The East Wing...

Dear readers, as you might remember, a few weeks ago I took a mini vacation and went down to DC to visit my many friends who live there. It was a great trip filled with awesome people, fun activities, and new explorations. But by far the coolest part was my trip(s!) to the White House.

A White House tour of the East Wing is actually not super hard to come by. Anyone can sign up for one through their congressional representative; you just have to make sure you do it far enough in advance. However, I had an in. My super cool friend Cindy works for the White House and being the kind and generous person that she is, she set up not one but TWO tours for me while I was there.

Hi Cindy!

The first tour happened Thursday, which was the East Wing tour. It's self guided, so you can wander around for as long as you want. I knew the names of a lot of the rooms from reading the paper and watching way too much West Wing (as if such a thing were possible), but the main thing I was struck by was how much smaller everything was than when you see it on TV. For example, the spot where Cindy and I are standing above is in front of the hallway that President Obama walked down to announce that they had killed Bin Laden. It's actually a fairly short hallway. Cindy says that they use wide angle lenses to make everything look bigger. The secret's out!

After majorly geeking out for a long time, I finally said my good byes and went on my way-- mostly because I knew that I would be back on Sunday! Then I made some friends outside of the building and we all took a million pictures of each other.

The other highlight of the day was the Renwick Gallery, which recently reopened after a long renovation. There's currently a 9 installation exhibit on wonder, and I have to say that it was one of the best exhibits I have seen in a long time. Here are some highlights:

These were piles made entirely out of
notecards, styrofoam, tape, and toothpicks.

The inside of a perfect cast of a tree, made
entirely out of wooden blocks.

 Because I knew I was going to be running around all day, I wanted to be comfortable, but because I was going to the White House, I wanted to dress in a manner that showed respect for the office. So I ended up putting an easy cardigan over a shell with a wrap skirt and my super comfy boots. The scarf was added for warmth and a little bit of sparkle. And speaking of color and sparkle:

BOOM. If that's not wondrous, I don't know what is. Have a great weekend, everyone!

What I'm wearing: Boden skirt, Kosher Casual shell, LOFT cardigan, HUE tights, Diba boots via DSW, Betsy Johnson infinity scarf via DSW

Let's Talk About... Winter Boots

Happy Snowpocalypse, friends! If you are not on the east coast, you are missing lots of fun sledding, having snowball fights, and making snowmen and snow angels. And, lucky for you and sadly for me, the opportunity to spend at least the next week wading through giant slush puddles on every corner. Charming.

So I thought I would take this as an opportunity to talk about some different types of snow boots. Somehow, over the years, I have accumulated three types. There are obviously many others out there, but for those of you who have not made the plunge yet, these are three different genres that might help get you started. Also, even though it just snowed for the first time, snow boots are actually on sale everywhere right now because it's the end of the fashion season, so if you've been waiting to buy, now is your moment!

Option #1: The Semi-Work Appropriate Hardcore Snow Boot

These snow boots, by Pajar, are pretty intense. I bought them three years ago in the middle of a series of storms and they have served me super well since then. They both zip up and lace up, and both closures are sealed completely so no snow and slush can get in. They're also lined with fleece, so they're super warm. They're from Canada, and it does seem that they know what they're doing in terms of winter up there.
Pluses: Mine are leather and wool (red, white and black plaid!), so I could wear them to work and therefore did not need a change of shoes. They have great tread. They're not too heavy. They go more than halfway up the calf, so they can stand up to even the grossest of huge slush puddles.
Minuses: They are a bit of a production to get on and off because of the zipper/ laces combo. Also, they didn't come in half sizes and so I was forced to choose between slightly too tight or really too big. I went with the small choice, which is usually fine but occasionally uncomfortable. Luckily they're warm enough that I can wear them with tights but no socks.
Where to find them: I've actually never seen others like mine, but Pajar has a lot of other good options in a similar, if not wool plaid, style. I have seen them on sale at DSW, Marshall's, Fox's and my local shoe store.

