My Own Office Fashion Show

At the beginning of the week, I saw this post on Liberating WM about Working with Style.  This is a regular topic for the LWM ladies, but in this post the author is a fellow HR professional, so of course I decided to check out her duds.  I was impressed by - and jealous of - her style.  My look tends to be a little different, so after mentally comparing the two, I decided to take a few of my own snapshots this week.  The lighting isn't very good, but you'll get the general idea.  It's my first week back in the office after the holidays and I was forced to give up my at home uniform of sweatshirt, yoga pants, Uggs and this super hawt hairstyle.

As a side note, there's no way that I would have taken fashion shots a year ago.  When I was heavier, I hid behind my clothes.  I wore lots of bulky suit jackets and roomy dresses with empire waists that in no way showed my silhouette.  Things are different now.  I feel more confident and I like buying clothes.

The challenge for my closet is that I work for a large corporation and the dress code is pretty conservative.  I don't mind the expected attire, but it does limit the fun I can have with fashion.  We're pretty much a suit and tie office M-Th and Friday is a sort of dress down day.  I get around this (to a certain extent) by wearing dresses.

I love dresses with a slight sixties flare and am having great luck finding peices in a few places.  The first is Boden.  I have to buy everything online because there's not a shop in my area, but it's worthwhile.  Their stuff ships super fast and is always great quality.  Best of all, they have almost everything in tall sizes.  Since I'm 5'8", I can't get away with regular length pants and dresses.  Boden has some great options for me.
* Above: Dress: Boden; navy blue tights and silver belt: Target; silver heels: J.Crew (circa 2006)

* Below: Dress: London Times from Macys; watch: vintage (my grandfather's); black tights: Target; shoes: Franco Sarto from Nordstrom (circa 2010)

The accessories I'm comfortable pushing the dress code limits with are shoes.  In my opinion, the higher the heel, the better.  For example, these heels are five inches, but really comfortable because of the platform.  I wouldn't run any marathons or carry my child in them, but for the office, they work. 

* Below: dress: Kohls; earrings: Target; necklace: Ann Taylor Loft; shoes: Nine West

Although I like my heels to be sky-high, I also look for more conservative options that are comfortable.  These red mary janes aren't really my style, but I decided to take a chance on them (thanks, Twitter feedback) and I think they're a win.

* Below: dress: Land's End (yay for clearance!); sweater tights: TJ Maxx; shoes: Kork Ease from Zappos; bag to drag my crap to/from work: Brighton (gift from my bestie)

As much as I love to wear dresses, there are days when I just can't pull that off.  Case in point, yesterday.  I had an interview with a reporter and needed to suit up.  It wasn't on-camera, but my general look for any video-recorded interview is a black suit with a bright shirt underneath.  It's boring, but looks good on film and doesn't call my credibility into question. 

* Below: suit: Ann Taylor; shirt: Express (circa 2005); basic black belt: Old Navy; patent leather mary janes (they have red heels!): Nine West from Macy's (circa 2008)

So, that's my week in clothing.  It's not easy to dress in a way that makes me feel stylish within the confines of my corporate culture, but generally, I feel like my clothes show my personality.  Happy shopping!

Mamavation Monday Post #2

For those of you who don't know, I was invited to join the Mamavation Sistahood last week!  The last two weeks have been up and down, so I'm using my Mamavation Monday post (a day early) document the struggle.

For my family, the holiday season is ending today as we just finished the last of our winter travel.  I have to admit, the holidays have been a little harder than I anticipated.  I felt like I was doing well until these last few days and now…well, now I feel like a slug.

Two weeks ago, my mother visited and brought all kinds of delicious goodies with her.  There were homemade truffles, an apple cake, chocolate peanut butter cookies, a sticky toffee cake…you get the picture.  Sweets happen to be my biggest weakness.  I did really well with not overindulging in the goodies while she was here.  She also brought my favorite cheese ball and on the few days where I went over my MFP calorie goal, it was because I snacked on that.  To quote my mother, “That cheese ball is better than sex.”  Really, it is.  Anyway, I was good while she was here, but when she left, the cookies started to worry me.  I ate one, then another, then another.  I decided after a few cookies that I should chuck them since I was struggling with self-control.

