September is for Sapphire

 Neon Snazzy Circles Necklace

Dress: Modcloth

Print wedges: Bucco, Kohl's

Metallic pumps: Paris Hilton, Marshalls

Sunset clutch: Apt. 9, Kohl's

Metallic shoulder bag: Gap

 Happy Cloud Necklace

Tee: JCPenney

Skirt: Marshalls

Shoes: Barefeet Shoes

Hello Kitty Tote: Amazon

White shoulder bag: Nine West, Boscov's

 Seashells in Space Necklace

Top: Mossimo, Target

Skirt: Denizen by Levi's, Target

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Gap

Scarf: Express

Pastel Snazzy Circles Necklace

Top: Marshalls

Jeans: Earl Jeans, Macy's

Shoes: Payless

Bag: Shoe Dept.

And turquoise.  And sky blue.  And navy.  (But never ever cornflower or Wedgwood.)  Equal parts no-nonsense and regal, these shades make for a nice jewel box of a post-summer palette.  I've always loved blue, much more so than pink.  (I know I've blogged about that before, but sometimes it just bears repeating.  I considered saying, "I've always loved the cool kiss of cobalt," "blue just blows me away," or something else silly-and-or-pompous, but thought better of sacrificing my street cred.)  The whole blue-vs.-pink thing takes me back to that last scene in "Sleeping Beauty" when Princess Aurora is dancing with the prince with the fairies hovering overhead, arguing over which color is better and changing the shade of Aurora's gown in the crossfire.  The result is an ever-changing, Technicolor dream of a dress drenched in Disney movie magic.  (So much for avoiding bombastic writing.)  

Team blue fairy, this post is for you.

Pipe Dreams for Posterity and a Word form Willy Wonka

 Diamond Drama Necklace

Top: Candie's, Kohl's

Camisole: So, Kohl's

Jeans: City Streets, JCPenney

Shoes: Betseyville, Macy's

Bag: Cloud Nine, Ocean City

Jacket: Xhilaration, Target

Belt: Wet Seal

Scarves: A.C. Moore

 All Sorts of Sweet Necklace

Cardigan: So, Kohl's

Camisole: Wet Seal

Skirt: Ellen Tracy, JCPenney

Shoes: Payless

Bag: Princess Vera, Kohl's

Belt: Be Fabulous

 Bow Brigade Necklace

Tee: Target

Pants: Xhilaration, Target

Shoes: Charles Albert, Alloy

Bag: Nahui Ollin

Jacket: Bisou Bisou, JCPenney

Sunglasses: Cloud Nine, Ocean City 

 Day Glo Owls into Night Necklace

Top: Macy's

Jeans: City Streets, JCPenney

Shoes: Betseyville, Macy's

Bag: Worthington, JCPenney

Belt: Izod, Marshalls

Bargain bin Kohl's earrings I upcycled into necklaces (one below, one in my jewelry box).

Rhinestone Reflection Necklace

Top: Boscov's

Skirt: Decree, JCPenney

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Marshalls

Recent Powerball jackpots have got me wondering what I'd do if I struck it rich (you know, after the humdrum expenditures associated with bills, gifts, a house and car, and several hundred pairs of shoes).  You might think I'd open a (brick and mortar) accessory store.  But if there's anything I've learned after years of craft fairs and Etsy, then it's that most people are more interested in looking at my creations than in wearing them.  That having been said, I'd open a Tote Trove museum.  Kind of like the Museum of Bad Art, but not.  Speaking of which, the husband tried to surprise me with a stop there on the way home from our honeymoon, but when we stepped into one of the three greater Boston area galleries, we found just a sad, empty room.  At first we thought that the art was so bad that the whole operation had to be abandoned.  Then the kindly proprietor of the old-timey movie theater next door informed us that they were merely revamping and would someday reopen.  

But back to the topic at hand, namely my museum.  It would be manned by an army of mannequins (with a place of honor for Tammy, complete with a commemorative plaque!) decked out in my clothes and accessories.  (I wouldn't need the clothes anymore, having upgraded to a super exclusive, celebrity-worthy, all-designer wardrobe.)   Every museum-goer would receive one of those big, swirly lollipops with the price of admission (although eating in the museum would be strictly prohibited, a rule enforced by Oompa Loompa-looking security guards armed with walkie-talkies resembling Hershey bars).  There'd be a dress-up room and a crafting station and a fun house mirror (because come on, why not?), and a lobby wall-papered in Tote Trove tote reproductions.  Kind of like my craft fair tent used to be, but classier, which is to say, without the clothesline.  Like any self-respecting museum, it would have a gift shop situated tourist-trap style at the exit, offering a small selection of Tote Trove originals as well as greeting cards, notepads, journals, bookmarks, magnets, and other assorted trinkets emblazoned with a few treasured Trove designs.  I'd get a courteous but faintly aloof middle-aged woman to run the cash register and passive-aggressively pressure customers into joining the mailing list.  Sometimes I'd show up (incognito, of course), just to check on things, ominously surveying the displays while brandishing truffle oil-drizzled Cheetos (the no eating rule wouldn't apply to me).  But mostly I'd stay home, barricaded in my Candyland castle replica of a mansion, writing my memoirs, also eating truffle oil-drizzled Cheetos.

