Skippy Says: Conditions Are Perfect (OOTD)

Tomorrow night Ryan and I are headed to Tahoe for the long weekend. An extra long weekend actually, since we're also taking Friday and Tuesday off work. A lot of people have complained about the lack of snow in Tahoe this year, but I have to admit I don't mind too much. You see, the extent of my involvement in snow sports is lifting a cup of hot cocoa to my mouth as I sit in the lodge reading a book. So this lack of snow? It's workin' for me.

Shop:
- Anthropologie skirt (Bought on sale, no longer available)
- Banana Republic lace blouse (Bought on sale, no longer available. Buy similar here or here)
- Gap white cami underneath blouse (Bought on sale, no longer available. buy similar here)
- Anthropologie blazer (Bought on sale, no longer available. Buy similar here)
- Anthropologie shoes (Bought on sale, no longer available)
- Necklace gift from my aunt

Skippy Says: Schooling Myself (OOTD)

I'm hitting the hay real early tonight folks. It's 8:00 p.m., and I have been dreaming of sleep since...well, all of last night. You see, I didn't have the most restful night. I dreamt that I took a sleeping pill thinking that I'd go to bed, but it turned out I had lots of work to work so I couldn't actually go to sleep. But the sleeping pill was making me oh so sleepy. Yes, sleepy in my sleep. Frustrating much? Remember how I said I get cranky when I'm hungry? Well, that also applies to when I'm sleepy. Basically, I'm a child. So I decided to dress like a school teacher, give myself a slap on the wrist, and tell myself to quit whining.

Shop:
- Loft top (Bought on sale for $10! Not available online, may still be in stores. Buy similar on sale here)
- Kersh brand cardigan (Gift from my mother-in-law from a little boutique in Mill Valley, CA. No longer available)
- Anthropologie skirt (Bought on sale a long time ago. Circa 2007 maybe? No longer available. Buy similar here)
- Anthropologie shoes (Bought on sale circa 2008, no longer available)
- San Francisco ThreadShow earrings

Skippy Says: Cannonball (OOTD)

When Ryder was a little puppy, he refused to go in the water. No amount of sticks, balls, or even throwing his favorite treats for him to swim after could coax him in. I was convinced I got stuck with the only labrador (fine, labrador mutt if you're going to get all technical) in the world that was terrified of swimming. Out of desperation, I once proposed getting him a doggy life jacket and throwing him in. My dad proposed having me committed to a mental institution. Well played papa, well played.

I remember the first time Ryder finally went in. He was about 6 months old-- there was a group of pups playing in the water, and he wanted in on the action. Bad. I saw the tension in his eyes: I want to play, but I don't want to die. Play, die, play, die. And suddenly death was worth it. In he went, and we haven't been able to pull him out ever since.

This weekend, Ryan and I took him up to Lake Sonoma for a day so he could swim his little doggy heart out. My favorite is when he does cannonballs into the water. What's a cannonball you ask? See for yourself...

Yup, he was so excited he cannonballed in before I even threw the stick. If you couldn't make out what Ryan said on the video, it's "well that's an embarrassing trip back." Touché. Once in a while he could contain his excitement enough to wait cannonballing until I actually threw the stick...

And of course, every time he got out of the water he got as close to one of us as possible to do a little bit of this:

On the way home, I did just a little bit of trespassing to snap a couple shots in a vineyard. Then, I heard a car coming down the private road and ran as fast as my little heels would carry me. 

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Shop:
- Anthropologie top (bought on sale, no longer available online. May still be in some stores. Buy similar on sale here)
- Gap white cami underneath top (bought on sale, no longer available. Buy similar here)
- Urban outfitters green jeans (buy here)
- Anthropologie shoes (bought on sale, no longer available)
- Earrings borrowed from my mother-in-law

Skippy Says: Deep Thoughts (OOTD)

I decided to change up my usual routine yesterday and spent the day getting some work done in one of my favorite San Francisco cafes, Simple Pleasures. The one not-so-pleasant thing about that cafe is the ridiculously claustrophobically small bathroom. Combine that with my pea-sized bladder and you've got a recipe for a minor panic attack about every hour or so. At least there's stuff graffitied all over the wall that I try to distract myself with so I don't hyperventilate so hard that I end up passing out and falling into the toilet. Today's favorite was someone that wrote "acting tough is the result of fear," with "fear" crossed out and replaced by "beer."

- Modcloth dress (bought on sale during the last 70% off cabin fever sale circa 2010 or early 2011? No longer available)

- Banana Republic lace shirt (bought on sale- no longer available online but I've still seen it in several stores. Buy similar here or here)

- Anthropologie booties (bought on sale circa 2010, no longer available)

- Huge diamond grid tights in brown (buy here)

- Treasure Island flea market earrings

Skippy Says: Tradition (OOTD)

For as long as I can remember, my family and I have always had Sunday brunch together. And every single week, we have the same thing: a baked potato; smoked salmon, various cheeses; and a simple salad made of cucumbers, bell peppers, and tomatoes dressed with olive oil and white vinegar. I know, I know, it's Russian and weird, but this is the brunch food that makes my mouth water. Over the years, I've perfected my technique: I cut the potato in half, scoop out the flesh, line the skin with smoked salmon, scoop in salad, and top my little "potato boat" off with evenly distributed sprinkles of feta cheese. That evenly distributed part is key-- thanks OCD.

