November 17, 2013 by gn0mel0ver

Anthropologie November Reviews

Is it fair to call this “November Reviews” when I took these pictures in October? Hmmm. Well, I have never been one for technicalities. When I went to the two holiday workshops in the stores last month, I figured I might as well try on a few things while I was there. You know, if I must. Cause I had to, of course. Not because there were so many lovelies calling my name. Of course not.

I will warn you. You know how I’m lazy? Well, in one of the reviews, I could not be bothered to put on pants. That would have involved taking off my boots. And, even though I brought pants into the dressing room just for this reason, I did not use them. Life is more exciting this way. And lazy is what lazy does. Or rather does not do. So, you’ve been warned.

Here we have a pretty top. It is called the Brocade Peplum Top. Do you know I brought some pants into the dressing room to try on with this, as well? But I didn’t. I just used what I wore that day.

I don’t know about this top. I love the parakeets used in the pattern of this top. But I am not a fan of the shiny fabric. The peplum is cute. I think it is flattering. This shirt is not for me, but it would be cute for the holidays for someone who likes shimmer. I am wearing a size 6 here. It fits well.

This was all I tried on that day. I was hungry.

Hence the parakeets.

They had this wrap on the last chance rack. I thought it was lovely. I cannot find it online. ~~If you know the name of it, please let me know.~~. Updated: Thank you Amles! Here is the link to the wrap. But I have no idea how to style this. I feel much older than I am in this. The pattern is beautiful, though.

Okay. Here we have Jenni wearing the Humboldt Tunic. It is a lovely shirt meant to be paired over leggings or jeans. Or, you know, the bright neon pink tights you had hiding under your dress because you thought no one would see them and you couldn’t find any socks. And if someone did catch a glimpse of them, well, maybe they would think you were edgy. Yea. Cause that is the word always used to describe you, “edgy.”

But you wore them and now you are too lazy to put pants on. So, there you stand in all your glory. Nice.

Ahem. Sorry.

I really like this top. To be fair, I thought it was a dress before I put it on. Once it was on, I just did not have the energy to rework it as a top. I am on a purchasing-sale-only kick right now, but if it is under $75 and it is a whole outfit, I might consider it. Unfortunately, this top fits neither of these categories at this time. But I will definitely reconsider it on sale. I am wearing a small here.

Also, in the red color on the site, the model is wearing the most amazing pair of blush colored pants. Does anyone know what pants those are?

Um, ’cause maybe I need some.

Update: Thank you, Angela! Here is the link for the velvet leggings I crave.

Please imagine I am not wearing bright pink tights with this dress? That question mark was a typo. But it fits this scenario. Try to imagine I am not wearing bright pink tights. Question mark. As in, how is that possible?

I know it’s hard.

This is a size small in the dress. It is called Ribboned Peasant Dress. It is on sale right now. Oh man, busty gals are going to love this dress. I have this tied as tightly as I could. I would have needed an XS in this and it still would not have fit me right. This is going to be phenomenal on the right body type. I cannot wait to see how some of the ladies are going to rock this. I am so jealous. This is a pass for me due to sizing issues.

I LOVED this dress online. It is called Galina Dress. I saved it in my wishlist along with some reddish boots and I would just stare at the combination side by side. Sigh.

Oh, you know you do it, too. ; )

But I am not in love with this dress on me. This is a size small, which I believe is the right size. The color is gorgeous. This seemed to be the hot item of the day, because I saw many ladies taking this dress into the dressing room with them.

I do not know what it is that doesn’t work for me. What do you think?

I removed this dress from my wishlist. The boots were heartbroken.

If you can’t tell, I love me some bright fun tights. I like a neutral dress I can play with to wear all of my happy colors throughout the winter. Because of my weight loss, I was down to one easy long sleeved neutral dress for the winter that worked in that category. I needed another one.

This fit the bill. In all ways, really. Including the actual bill.

It is a lounge dress. This is the Chiara Chemise. I do not know what exactly that means. “Lounge.” I guess I am supposed to lounge around the house in this.

But, we all ready know I will post pictures of myself sans pants on the internet, so it stands to reason that I would of course wear this out of the house. Everywhere. Fully standing. As in, not lounging.

Rebel. Hey, maybe I am edgy? Question mark not a typo here.

This dress is grey thermal. It is thin. It has cute little buttons on the shoulders. It was $68.

Oh man, you guys are not going to be happy with me. The pictures above are of me in the small.

But I was not comfortable in it. How could I lounge in something not comfortable?

I like to twist the word “lounge” to fit into whatever manipulation I am pulling at the time. It’s a fun little trick.

I tried on the medium, and I just liked it better. So, that is what I purchased.

I know! But it is so comfy.

I have all ready worn this three times with three different colored tights. And I am thrilled with this cute little number.

Let the “lounging” commence!

