A Lovey-Dovey, Potentially Overly-Sappy Blog Post. I Shall Try Not to Make You Up-chuck.

Generally speaking, I am not a particularly sentimental person. Not really. (Ok, maybe sometimes.) I also hate "PDA." No public displays of affection! And I feel like a blog is just about as public as one can get, but you know....it was Valentine's Day AND my anniversary on the SAME day, so how could I NOT blog about it?

This past Saturday was Valentine's Day as most of you know. We woke up to big, fluffy, white snowflakes and a fresh inch or two on the ground. It was absolutely gorgeous! I'd been wishing for more snow (don't be mad, but I love it) and what is a more perfect day to get that wish than on Valentine's Day/our anniversary?

For the record, we did not want to get married on Valentine's Day. We are not hopeless romantics or overly-sappy. This just happened to be the only day that our reception site had available for the year, and my mother was REALLY gung-ho about this reception site.  So, we were married on February 14th, 2004.

But back to the snow.......it was so pretty. I had to take a picture. I wish you could see just how big the snowflakes were. This was one of those light and fluffy snows. The Cupids are pointing to all of the things in my backyard that you are NOT SUPPOSED TO NOTICE OR LOOK AT, OK! It's shameful. We've never quite known what to do with our patio furniture in the winter. We could tarp them, maybe we should have.... This spring the old back deck must be re-built, so hopefully we can make a storage space underneath.  In the meantime, please ignore the frozen table and all of the garden fence attempting to keep the puppy ON the beaten path. 

(Don't look there, there or there.)

Noah likes Valentine's Day a lot. For some reason though, he didn't want to give out Valentines in class this year. He wanted to hand out little Valentine treats, bubbles and erasers, which he did, but when it came to giving classmates the puppy and kitten Valentine cards that he earlier chose, it was a no-go. I can't quite figure out if it's because every year he laments having to write on each card, or if he was somehow starting to feel embarrassed at the thought of giving a girl a Valentine?

Jon and I gave Noah his ultimate, Valentine dream: A giant Hershey Kiss! Noah saw this at Target a couple of weeks ago and begged for one. And even though it says: "#1 Teacher," he still loved it. Maybe even more than if it said: "#1 Kid."

Perhaps you are wondering about Noah's latest "hair style."  I know that I am! The mullet-esq-ness of the whole thing is purposeful. I choose my battles. Haircuts are just not at the top of my chosen list. Noah wants his hair long. He doesn't want it short. For the past several months he's been absolutely obsessed with the 1980's show "Full House" and has had the goal of growing "Uncle Jessie" hair.

It's his thing. He wants a ponytail and a man-bun too. I just want him to do his homework, brush his teeth after only being asked once, and to go to bed by 9:00. So I'll gladly give him the man-bun with no hassle if he holds up his end of the bargain.

For Jon, my gift was this gorgeous ridiculous crocheted hat that I made. Remember when I told you that everything I make comes out lopsided or wonky? I swear I followed the pattern for this men's "aviator style" hat, but it ended up being really small! Also, one of the ear flaps is two inches longer than the other. It kind of looks like a stretched out earlobe. No. It looks exactly like a stretched out earlobe. Josie has been chewing on the leftover balls of wool yarn for the past month. So when she saw the hat, she immediately knew the smell and passionately tried to chew it up.

I also gave Jon a pair of gloves that people use when they lift weights. He exercises every other night so I thought he could use a pair of gloves. I also gave him a box of Little Debbie "Nutty Bars." Hmm....that's like dueling gifts. I felt badly that my presents weren't anything spectacular this year. The thing is, Jon really dislikes receiving presents. He just doesn't.  He always asks that I don't get him anything or buy anything expensive that he doesn't really need, and he genuinely means that. So, in recent years I've tried to honor his request by only giving things I KNOW he could use or by making homemade gifts.

Last month, I told Jon not to get me anything this year for our anniversary. My new car in January was more than enough of a gift for a long time to come, I said. Unlike his preference to not receive gifts, my husband loved to give them!

And this is what he gave me (I'm sharing with his permission.) The sweetest, homemade card. At some point, Jon got into my craft paper and made a card with butterflies. There are butterflies on the inside too, and when you unfold the card and open it all up there are even more butterflies! Isn't that nice!? Awwwww. :)

There was a gift too, which I'll tell you about later on in the post.....

I wanted to get into the Valentine's spirit, so I decided to wear pink on this day and to wear pink make-up too. I know it might be a little corny, but come on, you need to live a little and be goofy sometimes! (Or always.)

I have this pink faux-wrap dress from a few years ago that I found at Lands' End and some berry colored tights.

But...it was FREEZING on Saturday, so I spent the rest of the time that I wore the dress in a crocheted hat and purple snow boots. 

Truth be told though, within three hours, I was sadly back into my winter "uniform." Black leggings, a long tank top and cotton Henley shirt. For those of you who have read How Bourgeois for a while, you know that I used to really care about my outfits. I wore dresses all the time and I put thought and effort into what I wore. Since Josie though, when I had to start hurrying to get ready and found myself outside everyday on walks and in the grass and on the ground and carrying a dog around, my dresses and tights went to the back of the closet. Jon decided to wear a "uniform" this year to just make his work mornings more streamlined, so I decided that I needed a uniform too. The problem is, I tried leggings because they were much warmer than tights and you can easily tuck them into warm snow boots. And once you go leggings, you never go back. I'm serious, they are SO comfortable that WHO CARES that you are wearing leggings and "might" look all slovenly. (Some people look spiffy, but compared to my old dresses, I definitely look a little lazy). Leggings and layers of cotton tops. It's like wearing pajamas all day. I feel shame. Hey though, at least on Valentine's Day I wore a tank top and shirt in complimentary pink tones! That's good for something, right?

For my makeup I used some my Origins "Quick! Hide." concealer in light and "All-And-Nothing", translucent, talc-free pressed powder. They don't use parabens in their cosmetics, yay! My blush was Vapour Organic Cosmetics "Aura Multi-Use blush in Courtesan 213." On my eyes I used Vapour's "Mesmerze Eye Shimmer in Provoke" as a pink base and then I used a light shell pink color over that. It was from an old, Lancome eye shadow-quad that came as a gift with purchase. The shadow was similar to THIS ONE in "Pink Pearls." Next,  I lined my lids with my Origin's "Automagically eyeliner pencil" in Jet and put on a few coats of Physician's Formula's "Organic Wear Natural Jumbo Lash mascara" in Ultimate Black. My eyebrows, which I think are the wrong color for my hair really, were just done in an old pencil I have from Target and some brown eyebrow shadow. I need to find a new eyebrow color... I highlighted my cheeks with Vapour's "Trick Stick Highlighter" in Star and highlighted underneath my brow bone with Origin's" Eye Brightening Color Stick" and Phsycians' Formulas' "Shimmer Strip" in the lightest color. Finally, on my lips I used Burt's Bees "Lip Crayon" in Carolina Coast with Burt's Bees Lip Gloss, which I LOVE, in Rosy Dawn. And that is that!

Since it was our anniversary, I must admit that I was feeling a tiny bit nostalgic. So, I pulled out a scrapbook that I made for Jon for our anniversary quite a few years ago. It might have been our 5th or 6th? I thought I might share some of it with you. (That is if you want to see....)

