OOTDs: Shorts Ahoy.

Hi!  Happy Saturday. 

I figured while I had a moment when

a. the kids are all sleeping;

b. Mr. Dina is here just in case they wake up from their sleep;

and

c. I don't feel like sleeping, either...

then I could get a few outfit of the day(s) posted here.

Today I am compiling all my "shorts" outfits of the last month.  :)

I spent my summer shuttling the kids everywhere, including many Tuesdays spent at dance class, picnic lunches, and bug walks.  This outfit is from one of those days. 

The name of this post is inspired by the crewcuts tee I am wearing above, btw.  Get it?  Portholes are on ships...ships leave port?  Okay, I know I am stretching it.  ;)

I lucked out when I purchased the two girls' porthole tees when I visited the J. Crew with Monica in CA.  They were both on sale for $12 and further reduced by an additional 40%.  CW was thrilled that we have another matching pair of tees. 

I am obviously in a size 14, while CW is in size 5.

I added the seersucker shorts (also purchased for a ridiculously tiny amount in my not so tiny size 10), my Madewell sunglasses, and my Bensimon tennis shoes.  The bracelet is even nautical, every dangling bauble is some fish, sea creature, or oceangoing item.

Close up of the porthole tee.

The next photo shows this better, but I call this look "Hipster Mary Ann."  (As in Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island.)

Was headed to the grocery store (another thrilling journey in my exciting life!) as hipster Mary Ann.

The pieces in this outfit are old, old, old.  I think I bought the button-down from Kohls in 2003, I believe.  The shorts are from 2007.  The shoes and necklace are from 2010.  Only the sunglasses are relatively new (last January).

I almost gave the button-down away, but I am glad I held onto it.  Although I will never wear it the way I wore in 2003 (untucked, and unbuttoned more at the top), it gets a new lease on life with a new, fresher styling.

You saw the bottom bit of this outfit already when I reviewed the shoes for this BWRR post.

We were headed to the city as a family to see the Miro exhibit on the last day it was open.  I knew I would have Angus on me in the bjorn, so comfort was key, but I still like to have a put-together outfit, if possible.

The scarf was a bit unnecessary as it didn't even dip below 80 that day, but I liked how it tied the pieces of the outfit together and added some visual interest to the tank's neckline.

I love Brutalist architecture.  You don't know what Brutalist architecture is?  Well, take a look-see at this wikipedia article on it. 

I will happily pose in front of any building built in this style.  They are definitely unique, most certainly ugly, but so very much evocative of "Federal Government DC circa 1970" that I have a big soft spot for them.

This is a photo in front of the side of the Department of Labor.  Would have been more appropriate, I realize, to pose in front of it either the day I was set to give birth to Angus OR on the actual Labor Day (still can do that, two Mondays from now).

There I am, with Angus in tow, at the entrance to the Miro exhibit.

Was set to do errands in this outfit, but if you have good eyes, you can see that I have a swimsuit under the top.  I was also set to go to the pool, as well.

The hat is J. Crew (love my Lola!).  The top is Kohl's (must find out who made it for my facebook friend who asked about it).  The shorts are maternity (shh, don't tell).  The sandals are Target. 

Okay, that's it.  :)  I will probably make a polyvore of one of these outfits and if I do, I will make sure to include it in this post and then erase this here sentence (or at least cross through it).

Have a great rest of your Saturday!

Mommy Style Monday #11--Disney Edition!

A few weeks back one of my commenters mentioned a need to know what to pack for a trip to Disney, as she would be going with her children in the future. She was specific in that she really wanted to know what to pack for the parks to stay comfortable but also be stylish. I confessed that the best I do when I travel to Disney is a variation of pretty preppy and not some of my more involved ensembles, but I think we all know that is okay!

So here I am to show you my idea of a perfect wardrobe for going to the amusement parks with your families....a little comfort, a little color, a little sass, and a little bit of fun.

Keys to the perfect wardrobe:

1. Comfort: So very important, especially if your travels involve Florida or California in the middle of summer. We are such Disney-freaks that we have been there many, many times over the years (me...over 35 times to almost all of the Disneys, including Tokyo!) in all sorts of weather. This summer we went three times, once to Disneyland, once to Epcot, and once to the Animal Kingdom. All were hot, and the ones in Florida were extremely humid. You must remember to wear breathable clothing that is light and reflective. You must bring proper (yet always fun) accessories like a hat, great walking shoes, and sunglasses. You must not wear clothing that is too tight (we saw a shorts-wedgie on some lady and it look like it HURT) and you must not wear most man-made fibers...these two nots will make you miserable. These comfort rules also extend to your family...don't forget them!

