Stuff and Things Thursday

+Hot take: I don't like Lululemon. I don't get the appeal. I think it's pretentious and anyone pretending the quality of Old Navy workout clothes is that much different than something 4x the price is absolutely deluded. You don't need a LLL tank because it's "the best". You want it because it has that dumb little symbol on it. There is nothing (nothing) you can get from LLL that you can't get somewhere else that might even be better. I think I've only been in a physical LLL once? I've had a tote once (which I ended up selling) and I had the align leggings, which I also sold because I rarely wore them.

To the women who say they "only" wear LLL:

+They've not deactivated my school email and I sincerely hope they never do. I'm loving it. I at least want it so I can see the test scores from last year come October. That being said, Pinterest culture in the classroom has got to stop. Kids aren't learning anything because we spend all of our time personalizing it with fluffy rugs and pretty bean bag chairs. I used to make it a point not to use pink; I used a lot of neon accents or non-primary colors. It's a place of learning for 20-100 students, not your Xanga page circa 2004.

+I've been on the hunt for a fall bag. I ended up ordering this from Stitchfix (Here's my code if you like SF...I do). Amazon has something similar I will try if I don't like the SF one. However...I was sent on this bag hunt because I saw this $5,000 bag on Instagram and wow, I liked it. This creator does amazing price-breakdowns of rich girl hauls lol. Right now, she focuses on the sororities since it's rush season. 

I adore this Longchamp I bought myself as a birthday present when Sutton turned 3 (I think this is something I will do every year, honestly, as her birth was a feat), but I'm ready for something else after 5 months. 

+One of the things I wanted to do this summer was "sit on the porch and/or read on the porch". I've done NONE of that, but the dogs are enjoying the deck. 

+I've also been walking the dogs almost 3 miles every day. They start bouncing around by 10am wondering when the heck we're leaving, if we haven't gone. 

This last week I didn't feel great and it was really hot so we ended up just taking them to a trail/park and letting them run in the evening. I like this better than the 3 mile walk, not gonna lie. 

#fall will arrive, I just know it

+Homeschool Update: This is it. It's organized. I've got what I need in here to get things started. We'll see where/how it goes. 

The bottom shelf is Sutton's. Any and all books are downstairs in the basement and I have two tubs of other supplies but they don't need to be out every day. We're working with a 4-day week, Fridays I'm planning to be co-op days, and I do need to schedule in those hour-long dog walks somehow. 

What's in my bag? {September 2019}

I always like to see what's in other peoples' totes.

Not just purses, but why is it necessary to carry a tote bag if you're not going to use that bag for necessities?

Longchamps and Neverfulls particularly interest me (though I will *never* have a *never*full unless I walk into a lot of disposable income with no better purpose). I always like to see what people deem important; many use Longchamps for travel, for work, for day-to-day, etc. I never could quite get behind using an expensive bag to tote around germy school papers/supplies, and I don't often travel...so day-to-day it is. I bought this organizer last winter. It has a zipper pocket in the middle and most organizers don't. The "medium" size fits a Large Le Pilage Tote.

While I would really enjoy the idea of using one of my favorite crossbody bags right now, it's just not practical. Wells goes everywhere I go, so it's nice to just stuff any necessities in one bag and not worry about whether I have a diaper bag with me at all times. I usually still keep the diaper bag in the car and just reload it once a week or so if we've been out and about a lot. It also gets reloaded after every playgroup (toys get washed, snacks get replenished, etc).

But, day to day, it's nice that I can just grab one bag and go out the door. I needed to clean this bag out after a few weeks anyway, so I figured I'd take a couple of pictures.

From the top, clockwise:

Wells' snacks, dog bag(?), stuck-in-traffic snacks, lots of change that I put in the change jar, cheap sunglasses, water bottle, toddler jacket and extra pair of socks (?), wallet (Fossil, < $50), pouch with chapstick, hand sanitizer, etc; receipts to be thrown away, multiple shopping lists to be thrown away, trash...to be thrown away.

In the middle is the anniversary band Scott got me for our 10 year anniversary this year (I think I forgot to share it here)...it was in the side pocket because jewelry bothers me if there's anything messy happening and I took it off for some reason or another. Whoops. 

Rose gold, right hand ring. 