This is the opening page. Here we are getting married. (You might have figured that out yourself.)

This next page is from our early days of dating. Jon and I met 18 years ago in college! I spied him in our dormitory's cafeteria and the rest is HISTORY! Actually though, we were good friends for seven years until we dated. (My gosh, we're like that new Bravo Channel show: "Friends to Lovers.")  I always had a long-term boyfriend during college, so we just never had dated until I asked Jon out to dinner a couple of years after school. He said "yes" but then changed his mind and called the date off because he was worried it would ruin our friendship. Legend has it that I then "fake cried" and asked him to reconsider. I'm so ashamed glad that I shed those pretend tears, because Jon eventually took me up on the dinner date. And then we went on another date and another.....

I'm not sure how I saved all of this ephemera for such a long time, but the ticket stub in the upper right hand corner is from the first play that we went to see in Toronto. And the photo in the upper left corner is Jon zonked out after work. In the early days I would meet him after work at his apartment before we'd go out to dinner. He worked in downtown Detroit at PriceWaterhouse and would often come home and fall asleep in his chair. That's our cat Priya. I miss her all the time.  The dirty looking photo on the right is Jon's view of the Detroit skyline from his office. And there is a movie advertisement from a movie that we saw in the early days. Our first movie together was Amelie'. Oh! And in the middle, I kid you not, is part of my first Valentine's Day gift from Jon...some old New Kids on the Block trading cards??? Why? Neither of us have any idea why he had them and why he felt compelled to give them to me. But thanks?

Oh gosh, this page is embarrassingly sappy. I swear, I'm not a sappy person, REALLY. Not usually....

A coffee sleeve from the bagel shop where we'd often walk to for bagels and coffee. Some weird picture of the two of us in my Mom's house that says: *CRINGE* "Once apon a time." *CRINGE* SPELLED INCORRECTLY! O.M.G. The black and white photo is the little house where Jon had his apartment. It was 450 sq. feet, like an Ikea apartment, but totally not an Ikea apartment ! Are those LOVE LETTERS!? *BLUSH*  Moving on!!!...................

Then one day, after we had been dating for a year and a half, Jon was transferred to Price Waterhouse's San Francisco office. We went back and forth as to whether or not I should go with him and move to California. I didn't want to move to California (I always wanted to live on the East Coast and never saw myself in the West). At the same time though, I didn't want our relationship to end. Some people said that the best idea was for Jon to move out first, see how he liked it and then decide if I should move, but I knew that I didn't want to be in a long distance relationship. It was just too far. So, after a while, we decided that I'd tag along. I didn't have a ton going on back in Detroit. I was working at our library while investigating grad-school programs, trying to figure out what to do next. I could do all of that and more in San Francisco (I thought.)

HOW did I save these MUNI tickets!? Here are some tickets and a pass to San Francisco Municipal Railway. The N-Judah line of the light rail stopped right at our corner. We lived two blocks from Golden Gate Park. We had the ocean to our left and downtown to our right.

That photo in the middle is of Jon and I minutes after arriving in SF at our new flat. We had been driving for five days in a little, red coupe filled with luggage, a cat and a guinea pig. (What a great boyfriend to be willing to tote my guinea pig cross-country). The picture in the bottom left, I took from the top of a nearby park. Isn't it gorgeous!? And in the lower-right hand corner....that's me with my engagement ring. I mean engagement donut. It is a long story, but Jon proposed to me by putting a donut on my finger that said: "Will you marry me?" It was very Homer Simpson-esq. I don't know if I should laugh or cry. (It's ok, you can laugh. My beautiful ring was being made. It was just taking a while). By the way, do you know that we kept that donut frozen and with us for nearly TEN YEARS! Yes, that is so sick, but I swear. I guess it must have thawed when we moved back to Michigan (we had to drive the guinea pig again), but then we re-froze it until our poor donut basically disintegrated around 2012.  :(

Ok, I think this is the MOST AMAZING thing about the whole sappy book.....somehow.....for some reason, not only did I keep the pizza receipt from our first night, first meal in San Francisco, but I saved it for years! We rolled into town, drove straight to our new flat, had NO IDEA where to get something for dinner or what to get. We ended up looking in a phonebook and just ordering from the closest pizza place, "Round Table." I remember, it was dark and we walked for the pizza, not even really knowing how safe the neighborhood was or not (it was safe), and then we ate it in our apartment that was totally empty except for a blow-up mattress, some suitcases and the dim over-head light. The moving truck was a couple of days away. I remember being so homesick and sitting on that floor and thinking "WHAT have I done!?" And this was just as the WHOLE HOUSE STARTED TO SHAKE as the N-Judah light rail train came by AGAIN! (It wasn't easy to sleep those first few weeks).

Honestly, I think I saved the receipt because back in 2003, or still now, I couldn't believe that a little pizza could cost $18! 

On the next page there are some business cards... Paul K., the lovely restaurant that Jon's boss took us out to a few weeks before when we made a whirlwind trip to San Francisco in search of a new apartment. And then there is Alvin's of San Francisco! Oh my gosh, Alvin and his wife were always so so sweet to us. We even took Noah back to meet them several years later. They have their own roasting facility and also sell tea, but the way we met is by going to their now closed coffee shop on Irving Street. We've ordered Alvin's roasted coffee beans and had them shipped to Michigan before. He'll even make you a custom blend. I highly recommend it. One of my best memories....I can't remember the name of the drink, but sometimes Alvin would make me a cup with espresso and chocolate gelato....AMAZING!

I see doodles on this page and the last page that I did on the plane to or from SF once. Jon and I were laughing about how any object could have eyes and a mouth put on it, turned into a cartoon, and sold at one of the gift shops in our beloved Japantown. So I made "Off Road Beverage" (on the last page) and his friend "Irony." Get it?

And there is a postcard from City Lights Bookshop that Jon wrote and mailed to me a year or so earlier when on a trip with his family talking about moving to San Francisco one day. Oh, and there we are by the ocean at Stinson Beach!

San Francisco was really wonderful. Well, it was wonderful, but also hard. We had unknowingly chosen the foggiest place in SF to live. Most days were foggy, it was depressing. Jon worked a lot, and he was soon sent on repeated projects that ran weeks or longer. Each with exhausting, daily commutes in insane traffic to the south bay. The original job description was to work in the SF office, not for hours in gridlock traffic on a Californian freeway. Meanwhile, this was just post-tech bubble burst. All of the companies that I would have applied for with my design degree where on a hiring freeze. I spent my days exploring the city, trying to figure out where to work and investigating school programs. It was a nice time, but extremely lonely. I remember how difficult it was to get used to having to take two different buses to get to the nearest Safeway Super Market, and the vaguely unsettling feeling that the super market had to have a security guard at the door. I think the most difficult thing for me was the mixed feelings of sadness and wariness that I felt about having to pass multiple multiple pan handlers each day on my block. I first and foremost felt sad for them. I truly did. I especially remember a young man with a nice smile who always asked me for money. I wondered so many times what difficult things in his life must have happened to land him on the streets and what could I do to help him. It was incredibly sad.  Some people were aggressive though, and so I also felt a little fearful once in a while. There was one woman who was there almost every day. She had a devastating mental illness. She'd scream, literally scream like she was on a pulpit about the devil. She'd yell at anyone walking by. I just remember being afraid of her and seeing that she had sores all over her face. It still makes me sad twelve years later. I have to ashamedly admit that sometimes I felt down that I could not leave my door without being asked for money or having to sometimes feel intimidated. Is it ok to say all of this? I think I was just naive and sheltered and I had lived an easy life, so I wasn't used to things like this. 

