Taking It Easy

I've been having one of those months...blah, blah, blah. Although I have gone out with friends; had a jewelry party; went to a jewelry party; bought new shoes...it just seems as if I'm getting the winter blues a bit too, too early. Waaay tooo early. Maybe I'm just beginning to realize that certain friendships are ending or maybe that they weren't friendships at all. Or that life can be really, really hectic. Or that I really hate liars and oppressors. 

I know, too deep and depressing for a jewelry blog. So, I shall stop.

This is the time of year in PA when the weather is beyond unpredictable. I like to think that God has a sense of humor and wants to let the meteorologists know who is really in control and in charge. No barometer, hygrometer, psychrometer, doplar radar or satellite can compare to God's omniscience. Because of this unpredictability,what I plan to wear at night may change by daybreak. 

Today's outfit was totally unplanned. I had to run a few errands after church and just wanted to take it easy. My parents are coming over for dinner (nothing fancy), and I didn't necessarily want to greet them in my fuzzy jammies. 

Hope you're taking it easy. I know I have to.

Best,

H. 

Here's the look:

Baseball T-shirt: From my days at the non-profit
Jeggings: Charlotte Russe, last year
Jacket: Gap, over 13 years old. I will never get rid of this jacket.
Shoes: Lucky Brand
Purse: BCBG, cross body
Earrings: chloeandisabel, heirloom pearl studs

BCBG crossbody. Find similar here. 
Bangles: All Brighton. 

Wanted to show you a close-up of not only the heirloom earrings (love them) but also my burn mark above my left eye-brow. Yes, I tried using a curling iron yesterday, and it wasn't pretty. Actually, pretty dangerous. 

Necklace: chloeandisabel tresors chain with tresors ornate pendant 

Jeweled Neck

Fall is alive and well in PA. Spending time in church on a gorgeous fall day is a great way to end a busy week. 

Let's see. What did I do this past week besides going to work, running my son to soccer games and practices, remembering to take my medications (let me tell you; it's harder than it sounds) and taking care of a new puppy? That's right. I caught up with a friend for lunch, went to dinner and a movie with some of the most gorgeous and hilarious women in town (same women, not different) and celebrated my nephew's sweet sixteen. 

But more important, I spent the last 48 hours trying to convince my stubborn, older brother to get his little girl a puppy...a Havanese to be exact. The verdict is still out as to whether he will cave in. 

Enjoy your Sunday!

Best,

H. 

Here's the look (and oh, am I missing my St. Thomas tan):

Jeweled blouse: AGB. Find similar here. 
Cardigan: Massimo Dutti. Find similar here.  Link shows actual color. Picture here shows color faded.
Skirt: Grace Elements. Find similar here.
Shoes: Bandolino. Find here. 

Bracelets and ring: chloeandisabel. Find here. 

Earrings: Last year; Christmas gift from a friend. Find similar here. 

StripesX2

Here's the look:

Dress: Macy's old
Blazer: Christian Siriano via Sam's Club
Shoes: Franco Sarto
Watch: Michael Kors
Link bracelet: Brighton
Crystal Bracelet: chloeandisabel
Necklace: Zara, the princess Kate

Lipstick: Lancome, fashion icon; metallic. 

Find the jardins du trocadero statement bracelet here. 

Safari

I can't get enough of this Banana Republic (factory) safari print blouse. I have worn it several times. Here I have it paired with jeans, but earlier in the day, I had it paired with a black pencil skirt. Two weeks ago, I had it paired with a camel colored, high-low skirt. Can't wait to see what I pair with it next. If I'm going to invest in a piece (even a factory piece), it better be versatile. 

Modern convertible torsade sans crystal strand with tresors chain and pave necklace. Earrings are the beau monde stud earrings. Find here. 

You can see I was photo bombed by the soccer ball in the background.

Here's the look:

Blouse: Banana Republic
Jeans: American Eagle
Cardigan: No Name; very old
Bangles: chloeandisabel. Find here. 
Watch: Michael Kors
Cross Bracelet: No name

Wedges: Dolce Vita. Find similar here.

Lace Love

It has been a while. A lot has happened in the last two weeks from hospital visits to leaky air conditioner units. But through all of that, I have to shout THANK GOD for everything. 

Hope you are having a splendid Sunday.

Best, 

H.

Love this lace pattern. Find similar here. 

LOVE! LOVE! Color code three-row necklace. Find here. 

