Vacation! Gone Fishing....

Hello all! Hubs and I are off on a long-awaited vacation in Arizona...sightseeing, roadtripping, seeing a dear friend, and having fun! I have been tweeting some pictures but mostly it has just been great to feel the sun and be outside. Oh, and eating TONS of Mexican food.

Tomorrow we head to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. If anyone has any favorite shops/restaurants/sights to recommend, please post them here! I'll be back with more pictures and updates soon.

Coming Soon...LL Bean Signature

There has been a lot of buzz over the new Lands End Canvas line, but yesterday I stumbled across a new line that will debut in March from LLBean, their Signature line. I am smitten by the new classic, vintage, nautical, and preppy items that look effortlessly timeless in the promotional video on the teaser site. Go here to see more.

Is that an orange buoy print wrap dress? Please hold one for me! I love the yellow and blue, the skirt, shirtdresses, the vintage leathers used. Looks great, can't wait to see more! What do you think?

Brand Expansion...Er, Explosion

Hubs asked me recently to pick up some deodorant at Target. Before you Unfollow the blog due to this mundane start to this post, WAIT I am going a different direction. I stumbled down the aisle and found myself face-to-face with the above display. Actually, the aisle was full of probably 6 sections like this 3-foot wide one I shot, above. WHO KNEW that there were so many different products where once there was just plain old Old Spice? You probably can't see from this view, but there were offshoot product lines such as STRENGTH, and then the even more amusing travel line with scents like Fiji, Matterhorn...Body Wash called Swagger, etc. I was amazed. I think it was shopping for something that I don't usually look at that made me take notice at how some of our favorite, everyday household brands have exploded.

Every brand now has a million offshoots, and decisions in shopping have become more complicated and more specific. I think this is something that is fascinating to watch. Has anyone else noticed this phenomenon? Where do you see it most?

Trying New Things--Hitting Anthropologie

Wow, its been almost a month. I feel like I haven't had much to write about, but I think I need to start getting a new perspective! Find interest in the every day, mhmmm that shall be my new mantra.

Every once in a while I get an itch to inject something new into my wardrobe. I feel like this must happen to all of us, the feeling that everything in your closet looks the same, snore. Its not really true, but just that feeling can be enough to set off the search for some fun new pieces. I turned to Anthropologie, partly from inspiration from the marvelous Kim at Anthroholic. I haven't shopped much at Anthro--I think I have always had a tough time understanding how to put the feminine, whimsical pieces together. Kim's (and others'!) blog has helped me to see that you just need to jump in and have a little fun. I have found myself prowling the nearby Anthro stores, especially the sale racks, looking to plunge into some new wardrobe fun.

Here are a few recent pieces that caught my eye.

First, a floral wrap top that I don't see on the website right now...it is on sale for $69.95. I sized up to get some more length on the top...I think it is pretty but price is still a little high for me right now. I do like the beading detail on this one (see second photo).


I found this Floreat top on the sale rack as well, but I have to size down and haven't found that size in person. This one is $39.95, ivory with henley buttons and a bit of gold metallic striping..a pretty top thats neutral but special. This one has been on my mind so I might have to try and hunt it down.

These next two just hit the sale section online today and I am very intrigued.

I think this Scalloped Dot Skirt is so cute, would look cute both with tights now and later with a fresh white tank. Now $49.95.

And this dress begs for a wide brown belt, maybe cowboy boots...In A Moment Dress, now $59.95.

How do you use Anthro pieces in your wardrobe? Better yet, how do you mix it up when its February, you are bored with your clothes and spring is nowhere in sight? :)

I missed you all, thanks for patience!

Martin + Osa Spring--Delightful Navy

Navy blue is one of my favorite colors, and I love seeing how it is used during Spring Collections. Right now I have my eye on these two great pieces that just showed up on the M+O website:

Chevron Maxi Dress

I think the Chevron here could be very flattering and be beautiful with a tan. Would like to try this on to see how it looks IRL.

Polka Dot Scarf
Love the ombre effect with the dots.


Seeing Navy this way makes me look forward to warmer weather!

First Foray...Leggings

Do you ever have a style you really want to pull off but seems to elude you? I have been wanting to do the whole "effortlessly chic and comfortable in leggings and a slouchy sweater with boots" trend for a few months. I wanted to look put together, cozy but not sloppy. I see women all over of all ages wearing this and they look really nice, and a bit different than the jeans and sweater look with a coat. I am kinda self conscious about how the leggings look but I am trying...

Behold...


Sweater: BR Ribbed V-Neck (no longer online, check sale racks!)
Leggings: Hue via Nordstrom
Tee: Target Tissue Tee
Boots: Steve Madden Intyce

This sweater is something I would never pick up unless I was looking for this particular style. I realized the short sleeve look would allow for a tighter tee underneath, maybe making the look a bit sleeker. Also covers the butt, not too tight or too swingy. Who knows if I pulled it off, but I feel like I can stop the quest for this look. Now I just need the courage to wear it!

Do you wear your leggings out? How do you wear them?

New Year...

Hello all, once again its been far too long.

So sorry for my absence, I haven't had much new to tell but I have been thinking a lot about the changing of 2009 to 2010.

I started 2009 working with one (fabulous) coworker in one little room in San Francisco with a parrot nearby that ate fried chicken and made more noise than an elephant. I ran a 5k (slowly). I cut off 9 inches of hair that hadn't changed in 20 years. I planned a move to a city I had always wanted to try 3000 miles away. I entered a lottery for a half marathon when I had only ever run for 40 minutes. I GOT IN the lottery, much to my surprise. I started this blog. I quit and winded down my job of three years that had been a part of me. I started running up to 10 miles (!) I packed up our California life. I moved east and right away started to see the great things that can happen from being in a place you are excited about closer to your family. I let go of a lot of the stress that used to bog me down daily. I saw a game from teh Green Monster at Fenway. I celebrated six wonderful years of marriage with Hubs. I met my best friends back in California and ran a half marathon. I met new people in Boston. I realized a third floor walkup has a lot of stairs. I job searched. I walked my new city. I checked the scale and realized I was lower than I could remember. I found my family a short car ride away for holidays which was a true joy. I rang in the New Year with my college roommate to end 2009 and begin 2010. What a year, so many changes!

As we begin a new year, I am not so much making resolutions as I am committing to keep trying to live happily and simply. I have loved this blog and the friends and community I have found in this "blog neighborhood" and I am going to devote more time to it! Thank you for sticking around and I promise to keep working on it!

On we go...