Modern Femme at home...Emergency preparedness kits

Hello my dear readers.  For those of you who live in the mid-Atlantic and northeast, I hope this post finds you well after the past three days.  Sandy may have come and gone for those of us on the east coast, but her aftereffects are still being felt by many.  My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones in this storm, as well as to those who lost their homes to fires and floods.

We were very lucky at Chez Modern Femme, and were spared the brunt of the storm.  Though we had prepared for the worst, we didn't lose electricity, and were able to shelter in place, with no flooding and no damage to our property from the winds.  

In preparation for Sandy, we bought extra flashlights and batteries, had candles and matches laid out on the dining room table, and dusted off our hand cranked radio.  I had also purchased non-perishable food, non-refrigerated fruits and vegetables, and three gallons of distilled water.   Obviously, we didn't end up needing our flashlights or using the distilled water, but an event like Sandy makes you realize how important it is to have basic items on hand to survive during a weather-related emergency, or heaven forbid, a man-made emergency. 

You can find resources for what to pack in an emergency preparedness kit at Ready.gov.  I've looked through their suggestions for a basic emergency kit and marked what I have and don't have.  Here's how I fare with FEMA's recommended basic supplies:

Lighting
1.  Flashlights and extra batteries. (Have.)

Food and Water
2.  Water (3 gallons/per person/per day) (Had, but only enough for one person for one day)
3.  Non-perishable food, 3 day supply. (Have. See thoughts on menus below.)
4.  Manual can opener for food. (Have.)

Health
5.  First aid kit. (Have - have assembled our own family-specific kit that lives in the linen closet)
6.  Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.  (Have everything but the plastic ties.  Moist towelettes courtesy of Bebe - i.e. diaper wipes!)

Safety
7.  Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place.  (Have.  Well, in a manner of speaking.  Mr. MF has dust masks for his DIY projects, and he had purchased some plastic sheeting to cover our back porch door, which always leaks in heavy rains.  We have duct tape.)
8.  Whistle to signal for help  (Don't have.)

Communication
9. Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both. (Have.)
10.  Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger (Have everything but the solar charger, which is a good idea!)

Other
11. Local maps. (Don't have.)

12.  Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities   (Have.)

FEMA recommends these items be packed together in a kit.  I appreciate that, but frankly, all of the items that they recommend I can find uses for in my daily life, so for now, my emergency "kit" will be kept in various locations around my house.  Here are some additional quality of life extras that I either had, or want to purchase for the next emergency:

1.  Candles, lighters and matches.  (Have.)
2.  Lanterns, for use as ambient light in rooms at night. (Don't have.)
3.  Board games or puzzles, to pass the time.  (Don't have.)
4.  Red wine - for Mommy time outs - no refrigeration needed!  (Have.)
5. A full tank of gas in the car. (Have.)
6.  Cash, for use in cases where credit/debit cards cannot be accepted. (Have.)

A word about non-perishable menus.  Here's a more detailed listing of what I had on-stock to feed my family. I've grouped them together to give you a sense of the meals that could be made.  (Note: I have a gas-powered range, which makes some cooking possible in a blackout).

Carbs:
1.  Steel-cut Irish oatmeal. 
2.  Sandwich bread.
3.  Pasta
4.  Rice

Protein:
1. Peanut butter
2.  Cannelini beans
3.  Roasted almonds and peanuts

Vegetables and fruit:
1.  Apples, pears, bananas
2.  Sweet potatoes and yellow potatoes
3.  Garlic, onions

Other:
1.  Assorted spices and sugars
2. Spaghetti sauce
3.  Assorted condiments and oils
4.  Chicken stock

Using those examples, here's a sample of what I could have made during a blackout:

Breakfast:  Oatmeal with brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.   Peanut butter sandwiches with banana slices. 
Lunch:  Cannelini bean soup, drizzled with paprika oil. Peanut butter sandwiches.
Snack:  Apples with peanut butter.  Roasted almonds.
Dinner:  Spaghetti with pasta sauce.  Spaghetti with garlic and red pepper flakes.   Risotto with sweet potatoes.