And I refilled the snack container. I haven't gotten a fancy one (the non-spilling kind) because baby dishes/supplies can quickly take over your kitchen, and he does pretty well with just this. Also, he drinks really well out of my water bottle so I generally only take this one with us, and not his own cup, when we go on short trips out of the house. I haven't made use of the cupholder on his carseat yet. 

Other posts filed under "Purse" can be found here. There's a lot of them. 

How did you transition in your "purse life" after a baby? It's slightly more complicated for me than it used to be!

Diaper Bag review (completely unsponsored)

The two little straps are for attaching to a stroller, but I don't use them. 

I don't want to say I love this diaper bag because it's a diaper bag and, to be honest, I've refused to spend boatloads of money (more than $50) on a diaper bag because...it's a diaper bag. I could never feel about this the way I feel about certain purses in general.

I do think if you spend $200-300 on a diaper bag right out of the gate...like, before the baby arrives...you are wasting money. Buy something cheaper, in a style you like, and then get something more expensive down the road. In my case, I didn't even use a diaper bag for months. I just kept one stocked up in the car and stuck a bottle and blankie in my purse when we went places because it was all he needed. If he needed a diaper change, those supplies were in the car. We also weren't out on all-day excursions when he was really little either, though, and I do know that if I'd been packing him up to take to daycare, I'd have gotten more use out of a diaper bag in general those first several months.

So, that being said...

I don't love this bag because it's just a diaper bag. But I do like it a lot.

I got navy blue because I usually choose navy blue if given the opportunity. It has all gold accents which are fine. I think it'd look great in black or gray too, which are the other options.

I use this back little zipper pocket for gum and chapstick. 

The bottom zipper pocket goes into the bottom of the main compartment...I'm sure there's a reason for this, funcionality-wise, but I don't use it. 

The straps are a great size/fit. It feels like I'm just carrying a laptop bag or something, not a big, bulky diaper bag. 

I love that it has two side pockets. They're a bit small for water bottles, but my 32 oz. Hydroflask easily fits inside, even with all the other items you see below. I use the side pockets for my phone and keys. 

Diaper clutch, wallet, snacks for Wells, and a clutch I used to keep in my Longchamp to catch all the little items I didn't want floating around and getting lost. Lotion, medicine, chapstick, etc. 

There's pockets the whole way around and I'm pleased to say I haven't become frustrated by searching for anything yet. There's also an attached lanyard for keys. 

This bag also has a steel frame (or a metal one at least) and completely holds its shape. Meaning, I don't become frustrated trying to hold it open or wrestle it closed. 

Three insulated bottle pockets plus a mesh pocket.

It easily fits three 8 oz. bottles. 

The only thing I would 100% change is that I would make the front pocket for bottle storage have two zippers so they can meet in the middle. Because it can be a little bulky and difficult to close if it has 3 bottles plus a snack in it.

I've been using this for about two weeks now and I'm definitely satisfied with it. And...it was only $31.99! Plus it had a 5% off coupon to clip at checkout. I will say that it appears that the black one is $31.99 now and the navy is $37.99. Either way, not a huge difference.

I don't know how long I'll use this one for, but having a functional, easy-to-use diaper bag really helps with the day to day. We took it out for the whole day yesterday and had success, so that was the true test. I still keep our other diaper bag in the car with extra clothes, blankets, etc. I read a great tip about keeping full outfit changes in gallon ziploc bags and then putting the dirty or wet clothes in the ziplock bag to transport. Which is a genius idea, and now I keep three sets in the car and have certainly made use of them.

Any diaper bag hacks to share? 

What's in my bag (as of currently)

I've discovered that if I'm not working, I don't actually need that much with me.

This is actually bordering on embarrassing, but I might as well document it for posterity. That's what this blog is for, after all.

I've been using this bag from Target since September. Since Wells isn't out of the house for prolonged periods, I don't actually need that much for him. Otherwise, I would use our diaper bag, but for now it's just for longer trips.

I wanted to switch over to a Longchamp, so I pulled this one out of the closet and I ordered a purse organizer from Amazon. It worked beautifully...until we went somewhere and a dog knocked it over and a bottle leaked everywhere and I had to wash out the purse and organizer...but not before Jett licked every bit of formula off of everything because that's just what he does.

I pulled the Target bag back out. It had been freshly washed as well...I love that it can go through the washer (at least 4 times now!) and hasn't fallen apart.

I put the organizer in the Target bag and it'll do for now. I don't need a regular purse right now. I don't need a diaper bag right now. I'm somewhere in the middle because of our current lifestyle.

