Boots and Saddles, er Sandals: Putting My Best Western Foot Forward

Bag: Mellow World, Kohl's

Necklace: Some store in The Bahamas

Top: IZ Byer, Kohl's

Skirt: Wild Fable, Target

Flip flops: Katy Perry Collection, Nordstrom Rack

Tee: Wrangler, Kohl's

Hat: On 34th, Macy's

Cowboy boots, Wild Fable, Target; Skirt: So, Kohl's

Hair clip and sunglasses: Wild Fable, Target

Top: Xhilaration, Target 

Despite my many gripes about fall, I can't deny that it has its perks.  And one of the best is being able to wear boots one day and sandals the next.  So it was with the rah rah spirit of a rodeo clown (and Ted Mosby) that I donned my red cowboy boots to entertain visitors (okay, my mom), my saguaro sandals to take Charlotte to the park, and the boots again to get my COVID shot.  

That said, I'm already planning my flu shot fit.  Maybe I'll go with spurs to shout out western wear once again -- as well as sharp objects.

Are You Ready for Some Cupcakes?

Always!  And not just the pretty pastries themselves, but Jenn McKinlay's cupcake-themed cozies.  Which means that I was more than game to read one of her latest, Fondant Fumble.  Although I don't follow football, I was hooked the moment the nefarious owner of the Arizona Scorpions (not a real team) turns up dead in his own QB Keogh's cupcake shop.  The owner didn't want Keogh selling cupcakes -- apparently it isn't a good look -- and that doesn't look good for Keogh.  Naturally, cupcake MVP Mel sets out to clear Keogh's name -- as well as prevent his punting partner from eating all the profits.  But then the killer kicks things up a notch.  With the goalposts constantly moving, the cupcake crew needs a Hail Mary more than ever in this, their flour of need.     

Fondant Fumble is a sweet treat touchdown.  Partly because the plot is clever, partly because it shows that football players are people too.

And sometimes people just want to bake cupcakes. 🏈🧁

Falling for Fuchsia: A Hint of Halloween

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Macy's

Flip flops: Katy Perry Collection, Nordstrom Rack

Top: Nine West, Kohl's

Bow: Marshalls; Necklace and sunglasses: Simply Vera, Kohl's

Bag: Skinnydip London, Macy's

Shoes: Jessica Simpson Collection, DSW

Hair clips: Wild Fable, Target

Dress: Nine West, Kohl's

Caboodle: Kohl's; Spider necklace: SHEIN

Bag: Betsey Johnson

Bow: Carole, JCPenney; Spider clips: Marshalls

Sunglasses: Betsey Johnson, Zulily

Shoes: Chinese Laundry, Zulily; Socks: Mix No. 6, DSW

Top: Nine West, Kohl's; Skirt: Tinseltown, Kohl's

I decided to put up my Halloween decorations on October 1, just like last year, which was the first time I put up decorations at all.  It gave me a sense of being on top of things, as well as giving us a chance to enjoy it all month long.  So when Charlotte, infatuated with the neon jack-o-lanterns, rolled toward them, I thought, this is what it's all about, coaxing infant development with DayGlo ghouls.  

That said, it's also all about fuchsia.  I had fun featuring this shade, mixing in some arachnids.  Sure, these fits are a little subtle.  But they're just the beginning of my Halloween adventure.

Because whether web-wrapped or rhinestone-encrusted, spiders are the gateway to spooky.  

The Road Less Traveled: Free Wheel Feels

Breaking away from the norm.

Breaking away from expectations.

Breaking away from unhappiness.

In other words, freedom.

That's what Abby Stern feels every time she gets on her bike.  And Jennifer Weiner's The Breakaway is all about Abby's journey.  At thirty-three, she's a fat camp survivor still trying to figure life out.  And that includes Mark, her fat camp boyfriend who's reentered her life.  Always sweet and caring, he's now also sculpted and svelte -- albeit at the cost of of never, ever eating carbs.  So what if he doesn't know how to ride a bike and gives still-fat Abby the subtle side-eye whenever she reaches for pasta or pastry?  He's a doctor and the only man she knows who will take on a plus-size plus one.  Or so Abby thinks until she meets Sebastian, a hunky and thoughtful writer in bro's clothing.  

So when Abby leads her first-ever bike tour for the Breakaway company and discovers that Sebastian as well as her perfectly groomed and judgmental mother are -- surprise! -- on the roster, she knows that it'll be a ride to remember.  And when she learns that some of the other cyclists have stirring stories of their own, things take another path entirely.  Yet one thing's for sure.  These mothers and daughters and lovers and others have a lot to learn about each other -- and themselves.

In The Breakaway, Weiner takes us on an unforgettable trip through upstate New York, pairing richly layered and relatable characters with the timely and timeless theme of women's rights in what may be her best book to date. 

Because treating each other with kindness should be just as easy as riding a bike. 

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.