Dots & Stripes Forever

Happy Memorial Day, ladies! Aside from the (hopefully) physical and mental recharge we are all partaking in these past few days, let's also spend a few moments and remember the real reason we celebrate this day - to commemorate all the US service members who have fallen while in military service.

I've had a great long weekend of eating, cooking, park-ing, lounging and generally being a lazy loaf - it's been awesome. So it should come as no surprise that with the great summer-y weather, I've spent my days in general absolute casual-ness:

 

Top: H&M stripe (worn here before - similar here, modern here)
Skirt: UO Cooperative monaco
Shoes: Keds spright wedge (worn here before - similar here, here)
Necklace: White Owl via Etsy (worn here before - similar here)
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff trompe l'oeil mac

 

Top: J. Crew factory multi-stripe pullover
Shorts: Banana Republic (similar here)
Shoes: Mossimo by Target wakana (worn here before - similar here)

 

Hat: Christy's & Co. (big enough to fit my giant noggin! - similar here, here)
Top: J. Crew max & molly gallery (worn here before - similar here, here)
Shorts: Old Navy pleated (worn here before - similar here)
Shoes: DVF lush flip flops (worn here before)

 

Top: F21extended hem dot (worn here before - similar solid here, here)
Shorts: Old Navy chambray tie-belt
Shoes: Sofft woven thongs (similar luxe here, reg here)

What have you gals all been up to? Have any of your partaked in some awesome sales, or other grand (there are no small) adventures?

Soft Rock Randomness

Here's my outfit from last Friday. Oldies but goodies that I either never wear or haven't worn in eons:

 

Dress: H&M (worn here before - kinda sim here, -ish here, luxe here)
Jacket: F21 knit moto (worn here before - similar here, here)
Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction pine a colada (worn here before - similar here, luxe here)
Bag: Nine West crossbody clutch (similar here)
Belt: UO Deena & Ozzy stretch (worn here before - similar here)

♦   ♦   ♦   ♦

Thanks to AmyK (and Anne) for the blog tag! Without your style and humor, my little blog galaxy would be two stars shy and glow a little dimmer - plus I'd be a scrambling for a topic today.

So what's the tag? List seven bits of randomness about myself. As I am all about the random, it was actually kind of difficult to narrow things down / remove the absolute weirdness to the following:

1. I am a dominant leftie. Which means rightie is usually relegated to "hold this steady" status while leftie is the brains of the operation. Which also means I am still traumatized by that 3rd grade exercise about segregation my teacher did where she proceeded to tell all the lefties in the room that they now had to sit separate from the righties and couldn't participate in gym or lunch, and in the span of five minutes turned half a dozen 8-year-olds into hysterical sobbing wrecks - got the point of that exercise, still damaged by it, thank you.
2. When strangers are nice to me, I am immediately on the mental offensive. Maybe it is the NY-er in me, but I've grown up being taught not to trust people I don't know and these gosh-darn-nice-for-no-reason southern folk sometimes freak me out!
3. I would like to own a bed and breakfast someday. Well, actually I probably don't considering the work involved - but I've read enough soppy love story borderline romance novels in my youth to be in love with the idea of owning one. Where else would handsome young strangers with damaged hearts go to escape from their lives and hopefully find passionate new love with the innkeeper?
4. I like to eat dinner or lunch foods for breakfast. Like cold pizza, or a bowl of ramen, or a sandwich with chips. I prefer it over eggs or cereal, and honestly I have it in my head that it is better for me if I ate my biggest calorie busters early in the day.
5. I have probably an unhealthy love for Anthony Bourdain. Now this is probably not news to some of you, but I don't just tune into his show every time it airs (which is like every two hours, so I can't be the only one who is infatuated with the Bourdain) - but I dig him in that I-would-love-to-hang-out-with-you-and-eat-good-food-with-you-and-maybe-roll-around-in-your-sheets-and-rifle-through-your-cabinets-and-sniff-out-your-frig kind of way. So just wee culinary hero worship crush.
6. I love to stare at my pup. Her face is just full of expression and character - from her happy-go-lucky "I'm going to pounce on you" look to her closed-eye grimace when she is emphatically scratching herself. I can entertain myself for hours just staring at her. Which of course freaks my dog out.
7. As much as I truly enjoy blogging, I also enjoy not blogging. Weekends are blissful blog-free times.

So instead of just passing this on to one individual, I'd like to virtually tag all of you! Please share in your weirdness here - you gals have any fun, juicy, hilarious bits of randomness you would like to share?

Full Disclosure: Eat Me

I have always been a gal who has loved food - I watch the Food Network all the time, Anthony Bourdain is one of my personal heroes, I love to try new recipes, new foods, new restaurants. I'll try any new food at least once. Second to fashion, I think about food all the time.

