We did it, our apartment is listed!

I can't quite decide if I am sad or excited. We are so ready for more space, but it is hard to let go of this one. We rented two places before buying, renovating, and moving here. And for those that don't know, we had a hard time (understatement) actually getting in. So, it is hard to let go. Hard to say goodbye to a place you waited over a year to move in to, to a place you practically gutted just to make it  yours, to the place you had your first baby in. Yikes, I am choking up. But everyone has to do it I suppose, at least at some point.

This week I am going to do a bunch of posts in celebration, or in honor of our first real apartment. I am going to finally post the story of how it came to be ours, and all of the almost blood, definitely sweat, and many many tears that came along with it.

I also created a new blog site to check out, and for us to help sell it. We are doing it by ourselves. So, pass it along, maybe even contemplate moving into it, or just enjoy it. Click here to check it out.

http://786washington.blogspot.com

A little story about a dress

One early spring afternoon, the sun was shining and Luke was sleeping in his stroller. I think I might have just made a purl patchwork run, and since things were going my way, I took my time strolling through the boutiques, some that haven't seen me for over a year. I usually stop in Mayle to check out the vintage inspired exquisite pieces I will never be able to afford. This particular stop, I fell in love with a dress. I in fact loved it so much, I interrupted the 2 clerks that were gushing about their previous night out just to tell them it might just be the most beautiful dress I had ever seen. They weren't impressed, or humored, but I was too blinded to care, I was in love.

A month or so later, I was walking by another favorite shop of mine, this one a bit closer to me, Bird. In the window I saw it again, the dress. It was as though time stopped. It was calling to me, and it continued to call me every time I stopped in, and I did just happen to make my way in as frequently as I could make an excuse to.

Then it happened. Bird went on sale. I planned my day around the first day of the sale. I yanked Luke out of bed a bit earlier than I would typically, and ran down to our car. To my disappointment, we were trapped in, it was street sweeping day and I was sandwiched in for another 15 minutes. We waited, and when I had just enough room to squeeze out, we sped down Prospect Park West. As I opened the doors I saw swarms of ladies all combing through the racks and waiting in line for the dressing rooms. I quickly made my way to the back and scanned each rack, no sign of the dress. I thought at least while I was there I might do some browsing, but nothing called to me. I decided to head out but as I was opening the door, I thought I should just ask. The clerk didn't know what dress I was describing, which I couldn't believe, but luckily the manager did. She wasn't sure how much it was marked down to, or if the other location might still have it, but she volunteered to call, and I didn't stop her. I couldn't believe my ears as she moved the phone from her chin and said those words I will never forget, "they have one, and it's 75% off". I screamed, and they agreed to hold it for me, just for a few minutes, just enough time for me to speed down to Smith Street.

I parked, three blocks away, afraid I wouldn't find anything closer and ran. There she was, hanging behind the counter, smiling at me, telling me she was so happy to see me, happy I was there to take her home. And I did just that, I took her right home, without trying her on, without even looking closely at her once more. I didn't want to change my mind, I didn't want to believe there would be any reason for me not to have her.

Turns out, there might have been a few reasons, significant ones in fact. The first being, she is a little big in the shoulders. And second, she is WAY too short.

Side note, at BR clothing and mannequins were either named or referred to as a pronoun. I just can't help myself when I have an attraction to a particular garment.

And this is how it would look if I did have the right legs, and could wear short dresses.

The good news is, I am still in love with it, and I don't regret the purchase. But I do need some help. I have already solicited help from some professionals, Kamilah recommended lengthening the hem by letting it out some and then wearing a black slip dress underneath, Katie at Blueprint, should be getting back to me soon, and my fashionista friend Nick is taking me to the garment district next week to give me some of his expert advice. But I am not stopping there, I ask you, my readers (all 12 of you), what do you think? How can I make this a wear now piece? instead of a "in my dreams when I have skinny legs", kind of piece.

Here is a closeup of the fabric. The hem does have about an inch and a half to be let down, but that unfortunately doesn't solve the issue, it still needs another inch or so. I am open to ideas, even if they are far out. I have been dying to wear this dress for months now and it is so within my reach I can feel it.
Please help make my dreams come true, and recommend a great tailor while you are at it!

Goodbye size 4's

I didn't know this would be so hard. Saying "goodbye" to this set of Luke's shoes. I remember as a kid being upset about a particular pair of mint green and pink high top LA Gear's when they no longer fit, so I guess this should come as no surprise. But it did.

You see, I have been collecting shoes for Luke way before he was born. I love shoes, I love little boy shoes. There is nothing cuter than a little tyke running around in a pair of Converse, as you can see I have gone a little overboard. I assure you, there are also many other pairs awaiting his growing feet. But these, I have really grown to love. Perhaps because these shoes he took his first steps in, or because shoes this small are just so cute, but I just can't squeeze his feet into them any longer, so it is goodbye, at least for now.

These are awaiting his feet for fall. And I don't know how it happened, but somehow I kept the Converse down to just one pair.