Last Hurrah

...of summer and of my extra-summery dresses.  Packed away almost all of the seersucker and white shoes.  It's still going to be hot here for at least another 2 weeks, maybe more, so I'll be wearing light clothes but in less summery colors and shapes.  

Not gonna lie, a little excited about fall, but probably only because I'm tired of these clothes and ready for something new.  I'm sure I'll be over it about a week after it starts being chilly and rainy all the time.  

J Crew Maxi Dress (I feel like this would be a midi on a person of normal height)

Tommy Hilfiger Flip Flops 

Earrings via Etsy

Obligatory hair pic--just a side ponytail that I twisted into a couple of small loops.

Pre-picnic snackin'.

Catching Up

Kate Spade Josie Dress
Naturalizer Wedges
Earrings via Etsy (seller no longer active)
Target Bangles

Anthropologie Take Action Dress
Talbots Cardigan
Naturalizer Wedges
Groopdealz Necklace

Sorry for the radio silence--this week has been busy!  Hoping things will settle down as I remember how to do my job again (that 2 months of unpaid leave always leaves me befuddled).

An Eventful Weekend

I bought a new car on Saturday.  It's a Honda CR-V LX.  CJ has named her Annabelle.

J Crew Sequin Striped Tee

J Crew Factory Matchstick Jeans

Converse One Star Slip-ons

Kate Spade Bag

Cole Haan Sunglasses

Then we hit the town for dinner at Jaleo and a birthday party at Poste Moderne.  

Anthropologie Deletta First Flight Tee
J Crew Minnie Pants
Target Merona Wedges
J Crew Earrings and Bracelet

At Jaleo, we got a semi-private table--it was screened in with chain mail hanging from the ceiling, you can kind of see it to the right of this picture.  It was really cool!

I wanted some sparking sangria but was told I couldn't order it by the glass, only by the "bowl".  Oh, a fishbowl of sparkling sangria (aka some fruit with an entire bottle of sparkling wine poured over it)?  Well, twist my arm, I guess...

This is what I tossed on to hang out with my parents when we went to retrieve CJ this morning.

Anthropologie Saturday Sunday Hoodie
J Crew Tee Shirt
GAP Boyfriend Roll Up Shorts (these are the BEST Bermudas, even better than J Crew!)
Havaianas Flip Flops
Vera Bradley Seashore Tote in Marina Paisley

Dinner at Redwood (DC Restaurant Week)

Anthropologie Alloy Dress
J Crew Jackie Cardigan
Impo Sandals (from Marshalls)
Necklace by roundabout via Etsy


We don't often check out DC Restaurant Week, because dinner is still $35/pp, not including drinks (I'm going to need at least 2, thanks), tips, or tax.  Also, the babysitter is not included.  By the time you've paid for all of those things you're not really in the mood to try something new, you want to either go with one of your old standbys (Jaleo! Georgia Brown's!) or just throw all the money you've saved by not going on the bed and roll around in it.

HOWEVER.  CJ is out of town this week which saved us $20.  And a few of the restaurants in the 'burbs are participating, so there's no hassle of either driving into the city (may God have mercy on your soul) or driving to the Metro, parking, and spending an hour nervously assessing all the creeps on the subway. (Which we are actually doing tonight, as we're hitting the town for a friend's birthday party and having dinner at an old standby--Jaleo!)  I don't want to sound like a snob, but I DO love Bethesda.

Redwood was delightful.  The food was great, the service was decent (they were a little rushed because it was Friday of restaurant week, understandable), and the drinks were AMAZING.  All of which was told to me in advance by my impossibly hip hair stylist, Ramon, earlier today.  Ramon is basically never wrong about anything so I shouldn't have been surprised.

Apps.  Yes, I'm one of those annoying faux-foodies who takes pictures of my food at restaurants.  FOR YOU.  I do these things for you, reader.  You're welcome.  I had the fried brussel sprouts (fantastic), Tom had a watermelon salad with pork.  You can also see my drink, the Bethesda Lemonade, which was homemade sparkling lemonade, citrus vodka, and crushed mint.  YUMMO, in the words of the incredibly irritating Rachael Ray.

Bad foodie/lifestyle blogger mistake here--I forgot to photograph the entrees.  Tom had the wood grilled sirloin and it was FAB.   I had the Seafood Pot Au Feu and it was...okay, nothing special.  I ate the mussels/clams/shrimp but ran out of steam halfway through the catfish.  Tom traded me a few bites of his steak for it--totally worth it.

