rock the color block...

So I'm back in a shopping mood (finally) since I haven't really given two hoots about hitting the stores since last fall. I felt I had everything that I "needed" and not much was speaking to me. But no more! One can only wear black/brown/black for so long. I've got NEW inspiration...bring on the color kids!

Ka-chow! That's a lot of color..and I'll admit it sort of intimidates me, but I broke down and grabbed some mint-green skinny jeans ($19.99 from Winners) and a cobalt blue pair from Old Navy ($20.00 on sale this week).  I'm naturally a black on the bottom, color up top sort of dresser but I think this is worth a try for this summer...I can't hide in black forever!

  Zip it ok?...This is just a regular Dolman sleeve top in a bright turquoise green but the zipper detail (on the back) makes it interesting, no? I grabbed these metallic flats, since metallics are the shiz this season...so they say...

(Top, Zellers $14.99, flats Zellers $12.99)

Color blocking and Zippers? Yes and yes.  (Bottom Block top, Suzy Shier $25.00)

For that wedding/baby shower I'll inevitably have to attend, Pleated, Belted, Chiffon Dress in Navy, (Suzy Shier $40.00)

 So are you all still hiding in your fleece and Uggs?  I don't blame you if you are...its hard to shed the layers and show some skin. Mama needs a tan something terrible but that's not going to be an option for months yet. 

 I even have a hard time ditching socks and wearing flats -never mind sandals? What if it starts snowing again...that can happen at ANY GIVEN MOMENT in these parts...

Have you caught the spring shopping fever yet...are color/short sleeves/bare legs calling your name?

Yet another post about mint green? Guilty.

It's March and we're having a snow storm right now (as least 20 cm more are going to fall tonight) but that's ok because my mind is already stuck on spring. I love the neon and pastel colour in the stores right now but I definitely won't be buying much of anything until we have a serious weather-warm-up. 

Easter egg pastels (a carry-over from last year) are my fave right now (yes this is nothing ground-breaking, they're everywhere) but I'm tempted to grab a pair of mint coloured jeans, though I really think they can be a bit tricky to get away with, especially in the lighter tones- since I'm not a size 4...

This pair is from Forever 21's plus collection, the bright mint green shows no mercy. So perhaps this should be a springtime no-go for Mama?  

Maybe I should stick with mint green in small doses, maybe like this Essie colour, Absolutely Shore.

It's actually much greener (less beige) in person but gives a nice pastel pop of mint.

So mint took until this season to grow on me...either way this colour is totally trendy but likely won't be around for yet another season, so maybe there's no harm in picking up a cheap pair of skinnies from Zara, Forever 21 or Old Navy...?

Or...maybe I should stick with a smaller hit of the colour from accessories like a ring or belt.
What do you think of spring's hottest colour, mint? 

Outside our front door tonight...spring in Canada is awesome. Eh?

H and M comes thru again...

H&M is proving to be my go-to spring/summer store. While I'll admit that sometimes it can be a bit too

Euro-23-year-old-ish, most of the time their styles are totally doable for just about anybody. I'm loving their bright colour-blocking pieces (though I didn't buy any this time) and their summery pastels and whites. Even better, the prices are ridiculous- they're practically giving their stuff away.

However,

Dear H&M, please start steaming your merchandise before you hang it on the racks. This was a seriously wrinkled haul and Mama hates ironing!

{I'll get my Chloe inspired bag on the cheap, only 10 bucks! }

{ Roar for more animal prints}

 {This top is black not grey but my Nikon disagrees}

 {Ughhhh,  ironing blazers suckssss -why do you do this to me H&M?}

 {pretty in (peachy)pink}

 {White pants are the epitome of summer. But since I practically live at the North Pole I almost never wear them here. These ones are heading to Greece with me}

I'm finally wrapping my mind around the idea of warmer weather clothing. The farmers almanac says it's supposed to be a "super hot year" but I'll believe it when I see it.  Right now I'm still hoping my garden/flowers don't get killed by our cold nights, we're still having frost warnings. Even in June there's no guarantee that we won't get a bit of snow...

