Ch-Ch-Ch-Chinos! And Happy Memorial Day

Color Wheel Zeal Charm Necklace

Tee: Merona, Target

Shorts: Merona, Target

Shoes: Rocket Dog, Marshalls

Bag: Lily Bloom, JCPenney

Sunglasses: Rampage, Boscov's

Orange bangle: Mixit, JCPenney

Red bangle: B Fabulous

Barrette: The Tote Trove

Ring: Making Waves

Mixed bangle: Mixit, JCPenney

Blue bangle, B Fabulous

Shape Shack Charm Necklace

Top: Delia's

Shorts: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: H&M

Sunglasses: So, Kohl's

Belt: Kohl's

Yellow bangles: B Fabulous

Green bracelet: Parade of Shoes

Blue ring: Delia's

Pink ring: Delia's 

Whistle While You Smirk Charm Necklace

Tee: Merona, Target

Shorts: Merona, Target

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bags: Charming Charlie

Sunglasses: Michaels

Pink/white bangle: Mixit, JCPenney

Pink/blue bangle: Mixit, JCPenney

Ring: Making Waves

If you were expecting a ceramic, bush-sprouting kitten, sheep, or turtle (or, these days, an emoticon, Hello Kitty, or Darth Vader), then I'm sorry to disappoint you.  Because it's not these horticulture-meets-pop-culture kitsch icons that are being thrust into the limelight today.  It's shorts, the classic, cotton prep school kind that this one-time daisy duke diva swore she'd never wear.  But being in one's mid-thirties brings its clothing concessions, and I don't mean the kind that come with Cheez Whiz.  Thankfully, Target's Merona brand makes stylish chinos for every body and I, never one to miss a shopportunity, have snagged several pairs.  So break out the Nair and banish that hair (I started this '70s theme, and I'm sticking with it, no matter how stinky) and glam up your gams, because, hey kids, it's summer.  (Or not.  I hear palazzo pants are making a comeback).

Wait, what's this?  Daisy Jean, intrepid public school dropout, has crashed the BBQ after all, having wedged (or perhaps I should say wedgied) her brazenly embroidered self between Rebecca and Kathryn (a.k.a. the chinos). In true rebel mode, she hitched a ride on my Kohl's gift card one day and flat out refused to let go.  But I'm glad she did because she goes with tons of tops in my closet.  Tanks, tees, crops (if DJ is here, then crops are fair game), and peasant tops are all made more magical by her rustic-rough edge (if you can call daisies and/or Lauren Conrad edgy).  Also, she's roomier (i.e. more forgiving) than the cutoffs of my youth, which means that I can hit the Memorial Day buffet with abandon.  Cheez Whiz, here I come.

You know what else is magical?  This week's necklaces.  Or maybe I should say charming.  Because I had such a good time making them that it was like I was under a spell (also, 'cause they're made of, um, charms).  Whistle While You Smirk, Shape Shack, and Color Wheel Zeal are everything I love in neckwear: colorful, quirky, and reminiscent of a clown costume (why, oh why, didn't I name my shop The Circus Trousseau when I had the chance?).  I was so excited that it was tough to tear myself away from my pliers and beads (not to mention my "Mindy Project" binging) this weekend, but somehow I managed.  As they say, Memorial Day is the Friday night of summer vacation, and I didn't want to miss out.  What?  They don't say that?  Well, they should.  I'll email them at once, just as soon as I find my AOL password.  

In the meantime, enjoy these shots of the island: