Contest: Win a Watch from Orient!

Oh you dedicated readers, I thank you for sticking with me as I have been missing from the blog, busy taking care of adorable babies, husbands, dogs, and the communication and technology needs of various agencies and corporations.

And for that, I have another contest and it's a GOOD one!

I am offering one reader a gorgeous watch from Orient. If you haven't heard of Orient Watches, you are missing out. They are amazing, high-quality timepieces that rival many of the better known brands in America.

Orient makes beautiful and classic women's and men's watches. They are offering one of you readers the exact watch pictured here - a classic stainless steel women's watch with a pale pink face. The watch face is about 24 mm (9/10"), is water resistant, self-winding and has the calendar on the face.

To enter the contest:
Please send me an email with "ORIENT" in the subject line. In the body, please provide your name and mailing address. As always, these emails go directly to me, are destroyed after the contest, your information will never be sold, offered, etc. to anyone (except the lucky winner).
Winner will be chosen by random and will be notified within 48 hours of the end of the contest. If I do not hear from the winner within a week of that email, a second winner will be chosen.

Hey there international readers... this one is open to you too! :)

Contest ends Sunday, June 7th at 11:59 pm EDT.

Good luck to all of you!

Monday and Tuesday

You know... I can't remember what I wore on Monday. Yeah, it has been that sort of week.

Anyway, this is what I wore on Tuesday.

Attire:
Nordstrom - Blue, gold and black print jersey top
Banana Republic - Black jersey camisole
Old Navy - Black ponte trousers
David Tate - Black leather city boots
Ann Taylor Loft - Silver and crystal necklace
Silver hoops and cuff

Beauty:
L'Oreal - True Match foundation in C3
Stila - Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer (mixed together)
Philosophy - The Present, The Supernatural Color Corrector in Light
Cargo - Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife
Revlon - ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis
Cover Girl - LashBlast mascara in Rich Black
Maybelline - UltraLiner in Black
Benefit - Lipstick in Bouquet Dive

Hair:
Washed and conditioned
Redken SatinWear 02
Dried straight with round brush

Mother's Day Weekend

This was the weekend of the wrap dress.

Saturday night I had my first Girls Night Out since Emerson came in to my life. My sister and I had a fun evening in DC - dinner, a drink, to see Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings at the 9:30 Club, a post-concert drink and then a late-night snack at Ben's Chili Bowl.

I wore my black wrap dress from Ann Taylor, red shoes from Sofft, and usually wouldn't take a purse this large to a concert but I had to take my pump with me because I was going to be gone for so long.

This is a picture I took of myself in the lovely bathroom at 9:30 Club.

I did my hair straight because it is in DESPERATE need of a haircut and curly ends up looking scraggly. Silver hoops and cuff and my "Emerson" necklace from Tags-n-Stones.

The night was awesome - I always have fun with my sister and it was great to get out. Sharon Jones put on a phenomenal show as well. And for all my years living in the DC area, I had yet to go to Ben's Chili Bowl, so that was cool (and quite delish!).

Sunday, my husband made me his fabulous French Toast for breakfast. We just spent time enjoying the nice weather, took a nap, had a relaxing day. That night we went to dinner with my mom and sister (and of course Emerson!).

On Sunday I wore almost the same exact outfit, the same dress but in the blue print. Hair straight again, same shoes. Love having a collection of dresses, it makes it so easy to get dressed for almost any occasion!

End of Last Week

Sorry I have been missing from here. Life has been pretty hectic to put it mildly. Work is sooo busy, living with three dogs is not the same as living with one, there have been non-work activities taking place... etc.

So anyway, here's outfits from Thursday and Friday last week...

Thursday:

Attire:
Talbots - Orange and brown print matte jersey dress
Sofft - Brown suede Mary Janes
J. Crew - Gold necklace
Ralph Lauren - Gold bangles
Ann Taylor - Gold hoops

Hair & Makeup:
(no pic of hair and makeup)
Hair washed and conditioned night before
Matrix Curl.Life Contouring Milk
Air dry overnight
Next morning, large sections in curling iron

Typical makeup with the Revlon ColorStay shadow quad (made it a daytime version of smoky eye), Benefit lipstick in Bouquet Dive, Cargo Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife and my Cover Girl LashBlast mascara.


