Shorts and Spots

(OK, so they are technically polka dots and not spots but it sounded better in the title! ;-)

Hey everyone! We made it through Monday and here we are on Tuesday. I'm hoping this week goes REALLY slow because it's my "last week of freedom". I go back to work at the day job a week from yesterday. This summer has gone way too fast! I'm bracing myself for the months ahead...they are going to be busy!

I picked up this top on clearance at Entourage, one of my girl's favorite shops here in town. The store is geared more towards high school and college girls but I can find things for me there on occasion and this top was one of those occasions! I've said many times before and I'll say it again, I love polka dots! Big, small or in between, my eye is just drawn to them. This top, with it's tiny dots, pale pink color and sweet little collar is going to spend more time out of my closet than in. You've seen these shorts and shoes a bunch this summer and it probably won't be the last time! The clutch is an oldie but goodie from Loft. It's adds a little pattern mixing to the outfit.

Today I'm linking up with Real Girl Glam for a blog hop she hosts every Tuesday. Make sure to check out some of the other bloggers who have linked up as well!


Have a savvy and stylish day!
<3 Mz Savvy Style

Copy Cat

Happy Monday! I hope all of you had a great weekend! My weekend was exhausting! I spent it moving my oldest daughter home from college. She just completed her final class and is D.O.N.E done with college!!! She's moving home and will begin an internship in August with "Extra Special People" here in town. Then in January she'll be getting married! Which means over the next six months you may be hearing a lot about weddings and planning! We have so much to do!

My youngest daughter and I shot these pictures last Thursday while we were spending the day together shopping in our beautiful little town. I knew there would be no chance to get pictures this past weekend unless you wanted to see me in sweat shorts and a t-shirt! Packing, cleaning, scrubbing and moving was all that took place and looking savvy and stylish was not happening!

As I mentioned in Friday's post, my youngest and I decided to spend one of our last few days of summer together shopping and lunching. I ordered this necklace the previous Friday from The Red Dress Boutique, picked it up Wednesday and could not wait to wear it! It is EXACTLY what I've been looking for in a turquoise necklace. I really wanted it to be the focal point of my outfit so I wore it with a plain white tank. The maxi skirt is an Old Navy clearance sale find and the reason I titled my post "Copy Cat". My sister-in-law has the same skirt and styled it almost the same way when she wore hers on our family vacation earlier in the summer. I was going to buy the skirt in a different color combo but loved the orange-red-pink of this one so much I just had to get it. (I did call my sister-in-law to make sure she didn't mind - I don't want to be Teresa Gudice after all!) Imitation is the best form of flattery, right? :-)

I'm linking up today, as I do every Monday, with the fabulous ladies of Monday Mingle! Have a savvy and stylish start to your week!

<3 Mz Savvy Style

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things ~ Shoes, Necklaces, Shopping and Denial

This has been a week of denial for me. Denial that I'm about to start back to the day job and my days of being able to get things done not pertaining to the day job are ending quickly. So my long list of "things to do this summer" still sits there with quite a few things still not crossed off and I went shopping instead! (Seriously, I don't want you all to think I just sat around eating bonbons all summer! My list was just very long and I don't think it's possible to get it all done in six weeks ~ that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

Some of this week's favorite things:

~ Shoes... Always a favorite!!! The fabulous turquoise and purple platforms were given to me by my son's girlfriend and my youngest daughter. The girls were at TJMaxx, saw these beauties on clearance and knew they needed to come live with me! Smart, savvy girls! When they brought them home I was wearing sweat shorts, an old t-shirt and was watching TV but I believe new shoes must be worn immediately, hence the picture of my feet in these fab shoes in front of the TV! The other pair of shoes were also on clearance (don't you LOVE these summer clearance sales?!?) at one of my favorite downtown Athens shops, Fab'rik. The shoes are almost identical to a much more expensive pair I've been craving all summer! Score!

