Trend Tuesday // Pattern Mixing - Geometric & Floral

Guys, summer is drawing to a close!  I can't believe we're already in the middle of August.  Kids have already started going back to school, the weather is already getting colder, fall candles are hitting the shelves, craft stores are putting out their Christmas decor (that's a definite marker of the end of Summer!).

When I was younger, I had a love-hate relationship with going back to school.  I loved the new clothes, the new supplies, and the chance to see my friends like all day everyday...but I really didn't like the actual first day of school.  Of course, as the days went on I got used to the new routines and now that I'm older I really miss that excitement.  I really do miss the whole move in time of college though.  That was the best....even though I really didn't like the physical act of moving!

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My favorite summer wardrobe is a floral dress (case in point).  Many of my dresses come from LuLaRoe & Forever21.  The plus size section of Forever21 always has a great selection of floral dresses.  I'm going to link a super, super old post here so you can see how long I've been loving floral dresses.  I didn't even know that I'd been wearing floral dresses for as long as I have until I was looking through old posts to update!

Three Tips for Pattern Mixing

1. All Patterns are Basics - floral goes with stripes, stripes goes with animal prints, animal prints go with geometric prints.
2. Limit mixing to 2 Patterns - if you throw in too many prints, it may get overwhelming and look disheveled.  You may look like you just walked out of your laundry basket.
3. Complimentary Colors Work Together - colors opposite each other on the color wheel work wonderfully paired together.   

The great thing about floral dresses is that you can mix & match them with patterns.  I really consider floral to be an easy basic to mix & match.  Floral goes with stripes, solids, and geometric prints easily.  In this post on plus size bathing suits I blend a few different patterns with solids & florals.  Working with pattern mixing can be tricky and you may even feel like you're doing it wrong.  Like, I'm not even sure if this outfit really works but I love it!  I usually go with my intuition when picking patterns that I think work together.

The floral here is more pastel and the geometric Monroe cardigan is more vibrant.  I think the contrast of the colors + prints makes this look work.  Plus, the main color of the Monroe is orange which complimentary to the pastel blue of the floral dress.  These colors are opposite on the color wheel.  Most of the time opposite colors look great together!

Outfit Details

Monroe // LuLaRoe (shop here)

Dress // Forever21 (similar)

Forever21 is also on Ebates! Sign up here to save $$$

Watch // Rose Gold Apple Watch

Necklace // Origami Owl Sentiments Collection

Shoes // Walgreen's (similar)

So just because summer is nearly over doesn't mean I'm going to stop wearing floral dresses.  I'm gonna get my leggings and my tights as well as my winter boots and keep the floral going all year round!  You'll catch me in this floral dress in October, December, March, & June....don't you worry.

I hope you all have a great end to the Summer and wind down well into the Fall.  I'm excited for crunchy leaves and boots!  Oh, and Halloween!

Check out more style posts here.

How do you mix prints?  Are you brave enough?

xoxo, Moe

Trend Tuesday // Cover Up Buttercup

I may have tricked you with that title.  You may be thinking oh, summer is almost here...let's talk beach/bathing suit cover ups.  Sweet!  But we're not going to talk about that today.  We're going to talk about how momma needs a new phone case!  I'm not sure if I should get one now though or wait until the end of Summer when I have my phone upgrade.....which means I may go to the iPhone 5 (thoughts?)

But I've been on the prowl ever since my case started to break around the camera part.  I don't think I ever got the case securely on & that caused some stress on that little part & it's snapped.  So maybe I'll get one, maybe I'll wait......

one // two // three // four

(one, three, four are all from Society6!)

I'm really digging some illustration right now & with spring here I feel so girly digging on floral!  When I found the bug phone case, though, I was in love with the gold color & the contrast of the black and cream but otherwise it's florals all the way!  My last phone case was from Society6 as well - this one based off of vintage sheets from Kate Gabrielle of Scathingly Brilliant - it was floral too!!

The bottom right phone case I want because it's pretty but also because I went to school with its designer!  Personal connection!

Do you walk around with a naked phone or do you cover it up?  How picky are you when it comes to phone cases?

xoxo, Moe

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What I Wore // Simple Summer Outfit

It is so freaking hot outside & I don't like it.  Wanna know a character flaw of mine? I am a complainer....I complain about a lot of things & under normal circumstances I've been better about it.  But in extreme weather I am a Grumpy Pants.  The first day or so we were in Michigan, I was FREEZING and was so grumpy! We went to see fireworks on the 4th and it was HOT AS HADES & I was grumpy.  I really don't like complaining, but I think it's just easy to do....I need to try to be better!