My last few bag posts were much more glamorous than this one. (Okay, maybe not. Definitely not, actually.)

Again: borderline embarrassing.

Let's "organize" it...

Two hats. One for me, one for the baby.

2 pairs of gloves

1 water-stained wallet that just became water-stained but I've had it since 2012, so it might be time for a new wallet.

An electric bill I've been carrying around so I can use it as proof-of-address for a library card. 

2 lotions. One for me and one for the baby.

2 chapsticks

1 pair tweezers

1 pair of mini-scissors

Purell 

Some random cash

A prayer card of sorts that I've been carrying around

Gum

A knife that Scott gave me to carry around

A bottle cap

Random lists and receipts

Some wipes and diapers

A few dog bags because we live in a "town" now.

So. What I've learned from this is that I need a new wallet and a new bag. Also maybe a lipstick. I have a few but never seem to like any of them enough to wear them, let alone carry them. 

Recommendations welcomed.

State of affairs

Not a cat, but you get the idea.

I want to give a shout-out to Chewy.com.  I bought a toy for the dogs (because all available funds go toward pet food and treats in this house) and Jett had it ripped apart within an hour and there was this fluffy crap all over the floor.  Conveniently, I got an email from Chewy asking for a review the same day. I was pretty honest.  I got an email back from Chewy within a few days saying they were refunding me for the toy that didn't work out.  Then I replied back with a "Thank you!" email and THEY replied back within an hour and it was from a real person.  I was impressed.  If you are in need of pet supplies, Chewy.com is your best bet.  Heavy bags of dog food delivered right to your door? Yes, please.  

So true.  And, the more I think about it, I think Breaking Bad might have been the greatest show ever written.  I want to say this about a few other shows too, but BB was consistent.  We can't say that about all the other shows I've obsessed over (cough, cough Dexter).

This was on Jana's blog and I immediately laughed and sent it to my friend.  

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I ordered this purse/tote from Nordstrom, it showed up on Thursday, and I immediately disliked it.  I mean, I didn't hate it but it doesn't suit my needs at the moment.  So back it goes.  When Scott came home and saw it sitting on the table, he's all "What's that?" and I told him it was a bag and he said it was ugly and then I told him I was sending it back because I "tried to go the cheaper route and it didn't work and now I'd have to do the expensive thing I'd been trying to avoid" and he just side-eyed me.  

I'd been chatting about this with my teammate at school the same day (because I asked her where she had gotten her cute leather bag, obviously) and she told me she preferred to spend her disposable income on camping supplies.  

I told this to Scott after he judged my decision above there and he was all, "Hmmm really?  Sounds like a nice girl."

---------------------------------------------------

Scott is hunting with the dogs, so I will be grading papers, getting a pedicure, going to Costco, meeting a friend for lunch, organizing the general state of affairs around here, and watching t.v.  No complaints.  At least grading papers makes me feel productive. 

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AND I'll be gearing up for tomorrow night's t.v. line-up.  Who watched Homeland last week?  Quinn, per usual, impressed me.  Carrie, as always, made me ache with disappointment.  I don't know why she's so unlikeable. 

I think that's everything I have to tell you.  I think I'll be back Monday with Columbus Day stuff and maybe a recipe by Tuesday.  Cross your fingers. 

Tote Debate

I've spent most of the evening researching leather totes.

Which should I seriously consider?

Madewell Transport Tote

Cuyana Classic Leather Tote

What I really want is a new purse.  As I texted my friend the other day at lunchtime: "I want a new purse and I'm in the mood for something expensive"  because once I start thinking about a purse, I can't stop. It was on my mind all day. Though it doesn't have to be expensive, because I don't believe that expensive makes for a better purse.  My favorite bag, maybe ever, is this Halogen brand one that I got from Nordstrom's for $33 back in 2013.  I used it for 2 1/2 years and it started to wear a bit.  I'd buy another one in a heartbeat but they were discontinued and I got the last one in the store on that particular day.  So sad.

2013

I got this Hershel bag in July and intended to use it for school, but it's not as big as I'd prefer and, if we're being honest, a highlighter exploded on the inside and I didn't discover it until a week later. I do use the bag but I'm afraid to try to wash the highlighter out because it might make it worse. Problems.