Very soon, Jon was offered a new job opportunity back in Michigan. It was by far one of the most difficult decisions we've ever had to make.....stay in San Francisco or move back to Detroit. EVERYONE thought we were crazy to leave SF. We even thought we were crazy! The job in Detroit was promising though, and Jon's San Francisco position wasn't exactly what he thought he was signing up for. We also knew we wanted children one day, and moving closer to our families and to a place where we could have a home and a backyard made more sense.

I still remember to this day, packing up the car and crying as we left San Francisco. I asked Jon if we made the right choice and he said there is no way to know for a long time. I do in retrospect think we made the right choice. That doesn't mean we don't miss San Francisco and think about it often, but that chapter of our lives had its time and its place and I'm so glad that we went for it!

We were married on Saturday, February 14th, 2004. I honestly don't remember much, it was such a whirlwind. We were too young. Twenty-six. 

I saved our wedding vows which we wrote and recited. I love public speaking...

And by the way, I learned that day from Jon,while listening to his vows, that during college he knew he would marry me one day! Wow! Who would have thought!? :)

And then one day, sweet, little Noah was born. Six pounds, one ounce of wailing baby. None of us slept through the night, I swear, I REALLY I MEAN THIS, for three YEARS after that. THREE YEARS! And then we were all crazy and completely lost our minds from sleep deprivation. The End.

Noooooo just kidding....(about the "The End" part, not the sleep deprivation part. That part is true). Eventually though, in 2007, after reading a bajillion sleep books and pediatricians shrugging their shoulders, Noah began sleeping through the night and so did we. And life got waaaaaaay better. 

The rest is really history that has yet to be recorded in this scrapbook, so I'll leave it here! Thanks for reading along though. 

By the way, look at sweet, baby Noah. Awwww, nighttime party-animal.

P.S. Just this morning I had to coax him out of bed at 9:00am, so things eventually even out, they all sleep eventually. :)

Ok, back to Valentine's Day/our anniversary. Well you guys, I just have to tell you that I must have one of THE sweetest husbands in the WORLD, because not only did he make me a SURPRISE three-course dinner for our anniversary, he made me a VEGAN surprise three-course dinner! 

*heart*heart*heart*swoon*swoon*swoon*!

I mean, how nice is that!? I just thought that was amazing and I felt so incredibly lucky. AND, it was REALLY nice not having the pressure to get all dressed up and go out to a swanky restaurant. I highly suggest eating in on one's anniversary once in a while.

I was asked to stay out of the kitchen while Jon cooked. Here is what he made.............

 Our appetizer was sautéed Shishito Peppers with olive oil and sea salt. They were crunchy and delicious!

An arugula salad with roasted beets, blood oranges and a light, homemade dressing. It was great! Jon used THIS recipe, but because there were no Asian Pears at the store, he substitute blood oranges . I loved this dish.

For the main course, Jon made this Mushroom Stout Pie With Potato Biscuits from the awesome vegan chef and cookbook author Isa Moskowitz. Check out her great site, The Post Punk Kitchen. YUM!

Oh my gosh, this man served me HANDMADE vegan potato biscuits, and they were delicious!!!
It is award time.

And then, as if my anniversary could not get ANY better...... Jon surprised me with VEGAN CHOCOLATE MOUSSE, which we ate in bed while watching three hours of Bravo Channel shows on demand and Saturday Night Live! (While the puppy chewed her disgusting, smelly chew stick and we bribed her with kibble to just stay there rather than eat out of the kitty litter box so we could just catch up on our episodes of Girl's Guide to Divorce). On a side-note, about two minutes after this picture was taken Jon mentioned that we were basically eating pure fat. This "vegan mousse" he made.....it was cocoa powder whipped with the solidified part of coconut milk. He put down his pure fat. I took one four last mouthfuls and then put mine down too.

And that my friends is the love-dovey, saccharine sweet, news from the little yellow house.

Until next time, GO EAT SOME CHOCOLATE and hug a chef or whatever they say!

xoxoxoxo,

Lauren :)

Lolo Loves... A Few of My Recent Fall Faves! Makeup, Hair, Accessories, Shoes and Clothing.

I'll be one of the first people to say that "stuff" doesn't make us happy. It's not as important as the people in our lives and the experiences that we have. This is all true! But at certain times, most of us acquire "stuff" for one reason or another, and that's ok too. Especially for my friends who are reading today, and going through the emotional ups and downs of growing out your gray hair. Or are like me, a 30-something who sometimes likes her gray hair, but also often feels a little insecure and sad about it, "stuff" can help with our confidence! A new dress or a fresh tube of lipstick can give us all a little something to feel good about, and helps us hold our heads high! \(^-^)/

I know, this is just silly, surface stuff, but still, worth a conversation.

The following is a post which I started last month. It's funny because since that time, I've gone from being on a mission for some snazzy fall favorites, to looking sloppier than I have in years. (That's what a puppy will do to ya!) I've traded in my dresses and boots for jeans and cotton shirts. I used to have time to do my hair, and now you can usually find me in a messy ponytail. I've been carrying around the same, unraveling mini-backpack around for the past three weeks because it's good for holding doggie treats and poop bags. Noah asked me the other day: "Mom, why do you have twigs in your hair?" "Because son, I spend my days chasing a dog through the bushes."

This is all well and good.  It's only temporary and worth it. I'll be spending less time on the floor and in the bushes soon I'm sure. I'll be back to my regularly scheduled clothing program in no time. :)

Without further ado though, here are some of my fall favorites.........

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Here's what I do every year: I buy a few new outfits in the spring and in the fall. My general rule is to try to find pieces that can do double duty for Spring/Summer and then pieces that can transition through Fall/Winter. It's really important to me to always purchase clothing that I know will last, and that I can wear for several years. Sometimes that's easier said than done, but so far, most of my Lands' End clothing has really held up. Some of my Boden clothing too. My Birkenstocks, which I basically wore daily from June-September have been great as well. I also look for accessories and other fun beauty items that can help mix-up outfits that I already own, or make old things feel new again!

I'd love to tell you about a few of my favorite, new things going into fall: make-up, accessories, shoes and clothing. None of these items have been sponsored, I just happen to really like them and wanted to spread the word!

First up is this Burt's Bees Lip Crayon in Carolina Coast. I found mine at Target for about $9. These lip crayons are a lot of fun, and best of all, pretty close to as natural and chemical-free as lipsticks can get! There are six, creamy shades that give you a highly pigmented, matte color. Caroline Coast is a nice, fairly bright pink. I find if I apply it too heavily, the pink is brighter than I prefer. My first choice was their lip color in Sedona Sands, which is a pinky-nude, but they were out.

