window shopping wednesday

Well hello strangers!  I know, I have been slack again.  But at least I warned you this time!!  Like I said, we were enjoying our 1 year anniversary as a married couple this weekend, so I left the computer behind to spend some quality time with "my man".  It was wonderful and full of surprises!

Today's post won't be much of a surprise.  It is Wednesday after all.  I'm slipping in just in time again to drop a post.  I promise to be on point next week.  This week has been short and packed to say the least.  I promise to set aside some lounge time with the Mac Book soon to share some stories and tid-bits.  Oh, and some of the new Bachelorette!  EEK!  Ya'll know how much I love The Bachelor seasons.

Ok...so this weekend we have another pre-nuptial party.  This one is a Bon Voyage party to send the couple on their merry way as they will be getting married in Cancun and we all can't make it.  We'll be outside share some toasts and well wishes for the happy couple.  Its going to be hot, so any summer dress will do.  But, I am obsessed with these pants and refuse to let the spring/early summer slip by without featuring them.  So, to spice things up and get away from the dress (which I am probably wearing anyways), here goes nothing...

Forever21 top, Tory Burch jeans (*love*), simple gold earrings, neutral wedge

Bon Voyage, mi amor!  (not sure if that is right or not, but I like the way it sounds.)

window wednesday for mr. wonderful

For starters, if you haven't heard, my family likes to call John Eric Mr. Wonderful.  We also like to sing the song whenever anyone says "Mr. Wonderful".  Its just your typical on-going joke.  He is pretty wonderful though.  Don't worry, that is my one moment of sappiness.  You know me better than that.

This Window Shopping Wednesday will be dedicated to him and all his glory.  Why?  Because he has a birthday coming up...and it is quite the milestone.  The Big 3-0.  For some reason, when he shops he refuses to purchase any weekend wear.  He loves to shop for work wear, but the weekend gear?  Not so much.  And after last night's shopping spree, I know why.  I also know why they freak out when we go shopping and come home with an entire outfit.  Their clothes are freaking expensive!!! Only the ugly stuff in ugly colors go on sale and their trends don't change.  Well, they change for the guys into skinny jeans, but I'm sure you have figured out that I am not married to a man wearing skinny jeans.  A shirt, shorts, boxers, and shoes cost more than $200!  Say what!?  Why yes, I would like to apply for that credit card, Mr. Cashier.  Sersioulsy fellas, we can buy a full outfit for under $100.  Easy.  And we usually have really good sales.  See if I let my clothes ride around in the trunk for a week before sneaking them in again.

Well, I wanted to buy him some cute outfits to wear this summer.  I love summer clothes for men.  I love the brightly colored, seer sucker, gingham, and plaids.  They just look so cute in them.  Agree?  So, I went to get him a new outfit to wear to another engagement party this weekend.  I wanted him to feel special since we couldn't do anything special for his birthday this weekend.

Here is the special outfit for the birthday boy...

Above pictured are Ralph Lauren shirt, shorts, and boxers and Sperry Top-Siders.  His shirt is the same blue but with a red Polo Man.  He has lost 3 pairs of Sperry's.  This is his last chance of redemption.  I'm sure he'll choose to wear his loafers though.  He never leaves home without his tassels.  No, the hunky bod in the boxers does not belong to John Eric, but I did leave him so you ladies could have a little eye candy.   (Really I just couldn't bring myself to crop all that hotness for fear of karma.)

So...do you all agree that he will be the cutest thing there?  I do.  Or did I go over board with the matching boxers?  Probably over board, but he loves it!  I asked him to put it on and let me get a picture for the blog.  He showed up in no shirt and an apron.  Hence, no photo of John Eric.

mother's day gifts!!


If you are like 90% of America, you probably haven't gotten a Mother's Day gift for that special mom of yours.  If you are you reading this and thinking you have a week to worry about that, I have bad news for you...Mother's Day is SUNDAY!  If you are freaking out now, catch your breath and finish this post before burning that rubber.  To help you over your last minute hurdles, I have found some easy last minute gifts suitable for all most moms. 

