What I wore today: 07/28/2011

Today is my dad's birthday. To celebrate, my family is hanging out by the pool while my brother grills. Here's what I'm wearing . . .

Eyelet dress: Ruche

Eyelet espadrilles: Tommy Hilfiger (hand-me-downs from Ryan's mom)

Neon yellow nail polish: American Apparel

Pearl earrings: gift from my dad

Acorn and wand necklace: Seventh Street Gifts

* * *

My dad asked us not to buy him any presents, but Ryan and I circumvented the rule by making him something (just like I used to do as a kid!) We made him a comic strip about a wino named Wino and his blind dog Blindo.

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3rd of July

^That's what summer knees look like -- all bruises and scratches from outdoor fun.

Today, I wanted to keep things fairly simple and not totally all out red, white, and blue (I saved that campiness for the food). Do you like my new Ohio necklace with the heart cutout for Cincinnati?

Dress: The Limited

Scarf: H&M

Shoes: Target

Necklace: Etsy

Can you guess what I made for the party?

Fresh fruit kebabs in the shape of an American flag!

Ryan loved them . . .

I also made this red, white, and blue fruit pizza.

And, of course, as I worked busily, I had to sip on one of my signature enhanced sparkling waters.

And Ryan and I had even more fun with the 8mm vintage camera app, making this video of my playing corn hole like it's the hammer throw? Doesn't it look like some crazy vintage footage of a 1920s olympics where female athletes wore dress?

We do have fun.

It was a great day, and I'm ready to have even more fun tomorrow! I love holidays!

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Designer taste on a budget: white lace dresses

I've been seeing cute little short white lace dresses and 3/4-length sleeves and I love so much. There are a lot of expensive designer ones, but I've also found some affordable styles.

Leave of Grass, $1,010

Sandro, $390

Juicy Couture, $280

But, for Vanity Fair's Oscar's after party, Natalie Portman picked one by H&M from their yet-to-be-released eco-friendly line.

I think this one is my favorite of all (mostly because I'm obsessed with Peter-Pan collars). It's from Ruche and is $46.99.

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Little WHITE dress: runway and the real way

Of course your beloved little black dress will always be there in your closet where you can reach for it when you need it, but for spring the little white dress takes center stage. Even in the colder months a white dress can look great with black tights under it.

Little white dress on the the Spring-2011 runway:

Michael Kors

Matthew Ames

Gabriele Colangelo

Donna Karan

Cushnie et Ochs

Chloé

Celine

Calvin Klein

Cacharel

Akris

...And the little white dress "the real way" on users of hypeed.com