I also really like their lip gloss in Rosy Dawn, $9 at Target. It's great for laying over the lip crayons and lasts for quite a while! Look cute and moisturize your lips at the same time.

I was at one of my favorite markets recently and started looking around in their "apothecary." This is the area where they stock aisle after aisle of fascinating, natural bath and beauty products and alternative health items. Like their homeopathy section for example. I love their "Eco" hair and beauty area. There are bins of sample and travel size products that I was taking a look at, when I accidentally dropped a small bottle of Giovanni's L.A. Natural Styling Gel.  I took this as a sign that I should try it. And, for just $2, there wasn't much to lose. I'm familiar with Giovanni's hair product line which that call "Eco Chic." I really appreciate these products because they contain "no parabens,  sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate or animal by-products. Cruelty-free-never tested on animals, pH Balanced and biodegradable formulas with recyclable packaging." That's big. I'm always happy to try more of their items. The L.A. Natural Styling get is great! It's clear, which is nice for my gray hair, and the hold is pretty good, which is great for my unruly hair! It also helps to control frizz, a definite plus in my book.

While at the apothecary, I also came across a scent that I absolutely ADORE! I never, as in never ever buy fragrance. Many highly scented fragrances give me a headache, especially strong florals, and I've worn the same perfume, Rive Gauche by Yves Saint Laurent my entire life. Literally, the tradition was passed down from my Mother. I don't wear Rive Gauche often, only for special occasions, but have always wanted a soft, "daily scent."

So when I was perusing all of the make up and other goodies at the apothecary counter and came across Infusion Organique's "Sands of Morocco", I was amazed that to find a scent that I loved! It's difficult to explain the fragrance, but it's not very floral, it is more of a warm sandalwood and oak moss smell. Very soft. I was bummed that their $15 roller ball vile was sold out. Sands of Morocco is their best seller they told me. So, I put my name down and waited for them to come back in. Also, while at the store, I tried Infusion Organique's paraben-free Hand and Body lotion in Sands of Morocco. Winter is coming and I get so dry. I thought this would be perfect and would help to make my scent last longer.  In the end, I love both. And again, like other products that I've featured, one of the best parts is that they are organic, paraben-free, sulfate-free, not tested on animals and use naturally derived, sustainable materials. Win-win!

When I think about fall this year, I think about COZY! I don't know why. Maybe because last year I was wearing not-so-cozy dresses, and this year I'm ready for more warmth. And I suppose when you spend a lot of time thinking about cozy, "comfy" and "easy" aren't far behind. That's why I chose these  boiled wool clogs from Haflinger. Haflinger is a German company that has been making these wool felt shoes for over 50 years. Boiled wool is a nice, natural material that keeps you warm! These clogs are lightweight, but offer very good traction with their rubber sole. They're super comfy, like wearing slippers out to the market! I thought they were cute in a "Heidi" type of way too. 

These clogs are called the "Classic Grizzly." They come in several colors, my pair are in the color "earth" and I ordered them from Zappos.  They come in European sizing and I feel personally, that they run on the big side. I generally wear a size 8.5 in women's shoes, once in a while a 9. I tried these shoes in a 40, which was too big. I am now wearing the 39, which is better, but still roomy. I have an average width foot. These are fairly wide. 

All in all, a very nice shoe that I think you too might enjoy in the crisp of fall months!

Oh this necklace. I am so sad. I LOVED this silly necklace. I know that I'm too old to be shopping at Forever21, but I found it in their accessories shop for about $3.20. It was a little glass bottle with some golden seed beads in it. I like pendant necklaces the best, things that are little "conversation starters."  One of Noah's friends asked what was in the bottle and then told me that he thought they were magic seeds that would could give me the power of flight! I thought that was neat.

Very sadly, after wearing it for about a month straight, I looked down mid-day yesterday, only to find the bottle had cracked in half somehow, the beads gone. Actually, I really could have hurt myself on the broken glass. I have NO IDEA how it cracked. It must have swung and hit something. It is a mystery! Forever21 has a similar necklace online, you can find it HERE.

I have been DROOLING over the lockets that Lori makes for her DearestMine Etsy shop for years now! Aren't they gorgeous? Go take a look! All of the photos that Lori puts onto her lockets are just so whimsical and beautiful. It was difficult to choose just one!

I decided to go with one of her small lockets with the "New York Nights" photo. My Grandparents lived in New York City, and then later at the foot of the George Washington Bridge on the NJ side. So, I spent years visiting NYC, starting when I was just six weeks old! It's a magical place and has always been very special to me.

I love this necklace so much. I payed the extra $3 to have my locket come with a 28" chain. It's just personal preference. The photo is beautiful. You might want to also take a look at her larger size lockets, the photos are even clearer on those. The only thing that I am unsure of, is that my necklace snagged on something and the little jump right that holds the locket to the chain popped open and my locket fell. I try to be careful and gentle with my necklaces, but I felt the jump ring was a little thin and flimsy for the price that I paid. I was able to squeeze it back together with my hands, but I would be so sad if I ever lost my beautiful locket! That said, I absolutely adore Lori's work, and I can't wait to purchase another one of her gorgeous creations in the future!

Let's talk about clothing for a minute, shall we? As I mentioned before, it's important to me to have clothing pieces that are slightly timeless in the fact that you can wear them from year to year. More importantly though, I really prefer my clothes to be well made and strong enough to withstand a year's worth of washing. I kind of feel like it isn't worth it unless you get a bang for your buck!

This is why I love Lands' End.  If I'm being honest, no, they're not on the edge of fashion, they don't always excite me, especially their current season's colors,  BUT I am grateful for their quality construction, their value, the great customer service, and their fit! I've always found Lands' End's fabrics to be unlike any other brand that I've tried, and I've tried a lot! Their cotton shirts are thick, not flimsy. Their dresses are super comfortable and keep you warm. I just really like them. For you petite readers, if you're like me, 5' tall, you'll be glad to know that their petites fit great, and most of Lands' End line comes in petite! Plus size too.

Over the past month I've bought several items. One thing to keep in mind is that I never pay full price. Lands' End is ALWAYS having in-store and online sales. They're always sending me coupons too. In fact, I think for all of the items below, I was able to purchase most if not all of them at 30% off! Isn't that great?

The first thing that I tried was their new Heather Down Coat in a soft blue called "Nautical Heather. It's their attempt to make the classic down coat a little softer, a bit more romantic and feminine. Do you know how difficult it is to find a down coat that fits, when you are only five feet tall and have a short torso? On regular sized coats, my hips often begin where other people's waists begin to start. It just doesn't work. That's why I like to try Lands' End coats in their petite line. Also, I wear my down coats everyday in these Michigan winters, so they're essential for me, especially with the school run and now with the puppy. I'm tired of all the black and gray puffer coats. I've been there for years in the same shades. So, when I saw this soft, heathered puffer, I just had to try it! (See photo below.)

You should click on THIS link to see more pictures of the coat up close, then you can get a sense of the texture and color. I love it! This coat fit me well, is SUPER warm with attention given to not adding too much bulk, and it has nice finishes. The best part is, with sales and coupons, I was able to purchase if for about $100! I think that's pretty good for a quality coat that will hopefully last a few Michigan winters.