But, along the lines of wanting a new purse, I'm kind of sick of carrying two bags.  I usually carry a purse; a work bag for clipboards, papers, binders, my planner, and everything else that won't fit in my purse; a lunchbox; and a gym clothes bag if I have Girls on the Run after school.  That's FOUR bags. Plus, I'm usually trying to maneuver the quarter mile walk into my building without spilling my water bottle or my tea.  It's a struggle.

I was thinking that if I could consolidate a bit, life might be easier.  In this regard at least.  

Recommend a bag please!  

How do you take your jeans?

If  you looked into my closet, you would see three pairs of jeans.

First, a pair of bootcut American Eagle jeans I bought last fall because it seemed like bootcut was the style at my last school and every Friday was black/orange/andjeans day. Plus I hadn't worn a pair of bootcuts in a couple of years and thought it would be a nice change.  I can't even remember if I wore them to school.  I believe the only time I ever remember leaving the house in them was for a trip to the vet.  How ridiculous. I suppose they were only $30, but there they hang.

You'd also find a pair of Gap boyfriend crops.  Nice and comfortable but they stretch out when I wear them and by the end of the day they will be falling off.  I've worn them once in the last 4 months.  They are nice and soft and comfy though.  Until they become a falling-off-burden.

Then, you'd find my Aerie jeans.  I bought these skinny jeans in February 2012 and they are my go-to jeans. I mean, I wouldn't go so far as to call them "comfortable", but when a skirt is too formal and gym shorts won't do, they are my go-to.  I, since, have not found jeans at Aerie, but I look every once in a while.  They are as good as it's gonna get for jeans.

So that's it.  Kind of sad, right?

Awhile back I was directed to J.Crew's website from another blog and I decided it was time to order some grown up jeans.  Of course, being unfamiliar with how grown-up jeans work, I had no idea what size to get.  The ones in my closet are sized in those fake numbers:  2, 4, 6, etc.  Completely inconclusive measuring when it comes to buying grown-up jeans.  I ordered a 27 based on what I saw on the size chart.  They arrived a week later and were too tight.  But jeans that are too big are awful uncomfortable to me, so I didn't want to go too big, especially since these things are stretchy.  I exchanged them for a pair of 28s.  These ones are fantastic.  They are a great, dark color and are very soft. Super flattering too!  They are kind of high-waisted compared to what I'm used to wearing but I think that is just fine.

Sweater: Target // Bag: Lucky Brand // Jeans: J.Crew

So.  Where do you buy your jeans?

Linking up with Joey for the first-ever Selfie Sunday!

Friday 5s.

(There's a Breaking Bad spoiler at the bottom of this post...)

1.  I'm not sure how he's gotten to be so big.  12 weeks today!  

Remember this?

Ugh.  It hurts my heart.

2.  Here's the Banana Republic dress Scott didn't quite capture last month.  

Dress: BR Outlet ($20) // Sweater: LOFT // Sandals: Old Navy 

3.  Including a new purse.

4.  This is a quick 15 minute circuit workout.  I made it up based on a leg series that an instructor did months ago.  I say 15 minutes because it generally takes me a while to drum up the motivation to do physical activity at home.  If you're motivated, it'll take 10 minutes.  I did this in hotel rooms on the way from Alaska to Missouri.  (Okay, one hotel room.  I did it in one hotel room.)

5.   What did you think of Breaking Bad this past week?  It didn't disappoint for us!  Only 7 left...

Did you watch Talking Bad afterward?  I felt very confused the whole time that was on.  It's Talking DEAD.  Not Talking BAD.  I kept waiting for the host to slip up and say "dead" instead.  I get why they're doing it, but it left me feeling very unsettled.  Not a zombie in sight.  Sad.

Sharing at:

Friday 5

High 5 for Friday

5 on Friday

Five Friday Facts

1.  Fact: I went to the doctor the other day and they weighed me in kilograms.  Kilograms!  Talk about taking the pressure off!  That number literally meant nothing to me.  (Do kilograms mean anything? Or are they like Canadian money?)

2.  Fact: We put a deposit down on a puppy.  Yep! I'm just excited to have something/someone around to play with. This will certainly take some getting used to on my part because I've never had a pet. Let's call it a lesson in, "Can Kristin keep another living thing alive and well?"  It's a good thing Scott remembers to feed himself. Most of the time.

Source
He'll look something like this!

3.  Fact: Bermuda shorts are hard to wear.  They take inches off your height (if I was actually going out, I'd probably wear wedges), and make you look...stumpy.

