Book report.

"I blush."

-Anastasia Steele

Tulip Apron skirt, Anthropologie
Cotton tank, Loft
Beaded single strand necklace, Francesca's
T-strap wedges, Clarks 

How sweet of my my mom to invite me to her Book Club.  Today's discussion:  Fifty Shades of Grey.

Yikes.  

You heard right... my good-Catholic-girl, church-every-Sunday mom GAVE ME the books to read!  I kinda wanted to read it to see what all the hype was about.  I like to know what's going on in pop culture.  And who wouldn't say, "no" to this year's salacious Summer read.  However, frankly, I would re-name it Fifty Shades of Overrated. 

 Little Miss Party Planner, my mom, always gives favors.

Gray m&m's and silver gum (eh-hem) balls.

Yay me!

Winding Rope tank, Anthropologie

(cute little button courtesy of the Bud to Bloom dress, Anthropologie)

Smocked Button-front Denim skirt, Old Navy

Embossed Gladiator sandals, Steve Madden

Itty bitty bow earrings, Anthropologie

Silver Heart Tag bracelet, Tiffany & Co.

Original Wayfarer sunnies, Ray Bans

Maybelline lipstick in "Eternal Rose" 

I'm not sure if gladiator sandals are still considered en vogue.  

But I'm going to go out on a limb and say, yes.  They are.

Obligatory look-at-your-shoes-blogger pose.

That's what the popular girls do.

Someone told me to own my blog voice, and quit all the self-deprecating talk.  And by someone, I mean my sister.  She might be my baby sister, but she's awesome at kicking my emotional ass sometimes.

I guess my sarcasm doesn't translate well via blog.  I would definitely characterize myself as a pretty confident person.  Some even might go as far as calling me a "know-it-all."  And by some, I mean my best friend.  When we first met at cheerleading clinics way back in 1998, I did not make a good first impression.  Well, the jokes on him.  He ended up marrying this little smarty pants.

My mom tells me I have a chip on my shoulder that I need to keep in check.  True.  I can be obnoxious, and unapologetic at that.  But my confidence has been a source of some amazing accomplishments in my life.  So sometimes it's good to toot your own horn.

But I'm fully aware of the fine line between self assurance and being full of oneself.  Confidence can quickly turn into cockiness.  But on the other hand, humility can also lead to devaluing oneself.  And meekness is never in style.          

So, I guess the moral of the story is this:   

I'm Mollie.  I am proud of my little blog.  And I look freaking cute today.

The mailbox.

Kanoko Striped tank, Anthropologie

Fresh Cut skirt, Anthropologie

Bryleigh wedges, b.o.c. via DSW

Initial Charm necklace, Anthropologie

Cat Eye sunnies, Free People

Our mailbox isn't at our front door, so we have to walk around the corner to get the mail.  Honestly, I leave getting the mail up to Jeff.  Our neighbor's giant dog always jumps up onto the wall barking his head off and scares the bejeezus out of me.  On more than one occasion, I might have screamed like a ninny, dropped the mail, and went running home all Ross Geller unagi-style.

Being 100 degrees, I assumed Cujo was inside his house, so I decided to brave the mailbox.  Well, I am a lucky girl.  I didn't get mauled by my neighbor's dog, AND the Anthropologie gods were smiling on me... this little beauty was waiting for me:       

Anthropologie catalogue, June 2012

Totally dog-eared this page.  I sure do loves me a caftan!  Wish listed for end of Summer sale time.  

Glimmered Ankita Dress, Anthropologie, June 2012

This was the outfit I obsessed over in the April catalogue.  Look familiar?

outfit inspiration:
Anthropologie catalogue, April 2012

*****And, wow!  I didn't expect to get the awesome response from my previous post.  Thanks for the validation, ladies.  I swear I'm not that needy on a regular basis.  (*No comments from the Peanut Gallery, Abby and Jeff!)  But every so often my head swarms and I go a little bonkers.  Nothing that a little retail therapy (and blog love!) can't cure.

*Thanks, Abbs!  Awesome photog skills on the iPhone.

Vulnerability.

After Plaited tank, Anthropologie
Darlene Dobby skirt [petite], Anthropologie
T-strap wedges, Clarks
Dalton Posts earrings, Anthropologie (*Thanks Abby!)
Say yes "Cheers" necklace, Kate Spade
Decker watch, Fossil
Sephora lipstick in "It girl"

-back-

This blog has been liberating for me.  It is giving me a creative outlet and an escape from the everyday humdrum of a stay-at-home mom.

