OOTDs: Handmade Liberty Love.

Angus loves to smile.

And he likes to run.

And every once in a while, he will stand still.

Day: Saturday, July 27, 2013.

Where:  Damn Yankees (my dad was props manager for the local production).

Ease of Wear: (3 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  I guess I have been favoring easy to wear jersey dresses and loose shorts this summer too much as this skirt felt so fitted and tight.  It really wasn't, obviously, just a regular pencil skirt silhouette, so I probably should wear at least one fitted piece of clothing a week to remind myself that I can wear clothing like this.

I don't know when I fell into the comfort clothing trap, but it probably has something to do with my overall mood this summer.  I go to the "aw, forget it" mode way too fast when something doesn't quite work.  I need to get out of this funk already, and stop letting everything bother me to the point where I quit.  (I forced myself to go out in this outfit instead of changing into a jersey skirt.  I was *that* close to freaking out that I was too big to wear this outfit, which is ridiculous, but that is where my mind went that night.)

Cool Factor: (3.5 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.)  Pretty top (wrote about it here, btw) with a great skirt and cute headband makes this a bit cooler than my usual SAHM look, which was appropriate since I was going out with my friend instead of doing something with the kids.

Anecdote from the day:  My dad loves loves his theater group, and when a play or musical is upcoming, he throws himself into the production with such gusto that the song from Damn Yankees "You've Got to Have Heart" is very appropriate for his life.  :-)  We don't get to see him as much during these times, but it is nice to know he is really having a lot of fun.

My friend got a migraine that night, so we had to leave at intermission, which I obviously understood.  This is the second time I haven't been able to see a musical there during the second act, since last year my dad had the great idea that I bring Angus to see Legally Blonde.  Yeah, Angus was upset at me and insisted that I either nurse him the entire time or get him out of there.  I didn't go back for the second act as I am not a crazy person.  (I also wondered *why* my dad thought it was a good idea.)

Day: Monday, July 15, 2013.

Where:  Drive from North Carolina to Georgia.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  I knew I wanted a pretty outfit to wear on the drive, but since the drive is nearly 7.5 hours, I knew that it had to be comfortable.  The shorts are a bit oversized and that helps up the ease factor, and the top is blousey enough to not pinch or pull.  I still get bugged by the gathering and puckering where the yoke meets the bodice and armholes, but I don't feel the issues while wearing it, so as long as I am not looking in a mirror, it doesn't bug me.  (I wrote about making the top and the issues I had with it here.)

That bag, btw, is so overused.  It has this patina to it now that I like, but I have no idea if it is okay that I willingly used a light-colored leather bag as a day bag when I have toddlers in my life.  Oh, well...at least I got it from the J. Crew clearance store instead of at full price.

Cool Factor: (2 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.)  Meh, the colors are pretty, and those Sperry Top-Siders (for J. Crew in a neon pink color) are really cool, but the outfit definitely reads SAHM casual.  The cool kids would probably just sort of scoff at my attempt at cool if I was trying to hang with them.  Good thing I'm not, lol. 

Anecdote from the day:  The trip to GA was beautiful and the weather was amazing.  I always love the drive down there...something about Southern interstates are refreshing.  They are made well, nice and smooth, with lush forests and rolling hills for scenery, and miles between exits.  The blood pressure drops a bit, you know?  Not that I don't enjoy going to other places, but I am not sure I would ever describe the drive to NYC in the same way.  ;-)

Okay, that's all for today.  Hope you all are having a fabulous Tuesday.

I want to write a Boden Weekly Review Roundup tomorrow.  If you have a review for me (it doesn't have to have a photo, btw) for anything (clearance or new), you can e-mail me at dinagideon AT aim DOT com.    

OOTD/Review: Boden Fabric Mix Dress.

Day: Wednesday, May 29, 2013.

Where:  Winesday.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  The Boden Fabric Mix Dress review is below, but it bears repeating that this dress is stretchy, soft, and comfortable, all while looking like it would be far more unpleasant to wear.  I would even go so far as to say one could wear it to an office with a semi-professional atmosphere and get away with it.

