OOTDs: Three.

Sewing friends, before I begin, I want to let you know there are sewing projects in the queue for publication at the blog, but most of my sewing energies of late have been of the selfless sewing kind.  I haven't sewn anything up for myself since my splatter art blouse!  I knew the first week I would definitely want to take a break, so I sewed up a bunny rabbit stuffed animal for Rex.  I did cut some coat fabric for a coat last week, but then Rex reminded me about his pizza costume.  So I put the coat on hold and decided to make that this week (it is nearly done--woo!).  But the coat will have to wait just a touch longer since I will be receiving my first fabric from Fabric Mart tomorrow for my very first blog post for them.  I suspect most of my weekend will be spent getting a lot of that project done.  :-)

Okay, onto the outfits!

Day: Tuesday, October 29, 2014.

Where:  Joann's, Michaels, and Noodles and Co.

Ease of Wear: (3.5 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  Even though the only reason I could wear these pants was because I had a recent weight loss doesn't make them easier to wear.  They are cute, I like the slim cut with heavier fabric, but the waistband kept riding down.  I had to keep hitching it up.  I don't know what is going on...it wasn't the worst, but I wish there was something I could figure out to do so they wouldn't ride down on me.

The Chepstow top (here, original review here) is awesomely comfortable, so that helped make up for the pants.  But not enough to drag it higher in score.

Cool Factor: (4.5 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.)  My style is usually not this style, even with the Chepstow top, so I would say stepping out of my preppy comfort zone helps up the cool factor. 

Anecdote from the day:  Fall.  Grr.  Fall.  I hate the "oh it's so cold in the morning, but almost hot by midday, and then rainy in the afternoon."  I spent the day wearing this wondering why I bothered.  I am not sure what would have worked for the weather we had yesterday.

Apparently Angus is a Lorde fan.  Upon arriving at Joann's to procure more supplies for Rex's pizza costume, "Royals" came on, and Angus got mad at me for singing because he wanted to sing the song.  When asked if he wanted to listen to the music or go into the store, he didn't hesitate before he said "listen to music."  And to make his day even more complete, they were playing "Royals" in Michaels, too.  :-)

Day: Tuesday, October 28, 2014.

Where:  Bowling and Harris Teeter.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  These johnnie b. jeans are wonderful, but maybe a bit too fitted for bowling?  I should probably just show up to bowling in sweats, but no one else does, so I guess I should just learn how to bowl better in non-activewear.  :-)

Cool Factor: (3.5 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.)  It's cute enough, I suppose.  That's all I got.

Anecdote from the day:  My games were B-A-D, like my first year bad.  Sad.  Our team was whooped soundly, after soundly whooping others the week prior.  Sigh.

BTW, these photos had to be lightened a ton.  The light during the morning is just off in the house and outside.  I look forward to the time falling back on Nov. 1...it will make waking up easier and getting photos done properly, as well.

(If I use the flash, my skin looks ghostly, and I am 100% serious when I say ghostly...I am paler than I realized.)

Day: Saturday, October 25, 2014.

Where:  Rex's baseball game.

Ease of Wear: (4.5 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  I was warm because of the Blarney Woolen Mills cape, and comfortable because of the J. Crew jeans.  The boots, while awesome, didn't work with the socks I wore, so I had to keep pulling them up to make them stay up.  That is the blemish, and the reason for the 1/2 star reduction.

Cool Factor: (5 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest.)  I am giving this one a perfect score.  I really like the way this cape looks when combined with the jeans, boots, and sunglasses.  I don't know if the Sartorialist would dig it, but honestly don't give two flying "you know whats" about his opinion. 

Anecdote from the day:  Rex's team made it to the championships with the game they played that day.  There is a really good chance their team will be in first place.  I am thrilled for them.  We have the most amazing coach, just an all-around great guy, and the kids really work super hard and try their best, so to see the team make it this far is really exciting.  Wish Rex and his team luck on Saturday coming, please!!!

Okay, that's all for tonight!

P.S. Boden fans--20% off with free ship and returns are here starting tomorrow for four days!!!  Will write more on that tomorrow morning!  :-)

OOTD: Rosanella and Burgundy.

Before I start this outfit post off, I wanted to *briefly* mention that the 20% portion of the Boden diminishing discount sale will end tonight.  Tomorrow it goes to 15%, which is fine, of course, and par for the course in a diminishing discount way, but 20% off sounds pretty good to me.  :-)  I would say go for the 15% off tomorrow only if it is on an item you wanted but is sold out and pops back.  I wrote more on this sale here.

Day: Monday, February 17, 2014.

Where: Probably the grocery store, 'cause that is all I ever seem to do.  LOL.  No it was Target, which was stupid on my part (more in the anecdote section), and then to the school to pick the kids up from school.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  Oh, such an easy outfit.  The only reason the point is knocked off is because I was a *tiny* bit worried that I would snag the pretty lace on the Rosanella Pullover sweater.  By the end of the day, the sweater still looked amazing, so yay! 

