You ROCK

First of all, I have to say a heee-youge thanks to Shana with Ain't No Mom Jeans, and if you haven't been to her blog, you are missing out, cuz girlfriend is FUNNY. Shana also works for the mom-centric website Mom.Me, a treasure trove of cool stuff, for - wait for it - MOMS. Recently Shana contacted me to inform me that I was on their list of Mom Fashion Bloggers to Watch in 2013. WHAAAAT?????!!! What you've heard is true. You can check it here if you don't believe me.

I was pretty astounded, because I'm in some good f@#king company. I found some new favorite blogs too - Tiffany Wendel (professional stylist and mom of twins):

(how can she NOT be awesome when she wears gold sequin pants with trainers????)

Does My Bum Look 40 In This (which it does NOT, I can assure you):

(Kat's collection of scarves will make you swoon - because they are dope - and want to punch a kitten - because they are not yours)

and Carrie from Expressive Style:

(Don't cry, but Carrie scored those boots for $4 on thrift. Yup - I said FOUR. DOLLAH.)

What I love about these bloggers is that - first off - they are closer to my age. Don't get me wrong, I get inspiration from bloggers of ALL ages as you can tell by my blogroll, but give me a blogger that is in her 30s or 40s, and I am all over them like a fat kid on cake. The second thing I love about Tiffany, Kat and Carrie is that they have a specific mom uniform that goes beyond Brentwood Trophy Wife Track Suit. In other words, they look KICKASS.

So a big, giant thanks to Tiffany, Kat and Carrie for fighting the good fight against Juicy Couture/Soccer Mom Chic, and to Shana for featuring yours truly on Mom.Me. I am honored, and think this image, perhaps, sums up best what I feel:

Source: saritapannekoek.tumblr.com via Shannan on Pinterest

Merci! 
Shan

Big Cats

Got these leopard skinnies from Zara, and they make me feel very 1950s movie star. Of course, they probably don't look it with my ripped up tee and sequins. 

Man, looking at these pics, I really threw everything but the kitchen sink into this outfit. Sequins! Leopard! Graphic tee! Studs! 

My initial thought was to recreate this outfit:

Source: rose-royalty.tumblr.com via Shannan on Pinterest

But our weather has been WACKY here the last few days (70 degrees yesterday, supposed to snow tonight - that's the midwest for you), and when I got up this morning, it was too warm for a big sweater.

Of course, I had to go home on my lunch hour and get a coat because the temps dropped. Oh, and make my nasty lunch smoothie - thank GOD tomorrow is the last day of the cleanse...BUT I DIGRESS.

So I thought I'd get my black and white on, and give you a little Sharks vs. the Jets a la West Side Story:

and of course, end things like a rock star.

And on a completely random note, I heard this song on the radio today and it took me straight back to 1988. Gotta love They Might Be Giants:

Linking up to WIWW here.

Jacket: Costa Blanca
Tee: F21
Pants: Zara
Shoes: Rock & Republic for Kohl's
Earrings: Standard Style Boutique

Merci!
Shan

Ahhhhh....Cleansed...

Oy vey - I started Dr. Oz's 3-Day Cleanse yesterday, which consists of a veritable metric ton of veggies and fruits in smoothie form, and not much else. This is day 2. Day 1 was okay -  I never felt hungry (well, maybe a little before the lunch smoothie), but in all, I felt pretty satisfied throughout the day.

I also worked out (took a kickboxing class) after work, and was concerned with the lower level of protein I consumed that my energy would flag, but it really didn't. 

I was down 2.5 lbs on the scale this morning, but I also woke up with a headache, which I am attributing to the lack of caffine, plus from what I've read on the reviews of this cleanse, as toxins are leaving your body, you may not feel the greatest.

I'm not relishing the three smoothies I have to drink today, and I am a person who likes my smoothies. It's the lunch one that did me in yesterday. Had the consistency of applesauce - THIIIIICK. It included 4 stalks of celery, a cucumber, pineapple, apple, kale, and almond milk. The taste wasn't terrible, but a) it was HUGE, and 2) like I said, the consistency was not my friend.

Plus it wasn't super cold - I am going to add in some ice today when I make it.

I'm not doing this cleanse to lose weight (though that's a perk). It's more to recalibrate my eating habits. With kids, it's way too easy to have a bite here and there of what they're eating (I know, I know - I probably shouldn't give them Kraft Mac & Cheese as much as I do), plus I've been eating a lot more salty stuff which is just crap. I need more veggies in my diet, that's fo shizzle. I ain't gonna lie, I'm not veggies' biggest fan.

I would LOVE to hear if anyone else has done this particular cleanse and what your results were. If you don't want to leave it in comments, email me. I need to do a bit more reading, but what I'm anxious about is how to transition into better eating habits AFTER the cleanse. 

Soooo, let's hear it - don't be shy. Now it's your turn.

