Fashion: Resolution

Are you a Resolver?  Or Resolutioner?  Or whatever the word is that means you are a person who makes New Year's resolutions?  Well if so, stay tuned this week as I suggest 5 resolutions that I make (and keep) every year (with a twist, of course).

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I resolve to wear color.

Are you guilty of wearing one dominant color?  Is black your thing?  Maybe you are like me and you tend to lean towards "earthy tones" (which is fancy talk for "I wear a lot of browns").  Go look in your closet right now.  Is there one color that dominates (and is it really a color or, as I suspect, a neutral)?

Anyone else think it's time we break out some color? Be bold--be daring!  It's easy to do if you know some color tricks!

Look at the color wheel below.

Okay, so hopefully we all remember that the primary colors are red, blue, and yellow.  Secondary colors (which are made my mixing primary colors) are purple, green, and orange.  Color basics.  Check.

Now, how can you wear color? Here are 5 Easy Tips to wear color.

1. MONOCHROMATIC (A BIG WORD FOR "SAME")

Go with a monochromatic look.  Monochromatic means "one color."  On the color wheel above, find one color--say blue-green. There are roughly 9 levels of blue green. You can mix ANY of these levels and look good.  They go. Trust me.

Rocking a monochromatic look.  Photo Source.

2.  IT'S COMPLIMENTARY 
Wear complimentary colors.  Complementary colors are directly across the wheel from each other: Red/Green, Blue/Orange, Yellow/Purple.  Mix and match complimentary colors.  They go.  If you don't want to be too bold (like if you want to wear blue and orange but don't want to look like a Denver Broncos fan, move in on the color wheel.  Wear peach and cornmeal blue.  It works.)

So NOT a Bronco fan look!  Photo Source

3.  OF PRIMARY IMPORTANCE
Wear primary colors.  These are bold and look great together.  However, make sure you wear only 1-2 of the colors dominantly and one of the colors as a highlight or else you'll look like a clown.  For example, wear blue-jean shorts with a red top and a yellow belt or bracelet or a yellow dress with navy shoes and a red bag.  Another option is to wear softer versions of these colors: blue jeans, light blue top, maroon jewelry ...

A fellow 30/30er rocking the primaries.  Photo Source

4.  ONE BOLD MOVE
If you must wear neutrals, make your neutrals pop!  Brown, gray, black and white are generally regarded as neutrals (though really gray is the "real" neutral).  You can pretty much make anything look hot with neutrals.  If you must wear a brown tank top and khaki capris, make it pop with an eggplant purple woven scarf and yellow shoes.  Add a dash of color with an accessory--it'll add some flare.  (Click this link to The Joy of Fashion for a brief tutorial on how to wear a pop of color!)

Photo Source

5.  MIXED BAG


Really mixing patterns has nothing to do with wearing color but I threw it in here because if you really want to wear neutrals, a nice way to do it is to mix patterns.  Mixing patterns within the same color family really makes an outfit stand out.  Just make sure you read "the rules" so you don't end up looking like a sad 70's sitcom neighbor.

Mixing patterns adds so much drama here you might not even notice the solid neutral color scheme.  Photo Source

Things I Love: Resolution

Are you a Resolver?  Or Resolutioner?  Or whatever the word is that means you are a person who makes New Year's resolutions?  Well if so, stay tuned this week as I suggest 5 resolutions that I make (and keep) every year (with a twist, of course).

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I resolve to read more books this year.

I love to read.  LOVE IT!  And yet, I rarely find time to do it.  Of course I'm reading constantly--newspapers, recipes, Guess How Much I Love You, e-mails, blogs, school work ... but I'm rarely reading what I WANT to read--a book of my choosing.

So this year, I resolve to read more books.  Of course this means reading only my favorite blogs.  Of course this means turning off my TV and picking up my book.  Of course this means not playing on my iPhone.  

