Sweeties (OOTD)

 Today, it's cold, windy, and rainy here in San Diego (it even hailed for a few seconds! It was like a half-hearted imitation of an upstate NY rain storm) and there's nothing I'd like to do more right now, than crawl back into bed with a good book and cuppa tea, and just hibernate for a while.

Alas, there are small children to be cared for and work to be done, so none of that, thank you very much. But speaking of small children, I want to introduce you to my niece, Ava, whom I got to visit with yesterday, while in the OC, to celebrate my brother-in-law's birthday (happy birthday, Alex!).

She wants to know why she wasn't told she would be taking an OOTD photo, which my sister - who is Ava's mother - so kindly snapped for me ("Mom, seriously??? I'm not even wearing my hairbows! I need my accessories, MOM!"):

Carol's outfit:

Sweater: Kate Spade Bow Ellis Top

Shirt: J. Crew Perfect Shirt in Gingham

Pants: J. Crew Minnie Pant in Stretch Twill

Shoes: Madewell Leopard Print Skimmers

Kate's outfit:

Sweater: Cherokee Long-Sleeved Cardigan Sweater (now on clearance!)

Skirt: Cherokee Ruffled Tiered Skirt (similar here, here, and here)

Tights: H&M sweater tights (similar here and here)

Shoes: Crocbands

Ava's outfit: Carter's Coverall

And look at Ava in this pic! (SO CUTE):

Seriously, couldn't you just eat her up??? Sigh...almost makes me want to have another baby. Almost.

Celebrating 2 Years!!! (A Blog-iversary and a Giveaway!)

It's our 2nd blog-iversary!

If you all lived nearby, we'd throw a big party and everyone could have a pretty cupcake!

image via

But, er, since you don't, we'll just celebrate with a giveaway instead. (We love a good giveaway, don't you?)


What will one lucky reader win? How about...

A Jason Wu for Target Straw Clutch?

What, not enough?

Okay, well, what if there's a $50 gift card to your choice of three stores - Anthropologie, J. Crew, or Nordstrom - included inside?

We know. But it gets better. Four other readers will win necklaces and/or bracelets from Ember Arts, a socially-conscious company that partners with Ugandan craftswomen, helping them to design and sell jewelry made of recycled paper beads for fair trade prices, while also providing them with additional training in money and business management.

To be included in the drawing for this giveaway, this is what you have to do:

1) Be a follower of our blog (if you're not already, it's easy! Just click on the "Follow" button in the sidebar to the right, and follow with Google Friend Connect) and

2) leave a comment on this post, letting us know which store gift card you'd prefer, along with your first name and last initial to help us tell the difference between all of you with common names (e.g. Sarah L., Jessica M., Lisa C., etc.)

To get extra entries (up to 2 more!) you can

3) blog or tweet about this giveaway (be sure to include a link to this page in your tweet or post), and leave a comment telling us you did. If you blog about the giveaway, be sure to include a link to your blog in your comment. If you tweet, be sure to cc: @raphaela235;

4) "Like" our page on Facebook by clicking on the button in the sidebar to the right. Leave a comment, letting us know you did it.

Entries will be accepted through next Sunday, March 4th. We'll tally all the entries and then do a random drawing for the winner. Just a note - please don't leave your email in the comments. We want to help you protect your contact information. When we draw the name and number of the winner, we'll post it on our blog, along with directions for that winner to contact us. If for some reason, the winner doesn't get in touch with us within 48 hours, we'll redraw, and announce a new winner, etc.

Good luck to everyone!

Small Business Saturday: Footnote Books

Welcome to the first of a new feature I'm entitling, "Small Business Saturdays." Back in November, American Express and some other organizations started promoting the concept of spending money at small businesses on the Saturday following the annual gift-buying orgy known as "Black Friday," here in the States. I said, back then, that I wanted to use this concept as a reason to explore the small businesses in San Diego (and elsewhere) as well as continue to promote them, since they're the backbone of America's economy (one must remember, after all, that nearly every big business was a small business first). 

So, as our first featured small business, let me introduce you to Footnote Books, located in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego, CA. It's a fantastic little used bookstore - and I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of used bookstores. I like my books glossy and new and smelling of fresh paper and ink - and I'll even admit that I was more than a little heartbroken when Borders bookstores went under. Having said all that though, I'll tell you right off that Footnote Books totally captured my heart, with my first step into the shop. 

The modest shopfront on University Avenue.

