What happened to being polite?

I find myself wondering about manner this afternoon. I think I have mentioned before that I am the president of our local little league. I have had several emails from parents either about their team assignments or other adminstrative things that are downight rude and nasty. It would never occur to me to talk to or email someone giving their time to run a volunteer youth sports program the way some of these people are doing. I think that being able to use email is part of it. It is much easier to be unpleasant when you are interacting with a computer than when you are face to face. But using an electronic form of communication is not an excuse for verbal abuse. I am trying to raise my kids to always be polite and respectful, no matter what the medium of communication. Although truthfully, they are to young to be online. My mother always taught me that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Which is why I am replying to these hateful messages via phone and polite as pie.

Happy Birthday AGB!

11 years ago today my first little guy entered our life. We were so excited after 2 years of fertility treatments to welcome an addition to our family. Although I could have done without 21 hours of labor followed by an emergency c-section due to fetal distress, all was well at the end and he has been a joy ever since. He was an easy, happy baby and is a good boy. Being his mom has been a wonderful experience and I look forward to seeing what life holds for him. Happy Birthday sweetie!

Colored Denim?

Brightly colored skinny jeans are everywhere right now. I'm just not sure how I feel about this tread. It seems young to me and I have a vivid memory of green jeans and a matching green top from Victorias Secret that I had back in the early 90s. Plus, I am not sure that brightly colored, tight pants would be that flattering. I am tall and relatively thin but I have muscular thighs and calves. Still, I can help thinking how fun a pair of red slim pants would be with a navy and white striped shirt and top siders would be. What do you think? Yeah or Nay?

Brooks Brothers Spring for kIds

I found this adorable picture on the Brooks Brothers Facebook page. It's part of their spring line. I know it is still along time till spring but I adore the red jeans on the little girl. CMB is 8 but almost as tall as her 11 year old brother. She's to old to dress like a little girl in the smocked bishops she and I used to love but I don't want her to dress like Brittney Spears. I tend to buy most of her clothes from Lands End. Partially because, she is still a kids and hard on her clothes and partially because I can be sure the jeans will cover her fanny and the tops will cover her tummy. I love Brooks Brothers for myself and Hubby loves them too but I forget they do kids clothes. Well maybe I forget they do boys clothes because both my boys have navy blazers from there. Anyway what do yu think? Do you buys kids clothes at BB?

To Brooch or not to Brooch?

I have a collection of vintage brooches that were my great grandmothers. They range from the aweful to the kind of cool. The trouble is I am always at a loss as to how to wear them. I'd love to look like Emma Pillsbury on Glee and wear then on my mulitude of cardigans but always feel silly when I put them on. Plus I worry about them causing little holes in my sweaters. What do you think? Do you wear brooches? If so how?

Time to unwind

Boy am I ever glad it is Friday. This past week has been so busy. I can't recall if I mentioned it here but I ended up as the Little League President when we held board nominations in the fall. This past week has been super busy as we have been drafting teams every night this past week till at least 10. There are still two more divisions to draft but they are the lower ages so hopefully will be more drama free. Anyway I'm loveing this spotted sleep shirt from J Crew. It looks perfect for curling up with a cup of tea or hot choclate and relaxing. Of course since Hubby is out of town on business this weekend and we have to finish AGB's science project, go to cub scouts, flag football and lacrosse, it may not happen exactly like that. Sigh, well a girl can dream.

Brighten up a gray January!

Todays post on Matchbook Magazine Daily Spark Blog(http://matchbookmag.com/blog/fashion/color-palette-4/) was about the color Rasberry. I love pink in all it's forms but rasberry is one of my favorites. Slightly less "holiday" looking that red and slightly more "grown up" than pink, it brightens up the cold, dark weather we so often see in January. Of the items here I especially like the Tory Burch flats. Perfect with gray or camel slacks on a winter day. Rasberry cashmere gloves and a hat would also work their magic.

Shopping Plan for 2012

I spent some time over the weekend going through my closet and pulling out items that are worn, don't fit or are just not getting the use they should. I've come to some conclusions about my style and created a shopping plan for 2012. My biggest tendancy is to buy for the life I wish I had and not the actual life I live. I work full time as a compliance attorney in a bank so jeans, knits and tees and more casual attire are a smaller part of my closet. Hopefully this will help me stay on track.

1. Blazers: I love blazers and am in pretty good shape. I have the necessary black, navy, gray, pinstripe and camel blazers, plus the great aubrey berry color I got for Christmas. I'd love to get my hands on a lexington or bella and will watch ebay for deals but overall I think I am in good shape here.

