Archives for February 2015

Yes, you can look chic in a sweatshirt

February 11, 2015

One of the perks of moving back in with my parents was reuniting with my hooded sweatshirt collection, including

the one from that time I (briefly) joined my high school track team
the one from Sydney University, where I took a class during my study abroad semester
the ~~one~~ two embroidered with printed fabric letters from my sorority days at Boston University

I was eager to reintroduce my hoodies into my daily wardrobe; they were comfortable, warm, and…did I already say comfortable? However, I quickly realized that wearing them as a 34-year-old mother of two just made me feel frumpy, even on those days when I never left the house.

Luckily, I found a compromise: grown-up sweatshirts that straddle the fashion line between sporty and sophisticated.

I was wearing one while on a video call with Jeran and Sarah last week, although I had to laugh when Sarah appeared on my monitor looking lovely in a vintage-inspired polka dot dress. By comparison, what they could see of my grey sweatshirt in the monitor must have seemed underwhelming.

“But wait!” I exclaimed, angling the camera at my waist. “It has side zippers!”

Based on personal experience — and the photos above — I say it’s totally possible to look chic in a sweatshirt. The trick is to find one that’s simple in design (I prefer mine slouchy yet slim-fitting) with one eye-catching detail. A twist of fabric, contrasting trim, or bold typography would do the trick.

Here are few current favorites:

Faded tunic sweatshirt from GAP
Knot sweatshirt from ASOS (Sadly, this particular sweatshirt is out of stock, but I found this almost identical alternative that I might even like better.)
Bien Fait sweatshirt from Madewell
Stripe-trim sweatshirt from J.Crew
Crew sweatshirt from Everlane
Alexa Chung for AG sweatshirt from Nordstrom

Would you dare to wear a sweatshirt out of the house? Or do they fall strictly under the category of gym/lounge clothing?

PS – For more fashion inspiration, follow my style board on Pinterest!

(top images via Zara, ELLE, PopSugar)

Are you introverted or shy?

February 10, 2015

On a commuter train into New York City a few months ago, I sat behind two women having a lively conversation about introversion and extroversion. Actually, it was more of a lively one-sided conversation directed by a loud and enthusiastic Chatty Cathy, who must have been running on Energizer batteries.

Based on what I could hear, I assumed Chatty Cathy was an extrovert. Since I’ve always associated my own introversion with being shy – and train lady certainly didn’t sound shy – there was no way she was an introvert, too.

Except that she was (or at least she claimed to be). Comparing herself to a coworker, she explained that while her colleague always felt buzzed after big work events, she craved downtime. Was Chatty Cathy actually an outgoing introvert?

The reason I was heading into the city, I should mention, was to attend an event hosted by The Land of Nod. Although I was thrilled to have been invited, I was also anxious about the evening ahead. What if I didn’t know anybody else there? What if nobody talked to me? What if I was the worst at crafting among the bunch?

It turns out that I didn’t suck at stenciling as much as I had anticipated, and although it took me a short while to warm up to the small crowd of bloggers, I was able to socialize (mostly) at ease. By the end of the event, I felt energized. Pumped. Motivated. I didn’t want to sit on the train for another 40 minutes; I wanted to do something.

Hold up. If attending The Land of Nod event gave me a buzz rather than draining my energy, could I really be an extrovert?

In pursuit of answers, I borrowed the e-book version of Quiet by Susan Cain from my neighborhood library. Ever since I watched the author’s fascinating TED Talk on “The Power of Introverts,” the book had been on my to-read list. Once I had it in my hands (well, on my iPad), I devoured it.

A self-described introvert, Cain uses psychological research, brain chemistry, and her own personal experiences to explain the differences between extroversion and introversion. She discusses society’s “extrovert ideal” and the bias against introversion in a way meant to encourage and empower the one-third of us who are introverted.

Yep, us.

Reading Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, I found myself highlighting paragraph after paragraph of text that seemed to be describing me exactly…

My conversation habits:

Introverts, in contrast, may have strong social skills and enjoy parties and business meetings, but after a while wish they were home in their pajamas. They prefer to devote their social energies to close friends, colleagues, and family. They listen more than they talk, think before they speak, and often feel as if they express themselves better in writing than in conversation. They tend to dislike conflict. Many have a horror of small talk, but enjoy deep discussions.

