A GIFT FOR THE DAY I WAS BORN

Note: Photo does not have the best detail for the necklace. Amelia is also tired, hence, the sour face.

I was born today about 30 years ago, circa 1970's. No one needs exact details, right?! Just know that I'm a typical childish Aries. So, I bought myself a gift this past weekend while I was in LA. I'd been yearning for this peacock necklace for a while now. Before actually taking the plunge and purchasing it, I'd admire it on various online boutiques. I honestly wasn't going to buy it because I couldn't handle the feeling of "buyer's remorse" and/or knowing the money spent on a fashion accessory would have purchased a month's worth of diapers and food for Amelia. Then the best justification for purchasing the necklace dawned on me—Amelia would be the proud owner of this (what would later be vintage) piece of jewelry. SOLD.

UNINTENTIONAL STEALING

Call me a thief because I got a steal— that is, a great deal on a dress from Anthropologie! I love unexpected finds and cheap purchases! Who doesn’t, yo?! If you’ve visited the store or their website then you know their clothing isn’t cheap, even after markdowns. Although I’m sure we’ve all had that lucky moment, as did I recently, when you notice something stuffed on a sale rack in between oodles of clothing and say to yourself, “Eh, may as well check it out. No loss in that. It’s not like I can afford it or they have my size.” Then you examine the piece that was looking back at you, you check the price tag and it’s actually unbelievably affordable. Your heart starts to race as you shuffle through the rack wondering whether or not they still have your size and BAM, they have two sizes to try on just in case one doesn’t fit! I LOVE those moments.

Not only does this dress have a flattering shape, vibrant flamenco pink base color, cool geometric print and a length that hits me perfectly at the knee (preserving the illusion of being taller than I actually am)… it’s easy to throw on and pair it with a ¾ sleeve black blazer. No hassle and I'm ready for the morning routine with Amelia before work. Saving money and time yet still feeling chic... YAY!

WAIT... I forgot to mention that the dress has pockets!

NANAY CHIC- Milla Jovovich

Milla and Ever

An ultimately chic mom, and one of my favorite models, is Milla Jovovich. I love, love, love her and her style. She’s not just a pretty face and a mega model but she’s also a fashion designer, singer, and actor. I remember the first time I saw her. She made a guest appearance on “Married with Children” as a foreign exchange student living with the Bundies. HELLO, that was ages ago! Now, she’s a mommy and more stylish than ever.

So, I don’t just admire Milla for her natural gorgeousness but I admire her for being a real woman who discussed gaining over 60lbs during her pregnancy and the challenges of losing that weight the healthy way-- through diet and exercise. Unlike most celebrity moms these days, Milla admitted that it took her about a year to EARN back her pre-prego figure. She seems to be more relatable knowing this about her, and, all the more reason I respect her. I’d love to say it’s taken me a year to lose my weight but it’s taking me a little longer than a year. I’m still working on getting the “healthy diet and exercise” part into my daily regimen. And, by the way, what makes her even cooler is that she was a guest designer for the best one-stop shop in the universe—TARGET—making her style accessible and affordable. I. LOVE. IT.

JOCELYN

Circa 1970's

Yesterday was my sister's birthday. She's 8 years older than me. She's a mommy of three-- one teenager and two young boys. I often turn to her for mommy advice. She IS the one with three offsprings and more experience, although, sometimes she gets bossy about things but I suppose that's to be expected from my older sibling. HA!

A fond memory I have of my sister is her brushing my hair into two pigtails before walking down to the local Thrifty's drugstore. You see, my sister was obligated to take care of me while the parents were at work or just plain out and about. I detested brushing my hair, showering, or changing out of my pj's when I was a kid and since my sister had to take me wherever she desired to go during her watch, she'd make sure to make me look presentable for the public. These days she reminds me every so often how much she hated me for that. Happy Birthday Jo! I love you.

AMELIA'S BIRTHDAY

This past weekend we celebrated Amelia's birthday. First, Friday evening we had an intimate mini celebration with an ice cream cake and Amelia blowing out her first birthday candle. Then the following day, a huge birthday celebration with family and friends. Fun. Fun. Fun. Amelia looked adorable with her hair tied in a little pony "nub." As usual, I wore my functional mommy "uniform"-- consisting of razorback printed tank, black boyfriend blazer, dark gray skinny jeans, and knee-high black boots with jeans tucked in them-- to keep me feeling chic and comfy while attending to Amelia and guests. Accessorizing is a must with the "uniform." DO NOT forget the earrings! Makes a mom feel pretty. The photo doesn't do either of our outfits justice but it's really the only one I had of her (smiling) and I. Amelia's sporting her Coldplay bib... VIVA!