Look for Less

A while ago, Carol from In pursuit of Pretty Things brought my attention to these outfit ideas from Nieman Marcus.

Although the featuring shirt is a camp shirt, the Tornado Twisted Henley from Anthropologie gives a very similar feeling with the similar color and neckline and the button front. with a softer twist.  The small ruffles on the shoulder is a more feminine and the cotton t-shirt fabric is more casual. I preferred both feature with the anthro shirt. Another plus? It is on sale for $19.99 as opposed to $$$ from Nieman Marcus.  As usual I am not a tuck in person, but I think it would look good with a red patent belt with the shirt tuck in for a cleaner look.

Top: Anthropolgoie Tornado Twisted Henley (similar here)
Skirt: LOFT Printed Pansy Blooms Skirt

spring LOFT loves

Many store brings out their spring collection already.  Some are even kind of summer with the maritime theme.

Did u notice some of the goodie from Ann Taylor Loft Lately? One of the reason I don't like LOFT as much is for the SA's attitude towards returns.  They act as if you owe them money or something.  Did the local store get ding for return items or something?  I have never seen any store this bad with returns.  One time the guy at the counter even said to me that next time I should just send it back with the return label, don't bother come into the stores.  What about I might want to check out something at the store besides avoid shipping fee for return items.  It is not like there were tons of customer waiting in line or anything.  The other thing? They always forget to demagnetize their on-line orders. I have to apologized to ever store on the way because this damn sensor just kept beeping.  It is so embarassing.

OK, enough complaining.  This post is supposed to be the thing I love about LOFT.    The thing is despite the service, LOFT do have some cute stuff that kind of resembles some Anthro items and for a lot less and they heavily discount their items constantly.

So what is on my wishlist? The Cocoon Drape top. It reminds me of Anthro's Neo-Refinement Pullover

probably because they both have a slouchy sleeve except Anthro's version is asymmetrical.   I probably like LOFT's version more because I like the soft peachy color more.  Also the Coccon Drapes a bit lower so it is a more flattering neckline for me.  Also it is a thiner material listed as Linen+Rayon Blend.  I am not sure how you would wear a sleeve like that with a coat, so with Anthro's wool version, I wouldn't know when to wear it.  I am a little skeptical about machine washable part  in this sweater because most time linen or rayon by itself are not  even machine washable.


Its solid color sister is pretty nice too.




I also like this on line exclusive twill taylor skirt.  I love both the Khaki and Navy version and I think it'd look perfect with a stipe T.


Do you shop at LOFT? What is your experience with their customer service? Any thing caught your eyes with their spring arrivals?

Here is an outfit from yesterday.  I was on my way out taking my daughter to piano class.

Dress: Anthro sweater dress (Got it for $9.99! Yay! no idea what it is called)
Cardigan: Anthropologie Plaza Cardigan
Boots: Hush Puppies
Bag: Cole Haan Camden Devin Tote

Here is my daughter's OOTD, haha ^^ The sticker says tomorrow is picture day.

Top: No idea, it is a hand me down
Sweater: JCREW
Skirt: Crewcut silk tiered skirt
Legging: Gap
Shoes: Nordstrom Maddy Boot

Have a good weekend!

Review: Kinder Aggugini for Impulse Stripe Jersey Dress + OOTD

I get to go to the office yesterday and to show my appreciation of being able to go to work instead of chasing kids around , I put on this "official" outfit.

Top: LOFT flower tank

Caridgan: JCREW cashmere v-neck

Skirt: JCREW double-serge pencil skirt 

Belt: JCREW skinny belt

Shoes: Sam Edelman "Echo" Oxford (buy it here)

This reply email came from my manager this morning and I thought the conversation was kind of funny:

In Manager's previous email: I will be out of the office Thursday and Friday.  I will be checking email from home, and occasionally working.  I will probably be coming in tomorrow afternoon, though not related to work – I have Girl Scout cookie duty :O

My reply (b.t.w. this is the second girl scout cookie sale we got this month in the group): Girl Scout needs serious reform.  Even cookie monster from seasme street starts eating fruit and promotes health concept nowadays.... :-P 

His reply: That’s lame.  This is a direct result of all those nanny/democrat/liberal/environmentalists trying to interfere with the happiness of children!

Back to today's topic, one of the dress arrived from Macys, it is the Kinder Aggugini for Impulse Dress, Striped Short Sleeve Draped Jersey.  And here is how it looks on me and you can be the judge.  For reference, I am wearing a XS and it is not tight at all.  It is very thin and unlined so it clings to the body. Because it is clingy, it shows every bump and lump on you.  The designer remedied it  by using the black and white stripe in variable width to give the dress an overall sliming effect and distract you from the imperfections.  The neck drapes very nicely.  It is made of polyester and is machine washable.  It is pull on style. I like the style and the print, but I don't like unlined dress in general. Hubby hates the black and white contrast. So this one is going back, but I don't think it is too bad for its price ($69+25% off with coupon code MUSTHAVE)

Ski break - OOTD

Happy post Presidence day!  This week is the ski break for our school district.  Funny, right?  We get a christmas break and a ski break then a spring break, and then summer break, you wonder if the kids ever are in school.  So this weekend we took the kids to Tahoe to see snow.

We got a free deal at the Grand Sierra Hotel and I got some discounted lift tickets at Mt Rose Ski area for the kids for $5 each.   Both kids are super exited to see snow.  My son was so exited that he woke up at 4 in the morning and woke everyone else up.  It is interesting that in my daughter's mind that season is a place rather than time.  She suggested we "go to the spring place, pick up a branch so we can use the branch to hang the glove on snowman we make at the winter place".  I guess that time can be shrink with the traveling ability

I am really not a cold place person even though I am born and grew up in a cold place.  I bundle up layers and layers of sweater and fleece with thick down coat. It is almost ridiculous, I know.  I don't know how I had survived the winter in Chicago land for 5 years, but I do know that is the reason I moved to California. 

