To buy or not to buy?

Crewcut's basket-print candytuft skirt, it is so sweet.  I think I just couldn't resist the polka dots.

But kids grow so fast, hard to justified a skirt that cost $40. especially after I just splurge $100 on two sweater and a bubble skirt for her. Sigh.  

Another cool site on houseware.

http://www.huset-shop.com/

granted that I will have no use for it

J Crew Beaded Clutch

something about this almost nude almost pearl color and the texture of shell and roses is very appealing to me.  I want it I want it I want it!!!! I wish my birthday come 2 month early.

rose and polka dots, how can you resist

I have always hesitated on J.Crew shoes.  The heels look wonderful with cut-on jeans.  However, I don't know how to walk on them when heel height reach certain height, especially if they are skinny. Our local store does not carry shoes.  So I never order one. But last week I finally cave in.  To my surprise, they are very comfortable.  Or did my high heel wearing skill improved the last month after wearing wedges?

Having so much success with this heel, now I am lusting over Raffia rose printed peep toes.

OK, I know, the two are so similar.... I totally don't need it, but that is besides the point. The good news, or the bad news is -- it is sold out in my size, so I won't splurge on it.

Anthro sale my picks

Today supposed to have the biggest sale from Anthropologie that happens twice a year. Let's call it spring cleaning sale? As usual I am lured to the sale and here are my picks:

You and Me Duvet and Pillows.  I checked, it is machine washable unlike some of the other ones, such as the Bird Song Duvet. Granted it is very beautiful and tropical, having a Duvet cover being dry clean only kind of defeats the purpose.  Why would I want a cover that is meant to protect the dry-clean only comforter inside to be something needs dry clean itself.  I might as well dry clean the comforter then.  It just doesn't make any sense.

Plaza Cardigan - I own the black version but I really want a lighter color version for the summer.  It was too busy looking from the picture but not so when you put it on.

Idea Balance Tunic comes in two color.  I like the taupe but it is a wash against my already dull skin.  I think that is the problem with Asian skin without make up.  It is too colorless.  The blue one works out much better in person.  I think it looks great with skinny jeans and boots.  Having it as machine washable is a big plus!

Circled Adornments Tank sold out on line.  I was told Arizona Scottsdale store still have some and the phone number there is 4809473101. It looks so soft and romantic. It is reviewed here.

Picnic anyone?

Tuffo Water-Resistant Outdoor Blanket with Carrying Case measures 54 x 84 inches, and supposely machine washable and dryable. However I am a bit skeptical about the washable and dryable part. It came with many pattern and I like this dotted version most.  It supposed to be water resistance, but there a some reviewer on amazon complain about getting wet.  Wonder how wet they sat on, it is supposed to be resistance, not water proof, so I hope they were sitting on a puddle of water and expect not to get wet.

Picnic Plus Shelby Collapsible Insulated Shopping Tote also comes in different colors. I like the fact it is insulated and is able to collapsible.  If you live in San Francisco bay area, you will know space is very expensive so being able to collapse when not use is a bit plus.

Reisenthel Germany Collapsible Bag is so beautiful.  It is a great farmer market bag I think. I first saw it in Cat's blog anthrosdottir when she shows her new heat wave shorts.  I couldn't help notice the light weight shopping bag she had.  It looks so chic.  I have a hard time to choose the print as many of them are beautiful.  Container store has it for their spring sale for $29.99, but I have a hard time to locate in the local store.  I try both the ones at Santana Row and the one in Oakbrook IL as I will be there this summer, but neither place shows it available. 

Anthro strikes back.

I got the order from the last sale.  Usually there is always something not fitting, sometimes none of them fits.  Either yesterday was my lucky day, or I had gotten better in choosing the size, almost everything fits.  Now I am facing a new dilemma.  Which one should I return if I love them all?

More Anthropologie...

The blooming lattice cardigan is the only thing I paid full price, but it goes so well with Sun-ray Medallion dress and  Alpine dream skirt that I would hate to run into the risk of it selling out.  If I return the sun-ray medallion dress, I would return the sweater too.

Courtship bloom Tank has such a soft color and it worked well with one of my older gap skirt. That skirt is from one year when gap had more feminine designs.  Gap seems to have trouble deciding what style they really want to be in. Year to year they sways and start loosing their originality.  I saw a lady at villa montalvo's  after a hiking trip to the near by outlook trail, who happened to have that skirt.  She had the soft pink silk sleeveless top on and it look so feminine. I thought to myself I didn't know you can pair it up this way before.  It is almost like an entire outfit.

Bordurette Tank works well with this pleated skirt I got a few weeks before very well. There are two type of cloth.  One type is that itself is very beautifully and delicate, like that patch work v-neck above.  The other type is like this pleated skirt.  It does not look so special at first, but the fit and the cut is very flattering.  I normally look better with a full skirt or A-line.  So it is rare I find a pencil skirt that works for me.  It is the right length, clean, and complements a lot of top.  I think with the two type, I would prefer to later, although drawn to earlier.  Maybe that is how you choose a mate too, you maybe drawn to the more glamours guy first, but then if you were to have to have a healthy lasting relationship, he has to be the one who also embraces you and make you a better person.

So after enough babbling, I still couldn't decide.  Hubby said I should just keep them all and not buy anything for a while. But can I really help it next time there is a sale coming around?  Maybe Anthro not having the usual Tuesday sale is a good thing.