And one more big ole shout-out to my girls, the Greta suede wedges.  I wear them constantly in the summer and they still look lovely and still are super easy on my feet.

Cool Factor: (3 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.)  The necklace gifted to me by my sweet NYC friend Marietta is definitely the coolest bit of this outfit.  Second time I have worn this out and about and just like the first time I wore it, I had a ton of people compliment the necklace.  :-) 

I personally think it is cool that this dress looks like a skirt and top combo, but I am kind of cheesy like that.

Anecdote from the day:  We had to bring Angus and CW to Winesday, which isn't ideal.  They were fine, but lemme tell you all, it is way easier drinking wine, picking girls out for my brother, and lol-ing at only things siblings joke about without the rugrats along for the ride.  It seems less appropriate with them there, especially me pimping out my bro.  ;-)

Review:  As I promised in yesterday's post, I am trying to at least get the posts published that I had in the queue last week that feature the Boden dresses that are in the 30% off sale (which I discussed at this post).  I wasn't sure if the fabric mix dress was in the sale, but it turns out that this color is in the sale, since this color is still part of the "current" line.  The other colorways are in clearance, but if you like the other colors, then you are in even better luck since those are a full ten dollars cheaper than this color combo.

I bought this in a size 6 Long and I was totally freaked out that it would be way too tight in the hips, even with the stretchy jersey skirt.  Well, I had no need to fear since the skirt is very stretchy, but also made of a nice heavy fabric, which hides the lumps and bumps better than thinner jersey can.  Had I chosen the 8 Long, it would have been too large on top, and I really must say the fit in the top in the 6 is spot on for my frame (and the extra detailing at the neckline gives my bust more "form").

The one issue I had with this dress is particular to me and my shorter torso/high waistline.  As I have mentioned in the past, my height is in my lower half, if my top half matched my bottom half, I would be 5'4" tall.  This dress does have a bit longer bodice, which most taller women need.  Because this dress has an elastic waistband and a fairly loose silhouette on top, this makes the longer bodice less of an issue for me since it makes it look like the top is supposed to be blousey.  

I do like the fit of the dress, but if you are a bit more shy about your curves, especially on bottom, you may want to size up, even though I prefer the fitted look.  (If you look at the third photo you will see how my hips and bottom curve there in the skirt, and that bothers me not one bit.  There was a time, though, I would have thrown this dress in the return pile because of that curve there.  Since I have become more accepting, even appreciative, of what I have naturally, I wear all my fitted clothes with pride.  Of course if I truly look like a bowling pin, I may be less inclined to show it all off, but I don't see a bowling pin here.)

The colors of this dress are definitely blah, but sometimes a blah colored piece of clothing, in a great design, can really do wonders for the accessories worn with it.  Maybe that is why that necklace got so much attention?  ;-)

Okay, that's it.  Have a fabulous night...we'll talk soon!

P.S. Pure Collection has started their summer clearance sale.  If you are a fan of their line of clothing, now may the time to jump on their offerings.  (Their cashmere is so soft, J. Crew gets a lot of love for theirs, but hands down, Pure is my favorite cashmere purveyor on the planet.  They have a lot of non-cashmere, especially in summer, lovely silks and fine linens are sprinkled alluringly through their collection.)  A direct link is below.

ROYGBIV: Orange. Doesn't Rhyme with Anything.

Well, I guess I could technically have put in half of the outfits from the last ROYGBIV post because really what is the color modern red? Truly looks red in the near dark, but in actual light is a really good friend of orange. Probably best described as a "RORANGE" kind of color, little red, little orange. Whatever, I still love it, they could call it poopy doo creamsicle and I would still wear it.

I have two outfits for this post, but I already published one of them, so I will just link back to that post rather than re-posting.  *Because I am lazy.*

The photo has the info, but I will mention some bits about the pieces.

