Puppy Clothes: Me and My Shadow

The Pup was captivated by the beach:  the waves, the sand, the wind.  He was especially fond of our front deck, which led to a yard full of citrus trees (the fruit of which he ate, peel and all).  He ran up and down and up and down these boards, giggling the whole time.  However, Malibu in May is not exactly Malibu in summer - it was COLD.

The Pup's Look:  Shirt by Kiwi Industries via zulily.  Pants by Kee-Ka Organics via Gilt.  Onesie by little seed for Target.

I had to keep him warm with lots of layers, which we'd peel off as the day went on.  He was more likely to go to the beach in long pjs and a fleece vest than a swim suit.  Outfits like these were optimal - lots of soft organic cotton - with a sweater on top for mornings and evenings.  I've discovered all of these great kid brands that specialize in cotton knits through sites like zulily, babysteals, and Gilt, and the cuts and fabrics are just amazing.  I'm kind of obsessed with these pants - The Pup has a bit of a problem with pants (in that they ALL fall down), which means I always put a onesie on under his tees to keep his diaper up.  But these slim leggings are just perfect on him, leaving his onesie as a cozy extra layer against the California wind.

He was such fun to introduce to the beach.  Getting the sand out of him?  A worthy price.

Malibu-Momia

Malibu was amazing.  Paradise.  I pretty much lived in this outfit for an entire week - I washed it twice just so I could keep wearing it!  The maxi skirt was perfect for the beach breezes, and the cotton sweater over the relaxed slub tank was perfect for the changing weather on the California coastline.  I'm pretty sure I'll be wearing some version of this for the rest of the summer, even in DC (where I'll swap out a scarf or vest for the sweater).

My Look:  Sweater via Nordstrom.  Tank by Banana Republic.  Skirt by only hearts via anthropologie.  Sunglasses via LOFT.

I have always loved maxi skirts in the colder months, since they allow for easy layering with leggings and boots.  I'm surprised how wonderfully cool they can be for warm weather, too.  This one is especially lovely, because it has a very fluid fabric and an irregular hemline that swirls around my feet.  I have a feeling you're going to be seeing it a lot!

And yes, that's an orange tree behind me.  And The Pup is holding lemons.  He chewed one to bits immediately following this picture (yuck, I know, but he loved it), and I made lemon-orange-aid.  Like I said...paradise...

Back to Reality

So, this is why I wasn't hanging around here last week.  Wouldn't you rather hang out with this little guy at the beach?  Yeah.  Me too.  California sunshine, no phone or computer, lots of beer, lots of time with my boys.  It was paradise.

Grin.

Orange You Glad...

Orange does make me glad, actually...Especially orange tie dye.  With navy.  And gray and black.  Happy happy happy...

My Look:  Shirt by Calypso St. Barth for Target.  Pants by JCrew.  Blazer by JJill.  Shoes by Banana Republic.  Bracelet via art fair.  Watch by JCrew.  Sunglasses by Ray Ban via Swirl.

This was such an easy outfit, and it pretty much epitomizes my summer office wardrobe.  We were officially downgraded to "business casual" this week on campus now that classes are over (wait, you mean I'm supposed to wear something else?  Ha!), so I let my tees and my toes out to play in the summer.  I wear open-toes shoes with abandon, and I happily wear tees - even the tie dyed ones, or the concert ones, or the vintage ones.  Especially at the beginning of the summer, I don't see many students, and most of my work is done through email, so I let my rules get a bit lax.  Which is both awesome and comfy.

My first instinct was to belt the blazer (as I knew I wouldn't want to keep it buttoned all day), but I resisted the urge and decided to let go of the waist for the day.  I actually like the effect, slouchy but still polished.  Are you an obsessive belter like me, and if so, do you find it hard to let go of your waist?

(PS.  Yes, my shirt is from the new Target line.  Which means I cheated on GAAD.  For the first time.  And I bought a dress too.  Sigh.  Sigh.  Sigh.  However, I'm okay with it - I thought really hard about the purchases, actually returned them once, and I'm very glad they're in my closet for the summer!)

Best-Laid Plans... (Everybody Everywear Florals)

This is not the outfit I was planning to wear.

I have adorable mary-janes that match this dress perfectly:  brown suede with scalloped heels in yellow and coral.  Perfect.  And I can't find one of them.  So there I was at 6:53am, late and unshowered with a raging headache from last evening's department party, running around my bedroom in a pink dress, throwing shoes out of the closet in a desperate attempt to find my missing mary-jane.  No luck. 

Dress by Tucker for Target.  Vest by Michael Kors via TJMaxx.  Boots by Lucky via Nordstrom.  Necklace by Leitao & Irmao (Portugal).  Bracelets via mom.  Watch by JCrew.

But the dress was already on.  So, I grabbed my cowboy boots instead.  Totally different vibe, but whatever - the flat boots sounded appealing in my frazzled state.  I fed the dogs and dressed the baby (well, kind of - I realized when we got to his nanny's house that I forgot his shoes!).  But I felt like I needed something else, and I was still missing my perfect shoes, so I grabbed my olive vest out of my nightmare of a closet and ran out the door.  When I saw the rat's nest that is currently my hair in my rearview mirror, I took the belt off of my dress and tied it around my head instead.  A little better.  And lookie there - the bracelets I was wearing yesterday are still in the car! 

