TBMD

Gahh! I had already written a post, but was too finger-happy with keyboard shortcuts that I accidentally wiped everything out. Then Blogger's quick auto-save function confirmed that all was lost. Unfortunately that meant I lost the link to the image of an adorable little boy that I used as today's outfit inspiration :( He was wearing a gray hoodie sweater, a blue plaid shirt, white tee, and khaki-colored cargo pants. A text description just isn't the same as an actual image, huh? Sigh. But yeah, today's outfit is my tomboy-ish version of his.

Pss... I lied. I said I would put these boots away last week, but didn't. So out they come for one more wear this season. For real this time!

One of my current obsessions is the combination of gray and white. These colors together just seem so fresh and modern to me. The Coach mini Borough bag may have sparked the initial interest (also have my eyes on the Kate Spade Shipley coat), but this image on Pinterest was what inspired today's matchy-matchy outfit.

Have a good Monday, everyone!

I'm what you'd call a skinny-fat girl -- someone who looks skinny from afar, but without any muscle definition whatsoever. Regular exercise isn't high on my priority list, but watching sports is, so the only names on my radar are the big ones like Adidas, Nike, and Under Armour. I have no familiarity with the market geared specifically towards activewear for women. So thank you Caroline for introducing me to lucy and more specifically, their wrap top! Perhaps if I wear this top more often, I'll start leading a healthier lifestyle. Motivation by osmosis.

When DH saw today's outfit, he immediately told me how much he liked it. He said it reminded him of how I used to dress, from my college days. I sputtered out a laugh because it surprises me every time that he thinks those were my stylin' heydays. All I did was buy out American Eagle and Abercrombie after all. I'd like to think I've gotten a tad better at dressing myself over the years.

I bought this eyelet dress last year because I couldn't find a skirt version to my liking. I had every intention of eventually turning paying a tailor to turn the dress into a skirt with the sides slimmed. Umm, yeah... that never happened. All this time I've simply been tucking the strapless portion under and wearing the dress as a skirt. It's a good thing I didn't go through with a permanent fix because with a new year comes a new mindset. I suddenly felt the urge to wear the dress as, yep you got it, a dress.

Photos thanks to DH! I can't seem to smile normally whenever I don't take my own photos (aside from this one, but my shoes were hidden) -- cheesing too much, caught in mid-guffaw or mid-blink, so that's why I'm headless.

I've worn this sweater many times, but not once have I worn it as a tunic (which was its billing on the product description, I believe). The intentional half-side-tuck shortened the sweater and just looked more casual to me. Like with most pieces I own, it was only a matter of time before I'm tired of the same old look. I think wearing the sweater untucked dresses up today's outfit a bit -- or perhaps it's due to the jacket and/or heels. As an added bonus, the tunic-length also hides the unsightly denim creases at the top of my thighs. Win-win, if I'd say so myself.

Sale alert: Take 50% off + free shipping (no minimum) at Ann Taylor with code WOW50. Some exclusions apply.

Closet favorites include:
- Estate shimmer necklace - $49 w/code (outfits: here, here, here)
- Modern classic skinny hinge bangle - $14 w/code (outfits: here, here)
- Silk blouse - $49 w/code (TTS - wearing sz 00 / outfits: here, here)
- Pearlized stone statement necklace - $59 w/code (outfits: here, here, here)
- Pave cabochon stretch bracelet - $14.75 w/code (outfits: here, here)

I went a bit stripe crazy and ordered these to try: striped cascade ruffle front top ($34.50), striped perfect stretch cotton sleeveless shirt ($34.75), striped perfect button down shirt ($79.50 - excluded from sale).

Also, take 50% off + free shipping (no minimum) at LOFT with code CYBER50.

Closet favorites include:
- Sunwashed tee - $9.75 (outfits: wearing sz XS in grey here, here / sz S in yellow here)
- Super skinny jeans in deconstructed garden blue - $39.75 (TTS, sized up for looser fit - wearing sz 25 / outfits: here, here, here)
- Vaughn t-strap sandals - $14.75 (TTS, wearing sz 6 / outfits: here)
- Modern skinny jeans - $34.75 - $39.75 (old review here / outfit: here)
- Modern straight jeans - $29.75 - $34.75 (believe it used to be called the modern slim / outfits: here, here, here)

These boots may have been a late season purchase, but I feel I've worn them an inordinate amount of times, so much so that I can now easily justify the cost. I wore them one last time on an unusually chilly day this past week before putting them away for good until the fall. Boots, you will be missed.

Tourists from all over descend upon DC every spring to see the famous cherry blossoms. I imagine it's difficult for out-of-towners to plan ahead and time their visit during peak bloom, which unfortunately only lasts about a week (love this handy guide for reference). As a local, I don't have an excuse for skipping besides pure laziness. But not this year!

When my cousin was in town last weekend, we took advantage of the gorgeous weather and schlepped around the city. We walked from Georgetown, followed the path along the river, to the Tidal Basin. As we began to see cherry blossom trees, I wondered out loud, What happened to all the trees? There seems to be less this year, only a scattering here and there. DID THEY DIE?! And where are the mob of tourists? When we reached the Tidal Basin [photos below], everything made sense. This is where the majority of the trees and crowd are, and is the scene used on many postcards.

