GET **IT DONE

This is going to be an intense week at work, dear readers: I have a big meeting in four days and the financial year ends next Friday.  I have a lot to do between now and then, so my mantra this week is simple.  This means I won't be active as usual on social media during the day - don't miss me too much!

Now we just need to get everyone else in my office to adopt the same motto...

Happy Monday!

Instagram Love

Hey, look at that - we've just segued neatly from all the Father's Day love into Instagram love, which is the topic of today's post! I am just so clever, aren't I?  (Thanks for the help, Allie!)

A few months ago, I discovered a website that analyzes your Instagram account.  I did a post about it back in March but then totally forgot about the site and the stats.  See, I don't actually use Instagram as a branded extension of this blog.  Like my Pinterest account, my Instagram isn't maximized to gain me new followers or to grow my blog.  I can only focus on so many things at once, and while I do use the mission of Betsy Transatlantically to guide my Pinterest and Instagram habits, I also use them for fun.

And boy has it been fun!  I signed up for Instagram in early 2012 but had to steal Jon's mobile to use it - it wasn't until I moved back to DC and switched my BlackBerry to an iPhone in early June that I was able to become the Instagram addict I am now.  Did I want to know that I've posted 1,265 photos since I registered or that 203 of those were shared in May 2013 alone?  Maybe not, but it is interesting!  I'm not going to leverage the stats on Statigram for any real purpose, but I'm loving that it shows me the organic way Instagram connects me to you even more spontaneously than this blog does.

So I thought I'd share your favorite Instagrams from my account like I did in March.  It's fascinating to see what bits of my life you like the most!

I have to say it's really heartening to see your favorites, dear readers.  It's not like I'm the greatest photographer anyway, but it's really lovely to know that your picks aren't the styled vignettes I create - well, inasmuch as anything I Instagram is styled - but the totally candid and personal pieces of what I'm up to at the moment.  Charlie's sulking in the corner right now, but I want to say thank you.  And thank you especially to Eliza, Gesci, Jackie, Whitney, and Stacey Beth, who were my most engaged followers in Instagram over the past month!  (See, I told you this is a cool website!)

Frock Fridays: Max It Out

Okay, dear readers, I'm going to make myself very unpopular with thousands of teenage girls and, probably, plenty of fashion and lifestyle bloggers.  Ready?  Here goes:

I don't like high-low skirts or dresses.

Even more, I cannot stand those skirts (and dresses) that are sheer to the ankles or floor but have an opaque mini underneath.

There are so many lovely maxidresses out there - proper maxidresses, with hems all at the same length and that actually provide maximum coverage of your legs!  It can be tricky to find ones that are flattering, but I promise that looking good in a maxi has everything to do with the fit from hips up rather than from hips down.

I own three maxidresses: one is only appropriate at the beach, the second is breezy and casual, and the third is slightly more modest and can be dressed up a bit.  I have to be careful when buying empire waist dresses because they can make me look pregnant, so two of these three nip in at my natural waist.  Also, I have to be judicious about prints on maxidresses; geometric shapes and patterns seem manageable, but anything too explosive (like the floral maxi below, unfortunately) can make me appear much bigger than I actually am.  Finally, I have to make sure that the neckline balances the long skirt to accentuate my shape, and so I almost always go for v-necks and slim straps.

These five options below, at totally different price points, are gorgeous.  I'm not sure I could work the one from Mango, but it is so pretty that I had to include it!  Of course, I'm always on the look out for others - where are your favorite maxidresses from?

[ from left: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 ]

linking up with {long distance loving}