I truly thought my days of wearing shorts had come and gone, but recently shorts have come back into vogue — and not just for casual everyday wear either. The latest trend is to wear shorts with heels. When I was at the Disney Conference last month, one of the presenters wore shorts with pumps and a blazer. It’s all the rage.

Last summer, on a whim, I picked up a pair of shorts at Banana Republic.

I was surprised to discover that I really enjoy wearing them, and I don’t feel self conscious at all. Now granted, I wear them with flip flops and tank tops — not blazers and heels. I’m not QUITE ready to go there just yet. But never say never is my motto — in fashion AND in life!

Finding shorts that fit well can be dicey. I went to Twitter and inquired for advice on wearing shorts. I got more questions than answers.

@JoLynneS no granny shorts. Make sure it’s a flattering fit.

— mrsrkfj (@mrsrkfj) May 16, 2012

@JoLynneS knee-length.won’t go any shorter.

— Whitney Wingerd -MWS (@WhitneyMWS) May 16, 2012

@JoLynneS where can I find stylish shorts that aren’t short shorts???

— Kelly Whalen (@centsiblelife) May 16, 2012

@WhitneyMWS @JoLynneS @centsiblelife ou girls are all taller and thinner than I am – you can go a bit shorter =) But I like longer as well

— hchybinski (@hchybinski) May 16, 2012

I think one key to keeping shorts fashionable is to make sure they are streamlined — nothing too baggy. They should be a slim fit, but not too tight.

It’s also important to wear the right top and shoes — no socks or gym sneakers puh-leeze! Keeping the correct proportion in mind is ALWAYS a good thing when it comes to style.

And also? Self tanner is your friend.

In my google “research”, I didn’t find much that was useful, but this post on The Iron Chic cracked me up. It’s worth a read.

What say you? Shorts or no shorts? Do you have any tips for wearing shorts stylishly??

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photo credit: disneyworld.disney.go.com

We were among the first to stay at Disney’s Bay Lake Tower, part of the Disney Vacation Club, back in November of 2009. A recent addition to the Contemporary Resort in the Magic Kingdom area, this resort is spacious, modern and luxurious.

This was the first time I’d ever stayed on the Monorail, and we were sold! I absolutely love this location. I love the view of the Magic Kingdom and the easy walk to and from our favorite Disney Park.

And best of all, the Monorail runs right through the Contemporary so you have easy access to all the parks. Anyone who has spent a half-hour on one of the Disney buses knows how valuable the Monorail locations are.

Of course, the tradeoff is that they are pricey. The Bay Lake Tower is among the most expensive of the Disney resorts, but if budget constraints weren’t an issue, we would stay here every time.

The Disney Deluxe Villas are spacious and casually elegant with a warm, modern flair. We stayed in a three-bedroom villa with my parents, and there was plenty of room for the seven of us to spread out.

Another bonus of staying at Bay Lake Tower is The Wave Restaurant, located on the first floor of the Contemporary. In my opinion, this is one of the better restaurants on Disney property. We ate breakfast there three or four times during our Disney stay. Boasting seasonal cuisine and loads of sustainable and organic options, this restaurant is sure to please the choosiest foodies among us.

Chef Mickey’s is also located in the Contemporary — one of our favorite character meals. The food is average buffet fare, but it is plentiful, and you are guaranteed to meet Mickey and the gang, as they come around to all the tables during your mealtime.

Best of all, the California Grill is located on the top floor of the Contemporary. This is by far my favorite Disney restaurant, with inventive gourmet food and a spectacular view of the Magic Kingdom. If you time it right, you can eat dinner while watching the fireworks display above Cinderella’s Castle. This is the perfect spot for a romantic date.

There is a skywalk connecting the Bay Lake Tower to the Contemporary, which affords another gorgeous view of the Magic Kingdom as well as the Seven Seas Lagoon. Many nights we would stand out there and watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from a distance, and there is a fun Electrical Water Pageant that floats along the lake each evening.

If fireworks is your thing, you can choose to enjoy them from an exterior private Observation Deck on the 16th floor of Bay Lake Tower. One night my husband and I took advantage of this perk and enjoyed drinks and appetizers from the Top of the World lounge before stepping out onto the Observation Deck to watch the fireworks show with an unfettered view. It was spectacular.

For water lovers, there is a white-sand beach overlooking Bay Lake and two swimming pools. My kids loved the zero-entry Bay Cove Pool with its 20-foot high water slide, and adults will enjoy the quiet Bay Lake Pool. Bay Lake Tower residents are also permitted to visit the pool at the Contemporary Resort with its 17-foot high curving slide.

In my opinion, Bay Lake Tower has it all — great dining options, spacious accommodations with a sophisticated modern style, a fabulous pool and convenient location with the accessibility that the Monorail provides. If money were no object, this would be my Disney home away from home.

Like ‘em? Hate ‘em? Indifferent?

I don’t seem to get the same level of response that I do to my written posts, so I’m wondering if it’s because you prefer the writing, the topics don’t resonate, you just don’t take the time to watch videos? I’m curious.

