Tale from the Playroom - Part 2

Hi again! My last post about some of Gav's tales and travels with his dad was inspired by Dropcam - check it out here. It is a great baby monitor option that can definitely help "catch" the boy (in my case, BOYS) in action! Gavin has a few new tricks up his sleeve that I would love to be able to watch from wherever I am... stay tuned, because I'm sure some super exciting posts on crawling are coming soon! The life of a mommy... watching a child squirm like a little worm on the ground totally consumed my whole evening. Don't fret, though; while he wasn't looking, I made sure to check out today's Chanel runway show from Paris Fashion Week. So. Amazing. (Have you ever seen a fashion show with a grocery store set? That's what I thought. Go here now to see for yourself - I wish my Safeway looked like Look 47!)

Back to Dropcam - they are looking for great baby stories, and I'm sure they would love to hear from you too! Email Broke-O or leave a comment to get more details.

Mini!

Shortly after my last post (I know I know – way too long ago – I AM much more consistent with much else in my life – swiffering, cleaning my jewelry, rearranging my shoes – all of life’s important things), I got the best surprise ever. I’m talking BEST surprise – like Oprah screaming “You get a car! And you get a car! And YOU get a CAR!” And, if you’ve never seen that episode of Oprah, well, I’m more than happy to let you borrow my Oprah DVDs to let you enjoy that magical moment for yourself.

Similar to that momentous Oprah show, this surprise ranks right up there with someone telling you, oh I don’t know, you’re getting a Chanel handbag for free. I’ve never heard of that happening – even on Oprah. Do you get the level of pure ecstatic unspeakable JOY I’m talking about now? Like so exciting you can’t even STAND it?! Good. Now I can tell you the secret that’s not so secret anymore. This fashionista is having a baby! That’s right! A WHOLE OTHER TINY PRESON TO STYLE AND DRESS. With a WHOLE ROOM TO DESIGN. (Amongst other things, of course.) To top it off, this mini adorable wildchild human growing right now is a little BOY! A MiniMarshall, as I have taken to calling him. Will he be a mini-husband?! Probably. The good news is, he’s going to start his life off a lot better dressed.

So that is the best surprise ever that changed my life right when we were ringing in my new favorite year known as 2013. Here are a few fun tidbits of life with MiniMarshall thus far:

•      As you may or may not know, the husband is an emotional (but darling) wreck who has cried maybe more than his hormone-raged wife these last 5 months. He normally pairs his tears with a drink of choice – his friend Jamieson has helped him out a few times, and not 1 but 2 martinis were needed when we learned Mini was a BOY!
• ·     Hormones are kind of the best thing ever, because they get you out of everything. Tired? Hormones. Hungry? Hormones. Just feel like yelling at the husband? Hormones for sure! Can’t seem to make it from the couch to the kitchen to get your 9^th glass of fizzy water (which will never ever come close to replacing wine) and so you shed a tear or 2 to get “someone” to do it for you? Shoot, the hormones strike again!
• ·    I knew Mini was a boy. I am putting it in writing so maybe some day when his mother is rich and famous he will stumble across this lame blog and… I will feel validated that I was right! I knew it was a boy, so therefore I deserve a crown for already having that “motherly instinct” everyone keeps talking about. Crown aside (make sure it has diamonds and looks like Princess Kate’s), I really didn’t have the instinct, but I had this thing called an ultrasound. I’m not saying I SAW the boy parts. Any goofball could do that - I was the loser who couldn’t even see his feet. (Seriously, the kid has huge feet and I just pretended to see them until we left and I could figure it out myself. They were kicked back and resting – so obvious! What fetus wouldn’t be chilling out like that?) When we had an ultrasound early on, I knew this was a boy. Why? Because he was fist pumping! He had moves JUST like the husband’s. I don’t lie about Mini. He was in the womb, dancing around like a NUTCASE. And that’s when I knew.
• ·    I confirmed Mini was a boy several few weeks later, at the next ultrasound – again, I didn’t see the magical boy area, but this time, he was standing on his head the whole time. This further confirmed the craziness that is my future son. He was just the size of a bell paper, but he already had a much larger attitude.  The poor ultrasound technician was just trying to do her job, confirming he had normal baby stuff, like arms and legs. Of course, my child (in this case, the husband’s Mini for sure), had to be on his head. The entire time. Laying on his left arm.  Hiding it from us. Much to the tech’s dismay, we could not get o-stubborn-one to move around. This led me to believe for about 30 minutes that Mini did not have a left arm! This also led me to believe he was a boy, because no girl would be so uncooperative on a deadline. Finally, the tech finds the arm, hand, thumb and everything and she is so relieved (as am I – duh!). She proceeds with the appointment, and right when we are wrapping up, he starts WAVING his left hand around. I felt like he was saying, “Hey, freaks! Here’s my arm! Don’t know what you were looking for, bozos.”
• ·  Sure enough, an hour later, we were served a dessert covered in blueberries and my suspicions were confirmed… BOY. We were going to have a dancing, fistpumping, upside down, naughty, wild little boy! So, I gobbled down the dessert and like any good fashionista (oh and um parent) I went on a 3 day bender shopping spree.