Option #2: The Rain Boot

I've had these Coronado rain boots, by Keen's, for five years now, which is a very impressive stretch. Before, I used to buy cheap ones, but they would split and then leak every few months. These have held up amazingly. They're also roomy enough for my slightly wider-than-average calves.
Pluses: They're obviously waterproof, so there's no need to fear puddles. They also have decent tread. They have a thin fleece lining which means they don't rub uncomfortable, and an actual arch support, which is very rare in rain boots. They're versatile because they work for both rain and snow.They are also very easy to get on and off, which means that they're ideal if I only have to walk 10ish blocks and then take them off before I go into someone's apartment.
Minuses: These are meant for rain, not snow. That means they're not the warmest. Even with thick socks, I wouldn't wear them to go out for a long period of time. Also, like most rain boots, they're heavy. Not great for all day wear.
Where to find them: They seem to be out of stock everywhere at the moment :( But they come back around, so if you're committed, keep googling and I'm sure they'll be back soon.

Option #3: The Shearling and Wool Boot

These Emus are the one pair of boots I did not wear yesterday, hence the lack of a parallel picture. Mostly because of the height-- I was worry about meltage getting into my shoes. I learned my lesson the hard way about shearling boots with my Uggs a number of years ago, when they got totally soaked in slush. Uggs are not waterproof, people! But Emus are. I was skeptical before I ordered these because of my Ugg experience, but reviews swore by them and a local shoe store had a display with them sitting in a tank of water, so I went for it. And it worked!
Pluses: They're super comfortable! By far the most lightweight of the bunch. They also pass as normal looking even more so than the Pajars. The tongue is stitched in, so they don't leak through the front. I also got them on major sale from Zulily.
Minuses: They're not so tall, so they cause slush puddle anxiety.
Where to find them: Here from Amazon and here from Online Shoes (although both are MUCH pricier than what I paid. You can also search Zulily to see if any are left in stock.)

Enjoy and stay warm! And here are some pictures of general cuteness from our snow adventures (first time sledding for the new east coasters), because this is my blog and I can do what I want :)

Sisters See Sisters

Dear readers, as you (might but probably don't) remember, when I got sick last summer, I spent basically the whole time watching Parks and Rec. This is because Parks and Rec is amazing and I love Amy Poehler so much. Additionally, I am deeply and undyingly devoted to Tina Fey, and I read Bossypants whenever I feel down. Finally, I love that Amy Poehler and Tina Fey are best friends in real life because they are both smart and funny and awesome women, and the idea of them hanging out could only make me happier if I got to come along too.

This meant that I was both excited and nervous to see Sisters. On one hand, Tina and Amy! On the other hand, oh Lord, what if it was terrible? The reviews were not especially encouraging. However, devoted fans that we are, the sisters three made a date to see Sisters this past Saturday night.

And you know what? It was not nearly as smart as either of their TV shows, but I thought it was hilarious, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. Additionally, it was even more fun to see it with my sisters. And when I was in the bathroom after the movie, I heard some women saying, "Mom and dad would kill us if we tried to pull something like that!" So there were others who had the same idea.

Let's talk about my outfit for a minute. This shirt is yet another "party the back" shirt, although the front isn't so business. (See: the contrasting pocket.) I LOVE it. I love the contrasting stripes and colors, and that the red part is stretchy and the back is structured. I look forward to wearing it a lot when it stops being cold.

Also, after three years of searching, I finally found a pair of boots I like with my jeans tucked in. They are super comfortable and I found them on clearance. I orginally envisioned just wearing them with pants, but I've been wearing them with skirts too. I like feeling moto-tough. Because nothing says tough guy like getting a PhD in Talmud, right?

What I'm wearing: Downeast Basics top (similar here), LOFT jeans, Diba boots (on clearance here, 50% off in store.)

A Day at the Ballet

I love the ballet. The music, the amazing gracefulness, the ability to tell long and complicated stories without saying a single word. (As a total klutz, the fact that they can do all those things without falling down was particularly amazing.) And while it is not the most sophisticated or beautiful of ballets, I will always have a soft spot for the first one I ever saw-- The Nutcracker.

