Let's dish

You might recall my brief mention of wanting new dishes. Well, I never actually replaced them until just this past week. I suppose the impending move got me...well...moving. Ha!

Registering for our wedding was very fun: Here's a laser gun, shoot it at things you want others to buy you! It's not selfish - it's expected! You get to do it again if you have a baby, but why isn't is quite as acceptable to register to celebrate other important moments in your life? Pssst - I'm having my annual pap smear, and I'd really love these! Or, more pertinent: Hey, we are buying a new house, so we need some stuff!
When we registered back in 2002, we chose Mikasa Garden Harvest stoneware for our 'every day dishes.' It's traditional, goes with a lot, and it's very pretty. I still like it, but my style and lifestyle has changed, and it does have its negatives. It's a bit heavy, takes up a lot of space, and stoneware chips. Granted, in 8 years of daily use, only 6 out 48 pieces have chipped, but nevertheless, I have some noticeable chippage.

While I like all sorts of patterns and finishes, from classic to more bohemian, I'm much more practical than I used to be...I want simple, white (foodies agree everything looks better on a white plate), versatile, and durable new dishes that will survive Samuel's upcoming induction into the joys of shared family dish washing. As you might have guessed, I thought of Corelle. Then I hesitated. Then I considered it again. And hesitated once more. I knew it had all the durability qualities I was looking for, but I never cared for the way it felt - just sort of 'College Chic' with it's ultra light weight, compactness, and no edges. Cheap. I'll admit it, I always thought they felt cheap. I checked out their newer, heftier Ultra line, and though it sounded better, but I could never find it in a store to actually feel for myself. Then, last week, I eyed their Square line a little longer, and it grew on me. I thought that even with the lightweight feel, the square shape gives it some much needed style, but is still super simple. I did some research and snagged a great deal - service for 12 that did not include mugs (I hate the mugs, plus I love the plain white ones I already have), with free shipping, for $120.
It arrived today. I really do like it! The white is pure, without that weird skim milk luminescence the round Frost White seems to have. The square shape is stylish, but not trendy, and food looks sort of artful on it. Yes, artful. And, best of all, it takes up about half the space the Mikasa does. Win, win, win.

I posted the Mikasa for sale on Craigslist. In doing so, I realized that I was missing two dinner plates! Tim thinks I broke at least one. He may be right, but I don't remember doing so. A second may be forgotten at some one's house, maybe left behind after I brought goodies to share...but...who knows. If they doesn't sell via Craigslist by closing, I'll cart it over to our local consignment shop, where I'm sure it would sell fairly quickly.

Wardrobe crisis

Clothes and fashion are fun for me - I love the design and art of it, love to look at it, but I don't do much for myself. My wardrobe budget is on the modest side, because while I appreciate and look for good quality and nice tailoring, I shy away from dropping a slice of my paycheck on a pair of pants - I love a bargain as much as anyone! I keep things fairly simple, then experiment with combining things in new ways, or get interesting pieces and accessories to mix in here and there - but only when I'm feeling creative.

Unlike my shoe collecting, my dressing habits are admittedly a bit boring from day to day, and downright uniform-ish for work (black pants, cute top, earrings. grey pants, cute top, earrings. tan pants, cute top, earrings AND scarf). I have been trying to rotate in the few skirts and dresses I have, but they are most certainly not my default. The catalyst for getting me in a skirt are my amazing knee length boots. See? It's really all about the footwear. That's how I tend to build outfits, but it's not always the best way to start.

Combine all this with my virtual inability to buy a new piece when I know I have something similar in a smaller size (that's a bit too snug to wear without looking trashy so I need to drop 5lbs by tomorrow morning) and I have the tendency to have the occasional clothes freak out, realizing I've spent way too many anxiety-ridden mornings trying to come up with something I think is flattering and in good compositional balance.

There is very little pressure to look sharp at work. Any pressure is, for the most part, pressure that I put on myself. I work on a college campus, where many of the students are from large urban areas. While you might be inclined to think this makes for an intimidatingly fashionable environment, you would be mistaken: The most stylish and well put together students seem to be the exchange students. Most of the American college girls I encounter are fashion victims: Too many trends at once. Two sizes too small. Sloppy combinations. Chintzy knock-offs. And they all kinda look similar, like they walked off a Hanna Montana assembly line. I suppose things might look a little different on private campus catering to the offspring of the upper crust, but something tells me there would still be an assembly line. Maybe a Nancy Drew line?