Have you tried on anything you like recently? And do you wear your “lounge” clothes out of the house (gasp!)?

November 2, 2013 by gn0mel0ver

Reading: “Where’d You Go, Bernadette”

For our book club last month, the lovely Jessica picked “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” by Maria Semple. The cover threw me, because it looked like a summer beach book. But it is a national bestseller, and I trust my friend.

I loved it!

It is an easy book to read. I believe I read it in four or five hours. It is easy, but deep and good.

Bernadette is a mom who has lost her way. And then she becomes actually physically lost (I can’t say more without giving anything away.). Her daughter, Bee, is a brilliant fifteen year old who wants the whole family to go on a cruise to Antarctica together. Her husband is rarely seen, as he works on a secret project for Microsoft.

The family begins planning the trip. Actually, Bernadette hires a personal assistant based in India, whom she has never met, to handle everything. What could go wrong with that?

There are also a clique of ladies at Bee’s school, whom Bernadette secretly labels “the gnats.” They play huge roles in the book. You will laugh and cringe at the many obstacles the gnats throw Bernadette’s way and the actions that she takes to handle their manipulations.

Hilarity runs high in this book. It was also very insightful. I felt I have a lot of Bernadette’s many quirky traits. A lot of the things she did, I would have done, too. I told my husband, “Honey! I’m reading a book about a lady. I think she is supposed to be crazy. But it is like reading about me. Am I crazy?”

“Yes.”

Okay. Clarity is always helpful. Moving along.

This book will make you cry. It will make you laugh. I absolutely adored it. It is a book that will stick with me. If you are looking for a funny book with meaning, this book is for you.

October 8, 2013 by gn0mel0ver

More Anthropologie Fall Reviews

Here is where I break my own rules and do more reviews.

My kids were going camping last weekend. It was booked for months. Can you see where this is going? Oh, yes. The government shutdown strikes again. And the campground was closed. Thankfully, they could just go camping on my family’s land, but it still was a dent in the plans.

My father met me to pick up the kids at Anthropologie. ‘Cause he’s awesome. I had two returns to do. I will happily note I left Anthropologie with a negative balance. Did I buy something? Ugh. Yes. But I was proud of myself for leaving so many lovelies behind.

I decided to try on some things. Some of them, because I have had my eye on them. Others, because they are different than what I would normally wear and someone might like to see them on the average girl.

I probably will not get to another brick and mortar store until Christmastime. It was fun to try on some pretty pieces.

Movin’ along. Here are the reviews:

That day, I wore my Free People Lace babydoll shirt from Nordstrom Rack. Of course, I did not take a picture of the outfit in the dressing room. Here is a “selfie” I took at home earlier in the day. By the time I got to Anthropologie, it was late in the day and my hair changed. Oh, and my make up kind of smeared. Bear with me. I paired it with my Free People skinny corduroy pants also from Nordstrom Rack ($19.99 last week. Run! Don’t walk!). I am wearing lace flats from H & M. The necklace was gifted to me from Simply Livly on Etsy (I wear it all of the time and love it!).

I don’t know about you, but I have a system when I try things on. Because I hate trying things on. The quicker I can get it done, the better. If I all ready have pants on, I start with tops. So, first I tried on a top I had loved online. It is the Honore Buttondown. I was not in love with it once I tried it on. It is just okay. This is a size 6. It just wasn’t for me in real life. Or maybe it would be great tucked in?

First, please ignore the weird expression on my face. What the heck? This black top ended up in my dressing room. I had not picked it out. It was my usual size medium and so I tried it on. I think it is the Smocked Sabine V-Neck. It is black. It is a blouse. It is a black blouse. Nothing much more to see here.

This sweater was so pretty on the hanger. This is the Stitched Flora Cardigan. It swam on me when I tried it on. This is a medium. I could have used a size small. It is expensive. This just isn’t for me, but I am sure many lovely ladies will rock it.

Hedgehogs! Oh my! I love this top. I have the bunny version in this new release Creature Feature Top with the buttons down the back. I purchased the bunny version in my usual medium, and immediately had regrets. This is a large. I think definitely size up in this shirt if you do not like things “showing.”

On to the dresses! I tried on this Narva Swing Dress, on a whim. Please ignore my claw. Gosh! I am weird! This is a medium. If they would have had a small, I probably would have cradled it all the way home. As it is, I am glad they did not. This dress is one I will wait for sale on. It is a pretty blue swing dress. But I am looking for something with spunk. It did make me feel all small and girlish in it. As in, someone could throw me over their shoulder and then take me home and rock me. Hmmm. Maybe I shouldn’t drink wine and write reviews.

This dress is a small (Spacedye Day Dress). It was the only size they had in stock. It is too small. Small. Small. Small. Moving along.

