un-mom no. 5 | no more winter blahs

I don’t know about you, but after the holidays I tend to get a little blue. It doesn’t help that I live in an area of California known for its death fog and endless days where we don’t see the sun and it doesn’t even rain. By now you’ve probably figured out that I love color and am not afraid of it (a key to the un-mom look). I know it’s not spring yet, but a girl can dream. And a little, or a lot, of color can do wonders to boost the old mood.

I can personally vouch for this outfit, because I own the key pieces and they are wonderful. The first time I wore this outfit, I took a walk to meet my hubby for lunch. It happened to be an unseasonably warm and sunny day here (could it be the outfit?) and as I passed people on the street I noticed that both men and women alike were dressed head to toe in black. What is this, New York City? This is California people…live a little! They all looked a little bummed, but I felt sunny.

1. Tartine Cardigan in Bright Rhubarb or Deep Persimmon :: J. Crew :: $19.99. Why it works: I am a sucker for cardigans because of their versatility and lightweight ones like this can be worn all year long. The subtle chiffon ruffle at the neck and hem make this extra girlie without going too far. Looks great layered over a cami or buttoned all the way up. Plus these (and the cords below) are on crazy clearance right now—$19.99 each!

2. Favorite-Fit Stretch Vintage Bootcut Cord in Golden Yellow :: J. Crew :: $19.99. Why they work: Cords are a great alternative to jeans. These are very soft and incredibly comfortable and flattering. The bright yellow too much for you? They come in lots of other colors if you are feeling so brave.

3. Lace Trim Cami in Light Brown :: bodenusa.com :: $20.00.
Why it works: I love layering and this soft brown cami helps ground all of the brightness. Plus if it’s still chilly in your parts it will give you some added insulation. This one has a very flattering fitted silhouette that lays nicely under the sweater and some lace detail at the neck echoing the sweater’s little ruffle.

4. Anya Hindmarch® for Target® Large Shoulder Bag in Gold/ Cream :: Target :: $? Why it works: The unexpected tailoring of this bag plays nicely against the gold detail. The metallic trim adds some warmth and a tad of glamour to the outfit. These are only available in stores (price unavailable online…but it’s Target and they are on clearance so you know it won’t break the bank).

5. Turquoise Hued Nugget Necklace :: bananarepublic.com :: $69.00. Why it works: Turquoise is timeless and it looks great with red, coral and bright orange. This piece adds some texture to the soft clothing.

6. Poetic Licence Desert Star Mary Janes in Zebra :: planetshoes.com :: $39.00. Why they work: Again, I have these and I love them. I wear animal print shoes with everything—skirts, jeans, dressy and casual. You’ll be amazed at how much wear you get out of these. The chic box toe is paired with fun athletic-y sole making these versatile city. They also add some much needed pattern to the color block outfit. (Also here and here; prices and sizes vary).

7. Plastic Fashion Full-Rim Frame in Orange :: zennioptical.com :: $12.95 lens + frame. Why they work: I wear glasses and thought it would be fun to do regular glasses instead of sunglasses this time. There are so cheap that even if you don’t need glasses you could do the cute librarian thing for the day! Even mom needs a little dress up fun in her day.

she's my idol

...and my lovely and my best.

hunk

i like them funny...and slightly dorky.

am i a cougar?

Oh my god, I think I am. Here's the thing--I never see men that I think are attractive. I guess I am really picky or have weird taste or something. But when we saw the latest Indiana Jones movie I was like, "Hey, this Shia LaBouef dude's a cutie" even with the funky 50s hairstyle. And I think he even fits somehow into my type.

But there's a problem with this--a big one: I'm 38 and he's (gulp) 22...gross! It's all Demi-Astin and its creepy. I was driving when this kid was born! He was Louis on The Even Stevens for Christ's sake! This is the first time I have ever found a man that is younger than me attractive and it's freaking me out. I mean does it need to be over a decade younger right out of the gate? Why couldn't it have been a 36 year old, or even 32, but 22? This borders pedophilia, really.

I always said you know you're getting older when Miss America and Playboy centerfolds are younger than you. I've learned to deal with that. But this is scary. What's next? Do you have a boy-crush? Dish.

un-mom look | no. 4

I missed September and October, yikes! I actually put this look together for the September post, but never got around to organizing all of the sources and getting it posted. But it is so cute, I want to share it now. Some of the items may be hard to find or sold out, but the vibe should be easy to find. Enjoy!

1. Denim shirt dress in black :: bodenusa.com :: $88.00
why it works: One-piece dressing is the bomb—no worrying about matching. The denim is classic and super versatile, but the blue black steers clear of “school marm”. And the tailored fit looks great on most shapes. Machine washable, yay! One super plus about Boden is the great customer reviews—be sure to check them out.

2. Bauble Ballet Flats in Monaco Plum :: old navy :: $9.99
why they work: Luscious plum color helps to brighten the subdued denim while the little bobbles look like berries making these fun for fall. The bright color will work great in summer, too. Flats are great for those of us who can’t do the heel thing anymore or just don’t want to, damn it! Just right for work or play.

3. Scarf purse :: old navy :: these aren’t available online anymore, but there are several for sale on ebay (click here). Also try the stores—if you find one, bet it will be on super clearance and a super deal!! why it works: What it lacks in structure, it makes up for in fun. The stripes have all of the great fall colors going on. This is so different, I could even see it going as an evening bag.

4. Gray cabbie cap :: urban outfitters :: $15.00 & up. Again, this particular style is sold out online, but UO has tons of other fun hats with the same vibe. Betcha could even find some fun vintage ones at thrifts and what not. why it works: A great alternative to the baseball cap. We all have bad hair days. Need to run to run some errands, but don’t feel like showering? This is the outfit! And this hat will hide your rat's nest without making you look like a little leaguer.

5. Orange Lucite ring :: find similar at etsy.com :: $15 & up.

why it works: As you already know, I love accessories. This ring is so great. Color, check, shape, check. Adds some modern fun to the mix.

6. Cable knit tights in gray :: warmlegwear.com :: $22.50.
why they work: Remember wearing these as a kid? I loved them and for years you couldn’t find them because they weren’t hip. Well now they are back and I am stocking (no pun intended) up. I don’t know about you, but I am always cold once it hits November (and I live in California!). I don’t like doing the bare leg thing much past Labor Day, so if I am going to wear a skirt or dress I like to feel assured that I won’t be cold. Also, I am lazy and hate shaving my legs. Bonus!

a fresh look

I am feeling like the old blog-a-roo needed a bit of a facelift. So please bear with me while I get everything sorted out. For some reason, I can't seem to figure out how to get it done without doing it on the fly. So it may look a bit kwonky for the next couple of days. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the latest installment of the "un-mom look"--coming today...hopefully!

exercise your freedom