A SHOPPING PRO, EXCEPT WHEN IT COMES TO SWIMSUITS

Good morning Knuckles!

It's pretty obvious that I love to shop; I find it both fun and relaxing.  I can't really relate to women who don't like to shop, except on one occasion: SHOPPING FOR SWIMSUITS. Shopping for swimsuits is stressful.  It is even more stressful when you haven't bought a swimsuit in over 10 years, and since then you've had two kids.

Knowing the beach/pool are in my future this summer, I headed to Macy's to find a suit.  

The only thing worse about swimsuit shopping is when you walk into the section and a middle-aged salesman walks over and says, "Hello Miss!  Are you looking for something in particular?"  It is so embarrassing when old men say "Hello Miss!" 

I didn't want to openly cringe because he was genuinely trying to be helpful.  In fact, he started pointing to different styles, asking "Are you looking for a one-piece?  Two-piece?  Padded?  Cups?"  He pulled out a bunch of suits that I would never wear in a million years, and I could just feel the blood rush to my face and droplets of pure BO stream out of my pits. 

Anyhow, after an uncomfortable hour or so, I ended up buying the swimsuit below.  It's exactly what I was looking for, and it was on sale!

1) Cult Gaia Bardot Headwrap

2) Prada Minimal Baroque Sunglasses

3) DKNY Shirred Swim Dress

4) Moyna Hello Malibu Woven Tote

5) Keds for Kate Spade Lace Up Oxford Sneakers

I really love the rest of this outfit, particularly the turban.  And aren't the sneakers adorable?

I just realized this is my 100th post!  Wow.  Thanks for reading, everyone! 

Have a great weekend!

BEST WEEK EVER

Good morning Knuckles!

I'm going to have the BEST WEEK EVER; I've got my coffee, my power pants and I'm ready to kick this week in the balls:

(Sunnies, Target; blouse, J.Crew; pants, Line+Dot, on sale now at Piperlime; shoes, Sam Edelman; purse, Elliott Lucca; bracelets, Asos, Alex+Ani, F21)

Particularly because it's a short week!  On Friday I meet two of my closest friends, Ms. Howdy and Ms. Pear-in-your-Pocket, in Las Vegas to celebrate Ms. Howdy's birthday.  We already have a burlesque show and some dinner rezzies cued up.  If anyone has a good dinner/brunch recommendation, please let me know!

Have a great week, Knuckles!

CUPCAKES AND TEA

Hello Knuckles!

The littlest Knuckles abandoned their toys during naptime, so Mr. Brass Knuckles and I had our own little tea party:

(Truly, the unmanicured toes of the working mother).

(Nom nom nom!  Sunnies, Target; shirt, J.Crew; skirt, Nanette Lepore; shoes, Miu Miu; bracelets, vintage, F21)

As parents you have to have fun wherever and whenever you find it!  Before kids it was all rock shows, late brunches, and lazy Sunday matinees.  Now our idea of a great night is 16oz. PBRs smuggled into Star Trek and drinks afterwards at the local townie bar (where, I should add, the people-watching is equally if not more entertaining than people-watching in Brooklyn.  Hello too-tan blond ladies, Blackhawks jersey guys, REALLY old dude, accountant swinger couple, and DIY Pac-Man t-shirt-wearing bassist).

It seems like all my friends have kids these days.  Parents, how do you manage to have fun now that kids are a part of your life? 

Have a great weekend, Knuckles!

NO PHOTOSHOP, WATCH THE MAGIC HAPPEN!

Good morning Knuckles!

Gisele Bundchen recently made news for shooting a campaign for BLK DNM without any makeup or retouching.  “I feel like women should be really real and raw," she said, "and it doesn’t happen anymore."  Easy to say if you're a Brazilian supermodel!

That said, there is something to be said about excessive Photoshopping.  Her quote made me think of Dove's thought-provoking Evolution video from a few years ago.

In the spirit of "real" beauty, I made this Vine video that shows my personal evolution from the time I step out of the shower to when I leave my front door (turn the volume down if you don't want to blast your office with Skrillex).

(I'm such a cheeseball.  Glasses, Lenscrafters; tank top, Target.  Daily beauty products: Walgreens multi-purpose solution, Neutrogena Healthy Skin face lotion, Almay Clear Complexion concealer, Neutrogena Healthy Skin brightening eye perfector, Cover Girl Perfect Blend eye pencil, Neutrogena Healthy Skin bronzer, Tresemme hairspray.  Lip color always varies, above, Revlon Color Stay Overtime lip gloss in Unlimited Mulberry.  You can get everything at the drugstore).

It's all smoke and mirrors, Knuckles!  Here's to celebrating us in every way, shape, and form.  I now I think you know it all.

Have a great week!

FRIDAY FUNDAY: MY TINY DANCER AND I GUESS I'M A MOMMY BLOGGER

Good morning Knuckles!

I've decided to enroll CoStar in Irish dance classes.  Why Irish dancing?  Well, it seems highly asexual and sort-of badass; something about flying and stomping around, rather than fluttering about in a tutu.  Plus, she's half-Irish!


(Photo Amazing Arts)

She needed some convincing, however, and the only example I could think of off the top of my head was Coco Rocha galloping down the Gaultier runway in 2007.

I love Coco Rocha.  The spots she did for White House/Black Market last year are so awesome:

Also, I've signed up with the Top Mommy Blogs people.  If you are so inclined, please vote for my blog by clicking on the little widget to the right -->.  Clickthroughs will apparently boost my rank for more visibility.  

Have a great weekend, Knuckles!  Hope it's filled with laughter and sleep!

ORANGE YOU GLAD I DIDN'T SAY BANANAS?

Good morning Knuckles!  

Sometimes gifts can be surprising.  I never would've picked out this Prabal Garung for Target blouse for myself, but I received it as a gift from Mr. Brass Knuckles and it's actually really lovely with bright colors.  Same goes for the necklace, which was a gift from my mother-in-law and is shaping up to be one of my favorite pieces this spring: 

(Sunnies, Target; hat, Rainbow; shirt, Prabal Garung for Target; skirt, H&M; shoes, 9West; bag, Longchamp; necklace, Style&Co.; bracelets, Alex+Ani, F21, vintage.  I found the shoes in the back of my closet awhile back.  They needed a trip to the cobbler but now they are fantastic and my favorite "new" old pair of shoes!)

In this day and age of easy gift cards (and I admit I'm super guilty of giving gift cards) let's not forget that often the best way to stretch your style is by letting others pick something out for you.  A gift card is always welcome, but sometimes nothing beats opening up a box and thinking, "I could really love this!"

Have a super week, Knuckles!