Happy Holidays

via GIPHY

Wishing everyone a happy holidays and please relish every minute with your friends and family!

Weekend Update/Ramblings

It’s interesting how grief works, or at least how it’s been working for me. A comment by Kat from Feather Factor really nailed it when she said it’s moments of crying/sadness interspersed in a mostly normal everyday feeling. Since I don’t live in the same state as my dad, it’s probably easier for me to feel normal since he’s not a part of my daily life. I’m sure it’ll be tough when I do go back to Hawaii and especially since I have to clean up/pack up his apartment once I’m able to travel with baby (probably sometime this summer). Also since I’m his next of kin (his only child and he’s divorced), the funeral arrangements and official death certificate matters (closing of his accounts and such) are all left up to me. I wish there was someone you could designate as your stand-in for things like this because talk about a burden on top of grief. Luckily, my mom and uncle have been helping me out a lot since I’m stuck here in Cali. Also if you find yourself the next of kin, know your kin’s social security number and their parents’ full names and their mother’s maiden name for the death certificate. These are things I never thought to ask my dad and luckily my mom still had some records of it and my uncle knew my grandparents’ full names.

Anyway I look forward to the coming new year (even more so than Christmas). A fresh new year! Also 2019 is my Chinese animal zodiac year (year of the pig). Fun fact: my mom is also the year of the pig and now my baby will also be the year of the pig. This happens because both my mom and I had/are having babies when we’re 36 (the animal zodiacs cycle every 12 years). Also my husband is the year of the pig. So we’re just going to be a family of piggies lol.

2018 Tech Guide Update

Tech items are one of those things that I feel are hyped up every year because it’s all shiny and new and then forgotten about as new tech items flood the market. Well I don’t believe in always getting the newest gadget so I thought I would update last year’s tech guide to let you all know whether the stuff I reviewed then were really worth it and stood the test of time.

Worth It

The Apple Airpods are still very much worth it. I use them almost daily, and they’re great for music and talking on the phone alike. This year I added a handy dandy case with them so I can easily find them in my purse and I keep them with me at all times.

My love for the Voloom Volumizing Hair Iron is still going strong. It’s about 6 years old now and still works great!

And I’m still using my Amazon Echo Dot with TP-Link Smart Plug daily for my bedroom floor light. We got another plug for our Christmas tree this year so all we have to say is “Alexa turn on the tree” :D .

Less Worth It

So after using the Awair air monitor for a year I have to say it’s been a mixed-bag kind of experience. The monitor still works, though the dust/PM 2.5 reading is permanently high which means the air quality rating is stuck at a fairly low reading all the time. I tried cleaning it but to no avail. However it still did a good job of letting me know how poor the air quality was indoors during the wildfires this season (even with all the windows and doors closed, the rating was the lowest I’ve ever seen it so it must still be getting in the house). I guess if I go and fix it, I will say this will be worth it again.

Not Worth It

The Coravin Wine System is not worth it. Granted I’m not drinking currently and haven’t for the last 6 months. But even before that I hardly touched it. TBH it’s just so much easier to open the bottle the old fashion way, use one of these things to seal it back as best as possible and then finish the bottle within three days.

And this was not on last year’s list, but one new tech gadget I tried this year was the Dyson Airwrap (reviewed here). And I have to say, it’s definitely not worth $550! Stick with your regular hair dryer and curling irons because this is just all a fad.

What were some tech gadgets that you thought were worth getting? I’m taking votes for next year’s tech guide :)

A Tough Month

This has been a very very tough month. Last week Saturday I had another bleeding episode, though not nearly as bad as the first that led to the 2 night hospital stay the weekend before. But scary nonetheless. This time I was prepared so I was able to take care of myself at home and a call to the doctor reassured me I was doing everything correctly. Luckily it stopped and could have been due to some contractions and preterm labor, which passed. Or it could have been the fibroids degenerating (I went to a follow-up visit and we still don’t know). But it was during this crisis that I learned my dad had passed away on Friday.

It was sudden and came without warning. He had reported feeling unwell on Wednesday but since he lives alone in Hawaii no one found him until Saturday when my uncle went to check on him. It makes me incredibly sad to think he slipped away without notice, but also I know that is how he wanted to go (without bothering anyone and causing anyone trouble). Also I know he never would have wanted to pass in a hospital. So really he went on his own terms and I would like to think peacefully and in his sleep.

I talked to him last about two weeks ago. I usually call him every weekend but since I was in the hospital the weekend before, I forgot. And that’s not unusual, I sometimes skip a weekend here and there. The last time I talked to him, he was happy to hear that we decided to name our baby girl’s middle name after him (which is Rei, and his name is Raymond but everyone calls him Ray). So I’m glad he got to hear that, though it also makes me cry when I think that he will never get to meet his granddaughter.

