Will You Be My Quasi-Valentine? (Or, Early Spring Transition)

Let me begin this post by saying I am in no way, shape, or form sponsored or compensated by Old Navy or Gap, Inc. I am just a lucky gift card recipient.

With that said, it was lovely to receive a $25 gift card to Gap. I have been trying to cut down on extraneous purchases for a variety of reasons. The most prominent of these, aside from general life experiences, is travel.

According to Gap's website, you can spend a Gap gift card at Gap OR Athleta, Piperlime, Banana Republic, or Old Navy. So, when I received money that I could spend at a store I love for great little inexpensive accents, I was very happy indeed.

I checked out Old Navy's website and found a bunch of items I really loved. The ones I chose to feature have a fun, sort of off-kilter Valentine's day/quirky early spring feel to them.

The heart scarf and red satchel are really fun for Valentine's Day (which is also my birthday) but I feel like they are restrained enough to be worn together or separately at other times. Plus, the bag would fit a nook e-reader, so it won me over quickly.

The lobster tote and blue striped tee are just fun. They remind me weirdly of the Taylor-Swift-Conor-Kennedy phase. I would add dark skinny jeans and accessorize depending on the weather (my shoe of choice would be tan Rainbow flip flops.)

I adore the green dress and scarf. I would wear the dress walking around in Florida with Rainbows too! For DC time, I would add a cozy sweater, the adorable key scarf, brown tights, and brown Frye boots. This outfit is making me giggle because the DC version reminds me very much of a girl I work with--she does a really good job of mixing preppy style with slightly edgier pieces.

It will be tough to pick out which pieces I'll wear most out of the ones below...but it sure will be fun!

Will You Be My Quasi-Valentine? (Or, Early Spring Transition) by emkroth featuring printed scarves

Old Navy gathered dress
oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy canvas tote bag
oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy fringe scarve
oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy printed scarve
oldnavy.gap.com

Women's Printed Canvas-Applique Totes | Old Navy
oldnavy.gap.com

Women's Long-Sleeved Crew-Neck Tees | Old Navy
oldnavy.gap.com

Almost NYE

And at the top of my list of resolutions is not doing this. 

I have the privilege of having terrific, inspring friends. They work for amazing (occasionally government) organizations. They have multiple jobs and are able to run retail establishments while maintaining their mental stability. Some of them are LAWYERS, for crying out loud!!

While I have so much love in my life, I can't help but compare myself careerwise. I have a Master's...but I don't know if I want to work in my field. I also work two jobs...but I feel like they're not enough. I never took off between grad school and undergrad. Maybe that was a mistake for me.

At the same time, I realize that looking at other people and envying their jobs is not going to help me move forward. I have to actually sit and take time and think about what I want. The process can't be sped up, and this is challenging for me because I am both impatient and practical. I need to have a job while I figure my stuff out. However, I need to search for a job with more permanence than those I've had in the past couple of years.

So here is my plan.

Save money with the help of things like this...

Work small amounts from home while contemplating what I want in the long term using this...

And celebrate occasionally with my amazing fiance, family, and friends, at places and with outfits that are TBD. 

This is a good place for me to start...and best wishes for a happy and healthy 2013. 

An Excellent Early Afternoon

I didn't have work yesterday and don't have it today. It is kind of glorious, and I am enjoying my pre-Christmas mini-vacation with myself. 

Today, continuing a little marathon I started yesterday, I finished re-watching the first season of Girls. I adore Lena Dunham in every way. As a very fortunate girl who is still figuring out what she's doing, it is so nice for me to watch the show and relate and LAUGH. 

My nails were a bit neglected so I showed them some love and painted them with some pretty neutral polish. Painting my nails while watching great TV or a movie is the best--my ADD is kept at bay and I can actually sit still until they're dry. 

Today's remaining plans: eat lunch containing protein. Go to an appointment. Maybe see The Guilt Trip with the dude. Steps are small, but life today is good. 