~ Necklaces... Another love of mine. My collection keeps growing and growing. I believe accessories, especially a great statement necklace, can change the look of an outfit. A simple T and jeans will turn into a fabulous outfit when you toss on a statement necklace. These necklaces are the most recent additions to my wardrobe. I mentioned the turquoise beaded necklace in last Friday's "favorite things" because I had just ordered it, but I picked it up this week so here it is again! It's going to be featured in this coming Monday's post as well so stop back by and see how I styled it for the first time out. I ordered it from another of my favorite Athens shops, The Red Dress Boutique. They have a fabulous website along with their beautiful downtown shop, so if you are not here in town you can place an order and have it shipped directly to you! The other necklace was also mentioned in a post earlier this week but I wanted to brag on it again. It's a vintage, reconstructed brass chain with a brass cross over a white stone cross and it's huge! I'm in love!! Thanks again to my friend and jewelry designer, Amy, of Funky Trunk Vintage for making me such an amazing piece of jewelry! (She also has peace signs, crystals and other charms in her collection that are equally as fabulous!)

~ Dinner downtown with my family... Dinner out is always a treat but when it's with my husband and kids at our favorite downtown Athens burger joint it's extra special! My kids are growing up quickly and their lives are getting more busy by the day so when we can all sit down, enjoy dinner together and catch up it's definitely my favorite thing of the week!

~ Downtown Shops... As I mentioned above my favorite shops in our little town are downtown. The summer is a great time to head into town and spend the day because the students are gone and it's easy to find parking! My youngest and I decided to take a day this week and just enjoy visiting all the shops. Shopping, frozen yogurt and burgers with our boys ~ it was a perfect day!

How was your week? What were your favorite things? I hope you all have a savvy and stylish weekend!! See you on Monday!

<3 Mz Savvy Style

Owls ~ They're a Hoot

I have a small obsession with owls. Not necessarily live owls, though I think they're great, but owl jewelry. My little obsession started with one cute, multi colored owl necklace I purchased months ago at one of my favorite stores here in town. Over the past several months he (yes, I've decided it's a he) has become one of my go-to jewelry pieces (and my daughter borrows him a lot too!). Since the purchase of my first owl piece other owl jewelry (and home decor - but I haven't let myself go there yet) has been catching my eye. I now own three adorable owl necklaces and am resisting the urge to make my little collection larger. How many owls should a girl own? Do I branch out into owl pins, bracelets and rings or stick to the three necklaces I own? Do I really want to become known as the crazy owl lady? Are any of you smitten with the owl trend as well? How can you not love them ~ they're a hoot!

Have a savvy and stylish day!

<3 Mz Savvy Style

THIS Summer's Go-To Look

If you had asked me last summer what my go-to look was I would have said maxi dresses, hands down. I wore a maxi dress just about everyday for every occasion. This summer, for some reason, I've migrated to shorts and a cute tank. It's strange really, because I've never been a shorts wearing girl. I even blogged about it a few times. I guess the stars aligned or pigs flew because I've been reaching for shorts far more often than maxi dresses or skirts.

These black shorts are some of my favorites. I should have bought them in more colors while the buying was good but I was in my "I don't wear shorts" phase at the time and passed them by. So these make the rotation quite often. Length is important to me when choosing shorts. Too long and I look stumpy (yep, stumpy) and too short, well, let's just say it's not pretty!! This tank was a gift from my son's girlfriend. We were out consignment shopping one afternoon when I fell in love with it but didn't buy it so she went back the next day and surprised me with it. Sequins, stars and a little sheerness, the perfect combo!

What's your go-to look this summer? Is it different from previous summers? Today I'm linking up with Real Girl Glam! Have a savvy and stylish day!

<3 Mz Savvy Style

If Loving Orange Is Wrong

I don't look very happy in these pictures. I was in a hurry and it was really hot out. So sorry about the "oh, please let's just get this over with" look on my face and the bad shadows!

I love to wear orange. It's just such a happy color. As a diehard, I-bleed-red-and-black, Georgia Bulldog fan (who happens to live IN Athens) I probably shouldn't admit it, but I do. If loving to wear orange is wrong I don't want to be right. Now I am very careful about when and where I wear my orange. I would not be caught dead in orange on football weekends, but during the summer when there is a break in the competition I happily parade around town in this fabulous bright orange blouse!