After brunch last weekend, my mom and I wandered over to a SF vintage sidewalk sale. I scored a few awesome pieces, including this purse and the blouse you see below. Overall, a Sunday well spent.

Shop:
- Vintage blouse (from SF vintage sidewalk sale- $5!)
- Gap white cami underneath blouse (bought on sale, no longer available. Buy similar here)
- Anthropologie skirt (Bought brand new on ebay for $10! No longer available)
- Anthropologie shoes (Bought on sale for $40. No longer available)

Skippy Says: Reach For The Stars (OOTD)

Today, I start my first day nannying. For a three week old baby. You guys, she is so so tiny that I'm absolutely terrified of breaking her. During my interview when her parents asked how I planned to spend my day with her I truthfully answered "trying to keep her alive." I think they appreciated the honesty. Also, I basically made out with their dog and pointed them in the direction of the best sushi restaurant in the Bay Area so I think that also got me some brownie points. Mmmmm brownies.

And don't you worry, this is not the outfit I'm wearing for my first day only to get pooped on. I'm thinking something a little more casual and a lot more brown.

Shop:

- Nordstrom BP blouse (gift from my mother-in-law, no longer available)

- Gap white cami under blouse (bought on sale, no longer available. Buy similar here)

- BCBG skirt (bought on sale circa 2008, no longer available. Buy similar here, here, or here)

- Kersh brand cardigan from little boutique in Mill Valley, CA (gift from my mother-in-law, no longer available. Buy similar here or here)

- Anthropologie shoes (bought on sale, no longer available)

- Kate Spade Mott street sammie (bought on sale. Buy in different colors here or here)

Skippy Says: Special Delivery (OOTD)

Did I ever tell you guys how Ryan and I dated long distance for 4 years before finally ending up in the same place? No? Yeah, that's because it wasn't such fun times.

Ryan and I started dating the summer after my junior year of high school, which happened to be the summer after his senior year. Even though we went to high school together for years before, it wasn't until about a month before he went off to college that we decided we liked each other. Exhibit A of my not great timing. The first two years weren't terrible- at least we were in the same state. But by year 3 we were cross-country (I was in Boston, Ryan in Berkeley), and year 4 we took it up a notch by going cross-continent (I studied abroad in Scotland while he was finishing up his last year at Berkeley). We always joke that the only reason we made it through those 4 long years is because of our mutual fear of failure.

Ryan came to visit me twice when I was studying abroad in Scotland, and the second time he came bearing a gift from his mom- a blouse I tried on while shopping with her earlier that year but that I left the store without given its fairly hefty pricetag. After I left for Scotland, Ryan's mom went back to the boutique to buy me that blouse, and sent it over to Scotland with Ryan as a Valentine's day gift. No, she's my mother-in-law and you can't have her. I can't help it that I have the best moms around.

Shop:

- Blouse from little boutique in San Anselmo, CA (gift from my mother-in-law circa 2007, no longer available.)

- Gap white cami underneath blouse (bought on sale, no longer available. Buy similar here)

- Anthropologie skirt (bought on sale, no longer available.)

- Anthropologie belt (bought on sale, no longer available. Buy similar here or here)

- Hue diamond grid tights in brown (buy here)

- Anthropologie booties (bought on sale, no longer available)

- Anthropologie earrings (bought on sale circa 2010, no longer available)

Skippy Says: It's A Girl! (OOTD)

I'm the only girl on my dad's side of the family. You see, my dad is the youngest of two boys. When his brother got married, he had a son, then my dad had my brother, and then his brother had another son. Then, I was born, the first girl in that family in generations. My grandparents were overjoyed-- my grandma loves to tell the story of how my grandpa ran 5 miles through the snow in the dead of winter in Russia to deliver the news to her. She worked in a factory, and when my grandpa told her my mom and dad had a girl she grabbed a random co-worker standing next to her and gave her a kiss.

I remember vividly when my grandparents would visit us. My grandma would sit on a chair in the corner of the living room clapping her hands and singing a Russian song about gentlemen asking the ladies to dance. My favorite line of the song translates to "ladies, don't shake your butt, it's not a propeller and you are not an airplane." I would stand in the middle of the room, twirling in my dress, shaking my butt as hard as I could whenever that line was coming up. And here's where Ryan would interject and say that explains a lot about my personality. And then I'd shoot him a dirty look and try to think of a witty comeback. But honesty I'd fail because I'm no good at comebacks so I'd just call him an asshole. We have a very loving relationship.

There are days when I think life would be so much easier if I were a boy, particularly with respect to balancing career and family. And then there are days like today, where I relish in being a girl-- floral skirts, lace tops, bright red lipstick, and all.

           

Shop:
- Banana Republic blouse (bought on sale, buy on sale here. Or buy similar here or an amazing but pricier version here)
- Gap camisole worn under blouse (bought on sale, buy similar here)
- Anthropologie skirt (bought on sale, no longer available)
- Anthropologie shoes (bought on sale, no longer available)