About a month ago, Lands' End came out with a jeans campaign highlighting their newly redesigned jeans. In addition to having sales, Lands' End sent me a coupon for a no-risk trial of their new denim, which included free shipping both ways. I decided to give them a shot and I ordered two pairs, one in a smokey gray color, and the other, not pictures here, in indigo with tiny white polka-dots! I really liked these jeans and ultimately ordered a third pair in a slightly washed, medium blue color.

My verdict: The jeans are pretty good. They're comfortable, mid-weight, I like the color and print selection. (Check Lands' End for more prints!) The length, 28" is pretty good for me. I can wear anything from 28"-30".  My only thing is, is that these jeans do stretch out a little after you wear them for a couple of hours. Although, this could be exasperated by the fact that I am literally crawling all over the ground with a puppy all day. This said, I'd still buy these jeans again, and perhaps if they come out with a heavier denim version, the stretch-out factor will be reduced. Oh! One more thing, I had to buy the "Fit 2." which is a mid-rise and the only fit that their gray and polk-a-dot jeans came in. I tend to prefer a lower rise, I think it looks nicer on me. Just know that they come to, at least on me, belly button level. I like these jeans a lot over all, and definitely think they're a great deal and worth a shot!

Finally, I purchased over time, three of Lands' End's cotton, 3/4 sleeve, boatneck shirts. The reason I have now bought three is because the cotton is quite thick, the first one stood up to wash after wash, they perfectly skim the body and give a little shape and they're comfy! I bought a classic ivory and navy nautical stripe, and then another striped shirt with pink and grape stripes. The last one is navy with large, green polka-dots! These shirts + the jeans = a comfy, casual outfit for running around in during the day.

Oh! And one more thing, I almost forgot..... I rarely get to the Lands' End store at our local Sears, but recently I ran in to make a return. After purchasing two of the boatneck shirts on sale, plus using some Lands' End "Shop Your Way Rewards" points, I was able to essentially get a fleece pullover that I chose for free! You can find it HERE, mine was in pale pink. Freezing cold dog walking, here I come!

1.) Women's Petite Heather Down coat in Nautical Heather. 

2.) Women's Petite Fit 2. Mid Rise Straight Leg Jeans in Medium Indigo wash.

3.) Women's Petite 3/4 Sleeve 1x1 Rib Print Button Boatneck in Regiment Navy Dots.

4.)Women's Petite Fit 2. Mid Rise Straight Leg Jeans in Smoke.

5.) Women's Petite 3/4 sleeve stripe 1x1 Button Boatneck Top in Ivory/Classic Navy Stripe.

6.) Women's Petite 3/4 Sleeve Stripe 1x1 Button Boatneck Top in Wine/Grape Stripe.

And there you have it.  Some of what Lolo loves. (That's me by the way. Have I ever told you my nickname?)

Until next time, find a little of what you love and bring it to your everyday!

xoxoxoxoxo, 

Lolo

7 Steps to Creating Your Cutest YOU - Gray Hair and All. How I Gave Myself a Fun Mini-Makeover, and so Can You!

Hi Silver Sisters, it's Lauren from September 2018!  I have the most amazing update for you - my husband Jon and I have launched our very own hair care line!  I have learned so much on my gray journey, and our new products incorporate all of my "tips and tricks" for making silver hair look terrific.  I am leaving all prior recommendations in place because I hope that they will continue to be helpful to people, and I will continue to use and enjoy many of the products that I have written about in the past. My opinions still stand on them. 

I hope that you will take a look at our new line By The Way, Your Hair Looks Fabulous!™  - it is a complete line of hair-care and styling products made especially for Silver Sisters AND for anyone who wants their hair care to be more natural and more affordable! 

- - 

Hey Friends, I think I just wrote a post the size of a book! I wrote a book! (Wasn't I just saying that I wanted to start publishing SHORTER posts?) This is a post book about how you can have fun while giving yourself a little mini-makover, especially if you're learning to navigate colors and looks with newly gray hair. Really though, this post is for anyone, no matter what your hair color may be. The point is..... my gosh, now I see why it took me so long to update the blog! Thanks for being patient. :)

I know that I spend a lot of time on here talking about how exteriors matter less than our interiors in the grand scheme of things. As an exception to the rule though, I think sometimes giving a bit of thoughtful consideration to our wardrobe and make-up choices can be both fun and important. Whether you're nearly perfect, or especially if you're struggling to feel your best these days, we can all benefit from giving our outsides the attention that they deserve.

Before we begin, I'd like to share my two cents for a moment on a potentially touchy subject. And when I say "two cents", what I mean is: "my humble opinion, one that you may or may not want to take to heart, because I realize that we're all different." But here goes......

For my gray-haired readers, as so many of you are, I'd like to quickly talk about how our hair color "colors" everything about us - at least on the outside, whether we like it or not. Historically, gray hair has always carried connotations of aging. Unfortunately, this is the opposite of that prized "youthful glow." I feel that perhaps, this is a good reason to practice a bit of balancing of the two.

In today's society, a woman choosing to wear her hair naturally gray, can find her hair being the dominant feature of herself.  I feel it is important to not let the gray, a potentially aging and fairly harsh characteristic, become our only defining element.

Does this make sense? Gray hair and age are NOTHING to be ashamed of. In fact, they are two things in life to be celebrated! Two powerful things though, and sometimes their opposite and balancing characteristics kind of get pushed to the background. That's why I like  put a bit of softness and femininity into my daily style. The balance you find between striking and soft,  graceful aging and youthful glow, I think it's the key to cultivating a pretty gray look!

Ok, that's the end of my two cents on the who gray hair thing. Take it or leave it. Thanks! :)

So, for the first part of this post I am going to explain step by step, the easiest and best way that I found to curate a fresh, new wardrobe and a new look. For the second half, I'll share a few favorite clothing items, accessories and other products that I'm currently enjoying. I'm far FAR from any kind of style or fashion expert, and I don't expect all of you share the same taste as I do, but these are items that have been tried and tested, and that I believe in. Even if one of you finds something inspiring or a clothing piece that you's also wear and love, then that make sharing worth it! 

So let's get started!

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I'd love to tell you how I went about curating my most recent look. I've finally found some fool proof steps that have just made everything so fun and easy, and I'me excited to share!
In a nutshell,  I paid lots of attention to what colors went nicely with my new-ish gray hair color, and gave thought and consideration to which clothing shapes complimented my body type. Also, I  was sure to only purchase pieces that met all of my needs, and I stayed within budget. It was much easier than I thought it would be, after I got organized, and here's how I did it!

First we need to address a few basics-

What's your style philosophy? This is an essential building block in making a wardrobe that best suites you! Here is my personal style philosophy as an example, what would your style philosophy be?:

Trends don't matter to me. I prefer purchasing an item because I like it, not because it is currently "in style" or on trend. What matters to me is value. Is the clothing well made for the price? Will I be able to wear it for more than one season? Is the price vs. the number of times I will wear the piece good? I personally look for comfort. Soft fabrics in non-restrictive shapes, that also don't look sloppy.  I want a "uniform" so I don't have to spend time worrying about what to wear each day! Dressing up and being creative is lots of fun for nights and weekends, but for me, having an easy weekday "outfit formula" works well.

