Jeffrey Campbell Snakeskin Platforms, High Low Skirt and a Backseat Driver

"No red lights!  No red lights!"

Princess Sparkles chanted from the back seat as we drove home from school.

Bucket kept crying everytime we stopped so she wanted me to keep driving.

She even encouraged me to run the light, which I didn't do.

Sometimes it's an entire symphony in the back seat, with Pigtails crying too.

I've learned to tune it out, or at least turn the radio up a bit :)

TURQUOISE TRIBAL DOLMAN TOP- Old Navy, $5
BLACK HIGH LOW MAXI SKIRT - Alternative Apparel (via Anonymous LA)
NECKLACE, RING - Jewelry by Cynde Daniels
SNAKESKIN WOODEN PLATFORM - Jeffrey Campbell (via Urban Outfitters), $39

"Inspiration Monday" from Two Birds - Louise Roe

Purple French Manicure
OPI - Purple with a Purpose, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear - Lacey Lilac

Thanks to "Inspiration Monday" I decided to wear a skirt and another tribal print top.  I recently did some shopping in the Old Navy clearance section where I got this top for $5 (thanks to 30% extra off clearance)!  I also shopped at Anonymous LA since I won a $50 gift card for blogging about them a few months ago.  I got this comfy high low maxi skirt which I loooooovvve!!!  The skirt is the perfect piece to wear with my Jeffrey Campbell snakeskin wooden block platforms.  I saw the JCs online at Urban Outfitters for $40 (on clearance and with an additional coupon).  At that price I had to snatch them up!

Princess Sparkles makes a wish, "Please make my brother stop crying!"

I've been having some really fun shopping trips lately.  I'm pretty thrifty most of the time, but every once in a while I go a little crazy.  Maybe I need a few shopping "red lights" in my life.  Nah!

Black Dress with Pops of Color and a Blogger Meet Up

BLACK AND WHITE FLOWER DRESS - Last Chance Boutique

CORAL CARDIGAN - Gap

WHITE WRAP BRACELET - Cara

ZEBRA EARRINGS - Heavenly Treasures

BLUE PURSE - Linea Pelle for Target

MULTI-COLORED WEDGES - Cynthia Vincent for Target

Today I had my very first blogger meet up with Mary Jo from "Trust Your Style."  I was excited to finally meet my blog friend face to face and we had such a lovely time sipping coffee, eating quiche and joking about becoming closet hoarders (lately Camoflauge has been watching "Hoarders: Buried Alive" on TV and it scares me).  We also discussed our common dream of having an entire room turn into our personal closets with shelves to display our shoes and handbags, with rows of color coordinated clothes.

You know how when you go to college and your parents turn your room into a gym or an office?  Well, I decided the only way I'd get my "dream closet" would be when my girls grow up and move out.  Then I can turn their room into my closet :)  I haven't checked with Camo on this, but I did ask Princess Sparkles.  She said, "yes" AND nodded.  I assured her she could still visit and sleep in my closet.  I'll even have a special chaise lounger for her and a pull out for Pigtails (Mary Jo helped me come up with that one!).

Mary Jo and I

Anyway, for my meet up I wore this black dress and added color with a coral cardi, my Cynthia Vincent for Target wedges and a bright blue purse.  Mary Jo looked fab in a light blue top, a skirt, ballet flats and an amazing bright green bag (which I was totally coveting!!!).  Check out Mary Jo's blog, "Trust Your Style" if you haven't already.  She's so creative and often mixes art with clothes and accessories. 

I had such a lovely day.  It was nice to have a relaxing brunch sans kiddos (though nice to see their smiling faces when I picked them up!).  And to think, I'm only 2 decades away from having my dream (closet) come true!!!

3 Ways to Wear a Lace Jacket

LACE JACKET - Forever 21
BLACK FLOWER DRESS - Last Chance Boutique
COMBAT BOOTS - Trouve (Nordstrom)
BLACK CUFF - Express
BROWN BELT - Forever 21

CORAL BURNOUT TANK - Kersh (Loehmanns)
SKINNY JEANS - Yaso (Macy's)
GOLD WEDGES - Charles David

TURQUOISE SILK TANK - Banana Republic
FAUX LEATHER SHORTS - Forever 21
BROWN/SILVER BELT - Vintage
MULTI-COLORED WEDGES - Cynthia Vincent for Target

I love that Princess Sparkles and Pigtails both can be so girly with their dresses, accessories and glitter shoes, and yet so rough and tumble.  It's such a juxtaposition.  The other day they were playing around and I came out to find Princess Sparkles with a bloody nose.  Pigtails had accidentally head butted her.  I freaked internally (I've somehow trained myself NOT to scream because it just makes them more upset) and I quickly cleaned her up.  It helped that Camo told her he gets bloody noses too (though not for the same reasons).