My selection from nordstrom.

Saw this T Tahari 'Danielle' Dress from Nordstrom (website of course) .  I don't have much experience with this brand but I like the beautiful print on the model.


I am trying to steer away from Anthropologie these days because hubby think it blinds me to think all the over the top outfit of being the norm.  He thinks as an engineer, I should dress more casually. So in his opinion, for me to be in the combination of a floral dress, custom jewelry, sweater, belt, fishnet tights and boots is more inappropriate than cut-out jeans.  Go figure! He has no objection of me shopping, but appreciates the time when I was more into J CREW. There is some truth to what he said.  I am surrounded by male engineers who wears horizontal stripe polo every day. Being the only female and the youngest in the group, I constantly worries about if I dress up too nicely, people take me less seriously.  On the other hand, I don't have the luxury of dressing up on the weekend like hubby suggested.  I have to haul the kids to activities and I need to be in comfortable cloth and shoes. It is a real workout, trust me!


More importantly is the inconsistence in term of sizing with what Anthropologie carries. I am all over the place with the size.  There are times I have to buy size 0, and then this winter, I got two sweater size XL and they fit beautifully.  I couldn't have gained that much weight during the holiday, could I?  It resulted in many trips to return and the process of returning on-line purchase is very backward.  SA have to look the items up first, copy the sku number down on a piece of paper, look them up in the local store system.  Provided that the SAs are very nice and patient, I just don't have that much time, or I would have gone to the store more often instead of doing on-line shopping and paying for the shipping.  I have to give credit to Gap, Jcrew, and Nordstrom and Macy's database system. Their returning systems are very convenient and through. Scan and go.  Fast and easy.   Another store can use improvement on this returning process is Ann Taylor/Loft.  Why are all their own line order return has to bring me embarrassment of beeping every single store I happen to pass by?  Why couldn't they de-magnetize their clothing before shipping it out to the customers? Shame! I truly believe these company should invest on their database system.  It save the SA time, which means they can hire less SA to do the same job in less time.  Customer satisfaction will go up and money will be saved in the long run. 

 Athena Alexander 'Gypsy' Sandal, also sold at Nordstrom.   This is another brand I have not had experience with before.  I am very drawn to this type of shoes, probably because I don't know how to wear heels but still want to feel the height since I am only 5'4". I have to make sure I am able to chase Aaron down the street, should he decide to run away , which, although not often, had happen before. I do own a similar style from J-41.  They are super comfortable, but that one does not have the pretty jewel embellishment on it. There is just no end to women's desire for shoes.

Ah, summer!

While our backyard landscape job is taking forever. I am dreaming of new patio furniture. Practically if I were to buy anything with cushion, it is going to get dirty in no time because Aaron is going to jump up and down on it. Look at our white couch and that is indoor when we always have our shoes off. So I cannot imagine how bad it would get. Still it does not hurt to dream about it. Day dreaming about a mile summer afternoon with breeze wind blowing and drinking ice tea relaxes me. Although I am not particularly fond of sweet drinks, I do like the fruity color in transparent glasses. I think that is why we kept buying ISSE's clementine sparking juice. The orange color in a tall glass look so crisp and refreshing.

Costco has a very good selection of outdoor furniture and the price seem to be a lot lower than places such as pottery barn.



This Encore 4 piece set is very clean and modern looking. I like the cushions. What I especially like it is the left end when there is a day bed. I am the type of person who will always lay down if she doesn't have to sit, and will always sit if she doesn't have to stand.



I like how this set stacks up like a sculpture but concern whether the seating is going to be comfortable.

What I really want (and couldn't have is) Anthropologie's Knotted Melati Hanging Chair. It is so tropical and exotic looking with the peacock green color. But we don't have a big tree and I don't see how it would fit into our japanese themed garden.



This little Alfresco Natural Cart from Crate and Barrel looks easy to use and if they go on sale I might get one.

Anthropologie stands for Addition

One sign shows that you are an Anthropologie addict is when you go to a friend's son's birthday party, someone comment on how you look like an anthropologie model. I know she meant it in a good way, but I became self-conscious and immediately started denying and looking for excuse for the obvious that I couldn't deny. Everyone in that room dress up a little bit I noticed. Most of our friends don't wear make-up on a daily basis, but almost all of them did that day. Maybe because we knew the host's college friends was also invited so we want to leave a good impression to strangers. Turn out none of the college folks turn out and only the high school ones showed up and everyone knows each other very well. Anyway, still I was uncomfortable to receive an overstated compliment. I felt guilty. A good mother won't paid too much attention to fashion, right? Especially when you had a special need child. Yet, life present so little happiness at times and I needed some indulgence to keep my spirit up, however short lived that might be.

I was wearing the Obscured Oleander Cardigan that day. That is probably what gave it away.... My addiction that I thought I had hidden so well for so long.




I must confess I am a sucker for cloth that has a 3 dimensional texture to it, whether it is a pillow or a sweater, or a shower curtain. Anthropologie happens to have a lot of items like that. This sweater I couldn't wait for it to go on sale, fearing the risking of it being sold out of my size. I felt it will get enough wear so that I could justify the full price. Then again, there is no such thing that I absolutely have to have it. I had a feeling I would be forever in this internal debate till I past my mid-life crisis when I am no longer interested in buying any cloth...