Happy Halloween!

I'll be honest today's outfit was copied inspired by another.

This might be a total fashion week faux pas but I loved 

Erin's Thursday outfit so much that when I saw the sun shining

this morning I ditched what I was planning on wearing and 

tried to find my own version of her adorable look.

Boots: Ugg outlet
Knee Highs: f21
Shorts: Target, thrifted
Shirt: Anthro, gift from hubby
Sweater: thrifted
Earrings: gift from Dad

I love these earrings.
My dad got them for me from Venice.
My dad is swell. 

If you think of it check back tomorrow to see

pictures of this adorable face dressed as an Arctic bird,

and the husband and I in are trying a new look tonight too!

Thanks again Emery for such a fun Fall Fashion week!

Fall Fashion Week - Saturday

Boots: UGG outlet
Pants: Levi
Shirt: Stewart + Brown sample sale
Scarf: Target
Sunglasses: Target

Saturday Agenda:

Eggs from our hens and homemade buttermilk biscuits with local honey for breakfast (YuM!)

Costco

Wal-Mart

Cleaning the car & fridge

Straightening the house

Walking the dog

Salmon for dinner

& possibly trying to find a last minute babysitter 

since Inception is playing at the $3 theater and I still haven't seen it

Have A Happy Saturday!

Fall Fashion Week - Friday & A Letter To My Son

WoooHooo! Happy Friday!

I'm not "working" anymore and yet Fridays still feel special - the

anticipation before the excitement of the weekend.

This weekend we're hosting the toddler-brigade for Halloween.

We're expecting at least 12 tiny people and their parents for 

chaos and candy.

Cuteness and Craziness is sure to ensue.

Today is a more somber Friday than most.

I'm taking a friend to get an MRI to check out a suspicious lump.

But we're praying that when we go in to have it looked at it'll be miraculously gone.

Or be nothing of concern.

If you think of her please pray too.

Here's the outfit I chose hoping today would be cool and crisp.

But's its hot and windy so honestly I'll probably strip it off after posting this blog and return to my yoga pants and tank top, and the most recent episode of Modern Family.

Hat - vintage, thrifted
Sweater - vintage, thrifted
Pants - Zara
Boots -  I honestly don't remember it's been ages

******

So I don't forget

Dear Landon -

I had such a wonderful time with you at the aquarium yesterday. And I'm not just saying that because I'm your Mama. You really are a joy and a delight to be around. 

Fall Fashion Week - Thursday

There are disadvantages and advantages of being married to a man who works in the garment industry. Particularly a guy in quality control.

Disadvantages:

When you buy clothes at Target he shakes his head at you.

"How could you buy something with such 

poor ______ (enter sewing jargon here)?"

To which I gently remind him:

"Babe, for $3 I don't really care if it even has a hem."

Advantages:

1. He has great style

2. He'll help finance your expensive jean collection 

because after carefully inspecting the quality of the construction he deems them worth the price

&

&3. Unexpected Presents from Work

such as this Patagonia dress:

 I love this dress for so many reasons:

the pattern and colors

the fact that it actually gives me a bust

the sleeve length

it's super comfortable

Dress: Patagonia
Sweater: thrifted
Tights: f21
Boots: Frye

And when your little guy sees you in boots naturally he wants to wear his as well

Fall Fashion Week - Wednesday

Hello friends!

I intended to wear this outfit last night when I met a girlfriend for a glass of wine.

But, the everyday crazies happened - toddler needed me to clean up all the dog poop so he could safely play outside (he is admit that it is all gone), husband had to work late, the burgers wouldn't cook fast enough, etc. - so I ended up running out the door in my "day outfit."

So I was extra excited about fashion week today because I hated to see an opportunity for red heels to pass me by. 

I've never been on the cutting edge of trends.

It took me forever to get on board 

with pointed toe heels a few years back when they were in.

Same with skinny jeans.

So I've longingly looked at some of the cute hair accessories out there but just couldn't help and feel silly every time I put them on. But yesterday Kat inspired me so I thought I would pull this on out of hiding and give it a try. 

And if it was cold out I would have added my favorite sweater.

Shoes - Target
Pants - Zara
Tee - J.Crew
Sweater - Anthro
Headband - f21

Fall Fashion Week - Tuesday

Thank you all so much for all the amazing compliments yesterday!

You all made me feel extraordinary!

And I only got half of my laundry done because I was having way too much fun looking at everyones adorableness.

