Mod Glo

I found my voice...

modapron — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:26:01 -0700

…and it’s over here. Folks, I’ve been struggling lately. Hence the lack of posts and the disjointed...

Feeling grey and blue this morning. There’s a brunch event at...

modapron — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 09:15:41 -0700

Feeling grey and blue this morning.

There’s a brunch event at Maya’s school today, then I’d like to hit the farmers’ market, tidy the house, run to the gym and get everyone to bed early. School starts tomorrow!

[Photo via Instagram]

As part of Maya’s big birthday weekend, the whole family...

modapron — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 21:24:32 -0700

As part of Maya’s big birthday weekend, the whole family woke up early, piled in the Zipcar, and road tripped down to Half Moon Bay. Maya desperately wanted to meet some real goats, ducks, chickens and horses, so off we went to the farm!

The trip was truly lovely. The drive along the ocean to Half Moon Bay was beyond stunning. And the farm? Amazing. Maya got right in and actually cuddled the animals. They were so gentle and sweet. She hugged the goats, marched with the chickens and kissed the horses. Such a dream come true!

I just wish it had been a little warmer for our picnic. And unfortunately, I was still feeling a bit sick. But Maya had the BEST time and that’s all that matters. I think she will remember this birthday for a long time to come.

And here’s what I wore (above) on our trip to the farm.

Cardigan - vintage (thrifted)

Tank top - Old Navy

Jeans - Ann Taylor (thrifted)

Sandals - Saltwater Sandals (so obsessed!)

I grabbed a scarf on my way out the door, but didn’t get a photo. Too bad because it was a great last minute addition! I’ll post some pics of our trip over at Mod Apron later… I’m determined to go to bed nice and early tonight in hopes of finally fighting off this tummy bug once and for all!

Sporting a berry nail inspired by this lady’s gorgeous...

modapron — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 22:21:00 -0700

Sporting a berry nail inspired by this lady’s gorgeous hands. I’m a copy cat! Looks way better on her though.

Note the fall sweater. We are in the midst of our “winter” here in San Fran!

Another fashion post! Tomorrow’s my best girl’s...

modapron — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 23:36:00 -0700

Another fashion post!

Tomorrow’s my best girl’s birthday and to celebrate, we’re going out for dinner and then coming back home to a surprise party!

Mama needed a party dress for the occasion so I put together this outfit. I’m really proud of this one because I think it looks a lot more expensive than it actually was.

I especially love the dress. The color is perfection and it also wears really well with jeans and leggings and boots.

I just threw it all on for the photo, but I think tomorrow night I’ll put my hair up in barrettes for the sake of fanciness.

Dress - Mossimo ($24.99)

Belt - Old Navy circa 2009 ($4.99 on clearance)

Shoes - Aldo ($19.99)

By the glamorous. Oh, the flossy flossy.

After Monday’s crazy style MANIFESTO post, I received quite a...

modapron — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 23:06:00 -0700

Goin' a-marketing with the kids and my favorite bag.

Pretty much the best bag EVER.

After Monday’s crazy style MANIFESTO post, I received quite a few emails. Thanks to all those who took the time to reach out to me! I was surprised; this post alone generated more emails than all my other posts on both blogs put together. I guess mama style is a hot topic!

One reader posed a question that deserves an answer. She wrote:

“…I have two little kids under three and I never feel like I have the time to pay attention to what I look like. I went to the grocery store in my pajamas yesterday. Do you actually dress up just to go the grocery store? I would like to know what you actually wear…”

Ask and you shall receive, my dears! Above is a pic I snapped of myself just as I was on my way to the grocery store yesterday. For errands like this, I usually wear one of three basic combos:

Jeans and blouse (as above)
Skirt and a blouse
Dress and (optional) cardigan

My biggest accessory right now is the impossibly awesome bag I’ve been toting around lately. It’s by Hayden Harnett out of NYC and it is quite literally the perfect mama bag. Big, but not too big, and very comfortable to wear when you’re lugging a grocery bag in one arm and a kid in the other. I probably wouldn’t be able to afford a brand new HH bag, but I found this one at a great consignment shop near my home and I snapped it up for a song.

Since it’s used, it came with a few scratches and scuffs which initially bothered me. But, then I came to realize that this is actually a blessing and a big relief. The pressure to keep such a beautiful, expensive bag in pristine condition would be too stifling. But since it’s already well loved, I can just keep on lovin’ it too. I don’t have to worry too much when I accidentally throw it on the juice-drizzled bench at the playground (like I did yesterday), or when my kids fill it full of robots and drag it across the floor (like they did after dinner).

