The Sweetest Dream

It's funny how some dreams never leave us, never change.  Sometimes I think we are all just the same little children we once were.

We all change some, that's a part of life, but if you know someone for a very long time, and if you truly know yourself, you may see that the ways in which you still love what you've always loved.  

Think of the little boy who loved to play football now has season tickets for every game, and the girl who was always bringing home another lost animal now runs her own farm.  The kid who built the best forts has a construction company, and the little girl who was always playing dress up now makes her own clothes and runs a fashion blog.  

Sweetest Dream Gradient Tiered Mesh Skirt from ChicWish

That's me, of course, that last one there, and sometimes I find a certain dress of skirt that absolutely fulfills all my girlish dreams.  

A cascade of pink ombre and layers of frills all topped with lace and a couple of bows.  What more could a girly girl ask for?  Pearls of course.

 Shopping Info:  Sweetest Dream Gradient Tiered Mesh Skirt from ChicWish

All That Glimmers

Today was photo day!  Which normally gives me a reason to get up early, put on as much glam as I can possibly muster and drive to some sleepy location for some pics in the morning sunlight, but today I just wasn't feeling it.  I got up and looked out the window at the b&b where we were staying, which was....unique and...well, let's leave it at unique.  The sky was overcast and the town was just beginning to stir.

Even thought I glanced at the weather before heading out, 30% chance of rain turned out to be more than enough and I once again found myself running for cover under the awnings of the shop fronts.  It soon let up to only a few gentle drops, so I decided to leave the protection of the awnings and step out into the street for some photos.  

Even though I didn't really want to get up and glam up for pics today, I'm so glad I did, because look at this lovely city-scape behind me.  Snugly settled into the mountainside, this cute touristy town looks like it came straight out of a painting.  The lights, the banners, the trees, it's all so picture perfect.

Often when I travel, I take along a few special pieces in case a photo op presents itself and I'm glad I brought along a stunning Stop Staring! dress for this trip. Looking back on these pics makes it all worth the early morning and getting a little wet in the storm.

You may remember these gold heels and necklace from another post in this little town, and in fact I didn't bring them along for this dress, but as it turned out, they just looked so right with it that I had to pair them.  Gold shoes just take the look up a notch in a way that other colors don't.

And don't forget that a little jewelry, even something as simple as a bracelet, adds so much presence and class to even the simplest outfit, so always aim for at least one piece of jewelry (no, engagement and wedding rings don't count, but they also don't hurt.)

Shopping Info:Celebrity Fitted Dress from StopStaring.com, Glamorous Heels from ThredUp, Jewelry from Catherine's

R is For Rocket

My parents loved all things Sci-Fi, so growing up I loved all things Sci-Fi, not by choice but by exposure.  It wasn't until I got my first job that I truly developed a taste for the genre.  

I was hired at 16 to be the manager of the book department in a comic book store.  The entire book section was in chaos and the manager simply said "fix it."  So, I did.  I organized everything by genre first and then alphabetically.  It took several months to complete and in the process I found a lot of authors that peaked my interest.  

One of those authors was Ray Bradbury.  I found an entire series of his books published in pulp-fiction style and bought them all for about $2.  I set to work reading The Martian Chronicles first, followed by The Illustrated Man, Something Wicked This Way Comes and then Dandelion Wine, Golden Apples of the Sun., and of course, R Is For Rocket.

While it was the Greentown novels that really captured my heart, I devoured all his works of science fiction with only slightly less gusto.  Every line is so carefully crafted I was engulfed by each story, carried away in time and space to be a part of the adventure.

My reading time these days is sporadic.  But at least every other year, I still dip in to one of Mr. Bradbury's books for an afternoon or so, with each beautiful world, each moment of magical realism perfectly preserved.

I saw this Space Pin Up Doll dress at Collectif and couldn't resist as it perfectly combines my love of vintage styles with my love of classic Sci-Fi.  The space pin-up print is darling and the Dolores style dress is such a flattering fit.  It looks great as is, but is also made to wear with a petticoat and wouldn't a red ruffled petticoat look fab with this dress?

I added the red accent belt to punch up the red in the details and the Jupiter locket is my own creation just to give a little homage to outer space without being too overt.  And did you notice?  This dress has pockets!

Shopping Info:  COLLECTIF MAINLINE DOLORES SPACE PIN UP DOLL DRESS

Style Academy Teacher's Pet

It's official; school has begun and at my house we're in the full swing of the busy schedule.  As usual, a Karina dress is there to save the day.  Karina has just launched their Style Academy collection and it is filled with fun prints and classic, figure flattering styles.  I volunteer at my children's school one day a week and although it's exhausting to be on my feet, constantly moving to keep up with all the questions to be answered and activities, it's a very rewarding part of my week and I like to look my best which is why I chose the Megan dress in Teacher's Pet to kick off the Style Academy collection and the school year.  

