Sunday Best v.153

Boats by Raoul Dufy

It's spring, but it doesn't feel like it in Virginia. We've had a few pleasant moments of sun, but it's mostly been windy and chilly. I'm going to try to enjoy it, because lord knows the oppressive heat and mugginess will be here before we know it. Lots of fun links this week! Click away:

• Not sure I could do it, but this family saved enough money for both parents to retire at 30 to raise their son.
• Is it possible to inherit the design gene? I think I definitely got some of it from my Nana!
• If all of Seinfeld's girlfriends were combined, they'd look like this woman.
• The next wave of feminism: pooping at the office.
• Inspiring street art in NY.
• New music from She & Him.
• A strange and surreal mystery: a giant (fake) head found in a river.
• Memorize this: 100 Rules for Dinner.
• Lego: Breaking Bad style.
• A great read: How I Became a Hipster.
• My nightmare! Unnecessary quotation marks.

Jams of the Week

Netflix Binge Jam: "The Killing"

It took a long time for Sean to convince me to watch AMC's "The Killing" on Netflix. First of all, I had heard amazing things about the season and then abruptly, the world seemed to universally hate its first season finale enough to stop watching the show. Secondly, I just didn't think I could take another hour-long drama. BUT, I was wrong. The first season was really pretty stellar, and since we were able to just jump right into the second season, the finale didn't outrage me one bit. Don't tell me anything; we still have a few episodes to go!

Reunited and It Feels So Good Jam: "Jeopardy"

Most families have a dinner tradition that involves gathering around a dining table, maybe saying a blessing and definitely NOT watching TV. Not mine. When I was growing up, my little family would eat dinner while we watched Jeopardy, and I wouldn't have it any other way. It was a great bonding time; how else would I find out that my mom knows a strange amount about birds? 

Lately, Sean and I have both been sitting down to eat dinner right around the time "Jeopardy" comes on, and it's so fun to be watching it on the regular for the first time in years. So far, I've learned I definitely need to brush up on my science knowledge!

Snack Jam: Chobani Flip Packs

I picked up one of these Chobani "flip" packs on a whim last week and it was delicious! Just the right amount of yogurt, delicious flavor and the little cornflakes and praline pecans really took it up a notch. I'm excited to try the other flavors!

Routines, Starting and Breaking

Clock found here.

You guys. I've been having SUCH a hard time getting used to my new routine. It's totally strange; my old job had completely unpredictable hours, whereas my new job is a strictly 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. affair, with the occasional work event. It also eliminated my previous 30-minute commute.

And yet. I'm having the hardest time getting a handle on meal-planning, working in time to work out, etc. Do you guys experience this? It's interesting how changing the way I spend a few hours a week has such an effect on the hours I'm not at work! 

This has led to probably more pizza nights than I care to admit. Do any of you have any tips on how you set a routine? Do you set certain days aside for certain tasks? I'll take any advice I can get! Or we can just vent about how being a grown-up is hard. That always works.

Today I Like ... Pastel Palette

Pastels, when deployed appropriately, can look like heaven; like color with sugar and cream. When used wrong, it conjures memories of Laura Ashley Easter dresses. Lately, they're just feeling so right, like this lovely Dior ad from a few years back.

Or this gorgeous Vanity Fair cover I loved so much...ballet pink and peach and seaglass. Who knew they could look so chic when paired with neutrals?

I've been loving this shell pink nail color from Revlon, and I'm back to wearing Essie's Turquoise and Caicos on my toes. Forget neon; I'm moving on to muted tones. (I say that now, but neon and summer just feel so right!)

Get the Look

1. Sweet lavender bag, $108 at Asos.
2. Yellow studs, $10 here.
3. Perfect green Keds, $40.
4. Patent leather T-straps in perfect ballet pink, $56 at Topshop.
5. Mint green purse, $278 at Kate Spade.
6. Baby blue polish, $8.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Yesterday, I attended my very first pro baseball game! I've never been a huge baseball fan. I LOVE baseball movies, but watching a game on TV is like slow torture. But my husband's aunt, uncle and cousin are huge baseball fans and suggested a family outing to Washington's Nationals Park and I thought, what the hey, this could be fun.

And lo and behold, it was fun! We didn't win, but it was fun to watch in person and even more fun is the general all-Americana, family-friendly vibe. I loved seeing the president mascots race and singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and the hilarious vendor in our section who had his own gravelly, comical interpretation of "Peanuts, Beer, CRACK-ERRRRR JAAAAACCKKKK!" I'll hear it ringing in my mind forever.

 The stadium itself is really nice, with lots of good food options (we had Shake Shack!) and a nice area with fake grass where you can have a picnic.

 My favorite part was watching the players walk up to their choice of music. Jayson Werth was my jam...he has a hilariously grizzly beard and walked up to the themes from "The Walking Dead" and "Game of Thrones." One fan caught it on video a few weeks ago:

I decided my walk-up music would be "Heads Will Roll" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, but I have several back-ups. ;)

All in all, it was a super fun time spent with family, followed by a delicious family-style Thai dinner. If I've learned anything about watching sports, it's that they're ALL better in person. Now I'm ready for Redskins season!

Sunday Best v.152

Young, super hip Lauren Bacall from here.

Today is an exciting day because I'm going to my very first professional baseball game in Washington, D.C.! I'm not a big baseball person, but I do love Americana and long-held traditions, so I think it will be really fun.