The sweater was really popular in blog land, but I seemed to keep missing it at its really good sale price, and since I knew other people were getting it for almost half off of the original price made me irritable (or it could have been the end of the pregnancy hormones which was when I bought it), I chose to wait until it was the price I knew I could have it at.  Of course I had to wait for a popback, but one morning, very early, I found the boatneck popover in my size and in the orange (TRUE orange) color.  Yay for patience and a being just a little bit crazy.

The rest of the outfit is old, old, old.  Just in case you all didn't realize it, I actually re-wear a ton of my clothes.  It may seem that I have new pretty shiny things all the time, but that is because I just like to show off the new and pretty.  :)  In fact, I rarely buy new pants or shorts.  Eh, just can't feel the love for most of those because most of those just give me sadness...when you can't fit into pants because your thighs are too big, it sort of makes wanting to get new pairs in favor of your old not really a great idea.  Dresses?  Tops?  They seem to fit fine, so I get more of those. 

Okay, rant done.  Don't know why I felt I needed to talk about it, I just did.  Do you have any piece of clothing that gives you sadness because you find it hard to work on your body?  I am really curious.  I sometimes feel alone in my frustration with my body.  Probably because I spend most of my time talking to my husband (he who is super thin and can wear anything) and my toddlers (they don't care if something doesn't fit, always amazes me).  Also do you buy certain types of clothes because they always seem to fit, regardless of other issues you may have with the rest of your body?

That necklace, the scattered glass necklace, is easily my most worn piece of jewelry.  LOVE.  J. Crew should remake that necklace for those of you who missed out on it initially.

I don't think I would ever do a pixie cut, but I am not overwhelmingly disgusted by my face with a short look.  (There is a bun in the back...was a preschool run day, so it made my life easier to have it up.)

End of the preschool run.  My hair and my sweater were still in decent shape.  The jeans were about to fall off, but they stretch out a LOT.  I love them, but I think I need to go to my non-postpartum pair (I have them in size 30, too, these 32s are for after I have the bebes).

This was the first time I had let Gus ride forward in the Bjorn, he loved it.  Mr. Dina says that it looks like he is a vestigial appendage of mine, like a third arm or an extra finger.  LOL.  I guess.  (Such a freaking weirdo, that's my hubby!)

Mr. Roy G. Biv presents Orange. by dinagideon featuring j crew handbags

Above is the polyvore of this outfit.

Okay, so this post has the other orange outfit.  That said, it did have an indigo piece, so I would have still been confused on which post to include it in, so I guess it is good I published it early so I wouldn't break my brain.  ;)

You all have a great day.  Talk with you soon!

Mommy Style Monday #28: Postpartum "Style" Week One and Two.

I placed a set of quotation marks around the word style because, in all honesty, the first two weeks of postpartum life are so flipping difficult that if you simply make it out of bed and into something other than a hospital gown, then you are doing great.  In fact, for the first four days of Angus's life, I was in the hospital bed, gown on, with only brief moments of moving to the bathroom and/or window (to remind me that, yes, there was a world left out there).  And bear in mind I only moved as long as my painkillers had kicked in.  (I am a big wimp when it comes to pain.  The pain, OMG, the pain.)

The very last day in the hospital, I attempted to dress myself and discovered that the blouse I had brought to wear (and it was maternity, I am not crazy enough to believe I could walk out of the hospital in normal clothing) was too small on my hips.  Wah!  I had worn it in my pregnancy and in no way, shape, or form was it too small on my hips.  I asked the nurse about this and she said that c-section mommas, because of all the fluids they give during surgery and thereafter, often keep the water weight in their legs, hips, and waists.  Well, yay for me.  No.

So thank goodness the shirt I had worn to the hospital still fit on the way out of the hospital.

5:15 AM, Sunday Morning, March 25, 2012.  Yeah we take photos before getting in the car to go the hospital to give birth.  Yeah, we sentimentally roll like that (even if Mr. Dina closes his eyes).  BTW, that bright yellow top saved me...I had nothing else to wear home from the hospital.  Take a look here to see it on me on the way home.

Once I got home, I spent all day Thursday in bed (Thursday was my first full day home).  I happily took my painkillers every four hours on the dot and slept as need be.