I will share the tricks and trades of producing a fabulous and functional baby wardrobe in another entry, but here are some of my favorite pieces to wet your appetite. There are sure to be more, because I literally buy something 1-7 times per week. I’m not even going to get into how close my new office is to the best ever babies section at Nordstrom. Between that and the refrigerator and bathroom being just steps away, work is totally this mama-to-be’s paradise.

To say the least, Broke-O for Coco is getting broke-o from a whole new sector of shopping. Have you seen the strollers out there these days?! And did you know Burberry has baby line? Just sayin.

Signing off,

Broke-O and… MiniMarshall

Puddle jumping with Coco

Hellooooo, fashionistas! I've been so busy losing at fantasy football and freezing my tooshy off at college football games... I have barely had time to write! All I can say is that it is really hard to look good AND stay warm. Which is why... I made the genius decision to buy Chanel rainboots! Here are the top 3 reasons I gave to the husband as to why these were a VII (very important investment):

(Mine are the grey sisters to these pretties. Fab, right?)

• 1: I waited until it was actually pouring rain to bring these out. This showed the true necessity! Never show your VII until it is ready for use or better yet, already worn. When we are walking out the door into a rainstorm, even the most evil of husbands cannot deny a girl some dry feet! Likewise, we are out somewhere fancy... "Oh what's that, you love this dress? Funny! I just got it especially for tonight! Glad you like it!" (Little white lies never hurt.)

• 2: I will have them forever. I know I have used this line before... But really! Rubber boots! He can these beauties ever fail me or go out of style? To simplify things for our one-side-of-the-brain (the cheap side) husband friend, I compare these to his work boots. I don't even want to know how much those hideous things cost, or while we're at it, what kind of small fortune "we" own in Carharrt gear. Need a cardboard colored raincoat? We have that. Oh, do you need a cardboard coat with fake shearling on the inside? Got that too, and don't confuse it with it's twin that is for rain only. Cardboard colored overalls? Check! What about cardboard colored pants with all sorts of weird pockets on the side? Oh don't worry! We have these in THREE colors.

• 3: These just may sell me on nature. Or something close. The husband has been begging off and on for years for me to "contribute" to the "outdoors" around our house. (As if I am sitting inside eating Bon bons when he mows the lawn. First, no one eats Bon bons anymore. Second, I would rather take the calories in wine. And third, do you ever wonder how your clean clothes end up in your drawers? That's right -Bon Bon girl.) I have (rightfully) refused to help in the yard, except for the ultra important process of picking out colors schemes for the potted plants and flower beds. I mean, this does set the "tone" for the whole floral design of the yard. If this isn't helping, I don't know what is! Anyway, these boots just might, MIGHT get me into the great outdoors a little bit more. This year, when all the leaves started changing and everyone was all hyped up on fall, I wasn't exactly on the same page with the whole apple picking, pumpkin patching frenzy. However, I WAS onboard with boots season. Rainboots, leather boots, you name 'em, I couldn't wait to bring 'em out! Boots mean fall. Faux fur means winter. Save the pumpkins and the eggnog, and treat yourself to something that will keep you warmer for longer than a latte! Style - lasts a lifetime. Pumpkin pie - not so much, people!

