Monthly Archives: December 2013

Back from DC!

Howdy all!!  We’re back!  I’ve had a fabulous short break in Washington D.C. doing lots of touristy stuff.  We must have been very good this year as Santa left us all tickets on Christmas morning, so after unwrapping the gifts to squeals of excitement, we left for the airport.

It truly was amazing to see the sights in real life that we are so used to seeing on t.v. in the news or in movies.  The weather was perfect too – glorious sun – but I was pretty happy I had my Marks & Spencer Per Una Christmas present to wear too – I’ve never had so many compliments about a coat before!

Here’s a quick photo round up of the highlights – for more you can check out my Instagram account.

One of the Elves got sidetracked on the way back to the North Pole…

Elf

 

Fortunately Santa still had time for a hug with Poppy before leaving the hotel.

 

Santa

 

We headed straight to the White House – along with everyone else!  I wore my super comfy and very festive Golden Goose for the occasion.  The cashmere beany was absolutely required in the cold and my Husband got to wear his gorgeous Elder Statesman hat that I bought him for our anniversary this year.

 

White House

The Capital is just amazing.

Capital

This view from Lincoln’s Memorial always makes me think of Forrest Gump.  The view and the Memorial are stunning and quite awe inspiring.

Washington Monument WM

The MLK memorial was a highlight for the children as they know so much about him.

MLK2

 

Although I had a break from outfit photos while away – here is my outfit from the 23rd, when I headed out with the girls from work for our Christmas celebration.

GNO

 

Boots – Stuart Weitzman Highland (my favorite purchase from AW 2013) // Dress – Zara (old)

As much as I love traveling it is always great to get home.  Today I am heading out for some retail therapy.  I haven’t really looked too much at the sales and the boots I am after probably won’t even be in the sale.  I still may treat myself given a) how much I have worn my Highlands and b) I have no need for a NYE outfit as we are staying home with Chinese and Carson Daly.  These boots will be the perfect transitional boot from winter to spring – the 5050 in tan nubuck.

nubuck

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and I am certainly ready to throw myself into 2014!  Who has fabulous plans for Tuesday evening?

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My picks of the sales.

So the sales have started and boy it’s a mixed bag – but as ever, after browsing the sites a couple of times, lots caught my eye.  Let’s just get on with it shall we?  Here are my picks of the sales so far!

First good old Marks and Spencer have 30% off women’s wear.  There are some fabulous coats on sale starting with my checked biker jacket reduced to £97.30.  I love this coat.

Checked coat

Another favorite of mine that I’ve resisted to date is this coat from the Best of British collection – now on sale – this will sell out fast now it has been reduced I assure you.

Cocoon coat

This coat is a similar style to the checked coat I have – but for those of you that love leopard.  If I didn’t already have a leopard coat from M&S bought a couple of years ago I would buy this.

leopard coat

Now for Mango – who I always think have some of the best sale prices.  I have just bought the following dress and skirt.  I think they are very Marant-ish and much more reasonably priced than any of the H&M collection.

This dress is just gorgeous worn in the winter with boots or with flats in the warmer weather.  It’s half price at $49.99.

mango dress

I actually ordered this skirt in a couple of different color ways.  It is so reminiscent of the ra-ra skirts I wore in the 80’s – I had a yellow one I adored:)  Again this is a skirt that can be worn in all seasons.

Mango skirt

I love shorts all year round, and these will be great with over-the-knee boots and black tights.

Mango shorts

Now for Zara.  Some of the reductions are pretty disappointing but I did manage to grab the ballet flats I’ve been drooling over – reduced from $99.99 to $59.99.  They’ll be perfect with the Mango skirts.  I was really disappointed to see Zara have started charging shipping here on orders less than $50, which just means I’ll have to throw some extra items – and return them obviously!

black flats Nude flats

Lastly from Zara – here’s one that no doubt most of you will hate but I LOVE this.  The denim boiler suit reduced from $119 to $59.

denim jumpsuit

Finally ASOS – I just can’t stay away from their site – there are so many great reductions!  This dress is perfect for NYE.

Baroque dress

Another gorgeous party dress is this oriental print dress.

Oriental print dress

I love the rose print on this midi-dress – really striking.

ASOS rose dress

I’ve ordered the next couple to wear with either my Golden Goose or my over the knee boots – they are great prices.

This oversized shift is just $31.

shift dress

This dress may not be to everyones taste but I love the layered sleeve look.  Again now just $31.

tshirt sleeves

Finally a t-shirt dress for the spring – yes I’m already starting to think sunshine.  No one would notice if it fell in your cart at just $22.

Tshirt dress

So go on share – what have you slipped in your closet from the sales while you’re finishing up the Christmas shopping?  Tell me I’m not the only one!

This week has been a party week for me.  It’s been fabulous catching up with some girlfriends that I haven’t seen for a LONG time.  Here’s what I wore Thursday night for a fun night out with some great girls that I’ve known since I moved to Atlanta nearly 14 years ago!

plaid

Boots – Isabel Marant pour H&M (eBay) // Jeans – Zara // Sweater – AllSaints (old – their sale is on too here) // Jacket – Zara (old)

 

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Mango SALE alert!

