Cornflower Craze

{Coach Madison Audrey convertible shoulder/handbag in cornflower with silver accents, 2010. Photo credit: www.coachhandbagspurses.org }
This past summer, my friend Amy B. and I went to the outlets in Clinton, CT, for shopping and a seafood lunch. We made off with some killer bargain purchases, including a vibrant teal patent bag from Coach for her. While we were in the over-heated and over-crowded Coach store, we happened across an amazing handbag in the softest, prettiest light-periwinkle blue color. I was instantly attracted, and Amy B. encouraged me to buy it, but I resisted based on the fact that I'm not a pastel/light-color girl. However, it haunted me; this was the strongest handbag-lust I had experienced since the infamous green-bag obsession. (The only other purse I'd ever craved so strongly was a tan satchel with lots of brass hardware.) While I'm usually not much of a Coach coveter, I know they often put out incredibly beautiful, unique colored leather in amazing quality, and this cornflower blue was exemplary. The bag I saw in Clinton was a little small, though, so I scoured the Internet for months for the true object of my desire, and was lucky enough to find the Madison Audrey satchel, above, on eBay for half of the original price. Just the right size, just enough detail and hardware, and the shoulder strap can be conveniently clipped underneath. Generally speaking, eBay terrifies me, but I knew this was a one-shot deal, so I went for it. My bag came in 3 days, and is delighting me with its supple, broken-in leather and feminine, seasonless shade.

{The cornflower bag was the perfect unexpected accent to a dark-colored outfit for a steakhouse dinner with our friends Liz and Steve. I finally worked up the cajones to wear this tunic top as a dress, a la Gossip Girl's Serena Van der Woodsen, but I doubt I'd venture it without the stockings. Dress and earrings: Forever21; Fleur-de-lis tights: Marshalls; Bracelets: Target, vintage; Wedges: Aldo.}

{The light blue of the bag reminds me of the slate shade we chose for our house; I've been thrilled with the cold, crisp weather lately. A gamine sweater + skinny jeans +leather boots = my preferred uniform. My bangs were jacked up from a fitful night of sleep and I had no time to wash my hair, so I put on this braided metallic gold headband in the "Greek goddess" style. Kind of ironic.}

{Sweater: Target; Jeggings, headband, and brass hoop earrings: Forever21; "Paige Clovertab" riding boots: Frye.}

Earlier in the day, we had breakfast at one of our favorite spots, which is next door to a cute garden-supplies store (in full fall glory). We had a little comedy on the side; my husband tried to order three (3) of the eggs Benedict instead of the two (2) that were on the menu, but the waitress misunderstood and thought he meant three breakfasts, aka orders. She brought out my sandwich and two orders of what he asked for, reassuring him that the "third is on its way." He was also given an entire pitcher of club soda to "wash down all the food he ordered." I fell apart laughing, and he was more startled than anything else. Turns out the wait staff had been rather taken aback by the miscommunication, too, but assumed he was either a competitive eater (?!?) or just really hungry. He later confessed that he probably could have handled all three orders.

-xoxo

Something to Blush About

Pastels and light colors don't usually float my boat, but lately I've been feeling soft pinks, corals, and peaches, and especially a blush hue so translucent it seems to glow. I was recently a bridesmaid in a lovely October wedding, my favorite part of which was the bride's amazing Calvin Klein gown, above - deep sweetheart neckline with corseted bodice, sheer chiffon sash and overlay scattered with blossoms, full princess skirt, in the most whisper-delicate blush shade - a unique departure from classic white that perfectly fit an idyllic autumn day in Central Connecticut.

{A side view of the incredible gown.}

{Liz, the beautiful bride, makes last-minute preparations to walk down the aisle.}

{The frothy skirt of this dress is the stuff of little girls' Disney dreams ... with a sophisticated flair.}

{My inspiringly energetic new colleague Tatiana rocking powder-pink with a camel belt and an Anthropologie lace pencil skirt that has a vintage feel (against a backdrop of vaguely creepy 8th-grade human gene science projects).}

{Another awesome new colleague, Lauren, blends preppy chic with feminine flourishes in a mix of slim cropped pants, a pretty floral top in sherbet shades, and unabashedly fun candy-pink Sperrys that I might have to steal.} {I originally bought this blush dress in May of 2010 for engagement photos and haven't worn it since, so I paired it with cool-weather gear like tights, stacked loafers, and a cardigan. I feel like it has a lady-like Chanel-esque vibe, which is always a plus. Please forgive the doggie door.}

{Lotus, a fabulous friend of my BFF Marina, in a color palette that makes me drool - blush and black with a quilted cream-and-gold bag. I'm also digging the matching umbrella, but I don't know anything about her shining companion ...}

{Liz chose these sunset-inspired bridesmaid bouquets. I've been obsessed with quirky manicures like this. The light pink is Milani Nail Lacquer (aka my favorite CVS guilty pleasure) in Paradise Pink and reminds me of strawberry ice cream; a similar color is Essie's Fiji. The super-sparkly glitter-pink is Milani Nail Lacquer in Disco Nights.}

Although I normally gravitate toward black, neutrals, and bold jewel tones, the romance of barely-there, cotton-candy colors makes me smile, and that's my favorite color effect, when all is said and done.

