Oversized: Then and Now

The last time I wore this camel sweater, I was getting near the end of baking this kid. I must say, there was a certain charm about the way it fit over that little bump, but there's something equally sweet about pairing it with chewy beads for this teething slobber machine and a messy side pony to keep twirling fingers out of my hair while we're nursing.

White Jeans and Little Things

Whew, glad I got such a heavy post off my chest earlier this week. On to lighter-hearted things.

One. I have, to date, killed three pairs of non-maternity pants so dead they had to be thrown away. Zippers may be fixable, but popped seams and ripped fabric? Nope. Not coming back from that.

Two. The cutest foggy morning slug inched along and crossed our path as Miles and I had our early morning walk. A tiny 1 inch trail of slime behind him; unbearably cute.

Three. My love of Peanut Butter (crunchy and overpriced, of course) with apples and carrots for lunch is still going strong.

Four. We went to Beijing last weekend. I'll tell you more later.

Five. I nearly fell off the sofa trying to paint my toenails. It may be time to start going to get pedicures instead of doing them myself. Bummer.

Lesson Learned

Just a hint of cool in the air. Living south-ish is so strange during the fall. The mornings are gorgeous, the afternoons are baking hot, the evenings turn me into a weenie, shivering and pulling my hands into my sleeves.

This jacket and I are still figuring one another out. It was my very last purchase in the States before we left for China (thanks, Ebay) and I'm very, very glad I own a great quality mid-tone trench. But, it's heavy weight and the belt loops are quite far back, so I'm always nervous that the belt is slipping out. Is that a legitimate qualm?

I have a bunch of other coats, jackets and blazers, as well as more shoes!, arriving soon in our shipment (which we had picked up in Houston in late June). We were supposed to receive it last Sunday before the week-long National Holiday, and the Customs tracking system even told our agent the paperwork was ready and customs would be open for pick up on Sunday, the holiday "make up" day... but the employees of the warehouse all decided to just up and take the extra two days off. So, we are rescheduled for a Friday delivery this week. Moral of the story: if you move to China, expect to pay an arm and a leg anyway, so cough up the cash to pack a third suitcase or just coerce your friends and family into bring two 50-pounders when they visit. It will take just as long to get your goodies by visit as it will by shipment.

Well, now we know.

Jeans: Gap Real Straight...Tank: thrifted...Trench: J Crew Madewell via Ebay...Shoes: Nine West...Bag: Longchamp knockoff

Plain Jane

Being on the far side of the Pacific has, style-wise, been a little funny for me. First, I chucked some of my long time favorite articles of clothing because I literally wore them until they shouldn't be worn any more. Loved them to pieces and put them into a garbage can in the days before we left Houston. So, I'm down about 30%. Second, I kept a lot of my simple, classic, wholesome American gal clothes. Simple skinny jeans, a few buttondowns, lightweight t-shirts. Things that aren't risky or fashion-forward, but are just solid workhorse items. A glorified capsule wardrobe, if you will.

And I didn't keep summer clothing, you guys. Bad choice.

It's a great mix of perfectly slouchy sweaters and layer-able stuff with slim-fit pants. So, come fall and winter, I'll be golden, but for now, I'm sweating my buns off and rotating between this skirt and shorts (which I hate on my skinny legs- ugh, chicken knees) and a few tanks and tees.

And this desperate deficit of options, lack of first-month-in-town positive bank balance, and having a simple wardrobe means I'm stickin' out like a sore thumb. China's a little funny with fashion. Sometimes ladies look so mis-match chic, young and fresh in their boutique fashion (there's literally thousands of small clothing stores along the coolest shopping avenues here), I look like a bowl of vanilla ice cream. But sometimes these adorable young women wear the dowdiest or hodgepodged or hello-kittied looks. Perhaps another day I'll take my camera out and about with me.

Skirt: H&M...Blouse: Target...Belt: Target...Shoes: Nine West...Bag: Longchamp knockoff

Stolen from the Boys

Jeans: Gap Always Skinny...Button down: Target dude's...Trench: Target...Shoes: Steve Madden

I remember it distinctly... Christmas eve, my family did a cross-country and international webchat to exchange gifts and my darling sister had swiped the perfect buffalo plaid shirt from her boyfriend to wear as festive Hong Kong Christmas morning coffee attire. And, well, since I can't EVER steal anything from Rob (a 6'4" frame doesn't lend itself to shared wardrobe items with a 5'4" shrimp), I knew I was in for a hunt for a clearance dude flannel of my very own. I liked the small cobalt and black check, but ultimately decided it looked like a bruise. So, here we are, in a weekend errand outfit with perfectly oversized man-shirt in girly-colored plaid (no wonder so many made it to clearance) and nearing-death jeans. Total honesty? The trench and real shoes were only a fraction of the day... the majority was spent in Chacos and with one sleeve flapping and unfurled.

