On How I Decorated Toddler O's "Big Boy" Room Using Pottery Barn Kids (And Then Vowed to Never Shop There Again)

To say I loved Pottery Barn would be a tremendous understatement. I'm essentially the anti-Phoebe (from Friends) in that if given the option to live in a Pottery Barn catalog, I'd happily begin packing. I spent my college and law school years perusing their catalog and website, dreaming of the day when my house would look so impeccable. Once Husband and I moved into our house, I slowly began furnishing and decorating using primarily Pottery Barn purchases.

 

Our living room alone contains two armless chairs in a unique red/white pattern, an entertainment center designed to accommodate our Playstation video game console, a rug that I tracked down in a New Jersey store, two iron lamps with coordinating shades, and four panels of brown blackout drapes. Throughout the rest of the house are countless Wood Gallery Frames, milk glass lamps and shades, a fully stocked desk with architect lamp, and, in our bedroom, the most gorgeous (though admittedly potentially tacky and old lady-ish) drapes I've ever seen.

 

When Toddler O was born, my love of Pottery Barn extended to the Pottery Barn Kids store: changing pads and covers, more Wood Gallery Frames, a personalized "Anywhere Chair" (of course) slowly increased his collection of Pottery Barn wares. This fall I began to focus on his "big boy" (aka crib free) bedroom. He'll be moving out of the nursery to make room for Baby Girl so I wanted to start decorating before I got too miserable.

I spent hours on the Pottery Barn Kids website considering bed options (bunk beds, trundle?), playing with room layouts and reviewing sheet choices. I made purchased of sheets, shams and lamps as budget and free shipping promo allowed. I even contacted Design Services for help in selecting the perfect bedroom furniture for a boy of almost three.

So reading through all this makes it sound like I've spent a small fortune at Pottery Barn and yes, the truth is I've probably spent a lot. But I'm also clever about my spending. I buy Wood Gallery Frames on sale using the $25 off $50 promotions I receive a few times a year. Our living room drapes were virtually free thanks to the Rewards Certificate I earned after buying the living room furniture. And that rug I tracked down in New Jersey? It was marked down to under $200 from over $800.

This all brings us to my current situation. My final bedding purchase for Toddler O's room was the duvet cover. It cost $14 to ship so I had been patiently waiting for a free shipping day. With Black Friday right around the corner I knew it was only a matter of time. On November 26, I got an email for free shipping and immediately began sorting out my order: the duvet cover, of course, and, because I was so pleased, a lunch box for Toddler O to use at preschool in the new year. The lunch box was full price but I reasoned that should it go on sale I'd just call for a price adjustment. 

Little did I know that on November 24, 2014 Pottery Barn Kids ceased doing price adjustments. On anything. Ever. I get 2-3 emails a day from Pottery Barn Kids and not one mentioned this. No word of the change in their website either. So when less than two weeks later I saw the price of the lunch box drop $9+, I called Customer Service. A rude representative informed me that they no longer did price adjustments and then refused to transfer me to a manager. She claimed a manager would call me back if I left my information. That was on Tuesday. As of Saturday I've received no return call.

 

In the meantime I emailed Customer Service for clarification. I pointed out that since lunch boxes ship free I could just return and reorder to get the sale price so wouldn't it just be easier to just price adjust. Nope, they replied. It's more fun to just alienate and anger customers over a fraction of their sales totals. 

At this point I'm enraged. It's not the money; it's the principle. I've never heard of a major company not price adjusting and standing behind their customers. Perhaps I'm spoiled by retailers such as Nordstrom, LL Bean and Anthropologie and their extremely liberal return and price adjustment policies, but Pottery Barn Kids had previously been among these stores...until two days before I placed my order! The Pottery Barn Kids' Facebook page is filled with angry customers who experienced the same frustration as me, down to representatives refusing to transfer them to a manager! Clearly I'm not the only unhappy camper regarding this issue.

Still being a lawyer at heart, I wrote a lengthy letter detailing my plight to the President of Pottery Barn. Since I already had reordered the lunch box and plan on returning the $22.50 version next week, I wasn't asking for anything. I just wanted her to know that as a longtime customer I was unhappy with the policy change and would be reconsidering future purchases.

Here's where it gets ridiculous. As I said previously, the Pottery Barn Kids' Facebook page was filled with complaints similar to mine. The other roughly 50% of comments regarded the quality of items received and/or frustration over delayed or cancelled orders. Those comments were all responded to with a generic customer service message asking for additional details at an email address. The price adjustment comments? Simply ignored. As if they weren't even there. 

So being the helpful little thing that I am, I posted the address to which I had mailed my complaint and encouraged others to do the same. Within an hour, my post had disappeared! This went on a few times before finally I realized I could no longer comment on the page. I'D BEEN BLOCKED! For posting an address where customers could send feedback that might actually be acknowledged. As a test Husband came out of Facebook semi-retirement and tried posting the same information and his post vanished too. I messaged Pottery Barn's Facebook account (because I can't even message Pottery Barn Kids anymore) to ask the issue. I've yet to receive a response and don't expect to as the same trigger happy minion probably oversees both accounts. 

 

This is just outrageous to me! Change a policy of you want: it's your company. But to ban customers who are simply posting an address for feedback is ridiculous. (FYI: the address is searchable online but you have to remember that Williams Sonoma is the parent company of Pottery Barn.) I hope in the 3 or so hours that my and Husband's posts were visible some people jotted the address down and will follow through with a letter. It's the only way there's a chance to give this company feedback. Their social media representatives are clearly not interested in reading it. 

 

Direct any complaints about the Pottery Barn family of stores to the following address:

Sandra Stangl

President - Pottery Barn

Williams Sonoma, Inc.

3250 Van Ness Avenue

San Francisco CA 94109 

 

Right now just looking around my house makes me ill. To know I've spent so many thousands of dollars at a store that treats their customers with this level of disregard, particularly around the holidays, is sickening to me. Granted I understand that Pottery Barn Kids is in the market of making money - they aren't a charity - but what's the outcome here? I won't buy Toddler O's furniture at Pottery Barn Kids. Heck, if they had been willing to price adjust over the phone, I would have ordered a matching backpack on the spot. But now how many sales have they lost (both from me and from the countless other unhappy customers) because they weren't willing to budge over $9 on an order placed two days after a policy change? It's not like there aren't plenty of other stores that cater to borderline ridiculous children's décor and gifts. I'll find somewhere else to shop. My recommendation is that others do the same.