I haven't posted an outfit in a while here because of the heat.  Taking these photos caused me to sweat horribly...wait, I mean glisten horribly.  I can't stand to be outside for more than a minute & I don't like it!  This is what I wore one day this week:

Details:

Shirt // JCP clearance a year ago

Bag // Target clearance ages ago

Skirt + Belt // Target (bought it right before they went on clearance!)

Sunnies // Big Lots

Floral Loafers // Claire's last spring

You can't really tell in these pictures but the skirt has pleats in it.  I have a pink one & a teal one in the same style & they each came with a belt.  This is the best summer outfit I've worn so far (I think). It's super relaxed, may be a bit hot with the sleeves, but is perfect for getting ice cream, bike riding, etc.  I even wore my lace bike shorts under the skirt.

These floral loafers were actually put on hold by my manager after I stopped working at Claire's because she knew I'd just love them.  We usually only get one size 10 (big ol feet!) in at a time so you have to snatch them up!  I don't get an excuse to wear these shoes much because I just don't know what to pair them with.  Honestly this is like the second or third time I've worn them.

The bag is my all time favorite bag.  It fits nearly everything (which means things will get lost!) & it was only like $5 from Target! It has yet to go out of style & I really think I've had it for like 5+ years maybe.  I constantly wear it...I haven't changed purses in a long while even though I have a large collection.

Anyway, hope you're having a lovely weekend! I am soaking up some sun & hopefully not melting on the lake!

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Make it Monday // Floral Shorts DIY

Last week I shared with you a pair of floral pocket shorts & today I am going to share with you the super simple DIY.  As you can tell by the pictures below, this pair of shorts were once covered in clay. So I thought I'd spruce them up for Summer.

Supplies: Pair of shorts, fabric, scissors, pins, needle & thread, and pencil for tracing.

Instructions: Cut out a bit of fabric & lay it on top of your pockets.  Use your fingers to guid your pencil around the outline of your pockets.  Cut this shape out & repeat tracing for the next pocket (just in case they are different!)  Then pin around your pockets, folding in a bit of fabric as you go.  Use your needle & thread to do a little whip stich around it to hold in in place.  Make sure you go all the way around.

There you have it!  There's no easy way for me to show you the shorts with out showing you my behind!  Also, sorry for all the wrinkles in my cardigan! whoops! I loved pairing these with my lace bike shorts.  Looks good!

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What I Wore // Floral + Lace Shorts

So, ever since I decided to wear these boots the other day I've fallen back in love with them.  I wore them this past Sunday at the art festival & regret it: it was so hot!  But in cooler weather these are perfect.  I am going to get a bit of wear out of them this summer!

I've also fallen in love with the floral & lace shorts I've been seeing.  I decided to pair this outfit with a pair of lace hemmed shape wear shorts.  I got these in the shape wear section of wal mart & love wearing them under my skirts.  As a plus sized girl, these types of shorts are a life saver when it's hot out! I decided to do my own floral DIY by sewing a patch onto the pockets of these high waisted shorts from last summer.

Also, this is my hair the second day after I slept on it.  I love how it looks naturally curly.  I've also fallen back in love with brown hair as I've always had a thing for being blonde.  I usually go blonde in the winter & brown in the summer, I've discovered.

Details:

Tank & Belt // Target

Cardigan // Sears

Shorts // JC Penny + DIY

Lace Shape Wear Bicycle Shorts // Wal mart

Boots // JC Penny (or Khols, I don't remember)

Geode Ring // Khols

This is what I wore to 'work' on Monday.  I've been keeping a pretty good work from home schedule lately & am very excited to be productive.  On Monday, a whole bunch of new earrings made their way into the shop & I got to work on a custom blog design.  I realized that I couldn't watch Dr. Who while working because I was too caught up in it so I put my trusty Destination Truth background noise on & got to work.  It's great staying home with the puppy on Monday's, just hanging out.  He usually sleeps at my feet while I type or craft away.  He's not a great helper.

Hope you're having a great day!