We've got beach weather again today so the tights are still tucked away in the hall closet, but I couldn't help but throw on my favorite beanie for a few of the pics:

I'm trying the half-tuck for the first time.
What do you think?

The details:

Shirt - Gap

Skirt - H&M

Boots - Frye 

Sorry about the self-portriats. Our camera is HEAVY so it's hard to hold it in one hand and get a good image. And my photographer husband extraordinar had to go to work before I was dressed. Oh, and to be clear from yesterday, he really does work at Patagonia. He's a quality engineer there - which basically means he knows more about zippers than I ever thought humanly possible. And he sews. Which I find quite attractive.

Fall Fashion Week - Monday

The first day of Fall Fashion Week donned sunshine and short-sleeved shirts here in Southern California.

I'm wearing:
Shirt - anthro
Jeans - Gap
Shoes - Buffalo Exchange

Landon's Wearing:
Jeans - Levi
Shirt - Old Navy

Being that Monday is laundry day we keep things simple around here.

Although wearing the boots feels like a bit of a splurge. Since motherhood I haven't ventured into mid-week heels. But these aren't too high so I figured I could still catch him if he goes dashing for the street.

Hot Husband is wearing:
Patagonia
head-to-toe

It's like he works there or something!

Thanks Emery for hosting another fashion week. This is going to be so much fun!

Backwards Bend

Yesterday was kind of a monumental day for me:

I went to a yoga class for the very first time. 

I know most of you aren't really going to understand the significance of this yoga class, but trust me when I say that attending a regular yoga class has been years in the making. To be fair I have done yoga in the past. I have a few home videos and I've been to Bikrams Yoga classes as well as prenatal yoga classes. BUT here's the difference: Bikrams is hot yoga so I knew the 100 degree temperature would loosen my muscles a bit (kind of like cheating) and during prenatal yoga I could blame my inability to touch my toes on my swollen belly. SO those classes don't count as real yoga classes.

Yesterdays class was the real deal. I had to sit in a low-lit room with more than a dozen complete strangers and admit that my twenty-seven year old body is less flexible than most eighty year olds.

I have never in my life been able to touch my toes without bending. And I've always hated my inability to stretch. I remember my parents applauding my little sister when we were just kids because she could split sideways, front ways, any which way she wanted to twist and turn. And then I would attempt to do the same and the room would erupt in giggles - I was lucky if my long legs got further than shoulder width apart. In elementary school I dreaded those Presidential Fitness tests (remember those?!) because I knew one of them was the toe touch. And in high school, during a routine physical, my doctor told me I had some of the tightest hamstrings he had seen on a 17 year old. Of course, being 17 I just shrugged him off and continued running without a proper stretching routine. Fast-foward 10 years and I'm finding myself bending down to pick things up off the floor rather than bending over - because I can't.

I've known I needed yoga for awhile now. Hence the videos and the Bikrams classes. But videos aren't all that motivating, plus I just know I am doing Warrior pose completely wrong and need some assistance. And Bikrams is damn uncomfortable, and long (90 min), and expensive, and really really really hot. However, my pride just wouldn't let me go to a regular class. For years I've belonged to gyms that had yoga classes and I would circle the classes on the fitness calendar and then never show up. I couldn't face the fact that I was going to undoubtedly be the worst in the class.

I am so prideful, and so self-concious, I was sure that the entire room was going to be snickering inside as they watched me attempt to produce a decent Downward Dog and fall on my face. Ridiculous right. Absolutely ridiculous. But I just couldn't get past it.

Until yesterday. And all thanks to my dear Dad.

My Dad has always been as inflexible as I am. We were in it together! Except six months ago he started going to yoga. My 60 year old father took is non-limber self to yoga class AND he was able to laugh when the instructor admired his "modifications" on usual poses. I was inspired. Taking a deep breath I told myself, "Anna, are you going to wait until your sixty and you have arthritis in all your joints before you start taking care of yourself, or are you gong to get over your ridiculous pride, accept the fact you are going to suck and look like a fool and just go."

And I went. And it was fun! I'm sore all over but I feel great. And although there was a moment when a few classmates had to show me how to twist myself up into a pretzel because I couldn't quite get it, and my face turned bright red, I'm pretty sure no one CARED AT ALL how I looked. Plus, the girl next to me had super long legs and she couldn't touch her toes either!

I'm BAAAACK!

