Jeans and Button Downs

I seem to be wearing these jeans a lot lately.  Or at least they seem to be what I wear when I post to this blog.  Perhaps that just means that I feel good in them.  They're my only jeans, so that could have something to do with it too.

You heard/read that right, I have 1 pair of jeans.  Which is a lie.  I have two pair, but the other pair has no stretch.  Because they have no stretch they don't get worn nearly as often though at least they fit now.

Lots of women with blogs have dozens of pairs of jeans and while I suppose I have nothing against owning multiple pair, I've a) never found multiple pair that I particularly liked, 2) can't fathom spending more the $30 on any item of clothing which pretty much rules out most good jeans and c) hate jean shopping.  There's nothing more depressing as a woman than got into store after store trying on denim in multiple cuts and sizes to find that none of them actually fit you.  Find a pair of 10s at Gap that might work if the rise were lower, a pair of 4s at Macy's that would fit your waist if only you could get them over your thigh and a pair of 6s at Old Navy that fit until you try to sit and then they miraculously and permanently stretch into size 12s.  Anyone familiar with this tale?

I woke up to the jeans situation some time ago and decided that the better quality you get, the better the fit.  Sadly the better quality you get the more expensive it seems to be.  I ain't payin' $200 for any pair of clothing that doesn't brew me a cup of coffee, cuddle me at night, designs my business cards and buys me jewelry for my birthday.  Which is why, dear reader, I went to Nordstrom's one day, tried on all the priciest jeans, noted my size and went home to find a pair on ebay going for $25.  That's how that's Done.

Tank: Hanes (men's)
Shirt: Oscar de la Renta (thrifted)
Jeans: 7 for All Mankind (ebay)
Shoes: Connie (ummm...can't remember...Marshall's?)

That's more like it - 11/9/12

It would seem that I'm back - a bit.  Now that I'm on my own again and trying to pursue a number of dreams I'm back on the trail of posting to my blog.

Dream hunting is turning out to be a bit more fun than I expected.  Every bit as nerve wracking, but also I'm finding confidence I didn't know I had and joys I never would have had the chance to experience otherwise.

I find I'm looking at the world with a different bent than before.  Seeing things I never saw before and experiencing fears on my own.  It's an empowering way to live.  One of the many joys I've experienced is a "family" dinner with close friends I've not been 100% in touch with up to now.  That was the night I wore this:

Jeans - Seven for all Mankind (ebay)
Tank - Old Navy (lost and found in the laundry room - hey, I'm not too proud to admit it)
Jacket - Vintage (gift from costume shop)
Boots - Aerosoles (Piperlime, gift)
Necklace - Forever 21

3 out of 4 Ain't Great

They say that there are 4 major life changes that cause unprecedented stress. 
1. Death of a child/spouse/close loved one
2. Moving
3. Divorce
4. Loss of Job

I've been dealing with 3 out of 4 since September 19th. 
I've often written on this blog about "restarting".  It's the whole "I'll-be-more-consistent-from-now-on" promise and I always mean it.  It rarely happens though.  Old habits dying hard and all (complete with German baddie being pushed off the top of a skyscraper in LA).

Well, life or the universe or whatever has just given me one Hell of a restart and by God I am taking it.  I am determined to use the freedom caused by great loss to propel me into a new path - the path I've always talked about wanting to follow.  The path that's always been available, but too scary.  Ain't nuthin' scary now.

In fact, I've been calm and philosophical about it all.  It's not that I'm not upset (I have my moments...in private), but that there's so little I can do about any of it.  There's really no point in getting distraught to the point of inaction over something I didn't cause and can't stop.  Best to pull on a pair of hip waders and slog through it.  So, I'm slogging. 

And when I come out on the other side of the muck there are going to be some changes around here. 
First, I will hold myself responsible for pictures and content on this blog.  Time to make good on all those promises.  Plus, I'll be doing a lot of thrifting looking to fill out those new diggs I'm having to rent, so there'll be metric boat loads of content.  There'll be outfit pictures, furniture pictures, arts& crafts pictures, and even food pictures.  Content Galore, kids!  Keep your eyes peeled for 11/1.