Stitch Fix #6

Earlier this week, my sixth Stitch Fix delivery arrived. This might confuse some readers because the last Stitch Fix review I posted was way back in May and titled "Stitch Fix #3". The truth is that in the interim I received two boxes, decided to return everything and was, in fact, so uninspired by my stylist's selections that I couldn't even be bothered to take pictures of the pieces.

I'll briefly sum up Fixes #4 and #5 before moving onto my current Fix.

Fix #4:

This Fix was scheduled to arrive a few days before my Queen + Adam Lambert concert.  I took advantage of the timing and specifically asked for an "edgy" piece that I could wear to the event. The top that arrived was so completely "not edgy", I became convinced my stylist didn't know the definition of the word: it was paisley and made of silk. AND it didn't even fit. In all my fixes, I've had issues with style but never with fit so I was very confused. The other four items baffled me even more: they had finally heeded my "no polyester" plea, but instead had sent all silk items. Was I not clear that I have a two-year old? That I stay at home with him? There seemed to be a whole field of cotton (ha!) clothing that Stitch Fix was deliberately ignoring.

I actually sent an email after this Fix explaining my unhappiness. They replied promptly and refunded my $20 styling credit, which was nice, but honestly I would have preferred if they had just gotten their act together!

Fix #5:

Sadly, that was not the case for my fifth Fix. I noticed that the Style Profile had been slightly updated so I went into amend some of my choices. One question asked "Are you pregnant?" Well, I am (yay!) so I checked the box "Yes" and included my due date (April). Note this Fix was scheduled for September, meaning I was approximately 15 minutes pregnant at this point. So my box arrives and - guess what? - Stitch Fix does maternity clothes now. You'd think I'd be excited but I wasn't for two reasons: first, I'm 5'9" so I barely start showing before 20 weeks so I really wasn't ready for maternity clothes back in September and second, they were seriously the most boring, ugly, expensive maternity clothes I've ever seen. A grey t-shirt with side ruching that I could find for $10 at Old Navy and a burgundy wrap front dress that barely covered my essentials when I didn't have a big old bump hanging off the front of me. Additionally, they committed what I consider to be a cardinal sin of styling: they sent me the exact same top that I had already completely and utterly rejected once before. Did they think I'd forgotten? Or that I'd like the way it clung to my new pregnancy lumps and bumps? To their credit (I guess) nothing was silk.

I didn't email again because I figured they'd just tell me to take a hike rather than reimbursing a second styling fee (luckily this is all pretend money due to referral credits), but I did completely revamp my style profile. I basically made it clear that I wanted my feedback reviewed and used to pick items and that I didn't feel like this was happening. I specifically asked for longer items that I can wear with leggings and specified that I only wanted tops. No more dresses or skirts.

So Fix #6 shipped and I decided to peek at its contents in order to manage my expectations. I was very pleased, dare I say excited, to see some of the selections so I was very anxious for my package to arrive.

My stylist for this Fix was Staci. Her note said:

Hi Kathleen! I was so excited to style you for this Fix! I reviewed your blog post, your Pinterest board, and what kinds of pieces you would like to avoid. I have been specializing in putting together Fixes for our wonderful pregnant clients, and it seems like you are not interested in receiving only maternity pieces, so I sent some regular pieces that can accommodate your growing baby bump. The Skies are Blue mixed print blouse is so cute with your favorite pair of jeans, and the rayon fabric can be washed (we recommend hang dry). The Evolution by Cyrus sweater has fun colors, and is super cozy. Both the Eight Sixty and the Tart pink top will grow with you. The colors are fantastic! The RD Style sweater is a fantastic layering piece to keep you cozy. Please let us know your thoughts! Best, Staci

Let me just say upfront: Staci hit this one out of the park. Every piece she selected was totally my style and something I could see myself wearing. Ultimately I'm only keeping one - maybe two if I'm feeling saucy - pieces, but I liked each and every one and haven't had such a hard time making a selection since my first Fix!

Evolution by Cyrus Shelby Heathered Colorblock Sweater, size Medium ($68)

Initially I thought this sweater might be too short and I imagined having to wear it over a chambray shirt I just snagged on super sale at Gap, but the length here is fine. There is even some stretchiness in the sweater so I could grow out a bit before the length started to creep up on me. But that also essentially means ruining the sweater so I couldn't wear it post-maternity. It was soft but not terribly warm and I worried that the knit might be a bit delicate for Toddler O. If I was keeping the whole box, this baby would definitely be coming along for the ride, but alas it was not meant to be.

 

Verdict: Return

 

Skies are Blue Haddie Mixed Print Tie-Neck Top, size Medium ($54)



Staci definitely took a chance sending this top since it has "tie-neck" in the item description (and I specifically said that I'm not a fan of ties), but these ties are subtle enough and the rest of the shirt is cute enough that I was willing to forgive her! What I can't look past is the fact that I'm 18 weeks along and this shirt was already very snug across my tummy. I haven't even really "popped" yet so I'm guessing I'd only have a few weeks with this little pretty before it became unwearable until next fall.

Verdict: Return

Tart Maternity Darya Empire Waist Maternity Knit Top, size Medium ($108)

I saw the price tag on this top and thought, "Hahaha. Nice try, Stitch Fix. There's no way I'm keeping this one." Then I asked Husband to take my photos and put this one on first. He immediately loved it! Once I saw the pictures, I really do too. Yikes! It's a super soft buttery fabric (Modal/Cotton blend - yummy!) and is nice and stretchy. I can totally see wearing this for the next 4.5 months and then some (because doesn't the top look just perfect for nursing?) Unfortunately it'll be April when I deliver so how after a few weeks I'll have to put this away until fall and then there's no telling what condition it will be in. I'm also slightly *ahem* fuller in the chestial region right now than I normally am so I might not have enough to hold this shirt up down the road! If it was $50, $60, probably even $70 I'd absolutely keep it, but even with my referral credits, at $108 it's a huge purchase.