Needless to say, I'm joking about most of this.  Except for maybe the part about the Oompa Loompas.  They'd be enough to scare off anyone looking to rough up a new lottery winner.      

It's Just Like a Rocker . . .

 Rock the Clock Necklace

Tube top: Kohl's

Cardigan: So, Kohl's

Skirt: Material Girl, Macy's

Shoes: City Streets, JCPenney

Bag: Candie's, Kohl's

 Girl in the Garden Necklace

Top: Candie's, Kohl's

Skirt: So, Kohl's

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Old Navy

Jacket: Worthington, JCPenney

Belt: Craft supply drawer

 Rainbow Ribbons Corsage Necklace

Top: Victoria's Secret

Pants: Xhilaration, Target

Shoes: Worthington, JCPenney

Bag: Princess Vera, Kohl's

 Damsel in the Daisies Necklace

Camisole: Candie's, Kohl's

Blouse: Candie's, Kohl's

Jeans: City Streets, JCPenney

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: American Eagle, Payless

Citrus Blooms Corsage Necklace

Dress: B&B, Ocean City 

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Marshalls

Sunglasses: Cloud Nine, Ocean City

Mint bracelet: H&M

Lime bracelet: Cloud Nine

Kelly bracelet: Parade of Shoes

. . . to crash a garden party.  To be sure, the Vegas lights irreverence of the nonworking watch face in the Rock the Clock Necklace unsettles the petals of the other four, more demure floral pieces.  But then, what's a game of dress up without a gatecrasher?  

Speaking of rock and roll, I was lucky enough to see The Killers a couple of weeks ago.  First and foremost, I'll say that they indeed "killed it" (insert groan here), playing all of their hits, culminating with "When You Were Young," to the tune of Franklin Institute-quality laser light effects and an explosion of K- and lightning bolt-shaped silver confetti.  It was certainly the concertiest concert I'd ever been to, complete with a shoulder-to-shoulder standing-room-only venue punctured by a lone overzealous dancer busting out moves so mosh-worthy and energetic that I didn't know whether to laugh or shield my face.  That's not true.  I laughed, uncontrollably, at the Saturday Night Live-esque absurdity of it all.  While shielding my face.

It Had to be Hue: A Cardi Party and Notes from New England

I hate the back-to-school shopping season.  And I'm not even a student (or teacher)!  It's just so disheartening the way retailers shut out the still-strong summer sun to usher in that most hated of clothing categories commonly known as "transitional wear."  You know what I'm talking about.  Warm-weather tanks and sundresses tainted by sepulchral tones of terra cotta, olive, harvest gold, and eggplant that all but whisper, "The ice cream stands will soon be closing.  Time for a glass of apple cider to wash down that algebra!"

That having been said, you wouldn't think that I'd be into shopping for tights and sweaters before Labor Day. But that's where the plot of this post thickens.  I've never been one to abandon the fruits of the bargain bin, however out of season.  That's how I came to own this host of last season's Hue hosiery and these sweet-shop-shade-shrouded sweaters from that mecca of markdowns, Kohl's.  I especially love the heart one because 1) it's mint, and 2) it makes me feel like a I climbed out of a comic strip (oh, Cathy, how we miss thee!).

Lastly, if this post is glaring in its lack of usual Tote Trove finery, then that's because I've recently returned from my honeymoon.  The husband and I (ooh, how weird that sounds!) road tripped it up to Massachusetts.  During the drive we spied Ohio license plates that said, "Birthplace of Aviation," and North Carolina license plates that said, "First in Flight," both capitalizing on the celebrity of the Wright brothers.  We couldn't help but wonder if Ohioans and North Carolinians fight about this and went as far as to fabricate a Nicholas Sparks-esque story of star-crossed lovers.  She's a pilot from Ohio, and he's an award-winning model plane builder from North Carolina, and they meet in a bicycle shop (in Canada).  The whole sorry saga is called Flight Risk, and it goes without saying that one of them dies.    

Speaking of license plate slogans, the Spirit of America state was a scenic delight (even if they do make you pump your own gas).  Moreover, New Englanders are my kind of people.  Which is to say that they don't get all up in your business or chorus out, "How can I help you?" as soon as you cross a shop threshold.

To this Jersey girl, it felt almost like home.