a dose of inspiration

i think this has made the rounds on the interwebs, but i just discovered it and love it. it's the holstee manifesto. maybe it's a little motivational speaker, but hey, who couldn't use that now and again?

falling for baby clothes (sorry, couldn't resist the corny title)

okay, okay, enough about me and my fall shopping wants needs, let’s talk about baby sam and his fall wardrobe. my mom and i hit up the carters outlet store and got armloads of cute everyday clothes (as well as a few fun extras, like a puffy vest and fireman raincoat - too cute!) at great discounts. i'll probably never shop there again because it took 45 minutes to park, but still, we got some great deals. that said, there are still a few cute items out there that i think we need to get for sammy boy. here are a few highlights from the boden site:

how sassy is this fox t?

loving this cute, but slightly vicious, stegosaurus star t.

worm/centipede with a beanie hat? are you kidding me? how cute is that for little guys?!

i love these little outfits - perfect for the big little mister in anyone's life. i'm especially loving the star knee patches on those pants - tiny rockstar!

now, about this peacoat - do you think it's too little girl-y? i don't know..i love the red, but i am not sure this screams little boy. thoughts?

you know what i love about boden? i love that the clothes are classic and distinctive, yet still very usable for every day. totally critical for baby clothes. i have learned that they really do outgrow clothes so fast, might as well get as much use out of them as possible! and, quite frankly, i love the descriptions of the clothes on the site - here's the one for the peacoat: "designed for lolling around in a carseat or watching the world go by from a pushchair and then falling asleep after breakfast, lunch and tea." sounds like the life to me!

happy shopping!

it's the most wonderful time of the year...

...not the holidays, the fall shopping season. oh, how i love fall clothes! love them. i love the vibrant colors and polish, working together to create an overall look that’s a little bit more lux than any other season. they make me think of apples, evenings out in the crisp air, and walks through central park. let’s be real, i’ll settle for just apples if i can eat them while wearing some of these gorgeous threads from talbots (yes, talbots!) and the house of jenna lyons, a.k.a., j. crew.

i mean, how cute and classic is this grass green coat, blouse, and dark jean combo? and i love the red shoes - not sure if i'm bold enough to rock them, but the rest of the outfit is speakin' my language...
and the white blouse and salmon pencil skirt? loving. and i have to say, i'm digging the gloves. a bold choice. don't get me started on the yellow jacket and black blouse...lucky for me, i have similar pieces in my closet, but never thought to pair them. closet shopping, here i come!

how much do you love this mustardy-yellow top from the crew? i love the styling of their september catalog - perfection.

i need all of these necklaces. now. please and thank you. i am crazy about the over-the-top costume jewelry paired with beautiful basics look. great way to update the old wardrobe and not for all that much $$. i actually found a treasure trove of similar-looking sparklers at a random, independent home goods/gifty store out in the seattle 'burbs for $20-$30 a pop, and they actually appeared to be fairly well constructed - score!

the only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize. name that movie!

none of these pieces are over the top or particularly spectacular, but i have to admire the fact that the stylists at el crew can make a simple button down and pencil skirt look hip . i'm often found striking this pose at work..funny how i don't look as chic doing so. hmm..
and i know that this isn't a fall ensemble (well, maybe for the loved ones back home in new orleans), but i am loving this color combo - rust and grey, who knew?
and the piece de resistance, the trudie coat, on the right, in that color - droooolllllll.....i'm not sure that they still have it in stock, at least not in that color. i almost don't want to check because, theoretically, i'm supposed to be saving my pennies for bigger life events, but i don't know, i could be easily convinced to make this investment, sans knee highs, of course.

i'm going to try to shop my own closet and enhance with a few key pieces (mantra that i have to run through my head or else i'll derail my budget: quality, not quantity...quality, not quantity...). what is on your fall must-have list? i'd love to hear all about it!

Fun Find!

as i mentioned in my previous post, we spent the weekend on orcas island. while we had a great time, sam was getting a little restless in the cabin on saturday - it wasn't child-proofed by any means, so we couldn't let him walk around like he does at home. he was fussing, so i did what i always do when he is fussy beyond consolation - pack up the babe and head for the stores! we trotted down to the east sound shopping district on orcas - it is a precious little shopping district filled with quaint stores, cafes, and coffee shops. i rented a stroller and we hit the bricks. and i'm glad we did - i picked up some good maggies to read that night, as well as these ADORABLE wood cards from night owl paper goods. i am in love with the whimsical designs and rich colors, all on these cool flexible wood cards. i picked up the ones below and will frame them for sam's room. Cute nursery wall art for $6 a pop - not too shabby!

these are so precious, i can't get over it. i'm thinking of ordering this one to round out the menagerie - what do you think?

hello...is anyone out there?

casamcmillen is back up and running, folks! everyone, pop the bottles of champy! i've been so negligent of this blog, but i'd like to get back into posting.

so, here goes it....the family mcmillen spent a lovely weekend at the west beach resort on orcas island, washington. alex has been dying to go camping, but we agreed that pitching a tent and rubbing sticks together for warmth was not an option - we did that once, years ago, and let's just say it ended with a soaking wet tent, a run-in with what i swear was a wild boar, and an early check-out. i camp in cabins, baby. so..we stayed at the west beach resort, which has adorable little cabins overlooking president channel. it's the only way to go, especially with a baby in tow. if you're ever in the area, i highly recommend it - here's a view from our cabin - kind of great, yes?

it was so nice to just get out of the usual weekend routine, i can't even tell you! sam loved it,

too. here's a pic of him tasting the salty air on the ferry ride, hitching a ride on dad's back at the resort, and enjoying a little din-din al fresco. here's to roughing it! ;)