The Best $30 I've Ever Spent...

This afternoon I spent the best $30 I've probably ever spent...for my own peace of mind. For the cost of my insurance co-pay I spent 20 minutes with a dermatologist who checked my skin from the top of my scalp to the bottom of my feet (and even between my toes!) to make sure that my skin is free and clear from any suspicious looking moles or melanoma. With the doctor's seal of approval, I am ready for another summer full of fun at the pool (with suncsreen of course!). Now, if the sun would just come out, and if it would just warm up about 40 degrees it would certainly help. I highly recommend that all of my readers (yes, all 3 of you!) get yourselves checked every other year. You can never be too careful!

There Must be a Silver Lining....

There must be a silver lining to this cloud in which I currently reside! Since I returned from my trip to Chicago both of my children and myself have been sick. After several days of on and off fever and a terrible cough, the doctor finally put Abby on an antibiotic this morning. Hopefully, she is on the mend! I don't know how much more I can take of being forced to stay home. The good news is that I think I am on the "backside" of my cold and hopefully it will be gone by the end of the week.

On to more exciting things....I don't typically shop at Ann Taylor Loft, but I like to look every so often to see what they're showing. I find that Ann Taylor and Loft tend to be a bit more conservative than I usually dress. Ann Taylor is great for suits and work wear, and when I worked in Boston and had to be dressed up every day I shopped there a ton. A disclaimer is that I also worked at Ann Taylor on Newbury Street in Boston, and I loved it. In my new job, we are very casual and I can wear jeans to work so I try to pair them with a funky top. I don't wear many suits or dresses. However, I saw this dress at Loft, and it's so cute and chic! I love the lantern sleeve, and I think this can be worn many ways. In spring/summer with flats or flip flops for casual day or with a funky heel and a big necklace for evening. For fall/winter with tights and boots or even a turtleneck underneath. I can see this dress getting a ton of wear, and the people in my office wondering why I am wearing a dress!!!!

My Weekend of Shopping and Learning

Last Weekend I was invited to attend a womens leadership conference in Chicago. I was fortunate enough to arrive in the windy city a day early to enjoy some shopping before the learning began. I did a nice survey of the large department stores (Macys, Nordstrom, Saks and Neimans) as well as some fun spots like French Connection, Lucy, Sephora (of course) and some basics like Banana Republic. My shopping was cut a little short by the nasty weather (blustery snow) and the fact that I was under the weather. And, my trip was cut short thanks to my sick children. But, I still managed to find some cute spring items. Here are a few of my faves....

I just love this little jacket by twilltwentytwo. It's cozy fleece, but with a flair. It has fun bell sleeves and w portrait collar, which I find to be quite flattering. I think it's the perfect addition to my wardrobe - especially since I am always looking for ways to dress up my jeans for work.

Another item I am eye-ing for spring is this little Marc Jacobs nylon hobo bag. He has the nylon in several styles, but I am partial to the hobo-style. It also comes in a pea-green and a cream color, but I think I will have to stick with basic black. Black is timeless, it goes with everything, and if it gets a spilled on, no one will know but me!

In other exciting news, I recently had a communication breakthrough with my son. He is finally using words to communicate and it's great. Yesterday we had our first real conversation. It went like this:

Benjamin: froo
mom: would you like some fruit
Benjamin: uh-huh
mom: Do you want organes
Benjamin: no
mom: Do you want an apple
Benjamin: no
mom: do you want a banana
Benjamin: uh-huh

I know it probably doesn't sound that exciting, but for someone who listens to a lot of whining, this is HUGE news!