 

Verdict: Sadly, return

 

Eight Sixty Maria Maternity Scoop Neck Eyelet Trim Knit Top, size Medium ($88)

I was most excited about seeing this shirt in my Fix because I'm all about lace/eyelet. The color is a super dark eggplant color (it actually looked black on my style card and I was sad for a minute that I didn't receive the pretty purple I'd seen online). The sleeves are eyelet without a lining, which I can live with, but won't exactly keep me warm once feet of snow starts falling! The material is super stretchy and I'll have to take Staci's word for it that it would have grown with my bump because it already seemed a little snug with nary a bump to speak of. As you can see, there is definitely lightness across the chest where the fabric is pulling significantly so basically by the time I deliver, the whole front of the top would be white and see through? I was imagining this as more of a tunic that I could wear with leggings but this would definitely need pants underneath. As pretty as it is, I'm not convinced it fits me properly and don't want to find out in February that I've made a $88 mistake.

 

Verdict: Return

 

RD Style Arleen Colorblocked Open Cardigan, size Medium ($74)

Ah what pregnant lady doesn't want to look like a grandpa? I know this one does! This sweater is super cozy, nice and long, and NOT maternity. So I can wear it with leggings now and then again forever and ever without it stretching out! The color on my style card is more grey and I wish I had gotten that version because this taupe reminds me just a bit of this cutie that I splurged on a few months ago. However, I have been wearing the heck out of the Cabi sweater so I figure another super cozy sweater is a good thing. I'm probably not going to invest in a winter maternity coat (because I won't be that big and I'm cheap) so lately I've just been laying up as much as I can: t-shirt, button down, big fuzzy sweater. Perfection! And this sweater has pockets so score!

 

Verdict: Keeping (unless I'm convinced to keep the Tart top in which case this lovely will be returned!)

 

So all in all, my 6th Fix was successful! I'm definitely requesting Staci again and I'm excited to finally have found a stylist that "gets" me.

 

*Disclaimer* I was not compensated for this post. However, if you sign up for Stitch Fix using my referral link then I get a $25 credit. Then you get your own link and can get credits for signing up your friends. How awesome is that?

These Are the Days of Our Lives: An Announcement

I'm a little late to the table regarding the "scandal" that's recently been a hot topic in the world of Anthropologie-blogging. Click here for JG's ridiculously thorough summary of said scandal.

I've decided to refrain from commenting on the actual goings-on because (1) it's a week later and there's no need to beat a dead horse and (2) I don't actually consider myself an "Anthro-blogger" more of a "talks about all sorts of random ass stuff which frequently includes Anthropologie blogger" so I don't know that my opinion would be appropriate. 

However, the whole incident has led to a fair amount of self-reflection on my part which I do feel the need to address.

When I started my blog back in January 2010, I was running like a mad woman and in need of new (and smaller) clothes. I was restocking my closet and it sounded like a lot of fun to bring all you lovely readers along for the ride. I also thought writing a blog would be a fun way to bring some attention to some of my more random interests.

That anyone started reading my blog continues to shock me and I'm grateful for every single one of you.

However, in the last 21 months, my priorities have drastically changed. Many of you followed my struggles with infertility this past year and again I saw blogging as an opportunity to get some information out there. I don't want to be ashamed or embarrassed to talk about IVF (in vitro fertilization) and putting my journey out there for the world to read helped give me confidence to speak about it in real life.

I don't shop for clothing as much as I used to and reading through many of the comments over at GOMI made me realize why: there are other things much more important to me. That dress I'm so in love with today will be back in another colorway next month or it will go on sale. Or it won't and I'll never own it and shockingly the world will continue to exist.

That isn't to say, however, that I have stopped shopping. In fact, Husband and I made a rather large purchase over Labor Day weekend.

That's right, readers, I'm pregnant. Husband and I are expecting a little baby boy in January and predictably we are both over the moon excited. I've been putting off making an official blogging announcement in the hopes that I'd soon have a cute little baby bump to show off, but unfortunately I'm so tall, even at 22 weeks, I've still got nothing!

That said, I'm going to try to keep up the blog to the extent that I'm able, but from a decidedly different viewpoint. In Princess of Taylor-world, maternity pants are "in" and Pilcro cords are "out". As soon as my bump is a little more noticeable, I'm looking forward to running posts reviewing maternity clothes and even giving advice about combining your non-maternity closet with your maternity closet.

For anyone wondering, my pregnancy is progressing beautifully. The doctors have said on more than one occasion that things look "perfect" and I'm beyond thrilled every time I hear that. Husband and I have been on this journey for such a long time, to hear that we can finally relax and just enjoy preparing for this little guy brings us such happiness!

I have been experiencing some wicked pregnancy symptoms, most notably heartburn and exhaustion. But thanks to my Leachco Pregnancy Pillow and twice-a-week yoga classes, I'm finally starting to feel a bit better. I've also been very excited in the past few weeks to feel our little guy moving and as I type this he's happily kicking away.

I want to thank each and every one of you that's commented or emailed as I've chronicled our journey. And those of you that sent us positive thoughts and well wishes as well.

It is when someone opens their life to the point of sharing happy news like this that it becomes clear that, like in any relationship which has ups and downs, we truly are a community. And one that I'm very happy to be a part of.

tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Shadow Pot with Brush Review

My obsession with cream eye shadows continues. I originally started experimenting with cream eye shadow when I purchased Smashbox Cream Shadow Liner in Starstruck for $5 at Sephora! The product is mislabled on the website as Jet Set Eyeliner, but it is definitely the cream shadow liner. I immediately loved it and began wearing it at least once a week to work in combination with a variety of different eye liners.

Back in November, I spotted tarte Amazonian Clay Waterproof Cream Shadow Pot with Brush on QVC. I was intrigued and added it to my Christmas list. My sister-in-law purchased it for me in Slate and I finally received it when we celebrated our late Christmas a few weeks back.

Since then, I've worn this shadow several times, including to my first session with my new psychologist. Let me just say this: they aren't kidding when they say "waterproof". Once this stuff is on, it's on until I remove it at the end of the day with my philosophy Purity Made Simple cleanser.

Here I am wearing only the tarte eye shadow.

As you can see, the Slate color is actually more of a bronze-gold, which I love. My favorite powder eye shadow is Clinique's Colour Surge Eye Shadow Super Shimmer in Rum Spice and this tarte shadow is the perfect cream counterpart to that lovely shade.

According to the tarte website, their "high-performance natural™ Amazonian clay is nature's most perfect ingredient, lending deep color pigments while nourishing skin, reducing surface oil and improving overall texture for smooth application."

