What's Old is New Again

I love the transformative power of accessories. The way a statement-making necklace can take wardrobe staples and dress them up (or down). The way a belt can change the shape of a jacket or dress, giving those items new life (and the illusion that you have the tiniest of waists (not possible anymore post-twins, believe me)). Accessories are, to me, miraculous. And even though I now go days at a time and don't even leave my house, I'm still amazed at how much better--more confident, more happy, more ME--I feel on the days I take the time to throw on a pair of earrings or a stack of bracelets. (That's right, I'm saying I'm a better mother when I accessorize.)

Take this outfit I wore last Friday to a lunch date with a friend. Each of the pieces of clothing are so basic. I've also owned them forever (the shoes are the newest, but were purchased two years ago). But by layering on some of the pieces from the Stella & Dot Fall 2011 collection, and a vintage belt and bag, the clothes felt new again. I felt fresh. And pretty (and that never happens anymore).

The lunch, the dressing up, the feeling of being out-and-about midday sans double stroller was a rare treat, and I reveled in it. I left the house feeling tired and disgruntled and came home ready to tackle dishes, dirty diapers, and five days as a single mom while S headed off on a fishing trip. If that's not some kind of transformation, I don't know what is.

wearing: old navy vest, target tank, vintage silk skirt, dolce vita sandals, S&D soiree studs, S&D soiree trio ring, S&D graceful nomad necklace, vintage bag, vintage belt.

The Arm Party

Having babies has seriously cramped my accessorizing. I'm not complaining. I'm happier spending every day in grubby shorts and t-shirts than I ever was getting all dolled up to go sit in an office every day. But sometimes a girl just needs a little bling...bling that can't be hauled on by curious baby-hands. Hence my current obsession with the arm party. Since I can no longer wear my beloved dangley earrings or giant necklaces, why not throw on a massive pile of bracelets?

Sunday Morning arm party

Stella & Dot Renegade Cluster bracelet
Stella & Dot Pyramid Double Wrap bracelet
Bermuda and Cape Cod bracelets

Walk like an Egyptian arm party

Stella & Dot Renegade Cluster bracelet
Bermuda and Cape Cod bracelets
Vintage scarab bracelet and enamel cuff

Super Shiny arm party
Stella & Dot Devi bangles in silver
Stella & Dot Corso cuff
Bermuda and Cape Cod bracelets
Vintage Sarah Coventry bracelet

Cool Coat

I love this peacoat from Ramona West for it's Ali Macgraw/Sally MacMillan 70s chicness.

Perfect Outfit

I'm such a mix-and-match kind of shopper and outfit builder that rarely (okay--almost never) do I see a picture that makes me say, "Oh! That's a perfect outfit! I would buy every single item and wear them exactly as pictured." Usually I instead take a bit of inspiration from this picture and that, and then piece them together in my own odd kind of way, you know (I know you know)?

But for my money, this picture from Anthropologie, dear readers, is of a perfect outfit. I want it all. Okay--maybe I could live without the grey jeggings since I already have skinny grey jeans, but the top, necklace and shoes should be mine...to wear once the twins are born, obviously! This would be a great 'mommy' look, don't you think?

Blue Monday: Maternity Bathing Suit

You know how terrifying picking out a bathing suit is when you are your normal size and physique? Okay, now imagine the horror of putting on a bathing suit in the last trimester of a twins pregnancy. Welcome to my world, ladies!!!

With Memorial Day rapidly approaching, I'm realizing I can no longer avoid the reality that I must bite the bullet and buy a maternity swimsuit. When my bff, Nicole, was pregnant last year, she bought a suit from A Pea in the Pod. It was adorable, but frankly, I just don't want to spend that much. So I'm considering this paisley number from Old Navy because one of my favorite bikinis of all time actually came from there about eight years ago. It was super, super flattering, so I'm holding out hope that ON's maternity swimwear will be the same!

Belly Update: 23 weeks and counting...

Ever wondered what approximately 24 inches and 2.5 pounds of babies looks like?!

Wearing:
Vintage jacket - 1918 Vintage
Wife beater - stolen from the hubby
Jeans - H&M maternity
Turquoise and brass necklace - Stella & Dot
Turquoise enamel bracelet and ring - vintage

Wow. I've made it through 23.5 weeks, ladies!

