Believe me when I tell you that my outerwear decisions are as researched and thoughtful as my underwear decisions. I’ve blogged about each of my coat or jacket choices over the years and this year I'm commuting and, as the weather got colder, I ran into a problem.  Equipped with a Patagonia jacket, a black A-line coat (unlined – perhaps you see where this is going), and a very dressy and warm coat from Anthropologie, I realized that none of them suited my new life.

In just a few short weeks, I'll be celebrating ten blissful years of marriage. These last ten years have brought us new jobs, new cities, three beautiful children and for me? Extra weight. Through it all, we haven't had a lot of opportunities to sneak away and celebrate. So when Susan suggested that I use my $50 gift cards from TJ Maxx to look for something to wear to a romantic dinner with my husband, I nodded my head and headed out the door.