School

J. Crew Factory Voile Popover (similar) // LOFT Shorts (similar, similar) // Tory Burch Thora Sandal (old, similar, similar) // J. Crew Sunflower Necklace (similar, pretty option) // J. Crew Elephant Necklace (similar) // Marc by Marc Jacobs Amy Watch (similar)

This post is a hybrid of scheduled (below) and new (ootd); I'm somewhat glad I decided to bring along my laptop, but I'm also sort of relieved that family time has forced me to cut down on my internet time considerably over the past week. That said, I came thisclose a few times to outbreaks of delirium tremens, ha. I've also been conservative with my "I'm on vacation" shopping...for now. I did pick up this on sale + promo (I wear a 4/6 in women's J. Crew blouses, and the 14 in boys' fits me comfortably), and I also ordered this in the pink to try since Gap was running 40% off sale prices with an extra 14% back from Ebates (referral link). Ebates is still offering 14% back on Gap Family orders (Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, Athleta, & Piperlime). I'm typing this before I head out to Atlanta, so I fear my restraint will slip downhill in the next 24 hours.


Today's Blog Every Day In May topic: The Things School Won't Teach You

1. You can't change people. So don't try. Be with those who are already who you want them to be, not those you think you can fix up. That's on them, not you. It'll save you a boatload of heartache.

2. Love can strike at the most inconvenient times under the most extenuating circumstances. Run towards it anyway. You'll only be sorry if you walk away.

3. Grudges are supremely draining and causes wrinkles. So get over it and move on.

4. Hangovers get progressively more horrendous with age.

5. Sometimes it does really boil down to being kind, working hard, and laughing out loud. Cheesy, but they keep most days from turning sour.

6. Not everyone can pull off leather leggings. Actually, make that most everyone can't pull off leather leggings.

7. Pretending a cookie has negative calories does not, unfortunately, play out the same way in reality. Ditto goes for donuts.

8. That dude who you thought you'd be sad about forever? You'll have trouble even remembering what he looks like in five years. It'll be the one person you thought you'd gotten over that you'll wonder about the most frequently.

9. We'll all, and I mean ALL, be riddled with wrinkles, saggy breasts, and saggier butts one day, whether it's at sixty or at ninety, so enjoy yourself now. Don't think motherhood or middle age or whatever are reasons not to spoil yourself with the time to look great. One day when you're wearing elastic band pants and crepe soled old lady shoes, you'll be glad you didn't give up on yourself at 33.

10. The best lessons aren't learned in school, but the education you do receive in school will travel forever with you.

Look Homeward, Angel

J. Crew Keeper Chambray Shirt (similar, steal) // Anthropologie Floral Jeans via eBay (similar, similar, love these) // J. Crew Belt (similar, similar) // Lotta from Stockholm Peeptoe Sandals (splurge, similar) // Tory Burch Kelsey Middi (similar, similar, steal)

It's Day 7 of my trip to see my family, and the outfit above is one I wore on my flight from Colorado to the balmy (read: maddeningly humid) South. Sorry, Insta friends, the only semi-documented outfits I have are ones I've shared via Instagram, as we've been busy with traveling and life outside of the interwebs, so the next couple of OOTD will be regurgitated on here. P.S. The jeans were an auction purchase via eBay after I spotted them on Grace's Instagram. I speed harassed emailed her to inquire about its origins (read: where I can get my grabby hands on these?), and I was lucky enough to find them for a pretty fair resale price on eBay (they were new with tags, so the price was especially good). Anyway, just wanted to credit blogger friend Grace with what may be one of my favorite prints this year.

Although the next few posts are scheduled ones until I fly back home next weekend, I wanted to take advantage of tonight's non-spotty WiFi connection to comment on the Blog Every Day topic for today, which is "Get real. Share something you're struggling with right now." I'm an absolute believer in counting my blessings before I dwell on life's deficiencies, so I'm going to state that I choose not to see anything as a 'struggle' right now or on most days, although I do have my fair share of internalized complaints. I'd like to know where we're moving to next year, since this was something that was supposed to be announced a month ago. I'd really love to have my husband home sooner than later, but it looks like his position will have him stay back a bit longer than his colleagues. I'm in the thick of potty training; my son thinks he needs to stand up for both bodily functions. Gag.

I've been visiting with my folks for seven days, have five days left, so my most current struggle is trying not to feel as though I'm fourteen again, sullen and resentful of my parents. My parents are super grandparents, wonderful parents, so I'm certain adolescence flung way too many instances of unfair angst and volatile anger their way, as I was and am still not, in many ways, an easy person to live with daily. That's not to say that it's been an easy row to hoe on my trip. Anyone else have parents who seem to automatically downgrade you to 'child' status within a 48 hour period of your staying at their abode? They treat me like an adult 97% of the time but have me actually stay few nights, and I'm back to hearing lectures about anything and everything, getting chided for leaving a dirty cup or two in the sink, and generally feeling like I need to stalk off to my old room and listen to Sarah Mclachlan over and over. And over. Hence, the blog title reference to Thomas Wolfe; can we really go back home again - to the same one we left as the same people we were? No, but asian parents are sure going to try, haha.

So, pretty lame struggle that popped into mind tonight. My parents are happy, healthy, always helpful. They've been married for 36 years and have dedicated most of those years to giving their children upbringings full of kindness, warmth, culture, education, and good humor. I know that my years with them are getting shorter as the days go by. I hope they live enough years so that Baby Warrior can continue to build his relationship with them. I have a grandfather who passed away before I was even born, and I always wonder. I'm glad Baby Warrior has all four of his. I predict I'll even miss the way my parents don't think twice about bossing me around and forgetting I'm twice the age they think I am when they see me.

So, I guess it's back around to choosing to see a full glass rather than an empty one. There are many people out there who are in my thoughts lately because of some powerful challenges they're undergoing in their lives, and my post is not meant to undermine struggle in general. I guess I'm just in a lucky lull right now...but ask me again once potty training goes full force upon returning to Colorado. I may just start drinking straight scotch then.