Winter Style: Brights in the Grey

I love winter. I think I might have mentioned that before. Nevertheless, it's really hard to rejoice in the brisk cold air when you're dragging with what seems to be the 537th cold, a stack o' DayJob deadlines, and a crankypants attitude that may or may not be well received at home.

So I don't have energy for much reading, but trolling - ahem - scrolling through Pinterest when I'm waiting in line at my morning Starbucks stop, or at Target picking up yet another glamorous package of toilet paper or paper towels seems to give me some short & sweet reminders that life is not only not that bad, but under control, manageable, and even gloriously bright. Oh yeah, and I'm steering the ship.

So here are some of my recent pins and how they spoke to me. Hope they brighten your already-sunny-but-crazy-windy-cold day.

We'll start with the night when I was feeling crazy overwhelmed and sick. Pinterest said this to me, which TrainerJen had emailed me, in not so many words, just minutes prior, changing my workout plan for the next morning to, literally: sleep.

via

And then Pinterest said this. So I figured I'd better listen and go to bed. I did.

via

Earlier, Pinterest had tossed this image my way. The coat, in its gloriously wrecked and punk sensibility, was in, and was the cover art for the catalog of, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's 2006 Anglomania exhibit. Later in the day, The Museum at FIT (one of my favorite places on earth, and one that gets far too little notice, in my opinion) posted an article from The Observer on their facebook page (like it now, please, for all of the amazing current and historical fashion they post). As the discussion around The Met's newest take on punk shows, punk is funny stuff, both musically and culturally. The sheer chaos that shows there is apparently bubbling up in the provenance of the fashion, too.

Once again, the Pinterest universe was speaking to me. Ok, the online universe. Quibbles.



via

We're renovating our kitchen this spring, and are in final debates. We have a tiny, but not terribly tiny kitchen, so the "galley kitchen" stuff isn't quite right, but neither is the sweeping expanse of some things I find. I pin them nevertheless. I couldn't be more excited about finally getting a handle on our culinary world by taming our insanity known as our cabinets. I'm in love with a modern + rustic combo like this one.

via

Once that's done, creating culinary masterpieces will be a cinch, right? Isn't that how it works? In the meantime, H's orthodox Christian tradition of an essentially vegan fast is coming up, so I'm grateful to Pinterest for helping to maintain the trendiness of veganism. I cook vegetarian often (but LURV a brilliant steak), but am lining up new tastes for the 40 days, like this mushroom ragu. You can bet I'll serve it over some soft polenta...or...

via

And while I'm a Winter Girl at heart, still pinning away from the Autumn/Winter 2013 runways to get my fix of fur, coats, and scarves, and, well, fur coats and scarves (comma placement, anyone?),

via

I've also started pinning and planning for #DownthaShore2013. Cannot wait to get a new bikini and maybe a retro suit (last year's don't fit!). Also can't wait to rock my best schlumpy Jersey Shore looks. Or, if I'm feeling ambitious, a crisp, clean (ha!) summer look like this one. (And gee, Bloomingdale's *just* pinned their version of the shorts, here)

via

What's getting you through?

Reliable Style: The Go-To Piece in Your Closet

As I snapped my sometimes-daily-Instagram #wearing shot in the parking lot this morning, I noticed that, once again, my plaid scarf was in the picture. And my pink tweed cropped trousers. And my crocheted sweater.

Clearly, I have some go-to pieces. We all do. It's part of what makes our style our style. It's how we interpret either the classic or the trendy, and make it our own.

Or, as in my case, it's how I manage to dress myself daily, despite an odd, in-between-sizes-and-seasons wardrobe that I still haven't completely updated since I hit my goal weight in September 2012. We won't discuss the fact that the fashion blogger can't get to updating her own closet. We will, however, discuss the fact that, in this insanely busy time, when I'm really trying to focus on some critical #DayJob changes and spend some much-needed time with H and The Beans, having even 1 repeat-I-mean-Go-To item in my closet lets me stay presentable. It even lets me feel like I'm still dressing like me.