The benefits of reading are far-reaching. I will reap the benefits this year.  My goal is to read 30 books (actual books of my choosing on top of school work and the aforementioned gunk) this year.  (I'll be documenting these books as I go so you are technically my reading accountability partner).

Tersea's Reading Corner is my go-to blog for book reviews, etc., and she has reading challenges posted. If you want a reading challenge for 2012, consider:

• Reading the 100 most famous books this year (and probably next).
• Reading 5 books that have to have specific words in the title (this year it's a celestial theme so words in titles must include star, moon, etc.).  
• Doing an audio-book challenge (if you hate to read or commute).  
• Setting a book number goal (like me) or a genre.  
• Doing a reading challenge with children's books (my children and I are going to read 300 different children's books in 2012)

Read about potential challenges here and then leave me a comment telling me what your reading resolution is this year.

What I Think About: Resolution

Are you a Resolver?  Or Resolutioner?  Or whatever the word is that means you are a person who makes New Year's resolutions?  Well if so, stay tuned this week as I suggest 5 resolutions that I make (and keep) every year (with a twist, of course).

********************

I resolve to date my significant other.

Matt and I have been together for twelve years.

It was just the two of us (well, and two slightly dysfunctional dogs we played "house" with) for six years.  In that time we were given to weekend trips to New York, moving to Vegas for the summer, and recklessly wasting time and resources dining out, going to the movies, and sleeping in until ten.

My how things have changed since we had children!  Most of the changes have been good but a few times I've looked at my husband and tried to remember the husband he was before he became a father.

Let me say that no man has been or will be as great of a father as Matt is (I expect you to disagree so we'll just agree to disagree).  He plays with our children, changes diapers, makes toys, plays dress-up, cooks, carries, cleans vomit ... He is not of of those men who comes home from a long day at work and is "done" for the day. He finishes his day when I finish mine, and sometimes later.

Though I love and admire the father in him, I also yearn for the Matt who wasn't a dad--fearless, reckless, spontaneous, dangerous, carefree.  Deep down he still is all those things but the daily routine grinds him down.  What I realized in December of 2009 is that he felt the same way about me. And what we learned was that the key to igniting the pre-parent passions we had for each other was within our grasp.

What follows is an excerpt from an e-mail Matt sent to me on December 1, 2009 in preparation for our anniversary.

I tell you all the time that you are beautiful, and I tell you often that you are a wonderful mother.  What I don’t tell you all the time is that you are so mysterious…and I love that about you.  Though you tell yourself and others that you like to plan, play things safe and keep control at all times, one of the mysteries of you is that those things are not entirely true.  Even though you would never admit to it, I have come to realize your secret affinity for adventure and more importantly… spontaneity.

One of the things I committed to you nearly seven years ago was that I would make you happy.  And while I know that you are happy in a general sense, it bothers me that we so easily get bogged down in the routineness of being married, of being parents and of life tasks.  Every time I have asked you in the past three months about your happiness and what about life is causing you stress, it is the daily reality that is grindingly numbing.  You are so tough.  You raise our children with excellence, you care for your family and you are a wonderful friend.  But deep down, I know that a little adventure….a little romance…..a little passion and a little spontaneity just might create an opportunity for us.

Every day from now until our anniversary, I am going to present you with at least one opportunity to do something completely spontaneous.  There is no pressure on your part to accept each opportunity.  Some will be more adventurous than others.  Some may even stretch your comfort level.  But deep down I know there is an inner Bond girl dying to escape…

Thus was born the Legacy Parkway Spy School.  For the next twenty days Matt sent me on wild goose chases taking secret photos of him, creating movies, practicing "Unagi" (we love Friends), and learning how to box. These games, these spontaneous "assignments" were nothing more than little thoughts meant to brighten my day by reminding me that before I was a mom, I was a sexy, confident woman and still could be.

When I share this with friends I always get comments like "I wish my husband would do stuff like that."  All I can say is this, DO IT FIRST! 

• Date your husband. 
• Wow him. 
• Remind him that he is a sexy and confident man.
• Remind him that before he was your children's father, he was your lover.  

