As Seen On TV...Outfit Inspired by the Disney Channel

So when you are a 37-year-old mom, it's always fun to be watching TV with your 2 cute kiddies...Disney Channel...Jonas, and go "I have that shirt!" Yep, sure enough, on the "Love Sick" episode on Jonas, Stella Malone (played by Chelsea Staub) has on the J Crew Bon Voyage tee.


(photo credit to jonasbrothersdaily.com - thank you, I felt the need to prove it)

Gotta say - not loving the cardi with it so much. But love love love Stella on the show. Not that I watch it *that* often. Oh wait, who am I kidding? I have a 7 y.o. daughter and 9 y.o. son - Disney and Nick are on all the time. I mean, not all the time, but when it is on, it is often on those 2 channels. I still can't stand Fairly Oddparents and try to prevent that one whenever possible - gotta pick your battles.

So here I am wearing Stella's shirt. Not sure if this gives me any street cred with the early elementary crowd, but a mom's got to do what she can. Now if I went out and bought the tee *after* seeing the show - that would be lame.

Honestly, though, seeing it last night (JoBro marathon, how lucky am I?) reminded me that I hadn't worn it in a while - well you know, it's been hot, sundresses have been the rule of the day. So I decided to pull it out of the tshirt pile and give it a go today.

With a pair of rolled up khakis, Danielle sandals, and the Dina hoops. This is the last weekend before the weekend before school starts. So the kids got to stay up late, we're chilling out...and DC JCA Tysons shopping event tomorrow - so looking forward to it - I haven't been in a B&M since July and I can't wait to see all the fab JCAs.

Still have to figure out what to wear, but it's pretty much going to involve cafe capris, bf tissue tee or rose tee, and cardi (Jackie or otherwise). Not too much jewelry, nothing too fancy because tomorrow is about serious shopping - and some major trying on, so it has to be easy in & out - but also have the basics to see how everything works with the capris, with the bf tissue tee, etc. Wish me luck!

Polyvore from today:




Wearing Today-8/22/09 by HeidiGblog featuring J Crew

Update..finally back

Well, I can't say I feel great today, but I felt bad enough to actually take some medicine and admit that I am sick, instead of just trying to sleep it away. (Mucinex-D, I love you, and it's possible that today I love you even more than cashmere). So the medicine is making me feel better.

Ok, so I have some catching up to do. First of all, J Crew new arrivals. I hit the store to do returns on Tuesday and I did *not* buy anything. The gorgeous white with navy dots dress was only available up to size 6 and it wasn't worth asking if there were any in the back since my energy was low low low. (maybe that's a good time for me to shop?) I did fall in love with 1 top - a 3/4 sleeve knit bateau neck tee in white with thin navy stripes (also available with thin gray stripes). But the bateau neck was really really wide, and it was very close fitted so I would want to wear something underneath, but cami straps made it look like my bra was showing and the tank straps left me undecided about whether they looked cute or dorky - and like I said, no energy, no decision-making ability, so I left it there. (yay me!) It did make me look way skinny because the top was long and the stripes were so thin and I felt like Vanessa in Paris, so I may be going back to check it out. Oh, and the knit was WAY soft. Cute cute cute.

Tuesday, feeling cruddy, decided to go with my bright yellow tee to up my energy level a bit. I love this tee - especially since I only paid $15 for it. And then just some jeans rolled up and some sandals. I love the turquoise necklace with this (this was one of the necklaces from my grandmother's "junk" jewelry that I snagged from E). I will say that the tennis ball bag is a wee bright with this tee - it looked weird to me when I had it on my shoulder, but ok if I was carrying it in my hand since the green and yellow were separated. (kinda like how the Polyvore set looks better when they aren't right next to each other) Is that weird?

