WIWWW #6 & Anniversary Date Night

I'm linking up with The Pleated Poppy today for What I {WILL} Wear Wednesdays.  I'm quite proud of myself when I look back at these photos now.  Maybe thats because this post-surgery body has me in pajamas for the past week, so next week there most likely will not be a WIWWW post.  :-( so sad.

Wednesday:

Ric-Rac white top - BCBG

tank - Old Navy

Cosmetic Pink pants - Victoria Secret

Silver snakey skin loafers - Anne Klein DSW

Thursday, Pop-O-Raspberry:

Striped cardi - Anthro

tank - Old Navy

grey skirt - American Apparel

bright tights - American Apparel

flats - Nordstroms

*this picture does not do these tights justice, I wish I would have got my husband to take a picture of me outside before I left for work.  I got alot of comments on them at the office!

Thursday Night, Our 4 year anniversary dinner:

please don't hate me, but this was the dress I wore to senior prom(13 years ago).  felt far more sexy wearing it now then I ever did back then.  so glad I kept it.

"yummy dinner hon, but what's this 'Fire Kitchen' on our bill-yo!"

No joke, I thought maybe my creme brulee may have started a small fire, but our waiter explained to us is had to do with orders in the kitchen.  In keeping with tradition, we went to our favorite local restaurante, Italiano, and were served by my favorite waiter Giovanni.  My favorite niece is friends with his daughter, and I always want to bring that up when I see him, but alas I get too shy.  Not only was Giovanni our head waiter, but we had a server that I recognised from the cafe (same owners) and we briefly chatted about how long it had been since I came in Friday mornings with my son for an espresso.  He didn't even recognise me at first without my yoga pants and sans makeup face! HA!

So I found out that we have the same Anniversary as Young House Love, do you follow them?  If not, you should start right now (well, maybe after you leave me a comment to tell me you were here ;-)  I love their DIY wedding story and it made me want to share a bit of our 7/7/07 day with you all, so here it goes:

We got married on a hilltop overlooking my family hometown of Santa Barbara

sorry, not this hilltop (but this is my fav spot on earth)

This one!  Pretty Matilija Poppies, Elings Park

my own DIY touches (from top left clockwise): Ribbon board to hang name cards,  covered picnik tables that were already part of site for an awesome BBQ, our friends make their own wine-really good too- and they made pretty labels with our engagment photos, i hand made these pouches of jelly bellys for our guests (coin envelope, paper punch, ribbon, and I found these perfect hand dyed hydrangea petals with paper wrapped wire to hold it all together)

I'm so proud of how it all came together!

Laying Low (Post-surgery)

Two days ago I gave my husband quite a scare by telling him to call the advice nurse.  He will tell you, I never complain about not feeling well (he tells everyone about the smile on my face all through childbirth-and I had a 10lb baby!)  I was having stomach pains far greater than anything ever experienced before (and that includes labor pains).  After speaking with a RN and her with a doctor, we called my sister-in-law to come over to stay with the baby and we hit the road for the emergency room.  At 7:30am on a Sunday morning, we were the only ones in the department.  After the ER doctor came to ask me questions and poked around my belly, it was pretty certain...I was having an appendicitis.  My husband is the only person close to me that has gone through this (at the age of 12, poor little guy!) so I was glad to have him right by my side.  The surgery took about an hour and about 6 hours later I was discharged to go home, about 12 hours total.  Here I am (was totally unaware my husband took this photo) sitting up, drinking juice, and proveing to the nurses that I'm okay to be sent home.  They made me stay till dinner.  Yum.

The appendectomy was laparoscopic (video monitor), which means only three tiny incisions are needed BUT (and this is a huge *but* because of what I go through later) the surgeon needs to pump the stomach full of gas in order to have some working/viewing room.  This gas sits around in your stomach even after the surgery is finished.  I was told that the side effects from the gas could be felt in your neck and shoulder muscles.
That night, after I was discharged, was so hard.  Every time the pain medication wore off I woke up and had the worst pains shoot from my stomach all the way up to my neck and shoulders.  Way worse then the stomach pains before, but maybe it was because happening in the present (and I had forgotten about the earlier pains).  The next morning I was still taking pain meds every 4 hours and trying to rest.  Only this time my chest hurt and I was having trouble breathing.  I also had a high temperature reading.  I waited for my husband to return home, who had taken the baby to his daycare, but after another 20 min. I called him to return home (he was out buying groceries).  When he got home he looked very panicy.  He knocked on our next door neighbors (the husband is a ER nurse) but he didn't answer.  Came back and read the discharge papers which stated "if you are having chest pains or shortness of breath, call 911", so thats what we did.  The paramedics got to us super fast and began assesment.  I was given oxygen flow, and had me connected up to the machines.  My husband was asked to try and reach my surgeon, which he did and she said it was best to come bring me in.  So off I went in the ambulance back to the hospital.
Monday morning is very different from Sunday morning in the ER.  Why does everyone get sick on Monday?  I can answer that, stupid question.  Anyways, to make a long story short...it turns out the chest pains and trouble breathing were again due to the gas and causing me some pretty bad acid reflux (I remembered feeling this way during pregnancy, but ofcourse didn't run through it as that what was happening to me).  Blood tests, X-rays, Urine samples all came back negative and I could finally go home again, this time 4 hours in Emerency is all it took.

Now I'm laying low at home, catching up on my favorite HGTV shows and laughing at my little girl kittie trying to get my attention to let her inside.

WIWWW #5

What I WILL wear Wednesdays began after I got kind of excited following this lovely blog by Lindsay (I discovered her through Etsy), after she decided to host a "linky" party.  At the time, I didn't even know what a linky party was-but now I get it and it's a great way to get more involved and find similar bloggers to yourself.  I added the extra W (WILL) because I'd like to decide on great outfits ahead of time, so I don't have that nagging voice telling me every morning as I stand in front of my closet: "I have NOTHING to wear!".

Basically, I have two standard dress codes: "for the office" and for "my days off" (not really off, being a mother is a 24/7 job).  I need to work on adding in "for date nights" because I feel the need to get dressed up from time to time, and my husband could really use some of that "me time" that I so selfishly steal away from him whenever I please.  With our 4th year anniversary coming up (7/7/07 baby!), now's my chance to really kick it up a notch.  But you're going to have to wait for WIWWW #6 to see what I come up with! ;-)

This week,
Wednesday:  To the office

Pink bowtie shirt - Banana Rep

Brown slacks - Express Editor

Black & white flats - Cynthia Vincent

Burberry trench - Nordstroms (my first real splurge)

Funky brown wrap scarfy thing - gift from BFF

Thursday & Friday, I had a sick baby to take care of and then doctor's appointment (turns out to be an ear infection).  Not a single pic either day, and I can't even remember now what I wore.  Had my mind on more important things.

Saturday:  Family Birthday Baanaannzaa!

Tank - Ann Taylor (hand me down :-)

White linen pants - Target

White wide brim hat - Target (also see)

Sunnies - RL Nordstroms

Gold and Sparkle sandals - Sole Society

Sunday: Hike with my baby love

White shirt - handmedown

tank - Old Navy

Jean shorts - Levi's

Sandals - Chacos

Monday, 4th of July parade:

Navy tank - Gap Body

Khaki shorts - Old Navy

Red ribbon - sewing basket

and for white I wore...
 my birthday candle necklace - Anthro
"Happy Birthday, America!"

Tuesday:   Work at the office

tank - handmedown

cardi - Banana Rep

Skirt - Anthro

Sandals - Target

Last but not least, other than wearing the candle necklace on the fourth, every day I've enjoyed my teenie tiny initials necklace by Lisa Leonard Designs.  I love it!  Perfect way to carry my family with me wherever I go.

How do you put together your outfits?  This morning I just grabbed a bottom, a top, and a sweater-but really not enough thought went into it.  It worked out, but I really want to work on the complete look rather than rush to get dressed.  So I'm curious how does your morning work when you open your closet or dress drawer?

Red, White, & Blue

Strawberries dipped in white chips (what IS white chocolate?  is it really chocolate??) and then dipped in blue colored sugar.  Easy pezy.  I got the idea from here

We bought a huge crate of strawberries from a farmer's pickup right in front of our house!  We needed to bring some kind of food for tomorrows parade that we are watching from a friend's porch, so this is perfect.  I didn't know this, but you add 1 tbsp vegetable shortening to every cup of chips when dipping fruit (it's on the bag of chips).  I never use shortening but now I've got it in my baked goods cupboard!

Don't they look delicious?  Yummy!  I think I'm going to go raid the fridge and have one now!  ;-)

Did you make anything special (ie. Red, White, and Blue) for the holiday?

WIWWW #4

Once again it's time to link up with The Pleated Poppy in all her stylishness (sort of addicted to her blog by now! ;-)

Kind of disappointed in myself this week.  I can do better.  I AM GOING TO DO BETTER!  My closet just depresses me right now.  I know I got some good in there, just keep pulling out the bad to put on.  Some of these outfits I should not even leave the house in.

Wednesday:
Pop-o-Red!

White sweater - Old Navy

Red jacket - Anthro

Trouser Jeans - Express

Brown heels - Steve Madden DSW

new necklace!! - Lisa Leonard Designs

Thursday:

Pop-o-Orange!

My baby boys (MVP & Boss the cat)

Faux wrap shirt - Old Navy

505 Jeans - Levis.com

Orange braided belt - Boden

Flats - Nordstrom

Friday:

Trip to the SF Zoo!

Me & Mommy at the monkey cages

Splatter Tshirt - Target

fav white knitted sweater - Express ('01)

jeans - same pair as yesterday

sunnies - RL Nordstroms

Tuesday:

Country Mouse goes to city (construction site visit)

b-o-r-i-n-g-!

silly tight jacket, see I can't even lower my arms! ;-)

Not at all in love with what I picked out of my closet to wear today.  Nothing is even worth mentioning where it's from.  I have the hardest time figuring out what is "appropriate" to wear out on the job site.  Only thing that is definite is my hard toed, hikers boots, safety glasses, and my hard hat (I know-I WISH I would have gotten a picture of me at the construction site for you all to see me in action!).  Meetings at the job trailer, muddy site walks, heavy machinery, and dangerous stuff all around.  I seriously love this stuff.

Today it was raining so that posed an even more interesting problem: keeping dry while outside most of the day.  Here is my wish for a better "rainy day" outfit:

Let it rain! by PeachesPSP 


I'd probably get kicked off the job site if I came in wearing this outfit (plus a hardhat would just look silly !).  I love to get my hands on some yellow rain boots.  They remind me of when I was little my mom had me wear my Paddington Bear's yellow rain boots-they fit me perfect she says!  


Did you ever wear something growing up and could (or are) make it work with your wardrobe today?

WIWWW #3

I'm doing things right this time, and *properly* linking in with The Pleated Poppy who hosts a fabulous "linky party" which motivated me to really get my blogging into weekly gear!  I'm improving on my outfits again, this time I have THREE FULL LOOKS (wow!).

Sunday, Father's Day:
We went to the Cal Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park.  MVP's first trip!

- Dress, Anthro

- Leggings, American Apparel

-MVP, from the best da-da in the world!

Monday:

Off to work!

- stitched top, Anthro

- skinny jeans, Levi's.com

- white cardi, Old Navy

- sandals, Target

this guy puts a smile on my face everytime

Tuesday:
Again, off to work

looks like baby got some hand prints on mirror again!

- shirt and pencil skirt, Banana Rep

- shoes, Dansko

Sewing Project 1, Part 1

I've been meaning to have more on this blog then just one post a week (especially since that one post is really just participation in a linky party with the spendid Pleated Poppy) and I did say in my intro that I work on one project at a time.  Well?  I got inspired over at Cassi's Blog: Bright Forest by her Bird Shirt Tutorial.  Here's what I'm starting up next!

See this lovely shirt?

70% Cotton, 30% Silk - H&M

Well I tore a pretty bad hole in it.  See?

and I deemed the hole unrepairable.  what?  no, thats not being very thrifty.

ok, well what if I tried to turn the long sleeves into short sleeves?  What if I tried to create PRINCESS SLEEVES??  well, how do I do that?

I picked up a flyer from a online sewing community (burdastyle.com) and a quick search turns up this pattern for Easy Princess Cap Sleeves.  I'm not that  accomplished of a seamtress, but I'm willing to give it a try.  It's not like I spent much on it anyway at H&M.

sooooo, I'll give it a try and let you know how it gets along!  ;-)