Closet Crash Course

A few weeks ago, I posted a photo of an impromptu lunchtime shopping trip (perks of working next to an outdoor mall!) and got some flattering comments from a few friends: 

"I think you need to dress me, or at least be my personal shopper."

- cityflicker (aka- my friend Lindsay)

Now Lindsay was probably joking, and at best being nice, but I'm pretty certain she had no idea where that innocent little remark would lead. But it sparked something in me....

You see, over the past few years, a few friends have told me they want me to help them with wardrobe consulting. Wait, stop laughing. They really asked! And "they" is truly more than one person! Believe me, no one sees the irony in this request more than I do. I mean, I'm certainly not the most stylish person in the world. Let's be real- I'm not even the most stylish person I know. (OK, Let's be real real, with Piper around, I'm not even the most stylish person in this house!)  But you've heard what they say about the cobbler's kids going shoeless, right? Turns out I'm the shoeless kid. And the cobbler. Ok, this analogy is terrible. It's just that I'm struggling with formulating a sentence that demonstrates how humbled I am that anyone would want my advice, while still trying not to sell myself, and any talent I do possess, too terribly short. Let me just say that even though I may not always put my knowledge into practice, I do know a thing or two about fashion. 

So when Lindsay commented, I thought maaaaaaybe I would actually follow through on this crazy idea! I sent her an email inviting her to be my guinea pig, I mean, first client. At first I was scared she'd say no. Then I was scared she'd say yes. And now I'm scared of what I've gotten myself into by committing to sharing my "wisdom" with you all....But let's throw all that aside, and have some fashion fun, ok? Ok!

I present...........drumroll.......... my first.....

My first WHAT?

Here's the basic idea: 

1. I come over to your house, go through your wardrobe, and help you sort through not only your stuff, but your thoughts on style. 
2. We make some new outfits out of all your current pieces.
3. Then I help suggest some items to add to your wardrobe to expand your pool of looks. 

That's it. No dramatic trashing of your stuff, or making new "rules" to live by. No interviewing your friends and family about your fashion failures. No commitment to purchasing a new season's worth of trends. Just a couple hours of playing dress up. (Except I don't actually make you get dressed up! Even better!)

What do you think? Sound like fun?

I think so!

But this is where I turn into a bit of a tease...I told you Lindsay was my trial run, and I had a blast working with her- but I'm not quite ready to share it yet. I've got a ton of photos and a stack of magazines up to here  (picture me holding up my hand to just over my head. and then picture me not exaggerating, and actually having magazines stacked that high.) with inspiration for possible pairings. But with work, and a baby, and two fantasy football leagues to juggle (guess which of those takes the most effort...) my sartorial dreams have taken a back seat. But I'm excited to pull it together and complete this little experiment. So I hoped by putting the back-story out there I would get some of you hyped up, and help motivate myself to crank through the rest of the work.

So no turning back now. The crash (and the course) is coming....soon.

{31 things} Day 19: Listen

...Originally Written June 2012....

When I had Piper, I expected to gain a few super human mom-powers. You know, spot-on intuition, a healing touch, the ability to find that sock you thought was gone forever... But the one thing people kept warning me of was Mom Hearing. The ability to detect my infant's cry for fifty yards. Or more accurately, the inability to ignore even so much as a whimper from my babe, regardless of distance or time. I was told to say goodbye to sleep...at least for the next few years...because even if Piper did give us a few hours rest, I would surely hear every twitch, sniffle, and coo, making it impossible to sleep soundly. Other moms told me that no matter how deep a sleeper I once was, something changes when you become a mom, and baby cries seem to run a direct link into your being, creating a hyper awareness that is impossible to ignore.

