I know I said I was taking a break from Fashion Friday for the summer and I am, I really am. The question portion of Fashion Friday is officially on summer vacation. However, I had some free time this week and spent some of that time venturing into various stores, which led me to find some cute things that I feel compelled to share with the group.

In fact, I believe I was in Banana Republic (where all my best ideas have always been born) when I decided it would be fun to compile a list of my top ten finds of the week. Unfortunately, there are two flaws with this plan. First, some of the things I found aren’t online, including a darling cotton navy and white striped dress that has captured my heart and is still calling to me from the store where I left it. Second, I’m not sure I actually have a list of ten things, it may be more like seven or five.

We’ll just see where it goes and how long I can make myself wait to watch the season finale of “Grey’s Anatomy” and part two of the “Real Housewives of New York” reunion special. It’s not like the DVR is going to watch that stuff for me.

Here’s what I found this week. (Note to P, I didn’t actually BUY anything. I just looked. Because I am exercising self-control)

(Speaking of exercising, I’m on Level 2 of The Shred. I can no longer remember what day I’m on because I skipped various days due to a raging case of PMS. As far as results, my arms are definitely more toned which is such a relief because I’m always so insecure about how my arms look in a bathing suit.)

1. Summer floral skirt

Y’all know I’m a fan of the summer skirt and I think this one is really cute, especially now that it’s on sale because Gap is high if they think that skirt was worth the original $44.50 price.

2. Linen cargo bermuda shorts

I tried these on and couldn’t commit, but I keep thinking about them because they were very lightweight and would probably be a welcome addition to my wardrobe come July when I’m wishing I lived in North Dakota.

3. Halter maxi dress

I hope the link works because Banana won’t let me link to the specific dress because it’s already sold out and I’m not surprised. When I saw it in the window of the store, I immediately parked and went in to get a better look because I thought I could wear it to a wedding this weekend and my twenty-year reunion later this summer.

However, what the picture doesn’t show is that the back of the dress does some tricky kind of thing that basically allows for no sort of undergarment to be worn. But apparently someone has figured out a way to make it work because the dress is SOLD OUT. Are these people gluing some sort of support device directly to their bodies? If you think I’m attending my twenty-year high school reunion with only on a super-glued cup standing between me and public humiliation, then you’re crazy.

4. Embroidered tunic

I really liked this even before I knew they called that color “Wasabi Green”, which just makes me like it that much more.

5. ABK Couture bags

A friend from elementary school makes these gorgeous tote bags and I discovered them last week. I am totally eyeing one of them to be my new laptop bag.

6. Double Mocha Jacket

I didn’t actually see this in person, but found it online when I did my weekly search through all of Anthropologie’s sale items. I am a fan.

7. Good jeans

I have no link for this, but Steinmart had 7 jeans and Lucky jeans in stock this week for substantially less than what you’d pay at the fancy department store.

8. Yellow Box Zebra flip-flops

There are no words for the cuteness.

It turns out I only had eight things, but like the old saying goes better eight than nothing.

(By “old saying” I mean three minutes old because I just made it up)

Y’all have a great Friday.

Okay, so here’s the bad news. (Or maybe it’s good news to some of y’all, but just pretend it’s bad news so you won’t hurt my delicate feelings) I’ve decided to take a semi-break from Fashion Friday for the summer because it’s just so dang hot and it’s hard for me to think about fashion unless it involves what to wear when you’re soaking in a tub full of ice cubes because the heat is about to send you to the land where fun goes to die.

The good news is that I may still do a few Fashion Fridays throughout the summer because you never know when some sort of haberdashery emergency may occur and I’d hate to not weigh in with my two cents that may or may not be helpful, but I just can’t commit to weekly posts because I may be too busy eating ice cream at the pool or trying to get the smell of spoiled milk out of my purse.

What? Spoiled milk?

Oh yes. I managed to spill an entire glass of milk in my purse last night, which led me to the discovery that milk is surprisingly sticky when it gets all over your credit cards and everything else in your purse. I am telling myself that I got it all cleaned out, but deep down inside I have a feeling that at some point in the next few days I’ll pull out my Visa card and the smell will be so horrendous that it may cause a cashier to pass out.

I don’t know why I’m telling you this except that if you ever happen to run into me somewhere and you smell something that would make your dog throw up, please keep in mind that it’s just my handbag.

But who am I kidding? We all know I now have an excuse to buy a new bag.

I’m going to wrap this up because it’s late and I still have to watch “Grey’s Anatomy” because Meredith and Derek are supposedly getting married and if they don’t because of some asinine plot twist then I am going to be so worked up that it will take me hours to settle back down. Don’t disappoint me, ABC. It’s bad enough that Lil Kim got voted off “Dancing with the Stars” this week. My heart can’t take much more.

However, before I go get caught up in the Mer/Der wedding bliss (Please do not deny me this, ABC) I have a question that is actually fashion related. Gulley and I got into a discussion yesterday about our favorite outfit of all time. Ultimately, we decided that choosing one outfit or piece of clothing is like trying to choose who you like better, your grandmother or Justin Timberlake. It’s like “Sophie’s Choice”.

Here are three items that made my list and the year they changed my life.