Find ring and bracelet here. 

Linen Love

My friends know that 95% of the time, I plan my outfits the night before, including accessories. Last night the hubster and I went out for some drinks--celebrating our sweet sixteen anniversary a day later.

To cut it short and spare you the details, I didn't have enough time to plan out my outfit for today. So here is what I put together this morning. Minimal accessories...so unlike me.

Have a great Friday!

Best,

H.

I love this linen skirt. I love linen. Period. As a side note, I'm getting my roots done tomorrow. Thank God!

Here's the look:

Sweater: old
Skirt: tjmaxx purchase
Flats: Lucky Brand
Earrings: Kenneth Cole
Cuff: Brighton

Botanica

So I am very excited about the new Fall/Winter Botanica line. I want every, single piece. Seriously, I do. And I want every woman I know to own at least one (maybe two) pieces from this collection. Do you hear me?!

One word: gorgeous!

The pieces are intricately bold and vibrant.

The line launches tomorrow. I am so excited! Visit chloeandisabel.com/boutique/heidir (after 10 p.m. tomorrow) to see the new pieces. Photo courtesy of  Jessica Saint.

I wanted to share recent selfies...for no particular reason. Wait, yeah, I want you to check out this awesome jewelry.

This is the feather and cabochon long pendant necklace.

I love this overlapping metal disc collar necklace.

Can you say a must have? Papillon Nocturne Statement Necklace

Best,

H.

Grammar Lesson 8 Years Later

What a day! I started out my morning chauffeuring my veterinarian husband around town. No, this isn't part of my new job as practice manager. But I did get a Panera lunch out of the deal. Instead, I was taking the guest veterinarian to talk to area campers about being a small animal veterinarian. The non-profit (same place I worked previously) runs preschool and school-age camps all summer long. Camps are theme-based and include a field trip. This week campers were junior veterinarians in training. And the field trip came to them.

The kiddos had great questions, and the hubster enjoyed interacting with them. And of course the added live kitty was a huge hit.

Non-sequitur coming up...

So this takes me to the most important part of today's post: shopping. After work, I had to run up and pay my bill at a local department store. I know that I can sign up for automatic payments and/or even send my payment in the mail, but I choose to never do that. Why? If I were to do that, I would forgo a quick shopping trip. I bought a couple of cardigans marked down to $4.99. I am a cardigan addict! 

Non-sequitur #2...

Okay, I lied. Shopping was not the most important part of today's post; rather that I saw one of my former students. I not only saw her but stopped and chatted for a little bit. After 8 years, she looks the same (can't say the same here). Funny thing. I only remember two types of students: the intellectuals and the "recalcitrants" or hybrids of both. She was definitely a hybrid. 

She's now an occupational therapist. She asked me if I was still teaching. And when she found out that I wasn't, she seemed shocked. She said, "Why? You were such a good teacher." I was shocked that came out of her mouth. Even more shocked when she said, "You were so hard on us when it came to grammar. But when I had to write my thesis for my master's degree, I remembered everything you taught us."

Sigh.

Have a wonderfully, word-filled Wednesday.

Best,

H.

P.S. If you find any grammar or style mistakes in today's post, please note that I am not as hard as I used to be.

Here's the look:

Dress: Old Navy, a couple of summers ago
Shoes: Kenneth Cole
Purse: Dooney & Bourke. Find here. 

Please forgive my bra strap...definitely not part of the look

Bracelets: chloeandisabel and Sabika. Find c+i and bracelets here chloeandisabel.com/boutique/heidir

Necklace: chloeandisabel

Circles&Crew

I'm loving these sunny PA days...hope they can last forever! It's hard to believe that in a couple of weeks, the boys will be back in school. I haven't gone school shopping yet and refuse to until the night before school starts. Well, maybe not that drastic...why do stores do that to us? They started with back to school shopping in July? If this is the case, I might just start Christmas shopping. Ridiculous. Let us enjoy our summer hues, seasonal fruits and cool shades.

How do you feel about this?

Best,

H.

Here's the look:
Shirt: J.Crew. Find similar here.
Pants: New York & Company. Last year.
Shoes: Kenneth Cole. Find similar here in silver metallic here.
Sunnies: Ray Ban. Find here.

Necklace: No name
Earrings: Betsey Johnson

I am not a headband gal, but I had to get this when we were in St. Thomas. I am now obsessed with headbands.

Brighton bracelets