Marshalls, Target & Ikea

My daughter-in-law just made a statement that made me realize that I am seriously in love  my family is seriously in love with a few stores. She said her Mom asked her where I got a gift I had bought my adorable granddaughter.  She told her Mom, "Probably Marshalls or Target."  I hadn't realized till then that whenever someone asks me where I bought something (translation:  Where did you get that, cause I love it!), my answer is usually, "Marshalls or Target."  Are there other stores I love? Definitely!  I love Ikea but the nearest one is hours and hours away.  Does that stop me from shopping there - no but I only go about 3 or 4 times a year.  This is a pic of my hallway.  Don't you just looovve the Ikea low profile shoe cabinets.  I also love that there is a small space to add a little holiday décor.
 

Gotta love those Target antlers.  I used them for my fall décor and I still can't get enough of them, so I kept them up for Christmas.  The reindeer and silver star is also from Target in the ornament section.  The cranberry garland is from Marshalls. 

Frock Me Friday - Cover Me Up

It's that time of year again. The time of year when I have to drink something strong, take a deep breath,
...and put on a swimsuit.

nikkicrumpet.blogspot.com

Don't freak out, that woman is obviously not me - she doesn't have any issues with her body!  Surfing the internet for swimsuits also led me to this one:

www.funnybest.com

Look closely - that suit is painted on her.  Too funny!


The frock we're talking about today is not the swimsuit but more importantly the magical swimsuit cover up:

nikkicrumpet.blogspot.com

Hmmm...looking for a little more cover than that. Or there's this one:

www.tropicalbeachfashion.com

The description for this cover up says:  "This cover-up dress has a deep plunging neckline, long sleeves and is made from our white, shimmering sheer fabric."  Hmmm - this must be for those beaches in France and what the heck happened to her nipples?!


The kind of cover up I'm looking for is something that will give me more coverage than a table doily, but not too much cover up that I look like a nun out for her convent's day at the beach. Stylish modesty is the look I'm  going for.  I always shop for two different types of swimsuit cover ups: one to wear around my pool in the back yard, and one to wear if I'm going on vacation or to the beach (a little more coverage.)


First up the cover up to wear around the pool:

www.southbeachswimsuits.com

www.bostonproper.com

Melissa odabash

When going on vacation or to the beach, I like to wear a little longer cover up over my swim suit so I'm ready for anything - shopping, lunch, or swimming.  

www.bostonproper.com

www.bostonproper.com

target.com

www.southbeachswimsuits.com

Now I'm going to have to do some jumping jacks and push ups so I can get in my swimsuit!

~Laurie

Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate > A Mommy Shower

Recently my good friend had the most adorable baby and gave her an equally adorable name to match: Cora Jean. My friend is an amazing mama to two other little girls, crafter extraordinaire, and a country girl at heart. In a nutshell, she's just an awesome chick!

After she had her little cupcake, my friends and I wanted to do something fun just for her, since she had just made the cutest baby and she lets the rest of us fight over who gets to snuggle and love said baby. Seriously, is there anything better than holding a sleeping baby that smells like love and rainbows?! (Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a tiny bit with the rainbows and love thing; but in my crazy head that's what I think a squishy newborn baby smells like.)

Don't get me wrong, you all know how much we love a great baby shower around these parts; but sometimes it feels like a new baby gets all the attention and the poor, tired and sore, mama gets pushed aside like an ugly stepsister. I'm mean really, if you just created a tiny perfect human being, you deserve a little pampering. Or a cupcake, at the very least!

So we threw her a little party just for her, mainly to say thanks for having a sweet little baby that we can heap lots of love on and not have to feed, clothe, or pay for her college. And since our gal is a true country girl, (seriously, she has some great stories about plucking chickens and stuffing her family's pet goose for a high school science credit...) we decorated her party with a little farm chick flare:

All of the gifts were strictly pampering mom gifts, with the exception of some extra packs of diapers because really, not having to spend money on diapers is a gift in itself. She can use all that extra money on Starbucks and pedicures! Well, I would anyway...

