off topic

what my life looks like these days

Annette and Julien

A few nights ago I was up much too late and was surprised to see the SA Annette blazer from last winter in my size at Saks for $170. I had seen it on sale a long while ago, but at some point it was completely sold out. I couldn't resist, so I ordered it (middle image). I still want the Julien in black as well as the Danny pant for interviews. The reality of applying for jobs is finally hitting me, and my closet lacks the building blocks of a solid work wardrobe.

The question on my mind is whether the Danny pants in red would be appropriate for an interview or campus visit. I can already tell that I'm going to need a lot of help with outfit ideas this winter!

the small details

Acne New Snow Coat at Steven Alan

okay, i admit it. i'm a sucker for pink. i also love that the down filled liner is detachable. i can't wait to try out my thomas sires coat this winter. it's plenty warm without the liner, so i'm expecting great things from it come -15F windchill!

broken record

demylee jonathan pullover at conifer

maybe it's because i'm getting older, but i sound like a broken record. as the mother of two small boys, i find it challenging to dress them in anything but stripes. but maybe that's because all i wear are stripes.

i have a demylee striped boatneck sweater from ages ago, and if their cashmere quality hasn't changed, i would say this jonathan pullover is an excellent investment.

work jacket

i'm sorry i haven't been able to post frequently this summer, but i was watching both kids full-time, researching, and had to rely on my not-so-trusty phone for basic emailing and news browsing. although i am not teaching this fall, the cold weather in toronto goes well into spring, so i'm hoping to justify finally purchasing a work jacket.

while in LA we stopped by the steven alan store on abbot kinney, where i was able to try on the new julien jacket. i was in a rush, so i tried on the 4, which was a little tight in the arms. currently i'm between a 6 and an 8, and i think the 6 would be the best fit for me. maybe others who have tried it on can chime in, but i suspect it runs true to size to slightly big.

anyway, as much as i dislike black (cat hair magnet), i think i would prefer it to the dark grey multi fabric because it's much softer and cozier (70% wool, 30% polyamide). i'm hoping to find it on sale in january, but we'll see how that goes! i did try on the jcrew schoolboy blazer, but it fit so oddly in the shoulders. the store didn't have the hacking jacket, but maybe that would be a better alternative?

aside from a jacket, the only other thing on my list is a pair of shearling lined l.l. bean boots. last year i learned the hard way that you need to order them before winter, otherwise they're on backorder!

San Francisco

Finally reunited with my phone after three weeks. I've been in SF since Wednesday visiting a college friend. Mostly we walk and eat and eat and play with Elias. Goodness I love the weather here!

Breakfast at Tartine, dinner at Burma Superstar and Nick's Crispy Tacos, lunch at Ippuku...we're heading back to the OC tonight. What else to eat before we leave?!?

Oh, and this Wren shirtdress is on sale at Conifer. I tried on the medium and the large and would go with the smaller size. I'm between a 6 and 8 and it was perfect in the shoulders with a little room in the waist. Nice airy cotton that's super soft. I think it would be super cute with a belt and cardigan for teaching. Hmm, I have a little time left to make up my mind...

and we're off!

super bright shorts from jcrew=traffic cone visibility

elias's awesome bloomers made by julia

well, i think everything is packed and ready except for leon's toys. whenever i pack for a long trip i start to question my clothing purchases. but at the end of the day, it's still important to have a collection of fancy things, even if i haven't worn most of them in over three years. or so i keep telling myself!

*oh, and i highly recommend dry-cleaning ilana's silk clothing. i made the mistake of hand-washing. nothing disastrous, but let's just say the top is no longer in pristine condition. it may just be an issue with the green print. i'm still going to wear the top at every opportunity, but this was a good lesson in why sometimes 'dry clean only' means just that!*

most days are tough but good. these two guys are starting to look a lot more like brothers to me. one thing i know is true: when leon is near, elias only has eyes for him.

right back where i started from

photos of corona del mar from 2007, a million years ago

this saturday leon, elias, and i are going back to southern california for the rest of summer (FIVE whole weeks!). i'm hoping to make it up to the bay area to visit a few friends and do a little research, as well as finish an article and a book proposal. there are so many places i want to see in LA, but it gets harder and harder to make the trip from south orange county with two squirmy littles. somehow we always end up riding the carousel at south coast plaza or going to disneyland instead of exploring the city.

i've flown with leon, but this will be my first time alone with two children. if i'm lucky i'll be able to go to myrtle, mohawk general store, steven alan, and what else??