I started out doing volunteering because the school was short staffed last year due to illness, but it was also a way to spend some extra time with my own kids.  Somewhere along the way I fell in love with all the kids even the difficult ones.

Last year was my first year of volunteering and to be honest when the last day of school rolled around I wasn't sure I wanted to come back.  It wasn't until the awards ceremony and watching all the kids receive accolades for the real progress they'd made that the thought struck me that I would really miss seeing them if they transferred or I didn't come back.  I knew right then that if the school asked me to return for another year, I definitely would.

The phone call didn't come until a few days before school started and I accepted.  It was so much fun to come back this year and see  (nearly) all the same faces and how much everyone had grown and changed over the summer.  I can hardly believe how much change can happen in only three months time and they're taller, more mature and most surprising of all was how much lower the boys' voices are.  

I spent some time in my early twenties teaching at a university and I loved every second of it.  I put aside my teaching goals to focus on family, but as my family grows up and my children find the wind that fills their sails, more and more I think of returning to finish the degrees I started.

For the time being though, I love my role at the school because it's a support role.  I'm there to support the teachers and there to support the kids because they all need someone on their side, someone to come along to a tired teacher and say I've got all the questions handled so she can focus on grading those tests.  

And the kids need someone to come along and explain something in a different way, to encourage them as they prepare for a big test, or just to put an arm around their shoulders and give them a squeeze when the day is stretching on and they're missing home.

A few of the kids have even taken to call me their "school mom" which tugs at my heart strings like nothing else.

If you're like me and your school time schedule is all consuming to put it mildly, why not take the guess work out of what to wear?  Whether it's a school day, work day or one of those rare and precious free days, and I want to look stylish, profession and feel comfortable all in one, I know just the place for you to find an A+ beautiful dress that has it all. I'm so pleased to be a part of KarinaDresses Style Academy Collection and this Megan Dress in Teacher's Pet gets me through those tough days rather beautifully.

Shopping Info: Megan Dress in Teacher's Pet from Style Academy Collection at KarinaDresses.com

Autumn Colors on Trend with Chic Wish

Magic of Love Square Neck Floral Top in Apricot

Turn it Up Cold-Shoulder Chiffon Top in Coral

Abundant Floral Embossed Midi Skirt

Tough Love Embroidered Sleeveless Top in Cream

Diamond Printed Midi Skirt in Gold from ChicWish

Bit of Frill Sleeveless Chiffon Top in Red

Multi Floral Print Embossed Midi Skirt

Summer Breeze & Tiger Lilies

A Summer Wind

by Michael Field

O wind, thou hast thy kingdom in the trees, 

        And all thy royalties 

        Sweep through the land to-day. 

              

It is mid June, 

And thou, with all thy instruments in tune,

              Thine orchestra

Of heaving fields and heavy swinging fir, 

              Strikest a lay 

              That doth rehearse 

Her ancient freedom to the universe. 

        

All other sound in awe 

              Repeats its law: 

        The bird is mute; the sea 

        Sucks up its waves; from rain 

        The burthened clouds refrain, 

To listen to thee in thy leafery, 

              Thou unconfined, 

Lavish, large, soothing, refluent summer wind. 

Shopping Info: Dress from: SHEIN

Abundant Color

While it's not quite here yet, autumn is a season of wonder, a season of stopping to stare at the beauty of nature.  Even though autumn brings the chilly weather and falling leaves, it also brings this amazing abundance of colors and the abundant harvests of fruit, vegetables, and grain.  It's almost as though the warm weather is saying, "if I have to go out, at least I can go out with style."  

I admire that of course, because we never know where the winds will take us and how the seasons will change in our own lives, but no matter what comes our way we can handle it with style and grace, and thankfulness for all that we've had.  And if we must at any time say goodbye, let's make it the kind that people remember.

At this point you may be wondering if I'm being cryptic.  Rest assured the answer is no, I'm not going anywhere to my knowledge, but it's the to my knowledge bit that's the point.  Life and the many paths it takes are inscrutable, unknowable.  Life has this funny way of changing so slowly over time you hardly notice at all, and then all at once everything is different and your head is spinning.

Each time I look back on my life I shake my head and think, if someone had told me back then that I would be where I am now, I wouldn't have been able to believe them.  It was just too great a stretch.  And yet.  Here I am right here in this place in my life, repeatedly shaken but still standing.

Above it all, I have learned that the cold and difficult seasons in life don't last, but neither do the warm and enjoyable ones. I have learned to hold onto hope and the patience to persevere in the lean times and enjoy the seasons of abundance and above all and at all times to be abundantly thankful for it all.

Shopping Info:  Abundant Floral Embossed Midi Skirt from ChicWish, Cardi and top are old.  Shoes are from ModCloth