For Bebe, I could have steamed and mashed bananas, pears, apples and sweet potatoes.

One final thing that I want to bring up is the importance of having a plan with your family for what to do and where to meet during an emergency.  I was in New York on 9/11 and was able to find my father in the chaos, without the aid of cellphones, because we had agreed years earlier that we would meet at a specific location in the event of an emergency.  Mr. MF and I have discussed and selected an emergency rendez-vous location for our little family.  It doesn't take but a few minutes to discuss with your loved ones, and it makes all the difference in the world when you need it, so please at least make an emergency rendez-vous plan with your family, if you haven't already.

If you have emergency kit suggestions or additions, or recipes that you can make with non-perishable foods, please share them in the comments!

Stay safe,
xoxo
MF

Modern Femme loves....Scary movies!

I remember when I was a teenager (back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth), and USA Network had their "31 Nights of Terror," or whatever it was called, where they played a scary movie every night in October.  It was awesome - especially because as I remember it, none of the movies were too terribly scary, and all built up your anticipation for Halloween.  I don't think USA has done their month-long scary movie marathon for a while, which is tragic.  But then again, I don't have cable anyway, so it doesn't really make a whole lot of difference to me.  If I want a scary movie marathon, thanks to Netflix Instant streaming, I'm good to go.

I'm a fan of cheesy horror films.  I don't like any of the genre's grotesque films that are so popular nowadays - give me Mike Myers over that creepy puppet from the Saw franchise any day.  I do appreciate some of the classic films from the genre, but overall I prefer to laugh at myself being scared than to cringe in real fright.

Poor Dracula's Daughter...no one takes her seriously. She's just weird.

In anticipation of Halloween, I’m listing the 10 movies that would make my "31 Nights of Terror" movie queue**.  Let's start with the campy - i.e. the movies I can watch at night with all the lights off:

1.  Halloween H20: 20 Years Later:  Okay, so I know its sacrilege to not name the original, but until the slashing gets going, I'm admiring the picturesque town and house Jamie Lee's character lives in and making mental interior decorating notes.

2.  Freddy vs. Jason.  Do I even have to explain? Freddy. Versus. Jason.  The movie is essentially a love letter to Halloween's two most unsuccessful villains. The zingers are awesome, and the nonsensical is elevated to an art form.

3.  From Dusk Till Dawn.  A totally irreverent vampire film such as only Quentin Tarantino could write (and star in).  George Clooney at his dustiest, with a neck tattoo and a good dose of Clooneyesque head-tilted skepticism.  And of course, Salma Hayak and her dance partner, the world's biggest snake.

4.  Army of Darkness.  Perhaps one of the most quotable horror movies ever, and the king of all horror camp. "Hail to the king, baby."

5.  The Lost Boys.  Vampires, hair gel, 80s music, California beaches, and both Coreys.  Something so wrong never felt so right. 

Okay, now we transition to the movies where I need one light on:

6.  Dracula.  Gary Oldman sports some of the best wigs I've ever seen in any movie in this film.  Keanu Reeves spends most of his screentime looking confused.  And Winona Ryder's Mina is so heartbreakingly beautiful to look at, with her porcelain skin and her gentle demeanor, that you don't know whether to be excited or terrified for her when her dark prince shows up.

7.  30 Days of Night.  On the other hand, anyone who thinks vampires are romantic should watch this movie about what happens when darkness descends on a remote town in Alaska.

8.  The Others.  Nicole Kidman looks like she's on the verge of a total breakdown for almost all of the movie, which is enough to make you nervous even before the bumps-in-the-night begin.  And ugh, I'll never forgot that creepy grandma speaking in a little girl's voice. ::shudder::

9.  Alien.  Original is best, in this case.  Somedays I think this is horror, and somedays I think it's action, but in any case, Sigourney Weaver is boss.

10.  The Ninth Gate.  Only Johnny Depp, who plays a rare books expert, could make old tomes seem creepy.   The music helps too - some of the creepiest "plink-plink-plink" synthesizer I've ever heard.

