Monday, March 27, 2017

Easter Egg Chic

Since it's technically Spring already, and the weather has been in the upper 70s the last few days, I thought it appropriate to break out the pastels. This Erin Fetherston ensemble has all the makings of a perfect Easter dress; in other words, it looks like a piece of candy.


Dress: Erin by Erin Fetherston Callie Fit and Flare Dress

This dress runs large, so size down. I'm wearing a size 2, and there is still a good bit of wiggle room at the bust and waist. The arm holes are also large, which made finding a good bra to wear difficult. I feel like I've been adjusting the top all day.

Thankfully, I bought the dress for a steal on Amazon.com, so I'm not overly concerned. You can also find it at Nordstrom Rack, but sizes are very limited.

Sandals: Coach Monica Scalloped Ankle Strap Sandals

My heels are lower than usual today because my calves are still sore from running the Atlanta Women's 5K this past Saturday. It was quite a hilly course! Here I am right before the race with my friend, Katie, and her daughter, Cadence. This is me without a stitch of makeup on: just tinted moisturizer with SPF.


I will probably run this race again. Although the course had a lot of hills (my time was just over 25 minutes, or 8:14/mile), there was so much enthusiasm from all participants. It was all women runners, too, so there were roses, water and mimosas with purple polka-dotted straws at the finish line. It also takes place at a perfect time of year weather wise.

Here are a few funny pics of me running. It scares me how much I look like my father here. (And he is a runner, too!)




Friday, March 24, 2017

What a Week I'm Having

I thought I would end this very strange, stressful week by wearing a fun, casual dress to work. After all, it's finally Friday! Woo hoo! I'm ready to kick back and relax after a week filled with an emergency trip to the vet, a day without power, and the influx of the infamous Georgia pollen.


I was drawn to this piece from Black Halo mainly because of the print. To put it plainly, it's just really beautiful. The colors are vibrant and eye-catching, and put me in a good mood whenever I wear it. 

Dress: Black Halo Aniston Printed Organza Fit and Flare Dress

The fabric is organza, so it feels really light on your body. It's the perfect dress to wear on a beautiful Spring or Summer day... though hopefully one that is not too breezy, if you get my "drift."

Sandals: Loeffler Randall Piper Wedge Scallop Sandals

These wedges, in a bright periwinkle blue, are the perfect complement to the lively energy of the dress. With so many colors swirling in this print, really any color sandals would do, but I went with blue eye makeup and blue sandals to match my mood from this week.

What a week I'm having!



Hopefully, it's ending on a good note. Chapin and I are headed out tonight to a dinner event at The Third Space (the main entree is chicken biryani, my husband's favorite Indian dish), and tomorrow will be a packed day for me. I have the 2017 Atlanta Women's 5K in the morning, then my nephew's fifth birthday party in the afternoon.

Sunday will be a mix of working, reading and relaxing. I just finished the sequel to Warm BodiesThe Burning World, by Isaac Marion, which you should definitely checked out if you enjoyed the original book or movie. (I hate zombie lore, but loved the book, and have watched the movie about a hundred times.) I recently started We Are All Made of Stars, by Rowan Coleman. It's my first book by this author, and I'm enjoying it so far. I'll keep you all posted, my devoted 12 readers. ;)

Have a great weekend!


Thursday, March 23, 2017

20 Hours Without Power

When it rains, it pours. Shit happens. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse. My week started off fine, but just went downhill from there. (Yep, I'm planning to stuff as many cliches as possible into one post.)

This week has been a stressful one.

Monday night, I arrived home from work in a great mood, excited to try a new recipe that Chapin was cooking up. But I walked in the door to find a sheepish chef and a little pug with a very red and watery eye. Chapin soon admitted that Wally had scratched his eye on a branch or piece of pine straw while they were out on their evening walk, and it wasn't getting any better.

