Frock Me Friday > Wedding Watching Wear

It's that time of year again, and judging by the traffic we've been receiving on our wedding posts, you all love weddings as much as we do!

Tis the season to receive many beautiful wedding invites in the mail only to have your very next thought be: What in the heck am I going to wear to this?

Summer weddings present unique challenges to a wedding guests attire simply because; there are way more venues to have weddings at when the sun is out and weather is warm. I've seen weddings (and attended a few) thrown in rose gardens, boats, parks, barns, in front of mountains, wineries, backyards, and sandy beaches. These shindigs are great to attend, but not so great at trying to figure out what kind of dress to wear so that those mountain winds and beachy breezes don't show off your wedding underwear.

The bonuses of dressing for a summer wedding are the fun summery colors, open toed sandals, fabulous hats, and maybe getting a little tan in while you watch the happy couple say I do. Bottom line: have fun with it! 

Here are a few options that will having you looking mhaaarvelous at any venue:

Garden Summer Wedding

Cocktail Dresses
Sandals

summer Wedding On The Beach

Day Dresses
Sandals

Day Dresses
Sandals

Boat Cruise Summer Wedding

Day Dresses
Sandals

Evening Summer Wedding

Cocktail Dresses
Sandals

Happy Wedding Season!

~Angela

Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate > Flag Day!



Did you all know that June 14th is Flag Day here in the good ole U.S. of A? No? Don't feel bad, I didn't realize the stars and stripes had it's own holiday either, until a couple of years ago. As usual, I'm one of the last to know.

According to Wikipedia,  in 1916 Flag Day was established to celebrate the official adoption of the flag of the United States of America in 1777. Incidentally, our beloved flag also shares a birthday with the United States Army. Happy birthday you guys! I think I need to have dessert today in their honor. I mean, it's the patriotic thing to do, right?

The other patriotic thing you could do today that won't add junk to your trunk is to of course, hang out your flag. Will any old flag decor do, you ask? Would I pass up free furniture on the side of the road on garbage day? Well I could, but it would go against my very soul.

So to get those creative powers fired up, check out some of these great Flag Day inspired ideas: (Of course they are from our addiction: Pinterest, visit our board for resources.)

Source: dreamhomediy.com via GlossyFlossy on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via GlossyFlossy on Pinterest

Source: oodlekadoodleprimitives.blogspot.com via GlossyFlossy on Pinterest

Source: sugartotdesigns.blogspot.com via GlossyFlossy on Pinterest

Source: blog.thecelebrationshoppe.com via GlossyFlossy on Pinterest

Source: afterninetofive.net via GlossyFlossy on Pinterest

Source: afterninetofive.net via GlossyFlossy on Pinterest

Happy Flag Day!

~Angela

Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate > Update to Bride's Emergency Survival Kit

patinastores.com

I think this is a direct quote from my blog to me.


The title of this post should be how to take an easy 30 minute job and turn it into 3 hours of angst, despair and swearing or let me list a few thoughts I've had:

• Are you kidding me - where did it go!
• Oh no, no, no, I'm paraphrasing because it really went Oh ****, ****, ****.
• I should call Ange and see if she can fix this.  What time is it, will she be awake?  (It is the first day of summer break.)
• How can I get back to where I started from.

and one last one:

• Please let this work.  Okay I said that several times and finally it did work.

This was a supposed to be a simple post.  I was going to let you know that I updated the "Bride's Emergency Survival Kit" post to include a link to the printable sign so that you could use it when you make your own kit for your special bride.  Easy, Peasy - unless you also decide to add a new category called "Printables" under the Category list on the right side of the blog.


That also should be easy to do, but when I added Printables, the whole Category list disappeared from the blog completely - the blog Fairy of Confusion struck!  That's when all the above comments began.


I now, finally, have a new Category list on the blog and to tell you the truth I have no idea if those categories were what were listed before, I'm just glad to have something there.


Now back to the 30 minute post and link:


If you would like to print your own "Bride's Emergency Survival Kit," sign, go here to the original post and click on the link.


Okay, I stand corrected, it would have taken about 5 minutes.


~ Laurie

Dear Me > Last Day Of School

In what feels like a blink of an eye, once again school is out for summer. All across the country, mother's everywhere are gearing up for a three month free-for-all, by stocking up on pool toys, sunscreen, ear plugs, and for some of us, large glasses of wine.

 

Personally I sort of have a mixed bag of feelings about summer vacation. Part of me breaks into a cold sweat thinking about three wild boys running around my house looking for mischief something to do for eight hours a day. The images that come to my mind look a little like "Lord of the Flies".

A much bigger part of me though, delights in the idea of laid back mornings in our jammies, afternoons by the pool, dripping ice cream cones, and evenings spent roasting marshmallows. What's not to love about that?

Most of all, what I really love about summer break, is that it gives us moms (and grandmas!), after nine months of school projects, sports practice, flash cards and homework, the time to rediscover our children all over again.

Most of the time it feels as though my family and I are just on one big hamster wheel of life during the school year. We rise with the sun and rush to get ready for the day, scramble to make school lunches, and then race for the bus. Then it's off to run errands, doctor and dentist appointments, emptying the dishwasher, and folding never ending mountains of laundry. When the kids come from school it's a race for a quick snack, homework, then we all spread out for practice for whichever sport we are playing at the time. Dinner comes late in the evening, after which we finish up the rest of the homework, shower off the boy stink, and then collapse into bed. Then we wake up the next day and do it all over again. And on and on, around the hamster wheel we go.