And I'm pretty sure that bright pink lipgloss can disguise anything...

So, no, this isn't the outfit I was planning to wear.  But it's something, which is better than nothing.  And it turns out I kinda like it. 

But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men
Gang aft agley,
An'lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy!

Still thou art blest, compar'd wi' me
The present only toucheth thee:
But, Och! I backward cast my e'e.
On prospects drear!
An' forward, tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!
~from "To A Mouse, On Turning Up In Her Nest With The Plough," by Robert Burns

And yes, it's Everybody Everywear Florals day.  So here's my floral.  And, for the sake of fun if you haven't visited before, here's more flowery links from me:  the same dress in a different pattern, and some florals with stripes, and even more florals.  Thanks everyone!

Puppy Clothes: Sandbox Woes

 The Pup's Look:  Hoodie by Small Paul via Gilt.  Shorts by Utility via Target.  Shoes by Trumpette Too via Target.  Sandbox cart stolen from him by a small blond monster.

As the weather has gotten nicer here in DC, I've been taking The Pup to the park by our house in the afternoons, after I pick him up from the nanny.  It's the perfect activity to let out some late-afternoon crazies, and he's all tuckered out by the time we get home for dinner and bedtime.  He loves to run around the big field, swing high in the swings, and above all, dig in the sandbox.

Oh, the sandbox!  It's a warzone, that.  There are always other kids running around, watched either by their nannies or their parents.  We've been going almost-daily for about a month, and I have been horrified.  Not by the kids - they're kids, they're little, they're learning, whatever - but by the parents!

Sam is often one of the littlest kids in the sandbox - younger babies obviously just eat the sand.  Bigger kids tend to be bored with it, though, so he's often playing with older toddlers, generally around 3 or 4.  And every single time we've been there, some kid has come up and stolen my little man's toy.

You know how young toddlers are - he's perfectly happy to play with whatever toy you put in front of him for the most part.  So, he toddles into the sandbox and grabs whatever truck the other kids are ignoring.  Or a bucket. Or a shovel.  Anything.  And, it NEVER FAILS that one of the other kids walks over to where he's playing by himself, and grabs the toy away from his pudgy baby hands.  The parent watches - and doesn't say a word! Or, it's often something like, "Aiden/Brantley/Thomas, that wasn't very nice."  No move to take the toy from their kid and give it back to mine.  No reprimand.  No lessons on sharing.  Just a shrug in my general direction.  I'm SO annoyed.

For example, this weekend...

THE PUP:  (happily playing with plastic cart...sand in...sand out...drag...push...)
BLOND GIRL, AGE 4:  (walks across huge sandbox to grab cart.  Actually grabs The Pup's fingers and pulls them off of the handle.  Drags cart away.)
THE PUP:  (stares at me sadly.  Looks at me.  Looks at the cart.  Looks at me.  Looks at the girl.  Looks at the cart.)  Mah!  Mah!  Mah!
BLOND GIRL'S MOM:  Sweetie, that wasn't very nice.  That little baby was playing with that.
BLOND GIRL.  (screams) But I want it!!!
BLOND GIRL'S MOM:  (Looks at me.  Shrugs.)
ME:  (cursing and shrieking in my head at the injustice of the sandbox)  C'mon, puppy, let's go find you a bucket instead.

I'm trying so hard to teach The Pup to share.  He's too young to understand it yet, but we're trying.  But letting some blond monster just take toys out of his little baby fingers is another matter entirely!  I just assumed that I shouldn't be parenting someone else's kid, so I haven't said anything so far, even though it happens literally every time we go to the park.  However, the more I think about it, I think it's perfectly fair for me to speak up.  Moms who have been  here before - am I so wrong to assume that other parents should stop their malicious little demons from stealing my boy's toys?  Would you tell your child to give back a toy (when you saw them steal it from another kid)?  What would you do or say?

The (Not So) Accidental Target: Pouf!

Well, it got a reaction, that's for sure.  The Doc walked in the house and just stood there for a moment.  I could hear him from the kitchen, and there was no rustle of the white coat getting hung up, or keys on the front console.  I walked in to say hi, and he looked at me...And one eyebrow raised.  "Ummmmmm....."  He pointed.

 

Metallic Pouf by Calypso St. Barth for Target.  Chair by Crate and Barrel via craigslist.  Rug is family antique.

I grinned.  "I love it.  You've been complaining we needed an ottoman for the new chair."

Wry smile.  (I love how his lip curls up when he's trying, but not very hard, not to make fun of me).  "Whatever makes you happy, baby."

He can make fun of me all he wants.  Because, oh, I do SO love it!  I've been wanting a metallic pouf for months, ever since they started cropping up in every single design magazine known to woman.  And I have fond memories of bouncing around on moroccan ottomans from my childhood, when my uncle brought one home from his state department post in Morocco for everyone in the family (the dog destroyed the one he brought home from my dad, or I'd totally have stolen it).  But I couldn't reconcile the prices for something I might not love quite so much in 5 years, or 10 - the cheapest I could find was over $200, and many designer versions were double or triple that price.