Welp. Maybe my mom-ears are broken, but I just don't seem to have that gift. (or curse.) Piper is still a ways off from sleeping through the night (she's getting there...oh so slowly but surely), but I have maintained the ability to sleep through a racket, allowing me to catch a few blissful winks of sleep even when she's um..slightly discontent. Now don't panic, and think I'm ignoring my baby's cries. We sleep one room over from her, and I still put the baby monitor right next to my pillow, so I'm instantly aware of when she wakes up. But if we evaluate the noise, and determine its something she can work out on her own, then I'm able (and willing!) to roll over and go back to sleep until the next round when she actually does need me.

But while I haven't become excessively attuned to my babies noises, motherhood (or perhaps more specifically- being the mom of a light sleeper) have caused me to become hyper aware of other noises- mostly during Piper's (few, blessed) naps. I swear the world is never as loud as it is the second her head hits that crib mattress. It's as if every truck, bus, conversation, siren, and floorboard creak wait for that precise moment to make themselves known. And each time I hear brakes squealing, people shouting, or  doors slamming, I have a knee-jerk, visceral reaction. Something inside me instantly snaps, and I just want to shut. that. thing. up. Heaven forbid you drop so much as a piece of paper while my girl is trying to sleep- I will glare at you as if you had poked her right in the half-shut eyelid. I'm not always proud of how dramatically this affects me, but my inner momma bear apparently feels very strongly about letting my baby get some much needed rest (or perhaps it's also a self-preservation instinct, in an effort to have 30 minutes of peace to protect some of my sanity). I never wanted to be such a fun squashing, finger wagging, shusher...But if it means my baby gets some shuteye, and I get an hour to myself once or twice a day, I'd be willing to build a forcefield around that kid.

Insta Pipsta

Have I told you all how much I like instagram?

Oh. Yeah. I guess so.

Well have I told you how much I like blurb books?

Oh. How 'bout that.

Wellllllllll. Have I told you how much I love instagrams made into blurb books?!

No! I haven't! Until right now!

Check it:

Isn't it just about the cutest little miniature thing you've ever seen?

A miniature book with miniature pictures of a miniature person!

A few weeks ago, Fat Mum Slim, (the creator of the wildly successful, and wildly addictive Photo-a-day challenge) posted a promo for a free blurb instagram book. An easy way to save my pics from the depths of Internet obscurity, and preserve them in a more permanent format? yeah. A free easy way to do that? shyeah.

I've used blurb to make blog books, and a more traditional photobook/journal, but this one was the easiest yet. You just enter your password and it "slurps" up all your pics and tiles them into a book. Done-zo. And it did take a little finagling, but I was able to paste in Dustin's feed, so all of our photos are together. (like us....forever...awwwww....)

I decided to go with all Piper pics, one- because she's the best ever, and two- because any non Piper pictures on my phone are pretty much snapshots for work, random candids that are only funny in the moment, and "art shots" of my food. (for the record, Dustin's collection is 75% Piper, 25% beer...much like his Saturdays. Boom! Roasted! For no reason!.....Sorry!)

I spent a couple hours messing around with the layout (totally optional, I'm just spazzy like that), entered my code, and sent it off to print. And a week or so later- voila! Blurb box delivery! I went with the paperback option, (the "free" promo did have a $25 limit...and I'm cheap like that.) but even that looks pretty professional. The quality of the photos themselves isn't awesome, but that's a function of Instagram, not Blurb. For me, they're not meant to be studio quality portraits, they're just funny little snaps of our life. 

And sometimes life (and our hair) is a little fuzzy.

Want to make your own? You're in luck! I may not be an instagram-superstar, but I do have the hook-up for a Blurb discount. 

Check it:

(Update- discount is now 30%....Go to Blurb now, and enter promo code FLASH30)
Not on instagram? One- why not? Two- no biggie. The discount is good on any Blurb book.

And just in case you're interested (i.e. You are Dustin, or my mom) you can see the whole book online here. And follow our insta-antics here. 

 "Word to my mom."

Shiver Me Timbers

I know that children are not meant to be treated like those concrete geese you put on your porch with crazy seasonal outfits...




...I would never leave Piper on the porch.

