Dark Lark: Duchess of the Corn

Top: a.n.a., JCPenney; Skirt: Bea & Dot, Modcloth; Shoes: Impo: DSW

Dragon Duchess Necklace

Bag: Gifted

Top: Free People, Belk; Skirt: Celebrity Pink , Marshalls; Bag: Mellow World, Kohl's

Sunflower Hour Necklace

Dress: Candie's, Kohl's

Fall Flowers Necklace

Adorned Corn Earrings

Leopard bow: Carole, JCPenney; Red bow: Macy's; Shoes: Nine West, Zulily; Bangle: JCPenney; Belt: Apt. 9, Kohl's; Bag: Royal Monk, Modcloth

Maybe it's not quite Children of the Corn.  But duchess is the best I could do.  Kind of like how I can get into creepy cute Halloween decorations, but not the ones featuring blood or snakes.  I guess like most things in life, it's a balance. 

Anyway, I'm also getting into the, ahem, spirit of fall jewelry making with my Dragon Duchess Necklace, Adorned Corn Earrings, and Fall Flowers Necklace.  I sold the Sunflower Hour Necklace before I had the chance to blog about it, which inspired me to make more seasonal accessories.     

That said, I'm spending lots of time in the craft room.  And, of course, steering clear of those children. 🚫👫🌽

Autumn Rays, Denim Days

Jeans: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Boots: 2 Lips Too, JCPenney; Bag: Current Mood, Dolls Kill 

Belt: Izod, Marshalls; Rings: Claire's, Delia's, Charlotte Russe, Miami accessories cart

Bandana scrunchie: Wild Fable, Target; Fuzzy scrunchies: Lady Arya, Zulily; Necklaces: The Tote Trove

Top: So, Kohl's

Boots: Mossimo, Target

Bag: Wild Fable, Target

Camisole: Hippie Rose, Macy's; Top: Free People, Belk; Belt: Steve Madden, Zulily

Tropical Trinkets Necklace

Jacket: Candie's, Kohl's

Bag: Nine West, Ross; Maroon bangle: Iris Apfel for INC, Macy's; Pink bangle: Amrita Singh, Zulily

Top: IZ Buyer, Kohl's; Jeans: Earl Jeans, Macy's

Ah, autumn rays.  The thing about them is that they're few and far between, especially now as we close November.  Just yesterday I ran errands and bundled up in a button-down, sweater, and puffer coat (pics to come; here at The Tote Trove, we're rarely timely).  I was roasting in the car but cold once I got out.  You know how it is.  Anyway, I thought I'd post some pics of jeans I wore recently.  Because to me, that's the true mark of the changing seasons, going from sundresses and flip flops to jeans and boots.  Even this cold-shoulder top outfit, which I wore last month to get my latest COVID shot (watch out, Omicron!), seems like it's from forever ago.  October was a simpler time when all you needed was a jacket.  And sometimes, not even that.  As I recall, that day I was sweating in this pleather moto-coat, peeling it off during my post-shot trip to JO-ANN Fabrics.  Of course, that outing was unpleasant for other reasons, as I was forced to put back a bunch of jewelry-making supplies that I thought were on sale but weren't.  Oh, the shame!  That sort of thing never happens online, where you have the luxury of seeing how your total will play out before deciding to make it official.  Also, you don't have to deal with snarky cashiers.  Or wear suitable outerwear.  Or even pants.

Is it any wonder I prefer the virtual world?

Still, making this Tropical Trinkets Necklace helped me work through my nostalgia for summer and my annoyance at retailers.  Including JO-ANN's, because that's where I scored the set of (thankfully 50% off) island charms.

All Kinds of Finds: Blue and Coral

Coral top: Free People, Zulily

Bag: Modcloth

Dress: IZ Byer, Kohl's

Yellow bangles: B Fabulous; Ring: Express: Flower clips: Capelli, ULTA; Striped bangle: Miami accessories cart; Floral bangle: Kohl's

Shoes: Madden Girl, Kohl's; Socks: ?

