Pumpkin Carving and Tea House Cardi

Today we finally get our pumpkin carved.  We received a mail from  Disney and I really like their Mickey pumpkin.  So we decided to replicate one.

After a while  we start getting silly about it.  I think Mickey's head fits my son the best.

I also receive the Tea House Cardi today.  I am a little bit torn about this piece.  My feeling is pretty in line with Cat in her review. The color is vibrant and bright.  I like the slight crop length.  The asymmetrical zipper and the funnel neck adds a modern twist to it.  The material is very warm without being itchy.   But the problem is that the boiled wool looks too much like a piece of cheap fleece.  The print is simply too flat.  On the other hand, I had my heart set on it to wear it for Chinese new year and it is quite a festive piece.  I'm not sure if there will be other ones fit into that criteria coming along.  So what do you think? Should I keep it or return it?

Pumpkin and the Clinton Trench

Happy Weekend！I had fun today at the pumpkin patch at Uesugi farms.  We were very lucky because we got there before the line for the ride tickets started and left when it start raining again.   Last year we went too late and all the pumpkins are all gone.  This year we are still on time.  My daughter this year get to ride the little cow train by herself because she pass 42 inch now.   How fast kids grow!

I got to wear my Clinton trench for the second time today.  I meant to exchange it for a navy one, but hesitated when I got the chance.  I had quite a few navy jacket, but no khaki partly because the color doesn't agree with my Aisan skin too well.  So I brought my hubby along for a second look and only find out all the navy ones are gone.

So what do you think? Should I have gone with the navy?

Top:  JCREW luxe knit

Cardigan: Express (from more than 10 years ago) 

Bottom: BR cargo pants

Boots: Hush puppies

Jacket: Anthro Clinto

Necklace: Ann Taylor Loft

wake up in a gloomy day

You know winter is close because in the morning, it is dark. Overcast sky doesn't burn off till mid day. I had a hard time getting up this morning with my cold. Heache, sneeze, runny nose, not pretty. All part of the body ache. I thought about working from home, but then I felt if I don't drag myself up in the morning, I probably feel even more depressed. Somewhat lazy to change from my lounging cloth, I just throw a blazer and jeans so I would be somewhat presentable for work.

Huge craving for Korean tofu hot pot. We had a group lunch yesterday and I was the chooser. Unfortunetly by the time we finish our meetings, it was too late. Long lines at the tofu place. Folks have meeting in the afternoon so we couldn't afford to wait for 20 minutes. The craving built up even more today with the gloomy weather.  Hubby called and said he will be late for lunch because he got scheduled last minute for a lunch meeting so he won't get out till 1:00. I didn't even eat breakfast. I seriously thought about ditching him! But then he is going to be gone for a whole week next week, I will be really missing him. Just thinking about him gone makes me anxious.

So finally I found some really stale rice cracker in my cube. I had though I finished the whole box but there were some left. My temple hurts after chewing it after a while so I gave up. To my suprise, hubby's meeting finished a bit earlier so he got here before I starved to death.

Ah, how I love the boiling pot and how I enjoy cracking the egg to the boiling pot. It gives the greatest satisfactions to bury the egg inside the tofu, much like a child burying her treasure in the sand and waiting to rediscover it later. Last time I was here, they had stop serving that raw egg cracking into the hotpot because the Salmonella scare. To me the egg is best part of the soup. I am so glad they start serving the egg again.

We chat over how the South Korean president making a sacrifice not eating Kimchi because of the napa cabbage shortage and how the Chinese farmers are making a fortune exporting the cabbage. After the hot soup, I am revived somewhat.

After lunch, we stop by the next door's Vietnamnese sandwich place for coffee. They had a very strong coffee that taste almost liquorish. Not sure what is the secret ingredient, but I am very addicted to it.

So here is a picture of me coming back to alive after lunch.

T-shirt: BR t-shirt, super old
Cardi: Anthro Wrap Cardi, not sure what is called. It is super soft but I am not even sure how you are supposed to wear it because the wrap are super long.  I just toss it up because it is really getting on the way most of the time and the cardi itself is so cropped.
Jacket: JCREW blazer (got it for $39.99 and hubby said I look like someone just got rescued from drowning in the driver.  Too bad for him because I like it and I like the price.)
Bottom: Gap skinny jeans
Boots: Hush Puppie. These are my comfort go anywhere boots.

