Book Club: Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter

Last night I got to meet my favorite author, Jane Porter, who came to my neighborhood book club.  It was such a privilege to meet Jane in real life, since I've read all of her chick lit books and I am a huge fan.  She is so down to earth and it was great to hear how Jane came up with her characters.  Jane's books are great beach reads and have accompanied me on my vacations and work related travel over the last few years.   I can't wait until she writes her next one.  

It was great getting together with my neighbors.  I also got to meet a fellow blogger who lives nearby, Hip Travel Mama. Check her blog out if you enjoy travel.

I planned on wearing a charcoal shell and cardigan, but my 11 year old daughter advised me to wear something brighter and fun, so I switched to a striped tank and cardigan:

Book Club: Odd Mom Out by Jane Porter by Handbag Aficionado featuring embellished tank tops

In real life:

Last minute change: J.Crew pearls and tank, Joe's Jeans, Coach Handbag

I highly recommend Jane's books if you enjoy good chick lit or fun beach read:

Dreaming of Spring

I took a trip to Bellevue Square today since I am out of La Mer: The Eye Concentrate.   I didn’t know that I needed this stuff but treated myself to it last year and got hooked on it since.  It's extremely pricey at $165, but I've tried several cheaper brands and this one does the trick on tired puffy eyes, dark circles and fine lines more so than any I've tried (I’m sure a good night’s sleep would work, but that doesn’t always happen).  My husband doesn't get why I think I need it, but I can tell the difference.

I also stopped at Aveda to get some hair products.  On Friday, I got my hair cut and colored at Gary Manuel Salon downtown and forgot to pick up conditioner, which was the whole point of going to the mall.  I also got a free sample pack of Smooth Infusion (if you go in and mention the add or print this out, you get a free sample free pack). I love the smooth infusion products, especially when it’s been rainy like this week. (I am so ready for Spring).

I stopped by J.Crew, although I just had a recent shopping trip.  In some of my previous posts, I talk about the different between the downtown Seattle Pacific Place J.Crew and the Eastside Bellevue Square J.Crew.   They are like two different stores with different items.   My favorite is the one downtown because I tend to find more, but on the weekend I go to the one on the Eastside closer to my home. They had some different Spring items.

Here are some of the things I purchased and tried on:

Stripe Sunburst Tank, $40
Scarf (in store) $49

Selvage Striped Scarf, $49.50 

Dress in store for $129

Forever Cardigan in Spearmint, $39
Swirling Dots Dress, $148

Sundrenched Sweatshirt (sized down) $59

Forever Cotton Cardigan in Spearmint, $39
Vintage Sequin Cotton Tank, $78 

Coastline-stripe pullover in vintage linen for $65 (sized down)

Day Tripper pants in vintage fatigue $69 

I walked out with the Light Spearmint Forever Cardigan in Cotton, Vintage Cotton Sequin Tank (don't judge - I know I've got enough sequins to start a disco but this is navy), Swirling Dots Dress and the Lace Striped Tee in navy that I could not pass up for $19.99:

I didn't end up getting the other items. I love the Stripe Sunburst Tank, Coastline Stripe Pullover and sweatshirt but will wait for a sale or another visit. I'm waiting for Spring weather.

Hope you had a fantastic weekend!

In Search of the Perfect Outfit

 I led some big meetings this week that required me to be upfront and center stage.  I looked in my closet and couldn't find anything. (This is when my husband rolls his eyes.)  I decided to make a trip to J.Crew at Pacific Place, since this was a big meeting.  I ended up with some new things.

I got the Nouvelle Jacket in superfine cotton in navy.  This is true to size and much nicer in real life  than on the website. I love the silk pinstriped lining, and wore the sleeves rolled up.  It's pricey at $178, but it is a good wardrobe staple so I bit the bullet.

J.Crew Superfine Cotton Nouvelle Jacket in Navy, $178
Double Serge Skirt in Dahlia $78

 Another pic:

J.Crew Superfine Cotton Nouvelle Jacket in Navy, $178
Notched Skinny Belt, $26
Striped Tee (in stores) $19

Buffalo Check Rick Shirt, $31.99 on sale
Double Serge Skirt, $78

I also got the blue Buffalo Check Rick Shirt  and Double Serge Skirt for fun, but probably not for this meeting.  I started to digress in my shopping and needed to focus on the big meetings.  I found the Rialta Tweed Jacket, which I love, love, love.  I ended up wearing this and the Silk Blythe Blouse in Dark Navy tucked in with the belt, with pearls and dark denim trousers (I work for an internet retailer and it is a casual environment).  I will get a lot of wear out of both of these items.  (Ignore the employee badge hanging off of my pants).