Next Steps

Skirt: Banana Republic, thrifted...Sweater: J Crew, thrifted...Belt: Target...Shoes: Naturalizer...Scarf: Thai table runner...Bag: Longchamp knockoff

Well, crew, it's Wednesday, so I'm linking up with The Pleated Poppy and Rolled Up Pretty. And why on earth would I deprive you all of my gloriously bed-head-ish icky bun disguised by a crisp pencil skirt and black patent belt?


Just in case you missed it... my little family will be moving to Suzhou, China for my husband's new position as a professor at Soochow University. Can I get a WOOHOO? As excited as I am about our next step and our international move, I'm realizing how much there is to plan and arrange. Actually, I think we've mostly figured out how we plan to move our things to storage in Ohio, I've already found several well reviewed lightweight duffel bags for the flight, we are receiving help with visa arrangements from the university. Mostly, I am doing a lot of sorting things out in my head about what we should toss, sell or donate and what physical stuff we ought to save in storage that is "our stuff". The stuff that feels like home. Because we don't really know how long we'll live overseas. We might stay for just a year or two, we might stay 6, we might love it and apply for tenure. And if we only stay a much longer time, what's the point of keeping stuff? Here's the other factor. My sister is likely moving back to the States from Hong Kong, so there may be a transfer of furnishings and rice cookers mid-summer so I don't want to start a grand purge before she gets her pick.

The upside? I love making lists and researching something to death. So, a complicated move with a currency conversion and different set of cultural norms is pretty great.

New

Jeans: Gap Always Skinny...Button down: J Crew Outlet...Cardigan: Target....Shoes: Nine West Outlet...Bag: D&B via Buffalo Exchange...Earrings: vintage...Shades: via TJ Maxx

A big, hearty welcome to my first full week of my new job. And, yes, I know I have some 'splainin' to do.

I am now the Grants and Special Projects Manager for Young Audiences of Houston. If it has anything to do with getting the arts into education, they've got their hands in it. Want to make partnerships between schools, hospitals, community centers and the major performance groups and individual artists? Got that covered, too. It's a really cool funnel-type organization that channels arts-based opportunities for personal growth and learning for kids and their educators, which is a really cool thing. And I'm going to help with the funding side of the operation. Which is a little new and terrifying to me, but I can't wait to be a part of it all! (Especially since, in order to write grants well and geared to the right projects and foundations, I'll need to have a solid understanding of kids' needs and the programs we offer... which means I get to hang out in a few classrooms to wrap my head around it!)

Happy new week, you all! It's going to be a good one.

H A Double-L O Double-U Double-E N

Skirt: Target...Cardigan: Target...Belt: Gap...Scarf: Target...Shoes: via Buffalo Exchange...Bag: D&B via Buffalo Exchange...Earrings: Old Navy

Happy Halloween a day late! I've never been a Halloween enthusiast or costume wear-er, but here's a little homage.

I didn't really notice until we moved to Houston, but I really don't "do" holidays. Thanksgiving is the only one I can get into- eating all day and spending cheerful, grateful time with loved ones, it's always been the only holiday I really "celebrate". Christmas? Eh, hang a wreath, maybe. Valentine's Day? We're lucky if I pull out a red or maroon article of clothing. And Halloween really requires waaay too much effort. So, there I was. In orange and black. Whoop-dee-do.

I do want to see what you guys were all up to last night! Looking forward to my Reader feed during the next few days!

Labor Day Weekend

Dress: Target...Chambray: Target...Shoes: J Jill via Buffalo Exchange...Bag: D&B via Buffalo Exchange

I would talk about Labor Day weekend, but it was kind of a non-event. We hit the Zoo with Natalie and her boyfriend on Sunday morning, helped a friend move on Saturday, I did laundry on Monday evening and watched a lot of Wipeout and altered things. Highlights that are mediocre at best.

BTW, say adios to the fluttery skirt of this pajama dress- I altered the navy version to be more straight and I love it!

I'm a piggy- chips, avocado scooped out, sliced cheese not on top of anything, lemonade... Just keeping it real with you guys.