The next demographic comparable at work is, of course, staff. With the exception of a few classic-minded women with a decent aesthetic and sense of proportion, most can be sorted into one of four groups: 1) the boxy poly-blend suits, unlined and often unstructured 2) the matchy-match slacks and tops or 3) the frumps, which includes mom-jeans and misshapen knits - also usually the ones busting out in holiday theme sweaters and 4) the fashionably dull (like me...but I can count us on one hand)

There are also an exceptional few ladies that are absolutely un-categorizable, based mostly on their ability to debut, on a regular basis, the most garish compositions, with no respect for color, drape, or shape. Really, it hurts the eyes.
Speaking of hurting the eyes, I can't post about fashion without mentioning a ridiculous combination I see way too many people in: a designer bag and chintzy outfit. For example - Chanel bag, rubber flip flops, and cut off sweats. Really, hon? Really?? I think the beach tote would be better in this case. Keep it all in the same ball field, ladies. Same with Coach briefcase and the clunky wedge slip ons from Penney's. They're too small and your heel is hanging over the edge, and your toes are brushing the concrete...your Coach piece can't distract from that disaster. You don't need a lot of money to be pulled together. You just need to 1) keep it balanced, as far as proportion, number of trends, and overall quality and 2) clean, neat, and it needs to fit right

So, you can see, that with little effort, I can achieve a comparably high-fashion look from day to day....but if you pick me up and drop me about 150 miles southeast of here, I'd seem terribly dull.

I also struggle with transitioning from super-casual summer lazy styles to fall outfits. I want to start wearing fall clothes on September 1, but the reality is, I'd be a sweaty mess, so it's tricky until the end of the month.

So yesterday I had the day to myself and went shopping for some desperately needed replacement basics. I found 2 crisp, tailored button-down oxfords that hit all the right places, a pair of flattering khakis, a shorter, modern black skirt with trendy twist and a classic denim skirt. For fun, I picked up a shaul-collar pink top (so feminine), a bright yellow cardigan, and cute pair of patent-leather ballerina flats. I think rotating these in will help get me out of my rut. I'll post some pictures soon!

Whoa, good deal

If you're a fan of the Lands End totes, you may have noticed the canvas ones with patent leather trim. I like them more than the original because you can wipe off the bottoms if they get nasty, and the handles don't get dirty and and grimy like the canvas handles do.

$14.99 is a great deal for these. It's a good general use size, and the handles are big enought to wear over your shoulder, but short enough to carry. I used it all summer, and am still using it, but the canvas body is getting dingy. I've never had success in spot cleaning canvas, and this one can't go in the wash.

Lo and behold a full patent leather version - for 19.99. What? 19.99. In plenty of colors. Get one now. You can thank me later.

If you need a free ship promo code, I get them all the time, so let me know and I'll send you the most current one.

The Me Day & Decade

I took today off from work, sent the boy to daycare, got out of town and went shopping. By myself. For myself. I spent over 5 hours doing it and savored every single minute of it. Even the fitting room mirrors were kind. I didn't over spend, but I also didn't settle and didn't hurry. Wow. Remember those days, frumpy mommies? Take a Me Day more often and only please yourself. You've earned it a hundred times over.

Eighties' fashions are back in a big way...they've been sneaking in, slowly, for a few years now: colored tights appeared, then skinny jeans started replacing the low-riders (at least we are seeing far fewer muffin tops), followed, inevitably, by the flats. Now the neon, the patterns, the leggings, and the bangles are everywhere. Some of it is actually OK - retro but with a modern twist, there's some new combinations of shapes that are interesting - but a lot of it gives me the willies. I didn't look good in it as a pimply pre-teen, and I won't look good in it as a 30 something-tote-lugging-mom. Darn, I missed out! The skinniest years of my life were spent in the most boring schlumpy 90s clothes EVER.

These days, I admit the clothes in "O" magazine are more appealing to me than the ones in Glamour. Sigh. I never thought this day would come.

