Columns & Seafoam

As we are soaring into the desolate depths of Winter, I often wonder why I bother wearing anything other than scrubs. In these desolate times, I turn to sparkly necklaces. They have been a hardy remedy for the wintry doldrums.

If this necklace looks familiar, it is because I coveted it back in this post.
Along the way, I managed to wade through the snowbanks to the mall and must've taken it home with me.
It was all a blur.

Dress: Anthropologie Column Dress | Cardi & Tights: American Eagle |  Shoes: Target | Necklace: Forever 21 | Earrings: gift from my mom

Hey. The other day, I was making mushroom soup.
As I was cutting up the shrooms, they took on this formation:

I never said these things have to make sense. [shout out to Mike who is making spaghetti right now]

Watching the Matzo Ball Drop

Happily, I got today off. Naturally, I made matzo ball soup to celebrate the dawning of 2013:

This is a pretty easy soup to make. Ingredients include, but certainly are not limited to:

chicken bones (we used a chicken carcass!)

water

2 onions 

parsley

salt, pepper, dill

pinch of curry powder

1. First I cut up the chicken carcass, then filled the pot with water to cover the bones. 

2. Then I plopped in the onions with the skin on--this imparts a golden color to the broth. 

3. The mixture was simmered for a loooong time until it tasted like broth and not chicken-water. I believe this took about 3-4 hours but I was not watching the clock.  Remember to skim off the scum and excess fat!

[Using chicken carcass actually cut down on a lot of fat, compared to in the past when I used chicken pieces. Fact.]

4. Then I (actually I made Mike do this) fished out the bones, stripped off the chicken pieces and returned that to the broth.
5. The onions get stripped of their skin, and by this time they are soft so I smushed them into bits.

6. I tossed in the seasonings to taste and added chopped parsley, which was the only green thing still left in the fridge. (Had I carrots, parsnips or celery, they would have joined the party, too.  But alas, we ate those already on another occasion.)

7. Then Manischewitz came and provided a matzo ball mix which I diligently made as per instructions.  

Brrrrr, thank goodness for hot chicken soup. In the grand astronomical scheme of things, humans lamentably exist in a pitifully narrow spectrum of temperature.  Just 5-6 months ago, we were installing air conditioners in our windows and melting in the sun. Now we are quaking and shivering every time we set foot near a window and protecting ourselves in layers of down when we venture outdoors.

Anyway, long-winded but I need to explain why I am wearing all these layers, and leggings, and knee socks! All this so that I can wear a skirt to work on New Year's Eve day.

Sweater: Valerie Stevens cashmere (hand-me-down from my mom) | Shirt: H&M s/p studding by moi | Skirt: Anthropologie Trench Coat Skirt | Socks: Gap | Shoes: unknown brand

I am happy to say I remained well-insulated in this get-up. Mission accomplished.

Well...Happy New Year!

Pencils Come From Pennsylvania

Pencil Skirt Galore!

I love me a good pencil skirt! But lately, I've been droning on and on about skirt length, knee caps, and the proverbial flats-heels difference. Let's explore those feelings.

These spreads from the J.Crew Aug 2012 (right) and Sept 2012 (left) Style Guides showcase the inspiration behind my celebration of all skirts pencil!

The No. 2 Pencil Skirt (left), as worn by this unrealistically tall model, fits ideally for a slimming and lengthening look:
sits at waist, hits at knee. Boom.
The heather acorn Sterling Skirt (right) looks lovely paired with camel hues.

The ideal skirt length undergoes peri-patellar variation from season to season. For example, J.Crew put out some long pencil skirts last spring that hit below the knee.  The ideal skirt length also depends on the wearer's height, and whether said height has received boosting by high-heeled footwear. Skirting with long lengths = teetering on edge of danger, as in too-long a skirt can make one's legs appear short and stubby. A good skirt length also probably depends on one's torso:legs ratio, but that is just getting too technical!