I lusted after the Elodie Sweater Dress online. I loved the color. But once I tried it on, the love was lost. The color just is not good on me. I think someone with the right coloring is going to rock this dress. And I will be envious and glad for them all at once. I am wearing a medium. The fit is right. The stripes do not do my hips any favors. It also comes in a black color, but it is not for me.

Okay. Maybe I am delusional. Scratch that. Yes, I am delusional. But maybe more so with this skirt. First, after poring over the reviews online about the Ponte Bell Skirt, I stubbornly tried on the XS/S version and refused to budge on the issue. Did my refusal to budge create a bulge? Hmmm. I don’t know. The bump on the side is not a hip baby, but the sensor from the shirt. I loved this skirt. It was so whimsical. So fun. And I felt itty bitty in it. When something makes you feel like that, it is a no brainer. This skirt came home with me.

Oh gosh! I love this vest. It is the Corduroy Puffer Vest. Of course, my kids had to leave when I tried this on. Sorry! This is the only picture I have.

I love the vest, but I live in Southern California. I would probably wear it once a year. It is soft. It is my favorite mustard. It kind of made me teary to let it go. Well, not really, but it is adorable. If you live in a colder climate, this vest is wonderful. I sized down to a small, and that is what I would have bought had I lived in the climate that would support the wearing of this vest. Hmmmm. Do you think this would look good over a swimsuit?

And this jacket is so not me. It is the Chevron Sweep Poncho. But I figured it might be someone. I don’t wear fur or fake fur. I don’t wear animal print (the actual animal printed on the item of clothing gives me heart palpitations, but a print of animal hide… Nah.). But I can see why some women like it. This jacket is huge. If you love this, size down. This is a medium. I definitely could have sized down at least one size. The colors are very striking. Again, not for me, but for someone fun.

So, have you spotted anything you love lately? Please tell!

P.S. Roxy of Effortless Anthropologie just posted some reviews! Check them out. They are always so helpful. : ).

September 20, 2013 by gn0mel0ver

Reading: The Name of the Wind

I recently finished reading my favorite book in the world, “The Name of the Wind,” for the third time. It is written by Patrick Rothfuss. It is part of a trilogy. The third one has yet to be released. Bated breath, folks. Bated breath.

The reason I love this book is because it can appeal to anyone. I am a lover of fantasy. Science fiction. The surreal. And while this book is set in another world and it has magic and such, it is written in a more fluid fictional first person narrative. Meaning the main character is telling his story and he can be related to by most. The words in this book are pure poetry.

I wish I could quote some of my favorite verses. There are so many quotable sayings in the book. Unfortunately, I recently read you cannot print a quote from a book without permission from the author. And, thus, I shall not. It makes me more than slightly nauseous to think of Patrick Rothfuss reading my drivel.

It does take a bit to get into the book. Each time I read it, I get stuck on the first thirty pages for about two days. But then the story opens up. And you get lost in it.

The story centers around Kvothe. It starts out with him as an inn keeper relating his story back to a transcriber. And boy what a story! The main premise of this book is him getting to The University to try to learn the name of the wind. It is what Harry Potter would be if it was set to poetry and music. And I say that with the highest regard, because if I ever won the lottery, the very first thing I would purchase is the first edition Harry Potter book.

Kvothe is an unlikely hero. Well, aren’t all heroes usually unlikely? So, I guess he is a likely hero. You are definitely rooting for him even as you disagree with some of the choices he makes. But that is what makes this book great. Not good. Because you do care. You care about a character who does not exist. True magic. That is what that is.

As soon as I finished this book, I promptly picked up the second one (for the second time) and breezed through it. And then, in a purely nerdy fashion… I made notes and guesses about what I thought was going to happen in book three.

Then I googled it. Because that is how much I love this book. I found forums discussing just this very subject. I swiftly felt like an idiot. So many wonderful theories and ways to look at these books. Not only did I not feel worthy to post my theories, but I also left the forums firmly believing that Patrick Rothfuss is a genius. If what these people theorize is correct, he will have brought the whole story together so beautifully. And unbelievably intelligently. I cannot even stand it. That is how smart these books are.

Have you read these books? Are you anxiously awaiting the finale? Do you have any recommendations of your own for me to read while I am waiting? And tell me I am not alone in my firm belief that brains are mightier than brawn in making a grown woman swoon.

P.S. You can always check out Patrick Rothfuss’ blog in my blog roll. And his Facebook page is wonderful. But my favorite post of his was one he wrote this past Valentine’s Day. He is such a beautiful writer. This might be the best blog post ever written. Oh! Also, I just want to quickly note that he curses on his blog. This does not bother me. But you should be warned, in case that affects you negatively.

Gnome Lover

Stumbling through life while still having fun

review

Anthropologie November Reviews

Reading: “Where’d You Go, Bernadette”

More Anthropologie Fall Reviews

Reading: The Name of the Wind