Embracing my role as stay-at-home mom doesn't mean I have to be a frumpy housewife. I spotted this super-cute floral apron at Cost Plus World Market and made the impulse buy despite the fact that it wasn't on sale and I already have a perfectly good boring apron at home. Very unlike me, but I very much like my new apron. Makes me feel like I should be whipping up a batch of cookies and scolding the children for not doing their chores.

I should be packing for our upcoming Lake Tahoe trip but instead I was moved to paint up my nails in this patriotic display. I think I do better when I quickly slap together a look like this rather than sitting down with lots of time. 

Not a perfect polish job but I talk with my hands so no one will be able to get a good look at the smudges.
 
The Polish:
* Hot Pop Blue by Creative
* Valentine by Revlon
* Some random white from a French manicure set
* Manicure Beach topcoat, so maybe this will last longer than a day before chipping  

Inspired by the colors that have somehow managed to stay on my toes, I threw together a color blocked ensemble this morning. Sure I was only running errands with the kiddos, but it's nice to break out of the jeans-and-a-tee routine. 

I realized that the outfit was missing the right color shoes. Yellow would make this outfit pop, so I used the magic of photoshop to turn my kelly green sandals to a sunnier shade. Now to find the real-life equivalent.

Maybe I can enlist the help of Feist's dancers to find the perfect color shoe.

The rundown:

* Cerulean hair clip from etsy, made by my lovely friend Raven. 
* Peach scarf bought in a Metro station kiosk in Paris over 10 years ago
* Magenta tank with scooped neck, Target
* Green reversible Gap skirt, thrift store.
* Green sandals turned magically yellow, thrifted as well  

Inspired by the ever-lovely @triplyksis I decided to try color blocking my nails. I'm not really even sure what it is, but does that stop me? Never!

I picked up a few bright flat shades to add to my old faithful, Hot Pop Blue. The results were messy. I'm neither precise or patient, and with a limited time window before the baby woke up I didn't have a lot of time to be careful. But for a slap-dash first effort I think it looks pretty cool. Chaotic, but cool. These nails are sure to be the talk of the next mommy playdate.

(The toes were a real last-minute affair, so not too zoomed in. and you gotta love the soft-glow to try to hide my sloppy polish job!)

Ze Colors:
Hot Pop Blue by Creative
Emerald by Revlon
Plum Seduction by Revlon
Peachy by Revlon
Electric by Revlon

Even before I saw the "My Mom, Style Icon" post I was thinking of doing a post-Mother's Day blog about my mom. She's never been into the latest fashions (much like me) but she always looks great and really dresses to suit herself. I love these pics of my mom in her early twenties when she was visiting Portugal in the mid-1960s. She just looks too cute for words. Wish she still had those outfits!

And all these years later she's still looking great. Even an everyday like the one above fits her so well. I hope to look half as good at 66! 

When I bid my farewell to the K offices last year, @im_nerb gave the perfect goodbye gift: a Mr. T USB drive! That does crunches!  It rocks in an unimaginable way, and sits atop my List of Things That Pity You.

Because it looks like a toy my two-year-old son has naturally taken it to be his own. He knows nothing of Mr. T other than this little gadget, so it was a bit of a surprise yesterday when I had my 5-month-old in her little bath. There she was: mostly bald, shirtless and reclined at a 45-degree angle. My son took one look and said matter-of-factly, "She looks like Mr. T." And while she looks nothing like the memorable mohawked man, I had to admit she's not *that* far off from the USB drive. 

My outfit for the most part is not worth commenting on, beyond these three items:

* I love the gray wrap sweater from New York & Company. I wear it all the time.

* I get loads of compliments on this Anise pendant I bought at a Lia Sophia jewelry party. It's actually a gunmetal collar that I got with a number of interchangeable pendants but this is the one I always end up wearing.

* After seeing these fab houndstooth nail strips on beautiful K ladies @cristina and @triplyksis I tried them out. After just two days I haven gotten so many comments it's no doubt these nails strips are a trend whose popularity has no yet peaked. Not sure they are quite my style but man are they fun. I'm sure the Amstel Light icemen would agree.

 

I miss all my peeps in the K office! I stopped by today for the Halloween party and it reminded me what a fun bunch y'all are. Lucas had a good time too. He wants to go back and hang with the ladies some more!

This year's Halloween costumes turned out really nicely. The Max costume was perfect. Etsy really is amazing when you think about it. I got a hand-sewn costume in 6 days, and with my utter lack of seamstress talent that never would have happened otherwise. Adele also looked very cute in her monster outfit. While it wasn't that obvious that she was supposed to be a Wild Thing, she held her own as a dragon/dinosaur/turtle or whatever else people assumed she was dressed as. 

We've got one more Halloween party to attend, and the kids will dress up on Halloween night, and that will be it for this year. But I know Lucas will want to wear his wolf suit all the time to play in. He makes a pretty cute Max!

I didn't bother with a costume this year since I'll be at home handing out candy. The kids had a few little parties to attend so I just got costumes for them. But right before we went out to a kiddie party I decided at the last minute to dress up too.  I have a black Moby wrap for my newborn and decided to pair it with black yoga pants and be a ninja. I also printed out a Karate Kid headband for good measure. Not bad for 5 minutes!

There are so many reasons I love my mom, but lately good genes come to mind. Specifically I'm thinking of the trait I acquired from her to lose weight quickly after having a baby. Three weeks after my daughter was born I'm already back in my normal clothes and pretty darn close to my pre-pregnancy weight. Not that my pre-pregnancy weight was anything to brag about, but to get there without really trying is the closest I'll ever get to having a super power. Take that, Godzilla and King Kong!

Nothing special about my outfit, and no memory of where the clothes came from, but I'm loving this mirror necklace. I saw these on Etsy from a few sellers and ended up finding the pendant and chain from a craft website for super cheap - $10 for both including shipping. I love the look, and it's also a reminder to reflect a more positive attitude instead of being so obsessed with whatever is going wrong. Sort of a new baby resolution. What a hippie I am these days! A Tokyo-crushing hippie.

October means one thing to me - time to get ready for Halloween. This year I've got a newborn so my big annual Halloween bash is on hold, but I'm still planning on going overboard with the house decorations, and of course I need costumes for my two little ones. 

I had all kinds of ideas but it seemed better to pick something my two-year-old son was actually interested in, so he's going to be Max from Where the Wild Things Are. He loves the book and has dolls of Max and two of the monsters, so when I asked if he wanted a wolf suit and crown like Max the reaction wasn't a surprise. 

The big surprise was that no one makes a Max costume. I found only one ready-made costume but it was a very dark gray - not a very good replica at all. My only options were make it myself (ha!) or good ol' Etsy. I found a seller who can make me a toddler suit quickly, and though it's more than I want to spend on a kid's costume I know my son will have fun dressing up in the wolf suit any old time. Costume and toy in one!

For our little girl who'll be 5 weeks old at Halloween I decided to stick with the theme and dress her up as a little monster. No chance of finding a costume from one of the monsters in the book, so I just picked a cute monster outfit.

Can't wait for the costumes to arrive so I can dress up my little Wild Things!