Clockwise, from top left: Gleeful snow catching at the end of 2012; colors and textures galore at the beginning of 2013; a casual Friday gym locker room shot (with the same sweater as today, mind you); today's Everything-in-this-Outfit-is-on-Repeat ensemble. Pieces from L.L. Bean, Target, Gap, J. Crew, lillybee, and random street markets. Drop me an email or a tweet if you're curious about any of them.

While I'm not entirely happy with my closet right now, I have a few pieces, like the $5 plaid cotton scarf I picked up at a street market Down Tha Shore, I turn to, even if I feel they're on repeat at the same pace as that really annoying pop song on the radio. Its weight works to keep me warm outside and not overheat me inside. Its colors make me happy, and oh, by the way, go with just about everything. Its length covers up a multitude of fashion sins, like the mildly ratty vneck t I'm wearing under my crocheted sweater today.

If you snapped a photo of yourself every day without consideration of what you've thrown on (i.e. you're not considering your outfit as if for one of those outfit posts spread across the interwebs), what would you see on repeat? Try it. You might surprise yourself.

Vacation Style: Down Tha Shore in Pictures

I'm adjusting to reality.

I'm not sure I like it.

So while I figure it out, and in case you weren't following along on Instagram (@DCCeline) while we were Down Tha Shore, here's a peek at our two weeks in relative heaven.

There were new bathing suits, attitude, and waves.

(35th Street Beach, Sea Isle City, NJ)

We dressed to the Nines, celebrated a 77th birthday (seriously, does this amazing lady look even removely 77?), and hugged. A lot.

(The Whitebriar, Avalon, NJ)

We found our new Favorite Activity, dined on the bay, and ate lots of chocolate and ice cream, and chocolate ice cream. There might have been chocolate every day.

(Sea Isle City inlet, Deauville Inn, Ocean City NJ Boardwalk)

And then it was our last few days, in which we shopped, had our last afternoon on the beach, and then Met Elmo. Apparently we're in love with Elmo and we didn't know it.

(Ocean City NJ "main street", 35th Street Beach SIC, Shoobie's)

There were mornings at the playground, bike rides on the promenade, visits from friends, more fishing, a new favorite restaurant (Fuze in Avalon), solo days at Revel Resort's Bask Spa for both Mama and Papa, and there may or may not have been a Big Dinner at our favorite Atlantic City indulgence, The Palm.

Then we drove back into a storm (literally), and were back In the City, with an almost-5-year-old (where has the time gone? #sadmama posts ensuing, I'm sure) and a new addiction to All Things Batman.

(Washington, DC, aka Home Sweet Home)

Once again, a special thanks to the Ladies of the Guest Posts (link to all of them here) who kept things running here while we were doing all of the things in this post. If you're not already following them on every social media vehicle available to you, do!

Guest Post: Capitol Hill Barbie on Packing for a Weekend Away

A while back, in anticipation of an actual vacation, I asked a few online friends if they would be so kind as to "pen" a guest post for me while I'm away. I realized after the fact that the women I've asked all have voices that have become important to me - all for different reasons. So I'd like to share them with you.

And while I'm not actually away yet (won't leave the DMV for Down Tha Shore until this afternoon), I'm frantically running errands (getting the car serviced, figuring out if I can get a contact lens refill, you know, the easy stuff) and packing us all up.

So Capitol Hill Barbie's post seemed like a natural fit for the First DC Celine Guest Post Ever. Yeah. The honor. I'm sure she's thrilled. But anywho. She's a stylish, active mama who's juggling family through Manhattan (and blogging over at Baby Steps in Heels), and here's what she has to say. Oh, and follow her on Twitter, @caphillbarbie.

__________________________

Ahh, the weekend away.

Or as the Brits hilariously call it, the mini-break. 

So much fun, right? A chance to show off your relaxed style and killer bikini to your significant other? Just throw in that cocktail dress! You might need it? Well, add a baby, about 16 tons of baby stuff, and the fact that you are not going anywhere that requires heels, and it's not the fantasy that Cosmopolitan would have you believe.

