Rose Garden Memories

 Dress – Bought in Spain  //  Sweater – Smart Set //  Belt & Shoes – F21 //  Hat – no brand inside
Day two in NYC was focused on the amazing Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.  Honestly, they’re breathtaking.  I wish I could truly relate to you the grandeur of the Rose Garden, or the beauty of the different climate zones in the conservatory, but I can’t.  Pictures don’t do it justice.  I can’t relate to you how I felt like Alice in Wonderland standing amidst so many varieties of roses in bloom in the rose garden.  Nor could a picture show it.  Because in my mind I was the only one there, but in reality it was packed with people.  Imagination is the best.  
Side note:   I bought this dress originally while I was traveling around Europe for several months.   Since then it has come with me to Cube, the Domincan Republic, NYC, Montreal, and British Columbia.  It’s my traveling dress.  I can’t leave home without it.  Every time I travel a new set of memories become woven into the fabric. 

p.s.  One of my favorite stores ever, Emerging Thoughts, has given ModaMama readers an exclusive discount code – 20% off with code “JOANNA”

Don’t Laugh at a New York Security Guard

Dress – Love Audrey  //  Necklace – forgot  //  Hat – no name on inside  //  Shoes – Rocketdog  //  Sunnies – F21
My first stop on my very first day back in NYC was Whole Foods for a granola bar, iced tea, and salad.  It was a late breakfast and though some may think it’s weird to have salad for breakfast – I love my greens!  
My second stop however, was less health conscious.  It was Macaron cafe, opened by a French ex-pat, who makes the best macarons outside of France.  I always come here whenever I’m in NYC.  A Canadian eating French macarons in New York – so cosmopolitan.  
I also had the pleasure of being there for the Taste of Times Square festival where more delicious food was sampled.  And the day was rounded off with a purchase for Baby Girl at FAO Schwartz.  I bought her the softest stuffed animal I have ever felt in my entire life.  She sleeps with it now.  
She better sleep with it, because I got chased off the divider I stood on to get this picture by a burly security guard.  He was not happy with me at all.  I started giggling.  I think that made him madder.

Remix: Green Floral Dress

You’ve seen this Ruche dress not too long ago, but you’ve also seen it quite a bit as it’s one of my favorite dresses to pull out and put on.

Top Left:  Shirt – H&M  //  Shoes – Payless


Top Right:  Jacket – Old Navy  //  Boots – Feet First  //  Necklace – F21


Bottom Left:  Shoes – Payless


Bottom Right:  Sweater – Jacob  //  Belt – F21  //  Tights – Hue  //  Boots – Locale

Remix: Denim Jacket

The essential denim jacket.  Mine’s from Old Navy. Every woman has to have one. It easily dresses down a fancy dress, or pulls together a casual outfit. Plus, it’s a layering piece to keep you warm.

Top Left:  Dress – ModCloth   //  Tights – F21  //  Boots – Feet First

Top Right:  Dress & Bangles – F21  //  Shoes – Ruche

Bottom Left:  Top – H&M  //  Skirt – Mink Pink  //  Necklace – F21  //  Ring – Threadsence

Bottom Right:  Shirt – H&M  //  Skirt –   Skies Are Blue  //  Tights – Hue  //  Boots – Chelsea Crew  //  Necklace – c/o Imprintalish

Remix: Poodle Sweater

This simple poodle sweater grabbed my attention the very first time I saw it on the F21 website.  It was inexpensive and became an instant classic. 

Top Left:  Dress – Modcloth  //  Necklace & Belt – F21  //  Tights – Hue  //  Shoes – Clark


Top Right:  Shirt – Jacob  //  Pants – Gap  //  Shoes – Payless  //  Socks – Hue


Bottom Left:  Top – Jacob  //  Jeans – Guess  //  Shoes – Payless


Bottom Right:  Dress – Everly  //  Tights – Hue  //  Shoes – Clark

Remix: Striped Vest

This striped AE vest was an impulse purchase at the time.  I thought, “It’s too expensive and I don’t have any other vests in my closet.  Will I really wear it?”  I’m so glad I bought it because it’s become an indispensable part of my attire.  Funny how that happens.

Top Left:  Hat & Boots – F21  //  Dress – Lace Affair


Top Right:  Tie – Sears  //  Top – Smart Set  //  Jeans – Gap  //  Boots – Walmart


Bottom Left:  Top – Wallis  //  Scarf – Kensie  //  Necklace – Ruche  //  Boots – Locale


Bottom Right:  Sweater – Gap  //  Necklace – bought in Spain  //  Belt & Tights – F21  //  Boots – Feet First  //  Dress – unknown  //  Ring – Ruche

Who’s Your Mommy?

Dress -AE  //  Cardi – Old Navy  //  Shoes – Payless  //  Necklace – F21
We’re in this amazing stage right now.  It’s the ‘My Mommy!’ stage.  Whenever Andrew touches me, or sits next to me, it’s, “Dat’s not your mommy.  It’s my Mommy!”  It feels weird to be tell my daughter that I am to be shared.  Like I’m a piece of real estate, or a shiny new toy.  She right about one thing though, I’m definitely not his mommy.  
p.s. I’m in NYC right now, but still sharing with you via scheduled posts.  Back soon with all my fabulous pics. 

Coffee Talk: You’re The Best!

I just wanted to take one moment to say that you guys are the best community a girl could have.

Garbage Meltdowns

Dress – Ruche  //  Jacket – Old Navy  //  Necklace & Hat – F21  //  Boots – Feet First
A box arrived for my husband.  Inside there was an item – which is not relevant for our purposes – that was packed with that styrofoam popcorn stuff.  Baby Girl saw this and wanted to play with it desperately.  Us, being the ever diligent parents aware of choking hazards and other things, said, “No, honey.  It’s garbage.”  At which point, while Andrew went out to throw it in the garbage, I was left with a tantrum induced toddler screaming repeatedly at the top of her lungs, ” I want garbage!” 
Not moments later all was right with the world and she was happily prancing about again.  Ah, the unpredictable pendulum that is the 2 year old psyche. 

The Great Divide

Top – Latiste via Ruche  //  Tank – Gap  //   Skirt – Spotted Moth  //  Necklace – Kenya
If you’ve been reading a while, you know our fence blew down a while back, and the house next door has remained vacant for some time now.  What that means is that the backyard has grown wild and high with plants.  And it’s created a bit of a divide in our world:  The manicured control versus the wild abandon. 
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