I'm Sorry J Crew

J Crew has alway been almost my favorite place to shop.  Lately though, I find my self not finding anything that appeals to me, in the stores, online or in the "style guides" as they now call their catalogues. Maybe I'm getting older?  Or just maturing but what I see are shorts and skirts that are way to short for my 5 foot 8 inches self, as well as being office and mom inappropriate. Bending down is a requirment! The dresses are very high waisted in addition to being short. I also feel that the quality has declined relative to price. I am also put off by the super skinny, messy haired, almost druggie looking models they use.  Remember Annouk? Vannessa? Those were the days.  Anyway, I've been looking more and more at Banana Republic these days. In addition to great sales and promotions they always have free shipping over $50, reviews on their web site and I get way better cardsholder benefits. I still admit their are few things almost no one does better than J Crew, I love my Schoolboy blazers, my 5 inch chino shorts and my gingham perfect shirts. But that's it. And I can tell you that I thought the ones I saw in the strore yesterday in the spring rollout were way less nice than the ones I have from a few years ago!What do you think?

 

 

 

 Love both these looks and more importantly, can totally see myself in them.  Maybe that's why J Crew isn't working for me right now. I just don't see myself living my life in the clothes they are producing!

These are the most comfortable flats ever! I know own them in this lovely combo, black, orange and leopard and plan to continue building my collection!

Day out with Hounds

My daughter CMB and I ride with the Los Altos Hounds. My parents are the masters and I used to be a whipper in before I had kids. We went out a couple times over the holidays. CMB out grew her pony last year and her new horse, Dancer, is finally coming along. He's very sweet but a little young (or green as we say in the horse world) and he's quick so she has fallen off quite a bit. She's a tough cookie though and always gets back on. We had a great day, although it was cold with some nice views a one good long run.

 

 

 This is CMB on Dancer and me on Guiness. I've finally learned to trust him after I bad fall I took off him when he was younger. He's very sweet.

 CMB looking for the stirup cup! She has her own monogramed silver cup and there is always apple juice for her along with the port for the rest of us. Notice the tall boots, her first pair.

 Girls and horses, there is nothing quite like it!

Really?

I love navy and white and polka dots too so you'd think I would jump on this darling skirt from the J Crew factory site. I very nearly did. I have a small waist but curvy hips so the J crew pencil skirts don't fit me well. I loved the Belle skirt they did several years ago as well as the Nickki skirt and thought this one was a winner too. Then I read closer and it's 18 inches long. Way to short for me. I'm 42 and although I am in good shape and have nice leggs that's to short. Even if it were 20 inches I'd have it. I've noticed this is a pattern for them, along with the high waisted look in many of their dresses. If I were 20 years younger though, it would be mine. Do you think this menas I've outgrown j Crew? Say it isn't so!

Happy Birthday!

Hard to believe my first born baby is 12 today. He's growing into such a good boy and I am so proud of him!

AT The Crown of The Afternoon

On our most recent adventure in San Francicso we also went to Ghiredelli Square. They have a huge ice cream parlor there and you can watch them making the choclate. My daughter said it was "the crown of our afternnon". I thought that was so funny. It had been years since I had a true hot fudge sunday and it was just as yummy as I remembered!


CMB and OPB, it was hard waiting!

Digging in!

OPB, delicious!

Now that's what for desert!

Fort Point

Another place we visited on our San Francisco adventure was Fort Point. Fort Point is an old Civil War era fort that is built underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. In the days before the bridge, it's guns guarded the entrance to the bay. Today it is part of the national parks system and a really neat place to visit.


OPB pretending to load the cannon. He is very interested in military history so this was one of his favorite stops.

AGB is phot bombing OPB and CMB, 12 years olds think they are so funny!
All three kids out on the forts top area, it also has great views of the bay and of Alcatraz and Angle Islands.

They did a cannon loading demonstration and all my kids got to participate. Another highlight!

My certified cannoners!

Adventures in San Francisco, Part 1

One of our resolutions for this year is to get out and see more of our own areas. My kids call this being a tourist in our town. So over the break we went out and hit the Golden Gate Bridge. It was super cold but very clear and we could see forever.

CMB at mid span on the Golden Gate Bridge

AGB, OPB and CMB

MMB and CMB, we both got new jackets from my mom for the holidays and they were nice and warm!

MMB and DJB, there are so few pictures of the three of us that I had to grab one when it exists.

Love this shot, looks like a postcard!

A one horse open sleigh, sort of

Driving is one of those horsey things I have always wanted to do. My mare, Jasmine, was broke to drive and I did have a harness for her. I did a lot of line driving with her but really had no where to hitch her to a cart. My mom's pony however also drives and my folks just moved to the perfect place to drive. When we were there at Christmas we broke out the harness and practiced. I was really to wet for the cart on the muddy farm roads but we practiced in the driveway. I am driving and my daughter CMB is walking by the pony's head just in case.  He was good as gold and I can't wait for spring to hitch up!

Style File

I'm sorry for the long absence. I'm having trouble with the blogger photo uploader and it doesn't want me to use photos from my computer, just ones I have previously used. Any one else with this problem? I'll keep working on it though because I have some great holiday pictures to share. I hope you and yours had a wonderful holidays. I often find that January seems gray and dull after the glitter of December. Anyhow, I've been doing a big closet clean out. I'm currently updating and refining my look. The one above from Banana Republic is one of my favorite looks and I've got a "from my closet" version on today. If you haven't tried the sloan skinny ankle pant, you are missing out. I like them better than the J Crew Minnie pant and have them in several colors. I really like the narrow pant, pretty blouse and blazer combo here. My stle resolution for January is to pick it up a notch and get rid of what really doesn't work for me but that I keep hanging on to because I want it to work. I am very susecptible to buying something because the image it projects appeals. I want the lifestyle the item represents, not the item itself, know what I mean? The outfit above works for me, it's professional and stylish and yet still pretty. Wishing you a great 2013!