Three Nice Things

1. I skipped swimming yesterday because I was tired and just wanted to go home. I felt like I got a nice break, like when your boss sends you home an hour early just because you work hard and she wants to thank you for that. You know and she knows you'll be back tomorrow, but you enjoy and appreciate the extra bit of time to yourself.

In other words, yesterday was nice but it's a pool day today. And I'm looking forward to it.

2. I'm only 5 pounds down but my pants are starting to fall off my hips. I'm blaming the stretch material of the Gap straight legs, but I do think some of it is the swimming already paying off. It's a nice problem to have.

3. My friend Jessie passed down some of her old clothes (some of which were mine to start with, we pass clothes back and forth as we go down -- or up, in my case -- the scale). She included a cute striped Gap sweater she got from Twice.com, and as an XL it fits nicely already. Yay!

P.S. I am prepping the recipe post for the blackeyed peas salad and Babchi's sauce. Should be up in a couple of days!

Stuff I Want: Filling in the Gaps, Winter Edition

Between the Christmas shopping I did for myself, the stocking up on staples I did before Christmas, and the 5 bags of clothes I got from Shopping Friend, the last thing I should need are more clothes. But my wardrobe overall is still missing a few key pieces, little gaps that have become more obvious as I incorporate all the new items into my current closet.

1. Colored turtlenecks


I am crazy about these Lands End turtlenecks. Fantastic layering pieces, and the colors have been perfect at perking up my winter darks; the aztec gold and the Hamburglar striped ones are standouts in my closet now. They're still on sale, and I would love to pick up one in this spiced rhubarb color, and maybe the pine. A good dark green is hard to find!

2. Brown leather belt, not braided


(Ralph Lauren at Bloomingdales)


(Martin + Osa)

I don't have a dark brown belt for wearing over sweaters or tops anymore. There was a huge selection at ShopStyle, but I don't want the cowboy look or something that goes more with jeans. I'll know it when I find it!

3. Patterned/Printed Tops to go under blazers


Nordstrom


Banana Republic


Bloomingdale's

I have amassed an impressive collection of blazers, mostly from Shopping Friend. What I don't have are some good tops to go under them. I don't like solids when I am wearing the blazer for work; it seems too formal suit-ish. So patterned tops it is; now I just need the right ones for winter!

4. Flat ankle boots, in a fun color



Blue, you guys. BLUE.

I saw these at Nordstrom a few weeks ago, but they didn't have my size, and I was afraid to buy blue short cowboy boots without at least one other friend to tell me if I was crazy or not. I need a fun pair of casual boots/shoes to wear with all my shorter jeans, and these will totally fit the bill. I already have Converses and walking Privos, etc. I need these!

I dragged a girlfriend to Nordstrom today to get her opinion but the blues were already gone. YLF says to go for it, so...yep, I'm getting them. I will kick myself if I don't.

5. Pocket Watch on a chain



You know how much I love my gold locket from J Crew Outlet; well, when I saw My Style Pill's use of her grandparents' vintage pocket watches, I knew what I was truly craving. Want, want, want, WANT. I will be getting one this year. Just you, well, watch. ;-D