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.

I joined a cult.

Perfect Rib-Knit tank, Old Navy
Nike Pro Victory sports bra
Nike Tempo Track shorts
Reebok RealFlex Transition training shoes
bag, Lucy
bandana, Wal*Mart

Last night was my first official class at CrossFit.  I wanted to look cute, but not like I was trying too hard.  So I put together basic black and grey, with a few pops of color.  

Well, I made it through my first WOD (workout of the day).

Warm-up:
60 second handstand
2 sets of 10 each - walking lunges, push-ups, squats

WOD:
AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) in 15 minutes
15 wall balls, 4 lbs
10 kettle bell swings, 18 lbs
10 push-ups

My goal was to make it through 3 rounds, but I ended up at 5 rounds plus 14 wall balls.  Go me!  I thought I was going to die, but I did it.  

 I think Clark W. Griswold, Jr. said it best,

"Alleluia.  

Holy shit.  

Where's the Tylenol?"

Summer Vaca.

It's Summer Vacation!  I decided to be a lazy bones and take the week off of blogging.  It wasn't a conscious decision, I mean it was already Thursday night when I decided to make it official.  That's the beauty of your own blog.  You can do whatever the heck you want.

Usually I try to keep the posts coming on weekdays.  Gotta keep those readers satiated with my outfits and mind-blowing thoughts.  I do, honestly, appreciate the blog love from all six of you.  

And I know you hate to miss a beat of what I have been up to, so here's a peek of my week in Insta-style.  I have become a bit obsessed with Instagram.  If you want to follow me I am @molliecheers.  I mean, don't you want to see pics like this:

Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor paid a visit and swapped out all of our door knobs from the original 90's shiny brass we inherited.  Lemme tell ya, what a difference door knobs can make!

Speaking of home improvement:  Our pup, Scout, went to live with a new family in Phoenix, so we invited the nice man from The Carpet Store over to measure.       

I went to CrossFit for my baseline workout.  I did a six minute circuit of the rowing machine, squats, pull-ups, push-ups, and (sound the trumpets!) SIT-UPS!  It has been over seven years since my abdominal muscles were in the right position to even attempt a sit-up.  

***Thank you, Dr. Hurst, for putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. 

Went to Kiddo's last Little League game of the season and closing ceremonies this weekend.  He slept with his trophy.

Baby was doing keg stands the night before and woke up hungover (do I have to tell you I'm kidding?).  I'm not gonna lie, I kind of enjoy when the kids are sick.  It's the only time they will stay in my lap long enough to snuggle.  And I know those days are numbered.

I got caught up on my ironing.  I would like to thank the Kardashians for keeping me company.

Other than my super cute outfits that I didn't cronicle, I pretty much stuck to PJ's.  

God, I love Summer Vaca!

Leopard Print Pajamas, Insomniax
China Glaze "Dance Baby" nail polish

Circus circus.

Striped Tailspin tank, Madewell
Regional Embroidered Boyfriend shorts, Eddie Bauer
Initial Charms necklace, Stella & Dot
earrings, Forever 21
Original Wayfarer sunnies, Ray Bans

My sister got this tank when Madewell first opened up in Scottsdale Fashion Square.  So like the total copy cat that I am, I just had to have it!  It's patriotic, yet exudes an element of circus.

I always thought I would make a fantastic tightrope walker or trapeze artist.  After all, I was groomed to be a circus freak.

Bitty Mollie, circa 1982

High school Mollie, 1996

Hope you all had a great start to your Summer this Memorial Day weekend!  

Smee.

Striped Knit dress, Old Navy
Floral Embossed belt, Lucky Brand
Classic Canvas flats, TOMS
Boyfriend watch, Fossil
itty bitty silver locket, (Love, Jeff)
earrings, Forever 21
Original Wayfarer sunnies, Ray Bans
Maybelline "Very Cherry" lipstick

Noah:  "Mom, you've got a mosquito bite on your forehead!"  

Me:  "Thanks, Sweetie.  That would be a zit.  And thank you for pointing it out."  

I'm 34.  I'm not supposed to have to order Proactiv Solution for crying out loud!

I do indeed have a mosquito bite, but that would be on the top of my foot.  So all weekend I was switching between flip flops and sandals, but everything rubbed right on my bite and it itched like crazy!  So I opted for TOMS.  But honestly, I can't wear TOMS beyond 70 degrees.  And although it was unseasonably cool, hovering around 80 today, still my feet got nice and sweaty.  

So other than the bindi on my forehead and having to dump a bottle of baby powder in my shoes, my outfit seemed to resemble a dimwitted Disney sidekick.  

That's right, people... keeping it classy here.

Outfit inspiration:
"Smee"

Long lost post.

blouse, Anthropologie

Raquette Culottes, Anthropologie

T-strap wedges, Clarks
bangles, Aldo

sunnies, Brighton

I wore this outfit a while ago, but for some reason this post got lost in blog purgatory.  I am in full on Spring cleaning mode after finding a Christmas decoration that I have yet to pack away.  So I thought I should clean up the blog as well as the house.  You can pretend I wore this today, but admittedly I am in my cleaning clothes...  a house dress, apron, pearls and kitten heels.

Chop chop.

Curse you, Arizona, and your 100 degree temps!  You always send me into the maelstrom of the ongoing long vs. short debate in my head.

I loved my hair super short, but I do like being able to pull my hair back into a pony tail.  I love having a "style" when it's short, but like the "styling" diversity with longer hair.

Sigh... dilemas, dilemas.

1.  Diana & Jennie's piecey bob.

2.  Gwenyth's sleek long bob.

3.  Nicole's perfect bangs.

4.  Sienna's Factory Girl pixie.

5.  Sarah's rocker chop.

What's your vote?