Happy Halloween!

I'm the Prom King



And you better not hit on my woman- I'll beat you stupid!



Yeah... that little piece of hotness is all for me!



Show 'em your pretty face, babe....



It a bit cold out, so we gotta keep my princess warm- and fly!



My girl even did her nails to match her dress- she likes to look pretty for me



So I brought her this corsage that I got this chick lawyerdoll to make:



My Prom Queen looooves the bling... and I like to look at it on her chest.



And her shiny shoes... what's up with chicks and shoes? I'm not looking at her feet.



King:
Top: Salvation Army
Jacket: Salvation Army
Tie and cummerbund: Men's Wearhouse -the salesgirls made us promise photos
Crown: Party Time in Horseheads, NY
Pants: my black Lane Bryant ones. Like I could fit into men's tux pants!
Earring: Swarovski gift from Big Daddy. I lost it's mate :(
Pencil-thin D-bag beard: brown mascara -a lot of people thought it was glued-on hair!

Queen:
Gown: Salvation Army -I had to sew ribbons to tie the neck together, and used a piece of elastic around the skirt to keep it up.
Shoes: Payless -the salesman was very amused
Wig and tiara: Party Time in Horseheads, NY
Necklace and Bracelet: Walmart
Bag: my Beijo bag from a purse party
Fake fur wrap: Walmart (fabric dept.)
Earrings: borrowed from a friend
Corsage: materials from Hobby Lobby, labor by me

Friend Friday- Ten random facts:

Modlychic says she's giving us a break from the usual questions about fashion and blogging. This week's assignment is to post ten random facts about ourselves:

1. If Stinky presses my abdomen, he can usually set off uncontrollable belching. Needless to say, he loves that.

2. I took two years of Russian in college. I don't think I remember the entire alphabet.

3. My pinky toenails are bigger than my other small toenails. This freaks Freeda out.

4. I took a mime workshop in high school. Hubby hates mimes.

5. I still wear a belly-button ring. With Buttercup from the Powerpuff Girls on it.

6. My living room does not have a sofa. It has a daybed with a drawer trundle instead.

7. We have been in this apartment for a year and a half, and I still have not hooked up the stereo.

8. I have law licenses in three states.

9. I'm a Star Wars and (some) comic book fan. I have comic character action figures and figurines displayed in my living room.

10. I was bored to death by "Lord of the Rings".

Feeling rebellious, but not revolting (unlike earlier this week!)

So the last couple days have been less than ideal, wardrobe-wise... I felt much better about my outfit today. I paired a cable-knit sweater with a linen jacket... or is it weird I feel like I'm breaking the rules?



I actually blow-dried my hair, so it looks half-decent for once! It is still not straightened in the back, so I may have to start trying the flatiron....



And how well did the scarf tying turn out today? After comments suggesting that I tie it lower to better show my neckline, I gave it a try:



Have I mentioned how much I love this scarf? While I'm sure a true Parisienne would turn up her nose at bougois favorite Van Gogh on an item sold at museums, I don't care. It is silk, and I love Van Gogh. So there!



Of course, topped off by earrings I've had for almost 20 years!



Sweater: Worthington via consignment shop
Pants: Lane Bryant
Jacket: Kasper via consignment shop
Shoes: Ariat
Scarf: a museum shop in Paris, probably the Louvre
Earring: gift from a friend

Dressed in the dark

Well, this is juuuust great! *eyeroll* I ironed and planned my outfit last night, but just left everything in it's place rather than set it all out together. I thought I was going to look soooo sharp today!

Then, as I'm waiting for my hearings to start, I look down and realize: I'm wearing the wrong pants!



It doesn't look too terrible, but would have been just that much sharper with the navy pants rather than the black ones. *sigh* Guess I need to put a light in my walk-in closet.



I was uncertain about combining these colors, but used the collar-lining as a guide. I have a tough time allowing myself "not matching" outfits, probably because I was teased for "clashing" as a child. My mom had to explain what that meant, and thereafter I was serious about correcting my error.

I was reassured when I saw another attorney today in a teal jacket and teal-and-purple scarf! We had a laugh over the unintentional coordination.



On the other hand, I'm a bit concerned that the jewelry was TOO matched. I normally break up sets, but I didn't have any other earrings to go with the necklace. Is it too much?



I'm trying out a new hair catch. It's some kind of circle that expands, then is shut around a ponytail. Thoughts?

Of course, I wore navy knee-highs. Which didn't look good with the pants and quickly developed a run. A quick trip to the drugstore resulted in these cute trouser socks, which I now realize do NOT go with these shoes:



I suppose I just thought about how cute they were, not about these pink shoes.

Top: VanHusen outlet
Jacket: VanHusen outlet
Pants: Lane Bryant
Jewelry: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Freeda's castoff American Eagle

Why can't i just give up on these pants?

The way they come in under the hips does me no favors!

