What's Old is New Again

I love the transformative power of accessories. The way a statement-making necklace can take wardrobe staples and dress them up (or down). The way a belt can change the shape of a jacket or dress, giving those items new life (and the illusion that you have the tiniest of waists (not possible anymore post-twins, believe me)). Accessories are, to me, miraculous. And even though I now go days at a time and don't even leave my house, I'm still amazed at how much better--more confident, more happy, more ME--I feel on the days I take the time to throw on a pair of earrings or a stack of bracelets. (That's right, I'm saying I'm a better mother when I accessorize.)

Take this outfit I wore last Friday to a lunch date with a friend. Each of the pieces of clothing are so basic. I've also owned them forever (the shoes are the newest, but were purchased two years ago). But by layering on some of the pieces from the Stella & Dot Fall 2011 collection, and a vintage belt and bag, the clothes felt new again. I felt fresh. And pretty (and that never happens anymore).

The lunch, the dressing up, the feeling of being out-and-about midday sans double stroller was a rare treat, and I reveled in it. I left the house feeling tired and disgruntled and came home ready to tackle dishes, dirty diapers, and five days as a single mom while S headed off on a fishing trip. If that's not some kind of transformation, I don't know what is.

wearing: old navy vest, target tank, vintage silk skirt, dolce vita sandals, S&D soiree studs, S&D soiree trio ring, S&D graceful nomad necklace, vintage bag, vintage belt.

Cool Coat

I love this peacoat from Ramona West for it's Ali Macgraw/Sally MacMillan 70s chicness.

Don't mess with Texas or...Rhode Island???

I grew up in Pennsylvania but have zero home state pride--unlike the hubby who is 100% Jersey born and bred...and damn proud of it!!! But Rhode Island? Now that's a state a girl can love (this girl, anyway). How cool is this t-shirt? It's had me chuckling for the last 10 minutes.

In fact there are several things in this shop, Bit and Little Bit, that I think I want...like some adorable onesies and bibs for the twins. And what I find even cooler is that the creator of all this cuteness, Hilary Treadway, is also a trained doula! What a multi-talented lady!

(via The Craptastic Voyage)

The Masque of the Black Tulip

I finally settled in to do some non-baby-related reading this weekend. In the spirit of kicking off summer, I picked up The Masque of the Black Tulip, which has been on my shelf for ages. It's the second in the Pink Carnation series. These books are just so fun and frivolous...the perfect mix of a little mystery/intrigue and historical romance. You know, the perfect summer reading, right?

While reading, I sort of fell in love with that little black and white tulip illustration on the cover, so I started nosing around to see what cool black tulip-themed items I could find...

...like this pretty little painting (I think it would look really cool hung on a black accent wall in a hallway or bathroom)...

...and this Pyrex casserole dish (seriously--is there any pattern Pyrex didn't do?! Gotta love it!)...

...or these sweet, dainty lucite earrings (these totally look like something one of the heroines in the books would wear!)...

...and this enamel brooch.

I've now started on the next volume in the series, The Deception of the Emerald Ring...I hope it doesn't make me want to shop for emeralds! YIKES!

DVF does sequins right

I tend to shy away from sequins because they are one of those things that always make me feel uncomfortable. I'm not sure why, because I love them on other people. Plus, they are innately shiny and gaudy, and I innately love both of those things!

That said, these two DVF toppers that went on Bluefly yesterday, could make me change my mind (of course, I'm sure I'll have LOTS of occasion to wear sequins while chasing after the twins, don't you...?).

Is this jacket too Liza Minelli or just too awesome? I can't decide!

The shape of this little floral cocoon feels very 1920s to me. I'd go all Daisy Buchanan and wear it over a tiered lace dress with some t-strap sandals and loads of pearls.

C'mon get happy!

Love this ring! I'm totally digging how the design is clean and graphic, yet kind of unrefined at the same time. Plus turquoise and amber are two of my very favorite stones. And what's more, something about it gives me a strong Partridge Family vibe. Gotta love that, right?!

(via Bella-Bijou Jewelry)

DC...I'm missing you!

For the last four years I've spent this week in DC for work meetings. Other than my annual travel to Chicago in August (hello fall shopping on Michigan Ave.!!!), DC has always been my favorite trip.

But this year, due to the twins and the fact that I'm not returning to work, I'm here in Ithaca, in a funk, missing DC terribly. I've been trying to snap out of it all week, but the reality is, I just really want to be in our nation's capital.