Travel (And Holiday Overload) Detox

I've been back in DC for a couple of days, and it's been pretty nice. Incrementally, our apartment has started to look less like a hovel...emphasis on "incrementally."
I feel like each time I venture into any kind of store (Starbucks, my current place of employment, ANYWHERE), I immediately drown in Christmas colors and smells and songs and deals. As a Jew who loves and celebrates Christmas, and a Democrat who covets luxury handbags, this has nothing to do with hating Christmas or capitalism or nice things. After a while, it just seems very...noisy.
So, I have decided to work on taking time for quiet. I am not going to hide in my home all day, and there is no way in h-e-double-hockey-sticks that I am parting with Starbucks. I do have some tricks that I think will help me breathe and better appreciate the holiday season.

1. Light a candle and write 

Writing this blog really is quite cathartic. Plus, making this my new quasi-productive activity will make me feel way less guilty about the Diptyque gift to self that I am planning.

2. See a movie

I have been waiting for This Is 40 to come out for such a long time. And by waiting I mean watching the trailer repetitively. I love darkened theaters and I don't even mind that much when some person screams something awkward. Plus, I get to be comfy and spend some time with the dude. We don't have to dress up, we can go to Chadwick's before, and I know we'll have a great night. 

3. Keep track of spending and sent holiday cards

I love these Rifle Paper Co. Pocket Notebooks. 

This is by far the lamest of the three, but at least I can burn a candle while doing it. 

We're sending out our save the dates, so I am starting an address spreadsheet. 

I also have a list of holiday cards I've sent so far (mainly for Hanukkah) and am going to start one for the remaining ones. I absolutely wouldn't care if I received a card twice from someone, but this helps me breathe easier and feel in control. Plus, there is a way smaller chance of wasting postage.

Also, something I've noticed at work is people reciting their shopping lists to themselves. I am totally guilty of this. I also am guilty of buying cute little extras at work because I get a discount. If I have a list where I can hold myself accountable and also remind myself that I've gotten a lovely and very much sufficient gift for someone, my spending will be more restrained. 

I will also be listening to country music and Ke$ha in lieu of "And So This Is Christmas." And drinking Starbucks holiday beverages--after all, it's all about balance.

Holiday Survival Guide: Part 2

We have returned from our trip...a day later than planned, but in one piece and with our luggage intact.
The items below helped maintain my sanity as well, in both Florida and Wisconsin. (Our time spent on airplane runways was pretty questionable.)
The flats worked in both destinations, especially because the weather was pretty mild (by Wisconsin standards) in Milwaukee. They also helped me look somewhat pulled together when we met with our cake vendor in Florida.
The watch is actually fun to wear--I've had it for about a year and love it. It's nice to look at a watch instead of jostling through my bag for my phone.
Speaking of bags, my orange Kate Spade bag (very similar to the one shown) kept me organized, especially in Wisconsin. It also fit into my small Vera Bradley travel duffel and weirdly served as a notebook/file/iPad/magazine organizer. If it works, it works.
Finally, the trip was fueled by plenty of Starbucks. We met my dad there for breakfast twice when we were in Florida, and I believe that the dude's family has finally accepted that $5 beverages in the morning make me a more pleasant person to be around. On a serious note, we really did have an awesome time in Wisconsin. As the dude pointed out, sometimes I have a lot less to be nervous about than I think I do.
Next up, hopefully posted within the next several days: tips for successful travel recovery.

Holiday Survival Guide: Part 2 by emkroth featuring a leather shoulder bag

Vince Camuto flat shoes
bloomingdales.com

Kate Spade leather shoulder bag
bloomingdales.com

Michael Kors Watch, Women's Runway Rose Gold Plated Stainless Steel...
macys.com

Holiday Survival Guide: Part 1

Holiday travel begins this week, and with it comes some moments that are...less than ideal.
I'm not sure quite where my mentality comes from (oldest child? hoarder? general weirdo?), but I just like having what I need when I need it, especially when it seems like I can't control anything that's going on around me.