So there you have it!  Dim the lights, grab some popcorn and order up one or two of these on Netflix.  I don't know about you, but I've figured out what I'm doing this Saturday night.  Mmmm-waaa-haaa-haaaaaaa.

Creepily yours,
BOO!
xoxo,
MF 


**Lest you all think I'm a total troglodyte, there are some more psychological horror films that I want to give a nod to, but wouldn't be on my 31 Nights of Terror List, because they're too dang serious: The Silence of the Lambs, Se7en, 28 Days Later, or too dang scary:  The Exorcist, The Ring.

Modern Femme loves...9 Lives for Women

I'm excited to announce that I've been featured over at 9 Lives for Women, a multi-channel blog about the different life stages working women transverse.  Kathryn Sollmann, 9 Lives' Managing Partner and Founder, interviewed me on my experience returning to work as a new mother and surviving the "motherhood guilts."  You can read the post here.

I really enjoy reading Kathryn's insightful posts on the various issues women deal with in their professional lives.  Whether it be trying to break into (or back into) the work force, deciding whether to stay on your current career path, or how to make the most of your retirement planning, 9 Lives for Women has something for everyone.  Here is what the blog is all about, in Kathryn's own words:

9 Lives is a multi-channel blog site that speaks directly to women in 9 distinct life stages in and out of the workforce.  I developed the concept after a decade of helping women find ways to restart or advance their careers.  From this experience, I know that from college years to retirement years women live many lives—both in and out of the workforce.  There’s not one set path…we choose or try to make the best of many twists and turns.

We juggle paid and unpaid work with complex family responsibilities. We often have one foot in and one foot out of the workforce.  We search for ways to earn both green and “psychic” dollars. We have stops and starts and times when we don’t feel like the person who got that amazing degree or held that prestigious job. We want to feel productive, engaged and valued at every age and stage, and we look to other smart women for advice and encouragement.

Some women move sequentially through the “9 Lives”–and many others move back and forth or feel stalled in one particular stage.  9 Lives gives you the confidence to move on, or the conviction that you’re exactly where you honestly want to be.  

Click “Which Blog is For You?”  to find your work/life stage and a growing library of blog posts that will give you practical advice and encouragement.

Welcome to the 9 Lives community…read, recharge and join the conversation!

I encourage you all to check it out!

xoxo,
MF

Modern Femme loves...Martha Stewart Home Office

Trust Martha in all things.  (The MF motto.)

I love Martha Stewart.  I think she's an amazing entrepreneur, I am in awe of her energy level (the woman is 71 years old and has a schedule that makes me tired just reading about it), I really admire her zest for living, and I like her style.  I  am inclined to purchase at least one item from every Martha Stewart product line, and my latest obsession is with her home office products.  Say what you will about Martha, she has a eye for detail, and can make even the most mundane thing, like binders, beautiful.

Here's what I have from her Martha Stewart Home Office line that I love:

How gorgeous is this pebbled binder in Martha's signature blue?  I keep all my personal and home-related projects in my binder, such as the printouts from the Frazzle Free Christmas that I wrote about earlier this week, my annual goals, and ideas for craft projects.

I use this smooth binder, again in that fabulous blue, as the MF Family Household Binder.  (If you haven't heard of household binders, there about one million examples on Pinterest.)  This stores our family calendar, an address list of all our family and friends, a birthday listing, menu planning and grocery shopping checklists, etc.

It's hard to see because of the small resolution, but this is a dry erase wall decal for emergency phone numbers.  I have mine right next to the phone in the kitchen.  Not only does it list fire, police and emergency medical information, but it also has information for your family's various doctors' offices, plumber and electrician, and any miscellaneous family/friends points of contact.  I really like that you can easily update the information on it, thanks to the dry-erase!

Martha's mad for her chalk labels - she has them all over Pinterest and her Living magazine.  And I can see why - I use these chalk labels to identify the contents of the various storage bins in my linen closet.  When I decide to change up my organization system (which happens often) I just erase the labels and rewrite!

