Bright Here, Bright Now: There's No Other Place I Want to Twee

Top: CeCe, Macy's

Bag: Luv Betsey

Dress (plaid): ELLE, Kohl's

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Collection, DSW

Bag: Xhilaration, Target

Top: New York & Company

Sweater: On 34th, Macy's

Bag: Harajuku Lovers, Ross

Necklace: Betsey Johnson, Amazon

Shoes: Mix No. 6, DSW

Because puns are fun and there's no pun that's as fun as a pun that's a song.  

These fits are from some weeks ago, back when you could wear tights and/or a short-sleeved sweater without feeling like a nun at the beach.  There'll be more of this before we get into proper (or rather, improper) summer style.     

But that's okay.  Because right here, right now I'm living in the moment. 

Even if that moment was a month ago. 

To B or Not to Be: That's the Obsession

Skirt set: So, Kohl's

Dress: Zulily

Bag: Harajuku Lovers, ROSS

Bag: Dolls Kill

Tank: Candie's, Kohl's

It's officially summer, and you know what that means: more B roll to kick off the season!  Here are my favorite passed-over pics.  Three are staged, and two are candid.  

Not that you couldn't tell from my scowl.  

And also the photo-bombing cooler. :)

Colorblock Brain Teaser Sneezer

Top: Bar III, Macy's

Bag: Harajuku Lovers, ROSS; Barrette: INC, Macy's; Scrunchies: Lady Arya, Zulily

Skirt: Amazon

80s Explosion Necklace

Jacket: Marshalls

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Dolls Kill

Top: Almost Famous, Boscov's

Bracelets: Jessica Simpson Collection, Amazon

Sweater: Crave Fame, Macy's

Rockin' Locks Necklace

Pink pumps: Jessica Simpson, DSW; Rainbow pumps: Anne Michelle, JCPenney

Scrunchies: Lady Arya, Zulily; Bag: Francesca's; Ring: Making Waves, Ocean City; Pink bangle: Don't Ask, Zulily; Striped bangle: Mixit, JCPenney

Whenever I hear the word "colorblock," I think of a Rubik's Cube.  Which is a puzzle I could never solve.  Thankfully, when it comes to fashion, the rules of color coordination are more forgiving.  That's why I love a good colorblock sweater (also, a good striped top, but this isn't about you, stripey).  Dramatic and bold, these pullovers put it all out there, giving the rest of your outfit a party palette to play with.  

But back to the beginning and that cocky cube.  Being bested by it didn't stop me from buying it in tissue box cover form:

Tissue box cover: Amazon

It holds court in my craft room offering, not tissues, but the artistic equivalent of trash talk inspiration.

Hit me with your best snot, Sir Rubik.        

Kite of the Living Dead

Top: Derek Heart, Macy's

Boots: ShoeDazzle, Zulily

Skirt: ELLE, Kohl's

Green bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily; Yellow bangle: Silver Linings, Ocean City; Strawberry bangle: B Fabulous; Ring: Gifted

Belt: Belt is Cool, Amazon

Bag: Zulily; Shoes: Anne Michelle, JCPenney

Dress: Modcloth, Zulily

Red rhinestone bangle: XOXO, ROSS Dress for Less; Other red bangles: B Fabulous; Scrunchies: Zulily; Sunglasses: Amazon; Ring: Making Waves, Ocean City

Jeans: City Streets, JCPenney

Made them but can't remember the names I gave them!

Top: Candie's, Kohl's

Shoes: Chase & Chloe, Zulily

Normally, I'm not a fan of zombies.  That's why I've never watched The Walking Dead and can't seem to get through "Thriller."  So, I was surprised that when I started to draw, this mutant is what emerged:

Yes, folks, it's a zombie butterfly!  I almost didn't post it because 1) I thought it was too weird, and 2) colored pencils are second only to crayons when it comes to things that are unsophisticated.  But then I remembered that 1) sharing weird stuff with the masses is what I do, and 2) sophistication is for Mr. Belvedere and people who use bidets.  