Dear Blog Friends -


As my loving and ever-so-diplomatic husband recently pointed out I have been a "crap blogger" lately. My sincerest apologizes for leaving you without any adorable pictures of my son stimulating, hilarious, or philosophical blog posts for days upon end. I really have no excuse. Except that I'v been blogging since 2007 and a  break sounded nice. That and the fact that I am (embarrassingly) obsessed with playing solitaire on my iphone and it's monopolizing most of my spare moments. (If you hadn't given up on my blog weeks ago I am sure you have now.) 


However, if you're willing to look past my affinity for computerized geriatric card games you'll be excited to hear that you are going to get a whole bunch of me next week. Because next week is FALL FASHION WEEK.



I am SO stinkin' excited about fall fashion week. I just hope temperatures don't jump to the 70s so I can actually wear sweaters, and boots, and scarves, and all those things that make fall fashion great.


Actually, this season I want to challenge myself to wear some of those cute accessories that I buy and then tuck in the back of my closet to attract dust bunnies. Be looking for hats, tights, high heels, skirts and such. I hope you'll join in the fun!

Squash

Today I actually have a bunch of blogs running in my head but I'm short on time.

So I'll just bless you with pictures of my adorable son.

Who is turning 18 months on Friday!!!!

I know I am spoiled to see the sunshine nearly everyday.

And people spend hundreds of thousands of dollars too many to live

in little tiny shack houses that would go for a fifteenth of the price anywhere else in the world

because the beach is worth it.

And it is pretty amazing to go surfing on Christmas day.

BUT....

I think Autumn in Southern California sucks.

I don't mind not having a winter or spring. 

The continual summer weather is pretty great except for missing fall.

I love fall.

I really love fall clothes.

(I'm a tiny bit obsessed with outwear and boots. Please don't ask me how many jackets I own - it's embarrassing. Ok at last count it was near 40.)

So it's disappointing to miss out on fall leaves and crisp days, hot apple cider and roasted squash soups ( lately it's just too warm to even try), 

and scarves

and boot wearing.

But the Lord smiled on me because today it was just cool enough to wear my boots to the pumpkin patch. Making out squash picking excursion that much more exciting.

Here are the highlights:

The pumpkins were okay but what Landon really loved was all the wide open running room!

Mesmerized by the farmer's pumpkin lecture

Showing Mom the "ball" he picked

Refusing to smile for the camera as usual

Recommended Reading

I've read MANY books. 

When in the reading grove I'll read almost a book a week.

And while I admit to a love of fiction,

but I also love biographies and some good true-story inspiration. 

Two of the best books I have ever read are by an old Dutch woman by the name of Corrie Ten Boom. 

(The Hiding Place, Tramp for the Lord, and I'm currently reading In My Father's House)

When I was about ten years old my mom bought me the movie The Hiding Place. It tells the true story of the Ten Boom family. A Christian watchmaker and his two spinster daughters who hid Jews in German occupied Holland during World War II. Not to give the story away but the hiding place was eventual discovered and Corrie, her father, and sister were arrested. Corrie spent nearly a year in captivity, a large portion of that period in a concentration camp. And keep in mind, she was fifty years old at the time. 

As a kid I loved that movie. It was difficult to watch, a bit scary, but it demonstrated the power of God in a very real way. Of course, the book is even better. 

I am not big on "heroes" but I deeply admire this woman and her incredible faith.

And one of the things I love most about her is her simplicity.

She loved Jesus and wanted to honor him with her life.

She never studied theology, rarely quoted famous preachers when speaking, and had a fairly quiet life until her fifties. But she read the Word faithfully, loved people passionately,

and was willing to live for truth even in the face of extreme adversity.

While The Hiding Place is a "Christian" book in the fact that it talks about Christ I recommend everyone read it - Christian or not. It's an inspiring story that will challenge your faith (because we all have faith in something) and touch your heart. 

Date Night

Almost everyday for the past week I've opened up my blogger account only to stare blankly at the screen and then head back to hulu for more episodes of Modern Family/Glee/Grey's.

But today I really have the urge to write, and nothing to say. So, lucky you, I'll just ramble about my super fun date with my husband last Tuesday.

