Keep or return? need your opinion + OOTD

Happy Weekend!  For the first time after the kids are born (which means past 7 years) we slept in till 10:30 today.  The raining day helped as my son is very sensitive to light.  I woke up with the big craving for Chinese Scallion Pancake. So that is what I end up making.  As usual, I never remember to take the picture before eating it....

By the time we are done with breakfast, it is 11:00 already..  Hmm... It is almost time for lunch.

Ah,  the good life of doing nothing! We should have that more often.

I got this Daily Consttutional coat last Thursday.  However I am not really sure about it.  It is an unusual coat I have to say.  Hubby said it is a bit strange looking as if someone wear their waist belt on the wrong place.  What do you think? Is it strange?

I had grew to love the legging more and more, especially after I worn a hole on my favorite jeans.  The hole is right on the butt so I cannot resurrect it in any way. Sigh.   I really like today's outfit because it is very very comfortable.  Thanks to Anthro's fool prove half slip, I was able to dress it up a little with the lace edge so I don't look like I am walking around on my PJ's.  Do you like it?

Here is the spec:
Dress: JCREW softspun sunset dress
Caridgan: JCREW femme casher cardigan
Slip: Anthropologie Foolproff Half slip
Scarf: Juicy Couture 'Feather Graphic' Scarf
Legging: (from china)
Boots: UGG australia

night and day - OOTD

Happy Friday!  I am glad weekend is almost here.  With the cough keeping me up at night, I sure can use the weekend to sleep in. Unfortunately this weekend's weather forecast is not very good.  Especially it shows raining on Sunday.  That much more reason for kicking myself for getting sick last weekend when it was perfect sunshine outside.   There is still hope, weather men is never that accurate in the bay area.  Microclimate is difficult to predict.  

The reason I named today's outfit night and day is because of the Anthropologie Painted night skirt got a sister, painted morning skirt, which is the yellow color like my top. My guess is that the fit would be very similar. While it would be too greedy to get a second color, I do like the painted morning skirt. It is a cheerful yellow.


Here is what I wore:

Top: JCREW Tissue silk posie shell in golden topaz

Bottom: Anthropologie Painted night skirt  

Sweater  Dulphine bling-button cardigan in dark raisin 

Shoes: Stuart Weitzman Tipband

Since it is Friday, How can I not recommend a movie especially the outfit calls it.  You guess it, it is Knight and Day.  This is a junk-food movie, entertaining and no brainer.  June (staring Cameron Diaz), a ordinary girl who has been no where finds herself tangled with a secret agent Roy starting Tom Cruise.    This is more of a comedy than an action movie and is very light hearted.  There is a lot of noise and a lot of bang but not a lot of blood.   Jokes are kept light.  Cruise and Diaz are both eye candies to look at.   If you are looking for Oscar performance, you will be disappointed.  But if you just look for something brainless and entertaining, this is the movie to go for.

Review: Weekend Respite Henley

This review is for  Weekend Respite Henley from Anthropologie's  Lounge wear selection .  This litte Tee comes in black and cream.  It is no longer listed on line but the store still have it. There are size avaiable in M online last time I checked  and the item # is 19333251.

This shirt by Eloise measures 31" L so it wears more like a tunic. I really like the length of it as it works well with skinny jeans.  The water-mark like flower pattern gives the shirt a uplifting detail without being too busy.  However the pattern did leave the shirt see through so you will have to wear a cami under. The fabric is spa soft.  Color is more cream than white. Notice shoulder and the lower edge as well as the sleeve are solid cream color to give more sliming lines to the overall simple tee. The neckline is low enough to be flattering without being to revealing.  For your reference I am wearing a S because I don't want a such comfortable piece to be overly snugged. Roller up sleeve hits a bit over elbow.  When the sleeve is roll down, it is 3/4, not full length either.  Overall, this is a unfuzzy little Tee that is flattering in a casual way.

Wow, it is very wrinkled....

Random thoughts during the days of sickness

I have to guiltily admit that I actually enjoyed the last few days of being sick.  You probably think, what? How can having a fever of 104 degree and then finally be put on medication because it turns into Bronchitis be enjoyable.

Here is why.

