Hearts and Flowers, Endless Powers

Shorts: So, Kohl's

Shoes: Madden Girl, Macy's

Rainbow Candy Necklace

Bag: Skinnydip London, Macy's

Rainbow Star Necklace

Barrette: The Tote Trove

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Menagerie Madness Necklace

Clip: Wild Fable, Target

Top: Self Esteem, Zulily

Bag: Liz Claiborne, JCPenney; Black bangle: Mixit, JCPenney; Mint bangle: Decree, JCPenney; Yellow bangles: B Fabulous; Sunglasses: Wild Fable, Target; Ring: Self Portrait, Etsy

Sunglasses: Michaels

Top: Candie's, Kohl's

Bag: Francesca's; Necklace: The Tote Trove

Skirt: Stoosh, Macy's

Shoes: Nine West, Kohl's

Sometimes I feel like I'll never wear all my clothes.  Especially because I keep coming up with new ways to wear the old ones.  It's a weird blend of invigorating and exhausting.  But it's the kind of exhausting I love.

Last week, I planned one outfit with my rose-print Stoosh skirt and another with my heart-print Candie's blouse (Kohl's doesn't even make Candie's anymore, having moved on to more high-fiber fare).  As I was laying them out, it occurred to me that they would look good together too.  So here we are!  (Or here I am.)  Hearts and flowers, endless powers.  Just like the title says.

If only running the clotheshorse racecourse burned more calories than crunches.

Dot Spot: Working Out the Bugs

Shoes: Penny Loves Kenny, DSW

Tee: The Lazy Oaf

Bag: Elizabeth and James, Kohl's; Black and white bracelet: Mixit, JCPenney; Other bracelets: B Fabulous; Ring: Wet Seal, Fabulous Felt Rainbow Rings Necklace

Skirt, Forever 21

Bag: Modcloth

Fabulous Felt Ladybug Barrette

Skirt: POPSUGAR, Kohl's

Top: Self Esteem, Macy's

Jacket: Material Girl, Macy's

Top: Vylette, Kohl's

Headband: Self Portrait, Etsy; Bag: Betsey Johnson, Boscov's; Red bangle: XOXO, ROSS; Other bangles: B Fabulous; Ring: Making Waves, Ocean City

Scarlet Circle Necklace

Dress: So, Kohl's

Tights: Zulily

Bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Polka Dot Posies Barrette Brooch

I think we can all agree that most bugs are disgusting.  Just this morning, I went down to the basement to check the circuit breaker (damn you, internet outage) when I saw a centipede the size of Rhode Island.  Thankfully, it was dead, caught in a web.  But it still gave me pause, especially because I sometimes see its brethren in my bathroom.  Anyway, it got me thinking about how some bugs aren't gross but adorable.  Like butterflies, bumblebees, and, of course, ladybugs.  As a lady who, ahem, regularly bugs her husband to photograph her (that line was his idea), I appreciate the cheerful beauty of the ladybug -- and just happened to have some outfits emulating its colors and pattern.  As luck would have it, there were a bunch of the spotted ones out and about when we took the pics.  Here are two that framed our front door: 

I was happy to see them, not just because they're cute, but because they're a sign of good fortune.  Which was just what I needed to counteract the bad vibes from that centipede!

Next up: Spiderwebs: Disgusting death traps or Mother Nature's doilies?  Discuss.

Pattern Fray: Big Bad Plaid and Un-Doomed Blooms

Skirt: Arizona Jeans, JCPenney

Sassy Stripes Necklace Set

Top: Delia's, Dolls Kill

Bag: Merona, Target

Chartreuse Shapes Necklace

Jeans: Universal Threads, Target

Bangle: Simply Vera, Kohl's

Bag: Mix No. 6, DSW

Top: Self Esteem, Macy's

Unicorn Moon Necklace

Skirt: Vanilla Star, Macy's

Every fall, big, bad plaid shakes down summer's palm fronds and florals to reclaim its crown.  Thankfully, this Delia's daisy crop top escaped unscathed:

It reminds me of another photo-print style top I had in the '90s, only that one was of a sunflower.  At first, I didn't like the photo-print plant trend.  I guess you can say it grew on me.

Speaking of tenacious flora, today I scored these two "gothic garden" (yes, that's what the tag said) faux roses for $3.50 at Michaels.      

If you look closely, then you can see the ghosts of gray and gold accents tinging the petals.  Although to be fair, I leached most of them out during editing.  Also in the interest of fairness, Michaels had straight-up gray roses, too, but I said thanks but no thanks.  I'm guessing none of the colors were creepy enough to count as Halloween décor.  Which is a shame because they make me think of that glam ghost story where the prom queen hitches a ride only to return to the graveyard.  Then again, others' haunted house theme losses are my (hopefully) unhaunted house's gain:

These potted pretties go perfectly in my office, already at home with the husband's dragon and my year-round reindeer.  Now I'm just a perfume spritz away from taking the time to stop and smell the undead roses.

At least until December when the take-no-prisoners tartans come out in full force.  

Squash Mishmosh Nosh: Hold the Bacon

Shoes: Shoe Carnival

Bag: SHEIN

Dress: Macy's

September Sunset Necklace

Skirt: Tinseltown, Macy's

Bag: Olivia Miller TJ Maxx

Scarf: Zulily

Bangles and ring: Mixit, JCPenney

Sweater: Wild Fable, Target

Shoes: Chaps, Kohl's

Bag: Elly & Ella, Amazon

Shoes: First Love by Penny Loves Kenny, JCPenney

Top: Self Esteem, Macy's

Normally, when I see green, orange, and yellow, I think citrus.  And then, of course, summer.  To be sure, there's an orange (both the color and the fruit) bag and barrette in this ensemble sampling.  But there's an orange sweater too, which shouts pumpkin (it looks red, but it's more of a Crayola red-orange), even if it is cropped and paired with a mini and sandals.  So, it's a real cornucopia of produce-based colors.  

What's a carnivore to do?

Make like Sheryl Crow and soak up the sun, I guess.

And then hightail it to Red Robin.