Day 29 - Mini Time

dress: forever 21, leggings: ?, sandals:payless

Only one more day and then I am free to use my entire closet! Yippy! I miss my shoes. I really do. And, I know that's silly, but hey, I can be silly when I want to be. Right?

Now, about the outfit. This dress shrunk. But only in length. Which is ridiculous if you ask me. So, I added leggings. While I do wear my skirts this short from time to time. I can't bring myself to do short and strapless. I am not eighteen here people. Once again, I really would have preferred my black oxfords rather than open sandals with this dress. Predictable, aren't I?

So, what do you think? Is it okay for a grown woman (like over 30) to wear a strapless mini dress?

Day 28 - Label Love or Hate

tank: thrifted, shorts: walmart, shoes: payless

So, before we get to the meaty stuff, here's the fluff. I felt utterly amazing in this outfit today. All white and cool and breezy with leopard and wood accents. Love. And I would like to thank my torture master/slave driver Jillian Michaels for the legs you see in picture number 2. I felt like jumping up and down for joy when I looked at these pictures. Its always nice when your hard (like insanely, ridiculously, absurdly hard) work. I suppose that technically I am through with the 30 day shred, but I don't see any reason to stop doing it. I am finally on level 3 - which totally kicks my rear, but makes me feel great in the long run.




Now, here's the FBFF Questions and Answers for this week. Great subject as usual Katy. Thanks.

1. As a person who writes/blogs about fashion, have you placed yourself into some sort of blogging category? Ummm... I can't really say that I have thought about it before. I guess I am more in the mommy style blogger category than any real fashiony stuff. I also tend toward the thrifty (obviously, it's in the title).

2. What keeps you from or encourages you to label yourself as a certain kind of blogger? I guess I do label myself as a mommy blogger and a thrifty blogger. Primarily because I feel like the readers of those two types of blogs might be interested in my blog while those who are truly fashionistas probably aren't going to be into reading about my adventures with my toddler and my life as a stay at home mom. If you can afford or seriously lust after Louboutins, you aren't going to be drooling over my payless.

3. When picking blogs to read and follow are you drawn to ones that indicate a certain group or way of thinking/being? I am very drawn to mothers with great style, especially if they have toddlers. I also love reading the blogs of women of faith. Like most people, I think, I am drawn to those who are like-minded. On the other hand, I am drawn to women with a unique voice and style. If your writing is witty and makes me laugh, I will follow. If your style is unique and speaks to me, I will follow even if I don't agree with you. I follow petite blogs because I am petite although I haven't really made a big deal out of on my own blog.

4. Do you think there are benefits in labeling yourself or others? Oddly, enough I do. In real life I carry  a number of labels that I haven't always liked. However the truth is that we as people often need labels in order understand things. In a light-hearted way, I often label myself as a nerd. If you are reading, it is pretty likely that you will draw conclusions about me based on that label. And in most cases you would probably be right. I was the kid who read the encyclopedias cover to cover, I always knew the answer in class, I had a full ride academic scholarship, blah, blah, blah. This is a part, just a small part, but still a part of who I am. By labeling myself, I am saving you a little bit of work in getting to know me. On the other hand, growing up in the eighties as a nerd was not fun. Kids can be cruel and the label was not a nice one. Part of growing up, however is accepting who you really are rather than trying to be something you are not. I was never and will never be the popular kid. If you have lived through the experience of being the nerd, you will identify with me when I call myself a nerd and perhaps we can find common ground on which to build a relationship. A label is only the beginning. That said, because I was very hurt as child by this labeling I refuse to label other people.

5. Agree or Disagree - We're all just people; we don't need all the labels. Both. We are all people, but we aren't all alike. In many ways the labels give us the ability to express ourselves. As a blogger I am a thrifty, petite, mommy who is trying to lose weight. These are the things I blog about and in some ways they are my definitions. They don't, however, define me because I am so much more. But, as I said above, the labels are a starting place. Because we are complex and amazingly unique beings we can never be defined by one word other than human, but it can sometimes be helpful to be summarized. Labels like mommy, nerd, petite, thrifty, stylish, etc give us the vocabulary to summarize ourselves so that others can begin to see who we are. Obviously in a deeper relationship we find so much more than just the label. Just like the genre of a book tells you a little of what to expect inside, but each book is unique and has to be read to be understood.

Wow, thanks again, Katy for such great questions. What a great topic. I can't wait to read everyone else's responses. Go check them out at Modly Chic.

Day 27 - Maxi Heaven

maxi: forever 21, tank: target, shoes: payless

mommy feet and baby feet (well toddler feet really)

It's Bloggers Do It Better day over at Pretty Shiny Sparkly! Today's challenge is the maxi skirt and here is my version. In my world this gorgeous pale minty green is a neutral. It really goes with almost everything in my closet. Of course I love the contrast with jewel toned purple. Add a snakeskin belt and nude shoes with matching jewelry and I'm good to go. I loved this outfit with the silky, airy fabrics and beautiful colors.

Have a beautiful Thursday!

