Staycation Nation: Pool Jewels and Polka Dots

Dress: Macy's

Bag: On 34th, Macy's

Totally Turquoise Necklace

Top and skirt: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bag: The Shoppes at the Asbury

Flowers Capelli, ULTA

Shoes: Chinese Laundry, Zulily

Fruit Loot Necklace

There's a new Progressive commercial about vacations, maybe you've seen it.  The hook is how so few of us ever get time to recharge.  Flo jokes that this harried woman needs a vacation, and the woman responds by saying things like, oh, you mean when I'm driving to work and a song I like comes on the radio?  And Flo's like, no, a vacation, when you go away and take pictures and whatever.  And the woman says, oh, never had one.  To which Flo admits, me neither.

I can relate -- and I'm sure lots of you can too.  Especially because my version of a vacay is dressing like I'm going on one.  So I was excited to haul out my old palm-and-pineapple heels and new bathing beauties bag.  Fancy bags for everyday use, it seems, are having a moment.  Which I love because it jives with my every-fit's-a-celebration philosophy.  That's why this little piece of the pool is such a jewel to me.

And why, even when I can't get out of town, I relax and go with the Flo.

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. 

Out the Door With What I Wore: Nine West Resort Report

Flower clips: Capelli: ULTA

Bag: The Shoppes at the Asbury; Shoes: Chinese Laundry, Zulily

Dress: Nine West, Kohl's

Skirt: Wallflower, Marshalls; Shoes: Katy Perry Collection, Amazon

Bag: Dolls Kill

Top: Nine West, Kohl's

Skirt: So, Kohl's; Shoes: Rocket Dog, Marshalls

Bag: So, Kohl's; Bag charm: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Top: Nine West, Kohl's

Sunglasses: Nordstrom Rack

I finally convinced the husband to -- safely, carefully, lovingly -- place Charlotte in the pack n' play to take these blink-and-you'll-miss-them porch pics.  She was fine, it was fine, and I learned a lesson about not obsessing over the perfect shot.  Gone are the days when I'd insist that the husband retake this or that pic because of bad lighting, bad hair, or, yes, my sometimes bad attitude.  Now I make my peace with a couple of snaps and move on.

See?  Baby girl and I are both growing up.        

Anyway, this is what I wore to the husband's birthday dinner, Labcorp (diabetes has left the building!), and my first post-baby trip to Kohl's, Michaels, and Target.  I was excited to break out my new Nine West clothes.  Bold and tropical, they remind me of things that you'd wear on vacation.

Or that I'd wear to Target. 🌺🌴

A Word to the Wise and OC Beach Buys

No trip is complete without a treat or two to take home once all the fun (and yes, exhaustion) is over.  From farmer's market magnets to beaded necklaces to a very special bejeweled clutch, I chose my Ocean City souvenirs wisely.  

My carb intake (as evidenced by yet more taffy), not so much!