These pics aren't my kids, just the models. My kids will be way cuter. :P

Last belly picture before Baby #2 arrives. My thoughts turn to escape - the white sandy beaches of just about anywhere will do. Reality doesn't hold a beach vacation in my immediate future, but I should be able to fit in a few tropical drinks after the baby comes. Cheers!

No info on the outfit, which is currently in the washing machine. My glamorous life!

My outfits lately are pretty boring since my maternity wardrobe is fairly limited and I am too cheap to buy more clothes for the remaining 9 weeks of pregnancy. It's mostly jeans or capri jeans these days with some shirt or another. Heck, I'm not even wearing shoes in this picture. Oh well, the jungle cats don't seem to mind.

*Black tee with glitter design, bought at Kohl's. Not a maternity shirt, but I like to show off the belly.
* Maternity jeans, American Star brand whatever that is.

 

Nothing beats the loud hot sticky crowded chaos of the county fair. I love the rides and the 4H livestock exhibits and the cheesy midway games, but above all is the carnival food. Get this girl corn dog and funnel cake and I'm in heaven.

Today's outfit: 
 
* Sun hat bought by my dad from a fast-talking Australian at the San Mateo County Fair, $20. When I put it on my dad said "You look good in that." and insisted on buying it for me. :)
 
* White cotton shirt with black floral embroidery, from Motherhood Maternity. Like all my maternity duds, a hand-me-down.
 
* Capri maternity jeans, American Star. 
 
* Black sandals I've owned forever, bought at Mervyns (R.I.P.)
 

My maternity outfits are never that exciting, but I'm making an effort to go beyond complete and total frump. Not sure I've achieved that today but it's not the worst I've looked, in or out of the water.

* Cream floral maternity top from Old Navy. I didn't have this top the last time I was pregnant, so I think my sister bought it and passed it on to me in the huge travelling bin of maternity clothes.
* Low-rise maternity jeans from Old Navy, inexpertly hemmed by me before I figured out how to do a decent hem.
* Cross-body purse from Kohls. Paid about $14.99 for it. Because I am cheap.
* Reef Fanning sandals. I wear these pretty much every day, to the point where I have very distinct tan lines on my feet. Sexy!

I've been so busy with my party lifestyle that I've haven't kept up with Kaboodle lately. Either that or I'm now a pregnant stay-at-home mom with no time for internets. But I prefer my club life fantasy. One bourbon on the rocks, hold the bourbon!

At the end of April I stopped working to be at home with my son full-time and get ready for baby #2, a girl due at the end of September. It's been great spending more time with my son but the adjustment has been tough. I could easily end up in pajamas until 3pm every day without some sort of schedule.  After 2 months I'm finally starting to get into the groove of a day with no external structure to keep me on track other than what I create. But now that things are starting to fall into place I'm trying to make sure I have time for myself too. Even if it's just a few minutes to throw together a classy WIW post like this one.

* Reversible maternity tank from Old Navy, ~$8. I'm wearing it the less exciting way here.
* Maternity jeans, American Star brand. No idea where they came from. They were just in the bin of clothes my friend gave me. 
* My beloved Reef Fanning sandals with the bottle opener in the sole.  Not getting much use these days, but someday, someday...
 

I already did a post about my wedding dress a year ago, but I figured I'd join this party late and post about my wedding. 

For us, having a fun wedding was most important. We wanted it be a great party, and that it was. It took place in July 2005 at a small community center in the Santa Cruz mountains, nestled among the redwoods. Turns out it was also the hottest day of the year. The ceremony was a hour late since I was stuck in traffic after a big rig overheated on the mountain highway. When things finally got underway the guests had to sit in full sun in 95 degree heat. Yikes! But after that the party could begin and no one seemed to mind. 

Pretty much everything was DIY. I printed the invitations from a kit and personalized them with a flower stamp to give a more polished look. Instead of table numbers I used vintage postcards from places that were special for us and our families. My best friend did my hair exactly how I'd always pictured it. My sister's friend is a flower wholesaler and took care of all the flowers as her gift. Another friend is a wedding photographer and shot the whole thing at cost. The toasting flutes were a hand-made gift. The catering package included a bartender who served alcohol we supplied, which was a huge savings. Since it was so hot the beer and white wine moved very well and we ended up with cases of leftover red. Tragic!

Our DJ was fantastic! My husband can't stand disco, which is what most people dance to at weddings. Still the DJ managed to keep the party going despite this restriction. The dance floor was always bumping despite the heat.  No one seemed to care. At one point I looked out and saw that almost 90% of the guests were out on the floor. Grandmas, kids, everyone. That was *the* moment for me. It was exactly the wedding I wanted: marrying the man of my dreams and celebrating with a kick-ass party. Cheers!

Last August the K team dressed up for Mad Men Day at the office, but I was working at home that day so I couldn't join in. Months later I realized that I had the perfect Betty Draper 60s housewife dress so I should have dressed up after all and posted about my days cooking and cleaning and caring for the kids.

Finally the weather has cooperated with a day warm enough for this decidedly spring dress. It many not be as elegant (or poufy) as ol' Betty's, and I'm so lusting after a pair of sapphire blue pumps, but it's as close as this part-time working mom is gonna get.

* Blue & white dress, Adrianna Papell. Bought at Macy's by my husband five years ago, because "I thought it would look pretty on you." :)

* Gray blossom ring, $5.80 - another bargain from Forever 21.

* White sandal heels by Hush Puppies, purchased at DSW for $29. These were my wedding shoes, so comfy.

* Blue topaz & diamond pendant, birthday present from my husband after severe hinting. From Joe Esocobar Diamonds, my own personal Tiffany's.

Even though my outfit is not exactly cocktail party attire, the ring just belongs next to a martini glass. It was only $4.80 at Forever 21. The prices on their rings are really fab. I got two others beside this one so future posts are required.

Otherwise my outfit is mostly an homage to Target.

* Converse purple jacket, Target.
* Mossimo skinny jeans, Target.
* Mossimo black boots, Target.
* Galinda Rhinestone Ring, $4.80 at Forever 21.
* Cheetah dusty pink hooded shirt that you can't see, Kohl's.

I had absolutely no theme in mind for today's post and it shows. I guess if wanted to prove I am taller than a ninja turtle I have done it. Though really those turtles are hunched down doing the Cabbage Patch or Robocop or something so maybe I am only equally as tall as a ninja turtle.

Really today's outfit is all about the shoes. This weekend I was walking from the drugstore to the grocery store and decided to pop into Loehmann's. These purple cuties quickly dragged me to the register and forced me to purchase them. I'm a wimp about heels, but these are comfy and don't feel like ankle-breakers.


- Madden Girl Kizzler pumps, in raspberry. $32.99 down from $60.
- Purple v-neck sweater, bought over a decade ago at a thrift shop. I think it's actually a super-small men's sweater.
- Black and white floral skirt, no memory of how I acquired this.



And for those that have not witnessed the glory of the Ninja Rap:
(WARNING: Consists mainly of Vanilla Ice air humping onstage)

Today's ensemble seems perfect for hitting the slopes at Whistler and trying for that gold medal. No performance-enhancing drugs were used to improve my boarding or (obviously) my outfit.

