Reuse: Wallet and Clutch Dust Bags

I see more and more things packaged in little fabric pouches. Whenever I get one, I can't bear to throw it away.  Now I have found a great use for them.

Below I have fabric pouches from a sheet set, a pillow case set, a pillow sham and a Harry and David set.

Now see what each is storing:  a clutch purse, a small wallet, a zip around wallet and the cord to my Ipad.  I keep the cord in my work tote tangle free.  The wallets are in a drawer and the clutch is in a plastic bin with other clutches.  Nifty, right?

Manicure - Essie Geranium

While I was gone from blogging I became quite a laquer head.  To me, nail polish is a cheap thrill that helps satisfy my love of color.  I live in a house of men and boys, so doing my nails is my little escape into girlyness.

I'm not a nail blogger.  My application and photography skills are rudimentary at best. However, I find I'm often searching the interwebs looking for photos of readily available poishes from the main brands' core lines.  Stuff the cool girls have had for ages. I also love seeing how the same polish looks different on different skin tones.

So with that caveat, I give you Essie Geranium on NC 20 skin tone.  In my view it's not so much of an orange red as a yellow toned red. It's different from my other orange reds such as Essie Meet Me at Sunset, OPI Red Lights or American Apparel Poppy. It's super bright which I am loving for a breath of spring.

Check out some of my favorite nail bloggers:  The Polishaholic, Scrangie, Ommorphia, All Laquered Up.

The Quest for a Silver Chunky Link Necklace

Part of the 70s renaissance we have been experiencing is the resurrection of gold jewerly.  I remember growing up everything was gold.  I have had gold jewelry on and off through the early 90s.  It doesn't look horrible on me. But somehow I formed a distinct preference for silver jewelry, and that preference stayed through the selection of my wedding set, which is white gold and platinum.  My diamond stud earrings are also set in white gold.

I think it is perfectly fine to mix metals, and I do it on occasion with costume pieces from Forever 21 and the like.  Rose gold is all right too and looks better on me than yellow gold.  However my preference is always silver, especially for anything that requires a bit of an investment.

The fact that J Crew does all of their jewelry in gold has saved me a lot of money.

I have been searching for a chunky link necklace in silver for about two years now. While paging through the latest Lands End catalog, I saw a nice looking chunky link necklace and bracelet.  And then I saw that it was also available in silver.   $39.00. Score!  Soon after that Lands End ran a 20% off code and the necklace was mine!

Sorry for the small picture.  I like the necklace a lot. The silver is a bright, white silver. The necklace is substantial and heavy, but it was not uncomfortable to wear.  It is definitely up to par with Lands End's usual quality.  I also like the fact that can always return Lands End purchases to Sears at any time for any reason.  (My local Sears no longer carries Lands End but you can return Lands End to any Sears that carries clothes).  Mission accomplished!

Weekend Purse

Do you switch to a different purse on the weekends?  Until recently, I did not.  Once and a while, if going to a party, I will grab a clutch.  But truth be told, my clubbing days are well behind me.  My weekends now consist of chores, errands, kid activities, a work out and a nap if I'm lucky. A fun Saturday night is relaxing in bed with my fashion magazines with my dog by my side.

I noticed I was grabbing a few items out of my purse to take with me to the soccer game, or the scout activity, or the pool, or the playground, or the grocery.  I'm a person who historically does not lose things. However, lately my estrogen decrease  has made me absent minded.  That, plus losing my wallet for the first time ever, makes me paranoid about just grabbing my phone or wallet.  

I have several smaller cross body bags, including a Fossil, a Kate Spade and several vintage Coaches. I am reluctant to use these bags for activities that could be messy.  I needed an alternative.

I have been eyeing a nylon cross body bag to satisfy that need.  I've considered Baggallini and Lily Bloom. I  have a Le Sportsac weekender that I love; the fabric, zipper and overall quality is great.  My practical side gravitated to a solid color.  I have looked at the smaller Le Sportsacs several times but passed on them as too young and whimsical.

I was recently in Marshalls when I spotted this guy:

As you can guess, he came home with me.  The colors go with my wardrobe and the size is right.  The pattern is not what I would normally choose.  It is indeed young and whimsical and not really my style.  Too kooky.  Too Boden.  I broke it out this weekend and I LOVE it.  It has three deep pockets that can hold a surprising amount of stuff in an organized way.  Rainy weather? No problem.  I didn't have to worry about misplacing my stuff, I didn't have to worry about the bag getting dirty and my hands were free.  This bag will be so handy for the upcoming soccer season.  The only problem is now I want more!