However, even though I've had to pare down my packing list, I found a way to stay stylish while leaving room for the extra diapers and stuffed animals my daughter requires.

A Weekend Away by caphillbarbie featuring a fedora hat

Here's the deal.  One white tee, one pair of colored jeans (I am loving my mint pair), a striped maxi dress, bright shorts, striped long sleeved top, a chambray shirt, and one bathing suit.  For accessories, I kept it very simple with a pair of flat sandals and my trusty Sperrys, a braided brown belt, a fedora hat, and a pair of sunglasses.

Don't forget underwear.  Not pictured.

It's all pretty neutral, so I punch it up by adding a few extras in my beauty bag.

Weekend Beauty by caphillbarbie featuring a black mascara

Bright cherry lip stain, NARS Monoi Oil (the most heavenly smell) and lots of mascara.

These items can be remixed endlessly, but here are four outfits that should get you through most of the weekend.

Four Outfits by caphillbarbie featuring leather sandals

The Car Ride: Striped maxi - belted - with the chambray shirt as a cardigan and simple flat sandals.  Comfortable for the long ride, good for quick rest stops for a diaper change (for the baby, hopefully), and easy layers for A/C freeze out courtesy of my husband.

The Beach:  Here, the one piece bathing suit functions as an extra top paired with the shorts and the chambray shirt as a cover-up.  Slick on some Monoi oil and wear your Sperrys...you'll drop them before you hit the sand anyways.  The fedora can also hide your less than perfect hair.

Dinner and Drinks:  Maybe it's just my kid, but bathtime on vacation always turns into an everyone into the tub scenario.  Not all bad though!  It gives me a chance to rinse the sand or chlorine off and refresh a little before dinner and drinks with the adults.  Once the baby is off to the Land of Nod, I'm slipping into skinny mint jeans and a striped top.  Since date night is generally just steps away, I'll usually stay barefoot, but I'll amp it up a little with a cherry red lip stain.  Hopefully, my husband has a drink already on ice by the time it's set.

The Ride Home:  Again, nothing is comfier for a car ride than a maxi-dress.  This time, I layer the tee shirt over the dress and belt.  Chances are my hair is a mess again, so I'll sport the hat so I don't scare the people at the rest stop.

Again, these are just a couple of examples.  I can think of a million combinations for these items, which is why I love them.  It leaves plenty of room for that one extra adorable onesie for the baby...

Favorite Post: The Style Blogger and The Jersey Shore

I've almost literally got a paper chain countdown going in the office right now. I love my new Day Job, but I am also exceptionally ready for a break. My weekend of:

Friday night work
Saturday staffing The Bean's First Recital Dress Rehearsal
Sunday staffing The Bean's First Recital Dress Rehearsal
Big Family Dinner after The Bean's First Recital Dress Rehearsal
Drive to Jiffy Lube Live for WMZQ Fest's Miranda Lambert performance
Stress over a day o' deadlines today

Has me desperate for June 15th, when we load up and ship out for down tha shore. So here's a favorite post from last summer, in which I contemplate the balance between stylish and not caring. I've been prepping all spring on pinterest, but I'm still looking forward to the nights of wandering the promenade in our little beach town that are cool enough for a Big Old Sweatshirt.

Healthy Style: Using the "Set Point"

I'd planned a post about our lovely Memorial Day weekend, complete with self-indulgent Instagram shots. Then I blogged over in Weight Watchers land, and, as seems to be the case more often now, I thought some of you might find my #healthyme story from this week useful. I've gotten a lovely, supportive response from folks about this journey I'm on, so I hope this might inspire or sustain someone out there. If not, skip it, and I'll return to the regularly scheduled fashion and style programming soon. Promise.

Last week I was struggling, and TrainerJen told me about the "set point." It's a fitness term for when folks losing weight hit a point at which the body (and mind) want to revert to the old ways.

It's a decision point.

It's a make-it-or-break-it point.

At least that's how I'm looking at it.