I haven't gotten a fever this high in many many years.  That also gives me no excuse of stopping. I am always running around. Even during holidays and vacations. I have to make plans, I have to get things ready, then I have to do things.  Let's take dinner as example.  Even we were go out to eat,  I will always be the one pick the restaurant or make the reservation.  I am not sure why that responsibility always fall on me.  It always gets me mad during the days when I go to work, with the rest of the family had the holiday,  they called me at work and ask "what do we do about dinner?". 

I guess what I am trying to say is that  I am constantly on the role of care giver instead of being cared for,  Till now.  I can no longer do much with the 104 degree fever because my head felt like water ballon filled up to the extreme.  Any small movement will cause it to explode.  So I stay in bed, like a baby, waiting to be fed, and waiting to be medicated.  Too bad I don't have much appetite, otherwise, I would have ordered a breakfast in bed :-P

In sickness I also got a chance to prove that I am truly bi-lingual.  According to my husband, when I talk in my dream in my feverish night (or was I just hallucinating) , half is in Mandarin and the the half is in English.  He thinks half of the time I was talking to my daughter (Mandarine), the other half to my son (English). 

When the fever drop a bit to some reasonable number like 102 degree with the help of Tyleno, I was able to read some pages of "Eat, Pray Love : One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia" I picked up from Costco among the groceries for $9.99.  So far I haven't move beyond the Italy part.  OK, it is annoying to hear this women had no real problem making a drama out of her self-wanted divorce and a failing adultery (she is technically still married when she fall in love with the new lover) and then escape to Italy for a year, doing nothing but eating gelato and good food on a pre-assigned $2000K book deal.  I just have no patience with that kind of whining.  

However,  one thing did resonant with me a little bit is how she one night, one of her hysterical crying nights, started talking to GOD. It helped her pass through the difficult time.  I do have  my own talk with GOD once a while when I am in distress although I am not religious.  My spiritual believes is much like how the author described.   I don't really belong in any particular form of religion but yet I believe in the existence of a super natural power who is all mighty and powerful and sees the greater picture.

Most of the time my conversation with the supreme being is in the form like a bargain rather than a pray I am afraid.  I normally don't take rejection too well, so to pray in a form of bargaining will make me feel I still have something to hold on to should the pray is not answered. Plus I truly believe the Yin and Yang are always balanced, and energy always flow from one form to another,  so you won't get anything for nothing. So present my request to GOD in a bargaining form kind of offers what I can afford ahead of time so hopefully GOD won't randomly take aways something else that may cause other heartache after fixing the existing one.  Since no book I read formulates how one should pray,  I'll do what makes me comfortable and GOD is loving and kind and he will understand my twisted logic even though it is not logical.

So that is what I end up praying/bargaining for when I was sick.  I would not mind prolonging the suffering of this illness a little bit longer, so my son can be a little bit less autistic.  I specifically mention I do not want to trade anyone else's health in this matter, but only mine because otherwise it will be selfish and even close as my family, their things are not mine to trade anyway.  So you see? I ask for it when I got diagnose with Bronchitis, so I couldn't complain, could I?

As for my son, he got a haircut over the weekend at a real haircut place, cooperatively, for the first time in his life. Too bad that I was too sick to be there to witness that. According to my husband,  he will lowered his head when he was told and then peek in the mirror, eager to know how it turns out. His hair came back so handsomely short and sweet and he smiles when I told him what a good looking haircut he got.

Now, can I trade a kidney for his complete recovery, as to live a normal healthy independent life? Or does it take more than that.  I have to give a bit more thought.

Here is an OOTD right before I fell sick. I was going to retake the picture that evening without the coat to show off the gold sweater with the red rusted skirt because that was the color combo I liked. but then I was down by afternoon and never got around to do that.

Top: Gap scoopneck Tee

Cardi: JCREW Cashmere femme cardigan in gold

Coat: JCREW stadium coat

Bottom: Anthropologie Hop Skip Jump Skirt

Shoes: J-41 boots

Oh, what fun it is to ride

on a Plasama car!

Have you seen a plasma car?  This little car is so light and nimble but uses no power. All you do is twist twist twist, wiggle wiggle wiggle your handle :-)

I first saw some mom posted it on the a Chinese forum and thought about buying one for the kids.  However hubby objects to it so I had to backed off.  His reason is that the kids are old enough to ride a bike, what fun would it be for something simple like this.

We again saw it at A friend's daughter's birthday party and both my boy and girl had a blast with it and hubby was totally sold on this.