There are lots of amazing sales starting but one of my favorites is always the Mango sale.

My leopard print coat is now just $60!! ENJOY!

Mango coat

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A week to go!

Are you ready?  I am sort of…I just have to wrap everything and assemble a damn dolls house!  Writing that makes me realize I’m not ready at all!  So in the frenzy of Advent here is a quick outfit post.

Yesterday morning it was my son’s Kindergarten Holiday program.  It was beautiful – they sang songs for Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year and Las Posadas – wonderfully multi-cultural.  He was the only boy in sweats and sneakers – I must remember the slacks, sports jacket and loafers for next year.

I made sure my piercings were on full show for the PTA by wearing my hair behind my ears with a baseball cap.

AS and JC

 

Sneakers – Golden Goose // Jeans – Diesel Fayza Jogg Jeans // Shirt – Gap // Cardigan – AllSaints // Cap – J.Crew

Last night I went out for drinks and appetizers with two wonderful girlfriends.  We bought tickets for the Mega Millions draw, which I refuse to check today just so I can pretend I won for a little longer.

sw collage

 

Boots – Stuart Weitzman Highland // Jeans – Gap jeggings (similar here) // Tank – H&M // Sweater – AllSaints (old – similar here)

Try and enjoy this coming week – take a moment to relish friends and family at this fun time of the year.  It’ll be 2014 before we know it.

 

 

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25% off EVERYTHING at ASOS till MONDAY!!

Remember all those dresses I picked out the other day?  Well now you can get them all with 25% off using code GETGIFTS in the USA and code 25XMAS in the UK – ENJOY:)

 

 

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A haircut for date night.

It was time for a color refresh yesterday and even though I am growing my hair it had got to the stage where I needed more shape.  The bob was getting a bit heavy so I had lots of layers added to blend it and make it easier to keep growing – it’s almost over my collar at the back now!

hair

 

Thanks as always to the gorgeous Lauren at Plum Salon who got me out of there in time for my Brazilian appointment – Christmas takes some preparation!  In fact after reading MommyEnnui.com‘s latest post top of my wish list for Santa this year is painless, permanent, immediate removal of all my unwanted body hair!

My outfit for the day was rather festive – red and sparkles!

red jacket 2 red jacket1

 

Sneakers – Golden Goose (old similar here and here) // Jeans – Zara // Sweater – Uniqlo men’s cashmere crewneck // Jacket – Zara (old similar here and here on sale!) // Sunglasses – Ray Ban Aviators

Last night we went out for dinner – a bit of romance before the Christmas mayhem begins.  I broke all the rules and wore my new Stuart Weitzman Highland boots with a short, tight, printed dress.  I felt quite boho though with my H&M gilet.  The boots are incredibly comfy and easy to wear – they made me feel pretty fabulous.  I think they are true to size – I’m wearing a US 8.5.  I have a pretty wide foot too and, contrary to many reviews, I don’t find them narrow at all.

Highland boots 2 Highland boots

Boots – Stuart Weitzman Highland // Tights – Marks and Spencers Merino rich tights (LOVE these) // Dress – Zara (this is a medium and dangerously short) // Gilet – H&M (similar here) // Clutch – Boden Canonbury clutch (just $44 in the sale!)

It is miserable weather here today so I am going to curl up on the sofa with a box of Belgian chocolates and watch It’s a Wonderful Life again!  What is your favorite Xmas movie?

 

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Boden SALE!!

3, 2, 1….GO!!!  Let me know what you get!!!


‘Tis brass out there.

I LOVE winter.  At 7.30am this morning, even though I knew I wanted to go straight back to bed after getting the kids to school, I dressed in my warmest running gear and ran like a banshee in the freezing cold and glorious sunshine – it was exhilarating.  The whole of the US (bar Florida of course) is shivering in Arctic conditions.  I love it – I get to wear hats, big coats and boots.

GG3 GG2 GG 1

 

Sneakers – Golden Goose (old – similar here) // Hat – Nordstrom // Jacket – J.Crew (old – similar here) // Jeans – Diesel Fayza // Sweater – Boden Off Duty Jumper

 

AS1 AS3

 

Boots – Rag & Bone Newbury Charcoal suede // Trousers – Zara pleather leggings // Tank – H&M (old) // Sweater – AllSaints (old – similar here) // Coat – Zara // Bag – Anya Hindmarch from TheOutnet.com

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How one ‘need’ can lead to another ‘need’ in a matter of moments.

I’m still debating with myself about the over the knee boots.  It’s now moved on from ‘should I get some?’ to ‘which do I get?’.  It’s a tricky one.  The choice rests between two Stuart Weitzman styles – the Stuart Weitzman Highland or the Stuart Weitzman 50/50.  Both over the knee but VERY different.  I actually could make an argument for both – which is the problem – because now I want both.  The Highland is long, sleek, heeled and sexy – definitely a going out boot, and the 50/50 is a low heeled boot, more practical looking, but still a gorgeous riding boot that could be worn during the day too.  My heart says the Highland, my head says the 50/50.

