Climbing the Walls With Jericho, a Bear, and a Beetle

Unicorn University Necklace

Tee: Merona, Target

Skirt: Modcloth

Shoes: Chinese Laundry, DSW

Bag: Princess Vera, Kohl's

Belt: Kohl's

Sunglasses: Relic, Kohl's 

Wild Wagon Necklace

Tee: Merona, Target

Skirt: Material Girl, Macy's

Shoes: Worthington, JCPenney

Bag: Nordstrom

Belt: Wet Seal

Sunglasses: Relic, Kohl's

Bear Flare Necklace

Tee: Merona, Target

Skirt: Modcloth

Shoes: Christian Siriano for Payless

Bag: Xhilaration, Target

Belt: Kohl's

Sunglasses: Relic, Kohl's

I'm kicking off this week's post with a look back at last week's episode of Bob's Burgers (just think of me as the John Oliver of cartoons).  It was about Tina, my favorite Belcher, and her obsession with her imaginary horse, Jericho.  Although not a unicorn (unlike the Unicorn University Necklace shown here, so named in the spirit of upwardly mobile and intellectual equines), Jericho wields his own special magic, his powers of the impossible far more ambitious than those filtered through any mere horn.  Because who needs that useless appendage when you've got the pipes of nice guy dreamboat Paul Rudd?  That's right, Ant Man himself voices Tina's beloved and completely unreal black stallion.  (Is it any wonder that she's besotted?)  In this far-fetched and quirky fairy tale of a Burgers installment, bookworm Tina channels Beauty and the Beast's Belle's bewitching blend of "strange but special" more strongly than ever.  You know, if Belle wore glasses and had the voice of a middle-aged man.  That said, Tina is so entrenched in her fantasy that she convinces dad Bob to enroll her in a local horse camp.  (Come to think of it, Bob is a little like Belle's father, Maurice.  Bob's a kindly if unsuccessful and somewhat ridiculed creator of weird burgers; Maurice is a kindly if unsuccessful and most definitely ridiculed creator of inventions.  Oh, Bob's Burgers writers, is there no end to your Beast parallels?).  The camp is a step down from the exclusive sleep-away version of Tina's dreams, but true to her sweet, grateful nature, she gallops off on the first day all smiles.  Yet as is so often the case with high expectations, the camp proves to be riddled with rules and realities that render it far less fanciful than her Jericho-headlined dreamworld.  To add insult to injury, she's assigned a steed so clumsy and smelly that she comes close to quitting.  Instead, she perseveres in true Tina fashion, entering the ring with, not Old Stinky, but the gentlemanly -- and very invisible -- Jericho.  Laughter - and a poignant lesson - ensue.        

Personally, I don't know what's with girls and horses.  I was never enamored with them, despite (or perhaps because of) having attended horse camp as a preteen.  My sister and I used to walk down the seemingly endless dirt road from the regular camp to the stables, dreaming of greener pastures lousy with horses that sounded, not like Paul Rudd (Clueless still being a figment of  Hollywood's imagination), but Luke Perry or Jonathan Taylor Thomas or whoever the big heartthrob was then.  Take it from me, there's nothing enchanting about manure in August.

Before I hit the dusty trail, here's a shot of a recently repainted Brigantine carwash.  Which doesn't, I realize, have anything to do with horses.  Unless you count that modern horse otherwise known as the car.  Its bright colors all but belt out Tote Trove, and the VW Beetle of the Wild Wagon Necklace fits right in with its punky palette.  

On that note, coming soon: surf shops for unicorns.   

Send in the Gowns: Three Ring Sumo Circus

Fabulous Felt Clown Barrettes

Dress: David's Bridal
Shoes: Guess, DSW
Bag: Xhilaration, Target
Sunglasses: Michaels

There are few things as paradoxically creepy-cute as clowns.  So, I thought it'd be fun to make some in barrette form this week -- and even more fun to clip their colorful, madcap mugs (which, according to the husband, bare a striking resemblance to Mr. Bill) to the uber sleek and formal bridesmaid dress I wore in my sister's wedding.  The result is a look that would make anyone the belle of the Barnum and Bailey ball, right down to the mismatched shoes a la Helena Bonham Carter, who, come to think of it, looks more than a little clownish in those Alice in Wonderland movies.  These triple clowns are large and in charge and come in a rainbow of seasonal colors, spanning the palettes of fall, spring, and summer.  But not winter, because winter's the worst (and also because no one wants to see Bozo go down in a toboggan).

