Outfit of the Day: Cat and Mouse Kinda Day!

This past Sunday was a perfect Sunday day!

The weather was great, low 70's with a few clouds and a few cool breezes, and it was also the day my friend Julianne and her husband were having their baby shower!

As I get older it's interesting to note how outings and pastimes and even parties change. In middle school it was all about riding bikes, playing in the creeks in the hills, finding our own hiking paths, rock skipping, and sleepovers. In high school it was all about hanging out at friends' houses and being cool, getting into a little mischief, cutting a few classes here or there, and hanging out at bookstores and Starbucks. In college and in my 20's it was all about going out to the occasional clubs, bars, coffee shops and the occasional party like crazy nights. Now that I'm in my 30's it seems that it's all about shopping, going out to eat, going out to tea, spending quality time with friends, and just enjoying a chill life. Even parties nowadays seem to follow this feeling. I have found myself really enjoying these 30 year old parties, especially when it's a baby shower and there's games like guess how big the mom-to-be's belly is, guess that flavor of baby food, and pin the baby food on the father-to-be. Needless to say it was a great Sunday and a super fun baby shower.

Life is good.

And now as promised in my post title, it's....

Outfit of the day! 

Sunday I wore a cat dress which featured black cats sitting on coral colored balls by Funky People from Modcloth, black leggings, and mouse flats by Chase and Chloe, also from Modcloth. It was a cats and mice kinda day!

Cat Dress, Mouse Flats- Front View

Cat Dress, Mouse Flats- Side View

Mouse Flats! With Cat Dress

Royal Albert and Their New Country Roses

Royal Albert: A fine afternoon tea tradition. 

Perhaps most known for their pattern, Old Country Roses, a pattern launched in 1962 based on an older pattern, King's Ransom, Royal Albert has actually been around since 1896. Nowadays they fall under the larger company Royal Doulton which in turn is owned by WWRD (Waterford Crystal, Wedgewood, Royal Doulton).

Royal Albert prides themselves on being "dedicated to English grace, elegance, and romance since Victorian times," and thus, loves to emphasize floral motifs in their patterns, namely roses, England's national flower.

Recently, Royal Albert launched their New Country Roses pattern collection which actually encompass five different patterns: New Country Roses White, New Country Roses Pink, New Country Roses Polka Rose, New Country Roses Polka Blue, and New Country Roses Rose Confetti. All five patterns are refreshingly modern and playful, yet all hold true to the elegant tradition and form of Royal Albert. They are made up in pastel colors such as light sky blue, light minty green, pale pink and all have a similarly colored dark fuchsia pink rose motif throughout. Also, as is Royal Albert's tradition, they are all intricately rimmed in gold. While each of these sets look absolutely beautiful on their own, they are also very well suited to be mixed and matched together in anyway of your choosing.

Royal Albert New Country Roses White (photo via The Bowl Company)

Royal Albert New Country Roses White (photo via The Bowl Company)

Royal Albert New Country Roses Pink (photo via The Bowl Company)

Royal Albert New Country Roses Pink (photo via The Bowl Company)

Royal Albert New Country Roses Polka Rose (photo via The Bowl Company)

Royal Albert New Country Roses Polka Rose (photo via The Bowl Company)

Royal Albert New Country Roses Polka Blue (photo via The Bowl Company)

Royal Albert New Country Roses Polka Blue (photo via The Bowl Company)

Royal Albert New Country Roses Confetti Rose (photo via The Bowl Company)

Royal Albert New Country Roses Confetti Rose (photo via The Bowl Company)

I love every single one of these patterns. The Royal Albert New Country Roses White is just so classic and versitle while I love the Royal Albert New Country Roses Pink for the seeming contrast between the sweet pale pink of the body and the vibrant fuchsia of the roses. I think perhaps the Polka sets are my favorites though.

