Steph - Ventage Wednesday 9/4/2013

Ok so it is not Tuesday.  We Ventage girls are a busy lot.  Life happens.  I love picking out clothes.  I love talking about clothes.  I love my Ventage girlies.

Todays plan was to put together a fall outfit for a Ventage friend.  I have Miss Stephanie.  Steph has been working hard on getting fit and healthy post two babies.  She is looking fly and has really inspired me to get my butt to work and get healthy and be deliberate.

I tried to find something cute and casual and adaptable. Stephanie's coloring is VERY different than mine, it made it tricky for me to find the right color palette that seemed Steph-ish.  

Here are my finds.  I think this would also be cute with a maxi skirt instead of jeans.

Steph - Ventage Wednesday 9/4/2013 by angiejolson featuring a bead necklace

Moon Collection green top / Old Navy plus size tank top / Lucky Brand jeans / Accessorize ballet shoes / FOSSIL crossbody handbag / Kenneth Cole bead necklace / Too Faced Cosmetics

hello monday

hello children who need more outside time... my kids have turned into maniacs.  they are soooo stir crazy and that in turn makes me crazy and tired.  i may have turned to mike yesterday and said, "don't worry, it won't be like this forever, someday at least Dottie and Charlie will move out" bwhahhahahahahahaha. 

hello state champs!  in a follow up to my previous post, the Notre Dame Tritons are state champs!!  Luke and i went to the game saturday night and I am soooo proud of the beautiful miss katherine!  I got a little teary even. 

hello big things...  there is an interesting opportunity heading my way, not quite sure what to make of it or if this is the one I have been waiting for... only time will tell.

hello emerald green... I am not much of a green girl usually (I leave that to the lovely Miss Stephanie) but I bought this emerald green cardigan and am LOVING it and wearing it with everything. 

hello to finding a way and powering through...  moms of the world - you are doing a great job and YOU are ENOUGH (no matter what FB or Pinterest says). 

Today I am...

my little happy calendar at work

Wearing... grey dress, pink tights, houndstooth Sorel boots, white puffy coat, red/white stocking cap, black/white/red mittens.  Rocking the snowstorm fashion. 

Listening to...  Def Lepard, Joan Jett, Duran Duran.  Its 80's on Pandora people!  Whats not to love?

Trying to remember... that some day bedtime battles will be over and that I will miss snuggling those cranky little people that live in my house. 

Drinking... lots and lots of coffee.  3 am starts to the day will do that to a girl. 

Playing... Candy Land (always the yellow piece) and Go Spidey (marvel's version of Go Fish).

Laughing... at Dottie's constant need to "shake her booty" even if she prefers to do so without underwear. 

Wishing... Charlie was a better sleeper, how can such a happy daytime baby be such a crabby night time baby?

Looking forward to... seeing Barb this weekend and Luke's wrestling tournament. 

Winter Wonderfuls: Ventage Tuesday

You may have come to the realization that I am a freak.  If you haven't, this post may be the one that seals the deal for you.  

I.
Love.
Winter.

Yep.  Love it.  It may be the Norwegian Viking blood in my veins.  It may be a Sconnie girl thing.  May just be that I hate being hot.  Whatever the reason - I love December through March.  

Living in the land of the frozen tundra, snow can come as early as October and stay around as late as April.  Good times.  Here are my top five things about winter:

1)  Stocking Hats.  Love them.  We own about 10 million stocking caps - these may have been my favorite ever in the collection though.  

Packer hats, Brewer hats, pink hats that sparkle, Skull and cross bones hats, camouflage hats, Bucky hats, cute black hipster hats, got them.  love them.  Ask Barb, I am always scouting for new hats.  

2) Kids bundled up in snow gear.

This picture is old but I love it.  We always put the kids to work shoveling and although getting them all in the gear is annoying, they look so cute bundled up.  Always makes me smile to see kids going nuts in the snow.

3)  Birthdays.  December and January are big birthday months in my life, Barb, Dorothy, my dad, Mike, my mom and Katrina all celebrate birthdays.  Never let an opportunity to celebrate go to waste!  

4)  Ice Skating.  I grew up in a hockey town.  I have been skating since I was about 4.  Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to teach my own kids... must remedy that pronto.

5)  hot drinks - Some people love hot chocolate.  I love Tom and Jerrys.  :)  What is not to love, booze and creamy goodness.  Yum.  

Whats not to love people?

I SPY...

When I was little, I loved the game I Spy.  I Spy with my own little eye... and then try and get the other person to guess what you have identified as your target. 