So that's my philosophy. It encompasses what I would like and need in a wardrobe. It states my intentions, and starts this whole process off. Take a minute to think about your philosophy as well. It helps immensely to brainstorm about what you're looking for on pen and paper. Be creative and enjoy! This is an exciting thing, a chance to reinvent YOU!

Next we move on to another basic: color. What are your colors? What looks best on you? Have you ever noticed how some clothing and make-up colors suddenly brighten up your face, bringing out your rosy glow, or perhaps the blue in your eyes? And then there are other colors that seem to turn your skin a drab shade of blah? Color can REALLY make a big difference!

Have you ever heard of finding your "Color Season?" It's a very interesting concept and I find it to be pretty accurate! Depending on a combination of your skin tone, hair color and eye color, you are able to determine what family of colors might bring out your best, glowy undertones, and compliment your eyes and hair. (I'm a winter by the way.)

I like THIS online tool from Color Me Beautiful to find your color season. There is information in step 1. on how to compute gray hair. I also thought THIS post did a good job at explaining seasonal color groups from a style blog called "Into Mind."  Finally, there are many many videos out there that explain how to find your best colors, but I thought this one did a great job talking about the process.

Research what colors are suggested for you, and you might even want to go through your closet and pull out the colors that have always made you feel the prettiest. I know you know already, at least some of the shades that make you shine from experience! Take note, and start from there!

(On a gray note: I have heard that off-whites and creams make white hair look yellowed. I have found that to be true, at least for me. You need to try for yourself though, and then make your decision. I'm just relaying info. that was helpful to me. Also, I have come to feel that with MY version of gray hair, soft pastels and most of all GRAYS go nicely with my hair color. I was shocked that gray could work well with gray, but it does! Think gunmetal gray as a nice shade. That has been the best so far. I love how the pastels soften my look and add femininity. It might work because I have fairly...fair skin and light eyes. Kind of a pastel-light look? If you have similar coloring, you might enjoy pastels as well!)

Next we move on to your shape!

If I had to guess, most of you, if not all of you, already know what kind of body shape you have. Often words like "hourglass", "apple" , "pear" and even "ruler" are used to classify your bends and curves or lack there of. Knowing your body type, and taking stock of your best assets, can help you to learn what shapes and clothing help to compliment you the most! There are many different body type classifications out there, each one using different words and definitions, so don't get too caught up in all of this. The important thing to know is you "general" body shape. For example, I'm usually an hourglass, but sometimes I'm more like a "cello" shape. I like this video that explains how to find your body type. It's from Cardigan Empire, and they have many many other body type, and "dressing for your body type" videos. It's definitely worth a look!

There is also so much to find online by simply googling "What is my body shape?" Or, "What is my body type?" You really don't need to get too technical with measurements, it's usually pretty easy to tell what you are. MOST IMPORTANTLY THOUGH....... once you know your shape, research, research, research what will look best on that shape! Google it, look on YouTube, check out books from the library. It's fun, it's not hard, and you'll quickly find some universal rules in dressing that can really work wonders!  (My library carries the book - "Dress Your Best: The Complete Guide to Finding the Style That's Right for Your Body" by Clinton Kelly and Stacy London of the television show "What Not to Wear."  The book is a bit old, but in general, I found it to be really helpful and funny too.  And again, there is a lot of opinion out there, so the best thing to do is try what they recommend and see for yourself. Start there. Take the advice that works for you and the rest you can leave.

And finally, let's briefly talk about playing up your favorite parts about you, and playing down those you have less confidence with.  The truth of the matter is, most of us don't love everything about our bodies. In fact, I struggle with body-image/self esteem terribly. This is something that I've been working on for a while, but it's very hard for me. I spend TOO MUCH time, every single day, worrying about how bad one body part or another looks. It's not good. So, rather than dwell on the negatives, a nice thing you can do is practice pulling out the POSITIVES! 

Quick! First thing that comes to mind - what is your favorite body part on you!? Do you have great legs? Maybe you've got strong, toned arms. Or maybe a cute butt! ;)

For me,  I'm trying to learn to like and accept my curves. I have a waist that is 10" smaller than my hips, so I guess you could say that I like the fact that I have a waist! (It needs a lot of work, but I'm thankful for it.) This is how you create and "Assets list". With each outfit, I try to highlight the good things, like my curves and waistline.

You can EVEN work with the body parts that you worry about the most! LEARN HOW TO WORK WITH THE NEGATIVES! Guys, the following isn't easy to share, but I still firmly believe that being open and honest can cause the most change, so here goes:  I am incredibly anxious about my upper arms and hips/thigh areas, and I worry all the time that they look terrible in clothing. And that's just the two worst body parts from a long running list in my head. BUT HERE'S THE THING...... (beyond diet, exercise and psycho-therapy should you choose, ) YOU CAN TAKE A NEGATIVE AND WORK WITH IT!  I THINK YOU SHOULD! All you need is some time and dedication to reading all you can about the "Science" of dressing, fabrics and clothing shapes. It's fun, it usually doesn't feel like work. Here are some examples.......

For the longest time, I swore that I'd never wear sleeveless dresses or tops. It just felt like a "no-no." Then I read, and found picture examples explaining that actually, sometimes short-sleeves "cut-off" the arm and hence, make it look wider! If a short-sleeve top dissects your arm at the widest point, it's doing you much less a favor than a sleeveless top would. In fact, especially with some types of tops, going sleeveless elongates the line of the arm! That really helped me to come to terms with one of my biggest fears. Exercising has helped too, but understand more about my worries had been the biggest help. 

Who is your style icon!? 

Alright, now for the fun stuff! Who my dear, is your style icon? You can have many more than one! They can be famous, they can be your local barista, your Mom, Dad, a character in your favorite novel! It's doesn't matter, as long as their style makes you smile. :)
And, your style icons can change from year to year or even season to season!
It helps if your icon has a similar body shape to you, so that you have ease in emulating their style, but really, it doesn't matter.

MY style icon is the absolutely gorgeous writer, cookbook author, and TV presenter, Nigella Lawson. I've always enjoyed Nigella's cooking programs and books, and have thought how well she dresses her curves. Also, Nigella doesn't seem fussy, she's often casual and comfy, but polished. I love that! And, a great thing for me and my "Style Philosophy" is that Nigella tends to dress in a "uniform." That is, at least for quite some time, she would wear a simple outfit of a long black skirt and a pretty, colorful top, or a black dress with an adorable cropped cardigan. A cropped jean jacket too! I fully understand that her look is not for everyone, but I like it, and it works for me! That is why dear Nigella, you are, MY style icon.

And Noah too!

Now.....Let's Make a visual WISHLIST!

A great thing to do is to gather up all of the current clothing catalogues and magazines that you can find. Look through them and cut out pictures of specifics clothing items that you would love. Even if something isn't in your price range, snip it out anyway, this is just a time to brainstorm, and later you can most likely find a similar piece of clothing at a different price point.

I used Pinterest to create a Spring/Summer Wardrobe board. Take a LOOK! I "pinned" items from all of my favorite companies, including shoes, bags and accessories. It was so much fun. Setting up a free Pinterest account is very worth it. Especially for just this purpose.

