Red Cape | Shaped by Style

I paid a little visit to Shaped by Style with this incredible red cape from Emily. Head on over to check it out!

Dragonfly Lady | Style Imitating Art

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It's that time again! Style Imitating Art this week was inspired by the intricate and lovely, Art Noveau style “Dragonfly Lady” brooch by René Lalique. If you remember back to the last time Art Noveau was chosen for Style Imitating Art, you will remember that it's kind of my jam.

I immediately knew I was going to wear this dress because the organic flow of the fabric, the intricate floral pattern, and the jewel tones are all dead ringers for this broach. I added the belt for the gold finish and the polka dot blazer because, well, it was cold. But, also, because the little delicate pattern reminded me of the impressive detail in the dragonfly's wings.

Thank's so much to Salavar for choosing another Art Noveau beauty for Style Imitating Art because I cannot get enough. Check out 14 Shade's of Grey tomorrow to see the full round up of everyone's outfits. I know I can't wait to see!

Blazer: Thrifted | Dress: Modcloth | Tights: We Love Colors | Boots: Modcloth | Belt: Target | Lips: Colourpop Cosmetics Liquid Lipstick in Scrooge

Links à la Mode

I was featured on Links à la Mode this week for my post about celebrating difference in women. Which is incredibly awesome! Please check out the other blogs that were featured this week, as well!

Links a la Mode Mar 17 Links à la Mode, March 17

• Al Balsam Life: What to Wear this Spring?
• The Antisocialista: Fifty Shades of Blue
• Attire Club: What We’ve Learned from Iris Apfel
• Black.White.Blonde: What to Wear | 5 New Denim Trends to Try
• Christie Moeller: Trend Alert | Neck Scarves
• The Classy Junk: Muted Tones and Womanhood
• Cubicle Chic: New #GIRLBOSS Attitude and an Outfit to Go With It
• Elements of Ellis: Tan Suede Skirt
• Grazielle Camilleri: From Office to Evening Out
• Happy. Pretty. Sweet.: Unboxing My First Stitch Fix
• The House Blend: No Stone Unturned
• I’m a Norbyah: Fringe with Benefits
• Modavracha: 6 Summer Wardrobe Essentials 2016 | The New Bohemian
• Sassy Ethnic Bohemian: Giddy Up! Wild West Style of Spring 2016
• Some Velvet Morning: Dainty Stripe
• Style Curated: Fairy Tale Fashion | FIT Museum
• Style Sprinter: How to Spring-Clean Your Blog
• The Sugar Ribbon: Age and Beauty Are Not Accomplishments
• This Season’s Gold: Spring Awakening | Happy First Anniversary
• Vanity and Me: Vintage Black and Gold Back in the Eighties

SPONSOR: Shopbop B-Low The Belt, Vince Sneakers, Dolce Vita Sandals, Elena Makri, RahiCali, Sanchita, Floral Print Dresses, Choker Necklaces, Stuart Weitzman Nudist Sandals, Men's Levi's Red Tab Comment on gist Sign in to comment or sign up to join this conversation on GitHub Desktop version

Happy St. Patrick's Day! | Outfit

 I've been markedly absent this week because I was knocked out cold by a stomach bug. I managed to throw food at my kids occasionally but, mostly I just laid on my couch and stared off into the distance. I'm finally feeling myself again and guess what? While I was putting my shoes on today, I gloriously slipped and sprained my ankle like the total doof that I am. Look at me go! The good news is that being confined to the couch with an injury versus a stomach bug will leave me loads of energy for internetting!

So, I just thought I'd pop in and leave you a few pretty pictures of me and my little lucky charms in our best Irish get ups. May your day be full of green beer, minty shakes, and many other things that aren't actually Irish. Hahaha. Me? I'm elevating my ankle, watching the Boondock Saints, and harassing my husband to go get ingredients to make mint juleps. Hey. Whiskey can be Irish. Or is that just clever marketing on Jameson's part? 

Cardigan: JCP | Shirt: Old Navy | Skirt: Old Navy | Shoes: Thrifted | Headband: Charming Charlie | Lips: Ofra Liquid Lipstick in Miami Fever

Muted Tones and Womanhood | Outfit

Tomorrow I will be meeting up with some women who I have known since elementary and middle school. It's something we do a couple times a year to stay connected as we migrate to different towns and build different lifestyles. Each meal we spend together is a patchwork quilt of laughter and stories as we share bits of our lives and every time I am amazed at the group of us.

Each of us is entirely unique from the others. We're tomboys and girly girls, mothers and the happily childless, quick to laughter and quiet observers, creative and technical. And despite this, maybe because of this, friendship prevails. We are constantly bombarded with messages that we need to be a singular ideal of womanhood. But, how can we expect that when the nuances and the facets of women create such a strong and fluid mosaic?

Do we seek out identical, homogenized flowers planted in orderly rows? Not really. Because everything in life is improved by variety. Just because a lily exists it doesn't mean a rose is any less dazzling. Just because cinnamon is more common doesn't mean cardamon doesn't delight. Why are women, complex and varied human beings, expected to satisfy a checklist of desirable traits? That's nuts! Not one of us has more or less value because of the personality traits, habits, and body parts that make us up. We are good because we exist. We are better because we exist together.

Dress worn as a skirt: Modcloth (similar) | Shirt: Kohl's (similar in straight size, similar in plus| Blazer: Thrifted (similar in straight size, similar in plus) | Tights: Walmart (similar in straight size, similar in plus) | Belt: Target (similar in plus) | Boots: Modcloth (similar)

Fruit Print Skirt | Outfit

You guys. It's like my last post was a plea straight to Mother Nature herself because it is SIXTY DEGREES. This is not a drill. This is not a joke. It is SIXTY DEGREES in Wisconsin in MARCH.

But, today is not a day for writing. It's a day for living the things that are pretty words to come. So, my kids and I have some exploring to do and I mean, seriously. What are you doing here? Go play!

Sweater: Kohls (similar in straight size, similar in plus) | Skirt: Vintage (similar vintage finds in various sizes here, here, here, and here) | Shoes: Bait Footwear (similar) | Bow: Amazon | Lips: Colourpop's Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Scrooge

Navy Plaid and Blush | Outfit

Spring has sprung! Well, not really because we just had a blizzard. But, spring doesn't really happen in Wisconsin the way it happens in the rest of the world. As temperatures rise and everyone else is experiencing the reawakening of the world with blossoms and sunshine, our first signs of spring are heaps of dirty snow that refuse to melt and soggy, brown, litter covered grass. The beginning of spring, for us, is more like the death rattle of winter and we're left dealing with the corpse.

That's why spring is much more of a mindset in Wisconsin. Spring is here when our coats start to feel like they're smothering us and we cannot bare the thought of pulling on our grubby, salt stained boots one more time. No matter how cold and wet it is. It's when we decide to grit our teeth and dig our hearty, Midwestern heels in and firmly tell winter, "no more." If we can't have blossoms and sunshine then we'll just pretend. We'll wear cheery clothes and shorts in 30 degree weather because we just...can't...take it...anymore. So, huzzah. It's spring. Because we say so.

Cardigan: thrifted (similar) | Shirt: JCP (similar in plus) | Skirt: thirfted (similar, similar in straight sizes) (similar, similar in plus) | Shoes: Payless | Belt: Target (similar in plus) | Bag: Modcloth (similar)