Now, if I struggle with it for a while, will my #healthyme journey go downhill? Nope. Might it be stalled for a while? Sure. Possible. But the truth of the matter is that it'll still be my #healthyme journey.

I'm not getting off of this #healthyme journey train, people. Not gonna do it.

Instead, I'm going to:

• keep tracking everything that passes my lips
• make mindful choices about what I ingest (which could mean fruit, or could mean chocolate; as long as it's mindful)
• schedule - and use - time for activity
• get my rear end into a pool and regain my swimmer's body completely
• stay active while we're down tha shore in the end of June
• not eat 2 dinners like I did on Sunday

The first of two dinners Sunday night, at the Lobster Loft, with the whole family. Lobster (her request), pasta, and french fries. Which is what he had for breakfast that morning, too. Mama had red wine, salad, prime rib, baked potato, and sauteed summer veggies.

OK. So that last one isn't ex-ACT-ly on the positive, mindful path I'm chosing for myself, but it was, quite frankly, a powerful moment to observe. Here's what I noticed:

• I ate a filling, but not sustaining, mildly indulgent breakfast of a blueberry pancake and some scrapple (rock on, PA!)
• I was hungry earlier than if I'd eaten one of my other breakfasts
• I didn't drink water pretty much all day
• I felt really, really good about how easy the 2+ hours of walking The Beans to the playground felt. 2 or 3 months ago, I would've been out of breath
• I ate barely any fruits or vegetables
• I tasted or finished The Beans' food (pizza, hot dog, and "drip saving" licks of ice cream)
• I exercised control at the first dinner, eating only a reasonable amount of the prime rib, only part of the baked potato (neither of which is inherently "bad"), and piled on the salad and veggie sides to compensate for less veggies during the day
• I exercised less control at the second dinner, "going for" dessert after an indulgent (but half) portion of my favorite mussel dish and one of our favorite restaurants (ahem - Mussel Bar Revel - ahem - wild mushroom, cream, lardons + speculoos ice cream, mocha ice cream, sour cherry sorbet - eep!)
• I drank 2 drinks: red wine and beer
• The next day was doubly hard because I was exhausted and "food hungover" while driving The Beans and me back to DC

So what does all of that tell me?

When I finally got around to tracking my food and activity the rest of the weekend (I'd had no access to my trusty e-tools from Sunday morning on), I was horrified. Embarrassed, even. I also kept remembering bits and pieces of the day's "nutrition" (such as The Bean's half hot dog). H had a similar experience.

My observations tell me that I need to drink more water, eat more fruits and veggies, and not finish The Beans' food. They also tell me that I apparently equate "down that shore" with "indulgence."

I was left on Monday night with a desperate feeling. I was desperate to plan activity and "earn back" some of the damage. I frantically tweeted and facebooked my intent to get in the pool, looking for company and moral support. Truth be told, my plan to do a yoga video last night? Failed. Well, rather, decided not to do it. I realized, through some lovely support I got from my online friends here, that 2 days of indulgence don't ruin a #healthyme journey. But I did go to yoga this morning, and I'm going to try and sneak in 30 minutes of swimming between work and The Bean's first dance recital rehearsal. I'm a little scared of the swimming, despite almost literally growing up in a pool, and find my mind attempting excuses (you don't have a racing suit, you don't have a cap, you don't have goggles, you don't have enough time).

I will swim today. I will earn more activity points (literally countering the negative food points I’ve got at the moment for the week), and still end up negative for the week, but let’s just say it won’t be nearly as bad as it looked on Monday night.

And I will have conquered a "set point" that my mind is attempting with all its little mind heart can find. And I will change the way I view our "down tha shore" time from "indulgent" to a place where we practice the cleaner, more mindful living that we've started.

And I can't wait.

Style Challenge: Running in Central Park, Lion's Breath, and Spiders

I’ve been pretty mushy-touchy-feely lately. Or at least it feels that way. There’s a lot around this #healthyme thing. There’s a lot around a lifestyle change that comes, in part, from a Brand New Job (ok, 2 months old now, but whatevs). There’s a lot that comes from the waking up that happens to parents as their beans (sniff sniff) grow and change and such.