I did lots of thinking on my Me Day, and because of all the fab 80s throwbacks around me, I thought a lot about the Me Decade, and what was part of my life back then. I'm not going to make one of those silly lists about growing up in the 80s, but instead outline a few things that were both so 80s and so me at the time:

1. I had a pink radio/cassette player - the shade was very much Pepto-Bismol. Got it in fourth grade. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a boom box, because it definitely did not boom. I used to record Madonna songs off the radio, plug in the headphones, and stand anchored to the dresser crooning "La Isla Bonita." I was wearing my stirrup pants, for sure.

2. I had insanely bad haircuts from 1985-1989. I also experimented with mousse. A lot.

3. I had these cheap little white fabric sneakers from the flea market. Balloons. Anyone have those? I think I bought a new pair every month, cause they just fell apart. I'm sure those thick scrunchy socks were not helping.

4. There was this one blouse...hot pink, with a triangle pattern. Like confetti color Doritos exploded allover it. It came with a black tank top, sewn in. A staple, really. I was so hot.

5. Because of my awful hair cuts, I never could rock the banana clips, but man, I envied those girls.

6. The concept of the 'mixed tape' came back to me. In junior high, exchanging mixed tapes with a boy was a sure sign of everlasting teen love. I love you so much, I made you mixed tape. I think I'm going to make all my loved ones mixed tapes for Christmas. I'll record them off the radio for that authentic sound. Press Play and Record at the same time, and hit the Pause before the DJ cuts in and ruins everything!

7. You know about my recent trip to Rhode Island - well, the last time I was in Rhode Island, I lost one of my jelly shoes at the beach. True story.

What are some of your personal memories from the 80s?

Backyard, Bed, and Batman

We went to Ikea in Paramus on Thursday, and found a few great items, including Sam's new "big boy" bed frame and mattress. It's a full size twin mattress that sits on flexible slats, resting in a modern bed frame.

A few weeks back I found retro-print Batman & Robin sheets at Pottery Barn Kids. Of course I wanted to barf about buying my 3 year old's sheets at Pottery Barn, but, here's the thing: character sheets anywhere else (like Walmart) are rough, tacky, and fade quickly (cheap crap) at least in my experience. These are soft, good quality, and they're just so awesome...I mean, 60's Batman! How cool is that?? I thought they were fitting for his transition, and well worth the few extra bucks ($60 for twin set - I know you were wondering).

As evidenced by these photos, Sam LOVES his new bed:



The playset is finally done...there's some extra gravel to be cleaned up (did I ever tell you that in our house, every project gets 92-98.7% done, but never finished?). The most important thing is that Sam has a great time on it (during the 3 minutes a week when it's not raining, of course).

We picked up a smallish (but cool) acacia wood table at Ikea as well, and added inexpensive mesh chairs from Lowe's. The whole thing is "light" but, after all the projects around here, heavy duty patio furniture is neither a priority, or in the budget. This will do for at least a few summers:

Finally, and update on the grill (pictured to the right of the table). Weber sent us a bunch of replacement parts at no charge, without hassle. We just had to send them some photos and a description of what happened. It's great of them, but it's also a little worrisome, as if they kind of expect these kinds of things to happen. Ah well, at least we'll have a working grill again!

Quick fix

I just got these -- delicious, right? $90 shoes for $26 and change. That's right. Stick with me and I'll teach you a thing or two about shoe nirvana. It is so good.

Cheers

Give three cheers for all of the good things that have transpired in my life over the past week, starting with the most important first.

1. My new position at work was approved to be full time! If you didn't know, I had been half time for well over a year (our decision). We knew that eventually, once the financial reality of it hit us, I'd have to go back to full time, but figured whatever extra time I could have at home with Sam was worth the short term strains. This past November, my position was essentially cut due to the state's budget crisis, but thankfully, in the same breath, I was asked to take another half time position that was expected to be fully funded within six months - and it has in just 2 months!

I feel fortunate because it's still an 11 month out of the year position, I actually LIKE it a lot and am a real official Academic Advisor, which I had been working toward. I like the department chair (my new boss), and considering the current economic climate, I'm darn lucky to have what I have.

Besides all that, this enables Tim to finally quit his silly part time job, which had become a complete nuisance to us all. While I will deeply miss spending all that time with Sam, we'll have more time together as a family, and we'll be making more money. I'd call that a good shift.