I am definitely a bored eater and a compulsive snacker. If you're eating, I want to eat too. If I am bored, I want to eat. If it is meal time, I want to eat, regardless of whether or not I am hungry. My body doesn't listen to the "feeling full" signals, it listens to the "am I satisfied" signals - and I am rarely satisfied when it comes to food.

 

I guess I've always had a hang-up about food but I hadn't started noticing it until a few years ago. I've always loved to eat and except for a period during junior high where I was quite a bit overweight, I've always been able to consume what I want and mostly "absorb" it. And through high school and college, I've dabbled with eating disorders but have never been a very "successful" at it - I loved food too much to deny myself.

As I am getting older, I am noticing that this eating what I want business is catching up with me. My diet is mostly unhealthy and it is getting out of control. I need to take charge of what I put in my own body. This is stuff I realized on Sunday night, after mentally recapping my day's indulgences ...

... which included:

• Breakfast: turkey & salami sandwich on sourdough baguette
• Snack: small movie popcorn & cherry frosty
• Lunch: turkey sandwich on sourdough baguette, handful of Jelly Bellies
• Snack: slice of apple pie, handful of green bean chips
• Dinner: NY strip steak with waffle fries, salad
• Dessert: slice of apple pie
• After-Dinner Dinner: leftover steak fried rice
• After-Dinner Dessert: apple Toaster Strudel

 

I think there's enough negativity about our body image in the world that I don't want to add to it, so please don't think I am being unecessarily vain and just whining about feeling fat because I know I'm not (though certain times of the month, I feel like the size of a zeppelin). But I was shocked at the amount and poor quality of food I consumed and I realized that I need to learn to eat healthier and be more conscious about what I am putting into my body.

However, I am also a realist and don't think I can turn myself into one of those "I eat local organic non-gluten vegan-only" chicks because I refuse to give up the dirty carbs which includes pizza, pasta, ooey chewey white bread, amongst other things. Plus I still think about food and trying food all the time, and live with a man who thinks of vegetables as a nasty four-letter word.

So what do I think will turn me around from decades of poor eating habits and a compulsion with food? I'm not really sure yet, I haven't done the research. But I am starting a food journal so I can keep track of what I am consuming, and I've bought a ton of gum so I can chew that when I am bored instead of stuffing Cheetos into my gullet.

For you healthy eaters out there, what started you gals on your healthier eating path? And for everyone, can you please offer me some advice or tips so I can stay on the "straight and narrow" of food, while not feeling like I am denying myself?

♦   ♦   ♦   ♦

Sweater: Anthropologie Moth jewelers choice (check stores - similar in red here or ish in green here)
Skirt: H&M silky floral (worn here before - similar here or here)
Shoes: Nine West temani patent wedges (worn here before - similar here or here)

The Mad Plaidder

I would like to say that I am typically a pretty laid back person, at home as well as at work. Granted the people who have to work with me may have differing opinions, but I think with age, I think I've learned to stress less about things and just "expect" there will be change, grimace, then deal with it.

So I'd like to say that there are few people that I work with who rub me the wrong way. Actually until recently, none. So it was kind of surprise even to me when someone I have to work on a project with made me livid. And this may also be the first time I've ever even used "livid" to describe a personal emotion. But there it was, a sick to my stomach, heart palpitating, eye crossing, if-said-person-was-right-in-front-of-me-at-that-moment-I'd-pummel-them feeling.

Now I won't go into the gritty details, but I went from working with someone who was almost a second version of myself - in a good way - to another person who likes to move ahead with things without getting approvals on them (already reprimanded). Who likes to use ! ad-nauseum and J in e-mail communications with senior-level members (ignored with a grimace). Who is so darn perpetually cheery that she almost makes you feel like a grump for living - and who my boss passes off to me so he doesn't have to deal with her (sigh). Who works in an area where writing skills are a requirement but who does not seem to have any (completely redlined one of her docs).

And no, she does not work for me, or even work in the same company as I do, so there's little ability to really sit down and talk things through. And yes, I know she means well and is a nice person. So at this point, I vascillate between grinning and bearing it until this project is finally through, telling myself that I I need to work on my tolerance levels, and being up on her stuff like a sprinkle on a cupcake.

How do you gals deal with difficult people at work (or in life)? And what kind of people do you consider to be "difficult?"

 

Dress: Lands' End Canvas pleated tartan (now on sale - more cas version here)

Belt: H&M double buckle (worn here before - similar here or here)

Bracelets: Old Navy enamel / J. Crew studded (similar here and here)

Shoes: Seychelles ring in the new year / Anthro raines (worn here before - similar here or here)

Daylight is Not the Same

Happy Daylight Savings Day! Did any of you ladies partake in the Target GO International dress re-releases today? Unfortunately I wasn't able to go to my fave super-chain today, so when I got up this morning, I immediately ordered the Tracy Feith hibiscus dress and the Libertine striped tunic - hope they work out! Though I think I may be the only one jumping the gun here - everything still seems to be available online - wonder if there's been any rush in-stores?