OTI: Kayla's Pick

Skirt: thrifted...Tee: UO...Shoes: J Jill via Buffalo Exchange...Belt: Target...Scarf: via TJ Maxx

Kayla is the queen of Rock and Roll glam hints, like a vest, moto jackets, a graphic tee here and there... I tried several vest options for today's OTI, but they just aren't my thing. And I'm okay with that. I tried the recent looped and belted scarf trend. And this scarf is too long or too short, depending on how I loop it. So, I went with status quo scarf styling, and it feels most "me." And then it dawned on me: That's what OTI is all about. Take an inspiration, pull a little nugget out of it, don't copy, just make it your own. So while this looks nothing like the fabulous inspiration photo, it jump-started a look I'm very pleased with. Casual, graphic print tee's and vests aren't sensible for my work week, but a dressed up tee, skirt and the mix of cheerful color and a summertime vibe are exactly what I was looking for. (My shirt is a pale mint... can you tell? Neither can I.) BTW, check out Erica and Grace and the link ups to all the other gals playing along. W.I.N.N.E.R.S.

I'm also gonna say it... the mint bug took about 3 months to bite, but it got me good. I cracked up when I read this post... Um, guilty as well. I may or may not debut the mint crops I found sometime next week.

Additionally, all Link Ups seem to be on Wednesday, so here are a few more: Pleated Poppy's What I Wore Wednesday, A Little Bit of Lacquer's Work It Wednesday

Tired and Happy

Art Car is coming! In honor of the madness (which is hosted by the Orange Show) I've worn orange.


And I'm so wiped out tired that that's the most riveting thing I can pass along today.

See you Sunday! I hope your weekend is as wild and fun as mine is likely to be.

Pants: Theory via Buffalo Exchange...Blouse: thrifted...Cardigan: Target...Shoes: Sperry via DSW

Easy Breezy

Two days ago it was green with purple gingham, today I went nuts again with color and paired it with orange. I'm one wild and craaazy guy.

While you know I love a good pencil skirt (see here, here, here, here or here- to name a few in the recent past), there's something wonderful and easy about a slim pair of crop pants, loose blouse in jersey and a stretchy cardigan. And breaking out into color is a little less "the norm" for me, but it's a problem I'm working on. The funny thing is my background is Interior Design, so color theory and pattern mixing and meshing textures comes pretty naturally to me... I just don't like to wear it.

Also, I tried some photos out in the between-apartments clothesline area back by the carport... and my neighbor and his dogs busted me. Oops.

I'll be back tomorrow with my boxy bright green cardigan- let's give it another go-round.

Pants: Theory via Buffalo Exchange...Shirt: Old Navy...Cardigan: Target...Necklace: Target...Shoes: Calvin Klein via Buffalo Exchange

ChChChChanges

Well, we found a new bed, and I'm in love. I knew having a good mattress was important and I knew I was missing out on quality sleep, but I was really missing out. Lesson learned and never to be repeated.

I haven't finished putting things away yet, so there's no photo... But because we switched from our platform bed to a standard bedframe, we lost built in night stands, but gained under-bed storage space. I went hunting for a new nightstand on my Guy's side of the bed and found a real goodie- it is mid century mod, trim all the way around the top and it's custom dovetail constructed to be a parrallelogram. I am not joking. It leans but has a level top- the shop's buyer said it came from a ship. I love it. I also now have high heel and belt and tights storage neatly tucked under our bed. And I can effectively Swiffer under there now. I used to remove the mattress and slats on the old bed to clean since there was only a 4" clearance. Pain. In. The. Tush.

Is it pathetic that the highlight of my week may or may not be easier dust bunny removal?

Skirt: thrifted...Blouse: via Buffalo Exchange...Cardigan: Target...Shoes: thrifted

Color Blocked Brights

I'm taking part in a challenge... and it's another one that stretches me a little. Marion of Marionberry Style is hosting an Office Trend Challenge focused on color blocking, which I really don't have much experience with. Her recommendation was to stick with three colors and nude pumps, but I couldn't stop myself. I'm at 5, including my shoes. Overkill? Maybe. Cohesive? I still think yes. Balancing the warmer tones between my cardigans and shoes seems to help with the overall look and give it a little extra weight toward the bottom half.

You can still email your color blocking office wear submission to Marion and take part- the deadline isn't until TOMORROW, the 14th, at 5:00 pm Mountain Time. Dream up something wonderful and join in! Just click here for the email instructions and I look forward to seeing what you submit!

Skirt: thrifted...Tank: Old Navy...Cardigans: Target...Shoes: Target...Necklace: thrifted

The Maxi Trend

I have worn more color this week during the Winter Fashion Challenge than I have in many many weeks past. I kind of don't like it. I don't feel like myself. It all looks put-together, true enough, but I feel kind of "young" and loud. And like I ought to be in the midst of springtime. Upside: I'm nearly wearing pajamas on my lower half today.

Challenge yourself, force yourself out of a comfort zone. Hate it a little, but do it anyway.

I waaaaant my neutrals back!

Maxi: via Ross...Blouse: Target...Cardigan: Target...Belt: thrifted...Shoes: Nine West Outlet