Top row: my shorter skirts hit above the knee
Bottom row: my longer skirts mostly hit mid-knee
I tried to standardize the pictures by selecting those in which I am wearing ~2.5" heels. You're welcome.
Skirt Casting:
TOP Vietnam | Anthro Just Right | Anthro Paisley Paths | J.Crew Pencil (2011) | J.Crew Feathered Paisley
BOTTOM Vietnam | Anthro San Pedro | Target | Anthro Trenchcoat | Zara

Wow, I sure own a lot of pencil skirts! And the above smattering doesn't even include my new acquisitions. 

And now, the adventurous installment of my post...altering my J.Crew pencil skirt in the wee hours of the night!!

I let out the hem by an inch. The back pleat was especially tricky, but nothing that some heavy-handed ironing can't fix!

Comparing with the sterling skirt, which used to be the same exact length.
When worn, the pencil skirt actually drops much lower than the sterling skirt since it has a wider waist and sits lower.

 Here it is in person...only 1 inch longer than before, but I am immensely pleased with the results, especially when wearing heels :) In the following series, I compare the altered skirt (left and right) to a pre-alteration photo (center):

With heels
Middle picture = BEFORE: skirt hits above knee, blocks off  middle 3rd of body awkwardly, makes me look short, defeating the purpose of wearing heels.
AFTER: looks much more lengthening/slimming! Just like the disproportionately tall J.Crew model!

With flats
Middle picture = BEFORE: looks alright, I suppose.
AFTER: still looks good even with flats. Extra skirt length did not compromise illusion of leg length. Win!
The back pleats look pretty good, not like some amateur tore apart the seams and hand-sewed them back or anything...

And there you have it, a diatribe all about pencil skirts. Kind of like the time I described my views on jeans.

Outfits to Span a Season

Oy...I just emerged from beneath a rock and realized that October and November have elapsed and December lurks dangerously close.

But look how festive our apartment has become, adorned in twinkly lights!

It goes without saying that my protracted disappearance from this blog reflects my ever-presence in the hospital and/or other locales. Ok, mostly in the hospital.

One of these "other locales" I allude to is Atlanta.  I went to Atlanta for a national scientific meeting! During my 4 days there, I rotated the same key clothing pieces in various combinations, ever-changing from day to night.  Not a soul was aware of how light I packed (I detest checking in  luggage). Here are some examples:

J.Crew (No. 1) pencil skirt (ca. 2011), Etienne Aigner boots, and Forever 21 scarf display their versatility

I love that funnel neck sweater. The funnel seems to have slouched down in that particular picture but I still love it all the same :)

Back home, I proceeded to blast through the ensuing autumnal chill while maintaining my loyalty to color (as you will see in the ensuing line up). Unfortunately, I did not emerge unscathed--I suffered a horrible cold and actually had to take the day off as the inside of my face melted and was expelled via incessant sneezing and nose blowing.

It was during this nadir of November when I discovered Downton Abbey.

J.Crew (Collection!) Midnight Trench does not insulate that well but looks and fits great!
Talbots espadrilles add some height to make a long skirt work (found amongst my mom's Toss Pile.)
First time wearing the J.Crew Clea dress (spring 2012) to work, made sillier with addition of F21 glasses necklace.

Spearmint hues with Anthro San Pedro skirt and Free People squishy sweater.
I went to the mall wearing these J.Crew Hutton Trench Trousers and everyone liked them.
Sometimes when it's cold, I don't take my hair out of  my sweater.

A Pink and Brown Milieu!
In the end, I actually chickened out on the F21 pink pants and wore black skinny pants instead.
Mixing maxi check and feather paisley was hard, but all the brown elements tied it all together  (I hope).

J.Crew Pixie Pants are becoming more and more ridiculous and NEVER go on sale! I keep entertaining the thought of obtaining them in charcoal but having 1 indestructible pair is quite is enough for now...
Thanksgiving food shopping made possible by adding and sweater and trusty J.Crew Carlin Coat (ca. fall 2009).

