"Repeat Mondays"

Last year on vacation, my husband and I watched a marathon session of those home renovation shows and thought - we could do that!  We should do that!  A year later, I can report that I lost my patience, the budget, my sanity, and we aren't even done yet.  Close though, and get out what you put in, applicable to every aspect of life.  It would be easy to park myself at home and study the wood floor stain.  Does it need more orange?  Brown?  But, time waits for no man and women have long known - ain't nobody got time for that.  Giving a thumbs up on the new stain matching the original old floors, it was time to dart to an industry chapter meeting downtown.  It was a "repeat Monday," aka crazy, and I wanted my daughters to know that in the midst of this whirlwind I have not and never will forget that they are my center.  Since they are young, I try to personify that mantra.  I love wearing bead necklaces my daughters have strung together, and I select patterns and motifs that personify not only the latest trend I am eyeing on a fashion blog, but also what is trending in the lives of the ones I love.  We are currently fascinated with birds, so I found a lovely pair of gold feather earrings, and a fun pattern dress with white birds swirling.  When I look at it I think, "I know the feeling!"  It can alternately feel like flying and diving and picking yourself up again.  Fashion that inspires certainly gives a boost to any Repeat Monday. 

xo

SHOP THE LOOK: Earrings // Dress// Heels// Special Necklace

Cheers, it's time for 2016 Goals!

My New Year's Resolution this year was to go through my garage.  I have just read the best selling Marie Kondo books on tidying, and feeling inspired, tackled the task.  I laughed when I found a box of letters containing previous resolutions, all of which list the following .. .be on time, clean more often.  So this year, I am adding a new twist.  The goal is to go outside, walk with my children to the park after work, pack the fruit snacks and the jalapeno margarita to go, and leave the pile of leaves needing to be picked up for just a little longer.  I can't say enough how impacted I have been by my mother and grandmother's sense of style, but more importantly, I love their sense of spontaneity.  They could both just throw together an outfit and make a simple walk feel like a little occasion.  I never saw sweat pants growing up, I can't believe it.  I want a closet stocked for last minute jaunts outside, dressed in a manner in which I wouldn't be mortified to run into the neighbors.  Because, well, that has happened many a time before truth be told.  New Year, and it is time for some new (totally attainable) goals!

For a similar look ...

Night at the theatre, aka breaking out of my style comfort zone

I am fortunate to work next to a wonderful, local boutique and the store owner always helps me to push my style limits.  Just one more reason I love to shop local!  She's got my back.  I tend to gravitate towards solids, and a little loose fitting, so when she pulled a patterned tight fitting dress I thought - no.  Lucky me though, I have really put this to use!  If I put it on - it's date night, a bachelorette party, or some other occasion to bring out my fun alter ego.  I surprised my husband with theater tickets, threw on that dress, gold hoop earrings (hallelujah the 70s staple is back in!), mixed in some solid gray ankle boots and a solid brown clutch and away we went.  Nice to sneak in a little alone time before we turn fully into the Griswolds next week. 

Here I am about to leave and standing next to an old family portrait - I love these, a reminder that style changes, but who you really are remains the same.  So, get out of your fashion comfort zone!  Plus, the crazier the outfit, the less you have to worry about your hair. 

Shop the look ...

Hunt for the perfect tree

 
Ah, it's that time of year.  Time to break out the ornaments and the eggnog, cozy up with all those incoming catalogs, and listen to Bing Crosby.  After the pumpkins are put away, I just can't wait to buy a tree. Every year, I wear a red plaid shirt for this excursion, and I have grown a little nostalgic about it. Now my children see red plaid and know - it is officially the Holiday Season.

 To avoid feeling like a lumberjack, I like to soften the look with unexpected pieces.  This year, I chose over-sized black sunglasses, a soft vintage fur wrap passed down from my grandmother, and my favorite jeans and boots. Tree day becomes an occasion for family to come over and hang ornaments, so the juxtaposition of casual and traditional evening wear works.  I consider a beautiful (a teeny bit over the top) piece akin to the star on the top of the tree; the Holiday outfit isn't complete without it!

I love the idea that my children will remember these days as fondly as I do.  My mother and grandmother always made the start of the Season an occasion worth celebrating, not just Christmas itself, and as a result I still feel like a little girl when I hear those first jingle bells.

                  

For a similar look:   

Hectic Day Into Date Night

My packing list for the pre-opening of the historic Hotel Emma included heels, a scarf, and a fun cocktail ring. No bag needed! I was invited to stay as part of a friends and family "soft opening" and, well, nit pick with the end goal of calibrating food and service prior to the official grand opening the following week. Dream come true!  My nickname is Peeves (I'm sure it started as a term of endearment when I was younger, really...surely...), so you might see a bit of that side in future postings :)  But back to the event at hand; so between the hand crafted cocktails, the Guayabera wearing friendly staff, the food- I can't even- and my Belle moment in the gorgeous library, it was heaven on earth.  And since all this bliss took place on a Thursday after work, here's how I went from school drop off, client meeting, boss meeting, bus pick up, grocery store run, dinner made, babysitter hand off, sneak email checking while husband packed, to hotel check in.  I chose the same dress to utilize as a transitional base layer to take me through such a whirlwind day; a trusty co-pilot that stayed with me through what could best be summed up as three applicable "scenes."



Scene 1: Mommy mode
Black flats, aviators (no makeup at the school drop off, no problem!), leather tassel necklace.

Scene 2: Working woman
Stud earrings, wedges, blazer.

Scene 3: Hot date 
Statement ring, nude heels, red glasses - inspiration for intelligent, adult only conversation at dinner, aka solving the world's problems over one (or two) glasses of wine; and a soft scarf for an after dinner walk along the River.

I've learned: leave the flats in the car and your blazer hanging in your office, to uphold the Boy Scout motto, and all you add is lipstick and coffee.  Dressed and ready for whatever the day brings!

Xo, Kelly