1. Guess Overalls (1986)

The day I finally talked my dad into buying me an $80 pair of overalls was one of the happiest days of my life. I wore them constantly, but my favorite combination was wearing them with a hot pink t-shirt, a scarf belt, matching hot pink socks, and white Keds.

(EIGHTY DOLLARS IN 1986! That is absurd, but as Ramona on “RHofNYC” would say ‘Kudoos’ to the Guess corporation because people bought them in spite of the fact that they were EIGHT DOLLAR OVERALLS)

2. Aqua-colored Gloria Vanderbilt jeans and matching shirt (1980)

My MeMa bought me this outfit and, sadly, I ruined it when I got battery acid on the jeans when changing the batteries in my 8-track player. True story.

3. Luv-it Jeans with roller skates on the back pockets (1981)

If I ever questioned the fabulousity of these jeans and how they made me the envy of all the other ten-year-olds at the Magic Skate, my fears were put to rest when a girl I haven’t seen since sixth grade became my Facebook friend about a month ago and told me she’ll always remember how much she loved my Luv-it Jeans with the roller skates.

That is a powerful testimony to the importance of a good pair of jeans.

So what are some of your favorite fashion pieces of all time? Units? Anyone?

ANYONE? (Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about unless you were born after 1985)

Oversized sweaters from United Colors of Benetton?

Three layered Polo shirts with the collars flipped up?

Go ahead and confess. You’re safe here.

Y’all have a good Friday.

***I just had to come back and add that I just finished watching “Grey’s” and, while I don’t want to give anything away for those of you who have it waiting on your DVR’s, I will say that it has left me a sobbing mess. Well played, ABC. Well played.

I realize there have been moments this week when I’ve made light of the fact that we are in the midst of a swine flu pandemic, so I feel like in all fairness I should be serious for a minute and provide some tips on how to avoid contracting swine flu. Fortunately, my friend Corrie sent me this photo which serves as an excellent reminder of behaviors that should be avoided.

You’re welcome.

And seeing that pig serves as an unwelcome reminder that swimsuit season is right around the corner. Only the Shred can help me now.

Several of y’all have emailed with questions about swimwear and I wish I could produce some miracle of modern spandex that would solve all your woes. Just remember that you have nothing to fear except the fear of a swimsuit.

I don’t even know what that means.

In the interest of laziness and the fact that it’s way late since I stayed up to watch a live video feed of the Compassion bloggers in India, let’s start with a few tips that I blatantly copied and pasted from last year’s swimsuit edition of Fashion Friday.

When trying on a swimsuit:

1. Make sure you actually move around in it like you will when you wear it. Bend over, lift your arms, and move around to make sure everything stays in place. Because when your child takes off a full speed towards the deep end of the pool, you don’t want to have to worry about the girls falling out in mid-run.

And, hypothetically speaking, if your pool has a brand new slide that you decide to go down to impress your daughter, you don’t want to have to worry about almost losing your bottoms. Hypothetically speaking.

2. On that point, try different sizes to get the right fit. If the bottoms don’t have enough coverage, then try different bottoms. Going up a size isn’t going to necessarily help and may just give you saggy bottom syndrome once they are wet.

3. As painful as it may be, look at yourself in a three-way mirror to make sure everything you want covered is actually covered. Just a quick look is all it takes, don’t torture yourself.

4. Last of all remember that NO ONE will be more critical of how you look in a bathing suit than you. Every other mama is a lot more worried about how she looks than how you look. Find something comfortable that you feel good in and call it a day.

I realize this advice is over a year old, but it is still relevant. There are certain truths that will always remain and those are a few of them.

Now for a few recommendations:

If you’re looking for a suit that may perform a few miracles, then Lands End is a great place to start. They have swimsuits that offer all-over control and have a cute retro look to them. There’s also this halter-style one-piece that offers control.

If you need a little (or a lot) of underwire with your swimsuit, then one of my favorite sites is Aerin Rose. It’s a great line of swimwear with one-pieces, tankinis and bikinis that all have great support. Plus, they’re having a sale right now.

Here are a few more links to sites that have good swimwear selections. Beachbliss, Figleaves, Swimsuits for All, Lion’s Lair Specialty Swimwear, and Best Swimwear.

And here are a few suits that will get an extra shout out just because I think they are so cute. I love this Tommy Bahama suit, this paisley one-piece , and this darling tankini.

One last thing, check out all the cute cover-ups. I am particularly in love with this one and this one that can be worn as a skirt or a strapless cover-up.

Of course you could always go with something like this, rock a side ponytail, and channel Chrissy Snow from “Three’s Company”.

On a completely unrelated note but of much greater substance and importance, there are not words to describe the power of this post by Melissa and this post by Angie from the Compassion India trip. Both left me in tears as I read them yesterday. INCREDIBLE.

Y’all have a great Friday.

Here’s Mr. Linky if you have something to add on a fashion-related note.

On the way to College Station last weekend, Gulley and I discussed many important topics in between threatening our kids with a babysitter if they didn’t start acting right. We covered the economy, the Dow Jones Industrial average, who we like best on American Idol, our hair, and, of course, fashion.

The fashion topic of chief concern was regarding what to wear during the summer when it’s so hot that you want to take off your skin and sit around in your bones. In a pool of ice. While drinking an ice cold Diet Coke. With a fan blowing on you.

