Wear Yellow for Chelsea King Today!!!

Modestly Styled, Modestly Me is a FANTASTIC blog run by Debye. Debye lives in Southern California and her niece was a good friend of Chelsea King, a sweet, vibrant teenage girl whose young life ended far too soon. As a way of honoring Chelsea's spirit, Debye put out the call for all of us to wear yellow for Chelsea today.

To read more about why we are all doing this, please visit Modestly Styled, Modestly Me for more information.

Untitled by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Above is the polyvore of the outfit I am wearing. I found the top on Anthropologie this morning by googling its name and then clipping the item to polyvore. To get to this point, though, required some doing. I tried all variations in google--"One September (this is the name of the brand of the top), Anthropologie, Chevron (it is a chevron pattern)." Then "One September, Anthropologie, September 2008." No luck! Then, "Catalog, Anthropologie, September 2008." This led to the Anthropologie Addict blog with all the catalog links still working (awesome), which led to the Anthropologie site with all the catalogs still there, which led to me discovering this top was from the JULY 2008 catalog, which led me to the name of the top (Toraya Top), which I then put in google, which led me BACK to the Anthropologie site, which I then clipped, and voila...I have the top for all polyvore sets! YAY!


Sizes:
Top: Size Small.
Pants: Size 30S. Love my Amore Wash Jeans! Yummy and so comfy!
Shoes: Size 10. Don't worry, I am not walking home in them. I have some really ugly Earth shoes that I will wear to walk home.

I am planning on doing another post today, but let's see if I can accomplish it while subbing! :)

It's Grey Cardi Time!!!

Ooh, I love it when I can tie seemingly unrelated outfits together in one post, even though they were worn four or five days apart. Woo! Score one point for efficiency! :)

Light Pewter Tartine One Way... by dinagideon featuring J Crew

This first polyvore is of the outfit I wore today. Yes, I wore this outfit to: take the baby to the babysitter (it was a Rex/Momma day), take Rex on errands with me to the bank, CVS, Starbucks, and Giant, take Rex to the Doctor for his 3-year appt. (he weighs 41 pounds and 39 inches--woah is the right reaction), take Rex to Pentagon City so I can do a return at J. Crew, then to Johnny Rockets (he is obsessed with the ketchup smiley faces they create), stop a minor-major meltdown in that mall (ooh, bad idea to change his pull-up BEFORE he eats), and finally make our way back to pick up the baby and come home. Yes, it was a full day, but here is my secret, as comfy as I felt in this outfit, I immediately went to the bedroom upon getting home and changed into "lounge" pants and a tee-shirt. :)


Sizes:
Cardigan: Size Medium.
Dress: Size 8. This is the Silk-wool watercolor leopard dress from J. Crew that I got on sale. I am glad I didn't return it...I felt special in it, but because of its fairly sturdy material, it held up well to the day.
Belt: Size Small.
Tights: Size Medium-Tall.
Boots: Size 9.

HeidiG. thinks I should have done a "Mid-Century Mom Takes Her Son to the Doctor" post but I totally forgot my camera. Plus I think the doctor, as cool as he is, may have thought I was a tad off my rocker. :)


So even when I have to take the pics of my outfits myself in the handy full-length mirror, the kids still manage to get into the photos. Love that Rex knows how to curl his tongue. Baby CW hasn't figured it out, but since Mr. Dina and I can do it, chances are she will be able to do it, also.

Scalloped Zipper Cardigan... by dinagideon featuring J Crew cardigans

The second outfit's polyvore is from Saturday. I wore this decidedly more casual outfit to go to Costco, the mall (another return--I am trying here), and dinner. Very comfy...love that for its ease factor, the Scalloped zipper cardigan gives the outfit a little embellishment that keeps the outfit from being frumpy...which would normally be possible in any outfit that includes crocs, no matter how cute said crocs might be. :)


Sizes:
Cardigan: Size Small.
Top: Size UK 12, US 8. This type of top usually runs tight through the rib cage and shoulders, ladies, so please bear that in mind when purchasing these cotton-silk tops from Boden.
Pants: Size 10. Purchased at Target during the awful snowstorm in which we became pack-mules to get our kids and ourselves out of our neighborhood in order to get electricity and heat. :) I had only brought one pair of pants and I realized I just. couldn't. live. with. one. pair. of. Men's (!). sweatpants. Seemed wrong, you know? These are cute and functional.
Shoes: Size 10.

Have a really nice night, all. BTW, I have what I consider one of my cutest outfits coming up...wore it on Sunday, but I have been a bit busy...maybe tomorrow? This post will also include CW wearing--wait for it--leopard print leggings. ;)

A Little Johnnie B. Tee for Me!!!