If you don't have pugs or another type of flat-faced dog breed, then you probably don't understand the seriousness of eye issues. We live in constant fear that Wally will get something in his eye or wander too close to something sharp. Because pugs don't have a snout, their eyes don't have any protection from things around them. (George had two eye ulcers in his lifetime.) 

We wanted to make sure it was just a scratch and not something more serious, so off to the vet I went. Wally and I were there most of the evening, and the little guy is now on antibiotic drops and doing just fine -- thank goodness!
Wally in his hoodie on a cold night last week (pre-injury).

Tuesday night, Chapin had to work late, so I was home with the boys when a huge storm rolled in. The wind was blowing so hard against the door it sounded like someone was trying to break in! The lights flickered a few times, but we never lost power.

Chapin arrived home around 10 p.m. and told me a tree had fallen near the front of the subdivision, blocking one of the entrances. Then, about 4 a.m., we lost power...

... and it didn't come back on for 20 hours.

I couldn't wash my hair because I had no hair dryer or straightener to use. I couldn't workout because all the machines were in the neighborhood gym, and the whole neighborhood was without power. We couldn't make coffee. All the food in our fridge started to spoil.

Wednesday wasn't a great day.

Thankfully, today feels like it will be pretty normal, and it's a little extra special because my nephew, Reid, is turning five. Now I just have to make it through the rest of this week in one piece!

Outfit of the Day



The dress is so comfortable, and I'm loving this long-sleeve trend that I'm seeing with so many designers lately. Buy it now at Amazon, Bluefly or Neiman Marcus.

These types of dresses are perfect for crisp, chilly days in Fall or Spring when it's too cold to go without a jacket in the morning, but warms up by the afternoon. (If you live in the South, you know the type of day I'm describing.)

This dress is my first one from stylist-turned-designer Rachel Zoe. It's sexy with a boho twist, although I wish the sleeves weren't quite so puffy.


Celebrity Sighting!
Candace Cameron Bure wore the dress on The View. Photo from ShopYourTV.com.


Monday, March 20, 2017

Spring Arrives

Today is the official first day of Spring. While I love some things about Winter -- baking, making a fire, getting cozy under blankets with a mug of coffee and a season of TV to binge -- there is nothing quite like Spring. I love seeing the trees and flowers come alive again, the way daylight lingers long into the evening, sitting outside with my boys just reading and listening to music.

Spring is a time for renewal as well as reflection.


I recently learned that a friend of a friend, just barely older than me, is dying of cancer. Hearing a story like this one definitely makes me pause and analyze my life. I am  proud of what I've accomplished, proud of the woman I've become, but I know I could be doing more.

I want to volunteer. I want to watch less TV. I want to write more.

These are attainable goals that I hope to tackle over the next year. 40 is looming and there is no time to waste.

Outfit Details

Today's dress is one I bought from Belk on clearance. I was immediately drawn to the ultra flared skirt and black/gold design (I love these two colors together). 


Although it's sold out at Belk and on Macys.com, you can still find it online at the Tahari ASL website.

ShoesJimmy Choo Bronx Black and Gold Buckle Sandals (no longer available)

The skirt really flares out, so you need to love that type of style for this dress to work for you. The dress runs a little large, too, so I recommend sizing down. I'm wearing a size four, but a size two probably would have worked here to help eliminate some of the puckering at the sleeves.

But since I bought it on clearance, I'm not complaining.


Friday, March 17, 2017

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2017

You will be pinched today if you are not wearing green, because it's... St. Patrick's Day! I love that the holiday is falling on a Friday this year, because it just makes this day a little more fun. I am not Irish, and don't know much about the holiday other than it's named for a saint, so I've been reading up on it. Apparently, wearing green (and pinching people who aren't) is an American tradition.

But I'm having fun with it anyway.


Dress: Parker Ryker Knit Ruffle Dress in Hunter Green

I knew when I saw this dress that I just had to have it. I love the ruffles at the neck and sleeves, and the whole silhouette is so flattering. It's also perfect for wearing on St. Patrick's Day!