I think that when most people (myself included) pack, we tend to think of only the good moments. We do not think of the moments when we are hiding in a room wishing we could be magically teleported back to our apartments. However, having had some of those moments, here are some of the things that can add some pleasantry to a challenging holiday excursion.

Tocca Stella fragrance: I find it kind of funny that one of the fragrance's top notes is bitter orange (http://www.bluemercury.com//citrus-perfume/tocca-stella-eau-de-parfum.asp) because when I needed it last year, I was quite the bitter orange myself. It got me through some pretty emotional moments and also brightened up a chilly destination that in many ways was the opposite of my home in Florida.

EOS lip balm: Swirling the sphere around your lips (it's hard to get too much on) is weirdly soothing. My favorite time to do this is when I'm waiting for a plane to take off. Might as well moisturize during that dead time...plus, the sphere (and the fragrance above) both meet TSA carry-on standards.

Peppermint Tootsie Pops: I found these at a Target last year and they were absurdly wonderful for crunching away my aggression while hiding in a room with my nook. During that same trip, I discovered the Hunger Games series. In retrospect, including the stress weight I dropped, the trip wasn't so bad after all. Bonus: Even if your trip is going well and you're not annoyed, having a Tootsie Pop or two will help ease a craving for sweets without the same caloric burden carried by a huge slice of pie or a bunch of holiday cookies. For the sake of honesty, I think it's fair to say I crunched my way aggressively through many more than two Tootsie Pops during that vacation. But life goes on.

Now that I've gotten out my worries/strategies for stressful vacation moments, I'm looking forward to discussing some ways that I can spread some holiday cheer during my time away from home.

Holiday Survival Guide: Part 1 by emkroth on Polyvore

Amazon.com: Candy Cane Tootsie Pops, 9.6oz Bag: Everything Else
amazon.com

Dress Jeopardy

One thing I'm very excited about this holiday season is being able to go to the dude's office Christmas party. It is his first season as an "official lawyer" and I am so excited that I get to celebrate it with him.
That being said, I have several things that I need to consider while choosing a dress. First, the dress code for the party is black tie. Second, I am 26 and want to look my age. Finally, I want to spend as little on the dress as possible while bearing in mind that I am no longer in college; consequently, a Forever 21 or H&M dress is no longer appropriate.
Right now, I am returning a dress to a certain large national retailer; so buying either the left or the right dress would cost me less than $70 with store credit. The dress in the middle is less formal but (perhaps I am deluded) I might be able to make it work with black tights, the right jewelry, and a terrific blowout. It is really a dress that I will have to try on in person. I'm feeling optimistic because Free People, the company that makes the dress, has been cutting large recently and that should work in favor of my body type. I also work and live quite close to one of their stores, so it's convenient for me to go in to try the dress on.
It's clear to me that I want to wear the dress in the middle the most; I think it's young and fun and something I could wear multiple times. However, I know I may have to take a more conservative route; I want to make a good impression and don't want to terrorize my fiance's boss by exposing too much skin.
This post was really good for me because it helped me talk through my "dress plan." Not only am I fortunate to be where I am in my life right now, but I am so proud of my fiance, his passing the bar, and his having a job that he likes a lot. At this time last year, a lot was up in the air for him; it is a relief and a joy to see him being as successful he deserves to be.
On a more superficial level, I can't wait to dress up and have a great night with my guy. It will be really special because the office party will be followed by a fraternity alumni Christmas party, and he will turn 25 at midnight. I can't wait to find a dress and start accessorizing it...considering how much I need to talk myself through certain fashion choices, that may have to be a post in itself!

Dress Jeopardy by emkroth featuring a lace dress

JS Collections a line dress
macys.com

Free People lace dress
freepeople.com

Lauren by Ralph Lauren Dress, Strapless Evening Gown
macys.com

Taking Care.