So, with the cookies gone, I was in a much better place.  Then New Year’s Eve happened.  We had people over for dinner and I realized that I didn’t have a dessert to serve.  I made yummy coconut kiss macaroons…TO.DIE.FOR.  On New Year’s Day, I those started worrying me too.  I decided to pack the rest up and leave them in the car so I could give them to my grandmother, which worked well.   Out of sight, out of mind.

Finally, we traveled through Ohio to visit my beloved grandmother on Friday.  After way too many hours in the car (PA and OH are freakin’ huge states to drive across…I might as well have driven through Montana!) we arrived at my aunt and uncle’s home.  My aunt has limited mobility due to some hip issues and I didn’t realize how much that would limit my own physical activity.  Between hanging out with her and with my 85 year old grandmother, we didn’t move around too much.  I realized on Saturday night that I was in a completely foul mood and it hit me.  Exercise makes me happy.  Exercise helps me deal with the stress of parenting.  Exercise makes me a better person.  It has only been a few days, but OH MY GOD, I miss it!!

I’m home now and excited to hit the gym tonight.  I’m putting together my meal plan for the week and penciling in a couple of new workout moves.  For starters, I’m going to join the #PlankADay Revolution.  I’m trying to find an evening this week when my husband can pick up our child so that I can catch a hot yoga class.  I’m about to finish week 1 of the 100 Push Up Challenge that I’m doing with a few other Twitter mamas.  This is going to be a good week.  Just writing this post has improved my mood and my outlook.  I will no longer be a slug! J

Have a great week, folks!

The Origin of "Subaru Mom"

I'm not the type of person to use the name of my car as my online identity, so I thought I'd share where I came up with this blog name as well as my Twitter handle, @subarumom09.

When I moved to Seattle in 2002, my first impression was that in order to become a Seattleite, you needed a North Face ski jacket and a Subaru Outback.  Despite the potential brand-snootiness, I was in love.  On my third day in the city - literally,  I went to a ski shop in Northgate and purchased the beloved powder blue coat that I still wear.  I instantly started to feel like I was ready to live in Seattle.  I know that material items aren't keys to living in any city, but the jacket helped ease me into the lifestyle.  I moved to the West Coast on my own and it was the beginning of my adult life.  Although I got the coat right away, I wasn't so quick to procure the Subaru.  In fact, I didn't buy the Subaru until I moved back east several years later.

In 2007, my husband and I decided that we needed to leave Seattle and move a little closer to home on the east coast.  As a result of moving to a city with less public transportation, we needed to buy a second car.  We immediately started looking at Subarus and fell in love.  We bought one a little before the birth of our daughter in 2009 and it has been great for our family.  We're in the market for another car and are close to pulling the trigger on another one. I totally buy into the "Love. It's what makes a Subaru, a Subaru" slogan.

Despite the adoration for my car, the real origin on "Subaru Mom" is from a novel I read recently, "Where'd You Go, Bernadette." There's a lot to like in this book and I identified with several aspects.  First, it's based in Seattle and takes many jabs at Microsoft's executives.  I've been around a handful of them in real life and found the book to be a dead-on depiction of my experiences in their presence. Also, early in the book, the author shares insights on elite private schools and the types of parents they attract.  The Galer Street School has too many "Subaru Parents" and wants to bring in more "Mercedes Parents."  When I read this particular passage, I ran downstairs to my husband who was cooking dinner (BTW, yay for a great husband!) and read it to him.  For background, you should know that my daughter attends a competitive independent school and even during the admission process, I noticed how these were the two classes of parents.  We're either slightly hipstery, granola-loving Subaru Forester/Outback or Honda CRV drivers, or Mercedes/Land Rover driving parents who wear Lululemon workout gear and simultaneously carrying $3,000 handbags.  Although I'm a member of the former group, I really enjoy interacting with all the parents at the school...I'm just aware of the differences.  Anyway, I poured through the book in a few hours because I was so excited to find something that I so closely experienced.  Hence, I decided to become "Subaru Mom."

Photo via Patricia Wall/The New York Times

I'm not a book reviewer, so I'm sharing the NY Times review for your reading pleasure.  Obviously, I highly recommend it. I just ordered Maria Semple's first novel, "This One Is Mine" and will let you know if it is as good.