Polyvore set for Tuesday:

Wearing Today-6/9/09 by HeidiGblog featuring Nine West shoes

And then on Tuesday night, we had the lovely PTA Chair Person dinner. I'll be honest, I really really really just wanted to bail and go to bed early. But it's such a great group of glaydies. And it was at one of my fave restaurants, Cafe Mileto. And I didn't have to drive (thanks, MB). But seriously - what to wear? We had insane - I mean totally insane - thunderstorms that evening. And it was warm & muggy outside but likely cool in the restaurant. So, same white jeans from earlier in the day, tank, and pretty yellow & white tunic from Chicos last summer. And silver sandals from Target last year. I don't have a Polyvore because I haven't found a good dupe for this top on Polyvore. Ok, let's be honest, I haven't really spent much time looking. I guess I will now though. And I don't know that the Chicos crowd usually Polyvores, you know? Dinner was fabulous and I am so glad I went. Lots of fun.

Photo credit to Snap Happy, since I didn't get pics before I left.

Wednesday, feeling cruddier (is that a word?) I was on a conference call in the morning and then had to do errands in the afternoon, since Father's Day is Sunday. So boyfriend tissue tee and comfy white jeans. And after posting about the Havaianas, I am actually wearing them more, because I love the thought of walking on marshmallows, per lcsmom (her phrase to describe how comfy they are). I mean, seriously, who wouldn't want to be walking on marshmallows all day? It beats nails and gravel. And it also totally cracks me up, and you all know I like to be amused. It's kinda like a private joke to myself now when I wear them. Wow, the medicine is probably making me loopy. Or I need another cup of tea.

Polyvore set for Wednesday:

Wearing Today-6/10/09 by HeidiGblog featuring Havaianas shoes

So today, I have to drop Lucy at the kennel. Still haven't done it, but am planning to do so right after I post this and have a little cuddle time. Sniff, sniff. But she will be fine, I am sure. It's just me with the issues. :) We are headed to NC for my niece's high school graduation tomorrow. So I want to be comfy for the car ride, but also have on pants since we are picking up hubby at work and he will be in jeans and no doubt want the car frigid. (see? I am learning....) Navy bf tissue tee and linen-cotton seaside pants are perfect for today. I was inspired by A Bigger Closet's sparked up version of navy & khaki yesterday, so this is my version. Ok, hers was golden cypress pants, but whatever, close enough. So I have on Dina hoops, fireball necklace and Danielle sandals in warm blush to spruce it up. And, bonus, these are the accessories I plan on wearing all weekend (along with the Havaianas). So less to pack. Can I just say that I love these sandals and I am so glad I kept them? Love the color - so pretty, so fun, but so almost-neutral-it-goes-with-everything. It's funny to me that my hair is down because there's about a 1% chance that it will still be down and not in a ponytail by the time we hit the road.

Polyvore set for today:

Wearing Today-6/11/09 by HeidiGblog featuring J Crew

And you see all the accessories repeated here - Polyvore for packing:

Wearing Tomorrow, Saturday, & Sunday by HeidiGblog featuring J Crew

Wearing Today and a Tale of Three Necklaces

E is back in school, Lucy seems to be doing better and we were done with our walk before the torrential wind & rain blew through, and M is still healthy {knocks on wood}. All is well.

It is warm and humid...or at least it was, apparently the rain dropped the temp from 88 to 70. But the sunshine is back out.

A good day for JC's ringspun painter tee and linen-cotton seaside pants. And of course, I pulled out the Target Samala peep toe flats - but I am afraid they are done in. I totally tripped while we were walking because, well, I'm not at all graceful and that scuffed off the material covering the whole front of the shoe. It's awful looking. I guess that's what happens when you wear cheap shoes from Target (like I do so often). At least I wore them a bunch before this happened. Still...don't know that I can justify getting another pair if this happens so easily, and hello, I would definitely want to wear them for walking because of the comfort factor. Major bummer.

But enough about shoes for now, let's talk necklaces. The one I'm wearing today is a particular favorite that I got from BR last winter, on sale for about $24.99. I love the mixed metal chains. I love the sparkle on the pendant. I don't love that it will snag the occasional sweater, but I can deal with it usually. It's just a unique fun piece and it looked so fab paired with the Samala pewter flats...which just bit the dust. Oh well. Necklace works with a lot of other things, too.

