The Secrets of Flowers

My grandmother had the greenest of thumbs.  She transformed the small dirt farm gifted to her as a newly wed into a garden that bloomed nearly year round.  Everywhere I looked as a child I would find flowers growing and some new flower for each season, and of course she knew the names for every single plant.  She tried to teach me, bless her, but beyond memorizing the names, I did not learn how to have a thriving flower garden.  

One thing I vividly remember is the white hydrangeas that grew on the south side of her farm house.  She tended all her flowers carefully and daily, even on the hottest of summer days, but the hydrangeas being so close to the house got a little extra water and a little extra attention, which is perhaps why they thrived.  

The side of the house transformed into great white snowballs that when given the slightest shake would rain down gentle snowflake petals.  So, of course I shook the plants excessively and pretended I had entered a magical realm that had snow in summer.  My grandmother rarely scolded me, but if she did it probably had something to do with me disturbing her flowers and I remember receiving a hearty scolding for that.

When I grew up and had little ones of my own, i spent several years living in her old house.  Previous tenants fearful of snakes or perhaps they were just insane, decided to rip out all the flowers and cover over every single flowerbed.  Not a single hydrangea survived.  I tried in vain to plant some new flowers each year, but very few of them survived a single season because, as I mentioned, I did not inherit her gift for growing things.

I did however, inherit her tenacity.  I can't imagine she turned a dirt farm into a floral paradise overnight, or even over the course of a year or two.  She must have kept on, year after year, until she finally saw some results, and so did I.

While living in Japan, I noticed that our house had a tiny strip of dirt along the front walk that would be perfect for a few flowers.  Thinking of my dear little grandmother, I selected some pale pink hydrangeas from a local market and planted all along the walk way, knowing I wouldn't be able to take them with me when I left, but hoping they would be around to brighten the life of the next family to move into our home.  And then something unexpected happened. 

I watched over the course of the next few weeks as my pale pink hydrangeas began to change to pale purple. I didn't know much about hydrangeas at the time and thought it was perhaps just part of their life cycle to change a little in color as leaves do before they fall.

The next spring my plants returned and I was thrilled at finally having something survive the winter and my casual neglect.  The full pom-pom blossoms began to grow and each day I checked them with building excitement.  When they did bloom I was shocked to see not a single pink blossom in the whole row.  Every single flower was now darkest purple.

Neighbors passing by constantly stopped to compliment the flowers and ask me how I had got them to be that color.  One asked if I'd planted them on top of pennies to which I replied that not only did I not bring any pennies with me to Japan, but also nothing I do when it comes to flower gardening is deliberate.

Shopping Info: 1970s Style Green & Multi Hydrangea Floral Print Chiffon Long Sleeve Maxi Dress from Unique-Vintage

The hydrangeas thrived in spite of my ignorance on their proper care and have hopefully continued to make passersby stop and stare a moment at something so lovely, because as it turns out deep purple hydrangeas are the most difficult shade to obtain.

When it comes to these lovely flowers, their color has less to do with genetic inheritance and more to do with the pH of the soil.  A low pH creates blue hydrangeas and a high pH creates pink.  

Smooth Moves: Easing in to Snake Prints

If you've been popping by to read the blog over the last two weeks, you may have noticed that I have been on kind of a kick lately with snake prints.   When I get excited about something I am very unapologetic about the fact that I want to share, and I'm so glad that I have this blog and readers like you with whom to share all the beautiful things I discover and all the tips I find or create on how to wear them. I'm also glad I have a place like FemmeLuxeFinery that makes it so easy to find beautiful things. 

As promised from my previous snake skin post, this will be the piece de resistance in my the series, but it won't be my last post on this subject.  I've got at least one more outfit in mind for this particular Animal Snake Print PU Corset Top - Amy, because I find corset tops to be quite versatile in creating unique looks.  So check back with me in the coming weeks for the next great outfit I put together with this top. 

My last two outfit posts on this subject, which you can see here and here, involved how to wear and accessorize a head to toe snake skin print.  This outfit post is about using it as a coordinate rather than a full body print.  Snake skin prints are a hot fashion trend right now, but that's not the only reason I've become so enamored.  