Maybe it’s just me, but I get tired of wearing shorts every day and I’m over capri pants. Now don’t freak out and send me a bunch of emails declaring your love for capris. I realize the capri is here to stay and I even own a few pairs, but I’m tired of them. I have decided that I like nothing better in the summer (other than Dreyers Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup ice cream) than a cotton dress or a skirt with a tank or tee.

So on Tuesday, Gulley and I headed to Nordstrom Rack on a quest to find her a few cotton summer dresses and we succeeded. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that later on in the day we went into Forever 21 and I hate to even type this out for fear of defiling my blog, but they were selling acid-washed jeans. Look, I realize these are hard times we’re living in right now, but do we really want to add acid-washed denim to the wealth of all the things that have gone wrong in 2009?

Let’s keep some dignity, people. And shame on you, Forever 21, for stooping to this level.

Now for the questions:

1. Emily asks: “What I should wear to my graduation from Texas A&M next month? Note, my cap and gown will be black so I’m thinking black shoes are a necessity.

Congratulations on your graduation, Emily! It’s such an important day because not only will you be getting your diploma, but you’ll be posing for pictures that will be around for a long time. If there is ever a time that you don’t want to commit a fashion faux pas, this is it.

Unfortunately, I chose to wear some really ugly black heels to my graduation and when I look at pictures from that day all I see are those bad shoes at the bottom of my gown. I don’t know what I was thinking, but it’s never a good idea to wear shoes that make your feet look like an isosceles triangle.

Just consider that bit of wisdom an early graduation present.

I love this retro black and white poppy dress. I realize it’s a little pricey and I’m almost certain College Station doesn’t have a White House Black Market store, but it’s a good guideline. If I were you, I’d go search the racks at TJ Maxx and some other discount stores to see what you can find.

I also saw this dress at Macy’s the other day and thought it was adorable. Sadly, it’s a little much for a trip to HEB.

The important thing is to look for something that you’ll actually wear again at some point. There’s nothing worse than buying a dress that you only wear one time, except, of course, shoes that make your feet look like isosceles triangles.

Hope that helps.

2. Courtney asks: “I am the proud mother of a beautiful 4 month old son. I am also now sporting the “pouch” that many women experience post-pregnancy. As I work to lose this mushy belly, I am in the need of some clothes that will help me to not still look 6 months pregnant. I’m slender everywhere else – I just need to hide this tummy!

The hand of fashion is smiling down on you because there are plenty of items to be found that will hide the mushy belly. I know this because I am still wearing those items even though my baby is now five and a half.

Don’t judge me, sit-ups are hard.

I love stuff like this top because you can wear it with jeans or shorts depending on how you feel. Not to mention that it covers a multitude of postpartum sins. You could also look for something like this darling ruffled dress.

Try to find things that are loose around your mid-section because, sadly, it takes a lot of crunches to get back into pre-pregnancy shape. Not that I know this from experience, it’s just what I’ve heard.

I actually did a short clip on BlogHer’s latest Backtalk video about what happens to your body post-pregnancy. You can go watch it here if you want and please keep in mind that the video camera causes me to have a horrible lisp. IT’S NOT MY FAULT.

At leatht I don’t think it ith.

3. MIchelle asks: “My husband and I are going to Boston this summer to celebrate our fifth anniversary. We are doing a lot of sightseeing, but I don’t want to walk around Fenway Park and Harvard in shorts, tennis shoes and a fanny pack. Any suggestions on casual day wear?”

I’m proud of your fashion instincts regarding the fanny pack. Well done.

I’ve already stated my love of the cotton dress/skirt/tee or tank option. I think it looks a little nicer than shorts and can be dressed up or down with jewelry and shoes. I’ve never been to Boston in the summer or, well…ever, but I believe the summer sandal is universally acceptable.

I’d look for a cute pair of comfortable flip-flops or sandals for the trip and maybe some type of messenger bag that you can carry instead of a purse or the dreaded fanny pack.

Hope y’all have fun. I hear Boston is lovely. In fact, I almost went to Harvard except for the fact that I had a hard time passing Algebra II.

That’s it for this week. I think next week will be dedicated to swimwear because a lot of people are trying to figure out how they can hide their entire body at the pool.

In the meantime, I’m putting up Mr. Linky if you have anything to add. Please link to your specific post.

Y’all have a great Friday.

As I mentioned earlier, we’re down at the ranch with some friends right now. We didn’t get in until fairly late last night, but of course Caroline was still up at 6:30 a.m. P asked, “Doodle? Do you want to get up and eat breakfast?” She replied, “OF COURSE I DO.”

Last night, my friend Erin helped me find cute stuff for Fashion Friday and I have to say that I liked having a consultant. It made me feel less alone as I weeded through all the fashion choices. The only problem is that Erin is 18 weeks pregnant and has 18 month old twins, so she kept telling me about the cute maternity dress she just found at Destination Maternity or all the sweet dresses that Baby Gap has in stock right now.

I tried to convince her to just write a whole post on maternity fashion for me, but she turned me down. So now I am stuck with the responsibility of churning out some mediocre fashion advice.

