If It Ain't Broke

OK, so I am super jealous of bloggers who have really fancy, beautiful photos (I'm talking to you- Jenny and Mary Ann!). I just haven't gotten quite to that talent level yet. I was messing around with the Apeture settings on my camera earlier this week, trying to get that cool blurred background effect, but it made my photos super dark, so I still have some experimenting to do!

I took a bunch of shots of Sean and his baby cousin, and I was disappointed to see how many were blurry. But I did get a few good ones.

I keep telling Curtis I want to take some photography classes, but what I really mean is I want HIM to take the photography classes, and show me in super simple terms how to do what I want to do. So far he has resisted.

I know I've blogged about this skirt already, but what can I say? I really like it. I did change it up a little. Come on, guys! I am wearing a different color t-shirt, and a different long, dangling necklace. What can I say?  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Except I never say "ain't". Never. Also I feel slightly like a pleasantly-plump Sharon Stone. Remember that year she wore the long ball gown style skirt to the Oscars and a T-shirt for Gap and no bra and every one could see her nipples? No? Well, I went to find a picture, and I was wrong. So that's why you don't remember! She did wear a Gap T with no bra but the bottom wasn't ball gown style, so never mind. And yes, I am wearing a bra, and apparently I am obsessed with bras and boobs lately!

Orange and Owls by katie-frost featuring vintage t-shirts

Old Navy vintage t shirt
oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy maxi skirt
$15 - oldnavy.gap.com

Old navy sandals
$15 - oldnavy.gap.com

White necklace
$10 - monikapolitan.com

Feeling Nutty: Random Musings and Squirrel Earrings

I really promised I wasn't going to turn this blog into a daily weather forecast, but it's so hot right now that the weather is at the forefront of my mind and my closet. We are expected to see temperatures reach 109 F (and possibly higher) starting today and continuing through the weekend. Can't you just see me, telling you this from your TV screen- pointing out little areas of high pressure and such? I might have missed my calling!

Today is the big day. I am posting before we perform the Marilyn play, but I assure you it is going to be amazingly awesome and awesomely amazing. I AM taking my video camera with me to record it, and hopefully the quality will be good enough to post. I am afraid the mic won't pick up our voices, but if I have to I will post a copy of the script too and you can follow along.  However, during final dress rehearsal on Wednesday, I just couldn't get over what a great job my group did- especially since this was a two week project.

Anyway, I hope to have that posted for you Monday morning, and even though I still have one post this week, I am looking ahead to next week, and it's going to be chock-full of awesome stuff- the play video (fingers crossed), my story about getting fitted for a new bra, and a long-awaited swimsuit shoot, just to name a few. Seriously, it might be the best week in Hems for Her history!

Sorry, for me to bring it up today. Big time tease.

Feeling Nutty by katie-frost featuring aerosoles shoes

Empire dress
$28 - target.com

Splendid camisole tank
£33 - theoutnet.com

Aerosoles shoes
target.com

Brass jewelry
$6.50 - etsy.com

Miso vintage jewelry
£6 - republic.co.uk

Chain necklace
maurices.com

Tunesday Tuesday: "Wide Awake"

"I wish I knew then/ What I know now/ Wouldn't dive in/ Wouldn't bow down"- Katy Perry "Wide Awake"

Why is it that I feel a little ashamed to admit that I am  embarrassed by how much I love Katy Perry? I can't resist her music. It's so catchy and fun. And completely irresistible. Kinda like combining purple and orange. Now a year ago, I would have been horrified at these two colors put together. But when I was looking for some summery tops, I was automatically drawn to this particular top. It doesn't look like anything I have in my closet.

Today, I pack up a suitcase full of props- four Marilyn Monroe dresses, high heel shoes, blonde wigs, fake lashes, fake boobs- to drag along to theatre class. Our still untitled play will premiere Thursday morning, and we are hard at work getting scenes worked out. The premise, just in case you've been following along and waiting with bated breath, is pretty nutty. Marilyn Monroe injures herself and has to help find a replacement for the film she is working on. Hilarity ensues as an obsessed fan, an alcoholic slut, a nerdy bookworm and a cross-dresser each battle it out for the role of a lifetime. Sounds amazing, right?

I've really been in my element this week. We had an essay due which I enjoyed writing way more than I should have. A quiz today that I aced. I got to play director and boss people around. I am in my element! I really love being a student, maybe more than being a teacher. Sadly I haven't figured out how to make a sustainable living as a full-time student. Any ideas?