2. I found 2 pairs of fabulous, butt-tastic (to me this means butt-minimizing) jeans in one brief shopping trip! Can you imagine?? I can finally retire the shredded, stained pairs I'd been sporting.

3. Our new coffeemaker - top rated on Consumer Reports (you know I do my homework). Sells for between 80 and 100, we got it for $64. Our old one was just a wreck. Isn't our new one all classy and fine?

4. We decided to finally buy the mother of all small kitchen appliances - the Kitchen Aid stand mixer. It was always on the fringes of my cooking consciousness, and it remained there because of the $300+ price tag and the fact that I don't bake very much. When trusty cooking types told me that it was oh-so-much-more than a baking tool, I paid more attention.

Tim was always a fan, I'm guessing because it's got wattage being cranked out by like an engine or something, so he didn't need convincing. I also suspect that he's thinking he'll get more home made desserts this way. Maybe, but more importantly, I'm fascinated by the dough hook for my pizza and bread.

But you know me, I can't spend the typical going rate. To do so would probably make me break out in hives. So we started watching. The 325-watt Artisan series seemed to suit our needs and is very well rated, and occasionally, Amazon runs specials for $249 or even as low as $229, but only on the basic colors - black, red, white. So we kept on. At the moment, my favorite color is Boysenberry, but that never goes on sale. Sigh. Note that a nice color is important to me because it would have to sit out on our counter top - I have no convenient place to store it. Black would be ok, but just ok, not sassy and sexy. You know? Yea.

Yesterday we were in Binghamton. We went to Kohls (were I found the jeans, by the way), and they were having a CLOSEOUT on the Kitchen Aid Artisan series mixer in Cobalt. I like Cobalt, but it wasn't my favorite, but the closeout price of $179 was making it my total fave. Then, to our disappointment, they didn't have any left. We offered to take the floor model (for an additional 10% off), but when they couldn't find the box and the paddle and whisk, we said never mind.

After we got home, we decided to find out if they could check other stores for the same deal. The Kohls in Horseheads has one sealed in a box, and they are shipping it to Binghamton. When it arrives, it is being set aside for us and we'll be able to pick it up for $179...but there's more good news...Kitchen Aid is offering a $30 manufacturer rebate until March. Yep. ONE FITTY is my final price. I love it. Like Jill would say, "I win."

So when I get the thing, I'll post a pic of it in its new home, and I'll tell you all about my first experiments with it.

Christmas Returns

Here's what's on my 'do not buy me' list this year (and likely every year). I don't really keep handwritten wish lists, but I think I might start to pen really creepy ones for fun. You know, everyone needs a few yards of barbed wire, a shovel, duct tape (L.L. Bean has it in plaid), and a few cans of Crisco.

This year, in honor of my renewed Christmas spirit, what's better than putting together a snide, snooty and rather mean list?

Please, merciful Santa, I do not want:

1. A Hummer.

2. Anything endorsed by Rachel Ray (aside from Dunkin Donuts coffee).

3. Any painted sign telling me to "Laugh" or "Love" or "Breathe" or "Believe", or any sign pointing out that I'm in the "Bath", that "Angels Gather Here", or that we're a "Family" living in a "Home Sweet Home" that needs to "Simplify" with "Joy". I will beat you with it, then use it as kindling. You heard me Santa. I'll do it.


4. A crystal unicorn.
5. Scrunchies.


6. Scrunch boots.
7. Anything designed by Jeanne Bice or the Quacker Factory.

8. A large, gilded frame, oil portrait of our 43rd President.


9. A Mountain Dew Christmas Tree.

(By the way, do you see my logical progression of thought from 4-9 in this list? Unfortunately it gets more random from this point)

10. Lemon Meringue Pie.

11. A warm, sensible and hideous parka.
12. Margarine.
13. This blanket.
14. Stripper shoes. If you want to bring me shoes, let's talk first.
15. Frumpy shoes. Birks. Birks and socks. I'd rather wear the stripper shoes. Again, let's talk.


16. Decaffeinated coffee, Dunkin or other.

Old box, new box

No one wants another lecture about consumerism, supporting Main Street, the evils of mega-marts, and the like - not that we don't need to be lectured about this...trust me when I tell you I believe in fair trade, good quality, and ethical sourcing and production. Trust me as I tell you this while my other browser tab is on target.com -I'm looking at curtain panels for the living room.