And no competition because you can ride together. (I guess you can still fight about who gets the driver seat)

We pick one up from Costco the next week and had kept it in-door.  It runs even more smoothly with the hardwood floor.  This little thing is so nimble.  A full 360 turn in the messy kids room is not a problem.

And it is sturdy.  So finally I couldn't help getting on it myself any more.

We twist and we laugh and we go to pretent super markets and trying to back up to the tiny space between the two couch as our parking spot.

If you need to buy a gift to kids, you should consider this one.

Glowing Leaf -- OOTD

Is that interesting that some company will give you MLK day off while the other ones do the President's day? I haven't heard any private company give both day off, however. I guess that is what the floating holiday is for.

Our nanny was able to help us out on MLK day so we sneak out for a few hours to watch a movie.  Believe me, after you have kids, it become a true luxury to watch movie in the theater especially if you don't have extended families in the area.  I wish I had chosen some other movie.  This movie is a bit serious and a bit heavy.  I admit it is a good movie,  granted that Jeff Bridge's performance impeccable, 

and Hailee Steinfeld as young Mattie Ross is so charming, but I don't like the movie,  much like the way that I don't like Hemingway's books.  I also felt the ending of the movie unnecessary.  Another problem?  The heavy accent in the dialogue, although adds the details a classic movie has,  is very difficult to understand for a non-native speaker like me. Overall, not my cup of tea.   I guess it is Oscar season, brainless movie usually come out in the summer.

I did however get to watch a really funny Indi movie call "Outsourced" on netflix this weekend and the title summarize the story plot fairly well.  It is very light hearted.  I wonder if someone from India would think it is funny. Unfortunately none of my Indian co-worker had watched it.

Top: JCREW cashmere sweater

Bottom: Anthropologie Glowing Leaf Skirt

Coat: JCREW stadium coat

Boots: UGG
Purse: Marc By Marc Jacobs Classic Q  baby  Groovee

Review: De Chelly Dress and Sun Shades Dress

De Chelly Dress:

This dress has a 5 star review on Anthropologie's website.  I can see why.  It is simple and sweet.  The cotton material gives more a casual every day look. The diamond motif looks like polka dots at the first glance.  The cotton of this skirt is pretty heavy weight and the lining is pretty thick so this would not be a skirt for hot summer as it might look.  The skirt is quite full and the inner lining gives more body,  adding some curve to straight shape, which is what I needed  The neckline is cut well so it is flattering, but not revealing.  Shoulder strap is wide and has buttons to secure your bra.   The peachy flush adds a little bit color to the overall neutral color. As you can see, it hits right about knee.  It could be a inch shorter, but no big deal.

My biggest problem with this dress is the zipper. It is not that the dress is tight or anything,  it just doesn't run smoothly because the sewing around the waist area.   The size 2 has room, but the side zip choke up on the waist.  I should have try another size 2 but my little one is getting impatient.   The Size 4 zip up, but still not without some effort. Shoulder strap became bit long with the sizing up to 4.  (5'4, ~120lb)

Sun Shades Dress:

This Dress had earn its name.  My daughter loves the color and prefers this one over he De Chelly Dress.  I think the color really brightens up you mood and somehow it felt very Kate Spade.  This dress is cotton and machine washable which is a big big plus. I tried a size 2 as the store ran out of size 4.  The zipper is in the back and I couldn't really zip it up myself.  To my suprise, once it is up, it if very fitted and not tight at all.  Like the De Chelly Dress, the skirt is full and the lining is fluffy.  The cotton is thick so it is really not a hot summer day dress.  The length hit a little bit below the knee.  I think it can be a bit shorter, but I am OK with the length. I would have prefer wearing this with a Dark Blue or Black Cardi just to set off the color of this dress on the shoulder area, and small ruffle around neckline might be a good addition too.

Both dresses are wish listed and hopeful the day of sale will come before it gets sold out.  On the other hand, I had so  much trouble with the zipper, with the morning chaos, it might add more annoyance to happiness for owning one.





Finally I leave you with my OOTD.   The color is a bit of mess I know.   But it has 3 of my favorite things: An old Chord Jacket from JCREW, The Lucky Brand Boot cut Jeans, and the Anthro Scarf, which is my very very first Anthro purchase.