We were at a little party on Saturday afternoon and someone asked me if I was enjoying being pregnant. My honest response was simply that I feel unbelievably blessed and thankful to be having this experience after thinking for so long that I wouldn't get to, but that no, "enjoy" is not exactly a word I would marry with "pregnancy." I'm totally jealous of those women who love, love, love being pregnant!

That said, my love for these little guys seems to grow in leaps and bounds every day as I feel them squirm and kick almost non-stop now. And I find myself having really funny conversations with them...like my left twin kicks really, really hard, so every time he does it I always say, "Good job, buddy! That was a good one!" Isn't that silly? Seth catches me and says, "Are you talking to the boys?!" He thinks it's so cute.

On Thursday we go back to our doctor for further testing to find out why our right twin has waaaaaay too much amniotic fluid. We're praying that the problem has just gone away in the last two weeks, but if it hasn't then I'll be tested for gestational diabetes. Considering having twins puts you at a much higher risk for g.d. and throwing in the fact that diabetes is rampant in my family, I'm guessing (hoping--because I cannot even let myself consider that it could be something wrong with him!!!) that is the problem. Please send good vibes our way!

'70s-ish Tiered Layers

I've been completely in love with long, layered '70s-inspired dresses for years, so naturally I think it rocks that they are "in" right now. It's probably the one spring look that I'm really sorry I'm missing out on (layers + pregnant belly = a VERY bad idea). Something about them just feels so breezy, yet luxurious...like something Jacqueline Bisset's character would wear to dinner in Bermuda in the movie The Deep.

Chloe just continues to kill me season after season, and this dress is no exception. I swear when I win the lottery I will wear only Chloe...

...but then check out how cute Kendra from LookBook and the blog If You Want a Piece of Me looks in this vintage number. Her ensemble reminds me once again that there's very little that comes down the runway that we can't find vintage--so why spend a fortune on our wardrobes?

Here I am in the one-and-only tiered frock I own. I wish I had a better, full-length picture of this dress. It's been a fave for 4 or 5 years now, and it's from H&M. It's got a wide tiered ruffle at the top, then a belted waist with a tiered just-below-the-knee length skirt--all done in accordion-pleated nude jersey. AND it ties at the shoulders, which is one of my favorite dress accoutrements ever. I WILL fit back into by next summer...I swear!!!

p.s. Isn't my bff so pretty?

p.p.s. Doesn't that champagne look soooooo delicious? I WILL be drinking that again by next summer, too! ;)

Belly Update and Other News

I'm having trouble believing that tomorrow I will already be 21 weeks pregnant. Time seems to be rapidly picking up speed! I feel like my belly is getting bigger by the minute, I'm finally feeling hungry (YAY!), and the twins are moving so, so much now. In fact, for the last week I've actually been able to see them move, which is just the coolest thing ever. They seem to be particularly busy in the evening when I'm in the tub (I think this is a sign that they are going to like the water as much as their mama does!); the funny thing is that they'll be movin' and groovin' and as soon as Seth comes in to see it, they stop! He's starting to think I'm making it up, even though I swear to him my whole belly was jumping just a few seconds before!

Dress - LaRedoute...back when they sold in the U.S.
Jersey cardi - forget the brand, but it was bought at the BonTon
Tights - Target
Black suede studded flats - Sigerson Morrison for Target
Gilda Links necklace and earrings - Stella & Dot

Here I am during my 18th week, in my favorite non-maternity maternity outfit. This silk sundress is one of my summer favorites, bought about 6 or 7 years ago. It's nice and tenty and worked great for early maternity-wear (I even put a black turtleneck under it a few times and wore it like a jumper!). I bought the jersey cardigan last summer in preparation for getting pregnant, and it's been a constant staple.

T-shirt - Old Navy Maternity
Jeans - H&M Maternity
Turquoise and red coral jewelry - Mexico and Passion for Pearls, an awesome jewelry vendor at the National Association of REALTORS' conventions

I can't believe I'm putting this shot up, but it's the only one we got during week 19. I like to call it my "Moby Dick" picture, since I essentially look like big, white whale! This was taken on Easter Sunday, which is miraculous because Easter here is ALWAYS cold and rainy. But since this year it was hot and sunny, I decided the boys and I should work on getting some color! I sat out all afternoon with my parents while Seth putzed around in the garden, weeding and planting lettuce and radishes. It was a wonderful way to spend Easter!