Happy Talk (and dress!) Like a Pirate Day everyone!

Inside the mind of a baby model

Last weekend I attended the baby shower of one of my best friends (Hi Tina! Hi Baby! I love you both!) which required me to don a dress. This is pretty much a once a year event, so I wanted to take advantage of looking halfway decent, and get a couple of pictures with my girl.

Perhaps I forgot that my girl is over it. You see, she's big now. Much too big to sit like a baby lump and submit to my photoshoot will. She's got places to go, things to do, stuff to eat. Our pursuit of a quality photo was all but foiled.

Oh Piper you are a spunky little bird. And I love you exactly as you are.

Three Ways to Wear It: Cowlneck Sweater

They say when it rains it pours, and in Bowdenisms land, it has been pouring lately (in a good way!) Those who know me "in real life" (quotes are inappropiate there I guess, as it really is real life, it just sounds odd...) obviously know what I do for a living, and understand how important it is to me. But I rarely, if ever talk about it here in anything more than a round about way. Well today worlds are colliding...I'm sharing some "bits and pieces of our little lives" on the American Eagle blog. Check out my dorky self here.

And if by chance you wandered over here from the AE site- Welcome! Stay a while! And don't worry, I'll serve up a little bit of fashion before forcing some baby pictures on you.

And now, on with your regularly scheduled programming. Whatever that means.

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A few weeks ago I sign up for Stichfix and shared the (mixed) results. But though I didn’t love everything in my box, the yellow sweater had potential, and I decided to keep it. With the fall weather coming and all the “back-to-school” sales (that technically shouldn’t apply to me anymore…) going on, it’s hard to keep the lid on my clothing purchases. Everywhere I look is stuff I need. (duh- want). So to curtail the spending before it spirals out of control, I’ve made a new shopping rule for myself:

In order to buy a new item, I have to be able to 

picture wearing it at least three different ways.

I figure if I can’t immediately picture how something can rotate into my wardrobe, and do double triple duty, then it doesn’t deserve a spot in my closet. And since playing mental stylist isn’t as fun as playing real stylist, I thought I’d get you all involved. So with that- a new Bowdenisms feature is born: 

Sweater- Ya via Stitchfix.

Here’s my new sweater, in all it’s cowl-y, drape-y, mustard-y glory. I knew I liked it, but I wasn’t 100% sure how I planned to wear it. Fortunately Stichfix gave me a bit of a headstart, with the styling card they included:

Unfortunately, their suggestions weren’t exactly me. I like the idea of the loose silhouette over a body-con dress, but such a look really isn’t practical for my ladder-climbing, baby-wrangling centered life. (Not to mention the yellow +black/white stripe combo was a little too BumbleBee chic for my taste). But the look was right up my alley. I do have a strict “leggings are not pants” policy though, so I knew I’d have to swap those for a similar look, but in a slightly more forgiving jegging. With those rules in mind, and a closet full of neutrals in my arsenal, I began my three look challenge:

Blue & white striped 3/4 sleeve T- Urban Outfitters.

 Skinny Jeans and Boots- AE (obvs!)“P” necklace- Max & Chloe.

If I can figure out how to pair something new with the plethora of white/grey/navy in my closet, I consider it a win. If it also works with stripes? Then I’m pretty much in love. So pairing this sweater with a heavy-rotation closet favorite was pretty much a no brainer. 

It’s a simple look, with classic skinnies and a riding boot that fits my style to a T. And by “my style” I mean, anything that requires next to no effort, but looks like I tried. In real life I’d probably add a chunky ring, a twist band, and at least seven bracelets to the mix, but all that comes about as natural to me as putting on my underwear, so it almost goes without saying.

For the next look, I wanted to mix it up a bit and see if this sweater could help push me out of my another-day-another-jean comfort zone. I liked Stitchfix’s idea of pairing it with a dress, but I knew I’d have to cas it down a bit (cas- like an abbrev for casual…can I even use that in writing? Totes just did!). And of course we’d have to get some more navy involved somehow (I yam what I yam).

