Eye've Been to London to Visit the Queen

I went to London in 2000 and it was an experience that changed me forever.  I loved everything about that great city and I've always wanted to go back.  Sure, I may not talk about it as often as I do Paris, but London stole my heart too.  The museums, the buses, the people, even the food, I loved it all.  I'd go back there in a heartbeat if I could...and this time, maybe I'd stay.

Shopping Info:

Night Skyline of London Print Midi Skirt from: ChicWish

Eyelet Embroidered Babydoll Blouse from: SheIn

Qupid The Zest is History Heels from ModCloth

The Fae Folk

 

Did you ever play dress up and lose yourself in a world of make-believe when you were a child?  I did.  In fact, I think it was my favorite form of play.  Even as a little girl I understood that what we wear tells the world who we are, and who we want to be and if we want to change that image, it's sometimes really as simple as changing our minds and changing our clothes.
    Today has been one of those days where we are all together working quietly on our own little craft projects and there's something about days like this that just make me feel so serene and happy.  There's a harmony to it all that is lacking in those busy, filled to the brim with activity, non-summer vacation months.  I've been working on getting my house in order for the last year since we moved in.  Slowly, one box at a time, I'm getting it all sorted.  
    I came across these old flowers that I meant to do something with when I bought them ten  years ago and just never got around to it.  So, today I fashioned a little floral headband.  I love these flower crowns, but I don't own any.  Hair accessories tend to be the last thing on my shopping list.  After wearing it a little, I'll give it to my girls and hope that it encourages them to play and pretend they way I did when I was their age.  If only for today and maybe tomorrow before school starts again and it's goodbye wild freedom and goodbye summer.

Outfit Info: Vero Viva Women Spaghetti Strap Double Layered Tulle Midi Dress High Waist Solid

Glitter and Lace

Another outfit with my beloved Glorious Sparkles Midi Skirt.  In my last outfit, I was the unintentional mermaid as I paired this skirt with a gold sequin top, starfish barrette, and fish tail braid.  This time I wanted to bring out the dusty blues in this skirt by pairing it with a blue lace top from ASOS and some nude leather heels by Red V.  I changed the hairstyle too.  I know this may seem a little grand, but this is something I would wear to the office.  Maybe swap the heels for some gold or tan flats if I intend to be on my feet all day, but I definitely wouldn't change a thing about the rest.

Shopping Info:

Glorious Sparkles Print Midi Skirt from: Chic Wish

Parisienne Barbie

Aaahhhhh, Barbie. We had countless hours of playtime in dreamland together.  I dressed you up and helped you rule Malibu from your cardboard palace.  I saw you become an astronaut, travel to the moon, and make it back in time for cocktail party in your honor.  You were an aerobics instructor, a mother, and a world traveler.  At some point you made me hate my body and think I couldn't be pretty unless I was blonde, but I forgave you and went on loving you anyway because, doggonit, you've grown and changed a lot over the years, but you've never lost your sense of style and I still admire you for that.  So, this one's for you, Barbie, dear.

Shopping Info:

Barbie x Unique Vintage My Barbie Collection Swing Skirt

Heels and Purse from ModCloth

Express Top from ThredUp

The Old Mercantile

    The Midwest and the South are full of these tiny ghost towns and I love them all.  If I had the means, I'd probably go around fixing up these old buildings before the years and decay destroy them.  This little town has a population of about six people now, but at one time it was thriving enough to have its own little mercantile.  Which is still standing for the moment.  

    I didn't venture in, although the entire left side is open to the elements.  I simply stopped to admire for a few moments and snap a few pics, and in that short amount of time a farmer drove by and stopped to make sure that I wasn't having car trouble.  I told him everything was fine, gave my camera a little wave in the air and thanked him.  He waved back and drove on with his truck full of hay to feed some very impatient cows leaving me to explore a little and reminisce a little and heave a heavy sigh for times gone away.

Shopping Info:

SHEIN Ruffle Cuff Eyelet Embroidered Plunging Dress $26

A Proper Home for the Ladies

Remember a few years ago, that thing going around Facebook was telling us that bras are bad for you?  Well, it may be true that bras weaken those support muscles, but I have to say that I've never flipped through an old National Geographic and seen photos of bra-less native women in some far away land and thought--Dang those are perky!  No, without a bra those support muscles may be stronger, but breasts droop.  I mean reeeeeallly droop.  So, as someone whose body has gone through a lot of major changes in the last 15 years or so and come out of it all with gravity still on her side, I'd like to pause from outward fashion and slightly look inward to what is arguably the most important undergarment a woman can own---the brassier.  

