Udarata Kella

BLOG AWARD! SQUEEEE!!

2012-02-06T17:23:00.000-08:00

One of my all-time favorite bloggers, Jenava of Daily Outfit Diary, gave me a blog award! I feel really honored because she is supremely stylish and knows how to dress in a truly chic and inspirational way every day! That's something I aspire to. Even though I don't go out anywhere much these days, I know that soon I will have to, when I return to school, start a new career, etc. I'm so grateful for blogs like Daily Outfit Diary, which show how you can dress beautifully on a daily basis, something that's not easy to do!

I'm supposed to pass this award on to bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The following ladies have amazing blogs that deserve to get loads more fans, so I'm passing this award to:

Margaret of Too Few Beacons: another blog showcasing fab-u-lous and inspirational everyday style, but also rad vintage finds!
Bhushavali of Fashion Panache blogs from India! She designs and sews a lot of her own clothes and also has a wonderful travel blog!

I'm so happy to have found such inspirational stylish blogs from around the world! I can truly say I've learned how to dress better by reading them, and I'm very thankful for that. Don't wait to check them out -- they are wonderful!

WINTER WIND

2012-01-07T20:14:00.000-08:00

Our winter so far has been really weird -- mostly bright and sunny, but cold and windy too. More like Fall or Spring. The rain we so badly need around here is nowhere to be found.

Today we went to the library with the baby, and I had to dress warmly but without too much bulk or layers. So I chose this cozy flared sweater with jeggings and tall boots. It worked very well!

I love cozy knits like this but can't wear a lot of them because I'm so top-heavy. But the flare in this sweater gives it a sense of balance and shape. I love how clothes like this are just as comfortable as yoga pants and tees, but look so much nicer. After all, you never know whom you'll run into at a library!

So I'm glad I got another mom-on-the-go (MOTG) outfit down. I should keep a record of these or something, for easy reference, lol!

Sweater: Free People

Top: Faded Glory (Walmart)

Jeggings: Old Navy

Boots: Me Too

NEW YEAR'S EVE 2011

2012-01-03T18:36:00.000-08:00

What did you do on New Year's Eve? We were invited to a Sri Lankan dinner-dance, but we decided not to attend because of the baby. My mother went, and turns out there were plenty of other babies there. Oh, well ... next time!

But we did have a very nice New Year's Eve -- we went to a newly-opened Italian restaurant, where the ambience was warm and pleasant. The food was pretty good too. We enjoyed a quiet, easygoing family dinner (our very first!) and it was awesome!

I had a hard time choosing what to wear. When we were thinking about going to the dinner-dance, I was going to wear a party dress, but for a family dinner on New Year's Eve? I had no idea. I didn't want to wear jeans (even with boots), and my dresses were too summer-y for January.

Until I remembered that I got this dress last year when I was pregnant. It was sleeveless but perfect with a sweater. And I loved the festive black-and-white polka dots!

With it I wore my Belle by Sigerson Morrison boots. The dress was washable and didn't need ironing, which is always perfect when you have a small child to carry around! And the flat heels were great for that too.

We rang in the New Year in a very nice way, and I'm hoping that 2012 will bring us all a lot of joy and good luck!

Dress: I.N.C. (Macy's)

Sweater: Jessica Howard

Boots: Belle/Sigerson Morrison

VINTAGE LUV!

2012-01-01T17:53:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! Hope your New Year's Eve was awesome and 2012 is off to a wonderful start!

I thought I'd start the first post of the new year about some fabulous old stuff! ^_^ Vintage stuff, that is -- some beautiful leather accessories I picked up at our local Hospice Thrift store.

First off, these gorgeous leather gloves. They are just the softest, most supple gloves I've ever seen or felt in my life. By the typeface of the label on the inside, they look like they're from the '60s, maybe early '70s. Swoooon! I felt like an elegant lady just slipping them on!

I also found (thanks to a tip-off from my mother), this beautiful '80s leather tote by an obscure luxury leather goods label called Sergios Collection. The company still seem to be in business in the Middle East, but not in North America (though I could be wrong). I love the gorgeous rose with the little metal studs around it!

The quality of vintage accessories never fails to amaze me. They retain their beauty and durability for decades and decades after they were used. I always wonder whether the leather bags and gloves made today will ever last as long and look as good.

I hope 2012 brings more such treasures my way. There are few things I enjoy more than a good turn vintage shopping around our local charity shops!

FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE ... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2011-12-31T23:51:00.000-08:00

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 to all my wonderful blog friends out there! I hope 2012 is special, happy and memorable in the best way for you! Much love and blessings to you all! ^_^

CHRISTMAS DAY 2011

2011-12-27T12:02:00.000-08:00

This was a very special day for us because it was our baby Devindra's first Christmas. It turned out wonderful and Devindra loved his presents! We got him a set of vintage fairy tale picture books, illustrated by Janet & Anne Grahame-Johnstone. I had these books as a child and now I'm collecting them for our son.

For the day, I wore this Free People dress, which I love for cold weather because of the bright "wintery" colors! It's also very comfortable and allowed me to run around getting things ready for dinner, take care of the baby, and eat comfortably! ^_^ Clothes that allow you to do all that are hard to find, so I'm always looking out for them.

Hem detail. I just love these colors - they remind me of a stained glass window!

I wore dark purple/burgundy tights and brown boots because I wanted to tone down the black color of the dress:

Dress: Free People

Top: Mossimo (Target)
Tights: Calvin Klein (via TJ Maxx)

Boots: Bronx

Hope you all enjoyed a fabulous, joyous Christmas! Now on to the new year ... can't wait!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011!

2011-12-25T08:13:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to all of you wonderful folks! Hope you all enjoy a safe, fun, happy and wonderful holiday!

The photo is of a border collie, by the way. We have an adorable border collie and she's always merry and bright every day ... so I thought it would be fitting to share a bit of that with all of you!

MOM-ON-THE-GO!

2011-12-24T19:10:00.000-08:00

Right before Christmas vacation, baby Devindra and I went to pick up his father from his office and visit with Asoka's wonderful co-workers! I wore this outfit because it was easy to move around with a baby in it, but also because I love the knit pattern at the edges of the sweater-vest. With it, I also wore my favorite Belle by Sigerson Morrison boots, which I bought years ago on clearance at Norstrom Rack, for under $100! Astounding when you consider this brand's $500+ retail price. Sometimes I really luck out on boot bargains. ^_^

I was excited about this because I consider it my first real mom-on-the-go (MOTG) outfit! MOTG dressing is something I'm figuring out only now, and finding that it involves a lot of practice and trial-and-error. But I'm really enjoying the process, and looking forward to more MOTG adventures!

DAY 11

2011-12-23T10:49:00.000-08:00

A picture of something you hate

I hate the fact that in the U.S., one of the richest nations in the world, so many people are homeless and hungry. I can never, ever get used to this.

BAGGING A BARGAIN ...

2011-12-10T09:23:00.000-08:00

I'd never been a handbag person, until I saw a lovely suede hobo by Lucky Brand a few years ago at our local Ross store. I was captivated. I wanted to just carry it everywhere! At $76, it seemed very expensive to me. But I couldn't get it out of my mind, so I bought it.

Good thing I did, because a few days later that store caught fire and burned down!

But even more, to this day it's one of my favorite handbags. I feel awesome every time I carry it. It's the bag that made me a handbag person.

Since then, I've found some amazing bags at great prices. However, this past month I really hit the jackpot:

I've been looking for a dull gold color evening clutch for years, with no success. Then recently, I spotted this on clearance at our local Macy's. It cost $8, and is absolutely perfect -- roomy enough for essentials, but still nighttime glamorous!

At the same sale I found this wonderful tie-dye effect tote bag for my mother. It's by Kipling and it's waterproof. She loved it! It's perfect for all the heavy books and papers she carries around while going to classes for her masters degree, especially since they'll be protected from the rain. Originally $100, I got it for $30! She now carries it every single day, which makes me so happy!

Next, at the same sale I spotted this Lucky Brand bag. Someone had returned it, I think, so it was relabeled with a new price tag of $40, which is astounding considering the original price was $190!! Even the salesgirl told me that if she didn't work there, she might have fought me for it, lol! I love the denim blue color, which goes with a lot of my wardrobe since I'm always in jeans.

Finally, the most special and amazing bag. I saw it online at Free People, but it was waaaay too expensive for me. And then ... it went on clearance for 70% off, the site offered a free shipping deal, and we got a second tax refund!! I was going to keep that for the baby, but my husband said to get the bag, instead, since we had enough saved up for the baby's things. I still couldn't bring myself to get it, but when I noticed it selling out quickly, I couldn't let it get away.

I'm soooo glad I bought it! It goes with most of my clothes and has a subtle "tie-dye" effect that I adore -- I'm a sucker for anything tie-dye. The colors and sheen of it look subtly different in different kinds of light, which is really cool! And it will come in very handy when Devindra gets bigger and I take him places like the park, because it's big enough to hold everything from diapers and a bottle to a book for me to read. Don't want to be a shabby mom at the sandbox! ;o)

There's nothing like a good deal on otherwise expensive accessories. Whether they're found at department stores or thrift stores, I've finally realized that a great bag can transform your whole look!

A CANADA DAY!

2011-12-06T13:32:00.000-08:00

I've always wanted an army green cargo jacket, but never found a suitable one because I'm so busty and top-heavy. I kept looking, though, because I love this style. Then one day I saw this on the clearance racks of our local Macy's:

Tried it on and fell instantly in love! It's by a Canadian clothing line, Costa Blanca, and the day I wore it was very windy and blustery. It was comfortable and cute, and I loved it so much I didn't want to take it off! ^_^ Here's a closeup:

With it, I wore a pair of boots by another Canadian company, John Fluevog. I swear I didn't mean to do a "Canada" theme, but weirdly these just went together!

Usually Fluevogs are too expensive for me, but I got these on clearance years ago. I love how form-fitting they are even on my chicken legs -- well-fitting boots for thin calves are about as hard to find as the proverbial needles in haystacks, so I was thrilled with these!

I'm really impressed with Canadian brands. Their quality is really good, and the styles are fantastic too!

A WEDDING!

2011-12-03T19:11:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago we went to the wedding of the young lady whose bridal shower we'd gone to earlier. This was the first wedding my husband and I attended after we got married, and also the first formal event to which we brought our little son! I overpacked the diaper bag in case of emergencies, but everything went very well. Devindra didn't cry at all, and was very well-behaved throughout the reception. We were so proud of him!

Since this was a Sri Lankan wedding, we had to really dress up in formal clothes. Women usually wear saris to South Asian weddings, and Sri Lankan ones are no exception. However, I couldn't fit into my sari blouses after having the baby, so until I lost enough weight to get back into them I chose a floor-length dress I got on clearance from Nordstrom:

(click to enlarge)

I love this dress! I felt really good in it, and it fit the occasion perfectly. Since the dress had a jeweled embellishment at the shoulder, I wore earrings and lots of bangles to match:

(click to enlarge)

The bangles were a mix of new ones I got at Macy's, our local Indian store Meena Bazaar, and ones I owned.

South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, etc.) stores often carry a variety of beautiful costume jewelry from India and Pakistan. I go to these shops for jewelry to match different outfits. I look for bangles in all different colors, and I now have a great collections!

THANKSGIVING 2011!

2011-11-23T13:09:00.000-08:00

November 24th is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.A. Across the country, families get together to eat a fabulous feast and give thanks for the good things in their lives.

This year, I want to write about what I'm thankful for. It's easy to forget your good fortune on a daily basis, or when things aren't going the way you want, so I thought this was the perfect time to reflect on that!

What I'm most grateful for, of course, is our little son! His being born healthy and happy is probably the greatest gift of my life because it could have gone very, very wrong -- I'm diabetic, and pregnancy with diabetes is extremely high risk. My grandmother and great-aunt, also diabetics, lost babies to uncontrolled blood sugar, which wasn't monitored during pregnancy those days. I am incredibly lucky that today things are completely different: I had to go on a strict diet, inject myself with insulin several times a day, and be monitored twice a week, but it was all worth it! Devindra came into this world safely, and continues to bless us every second of every day!

(Baby D with a fauxhawk!)

Which brings me to ... the staff at the University of California Davis Medical Center Labor & Delivery unit! They were amaaaazing! Although my OB-GYN wasn't on duty that day, the doctors and nurses who were there got me through the ordeal of labor (nearly 36 hours ... gaah!) and 4 hours of pushing. The fact that this happened without an emergency C-section, or using forceps or a vacuum extractor to pull the baby's head out, was all due to the crowd of doctors, interns and medical students who were there. They were a huge cheering section urging me to push, and their great encouragement is what gave me the strength to do it! They were beyond awesome!

(UCD Med Center, Sacramento)

(the wonderful doctors getting ready for Devindra's arrival!)

The opportunity to stay home with Devindra during this, his first year. It hasn't been easy -- we had to move back with my mother and live off my husband's single paycheck, but being able to watch our little boy grow is absolutely priceless.
Secondhand shopping! I'm a huge fan of buying secondhand and/or vintage: saves money, reusing is good for the environment, and it allows us to get great quality stuff we couldn't otherwise afford. All my furniture is vintage secondhand, as well as much of my wardrobe, but this year the parents at our preschool gave us many wonderful clothes and accessories for Devindra too! This is awesome because babies outgrow their clothes so quickly, and I didn't want to waste money on new things. We also got his stroller, carseat, and bassinet secondhand, as well as his gorgeous dresser from the 1930s. All thanks to local thrift stores and Craigslist!

(this beautiful patterned wood dresser from the '30s looks almost exactly like the one we bought for Devindra!)