Desserts!  Tom had the avocado ice cream shown up top and he made the better choice, in my opinion.  It was creamy and smooth and a little sweet but not TOO sweet which was just right after the other food.  My chocolate mousse was also very good, and the addition of strawberries and pretzel bits cut the sweetness some, but the caramel ice cream was cloyingly sweet.  My problem is that I really want something that is intensely sweet, but I generally want about 2-4 bites of it and then I want something like the avocado ice cream.  Fortunately Tom let me steal his and was content to finish mine after I ate all the strawberries off of it.

Surviving the Week

I don't know how it's possible that I'm this tired, even though CJ is out of town (staying with my parents, will probably come back made entirely of ice cream.  My mom put ice cream on her WAFFLES.  For BREAKFAST.).  I guess my body just isn't used to my school-year hours yet.  I got to see the debaters on Wednesday night and it was the best.  I love them so much.  

Thursday's outfit:

This dress is a semi-wrap--it's attached at the waistband but free everywhere else which makes me nervous and makes sitting kind of awkward.  I'm going to figure out how to attach it more so no one has to see that much of my thigh.

J Crew Dress
Ann Taylor Cardigan (yes, I do own cardigans that aren't Jackies!  A couple.)
Nickels Shoes

Wednesday's outfit:

Target Merona Chambray shirt--I wasn't sure I would love this trend so I wanted to try it on the cheap.  I like it!  This shirt is also pretty good quality.  I sort of forgot that button up shirts make me look like the Boobless Wonder, Chairwoman of the IBTC, but whatever, still cute.
J Crew Minnie Pants
David Tate Silver Flats

I wore this to our inaugural debate meeting but first I wore it to go see my best friend's baby!  He was born in April and I've met him once before but he's older and a little more alert so was a lot of fun.  I totally monopolized him for the 2 hours we spent together--only went back to his mom to eat.  SO cuddly and cute, and a very chill little buddy.  He basically smiled the whole time we were together, which is the best feeling.  Every time I make a baby smile I feel like a movie star/Nobel Prize winner.  "Oh, you cured cancer?  Well today a baby sat on my lap for 2 hours and smiled the whole time so I think we're probably tied."  (JK.  Obvs.)

I'm going today to get my hairs done so the next time you see me I won't have a haystack on my head.  I think that will be pleasant for all involved, no?

First Day! (Fall 2013 Edition)

J Crew Jackie Cardigan
Tahari Dress
Naturalizer Shoes
Francesca's Earrings

J Crew Jackie Cardigan
J Crew Factory Basketweave Dress
David Tate Flats
Francesca's Necklace
J Crew Earrings

Beach Life

Just a few pics from the beach!  Well, really from the resort BY the beach, I don't actually go to the beach (I hate sand).

My swimsuit is by J Crew, CJ's is by Gymboree.

(It's important not to look directly AT my legs, because they're so white that the reflection off of them might temporarily blind you, like sun on snow.  #gingerproblems)

Anthropologie Vanessa Virginia Dixie Dot Dress
Cole Haan Sunglasses

Stripe Streak

I'm on one.

Anthropologie Bordeaux Scalloped Stripes Dress
Converse One Star Slip Ons
J Crew Bubble Stud Earrings

Hair shot--a diagonal french braid with the end pinned into a bun.

We went to a picnic for Tom's work this afternoon.  The major highlight was the art table, specifically the sand art.  You can't tell from the photo but she's having a great time.

MORE STRIPES!  OMG A THEME.

Lazy Day and a Short Product Review

Didn't do much but a Target run and a West Wing marathon today while CJ was at camp.  Somehow I'm still sleepy anyway...

J Crew Sequin Stripe Tee
J Crew Factory Machstick Jeans
Converse One Star Sneakers
Earrings from Icing (::shame spiral::)

I'm wearing this  magic lipbalm from Sephora--it looks clear in the tube, you swipe it on, and it reacts to your body chemistry or whatever to create the perfect shade of pink for you (they also had a gloss version but I'm on a balm kick lately, my lips have been real chapped).  I believe this is a dupe of Dior Addict Lip Glow--but this cost $12 instead of $28.  I've always had good experience with Sephora brand lip products--their longwear lipsticks are fantastic and this balm is great.  In short, A+, go buy it immediately.

Guess Who's Back?

ME!

J Crew Jackie Cardigan

J Crew Factory Derby Dress

Bandolino Wedge Sandals

Vintage Pin

Made it back home on Saturday and then lounged/cleaned/put stuff away til today, when I had to go in for a promotion ceremony and to start putting together my syllabus.