The past couple of weeks have been a lot for me, to say the least. They've been productive but they have also been pretty exhausting. The last week in particular has been challenging due to a combination of an amped-up work environment (oh, holiday retail craziness) and travel.
Yesterday, I crashed. I was so exhausted and grumpy that I truly wasn't myself. I am so lucky that I live with someone who was extremely loving, tolerant of my stress, and willing to pick up and eat Bertucci's for dinner. (And that I have my mom, my #1 cheerleader and angry phone call victim.)
Today, I slept until 10:30 (virtually unheard of for me.) I had a minor problem to deal with in the morning, but I resolved it by 12:30. Then the good stuff started to happen. I was already in Georgetown, so I decided to walk around. I didn't buy anything crazy, which I think helped me  feel better--I didn't have the guilt of overshopping and I only got several small things that I knew I'd actually use. One of those things was the peppermint crunch Junior Mints pictured below--a small, sweet indulgence that won't derail my attempt to slim down a bit for my wedding. I wore the mocassins and sweatshirt shown below. They were both so comfortable and enabled me to look somewhat pulled together--of course, the sweatshirt was covered by my peacoat so I doubt many people saw it anyway.
Finally, I came home and started jotting down an idea for a special holiday gift in my crazy pink glitter notebook. I don't care that I'm 26. This notebook is where I put my work schedules, pictures ripped from magazines, and random lists. I have other notebooks (literally 3 or 4), but this one is the one I travel with and love. It keeps me organized and balanced. What could be better?
I know that the stress of the holiday season is far from over. One of my main challenges will be tolerating it better at my job, where the shifts are getting longer and the environment is getting crazier. I go back tomorrow, but over the next couple of days I'll really be taking the time to come up with some ideas to help combat my frustrations and worries and help myself, as my mother says, be the best version of me that I can be. I hope my pink glitter notebook's ready!

Taking Care. by emkroth featuring slip on shoes

Minnetonka slip on shoes
shoes.com

Alternative Apparel Men's Champ Sweatshirt : PULLOVERS
alternativeapparel.com

Peppermint Crunch Junior Mints - Paper Source
paper-source.com

Polished Planning: Slide 1

So, wedding planning weekend #1 is done and a dress has been purchased--success!
The lesson I learned was that it is often very difficult to execute the the perfect outfit, however well planned, under stressful circumstances.
My mom, fiance, and I did so much running around between DC and different parts of Northern Virginia that I didn't exactly feel like changing into my cap-toe heels for dinner, nor would it have made sense in terms of time and Georgetown's challenging parking situation.
I ended up wearing a lot of soft undershirts, some of them belonging to my fiance, layered with sweaters (also belonging to my fiance...whoops.) My very favorite undershirt, which I've been wearing quite a lot of recently, is the Alternative Apparel burnout tank. It is ridiculously soft and comfortable and can be worn out layered under a great sweater just as easily as it can be worn it with my favorite pajama bottoms. I would layer two of them to go out and jazz them up a bit with some druzy dangly earrings. The colors are still soft and druzy is a great element that is both earthy and sparkly.
Finally, something I will be sharing with my friends who are planning weddings or will be in the future is the need for a "schlepping bag." This is a bag that is relatively inexpensive and durable (so you don't feel bad beating it to death) and that has has some modicum of style but still has enough room to hold everything you need for your appointments. A few of my essential items were a strapless bra, a sticky backless bra, my wedding planning binder, my iPad, and a bottle of water. This is all in addition to everything I usually take with me--my medicine, a small pouch for lip gloss/balm and mascara, and my wallet, keys, and phone. An extra phone charger certainly won't hurt either. Nor will a great dinner with your co-planners/victims at the end of a busy day.
I'll be sure to keep posting about (my attempts at) semi-streamlined wedding planning. If anything, I expect to be getting some great tips out of this experience!

