LACE OVER LACE

Happy Sunday everyone and more importantly Happy Mother's Day!  Wishing all the moms out there so much love and warm fuzzies!  I have so many friends that have recently become moms and they all have that new mom glow.  A special shout out goes to my sister in law for becoming one of those new mommies and giving me the cutest nephew ever!  And just to show how important moms are, Chicago has blessed us with a beautiful weekend.  It was supposed to rain but so far so good.  No rain clouds in sight.  This was my outfit from yesterday which was a jam packed day for me.  I needed an outfit that could go from a very chic lady brunch at the the Four Seasons hosted by Janet, Amber, and Cara, to a special bridal shower in the suburbs, to a body building competition show.  Yes that last one is kind of out there and was definitely my first time ever experiencing that in person but turned out to be super fun and both of the people I knew in the competition won a little sumthin' sumthin' which was super exciting.  Oh and I know I still owe you guys the post on the last days in Dallas.  Chillax, I'm still planning to churn those out.  I was just really diggin' myself in this outfit and obsessing over the photos by the hubs and wanted to show it off first.  

So because the first stop of my day was a very beautiful brunch with some gorgeous ladies, I knew I had to bust out something chic and ladylike.  And what is more ladylike than lace?  I had a lot of fun playing around with texture this day.  The top has some lace detailing but also parts of the applique is faux leather and popped off so nicely against the more traditional lace pattern of my skirt.  And just to keep the crazy going, I topped it with some tweed and metallic shoes.  I've had these shoes for quite some time but I never wore them because I don't wear very much silver.  I really wanted to pair these shoes with a killer outfit and some fun silver jewelry.  However, I've never found any silver jewelry that really suited me.  But thanks to my darling little sister and Monica Rich Kosann, I was able to layer some really great pieces to keep the outfit fun and not too polished.  I mean I DID have more events to go to later in the day, one being a body building competition.  There was a chance I would have had to casual this outfit down.  So I also had a pair of ripped denim shorts in the car in case I wanted to change later in the night.  I love how this top can be dressed up or down.  Just imagine this exact outfit but with ripped jeans or shorts.  Totally different feel right?  

I have always had a love affair with lace.  But it kind of becomes one of those things that goes in and out of style depending on how the lace is used.  Remember when full lace body con dresses were all the rage?  I still have mine and still sometimes want to rock it out but it's not really on trend anymore is it?  I don't really know, but I've seen less and less people rock that look.  So to the back of my closet that went.  Then there was this lingerie trend that came out where you would wear something loose and lacey but top it with a sweater or something more covered up.  I actually suck so bad at keeping up with trends.  But I do believe one wardrobe staple is a little lace mini skirt.  You can play with that in so many ways.  I also feel the same way about a classic tweed blazer.  I'm so glad I snapped this up at Zara a couple years ago when tweed was pretty popular.  And OMG this top.  Let me tell you that this top cost me less than $40.  WINNING!!  I spotted it heavily on sale at CUSP a few months ago and it was one of my better sale finds.  One of those rare situations where you see what the price tag sale price is, then take it to the register and it rings up lower.  Feel all the feels.  Those are the days you feel  so lucky and want to go buy 10 lotto tickets.  

Also really digging my accessories from this outfit.  This "faith" necklace was a gift from my sister and has been really applicable to me lately.  I've kind of thrown caution to the wind a few times this year already and just kept the faith that it will work out.  Obviously I put the work in but sometimes you just gotta close your eyes, send a prayer up and keep the faith that it will all be okay.  I've always made very logical and calculated moves when it came to my life.  But sometimes it feels liberating and exciting to seize the day and give things a shot.  Things you probably never saw yourself doing or experiencing.  Or maybe trying something out that is nothing you are interested in and making the most of it.  I've also been putting a lot of faith in people.  Faith in that I can show complete strangers who I am and they won't judge me or put me in some category in their head and hope that they just find me cute enough to be nice to me.  I've also put a lot of faith in myself.  I am my worst critic and with everything I try to do, sometimes I just want to crawl into a ball and give up.  Mostly it's around that time of the month when I am feeling super emo and weird (ya feel me ladies?).  And trust me, you will come into those days where there is really no one around that is supporting you or cheering you on because... well ... because people have their own shit to deal with.  So you really have to have faith in yourself and find the strength on your own NOT to give up.  So I guess what I'm saying is, seize the day and have a little bit of faith.  That's the theme this month for me.  Seize the day!  Not all the time though!  This is not me telling you to make dumb decisions.  You are on your own on those.