By Friday we needed to take Angus to the doctor, and I knew that it was really important for me to give it a go even if I may overdo it (and I did, btw, but I spent Saturday recovering, fwiw).

I still had a TON of water weight on my hips and legs, which meant that I still could only wear soft, comfy leggings (these are the Maternity Leggings from Boden) and super flowy, soft, soft, soft tops (this is an ancient J. Crew top made from a cotton jersey).  Since I was feeling a bit tired and ache-y, I limited my accessories to the J. Crew palm springs necklace and a pair of Missoni for Target flats.  I did manage a bit of makeup, but again, very subdued.

I absolutely love J. Crew's weekend wear, they do understand what "sort of stylish and comfy" can look like, and if you are in the throws of only being able to wear comfy clothes daily (for whatever reason), J. Crew's weekend wear is the place to go...especially on sale (which is the only way I will buy it, the pieces always seem to go on promo with an extra percentage off).

So since I still had a bit of water weight throughout my hips and thighs, I pulled out the Saturday pants in grey, added a pair of glitter flats, and put on my crewcuts star shirt (made from a super soft cotton).  My daughter asked me to...wouldn't have been my first choice but I felt bad that I couldn't spend a ton of time with her (constant feedings and sleeping prevented that) so I said sure.  I think I may have worn this outfit for a grand total of one hour that day, for dinner.  I figured it was better than nothing. :)

And here is where the true version of postpartum me comes out.  Because of the flowy nature of the first J. Crew top (the one in pink) and because the crewcuts top was black, I was able to really hide the effects of the water weight from the eyes around me (and your eyes, too).

However, on Monday (one week and one day after Gus was born), I heard we were going to Five Guys (mmm, Five Guys!), and I wanted to again just dress up a little.  So I pulled on the Boden Maternity Leggings, a Mossimo tank top (Target), the Paisley Gust Cardigan from Anthropologie, and my Cole Haan penny loafers.  I actually thought I looked halfway decent...until I saw the photos and realized you could for sure see all the excess poundage on my abdomen.

I could have changed, but in the end, I was all, "screw that."  I don't know.  Maybe I just felt good enough (thank you, Percocet), or maybe I was (and still am) proud that I carried a MASSIVE baby in my belly for ten months (well the massive part was only the last month or so) and was not afraid to show off the evidence of it, ESPECIALLY since I had just given birth.

I also felt proud that I was walking around, smiling, functioning, etc.  After my birth experience with both Rex and CW, to do so a mere week and one day is saying something.  (I had to use a cane after both of their births, for a couple of weeks, AND I was in far more pain with both of their births.)

Anyhow, I know that the above outfit is definitely a style "no," but because of the particular situation I was in, I actually believe it was a style "yes" because I had the exact right attitude to pull it off.  So there.  ;)

 Ah, Angus me boy.  (He looks so cute here.)

The top part of this outfit is actually salvageable, especially if I tuck the tank into a cute pair of jeans and add a statement necklace or a scarf.  BTW, we are at Five Guys.  My smile is directly related to my little cheeseburger I had just eaten.


(We go to Five Guys at least twice a month.  It is my local restaurant done good.  I grew up one block from the original in Arlington, so it definitely is important for me to see it succeed the way it has.)

Okay, so even though I owned my atrocious outfit (you go girl and all that jazz), I knew I had to learn from it...so the next day I decided to wear my pink maternity shorts, my striped blue/white maternity top, J. Crew necklace, and trusty Cole Haan penny loafers.

I clearly do not hold weight in my upper torso, arms, and lower legs, but I still felt I needed to wear a maternity top because I needed to have the extra give for the hips.

By Thursday (one week and a few days after Gus's birth), I was seeing the pounds falling off and my hips going back to semi-normal (still larger, but I could feel the difference when I put on certain pants).  Instead of these J. Crew pepper pants sitting below my hips, I was actually able to pull them on to my waist and almost cinch the tie.  The material is very flexible and (say it again now) soft, so I spent the day in a cashmere/silk/terry cloth heaven.  Yum.  Gus was in heaven, too, in his adorable striped bodysuit.