I love the playfulness of the polka dots: so sweet and so traditional, yet also so unexpected in a tea set! It seems that polka dots were very favorable on tea sets in the 1940's and 1950's yet it doesn't look like there's been many tea set with polka dots since. I am so glad that Royal Albert is now offering tea sets with polka dots as it appears they were doing back in the 1940's and 1950's! Out of the two polka dot sets, perhaps the Royal Albert New Country Roses Polka Rose is my favorite.

I love the light minty green color of this set as well as the small white polka dots showering the outside of the set. Four evenly spaced little roses garnish the lid of the teapot as well as the inside of the tea cup walls while one additional rose also adds a finishing tough to the inside bottom of the tea cups. It seems to me the quintessential of country charm and it has such an authentic vintage 1930's and 1940's feel. Though in my eyes Royal Albert New Country Roses Polka Rose is closely followed by Royal Albert New Country Roses Polka Blue!

What I love about the Polka Blue set is its youthful vibrancy. With this set the polka dots are combined with large roses tastefully placed throughout the pattern. While it has a very modern feel to it, it is also very reminiscent of the 1950's: clean-cut, darling, mannered, and manicured.

Last but most definitely not least is the Royal Albert New Country Roses Confetti Rose. This set features small roses throughout the pattern interwoven with small black outlined vines and leaves in a traditional chintz style. What I love most about this pattern is the cups and saucers which, contrasting with the tea set, has the rose chintz pattern on the inside of the cup with a fine solid pale pink color as the main body. This set exudes class and elegance.

And here are some pictures of these patterns mixed and matched:

Royal Albert New Country Roses 3 Tier Cake Stand featuring NCR Pink, NCR Confetti Rose, and NCR White (photo via The Bowl Company)

Royal Albert Giftware Napkin Rings featuring NCR Confetti Rose, NCR Polka Rose, NCR White, and NCR Polka Blue (photo via The Bowl Company)

Royal Albert Teaware Set of 4 Mugs featuring NCR Polka Blue, NCR Polka Rose, NCR, Rose Confetti, and NCR Pink (photo via The Bowl Company)

And for those interested in this pattern but who don't desire a full tea set, there are also tea for ones available.

Royal Albert New Country Roses Polka Rose Tea For One (photo via the Bowl Company)

In actuality, there are all sorts of things available in these patterns from dinnerware, trays, tablecloths, kitchen towels, tea strainers, tea holders, candles... the list goes on. Looks like Royal Albert knows a good thing when they see it. :)

And here is the Royal Albert Polka Blue set and Polka Rose set in action. I just newly acquired the Royal Albert Polka Blue set from The Bowl Company and I love it every bit as much as I thought I would and more! The pictures truly do not do these sets justice!

Royal Albert New Country Roses Polka Blue Tea Set with Sandwich Tray

Royal Albert New Country Roses Polka Blue with Royal Albert New Country Roses Polka Rose

Royal Albert New Country Roses Polka Blue with Royal Albert New Country Roses Polka Rose

Another Modcloth Find

The Juice You and Me dress.

As mentioned in previous post, Back to the 1930's, I love Modcloth for many reasons. One reason is that I often find dresses there I wouldn't of have seen anywhere else!

The Juice You and Me dress at Modcloth is made by Freeway. From what I can tell by a quick internet search Freeway is a brand based out of L.A. Their dresses are modern with just a touch of retro vibe.

This is an awesome dress. I love the 1940's flair to it. What first caught my eye about this dress is that it looks like a two-piece jumper but is instead a single dress. Also, I love the scalloped edging detail on the bodice as well as the collar with scallop-edged bow combo. The colors on this dress are navy and a nude blush. It is made from a very light weight polyester which is compensated by being fully lined. Nevertheless, it has a very airy feel to it and is very comfortable to wear. It's shorter than I expected, coming only up to the top of my knees on my 5'3" frame but I do think this shorter than expected length gives it a more playful feel. I almost always wear large in dresses from Modcloth so was weary about sizing a full size down as suggested by Modcloth but in this case, the medium was a perfect fit for my 38-30-38 measurements. Love this find from Modcloth!

