flowers, and she said "of course not."  For my part, I made cupcakes.  To paraphrase the Dos Equis man, I don't often bake, but when I do, it always comes from a box.  So thanks, Duncan Hines, for letting me fast-forward to the fun part: decorating!  I chose to adorn half with maraschino cherries because one Fourth when I was a kid, my mom put cherries on her cupcakes, which I thought was so special.  She also dyed some of the icing blue and some red (well, pink), as a nod to the flag.  Like I said, always festive.   

So here's hoping that your Fourth is full of food, fun, and fireworks.  And, of course, cupcakes. 🧁