Blythe Silke Blouse in Dark Navy, $98
Rialta Tweed Jacket, $250 

I didn't get the Crosshatch chambray Shirt or the Sun-drenched Sweatshirt in Electric Orange (here I am looking at casual stuff again - focus Tammy, focus!).  I like that one and the abstract blue color, but will wait for the sale.  They are a bit bulky, so you may want to size down.

Sun-drenched Sweatshirt (sized down to S)
Crosshatch Chambray Shirt,  TTS,  

 I didn't get the Maritime Dress since my bill was already at around $700 and I was on a work related wardrobe mission and digressed.  I thought I should wait. Now I am kicking myself, because it's fun.   Should I? (BTW - Ignore the socks).

Maritime Dress, $78
Belt, on sale for $9.99

I also got the Retro Shell in popcicle pink, for $29.99 in the store.  So cute for Spring - I am ridiculously excited about this shell because it's different than the other J.Crew silk shells.

How was your week?

Maui

Last night in Maui by Handbag Aficionado featuring a shift dress

 Beautiful Maui.  Wish I could stay longer than a week.

 My daughter's blue pedicure - she spends her time covered in sand!

Wonderful time.  I can't wait to go back.

Mahalo,

Tammy

Gray Skies, Sequins and Spring Fever

I'm so ready for Spring and vacation. How many until days?  11!  Who's counting?  The skies in Seattle in the winter are gray (which makes spring and summer beautiful), so that was my  inspiration for my outfit last week for my offsite. I love bold colors, but recently discovered I can wear grey after years of not wearing it.  It's bizarre, but I dig it now. J.Crew has some great colors like Heather Carbon that work for us jewel tone girls.

Here are some pics:

I started out with my J.Crew Muse tank, and my husband was lukewarm.  He liked the Shimmer Crinkle better,  so I switched:

Thursday Meeting by Handbag Aficionado 

I've also been all about sequins lately or some sort of sparkle or shimmer. Life's too short to fade in the background.  Not me, I'm a walking disco!  (Warning: you may need sunglasses to continue reading.)

Here's what I wore shopping:

I also got the  J.Crew Drapey Sequin Tank  this month and the Sequin Front Tank in Aqua from Nordstrom for $9.97.  I found one of the Barbie Stila Paint Cans at Nordstrom Rack.  It's so cute, so I couldn't pass it up. At Sephora, I got the Laura Mercier Flawless Lip Set, which I love.  I saw that MAC is coming out with the Wonder Woman Collection this week. So cute - I'm totally in.    I went back to the Bellevue Square again. My brows were a disaster, and Sophia at Anastasia at Nordstrom does the best job. I scheduled an appointment, since everyone else screws them up and gives me crazy arches or thins them out too much.

I also stopped at J.Crew.  Remember the striped J.Crew dress I blogged about last - 2 weeks ago?  It is on sale $30 cheaper in the store on final sale - REALLY?  I still have the tags on.  I was 10 days instead of the 7-day price adjustment, but they honored it.  Of course it helps if you buy more stuff.  I also may have blinded them with my Haya Sequin Sweatshirt.  I got 2 of the scoop neck painter tees in vivid violet and orange for $19.99 and the Nickley Bib Top.  This is $39 in the store, and $79 online. Wow!

I had a fun time, and heard from the sales rep that more Spring items will be in next week. I can't wait!


Have a great week!


Tammy

Earning my Stripes

I’ve always been more of a solid color girl.  However, when I break out a print, I am the type that I go big and bold or go home.  I love me some animal print (grrr….), a nice bright floral to brighten up my day, but usually passed on the stripes.  I used to love nautical stripes for summer and recall a cotton striped dress I bought when I was in college.  It was so cute and preppy, I spent my entire paycheck from my then part-time minimum wage job to get it (If you are in school - this is why it pays to go to college.  I needed an education to find a career to enable me to support my shopping habits.   In those years, any money I made went toward my closet :). I have embarrassing photos with the striped dress, bad hair and keds shoes that I will not share, but you get the point.

Then I got older and every fashion magazine told me that horizontal stripes can make you look heavier, so that was enough to make me pass on the stripes for years. I don’t know what my deal is lately, but I have been on a strip kick lately.  I think the nautical inspired looks are catching my eye and make me think of Spring and Summer weather.

Last night my husband and daughter picked me up from work and we went to dinner and Bellevue Square.  I stopped at Justice for Girls for my daughter and J.Crew for me (I prefer the downtown Seattle J.Crew – this one is hit or miss for me). I got sucked into 50% off the final sale in the store (I know? Right?  Online is 40%).  Of course, that place was picked apart.  I did end up with another Tissue Silk Drape Tee in Dark Cypress (I have the dusty cedar.)