I like to debate serious issues, but also enjoy a healthy dose of all things frivolous.  I watch the Today show to keep up on world news and current events, then cheers with Kathie Lee and Hoda the fourth hour while they gab about Miley Cyrus's engagement.  It's all about balance.  And Miley is way too young.  But Liam is a total dreamboat (read: jailbait), so I get it.

Blogging can be validating, yet on the other hand, it can make me feel completely vulnerable.  I am having fun while I'm writing and editing photos.  Then as soon as I click PUBLISH, the negative thoughts seem to always surface:

I don't look skinny enough in those pictures.  People probably think, "She really let herself go."  Ugh, my thighs!  Do people think I'm full of myself because I'm posting my outfits?  I wish I had something new to wear.

Then I remind myself why I'm blogging:  it's just for FUN, Mollie!

Nope, I'm not tall and skinny... I'm short and I like to eat spaghetti.  Sure, I let myself go... but those two kiddos were totally worth it, and the spaghetti was too.  I will never have stick straight legs.  My thighs touched when I weighed 111 lbs... but my legs are strong and athletic.  I look totally cute today... and this IS a personal style blog, after all.  No, I don't have sponsors giving me new shoes and bags and jewelry to blog about...  (Wait.  Why don't I have sponsors?  Whatevs.)  I wear what I love.  And what would Jeff and I have to fight about if I didn't go shopping?

So I guess a little vulnerability is a good thing.  It forces you to grow, to reflect, to learn about yourself.  And gives you something to blog about.

All day long.

top, Loft
Smocked Button-front Denim skirt, Old Navy
T-strap wedges, Clarks
earrings, Anthropologie
Charm bracelet, Juicy Couture
Original Wayfarer sunnies, Ray Bans

I wore this outfit all day long (you may congratulate me).  It's unusual that I wear an "out of the house" outfit the entire day (unless it's a stay-in-your-pj's day, of course).  Typically I would swap out this skirt and top for a pair of old cheerleading shorts and holey tank as soon as I got home from the grocery store and picking up Noah from school.  

But the kids wanted to play in the backyard beach (i.e. play in the sandbox and swim in the baby pool) and I got sidetracked digging my toes in the sand and chasing bubbles.  I was talking to my mom on the phone and, SURPRISE... Noah had a T-ball game we totally forgot about.

Between rinsing out Noah's uniform, packing up snacks for the game, getting everyone dressed, fed and ready to go to the ball park, I forgot to change.  I thought to myself, "Can I wear this to T-ball?"    

Sidenote:  Good thing I talked to my mom... Coach pitched a few balls to the kids during the game and Noah had his first big hit of the season!  Woo hoo!

And yes, I did, indeed, wear the same skirt two days in a row.  That is why Downy fabric refresher was invented.

We have a winner!

Kanoko Striped tank, Anthropologie
Smocked Button-front skirt, Old Navy
flips flops, Reef
Whistle Charm necklace, Anthropologie
Gumdrop earrings, Kate Spade
Original Wayfarer sunnies, Ray Bans

I need some cuter bra straps.  Yikes!

Get sick of it now, people.  I will be wearing this tank all Summer.  Oh, and just in case you are out shopping and want to pick up a little something for me, I will take one in every color.  Size XS.

Bonjour!

tee, Gap
skirt, Anthropologie
flip-flops, Teva
Idiom bangle "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" bracelet, Kate Spade

I decided to skip mime class and, instead, spend my morning sipping lattes on the patio at our little French bakery.

Little bit mini.

Mason Crew tee, Gap
Pintuck skirt, Loft
belt, Anthropologie
T-strap wedges, Clarks
Decker Plaited Stainless Steel watch, Fossil
 sunnies, Anthropologie

My mom and dad got a sewing machine for me and it has paid for itself with all of the alterations I make on my clothes.  Pants and shorts inevitably need taken in at the waist.  And because I am 5' 2" on a good day, I need to shorten all of my skirts in order to avoid looking Amish.

I loved this skirt from Loft, but it was way too long for me.  The pin tucks scared me, so I took it to my seamstress.  She chopped off about five inches and now it's perfect.  I just wish I would have asked her to put in some side pockets with all that leftover fabric.

White.

top, Urban Outfitters
skirt, Anthropologie
sandals, Clarks
sunnies, Brighton

 

 I know what you're thinking... "Why is she wearing white?  She is a mom with two little boys!"

That's right.  I live life on the edge.

The single greatest invention.