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!

OOTD - Playing Dress Up

Did you ever have to dress up every day for work?  That question is almost like asking how old you are for everyone except a few people.  I did have to dress for my first two jobs, in suits.  We're talking skirts, hose, heels, jewelry the works.  In 1998 I went to work for a company that was casual and we could wear jeans.  My jobs since then have all been business casual. I do try to dress appropriately for my position and profession, so it ends up being somewhat nicer than most other folks.  However, I don't always dress professionally or conservatively (even though I probably should) because I enjoy embracing trends in an age appropriate way.  I also think female professionals can have an issue with approachability.  I want people in my company to feel like they can talk to me about their issues, and I think that if I'm too dressed up I can seem intimidating.

I have to dress professionally for certain meetings and events a few times per year.  For this particular meeting, I didn't have to get "all the way" dressed up due to the people who would be there.  I was also facing five hours round trip in the car.

It's a bit hard to see, but I opted for black work pants, a black silk ribbed sweater, blazer and scarf.  The outfit is built around flats as I had injured my foot the previous weekend. I am sporting my black patent Rockport loafers. I bought them at Marshalls several years ago but they keep going strong. I would definitely pay full price for another pair!

 Talbots petites blazer in taupe, Charter Club black silk sweater, Ann Taylor Loft "Julie" black pants and Jerry Garcia scarf.  The scarf is oblong and silk. I have it knotted at chest level with the ends hanging down.  Nails are Sonia Kashuk's Taunting Teal.  Kinda pushing the limit for a professional setting!

Do you dress professionally very often?

DIY Jewelry Creations - Mommy Bracelet

Those of you who are moms (or grandmothers) probably either have or want a bracelet with your angel's name on it. I have seen many of these, but I could never decide on one.  I almost asked DH for one, but of course I wanted to pick out my own.

I finally decided to make one.  I used all sterling silver and Swarovski beads  The dark sapphire beads are my son's birthstone.  The rest are clear beads.  The materials for the bracelet cost around $35. This is much less than comparable bracelets I have seen for sale, and I was able to make it exactly how I wanted it, and also the size I wanted.  You can see by the size of my wrists that I really am big boned!

 It is very sparkly in real life.  I wish my photography skills could capture it better.

Do you have a mommy bracelet? Have you thought about making one?

Serious Stuff - Cancer Patient For A Day

Every once in awhile I'll digress into more serious topics.

We have a mammogram truck that comes and parks outside of our office, right outside my window.  It makes it really easy to get your mammogram.

I got mine a week ago Friday.  No biggie.  They also do a physical breast exam.  Fine.  I'm not overly embarrassed or prudish about any of that.

I took the following Monday off, nursing a cold.  Oops, forgot to check my voice mail.

On Tuesday, there was a message from "Sue from the mammogram truck. Please call back."

When I returned her call, she said they saw something on my mammogram which wasn't there last year.  "An enlarged node." She couldn't tell me much more than that.  "We need you to come to ____ (the special cancer hospital in town) for an additional mammogram and possibly an ultrasound.  If they see something you will need a biopsy.  We can see you this week."  So I scheduled the appointment for Thursday.  And then I deliberated who to tell.

I knew my husband would be very upset.  I am supposedly the rational one; he is the emotional one.  But  I had to tell him.  I tried to tell him not to be upset until we had something to be upset about.  He said he would come with me to the appointment.  I was relieved.

I didn't tell anyone else.  I am very close to my mom.  However, my dad has been ill, my sister just had a baby, and she was dealing with a lot.  I decided I would't tell her about this appointment, but if it turned out to be something, I would tell her then.

Then the agony began.  I tried to remind myself that it was probably nothing. But I couldn't help but think about what would happen if it wasn't.  I knew that being of European Jewish descent put me into a high risk group for breast cancer, even though no one in my family has even had breast cancer (thank G-d).

There's nothing like a possibility of cancer, even a remote one, to make you think about your life.  I told myself that breast cancer is no longer a death sentence.  I thought about what it would feel like to have my breast removed.  If I had to do it I would.  I thought most about my little boy and my husband, wondering how they would make it in this world without me.   I thought about my step sons and my impact on their lives.  But I especially thought about my son, who is such a joy.  What would losing his mother, the person who he loves the most in the world (as he glowingly tells me every day), do to him? How would it change the person he would ultimately be? Would he persevere through the adversity or would he become a bitter, sad person?  If it was cancer, how would I make the most of my time with him, and why wasn't I already doing that?  I had the same thoughts about my husband.  We are constantly juggling, rushing around, trying to meet all of our work and home commitments.  We feel like we're working all the time.  We vow to make more time for  each other, but somehow we can never manage to do it.  I thought of all the petty things I waste time focusing on.  And I was mad at myself for not consistently making good choices for my overall health, especially my diet.

