Wine, women and song. And another woman, and another woman....

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I had my 7th full family Thanksgiving up here- the 6th in this house. I don't mind cooking for everyone and that way the grandparents can just soak up the kid all they want.



I got bored and finished the painting on the left for a friend of ours (she picked it up today) and the one on the left I just painted because I had the time. It's called "wine, women and song"



I did go out on Black friday but just to pick up beer, bacon and half and half. I'm almost done with the Christmas shopping (smug look on my face)



I hope that everyone had a good weekend- I'll be doing my WT piles on Monday!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it #%*&! snow

It's to early for this- isn't it?????

On to WT- I'm sure you are thinking- what is this and why am I looking at it? Well, this is my big pile of Karma. 41 lbs of karma to be exact. 41 lbs of unwanted clothes that are now in the hands of the local thrift store to do as they like. Scary thing is- there's more.

Second scary thing- My son just drew me a picture of what he wants to be when he grows up. When I asked what it was (because I really had no idea) told me he wants to be Tim Gunn when he grows up because "he's your favorite person in the world" and that the picture was of my closet. Now, I can't remember saying that to him, but I guess I could have in jest while we were watching his show the other night. I have to be more careful of my words around him obviously.
ARG!!!!

Tops- piles and piles for WT

Or racks and racks. I have jackets (blazers) in my tops piles because I wear them often- like other people wear sweaters or cardigans. I found these items in the basement. The velvet shirt may join the others in the "pile of good karma" that goes to the thrift store. The color is iffy on me. The grey motorcycle jacket is about 12 years old- I just can't get rid of it. The solid blue jacket is a bit stuffy for me now, but I like the color- I will most likely keep it. The pattern jacket is great with a t shirt and jeans in the fall....

Here are more jackets. I have quite a few....there are dressy jackets, a suede shirt, a trench. But they are all different and different colors so I don't have a problem keeping them...

Sweaters. Yes, only 4 and one might not make the cut. The green turtleneck I keep because I was wearing it when I had my car crash. The brown open knit lauren one may go to the thrift store. The black wrap and the black and white sweater are wearable.

My t shirt pile. The printed ones I wear rarely- usually under a leather jacket or shirt. The printed ones are actually summer t's but may get out under a jacket this winter.

T shirt piles. Mostly black. I layer a lot with these under a shirt or jacket.

Shirts. Not a lot actually. I think I need something other than black, white or denim though as it's a rather boring lot.........

Part of my outbox. one jacket (never fit right and looks like Dr. peppers lonely hearts club band), one donna Karen sweater-really nice, but pulls across the chest, 2 blue t's (same thing) 2 rabbity tunic sweaters from Eddie Bauer that need to be replaced, a crew neck LS white t shirt- ick, and 11 other t shirts and various sweaters that didn't make this picture. 17 items to go away tomorrow isn't a bad start if I say so myself....

Hodge Podge- just like my life!

Let's start with WT shall we? Going through my "picture books" (big 3 ring binders I keep of stuff I want to see later) I found these pictures. This is really how I would like to dress-given the chance. Maybe a bit more color than grey and black, but you get the drift.....


I got bored today- it's snowing and gross outside so I turned this and this

Into this.....

The boy is still loving Pirates. So that is his constuction paper picture of Jack Sparrow and the chest that holds Davy Jones' heart. In his hand is the round key (although, truth be told- he had to explain all of this to me.) The red part is a flag.

Also- my coffee maker died. Well, it would still work if I put my hand in the back and jiggled the cord. Since the water goes in the back and so does the electicity that wasn't going to be a long term option for me. My Mr. bought me a new machine yesterday.

It's a brew station. The one that died was also a brew station- it was 5 1/2 years old-first generation of this machine. I will never go back to the kind with a glass carafe. The new one is much nicer. The water doesn't slop around, the clock is bigger, the buttons larger. I kind of wanted a white machine to go with the kitchen, but after reading reviews I realized I wasn't prepared for the upkeep a white machine would need to stay clean and well, white. Here's hoping for another 5 years.

Being at home is deadly to style- at WT truth if there ever was one.

As I read those words of wisdom from Wende, I realized that was exactly what I had been thinking all week long. It's even worse than that though. Where I live is deadly to style. I can honestly say that I have seen under 10 nice, put together-thought out-stylish outfits since I moved here- almost 6 years ago. Ill fitting poly-blend pantsuits. Flat slip on shoes -Dr. Scholls type but worse. Cheap faux leather purses- or dirty fabric ones. Denim that is too long and has been "walked out" shorter. T shirts with glitter. Holiday sweaters. Scrunchies. More polyester than you have ever seen before. Entire outfits from Wal-mart. Clothing way to big or way to small. Pj's as sportswear. That's what I am up against.

