Sunday morning church style

 Sunday I wore this thrifted dress, 14. I was going to wear flats, but Ava told me to wear these BCBG wedges instead. I got them at TJMaxx several years ago for 40.

 The souvenir bag is from Goodwill, 4.

 And I accessorized with these antique gold bracelets, the top one I got in Chicago, 33, and the bottom is a family heirloom.

I love this outfit because the cut of the dress makes my waist look slim, the shoes make my legs look longer, and both together definitely make me appear thinner AND taller. And of course I love to accessorize with quirky stuff, the Victorian bracelets and straw bag make it a little off kilter and fun.

What did you wear? Do you dress up, or down in jeans? I do both, but I have had the dress itch this year. I think it's because I don't get to dress up for anything else. Next year: dates, parties, something!!

Small Style (Little Leps)

 Ava went on a road trip to visit her cousins this week. She chose a 1940's couture "Heidi" dress (.10 when she was a newborn at a yard sale! The lady said her mom had a great job when she was little and had all her clothes custom made. They lived in Hollywood! And she had kept them for years and was cleaning out...She was very sweet.)

 Red "cowboots" from Gymboree, 13. Bow from Hobby Lobby ribbon.

 I ADORE this shot-so whimsical!

 While she was gone, Clemmie and Mamam sewed up a few dresses.

 Hers is from Hobby Lobby fabric, years ago, and left over from another project. The red glass buttons at the waist are from the 1800's.

 And Ava's is from a vintage dress that was falling apart after I soaked it in Oxi Clean, lesson learned.

Another classic Ava shot!

I'm linking up again this week at Mama Loves Papa!

Be who you are

     Part of developing personal style {a BIG part} is defining who you are. Once you are comfortable in your own skin, you can start to feel confident in your choices, decisions and preferences.
       A big part of the package is feeling confident in choosing your friends. Choose to be with those girls that you feel secure and comfortable around. Girls that lift you up, and that you truly value. A good test of true friendship,  for me at least, is if I can tell them something they won't want to hear and we are still friends. Or I can receive it from them! Something that takes some guts to say, and grit to hear.

     I have a couple of old friends (over a decade. Hey, it's long for me!) that I just love being around. My dear oldest ever friend Taran called tonight. We talked about what's going on, high school days, how people change, how to get a baby to sleep through the night, mail, Gone With the Wind, my husband's deployment, her husband's Military orders, budgets, her kids, moving, kiddie pools, her {AwEsOmE!} momma, sugary treats we can't resist...and probably about 27 other things.

In less than a half hour. We are girls who cherish each other and know how to wring every drop from our time together. And as Army wives, we are necessarily efficient! Because we love each other too much to compare and put each other down, we make a great Lucy and Ethel. Well, both of us are actually Lucy's, but you get my point.

      My other champion friend for distance is Kim. She's the one I call when I need advice, or a listening ear, or have great news I must share. We actually could both talk your ear right off, but we usually share the spotlight. I can give her advice on crafting and decorating, art and style. She can help me with baby stuff (She's a doula and ushered both my girls into the world!) and spiritual matters, and kitchen help... Because we both have something to offer, but enjoy similar things, we have an amazingly easy friendship. Actually, we are more Lucy's. Taran and I tend to the Thelma and Louise dynamic!

      I love these dear friends and so many others. The reason we have stuck it out so many years though is because we are comfortable being ourselves with each other. I know myself, they know themselves, and there is no pretense or bad feelings, as we women so often deal with in our girl relationships. In other words, no drama!

     Do you have an awesome girlfriend? Let me know! If you want to post about her, I'll link you up. Just leave a comment.

Mom Music and Memories

    I remember Mom always had the radio on when I was pretty young, tuned to the local country station WCBK in Martinsvile. They still have the same DJ to this day, Randall Wayne! Whether  she weeded the flowers, gave us baths, cooked, cleaned or did laundry, she did it with music. Her favorites that I remember were the Statler Brothers, Oak Ridge Boys and most especially Hank Williams.
     I have always had a deep love for music. Country and gospel are nostalgic for me because I formed strong connections to them at a really young age. These are my foundation, and my first love. Even though I moved on to a lot of other stuff in high school, I have come full circle.
     Although I loved the style she did,  Mom was completely against the artists who stole my heart: George Jones? Rode a lawn mower to the liqueur store AND nicknamed the Possum. Johnny Cash? Drug addicted jail bird. Willie Nelson? Wife beating pot head. Hank Williams Jr? Poor reflection of his Daddy. I could go on.

