Death By Accessories...

Well...if you have an Mac laptop, you know that the power cord connects to the computer magnetically.  So, as I was trying to put my laptop in my bag at the end of a long day, my necklace magnetically grabbed a hold of my laptop and almost strangled me...what a great end to long Friday, and an even longer week. 

Dress-Express/Shoes-Me Too/Jewelry-F21, Old Navy, Black Sheep, H&M

So, me and my sundress are ready for fall... I have just had enough of this 90 degree summer heat.  It was surprising in May, pleasant in June, fun in July, annoying in August and now that it is just about September, I am ready to kick summer in all its sweaty glory to the curb.   Unfortunately...according to weather.com...the late summer heat is going to stick around for a while here in the Midwest...damn...I am so sick of being sweaty!! 
Lots of things going on this holiday weekend with me and my brood.  I hope you all have a few days of rest and relaxation as the summer fades!

How Much Is My Time Worth?

Worn to work Wednesday, August 29

 

Pants-Gap/Top-LOFT/Jewlery-Francesca's, Macy's, Fox's, Aldo/Wedges-Fox's

I love these pants... I am not sure this was the right way to style them...but I love them!!!  I think these fabulous magenta trousers from The Gap will be easier to make outfits with once the weather cools down.  I am having visions of denim shirts...leopard loafers...navy blazers...  I yearn for fall weather and all the non sweaty clothing options it provides...as I sit in my office looking out at a sunny 90 degrees here in Chicago.

Hurry up and wait...we might get back to you tomorrow...

I swear, I spend way to much time staring at my phone waiting for it to ring...constantly checking my email to see if there are any bites on a full-time job...  I hate this...you send out a resume and just wait...half the time you don't even know if they got it...don't employers know and/or care that you want to go back to work full time so you can feel more fulfilled...the bills can get paid and spending money can be had...

Ok...rant over...

TIme Keeps On Slipping...Into The Future...

So how did my first born become a first grader suddenly. I'm not sure why the first grade seems much more a bigger deal than kindergarten...I guess Jack is "officially" a big boy!

Wow... if I didn't feel old before, I sure feel old now!

Jack insisted that he pose for me like that

I think Alex felt a bit left out, us making a big deal over Jack's first day, so he wanted to get

 in on the action...

After taking Jack to school and getting him settled, I was off to work.  I have a big presentation today, so conservative it is...

 

Dress-LOFT/Jewelry-Fox's, Jeweliq/Shoes-Lori's

It seems that whenever I need to dress conservative, I go back to this Loft dress...black, sleek, perfect fitting.  To add some personality to the outfit, I opted for my favorite necklace and a few bracelets.  I picked the dress up on sale, before Jack was born.  I remember the first time I went to a party, 4 months  after I had Jack, I tried so hard to fit into this dress...it barely zipped...with spanx sucking it in...and now he is in first grade...

Wow...time flies...

Today I am linking up with the Monday Mingle...

And Then I Jumped...

Worn to work Monday, August 20

Skirt-Express/Cardigan LOFT/Sandals-Urban Outfitters/Jewelry-Vince Camuto/Bag-DSW

Last summer, this maxi skirt was a wardrobe staple.  But, this is it's first appearance this year... The waistband of the skirt hits right where my scar tissue lump is, and visually, I feel it just points a big flashing yellow arrow to the area!  

I am totally enamored with my new leopard tote.  I carry around so much stuff all the time, the handle ripped off my beloved yellow and silver H&M tote.  Maybe, I don't need to carry around my wallet, ipad, small make-up case, phone, baggie of kid snack, hard back book and maybe a toy car or two!! So, I hit up DSW last weekend, coupon in hand, determined to find a new vehicle for all my necessary crap.  This fabulous Sam Edelman leopard tote was 70% off, so I went home one happy lady.

Worn to work Wednesday, August 22

Skirt-Anthropologie/Shirt-Banana Republic/Sandals-Target/Jewelry-Bauble Bar, DIY

Who needs a necklace when you have a t-shirt with one printed on it...makes for pretty simple getting dressed in the morning!

SO...off to work on my resume...it might be time to jump back into corporate america...hmmm...

food for thought...

Invitation To A Pants Party

Mr. Green Jeans called...he wants his pants back!!

Cardigan-Banana Republic/Jeans-Gap/Sandals-Macy's/Jewelry-F21, Gigi

I was never sure about the colored jean trend...

While perusing the Gap, I stumbled upon these light mint green jeans and decided to add them to the pile of clothes I was about to try on.  I never have luck with pants from the Gap, so I did not have high expectations for any of the pants in my pile.  Well...I was quite wrong.   I instantly fell in love with these colored jeans and a pair of magenta trousers.  I decided on the jeans since the trousers were a new item and would eventually go on sale.  I did just get the trousers the other day...coupon code!!   Now that they were mine, I wasn't sure how to style them.  So, I opted for the easy tank and old standby leopard cardigan.  

I love how my first foray into the world of colored denim turned out!!

The boys wanted to pose for photos and say "hi" to my friends in the computer...

This Post Is Sponsored By The Letter P

 

Pants-Gap/Sweater-Old Navy/Shoes-Naturalizer/Jewelry-Baublebar, ShopBop, F21

P is for pants...I seem to be gravitating towards them as the weather cools...

P is for polka dots...this sweater is one of my favorite pieces I purchased this summer...