But today the sun is shining and its 23 degrees Celsius out. I'm off to the greenhouse to buy more plants for my flower beds- I might wear my white pants.

White, gold and tan OH MY!

After Husband's epic failure at remembering (and gifting) Mama properly for my birthday, it was pretty obvious that I was going to have to recognize my 30+ years of life by at the very least going shopping for myself. What else you gonna do? Here's what I picked up...

{Marc by Marc Jacobs Aviators in gold and white. Can you say summer?

{ Michael Kors Logo Jelly sandals - Browns Shoes}

{Pure by Alfred Sung white skinny jeans}

Is that Banana Boat suntan lotion I smell? I am seriously ready for summer! Bring on the gin and tonic's, BBQ's, trips the beach (when we're in Greece because I'm actually ridiculously landlocked) and good times with friends, family and of course my kidlets. While we're on holiday this summer I'll be wearing this, cuz I sure as hay won't have a chance to wear it where we live right now. So cold! 

{Just call me Goldmember because "I love gooold..."}

Nothing says summer like white and gold with a tan...

Summer Jet Set by nikosmommy featuring Nine West shoes
    

{Now if I could only get started on that tan....}

Wednesday Wish List

It's mid-week and I've been shoveling my driveway thinking about the things I'd like to get my hands on right now that just might make my life a bit better. Maybe I'm in dream-land here but unseasonably bad weather makes me a bit cray cray.

1) I'd like to squeeze my butt into a pair of size 8 jeans. Any over priced brand will do, the point is that they be a size 8 and I fit into them for the rest of my adult life. Forever. Forever ever. 
If size 8 is good enough for Mariska Hargitay and Valerie Bertinelli then it's good enough for me. (Never mind that they're older.)

2) I'd like a miracle cellulite cream that actually works. Like for real. With modern medicine/technology can no one figure out a cream/potion/magic elixir that will make my dimple butt go away? Forever? 

{Boo. Hiss. These do not work.}

                                        

3) I'd like Marc Jacobs to come and design for me. Personally.  I will allow him to use me as his muse and maybe even his exclusive lovah. (What's that you say? He's gay?) Never mind then. Just being his style muse will do.

{Ignore Posh, insert Mama here.}

 Till then, (cuz I know he's working on Fall/Winter 2011) he can feel free to FedEx these to me at anytime. Freebies of course.

4) I'd like to pick up a new bike. Yes a bicycle. La Bicyclette. In order to fit into my size 8 jeans (forever) I'll be needing something in addition to a gym membership or Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred (which is actually more like an every 5 or 6 days if I'm feeling up to it Shred.)  Something new like this cruiser would be super-cute.

5) I'd like Kid #2 (who is now a bold 20 months old) to stop running into the bathroom, climbing up onto the toilet, then onto the counter and then into the sink while plugging the drain and turning on the taps. (Fully dressed and sitting in the sink.)

{No this isn't him. But I'm too busy cursing to stop and take a pic while he's up to his shenanigans}

6) I'd like my hair to look like this. Everyday. If anyone knows Ken Paves number please share. (We'll just pull him away from his world travels with Jessica Simpson on "The Price of Beauty."}

{Source, google images}

Denim has changed my world...

While reading a copy of the magazine/catalogue that H&M puts out every month, I came across a piece about how fashion has changed and evolved over the last 10 years. One big change they mentioned was the introduction of premium denim, or designer jeans as we call 'em.  I'm not talking Brooke Shields in her Calvin Kleins circa '82, I mean brand name jeans like Rock & Republic and Seven for All Mankind.

Yeah they're wildly over priced, but I really do adore them! There was a time (1999-2000) when my friends and I wouldn't dream of going out (to a club) without wearing black pants, a black skirt or a black dress. But wear jeans? Never. What kind of hillbilly, ghetto misfit would wear jeans to the bar? We needed to dress up in our thick chunky heels, open back shirts and leather pleather pants. Hot. 