If you'd like to send your husband to the "Bond Spy School for Hot Dads" click here for ideas.  For other ideas, click the "date ideas" link on the left side of this blog.  Of course, The Dating Divas website has plenty of ideas too.  There's really no excuse not to date your significant other so this year, RESOLVE to plan and date your spouse at least once a month.
Thank you to Shell at Things I Can't Say for letting me vent my sometimes depressing thoughts.

Days of Play: Resolution

Are you a Resolver?  Or Resolutioner?  Or whatever the word is that means you are a person who makes New Year's resolutions?  Well if so, stay tuned this week as I suggest 5 resolutions that I make (and keep) every year (with a twist, of course).

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I resolve to actively engage in intentional 

play with my children.

Playing can be fun.  But let's face it, playing with kids isn't always fun--not when you have to do lists to cross off, dinner to make, and volcano-sized piles of laundry to tackle before they explode and bury your family Vesuvius style. 

But your children need your time.  Yes, they need your random "let's play hide and seek seven minutes before bed time" time but they also need your QUALITY and QUANTITY time.  They need to know you planned something special for them.  They need to know you are sacrificing other "things" to spend time with them.  

So while I encourage you to find the time to play with your kids a little bit every day--coloring, making dinner together, etc., challenge yourself to plan ONE event a week with your kids that requires you to think about them and spend time with them very intentionally {kinda like how you should date your partner}.  

Consider a weekly family night, art project, science exploration, physical activity, or food-based fun. <--click those links for ideas or click "PLAYTIME" on the left side of this blog for more ideas.

Play with your children.  Intentionally.  When they are adults, they will thank you (like I thanked my parents!).

Music Monday: Resolution

Are you a Resolver?  Or Resolutioner?  Or whatever the word is that means you are a person who makes New Year's resolutions?  Well if so, stay tuned this week as I suggest 5 resolutions that I make (and keep) every year (with a twist, of course).

********************

I resolve to expand my musical tastes.

It should come as no surprise that I love music (mainly because I blather on about this fact weekly).  What I love most about music is how many different sound options and genres there are.  When I find a band that fits with a particular "mood," I'm ecstatic!  Since I have around 8,923 moods, there needs to be a lot of bands.  And a lot of genres.

This year, find some new bands.  Listen to Pandora to find a new sound.  Find an album you love in iTunes and scroll down to see what else listeners "bought."  Check through old issues of Monday Music to see if there's something there you didn't think you'd like but you actually love.  Or simply listen to these five songs and learn to love these five bands.

The Airborne Toxic Event (my absolute fave American Indie Rock band which is why I post about them four times a year).



In other news, did you notice how the drummer is Chester the Cheeta's doppleganger.  So awesome!

The Epilogues (a unique alt-indie sound)

Rooney (this is what I consider acceptable pop music)



Sick Puppies {Explicit} (Heavy rock with hot female bass player. Kill me now! So good live!)



Sia (Folk made fabulous {without Mumford and Sons})

Happy New Year

The next time you hear from me it will officially be 2012.

Happy New Year, dear friends (which sounds more intimate than the truth--Happy New Year dear people I've never met).

Be safe.

Be peaceful.

Be thankful.

(If you want to know what to wear on New Year's Eve, I've already given you 3 fashion formulas.  Click THIS LINK to see them).

Best wishes to a happy end of 2011 and a blessed 2012!

Things I Love: Taking Down Christmas Decor

No.  I'm not a Grinch--I just love the feel of getting the house back to "normal."

When it comes to Christmas, I have more decorations than are necessary for three houses, let alone one.  But never fear, I put up every bit of my Christmas stuff the week before Thanksgiving and keep it up as long as possible.  It practically looks like someone threw up red and green in my house.  It's very Christmasy.  Buddy the Elf would be at home in my home during the holidays.