Today I decided to try out this lace jacket from Forever 21.  I'm not sure I'm going to keep it, because I also bought a white linen blazer and it's very hard to justify two jackets.  But then I decided to do another "3 Ways to Wear" it post and I suddenly realized, wow, this is so versatile.  I can dress up a pair of jeans, girly up a pair of faux leather shorts or even wear it with a dress and some bad-ass boots.

Anyway, kind of loving this jacket.  Darn!  It has some really great details and it's a lot of fun.  It's so girly, but when paired with the right piece of rockin' leather wear or ripped up jeans, it makes for a great juxtaposition!

"One Lovely Blog" Award

Today I got up early and rushed to get the girls out the door  for preschool when suddenly I realized... Princess Sparkles is on spring break (okay, it wasn't suddenly but THREE people had texted me that morning to see if we wanted to hang out and all mentioned spring break and then a light bulb finally went on in my head). 

Wanting to not "mess up" my routine (which basically consists of a morning run), I decided to pull out the double stroller and go for a run with my cousin, Leopard, who I hadn't seen in quite a while.  Leopard had offered to push one stroller, but unfortunately I only had an umbrella stroller and that would so be a mistake to jog with.

But let me tell you about another mistake.  Pushing a double stroller (NOT a jogging one, despite the brand being "Baby Jogger") with two girls, stuff (including LOTS of snacks and waters) and plenty of stuffed animals.  It only weighed about, I don't know, 80 lbs!!!  Somehow I managed to finish the 4-1/2 mile jog but I must've been burning more calories than usual since the entire way back all I could think about was eating a huge cheeseburger!

Anyway, GretchTM awarded me the "One Lovely Blog" Award, which I am so very honored to receive.  Her blog is fantastic, she has such a classic, simple style that I wish I could replicate.  Thank you so much, Gretch!

I have to post 7 random things about myself, so to keep it interesting and in the fashion theme, I decided to tell you what I love about each of these dresses I bought today (YES I BOUGHT 7, but I had to entertain the girls somehow, so OF COURSE I took them to TARGET!!!  And since they won't let me try stuff on without going nuts, I decided to buy ALL these dresses, try them on at home, then return the ones I don't want).  So do me a favor and let me know which are your favorites, okay?

1. I love to wear black, especially in family photos, because it's always flattering even when I forget to suck in my stomach!



Alice Temperley for Target



2. I have an obsession with stripes and would pretty much buy anything (yes, anything) in this pattern.



Libertine for Target



3. My sister, Polka Dots, didn't realize she had so many polka dot clothes until I gave her the blog nickname.



Zac Posen for Target



4.  A skinny red belt is one of my favorite accessories (I have 2!) because it gives just the right pop of color.



Jonathan Saunders for Target



 5. I love animal print and own a pair of cow boots (not to be confused with cowboy boots - hope they make a comeback!)



Rogan for Target



6. If I had to pick a favorite "uniform," it would be a plaid shirt and jeans (followed closely by shorts and boots).




Luella Bartley for Target



7. I always love the bohemian look.  It's probably my favorite style in the magazines and I wish I wore it more.



Jovovich-Hawk for Target



So here are the blogs I'd LOVE to pass this award along to:

Tara at This Life, Redefined, Lei at White Sky Project, Mrs. J at Watch Me Dress, Rosy of Raindrops on Rosy, Claire of My Little Life, Sunny Days and Starry Nights, Andrea Grace of Always Say Grace, Jane of Love Makes the Girl, Emily of Tinfoils Tiaras, Sophie at Country Girl Does Norfolk, Ashley at Free Honey, Jenn of The Suburb Experiment, Khla at Next Happiness, Heidi at Heidi-and-Seek,  and Lacy at Uphill & Smiling.