In other news, last week I told my Board of Directors that I won't be coming back to work once the twins arrive. Deciding to stay at home was such a hard decision--for a variety of reasons (finances, I like my job, FINANCES)--but daycare costs are so high here that I essentially would have been working to only bring home a couple of hundred dollars a month. Plus Seth and I both had moms who stayed home when we were little, and it was always our dream to be able to do the same thing when we started a family. Sooooo...it's really scary, and we're taking a HUGE leap of faith, but now that the decision is final I'm feeling a real sense of peace about it and am excited to say that as of July 30 I will be a full-time mom!

Favorite jacket, maternity-style

Starting to put together a maternity wardrobe has been a fun challenge for me. I'll be the first to admit that my regular wardrobe is way too large, so the idea of building a small, well-edited selection of clothes--on a teeny budget--seemed like an interesting way to start transitioning my shopping mindset from a dressier "work" wardrobe to more casual, versatile "mom" clothes.

I really have a jacket fetish (along with my shoe, belt, bracelet, and scarf fetishes...) so one thing that has helped to sass up some of the very basic maternity pieces I've purchased so far is that most of my spring jackets still fit (although they may not close!). For the last three years one of my most favorite jackets is one I scored during my brief stint working for The Carlisle Collection. It's the softest tan twill, edged in buttery pewter leather. If any piece of clothing expresses my style perfectly, it's this jacket--kinda classic, kinda edgy.

Here are two ways I've recently styled it up:

Heathered gray jersey dress, Old Navy Maternity
Gray tights, Target
Gray suede booties, Newport News
Silver Gilda hoop earrings (hidden by my hair), Stella & Dot
Hammered silver owl necklace, gift from bff Rach from her trip to South America (thanks, Rach!!!)

(For those of you who don't know, I'm 5'11", so this picture totally cracks me up because my legs look sooooo short. Apparently the Fug Girls are right: longish top + short pants = stumpy!)

Taupe jersey studded-waist top, Liz Lange Maternity
Skinny black ankle pants, Old Navy Maternity
Black suede flats, Sigerson Morrison for Target
Smokey quartz earrings and necklace, Tracy Matthews Designs
Smokey quartz ring, Judith Ripka (gift from my mommy)

LBD Love

I just got out of the house to do some spring/maternity shopping two weekends ago, and I just loveloveloved the plethora of navy I saw everywhere. Navy has become such a staple for me over the past few years. It's slowly replacing the black in my closet because it just seems so fresh and cool and preppy. That said, I have purchased two maternity l.b.d.s (I'm praying they are slimming!!!), but isn't a little blue dress just as versatile?

I've been patiently waiting for this shirt dress from Gap to go on sale, and now that it is, it's mine, all mine!!! I can't wait to wear it with the collar popped and a pair of stripey espadrilles once the weather warms up!

Ruffles + Vest

Oh my goodness, you guys...I'm simply dieing over this new vest from J.Crew. Layers and layers of blue chambray ruffles??? Yes, please!!! Obviously, I won't be able to wear it this spring and summer, but I'm definitely picking it up as a little something to look forward to post-babies.

Pale Pink + Neutral

I'm totally loving how fresh baby pink looks when juxtaposed against serious neutral pieces. Don't you think that even a frothy, ruffled petticoat suddenly seems wearable when paired with thick tights and a pea coat?

Sorry for the lack of posts this week. I've been functioning at the most rudimentary level. I'll try to regroup this weekend and be back on Monday with some good stuff for you. Many thanks to the hubby for his guest post yesterday! XO, ladies!!!

(via Booklover, Audrey Hepburn Complex, and LOOKBOOK)

You can wear your fur like a river on fire...

I would never personally wear fur (even though I wear leather--an issue very nicely debated a few months ago over at Leproust Vintage), but it's hard not to be tempted by fur when it's worn the way these ladies are styling it up:

(via Lulu Letty, LOOKBOOK, and StyleClicker)

Thinking Spring

So it's 3 degrees and snowing here today, but even though I'm totally bundled up at my desk, drinking oodles of tea and running a space heater, my mind is thinking about what I'd like to be wearing once warmer weather hits...

...like lots of crisp, dark denim...


...stripes...


...and more stripes...


