Following the idea behind my looooong post about extra-casual-bordering-gear clothing, this past weekend was a good test run that span the gamut. Saturday was normal casual weekend wear, Sunday was rompin' ready, and Monday was a slightly dressier casual. Feel free to skip on down to the photos

#1/2 -- Saturday hubby and I had breakfast at a favorite nearby coffee shop that has a lovely patio; we were delighted to be able to sit outside in the sun and enjoy a gorgeous view of Puget Sound. After that I went out to run some errands, including a Home Depot stop, then my sis came over and we spent the rest of the day out in the yard. Although I didn't get a photo of the yardwork "outfit", in the interest of keeping it real I'll describe it: loose gray ribbed tank, light blue basketball shorts, and light blue cloth flip-flops (pretty standard summertime just hangin' around the house attire).

#3-6 -- Sunday, as is typical, we hadn't yet decided what we were doing; it was going to be a hike or a 2-up motorcycle ride or both or neither. So I stuck with my basic plan for sneakers with weather-appropriate bottoms and a lightweight breathable casual top. These chambray Vans had arrived just a couple days prior, and as my only current sneaker option, I worked the outfit around them: long cotton shorts (because it was warm and whatever we ended up doing would be outside) and lightweight cotton/rayon blend boxy striped tee (because the long sleeves could be pushed up or be good sun protection if needed, and the soft knit would work well under riding gear). Plus being in all light clothing makes me happiest. Laced the Vans up the way I used to back in my practicing-punk days ^^

What we ended up doing was taking the bike over to Whidbey Island (just a short ferry ride away), had breakfast at a fave restaurant then walked the little town and took a stroll on the beach, and then we rode across the island to Fort Casey and wandered around the grounds. I am happy to report that the outfit worked perfectly for all of these things! My riding gear fit over the top nicely, the sneakers were good for concrete/sand/grass, and the breathable fabrics kept me both cool and covered from the sun. The one thing I wasn't too thrilled with was what to do with helmet hair; I ended up wearing a plain black headband after taking the photos with the white, but even that felt too sporty. So I think I'm going to pick up a couple more decorative headbands to try with the pony, which is a must after long stints with a helmet on

#7 -- Monday I went through a big pile of online purchases that had been waiting two weeks to be tried and sorted (work has been busy), then it was off to the post office and mall for the returns. I was also able to exchange this linen shirt (in the blush) for the right size and picked up some fun lightweight cotton summer pants I'd been eyeing for a while. These little snakey ankle strap flats were among the online purchases (*waves to Shevia*) and I just couldn't wait to wear them, so I did! Kept the outfit simple (no tucking, no belts) with rolled BF jeans to highlight the shoes. The silk-back sweater also kept the look simpler from the front; I didn't mind if the back had a little extra fun to it ^^

Available items collected below. Comments, critiques, thoughts and questions welcome.