To Trick or Not To Trick?

Dress – vintage from Etsy; Belt – Spotted Moth; Boots – Feet First.

With Halloween coming up, I’ve started wondering.  When should you take your kids out?  I’m not taking Baby out this year because she can’t eat the candy, she probably wouldn’t understand or appreciate it, and she’ll probably get overwhelmed and/or scared of the whole thing and all the frightening sounds.  I want to take her out when she can understand and appreciate the whole fun process and know that it’s not real – just fun.  But that’s where I’m coming from.  What do you guys think?  When did you take your babes out for the first time? 

And on the flip side, when do you let your kids go out alone?  I read this article in the Globe and Mail and found it quite interesting food for thought.  What age should we be trusting our babes out alone?  9,10, 11? Finally, when do you think the cut-off for trick or treating should be?  When are you too old to trick or treat?

These are certainly some things I have never considered before becoming a parent.  And now that I’m here, all these decisions are on my mind.  And I try to do what’s right for me, but it’s difficult to hold strong in the face of judgement from other parents who think that what they do is what everyone should do.  Have you experienced this during Halloween too?

Quote of Today:
“‘Cause everybody needs a good cape.”

Tuesday In Review: Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer

I’ve said a few times that I mostly use a sheer tinted moisturizer during the day, and I’ve had a few emails and a couple of comments asking me what exactly I use.  So here it is folks.  I use Aveeno tinted moisturizer.  My skin is quite light and I’ve had trouble with other brands I’ve tried because they’re usually too dark for me, but this one is just light and neutral enough to work really well.

Of course, I love the fact that it has SPF 30 because I shy away from the sun more than any member of Twilight.  And i like the sheer light coverage which makes it look like I’m not wearing anything at all.  For my daily use this is enough.  It’s light and just helps to even things out a little bit.  If you want full coverage then this is not the choice to make, but since I wear so much make-up to work on camera, in my daily life I prefer to keep it to an absolute minimum. 

I also have fairly sensitive skin, and so far Aveeno has been quite gentle and hasn’t caused any flare ups.  I really appreciate this since my skin can often react to ridiculously silly irritants.

The only downside I’ve noticed so far is that it doesn’t spread very nicely, so I usually use a make-up sponge to apply it and not my fingers.  But when the product is otherwise very good, that’s a concession I can easily make.

And the kicker?  It’s a cheap drugstore brand!  Yay for saving money!

CopyCat

Scarf – street stand; Jacket – Jacob; Bag – Matt by Matt&Nat; Sweater – F21; Dress – Ruche; Tights – Hue; Shoes – Clarks.

I saw this outfit on The Clothes Horse a while back and knew that since I owned the same dress I just had to recreate that look.  You know what they say about imitation.  But I wasn’t crazy about the color of her sweater for myself; it looked great on her, but I knew that it just wouldn’t feel right on me.  So when I found this poodle sweater on F21, I knew it was the perfect way to recreate that darling outfit.  And well, I had a certificate burning a hole in my pocket, so I made sure to snag it.  What’s funny is that the very day it arrived at my door, I saw Rose a la Mode wearing the exact same sweater.  Great minds, huh?  Anyway, I’ve been saving this outfit for a day when I get to go out for a bit, and I finally got the chance, so here it is!  Yeah poodles!  Yeah horses!  Yeah mixing prints!

This outfit was a hit with both the Moms and the kids that I help teach.  Cross-generational outfit?  yes, please!

Quote of Today:
“If I just clean it, it’s clean.”

Random Sundays

Sunday naps are possibly the best thing I can think of right now.  Ok, that’s not true.  World peace and winning the lottery take first place, but Sunday naps are a close second.  I woke up refreshed and so rested.  It was wonderful.  And to top it all off today’s been a warm sunny day.  Aaaaand Thai take-out is on the way.  Can this day get any better?  Oooh, maybe a foot massage.  Or world peace.  Whichever.

The sun was out recently, but the moon refused to leave as well.  I love when the moon is still visible once the sun has come out of its slumber. There’s something magical about seeing both at the same time.

Here’s a random outfit that I never found the opportunity to post. 

Jacket – Old Navy; Sweater – Trixie; Scarf – street stand – Top – Gap; Skirt – Huh; Boots – Ruche; Belt – F21.

No-No

Cardi – Jacob; Dress – Ruche; Belt – F21; Tights – Hue; Boots – Threadsence.

I told you I was a little obsessed with these boots lately.  I seem to be wearing them everywhere.  I do mean everywhere.  I think they go with everything.  And they’re really very comfy too.  Bonus!  Mixing this brown and gray combo was really second nature because they’ve always just seemed to fit in my mind.  I didn’t know that this was a ‘no-no’ until I read it a few years ago in a magazine.  Oh well.  Whatevs. I’m still gonna do it, along with navy and black, and black and brown.  To me these are easy neutral colors that all mix well.  Am I the only one who doesn’t understand why these mixes are ‘no-no’s?  What other stuff do you mix that you ‘shouldn’t’?

True Story:
Sesame Street spoofs True Blood with True Mud. 
Even spoofs the characters. Sookie. And Bill. 
Hil. Ari. Ous.

