Beijing is officially out of the dog house (for now!)

I woke up.... jumped out of bed, whipped open our super dark black-out curtains... to see this!


OK actually this picture is from a week and half or so ago, but when I tried to get a new picture today, the sun was actually reflecting so fiercely off the buildings across the way that I couldn't get a decent picture. If it's possible, the sky is possibly even more blue than in this picture. Glorious!

With awesome air quality read-outs to follow!


I don't know what happened... maybe it rained a little over night, all I know is... I'll take it! As I've learned, in Beijing, you can NEVER take a day like this for granted... definitely going to be outdoors today, and I will definitely get a work out in! And by the way, it's 50 degrees (F) out right now... brrr!

Steph

Beijing... I can't take you when you are like this.

I can't. I don't know how people live here and go about their daily lives when the pollution levels are so bad, it is actually hazardous (all members of the population will experience adverse health effects) to simply breathe. I can't even workout indoors when it's like this. I feel so unhealthy here, from the air I breathe to the fact that I can't (won't) workout even indoors when it's a hazardous air quality day. According to an article I stumbled across from a few years ago (I don't know how true this is): "China's environmental agency calculates that living in Chinese cities does more damage to a person's lungs than smoking two packs of cigarettes a day."

It's been like this for the past 5 days... with no reprieve in sight. The only thing that will sweep the pollution away is either wind or rain, neither of which is in the forecast.

Earlier in the week from my window


This morning - no improvement, and actually worse


If the levels would just go down from "hazardous" to "very unhealthy" ... I'd take it. This recent wave of really terrible air quality has me in such a funk. I am TRYING to get out of it, but looking at those pics, can anyone really say "WOW I'd love to get outside today and explore!"....? ...it's not fog.

I'm homesick for something I never thought twice about when I lived in the U.S.... clean air!

Steph

J. Crew customer service success!

This morning, I called J. Crew and explained that I received two 25% off cards in the mail, but couldn't use them in store because I am in China. I told them I have a frigid Beijing winter ahead of me and said that I would love to use the 25% off to buy a coat... and they obliged!

(Of course, I really hate that I had to pay $17.50 on shipping (to ship to a U.S. address). I just don't understand why their shipping costs are so high. And I don't understand why you can spend 200+ dollars and STILL be charged an exorbitant amount on shipping.) I know it was really nice for them to let me use the coupon, so, I'll just stop there.

On it's way to me


Yep... I decided to go with the navy peacoat with gold buttons. I agonized over the decision, kept flip flopping between the navy version and the grey version, and then started wondering if I should just buy that plain dark charcoal or even a plain black peacoat instead.... It was clearly getting out of hand, and I decided that a purchase of a coat shouldn't require this amount of debate, so I bought the darn navy & gold peacoat. The only other coat I have is black and classic, so I decided I could use a little "fun."

I also grabbed this "warm taupe" (I call it pinkish!) sherpa hoodie. This is the warmest, most comfortable hoodie ever... I think it will come in handy for hanging around the house or quickly running to the grocery store during the cold months.


Anyway, that's pretty much it on the shopping front... I have ONE more pair of flats I want - still looking for my size... but I really want a rich tannish color pair...

Does anyone else find that blogging and browsing other blogs just makes you WANT more? I wish I could browse other blogs without being like "OMG I want that!" "I need that!" and pretty soon after, find myself shopping up a storm...

Yeah.

Don't forget to take advantage of Shopbop's (RARE) 20% off code: INTHEFAMILY20

I won't be. But you should! ;)

Steph

So sad, J. Crew, so sad.

Look what showed up in my China mailbox today:


Not one, but TWO J. Crew 25% "red cards." I'm one of the chosen few! (sorry, I'm on a MAC so the pictures are mirror reflections!)

I'm so sad. They are in-store use only, and they expire on the 11th so there is no chance of sending it back to my mom and having her buy me my coat....

On a happy note, I received a care package from my mom.... Vanity Fair with trainwreck Lilo on the cover, US Weekly with the Jersey Shore crew, and People... some new skincare products...

.....and a new pink IPOD Nano!! The best part is the inscription "Let the music take you home." Um, she rocks, no?! And the new Nano rocks. I love it. It has a touch screen! and it's fun! and it has a pedometer! a stop watch! and you can listen to the RADIO! and you can PAUSE live radio, and rewind up to 15 minutes... awesome for language learners. Love it.

Hoping for a smog-free day tomorrow... we've had some really terrible pollution the last 3 days.

I wonder if I call an actual brick and mortar J. Crew store, and order the coat I want over the phone - if they will let me read the card number to them over the phone? .... I have a feeling that might work.... I want to purchase that Navy coat (I think) and 25% off would be huge! It's worth a shot, I think.

Steph

In the mood to shop! FALL Wants!

The weather has been so gorgeous lately, but there is a definite chill in the air that says fall is here! I love the change of the seasons. As fall makes it's way to Beijing, I've become more and more aware how woefully unprepared I am for winter. As a Florida girl who has never really lived in a place with a winter, I'm still not exactly sure what I am doing when it comes to dressing in winter. I visited my parents last year in NYC in December, and the year before that spent a snowy Christmas in Prague... so I think I can manage, because I managed then.... but boy am I in the shopping mood!

Would you believe it if I told you I have like, no flats? I don't know what happened to them all! They must be in storage or maybe I never really had as many as I thought. My Tory Burch Revas are flopping off my foot (will never buy them again, but that's another story), so I ran to my computer and ordered two pairs of cute flats from J. Crew. I had a 20% off code to use, plus free shipping. I bought the Girandole Flats which were on sale, and the Studded Ballet Flats, which weren't.

Girandole Studded Flats


I thought these were cute and different and added a little something to plain old black. Plus they will look cute with jeans, with the studs just barely peeking out.

Studded Ballet Flats


These... I just completely fell in love with them in the light grey color and had to have them! Luckily I had a 20% off coupon to offset full price (thanks to a very sweet girl on a board I frequent!)

Then I started thinking about denim, because I pretty much love wearing jeans... and I haven't bought a nice pair in a couple years! What can I say.... the good stuff lasts! I was annoyed that I had let Bloomies Friends and Family discount pass me by... but in the end, I lucked out because Tobi.com currently has a promotion out for 30% off!

7 For all Mankind is my designer denim of choice - they just fit me the best of the many different kinds I've tried on.

I ended up buying the Skinny Bootcut in Rinsed Indigo


And because the 30% off was such a big help, I bought a second pair, the Straight Leg in Rinse

If you're in the market for some new denim, check out Tobi.com for 30% off!

Another thing I stumbled across today: if you sign up for 7 For All Mankind's email list, they send you a 20% off code to use on your next purchase.

I'm still eyeing a couple things.... a $190 sweater from Piperlime - OUCH! Wish I hadn't overlooked that 25% off code Piperlime had out last week...

and a peacoat from J. Crew. I've wanted a short classic peacoat for years - I think it's time to just buy one! Does anyone have any input on how J. Crew's peacoats fit?

I'm thinking of going with just the regular peacoat in charcoal...


But look at this gorgeous navy coat with gold buttons...


I'm thinking the charcoal for longevity's sake... but I love that navy one! I think that shade of navy can be worn with black, too... what do you girls think? go for the classic (if somewhat boring) charcoal, or go for the navy with the gold buttons? Will the military trend fade in a few years?

***If you go to Tobi.com to use that great 30% off code MeetTobi, please use my link to register! When someone I've invited makes a purchase, they put a reward in my account! My link is: https://www.tobi.com/invite/3qmm*** They have several Rebecca Minkoff styles and the code works!

Steph