Here’s a few things that I don’t wear for running errands:

T-shirts (unless they’re really cute and stylish)
Any item of clothing that’s really meant for exercise (I’m looking at you, yoga pants)
Sneakers/Ugg Boots/Flip flops/Crocs/etc.

Some days, going grocery shopping is my only connection to the outside world beyond our house. And since I’m bound to run into someone I know, I like to put in some effort. I slap on some makeup and accessories. I wear my good shoes. Even a bit of perfume (the scent I’m wearing now is a fresh and clean combination of essential oils).

All this might seem like a lot of work, but it never takes more than 5 minutes and the result is a happy and confident mama. I like that.

Now, allow me to prove how much I love you guys: I am NOT photogenic (I have many talents, but looking pretty in front of a camera is not one of them). But, because I like to give the people what they want, I’ve swallowed my pride and posted this photo of myself above, even though I look - let’s face it - pretty much exactly like a drag queen. A drag queen who’s got a whiff of something stinky. Heavens to Betsy.

And it looks like I’m trying my best wannabe-model-looking-off-to-the-side-coyly-smirking-at-something-random face, but I’m actually trying to pose while watching Maya and wondering what she’s throwing at the wall in the distance. Turned out to be a My Little Pony. Poor thing.

Blouse - J.Crew (thrifted)

Belt - Nordsrom

Jeans - DKNY (thrifted)

Bag - Hayden Harnett

dailystyleformom: Why the basics work so...

modapron — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:35:16 -0700

dailystyleformom:

Why the basics work so well.

k3n-dra:

sometimes simple is good

Love this. Looks like Yaletown maybe?

My little fashionista put together this ensemble all by herself....

modapron — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 15:41:40 -0700

My little fashionista put together this ensemble all by herself. The gold boots she donned later were a bold move that I’m not sure I agree with, but hey, at least she’s on the setting end of the trends.

Also, please note the “oh so bored model” look she’s sporting. You can’t teach this stuff.

Mod Glo’s 4 simple rules for living: Always be...

modapron — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:45:14 -0700

Mod Glo’s 4 simple rules for living:

Always be nice.
Always be honest.
Always stay calm.
Always look presentable.

The minute I lost all my baby weight, I cleaned out my closet and got rid of every single item of clothing that did not flatter me. There was a temptation to keep a few “easy” pieces like old stained t-shirts to sleep in and ratty sweatpants for working out. But I resisted, and I’m so glad I did.

Just because I’m a busy mama, does not mean that I am obligated to look the part. Why shouldn’t I look and feel great all the time, whether I’m staying home for the day, running the kids to classes, hitting the gym or going out for dinner? Don’t I deserve to feel amazing?

Phoning it in always bites me in the ass. The few times I’ve left the house without makeup and not looking my best has inevitably meant that I’ve run into friends and acquaintances on the street. Our little San Francisco neighborhood is kind of like a small town; everybody knows everybody. I really hate feeling uncomfortable with my presentation, especially in this city. San Francisco is such a stylish metropolis.

Does this all sound a bit vain? Perhaps. But if you really think about it, it just comes down to self respect. I’m not only fussy about looking great for myself, but also for my kids. I love that Maya thinks I look pretty and wants to paint her nails and cut her hair just like mama. I can tell that she’s proud of how I look and I’m proud of that. I hope that she herself learns to emulate this pride of appearance in her own adult life. I truly believe that it’s a mark of self-value and self esteem.

If I can show my kids a mama who loves and takes the very best care of herself, then they will likely show themselves the same courtesy.

This morning was a perfect cautionary tale. Maya begged me to take her for a hot cocoa at our favorite cafe. Because it’s officially her birthday week, I decided to indulge her with this special treat. But Henry fussed a lot last night (he’s teething) and I was feeling pretty exhausted when I woke up. My first instinct was to just throw on my workout clothes (which, in all honesty, are actually pretty cute; I ditched the nasty old yoga pants in the closet purge and bought a couple of adorable coordinating workout suits from Gaiam), sneakers and a hat. I felt too tired to bother with makeup. After all, it was just a quick trip to the cafe down the block and back.

But I resisted this temptation. I did my hair, put on my makeup and perfume, my skinny jeans and a cute blouse. I even wore my Repettos which I truly believe, despite the expensive price tag, deserve to be paraded around town as much as possible!

