Christmas Couture: Think Pink

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Christmas Cactus Barrette Brooch

Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Belt: Belt is Cool, Amazon

Sweater: Sweater Project, Marshalls

Red-y for Christmas Necklace

Bag: Macy's; Skirt: Kohl's; Bangles: B Fabulous; Bracelet: Parade of Shoes; Ring: Charlotte Russe

Top: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Shoes: Betsey Johnson, DSW

Two Trees Barrette Brooch

Let There be Christmas Lights Necklace

Red Bow Wreath Barrette Brooch

When it comes to festive fits, red and green are go-to's.  But pink is pretty merry, too.  Which is why I used it to make this year's seasonal barrette brooches -- and then kept the Christmas party going with blush sequin separates and fuchsia accessories.  Talk about rosé all day -- or month!  

So thanks, December (and Kohl's and Hobby Lobby and DSW) for giving me yet another reason to be self-indulgently silly.     

It really is the gift that keeps on giving. 🎀🎁

Breakin' All the Rules This Jule (P. S. That's Danish for Christmas)

Ornaments: Hallmark

Contrary to this pic, Amy E. Reichert's Once Upon a December isn't about birds.  It's about time travel and raw meat sandwiches.  Sort of.

Like Reichert's The Kindred Spirits Supper Club, December takes place in Wisconsin.  And apparently in Wisconsin, it's customary to eat "cannibal sandwiches," which consist of rye bread, raw onions, and raw ground beef.  Which is just . . . yeah.  All I can say is that it's not something that ever came up on That '70s Show.  Hello, Wisconsin indeed!

But you don't want to kibitz about beef.  You want to talk about time travel.  (At least I assume you do, unless you've already cut and run in search of something thoroughly cooked to gnaw on.)  

Astra Noel Snow is a thirty-seven-year-old divorced librarian with a circle of friends and a dog that are her everything.  Still, she'd really like a special someone.  And when she walks into a Scandinavian bakery on the outskirts of the Milwaukee Christmas market, she thinks she might have found him.  The guy serving up cherry kringle isn't just cute and sweet, he's vaguely familiar -- quite literally the man of her dreams.  At least that's what Astra thinks at first.  But as she gets to know Jack Clausen, she slowly realizes that she's met him, not in her dreams, but in real life, once (or twice) upon a December.  Entranced and intrigued, Astra puts her librarian skills to use to research the bakery and other shops in the enchanted alley known as the Julemarked.  What she finds makes her question everything, changing her life forever. 

Haunting and mystical, Once Upon a December gifts readers with Christmas magic as out-of-this-world as Jack's signature kringle.  As charming as it is strange, Reichert's yuletide universe explores and celebrates the mysteries of the space-time continuum and of falling in love.  And as a fan of Christmastime, time travel, and romance, I'm here for it.

Raw meat sandwich (and its little dog too!) notwithstanding.

Light Plight Turned Delight: Christmas is Coming

It's no secret that I get overwhelmed by Christmas decorating.  Because unless you want to hang your garland along with a year's worth of spider webs, first you have to clean.  And if you're anything like me, then once you start, you realize just how disgusting your house is.  It's a real if-you-give-a-mouse-a-Christmas-cookie situation.  Nevertheless, yesterday I started decking out the fireplace, then moved on to the tree only to discover that my (albeit ancient, slightly leaning, floor model) pre-lit specimen needed a little more hot buttered rum (hashtag drinking-puns-from-a-teetotaler).  Good thing I already stocked up on lights:  

Lights: Sylvania, Hobby Lobby

Then again, I bought these to replace the extra strands that I add (I like a lot of lights), which had also died.  Sigh. 

Yet despite my borderline bah humbug attitude, I don't hate Christmas.  Oh, no.  I love Christmas.  And so I want it to be special and can never do it (or anything else I care about) halfway.  Is it any wonder that one year I got so stressed out I didn't put up a tree at all?!

When the husband got home from work, I told him about our low-wattage situation.  And he said, "Did you plug everything in?"

Um, what?  Wasn't there just the one plug?

Evidently not, because in a blink we had this:

Which just goes to show that things are never as bad -- or as dim -- as they seem.  Also that, like a toddler, I shouldn't be trusted with outlets.  

Anyhoo, time to bust out the ornaments!  The newest are these cacti and French fries, just a few of my favorite things. 🌵🍟

Ornaments: Wondershop, Target

So, here's to merry mishaps that melt into, not springs, but succulent surprises.  

And to jacking up the electric bill Griswald style.  