Day 26 - A Mint and Blue Mix

vest: thrifted, capris: jcpenney

Wow, I can't believe I am almost done with this 30 for 30 thing! Where did the month go? I guess I've had fun, but I do think I will enjoy it more in the cooler months when more layering can happen. With it being so hot, I really don't want any more clothing than absolutely necessary on my body.

This outfit was really comfy since both pieces are very silky and flowy. I went with bare feet since my feet have been so sore this week. I have pretty much been trying to stay off them during the day. As of today they are feeling much better, but boy am I looking forward to tomorrow when VBS is over. It's been fun, but I'm worn out. :) Due to the scheduling I ended up working in the 2 and 3 year old room this evening since they were short handed and overwhelmed (2 adults + 13 toddlers = overwhelmed). My ears are still ringing! They are fun, but wowie, are they LOUD.

Hope y'all are having a great week!

Day 25 - Doing the EBEW Jive

tank: old navy, shorts: thrifted, shoes: way too ancient to even remember

So, now we all know that I have ridiculously crooked fingers and seriously asymmetrical leg muscles. Don't ask me why. I have no clue. Just weirdly me, I guess. :)

About the outfit - I cheated on the shoes, but I have a really good reason. I promise. I have been on my feet constantly because of VBS the last couple of days and my poor feet are in agony. Agony, y'all. My keds are cute, but actually have a lot of padding and are super comfy. So, on they went. Also, I know this looks a lot like one of Kendi's 30 outfits, but I wasn't copying, I swear. She just got to her yellow top and pink shorts look before I did. Cause with these two items it's kinda obvious. At least to me. Anyway. I loved the outfit, but had to change to jeans before this evening because while these shorts are acceptable daytime wear (fingertip length) they are not acceptable for church wear. At least not for me. I feel a little scandalous with this much leg showing at church. You can wear whatever you want.

You know, try as I might, I just cannot come up with a decent rhyme for five that connects back to the EBEW yellow challenge. I mean there just aren't that many words that even rhyme well with five - alive? done that, ummmm.... swive? that's really kind of an icky word, so no. hive? dive? jive? hmmm.... should have been dancing in the pics, but hey, you get what you get. :)

Happy Tuesday, y'all!

Day 24 - VBS and more

tank: target, skirt: gordmans, sandals: payless

IT IS HOT!!! Holy molie, I think the heat index today is somewhere around 112 degrees. Yikes. There is just no way to stay cool when it is this hot. Even the pools feel like bathwater. You can't even take a cold shower because the 'cold' water is warm. Ick. I love summer, but this is a little much.

It is VBS time around here. I am running crafts and was at church yesterday from 9:30 in the morning until almost 9 in the evening with about a fifteen minute break for lunch. Needless to say, we are running on empty right now. Munchkin was there the whole time too with no nap. I don't think the three year old workers appreciated that very much. :) Ooops. Anywho. I guess I'm enjoying it. There isn't a huge crowd - about 10 to 15 per class and they're usually pretty easy to work with. I am just not used to working with children. Teenagers, yes - children? not so much. Eh. Thursday will be here before I know it. :)

So, we really enjoyed Cars 2. Munchkin did great even at the 6:45 showing. His favorite part was Mater and McQueen flying together while McQueen yells "never". He rein-acted it about 74,364 times. I liked the themes about friendship and acceptance. Pixar films seem to do better at really teaching something about real life. I've learned to somewhat despise the 'princess' genre and attitude that seems to be engendered by it. Some of the attitudes I've seen in my nieces and other little girls don't seem very healthy, but maybe that's just me. Anyone else noticed this?

Well, I'm off to shower (again) and maybe nap with the Munchkin (it's too hot to do anything else)! Have a beautiful day, y'all!

Days 22 & 23 - "The dragon's gonna get me!!!"

dress: forever 21, wedges: thrifted

necklace: my creation (waterspot thanks to McD's tea - oops)

top: thrifted, skirt: target, sandals: payless

Hello, friends! Don't you just love the Munchkin's face in that first pic. He's yelling "Save me, Mommy! The dragon's chasing me!" We have random dragons that show up in our house to play with the kiddo. They are usually really tiny and yellow (I don't know why, so don't ask). They chase the kiddo until he gets either his sword or toy gun and beats them up. My child is all boy all the way. :)

Outfit number one is what I wore to church this morning (sorry for the shoe cheat, but I am constitutionally incapable of wearing flats to church unless I am more than 8 months pregnant). I love the teal with the coral necklace. Outfit number two was worn yesterday. The top is silk and therefore pretty comfy even when the heat index hits 110, but the skirt is actual more of a sweatshirt type material and so despite the brief length actually got a little too hot. I was trying to think outside the box with my shoes. What do you think? Red shoes with a pink blouse a do or don't? And would it be possible for me to look any more dorky than in that fourth pic. I mean come on - hands in the pockets and a stupidly smug expression? Really? Sorry about that folks. :)

That's it for tonight. I'm beat. I'll let you know all about Cars tomorrow, 'kay?

update: this is also my Real Momma, Real Style post for Momma Go Round. Go check out the other stylish mommies out there.