P is for purple and pointy...which perfectly describes these flats that I have had forever...

Like my new sunnies...Alex helped me pick them out.  I think they are just so much fun!

Zombies, Ninja's and Wizards....oh my...

So much fun...Comic Con
Besides being able to geek out with people that "get it", it was nice to spend a few days with just adults, just worrying about myself and what cool thing I was going to get to experience next...It was definitely the recharge that I needed to start preparing the boys for back to school and their new routine.

My top highlights from my weekend...
-Meeting Colin Ferguson aka Sheriff Carter from Eureka.  Such a nice guy who totally appreciated his fans.  He took about 10 minutes to talk to me about the unexpected and quick but perfect end to Eureka, his new pilot not getting picked up and his opinion of certain new shows...

-Walking Dead Panel...Jon Bernthal and Norman Redus were fantastic.  So many funny and fascinating stories about behind the scenes and the thought they put into their characters. The way Jon explained Shane's decision making vs Rick's was really eye opening...RIP Shane...Norman Reedus just ROCKS!

-Sharing a hotel room with two of the funniest, sarcastic and fabulous ladies...thanks for reading my mind girls...I also, had lunch with Rebekah of From the Mixed Up Files...

-Wandering the expo hall...so many things to see...rows upon rows of comic books, figurines, toys, weapons, zombies, costumes... I even found a Torchwood T-shirt!!

Snippets from the fun!

 Me and Tardis from Dr. Who

 Just one of the many weapons on display...the boys would have loved to play with them!!

 Tons of people in costumes

 Every t-shirt from a sci-fi comic book, cartoon, movie you could think of.  They even had a whole line of shirts from the Big Bang Theory!

He will always be Sheriff Carter to me

 Holly Marie Combs aka Piper from Charmed and Ella Montgomery from Pretty Little Liars

Me and Dalek on Sunday afternoon

By the time I got home Sunday night I had blisters and my feet and was really tired, but it was so nice to see the boys.  They had a great weekend with dad, minus the trip to urgent care for an ear infection.

Nerd Herd Ahead!

Skirt-Anthropologie/Shirt-LOFT/Shoes-Steve Madden/Jewelry-DIY, Francesca's, BaubleBar

This outfit is kind of a mish-mash.  Bright green summer skirt that is a bit to big...heavier lace front t-shirt...patent oxfords.  But, I love the way it turned out!!

Did you know I am a geek.  I love sci-fi TV shows, movies, books...I enjoy it all.  My favorite sci-fi show is Haven, but I will pretty much watch anything the SyFy network puts out.  So, this weekend is going to be a big geek fest...Wizard World Comic Con Chicago...I am so excited that could scream.  I am making this fest into a mini vacation for me.  I am staying at a hotel with a bunch of friends..leaving the boys with the hubs.  We plan to have tons of geeky fun all day and party at night!! 

A weekend away is exactly what I need...

Thought Bubble

I kind of had an epiphany yesterday...

So, there I am, standing on the side of the park district pool after 3 hours of splashing boys, sweat, sunscreen and chlorine filled fun.  My time was spent alternating between running through the splash pad sprinkler park with Jack and Alex and floating in the 2 1/2 feet depth playing catch and having water gun fights.  I am standing there waiting not so patiently for the boys to emerge from the water...wearing just a black bathing suit, fedora and sunglasses....
Not once in the last 20 years, did I ever think that would be me.  I was totally self confident...running around, splashing...IN A BATHING SUIT!  Not worrying about how my pale thighs looked, if my stomach was jiggling, what my butt looked like, if my hair was messy...  I fell free for the first time in a really long time...not only had I pranced around in shorts all summer....I was wearing a bathing suit...no cover-up, shorts or anything...
The self confidence and sense of pride that I felt at that moment...immense....
Then one of my wet kids came up and started screaming that the other one squirted him in the eye, so he spit at him...then the other one runs up yelling "I did nothing to him" and the proceeds to squirt me in the butt with his water gun...
Back to reality...

Dot...Dash...Dot...

Polka dots...polka dots everywhere...  Polka dots...polka dots here and there... 
I have been seeing polka dots everywhere lately...bloggers styling them, people on the street, fall fashion previews and catalogs...  I never had any dotted pieces in my closet...until recently...
I was inspired by the the fabulous way Shea of Bon Chic Bon Gastronomique styles up polka dots...so when I spied these pieces at Old Navy, I took that inspiration and got dressed.

Worn to work Monday, August 6

Skirt-Target/Sweater-Old Navy/Shoes-Reaction via Lori's/Jewelry-F21, Vince Camuto, Black Sheep

Love this sweater.  It is thin cotton, so it is perfect for summer.  I have so many ideas how I can style it for the cooler temps too...under a blazer...layers with a button up shirt underneath... Just thinking about it makes me excited for fall boots, tights, blazers and breezy temperatures...as I sit here in 89 degrees sweating!!

Short-Old Navy/Top-LOFT/Shoes-Sperry/Jewelry-F21

Styling my polka dots all casual for the weekend.  I wore this to a barbecue on Sunday.  I have been wearing these fun shorts all week with various color t-shirts and tank tops.  I wanted to take more photos of this outfit, but it was 8 o'clock by the time we got home and by camera battery was yearning to be charged...one shot...then it died...

All hail the polka dot!!