 Bought this lovely pink top in Madrid many moons ago. It was a EU size 8, therefore it fits??
Anthro Just Right Skirt looks good with everything in all seasons!
New thick cotton J.Crew top boasts awesome back zipper. 

 I've strangely lost the desire to label all of my outfits. So I decided to make random comments about them instead. I just recovered from several events, including interviewing for fellowship, submitting my rank list, quaking in wait for Match Day, and cooking a full Thanksgiving Dinner (post to come). But look, even in the aftermath of having people for Thanksgiving, the apartment stayed clean and nice:

Note my psychedelic drawing in the wall and our wedding album...among all the other crazies :)

Next up: Thanksgiving cooking adventure and who knows what else!

Weather Shift

Um, who turned down the thermostat on this part of the planet??  I had to wear a sweater AND a wool coat this morning. I hope I make it through this winter, because I've never endured any winter while utterly unarmed with thyroid hormone.

In the meantime, I can dream about the kind of weather that permitted these outfits:

Top and Pants: J.Crew, Shoes: Target, Belt: Gap, Necklace: H&M

Top: Marshall's, Pants: H&M,  Shoes: Target

1. Top: ?, Skirt: Target, Shoes: Banana Republic
2. Dress: Anthropologie, Boots: Etienne Aigner
3. Top: Romeo and Juliet Couture, Skirt: J.Crew, Shoes: Talbots, Belt: thrifted

A word on the Anthropologie Pieced Column Dress....I scored this from Gabe's for $20!!!

Talbots, Cardiology Outfits, Amish Country

AHA! I've got your attention with the random combination of the above subjects.  Maybe you wonder how I will tie them all together, well, the answer is that I won't. In fact, I'd like to add some more topics to the mix: calligraphy, pink Marco Tagliaferri bag, lavender nails

While I was on inpatient cardiology teaching service, I managed to get dressed 5 times.  Please note my sock bun in the last picture.  My hair is super unwieldy and all of my sock buns unravel within ~an hour :(

1. Top: tailored in Vietnam, Skirt: Anthro, Belt: J Crew, Shoes: Sears
2. Top: Talbots (<3), Cardi: AE, Pants: H&M
3. Top: tailored in Vietnam, Pants: F21, Belt: J Crew, Shoes: Talbots (!)
4. Tshirt: Charlotte Russe, Skirt: Anthro
5. Top: H&M, Skirt: Anthro, Shoes: Sears

I sort of recently discovered how awesome Talbots is (over the last few months).  I also recently acquired new calligraphy markers and calligraphed while on an empty stomach until I became quite dizzy (over the last few hours).

Onto the Talbots...

The featured Talbots items are 1. Blue jacket and 2. Purple Espadrilles
Some favorite returning guest stars are: Pink Marco Tagliaferri bag, Seven7 jeans, Anthropologie trench coat skirt

Behold! I painted my nails purple and wished to 'casually' showcase them with everyday objects.
Clockwise from upper left: Marco Tagliaferri bag, keys with duck keychain, Groom quiz book c/o Danielle, Loathesome Pager

Mike and I went to Amish Country last week and stayed at a great Bed and Breakfast.  While there, we saw many animals, ate a freshly made farm breakfast each morning, learned about the Amish culture and other tidbits about life.

These are some images that evoke "Amish Country" for some.
I never did get a chance to ride on a buggy.  Truth is, they were noisy, slow, and the pooping of the horses was too frequent for my liking.
My hair is in a sock bun (for the moment)!

Chillin' and maxin' out.

Quite self explanatory: I pose by a tractor while Mike interacts with the animal residents of our B&B.
Outfit: Talbots jacket, H&M dress, J Crew pixie pants, Zigi shoes, purse from Amish leather shop (wahoo!)

This is legitimately cool: Mooney Warther train carvings of (right) ebony and ivory and (left) wood + ebony/ivory accents.  This museum, though located in a humble setting, was breathtaking!  Warther used no glue! He is indeed, the master carver. 