2. Color: If you are limited to what you are wearing because you HAVE to be comfortable, then express your fashion sense in your color...be it patterns, blocking, or matchy-match hues. I am so much more a fashionista in the middle of winter when I can play around with layering, lots of heavy jewelry, and extra makeup. There is no way I can do that while knowing that my whole day will include walking many miles, sweating, and carrying exhausted little ones. So I go all "southern preppy" and pull out bright greens, pinks, yellows, and plaids to show off my style. Knowing that I am not wearing a loose tee and cargo shorts and a pair of really worn-in tennis shoes helps me feel like "me" even when I can't wear my statement necklaces. LOL.

3. Sass: This is what helped my casual go cool. The A.R. Trapp for J. Crew troubadour sunglasses and the Lola for J. Crew raffia hat really did go the distance to giving me a bit of an edge. I definitely was the only mom in the parks wearing a straw fedora and I kind of liked it! Plus my kids and husband could always find me. (That is actually a great tip--wear something "you" and let your kids know to LOOK FOR THAT...in a crowded park that could be their savior.)

4. Fun: Just remember to have it. And you will be more likely to have it if you are feeling great about yourself. :)


Hats, check. Color, check. Feeling good in my comfortable cotton? Yep. (Wore this one to Epcot...)


See what I mean about exhausted little ones? And lookie there, my outfit still looks crisp-ish. (This was nearing the end of our day at Epcot.)


I was not over-heated in this v-neck. It is a linen blend and it really was great at shielding my shoulders from the overbearing sun. (Yes, do not forget to apply the SPF!)


But it did get really hot at one point, so I did sling it over my shoulders, very prep from the '80s. I did match the tank to the sweater. Oh, yeah...good J. Crew and their matchy colors. (What is the deal with this character, btw? Is it a gorilla? Baby CW loved her. Mr. Dina says Rosie O'Donnell voiced this character and could. not. believe. I let CW pose with her...yeah, like I care one way or another.)


I am not doing this pose on purpose...this is the ultimate in a candid shot. However, you can see the sunglasses are serving me well, all mid-sentence like.

You all have a great night. Moms who have been nominated (either by someone else or themselves) as a Stylish Mom, please expect an e-mail with questions sometime this week. :)

P.S. Check out this post for more on packing for a vacation.

Summer "Skirting" the Issue...

The issue: I don't have the ability to wear clothing more than once because I buy so much clothing that there is NO way I can re-use clothing.

The solution: Umm, my summer skirt post (below) will help prove that I do indeed wear clothing more than once...in fact, I readily admit to loving it! (It helps me be more creative with my choices, and in some cases, the second or third time--or more--I look better because the outfit looks better mixed up.)

LOL. Enjoy. I did! :)

Oh, and please do read the last paragraph. It may explain why I may not be up for posting a whole lot over the next few weeks to months.


Yay! I love this combo far more than when I wore this skirt last year. The v-neck tee is very simple, but with the addition of some interesting sandals and a pretty mushroom and a lovely magnolia necklace, the crazy pattern of this Target Merona "Coppelle Paisley" skirt is both highlighted AND subdued. Bravo!


I loved this skirt last year (but can't find the photo in my blog archives, grr, and double grr), and I do remember pulling it out to wear just around the house to play with the kids. This year I still pull it out to play with the kids, but I do like to dress it up, like I did here for my day out in Palm Springs back in June. The grey tank along with the Lola Raffia hat and the very simple flip-flops help the skirt (literally) shine--don't know if you can tell but there are metallic threads woven into the fabric.


Oh, yes, my, the world's shortest skirt. :) LOL. I wore this in NYC in May, and I still find myself drawn to it, regardless of length. Admittedly I don't wear this to play tag with the kids, but I do like it for a night out (wore it one of the nights I was in Palm Springs). I paired it with the sequin stripe henley (in grey) and the gorgeous en plein air scarf in the fleurette pattern to not only try to mix patterns but give the whole outfit an interesting vibe.


I don't believe any of you have seen any of these pieces on me before but that is because the skirt and headband are new and I don't think I have ever taken a pic of me wearing the sandals or the top (here's a shocker--I don't take pics of every. single. one. of. my. outfits. amazing!). The top is from 2007 and the sandals are from 2009. I do love the top, especially, and find it works so well with many of my outfits...just a fun neutral piece with some cool visual interest in the gilded stripes.

BTW, I was COMPLETELY and 100% inspired to wear this outfit the same exact day I saw the gorgeous A Bigger Closet (ABC) wear a similar outfit on her blog. SWAK, ABC, and THANK YOU!