 And then around 2003 along comes designer jeans. Jeans that make your butt and legs look good, jeans that have a ridiculously long inseam, (what, you're not all 5'10"?) and a painfully low rise (6 inches should cover it, right?)  

Premium denim is in it's own world. The fit can be totally unforgiving. (You're bigger than size 32? No need to apply. Next.) So put those Mini-Eggs down, in fact just spit them out!

I find that Joe's Jeans and True Religion are 'generous' in their sizing. Seven and Paige Denim fit sorta middle of the road, and Citizens of Humanity and Rock & Republic fit insanely small. ( Of course fit varies according to the cut of the jeans, and your individual body shape/size. 

So now when my friends and I go to the bar (as much as that ever happens), skinny jeans and heels are the uniform du jour. The thought of wearing black 'dress pants' -as we called them, makes me cringe. Gah! Hideous! 

I suppose jeans are more a part of my everyday wardrobe then they were 10 years ago. Sure I had my GAP jeans, but the wash probably wasn't dark,  there wasn't a decent bootcut, and the waist was probably up to my belly button (maybe that actually wasn't a bad thing...)

{source Google Images}

I wear jeans everyday, in fact my fave pair right now is a black pair of skinny's from Zeller's of all places (it's kinda like Target) AND they were only $19.99.  If all my jeans were premium denim, and cost over $200/pair I think Husband would have a heart attack. But then again he's rockin' his True Religion/Armani/Dolce and Gabbana jeans and he's way more of a brand name jean-hoe than I'll ever be. For realsies, that man can shop, you've gotta see his closet to believe it.  But that's another post for another time...

Mmm-muffin top!

Muffin tops, what could be worse?  Ok, maybe a few things like Global Warming or the threat of an Iranian Nuclear weapons program.  But right now, today, it's a muffin top and I'm not talking about the warm, freshly baked kind, served best straight from the oven (with butter). drool.

Since kid #2 arrived, my post-baby bod is definately different then pre-baby. While I'm managing to lose most of the weight through Massive Weight Loss 2009, I seem to be suffering from some 'belly fat' issues that were NOT there pre-baby.  ick.

While I suppose I shouldn't complain about something so trivial, it does drive me bananas!  (but really, what isn't trivial compaired to Iran's potential for weapons of mass distruction?)

Why the muffin top?

Theory #1

I'm a chunky monkey around the tum-tum.  duh, obviously? And all the Jazzercize in the world ain't gonna help! (does Jazzercise still exist?)

Theory #2

The rise on jeans (length of crotch) is borderline obscene.  YEAH, I like that theory better, it's not me, it's the jeans.

Seriously, over the last 5-6 years, jeans have definately made a move towards a shorter rise (7 inches, are you for real?) "Designer" jeans are to blame but I still love 'em.  {One simple request "7 For All Mankind"....you too "R&R", please, pretty please make a slightly longer rise on your gor-geous jeans.}

No one wants to see this mama's muffin top, and I'm am soooo tired of body slimmers. Eff YOU Nancy Ganz...and all your support garments.
  (Actually, no Nancy, I take that back. Without you I'd be totally eff'd. Now I just look like freakin' STUFFED SAUSAGE trying to fit into some freakin' skinny jeans wearing a body slimmer).

To be fair, in the last year or two, jeans have been slowly moving a little bit longer in the rise. Thanks to the GAP's "Curvy jeans"  my Spanx are only for special occasions...when I want to look like a stuffed sausage?!?

Really, at the end of the day, the only solution is to continue Massive Weight Loss 2009-10 and squeeze my ass into decent jeans, sans body slimmer. Low rise or not.  I have pre-baby jeans just sitting in my closet crying out to be worn.....  "15 more pounds mama, and we're yours again".....