Tag Archives: Nine West

I’m a lucky girl…

…because I got another night out with MM last night!!  That’s two nights out this month already, and a couple of lunches – I should plan solo trips abroad more often!  I leave for Blighty in just over a week and to say I am excited is an understatement.  I’ve already started laying out my clothes in the bedroom to try and plan my capsule travel wardrobe.  Never fun – there’s always more I want to take.  I wish I was a good packer.  The UK weather also complicates matters as I need layers and I want to take suede boots – but that’s just madness for Bury in February no?  How do you pack?  Do you have it down to a fine art?  Tips please!  You’d think I’d be a pro by now but not so.

Yesterday I was begging for more warm weather – the sun shone but I think I was overly ambitious in my J.Crew shirt (some colors, including this neon rose, are in the sale) – it was still pretty chilly.  The scarf is an old H&M one and the jeans are Gap.  The flats are the VInce Camuto Fawna that I got in the sale.  I had to return the pink ones as the glitter came off after one wear – let’s hope these last a tad longer.

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So last night we headed to our favorite bar that overlooks the downtown skyline.  I ate oysters and drank prosecco – it was lovely.  I wore my Hudson Leeloo jeans that I got on sale at Zappos.com.  I LOVE them – so stretchy and comfy – the ‘bone’ color is perfect – not too white if you know what I mean – cream in fact!  The blouse is Zara as is the jacket, and the boots are the Nine West Buster that I got on sale. The clutch is and YSL Belle de Jour, a present from MM for our anniversary a couple of years ago:)  Oh and my nail polish is Chanel black satin – gorgeous color but doesn’t wear well, regardless of a great base coat and top coat.

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Okay back to the packing while the kids are at the park – wish me luck!

 

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Preppy in pink.

First there is very exciting news from Boden – this week they are offering a Catch of the Day!  Each day, this week, a new category of clothing will be on offer at 25% off!  Today the deal is on women’s dresses, and boy’s and men’s shorts – grab them while you can!  The drop waist dress that I love is included so it may end up in my shopping cart today:)

Other emails that appeared in my inbox this morning included one from Net-a-porter.com.  It can be quite a dangerous thing being on email lists.  Sometimes I just try not to look – this morning I looked.  Fatal.  Rag & Bone have some beautiful new grey nubuck Newbury boots that I am lusting after.  I love how they have styled them on Net-a-porter.com with a dress.

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I also adore these Rag & Bone brogues in white.  Very cool looking for Spring.

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At $495 though, for the Rag & Bone brogues, this Boden option maybe better value – plus with the 15% off using my banner ads they are just $142.80.  Tempted, very tempted.

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Today I’m switching gears with my look.  After the 80s look from Friday I’m shifting today to a more refined, preppy look.  It’s nice to change it up a bit occasionally:)  The trousers are J.Crew café capris that I got for $30 in the sale, and the blouse is Target and absolutely fabulous for $20!  The belt is also Target and the shoes are Nine West from Zappos.com – currently on sale at $56, reduced from $69.

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So what do you think of the more refined look?

 

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Girls only.

One of my New Year’s resolutions is to go out with the girls more often.  Sometimes life can get in the way of spending time with friends, and prioritizing time gets tricky.  But life also raises issues that are best shared with girlfriends over a glass of wine and a good laugh, hence my resolution.  I put it into practice last night and headed out with Cristin.  We had a fabulous night catching up over a couple of bottles of unnecessarily expensive wine:)

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I wore my black jacket again from Zara over the Dita t-shirt dress (yeah right – dress that barely covers your butt!) from AllSaints.  The trousers are the coated jeggings from Dorothy Perkins (currently on sale) which have turned into my favorite ‘going out’ pants – they fit amazing and feel sexy!  I busted out the Buster boots from Nine West.  They’ve been sitting in my closet for a while now after I bought them at a bargain price before Thanksgiving.  Not sure why I haven’t worn them till now – I think I was concerned about tottering around in really high heels – but they turned out to be the most comfortable ‘going out’ boot.

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So after putting a New Year’s resolution into practice I also broke one.  My new Boden folded leather clutch arrived.  I just couldn’t resist it and I’m glad I didn’t now – it is just beautiful.  The leather is buttery soft and it is incredibly roomy without any bulk.  The color could be pink, orange or red depending on what you wear it with, and the detachable strap is genius.

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Make me feel better and tell me you have broken a resolution too by day 12!