I referenced that along with this beautiful canvas bag (in my post yesterday), I received my very first tee-shirt from Johnnie B., the juniors clothing line from my favorite clothing company across the pond, Boden. I showed you the bag, but was coy about the top. Well I had planned on wearing it to yoga today, but sadly for me, and for Rex, we didn't make it to preschool (he had a yucky, terrible rash, and I was scratchy throated and tired, blegh, come on SPRING, already!).

So I decided to wear it this evening for our weekly outing to Moe's, one of the finest fast food Mexican-style chains out there. It also happens to be Tuesday, which means FREE KIDS' MEALS, and with two very hungry children, well, yum, and yay for savings. (I am still feeling blegh, but at least I got a nap today, so I had the energy to go out tonight!)

A Little Johnnie B. Tee for Me! by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Above is what I paired the tee with...I actually received the skirt in the J. Crew shipment that came to the house today...it was a popback and I was so excited because I didn't want to spend $78 on it, but $30? Sure! (And was it ever a popback, the darn skirt didn't even have a price tag on it! I think I suspect something fishy, but here's the thing...the skirt is in PERFECT shape, so I won't complain.)

The leggings definitely gave the outfit a youthful vibe, but I figured, eh, why not? I attempted this look as a twelve-year old (and for sure got it wrong then...I should show you photos), and now that I am older and sort of have some of this fashion stuff figured out, I thought I would try again. :)


Sizes:
Tee: Size Medium. If you buy from Johnnie B., you must be aware things are cut smaller through the torso, shoulders, and hips. I am not even going to try any of their jeans, skirts, or shorts. Those would just be scandalous on me. That said, if you are petite lady (I mean size-wise, not height-wise), then by all means, give the entire line a try. I am only going to be able to get their tops, and that is okay by me. The line is incredibly affordable, btw. This graphic t-shirt was $20 after I applied some discount or another onto the shopping cart (and I got a free bag--$20 for both--shipped both ways for free--is a GREAT price). I like the style of the tee...the bird saying "moo" cracked both my kids up and I could see this being a hit when I substitute! It is also incredibly soft and was made well (no twisty-seams, yes, J. Crew, I am talking to you).
Skirt: Size 10. Had I ordered the 8 it would have sat at my waist and been very very short.
Leggings: Size 2 (?). Hue has funky sizing.
Shoes: Size 10. Love that they gave the outfit a bit of girly prettiness. If ever in doubt, go with a ballet flat...universally an appealing choice for most outfits.

BTW, did you notice that CW has a bird on her top, too? Yes, I planned it that way. ;)


Close-up of the graphic and the color. I cannot wait to wear this in the summer with a pair of shorts and sandals...man, this winter weather is for the (cough, cough) birds.

Have a lovely evening, all!

Subbing in Style! (Plus a Sweet Peek at a Free Johnnie B. Bag!)

Don't worry, everyone. I promise I wasn't sitting at home this weekend crying because I was told my hair needed to be fixed or because my mommy style doesn't mesh with what others think mommy style should be. (Nope, I was just out A LOT this weekend and nowhere near my computer.) You would be proud of me...I actually read all the comments from the last two posts, laughed a bit, reflected a bit, and was proud to say that I in no way, shape, or form was hurt or offended!!! I actually agree with the commenter that thinks I need to color my hair. You better believe I do!!! I CANNOT stand my winter hair. It is all pretty and shiny and blonde in the summer and then...WHOOMP...like a dark, deep shadow, my winter dark hair comes out like the night, slowly, but surely. If I never went out at all in the sun, my hair would naturally be a dark blonde/red combo, which is pretty, but since I do go outside (even in the winter), it never quite gets there. And since I don't anticipate becoming a housebound lady any time soon, I will just have to deal with this winter hair thing (and I have had this since I was in high school). I am going to the salon sometime this week...maybe I will have them do something! (BTW, when stylists see me their reaction is always to blonde me up more...so I think in real life I must appear lighter than I do in photos...does that make sense?)