My day is like this

• wake up and 3 days a week get the kid dressed and out the door for pre school. He's gone for 3 hours. I still haven't figured out what to really do with those 3 hours per day. Friday I went out and did a little shopping. Usually I just go home and drink more coffee and love the peace and quiet.
• I clean the house, do the dishes, do the laundry, go grocery shopping, do the yard work and cook all the meals. None of these jobs require an outfit nicer than jeans and a t shirt. I paint with the boy, cut out construction paper stuff, play games, and do "homework" . These jobs also require a certain casual clothing option.
• I sell vintage denim and mid century stuff on Ebay. Again, no reason to dress. Where I go to find this stuff requires me to dress very, very badly.
• I make my art. This actually requires some really crappy clothes that I am willing to sacrifice daily as some of the stuff I work with stains.

My problem is that not only do I stay at home, but I come from a family that always changed into comfy clothes the minute we walked through the door. My husband is the same. So even if we all went out and went somewhere- the first thing we do getting back home is dive into sweatpants and t shirts. Jeans and t's if we think we are going back outside to the yard. We don't stay in our nicer clothes longer than we have to. I never wear shoes in the house. So, it feels like I stay in my PJ's all day long- even if they technically aren't.

I can't change that. But it makes me feel sloppy and unkempt. So, I have a few things to work on.
1. I have to get nicer "comfy" house clothes. Maybe stuff that matches. Throw out the stuff that's close to being rags- stained, stretched, etc....
2. work on my "outside" clothes. I need items that are appropriate to the weather, but pulled together and nice. Colors, some patterns (plaid?) . Items that are easy but nice.
3. Shoes. A big problem I have is the flip flops. There is nothing sloppier and lazier than flip flops. But I have feet issues- arch and lymph issues. I have a fine line to walk there. No heels, no "dress shoes", but nicer, actual shoes are what I need.
4. Fit. I am in between sizes. I am way different on the top than the bottom. I am going to work on finding clothes that work with my fit. I started yesterday by going clothes "trying on". Notice I did not say shopping. I was looking at different cuts, sizes, colors and patterns. It's a pain, but it really has to be done.

My wardrobe therapy interview

InterviewFavorites

Who is your candidate for "best dressed," real or fictional? Kate Hudson I guess. Carolina Herrera too.

Is there anyone you're tempted to see as a style icon, but you'd never dare dress that way? Heidi Klum . If I was built like her, I would dress like her in a heartbeat.

What is your favorite garment/outfit ever? I had a black and white pinstripe jacket from Dana Buchman that I loved.

What is your current favorite garment? a tan trenchcoat.

What would you wear if you could wear absolutely anything? a pirates costume like in pirates of the Caribbean. A rhinestone shirt- maybe not a shirt- but shoes.

What would your favorite store be, if money were no object? I don't know really.

Do you have a favorite store now? If so, why? If not, why not? Eddie Bauer and J. Jill

What's your best fashion faux-pas story, now that the scars have healed?How When I was young, 4th grade? I had this hideous mexican poncho outfit. I mean, it was the 70's but still..... I don't wear ponchos anymore- even when they were briefly back in style.

You Live & the People Around You

If there were a uniform for where you spend most of your time, what would it be?
Jeans, t shirt, flip flops, leather jacket.
If there were a uniform for where you spend your leisure, what would it be?
see above
What do you like best about the prevailing style where you are? I could go to the store in my PJ's here and look totally appropriate ( I don't, but the bar is pretty low apparently and I do like that some days)

What frustrates you?
I still have trouble dressing for my body type.

Is there another place (one you've lived, visited, heard about, whatever) that better captures your idea of style?
I loved being in Santa Fe. I used to spend a month out there every winter. It changed how I dressed - far more casual. Natural materials, ,chunky jewelry.

Construct a quick pie chart of the occasions for which you dress. (The link has detailed instructions from Rebecca.)
NO- I have no occasions to dress for- unless you count the grocery store , going to a yard sale or picking up the boy from pre school an occasion (and I don't)

Your Wardrobe
In three bullet points, what is the problem with your wardrobe?
color- ie lack of.
boring- everything is similar to each other
limited- mostly solid- not much pattern (for winter)


If your wardrobe could speak, what would it say is the problem? I am boring-serviceable, but I don't say anything about the person wearing me.

What one thing do you want your wardrobe to do more of? Other than wash itself? I just want to look appropriate for any occasion- if one ever comes up of course.

What do you want people to say about your look? Nothing. But I would like them to think that I am pulled together, nice looking, maybe even fun.


There she is. My interview.

I did get rid of one item already. It's pretty lame, but it was a large bottle of hand lotion that -
1. I think I bought it in Texas
2. I have no idea how old it was- but it would have to be over 6 years old if it came from Tx.
3 I never remember using- but half of it was gone.