Light, breezy and effortless. Minimalist also comes to mind, as accessories are kept to a minimum. This semi sheer chiffon romper was perfect because I could easily slip the whole thing off and go swimming right away.
At home I would pile some necklaces and other goodies on top of this outfit, but it felt nice to just keep it simple this time.
This lovely day started with a mama-daughter date for coffee and croissant. You would think that an omen like that would lead to a fabulous day. But alas, thundershowers started in the early evening, and even though I had organized a games night, I was in the basement, solo and on my hands and knees, bailing water.
It was unapologetically flooding! The first friend to arrive on the scene, threw himself into the bailing without hesitation. As the rain subsided, together we managed to get it into some semblance of control. When everyone else arrived, we paused and played games. One can only take so much.
Halfway through, while one game was being packed up, two friends *one of which I had literally just met!* came down to bail some more since during the interim more water had built up. And finally, when the night was being laid to rest, the rains having stopped, we collected the last of the water. Ten buckets during the course of the evening was the final tally.
I left the dehumidifier on for the next two days, dried a carpet out in the sun, and so far nothing else is the worse for wear.
But let me just say, you know who your real friends are by who is willing to get down and dirty to bail some basement water with you.
…when did chasing me around the house to squeeze my boob become the best game ever? To a toddler? Seriously. And when is it going to stop? Just wondering, ’cause you know, I’m lodging a complaint with human resources otherwise.
They are days for lounging. They are days for artfully created braids that hang accidentally over a shoulder. They are days where sunglasses, hats, and sun rays are the best of bedfellows. Days where strolling through the heat is an infinite activity. Days where you slip your feet into beautifully crafted and luxuriously cushioned feet.
I could not think of a more perfect day to cradle my feet in my new Lamo shoes. These Laguna ones I picked made me feel like around every corner a sandy beach or a crested wave would greet me. Normally, you put on a pair of new shoes and that first day it’s like your feet and shoes are out on a first date – just getting to know one another. But not these, these felt like old lovers, seeing each other for the first time but knowing exactly how they fit.
Yup, needless to say, these are fun and comfortable shoes.
Cookies, they don’t last long. I don’t know if you know, that our whole family eats gluten and dairy free. We both have strong intolerances, and as a result so does our girl. She gets red and puffy around her eyes. Stick with me, there is a point. All gluten and dairy free treats tend to be much pricier than their regular counterparts. As a result, we don’t often buy ice cream (coconut milk base) or cookies (GF&DF free).
But when sometimes there magically appears a bag of GF cookies we all collectively pounce on it like a pack of starving hyenas. Of course, we all pretend to not be doing so…which makes it even more hilarious. We feign and coy civility, meanwhile sneaking away cookies to be eaten secretly in a corner with a watchful eye lest someone come and take it away.
Then everyone acts surprised when at the end of the day the bag stands empty. Only my girl is honest about eating the cookies.
The rest? They disappeared into the black hole that occasionally appears in this house….when cookies and ice cream are present.
Strange coincidence.
Fully entrenched in summer, I walk out every morning eager to check on my growing garden. My girl helps me tend it, and helps to water with her very own little watering can. She’s learned that to grow things need sun, and food, and water.
So when we last finished our watering of the garden, I headed back towards the house only to hear water pouring behind me. I turned around to witness my girl pouring water all over herself. When asked what she was doing she replied without hesitation, “I water myself so I grow Mama.”
Can’t fault her logic.
As kids we dressed up all the time. It was encouraged, and expected. As we grow and take on the mature responsibilities of life, we’re not given the same freedom to play and dress up as before. But sometimes, like when you’re invited to the launch of a new play and costumes are encouraged, we get to give our inner child room to play again.
The best thing is that I didn’t have to buy a single thing. All the pieces were in my closet, and I just had to put them together in a new way. Except for the wig. That was in my costume suitcase…you know the one, the one that’s filled with fun costumes pieces and dress up items. You don’t have one? You really should get one – it’s loads of fun!
Give me a 1920s themed play *Bootlegger’s Wife* and costumed launch party, thanks to creator Victoria Murdoch *above*, and I’ll give you one flapperific happy gal!
I know I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: I have the best readers in the world. You guys are so smart, sassy, talented, and in the case of Kish and Evie ridiculously amazing online shop owners! This duo based out of Australia makes some amazing hand crafted scarves. Their pieces are so intricate and detailed, but there’s so much thought put into each piece.
This Tied&Dyed scarf was the perfect piece to take me into the summer. I wanted something bold, bright, and yet still soft and flowy to take into these warmer months. Something that spoke of happy and fun filled days. The soft, luxurious material is sensual and light – exactly what you want out of a great scarf.
Take the case of one of my other favorites, the Dia De Los Muertos, there’s thought and storytelling involved in the creation of the scarf. So it becomes more than a piece of fabric you don, it becomes an entire story and world that you take on as a part of yourself. I love that. Seriously, it’s on my wishlist of items to curate for my wardrobe – to have and to cherish for years on end. Each time, discovering a little bit of the story and making it part of my own.
The whole “Mint & Coral” trend has been going on this Spring. Putting aside that, as you know, I don’t believe in trends – wear what you like and what works regardless of trend. I saw all these mint and blush outfits and thought, “I’m never going to wear that!” And it’s sort of still true.
I saw all these pale mints and pale, pale blushes everywhere. I knew I would never wear that. First it was too pale for me and would wash me out. Second, it was too dainty and feminine for me. Looks lovely on others, but I like something a little bolder and dramatic.
So I kind of fell into this outfit by accident. I loved, loved the skirt. The flow, the movement, how it blew in the wind. It made me feel like a mystical creature. And the bright, bold tank was just so stunning and too beautiful to pass up. Paired together, with a vivid necklace I think this brighter, more dramatic version of “Mint&Blush” works for someone who’s definitely not dainty.
Most mornings, my girl wakes up and walks right up to my bed and wakes me, or stares creepily at me until I wake up *but that’s another story*. But something very odd has happened three times so far. She’ll wake up, go downstairs, and cry on the couch. I’ll here her crying, “Mama? Mama?!” and it progresses to, “Someone help me! Help me!!” Side note: I’m not listening to this in some sadistic way, it’s what slowly wakes me up and it’s not until I fully wake up that I realize what’s happening.
Like I said, this has happened three times. The first two times, I came downstairs and told her that I was sleeping…in my room…in my bed. So why on these random days does she not look for me there?
I’m very confused.
