Have you ever wondered if the “black is slimming” theory is actually true? I mean, if I feel fat, I feel fat, whether I’m wearing black from head-to-toe or not. So is wearing black actually slimming? If so, how?

The answer, I think, is yes and no.

Black doesn’t actually make us look thinner or hide our true weight; putting on a black dress doesn’t make us look ten pounds lighter. Yet visually, black recedes. Whereas some colors pop, black can diminish into backgrounds.

Second, black “slims” due to light and shadow. Let me explain: my pooches and lumps are visible because they cast shadows across my body. But when I wear black, the shadows are mostly invisible, giving the appearance of flatness.

So black doesn’t actually make me look thinner. What it can do is make my true shape a little less… obvious.

Next time you wonder if you should buy the black dress or the red one and are leaning toward black because you think it might make you look thinner, ask yourself this: “Do I want the black one because I think it’ll make me look thinner, or because it’ll make me less obvious?”

Because I can tell you this—if there’s anything that will make you look thinner, it’s confidence.

My husband didn’t know I bought polka-dot sheets (well, just a fitted sheet and two pillowcases) until he caught up on my blog yesterday. Oops. Now I need to convince him that polka-dots can be cool.

The rest of you don’t need convincing. If you read my blog (I know you’re out there!), chances are you already think polka-dots are cool.

More cool polka-dot accessories for your home:

Next month, we’re taking a short trip to Crete. I KNOW! I’m insanely excited.

I actually feel a bit desperate for this holiday, not because I need relaxation but because I need adventure. As a stay-at-home mom, I take my kids to the park almost daily, so I don’t really need to sit around and watch my kids more. What I need is thrill. The kind of thrill that only a brand-new place can bring.

So every now and then I force these holidays upon my husband and children (not that they mind—pretty much all we talk about these days is all the amazing things we’re going to do in Crete—but I basically ignore anything they say for several days until I’ve picked dates and bought airplane tickets and planned our itinerary). And Crete is so close to us, so why not, right?

Anyway, I’ve been thinking a lot about my travel wardrobe (are you surprised? Click here and here). I think I’ve pretty much settled what I’m packing, but it’s all so dang boring.

My dream Crete travel wardrobe? Anything from Roland Mouret’s spring line.

His entire spring collection, as Hamish Bowles put it, is “suffused with the spirit of the Mediterranean and the islands of the Aegean.” The 1950s flavor, vibrant colors, Greek eyes, and even the two-strap sandals feel so movie-star-on-Greek-isle-holiday. And that, my friends, is pretty much the trip I want to take.

Unfortunately, none of these dresses fit the size of my wallet nor my travel itinerary. Could you see any of these on horseback? Or trekking mountain gorges? Or playing in the sand with my kids? No, I didn’t think so. So it’s back to boring for me. Boring wardrobe, adventurous life. What is one to do?

I love these! What a great idea for a wedding, a backyard party, or even for every day.

Hanging Mason Jar Lanterns available from The Country Barrel on Etsy.

I know you think we’re living glamorous lives abroad, but this is what it’s actually like. We’ve been living with this ripped fitted sheet for two months now, and our mattress size is outdated so I can’t find a replacement, at least not here. Still think we’re living the good life? (Wait, that’s the wrong question—we are living the good life. The fact that this doesn’t bother me much is a pretty good indicator that we are.)

Anyhow, I finally ordered a new one online, and I can’t wait for it to arrive! Hint: it’s polka-dotted. POLKA-DOTS. Living the good life, indeed!

Dot to Dot bedding available at Garnet Hill.

You’ve already seen pictures of our first apartment in Chicago (2002-2003), and our first condo, also in Chicago (2003-2007), so now I want to show you our first apartment since living abroad.

We moved to the Mediterranean coast as a young couple in 2007 to do volunteer work. The one-bedroom apartment pictured below was provided for us, fully-furnished. After owning a home for four years, where we did things our way, it certainly was an adjustment to go back to apartment-living, especially one that was already furnished and considering we wouldn’t have done it this way ourselves.

But we’ve learned to make the best of what we have here, not just in our living space but in everything. Our life out here is definitely not the same as it was in the U.S., but we continue to adapt to the changes, just as we do in parenthood.

So…! Onto the pictures.

And there you have it. We’ve since moved to a different, but still fully-furnished, apartment to accommodate our now-family-of-four— you’ve seen hints of it here and here. One of these days I’ll get around to taking pictures!

I post a lot of traditional and eclectic interiors, but the truth is, when it comes to exterior architecture, I love it ultramodern. Big, glass walls, concrete slabs, metal siding—oh, my heart skips a beat!

Like with this Munich house, built by Dutch architecture studio MVRDV and designed to evoke a barcode. Love. It.

What a quirky little trend. Quirky, but apropos—during hard economic times, fashion needs to be joyful and optimistic, right? Nothing like a cute little fish to help you smile through your day!

I especially love the Mary Katrantzou aquarium dress. It’s particularly literal but the photographic image is so very high-fashion.

I wonder what my mom would say if I told her that the enormous pink fish she’s been carrying on her keychain all these years is finally fashionable.

I am a huge fan of the kitchen island that is a different color than the cabinets. Huge.

The celadon cabinets right in the center of the room give this kitchen so much personality and way more visual interest. If it was also ivory, it would be an ivory mutiny on the eyes. Except the mutiny would be ultra boring.

*Image from Architectural Digest.

This bathroom feels a little Art Deco but with contemporary flair.

I can appreciate that this bathroom is feminine but simply so. Details I love: the crown molding, the wispy wallpaper, glamorous mirror, and O-handled console. Details I could do without: the towel holder, towel embroidery, and orchids. They’re a little too precious for me; I’d prefer a big pop of cut fuchsia flowers and a cleaner, simpler towel design.

*Image from Traditional Home.