Splurge vs. Steal: Camo Pants

Posted in Beauty & Fashion by

I’m really late to this party (what’s new, right?  I also just bought my first pair of TOMS…) which is probably why I lucked out and scored these broken-in straight khaki camo pants from Gap for like $18 using a promo code.  They’re super comfortable, casual and on sale right now for half the price of these ones from Loft (that’s without using a promo code).  The Loft pair are darker but the fit looks great and they’ve got fabulous reviews.  The real splurge is this super skinny pair by True Religion.  Probably not worth it, but if you’re an avid True Religion wearer, by all means.

Camo Pant Splurge or Steal

Gap  |  Loft  |  True Religion

Other amazing sale styles include this camo cargo pair from Ralph Lauren, these amazing white camo pants by Sanctuary – so summery! – and similar to these True Religion ones (still on sale but way pricier), and lastly these adorable pink camo pants (sounds tacky but they look quite fun) by Joe’s Jeans for the little ladies (or the lucky ones that can squeeze into them).

Are you tardy to the camo party with me or so over it already that I should be ashamed of myself? 

The Way, Way Back

Posted in Television & Movies by

Last weekend Mumbles and I watched the movie The Way, Way Back.  I faintly recalled an interview on Kevin & Bean with Steve Carrell saying how he really enjoyed his part in the movie playing a total jerk. Other than that and the 85% Rotten Tomatoes rating in the info credits (so handy!), we had absolutely no idea what the movie would be about.  And it’s description wasn’t very enticing either:

Shy 14-year-old Duncan goes on summer vacation with his mother, her overbearing boyfriend, and her boyfriend’s daughter. Having a rough time fitting in, Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen, manager of the Water Wizz water park.

the way way back photo by claire folger via imdb

So anyway, we start watching and all of a sudden, Mumbles and I realize that this movie is fantastic and we’re totally enthralled – laughing and getting completely caught up in the story.  We both were a bit sad when it ended because we enjoyed it so much.

It was funny for us to enjoy the ensemble of actors in roles you wouldn’t expect but it was cast really well.  It’s hard to not like Steve Carrell but boy is he good at playing an oblivious a-hole.  Mumbles realized about a quarter of the way into it that the mom is “the same lady from [now-cancelled, no shocker] Hostages [man, we gotta stop watching shows like that…always getting cancelled with no resolution! ugh!].  I only recognized Sam Rockwell as the bad guy in one of the Charlie’s Angels movies…ha!  But we both were like “oh, hey, that guy…” to Nat Faxon who we knew from the cancelled Ben & Kate sitcom. A little more digging revealed that Faxon was one of the directors and writers with (the principal from Community!) Jim Rash.  Other faces you’ll know include Anna Sophia Robb (The Carrie Diaries), Amanda Peet, Rob Corddry (“you know why!” — quick, name that movie!), Maya Rudolph, and Allison Janney who is awesomely hilarious in this one.

I can’t recall the last time I’ve been so satisfied after watching a movie.  Really, really good, you guys.  Watch it.  Thank me later.

[photo via]

The Best Gift for New Parents

Posted in Food by

I realized this morning on my way to work that the one thing new parents need more than anything else is…coffee.  A lot of it. Instead of sending sweets or flowers after a sweet babe is born, be the hero (slash jerky know-it-all) that provides new parent friends with the gift of the gloriousness that is caffeine. This trio of Stumptown Coffee blends or this duo of coffee + chocolate (yum) are both packaged beautifully. For Orange County locals, a quick trip to Kéan Coffee is worth a visit to grab some for you and some for them.  If you’ve got the dough (or just empathy for lack of sleep), you can really take it up a notch by throwing together a nice little gift basket with a pair of travel mugs or go all out with a Keurig system to make life even easier for them.

I miss the process of brewing a pot of coffee in the morning, but my mom bought us a mini Keurig (retails for around $99 – be savvy and use those Bed, Bath & Beyond or Macy’s coupons!) for Christmas and it’s been so convenient and easy to just add a cup of water, pop in a k-cup and be on my way to work. By the way, wouldn’t it be such a thoughtful gift to send to a mama as she begins back at work?  I think so too.

stumptown coffee photo by james ransom

 

How many cups of coffee do you drink a day?

 

[image via James Ransom for Provisions by Food 52]

Edible Art

Posted in Food by

While I fancy myself a creative, crafty person, I was just thinking to myself the other day that I’ve hardly had much time to tackle any personal projects lately. I’m doing the best I can to go to work, eat, go to bed early, and get myself out of bed every morning (after getting up at least twice with Declan at night) with at least enough energy to throw on a coat of mascara. Meanwhile this lady’s over here julienning her carrots and making hot air balloons out of pears.

mommy-and-me-dog-oatmeal

Seriously, can you imagine opening your lunch box to find a Batman-shaped sandwich?  You’d be the envy of the playground. What anticipation and excitement you’d feel every day (no pressure, mom)!

Check out How About Cookie’s full food art gallery and follow her on Instagram for photos so cute you just wanna eat ’em up!

[images via How About Cookie]

 

P.S. You saw these photos of the mom who stages adorable scenes around her baby during naptime, right? Too much.