Sale Haul

I was really hope to find a picture review before I make the purchase yesterday, but didn't find any.   This little thing didn't receive much love from the bloggers, but I felt it is so Chinese new year with the red color and the flower pattern.   The I find out Cat from Anthrdottir review it at today's post after I placed my order.  Despite the fact that she didn't like it much, I think it looks fabulous on her.  

Second cut $19.99, I thought it was going to sold out before it reach sale, and guess it didn't.  Haha, I am so glad I didn't pay full price for it.

What I like and didn't get? The Roaring Olive Dress. Even at sale price, it is still expensive.  I am wishing for a second cut...Am I only dreaming?

Here is a quick outfit of the day

Top: Athro Bunch and Bundle tee,
Bottom: BR stripe capri from many years ago
Cardi:  Loft Grosgrain Trim Cardigan (on sale now, sold out on line, but check store) 
Shoes: Linea Paolo 'Frisco' Flat

Fake Vapu

Lori at Lori speak did a interesting outfit the other day by using what she has to recreate Anthro's Catelog outfit. You can see her creation (or recreation)  here. B.T.W, she has a Besty Johnson Givaway going on right now, be sure to check out.

It was very inspiring.  Anthro, among all the good things, is not exactly wallet friendly. Anyway, I thought I'd recreate the popular Vappu dress look with the things I have.

 Here is the original dress

 Didn't come out quite exactly, but hey, it is fun to experiment with it. What do you think?

Top: ann taylor loft white t-shirt, skirt: Jcrew Belt: Anthro snake bite belt Cardi:Anthro Roaming Frills Cardigan

Minty mint - The last drop of the summer

We had an unseasonable high temperature last week. You know it is not summer because the sun is low.  At work, we don't really have a regular eating area in our building. A bunch of us who normally pack lunch will just sit outside at the balcony. With the sun is being so low, we couldn't get any shade at the balcony.  After a while everyone melted and dodged inside.

I joked with hubby that this is God giving me a chance to wear my 2nd cut Anthro items.  I had this dress on my wish list for a long time.  It was sold out for quite a while.  I just didn't clean up.  One day it all the sudden showed up for $39.99.  Despite hubby's objection to me buying summer items at this late of the season, because it might just disappear in the box and never get wear the next year, I couldn't resist.   Actually like Cindy, I am more and more comfortable with dress and tights and cardi so I am just going to pull on a thicker sweater later on and continue to wear the items through the season to get my money worth. ;-)

Here is a catch up OOTD

Dress: Anthro Cat mint dress  Cardi: J CREW ruffle cardi in mint
Legging: Anthro  Belt:  Looping Lane Belt

New Love

Did stores trying to create a hype  or something? Some of those things sold out so fast.  I realized I have a thing for polka dots.

From Ann Taylor

Oversized Dot Cashmere Scarf - sold out....

Ann Taylor Loft

JCREW






Madewell

Betty Tea dress -- sold out

Unexpected Gift

An unexpected package came today.  It is from buy.com addressing to my hubby.

"Did you buy another PS3 move controller?  It is here." 

Then to my surprise, it is not.  It is a GIFT for me.  and Guess what is it?

A MOUSE! A computer mouse, again!!!!

I am utterly speechless.....

Last year hubby got me a mouse for Christmas.  It was a Microsoft Arc mouse.  It is white and futuristic looking.  I enjoyed it while it lasted.  Before the holiday season ended, it disappeared in the house.  We checked here, there, and everywhere, and it was no place to be found.  We don't know if kids had been mess around with it, but then we had checked many obscure place such as my daughter's closet. I think it might turn up one day if we move one day, but then it is going to be a long time before we move again.

Conveniently, for Valentines day, he got me another mouse...from apple.  I had a gotten a refresh computer and I had chosen to go with a Mac.   He really thought it would be the most perfect gift...After some testing, I find the mouse lacking.  If it is a mac mouse from apple,  I expect it at least can do all the fancy moves the build in touch pad has, right? It doesn't.  It does a subset.  And the feel and touch are awkward and the price is unreasonable high.  I told him, I do love the disappeared Microsoft mouse.   Maybe we can exchange for the same one?