Oh and talking about Girls – don’t forget if you are in the US the new season starts tomorrow 9pm on HBO.

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Tinsel and Twine.

Yesterday was so festive!  After taking Hugh for his haircut, which according to Poppy took ‘soooo loooonnng’, we headed to the Westside Provisions District just down the road from us.  We’re so lucky to live near this area.  When we first arrived in Atlanta the Westside was home to Atlanta’s finest restaurant – Bacchanalia, with it’s store front Star Provisions, – but that was about it.  It is an area of old lofts right next to water works, but with Bacchanalia as it’s cornerstone and fabulous views of downtown Atlanta, it has been revived and invigorated by new stores and restaurants.  It’s where I feel most at home in Atlanta as it reminds me so much of Spitalfields, our home back in London, which was once neglected and now has had almost too much investment in recent years.

Anyway yesterday the Westside hosted ‘Tinsel and Twine‘ with Santa, a capella singers, and just a general festive theme.  We had lunch at Taqueria del Sol and I was thrilled that both children ate chicken tacos – yay more Mexican eateries for us:)

The usual shenanigans at the dinner table:

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Poppy and Hugh were enthralled by the singers:

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I wore my festive colors (unintentional I have to say) – the coated trousers are H&M, paired with a long line tank, also H&M, layered under the AllSaints Char jumper (this is the closest I could find though mine isn’t cropped).  The scarf is Zara and the sneakers are the Ash Alex.

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Here’s me trying to get MM to take a quick photo, as people crossing the bridge wait impatiently!:

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In the evening MM and I went back to the Westside for a bite to eat before heading off to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to listen to Handel’s Messiah.  The tickets were a lovely surprise from MM in the lead up to Christmas.  All I can say is amazing.  I blubbed my way through much of it.  I feel like I’m still teetering on the brink of a meltdown after the events of Friday.  Many of those children were born in 2006, like Poppy, and it has really hit me hard.  It felt good to shed some tears for all those grieving parents and say a little prayer while listening to some moving music.

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I managed to persuade MM to take a photo of me – I didn’t get the memo about wearing red and black – EVERYONE else was in their festive colors!  I wore my Dorothy Perkins coated jeggings – these are the most amazing, sexy feeling leggings and are currently reduced to $29.  The sleeveless top is H&M, worn with my Zara jacket and Nine West Blissfully shoes (currently reduced here on Zappos.com) – the bag is the YSL Roady – we were in such a hurry to get out once the babysitter arrived that I didn’t have chance to downsize!

How are you all getting in the festive spirit?

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Election Day!

So it is finally here – election day in the US.  It is raining hard in Atlanta and I have a terrible cold so wishing I’d voted early…oh well.  I will drag my sorry arse to the polls, exercising my franchise in my first US Presidential election – it feels quite momentous.  I’ve followed most of the campaign and feel quite comfortable sitting on the side of the fence where I landed a few weeks ago.  It should be a close race regardless, and I’m looking forward to watching the results roll in tonight – I just hope it is all decided tonight.

My cold has probably been exacerbated by the crazy weekend we had.  What with swim meets and nights out I think my energy levels are low.  As I’ve been ill I will admit to having a couple of days off from ‘getting dressed’ – as we speak I am still in my pjs:)  Saturday night we went out and I wore my Zara oriental trousers, AllSaints tank, Zara silk velvet jacket and my Newbury boots – the scarf is an old H&M.  Just about getting used to styling my hair – what is left of it!

I’ve had quite a productive couple of days, even though I’ve been ill.  I purchased a tripod yesterday for my photos – so hopefully we should all appreciate an improved photo quality soon!  Though I will miss the quick and easy iPhone photos it has to be said.

There are a couple of sales I wanted to mention too – Boden has select items with 20% off until Thursday 8th November – use DDUS.  I ordered the grey smocked tunic dress that I actually ordered in the preview and returned.  I’ve given up ordering in the previews as they arrive far too early, before I’ve actually decided what my wants and needs are for the next season – though I am in love with the Notting Hill jumper in the current Spring preview (PRV3 for 20% off till November 9th).

Also Nine West have a great sale on.  I have been in LOVE with the Isabel Marant Milwauke boot this season and actually had heart flutters when I saw my size was available again on Net-a-Porter.com.  But seriously $1500 for a pair of boots??  I nearly convinced myself to do it if I promised myself no purchases for the whole of 2013 – but we all know that would never last.  So I ordered the Nine West Buster – which at full price of $400 seemed a lot for a copy.  In the sale, however, $195 seemed reasonable enough – we’ll see what sort of quality they are when they arrive.