Mamavation Monday Post #1

I've been following #mamavation on Twitter for a while and love the sense of community.  I've used the topic hashtag a few times and am so impressed by the fact that (now former) strangers have instantly communicated and cheered me on.  It's a new year, so I've decided to pledge the Mamavation Sistahood so that I can continue to be encouraged by the community, but also so I can give back.  I'm a firm believer that if you put yourself out there on social media, you'll see a great return on the investment.  As a side note, I met my husband on Match.com; found my job on LinkedIn.com, made friends on MySpace and Facebook; and have hired people for my work team from Twitter.  The online world has been good to me.

About me...I'm 32 years old and live in the state of PA.  I'm happily married and have a 3.5 year old daughter, N.  I work full time as the director of an HR team.  I love my job and really love being a working mom.  I get stressed out by it all every now and then, but I don't think I could work inside the home.

A little over a year ago, I began a weight loss journey.  My goal was to lose the 25 pounds I packed on since moving to a new (less active) city and having a child.  A couple of months into the diet, I started using the MyFitnessPal app religiously to track my food and exercise and it worked!  In fact, I blew my 25 pound goal out of the water and lost a total of 40 pounds so I'm now the same size that I was before starting grad school (for some reason I gained 15 pounds while in school...probably because I didn't have time to work out!).  I've maintained my weight for about 8 months and have no intention of waining it back.  Here's the before and after pic.

Recently, I've become bored with my workouts.  I work out primarily at home, after my child, N, goes to bed.  We're lucky to have an elliptical and weight bench/rack in the house, so I don't have to go far to exercise.  I generally do 2.5-3.5 miles on the elliptical 3 times per week and incorporate upper body strength training into each cardio session.  I'm pretty strong and feel very fit.  After trying a couple of the Mamavation hazing workouts, I've realized that I need to work on my lower body and change up my routine.  I don't want to just hang out on the elliptical.  I don't want to just walk or jog...I want something that will challenge me.  I'm not a huge runner thanks to a high school knee injury.  I need people to share their workout ideas and motivate me to do something more than my normal, boring routine.  That's why I'm here.

I posted my resolutions yesterday.  Specific to the Mamavation community, I need your help with #3 - Focus on wellness, not just fitness.  Change my workout routine to include more yoga and strength training to help me feel calm and centered. 

I hope this will be the first of many Mamavation Monday posts and am exited to pledge the Sistahood!

New Year, New Resolutions

I've been trying to start a blog for over 6 months, but I haven't taken the time to do it.  The ladies over at Liberating Working Moms make it seem so easy.  I find joy in their regular posts about balancing the craziness that is known as working motherhood.  I want to contribute my thoughts to the blogosphere and Twittersphere, but have been afraid because of...well, work.  First, I spend too much time working and too little time playing.  The idea of cutting into my computer time that is normally devoted to work is just scary.  How will I get all the work things done?!?  Second, our company created a social media policy several years ago it is strictly enforced.  Although I have no intention of writing about anything that is prohibited per the company's standards, I know that I may be judged by my teammates if they believe I'm contributing non-work topics to "the internets."

So, there are my reasons for not blogging.  Now, I proclaim them to be malarkey.  I'm the mother of a 3.5 year old daughter, N, and it is a really tough age.  I want to write about it.  I need to write.  I think it will be therapeutic to put my thoughts out there.  If anyone reads or responds to those thoughts, it will be icing on the cake.   

For my first post, I'm sharing my working mom resolutions so that I can link up with Liberating Working Moms.  Here they are:

1. Write regularly.  Write in my own blog, leave comments on others, and write about N's childhood so she has a record of it.
2. Constantly rremind myself that N is not trying to drive me crazy...she's just 3.  Give myself time outs when her behavior starts to upset me.
3. Focus on wellness, not just fitness.  Change my workout routine to include more yoga and strength training to help me feel calm and centered.  The goal here is to help #2 above.
4. Take care of my skin.  I'm 32 years old and all of the sudden, my face is showing it.  This year, I will invest in, and regularly use, skincare products.

That's it.  I hope that if you're reading this, you'll help hold me to these.  I'd love to cheer you on as well!