Tag Archives: Costuming

Dress That Mama: Simple

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DSC_0026Please don’t get tired of my braided hair. The truth is, it is really simple. It keeps my long hair off my neck in the heat, half-grown-out bangs out of my eyes better than any other hairstyle I’ve found, and makes it easier to not wash my hair every day, which I’ve heard is better for hair… I don’t know, how often do you wash yours?

Plus, you know something funny? Everyone keeps coming up to me with a comment. I’ve had several older gentlemen and ladies say that it reminds them of how their parents used to do their hair (!), and younger women saying they love it and ask me how I learned. I’ve had little girls compliment it. And you know, it’s so hilarious, because I have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to my hair, and this hairstyle is really ridiculously easy. Here’s how:

If you have medium-to-long hair, this should work for you.

Part hair however you usually do, but make sure to part the back down the middle. separate hair into two large sections, tying off one like a pigtail with a rubber band while you braid the other side. Braid hair like you would if you were doing braided pigtails on a little girl, only work the braid forward and up rather than just braiding down. If you have bangs, you can either leave them forward, or for longer bangs (like mine), braid them into the hair as you move up the hairline. This will also help hold your braid in place. Secure with a clear rubber band, and repeat on opposite side. You should have two ends that you can tuck over or under each other and secure with a couple of bobby pins.

That’s it!

Happy Wednesday!

Dress That Mama: The Best Dress for Summer

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Ah! The warm sun feels so good after being cooped up all winter (and most of spring)! And I found a dress that has quickly become my favorites: I wore it out to dinner on Friday night, I’ve worn it to breakfast and all morning Sunday, as well as to Milo and Oliver’s preschool Mother’s Day celebration. And I wore it yesterday (yes, I washed it in-between). It’s lightweight and has pockets without making it look bulky, and that somehow is all a dream come true. You know, for collecting small treasures from grubby little boy hands!

Dress: Anthropologie

Clogs: Rachel Comey

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Have a lovely day!

P.s.- Milo “graduates” from preschool this Friday, and though it seems like not a very big deal, I may just cry.

Closet Tour

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DSC_0159I’ve shown you the inside of our refrigerator and Andrew’s closet, so I may as well show you into my closet! Just don’t ever ask to see the inside of my car. The answer will be no.

When we first moved into this big old place, I made it my mission to have a nice closet. It was already there, but just needed some little details to make it my own. Plus, it was pretty dirty and scuffed-up. I painted the walls a pale light blue that was leftover from painting Oliver’s nursery at the time, and left the shelves white. I drilled in the hooks for belts, but I only own two belts, so I decided to hang my bathing suits and favorite scarf there instead. DSC_0160In the upper left corner, I have a basket filled with rolled stockings, tights, and thigh-highs and I keep some extra bedding on the shelf below. On shoes: having them mostly up off the floor is nice because it makes it much easier to clean around them. Plus, I can see everything and they aren’t smooshed in a shoe rack. Also, if you have tall boots that you love, keep them nice by stuffing an old stocking full of newspaper or tissue inside when you’re not using them. This keeps them from slumping over and creasing too much. DSC_0161I also group clothing not only according to type (sweaters with sweaters, jeans and jean shorts, etc.) but also to color. I find it so much easier to choose things this way. I don’t know why, but it’s visually appealing to me and simplifies my life! DSC_0162DSC_0164DSC_0165

Dresses and long skirts go on one side; shirts and mid- to short-length skirts on the other. I also have recently put lots of family photos in my closet in view when I walk in. We have so much artwork on our walls, but very few family shots. I like to see these first thing in the morning and right before I go to bed at night. It makes the space feel very special to me. DSC_0166There’s my closet! What’s in yours?

Dress That Mama: Geometry

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DSC_0001Please excuse the crooked shot today, but I had to include it since Milo took the picture!

Lately I have been so drawn to the trend of geometric shapes: triangles (like the above necklace), rectangles, squares, etc. just catch my eye. But I don’t like it all crowded and fussy, just simple and easy to mix and match with other prints (like polka dots!). Here are a few geometric things I’ve been loving from around the web:

This simple but interesting tank top

This triangle ring is just so great and simple

These placemats, which I think could pair so nicely with these floral plates!

This colorful squares quilt

Any and all of the baby leggings sold on this website

This shirt!

The awesome bandana on this little dude

Yep. I’m obsessed. Happy May 1st! We are looking forward to having an old friend over for dinner tonight. We’ll be grilling out (surprise, surprise) since the weather is supposed to be awesome! Hope the day treats you well.

P.s.- I’m completely out of makeup now that the supply my sister gave me ran out (at least I still have lipstick!). I have pretty sensitive, somewhat dry skin. Any recommendations on a good skincare line that you love???? Help!

Dress That Mama: Going to a Show

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DSC_0141So, as with the last few Dress That Mama posts, this is what I wore out with friends over the weekend. Not a typical mama outfit, but I also ended up wearing the same pants the next day to run errands and garden in (minus nice shoes, add rain boots and a plain white tee shirt, plus hair in a bun instead of down!). I would also wear the pants rolled like this with my ankle boots, which I wear more often than these shoes. DSC_0140But just for fun, I got a little dressed up for the show. As all mamas should! It feels good to go out for a night on the town after the littles are asleep! DSC_0138Seen any good concerts lately?

DIY Fun: “Cool” Pants

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DSC_0032Our Oliver is quite the character. He is so particular about what he wears that recently, asking him to get dressed in the morning has gotten kind of ugly. It ends with clothing strewn about his room, and one very unhappy 3-year-old rolling around on the floor, crying “These pants aren’t COOOOOOL!” 