Long story short, we went to the appointment, they took another mammogram (this time with much more compression, ouch) and everything was fine.  They told me they call back a lot of people for a second look and often the angle or compression of the first Xray is off a bit and that's all there is to it.  They showed me the first Xray, and the area they saw barely looked like anything - just the white part of the Xray was a bit whiter than the rest.  I was impressed they caught that.

So we walked out, I kissed my husband goodbye, and I drove back to work.  I vowed that all of that thinking about life and such would not go to waste.  That I wouldn't take my life and my family for granted.  That I would make the effort to focus on the important things and let go of the trivial ones.  That I would be more attentive to my existing health concerns.

That I would try to live every day as if I had cancer.

Shouldn't we all?

Weekend Wear - Skinnies

It took me awhile to adopt skinnies.  As a busty hourglass, they aren't my number one silhouette.  However,  I finally caved.  After seeing my self in them in photos from last Hanukkah, I left them in my closet for awhile.  However, I think my weight lifting routine has made a difference.  For the first time ever I have done a lot of leg exercises: squats, lunges, dead lifts, step ups.  More on the weight routine later.  I also think that the mirror at our new Marshalls (where I took these photos) is perhaps more flattering than the mirror in my 1965 bathroom at work.

Old Navy Sweetheart skinies; NY and Co. cami, ON cardi, Gap flats. Coach bag,

Do you like skinny jeans?

Thanks for stopping by!

Havianas On Sale At Gap - Sizing Tip

Have you tried Havianas?  I think they are all right.  They are definitely stylish and some have great patterns, but they aren't my most comfortable flip flop.  That honor goes to the Teva Mush.  I really don't wear flips that much.  I think they are terrible for feet and I mostly limit them to the pool and around the house.  I hate to think of the future foot problems of the flip flop generation!  Tell your college student to go into podiatry for a lucrative career. . .

Back to the Havianas.  The first two pairs of Havianas I bought were way too big.  That is because the U.S. sizing listed on them is totally wrong.

Look:

The white shoe on the left is too big. The black one is the right size. It's hard to tell from the pic.

It says "USA 7/8." I wear an 8.  So why is it huge? Look at the European size: 41/42.  I know that my size 8 is usually a European 39. 41 is way to big, and so was this shoe.  I have no idea about the Brazilian size.  Now look at the one that fits:

It says "USA 6," but no way is this a 6.  Note "EUR 39/0."  Now that's my size.

So disregard the USA size when buying Havianas and go with the European size.  No wonder  Gap had so many left.  Everyone thought they were really a size 6.

Outfit of the Day - Winterizing

Talbots Petites jacket, Gap tank and belt, Old Navy skirt and tights, Sofft booties.  The skirt is cotton from this summer.

I think many attempts at winterizing summer items with black tights and shoes just look stupid.  It's saying, "look at me, I'm edgy and fashiony."  When really the person is probably just cold.

I think summer pieces can be winterized if they are darker colors and have some weight to them.  I won't wear this skirt in January, though!  Common sense figures in here somewhere.

Thanks for looking!

Outfit of the Day - Black to Black

I rarely wear all black, but I was feeling under the weather today.  Wearing black makes me think of the Smith's line, "I wear black on the outside 'cause black is how I feel on the inside." Yeah, Morrissey.

So here is the outfit featuring the black lace Casual Corner blouse:

 It was hard to photograph in a bathroom mirror, but this is the black lace blouse under a black denim military jacket from Old Navy.  Gunmetal Coach outlet bag.  Ann Taylor Loft Julie pants and Nine West wedge boots (not pictured).  You can also see my DIY charm necklace.

Do you do all black sometimes?  Have a great day!

Blast From The Past - Shopping In My Closet

Remember Casual Corner?  During my early working years, it was my go-to place for well priced business wear.  The quality varied, but I had some really nice pieces that lasted for years.  I mourned when it went out of business.

The past few years I have been ruthless about purging my closet.  Yet one item, brand new with tags from Casual Corner was never voted off the island.  This is it:

You can't tell from the first picture, but the subject of this post is a black lace "shell" with a black lining. Do you remember wearing tops like this under your suits?  Pretty basic right?

So what made me keep this top?  I credit it to my goth streak.  That's right, goth.  As in the dark music of the 80s, to which I still listen.  Black. Studded things. Lots of eye makeup. Vertical hair.  The epitome of which is are these style icons:

That's Siouxsie Sue of Siouxsie and the Banshees and Robert Smith of the Cure.  More on how they inspire me in a future post. But I draw the line at skulls, with all due respect to Mr. McQueen. I think they are morbid and I especially hate them on little boys.  But I digress.

Black lace fits right in with the love of Goth music.

So yes, the woman you saw wearing the preppy yacht skirt and polo shirt in a previous post also loves all things gothy.  It's the Gemini in me, I guess.