You might think it odd that I go about my business here as usual with the reviews, but most of these have been written ahead of time and scheduled to be posted (though I did move up a bunch of reviews so that they were published last week prior to this post because it felt inappropriate to post smiling pictures of myself after this post). I thought about taking a break and disappearing for a month or two, but to be honest writing this blog is my escape. It’s a joy and something that distracts me from the sadness. Also I would like to think that my dad would not want me to stop doing what I love and become depressed about it all (which is an easy slide to go down if I let myself). But I will write and post whenever I feel like it and will not be posting on a regular schedule until 2019 I think.

And there’s nothing to be depressed over. He knows he was loved and I know I was loved. He knows I’ll be alright and I know he had a content and happy life. Part of living is dying and we’ve never shied away from talking about it before. Neither of us have any regrets when it comes to our relationship.

Yet the timing could not have been worse, though there are some silver linings to it. I unfortunately cannot go back to Hawaii for his funeral due to this complicated pregnancy. But I was very lucky that my mom was here with me when we found out (she has been divorced from my dad for decades). And she has been a great comfort along with my husband. Also I’m lucky that I can’t drink currently since I’m sure I would have drowned my sorrows in alcohol only to fuel a depression.

Anyway I wondered if this was too personal a thing to share on this blog but then again I share everything on this blog. I didn’t want it to feel like this something I need to hide, a pain I couldn’t express because I don’t want to make this blog “heavy.” Grief is natural and it’s okay to let people know that you’re grieving. Anyway thanks for letting me share this and it’s been therapeutic for me. And hug your loved ones a little more and tell them you love them this month for me because you never know what could happen.

Weekend Update: Everlane winner!

Congrats to the winner of Everlane gift card giveaway, Alice! And thanks to everyone who entered!

And some things I liked around the internet this week: Jamie-Lee talks about her enough point, LS talks about all the lessons learned from her moth problem, and thinking about boycotting Tetra-paks because of their DGAF attitude about how they affect the environment.

Unsponsored Rothys Review: The Sneaker

So I reviewed Rothys’ The Point flat here (and you can read all the benefits of Rothys the brand there) and it’s still one of my favorite flats since it’s not only durable but machine washable. But when Rothys came out with their sneaker version, I definitely wanted to try it out since I’m all for sporty and comfortable shoes. I really like how the Rothy’s sneakers look a lot like my favorite Vince sneakers but with the added benefit of being machine washable, made from recycled materials, recyclable at the end of life, and cheaper.

But first a note on sizing: I would take your true size on the sneakers (while you should size up with the Rothys points) if you have average length but wide feet. If you have average width but slightly longer foot you might still have to size up (see Sandy’s comments below) So I’m a size 8 in the points but a 7.5 in the sneakers. Since the toe bed area is a lot wider for the sneakers, I didn’t have to size up.

As for how they wear, these are uber comfy and I love how they really wrap around your foot but also stretch with it. The sole is not too heavy though a tad heavier than my Vince sneakers. But they also provide a bit more cushion than my Vince sneakers. No problems with arch support or blisters. Seriously another great shoe from Rothys.

If you’re interested in trying them out, this referral link will get you $20 off (and for me too). And since I got a bit saved up from my Rothy’s points review I’ll be doing another Rothy’s code giveaway soon!

Anyone else try the sneaker and what did you think?

Pregnancy essentials for the first 6 months

I’ve always disliked that marketers bombard moms-to-be and new moms with all the things they need to buy for this new phase in their life, whether it be maternity clothes to pregnancy pillows. But as your body and lifestyle changes, yes sometimes you need new things to accommodate that. So here are the four things that I found most useful for my first 6 months of pregnancy:

A Weekly Pill Case

Ok, so this might not seem like a usual thing to recommend to pregnant women, but prenatal vitamins are really essential during pregnancy (and even before). But the first trimester and nausea/morning sickness is no joke and couple that with pregnancy brain (also a real thing, not a myth) and suddenly remembering to take a vitamin everyday is no easy task (at least for me). So a 7 day pill case was just what I needed to answer my daily question of “Did I take my prenatal vitamin today?” I plan to keep this until I’m a senior citizen because you know I’ll be needing it then too (let’s take care and treasure our plastic folks!).

Belly Butter

Preventing stretch marks with a cream alone is largely a myth (the best prevention is gaining weight slowly or minimally) but moisturizing tight belly skin can help how bad it looks. But more importantly, your skin can get ridiculously itchy when pregnant and moisturizing is key. I mentioned it in a previous post, but this mostly natural belly butter has been essential for my sensitive itchy skin. One 8 oz bottle has lasted me for the first 6 months and I might need just one more bottle for the rest of the pregnancy. And at less than $10 each, it’s waaaay cheaper than the Tata Harper lotion I tried (which gave me a rash). I only wish this came in bulk or a less waste option.

A Wedge Pillow

So I tried one of those large full-body pregnancy pillow and I hated it. And sadly it was quite expensive (what a waste of money, ugh). So when I asked a fellow pregnant friend what she uses, she recommended a wedge pillow. And oh man, I love the wedge! It’s perfect for supporting my belly but also I sometimes use it for my back. I also love using it wedge side down to support my lumbar when sitting up in bed. I plan to use this versatile pillow post pregnancy and beyond. Also I found this wedge pillow easy to take to the hospital when I went for my ER scare. It came in super handy for lumbar support and sleeping but also fit easily into an overnighter bag.