Friday:

Attire:
Banana Republic - Black cashmere puff sleeve sweater, black jersey cami underneath
Old Navy - Black ponte trousers
Ann Taylor - Black stretchy belt with patent leather buckle
David Tate - Black leather city boots
Silver hoops and cuff

Hair:
Next day, cleaned up a bit with curling iron in sections and finger-combed

Beauty:
L'Oreal - True Match foundation in C3
Stila - Illuminated Tinted Moisturizer (the two mixed togther), Lip Glaze in Fruit Cake
Nars - Blush in Orgasm
Pop Beauty - Shadow palette for Brown Eyes

Reader Advice Wanted: Great Jeans

A request from my friend Karin, who is petite, slim but with some lovely feminine curves. I haven't had any luck with jeans lately, and was wondering if you fabulous women may have some suggestions:

If anyone has recommendations for (not skinny!) jeans that aren't reminiscent of a plumber but at the same time are not mom jeans, let me know. Bonus points if such jeans (i) come in short or petite, and (ii) are less than $75.

I figured answers would be useful to other readers too, so why not post it on here? I thank you all in advance. :)

Tuesday & Wednesday

Tuesday:

Attire:
Banana Republic - Teal merino boatneck sweater
J. Crew - Blue bead necklace
Gap - Navy low rise flare trousers
David Tate - Black city boots
Silver hoops and cuff

Hair:
Next Day
Straightened with round brush and dryer

Beauty:
L'Oreal - True Match foundation in C3
Cargo - Matte BeachBlush in Tenerife
Revlon - ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis
Cover Girl - LashBlast mascara in Rich Black
Benefit - Lipstick in Bouquet Dive

Wednesday:
Today I am working from home.

Black puff sleeved tee and black yoga pants from Old Navy. Hair is next day right now but at 5:30 I am taking a shower and am going to let it air dry with some Matrix Curl.Life Contouring Milk in it so it will be curly for tomorrow.

Here is my current picture of Emerson - Miss E passed out in her Jumperoo and our new dog Cindy was checking her out.

It is amazing how quickly a baby grows - we got her beloved Jumperoo two weeks ago and she could only reach the ground if she was on her tippy toes. Now she reaches the floor!

Monday

Attire:
Ann Taylor - Black matte jersey wrap dress (currently on sale and got during the 30% off Friends and Family event - same cut as the blue print one); gold hoops
Ralph Lauren - Gold bangles
J. Crew - Gold necklace
Sofft - Red patent t-straps

Hair:
Washed and conditioned
Matrix Curl.Life Contouring Milk
Air dry, use dryer on low last little bit to fluff

Beauty:
L'Oreal - True Match foundation in C3
Nars - Blush in Orgasm
Revlon - ColorStay shadow quad in Neutral Khakis
Clinique - Longwear Lipstick in Beauty
Cover Girl - LashBlast mascara in Rich Black
Maybelline - UltraLiner in Black

Sorry I have been MIA. It's been a busy few days and I am just catching up.

Let's see... Thursday I wore the black Talbots jersey wrap dress with the red heels I am wearing today. Friday was a bum day because I was exhausted - black tank from Gap, black ponte trousers from Old Navy and a black dolman-sleeve cardigan-thingy over it with a bunch of silver jewelry and smoky eyes in an attempt to look artsy and not disheveled. ;)

Friday night we had friends over. Saturday and Sunday were super chill days and we NEEDED it! My gosh, every weekend has been so busy! Saturday we hung out at home, watched the Caps beat Pittsburgh, got a decent night's sleep. Sunday we went out to lunch with E, came home to watch the Red Wings vs. Ducks hockey game, and again got some sleep. It was so lovely.

And little Miss E may kill me for this picture once she is older... but I just HAD to share it now!

My husband says she looks as though she's trying out for Babies Gone Wild. This is her new trick - she can grab things like Mommy's hair, her hoop earrings, her Sophie doll, and the hem of her shirt! :)