Moonlit Garden Necklace

Jacket: Candie's, Kohl's

Coral bangle: Silver Linings, Ocean City; Yellow bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily; Necklace: The Tote Trove; Scrunchies: Target; Ring: Charlotte Russe

Top: Crave Fame, Macy's

Skirt: So, Kohl's

Bangle: Don't Ask, Zulily; Clip: So, Kohl's; Barrette: ROSS; Ring: Delia's

Top: Nine West, Kohl's

Sweet Treats Necklace

Top: Candie's, Kohl's

Cross My Heart Necklace

Leggings: Amazon

The husband never knows what I'm going to bring home to wear.  And I never know what he's going to bring home period.  Enter the ornately carved bench I'm perched on in the first pic.  One of his customers gave it to him.  He plans to restore it, then either find a place in the house for it or sell it.  But until that happy day arrives, I decided to take advantage of a new photo op spot.

On a different note, last weekend, I ventured out to Michael's for some jewelry findings.  Although I try to order most of my supplies online, sometimes I just can't, ahem, find what I need.  So I suited up in a dress, sweatshirt, and jean jacket (second outfit pic) and headed out.  Luckily, I found the findings and then some:

I also got to check out some splendid foliage, from the fake palms in the store to the real deal daffodils in the parking lot:

All in all, it was a delightful trip.  Maybe next time I'll stop for ice cream instead of chilling with it on the couch!

Deer Valentine's Day . . .

 Frilly Fawn Necklace

Red blouse: Lily White, Alloy

Yellow blouse: Bongo, Sears

Skirt: Stoosh, Macy's

Shoes: Bongo, Kohl's

Bag: American Eagle, Payless

Belt: Apt. 9, Kohl's

Sunglasses: Mudd, Kohl's

 Funky Fawn Necklace

Sweater: Takeout, Marshalls

Skirt: Xhilaration, Target

Shoes: Madden Girl, Macy's

Bag: Princess Vera, Kohl's

Sunglasses: Michaels

 Folksy Fawn Necklace

Maroon top: Free People

Pink top: Liz Claiborne, Marshalls

Skirt: Marshalls

Shoes: Payless

Bag: Candie's, Kohl's

Sunglasses: Mudd, Kohl's

. . . I love you.  I love your homemade valentines and lace-edged everything and desserts doused in clouds of pink frosting.  I love your heart-print night shirts and satin-wrapped chocolates and roses wrapped in cellophane.  I love your sappy commercials and secret admirers and restaurants with couples reconnecting.  Simply put, I love your style, which is frilly yet heartfelt.  

It's no wonder, then, that I loved giving and getting valentines back in grade school.  First, there was the decorating of the special bag or box to hold them all.  You'd scour your house for stickers, buttons, ribbons, and any other odds and ends that were red, pink, or purple, then bring them to school to work your crafty magic.  Then there was the choosing of that year's valentines to distribute. For me, this meant Rainbow Brite or Strawberry Shortcake or that old perennial favorite Barbie.  Popular toy characters were always the go-to valentine designs then, just like they are now.  I suppose that's why, in the second grade, I was so surprised to get one of those die-cut valentines featuring a 1950s-looking fawn with some pun hinging on the homophones deer/dear and a heart-shaped cherry lollipop speared through the middle.  It was all orange and pink curlicues and retro, doe-eyed charm -- wordplay and a treat! -- decades before old school was trendy, and I was struck by it.  I couldn't help but reminisce about it as I worked on this week's necklaces, all of which feature a kawaii-style deer cabochon.  I love their vintage appeal and their winking rhinestones and their adorable, sunny, smiling faces.  But most of all, I love how they remind me of the magic of days gone by.        

So, move over Pepe Le Pew.  There's a new amorous animation in cahoots with Cupid.  Well, there might be.  If I make the leap to Bambi, which I'm not sure I should.  Disney might not appreciate that, and also, of course, there's the sadness.

Fortunately, the husband and I had a wonderful, not-at-all-sad, happy heart day.  We enjoyed a tasty Tex-Mex meal (because nothing says romance like refried beans), then went to see The Choice, the latest Nicholas Sparks adaptation.  It was lovely and, for the most part, true to the book, but for once I'm not going to dissect it. 

On that note, here's a bunch of feathers that once topped my Christmas tree.  The husband colorfully corralled them into the best kind of bouquet, which is to say, one that is everlasting.  Which means that it can be Valentine's Day -- instead of Christmas -- in this house all year long.