Purple and Orange Stripes by katie-frost featuring facet jewelry

Old Navy striped tank
$9 - oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy button front cardigan
$20 - oldnavy.gap.com

Old navy
$20 - oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy t strap shoes
$35 - oldnavy.gap.com

Facet jewelry
nyandcompany.com

A Spiky Situation

Curtis and I had another lunch date Friday afternoon. We met up to refinance our mortgage- romantic I know. While we were waiting for the appointed time to head to the bank, we browsed through the sales racks at Urban Outfitters (I was surprised he was willing to go in since we know how he feels about Anthropologie), and I picked up a couple of headbands, including the one in today's pictures, and the awesome spiked bracelet I've got on.

I know spiked accessories are super-trendy (were super-trendy? Usually by the time I get to a trend, it's passe), so I was really happy to find it on sale relatively cheap. What can I say? I'm easily swayed. As soon as I got to the car, I ripped the tags off and put it on. So shiny. Sitting next to Curtis in the bank, I was bored, so I started playing Fruit Ninja on my phone. Boom! I slice into a bomb! Dang it! I can't yell out because we are waiting. In a bank. So I smack Curtis in the arm. With my spiked bracelet.

Glad to know that in a pinch I could use my accessories as weapons. That will be especially handy when school starts back ;) (I kid, I kid). Anyway, after we signed our lives away again, we decided to go see Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter. As fans of the book, and if you haven't read it then I highly recommend it, we had super high expectations for the movie. We were really excited because the writer of the novel also wrote the screen play, so we thought it would be true to the original. Sadly, that was not the case. I am such a nerd that the movie has literally been the last thing I've thought about before I go to sleep and the first thing I think about when I wake up. I have Googled and Wiki'ed so many people,comparing their characters to the real person. I really geeked out over the whole thing.

While the movie wasn't as good as the book, I did enjoy it. However, I get the feeling that lots of people don't "get" it and think the premise is stupid. This is a real shame because it is so clever and interesting and fun. What's wrong with fun? Everyone acts like the movies are supposed to be so serious and artsy. What's wrong with something just being a good time? What movies haven't lived up to your expectations? Will you go see Abe Lincoln?

A Spiky Situation by katie-frost featuring crinkle scarves

Knit dress
$9 - walmart.com

Circle jewelry
$30 - inpink.com

Studded jewelry
$16 - urbanoutfitters.com

Ann Harvey crinkle scarve
£15 - debenhams.com

Tubular Beaded Headwrap
$13 - urbanoutfitters.com

What the Flip, Man? Best Lunch Date Ever!

Let me get real with you. I didn't wear this outfit today. I actually wore it Wednesday, and these pictures were taken Wednesday- at one o'clock in the afternoon, in the bright sun, after eating this.

Well, I didn't eat Curtis, but you get the idea. That's a Cap'n Crunch milkshake. And a Carnitas burger. And Curtis with glass bottle soft drinks (so much tastier that way). And a Lamburger.

So you can imagine why I wasn't thrilled with many of the photos we took. But it was so, so worth it! We ate at Flip Burger Boutique, a regional burger chain, and this place is quickly becoming my most favorite place to eat. Fancy gourmet burgers and amazing shakes- in addition to the Cap'n Crunch shake, they have a to-die-for Nutella and toasted marshmallow shake and a heavenly Krispy Kreme doughnut shake. They aren't messing around! We've got our sights set high- we want to eat every single burger on the menu. Once we eat all the burgers, we will treat ourselves to the D'lux Burger- $21  of awesomeness, I have no doubt!

Keep reaching for the stars, Katie! Okay, wipe the drool, believe it or not this is not a sponsored post about Flip Burger. This is a blog about clothes. I bought all of this at Old Navy- I really like bright citrus-y colors during the summertime. And look at that precious necklace! $8 at Charming Charlie's :) It's too cute, so I know I'll be wearing it often!

Flip Burger Lunch Date by katie-frost featuring old navy tank tops

Old Navy gauze shirt
$30 - oldnavy.gap.com

Old navy tank top
$7.50 - oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy cutoff shorts
$18 - oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy t bar sandals
$15 - oldnavy.gap.com

Rose - Jo Totes - Camera bags for women
$89 - jototes.com

Third Time's a Charm: The Re-Mix Edition

Two weeks ago, I posted an outfit I really felt uncomfortable in. I don't know if it was the heat or my hair of the maxi dress I was wearing as a skirt, but I just didn't like it. I got tons of feedback from all of you guys, and I decided I would wear it again. I literally sat down with a notebook and wrote down every single suggestion. Some things I didn't do because I didn't have the items readily available- a button-down chambray shirt, a utility vest, for example- but I did incorporate many of the ideas, and I styled the dress/skirt three different ways.

What I learned from the experience was super simple and style advice we could all use. We are are own worst enemies. We tear ourselves down over things no one else ever notices. We must be confident- that is the most important thing to put on every morning! And finally, a smile really is the best accessory any woman can wear!