Some may disagree...

... but I think this is one of the most fabulous dresses I have ever seen.
I just can't stop staring. Someone photoshop my head on her body.

I'm with the band

I really am taking a semi-break from blogging. I still love to do it, but right now I'm actually having success at my Internet fast, which is why I've been MIA. And I'm not even trying, it's just a total lack of desire to surf the 'net or blog or anything, really. I'm quite sure that I'll be back in full force at some point. That being said, when something truly "blog-worthy" pops up, I will be posting. Such as this shirt I just found for Fynn at Kid to Kid:
Now, I admit, I don't know The Ramones music. I'm sure I'd recognize a song here or there, maybe more than I realize. (The fact that the bottom of this shirt says, "Hey Ho! Let's Go!" and I know what song it is tells me I'm not as ignorant about it as I think. But I also know that's a much-played song...) But seriously, how was I supposed to pass this up. And the kid has the hair for it. Although something about the black and white stripes with red trim calls to mind mowhawks and men with black eyeliner. Anyway, it's cute, will probably fit for five minutes, and will certainly seal the deal that my kids are hipper than me. I always knew they would be.

At least I don't steal...

Sadly, I cannot find a link to what I want to post.  My favorite magazine of all time is Lucky (thanks, Amy), and when it comes in the mail, I immediately pounce and scarf it all down in one sitting.  It's the only magazine I actually pay for, the rest I won for free.  Anyway, this month, they have a Spring Style Guide that is 26 pages long, dividing the styles into categories like "ballet-inspired," "safari," "schoolboy," etc.  And then there is the crowning jewel of any style magazine or website I have ever seen.  The category entitled "bohemian florals." Holy friggin' cow, people, my magazine is wet from the drool.  There was one blouse in particular I wanted to post about, but I can't find it anywhere online.  But even the other categories have tons of awesome finds.  Between the paisleys and slouch of the bohemian stuff, the peacock details of the safari, and the frills of the ballet page, I am one coveting gal.  And I'm not really one of those people who seeks to be rich, but oh, my gosh, this month's Lucky pretty much obliterated any hope I had of keep the "do not covet" commandment. Get thee to a magazine stand and buy it.  Proceed to want.  

27 Dresses

Okay, regardless of how you feel about silly, fluffy romantic comedies... see this movie.  Seriously, just for the clothes alone.  That's all that matters.  The clothes.  Clothes make the world go round.

Gimme

Betsy the Owl.

Dear Fashion Industry

True, I'm not a style icon. Certainly not since I had children and don't have the time or energy to put together an outfit that consists of anything more mature than a T-shirt, cuffed up jeans (because they are too long) and goofy sneakers. More often I look like a Pez-chomping high-school boy than a 30-year old mother. But I try. And I spend more time than I should perusing fashion magazines and drooling over the wardrobes of many a celebrity. Maybe I don't dress for my body type, but that's because I don't like blazers and my boobs bust the seams of any button-down top you could give me, and because I have an affinity for large, colorful prints and flowy lines. So with some exceptions, like this 80s trash you keep trying to shove down my throat, I'll buy most of your ideas, in theory if not in pocketbook. But I simply must address a grave concern of mine. Maybe I'm in the minority, but you couldn't get any of these ankle boots on my feet unless it was on my cold, dead body, and good luck even then. I'm sorry, but they are ugly. They don't look good with mini-dresses or cropped pants. Truly, I think I've never seen anything uglier in my whole life. I think I'd wear feathered, sky-high bangs before I'd lace one of those babies up. I mean, I love Little House on the Prairie as much as the next gal, but this ain't the prairie with a long dress to cover them up, and I ain't Half Pint.

Also, what's up with the Oxford booties, hmm? That's really pushing it, you know. I mean, that's a very easy line to cross straight into Hideous Town, Uglyville County U.S.A. I almost like them, especially if they are like these. Very cute, indeed. But tread carefully, my friends. Tread very carefully. And the peep-toe bootie thing? Just stop. Stop it now before you hurt yourself. Or my corneas.

Love,
Kelli

Thou Shalt Not

Perhaps I should stop receiving the Anthropologie catalogue. Coveting is a sin. And, oh gosh, does it make me covet.

Are those some shoes...

...or are those some shoes?

A Perfect Day

I am actually a little embarrassed about part of what's going to be posted here, mainly because it seems so greedy and worldly, albeit totally fun. And also, I've never, never, never done something quite like this in my entire life, so there's that... It started when I decided for part of Bryce's Christmas, I would let him get some sort of video game system. I've never wanted one before, for many reasons, but I also felt too much like a tyrant by restricting them. I also I realized I can't shut Ewan off from the modern world, and that with limits video games can be fun, even beneficial for a kid of the 21st century. Even a 28 year old kid. Sooooo... of course Bryce wants a Wii, which there's no way we could afford outright. Now, Bryce and I are very careful about credit. Like, we don't use it, really. We've had credit cards before, but we've only used them on vacations, and a little for Christmas one year. But that's it. Our main goal right now is to be totally debt free. However, we talked about it and came up with a plan where he could get his Wii. Then that blessed man promised me something so wondrous and fabulous that I'm still reeling.