Pre-first, I need to get that pesky move out of the way then I need to buy my own computer so I can upload all this goodness.  Then first will happen. 

I'll be honest, once the sheer terror of a restart on this scale simmered down it's been nothing but exciting.  I am looking forward to the rest of my life because I haven't imagined it - it's all new.  This is not a path I would have thought would Be available to me so I never put my mind to it.  Now that I have to, the freedom of no preconceived notions is amazing.  I can do anything.  I always could, but now I see it's true.

Oh the Stories I Could Tell

I have to chuckle at my own determination, or lack thereof with regard to this, my blog.  Every once in a while I become very determined to blog and then I get home at 11p knowing I have to get up for work at 5a and I lose all steam. 

Lots has happened since February when I last posted (are we shocked?) so let me give you the rundown on life.

1. G got into grad school, so we'll be moving to Massachusetts in August.  We're excited and terrified, as we should be.
2. I've reaffirmed my personal commitment to theater.  Didn't know that needed to happen, didja?  Well, now you do, but rest easy - I'm back
3. Grandma, who was the glue that held that side of the family together, passed away.  She was 88 (almost 89) and a kind and gentle force to be reckoned with.  She'd struggled with cancer for several years so while I miss her terribly, I can't be sad that her suffering is over.
4. Because of the happening mentioned in #1 above, I have the incredible opportunity to hit the restart button on life a bit.  Of course I'm looking for work and all that, but there's a certain freedom in knowing that my skills are transferable to loads of fields which keeps my options for the future blissfully open.
5. G and I have both found a Lot of excellent thrifting finds.  Hopefully I'll be posting more of those in the last half of this month.  
6. I have been enjoying the out of doors in summertime more than I can recall doing since I was a seriously young little lady.  I am absolutely Loving the sunshine and warm temps for long walks to the beach or though parks and Adoring the quiet cool of a cold beer on the front porch while we water the lawn at midnight-thirty when we're the only ones up except the lightening bugs.  Long sentence...was that a run-on?  Anyone really care?  No?  Good.
7. Other tragedies big and small have occurred to those around me and I suppose to me as well.  We all muddle through as best we can and try to find the silver lining.  Silver's worth something these days...I mean with the economy still stalled and all...

I'd love to say that I'll have an outfit post or food post when I get home, but instead I'm going to play it by ear.  I'll see you when I see you and hopefully that'll be sooner than later.

D

...Of a Lovely Lady

Here's the story. I know it's been positively ages since I last posted anything on this blog. I have an outfit post to come from a previous January day or two, but I thought I would also offer something by way of an explanation of my absence.

I have a tendency to struggle with the idea of blogging as a worth-while pastime. When I blog it seems normal and nice and all that. It doesn't complete me or anything gradiose like that, but it's fun and it harms no one. When I'm prevented from blogging (usually due to a lack of time) I start to think of blogs as a whole as being silly and, in the case of fashion/style blogs, grotesquely vain. And I mean that word, grotesquely. How can I be so hypocritical? In this case absence seems to make the heart grow distant for me and, well, clearly I'm torn.

Let's face it, anyone who puts their own image up on the web for the world to see AND ADMIRE is, in a certain sense, vain. There's no way around that. Now, before you jump down my throat for saying that ON MY OWN BLOG, please understand that I also truly Value fashion/style blogs. I used to read magazines. Now I read blogs. The women who post these daily diaries are far more beautiful than anyone on the pages of a glossy magazine. Far more beautiful and far more creative as well. They are do-ers, dreamers and risk-takers. These people show you what good self-esteem is all about - they show the world of readers what it looks like in the flesh, how it talks and how it moves. These are admirable people.

At the same time the little devil on my shoulder is calling me silly, vapid, and vain for having a blog of my own.

You see my problem? From time to time the devil on my shoulder wins and Puritan me says, "NO! Thou shalt not blog!" I say that jokingly, but it does almost feel like a moral matter (though it's not) (And no, I haven't missed the fact that I just unwittingly equated the devil with Puritanism...seems my inner thoughts are saying something to me). And then my optimism wins out again and the little Powerful me on my other shoulder tells Puritan me to stuff it, "Blogging is fun and harmless," she seems to say.