And it causes me to keep a black lace top until it comes back into style.  Stay tuned for an outfit post with said blouse.

Do you have clothes you keep for some odd reason?

DIY Jewelry Creations

I want to share with you now and then jewelry I have made.  I started beading when I couldn't find jewelry in the colors and designs I wanted.  I have a big stash of beads and findings on hand for those moments when the spirit hits me and my son goes to bead early. (So far he has not found the treasure box full of jewels.)  I also keep a file of magazine clippings showing jewelry that inspires me.  Finally, beaded jewelry makes great gifts for teachers and co-workers.

I am a silver person.  I usually use sterling findings, but sterling can be soft and I have lost a few charms that have broken off of a sterling wrapped hairpin.  So if it's something I don't remind replacing I will use base metal findings. I keep my jewelry in ziplock bags and so far nothing has tarnished.

So here is the first installment and my favorite piece:

This is a charm necklace.  I already had the long sterling chain.  I used a larger O ring and onto that I added three charms.  The pearl is for me (June birthday) and the dark sapphire Swarovski bricolette (teardrop)  is for the most wonderful boy in the world (September birthday).  I purchased these beads on ebay.  I made them into a charm using a sterling headpin which I threaded through the hole and twisted into a wrapped loop with a jewelry tool.  The middle charm is the Tree of Life.  In Hebrew it's called Etz Hayyim, and it's an important Jewish symbol.  It represents the chain of life over generations as well as the immediate family tree.  I bought it from a lovely Celtic lady on ebay.  In real life the necklace is really shiny.  The chain is I think 24". It's a bit shorter than most you see on this type of necklace, but I have a big chest, and those longer chains just don't work for me.  That's the beauty of making your own; you can make it to fit you however you want!

Do you make jewelry? Would you like to see more?

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

A Jewish Girl's Holy Grail(s)

When one finds that certain makeup item that always looks great, many refer to it as one's "holy grail."  I haven't come up with a Jewish equivalent of the thing one searches for but which only the most righteous find (other than HaShem his/herself), so I'll go with it. : )

A few of mine:

Nars Sin blush.  I know Orgasm is the most popular, but the beautiful berry of Sin suits my fair (NC20) skin perfectly.  It has just a touch of shimmer, but not to much for an older lady like me.

MAC Sophisto lipstick.  Again a berry, but not a dark one.   My lips are very pigmented and I can't do the nude lip at all.  I need something at least as dark as my lips.  You'd think I wouldn't even need lipstick, but I look totally washed out without it.  Sophisto oxidizes on me to a pinkish berry.

Do you have some special beauty products you can't live without?

Back After a Busy Break With an Outfit Backlog

Hi everyone! I know it's been awhile.  I have had some personal and family stuff going on this last month...a big birthday for my son,  holidays, an ill parent, a new niece -- it's been crazy. But I'm still here and I still have a lot to say.

Believe it or not, it's still not fall here in Missouri.  It was close to 80 degrees today.  Growing up, I do remember occasionally wearing shorts on Halloween.  And also winter coats.  Crazy midwestern weather is always a challenge for dressing.

I'll share with you some last outfits of summer.

The point of this outfit is that real people have to repeat their clothes.  I don't always have something new to wear.  I've worn this black and white sleeveless Merona dress for you before.  I have a Tahari flowy cardigan over it. However, what made this outfit were some snappy red accessories.

Red lips. A great accessory.  This is Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Raspberry.

Red crystal bracelet. It's brighter in real life.

Not red, but Nine West gladiator sandals.

Red beaded statement necklace, from JC Penney.  It's a brighter red in real life.

Piece de resistance: Hayden Harnett Lorca in Ruby. Bought during one of their super duper sales.

Next:

I love purple, especially against neutrals.  NY and Co. tank and cargo pants.  Gap cardi. Payless wedges.  Rebecca Minkoff Mantinee satchel (purchased from someone on a blog).  Do you wear rolled cargos? I never thought I would and now they are one of my most favorite trends.

Next:

Random work outfit. Loft cardi, pants and scarf with the RM bag.  My preciousssss.  In winter I tend to wear black pants to work several times a week. I'm trying to break out of that this year.

I wore this outfit to one of my sister's baby showers.  The aforementioned NY and Co. gray cargo pants, a Talbots Jacket, J Crew silk cami and Coach outlet bag.  I have on a chain necklace from Forever 21. I think I wore the purple peep toes with it.  The shower was at a chic dessert restaurant in St. Louis and so much fun.

Another nod to my preppy heritage.  Talbots yacht skirt and kelly green flats, Lauren polo shirt, J Crew Tartine sweater and vintage Gucci courtesy of my mom.

Tucker for Target blouse, black linen pencil skirt, Old Navy belt (it had a bow on it that I cut off) and Coach outlet bag.

Well, I guess we're all caught up! Thanks for stopping by.  How are you transitioning to fall?