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!