We used lots of old funky mason jars and hung some fantastic Target dollar zone tea lights with some nubby twine. We also used small mason jars for our drink cups and then took some fun cupcake liners (from Target again) and used them as the lids:

Then of course was the food. No mommy shower is complete without yummy foods!

Thanks Mystie, for having the most beautiful baby girl so that my own ovaries didn't have to!

P.S. My husband thanks you too.

~Angela

Frock Me Friday > Maximize Your Summer

Once again, it's my favorite time of the year where I get to bring out my most favorite pieces in my wardrobe: The Maxi Dress!

If I was a (bad) poet I could write a sonnet on how much I love this dress. But since I'm against torture I'll just hit you with the high points.

• There isn't a curve that this dress doesn't love. It clings in the right places and hides all the ones that are waiting for a good plastic surgeon. They are very maximizing, hence the name!
• It's long. It's still a little "Springish" around here and my legs still have that Twilight glow about them. So while my self tanner develops, my maxi dress highlights my summery pedicure - not my sunless legs.
• I don't have to shave my legs to wear it. No, I'm not saying I don't shave my legs. I'm just saying that I don't like to shave them every day! Which if you are of Hungarian and Mexican descent, and go a day without shaving in a short dress, people are going to be talking about you and your she wolf legs, and that time when Julia Roberts had hairy pits on the red carpet. Hairy legs brings up that kind of stuff...
• The top part of a Maxi dress is kind of magical. It's nice to all shape and sizes of "the girls", if you know what I mean. Great draping for those who got them (and them some) and great draping for those who don't. It tames and highlights at the same time. Don't ask me how it works, just chalk it up to one of those great life mysteries.
• They look great for any dress code. Wear them out to lunch or by the pool. Add a great jacket or sweater and dress them up for an evening out, and then fall into bed in it after your crazy night out (or you were to exhausted to move from your day at the pool - it happens).

They are so versatile! What's not to love? Check out all of these great Maxi dresses that you could be stylishly hanging out in this summer:

Black Dresses
Day Dresses

Day Dresses
Black Dresses

Black Dresses
Day Dresses

Day Dresses
Day Dresses

Happy Maximizing!

~Angela

Manic Monday > All Over The Map

This weekend flew by like a IRS refund. Sorry, had to do it. Tax day is tomorrow in case you hadn't heard or you are skipping taxes this year - which may not the best idea, just ask Wesley Snipes.

Here in Glossy Flossy land we had a weekend filled with baseball, sunshine, and most importantly, kettle corn. Seriously is there anything better than baseball and popcorn? Well maybe popcorn and wine, but your fellow little league fans might frown on your glass of Pinot in your cup holder, so best leave that combo for home. Which led me to this recipe for home made kettle corn in the MICROWAVE from April over at Frugal Homemaking, with just a paper bag and just four ingredients. Easy Homemade Kettle Corn:

2 Tbsp. popcorn kernels

2 tsp. oil

1 Tbsp. sugar or sugar substitute

Dash salt

Directions:

• Pour the kernels, oil, sugar and salt in a small bowl. Mix until all kernels are well coated with sugar, salt, and oil.
• Pour the bowl's contents into the paper bag. Place the bag on a plate and fold the top of the bag over 1" twice. You can also use a microwave-safe bowl and a vented lid (like a microwave-safe colander or splatter shield),
• Place in the microwave on popcorn setting or for about 1 minute, 15 seconds. Either way, shut off microwave when popping slows to less than a pop every second to avoid burning.
• Open slowly and carefully, as steam will be hot.

Was anyone else foaming at the the mouth with this week's stay a home mom bashing? Lets face it, being a mom is not a job for wimps. It is a freaking hard job to be solely responsible for the complete development of a human being, who at times just wants to cry and break stuff. Why would we as women turn on each other, when we are all in the same boat whether we work or not? Lets face it, the children out number us, so we should stick together -there is safety in numbers!

