get thee to an anthropologie

Run (don't walk) to your nearest Anthropologie. Don't have one close by? Check it out online.

There's one 5 minutes from my house, and I'm forever window shopping and getting ideas....but hardly ever able to afford anything. Even when it's on sale. But right now you can get an extra 50% off of everything already on sale - in stores and online.

Which is how I afforded this (for $25!!):

And this set (for $5!!):

And several other things that I can't reveal before Christmas :)

I just love a good great sale.

B

for the vertically challenged

A quick gripe about clothes.

Every girl over 6 feet tall has difficulty finding anything that fits properly.  Things are always too short, too tight, too little, etc.  Nothing's worse than trying on a fitted dress only to realize that the extra space tailored for the (average person's) bum bits just happens to be hitting the small of your back.  That 'pooch' of extra fabric is just not a good look...not to mention the awkwardness of having your butt squeezed into parts normally filled with legs.

Any dress shorter than homeschool becomes sketchy short (hooker is not really my style).  And those long, billowy and beautiful maxi dresses that every midget is running around in??  Forget about it.  The few (FEW) times I've ever found something for super tall people, it's always crazy expensive and/or desperately ugly. 

At least that's what I thought, until someone dear introduced me to this place.  It's made for girls 5'8" and up, which still isn't quite my size, but it's a very nice start.

I wouldn't wear everything they sell, but there are some real gems.  Like this dream:

This dress would get worn to pieces.  I'd accessorize it differently every day (with all of the beautiful golds, silvers and bold colors of Stella & Dot, of course!).

And I'd wear it while riding my horse across the deserts of far-off lands....naturally. 

I wonder if we could go without groceries for a week or two...

it just might be worth it.

B

Blanchett the beauty

Cate's dress last night had fashion critics split down the middle.  Half put her at the top of Best Dressed; the other threw her into the bottom of the Worst.

I put her right at the top with the best of the best.  She dressed perfectly to her style and personality, which is more than can be said for most.  I've always thought it better for people to either really love or really hate what you wear...and least it's more exciting than all of the safe options that make us say 'meh' (I'm looking at you, S. Bullock and A. Hathaway).  I would wear the heck out of this dress.

And who doesn't love that smirk?  It's the perfect accessory.

B

things that make me happy

1. The 2+ feet of snow outside.  No work for either of us today--snow day.  Last night, in the heaviest part of the storm, we drove around in Tom's truck with 4 wheel drive.  It was us against the world.

2. Having four cats that love to purr and snuggle.  Our heater could have stopped working and we'd be none the wiser.  It's amazing how warm four cats can keep you when they're dispersed all about your bed (under the covers, on top of pillows, squashed in between us etc)

3. Officially registering for this conference.  It's taking place at Saint Micheal Orthodox Church in Louisville, Ky.  Quick overview of the highlights:

*Lectures by Brad Birzer (wonderful Hillsdale prof) and John Granger (author of Unlocking Harry Potter), among many others

*Topics like 'The world of Dostoevsky and the Freedom of the Person',  'Raising Humans in a Post-Human World' and 'The Fly and the Bee: What if Beauty, Love and Christ Were All That Mattered?'

*My hometown of Louisville...enough said.

4. This 'breakthrough' in the fashion world:

It's like a bad car accident--I can't stop staring.  I was at the gym when I saw the commercial and thought it was a joke (in the same genre as Mom Jeans).  Buuuuuut, it's not; it's very, scarily real.  In fact, you can buy your own for the low, low price of $39.95.  A great price and with the free t-shirt they throw in, very tempting.  But ask yourself if it's worth the ridicule?  Because I will be first in line for the ridicule.  Also I will defriend you on facebook.

To be honest, this point in my blog post doesn't actually make me happy per se, but it does make me laugh an awful lot.

B  

The World of Dostoevsky and the Freedom of the Person

what's for dinner

Tonight's menu was born of several inspirations.

