Wear to Work Dresses: Which to Buy?

French Connection Bric A Bloc Tunic

Topshop Tuck Neck Shift Dress

BCBC Max Azria Cicely Dress

BCBC Max Azria Karia Dress

After a little visit to our office today (yes, my husband and I work for the same entity, though not on purpose!), I'm thinking about work wear and am tossing around the idea of buying myself a birthday dress that's also work appropriate. I've been searching for something special (I have tonnes of black and grey shift and suiting dresses in my wardrobe already). Here are some of my favourites. I'd love your thoughts on which to choose! xo

P.S. Many thanks to friends who sent recommendations on where to shop. I've found some beautiful dresses at your suggestions! xo

Baby Goals

So, I have a list of things I'm working towards with Tom. I've always been someone whose functioned best with goals, and as we get closer to the six month mark I'm ever aware of the fact that I'm going back to work and baby T will gain some independence from me. To prepare, we're working towards:

• Sleeping through the night -- I'm ever hopeful that some combination of solids, routine, and sleep training will get us there.
  
• Greater love of and use of pumping -- Tom's always been a hungry boy, I attachment parent and feed on demand, we don't use a pacifier, we didn't introduce a bottle until about 2 months and then rarely used it, and I loathe pumping. All this amounts to a boy who isn't so keen on the bottle. I'm going to recommit to pump daily and ensure Greg gives the boy a bottle a day. This is vital to reaching my goal of breastfeeding after I return to work, and hopefully until Thomas is at least two, as I travel with my job fairly regularly and work long hours.
  

Do you have goals with your baby? I'd also like to get more of our naps happening in the crib, but I'm aiming for the two goals above first. All in time, right?

Words to Avoid

I'm a civil servant by day, so my list of words and phrases we "don't" say includes: on a go-forward basis, incentivize, massage, close the circle/loop, COB (close of business), KIV (keep in view), synergy, drill down, engage, due diligence and fulsome (used in lieu of the term thorough). *Note: I'm a public servant too and I've never used any of these horrendous terms...or at least I won't on a go-forward basis! Greg*

If you're a journalist, perhaps your list looks like Kurt Andersen's (above). Via Swiss Miss.

Positions and Properties

Despite owning two homes and having a job I love, I'm still a check-the-MLS and peruse-job-postings kinda gal. Given this habit (which I share with my husband), I've decided to start a new feature here on Horizontal Stripes - a weekly run down (I'm going to aim for Thursday nights) of interesting jobs (in the broad public policy/communications field) and beautiful homes ($400,000 and below, typically) in my beloved St. John's. If you're looking for either, you might be curious to check back. Image via Ade.

Positions:

• Art Director
• Campaign Coordinator
• Chief Creative Officer
• Fundraising Assistant
• Information Management Coordinator
• Learning and Development Manager
• Manager of Corporate Communications
• Manager of Programming and Promotions
• Marketing and Promotions Coordinator
• Native Liaison Officer
• Research Consultant
• Supervisor, Child, Youth and Family Programs

Properties:

• Cornwall Avenue
• Kerry Street
• Pleasant Street
• Prescott Street
• Prince of Wales Street
• Topsail Road
• Quidi Vidi Road

Voyage

I've been spending a lot of time on planes lately, which equals blog neglect. Opps! I'll be back to regular posting next week. I'll also be back to helping with the household chores next week, dear husband. Promise! Image via MonkeyC.

Carpet

I had no idea that office carpet came in so many colours. Isn't this office beautiful and inspiring? I love the spectrum. It makes me want to write briefing notes all day long. Image via 2modern.

Office

Work followed me home tonight so blog neglect is the by-product, but lots of fun posts are forthcoming tomorrow! Image via Green Pages.

Office

It's a Tuesday after a long weekend and I'm on my lunch break, and I'm wishing my office was even half this cool. Images via Cielblue via Swissmiss.

Elizabethtown

After an extra long week at the office, I'm slipping into the comforts of ice cream and enjoyable music soundtracks, such as my beloved Elizabethtown (I'm particularly enjoying this song and this song... oh and this one too). Image via Le Love.