I have 2 J Crew necklaces to post about as well.

The first is the Cherry Blossom Necklace (#17074, orig $75, curr $49.99). I spied it in the sale jar at checkout last time I was there, in shadow. It also comes in deep rose which looks pretty. I loved the smoke, as I love the smoky quartz look. However, when I came home and tried it on, it seems a little noisy - noisier than I would expect it to be. Pics with black dress and gray tee.











And I also saw this - oops - dent in the tubular bead. If that's how it came home, I worry how easily it can happen again. Guess it's definitely going back.


The second necklace is one I was eyeing in the catalog and in store. And then, when I ordered the 2 dresses with 20% off, I decided to take the plunge, as even just 1 kept item more than justified the 20% off. (My version of J Crew Math, which isn't nearly as entertaining as Paper Bag Princess' J Crew Math)

It's the Double Strand Confetti Necklace (#17075, $98). The beads are a cream color (or rather, champagne quartz), but they aren't pearls. I like that they are a change from pearls. I mean, who doesn't love pearls, but a change in nice sometimes. I think the length is perfect and it can tackle just about any vneck without being too short. And well, I just loved the exuberance of the necklace.

The problem with that exuberance is that IRL, it almost seemed a little too messy for me. Pics with black dress and gray tee.

I am leaning very much toward returning this one. I like it, but don't know that it's worth FP or just 20% off. I think I'll wait this one out. Gigi did a review of the confetti necklace along with some F21 potential subsitutions.

And I can't forget Polyvore set for today:


Wearing Today - 5/29/09 by HeidiGblog featuring J Crew



Happy Weekend!!

Wearing Today - Inspred by the Start of Pool Season

I think I must have been inspired by the pool opening this weekend. I went with all blue-green today. It's also a pretty close replica of my yellow/navy combo here that seemed to go over well, and that I really liked. Started out with the navy Nicky skirt. Swapped out the yellow ringspun painter tee for one in aqua green (which I got on sale 2 weeks ago for 9.99, yay for in store markdowns). Swapped out the Erickson Beamon bubble necklace for the J Crew fireball. And added sandals instead of flats because it is 80 degrees outside.

I love this Nicky skirt. Even though I had to iron it this morning. which I hate. I hate ironing and try to buy as few needs-ironing clothes as possible, and that would probably explain my tendency toward sweaters and tees. I can use Downy Wrinkle Reducer Spray on those. Have you all ever used it? It works so well, it's just like magic. A friend of mine was laughing at me until I actually showed her. Now she is a convert.

Ironing aside, it's a great outfit for a warm day because it's comfy and easy but not so sloppy. I actually find skirts/dresses to be more comfortable in hot weather than shorts. They may not always be practical, but I try to stretch it when I can.

Polyvore for today:



Wearing Today-5/22/09 by HeidiGblog featuring J Crew


ps - don't forget to help me pick which dress in the post below. Thanks!

Wearing today - pearls, pearls, pearls

Today I was back up at school to help M's class glaze tiles in Art class. It's actually very cool. They are tiles (all with cows) that will go in the Mooseum (yes, that's the correct spelling) in Germantown The Mooseum is a converted dairy barn in the middle of the South Germantown Recreational Park that periodically opens and educates the puble about the heritage of dairy farming in Montgomery County. We do a field trip there each year, which was supposed to be tomorrow,then got moved, and now is up in the air. One of our teachers is very involved in the Mooseum. They have finally gotten enough funding that they are supposed to be doing construction to convert the dairy barn to a full-time museum. And M's grade was chosen to make tiles that will be put up in the Mooseum.


So, what to wear, what to wear. Glazing tiles? Let's go with a dark color. Temps? Still gray/chilly in AM but could warm up. Don't want anything too heavy.


