this week was pretty laid back and lovely. there was coffee, a playdate (lookie that Brynn’s cheeks!), more coffee, of course mini-topknots, and a lady date with Elizabeth, Amy, Lindsy and Bree for dirty burgers. what makes them dirty? well, it’s the way you feel after you eat one – so incredibly dirty and full of self loathing for having just enjoyed a pile of food as much as you did. burger, cheese, thick cut bacon, garlic mayo and tomato jam on a pretzel bun. i have mentioned it numerous times here and probably will again, because i have dreams of this burger. if you’re local, hit up DOA and get one. or the elk sliders. or the greek burger. or anything on the menu. i get my burger with garlic fries because i hate myself.

Harper now has 2 levels of fashion attire – naked with undies OR omg wearing every piece of fairy attire she owns at one time. she goes from jammies to naked in .6 seconds, then from naked to fairy like it’s her job. we are talking tutu, wings, headpiece and wand. most of my days consist of picking up tulle and clothes strewn about the house.

besides no clamp curls and Kristen Bell, here a few other things i loved this week:

Stacy threw her son a Mario birthday party. freaking love it.

i bought this gelaskin for my phone and it’s on its way! NEON ANIMALS.

massive blog crushes – Oana Befort and designlovefest.

we have been downing smoothies like it’s our job. Harper’s two favorites have been this one and this one.

and thank you to Lisa for bringing this amazing blog to my attention. hilarity.

how was your week?

i love that i didn’t have to go buy a new, clampless curling iron. just a few simple changes to the way i already curl my hair and ta-da! much more natural looking wavy curls that look good even the next day, just more relaxed.

today she did a post where she did one side of her head using this method and the other side using the clamp to also make loose waves. i absolutely love how quick and easy it can be to get some pretty waves in your hair. i do this before H even gets up and automatically feel quite lovely.

on another completely unrelated note, my obsession with this video of Kristen Bell flipping her lid on Ellen the other day has reached level orange, bordering on red. i have watched it a number of times that i am much too embarrassed to admit here, yet still crylaugh EVERY everloving time i watch it. send help. and send Kristen Bell, because holy crap she is adorable and needs to be my friend yesterday.

HE’S COMING FOR THE PARTY?!

yesterday i kept H home from preschool because she was sick the majority of the weekend and her nose has remained a faucet. but we got dressed, she picked out some shoes although we were going nowhere, and asked me to put her hair up on top like mommys. we cooped up in her room and read books, did puzzles, and played store (where she used her typewriter as a register and demanded i pay her for things). every so often she would say “mommy, take a picture of me doing this” which is completely out of the norm for her. i brought up snacks and we played the morning away. sorry for the photo overload, but she was just too much.

sweater and striped tank underneath: h&m //jeggings and flats: target

wearing clothes that i love make me feel amazing.

it doesn’t matter how much they cost or where they came from – if i like it, wearing it makes me happy and feel more confident. every time.

one of my goals for this year is to overhaul my closet. no, i’m not planning on buying a ton of clothes (in fact quite the opposite), but instead making my closet a place where i enjoy the things hanging in it. the past few weeks i have been organizing and getting anything out of there that i haven’t worn and don’t love (oh hello gray synthetic “suit” from junior high DECA that had ELASTIC WAIST pants – what in the bloody heck are you still doing in there?!). my plan for this year is to make thoughtful purchases – something i haven’t always done. let’s be real – i have a small budget and i have zero qualms about buying from target, forever 21, h & m, and of course, second hand stores. i realize all those places aren’t for everyone, but they are for me. but girl, you don’t need to buy that top just because it’s on clearance. stop it now.

that was me talking to myself, btw.

so along with using my brainparts more often when i am thinking about buying something instead of only my heart (but it has horses on it!), i’m also vowing to step out of my comfort zone and have more fun. i’m 30, not dead. NEON IT IS.

here are some things that i am going to work into my wardrobe this spring (when i see them on the clearance rack, natch).

last week i bought a polka top blouse that i am pretty stoked on. i would like a basic solid color one at some point. i always look when i’m thrifting but have yet to find the perfect one. this one from j crew is gorgeous, but way out of my price range for something that would likely end up with apple juice on it.
i am head over heels (see what i did there) for these target pumps. i saw them at my local store, didn’t buy them, and weeks later when i went back to do so, they essentially told me i was crazy and they aren’t available in stores. don’t do me like that, target.

TOMS is coming out with ballet flats this spring! ::jig of joy::
ok, so i own the green ones. they were on the clearance rack and i had been eying them for weeks anywho (adoring all things emerald green lately). wouldn’t mind adding a yellow or mint green pair to my closet at some point. color! fun!
i don’t even care that i wore these colors on spandex bike shorts in 1991. i’m back in love with neon and i don’t care who knows it. luckily so is everyone else, so it’s not even that embarrassing.

i’m one of those people (tell me i’m not alone here) who knows what i like when i see it in catalogs or pinterest, etc, but once i get into a store and see ALL THE THINGS my mind kind of short circuits and stops working, i forget what i like, and the ultimate impromptu case of style ADD ensues. hence why i’m trying this year to only go into stores with a plan. yep, even at target, i’ve been trying to bypass the clothing section unless i specifically set out to look for an item. it works 50% of the time which means i’ve saved money already. trust.

i know it’s easy to get overwhelmed in an internet sea of impeccably stylish people. i love blogs and pinterest for inspiration, but it’s true sometimes they can make you feel less than. the final part of my style goal for 2012 is to remember that my style is just that: mine. this year i’m following my own instincts when it comes to my clothes and it’s already happening and i love it.

i’ll keep you guys updated as my closet transforms. harper has lofty goals of more tutus and more sparkly shoes in her 2012 closet, so we’ll keep you updated on that as well.

what is something you’d like to buy for your closet this year?

 red polkadot blouse // gray silk blouse // leopard pumps // TOMS //
yellow jeans // green jeans // neon stripe sweater // neon pink sweater