Spring/Winter Wardrobe 201

Last year around this time, I posted about how Spring had sprung "in theory", but certainly not "in practice".  Well, whaddya know, it's doing it again this year.  This weekend it was both a balmy 70 degrees and a snowy 25.  This, my friends, does not a happy dresser make.

I was hoping I wouldn't need to combine my winter woolens with my new fresh airy Spring wardrobe AGAIN, but alas, here we are.

Which brings me to today's lecture:  "How to combine Spring and Winter wardrobes:  Part 2"

Lesson 1: "It's sunny and snowing…does this mean the devil is beating his…??"  I'll stop you right there.  Yes, you may have thought this was impossible, but in CO, anything is possible, and it happens more often than you may think.  Throw on your favorite jeans with a cheery painterly cardigan and a sunny yellow coat.  All this bright color will make you less depressed to put on your snow boots for one last run (hopefully) of the season.

Lesson 2: "I have a hot date tonight…and I'm freezing.  Can I wear my sweats?"  Answer: no, you can't.  You spent the money on that amazing maxi dress with the flirty jeweled plunging neckline, and you're gonna wear it.  This is where the perfect mix of "hard + soft" will work wonders--pair it with a warm leather moto jacket, nude suede booties, and a precious minaudière, and you're good to go.

Lesson 3: "It's a beautiful Spring weekend, but the whipping wind is bitter cold!  Don't make me put on the wool coat again…"  You're right.  For your sanity, put away that wool coat!  Instead, keep your warm cozy wool scarf on, but pair with your new floral moto jacket, preppy striped trousers, and your trusty leather ankle boots.  Just the right amount of winter gear to shield you from the icy breeze.

EXTRA CREDIT--Lesson 4: "I bought my 8 month old a ton of adorable spring dresses but I may get child protective services called on me if I let her out in only these.  Help me not go to prison!"  Okay, calm down.  Layer her warm winter tights under her new happy dress to keep her legs warm.  Throw her lined coat on top to keep her body toasty, and her leather booties on bottom to keep her toe-ies warm (because these are the ONLY SHOES that will stay on her feet).  Precious.

Hopefully, I never have to give this lecture again.  Come on Spring, you can do it!  

--mel

Day Drinking

A couple months ago, I went out to brunch with a friend and fellow new mom at one of our favorite haunts.  As I shuffled into the booth, late of course, I breathlessly ordered my normal brunch beverages: "black coffee, ice water, and a mimosa, please".  That's right, my normal brunch beverages.  As in, I order these things pretty much every single time I go out for brunch.

Note: when you have a child, brunch and happy hour are usually the best times to go out and be social with friends.  During happy hour, I suppose the adult beverage is a given.  However, for me, at brunch, it's a given as well.

Anyway, my friend started her beverage order in quite the same way--"coffee, water, and…do you guys have beermosas?"  My eyes lit up like a kid on christmas morning.  Beermosa, you say?  Am I that out of the loop??  Where have I been all this time sipping away at the normal, boring, yet still delicious, mimosas of our grandmother's era, when this glorious concoction known as a beermosa waited for me on menus across the land for me to conquer?!?!?

Fast forward to a few weeks later on my birthday when my family and friends took me out for a delicious brunch and when the waiter came to take our drink orders, I started mine in the same way--"black coffee, ice water, and…"--I caught myself before I finished my own boring sentence.  I asked him about the great beermosa of lore and he said, "Let me see what I can whip up."  He brought back a huge glass of freshly squeezed blood orange juice and a cold can of crisp Belgian white beer.  This, my friends, was the beermosa elevated.  I was in heaven.

All this being said, with the discovery of the beermosa, my eyes had been opened to the possibilities of new and exciting beverages to accompany me on my adventures in day drinking.  No longer was I held captive by the comfort and ease of the good ol' mimosa.  I had gotten a taste of the new world, and I wanted more.

So, here are a few other delicious looking concoctions that might just accompany my "black coffee and ice water" in the near future.

1- Burnt Sage and Blackberry Sangria.

2- Autumn Cider Mimosa.

3- Tequila Watermelon Popsicles.  (a.k.a. the more socially acceptable "jello shot")

Cheers!
--mel