On this rainy day, I am on my way. Who ever said Coco can't rake the leaves? Well, let's not get too ahead of ourselves. I'll get on that as soon as Carharrt king makes me a plate of Bon bons..Instead, my feet will be cozy cute as I go shopping.

So, stay dry and warm, fashionistas! Bundle up and try not to go too broke-o on your next VII...

Happy holidays, Fashionistas!

Not only have we recently launched the fall sale season (watch for Chanel and Gucci to markdown the beginning of next month), but another season is also upon us – the HOLIDAYS. Which, to true fashionistas, equals HEAVEN. What could be better than excuse after excuse to shop? For yourself (please oh please let the Christmas party invitations keep coming so I can keep filling my closet with darling dresses to wear to them) AND – ok, more importantly, for others! I am a firm believer that a fab fashionista is also a generous gift giver. Obviously, because it goes back to the fact that we LOVE to shop – for anything! I honestly receive just as much joy finding someone the most perfect gift as I do finding myself the most perfect… pair of boots. Red lipstick. Wear-it-with-everything necklace. WHATEVER. Gift giving is a favorite form of shopping, and a guilt free one too! Spending money is a totally different story when it’s for someone else.

Case in point:

“Honey, I bought myself a $200 dress today – but it’s really cute and I’ll wear it forever!”

or

“Honey, I spent $200 on your mother’s Christmas gift but I know she’ll really love it.”

What do you think induces a better reaction in this household?

But, besides buying presents for others and decking yourself out for all those delicious parties I know you’ll be invited too – there is another fashionista festivity of note: THE TREE!

Now, the you must “outfit” your Christmas tree just as you would dress yourself; this is absolutely a fashion project, and the complete look is so important. The tree is essentially your staple piece for the holidays! This thing has the potential to see all your friends and family, appear in countless photographs, etc. etc. Just like your special occasion outfits, I feel your tree should definitely have a theme, or at least a color story. Because I have been looking forward to getting my tree since September, I have been planning (or plotting!) my décor scheme for awhile. Last month, I asked the husband what he thought our theme should be for the tree. The creative genius responded: “Christmas.” Soooo orginal. For those of us who have a little more… how do you say… STYLE…, we might gravitate toward some of the following ideas:

Metallic (silver and gold ornaments with white lights)

Winter Wonderland (white lights with light blue and white, bright ornaments)

Fashion Friendly (themed ornaments like little shopping bags, purses, shoes, and sunglasses in fun colors – available at Nordstrom NOW!)

Chanel (a little extreme, but could be super cute! check out the dream tree featured above - AMAZING!)

Fortunately for me, the husband was lenient about his lame theme ideas, and instead of “Christmas” we (and by WE I mean I, because he was plugging away at the computer doing his normal Sunday regimen – fantasy football) decorated our tree in gold, silver and chocolate brown, with these amazing white LED lights that will supposedly last like longer than we will! (Pick those babies up at Target for as low as $9.99 a box.) I also found a ton of great ornaments at Target for some recessionista prices - check out the tubs full of ornaments ready to make your theme come to life.

So, since I’m so modest, I can admit that my tree is gorgeous. However, the path to get it here was not. Four hours, five tree farms, and a mini-tour of Hobart, Washington (have you ever heard of that place? Neither had I.), we were completely tree-less. WHO KNEW that it is essentially IMPOSSIBLE to buy a tree before Thanksgiving? That is, unless you go to good old, reliable Fred Meyer. Oh, Freddy’s. Thanks to your lovely parking lot with your pre-cut trees that probably left the forest in October, I had my very own Noble Fir, on November 22nd! The husband says I have problems with "delayed gratification." When I asked what that meant, he said that buying a Christmas tree the week before Thanksgiving was a prime example. I don't care though - me, my tree, and he are all living happily ever after together until Christmas. Or, more likely, until the thing dies... next week?