I heart this striped dress, even though it can look like a shapeless muumuu from certain angles, or as my DH teasingly calls it, my pregnancy dress (nope, no bun in the oven). I prefer to wear this dress belted, but that shortens the length, so I usually end up wearing flats. For today's look, I wanted to wear low heels, so that meant letting the dress hang naturally for maximum coverage (which on second thought seems laughable because the dress is kinda short to begin with). Regardless, it's what I felt most comfortable in, so bring on the pregnancy rumors.

Sale alert: Take 25% off at Shopbop's F&F through 4/17 with code INTHEFAMILY14.

Closet favorites include:
- Blank NYC spray-on jeans - $66.00 with code (I sized up to 26 / outfits: here, here, here)
- Blank NYC vegan leather skinny pants - $73.50 with code (I sized up to 26 / outfits: here, here, here)
- Elizabeth and James Windrose ring - $71.25 with code (TTS / all outfits with ring, also below)
- Loeffler Randall Rae wedges in gold - $221.25 with code (runs narrow, I sized up to 6.5 / outfits here in rose gold version)

Other picks: Clu Clu Too Ruffled Sweatshirt ($81 - still debating), Sam Edelman Gigi flat sandals ($48.75 - looks just like my LOFT version below, but in my experience better suited for narrow feet), Sam Edelman Felicia ballet flats ($67.50 - great reviews, considering replacing my worn-out black ballet flats).

I dust off my dress collection at the first sign of nice weather every year. I'd happily go about my days frolicking in the sun in cute dresses and bare legs. Dresses normally reserved for special occassions get their turn as well; I'd just throw on a casual jacket, flat sandals, and I'm good to go. I give it about a week before I scratch this dress-wearing itch and I'm back to wearing shorts and jeans again. This happens every spring, without fail.

Textured gold and bronze -- a chunky necklace, sparkly heels, and a tweed-y clutch -- are today's choice of colors to dress up a graphic tee. Like always, I kept the rest of the outfit simple and casual.

Have a great start to a new work week!

Spring is in the air, so that means I'm actively scouting for new locations with pretty flowers. No worries, once the rain washes the blooms away in a week's time, I'll be back to standing around in one my five usual spots. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Shout outs for today's outfit inspirations go to... 1) Kelly's recent look of gingham shirt + olive pants, and 2) an Everlane menswear ad featuring an olive blazer + gray sweater + gingham shirt combo. The resulting outfit is a little bit tomboy, somewhat preppy, but most of all, comfortable to boot.

I don't have anything to say today, so hope you have a great Tuesday!

DH said I looked like a "celebrity supporting a worthy cause" in this graphic tee. Yeah, if that cause is all about me, a reminder to live, laugh, and love my life, lol.

A few weeks ago, I was eating dinner with DH and my in-laws (mother, grandmother) when we started talking about hassle-free ways to buy the bag I want from my aunt-in-law. There's a language barrier as my in-laws' English isn't great and my Cantonese is non-existent, so DH usually serves as a translator when I can't muddle my way through Mandarin (95% of the time). After we hashed out the bag buying logistics, the conversation took a slight turn:

DH to me [translating for his grandmother]: What brand is the bag?

Me: Coach.

No reaction.

DH to his grandmother: It's Co-chee.

MIL: Oh, CO-CHEE!

My SIL and I turned to each other, shared a look, then burst out laughing.

MIL to me: Why buy Co-chee? Me, I don't work and I have a Co-chee. Points to her bag. Grandma too. You work.

Caught off guard, I was trying to form a response, but she continued instead.

MIL: I can take you to Nordstrom Rack or outlet to buy a Co-chee.

Me: It's ok... the bag I want is new, so not many stores have it right now.

Hopefully I didn't offend anyone by sharing, because this conversation made my night, hahaha. From DH knowing to pronounce Coach the "Asian way" so his relatives would understand, to committing two faux pas in my MIL's eyes -- taking a step backwards in the status ladder and not buying at outlet-level prices.

After seeing this gold chain necklace on Elle late last year (plus reading her rave review), it became a must check out in person item. I loved the heavy weight and shimmery-ness, but was content waiting for the right sale. When the first 40% sale rolled around, I was sad to learn that the necklace had sold out. Back to the waiting game. Then the next 40% sale started and I saw that the necklace was back in stock... but jewelry (among others) were excluded (the same promo is actually going on starting today with code SPRINGUP). Finally, during yet another 40% off sale a couple weeks ago, I was able to grab the necklace at a discount. As the saying goes, third time's the charm.

Every time I think that all the holes have been filled in my bag family, out comes another that I could make justifications for. I should just give up on this insane notion of the perfect collection. My most recent acquisition is the Coach mini Borough bag in retro colorblock leather in gold/tan white/warm grey (sold here).

Prior to this purchase, the honor of that everyday brown bag went to the H&M snakeskin clutch that doubled as a crossbody bag. Space was extremely limited, but the cheap price won me over. I've actually gotten a decent amount of uses from the clutch, but am now happy for an upgrade. Although the Borough I chose isn't a solid brown color, there is enough in the color scheme (the colorblocking was actually the first thing I fell in love with). So that, along with the mini size, was what convinced me that this bag will work well for casual days.