Wednesday, December 30, 2009

J Crew New Arrivals - December


While I am most definitely not ready for Spring shopping yet and am very much enjoying the old and new in my Winter wardrobe, I'd say that my favs from the current J Crew New Arrival section indicate the need for a little vacay.  

February is a great time to get out of Seattle - midway between now and Spring Break.  A trip then breaks up the endless days of drippy gray that we have this time of year (the months other than July/August).  So this week I am scouring tripadvisor and the like in hopes of getting together a nice family trip to someplace warm and sunny.

Now I haven't seen these irl yet, but from online pics, here is what I'm liking.  I'd love to know if anyone has found anything else they really like from the latest!

OOTD 12.24.09: Christmas Eve


I've been snapping loads of pics over this past week but haven't had time to post everything... so this one takes us back to what I wore for church on Christmas Eve: 

ATL cardi in black, ATL Ruffle Front Top in blue (this is now $29.99 with an additonal 25% off online), ATL Metallic Leopard Skirt, ATL necklace, J Crew Brewster boots, Target tights, Michele Deco Diamond


xoxo

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

OPI Sapphire in the Snow


For most of our holiday activities this year, I wore more blues/purples/silver instead of my more typical Christmas red/burgundy/gold so the nail polish I chose was OPI's Sapphire in the Snow from the Holiday Wishes 2009 collection.  

I would describe it as a very dark velvety-blue purple that comes close to the popular dark burgundy shades in lower light.  In bright light or with a flash in pictures, you can really see the blue-purpleness.  In regular or dimmer light, it actually looks kind of close to Give Me Moor from the Espana collection, which I own, so used to do touch-ups.

Here it is in a Blackberry snap at the salon:


Here is a snap with the flash, next to my ATL cardi in "Violet Stone":


And here is a snap in natural light without a flash (in the car on the way to Grandma's).  This and the first pic look most "irl" to me:


Happy Tuesday!

xoxo

Monday, December 28, 2009

Anthropologie: Sewing Club Hoodie {+ cute lounge pants}


When my mom takes me Christmas shopping, we go around to different favorite stores and I show her several things I like, then she goes back and chooses some things - so, it's kind of a surprise but she always gets me things I really like. This year we made the rounds - J Crew, Anthropologie, Williams Sonoma, F21...

So at Anthropologie I was mainly focused on the jewelry and sale rack (more reviews to come, thanks Mom!) and completely missed the display that had the Sewing Club Hoodie with a white tee and some adorable lounge pants (can't find them online, but photographed below)... Mom thought it would be a great little outfit for me to wear as jammies/around the house, using the hoodie as a short robe. I actually have it on right now over my jammies... but I most definitely will be wearing it out with jeans + tee and did wear it most of Christmas day. Love it - so soft and comfortable. The color is called Med Pink online but I would say it is more of a tomato-orangey-red.

I love the wide lapels that extend to the hood:


Underneath you can see all the extensive crosstitch embroidery:


And let's just take a look at the hood up for fun.

(hi to my kitty Shelby on the lower right behind me there!)

Now for the cute, cute lounge pants. Great colors and an artsy circus print:



Happy Monday! More reviews and/or OOTDs coming up with more gifts from Anthro, J Crew and F21.

xoxo

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Mlle. Chanel's Apartment Tour




If you're interested, this Vogue.com video shares a tour of Mlle. Chanel's amazing private apartment.  Gorgeous!



xoxo

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas!


Wishing peace, love and joy to you all!

My children's 2009 Gingerbread House


xoxo

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

The Victoria Gets Out Twice in One Weekend


Here are two OOTD from this past weekend - both featuring J Crew's Victoria blouse in Golden Olive that I happily scored on a popback back in March.  The morning before I wore it I hand washed it carefully and look how nicely the ruffles stayed!  Love this blouse!

Friday Night Company Christmas Dinner:



J Crew Victoria blouse in Golden Olive, J Crew cotton cardigan, ATL skirt, J Crew earrings, Target tights, J Crew Brewster boots, Louis Vuitton Neverful MM

Sunday Morning Santa Breakfast:



J Crew Victoria blouse, J Crew Haley Foil Cardigan, ATL black pants, J Crew earrings, Tory Burch Revas

Happy Tuesday!

xoxo

Saturday, December 19, 2009

ATL {40% Off Today!} Purchases



I picked up a couple gifts at Eddie Bauer this morning (as I got an email that their entire store is 25% off today) and then got lured into Ann Taylor LOFT because of their 40% off full-price promo (online code is PRESENTS).  This is today only - but who knows what great promo or markdowns are next?  Anyway, I ended up buying a few things for myself:

(Oh! And because I donated to St. Jude's along with my purchase, they gave me a coupon for 20% off a full price purchase between December 28th and January 24th.)


