WIWW ... More Giveaway Goodness

Yup, you heard me right. Endure to the end and she who aspires to accessorize will be rewarded. For thoughts on why I, who normally speak of such things as faith, home education, and highly glamorous vacations, participated in the What I Wore Wednesday series, see previous posts here.

I was on a dress/skirt kick this week, for some reason. Also, I had a major breakthrough in the matter of belts. Are you salivating yet?

I'd been wanting to try out more of the belted look, but alas, the belt population in my little hamlet known as a wardrobe is sadly sparse. Then -- LIGHT BULB! -- I decided to go shopping. Not at Target, but in my very own bathroom, which is where I keep all my necklaces. Hello, long beaded necklace from Sam Moon! Meet your new existence as a belt!



Yeah, it would probably work better if I had more of an hourglass figure. Oh well.

Cardigan, T-shirt, and Skirt: Old Navy

Belt: Long necklace from Sam Moon

Flower pin: Birthday present from Vanessa

Gold Flip-flops: Reef Krystal

The belt made an encore appearance yesterday. Gosh, I was really in purple mode this week!

Weird lighting, I know. Off I go in my swagger wagon to book club!

Stretch Polo: Gap (super cheap around last 4th of July; that's the time to go)

Skirt: J.Jill, from local consignment shop

Belt: same long necklace from Sam Moon

Bracelet watch: Handmade from MotsDots

Shoes: Same Reef Krystal flip flops. (Highly recommended. Comfy, with a bit of a heel, and the glitter sort of dresses up any outfit.) 

And, for a girly tea party date:

Sunglasses in hair: Target, of course

Pearl necklace: Wedding gift from my grandmother

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft, from local consignment shop

Shoes: Born Concepts, from DSW. 

Bracelet: Oh. Wait. That's a ponytail holder. Moving right along!

And now ... you know that beaded bracelet watch? Here it is again ...

Sorry, you don't want a close-up of my midsectional area. 

Anyway, it, along with a few other jeweled items I own, were made by Austin craftswoman Martha Cole, who owns two Etsy shops: the colorful, whimsical MotsDots and the more vintage-inspired Not So Dotty. Not only do I love her work, but I also love the fact that one hundred percent of her profits support her husband's missionary work with homeless street youth. 

And because I also love YOU, and Martha is so kind, one of you will get to pick out a pendant -- any pendant! -- from either of her shops. Like my butterfly pendant (similar to this), which I wear with almost anything. Or something more funky like this Mexican loteria stamp. 

You have until Thursday, May 26, at 11:59 p.m. to enter. I'll pick a random winner. Just answer this in the comments: What's your favorite color? (Mine's purple. Such a shocker.) If you don't have one, fabricate one. 

WIWW: What's the Point?

I've been wondering a bit about this What I Wore Wednesday series.

On the one hand: Motivation to make a little extra effort. Plus, some of you sweet people actually like these posts!

On the other hand: Extra effort takes extra time and energy. Also, what about the whole, "Man sees outward appearance, but Jehovah looks on the heart?" The Bible -- the book I hold most dear -- has plenty to say about not giving undue focus to outward adornment, especially at the expense of the "hidden man of the heart."

What's a beauty-loving girl to do?

I don't know the answer. What I do know is that the spirit behind these posts, and behind getting out of one's pajamas into something mildly flattering in the morning is NOT ...

a. To impress my blog readers and in-person friends.
b. To judge my fellow mamas for the way they present themselves.
c. To spend more time getting dressed in the morning than I spend reading His Word.
d. To blow my budget accruing a huge, fashion-forward wardrobe. (To review: I rarely spend more than $20 on a piece of clothing, I often shop consignment/thrift stores, I pare down my closet so that it only contains pieces I feel good in and will happily wear.)

The fact is, though, that until this corruptible shall put on incorruptible, most of us act the way we feel, and the way we feel both drives and reflects how we dress. The Professor, for example, stopped wearing T-shirts to campus once he earned his Ph.D., even though he's working with the same people. He figured the doctorate merited at least a collar. :-) And would I arrive at a paid job in sweats and a stained T-shirt and expect anyone, myself included, to take me seriously, even if I were well-qualified for the position?