Why I enjoy blogging:

Introverts are more likely than extroverts to express intimate facts about themselves online that their family and friends would be surprised to read, to say that they can express the “real me” online, and to spend more time in certain kinds of online discussions.

My struggle to stay present-minded:

If you leave them to their own devices, the introverts tend to sit around wondering about things, imagining things, recalling events from their past, and making plans for the future. The extroverts are more likely to focus on what’s happening around them. It’s as if extroverts are seeing “what is” while their introverted peers are asking “what if.”

Why some people actually think I’m extroverted:

In other words, introverts are capable of acting like extroverts for the sake of work they consider important, people they love, or anything they value highly.

Cain also covers the differences between shyness and introversion, describing shyness as “the fear of social disapproval or humiliation” and introversion as “a preference for environments that are not overstimulating.” Shyness is inherently painful, she writes, while introversion is not.

So you can be a shy introvert, but you don’t necessarily have to be shy to be introverted. For example, Bill Gates is a non-shy introvert, Cain said, while Barbra Streisand is a shy extrovert.

If you’re interested in learning more about your own introversion or seeking tips about living with an introverted spouse or child, I’d highly recommend picking up a copy of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. I’m actually considering buying a hard copy of the book so I can reread pertinent sections with a physical yellow highlighter in hand.

Do you think you’re an introvert, an extrovert, or an ambivert? Do you ever act introverted in some situations and extroverted in others? This topic fascinates me, and I’d love to know if it interests you as well!

(photos by Joanna Skrzypczak via Booooooom)

Home Tour: Levi’s big boy toddler room

February 4, 2015

Last month I took you on a tour of Levi’s nursery, and today I’m excited to show you how we transitioned the space into a toddler room… READ MORE!

Artisanal chocolate bars

February 3, 2015

A few years ago, Jordan was sent on a last-minute work trip overseas and missed Valentine’s Day. Thankfully, he was only away for a couple of days, one of which he spent in London. Although we don’t usually exchange Valentine’s Day gifts, he brought me home a giant chocolate slab from Hotel Chocolat as a romantic gesture.

Yes, one of the ways to my heart is through my sweet tooth. If I remember correctly, the artisanal chocolate bar (which weighed more than a pound!) was a mixture of milk, strawberry, and white chocolate topped with a chocolate heart and other edible embellishments.

It was almost too beautiful to eat. So I didn’t.

That gorgeous piece of chocolate sat in the pantry until the following Valentine’s Day. Ridiculous, right? I repeatedly, deliberately chose not to break into it when I needed a chocolate fix because I thought such a gourmet treat should be saved for a special occasion.

Then, after a while, I sort of forgot it was there. By the time we ate the Hotel Chocolat slab — which, now that I’m thinking about it, was probably the following summer — it was well past it’s “best by” date. Sadly, it wasn’t even that tasty, although I’m sure it was absolutely delicious when it was fresh.

I’d like to think I learned my lesson. That if somebody gifted me an artisanal chocolate bar now, I’d make sure to enjoy it right away. Especially if it was a Compartes Chocolatier chocolate bar.

Have you ever heard of the Los Angeles-based chocolate factory and chocolate store? Recently, I’ve been noticing beautifully packaged Compartes chocolate bars appearing in my Instagram feed and had to investigate.

Oh my god, their flavors are as unique as their eye-catching wrappers: White chocolate with cereal and marshmallows. Milk chocolate with donuts and organic coffee grounds. Dark chocolate with biscuits and honey (Say what?!)

I doubt I’d be able to resist devouring a Compartes chocolate bar for a whole year, but I’d still try to savor it slowly — each bar costs between $10-$13!

(top images from Instagram, bottom images from the Compartes website)

How to make introductions (a networking lesson from Bridget Jones)

February 2, 2015

If you follow along on Instagram, you probably figured out that I recently attended Alt Summit. I can’t believe I neglected to mention on the blog that I was going!