The Nutcracker is a Christmas tradition for many families, and ours is no exception, Judaism aside. When I was a little girl, we would go every year. (I am sure I've seen it at least 20 times.) I would get dressed up in my fanciest outfit and go to Lincoln Center, where the hall seemed hugely grand and beautiful. And then we would watch the ballet.

When I was in college, we took some years off, as my parents said that if they had to watch it one more time, they might gouge their eyes out. However, as I have seen many times over, once Simon expressed interest in going, off we went again. (Never underestimate the power of grandchildren.) So now we are back in the game. And you know what? Even after all of these years, all of those times watching the snowflakes dance across the stage, all of the times Clara's slipper did or did not hit the mouse king, the magic is still there. And I still wear my fancy dress.

Welcome, third generation!

What I'm wearing: Boden dress, HUE tights, Matisse boots (similar here), necklace via a very generous student

ABD(inner)

Well, I am back on the train after a super fun trip to DC. More on that later. In the meantime, I am almost caught up on blogging (mostly because I have been a picture taking delinquent, but so it goes sometimes), and we are finally experiencing winter here in the Northeast. So, welcome to my winter wardrobe, such as it is.

If you have been reading along, you know that I passed my last comp in November, right before Thanksgiving, and have since been mostly procrastinating on working on my prospectus. However, when I passed, my parents generous asked me what I wanted to do to celebrate, and I told them I wanted to go to Basil for dinner.

Basil, located in Crown Heights, is a high end brick oven pizza restaurant. The vision was to create a place where the food was good and interesting enough that non-kosher keepers would want to eat there, but still be kosher. The blending of the different demographics in Crown Heights, you might say-- hipsters and hasids. I've wanted to go for a long time, but never made it, so we took this as an opportunity.

Here are some things to know:

1. They don't take reservations and it can get very crowded, especially on a Saturday night and especially if you go with a big group. Plan accordingly. (We got there before they opened, so we were seated right away.)

2. They make their own cheese. Everything we ate was awesome. And my soup came in a squash. It was both beautiful and incredibly tasty.

3. It is not cheap, to put it very mildly. Be sure to bring your armored car. (Or your parents. Thanks parents! It was delicious.)

The Skirt.

 4. There's kosher funnel cake. Enough said.

Because we left right after Shabbat, I was still in my Shabbat clothes. I love this skirt and its 1950s feel. I've also been sort of into yellow lately. It's not really my color, but it works great as a bottom because you don't see how bad it looks against my skin tone. Also, the skirt is warm, pleated and has pockets. Check! The only problem was that I sort of regretted its fitted high waist when I ate all that pizza. Next time, sweatpants for everyone! I mean, not really. But sort of. I wasn't sure about tucking in the sweater, but it was cold and I think it worked okay in the end. I added the pendant I got in Nepal to break up the black a bit. There you have it.

Coming attractions: a trip to the Nutcracker, and TWO trips to the White House. Yup, I am that cool. Or at least, my friend Cindy is.

What I'm wearing: GAP sweater (similar here), Eshakti skirt (sold out), HUE tights, Matisse boots (similar here), necklace and bracelet from Nepal

I'm So Fancy! And So Is My Drink.

Hello from our nation's capital, friends! There is much to report from here, including my first (but not last!) trip to the White House, three museums in one day, and fun time with wonderful friends. However, in my effort to blog at least somewhat in order (some days I am more determined than others), I'm going to flash back a bit to a super fun sister bonding bucket list activity-- fancy drinks for fancy folks.

Most of the time, I am glad that I live in the year 2016. Feminism, modern technology, and the fact that I am not expected to wear a corset are all things that make my life much better. However, there's something to be said for the old days, just because everyone was so freaking classy all the time. I love being classy, at least when I'm in the mood, so sometimes I try to bring it back.

Therefore, I put fancy drinks on my fall/ winter bucket list. But the rule was, it wasn't only the drinks that had to be fancy, we had to be fancy as well. Obviously my sisters jumped right on board with that. We decided that the way to go would be the bar at a fancy hotel, so we ended up at Bar Pleiades at the Surrey Hotel on the Upper East Side.