Once you have an idea of what you're looking for, it's time for a budget!

(Well, that's if you are like me and you have a budget!)  I used to get really nervous before making a clothing purchase. The only reason I can think as to why, is just because it feels expensive to me. And truthfully, I don't tend to buy expensive brands, and I almost always use coupons or promo codes. (You can find a deal on almost everything!) But, to make me feel a bit less concerned about shopping, Jon and I figured out a monthly clothing budget. One thing that has been helpful, is that I usually don't buy clothing every month, but rather "bank" the money for bigger shopping at the start of a season. That way, it doesn't feel as wasteful to go out and buy several items at once. Also, just for the record, I wear most of the clothing that I buy for multiple years. I really try to purchase only well made items that will last.

Here's how I went about budgeting though. It make things easy.....

First I made a list of all of the clothing pieces that I potentially wanted - where they were from - and how much they cost. Then I made note of if/when a sale was coming up, or if I had a coupon.  I do a lot of online shopping now, and they always email you coupons! 

(Yeah, by the way, if you find a retailer who's clothing fits you well, it's easy to shop online. For example, Land's End's petite clothing fits me very well. I know that I can order online without much worry. I signed up for their email and catalogues, and I receive coupons all the time from them. It's great!)

Next, because I started some time before the season that I was shopping for, I made up groups of items that I wanted to purchase and divided the groups into different months. For example, I started all of this in February. So, I made a group of three items that I wanted to buy in February, that could be worn in March and onward. Especially items that were a bit warmer, or could be worn with sweaters and other cool weather gear. I then made a group for March and April, in hopes that I would be all set in the clothing department for spring and summer by then!

This systems seems like a lot when I'm typing it out, but really, it's a ton of fun and is easier than it sounds. In the end, I was organized and on budget, with a well thought out mix-and-match wardrobe in the end! Also, it was nice not to have to run at the last minute to find appropriate clothing for warmer weather. Sometimes when you rush to buy something, you end up paying more and choosing pieces that you don't love. 

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So now with all of that work and effort, what did I come away with for his spring and summer? Well, probably my most versatile and favorite wardrobe to date! So far it's included some floor length "maxi dresses", which are pretty new to me, and a couple shorter dresses that are perfect and were found on deep discount! I complimented these with short-sleeved sweaters in pretty, soft colors to carry me through the cooler spring months, and was sure to find different types of footwear that could help transform my outfits from casual to sporty to dressy! I also found some exercise clothing, a lightweight jacket and some fun accessories.

All in all, I feel like the soft colors, flowing fabrics and feminine shapes, help to balance the characteristics of my gray hair. The look that I'm going for brings a bit of fun and youthfulness to my style, something that I'm happy to include! :)

Here are a few of my faves to pass along:

Dresses-  Dresses! They're the staple of my wardrobe. So comfortable and easy. They also, I think, work well with my shape. Most of my dresses this year are from FRESH PRODUCE CLOTHING. I absolutely LOVE the soft, flowy cotton fabrics that this American made company uses, and the BEAUTIFUL array of colors that everything comes in! Fresh Produce makes a lot of their pieces in feminine colors like pastels. Often times, even their stronger hues have a lightly "faded" look to them.

This dress is their "High Shore" wrap dress and retailed for $74. I found it on sale for just $21! It's still on sale if you're interested! The cardigan is from Target from last year. They are making the cardigans again this season, and just this week, they were on sale for buy two, for $20. At $10 each, how can you not!? I have quite a few similar spring-weight cardigans now, but I didn't have one in black. So, a friend and I went in on the deal when she purchased a white cardigan, and I a black. Win-win! I loved this wrap dress so much, that I purchased a second in an pale blue color. I love them.

The second dress that I bought for this spring and summer is The Staple Maxi Dress by Fresh Produce. I have to admit, I went a little overboard on this one. After trying the dress on for the first time, and really liking the ease of style and fit, I then went on to buy four more colors over the next few months. It might be too much, but:  A.) I really did want a no fuss "uniform",  B.) I am new to long dresses and love how comfy they are,  C.) the dress is super versatile weather-wise and occasion-wise. So, I think it's ok.  Here's the dress...... (It doesn't quiiiiite look like this on me.)

 I ended up with this lilac version, one in a pastel turquoise, a blue-gray, a black and a navy.  (Btw- my goal was a wardrobe of pastel fun, but the black and the navy have come in so handy already!)
I was worried about going sleeveless this summer, but I realized that I can't always worry about everything for my entire life. I'm sure I'll feel self-conscious to no end, but all I can do is keep up with my exercise, wear sunscreen and just live my life. Of course you can still wear short-sleeved cardigans with these dresses, and I do, but sometimes it's just going to be hot out!


Here is how versatile these dresses are: Casual with a jean jacket and some sneakers for a polished errand running look. Then...........

A pair of flats and a fun purse and I'm out to dinner!!!!!! (Oh, and the jean jacket is something that I've been wearing everyday. It's from Ann Taylor Loft.)

Here is the dress in another color. It's very versatile! I know that I don't wear them like a fashion plate, and more like a Mom, but if your style is otherwise, there's really so much that you can do with this dress. It's great!

I'd like to point something out here about my BAG. (Don't look at this picture. It's very unflattering.) (Ignore all of the totally awkward posing I keep doing too.) One thing that I'm trying to do this spring and summer is to just use the bags and purses that I already own. This is my little Cath Kidston day bag. I love the feminine print that goes well with most of my outfits, and the durability of the oil cloth surface makes it great for running around, even on playgrounds. I am Cath Kidston crazy by the way. If I could plaster myself and my house in it without going broke, I would! My dear friend Laura just came to visit all the way from London, and she brought me the most lovely Cath Kidston kitchen towel set and an adorable Cath coin purse. Love, love, love! Thank you Laura!!! xoxoxo

Another thing that I did to get my warm weather wardrobe ready to go, was sort through all of my old clothing. I try to donate the items that I really won't use, and the rest hopefully get worn again. For example, this Land's End staple, the cotton Fit and Flare dress! I need to tell you, rarely do I find something so comfortable and SO WELL MADE, for such a great price! I can't recommend this line of dresses enough. At least for the past two years, the cotton fabric has been soft and thick, in quality way. I love these dresses. In fact, after receiving a nice coupon, I went ahead and ordered their new maxi dress style of the original Fit and Flare (seen here in green).  I'll let you know how it turns out!

Shoes-

Look, I'm just going to be honest with you. My Dad is a women's shoe designer. His life is shoes, so he loves sending me shoes.  I feel so incredibly grateful. Without him, I promise you, I would not be showing you a bunch of new shoes for this summer. These were gifts. When I'm shoe shopping myself, I usually pick one or two pairs for a season and make them last as many season as possible. I love deals too. Zappos is great, and their super discounted sister site, 6pm.com is awesome. Also, I've found that if you join DSW's points club, they send out nice coupons and free spending bucks!

