Yellow and White in the Garden

This has the been the warmest and most beautiful spring we've had in Wisconsin in many years.  With the exception of being too dry, the weather has been absolutely perfect.  I am able to sit outside on my porch as I write this post because it is 78 degrees.  Yesterday we were able to grill and dine outside until after 8:00 p.m.  This early summer weather is just not something were are use to in my state, so we are all really enjoying it and are extremely appreciative.

 I have noticed a decline in daffodil blooms the past few years, which is a signal that it is time for me to dig up and divide.  I will do that once the flowers fade, and the stems start to wilt.  But here are a few of the lovelies to share nonetheless:

 All the perennials have emerged and poked their heads through the soil by now.  In a few months, the gardens will be so lush and full you won't even be able to see the ground.

 I don't have many tulips left either, and will probably need to invest in some new bulbs this fall as well.  I have a few pink ones scattered about my garden, but I will show those next week, as I wanted to stick with yellow and white blooms today.

 And finally, my white bleeding heart.  This is actually a plant that reseeded from another plant.

It won't be long before all my flowering crabs and lilacs are in bloom and the garden will smell like heaven.  I can't wait!

Have a great day!  Amy

Puppies and Boots

I have a masculine card to share with you today.  The image is retired Stampin Up! 'For Father' and the sketch is from Mojo Monday (358).

 The paper is from DCWV 'The Natural'.  I colored the image with Copic Markers, and because the card is for a man, I kept embellishments simple by adding just a button and thin brown ribbon.

I used a MFT die to cut out the banner for the sentiment.

Have a great day!  Amy

What I Wore Shopping: Spring Graphic Tee & Boyfriend Jeans

 Yup.  I went with it.  My second Fashion Post of the week will always be titled 'What I Wore Shopping'.  Like I said in my two previous friday fashion posts:  I only wear 'real clothes' twice a week:  once to church, and once to go shopping;  and since most of my readers can totally relate to real life fashion…it seemed the logical thing to do.

I have read on many fashion blogs that no one over forty should wear a graphic tee.   Well if that's true, they better tell all the sports fans,  proud alumnus, Jesus lovers, support groups, band groupies, and home state lovers, to stop wearing their tee shirts!  Nah, not gonna happen.  Who makes these rules anyway?

I love tee shirts and I wear all different kinds, with or without words or graphics, because they fit my casual lifestyle.  There are no restrictions for age as far as I am concerned.  Today's tee shirt I wore on a cool, misty spring day.  It was one of those days where one minute it's cool, cloudy, and a bit misty,  and the next minute the sun comes out and your hot.  So I wore a scarf and jean jacket (old, Express), to keep me warm when the sun hid behind the clouds.

 My outfit consists of three J. C. Penny items:  the Linen Graphic T-Shirt, a.n.a boyfriend jeans, and a green Liz Clairborne hand bag (similar).

 For jewelry, other than my usual cobalt blue watch and rings, I wore a jade bracelet.  My scarf is a knit material and is from The Gap (old).

 I know a lot of women don't like sheer tees, but they are my favorite.  I don't like traditional tee shirts because I find the material too thick, heavy and uncomfortable.  I really like the option of having layers in the summer, because if it gets really hot I could remove the tee shirt, or, if I'm worried I'm getting too much sun, I have the cover up of the tee without all the extra weight.

I thought the colors in this shirt was so fun and summer-like.  I sent this picture of myself to my daughter and she replied 'Cute!  Your looking very Floridian!'.

I love the laid back feel and look to boyfriend jeans, and the light wash denim is perfect for spring.  My loafers are old, they are by Dr. Scholls so they are very comfortable.

I always try and buy at least one new hand bag every season, and this year I bought a green one after reading Bridgette's Rae's article "Why You Need a Green Handbag".  She says that 'Green has often been called a colored neutral, meaning that it is a color that will work well with just about any color it is paired with.'  Bridgette also states: "If you want to buy a pop color in a handbag, but also don’t want to be limited in how you can use it or want to be able to grab it with just about anything you are wearing, you can’t go wrong with green."

I thought Bridgette's logic made sense, and I liked the idea of bringing a pop of color into my spring/summer wardrobe, so I bought the Liz Clairborne bag and put the theory to a test!  My results?  Yes, the bag went with a majority of my outfits, but there were a couple of times the color clashed and I had to change bags.  But that's o.k., who wants to carry the same bag everyday anyway?

 The tank top that I wore under my sheer tee shirt was a lime yellow color….so it added to that tropical feel I love!

Have a great day!  Amy

Linking Up With:  Fashion Should Be Fun, Casual Friday,  Not Dead Yet, Let it Shine,  How I Spring,  Manic Monday, Mingle Monday, Link Up with Lisa, On the Daily Express, and Charming Friday.