You know I have a long standing  crush on novelty prints and while I haven't decided to give them up, there are times when I need something with just as much snap as a novelty print but in a more mature way.    Snake prints are just that classy grown-up counter part to the girlishness of novelty prints.  Not to mention they are so easy to style.

When out shopping with family and friends I often hear from them the same lament about not knowing what to do with prints and finding it too overwhelming to even try something new.  Perhaps some of you shy violets out there may be uncomfortable with prints too and if that's the case snake skin is a great place to start.  

As discussed in previous posts, but it's so important so it bears repeating, snake skin has a camouflaging effect on trouble spots and because it typically comes in neutral shades like black brown and gray like this black and white Animal Snake Print PU Corset Top - Amy from FemmeLuxe it goes great with any solid color. 

Maybe you're not shy with prints you just feel the need to start smaller and keep it simple when trying something new.  Instead of a head to toe print, start ultra small with a skinny belt, a scarf, or some heels or take a slightly larger leap of faith with a blouse or skirt.  Whatever you're looking for whether it's a full dress or just a top or small purse FemmeLuxeFinery has some amazing snake prints.

I'm such a fan of their corset tops that when I saw this Amy Top I  fell for it instantly.   This Amy corset top is a great example of something small for testing the water on snake skin prints.  It is cropped to fall at the narrowest part of the waist and I chose a solid black midi pencil skirt that is an inch or two higher then the hem of the top so that I can tuck it in nicely.  I also went with solid black because the contrast created between print top and solid skirt at this part of the waist highlight those feminine curves in just the right way. 

Of course, bare shoulders create an elegant look evening, but for daytime wear, especially in a chilly, air conditioned office, I think it looks very nice and, of course, work appropriate to add a crop cardigan.  Notice that the cardigan hem lines up with the waist of the skirt.  The cardigan is also very form fitting to create a sleek silhouette.  You don't want to ruin this look with a bulky, bunchy sweater.  For accessories, I always say you can't go wrong with pearls, but some chunky cocktail jewelry would also look lovely. 

If you're shy of adding color, no need to worry with this outfit because absolutely anything goes perfectly here, the brighter the better.  I added a warm red-orange bag and matching lip color to finish the outfit.  Et Voila!  A snake skin print coordinate outfit that's great for day or night, the office or the after party.  

Shopping Info: Animal Snake Print PU Corset Top - Amy from: FemmeLuxeFinery, cardigan from ModCloth, Pencil skirt from Express, necklace from Forever XXI

Trail Blazer: 4 Tips for Dress Up Your Casual Look

This morning I'm up bright and early for a meeting and I thought I'd grease the wheels and lift the spirits of all those night owls who had to drag themselves out of bed so early today by bringing coffee.  It doesn't hurt to bring an assortment and to stop at a locally owned place that serves amazing coffee just in case you have a coffee snob or two in the crowd.  And, rest assured,  I say “snob” in a loving, respectful way because I admire anyone who has distinguished tastes and truly knows what they like.  But this meeting isn't the only thing I've got on the agenda for today and everything else is going to require me to be free to move and to be a little more casual.  There's lunch with my niece at the pre-school, taking the dog to the park, and then a soccer game this evening.  I won't be playing soccer, but I will be doing a lot of jumping up and cheering.  While I'm sure I could do any or all of those things in a skirt and heels, I thought it best to wear something that is at once dressy and casual.  A lot of women today find themselves wearing many hats as we juggle work, family, and fun and I'm no exception, so today I thought I'd share some easy tips for creating a great dressy-casual look.

 1.      Ditch the graphic, but keep the tee.  T-shirts are soft and comfy and it's easy to see why we all love them so much.  The trouble is that tees can be too casual for work.  My office has a rule about no graphic tees and that seems to be common in the business world.  So, if you love the comfort of a tee then keep it, but look for solid color or classy print like my polka dots.  Another way to dress up that tee is by choosing something other than a crew-neck.  Polo collars, scoop necks, Vs or this square neck like I'm wearing are all dressier alternatives to that crew.