Here are some things I'm missing most:

• Dinner at Firefly (the picture above is from two years ago when some really good friends were living in DC). I discovered this little gem four years ago and have gone back every visit since. The last couple of years, my trip has been timed perfectly with their special of sauteed morel mushrooms and fiddlehead ferns, which is--hands down--one of the best things I've ever eaten. That said, the truffle fries also rock.
• Shopping at Secondi and Carbon...especially Carbon. This store has the best selection of really awesome, yet really comfortable shoes. And what's really cool is that even though I only go in there once a year, the owner totally remembers me and my previous purchases! Now that's some customer service, eh?
• Pizza at Sette Oseteria. I order the same thing every time: Rucola e Finnochio (a salad of arugula and shaved fennel with pecorino and a lemon vinaigrette) and the Margherita Classica. The crust on this pizza is just magnificent...so thin and crispy and flavorful. Plus, after being inside all winter, going to Sette is usually one of my first chances at dining al fresco. Considering that it's been in the 40s here all week, enjoying a pizza outside in Dupont Circle sounds fabulous!
  
• Breakfast at Teasim. Homemade granola, fresh squeezed o.j., and a cup of really strong, really fragrant Earl Grey...what's not to love?
• Pollystyle baked goods. They sell these goodies at Teaism, and I always head there on my first day to buy a bag of the rice crispie treats with dried cherries and apricots to eat during the week (okay, okay...I confess...last year they were gone by day 2), then on my last day buy another bag to bring home.
• Strolling through the National Zoo. The zoo is right up the street from where my meetings are held, and I always have one afternoon with a few hours to kill, so I brave the wild packs of elementary school kids and walk through the zoo. The pandas are always a treat (of course!), but my real favorites are the giant South American guinea pigs.
• A kickass room at the Omni Shoreham. The first two years I traveled to DC, I stayed at the Carlyle Suites, which was amazing, but the cab rides to my meetings were really pricey, so the last two years I've stayed at the Omni. Somehow I've lucked out both years and gotten really awesome rooms. Plus we are members of the Omni "select members" thing, so I get free breakfast delivered to my room every morning, which for some reason tickles me to no end.
• A disgusting burrito lunch at Chipotle. We don't have Chipotle here; we only have Moe's, which is soooooo not the same thing (in my opinion). I'm really not one for fast food, but there's something about Chipotle I cannot resist.
  

I hope you can see now why I'm so miserable. I mean the work part of the trip is always great, and I'm missing that, along with the friends I always see, but the food...and shopping...and FOOD is really what I'm really longing for.

Christen...Elle...E--please go shop and eat A LOT this week for me, won't you?

These are the things my husband likes for gifts...

Seth and I are essentially the same person in male/female form, but there are a few extreme variations in our personalities. For example, when it comes time for birthday, anniversary or Christmas gifts he wants things that are practical, usable, sensible; whereas I come up with a list of at least ten things I want for each holiday, and they are hardly ever things I need--just pure, unadulterated wants (it's the Taurus in me).

Yesterday was Seth's 33rd birthday and although he repeatedly told me not to get him anything, I'm all about buying gifts, so I just couldn't let that happen. But I knew, now more than ever, if I got him something impractical, he never would have enjoyed it. And since he's all about putting up as much veg from our garden and CSA share as possible, I got him a FoodSaver. I have to admit that I'm skeptical about this device, but we'll see how it works once we start freezing fresh veg again in a few months.

As a totally gratuitous birthday celebration, I did convince Seth to go for side-by-side massages last evening at our lovely local spa, August Moon. We then ate Chinese food on the couch and watched some crappy TV. Isn't our life glamourous?

p.s. In an odd role reversal, my birthday is next month and I have asked for a new utility sink (our old one is terrifying...seriously...I'll post some pix and feel confident you'll agree!). Since very soon I'll be spending a lot of time hosing out dirty diapers, etc., I figure it's only fitting to have a sink that won't give me the heebie-geebies every time I look at it!

Sandal Shopping

It's so sunny and gorgeous here today!!! I actually have my fave open-toe booties on and am loveloveloving it! I typically ban socks around March 15, but that can sometimes be an imprudent decision when it's April and still only in the 30s (sadly, often the case in Upstate New York). But with tomorrow and Saturday predicted to be in the low 80s (YES!!!), I'm now itching to pull out all my spring and summer shoes and add a few new lovelies to the collection.

Top on my list are these adorable espadrilles. I've been searching for the perfect espadrilles for at least three years, but every pair I've found has been either sky-high or really stiff and uncomfortable--or both. But last month I did some searching online and found the site Espadrilles, Etc. This site sells the real thing--every style and color combo you could imagine, all made in Spain. I love the bright stripes in this pair and can imagine wearing them with just about everything in my summer wardrobe, but for this year, I think they'll work nicely on swollen, hot pregnant feet!

