Sakura

Today is hot.  88 degree when I step out of the office. Hard to believe it is not even April. The Japanese weeping flowering cherry we planted last spring was in full bloom right now.

I wish the weather will last through the weekend, but the forecast calls for rain. 

Have you ever read a love story where the two lovers were made for each other, but then one of them are too high class and the other is too poor so they couldn't be together? A happy ending usually ends with after many years, with the change of the era or after a war, they finally met again by chance, or by destiny.

This how I felt about this medallion dress.  It is like a long love affair.  I got this dress last spring but return it because it was too expensive even for the sale price.  However I do like the bright lime color and the fit was good.  In the winter when I was browsing the sales, I saw it mark down to $19.99.  I pick it up without any hesitation this time.  It was cold and so it just sits in the closet, till now.


Dress: Anthroplogie Medallion Dress
Cardigan: Anthropologie bloom lattice cardigan
Belt: Ann Taylor Loft
Shoes: Seychelles 'Amethyst' Peep Toe Pump

OOTD: Glowing Leaf

When I first try the Bianka blouse, I bought the size 2 in black motif on line.  The shoulder felt a bit wide and the sleeves felt troublesome because it is hard to layer a cardigan over it.  With the two reason, I didn't quite want to pay for full rice for it.  My mom loved the print and rarely she liked anything I buy for her, so I gave it to her as a Christmas gift.  When the sale time came, I tried on a size 0 and love the shape.  I was on the fence about sending it back because green is really not my color and I was really hoping to find the black motif again.  Of course the black motif is long gone and the solid color seem to be easier to work with than a print.   Here is the result. 

Top:Anthropologie Bianka blouse Bottom: Anthropologie glowing leaf skirt.

I am starting some form of shopping restraint.  Not sure about the detail yet.  I don't want to do a shopping ban because it doesn't work.  The rebound is just worse.  Living in Bay area, we suffer the limitation of closet space and new cloth no longer bring me pleasure but headache of organizing them.  What has been the method worked for you in the past to control shopping urge?

A day off (includes a Nostalgic Asterisks Dress Mini review)

Before I start let me say this.  I am totally in awe of stay-home mothers.  They are so busy all the time and yet manage to maintain their calm and patience.  A lot of people including their dear husband probably don't even realize it.  They do this day after day without much vacation.  For those of you stay home everyday caring for your little ones and the family, please please give yourself a break from time to time because you so deserve it.

I took the day off because my daughter had the day off.  Her school was having parent teacher conference.  I didn't want to stress out about watching her at the same time working and risk losing my temper. It is supposed to be her day off too. So what did I end up doing all day?

Driving.... Driving in the rain....

That is how I felt I spend my whole day. Here is the detail run down.

My daughter got up really early in the morning.  Ever notice kids always get up early during weekend on non-school days?   I made her breakfast and then help her with the new tune for her piano class a little bit.  We played a few round of Zingo in between and it is time for her dentist appointment.

We drove to the dentist place in pouring rain.  Luckily she didn't get cavity this time.  Yay! We then went to a pizza joint I saw from yelp for lunch.  My daughter loves pizza but doesn't get to eat it often because of her brother's wheat allergy problem.  I thought it would be a nice treat.  Turns out she is so used to school's cheap pizza, she doesn't quite appreciate the Chicago style thick crust.

Back home picking up my badge so we can get cooperate discount, we headed to the Children's discovery museum. Time really flew by fast there.  To the right is the end product we made using colorful pipes.  On our way back, rush hour traffic started already and it was worse when it rains.  After eating a bottle of yogurt for snack and changing to her tutu, we rush to the ballet class and only to find out we forgot her ballet shoes. I  told her to go in first and rush back to get her shoes.  By then I was totally late for the parent teacher conference which is schedule tightly at 15 minutes after her ballet class starts.  I called the school to notify them my lateness while sitting in front of the red lights.  By the time I got to there,  my allotted 20 minute slot is almost over. Luckily she had two teachers, so one was able to talk to me while the other talks to the parent in the next time slot

I walked out the school and it is 5:30.  Wait... how did the day go by so quickly? I felt I haven't even done much.  I haven't had any time for myself.  At least at work I get a break at lunch and in the afternoon, I get myself a cup of coffee.


Her school is close to Anthro store so I went ot return a few things.  Normally I just walk out without trying on and this time I decided I deserve to have a little break.  This is what I picked.