*Pink puffy retro vest, Rite Aid, $9.99. I'm pretty sure not many Kaboodlers buy clothes at Rite Aid. Or at least admit it. That's how committed I am to cheapness!
* Brown knit cap, Target.
* Mossimo skinny jeans, Target.
* Furry brown boots, Zappos.
* Thin baby-blue ribbed shirt, either Old Navy or Target. The tag has faded beyond legibility.
 

It's been a while since I transported my old cheap outfit to another world, so here goes. I do believe everything in today's hastily throw-together outfit has been featured in this blog before, so in honor of this remix I am mixing up the dance hits of today for the masses.

- Denim jacket from Old Navy
- B&W floral top from The Limited on the 70% off rack.
- Purple skirt, New York & Co. Could I be bothered to iron? No.
- Black mules, from Mervyn's before they went out of business.

Rock on, rock out.

While digging up prom pics I also came across photos from Winter Formal. These were always so much more fun for me than prom. You'd think that since they were just in the high school gym that it would be less special, but it always seemed a very fancy affair to me.

Sophomore and junior year I went with my friend Bobby, who grew amazingly tall in one year. Looking back I see the dresses were nearly the same in cut, but it was a good look for my figure. Senior year I wore a black velvet dress that did nothing for me, especially in the awful chicken-wing pose. My date was only a friend (as always) but his dad had an mint-condition cherry red 1954 Mustang and I knew that he'd borrow it to drive me to the dance. So shallow!

I think the main reason I liked the winter dance better was that, unlike prom, dinner was not included. That meant we got to go out to a nice restaurant before and we got to see people's reactions to us all dressed up. It's the closest thing a high schooler gets to being famous, and we loved it. The best dinner ever was my junior year (the middle picture). Six rowdy teenagers seated in a small back room can raise quite a ruckus. One older couple was seated in the room with us and I noticed they weren't talking at all as they ate. I felt bad that we were ruining their romantic evening out, but when it came time to pay the waiter said the couple had paid for our meal. The gentleman just smiled and said, "Enjoy it, you're only young once."

In the early 90s, prom style (at my school anyway) was all about short and sassy. I remember dress shopping with my mom and her steering me towards Cinderella-style ball gowns, but I was determined to wear a strapless little number. In my eyes they were so sophisticated. Wasn't I the worldly wise 17-year-old?!

I went to three proms. My school's junior prom was themed "Imagine" and I went with my standby friend Bobby who was always my date for formal dances when I didn't have a boyfriend, which was never. I bought this teal taffeta dress from Brass Plum at Nordstrom. Looking at the pic it's obviously a lousy fit for me.

My senior year I had a huge crush on this guy whose name I cannot even remember - Dave maybe? - and asked him to prom so early it was almost embarrassing. (Ah, the joys of an all-girl school. You not only have to ask the guy to prom, you have to pay for the prom bid and dinner too.) He in return asked me to his prom. Yay on the crush front, but boo on the outlay of cash for another dress. My mom suggested we spruce up last year's dress since not many people at his prom would have seen it. I can't believe my prudish mom agreed to shorten and take in the dress, but the end result was a vast improvement over the previous year.

For my own senior prom, themed "Unforgettable" (ha!), I went with this teeny pink dress covered in lace and adorned with a big bow on the bodice. The dress complete with white heels is a bit laughable now, and I don't know what's up with the French twist updo, but I looked pretty smokin'. All through high school I had a really poor self image and thought of myself as ugly. I remember standing in front of the mirror on prom night and thinking I looked damn good. That was cool.

All three proms were completely forgettable affairs in airport hotels. They weren't terrible hotels, but no amount of decor can disguise that fact that you're in Conference Rooms A, B & C.  The huge crush fizzled by the time the proms rolled around so they were just another dance with a friend. Like so many things, the build up always leads to a whole lot of nothing. The winter formals I went to were so much more fun, probably because they didn't come with any expectations. (I'll have to do a post on those too.) But it was worth going to prom if only to have an excuse to get gussied up and feel pretty.

Ha! I just noticed that then, as now, I never accessorize!

Most hand lotions just don't cut it for me. Sure they smell nice, but after a short while my hands feel just as dry as before. I've always thought that water was the culprit and seek out alternatives like baby oil and olive oil. And while both are great moisturizers they leave my hands too slippery to be practical

That's when I spotted a cow-print jar of cream tucked in all the normal hand lotions at the drugstore. The directions on Udderly Smooth read "Wash udder and teat parts thoroughly with clean water and soap before each milking." It's lotion for cows, but farmers liked how soft it made their hands so now they market it for people. It reminded me of Mane 'n Tail, a shampoo meant for horses but with a following of humans who swear it leaves their own hair strong and shiny.

I must say that Udderly Smooth is the best lotion I've used in along time. It compares to the super-fancy hand creams that cost much more for just a teeny tiny tube. My hands stay soft all day without feeling greasy. If you can get past the bovine-based instructions, I highly recommended it. 

Bag Balm is another udder lotion that has found its way to  drugstore shelves. It's lanolin-based and a bit more greasy, and I don't like the smell as much as the plain cream scent of Udderly Smooth. But people sing its praises for dry and cracked feet.

So if you aren't bothered by phrases like "After each milking," there's a bargain to be found in barnyard beauty items.

At the K holiday party I was introduced to a deliciously dangerous cocktail that directly contributed to thinking pole dancing was a good idea. Despite leading me down a wayward path, I think I may be in love with this little pear-and-ginger number. The bartender at Yoshi's was kind enough to show me how to make this drink, now called L'Poire but orginally served under the much cozier name Misty Day.

Misty Day

- Grey Goose L’Poire (pear vodka)
- Domaine de Canton (ginger liqueur)
- Equal parts fresh lemon juice & simple sugar
- Cinnamon sugar rim and twist of sliced pear to garnish.

Not sure about the amounts of the booze but that's what experimentation is all about. Shake with ice and enjoy. Just not too many or you'll regret it come the dawn.

Trust me.

Last week was party dress day the K offices, and by special request I have transported myself to the high school gym for prom. This time, instead of my stand-by platonic friend as my date, I'm taking my internet crush, stock photo model Jesper. *swoon* 

The dress I bought about 9 years ago at Sears for $29.99. It's still my go-to holiday party dress. 

I am absolutely wrecked after throwing our Halloween bash. I was up for over 24 hours straight between setting up, partying, cleaning up and all the insomnia in between from stressing over everything. It wasn't my typical party since it was at a fencing gym instead of my house, and I wish I had done some things differently, but it was a great time.

Our Futurama costumes didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped. My son was perfect as Nibbler, but we were so busy setting up the party that my husband's and my costumes didn't really get pulled together. His hair wouldn't stay up and the orange spray didn't show very well. My purple hair was also tough to see in the lighting, and I lost my armband and had to cobble together a new one at the last minute. But it still worked out OK in the end.