Still showing my curves here, but it truly is amazing what a body can go through.  I know women are meant to be able to do this, but it still boggles my mind.  (If you are a doctor or nurse, I am sure it is old hat by now, but for a lay person like myself, I am stunned by the human body's flexibility.)

This was taken nearly two weeks after Gus was born.  Again, still wearing the leggings and a super stretchy tunic, but I could see and feel the difference in my body compared to the first few days out of the hospital.  I wear that smile honestly.  By this point I was off the hardcore painkillers (quickest yet, btw, with Rex and CW I needed them for nearly four weeks) and felt so excited to go out and get out.

I know some of you saw these two photos already (the tunic was part of last week's Boden Weekly Review Roundup), but I wanted those of you who didn't see that post to understand how nice it felt to have a wardrobe piece that could work so effortlessly with my changing figure.

So here are my thoughts on postpartum "style":

1. It is going to be hard.  REALLY REALLY HARD.  Even if you don't have a c-section or complicated normal birth, your body will be your enemy.  For some women it will be WEEKS before you feel even semi-normal (this was me with Rex and CW, but not Angus).  For other women, you'll pop back into normalcy mere days after giving birth (and trust me, I am in awe of you if you do that).  But for most of us, we will be somewhere in the middle, between two to four weeks.

2. Your body will not bear any resemblance to its pre-pregnancy shape for a long while, likely.  Even though I have lost almost 26 pounds of the 31 I gained (as of today's weigh in), I still have an extra three inches on my waist, and an extra inch at my high and low hip.  And thanks to Angus being hungry constantly, I am now one cup size bigger.  For some of you, your weight will hang out in your belly, for others, you will gain near porn star sized "girls," and for some of you, your feet will have increased in size.  With Rex, I never got back to my normal size...I instead got pregnant with CW.  After CW, I was SO SURE that I would always be a size 10-12 in pants, and a size 8-10 in tops that I overbought and now have a ton of clothes that only fit when I was postpartum with her.  (Most of these I have since sold.)  It took me a whole year after she was born to get back to normal, BUT I DID.  And when I did, I was all, "oh, wait...my postpartum period was just really long, and that's okay."  And now I tell everyone, DO. NOT. OVERBUY. CLOTHING. WHEN. POSTPARTUM.

3. Because your body feels so different and so painful and so bloated (likely), just accept that style in the first couple of weeks is a fairly fluid notion...leggings, casual wear, stretchy tunics and top are all great.  If your feet don't see the inside of heels until months later, so be it.  YOUR body will let YOU know what you need.  If style means you simply got up, put on something other than PJs, took a shower, and maybe put on some lip gloss, then that is what the style is for you.  If, however, you feel fantastic and want to wear real jeans (with buttons and zippers, no less), then you go on with your bad self.  ;)

4. You may be in your maternity clothing for a full three months after pregnancy, so don't be in a super rush to sell or donate it.  If you had a c-section, especially, since that scar can be sore and sensitive...it makes sense to use pants with a belly band top rather than traditional button/zip pants until your scar is completely healed.  (Likely completely healed by six weeks postpartum, usually coinciding with your checkup with your OB/GYN.)

5. Oh, and because I didn't realize this myself until it was too late...you may need to bring more than one top and pants to go home from the hospital in...even what you are sure will fit you may not fit you.  Just bear that in mind when packing your hospital bag.

Anyone else have early postpartum style advice???

P.S. We'll talk soon...as  you all may have noticed, my blog writing is WAY down.  There are days where I am unable to get on the computer until way late at night, and because of my love for the vino, most of those nights I am just not really using the sharpest knife in my brain.  (Although I am sure my vino influenced posts could potentially be hilarious, depending on the amount of vino I have drunk.  Just kidding.  I only have one a night...I am way too lazy to pump and dump because I can't control my drinking habits.  Oh, to be 22 again.)

My Superfluities...It Has Been Three Years!

Ladies!  Squee!  I am FINALLY on my new computer.  :)  Yahoo!