Juice You and Me Dress by Freeway at Modcloth, Front View

Juice You and Me Dress by Freeway at Modcloth, Side View

Juice You and Me Dress by Freeway at Modcloth, Back View

Scallop Detail on Collar, Juice You and Me Dress, Freeway

A Tyme for Tea

Early March on a fine sunny day in Northern California...

Sounds like an opportune time for a tea outing! I got to spend the morning with a long lost friend of mine from high school, Julianne! What a perfect way to catch up, take a break, and spend a good, relaxing time with an old friend.

Things were a little hoppin' at Tyme for Tea in the Niles district of Fremont the morning we were there... but really when is it ever not? Hustle and bustle were going on amidst our little sanctuary of our tea table. Still, I couldn't have asked for a more enjoyable morning. Good time, spent with a good friend, with a hot pot of tea and plenty of savories and sweets to munch on!

And boy was there a lot of tea going on today!

My most trusted go-to tea place, Tyme for Tea, Niles, Fremont, CA

Like a blank canvas, our place setting waiting for us

 

Warm pot of White Chocolate Mousse Tea

First course, scone!!

Savories course

Desserts

At Tyme for Tea with Julianne!

Cuppa

It was a lovely tea today. For the tea selection I picked a White Chocolate Mousse Black Tea while Julianne picked a Cinnamon Rose Tea. I knew my black tea was going to give me the jitters but I could not resist the sweet yummy flavor of a chocolate tea calling to me! Our first course for tea was blueberry scones with cream, lemon curd, and raspberry preserves. For the savories course (my favorite!) we were presented with chicken walnut tea sandwiches, cucumber and cream cheese tea sandwiches, mini mushroom turnovers, jalapeno and cheese crostinis, and a savory puffed pastry pinwheel. For the desserts course we had maple sugar cookies, petite fours, and white chocolate covered flaky peanut butter honeycomb balls.

After our tea we sauntered through the store a little, dilly-dallying. I became enamoured with some color saturated tea cups and saucers by Grace Tea Ware. Maybe next time I come in I will pick myself one of two of these lovely cups to take home (if they still have them) though it will take some considering which color or colors to chose. They are all so beautiful! I did pick up a lovely tea for one set in a teal blue with tiny red and yellow flowers on it. For as many teapots and tea sets I have this is only my second tea for one set... and only my first tea for one set if you don't include a one cup tea for one Alice in Wonderland set I got from ebay which was listed as a sugar and creamer to go along with a larger 4 cup Alice in Wonderland teapot...

Anyhow, aren't the colors on these cups and saucers gorgeous! 

Color saturated cups and saucers by Grace Tea Ware

More color saturated cups and saucers by Grace Tea Ware

Maybe the loveliest... Julianne's favorite of the color saturated tea cups and saucers

After our morning and afternoon at Tyme for Tea I went for a stroll down Niles Blvd. to take a peak in my favorite stores, My Friends and I a few stores down, and at the end of the boulevard, Suda Mae Antiques. At My Friends and I, I adopted an orange cat (statue).

At home I enjoyed another cup of tea (decaf) with my leftover sweets in my new Grace Tea Ware tea for one.

Tea for one by Grace Tea Ware

Tea For One by Grace Tea Ware, Floral Cat Plate- Urban Outfitters

Outfit of the Day:

And as I like to, let us end the post with the outfit of the day!

Today I wore my Steady Anna dress which I got a while back from DaddyO's, and a cropped navy knit cardigan from Modcloth. To finish off this look I had a vintage navy purse from Etsy, Blowfish navy flats, and a cat brooch from ebay.

Steady Anna dress- Front View, Wolfgang View!

Steady Anna dress- Front View

Steady Anna dress- Side View, CC Back View

Steady Anna dress- Front View, Wolfgang Back View

Steady Anna dress- Side View

Cat Brooch Close Up

I don't know what was going on this morning with my cats. They were being active this morning! :)

Tim did it again!

Tim did it again! 