Polished Planning: Slide 1 by emkroth featuring alternative apparel

Alternative apparel
alternativeapparel.com

Alternative Apparel white top
piperlime.com

Alternative apparel
piperlime.com

H M genuine leather handbag
$32 - hm.com

Smart(er) Travel

Holiday travel time is rapidly approaching, and the dude and I will be heading to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving and Palm Beach and Milwaukee to spend some pre-holiday time with our families. The Palm Beach/Milwaukee trip will be especially challenging for me in terms of efficiency because we'll be traveling directly from a very cold place to a very warm place.
Another complicating factor is that I don't have very much patience for checked luggage, so I will be condensing a lot and am hoping to use only carry-ons.
A neutral carry-on that won't cause back problems for me (I love the Vera Bradley small duffel, but the large one is way too cumbersome for me once I inevitably overstuff it) and a bright carry on that will easily slip under the seat in front of me are the key pieces. Other great pieces: a purse that pops easily into the aforementioned carry-on and will serve as an everyday bag while traveling, a bright jewelry case so I can easily spot my jewelry without having a panic attack about losing it, and a pair of TOMS in a neutral color that are comfortable and easy to slide on and off during security checks.
Let's hope that these ideas and items will keep my winter travels somewhat more streamlined!

Smart(er) Travel by emkroth featuring slip on flats

TOMS slip on flat
toms.com

Vera bradley
verabradley.com

Herschel Supply Co. 'Campaign' Roller Bag
southmoonunder.com

Robinson Tiny Jewelry Case | Womens Small Accessories | ToryBurch.com
toryburch.com

Mom's in Town!

I'm looking forward to having my mom in DC this weekend!
One of my favorite style lessons from her is combining practical basics with classic but special touches like this Marc by Marc Jacobs bag and Michael Kors watch.
I'd love to take her out to dinner in Georgetown (with the boy, of course) wearing these easily layered pieces with a streamlined coat. Mom's a New Yorker, so there is absolutely no shortage of black.
Plus, I think she'd be pleasantly surprised by my wearing heels!

Mom's in Town! by emkroth featuring a vneck sweater

Vneck sweater
target.com

Old Navy layering tank
oldnavy.gap.com

Old Navy skinny fit jeans
oldnavy.gap.com

Chinese Laundry black shoes
heels.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs marc jacobs handbag
piperlime.gap.com

MICHAEL Michael Kors michael kors watch
nordstrom.com

White warren
$350 - eluxe.ca

The Reliables

While I'm all nice and warm, and happily still with power (knock on wood!), I was thinking about some of the things I've purchased that truly have staying power. Whether they're gifts or not, these are truly some of the best go-to items I know.
I bought this Marc by Marc Jacobs Preppy key pouch as a gift to myself. For the price, it's been amazing. The leather is so soft and I use it every single day!
I have ordered this Lilly Pulitzer squeeze candle from Amazon since 2010. The scent is comforting but not too sweet and really fills a room. I love them so much that my fiance's mom bought me one for the holidays last year!
I've bought this picture frame twice for wedding gifts. It is especially helpful if you want to include something more personal in addition to something you've gotten the couple from their registry. It's subtle but looks really beautiful in a cluster of other frames or candles.
A lightweight scarf is perfect for fall. I am very much a jeans and t-shirt girl and rely on fun extras like scarves, rings, and bracelets to make my outfits more exciting. With its pop of pattern, this and a great pair of earrings can make my everyday basics into an outfit I can wear anywhere and still feel good about--especially because it is light enough to still be worn indoors.
I'm looking forward to posting more purchases that have really worked for me--as gifts to others or for myself!

The Reliables by emkroth featuring leather bags

Marc by Marc Jacobs leather bag
couture.zappos.com

Mr. and Mrs. Engraved Frame
southmoonunder.com

Lilly Pulitzer Squeeze Designer Luxury Scented Candle 7.4 Oz. In...
amazon.com