     Obviously Moms impressions of these guys did not stop me-I still love the sounds of their voices. And I love the Statler Brothers (given a huge boost by the Man in Black by the way!) and Hank too. We definitely agree on one thing though-we neither one can stand Conway Twitty. Ava does not have this hang up unfortunately.
     I carry on the tradition-listening to the local country and oldies stations in the kitchen and the car. Ava has a strong idea of what she likes, and usually that is different from what I like. Clementine generally responds most to the stuff I like. She claps, squeals, and waves her hands over her head!
    Let's not even get into gospel too much, beyond this: I miss it. I get so excited when the musicians do something "old" on Sunday mornings, but it's a rarity. I'm not a fan of modern Worship music, and no one seems to sing the old hymns I grew up with. I need to find some good CDs.

     I love the way my girls love music, as I did. I love hearing something I listened to with my Mom and saying to them, "Grammy loved this song! It's..." I think it's important to include kids in your passions, instead of making the whole world kid-centric at all times. And I can't wait to take them to Nashville this fall...I know they'll love it!

     What have you passed on to your kids from your mom? I'd love to know! I'm really into traditions, and it's so interesting what gets passed on isn't it?

What I Wore & Why

 Tee, Old Navy, 5 (4 years ago). Jeans, Abercrombie & Fitch via Plato's Closet resale shop, 25. Bag, antique sale, 2. Leopard sandals, Miss Trish of Capri for Target, 25 (with birthday $$$). Earrings, Anthropologie, 30 (with Christmas $$$).

 I kove this outfit because:
}1 it's classic
}2 it's fresh
}3 it's youthful but not too young.

 Stripes in classic colors are great. And basic, simple flattering jeans are my fashion holy grail-these are ideal-not a lot of stretch, but enough that they're comfy.

 The accessories really make it personal though-my signature LeOpArDs!

And quirky Drusy earrings, with the big flower tote.

Today I'm linking for the first time with Kori-whose blog is awesome! Check it out.

Small Style (Little Leps)

Romper, used, 3.00 via a friend.

On Ava, Tiana costume borrowed from her friend Audrey. On Audrey, hand me down Snow White costume from my friend Sandi.

Bra and scarf, mine. Tee, Old Navy, .25. Boots, Gymboree, 13. Pants, second hand, 4.

 Dress, used, 2. Boots, 13, Gymoree. Top, Target, gift. Skirt, Rosemary's Cuppa, gift.

 Socks, 1, Gymboree.

 Ava's rainbow nails. She had planned this color scheme for weeks!

 Snow White costume, 5, garage sale. Shoes, 9, Target. As you can see, princess is the name of the game in our world!

As usual, I'm linking up with Morgan today!

Budget=Uniform

    I used to be a trend shopper, and felt out of style if there was something new I didn't dip my little toes into. Now that I'm more confident in who I am, my style has fallen into place for me.

     As my uniform is part of my persona, it's only fitting that it's regionally appropriate. I am a born and bred Hoosier, and I embrace the basic, long wearing staples of the mid-west: Jeans, cotton tees, cowboy boots. With my own twist-quirky, eclectic and fun. I call it my Doris Day side.

I should call it James Dean meets Doris Day, now that I think of it. Hey, James Dean was a born and bred Hoosier too!

      (Doesn't he just look like the original GAP ad?)
     The back bone of my look is the sturdy classics, jeans, tees and boots or flats, long hair, bangs. That is the biggest chunk of my spending ( I know I'll use these pieces a lot, so the cost per wear is better than a "big" trendy piece.) This is the hardest part to figure out-it only sounds effortless because I've got it down at this point.

    I get a lot of inspiration from the forties, fifties and very early sixties. I love the fresh, clean look of the sixties shifts, big sunglasses and black and minty green. Very sophisticated but just as wearable. I love the exuberance and fun of the fifties, and the late forties vacation-nation attitude. I love the music, movies, cars, clothes, home trends, colors and the fun easy culture.

  I think I'm drawn to this era because it idealized the family as well as glamor, travel, ease and sophistication. It was the first wave of leisure culture after world war II. It was optimistic (overly so) cheery and fun.

     I used to have a certain amount in our budget (when we had one) for clothes every month, when I was working. Now I pretty much just try not to spend anything unless it's for a necessity. A necessity to me is a replacement item in most cases. It's not a good deal, something I just like, or retail therapy. Although  I do infrequently indulge in all of the above!
     What it is is replacing a black tee when it gets stained, replacing mascara when I run out, replacing flats when the soles are worn through. Actually, I have a pair of leopard flats from WalMart that I've used so much the heels are completely gone. But I won't buy a replacement until I find the perfect ones (That means I love them AND can afford them!) Which means when I wear them and it's raining...I always regret wearing them.

     This is where having a "uniform" comes in. Having a wardrobe that I love, styles that are flattering, and colors that all go together keeps me "style-happy" instead of feeling deprived because I don't get a lot of new stuff. I feel good and like myself in what I wear, which has come by a lot of trial and error!
     What inspires you? I love to hear of new ideas!