-xoxo

Wedge You Be Mine?

{These awesomely vertiginous suede-and-patent ombre wedges by Thesykens Theory have been sparkling on my radar, but at $465.00 are way out of my price range, hence my ecstasy when I found their close ringers at the mall. Photo credit: www.cooltowear.com }

{My new very-favorite, endlessly versatile, legitimately comfortable two-tone 4.5" platform wedges with ankle strap, Aldo, against a backdrop of delightful fall-scented candles.}

Despite my love for playing dress-up, I consider myself something of a late bloomer when it comes to shoe-fluency. For a long time, I simply didn't care too much what was on my feet, often donning my mom's hand-me-down kitten-heels for work; while perfectly nice, they weren't really "me." Today, I treasure my collection of booties, loafers, and a singular set of camel patent "Yolanda" Christian Louboutins that I purchased for (and justified with) my wedding, but I've been known to make some offensively wrong footwear choices. Back in college, when I first got into Sex and the City, I went through a super-cheap (Carrie Bradshaw's Manolos being out of the question) pointy-stiletto phase that worked out only minimally well, as I never really mastered walking in them with any kind of grace. (A friend refers to me as the Chinese female Kramer; I can trip, fall, and stumble on a totally flat floor in a totally clear hallway stone-cold sober in flats, so spike-heeled stilettos are not my friend.) The one relic of that era is a pair of 2004 faux-crocodile metallic-purple Chinese Laundry pumps, which are admittedly pretty great. But for the most part, the feet of my youth were often shod in shoes originally marketed for tweens.
The one shoe style I have always loved without wavering, and which is having a shining moment in the sun these days,
is the towering platform wedge.

In 8th grade, my mother took me back-to-school shopping and tried in vain to get me to purchase pragmatic items such as thick sweaters and plain black slacks. (What 8th graders wants to wear a "slack?") Instead, I begged, beguiled, and cajoled until she relented and bought me a pair of black-foam-covered 4" wedge platform sandals (Express) with a single piece of wide brown leather over the foot. I wish I had a picture; they were so freakin' ugly, but I loved them passionately, and on sight. They worked (I thought) with flare jeans, dresses, corduroys, miniskirts, and the atrocious, ubiquitous overalls we loved in 1997; the thick platform made them exceedingly comfortable in spite of their height. Also, two-tone pieces in colors that aren't "supposed to" go together have always pleased my inner rebel. I proceeded to wear the shit out of those bad boys all the way through 2006, aka my first full year out of college - by that time, the heels were worn to nubs and they looked conspicuously dated, but I couldn't bear to toss 'em. Then one fateful night at the club, I fell, I mean really went down, a staggering 5 times while trying to cut a cute move on the dance floor, and they had to meet the dumpster. However, I never really got over them. Now that massive platform wedges are hotter than ever, with design extras that allow for comfort such as an ankle strap and a slight lift at the toe, I'm happy to indulge my addiction with these affordable beauties from Aldo, a trickle-down melding of some of the hottest current shoe designers. The combination of rich but neutral cognac and never-fails black will go with everything in my wardrobe, grounding frilly dresses but still lending a tough edge. Wedges distribute weight evenly, unlike stilettos, so you can walk steady and stand tall while still looking fierce. Here are some other beauties in this style: {These ruby-red suede Charlotte Olympias are both fun and unexpected, especially the blink-and-you'll-miss-them cat faces on the toes, a Wonderland-esque touch. Photo credit: www.stilettomeup.com }

{The rich jewel color of these velvet stunners is eye-catching; the gold trim makes them special. Also from Charlotte Olympia. Photo credit: www.shopstyle.com }

{Charlotte Olympia makes me swoon again with this quartet, including the leopard shootie. Ultra-wearable, outfit-enhancing wedges in blush and chartreuse embossed leather and ostrich-effect teal velvet. Photo credit: www.shoerazzi.com }

{More brown-and-black: Dolce Vita "Camryns" at Free People. Photo credit: www.thisnext.com }