Jewel Neck Tee in gray -  $49.50, $29.70 on sale and cotton cardigan I can't find online - style # is 238974 - $59.50, $35.70 with discount


The cardi closed (it has two hook closures at the waist) over the Animal Ikat Print Top in Vintage Plum

a clearer pic of the cardi

the Animal Ikat Top - $49.50, $29.70 on sale


Boat Neck with Charmeuse Bow in Shadow Gray - $36.50, $21.90 on sale

Happy Saturday!

xoxo

Friday, December 18, 2009

Buzz! Buzz! {my new "coin purse"}


Today I was waiting in line to buy a candle at Anthropologie (I found a couple other cute things there and at J Crew but some are going to be my Christmas presents so I can't talk about them yet) when I spotted one Great and Small Coin Purse in the Yellow bee design.  I saw a post on this cutie-pie little accessory on Gingersnap's blog a little while ago and it is indeed just as adorable in person.


(my nail polish is OPI's All A-bordeaux the Sled from the Holiday Wishes 2009 collection)

I'm not sure what exactly I'm going to do with this little purse yet, but I will definitely be putting it into use.  It is larger than I expected it to be from the website pic and "coin purse" description.  (Of course they do give the dimensions though - about 5 x 7 .)  Each little sequined, beaded bee is about an inch long.  The fabric feels like a nice cotton canvas and the interior dot lining is darling.  The label sewn inside says the brand is Ipa-Nima and it is priced at $28.

Happy Friday!

xoxo

Thursday, December 17, 2009

OOTD 12.16.09: {yay for rain}


The day after I received my kate spade Randis, our weather turned freezing, bright and sunny.  For days.  Quite unusual and quite hindering to the wearing of my new rain gear.  So yesterday, I actually didn't mind the downpour because it meant I had a reason to wear my new pink (and not just pink, but lipstick pink) boots.

Here was yesterday:

ON sweater dress in gray (1-2 yrs ago), black leggings, Ann Taylor scarf in black, kate spade Randi boots

xoxo

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

OOTD 12.13.09: Rosy!


Sunday afternoon's outfit was a total copy from an Ann Taylor LOFT website pic.  When I purchased the Chiffon Rose Cardigan in black, I could only envision wearing it with a simple cami, but then I saw this:

ATL's pic

...and thought - "Hey! I can do that."

I couldn't find a long sleeved white shirt (?) - I know I have one - so had to try the roll with my 3/4 sleeve shirt but I think it worked OK.  I had every intention of putting on socks and boots since it was lightly snowing, but liked the look of the leopard flats so much I just kept them on.  It wasn't that cold and I just had to get from car to building a couple of times.  

I added a lavender scarf and blingy J Crew bracelet not shown in my pics.




here's a pic with the flash to show the chiffon detailing a little better

Happy Tuesday!  Counting down!

xoxo

Monday, December 14, 2009

The Halls are Decked!









This year's Nutcracker addition





my children made these - my favorite centerpieces!

xoxo

Sunday, December 13, 2009

OOTD 12.12.09: Sequins!



ATL V Neck Cardigan in Rosette, ATL Sequin Sparkle Tank in Pewter, ON jeans, J Crew Brewster boots, ATL earrings, Ann Taylor wool scarf in black (years ago), Gucci Square Coin Logo sunglasses


Happy Sunday!

xoxo

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Tory Burch Review: The Holland Satchel in Black


Well, my TB Holland satchel arrived today and while I generally love the looks - and the size of this handbag is perfect - I will tell you that, sadly, it is already packed up and labeled to return.  And I really don't like returning.



First off, I must say that the TB folks did a very nice job packaging the bag and I noticed when reading return instructions that they also offer 10 day price adjustments, which is very nice.

Now, on to the Holland.  The leather is pretty and the print is just as I expected.  My first issue, though was that the hardware is shown on the website as gold and in reality, it was that dark black-looking silver metal.  A nice metal, just not what I thought I was ordering.  


In addition to the hardware color, when it comes to the functionality of this bag, it just won't work for me.  The handles and shoulder strap I must say are great and just what I wanted.  

But. The bag just doesn't open wide enough.  I had my husband look at it and he said it looked like I would scrape my hand on the zipper reaching into it.  Maybe I am just used to my LV Speedy and Neverful but it's too narrow of an opening and the opening is very stiff - there is something under the leather - contributing to keeping the bag from opening wide enough for me.  The clasp is very nice but it's a little cumbersome (for me) to have to do a clasp and a zipper.  And, since the bag is very stiff around the opening - and the rest of the bag is very thin and pliable - it makes it top heavy.  Personally, I didn't like this structure.  I'd prefer a satchel a little stiffer sided, if that makes sense.




So, while there are a lot of things I love about this bag - it really is beautiful - it just isn't perfect and I would enjoy looking at it, but not actually using it.  I see that one of the colors is already sold out on the website, so I'm sure many people are liking it, but personally, my search for the perfect black bag continues...

Hope everyone is having a nice Wednesday!

xoxo