Copy and Steal Everything

In a former job I was a member of the Council for Support and Advancement of Education  - CASE.  A mantra among members was "Copy and Steal Everything" (though I have heard it as "Share Everything," too.)  So that is what I did with this necklace.  I stole the idea from another blog (which I would happily credit if I could find it again!)

Love the color of the ribbon with this dress!

I am surprised I could pull this much together this morning, as we woke up an hour late!

Dress, Soprano via TJ Maxx; necklace, crafted from a stolen idea!

Plunking, or How I am Attempting to Love My Hair

I spent last night doing to opposed activities...ironing and making my hair wavier.  I've been doing a little reading on how to deal with my waves.  I am glad that the trend to straighten, straighten, straighten has ebbed and now there are some resources on dealing with the swirls.

So I tried (and misunderstood) a technique called "plunking."  You basically plop your wet hair onto a tee, by lowered your inverted head down to it, and wrap it up that way.  But I missed the part about letting it dry all the way that way. Good thing, or it would still be wet!  Instead I just let it get less drippy and air dried it while I slept.  Still....noticeably wavier waves!

And I tried out the layered necklace, trend.  I like it!

And when I was in the closet putting away all the ironed clothes, I found this silk skirt.  Which was a tad too long and too tight in the waistband.  So I pulled 'er up and cinched!  ("Just cinch it!")

Tee, Gap; Skirt, Tommy Bahama via my mother in law! Necklaces, from daughter, babysitter, and an old colleague's trip to Haiti; belt, LL Bean via the Fashion Exchange; shoes, Nine West.

Pep-less

I am tired.  Which I am sure won't surprise ye who look at my pictures today.  No amount of bright fabric could lift me today!

Tough week at work, tough week at home!  We are ready for the weekend.

Dress, Target; Sweater, New York and Company.

Audio Visual Club

I spend a lot of time in meetings.  And many of those meetings are via videoconferencing, which does impact what I wear, as the prospect of being on camera should.  Today I thought I would be on videoconferencing for two hours, but ended up on the phone for three.

Which begs the question:  why not just stay home in my pajamas and work that way?  The answer, my friends, is children.  If I have to drive 40 minutes to get them to day care, might as well drive the last 10 minutes til work.

And this situation will persist until the nanny arrives. (Scheduled for after the pigs fly.)

Sweater, New York and Company; Shirt, J.C.Penney via my mom's closet - but not stolen; Scarf, gift from Paris from my dad; pants, New York and Company; wedges, Nine West; necklace, Taste in Greenport, NY.

She Bangs?

I never thought abut putting anything other than a cardigan over this dress before.  But of course!  Why didn't I think of it?  But before you think I am really inspired, please note it is a black sweater.  I could have done better, I think!

Well, you have to start somewhere.

On to more important topics.  I need a haircut.  And the timing is right to get one, as my husband is out of town for 2 months.  We brokered a deal a few years ago...I would keep my hair "long" and he would keep his beard trimmed and his hair out of mullet territory.  I had many conversations, and much angst, prior to this deal about the fact that he was very open about saying he liked it long, and about whether or not he should have a say.  But when I realized that I could use this as an opportunity to get a better groomed mate, my angst was gone.

Plus, I LIKE my hair long.  BUT.  But...my hair texture has changed since kids...it is wavier than ever, and PUFFS UP!  So I end up pulling it back all of the time.  And as far as styling?  Seriously, who has time?  I wash, I comb, I towel, it dries.  Done.  Layers help (otherwise it just becomes a pyramid of hair).

And my layers are getting kind of long.  Which leads me to this question:

Bangs?  I want them.  Again.  I've had them before.  I tend to look young with them.  But I'll be 35 in a few weeks and looking young isn't a bad thing.  So.  Bangs?  Good idea?  Bad idea? Discuss.

Cable knit sweater, Target; Dress, TJ Maxx; shoes, Madden Girl; belt, thrifted.

In the Swing

I usually tie this cardigan back, but today I had it knotted in front.  Until I saw myself in a mirror.  Maternity was NOT the look I was going for, so I just let the ends swing free!

I can't believe I am still wearing this dress.  I will have to do a summer dress recap post!  That is before  start layering it for fall.  I wish it was available in more colors.  (And actually, it is no longer available online at all.)  I would absolutely buy it again!

Dress, Lands' End Canvas; Cardi, gifted, French Connection; shoes, DSW; cami, stolen from MOM!

Don't Hate the Layer

Other than belts, layering has been my biggest fashion conundrum.  Avoiding bulk, making sure all the pieces make sense together, not overheating...You know, the simple stuff.  I like the look of blazers over more than just a simple shirt, so I am trying a new combo here.  And I REALLY, REALLY liked it.

Everything else was shiny this morning, so I figured, why not me?

I definitely need more sequins in my life!

Pants, Gap (see below!); Tank, J.C. Penney; Denim shirt, American Outpost; Jacket, Victoria's Secret

Hunkering Down

I spent today hunkered down at my desk working on two big projects.  My better half spent the day finishing stacking our wood, so we will be ready to hunker down once it gets cold.  In fact, it's already starting to get chilly, hence the long pants.

