Showing posts with label Miken. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miken. Show all posts

Monday, June 5, 2023

Setting Sail on the S.S. Smiley: Happy Face Place

Skirt: Tinseltown, Macy's; Bag: Marshalls

Top: Bisou Bisou, JCPenney

Don't Worry Be Crafty Necklace

Shoes: Unisa, DSW

Bag: Nine West, Marshalls


Tunic (really a bathing suit coverup!): Miken, Macy's

Fabulous Felt Yellow Dice Barrette; Yellow rose ring: Making Waves, Ocean City; Gray ring: Old Navy; Lemon wedge clip: Wild Fable, Target; Whole lemon clip: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Shoes: New York & Company

Dress: B Smart, Kohls; Bag: Xhilaration, Target; Shoes: Simply Vera, Kohl's


Little bow: Carole, JCPenney; Big bow: INC, Macy's 

Skirt: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Bag: Olivia Miller, Amazon

Top: Just Polly, Macy's


Love bangle: Boscov's; First yellow bangle: Silver Linings, Ocean City; Both black bangles and black and white bracelet: Mixit, JCPenney; Second yellow bangle: B Fabulous

Skirt: ELLE, Kohl's

Top: Nine West, Kohl's


Sunglasses: Betsey Johnson, Zulily

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Macy's


Black and yellow are an undeniable duo.  They're equal parts dramatic and mellow, making bees, cabs, and caution tape pop.  And also, of course, smiley faces!  I was excited to make necklaces with these happy face beads and build black and yellow outfits around them.  I also had some black and white anchors, which explains the necklaces' nautical bent.  You might think I'm some sort of sailing enthusiast considering how often anchors come up in my projects.  But no, I just like the way they look and the retro feels they represent.  In reality, I steer clear of boats because I get seasick.  Kind of like how I'm crazy for cacti but have no desire to visit the desert.  Or how I'm into unicorns but not horses.  Also, if by some miracle I met a unicorn, then I'd probably run screaming in the other direction.  

Ah, crafting.  You let me soar while keeping me grounded.  

And that's why you're my happy place.  

Monday, November 6, 2017

The Tortoise and the Hair: Slow and Steady Wins the Lace


Top: Mossimo, Target
Pink tunic: Miken, Marshalls
Skirt: Mossimo, Target
Shoes: Penny Loves Kenny, Zulily
Bag: Apt. 9, Kohl's
Belt: Hand-me-down
Bracelets: Cloud Nine
Rings: Delia's

Sparkly Circles Barrettes 


 Dazzling Dog Tag Earrings

When I was a kid, I was confused by tortoiseshell.  It didn't look anything like its namesake reptile, but more like a leopard or a puddle of Coke with raisins incongruously mixed in.  Still, I liked it.  It had a timeless, simple sort of glamour that made otherwise ordinary combs, sunglasses, and barrettes seem sophisticated.  So, when I saw these tortoiseshell circle barrettes, I was immediately inspired to put my own stamp on them in the form of Swarovski crystals.  Because accessories this delicate call for something more refined than mere rhinestones.  The result was part princess part disco diva, and I liked it so much that I kept going, hunting down other turtle trinkets that I could embellish.

Speaking of turtles, here's a shot of the official mascot of this post.  I lured him from his perch on my bookshelf with promises of fame and fortune (okay, insects), and once he got in front of the camera, he was hooked, hamming it up with with all of the gusto of our old friend Tammy (who is, by the way, residing comfortably in her new quarters.  But more on that later).   


That said, let's talk about this top.  I've shown it backwards because that's how I first put it on.  The "real" front is plain except for a little keyhole.  (Also, there's no pink.  That's another lace top.)  I blame Target, as this is the way they displayed it.  Then again, it seems like they've suffered enough, as they still have a rack full, reduced to half price.  That's when I nabbed mine, as gleeful as a gazelle tracking a fresh crop of grass shoots (hey, no one said success had to be bloody.)  I may not always know a blouse's front from its back, but I could bargain stalk in my sleep.  Anyhoo, turns out I like the ruffle in the front.  It has a kind of Victorian-lady-meets-Dolly-Parton feel with a 1970s twist when teamed with the tortoiseshell.  Plus, it makes a great frame for necklaces.  Mr. Turtle liked it, too; I know because he was nibbling it post-shoot.  I think he thought it was albino lettuce.

I guess shopping and life aren't all that different.  Slow and steady wins the lace.  At $9.99.  Unless you're supermarket sweeping your way through the express lane or something and set off a sensor.  Which, now that I say it, doesn't make any sense.

