- I’ve had a lot of momentum this week. I think it’s a combination of new year energy and the fresh start that comes with a move, but I’m finally tackling a lot of items that had been on my list for months. WHEW! On my day off, I caught with our budget (this took something like 4 hours, as I had not audited since September – never letting that happen again!). And this morning I finally finished and ordered our family calendar and informed everyone that at least they will be able to use it beginning in February.
2. Still on the list of catchup non-urgent-but-important-to-me-items are:
- Family Photobooks (2017, 2018)
- Late New Years / We’ve Moved Card
3. On that note, I finally finished my Q1 Goals list (to be shared in a future post) and January Actions. My planner system is now fully functional, 18 days into the new year. I am loving being back in the Hobonichi Cousin. I don’t know if I’ll ever stray again.
4. I have NOT been reading much lately. After devouring the latest Liane Moriarty (love her), I started Murakami’s Killing Commendatore and while I like it, I tend to fall asleep while reading it. I may need to put it aside until I am more well-rested (ie for a vacation perhaps?). I have Tara Westover’s Educated from the library, so I may switch to that. I appreciated Ana’s 2018 best-of reading list!
Someone once asked if I planned my reading ahead of time (ie do I have a list for 2019) and the answer is no, other than throwing a bunch of titles onto my library reserve list from time to time. On that note, we actually need to register for our new library system. I will miss that uber-convenent mobile drop-off we enjoyed in Miami, but I’m sure the Broward system is good, too, and there is a branch fairly close.
5. If you’ve noticed your comment disappeared, please know I am not censoring all of the sudden! The blog is still mid-upgrade (bigger font coming soon, I promise!) and the comment system will be changed to Disqus, most likely. The current system throws comments into moderation quite often and I have to go in and manually release them. Which I have been somewhat slow about doing (apologies). That said, it seems like maybe once the system ‘knows’ you it doesn’t moderate? All will change soon, so I’m not going to stress it much. But know that I am not purposely ignoring or not showing comments!
6. Kids’ activities. I have been purposely slow to add these – there’s a lot of energy being expended by the kids in changing schools and environment. Back in Miami Beach they had something almost every day, but most of these activities were just “stay at school one extra hour” sorts of things, which are not really offered here. They are currently doing piano on Saturdays. I think I may add just one at a time and keep things simple . . .
7. Even though I’m still nursing 2x/day most days, my body is back to pre-baby size and I am in serious need of some new work clothes. I will admit to wearing black skinny jeans as my main work pants, which is a bit questionable in the professionalism department. I want to investigate the famous Theory pants (we have an outlet nearby!) but I am also curious – does anyone have a favorite work-appropriate pant that is also MACHINE WASHABLE? Because the annoyance and expense of dry cleaning is not really my favorite. Please let me know if so!
Okay, about to get my Beachbody on (new year/new house momentum is helping with workouts, too — I have been running or doing 30 minute BB workouts most days. Although I hear G right now (5:46). Go back to sleep, G . . .
20 Comments
Everlane’s work pant is great
The Boden Richmond 7/8 pant in petite length is great (and comes in multiple colors)!
Betabrand pants! They’re actually “dress yoga pants”, but look completely professional. I now have 5 pairs, but the first ones I bought around 18 mo ago have held up beautifully in the wash
I second Everlane’s work pant. The price can’t be beat ($50) and they are comfy and flattering. They run short, I am 5’3″ and wear the regular length ones without alteration.
Try Banana Republic. They have some machine washable dress pants.
I’ve had recent luck with Banana Republic’s Ryan washable pants– lots of colors and look great without ironing.
The Juliet pants from Chicos are my favorite and machine-washable. Plus my daughter’s name is Juliet 🙂
Question for you from a fellow YNAber. I haven’t reconciled since July. Ugh! How do you make this a more regular and less time consuming task? I always put it off and then spend forever doing it eventually. Not really working for our budget. Any tips are appreciated!
I’ve had good luck with Land’s End “Women’s Mid Rise Bi-Stretch Pencil Crop Pants” — machine wash, line dry.
J Crew Cameron or Martie pants! Cameron you can wear a belt, Martie you can’t- they are a size zip flat front style. Both look good with heels or flats. I machine wash & hang to dry. The Martie’s seem to stretch out a little more than the Cameron’s & I usually wash those after each wear.
My work pants are Express Editor and Columnist with some Old Navy Pixies thrown in. Though I’ve been practically living in my Madewell black jeans lately…they go well with my warmest boots.
I’m going to check out some of these recs! I just donated every pair of work pants in my closet except for one pair I received from Stich Fix a few years ago that has seen better days. I almost always wear a dress but it’s nice to have at least 1-2 pairs of pants.
PS. The post-last-baby-pumping shopping is the best! I felt no guilt since most of my “normal” work clothes were over 4 years old at that point.
I was always so jealous that your kids were doing their after school activities directly after school. I am sorry you are losing that! I find dinner/family time very precious, so I was hoping this was a Florida trend that would move towards the mid-west.
Thanks for asking about the work pants. I am reading all of the recommendations!
I’ve been in search of good pants too :/ I’ve ordered lots and done quite a bit of returning post babies. I like Ann Taylor’s petite fit (I’m 5’4″) and some of their pants are machine washable.
I’m hoping links work here…Corporette did a round up of machine washable pants: https://corporette.com/washable-pants-for-work/
It looks like it’s older, but CorporetteMoms does a weekly “Machine Washable Wednesday” feature that might be helpful. Good luck!
Great to see work pant recommendations. I have a pair of Theory and a pair of MM LaFleur. The latter can be machine washed; just don’t put in the drier.
I am tempted to order 10 different pairs (to pit against each other and return the losers) and do a round up!
I like the Sloan ankle pants from the banana republic factory store. They say dry clean only but I’ve been washing mine on cold and hanging dry for years and they still look good and don’t shrink or anything.
Express Editors. Mine have held up for YEARS
I like white house black market pants. They hold up beautifully
Ministry of Supply has fantastic work pants that are machine washable. I have the slim and wear them multiple times a week.
Old Navy Pixie pants! Have them in many colors/patterns.