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Blue & white marled yarn dress- Urban Outfitters. Boots ZigiSoho from DSW

Belt- came attached to a shirt from Forever21. Yes, I’m that classy.

I bought this dress while I was pregnant, so the fact that I’m still able to wear it either means I’m a frumpy mess, or a repurposing genius. Let’s just go with option #2 for now. This dress has an empire waist and a fuller skirt than the Stitchfix suggestion, so I knew I’d need to cinch it in a bit, or end up looking like a yarn obsessed bag lady. (With kittens in my boots!) Recently “put a belt on it” has been my outfit version of Porlandia's "Put a Bird on It."- in my wardrobe, you can put a belt on it and call it fashion. Done!

There would probably need to be some leggings involved, but droopy little knit legs hanging from my closet door just weren’t selling it, so you’ll have to imagine that part.

P.s.- Please don't judge the boots. They're on their last leg foot, but until I find the perfect replacement, I refuse to part with them.

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White tank- Old Navy. Necklaces and Leopard belt- AE.

Jeans- Gap. (circa 2003?) Gladiator sandals- DSW

For the last look, it was back to jeans, but rather than dark skinnies, I tried an old pair of Gap "Long and Leans" (they were my jam in college. So was saying "my jam"!) They're falling apart (insert old person rant about pre-distressed jeans being for sissies, here), and don't fit at all, but I actually kind of like them that way. I just cuff the bottoms and call them boyfriend jeans. They all but require a belt, so I added my new favorite piece- a touch of leopard. I'm strangely obsessed with leopard these days, (ok...maybe for a while now) and though too much can make you look like an 80's music video reject, when done right it can act as fun, preppy-glam twist on a neutral. 

In a similar high-low play, I stuck with a plain ribbed tank but added a pile of pearls. The whole look ends up half downtown-dude, half uptown-girl. If I actually put it on, I might end up wanting to swap the pearls for another bold, but slightly less traditional necklace, and trade the sandals for ballet flats, or some Chuck's...but even if it's not 100% perfect, sometimes you just have to give things a try.

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Alright...it's your turn to weigh in. What do you think of my first three pairings? How would you wear it? Share your style skills with the group!

And did all this fashion fun make you want to get a fix of your own? Do it- and report back!

Retail Therapy

I'm an overthinker. And at times an overtryer, an overstresser, an overcarer, and an overfeeler.

I don't always think this of course. After all, who would continue to give 200, 300, 400% more effort to things that they didn't feel warrant it? So, though I can step outside myself long enough to understand my tendencies may just skew a little towards the dramatic sometimes, more often than not I believe the amount of thought I give any topic is directly proportionate to how much it matters. I just tend to think a whole lot of things matter. A whole lot.

But sometimes I catch myself being especially crazy. (ok, sometimes Dustin catches me being especially crazy, and I choose to agree.) and I see how maybe, just maybe, I'm spinning a bit too much about something a bit too little.

Case in point: New shoes for Piper.

This should be a non-issue. Her feet are still teensy enough to fit in your pocket, so finding some shoes really shouldn't be a concern (not that the pocket was a solution...just a comparison). Sure, we can't have her little piggies freezing off, but beyond the basic need of it all, it's not a big deal.

But no, I went all Courtney on this one, and have for some reason made getting baby shoes for the baby my #1 concern. On paper- it doesn't make sense. In fact- I don't really even LIKE shoes. I wear them because it's not socially acceptable, or weather appropriate, to go without. But I only have a few pairs, and rotate them seasonally without much thought. They're not fancy, not expensive. They're pretty utilitarian.

Bear with me while we go on a tangent for a minute:
My non-love for footwear may come from a book that was handed down to me from my mom (who has since passed it to Piper): Shoes for Angela. 

 ...for her 7th birthday...are you dying from the vintage awesomeness of it all?