My Slip Silk Pillowcase

So I know this isn’t a normal essential for pregnant women but with a growing belly you are forced to sleep on your side. And I’m just so grateful to have purchased this pillowcase before the pregnancy and I now love it more than ever. I can sleep comfortable on my side knowing that I’m not increasing my chance for wrinkles nor will I wake up with a crease on my cheek. You can read my initial review here (and if you’re tempted to get a cheaper dupe on Amazon, you can read my comparison review of a dupe here).

So those three additions (plus one I already had) has made the most difference so far in my pregnancy. For those mamas and mamas-to-be out there, what were some of your essentials? I already have the heavy duty maternity belt ready to support my ever growing belly and relieve my back (but didn’t include it here since I just got it).

First Jenni Kayne Review: Secondhand Wool Trench

You’ve heard me talk about Jenni Kayne before on this blog and so you know I’m a long time admirer though I never pulled the trigger on any of their stuff (because it’s so dang expensive and not really in the ethical fashion realm). But I just love her simple California casual styling and many of her pieces are classic, feminine and modern (and all in neutrals—just how I like it). I follow her on Insta for inspiration, which I then try to sometimes recreate with Everlane. And recently I started watching The RealReal (through my saved “feeds”) to see what popped up on there. I mostly was keeping an eye out for a pair of their leather mules in my size (which I’m not as keen on purchasing those anymore now that I have my Everlane Boss Mules that I love), but when a wool trench coat was listed I took the chance to try it out ($12 shipping and possible $12 return shipping be damned—I actually purchased several things I’d been saving to try out at once in order to hopefully reduce the pain of these costs). Anyway I’ve featured it several times on my Insta-stories because I’m in looooove. And even though you can’t buy the exact same one (though who knows what will pop up on the secondhand market), I wanted to write this post about my first experience and impressions of Jenni Kayne.

So first of all, I was seriously considering an Everlane coccon coat as a preggo winter coat since none of my winter coats currently fit me. True, I live in California so it’s not super necessary for me to button up all the way. But at the same time I just really disliked the feeling of not being able to button up any of my coats (essentially making everything feel as if it doesn’t fit). Well when I considered the Everlane cocoon coat (which I slightly regretted passing up as a freebie from Everlane but you know about my new resolve), I saw that it was only 60% wool and 40% plastic. In general, I’m trying to add clothes made from only natural fibers from here on out so I was hugely turned off by the plastic content of the coat (which by the way makes it substantially less warm). So I got really lucky that this 100% wool (with a 100% silk lining) Jenni Kayne coat popped up.

And how is it? It’s so dreamy. It really is the perfect wool coat for California. The wool is on the thinner side so I do need to layer sweaters under when it gets colder, but for San Jose weather it’s just right (for San Francisco I definitely need to layer). I love that there are no buttons to fuss with and it’s a simple tie closure. The inside silk lining feels wonderful when I wear shorter sleeve tops or dresses. The material quality is top notch and I’m very impressed by how well made the coat is. I’m wearing a small here and it’s perfect with just enough space to layer my Everlane cashmere waffle knit sweater underneath and accomodate my growing baby bump.

There’s the exact same trench in a size XS available on the RealReal right now and it’s about $100 less than what I paid (dangit!). If you’re lucky enough to be a size 0-2 and live in a place with moderate winters, I highly recommend this wool trench! If that one happen to be gone (depending on when you see this review), maybe you’ll get lucky when you do a general search on theRealReal for a Jenni Kayne coat like this link here.

Everlane Review The Soft Cotton Square Crew

So I’m quite a bit late to the game here on Everlane’s soft cotton square crew since these sweaters were released ages ago. But I usually avoided the square styles since I didn’t think it flattered my petite frame. I’ve always felt like a sail from a sailboat in their square styles. However, I’ve just figured out square shaped sweaters are 1) less sail-like because they drape so nicely and 2) they’re the best friend for pregnant ladies since they don’t cling to the belly.

{Wearing: Everlane soft cotton square crew (size small), Storq pencil skirt (review coming soon), Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here)}

I purchased this sweater on a whim as a second item to get free shipping, not really expecting much. But while I returned the alpaca sweater (reviewed here), I fell in love with this cotton square crew. So much so that I want to get a second one (but I keep reminding myself more is not always better so I’m going to wait). But right now San Jose is in the mid 60’s and it’s the perfect temperature for these cotton sweaters.

This is the perfect, slightly cropped casual cotton sweater to throw over anything (though I especially like the look when it’s over a more fitted bottom). The cotton quality is awesome and is softer than Everlane’s long sleeve cotton crew (reviewed here). Yet the knit is still pretty tightly woven and doesn’t stretch out much with repeated wear. But I do wonder if it’ll stretch out after washing. I’ll keep you posted on how it wears. The care instructions say to hand wash cold, but I usually put sweaters in a net in the washer and wash on delicate (and lay out to dry). I got this in a small and because of the square shape I find it’s the right size (and I’ll get to wear it post pregnancy in the spring too). As I write this review and all the positives about this sweater I’m really itching to get a second one (probably in black).