Work's been heinous this last week and  now I'm headed off to the sunshine state for work so I apologize in advance for this week's slacker blogging and responding! Don't you worry though, I'll be back with some boring conference outfits later this week, haha.

Here are some of my cas outfits from the weekend:

    

Top: F21 H81 brushed plaid (worn here before)
Skirt: H&M drop-pocket (worn here before - similar here or here)
Tights: Target
Shoes: Aerosoles tassel wedge (worn here before - similar here or pump here)
Necklace: fuzzyelephant via Etsy

  

Dress: LE Canvas pocket dress (this seemed shorter and more flattering on the 6' tall model, hm ...)
Belt: Anthropologie bow & angle (similar here or style here)
Necklace: willow street gifts via Etsy
Shoes: Xhiliration by Target teanna (worn here before)

♥   ♥   ♥   ♥

Dont' forget to submit your fave outfits for this week's Respect the Outfits post - more info HERE - send your pics to respecttheshoes(at)live.com.

And there's still time to enter my $100 Shopbop gift card giveaway HERE!

Have a fantastic mid-March week, ladies!

Frills Ahoy!

Thanks for your comments in my last post about my hair, which implies to me that I'm probably due for an actual new 'do, as I was so bored with my hair that morning that I decided to flip my part. I ended up with bouncy hair and bangs that didn't poke me in the eyes, but also ended up with all my hair in my face pretty much all day. So, you're stuck with my old hair and the same ole should-they-stay-or-go bangs for another day, haha.

This is my girly sailor outfit. I know, I am one stripe shy of swabbing the decks here, but I couldn't help myself. Springtime equals white and stripes to me. Now if the weather would actually start acting some kind of spring-like!

Sweater: Anthropologe Guinevere roaming frills (worn here before - similar style here / here, color here)

Top: H&M striped (similar here)

Skirt: Zara elastic-waist (worn here before - similar-ish here, not really but me likey here)

Tights: Anthropologie berry bush (worn here before - similar here)

Necklace: Anthropologie nueva granada (worn here before - similar-ish here or I wish here)

Shoes: Anthropologie raines / Seychelles ring in the new year (worn here before - similar here or ish here)

♠   ♠   ♠   ♠

So what has got you all shopping-hot and wishlist-bothered for spring? What are some pieces you've gotta have to complete your it's-getting-warmer wardrobe?

Like I need more of anything, but here's what's on my current spring list:

✓  Platform sandals (I wanted to save some money for the inevitable platform-related hospital visit, so I got the teannas from Target for a steal - yes, both colors)

☐  Maxi dress (this means you, hydrangea petals dress, so go on sale already!)

✓  Lighter crossbody bag (I splurged on my first Minkoff - and apparently I have a thing for navajo prints)

☐  Lace-hemmed slip or half-slip (I rue the day I missed out on you, fool-proof half-slip, but I've got my eye on your taller sister, the lace-edged slip)

☐  Almost anything yellow (I need more shades of yellow in my life - which is funny because that was a color I stayed away from for the longest time because I thought it looked unflattering on me - ah, growth)

☐  A zebra head (I just need it, seriously)

☐  Blinge-y cluster necklace (the mini turned out to be a "huge" disappointment - anyone know of a good sub for the original J. Crew supernova necklace?)

The Short of It

I found out yesterday that my pup has mange. And I'm not sure if I look good in cropped pants. And I have doubts whether this outfit works together or is too hodge podge-y. So that's about it for my day - how are you all doing?

No worries about the Pacey, ladies, she's got the demodectic kind, which is very treatable especially because we caught it early before we had to permanently rename her Patches. Plus it's not contagious to humans or other dogs so Pacey doesn't need to be sent to survivor island. And she can't re-catch it, so there'll be no burning of the bed or the couch.

So what about these pants? Should short people just not wear crops? Is there no such thing as a work-friendly crop, regardless of how much that Ann Taylor lady tries to tell us otherwise?

Top: H&M tiered (worn here before - similar here or here)

Sweater: Xhiliration by Target lace (or similar high-end here)

Pants: Loft marisa city synthetic cropped (or similar here)

Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction swim n fool (worn here before - similar here or w/bow here)

Necklace: Anthropologie jahara (worn here before - similar here or here)

Crushing on a Manor

Thanks for all your kind comments yesterday, ladies. I read every one of them multiple times and truly have takens all your words to heart. It is good to read your reassurances that I don't need to feel that I am missing out on something that I need to be doing with my life right now, and it's great (?) to know that so many of you can also relate. Ah, being a girl ... especially with a Chinese mama (all you Chinese gals you know what I mean!) I know I should just live my life the way that feels best for me and my BF right now, but it's hard sometimes!

