Oodles of Caboodles and Others

Marabou Maven Necklace

Bag: A New Day, Target

The magic of Macy's (their tagline at one point!).

Hair claws: Wild Fable, Target

The cover of my new (albeit unopened) sketchbook.

Shoes: Madden Girl, Kohl's; Tights: Amazon

Polka dot cami: Wet Seal; Zebra shrug: Bar III, Macy's; Skirt: Tinseltown, Macy's

Coat: Madden Girl, Kohl's; Skirt: Wild Fable: Target

A local taco place I haven't tried yet.

Lace top: Xhilaration, Target

Eyes on the Skies Necklace and Bracelet

Shoes: Unlisted by Kenneth Cole, Marshalls

Barrettes: Wild Fable, Target

Skort: So, Kohl's

A Caboodle is always a thoughtful gift.  Despite the recent The Sex Lives of College Girls episode where Whitney rejects the peace offering of one from Kimberly (Pauline Chalamet, and yes, she's Timothée's sister!) as an apology for kissing her ex.  Kimberly is the geek of the friend group, so the Caboodle is meant to be cringe.  But unlike Whitney, I was stoked to receive not one, not two, but three Caboodles for my birthday!  The sky blue one is almost exactly like the first Caboodle I ever got, which was for Christmas when I was eight.  I remember my (boy) cousin scoffing that it looked like a tackle box.  As if!    

In another nod to '80s/'90s nostalgia, I included this shot of the Memphis print headbands, soda-flavored Lipsmackers, and Let's Go to the Mall book I got for Christmas.  The book is an " '80s seek and find."  So, a Where's Waldo of Walkmans and wayfarers.  I can't wait to get into it!    

You know what else is very '80s/'90s?  Show-and-telling my gifts.  

Which is just the kind of uncool thing that Kimberly might do.  

Sun Ripe Stripes and Other Hype: Hey, How's it Hanging, New Earrings?

Red/white stripe tee: Hollister, Marshalls
Navy/yellow stripe tee: Merona, Target
Serape stripe cowl neck: Chaps, Kohl's

Flirty Fruit Earrings 

Fiona Fox Earrings

Ice Cream Dream Earrings 

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears . . . so that I may bedazzle them good and proper. (Because it doesn't get much more proper than Shakespeare, despite what you might've heard.)  That's right; I've made a fresh batch of bo danglers, one to represent each Tote Trove kitsch kingdom: Carnival Candy, Rustic Romance, and Twee Party.  Each pair is tiny but mighty -- meaning that it was a challenge for this bigger-is-better-and-gaudy-is-good proponent to keep them dainty.  But far be it from me to contribute to the over-stretched earlobe epidemic.  

Speaking of challenges, it took forever to steam the three striped tops in these pictures.  It was worth it, though, because they turned out nice and smooth instead of more wrinkled than when they started -- which is what usually happens when I'm wielding an iron.  This was especially exciting because -- bonus of bonuses -- it means that I get to wear them.  Tomorrow's supposed to be windy, so I'm looking at you, weird serape-inspired, wannabe-athletic cowl neck.  

There's something trendy yet timeless about a horizon of hip horizonals (also, about the group Vertical Horizon, but that's only because I've been listening to my Now That's What I Call 1990s Pop Alternative Edition CD).  To prove it, here's a list of (some of) the old-school fools who have rocked them:

Jailbirds

Mimes

Sailors

Where's Waldo (one week later, I'm still searching for him)

The Cat in the Hat

Piglet

The Hamburglar (not to be confused with the aforementioned jailbird)

Freddy Krueger (whom I despise but feel honor-bound to include because the husband swears that I sometimes wear his sweater)

Whether nautical or southwestern or a crazy mashup somewhere in between, stripes put the all-American (and all-Parisienne; see mime above) in jeans and jean skirts.  Neither of which are pictured here, but I can spend only so much time steaming.  And screaming.  

Which is my way of saying see you later.  

Amusement Park Lark: Epic Equine Edition

Prancing Pony Charm Necklace

Top: Hollistser, Marshalls

Skirt: Amazon

Shoes: B.A.I.T., Zulily

Bag: Sugar Thrillz, Dolls Kill

Belt: Candie's, Kohl's

Sunglasses: So, Kohl's

Barrettes: The Tote Trove

The wooden horse bead in this Prancing Pony Charm Necklace reminds me of the kind you see on carousels.  Carousel is such a lovely word, isn't it?  Upstaged by only its sister calliope, it makes me think of the Carousel of Progress at Disney World.  Also, of a revolving restaurant I once had the misfortune to visit during a fourth grade field trip.  Even now, the image of those grayish Swedish meatballs circling by in slow motion is fresh (unlike the meatballs themselves) in my mind.  And finally, the word carousel makes me think of the Merry-Go-Round, which was a unisex clothing store catering to fast teens at my local mall.  Located across from the much tonier Limited, it was even cheesier than the rotating restaurant.

Any neigh, what I'm saying is, this hoofed honey is hella nostalgic.  You know, aside from looking like something you'd win at the carnival.  For maximum fairground flair, I paired it with this borderline barber pole/candy cane/Where's Waldo? tee shirt and macaroon-hued bag and shoes.  Because real life horses may smell like garbage, but the made-up, Swarovski crystal-studded kind are as fragrant as french fries.  And no, that wasn't a reference to horse meat hamburgers.

Sadly, I can't say the same about those meatballs.