Early application to the Red Hat Society

The 5 lbs. I lost a couple weeks ago came home over the holiday- best to just put me out of my misery:



Damn the stretchy pants!!! Don't panic kids... I was just fooling around a little at the dentist's office this morning. At least the 5 lbs. didn't bring it's friends along this time....



My Kim Kardashian impresssion:



Although it was no fun to wake up to my lip converted to a cold sore factory, that's the only way my lower lip gets that big. It got really unpleasant with the dentist pressing on it while working on my tooth. Rrrr....

Same earrings as yesterday, but I figured they would look nice with this:



I haven't worn this pin in years... it's Peter I of Russia. My phone camera won't focus well enough to show the inscription in Cyrillic below the bust. Drat!

Top: VanHusen outlet
Jacket: VanHusen outlet
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Bass fuglys
Earrings: Lia Sophia
Necklace: part of my haul from a JC Penney doorbusters sale last spring
Pin: prize for one of the few times I did something right in my university Russian courses.

Yippy-Ca-Yay!

Maybe Hubby and I should change our look... how would this go over in court?



Like my thighs could be that thin and support that head! *sigh* Back to reality....



Despite the effect with the layered 3/4 sleeves, I'm not liking this jacket with this top and the navy pants. Boooring!

I should have gone a little crazy and grabbed my red jacket this morning instead. I thought I had one quick court appearance, then could ditch it for the rest of the day... I really should know better. All morning in one court, then I got assigned last-minute to night court, too! Would have been warmer, too! *harumph*



I do love the texture of the jacket, though... I'm just thinking wearing it with these button-downs may be a mistake. Does the small dark jacket then the expanse of blue over the abdomen make me look pregnant? I'll have to test that a little more before making a final analysis.



I really wish the shirt didn't cover this necklace so much... I think I prefer the v-neck button-downs. Shows off my necklaces much better.... Next, simple hoops to top off the look:



Yep... I think my red jacket would have turned this ensemble from frumpy to fantastic. Oh well... that's why I blog: to learn.

Top: VanHusen outlet
Jacket: Tallman's in Painted Post, NY
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Ariat mary janes
Necklace: Lane Bryant
Earrings: Lia Sophia

Gobble-Gobble!

Turkey, dressing, gravy, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie anyway.... I Gobble-Gobbled it all down!



I wish someone told me my lipstick had worn down... the "chola lips" are entirely accidental!

The strategic dressing comes from two incontrovertible facts:

1. A four-hour drive to the in-laws' mountaintop fortress.

2. Mother-in-law doesn't accept "I'm full" as a correct response to anything. Ever.



A maternity-like top with adjustible tie in the back is handy to permit maximum gluttony while giving the illusion I still care about my appearance.



The true secret weapon is these high-waisted "I give up" pants I bought in a fit of depression, but kept for such occasions as "Glutton-Fest 2010". They are some gawd-awful stretchy crepe, and the elastic waist comes up almost to my braline, but not quite. My gut can expand freely in these suckers, which is why they only come out on special occasions!



Between this necklace (that I was looking for last week for another outfit) and my big flower earrings, which I can't seem to find the photo of...

The illusion of concern for my appearance on a feast day is complete.

Top: Style & Co. Woman via Macy's
Pants: Target
Necklace: Ann Taylor outlet
Earrings: Lane Bryant

WSW (World Scarf Wrestling)

Much like how sports shows that show the winner first, then get into the highlight reel, here's the completed look first, so I don't bore you to death today:



The starting lineup of the outfit is completely plain, and I couldn't find my anniversary necklace to perk it up a little.



Booooring! So a substitution of this gorgeous scarf I often wore wrapped around my head and neck with my amazing long winter coat (still tight on me *expletive deleted*!). Today it played as a shawl, or like this:



Is it just me, or does the heavy scarf hanging down look like I'm about to start breastfeeding in public? But I love this scarf:



I figured it best to wear simple earrings for safety reasons, so the new gold (plated) hoops spring into action:



Top: Freeda's castoff AB Studio
Jacket: VanHusen outlet
Pants: Lane Bryant
Earrings: Lia Sophia
Scarf: street vendor in Paris, France

Newspaper day

Black, white, and red all over! I've paid attention to requests for color to be paired with this jacket:



And that's the best I could figure out so far... at least that will keep me warm enough. Just pulled it out of my Space Bag of "stuff that now fits" over the weekend. I'm a little unsure about the cable-knit with the check pattern, though.