And so you can get a better idea of how much would we have...It's stacked three logs deep.  Plus the wood left over from last year stretches along the front railing of the deck.

That's our old woodstove tucked in the corner.

Tee, Lands' End Canvas; pants, the Gap; shoes, DSW; belt, J Crew; necklace, handmade by a former coworker, Robin Foster, who sells her wares at the local Adirondack craft shows!

The Jacket with the Dragon Tattoo

Look, ma!  No black!

Donor meetings mean jackets.  I am so glad I went with these pants, instead of black.  I ate lunch outside in the sun with two donors and it was WARM.

I realized after taking these pictures that a.) I love this jacket buttoned, b.) I wasn't able to button it last time I wore it, and c.) I didn't get enough pictures of it that way.  Wolfie insisted on being in this shot.

Jacket, bought on super duper sale at Alpine Meadow in Lake Placid three years ago, $25; knit silk shell, hand-me-down from my lovely mother-in-law; pants, New York and Company.

Ghosts of Trends Past (and Present)

This summer began with strenuous denials.  And mocking.  And eye-rolling.

And then a change of heart, but it could not be indulged.  Because how embarrassing is THAT?

Now, the danger is past.  I will be making no more summer clothing buys, and I am pretty sure 2011 will not be the Summer of the Romper and Gladiators, Part II.  I escaped.  I can show my face in front of the friends who joined me in the mocking of the romper and derision of the gladiator.

That is...until now.

My crime has hopefully reached the statute of limitations.

Hello, 1993.

Mixing It Up

Oh, pattern mixing.  How I fear you.  I need to practice this skill, but most of my clothes are solids!  I realize that I might be a TAD afraid of pattern.  I prefer to buy things that "go with everything." Of course that gets boring.  So today I took a stab.  A gentle stab.  More like a poke.

Somehow, the totally different colors of the scarf in the middle seemed to make the skirt and top go together BETTER.  How does that work?  My mind is boggled.

Here's a close up of the patterns next to each other.

Maybe after I master pattern mixing, I will learn how to iron.

Also, today I thought about trying to wear NO black for a week.  But I realize that I would have not much too wear.  We will see.

Blouse, J Crew; Skirt, TJ Maxx; Scarf, Gifted; Necklace, Pink.

Blast from the Past

This weekend my daughter got into a box of old toys in our spare room.  While we were picking up the Little People explosion, I noticed a box of old clothes, things I packed away five years ago this summer.  I was pregnant with her at the time.  In the box I found some great old things (now with moth holes!) and a mouses' nest, made from velvet fuzz  from a pair of Ralph Lauren pants I bought in 1997.

And also?  This shirt.

Everything else was at least a size or two too small or ready for the trash.  (One pair of pants might fit on a really good day.)

I've been looking at demin shirts online, for fall.  What a find!  I bet I can do some creative layering for the looks I want.  Here's a start...the shirt is stiff enough and the dress thin enough for this to work.

Shirt, Originally?  Who knows..label says American Outpost; Dress, Soprano via TJ Maxx

Speedy

A busy weekend calls for fast fashion on a Monday.  I didn't even think about the outfit til the alarm went off.

And I have nothing to say about it, with the exception that I can't figure out how to wear this skirt in any combo other than black top and bright cardi.

Skirt, Target; cami, J Crew; Sweater, J Crew.

Dinner with the Drapers (Redux)

On Friday night we attended a wedding in Lake Placid.  The groom rented a room for us two winters in a row, while snow making at Whiteface.  He and the bride conceived their son right upstairs from where I sit blogging.  Wonderful wedding on the Lake!

I restyled the dress from Bill's reunion with a green belt, to go with the green lining.  I added a pin instead of a necklace and went for a pair of heels.  Good thing for the green belt, for I had something to match my matrimonial Grateful Dead doo-rag to.  (and no, no pictures of that!)

Damn that little girl for trying (and succeeding) to upstage me!

Dress, Dress Barn; Belt and Pin, thrifted; Shoes, Madden Girl.

Day Off with Her Head!

I took today off because we are going to a wedding this afternoon.  My girl and I spent the morning getting manicures.  For her, a first!  Then she played photographer again, and I believe she is making an editorial decision about my hair.

It is rather, um, fluffy these days.

I had to manhandle it down to keep it in the frame in this picture!

Shorts, New York and Co.; Top, LOFT via THRIFT STORE!; Shoes, SE Boutique.

Boating with Batman

I failed to get any pics of today's outfit, but I can tell you it was comfy, cool and uninspired.  Perfect for a day of meetings in the office.  And the meetings were with colleagues, so no need to get fancy.  It was a little too casual, but I couldn't take another day of dressed up this week, so there you have it.

Listen, they are lucky I did not come in in my favorite outfit of vacation, with my favorite accessory:  BATMAN!

That's right.  Batman.

Cover up, Lands' End; Swimsuit, Lands' End.

In the Pink

Oh, am I tired.  Three hours of sleep after a night of up and down with a tantruming kidlet does not lend its self to look bright-eyed and bushy-anthyinged.  But we must press on, no?