But enough of that. Spurned, honestly, by my revealing my yogic tears from the other day, and then again by by my yet-again comment to a friend about how and why I’m now not afraid to try anything, even spiders, when put on my plate, I’ve been thinking (some more). Then my nail color choice at my oh-my-goodness-I-have-15-minutes-and-peeling-nails-are-disgusting manicure just cemented the whole thought process.

I think we need to take more chances. We need to let go and run like Phoebe.

Let’s back it up and I’ll explain myself.

Yogic Tears: A lot of us work out. A lot of us get to a point where we just can’t go any more - whether in lifting the weight, running another mile, or heck, I’ll admit it, going to a spin class. Ugh. Conceptually disgusting.

Nevertheless, we all hit that wall. What I’ve found, though, is that while yoga is physical training, and I can certainly “hurt so good” on the day after, the emotional chance I’m taking with some of what’s in the class is more useful. I’m taking a chance on going deeper, breathing deeper, and letting go. It’s only when “I think I can’t” that I can’t. It’s only when I block myself that I stop.

So I’m learning to take a chance, do a lion’s breath, and see if I can actually get into up dog after chattaranga. (Translation: do a really hard thing that my body doesn’t want to do - or is it my mind?)

Lion's Breath. Best Thing Since Sliced Bread. Photo: Lazy Lizard Yoga

Spiders on My Plate: I choked on a scallop when I was little. 5, maybe? Maybe older? Not sure. But I still remember it. And from that day forward, the only seafood I would eat was frozen fish sticks and Mrs. Paul’s crabcakes. I blocked it out entirely, missing out on crab feasts, fish frys, and gorgeous dishes in foreign lands. So eventually, I willed myself to start trying it, mostly prompted by having to try it when at someone else’s table. I made slow progress, but still would rarely choose it on a menu.

Then H and I started to fancy ourselves “foodies,” earned more money, and started to go to places like Marcel’s, Zaytinya, Tosca, and Komi, where incredibly talented chefs can coax a delicious meal out of any possible thing. So why, then, would I go to sit at Johnny Monis’ table, where he’s created a phenomenal meal, and say “I don’t eat X?” Why? The first time I sat at Komi, I decided to Just Eat. I would place myself in his hands and just eat. I trusted him.

I enjoyed every single morsel, including things I Don’t Eat. Or Didn’t Eat. Like, essentially, essentially, sushi. Thanks to the 3-way crudo of scallop I happily ate there, I now can’t wait for my next sushi meal. Since then, I will try anything. I will also assume I’ll adore it and want to eat more. Even, as my friend shared a story of the spider stew he ate (while drunk, mind you) in the Phillipines, spiders on my plate.

Kaz Sushi Sea Scallop Sashimi. Photo: Epicuryan.

Color By the Bean: Here’s where we come back to style. You know, the subject of this blog? Today, after a meeting an hour away from my office, I decided to stop in the local nail place in the hopes that they’d have a spot. They did. I picked my color. I picked a deep teal with an aquatic name. Bad blogger, I don’t remember the name, except that I’m fairly certain it’s and Essie polish. But that’s not important. What’s important is that I love it. I love the depth, I love the dark, and I love how, even though it’s dark, it’s springy.

And a year ago I would not be typing this with teal fingers and neon orange toes.

Last summer, during our month-long stint down tha shore, I decided I’d go to the local nail place every week, and that I’d take The Bean. It was the beach, my nails would be on display, and, well, it’s Jersey. The first week, we walked in. “Pick your color,” they said.

I decided then and there that I’d let The Bean pick my colors. It was the beach, my nails would be on display, and, well, it’s Jersey. I even let her pick out matching nail art.

