i am wearing: striped h&m dress, michael kors watch, stella and dot bracelet, necklace is from target, coach bag and cole haan cheetah print shoes.

today was a GOOD light day. i love taking pics in natural light and have found the spot that gets the best lighting right in our front yard. i think photogs normally frown on direct sunlight but i take my pics under the shade from the trees so it works. i am still learning every day how to use my DSLR camera. i kick myself now because when i bought my camera, it came with free lessons and i never used them because the classes were late at night (7pm-9pm was late to me then and is ridiculously late to me now). i normally use an “antique” finish on all of my photos because i like how soft it makes the pics look, but today i left them their original color. my mom will certainly be happy. she hates that i do it to every pic so my sons eyes never look as blue as they do in real life. but i use a mac with safari as my browser so they look nice on my laptop whereas my mom uses a pc and internet explorer. i can only imagine how boring this post is to all of my non-blogger friends and family. at least there are pictures for you! =) anyways, my point is that i really would like to learn flash photography because sometimes it would be nice to just take my pics indoors. you must get tired of these trees. oh well…blogger problems.

p.s. i really don’t like that tattoo on my ankle. or the ugly sun on my back. the only tattoo i have that i still like is the symbol on my foot. note to any of my younger readers…please wait a year to get your tattoo. and if you STILL want it, then get it.

categories: oufit of the day27 comments

27 Comments ( Reply )

  1. Lauren
    Jun 02, 2011 @ 1:59 am

    I actually really like the trees as your backdrop : ) I wish I had access to more of a wilderness sense rather than the park down the street.

    Laurenlovestoshare

  2. Hammad Rehan
    Jun 02, 2011 @ 5:12 am

    Its really brilliant that you described every item in your wardrobe that you are wearing, I am seriously thinking of buying a few items for my girlfriend and Broad Stripes do look good in this season. Your photography is brilliant too and the location is very nice. I am also following you on twitter and look forward to your interesting tweets. To be honest its the first time I have been on your blog I really liked it and would recommend it to my friends and family.

  3. lisa fergus
    Jun 02, 2011 @ 7:09 am

    you look beautiful! Love the zipper back detail!
    and I got a tramp stamp when I was 19 that I wish I never got! 13 years later I have a faded tribal tramp stamp! lol How embarrassing at the pool! 😉

    • jennifer
      Jun 03, 2011 @ 8:28 am

      hey mama, you are not alone! =) my sun tattoo is awful. i forget it is there until someone mentions it…but the good news is i am RARELY EVER in a bathing suit and certainly don’t wear cropped tops anymore without a tank underneath…lol!

  4. Danielle Spradlin
    Jun 02, 2011 @ 8:53 am

    I have one on my neck that I kick myself for. ughhh

  5. AlyssonJean
    Jun 02, 2011 @ 10:53 am

    LOVE the dress with the zipper down the back…so pretty. I espeically love the leapord print flats with the stripes! So great

    http://simplicityisultimatesophistication.wordpress.com/

  6. What I Wore: tip to toe
    Jun 02, 2011 @ 12:30 pm

    The stripes keep getting better and better!

  7. Melissa
    Jun 02, 2011 @ 12:37 pm

    Stripes and leopard, YAY! You look super cute.

    I wish I could take outdoor shots, never mind learning to use the flash. Flashes are overrated. I love your natural light photos!

    Come take a look inside A Working Mom’s Closet

  8. Katrin
    Jun 02, 2011 @ 1:32 pm

    love the stripes and shoes! and the cute zipper back!

    Katrin
    Vintage & Vanilla, Darling!

  9. Chelsea
    Jun 02, 2011 @ 5:52 pm

    Adorable dress. Can’t believe it’s from H&M it’s so chic! Love love love. You have such a cute blog, and great style!

    Xx

    http://chelseasgirl.wordpress.com/

    http://theidea-generator.com/

  10. Kenzi
    Jun 02, 2011 @ 9:00 pm

    I have four tattoos! Only one of them I could really do with out.

    1-I have a flower on the back of my hip – it was going to be a tramp stamp but i chickened out (& I’m glad I did!!!)
    2-I have a 4leaf clover on the top of my foot (I’m Irish)
    3-Stars on the inside of my foot curling around my ankle bone-spur of the moment and I wish I could take them off.
    4-And puzzle pieces on my wrist for Autsim. My younger brother is autistic.

    • jennifer
      Jun 03, 2011 @ 8:25 am

      your puzzle tattoo really touches my heart. it is a tattoo you will surely never regret. it has meaning and is part of your life. those are the tattoos i love.