This year the family is dressing as characters from one of my favorite shows, Futarama. I started a list a while back for costume ideas for the three of us. My husband and I will be rockin' our costumes on Halloween night, but my son's costume made its debut last night at the pumpkin patch.

It turned out pretty well, and amazingly he didn't pull at the hood and eyeball antenna at all. It should look great when all 3 of us are in costume.

Did I mention I love Halloween?

 The perfect outfit for Saharan sands? Not likely. But I'm more well dressed than that cow at least. And better hydrated.

* Tan long-sleeved top with floral details, Kohl's, $8
* Brown foldover skirt, Old Navy, $9.99
* Round-toe two-tone pumps, Payless Shoes Source, $9.99
* Infamous laptop bag, $40, TJMaxx
* Peach wrap, bought in a Paris Metro station for about $4

(photo by @triplyksis, background suggestion courtesy of @stellastylista) 
 

We had an unseasonably rainy weekend in Northern California. If it's going to rain, I'd rather it be Paris. In a painting. Why not?

Today outfit:

* Tan and pink top with tie-back waist, Old Navy, guessing 4 years ago.
 
* Brown foldover skirt, Old Navy, $9.99. (I have it in black too.)
 
* Round toe two-tone pumps, Payless Shoes Source, $9.99 (I have these in black too. I do that a lot.)
 
* Pink pearls, bought in Hyderabad, India. I ended up with 4 strands of beautiful pearls for about $150. I rarely wear them but I love them.
 

It was Bohemian day at Kaboodle so I cobbled together my most flowy outfit. And since I had the outfit, why not stop by a drum circle at the beach? Feel the love.

* Brown Tank, bought at Costco for $11,99
* Yellow beaded skirt, bought in India for about $3.00
* Red embroided handbag, bought at Ross for $10 I think.
* Yellow flower chocker. Worn before.
* African cow bone bracelet. Worn before.
* Brown and gold sandals, bought Old Navy so very long ago. So old that they broke when I tried to jump.

R.I.P. Old Navy sandals!
  
 
 

My sister @lillyoz rocks. She's having her first baby (a boy!) in December and has come up with a kick-ass nursery theme: the London Underground. Her husband is from England so it's cool way to get his heritage in, plus it's way more exciting than baby blue and teddy bears.

She's found some great wall graphics and a few themed elements, and her best best best idea is a "Mind the Gap" sign hung over the changing table. Did I mention my sister rocks?

It's a tricky theme though. I thought I'd pick the brains of the creative minds in the Kaboodle community for your ideas.  What else might go in a London transport-themed nursery? What wall color works with the bold red & blue?  This proud auntie is dying to help her get set up!

If you've seen my previous blog posts you can probably guess I'm not much of a shopper. Well, I guess I'm a photoshopper. Ha! I crack me up.

I have no idea why my kitty is tagging along to the supermarket and food court, but she seems happy to be there.

Today's ensemble was very hastily thrown together in the 10 minutes before I left the house this morning. Much of this I've blogged about before.

* Black floral skirt, bought so long ago I have no details. This is my standard skirt for a dinner out especially when I have no idea how fancy to get. It works with everything.
 
* Purple wrap, bought spontaneously from a boutique after my birthday dinner on Murphy Avenue back in March. 
 
 * Black ruffled tank from The Limited. Worn before. 
 
* Foster Grant "Ladies Elegance" sunglasses. Worn before. 
 
* Black round-toe pumps. Worn before.
 
 

Yesterday was 80s day at the Kaboodle office and I decided to go with a Flashdance-inspired workout outfit. Sadly this is the closest I have come to a workout in quite a while. Time to get physical!

* Purple Sweater from Target, $12.99 on the clearance rack
* Turquoise tank, Old Navy, $4.99
* Purple tights, Target, $5.99
* Black "skorts" that I pretended was a mini-skirt, TJ Maxx so long ago.
* Hot pink headband, forgot where I picked this up
* "Leg warmers" - actually the sleeves cut off one of my husband's old sweaters.

(thanks @chrisconnolly for taking these awesome to the max photos!)

This outfit is a little meh - the skirt is too long and overall it's too red - but really today is all about the shoes. I love these shoes. They go with practically nothing I own so I hardly ever where them, but they are just too cute to keep in the closet.

Also I was too lazy to repaint my toes so it's 4th of July up in here.

  
 * Red & white flower sandals, bought years ago at Ross for under $20.
 * Red tank from Old Navy, $4.99
 * White cropped sweater from Ross, $5.99
 * Red & white skirt, brand is Jonathan Martin, no clue where I bought it.
 * Red rhinestone bangles, bought in India.

I lead a double life. At least it feels like that sometimes. Some mornings I'm in the Kaboodle office working on cool new features. And afternoons I'm chasing after my 14-month-old son and trying to catch up on email (or on sleep) when I can. 

These days my outfits need to be versatile. I want to keep up with the natty dressers at the K office and still be comfy when I'm covered in sand from the park.  Today I dressed up a simple tank with a skirt and heels for work then switched it up with denim capris and my beloved Reef Fannings for outdoor playtime.

(I really need a whole post about how much I love my flip-flops. They have a bottle opener in the sole and this makes me happier than any sandal should.)

At the office:
 * Spring + Mercer knotted-front tank, bought yesterday at Costco, $14.99.
* Blue & green houndstooth skirt, castoff from a friend (also seen here).
* Black pumps from Payless Shoe Source, $9.99 on a Buy One, Get One 1/2 Off sale.
* Purple stone necklace, bought at some craft fair.
 
At the park...
* Denim capris, bought at Kohl's for under $20.
* My beloved Reef Fanning sandals with the church key opener in the sole. Normally $45, bought on sale for $28.

My one-year-old son is obsessed with spinning things, but it’s nothing compared to my obsession with buying him a Busy Zoo. I saw this toy at a consignment shop for $15 and thought it would be perfect for him since just about everything on in can be spun or flipped. But it didn’t go on sale until the next morning, and when I arrived there was a crazy lottery system so a lady ahead of me ended up with it.
 

Turns out the Busy Zoo sells online for over $100, and while I like it and all, it’s not worth that much. Still, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I starting checking Ebay & Craigslist all the time. There was one on Craigslist for a decent price, but it was a bit far from where I live. Superstar stellastylista offered to pick it up for me, but lady sold it before she could arrange a purchase. (Thanks for trying!!) Really my son doesn’t need any more toys, so I tried to let it go. And it almost worked.
 

Then yesterday while cruising the aisles of Target I spotted one for less than half of what it was selling for online. We two Target gift cards for his 1st birthday so it was easy to justify.
 

My son really likes his new Busy Zoo, though I must admit I am way more excited about it than he is!

I suppose looking at Obi-Wan's outfit I shouldn't actually ask him for fashion tips.

 * Capri jeans, Old Navy. I love these slit-legged jeans way more than I should.

* Brown leather belt with floral pattern, Target.

* Brown platforms, Candies. Most likely bought at Famous Footwear or some similar discount shoe chain.

* Kaku shirt, designed by a friend and printed on Bella babydoll tee. Everyone thinks it's a Christmas shirt, but the snowman is wearing a fez so clearly he's vacationing in the off-season.