Don't get me wrong though, my family weirdly thrives on a packed schedule and we do spend a lot of time together as a family because of it; but in our daily rush some of the spontaneity and closeness of just having some down time together gets lost in the hustle.

Summertime is a time to get silly with your kids, to stay up late gazing up at the stars to catch a comet, and for eating ice cream for breakfast. Somewhere in between the long bike rides, lazy picnic lunches, and skipping rock contests, it happens. Everyone's shoulders start to relax, those goofy personalities we love so much come out to play, and we once again see our carefree children that had once been so stressed out about playing, "Bah Bah Black Sheep" in their upcoming recorder concert.

Instead of fighting who gets to the bus first, brothers once again share whispered secrets while digging in the mud for worms, or giggles over inappropriate songs about body parts; instead of throwing erasers at each other's heads at the homework table. 

Moms get sweet hugs with sticky fingers and late night cuddles on the couch. On long walks by the river; preteen boys (who are still little boys to their mamas) share tales of their school friends that their mom didn't even know they had, and ask big questions their moms are never prepared to answer.

Mostly, summer for me, gives back some of that time from when they were little and we had them all to ourselves. We knew every triumph and tragedy in their little world and mostly all of their secrets.

I think back on how I couldn't wait for them to start preschool - for a tiny bit of independence for them and for me, but now I count the days until the summer sun comes out, and I see glimpses of those grubby little boys whose only worry is when their next snack is. I've got three months and gallons of ice cream ahead of me and I couldn't be happier!

Happy Summer Break!

~Angela

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

Dress This Mess > Home Office Solutions

I know Miss Angela said that we were back last week but I'm a little older and slower than her and it takes me a couple of extra days.  Today, I am officially back.


Some things that we are working on:

• Miss Angela's home office - we are refreshing her office and have a couple of DIY projects to show you.  I'm excited about this project and have been checking out some home offices for inspiration.  

Eclectic Home Office design by Other Metros Interior Designer Cynthia Mason Interiors+

Contemporary Home Office design by Orange County Interior Designer Domicile Interior Design

Eclectic Home Office design by Boise Interior Designer Judith Balis

Eclectic Home Office design by Boston Interior Designer Lovejoy Designs

Eclectic Home Office design by Minneapolis Interior Designer Martha O'Hara Interiors

Contemporary Home Office design by New York Closets And Organization transFORM | The Art of Custom Storage

I'm excited about an actual home office space because I don't have one.  When I get ready to update my home office, my inspirations will be all about carving out a home office niche from an existing room.  This will be my inspiration:

Eclectic Home Office design by Media And Blogs Whimages

Contemporary Home Office design by New York Closets And Organization transFORM | The Art of Custom Storage

Traditional Home Office design

• The Barney Room - I will finally be getting around to painting over the color it was when we moved in.  Oh, you don't have a "Barney Room"?  I like to name my spare bedrooms so that guests know which room they are staying in.  I must of got this from my mother, as she calls her room the "blue room". The "Barney Room" is named after that famous purple dinosaur because the room is currently a bright shade of lavendery purple.  Even though I will be changing the color, it's snappy name will have to stay.

• Babies, Babies, Babies - We know a lot of people having babies and I have a couple of adorable projects to share with you and maybe some of the babies in your life!

• Outdoor/Garden Projects - It is that time of year when we spend more time in our outdoor rooms than in our indoor rooms. We will be sharing some of our tips and tricks of how to turn your patio space into an extra room in your house, all on a thrifty budget!

Stay tuned for more on all these projects and more!

 

From the bottom of our hearts; thanks for every one's patience as Angela and I get our blogging legs back underneath us!

~Laurie

Frock Me Friday > Where Are My Thongs?

Weeeee'rrrre back!! Sorry for the radio silence, rolling tumbleweeds, and chirping crickets, but Laurie and I needed some serious recovery time after the big wedding. (Which was fabulous! More on that to come...) We are now officially back in the blogging saddle, and oh how we've missed you all!

Back to business though....

No, I wasn't talking about THAT kind of thong.

Although, I'm embarrassed to admit that years ago someone had to inform me that NO ONE was using the word "thongs" anymore. Sheesh! When did that happen, I wondered? The kind of thongs that go on your feet were now referred to as "flip flops" hence forth, explained my wise pop culture guru. "Thong" is now only used when describing seriously uncomfortable underwear that originated from Brazil, or a horrible late 90's songs.

Go figure. Just between you and me though, they will always be thongs to me and my inner 80's child. So there.

Luckily for you and me it's that time of year to break out that toe friendly foot wear! After all, nothing says summer, like a fresh pedicure and a pair of fabulous thongs flip flops. Check out some that have me matching up nail polish colors:

Summer Flip Flops by glossyflossy featuring floral print shoes

summer flip flops 2 by glossyflossy featuring strap shoes

Here's some looks to get you inspired:

Navy/Cream Stripe ruffle dress by cheesemyhead featuring volcom shoes

Striped Maxi Skirt by cheesemyhead featuring a denim jacket

Jason Wu Dress by bluehydrangea featuring jute handbags

Tangerine Summer Dream by ster-dub featuring stud earrings

Happy Frock Me Friday!

~Angela