We hadn't had a date since our anniversary back in August, so I arranged some babysitting with a friend and told RJ I was taking him out to Grilled Cheese and Jazz night at a local restaurant. We went to the Sidecar Restaurant in Ventura. I've decided its the best food in town in the absolute worst location. Dimly lit interior inside an adobe structure that's painted to look like a wooden sidecar, and located mere blocks from a strip of hooker hotels. (Ventura = Seedy but Sweet.) The servers wear jeans with button-up shirts and ties, the tables have nice linens and candles, but the menu is printed on computer paper. And the food is organic, local, fairly priced, and delish. Although you have to wait at least twenty minutes between courses. But on date night twenty minutes is nothing because the conversation (and Spanish wine) was flowing, the jazz rockin', and we were loving the toddler-free eating experience (i.e. no ketchup anywhere at the table).

RJ wore his nice jeans and a Patagonia cashmere sweater and I rocked black skinny jeans, a black tank with a flowy anthro blouse, and my black Italian boots - which literally had to be dusted off before I could walk out of the house. We look young and hot, until you looked closely and saw the cheese smear on my shoulder courtesy of the youngest member in our household.

Oh, and have I mentioned  how good the food was?! Rationalizing that we owed ourselves two dates worth of food since it had been so long between outing we had four courses:

Deviled eggs with tarragon and capers (I thought it was a strange appetizer but the server talked us into it, and I'm glad she did)

Caesar salad with real anchovies for me (I'm a freak about salted fish. Yes, I know you're all gagging.)
Mixed greens, goat cheese, and fig salad for husband

Tomato soup and a blue cheese grilled cheese with caramelized onions and more goodness I can't remember for RJ and he gave me half

Brie cheese, honey and fig jam, and turkey made up my grilled cheese. Honestly it could have used a bit more jam but I'm not complaining (and I also shared half)

And finally RJ chose creme brulee for dessert and I had the most amazing thing to ever come in a martini glass, and I've had some bomb cocktails before. It was a mouse type (alcohol free) thing that tasted like cheesecake with real whipped cream.

And then we waddled back to the car.
Picked up the baby boy.
Tucked him in.
And that's all I'm going to share.

Just Another Desperate Housewife

Trying to laugh in a "desperate" situation:
Mom said "no more M&Ms"

After spending an enjoyable morning with two friends, their adorable children and a more experienced mother of five who poured out her wisdom on us, I had an epiphany:

I will never having this mothering job fully figured out. 


In high school I was an excellent student. One of the top in my class I graduated with above a 4.0 GPA, and honestly I didn't have to work very hard. School came easy to me. My grades slipped a bit in college but mostly because a) I was having too much fun and b) I didn't care enough to worry about getting As. And with the exception of a Biology class and a course in Economics I never really had to study too hard. Not to sound smarty-pants but I was good at school.

Then I entered the workforce (for all of 5 years!). And with the exception of the first transitional months I can honestly say I was really good at my job. I produced solid end results, pleased my bosses, worked hard, and enjoyed feeling successful.

Enter motherhood. I'm 17.5 months into it and have yet to feel that "easy-breezy-I'm-winning-this" attitude. Not that I feel like a failure each and everyday. I have up days and down days. Days where I watch my little guy give his friend a hug, or share a toy, or clean-up his legos and I feel okay; like I can do this and he's going to end up alright. Or even great moments when I can offer a suggestion to a new mom about sleep training or which baby foods to start with because I know I did a pretty good job with Landon at that time.

However, I am just now realizing that while my children are under my roof (or possibly until the day I die) I will never feel like I've completely figured it out. Unlike my past positions, motherhood is never "conquered." We are always in a new phase. Always adapting to new situations, new challenges, and unforeseen complications. And as someone who likes being good at her job (and really likes all the praise and accolades that go with success) this new understanding is extremely humbling.

But I think that's the point. I'm finding that nothing is more humbling than being a parent. When Landon is throwing a tantrum because I won't give him a fourth snack I find myself desperate for Jesus. It sounds overly dramatic or silly but in the moment, when he's screaming and I've lost my patience, and I'm not sure if he's hungry and needs to eat (although he already had three snacks in two hours) or just pushing my buttons I find myself at the feet of the Lord asking him to give me some guidance (and a bit more patience. again.).

And while some parts of parenting might be easier with subsequent children each new personality will present different challenges and learning experiences. Again brining me desperate before the Lord for guidance. And while the prideful part of me doesn't like the fact that I will never feel like a whiz at my job I know that the best place to be is at the feet of Jesus. So I'm going to do my best to stay there; letting Him be the expert.