  11. Laura
    Jun 02, 2011 @ 11:16 pm

    More cute stripes! And I like them paired with the animal print. I also really love your hair in this post 🙂

    I’ve always thought your photo background was stunning, so I really don’t get bored with the trees!

  12. Neris
    Jun 03, 2011 @ 1:25 am

    Thanks for the tatoo tip 🙂 I’ve been thinking about getting one for ages but can’t decide what to get… I guess I’ll just wait until I think of something perfect 🙂

    Fashion Fractions

  13. kathy
    Jun 03, 2011 @ 6:46 am

    1. I agree with your mother. I sometimes like the artistic quality of photos that have been altered, but I use IE too and the other photos look too yellow to me. I like to be able to see the true colors.

    2. I am really loving the strips and animal print. The dress is cute, but is it too short to be comfortable?

    3. THANK YOU for your statement about tatoos. I actually hate them and would never get one. In fact, I can’t stand having any kind of mark (e.g., marker, pen ink) on my arm (or anywhere) that might even remotely resemble a tatoo. Some of the younger bloggers have quite a lot of tattoos and they really detract from the beauty of the outfit.

    • jennifer
      Jun 03, 2011 @ 8:23 am

      mom, is that you? ha ha. just kidding! thanks for your honest opinions. i wish internet explorer would just go away. it seems as though it is the only browser that hasn’t moved with the times. while the dress is short, it is actually very comfortable. i wore flats with it for this reason and ran errands. i would wear heels/wedges also but not for playing at the park or grocery shopping =) sometimes i think my bird legs make things look even shorter.

  14. Emily
    Jun 03, 2011 @ 9:05 am

    I love all your stripes but I think this dress is my favorite. I love the exposed zipper, such a fun detail on a classic print. I am totally with you on a tattoo idea as well! I waited a year to mull over each of my designs, if I changed my mind at any time during that year, the “year clock” started over. I haven’t regretted a single piece of body art using this time frame!

  15. Kara
    Jun 03, 2011 @ 11:43 am

    Great outfit! You’re so right about waiting for a while to see if you still want that same tattoo! Good advice.

    xx Kara
    Sprinkles in Springs

  16. Desirae
    Jun 03, 2011 @ 9:15 pm

    I love the shape of this dress and how it zips up the back.

    http://www.pastelsandpirouettes.com

    have a great weekend.

  17. rachael
    Jun 04, 2011 @ 4:43 am

    shift dresses are my most favorite thing about warm weather. unfortunately i’m experiencing the beginning of winter here in sydney. and i love your watch, i have the same one in tortoise shell.

    http://clayrachael.blogspot.com/

  18. thoughtandmusing
    Jun 04, 2011 @ 6:55 pm

    Stripes are my absolute favourite and your dress is just gorgeous. How I wish we had H&M in Australia!
    I have three tattoos (forearm, ankle and back of my calf) and I don’t regret any of them. But I did wait for a long time to get each one after mulling over the designs. My only regret is getting my second in a slightly dubious tattoo place in Phuket, Thailand!

  19. holly
    Jun 04, 2011 @ 7:35 pm

    just found your blog via sweetie pie style. i love your blog! and this outfit is too cute.

  20. Monique
    Jun 04, 2011 @ 10:02 pm

    I love that dress!! Such a pretty combination with the leopard flats too!!

    Monique xx

    http://www.misszuman.com

  21. GRIT & GLAMOUR
    Jun 05, 2011 @ 7:39 am

    LOVE the stripes with the leopard flats! You’re so great styling all your stripes!

    I also think your tattoo advice is very smart. I don’t have any myself, but am really glad I didn’t get any when I was younger and thinking about it, because I (like many women in their 30s and 40s) would regret having one now. They are cute when you’re young, and running around in minis and cutoffs—but so many girls in their late teens and early 20s can’t envision the day they may not look so cute—like in a wedding dress or a business suit. And the other thing young women don’t realize is how much they WILL change between 20 and age 30. You can’t imagine it, but you look back at what you did and wore at, say, 24, and sometimes you just can’t believe it.

    I applaud you for putting the advice out there.

  22. Shasie
    Jun 05, 2011 @ 1:58 pm

    Great look, I like it with the handbag

    Shasie
    Live Life in Style

  23. Shelly
    Jun 06, 2011 @ 1:02 pm

    I love the stripes + animal print!

    xoShelly

  24. Jessica
    Jun 27, 2011 @ 3:53 pm

    I love the natural coloring in your photos! Cute dress 🙂