Sunflower Market! This natural food & drugs store opened in our part of town (which is the old part, so we've been going without a supermarket for years now), and it's really wonderful! We can get all kinds of foods and goods, from organic produce to handmade soaps and natural toiletries, at reasonable and affordable (i.e. non Whole Foods) prices. This has been a huge blessing for us all!

So these are a few of the things I'm thankful for this year? I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

What are you thankful for this year?

DIWALI PARTY

2011-11-20T12:31:00.001-08:00

A couple of weeks ago we went to our Indian friends' home for a Diwali party. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, celebrated with great joy and excitement throughout India. There are temple services, parties, festivals, fireworks and loads of yummy food and sweets! Since there are many Indian children at our preschool, we get gifts of homemade sweets and invitations to Diwali parties.

Indians dress up to the nines for Diwali, in outfits glittering with sequins, crystals and jewels. Even little babies are in blinged-out clothes! I couldn't wear one of my saris since I still can't fit into the blouses post-baby, but hopefully next year I'll get to do that.

So instead, I chose a colorful maxi dress with a cotton sweater (since it was cold) and Indian bangles:

Our little son loved this dress! I think it's because babies are drawn to bright colors. ^_^ I even got compliments from one of the ladies at the party, who wanted to know where to find dresses like this. I got mine online from Nordstrom.

I also wore these bangles, a gift a friend brought me from India, and they went perfectly with the dress:

We had so much fun at that party! I could kick myself, though -- I forgot to take my camera! The gorgeous saris and outfits were a sight to behold. Next time, I'll be sure to take some photos to share with you all.

DAY 10

2011-11-20T01:11:00.000-08:00

A Picture of the person you do the most messed-up things with

That would be my best friend from college, Wendy L, pictured on the left with her brother-in-law and little niece!

Although I don't do messed-up stuff anymore, in college we did some really off-the-wall things and had lots of fun! I miss those days.

If I had my life to live over again, knowing what I know now about how things would turn out for me, I would start again in those days when Wendy and I were in college, enjoying every moment!

DAY 09

2011-11-04T12:47:00.000-07:00

A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

This might sound weird, because the person I chose is St. Jude Thaddeus, a Catholic saint. First of all, I'm not sure he'd quite qualify as a "person" as such ... he might be a myth or legend, for all we know. Second, I'm not Catholic!

But my father is, and in Sri Lanka I was sent to an all-girls Catholic school. Somewhere along the way we learned about the saints and praying to them for help, etc. And although we know very little about Jude the Apostle, we do know that he lived, and might even have been the brother of Jesus. Which means he wasn't Catholic either. ^_^

St. Jude is the patron saint of lost causes and worst-case scenarios. When I was experiencing just that, a couple of years ago, I prayed every day to St. Jude and I'm convinced he got me through them. I prayed to him when we were told we could never have children of our own, and I said the same prayer on behalf of my cousin in Sri Lanka, who had also been trying for many years to get pregnant. And, well ... we're now both mothers!

I've prayed to St. Jude throughout my life. I have seen him in my dreams. I consider him to be more or less my Jewish Zayde (grandfather), who guides me and always brings me through the hardest times of my life.

HOW WAS YOUR HALLOWEEN?

2011-11-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a fabulous Halloween! Ours was memorable because it was our baby Devindra's first Halloween! I dressed him up as a little calf because his zodiac sign is Taurus (the Bull). It was too adorable!

Some of our memories:

Devindra enjoyed the costume at first, but started fussing later on so I changed him back into his regular clothes. But not before snapping pics!

I dressed up as a pirate, in a fab velvet skirt (brand new, with tags!) I found at the thrift store, where I also found the bell-sleeved top. I wore my own boots. I'm planning on wearing the skirt again in my real-life wardrobe.

We carved some cool jack-o-lanterns! The small one on the left is Devindra's.

All in all, it was a fun and memorable Halloween! Hope yours was filled with good times too!

STYLISH SCARY MOVIES

2011-10-25T16:20:00.000-07:00

It's almost Halloween, my favorite holiday! I look forward to it the way other people look forward to Christmas. I love the costumes, candy, scary movies, trick-or-treaters, everything!

I'm thrilled that the great scary movies run on t.v. a lot, this time of year. I have a fondness for films that are genuinely frightening but not too gory or bloody. One of my favorites is Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. I love its chilling atmosphere, but I also adore it for Shelley Duvall's great wardrobe!

When I first saw this film I was drawn to her whole look -- simple and sporty but sharp and unique too. She has a timeless flair! Imagine a hipster girl of today in variations of clothes like these:

Gotta love the pinafore dress!

Cuteness!

My favorite Shelley Duvall outfit is this one, with an adorable yellow sweater paired with dark blue jeans:

She wears desert boots with everything in this movie. Yesssss!!!

She's also got a way with a midi skirt. I'm not really a fan of this length, but if I could look good in an outfit like this I'd be one happy girl:

Another look I love features this sporty red jacket, worn again with the slim dark blue jeans. Perfect!

And I'm gaga over the sleeves and color of this dress:

Trendy brands like Built by Wendy, A.P.C., Aubin & Wills and Sessun do similar styles to this day. I often wonder whether their designers were inspired by The Shining.

After all, getting away from a crazed, axe-wielding homicidal maniac while looking fabulous is pretty awe-inspiring!

Right, Jack?

Um ... yeah.

Happy Halloween!

DAY 08

2011-10-21T17:30:00.000-07:00

A Picture that Makes You Laugh

This one, from the recent bridal shower we went to! I wrote about my outfit earlier. In this photo, the girls (including the bride-to-be's little niece, in the middle) were all being done up as toilet paper brides! It was hilarious and lots of fun. A wonderful get-together all around!

DAY 07

2011-10-18T17:35:00.001-07:00

My most prized possession

I have many things that could potentially fit in this category, but when I really think about it, what I prize above any other material things are my baby pictures. This is because they're pretty much irreplaceable. Here's one of my favorites, with my mother holding me (the baby), while my grandmother looks on:

Anything else that I possess I can can recover or replace, but not these precious images. :o)

INDIAN SUMMER

2011-10-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

We've been experiencing the weirdest Fall over here. First, it gets cold all of a sudden so we had to put away all our summer clothes and take out the heavy winter things. Then, just as suddenly it gets warm again! Very frustrating. But thankfully I had some layering pieces, like this Free People top:

I love it because of the shells sewn on the back! It would be very summery but for the seasonless colors of the print and threads:

But I don't have many clothes like this, so it better get cold soon; then, I can finally wear my sweaters and jackets and tights! :-)

DAY 06

2011-10-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

A person you'd like to trade places with for one day

This is a hard one, weirdly enough: now that I have my baby, I don't want to be anyone but myself if it means not being with him ... even for one day! But since this is purely imaginary, I'd pick:

Stacy London! She's the host of one of my all-time favorite shows, What Not to Wear. I picked her because I think her sense of style is spot-on perfect, and every time I watch the show I just drool over her outfits. And I've always wanted to visit Manhattan, where she lives. Also, her figure is one I wish I were born with -- she doesn't have the annoying big bust that makes clothes shopping so difficult for me. To top it off, she's a natural in high heels, which I can't walk in to save my life.

To live in Manhattan for a day wearing gorgeous designer clothes and $$$ stilettos? Yes, please! But just for a day: I'd miss my little boy too much to stay there. :o)

POST-PARTUM PARTY

2011-10-03T08:54:00.001-07:00

I wasn't going to post any new photos until I lost my baby weight, but then I thought -- forget that! I'm a woman who just had a baby and I just can't expect to lose what I gained during pregnancy four months after giving birth. I'm not a Hollywood actress or fashion model with an army of personal cooks and trainers and nannies to watch the baby while I work out at the gym for hours on end. And I think it's important to portray what real women, in all their diversity, look like after having babies. Some women very little weight, others gain a lot. I fall kind of in the middle, I think.

Yesterday we went to a bridal shower, and I was thrilled to actually get out of the house and go to a fun party! Haven't been able to do that for a while. I wore this maxi dress, which I loved because it's comfortable but feminine:

I paired the dress with these tie-up sandals, which I'd last worn during pregnancy when my feet were terribly swollen. It was nice to wear them on my back-to-normal feet again!

We had a blast! I can't wait till the wedding in November! I've already ordered the dress and I'll post photos of that a.s.a.p.

Aaaah ... it's good to be getting back to normal life (and sleeping through the night) again! ^_^

Dress: DKNY
Tanktop: Wal-Mart
Sandals: DV Dolce Vita

DAY 05

2011-09-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

A picture of my favorite memory

Above: The View From the Closenburg Hotel

There are a few times in the past several years where I was so happy and content I'd count them among my favorite memories, but one that really stands in my mind was the trip my husband and I took to the Sri Lanka's southern coast and the city of Galle, where my paternal great-great grandparents and maternal great-grandfather were from. We visited the Buddhist girls' school founded by my great-great grandfather, explored the great Galle Fort built in the 17th century by Dutch conquerers (who gave way to the British in the 19th century), and the beautiful beaches.

Galle was the main city devastated by the 2004 tsunami, so it was really good to see how it was slowly being rebuilt in 2008 when we took our trip. We stayed in the beautiful old Closenburg Hotel, and the picture I've posted here is the view from the hotel entrance. It was breathtaking ... one of the most amazing, memorable places I've ever been in my whole life. I will never forget that amazing trip, and can't wait to go back (this time with our little son)!

DAY 04

2011-09-19T13:23:00.000-07:00

My Favorite Show

My favorite show right now is Mad Men. I think it's one of the best t.v. shows ever made, but more than anything I love it because I'm a history buff. That's what I studied in college and I'm particularly interested in 20th century American history. I'm riveted by the show's portrayal of an era when the United States was undergoing one of its deepest, most fundamental periods of change.

I'm also captivated by its costumes, since I'm a vintage style fanatic! Mad Men shows a side of the '60s that's rarely explored, since when we think 1960s we usually think of hippies, free love, the Beatles, etc. But what came before paved the way for all of those revolutionary things, and that's what Mad Men tries to shed light on. Fascinating!

DAY 03

2011-09-17T20:42:00.000-07:00

A Picture of My Night

At night is when we all wind down. Here's a photo of my husband and son relaxing on the bed before turning in for the evening.

DAY 02

2011-09-04T23:57:00.000-07:00

A picture of the person that you've been closest to for the longest

That would definitely be my mother! Here's one of my favorite photos of the two of us, on my wedding day in January, 2008. The picture was taken early in the morning by the window of our hotel room. The light made it a beautiful image! This is one of my all-time favorite photographs!

30 DAYS IN PICTURES!

2011-08-31T23:15:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to do one of these fun memes, so here goes!

DAY 01
A picture of yourself with 15 facts

I have only one ovary. The other was surgically removed when I was 13.
I have type 2 diabetes.
I always need a sheet or some sort of bed cover over me in order to sleep -- I can't sleep at all without one!
I think George Clooney is annoying and don't understand his appeal to women.
I'm obsessed with midcentury modern furniture (like what you find in Mad Men)
I absolutely hate the taste of Dr. Pepper
My favorite day of the year is Halloween, and I look forward to it the way other people look forward to Christmas!
I hate ice in soft drinks
I collect vintage handbags
My dream is to live by the ocean one day (within walking distance will do)!
My favorite season is Spring
I can't wear heels higher than 2 inches
I use 3 different moisturizers every morning!
I'm an X Files fanatic!
I don't really feel "dressed" without earrings

MATERNITY DRESSING -- STUFF I LEARNED

2011-07-25T23:26:00.001-07:00

These days, I'm feeding and keeping the baby company throughout the day while my husband's at work, so that got me thinking about maternity clothes and what I learned about dressing while pregnant. Very few style blogs or websites address this issue in a practical, realistic way, from what I've seen, and the one book I read on the subject was big on looking "fabulous" during those nine months by wearing designer clothes. Fine for women who have hundreds of dollars to spend on 7 For all Mankind maternity jeans or Moody Mamas dresses, but not for anyone who doesn't. Like me.

So, here's a list of what worked for me during pregnancy. I hope it helps any woman embarking on this trying but exciting journey!

Don't buy maternity pants and/or skirts until your regular ones truly can't fit anymore, even with waistband extenders. This is because until your bump grows, you won't know what kind of waistband you'll really feel comfortable in, be it an elastic waist, half-panel or full-panel. I thought I'd go for half-panels, but as my bump grew I realized that it was uncomfortable because it irritated my childhood surgical scar! I couldn't wear anything but full-panel jeans. I'm really glad I didn't buy any half-panel ones.

full-panel maternity jeans

Do not spend too much on maternity tops and dresses, which I think are waaaaay overpriced anyway. With the bohemian loose tops and babydoll silhouettes that have been in style for some time now, there are many regular-size tops you can wear during pregnancy, and you can keep wearing them after the baby! Best of all, they won't break the bank.
In fact, don't assume that you have to put away all your maternity clothes after baby. I've kept quite a few of mine because they still work for me and don't look like maternity clothes. For instance, a floaty skirt like this can look beautiful after pregnancy:

Maternity maxi skirt

Get your maternity underwear right away, because these are what you'll really need more than just about anything else! I wish I did. I couldn't find any on sale when I really needed them. Gap has great maternity underwear sets that sell out as soon as they go on sale. Keep your eyes open for good deals. Maternity lingerie is not easy to find.
Instead of spending lots of money on specialty garments you really won't wear again, like evening dresses, look for these in bigger regular sizes instead. Murphy's Law says you'll get invited to the only formal event of the year when you're seven months pregnant! Seriously ... I did. And I almost didn't go, because I didn't have $200+ to spend on a maternity evening gown. Until by chance I looked through the plus-size dresses on clearance at our local Macy's, and found the perfect one for under $40! I knew I could just get it taken in by a tailor after the baby was born. A gorgeous dress like this one, with a flattering A-line skirt, can look amazing. And you can get it taken in after you have the baby, to wear again:

Don't apologize if you like wearing tight clothes that show off the bump ... or you don't. Nothing on earth can disguise the fact that you're two human beings temporarily occupying one body, so wear what makes you happy! I'm into loose, bohemian tops anyway, so these worked really well for me during pregnancy. But I met other women who went for more fitted clothes. The only caveat: be careful your clothes aren't too tight or short, unless you're under 25. Nothing is worse than a "pregnant hoochie" look. Seriously.
Get some inexpensive, soft shoes that stretch, or comfortable, flexible footwear a half-size bigger than your own, because you'll need them badly if, like most women, your feet swell up at the end of your pregnancy! I have a pair of these Privo flats I got at Ross for $9, and I lived in them the last month of pregnancy because my feet puffed up like hot dog buns. They were soft and stretchy, and a godsend:

Buy just one nursing bra (they can be $$$$$, especially if you're busty to begin with) to take to the hospital or birthing center. Nursing is a weird thing that may or may not work the way you think, and you won't really know how much bigger your bust will get until after the baby is born and your milk comes in. Some women end up not being able to nurse at all. Assess your nursing needs and bust size before buying more than one nursing bra.