Crime Fiction Affliction: Making it Write

My sister's book club pick was Finlay Donovan Is Killing It, by Elle Cosimano.  It's a murder mystery, so I was into it from go.  That said, it's a little grittier than my usual cat-lady-slash-vigilante whodunit fare.  Allow me to explain.

Finlay Donovan is a writer and single mother who's losing at life.  Her ex-husband is a nickel-and-diming Lothario, her kids cause constant chaos, and her romantic suspense novels barely pay for pizza.  To top it all off, now some rando at Panera thinks that Finlay's a hitwoman and wants to hire her to kill her husband.  And she won't take no for an answer.

I don't know about you, but this makes my worst day look like lunch at The Plaza.

Cosimano's style is sharp, irreverent, and dare I say sassy.  She takes us on a raucous ride involving mob bosses, sexy cops, and one fast-talking babysitter.  By having Finlay fight writer's block and crime, Cosimano elevates the starving artist trope to survival.  

Also, there's a sod farm. 

I'd be lying if I said I was more comfortable with Finlay than her small-town sleuthing sisters.  But I enjoyed the faster, flashier pace in Finlay Donovan Is Killing It.

Because sometimes even country mice need to take a side trip to the city.   

Sunflowers and Roses

Skirt: Celebrity Pink, Marshalls; Bag Nine West, Ross

Tights: Worthington, JCPenney

Top: Say What?, JCPenney

Shoes: Mix No. 6, DSW

Maple Mix Barrette Brooch

Top: SHEIN

Cardigan and tee: So, Kohl's; Shoes: Jessica Simpson, DSW

Necklace: The Tote Trove

Love bangle: Boscov's; Black bangle and flower ring: Mixit, JCPenney; Pink bracelet: Crown & Ivy, Belk

Skirt: Wild Fable, Target

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Macy's

Sunglasses: Target; Big necklace: INC, Macy's

Tights: HUE, Amazon

Top and skirt: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Shoes: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Belt: Belt is Cool, Amazon; Floral bangle: Zulily; Black bangle: Petite Sophisticate; Zigzag bangle: Bloomingsales Florist and Gift Shop; Other bangles: Mixit, JCPenney; Heart ring: Delia's; Bag: LC Lauren, Kohl's

Skirt: Wild Fable, Target; Top: Decree, JCPenney; Headband: INC, Macy's

Shoes: Jessica Simpson, Amazon

Blazer: The Limited

Bag: Betsey Johnson, Amazon

Lipstick: Revlon ColorStay Matte Crayon, Mile High, Walgreens 

Tights: HUE, Amazon

Leah Leaf Necklace

Kimono: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Scrunchie: So, Kohl's; Pink necklace: H&M; Other necklace: The Tote Trove

Bag: Ella & Elly, Zulily; Bangles: Mixit, JCPenney; Ring: Express 

Sweater: So, Kohl's; Jeans: Universal Threads, Target

Boots: UNIONBAY, Kohl's; Bag: Princess Vera, Kohl's

Necklaces: The Tote Trove.  Also, the best -- or worst -- in photobombing, courtesy of the husband.

Dress: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Bags: LC Lauren Conrad, Kohl's

Cream bangle: Mixit, JCPenney; Coral bangle: Silver Linings, Ocean City; Pink: Don't Ask, Zulily

Boots: LC Lauren Conrad

Sunflowers and roses aren't really for fall, even if these golds and fuchsias are.  But then again, by most people's standards, it's not even fall anymore anyway -- it's Christmas!  Leave it to me to go all in on autumn just as everyone else is hauling out holly.  

Speaking of the holidays, the great shopping ban of (a very small portion) of 2022 has ended!  Blame it on the biggest shopping season of the year or on my having willpower as weak as flat root beer, but I made it a whole three months until I caved and bought the above LC Lauren Conrad dress, boots, and bag to wear for Thanksgiving.  Still, brief as it was, the exercise gave me a chance to style what I had in new ways and also to be a more sensible splurger (the words "sensible" and "splurger" being, of course, relative).  But best of all, my new outfit inspired me to make this Big Pink Bow Barrette Brooch, a variation on the necklaces I used to churn out years ago:  

Big Pink Bow Barrette Brooch

While I was thinking pink, I decided to try a new lipstick too, namely this Revlon ColorStay Matte Lite Crayon in Mile High.  Although I was hesitant to sub out my usual (also Revlon) Super Lustrous Creme Cherries in the Snow, I have to admit that this Barbie shade's a nice alternative.  Also, bonus of bonuses, it tastes a tiny bit like birthday cake frosting.

So here's to celebrating summer flowers all fall.  And to pushing off the poinsettias -- at least until January.