Another great piece I'm wearing is from Monica Rich Kosann and it's from her Gate collection.  This is a different take on a locket.  You can't really tell but there are three layers to this necklace.  The first piece is a see through gate and the next two layers hold your photos.  I absolutely love this fun take on a locket.  When I move around, the layers spread open and you can, for a split second, see that there is more to it than just the top layer.  Yet again a super creative way to keep a secret.  I'm still trying to figure out which photos to put in mine.  Right now there is a random baby and a golden retriever as a place holder.  LOL.  What would you put in yours?  

The second piece is also one of my absolute favorites!  I love how low it drops down.  I am kind of obsessed with necklaces that are this length.  They are so fun to layer with and the simplicity of this design makes it work with other necklaces I already own.

//  Here are more of my favorite MRK Sterling Silver pieces  //

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$225.00

$395.00

$595.00

$1,450.00

$795.00

$495.00

$495.00

$695.00

$225.00

$225.00

$845.00

$645.00

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I had so much fun shooting in this little playground.  It reminds me of being a kid and that no matter how old I get, I am still a kid at heart and I really don't want to lose that.  Life is too short to not find the fun in it.  I guess that's one of the things I learned from my mom and one I try to teach everyone else.  Open your mind, open your heart, and fill it up with smiles and laughter.  Hope you guys enjoyed the post!  Again happy mother's day!

//  blazer - zara  //  top - style stalker  //  skirt - aritzia  //  shoes - jeffrey campbell  //  clutch - chanel  //  necklaces - thanks to monica rich kosann  //

//  replicate this look  //

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$140.00

$114.00

$475.00

$81.00

$795.00

$895.00

$450.00

$475.00

$138.00

$68.00

$22.80

$139.00

$113.40

$284.00

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xoxo,

DOS

POOLSIDE AT THE JOULE

And this is day two!  Day two was just as packed with pizzazz as day one.  I obviously overslept and missed some morning sessions of the conference but it's all gee double oh dee good because my Chicago ladies gave me the recap on them.  Before lunch, the hubby and I went up to check out the pool area and it did NOT disappoint.  The weather was perfect and, since everyone was busy at the conference break out sessions, we got the pool all to ourselves!  Day one was such a sensation overload that it was nice to just sit and find some moment of zen before I was ready to do it all over again.

After some relaxation time at the pool, it was off to the cutest lunch ever, hosted by Express.  They fed us nom noms and we watched a video of their latest runway looks.  However, I guess the most important thing to note here is meeting Rosie, the genius behind The Londoner and my British soul mate.  She doesn't know it yet, but she is.  But I'm also positive a lot of people feel that way.  Our meeting was kind of like fate since I am a terrible blogger and didn't even recognize who she was, though I randomly stumble on her blog because my best friend Laura is a fan.  After meeting Rosie, I can totally understand why!

So let's break down this British encounter shall we?  So obviously since the hubby and I missed most of the morning sessions, we got to this lunch early and there was no one there.  I guess the sessions were running late.  So we sat there looking at all the cute things.  Pretty centerpieces, rack of Express clothes, Express bags holding our lunches, then there was a lot of staring off into space...  We were made to move by the photographer like a MILLION times which was kind of annoying but fine.  Take your empty room shots and let me know when I am allowed to sit down.  Thanks!  Finally got to sit down and it was more waiting.  Or more thinking, should I just eat?  I'm starving!  Hurry up you pretty betches!  Screw it, I'm eating.  Nomnomnom.  And of course, I made a mess on the white linen which I tried to hide with my bag of chips and my phone.