I would not. Neither would you. Right?

Moms (and I include those who spend some hours at paid employment), don't we have a high calling? Doesn't it ruffle our feathers when someone denigrates the job of raising human beings? Don't we appreciate a little respect?

So how about -- without undue vanity or obsession -- if we sort of ... dress the part?

I just have a couple pics from this week. Remember Renée's advice to enliven a snoozeworthy outfit by accessorizing? Well, there was a bare-bones ensemble or two this week that could use the help. I'm not sure I achieved "WOW," but maybe it was a step up from "Meh?"

BONUSES: My "vintage" kitchen! My loving dog! 

Cardigan: Target (currently on sale)

White T: Gap Outlet

Capris: Gap, from Thrift Store (Savers?)

Gold Flip Flops: Reef Krystal

Green beaded necklace: Holly Lane Designs

Necklace #2: The Vintage Pearl

T-shirt: Target

Jeans: Gap

Scarf: Old Navy

Belt: ?

Bracelet: Handmade by Martha of MotsDots

And there you go! Anyone have a success story to share? I've loved getting a few emails about thrift store finds! 

Links: The Pleated Poppy

My Other WIWW Posts

WIWW: A Guest Post by the Expert

So instead of taking pictures of myself this week (see previous posts here, here, and here), I decided to call in help from the most snappily dressed  person among my nearest and dearest. Introducing my Super Snazzy, Sartorially Splendiferous Sister-in-Law ... Ms. Reneé Vergara!

(OK, technically, if you're working for ancestry.com and holding a gun to my head, she's not *exactly* my sister-in-law; she's my sister-in-law's sister. But it works for us, and let's not split hairs.)

A few things to know about Reneé: She lives in a different climate (Massachusetts) where summer is still a distant temptation. She teaches Spanish at an elementary school. She has an adorable toddler, Sofia (not the actress).  She likes to shop exponentially more than I do. And most important of all, she's caring and fun-loving, which means that she could probably wear a giant mustard-colored turtleneck sweater with holes in the armpits and still be beautiful. 

So, she's a great resource, especially for you mamas who need a semi-professional look, and/or are shaped differently than I, and/or live somewhere where you can still layer (sob!). 

Here we go! (Her comments are in parentheses; mine in brackets. We are helpful that way.)

Thursday - Dress: Calvin Klein - found at TJ Maxx for $40! (regularly $140!)
Belt: Express
Earrings: Express
Shoes: Nine West ( a non-Mary Jane style would be better)

Friday - Cardigan: Gap Outlet
Flowy Tank: Gap Outlet
Jeans (Matchstick): J Crew*
Shoes (THE best summer shoe ever - SO versatile! NUDE goes with everything): Aldo
Necklace: Forever 21 (absurdly cheap and fun jewelry options!)

Saturday - Cardigan: Banana Republic*
Sleeveless Blouse (very versatile blouse! plus has super fun detail!): J Crew*
Jeans (matchstick): J Crew*
Ellen Tracy Peep Toe Shoes: Marshall's find!
Earrings (adding a dangly pair of earrings like these can instantly bump up the style of any outfit): Express (always buy one, get one 50% off)

Sunday - Dress: Banana Republic*

Necklace: Piperlime.com

Earrings: Express

Shoes: Bandolino from Macy's

Monday - Shirt: Anthropologie

Skirt: Anthropologie 

Shoes: Nine West

Jewelry: Zinnia (jewelry shop in Harvard Square)

[remember, ladies, you can find Anthro items at consignment shops sometimes ... or check their clearance sales!]

Tuesday - Shirt: Forever 21 (fun lace detail under scarf!)

Jeans (matchstick): J Crew
Wedge Sandals: Bandolino found as DSW
Scarf: Express
Earrings: Old Navy (again...crazy cheap and cute options)
Bracelet: Martha's Vineyard shop

[I love how she used that GREAT scarf to "bump up" what could be a less interesting outfit. Taking notes here!]