The story behind the shirt was a group of programmers at Apple found this little guy hiding in the extras of a font called kaku. So they named him Kaku the Blasé Snowman and printed up shirts, which proved popular enough to warrant four runs, each in a different color. (Mine is from the third run.) Kaku managed to sneak his way into the copyright screen of the first video iPod, but remained predictably meh about the whole endeavor.

Today's pic transports me to a sunny meadow with my pretend boyfriend, stock photo superstar Jesper. *sigh*

Today's outfit is less exciting, though the tank has a good story. About 5 years ago I was early to meet my family for dinner so I wandered into a Ross and bought this top. I liked it better than what I was wearing so I changed into it before walking back the restaurant. When my sister arrived she complimented my top, and I complimented hers. She said she had just bought hers at Ross and changed into it right before she showed up. Then we realized it was actually the same top, but hers was solid red. So basically we share a brain.

* Black tank with lace trim & fake embroidered flowers, Ross
* Capris by Clavin Klein Jeans, bought at Costco when I should have been buying groceries.
* Hair sticks (ok, chopsticks) bought at Daiso, my favorite Japanese dollar store
* Black flat sandals which you can't see.  I posted about them a while ago anyway.
 
 

I used to think of this dress as too long for a shorty like me. Now thanks to changing fashion trends I can just called it a maxi dress. Of course I'm hiking in up a bit in this pic but trust me, it's long.

Old/Cheap Stuff motto #3: If you keep something long enough it comes back into fashion.

* Dress brand is David Alexander, no clue when or where I bought it.
 
* Brown wedge sandals from Target, bought at the same time as the brown wedges I wore last week. Looking at the picture I think I should have gone with a flat sandal instead. 
 
* Headband from Target I think.

* Same bracelet as my last post. Earrings and pendant have also made previous appearances.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - that can be the Old/Cheap Stuff motto #5.

I love me some Mario.

But enough chit-chat. On to today's ensemble:

* Eggbert shirt, from webcomic Scary Go Round. The shirt was worn by a character in the strip both before and after she become a zombie. Wheeee!

* Jean jacket from Old Navy, bought at least 4 years ago.

* Capris from Old Navy. Damn I'm cheap.

* Handmade sandals, bought in Tanzania. All my favoritist things come from that trip.

* Cow bone bracelet, also from Tanzania. Most of the ones I saw were black, but I fell in love with this brown one.
 

I'm too tired to get super creative with photoshop, so today I'm just livin' large in old Par-ee.

* Floral top from The Limited, purchased on Christmas Eve from the 70% sale rack (just like my black ruffle tank from a few posts ago).

* Black foldover skirt from Old Navy, $9.99

* Sandals, bought on sale at Mervyn's long before they went belly-up

*Niobium-wire earrings from Etsy. At $11 they may well be the most expensive part of today's outfit. 

I'm running out of unique places at home to take What I'm Wearing pics, so at the suggestion of @mikhail I have transported myself into a more exciting place. As for the fashion, that's still cheap & old. But not older than dinosaurs!

* Vintage lace top from Plumeria in Mountain View, $20. One of the few times I walked by a store window, saw something and had to buy it. Love it, even though the lace rides up and it hits my waist at a non-flattering angle.

* Brown Calvin Klein tank, bought at Costco in a 3-pack. Worn as camisole to keep from flashing people at work.

* Rockin' the Dasiy Fuentes Petite jeans from Kohl's again.

* Yellow Flower choker, a gift from my sis.
 
* Xhiliration wedge sandals from Target. Super comfy.

* Revlon Champagne On Ice Lipstick. When I start to get my tan on, I like wearing frost lipsticks. Seems more summery than the reds and deep browns that I normally wear.

Kind of a boring outfit today, more along the lines of what I normally wear when I'm not thinking I'll be posting my outfit. 

* Black v-neck tee from Old Navy, $8

* Blue & green houndstooth skirt, snagged from a friend who was cleaning out her closet. Tag says Lapis Los Angeles.

* Beaded platform sandals from DSW, marked down to $14.99 but they rang up at 50% off that, score.  Brand is Ipanema. So comfy. I have another a pair in the same style with an embroidered desing rather than beading.

* Black & blue beaded necklace & bracelet, bought in Tanzania.

* Toes in Hot Pop Blue (thanks @stellastylista!)

Grand total for today's ensemble is ~$20.

Man, I'm going to run out of photo-suitable locations in my house right quick!

The weather is hot, hot, hot so I went shopping in the back of my closet for sundress that would work at the office. 

* Sundress, bought at least 4 years ago, probably longer. Label says DBY. I'm guessing it was bought at a department store like JCPenney or Sears, definitely on the clearance rack because I am too cheap to pay full price. 

* Beaded sandals, bought in India for $4.

* Jewel bangle bracelet, also from India, around 30 cents.

* Sunglasses from a RiteAid that was going out of business. Brand is Foster Grant "Ladies Elegance" - very classy! $12.99, discounted to $8.99.

* Blue topaz (I think) & diamond pendant, birthday present from my husband after severe hinting. From Joe Esocobar Diamonds, my own personal Tiffany's. 

And once again the only non-cheap thing was bought for me. 

I'm feeling all nostalgic about my wedding today. Maybe because I wore my wedding shoes yesterday or because of all the recent weddings around here. But since I'm working the grubby sweats today I thought I'd do a nostalgic "What I'm Wearing: Wedding Edition" post. This one is old, though definitely not cheap!

I loved my wedding dress. It was the second one I tried on and I knew it was the one.  I don't consider myself the frou-frou princess type, but I had an idea of how I wanted to look on my wedding day and this was it. The fabric was diamond white with cream-colored trim and beeding for the bodice. The long train went up into a pretty French bustle for the ceremony. My mom had a long train at her wedding so that's probably why I had my heart set on one. (Then again, they had 700 people at their wedding so I'm glad I didn't feel the need to replicate every aspect of their big day!)

It breaks my heart that I'll I've never wear it again. I guess that's what pictures are for.

White shoes are problematic. I once heard they should never, ever be worn if you're over the age of 10. So I usually never wear them. But style isn't always about following rules, so here's today's white-shoe-inspired outfit.

* White sandal heels by Hush Puppies, first worn 4 years ago for my wedding. The most comfortable shoes I own, hands (or is that feet?) down. 

* Red tank from Old Navy, $4.99

* White cropped sweater from Ross, $5.99

*Black and white floral skirt, no earthly idea where I bought this. Can't image I paid more than $15 though.

*Floral handbag from New York & Company, bought last weekend for $9.99.

* Black beaded necklace bought in a village in Tanzania. My favorite necklace.

 
 

Today's old cheap outfit goes international!

* Floral ruffled tank from Top Shop. Bought in London, 2004

* Green sequined kitten heels. Bought in India, 2006.

* Green beaded necklace. Bought in touristy trinket shop, Santa Cruz, CA, 2005

* Some generic petite jeans. Bought at Kohl's.

* Rose pink cordoury cropped jacket with cherry decal, "City Star" brand. Bought at Ross for $7. 

* Brown leather belt with faded floral print, origin unknown.