#1 Whenever I've a spare moment, I run down the road to the library and browse the cooking section.  Don't think the variety/quality of my literature cramped, because it's not; it's just that I find new recipes and foods therapeutic, adventuresome and (dare I say it) invigorating.  I love Nigella Lawson in part because she's British and has great variety, but mostly because she eats like a horse and cooks like the fat southern grandmother I never had.  Anywho, a picture in her book How to be a Domestic Goddess instantly caught my eye (don't bother mocking the title...my husband has that covered). Feast your eyes on:

Sooooo, we all  love  should love onions (after all, who can resist their transformational flavors AND their ability to ward off the common cold?!?).  Seriously...I judge you if you can't take the plunge.  After seeing the photo and reading how easy it was to make, I decided to keep this recipe close at hand.  Onion pie for dinner.

Step #2 of inspiration:  We found the most epic of finds at a thrift store 2 weeks ago: a vintage tweed sport-coat for the husband.  For $4.  That fits him like a glove.  

Now, while my husband is NOT as pre-pubescent as this gem of a male model, the jacket does fit him in a similar manner.  It's complete with suede elbow patches.  Be still my beating heart.

#3.  You may be asking how a tweed sport-coat goes with onion pie.  Read on.

After reading James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small this summer/fall (and every other sequel that followed), it was with great delight that we discovered the BBC television adaptation.  We've been watching it regularly as part of our evening routine.  There is no word to describe the perfection of this television show (esp with Robert Hardy at the helm)...not even 'delightful'.  Perhaps 'scrumtrulescent' alle SNL's 'Inside Actor's Studio'.  Perhaps.

We love having our four cats, one dog and six birds while watching this program.  We also love that it's the dead of winter weather out here in Chicago, with wind chills significantly below zero.  The Yorkshire farmers--in the books and the television show--live every year in similar conditions.  They battle the elements, maintaining their animal stock and livelihood, whilst remaining salt-of-the-earth-folk.  

Bringing it all full circle: they eat heartily and dress in thick woolen tweed.  As did we tonight.

Dinner was quite delicious.  Warmed us from the inside out.

Although that may have been because we were covered in purring cats and kittens.

We love having company.  The front door is always open.

B

   

where I'm headed

Among the delights that my weekend in the city holds, I'm ever so excited to visit the 2nd biggest Anthropologie in the world.

Hold.my.horses.
(and my wallet)

So excited to visit these--

and this--

and this--

B

vintage Christmas

I've been obsessed with this website for quite some time.  They're now available for U.S. orders and will send you beautiful catalogs if requested.  Check out their fabrics and wallpapers.

Anyways, their latest Christmas line was just released and it's making me wish I had the money to buy everything OR have the time to vintage shop for similar items.  Favorites include:

(Christmas sweater done right)

(the sweetest tea towel)

(actually a pin cushion, but would make the most adorable tree ornament)

While it's been almost 70 degrees and sunny this week, I almost (almost) wish that it were more chilly.  Without the cold weather, it is more difficult to 'feel' (such a silly word) the building anticipation of the Christmas season.  

My prayer is that we actively meditate throughout the entire Advent, wondering in the birth of God incarnate with wide-eyed childlike belief.

B

L to the G

And now, dear readers, it's time for a game of 'Who Wore it Best?'

OR

There's been lots of recent press questioning the uniqueness and even validity of L. Gaga's fashion and persona.  Liz Jones of the DailyMail (my guilty pleasure for tabloid indulgence) has an interesting theory.  There are others who claim she is the fashion muse of our time.  I think the answer's somewhere in the middle, nestled snugly between Mad Hatter and RuPaul.

The best outfit--a crowd favorite--goes all the way back to summer of '09:

Setting: Germany.  Theme: Animal Rights/Vegetarianism.  Perhaps her switch to beef (it's what's for dinner) is meant to be ironic.

In the musical voice of Cake, 'perhaps, perhaps.......perrrrrrrrrrhaps'.

Ride the gray camel

I've been looking drooling over the beautiful colors of Fall 2010 ready-to-wear.  If I must endure the oncoming cold, I'd prefer to do it warm camels and gorgeous grays.

top: Michael Kors, all American man
bottom: Marc Jacobs, celebrity driven peacock

Fortunately for the budget (reality) minded, the trend is being wonderfully done elsewhere and closer to home.  Target, J. Crew, Ann Taylor, etc etc.

If you ever find an affordable version of this, let me know...in case Tom ever loses a bet.

B