A Real Night Out - Our Anniversary

This weekend is our anniversary. On Sunday we will celebrate our 12 year wedding anniversary and I can honestly say I can't believe it's been 12 years! My husband mentioned a couple of weeks ago that he was making anniversary plans and to see if my parents would be willing to watch McKinley for the evening. However, he never volunteered specifics. I was curious if it was a surprise, and when I inquired, I was told he was looking into something and was waiting for a return phone call.

I grew more curious everyday and everyday he said nothing. Then last weekend I asked him if the evening was a surprise or just something he was still planning. It turns out he had planned an evening upon the Kansas Belle. The Kansas Belle is a dinner train that runs for three hours, serves a three course meal, and we were going to sit in the USO car which would supply entertainment along the route. It sounded like the best evening ever! That is until we started reading the fine print which indicated if anyone experiences motion sickness, this might not be the event for you. My husband suffers from motion sickness and I just couldn't have him take this train ride and be miserable. So now we are headed to Plaza III and I'm so excited. We've never dined there and I'm really looking forward to an adult evening!

Because it's such a special occasion, I've been on the hunt for a special look. I've narrowed it down to six pieces and I honestly can't decide! I love a dress, but I also love a jumpsuit. I always wear black, so I'm thinking of adding either color or graphic prints. Here's what I've picked!

One: Ann Taylor/Two: Piperlime/Three: Piperlime

Four: Piperlime/Five: Ann Taylor/Six: Piperlime

If you were headed for a night with your guy, which one would you pick? I love them all. Think I could find an occasion for six new pieces? I'm sure I could! I mean the holidays are coming up, right?

Happy Friday, Fashionistas!

Casual Dress

Dress: Jacqueline Smith for Kmart (similar); Jacket: My Mom's (similar); Belt: Target;

Sandal: Tory Burch; Handbag: Pour la Victoire (similar); Shades: Ulta (similar);

Necklace: My Mom's

As I typed last Friday's post regarding being on the hunt for casual dresses, I decided to pull this one out. I feel like it's harder to re-style because it's black and white and a maxi dress. Not much that can be mixed up here. 

This time around I ditched the self-belt and added my neon yellow version and I think it helped brighten it up. I reached for my cropped denim jacket and leather flip flops for a more casual look. I definitely will keep this dress in the rotation for summer!

The Dress: Before and After

 

On the Hunt - Casual Dresses

As I've spent my earlier summer months in shorts, I've been looking at other stylish mom's who've been rocking maxi dresses at all the same kid/family friendly hot spots around town. I have a few cotton maxi's in my wardrobe, seen here and here, but nothing like the ones I've recently seen. But it's not just the maxi dresses. I've seen some super cute short ones as well. So I've decided that while I'm loving my stylish shorts summer, it's time to add a few dresses to the mix. And, I've found some super cute ones! Here are a couple few of my favs!

There is nothing like a simple black dress and it's even better when it's a cotton shirt dress! This one from LOFT is literally a work-horse piece for your closet. It can be dressed or down and definitely a piece that will last for years.

How comfortable and easy does this dress from Zara look? I seriously can see myself wearing this for the rest of summer!

Then there is this super cute dress from Zara! I love the asymmetrical cut, the watercolor design, and how truly streamlined it is.

 I have been eyeing this top from J.Crew Factory for months now and just recently discovered the dress! I'm not sure which I like more, but I'm pretty sure I would be happy with either one. Or both!

This actually might be my favorite! This dress from J.Crew Factory is darling!! A little retro in design but modern in its cut. And you know what a huge black and white fan I am. Oh, and the enormous circles are the cutest!

What do you think of dresses versus shorts for a day at the zoo? I'm personally excited at the change in wardrobe! Now, which one to get? Stay tuned...

Happy Friday!

XOXO

Dream to Reality - Styling Katie Couric for Her Big Day

Have you heard the news that Katie Couric is getting married? Old news, I know, but it's the first time I've really talked about it here. My mom mentioned that after one of her shows, right after she announced the engagement, that Katie said she hadn't given much thought to her planning her wedding. She stated that if any viewers had ideas on what she should do, they should pass them along. Well, I took her to heart and created a Pinterest board! It has been so well received. I have 148 followers for that one specific board, including Katie Couric herself! Okay, so it's not really Katie Couric, but someone from her camp, but it has peeked someones interest.

 

For this week's Dream to Reality, I've been thinking more and more about this Pinterest board, the interest it has created, the pieces I've chosen and why I should be considered to style Katie for her big day. Have you seen the board? It's pretty amazing, if I do say so myself! I would wear many of these pieces and I can totally see Katie in them as well. I've chosen items that speak to her style, which in my opinion, is so classic. Gone are the days of her Today Show suits. Like her professionalism on the job, so is her wardrobe, but there's a little more room to show her infectious personality. She seems to have embraced sheath dresses in an array of colors. She keeps her accessories to a minimum. But, she definitely likes to show off those buff arms!!

 

For her big day, I've really tried to hone in on all of those elements of her personal style. I've given her gowns, as well as sheaths. Ones that are sleeveless and ones with sleeves. There are long and short dresses. I've left the color to accents like shoes and bags. I've given her subtle and rich makeup options and up-dos to boot! I've even gone so far as to pick headpieces. Nothing too elaborate. I really like a birdcage veil. Oh, and there are diamonds!!! Diamonds, diamonds, and more diamonds! I mean, who doesn't love diamonds!!

 

So I propose that starting today, Friday November 15, 2013, we should start an active petition so that I can entertain Katie with my ideas for her wedding day! How do we make that happen? I've already grabbed the attention of someone in her camp. How do we keep that spark alive and turn it into a flame? Please send me your ideas, or better yet, use your social media platforms to spread the word! Go to Twitter and tweet it to the universe. Start following my "Dressing Katie Couric for Her Big Day" Pinterest board and share with your friends. Talk about it on Facebook. The more buzz the better!

 

In the meantime, I will continue to grow my board with additional wedding ideas. I would love to dress her daughters! Pick the venue, the cake, the favors! Will it be a destination wedding or a sweet backyard affair? It will take place on the beach of some exotic island or in her home state of Virgina? No problem! I will plan for both.

 

Oh, and I plan to plan it all by Katie's side, even if it's in cyberspace and through Pinterest! Join me for the big day! 

2012 Year in Review - Spring/Summer

Summer brought brights, neon and birds! Oh, and stripes. I definitely left my love of black in the dust and wore pops of color all season long. If you're going to do it this is the time, right? 

The love affair with my red pants was ridiculous! As was the affair with my blue pants! I loved neon yellow more than I ever thought I would. It's a softer hue than expected and pairs well with so many things! There were stripes in black and white mixed with color. And stripes in so many colors!

It also seemed to be the year of the dress as well. 

Here is a look back over some of my favorite looks from the summer.

 

 

 

 

I really look forward to what's on tap for summer of 2013!