In re: Mommy style and the little convo going on...I think each mom is entitled to be the best mom they can be...if that means stepping out in stiletto heels and bright red lipstick, then FANTASTIC. If it means wearing your hair in a bun and having a sports bra on all darn day, then GREAT!!! I am just showing you my version, and from what I read, many of you try to do the same in your lives, so bravo for all of us! (More power to us moms...it is an insanely difficult job but also insanely lovely...so whatever fashion we bring to it, then yay!) If you want to hear some of my takes on mommy style, I am *thinking* (very much thinking--not executing just yet) of doing a "Mommy Style Monday with My Superfluities," kind of an advice column on particular needs of moms and their styling questions...in particular my passions of postpartum wear that goes beyond frumpy, great maternity wear, and what the heck to wear when you want to step out but you have a crazy and wild toddler (or two or three). :) It is still in its (haha) infancy, so nothing yet, but I know that mommy style is personal, but is something to share!!! So instead of being divided, let us unite and show our corners of the world that we can look awesome, even when the most glamorous thing we do during the day is feed our children rainbow colored cereal.

Okay, enough of that! :)

I subbed twice last week, and because this was by far the most action my wardrobe had seen in a LONG while (thank you SO MUCH, SNOWSTORM(s))...I really went all out to bring it to subbing. Had I driven to school, I would have probably shown up in a tiara. (Just kidding, but I would have for sure worn a dress and heels.)

I walked home on both occasions, and the first outfit does not reflect that well...I changed shoes to get home. There was NO way I was wearing those flats on a two mile walk. The second outfit you see my walking shoes, so that outfit is more exercise-friendly from the start.

Subbing in Style! by dinagideon featuring J Crew

This above is the polyvore for the first outfit. There is NO polyvore for the second outfit, because I am lazy. ;)


Sizes:
Top: Size small.
Cardigan: Size Medium.
Pants: Size 30 Tall. Umm, can I just tell you these are now officially my very favorite pair of jeans? These are the ankle-length (in tall--inseam of 30 inches) twilight wash toothpick jeans by J. Crew. I want J. Crew to always offer this inseam in this fit...my goodness, it is so flattering, and also very, very comfortable.
Shoes: Size 9.

By the way, I have worn a version of this outfit before. I guess I must have really liked it!

Baby CW looks darling here, but wait till you see the collage. Just wait for it!


Sizes:
Top: Size Medium. This is an Xhiliration microsequin tank in aqua. This is a juniors line, so the medium was my best bet.
Cardigan: Size Medium. I bought this dark aqua jackie from CDP for $25. What a great buy. You are the best CDP...if you want to sell any more of your jackies, you have a buyer. ;)
Pants: Size 10. Umm, SAGGY BRITCHES alert!!! I guess these Talbot's jeans are a bit big on me. Ooops. At least they were comfy! :P
Shoes: Size 10. By a company called Flurt, they are actually very lovely trainers that are lightweight and colorful.

So you know how CW always is in the pictures with me? Well, on Friday morning, she was having a mini-meltdown...and I was none the wiser, UNTIL I looked at the photos in Picasa. Before my very eyes, her meltdown unfolded. And being me, I turned it into a collage...because it is HILARIOUS. The WHOLE time we were taking photos of the teal sequined outfit, CW was having a temper tantrum...I thought she had just walked out of the kitchen to go play in her room. :) CRAZY!


She was fine. Please trust me on this. I wonder how I could turn this collage into a stop motion film?

Man, when she is fifteen, I think I might have to drag these images back out...she is normally all sweet as pie and agreeable...this is much more of a Rex-type thing to do!


Okay, almost done. Wanted to show you a pic of the free "Johnnie B." bag they are sending when you make your first johnnie b. order. I ordered a very lovely fitted tee (has a bird saying "moo" on it) in dark pink and this came with it. I think the bag may be worth more than the tee. This is a nicely made canvas bag...definitely puts the J. Crew canvas ones to shame...all tri-colored and fancy-looking with the Union Jack on it!

LOVE the tee, btw. Very soft, very nicely made. I ordered a medium, and I am glad I did. It would have been too small in a small. It is weird, but the 13-14 mini boden tops are sometimes too large, yet the medium in their junior's line is a close fit. Huh. I guess it just shows ya...follow the measurement guide over at Boden...has never led me astray!

Have a nice Monday. I will share more from this weekend tomorrow (including baby CW's first crewcuts fashion show)!

P.S. Cash from My Closet is updated, and so you know, all of the items in today's post are going to be consigned on Saturday...just a heads-up. :)

A Little Black and White (and a Dash of Pink)!!!

I have been B-U-S-Y. Crazy busy. Basically I have been nowhere near my computer...between my family being in town last weekend, and substitute teaching twice this week (those outfit posts will be later today or tomorrow), I have had to put the blog on ice for a couple of days. I have responded back to the last few posts, except the one of the review of the Devote necklace (I have read the comments, though).

I did receive an award from some of my blog friends, and to you all, I say "THANK YOU!" I will being doing that award later this weekend...I promise!