Finally, I have these permanent clothing tags, which are worth every cent.  When Bebe was still at his daycare facility all his clothes had to be labeled.  I was a little skeptical as to whether these tags would last through one wearing (they are plastic and stretchy) but low and behold, they've lasted not only through one wearing, but through multiple cycles in the washing machine and dryer! 

I won't even get into what I wish I had from Martha's line - we'd be here all day. 

Well, okay maybe I'll just mention one thing:

I want all her "Stack+Fit" Desk Accessories, in the Martha Stewart Blue to match my binders.  Hear that, Santa? 

xoxo,
MF

Modern Femme Entertains...Low Key Get Together becomes You've Got Mail!

You know how sometimes you go onto You Tube because you just want to watch that one video and then all of a sudden it's three hours later and you're watching snippets of late night talk shows from four years ago (ahh hello Craig Ferguson, you're adorable and I'm talking about you)? 

Or how you'll start thinking about one thing, like say:

"Gosh, I had a really fun little get-together last weekend, let me write a quick blog post about it."

And you'll then find a picture of the simple and yummy spread that you threw together the morning of the aforementioned get-together to post:

And because the get-together was centered around fall flavors and a homecoming parade for a local university, you'll start thinking about fall, and homecoming events, and your time at school.  And then you'll think about how, even though the last time you set foot on a campus was 12 years ago, fall foliage and sunny days with cool afternoons make you think of the excitement of going back to school and getting brand new school supplies, and then you think of:

That really wonderful quote from "You've Got Mail," about pencil bouquets, which you can't quite remember, so you scoot over to IMDB to look the movie's memorable quotes page, which is how you stumble upon this quote:

Joe Fox: You know, sometimes I wonder...

Kathleen Kelly: What?
Joe Fox: Well... if I hadn't been Fox Books and you hadn't been The Shop Around the Corner, and you and I had just, well, met...
Kathleen Kelly: I know.
Joe Fox: Yeah. I would have asked for your number, and I wouldn't have been able to wait twenty-four hours before calling you and saying, "Hey, how about... oh, how about some coffee or, you know, drinks or dinner or a movie... for as long as we both shall live?"
Kathleen Kelly: Joe...
Joe Fox: And you and I would have never been at war. And the only thing we'd fight about would be which video to rent on a Saturday night.
Kathleen Kelly: Well, who fights about that?
Joe Fox: Well, some people. Not us.
Kathleen Kelly: We would never.
Joe Fox: If only.
Kathleen Kelly: [pause] I gotta go.
Joe Fox: Well, let me ask you something. How can you forgive this guy for standing you up and not forgive me for this tiny little thing of... of putting you out of business?
[Kathleen starts to cry]
Joe Fox: Oh, how I wish you would.
Kathleen Kelly: I really have to go.
Joe Fox: Yeah, well... you don't want to be late.


And you read the quote like three times in a row, because it's just the sweetest thing ever.  You can remember Tom Hanks delivering those lines to Meg Ryan and you wish that this scene could have been a moment from your life, because every Modern Femme deserves to have a guy say to her "I wouldn't have been able to wait twenty-four hours before calling you and saying, "Hey, how about... oh, how about some coffee or, you know, drinks or dinner or a movie... for as long as we both shall live?"

And then you think...why am I on IMDB?  What was I going to post about?

Fall's got me,

xoxo

MF

PS - the pencil bouquet line is "Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."

Modern Femme at Work....Classic Black Pumps

Like the little black dress, women face a dizzying selection when contemplating that classic work wardrobe staple, the black leather pump.  I myself have owned a least six different pairs, all worn into the ground (or marched to the Goodwill box). 

With history comes lessons learned:  from heels that could double as ice picks, to overly pointed toe-boxes (that could double as ice picks), to cheap faux-leather-that's-really-plastic and rubs off all your skin, to chic-orthopedic, I've owned all the bad (and in some cases, the ugly) that can come in a black heeled package.

Which is why I RAN and not walked to DSW when I saw these heels.  After a long, painful, and occasionally dowdy drought, I've finally found a classically silhouetted black leather heel that looks beautiful, fits comfortably, and goes with everything.  Ladies (and gentlemen - we're equally opportunity here at Modern Femme), may I introduce "Rylie" from LAUREN Ralph Lauren.

