Favorite holiday cartoons

If you are still thinking of a special Christmas gift for the kids in your life, I recommend a DVD of these two classic Disney cartoons...involving puppies, love, and happy endings:

Lady and the Tramp
101 Dalmations

Best part is to watch it together as a family in a cozy spot. Ah, fond memories!

If no cartoons (and for a girlie girl), I never tire of this favorite of mine...

 Confessions of a Shopaholic 

Yes! Dalmation print bolero ;)

Flower gazing

Taking a stroll in my parent's garden. This is how flowers bloom in the desert...

GAP broken-in straight surplus pants review

GAP Broken-in Straight Surplus Khakis

Dark green size 0P (current sale $34.99)

I'm in a "pants-wearing" phase lately and am on the lookout for more comfortable straight-leg styles (yes, I'm tired of skinny hugging pants now). I had thrown out my old skinny olive cargo pants that gave me gas problems from the tightness and was needing a replacement. Since I had a positive experience with "GAP broken-in khakis" in the past, I decided to give this year's version a try.

Sizing: I stuck to my 0 petite size and the length is perfect for me at 26" inseam (the side and back-view pics above shows the full unrolled length). The waist is a bit loose (~14.5" measured across laying flat) and low-rise, but works fine with a belt. The hip and thigh area are on the baggy side, so will be better for those with more curves.

Quality: I already washed these pants in the regular washer and dryer and they do not shrink. The fabric is thick and sturdy (almost feels like winter pants) with a soft velvety touch on the outer.

Overall: I decided to keep these because I love the dark green color and they are comfortable and great for casual "I don't care" outfits.

What kind of pants are you into lately?

Lace Topping

Looking through my old scrapbook, I fell in love this little lace top under a suit all over again:

It's no wonder I adore the "Romancing the Suit" from Phiphi's Blog recently!

Lace is definitely on my mind. 

Here's some cute options at ASOS:

Darling Lace Top

ASOS Heavy Lace Top With Peplum

ASOS Top in Lace with Crystal Bow Trim

What's your favorite lace items? 

GAP Broken-in straight khakis review

When I was people-watching in DC, I spotted this girl wearing neon yellow pants with a blue denim jacket that struck a chord in me. I wanted yellow pants! That night, I decided to search for some online. I found many appealing ones, but so expensive though like these 7 For All Mankind ones in Citron and Neon Yellow, or these Rag & Bone denim leggings in Neon Yellow. Since this is considered a trendy item, I'm not willing to pay big bucks for it. Then came along these GAP ones that fits the budget....

GAP Broken-in Straight Khakis in Vibrating Yellow

(Original price $49.94,  mine was 30% sale at $34.97)

For you online shoppers, my specific body measurements for reference are: lower waist measured under belly-button 29", widest part of hip/seat ~34", and upper thigh circumference (thickest section) 20".

When I went to my local store, this is how the regular size 0 looks on me:

 Gaping at back of waist and some flaring at pockets.

They didn't have the Vibrating Yellow in size 00, so I tried the Becca Blue in size regular 00 below:

The regular 00 may not look tight, but they felt tight...especially when I tried to sit down. The waist band doesn't have a lot of stretch. 

Thus, I made the assumption that the size Petite 0 (sold online) would probably be my best fit, which should fall between regular 00 and regular 0 (and with better length for the short legs). Here's how they turned out:

My assumption was spot-on! They fit comfortably! I love that it's a bit looser throughout the legs, which is much better for hot muggy days. The fabric is lightweight yet sturdy, has some stretch, and feels soft and nice on the skin. The length can be rolled up once or twice for a more ankle or cropped look. The only issue I can think of is the wrinkling at the back of my thighs. Overall, I'm digging these pants for casual warm days!

If you are looking to order these pants online, please note they do run large. I normally wear size 2 or 4 in GAP jeans, so I was a bit surprised to be wearing a size 0. Also, these pants seem to be made for people with some junk in the trunk (or pear-shape bods).

Side note on the "denim jacket": this is a popular item, especially in city vacation spots. It's warm, sturdy, and gives a relaxed attitude. Finding a classic denim jacket that is not too dark, too light, too stiff, or too boxy...can be difficult. The one I'm wearing is a thrifted SO juniors brand at Kohl's. As with most mass-produced jackets, the sleeves are always too long. I had mine chopped off. Come to think of it, maybe the denim is a bit too blue for my bright pants? I probably could use a duller, lighter shade in the denim jacket...