Anyway who else has this sweater and loves it?

P.S. Anyone else get the free $20 from Everlane? This makes it even more tempting to buy another one…

P.P.S It looks like Everlane added some things to their Choose What You Pay Sale (and here are some of my current faves on sale), the best of which are the polka dot cupro dress here (and if you prefer a button-down, their polka dot cupro shirt here). I loooooove my polka dot cupro dress in navy, which I reviewed here. I’ve worn it 11 times so far and plan to wear it without the belt and with leggings for the winter! And for those living in the southern hemisphere or somewhere similarly warm, my all time favorite cotton dress from Everlane is also for sale here (though I have the blue and white striped one, and not this red one, which I reviewed here). And if you’re feeling lucky, enter my $50 Everlane gift card giveaway that I posted about yesterday!

Weekend Update/Ramblings & Giveaway! {Closed)

Thanks to everyone who saw my rather dramatic Insta-story post about checking into the ER on Saturday night. I had some scary bleed episodes and rushed to the hospital where they did a bunch of tests, gave me an IV, some shots, and special monitoring. After all that they’re not sure what the problem is but it could be either a placental abruption or something with the fibroids. Anyway on the bright side things turned out well and I have special instructions in case I do go into pre-term labor. Also this was kind of a test run for the real deal when I have to go into the hospital for my C-section, which will be longer than this past two night stint. Oh and I’m not sure if I mentioned it here but I definitely have to get a C-section due to my fibroids. When they did the ultrasounds to check for the baby’s growth (which is all good by the way), I also asked them to estimate the size of my fibroids. I have one the size of a mini watermelon and another the size of a grapefruit, and both are blocking the baby’s exit through the cervix. The doctors were amazed I was even able to get pregnant in the first place considering the location of these fibroids.

Anyway the bottom portion is something that I wrote earlier in the week before all this drama. It’s small beans compared to what I just went through but I didn’t feel like erasing it. Even though the bottom matters are relatively insignificant, they’re still things I think about when it comes to this blog.

I learned a bit of discouraging info about the blog this month when I was looking over the stats. I try not to look at it too often since I don’t want to be ruled by numbers, but at the same time I keep an eye out on them so that I can make sure I’m on the right track when it comes to writing about what people want to read. And it seems I went off the track because my numbers are way down last month, which is particularly unusual. And the week I can pinpoint where I lost a lot of readers? After publishing this post saying I’ll be doing less clothing reviews. Hot dang that’s discouraging. I want people to read this blog, so I guess that means the best way to do that is to keep acquiring new things and reviewing them? No, I know that’s not the best for my pocketbook or mental health but still, I wish I could take those words back and keep the readers! The irony, is that I’m still doing a ton of reviews because I had a backlog of things I wanted to talk about on the blog. Plus I’m still buying things, I’m just no longer getting things for free. I feel like I made a wrong decision since who wouldn’t want to be still getting things for free, more readers in the process, and earn more money (triple positive). Now I feel like I’m in triple negative territory. Ah well, I just need to keep doing what I feel is right for me though and try not to get discouraged.

And guess all those fair-weather readers will miss out on some giveaways I had planned. Like this one for a $50 Everlane gift card! Thank you to all those who did decide to stick around despite my decision for no sponsored/gifted items posts and less reviews in general. You are my true reader-friends :)

To enter just fill in the form below. The giveaway closes next Sunday PST and winner will be announced Monday. Email will just be used to notify the winner and as the address to send the digital gift card to (no spam). And please only one entry per person. Thanks!

Fendi Small By The Way Bag Review {Updated August 2022}

I’m not really a fan of Fendi. I’ve never liked their fashion/style (ick their F logos) nor their traditional specialty (fur). But 4-5 years ago, when this By The Way Bag was introduced by Fendi I fell in love. It didn’t matter what the designer brand was, I loved the style and simplicity (it almost look like it could be a Celine bag no?). Anyway I purchased this bag back in 2015 (at $500 off retail, but still at about $1300). A lot, I know but I loved that bag and waited for a year for it to finally go down in price. Also I should mention this is one of the few bags I’ve ever purchased new (that’s how much I wanted it).

And I’ve carried this By The Way (BTW) bag consistently for 3 years now and it’s probably the most used bag in my arsenal. It’s also one of the oldest, and it’s a testament to how great of a bag it is considering how quick I am to sell bags that I don’t find useful anymore.

So it’s a surprise that I’ve never thought about reviewing it on the blog yet. It’s probably because this bag never really took off and became a trendy “it” bag (but that’s also why I love it so much too—it’s obscure). Also when a bunch of new things are constantly entering the closet, the really old stuff sometimes get forgotten. But I would be doing a disservice to the bag if I didn’t review it and let you guys all know about it (especially now that it’s been out for so long and you can find some really really good deals on this bag used like the one linked above).