Big box stores suck me in pretty easily...in some ways they remind me of childhood, wandering Caldor's and Alexander's with my mom. Those were some of the first big stores open in the outskirts of Peekskill.

Before that, I remember that shopping was all about going downtown to Woolworth's and then the big-time: Howland's-Steinbach - all fancy smack in the middle of downtown, with four levels, central escalator, and even elevators with real, actual elevator operators in uniform! It was like old-timey movies but with a late 70s soundtrack. Eventually it went out of business and after years of vacancy, the building was turned into a branch of Westchester County Community College, or as the locals call it, Harvard on the Hudson. Later WCC moved next door to the Woolworth building, and the former Steinbach was taken over by another state branch...ironically, the unemployment office.

Thanks to Ed Horn for the pic of the former Steinbach building, below. The fomer Woolworth building is now a branch of WCCC.

Fast forward to the 2000s. Living in upstate NY with Walmart being the main big-box game in town, I've grown to hate it more and more. Of course I hate what it stands for, its politics, and all that, but honestly, when I really break it down, Walmart has little to offer me outside of cheap and disposable crap. I still go there on occasion, but I make it a point to do it only for very specific situations and items. I always leave with more than I came in for (goodness, I idolize Ralph Nader, but I'm not quite at his level of freak yet...), but at least I can say it's mostly nationally branded stuff that just happens to be priced well at that moment (like Diet Dr. Pepper). As for the rest - food, cosmetics, clothes, and so on? I get those elsewhere. And I don't necessarily spend more. Their slogan is Live Better? I say Live Better than Walmart.

OK, done with that diatribe. So I'm getting to this in a totally roundabout way. Apologies. Keep reading. I have really enjoyed rediscovering the Main Street shopping experience over the past few years - and not just in Oneonta. Oneonta is still troubled with hiccups of empty store fronts and spaces changing hands. In my humble opinion the problem is really a circular little pinch of everything:

From the consumer side, it's lazy people not wanting to find parking and walk (though they'll walk the length of a football field in the Walmart lot), and people just too stuck in the convenience/cheap goods/all-in-one place/more-is-better mindset who never think to check downtown first. Big boxes are a real convenience - and a real threat. It's hard to live without them when they've been able to take over most of your frontal lobe.

From the business side, it's store owners that have to contend with high rents and overhead BUT don't cater to customer schedules (ya, you heard me Razzle Dazzle lady - you SUCK and aren't worthy of the fun stuff in your store), they aren't savvy or creative about advertising, and don't seem to get that if they have a significant, real sale, they will turn over much more inventory and make a profit. Try it. Face it. Your $1 off coupon in the Pennysaver ain't gonna pull me in. Your 'buy 75 at full price and get 5% off the 76th' isn't impressive - it's laughable. Offer a good deal, and you might just sell enough to offset the cost of your pathetic advertising and then you can't complain that your advertisements don't work. It's not the advertising, it's what you're advertising! Ok, sorry, again. There I go playing economist entrepreneur business marketing whiz anger child again. I get like that.

But really, I love Main Streets and I do shop them. Like just this afternoon, I bought some Christmas gifts. And they're unique and cool and you can't get them in Walmart. Or Target. And some were handmade, so the money stays in the community, and doesn't line the pockets of investors and CEOs. Some of the best gifts I've ever received were from small merchants, and some of the most treasured gifts I've given (at least people say they love them) were from small merchants. I'd love to post pictures of what I bought today, but like I said, they are gifts...

I probably won't post again for a week or so. I'm spending most of the weekend finishing my thesis (oh I'll blog about that for sure), and next week we'll be traveling for the holiday and I'm not sure I'll be able to get all bloggy with my bad self. So, Happy Thanksgiving and all that...I'll be back in December!

A wish list

Not that I expect anything. Just keeping you updated on a few of my new favorite things. Like Oprah's Favorite Things. Except I don't actually own these at the moment and don't have 300 extra to give out to my audience. And I don't have a show. Or a production company.
So let's just pretend that you're in my audience, and this blog is my show and this episode is Cristina's Favorite Things, and you oooh and ahhhh and scream wildly at each item as you scroll down through.