Shirt: American Eagle // Shorts/sandals: Target // Purse: Lucky Brand // Watch: Fossil

4.  Fact: The Debra Morgan purse has returned.^ The Longchamp seemed too large for summer.  I don't need to carry around hats and gloves anymore either, so...no need for a suitcase o'preparedness.

5.  Fact.

Source

Lazy Chic

This is called, "I slept in this t-shirt and then put a nice sweater over it when I decided to leave the house".

Also known as, "lazy chic".

Sweater: Gap // Jeans:  JCP  // Boots: Bear Paw // Bag: Nordstrom's

This is my new school bag.  I told myself, "Kristin, if you bought a nice new bag for school stuff (instead of that one you've been using for 2.5 years), maybe you'll want to go to school more".

Well, it worked.  I'm excited to use it.  It's the simple things, right?

I knew I wanted a new bag, and I was in Nordstrom's and they had these knock-off Longchamps.  They're the "Nordstrom-brand" version.  They run about $70, but this one was half price, so I got it for $33.  I've been using it as a purse this last week or so just because I like it so much. (I may or may not have also ordered myself a fancy purse for my birthday.  Yes, I may.)

Linking up to The Pleated Poppy's WIWW and Fashion Favorites

What's been missing from my life...(Purse edition)

...has apparently been some Dooney & Burke.

I haven't bought a new purse since September.  I was incredibly busy pining after this gorgeous piece of Lucky last fall.  Then, my mom called me from Macy's to say they had this other lovely on clearance.  So I sent her a check for...ummm...I think it was $60?  I can't remember.  Either way, a bargain if I ever saw one.

I've gotten a lot of use out of it.  But, it never fails, I went back to my very favorite piece of Lucky.  That is now known as the-Debra-Morgan-purse(!).   

So then, about a month ago, I thought, "I need a new purse".  I (briefly) spent some time looking at the neon purses at Tar-jay.  Honestly, I totally would've bought one...had they not been $30.  I mean, look Target, you are TARGET.  If I'm looking at your purses, I want something quick, cheap, and non-committal.  I'm not looking for marriage.  $30 is a weekly trip to the grocery store for me.  I don't want to spend that much on a neon yellow purse that every 14 year old is also going to be sporting.  Lower your prices and I'll buy your stuff.*

So, after Turbokick one Saturday, I wandered my sweaty self into the PX/BX on JBER.  (For those not in the know:  Post-Exchange/Base-Exchange on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson.  Yeah.)

THIS is what I love about the military.  Fossil, Coach, Vera, D&B, and others all marked down from the MSRP.  Just because.

Just the right amount of preppy-ness

The way to my heart is paved in fuchsia

Classy Saturday clothing

*You may say that the online ad has the Target purse listed for $24.99.  Yeah, right.  We talked about how Target raises their prices in that special little way for Alaskans, remember??

P.S. This purse is so me that it matches my blog.  I didn't plan that.

May I please tell you about my purse?

To those of you who said, "Sure, please tell us alllll about your purse!"....Thanks!

via

I bought my Lucky Brand purse in July of 2008 two months after graduating from college.  I had no money and two jobs (a summer camp gig and bartending/waitressing).  It was $178+tax.  Not cheap.

Like all responsible adults, I put it on my credit card.

I've purchased, I think, 4 purses since then.  That's right.  FOUR purses in 3 1/2 years.  That's how much I love my Lucky Brand purse.  It's like Mary Poppins.  Perfect in every way.  No matter what purse I think I'm going to love...I always go back to it.  I've been gifted two purses in the last year and I enjoy them.  And I like my two cheap-ish Target purses.  And my two Fossils that I've spent a reasonable amount of money on?  I like those too.

However, my crazy love for my Lucky Brand bag was solidified when I saw that Debra Morgan had it on Season 5 of Dexter (obsessed much, Kristin?).

My exact reaction:  
(slapping Scott on the shoulder, repeatedly) Oh-my-God-she-has-my-purse-Debra-Morgan-has-my-purse!
Scott:  Huh?
My-purse-she-has-my-purse!  I knew that purse looked good.  It looks even better on T.V. (sits back in the satisfaction of knowing that $178+tax was certainly well-spent)

Scott:  Oh, okay. 

via

Do you have a purse that you just love?  
A particular style or brand that you just can't get away from?