The Times They Are a Changin'

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Having kids really gives you perspective on many things.  For example, kids make you feel old sometimes.  And I don't mean like I feel like my hips gonna give out old, I mean . . . dated.  

For example, have you ever tried to watch a VHS movie with someone under the age of 12?  Yeah.  "What is this?  Just skip to the menu.  What are those lines?  Rewind?!?!?!  What is that?"  Oh yes, people.  I still own VHS of all the classics and yes, I still have a VHS player.  And my kids think that it is the most archaic piece of machinery on the planet.  

When I was a teenager, if I liked a song and wanted to own it, I had three options: 1) save up for the CD or 2) get a couple bucks and go get the single or 3) really ghetto-ize it and stick a blank tape in my boombox, wait for the song to come on the radio and dub that shit. 

If  I wanted to talk to a friend, I called them.  From a phone.  With a cord.  And I knew the number by heart.  Or, worse case scenario, I had to wait until school the next day.  There were no cell phones.  No texting.  If something came up while we were outside of the house, we had change with us at all times in the event we had to use a pay phone (do these things still exist anywhere?).

If someone broke up, we found out gossiping in the hallways.  It was not from a relationship status change on Facebook.  If we wanted to get in touch with someone from long ago, you better hope to God they didn't ever change their phone number because that was the only way that you could get a hold of them.  

If we were invited to a party, we would anticipate an invitation in the mailbox.  There were no e-vites, no Facebook events, no mass texts sent out.  I vividly remember writing letters to my favorite celebrities--not joining a website newsletter.   

If we had a question or had to do some research, we went to a library.  Not for the internet, for books.  Good ole fashion DOS screen search systems to point you to some 64 digit number treasure hunt to find just the book for you.  There was no Google, no Wikipedia. 

And speaking of computers, when I was in high school only the rich kids had computers.  This was not a necessary household item--it was a luxury.  And certainly, no one had more than one.  You know how you used to be able to tell your rough draft from your final draft?  One was in pencil and the nice one was handwritten in pen.  

If you missed your favorite show, you missed the show.  There was no Netflix, no DVR, no Hulu.  You got a recap the next day at school and had to call it good. 

And somehow, every time I try to tell my kids about how different it was when I was growing up, how easy they have it now, how amazing all of these advances are that they have grown accustomed to, I feel about 112 years old.  Which reminds me, I really need to get a car with electronic windows.  I mean, I don't want to churn butter, I just want some fresh air!  <-------if you can name what comedian uses this line, you will be my new favorite person. 

Polka Dot Shear Asymmetrical Hemmed Dress-vintage; Suede and Knit Cardigan-Avalin, thrifted; Suede Peep Toe Pumps-Worthington; Earrings-gifted; Shell Necklace-vintage from Grandma

  

 

Why I Blog

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 Are all y'all familiar with Madeline from Jean Greige?  Because if you are not, you should be.  I found her blog from the blogroll from the first blog I ever, ever saw/followed, Champagne and Marshmellows and I have been grateful to stumble upon it ever since.  Madeline is a real chic.  She is funny and she also talks a lot about issues about body image, which I love.  When I first started blogging, I wrote her an email telling her how much I admired her blog.  She wrote me the sweetest email back!  Today I am especially excited to talk about Madeline because she made this amazing video post about her personal experience and feelings on fashion blogging. 

While I am still too virginal in the blogosphere to do an actual vlog yet (I seriously sound like I'm 12 and have little to no articulation when put on the spot), I do want to touch on some of my thoughts on blogging.  I realize that I am by no means an expert on this issue as I have only been blogging for 10 months or so, but I sees what I sees, ya know?  

For me, the thing that attracted me to style blogging was a love for fashion (duh!).  Until this time last year, I had no idea that these little websites even existed!  I was just doing some random searching, wasting time on the computer, when I stumbled on Lauren's blog (Champagne and Marshmellows).  I was completely enamored and hooked at that point.  What is this?  You can do this?  Wait . . . I could do this!!!

So that is what attracted me to fashion blogging.  But, I was still hesitant to start a blog myself.  I'm not a "model" type.  I am not skinny or glamorous and my style is not even understood by some people.  What I found, however, was that after my attraction to style blogs developed, so did my curiosity.  And my curiosity led me to hundreds and hundreds of blogs.  And each blog had a personal vibe.  I saw blogs of all body types, styles, budgets and skin colors.  Maybe I could do this after all.   

So, obviously, I decided to start a blog.  And I started following lots and lots of blogs.  And part of my "getting my blog off the ground" was to send out some emails to blogs that really touched me in some way--this could be their style or their words or a specific post.  And no, absolutely not was I sending out the ever-so-lacking of any kind of personality or sincerity emails like this: "I found your blog, I love it, you are so unique, I have a blog, FOLLOW ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  I.  hate.  that.  I wrote really sincere emails.  And from my responses (or lack thereof), I was able to find out what kind of community I was getting into.  

Some of the bigger named blogs that I wrote to, of course, did not contact me back.  They were already sitting at the cool table and need not be bothered by a lowly newbie.  But the majority of the blogs that I wrote to actually responded in kind and with support.  There were even some of those girls that became loyal readers of my blog and come by to support me frequently (Ife from Fashionista Next Door, Andrea from Blonde Bedhead, Meg from Another Day to Dress Up, Tiffany from A Reason to be Fabulous, Lauren from Magic Happens, Liz from 26 and Counting and Veronika from Tick Tock Vintage).  And there are a lot of great women that I have connected with via this blog in addition to that (Megan from Megan Mae Daily, Natasha from One Woman's Style Evolution and Lydia from Chic on the Cheap and many, many more).  It is such a special community to be a part of and for the most part, I'd say that it is very welcoming, supportive and inspiring. 