I have to admit, that they're description of what the Amazonian clay accomplishes is pretty accurate. This product reminds me of a talc in that it goes on creamy and then dries enough that it doesn't smear. However, it also manages to not dry out so much that my eyelids get cracked or dry.

The brush is great and part of the reason why I wanted this specific product. Up until receiving this brush, I'd been having difficulty applying the cream shadow to only my eyelid. No matter what I did with the prior brush, I'd end up with cream shadow in my crease and creeping up towards my eyebrow. Not flattering. I do wash my brush after every use so the cream shadow doesn't get the brush all crusty and clumpy.

Because I'm never one to be happy with wearing just eye shadow, here I am with my finished eye look.

Products and tools used:

Bare Escentuals Dark Brown shadow from Meet the Browns

bareMinerals Eye Defining Brush

Smashbox Jet Set Liner in Dark Brown

Smashbox Arced Eyeliner Brush #21

The lady at the Bare Escentuals store that I visited a few weeks ago showed me how to use a dark color in my crease and I'm so glad she did! I'm such a fan of this semi-smokey look! The already ridiculously cheap Meet the Browns kit was an additional 25% off during a Sephora promotion right around New Years and I just couldn't stop myself from picking up these three full sized brown shades!

And the Jet Set Liner is fast becoming one of my favorite eye liners ever: I clean my brush every day and make sure the cap is tightly closed and mine has lasted for months! I wish I could wear it on my inner rim like the models do, but unfortunately my gas permeable contacts make that rather uncomfortable.

Is it weird that I'm seriously considering Lasik surgery so that I can use a specific eye liner technique? 

My biggest complaint about the tarte cream shadow is that I can't find it available anywhere without the brush. I didn't mind the $22 price tag when a brush was included, but I don't want to have to rebuy the brush just to get the other shades! I couldn't even find the cream shadow available on the tarte website!

I'm hoping that means that the product was a QVC exclusive and it will start appearing elsewhere soon because I really would like to pick up a few additional colors of this cream shadow. I'm definitely a fan!

Happy Tuesday!

These Boots Were Made for Walking: Wooly White Superfeet inserts

Yesterday while out shopping, I spotted a small crowd gathered around an UGG boot display at Nordstrom. This is not unusual as the shoe section of Nordstrom is basically taken over by UGGs during winter months, but this crowd seemed to centered at a certain table. I made my way over and discovered what was causing all the commotion:

Wooly White Superfeet had arrived!

These babies are so new that they aren't even listed on the Nordstrom or the Superfeet website yet!

I'd heard about them initially back in November when my local Fleet Feet sent out an email saying that they had a limited edition order of about 25 pairs. Of course, those were gone by the time I finished reading the email. So when I realized that the inserts had finally been released, I pounced.

Why the excitement?

Well, for a few reasons. First, my UGG boots are about four years old. They are still in great condition and I don't need a new pair anytime soon, but the original insoles were a complete mess. There seems to be a split of opinion on wearing UGGs with or without socks: I wear mine without socks so I need the insole to be soft and comfortable against my feet. Many a time I'd consider purchasing these new insole inserts but for one reason or another, I'd change my mind.

Second, UGGs are constantly being criticized for having zero arch support. Now I don't wear mine day in and day out, but when I do wear them, I have noticed that my feet can get a little cramped after too much walking. I've used Green Superfeet before for running and adore the support that they offer so I had high hopes for using the Wooly White Superfeet with my UGGs.

The scariest thing about using Superfeet is that you are responsible for cutting them to size. The sales associate at Nordstrom offered to cut them for me, but I didn't have my UGGs with me yesterday so I wasn't sure about how much she should cut. Ultimately I figured since I had successfully cut my Green Superfeet, I could cut the Wooly White ones.

The instructions for cutting Superfeet are pretty straightforward: remove your old insoles, place them on top of the Superfeet with the heel and the interior arch lined up, and then trace the outline of the old insole onto the Superfeet. Once you have a line, use some scissors to cut along the outside of the line. It might take some trial and error to get the Superfeet to fit perfectly, but make sure not to cut them too short!

*Note* Above, the left picture is of the line traced on the left insert. The right picture is me cutting the right insert.

I got the sizing right on the first try and the new inserts feel great. In fact, I've been trotting around the house in my boots all morning, enjoying the simultaneous warmth and support! True, these inserts are expensive, but Superfeet offers a 60 day fit guarantee and a one year warranty. Personally I've found that my previous Superfeet lasted longer than the one year and as far as I'm concerned, I'm saving at least $100 because now I don't need to buy a new pair of UGG boots!

Happy Sunday!

2010 Year in Review: Shopping

If you can believe it, even my enjoyment of shopping was not a constant in 2010. There were weeks when I loved and wanted to purchase everything I came into contact with and there were other times when try as I might, I couldn't find a single thing I was interested in buying.

Oh but don't get me wrong, I did buy...a lot. And I thought it would be fun to go through a few of my favorite purchases of the year.

Swirling Villages Dress, Anthropologie (January 2010)

Once I made the decision to spend $20 to have this dress relined, it became a staple in my wardrobe. This dress also carries the important distinction of being part of my first-ever Anthropologie order. I ordered the dress on first markdown for $99 then the next day it got a second markdown to $49. I emailed Customer Service right away and to my delight, receive a price adjustment without a problem! The belt of this dress has also proven quite versatile throughout the year which means bonus points in my book!

Beribboned Buds Cardigan, Anthropologie (January 2010)

Another Anthropologie first: the first item for which I ever paid full price. And I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that I had many a sleepless night over whether to return this cardigan. I loved it in the store. Had to have it. Then I got home and it sat in the bag on my dresser for two weeks which I wished and hoped for a price adjustment. When one didn't come, I had a choice to make, return my beloved sweater and wait for it to go on sale or suck it up and wear it. I decided to wear it and could not be happier with my choice: I've probably worn this sweater 25 times this year. In fact, I wore this sweater so often that I wrote an entire post about it (click here)!

Acting Out Skirt, Anthropologie (March 2010)

My last favorite Anthropologie clothing purchase of the year was an unexpected love. I grabbed this skirt for a fitting room review, expecting the size 12 to be a bit snug on my thighs. Imagine my surprise when not only did the skirt fit perfectly but it looked amazing on me! Once I realized that the price was only $88, it came home with me right then and there and I wore it happily through the year. I was tempted to purchase another color, but in the end something about the light grey version worked on me in a way none of the other colors did.