I'm loving my new vintage cross necklace made for me by my talented friend, Amy, of Funky Trunk Vintage Designs. (I did a post earlier about Amy, her company and her amazing, unique, handmade, reconstructed vintage jewelry you can read here -http://www.mzsavvystyle.blogspot.com/2012/06/funky-trunk-vintage.html )
I'm obsessed really. I want it all. If you haven't visited Funky Trunk's website ( http://www.thefunkytrunk.com ) or Facebook page, you are missing out!

Today, as I do every Monday, I'm linking up with the fabulous fashionistas of Monday Mingle! Thanks for reading and have a savvy and stylish start to your week!

<3 Mz Savvy Style

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things ~ Summer's Winding Down

Our summers here in Georgia start early which means our summers end early. Gone are the good old days of summer break being from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The schools let out in mid-May and the first week of August school is back in session. My day job is at my kids school so my summer is quickly coming to an end. Sad. I always have such big plans for the summer break, lists of things to accomplish, people to see, places to go, but many of those things don't get done in the short amount of time I have off. So much to do so little time. I really have a lot to get accomplished in these next two weeks! Yikes! But at least I get a summer break, right?

I've really enjoyed doing these "favorite things" posts the past few Friday's. It makes me look at the week a little differently ~ pulling out little things in each day that make me smile. Here are a few of my favorite things from my "summer is winding down week".

~ None Quite Like You necklace in turquoise. I have been searching for a necklace like this for a long time (really, a very long time, years). I wanted a necklace that was just turquoise, no gold, no silver, just layers and layers of turquoise beads and I found it at Red Dress Boutique. Red Dress is a shop here in Athens but they have a wonderful, well run website so if you don't live here you can still order from a wide selection of very current and on trend clothes, jewelry, shoes and accessories. I run (literally) by the boutique a few mornings a week and always stop to window shop. There are the cutest neon ballet flats in the window right now and they are at the top of my wish list! I'm looking forward to wearing my new turquoise necklace and I'm sure you'll see it in many future posts!

~ My kids and I made a late night run to our favorite frozen yogurt place, Menchie's, and this is their newest flavor. Maple Bacon Donut is not appealing to me, I don't eat bacon or donuts and the combo sounds kind of gross, but it gave us a good laugh. Different strokes for different folks, right?

~ I met a good friend for lunch this week at one of my favorite pasta places. It's nice to just step away from the busyness of the week and visit with a friend! I don't do it enough.

~ Remember my post earlier in the week about my obsession with polka dots? Well, the obsession continues! I found this blouse while out shopping with my youngest. It was on clearance plus an additional 20% off so I got it for about $15! I think it will work well with jeans, pants and skirts and I'm looking forward to styling it many different ways for play and work!

~ This little orange cup and what's in it is one of my favorite things ever, of all time. Jittery Joes is a local coffee shop and they make the best vanilla chi tea. It's like "Christmas in a cup". I TRY to limit myself to two (or three) a week, sometimes I'm not very successful! :) It's my comfort food, my happy food, my I'd-rather-have-this-than-anything-else food. And doesn't the bright orange cup make you smile?!

Well, that's it! A look at just a few of my favorite things from the past week. What were a few of YOUR favorite things? I hope you all have had a savvy and stylish week and have a fabulous weekend!

<3 Mz Savvy Style

Obsessed With Polka Dots

My love affair with polka dots began many, many years ago. In the late 80's and early 90's my closet was full of polka dotted pieces. I had tops, dresses, rompers... yep, I said polka dotted rompers ala Minnie Mouse. The polka dot trend kind of died out like most trends do but much to my delight polka dots have made a comeback! When a trend comes around for the second time you have to consider if it's age appropriate. The rule usually is, "if you wore it the first time around you shouldn't wear it the second". But I've found that when re-embracing a trend it's HOW you do it that makes all the difference and not IF you do it. This goes for neon, leggins, polka dots and any other trend that was hot 20+ years ago and is hot again. When you are over 35 a little of a trend goes a long way (so no Minnie Mouse polka dot rompers for me this go around! ;-) )