But that model sold out at the time, or maybe the deal is gone?  So a bluetooth mouse came instead.  LogicTech this time.  It is nice because it doesn't take up one of the two USB port.  I need one to connect to the monitor at work and another one I have to share between the mouse and the iphone sync cable.  Now with a bluetooth mouse, I didn't have that kind of competition any more.  However, it stinks once a while, after coming from hibernation, the mouse would not sync up with the computer so I end up having to reboot.  Granted that Mac is better in terms of boot up time comparing to a PC, it is still a pain.  Whenever that happens, I complain.

I must had complained a lot!  So this latest arrival is a Kensington baby.  Boy, it is tiny, even for my small hand.  Well, at least there is no sync problem any more since it is a USB mouse.  "I just couldn't resist it.  It is only $15." Hubby confessed.  Just like a girl couldn't resist a good clothing sale, A guy couldn't resist anything techie on sale.... even it is just a mouse.

They said, it is the thought that counts. Somehow I am wishing the thoughts goes to things more traditional, such as jewelry, handbag, clothing, or perfume type of girly thingy.

Here is an OOTD

Dress: Anthro Grand Island Dress (Never really figure out what to do with the collar, but I still like it)
Cardigan: Anthro City Garden Cardigan
Belt: Gap
Legging: Anthro

Anthropologie SALE items review: Set the course Cardigan and Molded and Melded Tee

There is a big sale today at Anthropologie.  A lot of my wishlist item went on sale.  Oh, boy, what is a girl to do?

While most of the items I can't say because I only lust over the pictures, such as the 1952 skirt, here are some I did  own or try before so I would put in my thoughts in case you are interested.

Set the course cardigan $49.99. 

To be honest, I didn't pay much attention to this sweater to begin with. I think that is probably why all the size are still left.  It is just not eye catching like some of the other cardigans such as best of the bunches cardigan. I bought it out of curiosity because it was recommended by the beautiful Chole from The Chole Conspiracy.

  

It is a slim fit as you can see from the picture.  The ruffle adds interesting texture, however doesn't overwhelm you because of the dark color.  It is very warm with the majority wool blend.  According to the spec, it is hand washable, which is a major plus for me.  The cable on this sweater doesn't add volume to the body like some sweater, instead it gives some room to stretch so it fits snuggly without feeling uncomfortably tight.  The length is perfect, hits right at hip bone.  It can go with both skirt and jeans.  I got the green color although the camera twisted to more of a black.

Next is the Molded and Melded Tee. $29.99.  This soft and sweet little tee comes in variety of colors.  I originally bought it in XS and had to return it because it was bulging in the wrong place, namely the tummy.  Then I try a S on my birthday and love it but decided to wait till sale since there are so many colors. Some color bound to left, right? I'm not picky :-)  I like the fact the detail flowers are so call "puckers" instead of ruffles like some of J-CREW tee.  J-CREW's ruffle cotton tee has been a nightmare to iron after the wash that it became essentially unwearable.  But puckers are sew in place so I hope it won't be a mess.  The material is soft and hand washable.  I didn't try out the white, but the brown was not too sheer.

Outdoor Cafe Cardigan $49.99

OK, I sort of regretted that I got the blue one.  The gold one and the beige went on sale today.  This is a very comfortable cardigan and can be throw on casually.  It is cotton linen blend but the thread are thick so it is more for a mild fall day like the ones we have here in bay area.  Quality wise I can't say it is the top quality because the weave is a bit loose and it stretches out easily but the fit and color are superb and it is very comfortable. Another down side is that this sweater is dry clean.  It didn't say dry clean only, but still... However with the sale price I think it is worth it.

So did u score anything at today's Sale?

Fall

First of all, Lori from Lori Speak is giving away a lace necklace she made herself.  She is so creative.  I just found her blog lately and she is almost my body double except she is a inch taller.  I wish I had that extra inch to pull me out of the petite status :-)

Fall finally came to bay area.  Tempature 50-70s. Today's highest, 64.