Anyhow, now that I have full access to everything from disqus to picasa to blogger to facebook to everything else that is important for daily life nowadays (ha, not really, but I definitely missed them during the time from here on out known as "teeny computer days").

What a great way to start off my fourth year of blogging by inaugurating this computer with the 3rd blogoversary post.  Of course this third blogoversary post is really just a mishmash of a reminder, some information, and two pregnancy outfits incorporating Boden tunics, but still...

Okay, here goes.  :)

Reminder: Tonight is the last night to enter my $25 Boden gift card giveaway.  For more info on how to enter, go to the very bottom of this post.  I will most likely pick a winner tomorrow morning, so if you get your entry in before then you should be okay.

By the way, I had no idea that the giveaway was going to end on my blogoversary, just one of those serendipitous moments that happen.

Information: Thanks to both Ann (blog friend) and Amanda (my stepmom), I found out that the sidebar affiliate link (the one that gives 15% off with free ship and returns) is directing folks to the UK site.  That is fab if you live in the UK, but considering 85% of my readers are US residents, this is kind of a big deal.  LOL.  (However, Canadians--you can use the UK site, go have fun while it lasts.  Probably the only time I am going to be able to offer you all anything!)

So to help out, I am telling you all the same thing I told both Ann and Amanda...

1. Instead of using that link, go to one of my review roundups and find an item stock photo (or use the one that I have put in this post--the one for the border print tunic).

2. Click on that photo which will take you to the US item page.  There will be NO discount applied, but no worries.

3. Once on the site, click on the shopping bag icon which will take you to the shopping bag page itself.

4. On that page, locate the code box (it is on the lower left hand side), and put in this code AF29 (which is what the affiliate link had as the code when I tried it last week).  This code is for 15% off and free ship/returns.  If you have another code, you can use it there as well. 

5. I don't really know if this works 100% so if one of you all tries it and it is successful, would you mind letting me know?  Thanks!!!

Pregnancy outfits featuring Boden tunics:

In perfect timing news, it does seem super appropriate that I recently re-wore this tunic from 2009, which is the same time as I started this blog.  In fact, you can view the way I wore this way back when here.

Amazingly, I am only a couple of pounds heavier than I was in that photo.  I have to remind myself that although I am gaining a lot of weight overall I am still doing okay compared to my two prior pregnancies (with Rex I gained 50 total, with CW 40 total, at this point with Gus I am at 19, with a projected total of around 30-32).  I guess the blog has made me more aware of weight gain and loss.  And though I know it is fine to gain weight while pregnant (OF COURSE!), I do know that the 50 pounds I gained with Rex made the recovery slower and more difficult.  With two other little ones running around the house, I don't think I have the luxury of a slower and/or difficult recovery...I need to be able to recover a bit faster this time.  :)

Anyhow, I LOVE this tunic, and so does Mr. Dina.  I can't think of one tunic that I own from Boden that I am ready to get rid of, I wear them that often, and through all sorts of weight gains and losses.

From the side.  The tunic is Boden, the jeans are Duo Maternity, the shoes are J. Crew (real old school J. Crew), and the necklace is J. Crew.  All of these items are from 2009 and before.  My expanding waist has also created a closet cleanout, so I have rediscovered items I hadn't worn in a while.  :)

Close-up of the tunic. The colors are so pretty, especially in the dead of winter.

This tunic is from last year, and the reason I am buying this year's version should be obvious.  I cannot get over the fact that this fabric is just stretchy enough to work on me at my baby belly best and at my very thinnest (check out the bottom photo of this post to see).  Johnnie B. and co., you all have done well by women everywhere.

We were headed out for dinner at Moe's on one of the coldest nights we have had yet, so CW and I took the opportunity to dress our tunics up with leggings and furry boots.  Normally I would love to have cute ballet flats, but have you all felt how cold asphalt feels on ballet flats in the winter?  Brr.  I far prefer cute shearling lined cozies for those nights.  CW does, too.

Her tunic is from Tea, btw.  We got it from Garnet Hill on super sale.