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Tempted Tuesdays // Flrity & Fantastic Florals

As a semi-girly girl, I am always all over some floral fashion.  My fave ways to wear florals are in a 90's fem-grungy way (think doc marten's & bobby socks)  or a floral-meets-bold-metals way (think rose gold watches & lots of bangles - big bold jewelry).  This Tempted Tuesday I am inspired by vintage silhouettes & that good 'ol Easter Sunday feel.  Whether you are going on a romantic spring date, have a fun weekend planned, or have a sweet get together to attend, Floral (and Coral) is the way to go this Spring:

fantastic florals by fivesixteenthsblog featuring sling back shoes

The first outfit would be great for a spring wedding or more formal Bridal Shower.  It reminds me of a what a proper Southern woman would wear as not to offend her sweet Southern Belle of a Grandmother.  I am not quite sure if my own gramma is a Southern Belle being she boasts of her gang of friends, including here best friend Melvina (pronounced: Mel-Vine-uh) sporting overalls to a football game in high school.  Oh what risk takers they were.

The second outfit is perfect for a little weekend date, a day of thrifting, or a day of bike riding.  Be sure you include some bike shorts under there if you are going to be straddling a 6-speed.  The pattern is bold & screams spring in a perfectly matched blue & gold.  Your Keds or white oxfords & your trusty messenger back complete the outfit.  Make sure you grab your camera because you are going places girl!

The final combination is sweet for a Sunday service but perfect for a romantic date.  Flirty & floral, you'll have him weak in your classy coral dress & shades combo.  I am all over brown & chunky sandals for Spring.  I am pretty sure it's left over from my Clog love affair this past Fall/Winter.  The chunky heel makes the outfit a bit more casual so you can hunt eggs with the best of 'em with out digging your heels in the grass.

So whether you have places to go or just places to be floral is flexible with it comes to Spring fashion.  You can even have a garden on your hand:

Source

Source

Do you sport floral all year long? What is your take on the trend?

Tempted Tuesdays: Attractive Spreads - Vintage Bedding

I am totally in love with all of my vintage sheets & my new vintage bedspread.  All the colors & patterns remind me of nights slept over at my grandmother's house.

My sister & I shared a bedroom with two twin beds, yellow floral bedspreads, & the cutest floral sheets.  I remember my gramma would have the bedspread tucked up under the pillow & pulled back over so even the pillow was snuggly under the blankets!  I'd always use one of my grandpa's undershirts he wore to work as pj's(even after the wash they still smelled like him!) & got to stay up late with them watching tv.  I remember one night when the Sixth Sense was on, I'd finally gotten big enough to sleep in the guest room with a full bed, & was laying on my stomach watching it.....like a big girl you know.  I got super, super terrified & ran down to my grandparents' freaking out....I don't even remember what scared me so much!

My grandmother has slightly updated the bedding in the house since then.  The bedspreads on the twin beds are rather normal looking, she no longer has a chenille one on her bed, & the guest room bedding doesn't look like it came from a cheap motel (the whole room is green: carpet, bedding, etc....).  But I still love the old sheets & spreads so on this Tempted Tuesday I thought I'd search Etsy for some attractive spreads:

I love the fringe on this one from Vintage Goodies

This one looks like it belongs in my Grandmother's house..so perfect!

from More Out of the Ordinary

Loooove the print & fringe on this one! 

I am a suckka for floral! From Midwest Vintage Co

Such a perfect yellow on this one.  Killer colors!

from Vintagemb60

I would change my bedspread like I'd change my sheets...every month...if I had all of these! There are many things that make me weak, linens are one of them!

Happy Tuesday!

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Fan Fridays: Ghost Whisperere

Recently I've fallen in love with the show Ghost Whisperer.  I think I love it because it combines my love of the paranormal & ghosts with an antique store & gorgeous clothing.  Though the episodes can be rather odd, I love Melinda Gordon's (Jennifer Love Hewitt) little antique shop in a small town called Grandview.  I would love to own a little store with antiques & handmade little bitties. Ahhhhhh....I hope one day I can make that dream a reality.

For right now, lets focus on some romantic clothing inspired by the show:

Ghost Whisperer Style by Blooming Wildflowers featuring a satin handbag

This set I fount on Polyvore is great to discribe the femininity that is Ghost Whisperer.  Here are some of my picks from Etsy:

1. This blue & lacey slip dress from Vintage Opulence is just to die for.  Do you see that color? The shape? So beautiful!
2. In Amour sans Anguish's shop I've fallen in love with this veiled dress.  I love the neckline.  A great use of lace & color!
3. A crocheted shawl from Call Me Mimi is perfect in its muted tones of green & burgundy.  Antique Rose is a fitting name for this beauty.
4. A great Cutaway Corset Jacket from Darkest Dreams is perfect to make these shapes & colors perfect for fall.  In fact, in the episodes that are more into fall & winter Melinda wears a lot of dark colors.  I love the shape & collar of this jacket.
5. Finally, this Kimono Dress from River of Romansk has a beautiful airy feel. I love the pattern!

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