2. Pants: I really am not a huge fan of pants. I try to be but tend to reach for skirts much more. I have a great pair of black ones and also gray ones as well as navy pinstripes. I would really love to find a perfect pair in camel lightweight wool. I do have minnies and cafe capri pants in navy, black and white which I do wear on weekends and casual days. Again, I could use a pair in khaki.

3. Skirts: This is my best catagories. I really am a skirt person and have added several this past year. Of course I love the J crew pencil in the double serge wool. I have that in black, bronze ocher and now the Viridian green. I also have the necessary denim pencil. My love this past fall/winter has been the flair skirt which I aquired in the camel, navy, henna and rose print. Given the mild climate we have here in Northern California, I can wear these skirts almost year round. I'm pretty much set for skirts. I would love to have a red pencil and have added this to my ebay watch list.

4. Sweaters: I am also in good shape here. I have weeded out the pilly, nasty ones and the ones that remain are the right colors and in good shape. No real need to aquire more here.

5. Blouses: Again, in pretty good shape. I love button down shirts and have several that are in good shape. I always have to watch my white ones because they wear out faster than others but do not need many here.

6. Knits and tees: These I need to stop buying from J Crew as I threw out serveral relatively new ones with holes. I have several nice ones from Banana Republic that I wear under blazers and cardis for work. These will need to be replaced as necessary but it is not a category that actively needs to be shopped.

7. Shoes: In need of some updating. I have developed some foot issues and so have thrown out cheap and/or poorly made shoes. This area will be updated thoughtfully and with an emphasis on quality. I need a pair of leopard pumps and heeled black boots most and would love to find a great pair of red heels as my red juliets are looking sad.

8. Bags: I continue my quest for the perfect bag. For me this needs to be large enough to carry my heels, lunch and boot as well as my general purse items. Right now I am using 2 bags for this and will continue to look. I am hoping I am about to get a new job that I would communte to in my car as opposed to BART which would make some things change.

9. Jeans: I don't wear them alot but have a comfy weekend pair and two pairs of good dark jeans, one for flats and one for heels that I wear to the office on Fridays as well as one pair of skinnies I tuck into boots on the weekends or going out. Unless something tragic happens, I should be good.

10. Coats: In great shape here. I have a red J Crew lady day coat and a slightly longer cashmere camel coat that are in perfect shape as well as a Banana Republic trench that is in good shape. I admit I'd like a new navy peacoat but it's in no way needed.

So that about sums it up. Really, I came out of my closet cleaning feeling pretty good. Shoes are likely the main focus of 2012 as is the quest for the perfect bag but overall, the closet is in pretty good shape. What do you think of my plan? Do you make similar ones?

New Years Do Over

Well I had great plans for starting the New Year off right when our routine offically bega on Tuesday the 3rd. The kiddies would go back to school, I would go back to work and the exercise, sleep, eating right resolutions would begin. Well you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men? Tuesday morning began with daughter CMB looking kind of off, you know how kids do? There didn't seem to be anything really wrong but she just didn't look right. Well I wasn't totally surprised to get a call from the school telling me she was sick. Hubby was working from home and picked her up. Cue the first night of high fever and vomit. I worked from home on Wednesday and it began with a scary high fever and a really ugly rash. Hubby took the boys to school and we headed to the pediatrian. The answer? The "slapped face" virus. Apparently this is a virus somewhat similar to Chicken Pox that is highly contagious, causes a high fever and a red rash that makes it look like someone slapped your face. Hence the name. Enter the second night of fever and vomit. Thursday she was some what better. Still running a fever but much less and she slept better. Hubby is working from home today since I had a meeting I couldn't miss and she is clearly in better sprirts. Fingers crossed right now that no one else becomes ill. I think I deserve a do over don't you?

Christmas Haul

One last holiday themed post before I accept that it is January and the holiday fun is over for another year. I wanted to share some of my favorite presents from the holidays.

First is this Hermes silk scarf from my monther. It was her grandmother's and looks brand new. I love the vibrant colors.

The Viridian green no. 2 pencil skirt from J Crew from mom and dad. So exciting and matches perfectly with the scarf above.

This is the Aubrey Jacker, also from J Crew from a few years ago. It's a wool herringbone, fully lined in a bright berry like color. Mom found it new on ebay. Also perfect with the scarf above. I'm not sure if I am brave enought to wear all three at the same time. Maybe with a black cashmere sweater and tights? I tried it on and it does look smashing, but it might be a tad much for my office. Out to dinner or to an event it would be perfect!