Some of the things I love about this bag are:

~ (ok this is the best thing about the bag) The handle straps that can be folded down flat against the bag to give it a sleek shape when carrying it crossbody. I usually carry my bags over my shoulder or crossbody but I like having the option of top handles, especially when I need to peer into the bag to get something. Most of my crossbody bags like my Celine Nano Belt (reviewed here) and Celine Soft Cube bag (reviewed here) have handles that stick out or flop down, which isn’t a problem. But this BTW bag handles are so discrete and yet so useful!

~ I’ve always loved the boston bag shape (rectangular bottom with a simple shape and two top handles). But this bag doesn’t look like your classic boston bag (think of Gucci’s Boston Bag or Dior’s Boston bag).

~ That classic shape also allows it to hold a lot of stuff. The top is slightly narrower than the base so the bag feels unobtrusive, yet because of the great rectangular base it can way more than you think! This is probably one of my larger crossbody bags that can fit the essentials and then some.

~ The leather is super durable (well the one I have is the smooth leather) and this is the bag I take on rainy days. No water spots ever. Plus it’s fully zippable so nothing inside gets wet.

~ Speaking of the inside, the bag is separated into three compartments. There’s a middle zipper one, perfect for small items and things you don’t want to lose ever. And then there’s two larger compartments that can hold your sunglass case or your larger wallet. One of the side also has pockets in the lining (though it can’t fit your iPhone). And then the whole thing can be zipped up securely with the main zipper compartment.

~ Because of the adjustable crossbody strap and the flatable top handles, there are a lot of ways to carry this bag. Over your shoulder with a shortened strap, crossbody with the longer strap, hand held, or push one side down flat and pop the other for a cool clutch (like the runway models below but I have to say I have never once carried it this way).

Large size

small size

After three years of using and owning this bag here are some of the negatives I’ve learned:

~ The strap that the BTW comes with is great because the snaps make it fully adjustable. But for me, my hair kept getting stuck in them and it would end up pulling my hair out. No thanks, I need all the hair I can keep! So I ended up switching it with a different strap and it was no big deal.

~ There are no feet on the bottom of this bag so you have to be kind of careful where you set it down. Seriously feet would have made this bag near perfect in my eyes.

~ After 3 years of use and abuse the corners of the bag have started to indent in. But that doesn’t really bother me, it’s just a sign that this bag has been well used (plus have you seen the corners of my Everlane Day Market Tote? If I can handle that, I can handle anything. Well except when the corners start getting holes in them—ahem I’m looking at you Goyard St. Louis bags and Longchamp Le Pilage bags. The flatable handles of the BTW bag will also start bending with use but there’s no popped stitching or other wear on them.

So if you compare my pros and cons list, you can see that the pros far outweigh the cons (even 3 years later). So now you can see why I’ve kept this bag around as a workhorse. Seriously there couldn’t be a more practical crossbody bag for me out there, so I’ll excuse the fact that it’s a Fendi, lol.

As I mentioned above, because this style was never super popular and because it’s 4 years old you can find some major deals on this bag at my favorite online consignment store: Fashionphile. Here are the current ones available. Like I said in the beginning I currently have the black one in a small but I’m really loving the larger one in dove gray, which is priced at less than half of what I bought my black one for! So tempting but I will wait for now.

Anyway this bag really lives up to its name. Not flashy and almost an afterthought. Like “by the way, this is an awesome, minimal and useful bag!”

{August 2022 Update: This Fendi By the Way bag is officially the oldest and most used bag in my collection. I first wrote this post 4 years ago and by then it was already 4 years old. And this 8 year old bag still looks good and functions great. In fact, it made it to the number 6 position in my bag rankings (6 out of 23). It’s funny I love this bag so much since I’m not really a fan of Fendi, but I plan to never sell this bag, ever!}

Grana Review: Pima Lindis Wrap Cardigan

So I’ve been quietly trying Grana items here and there throughout the year since I still had some Grana credits left, but I didn’t want to write a review on every single item because frankly a lot of them ended up being things I didn’t wear much and I wouldn’t recommend them anyway (I’ve sold them to my local Crossroads or on eBay). But this pima lindis wrap cardigan has quietly snuck into my daily wear and has become a bit of an unsung hero. So I thought I’d let people know about it, especially since it’s currently on sale and I wear it at least 4 times a week. But I have to qualify that and say I wear it mostly as lounge-wear at home or quick trips to places where I don’t care who sees me (the garage or grocery store).

I purchased this on a whim (with credits) when I found out I was pregnant because I knew I wanted something that I could wrap. Plus a wrap cardigan would be something useful for breastfeeding too. Also since I didn’t have any wrap cardigans (and very few cardigans at all), I thought I would give this a try. And I’m glad I did! I really love this mostly cotton sweater, which means there’s zero itch. But there’s just enough merino wool to make it warmer than your average cotton sweater. There’s minimal bulk and yet it keeps me warm in 60 degree weather. The knit is really good and there’s been minimal pilling even with such frequent wear (probably due to the mostly cotton content). And I’ve been wearing it now for almost 3 months. It’s the perfect thing to throw on at home and then even step out in for quick errands. This has been one of my favorite buys from Grana this year hands-down.