• The stars of iconic photographs.
• The 20 most hated celebrities.
• What happens when you combine one of the most hated celebs with a hated character: Joffrey Bieber.
• France gifts the president insane swag.
• You're welcome: first clip from the new season of Arrested Development.
• A Paris apartment preserved for 70 years untouched.
• Kate Middleton on the set of Hogwarts.

Off the Registry: Baby Gift Ideas

When it comes to shopping for baby showers, I find it nearly impossible to stick to the registry. It's all so...practical. And that means the parents-to-be really need that stuff, but it's not nearly as fun to buy as itty bitty shoes or comfy cozy stuffed bunnies. So if you have the room in your budget, I suggest buying one of each: one thing off the registry and one thing that's just for fun, probably overpriced and frivolous, but so cute it makes you squee. That's my happy place; here's some suggestions I found!

1. Bestever lamb baby mat, $50 at Bloomingdales.
2. Aden + Anais "flying dog" sleep swaddle, $25.
3. Peter Rabbit footed onesie, $30 at Gap.
4. Striped lion jams, $18 at Gap.
5. Knitted carrot rattle, $38 at J.Crew.
6. Classic polka dot dress, $45 at Nordstrom.
7. Minnetonka baby moccasins, $20 at J.Crew.
8. Storage basket, $89 at Land of Nod.

1. Honey Bunny handmade coat, $149 at Etsy.
2. Knitted lamb mobile, $89 at Etsy.
3. Star swaddle blankets, $50 for four.
4. Stuffed plane, $30 at Sunday in Color.
5. Mary Jane socks, $28 at Bloomingdales.
6. Juicy Couture swimsuit, $51 (okay, really, that might be the dumbest investment on here, but it's SO CUTE.)

A Wine Club Baby Shower

On Saturday, Wine Club experienced a new first: a baby shower for one of our own! We've been to each other's bridal showers, bachelorettes and weddings, and now it's baby time. We are celebrating the upcoming arrival of Melissa's baby girl, and we collaborated to coordinate a baby shower at her clubhouse this past weekend. This little duck family waddled by while we were partying...that's gotta be kismet, right?

 I was responsible for a lot of the decorations, including the fabric pennant banner, blue mason jars (from my wedding), tablecloths and balloons. Melissa bought the flowers at Norfolk Wholesale Floral.

I used 1/2 yards of five different fabrics: a bird print, ticking stripe, a coral floral print, white and gray polka dots and a yellow with silver print. I tied it all together with gold lamé double fold bias tape.

 I brought the heart balloons left over from my own wedding. I bought them on Amazon.

 Jen made these incredible pinwheels, which were so adorable. The color scheme is based on colors Melissa wants to use in the nursery.

As a favor, Melissa packaged the cookies she's been craving the most, including delicious brownie cookies.

Erica made delicious almond cupcakes with strawberry hearts. I bought the skeleton key burlap fabric at Joann's.

 I made the mixed berry salad: spring mix and spinach, sliced strawberries, blackberries, shaved parmesan, candied walnuts and champagne vinaigrette.

 Ashleigh made mixed veggie and spinach quiches.

 She and Lauren collaborated to deliver my favorite party staple: ham rolls! Never enough.

 It wouldn't be wine club without a mimosa bar. We had orange juice, cranberry juice and a juice blend, along with garnishes of orange slices and pineapple chunks with maraschino cherries.

And we paired those with bottles of bubbly, including sparkling pear juice for the pregnant and underaged among us.

 For games, we played the ribbon estimating game, a matching game connecting celebrity parents with their silly baby names, a word search and cards full of wishes and hopes for the future Miss.

And, of course, Melissa opened presents. I bought a couple things, including this precious polka-dotted chambray onesie with neon flowers. 

It was a wonderful day. It's always inspiring when women of all ages and experience levels come together to celebrate a future member of our tribe. We can't wait to meet her!

Sunday Best v.151

Harper's Bazaar photo by Richard Avedon

A little light this week on great links. It was such an insane week that I spent most of it just reading the same stories you were probably reading, and lord knows we don't want to revisit that quite yet. On to a better week!

• ICYMI: Dove hires sketch artist to capture women's views of themselves and what others see.
• Inspiring work spaces of icons.
• Are cupcakes over? I love them, but even I am tired of seeing cupcakeries.
• On the flip side, I really wanna get my hands on some of this saltwater taffy.
• Great life advice from Patti Smith.
• I wanna see this documentary about Bergdorf's!

Professional Lady Work Clothes

Not to say I didn't always dress presentably as a journalist, but I find myself feeling like I need to seriously upgrade my professional work wardrobe. I'm not really a suit type of gal — my build is more like Joan from Mad Men than Ally McBeal — and I think mix and match separates are the way to go. I'm on the hunt, and wondering where your favorite place to grab affordable work clothes might be?

In the meantime, here are some inspiration shots of professional-looking ladies!

Audrey Hepburn in Charade.

Jackie Kennedy, in her book editor days.

 I love the shapes of Olivia Palermo's outfit...not sure if she
actually has a job, but she always looks polished.

Designer Rachel Roy manages to make colored pants with monochromatic
blouse look chic and pulled together. See more from her Refinery 29 office tour.

I love Michelle Obama's feminine style; she, like me, is a cardigan girl
and I like how she manages to make this look professional, yet fun.

How about you? Do you have to dress up for work? What's your favorite source for work clothes?