Make Like a Tree and Leave: Going Places

Bag: Amerileather, Zulily

Shoes: First Love by Penney Loves Kenny, JCPenney

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Fabulous Felt Blue Roses Barrette

Fabulous Felt Orange Roses Barrette

Flip Flops: Katy Perry Collection

Top: Nine West, Kohl's

Bag: Zulily; Rings: Seahorse Designs, Etsy; Necklace: The Tote Trove; Sunglasses: Brigantine Beach shop; Hair clip: Goody, Target; Beaded bracelets: So, Kohl's; Yellow bangle: Silver Linings, Ocean City; Orange bangle: Mixit, JCPenney; Lime bracelet: Cloud Nine, Ocean City

Top: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Necklace: Candie's, Kohl's

Red bangle: Decree, JCPenney; Purple bangle: Claire's; Coral bangle: Silver Linings, Ocean City; Rings: Mixit, JCPenney; Skirt: Amazon; Bag: XOXO, ROSS

Skirt: Marshalls

Fabulous Felt Cute Fruit Barrette

Top: So, Kohl's

Wristlet: City Streets, JCPenney; Heart ring: Delia's; Rainbow ring: Wet Seal; Necklace: The Tote Trove; Sunglasses: So, Kohl's; Red and green bangles: B Fabulous

Skirt: Mossimo, Target

Print top: Mudd, Kohl's

Mint flower clip: Forever 21; Yellow flower clip: Capelli, ULTA; Yellow bangle: Mixit, JCPenney; Bag: Candie's, Kohl's; Mint bangle: Decree, JCPenney; Sunglasses: Mudd, Kohl's; Coral flower clip: Kohl's; Necklace: Gifted; Turquoise ring: Francesca's; Gold ring: Mixit, JCPenney

Sandals: Bongo, Sears

Shrek always says better out than in, and maybe sometimes he's right.  Even if he is referring to farting instead of leaving the perimeter of one's yard.  That said, I wore the outfits in this post to actual places, as evidenced by my mostly flat footwear.  This is where I went, in order of outfit appearance:

- Parents' house for my dad's birthday

- Gynecologist 

- Dentist (That's why I'm not wearing my usual lipstick, red mouths being frowned upon by the chisel wielders.  Going without it felt weird, ranking this outing below the one to the gyno.  Because although I donned a mask for my stint in the stirrups, I wore my Cherries in the Snow underneath, making the ordeal (slightly) more bearable.)

- Post office

- Bank

Obviously, the highlight was my dad's birthday.  Here's a shot of the presents I wrapped:

And one of my mom's colorful, pre-dinner snacks:

On the craft front, I took these two rose barrettes (well, not these barrettes, as the ones I wear are always dandruff-dusted doppelgangers of the ones I sell), out of The Tote Trove vault.  Which is a fancy way of saying that I reactivated them in my Etsy shop.  I thought, if they're good enough for me to wear, then they might be good enough for someone else.  Because nothing says happy birthday, father quite like fabulous felt.  

And finally, I may be the one going places, but my trees are the ones going rogue.  The husband thinks that the palm tree-looking one (actually an oak) in the first pic is the work of seed-spitting squirrels.  And then there's the one in the last pic, extending octopus-like over our hedge.  

When I asked if that was also thanks to the squirrels, the husband deadpanned, "No, the raccoons." 

Hue Gardens: Upside Down Ground

Skirt: Dolls Kill; Shoes: Shoe Carnival; Bag: Glamour Damaged, Etsy; LEGO bracelet: Michelle's Charm World, Etsy; Cupcake ring: A Self Portrait, Etsy; Neon watch: Cloud Nine, Ocean City; Heart bangle: B Fabulous; Pink watch: Rumours, JCPenney; Braided bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily; Green ring: Making Waves, Ocean City; Sunglasses: Brigantine beach shop: Yellow bangle: Mixit, JCPenney; Pink bangle: Target; Bird barrette: INC, Macy's

 

Bejeweled Bow Barrette

New York & Company

Skirt: Tinseltown, Macy's; Shoes: Nine West, Kohl's; Bag: Kohl's; Scrunchies: Lady Arya, Zulily; Green bangle: B Fabulous; Green spiked and pink bracelets: Amrita Singh, Zulily; Blue bracelet: Cloud Nine, Ocean City; Sunglasses: Michaels