But "as long as possible" is roughly until December 27th.  You see, tons of lights + tons of decorations + tree + 2 type-A neat freaks = imbalance.  A couple of days after Christmas Matt and I start twitching.  We are ready for the Christmas clutter to be gone.  We are ready for clean lines, open spaces, and good chi for the house (not that we know what chi is or whether or not the house needs it).

So bright and early Tuesday morning I gathered up snowmen and Santas.  I packed up lights and advent calendars.  I put away Christmas serving dishes and the last of the wrapping paper.  I breathed a sigh of relief.

As much as I adore my Christmas decor, I must say that I love putting it away.  Anyone else just get a feeling of peace and relaxation from taking down their holiday decor?

What I Think About: 2011

All good things must come to an end {which is never more sad than when I take the last bite of cheesecake}.  Of course the bright side to that is all bad things must come to an end.  And thus, on that note, I say goodbye to 2011 which has pretty much been the hardest, most heart-breaking, and disappointing year of my life.

Bus catching fire. Surgery.  Those 2 weeks waiting for cancer results.  Lingering illness and then death of my mother.  The "how do you forgive yourself?" incident.  Prolonging my Ph. D yet another year (thanks to a difficult department head who thwarted my research) ... when I look through my pity-party sob story, I get pretty mad at 2011.  Of course I know the year didn't actually cause the problems.  It's just an innocent bystander.  Yet, it will serve as the whipping boy for all bad things in 2011.

Anyone else ever feel like giving 2011 the middle finger salute?

Now, before I get too down, I want to actually remember the beautiful things that happened this year.

I got to take my children to Cozumel.

I got my nose pierced

I had an up-n-coming hair designer practice on my hair.

I got to go to Las Vegas ...

... Two times

I got to drive go carts that went ridiculously fast

I got my kids in a photo with the cutest rabbit on earth

I got a new sister in law who is as delightful as she is beautiful

I got to articipate in a grime war

I got to watch my oldest friend at a Roller Derby bout

I got to see my four favorite friends become moms again (the 4th isn't in the photo BUT she adopted a newborn in October!)

Kid Rock, INXS, The Airbornne Toxic Event, Band of Horses, Motley Crue... so many fun concerts (not to mention getting to hang with one of our fave couples!)

Finding this old children's rhyme probably made my year.

I got to really say goodbye to my mom--never easy but so much harder for those who don't get to send their loved ones away "right".  

I have a big sister who is there for me.  There when it's good.  There when it's bad.  

I learned the moon phases by eating Oreos

For Halloween I got to be David Bowie from Labyrinth 

My sister and I got memorial tattoos for mom

I got to spend time on a secluded section of Lover's Beach in Cabo San Lucas

I got to shoot a hand gun

I celebrated another anniversary and Christmas with Matt.

Looking back on 2011 through pictures made me remember a quotation from my favorite Christmas movie of all time.  It's as if Clarence was speaking directly to me.

You see, Reagan, you've really had a wonderful life.

What I think about 2011 is it has been--hands down--the worst year of my life but God's hands and His blessings are evident--everywhere.  Even the worst was pretty good.  And that's what I call GRACE.

Days of Play: New Year's Crafts

Feeling crafty?

Oh good.  Then you'll like some of these New Year's crafts you can do with your kiddos.

First up--Resolutions.  I mean, what would a New Year be without a resolution?  Help your kids set one goal for the year.  They can write the goal and illustrate it.  You can laminate it with contact paper or turn it into a magnet.  So cute!

Source

Kiddos too young for resolutions?  Then make a sparkly ball a la Time Square.  All you need is a foam ball, some ribbon, buttons/sequins, craft glue, and a willing artist.

Source

If you have older kids (or a lot of energy), plan a NOON Year's Eve party together complete with noise makers, party hats, and balloons.  When the clock strikes noon, make a big ruckus then eat Uncrustables.

Music Monday: Backnbloom

Electric violin.