Here is your Last Minute Mother's Day Gift Guide:

The Beach Mom

Clockwise: Sea Life Topped Bottles from Pottery Barn, Sailor Tote from Banyan Hippo on Etsy, Sunhat from Shopbop, Sail Away Cuff from Lilly Pulitzer, Fish Bowl from Pier 1

The Eclectic Mom 

Clockwise: MacKenzie-Childs flower market frame, A Perfectly Kept House is The Sign of a Misspent Life book from Anthropologie, flower measuring cups from Pier 1, Eclectic jewelry box from Pottery Barn, Castaway Ring from Max&Chloe



The Classic Mom 

Clockwise: Traveler's Jewelry Box at Pottery Barn, Bobble Stripe Scarf from GAP, kate spade clutch, Silver-plated locket frame at Pottery Barn

 The Working Mom (aka "The Vicki Gunvalson Mom")

Clockwise: Porcelain desktop clock at MoMA Store, Dooney & Bourke computer sleeve, Chip Paperclip holder at MoMA Store, Pavina porcelain travel mugs at Target, kate spade smartphone hard cover



I hope this is helpful to those tearing through the stores tomorrow!  Another good idea is filling a cute basket with lotions and bath goodies.  My mom personally loves that idea because she always claims "I don't buy that kind of stuff for myself.  I get the generic stuff."  Oh mom, you can still get good generic and inexpensive items, you just don't know what you are looking for (or you left your reading glasses at home again).  But I will keep that secret to myself and continue to let her think I use "all these spa products", as she would say.  I will also keep my fingers crossed that she missed this post. 

window shopping wednesday

So last week I pranced myself into work sporting a cute white Jackie-O jacket that I snagged from my mom's closet.  (We like to play dress up and swap clothes.  She gives me her stuff that is too narrow through the shoulders, I give her my stuff that is, well, too narrow.)   I made my usual path over to Meagan's desk to say good morning and check on baby bump.  While I was talking to her over the cubicle wall she kept giving me this funny look.  Finally she wheeled her chair around and bluntly asked, "what are you wearing?"  Oh, those pregnant women and their hormones.  I laughed and responded, "what? My mom gave it to me."  You would have thought she just solved a calculus formula by her oh-so-enlightening "Ooooh".  To which she followed up with, "yeah, you look like a mom."  Of course I told her that I liked that look but her only response was "I know you do." 

Apparently luck was on my side because before I had the chance to undo my wardrobe, newly wed Kate was photographed wearing the same jacket, but in black.  Of course I have plastered the picture all over Meagan's wall.  Just as I shall plaster it here.

photo courtesy of styleclone.com

Who's winning now, Meggers?  (She hates it when we call her that.)

Since this weekend is Mother's Day, I think it is fitting to pay tribute to those wonderful women in our lives.  I just so happened to come across to cutest little mom look in Target last Friday.  (I snuck in there after my hair appointment.  Yes, I did buy the cardigan and it is still riding around in my car waiting to be snuck in.)  This outfit with 2 blouse options and 2 shoe options would be perfect for your casual Sunday afternoon Mother's Day get together.

Clockwise: Anthropologie blouse, Target cardigan, Target top, J. CREW cropped pant, Forever21 gold leaf necklace, must have Bernardo sandal, Antonio Melani "Monte" wedge sandal at Dillards

For those who don't like mom looks, but still love an uber preppy look, here is another great option for an afternoon family get together.

Clockwise: vintage Tiffany & Co. earrings from ross-simons.com, eyelet top from Anthropologie, LaRoque shorts see shoplaroque.com, Lilly Pulitzer set in stone sandals, Lilly Pulitzer murfee scarf, Michael Kors "Daven" watch

I am barely getting this out by Wednesday, so there is no time for proofing.  Hope there aren't any drastic mistakes.  And, Happy Mother's Day!!

window shopping thursday, anyone?

Yes I have been slack lately.  This is I know.  But I must admit, of all things, I miss Window Shopping Wednesday the most.  I've skipped out on it lately because I promised myself (and my wallet) starting this Spring I would wear clothes out of my closet.  To my surprise (and John Eric’s) I have done just that.  But who doesn’t love a little window shopping?  Everybody say 'I'.

This weekend’s festivities consist of a bridal shower Saturday afternoon followed by the engagement party Saturday night.  I, personally, pulled out half of my closet last night and was able to pull together some outfits and even find a dress for Easter Sunday.  But I still can’t resist looking to see what is out there…there’s no harm in looking, right?