As I sat there Instagramming, I notice a few ladies filtering in.  One in particular came up to our table and asked if she could take the seat next to me.  I said of course!  I immediately noticed her British accent and I swooned over it as most UHmericans do.  She sat down and I was rude and immersed myself into my photo editing phone app for a bit without really saying much.  But somehow we got to talking.  She looked at my feet and immediately commented on how she liked that I wasn't in heels because everyone was towering in heels.  I thought to myself, well, you are what seems to be 6 foot tall on flats so you probably don't need them like I do.  We giggled and commented on how everyone was just so shiny and pretty and just slightly intimidating.  She chatted with the hubs and commented on how cool it was that he comes to these things and she had mentioned that her beau wouldn't enjoy it as much and that he was probably sitting in their room or at the pool.  I said "Bollocks!  He should come up for this, there is free nom noms!"  Okay I didn't really say bollocks.  But I sure as hell said it in my head.  Sure enough, she told him to come up and we all chatted about the conference and how there seemed to be a lot of people from the UK there which was really awesome for me and made me feel all international and cool.  She probably didn't find it as cool as I did.  But here's where I fall for her.  And I fell hard.

Express began playing their runway show on the screens for us to watch and this amazing song comes on with it.  One I have never heard before, but the beat dropped and my shoulders just couldn't contain themselves.  They start bouncing, then my whole upper body starts bouncing, and next thing I know I look to my left, and Rosie is doing the same thing.  We end up upper body table dancing to pretty much the whole show and at one point I think we had our fists pounding the air.  Do UK people know what fist pumping is and where it originates from?  Gawd I hope not.  It was a hilarious moment especially because I think we were the only two really feeling the music enough to show it through body convulsions.  We had a good laugh and I ask her what her Instagram handle is because I immediately know I like this lady and want to keep in touch.  I pull up her account and in a very un-ladylike, very non-cool blogger, very One Direction fanatic way, shout "OMG, YOU ARE THE LONDONER?!  MY FRIEND LAURA LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVES YOU!!"

Terrible as this sounds, I do not really follow a lot of blogs.  With work, the blog, coordinating weddings, friends, social life, and partying too much.  It's really hard for me to keep up.  However, my gal pal Laura has always sent me posts from the Londoner here and there because... well.... because Rosie is awesome!  Her humor is the best and after meeting her in person, I can NOW fully understand why my friend is an avid reader.  She posts about her travel and lifestyle, and I think most importantly, she has amazing recipes.  She's spunky, quirky, and hilarious.  So as I sat there geeking out but also really embarrassed that I did not recognize her off the bat, she says to me that we should take a selfie and send it to my friend.  GAWD, I love this girl!  She totally gets me.  After lunch we parted ways but I told her we needed to find each other at The Outnet farewell party so we could get sloshed together.  And sloshed we did.  

The Outnet party flew by like a blur!  There were many celebrations to be had.  We got to watch a special video created by Wendy and MM especially for The Outnet that was so touching and inspiring and all about working together and supporting each other.  I'm hoping they will release it to the public soon so I can show you guys!  And it was also a celebration for The Outnet turning 5!  Go Outnet... it's yo birthday... we surely partied like it's yo birthdaaaaaay.. I sure sipped Bacardi like it's yo birthdaaaay!  There were rounds of one too many shots, polaroids being snapped everywhere, and drunken conversations mixed with spurts of dancing.  And of course silly photos with my British bombshell (see them here).  Doesn't she have the best party recap photos ever!?  You can even spot my hubs in one of them.  =D  We feel so famous now.  I don't remember all too much from this night which, let's be honest, is that shocking?  I think at one point I switched into flats and wore my Louboutins on my ears?  Also pretty sure there are some ridiculous polaroids of myself in The Outnet's archives.  Someone's going to have to help me piece it all together.  Either way, I know I had a blast because the night ended in a taco induced food coma.  Stay tuned for Day 3!

//  kimono - urban outfitters  //  cropped cami - urban outfitters  //  bikini top - h&m  //  shorts - hot topic (old)  //  espadrilles - chanel  //  sunnies - prada  //  bracelet - thanks to gorjana  //

//  //  replicate the look  //  //

xoxo,

DOS