Recently, in an attempt to understand exactly what “cool” is to Oliver, I discovered that plain anything (pants, shirts, socks, underwear) is uncool. Lightening strike pants, loud zippy colors, crazy patterns, bright orange dinosaur leggings, skeleton pajamas, or space-themed anything is cool. Which is a problem. Because nearly all of the hand-me-downs from Milo are simple, plain basics that I bought because of their plain-ness.

The solution? Fabric paint and a bit of creativity. A while back, I spotted these cool pants but absolutely could not justify their price tag (holy cow, they were expensive!), I decided to make them. Here’s how:

Materials Needed:

  • White fabric spray paint (I used Tulip brand, found at Michael’s)- be careful NOT to get puffy fabric paint!
  • Black sweatpants (these are Apaman from a couple of years back)
  • Scissors
  • Cardstock large enough to cut a pattern into, or you could even use a piece of fabric as long as you are careful to cut straight lines

DSC_0026DSC_0029DSC_0028First, carefully cut the shape you want into the card stock. Make sure your pants are flat on the area you are going to spray, then place the pattern on top of the area you want to paint.DSC_0030

Hold the pattern in place while you spray the paint on, then carefully remove the pattern. Wipe excess paint off with a paper towel (be sure to wipe underneath too!), and repeat on the other side. Allow to dry for 4 hours, and avoid washing for 72 hours. For best results, wash pants inside-out. And voila! Cool pants!DSC_0036

Once the king Oliver approved of the coolness, I made another pair, this one with O’s to match the X’s. He insisted on wearing them both on the same day. Success!

DSC_0045Now, let’s hope the third little guy is not quite so picky once these make it down the line to him!

Dress That Mama: Spring Flow

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DSC_0026Hello sunshines! I am seriously coming alive with this spring weather! I hate to admit, but my mood is so influenced by the weather, you may as well check the forecast before you stop by if you want to be sure I’m in a reasonably good mood! And with the sunshine, I have been working hard on living and enjoying my family.

This is what I wore last Sunday to our little gathering. We had a few friends over for some good food and drinks, and the weather was absolutely perfect.

Shirt: Anthropologie (on sale)

Jeans: Pilcro (also found at Anthropologie, also on sale )

Holepunch flats: Madewell 

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Circle necklace: Anthropologie, 3 years ago, and my most-warn necklace (I own exactly 4 necklaces, if you were wondering– not really a jewelry kind of gal, so I stick to what I really really love).

I hope you are finding happiness in whatever weather you have. Happy Wednesday!

Dress That Mama: A Dress and Boots

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DSC_0007If you recognize this dress, that is because I wore it all 9 months during my pregnancy with Emil (and during my pregnancy with Oliver, come to think of it!). And you know what? I’m still not tired of it! Also? It’s not a maternity dress, just a little more forgiving of the old waistline, so it stays.

My favorite part is the back, which is an interesting shape and open to the skirt part, while the rest of the dress is pretty modest. I will wear this thing until it is full of holes. Unfortunately, as you may imagine, I bought it many years ago while living in Baltimore when Milo was just a wee babe, so I’m pretty sure it’s long gone. However, if you like the brand, it’s Velvet. Here is a link to some of their more current styles, though sadly I don’t care for most of it.

Do you ever feel disappointed when a designer you love changes course to follow trends you would rather not? I think I may always love some sort of boots-and-dress combination, but lately I have been choosing a style that is far from “current.” Oh, well. If I keep finding vintage Frye boots, I will keep wearin’ em! DSC_0006

P.s.- They’re really comfortable!

Dress That Mama: Polka Dots in Yellow

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Yellow! Polka dots! It’s definitely spring. This is pretty much what I wore on Easter Sunday (minus the shoes, plus tights and rain boots because we were sloshing around in the mud a bit at our friends’ house). This is what I would wear to breakfast or lunch with a friend during the week. Which is something I am looking forward to…DSC_0169

The next two days I will be enjoying some much-needed friend time in Kansas City to see a concert (Sigur Ros- an amazing Icelandic band) and check out the arts scene (along with some good coffee shops, I hope!). I am beyond excited!Plus, Andrew has the boys all pumped up about this thing they are calling “Man Party,” which I assume is what they will be doing with no mama in the house. I believe it involves super hero costumes, root beer floats, a long hike in the woods, and a whole lot of playground time. And, of course, some top secret things that only men who attend “Man Party” will know about. Should I even ask?

Dress That Mama: Spring Neutrals

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It’s so deceiving, these outfit posts. Not because I don’t actually wear these outfits, but because by the time I post them (this one was taken on the one warm day last weekend, Saturday, before we received a ridiculous amount of snow the next day), the weather seems to be something completely different. And obviously, I wouldn’t be wearing these shoes in a foot of snow. So… add rain boots and a coat and hat, and that’s more like today!

Generally, I don’t dress in a lot of color. But when I do, it’s usually something subdued, like these yellow corduroy pants, or it’s bright red like a dress I’ve been dying to wear when it is warmer… maybe next week? We can hope???

Flower button-down in neutrals: Anthropologie several years ago- I had trouble finding a similar pattern, but similar color way here

Sweater: Anthropologie (my most-warn sweater this year by far!)

Yellow corduroys: Pilcro (find similar here)

Shoes: Rachel Comey

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And my wise friend Mary once told me that people tend to dress the same way they decorate their homes– which would explain a lot! Our home is mainly various shades of neutrals and neutral patterns, with pops of color here and there (like our bright blue dining room!). And Mary, whose style I love, is all about color and brightness. I think it suits her personality. How about you? Do you dress the way you decorate?

Happy Wednesday, and happy spring!