As an excuse I shall live vicariously through Madison.  Last Saturday we were talking about what we might wear this weekend and whether or not to wear the same outfit to both events (since they are in the same day).  That seems easy enough, right?  After much discussion we realized it really isn’t.  One is a girly, day-time, springy, garden party type affair and the latter is a casual celebration of eating, drinking, and dancing.  Naturally, I was browsing the online catalogs and found what would be the perfect day to night outfit for the ever-so-slender, long-legged Madison. 

First, I found the core of the outfit which would be the dress.





Daytime Sparrow Cinch Dress
Available at Buckle



Second, I think it needs a belt to break up the all over print.

Leather Chain Belt
Available at Gap

For the daytime add a cute pair of innocent, flat sandals and your daintier jewelry.

Bernardo Mojito
Zappos.com

Then for night switch it up with a sassy heel and add a denim jacket since it's still cool when the sun goes down.



Antonio Melani "Layla" Sandals
Available at Dillards



Some cute accessories...




Juicy Couture Kissing Birds Ring

Piperlime

 


Hive & Honey Leaf Hinged Bracelet

Piperlime

 

Happy Thursday (my Friday)!

Window Shopping Wednesday: The Cup

If you don't know what this weekend holds, then you are either: A) not from South Carolina or B) burrowed away in a hole somewhere.  That's right ladies and gentlemen, its time for South Carolina's most popular steeplechase event, The 2011 Carolina Cup, come hell or high water (usually high water).

For those of you who don't know, the attire is simple with few requirements.  These requirements consist of brightly colored spring dresses, sunhats, extra large Jackie O sunglasses, oxford shirts, and bow ties. 

Of course I am here to give you my outfit of choice.

For starters, I am beyond in love with this kate spade dress (and several others) & it would be perfect for this weekend.

kate spade new york "Jillian" Striped Bow-Front Dress

add some accessories

statement necklace

straw sun hat

If you've been to the cup you've learned not to wear a good pair of shoes.  They will get ruined.  Cute flats are the way to go for this event.  Since it is the cup, why not be completely preppy with a pair of monogrammed Jacks?

Jack Rogers

questions, comments, concerns?

Welcome to Window Shopping Wednesday

Wednesday’s are always kind of…well, blah (for lack of a better word).  Wednesday is like the middle child – not the first, not the last, just the dependable one stuck in the middle that doesn’t give you something to talk about.  I often find that a teensy bit of panic starts to hit me on this so-called Hump Day.  What is there to panic about on a Wednesday?  What to wear this weekend, DUH!

On that note, I have decided to try a new thing called Window Shopping Wednesday.  Doesn’t this sound exciting!?  Well it is to me!  We can’t have it all & we must work 40+ hours a week, so why not live vicariously through the internet?

Yes, I admit I am a major window shopper.  I surf and surf to see what I like and where I can find the best deal.  I very rarely actually buy but looking at what I want and putting it in a virtual cart makes me feel like I am making a purchase.  Or maybe I'm slightly obsessed with finding the perfect outfit to fit every occassion.  Either way, I let the cart sit there all day until I have talked myself out of clicking the ‘check out’ button.  It kind of feels like beating an addiction (well how I would imagine that would feel).  I refuse to believe that I am the only woman out there that does this.  Ahh…the bliss of retail therapy. 

Ok, here we go…the shopping adventures of Jean Marie’s wonderland…

My mind says: What are we doing this weekend?  I guess we are staying in town and will work on the houses.  Well, we were supposed to go to The Trials.  If we go, what should I wear?  What screams redneck version of The Cup?  I’ll Google the weather.  Yuck, the high is 80 with a 30% chance of isolated thunder storms.  AKA don’t wear jeans and plan to wear your hair up unless you plan on giving a Tina Turner concert.  I’m thinking a casual shirtdress (maybe I’ll belt it) and cowboy boots.  The boots could get hot, but I don’t want to tromp around through the mud or dust in any of my sandals.  Lets see what I can find.

MICHAEL Michael Kors Shirtdress
Dillard's

Motif 56 Leeora Belt
Zappos.com

add a little glitz with a simple bracelet...

Ben-Amun Gold Royalty Charm Bracelet
Max&Chloe

Hop in my boots, add Ray-Ban aviators, and I'm ready to go.  Any other suggestions?