P.S. CW is totally re-wearing one of her outfits too. LOL. Oh, and that baby doll never changes her outfit...stinky. ;)


Okay, this is pretty darn new (except the sandals), but hey, it's a really cool outfit, right? Isn't the tied-dyed Wednesday skirt so pretty with the brown tank and cool statement necklace (ombre maritime rope necklace for those curious)? Too bad I had a terrible day with my kids...at least I could pet the soft fabric of the skirt and be transported to a land full of cashmere, silk, and linen. Well at least until Rex decided to open a package of pretzels at starbucks that landed all over the place...


Okay, yes, I have worn this cardi before. Good. :)


Oh, I love you striped linen monterey skirt. So flattering and so very easy-going. You are like one of my JCA BFFs, just what I need when I need a pick me up. :) Yeah, this is the ultimate SAHM outfit, tee, easy skirt, and flip-flops that match.


And last but not least...today's outfit. I had SUCH a problem wearing this skirt in May, I was all verklempt. But then I saw this tank and those flip-flops and I know it isn't exactly brain surgery, but the way they all came together in their matchy-match heaven kind of made my day (doctor-filled day, but more on that later). I have also paired it with a necklace that I totally heart from the Aqua line at Bloomingdale's. Yes, you have seen the necklace before, too.

Okay, so I guess I have shown that I love a little of the old and the new. Enjoy shopping ladies and gentlemen...whether that be shopping your closet or shopping at the mall...just enjoy!!!

P.S. Those doctor visits? Well, I kind of have really shiny white teeth now (yay for a great cleaning)...BUT...I need a root canal (oh, dear)...and well, I have a hole in my heart. And no, I didn't get the hole from my heart breaking over some negative comment or another...nope, looks like I was born with a congenitial heart defect and it appears that it is likely a cause for my terrible migraines. (I know, weird, right? The explanation makes sense, but it is too much to get into right now.) I can't elaborate more on it now as it is all early still, but it looks like I will be having some serious face time with my neurologist. Eep!

Incorporating Lola for J. Crew Into My Life...

You all may have noticed in my blog post on packing yesterday (which I have updated with my tips for making packing easier) that there was a Lola for J. Crew raffia fedora in the mix of items I packed for my trip to Southern California.

I have always been a "hat" girl, and as a teenager, my dad was constantly buying me hats...especially from J. Crew. It has been YEARS, though, since I have purchased a real hat from them as I had found that even their medium/large hats were a touch too tight for my ginormous noggin.

So imagine my surprise when shopping at Tyson's a few weeks ago with drewablank and I try on the Lola hat and discover that it not only fits, but looks really nice on my huge head. :) YAY! It was a bit too expensive at the time, so I held off until I could grab it and not feel guilty.

Well, based on how many times I have already worn it (umm, four times) in the last two weeks, I would dare say the purchase price will seem a lot more reasonable by the end of the summer...what is that called...price per wear equation? I want to wear it so many times that the price per wear goes into the pennies. LOL.

A Little Bit Hipster... by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Above is the polyvore of the first way I attempted an outfit with the hat. In the end this outfit made me look a bit "hipster," but eh, well, I guess there are worse ways I could look. ;)


You see? A bit hipster. I feel like this outfit made me look like I was going to an art opening in some funky neighborhood and then to the farmer's market and finally to the local coffee shop (never Starbucks) for a soy latte. In reality, we went to Moe's and then back to our house for a stint on our play castle (read: jungle gym).

Sizes:
Top: Lisbet Blouse, Anthropologie, Size 2. Ran very large, but I LOVE it and am so glad I could snag it for $30. Woo-hoo.
Shorts: Wool Shorts, J. Crew, Size 8. These are the ones from last fall that were meant to be worn with tights, and I did do that once, but I like the shorts in the summer, too.
Shoes: Cleo Platform Sandals, J. Crew, Size 10. Have worn tons already this summer. Price per wear should be low for these, too. :)
Hat: Lola for J. Crew Raffia Fedora, J. Crew, One Size. This may be too big if you have a smaller head, as it fits my cranium beautifully.


Mr. Dina HATED the hat at first, but halfway through our play castle stint, he smiled and said, "I actually kind of love that hat on you." Good on you, Lola.

My dad saw the hat for the first time yesterday and said, "ooh, I really like that hat for you and for your California trip--it is perfect."

If you are not a hat person, just ignore my love note, and move on to the outfit without the fedora (below).


And here is the outfit as I wore it inside the restaurant (although a wee bit of me wanted to keep it on--haha).

CW is in the photo! It's been a while, girlie. :)

Have a great day.

P.S. I AM SO BEHIND in commenting it is making me kind of ill. I will catch up, but if I have to ignore your comment (even though I assure you I read it), please forgive me. Anyone with kids, a trip, a family, a commitment will get this!