Thursday, May 31, 2012

Oh Yes I Did



So I'm seriously digging this here outfit. On so many levels. I'm really into mixing patterns and stripes lately, and have decided that my wardrobe needs an infusion of florals. FLOWERS. Mmmhmm. And, aside from these outrageously pricey shoes (but they are fab) and the cardi (what?!) i think the rest of these pieces are certainly attainable. I can hear the Mission Impossible theme song starting inside my head...ha ha. Now you can too, right?! (You're welcome)


Oh Yes I Did


Mango stripe dress
£23 - johnlewis.com

Blugirl Bluemarine floral shirt
$525 - thecorner.com

Rebecca Minkoff nude wedge
$325 - rebeccaminkoff.com

Zippered tote bag
$95 - modcloth.com

Multi strand necklace
£110 - farfetch.com

Antik Batik aqua jewelry
$110 - stylebop.com

Copper jewelry
$80 - hsn.com

Talullah 14 karat gold ring
$50 - amazon.com

Timex watch
$45 - timex.com

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Heaping Helpings of Delight

I ate cookies, in bed, at 12:30am last night AND then, i slept in this morning and skipped my workout. I KNOW, right?! But let me tell you why... Yesterday evening i was invited to attend the Mom's Night Out Event hosted by one of the awesome moms at Living Word Family Church. (We have these interest groups that get together and do like-minded things.) And readers, these moms are AWESOME! If this is ringing a bell with some of you devotees, it should, because this was indeed my second engagement with the Mom's group. It was so much fun the first time, they organized another. Everyone brought a dish, and we ate family style. If there's one thing we LWFC members do consistently, and consistently well: it's food. After we ate, what one guest has dubbed "the great exchange" began. Most of the ladies all brought clothes from home that they don't wear anymore, and everything was piled according to item, including shoes, handbags, jewelry, shorts, tops, pants, dresses; you name it. Once everything was out and on display, the rummaging began. It was exhilarating! Just like shopping, but so much better because it was FREE!!! Yes, you read me right, F R E E. Seriously. Tell me you aren't reading this and desperately wishing you were a mom so that you could come?! Well wish no more, because come Fall, I will be organizing and holding one such fashion event each month. And if you don't have anything to bring, that's okay.
Check out my new page on Facebook, where there will be posts with fashion tips, tricks and how to's; and as this new business gets off the ground, pictures of women just like you, and me, with their new found fabulousness jumping off the screen.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Image Consultant?

The last few weeks have involved a lot LOT of brainstorming...how, who, how much; and the like, of starting Wilhelmina Miltonburn on paper and launching her as business. Oy, my brain hurts. Did it though, the official Facebook page is up and invites have gone out to garner some "Likes". I have a special surprise for the attendees of an event I've been invited to tonight...Anita's Clothing Alterations (239-495-2422) has so very kindly agreed to give my customers (MY CUSTOMERS! whoa) a special discount; which i will unveil later this week. I don't want anybody to know before I get to tell (I'm big on surprises, LOVE 'em!)

So, the title of this wee lil post is "Image Consultant" and that term has arisen quite a few times lately by people I've been discussing the new venture with. I don't like it. And here's why: I don't like the word. I'm not working for images, or to build images. I am doing this namely because it's insanely fun for me, and I rather think that the ladies I'm working with enjoy it too. There's something about being put together, how you feel inside when you feel good wearing something. And if you feel good wearing a t-shirt with Sponge Bob Squarepants on it and acid washed jeans, then by all means: ROCK it. But if you are looking for a way to work that cartoon t-shirt into your wardrobe without looking like you crawled out of the sandbox; I'm your girl. ;)

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Whats in a Name?

My business cards came today!  The printer messed 'em up a smidge, but unless i need to return them to get another press run, I'm going to use them. Someone in my office (my day job) asked me: "What the heck is Wilhelmina Miltonburn?!" Well my friends, let me tell you, because I'm sure that question will be on repeat for a W H I L E. The answer to that is a novella, and a bit of background on yours truly...