2.  Keep the Jeans.  Wearing jeans is something that a lot of places reserve for Fridays only, but with a stunning fit that's right for your shape and a dark wash there's no reason that jeans can't look office appropriate any day of the week.  I'm wearing some high rise flared leg jeans from FemmeLuxe with my top tucked in and a belt for a more clean cut look.

3.  Add a Blazer.  FemmeLuxe has some wonderful blazers to complete your professional outfit and make you look fierce.  A great, well fitting blazer is something everyone should have in their wardrobe.  For this look I chose the Black Rolled Sleeve Collared Jacket-Madison from FemmeLuxe and you can see that it really is the key to dressing up this look.  It is the only black blazer that I own and the only one that I think I'll need.  When it comes to blazers think of them as the whipped cream on the sundae.  Without the jacket, this would still be a stylish look, but not necessarily career wear.  Blazers adds polish and panache that just wouldn't be there without it.

4.  Kicks, Heels, or Flats.  Here's the part where you have some options.  Depending on your day and what you'll need to do and how you'll need to present yourself choose the foot wear that's right for you.  I'm wearing heels to the meeting, but I brought along a pair of black ballet flats for everything else going on in my day and there have been plenty of days when I've left both at home for a pair of burgundy converse that have been well loved, but still have  lot of miles left in them.  All of those options look great with this sort of outfit, it just depends on how polished you need to look and what kinds of activities you'll be doing that day.  When in doubt, stick with ballet flats that you've worn before so that you know you can be on the go all day without getting blisters.

I'd better dash off now to the meeting before the coffee gets cold, but I'm feeling confident and comfortable and relatively stress free about it all.  Funny how the right outfit can boost all those positive feelings and make you ready for anything the day has to offer.

Outfit Info:  Jacket from: FemmeLuxeFinery, Top from: SHEIN

High Waist Jeans: Learn to Love Your Curves

We all have at least one thing about our bodies we wish we could change.  Maybe you wish you were taller or shorter.  Maybe you hate your freckles.  You wish you have more curves or you feel you have one curve too many.  Curly hair girls wish it was straight and girls with fine hair are forever trying to rock a haircut made for thick hair and bemoaning the fact that it just won't work.  It's enough to drive a person crazy or at least to make them unhappy.  It would be wonderful if we could celebrate our own (and each other's uniqueness) but far too often we get hung up on so-called flaws.  If there is one piece of style advice I could offer to women around the world now and for all time it is this:  Accept your body just as it is right here and now.  Once you've done that you'll will be able to love your body no matter how it changes through the years.  

You may have a certain shape or a particular area that isn't easy to dress in a flattering way, but it's not impossible.  If you will first accept your own unique and precious form, and love yourself, you will find the time to dress it right.  That's the main key in have a good fashion sense--it's knowing what looks good on your body at your age and place in life and then having the courage to wear it.  A lot of people lack that self confidence and so use clothes as a way to hide from the world.  Don't hide; there's no fun in that!  Take the time to learn what looks best on you.  

For me, my bum was always my problem area.  No matter how many stairs I climbed or how many leg presses I did, my big bum stayed the way it was--which to me seemed disproportionately large for my petite frame.  I always thought of it as embarrassing and nothing stressed me more than buying jeans.  I had and for the most part still do have a personal rule  about never buying jeans online.  I always go into the store to try them on so that I know I'm going to get the right fit for me.  No weird pop-out in the back, no says-it's-my-size but I can't even get them on past my ankles.  

As far as the rise goes, I played it safe with a mid-rise jean and straight legs.  It's a flattering fit to be sure, but as I've grown over the years to accept my shape and as I've learned how to dress my shape and what looks best on me, I've become a little more adventurous.  FemmeLuxe has been a big part of that change.  Since I've been collaborating with them, I have really and truly come to love my shape and branch out more and more into things that I never thought I could wear, but not only can I wear them, but I look fierce! 

In April, I tried some high waist trousers from FemmeLuxe and you can read that post here.  I loved them so much that I had to rethink my rule on waistlines.  I also had to rethink my poor opinion of my backside.  It looked pretty amazing in those trousers if I do say so myself and believe me when I say that may be the first time I ever said so.  After collaborating with FemmeLuxe for six months now and consistently seeing how wonderful their clothes fit my shape I trust their sizing, fit and quality.  I can count on them, so much so that I felt ready to break my second rule about jeans and I bought some from them online.  

These Dark Wash Denim Flared Jeans-Genesis fit like a glove and a dark wash makes them appropriate for casual or dressy occasions.  This waistline is ultra high but it makes such a statement and that statement is Check Out These Curves!   I love them, I love way they make my bum look so curvaceous and yet, I think the Genesis Jeans have created balanced proportions and made me love body and the way it looks.

Shopping Info:  Jeans from FemmeLuxe, heels from Charlotte Russe, Top from: SHEIN

A Playsuit and a Pear Tree

I happen to live in a place filled with idyllic farms and rolling hills and I consider myself incredibly blessed to be so surrounded by natural beauty.  I often take the long way home just so I can have a bit more time enjoying the view on my daily commute.  But, weekends are for reflection and relaxation and after the chaotic week I've had, I really need that today.  I was reluctant to answer when the phone rang (yes, I still have a land line.  I have a very strictly enforced no internet/ mobile phone policy at my house.  I think it's part of a well balanced life to have times when one is unreachable except by extreme means or by a selected few) 

However, I did answer the phone after a moment's consideration and I'm glad I did.  It was a delightful interruption to my solitary meditation.  This morning a neighbor of mine called and invited us to come and pick some pears from her pear tree.  She said she's invited quite a few people as she does every year and yet hardly anyone shows up.  I don't know if it's because it's the hottest time of year to be outside picking fruit, or simply because pears aren't as popular as say, apples, but I, on the other hand, am not easily daunted by the heat and I love pears and use them in tons or recipes.

For me beating the heat is no trouble at all.  I love the warm weather and getting to wear something cute and comfortable that doesn't involve lots of layers.  Don't get me wrong, I love layers, but I also like the freeing feeling that just one simple layer can provide. Something breezy, something cute,  something with all the comfort of a Loungewear set, maybe a little something like a playsuit.  

Shopping Info: Black Bardot Circle Belted Playsuit - Rubin from: FemmeLuxeFinery

Playsuits, also known as rompers, are so cute and fun and this Black Bardot Circle Playsuit in Rubin from FemmeLuxeFinery has that gorgeous vintage look that I adore.  There's something about bare shoulders that is so sexy and yet so tasteful.  I adore a bardot neckline for that very reason. A few more great features about this Black Bardot Playsuit is made if a lightweight stretchy fabric, so it's cool and comfortable and that circle belt in the front is just the right accent to draw attention to the narrowest part of the waist creating a great silhouette.

FemmeLuxeFinery has quickly become one of my favorite collaboration partners because I can count on the fact that whatever I get from their shop is going to look amazing!  Later this week I'll be posting about a few other amazing pieces from their jeans, tops, and jacket collections, and I'm so excited to show you the outfits that I've put together, so be sure to keep coming back this week as new looks are posted.

 

In this part of the world summer lingers until late September or early October and there's no point in getting anxious for autumn; it will arrive when it arrives and not a moment sooner.  So, on this lovely late summer Sunday morning, knowing as I do that the I the mornings start out mildly cool and quickly heat up, I put on my playsuit, quickly put on a headband to keep the hair from my face, grabbed my basket and headed down the hill for some pear picking.

The sun was just barely up and I noticed that dark blue clouds were gathering.  Summer storms roll in quickly and are just as likely to bring a torrential downpour as they are to bring a warm gentle rain.  So, I set about picking as many ripe juicy golden pears as my basket would hold before the rain came.  I left plenty, just in case anyone else decides to brave the heat (and rain) but I've been give the ok to come back for a refill should I need it and I'm quite sure that I will.  

The moment I was safely tucked away indoors, the rain did come.  Great heavy drops falling in sheets and pelting the cover on my porch with a musically soothing sound.  I poured myself a cup of tea, not too hot, it's summer after all, and sliced up one my freshly picked pairs.  I settled into a seat on the porch to enjoy my morning's work and listen to the rain.

Shopping Info: Black Bardot Circle Belted Playsuit - Rubin from: FemmeLuxeFinery