The original Milwauke:

The Buster:

 

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The Holiday Blues.

It happens every year with varying degrees of intensity.  While everyone else is excitedly comparing costumes and planning Thanksgiving road trips I am pining for home.  But is it home anymore?  Let’s put it this way I wish I was in England with friends and family.  But do I still have friends in England?  I’ve been here for 12 years now and a lot has changed.  Lives move on.  What is it that I really miss?  Is it the familiarity and security of where I grew up?  Is it my family that has almost doubled in size since I left?  Would I really move back if the opportunity presented itself or is it just a fleeting moment of seeing it all through rose tinted spectacles?

Every year I go back to the UK for a couple of weeks and I have a fabulous time – then I’m ready to get back here.  So if I went back to England would I miss the US the same way?  Would it be fair to uproot the children?  Could I go back knowing my Husband has zero desire to go back?  What would we do for a living given our business is here?  I ask myself the same questions every year and feel more and more backed into a corner.  It’s the eternal conundrum.  The longer we stay here the more roots we have here, and the more I miss England.  Can I have my cake and eat it please?  I sometimes feel like I’m skating the surface of life, avoiding getting in too deep with friendships or communities – because that would just make moving back even tougher no?  Is it time to accept Atlanta as home and stop dipping my toe in and go skinny dipping exposing all to everyone?  Answers on a postcard please.

On a lighter note we went to Abattoir last night to celebrate MM’s birthday.  It all went well and fun was had up until the main course arrived.  I ordered hanger steak – yum – errr not so much – it was covered in a rich hollandaise sauce.  So in my very British manner what did I do?  I wittered on about it to MM instead of returning it to the Chef, after all I got what I ordered.  Next time I’ll go for the beet salad.

I did have a new outift to wear – the AllSaints Amei dress in petrol is fabulous – so comfy and easy to wear.  It has two ties inside it that you tie behind your neck so you can adjust the length of the drape at the front and wear it tunic length or longer.  It was chilly yesterday so I layered it over an H&M vest/dress in black.  After seeing Doesmybumlook40 in her Dorothy Perkins coated jeggings I discovered they do free shipping to the US and ordered a pair before there was a rush on them.  As she says they are fabulously comfortable and felt really dressy.  I wore the pony hair Nine West Haywire shoe boots, and then topped it all off with the Boden leather jacket from back in the sale and my Zara camo scarf.

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Anniversary outfit.

We had a lovely evening – great food, great wine and great conversation – we even stayed up late listening to music when we got home so I am feeling a tad tired today.

I just wanted to share my outfit from last night – a jumpsuit!!  Yes I found one that I actually like wearing and is comfortable and fairly flattering – though I think next time I wear it I will switch out the tie belt for a wide black belt to give me a bit more shape.  Believe it or not it was just $35 from Target!  It is by Kirna Zabete for Target who I have to say I have never heard of but their prints are gorgeous!  The print on this jumpsuit at first glance looks like leopard print but it is in fact little kisses/lips – I love it – it is so unusual.  I wore it with a Zara fuchsia jersey jacket for a pop of color.  My booties are Nine West pony hair from Zappos – they are fierce – high – but fierce!  If you’re interested in these boots – size down – I needed a 7.5 and I am never a 7.5 – normally an 8 in heels – but the 8s were falling off my feet.  My accessorizing is going well – I remembered a necklace from Macy’s (similar blue one here) that goes great with the grey and I even remembered to wear my Elsa Peretti Tiffany bone cuff – my first ever Tiffany item bought for me Christmas of 2001 by my lovely Husband.

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Boo hoo.

A disappointing start to the day.  I was so excited to go for a run, especially given I will be imbibing all weekend, then as I was brushing my teeth I remembered I have to take my son to the dentist this morning.  An awful process – I leave with my ears ringing every time for he does NOT like the dentist.  I was also looking back on yesterday and the disappointing visit to AllSaints in Bloomingdale’s.  Disappointing as I left with just one item.