Wednesday - Blouse: Banana Republic

Cardigan: Ann Taylor
Pant Leggings: Gap
Ellen Tracy Peep Toe Shoes: Marshall's
Earrings: Express (hard to see, but these are gold with a single drop stone...stone almost is like a grey diamond-looking "stone"...a super versatile earring!)
Bracelet: Martha's Vineyard shop

* Reneé notes that if she buys something at J. Crew or Banana Republic or the like, she nearly always waits until it goes on sale, which almost everything eventually does. 

Other tips: "Always accessorize!!! Even if you think you can't pull it off -- that's not true! You so can! The right accessories can bring an outfit from 'meh' to 'wow!'" 

For example, she wears the "Sunday" black dress all the time because accessories change the look with ease. Also, she recommends large dangly earrings for a plainer, more casual outfit. The "meh" to "wow" thing again. :-) 

Hoping this is all of service to you, my friends who want to look half as lovely on the outside as I know you are on the inside ... and linking up at The Pleated Poppy. 

WIWW ... and a Giveaway!

Once again I boldly, semi-apologetically, step up to the plate to knock your socks off with my incredibly imaginative, sophisticated, and unerring sense of fashion. After all, when someone tells you she "love love loves" these posts, it's hard to throw in the towel!


{For the rationale behind these posts, and my shopping rules, see the original WIWW post. These posts link up to The Pleated Poppy.}


Notice I'm not showing you what I wore to go camping last weekend. Picture this in your mind's eye: khaki shorts, plain T-shirts/polo shirts, and faded flip-flops. Wow, were those squirrels ever impressed!


By the way, if the photos make you yawn, hang in there, because I have a little jewelry giveaway planned as this post's dessert.

Monday - Strawberry picking

(Was it dumb to wear a white sweater to pick berries? Um, yeah.)

Jeans - Gap

Muddy riding boots - Frye

Blue blouse - Old Navy

Scarf - Old Navy (it was chilly that day)

White cardigan - Gap (given to me by Vanessa when it mysteriously changed size between the store  and her house.)

Leather handbag - Consignment shop. $300 new; I think it cost $65 barely used, although I'm not supposed to know that because it was a gift. ;-)

Hair that looks truly frightening when it rains -- Free! Courtesy of God and the gene pool.

Tuesday - My birthday! I always dress up for my birthday. Just quirky that way. The Professor snapped this one of me on the patio, sparing you more mirror shots. 

Cropped cardigan, black T-shirt, and skirt - Old Navy

Sandals - Clarks

Necklace - World of Good

Bracelet/watch - Birthday gift from the kids. Made by a local crafter. Here it up close: 

Okay, now ... a present for YOU!

Sarah at Upcycled Word makes some seriously cool earrings and other accessories out of ... get this ... discarded library books! Here's what she says: 

"I see MANY damaged books and orphaned pages that don't know where they belong. At the time, I was really into origami and thought the book pages would make nice origami paper. That led to origami jewelry to just plain old paper jewelry. The earrings are kind of an accident. I was trying to make necklaces and bracelets and as I was cutting the circles I began to see more opportunities."

In honor of Mother's Day, Sarah is giving one of my dear readers a pair of earrings of your choice. Or, if you don't wear earrings, she has a few other items  to select from as well. Check them out!

To enter to win, leave a comment here by Friday, 8:00 a.m. Central Time. You can either comment on this post, or answer this question: Where's your favorite place to find clothes? (Me: probably my neighborhood consignment shop!)

What I Wore Wednesday - Redux

Much to my amusement, not only did a few of you send some kind comments my way after last Wednesday's What I Wore post inspired by The Pleated Poppy blog hop ... but also, a couple of you asked for more! From the girl who used to wear itchy knee socks held up on her skinny legs by rubber bands! Wonders never cease.

In case you're wondering, I still feel silly taking pictures of myself and posting them. Working through it, one deep cleansing breath at a time. And yes, our dresser top is often cluttered. Can we still be friends?

Question: Why bother making the effort to dress nicely? Isn't inner beauty enough? And what if no one outside your family sees you anyway?