Silk Dress with Ruffle V-Neck, Loft (July 2010)
Artist's Pallette Necklace, Anthropologie (July 2010)

Even if I never wore these two items again (and I have many many times), I'd include them in my favorite pieces of 2010 because they both had the absolute honor of meeting Dr. Brian May with me. Is it insane that even now nearly six months later, I still smile to myself whenever I fasten the clasp of the Artist's Palette Necklace because at one point in its lifetime, it was within a foot of rock royalty? I got the dress on super sale at Loft (I actually paid more for the necklace than I did for the dress!) and suspected immediately that it would be a contender to wear to this exciting event. A reader poll indicated that I was right and I managed to get an amazing picture with the man himself!

In April, I wrote about being a rather bad shoe shopper (click here). I'm pleased to report that I managed to step my shoe shopping up a notch in 2010 with quite a few adorable and yet shockingly functional pairs!

Sofft Fiorella Pumps, Nordstrom (July 2010)

Perfect Exotic Pumps, Ann Taylor (February 2010)

Franco Sarto Panko Boots, Macys (October 2010)

Rennselaer T-Straps, Anthropologie (November 2010)

I have myself utterly convinced that flats make my legs look stumpy. I'm 5'8" so every time I share that piece of information with anyone else, they typically roll their eyes at me: how can legs as long as mine ever look stumpy? Well, I'm sure they do and tend to wear heels to combat this undesirable effect. My heel collection up until this year included two or three black pairs and one or two brown pairs. This year, I ventured slowly into the world of colored shoes with my Sofft Fiorella Pumps and Perfect Exotic Pumps. Then this fall, I treated myself to the newly marked down Rennselaer T-Straps for a brown heel far more interesting than anything I'd ever previously owned. The Panko boots were a total impulse buy: I spotted them at Macy's and the leather was just so so soft. I tried them on and couldn't resist taking them home with me. I was initially uncertain if I could work flat boots into my wardrobe, but surprisingly, I've gotten a ton of wear out of them and have found them to be versatile as well for both casual and dressy occasions! Perfection!

Honorable Mentions:

Wish You Were Here Cardigan, Anthropologie (October 2010) - My sister pounced on this cardigan first, but I decided that 600 miles was a far enough distance between us that we could both own it. It's soft and versatile and the pattern is just so darn cute!

Konnichiwa Sweater, Anthropologie (November 2010) - I splurged and bought this sweater while it was still on first markdown and I'm glad I did. It's really become my go-to casual winter sweater: so cozy, but stylish as well.

Long pearl necklace with pearl flower, Loft (November 2010) - This necklace is a more recent addition that I'm still trying to work into my wardrobe. I admired it afar for so long though, waiting patiently for it to go on sale, that I had to put it on my list!

I'm sure you all had your favorite purchases in 2010 too. Were they your favorites for emotional reasons (like my Dr. May outfit) or for practical reasons (most times worn)? Did I forget to mention something I bought that was one of your favorites?

One more Year in Review post will run on Friday and it will discuss everything from Rock Band to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to my new found obsession with foxes!

Happy Wednesday!

Running Shoe Review: Asics Gel Foundation 9 & Your Running Questions Answered

During my last giveaway several people asked me running related questions. Since I've not done a running post in a while, I decided to answer all the running-related questions as part of a running shoe review.

Erin from Designer Me asked: What are the top three running gear items that I need to get into a running frame of mind?

Two things popped into my mind right away: my Garmin Forerunner 305 (reviewed here) and running shoes purchased at a specialty running shop (personally I'm a fan of Fleet Feet).

The Garmin literally changed my running life: suddenly I could track exactly how far I went on each run, monitor my pace and heart rate during the run, and then upload all that data into my computer to view my progress. I don't know how I lived without my Garmin!

The running shoes don't have to be purchased at the specialty store (although doing so does support the store so it'll be there the next time you need shoes!), but I definitely recommend going in for a fitting. At my local store, they videotape you running on a treadmill and then analyze your gait. They measure your feet, both sitting and standing to determine if your arch collapses at all. And then they recommend shoes based on your individual needs. Not everyone should wear the same running shoe and sometimes a person's running shoe needs can change over time! I started off in a neutral shoe, ended up in a cushioned shoe when I started having some foot pain, and then following a nasty bout of plantar fastisis went into a motion control shoe. You should never have to break in running shoes and most specialty stores will take returns, even if the shoe has been worn, so if something doesn't feel right when you get it home, take it back!

My current running shoe purchase is the Asics Gel Foundation 9. I've been running in a pair of old Nike Air Zoom Vomeros with the inserts removed and replaced with Green Superfeet for an embarrassingly long time. My motto with running shoes is typically if it's not broke, don't fix it so I ignored all advice that I should replace shoes after 500 or so miles.

In my defense, Superfeet are designed to last for a year and I wasn't terribly past that length of time.

Then I started getting blisters and I knew it was time to get some new shoes.

Runners World does a shoe review a few times a year and the Asics Gel Foundation 9 got some great feedback: For a shoe that does such a great job correcting overpronation, the Foundation is decidedly unmotioncontrol- like. Its interior is lined with plenty of soft materials that, when combined with the sole's balanced profile and flexible forefoot, results in a smooth, steady ride, free of the stiffness that plagues many motioncontrol shoes. Except for noting the shoe's heavy heel, testers had nothing but positive things to say. Recommended for large runners or heavy overpronators who need superior support.

Now, I'm not a runner that overpronates (which in layman's terms means landing with your foot rolling inwards towards the arch), but I do have arches that collapse slightly every time I take a step. That means that I need tons of arch support (for anyone who is familiar with Green Superfeet, you know that it's basically the equivalent of having custom orthotics made for your shoes...out of concrete.)

The problem with Green Superfeet is that when you go a day or two without running, your feet have to readjust to them for the first few miles. Typically that's not an issue when I'm running 20-30 miles a week, but since cutting back to 15 miles a week, I'm really not interested in spending 75% of my runs getting accustomed to my shoes! (This should answer Maggie from The Fashion Maverick's question.)