Clowns aren't the only characters cartwheeling through my personal circus.  I'm also sweet on sumo wrestlers.  Or whatever it is that's circumnavigating this satin box kumbaya-style.  Maybe they're acrobats, strange and smiley in their bright leotards.

I got this box on a sixth grade class trip to some now-forgotten Egyptian museum.  It stood out among the stickers and tee shirts, beckoning me with its exotic glamour.  I've always loved unusual trinket boxes.  They're weird and they store stuff; what more could a kooky collector want?  Knowing this, my mother recently rescued this one from the attic.  I was thrilled.  Even if it smelled funny and had become a coffin for crunchy critters.  Also, the "wrestlers' " leotards had partially disintegrated, shamelessly exposing the crude gray stuffing of their shoulders and rumps.  But to me they still seemed magical, a band of homegrown superheroes (sorry, Sailor Moon ad Pokemon) that had battled the attic's wilderness to emerge (mostly) intact decades later.  Bravery like that deserves to be rewarded, which is why I embellished their poor exposed innards with rhinestones.  I think the winking gold and purple add an exciting new dimension to this already kitsch-tastic keepsake, and I look forward to enjoying it for years to come.

On that note, I can just see some snooty-accented "Antiques Roadshow" appraiser a hundred years from now, turning it around in his hands and murmuring, "Ah yes, a novelty piece most likely sold at a museum gift shop in the Northeast in the early to mid-1990s.  It's a pity it's been altered.  Although the rhinestones add a sense of whimsy, they'll significantly lower the value at auction."  This is the part where the caftannned Midwesterner who brought it in snatches it away in a tizzy, huffing, "It looks better next to my velvet Elvis!" before flouncing off to have another expert examine her set of Ronald McDonald drinking glasses.

From one clown to another, this ring's come full circle.

Garden State of Mind: Sugarcane for Joe Mama

 Fabulous Felt Corn on the Cob Barrettes

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Shoes: Qupid, Alloy

Bag: Marshalls

Sunglasses: Rampage, Boscov's

 Fabulous Felt Carrot Barrettes

Dress: Modcloth

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Call it Spring, JCPenney

Scarf: Marshalls

Belt: Candie's, Kohl's

Sunglasses: Relic, Kohl's

 Fabulous Felt Pea Pod Barrettes

Dress: Marty's, Ocean City 

Shoes: Qupid, Alloy

Bag: Marshalls

Sunglasses: Rampage, Boscov's

Fabulous Felt Beet Barrettes

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Nordstrom

Sunglasses: Michaels

Sure, the dust has settled on Mother's Day, but it's never too late for a mom-friendly post -- even if dirt and tardiness are two things traditionally frowned upon by Mommy Dearest.  Well, that and not eating your veggies.  After all, who among us hasn't heard some version of "If you don't eat those beans, you'll be wearing them!" growing up?  My own mom took a much gentler and more whimsical approach, encouraging me to eat my spinach by saying that if I didn't I would hurt its feelings (a strategy that backfired, as I had no interest in eating anything with emotions more explosive than mine).  So, in honor of moms everywhere, I made some veggie barrettes to wear, if not on your face, then in your hair.  I'm serving up a style salad of corn, carrots, peas, and beets (no spinach, as its blob-like shape doesn't lend itself to the high-flying world of homegrown hair goods).  Cute and sparkly, they've got all the charisma of candy and cupcakes and are a fitting tribute to the Garden State where we're (surprise, surprise) more known for farm stands than factories.  

Super (silly!) foods aside, your mom deserves more than a broccoli bouquet on her special day (tempting as that payback may be).  So hopefully, you let her eat cake.  And had yourself a big fat slice, too.     

