Constructing Christmas: Mint to Twee

Dessert blocks: Best Choice Products, Macy's

Rainbow Christmas Necklace

Shoes: B.A.I.T., Zulily; Socks: Amazon

Season's readings.

Sunglasses: Wild Fable, Target

Bangles: B Fabulous; Rings: PinkBopp

Tag brag.

Cardigan: Candyland for Dolls Kill

Christmas isn't Christmas without sugary goodness.  Not only to give as gifts and gobble at galas, but to devour after battling crowds and wrapping presents that may or may not be returned.  No doubt about it, cookies and candy take the edge off.  Yet as much as I love eating treats, I love looking at them even more.  So to kick off Christmas, I donned my Candy Land cardi and built a wee wonderland from Charlotte's dessert blocks.  It made me feel not only festive but peaceful, like I could hide from all the holiday hoopla in a fortress of saccharine solitude.

To paraphrase Green Day, wake me up when December ends -- and leave Andes mints on my pillow.

Thanksgiving Living

Autumn aesthetic.

Squirrel girl.

Charlotte's new favorite book.

Hallway harvest.

Coat: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Mom's place settings.

Mom's tablescape.

Top: Madden Girl, Macy's; Skirt: ModCloth

Garland: Michaels

A can-do Thanksgiving.

Bag, pouch: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's; Acorn ring: Decoration from some old dessert

The holidays are never perfect.  Still, I sometimes often succumb to the hype that they should be.  So this Thanksgiving, in addition to the posing and pageantry, I'm serving reality.  

In this last pic, Char Bar has collided with my lipstick for the third time, staining her clothes.  And I'm handling it with my usual grace and equanimity.  Granted, a makeup malfunction is a bogus thing to bemoan -- especially considering my sister missed Thanksgiving because her youngest was sick.  But in that moment, my micro-misfortune was magnified, blocking out all thoughts except momlife is hard.  

Three slices of pie later, I was feeling more zen.  So much so that I remembered something.  Five Thanksgivings ago, I was gearing up to start fertility testing, which I started but never finished.  The whole thing made me panicky, and I decided it wasn't meant to be.  And now here I was with this beautiful baby.  Sure, she snatched my bookmarks and deprived me of sleep and flung her pears on the floor.  But I loved her more than anything and couldn't imagine life without her.

So Charlotte, you're what I'm thankful for, this Thanksgiving and every Thanksgiving after.  

Also that for Christmas you can wear red, camouflaging the lipstick.     

Very Cherry: (Still) Celebrating Fruit Salad

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Amazon

Red top: Marshalls; Yellow top: SHEIN

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Amazon

Shoes: Impo, DSW; Socks: Zulily

Bag Charm: lhbdesignsbylaura

Skirt: POPSUGAR, Kohl's

Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bow: Wild Fable, Target

Bag: N by Nina, Kohl's

Chelsea Cherry Necklace

Dress: Lily Rose, Kohl's

Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bag: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Fun fashion's always in season, and fruit always brings the fun.  Why else would cartoon characters slip on banana peels, Gallagher smash watermelons, and Carmen Miranda balance fruit on her head?  (Also, for a more current, not to mention momlife reference, Cocomelon.)  So, despite the onslaught of pumpkin propaganda (I love pumpkins, but all in due time!), it's still about produce here at the Trove.   

At least until I'm pelted with acorns. 

Sweet and Sour Hour

Dress: ModCloth

Random Char Bar gear.

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Macy's

Weather, Girl Necklace

Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Skirt: H&M

Bag: Betseyville, Macy's Backstage

Top: New York & Company

This post isn't about Chinese takeout.  But it is about food, namely lemons.  For citrus style, I go the extra mile.  Even if that mile is a cartoonish candy aisle instead of a stately orchard.  

That's it.  Perhaps an hour was ambitious.

One and Fun: Let's be Mermaids

Top: On 34th, Macy's

Cake: ShopRite

Bubble curtain: Hobby Lobby

Tablecloth: Michaels

Top: Rare Editions, Macy's

Mom's mermaid dip.  Does not contain real mermaids.

That's what it said on the tablecloths I bought for Charlotte's mermaid-themed first birthday party.  We celebrated last Saturday, and it was the first party that the husband and/or I had ever thrown.  So although it was only fifteen people, the prep was a little nerve-racking.  Still, in the end it all came together, and Char Bar had a (beach) ball.

Which is all a socially challenged parent can hope for.

Well, that and party décor that plays into a future fit and necklace.

Skirt: ModCloth

Bag: Cat & Jack, Target

She Sells Seashells Necklace

A little birdie told me to add this.

Sunglasses: A New Day, Target

All joking aside, I can't believe how much Charlotte's grown -- and how much I've grown with her.  My heart is full whenever I watch her feed herself or pull herself up or replace her own pacifier.  She's becoming her own little person, and I can't wait to see what she learns next. 

Because as someone wise once said, the party's just getting started.