Tunic: Boden Terazzo Tunic, Size US 6.  This was very popular and sold out in all colorways well before the sale last year.  Definitely pick up this year's version early if you are a fan of this style.
Leggings: J. Crew Everyday Leggings, Size medium.  Thank goodness for leggings, I sometimes just am not feeling maternity pants.  Leggings are YUMMY in pregnancy.
Boots: mini Boden, size 39.  I did a review here.
Earrings: J. Crew Factory.


Border Print Tunic.  I bought the US 6 again, I am confident it will fit based on the material used to create it.  The grey color is 5 week wait in many sizes, but the other colors are still available.

Okay, that's all.  Hope you have a wonderful Sunday night and Monday holiday (if you have it off...amazingly Mr. Dina does...first time in a long time).

Mommy Style Monday #21--Resized!

It looks like I am going to break out into a dance here, which I could do, as I finally got the right size!

I have little pride when it comes to proper sizing.  I know I have to just get over it and deal with the size that fits.  It has always been like this, even when I was a skinny minnie teenager whose "swimmer thighs" were the bane of my existence.  All my itty-bitty teeny-weeny little friends all wore size 2 (and this was back when a size 2 would *probably* be even smaller than J. Crew's current 00).  I was the heffalump who wore the size 8 (cough, cough size 4 by J. Crew standards today). 

Here's the crazy thing.  Even though I was far thinner in high school (imagine me minus 15-20 pounds), I have FAR more confidence in my body now.  I don't know if it is because I dress better and for my shape rather than in whatever sack/sister wife dress I *thought* made me look good but really just made me look kind of sad, but I love all my lumps and bumps and skinny arms and long "finger" toes and ridiculous bottom that no woman with my shoulders should ever have mixed (thanks for that, mom and dad!)  I also just sort of laugh that I have a petite upper body with the legs of someone who is 5'10".

So because of this sanguine attitude of mine, I take all sartorial mistakes made by yours truly and the measurements that my most favorite retailers provide me, and roll with the punches.  Case in point, the Relaxed Silk Dress by Boden and the Boardwalk shorts by J. Crew.  Both were "supposed" to fit my hips (it is ALWAYS my hips, btw) based on the measurements at boden and net-a-porter.

Packages come.

I eagerly open them...I mean come on, yummy grey dress with diminutive floral print and bright green cotton shorts (I was gleeful over these pretties, minimalism is clearly not me)...

Only to try both on.

And then realize that while they *fit*, they really more just emphasize that I am most definitely being squeezed into these pieces like the proverbial sausage in its casing (and just for my lovely British readers, I will link to a banger, lol).

I have no proof of me trying to wear the size 8 Boardwalk shorts because, and I want to emphasize this clearly, I do not want to do that to you all.  If you read my blog, you deserve better.

I did try on the Relaxed Silk Dress in the size US 6 Regular (UK 10 Regular) and while I look decent (I get it, it looks pretty okay), it. did. not. fit.  (Even with spanx, I know, RIGHT?!?)

But (and here is my point, some many many paragraphs in)...I knew that if I HAD the right size, I would rock the two pieces.

So, yes, I smacked the littler teenage version of me to the ground floor of my subconscious, told her to take her V.C. Andrews books, Don Henley/Eagles tapes and CDs, and her "dramatic diary," and just shove it.  I didn't care that the smaller size looked better on the label, I LOOKED better in the less glam larger size.  And...thank God, dramatic teen Dina shut the bleep up.

Does that mean that an extra few pounds here and there don't sting?  Of course they do.  I am human and I do prefer that my bottom only look significantly larger than the rest of my body, not clownishly larger.  LOL.  So I will always watch what I eat, exercise, take care of myself, etc.  But I do also know that this body is what has been handed to me, and even at my thinnest, I had a booty and teeny, bony shoulders.   And to not accept me, fully, is to not be the best Mommy in style that I can be.

And here is photographic proof of the successful return and exchange of the Relaxed Silk Dress:

It's arty and it's farty, but this dress, in its correct size, is meant for a party.  (Couldn't stop myself.)