I bought my first pair of Corso Como sandals last summer, and it was an instant love affair. They were unquestionably the most comfortable sandals I've ever owned. So this year I want to add this taupey-grey and silver pair to the mix. I love the over-sized buckles, and I'm still majorly in love with the sliver wedge.

Words cannot express how much I love this cutie from Kelsi Dagger. The grey snakeskin t-strap would have been adorable enough on its own, but when you pair it with a band of ruched salmon leather, I just can't resist!

And last but not least--the workhorse of the bunch--the flip flop. I have to tell you that three years ago I bought a pair of rubber Tory Burch flip flops, and I thought at $45 it was a completely stupid purchase considering I'd previously spent the same amount on my Eliza B. flip flops that are handmade and super, super sturdy (I bought my first pair 7 or 8 years ago and they still look like new!). Three years later I am amazed at how awesomely the TB's have held up, so I'm going back for another pair. Now that I'm finally daring to wear animal prints, I think I'll go with this black leopard print.

What shoes are on your shopping list for spring/summer?

I'll use it forever...I promise!!!

Haven't we all justified a splurge-y purchase with the little promise to ourselves that "we'll use it forever?" or that we "won't need any other bag/shoe/whatever?" Of course we mean it at the time, but let's be honest--3 or 6 or 12 months later, don't we break down and buy another bag or pair of shoes or whatever? I know I do. I'm weak. And I'm a liar. What can I say?

But since I am a mother now, and as such am trying to be more fiscally responsible, I've been ignoring those empty promises as I've been eyeing up this Kate Spade baby bag for months (like, since before I was even pregnant...seriously, I've been going on KateSpade.com at least once a week since probably November). However, at $425, I just couldn't justify buying the bag, no matter how much I'd use it.

But guess what? Last week I got an e-mail that it had FINALLY gone on sale!!! And on top of that? It was an extra 25% off!!! And on top of that?? FREE SHIPPING!!! And on top of that??? I still had money left from my 2009 bonus from work!!!

So guess what?!?! That little ole baby bag shipped to me today!!!

And you know what?!?! I'll use it FOREVER!!!

(Well, at least for the next few years, anyway!)

Cycling

So I know this might sound sacrilegious to many of you, but I actually hate riding a bike. I don't know if it comes from being a kid in the late-'80s/early-90s when the cool thing was to have 10-speed bikes, which--let's face it--have the most uncomfortable seats EVER; or maybe it comes from living in a town where at least a 1/3 of the population bikes everywhere and although there are signs wherever you look that say "Share the Road," the cyclists just don't seem to think it applies to them, which makes for harrowing driving on Ithaca's narrow, curving roads, topped with a fair amount of annoyance. Either way, I just really, really don't like it.

I will say, however, that when the hubby and I took a long weekend to the Jersey Shore last summer, the b&b where we stayed had bikes for guests to use, and we took the longest, loveliest pre-breakfast bike rides down the boardwalk and all around town. That weekend started to change my feelings about bikes. There was something so relaxing about tooling around Spring Lake on a Sunday morning on our bikes, working up an appetite for the Johnson House Inn's infamous Finnish Pancake.

But what could really make me reconsider my long-standing ban on biking are the new Liberty of London bikes at Target. A pink and lavender floral-print bike for a grown-up lady? Yes, please! Totally reminds me of my very first bike, the awesomely awesome Huffy Desert Rose.

Sneak Peak of Stella & Dot Spring/Summer 2010

Yesterday Stella & Dot released this little teaser video of the Spring/Summer 2010 line. Of course, being the Lilly Pulitzer lover that I am, the Palm Beach collection is my favorite. Which one do you like?

I'd like to try doing some virtual trunk shows this spring, so if you're interested in hosting one, please let me know!

And p.s. S&D is also having a big 50% off sale--check it out!

On the Lookout: Vintage Choker

For about the last year I've been keeping my eye out for a really bold, graphic late-'70s, early-'80s choker. I'd like something I can wear almost every day to break out of my current obsession with the big earrings, giant cocktail ring combo that I've been rocking for at least the last three years.

I think this type of necklace would be a fun contrast to a soft blouse, plain sweater, or even jeans and a tee.

But the challenge is finding just the right one that is unique enough to make a statement, but versatile enough to go with everything.

I find that I'm repeatedly drawn to this same bib-style necklace, whether in plain gold or enamel. What I really wish is that I could find the exact above necklace in two-tone brushed gold and silver. I think I would never take it off.

(via Selection Vintage, Kokorokoko, Red Dolly Vintage, Anna Carina Vintage)

Green with Envy, Part II

Remember last week how I was crushing on some beautiful green clothes? Well, today I stumbled upon this adorable J. Crew tee. Green really, really isn't my color, but it's so tempting, you know? (Particularly when it's on sale with an extra 20% off!!!)