These beauties live under my desk, because I wear them at least three times a week.  Their stacked heel and almond toe make them comfortable to be in all day, the leather is good-quality with just the right amount of luster, and aesthetically these pumps look good peeking out from under trouser hems, or on full display with a pencil skirt.  They come at a price point most of us can live with (especially if you can find them at DSW, as I did).  And they are from Ralph, whom I adore.

So beautiful, no?

xoxo,
MF

Modern Femme makes...Homemade Bebe Food

Bebe has started eating solids.  It's a joy to watch him discover new tastes, and decide what he does like (sweet potatoes, pears, apples, peas, butternut squash), what he doesn't like (zucchini), and what he's on the fence about (carrots, beets).

 I've been making Bebe's food at home.  It's so easy to make baby food, and in our house where penny pinching has become an Olympic event, you can't beat the price.  I either steam or roast the fruits and veggies, and then puree them in the blender.  Steaming takes all of 10 minutes, while roasting takes a bit longer, but either way, it's pretty low fuss.  I use tools that I already had in my kitchen, like a steamer basket, roasting trays, blender, etc.

After I make the food, I let it cool before portioning it in trays and sticking it in the freezer.  Once the food is frozen, I pop the cubes into Ziploc baggies.  

The colorful finished products.  Top row, left to right: Zucchini, Peas, Pears. Bottom row, left to right: Sweet potatoes, Apples, Carrots, Butternut Squash, Beets.

I'm drawing inspiration from the following cookbooks:  The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet,  Start Fresh: Your Child's Jump Start to Lifelong Healthy Eating, and Cooking Light First Foods. 

I'm thinking this weekend I'll try out roasted carrots (to see if Bebe likes the roasted flavor better than just steamed carrots) and maybe roasted cauliflower!  Let me know in the comments if there are any fruits and veggies that you think I should try.

xoxo,
MF

Modern Femme at Home...Frazzle Free Christmas

I love the holiday seasons.  I say seasons, because from October 1st through January 2nd, I'm floating on Cloud 9, on a dopamine high fueled by pumpkins, apple cider, candy, scary movies, costumes, spider webs, gourds, pies, savory crackers and breads, cranberries, turkeys, tables filled with white platters of food, candles, twinkle lights, sugar cookies with icing frosting, office holiday parties, door decorating contests, wreaths, Nutcrackers, Christmas trees, carols and anything seasonal sung by Ella/Frank/Nat, ornaments, stockings, shopping, wrapping, "The Christmas Story," "Home Alone," and "Love Actually" movies, flannel pajamas, Christmas morning meals of scrambled eggs and Sarah Lee Coffee cake with mimosas and hot coffee, Christmas lunch of vichyssoise and beef Wellington followed by a Bouche de Noel, presents, thank you notes, sparklers, festive hats, and champagne.

So, naturally, I'm in my happy place as I write this.  But this year my happy place is clouded with a little bit of apprehension, because this is my first holiday season with Bebe in the house.   I love Bebe more'n my luggage, but Lordee does the little man make the day speed by!  For the past decade as an independent adult, I have approached every holiday season with the best of intentions, but inevitably ended with 6 days to go till Christmas, still needing to buy gifts, send cards, bake cookies, and generally stressing myself sick.

Well, that. Is. Not. Going. To. Happen. This. Year.  It can't!  I have to approach all these holidays with Bebe on my hip and a plan in my hand.  And I've found one.

There's a great website called Families with Purpose, and they have posted a complete timeline for a Frazzle Free Christmas.  I'm following their "8 Weeks to a Frazzle Free Christmas," which is, in their own words:

"The 8 Weeks to a Frazzle Free Christmas begins on October 15th and ends on December 9th, giving you and your family a full two weeks BEFORE Christmas to relax, unwind, and enjoy the holiday season.  This plan is based on the philosophy of starting early and working in small increments to get ready for Christmas and requires on average 15 - 20 minutes a day to complete."