I hereby dedicate this blog post to the Issaquah Fred Meyer - for honoring those of us who struggle with "delayed gratification," or to put it more nicely, those fashionistas who bought their ornaments early and were just a little too excited to "dress up" their tree.

Coco comes home

It was a happy day in my household yesterday. Not only did my precious Coco (you remember my GLORIOUS! Chanel grand shopping tote) come home from repair-land looking better than ever (she had a minor owie that had to be corrected), a little friend came along with her in the form of a BLACK ESSENTIAL TWEED 2-POCKET CARDIGAN JACKET. Read it and weep, fashionistas. Your favorite blogger is the new owner of a classic, oh-so-Coco jacket!

In fact, I can totally picture Coco Chanel herself in something similar. The cardigan jacket was her first jacket design, and they style still exists today. Karl Lagerfeld loves the design so much that last year a GIGANTIC one sat in the center of the runway for the Spring/Summer 2008 Haute Couture Show. (Mine looks like that, basically, but is black and has only 2 pockets. It is microscopic compared to that monstrous one, but I’m giving you the general idea here. Its massive presence on the runway is symbolic of how owning one is such a big deal in my life!) The darling little thing has many followers – from 20-somethings like myself to grandmas! I kid you not – a woman in her sixties – at least – was trying this on the other day. Which is fine with me, because I admittedly have a soft spot for grandma clothes. I just love old-ladyish pieces! I like to think it’s because they are more classic, but I think it’s just been inherited. My grandma constantly took me shopping as a baby, strolling me around all the shops, letting the shopping gene seeeeeeeeep into my little tiny baby brain. She says I was incredibly well-behaved while at the mall – even as an infant! I think this says a lot. It’s like I was TRAINED from birth to be a shopaholic…. So I can’t really feel bad about it. It’s genetics.

Just like my bag, I will own this jacket for a lifetime. Like I tell the anti-shopaholic-husband, it’s an INVESTMENT. He asked me what the return on my so-called investment would be. Well… first I had to figure out what exactly that question meant. Why does it always seem like he is speaking Spanish to me? Apparently, he meant “How will this make you money in the future?” Oh, ok – that’s easy. I use it my whole life, then I hand it down to my future fashionista daughter (if she’s a tomboy I’ll die, but give her the bag anyways), then she passes it down, and so on and so forth. So, it’s like this – I’m not TECHNICALLY making money in the future, but I’m SAVING money, now and then… because since I have the fabulous bag now, I will be able to share the wealth with my offspring. Duh! And it will be the same with the jacket. Did you know almost all Chanel jackets can be let in or let out up or down 2 whole sizes? It’s amazing, and such a couture feature. So, my new favorite jacket could be made to fit the tomboy daughter, basically whatever size she is, or whoever! See, it is an “investment,” just a very fashionable one.....

It’s Here. No, not Memorial Day! SALE SEASON.

That’s right, people. Read it and weep. This week marks the start of not just summer, but the real reason for the season: SALES. I’m proud to report that markdowns are juicy, the sizes are still aplenty, and yes, it is only the beginning, my fellow shopaholics!

For those who have never experienced summer as it relates to sales, welcome to my world. You don’t plan your vacations for the 4th of July or concert appearances. Nope, you plan everything around when Chanel is going 40% off (which is not yet – don’t worry, I’ll let you know). Why on earth would you go camping – that so-called form of fun involving tents that blow over, food that is burnt, and scratchy sleeping bags – when you could find the piece from Spring runway you have been eying since the fashion show more than six months ago? And, it’s at a discount and in your size? Camping, schmamping! Summer is all about fabulous bargains and the highlights that come along with finding them.

Now, let’s talk lineup. We really need to hit the ground running here. Just because there are lots of sales throughout the summer, that does not – BY ANY MEANS – suggest you wait until the last ones to shop. That would be an absolute amateur move. Don’t be disappointed in yourself if that was your plan though; that’s why I’m here to help. There is serious strategy to sale season. In all honesty, teaching you could be detrimental to my own shopping, because before I know it, you’re going to be snatching up all my favorite things. But, since the eeeeevil husband says I can’t buy anything this sale, that means I am more than willing to share the wealth with you.