You can find the dress at Amazon in green, red or black. Revolve Clothing also has it in black.

Sandals: Prada Bow Tie Platform Sandals (no longer available)

Jedediah Bila wore the dress on The View this past fall. I have seen maybe one or two episodes of The View, but I am a fan of ShopYourTV.com. This site, as opposed to WornonTV.net, tends to have a lot of outfits from daytime television, so if you're curious about what the anchors wore on Good Morning America, check out ShopYourTV.com.

Update: Amy Robach wore the dress on a July 2018 episode of Good Morning America! She's one of my favorite anchors.

I'm absolutely exhausted from this week. I guess now that I'm getting older, any change to my sleep schedule is a big deal. I've been having a hard time falling asleep and an even harder time waking up now that time has shifted an hour earlier. I'm all for more daylight in the evenings, but the change is just killing me. I'm hoping I can catch up on some sleep and fully adjust to the new schedule this weekend.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!


Monday, March 13, 2017

All About Green

Friday is St. Patrick's Day, so I'm kicking off my self-proclaimed "Week of Green" with this black and green Anne Klein sweater dress. I also made mint chocolate chip cookies last night to bring to work today. (Chapin said they are his "second favorite cookie" that I've ever made. The first is a chocolate-chocolate-peanut butter cookie. That man loves anything that combines chocolate and peanut butter.)

I love giving my staff some sweet treats to help them through the week... especially this week. I think everyone will be less productive due to Daylight Savings Time. I'm tired already and it's only Monday. When will they do away with this antiquated custom? Sheesh.

Dress: Anne Klein Two-Tone Sweater Dress

The dress is so comfortable, and since the temperature is now more like winter than spring, I feel warm and cozy in it as well. I'm wearing an XS for reference.


You can still buy the dress here:


I have a soft spot for Anne Klein; after all, it was the reason Madison shopped at Bloomingdale's in one of my favorite childhood movies, Splash (1984). Mermaids, John Candy and romance... classic 80s.



Sandals: Manolo Blahnik Black Patent Leather T-Strap Sandals

If my left foot looks a little odd, it's because I have no polish on the big toe. I lost my first toenail over the weekend, due to a subungual hematoma from a pair of ill-filling shoes. (I wore them just once, and thankfully Amazon accepted them back with no questions asked.)  It didn't hurt at all, and apparently losing a toenail is a rite of passage for runners, though one I had managed to avoid until Saturday. Even though there is a nail there, I'm afraid to do anything to it until it grows back in a little more. I guess I'll just have an uneven pedicure for a few months. Oh well!

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Fit and Flare Dresses and the Underwear Question

Today's dress, a gray-vanilla organza concoction from Erin by Erin Fetherston, is super comfortable for a light day at work. I was in a rush trying to get out of the house this morning, and fit and flare dresses are so easy to wear, mainly because I don't have to give a lot of thought to my underwear.

Yes, having to put any brain power toward my underwear choice for the day is just not an option when I'm running late and haven't had any coffee yet.


With fit and flare dresses, you can wear granny panties and no one will know; however, in more fitted outfits, you usually have to opt for line-free panties or Spanx, and sometimes I have to try on several pairs before finding the one that works best (i.e. looks invisible). And I don't recommend going commando, especially at work! So... when you need to get dressed in five seconds flat, go fit and flare.

Dress: Erin by Erin Fetherston Ceecee Floral Organza Halter Dress

I found this dress on sale at Amazon, but that's the only site still carrying this particular design (note: sizes are very limited). You can shop the brand online at a variety of retailers, though, including Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th, Dillard's and Lord & Taylor. Most of these dresses are going to be very feminine and whimsical, so if your style is more casual or bohemian, this brand might not be the best choice for you.

