Baby, it's cold outside!

The temps are low around here and that means it’s time for us mild-winter-weather Washingtonians to bundle up! Personally, I love the drastic change of seasons. This is real WINTER, people! None of that “oh I’ll just run out in my sweater” weather. No – you need a REAL coat. Right now! Do you have one? Maybe. Do you need another one? Probably. Who wants to wear the same coat from now until March? I can’t do it. Plus, you know where we live. Next week it could be 55 degrees. But I still don’t want you running out in your sweater. You have other options! Let’s see what we’ve got.  (Keep in mind I have been all 3 of the friends below, so I do not make this stuff up!)

Exhibit A: the stylish mommy (meaning you run around all day and though you’re super buff from carrying that carseat, you still get out of breath and hot easily): This coat could potentially work for all 3 situations we’re discussing today. It is basically a year-round option at an affordable price with several important features: a HOOD (who has time for an umbrella? Also I don’t like how much space they waste in my nice handbags), a removable lining (hello spring and summer! Take that bad boy out and you are good for the warmer months and pack well for travel), a belt (yes please to make the look more polished) annnnnnd it comes in regular and petites. (I have pretended that coats I fell in love with fit, when really they were too long with droopy sleeves – ick! So, either alter or embrace a specialty size as needed.) My friend who looks like brunette barbie has the regular in black and I have the petite in khaki. Both of us have been pleased as punch and for less than $200, I am considering buying it in the other color! (shhhh I know I know Christmas is about GIVING not receiving. I’m all about giving but I have to be honest that I usually exchange a lot of what I receive… why can’t the husband ASK me what I want?! We have a horrible problem with this. The other day he suggested I get some slippers… so I did. How was I supposed to know that was a cryptic Christmas “hint?” And then I came home and showed them my steal of a deal on black sequin moccasins. Apparently this was a bad idea. He had ordered me an even cuter (can you believe it?) pair online for Christmas! What can I say. Sometimes my over-achiever-ness ruins surprises.)

Exhibit B: the public transit (but stylish) commuter (meaning you might wait for your unpredictable bus for longer than the “one bus away” app says you will): Two of my very beautiful friends have this coat. They are both the type that would look cute in a paper sack, but really trust me this coat is super cute. I love that is extra warm (read: tailgating appropriate), again has a hood, and my other fave feature – a belt! This is especially great for the puffy/down coats. Sometimes they can get a big sausage-ish (sorry) and the belt really breaks that up. It’s also 30% off right now! So go here and get shopping. This coat can easily be worn for 6 months in Washington, and when it warms up, go back to exhibit A. 

Exhibit C: the door-to-door diva (meaning your only time outside is from the door to the car, possibly across the street for coffee, then back from the car to the door): This girl should still be warm, but does not necessarily need to be practical. Thus, let me introduce my friends known as cashmere and faux fur. While they aren’t pals with mother nature, they are besties with the warmth of a car service and parking garage. This diva probably doesn’t even leave her desk for lunch, and if she needs to, she has Jimmy John’s on speed dial to deliver. (Can you tell who I most identify with?!) Anyways, for this friend, I recommend a bit more luxury. One of my favorite places to shop right now is Topshop for Nordstrom. It is affordable and super trendy, yet still high quality. I have loved seeing this collaboration grow, and I encourage you to check it out! Both of these coats are fun and fabulous. They don’t break the bank, which is good, since they aren’t Miss Responsibility, but they are still useful and versatile. You can wear this one casual or dressy with skinnies (love that it’s a little longer), and this one is super yummy to wear for holiday parties, or outerwear with dresses or pants.

Put on your last year’s coat and get shopping! Or, if you’re too cold, just cozy up on the couch and click one of the best phrases ever invented, “add to bag.”

PS - Gavin likes having a coat collection too. Write a comment or email me if you need shopping tips for where to buy for baby! :)

Baby on Board. Literally.

Hello! We are back! Broke-O and baby took a vaca! We went ALL the way across the country… a little math equation I call 4 flights, 4 days, 4 generations! It was pretty amazing to introduce Gavin to my 95-year-old grandfather, who instantly nicknamed him “the little fighter.” Who still gives out nicknames at 95, much less original ones? My grandpa. You can learn a lot from a guy who enjoyed a martini a day for most of his lifetime.

Though I had to skip the martinis, the trip was still an educational opportunity for Broke-O the mommy. This was baby’s first plane ride, and we figured we would start with a bang! No need to test the waters with a short flight to California or something. No, we just took a quick jaunt to the east coast. Me, Gavin, and the heavier-than-hell Marc by Marc Jacobs diaper bag. I love that thing, but I nearly ripped the strap off by making it so heavy. Though I sought tips from my really smart mom friends and the fairly smart baby books/sites, I still had to learn a few things the hard way. Which is fine, because I’m going to do this again in a few weeks, and then I can act like the pro and boss the husband around. Here are a few pieces of advice (if you want them – I realize I’m speaking from minimal experience, so take it or leave it) on travelling with a cute little peanut:

see: time to pick up that kindle!

-probably don’t need to bring your back issues of Vogue. And Real Simple. If you haven’t had time to read them at home, you probably won’t have time on the plane with your new little friend. Because my travel companion WAS actually so well-behaved though, I did have time to read. Thus, I recommend the Kindle. Which is a lovely little invention that I left at home. Because I’m a bozo. The plane + baby definitely requires a one-handed apparatus. Have you ever tried to read a magazine with one hand? I know I have small hands, but it is pretty much impossible.

-also, you don’t need your super warm and cozy scarf. You may be used to travelling with scarves and I understand why; they make great pillows and I always believed help keep the nasty plane germs away from my face. I made a point to wear a scarf on the plane no matter what time of year I travelled. Not anymore, fashionistas! First, lugging around your travel buddy-baby AND that bag loaded with (what seemed like) rocks weighs easily… too much for me. So, you are basically a packhorse and then you have on this WOOL-CASHMERE scarf: no. Don’t do it. Then, remember you are carrying the baby who loves to smother himself in a front pack situation. His face plus drool plus your cashmere: no again.

-While you’re at it, just wear as few clothes as possible.  It. Is. So. Hot. On. Planes. Maybe you used to think they were cold. Again, not anymore. Lugging that baby around is a WORK.OUT. And then you confine yourself to the bite-size seat and squish your overflowing bag underneath the seat in front of you – economy plus is a joke for a mommy and baby! We needed economy plus plus. Or multiplied or something.

-when planning your plane wardrobe, whether with baby or not, I (along with everyone sensible) recommend you dress in layers. I hate travelling with a coat, but in winter it must be done. The rest of the year, I usually do a cami, short sleeve t shirt, grandpa cardigan, and boyfriend jeans or leggings. (I really like this sweater too; Leith has some great pieces right now.)

-definitely bring another adult! My bestie and mom was a fabulous and fashionable partner. (We made sure to have a little “episode” as she called it at Nordstrom a few weeks before.) Though most people are very friendly and accommodating with you and your babe, there are just a lot of moving parts. TSA is intense for a normal, competent person; do they have to SHOUT at you about the bag of liquids? It’s so stressful. And then you add in that angry lady in front who needs no less than 6 bins and has the audacity to give ME a dirty look when I leave my (adorable) monogramed necklace on! It was an honest mistake! Bin thief.

Travel safe and smart, fashionistas! Stay warm and watch for a post on winter-wear (especially COATS) coming soon!