goldenpig

OK coming clean! After the Hermes purse debacle I don't know that I should be posting this, but I said I would get through all of my handbags so here it is. I bought this Soie Cool bag at the same time as the other purse. I was going to sell this one too, but no one bought on my buy/sell/trade group, it so I'm keeping it. It was nowhere near as expensive as the other one. It's more of a backpack/casual bag but in a fun flamingo print. This outfit by itself is very plain which is normally not my style, but the flamingo bag makes it more fun and more me! Though I still got plenty of compliments on the outfit itself. I kind of am enjoying more simple and streamlined looks too. I just purged about 15 pairs of pre pregnancy pants that don't fit me anymore  so I was feeling bad about pants, but this one is stretchy and comfortable and breezy. It was super hot yesterday so the culottes were great. Funny thing is when I came home from work DS#2 ran to hug me and face planted his barbecue sauce laden lips right onto my crotch. Fortunately it seems like it's coming out with Oxy Clean. Hazards of wearing white pants with toddlers!

Trying to resist the urge to shop every time Angie posts something good! I don't have a wrap jersey skirt but I do have a Vince Camuto tube skirt which works just as well. The new Paul Green sandals are working out well, I've already worn them three or four times in the last week.

A couple of casual outfits. 

1-6. Decided to keep the palazzo pants for fun. They seemed long with flats, but with wedge sandals they might be OK? What do you think of the length, can I get away without hemming them or do they need to be taken up? Matching citron T shirt, earrings and necklace.

Eileen Fisher T shirt, Banana Republic pants and jacket, Stella and Dot jewelry & bag

7-11. Funny series. Mama's boy makes it very hard to sneak in outfit pics! He always wants me to sleep in his bed and likes to say, "Mama, I weewy weewy weewy weewy weewy miss you. If you go I will cry because I weewy weewy weewy want you." Aww. How can I say no? I'll miss these days when he's a teenager and wants nothing to do with me! Happy Mother's Day to all!

Anthro Hei Hei military jacket
Banana Republic outlet stripe shirt
Out from the Kloth jeans
Michael Michael Kors silver studded satchel
Skechers grey wedge sneakers

I know this outfit (#1/2) doesn't look like much and is kind of different from my usual matchy matchy, but I felt pretty good wearing it. I first started out by pairing the matching floral blouse and skirt like I did in #3/4 (http://goldenpig.lookfab.com/p.....-and-mini-), but I didn't really feel like doing super matchy matchy. Then I thought, well let me try denim on denim like Angie's post, but couldn't figure out a way to do it that felt right for work. So I ended up going with the denim shirt with the floral skirt, and pairing it with very simple silver accessories (a disc necklace with my children's initials on it and a plain silver bracelet). Still had a bit of matchy matchy with the silver purse and silver sandals, but overall a more subdued, "normal" look. But I still felt really good in it, and got lots of compliments on the skirt and my outfit. I think I'm getting this urge to simplify a little and have a little less going on. Not all the time, but sometimes. I just don't want to have everything perfect and fussy all the time. And I don't want to stand out all the time or look like I'm trying too hard. Don't worry, I'm not completely rejecting my matchy matchy gene (how could I not resist the fun of #4!).

But I'm feeling the urge to try to simplify my life a little bit. Things are so busy and chaotic with work, kids, and our home is a complete mess, it looks like a medical bookstore, scuba shop, and toy store all exploded. We both tend to be sentimental hoarders and I have so little free time to try to clean up. I really want to start purging stuff and stop accumulating. I bought and read the Marie Kondo book a while ago, but I've barely scratched the surface. I have Simplicity Parenting and now The More of Less on my nightstand (I also signed up for the Uncluttered course that came free with that book). Just not sure how to do it with my closet though...I like so much of it! The thought of trying to reduce my wardrobe by half makes me nauseous! I've done minor purges before and pass stuff onto my sister, so almost everything left sparks joy! I did my whole handbag month (for 3 months, LOL) and only ended up purging one purse (the most expensive one, granted). I have more than enough dresses to wear a different one each day for over a month. Same with skirts. I think I need an intervention (wish Angie or someone could come edit my closet!) I just don't think I can become a closet minimalist, it's not in my nature. But I can try to stop adding so much. I returned all the Target Marimekko stuff except for swimsuits for DD (it all looked awful on me with my belly pooch and not that great quality). And I'm planning to return most of the Banana Republic stuff I posted in my last K/R, except maybe the palazzo pants for fun. The floral suit is just not happening. I want to feel more relaxed and blend in a bit more and the floral suit is the total opposite of that goal.