For the past month, little Puritan me has ruled and blogging was not to happen. Today I'm optimistic and feel it's possible for Powerful me to lead the parade. I promise you that I will continue to struggle with this and there will be chunks of time with no posts and no activity. But I am trying to listen more to Powerful me rather than Puritan me and to make decisions based on whether or not the result will make me happy without harming others. As I grow, so too will this blog.

Thanks for letting me get my thoughts out on "paper". If you struggle with this too, I'd love to hear your thoughts. If you don't struggle with this, I'd love to hear your thoughts too.

What I Wore while thinking red

white tank - Target (purchased for a movie shoot)
grey cardigan - thrifted
scarf - swapped
skirt - thrifted and altered by me
belt - thrifted
sweater tights - can't remember the brand, but got 'em at Marshalls
socks - Target?
boots - Born via Marshalls

You'd never guess from these pictures that I was thinking red when I wore this, would you? Lemme explain. I love this scarf. I got the scarf at a swap I hosted and it was one of those items that everyone passes over - even me. I walked right past this little number several times in my mad hunt for clothes clothes to snag (scarves not quite qualifying as "clothes" clothes). It was the end of the morning and everything was being compiled into bags to take to thrift stores and I grabbed this guy and all his little scarf friends and I thought, "Hm, this is Cute. I love the colors! I should just hold on to this." Like I do, I listened to my advice. Turned out to be excellent advice...I should listen to me more often.

So it was really the scarf that started this whole outfit off. The rest of the pieces are sort of standards in my life of layering. The belt, though is another of my favrites and though there was no other tan anywhere in the look, I just liked how the big buckle and studs on this belt worked with what I already had working for me.

You'll notice that the shoes change. I started with the black flats which are comfortable (I purchased them prior to a business trip to Germany where I figured I'd be doing a lot of walking. I was right.), but then changed to the boots when I realized that they were also comfortable AND allowed me to add more red to the outfit with the use of socks. I need more knee socks. I get such a kick out of the pop of color and the added comfort a pair of socks can give an outfit. Which makes me kick myself even more that I didn't think to get a picture of the outfit I was wearing yesterday which is also largely red and also involves this scarf and these boots. Maybe I'll throw it on again soon to take shots. eh.

By the way, this is what I wore on the 12th. I've been away, OK?! Good to be back though. Missed you.

What I Wore to be all hectic

earrings: gifted
cream top: swapped
green top: from a commercial shoot
skirt: thrifted
belt: thrifted
tights: Hue via Marshalls
socks: Target?
boots: Born via Marshalls

Today has been quite the day for me. Lots of new projects and fast moving older projects at work and even a 3:30p surprise project due out today. It was punctuated with a lovely lunch out with clients, but still overall it's not been my favorite day this year.

So unbeknownst to me at the time, this is what I wore to be all hectic. It started with a grey jersey knit skirt that I wanted to wear. I tried to pair it with the cream shirt above and a chunky knit orange sweater, but it didn't feel right. I decided to switch to the green shirt layered over the cream shirt and it still didn't feel right. I swapped the knit skirt out for a more structured, but still grey, skirt and that sealed the deal. Exciting, I know.

This was also a prime opportunity for me to try out this hair style I found on SWF's blog who in turn found it on Wendy's blog. It turned out all right for a first try on a whim. Think I'll do it again sometime!

Off to handle a bit more after-hours work, a meeting for theater and dinner with friends. Egads!

Letters to Grandma - Things that made me smile this week

Pictures found on Google images*:
Full Moon: nationalgeographic.com
Tai Chi: all-diets.net
Candy Canes: crunchydomesticgoddess.com
Goat Cheese: andreasrecipes.com
Good Paper: ontimesupplies.com

*Serial Thrift is an unsponsored blog. I do not necessarily support the views or products on the web sites shown. Web site links indicate photo credit only (in so far as these pictures were grabbed off the indicated web sites). Please reference indicated web sites for full photo credit.