Skirt: Tinseltown, Macy's

Peace of Art Necklace

Top: Almost Famous, Macy's

Shoes: Mix No. 6, DSW; Bag: Francesca's; Headband: So, Kohl's; Ring: Claire's; Blue bangle: So, Kohl's; Mint bracelet: H&M; Sunglasses: Michaels

Pop Princess Necklace

Top: New York & Company

On The King of Queens (because I'm the duchess of dated pop culture), Doug's dream delivery route was the one that went to Kew Gardens.  He wanted it because the packages were light enough for him to toss on the lawns, and the streets were lined with beautiful trees.  And that stuck with me because it sounded so nice.  After all, who wouldn't want an easier day plus time to stop and smell the roses (or, in this case, trees)?  That's what I was thinking as I curated these pink and green outfits.  Because they're like flowers, only upside down, the petal pink on the bottom and the leafy green (okay, aquatic blue-green, but I'm willing to stretch it if you will) on top.

That said, none of the new accessories I made are floral-themed.  Instead, I have an embellished bow, a peace sign, and some ice pops.  Not that the Peace of Art Necklace is all that new.  You may recognize it as the Piece Offering Necklace I put together at the start of the pandemic but didn't list.  While rounding out this ensemble trio, I decided to give it another look.  I ended up adding extra links to make the charms dangle lower, as well as an all-important extender chain.  Even the picture turned out better than last time.  So, satisfied, I added it to my Etsy shop.  

What a difference two years make.

I guess you just have to give peace -- and your delivery dreams -- a chance.

New Wave Rave: Rock Around the Clock of Seagulls

New year, new you is an understatement for Oona Lockhart.  Having a New Year's Day birthday is one thing.  But in 1982, when she turns nineteen, she embarks on a brand-new life.  One minute, she's preparing to jam with her band; the next, she wakes up to find she's fifty-one.  That's right.  By some cosmic hiccup, Oona has become a time traveler.  At the stroke of midnight on each birthday, she "leaps" to another year in her life.  If time is money, than Oona's a pauper -- even though she's a millionaire.  (Time travel may be tough on the soul, but it's gold when playing the stocks.)  Her only guidance comes in the form of the letters she writes herself the year before, although they raise more questions than answers.  Because this is the story of Oona Out of Order, and it's one wild ride.  

Written by Ukrainian-born novelist Margarita Montimore, Oona Out of Order is different from anything I've read, not so much because of the time travel (I see you, The Time Traveler's Wife and The Midnight Library), but because of its vibe.  Although it's women's fiction, it doesn't have that pink gumball chick lit taste, which I appreciate (despite having a palate for said gumball), if only for the novelty.  Instead, it glitters with the grit of New York City's club scene, sex, drugs, and rock and roll ruling the earlier years of Oona's life.  Through it all, she grows and changes, the only constants her mom and music.  Both anchor her through the confusion and heartache that come with hurtling through the space-time continuum.  There's also a bit of a mystery going on, and I could kick myself (as per usual) for not figuring it out.  But I'll be a good little blogger and not breathe a word in case you decide to read this.     

Woven with what-ifs and dark romance, Oona Out of Order haunts you long after you're read the last page.  It would make a great movie, its poignant message intensified by a killer wardrobe and soundtrack.  Beautifully written, it keeps you guessing -- and entertained -- as you join Oona on each new journey to unlock the keys to her life and heart.                    

Daisies and the Deep Blue Sea, the Pirate's Life is Not for Me

Top: Delia's, Dolls Kill

Fish Kitsch Necklace

Black and white bracelet: Mixit, JCPenney; Lime bracelet: Amrita Singh, Zulily; Bag: Mix No. 6, DSW; Purple bracelet: Etsy; Ring: Making Waves, Ocean City; Rainbow bracelet: So, Kohl's; Barrettes: So, Kohl's

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Jeans: Arizona Jeans, JCPenney

Necklace: The Tote Trove; Bag: SHEIN; Rainbow bracelet: Zulily; Clip: SHEIN; Purple ring: Claire's; Blue bracelet: Cloud Nine, Ocean City; Dragonfly ring: Miami accessories cart