My plan was to buy the Asic Gel Foundation 9 from Running Warehouse (my favorite online shoe retailer) and try them on my treadmill. If I hated them, I'd go to Fleet Feet and get reevaluated, but I had a feeling that the Gel Foundations would work just fine for me...and I was right.

This shoe is heavy; like really heavy. If I were buying this shoe a year ago, I'd probably return it because I felt a bit like I was running with weights on my shoes. However, since I'm under doctor's orders to slow down, these actually worked perfectly for me! There's a fair amount of arch support in this shoe, but it also managed to be cushioned at the same time.

At first I was worried about my poor arches stretching too much, but once I got into my running groove, I could feel the arch support keeping my foot snugly in place. I always order two sizes up in a running shoe (because my foot tends to expand as I step down), but most experts recommend sizing up at least 1 size anyway. One thing that always worried me about this shoe initially was the heel which is really snug. When I first lace the shoe up, it feels very constricted, but once I got moving all was forgotten.

This shoe will definitely get me through the winter months without issue. Next year, when hopefully I'm authorized to get back to my normal training routine, I'll consider heading back to Fleet Feet for an evaluation, but in the meantime, I'm very happy with these shoes.

Now onto everyone else's questions:

Newlyweds on a Budget asked: How do you motivate yourself to run when you just don't feel like it?

I have a few strategies. One is to convince myself to go out for just two miles (one mile away from the house and one mile home). Typically once I'm in my workout clothes and outside, I end up going farther than that.

I'm also not above bribes: if I do this run, I get to buy x.

But sometimes I'm just not feeling a run and if that's the case, I don't do it. I run because I enjoy it and I never want to resent it because that's when I'll stop. A few years ago, we went on vacation to Maine. I got up four mornings that week at 6am and ran between 4-9 miles (23 miles total). Then I got home and was so mad that I really didn't get a "vacation" since I got up so early all those mornings (and consequently had to go to bed early the night before). I promised myself that I'd never force myself to run on a vacation again. If I wanted to do it, great, but if I didn't, I'd just get back in the saddle when I got home. You aren't going to lose any fitness if you take one, or even two, weeks off and I've found that sometimes a little bit of time away from running rejuvenates me and makes me remember how much I enjoy running in the first place!

Peggy from She Hath Done What She Could asked: I would love any tips you can give to a beginning runner. I have tried it so many times and just don't like it - maybe I'm doing something wrong??

Haven from Hogwash, Poppycock and Other Preposterousness asked a similar question: How do you keep from getting bored on a run?

And KatKoot asked a related question too: How does someone work up from walking to running?

My biggest tip would probably be to slow down! It's so tempting to get outside and run at a break neck pace until you want to die, but that's not doing yourself any favors! Even if it feels like you are positively crawling, you've got to build up your endurance and heart strength and you do that when you are exercising aerobically, not an-aerobically (greater than 75% of max heart rate). The longer and slower you run, the faster you'll ultimately become.

When I first started running, I'd run 3 miles in about 30 minutes and then wonder why I never got any faster. Then I started training with my mom, who was about 1-1:30 minutes slower than me. All of a sudden, my 5Ks got faster because I was training slower and strengthening my heart! Of course, you should occasionally work in some speed work to get your body accustomed to traveling at a quicker pace, but for beginners, you should just focus on the endurance factor.

I do a lot of my best thinking while running: I can't tell you how many legal arguments have occurred to me while I'm out in the middle of nowhere, five miles from my house! I take my iPhone with me to run (for safety reasons), but then I will usually put on my music. I'll listen to the first song or two and then my mind just takes off, thinking about everything and anything. By the end of the run, I have no idea what songs I just listened to and, half the time, no idea what I spent all that time thinking about, but I always feel refreshed!

Treadmills are a whole different ballgame. I hate them for anything other than speed work. I do own one and use it in the winter. To get through those runs, I'll turn on loud music, put on the television, make Husband sit next to me and chat. In NYC, the gym I went to faced the treadmills towards the street so you could people-watch which is fun (especially in NY!) I've heard of people training for marathons on treadmills and just the thought of that makes me want to die!

Jen from The Life Accounts asked: What type of fitness are you doing now that you're not doing so much intense running? Have you found any new fun fitness ideas?

Does Rock Band drumming count? Seriously, click here to watch RT on a science show from the early 1980s. In just 30 seconds of drumming, he gets his heart rate up way higher than where mine is five miles into a run!

Sadly, I've not done anything to replace running. I've slowed down and cut back, but that's about it. One of my favorite things about running is the sense of accomplishment that I get when I'm finished and I just don't get that feeling from any other types of exercise that I've tried.

I'm open to suggestions though!

Maggie G. asked: What is your favorite line of running/workout apparel? I'm intrigued b/c I just started running regularly in the spring and this winter is going to be my first winter trying to run.

For winter apparel, I couldn't live without my CW-X tights (reviewed here). They are pricey, but totally worth it. I also love L.L. Bean fleece vests (reviewed here). I prefer to be a bit cold at the start of a run so unless it's absolutely positively freezing, I'll wear one of those vests over a long sleeved wicking top and a wicking tank. Headbands and gloves are also a must: my hands tend to get really cold and take the longest to warm up. I'd rather wear the headband/gloves and have to take them off then to not have them at all. My running top collection is a bit of a hodgepodge: I typically buy off season at Marshall's or Dick's Sporting Goods so I've got lots of different brands/styles.

For indoor/summer running, I can't live without my running skirt from RunningSkirts.com. There are lots of other companies making running skirts now, but Cindy/Christy are my favorite. The skirts are comfortable, don't ride up, and look adorable! They have great tanks too, but they're a bit on the pricey side.

Finally, spiffy from Where the Lights Are Bright asked: I know you've run a half marathon, any desire to run a full?

Sure, I have aspirations of running a full marathon, but I'm also aware of my own weaknesses and limitations. I've decided that if I ever do run a marathon, I'd want to finish in under 5 hours (which I know sounds crazy slow, but remember this is 26.2 miles, people!) Right now, a more realistic goal for me is to break 2:30 in a half marathon (which is about 11 minute miles) and then from there, I can decide about whether to push myself to keep going. It's definitely in the back of my mind (as it is for most runners, I'm sure), but it's not in the foreseeable future.

spiffy on the other hand is a total rock star and is running in the ING NYC Marathon today! Go spiffy!