J Crew navy cotton vneck sweater and jeans it is. I am so glad I got this sweater earlier this year. I have worn it just as much as the BR navy vneck that it replaced. (And oh, the BR one sooooo needed to be replaced. It was sad...) For a little color, bright yellow painter crewneck tee and gray patent flats. And then topped off with some pearls - the Target pearl cluster necklace and the F21 long strand doubled. I liked how both necklaces looked together, and I think it worked on such a simple (hehehe, read boring or plain) outfit. And it's not like I'm wearing grandma's heirloom pearls up to art class.


About the gray patent flats...I've discussed these before but that was early on in my blogging life and I have more readers now than I did then so I am hoping someone can help. These flats (accurately depicted in the Polyvore) are from Target last year. One of the many colors that the Xhilaration Sable ballet flat. I love these shoes. The gray patent works with just about everything. And they usually give any outfit a fun, unexpected pop.


So what's the problem? Like I said, I got them last year and wear them a LOT. So you can imagine the wear on them when they weren't the bestest quality to begin with. So here's my plea for help. I am looking for some really simple gray patent flats that are comfy. If anyone has any info, suggestions, sources, I would love to hear. You'll be my new BFF. Seriously. Thank you!

Polyvore set for today:


Wearing Today - 5/6/09 by HeidiGblog on Polyvore.com


By the way, when I put together the Polyvore set this morning, I was betting that I would have my hair up at some point in the day. But it's 2:30 and hair is still down, so yay me! Not so lazy today...

Wearing Today Featuring J Crew Painter Tee and Nicky Skirt

Another April scorcher today here in DC. Today's outfit features some major bargains lately at the Crew. First up, the Ringspun Crewneck Painter Tee (#12672, orig $34, curr $19.99) in a sun yellow, maybe? I think it's brighter than the sweet lemon online. (don't still have the tag) It was marked down to $19.99, plus crewpon = $14.99! And then the Cotton Taffeta Nicky skirt in navy (orig $78, on sale $19.99, plus crewpon = $14.99). I am loving the Nicky because when I first tried it on about 2 months ago, it looked awful on me. Now, thanks to the weight loss and getting into shape, a smaller size fits and looks fab. Yay! So I feel especially great with it on.

And then to dress up the boring tee & skirt - the Erickson Beamon Clear Beaded Bubble Necklace. Still love that piece - it's so fun. I will be wearing it like this a lot in the summer - to spice up a plain top. Plus some silver bracelets and a fun navy/silver bangle. Jewelry details at right. (PatinaCabachon is so good at posting those details!)

So today was my last day to use the crewpon, so of course, I had to go. Yes, I did get another boyfriend tissue vneck tee (I told you I would be getting Breeze before the card expired, so I did), plus a couple other things I'll be posting in the next few days. So lots of fun stuff to talk about. But it's time to head to the bus stop.

Here's my Polyvore for today:



Wearing Today - 04/28/09 by HeidiGblog featuring Old Navy tank tops

The Start of Summer (Wearing Yesterday...)

Sorry so late in posting. Hubby is away golfing this weekend and my parents came up yesterday to spend the weekend. My sister & family (& puppy) are coming up today to spend the night because (1) it's my nephew's 7th bday and he really wants to see his cousin for his birthday(so sweet!)...and visit the Lego store at Tysons, and (2) we want to get the puppies together. Chase, their springer spaniel puppy, is only 3 days younger than Lucy. Lucy is going to lose her mind when she has a puppy to play with non-stop for a day. Much as she loves balls and people, she just *LOVES* other dogs. So if I'm totally delinquent in posting/commenting/etc over the weekend, that's why. But I should have some cute puppy pics to compensate when I return.

It was gorgeous yesterday, so I finally got to wear my J Crew bon voyage tee with white jeans, as I have been picturing ever since I got that tee. And paired with the short sleeve navy vneck cardi, which I imagined as the perfect 3rd piece. And the new Target Merona Eleora flat sandals - which were comfy.