Also, we did find the world’s softest hoodie. Erin showed me hers last night and I can confirm that it is indeed the world’s softest hoodie. And if there’s anything you can benefit from, whether pregnant or not pregnant, it’s a hoodie that feels like pudding in a cloud.

Now for the questions:

1. Heather asks: “I would like to have a cute sundress or casual church dress to wear occasionally, but when I go to buy one, they seem to be either made for women under 21 or made for women over 65. Also, I am a D cup, so anything strapless or strappy or that wraps just makes me look smutty or desperate or something worse. So, any cures for dress phobia?”

Well, Erin’s first thought was the aforementioned maternity dress and, while it is cute, you may be like me and have a hang up about wearing maternity clothes when you’re not actually pregnant.

I love to wear dresses in the summertime because they are so cool and comfortable, plus if you find a really great one you can dress it up or down depending on the jewelry and shoes you choose.

I fell in love with this white dress. It’s so simple and pretty. Plus it would look great with a cute wedge heel shoe or even a simple thong sandal. I realize it’s white, but sometimes you have to take a risk in life.

This embroidered floral dress is also cute and has straps that are a little thicker to provide better support.

You could also go with a casual knit dress like this one. Best of all, they’re only $12.00 so you could buy them in a couple of different colors and change them up with accessories.

Hope that helps.

2. Amanda asks: “We are going on a trip to Africa. I hear that it is pretty sunny there! I’m really not a hat person, but believe that this trip may call for one. Can you recommend a good one?”

Amanda, you are in luck because my friend William has been to Africa and he recommended this Insect shield adventure hat from Orvis. You can pack it in your suitcase, plus it provides some kind of ultra sun protection combined with a built-in insect repellent.

That’s a lot of responsibility for just one hat.

I also found this Outdoor Research Oasis Sombrero . I have no idea if it actually works well or not, but I might have to go with it just so I could tell people, “Hold on. Let me grab my Outdoor Research Sombrero and I’ll be ready to go!”

It just gives an air of sophistication and intellect to whatever you’re doing.

3. Sarah asks: “Could you make a spring jacket recommendation for the mommy on the go? Who is also on a budget?

Target always has the best trenches this time of year so that would be the first place I’d look. You could either go with something simple like the black trench or go a little more springy with a trench in yellow.

And I also love and adore this rainyday mac from Boden, but realize it may be a little pricey although it is a lot of fabulous wrapped up into one convenient jacket.

That’s all for today because my people are waiting on me to go fishing and mudding with them, which means they will be doing the fishing and the mudding while I stand back and take pictures. It’s a system that works for us.

I’m putting up Mr. Linky. Please remember to link to your specific post. Also, please make sure your post is actually about fashion since that’s the whole point.

Y’all have a great Friday.

Okay, so remember how last Friday I showed you how Caroline had decided to organize her closet using a Sharpie marker? And y’all were sweet enough to tell me how to get the marker off? But then I told you that I adore the marker because it will make me smile every time I see “Witt!” and “Sring!”?

Well, by noon last Friday, the nice folks at Sharpie had emailed me and offered to send me one of their fancy new stainless steel Sharpies to try. Who’s going to turn that down? A dang fool, that’s who.

So yesterday my fancy new Sharpie showed up via FedEx and it is delightful. It’s like a sophisticated Sharpie and if there is anything I crave in my life more than chips and queso, it’s sophistication. That’s the whole reason I read “US Weekly”.

Anyway, I’d just like to say WELL DONE SHARPIE HEADQUARTERS.

About a year ago, I made it a personal challenge to link to Anthropologie as much as possible with the hopes that they might send me perhaps a single dishtowel. A dishtowel. My expectations could not be lower. But Anthropologie never calls; they never write. It’s like coming home from summer camp all over again.

But yet the folks at Sharpie found me without even a direct link to guide them. They are like the CIA of corporate America and I applaud them.

I also applaud my new stainless steel Sharpie which I will keep on a very high shelf because it is my precious.

Now for some questions:

1. Rachel asks: “At what point are you too old to shop in the Juniors/Misses?”

I don’t know. I’ll let you know when I get there. I always think it’s a score when you can find something (especially trendy items) in the Juniors department because it’s usually less expensive than the clothes for grown-ups.

It’s not so much about age as it is about body type and how clothes fit your body. It also depends on the store because some department stores have better Junior departments than others. I’ve had luck finding cute things like these in the Nordstrom Junior department, but I probably won’t be buying clothing with the brand name “L8ter” any time soon.

Nor will I revisit Esprit.

The important thing to remember is that you’re going to wear a bigger size in Junior clothing than you do in other things and that’s okay. Your self-esteem shouldn’t be tied to a number on a tag. It should be tied to how good your hair looks.

And also remember that there comes a time when it’s better to leave some trends to the teenagers because it’s a right of passage to wear clothing that will make you look back at your high school pictures and cry.

2. Lilah asks: “What kind of sock do you wear with a shoe like this? Do you wear those half sock thingies or tights or no socks? If it’s no socks, how do you keep your feet and your shoes from being stinky

You can wear half sock thingies only if they don’t show. Tights if it’s really cold.

Other than that, I have to go with no socks.

The stinky feet question is a good one and is also why you will never see me wearing flats when the weather gets warm. My suggestion is to sprinkle the shoes with a little baking soda. I have no idea if it will actually help, but I felt like I needed to offer some type of suggestion and it works for my refrigerator.