I love this image.  I love that I look my best.  I may not be a size 0, but I wear my size 8 well.  And you all should celebrate the best you, whatever size you are.   (You even get a tiny glance at my finger toes, lol.)

From the side.  These photos were taken in our driveway.  This is what constant rain, humidity, and heat does to the forest primeval that we live next to.

Pockets.  The original pockets on the wrong size made the dress lay poorly and I hated them.  On the right size, my goodness, gasp, perfection.

From behind.  With the right size, my bottom actually looks a bit larger than a normal-sized bum, but like it is meant to be on my body...and in my world of fashion, that is the recipe for happiness.

For the comments, what is your body type and when do you know when a piece of clothing is perfect for you?  How do you know when they have enhanced what you have?

A good Mommy Style Monday would never forget to mention "Happy Father's Day."  The outfit, plus the rest of my darling family's, were because we were all taking Mr. Dina out for Indian food and a (I am a good wife, btw) comic book convention.

I want to give mad props to Mr. Dina...only he could have a James Bond smile while the rest of us are clearly melting down.  (Open the pic, trust me!)

Family photo, edited fully, and all of us are at least somewhat smiley.  :)  (And comfortable.)

I want to leave you with this image. I know I have waxed poetic about feeling good about your body image for YOU, but remember, great mommies of style, what you do, your kids see...and mirror. Please...don't let your teen "hang-ups" spoil their body image. Chances are, it will happen to them, but let them have a great role model who loves themselves and their bodies more than the size label.

Thanks!

Robert Noble and Roses.

Finally, an outfit of the day post.  It's been a long while since I have just published an ootd.  Wow-zers.

That said, I am really grooving with this Boden blogging thing.  It *is* fun to put all the reviews together, to show off the new stuff I (or CW) happen to have in our closets, and find all the best deals and sales.  I mean I will always, always love J. Crew and Anthropologie, but with Boden getting a bit more chic and mainstream, it is great to take this fairly niche brand to the next level (here in the US at least).

"Okay, blah, blah, blah, you chattering cow."  Onto the outfit, which incidentally has no Boden whatsoever.  It is pure J. Crew love.

Robert Noble and Roses. by dinagideon featuring floral tops

Above is the polyvore if the outfit I wore today. :)

A lot of today's SAHM outfit is Old School J. Crew.  The jacket is Robert Noble wool, from Scotland, a red herringbone.  You all have seen this jacket before, but today I paired it with a pencil skirt.  Even though I really had no need for a casual professional look today, I felt like wearing a sleek outfit as I have recently put on an extra 3 or 4 pounds (grr..frustrating...grr), and this outfit allowed me to at least look slender from the outside, even if I wasn't feeling it from the inside.

I am one of those people, though, who upon realizing the weight has been gained goes into crazy overdrive and cuts calories DRASTICALLY.  I had tea with a tablespoon of creamer instead of a breve latte this morning, and a salad as a snack instead of chocolate.  A couple of weeks of that and I should be back on track, but I am beyond ticked that I got here.  Blegh.  What do you all do when you gain a pound or two over what you like to weigh???

The tee was an in-store only option from J. Crew last spring, but somehow ended up as a factory tee this year.  Huh.  It never made it on-line at jcrew.com last spring, so I was a bit surprised to see it in the factory section this spring (called the factory ikat floral tee).

The shoes are the Etta metallic suede ballet flats from the Fall of 2007.  I love these so much that I actually hunted down a similar pair on ebay to buy.  I am glad I did as I have worn both pairs multiple times this winter alone.

From the side.  Great thing about this jacket, from Fall 2005 (I believe), is that the collar can be popped to show off a very preppy tie repp with very English crest upon it.  The Earl Grey tea I drank this morning very much suited my topper. Cheers!

You all have a great day, I plan to get the Boden "Catch of the Day" up first thing tomorrow morning, followed by the Boden Weekly Review Roundup in the afternoon.  If you have a review for me, and you would like it to be included, would you mind e-mailing me at dinagideon@aim.com?  THANK YOU!

You all have a great night!