This week the #VlogMom topic came from Tania Reuben: What is Your Biggest “Character Flaw” or something you struggle with?

Here’s mine. I had a hard time deciding this week!

Oh, and if you’re wondering what’s up with my choice of music, I love this song because it reminds me that people love me the way that I am and I need to be content with me too!

Join us! Record a video and link up below.

I recently discovered My Day Registry, and I think this is such a fun idea and the perfect gift for someone in your life who has everything or can buy anything they want. You basically dedicate a special day to someone, and that day becomes officially recognized as their own. Every owner’s title and ownership rights are recorded in the official International Day Registry database—the only registry of its kind. Then you get a snazzy framed certificate to give as a gift to your special someone.

My Day Registry offered me my own day in the Registry.

I thought it would be fun to register my 6th “Blogiversary,” which just came and went without much ado on March 25th. (As an aside, I cannot believe I’ve been blogging here for six years. Does anyone remember my first post!??)

All you do is enter your special day in the search box to see if it’s available. You can then choose from three packages to register your day by state, country, or worldwide.

Every registered day comes with a beautifully framed certificate as proof of ownership rights. You’ll also receive an online profile that can be personalized with music, photos, video, and details about that special day for sharing with family and friends.

How fun is that!? I can’t wait to receive my framed certificate from My Day Registry. It will be the perfect addition to my office!

UPDATE: For my fellow bloggers, mention my name and join My Day Registry’s affiliate program, and you’ll receive a $10 bonus with your first posting of a My Day Registry banner.

And for my readers, you may receive a special 10% discount with coupon code: MUSH10 (expires 6/1/12).

Last Wednesday I attended a Mom’s Night Out event hosted by Main Line Parent. The dress code was cocktail attire, so I pulled out my favorite dress. This is the first time I’ve work it without black tights. I was a little bit self conscious, but I got a ton of compliments so I guessed it works!

Because the dress is so busy, I usually go light on the jewelry. I wore silver chandelier earrings from Stella & Dot and doubled up on my bracelets for a chunkier look. Those shoes are old favorites by Boutique 9.

Thursday was mostly errands and working from home. Purple tank (old) with gray cardi (Gap Outlet) and straight-leg jeans (Sevens) with Silpada necklace and bracelet and silver flips from Banana.

On Friday, I got up at 5:30 and was at the gym by 6:45 for a training appointment. I figure any day I get up and work out before 7 am I deserve to wear workout gear all day. I was even wearing it when our neighbors stopped over for drinks after dinner. Clearly I have no shame.

This was Mother’s Day. You’ve seen it all before — ruffle trim tie-dye top and coral cardi from Banana, white cropped skinnies from Gap, necklace and earrings from Stella & Dot and the wedge sandals are Stuart Weitzmans (which I scored on a super duper sale at 6pm.com.) I love this outfit. You will be seeing a lot more of it.

And then the rains came.

It was a dreary day on Monday when we drove to NYC for a live recording of The Talk. I was in a rush when I left the house so I meant to grab a photo of my outfit when I was in NYC, but I never thought about it again. I basically wore a version of this outfit that I posted last week. Except I wore my darker skinny jeans and black pointy-toe flats.

And Tuesday’s picture could be alternately titled: Mama Needs Rain Boots. Yes, I wore my leather knee-high boots on May 15th. It was raining cats and dogs. What can I say, I didn’t want wet feet, and I had to take my daughter to swim lessons and run some errands. I also didn’t bother to wash or style my hair. Again with the cats and dogs. I figured, what’s the point?

If you’re wondering what’s up with the sunglasses, long about 2:00, it suddenly got sunny and warm. Fortunately I had my sunglasses in my purse. As soon as I got home, it was off with the boots and the sweater.

And that’s a wrap.

For more outfit inspiration, check out all of my Mom Style posts.

As usual, I’m linking up with:

Today was our first CSA* pickup. We are new to the CSA, and I have to admit, I am a bit overwhelmed. This is a HALF SHARE, believe it or not! I’m SO glad we decided to split our CSA share with a neighbor.

I’m impressed with the quality of the produce, and it’s all organic. WOOT! But now I have to figure out what to DO with it all.

Anyone have any idea what the thing in the back with the big white bulb is?

*CSA = Community Supported Agriculture

Over the last 20 years, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a “membership” or a “subscription”) and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.

source: localharvest.org

This was a new one for me. I have stayed at several of the Disney Deluxe Resorts, but none in the Epcot Area resorts.

After spending a weekend at the Yacht Club, I consider the Epcot area resorts one of the most convenient locations on Disney property — second only to the resorts located on the Monorail (my very favorite place to stay!)

The Yacht Club, and its sister resorts Beach Club and BoardWalk, are located within a 5-minute walk of Epcot and a 1-mile walk or ferry ride to Hollywood Studios.

We are huge Epcot fans in my house, so being able to stroll over to Epcot is a huge bonus for us.

The Yacht Club boasts the gracious atmosphere of a New England beach resort. I love the casual elegance of the dark woods and leather and wicker. With the fresh morning breeze drifting through the lobby, I almost forgot I was in Florida.