So I grabbed some pink and prepared myself for another road warrior day.  Off to Groovy Gouvey - lovely Gouverneur, NY, to visit a donor.

As a nod to my travels across the wilderness of the Northern Adirondacks, let us play spot the heron.

My son, he of the rabid 2am tantrum, spotted my pin and said.  "Blue-baby!"  I pointed out that it is actually a strawberry.  His response?  "Yucky.  I like blue-baby."

And then the fashion photographer played stylist and told me to put the butterfly on my head and blow bubbles.  So I did.

Dress, Lands' End Canvas; Scarf, gifted; jacket, New York and Company

Hanging In There

Little did I know wheh I took these pictures that this is what my day would feel like:  hanging on for dear life as things twisted and turned.  Okay, so it was NOT that bad, but it wasn't good either!  At least I was feeling cute, and let me tell you, that counts for a lot.

This may be tough, but if you think waaaaay back to my vacation you may remember that this skirt is actually much longer.  It hangs about three inches below the knee.  And that, my friends?  Not the length for me.  (And the reason why that shot was taken of me sitting.)

I thought about hemming it, but as you can see, it has a solid band around the bottom that I quite like.  And it's a drawstring waist, so short of cutting the whole top off and resewing the channel for the string, there's not much I can do there.  It does not neatly roll at the waist either.

So I pulled out the tool that got me through my pregnancy with the baby....the bella band.  Stretch, smoothing, wide...perfect for hold my skirt in place...hiked up under my bra.  Classy, I know.  But it worked!

And as the day rolled on I could still strip off the jacket and get down to work... with minimal torso rolls. (Apologies for cell phone snapshot!)

Tee, Target; skirt, thrifted; jacket and scarf, Victoria's Secret.

Make It Work?

Since starting this blog, I've made about 15 attempts at the belt over cardigan look. And, until today, none of them made it out of the house. Why? Wrong belt?  Wrong cardigan? Wrong waist?  All of the above?  But today I braved it, only because I wanted to wear this color combo and NOT recreate an IDENTICAL outfit from late July.

I really can't decide if this works or not.   Maybe it would be better if I were less busty?  But on the plus side, I think all the layers are thing enough so it is not at all bulky.

I wore this to a lunch meeting with a donor.  Normally I might dress more conservatively, maybe a jacket and less sandal-y shoes, but a.) it's summer and b.) the donor is a pretty casual dressing guy.

One more note: this dress was a beginning foray into shorter skirts.  I liked it.

Dress, Soprano via TJ Maxx; cardigan, J Crew; shoes, Nine West; belt, LL Bean via the Fashion Exchange.

Lampshade or Awesome Skirt...You Be the Judge.

Well you didn't think I could end the black and white streak on Thursday, did you?  No, I had to finish it out.

I have a real bottom shortage...few pants and fewer skirts.  And the missing pieces seem to go in opposite directions.  I could use more basic pants and more funky skirts.  So when I was browsing the local consignment shop yesterday, and spotted this number, I knew I had two birds and one stone: my final outfit for the week was complete and instant skirt funkification.

My husband referred to it as my "lampshade" but I got compliments all day.  I could definitely dress this up or down.  This was for a casual summer Friday at work, but I think it would look great with my band jacket or my black sequined tank for other occasions.

It is very heavy, though, and has an elastic waist, so I am at a loss for how to wear it with something tucked...Any suggestions?

Skirt, Simon Chang via the Fashion Exchange, $12.50; Top, french connection; cami, leftover from a cllection of stretchy maternity tanks!

Theme Week

So it has come to my attention that I might have developed a bit of a theme here this week.  Perhaps my return to the day to day life that is not vacation prompted this rather black and white view of things.

This outfit features the dress of the summer and a thrifted big shirt.

And this picture features the dress of the summer and a big pile of wood.  So I guess fall is fast approaching.

I think this outfit is really simple, but I love the detail around the neckline.

Blouse, thrifted, $2; dress, Land's End Canvas; cami, stolen from my mom's closet in 1996!

Black and White and Red All Over (my feet)

It must be that we took our vacation earlier than usual, but I feel like it should be Fall now.  Not that I want it to be, so much, it just feels like it should be.

So even though it was in the 80s today I wore long pants.

I wear these pants ALL THE TIME in cooler weather, but some how they feel brand new aftr I haven't had them on in a while...

Cami, JCrew; Pants, Gap; Shoes, Bass.

Back to Work

I returned to work with a bang...of the car door.  I had a donor meeting 2 hours away that I foolishly scheduled at a time that necessitated leaving the house at the time I have been getting up over vacation.  I was dragging all day.  But at least my shirt stayed crisp.

 I picked it up thrifting with my niece over vacation.  We spent the morning bouncing from store to store and she found lots of treasures.   I found a few things, and bought them, without trying them on.  And somehow, they all fit!

I've been wanting an eyelet blouse all summer...so I grabbed this one seconds after another woman picked it up, looked it over and dismissed it.

Blouse, Loft, thrifted, $2; pants, New York and Company; pin, thrifted, $2.