For the best deals on maternity clothes, you will probably need to look online a lot. It's sad, but retailers like Gap and Old Navy have shifted most of their maternity clothing selections online, so you won't be able to try before you buy, which can be frustrating because sizing can vary widely. But these retailers do have a limited selection of maternity clothing in stores, so you can try them on there to find your best fit, then look out for deals in your size online.
Here are the stores and websites where I found the best deals on maternity clothes:

Ross: (great prices on maternity pants, but you have to go there a lot to find the deals, because they sell out very quickly.

Gap.com: Great sales on quality maternity clothes you can wear after baby! But the selection sells out very quickly.

Nordstrom Rack (online): Deeply discounted designer maternity clothes make this site amazing! But you have to act fast if you see something you like -- the prices are so good they can sell out in seconds!

Old Navy (both online and in-store): Nice maternity jeans, tops and dresses, though I thought the prices too high for the quality. But if you can find them on sale, there are great deals here. I still wear this maternity maxi dress I found for $14 in our local ON store:

Target: I found the best maternity jeans here, from their Liz Lange line. These jeans don't usually go on sale, but they had the best fit for the best price (around $30). I lived in the two pairs I bought, and loved both their fit and appearance. Try them on in the store first! Target stores also sell decent maternity bras if you're a D-cup or less, and good deals online for bigger cup sizes.

Amazon.com: The best deals on high-priced nursing bras, especially for women with bigger bust sizes.

So there you have it! Hope this helps any woman who's bewildered as I was by having to look for good looking maternity clothes at good prices.

BABY WEIGHT

2011-06-28T16:37:00.001-07:00

Hi friends!
Sorry I haven't posted anything in a long while. I've been spending many a sleepless night (and morning, and afternoon ...) trying to deal with my little son's sleeping and waking patterns. It hasn't been easy!

I want to get back into blogging, but I feel a bit self-conscious because I still have about 25 pounds of baby weight to lose, and a stomach that sticks out more than I like. That's a very common postpartum experience, of course, but I still don't like it.

So I won't be posting too many personal photos, but I'm going to try and do more posts too, just because I miss it!

And I'm going to start exercising again, now that it's safe to do so. I had to wait about 6 weeks after giving birth to start exercising regularly and vigorously, so I'm going to really try and get into that routine again.

Keeping my fingers crossed to get some semblance of my pre-preggo shape back, lol! ^_^

HE'S HERE!!!

2011-05-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

Devindra Harish arrived in this world on May 17, 2011 in the afternoon! He is absolutely beautiful and perfect!

I was in labor for over 32 hours and pushed for almost 4 hours before he popped out! It was one of the most difficult ordeals of my life, and I can't believe we both actually made it. But we did, and he's home now, safe and sound, thank God! He weighed 6 pounds 11 ounces, and has his father's mouth!

Because I'm a type 2 diabetic, my labor was induced, and that was incredibly difficult and painful, but it did not end in the usual emergency C-section. I'm proud of that!

And so begins a new phase of our lives!

Hey ladies, any of you know any good tips for getting a newborn to "latch on" when breastfeeding? Please let me know in the comments! A huge thank you in advance! :o)

SRI LANKA PARTY

2011-04-24T22:01:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, our Sri Lankan community threw a baby-shower/party for us, and we had a wonderful time! Since get-togethers in the SL community are always a bit more "dressy" than American ones, I chose this dress, which has little clear sequins sewn all over:

I just adore this dress! It's not a Maternity dress, but the empire waist makes it perfect for this time of my life. I couldn't believe I have something that makes me feel dressed-up and good in the ninth month of pregnancy, but this one does! I wore it with these silver sandals, which my husband had to buckle for me because I couldn't bend down to do so, lol!

Dress: I.N.C. International Concepts (Macy's)

Sandals: Charles David

So it's almost time! Since I'm almost 38 weeks, my doctor said he can be born any day! We're hoping he won't be late, though. I'm still overcome by the enormity of what's about to happen: I can't believe I'm finally going to be a mother!

SHOWER-Y DAY

2011-04-23T16:46:00.000-07:00

Today we threw a shower for one of my mother's degree program classmates. She's having a little girl one week before me!

Doing a shower for someone else was a wonderful experience! Since the baby's a girl, we got to indulge our love of all things pink and girly. I loved watching another mother-to-be open presents and be celebrated!

The weather's finally mild enough for dresses, and I'm thrilled! This is the first casual dress I've worn in this last part of pregnancy. It's not Maternity but works now because it's comfortable but not totally shapeless. I can wear it after the baby's born too, because I'm top-heavy and this silhouette works pretty well for me. I got this dress on clearance at Old Navy for $9!

With it, I wore my DV "Moon" sandals, which are so comfortable for my swollen, achy feet because of the soft, adjustable straps:

Tomorrow I hit the 37th week, which means I'm considered full-term! I'm so incredibly grateful to have reached the end of this journey safely. It is one of the greatest blessings of my life. Three more weeks and our baby will be here!

BABY BOHO

2011-04-17T23:08:00.001-07:00

My love of bohemian ("boho") clothes has really pulled me through this pregnancy. I can wear my loose, ethnic-style tops even now at almost 9 months, without spending extra money on maternity tops I'll never wear again.

Case in point, this embroidered tunic blouse:

Goes nicely with these embellished sandals:

Here you can see how my feet swell up in the afternoon! Ugh. It's one of those icky pregnancy symptoms that makes it so hard to look nice every day. I've also developed an itchy reddish patch around my mouth for which I apply stuff like Aquaphor all the time, which helps but is sticky and shiny and makes me feel self-conscious. These are the things no-one tells you about pregnancy! ^_^

Blouse: Sunny Leigh (Macy's)
Jeans: Liz Lange (Target)
Sandals: Report

I HAZ BEBEH!

2011-04-16T20:10:00.001-07:00

Today the parents at the school where I teach organized a baby shower for us. It was my very first baby shower, and a wonderful experience! I wanted to wear something festive yet comfortable, not easy since I'm only one month away from having the baby and it's uncomfortable to even sit down these days.

I wore this printed cotton maxi dress I found last month at Ross, layered with a short sleeve tee:

This is the hardest part of pregnancy for me. My stomach and pretty much everything else has grown, the baby is doing gymnastics inside me and my feet and fingers swell up like sausages in the afternoon. Fun.

But of course it's all worth it: in four more weeks our little boy will be here! I can't believe how time just flew by. I hope one day to show him these pictures and tell him about this whole incredible journey!

Dress and tee: Ross
Bracelet: Macy's
Sandals: Steven (Steve Madden)

8TH MONTH!

2011-04-05T17:51:00.001-07:00

Hi friends! Soooo sorry I've been a.w.o.l. for a while now, but everything's okay and I'm doing well! We've been running around like headless chickens trying to get everything ready for the baby. We bought a smaller bed for ourselves so that we can have him near us in his bassinet, and I've been going to fetal monitoring twice a week at the doctor's office to track his growth, movements, etc. Just to be sure he's safe and doing well, which he is, thank God! :o) Lots and lots to do.

I'm now eight months along, and at that stage where I feel a bit biiiiiiiig and few things fit. But it's all good. Except when it comes to finding clothes that don't make me feel like an aircraft carrier, lol!

Here's an outfit I put together the other day. As usual, only the jeggings are maternity. I loved the cream and black shades for our last days of Springtime:

Top: Tommy Hilfiger
Undershirt: Mossimo (Target)
Jeggings: Old Navy Maternity
Boots: Miz Mooz

I now need to stock up on nursing bras and tops! I don't know where to start with those. But I have to get some for the hospital when it's time. Anyone have any ideas on good brands/stores for nursing clothes?

KIMONO COAT

2011-02-27T21:20:00.001-08:00

A good option for cold-weather maternity wear is a tie-up kimono jacket, which can be belted in different ways depending on where you carry your bump. Lucky brand often carries a good selection of these in both solids and prints, and I love them because you can just throw them on over jeans and a top, and they're more flattering than sweatshirts.

I have three kimono jackets like this and they've been so useful these days. This one has an Asian-style print:

Top: Charter Club (Macy's)
Jacket and Necklace: Lucky Brand
Jeans: Liz Lange (Target)
Boot: NaNa

I'm wearing it with my usual maternity jeans, but I got tired of wearing them the same old way, so I tucked them into boots. That was okay, but I think I prefer them untucked because they're boot-cut and not skinny/straight jeans. Never had any luck finding light-colored maternity skinny jeans, so I stopped looking since I only have about nine more weeks to go.

A close-up of the necklace shown in the photo:

During pregnancy, I started paying more attention to jewelry as I've never done before. I'm finding that the right jewelry can transform an outfit inexpensively, and can really lift your spirits when your clothes no longer fit and your energy gets drained.

I'm starting the thirtieth week today! I'm excited and scared at the same time. Little Dude is kicking so much now I can actually see my stomach moving every time he kicks! ^_^

WEIRD WEATHER

2011-02-26T20:16:00.000-08:00

We've been having the most bizarre weather ever! One day it's gray, gloomy, freezing cold and hailing, the next day it's sunny and bright. Yesterday was sunny but cold, so I wore this, along with my vintage faux fur coat:

I bought this top last year, but always thought it would work during pregnancy too, and it does!

It's getting harder to dress decently every day when you can feel your stomach muscles stretching and the baby pressing against your bladder and starting something like gymnastics in your uterus. So I'm relying a lot on jewelry and footwear, like these boots:

Shoes are a mom-to-be's best friend! These are my favorite boots ever. The little flower applique always lifts my spirits!

Undershirt: Mossimo (Target)
Tank Top: Free People
Jeggings: Old Navy Maternity
Boots: Type Z

SPRING IS ALMOST HERE!

2011-02-21T21:54:00.001-08:00

So last week, on Presidents' Day weekend, I began the Final Lap: the third trimester! We're super thrilled to have made it this far, and I'm just praying that all will go well for the next eleven weeks and our little boy will be born full term. Being diabetic, I'm considered high-risk, so getting here is a milestone I'm truly thankful for!

As if to echo my happiness, the weather was sunny and beautiful all weekend long, and the Spring flowers were blooming all over the place! We registered for baby things for the very first time on Sunday, so to celebrate everything I chose this very Spring-y top. It's actually a dress, but I think it's too short to wear that way. I like it better as a top:

And I happened to have shoes that match! ^_^

Dress: Tracy Feith for Target
Top: Mossimo (Target)
Jeans: Liz Lange for Target
Shoes: Report

GRAY DAY

2011-02-20T21:39:00.000-08:00

Another variation of my winter standby outfit of maternity jeans and cascading sweater, this time in soft gray shades. I belt the sweater over the bump, as always:

An outfit this simple needs accessorizing, and I've been wearing a lot more jewelry in pregnancy than I usually do. I'm only now discovering how awesome costume jewelry is -- think I'm hooked!

Sweater: Splendid
Jeans: Liz Lange for Target
Boots: Miss Sixty
Belt: Gap
Jewelry: handmade of silver and garnets

OTK MOM 2 BE

2011-02-16T20:13:00.000-08:00

I love blouson-style tops, though they don't always work for me. But now that I'm pregnant, they come in handy! I still have to be careful, however, because they can make me look bigger than I am. I love the lacy details on this Free People blouse:

I'm wearing it with my go-to maternity jeggings (bought on clearance at Old Navy), and these OTK or over-the-knee boots that I love because they fit my narrow calves:

For some reason I've been wearing my OTK boots a lot in pregnancy. Maybe because my clothing choices are much more limited now? I wonder ...

Blouse: Free People
Jeggings: Old Navy maternity
Boots: Me Too

BIRTHDAY WEEKEND

2011-02-15T19:03:00.000-08:00

This past weekend we went to a friend's birthday dinner. Since Sri Lankans tend to dress up a bit for these occasions, the last time I was at the Macy's sale I picked up a few tops just for this purpose. I loved the soft fabric and empire waist of this one:

Went well with my maternity jeggings! I also wore my over-the-knee boots, which I adore!

Top: I.N.C. (Macy's)
Denim Leggings: Old Navy Maternity
Boots: Pura Lopez

The boots are perfect because I have skinny, hard-to-fit calves (with a 13.5 in. circumference -- gaah!), and these are among the very few boots that work for me. They originally cost over $400, but were marked down at Nordstrom Rack for $100, and with an old gift card I spent only $50! That was one lucky find! ^_^

ALPHABET MEME

2011-02-06T12:34:00.001-08:00

A fun alphabet meme I got tagged with via email. Thought I'd share!

