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. 

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.

Patch Match: Make Mine Melon

Red clutch: Target; Sunglasses bag: Luv Betsey, Macy's Backstage; Print cosmetics bag: Clinique; Slice cosmetic bag: Lancome; Straw bag: H&M; Wristlet: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Tee: Pink Rose, Marshalls

Tee: Disney, Macy's

Now that we're deep into the dog days of summer, it's time for rind finds!  For few things other than a watermelon can quench the thirst that comes with sky-high humidity.  So I pulled out my juicy jumble of watermelon-themed paraphernalia and curated it here for your (and okay, my) viewing pleasure.  Not surprisingly, I have more watermelon slice style bags than anything else.  But I also have a book called Watermelon, which I nearly forgot about.  Published in 1995, it's both Marian Keyes' debut and the first installment in her Walsh sisters series.  The watermelon in question?  Claire Walsh's baby bump!  It's fun, it's sad, it's sweet, it's tart -- not unlike a watermelon and goat cheese salad.  Which is to say, I highly recommend it.  

Sadly, I cannot say the same for the goat cheese. 

Fruit Suit Hoot

Sunglasses: Zulily; Yellow and red bangles: B Fabulous; Mint bangle: Decree, JCPenney

Top: Candie's, Kohl's

Bag: Luv Betsey, Macy's Backstage

Shorts: Merona, Target

Flip Flops: Rocket Dog, Marshalls

Bag: Amazon

Bangles, top to bottom: Target; B Fabulous; Target; Mixit, JCPenney

Top: Cool Melon, Zulily

Flats: Wanted, Modcloth

Leggings: Lula Roe

Necklace and bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily; Green bracelet: Parade of Shoes

Top: Rebellious One, Macy's

Bag: Circus for Sam Edelman, Kohl's

Skirt: Mudd, Kohl's

Bag charm: Michaels

Now that it's officially summer, it's time for a picnic of prints!  Yes, I'm all about fruit salad ensembles ripe with watermelons, kiwis (Remember Lula Roe?  Her legacy lives on in these leggings.), lemons, palm trees, and pineapples good enough to eat.  Not that anyone wants to chow down on a palm tree.  So let's just say coconuts.

I was excited to plant a couple of farm market pics in between the outfits. The husband went to our local stand, Joe's, all last summer, but this was my first trip back since the pandemic.  And it was delightful!  Seeing all that color up close and personal is always uplifting. 

Speaking of celebratory occasions, nearly eight years ago, the husband and I received these champagne glasses as a wedding gift.  They were beautiful, but neither one of us likes the bubbly, so I stuffed them with plastic produce.

Now that's my kind of fruit cocktail!

Fruits of My Labor Day

Shoes: Katy Perry, Macy's; Sunglasses: Amazon; Bow barrette: Carole, JCPenney; Blue bangle: Kohl's; Embellished bangle: Karina's; Strawberry clip: Delia's; Rose ring: Making Waves, Ocean City; Strawberry watch (on shoe): Zulily; Necklace and fruit barrette: The Tote Trove

They say that fruit is sweetest just before it rots, and I've found that to be true.  It's much tastier to bite into a squishy but sugar-ripe plum than one that's hard and bitter.  It turns out that the same is sometimes the case for summer fashion.  This Labor Day weekend, I got inspired to wear my prettiest produce-themed clothes.  And also to unveil a new crop of farm stand fresh jewelry. 

Oh My Orange Earrings

Oh My Orange Necklace

Top: Hooked Up, Macy's

Skirt (a dress!): Almost Famous, Kohl's

Shoes: Shoe Carnival

Bag: T-Shirt & Jeans, Zulily

Lemme Have a Slice Earrings

Daisy Lemonade Necklace

Top: Candie's, Kohl's

Skirt: Arizona Jeans, JCPenney

Shoes: ALDO, Macy's

Bag: Luv Betsey, Macy's Backstage

Watermelon Whirl Necklace

Top: So, Kohl's

Skirt: H&M

Shoes: Penney Loves Kenny, DSW

Bag: Sugar Thrillz, Dolls Kill

Summer or not, I'm looking forward to growing, er, making more things of the fresh fruit persuasion.  Because rooty tooty fresh n' fruity never goes out of season.

At least not outside of IHOP.    

Happy Labor Day!