Ways to Save

What J Crew does well

I know there has been a lot of talk recently about J Crew and how their current collections just isn't the same as it was back in the 2006-2009 hey day. I have to agree in many ways. I find most of the current skirts to be very short, the dresses are high waisted and also short and many of the wonderful wool/silk items are now poly or a blend. Plus the price point is currently insane. There is however, one item J Crew seems to do consistently well and that is the School Boy Blazer. The navy one is s staple fixture in my closet. I wear it at least once a week, sometimes more. I also have it in the chambray, in red, camel, pearl grey and white eyelet. It's a winner for me and fairly consistent in both sizing and fit so when there is a good promo I know I can take a risk. This is also one item where the factory version really is also quite good so sometimes I take a risk there. My white eyelet one is from the factory. What do you think? Are you into "School Boys" too?

A Bright Pink Pout

A makeup commandment seems to be to accent your eyes and do a light lip or light eyes and a strong lip. I tend more to the strong lip as I think nude or otherwise light lip colors wash me out. I have dark hair and eyes with a medium complexion but I have blue under tones, not olive if that makes sense. For those of you who remember back to having your "colors" done, I am a winter. Anyway, I tend towards the bright pink lip instead of red or orange. My favorite way to get this look is with the Revlon Kissable Balm Stain, I use the color "smitten" and it is a true, strong bright pink that lasts ages. Revlon's web site describes it as "It’s a pampering balm fused with a lightweight lipstain in an adorable chubby crayon. Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain gives softer, smoother lips with a perfect flush of color that lasts hour after hour. The gel formula comes in 12 vibrant shades that match any look or mood." It does last great and the best part is that as it fades or wears, it just softens as opposed to giving you that ring around the mouth look. Have you ever tried this product?  Are you a bright lip or a neutral gal?

More Adventures in SF

One of the things we have been trying to do is get out and see more of our very own city, San Francisco. We took an adventure during spring break to the Legion of Honor Museum. They have a lovely impressionist wing and also were hosting an exhibition of French art from the Lourve. After that we had lunch and headed home.



AGB, OPB and CMB are "Thinking"!

CMB. pretend it's Paris

All thee kids posing outside

 

OPB tackling his lunch! 

We took a walk down by the beach after lunch. This one might be a Christmas card contenter! Note the Golden Gate in the background.

Two Lovely Ladies Lost

We lost two amazing ladies this weekend. First Lily Pulitzer and now Margaret Thatcher. Both were amazing ladies who brought so much to the world around them. We are better off for their presence in this world and will remember their legacy. Rest in Peace!

Mint Juelps

I found this receipe in Matchbook Magazine's (which I love) latest issue, and cannot wait to try it out. I do love me a good, not too sweet mint julep, so this is one receipe I can't wait to try. Every other year a good friend has a Derby party and we get all dressed up and it's very fun. I have always wanted to actually go to Churchill Downs on Derby Day but haven't made it yet. I'll have to settle for sipping my juleps and wearing a big hat in my own living room, at least for now!

Happy Easter!

So I am few days late getting my Easter pictures out of the camera an up. It was still a fun day. I usually host our Easter brunch and have a little egg hunt in my back yard. This year the weather was not as nice as it could have been but the rain held off until we were done hunting eggs and it was warm enough for the girls to wear their pretty dresses. I still remember the Easter when I was about 11 and it was freezing and pouring rain and I had to wear a kilt and blazer instead of my lovely dress.


The table setting. One of the reasons I love to host Easter is because I use my great grandmothers yellow flowered china.


CMB and her cousin E, all dressed up!

All the cousins, ready for the hunt!

OPB, AGB and CMB

Hubby and I, Easter calls for Lilly!

Kids on the Hunt!

 

Closing Meet

The week before Easter was our closing hunt meet for this season and it went super well. CMB has been working so hard with her horse, Dancer. He was new to hunting when we bought him almost 2 years ago and she has spent most of those 2 years falling off him. The closing weekend she was able to hunt him up front and fast, although they aren't ready to jump.


CMB and her cousin E. E now has the little paint pony that CMB used to ride

CMB riding with her grandfather who is one of the Masters

CMB and E, having fun after the hardwork is done!

CMB and her grandfather all dressed up and ready to go.

CMB and Dancer

 

This last picture is my sister JAO and E on the pony. We had a lot of fun and it was a great way to end a fun year of hunting. We are getting a new huntsman next season so it will be fun to see where things go from here!

So it's not New Years but....

I hope everyone had a nice Easter weekend. We did hear, even though it rained later in the day. We managed to get the Easter eggs hunt in before it started and the kids were happy. I'll post some pictures later in the day. What I wanted to write about is goal setting. Its not January and these aren't my "New Years Resolutions" buts its April 1 and something about spring and fresh starts means I can start over as well. I've posted in the past about feeling down and confused. I feel the need to re-focus and get back in the groove. A more positive outlook and attitude will go a long way towards turning things around. Still, I think more specific goals would be good so here we go.

1) Exercise at least 4 times a week: this has been hard for me to be consistent with. The only time it really works for me is to get up early, otherwise it just doesn't happen. One of the signs of depression is feeling tired and havinf trouble getting up. Yet, exercise is a way to combat depression. It's sort of cyclical for me too because I have gained weight since working full time and exercise will help that too.
2) Prioritize committments: I'm not good at saying no. I am the little league president right now and next year I will be PTA president. I need to remember not to overload my schedule and personal committments. I tend to always say yes when asked. Then I am crazy and have less time to spend with my kids and family and makes me so tired I don't want to be with anyone.
3) Enjoy my family: This is tied to the one above. Often when I get home from work or meetings I am so tired and frazzled I don't feel like interacting with anyone, not even my husband and kids. I need to re focus on what's important and enjoy the reasons I am working so hard. I'm doing all of this for my family, but if it means I'm not enjoying my family then I need to change.
4) "Act as if": This is something I learned from a couple therapist my husband and I saw years ago. If you can "act as if" things are good, then somehow they become good. If you dwell on what is upsetting and wrong, then it affects the mood of everyone around you. How does the song go? Smile and the whole world smiles with you?

So there you go. I'm going to try and keep it up and will update on my progress. Wish me luck!