Top: Anthropologie Palacio Blouse
Sweater: JCREW femme cashmere cardigan
Coat: JCREW Chord (Really old, can't remember the name)
Jeans: Lucky Brand Bootcut
Scarf: Anthropologie

The superior mother

Wall Street Journal published this article by Amy Chua titled "Why Chinese mother are superior" and people are talking about it.   The reaction has flooded our company's parent mailing list and also coffee room discussion.  It is very interesting to see the different sides o debate.

I don't know any Chinese mother who is like what she described. I don't even know any Chinese mother in China does that.   Personally I felt this whole generalizing Chinese mother thing is a business strategy to sell her book and for that reason and that reason alone, I am going to wait for the library copy if my curiosity peeks.  I felt that she already exploit me somewhat by stating things that obviously not a fact and I refused to be exploited further :-)

So what is all those nonsense about no playmate or having sleep over and what is wrong with getting a part in a school play?  I had to beg the teacher to let me see my daughter's class rehearse because we wont' be able to attend the final performance with an previously booked flight which will cost $1000 to alter for the family of 4.  I think parents are just generally proud of their children as long as they are putting their mind into the things.  How well or what they do is less relevant.

I do see myself pushing my daughter to practice and not given up, however I think western parents push for the same thing. Discipline is what gets you to achieve a higher level for any interest you would have weather it is sport or music instrument, with the likelihood of Chinese parents pushing music instrument more and western parents push sports more.  At young age children lack of the motivation to drive themselves and those are the time they need a lot of encouragements and external motivation to help them over the hump.

In any case, parenting does not come with a Manual.  Learning on the job isn't easy  and I think all the parents doing it by trial and error.  Amy Chua's kid is still small, for her to claim victory is a bit too early.  Chinese philosophy also believes that the good things can go bad and bad things can go good, there was never the absolute.  What measures success is highly questionable and happiness comes in variation of forms.  To say my daughter achieve this and that as a measure of good parenting, I am not so sure.

This article do make me think about what I want to achieve as a parent.  So here is my expectation for my daughter when she grew up:

• general good health, 
• respectful for herself and others, well mannered
• financially self-sufficient and content
• remain close relationship with the family members
• have a healthy hobby she enjoys or express herself
• self-motivated and self-discipline to learn
• responsible
• Optimistic

Hope I am not asking too much. Here I leave you a picture of the superior mother with her superior daughter ;-)  It is funny when we took the picture my daughter say "Mommy, I think you are the most beautiful.  Do you think I am most beautiful?" "Of course" I said, "and most lovable and cutest and most special" Then she got carried away and say "and Daddy is the most handsome and Aaron is most handsome....."

Top: JCREW Silk Tied Crew neck 

Bottom Anthro For Flora Skirt (2009)

Thousands of Petals -- OOTD

Are there time you felt overwhelmed by the amount of frills and ruffles, all those things you normally love.  Then all the sudden it all became too much?


 Not today because I felt quite adventurous to pile them all on in one outfit! Tiers, ruffles, tulle, flowers, polka dot, sequence, beads, chiffon? You name it!

Top: JCREW Vintage cotton amour tank (buy it here)
Bottom: Leifsdottir Paso Doble Dot Skirt (buy it here)
Caridgan: Ann Taylor Loft Floral Trim Caridgan
Shoes: Matisse Women's 'Holmes' Booties (buy it here)

Hope I haven't overwhelm you. :-)

Sale Finds under $50

• Matisse Women's 'Buccaneer' Over-the-knee Boots $41.99 
  While I don't own these boots, I had good experience with Matisse boots in the past.  Their leather are very soft and the boots are very comfortable.  

• JCREW Cord Atlee skirt  This skirt didn't look like much at first.  The I saw how cute it look on Jan,  The Girlest Boy Mom.  It is so versatile and casual piece for the winter and the short length really works out well for petite girls. With the price of $24.99 +30% off, you just can't go wrong with it.  You can my outfit with this skirt here

• JCREW Tiered silk ruffle dress ($49.99 + 30% off) is a party dress, but it is very comfortable.  Good for a evening out. I wore this dress to Jay Chou's concert at New Year's Eve. I wish I have a better outfit picture than this, but my camera ran out of battery 5 second before the count down and I did not have a chance to take a outfit picture. 