(Sorry about the cruddy photo quality today- I'm not sure why they are bad today)



Ew! They cling to my knees... then come in again under that fat part. This is the first time I've really gotten a good look at that. It makes me think of a bit in the movie "Clueless", when the main character says that she doesn't trust mirrors when she tries on outfits- she takes Polaroids.

Makes sense to me- I'm seeing much more clearly since I started having photos taken for this blog.

So I took a quick look over at the Lane Bryant website, to see if they still stock the Right Fit "blue dot" Houston trousers, which always fit and hang beautifully on me. They have 2 listings: 3 colors in the no-butt-flap model, and black only in the butt-flap model. In only one size- not mine. Even if I fit into them, they would still be too short. *sobbing*

I'm bewildered. Am I going to need to start making my own pants? I DON'T WANT TO!

I was only partially joking when I said I would limit any weight loss to keep me in the smallest size of my LB pants, because once I shrink out of them... no matter how skinny I get, I still have the same problems buying pants (refer to list at the left). But if the LB pants are clingy too, I could "let" myself get much smaller.



I had to pin the facing to the lining, because it kept popping out. At least the pinning doesn't show. The top is twisting to the right, which is really annoying. I thought it fit this morning, but now it seems the crinkle-fabric fooled me. I will try this blouse again in a few pounds.




I don't think I like the off-white jacket with this top. But I am a little in love with the shiny grey buttons.



These flats aren't padded because they were in my purge pile. I only pulled them to see if these pants wouldn't look quite so flooded if I wore smaller shoes. Barring the other issues with these pants, did I at least succeed on that point? I hope so, because my feet hurt!



At least it's a good hair day.



I think the hematite goes nicely with the grey in the blouse, anyhow.

Top: Freeda's castoff Jones New York
Belt: Nine West
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Aerosoles plucked from my purge pile
Earrings: Lia Sophia
Hair flower: Maurice's

Concept v. Execution. Result: FAIL

This was going to look so good... at least in my head. On me today... not so much!

It's supposed to get up to 75F today, so I thought I'd give the pretty coppery shell I just got from Freeda's purge pile a chance:

Um... yeah....

[NOTE: I originally posted a photo sans jacket, to show how heinously tight the top was. And to show the pretty color. But upon later review on an actual computer, I decided it was just too tight to show on the blog. It just didn't look quite so painted-on in my Droid screen. How embarassing!]

And I didn't have time this morning to come up with an ironed alternative. I really need to start laying out my clothes at night again. I never get up as early as planned. I'm a snooze-button abuser. Is there a rehab for that?

The original plan was to wear my off-white linen Kasper jacket. Which is a bit snug to be able to button up over this. So I switched to the only jacket that buttons properlyish at the moment:



I have finally decided what color to dye it! I'm going to try a tea-dye first. Then if it sucks, I'll choose something darker to cover it. Now I just need to learn to tea-dye. There has to be a Youtube video out there for that... I love the internet!

And I do NOT have a double-chin! At least not in the mirror. These are just really bad photos.

I wore the navy pants because I thought they would tie in with the scarf and these earrings, both of which I've been looking for a way to wear. Guess this wasn't it!



And to really annoy me, the blue shoes I wanted to wear aren't back from my podiatrist yet (for arch padding), so I had to substitute black ones. I don't think they were so sharp with this outfit, although I normally love them.

So between the painted-on top, the substituted jacket, and the missing shoes....

Blah.

Can I just go home and start over today?

Top: Freeda's castoff Chico's
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Ariat
Jacket: Lane Bryant
Earrings: made by Baby Sis
Scarf: Toccare (?) I have no idea when or how I got it.

Snap it up!

Another example of snaps curing a problem.... Before:



Take a good look at the button placket, I know the print is distracting:



My handiwork:



Of course, the bottom snap at the tummy pooch was useless. I pinned that sucker as soon as I got to my stash in my desk! The others held up well, though.



I just love v-neck buttondowns for showing my necklaces! Not that it shows much of this one:



A detail I just love on this top is the little buckles on the sleeves:



And my go-to glass teardrops set off the glass-beaded collar beautifully.



Top: Alfani from Macy's
Pants: Lane Bryant
Necklace: another find from the JC Penney doorbusters sale
Earrings: Corning Museum of Glass

It's the Great Pumpkin! He's left a mixed bag

Product review for starters:

Just before I went to the Mitten for a visit, I decided to get a manicure. My nails are natural, and break/split/flake a LOT. With a normal manicure, the polish is only good for a few days. They need to be done at least twice a week.

This was done 2 1/2 weeks ago. As you can see from the new growth.



It's a UV gel polish called Shellac, from Creative Nail Design. Apparently only available in salon manicures (at least according to the manicurist), it is a good bit more expensive than a normal manicure, but is supposed to last "up to 2 weeks". It can only be removed with an acetone soak.

It worked.

