It's All In The Jeans

I'm a total jeans girl- I wear them everyday.  And while I do like to splurge on designer jeans- I like a great pair for cheap too.  Years ago a girlfriend of mine turned me on to American Eagle Jeans.  Great fit- they wear well and are under $50 (easy to find them as low at $29.50) Here are a few of my favs

Original Boot Cut $49.50

Straight Leg $39.50

Trouser Jean $49.50 (I adore them in white!)











Here's a tip- join the AERewards club, and get some great perks- I got a free t-shirt of my choice the month of my birthday- but thats not on the list...

 

• 15% off the month of your birthday at AE, Aerie and 77kids when you share your e-mail.
• Kids score a gift in any 77kids store on their birthday.
• Free Aerie Bras: Buy 5 Bras Get the 6th Free. Every time.
• Members-Only Sales and Events

Plus 15% off for every $100 you spend. 

Spring Accessories

To temper yesterdays encouragement to spend- here are a few great spring accessories for pocket change.  A quick wardrobe update- $10 or less.

Way to rock your inner eight year old- Daisy Chain Headband $4.95 at H&M

The thing about wayfarers is that I already wore them the first time around- but these in blush pink seem fresh and new.  I hear my inner hipster calling...
$7.50 WetSeal

I love a brooch added to a cardigan or blazer- and this mint color is totally on trend for spring. 
$9.90 from Zara

I saved the best for last- I LOVE this filigree bracelet from Forever21.   It screams "hooray, the sun is out!"  $4.50.  Yep- enough left over for an ice cream cone.

Start the week with a splurge.

Uusally I like to find deals under $100 (under $50- even better!!) but there are some amazing splurge items today, at higher prices than I usually conscider.

Bruno Magli "Kelsey" Mary Jane on My Habit $175, regular price $350.  Shoes are an easy call for a splurge- especially a shoe like this that is NEVER going out of style.  Spending a little more on a shoe means it will be more comfortable and will wear longer.

A white dress is a summer essential- my lovely husband shrunk my go-to white dress, so I am in the market for a new one.  I love the neckline on this one, and the nipped in waist/ shorter hem line combo is really flattering. Shoshonna Pleated Cotton Ruffle Sheath on Gilt.com $149 regular price $340

Color blocking is a huge trend- we have all heard it.  I love this top because it is "on trend" without being "trendy"

Sarah Block Silk Top by French Connection, $118 on Amazon- this is not really a sale price, BUT- sign up for fashion news from Amazon and you get 20% off.













Enjoy your monday splurges.  Just think of all the money you save the rest of the week!

meanwhile...

Ok, I've been radio silent while I walk, eat spicy food, do jumping-jacks and pretty much anything else I can think of to get this baby out.  But since she's not budging, I thought I'd go ahead and introduce a new idea I've had.  For the little while, I'm going to use this as a online shopping round up- my fav things at the best prices, keeping in line with the Suburban Style philosophy- that the cutest trends in home, fashion and beauty should still be accessible to a mom in a minivan.  Sales don't last forever, so to avoid missing out- hit the subscribe button or follow me on Bloglovin'.  Enough chatter- here are today's best steals.

Tuscan Storage Coffee Table- I am all about adding storage space, and when it comes in this beautiful rustic elm finish- I love it even more.  $560.95 on Joss&Main

My favorite coats are the ones I buy when it's too late in Spring to wear them- that's because as the weather heats up, the prices come down, and I get super cute fall styles at screaming deals.  I love this "Ganache and Golly" coat with faux fur and velvet trim from Modcloth.  I'd really consider it at full price- $164.99, but on sale for $49.99, how can you go wrong?
 

Brightly colored denim is HUGE for Spring (does that mean the 90's are vintage?!)  but I'm not sure its a look that is going to last more than one season.  I love to buy trendy items like this from a few trusted, less expensive stores.  Old Navy has skinny and flared styles of colored denim, I love this pair of slim flare in "Blue Moon" easy to try at a whopping $25. 







Happy Shopping- let me know your thoughts on the new format!

Wantful

Valentines Day means two things to me this year.

1.  Making sure my daughter doesn't show up to preschool with the epic fail of class Valentines like she did last year.  (Seriously- these kids are handing out full blown goody bags and I sent mine to school with little paper Elmo cards...but I digress)

2.  Having to come up with something- anything- that shows my honey how much I love him.  And being about to deliver a baby, my fall back of new lingerie and an overnight baby-sitter isn't the likely winner.


Enter Wantful

You log in to their site, answer some question about the gift recipient and give them a price range.  VIOLA! They send you this lovely little printed book- a catalog really, and your loved one picks what they want.

Like a very personal gift card.  Love it!

Spring Dress Round-up

They're here!  They're here!  It's Spring dress time and even though Winter just hit Northern California- I am so ready.  True, I am still an incubator, but with any luck (and a little help from the Stork and the Spanx Fairy) I'll be wearing some of these by Easter!