...ruffles...


...and pencil skirts.

Sadly...here I am in uninspired cords, a giant wool turtleneck, and a gray blazer. How many days until spring?!?!

(via W by Worth and Anthropologie)

Blue Monday: Navy Stripes

As I think about refining my wardrobe and honing in on a go-to look, I find more and more stripes in my inspiration folder. I love how crisp a striped top looks, particularly done in navy instead of black. I think late-'60s, early-'70s-inspired preppy, softened with the occasional sweet detail like a pom-pommed hat or a bow, might be just the uniform for me.

(via we heart it and bloo 90 fashion)

Green with Envy

I so wish green looked good on me...sigh.

(via redhedgingerbread vintage, STYLE CLICKER, and LOOKBOOK)

Holiday Giveaway #3 Winner!

Thanks so much for everyone who entered this week's giveaway! The two winners, via Random.org, are:

Cindy from Hellcat Vintage
and
Joelle from The Owls are not What They Seem

I'll do my best to get your corsages to you before Christmas, girls...but make no promises knowing how unreliable the USPS is!

Monday will be my last holiday giveaway, so please stop by then and enter!

Late to the Party

As is often the case with super-trendy items, I am frequently late to the party. Often my initial reaction to [insert trendy item here] is, "Ugh! That's everywhere! No way am I wearing that!!!" But there have been a few occasions when I've finally come around, seen the error of my ways and bought said super-trendy item.

Such is my current situation with leggings. When the trend hit--what 18 months ago?--I was all, "Uh-uh...no way! I wore leggings the first time around, circa junior high dances in 1990. I will not wear them again at 32!!!" But this fall, as I've begun to deeply appreciate clothes that stretch, my opinion of leggings has softened, and I started looking for a pair back in September or October.

But let me just say: If you have an inseam longer than 29" (mine is a whopping 34"), it's very hard to find a legging that isn't going to look like a capri and doesn't cost a lot. And I'm sorry...I'm really not ready to go there.

Here's where Newport News comes to the rescue with their new legging shop. They have 15 different styles, ranging from an awesome sequined style to a leather legging. Most are really reasonable ($19), and many come in three lengths--including a long that, weighing in at 31 1/2", will even accommodate my ridiculous inseam!

I'm torn between the snakeskin pair at the top, which would make me feel like the lovely E. over at District of Chic, or this basic black pair. Which would you choose?

Holiday Giveaway #3: Felt Holly Corsage

You guys...I'm so, so excited about this week's giveaway because I actually made it myself!!! That's right, the queen of non-craftiness has actually been quite crafty for the last week (I've found it's a great distraction, and I've needed a lot of distraction!)!

I've always loved vintage holiday corsages, so when I saw these in this month's issue of MS Living, I just knew I had to make one. I've subsequently made a lot more than just one and am so happy to be giving two away to two lucky readers!

Here's how to enter:

• Leave a comment below
• Reblog or retweet for an extra entry
• Do it by Thursday, December 17, at midnight!

Good luck!

Channeling Carol Brady

Something about my dress and hair yesterday made me feel very much like Carol Brady, a feeling I didn't mind one bit.

I bought this lovely magenta shift last year at Petrune and only wore it a few times because it was a little big. I thought about having it taken in, but am so glad I didn't. I've recently put on a few pounds and although a lot of my other clothes aren't fitting too well (hence the lack of outfit pix for the last month or so), this dress now fits perfectly! There's always a bright side, you know?!

Last winter I only wore this dress one way: with black chenille tights that have an open circular pattern, pointy black flats, and mod-ish silver jewelry. I just wasn't feeling that look yesterday and opted instead for cozy camel and gold accessories. The reality is, I'm obsessed with these boots and have pretty much worn them every day since I bought them back in October.

Do you ever get stuck on one piece of clothing or accessory? Anything you're fixated on right now?

I'm wearing: Magenta wool a-line shift - vintage; Camel cable knit sweater tights - Hue; Cognac boots - Steve Madden; Stone wrapped hoop earrings - Stella & Dot; Gold filigree necklace - vintage.

Lastly, I'm excited to announce that the winner of this week's Holiday Giveaway of a jar of our homemade violet jelly is:

Michelle P.

Congrats, Michelle! E-mail me your address, and I'll get your jelly right off to you. I hope you love it!