Jetsons

As a child, I wasn't one for cartoons, but I made an exception for The Jetsons. While eating breakfast this morning, I came across grain edit, a fantastic modern graphic design inspiration blog. I stopped to ponder this post for two reasons: the lead image reminds me of (a) The Jetsons and (b) a presentation I observed last week on smart grids and emerging energy technologies while on a work conference in Massachusetts... And who said you cannot appreciate modern design while also being a public policy wonk? Image via grain edit.

TV

I've been likened at work to Peggy (of Mad Men fame). While I'm not sure of the comparison, 1960s heels and pencil skirts are delightful! Image found via Milk (where it was found via this isn't happiness).

Speaking of tv-land, I've caught a few episodes of Big Love season 4 while flying on Air Canada and am super excited to watch the remainder.

Offices

I alluded to the possibility of new prospects here before, and these work spaces make me excited to continue to watch my thoughts come into focus. All creative studios via Brooklyn Bride.

Spot

This poster by sfgirlbybay would look great in my office opposite the Stendig.

Alley

Like a ladder, Duckworth and Water Streets in St. John's town are linked by alleyways. The hills of our home make alleys more staircases than places to unload wares for funky shops. If I worked downtown, in a big city, I imagine I'd cut through an alley just like this one with a danish in hand to get from one office to another for a conference call, or to escape midday to a park to eat a chicken, mushroom and havarti panini. Image by loveroni via Oh Joy!

Stendig

The perfect combination of planning tool and visual interest, my office makeover will soon include the placement of a Stendig Calendar on the void of a wall between my filing cabinet and bookcase. I am confident it will make a great addition to the multiple cacti and succulents, and framed neon sign photos, that now define my workspace. I recommend Shed Design Store (the site of this purchase). The Calgary shop has been very accommodating in bringing the calendar to me. Image via Shed.

Update, February 20: My Stendig arrived via courier yesterday. I hung it in my office. It is great!

Office

I've recently become employed with a new outfit in my home province's government. We're in the midst of staffing up and organizing office space. As a result, over the past two weeks we've been sharing and discussing various office layouts for our new space. Given my 9-5 activities, this blog on work space caught my attention on Apartment Therapy. Doesn't this loft seem like a great place to get creative? Of course I'm also drawn to the white walls!

Bed

Forging back into my regular work week after a two week hiatus has left me with (a) a string of meetings and training sessions this week, and (b) longing to rest my head on a pillow well before my typically mandated bed-time (10:30 pm). Image via Design Sponge. 

Work

A Canadian tune for those working today. I also love this song and this one. Image via Dark Star.

Travel

I'm off to Regina tomorrow for work. As a result, my blog will be on hiatus for a short spell, but I'll return with a full recap of the MPA sister's reunion this past weekend on Friday. Have a happy midweek!

Image via This is Glamorous.

Inspiration

Though I do not work in a creative industry such as marketing, graphic design or advertising, I do spend a fair amount of my time writing and staring at a computer screen. To avoid writer's block and remain inspired, I have created an inspiration wall on the tack board on my desk. Photos of family, cards, prints and other assorted graphic delights are affixed to my desk. A quick glance at any of the items posted motivates me. You should try it in your work space! Inspiration walls, design boards etc. are a fun and affordable way to display things that are pleasing to you in places where you spend a lot of your time. Further, using cheap frames or push pins means the artwork is easily changed, allowing your eyes to constantly rest on items you find stimulating and positive. Inspiration walls help make the space your own.

Currently my inspiration wall looks like this:

I'd also like to create a wall of inspiration in my home, but our lease won't allow that many holes in the wall. For now, I keep tabs on prints and photographs I find inspirational, knowing that one day I'll hang them all together in our home. Isn't this inspirational wall of Ikea framed delights wonderful?

Photos via Saidos de Concha.

To start your own wall, collect art work from your friends (or your own pieces), wallpaper, wrapping paper or pieces of fabric that are beautiful and meaningful, scour Etsy or 20x200, pile together birthday cards, love letters or post cards from friends and family, add photographs of your loved ones, or ask your children/nieces/nephews to paint pieces to hang. This DIY project has me quite excited!