Green Leather, Varsity Jacket and a Flying Fish

"I'm a flying fish!"

Pigtails growled as she climbed out of the pool after swim lessons.

She may not know many strokes yet but she has perfected the belly flop.

Pigtails loves swimming and can't stop smiling during her entire lesson.

I have to admit, when watching her, I can't stop smiling either.

GREEN LEATHER SKIRT - thrifted
BLACK SHIRT - Alternative Apparel
NECKLACE - c/o GS Lillian
BRACELET - Shop with a Mission
CAGE HEELS - Kelsey Dagger (via Loehmanns)

LEOPARD SKATER SKIRT - Nordstrom Rack
VARSITY JACKET - Forever 21
NECKLACE - iSanctuary
WORK BOOTIES - Forever 21

Here are a few outfits from the last few weeks.  The first outfit I wore in preparation for St. Patty's Day.  My mom, Fair Isle, thrifted that amazing green leather skirt for me which I paired with the amazing necklace made by my blog friend, Shelly of GS Lillian.  The varsity jacket is my new fave.  It seems to go with everything.  I'm also in love with skater skirts, and got this leopard one on clearance at Nordstrom Rack.

The 4-year old flying fish 

You're never too old (or too young) to try something new.  Pigtails just had her 4th birthday and decided she can now do things on her own like peel a tangerine and buckle her seatbelt.  As you can see in the pics, I decided to try something new too - a shorter haircut!

Flying Monkey Jeans, Argyle and a Plane Ride

"I wish I could be on a plane forever,"

Pigtails exclaimed as we drove by the airport.

"Mommy, can we go to Jersey again?"

"Why would you want to go to Jersey?"

Princess Sparkles interjected.

"And what's Jersey anyway?  It's New Jersey.  I want to go to Hawaii."

Sounds good to me (except for the part about

being on a plane forever with 3 kids!)

TEAL SWEATER - Loft
SKINNY JEANS - Flying Monkey
BRACELET - Downtown LA
FUR SUEDE BOOTIES - Linea Paolo (thrifted)
HAT - Shop With A Mission (formerly Heavenly Treasures)

OLIVE SUEDE SKIRT - Thrifted
ARGYLE SWEATER - Target
NAVY BOOTIES - Rag and Bone

Here are a few outfits I've worn recently.  In the first, the sweater was a sale purchase from the Loft last year, along with my favorite Flying Monkey jeans, a Shop With A Mission hat and some thrifted Linea Paolo booties.  My sister bought me the cute crossbody purse from Hong Kong.  The second outfit is a thrifted olive suede skirt from my mom, an argyle sweater from Target and my navy Rag and Bone boots.

Princess Sparkles, Bucket and Pigtails - "Flying Superheros"

I love writing, but the last few months I've been doing it a lot, thanks to a couple freelance jobs.  It's made it challenging to keep up with the blog.  Maybe I need a vacation to Jersey, or better yet, Hawaii!  Doesn't really matter, as long as the plane ride doesn't take forever.  

Utility Jacket, Black Blazer and a Night Owl

"You know I'm nocturnal,"

Princess Sparkles said as she got ready for bed.

I didn't know.  In fact, I didn't know she knew what nocturnal meant.

"I don't sleep at night.  I wake up.  And then I play."

No wonder she's so tired in the morning.

SUEDE SKIRT - Ann Taylor (thrifted)
TRIBAL PRINT TOP - Target (thrifted)
OLIVE UTILITY JACKET - Old Navy
CAGE HEELS - Kelsi Dagger
BLACK BRACELET - iSanctuary
TURQUOISE EARRINGS - Shop With A Mission

BLACK BLAZER - Kate Young for Target
BLACK TANK - Alternative Apparel
WASHED OUT DENIM SHORTS - Buffalo
CHEVRON NECKLACE - iSanctuary
HARROW BOOTIES - Rag & Bone

Here are a few outfits from the week.  The first I wore to Shabbat dinner at my friend's house.  The suede skirt and tribal print top are both thrifted and the Kelsi Dagger heels I found on clearance at Loehmanns for $11.  The second outfit I'm linking up to "Inspiration Monday" from Two Birds.  I paired some acid wash shorts with my Kate Young for Target blazer and Rag and Bone booties.

Princess Sparkles at her first sleepover with Pigtails and Glitter

What happens when you don't sleep at night...

The great thing about a jacket, whether a casual utility one or a dressier black blazer, is it really pulls together an outfit.  It's also perfect for a cool summer evening, especially if you happen to be nocturnal.

White Blazer, Tribal Print and a Sweetie

"Daddy is really sweet to you,"

Princess Sparkles said to me in the kitchen.

I smiled and asked her why she said that.

"Because he does stuff for you."

It's true.

BEADED TRIBAL TOP - Macys (gifted)
CROCODILE PRINTED SHORTS - Rich and Skinny (via Nordstrom Rack)
HARROW BOOTIES - Rag and Bone (gifted)
WOOD BRACELET - Shop with a Mission
ANNIVERSARY RING - c/o Anjolee
PURSE - Downtown LA, $10!!!

V-NECK, STRIPED MULLET SKIRT - Target
BRACELET - iSanctuary
BOOTIES - Jeffrey Campbell

The tribal print top was a gift.  It has it's own beading on it so I don't need a necklace.  The Rich and Skinny shorts are crocodile print and I found them on clearance at the Rack.  To add a summer touch (and to participate with "Inspiration Monday" from Two Birds) I wore a white linen blazer.  The second outfit came from Target -- the skirt and v-neck -- which I wore with Jeffrey Campbells.