Merry Christmas (and Happy Hanukkah), baby!

This weekend is all about babies for me. Tonight we are babysitting my bff's little 3-month-old son, and we're so, so excited! It's been a long time since either of us has done any babysitting, so it'll be an adventure (no pun intended...okay, maybe just a little!). (Man...I apologize for all the references to that movie lately!)

On Sunday, I am attending a baby shower for another friend, which means tomorrow I need to do some shopping for a gift. I'm so lame in that I give everyone the same baby gift: a pair of Robeez (I'm obsessed!), a children's book, and a little something special for the mother-to-be (usually one of these Stella & Dot necklaces). I never shop off the person's registry, which I'm starting to feel guilty about. I feel like it's rude or something. What do you do--shop off registries or get creative?

I hope you all have festive weekends planned! An extra special wish for a Happy Hanukkah to anyone observing that lovely holiday! Check back Monday for Holiday Giveaway #3 (I'm super, super excited about this one!!!) and a few of my favorite dip recipes to help you figure out what to bring to all those holiday parties next weekend. xo

(via VintagePostcards.org)

Don't forget--20% off Stella & Dot!

Hey ladies...as the holidays eek every so slightly closer and all our shopping stresses get a little bit more intense, don't forget I'm offering all my readers 20% off their Stella & Dot orders during the month of December! Who knows--you might just save enough to get yourself a little treat!

She Who Hesitates, Loses Cute Shoes

I've mentioned in the past my running list of shoes that I revisit on Amazon and various other sites. Well, I just scrolled through it thinking that a new pair of kicks might brighten my week and stumbled across this gorgeous navy Wallaby from BCBG MaxAzria. I coveted them all last winter, but refused to pay full price...and now they are sold out in my size!!! What's the opposite of buyer's remorse--because that's what I'm feeling!

When making a purchase, how do you decide when to splurge and when to wait?

Give Stella & Dot for Christmas...20% off!

Since I began selling Stella & Dot last year, I have inevitably ended up giving all my favorite ladies jewelry for Christmas/birthdays/etc. It's a win-win: they love it, and it's super easy for me. Plus, S&D has so many lovely things for under $40, that it makes giving a really nice piece of jewelry a really affordable gift!

Here are a few of my favorites to give for Christmas this year:

The Soiree Pearl Pave Bracelet ($29)...for your best friend who's obsessed with Grace Kelly.

The Adrienne Chain Earrings ($39)...for your glam/rock best friend (fyi...I got these back in August and have barely taken them off since--they are so fun and add just the right amount of edge to any look).

The Bloom Flower Brooch ($29)...for your sweet mother--it will remind her of pins her mom used to wear.

The Charlize Teardrop Earrings ($34)...for your artsy/craftsy sister-in-law--she'll knit a scarf to match!

Need more gift inspiration? For the month of December I'm offering all my readers 20% off their Stella & Dot order! Head on over to my site, then e-mail me once you've decided on what you'd like to purchase. Hope this helps to make your shopping a little bit easier!

J. Jill...really?!

This is going to be a very picture-heavy post because...wow...I could not decide which of these adorable shoes from J. Jill to feature. They are all so lovely, simple, classic, special, and modern (see...I'm so giddy that I can't even choose an adjective!!!).

There are few things I love more than a wedge, and these are just so pretty. I think they'd look equally good with either skinny jeans or a cocktail dress (which makes them a necessity, don't you think?).

Oh my...sigh. I can't even write about this pair. I'm head over heels.

These have a slight orthopedic-vibe, but I've already confessed that I'm kind of into that. I can't decide if I like them better in the bone...

or the black (which means I probably need both, don't you think? lol)


A classic skimmer in gray suede. My ultimate shoe...


but then again, there's this little gray Mary Jane....

If there's something I love almost as much as a wedge, it's a Wallabee-style shoe. These feel a little sleeker than the classic Clarks and that aubergine color is just gorgeous.

Hey, Santa...head on over to J. Jill, 'kay?

Nana

Last year I came across a story about this awesome new line of bags, called Nana, that are handmade by a cool girl named Sally who lives in South Carolina. I immediately fell in love and contacted Sally about selling some of the bags and at few of my Stella & Dot trunk shows. I thought the funky, vintage-y styling of the bags would perfectly complement Stella & Dot, and I was right.

Since then, Nana has become such a success for Sally that she is working on the line full-time and is expanding Nana to include more items, like adorable little aprons. Don't you love hearing success stories like that?

Here I am last Saturday night with my Casey clutch. I use it every opportunity I can, and when I carry it I find myself unable to stop staring at its crazy pink barkcloth and cheery ribbon trim.