Home is Where the Harvest Is

Jacket: Blue Asphalt, Wet Seal

Adorned Acorn Necklace

Belt: Steve Madden, Zulily; Bag: Apt. 9, Kohl's 

Koala Baby

Yellow top: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Blouse: Candie's, Kohl's' Shoes and bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Mushrooms and succulent: Kohl's

Sweater: Amazon

Mum and pumpkin: Michaels

Bracelet: ZAD, Zulily

Skirt: Hollister, Marshalls

Top: Nine West, Kohl's

Bag: Amazon

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Jacket: Candie's, Kohl's

Bow: Wild Fable, Target

Wreath: Kohl's; Ribbon: Michaels

Boots: 2 Lips Too, Zulily

Orchid: A. C. Moore

Square Dance Romance Necklace

Bag: JCPenney

And by harvest I don't mean produce, but stuff that looks like produce but is plastic.  That's right.  I've changed my décor -- and wardrobe -- from creepy to cozy in honor of the oft overlooked Thanksgiving.  This is new for me this year, just as decking the halls with skulls was new for me last Halloween.  It looks like I'm turning into my mother after all -- which, Mom, if you're reading, I mean in the best way possible!  

Speaking of motherhood, I was decorating the fireplace while Char Bar watched from her blanket.  She was screaming up a storm, which she does when she's excited and/or frustrated.  So I shouldn't have been surprised when she rolled over onto her stomach for the very first time!  She couldn't roll back onto her back, though, so I had to turn her over.  Undeterred, she proceeded to roll -- and scream -- three more times as I kept one eye on her and one on my tchotchkes.  She hasn't stopped since, and I'm sure next year I'll be working overtime to prevent her from playing kickball with the pumpkins.

Some harvest that'll be!

New Shoes and an Unlikely Muse

Top: Self Esteem, Macy's; Skirt: Tinseltown, Macy's; Bag: Betsey Johnson, Amazon

Mermaid Mix Necklace

Headband: INC, Macy's; Sunglasses: Nordstrom Rack

Shoes: Madden Girl, Kohl's

Dress: Nine West, Kohl's; Shoes: Mix No. 6, DSW

Pop Palette Necklace

Barrettes: Wild Fable, Target

Bag: Delia's, Dolls Kill

Top: Marshalls; Skirt: H&M; Bag: Betsey Johnson, Dolls Kill

Shoes: Madden Girl, Kohl's

Sunglasses: Brigantine beach shop; Barrettes: The Tote Trove

Unique Unakite Necklace

When (most) men hear Madden, they think football.  But when (most) women hear it, they think shoes -- Steve Madden shoes!  Here I'm wearing two pairs that I scored for just fifteen dollars each from -- where else? -- Kohl's.  Even if they're not Steve Madden per se, but Madden Girl, which is the brand's younger and, yes, cheaper line.  I own two pairs of actual Steve Maddens and eight pairs of Madden Girls.  Sure, I could've swapped some of the girls for an extra Steve or two and saved closet space.  But I want to buy fewer shoes about as much as I want to grow up, which is to say not at all.  So discount kid kicks it is.

In other news, I made some more jewelry, including another embellished bauble called the Unique Unakite Necklace.  I never heard of the semi-precious unakite before gluing candy discs and a pineapple to its muted surface.  Doing so felt a little decadent and certainly not what Mother Nature intended.

Then again, she also never intended for me to hoard wear plastic shoes.

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.