I just like to throw out all kinds of unsubstantiated advice. It’s essentially the entire basis of Fashion Friday.

3. Anne asks: “I need a denim skirt. What color denim for summer? Can you wear a dark rinse year round? And would you do a pencil skirt, or A-line?”

I would love nothing more than to find a great denim skirt, but it has proved to be my fashion nemesis. I just can’t ever find exactly what I’m looking for and so I go without. That is my tale of denim woe.

However, I did see this skirt in the Boden catalog and think it’s darling, although those pockets might be better in theory.

I also saw this denim pencil skirt which looks so cute on the model with a tucked in shirt and belt. Do you know how often I’d wear a tucked in shirt with a belt in the summertime? Exactly never times.

That’s all for today because I have to finish packing for my trip. It’s like trying to stuff an elephant in a shoebox.

Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez, y’all. (I know Hebrew and Cajun. Sophisticated is the word you’re looking for.)

Here’s Mr. Linky if you have anything to add.

Do you ever have one of those moments where your child does something that is so frighteningly similar to something you would do that it kind of causes you to shiver at the power of DNA? Maybe it’s the way they put their hands on their hips when they’re talking or the way they laugh too loud at a joke?

Or maybe the way they organize their closet?

Last night before bed, Caroline wanted to show me something in her closet. She had developed some type of wardrobe labeling system that she wanted to share. The good news is that after four years of me saying “The clothes on this side of your closet are for WINTERTIME! and the clothes on this other side are for SUMMERTIME! You cannot wear a sundress when it’s 30 degrees outside”, she finally managed to embrace the basic concept.

The bad news is she labeled it in marker. Not with one of the vast amounts of Crayola washable markers that we have all over the house, but the lone Sharpie permanent marker that I reserve for emergency situations.

Behold, WINTER. She went with the phonetic spelling. And an exclamation point for emphasis.

And, Spring! Or rather “Sring” complete with a little flower illustration.

Thus, our almost 100 year old original cedar closet is forever changed.

And I’ve put the Sharpie marker up on a high shelf.

Now for the questions.

1. Several people have asked: “What are your thoughts on the maxi dress? Can it be worn by just anyone? Are they here to stay?”

Well, all I know is that when I wore mine the other day while hanging out with Jack, Chrissy and Janet at their apartment, I was really comfortable and felt very current. Oh wait, that wasn’t me. That was Mrs. Roper on “Three’s Company”.

Oh it’s just a little 70’s humor.

I actually like the maxi dress even though I don’t own one. I get the concept, but it feels very dramatic to me and I’m not sure where I’d wear it. It may be a little much for a PTO meeting. However, if I found one I really liked, I would definitely buy it. Well, except for the fact that I’m on a bit of a fashion fast and not buying anything these days.

The other thing to remember is that the maxi dress isn’t going to work for everyone. I think you need to be a little tall to pull it off without looking dumpy. You can still get the same kind of look, but with a dress that comes to your knees instead of your ankles. Of course, technically, that would eliminate the “maxi” part of maxi dress and you’d just have a “dress”.

And keep in mind that you can totally wear a fitted t-shirt under these dresses because, if you’re like me, you can’t really leave the house without a little invention known as the brassiere. I gave up on strapless bras a long time ago because I find them to be a concept that has proved to be way too ambitious.

Here are a few cute maxi dresses if you’re ready to give them a try.

2. Megan asks: “We are no longer allowed to wear open-toe shoes at work. We are limited to closed-toe shoes only. My office is in Houston and obviously not run by men, hence the no open-toe shoe policy thing. What are your suggestions for us?”

I guess in this precarious economy it’s not a good call to quit your job over the shoe issue. The folks at the unemployment office may not understand.

But don’t despair. There are still good shoe times to be had. How about something like this? Or these? Or maybe these? These are cute slingbacks with a closed toe and if you really feel daring you could go with something like this.

That’s all the questions for now because I need to go to bed. Caroline and I are taking a little road trip tomorrow and I am in desperate need of some REM sleep.

So, now for the giveaway.

A few weeks ago, Alison emailed me to let me know that she watched the scarf video and mentioned she happens to sell scarves in her online boutique. Well, I immediately emailed her back and begged her to do a giveaway because, oh my word, she has the cutest scarves. It seems fitting to give away a scarf since I’ve mentioned them a time or eight hundred in the last few months.

Here’s how you enter:

1. Go visit the Ali J Boutique and check out all her beautiful scarves.

2. Come back here and leave me a comment about anything you want, but try to mention which scarf you’d really like to win.

3. Please, no duplicate comments because it makes my head feel like it’s going to explode when I have to figure out if there are extraneous comments that need to be deleted.

4. I’ll close comments on Monday, March 30th at noon and announce the winner shortly thereafter.

I’m putting up Mr. Linky if you have a fashion post that you want to link. Also, please make sure you post the link to your specific post and not just your blog. It makes life easier for everyone and by everyone, I mean me.

Y’all have a great Friday!

The other day I was getting Caroline dressed for school and she begged me to let her wear her blue flip-flops.  I agreed that she could, as long as we packed a pair of tennis shoes in her school bag.  Then I brushed her hair into a ponytail and put a hot pink bow in it.

