Flickr

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wardrobe remix

I used to post my outfits on the flickr group 'wardrobe remix' almost daily. It was a fun way to inspire those that inspire me to look at my clothes in a new way. I have always been a little on the adventurous side. Even friends comment that I try things they never would - but I love that! Well, lately I've been enjoying getting ready in the morning again. I am taking more pride in myself and how I live. I'm excited by the boost in self-confidence I have found - most days at least ;)

Anyway - I decided this week to start photographing my outfits again. I am a creative person and I like to create things. I can't sew or cook or embroider every day - but I have to get dressed, so why not be creative and have fun with it.

These 2 outifts from this week aren't the most creative, but I like them and I have never worn these clothes in this way before. Needless to say - I am loving my boots lately!

Also, in the spirit of creativity and trying to not be a scrooge this Christmas, I got myself a tree. It's small and funny shaped, but it feels a little more like Christmas now. I still refuse to put up one lonely stocking on the mantle, but I'm taking baby steps and I feel good about the tree. I also love the smell after years of having a fake tree (wasn't my idea) :)

Where did they go???

The days since Thanksgiving have flown by yet each day has seemed as if it was neverending. The holiday hit me really hard. Traditions that I thought would only be replaced by even better things were nonexistent and I was left feeling quite hollow. However, the days and events still seem sacred and I was unable to try to replace any of them with new memories. Instead I turned to friends and family - the people I can just be with - good, bad and ugly. Throughout this ordeal I have welcomed the grief (well, not welcomed, but I let it in nonetheless). I have felt that the only way to truly heal is to go through the emotions - not mask or avoid them. On those days when I am sad, really sad and I think I won't be happy again - the next day always comes. I smile again - I feel happy again - I am empowered each time this happens. I think each tear plays a role - and supressing them doesn't allow them to do their job. They will only build up.

Ok - that got a little too deep. My therapist says I'm on my way to not being bitter - so it must be the right thing to do. My biggest fear in all of this is that I will become someone who builds walls and closes her heart out of fear. I never want to be one of those people. I would rather feel the heartache than feel nothing at all. So I choose love. And Vodka and Chaka Kahn. (Ok - the last two are a Bridget Jones quote, but you get what I'm saying).

BTW...

Last weekend, my mom and I saw The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. GO SEE IT! That's all I have to say :)

Recent Serendipities

• I discovered a smell that I can't stand - I literally felt nauseous when getting pulling out my grocery cart right next to the display of those awful pinecones that are supposed to make your home smell like apple cinnamon. I can't imagine having those in my home. I normally don't have a very sensitive sense of smell - but these things are horrendous! YUCK!
• I am feeling sad about some of the traditions that I had with my husband this time of year. For example, we always went to watch the tree lighting downtown. There's this guy that I've gone out with 4 or 5 times who I'm sure would partake in some of these things with me. My initial thought (a few weeks ago) was excited that I could share these events with someone and not have to miss them. However, as the day approaches, I don't want to share any of these things with him. I'm not ready for these things to be someone else's memory with me. It still feels sacred. I need to respect that feeling and not put myself in a position where I am setting myself up for more than I can handle.
• I got my haircut today - and she cut it exactly how I asked. But like everytime before - I am totally freaked out and I feel like she cut all my hair off. It's still below shoulder length, but feels so short! Why do I do this everytime?
• With everything going on right now - I am so excited for the comfort of Thanksgiving. It's so familiar and constant. Things like that make me feel grounded - like my whole life hasn't changed.
• I LOVE LOVE LOVE the cranberry sauce that comes out shaped like the can. I am most excited for that on Thursday! Why don't I ever eat it any other day? Do they sell it the rest of the year? I've never looked. Remind me to look for it next July :)

Adventures in dating: Is it too much to ask???

So I met this guy on my birthday. After a while of talking, we exchanged numbers. I went out with him once after this and now he is totally annoying me. On our first "date," he brought me roses, which honestly was a little weird, but he's 39 and Austrailian, so I thought, maybe he's just being sweet. Well, since then he texts me places where he's going to be. Things like "I'll be at this restaurant at 8:30" or "I'm meeting a friend at this karaoke place at 9 tomorrow night." Am I supposed to act like this is a proper invitation and just text back "Ok, see you then"

My friend says that is how dating works nowadays (since I've been out of the loop for so long, apparently). Well, that's not ok with me. Is it too much to ask in the very beginning stages of dating for a phone call? - or if you must use text - at least phrase it in a question (Would you like to meet me at...?)