For starters, my Dad sent me this ballet flat that he designed, the "Napa" by Softwalk. I swear, this post isn't a marketing gimmick, I just happen to really like this shoe, and have been wearing the pair all month! The Napa has been super comfortable and cute on. (I'm wearing it in one of the pictures above.) The thing that I love about this particular color (there are several) is that it serves as a very versatile "neutral", going with so many outfits, BUT also being kind of a fun, pretty alternative to nude flats. Way to go Dad! Napa, two thumbs up!

Next on the docket, my exercise- slash-these are fun so I will wear them anytime  shoes! I love these Gel Noosa's from Asics. If your feet feel like looking crazy, WHY NOT!? 

Especially when paired with boring black workout gear, or a simple long, black dress, the Gel Noosa's just make everything a little bit more interesting. And, they're comfortable with great stability. I've worn mine up and down the outdoor stairs that I use for exercise, and up and down the hill and on long walks. You might as well get your neon and dayglo in, because if the 1980's are any predictor, these colors won't come back around for another 30 years.

Here are three more pairs to take me through the spring and summer.... a pair of all-purpose Keens, the Sienna Marry Jane for  running errands and spending time at school or on the playground. I love the heather texture, the super non-slip sole, and the ease of being a cute slip-on. My only thought is that while I love the Tawny Port color, perhaps they would go with more of my colorful dresses, if I had stuck with a neutral. Over all though, they're already proving to be an often used shoe.

Awww, my Birkenstock. I love my new Birkenstocks and I can't wait to wear them. So, I hear that Birks are back in style this years. That's not WHY I chose them, but it definitely lead me to getting a pair, because all of the Birkenstock talk made me curious to see what they're like these days. I had a couple pairs in high school when I was a "hippie." They were comfortable, I liked them. Now though,   I felt like the metallic silver pair of Mayari Birks could really be the more polished and mature flip flop replacement that I've been looking for! So far, I love them, they look nice with the maxi dresses. I'm ready for sandal weather. Let's go!

Finally, these are my ("salmon" colored?) sandals from Land's End. I actually thought they were going to be a little more pinky, but I guess my monitor is off. I found these sandals on super super sale, and in retrospect, might have been a little impulsive. I think I should have sent them back because they don't go with many of my dresses, but for some reason, I didn't feel like spending the money on return shipping. They seem well made and are a cute shoe none-the-less. I'm sure that I'll find some nice ways to wear them. 

Hats -

This is my FAVORITE sun hat. It's called the Everyday Cotton Hat from Coolibar. Coolibar is a great company that provides sun protective clothing in everything from dresses to swimsuits to all kinds of accessories for an active outdoor lifestyle. This hat comes in a ton of nice colors and is rated SPF 50+.

When I wear it, everybody laughs at me and says that I look strange, but I'm like: "Go ahead and laugh. Ha ha. I'm going to do whatever I can to NOT GET MORE WRINKLES THAN I HAVE TO!"
Here's my thinking.....if you have gray hair, you might as well do what you can to not progress other signs of aging. If I can wear sunscreen or a sun hat, why not!?

Sunglasses -

If I could have only one accessory to tote around with me this summer, without a moment's doubt, it would be my sunglasses. I'm in love with these sunglasses in particular. They were an early birthday present from my father, because even though I coveted this pair for a while, I never had the guts to buy them myself. I want to tell you, while many say that if you're going to spend money on your wardrobe, spend it on your shoes and purses, I need to add sunglasses to that. Sunglasses are something that you wear day in and day out, EVERY SEASON of the year! They also, when taken care of, can last for a long, long time. My eyes are sensitive, unless it's dusk or night, I wear my glasses! So the cost:use ratio is pretty good.

I worse sunglasses from Target for a long time. They're often cute and $16, but Target sunglasses, they break a lot, you kind of get what you pay for. One day I went to Nordstrom and bought myself a pair of designer sunglasses for my birthday. I loved them and wore the glasses daily for years. Then sadly, they met their end after being accidentally dropped and scratched one too many times. I went back to Target glasses, but really, I probably spent as much over the years on those, as my designer pair.

Fast forward, to my Dad's "early birthday present", I am absolutely adoring these Prada 54mm Cat Eye Sunglasses. They're worth it! I'm taking meticulous care of them, and the plan is to never buy another pair again. I have met my sunglasses soulmate! When you have gray hair, sometimes you just need a little bit of extra glamour in your life!

Nail Polish-

There is one, single television program that I follow. It's Madmen from A & E.  It's so good, and I'm devastated that they're starting their seventh and finale season. Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhyyyy????
One of the characters on the show is Betty Draper, and Betty is fierce. She's a 1960's maven with perfect nails.  I really like all of the colors that she wears on the show, and after a little research, I came across Essie's  "Cute as a Button" referred to multiple times as a very "Betty-esq polish."

Make-up - 

And last but not least, I want to tell you about some of my favorite make up! Have you heard of Vapour Organic Beauty!? It's AMAZING!!!! So one day I mentioned on Facebook that I was looking for a new brand of paraben-free cosmetics to try. I use Origins all of the time, but wanted to branch out. My in-the-know friend Amy, who happens to be BEAUTIFUL, jumped in and recommended Vapour Organics, so I knew that I had to take notice. Also, that same week, at a completely different time, another person randomly mentioned Vapour. I felt like this was a sign.

The make-up isn't cheap, but it lasts a long time, and is different than any other product you'll try. (Sometimes they have sales, and most of the time I receive Vapour as a birthday or Christmas gift.) Much of their make-up comes in tubes! It's really wonderful stuff. Here's what Vapour has to say about their products:

" Vapour is 100% Natural. It contains 70% certified organic ingredients and 30% minerals and vitamins. That's it! Vapour contains no toxic chemicals, No Parabens, No Phalates, No Gluten, No Animal Testing, No Nano Particles, No Irradiation."

I think that's pretty awesome. You can read through their site to learn more about Vapour's unique application process. The site is full of great "look book" examples, how to's and videos. You can also, for a small fee, order a sample pack, to find your right colors before committing to full size.

Some of my favorite products include their Siren Lipstick in #422 Au Pair. This lipstick is very lush. It's creamy, has a nice amount of color saturation, helps condition your lips, and it is the perfect shade of berry.

I also love their Aura Multi-Use Blush in the classic formulation. I own both the vibrant Courtesan and the softer pink Crush.  These sticks glide on giving  you lots of control over how much or how little color you want. Use them on your cheeks, lips and eyes too! The uniform look is actually quite pretty sometimes.

My other favorite is their Trick Stick Highlighter in Star.  Sure, when applied heavy handed it can make me look a bit like David Bowie in Ground control to Major Tom, but who doesn't need a little glam rock in their life?

Here's a step-by-step tutorial on how to use their make-up. They also have the video version HERE.

One final make-up note, note related to Vapour.... I recently picked up a tube of Burt's Bees 100% Natural Lip Glass in Nearly Dusk at Target. I adore the color. It's a sheer rose, and looks nice alone or with lipstick!

In conclusion,  (oh my gosh, this post actually has an ending!?) the most important point to remember is to just be you! Go with what feels right and makes you smile, not by what the fashion magazines say. If that means wearing the same, purple mini-backpack for six months straight and a "Cat Lovers for Obama" pin, and gray hair, then go for it! Be you.

Until Next Time!

xoxoxoxox,

Lauren