I had gone into the store to try the Petrel Brodies – a good job I did.  The lovely Charlie was as ever incredibly helpful and showed me his splendid new sleeve tattoo – if I was 20 years younger would I do it?  I don’t have any tattoos but Charlie’s looks hot – I’d be tempted.  Anyway the pants were SO skinny.  Now I don’t think I have particularly big legs but I needed a shoe horn to get in and out of a 30 inch and I normally wear a 27 in Gap and Hudson!  No vanity sizing here!  I was sweating in the fitting room – I guess it was a good workout in lieu of the run today!  So no Petrel Brodies but I did leave with the gorgeous faded ebony Pipali tank (I’ve ordered the chalk online)…

I tried a couple of other pairs of jeans on but they wear either too skinny in the leg or too big on the waist…or I’m just an odd shape?  I’ll have to keep searching but I’m tempted to try some cropped jeans from either J.Crew or Express, depending if I think the extra $40 is worth it – probably not for a very seasonal item.

Today I am wearing my AllSaints Tilly tee from last summer, Gap camo print legging jeans from last year, Nine West shoe boots that I haven’t worn FOREVER and found lurking in a box at the bottom of the closet – it was like opening a new pair – I was so happy to see them!

 

 

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Trying it for size.

So yesterday morning was a tad surreal.  I woke up with a stonking hangover to start with.  My tolerance for alcohol is pathetic these days and after a very relaxing Thursday evening spent in front of some DVRd Real Housewife episodes with a bottle of chardonnay I was useless come Friday morning.  A bit rubbish really as I had to rise early and head up way outside I-285 with our project manager to visit a bath tub manufacturer.  Uuuurrrggh.  I threw some work out gear on knowing I’d potentially be hopping in and out of tubs to try them for size and comfort.  All in all it was a successful trip but I did feel a bit weird sitting in a bath tub in the middle of a factory floor with 6 burly blokes looking at me.  Sorry no photo:)

Even with the bottle of chard the night before I was more than thrilled later in the day when I got to my Jenny Craig appointment that I’d lost just over another 2 lbs!  Whooopppeee that’s 6 lbs in 2 weeks!  Now imagine if I hadn’t had drank those 1000 calories the night before?  Obviously I’m allowed to cheat every now and then…

I think the reason I indulged on Thursday evening was that I knew this weekend was going to be manic.  This morning was Poppy’s ballet recital.  Now in the past she has done ballet through daycare, this year we signed up at Atlanta Ballet School and goodness me the rules, regulations and instructions have had me as a mother terrified all year that I’ll do something wrong.  The bun as to be perfect every week and the uniform has to be worn etc. etc…it has, if truth be told, taken some of the fun out of it for both of us.  I’m also a little aggrieved at the amount of money I’ve been asked for what with tuition, recital fees, uniform purchase, ticket purchase and then we were told no photographs at the recital but we could buy photos and videos for a fee – you’re kidding me!  I was also mad as hell when we arrived at the theater to find that all the girls had to wait in a room that was covered wall to wall in merchandise, displayed purely for 6 year old girls to fall in love with and then beg their parents to purchase for them.  I dug my heels in and managed to distract her but come on!  Anyway despite my irritation the recital performance was fabulous and Poppy yet again has a very proud Mommy and Daddy.

Tomorrow is Poppy’s birthday party, plus it’s Mother’s Day here – which I hadn’t realized when I booked it so I am really hoping some of her friends actually show up.  Shockingly bad organization on my part but I’d forgotten all about Mother’s Day once the UK one had been and gone with me successfully getting a card and flowers to Bury, but Happy Mother’s day Mum (again!) and to all the lovely Moms, Mums and Mothers out there xx

As it is MUCH cooler here today I opted for a jacket that I love but haven’t worn too much – the grey jungle cat Boden trimmed velvet blazer from AW 2011 – which is now in clearance at $41.40 – get one quick!!  I love it – it fits perfectly really well tailored.  I wore it with the LE pale iris Sassy Stitch top from AW 2011 – another of my favorite tops – I just wish it wasn’t dry clean only as I’m less likely to wear it often.  Going for an edgier look (amazing what a new haircut can do) I paired them with my Gap grey legging jeans, Gucci belt, and some Nine West mid heel pointed pumps similar to these.  My favorite black bag came out of the closet too after I had put it in storage for summer – a hint that a lovely nude YSL Roady would be perfect to add to my collection…

So Hugh doesn’t feel left out and to thank him for his Mother’s day gift hurled at me as he walked in from daycare on Friday, here is my lovely little man in his new Mini Boden tee shirt – he also has the cricket one which he is completely befuddled by.  Golly I love their clothes for boys.

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