Found Something New

Me in the center (brother John on left, cousin Charlene on right) wearing my newest favorite shirt: "Green Envelope Los Angeles" black soft jersey with salmon peach neckline and flat exposed zipper in back of neck.  $2.50 @ thrift store, score!

Fashion can be frustrating.  First of all, trying to be a modern, stylish woman who is MODEST poses huge challenges today.  I want a dress that doesn't show my cleavage, or my underarm to the world.  And it needs to come to my knees, without that walking slit.  Did I mention sleeves?  And no belly or back showing.  Must have some shoulder coverage, and collar bone area is tricky, it cannot be too wide at the neck (forget boat necks). 

Add to all of that modesty needs/requirements/desires (so much more comfortable when you don't have to twitch to make sure you are covered) I would really like to look cute.  Up that to "pretty."  NOT dowdy, frumpy, old-fashioned, clue-less.  I don't need to be trendy cutting-edge fashion runway (who can afford that?).  I don't want to be too classic/traditional, even though I am conservative religiously and value-wise.  I don't want to be too frilly/romantic/sexy.  I like Bohemian, artsy, and modern looks.  Some romantic, but not too much frills and ruffles.  Maybe I am fashionly moody?

Modest, in-style, and then we get to FIT.  For my body.  Now.  Today.  Not in 5 years when I am the target-weight-health I would prefer.  It has to fit right, right now.

Let me introduce Sister Bagley of Cardigan Empire:  click on Cardigan Empire or the "soft delicious center" red apple button on my right side-bar.  I read through her Cardigan Empire Preview blog and was blown away.  She is a great writer, dresser, fashion consultant, clever, witty, funny, fun, and stylish!  I want to share with everyone, all my girlfriends, sisters, daughters! 

It was so nice to read words of affirmation that I can be pretty, now.  Feel pretty, dress the part, act it, be it.  She says it so well, so if you have a measuring tape and an hour (or more!), see what you learn.  There is a little bit of math, but it all makes great sense.

PLUS I love her mid-century home!  They have done a fantastic job re-modeling an Arizona rancher, into a sweet home sweet home that I love!  Some great ideas.

Time to shake up that closet!

Not a Fan on Purpose & Early Valentine

I wore purple on accident to Church.

I like what purple does to orange and turquoise color schemes. I wore a black & white jumper, and the purple long sleeve shirt was on top of my clean clothes. The accident part, was not knowing there was a Raven's game Sunday (Baltimore football team, for those of you who don't know--it's okay), so I looked like I was supportive, when I really don't pay attention to the sport. I even had on purple earrings.

There were babies dressed in purple, lots of ties and purple sweaters, bows. I just blended right in.

Christmas decorations and wreaths are all down, but I can't bring myself to put up hearts yet for Valentine's Day, in spite of the commercial push in the stores already.

Although, I did put a heart pillowcase on Max's pillow, one I was planning on mailing to him at school. If you missed the announcement, he is home, not back at BYU to finish up his freshman year.

I love him, no matter what, even when I don't agree with his choices. I feel a lot of pain & sadness when my adult child tells me he wants to be free from my influence, my rules, my goals, my definitions of happiness and appropriate recreational activities. I am trying to swallow the mom-me pride, anger, disappointment, grief, dreams and hopes. Talking lots, trying to understand and accept and listen.

Pray for him. Be his friend. Talk to him normally. Tell him what makes you happy and why.

(I wrote this in the sand last time we were at the beach 2011 summer)

Wardrobe Evaluation: skirts & shirts for work

No matter what my weight, I am boxy-square shaped.  Short-waisted, narrow shoulders.  Thick-wristed, narrow-ankled.  Bigger stomach than rear end (pants would probably fit great if I wore them backwards).

I've been reading some wardrobe self-help books.  How to express your personality, how to find flattering clothes that FIT & Flatter.  I have to add on my own, ones that are modest, and don't cost a fortune...Going through my closet and drawers, this is what I wore to work last week:

#1 in Brown.  Skirt & top thrift store finds.  The skirt was originally a Land's End long sleeve dress with an uncomfortable polo-shirt collar that I cut above the elastic at the waist retaining the awesome pockets.  Stretchy, comfortable.  Empire waisted wrap shirt in vertical stripes.  Long sleeves with cuffs at wrists.   I would wear this again, but not perfect.  Skirt length a little long?  Grade: B-

#2 A line flowered thrifted skirt, solid 3/4 jersey top Sears sale.  Comfortable.  Busy bottom half.  Grade: B

#3 Plum & Polka Dots!  I loved wearing this!  Thrift store top, Sears sale skirt.  Bright happy color, comfortable skirt, like the length (longer than brown #1, hadn't noticed), sleeves cuffed at 3/4 length.  Curvy in right places, slimming.  Grade: A-

#4 Black & White & Gray thrifted top hits my elbows, Target sale skirt looks blocky/frumpy.  I need to wear this top with a more flattering skirt?  Grade B+

#5 Purple Old Navy sale & Light Blue Target sale.  If I had seen this picture before I left the house, I do not think I would have worn this.  Too flowy.  Too busy on bottom.  Grade: C

I might as well use the fabric on this skirt for a quilt, 100% cotton.  What do you think?

Better Than Barbie

This cute black netting shirt was in a love bag from Tauna from Sue.  Under scraps of feedsacks, doilies, glitter paint.  Love the exposed zipper in back.  Fit Em perfectly, over her Shade modesty undershirt.  And I realized, all that early practice playing dolls, dressing them, was NOTHING compared to having beautiful daughters to dress up!

And always look at the bottom of the bag!  Some treasures are buried deep.

The Kool-Aid Coat

Kool-Aid is a great dye. You know, if you have ever gotten the dry powder on your skin when you are making it--it dyes natural fibers/skin really well. Works on wool! Vinegar helps to set it.

Before off-white 100% serious wooly thrifted coat. Missing buttons.

Strawberry/cherry/black cherry kool-aid after. Use COLD water, or wool will shrink. (I dissolved powder in a cup of hot water and then added to cold-bath tub submerged coat.) Slight ombre effect, muted and variegated, but very, very cool! Brown buttons sewn on with variegated pink thread.