Answer: In my personal opinion: If you're single ... best foot forward, sweets! Yes, it's what's on the inside that counts, but a little external polish never hurts your case. If you're married ... why let yourself go? Without obsessing about it, I like the Professor to know that he's still worth the effort. :-)

Now, without further ado ...

\

Sunday

Skirt: Gap

Eggplant top: Old Navy

Sandals: Clarks

Necklace: The Vintage Pearl (last year's Mother's Day gift, yea!)

Monday

Black knit dress:  Banana Republic (from consignment shop)

Red sandals: Born (gift from my mom a couple birthdays ago)

Vintage butterfly necklace: Not So Dotty

Tuesday (bad photo, sorry)

white T-shirt: Gap outlet

Empire waist top: random brand (consignment shop)

denim capris: Old Navy

Glittery flip-flops: Reef

Necklace: Target

Wednesday

Stretch polo: Lady Hathaway (Costco impulse buy:-))

Skirt: Old Navy

Chunky necklace: Sam Moon 

Metallic sandals: Target

And now, a little bonus for you ...

Dress: Lands' End

Flip flops: Old Navy

Scarf: Mama's fabric scraps, baby! I think this was a sofa pillow?

Parting thought: A friend was having a clothing crisis recently, and her gallant husband chivalrously googled "apple body type" (she is not a rectangle like me!) and came up with tons of helpful links, including YouTube videos. If you're at a loss, doing so might help you as well. Here's a link to help you determine your shape. 

Also, lots of inspiration available from the links at The Pleated Poppy. 

What I Wore Wednesday

Okay, y'all, I admit to feeling a little silly posting all these pictures of myself taking pictures of myself.

But.


A sweet reader asked in the comments of my "How to Pack a Suitcase" post, "Could you also please write a post for a thirty-something who finds herself wearing the exact same thing that a few fifty somethings are wearing, but won't look good in twenty something clothing anymore and has a super hard time putting any clothes together, hates shopping and has a goodwill sized budget?"


At first, I thought: Girl, you're barking up the wrong tree. I'm not exactly an authority on all things fashion. But I hear you on the Goodwill sized budget!


Then I discovered The Pleated Poppy's "What I Wore Wednesday" series. Lindsey of TPP started this to motivate herself to get out of her holey yoga pants in the morning and pull herself together. Now, she can probably help you far more than I can. But, just to enter into the collegial spirit of things, I thought I'd try it out this week. 


Three things you should know about how I dress: 


1. I don't have to look like a "country glam fashionista," to quote my friend Aubrey (who is one), but I do my best to feel at least presentable, if only out of respect for the career I have chosen: mothering and facilitating the education of three human beings. 


2. I'd like my two daughters to grow up with some idea that dressing modestly need not entail denim jumpers. They live in a culture that encourages girls to bare as much as possible as young as possible. Can they find the place where modesty and attractiveness meet? Gosh, I hope so. (Says David, fighting Goliath with her sling full of five smooth cardigans.)


3. I almost never spend more than $20 for a piece of clothing. Often, far less. Swimsuits and shoes are the exception. 


So, here we go. 

Sunday: Church meeting and picnic.

3/4 sleeve cardi: Target

flowered top: Old Navy

ruffled scarf: Gap outlet

black capris: Ann Taylor (bought at Savers)

metallic ballet flats: Born (my favorite!)

Monday: Hangin' with the kiddos

3/4 sleeve cardi: Target (yes, the same one)

flowered tank top: Old Navy

denim capris: Eddie Bauer

flip-flops: Chaco (faded but oh so comfy)

flower pin: made it myself

Tuesday: Kids, taekwondo, book club

3/4 sleeve cardi: Old Navy

white embroidered tank: Old Navy (no, this post is not sponsored by Old Navy!)

khaki capris: Gap (from thrift store)

glitter flip-flops: Reef

butterfly necklace: Not So Dotty (Etsy, handmade)

Wednesday: Geography club, Farmer's market

short sleeve cardi: J. Crew (from consignment shop)

white tank: Gap

capris: Old Navy

glittery flip-flops: Reef

necklace: Target, a few years ago. 

Whew. Does that help? Can I go hide behind the camera now and talk about books now? :-)