Onto this post's theme...black, white, and a dash of pink. Yep, I went a bit neutral (for me, anyhow). The first outfit I wore to go out to dinner on Tuesday night, and the second outfit is from Tuesday during the day...I wore it to bring Rex to preschool and to wear to yoga. These two outfits are very much "SAHM."

Black, White, and a Dash of Pink! by dinagideon featuring J Crew

The above polyvore is for the first outfit. The second outfit has no polyvore...but if any of you have an image of the second outfit's sweatercoat/cardigan, and you could e-mail me it, I would be very grateful (I would love to have that for polyvore).


Sizes:
Cardigan: Size small. This is the papaya colored Celosia cardigan. I have the honey one from this last roll-out, too. This is such a lovely cardigan...perfect shape, just the right amount of frill, and very cozy and comfortable.
Top: Size small. Currently available in store, but obviously I have photographed it and put it in polyvore myself. You can use it if you are polyvore addict, too.
Pants: Size 31. I am so glad I bought them one size too big, makes going out and eating yummy Mexican way easier. :) Ha.
Shoes: Size 10. BTW, these shoes inspired my whole day...take a look at outfit two to see how.

And the kids...so sweet that they both wanted to be in the photo, even if they decided not to actually look at the camera.

Oh, and have you ever worn a sweater to a Mexican restaurant and ended up smelling like the food? My cardigan smelled just like fried onions, and it took two days to air the smell out!!! Oh, well, I guess that is a good price to pay for yumminess!


Sizes:
Sweatercoat/Cardigan: Size small. This is the Arlington Sweatercoat made by J. Crew in the Fall of 2005 (I think that is what I read on the tag). I LOVE this cardigan. It is the PERFECT shape and fit and weight for taking the kids to preschool and enough to cover my yoga-panted butt. ;) Does anyone else own this beauty?
Top: Size small.
Pants: Size medium. Love Target yoga pants!
Shoes: See last outfit.

That is all for this afternoon! Have a great day, everyone!

Devoted to the Crystal Devoté Necklace...

Up first, before I get into my utter devotion to the (in my humble opinion) beautiful Crystal devoté necklace from J. Crew's Spring 2010 collection, I wanted to tell you all about something cool that has happened for this blog (and some of my other blog friends)...there is a very neat website devoted to shopping called become.com and it has a few blog off-shoots, including a blog called Carnival of Shopping. Every week (on a Wednesday), they write-up in their post about blogs that consumers and interested people can check out if they have specific needs and/or desires. Well, my blog and GingerSnap's blog were listed in today's blog write-up, as was Roxy's Effortless Anthropologie! YAY!!! So go check it out...I found some neat blogs by looking through their archives, and plan to keep reading so I can see what else is out there in blog-land!

Now, for the much anticipated review of the Crystal devoté necklace...aka "J. Crew's nefarious plot to make anyone who buys it look like they have spent their money stupidly." No, I just kid. But based on many (MANY) reactions to the fact that I (horror) spent near full-price on this (well 20% off) bauble...I have now renamed it for this post at least. After this post I will be calling it my "sweet starburst devotion," because that is what I am...devoted to my devoté.

So why am I devoted?


Here goes why:
1. I like the retro look. The starbursts remind me of a necklace that my grandmothers would have worn in the 50s and 60s to make their outfits sing.
2. I happen to think the ribbon looks fun, like a bit of spun sugar enveloping the chains and glass beads. I also know that they can easily be removed by a simple "snip, snip" of the scissors.
3. The weight is not too heavy, although I can see why many would be worried about that.
4. The size is lovely...can be worn with many types of necklines...like the silk tiered-cami (shown above), turtlenecks, under button-downs, etc.
5. The crystal colored version is by far my fave. I can't say I can recommend the black version, as I think the black beads are very jarring in this necklace. But to each his own, and if you love the black beaded version, more power. (I am all about people enjoying what they enjoy...)

The price is a bit much, but based on all the haters of this particular bit of jewelry, I believe this will make it to the sale racks. I believe the crystal colored one will sell out first, and the black beaded version will linger.

I am glad I bought it when I did, near full price or no...I love it that much. And that is okay, because it is my neck it is on, not yours. ;) But if you love it, find it here.

And because it is me, I actually wore the necklace outside. Yes, outside. People besides my family spied the necklace. And, get this. Not one single person fell over at the fact that I wore it! No, contrarily, I got many compliments on it. Imagine.

