Walking in the Dark

Day 2 work outfit was inspired by a photo in the April 2011 issue of In Style Magazine...

So my shirt is not orange but this funky rose orange color but the idea of pairing with white for a stark opposite still works...

 Not sure if you noticed but yesterday I listed this belt but didn't realize I actually forgot to wear it! I had worn it when I was trying on the outfit during packing so thought I had it on! So this morning I made sure I wore it with this outfit at least!

 The feather madellian necklace got a lot of compliments from the client today!

 Wrapped the multi layered necklace like a bracelet around my watch!

 Notice the flats!? I have this giant blister on my toe now and no matter what I wear it hurts. But when I put on the heels it hurt so much that I couldn't even pose with them for the photos. The flats were fine. At least these pants are short enough to wear with them. Yesterday's pants would have been impossible with flats.

 

The construction workers started early today right on the street overlooking my balcony so had to quickly snap these before the sound of the timer got their attention and they thought I was a crazy lady taking her own photos at 7 AM in the morning in dusk!

Top - Eddie Bauer

Pants - Target

Necklace - Forever 21

Watch - Michael Kors

Bracelet - H&M

Ring - from Turkey

Flats - Steve Madden

TODAY:
I lost track of time last night and went to bed at 1 AM! And had to get up at 6:45 to meet my client who picked me up at 7:30 AM! But oddly plowed trhough the day all the way until 6 PM. Then again I lost track of time in the hotel room working until 8:14 and realized I better go get dinner before they close.
So, walking in the dark!
I do not like walking in the dark! It is creepy.
Especially when you see a large rodent which my wishful thinking would like to imagine it was a possum of some sort and not a rat. It climbed the tree and on to the branch right above where I was supposed to walk. I so was not going to do that and went another way and once again got totally turned around and lost in the sea of condo units. This hotel has signs for the pool everywhere but not a single sign indicating which way the main lobby building is!
I eventually found my way to the restaurant.
Another observation... When I am with my kids no matter how I dress and what I wear people still see me as one thing and that is a 'mom'! So, I am used to it. It always throws me up when I am not with them and people (creepy man on the creepy dark street) notice and start talking to me. Did I say I do not like walking in the dark?
I got my food and once again they gave me a giant size bag of chips which I already had 3/4ths of it from last night already. Well at least it is piling up as snack food when my best friend comes over tomorrow!
Had another nice skype session with the kids and my husband. They were so cute once again. So talkative and taking turns telling me about their day. Then my daughter dropped the bullet. She said 'Mommy I want you here to hug me' and I lost it. And then they kept asking why I was making that weird face and why I was sad. It is just so hard being away from them.

Making Pink Professional

My outfit on the 1st day of work. Inspired by the Tommy Hilfiger ad in the March 2011 Vogue issue:

Gave me the idea of combining a striped shirt with a striped jacket. Plus I got to wear my super old jacket that has been sitting in the closet for a very long time!

 I still remember the trip and the day I bought this jacket from my favorite designer discount store of Century 21 in New York city. I should have done a close-up on the side pocket details which have mini hot pink bows.

 The barely pink flare slacks were a $2 thrift store find by my mom with still tags on!

 I was glad no one was up or walking around my hotel in the morning when I took these.
I am mostly hating this outdoor access condo style layout of my hotel but for photos it is actually working out great!

 A bit tight for professional wear but I really wanted to wear outfits from my list instead just wearing my old work clothes!

Jacket - BCBG

Blouse - Gap

Pants - Victoria's Secret

Belt - Limited

Shoes, necklace - Forever 21

Earrings and ring - Tiffany's

Watch - Michael Kors

TRAVEL/WORK Observations:
1. A lot of mini down time waiting which I am filling with reading a book (currently The Help - it is amazing).
2. I am annoyed with this hotel which has no food or room service and also apparently no shuttle service either! Had to take a cab to work this morning and be dropped of by the client!
3. Still doing good keeping my goal of staying healthy - had a greek salad with grilled salmon for lunch, chipotle chicken with rice and salad for dinner and only 1 cup of coffee and 1 soda. A LOT of water. And even fit in a 30 minute workout at the puny gym.
4. Wearing heels were a big mistake today! Especially the wooden platforms with no padding. I imagined my old small office environment where the  meetings were held either in my own office or the conference room 3 doors down, where the closest starbucks was on the main floor of the same building and lunch places around the same block. walking was minimal and heels were no issue. Well, not at this place. It is a huge campus with many streets and at least 10-15 low level buildings all spread out. To my luck every time they wanted me to meet someone or attend a meeting we had to walk what seemed like miles at a very fast pace. My feet were DYING! i think I am going to stick with flats tomorrow!
5. I miss my family soooo much.  I just skyped with them now and they were sooo adorable in their PJs fresh out of bath talking over each other to tell me these:
my son: 'i built a lion cage', 'i built a train track all by  myself', 'i have to show you my sticky lizard from the birhtday goodie bag', 'I have to pee but I will be right back' and lastly 'I love you mommy'.
My girl: 'i have two McQueens', 'i have to pee too', 'i have a sticky frog', 'I right be back' and kissess in the air to the laptop camera.

Gloomy Traveler

 Well my adventure of a traveling working mom starts today.

This was the outfit I chose for the flight.

The inspiration came from Carrie Fabulous's great polyvore combinations:

We realized once again that we do not own any medium sized luggage.  Either these really large one which we use for international trips or the small carry on bags.

 I bought this cute little orange polka dot scarf at H&M one day.

 

I decided since I was traveling solo for work and on southwest which allows bags for free I was not going to try to make an efficient packing list. And as a result my bag was of course 5 lbs over and I had to take out the magazines and the book to my tote bag instead. Well this is what happens when you pack 3 pairs of heavy wooden platform style shoes, plus gym shoes, plus flats. I am blaming the shoes.

 

 

My seat preferences in an airplane depends on the length of the flight. For long international flights I prefer the window so I can cozy up and sleep. For shorter business flights I always prefer the isle cause I drink caffeine and like to use the bathroom at will without bothering anyone.  This is all without kids of course. With kids any seat is bad so it doesn’t really matter. And one place I did not miss the kids was during the flight. I genuinely smiled at all the mothers flying with kids and then tactfully made sure I sat far from them! J

 My mom took me to the airport since my kids were napping at home when I left. When she dropped me off we both laughed how I feel so weird not towing two kids, a stroller, couple mini backpacks, snack bags and a huge diaper bag. I didn’t know what to do with myself.  I always write how I cherish the quiet on those nights I get a break and drive to meet my friends. But not this time.  I felt lonely, missing the kids already.

Jacket - Forever 21

Tee - Target

Boyfriend Jeans - Newport News

Scarf - H&M

Hat - local beach boutique

Ballet Flats - Steve Madden

TODAY:

Spent a nice morning with the kids and also worked on making sure the house was left in top shape with no dirty clothes or dishes and dinner. Then realized I was running out of time and started panicking. My mom and step dad came over to take the kids to the park and to lunch so I can pack in peace.

My flight was delayed 2 hours in the air cause it couldn't land then had to go to another city (Austin) to re-fuel. I was starving and of course everything at the airport was closed. Cab line was long since it was raining but finally got a cab. Then he made the smart offer to stop at a fast food drive thru and I am soooo glad I did cause the hotel has no food or room service except for breakfast. I am determined to eat healthy and workout this week. So at the airport I bought a fruit cup and water from Starbucks and from Wendy's I got a grilled chicken salad and water. Must go to bed now cause I am 2 hours behind and morning is going to be rough!