Bring on the next one. If I'm already annoyed - It's not gonna happen.

single girl serendipities

ser⋅en⋅dip⋅i⋅ty  [ser-uhn-dip-i-tee]
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: accidental discovery
Synonyms: blessing, break, dumb luck, fluke, good luck, happenstance, happy chance, luck, lucky break, stumbling upon, tripping over

I want to share with you a few tidbits I've learned about life that I am calling "single girl serendipities." Can you tell how much I love a thesaurus???

1. If you have an unpleasant dream and can't seem to shake it and a sadness is looming over you. Get in the car to go to work, flip around to the random radio stations you don't listen to often and wait. A song will come on that changes your mood, makes you smile and by the time you are done rocking out on I-405, you will forget to be sad. For me, this song was "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred, which by the way, I still know all the words to. I'll be hitting up Itunes for that one :)

2. When you think you are alone in a situation and no matter how they try, you feel like no one really understands, just open your eyes and your ears and you will find that you are not alone. I just discovered that a coworker who I haven't had lots of personal conversation with is going through the same thing as I am right now. We have bonded and become true friends and support systems for each other.

3. When you go to happy hour to watch the election...consider beforehand that you will be there for several hours and although the wine is cheap, take it slow and drink some water along the way or you will fall asleep at home waiting to watch a speech that you so badly wanted to see.

4. When you wake up at midnight and realize you missed the speech, take a few minutes to put on Pjs and take off your jewelry so you don't end up with the outline of a very intricate dangly earring on your face.

fun website finds

1st is http://www.wordle.net/

You can make fun collages like this one (it should get bigger if you click on it):


I just entered my blog URL and it made a collage using words found within it. I love how big "relaunch" and "houndstooth" are.

The other fun website I found is http://www.yearbookyourself.com/

I created a yearbook photo of myself from 1966, 1976 and 1984

vindication comes in black and white

I just discovered the fabulous website of Lucky magazine. There was an article showing an outfit for each day in November using the same 15(or so) items of clothing and accessories. To my surprise, one of the items was a cropped houndstooth jacket (one of which I had just purchased a few weeks ago). I am a girl who loves houndstooth and has since before it was everywhere. I remember buying a houndstooth sweater 5 years ago in the Charter Club department at Macy's. The wasband (that will be his name on this blog - I got the term from the book Straight up & dirty : a memoir by Stephanie Klein) teased me to no end saying it was a grandma sweater. Well...look around now. Houndstooth is everywhere - even in men's clothing. I was just ahead of the times (for once at least). I feel vindicated :)

Moving on... I was very inspired by the outfits shown using this jacket, so I decided to share.
This is the jacket they used (by Kensie, $98):

I got mine at Penney's for $40 and it's black and white, not grey.

Here are the looks they made at Lucky:

Another piece I really liked was this Express sweater that they had listed at $74. Well, I checked Express online and it was half off!!!! So I ordered it :) I'm way into this belt trend - thrift stores are a great place to find them!

I received a Nordstrom gift card for my birthday, so I'm hoping to get a couple pieces to help make these outfits happen - I'll post what I find :)

Want to see the article? Find it here: http://www.luckymag.com/shopping/2008/11/monthofoutfits?showall=true

Happy shopping!

Get off your butt...

So last night about 9:30, I was in bed watching an old movie when I received a text from a friend asking if I wanted to meet them in Seattle. Well after much hesitation and desire to just stay in bed watching the movie and probably be asleep by 10:30, I picked myself up, threw on a new shirt and a little bronzer, pulled back my unwashed hair and made myself leave.

Let this be a lesson to me - I had the best time! I went to places I had never been and danced until 2am - which I haven't done in many years.

I probably could have done without the college-esque snack I ate upon arriving home, but all in all it was a blast.

I am writing this as documentation that it's worth getting out there - you just never know. Next time I want to refuse a last-minute invitation to stay home and watch a Joan Crawford movie, I will read this post and get off my butt!

October 23, 2008... I am 27...

I plan to make this "the year of me." I'm excited at all that awaits me and the discoveries I can't even imagine I will make. Ok...time to relaunch!

dictionary results for: relaunch
Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English

relaunch
Part of Speech:
v, n
Definition:
to reintroduce a product or brand to the market after changes or
improvements have been made


If you are curious about what led up to this relaunch, check out my short stint at http://clearblogs.com/twentyseven/