A is for Age: 38

B is for Beer of choice: Radler (I think this is the name of the drink not a brand name) -- a German beer drink made of beer and lemonade or 7Up, the only beer I can drink.

C is for Career: Teacher at the moment, but soon to be a Graduate Student (after baby). Can't wait!

D is for favourite Drink: Mojitos!!

E is for Essential item you use everyday: Contact lenses

F is for Favourite song at the moment: "Heads Will Roll" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is my current favorite. I love anything by this band:

G is for favourite Game: Girls-Boys-Fruits-Flowers, a Sri Lankan game that's a bit like Scattergories. It's silly but lots of fun, and I never tire of it!

H is for Home town: Colombo, Sri Lanka (it's the capital of Sri Lanka; see photo below)

I is for Instruments you play: None, unfortunately

J is for favourite Juice: Guava, all the way! Kerns is the best guava juice!

K is for Kids: One on the way! ^_^

L is for Last kiss: from hubz

M is for marriage: Four years this year, though we've been able to live together for only one-a-half (immigration delays ... grrr)!

N is for full Name: Anusha Frances Winifred Wijetunga

O is for Overnight hospital stays: Very long ago, when I had surgery at age 13. Another one coming up in May!

P is for phobias: Spiders!

Q is for quote: I love many different deep and inspirational quotes, but one I adore above all is very different, from the '90s t.v. show In Living Color, from their clip Men On Film featuring a duo of super-gay film critics who hated pretty much any movie they saw. If they actually liked a film they'd say, "Three Words: Fab-u-lous!", which always had me in stitches! I've been repeating this quote ever since. ^_^

R is for biggest Regret: Not learning Spanish in high school

S is for sports: Olympics -- only sports I watch

T is for Time you wake up: about 5:30 a.m. to go drop hubz at vanpool, but then I come back and sleep a little and wake up again around 9:00 a.m.

U is for colour of underwear: Mostly white and pastel cotton, but my favorites are the red ones

V is for Vegetable you love: Carrots

W is for Worst Habit: Procrastinating

X is for X-rays you’ve had: Can't remember the last x-ray I had (possibly one before my childhood surgery), but most recently I had an MRI in July, 2010

Y is for Yummy food you make: Sri Lankan style "parippu" or dal -- I combine the traditional Sri Lankan recipe with one for Indian dal from my vegetarian cookbook, and the results are awesome:

Z is for zodiac sign: Aquarius:

I tag: anyone! If you do this meme, let me know. I love reading other people's answers!

MOM-TO-BE SWEATER

2011-01-30T12:29:00.000-08:00

It's not easy finding cold-weather clothes for pregnancy. Most sweaters don't work for my shape, in general, and my jackets have to be unbuttoned -- not very practical!

But I've found a couple of these "waterfall" shaped sweaters that I love because they're so versatile. I can belt them over the bump now, and wear them belted after I have the baby too. Both are by Splendid, and that's the only brand that's worked for me because the fabric and drape of their sweaters are so graceful. Splendid clothes are not cheap in general, but Macy's often has them on clearance at the end of the season. I got mine there, one for $25 and the other for $12! But they're so wonderful I'd have paid more, if I had to. They've been a Maternity staple for me this winter.

I wore this outfit to a get-together at our temple:

Sweater: Splendid
Top (undershirt): Mossimo (Target)
Jeans: Liz Lange for Target
Belt: Target

I borrowed the shoes from my mother because it was raining and icky outside, and I needed sensible footwear (not my strong point)! ^_^

When you're pregnant, I've learned, you need stuff you can just pull on and go. Mainly because you have to "go" so often, if you know what I mean. Groan! But anyone who's had a baby has been there, and you know how you have to think about all these things when choosing what to wear!

Nevertheless, I didn't want to fade into drabness just because it's an awkward time, physically. These Liz Lange jeans from Target have been a lifesaver! I highly recommend them, though you'll probably have to try them on in person to find the perfect fit. It's worth doing that, because as you grow bigger you'll need the boost that feeling good in nice clothes can give you. That's the biggest Style Lesson I've learned during pregnancy.

L'HEURE BLEUE

2011-01-23T18:34:00.000-08:00

Many women think that shopping hell means looking for a bathing suit or jeans that fits well and flatters their figures. Well friends, I think I found something just as bad: searching for a Maternity evening dress.

When we got an invitation to a formal party a while back, I panicked. I had no idea how big I'd be by that time -- would I pop out a big 'ol bump or show one gradually. I even ordered a Maternity evening dress on clearance from Nordstrom, but was disappointed because it was strapless, and I didn't feel comfortable showing that much skin when I'm 5 months pregnant. I got a little bolero jacket and clear plastic straps to keep the dress from slipping down. In the end, it was too much work! But I didn't think I'd find anything else, so I kept it, just in case.

Then, last week, I was looking through the Macy's clearance racks when I found two gorgeous dresses, one for an evening special occasion and one for daytime. I couldn't believe it!! They were both a couple sizes bigger than my non-preggie size, but that worked out perfectly, the dresses flowing gently over the bump without being skintight. I'm just not into tight Maternity tops. Even better, both dresses can easily be taken in after I have the baby.

Here's the first, more of a nighttime event, dress:

Dress: Calvin Klein
Shoes VanEli "Modesta"
Earrings: gift from India

I love the gorgeous royal blue color and lustrous fabric! It made me feel beautiful, not dowdy. From the side you can definitely see the bump, but not in a bad way. It was perfect! I got quite a few compliments, which is particularly thrilling when you're pregnant!

A better view of the shoes; the heel height is 2" so I can actually walk in them. Finding a pair of evening sandals with lower heels was almost as difficult as finding the dress! ^_^

(click to enlarge)

And now for the awesome-est thing: the whole outfit cost less than $100!!! That's fabulous because these are not clothes I'll wear a lot, so keeping the costs down was crucial. I am just so, so thankful I got such great deals now, when I'm saving every penny for when the baby arrives and I won't be working for a while.

So all you moms-to-be panicking at the thought of finding a maternity evening dress: try on some regular dresses in larger sizes. You might be pleasantly surprised ... and relieved ... by what you find!

ART DAY!

2011-01-17T19:27:00.001-08:00

This last weekend we went to San Francisco to see the "Van Gogh, Gaugin, Cezanne and Beyond" exhibit at the De Young museum! This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience because the De Young was the only museum in North America to get this exhibit! The paintings were traveling around the world while their permanent home, the Musee D'Orsay in Paris, was undergoing renovations.

My husband and I got tickets for the three-day weekend, and took the train down to San Francisco for a belated celebration of our wedding anniversary. It's funny because, although we've been married for 3 years, we've lived together only for a year and a half. This was because it took a while for the emigration process to go through, since the Dept. of Homeland Security is very, very strict and careful on emigration these days.

But now we're embarking on our new life in America, and this was the first time we got to take a nice, leisurely trip to celebrate our anniversary! Even though it was foggy and cold, the afternoon turned into a lovely sunny day. I wanted to wear something cheerful even though it was winter, so this is what I wore:

Sweater: Free People
Top: Mossimo (Target)
Denim Leggings: Old Navy Maternity
Boots: Miss Sixty

This Navajo patterned cardigan is one of the few regular-size clothes I can still wear, since it's a bit roomy in size. I snagged it on clearance months ago. Never thought I'd get it because it sold out all over the place even before it went on sale. But I got lucky! It was on my Fall 2010 Wish List.

I just adore the cardigan's bright colors -- truly matched my mood that day! I'm on the lookout for a pale colored pair of maternity skinny jeans or jeggings, which I think might go better with it. I feel lucky to still be able to wear some of my regular-size clothes, but I have a feeling that won't last for long! ^_^

BUMP IT!

2011-01-15T15:46:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! So today I'm posting my very first baby bump outfit post! ^_^ I'm very excited to be finally able to do so. I was waiting for a while till the bump actually appeared, since it took quite a while and I've been wearing maternity things only for a couple of weeks now. Maybe it's because I'm top-heavy ... I don't know, but for the longest time I didn't look pregnant, just unevenly pudgy.

But finally, the bump appeared! You can't see it well in this pic, but it's definitely there when I turn to the side:

Top: ECI
Undershirt: Mosimmo (Target)
Jeans: Liz Lange for Target
Shoes: Report

I'm not wearing a maternity top, though. In fact, the only maternity items I've bought so far are two pairs of jeans. My love of loose, flowy, bohemian-style tops means I don't need to buy maternity blouses ... for now. Hopefully I won't need to as I get bigger! I don't want to spend money on things I'll wear only for a few months if I don't have to.

Pants are different. Maternity jeans are so expensive! I'd love to have a couple of pairs of Paige Premium or J Brand maternity jeans, but at almost $200 each? Um, no. Even Gap maternity jeans cost anywhere from $50 on sale to $70 and upward. I'm just not willing to spend that much on jeans I'll wear for such a short time, for only once or twice in my whole life.

Fortunately, I love Liz Lange for Target jeans! They look good, are nicely-made (with 99% cotton) and very well priced at around $30 a pair. I also like Old Navy jeans when they go on clearance. I'm going to go look at Motherhood Maternity one of these days, and I'll give a review of what I find there too.

Thus begins my adventures into motherhood! I'm sooooo incredibly excited! Can't wait to greet my little guy in May!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

2010-12-25T00:40:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a very merry, joyous and fun Christmas! Hope your holidays are filled with lots of love, peace and all good things that bring a smile to your face and great memories in the future!

Peace On Earth!

BE MY BABY

2010-12-22T16:10:00.000-08:00

Hi friends!
Well, I have what has got to be the biggest news of my life: we're going to be parents! I'm almost 20 weeks along now, halfway through and at that point where maternity jeans have become a necessity.

My little one is due on May 15th! I just did the second major ultrasound the other day, and I'm happy to report that all is going well. And it's a boy!

So in the coming months you will see me modeling more and more loose, flowy maternity-style clothes. They're strangely hard to find at reasonable prices, but so far I've got a pair of jeans from Target that I know I'll be living in for the next few months.

Here's a (somewhat blurry -- sorry!) picture of my little guy. You can see the head and body:

Do any of you know any good blogs about maternity fashion, or blogs that have featured maternity style? I'm at my wit's end trying to find creative ways to look nice without breaking the bank while the bump gets bigger!

VINTAGE WINTER

2010-12-11T19:54:00.000-08:00

My vintage find of a lifetime was this beautiful 1970s leather coat, which I found at our local Hospice thrift store a couple of weeks ago:

(click to enlarge)

I cleaned and polished it, and it turned out amazing! Then, a couple of days later, I was looking through the vintage clothing collection on the Free People website when I came across the exact same coat:

(click to enlarge)

I'm not kidding! All the little details, from seams to lining to belt loops, looked the same, except for the labels (brands) and ... the price: The Free People coat (which didn't even have its belt) cost almost $600.

The cost of my coat: $15 !!!!!

And that's why it's the thrifting find of a lifetime! ^_^

By the way, in the photo I'm not wearing the tie-belt that came with the coat, but my own belt from Target. My wood necklace was a gift from Costa Rica.

OH DEER ! (THANKSGIVING DINNER)

2010-11-25T17:07:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving I decided to wear my Deer skirt. It's a vintage Free People skirt I got secondhand on eBay.

Jacket: I.N.C. (Macy's)
Top: Charter Club (Macy's)
Belt: Lucky Brand
Skirt: Free People
Boots: Me Too

I wanted this badly as soon as I set my eyes on it, mainly because it reminded me of those cheeztastic Wild Deer tapestries and paintings sold in the Cabelas catalog:

Close-up of the skirt:

It's my own version of those Howling Wolf t-shirts, only a tad more feminine -- and not yet co-opted by hipsters.

Because Tacky is an art form!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2010!

2010-11-25T13:21:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Hope your day is joyful and fun!

What I'm thankful for:

Being able to keep really great blood sugar levels, thanks to extra insulin ... particularly important at this crucial time of my life (more on that later!)

My husband's job, which has enabled us to save money (something we couldn't do last year) and get fab, full-coverage insurance (medical, dental and vision!)

Thank you, thank you, California State Franchise Tax Board! ^_^

Great books from the library, which have kept me both engaged with the wider world and entertained too -- few things better for the mind and soul than a satisfying book! Here are some of my favorites, this year:

No Place Like Home: GenX playwright Brooke Berman's wonderful, poignant, funny memoir about all the apartments she lived in from her teens to her thirties, mainly in New York City.

I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti by Giulia Melucci: Publishing house publicist and now author Melucci's wonderful memoir about her dating life is also filled with easy-to-make, delicious recipes, many of which I've made over and over again (they're that good!). A dishy autobiography and guide to making some yummy dishes? Can't ask for more than that!

Pretty much any mystery novel by authors Peter de Jonge and Denise Hamilton! Above, two of my favorites. De Jonge, a former collaborating writer with James Patterson, and Hamilton, a former Los Angeles Times reporter, have written some of the most addictive, interesting, suspenseful mysteries I've ever read, and I'm a big-time fan of the genre! Both feature strong female sleuths and intricate storylines, but what I love most are their descriptions of New York City (de Jonge) and Los Angeles (Hamilton). Superb, and so worth reading!

Family: you and me and one day ... we! ^_^

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! What are you thankful for?

VARIATION ON A THEME

2010-11-22T11:40:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I wore two different outfits with a denim skirt and leather jacket. The first, my motorcycle-style jacket, with its suede ruffle down the front, and a plain straight denim skirt with boots:

Jacket: Guess
Top: Mossimo (Target)
Belt: Lucky Brand
Skirt: Citizens of Humanity
Boots: Miz Mooz

The second outfit was with my puff sleeve suede jacket and Mary Jane shoes. Not sure about the shoes, but overall I was very pleased with the rest of the outfit. I'm going to try this with tall leather boots, next time.

