A Celebration Girl

Dress: NY&Co, Sandals: Dolce Vita, Bag: Charming Charlies

This outfit was two celebrations in one. The first being it was a night out for my birthday dinner and the second being I was finally able to get into this dress! I have had it for years but I've never been able to put it on and not feel like it was cutting me in two. It's linen so it is the wrinkley-est thing ever which is always so aggrevating but hey. Whatever! I went a little crazy on my birthday week and ate non-paleo foods but I am back at it now. I think I have mentioned it in passing on here but the paleo diet has really worked best for me and my husband as far as dieting goes. It helped me lose that last 10 pounds so I could get in this dress! I would like 10 more but I think I will need to incorporate some exercise for that. I'm just about ready too. I get through with physical therapy on my right knee very soon.

Forgotten Summer Girl

 Dress & Belt: Thrifted; Goodwill, Wedges: Chadwicks and then painted by me, Headband: Modcloth

I found these forgotten photos buried underneath other photos of the summer. This is a seersucker dress and it reminds me of deep southern lawyers sweating in the Mississippi heat - ok, that's just because I've watched too much Matlock or seen O Brother Where Art Thou too many times. It just screams Charleston to me which can only mean that I need a beach trip before it gets cold. Right?

Happy Birthday Girl

Tank: NY&Co, Skirt: Thrifted, Belt: Thrifted, Sandals: Target (so old that they actually fell apart this very night. Sad)

Even though I loathe getting a year older I completely LOVE birthdays! I love surprises. My sweet, sweet husband got this idea in his head to do 12 days of birthday instead of 12 days of Christmas. Since Christmas gets so overwhelming and it's just not my favorite holiday because of the stress and the cold weather, I welcomed the birthday surprises! This is the second year he's done it and it's more like 6 days before birthday this year because we're only on one income. The gifts are practical and small. Like this year I've gotten some small kitchen gadgets that have been on my amazon wishlist for a while. A lemon zester and a julianne peeler. It's a fun little way to celebrate! I know, I know. I'm spoiled. I really am. But I try when his birthday rolls around to really to think of something that he wants. This year I made a rustic frame for an old picture of his grandfather that had been sitting in his to do pile forever. It's always more fun to give anyway! 

Onto the fashion part of this post! I wore this little number out to dinner and a show about two weekends ago. It's taken forever for me to post and I can't for the life of me figure out why. I love pastels and especially creams and peaches. These are some of my most favorite sandals ever. Unfortunately, I can't wear them again because I've basically worn them out. They fell apart this night and I just don't think I can fix them. So I am on the hunt for a replacement. 

Life Lately {Crop Share Farm}

This summer was the first time we've been able to be a part of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) or crop share for short. I was so excited and I fell in love with it! We used Flying Cloud Farm in Fairview NC and it was perfection! We've had to scale back financially until we can get our old condo sold so we had to put it on the back burner but I'm hoping next year we will be able to get back into it. There were two options for this CSA. You could pick up your box at the tailgate market or you could go to the farm itself and bag the produce you wanted. I did both. I liked getting the box better. It was a great variety and it was a generous amount of everything. It took the decision work out of it for me and I love that. I hate making decisions! On the other hand, when you go to the farm you get to pick your own flowers. That in itself was a great adventure and it made for some really sweet memories for my son and me. He chased butterflies while I swooned over pretty flowers.

Here's the little self service product stand that couldn't get more adorable even if it tried.

They also had the cutest little watermelons and cantaloupes - that actually were not that sweet and that makes me wonder why the ones from the store are so overly sweet...hmmm....modified??? Look at how few of those blackberries are left! If you didn't get there early those guys would for sure be gone. Oh they were so good. I've got some in the freezer for when I need a boost of summer when it is gray and cold. Let's don't talk about winter.

Let's look at the flowers instead!!!

She had some beautiful bouquets already put together and ready to go in your satchel. But we decided to go out to the field...

He chased so many butterflies

We talked about the bees but not the birds :)

My little bucket after lots of picking.

Bringing these bouquets home was such a mood booster. I loved having these guys in my house!

Let's enjoy the last tidbits of summer shall we!