There were new Spring items and plenty of stripes galore from what seemed like every square foot of the store - I felt like a drunken sailor.  I ended up with the Stripe Drawstring Dress which seems like an easy beach dress for my trip to Maui next month (as seen on a super tiny model, and as seen on a real human being in medium):

My 11 year old daughter said the scarf looked stupid so I passed, but that was a sweet scarf.   I also ended up with the Stripe Pocket Cardigan at $59.50. It is very comfy, and I can wear this with tees, tanks, camis, and my new navy Cady dress.  Lots of possibilities.

I wore it with my Navy J.Crew Petal Stream Tank this week:

Stripe Cardigan by Handbag Aficionado 

I tried on several items that I will wait for it to go on sale or pass.  I hope to see more spring arrivals.

My drapey bateau tee that I got last month was my inspiration that started me on the stripe kick:

Countdown to Maui next month! by Handbag Aficionado featuring j crew shorts

Drapey bateau tee - J.Crew
$70 - jcrew.com
White tops »

Women's shorts - solids - Classic bermuda short - J.Crew
$50 - jcrew.com
J crew shorts »

Women's shoes - flip-flops - Skinny wedge flip-flops - J.Crew
$20 - jcrew.com
Skinny shoes »

Amazon.com: Moroccan Straw Summer Beach / Shopper / Tote Bag 12"D -...
$38 - amazon.com
Beach handbags »

Coach Official Site - MARTHA SUNGLASSES
$148 - coach.com
Glass shades »

Amazon.com: Banana Boat Sport Sunblock Lotion, SPF 30, 8-Ounce Tube...
$18 - amazon.com

Maui No Ka Oi Magazine: Amazon.com: Magazines
$19 - amazon.com

Amazon.com: Frommer's Maui Day by Day (Frommer's Day by Day - Pocket)...
$9.35 - amazon.com

Hope your week was great!

Happy Holidays!

What a busy month!  Work, travel, shopping, wrapping presents...


I did a lot of Christmas shopping online and in stores.  I stopped in J.Crew and bought a couple of sweatshirts for my son and husband and had to get a few things for me.  Hey, it was 30% off with a $150 purchase.   How could I pass that up?

I  got two beautiful wool wraps shown below.   I love this scarf, but now I am trying to figure out what I should wear with it.  There are so many color options, I know, but I'm still pondering.  Let me know if you have ideas.

I also bought the Vintage cotton traversa-stripe tank for myself:

I love Navy.  Now I need a nice cardi or jacket to go with it.  Any suggestions?  I also tried on the Vento Tunic in Small, but didn't love it.  I passed on it.

I also got my J.Crew order with the Lodge Puffer Jacket and Tissue Drape Tee.  It's the best of both worlds with silk and cotton:  the silk makes it polished in the front, and cotton makes it comfy in the back and sleeves.

Tuesday evening by Handbag Aficionado featuring j crew necklaces

We went to Ohio before Christmas to visit family, then returned to Seattle a couple of days before Christmas.  My son got the flu, and was felt pretty bad Christmas Eve, then we made a trip to Urgent Care on  Christmas Day.  He's feeling better now.  Other than that, the kids had a nice Christmas.  

For Christmas, my husband and the kids got me perfume, Apple Airport Express, a beautiful Coach Handbag (seen below)

 and a Coach Signature Messenger bag in Plum.  I'm usually not a fan of signature anything (Coach, LV, Chanel), but this plum color is a so fun compared to my leather tan and black laptop bags:

Check out the Coach Leopard Shoes!  I went to Nordstrom Rack and found these shoes (I used the $50 off Groupon - it expires tomorrow 12/31, so if you have a Rack nearby, take advantage of it).  These were so cute, and since have an affinity toward leopard, I had to pick them up.  Grrr.....  

I also got a new Washer and Dryer.  I realize that makes me sound really old and boring, but clothes are an investment and it has a steam option!  Now I just need to figure out how to use it.

My big happy present is a trip to Maui in February.  We went last February and in August, and I am so excited to go back.  It's my happy place!  The skies here are gray now, so I am looking forward to warm weather.

I'm inspired by bright colors.  Here's a pic of me with one of my new wool scarves.  BTW - I took this at work in the ladies restroom.  I had a lady walk in a few seconds after I took the iphone pic.  That would have been incredibly embarrassing and awkward.  :)  The top is the Muse Tank in Heirloom Pink  with a Halogen cardigan very similar to the J.Crew one in style and quality, but I got this on sale for $12.99! Woo-hoo!

Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!