I dressed both kids in cute outfits as well. A bit much for the cafe? Maybe. But why should we save our best stuff? How is it being truly enjoyed to the fullest when it’s collecting dust in the closet?

The cafe was packed when we got there, surprising for an early Monday morning. The table next to us sat a small collection of mothers and kids about Maya’s age. Soon we were all chatting and sipping espresso while the kids played. As it turns out, all of these kids are to be in Maya’s preschool class this upcoming fall. This was my first introduction to the other mamas in her class! These are people that will be a big part of our lives for the next 1-2 years.

Did I look great? Check.

Did I feel confident? Check.

Was a extremely glad that I didn’t roll out of bed and simply throw on my exercise pants and sneakers? You betcha.

I can’t think of a single occasion that looking great is a bad idea. It’s a gift to oneself, and one that is a solid corner stone of self worth. Even if I expect to see no one else during the day, dressing well and feeling “put together” for my family and myself is no less important.

When I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I feel proud and happy. And that feeling gets paid forward in a perpetual cycle; I want to give myself the best food, exercise and care. I want to treat myself with unwavering kindness. Which makes me feel proud and happy all over again.

Mamas: You work harder than anybody on the planet. You deserve to feel great ALL the time. Yoga pants are not worthy of you (unless, of course, you are actually doing yoga). Break out your best clothes. Use the expensive lotion that you got as a gift. Paint your nails. Wear your dressy shoes to the grocery store. You will not regret feeling like a princess, but you might regret not living your precious life to the fullest. You’re a hot mama! Never forget it!

*Don’t worry, Mod Apron followers, these shoes were a frugal purchase! I got my Repettos for a song on clearance. Repettos quality is incredible. I expect these gorgeous babies to last for years and years, through multiple re-solings as needed. They were a bargain indeed!

Announcement: Um, I kinda did it

modapron — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:39:00 -0700

This post seems a bit anticlimactic, and I honestly don’t know how it happened so quickly, but...

Cheater cheater ice cream eater

modapron — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 21:52:00 -0700

I have discovered a little trick that seems to be serving me well. I cheat. Just a little. Once a...

Swimmingly

modapron — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:19:00 -0700

Sorry for the radio silence lately, I’ve been focused on some stuff at home. But that doesn’t mean...

How I spent my Tuesday night

modapron — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 22:12:44 -0700

I dragged my butt to the gym tonight at 9:00pm. I did a respectable 30 minutes on the elliptical...

Brunch! Lemon Chobani (my favorite!) topped with fresh Cali...

modapron — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:18:00 -0700

Brunch!

Lemon Chobani (my favorite!) topped with fresh Cali strawbs and a little cereal. This yummy treat was just what the doctor ordered after my morning workout was unexpectedly derailed. I put Henry in childcare at the gym this morning, which normally he LOVES, but I was paged mid-elliptical to come and get him toot sweet! I thought he’d hurt himself or something! Turns out he was inconsolably sobbing because another little kid that he’d been following around had to leave and Henry wanted to go with him. Life is so unfair for the newly mobile.

Anyway, I suppose I’ll try to go back to the gym later this afternoon to finish up my workout. Good thing the gym is less than 2 blocks away.

PS- This is my first food photograph taken with my new camera! Whaddaya think?

Progress and updates

modapron — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 11:02:00 -0700

Can I just say one more time how much I love, love, LOVE MyFitnessPal? I seriously cannot believe...

Late breakfast? Early lunch? Let’s just call this little...

modapron — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 11:25:52 -0700

Late breakfast? Early lunch? Let’s just call this little bowl of crispy Fuji apple, organic Greek yogurt and crunchy bran cereal “brunch”.

And what a toothsome treat it is!

Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

modapron — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 12:10:00 -0700

Cherry-yogurt-cereal parfait.

Hummus sandwich.

Quesadilla, peppers and hella broc.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

My new pal

modapron — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 12:01:00 -0700

So last week was a bit weird for me. I was really discombobulated and out of sorts. My house was...

Yup, that’s coffee sitting pretty on my windowsill. After our...

modapron — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 16:28:00 -0700

Yup, that’s coffee sitting pretty on my windowsill. After our recent falling out, I’ve decided to invite my dear old friend back into my life.

But notably, IT’S DECAF.

A happy compromise.

I’m back! And I’m trying something new. Stay tuned...

modapron — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 08:50:13 -0700

I’m back! And I’m trying something new. Stay tuned for more info! xo