She felt me slip the bow in and said, “I DO NOT want that bow in my hair.”

“Why?  It looks so cute!”

“I don’t like it.”

“Well, I’m letting you wear your flip-flops so you need to wear the bow for me.”

“Okay, I’ll wear it, but as soon as I get to school I’m going to put it in my bag and forget this bow ever happened.”

I laughed and realized that statement sums up how I feel about everything I wore from 1985 to 1993.  If only there wasn’t so much photographic evidence of all the sins I committed in the name of fashion trends.

But that’s why they’re called “trends”.  Just keep in mind that not all trends are meant for everyone.

I wish someone would have told me that back in the 80’s before I wore those lace fingerless gloves and blue eyeliner.

Anyway, according to all my minutes of research, here are ten trends for Spring and Summer.  If you don’t like them, don’t shoot the fashion messenger.

TRENDS FOR SPRING AND SUMMER

1.  Slouchy pants 

Is it just me or does this make you think of the line in “Nacho Libre” when he says that sometimes a man likes to wear stretchy pants when he’s alone in his room?  Yeah, just me.  After twelve years of marriage to P, I have inherited his tendency to think of life as a series of movie quotes.

This is actually a decent trend because it involves one of my favorite fashion elements, which is comfort.  These are essentially pants that fit loose through the hips and can either be full-length or capris.  The styles can range from a pair of boyfriend-type jeans like Katie Holmes has been sporting to a loose pair of cargos.

The key is to pair these pants with something more fitted on top.  You want the pants to be slouchy, not you.  

2. Hot pink

I’ll just be up front and tell you that I also saw mention of “neon” pink, but I’m going to pretend like I didn’t because I’ve done neon once in my life and I’m not doing it again.  Although I did love my hot pink and neon green Santa Cruz outfit back in 1986.

I am totally on board with hot pink.  It’s a great accent color for almost any outfit because it is bright and happy without a tendency to sometimes be overly dramatic like it’s second cousin, red.

Look for a great hot pink scarf or necklace to add to your wardrobe.  Or you could always wear a hot pink tee with jeans and some hot pink patent thong sandals.  And if you really want to get on the hot pink train (what the heck is a hot pink train?), you could find a hot pink bag to get you through the summer.

3. The statement necklace

I wore a lot of necklaces in the early 80’s that made a statement.  The statement was “This is a lot of twist-a-beads wound together and I’m not sure this faux gold shell clip is going to fasten.”  Thankfully, what we’re looking for here is a different kind of statement.

There are so many different types of necklaces that fit this category and you can find them in any price range.  I’m a big fan of turquoise pretty much all year round, but I adore it during the spring and summer months.

4. Black and white prints

The good news is, if you’re like me, you already have an assortment of at least ten different black shirts in your closet.  Pair those shirts with something white and you’re all set.  That’s a little fashion tip I like to call “making do in the midst of a recession”.

However, if you must have something new, there are plenty of cute black and white options to choose from.  The great thing is that it’s so versatile and you can accessorize with any color you want. 

5. The trench

It’s not just for Inspector Gadget anymore.

According to Tim Gunn, the trench should be a closet staple.  I used to be conflicted about this because I didn’t understand why anyone would want a boring tan trench coat in their closet unless they had a side job as a flasher.  However, they now come in so many cute styles and colors that I get it.  I have embraced the trench.

In fact, I would pledge my undying love to this one, except technically it’s not really a trench. 

6. The scarf

You know I love you, but we have beat the scarf thing to death at this point.  It’s not that I don’t adore them, but I am sick of talking about them.  

For more on scarves, here’s a video on how to wear them and here are a few scarf options.

7. Embellished sandals

 There was a time about twenty years ago when I vowed I would never wear sandals again.  I have deep insecurities regarding my feet and figured why would I ever wear sandals when I have Keds in every color?  Obviously, I had to rethink that whole Keds thing a few years later and, after a lot of therapy, I’ve learned that my feet are okay just the way they are.

All that being said, embellished sandals are a fun way to make an outfit stand out.  I particularly like these and these.

8. Ruffles

I love the look of a ruffled shirt with a pair of jeans.  Maybe it has something to do with the contrast between the feminine ruffles and the denim or maybe I’m just trying to write something that sounds intelligent and thoughtful.

Whatever the case may be, there are some really cute ruffled shirts and I love this ruffle trim jacket and how cute is this trench with a ruffle hem?

9. Cool colors like turquoise

Oh my word, why didn’t I just post six trends for Spring?  This is wearing me out and I need to finish so I can watch “30 Rock” in peace.

Look for accessories and clothing in beautiful blues and greens.  It’s the next best thing to being in the pool.

10. Neutrals (beiges, khakis, etc.)

I don’t really know how I feel about neutrals.  I’m like Switzerland when it comes to neutrals, which is to say that I’m neutral.  Also, the word “neutral” looks really weird when you type it that many times in a row.

This is like that old saying “Beige makes the world go ’round”, except no one has probably ever said that until now because I just made it up.  The point is that to balance your hot pinks and cool blues, you must occasionally have some neutral influences.  

