Vintage Glam

My good friend HK, who now lives in Lalaland,

Apples to Apples

Boy does time fly! It seemed like only a couple months ago that we went apple picking this last year, only Elz was only barely walking then. Now she's stomping through the orchard, tripping through the pumpkin patch and eating apples left and right. At 25 weeks, I feel more like 35 weeks and looking it too. I could barely last that day without huffing and puffing so I'm glad we can still get in our fall activities in before hubz will start having to roll me from one place to another. A lot of my maternity wear is re-purposed regular clothes that can be worn either prego or not - empire and swing tops and dresses, like this beautiful silk one I got from Yoox last year.

Next, pumpkin picking!

silk dress: Yoox | aviators: Chloe | Baby girl dress: Janie and Jack | apple pendant necklace: Kenneth Jay Lane | Handwoven basket: Purchased in Provence, France

Over the Bump, across the Pond, and back again

Off shoulder cheesecloth dress: asos

I'm back from a much needed hiatus. In the past six months I found out I was pregnant, suffered through two months of debilitating morning sickness, only to ride it out while vacationing a month in the UK, and slowly getting life back in order as we prepare for bebe #deux.

Life has its twists and turns and this one has thrown us for a loop, as we weren't quite planning on another bebe coming so soon, thus delaying our expat plans to Europe. We even nixed a move down south. So for the time being, to alleviate yet another cold Minnesota winter, I've decided to freshen things up inside and flex my interior design skills. With all the aches and ailments that come with pregnancy (and this one is much much worse than the first time 'round), I'm happy to enjoy at least one of the fun parts of pregnancy - stylin' the bump. Stay tuned!

Springtime in casual leopard chic

Our little girl has had a rough month - surgery, though relatively minor as it was, was a harrowing experience for newbie parents like us. No one wants to have their child go through an operation and the ordeal that that entails, especially the genereal anesthesia and the subsequent pain. But my little peanut is a tough cookie and she made it through with flying colors. So we have done our best to spoil her in every way - amusement parks, new books, new toys, the zoo and new kicks of course (wouldn't be my kid without a new clothes!)

When I started the blog, I thought I would be able to write more about motherhood, but quickly realized that 99.9% of my time and energy is spent parenting and I had little energy to expend upon the subject beyond that. Thus style, design, decor, and travel remain the essence of this blog - and will continue to be my personal form of escapism.

Much to my disbelief, April is around the corner, which means no more heavy coats and boots! Temperatures soared last week, causing a mass meltdown of previously waist high snow (you can see how high in my Russian Dolls post). Spring has a way of breathing new life into everything and I'm ready to finish tackling a few projects - personal and business. The most important personal priority being working on our long term residence in France. We're a couple steps closer and I will be sharing our process so far. I recently discovered a wonderful lifestyle blog at Design Mom, whose family lived in France for a couple of years, and it has become a major inspiration for me to start our own expat adventure. 

Cheers! xoxo

Coat : Shop Ruche / Pants: Mango / Leopard sweater: ASOS / V heels : Emerson Fry

Icecapades - Diva on Ice

Although I'd grown up here, I'd never actually been on an iced over lake so ironically decided to try it out for the first time when the weather warmed up to the 40s. Rest assured, the ice is a couple feet deep, but my hubz, a Floridian native, wasn't willing to risk walking too far in. Neither was I really, not in these heels.

 Vintage faux fur coat / distressed jeans : ASOS / cami top: ASOS / burgundy heels: Emerson Fry 

Cheers!

Staying cool in leopard and stripes

There was a heat wave this week meaning it was the first time my feet felt the sun since, oh, October. Hubz and I visited the Guthrie theater in downtown Mpls - some cool scenes and great architecture. It was nice to get out after a week of feeling under the weather.

This Emerson Fry leopard coat was a prize possession from last year and it was finally warm enough to wear it, along with a pussybow collar top and distressed jeans. I love the boyfriend look - it's perfect for day to day wear and a proper replacement for my morning-into-night pajama look that I've been rocking this winter and it hides those extra winter pounds - oof!

Cheers!

Leopard Coat Emerson Fry / Distressed jeans ASOS / Driving Gloves Carolina Amato / Patent stilettos Emerson Fry / Boston bag Calvin Klein

Style Inspiration - Russian Dolls Part III of III

Looking back on this series of photos, it really does look quite spectacular. Funny how in the moment though I was cursing bloody murder during each shot, as the wind bit into the very depths of my living flesh. By the time we did these shots, it was remarkably COLD and I was just not having it anymore. 

Oh the things we do for love (of fashion)....

Cheers!

 

Style Inspiration - Russian Dolls: Part II of III

Someone commented on this snowy scene as "gorgeous" and I was taken aback because it's such an everyday scene here, that I've forgotten to take a step back and appreciate the intrinsic beauty of a snowy landscape. Of course, one can easily forget when it's been subzero for two months. Luckily, (or not so luckily) on this day it was 9 F. I looked at the snow and told my husband "I'm going in". You can't see my steps but I walked a good couple of yards in the snow  and surprisingly, my legs were quite warm. It's a good thing these boots are faux suede - they come in handy when you have to be knee deep in snow.

The instant I saw this ASOS dress, I knew I would love it. As my sister said, it's one of those things that look ugly on the hanger, but fabulous on. The bright blue color with folksy embroidery is so unique - not something you'd find everyday. Paired with my faux fur coat, a cossack hat and voila - Russian dolls.

Local temperature:

Minneapolis: 9 F

St. Petersburg: 19F

Stay tuned for the last Russian doll look this week. Until then... Cheers!