Nostalgic Asterisks Dress


The vibrant red color of the dress is what grabs my attention at first.  The print is modern and not overwhelming.  Cotton, check, machine wash, check, side pocket, check, lined, check.  All the elements I like about anthro dress are there.  Thanks to the elastic in the back, I was able to fit into 2 without much problem even though it is size zip.  However the chest area fits poorly on me.  Maybe I am just too flat chested or maybe the spigetti strap is too long.  The front area sags and lumps like an empty pouch.  Not flattering. Although it doesn't work for me, it does look gorgeous on other blogger .  See it on Roxy  and Kay  and Liz.

After dinner, just when I got ready to call it a day.  my daughter said, "mommy, didn't you promise to buy me a gift if I don't have cavity in the next dental exam?"  Yes I did, and that was half year ago.... They never forget.  Sometimes parent really owe their children.  

"Can we go?" 

"Now?" 

"Pleaseeeeeeee?"

OK, I do owe her.

Rain, Rain, go away....

It is raining all week and my treasured JCREW umbrella finally reach the end of its life with the extenuation spring lost its elasticity so that the umbrella doesn't quite fully open. I came across some of those and thought they were so cute.

Miss Marc by Marc Jacobs

kate spade

Macy's

Finally Rain boot

Earth® 'Elite' Rain Boot

Red and stripe - OOTD

I originally typed up a pretty depressing post and decided not to drag every down with me.  There is enough bad news in the air these days.  Let's bury our head in the sand and  enjoy the peace and beauty in this world while we still have it. So anyone have any recommendation for brainless romantic comedy like "the proposal"?  My co-worker said he doesn't like Sandra Bullock because she is "universally appealing".

This is a stripe shirt that hubby didn't object. As I mention before, he doesn't like strips but this one he said he actually like it.  I  realize I have more and more anthropologie items in my wardrobe these days I end up having the whole outfit from them.

Details: Top: Anthro Raining Lines Henley
Bottom: Anthro Hop Skip Jump skirt.
Shoes: Anthro Third Act Heels

And if you haven't gotten sick of me bragging about my daughter, she came back with this little drawing from art class yesterday.

The crying girl supposed to be a tree, b.t.w and the thingy on the left is a Alien candy ship.  The alien candy ship is trying to abduct the little apple baby (the orange thingy)  According to her story, it melted after the brave apply baby  pour soup on it,  much like the witch of Wizard of OZ.

This could potentially be the first sci-fi she wrote :-) Maybe I shouldn't limit her TV watching so much.

D'armee Dress

How is everyone adjusting to the daylight's saving time so far? I was really late this morning to work.  My daughter this morning decided that she is old enough to tie her hair. so here is the result:

Half decent huh?  That is if you don't look at the back... But we let her off to school the way it is at the risk of leaving the teacher a bad impression of me being a sloppy mother who forgot to comb her daughter's hair.  One should always encourage the little ones when they are willing to try :-P

Remember I was worried about D'armee Dress being too shiny?  I love it! It surely took a long time for it to arrive.  I decided to go with Grey instead of the green at the end. What a comfortable and easy dress!  I love how you can just throw it on and go.

Speaking of sale, did anyone notice this at nordstrom? I wish I know how to walk on a 3 inch heel.  I just love the pearl like color. It is on sale for $59.90 right now.

Layers- OOTD

Spring time dressing is always tricky.  I was fooled by the sun the other day.  Now I really learn my lessons. I have always admire people who tolerates tempature changes. For those blogger who took bare leg shots outside when the snow is still not melting?  I am totally in awe!   I inherited my mother's sensitivity to temperature, especially during the spring allergy season.  A little bit of cold air, I will end up sneezing non-stop for half hour.  Not a pretty sight as you can imagine.   Here is how I prepare for the day when there is a wide temperature ranges.

Witout the jacket

And without the sweater

OK, I am still more comfortable with having the shirt out.

Jacket: J CREW Chord
Sweater: Anthropologie 2010
Top: Anthropologie Soldierly Sparkle Top
Bottom:  Anthropologie Mendoza Codex Skirt
Boots: Super old from Hong Kong (10 + years ago? Wow, showing my age here)

This weekend my daughter is class-free.  It felt strange.  I had stopped her gym class because she wants to try out the ice-skating.  Then we book a trip to Hawaii for this summer and we felt it might be useful for her to learn swimming before the trip.  The swim class won't start till the end of month.  I am almost at lost with the free time all the sudden show up.  Maybe I will book a facial for myself.  Got any plan for the weekend?