I think this one got away from me.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Springing Back into Summer and Falling for Fall TV





 Great White Necklace

Tunic: Miken, Marshalls
Tee: So, Kohl's
Skirt: Olsenboye, JCPenney
Shoes: Betseyville, Macy's
Bag: Uniquely Different, Etsy
Belt: JCPenney
Scarf: Wet Seal
Sunglasses: JCPenney




Tunic: Miken, Marshalls
Bra top: Boscov's
Skirt: L'Amour by Nanette Lepore for JCPenney
Shoes: Worthington, JCPenney
Bag: Nordstrom
Belt: Wet Seal
Sunglasses: JCPenney



 Fruits and Flowers Necklace

Tunic: Miken, Marshalls
Tee: So, Kohl's
Skirt (a dress!): Monteau, Marshalls
Shoes: Ami Clubwear
Bag: Nine West, Boscov's
Belt: Wet Seal
Sunglasses: Rampage, Boscov's

The first summery thing about this post is the two scenic pictures.  They're both of the north end of Brigantine, and I took them during a recent bicycle ride with the husband.  As you know, I normally refrain from outdoorsy activities.  But I was glad that I came along this time, as I'd never been to this part of the island in the six plus years I've lived here.  It's beautiful, kind of wild and hidden and marshy.  I can see why people like it, despite it bearing the brunt of most hurricanes' wrath.

The second summery thing about this post is the hot pink lace cover-up.  I know; I too was surprised to find that that's what it was when I found it at Marshalls some three years ago.  Somehow, it seems too fancy to toss over a bikini.  That's probably one of the reasons why I've never worn it.  But I wanted to change that, or at least do the next best thing by having Tammy (the Torso, that is, for those of you scratching your heads) wear it.  So I challenged myself to use it in three outfits.  The middle one is my favorite, even if it does kind of scream fashion don't at the VMAs.  

And now on to the good part, which is to say, the TV.  I don't know about you, but once Labor Day hits, I'm as excited about fall premier week as a cat in a yarn store.  There's nothing to beat fall's sneaky chill like the cozy glow that is the TV screen.  I like to think of it as the modern-day fireplace.  Or maybe I should say campfire, as that's the one with the stories.  Anyway, there's a lot of programming to choose from, so I'll just give (admittedly specious) shout-outs to the lineups I follow.  I'm something of a line-up lemming, tolerating shows that I'd otherwise skip simply because they're surrounded by some of my favorites.  Still, at the end of the day (or should I say week?) I end up enjoying them all on some level, taking the same even-when-it's-bad-it's-good approach to sitcoms that people take to pizza.  Hey, whether it's entertainment or eats, the more cheese the better.    

That having been said, Fox came out of the gate running the second week in September with the ever edgy "New Girl" and "The Mindy Project."  Family-friendly ABC reclaimed its Wednesday night reign, regaling us with old favorites like "The Middle" and "Modern Family," now bookending sophomore sitcom "The Goldbergs" and wrapping up with the brand-new "Blackish," all contriving to create a downy cushion for the last-act drama of "Nashville"(which is not a sitcom, but pretty soft as dramas go, making it a-okay in my [song] book.)  Then the following Tuesday ABC introduced "Selfie" and "Manhattan Love Story," serving up stories for singles.  In the CBS camp, "The Big Bang Theory" found its way once again back to Mondays, at least until late October when it joins two of Chuck Lorre's other offspring, "Two and a Half Men" and "Mom" ("Mike and Molly" will return mid-season).  But it's NBC that remains the most barren, with the final season of "Parks and Recreation" yet to debut while newbies "Bad Judge" and "A to Z" play out as sweetly acerbic appetizers.      
Whew, that was more than a mouthful.  Which means that there's just enough room to cram in some eating (cheddar choked or whole grain healthy?  I'll never tell) before tonight's two-hour sitcom block begins.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Something New and Sparkly: A Little Birdie Told Me . . .



 Fabulous Felt Blue Lovebirds Necklace

Top: JCPenney
Jeans: UNIONBAY, Kohl's
Bag: Uniquely Different, Etsy
Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy
Sunglasses: Cloud Nine, Ocean City



 Fabulous Felt Purple Lovebirds Necklace

Top: Kohl's
Skirt: Forever 21
Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy
Bag: Marshalls



 Fabulous Felt Melons Necklace

Dress: Mossimo, Target
Shoes: MetroStyle
Bag: Lancome



 Fabulous Felt Jeweled Bow Necklace

Top: Merona, Target
Skirt: Candie's, Kohl's
Shoes: Alloy
Bag: Krystala Creations, Etsy




Tunic: Miken, Marshalls
Cami: Marshalls
Leggings: Petite Sophisticate
Shoes: Betseyville, Macy's
Bag: Nine West, Boscov's
Belt: JCPenney

. . . that melons and seashells aren't just for summer.  These outfits feature some of my favorite end-of-the-season scores, namely the retro black, cream, and fuchsia top; the navy striped sundress; and the billed-as-a-beach-cover-up tunic.  Just the pieces for framing fresh felt!