Jacket: I.N.C. (Macy's)
Belt: Gap
Shoes: NYLA

I love wearing skirts when it's cold, even though it's not always practical. I'm trying to get as much wear out of my skirts as possible, because pretty soon I won't be able to wear them.

And I'll write more about that in the near future! ;o)

FIRE SALE

2010-11-12T10:18:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, October 28 our local mall caught on fire when a troubled young man from the neighboring county held up the employees at the GameStop store, then started the fire. It raged out of control long after he was caught and arrested, and even though firefighters finally managed to put it out, the damage was so great that the governor had to declare it a disaster. This freed up state funds to help rebuild this area's biggest shopping complex. You can read more about it here.

A few photos of just some of the destruction:

We were shocked by what happened, and anxious for all the mall employees whose jobs were lost, right before the Christmas shopping season too! The Recession has hit this area badly, and our unemployment rate is still higher than the national average. The economic impact of the mall closing down was truly scary. The last thing we need around here is more people losing jobs due to the actions of one foolish person. But that, we thought, was exactly what we'd get.

Well, to our enormous relief, we were proved wrong! Last Friday the mall reopened, albeit with some big sections and parking lots still closed for repairs. We happily went shopping at the Veterans Day sales, figuring we'd do our part to revive our economy! ^_^

I wanted to share the deals I found at my favorite store. Everything was under $40!

Above, a gorgeous Free People dress with elaborate beading around the neckline! It's too short for me, so I'll be wearing it as a top.

Below, another lovely beaded top from Free People, which gently flares out below the bust. I love it so much I want to get the black version. The crocheted straps are particularly eye-catching.

Last, I adored this striking '80s style silk top with lace accents by MM Couture. Can't wait to wear it for a party, especially with a black lace skirt!

These are all clothes that all regularly cost over $100! The deals at our mall are unbelievable. If you ever find yourself in Roseville, California I highly recommend a visit to our fabulous Westfield Galleria Mall!

Did you pick up any Veterans Day sale bargains?

WINTER BOHEMIAN PROJECT, PART ONE

2010-11-06T14:39:00.000-07:00

One of my goals for the cold seasons is to wear more colorful clothing that reflects my personal sense of style. I gravitate towards looks that are bohemian, feminine, retro, etc. (though not all at once!). And though I love neutral colors for Fall and Winter, I don't want to overload on them because I sometimes find them depressing.

With that in mind, here's my first outfit experiment, pairing my linen/cotton knit Spring sweater with an undershirt, skinny jeans and boots:

Sweater: Dept. Clothing
Undershirt: Mossimo (Target)
Jeans: I.N.C. (Macy's)
Boots: NaNa

A close-up of the slouchy boots, which I got several years ago:

It was an okay look, but not the best, and not warm enough. I think I'm going to keep the sweater for Springtime wear, and continue experimenting.

Have you tried layering warm weather clothes for cold weather wear?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2010-10-31T22:15:00.000-07:00

Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween! We had a great evening passing out candy and cutting out some last minute jack-o-lanterns, which I designed and my husband carved using simple a simple kitchen knife, since the stores ran out of the pumpkin carving ones.

And here's our handiwork:

Hope everyone's day was full of frightful fun and festivity!

HALLOWEEN 2010!

2010-10-29T15:38:00.000-07:00

I adore Halloween like no other holiday! Every year, I try to put together some kind of "costume" with vague references to people or characters of some sort. I don't go all-out, though one of these days I keep telling myself I will!

I look for costume components in the local thrift store, especially Goodwill, which is flat-out fabulous for this kind of thing. I got the following outfit there. I was going for a kind of Frida Kahlo-ish look, but in bright colors with Hawaiian and Hippie-ish accents. How's that for eccentric, lol!

But, hey -- isn't eccentricity what Halloween's all about?

Mexican embroidered dress: Vintage (Goodwill)
Leis: Goodwill
Boots: Bronx (my own)

What are you wearing this Halloween? :o)

ALL ABOUT ME LIST!

2010-10-27T09:33:00.001-07:00

The fabulous Sharon Rose did a little quiz-meme-list recently and tagged anyone to join. I love doing these, so here's my version. I tag anyone who wants to do the list too. Let me know if you did! :o)

1. At what time of your life were you happiest and why?

Can't really pinpoint a "happiest" time as I've seen many happy times throughout my life, but the common denominator seems to be Sri Lanka, my native country: my childhood in the early '80s when there was no war, and we went on family trips all over the island; the late '90s when I taught English in a small village near Kuliyapitiya, a town close to the city of Kurunegala; the trips my husband and I took around the southern coast, right after we got married. So many happy times in the land of my birth!

Traveling around the Kuliyapitiya area, I saw beautiful scenery like this, with large rock formations rising from coconut groves and paddy fields. I wasn't familiar with this part of Sri Lanka, so it was a wonderful experience:

On our post-wedding trip, my husband and I stayed at the beautiful Closenburg Hotel in Galle, on the southern coast. Here's a typical view, just like what we saw from our room:

It was one of the most amazing places I've ever stayed in! I'm always dreaming about going back.

2. Where and when did you meet the love of your life?

Well, I met my husband on July 7, 2007 (07/07/07), when I was there on a trip! We married a few weeks later, on July 25th!

3. Favourite item of clothing ever or most treasured possession ?

It's nearly impossible to choose! I love all my clothes and have enjoyed dressing ever since I discovered what styles, colors and looks I'm truly drawn to. However, I do have a soft spot for:

My dresses, especially these:

My Thakoon for Target shibori print dress, which I adore! I'm going to get the sleeves shortened to wear when it gets warm!

My Gap floral maxi dresses:

My Tommy Hilfiger sundress:

My leather jackets with feminine details, much like this one:

Mine are by I.N.C. and Guess, and have details like ruffles and puff sleeves. Love!

4. Must have makeup or beauty item?

Nars Orgasm blush! The only blush ever made that looks good on me. I wore it for my wedding, and have been wearing it ever since. I love how it brightens my face!

5. What do you think is your worst vice or fault .. honestly?

I'm a terminal worrywart. This results in way too much stress than is good for me.

6. Would you tell your friend, if you knew her husband/wife was cheating on her/him?

That's really a hard one, and best dealt with on a case-by-case basis, but I'd probably just drop hints and hope they can take it from there and find the truth on their own. More often than not, people know what's going on but don't want to face the truth, so telling them point-blank would most likely make you the "bad guy"!

7. What ambitions, wishes or desires, for your life, do you still hold close to your heart?

I want to get my masters degree in Public History, and end up working with either historical archives or preservation. I'd love to work in an archive like this one:

8. Where do you see yourself in five years from now?

Happily married, enjoying family life, and working with historical artifacts.

FINALLY FALL!

2010-10-23T16:29:00.000-07:00

Wow! In one fell swoop it's gone from hot, sunny weather to cold, rainy Fall! Today I hauled in all my winter clothing boxes and will have to unpack them.

So, here's my first Fall outfit. I got this flowy, bohemian top with the embroidered neckline last year, and I'm finally able to wear it due to the change in weather. I had to layer it for the cold:

Layering Top: Charter Club (Macy's)
Blouse: "52"
Jeans: Citizens of Humanity
Shoes: Xhilaration (Target)

Next, I'm going to try this same outfit with both flared jeans and with boots!

What was your first Fall outfit this year?

SILVERYGRAY

2010-09-13T10:31:00.001-07:00

Since the season is now definitely changing from summer heat to the cool winds of autumn, I've been wearing more layers and more subtle colors. Last week, I wore this outfit to a dinner party. I love the asymmetrical hem of this top, which I teamed with a taupe fitted tee. The top is thick cotton knit, which is better for this time of year than for summer. I can also wear it for spring!

Top: Sweet by Miss Me
Jeans: Citizens of Humanity
Sandals: Tommy Hilfiger

What I loved most about this top are the little metal studs, grommets and chains around the neckline:

I just love pretty embellishments like that!

How are you transitioning from summer to fall in your wardrobe?

ART FILMS, DOWNTOWN

2010-09-13T08:58:00.001-07:00

Last week, we went downtown to see a Swedish movie "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo", based on the bestselling book. It was a great movie that I highly recommend! I love going downtown for foreign and art-house movies because we don't get them out here in the 'burbs. Because of this, we're seriously considering buying our future home out there near the city instead of here in my hometown. I miss culture!

Anyway, here's what I wore:

Layering tee: TJ Maxx
Camisole: Free People
Straight-leg Jeans: Nine Rivets
Sandals: Steve Madden

Here's a close-up of the camisole, one of my favorite tops! I just love the lacework:

I also wore these delicate Murano glass earrings, a gift from my cousin in Canada:

I adore them! I thought the colors reflected the sunny, late-summer mood really well.

What new movies have you seen lately?

CHALK IT UP FESTIVAL 2010

2010-09-07T17:53:00.000-07:00

On Labor Day weekend we went to the Chalk It Up! Festival in downtown Sacramento. It's a fabulous, weekend-long get-together of artists and groups who create beautiful works of art on the pavement surrounding Fremont Park, using just sidewalk chalk! You can see a selection of last year's artwork here. Proceeds from this outdoor exhibit fund children's art education programs in the Sacramento area. This is a cause very close to my heart, so I was thrilled to be able to be there!

It was a beautiful, sunny day. I knew it was one of summer's last days, so I wore a sundress I got last winter, which my mother hemmed to the knee. It was a wonderful day!

Dress: Walmart
Belt: Gap
Sandals: Nine West

A close-up of the lovely sandals, which are so comfortable:

Nothing says summer like sundresses and sandals! We can't wait for next year's Chalk It Up.

RAMADAN 2010

2010-09-07T17:49:00.000-07:00

Last week we were invited to several Ramadan dinners by our Muslim friends, which was fabulous! Ramadan is the annual fast observed by Muslims around the world on the 9th month of the Islamic calender (usually from August to September of each year). During this time, practicing Muslims fast and pray from breakfast to sundown: this means no food or even water! At sundown the fast is broken with a big meal. It's common for people to get together in someone's home or in a hall or place of worship to partake of a meal organized by a different family or group. Ramadan dinners are open to everyone, not just Muslims!

We were invited to two different Ramadan get-togethers this year by our Pakistani-American friends at the local mosque. It was really great to meet people we've known for years, including families whose children came to our school and even our doctors!

We all dressed up a bit because that's just the done thing in South Asian communities. You have to take care to dress more modestly when you go to Muslim events. Many Muslim women choose to cover their heads with scarves or hijabs.

You can be a total fashionista while still dressing modestly according to your religious beliefs: check out the very fabulous blog Hijab Style! I love it because of the useful tips and great looks that are helpful to anyone, regardless of religion or how you dress. A great resource!

This is what I wore for the first Ramadan get-together:

I love this top because it has a kind of South Asian look, with its floaty fabric and traditional fabric-dyeing style print! I paired it with pointy black kitten heels to make it more sophisticated:

Blouse: DKNYC
Jeans: DKNY Jeans
Shoes: BP

I feel honored to have been invited to this year's Ramadan get-togethers. Looking forward to next year's too!

FALL WISH LIST 2010

2010-09-05T16:44:00.000-07:00

I'm not a big-time fan of Fall clothes. I find them hard to wear since I'm top-heavy and few cold-weather clothes flatter my frame. But this year feels different. There are quite a few pretty, bohemian Fall styles I love! Here are the looks that intrigue me the most:

This flared Navajo cardigan from Free People is so bright and pretty! I love the colorful accents, and it's on a few of my online wish lists. ^_^

I just adore these lace-up tall boots by Jeffrey Campbell! If I had the money I'd get them right away. Alas, I have to save for them ... but hopefully one day they'll be mine. They have a lovely Victorian vibe.

A pair of cargo leggings like the ones above should be more affordable, so I'm on the lookout! I just love the flap pockets that add interest and draw the eye downward.

The one cold-weather staple I've always loved is a leather jacket, particularly a simple feminine silhouette like the one above, and in any color other than black. They're not cheap, but I've found such great deals on black leather jackets that I'm hoping for similar luck with other colors.

So there they are, all the styles I'm admiring for Fall. I'm really excited about the wonderfully feminine, retro, bohemian looks that are out right now, and hope a few can find their way into my wardrobe!

What's on your Fall wish list?

'90s NIGHT

2010-08-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we went to a dinner party at a family friend's place, and I felt like wearing something kind of '90s. For some reason I really miss that decade, terrible fashion notwithstanding. I chose one of my favorite silk tops (which I got last year, so it's not vintage). I loved it as soon as I laid eyes on it because it was like a mix between a blouse my mom used to own and a pair of my dad's old Zubaz!

I paired it with straight leg skinny-ish jeans and gold shoes, because with a pattern this loud you need gold shoes:

Blouse: Petticoat Alley (Macy's)
Jeans: Nine Rivets
Sandals: Dolce Vita

A close-up of the gold shoes, one of my all-time favorite pairs:

Sometimes I wish I could shut my eyes and just go back in time to the '90s ... but with all the knowledge and insight I have now! I'd have avoided a lot of mistakes and enjoyed the time more. But if not, I'll just give a nod to that era with my clothes! ^_^

BAR-B-COOL!

2010-08-24T19:10:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend we went to a barbecue at my mother's professor's home. I haven't been to a barbecue in a long time, believe it or not! Sri Lankans don't do that a lot, even though it's one of my all-time favorite summer activities. When my husband and I buy a house I want to get a nice barbecue and really get grilling!

In the meantime, here's what I wore. It's a simple outfit but I really like the kind of '70s vibe of the flared jeans and check shirt:

Blouse: Loomstate for Target

Jeans: Paige Premium "Canon" flare (petite)

Sandals: Camper "damas"

A close-up of my groovy wedge sandals, which were so comfortable!