That’s another thing – I thought everything was fine after the Chanel handbag PURCHASE OF A LIFETIME, but that was definitely just an act. Mr.-I-buy-$20-piece-of-crap-shoes-at-Big-5 has recently decided he would like to live in the lap of luxury and buy himself something nice. “Alright,” I think, “Good for him. He could use a nice new pair of shoes.” Oh no, by upping the ante in his pathetic excuse for spending, he means he plans to PURCHASE A GUN. The postage-stamp size closet in the slightly larger-than-a-postage-stamp apartment is now supposed to house the redneck-rifle-king’s gun collection and the princess’ prized possessions (my clothes – duh!) That closet was supposed to be for ME and it’s bad enough I already had to loan him a little space. Now what – my beautiful pieces have to be, God forbid, SQUISHED to accommodate a gun cabinet?

But back to sale strategy - first things first – get yourself to the Nordstrom Women’s and Children’s Half Yearly Sale – going on NOW. Every women’s department (including shoes) is offering something for this event, so it’s a sure go. For the kiddies, there is plenty too. This all includes primarily early spring arrival markdowns – pieces that are totally buy-now, wear-now. At least 1/3 of each department has been marked down to 30-40% off, so if you hurry, there will be lots to choose from.

In Designer land, the big call out is that Dolce and Gabbana was marked, plus some Marni, Stella McCartney, Zac Posen, Armani, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, RM, and more. And, it keeps getting better. Come May 27th, more markdowns will hit on selected Designer shoes, handbags, and apparel as well at Nordstrom.

So, on your mark, get set, go! But wait! Don’t spend the whole wad at once, girls. We still have the rest of the season, which includes the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, Designer Finale, and other savings opportunities. Oh, sweet sweet summer. How happy am I to welcome you back!

Broke-O for Coco

Considering this is my premiere blog post, it is with deep appreciation that I dedicate it to 1.) Coco Chanel and 2.) my latest and greatest investment: The Chanel Grand Shopping Tote. Luxurious black patent caviar leather, so shiny yet so supple and soft at the same time. The classic silver chain with perfectly shaped leather for the shoulder, to simultaneously maximize comfort and style. That treasured, cherished, honored CC logo… not tacky, but expertly blended enough to be noticeable, however (I like to think) not ostentatious. Does life get any better than the moment you are carrying this precious handbag over your shoulder? I think not.

My husband, however, begs to differ. When mentally preparing for this purchase, I half-heartedly asked him how much he thought would be appropriate to spend on a new handbag. (Keep in mind, I was shopping online, he was playing Wii, and neither of us really cared about his answer. A typical Saturday night in our home.) But when he responded $40, I nearly fell out of my chair! “Forty dollars?!?!” I shrieked. “If you ever buy me a bag for $40, I guarantee I’ll hate it!!” Mr. Generosity then upped his budget to $60. Since the conversation was clearly going down hill, I immediately burst into tears and put it to a stop.

Fast forward four days later: I come home from work, pleasantly surprised that he is not here. Perfect, I think. He is working late, and will have completely forgot that today was the day I had planned to make the BIG purchase. No such luck. Moments later, the phone rings. I hurry through the conversation, trying to keep track of what he is saying while frantically hiding my purchases. Suddenly: “How much did the bag cost?” I’ve been caught! The man who forgets nearly everything I tell him remembered about the day I was going broke-o for my Coco! I mumbled a response (I refuse to even tell you how many digits it consisted of), to which he replied, “Oh.” Not bad, I thought. Could have been better (dream response = “That’s amazing! I am so excited for you! And, since you have been working so hard, I want to buy you the matching wallet!”), but it could have been worse (nightmare response = “I want a divorce.”).

So, all’s well that ends well: I’m still married, AND I have a Grand Shopper! The only thing is, I just might not be able to afford food for the next month….