We celebrated our second year wedding anniversary all through the weekend and on our actual anniversary on Monday and Tim surprised me by getting me the Stop Staring Charlotte dress I have been eying. This story actually happened like this....

My New Year's resolution this year has been to pay off my credit card. I have a bad shopping habit as some of you readers might have guessed, but despite my love of shopping for retro dresses I am determined to have the credit card paid off by the end of the year. This may seem impossible for a shopping addict at first glance but I have a plan! My plan has been to only buy dresses when they go on sale or *if* I see that there is only one or two left in my size and it seems imminent that the dress will sell out (something that my favorite shops Cats Like Us and Modcloth are good at letting their customers know). Also, something which I figured should go hand in hand with this restriction is that I would end up paying more on my credit card then charging up. I've been doing alright so far. You might not be able to tell but I have slowed way down in my dress purchases. ;) Though, to kick things up a notch, I decided that I will not buy any dresses in the month of March and maybe possibly for the month of April... now before you think there won't be any dress reviews coming for the next two months I have you covered readers... there are some back log of dresses I want to review for you in the next coming weeks. Anyhow, I digress...

I decided I will not buy any dresses until at least April. I told myself this sometime in the last week of February. But what do you know, the Stop Staring dress I've been wishing for since the end of last Spring when Stop Staring came up with their sneak preview of the their Fall Winter 2013 line went on sale on ebay from Pin-Up Darling (they also have a regular online store here)! And this was not just a 10% or 15% off sale... the sale price on this dress brought the dress down to 36% off, not to mention that this ebay seller was offering free shipping and there would be no sales tax, saving not only an additional 9% from CA sales tax but also saving up to $10 extra dollars from shipping which if you add up all those factors makes this deal more like 46% off the dress! So I could not pass this up. I made the purchase while I still could before they sold out or the sale ended. I felt bad for not sticking to my "buy no dresses until at least April" plan but not that bad seeing as this was a steal of a sale price I was getting. I told my husband Tim thinking he would say "Oh dis wan...." (he calls me dis wan). But instead he really surprised me and said instead, "Tell you what, I'll pay you back for the dress and give it to you for an anniversary present." And this was on top of the second year anniversary present he was already getting me; he got me a new set of towels for the house and I got him a duvet with a kaleidoscope of cats all over it. So sweet, so surprising, of him. It makes me so happy!

Anyhow... I will get to what you're waiting for... pictures of the Stop Staring Charlotte dress!!

Stop Staring Charlotte Dress- Front View

Stop Staring Charlotte Dress- Side View

Stop Staring Charlotte Dress- Back View

Stop Staring Charlotte Dress- Close up of drape and fabric with Murkurie in the background!

Stop Staring Charlotte Dress- backside of fabric and close up of front

The Stop Staring Charlotte dress is a tan and black 1950's style pencil skirted dress. It features a rounded collar, cuffed cap sleeves, and a skinny self belt. I love the well thought-out design of this dress. The covered buttons in the front of the dress mirror the curved edges of the rounded collar beautifully while the Glen Plaid/Prince of Wales Check pattern works well to contrast the overall curved motifs in this dress. The Glen Plaid/Prince of Wales Check furthermore fits perfectly with the dress' 1950's feel, adding an air of sophistication. This dress is made of a poly, rayon, spandex blend. It is a soft material with plenty of stretch. It is reminiscence to the Stop Staring Jackie dress in feel though much smoother and lighter in weight (see Black Friday Sales Dress Reviews). The dress has a back zip and while the front buttons look functional, they actually are not which helps in ensuring there is no front gaping in this tighter fitting dress. This dress fits a little larger than many other Stop Staring dresses I have tried on so if you like a very fitted feel you might want to size down. For me, I prefer dresses to have a little more room in them rather than being super tight and found my usual size large to feel like a great fit for my 38-30-38 5'3" frame.



Also, did you spot the cat earlier? Murkurie was hungry in her earlier shot trying to get my attention. Here she is again full belly on her heat pad being a good kitty :)