I have this rather major fear of aversion to insects, particularly the flying variety…
THE STORY
…I’m also no fan of the avian species and don’t even get me started on gargoyles. Don’t judge, the gargoyle fear runs deep my friends. Although a side eye glimpse of something flying towards me will send me running and screaming like a two year old, there are three exceptions: butterflies, lightning bugs and ladybugs.
I’ve always loved butterflies, but about eight years ago they took on a whole new meaning the day that I said goodbye to my furry baby boy. Those of you who are dog lovers and have had dogs as part of your family know that even though you love each and every one of them, there’s always that one special dog. In my world that would be Titus; aka the best dog ever. For those of you with above average observational skills, you might have noticed the tattoo on my right ankle says “Titus” with a paw print and a monarch butterfly. That print is Titus’s actual real paw print.
And the monarch? We don’t see many monarchs in our yard for some reason. There are butterflies, just not monarchs. The day my boy died I spent hours sitting outside sobbing. As I sat there with my head in my arms wailing, I felt something on my hand. I lifted my head and there sat a monarch butterfly. It flexed it’s wings for awhile and then simply flew away. Every single year since then on a random Summer day, a monarch always appears, flutters around me for a minute or two and then goes on it’s way. I call them Titus butterflies now because I truly believe that my annual monarch visitor is my boy reminding me that he loves me. Sunday was this year’s Titus butterfly day. I was laying outside reading and my little friend fluttered under the canopy, flew a few circles around me to say I love you, and then went off to do butterfly things.
Since the title is “A Tale of Two Insects” obviously that means there’s another one…and while the first one was all mushy and whatnot, this one is equal parts terrifying and funny.
Monday morning I was driving down a relatively busy road with my window about halfway down. Out of nowhere, boom! Something smacks into the edge of my open window hits me in the face and disappears into the depths of my vehicle. Cue the loud and angry buzzing sounds accompanied by shrieks of terror. I couldn’t immediately pull off, but the first parking lot you better believe I whipped it in there and jumped out of the car squealing.
Okay, picture this…I barrel into this empty parking lot, jump out of the car like someone lit me on fire, throw open all the doors and the hatch and then stand there flapping my hands around going ew…ew…ew… In the meantime, traffic is driving by and a dude across the street comes out on his front porch to stare. Ya, it was open air theater at it’s finest.
Anyhow, I cannot for the life of me find this godforsaken creature. I cannot see it nor can I hear it. I very gingerly shook out my purse and my jacket. I looked under the seats and in the console…nada. Since I had no other choice, I closed everything up, got in my seat and shut the door. As I reach across my lap to buckle the seat belt, I look down and…OH. MY. GOD…one of those freakin’ giant furry bumble bees is sitting there perched on my thigh.
Don’t get me wrong, those little guys are cute enough to look at from a distance. Let me tell you though, they ARE NOT CUTE while perched on one’s thigh. Can I tell you how glad I was to be wearing jeans? Now friends, if I exited the car the first time like I was on fire, this time I broke the damn sound barrier…while screaming like a maniac. After flicking it off of me I look up and porch guy looks like he’s about to call for help with the insane chick screaming and flailing around in the parking lot. After assuring him that all was well I hotfooted it out of there because he didn’t look entirely convinced of my mental fitness.
THE OUTFIT
This month’s Ageless Style Link Up theme is “White Out”, complements of my good friend Paula at Dimples On My What. Originally I had an entirely different outfit in mind involving my white sundress. But the mini and I went school shopping in Pittsburgh over the weekend and I discovered that the white Tomgirl jeans I’d lusted over earlier in the Summer were on clearance at American Eagle so you know I snapped those suckers up. Hence, this outfit was born.
I love the look of a graphic tee and blazer, especially paired with jeans. I’ve had a hankering for a glen plaid blazer since last Winter, so when I saw this one in the Nordstrom sale I picked it up. It fits beautifully and I love that even though it’s got a menswear vibe it’s fitted in the back to give it some shape. The only downside? The sleeves. And the fact it didn’t come in petite sizes…since I’m altitude impaired I prefer 3/4 length sleeves for my short little arms. If the sleeves are long I usually just cuff them up. The problem with this blazer is that there is button detailing on the cuffs making the sleeves basically impossible to roll. Otherwise it’s a fabulous blazer.
THE TIP
Pairing a graphic tee and blazer is a fun combo that is easy to pull off. It’ a little bit business and a little bit party. And who doesn’t need a little party in their day? Simply choose a graphic tee that speaks to you, throw a blazer on top and you’re good to go no matter if you’re wearing jeans or a pencil skirt.
THE LINK UPS
Check out the weekly link ups I participate in for even more fashion and style ideas… BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN AND LINK UP WITH MYSELF AND MY LOVELY CO-HOSTS FOR THIS MONTHS AGELESS STYLE LINK UP!!
Blazer: Nordstrom; Jeans: American Eagle; Tee: Target; Sandals: JCPenney
Daenel ~ Living Outside The Stacks blog, instagram, pinterest, twitter
Debbie ~ Fashion Fairy Dust bloglovin, blog, instagram, pinterest, facebook, twitter
Jennie ~ A Pocketful of Polka Dots blog, instagram, facebook, pinterest, twitter, bloglovin
Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style blog, facebook, instagram, pinterest, bloglovin, twitter
Jonet ~ Fabulously Chic Over 50 blog, facebook, , instagram, pinterest, twitter
Kellyann ~ This Blonde’s Shopping Bag blog, instagram, bloglovin, twitter
Lisa ~ Coast to Coast blog, facebook, instagram, twitter, pinterest
Paula ~ Dimples on my What blog, facebook, pinterest, instagram, twitter
Shelly ~ The Queen in Between blog, instagram, bloglovin, pinterest, facebook
This month’s guest co-host for the Ageless Style Link Up is the lovely Dawn from Dawned On Me. Dawn blogs about fashion, beauty, lifestyle, home decor and all things pretty. She is a former television newscaster and a mom to 2 boys and a Saint Bernard. Her husband is a full-time pilot and part-time blog photographer. Stop by say hello and follow along with Dawn on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