The shop is small, but has a warren-like feel, with tall, crowded shelves and alcoves with unexpected armchairs, inviting the reader to curl up and lose themselves in a good book.

The shelves were sorted by genre and alphabetical order by author, though there were lots of less orderly stacks of books piled on the floor, near the sections they should have lived. I will note that there was a rather small kids' book section.

The back of the store had a glass case that stored some of the more rare and costly books. A copy of the Bladerunner Sketchbook caught the DH's eye. (A possible future gift idea...he's impossible to buy for.)

There was a fantastic science fiction/fantasy selection, which I'm definitely looking forward to carefully perusing, the next time I'm in the neighborhood.

Books were often interspersed with other random curios, giving the store a sort of curio cabinet feel.

Rowan and Kate sitting in one of the reading alcoves, surrounded by their mama's favorite things (books!).

This store is highly recommended for book-lovers!

Footnote Books

1627 University Avenue

San Diego, CA 92103

(619) 294-8455

Casual Everyday (OOTDs)

Late last year, I transitioned from working in an office, to working from home. This has resulted in a number of changes and adjustments for me, but none of them more noticeable in the day-to-day as the fact that on most days, I don't have to get dressed to go to work.


I still make an effort "to get dressed," whether or not I'm getting dressed for clients or for my dining table (which doubles as a "downstairs workstation" during the hours when I'm without a nanny to keep an eye on the kiddos). But there are seriously days when I'm only interested in wearing something easy and comfortable, not necessarily the most creative and cute. On days like that, when (if) I leave my house, I make sure to throw on one fun accessory. Basically, I pretend to have made an effort.


Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't.

Top: Jedidiah Tee

Pants: Joe's Jeans Ponte Knit Leggings

Shoes: Jimmy Choo 'Baxen' Peep-toe Wedges

Top: Gap Favorite Long-Sleeved Tee

Pants: Hudson Jeans Triangle Pocket Bootcut (yikes, those jeans are big on me. No wonder they're so comfy...)

Shoes: Madewell Leopard Print Skimmers (designer version: here; on a budget: here, and in adorable dots: here)

Scarf: Lulu Scarf, Nordstrom (Purchased in-store, from their junior department, Brass Plum. It's not available online, but similar here, here, and here)

Hope you've all got a great weekend planned! Thanks for stopping by! 

In the Running (Wishlist)

Hi, everyone! Happy almost-to-the-end-of-the-week! You know, for the longest time, Kathryn and I weren't the biggest fans of spring fashion. In fact, we've been known to be vociferously against the onset of spring fashions. And while this is a position Kathryn steadfastly maintains, I have to say, that for whatever reason, I kinda love it this year. Which means, in light of my shopping resolution, my wishlist is fast out-pacing what I'm actually allowing myself to purchase. So, with that in mind, I decided that it's a good idea to keep track of the things I actually want, so that I can 1) make informed decisions, and 2) hopefully keep myself honest.

So, here's my list of things I'm currently coveting:

1. Pieced Column Dress (I know this is one that Kathryn is loving too)
2. Jimmy Choo Baxen Peep-Toe Wedge
3. Kate Spade Sidekick Sweater (so that I can make outfit #3)
4. Kate Spade Louella Skirt (also for outfit #3)
5. Citizens of Humanity Floral Thompson (in the neutral motif)
6. Ping-Pong Tank (though, I really don't need this 'til summer...)
7. Great Outdoors Buttondown (the one with the bike print, please)

More things I wouldn't say 'no' to:

8. TOMS Valentine Women's Classic (still cute...)

9. J. Crew No. 2 Pencil Skirt in Double Serge Cotton (I'm loving citron and light rose...though, warm jade is fantastic too...)
10. J. Crew Peplum Top in Fresco Floral Sateen
11. J. Crew Cashmere Tee (unbelievably - or no, maybe it's totally believable - this is a less expensive option to the Kate Spade Sidekick Sweater. For that matter, this Banana Republic Button-Back Sweater is even more budget-friendly.)
12. Kate Spade "Daycation Lacey" Wallet (I can't shake the cute hedgehogs!)

And then, there was this whole Nordstrom February 2012 catalog...(or at least the stuff featured on this page):

How fun and perfect is everything in this photograph? I really need a bigger closet. And to win the lottery. 

Oh, and by the way - In Pursuit of Pretty Things second blog-iversary is coming up soon, and we're planning some fun stuff to celebrate. I'm so excited!!!


Have a great day!