You know that sappy, crappy line from Jerry Maguire "You had me at hello?"  Ya well, when Lori of Backnbloom introduced herself as the lead singer and electric violinist I practically shouted (in e-mail), "You had me at electric violin."

Have I mentioned I love electric violins?  Heck, I love violins electrified or not.  {Sigh}  How do I have no musical talent?  I blame my parents, really.  Them or my lack of "practice your instrument" discipline.

Self-pity aside, my hot husband and I sat down to give Backnbloom a listen and you know what?  We love the electro-pop duo.  While I normally like to give you a sound comparison--I simply can't with this band.  I mean, their sound is MGMT{ish} but so much more poetic ... more intricate and complex ... Really, I can't find a truly adequate comparison.

Do you know what this means (aside from the fact that I'm practically speechless and that hardly ever happens.  You should feel bad for my husby!)?  It means you need to watch this sick vid and get acquainted with BACKNBLOOM!



Total side note--How many of you think that video idea--the paint, the fun, should be a date night? Hello messy fun (that requires a couple's shower!)

Here's a live vid of Heed the Flashes (excuse me for saying this but Lori is like the cutest hot chick ever!)



Still want more? Check out Backnbloom on soundcloud.  My personal faves: The Feel and Start Again.

Of course if you are sold, go to BACKNBLOOM's website and buy their digital album Music for the Modern Monkey.  Honestly, I don't think your New Year's Eve music mix will be complete without a little something from Backnbloom.  Just sayin'.

Date Night {OUT}: Christmas Quotations (our anniversary randomness)

Matt and I celebrated our anniversary Wednesday night {whoot whoot}

This year it was my turn to plan the event and I really wrangled with what to do.  We just got back from Las Vegas on Sunday so going to a great hotel or bed-n-breakfast was out.  We ate at Alize and trust me, nothing in Wyoming or Colorado compares with Alize ... so all the typical "romantical" anniversary stuff was ... well, not gonna cut it.

So I decided to go a route that SO isn't me.  I mean, dinner was NOT the main event.  I didn't wear a dress, skirt, or any fancy jewelry.  The whole date was activity based, free-flowing, and didn't involve a single reservation.  Oh, and did I mention that is was totally based of quotations from Christmas movies?  I swear my brain is 53% song lyrics, 37% movie quotations and the rest is just junk.

What you need for the date:

• 8 cards (I made mine from scrapbook paper.  You can just buy a holiday pack of cards at the dollar store if you aren't feeling the craftiness). 7 activity cards; 1 invitation card
• A gift for your partner (wrapped with a bow ... this will make sense I promise)
• 7 activities
• A babysitter
• 4 + hours
• 8 Christmas movie quotations

Okay, so what I basically did here was put the Christmas movie quotation on the front of the card (or the envelope if you go the pre-made card route).  This served as the "clue."  Before we went to our activity, my husband had to read the quotation/clue and try to decipher what we were doing.  When he was ready, he opened the card to find out what was going on!

Invitation

The morning of your date, give your partner a card with this quotation from Scrooged on it.  "If I can't work late, I can't work late!"  Inside write: Tonight you can't work late because we've got some lovin' to celebrate.  Be ready to leave for a Christmas-themed dating extravaganza at _____ o'clock"

Quotes and Activities

Here's what the rest of our cards said!

#1--"It is a crappy cup of coffee!"

Go get a hot drink.

#2--"You'll shoot your eye out, kid."

You taught me to drive a motor cycle; now teach me to shoot a hand gun.

That's right. We went to a shooting range and shot a 9mm Glock.  We did several different games--like who could get the highest points from the target (R=90; M=72) or who could make the highest poker hand with the card target (M=four of a kind; R=full house).

#3--"Keep the change you filthy animal!"

Well it doesn't have to be a cheese pizza and you don't get it all to yourself but let's head to our favorite pizza spot for some pizza and a game.

Matt decided he'd rather do 5 Guys Burger and Fries over pizza so we went that route.  Our justification is that Kevin in Home Alone is eating rubbish while watching "Angels with Filthy Souls" and burgers are junk food so ... there's a connection there.