I hope more barbecues are in store before the summer ends!

SUMMER COLORS

2010-08-11T12:16:00.000-07:00

We recently had a dinner get-together at home for some of our dearest family friends. A couple of them are professional artists, so I wanted to wear something colorful as well as comfortable. I chose this Rachel Rachel Roy dress, with its magenta print on an indigo background. When I first saw it I thought the background was black, but I was pleasantly surprised to see it's actually a deep indigo. It came with its own belt but I preferred my leather wrap belt for a bit more structure.

Dress: Rachel Rachel Roy
Belt: Mossimo (Target)
Shoes: Tommy Hilfiger

A close-up of the sandals. I thought the pewter color discs on it went well with the circle pattern on the dress:

I love color and it was really nice to share that with people who work with color for a living!

GARDEN PARTY

2010-08-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

Recently, we went to a dinner party held at a family friend's backyard. It was a lovely breezy summer evening, so I decided to wear my one-sleeve top and jeans, with some dazzle-y jewelry to dress it up and make it more festive! I love how you can transform a simple outfit in neutral colors with metallic accents.

Top: C&C California
Jeans: DKNY Jeans
Shoes: Nine West

A close up of my bangles, which I got from a local Pakistani store. You can find bangles like this in many different colors and sizes in Indian, Pakistani and other South Asian shops all over the world:

And these fab flats were just the right match, not to mention comfortable till late at night:

We all had a fantastic time! Nothing like a garden party to get summertime off to a swinging start. :o)

SPAGHETTI TIME

2010-07-27T17:18:00.001-07:00

Last weekend we met some family friends for dinner downtown at the Old Spaghetti Factory restaurant. I decided it was a perfect occasion to wear my brightly colored wrap dress from Target:

Dress: Merona (Target)
Bracelet: Macy's

Sandals: Kimel

I also wore one of my favorite bracelets, featuring dangly hearts. I loved this so much I got it in the teal shade too. I also have matching earrings but I thought that might be too much, given the vibrant prints and colors.

REUNION TIME

2010-07-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

Last week, we went to one of my high school reunion parties at a local restaurant. Although it casual, I hadn't seen these people for many years so I didn't want to look too casual, know what I mean?

I decided against wearing black, even though it's a slimming color, because I figured every other woman there would be doing just that. After all, no-one retains their teenage slenderness and everyone wants to look their best after all these years.

Well, I was never slim as a teen or adult, so I didn't worry about that! ^_^ But the passage of time has brought me to a place where I feel I can finally hold my own with anyone, so I chose to wear a rich color and skinny jeans, clothes that made me feel confident.

I was secretly thrilled that I was the only woman there who wore skinny jeans. I don't mean to sound catty, but some of these women had made my teen years difficult by sniggering at my shabby clothes (being an immigrant family, we didn't have much money for extras like stylish outfits). As a result, I had a very hard time in high school.

But that was in the past. On this occasion, my hunch was correct: most of the women wore black, so my choice of outfit made me feel even better. It was a subtle comeuppance after all these years, and that was fabulous!

Here's what I wore:

Blouse: Free People
Jeans: Uniqlo
Shoes: Les Prairies de Paris

I love this blouse, especially the embroidered detail at the neckline:

I got the jeans at Uniqlo in London, the same trip where I got these gorgeous sandals:

That trip happened during one of the happiest times of my life, so every time I wear these things it lifts my spirits. Which is exactly what you want when you meet people you haven't seen for years!

THE 25-AND-UNDER SET!

2010-07-22T15:56:00.000-07:00

These midsummer clearance sales have turned out as good as the black Friday sales in November. I found some unbelievable deals, all $25 and under! Unbelievable because their regular prices ranged from $80-100!

This vibrant tank by Postella was $19, down from $80! I just love the colors:

I bought the purple (with red border) version of this tank by Patterson J. Kincaid. It cost $99 at Nordstrom, but I snagged it for $25! I adore the flowy handkerchief hem:

In my ongoing search for colorful cold-weather clothes, I came upon this kimono print hoodie by Lucky Brand for only $22:

I found more treasures by Lucky Brand, including this pretty Bohemian handbag (mine's brown) for $25:

And last, I just couldn't pass up the eye-catching pattern on these Lucky Brand sandals, especially when they cost $19:

Colors and patterns just make me happy -- can't wait to wear them!

WHAT I WORE -- 4th OF JULY!

2010-07-05T11:48:00.001-07:00

For this year's 4th of July, we went to a party at my brother's place to celebrate both his and my mother's birthdays and light fireworks with everyone. We had a blast (pun intended)!

Of course I wore red, white and blue. ^_^ I try to do this every year. I convinced my husband to dress in the same colors too, and he was happy to oblige. Here's what we wore:

I love the all-American look of this darling gingham skirt, part of last year's Norma Kamali line at Walmart. I also wanted to accessorize in a more creative way, the way Indian style bloggers are doing these days. I'm soooo inspired by the colorful clothes, accessories and jewelry worn by stylish South Asian women all over the blogosphere!

To start out, I wore a stack of red-hued Indian bangles on my right arm and one red Greek "evil eye" bracelet on my left arm. I took it further with my bright red Marais "prince" sandals.

Top: Carole Little
Skirt: Norma Kamali for Walmart
Shoes: Marais U.S.A.
Bangles: from India and Greece

A closeup of the sandals, found here:

My husband wore a red and white check shirt and dark blue slacks. I love this photo of him next to an all-American vintage pickup truck! A very 1950s-kind-of image, I think.

And here we are!

I've always loved the red, white and blue color scheme. So simple yet versatile and beautiful too. I'm trying to find ways to wear these shades throughout the year. Until then, I'm happy I get to go all-out with them on the fabulous fourth!

Hope all of you in the U.S.A. had a great holiday!

HAPPY, HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!

2010-07-03T23:09:00.001-07:00

The 4th of July is America's birthday party, Independence Day in the U.S.A. It's one of my favorite holidays, featuring all things happy and summery: barbecues, swimming, parties, parades, and spectacular nighttime fireworks all over the country.

It's also my mother's and brother's birthday, so the 4th has always been a big celebration in our family. Can't beat a birthday with fireworks!

I always try to wear red, white and blue for Independence Day. For inspiration, I found some beautiful clothes and shoes in these bright colors.

First, the clothes, from one of my favorite online boutiques, Penelope's Chicago:

A charming red skirt like this one by Dear Creatures will help you stand out in a crowd. :o)

Next up, no summer wardrobe would be complete without a pair of fab white jeans. These, by Cheap Monday, are hot enough to match the weather.

And finally, you can keep cool in a lovely blue cotton dress like this one by LAMade, perfect for summertime picnics and parties.

Of course, you'll also need sandals to keep up with the festive mood, and I thought these ones (all from Amazon) were perfect:

A pair of bright red sandals like these, by Clarks, would work well outdoors with their crepe soles, but still be pretty enough for a party.

Next, these blinged-out white sandals by Jessica Simpson will make any summer outfit look festive!

Finally, when I think of all-American shoes I think cowboy boots, Converse, and of course -- Elvis Presley's blue suede shoes. This pair, by Yin, is one of the most fabulous versions I've seen!

I can't wait to wear my red, white and blue. I'll post pics soon! Meanwhile, I hope everyone will enjoy a fun, joyous and safe holiday. Happy Independence Day and Happy Birthday to the U.S.A.!

TEESKIRT, PT. 2

2010-06-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

Another variation of the t-shirt and jeansskirt combo I've been wearing a lot, since I can't do the t-shirt and jeans look well:

I love the retro look of this skirt! It goes best with simple tops. I also loved pairing it with this '70s-style multicolored belt:

These retro-look sandals worked well too. It's not easy finding tops and shoes to match this skirt, but it's really worth it.

T-shirt: Sonoma (Kohls)
Skirt: 7 For all Mankind
Belt: Stamp10 (Kohls)
Shoes: Steve Madden

RAINBOW BRITE

2010-06-20T17:10:00.001-07:00

This was a difficult weekend for me and my family, as we were with some terminally ill friends.

I don't really know what to wear to visit someone who's ill, so I decided to wear bright colors to cheer them up. I don't know if that's a shallow or simplistic way to think, but I thought maybe the effect that color can have on a person's feelings could work well in such a situation, and bright hues could lift up their spirits, even for a moment.

I hope it truly did that. In any case, I wanted to share what I wore. This is the most colorful outfit I've ever worn:

I adore this dress, especially since it has pockets! I do need to get it shortened to knee-length, but I love it as it is now too.

Dress: Tommy Hilfiger
Shoes: Shoes for Lovely People

A close-up of the rainbow flats! I love the little braiding along the sides. In hindsight I don't think they were the right shoes for this dress, though. Usually I wear them with neutral-hued clothes.

When the weather warms up I just turn to bright colors. I feel I needed to wear them now more than ever, with so much sadness all around us. I figure even a little bit of a "pick-me-up" can't be bad.

WINCHESTER

2010-06-13T21:17:00.001-07:00

I can't pull off jeans and a t-shirt. I wish I could. After all, it's the unofficial uniform of the American woman. And man. And child. Everyone.

Except me. I have a really difficult shape for jeans with tees, since I'm very top-heavy, short-waisted and completely curveless below the waistline.

What I can wear are t-shirts with denim skirts. Usually I tuck the tee into the skirt. I feel knee-length denim skirts always look a bit more chic than jeans, even though they're just as easy to put on and go.

So that's what I wore the other day. To add interest to this very simple outfit I paired it with a vintage cowboy-style belt with a big 'ol western buckle, one of my favorite finds!

T-shirt: Sonoma (Kohl's)
Skirt: 7 For all Mankind "Gypsy"
Belt: thrifted, vintage
Shoes: Moda Spana

Here's the bad-ass belt buckle in detail:

I've always wanted one of these! When I found it in the thrift store I was thrilled! I like wearing it with more ladylike clothes instead of the usual jeans, just for the heck of it.

'70s SPRING

2010-06-12T15:01:00.000-07:00

Today we had very strong winds, which messed up my hair so much it looked like I didn't brush it! Unfortunately, hubz had to take these photos the minute the gusts died down, so I had no time to re-do my hair. Grrrr.

Anyhoo, I digress. Today for some reason I felt like dressing 1970s style. That's my favorite fashion decade, and I miss it amidst the nonstop '80s nostalgia. Don't get me wrong -- I love the return of '80s styles, from full blouses nipped in with belts to bright colors. But I still can't let go of that '70s look.

Mostly, I miss flared jeans. They are so much more flattering and easier to wear than skinny jeans. Lately, I've seen photos of a few young Hollywood stars in flares, so there might be others who feel the same way. Bring back the bell bottoms!

Here's my '70s-kind-of look:

Embroidered blouse: Buffalo
Jeans: Paige Premium Petite ("Laurel Canyon")

And of course, it wouldn't be complete without the kind of shoes my mother wore back in the late '70s and early '80s:

These little Steve Madden wedges are among my favorite sandals!

CHANGE OF SKIES

2010-06-08T11:38:00.000-07:00

The climate's finally changing around here, from gloomy cloudy days to sunshine and heat. Usually it's blazing hot by now, so I think it's safe to say we've had some weird weather lately.

But transition dressing can be tricky because you really don't know how the temperatures will change throughout the day. This past weekend it went from hot to cool and breezy, so I wore this outfit:

I thought the soft, pale neutrals were perfect for this time of year.

Top: Art & Soul
Straight-leg jeans: I.N.C. Internatl. Concepts
Sandals: Dolce Vita

AWARD! ... AND TEN THINGS ABOUT ME -- THANKS, KAYLEIGH!

2010-06-07T17:51:00.001-07:00

The very fabulous, stylish and incredibly brave Kayleigh of Fashionably Later has given me these rad awards. Thank you!!

If you read only one blog today, you really must read Fashionably Later. It's really well-written, an unflinching and real look at one woman's day-to-day life that I think is one of the most inspiring blogs I've ever read. I never fail to be amazed by Kayleigh's courage and strength.

Beautiful Blogger Award rules: - Thank the person(s) who nominated you and give a link to their blog. Copy the award and paste it to your blog. Pass this award on to 15 fantastic bloggers you have discovered.

Rules for Sugardoll award: Thank and link the person who gave you the award. Pass this award onto fabulous bloggers of your choice. Contact said blogs and let them know they've won. Re-post and state 10 things about yourself.

Though I don't read a lot of blogs due to not having enough time (I so wish I did!), I'll list some of my favorite blogs that are well-worth visiting:

Budget Chic -- I'm always inspired by her fabulous sense of style!

Write-Brained -- Christina's another fantastic writer -- and jewelry designer too!

Camp Comfort -- I love her simple, quirky sense of style

Fashionist -- My favorite San Francisco street style blog! Mai captures the diversity of my favorite city like no one else

The Eyeline -- Vancouver street style! I just love how Eyeliah's blog is like a mini-tour of Vancouver. It's made me want to go there badly.

The Mysterious Life of the Metropolitan Housewife -- Twila's a wife, mom and vintage shop owner ... how cool is that?!

My Children's Art Gallery -- My Sri Lankan blog friend Yamuna posts her children's artwork here, and they're just amazing! I can't believe such young children have such talent.

And now, Ten Things About Me:

One day I want to live by the ocean
I secretly love heavy metal music -- the faster and louder the better!
I'm fascinated by ghosts and UFOs, but have never seen either
I love being in airports, especially if I'm about to take a plane journey
I'm magnetically drawn to anything tie dye
I studied Medieval History in college
I use 4 different moisturizers every morning
I hate ice in soft drinks
My favorite season is Spring
My day always feels "off" if I don't have a good book to read

SALE AWAY!