{Pierre Hardy recently showed a number of color-blocked illusion platforms, mimicking the look of a chunky stiletto heel. Photo credit: www.aqioffer.com }

I will be rocking my new faves with every color of the rainbow and most of my holiday outfits. On a damp, rainy fall Friday closing a harrowing few days, I broke them out for school with slim navy harem pants and a rust tie-neck blouse, determined to end the week with intrepid spirit. While driving to work, my car radiator exploded, leaving me stranded mid-traffic in my smoking Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chobani yogurt in hand, fellow commuters flipping me off in exasperation. Luckily, Al, the kind gentleman from AAA, was benevolent enough to go against protocol and drive me to work before dropping my car at the shop. As I dismounted from the tow truck in my sky-high wedges, he called, "Be careful in those shoes ... and have a better day!"

I was ... and eventually, I did. And I was glad I wore the shoes. --xoxo

More October Obsessions

{Literally the BEST candles I have ever purchased: a delicious fall assortment from Our Own Candle Company. I'm picky about candles; these are never too artificial or sweet and smell exactly like they should. Our home is currently scented with hot cinnamon buns and pumpkin spice, and at $5.99 a pop (I cleaned out our local T.J. Maxx), they are far more reasonable than overly-perfumed Yankee candles. I'll be scouring stores for more, as I think they make a perfect host gift for holiday dinners.}
A decidedly stressful week has left me seriously craving home comforts and general coziness. Lately I've had a resurgence of appreciation for master animator Miyazaki's Ponyo, a tale of a little goldfish princess with a strong will who loves a kind little boy named Souske. BFF of 21 years Lisa first put me onto this wonderful movie, and while the shrill English-dub children's voices can be a tad much, it's a lovely film that leaves me feeling happy and peaceful. In the movie, a wild storm rages through an ocean town, leaving the sea high and swollen; giant navy waves crest mightily, and (spoiler alert!)the intrepid goldfish gets her wish and becomes a little girl. I watched it during Hurricane Irene while nursing a Scotch followed by a hot tea with honey, which the characters drink in a candle-lit kitchen after their storm. Ever since I was child, I have loved books and movies that make me crave the food the characters are eating, particularly hot, savory meals when it's dark and gloomy outside.

{A frame from the opening credits of Ponyo, with beautifully undulating waves and the friendly little house that serves as a beacon to ships at sea. Photo credit: www.colourlovers.com }

{Ponyo and Souske expressing justifiably utter delight over their scrumptious-looking ramen noodles with ham, scallion, and egg, to be eaten in a warm, snug living room while the rain and wind rage outside. Photo credit: www.365boegel.blogspot.com }

{Our favorite instant ramen noodles, which have sadly been discontinued. My husband is an aficionado of ramen, both instant and legit, and these are truly delicious. Much about this image amuses me, particularly the rambunctiously joyous Asian men enjoying noodles together on the side of the package. You can add all kinds of treats, but I particularly like to drop in an egg for the last minute of boiling; it coats the noodles, and pieces of yolk float appealingly in the broth.}

{After a particularly grueling session of coaching cross-country last week (my co-coach is a Spartan monster who makes me, I mean the children, run in the rain), all I wanted was a giant bowl of Ponyo-inspired noodles, plus this fragrant red pear.}

{While they aren't necessarily the most flattering choice, striped tops in soft, thin materials and all different color combinations make me feel totally comfortable; a sequin/button or two dresses them up. Here are a few of my favorites, from Old Navy and Target.}

{A random vintage-inspired card and letter holder looks right on the mantelpiece. I'm currently pretending I never saw the "Made In China" sticker on the back and that I found it at some funky flea-market for the super-creative and ultra-hip.}

{It looks even cuter filled with some of our favorite cards, both from friends and one another, in an array of colors. I can never bear to throw away meaningful greeting cards and am a sucker for a well-turned phrase, so I'm happy these notes have a special home.}

{One of the best OOCC candles; it smells like something sweet and well-spiced baking in the oven with a hint of cream, cocoa, cinnamon, and cardamom. Pocky biscuits.)

Pocky was my favorite treat as a kid. My mom had this racket going where she would buy me a box to entice me to be patient as she shopped at the 'Asian store' for groceries, and the classic red box still gives me a sense of excitement. In an unfortunate series of events, my husband went for the second packet when the box was open at the wrong end (I wonder who would do something so foolish) and chocolate-covered biscuit sticks spilled out all over the floor. I stood by the 5-second rule.

