When I live in San Francisco, which feels like a million years ago, I used to love walking from our cute apartment in North Beach down to Union Square. San Francisco is well known for their small boutiques but I was always drawn to the bigger stores to seek out the best deals. I guess I am my mother's daughter!
The Macy's in San Francisco, pictured above, happens to carry a lower cost line of Rachel Roy. I honestly had never heard of the designer until I began drooling all over her items. Ever since I have always kept an eye out for the Rachel Roy brand, which locally never seems to be in my budget.
That is until I traipsed over to TJ Maxx on a naughty whim and ended up leaving with this killer sandpiper color blocked coat.
With the original retail set at a high $595, I was able to snag this little beauty on clearance for $120. Not too shabby! I'm heading to the ballet with some girl friends tomorrow night and will most definitely be wearing this!
I'm embarrassed that the last time I blogged was on Feb 20. It's hard to say why this is the case, but I just wanted to acknowledge it and move forward into the Spring season with a fresh new slate. So here is my apology dear readers, whoever you may be:
I vow to continue using this platform as a vehicle to give moms everywhere the confidence and insight as to how to get back to their once stylish selves.
Much Love,
Danielle
I first encountered Zara when I was studying abroad my junior year of college. Every major city in Europe is endowed with a Zara. The clothing was inexpensive, yet made well and fit the European style trends. Coming back to the states I felt I had scored a great deal uncovering the lovely Zara fashions from abroad.
A few years later, Zara made its way stateside, but it was not the same Zara I once knew in Barcelona, Rome and Paris. This Zara was a bit more expensive and the quality happened to decrease despite the price tag. Comparing to the likes of Forever 21 and H&M, Zara, to me, was just another low quality, middle cost product - until today.
I ran into Zara before a meeting to kill some time. I was surprised to find on-trend pieces throughout the store. Where have I been? Is this new or am I just out of touch?
With spring fashions featured in every major store, I have looked for a light weight patterned pant to wear out and about. While there are many to choose from, their price tags are less than desirable.
I found these ethnic print wide trousers at Zara, $49,90 - great for the spring time with a white tank top and wedges.
I also scored this yellow dress, also from Zara.
If you haven't been in the store recently, just pop in to see the surprising changes they have made.
As an unwilling participant of the Boston 2013 Blizzard, I noticed some very interesting sales tactics by online shopping sites. Inbound emails came in droves stating, "Shop now! Blizzard sale!," or "Bored at home? Shop online."
It is amazing how quickly commerce can adapt to environmental trajedies that have kept many in New England stuck at home over the past three days. I am proud to say that I did not partake in any shopping over the weekend. It was too difficult keeping Gray occupied without leaving the confines of our very small apartment.
Needless to say, we survived and are very lucky to have not lost power!
For some reason, now that we are out of the storm, my shopping bug is starting to itch.
I can't fathom purchasing any spring or summer items with almost three feet of snow all around me, but the thought of adding to my already overflowing winter wardrobe doesn't appear to make much sense either.
What's on your shopping list?
When tuning into NPR on my way to a meeting yesterday, Sonia Maria Sotomayor, Associate Justice on the Supreme Court, was on the Diane Rehm Show discussing her new book on the market. I was sort of zoning out, an activity I like to partake in when the baby is not in the car, but one part of the interview I did listen in to was when Sonia Sotomayor was asked by a caller, "How do you have it all?"
I think as mothers, wives, friends and colleagues we aim to have it all. The perfect work-life balance, a packed social calendar, the ability to tuck our children in every night and see them every morning, and still satisfy our own needs.
Sonia said it herself, "You cannot have it all, all the time." She continued to describe the working mother who spends time with her children, but thinks of the pile of work on her desk. Or, the stay at home mom, who thinks about wanting a pile of work on her desk to get back into the adult world.
Instead of focusing on having it all, at the same time, she suggested we give ourselves a break and realize that what we are doing is hard and not always enjoyable.
To hear such a powerful and successful woman state this, made me feel a little bit better about the fact that I was happy to have a 25 min car ride alone.
So, the next time you are feeling down or think one of your girlfriends has it all - the house, the husband, the kids and the job - just remember, she really doesn't and that is okay.
Here is to enjoying kid-free car rides, reading to your kids, making dinner, meeting that deadline and getting 15 minutes of extra sleep :) To me that would be having it all!
Winter getting you down? Me too!
I don't know what it is about this winter but it really has me falling into the winter blues. I haven't even had the urge to shop! Well, that's not entirely true:)
With a few more months to go, I'm deciding here and now to fully embrace all this winter has to offer and remember that it could be worse. We could be living in Alaska! (No offense to any Alaskan readers - I know there is at least one of you.)
So, let's get into it - what makes winter bearable? Warmth? Heat? Enticing Aromas?
The Red Flower Spanish Gardenia Candle is just what I needed to get me out of my funk. The smell is amazing and the warmth of the candle makes it all better.
Curl up with this candle and a great book! I just finished The Twelve Tribes of Hattie. It's a great read!
Hi Ladies,
Instead of highlighting a new product or trend, I am writing to your for help. I am looking for input on how to better take care of my eyes. The lack of sleep and hydration is giving me dark circles and crazy crows feet.
I have done some research online and it seems there are some roll on options that are supposed to help with the "puffy" eye, but does that also hydrate?
Should I be using some sort of cream at night?
Any insight you have would be extremely helpful!
Currently, I use a daily moisturizer by Aveeno, Positively Ageless, SPF 30. I like it but find I need to apply multiple times to feel hydrated.
What's your hydrating regiment?