2010-06-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

We hit this year's Memorial Day sales with gusto since we haven't been shopping since last year! This, of course, was due to limited employment and a very tight budget. And we'll be doing much of the same for the whole summer since I'll be working a lot less (being a teacher). But in the interim we were thrilled to be able to visit the mall for the first time this year.

In a weird, roundabout way (that will probably have some people rolling their eyes), we figured that by shopping even in a limited way, we'd be doing our part to tweak the economy. We want everyone to emerge from this slump and have jobs.

My husband, mother and I found some great bargains! Here are mine (click on any photo to enlarge) :

I badly need winter sweaters (I only have two!), and usually can't find any because sweaters are are tricky on my top-heavy shape. Plus, they tend to pill or unravel, and I can't afford cashmere for the most part. I'm still looking out for the perfect little black sweater, but in the meantime I found this beautiful red-orange crochet sweater by Free People. I just love the bohemian style and cheery color! It will look good with my '70s-style flare jeans.

Speaking of bohemian style, my new obsession is the eco-conscious brand Gypsy05! They're not cheap, but I think their clothes are just too gorgeous for words, and for the quality and workmanship the value is really great. They had a Memorial Day sale, so my husband got me this lovely tie-dye silk dress, which I plan on wearing for special occasions. It's the "Gara flutter maxi dress", and it's the first occasion dress I've bought in almost ten years! I just wanted to wear it and not take it off. I plan on pairing it with my Grecian-style gold wrap sandals. I heart anything tie-dye!

This wrap dress was on clearance at Macy's, where I think you can still find it online on their website. It's soooo flattering! It's by Tommy Hilfiger, who have been offering some pretty and functional dresses lately.

After my success with pairing skinny jeans and jeggings with long blouses, I was looking out for more (especially in lighter colors), and found this pair on clearance at Macy's. It's by INC International Concepts, and it's incredibly comfortable. I think these will be great for travel.

Last, this intricately-printed dress was from the Rahcel Rachel Ray line at Macy's. It's a soft cotton knit that I just fell in love with the moment I tried it on. I love the fact that it's knee length on me, so I can just wear it as-is. I collect dresses, my all-time favorite type of clothing, and this one's now among my favorites.

Did you hit the holiday sales? What did you find?

JEGGINGS DU JOUR

2010-05-08T18:12:00.000-07:00

Sorry for all these delays in posting. We've been super-busy with moving out of our place. We're going to be staying with my family for a little while until we can save up enough money to buy a house of our own. I'm so excited about that! Since my husband just got a job after a long and nerve-wracking period of unemployment, we're both eager to put away as much as we can for our first home.

In the meantime, I thought to upload some recent pix featuring my jean-leggings (or jeggings). I got them last year, and hadn't really worn them a lot so I thought of giving them away. I found them at Target for something like $10 each so it wouldn't exactly be a loss.

But I held onto them, and now I'm glad I did. They work well under those too-short-for-a-dress, too-long-for-a-blouse tops that I've been finding. I'd much prefer to wear these as dresses, but I'm just too old for such short hemlines. Jeggings made the best compromise!

I got the above tunic with Mexican-style embroidery (which I adore) at Ross, which is funny because I'd been eyeing it for ages on the Fred Flare website!

The rayon dress/top below is from the Rachel Roy line at Macy's. I've never bought anything from that line, but couldn't resist this abstract art print. I couldn't resist wearing it and standing next to this modernist outdoor sculpture!

So there's the new way I'll be wearing my jeggings. I discovered they're perfect for travel too! I'm hoping to try them out on a long plane trip to see how that will work. I think everyone should have a pair of jeggings handy for long trips.

LAST DAYS OF SPRING

2010-04-02T15:50:00.001-07:00

Last week we went to San Francisco to see the famous Tutankhamen exhibit at the De Young Museum. It was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience! The ancient artifacts from King Tut's tomb was both poignant and breathtaking. I'm so grateful we got to see this exhibit, which is traveling around the world on loan from the Cairo Museum.

Being in San Francisco was another wonderful adventure, especially in Springtime! I love our City by the Bay, and wish we could go more often, especially since it's only two hours away. But the hustle and bustle of daily life leaves little time to do that, except when we're on vacation like this past week. We grabbed the opportunity and went!

I always try to "dress up" a bit more in San Fran, since everyone there seems so well put-together, even at their most casual. The weather was cool, so I took my suede jacket, tights and boots. I figured this would be one of the last times in the year I'd put them to use. However, I also tried to incorporate some bright, transitional Spring shades to blend in with the season. Here's an example:

Jacket: I.N.C. International Concepts (Macy's)
Tee: Walmart
Tights: Calvin Klein (from TJ Maxx)
Boots: Bronx

Don't know how much longer I'll be able to wear this jacket, or even my tights and boots. I love them, but I'm ready to store them for the winter and bring out my warm weather clothes. I thought this was a good transition to those.

DRESS-Y

2010-03-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

Hey all!

Since the computer I upload photos from is still on the blink, I thought I'd share some of my recent finds using product photos.

My favorite thing of all to wear is probably a dress. It's instantly pretty, comfortable, and somehow looks "nicer" (no matter how casual) than separates. And if they fit right, they're a lot more flattering too.

It's hard for me to find dresses that look good on me since I'm busty and broad-shouldered, and dresses tend to cost more in general, but recently I've found some fantastic deals on wonderful cotton dresses -- all under $25! I was amazed:

This one's by Faded Glory at Walmart, and costs just $15!. It's a lovely soft cotton (fully lined), and comes in both solid colors and checked patterns. I loved the blue chambray and white versions, but this one's my favorite:

This cotton wrap dress by Merona at Target costs just $24.99. I just adore the fit! It comes in different colors too, but this watercolor floral pattern was my favorite. Since it's a wrap-dress it's adjustable and very comfortable. It's great for a summer party, graduation, etc.:

I'm not one for shirtdresses, since I can rarely find any that look good on me, but this one (again by Merona for Target) is an exception, and one of my favorite dresses to wear around town. I love the pintucking down the front, the little cap sleeves and cute A-line shape:

The last dress is by Liberty of London for Target, and the most surprising for me since it's a babydoll silhouette. Now, if you have any kind of chest you automatically stay away from anything "babydoll", unless you're six or more months along, know what I mean?

But something made me try this on. I loved the pretty-yet-elegant flower embroidery, the subtle ruffle underskirt, and the fact that it only cost $25.

Believe it or not, it actually looked fabulous! I have to wear a tank or tee underneath, of course, but it still looked lovely, and so comfortable I didn't want to take it off. This is another dress that's great for different kinds of warm-weather occasions, from graduations to garden parties.

So these are my dress finds, so far. Whenever I find a dress that looks good on me and is affordable, I buy it, knowing that such dresses don't come along often. I hope I can find more dresses. They're the best!

HIATUS ... I'LL BE BACK!

2010-02-12T20:22:00.000-08:00

Hey folks, I'm sorry I haven't been updating as much on here, but I've been having some major computer problems so I won't be able to upload all the stuff I have lined up. Grrr! Nothing like computer trouble to put a damper on things. But it (hopefully) won't be for long, and I'll resume blogging as soon as everything's fixed. See ya soon!

NEW BLOG!

2010-01-23T11:13:00.000-08:00

I've started a new blog! I thought I needed a place where I can post stuff about my day-to-day life that don't quite fit in this one: book reviews, crafts projects, photos I take, etc. As well as interesting/frustrating/inspiring/thought-provoking happenings ... all kinds of different things.

The new blog is: Wordy Nerdy Birdy

Wordy because I love the written and spoken word so much, and it's such an integral part of my life; nerdy because I'm basically a geek! And birdy because I love birds of all kinds, especially the little sparrows who visit our back porch every day. They symbolize freedom, joy and wonder to me.

All of which I hope to convey in my own small corner of cyberspace. ^_^

... BLACK AGAIN

2010-01-17T12:30:00.000-08:00

Another black top for cold weather, this time my fitted jacket which I love but don't quite know what to pair with. Here, I'm trying it with my cuffed jeans, which I bought years ago before the "boyfriend jeans" look became fashionable:

(click to enlarge)

jacket: I.N.C. (Macy's); belt: Ralph Lauren (Ross); jeans: Hippie (TJ Maxx); boots: Dolce Vita (eBay)

I thought my pewter metallic boots would look better on a rainy winter day than black boots. I adore these, but the metallic dye is wearing out at the front and I don't know what to do about it. :o(

But these boots have been lovely for the years I've had them.

BACK TO BLACK

2010-01-16T15:46:00.001-08:00

I don't wear the color black much, but I like to try it out when it's cold. For some reason, fall and winter seem like ideal times to wear black. Maybe because of the weather? I don't know.

I like pairing black with other neutrals, especially indigo and navy blues, browns, taupe, grays and also ivory (more than white). Here, I'm wearing a favorite gray corduroy skirt with my beloved black leather jacket:

(click to enlarge)

top: Target, belt: Target, jacket: Gap (thrifted), skirt: 7 For all Mankind, Boots: Miz Mooz

A close-up of the jacket, which is cut like a jeans jacket. I love the combination of gray and black. I think gray softens black while black gives gray a certain elegance. I don't have many gray pieces in my wardrobe, but I'm always on the lookout for more of them. I think gray is a perfect neutral.

AAAH JANU-WEARY ...

2010-01-10T12:04:00.000-08:00

(click to enlarge)
Dressing for winter has always been a bit of a challenge for me, since it's such a short season around here in the Sacramento Valley area of California. The coldest it'll get is around 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit, and you can sometimes see people running around in flip-flops!

My cold weather wardrobe is small-ish, and I just tend to wear the few jackets I have in different ways. I get a bit bored with that, which is why I'm usually eager for Spring to arrive. In the meantime, I try to wear a few pastels and bright colors to liven up the days.

Above, I'm trying out my ivory tights and pale pink top to soften the denim-and-suede combination. Not sure whether these colors are too light for this outfit, so I'm going to keep on experimenting.

Jacket: I.N.C. (Macy's); Top: Old Navy; Belt: Lucky Brand; Skirt: 7 For all Mankind; Tights: TJ Maxx; Boots: Bronx

MY TOP 10 MOVIES OF THE PAST DECADE

2010-01-03T17:33:00.000-08:00

Top Ten movie lists were all over the place around New Year's, and I wanted to make my own! Here goes ...

1. Spirited Away (2001)

Legendary Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki's film, about a little girl named Chihiro's epic quest to save her parents from a witche's curse that turns them into pigs, won the very first Academy Award for an animated feature. I think that category was pretty much invented for Miyazaki because he raised the genre from one of simple childrens' movies to masterpieces of artistry and myth. You have to really watch them to see what I mean! This film is arguably his best (though Princess Mononoke fans might disagree!).

2. Lost In Translation (2003)

Clothes lovers around the world (including yours truly) adore director Sophia Coppola's spare, arty sense of style, but her films, particularly this one, have a different feel -- wise and sensitive, with an unpralleled understanding of the lives of young women in early adulthood. This is one of my all-time favorite movies. Set in modern-day Tokyo, it's about a friendship between recent college grad (Scarlett Johansson) and aging actor (Bill Murray). Theirs is a connection that's not sexual but very poignant nevertheless. And it's really, really funny! More or less perfect, I think.

3. Ushpizin ("The Visitors", 2004)

Israeli director Giddi Dar and writer and lead actor Shuli Rand made this movie about a poor, down-on-their-luck couple living in a Hasidic (ultra-Orthodox) Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem. At Sukkot, an ancient Jewish holiday, they experience a miracle, but God moves in ways more mysterious (and hilarious) than the poor couple realizes. You might not expect a film about Orthodox Jewish life to be so engaging, funny or deeply affecting, but this little gem of a film is just that!

4. Pride & Prejudice (2005)

There are enough film versions of Jane Austen's classic novel, but I think this is one of the best, up there with the 1995 BBC/A&E production with Colin Firth. Keira Knightley breathes new life into character of strong-willed romantic heroine Elizabeth Bennet, and Matthew Macfadyen's Mr. Darcy is both sympathetic and incredibly sexy!

5. Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005)

This is an "artsy" film that miraculously manages to be sweet, funny and heartfelt. Performance artist/filmmaker Miranda July's directed and acted in this quirky piece about modern love, family and the connections we make with everyone around us, no matter who they might be. And I think July's wardrobe is total eye-candy!

6. The Painted Veil (2006)

This adaptation of Somerset Maugham's classic tearjerker novel is quiet and profound, with gorgeous cinematography and remarkable performances that pull you into another time and place, both China in the 1920s and the marriage of two unlikely people, a spoiled socialite (Naomi Watts) and a shy doctor (Edward Norton). I think it's one of the best depictions of the inexplicable bonds that develop between a husband and wife, ones that people outside a marriage rarely, if ever, understand.

7. The Lives of Others (2006)

This German film (which won the Academy Award for best foreign film), got to me in a way that's almost indescribable. Set in East Berlin in the mid 1980s, right before the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of communism in Germany, it's about a playwright (Sebastian Koch) and his actress girlfriend (Martina Gedeck), who are spied on by a Stasi (secret police) officer, Gerd Wiesler, played by one of Germany's greatest actors, Ulrich Muhe. Director Florian Henckel shows how art affects the human spirit and changes our way of looking at the world ... which is ultimately what this film does too!

8. Eastern Promises (2007)

David Cronenberg's gritty, violent film is about a British doctor of Russian ancestry (Naomi Watts) who gets caught up in the dangerous world of the Russian mafia and emotionally involved with a hitman (Viggo Mortensen), in London. I'm usually not a crime film fan, but there's something strangely and intensely romantic about this one -- it feels more like a tragic Russian novel of the 19th century than a 21st century mafia movie.