This year, with the new baby and the time off etc. budget for a Spring wardrobe is extra tight, so I'm forgoing Anthropologie *sniff* and sticking with some more economical options.  Frankly- Old Navy and Target have really stepped it up the last few seasons... and I already sang the praises of the Jason Wu for Target collection.

So, without further ado- some of my fave Spring dresses.  Chic, easy to wear, (ahem) slimming and under $40

Navy striped dress with lemon yellow belt: $24.99 at Target

 
Navy Surpliced Linen Dress: $29.80  Forever 21

Navy (seeing a trend?) Flower Printed Tie Waist Dress: $34.94 Old Navy

Ruffle Front Jersey Dress: $19.50 on sale now at Old Navy

Kimono Style Chiffon Dress: $34.95 from H&M

So much to love!

OP-I Think I Changed My Polish

I make no secret about the fact that I am a nail polish snooze fest.  I am addicted to OPI's I'm Not Really A Waitress, and it is all I wear... until now.

As you know, I am on a mission to spice my self up- I need to spice things up a bit before my early thirties turn in to my early forties.  And more importantly before I become defined as a mommy.  (Seriously, what happens to these fun, sexy women when thy have kids?  Suddenly its ok to wear a matching velour sweatsuit?  NEWSFLASH: it's NEVER ok, even if it's a designer sweatsuit!)  Sorry... I digress...

Anyhow- I am breaking the mold and trying some new polishes... here are my two current faves:

Meet Me on The Star Ferry: Part of the OPI Hong Kong Collection from a few years ago.  This is a warm flattering purple that seems like it would work on anyone.  Light enough to qualify as low maintenance and with just a touch of glitter.

The other is Black Cherry Chutney: dark violet with a touch of red.  This is a very bold choice for me, but the hint of red flatters my skin in the same way that the deep red of I'm Not Really A Waitress does

Next step for me is is a gray.  I'm thinking gun-metal... any suggestions?

Jason Wu at Target this Spring!

Do you know why the Super Bowl starts at 3?  So you have plenty of time to shop the Jason Wu collection at Target!!  Available nation wide on February 5^th (yep- Super Bowl Sunday) each piece of Jason Wu’s collection of modern classics is available for $59.99 or less.  And if you haven’t seen them yet- they are amazing!  Check out a few of my favs:

This trench makes April Showers look appealing!

Cream dress with black petticoat- so Audrey!

Spring-tastic shoulder bag with a great Mod shape

 And subtle color blocking in red, white & blue

 











I might take my giant bump down to Target and buy my self some baby weight loss inspiration!

Post-Partum Compression

Ok- I'm T-2 months and really, really ready for my old clothes (and a nice cold beer!) But, this is the most treacherous part of pregnancy- at least it is for my waist line.  I'm supposed to gain a pound a week- that's 8 pounds if you are counting- and I know all too well I could gain 2 pounds a week- and leave the hospital with a beautiful little girl and a body that still looks 8 months pregnant.
So I've been doing a lot of research on how to manage weight gain over these last few weeks )diets are forbidden and the baby does need me to gain some weight- but I'd like to keep it under control) and how to jump start weight loss after baby.  This is how I discovered post-partum compression lingerie.  Apparently, I was completely oblivious after my first baby, because this is all new to me.  It seems everyone from Angelina Jolie to the mom reviewers on Amazon know about this and most swear by it!  It sounds like the trick is to start wearing it hours after birth- I didn't even know that was allowed...

So, here is what I have discovered- there are hundreds of styles- panties, wraps, girdles, tanks ranging from under $20 to well over $100 here are a couple I have discovered:

 Japanese Weekend Nursing Body Shaper $66

 Underworks post delivery girdle $16.99

Yummie Tummie Nursing Tank $86










I'm leaning towards the nursing tank style.  Really, just because it solves two problems as once.  And I've worn Yummie Tummie shapewear for a while and love it, but the nursing tanks get so-so reviews.

So here's the question- have you tried post-partum compression clothing?  And if so to what degree of success, and what kind?  My jelly belly and my skinny jeans thank you!

Now... back to real life.

Now that the holidays are over, its back to real life for me.  And my real life looks like this: we just moved a two year old into her "big girl room"
She's very excited to have all her toys in her bedroom, I am excited with the outcome of my striped wall

It is sort of a pepto-pink paradise, but she loves it. 

Plus, we having another baby in about 8 weeks,  so I am trying to do a minimal revamp of our existing nursery- there is no need to buy new furniture and I have most of the essentials, but I don't want this baby to live in all hand me downs...

Walls are "Christopher Robin's Swing" a sage green color by Disney for Behr with white trim.  Furniture is dark cherry with excepting an baby armoire that was my dad's, which is white.  (Yes, sentimentality trumps decor.)

So- I am torn between a vintage feel: loving these antique nursery rhyme prints

and this Eiffel tower decal from lot26.com

ideas?  anyone?