This Didn’t Just Happen

I love social media for it’s ability to connect people. Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram or Twitter – like minded people around the world, come together, share common interests, stories and ideas – through photos and words. But what’s real?

What I do know to be reality, is that one can make their life be, whatever one wants it to be – with one click.

I follow many fashion bloggers, style bloggers, mommy bloggers; on all social media outlets. Some are pros, and some are working moms like myself – with an interest in style, and fashion. The later are my favorite. I love the bathroom selfie shots and photos in bad lighting; because I know these are real people, like myself – just trying to pull it all together, and feel their best, on most days.

Most of you know, my kids take 80% of my photos, the rest I take myself. Sometimes they work out – sometimes not. The sun is often in the wrong direction, and dark evenings usually don’t cooperate. That said, I think my kiddos do a great job, capturing what I am trying to share on my blog each week, and for them, I am so grateful.

This past week,  I posted an outfit to Instagram. One of my favorite outfits this Holiday Season. I was so happy how it all came together. Sure the lighting was not perfect – but I loved my outfit, hair and makeup, on this particular evening.

I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s something to celebrate, when all 3 components of a look, come together!

Here is the caption, I added to my post:

Easy Holiday Dressing. Fur vest, sweater dress, tights, booties.

What one doesn’t know, when looking at this one post on Instagram – is it took 3 days, to get this exact look.

Not so easy.

That’s right, it didn’t just happen as you see it here, last Friday night.

---

Things got started, earlier in the week – Wednesday morning.

I was hosting a holiday party, for my mom friends, Wednesday evening, 6pm.

A cookie exchange; AKA, mom’s night out/cocktail party.

As far as the party was concerned, all was in order.

House decorated.

Food and beverages bought. Glasses and serve wear set. House clean. Outfit picked out.

Outfit sort of picked out.

I was planning to wear this Michael Kors dress,

which I wore to a few parties, last year – it’s a go-to of mine.

BTW, Summer is wearing coated black skinnies – which work, for just about any holiday occasion.

I had purchased THIS Sonia Rykiel dress, at Intermix, during their post-Thanksgiving sale (it’s now 50% off the sale price!),

but had plans, to wear it to a different party, on Friday night, and for Christmas Eve.

For reference, I am bought a size small.

But then I had an idea – to wear the sweater dress with booties, and paint my nails green to work with the camel trim, and Alexis Bittar greenish lucite jewelry.

I had a new plan!

Nails – no toes, because I was running late; it’s now 12:30.

That was OK, I was wearing boots anyway.

Off to get a blow out.

---

I like to get a blow out, on days when there’s a lot going on. It’s relaxing, to have someone else do my hair, plus I don’t waste time later, messing with it, only to pull it back into a ponytail. You’ve been there, right?

My regular gal wasn’t working. No problem, I explained what I usually have done; use the wand – NOT  the curling iron, to make waves, NOT curls.

Like this:

In my relaxed state, I didn’t notice the curling iron till, it came around to the front – there was no going back.

This photo does not do the ‘do justice. Trust me, I was really curly.

After an one hour freak out, and my kids telling me it wasn’t THAT bad, I figured I could always pull it back.

But, seriously, what’s happening there on the left side?

At least I had my planned outfit, which was a good thing since this photo of the hair, was taken at 4pm.

This is how many photos my husband took, because with each new photo, I kept changing my shoes.

I couldn’t get my groove on.

He was extremely patient, maybe a bit entertained.

Maybe it was the hair?

(Above, bottom left photos are with the hair relaxed, 2 days later – I liked it by then)

I ended up in the short Gucci booties and Alexis Bittar necklace, but something was off.

It had something to do with the shoes, and the necklace – but alas, I was out of time.

---

The party was so fun, I loved seeing all my girlfriends.

There was laughter, wine and tons of cookies!

While on the subject of cookies, here’s a look at the winning treats of the evening:

The green wreaths, difficult – but yummy AND delicious.

My girlfriend Shiela’s recipe, via People Magazine.

Freya’s chocolate ganache sandwiches – AMAZING flavor, here’s the recipe:

Nabisco Famous Wafers with Ganache sandwiched in-between.

Yep, they are that easy!

---

To bring this story full circle, by Friday, 2 days later, I finally got things sorted out.

Tights. Forgot I had them. I like the whole look better with tights, and a shorter bootie. Swapped out the necklace for a shorter, funkier chain.

I was cold, rainy and I wasn’t taking Uber.

First, I tried a wrap,

I felt like Batman.

Grabbed my fur vest,

The vest was it.

Done.

I share this story, as I know I’m not alone – we have all had, or will have, these moments. You have it all planned out, and things go sideways. When it happens, we just gotta go with it. Because in the end, Wednesday evening, even in the not-favorite-outfit, and hot-hair-mess, I had the best time. Yes, we want to look our best – but best, doesn’t mean perfect. Life isn’t perfect.

It’s Ok, if your cookies burn, the gingerbread house roof slides off, your halloween decor is still hanging out, you over ate a little, you missed your hair color apt, and your packages are not all here. It is the moments we spend, with the people we love, that make life fabulous.

As we head into this busy holiday week, I remind myself, to not get caught up in where everyone else is, and what everyone else is doing – with whom, where and what.

Be in the moment, and enjoy every minute.

Wishing you all the Happiest of Holidays!

XOXO

Suzanne

---

Been there? Have your own mishaps to share?

Drop a comment down below! I love to hear, and I read ’em all!