Dear Mom

I love you.

An Adventure!

Our trip to Chile and Argentina is soon, and I can't wait! This will be my first trip to South America!

We will take an overnight flight to Santiago (via a layover in Dallas, where we'll drop off our dog to stay with family!), and when we get there we're renting a car and will start our drive crossing the Andes (!!) into Mendoza, Argentina, where I hope to see sights like this:

We will head back to Chile and spend some time in Santiago:

As well as in Valparaiso:

Should be an adventure! Have you been? Where in the world are you wanting to go next?

Clicking on an image will take you to its Pinterest link

Eternal Life

Happy Easter to you all. I've been thinking much about the meaning of Easter this season. My beloved grandpa passed away a month ago, and it's so hard to think about how he's no longer here with us.

I went home to Texas last weekend for his memorial service. He was a minister of music, directing church choirs all over (including a 6 month tour of Africa), and it was so special to be able to hear his voice from a recording with one of his choirs in Dallas many years ago. 

A family friend spoke of one of my favorite memories of him -- how at Texas Rangers games, everyone within hearing distance to our seats would turn around in wonder as he unabashedly belted out the Star Spangled Banner in his rich baritone voice. One of the ministers then told a story that I hadn't heard before -- that it's tradition in their church to sing the Hallelujah Chorus at the end of the Easter service, and members are invited to come up and join the choir in singing it. He said he'll never forget how last year he watched my grandfather, 91 years young last Easter, immediately get up and make his way down the aisle with a determined look in his face to join the baritone section to sing those words of joy.

Easter holds the promise of eternal life, and I'm thankful for that reminder. I know Grandpa was with a new choir today, singing the Hallelujah Chorus.

Life is Short

Having a difficult day here, thinking about my dear, sweet, amazing grandpa and wishing I was home in Texas to give him one last hug and kiss.

I really like the Holstee Manifesto, and when I saw it on sale on Fab.com today, I knew I needed to get it. Life is precious, and I'd like a daily reminder of that.

Treat Yo Self

I finally made a New Year's resolution that I think I can stick with - 2012 is the Year of Treat Yo Self!

Each month, I'm going to treat myself to something my wardrobe needs that I didn't buy quality the first time around or I was able to put off because I wouldn't use that much. (I quickly found that dressing for when I was in Texas, where it is hot most of the year and everyone drives so much, is very different than Chicago, where you truly need gear for cold weather and for walking everywhere.)

By the end of the year, I hope to have 12 pieces that will be around for many a season!

I will probably always be a $20 cute-shirt-from-H&M type of gal (no question when it comes to trendy pieces), but I'm really trying to think about cost per wear and embrace the "buy it once, buy it right" and the "quality over quantity" mentality.

January
For January, I bought the Hunter Regent Carlyle rain boot that I was debating back in this post. While they were a little more expensive than other options, I kept coming back to them and I love that they go with both my black and brown coats. 

Side note: I thought they were the perfect solution for both a snow boot and for rainy days year-round. They aren't as warm as I thought they would be (after seeing ladies wearing them all around Chicago this winter and doing a little research online I thought they'd be a little bit better), but I do already have Uggs for when I just need warmth and I plan to start pairing them with some warmer socks to see if it helps. I've been blessed with a mild first winter here, so I'm hoping if it's bad next year that I don't end up also buying a pair of snow boots!



So what next? Matchbook Mag's 50 Classics for Your Closet is going to be a great source as I decide what to buy each month, as I am definitely missing some things on the list!

February
The very first thing on Matchbook's list is ballet flats. I had a decent all-around black pair, but they were getting a little worn and I accidentally left them in a rental car several months ago. (Oops!) So for February, I just ordered these zipper bow ballet flats in black. I just returned a cheap pair of boots and a similar pair of not-quite-right flats that I purchased late last year from Nordstrom in exchange for these, so that helped me feel better after last month's splurge! Hopefully they are comfortable; otherwise, I will probably exchange them for this.

March, April, May?
The boots I returned where the quality was not up to snuff were a "they're cute and inexpensive and on sale" mistake. I now have my eye on the Frye Melissa Button. I've never spent so much on a pair of shoes, but I need to think about cost per wear -- the glowing reviews say they will last a mighty long time! (I have a Zappos credit that will make this one easier on the pocketbook, thank goodness.) I wish I had bought them last fall so that I could have been wearing them this whole time!

I am also thinking of jumping on the Sperry bandwagon, which could satisfy Matchbook's entry for loafers since I don't have anything like that. I previously thought they were maybe too preppy for my style, but I've had a change of heart as I've seen how adorable they are on everyone and their mom. I've heard that they are incredibly comfortable, which is what I need for the walking I'll be doing on upcoming trips to Chile/Argentina and Disney World! (Husband, these are practical.)

And just so I don't end up with a new pair of shoes every single month of the Year of Treat Yo Self, a trench coat is in the cards, too. I have a pink one from Old Navy that I got back in college that sits in my closet because it's kind of sad, so it is time to upgrade to a classic trench! 