For our dinner game we played "Would you rather .... the Christmas Movie edition."  No, you can't buy it; you have to make it up.  For example, would you rather hug the raccoon from Elf or the ghost of Christmas present?  Would you rather see your future or see what life would be like if you were never born? Would you rather eat a cotton ball or chew a piece of gum you found in a NY subway? Would you rather have your head burned with a blow torch or step bare foot onto a nail?  You get it ...

#4--"Is your house on fire, Clark?"

Let's drive around and find the best house "on fire"

We decided to go to the Garden of Lights instead of looking at house lights :)  Fun either way.

#5--"Well you look about the kind of angel I'd get.  Kind of a fallen angel, aren't you?  Where are your wings?"

Let's go to a place where "Angels" sell naughty things that are nice to look at.  You pick something out for me to wear tonight.  

This one was the hardest for Matt to figure out (he didn't get the Victoria's Secret Angels connection).  That being said, I get the distinct feeling this was his favorite activity of the night ... and we shot hand guns!  

Lingerie--the ultimate Homer gift!

Source

#6--"We elves like to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup."

Let go grab a sweet treat!

Here's something funny.  In "big" cities people go out to eat late (well, not all people but it's an option.  A 10 0'clock reservation isn't unheard of in Vegas, Rome, New York ...).  Unfortunately the restaurants we tried all closed at 9.  So we ended up getting pie from Perkins.  Awesome.

#7--"There's always time for a bow."

Let's go home and unwrap your gift! (please note the double entendre) 

Some other activities/ideas:

• Fa ra ra ra ra--Go eat Chinese food
• And if you see a sign that says 'peep show' it doesn't mean that they are letting you look at the new toys before Christmas--a little dance in that new lingerie
• God bless us, everyone--Spend some time praying together
• I took a shower washing every body part with actual soap including all my major crevices--including in between my toes and in my belly button which I never did before but sort of enjoyed--take a steamy shower together

If you can't leave the house or need to do this date on a dime, you could: make cocoa, shoot nerf guns, eat a homemade pizza, look at the lights on your own tree, wrap (and then unwrap) lingerie you already own, eat ice cream, etc.  You are only as limited as your imagination. :)

It really is a wonderful life.

Things I Love: Flash Mobs

I love the flash mob craze (hence, the name of this post).

Need a little cheer today?  Feast your eyes on these Christmas flash mobs!

Carol of the Bell as conducted by Darth Vadar (great way to ease final exam stress)



A bit of a {cheesey} tear jerker



Singing and dancing ...



A little treat from the university I attend (and work at). Go Pokes!

What I Think About: Firsts and 21sts

For Randean and Jina who know exactly what I'm talking about but mostly for Matt because he loves me most when I deserve it least.

*******************************************

First day of September. October.  November. December.
First day of school.
First day of fall.
First Halloween.
First snow.
First Thanksgiving.

Firsts.

Everyone says the firsts are the hardest after death.  I assumed people meant the "biggies" like Christmas or birthdays but it's more than that. It's the firsts of everything coming and going--how they make me ache.  The first of each month heaving a sigh--the first month of its kind without her.

That first snowfall remembering how we'd hunker down with black tea with cream and sugar and play cards.  Remembering how we'd never hunker down like that again.

That first Halloween  without her.  No sending photos of Tinkerbell and David Beckham.  No recounting how Paxton ran from door to door yelling "Mo' Candy!"  A silent holiday.

That first Thanksgiving.  Making her stuffing by myself.  Looking at the empty chair near my father.  A lonely holiday.

But it goes beyond--so far beyond.  I'm nearly overwhelmed by their infinite number and how firsts won't end--even when the first year does.  Mom will miss Pax's first loose tooth.  She'll miss M.E.'s first broken heart.  She'll miss his graduation.  She'll miss her wedding.  She'll miss Matt making partner. She'll miss me getting my Ph. D.  And I know with all of these firsts I'll be haunted with that thought--that nagging, gut-wrenching feeling that "Mom would have loved this."