I loved it. I actually couldn’t stop looking at my nail art. I no longer have a picture of it, if I ever did, and it’s not really important. Truth be told, I would never have asked for the swirls. They’re, you know, not, um, stylish. Now, of course, they’re all over the pinterest boards, with 1000 DIY tutorials using tape and small brushes. People, I did nail art last summer.

Through The Bean’s refined color selection palette, I also ended up with yellow toes. Not a soft lemony yellow, and not this year’s neon yellow, but Just Plain Yellow. I was convinced they’d look ridiculous on my redheaded fair skinned feet.

I was wrong. The Bean was right. Yellow toes + nude peeptoes + grey trousers = love.

Point is, oh Infintessimal Readership, that we all need to harken back to Phoebe’s advice and run like a kid. We need to let go of whatever assumptions or presumptions are holding us back - whether it’s on an emotional level, an epicurean plane, or in our closet. Just do it. Now is the time - there are no rules anymore.

So take a chance. Do me a favor and pick one thing you’re convinced you could never wear, be it neon or peplum or skinny jeans or prints. Wear it. Wear it like you’re 4 and one half years old and you’ve gleefully pulled it out of your dressup bin and styled it like only a 4 and one half year old can do.

Then wear it outside.

Style Dilemma Solved: Tar-ZHAY run

Last Thursday, I was working hard on a proposal with a Friday deadline. I was taking Friday off. You know, Good Friday and all. I was also, therefore, staring at a screen, editing my eyeballs off. Almost literally.

So about 1:30, while I was waiting for someone else to edit a piece or review it or track down missing information, I decided to take a treat break.

Yes, yes, I'm doing #healthyme, big time. And yes, I looked up my options at Starbucks before I went. I was a good #healthyme-er. Planning ahead, as in "I looked at the points values (or calories or fat or whatever else you're tracking) for all of the mini-treats at Starbucks, and the mini pink donut is my best choice and won't blow it for the day." Coffee and a donut would be the perfect antidote to my proposal eyes.

But I was tired, and I accidentally pulled into the left-hand turn lane at the light, which would take me past Target first, then Starbucks.

I'm sure I need toothpaste for the beans. And those Easter baskets. And looooove those dollar bins for their socks (seriously, the best source of socks for the beans).

And, well, hey! there's a Starbucks right there.

But wouldn't you know it, they didn't have any pink mini-donuts. All they had in "mini" was the red velvet whoopie pie, which, though delicious, I'm quite certain is not as good a choice as the pink mini-donut (cream cheese icing as filling, anyone?). So I got a tall bold (I'm a stick-your-spoon-up-straight-in-the-coffee kind of girl), and passed on the treat.

And then I compensated with a basketful of Tar-ZHAY purchases.

I did buy socks and Easter dollar toys for the beans. I also bought socks for myself. Neon argyle ones. They're awesome.

If only Tar-ZHAY would show everything online, you could see their awesomeness.

I browsed the belts and hats, not finding anything in the purses. Big floppy navy hat that can double as an Easter bonnet and a beach hat? Jump in my cart, please! Mr. jute and leather loopy-type belt that can replace the wide brown belt Bean No. 2 seems to have confiscated and hidden (he loves, loves, loves my belt drawer)? Join that floppy hat, please! 3 pair of less than $15 sunglasses I can afford to lose or have snapped by teeny hands? Yup.

I also, despite my ban on buying anything until I get to goal weight, splurged (emotionally, more than anything else) and grabbed a purple-on-purple striped henley in...ta-dah! Medium! There was also a bold print dress I grabbed in a Large (bodycon + juniors department = Large, thankyouverymuch). No, I didn't try them on. I didn't even try them on until the next morning.

But guess what? They fit! Both of them! I ended up wearing the henley (it has those great buttoned up half-sleeves) with a pair of tobacco cords on my crazy-long solo drive down tha shore. I could wear it every day, I love it's fitted comfortable casual sleekness so much.

The dress, you ask? Well, it fits. It fits nicely. It fits so nicely that I wore it out on Saturday's date to the new Robert Wiedmaier outpost, Mussel Bar Revel. With my new lillybee (yes, I have another pair) Kristins and their soft, supple neutral leather, I felt hot. Really hot.

