When Life Gives You Lemons: Squeezing a Little More Out of Summer

Shoes: Jessica Simpson, DSW

Lemon Ice Nice Necklace

Dress: Nine West, Kohl's

Flower barrette: Capelli, ULTA

Bag: The Shoppes at the Asbury

Bag: Violet Ray, Kohl's

Guitar Shero Necklace

Pink top: Arizona Jeans, JCPenney; Orange top: Pink Rose, Kohl's

Sunglasses: Rampage, Boscov's

Shoes: Madden Girl, Kohl's

Bag: Mix No. 6, DSW

Kimono: Nine West, Kohl's

Scrunchies: Goody, Amazon

Happy Face Place Necklace

Dress: Lily Rose, Kohl's

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Amazon; Charm: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Skirt: Marshalls

Pink and Purple Rainbow Necklace 

Sunglasses: Wild Fable, Target

Shoes: Lucky Brand, Zulily; Bag: Skinnydip London, Macy's

Fifth Sun, JCPenney

You know the deal,

You've all heard my spiel.

When fall comes to call,

I just want to stall.

To bask in the sun,

And soak up the fun,

To borrow, no, steal

Summer's easy appeal.

But time must march on

Like the faded green lawn.

So I'll make the most

Of the pumpkins and ghosts

Before winter comes

And I'm really bummed.

My poem may not be Shakespeare, but it describes how I feel every fall.  Which is why I like to help obliterate the blues with a bold crop of tropical brights. 

Next stop October when I work through my fear of fright night with girly-ghoulish garb. 

Reinventing the Rainbow

Top: Mossimo, Target; Skirt: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Shoes: Lucky Brand, Zulily; Bag: Amazon; Woven belts: Belt is Cool, Amazon; Skinny belt: Izod, Marshalls; Floral bangle: Decree, JCPenney; Yellow and striped bracelets: Amrita Singh, Zulily; Sunglasses: So, Kohl's; Chartreuse clip: Wild Fable, Target; Tulip clip: SHEIN

Rustic Rainbow Necklace

Most of my life, I've thought of rainbows as residing firmly in the realm of the sparkly.  I blame this on Lisa Frank and, to an extent, My Little Pony.  So, when more rustic rainbows with ragged cream "clouds" came on the scene, I was like, what?!  No princess would ever slide down that thing!  But, as with so many trends, those boho bands of color eventually wrapped themselves around my heart.  And before I knew it, I was purchasing my very own ragged rainbow pendant to use in an enormous necklace.  Two rows of fruit beads later, and the Rustic Rainbow Necklace was born (like I'd call it anything else!).  Its hint of hippie vibe says, "I'm fun -- but I also have a social conscience."

What more could I -- or Lisa Frank -- want?

Sera Sera, The Last Hurrah: Signing On for Summer's Send-off

Top: ELLE, Kohl's; Skirt: Vylette, Kohl's

LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Top: Marshalls; Skirt: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

From top to bottom: Modcloth; LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Betsey Johnson

Top: Marshalls; Dress: Kohl's

Old Navy

Sunglasses: Mudd, Kohl's

Yellow Feathered Friend Heart Barrette

Top: Rewind, Kohl's

Lucky Brand, Zulily

Betsey Johnson, Amazon

Top: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Clip: Capelli, ULTA

As you know, today, or possibly tomorrow, marks the first day of fall.  (The internet was unclear.)  But either way, it's the point of no return.  It's when the days start to get cooler and shorter, distracting us with pumpkin pie and flannel shirts until we're too full and cozy to notice that winter's veil has descended.  Okay, so that's a little dramatic.  But summer is my favorite season, and I always find it tough to let go.  So I thought, what better way to seal the deal than in an old-fashioned letter?  And also, while I'm at it, to share my favorite old school summer outfits.  So here it goes.

Dear Summer,

I'm sorry, as The Mamas and the Papas song says, that all your leaves are brown -- or soon will be.   Also, that I'll no longer hear the sound of your ice cream truck so cheerfully cranking out "The Entertainer."  Even though I never chased it for fear of looking stupid and also of being saddled with a corona cone.  Still, we had some good times.  Like when we got takeout crab cakes from that tourist trap restaurant.  Or when, after weeks of teasing us with raspberry chocolate chip and plain vanilla ice cream, Walmart finally delivered chocolate peanut butter.  Yes, both of those memories are about food, but we take our good times where we can.  Nevertheless, I'll also miss your lovely scenery, especially your wedding gown of a white snowball tree, your vibrant green grass, and your robin's egg blue sky.  They're burned in my memory, unlike the sunburn that I never got, or the funnel cake I never ate (both good things, by the way, as funnel cake smells like burnt carnies).  So have a long winter's nap and take care of yourself, and next year I'll see you again.   

Love and Lollipops Popsicles,

Tracy

     

That's better.  Now I feel like I have some closure.  

And also that I can settle in and enjoy some of that pumpkin pie.