Make Your Dreams Come True

    If you could be anything in the world, what would you be?  I  didn't really ask my children that question when they were young, because I didn't want them to look too far ahead too soon.  But, a cranky old library storytime lady once posited that question to all the two and three-year-olds at the library one day and do you know what the responses were?  They ranged from fireman to veterinarian to my sweet baby's response--Fairy!  

    Well, cranky storytime lady had to set her straight right away and in front of everyone in a not-so-library-friendly voice.  "How Absurd!  You can't Be a Fairy when you grow up!"  My daughter's big brown eyes filled with tears both from embarrassment and disappointment.  I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and gave them a squeeze.  I don't appreciate it when strangers take it upon themselves to crush my children's dreams, do you?   I appreciate it even less when people who claim to be friends crush my dreams or my children's, but it does happen.  What can we do in that moment?

    I remember wanting to be a great many things when I was younger, and none of them were boring.  I wanted all my dreams to come true, and in order to achieve that I had to make some realistic compromises.  Now, I know I'll never be a mermaid, but I have been to the ocean, and have lived in a beach house just a two minute walk from the Atlantic, and for months spent every waking moment there--and that's pretty darn close to being a mermaid!  

    I'll never be a ballerina, but I did take a grown-up ballet class for a year and felt just as graceful as if I'd been on stage.  I'll never be a writer, professional model or clothing designer, but I do enjoy writing my blog posts, making clothes and taking photos.  And when I look back on the body of work I have produced, I'm rather proud of what I've created.  I think I make beautiful clothes and take beautiful photos.  In this simple way so many of my dreams have come true.  They may not be quite so grand as I once dreamed, but they are something better--they are real.

    So, that day after storytime I had a serious talk with my little girl.  I told her, that storytime crone was right (except I didn't say "crone" I just thought it, but I did nearly choke on the word "lady"), my darling would never be a magical being with wings, but there was no reason she couldn't dress up like a fairy every year at Halloween or everyday during her playtime. 

    And there was no reason we couldn't have a beautiful fairy garden where she could play.  And when she got older, if she wanted, she could learn to go hang-gliding or fly a plane.  Those thoughts made her happy again and gave her some realistic goals.  

    Now, so many years later, my daughter is still quite Fey-like to me.  She's spritely, and whimsical, and talented, and fierce.  I admire her for who she is and who she is still yet to become.  I admired her originality that day when she wanted to be something no one else even considered.  I admire her originality now, and I know her ambition and her talents will take her far.

    And how about you?  What is it that you want to be or want to do?  How can you make those dreams a reality?  If you want to travel, take a language class and start a travel savings account.  If you wanted to be a star athlete, join a gym and start a community team.  You may never be in the lime light, and you may never transform into a mythical creature, but your dreams can come true.  

Glam & Glitter

FemmeLuxe collaboration week continues and today's post is by far the girliest. In some of my previous posts, I mentioned that Femme Luxe has some lovely glitter bodysuits and this month for our collaboration I thought it would be fun to try one and do an outfit post about them. I've promised to be a little more thorough about breaking down my shopping and outfit making process, so to that end, I'll tell you how and why I decided on the Pink Glitter Puff Sleeve Plunge Bodysuit-Roxina. I chose Roxina because I love the romantic style with all the ruching and the sweet heart neckline. I also adore this pale pink color; it is just too, too pretty.

Most of the time when I'm searching for new items to add to my closet, I look for things that pair nicely with at least one and typically many things in my existing wardrobe. That way I can get lots of outfits with the new item without spending a ton of money. Occasionally I will buy an entire outfit from a shop just as they have it displayed, but that's rare. I do recommend doing this if it's part of your shopping style to only shop once a year and get a complete outfit or two and then wear them over and over until their spent. That's one method, it makes sense to me, and it works quite well for some people. For the most part though, I buy a single item at a time that I really like and have in mind to wear with things I already own.

For this Roxina Bodysuit, I knew right away that it would be the perfect thing to pair with my colorful, feminine ChicWish skirts. This watercolor print immediately came to mind because I knew it had the same sweet sugar plum pink in it as Roxina. Watercolor prints offer lots of options for outfits and in the past I've worn this skirt with yellow, orange, navy blue and dark purple, but the pale pink/purple is the color I have really been looking for in a top to go with this skirt because it is my absolute favorite. So, when I saw the Roxina bodysuit I knew it was just what I had been waiting for.

In the past I have typically worn this skirt as part of a wear-to-work style, but truly a skirt like this deserves a little glamour. No only was it the color of Roxina that I loved, but the princess style sleeves, ruching, and glitter really drew me in. A glitter bodysuit is just a little to stylish for the office. No, a top like this instantly adds the kind of glam I knew the skirt deserved. This look now feels like something I would wear to a formal event or special occasion. But, it doesn't end there. Imagine this glitter body suit with a lace pencil skirt or even a pair of dark wash jeans. No matter what you pair with it, the Roxina bodysuit is going to make it elegant.

I wanted to take just a moment in this post to discuss the fit of the Roxina bodysuit. As you know, bodysuits extend down and snap together to create a form fitted silhouette. What this can also mean is some discomfort when the bodysuit rides up, or it it is quite snug against the body. This is not the case with Roxina. It is very breathable and stays comfortably in place, no ride up. Even the sleeves were not too snug at the shoulders or cuff. This is definitely one of the more comfortable bodysuits I've ever worn.

FemmeLuxe has some great Corset Dresses which I hope to wear in the coming months as part of my collaboration with Femme Luxe, and I always love to wear their Jeans because they fit like a dream and give me such a confidence boost, but for tomorrow's post we're going to change gears a little with a glam Trousers outfit. I'm so excited to share it with you, so visit the blog tomorrow for my final Femme Luxe outfit of collaboration week.

Shopping Info: Pink Glitter Puff Sleeve Plunge Bodysuit - Roxina from FemmeLuxeFinery.co.uk, Watercolor Impressionist Midi Skirt from ChicWish, Purple Heels from Amazon.com

Ruby's Sonnet

Oh, Ruby Dress, how I love thee.  Let me count the ways......

I love beautiful dresses.  Each one is like a poem, a beautifully crafted work of wearable art.  That feels especially true with this Ruby dress' watercolor print.  

I've already worn this dress to a function and received many compliments about the style and colors.  And it doesn't come as a surprise, this Ruby Dress in Sonnet print combines many of my favorite shades in a watercolor print and a flattering cut.   

I love the three quarter sleeves in all kinds of weather, but they're especially nice today.  As you can see, it's a little snowy outside, but the flared skirt looks great with boots or heels, so this is the kind of dress I can wear all year.

Something new and noteworthy is that this dress comes in XXS.  Normally I wear XS and have always like the fit, but I decided to try the new size and I love the way it's just slightly more form fitting, but still comfortable and breathable.  I may have to order in this size every time it's available.

I accessorized this dress with a burgundy beret to really make the deep reds pop in the print, but there are so many color options to work with: gray, navy, dusty rose, rust.  The possibilities are almost endless.

I can't wait to show you more outfits with the Ruby Dress in Sonnet in the upcoming months!

Shopping Info:  Ruby Dress in Sonnet from KarinaDresses.com