I adore this top. I wore it a few weeks ago in a different post and this will probably not be the last time you see it! I bought it at TJMaxx and got it a size too big on purpose so it would hang loose and flowey. I'm busty (not fun when you love fashion) and I steer away from tight tops. I like tops that skim and not cling. But these jeans are another story. I think colored jeans (and jeans in general) should fit snugly ~ saggy, baggy britches (jeans) are not attractive. The slim fit of these jeans balances out the looseness of the top. Your outfit should be in balance ~ long, loose top, skinny bottom or shorter, skinny top, loose bottom. Loose + loose makes you appear dumpy and heavier than you actually are and skinny + skinny makes you look like you have outgrown you clothes. Fit is everything. I may do a whole post soon on fit and proportion.

When I wear skinny jeans in the warm weather months I usually wear high wedges because it makes my not-so-lean legs look a little leaner. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do! :-)

After reading back through this post I realized I was kind of all over the place! I started off with my polka dot obsession, which lead to trends and their being age appropriate and ended with fit and proportion! No one can say this blog isn't full of information! Ha! I hope you all are having a savvy and stylish week!

<3 Mz Savvy Style

Today I'm linking up with the Pleated Poppy http://thepleatedpoppy.com/blog/

Shades of Grey and White

I wear a lot of bold, bright colors but sometimes toning it down with softer shades is spot on. I love the classic combo of grey and white. It's easy, sophisticated and perfect for all seasons.

This grey tunic is one of my favorite finds this season. It's so breezy and lightweight that it's perfect for summer. I love it so much I bought the same tunic in ivory as well ~ and if it had come in other colors I would have bought them too! Because of the tunic's loose, flowey fit I paired it with these white skinny jeans for balance. This necklace literally screams "summer"! When I wear it I almost feel like I'm back at the beach ~ almost. A girl can dream, right?!?

I'm linking up with Monday Mingle (I know it's Tuesday ~ I'm a little late) and Real Girl Glam!

Hope all you fabulous fashionistas have a savvy and stylish day!

<3 Mz Savvy Style

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things ~ Just a Normal Week

This week has been just a normal summer week, no holidays, no vacations, nothing fancy, just a week in the life! I have discovered that since I've started blogging I look at everyday life and the world around me a little different. I try to see the uniqueness and beauty in things I would have normally looked over in the past. I'm constantly looking for things to share with you all that will make you smile.

Here are a few of my favorite things from my normal, nothing fancy week:

~ This was probably one of the best moments of the week ~ my kids getting ice cream from the ice cream man. I've been having a hard time lately with them growing up and leaving the nest (in one years' time we will have three graduations and one wedding!), so to see my 19 year old son and my 17 year old daughter get excited about the ice cream truck coming through our neighborhood made me feel like, just for a few minutes, I had my babies back!

~ Little gifts for my girls. My primary "love language" is gifts. I love to receive gifts but even more than that I love to give them. I was out running errands when I saw these "little something's" for my girls, just to let them know I'm listing to and love them!

~ Tory Burch silk tunic!! This week I went thrifting with my youngest. We both enjoy the hunt! I found this beautiful Tory Burch tunic for $16 at one of my favorite thrift/consignment shops. My heart literally stopped when I saw it and the price!! Score!

~ I love a good quote or saying (just look at my Pinterest board "Signs, Sayings and Scripture")! Here are a few words of wisdom that made me think.

~ One of my bracelet stacks from this week. I adore pearls and gold. The combo makes me feel very Coco!

~ Style Watch magazine. Don't you love that week of the month when all your magazine subscriptions come in the mail? It makes opening the mailbox fun! I get my subscriptions on my iPad as well, which makes it easier when I'm on the go, but during the summer when I'm home more I enjoy picking up and leafing through every glossy page of my favorite magazines!

Hope you all have had a wonderful week and have a savvy and stylish weekend! XO

<3 Mz Savvy Style