Black Topo

If I go for the 50/50 another multitude of decisions needs to be made – suede or leather, print or plain, and then what color? I love both the black suede and the topo suede.

5050

5050

Then look what arrived on the Bloomingdale’s site the other day!  This nubuck pair is divine – imagine them with bare, tanned legs and a dress.

nubuck

 

So that’s what I did – imagined myself with OTK boots and a dress.  Fatal.  That vivid imagination of mine led me straight to the ASOS site.  ASOS are killing me.  They are my new go to site when I am on the hunt for something.

For me the critical features that a dress must have to be worn stylishly with OTK boots are:

1. Slightly loose or flowy – nothing tight – way too hoochy mama with boots – think Pretty Woman.

2. Not too dressy – for the same reasons as above – let the boots do the talking.

3. Don’t show too much skin up top – no boobs or cleavage for Pete’s sake.  We’re looking at the legs not the tits.

4. Slightly shorter than the top of the boots – let at least an inch of flesh show between the boots and dress, either bare legs or opaque tights.  If you wear tights – make sure they are a slightly lower denier or color from the boots – you want people to see where the boots end – they are thigh highs and supposed to be a little sexy! (again just not Pretty Woman style)

Okay those are the rules – fairly easy to follow and easy to apply.  All I did was search for ASOS brand black or grey dresses and here are the all the dresses that I now cannot live without.  Especially once I have my OTK boots – whichever pair I end up with.  If I procrastinate any longer they will be sold out.  These first few dresses are lovely casual dresses that contrast brilliantly with the decadence of thigh highs.

I love this dress – I’ve seen a few sweatshirts with similar print.  This would be perfect with suede Highlands.

animal sweat dress

I’ve just ordered this sweatshirt dress – again perfect for wearing with a dressy heeled boot – I love the juxtaposition of the two together.

ASOS tunic dress

This jersey nepi dress is the PERFECT shape as far as I am concerned for thigh highs.  Nothing too OTT about the dress – it’s all about the boots.

Nepi swing dress

I love this skater dress for the same reasons.

simple skater dress

Remember what I said about no flesh up top.  This dress takes it to the extreme – gorgeous with short hair or long hair in a high pony tail, with the boots of course.

polo swing dress

Now this one bends the rules slightly – but there’s always one isn’t there?  With the flat 50/50s this would be perfect – here the top of the dress compensates for the lack of heel on the boots.

lace insert dress

This crack print dress fell in the mix purely because I adore the print – very Mint Velvet.  A perfect party dress with high or low heeled OTK boots.

crack print dress

Finally a drop waisted dress.  Pretty, flirtatious and no hoochy mama in sight.

dropped waist dress

So now the conundrum – which boots is it to be?  Choosing the dress will be easy then no?

As I head off to dream about thigh high boots here’s what I’ve been wearing the past couple of days.

I bought these Steve Madden boots so long ago that at the time it completely escaped me what fabulous Marant tributes they are!

Mango coat

Boots – Steve Madden Carlsen (old) // Trousers – Zara (old) // Sweater – Off Duty sweater Boden // Coat – Mango

IM collage

 

Jeans – H&M (old) // Tank – H&M (old) // Sweater – Zara // Boots – Isabel Marant pour H&M via eBay // Scarf – H&M (old) // Jacket – Zara

 

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It’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas!

After a wild, fun night on Thursday, that ended later than expected at 3am, I headed out of the house on Friday to get the tree, again later than expected…The kids were eager to decorate and for the first time ever I let them at it – all except the stringing of the lights that my OCD just couldn’t bear to let go of, not just yet anyway…I have to say they did a mighty fine job.  Even our daredevil elf, Maximus, was suitably impressed.

IMG_4964 IMG_4968 IMG_4970

 

While we were waiting for the tree to be delivered I asked the children to write their lists for Santa.  As you can see Poppy was less than impressed for some reason, though Hugh had a blast writing his – I must teach him to do ditto marks next time poor lad!

Lists for Santa

Hat – Nordstrom // T-shirt – Zara (old) // Cardigan – AllSaints // Jeans – Zara coated jeans (similar here) // Boots – Frye Jane Tall boots

The house feels and smells so festive now – I love having the trees up – but it’s hard to believe it really is almost Xmas!!  I haven’t sent cards yet or transferred the kids’ lists into my Amazon cart – thank goodness I had the foresight to photograph them before they were handed over to Santa!

Today I had a good run with Tennyson in the drizzle – the boy is a trouper – 4 miles in the wet and cold was not was not what he was expecting as he bounded out of the door!  I then enjoyed a good old family day watching football and Christmas movies while indulging with peppermint bark and hot chocolate…I think a run will be required most days in this run up to the 25th!

Zara sweater

 Sneakers – Golden Goose // Jeans – Diesel Fayza Jogg Jeans // Tank – Gap // Sweater – Zara

 

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