It's National Princess Week.

It's National Princess Week. by lesliekelley featuring diamond jewelry

I'm pretty sure all little girls, at some point during their childhoods, have thought about wanting to be a princess. I definitely remember wanting that... The castle. The servants. The wardrobe. The tiara!  (Hello! Who doesn't want a tiara!?) The kingdom. And most importantly, the prince. Ahhh. The prince... I definitely got my prince. No doubt about that. But I'm not a princess. No castle for me, though I do have a very lovely home. No servants for me. Not even a housekeeper or a groundskeeper. Which is fine. I like hard work. And no endless wardrobe, except on Polyvore. And yeah, no kingdom either, though I love my little town... But I still dream about being a princess, just for one day. To wear the most fabulous outfit imaginable, including a tiara, and go to a ball.....

 Wait a minute... I was homecoming queen in highschool! I WORE A CROWN! And a fabulous dress! I got driven around in a red convertible, I waved the princess wave, and then I danced. Not at a ball but in the cafeteria. And not with a prince either, more like a toad. But still, I was queen for a day. I'm pretty sure I walked taller after that and felt pretty special.. Ahhh The memories... Such fun...So I guess I can check "princess for a day" off of my dream list. Been there, done that.. But I wonder, since I didn't get any servants back then, maybe I could get a housekeeper after all? Because I lied. I really don't like hard work that much.. Just one measly housekeeper. Please? Anybody?.. Honey? Dear? Prince?

I Am a Woman Above Everything Else

I Am a Woman Above Everything Else by lesliekelley featuring ballerina flat shoes

Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis has always been my favorite fashion icon. Her amazing sense of style and her endless class is the inspiration behind this set. Who is your favorite fashion icon?

Live in Such a Way...

Live in Such a Way... by lesliekelley featuring Oasis dresses

...BUT, dress in such a way to leave them wondering this- Are you really as good as you seem or do you have a bit of a devilish side... Red patent leather anything will definitely help!

And red lipstick.

Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day by lesliekelley featuring tote bags

Flip-Flops...

Flip-Flops... by lesliekelley featuring flip flops

When I was in California in February, I heard a man yell to his family, "Take your thongs off when you walk on the beach! You'll be more comfortable!" The visual that went through my head made me laugh out loud! I posted his quote on facebook and realized that these summer essentials are called by all different names. One of my friends calls them slippers, another still calls them thongs. I prefer flip-flops or Havaianas.. Whatever you call them, I don't know a single person who doesn't love them! I think I've always owned at least one pair since the early 70s if not numerous pairs... They come in practically every color in a Pantone color guide!!! (Slight exaggeration.) And they're usually quite cheap so it's easy to have more than one pair... And get this, they're the oldest form of footwear being worn today! At least 5000 years old... To think that King Tut was walking around in brightly colored rubber flip-flops makes me smile... :) Okay fine, his were probably made of papyrus or something. Maybe even gold.. Lovely to look at but incredible uncomfortable... 
The 1st American versions of flip-flops came to us after WWII and were modeled after the Japanese style Zori. But it wasn't until after the Korean War in the 1950s that they gained popularity. They defined an informal lifestyle and eventually represented the Californian look and even more specifically, the California surfing culture... And I for one, couldn't be happier about it.
Thank you, Ancient Egyptians. Your design has stood the test of time and I am forever grateful.

Retail Therapy

Retail Therapy by lesliekelley featuring Dorothy Perkins sunglasses

It is said that money cannot buy happiness, and I totally agree... But sometimes, the occassional splurge can make us feel better. Not the I-just-won-the-lottery-kind-of-splurge that we all dream of. But the small type of splurge on something we've wanted for a long time. Especially if we've had an especially bad day or week. Those types of buying decisions can make us feel better, even if it's a temporary lift... My mom's companion died at the beginning of this year. She was devastated. He had been her very best friend for 12 years. They did everything together: went on walks, traveled, visited friends, ate breakfast together each day... He was her sun and her moon...In all honesty, I couldn't really see the attraction. He wasn't your typical companion. He was lazy, had super long legs, he was fat and snored horribly... And he shed like crazy, but that's rather typical of Pugs... After he passed away, my mom came to stay with me for a few days, just to get away. I knew just what she needed: RETAIL THERAPY! I took her shopping and let her get whatever she wanted. (Keep in mind that my mother is very frugal and I love nothing more than a good sale.) She got tons of clothes! Everything mixed and matched too, so she had countless outfits to create. And best of all, she was giddy with excitement! SO HAPPY! And seeing her happy made me happy... Did her happiness last forever? Of course not. Once she returned home to her empty house, she missed her doggie horribly. But, she still loved looking at her new clothes. She still enjoyed picking out a new outfit each day, and it made her happy to wear something new. In fact, it may have made her a bit too happy... She actually asked me if I would take her shopping again if something mysterious happened to her cat.... Hmmmm Gonna have to keep my eye on her and that cat... I call that Retail Therapy Gone Bad. Oh well. Live and learn. hahahaha.. Have a good night!