On the grounds outside of the Warther Museum.

And that is all, folks.  Coming up next....

- completed wedding invitation suite (2 years in the making?!?!)
- favor boxes

Of Pixie Pants, Other Apparel, and Pie

Wow, I am so glad I own the J Crew pixie pants.
Last year I proclaimed my love for them a few months after finally getting them.  I felt that paying $88 was a little silly for a pair of glorified leggings.

Then they went on sale. $_$  Unfortunately they seem to hardly ever go on sale anymore.  They are definitely nicer than leggings and the signature back seams and zipper are still well-loved by all, especially me.  I wear them a LOT and they are still as nice as ever! Yay!






Here are few as-of-yet unposted outfits featuring my beloved Pixie Pants:

1. Sweater: gift from Mom bought in France "Funky Diva", Shoes: leopard flats from Fashion Bug.
2. Top: J Crew, shoes: Bandolino
3. Top: Free People, Boots: paris hilton
4. Top: J Crew, Shoes: I Love Comfort from Sears, Earrings: leopard thrifted

I also have been wearing a lot of clothes lately, being forced to go to work everyday.  I finally got around to uploading all the pictures of them from my camera.  Well, I guess I'll go ahead and post them here.

I couldn't decide which shot to use for these so I selected them both.
Also shows the versatility of each outfit to exist in slightly different angles and poses.
1. Top: Trucco from Madrid, Cardi: American Eagle Outfitters, Pants: from Vietnam, Shoes: Calvin Klein
2. Top: Mango, skirt: from Vietnam, Belt: Talbots, shoes: unknown
3. Top: J Crew, Pants: H&M, Shoes: from Vietnam

1. Top: J Crew, Skirt: Anthropologie, Shoes: unknown. Necklace: I revived my Target necklace!
2. Top: Delia's, Coat: gift, Pants: from VN, Shoes: Talbots
3. Top: H&M, Skirt: Anthropologie, Shoes: leopard flats, Necklaces: Target and F21
4. Top: Adidas (old), Cardi: Target, Pants: H&M, belt: J Crew
5. Dress: Ann Taylor, belt: thrifted and very old, Shoes: VN
6.  Top: F21, Skirt: gift from Mom bought in France, Boots: from Madrid

Again, couldn't choose one pose, they are just all so good.
1. Sweater: unknown brand, tank top: Delia's, Pants: J  Crew Minnie bi-stretch wool, shoes: unknown brand
2. Top: J Crew, pants: Vietnam, Shoes: Banana Republic, Necklace: J Crew
3. Top: Mango, Skirt: J Crew petal skirt, Boots: from Madrid.  WOW I really like this outfit! Note to self: wear this again, consider jewelry.

1. Top: elephant top, need I say more? Scarf: Urban Outfitters, Pants and belt: J Crew, Booties: unknown brand
2. Top: Banana republic, Skirt: Anthropologie, Boots: Paris Hilton via Macy's, Earrings: you can't see them but I made them!
3. Going out outfit. Top: unknown, from Gabe's, Jeans: Seven, Shoes: from VN

Lately I've been in the cardiology ICU, which I consider to be a slightly hateful place.  Lately meaning for the last 2 days.  I think I am coming down with a le-cold (rhinovirus).  I will refrain from further discussing my sentiments regarding the CICU on the blog.  Back to something more palatable:

Mere moments later:

Mike has struck again!

Engagement Photobook

I would like to share our engagement photos in the form of pictures of the photobook I made with them!

Credits

Photography: Paul Meyer Photography

Photobook: AdoramaPix

Outfits

Quyen #1: JCrew coat, Banana Republic dress, Urban Outfitters heels

Quyen #2: Anthropologie dress, Paris Hilton boots

Earrings-Charlotte Russe, bracelet-Anthropologie

Mike #1: suit and shirt tailored in Vietnam, JCrew tie, Neil M loafers

Mike #2: Sweater from Kohl's, JCrew pants