If I were really subscribing to "buy it once, buy it right", I would get a beautiful Burberry trench just like Kate. I have no doubt that I would own it forever and could probably pass it down to the next generation (talk about cost per wear!), but a grand is just way. too. much.

I think I'm going to try this Calvin Klein trench instead - cute and functional, with a removable liner and hood (hard to find!).

I think I need to pace myself, but it's fun focusing on specific things that will improve my closet!


What's on your wardrobe wishlist? Anything you've splurged on that you're so glad you did? (Or vice versa!)

Welcome 2012!

Hope everyone had a very merry holiday season! 

My mom was here visiting the last two weeks, and we had so much fun showing her Christmas in Chicago. I can't believe the end of 2011 went by so fast, and I'm looking forward to what 2012 has in store!

How are you ringing in the new year? We are headed to a house party and then plan to hit up a few bars, but won't be out too late since J has to work bright and early tomorrow morning.

Destination Unknown

Hi friends, I'm off on a destination unknown weekend! 

My husband has been working nights all week and booked a little getaway somewhere nearby to give him something to look forward to during call...and didn't tell me where! My only hint is that it's Wisconsin or Michigan. We had our first sticking snow in Chicago last night, so I'm hoping I'll be able to look out the window at some pretty snow while sipping hot chocolate in a quaint little B&B like this one above.

Have a wonderful weekend! Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?!

Oopsie

I was watching Ringer last night* and during an intense scene at the end of the episode I kind of kicked my leg up in the air (um, an act of self defense in case the bad guy wanted to jump out of the television at me?) and ripped my jeans up around the top of my inner thigh. I'm going to say it happened because they are skinny jeans and just don't have a lot of give, and not because I've been eating too much cheese lately.

They're my only pair of skinnies, and I've pretty much been living in them since it's turned to boot weather. I need to get a replacement pair (or two!) right away! The J.Crew matchstick jean is definitely on my list to try.

I also scored a $50 for $25 Groupon for American Apparel today. I've never bought anything there before, but I've heard their winter leggings are nice and warm and therefore have been on my shopping list. I used to be anti-legging, but I think they're now going to be a staple in my winter wardrobe.

* I tried explaining to a friend the plot of Ringer and I sounded ridiculous, but it's pretty addicting. What is the real Siobahn up to? How does Siobet keep from getting everything mixed up?

What about you? Any new TV shows you're loving? Any skinny legwear you want to sing the praises of?

Well I Love a Rainy Night

I don't mind when it's raining outside...as long as I'm inside and cuddled up with a blanket! (Bonus if my husband and/or dog is next to me.)

The past few days have been gloomy and rainy in Chicago, and I'm counting my blessings that I work from home and haven't had to deal with it. But I know my day is coming and it's only going to get worse as we roll into winter, so I need to get some rain boots sooner rather than later so I can walk through the slushy snow in style!

A friend ordered a monogrammed pair, which I think is super adorable, but I think they took over 6 weeks to arrive!

And of course, the clear popular choice these days is the Hunter wellie, and for good reason.

Source: mainenmasonjars.tumblr.com via Laura on Pinterest

But oh, so many colors from which to choose! I like the always classic black, and think they'd blend in well so it's not super obvious if I step into somewhere nice that I have on rain boots. (Although I hear no one cares what you are wearing come winter in Chicago.)

 

                                               

Doesn't Blair from Atlantic-Pacific look amazing in her red pair?

As a lover of all things blue, of course turquoise is a frontrunner.

via

The plus for the turquoise blue over basic black is that it goes with both of my main coats: a brown down parka and a navy trench-style wool coat that I love to pieces. (The brown one was purchased on crazy deep clearance last spring back in Dallas, because who needs one in Texas? If it turns out to not be warm enough, I'll probably replace it with one that is black or charcoal.) Hmm, red would also go with all of these colors...

And then these fancy Hunters would go with both black and brown:

Source: shopbop.com via Laura on Pinterest

Ah, what to do, what to do.

Scarf Me!

While I'm not a colder-weather lovin' gal, the upside of my first fall in Chicago is that it's scarf time! I can't wait to try all 25 ways to a tie a scarf in this cute video:

I'm back in Dallas this week and it still feels like summer here. I was shopping with my mom last night at Charming Charlie and was looking for a burnt orange accessory to wear this weekend for TX-OU (because I will be wearing burnt orange in some form all weekend) and came across two differently adorable burnt orange scarves, and I was kind of wishing the forecast called for cold! 

I found this orange necklace instead...and this bright blue scarf...and this awesome belt with triangle arrows...and this wallet clutch thingy. I was a little out of control, but I loved this place, where all of the jewelry/accessories/clothes are organized by color. I found something new I wanted every time I made a lap around the store. (As compared to Sam Moon for you TX ladies, where I get a little overwhelmed by wall after wall of earrings and necklaces crammed together, and I always have to elbow my way in to get a good look.) Charlie, I will be back!

What's your favorite way to tie a scarf? And how many colors do you own? Off the top of my head I count black, white, red, fuchsia, aqua, grey plaid, and the new bright blue, and I'm sure I'll find more than that in the coat closet!

Hook 'em!