Summer Fashion Finds

I’ve been on the lookout for new, fun items to add to my summer wardrobe – and to Kate’s, because she’s apparently grown a foot since fall! – so I was excited to have the opportunity to review a new item for each of us.

Let’s start with my girl… she got to check out a dress from the new Calypso St. Barth line at Target.

Kate loved this dress from the moment she put it on – can’t you tell by her face that she thinks she looks great? I think this dress will be perfect for going out to dinner while we’re on vacation at the beach (and for plenty of other things too, of course). It’s so cute (and priced right at $19.99) that I plan to buy a matching dress for Kate’s baby cousin! The Calypso St. Barth girls’ collection offers dresses, skirts, tops, accessories and shoes in fun, splashy colors. Check it out online or in the store.

As for me, I got to check out some fantastic shoes – Danya from Naturalizer.

I. Love. These. Shoes. Seriously, they are my new favorite pair. I love the look, first of all, but I also love how they feel. My feet are whacky and I always end up with terrible blisters (I think they must be shaped funny or something!) but I wore these shoes out on a date with my husband last weekend and they were incredibly comfortable all night long. As we were getting ready to leave, Kate looked at me and said “Are those shoes going to hurt your feet?” and I said “Unbelievably, no!” I love the strap in the back that makes the shoe fit securely on my foot – I think that helps alleviate the blister situation. And did I mention that I love how the look? I wore them last week with skinny jeans and it was perfect for a night out. They’d also work well with a dress, skirt or capris! They will definitely be my go-to pair of shoes this summer.

What are some looks you like this season?

Post to Twitter

Summertime

As Jenny mentioned yesterday, we’ve finally gotten some warm weather around here. And by warm, I mean 90 degrees and humid, but hey, it’s Ohio and we can’t really expect moderate, enjoyable temperatures.

With the change in weather, we’ve been spending a lot of time outside, and during that time I’ve noticed something miraculous.

My kids can play together.

I don’t know how to describe what’s different about how they interact – it’s not like they haven’t gotten along before now, but something has definitely changed. With their four-year age gap, they’ve been in really different stages before, but now it’s like Sam’s suddenly caught up and they are acting like friends. It is so cute to watch – it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

You know what else I love about it? I can get stuff done! On Sunday, I took a run around the neighborhood and all the while, Kate and Sam were playing in a dirt pile. Each time I went by, I heard snippets of the conversation in their make-believe world. And Tuesday? I did yard work.

Speaking of doing yard work, it turns out that we had like a 10-foot WEED right by our front door, and no one bothered to tell us it was a weed. Last fall my grandma was helping me in my yard (yes I used an 85-year-old woman for manual labor, what’s your point?) and I said something about how I hated this pine tree thing and she said “Well people don’t usually plant that kind of tree, they just sort of pop up.” So I’m all “so what you’re saying is that this is a weed?” “Well yes.” So a big thank you to all of you who have entered our house in the past four years and have failed to mention the weed – someone tell me next time! I could have sworn it was always there, but I just looked at the pictures of our house right before we moved in and sure enough there is no giant weed. Apparently this thing randomly popped up and we didn’t even notice.

We even hung Christmas lights on the damn thing!

But now, thanks to Andy’s and my awesome lumber jack skills, it is gone!

I actually took pictures at each stage of the process because I was sure it was going to turn out to be a very bloggable experience and I wanted to have documentation to go along with the story of how I cut off my foot or how the tree/weed went smashing through Sam’s bedroom window, but miraculously the project didn’t end in disaster.

But where was I?

Oh, right – the point of my story is that while Andy and I were cutting down this monstrosity, our kids were entertaining each other in some other part of our yard. It was beautiful. The possibilities this situation puts before me is endless. I might finally be able to do crazy things like put out mulch and edge the sidewalk! Maybe then (especially since we no longer have a 10 foot weed) we won’t be the embarrassment of the block.

A girl can dream.

Post to Twitter

Electric (former) Youth

Look what Jenny put on my facebook wall.

Debbie Gibson and Tiffany TOURING???? No WAY.

Jenny and I were pretty much the biggest Debbie Gibson fans ever, although neither of us ever saw her in concert (at least I am assuming that is true of Jenny and if she actually did go years ago and didn’t bother to take me – friendship OVER).

But it looks like we may have another chance!

Tiffany has just announced that she and Debbie Gibson are working on getting a joint tour together! Calling it a”journey through the 80s,” Tiffany reveals she and Debbie will perform a lot of their own material as well as covers hits by Stevie Nicks, Reba McIntyre and Guns N’ Roses from the decade.

Perez Hilton said it, so it must be true.

From Popeater.com (really? Pop Eater?):
Tiffany, now 39, sky rocketed into pop super-stardom overnight with her 1987 dance hit ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ from her debut album ‘Tiffany’ — while Gibson, 40, topped the charts with hits including ‘Lost in Your Eyes’ and ‘Electric Youth’ from her 1989 ‘Electric Youth.’

Did you pick up a problem in that sentence? Tiffany is 39 and Debbie Gibson is 40.

Dear Lord.

But regardless, their show is going to be rocking, and Jenny and I will BE THERE. And we will buy the t-shirt.

Who’s with us?

P.S. This one is for you, Cousin.

P.P.S. I definitely had that video on VHS.

Post to Twitter