For matters regarding marriage and children, I sometimes don't know if it is something on my mind because I do want it all, or because I think that is what I should want. Or if I don't think I want it because I am internally rebelling or don't know if I am just not ready now for it - but then if I am not ready now, will I ever be ready? Welcome to my head ...

So of course it would make sense that I needed some lightness in my mind today and did dressing the easy way - a nice printed dress. And my favorite type of printed dress, the shirt dress!



Dress: Anthropologie Maeve wightwick manor (similar here or kinda here or not at all but fab here)

Belt: H&M double buckle (worn here before - similar here or here or snakebite-ish here)

Boots: Born taro (worn here before - similar here or here)

Tights: Target

Necklace: Anthropologie nueva granada (worn here before - similar here or simple here)

Bracelet: J. Crew studded bangle (similar set here or here)

♥   ♥   ♥   ♥

And adding more lightness to the fluffy girl fodder and one awkward segway: Do you gals have any unobtainable strong women that you crush over and admire from your distant little perches? Though my preferences have changed in the past few years especially since who is hot or not changes more than the wind nowadays, but my all-time fave girl crush has to be Sandra Bullock.

A hot girl who likes to crack jokes and doesn't mind making fun of herself? Yes, please! I don't know if it is so much of a crush than I either want to be her (except for the whole Jesse James and baby David thing - but keep the Oscar and millions of dollars) or want to hang out with her and trade trucker jokes over some brewskis!

New girl crush? Emily Blunt, of course. She's also very hot and also appears quite laidback and cool - plus she seems to do casual or haute couture with equal ease!

 

 

An honorable girl crush mention needs to go out to Kristen Stewart. I know we may not all agree, but I think she's a darn good actress. And she's kind of too cool for this whole "young Hollywood" thing and would rather bomb around in Cons and a plaid shirt than get all ruffled and eyelash-curled up (OK, a little annoying, but I admire her for sticking to her guns). Plus scoring the Twilight gig and R. Patz?

Sure I should probably have loftier girl crush pursuits - I should be telling you that I crush on Hillary Clinton for her strength of character and leadership abilities or Martha Stewart for her crafty entrepreneurial spirit or Ursula Burns for almost single-handedly turning around the fortunes of one of the largest companies in the US - but no, I like cute brunettes who act in comedies and look good wearing stilettos and pretty dresses.

And that's probably all the time you've got for me this week, so I'll leave it you now - who are you girl crushes and why?

When I Grow Up

Top: Lands' End Canvas gingham poplin (worn here before - similar here)
Skirt: UO Cooperative zigzag
Tights: Anne Klein herringbone (worn here before - similar here)
Belt: H&M double buckle (worn here before - similar here or -ish here)
Shoes: Anthropologie Raines / Seychelles Ring in the New Year (worn here before - similar here)
Necklace: Anthropologie Grandma's Treasure Trove (worn here before - similar-ish here or here)

♦   ♦   ♦   ♦

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a tennis star - my dad has always been a recreational tennis player and during his rare free time when he wasn't out playing himself, would spend it watching Lendl and McEnroe duel it out. I tried so hard to emulate my dad that my mom still talks about a barely standing baby Lisa in diapers holding a big wooden tennis racket batting around a ball in the garden.

In elementary school, the wannabe stardom bug hit and my then-BFF and I spent afternoons trying out NKOTB dance moves and working up a routine we wanted to perform on the NYC subway platforms while waiting to be discovered. If only we could work up the nerve to actually do it.


Junior high emerged within me the future aviator - I would fly the F-14 Tomcat with my RIO in tow and we would go buzzing towers and dogfighting MiGs. Unfortunately the Tomcat was on its way to retirement and I had no sway to qualify for the Naval Academy.

Late high school saw a more serious me going through the motions of college preparation - a future cardiothoracic surgeon needed the extra credit to get into a good college and excellent medical school, so of course I spent my free time volunteering at hospitals and beefing up my poorly lacking math and science skills.

In college I wanted to do nothing more than write the great American novel. I took creative writing and even jourmalism to help fine tune my writing skills, and interned with a literary PR firm, boutique publishing company and then corporate travel magazine.

Close to graduation with the great big world looming, I felt like retreating - no need to battle the great concrete sidewalk, I would go to Door County and open a quaint B&B amongst the cherry orchards and summer fishing, spending my days baking and my evenings reading by the fire.

It's been years since college and reality has hit like a ton of bricks. I have a full time job now, real responsibilities, a live-in BF, a townhome, a new pup. But I'm still not sure what I want to be next.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? Where do you see yourself in five or ten years from now?