I have tomorrow off and I can’t wait; I am cooking dinner for my mom’s birthday and having family over.

I miss you, though!

xo

PS – I got the new Kills album, and it’s really good.

(PS, if the actress looks familiar, she was Britta’s fake lesbian friend on Community….it was driving me insane so I had to IMDB her)

And this is only, like, a fifth of it…and I had cleaned.

So, I’m bummed, but work and Tate are the priority. Hopefully things may settle down eventually so I can get back to blogging.

Miss you guys!

Work has been…insane, to say the least. I won’t get into details, because they’re boring. Let’s just say that the promise I made to myself, to keep my days at 8 hours, hasn’t been kept. I also picked up a freelance job that has kept me busy on weekends and nights.

Our kitchen is now 100% demo’d and I am living with my parents. Any downtime I’ve had has been spent reading in the bathtub and watching DVR’d episodes of Betthany Getting Married with my mom.

Today I am 28 weeks, the official start of my third trimester. I snapped some photos in the bathroom (I’ve given up trying to take nice photos for the time-being) this morning to share the status of my belly. In halfpence news…

• I was borderline on my first glucose test (a test all pregnant ladies have to take to screen for Gestational Diabetes) and had to take a second. The first test was likely impacted by the fact that I ate at my favorite Greek place the day of (and consumed approximately 5 million calories in hummus, pita and falafel), but I was totally beating myself up over it. I thought the shifts in my diet–more carbs, shitloads of fruit–had caused problems and I was brewing a huge baby. In any case, I took the second, three hour test yesterday and everything came back normal.
• I saw the midwife last night and everything is a-ok. I have gained 13 pounds, I am measuring a week ahead, heartbeat is good, no swollen ankles (yet).
• He’s been more active than usual but still really chill. He’s been listening to music both in utero (I borrowed a pair of my dad’s ancient poofy headphones) and the car. Likes: Miles Davis. Dislikes: LCD Soundsystem. We have a Paul McCartney concert in a few weeks, which I think he’ll enjoy.
• We still haven’t decided on a name. Not even close.
• I haven’t thought of a baby-related purchase for months. Such a bad mom-to-be…

I will probably lay low this week as well, and will not pick up blogging again until next week. I miss all of you and hope you’re doing well and enjoying your summers :-)

xo

I’ve listed a few pairs of shoes on eBay, if any of you are interested!

For sale…

• Chunky western-inspired clobs by Miss Sixty.
• Gold Harper crackle heels by J Crew.
• Black skimmers w/ruffle detailing by Loeffler Randall.
• Pink suede t-strap flats with pavé detailing by J Crew.

xo

But, a winner is chosen each day and awarded with a $500 gift certificate. Not bad, eh?

I pulled a look together this morning, for a rainy Saturday afternoon. I call it The Anti Wellie :-) You can vote for my look here or, better yet, create your own.

I read about Sophie Blackall in the April issue of Lucky magazine and had to share her brilliant prints. Blackall pulls from the Missed Connections section of Craigslist and pairs them with her whimsical art. Aren’t they fabulous?

You can buy prints at her Etsy shop.

• She’s 26 but looks significantly younger. She’d like tips on looking a bit more, shall we say, grown up.
• She’s a law student.
• She’s 5’4″, with a fairly large chest. She carries her weight around her stomach and dislikes form-fitting tops.
• Upon reading a recent post by Dodai on Jezebel, she’s worried that, because of her chest, she can’t pull off her new find (which was a steal at $55 marked down).

To begin, I love the blazer. So much that I wanted to buy it for myself. Unfortunately, it’s sold out. Secondly, you certainly can wear blazers even if you have substantial boobage, you just have to keep it open. I’ve found that when large-chested women wear most blazers closed, the top half will gap open and it looks odd. So, rule No. 1 – hands off the buttons!

As for looking young, I am sure many of us wish we had that problem! Aside from veering away from babydoll dresses, knee highs and pig-tails, there’s not too much you can do. I would avoid over-sized clothing, get a haircut (if your hair is super long) and act 10 times more confident than you actually are.

Back to the blazer. It’s reminiscent of the long menswear blazers we saw last spring. The trend has carried forward into the cooler months and I suspect it will stick around for at least another season. Being 5’4″, our reader needs to be very careful about allowing the blazer to overpower her frame. I would avoid pairing it with a full pant or any dress that hits below the thigh. The deep lapel means no crew/turtle/boat-neck tops. A scoop, v or cowl neck would work best with this style of blazer.

The first look I recommend is basic and comfortable. Good for lugging books and long nights at the library, but stylish enough to take a break and meet friends for lunch. A slim, black pant is an obvious choice for this blazer. Choose a skinny style that hits at the ankle or just above. A draped tee (or two) adds some layering without bulk, and ensures perfect belly coverage. I love this look styled with a flat brogue; it’s a nice alternative to a ballet flat and gives the look a more masculine feel. I’m loving these in a metallic, but black is also great (and more versatile). A long gold chain with a leaf pendant adds some interested above the waist while a tiny pop of turquoise in the ears gives the look a subtle element of color.

Given that it’s winter, I would also recommend a nice pair of opera-length wool gloves in black and a great over-sized shawl in a neutral, earthy color like cognac. I’m also really wanting to add these red readers.

I have a few other styling suggestions that I will share in a later post! Until then, happy shopping :-)

Option 1

• Forever 21 Double-Stitched Skinny Jean, $25
• Forever 21 Paint Spatter Tank, $13
• Aldo Lahaie Oxford, $90
• Forever 21 Leaf Charm Necklace, $5
• Anthology Stone Stud Earrings, $25

Option 2

• J Brand Lapis Zipper Skinny Jean, $100
• Topshop Snake Trim Swing Tank, $50
• Topshop Kazbar Lace Up Point Shoe, $100
• Max & Chloe Leaf Pendant Necklace, $110
• Turquoise Cluster Drop Earrings, $58

Option 3

• Rock & Republic Skinny Back Zip Jean, $228
• T by Alexander Wang Sheer Cowl Tank, $82
• Maje Leaf Pendant Necklace, $120
• F-Troupe Star Eyelet Lace Up, $180
• Vivre Turquoise Scarab Earrings, $3,500

Have I told you my theory around why I think US Vogue is so…..blah?  It’s Wintour, but not for the reasons you’re thinking.  I think she’s obviously tapped in, and she has excellent taste and an endless knowledge of fashion.  It’s not her, it’s how she manages her team.  She maintains complete creative control of the magazine, and that is never smart.  When we’re talking creative, 2, 5, 2000 heads are better than one.  And US Vogue is controlled by one creative mind.  Which is why we see a million editorials with jumping models.

In any case, I digress, happily.  I picked up the June issue of Vogue Italia a few weeks ago, while not my favorite of late, there was a particular editorial that really resonated with me.  It might be the British soldiers :-)  But, I love the composition of the shots and the way the soldiers interact visually with the model, never overpowering her but strong elements nonetheless.