I got in a medium since I wanted to accommodate my growing belly, but I probably could have gotten away with a small (I’m usually a size 4 on top).

I’m even tempted to get the gray one to recreate the look from Jenni Kayne below (it was a sneak peak of her spring season collection). But the Grana one doesn’t have pockets and it’s a tad shorter than the Jenni Kayne version below (which is good for us short gals).

Anyway if you’re looking for a good wrap cardigan or a transitional sweater, I highly recommend this high quality one from Grana. This one is a clear winner to me! And if you’re a first time Grana customer you can get 10% off your order with this referral link (but they have 10% off sales all the time tbh).

P.S. Congrats to Sara for winning last week’s Etsy Ring giveaway and thanks to everyone who entered!

The Everlane Day Market Tote 100 Wears Later

As my first item in my closet to reach a 100 wears this year (ever since I started keeping track in the Stylebook app), I wanted to give you guys an update on how this Everlane Day Market Tote is holding up. I originally reviewed the bag here. Currently I’m at 104 wear and at $1.58 per wear. Not bad eh?

This is by far my most used item because it’s my work tote and travel tote. And since it’s my work tote I don’t baby it at all. I just pile things in because in all transparency I’m quite a messy person.

So if you’re one to put things in neatly I’m sure your tote would look much better than this after 100 wears. But as for me, I know this is a really great tote because even after all the abuse it’s taken, it’s not only still fully functional but it still looks great too!

I actually like the look of the tote on the weathered side. It looks loved and well-used. And with age, the leather on this tote has gotten better. The leather has softened with use. The corners are also a bit wrinkled and when it sits empty, it takes a funny shape (but I’m pretty sure this is because like I said above, I just throw things in there). But I like it. It’s got it’s own wrinkles and character.

The handles are still in great shape even though I’ll carry up to 30+ pounds in there (and I can do that because the tote itself is so lightweight). I once had a Mansur Gavriel bag straps get flaky and crusty as the leather and paint started to soften and wear but I have no problems like that with this bag.

I have to say that after my Longchamp Le Pliage tote, this Everlane tote is my favorite (the longchamp is #1 because it’s foldable). But this is by far my favorite leather bag, which is interesting because the leather on this bag is unlike most of my leather bags (this one is stiffer and lighter than the rest). So if you’re looking for an excellent workhorse of a bag, I highly recommend Everlane’s Day Market tote. I look forward to writing a 200 wears later post on this bag :)

Weekend Update/Ramblings

A miminmalist Christmas tree? Lol, no just seemed to have lost my box of ornaments from all the moves in the last 3 years and so we’re starting from scratch >.<

How was your week after the holidays? Rough? Yea a bit tough for me too and I’m starting to feel the holiday stress (closing down the biz! Moving! Baby stuff! Mom’s coming to visit! eeek). But I’m trying to keep it cool for the baby and taking time to read some Eckhart Tolle to keep my eye on the bigger picture of life (lol, ok I know he’s kind of out there but after reading 10% Happier and moving towards mindfulness and meditation, the things he says does make sense. He just uses quite abstract and flowery language).

And what a surprise to learn that Brianna of Constant Closet is closing her highly successful Instagram account due to the comments and pressure from the ethical fashion Insta community. There’s such high expectations in this ethical fashion space to do things the “right” way and people can get quite mean about it. I’ve been hurt several times myself for not living up to someone’s expectations though I try to view it as they just want to see me do better. And I try not to take it personally (I mean they don’t really know me do they?). Plus my positive experiences with this community far outweigh the smattering of negativity that I sometimes encounter (so thank you guys for always being so kind!!).

Anyway some great posts recently from ethical fashion bloggers: Love Jasmine’s post about the privilege of being able to shop ethically (it really is a luxury to get to learn what is your enough point and to be able to choose less but better); and Helen’s review of Everlane’s silk charmeuse tie neck blouse makes me really want one but I know I can’t wear it til post baby so what’s the point; and Archana’s list of personal style books have inspired me to hit the library over pinterest!

Unsponsored Storq Signature Leggings Review

This is my second Storq review, with my first one being the Easy pant (review here), and it also happens to be a bottoms review. Comfy, stretchy bottoms for pregnant women are hard to find secondhand, thus I find I’m having to buy them new. Dresses and tops are much easier since I can still fit into a larger size for those.

So one of the more hyped about ethical maternity leggings I heard about are these Signature Leggings from Storq. These leggings are made in China but Storq’s about page assures us they were made under fair working conditions, and thus their ethics are much like Everlane’s. So what did I think of the leggings?

Well the 92% modal and 8% spandex material is quite stretchy and comfortable and I find them to be fully opaque (though I still always cover my butt when wearing leggings). My biggest gripe though is that they don’t make these in various lengths so for someone petite like me (I’m 5’4”) these leggings are way too long. I end up having to bunch them up by the crotch or the upper thigh to make them the right length. Also there’s a seam that runs up vertically from the crotch to the smooth belly panel that doesn’t lie flat (pic below).