Rebellion Of Bad Mother

Look how cute Drake the Dog is!

Pin – c/o Blue Eyed Owl; Sweater – Jacob; Gloves – Ruche; Jeans – Guess; Boots – Petite Pieds.

When I get something I like, or simply when I remember that I like something a lot, I tend to wear it like mad for several days or weeks straight. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one. It’s happening with these boots, and it’s also happening with this set of pinwheel bobby pins you see in my hair that I recently received as well.

These pins have me addicted and obsessed. There’s something about the shape and movement in a pinwheel.  I think it’s a way to combat, nay embrace, the blustery winds we’re having here right now.  Or maybe their cheery colors are my small Spring rebellion against the grayness and cold of Fall.

True Story:
Baby has a cold.  Boo, yeah, whatevs.  Here’s the point:
When she sneezes her entire head goes forward at a great force. 
So standing beside me this morning while I make my tea, she sneezes. Hard.
And slams her head into the dishwasher. 
She cries.
I laugh. 
I’m a bad mother. 
tee hee.

Whimsy Of Yellow

Pins – c/o Blue Eyed Owl; Cardi – Gap; Dress – Ruche; Top – H&M; Belt – F21; Tights – Hue; Boots – Threadsence.

I’ve been eyeing the lovely shade of mustard yellow that’s so popular for fall.  It’s such a warm, rich color that is just so appealing.  But I can’t wear yellow. Or rather I don’t – not “can’t.”  If you put me in something yellow or yellow toned, not only does it wash me out, but I look like I have some severe stage of jaundice.  I think it’s the combination of my very fair skin and the olive undertones that run throughout it. So when Liz contacted me with the opportunity to select and try out some of her delightful handmade accessories I yipped with glee when I saw that the Mustard & Cobalt Pinwheel Bobby Pin set had just the yellow I’ve been craving.  And to top it all off I had just nabbed this belt for $3, so putting to two together just seemed to make sense.

These are beautifully made and I adore the whimsy of pinwheels in my hair.  It makes me feel like I’m going to have a soft breeze caressing my hair.   Her shop has some really pretty things, like these earrings and this lovely pin/ brooch.  I think it would look stunning as a decorative piece in a fun messy updo.  Personally, I’m pleased as punch that I can satisfy my yellow craving while avoiding looking like an extra on AMC’s “The Walking Dead.”

Tuesday In Review: Body Shop Peppermint Foot Lotion

Okay, so I should really be letting Husband write this one since I never actually use it myself, but here goes.  For the last seven years I have had the privilege to receive delightful and wonderful foot massages at least thrice weekly *sometimes more – isn’t he the best??*  And for all that time we have been loyal to this one foot lotion, we’ve tried other ones when the need arose, but Husband always asks me to go back to this one.

Here’s what he has to say about it.

He really likes the minty fresh smell.  Sometimes the fruity or coconutty smells are just too overwhelming, but mint is just fresh and crisp.  And he says this lotion spreads and lasts longer and better than any of the other ones we’ve tried; so it doesn’t dry up and create friction.  But he also really appreciates that it’s a lotion rather than an oil because he doesn’t want to get oil on his clothes, or his hands since it’s too difficult to wash up afterwards.  Overall, he’s found that this is the one that he likes the most.

And let’s be honest, if I’m getting the foot massage, I’ll make sure the one giving has anything he likes!

Smiling

Jacket – Old Navy, Dress and Undertunic Ruche; Belt – AE; Shoes – Payless.

The thing I love about dresses is just how easy it is to slip them on and go.  I wore this outfit a little bit ago, when it was warm and just never got around to posting it.  This dress was one of my first purchases from Ruche, and it’s definitely a good decision.   I love how it’s feminine, comfortable and easy to wash *big bonus for a busy mama* But what I like most about it is that it always makes me smile.  It’s just not possible to be down when you have on a pretty pink dress with flowers all over it.

If you have a moment, check out my guest post over here.  I’m writing about all things vintage and thrifted.  I love me some cheap clothes!

True Story:
Baby grabbed a lemon and started licking it.  
Then making that sour face we all know.  
Then licking it again.  
Repeat.

It Clashes!

Top – F21; Coat – Smart Set; Scarf – made by my Babcia; Dress – H&M; Sweater – Gap; Tights – Hue; Boots – Threadsence.

I’m mixing two colors that theoretically shouldn’t be mixed – red and pink.  But it’s kind of hard to tell in these shots.  The top is a peachy pink, the cardi is a rich, deep red with specks of blue, and the scarf is a pale pale pink as well.  But in the shots I took it was really hard to show the exact richness and color of these pieces.  I really tried.  Sorry….fail, Joanna, fail.  But take my word for it.

I’ve always actually enjoyed seeing red and pink together.  I never understood why people said it clashes.  For example I love seeing pink on redheads.  The bright happy colors look great together and give off a lot of energy.

And that’s my two cents of the day.

True Story:
One baby on my lap, plus one dog on my lap, equals a very squishy and furry group cuddle.
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