So I felt rather peaceful in my outfit. It still had pattern (which I love) and a tiny bit of matchy matchy with the accessories, just not so hypermatchy. It reminded me of my ALLGO outfit I posted a couple of years ago (#5/6 and http://goldenpig.lookfab.com/p.....blue-jeans for fun baby pics!) I always felt like simple was boring, but simple can be freeing too. I still love matchy matchy, but wanting to explore my ALLGO side too.

Guess our time is up! Thanks for letting me lie down on the couch and vent for a while! 

I have to be honest, I'm so busy that my grooming skills are sadly neglected. I'm lucky if I manage to get dressed and out the door on time. I don't style my hair, it's just wash and go. I do usually wear a swipe of lipstick but don't do a full face of makeup because I'm usually rushing out the door, sometimes with kids in tow trying to catch the bus. Plus I wear glasses so I didn't think people can really see my eyes anyways. But I experimented and tried wearing some tinted BB cream, eye shadow, eyeliner and blush along with my lipstick the other day (#3). I don't really know how to apply makeup well, but does it make a difference? Too heavy? (My lipstick only face in #6 and #9). Which version do you prefer? Any good tips for harried clumsy makeup newbies? I tried to do that tightlining thing but had to give up because I thought I was going to poke my eyes out! LOL!

Random assortment of more outfits showing my love of quirky bags.

So #3 is an old Ralph Lauren "doctor's bag" I found at TJ Maxx. I used it instead of my black studded satchel in #4 (http://goldenpig.lookfab.com/p.....-casual-x2) because I was trying to not repeat bags, but it didn't really feel so "me" as it was so plain. I didn't end up purging it as people suggested. But adding a fun Kate Spade fuzzy bumblebee bag charm gave it a second life! Did the matchy matchy with a bee bracelet and bee charm to match the black and yellow skirt, and chevron stripe skirt, necklace and shoe straps. I have a few more keychains that I bought (fuzzy ladybug, ice cream, dalmatian) that would allow me to have fun with matchy matchy without getting matching bags for everything (because um, I do have a little problem with that!). I'm realizing that this purse fits more with my matchy matchy girly girly Kate Spade persona and the black studded Michael Kors satchel works with my slightly edgier side. The keychain charms just wouldn't work as well with the slouchy studded satchel. Win win!

Wore my Kate Spade orange slice bag in #5 the day I sent my orange Hermes bag to its new owner. I really felt good in this outfit. It felt so much more me--easygoing casual MOTG with a dose of fun. My orange slice bag always makes me smile!

And another casual kid schlepping outfit in #7. Pulling out another old Paul Frank cat bag. Also with the Tokidoki tote to match the Tokidoki T shirt. Yes, I love cutesy cartoon characters. I even have a Paul Frank Hello Kitty one that I'd love to resurrect someday if I can get away with it. There was a post in another fashion group I belong to for women doctors and someone said that no one should wear cartoon characters outside of the house. Oops! Rules, schmules. I posted my Star Wars outfits (http://goldenpig.lookfab.com/p.....n-phasma-b) and other people posted their cartoon characters outfits and even the OP had to join in the fun and post a cartoon outfit too. Never say never! Life's too short not to have some fun with fashion!

A couple of red and black outfits, both with my Sam Edelman red snake ankle strap pumps. Though for all day walking I had to bring comfier shoes to change into (black suede sandals and red ballet flats).

1-4. Maggy London floral lace dress
Chanel red purse/Michael Kors black purse
Alexis Bittar necklace, Stella and Dot bracelet

5-9. Tory Burch heart dress
Red bow belt
Kate Spade red heart purse and black velvet heart handle purse
H&M triple heart necklace

Happy Monday YLF! I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Life is too short to take yourself too seriously! Silly poses with my silly Kate Spade ice cream truck clutch and popsicle coin purse. I bought this because when I was little I wanted to be a librarian and ice cream truck driver (kind of like a bookmobile with ice cream). Bonus fun is that my fellow doctor and officemate (we share an office) had also dressed in hot pink and black and white with mint purse today. Wow--great minds think alike! Anyone else ready for summer?

H&M hot pink cardigan, Sam Edelman white pumps, Kate Spade black and white polka dot dress, KS Clink of Ice necklace, Stella and Dot bracelet, KS ice cream truck purse and popsicle coin purse.