While too expensive for me to do often (I lost the price list from the salon), if you are the kind of girl who gets frequent acryllic or gel nails, it may be worth your while to check it out. Google it!

For me, I will definitely do it again, but only when I am taking trips and don't want to worry about my nails looking raggedy.

All I would need to cover the growth is a covering coat of regular polish to extend times between manicures. I didn't because I'm trying to grow out the stained part. I want bare nails for my Halloween costume.

This is not my costume, it's what I looked like yesterday. I wore my gym clothes to Stinky's soccer game. Only because I was headed straight to the gym after.



No makeup. Frizzy hair in ponytail. Gym pants a tad short. And this sweatshirt makes me look like a pumpkin. A pregnant pumpkin.

I didn't feel like myself at all. I hated looking like that in public. How do people do that all the time? I just don't get it....

But isn't my phone skin cute? skinit.com

No freebies here.... I paid for this stuff. I'm just telling you because I liked it.

X marks the spot!

A late launch for a morning Junior League raid... er, meeting. Air-dried hair and simple garb for pillaging the leftover coffee and bagels, which were stashed in me galley.



No lipstick has me looking like the corpse of one of the unfortunate souls that perish in me raids. These jeans be punishment for me sins. In me stash arrre two pair of earrings from previous pillages that went well with this:



So I flaunt me gorgeous gold-in-glass globes that don't seem to go with much of me kit, to clue one in to the beads in the top- the booty from a raid on Freeda's purge pile:



Argh! Me shoes have seen many adventures. Methinks the toes have seen better days....



Top: Freeda's castoff Limited
Jeans: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Bass
Earrings: Kalamazoo Institute of Art

But the true booty was the pair of '20s- 30s gold gilt (oak!) tables comandeered from a local antique store:



Drawers, a shelf, and purty!



They are a bit big for me cabin, so mine is turned sideways. So I lost the use of the drawers- they're still me treasure!

Found due to my insomnia: How to Have Style

Wardrobe Oxygen: How to Have Style: "I would like to thank Polly from my French Chic group for bringing my attention to this article from PsychologyToday.com. I think this is an..."

Excuses, excuses

So I spent my evening yesterday in my shoe/jacket/accessories closet. Yes, my apartment may have only one bedroom, but has-- count 'em-- THREE closets!! Two of which are mine. Yeah, I got it like that.



But I'm not posting pics until I get both of them organized and photogenic. Maybe sometime in 2015....

I'm storing the toe-crunchers until I lose weight and see if my feet shrink back to pre-obeast proportions. I'm also storing a pair that have a teeny narrow heel, to see if my ankles strengthen up a bit. And because "elephant on a golf tee" is not the look I'm going for. I'm also donating a few pair that I just don't like anymore.

The rest, that I haven't been wearing for awhile but fit me right now, I took to my podiatrist this morning for Doc to adjust so I can actually wear them. Two bags full. Then he stuck a giant needle in my foot! He said his office will call me when my freshly-padded shoes are ready. Men! They always SAY they will call... should I hold my breath?



Anyway, I rewore the pants and shoes from yesterday because it's Friday and I'm lazy, so I figured I'd show the flipside of my hexagon pendant. So I could actually post photos today. I try not to repost if I'm wearing the exact same combinations already posted.

I think the red pendant and jacket previously posted with this top is just a bit sharper.



Top: Tribal via Pip's in Corning, NY
Jacket: VanHusen outlet
Necklace: gift from Mom
Earrings: Gold Mine in Bath, NY

The most important thing my mother ever taught me...

was basic sewing. And that if you threaten to "cancel Christmas" for 20 years in a row, no one takes you seriously. In high school, I even designed and sewed some of my own clothes. We lived in the country, and I was bored a minimum of all the time! Since I grew up, and started working and having a social life, the desire to undertake major projects has fled-- along with my attention span.

One might ask: "if you can sew, why do you spend so much on tailoring". Because it's worth it to me to not futz with major alterations. And because they're better at it than I am.

We attorneys often get frustrated when people cheap out on legal work, trying to do it themselves. Not only because we want the business, but also because when you tell the client it will cost them more to correct their mistakes than it would have if you did it in the first place, they tend to get irate.

So I leave the big stuff to the professionals. But I was having some issues with a couple shirts I figured some sew-in snaps might fix. Even I can handle that. Before:



Pay attention to the bottom of the shirt front. After:



Because I did this, by hand, while listening to the TV:



Great job, right? Except the efficacy of said snaps, in their test-run today, seems to be mediocre at best. I could've have saved a great deal of time, effort, and pricked fingers by just using my trusty safety pins. Which I now will have to do anyway. Rrrrr....

I really love the v-neck button-down shirts because they are a better frame for necklaces. They don't have all that extra fabric covering the pretties:



Basic silver hoops:



Top: VanHusen outlet
Pants: Lane Bryant
Necklace: made by Baby Sis
Earrings: Gold Mine in Bath, NY
Shoes: Ariat