Basic premise:
Angela has two pairs of shoes- brown for school, black for good, and that's fine with her, until she gets the idea that she should ask only for shoes for her birthday.

Spoiler alert: She gets shoes. SO many shoes, and it eventually becomes overwhelming. She learns a valuable lesson about practicality and greed (even donating her shoes to other kids), The End.

 ...surprise twist ending...hats!

So yes, I understand that this is all quite ridiculous, and very unnecessary. But, I'm already in too deep. I've searched online, I've pinned ideas, and I've dragged Dustin on at least three shopping trips to look for shoes. Part of the issue is that I have it in my head that paying full price is absurd- I may have an intense need for new baby shoes, but they need not be new. I do realize that she will outgrow them in a matter of months, and the amount of actual wear shoes get when the wearer isn't actually walking, is minimal. But I'm still attached to a certain look, so I've been scouring second hand shops for suitable options, without any luck.

In truth, when you get down to it, it's about much more than shoes. (Isn't it always?) In my constant need for achievement, and validation, even (especially) in the realm of motherhood, I tend to attach my feelings to seemingly silly, superficial pursuits. When she was born, getting professional, archive worthy photos became one of my personal marker of being a good mom. If I was successful in preserving those fleeting memories, then it must mean I'm successful as a mom. And now? It's shoes. Having trend-right, good quality, irresistably cute little shoes, to go with her irresistably cute little outfits shows that I care. I have a taste level. I prioritize my spending towards my daughter. I am a good mom.

It's dumb, and probably a bit unhealthy. But it's me. At least it is right now.

I rationalize that it's not that bad....There are certainly worse obsessions (I mean, at least I'm not sleeping with my hair dryer) and I really can see the silliness of it all. I can stop anytime! (wait a minute...maybe that's rationalizing, not reasoning...) But for now, here's what's currently enroute to our house via last night's online spree:

I'm sorry, but please look at those four little shoesies and 

tell me you're not about to jump on my bootie buying bandwagon...

Does anyone else struggle with this? Attaching too much significance to things that just. don't. matter.? Caring too much about the little things?

For the record...I do care very much about these little things.

Double Digits

Last Monday, while we were celebrating lucky number seven (years of married bliss) Piper was reveling in a milestone of her own: the big 1-0 (months on earth).

The sappy sentiments that go with my monthly posts are getting redundant at this point....But it's all so very true. I love her more each day. Not in the abstract cliche way, but in the- Seriously, she gets more fun, more adorable, more real-live-little-person great everyday- way. I thought three months was my favorite. Until we hit four. Then I loved nine. But ten is my new best-yet. I know babies are a pretty great lot in general, but I'm almost certain we got one of the very best out there. (If you're not convinced, feel free to borrow her for a day. I may adore her, but I'm not above a date night out.) We're less than two months away from the real deal milestone- the big 0-1 YEARS. And the only thing that keeps me from constantly weeping over the unceasing maturing of my baaaay-bee, is the hope that it'll just keep getting better.

(P.s. Top middle. Adore.)

 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Guest Writer {@ MomColoredGlasses}

Happy Friday, friends!

Today I'm honored to be featured as a guest writer on Mom Colored Glasses sharing about the day we found out "Baby B" was a she. Scoot on over to read more, and make sure to check out the rest of their awesomely informative, and encouraging site.

And for those of you new to Bowdenisms....Welcome! If you prefer your nonsense random- then feel free to poke around and discover our personal brand of quirk. But if you're in the mood to keep your mom colored reading glasses on- check out the archives by topic for more pregnancy, motherhood and perspective posts.

No, this photo has nothing to do with this post...I just firmly believe 

that bathing suit ruffles,and double-baby-chins are meant to be shared.

Influence- Meet and Greet

For the past month or so I’ve been toying with the idea of attending a blogging conference called Influence. My fellow blogger, and friend-in-real-life Kacia is a community leader for the conference, and has been spreading the word about what an encouraging, inspiring and FUN event it’s going to be. I haven’t made the leap to committing to going yet, but she just posted an online meet and greet for attendees to help everyone get connected before meeting for real next month. Though I’m not 100% if I’m going to take the plunge and attend, I wanted to participate, in the hopes that joining the pre-conference party might get me psyched up for the real deal.