For this post, I'll be reviewing three websites that claim to specialize in ladies undies and give you the low down on all three plus an unboxing video at the end.

Victoria's Secret:

Perhaps the most well known of all bra shops, VS has touted itself as a carrier of top of line bras and a creator of erotic moments.  My rating?  3 out of 5.  Why?

Pros:  

• VS carries some quality goods and I know that anything I buy from them will last for a long time.
• They have staff on site to assist in helping you find the right size bra.
• Their Online Site allows you to narrow your search by size, color, lining and push-up.
• The selection available as far as styles and fabrics is wonderful.

Cons: 

• The hefty price tag on nearly everything---$5 per pair of underwear?  You know it's just cotton, right?!
• The limited sizing options.  After I had my second child and my baby days were a thing of the past, I went from a 34DD to....?  significantly smaller.  I went to good old VS and used their sizing method which put me in a 32C.  I trusted them and ordered several pricey bras according to their recommendation.  The trouble was, nothing fit, and the reason it didn't fit is because I didn't actually wear a 32C, that was just the closest size VS carried.  And then....
• You have to pay for returns.  It was their fault that I was sized incorrectly, but they expected me to pay for the return.  That was the end of our relationship.

Linda The Bra Lady:

After the VS kerfuffel, I went to Lindathebralady.com to correctly find my size and how did I fare? 4.5 out of 5

Pros: 

• This site offers precise and accurate ways of determining your measurements.
• They carry pretty much any size or style (maternity, sports, special occasion) you could ever need.
• Because they specialize in bra fittings, most things are returnable or exchangeable for free within 30 days.
• They have Bra School in which you learn to correctly size yourself.
• Any questions about sizing can be answered by their knowledgeable staff.

Cons:

• The prices can run pretty high.  If you thought VS got spendy, they got nothing on these bras.  The average cost of many is $70-$90.  
• The search fields don't include push-up or padding level, so it can take some digging to find the style you need.

Adoreme.com:

I admit to seeing this site on a commercial and at the time I really needed a new bra, so I gave it a try.  I'll give this site 3.5 out of 5.

Pros:

• They offer a huge variety of sizes
• This site probably has the most specific search fields and includes push-up and padding level to narrow the search.
• Your initial offer if you join their club is about $25 per bra with free shipping.  After 5 bras, your 6th is free.
• Matching undies come with each bra and there's an option to buy additional undies.

Cons:

• You have to join their club to get those initial savings and then continue to go back to the site each month to "skip" or you'll be billed $39.95 to be used as a store credit each time you don't skip.
• You'll never really get prices as low as you did that first time.  After that, everything went up to $40 and stayed there.
• Who needs to buy bras more than once a year?  Not many people and definitely not me.
• The bras didn't fit.  I ordered my size established size, 30D, Linda said so and Wacoal confirmed it, but they were all a cup size too big and the straps were too long.  I ended up having to take the straps up by an inch on all of them. 
• The quality is hit or miss.  Two of my bras, apart from the size and strap issues lasted very well, while one of them began to pill almost immediately.

Finding your bra size:

You know what, I had a whole explanation typed out on how to calcuate this, but it's way easier to just let Linda Calculate it for you.

Perfect Day for Strawberries

After one last trip to the blueberry farm, we decided to stop by my mom's house to help her pick a few strawberries from her new strawberry garden.  Even though there aren't a ton of berries and they're small compared to the ones you buy at the store, there is just no comparison on the flavor, especially when they're still warm from the sun.  I know it's a small thing, but I take an immense amount of joy from things like this.  Big days, thoroughly planned events, they come and go, but the little moments are what stay with me through the years.

Shopping Info:
Self Tie Shoulder Fit & Flared Plaid Dress 

Looking Sharp with a Cactus Print

Cactus prints always look sharp and this new Western Wanderings style Ruby dress from KarinaDresses is already topping my list:

Ruby Dress in Cactus Print Dress from KarinaDresses.com
Era Thing You Got Bettie Page Heels from ModCloth