Oh, Mexico: Avocado Bravado

Fabulous Felt Avocado Blossom Barrette

Fabulous Felt Avocado Guitar Barrette

Top: Arizona Jeans, JCPenney

Skirt (a dress!): XOXO

Shoes: Nine West, DSW

Bag: DSW (embellished by The Tote Trove)

Sunglasses: JCPenney

Ah, Cinco de Mayo.  Maracas and mangoes, chocolate and churros, sombreros and serapes.  More often than not, this Mexican milestone is a holiday that equals flavor (usually in the form of a margarita).  Cheese?  Check.  Sour cream?  Check.  Cinnamon?  Double check.  You may notice that peppers, sauces, and beans are conspicuously missing from my list.  Well, that's because I hate them.  Still, despite my disgust for legumes, I love a good (edited) Mexican feast as much as anyone.  And my favorite May 5 menu item is the avocado.  So, this year I'm celebrating the green one in all its glory.  From its dimpled, leathery, verdant skin to the perfectly smooth globe anchored at its center, the avocado is an elegant enigma.  I first became acquainted with it in Hawaii back when I was a medical editor attending my company's annual ophthalmology conference, Hawaiian Eye (hey, who says scientists can't be silly?)  The husband (then boyfriend) was with me, and we were surprised and delighted to discover avocados featured in most meals.  Because, as we soon learned, this cool, rich, delectable paste is the life of the produce party.  What, you thought it was that other fiesta friendly greenie, the lime?  Not so, compadre.  Tangy treat though it is, it's unpalatable without heaps of sugar, and its aesthetic, despite being tropical chic, lacks the oddball appeal of our pal avocado.  For instance, can you picture a lime convincingly portraying a musical instrument?  Two out of three mariachi bands say no way, Jose.  That's why the mushy ones emerge as my muse du jour, taking form in my fave fabric, felt.

Fortunately, Mexico is known for fashion as caliente as its cooking.  Which made it easy to style these avocado barrettes with my south-of-the-border peasant blouse and dress-made-to-masquerade-as-a-skirt.  I love how the skirt's fiery reds, pinks, and yellows are quenched by the oasis of turquoise in the top.  Now, that's a drink worth walking the desert.  

S'up, Buttercup: Happy (Belated) May Day and Word to the Weeds

Fabulous Felt Flower Basket Barrette 

Fabulous Felt Big Daisy Barrette 

Fabulous Felt Cherry Blossoms Barrette 

 Fabulous Felt Daisies Barrette

Top: Monteau, Marshalls

Skirt: ROSS Dress for Less

Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy

Bag: Nine West, Marshalls

Belt: B Fabulous

Sunglasses: So, Kohl's

May Day is a phrase most often associated with baskets, poles, and airplanes in trouble.  May Day the holiday comes on May 1, which was yesterday (here at the Trove, we're nothing if not timely), a day as beset by clouds, rain, and wind as today in South Jersey and, if the weather gurus are to be trusted, a condition that will persist throughout the rest of the week.  But that's okay with me, because no storm can stop this boatload (okay, life raft's worth) of barrettes on display today.  Inspired by that May Day tradition of leaving a basket full of flowers on a neighbor's doorstep, ringing the doorbell, and then heading for the hills before the poor, confused sap even knows what's hit him, they say, hey, life is lovely, a message made all the more meaningful when delivered by petals that will never perish.  Image-wise, we've got the basket in question, as well as some cherry blossoms and daisies.  And also, for you hard-core types, a few photographs of the real thing.  Now that the weather is (slowly but surely) improving, I've resumed documenting Brigantine in pictures, starting, as ever, with another rousing rendition of "Other People's Flowers."  The purple ones pictured above (the name of which eludes me), are particularly pretty, if a little serious serving sentry on the steps of one of the island's churches.  To be fair, these are my own daisies, purchased (and kept alive) by the green thumb-wielding husband.  Despite my love of fanciness, simple flowers like these are my favorites.  They make me think of the country and cottages and fresh churned butter -- well, them and those 1980s commercials peddling Country Crock, a brand I always believed to be the last word in down-home dairy appeal.  To this day, I have yet to taste it.

So, here's to blossoms and butter and staying up in that plane.  Also, to celebrating spring with barrettes instead of pranks on your neighbor.