Working from Home

Working from home today with my two best colleagues...

My girls!

In "working from home" news... need any editing help? Wanna collaborate on some sharp, creative copy? Holler my way (hellerms[at]gmail[dot]com). I'm looking to pick up some freelance gigs. I'm good, too. Trust.

Dress Me...

... for a late fall wedding on a boat in the San Francisco Bay... what do you think?

($40 @Ruche)

Yea or nay? I had intended not to buy new dresses for any of the three weddings I was attending between August and September, but... the price! Right?

Now, also, accessorize me. Shoes? Bling? Etc.?

What I'm Reading Now: September 8, 2011

A new month means a new book for my virtual book club, ReadingWithoutBorders (join us!)...

Have you read Crow Lake by Mary Lawson? This is her second book. I'm excited to read and e-discuss...

In other book news, I just snagged two hard cover copies of books that have been on my to-read list for a while at another Borders everything-must-go sale. Each for under $8. The Borrower by Rebbeca Makkai and Bloodroot by Amy Greene. Sad (book stores closing) but sweet (can't beat pretty hard covers for single-digit-dollars!).

What're you reading these days?

Send me photos for my Photo Project.

Warm Me

I'm not sure how on-board I am with the fact that we've clearly transitioned out of summer seemingly instantly here (Seriously, on Monday I was walking the dog and noticed leaves changing color! Already!), but it is forcing me to forge head-on into my fall wardrobe and acknowledge what will (still) work, what just won't do anymore, and what simply needs to be replaced. Falling right into that latter category is my transitional coat situation. I need a new wool coat. One that will work once Chicago's (very) brief fall turns swiftly into... we'll say "colder" rather than the dreaded 'w' word, utterance of which will easily have all of my fellow Chicagoans chasing me with medieval-style weapons and hunting me down for inviting the season too soon. Too dramatic? You haven't been here in cold, cold March if you think that's too much. Lost my train of thought there for a moment. I was saying... I need a coat that will work in chillier fall, but will also work when fall fades into the not-totally-devastatingly-freezing-but-still-colder-than-fall "colder" season.

I've been in need of a wool coat update for a bit, but have been dragging my feet, allowing my desire for more fall boots (whee!) to supersede my outerwear needs at least two seasons running. It's that bad. So, this year it's a priority. And I intend to address this priority sooner rather than later. Here are my requirements for said coat: 1) not short; 2) not long; 3) so mid-length, probably; 4) not black (I've done a black wool coat ... um ... since I ever owned a wool coat, so it's time for a change!); some sort of great detailing (read: belt or buttons or big collar or shoulder flaps or hood)... I think that's it. But for now I will focus on #4 - color. I am thinking camel or grey or green. OR... should I go pattern?! What do you think? Here are some good looking styles in these color categories (for now):

(Piperlime)

(Nordstrom)

(J.Crew)

(Bloomingdales - this one's Burberry and totally out of reach)

(Old Navy)

(Target)

(Top Shop - Chicago store opens tomorrow!)

(Zara)

(ASOS)

(ASOS)

Healthify Your Work Day

My dear friend Randi is gorgeous, funny, clever, creative, talented, and really smart to-boot. Constantly striving to discover her truest self, Randi writes the blog Home Harvests, has designed and harvested her own home edible garden, has cleansed and refreshed her diet, and each day hones in more and more on who she is, what she wants, what her body needs, and what she can do to live a fuller, healthier, happier life. Open to her own mistakes and missteps and stumbles, she is just an amazing model of a woman, and I'm proud to know her, to call her my friend, and to be able to learn from her.

And today I'm just so proud of her (more than usual) because she's published on modernhippiemag.com!

Don't you want to healthy-up your work day? Here's a snippet from her piece, The Healthy Nine-to-Fiver (full article here; original post here):


"Sometimes the line between living to work and working to live can blur – we all have cable and cell phone bills to pay. But sacrificing health to get through the day should not be part of the job description. In fact, controlling our food and liquid intake during the work day is a win/win for you, coworkers, clients and even the boss.

"Sticking to well-rounded, nutrient rich fare throughout the day helps stabilize blood sugar, mood swings and tummy noises, and keeps you feeding your brain. Productivity, efficiency, happiness – sounds good!"

Highlights from her tips for a healthier work week routine:

"By controlling your lunches, you can ensure you are getting proper amounts of protein, fats, fiber and carbohydrates to power you through the rest of your day... [and] how is anyone supposed to make important decisions, sit through long meetings or close lucrative sales when they’re counting down to dinner? Skipping meals wreaks havoc on your metabolism, adds to your stress level, makes you cranky and can actually lead to weight gain... [and] Although they may be sugar free, [diet sodas are] often loaded with sodium and other chemicals. If you must have that afternoon Diet Coke, try drinking a giant glass of water first. After 10 minutes, if you still want the soda, then go for it – at least you’ve diluted its effects!... [and] If you start making healthy changes to your diet and eating for wellness, I promise that the energy you would normally get from caffeine just happens!"

See how great she is?! I highly encourage you to add her blog to your Reader or RSS feed. Her posts are thoughtful, purposeful, meaningful, and chock-full of really good information, ideas, and inspiration. Her voice is sincere and relatable - she's not forcing any mantra down your throat, but rather showing you how easy it is to incorporate tiny changes or additions with big impact into your life. And when she's not doing that, she's just sharing her world and heart, both of which are beyond lovely.

LOVE YOU LADY!

Rose Gold

I'm a big accessory lady - all kinds! any kinds! Bring 'em on! More is more! And right now I'm just really feeling rose gold watches. How fresh! How different! How masculine and feminine! How stylish and versatile!

(TopAmericanDesigner Michael Kors)

(Fossil)

(Swatch)

(Skagen)

(also Skagen)

(Kenneth Cole)

What say you? Rock the rose gold? or would you rather stick with something a little more traditional?

WELCOME TO THE WORLD!

Disclaimer: I've been saving this post, because I was waiting for TWO new bebe arrivals, so EH, please don't think this was not intended for you!

WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME TO THE WORLD, BABY H AND BABY R! SO MUCH LOVE FOR YOU ALREADY, AND YOU'VE ONLY JUST ARRIVED! Love to your families, and to you. Can't wait to love you both forever and ever! This world just got a lot better and a lot more beautiful...

(photo via Google)

And also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BABY H'S BIG BIG BROTHER E! love love love and more love!