21sts are no better.  Today is the 21st.  I generally love to celebrate this day because it's my wedding anniversary to a man my Mom regarded more highly than most men on earth (my mom and I both have impeccable taste).  Now 21sts come like a tick-tock of a clock counting off the months since she died.  Four months now.  Four.

People keep saying it will get easier--the firsts, the twenty-firsts.  A part of me hopes so.

But a part of me hopes they don't because I never want to forget those little things she would have loved.  Never want to take for granted each first because I never know when it will be my last.

What I think is firsts and 21sts haunt me--and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thank you to Shell at Things I Can't Say for letting me vent my sometimes depressing thoughts.

Days of Play: Gingerbread Nativity

I found this on Pinterest.  You're shocked--I know.

But hello--cutest Christmas craft project ever!

And to think, all I need is graham crackers, marshmallows, gum drops, licorice, coconut flakes, frosting, and a candy bar.

Phot from AOKCorral

 Today, I am going to make this nativity scene with my children and then read them the Christmas Story straight out of Luke.  Fun.  Inspiration.  The real reason for the season.

Want to make one too?  Head to AOKcorral for directions (that link will take you).

Music Monday: THE Christmas Edition

Well, I'm going to do it.  I'm going to break down and fess up to my favorite holiday tunes.  My husband's uncle will start listening to Christmas music in October.  I need it to be post-Thanksgiving. But once it starts, it's hard to stop and if you saw me in my car, you can be certain that I'm singing along to Santa FM.

So here are my three favorite Christmas songs.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree by the Smithereens (my apologies to the family in this video but that's what you get for randomly posting this on YouTube.)



Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Judy Garland (nothing makes me miss my mom more ...)



And finally, my all time favorite ...

The River (excellent by Joni but so much better by Robert Downey, Jr.) Anyone else just love Ally McBeal???

Fashion Friday: New Year's Eve Ideas

It's probably time to start planning your New Year's outfit.

Too soon for you?  Well, it's not for me.

Anyhow, last year I encouraged you to simply shop your closet to put together outfits using what you've already got.  This year, I recommend the same thing {but with a twist.  Because I like twists}

Be inspired (and remember, these formulas are easy peasy steps to fashion success! You can do it!)

For the Casual Night (out or in)

One sweater + one BOLD necklace or scarf + skinny jeans/cords + boots + bag= ready to go (or stay--your call).

Source: polyvore.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Reagan on Pinterest

For the Edgy Night Out

Embellished top + vest/blazer + necklace/scarf + skinny pants + heels=ready to party--like a rock star

Source: polyvore.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Reagan on Pinterest

For the Sophisticated Night

Little Black Dress + notice-me-necklace/bracelet + pop of color heels + clutch + outerwear = On your way!

OR

Color dress + statement jewelry piece + black/neutral heels + clutch + outerwear+ On your way!

Source: polyvore.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Source: dailylook.com via Carol on Pinterest

Source: louboosandshoes.blogspot.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Some signature ideas to consider:

It's a bling thing!  Sequins are everywhere from purses and tank tops to scarves and leggings--this season there's nothing that sequins can't cover.  Add a little drama (and sparkle) to your life with sequins!

Source: joannagoddard.blogspot.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Source: goodlifeforless.blogspot.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Scarves are a hot way to look cool:

Wrapped, draped, knotted ... scarves are a simple way to add serious drama to any outfit.

Source: Uploaded by user via Reagan on Pinterest

Source: polyvore.com via Reagan on Pinterest

Fur

But do me a favor and make it FAUX fur

Source: shop.nordstrom.com via Whitli on Pinterest

Source: jeanetteangel.tumblr.com via Anna on Pinterest

Remember, New Years does NOT have to equal New Wardrobe! Go shop your closet with a formula in mind and get creative with what you've got.