Camouflage models the tie Sparkles made him for Father's Day

I'm wearing a lot of "fall" stuff lately.  Maybe it's the weather (it hasn't been blazing hot like usual) or cuz my fave clothing season is fall.  Either way I'm obsessed with booties and sweaters paired with shorts.  Our anniversary is coming up, maybe Camouflage will be extra sweet and buy me those amazing Newbury boots I've been eyeing (or their equally fabulous knock off - the Hadley).  I wear a size 7 :)

Stripes, Neon and Getting Rich

"Mommy, I want you to be one of those store ladies. 

The ones who scan things,"

Princess Sparkles said.

I asked her why and she replied,

"Because then you get rich and I want you to get rich."

Yeah, me too...

NEON STRIPED SHIRT - Old Navy
WHITE JEANS - Flying Monkey (thrifted)
BROWN/GOLD BELT - Michael Kors (thrifted)
STATEMENT NECKLACE - GS Lillian
GOLD BRACELET - iSanctuary
PURSE - Cynthia Rowley
SHOES - Forever 21

NAVY STRIPED SHIRT - French Connection (thrifted)
GREEN JEANS - Target
BRACELET - Shop With A Mission
NECKLACE - iSanctuary
WEDGES - Payless

Here are a few outfits from the week.  I decided to do a "white outfit" thanks to "Inspiration Monday" from Two Birds.  But rather than the dress they chose I decided to wear white jeans and pair them with a neon yellow chevron top and my GS Lillian statement necklace.  I also wore my green Target jeans, which I rolled, and added some thrifted navy stripes. 

Sparkles models her "designer shoes" created by Fair Isle

I think I said I was going to wear fun summer dresses for the week.  Well, I didn't do that but I did wear lots of stripes and jeans!  I love my thrifted finds and my Target clothes.  I think even if I was a rich store lady I would still go thrifting and buy stuff on clearance!!!

 

Burgundy Leather Skirt and a Linguist

"I know lots of languages,"

Princess Sparkles informed me.

She's attends Japanese immersion school, so I figured she was talking about that.

"Like tiger.  Roar!  I also speak penguin, hummingbird, dog and baby too!"

I asked her if she knew what the animals/baby were saying.

"I can speak it but I don't understand. 

I know what I'm saying but I don't know what they're saying."

BURGUNDY FAUX LEATHER SKIRT - Foreign Xchange
RUCHED KHAKI JACKET - William Rast for Target
EARRINGS - Heavenly Treasures (Shop With a Mission)
BRACELET - iSanctuary
OPEN TOE ANKLE BOOTIES - Thrifted (thanks, Mom!)

DENIM AND LEATHER MOTO JACKET - Forever 21
BURGUNDY LEATHER SKIRT - Foreign Xchange
TRIBAL PRINT KNEE HIGH SOCKS - Forever 21
T-SHIRT, BLACK WEDGE BOOTIES - Target
SEQUIN SCARF - Charlotte Russe

BLUE LEGGINGS, SWEATER - Forever 21
FAUX LEATHER JACKET - Loehmanns
PLAID SCARF - Hand-me-down
MOTO BOOTS - BCBGeneration

I'd been searching for a leather skirt when I came across this burgundy one at Foreign Xchange for 50% off the sale price!  It was $17!  I wore it first to church with a William Rast for Target jacket, then decided to change it up later in the day for a night out with friends.  Because we were going to be outside, I put on my F21 moto jacket I got for $8 (also 50% off sale price) and knee high socks.  The third outfit I'm linking up to Two Bird's "Inspiration Monday."  These are actually my workout clothes, but I dressed them up with boots and a jacket.

Princess Sparkles talks to her pet fly (eww!) in her "bug home."

I'm amazed how real faux leather looks and feels nowadays.  I'm also amazed I found such a cute skirt for such a good deal!  It's always a thrill when you find something on sale of the sale price.  Now that's what I call speaking my language! 

Camel Cape, Burgundy Hat and a Cookie

 "I'm going to leave this cookie out for Santa in case he comes early,"

Princess Sparkles let us know as she put her cookie next to a drawing.

Earlier she had taped a hand written note on our fireplace that read,

"I want pixie dust and long hair" for Christmas.

I guess I should be happy she didn't ask for an iPad.

CAMEL CAPE - Jolt via Nordstrom, $35
JEGGINGS - JC Penney, $5
BURGUNDY HAT - Forever 21
BRACELETS - iSanctuary, Forever 21, Shop With a Mission
BROWN WEDGE BOOTS - Steve Madden
PIGTAILS' PINK PILLOW - Shop With a Mission

BROWN CARDIGAN - Forever 21
TYE DYE LEGGINGS - TJ Maxx
BLACK T-SHIRT - Alternative Apparel
MUSTARD BEANIE - Krochet Kids
MOTORCYCLE BOOTS - Frye

Here are two outfits I've worn recently.  The brown and black jeggings are my new fave.  I love those two colors together.  The mustard Krochet Kids beanie is from [Share] and Do Good.  Krochet Kids helps people out of poverty with their beautiful crochet pieces.  The cape I picked up online from Nordstrom last year when it mysteriously went on sale for a day.  I wore it to a "Shop With A Mission" (aka Heavenly Treasures) Tea Party on Sunday.

Sparkles poses with her "Christmas Display"

Sparkle's picture and cookie note for Santa.  I put the cookie in a bag so the ants didn't get it.

I love the idea of shopping with a mission.  Gives me a chance to do good things while buying stuff.   It's a win-win situation.  Much better than receiving a well-aged cookie after buying creative gifts for my kids and having to give credit to a robust bearded guy in a red suit.