Dear readers, it was SO fun. First of all, my drink was both beautiful and delicious. Second, I am obsessed with this dress and was so excited to wear it. (The top is sheer, so I put on a nude tank top underneath for a little extra coverage and as you can't see, you couldn't even tell.) I even put on a little make up! Not very well, as I have no idea what I'm doing since I never wear make up, but I get points for trying. There's something really appealing about being transported back to a different era for a few hours, when people wore fancy clothes to go out for a drink. Especially when you get to go back to 2016 afterwards. Cheers!

What I'm wearing: Boden dress, HUE tights, CL by Laundry heels

Some Random Musings

Please excuse the crazy hair. Curly hair problems.

I made a special trip up to Sarah's apartment to take blog pictures for this outfit because I liked it so much. Preppy all the way. You're welcome.

I'm currently on a train to DC to visit the many delightful people who live there. Included on the agenda is meeting a (not so new anymore) baby, TWO White House tours, some museums, and time with great friends. In the meantime, I don't have much to say, but here are some of the random thoughts floating around my head right now. Just in case you ever wanted to know what it was like in there.

1. I've been finding lately that all I want to eat for breakfast is a combo of saltines, pistachios and dried mango. Some days I even do it.

2. It is surprisingly difficult to get work done in the library if you're there all alone, like I was last week. Also, it is surprisingly easy to go the entire day without speaking to anyone other than saying good morning to the security guard, which is pretty depressing.

3. I secretly hope that when I get to go the West Wing on Sunday (thanks Cindy!!!!), Jed Bartlet is there waiting for me. If you don't know who that is, I judge you. Sorry.

4. I think that the quiet car on Amtrak is one of the world's great inventions. When people don't respect it, I get irrationally angry and want to yell at them. But that wouldn't be quiet.

5. I've been neglecting the fall/ winter bucket list a bit and feeling bad about it. Let me know if you want to go ice skating, to a basketball game, or to the ballet.

I think that those are all of my thoughts for now, or at least all of the ones I want to put on the internet. Happy Wednesday to one and all!

What I'm wearing: A bunch of things that are really old. Boden jean skirt, GAP button down, GAP Factory cardigan, Born boots, HUE tights, scarf from Nepal

A Day at the Circus!

As I have mentioned previously, my family has many holiday traditions. I love them all, but my favorite one of all might be the Big Apple Circus. The circus travels around and comes to New York at Lincoln Center every year from late October until the middle of January (so if you haven't gone yet, you have another week! Don't miss your chance!) It's really a highlight of my year.

For many years, we went on Christmas day. They would always wish us a Merry Christmas, which I thought was funny because the audience was always filled with Jews. This year, we went on the Sunday after Thanksgiving due to people's busy schedules, capping off the weekend's many events.

There are probably other circuses that are more over the top and grand, but I can't imagine loving any one more than this one. The show changes every year. The clowns are neither obnoxious nor scary, and the tricks seem more and more extraordinary every year. (See a few examples towards the end of the post.) I've probably been 25 times, and I've only ever missed one year. Many years ago, we started going with our best family friends, and now we all sit together. A few years ago, we brought Simon for the first time, welcoming in the third generation, and this year Leo got to come too.

He was enthralled. And happy that we let him eat popcorn and cotton candy. And that my mom bought him a toy. What's not to like?

Toys and junk food. Happy children.

There's only one ring, which I like much better, because then it's easier to know where to look. There are cute puppies and horses, which I sometimes find sort of boring, but they are pretty. I always love the acrobats and aerialists, two examples of which you can see below. It's an amazing reminder of the strength of the human body, even though I would never be able to do what they're doing in a million years. In solidarity with their crazy feats, I wore a neon pink skirt. If you can't do it, might as well look the part, right?

After the circus, as is customary, we went back to my parents' house, made a fire, and ate lots of cheese and other delicious things. We also celebrated Maddie's birthday. She's only one now, but we can't wait for her to join in with us in just a few years!

What I'm wearing: Boden kilt (this year's model on sale here), GAP long sleeved shirt, GAP Factory cardigan (similar here), HUE tights, Born boots, scarf from Nepal