Oh man I need a pedicure.

My fashion (or lack thereof) secrets revealed! These "What I'm Wearing" posts are tough for me because everything I wear is cheap, old or both. 

Today I'm wearing: 
 
* A complete lack of accessories, as usual.

* Black ruffled tank from The Limited, purchased on the 70% sale rack on Christmas Eve when I was supposed to be out buying presents.

* Daisy Fuentes Petite jeans from Kohl's. Because Daisy has hips & so do I.

* Belt from Target I think, purchased at least 2 years ago.

*Comfy flat sandals from now-defunct Mervyn's. Probably cost $9.99 and it shows. 

* Hey, something I can link to! Toes painted with blue Sephora Nail Polish.
 
I'm guessing this whole outfit cost $42, and that includes the $4 nail polish. 

from the lovely ilykthx

Personal Stuffs:

How tall are you?
5’2”

What is your shoe size?
8 ½

What color is your hair?
Dark brown, always has been. My plan is never to dye it, though that may go out the window once the grays start taking over...

What is your ethnicity?
100% Portuguese

Where do you live?
Sunnyvale, CA

Style:

What is your favorite online shopping website?
Kaboodle of course! Not that I'm biased on anything just because I work here...
 
How would you describe your style?
Boring. I'm a basic kinda gal, love a bargain, not much for high-end fashion.  Solid colors, classic styles, nothing trendy. I'm in desperate need a wardrobe revamp, but I'm too cheap!

What's your favorite shoe style?
I love sandals, especially with a wedge heels. I hate having to wear socks. I should be living by a tropical beach.

K Lists:

Which list would you say you add to the most?
Thinking About It, Life's Little Rewards and So Cool! are my everyday lists of things I want, things I've bought and things that amuse me.

Which of your lists is your personal favorite?
My theme lists are my faves, like List of Things That Pity You, All Things Mario and Heart-Shaped Whatever.

What is your one pet peeve in lists?
I wish the layout were easier to browse (on the way... ;)

What do you always make sure to do with your lists?
After I add new products, I immediately organize a list so the same product is always on top.


Favorites:

What is your favorite food?
Aldo's Pizza (which my parents own ;) and Tom Kha Gai

What is your favorite drink?
Tropical Itch at Duke's in Waikiki.

What is your favorite color?
Blue, all shades.

What is your favorite dessert?
See's Candy Nuts & Chews mix. Rum nougats in particular.

5 Random Facts
1. I'm insane about movie popcorn. I can't share. The bag is usually gone before the previews are over.
2. I've never broken a bone or had an operation.
3. I love karaoke. I have my own machine with nearly 2,00 songs.
4. I win a lot of contests. Raffles, radio contests, giveaways - my number always seems to come up.
5. My favorite pen is Bic round stick medium blue.

My left and right earlobes disagree. The left earlobe is constantly begging me to wear pretty earrings. Cute danglies, sparkly studs, or even simple loops will do. My right earlobe makes a little clucking sound and warns "I wouldn't do that if I were you." Ever few years I cave in and slip on a pair and look cute for about 30 minutes. Then that right lobe swells up and turns bright red and starts bleeding. The right side always gets the last laugh.

OK, so maybe the voices are just in my head. The fact remains that my right lobe is supremely sensitive to nickel. I've tried all manner of hypoallergenic posts, increasingly expensive grades of gold and even painting the posts with clear nail polish. It always ends with a nasty reaction and regrets. I've read that titanium posts are totally safe, but the only styles I've managed to find are both expensive and tacky as hell. I'm not looking to drop big coin only to find titanium isn't the answer.

Then yesterday through the magic of the internet I learned about niobium, a completely nickel-free metal that's inexpensive and easy to work with. Etsy has hundreds of niobium post earrings with super cute designs. I just purchased a trial-run pair --  for only $11 it's a worth a try. And if this works I may be able to make both lobes happy for once.

UPDATE: The Etsy seller I ordered from threw in a free extra pair of niobium earrings since I was her 200th sale. So awesome!

Last year I was searching for a new ringtone. It needed to have high-pitched notes so it could be heard through my purse, but it was also important that it not annoy my coworkers who have to listen to it going off whenever I'm stuck in meetings. That's when I hit upon the perfect ringtone - the Mario theme. It's full of beeps yet brings a smile to all who hear it. That's the power of Mario. He can turn the ultimate annoyance of a ringing phone into a happy time.

It's exactly that happiness that inspires the very impressive array of Mario-related stuff out there on the web. The toys and official merchandise are expected, but the crafts, edibles and tributes are just amazing. I've had a long-running list dedicated to All Things Mario, but decided it was high time to honor him with a styleboard.

After my last post about my beloved furry boots I learned that the skirt length I'd been going for was all wrong. I got some good advice on what would go better with the boots, but before I set out on a shopping spree I wanted to try pulling together an outfit using clothes I already have. This is challenging given I own not a single brown long-sleeved top. Can I really pair black with brown boots? My inner fashion diva says no, but really she's not much of a diva - more like a fashion couch potato - so I don't really trust her advice.

For this latest outfit I wore brown tights and a red skirt with a black and white diagonal pattern. Based on the earlier advice I was given I think the skirt may still still be too long, but I'm not sure how much shorter I'm comfortable going in the workpalce (even a fab and fashionable workplace like Kaboodle!)

Lacking a suitable brown top for cold weather I tried a brown baby doll tee with a fringed brown jacket. When I chose the skirt I imagined the outfit being more dressy, but I kinda like how the t-shirt dresses it down a bit. I almost wore denim jacket instead but that was too much of a departure from how I usually dress. Overall my top half is still too bunchy, but I'm still working off the post-baby flab so form-fitting is out for a while.

Overall I'm happier with this ensemble than the last, but I'm still a long way from the perfect outfit for these boots. I think I'll cobble together a few more outfits from my closet before it's shopping time.

So. These boots.

I bought them over a year ago in a moment of spontaneity. They were cute and kicky and fun - nothing like my normal very boring footwear. I love them. And I never wear them.

My dilemma is what to wear them with. When I ordered them I pictured pairing them with jeans, but I have yet to find jeans that work. Even my most tapered pair bunch up, looking about as chic as fisherman on a rainy day. My main problem is that I'm not a skinny jeans kinda gal. Simply put, baby got back. Do they make non-skinny cut jeans that taper enough to wear with boots? If so have yet to find them.

Still, I'm determined to find a way to wear these brown beauties. Today I tried plum-colored tights and a denim skirt, with funky results. The problem was not having a good top to pair them with. Plus the skirt is wrong for my build. Unfortunately all my other skirts that would work with a short furry boot are black. I'm considering getting a few brown skirts, but what length would be right for these boots?

Suggestions and comments welcome. I don't want another year to go by with these boots hiding in the back of my closet.

I'm a huge board game* nerd, but luckily so are many of my friends so party games are usually in full effect at my social gatherings. And while Cranium has its charms, humming a tune and sculpting things with clay gets pretty old after a while. In my quest for games of more substance I've complied a list of games that require a bit more skill but are still easygoing enough to enjoy after a few too many after-dinner drinks.

