sunny skies and butterflies.

what do you do when it's 10 pm, the kids JUST got put to bed, and you're tired from a busy day in the beautiful sunshiney humidity?  be really really grateful that your kids normally have a 7 pm bedtime.  and write an entry about fashion.  something shallow, yes... because well there's nothing deep running through my fried mind.  and before we get to the icing on the cake - fashion, that is - we have to start with a few layers.  just a few, though. don't worry.  it's only a double layer cake.

layer one - cousin time is fun time:

cousin gracie and hunter are just a week apart.  i'm bound and determined to get some good shots while they're here... but with six cousins ranging in age from almost 1 to 7, it's close to impossible.  

layer two - since the cousins are in town all week, the bedtimes have been blown out of the water, causing my crazy kids to do even crazier things...  

like turn into mommy's-sunglasses-wearin-giraffe-boy

and dinosaur-sticker-man who couldn't be more proud of his new collaged look.

and you better believe we had fun taking all of the 1,000 stickers off before the two-hours-prior-to-midnight bedtime.  it was less of a waterworks episode than i imagined... so that's good news, yo.

and now for the icing on the cake.  yes, this gets better.  wait, is it allowable to write a post about fashion all while using cakey analogies?  why not.  just as long as you don't eat too much cake that you can't fit into your fashion.  

for the last three summers i've been either pregnant or have just had a baby.  it was completely fun while it lasted, but i'm really enjoying my clothes fitting this time around.  : )  i used to be fashion-forward.  but then something happened... all the in-style clothes looked only acceptable for teeny boppers and not married mama's.  i guess i took a few steps back; my forward became backwards as i opted for practicality... it wins out every time.  which is why i wear dansko's in the winter.  but this is summer, so rainbow flip-flops are on the docket.  which make me a tiny bit cooler.

i've never been a stripes person.  someone once told me they make you look wider than you are.  who wants that?  no one.  however, consumer marketing and their consuming tactics have won me over.   they're really good at what they do, because i'm all over stripes this year.  just call me zebra...  not to be confused with an animal prints lover, though... the genius marketers have not outsmarted me in that particular category.  

my mom, in her sweeter-than-cherry-pie sweetness, gave me $25 for Mother's Day (she's the mother and gave me a gift?  sweet, indeed!) and insisted i only spend it on myself.  if i didn't, i'd have to pay her back.  twist my arm a little more, why don't you.  with my loot, i got two stripey shirts and a pair of shorts.  thank you very much mom and gap outlet: 

(sorry for the lame-o picture quality on this one)

wood jewelry is my favorite.  it falls into that practicality category because it goes with everything.  i also like tribal-type necklaces.  especially with elephants.  i hardly ever wear necklaces since they become a highly accessible teething toy, but i'm loosening my apron straps ever so slightly --sage turns one tomorrow - gasp!  more on that later. : )

i had an old navy gift card that was burning a big whole in my pocket, so without thinking twice... really even once for that matter, i spent it on this dress: 

i have yet to wear it and i bought it back in january.  it's so bold and butterflyish; i'm nervous.  attention dress: i said i loved you but i lied (that's for you, Liz).  go ahead, call me michael bolton.  it's too late for a return so i am stuck.  instead of feeling like i wasted a gift card; i'll put on some nerves along with the dress and wear it without looking back.  wish me sunny skies and butterflies.