Birthday Fashion Files

Welcome back to Fashion Files!  The ladies at The Blended Blog are taking style inspiration from Pinterest and other bloggers to recreate favorite outfits.  We hope you'll join us and link up your fashion posts below.

And in honor of my big 5-0 birthday today, keep scrolling for a little Q&A about my growing up years.

Sooo....this is one of those outfits that didn't quite turn out the way I pictured it in my mind. In fact, I wasn't going to post it, but then decided it would be a good example of "what not to wear".  The concept (see the lovely lady on the left) was there, but the execution on my part fell short.  At least I was having a good hair day.

I recently purchased this Octavia skirt and I love everything about it.  It's flowy and feminine and I don't have anything else like it in my closet.  But I'm clearly at a loss for ways to style it.  The shirt should have been tucked in, because the proportions are all wrong.  And I like the nude pumps instead of black.  Better luck next time.  Suggestions?

Linking up  with The Pleated Poppy, Thursday Fashion Files, Fashion Friday, Fabulous Friday, Pumps and Pushups, How I Style It, Not Dead Yet Style, My Refined Style, Thursday Moda, I do Declaire, Ageless Style, Wednesday's Wardrobe , Get Your Pretty On, Shelbee On The Edge

Now on to the birthday questions!  A friend sent these to me last year, and I thought it would be fun to share some randomness about my childhood.

When and where were you born?  Any special stories about your birth?  I was born on May 10, 1967 in Berkeley, California.  I was my parent's first baby, and they were young and nervous.  On the way to the hospital, they were stopped by a large Vietnam War protest. My dad had to get out of the car and  plead with the protesters to let them through.

Why were you given the first (and middle) names that you have?  My father had a previous girlfriend named Lana, and when he suggested it to my mom, she thought it was pretty.  He failed to mention the ex-girlfriend part until I was five, and mom wasn't happy.  My middle name is Lee, same as my mom.  Don't I sound like a southern belle?

What's your first, most vivid memory?  Mom was taking me to preschool when I was four, and I decided to see what would happen if I opened the door while the car was moving. There were no car seats in 1971, but I didn't fall out and nothing bad happened. It was the first time I'd ever seen mom SO mad though, and I still remember it to this day.

What were you like as a child?  What did you do for fun?  Being the oldest, I was studious and responsible and very sensitive.  My brother is only 18 months younger than me, so we played together a lot and I was a bit of a tomboy.  We grew up in North Carolina and spent most of our time outside, playing in the woods and eating honeysuckles.

What was the best gift you remember receiving as a child?  A Donny Osmond album, "Disco Train".  I had the hugest crush on Donny, and I obsessed over that album for months before my birthday.

What did you want to be when you grew up?  A teacher.  I used to hold "school" for my siblings and the neighborhood kids.  I can't remember when/why that changed.

When did you learn how to drive?  What was your first car like?  Driver's Ed was part of our high school curriculum, and my teacher had us run errands during class.  We went to the pharmacy, the grocery store, and to pick up dry cleaning.  Seriously.  My first car was the ugliest Mercury Montego with red plaid seats, but I loved it.

How did you spend your previous "decade" birthdays?  On my 10th birthday I got to have my first slumber party with friends from school.  I don't remember 20, but I was just home from my second year of college, so I was probably working.  When I turned 30 I was pregnant and on bed rest with Thomas, so that was a fun one. And 40 was really special because George planned a surprise vow renewal party in Sonoma.

How do you feel about growing "old"?  Bring it on, because the alternative is worse!

Time to link up!  I hope you'll join us again this week, and follow along with #theblendedblogstyle.

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