The best games have few rules but endless room for strategy. I recently played The Game of Life with my 7-year-old niece and man is that game a mess! We had to consult the (very long) rule book almost every turn and I was counting the seconds until the game finally ended. Quite the opposite experience was Blokus, a deceptively simple game where players take turns placing Tetris-like pieces on the board. Of course you're trying to lay out as many of you own pieces as possible, but the main action is to screw over other players, which is awesome. And addictive.

Card-based games tend to be light on rules but full of action, like Bohnanza, a German game based on bean planting and harvesting. Sounds bizarre, and it is, but even crazier is that you can't rearrange your hand during play. Trying to figure out your best move when you have to play the next card in your hand no matter what is odd, but since everyone is in the same boat it all works out. If bean farming sounds a little too out there, than Saboteur might be more up your alley. In this card game some players are happy mining dwarves and others are nasty sabotaging dwarves, so you can't be sure who's on your side. It's easy to learn and fast to play, perfect for the casual gathering. Plus the good dwarves are called Gold Diggers, and who can resist that?

* When I say board game I mean any game that comes in a box that you play with people in real life, even if a board is not actually involved. If you disagree - congratulations, you are a bigger board game nerd than me. Advance directly to Boardgamegeek.com.

Presents are great. But more presents are even better. I think that's what makes an advent calendar such a gleeful experience. For the uninitiated, it's a box with 24 tiny numbered compartments, each holding a little surprise. Starting on December 1st you open one each day in a build-up to Santa's main event. Sure, each present waiting for you behind the little door is small, but with your expectations properly sized even a waxy-tasting chocolate snowman is a big treat.

Advent calendars have apparently come a long way from the flimsy cardboard box filled with crummy chocolates that I loved  as a child. Now you can get an entire Lego or Playmobil set, parceled out one piece at a time. But why should kids and bloggers have all the fun? More retailers are getting into the act, like the red Starbucks advent calendar above (sadly filled with candy instead of coffee beans like I'd hoped).

Of course to really do it up right you need to fill an empty calendar yourself. That way you really keep 'em guessing. A few jelly beans one day, a compass ring the next, maybe one those cool parchute men - the joy would be boundless!   A Kaboodle search for advent calendars turns up plenty of unique designs. I'm hoping Santa brings me that green wooden tree. If only I could sucker someone into filling it for me each year...

When I think of IKEA it's usually because I have a need for furniture or meatballs. Lately, though, everyone's favorite Swedish megastore has been impressing me with its handy kitchen gadgets. I've already gushed about my nifty cheese graters. But I rarely go a day without using these bendy cutting boards. Kinder on your knives than glass and easier to clean than wood, these thin plastic sheets are the ultimate cutting surface. The best part is how they flex so you can neatly transfer your chopped bits into a boiling pot or a mixing bowl. They tend to get scratched pretty quickly, but at $1 a pop they're practically disposable.

Another impressive kitchen item is this cool bread knife with an angled handle. There's bread baking in our office all the time, and before this knife the sliced loaves usually resembled a fresh-baked massacre. This knife makes it easy to cut neat little slices, plus it's fun to wield.

My latest discovery is this curved herb chopper. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but it looks like a very nice to way to mince tiny foods. In truth, my knife-wielding skills are nothing to brag about. I'm hoping this device might encourage the use of fresh herbs and help spare the tips of my fingers.

Any other indispensable kitchen gadgets you'd recommend?

I was in love with my old Canon Powershot SD450, a studly little camera that turned out fabulous pictures. For everyday snapshots it could give my fancy digital SLR a run for its money. Plus it was slim enough to slip into a back pocket, so I took it everywhere. That meant it suffered a lot of abuse, and after years of venerable service (and a good amount of rough handling) it recently snapped its last picture.

When it came time to get a  replacement, I figured why mess with a good thing? I compared the various features of the newest generation of Canon Powershots and settled on the 8 megapixel* SD1100 IS in a pretty hue of blue. The interface isn't as slick, forcing me to switch between modes in order to access some of my favorite features. And while the SD1100 is a bit thicker than the SD450, it's still tiny enough to go anywhere I do. So for the price - $150 at Best Buy on a great Cyber Monday sale -  I'm very pleased. Time will tell if the performance lives up to its much-loved predecessor.

*In my camera research I came across an article on "megapixel myth" - a good read if you're camera shopping. For smaller cameras, more megapixels can actually can lead to poorer image quality. But because more sounds better, companies keep driving the number up even as the quality detoriatores. So I worry that my new 8MP camera won't perform as well as the old 5MP model. We'll see.

I recently reconnected with a friend from elementary school who dreamed of being an artist for a living. He was always doodling in class, sometimes getting in trouble for it, but he always kept at it. We lost touch after high school, but now through the magic of Facebook we've had a chance to catch up. And he made good on his dream. He's an illustrator for 3D animated films, with credits in movies like Shrek and Ice Age. I love that he was able to avoid the well-meaning but pessimistic voices who told him drawing cartoons was no way to make a living.

In addition to the film work he also illustrated these two beautiful children's books. These will definitely be going on my son's bookshelf, not just because they are lovely to look at but because they symbolize the what can happen when you follow your passion with all your heart.

I've always been cursed. Coffee is heaven to me - the taste, the aroma, the warm pleasant buzz. But I'm so sensitive to caffeine that a full cup leaves me a jittery mess. Make that cup after 3pm and I won't sleep that night.

But recently all that has changed. Since having the baby - a recurring theme in my posts - the sleep deprivation has left me so exhausted that coffee now has a fairly normal effect on me. Sadly, years of not being coffee drinker have left me inept at brewing. Plus I just need one cup, a task for which the average drip coffee maker is not well suited.

I've tried several methods with no luck. My smaller drip coffee pot works fine, but the pot design is so bad it makes a huge mess when I try to pour it. The filter cone makes a thin cuppa joe, and the French press doesn't taste good enough to justify the cleanup required.

Which brings me to the newfangled Aeropress. A former coworker once made me cup using his Aeropress and it was amazing. It was smooth like a French press, but much richer and topped with a decent crema. It was developed by an inventor of flying toys who was tired of not having a decent cuppa joe. It uses air pressure rather than actual pressing and somehow this translates into liquid goodness. Will my search for a decent single-serving method of brewing be near an end? Stay tuned...

Small house + New baby = No Halloween party for me this year

But I'm so jealous of all these cool costume posts I'm going to write about my costume from 2 years ago. When I was in India in 2006 I bought gorgeous red and gold outfit to wear to a pre-wedding party. Back home I wanted a chance to wear it again, but lacking an appropriate venue I thought I'd make a costume out of it instead. Since I had just finished watching the Firefly DVDs I decided to go as Inara, the smokin' hot courtesan.

There really wasn't much modification to turn the ensemble into an Inara costume other than removing the sleeved part of the top and folding down the skirt to make the outfit a little more va-va-voom. I dressed it up with a gold beaded necklace and some bangles and I was done.