Our First CSA Meal - Adventures in Cooking

G and I decided this year, given our resolution to buy local as much as possible and given our desire to be savvy spenders, that we would sign up for a CSA (produce co-op). Every week we pick up a box of mostly locally grown all organic fruits and vegetables (mostly veggies) for an incredibly reasonable price. Last Friday was our first pickup and because our weekend was hectic, yesterday was the first opportunity we've had to make anything with the produce.

First off, holy hand grenades, kids, there's LOTS of food in a half order. We were worried we wouldn't be able to get through it all (we still might not), but being the nerd I am I created a spreadsheet showing weekly meals and when we'll be using which veggies. I am SO excited for some of these meals.

Secondly, diakon radish. We got a HUGE diakon radish in the order. What? How? I don't...*sigh. You get some unusual things in co-op orders, I guess. The strangest in this order was the gigantic red beet and the diakon radish. I found recipes for both, so hopefully it'll all taste as good as the recipes sound.

Third, I love sitting down at the table to eat. This is a new phenomenon for G and me. Our first apartment together didn't have room for a table anywhere, so we ate on TV trays (nice ones) in the living room while watching TV. Pretty standard for a lot of people actually. We no longer live in a 700sq.ft. apartment and have a dining room and even a dining room table! It's exciting, I know. For Christmas Eve we thought we'd try something new by *gasp* actually eating at the table. It was awesome. It felt like a special occasion (it was, but just go with me on this), so we gave it a whirl again the next day and the day after and pretty soon we discovered that we ate slower at the table...we had good conversation at the table...we enjoyed dinner More at the table. So now it's a theme. No matter how late we're home.

We ate at midnight last night. Not a feat I'm proud of, but when you don't make it home from class until 11p, midnight is just going to be when you eat.

Yesterday's meal was roasted winter vegetables (carrots, russet and purple potatoes, onions), Cuban Black Bean Bisque (store bought), and side salad (red leaf lettuce, sun dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, roasted sunflower seeds and black olives (for me)).

What I Wore while feelin' all librariany

bouse: thrifted / sweater: thrifted / skirt: thrifted / tights: Hue via Marshalls / boots: Born via Marshalls

I'm bummed. I couldn't find hide nor hair of the outfit pictures I took yesterday and over the weekend. I was going to share today, but now I'll have to hunt on the ole home computer when I get home MUCH later tonight. Instead you have me as I am Today!

This skirt never fails to make me feel both pretty in an old fashioned way and quite a bit like a librarian. I have been teased at work about the color, but I don't care. It's a beautiful skirt in person. Mostly green (obvious much?) but it has flecks of brown, orange, other greens and yellow in it, so it goes with just about anything other than red. I Love it with a capital L. I've worn it with a brown sweater int he past, but I think I prefer the contrast of the orange sweater.

The sweater used to be one of my favortites. Then I accidentally let it go in the dryer. It's a bit felted now. It still fits OK, but there's no bringing it back. I'm hoping I can find a replacement sweater in a future thrifting trip. le sigh.

Please also ignore the impressive double chin I have going. I blame the necessary camera position. That and my relative inexperience taking pictures in dimly lit rooms with old cameras. You'll also notice there's only 1 picture today. Yep, the other two turned out Beautifully (pardon me while I dump this load of sarcasm on the blog).

What I Wore while totally bogarting a look

Jacket - Gap via swap // Shirt - unknown brand via swap // Under-Tank (not shown) - Hanes men's pack of 6 or something like that from Target // Jeans - Gap gifted // Boots - Aerosoles via Piperlime gifted // Necklace 1 (not shown - thrifted via Crossroads Trading Co. // Necklace 2 (not shown) - Lane Bryant gifted

I saw this outfit on Kendi's blog yesterday and thought to myself, "Self, you could put an outfit together that looks like that. You have similar pieces in your closet too!" So, as a first on this blog, I'm giving you my rip-off of another gal's fantabulous look. It's a little more country on me, just because my pieces are more tan than brown and more red than pink, but I like it. It's comfortable and I still feel pretty-ish.