So the first time I wore them, after 3 hours I had an angry irritated mark on my belly from that seam (poor design!). However I was able to remedy that by wearing a tank under the leggings, which I have to do everytime I wear these leggings. I think also if you’re taller, your undies would prevent that problem, but that seam is way longer on my short frame and comes up past that. So as long as I tuck in a tank or a tee I no longer have that problem. Also because I’m short, the belly panel comes up to right under my bra.

So these leggings aren’t perfect, but they’re pretty good. And the negatives aren’t so bad that I won’t wear them. In fact they’re an integral part of my favorite maternity uniform (that I’m wearing in all these pics): these leggings plus a thrifted Lemaire for Uniqlo knit tunic.

Anyway I think if you’re taller than 5’4”, these leggings shouldn’t give you any problems. But for us short gals we have to make do, unless does someone know a brand that makes good ethical leggings for petite preggos?

P.S. If you’d like to see a review where I compare these leggings with Hatch Maternity leggings, target maternity leggings, PACT leggings and Uniqlo leggings see here. You can find all my other Storq reviews here.

Everlane Try-On: The Oversized Alpaca Crew

I ordered this shortly before my “no more reviews” resolve a month ago and it’s been sitting in my to review pile for awhile (and that is also how I know I ordered way too many things). But I finally got around to it and I’m calling this post a “try-on” instead of a review because I sent it back.

So before I got my hands on this, I talked to fellow Everlane enthusiasts and found the reviews to be a mixed bag. As for me, I liked it but at this point 1) I have way too many sweaters and 2) there’s no point in keeping this if I don’t like how it looks on me now (due to my preggo belly). I could see myself wearing this post baby but that winter is a long time from now. Also the fact that the sweater is a mix of nylon (30%) and wool (10%) is a turn-off.

{Wearing: Everlane Oversized Alpaca Crew, Storq Pencil Skirt (review coming soon, size 3), Everlane Boss Mules (reviewed here)}

Because of the wool I did find the sweater to be ever so slightly itchy at the beginning but I’m pretty sensitive to that kind of stuff. But after awhile I think your body acclimates and I didn’t notice it as much. This is my first time trying alpaca and I find that the sweater is super lightweight and fluffy. The texture kind of reminds me of angora (rabbit fur) but without the itch and shedding that I’ve experience with angora in the past (like waaaay past).

I wish Everlane had made this as an 100% alpaca sweater because I want to be able to compare it to a 100% cashmere sweater. From a quick internet search I learned that alpaca fiber is more lightweight, warmer and pills less than cashmere due to longer more hollow fibers. Also alpacas are better for the environment because they’re soft-hooved and gentle grazers (this tidbit from Everlane). Anyway I’m definitely going to check out 100% alpaca sweaters in the future but for now I’m going to stick with the cashmere that I already have.

Did you guys try out the alpaca crew and what did you think?

Weekend Update/Ramblings: Ch-ch-ch-chaaaanges

Well I hope everyone had a beautiful and loving Thanksgiving weekend! We were welcomed by my friend’s aunty’s and uncle’s house again, which we are so grateful for since we have no family in the Bay Area.

Anyway I may have alluded to changes in our lives a couple weeks ago but didn’t want to delve into it until things were in motion (and now they are!). So we are getting out of our Airstream rental business. It was a wonderful passion project for 3 years, but now with a baby coming we need to get real and build a better financial base as well as get some premium health insurance. So the hubby and I decided to put our adult pants on, and go do the “responsible” thing and get a “real job”. Well he’s getting the real job and I’m going to be winding down the business and moving before the baby comes. Yep, moving again and I’m really living up to my blog name (lots of temporary homes!). Just 3 years ago we had a house near SF, which we sold to invest in this Airstream business. And then we moved into an Airstream for 2.5 years and then we moved into a bigger trailer for half a year, and then my mom purchased a house for us all to live together in in San Jose (you can see the move in my Insta-story highlights). Well long story short this house is too big for us and we cannot live with my mom (we learned the hard way). So we are striking out on our own into a modest condo in the East Bay (also to be closer to hubby’s work in the city). In 3 years we went from 2500 sq feet, to 225 sq feet, to 400 sq feet, to 2000 sq ft, now down to 1000 sq ft. I’m hoping the magic number for us is 1000 sq ft and that we will no longer be moving for awhile. I’m probably going to change the blog name next year too so I no longer “jinx” myself with a name that indicates temporary homes. Also I feel like the blog name doesn’t really represent anything that I talk about here. But blog changes will come in January once we are settled into our new place.

Anyway, loved reading this guide on how to wear linen in the winter by Lee (something I’m definitely going to try out this year) and these reminders on keeping your shopping and thus your closet at a minimum.

And finally I’m not into Black Friday shopping nor do I want to be a product pusher but I would feel remiss if I didn’t mention that my favorite silk Mara jumpsuit from Elizabeth Suzann is on sale now because they are phasing it out for a wide leg jumpsuit next year. Personally as a petite person I’m not a huge fan of the wide leg trend so I think the current Mara design is a huge winner (my review of it here). Also I feel like the shape is more of a classic that’ll last through the ages. In fact my secondhand silk version I got (which by the way was more expensive than this discounted price), has been my most worn item of clothing this past 3 months (at 14 times so far). I’m super tempted to get another silk version but I think I’m going to try out the linen one for some variety (but the silk is so dreamy). Anyway none of these are affiliate links and this is just a PSA for my fellow ES lovers out there!