I did see a plain red turtleneck sweater at the VanHusen outlet that might go a bit better... or does this sweater work? Now that I think about it... I might have to get it anyway, so I can wear my old Soviet Lenin pin in the cowl. That would be hilarious in this conservative area!



I haven't worn these earrings in forever... I found them while unpacking awhile back. Are these OK for work, or are they too cheap-looking?

It's a non-Court day, so I decided I would experiment today rather than embarass myself in front of the judges (again). So I only potentially embarass myself in front of coworkers, and in front of clients that often don't know the difference, anyway.

Sweater: VanHusen outlet
Jacket: Talbot's
Pants: Lane Bryant
Earrings: I forgot. They were part of a cheap set, and I bought them in the nineties.

I had to wear clothes this weekend...

Because I actually left my house. The original plan was to hibernate, but it was pleasantly interrupted by invitations to go out!

Saturday night was to a pub with a couple girls for live music. It's a pretty casual town, but a few people showed up looking like they were going clubbing in Manhattan... so we made fun of the poseurs, naturally. Especially the man in the sequinned T-shirt....



As it was, I was more dressed up than the other two girls, but that's because I was too lazy to iron my jeans, so I wore yesterday's black work pants and a top that didn't need ironing. My dressiness, therefore, is really a byproduct of my laziness.



On of my girlfriends is a high school teacher, and the conversation turned to an inappropriately attired teacher that wears keyhole shirts to work. With nothing to cover the exposed cleavage. Poor judgment much?



I don't know that I've ever worn those earrings to work....



The only reason I took an evening bag was because I didn't feel like schlepping my "mom bag" through a crowded bar. I love this one because there's room for the bare essentials: inhaler, lip makeup, hand lotion, wallet, keys, and phone.

Sunday's expedition was a trip to a really lame Psychic Fair, and a lovely lunch... all in good company, at least....



I went through a couple of the Space Bags I packed a couple months ago, and found a few goodies that fit again! I really love the gigantic cowl-- it's like a built-in scarf.



I made this in a bead workshop, and I'm not sure if I like it or not. I was just trying out some of the techniques the instructor was showing us, and a couple of ideas-- it's more of a sampler than a real piece of jewelry. It turned out so big, a barette was the only thing I could make out of it except a giant brooch.

I put it on today because my hair was wet and I was running late... and I wanted to show you my "handiwork".



Top: Freeda's castoff AB Studio
Pants: Lane Bryant
Black-and-white earrings: consignment shop
Evening bag: consignment shop
Sweater: Freeda's castoff Dress Barn
Jeans: Lane Bryant
Green earrings: gift from my brother's mother
Barette: made by me

Transgender Day of Rememberance

Because no one deserves to be attacked for who they are.

I just never understood this sort of hatred, and the desire to govern others' lives in areas beyond basic public safety. I don't understand this complusion to push people into molds, instead of accepting their true selves as they are revealed.

And I wonder, am *I* missing something, or is it that those folks are completely crackers?

Someone please explain....

An early "Black Friday"

A much calmer day at the office, if understaffed. Hmm... maybe not having any secretaries after noon today is why my phone wasn't blowing up with client calls. I actually got to tackle a little paperwork- the crazy calls all went to voicemail!!!



As much as I HATE the cold and am super-jealous one of the secretaries just left for Florida, at least I get to pull out this sweater, which is lovely, warm, and soft:



I especially love the wide bands at the bottom of the bodice and sleeves because they draw the top in at my slimmer parts. Also, I just think these buttons on the sleeves are so cute, and I love how they peek out from the 3/4 sleeve jacket:



I'm trying to learn how to wear these big, blingy earrings I waffled back-and-forth on when I got my jewelry party order in. I really thought I was going to return them, but changed my mind again at the last second. So they are mine now!



I normally wear much more subtle earrings with the necklace, but figured you all would tell me if combining these was a bad idea. One of the secretaries pointed out that the earrings echo the shape of the pendant... so at least one person saw what I was shooting for.



Sweater: Tribal via Pip's in Corning, NY. I have to find out if it is a house brand, or just a label they order a lot. My gorgeous gray top from yesterday is the same brand....
Jacket: Talbot's
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Bass Darcys. Why do they call that fugly style Darcy? My friend, D'Arcy, is fabulous- not fugly!
Necklace: made by me with pendant gift from Mom
Earrings: Premier Designs

Recovering from my trainwreck...