-xoxo

October Obsessions

Even though it's only Wednesday, it's been a really crazy week already. Without getting too far into it, my husband was admitted to the hospital yesterday; he is fine now, but it was terrifying and threw us for a major loop. As he is resting and regaining his strength, I'm reflecting on how good it is to be home and have him healthy and safe. He did note that one of the worst parts of our spending the night in the hospital was not being able to snuggle our affectionate little dog.
On a lighter note, here are a few things warming and lighting up my second full week of October.
{Lilu drowsing and doing her best 'I'm-not-sleepy-just-resting' expression; my $20.00 uber-cozy post-Uggs-era Target moccasin slippers that allow me to pad ever so lightly downstairs for midnight snacks.}

{Smoky-quartz Jessica Simpson wood-heeled, foot-friendly wedges found at T.J. Maxx at the end of summer - perfect height, shape, and color for work, feeding my current yen for gray shoes of all varieties. At various points I also snagged both the cream suede and leopard&patent versions.}

{This vintage hammered-gold joined-disk necklace is one of my all-time favorites and was gifted to me by my mom's best friend and my surrogate auntie, Iris (shout-out!). I've worn it for several fortuitous occasions - it goes with everything, especially a plain black or white tee - and consider it a lucky charm, as well as reminiscent of something Cleopatra might have favored. I'm obsessed with the double chains, flattering length, and the beautiful way it catches the light.}

{This massive rectangle of "quilted" or checkered gold costume-ring blinginess has long been a favorite trinket. I got it at Forever21 years ago for about $6.00, and find myself reaching for it when I want to show a little attitude without doing more than (literally) lifting a finger. My students have informed me that it would be quite useful if I got in a brawl because it would add a certain something to any punches I might throw; they have high aspirations for my fighting fists, but Rocky I am not. I'm more interested in the Chanel feel of the ring and the fact that, after a quick coat or two of clear nail polish, it has maintained a soft patina that belies its meager cost.}

{A side view - here you can really tell how chunky the ring is. I love jewelry that is large and in charge.}

{I honestly can't remember exactly where or when I acquired this tiny round box with a dainty wood-fairy on its lid, but I'm sure it was while I was still in elementary school. I love old, delicate, special items like this. While I'm not totally sure what I'll be using it for, I'm feeling this little sylph's tousled hair and mixed-material layers - I'd imagine that the temperature is capricious for those who live in the heart of the woods and are miniature.}

Another great part of the weather turning chilly: piles of warm, fluffy blankets. I'm off to find some for my man, who has already settled into bed with the dog.

-xoxo

A Fair-ly Great Time

The Eastern Exposition Fair, aka The Big E, was all that I'd hoped for and more. While I could probably only handle (and quite literally stomach) such an event once a year, it was well worth the coffee-fueled early trip. We had a good group of people, a crazy-beautiful day, and the right attitude (think leggings and other expansive clothing). Here's my friend S (in a classic denim jacket with a camel sweater by Gap), all smiles as she poses next to her favorite creature in the animal world, an elephant. Even her home is decorated with some cool black-and-white prints of these charismatic mammoths, so this was a fitting photo op.

{We had to start the day with golden-crusted fried items. Some went with fried dough and marinara, some with fried Oreos; I went with a classic hot-dog as a warm-up for the next few innings.}

{One of my favorite parts of the fair was the abundance of manic-looking cartoon food characters, beckoning to me with their unexpected hands and rather expressive faces. It was like being in some kind of caloric Wonderland ... where you could purchase a hot tub for your home, should you desire.}

{A delicious mayo-and-cold-lobster roll from the "Maine" exposition. Perfectly fresh and sweet lobster meat.}

{We got down on some communal chowder, a chowder-bread-bowl, and good old fashioned clam strips with lemon and tartar sauce. I was given firm instructions to bring back the awesome 1970's daisy-print tray.}

{The Ferris wheel is about as daring as I go, in terms of giant man-made machinery that flings people unnaturally high into the air and then dangles them precariously above building-tops regardless of race, religion, creed, or sexual orientation.}

{Honestly, I prefer a sugar high - like the one we all got from these perfect, airy, doughy little pillows of cinnamon-sugar hot mini-donut heaven.}

{Much success! Content to slump against one another in the car in our food coma and stunna shades.}

{What I Wore: Rayban Wayfarer tortoise sunglasses; Gray sweater dress, Forever21; Vintage serge blazer; gold drop earrings, Target; mixed-metal multi-chain necklace, Kenneth Cole for Macy's; Gold fish ring: Forever21; Accent belt: vintage; Tan clutch: vintage, leopard-print scarf, Jessica Simpson @ T.J. Maxx; slouchy riding boots: Old Navy (circa 2005).}