Okay, enough sarcasm. :)

Catalog Inpiration...with a Twist! by dinagideon featuring J Crew

I wore it with the outfit pictured in the polyvore set above. The tie-front cardigan is so yummy and warm, and because it was a "winter warm" day (yay), I used it as outerwear. The novelty was not lost...I miss our normal (read: not so cold) DC winters.


Sizes:
Cardigan: Size Small.
Top: Size 6.
Pants: Size 8.
Shoes: Size 9.

I did this look because I had seen a similar image in the October 2009 catalog (see the polyvore--tiny image is in there), and fell in love with how nicely the tiered cami and tie-front cardi worked together. Plus the model looked super-pretty in the outfit.


And of course, no real My Superfluities outfit post would be complete without baby CW hamming it up. And there she is...in her version of the "mommy outfit." (I did this, as an homage to the prior night's Project Runway--Thursday, February 18th, 2010 episode--seems to have worked, maybe not as "fashionista," but certainly well enough.)

You all have a great afternoon. Remember, too, that I still ADORE all of you even if you HATE the Crystal devoté necklace. But...here is my message of the day...try out the things you may think won't work...because sometimes they just might. Step out of that comfort zone. ;)

A Little Milly, A Little Carly...

You all (unless buried under piles of snow yourself, begging for mercy, "get me out") did notice that we had a little bit of snow these past few weeks. You may not have known this but we had to cancel my son's 3rd birthday party (originally scheduled for the 13th) because of the snow. Nanny and Pops, Mr. Dina's parents, had to reschedule their flights so that they could even see us (had they come in on the 11th, they would have had to stay with my dad...ooh, fun...in-laws, yet no kids or more importantly, grandkids).

Okay, I promise this is going somewhere. The new date for the reschedule was February 20th, which was last Saturday. Instead of being a Mardi Gras/kids' funfest, the new party just became a kids' funfest...bad juju to go and have a Mardi Gras party after Mardi Gras...wrong to mess with Lenten observances and all. (I did make a hearty--yet sort of salty and spicy, oops--gumbo this year, always make a gumbo, no matter what!)

So, and I am sure this is on all of your minds (ha)...what did dinagideon wear to her son's 3rd birthday party?

A Little Milly for Emma! by dinagideon featuring J Crew

Well, I did a polyvore a few weeks ago with the new Milly dress I had gotten on (a deep discount) sale at ebay. I also sent the polyvore over to What Would Emma Pillsbury Wear?, so if you see this set at her blog, you all go ahead and vote for it. (Or else the bad juju is coming your way...just kidding.) ;)

Didn't wear the heels or some of the other pieces, but I came to a close approximation.

At first, I was kind of stressed that the jacket would look terrible IRL with the dress, even though in the polyvore it looks good...but in the end, it all came together, even if it does look a bit "church-lady." (It's okay...I am not exactly sitting front row at Bryant Park in this ensemble...I am hanging with my very sweet, darling, very non-fashionista friends!!! Well, except for Summerilla and Drewablank who were able to come and hang in my 'hood for a bit...)


Sizes:
Jacket: Size Petite 8.
Dress: Size 8. (By the way, it is called the Milly Clover Lace Dress or something like that--there are actually small clovers in the lace overlay...and the lining is silk, feels so nice!)
Tights: Medium/Tall.
Shoes: Size 10.

If I was to go out on a date in this, I would have nixed the flats and worn much edgier shoes. I would have also found a different jacket or cardi as a cover-up.


Without the jacket it is so so pretty. Look at the bow at the waist. DARLING! (See why I sent it to WWEPW? Does this dress not scream "I am a neat freak guidance counselor at a school with a fantastic Glee club?)


So the party is winding down (yet I heard it continued for two hours after I left), and I switch into wearing something to go out with the very cool DC JCAs. I had a feeling the ladies all wanted to see me in my Carly dress get-up (see the photo above as a reminder of it), so I dressed just like that, except I kept the sparkly tights from the Milly dress outfit and I wore the Naturalizer boots instead (better match for the darker tights than these Metropolitan boots were).

I quote one of my good friends here..."Dina, very funky." I must have made a face (although I like funky). He then responds, "No, I like it...Funky is good."

Okay, then.

Drewablank and I mosey on out...and had a great time. For me to go further into the story would be a waste of energy, because...

HeidiG. did a great write-up...

as did Summerilla...

as did Slastena (whose birthday it actually was)...

Have a great afternoon. Enjoy your Tuesday, all!

Oh, and P.S., I didn't forget to do the Crystal Devote Necklace review, I just want to give that post more time and energy than I have to give right now. You all know I am good for it, right??? ;)