So here we go:

3 get-to-know-me things

1. I live to eat, and don't understand those crazy "eat to live" people. I hesitate to say I'm a "foodie" because that implies a level of fanciness that I don't necessarily require. Sure I love an expensive cheese plate, but I'll also eat a whole box of Kraft Dinner (yes, that's its real name...for good reason) without looking back. Entire vacations are practically planned around food (I'm lucky my husband shares my sweet-and savory-tooth) and I am often looking forward to my next meal before this current one is over (or even begun).
2. I feel big. No, not the "my pants don't fit because of all that living to eat" type big. I mean I feel dramatically. I feel, care, and love passionately. There aren't many things I'm middle of the road on. When I'm happy, I'm thrilled. When I'm aggravated I'm...well...pretty obnoxious to be around.
3. I’m a strange breed of right/left brain combo which means I love sewing as much as I love spreadsheets (lots) and I get equally geeked about designing a party photo-booth as I do mapping out the seating chart (super geeked). 

2 things I’m looking forward to about the conference
Since I'm still on the fence about going, I'll share my two biggest hesitations:

1. I will feel like a big dorky mash up of a wallflower at a sixth grade dance, a freshman on dorm move in day, and a small time blogger in a sea of talented multi-hyphenate media powerhouses (oh wait- I really will be that last one...) There has been ton of talk about building community, making connections, no blogger left behind!...but I'm still worried that I won't fit in. As friendly as I'm sure all the ladies are, there will still be those awkward moments when I hold my figurative lunch tray and scan the room for a place to perch. Or those times when I pretend to be doing Really Important Things on my phone, just to not look like the loser in the corner while everyone else is chatting away. (tell me you've pulled that move before, right? Just me?)
2. Though I’ve been doing this crazy blogging thing for five years now (which in blog years means I’m pretty much a dinosaur) I still haven’t totally nailed down my purpose for this little web space. It’s part personal diary, part creative outlet, and part (sometimes it feels) silly waste of time. I’m worried I’ll be out of my league with all the “real bloggers”. You know, the pro and semi-pro writers that have sponsors, boast subscribers by the thousands, manage etsy shops, and run their photography/event planning/cupcake liner print shops on the side. Does a full-time working mom with a blog geared mostly towards updating the grandparents with pictures of a baby at the park really have any business spend the weekend gallivanting around town, wearing stripes and learning about social media? Well on second thought- gallivanting and wearing stripes are two of my favorite things....

1 thing that I cannot leave home without
In all honesty it has to be my iPhone, but I'm hesitant to count that because at this point it's practically an extension of my hand. So instead I'll say sunglasses. I have pretty sensitive eyes (ask to see photos of me in an eye patch as a kid...I have 5 years worth of pics!) so I pretty much don't go outside without my shades. Even when it's not that bright, I'm still thatgirl rocking the sunnies- now you know it's only partly to look cool, and mostly because I'm a big baby.


What about you all? Is anyone else planning on going? And if you are, do you want to pack some snacks, don some shades and be my friend for the weekend? (I'll figuratively help carry your figurative lunch tray!)
And for those of you on the fence like me...you can learn more about Influence here, and check out their things you should know series on their blog. See you there?

I've Got the Itch

Dustin and I celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary this weekend, and I have to say, I'm definitely feeling the Seven Year Itch.

Yep. We're seven years in, and I have to be honest: I'm itching to spend more time with this guy.

I've got the urge to do really important things, like sit outside and drink beer....

..eat ice cream for dinner...

...and go on golf cart adventures.

I'm eager to go on more dates...

...in our hometown, and more exotic locales.

I'm yearning to be seriously goofy...

...and goofily serious.