The hair is in a ponytail because it didn't seem right having it down. Ever have one of those days when you think your face actually Tells you that hair-down-and-straight won't work? I had one of those today. Fine by me. I've tried high buns (the face says nopenopenopneopenope) and low buns (the hair says "FREEDOM!") so I generally stick with up or down. eh. It works for me.

Do you see what else is "up"? That's right. What was happening with my collar this morning? I'm sure I don't know. I don't have a full length mirror. That's my excuse. It's been tamed since the taking of these pictures.

I actually have 2 necklaces on too, but alas no photos of the necklaces together. I have about 10 minutes in the morning to take my pictures, edit them and send them to myself so I can post a post over lunch. This means that I set the camera on timer for 3 pictures. What I get goes up. If only two work, I'll put two up, but generally I don't take more than those 3 pictures. I need to start taking my camera with me everywhere so I can take and post more pictures, but I have to first get over the embarrassment of whipping out my camera in front of co-workers or strangers at odd times. I'm new at this still...give me time. ;)

I just realized that I've lived up to my blog name today by paying a total of maybe $10 on this outfit (under-tank and shipping for the boots). Fantastico!

What I Wore While Walkin' All Over YOU

Jacket - swap // Turtleneck - via Crossroads (thrift) // Skirt - via Salvation Army // Leggings - Victorias Secret // Boots - Born via Marshall's

Every time any part of the lyrics to "These Boots Were Made for Walking" comes up I mentally have to finish the whole chorus. It's a curse. I mean it's a nice curse and if I forget myself and sing it out loud it's even a funny curse (at least for other people), but it's still a curse.

So, this is my first official wear of the best boots ever. I bought these at the start of winter here since I knew my old ones wouldn't make it through the winter. Sure enough, just last weekend the zipper fully detatched on one of my old boots, so I had to break out the new ones. I'd been wanting to take these in to a cobbler to be protected and all that, but those places are only open when I'm at work. The result is a quick coating of protective spray. Maybe later this winter I'll be able to get them professionally cleaned and sealed. Ah well. Good enough for now.

New Year, New Goals - 2012 Here We Come

On our coffee table right now: Scientific American (a great mag by the way), The Art of War (which I'd never read, but pulled down this weekend to try to read this month), a candycane (cause Christmas is still juuuuust close enough)
Thoven was all hunkered down on the window sill being sleathy. Or he was just enjoying the sunshine while it was out. Either way he has a handsome profile, yes?

Just a couple of snap shots from the long New Year weekend.

Hello All! Well, I'm feeling great today despite the fact that the holidays have the scale notching ever higher back into my old weight range. I'm not going to let that bring me down, though. I'mma fight it! I'mma fight it with fresh vegetables and fruits and a middle finger to all the sweets and take-out I've been flirting with.

It's the start of a new year at work for me (as I post this on my lunch break) and my goal is to focus more and do my job better. Not that I do a poor job at work, but there's always room for improvement.

It's the start of a new year at home too, and here's what my goals are for 2012:

1. Enjoy it more - savor the moments
2. Made in the USA - G and I are doing this together trying to limit our purchases for EVERYTHING to those items made in the USA (not because foreign products are inferior or anything like that...we like our foreign goods...but because in a capitalist society the only vote you really get is with your dollar. If I fret about the loss of jobs here in the States, then my only true recourse is to purchase that which has been made in the States.) This'll be a tough one, but it should be interesting.
3. Eat Locally - as much as possible G and I are going to cook for ourselves (it's so easy to order in delivery when you live in a large city) and we're also going to aim to get the majority of our foods from local and organic sources. Again, this is largely possible only because we live in such a big city, but in reference to #1, I plan to savor my location by taking full advantage while I can. We've just today signed up for a produce co-op so we'll have a basket of fresh and seasonal organic produce every week - and the great thing is that it costs us less per week for the co-op than it would cost going to the store to get these things individually. I'm super stoked about this, kids. Super. Stoked. Geeked even.
4. Save More Money - I haven't thought this one through enough to know how I'm going to measure this, but I'll do it.