Please excuse that unintentional day off yesterday! We're back today, and I'm sharing one of my longtime faves for fall - CORDUROY! I've lived in Midwest climates most of my life which means that chilly temperatures are just part of the territory, and for me so is corduroy. I fell in love with its endurance as a little girl in cord jumpers and pants, and as a teenager I tried it in shirts, coats, and skirts.

These days I'm loving cord for the variety - so many colors, wales, and options for fashionable, comfortable, and cozy warm.

Here are my picks for how to wear cords this fall:

What about a cord shoe? These leopard print flats with a sassy bow are from Gap. Or cords in a hot color? Cobalt blue stretch cords featured here are super affordable over at JCPenney. The cord skirt is an easy option from Loft (and already in my closet for the season). And did you know with the right brand, cord can fit you like a glove. I'm oogling this blazer from Boden (as well as a ton of other styles in their fall line).

I embrace my inner cord lover every day with my Skooba laptop bag. I love the chocolate brown and the fun twist on a bag style with way too much black leather in its genre.

Are you with me? Do you embrace corduroy and all its goodness? Or is it a fabric whose days have gone by?

xoxo,

MJ

Happy Monday, friends! How was your last August weekend?

We spent lots of time at our Church as this weekend was our parish festival and picnic. On Friday we had a little bit of date night at the parish Casino Night. I'm not much of a gambler but I did try my hand at some roulette and black jack. No profit but only lost $3 so I'm considering that a win!

Sunday we enjoyed the Mass, picnic, and bouncy houses all outside, and it was warm, warm, warm!! And still wonderful.

I had the last of summer fashions on my mind with the 80 degree temps. Here's a simple outfit I put together on a tight budget. All of these lovelies are under $40.

Thanks so much for indulging me in all these Funday Fashion Monday posts! It's been a ton of fun to highlight all the best of summer. Looking forward to something new next Monday!

That skirt: Nordstrom's is offering this tiered skirt at a great price right now, and this color is warm and rich. I find the at-the-knee length perfect for afternoons that involve a lot of picking kiddos up and down...no worries of showing more than you want!

Those flats: These flats come in a whole rainbow of shiny. And check this pricetag: $15. This sea blue is a lovely transition tone from summer to fall.

That funky necklace: My friend, Mo, makes some great jewelry, and I love the chunk and tone of this necklace. It's a natural beauty.

That easy tee: Stripes are good any time of year, and I'm drawn to the softness of these wide stripes.

The hobo: Bag, that is. I like the simplicity and muted yellow is a great neutral.

The printed scarf: Gap has some great scarves to add a burst of print. I'm all about tying scarves around my purse or head/hair if around the neck doesn't fit my mood. How about you?

We're heading into the first full week of school and a busy work week. How's life over with you?

XOXO, MJ

                                           

Welcome Monday! How was the weekend, friends? Were you able to celebrate Dad a bit?

We celebrated C's birthday with her friends, and headed to the country to see our first drive-in movie theater!! It was so much fun and a wonderful way to soak in a great Father's Day.

I'm delighted for our second Funday Fashion Monday (did you see last week's apparel/gear/toys for heading to the beach?), and this week we're taking an afternoon out.

I spend summers in skirts and dresses. I know this because little L, when he saw me in pants last week said, "Mommy, why you wearing Daddy's pants? He lets you wear his pants?"

Ah, yes, so it had been over a month since my legs had been covered, and I too was feeling strange about it. Thanks for getting me back in line, L.

Summer allows for us to take great day trips - to the zoo, the park, a cute neighboring town - and summer offers the breeziest, cheery fashions. Here are my recs: 

1. This dress: In my books, symmetry is overrated. Take these fresh stripes out for a stroll.

2. That hat: I think I've pinned almost a dozen summer toppers to date. Hats, hats are everywhere for summer, and why not? Save your head from sun, fight off bad hair days, and look like that hipster you are (or want to be). The weave in this one totally caught my eye.

3. Those shoes: Sandals! The best of the summer flat. These are in a fun hue that's bright enough to be interesting but tame enough to coordinate with the rest of your closet.

4. That bag: As a momma of three, I need to be able to carry everyone's drinks, snacks, and that precious toy (that we really didn't have to bring along because now Mommy is carrying it). This woven green number is large and styled just right for an afternoon trip.

5. This bottle: Let's stay hydrated! This bottle is not made from plastic, and it has a strong gripper exterior. Let's just say you'll look like a tall glass of water drinking from this one. And your water will taste better, too.

6. That blanket: My favorite of the group. We have one just like this: waterproof, thin, portable w/strap. We use it everywhere because you never know when the moment to picnic will strike, so go ahead and slip this into your big tote.

7. Those baubbles: I love a statement piece and luckily I'm now trendy. These wooden chunky strands are just enough heft to contrast with the light and airy assymetrical.

8. That camera: Any summer afternoon out has to be well documented, no? Did I tell you that I just got one of these? I am SO excited to dig in and learn all there is to know about a DSLR. All of my photos here are from my phone (oh, I still love you) and my older point-and-shoot. I'm moving up in the photography world, and I'm ecstatic that I can upgrade the photos offered here and in my personal albums. Now to craft me up a kickin' camera strap...I feel a DIY coming on.

**Just a note on fashion/product posts. I'm not sponsored or endorsed by any of these companies. I love to window shop (my mom and I used to make this a serious hobby). I also don't want to give you the impression that Pars Caeli is about materialism or the need for "more".

Art and beauty reveal the Divine.

These posts include things that I admire and that, in large part, I've used...so consider them good fodder for fashion conversations around the virtual water cooler. Whenever possible, I find the thriftiest (best quality) versions of great looks around. With the exception of the camera (and the dress at $65), all of these finds are well under $50.

Thanks for popping over on this wonderful Monday! Stop back this week for some summer goodness.

XOXO,
MJ

What's up, Monday? It's going to be a good week, friends. My happy, striped ruffle shirt told me so. And I listen when my clothes make the effort to talk to me.

It was a chilly weekend here, but we made the most of it with a few local shows and some little people soccer games and birthday parties. How about you?

Today is a reserved striped kind of day - not too cold, not too warm, not too frenzied, with just a bit of classic pizzazz.

Here are some other reserved stripes that have caught my eye. On the left from Piperlime and on sale (oh, yeah) and on the right from Gap and super comfy.

What are you daring to wear today, friends? Hope it's a great week for you.

See you back here soon!

XOXO,
MJ

PS. Don't forget to leave a happy comment if you'd like a set of chalk notes (from Friday's DIY). I'll be selecting my winner and posting it tomorrow!