This was my fourth Alt Summit conference, my third time in Salt Lake City, and my second time as a speaker. Besides hosting a roundtable on rebranding your blog, I went to Alt to learn more tips and tricks about blogging and to make introductions. A huge part of Alt Summit is networking, or introducing yourself to other bloggers and to brands with whom you’d like to partner.

One of my goals of this particular Alt Summit was to hone my skills as “Connector,” one of three personality types described by Malcolm Gladwell in his bestseller, The Tipping Point. (The other two? Maven and Salesman.)

I’m not sure I’d consider myself a full-fledged Connector. Although I know a relatively large number of people (I scored a 40 on Gladwell’s test!), I wouldn’t necessarily say I have a “knack for making friends” — partly because I often feel very shy in social situations. And I’d never call myself an expert in cultivating connections!

However, in the spirit of being generous (my word for 2015), I made a conscious decision to make as many introductions as I could among the bloggers and brands I knew in attendance.

How to make an introduction (according to Emily Post)

According to Emily Post, there are a few rules to remember when making introductions, but here’s the most important one: When introducing two people, you want to speak to the person you wish to honor first. That includes anyone older than you, anyone senior in rank to you, the guest of honor at an event, or a woman.

Yes, when it comes to the etiquette of introductions, women rank higher than men. Sorry, guys.

Put into practice, a proper introduction might sound something like:

… “Mom, I’d like you to meet my roommate, Stephanie.”

… “Ms. Boss Lady, I’d like to introduce you to my husband, Jordan.”

… “Rachel, this is my friend, Ross Geller.”

How to make an introduction (according to Bridget Jones)

When making introductions at a party, though, I think it’s OK to be more informal. So while introducing blogging friends at Alt Summit, I sort of disregarded Emily Post’s rules and instead focused on including some thoughtful details about each person.

I thought I had read about that technique in an etiquette book or an article about networking, but now I’m pretty sure I lifted it straight out of Bridget Jones’s Diary:

Ah. Introduce people with thoughtful details. Perpetua, this is Mark Darcy. Mark is a prematurely middle-aged prick with a cruel raced ex-wife. Perpetua is a fat-ass old bag who spends her time bossing me around.

In case you aren’t familiar with the book (or the movie, which is one of my favorites) that was actually Bridget’s inner monologue. What she really said out loud was:

Ah, Perpetua. This is Mark Darcy. Mark is a top barrister. Comes from Grafton Underwood. Perpetua is one of my work colleagues.

I’d like you to meet…

Instead of a formal recap of what I learned at Alt, I thought I’d introduce you to a few of the amazing women I met there — with some thoughtful details, of course. Some of them I was meeting for the first time, and some for the first time in person. (As a blogger, I virtually “know” a lot of people.)

Tiffany Han is a business coach for the highly-creative woman who basically radiates positive energy. She also hosts an awesome podcast where she interviews the creative people who inspire her the most. (I’ve previously mentioned “Raise Your Hand Say Yes” in my post about podcasts.)

Megan Tsang is a talented photographer who recently relocated from San Francisco to Alabama. She made kick-ass business cards out of Instax photos, and if she’s ever in the New York City area, I hope we can collaborate!

Gilit Cooper was one of my roommates at The Grand America. She writes a blog called Shoes Off Please, runs a business called The Bannerie, and basically rocks my world. If you’re a boss babe in need of a glitter banner, Gilit is your girl.

My other roommate was Kaylynn Young of Among the Young. With her gorgeous smile and love for everything sequins, the girl literally sparkles. Kaylynn also reps Agnes & Dora, makers of the softest, stretchiest leggings in the world.

Oakley and I met the first night at the Munchkin dinner. Her son, Welles, has Down Syndrome, and she writes about their experiences on Nothing Down About It. I got to meet Welles at the conference, and I can confirm that he’s just as adorable in person as he is on Oakley’s blog!

It’d be impossible to mention all of the talented bloggers, creatives, movers and shakers I met at Alt Summit in one blog post, so be on the look out for more shout-outs in the weeks ahead!