... so I have pulled out my favorite top and my new necklace to boost my confidence after that mess yesterday. And I definitely wanted that boost today because I had plans to go to a big community "happy hour" event with my "new in town" Meetup.com group because I want to look good when I'm meetng new people.



I have been running around like a crazy person all day, spending the entire day dashing here, there, and yon for different types of hearings. I had just enought time to drop one pack of files off, grab another and-- Hey! Donuts!



Of course, my final hearing of the day not only was in the middle of nowheresville, but took far longer than anticipated. And I lost! I arrived at the venue over an hour late--about 40 minutes before the event's closing time.



I wandered around the event, calling the one person I had a phone number for so many times I felt like a stalker. But we finally found each other, and had a little chat before it was time to go home. Didn't even get a drink!



But the lady seemed pleasant, the dancing kids were cute, and the band was kickin'!

Wow- looking over my draft, even my writing is frenetic today!

Top: Tribal via Pip's in Corning, NY
Jacket: VanHusen outlet
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Ariat
Jewelry: Lia Sophia

Trainwreck to follow:

Nothing good here today... I was too lazy to go to the basement to get the laundry, so I decided to wear Monday's brown pants that never made it to the laundry pile. "Clean enough"!

Rooting around my closet, I saw the blue top I had tailored to fit. And brown-and-blue is a popular combination with my fashionable commenters... so I ironed it:



Guess I should have tried it on when I picked it up from the tailor... derh!



*sigh* Usually the seam across the back works wonders... guess not this time.... Weird, this baggy top seems to reduce the size of my butt, comparatively... but I'd rather look chubby than sloppy!

Because I'm a snooze abuser, I didn't have time to iron anything else... so my attempt at a fix:



So this is a big fat fail on my second attempt at this concept, but it was the best I could do today because I'm a lazy bum.



Oh yeah! I didn't leave time to blow-dry my hair today either, and it is particularly bad today! At least my makeup looks good....

Shirt: Freeda's castoff Eddie Bauer
Vest: Croft and Barrow via Goodwill
Earrings: gift from a friend
Jacket: Talbot's Petite
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Bass

Portrait entitled "A Study in Brown"

I've really been getting a little nutty with my art-museum accessories lately! Just normal stuff today, though....

I'm going to miss these pants, but I'm *hoping* I won't be able to wear them much longer!



I know I've talked a lot about my weight this week, but it plummeted by 5 pounds just this week! Unusual for me... my husband asked me this morning if this is a new shirt. "Nope, just fits better now".



I've worn this necklace before with this top, but I think it was B.B. (Before Blog). It is actually two same-length necklaces put together in one long one, to make it look like this:



Instead of this:



A couple weird things about these necklaces:

1. I can't get them wet while wearing, or I get a rash.

2. I think the fasteners look kinda cool, and don't mind if they show.

I have these great plastic hoops that look like wood- but they are in need of repair. So I wore these instead:



I still love this hairclip... even if it is plastic. I was always such a snob about plastic accessories and costume jewelry... but I'm lightening up.



Top: Liz and Co.
Jacket: Talbot's Petite
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Bass (they make my feet look like) duckbills
Earrings: art fair in Kalamazoo, MI
Necklaces: gift from an Ex. But I like them anyway
Hair clip: I forgot

Kiss me, baby!

An altogether stressful Monday, but at least I got to break out another scarf!



I'm not sure why the full-body shots are so fuzzy... *sigh*. Bad angle, bad hair day... at least my pants are looser!

Der Kuss (The Kiss) by Gustav Klimt... because I'm a complete nerd and I always looooooved this painting:



I couldn't bear to hide too much of the painting printed on by tying elaborate knots, so I tied it like a man's tie:



I don't think it showed as much of the picture as I had in mind... but would that have been too dorky anyway?

I debated the earring choice today- is picking up the brown and blue in the scarf with the earrings, then the red with the jacket too much... too cutsey?



Sweater: one of the Liz Claiborne brands (I cut the tag out) via consignment shop
Jacket: VanHusen outlet
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Bass fuglys
Earrings: made by Baby Sis
Scarf: purchased in a souvenier shop in Vienna