I guess after the whole shopping season, everyone is sort of on shopping ban? Hope you can still have some room for some good deals.  There is also maybe a sale tomorrow form Anthropologie?  Happy Shopping!

Have a JCREW day!

It has seemed that I toggle between JCREW and Anthro.  With the 30% off sale JCREW had at year end, I had purchase quite some JCREW without consciously knowing it.  One of the great thing about JCREW is its color palette.  Once you find something flattering, it is almost hard to resist another color.  The sizing has been consistent for the most part, which makes the on-line shopping easy, although I had realize the recent tank shape items seem to run large so I downsized most things sleeveless to size 0.

(Top: JCREW Pleated flutter shell, Skirt:  Cord Atlee skirt (Buy it here $24.99 + 30% off) Cardi: JCREW Cashmere femme cardigan Boots: UGG Australia)

In general JCREW felt easier to put together than Anthropologie items.  I think sometimes Anthropologie items has that too MUCH feeling.   They overpower you and all you see is the cloth itself rather you if you know what I mean.

Another complaint is that Anthro is also fuzzy with the majority of items needed dry cleaning or hand wash.  I wonder have anyone try to wash Bailey 44's jersey items that are made out of Rayon? It says dry clean, but I wonder if you can get away from handwash and dry flat.  It is ridiculous to have to wash a jersey item dry clean because unlike sweater, you have to wash it every wear and the dry cleaning bill quickly adds up.  I think one of those days I will be fed up enough to risk it just to see. Before that I am hoping if someone has already done it can share their experience.

Having to hand wash or dry clean jersey items sometimes gets me suspicious.  It is as if the manufacture just forego the pre-shrink process to save cost.  There are a lot of items from China that has good unique style, frills and ruffles, all the things Anthro are good for.  But the quality is low.   They are gone after a wash.  I can't help wondering if those handwash/dry clean jersey items from Anthro came from that same manufacture,  except that it is mark up 10 times.   Do you have issue with caring Anthro's items?

San Francisco Conservatory of Flowers -- OOTD

Well, this post is more for outing of the day, rather than outfit of the day :-)

All these years living in the bay area, I had never been to the inside of Conservatory of Flowers.  It is either close for renovation, or it happens to be the day it is closed when I visited San Francisco.  This holiday, I made sure that we are there in a day that it is opened.

There was a long line outside.  Kids under 5 does not need a ticket, so we kept teasing my daughter about she can't get in because she doesn't have a ticket.

Inside is really warm.  Most plant in display are the tropical flowers such as orchid.  However the variety is not exotic enough so it felt like a nursery houseplant section.

Is this the insect eating plant? We suggest my daughter put her little finger in it to test it out, but she refused.

This one reminds me Halloween candy.

How about some sur realism?

Here is a spot where you can be framed for a picture.  Hubby and I were taking picture of each other from the opposite ends. Kind of fun.

(I guess this would be my OOTD picture?  Lots of Layers...Top: Ann Taylor Cowl Neck Woll Sweater in gray, North Face  'Animagi' Jacket (Similar here). JCREW crewneck cashmere in deep coral. Gap scopeneck vintage longsleeve T(Love those, so soft)  Vest: North Face "Carmel" Down Vest (45% off right now).   Pants: JCREW Chord,   Boots: UGG,  Bag: Orla Kiely Crossbody)

To be honest, the flower collection is not very impressive, much less varieties than the one we went in Chicago this summer. It also needs more labeling and description for educational purpose.  But the special Edition was quite interesting and make the whole trip worthwhile. You can find detail description here.  The little railway sets in the minatures of plants with architecture landmark models made out of recycled and repurposed materials.

Hubby didn't even realize they are made out of recycled materials.  Kind of missing the point, eh? Can you tell what they are made of?

Being a techie and Chinese, this one has to be my favorite. It is made out of old computer cards and Majong.

And of course no kids can resist Thomas.

Where the lights are - OOTD inspired by Spiffy

I saw this outfit combination from spiffy's blog Where the lights are.  I Love Love the combination she came up with!

Top: Anthropologie Cabled Pathways Pullover
Bottom: Anthropologie Field Skirt
Shoes: J-41 boots

***********

On a different subject, my daughter's hair looks like the illustration from Stephanie's Pony Tail, one of my favorite children's book. She has to take a nap at school and her ballet bun was kind of loose.  I just couldn't help smiling every time I look at her hair.