Guys, I have a guilty confession to make. This whole time I've been doing Handbag Challenge to wear all of my purses (originally I thought it would take a month, but now I'm into the third month!), I haven't felt like purging anything from my large purse collection. But this is the exception. I bought this Hermes Jypsiere and it was really amazing and I really loved it, but I just could never get myself to wear it because I felt really guilty about spending so much money on a purse and worried that people would see it and judge me and worried I would get the purse dirty or stained. Plus with paying taxes and other bills it was getting a bit tight financially. The purse, while lovely, was giving me negative vibes every time I thought about it. And to tell the truth, it wasn't very practical--it was a lot smaller than it looks because of the triangular shape so I couldn't fit much in it, and heavy with that big leather front flap, and kind of a pain to undo and redo the straps and metal clasp every time I wanted to get something out of the purse. It wasn't a good fit with my MOTG lifestyle.

I couldn't return it (Hermes doesn't allow refunds, only store credit within 30 days, but it had been longer than that and I had already used it). So I ended up selling it on a purse buy/sell/trade Facebook group. I lost money on it because it's used, but at least I got more than I would have if I used one of those consignment sites. So I can either feel bad about the money I lost/wasted by buying and selling it, or just be relieved that it's out of my life and that it's going to make someone else happy. I just sent it yesterday (still waiting for Paypal to release the money...they locked down my account because I've never had a large transaction like this, LOL).

I was hanging out on a handbag forum trying to learn more about these Hermes purses, but I really didn't feel connected to that group. It was like a whole different stratosphere of people with a whole closet full of Birkins and Kellys. Not really my tribe. And it was causing friction between me and DH too, and I really don't want stuff to come between our relationship. So I just let it go. And I'm using some of the money I made back from the sale to buy some large archival prints from a professional family photo shoot we did recently, so we can have some family portraits to hang in the house. I can enjoy those forever. And I do still have two orange purses (my MZ Wallace MOTG bag and Kate Spade orange slice bag) and plenty of other purses to keep me busy and happy! 

I didn't actually wear this outfit (1-4) out of the house because I had already sold the purse and didn't dare risk damage to the bag, but this is the outfit I had envisioned with the scarf (which I still haven't ripped the tags off yet, what is wrong with me? I need to stop buying scarves!). I still have the wallet and bracelets too. Anyways, here are the three outfits I wore with the purse. I'm really at peace with this decision. See you later, Hermes. Maybe we'll meet again some other time!

Continuing on with my never-ending supply of cute kitschy purses. I'm starting to dig back into my old treasures like my Paul Frank collection. I used to collect Paul Frank and Gama-Go before I had kids. I remember those days of eBay bidding for some limited edition collaboration piece that I just had to have. The products are like a mixture of cute innocence and skater attitude and pop culture references. I also have a Paul Frank Lego suitcase (that the kids are currently using), Paul Frank Barbie, Paul Frank Hello Kitty, wallet with Julius as Elvis, etc. etc.

When the kids were babies I bought some Tokidoki x Jujube diaper bags. And now I've "graduated" to Kate Spade novelty clutches, which are just as cute and kitschy, but cost a lot more, LOL!

Anyways, I thought I'd show you the "best of" my Paul Frank collection first, and then see if you want to see any more of it? These are two Paul Frank x Shag limited edition purses. Julius in London and in Paris. (I just couldn't help myself with the thread title, LOL..but sorry, you are not going to see my underpants!). They still even have the tags on and are numbered and signed on the inside. They are going for hundreds of dollars on eBay. Sad that I just found out that Paul Frank left the company (http://www.vanityfair.com/news.....rank200609). So I guess I should hang on to my whole collection now? I know purses with these cartoon characters are somewhat juvenile--I had put them all away when I joined here, because my goal was to look stylish and professional. But as I'm getting older I am getting to the point where I'm starting to embrace my pre-YLF self again (yes, I've always loved prints and matchy matchy and whimsy). Life is too short to take yourself too seriously all the time, so why not have fun with fashion!

For the outfits, I went with the matching colors and jewelry to fit the locale. Specs for the British and pearls for Parisians. This striped dress is a cheapie from Amazon that has been making the rounds on a MD fashion board I belong to. It seems to look really good on everyone else, but I think it's not playing well with my food baby (2-3). I may have to get rid of this one before someone rubs my belly and asks when I'm due...gah!!!