A shopping spree.

That's right, I got to go to Old Navy and spend the equal amount of the Wii he will buy (using the future tense as every time we've tried to inquire about the availability of one at any retailer, they pretty much laughed us out the door) on clothes. I'm even cringing that I'm admitting this on here. Please don't judge me! I recently posted this about how lame my shopping has been, and my style has left the building, but that I'm trying to get it back. But I was able to get some really good, classic clothes that I love and feel beautiful in, and it.was.so.much.fun. So fun that it is almost easy for me to ignore the nausea that creeps in every time I think about the bill. Almost. But it was a one-time thing, and the subsequent relief Bryce will feel when I'm not griping twelve hours out of twenty-four about my horrible wardrobe is probably worth it.

After the spree and a nice lunch of pasta at my favorite chain-restaurant (so sue me, restaurant snobs), I went on a date with Ewan to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. It was very cute, and they did such a good job. The voices sounded EXACTLY like the cartoon I remember as a kid. Also, too many shows geared toward kids these days try so hard to appeal to the adults as well, that 90% of the jokes fly right over the kids' heads. Not so with this one, it was appealing for me, but not at the expense of the kids' understanding. And the best scene is when Theodore creeps into Dave's room after a nightmare and curls up right on his shoulder. (Reminded me of being a kid with a litter of kittens curled up all over me, tucked into various crooks and crannies of my slumbering body.) Unfortunately for Ewan, he complained of a bad headache for most of the movie, but he was able to enjoy it nonetheless. After that, we went home and had a pizza picnic on our living room floor.

Luckily, even after all those carbs and cheese, I do still fit in the clothes. Regardless, I don't need to be skinny to carry this, perhaps my favorite purchase.

Alas, why?

So, as usual, my latest Anthropologie catalog is flawless, a fine work of art. But, I ask again: Alas, why? Why the model's hair so crazy? (Not on the front cover, inside.) Is it supposed to be artistic? Because I find it wildly distracting and detracting from the sheer heavenly, fairy sewn perfection of the clothes themselves. So I guess, actually, the catalog is not that flawless.

One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you

Okay, so Bryce told me I could go buy myself some boots. I was hoping to find something like these, or something more cowboy/hippy/bohemian. I would have been happy with either.


That was not to be. I went everywhere, and nothing even came close. The cheapest I could find was $60.00, which we just can't afford right now , and everything else was uglier than sin. Then, while browsing, I saw an okay-looking pair that were only $10, in a store where the minimum on other styles was $60.00. I asked the salesgirl why they were so cheap, and she said because they were last season. They had only one size, 10, which was a little too big for me, but hey - $10! And here they are:

My problem is that I have no idea what to wear them with without looking like an idiot. I don't have "tucking" jeans, and I may be too chicken to wear them with some of the skirts I have. They were so cheap that I could surely get me some others shoes to take the place of the boots I wanted, but I still want to wear these. (And looking at the picture, I'm not even sure if I like them anymore. But $10!) What to do? Help me, help me. (I pictured that "help me" sounding like a tiny little fly, squealy and high. You should do the same.)

Just as my kindergarten self wanted Jeff Hudnall and a plastic charm necklace...

...I want these clothes. If you are even remotely interested in clothes and are female (isn't that one in the same?) or if you are my brother in law Troy, who shops like a woman, you simply must check out Anthropologie's November catalog (especially from page 18). First of all, the model is so beautiful I want to throw up, and secondly, the clothes and other sundry items pictured therein are such works of art, they deserve their own gallery in the Louvre. Thirdly, the kid's section is why I need a girl next.

Snips and Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails

Tonight we went to Sarah's house for Aubree's birthday party. We had a good time talking and eating chili with Missy & Ben, Shannon and gang, and of course Sarah's gang. The kids are all so cute, and I love watching this horde of little monsters playing. The parents are all building very good friendships, and it will be interesting to see what plays out with the children if we are all in the same area for long. Here are some pictures from our day, before and during the party.

Making a right hand turn.

Relaxing outside.

Mr. Joe Cool.

He loves to suck on apples.

Giving rides to the fairies.

I'm speechless.

In early September, I ordered a really cute lot of clothes off of Ebay. When we got them, they were even cuter and nicer than I thought, and by a brand called Early Days. I contacted the seller to see where she got them, and she buys them in Ireland. This is the first time he wore any of it, and this is my favorite shirt. It has a hamster wearing a helmet on a skateboard with the words "Stunt Star." And of course, his grown-up Gap shoes ($10!)

Taking Donations

See, I thought I wanted this couch. But then I saw this one. And oh, my gosh, I would cut off my own toes for that second one. Which is OK with me, because then I'd have an awesome couch on which to recuperate while I learned how to walk again. And when I learned how to walk again, I would wear these shoes. How can you wrong when the description includes this sentence: "this vintage-esque pair seem touched by the green fairy."