P.S. I’ve added more items to my Closet Sale benefitting the Wildfire Relief Fund! Thanks to everyone who’s purchased so far!

Everlane Choose What You Pay Sale: Some of my favorites

I like to do this kind of post every once in awhile since 1) I know that even though Everlane is on the affordable side of the ethical fashion spectrum, not everyone can afford Everlane at full prices and 2) I do so many reviews that sometimes it’s hard to tell what are the real winners that I love and would recommend to my friends (ie you guys). Plus who doesn’t want to purchase a great quality item at a discounted price from a brand that cares about the welfare of their workers? So here are some of my picks that are currently available from their CWYP sale (and I always recommend paying their lowest price—don’t fall for paying for more out of any sense of guilt or obligation because who are they kidding, they’re trying to move these items out of their stock).

The Day Heel

You can read my review of them here. I love my pale rose Day Heels and wear them whenever I want to dress up a little and wear heels. There is a short breaking in period but after that, they’re so comfortable even for my wide feet. The block heels are perfect for stability and I love the casual rounded toe. They no longer have them in the color I have but that oxblood color (linked in the header above) is such a great color for fall/winter.

The Day Heel Mule

Reviewed here. So I mentioned this already but these are my go-to shoes when I want a little lift. I love these more than my Day Heels and these are the only heels I’ll wear interchangeably with flats. There’s a brief breaking in period with these but trust me, once you wear them for a couple hours they’ll be the most comfortable heels ever. They previously only had the suede version on sale but now they have these cognac leather ones for sale now too (and I think the leather version is way better than the suede one). They are my second most worn pair of Everlane shoes after Everlane’s old Street Sandals (no longer produced).

The V Sling Back

Reviewed here. These were my third most worn pair of Everlane shoes and my favorite summer sandals. Not only were they really comfortable but I got a lot of compliments on them as well. Also I favor the woven leather version over the suede even though they’re a tad more expensive because the woven leather version has give and thus are way more comfortable on my wide-ish feet (I tried the suede version in the V heels and found they had minimal give). If you live in California or another warm climate than the black version of these could probably take you through fall to early winter since the covered toes will keep your feet warm enough (and I wonder how they’d look with socks and ankle length pants—I might have to give that a try).

The Modern Loafer Mule

Reviewed here. I love my modern loafer mules and wear it pretty often when I know I won’t be walking around a ton (usually for short errands that involve driving). These would also make awesome office shoes since they look professional but they’re also slip on. I just wouldn’t walk around in them because they can be quite heavy and since they’re mules you do have to drag your feet a bit to keep them on. You know, you gotta do the mule shuffle lol. If I’m walking around a lot, my go to mules are Everlane’s Boss Mules (reviewed here) because they’re so much lighter and easier to walk around in. But I just really love the look of these modern loafer mules and they work so much better for my wide feet than the regular modern loafers.

The Soft Cotton Popover Shirt

So this is what I’ve been waiting for—this overpriced but good shirt to go on sale. When I originally reviewed it (here) I liked the shirt though I didn’t think it was worth the original $75 dollars (that’s only $3 less than their Utility Jacket that was so much more substantial and useful). And as I predicted, not a lot of people probably purchased it at that price. Well now it’s $53 which is a lot more reasonable for a shirt (though still a bit high). I originally tried a size 0 (which was way too small and smaller than my usual size 4—but it said oversized and I wanted a more fitted shirt). I then tried a size 2 in store and that was much better, so if you want a less oversized look I would go one size down. If you like the oversized look, stick with your true size (which is what I ended up doing when I re-purchased this because of my current preggo status). If $53 is still high for you, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the price go down further if you don’t mind waiting another couple of months.

And that’s it, that’s all I see on their current page that I would recommend. Yes, it’s a bit shoe heavy but I have to say Everlane makes some of the best valued Italian leather shoes. And though their original selections (ie the modern loafer) used to cater to the narrow-footed, the ones above all work with my wide and getting -wider-by-the-week feet (due to pregnancy).

Closet Sale to benefit the Wildfire Relief Fund

I have so much stuff. It’s a fact and I’m so lucky and grateful, but there are many people in California now with absolutely nothing due to the wildfires. I can’t even imagination the devastation of losing everything and so close to the holidays as well. I’ve donated already to the Red Cross but I felt like that wasn’t enough so I wanted to do a little sale on my Closet Sale page with all proceeds going to the Wildfire Relief Fund. I’ve started by listing fashion jewelry that’s too meaningful for me to throw in a bag for Goodwill. So I figured it would be a win-win-win by selling it to you guys at a good price, and I know it will go to a good home and be used, as well as donate more to another good organization to help the wildfire victims. Shipping is free (US only).