The Snow Queen (or, Happy Birthday AGAIN!)

Wearing:

- white cardigan from Kohl's (several years ago)

- white embroidered 3/4 sleeve henley, Goodwill Outlet

- jeans

- Fergie boots

- pearls & crystals necklace, a gift

- silver scarf, a gift

- bracelets from Sammy Dress

So, I finally had a chance to make up the birthday lunch with my daughter at school, and once again I was going for a slightly magical look.

I kept the jeans & boots (well, different jeans) but I changed up the top. 

In fact, I've never put these two pieces together before- this cardigan is one I usually wear in the summer. I had actually bought it in preparation for a trip to the Bahamas. But I thought it worked out nicely, and it gave me the excuse to wear...

...this! It's sparkly. And it's pretty. And it looks really cool with the button-up top because that top has silver threads running through it.

I felt very royal. Suitable company for my own little princess, who was delighted to see me when I came for lunch, especially because I brought Grandpa (my dad) with me as a surprise!

:-)

The Keeping It Real moment of the day: I just about died laughing when I saw this photo afterward because it seriously looks like I'm examining my belly button. 

My toddler would be so proud.

Do you ever feel like dressing like royalty?

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Optical Illusions and Renaissance Romance Meets Casual Chic

Let me first just say that this may be one of my favorite photos of myself ever. Do you see how tiny my hips and waist look? Hel-lo! Hooray for flattering angles, that’s all I have to say. And for once I’m rocking all that hair of mine.

Okay, leaving Narcissisia now...

Wearing:

- top from Old Navy, bought years ago for $4. Scooore.

- Arizona jeans from the Goodwill Outlet, which means they cost less than a dollar.

- vintage pendant necklace from Etsy

- brown leather belt I’ve had since college

- black ballet flats from Payless last year- less than $20

- bracelet from a jewelry party hosted years ago by a friend, but I cannot remember the name of the company.

- bronzey earrings

Let us all take a moment to welcome back our friend, Paper Bag, shall we?

And then let’s take a moment to wonder why, for the love of fashion, I keep forgetting to take closeups of my accessories and then, in all my lazy glory, crop my photos into these truly horrific, blurry renderings that make Van Gogh paintings look lifelike? Hmm...points to ponder...

Okay, back to my miraculously skinny waist. Which, when you check out the toe contemplation photo below, you might discover really was just an optical illusion. *sigh* It was fun while it lasted.

I wore this outfit on a day in January when it miraculously got over 50 degrees. This top is fantastic for that temperature, because the sleeves can go long or short, and the wide neckline and jersey knit cotton keep it cool. 

I love wearing a belt with a loose-fitting top because the belt defines your hips and the buckle and looseness of the fabric do a great job disguising any tummy pooch/muffin top issues.

And today’s Keeping It Real Moment is brought to you by my 8-year-old daughter, whose photo bomb is the result, I believe, of her trying to use a play mop toy to get down a mylar helium balloon that had become separated from its ribbon and made a break for the freedom of the open ceiling.

A valiant attempt, my dear. A valiant attempt.

Even Paper Bag looks impressed.

Do you have any clever fashion optical illusions that you use to hide your less-than-attractive parts?

Have you noticed that [Wearing My] Art on My Sleeve is not like other style blogs out there? Click here to find out how it was born and why it's so weird...

Around the world in five kitchen tiles

No Attack of the Evil Closet today, but check out that awesome brown bag making an appearance there in the corner. Woohoo, glamorous stuff right there.

Wearing:

- gauzy white utility (safari? I don’t know, the kind with the pockets and roll-up-sleeve tab thingies) top over a white long sleeve tee (in case you haven’t noticed, I use white long-sleeve tees to transition all my spring & summer tops into winter & fall). Got this awesome top from Marshall’s last year for FOUR DOLLARS. Fo’ real. Sweet.

- dark wash skinny jeans

- gray Fergie boots 

- globe necklace from Sammy Dress

- gold (more like bronze-ish) and silver bangle bracelets from Sammy Dress

I think this contemplating-the-floor pose really works here. I like.

I was getting ready to actually GO OUT to lunch with my stepmom, which is a rare and wonderful thing. I had to take two littles with me, but I didn’t care. I was GOING OUT TO LUNCH, people!

Then my oldest woke up with severe leg pain.

No lunch.

Boo.

But I still got to wear one of my favorite necklaces and walk around the house looking cute all day, which is a win in my book.

The globe really spins. Really. My 4-year-old can’t get enough of it. (And I also discovered that when the earth gets yanked off the necklace and goes flying off under the kitchen table you can pop it right back in again. True story.)

See the hair? This is one of my favorite styles- I tease my “bangs” (well, what would be my bangs if I had bangs anymore but I don’t- just the top front section of my hair) and pull them back, then do the messy bun in the back. There’s just something very casual chic about it, which was the look I was going for here. And it takes about 3 minutes to do, which is definitely a plus.

Wow, bad angle for my neck in this one. Yikes.

So do you cheat and use layers to wear your off-season stuff in the fall and winter too? And do your kids ever do you the favor of testing your jewelry resilience?

Have you noticed that [Wearing My] Art on My Sleeve is not like other style blogs out there? Click here to find out how it was born and why it's so weird...