What Ana Does

Summer is just about over and I'm starting to think about back-to-school. I'm a sucker for getting all geared up for school in September. It's in my DNA. Leah is going into 7th grade, so her look is transitional girl-to-tween wear. Luckily, she's not into "trendy" or belly-bearing fashions. And just wants to "not look like a baby." Alice is going into 4th and is similarly modest, but loves fashionable looks. So, here are a few of my favorite picks from the stores I'm shopping ... Boden From my favorite shop for the girls (the clothes are cute and high-quality) I found this adorable rainbow patchwork tee ( see it here ) And these roller skate leggings ( see them here ), for the win!  I'm also really into these tunic-dress-sweaters in jersey and fun prints. They're great for the girls to throw-on with leggings (short or long) or tights. ( See it here. ) Old Navy My other staple is Old Navy. They do great basics and ...

What do 5th graders wear, is the question I got from Leah as we embarked on our back-to-school shopping ritual this year. I winced, as 1) I honestly have no idea. And 2) I envision the worst case scenario: Short shorts, half-shirts and cheap sandals? My worst nightmare. At this point, I initiated a short conversation about personal style. In a nutshell: Who the hell cares what other 5th graders are wearing, what clothes fit your own personal style? Of course, I'm going to GUIDE her decisions on clothes, 1) because I purchase and care for them, so I feel some ownership. And 2) a girl needs some guidance, right?! I made plenty of fashion faux pas. Let's start with Boden , because I LOVE this shop and given an infinite budget, I'd dress my kids in only Boden. Here are four favorites for the Fall. Fun Leggings - Boden Butterfly Logo Jersey Dress - Boden Super Soft Stripped Shirt - Boden Bunny Meadow Raincoat - Boden Then there's the indestru...

The girls are constantly growing out of their shoes. Last year, Alice skipped two sizes -- it was crazy. I had size 10 and 11 shoes I'd been hanging on to from Leah for no reason. Anyway, to keep up with the phenomenal foot growth, I do a big shoe shop twice a year. I am usually very grumpy about the shoes at the stores near me. They're not great quality and they're sorta ugly. Let's just say I avoid the Sketchers store at the mall. Which means I go through Zappos. Here's a tip for Zappos shopping ... sometimes the plethora of choices can stymie the kids. They get all discombobulated and dizzy. SO. MANY. CHOICES. So here's what I do: I go through and save several different pairs to My Favorites, and have them look through that list. It cuts down the decisions to a handful. I also find if they have shoes that are kinda interesting and comfortable, the kids will keep wearing them. If they are boring, they get shoved to the back of the closet. BUT FIRST, I ...

I love browsing Etsy to find new and fun items (who doesn't!?) ... and adding them to my favorites list for future consideration. Then, when I'm feeling weak and in need of retail therapy, I have a little cache of goodies to look at. Here's from my latest browse ... 1. I love this  adorable fat quarter  with the bikes in the park. The colors are a little different and would make a delightful quilt! Future Bike Quilt?  2. I'm a big fan of music quotes in art. I have a few on my walls already, and I'm always on the look out for more. This Bruce Springsteen quote would memorialize Leah and Alice's first concert experience brilliantly. Bruce Springsteen Quote!   3. I love these bright and cheery hoop earrings ! They've been in my Cart forever -- just waiting for that day I have a good excuse to buy them. Beaded Hoops. This shop is Full of Cheerful Jewlery 4. This shop is full of cut-out paper art. What a medium! I really like the color com...

We've been talking, at first jokingly and sometimes more seriously, about getting a second dog. I know, that sounds nuts because I wasn't altogether onboard for the first, but it's true. And oddly, I'm pushing for it. Here are my attempt at organizing my thoughts around this issue. Benny is a wonderful little dog. But he's scared of everything and doesn't seem very happy. I keep thinking a second dog would give him some companionship and challenge him to involve himself more. Maybe learn some play behaviors or commands. We all committed to having this dog, so getting Benny didn't fulfill all our preconceptions of actually getting a dog. If we're going to do it, let's do it 100%. We'd all love Dave to have a dog he can pal around with. Who won't run from the room when he enters it. He takes it personally that Benny is so frightened of him. This whole thing was his idea, he deserves to get the dog he wanted. The girls too were disappoin...

Because I'm not that kind of girl who knows a lot about beauty products, when I find something I like that works, I'm super-excited about it. Here's a few things that are working right now ... Bumble & Bumble Surf Foam Wash Shampoo and Conditioner - I have used a lot of shampoos and conditioners. Changing your brand helps control build-up, and that's a fact. But it's not often I find one that makes my hair feel as clean as this does. And it smells great, too! Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum - I have had the SAME bottle for just under a decade, I'm not kidding. I only use a pea or two size of this oil before I blow dry my hair. Works to control those wispies and make my hair shine! I started using it on my kid's hair as a detangler, too. Body Shop Tea Tree Oil Blemish  - Tea tree oil, I've found over time, is too harsh on my skin. But if I dap this oil on a pimple, it will quickly diminish it. And make it go away a lot faster. Chamomile Ma...

My List App Profile Page I have always love lists. Why? Here are four reasons: 1. Because they organize my thoughts. 2. I can check or cross things off as I get them done. 3. Crossing things off is a motivator. 4. They're generally pretty fun. So, I'm pretty excited to find this new app called The List App. There's a bunch of funny people contributing lists on everything from hard news to stuff their mom says. It's all pretty creative. And geez, I needed YET another thing on my phone to distract me from my real life. For example, here are the last few lists I favorited recently: "Everyday things that are great in Paris" by Ina Gartner "Facts that sound too good to be true." by Mental Floss (that magazine with crazy facts in it) "Long-haul flight must-haves, must-wear, must-dos, AKA: Travel hacks" by a pilot's daughter who travels all the time. "TV & Movies with Perd Hapley as a newscaster" "...

One of my favorite things about Fall is all the new books that come out. Fall and Spring are the big seasons for new books. It's also the time someone should ban me from the book store and my Amazon cart, because things get crazy. This weekend I got to spend a blissful hour at the Barnes and Noble sans children. I browsed all my favorite sections and some new sections (Travel!) that I hardly ever get to explore. I may have made a lot of purchases. A whole lot of purchases. My To-Read Pile -- Well, One of the Three Piles Snow was spotted Saturday morning (already, right!!) so it feels like time to settle in and read all day. If only ... 

I'm often reminded of how much I can't live without my Amazon.com account. It's every working mom's best friend. It's because of my account, and Prime subscriptions, that I only need a monthly trip, if that, to Target. Less errands makes me a happy Mom. I've got subscription services set up for paper towels, laundry soap and dish washer liquid. And I buy them in bulk, so I only have to think about it every few months. I have a bunch of wish lists created for new books and stuff that catches my eye, to look at later. And a list of Holiday Gifts -- which is especially helpful when the kids find a toy they MUST HAVE. I scan the barcode into my Amazon iPhone app and the toy is added to their list. Works every time! (I'll decide later if I'll really buy it.) The two-day free shipping through Prime insures that gifts get where they need to go quickly -- like on time for my nieces birthday or that I get snorkels delivered the day before our trip to A...

I was walking through the Crate and Barrel today and fell in love. Yes, I've seen it in the catalog and was smitten, but nothing like seeing it in person. I sat in it and ... the world made sense again. Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine? Happy, yellow bench of my heart, I will watch for coupons and sales, and you will be mine.  Oh yes, you will be mine. Related posts: I always have more goals