I'm in the market for new dishes. Everyone gets a set of this fabulous Dansk dinnerware! Of course, you can't think of dinnerware without thinking of fabulous ingredients. Everyone will be shipped 20 cases of this Dean & Deluca extra virgin olive oil. Calm down, calm down.

What's great dinnerware and wonderful oil going to do for you unless you can be in the kitchen looking amazing in these suede killers from Ralph Lauren. What, you don't cook in jeans and $500 purple heels?


I really want a circle pendant necklace. I'd also like to start wearing more gold again - I think it works well with my complexion. I want to bring out the Mediterranean in me. It's trendy to be Mediterranean. And even if you're not, all your friends will be jealous of this amazing piece by David Yurman.


I absolutely love these silk drapes from Pottery Barn. At $129 for ONE panel, I'd have to get 1 and cut it into six. But of course all of you will be bringing home 20 panels, so even if your color scheme is different, too bad - these are bound to be nicer than yours anyway. Redecorate!


I don't know why I love you, earth tone or black & white contemporary toile bedding, but I do.



Of course now we move away from the big ticket items and on to the smaller fun stuff. L'Occitane is good. It's very very good. I wreck myself in their stores. Hope you brought a shopping cart, cause you're all taking home 40lbs milk soap today...


Philosophy's Amazing Grace is one of my favorite scents.

Perhaps if I purchased a pair of $200 Gucci sunglasses, I wouldn't mistreat them the way I do my $17 pair. And if my neck was this long, fashionable sunglasses would be the least of my concerns.

The Recount: South of My Ankles

Ugh, it's really dwindling. I won't count what's left because it will make me sad. My promise to not buy unnecessary shoes has been difficult to keep, and combined with the regular purging of the old & beat up, lately I fear I'm nearing panic mode. I've generally been doing ok, but that's not to say that I haven't walked by shoe stores really slowly, gone in, tried on, looked over, tried on again, put down, picked up, examined inside out, and put down once again on many, many occasions.

Online shoe browsing helps to hold me over during the rough times. I sort by priciest first, that way, after looking at 200 pairs that are way overpriced, I'll surf away in a stupor and not ever get to the temptations in my price range.

My biggest critic about this problem is of course, Tim. I should point out, however, that THE single most expensive(and lovely) pair of shoes I own were a gift from him. Ahem. Enabler.

A couple of years before I turned 30, I started telling people that I'd be buying myself a pair of classic Manolos or Choos or Diors once I hit that milestone. It seemed appropriate - after all, I'd spent most of my twenties collecting wannabes from Nine West, Bandolino, Enzo & Etienne so the big 3-0 would be the perfect event to take the plunge. It didn't really turn out that way. I don't even have a good explanation, but looking back, I don't regret it.
If money were no object, trust me, I'd have a line up - but for one pair, it wasn't the money that stopped me. Maybe it was admitting to myself that except for a couple of friends, no one would even notice. Maybe it was realizing that there were not going to be many appropriate situations to bust out in Hand-Stitched Italian Leather 4 Inch Amaza-Heels. Or maybe it was fear that I wouldn't stop after the first pair. Or that I would never take them off my feet. Ever.

The highest count was around 45 pairs, about 4 years ago. This is a little inflated because I also count slippers, sneakers, and other activity-specific shoes like snow boots (activity: moving in or around snow). Those are not exactly shoes. Tim never did understand the difference. That's right, roll your eyes with me. Men. Silly.

Besides, Carrie Bradshaw had over 100 pairs, and hers were $400 a pair and up! See? I'm not abnormal - the worth of my collection is a mere fraction of that. But she's a fictional character, you say? It's not a valid comparison? Whose side are you on here?

We're OK. OK. Phew. When I get real panicky, I take these shoes out of their box and tissue paper and admire them for a little while, wondering where and when I might sashay in them again.

2nd Friday Post

I won't do that too often, posting multiple times in a day...you'll think I'm enjoying myself too much, and that would take away from my cold and deep facade.

So Tim bought some used Lego-Duplos from Ebay to add to Sam's collection. They arrived today. After dinner, he opened the package, filled up the sink with soapy water and washed them (good). I was coming down the stairs when I heard a sound I couldn't quite make out...I get to the kitchen and Tim is drying the Legos IN THE SALAD SPINNER.

That's all.