Ilana Kohn Daryl shirt

Just received my Daryl shirt, and I'm in love! I wanted the dress, but I figured I would get more use out of a top. It doesn't disappoint. The silk is amazing on a 90+ day, and it's beautifully made. I though it might be too boxy, but it drapes nicely and the longer back helps even things out. Michelle from pretty mommy was as helpful as always in my decision making. I plan on wearing it all summer with cutoffs and then tucked into skirts and highwaisted pants this fall.

By the way, I'm on instagram far more frequently than here these days. If you don't mind endless photos of babies, head on over!

happy fourth of july!

margaret howell naval top

apc catalonian dress

apc beach blue dress

creatures of comfort sale. half off.

it just isn't the same when you aren't living in america, but i think we'll have hot dogs for dinner tonight to celebrate.

pretty mommy shop sale

michelle can correct me if i'm mistaken, but it looks like the 25% coupon code (STRIPES til sunday) on orders over $200 applies to all designers including ermie and ilana kohn at pretty mommy.

the perfect summer dress {ilana kohn}

i was at robber on saturday (happy canada day!) and was finally able to try on ilana's abby dress in the green leaf print. i was hesitant about the color and fit and thought maybe i would like the magenta rose print, but reds are tricky for me. it just didn't work with my playground tan. anyway, i seem to be on a brights kick because i instantly fell in love with the green...plus the leaf print is pretty amazing. if you're on the fence about this dress, i say go for it! the crepe de chine is light as air yet doesn't feel flimsy. my favorite thing about the dress is how it drapes and flutters when you walk. perfect for catching a breeze. if i had any casual weddings to go to this summer, i would love wearing this dress. as for the fit, the medium fit me perfectly, but i would want to go with a large for a slouchier look. i'm still about ten pounds from my pre-pregnancy self, so maybe i would be better off with a medium in the long run. it's hard to say when i'll be back in my old clothes, so for now i'm in a holding pattern when it comes to shopping. but i can't help but add my enthusiasm for ilana's clothing, especially now that i've seen the abby dress in person!

goodbye stel's

i was so sad to hear that stel's was closing. jon and tina are two of the nicest people i've met. they opened right before i moved to cambridge for grad school, tina had her twin girls right before i had leon, and now they're closing shop one year after we moved to toronto. it really does feel like the end of an era.

the shop is having a huge closing sale starting today until june 30th. alas for us online shoppers, it's slim pickings on the webshop. i did, however, order a ton of things for leon and elias from monkey and the bug, the children's shop inside stel's.

i wish i were in boston so i could stop by the store one last time and say goodbye to all the lovely people there.

Wren shirtdress

Lauren Moffatt pintuck top

these two prints at conifer shop are calling my name. i'm on the lookout for anything with buttons down the front.

on etsy

cotton gauze headband

handwoven vintage kilim rag rug pillow cover

do you feel overwhelmed by etsy? i certainly do. stephanie's curated list of favorites makes etsy browsing look effortless. i've been thinking a lot about that pillow cover...

summer brights

so this is what happens when you spend 6 weeks staring at jcrew catalogs after having a baby. you go to jcrew while in boston and buy an emergency mini-wardrobe of super bright t-shirts and shorts to tide you over until your old things fit again.

more sandals and a dress

sale at stuart & wright!

ariana bohling beck python sandals, $195

ariana bohling jen sandals, $223

no. 6 t-strap high heel sandal, $186

rachel comey silk corbey dress, $405 (too expensive for me, but i love the print and straps)

i am sorely tempted by the black bellas at anaise, but i need to check the measurements because i may need the 8s, which are sold out.

sale at anaise

airana bohling bella sandals now $201 at anaise.

creatures of comfort is also starting its 30% sale tonight at midnight (PRIVATESALESS12), but it's only for select designers. 

i bet this APC speckled silk t-shirt would work pretty well during the months of july and august, but goodness, i don't think i could keep it clean at the playground!

stripes and blue

arts and science tuck braid dress at creatures of comfort

thom dolan tuckside mini at bow and arrow

some days i feel like being covered up completely, other days i'm wearing shorts. either way, i can never figure out how to stay cool when it gets hot and humid.

there and back again

we spent a lovely week in cambridge (bookended by two holiday weekends: victoria day/may two four and memorial day), catching up with old friends and enjoying the start of summer.

lunch with elias and julia at tampopo. new things from jcrew to tide me over until i can fit into my old things. new saltwater sandals in light brown (where did my old pair go??). oh, and i finally received my diploma and a funny little puffy velvet hat and tassel.

next sunday is our sixth anniversary. we're scheming weekend trips to montreal and the algonquin provincial park as well as a month-long stay in southern california. hooray for summer and half-days in the office!