So that wraps up all the running questions from my latest giveaway. I'll be back to answer the rest of the questions at some point (I'm trying to work them into daily posts to avoid having a big long post like this one, but I might just give up and forget that idea!)

Happy Sunday!

Product Review: Dr. Scholl's Bliss Sandal (from CSN Stores)

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I was offered a $40 gift certificate by Caitlin at CSN Stores in order to write a product review.

Hm, so you want me to shop and then write about it? I already do that. And I don't even have to spend any of my own money? Where do I sign up?

I looked around the CSN Stores website to find something to buy with my $40 gift certificate. Immediately, it occurred to me that I should take this opportunity to make one last attempt to find some comfortable and supportive summer sandals for our vacation to Mexico. I've purchased and liked the Dr. Scholl's brand of shoes before so I zeroed in on their Bliss Sandals. They were cute, with a cork base and cushioned insole, and, best of all, pink suede! Priced at $29.95 and free ground shipping - bingo!

I placed my order on a Wednesday morning and around dinner time, received an email that my order had shipped. Wow - that was fast! I always get so annoyed when it takes a company days to put my order together so this was a pleasant treat! The shoes arrived exactly one week later - I had been tracking them online and there appeared to have been some sort of hold-up in Missouri. My hope was that they'd arrive with time to spare before vacation and they certainly did.

I was excited to see the shoes in person - they look just like the picture on the website. The suede is a pretty baby pink color. The shoe looked a little narrow which worried me, but luckily I had sized up and a 9.5 fit perfectly. The cork sole is rather comfortable. I remember my mom having wood soled Dr. Scholl's sandals when I was little and I always thought they must be so uncomfortable. She wore them for years though so I guess they weren't. There feels like there is just enough support in the arch and foot bed that I'll be able to walk around in these while on vacation. I'll probably wear them for a day of light walking first or perhaps even test drive them before I leave, but in any event I think they'll work out nicely. My one regret is that I didn't order a second pair since I had another $10 on my gift certificate! Oh well!

The experience of ordering from CSN Stores was fine. I'd definitely consider ordering from them again. And the sandals are definitely keepers - I'm glad i got them in time for vacation!

Product Review: Clarisonic Mia

So as I mentioned previously, Husband got me a Clarisonic Mia for my birthday. I've wanted one for a while: between QVC and other bloggers, it seemed like every time I turned around, there it was, assuring me that it would make my skin cleaner and clearer than it's ever been.

The original sized Clarisonic is close to $200 (available here). Now, I may seem like a bit of a compulsive shopper, but $200 is one heck of an experiment. I don't even know if I like this contraption! So when I saw the Clarisonic Mia, priced at around $150, but eligible for a 20% off coupon at Skinstore (click here), it seemed much more reasonable.

I've never really had what you would call "problem skin". I occasionally get a pimple here and there, but nothing ever really that serious...until last year. All of a sudden, my cheeks were covered with little red marks. It wasn't acne per se, but it was annoying. I changed cleansers to the philosophy line (available here) and saw tremendous improvement, but the faint marks were still there.

Finally, I reasoned that the issue was my makeup. I'm a makeup fiend and wear it every day. If I wasn't taking it off completely, I decided, my skin was never really "clean" and it made sense that I'd have some irritation and redness. In my mind, the Clarisonic Mia would solve that problem.

Okay, so immediately after opening the box, I tore into my new skincare acquisition. Luckily, I read the instructions first: charge for 24 hours before first use. ARG! The charger plugs into the wall and then magnetizes to the unit. It buzzes to indicate that the connection is good and then a light blinks until the unit is fully charged. According to the manual, a charge is good for 20 uses.

Exactly 24 hours later, I grabbed my Clarisonic Mia and trotted into the bathroom. There are two options for use: either rub cleanser directly onto your face or apply cleanser to the brush and apply to your face that way. I prefer rubbing the cleanser on my face myself. When I apply cleanser to the brush, it gets rather runny and concentrates in certain areas of my face (i.e. there's tons of cleanser on my forehead since you use the unit there first, but then not much cleanser on my chin since that's last). The cleanser also ran down my face into my eyes, which was rather unpleasant, when I applied it to the brush first.

Using the Clarisonic Mia is ridiculously easy. You press the large button on the handle of the unit and it turns on for 60 seconds. During that time, you start with your forehead and drag the unit across your face. I've been using it around my chin/jawline as well just because I had experienced some redness/bumps there. I've found that there is plenty of time to clean my entire face and then go back over my face a second time before the unit automatically turns off. There's a plastic cover to keep the brush clean and the unit is waterproof so you can use it in the shower or bath.

As I write this, I've been using my Clarisonic Mia every night for the past two weeks. I've noticed a bit of improvement in my skin. The redness is almost entirely gone and my face is much smoother. I love the way my face feels too, especially right after I use the Clarisonic Mia.

The company recommends changing brushes every three months. A set of two brushes is about $40. The unit comes with "sensitive" brushes, but there are also "regular" and "delicate" brushes available.

I'm glad I decided to try the Clarisonic Mia and I'm definitely a convert!

A Day at the Races (or my first 10K of the season)

A big question amongst Queen fans is which album is the best. There really isn't a general consensus on this issue as the band released 15 studio albums in a span of twenty years covering all different genres of music.The albums from the 1970s are the favorites of many fans because they were "albums" rather than just collections of possible singles as many of the 1980s releases were. Currently, I think I'd have to say that my favorite Queen album is their 1976 release "A Day at the Races".  This album contains two of my favorite songs: Drowse and The Millionaire Waltz, but also includes perennial favorites Somebody to Love and Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy. I've also recently begun to appreciate Long Away, You and I, and White Man much more than I previously had. And just this week I heard a Hollywood Record's remix of Tie Your Mother Down that tones down the guitar a bit and I found it rather less grating than I typically find the song! How exciting!

"A Day at the Races" has an alternative meaning today, however, since this morning I ran my first 10K of the season with two of my fellow princesses. I woke up at 5:30 a.m., did my prerace routine of Powerade Zero and a Fiber One poptart, dragged Husband out of bed (he was coming for cheering purposes and to supervise two mini-princesses who were in attendance), and drove 45 minutes to the race site. The weather was pretty awful. It was hot and humid before the race even began at 7:30 a.m. Then about 20 minutes into the race, the skies opened up and it poured for about ten minutes. However, it was so humid after the rain stopped that by the time I finished the race, I was completely dry! UGH!