Anyway, we all have imaginations.  Who knows what drives them?  When I was a kid, I often ended up drawing a beaky gent from the Middle Ages that my mom dubbed "the man with the nose."  Whether he was some manifestation of my subconscious or a mere tribute to the ear, nose, and throat racket, I'll never know.

What I do know is that I love the as-of-yet-not-undead creatures of these outfits or, more to the point, purse paraphernalia: Miss Tatty Devine, Mr. Strawberry Head, and last but certainly not least, the many faces of Miss Harajuku.    

Bag: Tatty Devine, Modcloth

Charm: Staples

Harajuku Lovers, ROSS Dress for Less

Fun, right?  I can't help but notice that their noses are nearly nonexistent.

Still, these bags and this butterfly aren't the only things that represent a fright, excuse me, flight, of fancy.  There's also this kite:

It's still enroute from Zulily, but I'm including it now to take advantage of this post title.  Also, because it's awesome.  It'll live in my craft room as an, ahem, fly on the wall, inspiring me to make creations that are hopefully more cute than creepy.    

Maybe Mary Poppins's face will pop up instead of Cruella DeVil's.

Archaeological Gig: Dino-Mite

 Fantastic Jurassic Charm Necklace

Tee: JCPenney

Skirt: Decree, JCPenney

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Wristlet: City Streets, JCPenney

Royal Rings Necklace

Jacket: Marshalls

Tank: Express

Skirt: Delia's, Dolls Kill

Boots: Simply Vera, Kohl's

Wristlet: City Streets, JCPenney

Black Blossom Necklace

Jacket: Wild Fable, Target

Tee: Merona, Target

Skirt: Bongo, Sears

Shoes: Journeys

Bag: Harajuku Lovers, Ross

Belt: Marshalls

Prehistoric-themed pop culture has always been, well, popular.  In the '80s and '90s alone, there was Jurassic Park, The Land Before Time, and that weird claymationy sitcom Dinosaurs.  (Also Barney, but I don't want to mention him, at least not in the same breath as the others.  Partly because I think that the baby from Dinosaurs will eat him.  But mostly because he's awful.)  And why not?  Dinosaurs are awesome.  Scary, yes, but oh-so-skillful at capturing our imaginations.  (And also dinner.  But that's more to the point of the scary.)  My favorite dinosaur was always the gentle, plant-eating brontosaurus.  When I was little, my dad bought me a purplish-blue one from that pre-Walmart mecca of a general store known as Jamesway.   I guess that's why there are two brontos in my rag-tag band of reptilian dust collectors: 

The T-Rex is just there to lend street cred.

Recently, I found some dinosaur key chains, and I was just as happy as I was when I got that brontosaurus.  I knew that they were destined to migrate to The Tote Trove.  Because I've got a lot of unicorns, butterflies, etc., in my band of magnificently misfit jewelry, but ferocious things not so much.  So I was excited to add some bite to my brood.  Just as I was excited to unveil my newish Jetsons tee.  Now, for obvious reasons, I probably should've used some Flintstones apparel as the backdrop for Fantastic Jurassic.  I mean, Fred and Wilma have that dog named Dino, which is short for -- yes! -- dinosaur.  You know what?  Never mind.  I like the Jetsons tee better.  It's more ironic that way.

As for these other two outfits, they're for dinosaurs who are into raves and/or Sunday-movie-matinees-slash-mall crawls.  The rave seems like a velociraptor thing, whereas the movie and shopping spree spell stegosaurus. 

That said, there seems to be nothing left to say except this:

"Open the door, get on the floor, everybody kill the dinosaur."

You may notice that I went with the "kill" instead of "walk" lyric.  That's because dinosaurs are awesome only in museums and non-museum-quality collectibles.  People want guffaws, not claws and jaws.  Something nonthreatening that they can laugh at that won't laugh at (or dismember) them.

Clearly, that line's not from a catchy pop song.