It turned out pretty well, and anyone who hadn't heard of the show just assumed I was a belly dancer so I didn't have to reveal that I am big ol' sci-fi nerd. I won't be so lucky next year, since I have my heart set on dressing up as Leela from Futurama. I guess DVD box sets are my inspiration.

Now that I'm back in the office after maternity leave I carry a lot more stuff than I used to. I'm only in the office part-time and no longer in a permanent cube, so I have to schlep all my work gear - laptop, notepad, files - plus all the little things like lip gloss and emory boards.  My slim black laptop bag wasn't going to cut it anymore. Plus it was a little boring. I needed a fun bag to liven things up a bit. So when I spotted this beauty in the purse rack at TJ Maxx (aww, yeah!) I knew I had found my new laptop bag. The color is great, plus the leather is so soft that I fell in love at first touch.

Really it's not a laptop bag at all, just a big ol' purse. The interior is MASSIVE and is split into two compartments so I can put the laptop and work files on one side and my personal stuff on the other. After work I can swap the work stuff with baby gear and I've got a stylish diaper bag. I'm not usually one for zebra print, but on this bag it works.

Usually items at TJ Maxx are having their last hurrah, and sure enough I couldn't find this baby online, but I was able to track down a few similar bags. Zappos has the same design in a two-toned patent leather color called the Guess Shadow Tote. And the Guess Arm Candy Shopper is a very similar design available in more colors. 

Who doesn't want to create their own whiskey?  Well, maybe you're not ready to set up your own home distillery, but you can age a whiskey to your liking with a bottle of Monterey Rye Spirits. The bottle of clear distilled rye comes with a stick of medium American oak attached. Simply drop it in, wait as long as suits you and enjoy a whiskey that tastes like it's aged for years.

Whiskey takes its flavors from the barrel it ages in. The longer it ages, the richer the flavor. But size matters. It's a simple matter of surface area ratio - a large barrel takes more time to impart the flavor to the liquor within. With a Monterey Rye Spirits bottle the oak stick can impart more flavor in less time. The clear rye starts turning golden within hours, and within a few months you can have a whiskey that tatses like it's been aged for years. Plus it comes with a card you can mail in to request another type stick: American, Hungarian or French oak in light, medium or dark. Our bottle is a few weeks old and already tastes pretty decent. So even if you are ready to set up a still out back, you can create your own distinct aged sippin' whiskey.

Leave it to those clever Swedes at Ikea to come up with the handiest cheese grater you'll ever use. The design is very simple: just an oval bowl with a grater lid. As you grate, the cheese falls neatly into the bowl so there's no mess. With ordinary flat graters or even those slanted box-style graters, you'll inevitably slip and end up with cheese everywhere or worse, grated fingers. Because Ikea's greater has the lid secured to the bowl, you can really get the most out of a block of cheese with each swipe.

The two-pack comes with a large and small sized grater holes so you're set for anything from quesadillas to parmesan for your pasta. It even comes with a lid to store cheese if you grate too much, though around me extra cheese doesn't last long enough to need a store solution. At only $6 for the set, it's a must-have for anyone who both loves cheese and values their knuckles.

As a kid, Bonne Bell Lip Smackers were the ultimate beauty accessory for any girl whose mom wouldn't let her wear makeup until well into high school. Popping the cap off of a tube of lip gloss and applying it as you walked along was the height of pre-teen sophistication. And when that lipstick tasted like a sweet sip of Dr. Pepper, all the better.

It's been years (decades even) since I treated myself to a tube Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers. That's way too long. At $1.60 a tube, it will be the least expensive component of my makeup drawer and one the promises the biggest smiles. A trip to the drugstore - and back in time - is on the agenda this weekend.

Fragrance is a funny thing for me. Strong scents, especially florals, can trigger an instant headache. Even a pleasant perfume can turn on me if I have a stressful day, and I can never wear it again without putting myself back into a fretful state. Mild fruit and vanilla scents seems to agree with me best, but I don't really like smelling like a dessert tray all day. So when I discovered Fracas de Robert Piguet I was in heaven. This white floral is so light and sweet that even on a day from hell I never feel overwhelmed.

 

Like so many things I love, this perfume is not exactly trendy. It was first introduced in 1948 and after a wild popularity has settled into comfortable status as a classic feminine fragrance. I saw it described as “the little black dress of perfumes” and it's very true. I never really thought much about the notes, but I just discovered Fracas is considered the ultimate tuberose fragrance. This explains why I loved it at first whiff, since tuberose has always been my favorite flower. Fracas takes that wonderful aroma and transforms it into a mature perfume that's all woman. When something can make you feel that good, it's worth every penny.

Wall decals have already gotten a lot of attention on Kaboodle lately, and after transforming a wall at home I can see why. This clouds and plane pattern from blik was super easy to put up and looks great in our nursery. For a renter like me who doesn't have the option to paint, the decals give a finished look to a room that can't quite be achieved by simply hanging up pictures. They look so great that even if I could paint I'd still be looking for decals to pull everything together. For the opposite wall I hung blue and white framed photos of the Greek Isles.  Hopefully all this decor will encourage the little guy inherit our love of travel...

I bought Christie Mellor's The Three-Martini Playdate as a joke for a pregnant friend who was reluctant to give up her party lifestyle. I ended up getting my own copy and was surprised by the solid and practical advice. Sure, Mellor plays up the breezy, boozy attitude for comedic effect, like suggesting your toddler can be employed to mix up simple cocktails as a party trick. But just past the irreverence are some excellent points about striking a balance between the adult and child world.

When we were kids, our parents didn't pack an army of toys, snacks and other distractions when they took us along to visit their friends. We were expected to entertain ourselves, and did so gladly because adults are boring. But now it seems kids expect the undivided attention of their parents, interrupting any attempt at adult socialization with whining, crying and tantrums. At some point kids became the sole focus of the household instead of a very spirited and lively part of it. What happened?

This trend is not irreversible. Parenthood changes life dramatically, but it need not warp you into an entertainer servant to your tot's every whim. Taken with a grain of salt (on the rim of your margarita glass, of course), the book reminds you that children should fit into your life, not overtake it. That's parenting advice I can get behind.

Lately I've been trying out bento lunches. "Bento" is simply the Japanese word for box, and most people know them as the boxed lunch offering at their favorite sushi place. But bento lunches can refer to any lunch served in compact boxes, usually stackable. The food doesn't need to be Asian-inspired. A bit of leftover pasta, a handful of trail mix or some potato chips all make excellent bento offerings. The idea is to pack small portions of a variety of foods to stimulate and excite the palette.

Perhaps it's the small size of the containers, but prepared bentos are often mini works of art. They aim to balance the colors and pack a lunch that delights the eyes as well as the taste buds. Some people get very elaborate, shaping rice balls into teddy bears or kitty faces. Myself, I don't go for the "cute food" route. I like the variety and the natural emphasis on balance between all the food groups as I pack a lunch.

But I am sucker for pretty bento containers, like this floral design. Unpacking a handsome container is so much more exciting that opening a brown paper sack and pulling out a plain square tupperware dish. Maybe that's how it starts. First you're buying cute containers, and the next thing you know you're recreating Hello Kitty out of yesterday's leftover casserole.