Jacket: Newport News
Scarf: Gift
Tee: Love Culture
Pants, Boots: Target
Earrings: Standard Style Boutique
Short Necklace: Jennifer Zeuer
Long Necklace: F21

Merci!
Shan

Red Carpet Recap

The SAG awards were possibly the Most Boring Awards Show In the History of Award Shows. Seriously? Ya'll people ENTERTAIN for a living - that's the best you could do? For the most part, I thought the fashion was as boring as the show. Here are my spur of the moment thoughts, in no particular order (well, maybe alphabetical)...

Amanda Seyfried

Nothing earth-shattering, but it is a pretty dress, and the more I see it, the more I love that long necklace with it.

Alec Baldwin

I know Justin Bieber, and you, sir, are no Justin Bieber.

Elisabeth Moss

Very pretty. Maybe the best she has looked. I love her eye-makeup.

Eddie Redmayne

Usually he looks like a dork on the red carpet with his posing and facial expressions, but I have to hand it to him - not many men could pull off brown velvet, and he is, so HOLLA, Eddie. And also, I'm beginning to wonder if the right side of his body is dis-proportionately heavier than the left, because he is ALWAYS leaning. He's the Ginge Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Gabrielle Carteris

YOU GUYS, Ahhhhnnn-drea Zuckerman is IN DA HOUSE!!!

Julie Bowen

Gym hair with a kind of kick-ass dress.

Jessica Chastain

aka Jessica Rabbit. Not perfect, but at least it's not what she wore to the Golden Globes (that saggy-boobed mess of a dress), and it's not the same color as her skin, so I'll give her a pass.

Jenna Elfman

Jenna, GRANNIE PANTIES ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE RED CARPET!!! The best part of this photo is the creeper in the background who is throwing Blue Steel like nobody's bizness.

January Jones 

Blech. Take your Blade Runner hurr and Project Runway "Dress Fashioned From Napkin" challenge and begone.

Jane Lynch

Wowsers. I got a glimpse of this in the audience, and thought it could be cool, but now that I see it in its entirety, I just think Zena Warrior Princess.

Juliana Marguiles

Yeesh - something about those shoes with that split in the dress is not working for me. Or her. But her arms look good.

Julianne Moore

Ill-fitting and unfortunate.

Justin Timberlake 

I don't know if it's red-carpet appropriate, but DAYUM he can wear a dandy suit and pull it off.

John Slattery

Silver fox. Homina homina...

Kaley Cuoco 

Kaley, sporting dress from the dance scene in Grease, and wig from Halloween-Town

Kiernan Shipka

A-frigging-dorable. Perfection to the nth degree.

Marion Cotillard

Better version of what Juliana Marguiles was trying to pull off.

Morena Baccarin 

Creature from the Black Lagoon goes Hollywood 

Nina Dobrev

Best dress of the night. Color, cut, everything are perfect.

Noah Wyle's Date 

Don't know who she is, but like Nina Dobrev above her, this silhouette was rocking my world.

Claire Danes

Interesting dress, and more interesting makeup. And by "interesting makeup," I mean, "goth chick from 1992."

Sarah Hyland

Second favorite of the night. This color is SMASHING on her.

Sophia Vergara 

Straight up stole someone's wedding dress. That shit ain't right.

Sigourney Weaver

Oh honey, NO. So bad I don't know where to begin.

Who were your faves and least faves? Happy Monday, yo!

merci,
Shan

Random (p)Inspiration

What's that you say? Random (p)Inspirations for a Friday? Let's do this.

Source: thirtyhandmadedays.com via Shannan on Pinterest

I have come to the realization lately that Indian food is my favorite, with Spanish tapas a close second. I think it's high time to attempt butter chicken. 

Source: notaleaf.com via Shannan on Pinterest

And a mango lassi to go with. Duh. If anyone out there has some delish Indian recipes they want to share, now would be the time.

Source: raysofthesun.tumblr.com via Shannan on Pinterest

There's really nothing to say about the above photo other than GORGEOUS.

Source: thefashionspot.com via Shannan on Pinterest

Now THAT is layering your jurreys like a pro.

Source: journeyinsidemyhead.tumblr.com via Shannan on Pinterest

I never knew how desperately I needed a skull to hany my jewelry on until I saw this photo. I am officially on the hunt. OPINION TIME: to hang this on the charcoal grey wall in my bathroom alone, or inside an ornate gold scrolly antique frame? Answer in the comments - GO.

Source: picasaweb.google.com via Shannan on Pinterest

Straight up 1970s patio perfection right there.

Source: freshome.com via Shannan on Pinterest

I'm also on the hunt for an oriental rug. I LOVE the mix of hippie chic with regency and even a bit of mid-century mod here.



And now for something COMPLETELY different. I was listening to this last night and totally started crying. NO - not because it's country and I typically hate country music. I LOVE the Dixie Chicks. This song just takes me back to another place and time in life, and family, and possibilities, and adventure, and makes me sad and nostalgic. Wow - way to bring a party down, Shan. What can I say? It's a gift. 
Happy Friday, yo!
Merci,
Shannan