They have a day-by-day planning e-book, weekly checklists and free printables.  I'm on week 2 of the 8 week Frazzle Free Christmas plan, and I'm feeling pretty serene.  Won't you join me in making this holiday season the most relaxed one possible?

Now...I guess I should post this and go tackle the two bins of Halloween goodies that are sitting in my front hallway. Eeeep!!

Modern Femme at Work...My Work Space

In my first job, I was an executive assistant to a senior executive.  I loved working for my boss - he was brilliant, kind, and patient.  He also was a hoarder of paper.  When you walked into his office you were greeted by stacks and stacks of papers.  They were everywhere - on his desk, on his meeting table, on chairs, even on the floor.  It would give me hives - followed by an uncontrollable urge to clean his workspace.

But it worked for him.  He knew exactly what was in each and every pile, and could fish a single sheet of paper out of a dangerously tilting mountain of documents.  He had a system, and each of those stacks of paper were an integral part of it.  I once volunteered to file all those papers (what was I thinking? It would have taken forever!), and he swiftly turned my offer down, spreading his arms protectively in front of his filing system, keeping me at bay.  I'm sure had I filed all those papers, he would have been at a serious disadvantage - it would have taken him hours to find in a file what he could find in seconds in a pile.

I, on the other hand, couldn't be more opposite.  The sight of all that paper made me incredibly anxious.  I marveled at the fact that my boss was able to get anything done, as I would have been paralyzed, rendered catatonic at the thought of finding anything in that, well, mess. My work space system is one of rigorous minimalism.  There are exactly five things on my desk: an inbox, two picture frames, a pretty calender, and a pen holder.  Any papers that are not immediately in use must be either in my inbox, or filed away, but never laying about.  My desk drawers are brimming with meticulously labeled files, most of which house a combination of notes from meetings, deliverables, and reference materials.  

I crave order, not because I'm a control freak (well, maybe a little), but because I shut down when surrounded by clutter.  I feel overwhelmed and my brain capacity goes from 60 miles an hour to 5 miles an hour.  This is true for both paper clutter and virtual clutter - I rigorously prune my email, filing emails or deleting them, and leaving only a handful for action in my inbox.  Besides being rendered comatose by visual clutter, another major reason I maintain such a strict system is that I have a terrible memory, and I need to ensure that documents and emails that I need to find are in places that I can easily remember and access.

If Al Gore is on one end of the messy desk/minimalist desk spectrum...

And Martha Stewart is on the other...

I am off of the middle, leaning more towards Martha.  

And my ideal work setup? It would be even more minimalist, with any computer equipment and filing systems cleverly disguised from view, sleek modern furniture, and as much open space and light as possible.   Just looking at the above office (from "The Devil Wears Prada") makes me feel alert and energized.

What is your ideal work space?

xoxo,

MF

Modern Femme loves...Vintage Wrapping Paper

To me, wrapping paper is so much more than the material meant to cover an object, only to be torn off and discarded.  Wrapping paper is the front line of a gift, a method of communicating to the recipient how much you care for them, especially if you took the time to wrap something beautifully. 

I love it when Christmas rolls around and you can unload colorfully wrapped gifts from your boat bags to strew under the tree.  I love handing over a birthday gift that is cheerfully colored with jaunty bows, or a bridal shower gift that is elegantly wrapped.  Nothing is worse than handing someone a gift in cheap paper that you can see through, with a droopy bow sagging on top, or crinkled corners tearing at the sides.  "It wasn't a problem to buy it, but lord I didn't want to spend a single second on making it look nice for you."  That's what it says to me.  

If you're anything like me, and enjoy the process of packaging a gift as much as the giving of the gift, then have I got the store for you.  The Goose and the Hound is an Etsy Shop that sells vintage wrapping paper.  When I look at some of their prints, I can hear the story of the gifts they could wrap around:

I'm so proud of you - I can't believe my little girl is playing Beatrice in the community theater production of "Much Ado About Nothing!"  You were wonderful, you brought tears to my eyes.  A mother couldn't be prouder.  Your father and I got you something to celebrate.  Go on, open it.   Yes, it's from Tiffany's - a star necklace for our star. You're welcome darling.  Here, let your father put it on you.  Oh, it's perfect!  Will you wear it at tonight's performance?  You will? Oh I know, I'm silly, here I go, crying again!