Once upon a time in a land far away, in the great North close to Canada, where calfs are born in the front yard and veggie gardens are grown in the back; grew a young girl (c'est moi!). And at some preteen juncture, i started to get very interested in English literature and poetry and such. I began to write poems and short stories that won awards and contests and got myself published (several times, if i dare toot my own horn). And, as any youngster can attest, the minute you enter the spotlight, you are mocked for it. So, to avoid being made fun of, and the ensuing embarassment; I changed my name and created the alter-me: the she who would write and be creative and get all the glory for my inner awesomeness.

Since those long ago years, I've kept her around. When signing up for emails, or coupons or anything online, she gets the user name and password and all the spam, while my own account stays junk free and keeps a blissfully small inbox. And just like those angst filled childhood years, anytime i write now, Wilhelmina does it, and I hang out in her shadow.  And now we embark on an entirely new adventure together: creating Wilhelmina Miltonburn- a wardrobe consulting business; employee of 1. (bows)

Welcome, and be prepared to wear your awesome on the outside!

Friday, May 18, 2012

Death of a Shoe

I have had these Nine West slides for several years, and today, they finally gave up the ghost. Sadly, I don't think i'll get them repaired; because knowing me like i do, i probably got a screaming good deal on these.

It's time to go shoe shopping my friends. Yes, SHOE SHOPPING. They need to be replaced. And i know just where i'm going too...DSW is calling, can you hear it?

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

"Moms Night Out"

My church has these awesome special interest groups, where like minded people get together and do things. All sorts of things: running, motorcycle riding, hanging out etc.; which brings me to the title of this post: Moms Night Out. This is a group of (yes, right: moms)  that get together once a month, sans-fils ('without children' if you don't know my poor rendition of French) and eat, shop, talk and hang out. Recently, I was invited to join this incredible group of child rearing warriors as a guest to help with fashion woes; discuss tips, tricks and how to's. I got very excited at once, because this is SO. MUCH. FUN. (yes, those are supposed to be one word sentences; awesome right?!) And really, it is a blast. These wonderful ladies comment on my outfits and abilities often and I jumped at the opportunity to help them, and tell them how I do it. IT= all things on my person with regard to clothing, jewelry, and as it happens, skincare. Which, can I tell you, totally took me by surprise! In the middle of some of my mindless prattle about clothes (it's a blur) my skin was brought up. It was a little overwhelming, because it's my skin, I don't really see anything out of the ordinary there...but share share away I did. AND i posted today via Polyvore my skincare regime so that everyone can see...which I find is also posting here to my blog, so you don't really have to follow that link! Ha!
Anyway, those ladies last night were so welcoming, and encouraging and genuinely interested in what i had to impart, that i left feeling a little like a celebrity. I went to bed last night with my mind just a racing as to what else i can say, who else i can help and how i can go about it. I'm going to re-do 3 closets next weekend of 3 attendees and i'm very excited at the prospect of what could be created. Really, aside from the high that shopping brings, the thrill of what can be created is paramount. This is silly, yes. I should be plotting some sort of world peace, or financial domination. Instead, I'm about to re-organize closets and make outfit upon outfit complete with shoes and accessories too... And it WILL. BE. AWESOME. (I did it again there, you see?!)

My Skincare Regime

I want to wear this...today!

I want to wear this...today!

Brunello Cucinelli taupe cardigan
€1.280 - veryeickhoff.com

J Crew tie shirt
$98 - jcrew.com

Stretch pants
$20 - delias.com

Miu Miu high heel shoes
$595 - net-a-porter.com

Wallis summer handbag
$39 - wallisfashion.com

Watch
$65 - anneklein.com

Stella dot jewelry
$34 - stelladot.com

H M chain jewelry
£5.99 - hm.com

Warehouse flower hair accessory
$45 - warehouse.co.uk