I had joked that today would be a test of which was more miserable: running in high humidity weather or running a race when you've slagged off with your training. I can now report that the latter is much more miserable. As hot as it was today, it was my breathing that made me the most miserable so I'll definitely be getting myself out of bed for training runs to prepare for the DIVA Half Marathon this fall. I will say though that for as horrible as I felt during the race, my time was surprisingly quick so that is a sign of me potentially building up some speed this summer which would be lovely.

On the plus side today, I received my new running skirt (purchased before the shopping ban was imposed). It is just adorable and I can't wait to wear it. All the princesses have purchased one and they'll be our team uniforms in at the fall half. Adorable, right? The pattern is so pretty and flowery and there are little running girls hidden in it too. We saw a lady today at the race wearing the skirt version (no capris) and it was just darling. We also had quite a few runners ask us about our skirts mid-race. I must say, we were quite the fashion sensations today! (Buy your own running skirt here.)

I'm debating whether I should buy this shirt to wear with my snazzy new capri skirt as my DIVA running uniform. I mean, it has the crown on the front so right there it seems totally appropriate for the race, and then it also has Queen written on it so everyone who sees me will be reminded of the best band ever which will make them happy. I'm not sure about the red though which could clash with my hot pink capris. And it says, "We Are the Champions" on the back which seems a bit silly seeing as how my racing goal is typically to finish without dying, not actually to win. I mentioned it to my fellow princesses today and they thought it was worth purchasing. We'll have to see - luckily I have several months to decide.

I took a nice long nap when we got home (after having a yummy breakfast) and later I'm off for a birthday celebration for one of the princesses. What a royally themed weekend I'm having!

Happy Sunday everyone!

Review: Dr. Denese Self Tanning Gloves

Every summer I attempt to find a sunless tanner. I'll buy a bottle of something, use it once or twice, Husband will complain about the smell, I'll whine about the streaks and wear pants for a week, and the bottle will sit unused in the bathroom closet until I replace it with my next purchase.

I've been interested in trying tanning towels for a while now. The idea is simple: rather than a spray or foam in a bottle, the tanning formula is on a towel (like a moist towelette). You rub it on yourself and presto - a pretty summer glow.

After researching different brands and reading customer reviews, I ordered Dr. Denese Glow Younger 12-ct Pro-Peptide SelfTanning Gloves (*whew* That's a mouthful!) from QVC (see here). QVC has a nice 30 return policy on anything (cosmetics included) so I figured if I absolutely hated the towels, I could return them and only be out the shipping (which would be the equivalent of the towels I had used). Mathematically it made sense and since the gloves were the Today's Special Value, they were marked down almost $10. Score!

The towels arrived on Wednesday night. My first dilemma: do I use the towels now, during the week or do I wait until the weekend where I can hide out in the house for two days if a self tanning disaster occurred? I figured, "What the heck?" and decided to go for it.

The glove itself is pretty straightforward to use and there are even instructions on how to apply on the package. The recommendation is to start on your legs, when you get to your torso, turn the glove over and do your upper body. Then turn the glove inside out and do your face and neck.

A note regarding smell: there is none...initially. After a few hours that same fake tanning smell set in, but it wasn't overwhelming (i.e. Husband was able to stay in the same room as me. Usually he's very sensitive to cosmetic smells). The next morning after I showered, the smell was gone.

I took some before and after pictures for comparison. The pictures were taken exactly 24 hours apart in the same lighting and I'm even wearing the same clothes! Look at me with my little controlled environment for my experiment - I should be a scientist!

Here's my leg (before and after, respectively):

Here's my arm (before and after, respectively):

Here's my face (before and after, respectively):

And here's a full body shot (before and after, respectively):

In addition to Dr Denese's tips for applying, I took even more caution. I showered first and exfoliated like a mofo! When I started on my legs, I ran the towel along each of my calves and my thigh once before I started to rub it in. I didn't want too much formula to collect on one particular limb. Then once I had covered my calves and thighs, I went back and did my knees and ankles. I did the same thing with my arms, saving my elbows for last.

It was with tremendous trepidation that I used the tan towel on my face. I can wear pants to cover leg splotches, but it's too warm now for a ski mask and it wouldn't be court appropriate anyway. By the time you get to your face and turn the towel inside out, the towel is just about dry so not too much formula is left. I basically have a nice warm glow - like I used a bronzer.

It's subtle, but it's also natural. My skin tends to get really red (you can tell in the before pictures), but not because I'm sunburned. I just have a rosy undertone to my skin. Several people commented today that I looked like I had been in the sun. I was actually really impressed with the coverage and I ended up with only a few blotches (on my wrist and I knew this was going to happen because it always does. You wash your hands and end up with a line of demarkation! ARG!) I wore some bracelets today to cover up the line and nobody noticed!

The auto-delivery plan at QVC is set for every 60 days. With 12 towels per order, that suggests that I should use one every 5 days. That will take me to Sunday so I'll be interested to see how much of my tan is left by then or will I have to reinvent the wheel every time I use these things.

One negative I will note is that it was difficult to keep the glove on my hand. It kept sliding around as I was running it over my skin. A bit of elastic on the end would have been nice to help keep it in place. I didn't find this to be such an enormous flaw that I wouldn't use these or order these again.

Day 2: While stepping out of the shower this morning, I noticed some "tan" rubbing off on my nice white towels. Whoops! Better dust off the older towels for next time. The tan is holding up nicely. I think my biggest enemy is going to be dry skin so I'm moisturizing like nobody's business. It still looks really natural too. I would say that as the towel dries, it deposits less of the formula on your skin. I did my stomach last and it is significantly lighter than the rest of my body (that may also be because it started out significantly lighter). Just something to consider - when I reapply on Sunday, I'm going to do my stomach first and my arms second when I get to my upper body.

Day 3: The tan is definitely starting to fade, but seems to be doing so naturally. No flaking or peeling leaving me looking like a tiger (i.e. orange streaks). I'm supposed to reapply every 5 days but I'm going to reapply tonight (at the end of 4 days) to see what it looks like to try to "build" a tan.

Overall I'm impressed and I'd recommend these to anyone looking for a natural and safe summer tan!