Is everyone getting ready to plant their gardens? Laurie Glossy Flossy planted her garden this weekend, but I am still procrastinating...I have these two livestock troughs that will hopefully soon look like this:

In the mean time check out all these great gardening plans for vegetables from Better Homes and Gardens:



I'm also jonesing for new melamine plates for summer:



Marimekko Plates, Crate and Barrel

Melamine Summer 2012 Collection, Target (Online only)

Happy Manic Monday!

~Angela

Frock Me Friday > Edgy Wedgy

Spring is finally here my little bunnies, and everyone knows that summer can't be too far behind when you start to see perky and vibrant sandals popping up in the stores. Do you know what's even better than the Spring parade of open toed glamour? The arrival of this year's wedges!

Sandals by Unlisted
Platforms by Dolce Vita

I love, love, love, wedges. They are like the tougher, more rebel, version of the sandal. They make you look taller, your legs longer, and you can cover more ground when running after your crazy kids or chasing down a crazy mugger good sale. Most importantly they give you the height and look of a heel, without aerating the lawn every time you walk through the grass. Not these babies. If you think about it, they're kind of like the "all terrain" version of open toe heels!

Sandals by Xhilaration
Platforms by Bebe

Oh, and they look fabulous too!

Spring into Summer Wedges by glossyflossy featuring wedge shoes

Get 'em before they are gone!

~Angela
(And as always, click on the pics for shopping info.)

Frock Me Friday > The Sun Has Come Back!

In between the wind, rain, and snow (true story) coming down around here, I caught a (gasp!) glimpse of the sun. Me, with my winter pale skin and sensitive eyes, squinted up at those joyous rays of light like one of those cave creatures who had never seen the sun before. Then I ran inside before the sun disappeared again, to grab my favorite pair of sunglasses. A chorus of angels sang (well, maybe that was just me)as the sun had liberated them from the dark drawer, I had thrown them in months ago...

The sun is back everyone, and while this may not be as dramatic to you as it was to moi; it does mean that it's time to break out those fabulous sunglasses you've been dying to wear!

 Cheap Well priced sunglasses are one of my very favorite accessories. I think I inherited this obsession from my Dad. He's never met a pair of gas station sunglasses he didn't love. Some people collect magnets from places they've been, my Dad collects sunglasses. I'm also the worst at remembering where I've left my sunglasses and I have three boys and two dogs that love to destroy things; so I often buy sunglasses in multiples to avoid the inevitable melt down when I find my favorite pair stuck in the toilet. It's happened before...  

So today I've rounded up a few chic and well priced sunglasses with this season's trends - just in case you can't find yours or they are in a toilet somewhere.

Under $15 from Shopsuey:

Under $25 from Asos:

Under $25 (click for stores):

Sunglasses by Aldo
Sunglasses by Arden B

Welcome back sun! Oh how I've missed ya.

~Angela

Manic Monday > Makes Me Want to Shop and Dance!

Welcome to another Monday at Chaos and Gloss. Hope you all had a great Saint Patrick's Day!

Things I'm loving this week:

Commericals that make me want to dance AND shop. Best of both worlds, right?  I am in love with this one from Target, and not just because my Grandma used to always sing "Allouette" to me as a little girl. Don't you just love Target's bright new home decor line?

Here is some of my favorite picks from this line:

Then there's this fun commerical from one of my favorite stores: White House /  Black Market:

She makes tap dancing look so cool! Here are some fabulous pieces from their new line to put some "Spring" into your step:

I'm also loving Potholes & Pantyhose's tutorial on making your own eye makeup remover! Fun and witty blogger Rebekah, says that it's just as effective as the pricier versions she's tried. She also has a recipe for gentle face wash. Check them out here:



I've also been pinning like crazy, DIY projects that involve wood pallets; which my friend and I are eyeballing to incorporate into her living room redo. Check out these fabulous pins:

Source: dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.com via GlossyFlossy on Pinterest

Here's to an inspired Monday!

~Angela