Cut out the middle men

Do those look familiar? This dress is one of the item up for flash sale today at Hautelook.  Is Weston Wear one of Anthro's vendor?

I am sure I picked up one of this last year when it was on sale at Anthro.

Price is good if you are using Anthro standard. Click here for an invitation if you don't have an account already. 

Color Denim

I haven't been into the color pants till I tried it with Stripe, now I am hooked.

Somehow I think the  red jeans have a transforming effect on otherwise a pretty plain top.

Ella Moss top (see more draped tops)

Color Denim by inkmark featuring navy tank tops

Got Milk?

Have this happen to you? Rubbing your eyes after cutting hot pepper?

 My allergy flared up in the late evening and that is many hours after evening meal. God knows how many times I had washed my hands after the meal preparation. Yet, my eye lid went on fire. I try to wash it, putting eye cream on, closing my eye and hoping the pain will go away. Nothing works. Finally I begged hubby go look up the internet for some remedy.

 A few minute later, he came back with a wet paper towel. He dab it on my eye lid, like magic, the pain went away instantly. What created that miracle?

 Milk.

 Ah, not only does it strengthen our bones, but also it reliefs burns, sunburn and pepper burn alike. It is also known to help with cold sores. I seem to recall seeing it on TV that someone drink milk to neutralize poisons.

Love it!

Do you know any effective homeopathic remedy that works well?


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I really liked it this look when browsing the photographs on Sartorialist.   Here is my take

The Sartorialist inspiration by inkmark featuring a tiered lace skirt

Fall

It still feels like summer last week.  This week we starting to see some of the gloomy thick fog lingering longer during the AM hours. Still, by no mean it is fall weather yet.  I was a bit impatient to put on some fall toned outfit with the light weight summer piece.

(Top: Anthropologie  Bottom: JCREW Petite café trouser in linen  Caridgan: JCREW island linen cardigan in cinimon spice.)

There were quite some goodies go on sale at Anthropologie today including the Verdant Slip dress, it is super gorgeous on Lisa. (see it here) but on the other hand, I have a feeling she'd look gorgeous with a paperboy on.

Premium Jeans

Have you notice the premium jeans that had fill the market these days?  They come with embellishment, detail to the logo design or other things differentiate them from regular jeans. Here is the extreme example: Forbe's slide show on the most expensive jeans. Coming from its working class origin, the high price tag on the jeans seem ridiculous.  Wall Street Journal also did its article on why jeans cost $300. From this article, it make you feel like a really sucker for buying the premium jeans.  Essentially you are paying the price tag for the Made in US label.

Anthropologie carries its variety of premimum jeans brand such as Citizen of Humanity,  J Brand,  AG jeans or Joe's.  What does the name of  some of those brand even mean?  I was quite happy with my Gap jeans till recently, out of curiosity, I tried on this J Brand Flare jeans on sale at store. I liked the soft stretchy fabric, I liked how the shape hugs your thighs, giving them the sliming effect.  Given it is petite it is still long. I have to fold it up.  That means taking it to a tailor is needed, which translate to a higher cost than the  sale price of $99.

What do you think? Had I completely gone insane for wanting this pair Jeans?  Do you have a favorite brand for jeans?

By the way, anyone know what this top is call? Really like the embroidery on it but they don't have a XS in the store.

Ah weekend!

After running around like chicken without a head the whole week, I am so glad it is finally weekend!

We had a blast last weekend at the beach even though the weather is somewhat cold. But that is just the norm for northern California beach.  I laughed so hard every time the kite plunge its nose to the sand.  Hubby eventually got pretty good at it.

(In the picture, my daughter is wearing JCREW fedora hat ($9.99 here),  JCREW terry sweat shirt, Disney small world skirt, really love the print)


Happy weekend!

Parent training

My daughter's school parent training starts today.  3 hours each week for three week.  It landed on the group meeting time so I end up taking the PTO for those hours and then make up the hour later at night.  On top of that, I am running a low fever, which makes my head turns into a bucket of water, every time I move, it feels like jello inside, and it hurts. However, the training is rather interesting. The thing about parenting is that it didn't come with a manual, so it is nice to get this free training from school and you might be able to apply that later at other environment.

This is a completely child center school.  The basic philosophy is that children are naturally curious, so if we provide the support and nurturing environment, they will blossom.  Whether the flower came out to be the kind you like is a different story, but they will blossom. We, the parents and teachers,  should respect them as individuals, appreciate their uniqueness, tuning to their needs, allowing them to grow at their own pace and trusting their good will when the behavior occurs. They emphasize on the whole child approach. Their emotional growth is just as important as academic and art.  So it is OK to eat in the time originally scheduled for math or art if they needed to take a longer time to hash out the emotional conflicts rise during recess, because emotional growth is just as important. They want the children have a safe environment to express themselves and explore.  They will not be judge for their capabilities, but instead, their efforts.   They encourage cooperation rather than competition.  I think that last part really turn some parents away from enrolling in this school.

OK, easier said then done, right?

There is also an interesting discussion on what the difference between encouragement and praise.  In this school philosophy, praise is less desirable than encouragement. Why?

Because praise is external and a reward.  It focuses on the end product.  It is result of comparison to others. When you praise, you are judging. As a result, children's self worth depends on others, and wanted more and more praise.  Some fears not being praised and became afraid to try when things become difficult.

Encouragement however is a gift. It focus on progress and effort and is very specific.  Children learn to appreciate their own special qualities and feel capable, loved and appreciated.

So what is the language of encouragement?

We want the encouragement to describe the specific. It acknowledges effort.  It notices the uniqueness and looks for the positive. It is important not to give and then take away.  I find this particular point especially important because I tent to do that. Instead of saying "you must feel like a big girl putting the shoes on yourself, but let me fix it;". You can always tell the second part later.

So how do I apply all I learned in the class at home even though it is meant for the classroom?

I tell my daughter at night when she is practicing piano that she tried very hard to play this difficult new song.  I told her I notice she had curve her finger 5 better than last week when she move her fingers closer to the edge of the key. I told her it is OK it isn't perfect yet because the recital still 1 month out, she'd be really good by then.  I told her sympathetically that those transition from natural note to sharp note are really hard and I couldn't do the half of what she does.   Did it worked?  For most part of the night, she didn't fuss too much.  However,  at the end, when she is tired and losing her core strength, it is the fried lima beans push her through the finishing line.  1 song 1 bean.  *grind* Philosophy always worked better on paper.