Archive for the ‘Fashion’ Category

Rah Rah Rusty

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Flora took her High School Musical Build-A-Bear outfit off the bear and put it on Rusty. She then gave him a hairstyle. Rusty has been sporting this look for a couple of weeks, and is now a girl, according to Flora.

Daddy’s Girl

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Despite the frigid temperatures, Flora insisted on wearing a tank top today — this one. She then picked out a twirly skirt and striped knee-highs, and requested that we play Freeze Dance.

View Flora’s “Daddy’s Girl” photos

20 Months Old

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

Mr. Hooper turned 20 months old on Saturday — and with that now comes the Toddlertude. “No, No, No!” is his default answer to most queries, unless the question involves cookie or candy or swimming, which he absolutely loves. Charley hates to get dressed, get his diaper changed, and go to bed. He talks all the time now, has lots of words, and can repeat any word you ask him to (Flora keyed into this and has been trying to get him to say “dammit” when she thinks we are out of ear shot). This morning he pointed to a number 5 and said “E.” Close! And the other day when I was counting to three during “Statue” (that’s where we freeze and try not to move or talk, but Flora loses in about a half a second by giggling), I said, “One…” and Charley said “Twooo.” All this time he’s been absorbing! And finally he and Flora are starting to play together. Last weekend they played Flora’s favorite game, “Doggie,” where she ties a scarf to her waist and pretends to be a dog, and Charley takes her for a walk. They love to play chase and hide-and-seek, and I can see already how they are going to combine their Wonder Twin Powers and use them to plot against us! Here they are playing “Kitchen.” Flora was a surly waitress named Flo and Charley was a hash slinger named Chuck.

Flora’s Fashion Creation

Friday, February 19th, 2010

I think she called this one a “Red Riding Hood Princess Fairy.”

The Tooth Fairy

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

The tummy bug didn’t stop the tooth fairy from visiting — unfortunately it was puke, not teeth, that she found in Flora’s bed!

View Flora’s “Tooth Fairy” photos

Vintage Clothes

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

Gray dot dress, orange blouse Red/white/black suspender dress

Blue/red/white sailor jacket Blue double button jacket, red/white/blue stripe trim

Multi floral jumper, lacy jacket Blue/pink/white embroidered lacy dress

Yellow velour v-neck tee Red/white/blue embroidered carousel top

I finally started to take pictures of the vintage (late 50s and 60s from what I can guess) clothing lot I purchased from e-bay in October. There are over 100 pieces, so hold tight as I expect it will take me quite a while to get through them all. They all arrived in unworn condition with their original manufacturer and price tags. Out of the 100+, about 10 have some staining and tearing that I have been trying to fix. I plan to keep my favorites and re-sell/re-gift the rest. Here are a few …

View Flora and Charley’s “Vintage Clothing” photos (in progress)

Vintage-Inspired

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

I’m totally addicted to the vintage-inspired fashion and housewares that have been hitting the mainstream. If you’re a fan of the retro, be sure to check out Anthropologie— they sell both clothes and housewares and I just want to move right into their catalogue. In the market for the cutest kid’s clothes? Check out Mini Boden. Both stores are really affordable when on sale, and sometimes even when not. Urban Outfitters just launched a new line of 1940s inspired wear. And I’ve even seen throwback styles at Old Navy, Gap, Gymboree, and Crazy 8.

Pictured: “Both Sides Blouse” from Anthropologie’s 50s Proper Collection; “Scallop Trim Coat” from Boden; and the already-got-it-for-Flora “Flower Shift Dress” from Crazy 8. Not that she needed another dress, let alone a vintage one.

The Retro Housewife

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

We gave Flora a retro play kitchen for her big birthday gift — which took two hours and four adults to put together — but decidedly well worth the effort. Our vintage play dishes are right at home now, and little Miss Housewife can serve us up some mean cupcakes.

View Flora’s “Retro Kitchen” photos

The Chair Session

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

After much bribing, Flora agreed to wear one of her vintage dresses and take her birthday chair photos. I bought a “lot” of one hundred plus — yah, that’s right, one hundred plus — vintage dresses from the late 1950s and early 1960s, in sizes 2-18, mostly mint condition and with original tags, from e-bay shortly after Halloween for only $200. I had been begging Flora to wear one for months, and she finally agreed. I can now say I got my money’s worth!

View Flora’s “Fourth Chair” photos

The Outfit

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

Future Rock Star shirt from Gram Kaye. It came with a scarf, but Uncle Chuck wore that.

The Dance Floor

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

BIG Cookie

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

And he wouldn’t even share. Not one little bite.

View Charley’s “Stripes and Big Cookie” photos

Head of the Class

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Flora’s Blue Room (transitional preschool) school picture. She looks so grown up!

Charley’s Ladybug Room (infants) school picture. Apparently he was terrified of the photographer and his gear!

Photo by Gram K

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Gram K never never seems to get in front of the camera during visits, but this time around she got behind the camera and took this picture of Charley in his Charlie Brown shirt. The kids had a great time playing outside and going to the park, making Tootsie Pop ghosts, and watching Tinkerbelle with their grandmother. And Charley learned how to say Gram K (“gray-kay”) and Flora (“aura”), to boot.

Chippendale

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

Turns out Charley’s Chaplin costume easily converts into a Chippendale costume for next year.

Fall Ball

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

Go Royals?

Sunday, September 13th, 2009

Standing in the Rain

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

With pajamas.

Wedding Day

Saturday, August 29th, 2009

The big day was all about getting primped and photographed, acting proper and partying. Flora and Charley were troopers and even managed to stay up late enough to boogie down on the Smithville Inn dance floor before collapsing in a heap and going to bed. It was a lovely weekend of wedding festivities, and the moment I’ll remember the most is rocking out to Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On a Prayer” with a handful of The Swans. Biggest congrats to Tracy and Chuck!

View Flora and Charley’s “Tracy and Chuck’s Wedding Day” photos

Rehearsal Dinner

Friday, August 28th, 2009

Friday evening was the rehearsal and dinner at Fred and Ethel’s Lantern Light Tavern. During the rehearsal, Flower Girl Flora wasn’t up for walking down the aisle solo, so we switched up the procession order and had her walk down with me. Then during dinner, Chuck surprised Tracy with a Barbershop Quartet — Flora didn’t like that very much either. But there was at least one thing she liked, as did “Charley Gilmore” … the chocolate mousse dessert!

View Flora and Charley’s “Rehearsal Dinner” photos

Little Muffins

Friday, August 7th, 2009

Charley watched the making of, then sampled, the banana chocolate chip muffins Flora and I baked together. Flora did her sampling in the process. I just really wanted an excuse for Flora to wear this adorable apron I got for her at a Mommies Who Shop event, which I now blame for my subsequent addiction to etsy.com — could handmade little girl’s clothes BE any cuter? I do not think so. In Charley news, he’s really getting quite agile with his walking, and can even spin around in a circle!

View Flora and Charley’s “Muffins” photos

Marketing

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

Kansas City Royals and Star Wars.

Future American Beauty Queen

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Playground

Monday, June 1st, 2009

The kids and I almost always hit up a playground on summer Mondays and Fridays, even if it just walking to the one a few blocks away. They get to expend some energy, and even I get a work out pushing the two of them in the double stroller back up “the hill.”

View Flora and Charley’s “Playground” photos

Cowgirl

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

Eat your heart out, Brett Michaels. (Thanks, Elke, for the fun hand-me-downs!)

View Flora’s “Cowgirl” photos