The Dotted Line

Kira is writing this. I asked my Mom if I could call the title Rhino Day. Mom said NO! I said yes .  "Mom" is back.   If you note the title, you see who won!  Kira actually did the whole blog post today.  She cropped the photos, pulled them into my site, modified them and started the post.  Kept her occupied so I could keep cleaning!

Smiles,
Kira and Lori

Meringue

It's become a tradition where Kira and I have a mommy-daughter day the last Friday of the summer before she goes back to school.  School starts on Wednesday, so I took today off to spend with her.  We started our day baking cotton candy meringue cookies and by the way, we failed miserably because they taste awful, but, we had fun making them.  We then went to a pottery painting place in town and spent a couple of hours painting.  We ate lunch at Kira's favorite restaurant and then swung by her school to see which teacher she has for fourth grade.  The school still posts the class lists on the door right before school starts.  Kira didn't get the teacher she wanted, but at least last year's bully is in the other class!

The failed meringue project.

 

Outfit Details:

Sweater - Loft

Shirt and Jeans - Gap

Belt - Target

Shoes - Talbots

 

Smiles!

Lori

Back to the Mats

Things are looking up...I moved the photo session back to in front of the gym equipment this morning.  While the background of the hallway didn't conflict with my outfits, it was really difficult to get proper lighting.  Our house is dark.

Smiles!
Lori

Monochromatic

Trying Not to Channel Minnie Mouse

You have to be so careful when wearing red polka dots because one wrong move and you're Minnie Mouse.  I don't like the flats with this outfit, but I'm wearing flat shoes for a while until my back completely heals.  It's still on the fence, so I don't want to push it over the top.  Oh well.

Outfit Details:

Jacket - NY and Co

Shirt - Banana Republic

Shoes, Belt, Skirt, Necklace - Talbots

 

Smiles!

Lori

Taylor Swift and the Red Tour

This weekend, we traveled from Dayton to Chicago to take Kira to a Taylor Swift concert at Soldier's Field.  Kira adores Taylor and she even started playing the guitar just to "be like Taylor". We left Friday afternoon and got to our hotel at the convention center late Friday night.  Dave requested a "city view" room and oh my gosh, our view was AMAZING!  It overlooked downtown, Soldier's field and the Lake Michigan.  Friday night, we saw the fireworks at Navy Pier from our room and they were having a Tall Ships festival and we saw at least 4 pirate looking ships from that festival floating around the lake. 

Whether or not you like Taylor Swift, she puts on an amazing concert and us and 49,000 other people were treated to a really good show!  I appreciated that even with what was considered her "racier" outfits that everything was covered and there's nothing inappropriate in her songs that would make you think twice before letting your child listen too. Added bonus, one of the opening acts was Austin Mahone and he's Kira's second favorite artist.  We didn't even realize he was one of the opening acts, so what a pleasant surprise for Kira!

Yesterday, before we left, we went further into downtown to shop on Michigan Avenue and to go up in the Hancock Building.  Kira and I hit Zara and Kira now has her very first kickin' kid's outfit from Zara.  While they were in the Hershey's Chocolate store, I went to Banana Republic.  I love that store because it's one of their flagship stores and they just have more merchandise than the BR stores in Dayton and in Cincinnati.  We tore it up in the three hours we were downtown before heading home.  Chicago is like our Disney World, so any opportunity to go there is always a fun time had by all!  Today was rough at work, but we really did have a good time!

We hit up the "merch"  while at the concert. 

We aren't stalkers.  We got lost in the mile and a half to the museums and ran into where Taylor Swift's semis were parked.  There were more than a few semis, but I only took pictures of these three.

Finally, a background shot without gymnastics mats in the background!

 

Here's the view from our room.  And now, back to reality!

 

Smiles!
Lori

Most Uncomfortable Shirt EVER

I liked this outfit in the conceptual design phase, but it seriously failed in execution.  The peplum top from Banana Republic is terribly uncomfortable and by early afternoon, I couldn't wait to get home and take it off.  I considered taking it off at work, but refrained because I figured the undershirt would be really wrinkled.  I peeled this thing off me the second I got in the door.  The thing isn't too tight, I just think the waist hits in the wrong spot and with my sore back, it was a killer.  On my 45 minute drive home tonight, I debated on burning it, cutting it up, stomping on it, and a variety of other forms of torture since it tortured me all day.  I threw it on my cedar chest until I decide what its fate is.  Peplum top, consider yourself on notice!

Smiles!
Lori