Think about adding a jacket like this one or some bone-colored wedge sandals to your wardrobe.  Or maybe just a nice pair of khaki bermuda shorts that you can wear with anything.

I can’t believe we’re done.  

And it only took me the better part of ALL DAY LONG.  This whole research thing is exhausting, which is the main reason I prefer to just state my opinion on a subject as opposed to substantiating any facts.

Anyway, hopefully this will help you hit the stores feeling just like a boy scout, and, by that, I mean ALWAYS PREPARED.

Last but not least, make sure you visit the Daily Links page to read about winning an opportunity to attend the She Speaks Conference for free.

I’m putting up Mr. Linky if you have anything to add to the discussion from your blog or feel free to add some thoughts in the comments.

First of all, I need to apologize to the makers of the Slanket/Snuggie. After two days of temperatures that haven’t gotten above 50, I would sell my Aunt Pearl to own a Snuggie.

(I don’t really have an Aunt Pearl.)

(I could actually go up to HEB and buy a Snuggie if I really wanted one. I’m just being dramatic.)

The point is that if someone tried to judge if I was alive by feeling my feet for any sign of warmth or life, they would bury me alive. Not even my Uggs can help me now.

Okay, so many of y’all asked about the green sundress Caroline was wearing in Tuesday’s post. I found it at TJ Maxx for $10.00. It’s a brand called Hype and it must run small because that dress is a size 8. I always check TJ Maxx for their kids’ clothes because they have some amazing deals and carry a lot of brand name stuff.

Kids have a total racket going with that whole “growing out of things” issue that they have going on. It’s all a pretty clever scheme to ensure a whole new wardrobe every season. Technically, I guess I could eat eighteen pans of brownies and grow out of my clothes too.

On a totally different note, last Friday I drove to Georgetown to talk to a MOPS group about fashion. They asked me to discuss spring trends and how to make the most of your wardrobe. So in lieu of answering questions today, I thought I’d share with you all the fashion advice I imparted in Georgetown, Texas last week.

1. Before you buy anything or go shopping, SHOP YOUR CLOSET.

I realize that sounds totally depressing and, trust me, it totally is. However, you may be surprised to find a few things that you’d forgotten you own. This happened to me in the form of a cute white tuxedo shirt I bought from Gap about six years ago and have now worn twice in the last two weeks.

The most entertaining way to do this is to invite a friend over whose opinion you trust, give the kids a bag of glass to keep them occupied, and try on EVERYTHING in your closet. Pants, jeans, dresses, shoes, and accessories.

EVERYTHING.

2. Make four piles: KEEP, DONATE, THROW IT OUT, ALTERATIONS

Here are some guidelines: If it’s stained, pilled, or faded then throw it out. Don’t look at me like that, THROW IT OUT.

If you haven’t worn it in two years, throw it out or donate it. The only exception is if it has the potential to be a quality vintage piece someday. I don’t care what anyone tells you, those faded pink capri pants from Old Navy will never be considered vintage.

Be honest about what you think needs to be altered. In fact, if you don’t take it to a tailor within two weeks of putting it in the Alterations pile, then you need to get rid of it because that garment is never going to become acquainted with a needle and thread.

3. Group what’s left by category and color.

Be prepared to mourn the lack of quantity in your closet, but console yourself with the fact that you never wore any of that other stuff anyway. It was all just a grown-up version of a security blanket, Linus.

Once you have a moment of silence for the dearly departed, put everything in categories according to whether it’s a shirt, jeans, dress, etc. Look at everything and put together some complete outfits, including shoes and jewelry.

If you’re really anal and organized, you can write potential outfits down on paper, or you can be like me and just remember them using Jedi mind tricks.

4. Now figure out what you need to fill in the missing space.

Do you need a new white t-shirt to wear under something? Some new tanks? Maybe a new statement necklace or a cuff bracelet to make an outfit pop a little bit?

You may not be able to go buy it all at once, but at least you know what you have and what you need. This will keep you from owning eight of the exact same black tanks from Old Navy.

Purely hypothetical scenario.

5. Every closet should have a few essential things, no matter the trends.

(Am I about to do an outline? Shut up. I thought that was a completely impractical skill set, like quadratic equations.)

(Is there really such a thing as quadratic equations?)

A. A great pair of jeans that are comfortable and fit well.

I am a believer in spending a little more for a great pair of jeans because, if you’re like me, you’ll wear them all the time. You can find great deals on designer jeans at TJ Maxx, Ebay, and even Sam’s.

What kind of marvelous world do we live in when you can purchase high-end jeans and bulk toilet paper all in one convenient location?

B. A decent pair of workout pants or yoga pants.

There will be days that you don’t want to dress up and if you have some decent looking athletic wear, you can just give the illusion that you’ve been working out, as opposed to giving up on life.

C. A comfortable, yet stylish pair of shoes.

Sneakers, flip-flops, cute sandals, mary janes, clogs, cowboy boots. Something you can wear every day and still look cute.

Of course, it’s also nice to have some shoes that aren’t as practical but fill up a little place in your heart and make you happy.

D. A well-fitting swimsuit and coverup.

(I also truly adore this one but we need to spend money on things like food) that allow you to chase your child around the pool while maintaining your dignity.