More to chat about later. I met my parents at the mall for lunch. After I showed my mom my new white rosette tee, we went back and got one for her, too. Any chance anyone has seen a pic online that I can snag for Polyvore (in white)? Otherwise, I'll be photographing it hanging on my closet door and clipping that pic. By the way, because of returns, I only net-spent $5 at J Crew, so I thought that was pretty good.

Polyvore of yesterday's outfit:


Wearing Yesterday-04/24/09 by HeidiGblog featuring Forzieri earrings

Hope you enjoy your weekend and have beautiful weather wherever you are!

Outfit of the Day, plus a Casual Discussion

Puppy training still in full force - lots of walks today and some garden clean up this afternoon (you know, from the holly hedges that I butchered yesterday). Plus work and E's soccer practice. Busy but fun day. Sunny but chilly and windy, but decided to go ahead and pull out for its inaugural wearing...the J Crew Ringspun Painter Tee (what was this, Holiday-ish 08?) I was in love with the green Bon Voyage tee for quite a while. Fantasized about how crisp it would look with white jeans, about how it would ground a floaty white skirt. Almost got it once for 29.99, but couldn't decide between with pink and the green. Oh, decisions, whatever, I know. Finally made the decision when I thought it was gone forever and happened to see 1 in my size hanging on the sale rack and I grabbed that sucker, only to find it was 19.99 with 30% off. Squeeee!

So since it's totally not short sleeve weather, and I'm always cold, I pulled out a white long sleeve perfect tee to layer underneath along with yes, the trusty Chicos jeans and my LL Bean navy polka dot slipons. Add some gold hoops and the cheapo H+M ring. For bus stop and dog walking, add the green Gap corduroy jacket and a pink pashmina (bunched up as a very cozy scarf) and I was good to go.

But it got me thinking about casual in general. Here I was in a tshirt and jeans, yet I felt very polished and pressed. Not quite church-ready, but not that far off. And my reality is that I am casual most days, since I am blessed enough to work 95% of the time from home (so fantastically flexible). I think that all too often, people equate casual with sloppy. I remember way back in the day, when I was relatively fresh out of college, and my company then instituted casual Fridays, and later jeans Fridays. (woo hoo!) There were some guidelines, of course, but it was so widely open to interpretation. One time in particular, two guys that I worked with had on the same basic outfit - a navy blue collared knit shirt and jeans - but the effect was so totally different between the two. "C" had a nice blue shirt, well-cared for, just the right fit so that it was a light loose casual, with a white tshirt underneath, tucked in with a belt, and nice sneakers. "J" had a faded blue shirt, that was a size too small-ish because it stuck to the chest area a bit, if you know what I mean, no tshirt underneath, not tucked in, with very dirty sneakers. Amazing the difference.

And I think that's what I strive against in my daily casual wear. Ok, you know my "dirty" secret - the gardening overalls. But I have other sloppy clothes - like the mens XL fleece pullover from Disney that is oh-so-cozy and my favorite thing to wear when I'm sick or just really chilly & tired. Plus tees like the one at right here, which make great sleep tees, especially when I roll out of bed and throw on sweats to take Lucy out in the morning. But most days, I try to make the effort. It can be a slippery slope. (For you Project Runway fans, yes, that is me channeling Laura Bennett - love her!!) And it doesn't take any longer to throw on a fitted tee or sweatshirt, or add a nice cardi or cozy sweater than it does to put on a sloppy, torn, paint-splattered faded tee or sweatshirt. (This is the plug for the well-organized closet.) Trust me, I am all about comfort. With the possible exception of the occasional dress heel, I only wear extremely comfortable clothes/shoes/etc. But I think it is possible to be comfortable and chic at the same time. If you need some more great ideas, FabulousFloridaMommy had an entire post devoted to some great casual chic options for spring/summer. Definitely check it out, if you haven't seen it already.

And another Lucy puppy pic to make you smile, or at least it makes me smile...