What is your weekend bag? Do you have one that diverges from your weekday style?

Reflecting on Dr. King

I want to briefly say something about Dr. King today.  I think that more than any modern figure, Dr. King's message resonates to each succeeding generation just as much as it spoke to the America of the 1960s.  We have come a long way with race relations since 1968; we still have a long way to go. But I believe Dr. King's message transcends race.  In these days of nasty political discord, we would do well to remember Dr. King's message of peace, equality and non-violent expression.  I think America has lost itself in its divisions at this moment.  Let us reflect on Dr. King's message and find ways in which we can come together as Americans despite our differences.

Boden Nails It For Spring '11

I've been a fan of Boden's adorable childrens' line, Mini Boden, for years. The clothes are adorable, different, hip, use cool colors, and are such great quality that they last for two or more seasons.  And for boys that is saying something.  The girls stuff is super adorable, and I can't wait to start shopping Mini Boden for my new niece.

The line for women has been a different story for me.  In past years it has seemed, well, kooky.  I love bright colors but not in loud, large combinations.  Boden has seemed to be a mix of loud prints, huge 80s buttons, poofy skirts and sizing that always looks like it will be way too long. (They do not offer petites.)  Even with free shipping and returns, I never bit before.  And with prices similar or more than J. Crew of old, there never seemed to be anything worth the investment.

Fast forward to the newest catalogue.  As I leafed through, I found several things I like and I though could actually look good. A few straight skirts.  Tops that don't have patterns a girl would wear.  Cool color combinations.  And the prices seem to be a bit lower.  My purchases this spring will be limited, but I am seriously considering a few items.

Printed cotton skirt $68.00. Great colors.

Textured Cotton Skirt $78.00.  Has side pleats on front.

Breton Top $38.  This one boasts a lightweight fabric for summer.  Love the hint of red. Comes in seven colors.

St. Barts top. $68.00.  Several pretty colors like Soft Red, Menthe and Blue Wash.  No blush in sight. Those "lipstick nude" colors look horrible on me - I can't wait until they are done.

Casual Satchel $148.  This is leather and also comes in fuschia and tan.  Can be worn cross body. Boden's bags do usually seem nice, and I'm regretting not getting the RM Nikki knockoff they offered in 09.  This one looks like a nice substitute for the Sak Silverlake flap that seems to have changed to a lesser quality leather.

Do you like Boden for you or for your kids? Do you favor brighter colors or do you like the nudes and neutrals in vogue as of late?

Thanks for visiting!

Out of My Comfort Zone

So I've been into nail polish lately.  I love color, and nail polish is an inexpensive way to bring a little color into your day, whether it's something bright and sparkly or a modern neutral.  Wet and Wild has a new set of colors out and this week they are on sale at Walgreens for $.99.  I won't even try to photograph the bottles or do swatches.  My photography skills and patience aren't up to the task.  Wonderful bloggers such as Nouveau Cheap have already done better than I could ever do at documenting the collection.

At $.99 a pop, I decided to push the envelope and buy some WnW polishes that are outside my usual comfort zone.  In addition to the sparkly blue I have on today ("Blue Wants To Be A Millionaire") I picked up a lime green and an orange.  I also got a hot pink, normally well within my usual palette, a bright silver and a silver/gray duochrome.  Guess what? I love the light blue, lime green and orange the best.  To my surprise.

So my message to you today is to try something that's outside of your comfort zone. What better way to push back the winter doldrums than a little change? Maybe it's a new color of something, maybe it's a new combination of colors, maybe it's wearing your usual stuff a different way.  So pop up your collar, push up your sleeves, grab your leggings, rock some skinnies, get out a brightly colored purse, whatever! Or blow the dust of your Doc Martens!

No one at work even noticed my blue nail polish, not even the cool young girls who would usually comment!  So much for work appropriate.

Have you incorporated any little changes lately?  Have a great night and thanks for stopping by.

And a big smile to Fabulous Florida Mommy for her nice shout out today.  Don't miss her blog, it's one of the best!