I hate to open this can of cellulite-fearing worms, but it’s true. If you have a child then it’s hard to avoid the swimsuit in the summer time, unless you hire an aquatic nanny.

E. A nice outfit for dinner out with the girls or a date with your husband and/or significant other.

Maybe a cute, short-sleeved linen jacketor fun top paired with jeans. Then there’s always the option of a casual dress, or maybe a little more tailored dress, or even a skirt.

Okay, that is a lot of information for one post. I was going to start in on trends for spring, but I’m going to save it for next week for two reasons. First of all, because I can. It’s like a cliffhanger or, rather, a clothes’ hanger. (I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself even though I know it’s stupid.) And secondly, I need to get a good night’s sleep because y’all have inspired me to finish out our Spring Break with a day o’ crafts and mani/pedis tomorrow. It’s going to require all my energy.

I’m putting up Mr. Linky if you want to add any fashion information to this post. You may also want to check out a great fashion post that Kelly wrote this week. She had some great bargain finds.

Have a great Friday!

So, before I even get started with this week’s Fashion Friday, I need to say thank you for all your coffee table support. It’s nice to know that most of you have very similar coffee table issues. I have long suffered from coffee table insecurity and am comforted to know I’m not the only one who uses it as some sort of catch-all for candy and remote controls.

March 2 is Texas Independence Day and Caroline’s school had Rodeo Day yesterday to celebrate the occasion. I signed up to volunteer for the festivities because I had some vague notion that it might be like all the Texas Independence Day celebrations I went to in college. A case of Lone Star Light, some lawn chairs, Robert Earl Keen blaring over someone’s stereo and, if we were really feeling festive, a bucket of fried chicken.

Apparently, that’s not how Kindergartners roll. I ended up being the DJ for the dancing portion of the festivities, which basically involved constantly pressing rewind and play on a tape called “The Wagon Trail”. But because I like to shake things up, we also did the Chicken Dance. I feel that it embodies everything that those men fought and died for at the Alamo.

Anyway, yesterday morning I was pulling out Caroline’s Western apparel for her to wear to school and realized her Wrangler shirt was terribly wrinkled. I tried to ignore it, but I knew I needed to pull out the iron. So I dragged out the ironing board and began ironing the shirt into some semblance of respectability.

About that time, Caroline walked into the kitchen and saw me ironing in the laundry room. She cocked her head to the side as if she had stumbled upon a freak show and said, “What are you doing, Mama?”

“I’m ironing.”

“Oh. Hey! I saw somebody do that on T.V. one time.”

What can I say? I am a firm believer in dry-cleaning. Or wrinkled clothes.

Now for the questions.

1. Melissa asks: “I’m flying to LA this weekend to see a guy I went to high school with and recently reconnected with on Facebook. So I need ‘don’t I look fabulous and wouldn’t it make a great chick flick if we fell in love because of Facebook’ outfits for the trip. Seeing as I’m not 25 or a former DCC I’d like to avoid the scarf and tank top combo a la The Bachelor..any great looks for me?”

Melissa, I don’t even know if I have any great fashion advice to offer you, but I am so fascinated by the whole possibility of a Facebook romance that I’m a little bit giddy. Facebook is a wonder. How did we ever live before we could look up the boy that was mean to us in third grade and rest in the knowledge that he is now totally bald?

Hypothetically speaking.

I think the key is to go cute and casual. Maybe a cute printed trench or a cotton blazer with a pair of jeans for the plane ride.

Depending on your plans for the rest of the weekend, you could put together an outfit like this one (love the statement necklace) or maybe something like this if you’re feeling brave.

And you can never go wrong with a versatile dress that you could dress up or down.

Most importantly, I am going to need a full report on the weekend and whether or not your life will eventually be the subject of the feel-good movie of the year. I know you don’t know me, but I am incredibly nosy.

Hence, my love of Facebook.

2. Angie asks: “My brother got me a $50 gift card to Old Navy for my birthday. If you had $50 to spend there what would you buy for your spring wardrobe?

Too bad I can’t buy a brother because I could seriously use a $50.00 hookup to Old Navy.

But enough about me.

If I had a $50.00 gift certificate to Old Navy, the first thing I’d do is wait for about another month before you buy anything. The upside of these horrible economic times is that they are going to have to drastically reduce prices to move merchandise. Not to mention the fact that you should never pay $26.50 for an item of clothing you buy in a store that has shopping carts.

That being said, I love this skirt and it comes in various colors and patterns. I also really like this tunicswimsuit coverup. These short-sleeve henleys or ruffled front cardigans would go great with jeans, shorts or skirts all summer long.

And if I had any money left over, I’d buy two pairs of flip-flops because if you buy two, they’re only $2.50 a pair.

$2.50 for flip-flops?

Is this 1974?

That’s all the questions for today. I was hoping to answer more questions, but I’ve stayed up way too late every night this week catching up on all the DVRed television that isn’t going to watch itself and I am exhausted. Not to mention that our Spring Break officially starts tomorrow and I’m going to need all the energy I can muster to serve as Caroline’s cruise director for the next ten days with no Kindergarten.

So, in fashion terms, that means it’s time to put on my big girl pants.

I’m putting up Mr. Linky if you have any fashion tips you want to share or feel free to leave them in the comments.

Y’all have a great Friday!