Something New and Sparkly: A Little Birdie Told Me . . .

 Fabulous Felt Blue Lovebirds Necklace

Top: JCPenney

Jeans: UNIONBAY, Kohl's

Bag: Uniquely Different, Etsy

Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy

Sunglasses: Cloud Nine, Ocean City

 Fabulous Felt Purple Lovebirds Necklace

Top: Kohl's

Skirt: Forever 21

Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy

Bag: Marshalls

 Fabulous Felt Melons Necklace

Dress: Mossimo, Target

Shoes: MetroStyle

Bag: Lancome

 Fabulous Felt Jeweled Bow Necklace

Top: Merona, Target

Skirt: Candie's, Kohl's

Shoes: Alloy

Bag: Krystala Creations, Etsy

Fabulous Felt Sea Swept Necklace

Tunic: Miken, Marshalls

Cami: Marshalls

Leggings: Petite Sophisticate

Shoes: Betseyville, Macy's

Bag: Nine West, Boscov's

Belt: JCPenney

. . . that melons and seashells aren't just for summer.  These outfits feature some of my favorite end-of-the-season scores, namely the retro black, cream, and fuchsia top; the navy striped sundress; and the billed-as-a-beach-cover-up tunic.  Just the pieces for framing fresh felt!  

Corny Cookies Take the Cake

I was standing in line at Target yesterday with my basket full of toiletries when I saw a display of candy corn-flavored Oreos.  I had heard about them from the fiance (who makes it his business to be in the know about such things) and was surprised to see that the display was nearly depleted despite it technically still being summer.  There was nothing for it but to toss a day-glo box in with my Skintimate shave gel and organic deodorant.  So far I'd tried the mint, peanut butter, berry blast, orange Creamsicle, and coconut varieties and felt honor-bound to keep the experimentation going.  So, how were they?  Like a super-concentrated shot of vanilla birthday cake icing.  Which is to say, delicious (although not nearly as good as the mint ones).  I can't wait to see what new flavor winter brings.  Eggnog, perhaps?  Or maybe cinnamon?  I'm game for anything so long as it's not fruitcake. 

Something New and Sparkly: Feminine Fancies Straight from the Horse's Mouth

 Fabulous Felt Teeth Barrette

Top: Marshalls

Skirt: Strawbridge & Clothier

Shoes: Not Rated, Journeys

Bag: Xhilaration, Target

 Fabulous Felt Chocolate Chip Cookies Barrette

Blouse: UK Style by French Connection for Sears

Skirt: Macy's

Shoes: Bongo, Kohl's

Bag: Candie's, Kohl's

Scarf: Gifted

 Fabulous Felt Cupcakes Barrette

Sweater: Sweater Project, Macy's

Dress: Annie Sez

Shoes: Guess, DSW

Bag: Wet Seal

Fabulous Felt Glamour Girl Barrette

Top: Express

Jeans: UNIONBAY, Kohl's

Shoes: MetroStyle

Bag: Journeys

Scarf: Nine West

Fabulous Felt Bows Barrette

Top: Marshalls

Skirt: City Streets, JCPenney

Bag: Bisou Bisou, JCPenney

Shoes: Barefeet Shoes

There's something girly about bow-wearing teeth, cookies, cupcakes, makeup, and bows.  There's also something girly about horses.

A few weeks ago I happened upon the Saturday morning cartoon "Horseland."  It was, unsurprisingly, about a bunch of tween girls who hang out at a stable and ride talking horses.  The lesson of this episode was resisting the evils of cell phones, as one particularly chatty equestrian-in-the-making becomes so entrenched in her conversation that she neglects to cover her horse for the night, almost causing her to catch her death of cold.  For some reason I couldn't look away from this technologically-touched morality tale, continuing to quip about it for weeks to come.  It's no wonder, commented the bf-turned-fiance, looking meaningfully down at my horse book.

The horse book is my pocket calendar, chosen not so much for its equine cover as for its availability in that retail wasteland of a month known as February. Of course, I can't help but think that it's the fiance who's been struck by horse fever, seeing as he scrawled the following (cropped out) ad libs on three of the 2012 calendar pages:

"Mom, slow down!"

"Yes, here is my glamour shot."

"Some say I look like a cow."

I'd like to say that there's a felted horse (or unicorn!) barrette in my future, but horse shapes are kind of tricky.  No matter; it gives me something to leap for. 

Something New and Sparkly: From Flask to Farm

 Fabulous Felt Mad Scientist Barrette

Blouse: Kohl's

Skirt: Marshalls

Shoes: MetroStyle

Bag: Journeys

 Fabulous Felt Farm Fresh Barrette

Top: Wet Seal

Skirt: Boscov's

Shoes: Frederick's of Hollywood

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Macy's

Fabulous Felt Mushrooms Barrette

Top: Wet Seal

Skirt: So, Kohl's

Shoes: MetroStyle

Bag: Nahui Olllin

Belt: Everything $10 Tournier Shop

Laboratories and farms aren't so different.  Both infuse color into otherwise boring textbooks, both start from a speck to surge into life, and both hinge on experimentation.  On the surface, I don't enjoy science (as I'm sure I've written before).  To me it's tedious, its equations and measurements unforgiving.  Nevertheless, I remain transfixed by the unchecked imagination that fuels it and like to think that this strange hodgepodge of hair clips reflects this.  

Something New and Sparkly: Simply Citrus

 Fabulous Felt Citrus Slices Barrette

Dress: XOXO

Shoes: MetroStyle

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Macy's

Scarf: Marshalls

Sunglasses: Cloud Nine, Ocean City

 Fabulous Felt Lime Slices Barrette

Top: Kohl's

Skirt: Forever 21

Shoes: Guess, DSW

Bag: Target

Scarf: Boscov's

 Fabulous Felt Orange Slices Barrette

Tee: Kohl's

Jeans: l.e.i., Macy's

Shoes: Simply Vera, Kohl's

Bag: Marshalls

 Fabulous Felt Lemon Slices Barrette

Top: Candie's, Kohl's

Tank: Mossimo, Target

Skirt: So, Kohl's

Shoes: Madden Girl, DSW

Bag: Xhilaration, Target

Fabulous Felt Grapefruit Slices Barrette

Dress: Derek Heart, Kohl's

Flip flops: So, Kohl's

Bag: Marshalls

Scarf: Express

September or not, citrus always adds sparkle.  At least to me.  When russet jeans take root in store windows, I'm the type that turns to tangerine tights.  So, these beach-worthy barrettes are just the thing to light up a rainy Labor Day weekend.  

Now it's back to the Trove to spin some more sunshine.