A friend of mine moved out of bay area with her 1 year old baby, leaving her husband behind after staying here one year.  Her reason? lack of season changes.  I guess my first reaction when she told me her leaving was "are you OK with your husband?" She laughed hard because everyone ask her that question. The answer is that they are fine although he try to talk her out of moving.   But she was so bored of the seasons here that she felt suffocated.   I felt like spanking her for the lack of appreciation of good weather ;-)  If she complain about housing price I can understand.  But complain of a good weather? Not to mention she has to face a new job and take care of the baby by herself.  I have to say, I admire her independence and courage, but felt bad for the father and the kid.

Anyway, I like the weather here, not too hot, not too cold, just right.  I think I will grow old and die here.  I have been moving all my life and this is the place I felt most like home. To this area's defense, it does have fall. No winter maybe, but you can get snow if you just drive 4 hours away.  The trees in our neighborhood block turned to shades of yellow and red last year like a colorful oil painting.   This year it hasn't started yet.  Some of my camellia starts to bloom already.  First time after they were put in by our gardener this summer.  It is a single  type.  I would have preferred double formal or the peony type, but they are more expensive.  Still, a blooming flower is always beautiful no matter how simple it looks.

And of course, fall cloth is always exiting!  My 4 year old ask me this morning, could you let me know the weather is cool enough so I can wear tights?  I don't know where she got the idea of socks doesn't match dress.  But just like how she is looking forward to wear thigts, I am looking forward to wear the winter sweaters and boots.  So here is finally some fall like outfit.

Top: J CREW sequence ruffle tank,
Cardi: Anthro Set the course cardi
Necklace: Ann Taylor Loft
Skirt: Anthro Lost time skirt

Happy Friday!

It was a hot week.  It is as if the summer was delayed.  My hair and face got extra oily because of the heat. I felt fat, I felt hot, I felt ugly, and I was in a restless mood. Another reason I had been a bit more agitated than usual is because of this book I checked out from the library -  My Hollywood by Mona Simpson.

It is what they called a domestic novel, discussing the relationship between a working mother, Claire and a immigrant nanny Lola.  I thought it would be a good read since I can relate to it -- I am a working mother and an immigrant.  It turns out that I can related it, only a little too much.  The struggle of the characters stresses me out.  The working mother Clarie, the musician seems to suffer some kind of depression.  She was unhappy, and unproductive.  Despite of having a nanny, she still does not get much work done.   Her marriage is almost non-existent, with her husband busy working without ever making it to dinner table.  Being a clueless mother who rather starves her kid than feeding him formula, I was on the similar and road before.  Till this day I still blame myself not insist on breast feeding on my son after his nipple confusion, wondering if my son's apraxia has any part to do with drinking formula.  I felt I was reliving some of the painful moments and was sinking again with her unhappiness.

The book switches between Clarie and Lola's point of view.  To make it more realistic, Lola narrates with a broken English.  It is very tiring to read.  Although a capable and loving nanny to the child, Lola remains a stranger to Claire.  There is certain coldness to it.  It reminds me my painful relationship with my previous live-in nanny and how she took advantage of our desperation.  It further makes me sad because Lola is probably the best nanny you can find and yet she would never be part of the family.  The book tediously describes how Lola describe in first person point of view, kept her distance, claiming money to send home is all that drives her.  She declines Claire's invitation to eat dinner with the family.  Like what she saids, "the Americans don't know what they want".  Lola is very wise.  She knows even though Claire invite her with all the sincerity,  Claire will be bother by the lack of privacy down the road.  It is that kind of truth about this mother-nanny relationship agitates me.  Despite they live in such closeness,  they are on the opposite end of a river that is too deep to cross.  There is no warm and fuzzy feeling about human relationship and only be reminded that it is impossible for the two women to be real friends, despite both are in need for a bit more love and care,  because the underline connection between the two women are money.

So I am going to abandon the book before it further rotten my mood.  I want something that will lighten up the day!  Maybe it is time to read the Twilight Saga my friend had tried getting me to read.

Here is a dress of the day.  I was thinking about returning this camellia dress because I bought it on sale out of impulse after seeing how wonderful Cindi looks in it.  I end up wearing it to change me out of the rotten mood.