The nautical theming is carried throughout the resort, right down to the elevator buttons.

There is definitely an air of sophistication about this resort. It would be a great place to stay with older kids. The Beach Club next door is a bit more casual and family-friendly.

The rooms at the Yacht Club are spacious, and the crisp white and blue decor is calming. We didn’t get a picture of our room, but you can check out the Disney website.

Outside, the nautical theme continues with this picturesque little lighthouse at the end of the dock.

The BoardWalk area is just a short walk around Stormalong Bay, where there are shops, eateries and even a nightclub.

The Yacht Club and Beach Club boast the highly acclaimed sand-bottom pool at Stormalong Bay. This fun beach area is a huge draw to these resorts as well.

Stormalong Bay spans 3 acres, with water slides emerging from the life-size replica of a wrecked ship, lagoons, a slow river to float along in inner tubes and a sand-bottom pool.

My kids would have had a blast here. My only concern would be keeping track of younger kids. The area is divided up into a lot of smaller sections.

Another amenity that I enjoyed during my stay was the Ship Shape Health Club located right between the Yacht and Beach Clubs.

My roommate and I got up early one morning and trotted over to use the treadmill and elliptical machines. There was also Nautilus and Hammer Strength exercise equipment available.

Another morning I took a jog with a friend over to Hollywood Studios and back. On our way, we passed the Swan and Dolphin resorts, also part of the Epcot Area.

There is also a convention center within the Yacht Club property, where we had our conference sessions. It’s a gorgeous space with natural light pouring in through the high ceilings.

There is plenty of space for breakout sessions and an elegant ballroom for formal events.

If you like Epcot and/or plan to spend time at the pool, the Yacht Club and Beach Club resorts are definitely worth considering for your next Disney stay.

Read all my Disney Reviews and let me know if you have any questions!

Hello, bangs.

Mother's Day circa 2000

That little guy is 12 now. Crazy, ain’t it?

This is the day I discovered I was pregnant with C.

Mother's Day 2002

I miss that hair.

Mama said there’d be days like these . . .

Mother's Day 2003

Now this is more like it!

Mother's Day 2004

I wish my daughters would still let me put big bows in their hair.

Mother's Day 2007

Mother's Day 2008

I interrupted their play and made them pose with me for this picture. They weren’t thrilled, but they obliged.

Mother's Day 2009

Which is why last year I insisted upon pictures first thing in the morning — before everyone got grumpy and tired.

Mother's Day 2011

And finally . . .

Happy Mother’s Day!

Why the Campaign to Stop America’s Obesity Crisis Keeps Failing | The Daily Beast

While the government spent hundreds of millions trying to prove that salt and saturated fat are bad for our health, it spent virtually nothing on sugar. Had it targeted sugar then, instead of waiting for an obesity and diabetes epidemic for motivation, our entire food culture and the options that go with it might have changed as they did with low-fat and low-salt foods.

WHEN will the mainstream grab hold of this theory???? (hat tip to @centsiblelife)

Finding His Way: Theology with Boo | Blackbelt Oma

I wouldn’t let him find his own way to the store let alone his own way to Eternity.

The conversations with our little ones are often the deepest ones we have all day.

Are You On Trend? | Studio Jewel

What if you actually embraced what YOU like? That’s what makes you happy isn’t it? That’s when you feel your very best, correct? That my friend is what becoming a trend is all about.

Don’t discount this post before you read it. It might not be what you think.

Sleep Curbs Influence of Obesity Genes | Health

“We spend so much time in this country trying to keep our weight down with diet and exercise, but we never think about sleep,” he says. “I think of sleep as the third leg on the stool of good health, along with diet and exercise.”

I found this article interesting. We all know that sleep is a huge factor in health and wellness, but I never knew it had any links to obesity.

No, I am NOT obsessed with the “obesity crisis” but I just happened to come across these two articles.

Grass-Fed Beef Vs. Grain-Fed Beef | Cooking Light

Our testers liked several samples but discovered no universal preference for grass-fed or grain-fed, finding various degrees of beefiness and juiciness across the samples.

Interesting and encouraging to see Grass-Fed Beef touted by a mainstream publication. (hat tip to @kitchenstew)

Hospital Food So Fresh, Even The Healthy Come To Dine | NPR.org

Twice a week, local seniors in Warrenton, Virginia, flock to a hip new dinner spot called the Bistro on the Hill for good food, a great view, and musical accompaniment by a retired piano player from a nearby Nordstrom’s.

Only “The Bistro” is no stand-alone restaurant. It’s the cafeteria of Fauquier Hospital, one of a new group of “patient-centered” health facilities focused on meeting more than just people’s medical needs.

Good news, for once! LOVE THIS.

What have you been reading this week??

One of the hottest fashion trends for spring 2012 is stripes.

But wait! Stripes make me look fat!

No, not necessarily. There are good stripes, and there are bad stripes. The key is knowing what works for you.

Read more at The Skinny, a blog by Therapon Skin Health.

But wait! 

First, before you click over . . . Did you blog about fashion this week? LINK UP!

Fashion Friday Carnival