Oh, Target, how I love you.  I got the previews of the new Calypso St. Barth line, and I pored over them like I always do - even knowing that I wouldn't be buying the clothes.  And there, in the awesome home section of the collection, was my pouf.  For less than $60!

I was on the computer to buy it at 7 am last Sunday, when the line was released.  So, this was definitely not an "accidental" purchase (oh well).  And, sorry to say, it already seems to be gone from their online stock!  However, the silver version still has a link, and I have an email from Target following some confusion with my order that leads me to believe that more will be coming in stock soon.  However, my own delicious pouf arrived in the mail today, and I'm even more delighted than I thought I'd be.  For a small investment, especially for furniture, it looks high style and excellent quality.  The material (which isn't real leather, of course) is thick and not overly shiny, with no "plastic" sheen at all.  The stitching is solid, and the embroidered medallion on the top is elaborate enough to be interesting, but not cheesy or overwhelming.  Best of all, this thing is STURDY.  My biggest worry about a pouf was whether it would collapse eventually, and this one seems designed to combat that problem.  In fact, the Target website rates this baby to 300 lbs!  You can easily use it for a seat at a party, or it's plenty solid and level-enough for drinks.  We're using it as an ottoman, and it's just perfect.  If you can find it at a store, or stalk it online, DO IT!

I love how it ties the modern, streamlined upholstered chair in with our heirloom oriental rug.  And it looks really cute with my Thomas Paul pillows, too.

The Doc can grin all he wants.  I love it.  It stays!

Conference Week: Making a Grand Finale (Banquet)

I've been to quite a few conferences at this point.  And, there's one way to tell if it's going to be a "good" one - they better have a nice dinner.

 

Dress via anthropologie.  Shoes by Steve Madden via Nordstrom.  Necklace by JCrew.  Bracelet via art fair.  Watch by JCrew.

Seriously, though.  The number of people I have heard complain about a conference banquet (or lack thereof) is stunning.  It's the time when people get to socialize and be a bit less formal, and it's often the time when the crazy stories are made (see here for how to make sure you don't end up being a part of one of those stories).  Whether it's dinner or an evening reception, whether it's a poetry reading or a concert or a big lecture followed by wine and cheese, almost every conference is going to have an event that's just a bit "dressier" than the rest.  And you better figure out what to wear.

People who miss the mark here miss it by a mile.  I have seen inappropriate cocktail dresses, and I have seen athletic shorts.  As if dressing for our pseudo-professional academic events weren't stressful enough, they throw the curveball of the banquet into the mix!  Here, the key ingredient for me is usually a dress - one that morphs quickly from casual to semiformal with the addition of shoes and jewelry.

Rules for a Conference Banquet

• No Strapless Anything.  Seriously.  I have seen grad students wearing strapless and spaghetti strap dresses.  Sometimes even with bra straps showing.  Even when they're cute, they're appropriate for a spring wedding, NOT a work-related academic conference dinner.  Many of these old-fashioned scholars simply don't think they're appropriate, and quite frankly, they're right.  If you don't have a dress with sleeves, or if it's too hot for a jacket or cardigan, please throw a large pashmina over your shoulders.
• Beware of Sitting.  You're going to be sitting for most of the night.  If your dress suddenly hikes up to the top of your thighs when you hit the chair, you need to find something else to wear.  Napkins cover a lot, but they don't cover everything.
• Think Versatile.  Many times, you aren't going to know the tenor of an event until you get to the conference, and your outfit needs to have the ability to alter from casual to formal (or vice versa) if necessary.  For example, I discovered while in Oxford that the Miltonists were VERY formal, and I was glad that I had brought fancy jewelry and heels to wear with my jersey dress.  However, I wore that same dress with sandals and a cotton scarf for a conference banquet in Kentucky. 
• Accessorize.  In order to be versatile, the core of your outfit is going to need to be pretty basic.  Add personality and style with your accessories - shoes, scarf, jewelry - and even your hair and makeup.

I brought my delicious new maxi dress, which I bought with the giftcard I won from the anthropologie polyvore contest.  You guys know how much I love a good maxi dress, and this one is perfection.  It's the perfect blank slate - I'll be wearing it all summer with flip flops, but it looks totally elegant with heels and exotic jewelry, too.  It has sleeves to cover my shoulders (and my bra straps), but the neckline is still interesting.

I had no idea what type of conference this was going to be, and so no clue how formal the dinner would be, either.  I had elements for many outfits in my suitcase, and I ended up going somewhere in the middle.  I could have worn my snakeskin pumps for a bit more formality, or my silver ballet flats if things were more casual.  Instead of the chain necklace, I also had long pearls or a leather thong necklace.  A silk scarf would have made it a bit dressier, while a cotton scarf would have been more casual.  After spending a long weekend with these folks, I realized that I was definitely in the midst of a more casual, bohemian, and relaxed group of scholars, so I felt comfortable in my gold leather sandals and gold accessories.  It was just perfect.  I felt casual, a bit elegant, and comfortable - and I had a great night!