You've been working so hard, I think it's time you took a little time for you.  I put in some calls, and that villa you love on the beach in St. Martin is available.  Don't say anything else, I've already packed your bags - and here's something to open on the way to the airport.  It's just some Coppertone, a new ikat swimsuit, and Justin Cronin's latest book but it's a good start.  Let's go, the taxi's waiting.

I found you in the library, curled up in your favorite leather chair in front of a roaring fire as the snow came down outside.  I help myself to a cup of tea from the tray and watch as you nibble on a biscuit.  Your two hunting dogs are dozing at your feet, and you mention that Cook is preparing a feast of Oysters a la Russe, Calvados Duck, asparagus with Hollandaise, and Waldorf Pudding for tonight's dinner.  That tiresome Count will be coming, and do I think you should wear the pearls from the Orient, or the maharajah's rubies?  I wonder if now is the best time to give you the gift I bought, the complete boxed set of Downton Abbey, but you look so lovely with the firelight in your hair that I can't help myself.

I bought the cottage in West Palm Beach.  You were right - carpe diem.  Remember that chameleon that we saw by the pool?  He's there every morning when I go outside with my coffee.  I like to think he's making sure I start my day off right by spending some time on the chaise lounge.  Anyway, thanks for helping me bite the bullet - and as a token of my appreciation, I got you those Jack Rogers you were eyeing, so you'll always remember our time on Florida's Gold Coast.

Wasn't that fun?  I love spending Saturday afternoons on the Sound.  You could see Long Island perfectly today.  Maybe tomorrow we can sail to Oyster Bay - only if you don't have anything else going on, I know what August can be like.   Are you sure you don't want that last piece of fried chicken?  I can't eat another bite, but I think maybe just one more rum punch. Oh, by the way, before I forget, I got you a little something in town today.  Oh no, please don't - it's nothing, just that melamine tray that I saw you admiring.  I know, they're great for outdoor entertaining, aren't they?  Just wipe and go. You're welcome dear, don't mention it.  Will you stay for one more dockside drink?  No?  Okay, don't forgot your hat, and if you're up for another sail tomorrow, just call me in the morning.

 Okay, does everyone have their glasses?  A toast then, in celebration of the newest - and youngest - PARTNER at the firm!  You did it girl!  We knew you could.  And here's something from the four of us for you.  Go on! Open it!  Eeeee!!! Do you like it?  I know, I saw you admiring a similar cocktail ring in Barney's and we thought, you know, now that you're a big shot, you should have some bling to match your fancy new office!  Aww, no, don't cry sweetie.  You've earned it!

See all these prints and many more, along with vintage cards and wrapping seals at The Goose and the Hound.

Yours in printed bliss,
xoxo,
MF

Modern Femme at Work...My work wardrobe

My closet has two sides to it - professional Modern Femme, and private life Modern Femme, and the twain shall never meet. I can remember the outfit I wore to my first job interview - a chocolate sheath dress with a matching jacket from Ann Taylor, and a large-gauge black pearl necklace with matching studs.  All of 22 at the time, I probably looked like I was playing dress-up, but hey - guess who was hired on the spot?

I get teased by colleagues every now and again, because I'm that person who refuses to indulge in blue-jean Fridays.  My coworkers are genuinely perplexed that I "dress up" every day. 

Maybe it's because my parents both wore suits every day of their lives to work.  Maybe it's because I believe in the old adage "dress for the job you want, not the job you have."  Maybe it's because I'm lazy and like having my closet divided into Monday - Friday on one side and Saturday-Sunday on the other.

It's probably a combination of all those things.  In any case, I like to look polished and professional at work.  No blue jeans (not even "dressy" blue jeans), no overtly flashy accessories, no outrageous colors, no sexy anything, no cleavage.  No skirts that end more than two inches above the knee, no pants that sit on your hips.  No loud makeup - leave the blue eyeshadow at home.  No wet hair!!!!