This sweater got really great reviews over at Anthropologie and sold out super fast.  You can find it on ebay, but as of right now, there is only one for sale. 

Cool Factor: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest--for both outfits.)  I feel so egotistical when I write that I think an outfit looks cool, but I felt like I really was working it that day, even in my harried state at Target.  Don't worry, there are plenty of bad attempts that are most definitely not cool to make up for all of the good, so I stay humble (most of the time).

Anecdote from the Day: The kids went to school on Presidents Day to make up for all the snow days they have had (they don't want to extend the school year) so I completely spaced that it was a national holiday in an area FULL of federal government workers, who ALL want to go to the Seven Corners Target on their day off.  Pulling into the lot I sort of noticed an uptick of cars, but it wasn't until I started going around the store that I realized not everyone there was either really old or stay at home moms like me.  Oops.  I don't mind crowds, I just feel like since I can shop in off hours, I should, to keep the stores from being over-crowded when everyone else has to shop.  Oh, well.

Okay, one last thing about that Target--they NEVER have buggies (grocery carts) at the entrances, and the ones in the parking lots don't work half the time.  I sincerely wonder where they all go.  I am not the only person who stares dumbly at the place where the carts should be, either, several other mothers of young children were staring despondently at the area.  Fortunately some nice lady gave Angus and me a buggy, but I tell you, if it weren't for the kindness of strangers...

Good night, you all!

OOTD: A New Favorite Look.

Hey, all...before I get started, I have a few announcements to make. :-)

1. Boden started a new promo of 14% off all regular items (specifically from the menswear and womenswear line) with free shipping.  The coupon is in the sidebar and at the bottom of this post.  If you specifically have a mini Boden item or two in mind, you can grab that with a "buy three, get the fourth item for $1" promo.  I have that coupon link also in the sidebar and at the bottom of this post.  Also if you are a new customer to Boden, and you like pretty yellow scarves, this may be the right time to make a first purchase since they are offering a free scarf with first purchase (although it appears you can't use the 14% off or buy 3, get #4 for $1 promos if you want the scarf--use the scarf promo if your first purchase is to be relatively small or you really really really like that scarf!). 

2. I have a giveaway winner ($50 Boden giftcard).  There were 50 entries (49 on the blog and one on facebook*), and random.org declared that #45 was the winner.  So yay for Starla729!  I will be emailing her tomorrow to get more info from her.  I plan to do another giveaway soon, so be on the lookout for that in the near future.

*well two from facebook, but one of the entrants was able to successfully post here at the giveaway post in the end...

3. Sewing website PatternReview.com featured me as their "featured member" of the day.  I am so excited.  If you grab a moment, you can go to their homepage and see my profile in their sidebar.  Woo!  I am thrilled that I was honored with these few hours of sewing fame.  :-)

Okay, onto what I have decided is a new favorite look of mine, a relatively simple outfit that I wore last Thursday.

Day: Thursday, January 30, 2014.

Where: School pickup and classes at the Little Gym with my kids.

Ease of Wear: (4 of 5 stars--5 being the most easy to wear.)  The whole darn thing is so easy to wear.  Every piece has a bit of special interest to it, but those unique touches don't detract from the ease of wear. 

The Medallion sweatshirt** (currently on steep sale at J. Crew) is a basic sweatshirt dolled up with an all over white medallion print (which if you look closely is very carefully printed to ensure all the medallions properly line up).  The amazing Sybil coat (one of my all time favorites made by J. Crew) has the pretty stand-up collar and larger button detailing.  The Vince Camuto Trapeez booties are in a fab navy/grey leather with silver buckle finishes. 

**I bought a size small, one size up from what I had been wearing in J. Crew sweatshirts.  I think it runs a touch small to size.

It gets hard carting the three kids around, and it is really tough to actually physically keep up with them, so barring here and there (usually when another adult is around) I have to wear clothes that will allow me to do a mad dash to an open door, numerous bendovers to pick up crackers, dropped drinks, and paper towels, and also allow me to carry the world's largest toddler.  This outfit I could do all three but somehow still look fairly stylish.  (In my mind, I felt I looked the part of stylish mom anyhow.)

Cool Factor: (4.5 of 5 stars--5 being the coolest--for both outfits.)  I think it looks really cool.  The Vince Camuto booties help, definitely glad I tried them out and in a shade that you don't usually find in shoes.

Anecdote from the Day:  The day went really well.  And by some miracle, there was. no. traffic. getting to the Little Gym.  I was being smiled at by someone up there that day.  ;-)

Okay, that's all for now.

Real quick, I am not really around much these next few days since I will be substitute teaching at the kids' school.  I am very wiped right now, so if this post reads funny, I blame it on my sleepiness.

Boden coupons below as promised!

Valid 2/3 - 2/14. 14% Off Plus Free Shipping!

Valid 2/3 - 2/14. Buy 3 Mini Boden Items & Get the 4th for $1 Plus Free Shipping!
(It appears you can use the above coupon with non mini items.  Just so you know, all I had in my basket was some Johnnie b. underpants and it worked.)