9. Batman: The Dark Knight (2008)

I think this is just the best superhero movie ever made. Like Hayao Miyazaki, director Christopher Nolan takes this latest chapter in the Batman saga from a simple comic book adventure to a dark, gorgeous, modern myth, mainly through the amazing performance of Heath Ledger as the Joker.

10. (500) Days of Summer (2009)

This engaging romantic comedy shows the perspective of a survivor of a failed relationship who's ... male ! That's right: a romantic comedy that's not a chick flick, in which the one who mistakes sex for love, fantasizes about a connection that never was, and mopes around in a bathrobe in the middle of the day after a breakup is a young man named Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), not the young woman, Summer (Zooey Deschanel), who captivates and ultimately dumps him. For that alone this film's worth seeing, but it's not depressing, because in true romantic comedy form, it shows that life can be heartbreaking but ultimagely redemptive and magical. Plus, there's more eye candy to be relished in Zooey Deschanel's fabulous wardrobe!

So there you have it, my favorite movies of the past decade! I hope this new decade will bring more such wonderful films. ^_^

GOOD READS OF THE PAST DECADE (part 1)

2010-01-01T15:03:00.000-08:00

Happy 2010! Hope your new year will be joyous, fulfilling and fortunate! ^_^

In the past decade I read some great books on style and the significance of clothing in the lives of different women. I think these are really worth reading and wanted to share them with you all. Here's the first:

Love, Loss and What I Wore by Ilene Beckerman: This little book chronicles the author's life, from her childhood in the 1940s to her life in the 21st century, through the clothes she wore at different times. There are simple line-drawings of her clothes instead of photographs, but the descriptions are so vivid that they come to life in the reader's imagination. The author's spare, haunting accounts of the experiences and people that went along with these clothes make you realize why something as superficial a particular outfit takes on such a deep meaning for a woman.

This book made me think about my own clothes, and why they are so special: the sweet calico-print Gunne Sax dress I wore for my first formal photo in America; my simple white cotton prom dress with its tiny red rose appliques at the hip and neckline (that looks beautiful now, compared to the satin and tafetta 1980s monstrosities that make my classmates cringe); the rich brown J Brand skinny jeans I wore the day I met my husband. Makes me want to write a clothing memoir too!

And hey, if you're in NYC, you can watch the off-Broadway play based on the book! I think it would be a wonderful theater experience. I hope it can make its way to my neck of the woods, someday.

'09 HOLIDAY SALE FINDS: PRETTY PRINTS

2009-12-30T16:31:00.000-08:00

I'd be lying if I said hitting the clearance sales wasn't one of my favorite holiday activities! ^_^ This year the markdowns were amazing: I bought $100 tops for $9!! I did this by printing out several coupons and taking my husband to the store with me, so that we could both use one coupon at a time and save money each time we used it. We stocked up on some beautiful long-sleeved shirts for him, and I found some colorful warm-weather tops for myself.

I love bright colors and unique patterns. They lift my spirits and I feel better wearing them. For instance, I think this bright pink tank will be perfect for summer. The picture doesn't show how flowy it is, skimming but not clingy, which is perfect if you're top-heavy like me:

(click to enlarge)

Top (paisley print): Splendid

I'm not one of those women blessed with a small chest that can carry off a tanktop on its own with nothing underneath, but fortunately I like the layered look (very Free People!).

This next top is very light and floaty. I love loose tops with beautiful prints because they seem so summery and bohemian. I'm going to wear this with my faded flare-leg jeans:

(click to enlarge)

Top: Testament -- I love this brand for its intricate patterns and lovely colors.

I also found this wonderful rayon dress with its sort of Art Nouveau pattern. I'm wearing it here with my own belt instead of the fabric one that came with it:

(click to enlarge)

Dress: Nine West
Belt: Gap

Last, this lightweight silk top (which I've paired with a lace tank, underneath), which had a lovely '80s-style print. I love how the colors stand out against the gray:

(click to enlarge)

Top: Bilingual

Vibrant colors remind me of traveling in Asia, especially my homeland of Sri Lanka, and the tropical atmosphere. Memories that bring me joy in the gray days of winter!

GOODWILL TO ALL!

2009-12-23T19:52:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a peaceful, joyous Christmas!!

WINTERGREEN

2009-12-23T18:22:00.000-08:00

I wore this outfit to a Christmas play at a local church the other night. I am in love with the turquoise color family at the moment, and when I saw this dress I thought it would be perfect to wear not in the warmer months (when I wear more bright colors anyway), but in the colder months when I tend to wear more subdued hues. I layered it with a darker teal knit top and a grittier looking jacket so that it wouldn't appear too girly.

I love the very '80s look of thsi dress, with its tiered skirt! Reminds me of prom dresses back in the day. :o)

(click to enlarge)

I wore with it a pretty enamel bangle from India, a Christmas gift by a school-parent:

These colors somehow make the cold, gray winter months more bearable, I think. They always seem to lift my spirits and put me in a holiday mood!

LOOKLOVE -- MIRANDA JULY

2009-12-14T14:22:00.001-08:00

The other day my husband and I got a movie DVD from the library, "Me and You and Everyone We Know" by performance-artist/actress/writer Miranda July. I fell absolutely in love with this quirky, sweet, odd, wonderful little film! My husband loved it too. It's one of those movies that just gets under your skin.

Part of its appeal, I think, is the personal fashion sense of director and leading actress Miranda July, who plays a lonely, wistful artist whose day job is a driver for an old folks' home. I was just mesmerized by her outfits in this movie!

I wish there were more pictures of this adorable actress online, but I could only find a few that showed her costumes in "You and Me and Everyone We Know". Here are my favorites:

The above diagonal-striped blouse was so beautiful! It's a perfect blend of laid-back California girl and feminine, '80s retro cool. More or less how I aspire to dress!

The above blouson tee with its embroidered birdie patch manages to look both casual and kind of wistful ... if that's the right word. It's perfect paired with the chic jeans and kitten heel pumps.

You'll need to watch the movie to check out the other costumes, including a gorgeous, emerald green dress. I highly recommend it!

Here are some pictures of Miranda July, herself. I love how she dresses in real life too!

There's something dreamy yet elegant about the polka-dot dress, above. July wears a lot of retro-inspired styles, I think. One reason why I just love her clothes! A good example is the teal dress in the picture below, from a film festival. It's very late '70s-early '80s, a look she seems to like and wear a lot. I wonder whether that's because, like me, Miranda July grew up in that era? I don't know, but she does wear vintage-inspired styles unlike any other actress I've seen. Really fabulous!

(image from mirandajuly.com)

So there are some pictures of an artist and a movie that I find endlessly inspiring. I have to hurry up and snag a DVD of "Me and You and Everyone We Know" before it gets completely discontinued. It's one of those rare and magical films that seems to come along only once in a lifetime.

RECIPE: SPICY CHICKPEA-SPINACH SOUP

2009-12-09T20:29:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite soups! It's delicious, nutritious, filling and makes a complete meal with some Indian-style flatbread (naan, paratha, etc.) that you can get in convenient frozen packs at any Indian or Asian grocery, or even Trader Joe's (look in the TJ's frozen food section for naan -- the garlic naan goes great with this soup).

This is my version of a recipe from "The Greatest Ever Vegetarian Cookbook" by Nicola Grimes. My variation is vegan, but you can also add cooked diced chicken breast for a meat version. I've never tried it with meat, but I think it would be just as tasty. My husband adores this soup and frequently asks for it, so I thought it would be a great one to share! Here goes ...

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
4-6 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, roughly chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin (you can find this in both Mexican and Indian groceries)
2 teaspoons ground coriander (see above)
5 cups vegetable stock
3-4 small yellow potatoes, cooked and diced (optional)
15 ounce can chickpeas, drained
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2/3 to 1 cup coconut milk
2 tablespoons tahini (you can find this in the Kosher foods section of grocery stores)
6-7 ounces spinach, shredded (I got a 6 oz. bag of spinach leaves and use it all)
1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or Indian chile powder)
salt and ground black pepper, to taste

I prefer boiling, peeling and dicing the potatoes in advance and keeping these aside to add at the end, because otherwise it would take way too long to cook the potatoes in the soup. You can also microwave the potatoes to cook and then dice them. Either way, keeping this part separate saves a lot of work and prevents overcooking of the soup.

Heat oil in a large, deep saucepan or pot and cook onion and garlic till softened, about 4 minutes. I like to add the garlic last so that it won't burn. Stir in the coriander and cumin and cook for another minute. Pour in the stock. Bring to a boil and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. Add chickpeas and simmer for a few minutes more.

Blend together the cornstarch, coconut milk and tahini until cornstarch is very well dissolved. Stir into the soup. Add the spinach. Keep stirring well to prevent cornstarch from clotting. Bring to a boil. Season with cayenne or chillie powder, salt and pepper. Add potatoes last and stir a bit, taking care not to break them. Serve with naan or paratha bread.

One last note: With coconut milk, you can use it straight from the can, but I prefer the coconut milk powder that comes in boxes in Asian grocery stores. I like to dissolve about 1 to 1-1/2 tablespoons of the powder in 1 cup heated water, which I think makes for a better taste.

BLACK FRIDAY FINDS, PART ONE -- SILK BLOUSES

2009-12-06T19:46:00.001-08:00

Black Friday is a family event for us, and this year my mother and I were joined by my husband, who patiently carried loads of clothes for us to try on -- he rocks! ^__^ I found some beautiful clothes for him on Black Friday this year, as well.

We went to our local mall at 4:00 a.m.! I'm glad I suffered through that, since we all picked up some of the most amazing deals. Apart from clothes, my mother found a $9.99 fax machine and I found a $30 printer-scanner and $3.00 DVDs, but of course we all enjoyed clothes shopping the most.

We also went to our local thrift stores, which were having BF specials just like the retail stores. At all these places, I picked up some beautiful silk blouses for very low prices. Silk is my favorite fabric -- I love how it feels and how gorgeous it looks. Here's what I got:

(click to enlarge)

The above blouse is one of my all-time favorite finds, mainly because of the very 1980s-early '90s print. I could swear my mother had clothes in very similar patterns those days! I want to try it with either straight-leg jeans or an A-line skirt for a more retro look.

(click to enlarge)

The above blouse has a watercolor/arty print and little pleats at the top which keep it from being too loose. I love its rich sheen. I'm going to try tucking it into my white pencil skirt to see how that looks, although I think it'll also look cool with very flared jeans, in a '70s way.

Now for my thrift store find! It's a sequined, silk chiffon vintage '80s butterfly blouse, which I got for $9.00 at our Cancer Society store! I loooooove it! I'm going to try it with white pants, but it also looks fab with dark jeans. If I can find an evening-y skirt to wear with it, I think it would make a unique formal outfit:

(click to enlarge)

So there are some of my Black Friday buys! Every single one of these cost under $20. In a recession like this, it's good to know that such deals are around. I think we need all the pick-me-ups we can get these days.

Stay tuned for a look at the cotton blouses and tops I found!

LATE AUTUMN LOOK

2009-12-06T19:44:00.000-08:00

I avoid wearing blue and black together for most of the year, as I find this combination a bit somber and off-putting, but it always seemed a natural pairing for the cold months, especially in late Fall-early Winter.

I like wearing these two colors in clothes that have a noticeable texture, like the leather and denim pairing here:

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Leather jacket: Gap (thrifted)
Top: Wal-Mart
Belt: Lucky Brand
Skrit: Citizens of Humanity
Boots: Miz Mooz

This is one of my favorite cold-weather outfits! I love how the texture of the leather jacket is echoed in the leather boots -- I think it keeps the simple color combo interesting.

THANKSGIVING 2009

2009-11-28T14:09:00.000-08:00

When it comes to Thanksgiving and other holiday dinners, I like to wear somewhat loose clothing that will hide any post-feast "bloat", know what I mean? ^__^

Usually Thanksgiving time is cold enough to wear forgiving layers of sweaters, but this year it was unusually warm, so I was able to wear my flowy sleeve top with a tank top underneath. It's one of my favorite tops, and I thought it worked well for the day:

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Top: Studio M (Macy's)
Jeans: J Brand "silver fox"
Boots: Miz Mooz

Here's a photo of me and The Hubz at Thanksgiving dinner at my mother's place:

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It was a great dinner which we really enjoyed. I made my usual zucchini casserole, which turned out well and was liked by all. I posted the recipe for that in this blog, a while ago. We went home a bit early, so that we could wake up at 3:00 a.m. for Black Friday the next day. I'll post pics of my finds from the sales soon, so stay tuned!

THAT '70s SKIRT

2009-11-28T14:02:00.000-08:00

I have a denim skirt that feels very 1970s in style. I adore this skirt, but it's not very easy to coordinate with tops. I tend to tuck blouses into it, or wear it with shorter, embroidered-type tops that have a retro Bohemian feel.

Recently, I decided to try out this skirt for the colder weather, going for an early '70s look with suede boots and bag, but keeping everything else as sleek as possible. Here's how it turned out:

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Top: Jones New York
Jacket: Target
Skirt: 7 For all Mankind
Boots: Bronx "Chevy"

I really liked this look! I thought my slouchy suede bag gave it a perfect retro touch.

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Bag: Maxx New York

The next look is a bit more ladylike, using my suede jacket:

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Top: Old Navy
Jacket: I.N.C. Petite (Macy's)

Here's a close-up look at my suede boots, which I tend to wear a lot in wintertime:

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I'm still looking out for different ways to wear this skirt, which is one of my favorites. I never thought it could be worn in cold weather, so I'm glad I was wrong!

HAPPY TG!

2009-11-26T19:06:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a wonderful, joyous and peaceful Thanksgiving!

(anyone planning on hitting the Black Friday sales?)