Fancy Pants Girl

Sequin Tank: Walmart, Pants: Etc Consignment Shoppe (Old Navy), Heels: Target

I have been on the lookout for a pair of fancy, loose fitting, elastic waist trousers for like, well, a long time. I refused to pay high prices and my patience paid off. I use my local consignment shops as ways to recycle my own fashion closet and make some moolah to buy more! On this particular day I was turning in some clothes to sell and noticed these guys on the rack. I think they were $7.00 and then I had some credit on my account. It was such a win-win. I've worn them once already but didn't get an outfit photo that day. They are so comfy! These are the pants I tried wearing with my new crop top but HELLO belly button! I was like oh my. No thank you. Instead of following Coco Chanel's rule of "take one thing off before you leave the house" I needed to add more! Ha! At this point in my life I don't think my belly button needs to be out and about with me while running errands!

Crop Girl

Crop Top: Amazon, Skirt: given to me, Sandals: Target

It took me a few different tries to find out what I felt comfortable pairing with this crop top. I haven't worn a crop top since I was a teenager! And....that was a long time ago. 

 First I tried some black loose trousers but my belly button was showing and I just could NOT do it. Then I tried some huge hippie jeans and it just didn't feel quite right either. I think it could've looked great IF they were a bit more high waisted. When I pulled out this wrap skirt it was perfect. I could bring the waist up to where it was nice and snug but still a little skin could peek through. 

Two Ways Girl

I picked up this Old Navy black silky type dress at the Goodwill a few months ago. I've not been able to wear it yet but when I was contacted by Navabi to come up with two ways to wear a little black dress I was ready to drag this thing out of the depths of my closet and give it some sprucing up.

First up is how to wear it at the office. I paired the dress with a light colored blazer, a coordinating belt and low heels. They are open toed and some offices aren't really down for that. In that case, just wear a basic black heel. Or flats if you are like me and need comfort for lots of walking.

Dress: Goodwill (Old Navy), Blazer: Goodwill, Shoes: given to me, Belt: Salvation Army

I kept my jewelry simple and not fussy with smaller stud earrings and a coordinating watch. I pulled my hair back into a sleek ponytail but it's certainly acceptable to wear it down. The belt ties it all together and gives a waist line. The heels have tan stitching (hard to see in the photo) but it helps to tie in the blazer to the heels.

For going out on the town with the girls or your sweetheart, I chose to use gold accents to take this LBD to the next level!

Dress: Goodwill (Old Navy), Necklace and Earrings: NY&Co, Heels: Target, Clutch: yard sale

I removed the belt and added a long necklace instead. I went for larger earrings and a single bracelet. I paired it all with metallic slingback heels and a snakeskin clutch. For my hair, I grabbed a couple of bobby pins and did a really fast french twist. 

Leave a comment with a link to how you wear your little black dress! I would love to see how you style it up!

Have a great weekend!

More Comfortable Girl

Top: Thrifted (Goodwill), Shorts: Family Dollar, Sandals: Chadwicks, Hat: some little beach shop in SC, Necklace: Rugged Warehouse

What did I forget when I went to the beach? My sun hat. Yep. I refused to buy one down there because I've done that twice already. Two other times I've had to buy an overpriced sun hat at a tourist trap. So I just flat out refused this time. I stayed pretty lathered up in sunscreen too.

I don't normally process my photos this much but I couldn't help it. I love how this vintage filter gives it an Arizona or desert feel. I hope you don't mind. I think it makes for some nice depth in the picture.

More comfortable? Well, that is in reference to the fact that I am wearing shorts here. You will rarely see me in shorts but I am trying to embrace my shape, my legs and my thighs with a little more love. Sure they are not the thighs of my teenage self but they are mine and they are in good working order! I need to be thankful. Of course black shorts are very forgiving and keep it on the dressier side. I've accepted that I have cellulite and it ain't going anywhere. I think these black shorts are at a comfortable length for me. I did cut off a pair of jeans recently and I feel like they are just a little too short. I find myself just a little too wiggly in them which is sure sign that they are too short. If you are tugging at them and wishing they would pull down a little bit, then they're too short. Bummer.

Do you wear shorts? Do you feel comfortable in them?