Top: Rebellious One, Macy's

Flip flops: Rocket Dog, Marshalls

Twee If By Sea Necklace

Dress: Rewind, Kohl's

Barrettes: SHEIN; Bag: Wild Fable, Target; Yellow and lime bangles: B Fabulous; Blue bangle: So, Kohl's; Coral bangle: Silver Lining, Ocean City

Shoes: Not Rated, Journeys

Today's outfits are all about daisies and sea life.  Because whether wedded to water or grown in the ground, both natural wonders bring the wow.  The fabrics are rooted in florals; the necklaces hang at the aquarium.  It's a real "Octopus's Garden" situation, only with fish and dolphins instead of octopi.  And landlubber flowers instead of seaweed.  

Still, my favorite item isn't anchored to any of it.  Because it's this pair of kind-of-'60s-kind-of-'90s, black and yellow plaid pants!  

Pants: Almost Famous, Macy's

Although not super low rise (no whale tails here), they were a super low price, just $6.96.  Unfortunately, they're also super long, swallowing my five-foot self even in four-inch heels.  Now, as you know, I'm no seamstress.  So I turned to my packing tape.  Not just for Tote Trove packages anymore, this very sticky adhesive did the trick, holding up my insta-cuffs -- at least until after the picture. 

That said, I'd rather deal with daisies and the deep blue sea than the devil.  Somehow I don't think that  packing tape would stand up to a peg leg.

Summer Wife, Summer Life: That's the Way the Cookie Humbles

When I hear Montauk, I think low-rent old-timey Hamptons.  Also, Pepperidge Farm cookies.  Which makes me wonder, why is Pepperidge Farm a farm and not a bakery?  I guess I had some preconceived notions when I picked up Nicola Harrison's novel Montauk, not all of them relevant.  But I digress.

Set in 1938, Montauk is the story of society matron Beatrice Bordeaux and her turning point of a summer.  At twenty-seven, she longs for the life she imagines everyone else to be living, i.e. a fairy tale marriage with a white picket fence and 2.5 children.  But her husband Harry has no interest in her or in starting a family, preferring to remain in New York City during most of their summer-long Montauk stay.  That leaves her to navigate the resort's female-dominated social scene on her own, an often boring and treacherous prospect.  Although most of the women are awful, Bea manages to bond with Dolly, a glamorous hat designer with a mind of her own and Elizabeth, a salt-of-the-earth washerwoman initially suspicious of Bea's goodwill.  Yet Elizabeth learns to trust Bea, introducing her to a part of Montauk unspoiled by old money and new construction, a charming treasure chest of a place where flowers and emotions are allowed to run wild. 

Disgusted by the cruelty that rules the rich -- both in the way they treat the help and each other -- Bea is entranced by the seemingly self-contained universe of the "real" island.  Before she knows it, she's doing things she never dreamed possible, from writing a weekly newspaper column to befriending the mysterious lighthouse keeper.  Writing gives her the opportunity to use her voice -- even if under a male pseudonym.  And the lighthouse keeper reveals a link to her past so strong it inspires her to rewrite her future.  As the summer comes to an end, Bea is torn between the life of privilege she married into and the working class world that stirs her roots:

"You can only go so long pretending, acting as if you're someone you're not.  Eventually you must return to who you are, who you were meant to be.  You can stray from it, try on other roles, other personalities, other beliefs, other lives, but eventually it will catch up with you and you have to return to the only person you can be.  As I lay there, eyes shut, hair loose on the sand, feet immersed, it came to me that some people must live their whole lives acting, only returning to themselves in the final moments on their deathbed.  I didn't want to do that." (268-269)

Bea's epiphany is poignant and true, and I couldn't agree with her more.  Yet even as her conviction begins to gain steam, destiny has other plans.

So that's Beatrice, a cream puff-turned-tough cookie intent on claiming what's hers.  The cover captures her courage, her bright blue dress electric against the stark black and white of the island.  That said, Montauk is about social class and gender and how they influence our place in the world.  But it's also about being honest and brave because that's what it takes to be free.    

Now if only someone would write a book called Nantucket . . . maybe I can get some answers about Pepperidge Farm.