I also love Seek and Find books, Wheres Waldo, etc.  You get the drift.  I love the challenge of looking for hidden gems. 

Good thing.  Socks?  In my house? bhwahhahahaah.  Hidden gems. 

I am not just talking about baby socks (the devils curse), but girly toddler socks, boy athletic socks, daddy work socks and any two freaking socks that will make a pair for mom.

I have been seeking to find those socks every day for the last 4.5 years.

This morning?  The socks defeated me. I present to you my foot on December 13, 2012.

 No Sock.  Just red shoes.  Reminding you that I live in Wisconsin and its December.  Remind me of this when I have a cold in 1.4 weeks.

Ventage Top Five 10/9

The other day, I told you about my Ventage girls.  Lately, we have been having some pretty epic email chains about clothes.  You know, the I hate my closet, I look so boring, wish I was a millionaire type convos.  Well, we still might hate our closets and want to be millionaires, but if you want to start looking at your clothes with fresh eyes?  Bring in fresh eyes!  

We have been taking some selfies and sharing our outfits.  I can't speak for everyone else, but it has made me look at my closet differently and put things together in a better way.  

I could still be skinnier, and more stylish, but I am feeling pretty damn good about my wardrobe lately!  

Today's challenge?  What are your top five closet must haves.  Go check out Em, Steph, Barb and Katrina and I have some things in common - but everyone has their own style!  We are just real women, not skinny minis, not unlimited cash to spend on clothes, not always the most confident in our choices.  BUT - we are committed to stepping up our look and are happy to share what we are learning along the way.  

Here are my top fives:

1)  Great fitting jeans.  Not the jeans that you WISHED fit you, but ones that really do. I am a huge fan of the Gap 1969 perfect boot in dark wash.  

2)  Tank tops.  Lots and lots of tank tops in many colors.  I like to buy these cheap (think Target or Old Navy) wear them till they lose their shape and then add them to the pj pile.  Can change a lot of looks with a tank (paired with a cardi, layered with another shirt) use to cheaply add color and texture to outfits.  

3)  Red heels.  I love to wear colorful shoes to spice up a boring outfit.  My go to shoes are red heels.  xoxox this look.  

4)  A versatile black dress.  Now, this is not the I want to knock your socks off and make out in the back of the mini van (I know, such a wild and crazy life I lead) kind of dress.  This is a workhorse dress - easy to wash, wear for a casual night out, wear with a cardigan to work, add some sparkly jewelry and wear for a dressier occasion.  Note - this piece doesn't need to be spendy.  My favorite black dress (see below) was $38.  yay!

5)  Crazy jewelry.  I am always scouring for weird and bulky necklaces.  They spice up that boring shirt without spending a ton of cash.  I get TONS of compliments on my necklaces and love the costume jewelry because it is fun and funky!  

Would love to hear what your must haves are - and be sure to go check out the rest of the gangs ideas too!

Ventage Top Five 10/9 by angiejolson featuring a ribbed tank

Ruffle dress / Ribbed tank / GAP mid rise jeans / Miz Mooz shoes, $165 / Chain necklace / 

Trendy Tuesday

When Luke was born, I became a total slob.  I mean, I could barely comb my hair, get showered and dressed in something besides yoga pants.  I was adjusting to a 430 wakeup time, sleepless nights, all that jazz.  

When Dottie was born, I went from slob to zombie.  Two kids in 17 months.  I was barely functioning.  I have very few memories of the first six months.  My memories of the second six months involve lots of meltdowns (me) and tantrums (Luke) a confused baby (Dottie) and a traveling for work husband (Mike).  

Now with Charlie - it is like a lightbulb went on.  I am adjusted to the 430 wakeup, the nights of interrupted sleep.  I have come to peace (sort of) that my house is a disaster and that the laundry never is caught up.  I refuse to feel guilty that sometimes we eat just buttered noodles and applesauce for dinner.  No one is malnourished at my house.  

And so, I am coming out of the fashion black hole I have been living in.  Like - really making an effort to put together some outfits and wear accessories and (gasp!) makeup.  It is the makeup that is making this so fun - trying new looks, acting like Kim Kardashian with a huge smokey eye (lets be clear, I already had the huge ass) and not caring that a paper company lawyer doesn't usually mean fashionable.  

So if you are in that dark hole of either zombie or slob - there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  You can get your groove back.  Embrace that glittery gold eyeliner!  

But I do still love yoga pants.