Oh...and the pink mini-donut? Gone. Unfortunately replaced by a peep and some jelly beans, but gone from my mind. Treat v. style dilemma conquered.

Tar-ZHAY run by dcceline

Winter Girl Confession

I get giddy when it snows, no matter how much. I adore the cold. When H is away, I sleep with the windows open. And you know that picture of the Danish baby outside a shop in the cold that made the rounds? That would be my beans.

So all that being said, despite the fact that I haven't yet really been able to bundle up and enjoy frigid temperatures, I somehow have beach on the brain. Perhaps it's about taking the beans on the sand, running them up and down the promenade down tha shore.

Or perhaps it's complete embarassment about the complete and total schlump I was during last year's nearly month-long jaunt. I brought nice clothes with me. I swear.

And while I won't give up my beloved Beach Patrol sweatshirt, I absolutely promise I'll do better this year. I may not lose the weight I want to in time (though I will try my darnest), I've started to pin some possible pieces - and some pie-in-the-sky cabana inspiration to my SeasidePoolside board on Pinterest.

Thanks, Belle, for the original pin of Marchesa Resort 2012. Because we all need a little resort collection in our lives.

Promises, Promises : Beachfront Blogging on Hold

Well, I have a bunch of posts in the works, including the long-overdue details on my First Runway Show Ever. (yes. it's true. The Front Row was my first. and left me wanting my beach gear. but there just wasn't enough time for me to hit up the Bethesda Row stores before we jetted - ok drove slowly, with lots of stops - up 95 to the Jersey Shore.) If you're jonesing a recap, check out my date, Elizabeth's, post, here. She got some great shots of both the runway and the atmosphere. You just can't beat an outdoor fashion show, methinks (says the runway virgin).

While I am taking some vacation time here down tha shore - during which I'm more likely to actually put blogging fingers to keyboard - I'm also working remotely, which has it's own challenges. And, given that I have a large, strategic proposal I'm working, well, I kinda have to focus on that.

But I do promise posts in the near future, and in the meantime a few tweets here and there. Anyone catch my #jerseylicious toes?

Ugh. The Bug's Got Us

After a lovely week Down Tha Shore and wearing my beloved Gap cargos almost 24/7 (no need to carry a purse when you have all those pockets), I thought I'd have to get dressed properly today and present myself to a rabid bunch of "volunteer" writers who don't want to write.

The Bug saved me.

From the writers, anyway, until tomorrow. And I was in yoga pants and a T one more day while we administered juice, cheerios, and multiple doses of on-demand Mickey Mouse to The Bean. She's doing better, but needed her mama home today.

So now I really do have to figure out what to wear to work tomorrow...and it needs to be relatively easy access for the 19 week - yup - can't believe The Bean 2 is 4 months away - ultrasound.

This is when the 70s-80s teacher wrap-around skirts are sounding really good. An apple or a schoolhouse, anyone? And don't forget your bermuda bag...

If You Lived the 80s, Close Your Eyes

...to the color and pattern,* but love the top. Am wearing it now. At $17.99, it's a cheap way to "do" a Must Have Fall Trend: The Ruffle.

It's soft, easy, and just fitted enough to make even El Preggo here feel like a lump.

With black slacks, peeptoes, and a little denim jacket covering up the bra straps that I couldn't be bothered to otherwise hide (the cut of the shoulders would, if worn bare, require a Special Bra. SO not getting one), I feel almost stylish.

OK, actually, I feel pretty good. It was a great $17.99 purchase amidst the Elmo slippers, Hello Kitty sunglasses and thermos, mounds of junk food, and pink flowered potty training "unterhose." (We're 3 days from heading off Down Tha Shore. And counting.)

And on a wholly different note, BlueSuitGirl and I spent two Saturday afternoons ago wandering aisles and laughing our proverbial @##es off at American Apparel's self-depreciating sense of humor and ability to throw us back to middle school with a vengange. Slashed neon pink leggings, anyone?