Which brings me to my next reasoning behind why I blog: inspiration.  I have been inspired on so many levels by so many women.  I've always had a style all my own, that's for sure, but there are so many things that I would have never thought to do.  My closet has been feeling so much love from blogging.  Not only am I much more aware in my purchases (actually trying on clothes, figuring out cost v. wear, incorporating basics into my wardrobe and not being so narcotic about trends), but I am more creative in how I wear my clothes.  I mean, who knew there were this many ways to tie a scarf?    

 On a personal front, this blog, to me, is my thing.  I am a mother of three kids.  I have a full time job as a paralegal, which means I work for several attorneys.  I have a fiance.  I have a very close family.  Essentially, I do things for people all day long.  As a mother, employee, fiance and family member, I am always needed everywhere.  Shuffle kids here, take care of this, did we ever hear from so-and-so, will you fold my socks this way, Kaden needs braces, so on and so forth.  So, finding time, even only for a moment, to have something that I can do that is just for me, feels really good.  I have always loved clothes and fashion.  And being able to express myself in this way, even if I was the only one listening/reading/watching is just the break that I need sometimes. 

Also, I've heard many different opinions on what fashion blogging is and what it means in an economic sense.  To some, fashion blogging feeds the corporate monster of consumerism--buy, buy, buy!  trend, trend, trend!  must have, must have, must have!--and to others it means recycling (thrifting), being a conscious shopper and even giving up shopping all together and finding different ways to shop your closet.    For me, I find both ends of this spectrum in the blogs that I follow.  I see a lot of blogs that are "c/o" everything and designer labels.  I see a lot of blogs that loathe the mainstream shopping staples like F21, Anthro and H&M. 

So why do I do this blogging thing? It's not a paying job.  I mean, I have accepted a few items to review and done a couple of paid posts, but by no means in any way that could compare to a paycheck.  I spend a lot of time and energy blogging.  Reading and interacting with other blogs, taking my photos, writing posts . . . all of that takes dedication and time.  It's a lot of give.  But it's got an equal amount of take as well.

Because I enjoy it.  I really do!  I love the interaction and community.  I love that I have "met" so many lovely ladies.  I love working with the different companies that I have.  I love reading and being inspired sartorially by such a diverse group of women.  I love learning from these women about what works for them, what works for me and what just plain works.  I love having something that I can call my own.  I love being able to share my style--for others to take it as they may. 

Salmon Colored Trousers-BCBG, thrifted; Mustard Ruffle Detail Button Up-Elle for Kohl's; Studded Wedges-Kohl's; Watch-gifted; Earrings-vintage from Grandma; White Peacoat-Rue21

Curiouser and Curiouser

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One of the funnest stat games that I have with myself is seeing the different Google searches people do who end up landing on and checking out my blog.  Here are some of my favorites.  I hope that you get as big of a giggle out of them as I do:

12.  7kg,t,r..ooooo===============================]  

11.  Smells like couture wedge boots

10.  Facegoogle

9.  Ked babes

8.  Preteen bra This is both a burn to me (good thing I take this in stride) and concerning  that someone would be searching this . . .

7.  Fun Lock

6.  Kelly Bundy hot 

5.  Old woman who collects dolls

4.  Rock cover

3.  Shake it mama, shake it nooooooow I did not add any emphasis here.  This was literally the search.

2.  Marijuana music love memories

1.  Franny ass  <-------my personal favorite

Polka Dot Chiffon Dress-Fun2Fun, thrifted; Rust Colored Tights-Xhiliration; Royal Blue Cardigan with Dolmen Sleeves-Ross; Nude Patent Leather Pumps-Vera Wang; Earrings-vintage from Grandma

Only two days left . . . pretty please:

The Shirt So Nice She Wore it Twice

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Yes, I wore this shirt yesterday.  I had seen an oversized white button down under a mini in the new InStyle magazine.  I think it worked out all right, but I liked this casual look better. 

Nothing on the agenda all weekend makes for a very happy Frannie.  I am so used to running my butt off from A to B, that when I have a couple of days to just play catch up, it is appreciated. 

Though I should have used this time to do some cleaning, I opted to just relax for once.  I crafted a little for the wedding. I did some grocery shopping.  We had dinner with Pat's mom for her birthday.  But it pretty much ended there.  Just how I like it. 

The past few days have been absolutely gorgeous--sunny and warm.  We even almost got to 60 yesterday!  But the wind persists.  This gives us a very sad reminder that winter is not quite over, despite out longing for green grass and picnics. 

The laziness continues as I sit enjoying a Sunday afternoon movie with Patrick, anxiously anticipating Jerseylicious.  That, and hoping that by some miracle I will wake up and it will be Sunday again and not Monday morning.  Well, a girl can dream . . .

Striped Cropped Tee-Aeropostale; White Oversized Button Down-Wal-Mart; Cuffed Skinnies-Route 66; Giraffe Peep Toe Calf Hair Pumps-BCBG, gifted; Earrings-gifted; Pearl Necklace-vintage from Grandma