Shoes: Kate Spade New York Wedges (no longer available)


I can't let today pass without mentioning that it's International Women's Day. Although lately it seems like there is a special day for celebrating anything and everything -- do we really need a day to show our appreciation for the Ken doll? -- I can definitely support any day that recognizes women and our contributions to society.

Women have certainly helped shape my life. My grandmothers, mother, mother-in-law, sisters, cousins, friends, even little Izzie, who fought her disease until the very end... I have always been surrounded by incredible women. I am who I am today because of them, especially my mother, who from a very young age always taught my sisters and I that we could do anything, and that education was the key to success in life.

Today is also special for another reason: it's my college roommate's birthday! I met Laurin when I was 19 and in my second year at Emory. We immediately bonded over our love of movies, TV shows and pop culture in general, and we still send each other birthday presents every year. You can see I didn't yet have a good understanding of how to use makeup or do my hair in the photo below, which I believe was taken in 1997... wow, 20 years ago! I have come so far!


Monday, March 6, 2017

Going Green

March is one of those transition months between winter and spring, where it can be cold one day and balmy the next. We've had a mild winter here in Atlanta, so I'm thinking that this March is going to be a month of green, where everything starts coming alive outside. You can already see more foliage just in this picture. Those little red flowers you see behind me weren't there even a week ago. (The only bad thing about this month: the influx of pollen!)


Dress: Black Halo Bailey Sheath Dress in Teal

This dress is extremely simple -- short sleeves and a fitted sheath silhouette -- but the lace and the color combine to make it visually so appealing. Up close, the lace has bronze, gold and lighter blues interwoven into the fabric; it seems to sparkle in sunlight!

Shoes: Jimmy Choo Hesper 85 Mirror Leather Sandal

I chose gold shoes to match the bronze and gold fabric in the lace, though any neutral color would have worked here.

Several celebrities have been seen in these Jimmy Choos, including Blake Lively (below), Taylor Swift, Elle Fanning, Jenna Dewan Tatum and others. As with all Jimmy Choo shoes, they are fabulous.

Blake Lively in Jimmy Choo Hesper Sandals

Friday, March 3, 2017

Thinking Younger

Happy Friday! It's been a long week, but a good one. I'm excited to announce that I became an aunt for the fifth time on March 1st; my sister, Gail, gave birth after about 12 hours in labor. Her son, Max, is a healthy 6 pounds and 12 ounces, with a sprinkle of blonde hair, his mother's nose, and two doting parents. I can't wait to meet him the next time I'm in Chicago.


Now, my only questions is: When will I have a niece? Everyone is having boys these days.

Outfit of the Day

I am totally in love with today's dress, which, in all honesty, is a little different for me. It's silk and a tad bohemian, but still ultra feminine. I love the unique puffed sleeves, perfect for covering up on this cool March day, while the low v-neck adds a hint of sexiness.


Dress: Diane von Furstenberg Lizbeth Silk Dress

You can still find the dress online at Neiman Marcus, where it's on sale for about 60% off.

If you're a fan of the TV show, Younger, you may have originally seen the dress when Liza wore it to the office in the Season Three episode, "What's Up, Dock?" If you're not watching this show, you should be! It's one of my favorite shows on TV right now. New episodes will premiere this summer, so now is the perfect time to catch up.

The dress as seen on the TV Land show, Younger

Shoes: Manolo Blahnik BB Bronze Metallic Pumps (no longer available, but check out this similar style)

I actually had multiple options when it came to footwear today, but I decided to go with these pointy-toe Manolos to help bring out some of the bronze undertones in the print. Did I choose wisely?


Today is not only special because it's Friday, but also because I reunited with someone I haven't seen in about 20 years. I babysat the three Henard kids - Michael, Robert and Blake - from 8th-12th grade, and I will always love them. (I often say that I had such a good experience with them that I don't need kids of my own!) This morning, I finally had the opportunity to catch up with Michael, the oldest Henard, and meet his beautiful family. I still can't believe he's all grown up.

Now
Then