Yes to black foundational pieces - pants, skirts, suits, sweater.  Yes to ballet flats to wear to the office, and then black heels under your desk to change into.  Yes to printed scarves, chunky statement jewelry (a la Madeline Albright and not Lady Gaga) and sophisticated perfume.  Yes to classic jackets that can be mixed with black pants and skirts for a touch of color with a polished finish. 

Whereas my work wardrobe budget used to be large enough to allow me to shop unhindered, being a parent and a homeowner has put a serious dent in my wardrobe's wallet.  But you can still find classic pieces at reduced price points, it just takes a little more legwork.  Here are the vendors that I frequent nowadays on my tight budget:

1. Zara.  Even if all I can afford is their sales rack, this clothing store has awesome jackets, and fun accent pieces.  The sizing is definitely European, so just be (emotionally) prepared to take whatever size you are and multiply it times two. 

2.  White House, Black Market.  I have to dig through their racks, because they are a little flashy (despite the name), but I have gotten good foundational pieces here - like the black pencil skirt I wore to work today!

3.  The Limited.  This store has really changed in the last five years.  I can remember when it was incredibly frumpy, and then it got a little too edgy, but now it has settled in a nice classic space that I quite like.  I get a lot of work tops from here.  They also have really cute work-appropriate jewelry.

4.  Banana Republic.   It's hard to go wrong in this store, though lately the only place I'm looking in is the sales rack.   That being said, I still own a summer weight shirt and sweater combo that is three years old, so it's a good return on investment.

5.  Lands End - Shoes.  Their selection is getting better and better, and they have sales and discounts all the time - which, when you combine it with their all ready low prices, is hard to beat.

6.  Target.  I tend to get things like tights (black, gray, navy blue) here.  They also have a cute selection of scarves and some jewelry - though most of it will only last a season.  You can also get snag seasonal trends in button downs and sweaters here - though most cute things are snapped up as soon as they hit the floor.

Where do you do your work wardrobe shopping?

xoxo,
MF

The Modern Femme travels...St. Michaels, MD

Hello my dear readers.  Can you do me a favor?

Can you pretend that I haven't been MIA for the past three weeks?  I've been swamped with a billion uninteresting domestic-related things that have kept me from you.  Terrible, terrible.  But let's just pretend like it never happened, m'kay?

Good.

Alrighty then.  Here's something that I was up to when I wasn't writing to you all.  Two weekends ago, the MF family took a day trip out to historic St. Michaels, MD.  The town was incorporated in 1804 - a salve to this native New Englander, who misses her historic towns - but the town was named for the Episcopal Parish which was established in 1672.  That's a long time ago, y'all!

It was a lovely day - we started with lunch at the famous Crab Claw restaurant. We had New England clam chowder, crab cakes, corn bread and ice cold beer YUM! - and then took a stroll down the main street.

St. Michaels has a lot of quaint shops on the main drag.  Seasonal decorations were abundant.  Love the classic pairing of pumpkins and mums!

The houses of worship won't be outdone by the merchants.  Love these red doors on this church - and the wreaths are perfect. Welcome fall!

The church and parish for which the town was named.  

St. Michaels' is one of those aesthetically-pleasing towns for whom no detail is too small - don't you love these classic street signs?  

I love how St. Michaels has chosen to advertise attractions using the street signs instead of billboards.  And I especially got a kick out of the "child-friendly" designation next to the Maritime Museum sign!

Classic gingerbread house trimming.  I love the color scheme - white, pine green and gold.  Gorgeous!

No Holiday Inns here - doesn't this little B&B look divine?  I want to lounge in one of those rockers and watch the world go by!

That being said, St. Michaels residents are not without a sense of humor...love this store's sign!

Unfortunately, we left our dog at home. I'm sure she would have loved to belly up to this bar.

Love this unconventional planter!

If you live in the area and haven't been out to St. Michaels, consider visiting for the Christmas in St. Michaels weekend from December 7-9.  The only way this town could be any more picturesque is to add in Santa, actual gingerbread houses, a holiday parade and some carolers!

xoxo,
MF