Mt Rose Ski area has a magic carpet, escalator type of lift.  It is great for beginners to try out the bunny slope.  My son is very natural in terms of skiing. I think it came from walking on the back edge of the couches and jumping between.   He won't fall normally and can naturally shift the weight on his body to avoid people,  but he gets scared when because after he gain some speed.  During that time he want us to hold his hand. Otherwise he did great.

My daughter on the other hand, pretty much turn into a wood block once she had her ski on.  She goes "Mommy, mommy, mommy, no, don't stay too far away from me, no, I am going to fall, no." and she hasn't even move an inch. At first we don't know how to help her, because she would put weight on us if we hold her hands and not using any of her core strength to stay up.  Consequently she will fall backwards on her butt once  the center of her weight is ahead of our hands.  Finally my husband figure out a way.  We would stand in front of her in a short distance and let her push us if she feel it is getting too fast.  With us in front of her, she felt much more secure.  After that she was able to let go of our hands and ski a short distance.

You can probably tell, it was a very tiring trip.  I was exhausted running backwards in front of both kids. Kids tired out too.  Both fall asleep right shortly after they get on the car on our way back to the hotel. Still, it is fun to see the snow once a year so I can appreciate the California weather.

As for the remaining the week,  our child care arrangement didn't fall through so hubby and I had to each work from home for two days for the remaining of the week so we can keep an eye on our son who will be in therapy for a good part of the day.  Today is my turn.  If you know autistic kid, you know they had the ability to escapes like Houdini.  You'll never know what kind of stunt they'd pull on you.  So if I am alone with him, no skirts.

Top: Anthropologie Two-story Cowlneck tee
Cardigan: LOFT Vneck Cardigan
Jeans: Lucky Brand Bootcut Jeans

Get Shorty? - OOTD

Have you notice that a lot of Anthropologie's sweaters got the complain of being too short lately?

Solstice Festival Cardigan

Tied Trail Cardi

And the one that is on Sale Right now

I have a sweater from last year and had the similar problem with the length.  I had a feeling those sweater are somehow meant to be wear with skirts rather than jeans. Anyway, that is how I end up dealing with it.

Look back at the picture, I realize my winter wardroom has not been as colorful as the other 3 seasons.  I did add the necklace to pop some color, but it still looks kind of gloomy.

What am I wearing:

Top: Gap stripe supersoft turtleneck, Anthro Sweater (2009 winter, similar here) 

Bottom: Anthro Acting out skirt. (similar it here)

 Boots: Matisse Women's 'Holmes' Booties (buy it here)

Necklace: JCREW Got it for under $25 (buy it here)
Hat: LOFT Beret (similar here)

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

New routine

In my recent trip to Seattle, I  had unexpectedly discover that I gained 10 lbs over the last couple of month.  My first reaction was that the scale was broken until my little girl step on the scale.  I blame this little misfortune on our smaller bathroom after last year's move.  The bathroom was so small that you cannot even open the door without bumping the person inside.  Without a scale, I have no conscience when I over eat and not exercise.

I pretty much had the luxury of not worrying about over weight for the past 30 some years of my life, so I shouldn't really complain.  I was underweight for the most part.  In college, I don't even qualify for blood donation because I fail the weight requirement.  My last weight hike is after I finish college and start working.  With regular meal and less all nighters and no walking around campus, I gain 10 lb in mere 6 month.  Funny that I thought the scale was broken too that time.   Having two children didn't effect on my weight.  I had such bad morning sickness, my weight always drop and then come back up to my normal range.   So the last 15+ years, I fluctuated between 110 and 118, but had never past that.

Well, I must be getting old.  The days of eating without consequences has gone.  So here is what I will do in my morning routine.

7:00 -- Get up, boil water for my tea.  Make breakfast for the family.
7:30 -- wake Evelyn up, while hubby will take Aaron. Help Evelyn with her hair.
7:45 -- Eat breakfast with kids.
8:00 -- Pack lunch for everyone. Pack Evelyn's school bag. Take out the meat to defrost. Write our nanny a note for the day
8:10 -- brush Evelyn's teeth
8:15 - kick Hubby and the kids out of the house.  clean up the table. vacuum the floor. clean up kid's bedroom. make the beds. open all the windows downstairs. take the robot vacuum out for a run.
8:30 - fast walk on treadmill for 20 minutes
8:50 - sit ups
9:00-9:15 shower
9:15-9:30 getting dressed. brush teeth, blow dry hair etc.
9:30 out of the door for work

Now this will get me to work about 10:00 everyday, which is a bit late. But consider A lot of my co-worker go workout in the afternoon, I think that should do for now.  Unless I want to get up at 6:30.  Then I can move 8:30-9:00 to 6:30-7:00.  Somehow getting up at 6:30 sounded very dreadful, especially when it comes to the fall. 6:30 is not even light out.

Do you have any tip for losing weight? Especially the guts?  I hate restraint eating.  I am so into food.  Maybe I will eat less Carb.  I must admit, I do eat more Carb more than I used to lately.

Here is an OOTD that I will submit to Cat on her weekly Anthro at work feature.

Top: Vanilla bean blouse I scored during my Chicago Trip
Bottom: Ann Taylor Loft Marisa Capri
Cardigan: AE aerie cardigan.
Shoes: J-41 slingback