Even When I'm Sick, I Still Leave the House in Clothes

I haven't been in fit condition for much lately... my nasty sinus infection took two full courses of antibiotics completed before I felt relatively human. I kept meaning to pick up blogging again, but I was just too wiped out.

The evidence of my intent rests in the mirror shots below:



This outfit would look better on someone who doesn't have cartoonishly round hips. Long tops and sweaters are so darn tricky for me. But this sweater is the closest thing I have to wearing a blanket... which is what I really wanted. Still had a fever that day....

And I really wanted to try combining these necklines:



I'm not sure if this was good or not, I was too sick for proper self-critique. Your thoughts?

Another day, I had to take Stinky to his band concert. He was surprised that I made him stay for the rest of the show rather than head straight home so he could play video games, but that's how I was brought up. How many looong band concerts of Freeda's and Baby Sis' I had to sit through... because the whole school system had its concerts on the same night. Stinky doesn't know how lightly he got off!



Of course, I had already worked all day and still felt like crap. But at least I snapped my "trial day" outfit for your consideration:



I went with Freeda's suggestion to KISS- Keep it simple, stupid... All black base garments to let the sweater pop.

I really overdid it on a Friday. Still sick, but I worked all day, went to my office Christmas Party, then to a friend's mom's surprise 80th Birthday party. It was mostly theater people in an Elks club ballroom, so there was tons of dancing and karaoke. But at least I looked better than I felt:



I really should have just gone home, but it had been over a month since I got to see my friends outside Hubby's hospital room! I really needed to blow off some steam, sick or no....

I'm definitely noticing I'm thickening at the waistline. Everywhere, really.... The whole "diet-and-exercise" thing went out the window once Hubby had his "incident'. I was doing so well before that happened... *sigh*

He's still bedridden, and we have no idea what's happening or when he can go back to work. I haven't been taking good care of myself, and I think the stress of the situation has really done a number on me.

Just for fun: I received a Christmas present I specifically requested... one of those home paraffin-bath tubs. My hands get really stiff and achy, and I liked the hot wax treatment at the salon. Of course, I haven't had one of the salon treatments in years. But this guy arrived on my doorstep as "suggested", and I was eager to try him out:



I broke out in hives! I'm so upset, because I really wanted this device. But I seem to have come up with a solution. I already had a box of disposable vinyl gloves, the kind they use at doctor's offices. They fit pretty well, so I tried doing the dip OVER the gloves. Not quite the same effect, but I did feel enough to get optimistic.

But I wonder if I only broke out because I didn't wash my hands right away, and touched other places on my body before I finally washed my hands. My hands did NOT break out at all! I will try this again without gloves after the hives are cleared up, so I can see if immediate handwashing will be enough to prevent future outbreaks.

I sure hope so- they don't make rubber gloves for feet!

Ah... the breakdown: All pants from Lane Bryant, naturally. I think I was wearing my Ariats in all these photos as well.

Day 1:
Sweater: NY & Co. via consignment shop
Shirt: Ann Taylor via consignment shop

Day 2:
Sweater: via my dry cleaner's "abandoned property" rack
Top: I think it's Tribal, but I cut the label out ages ago and can't remember for sure via Pip's in Corning, NY
Earrings: via Kmart

Stinky's outfit- all George, I suspect from Wal-Mart.

Day 3:
Sweater: via VanHeusen outlet
Scarf: made by Mom
Earrings: via M-I-L's purge
Bracelet: made my my friend Lovely. I call her that not only because she is, but also because I "borrowed" a spritz of her SJP "Lovely" perfume on my wedding day. I had forgotten to bring something of mine.

Still Sick

And chugging through as best as I can. I have a few photos, but no time or energy to post stuff, yet. Maybe in a few days…

Trial Day

...or not! I was scheduled for a jury trial today. Because so many cases settle, even at the last minute, the courts schedule several on the same date and time so that the jury pool isn't "wasted" by not having a case ready to go.

I was actually second on the calendar, then first... then the judge bumped my trial back down to second again... the "backup" trial. I didn't ask for that, but I suspect she did it to give me a break, since she knows I'm going through a lot lately. While my client is anxious to get it over with... I have another reason to be grateful for the judge's calendar change:

I've been sick in bed since Wednesday night... that's why I haven't posted. I've been in PJs and generally disgusting. I did get myself presentable and drag my sorry carcass into court this morning, just to make sure that the case ahead of me didn't settle before I crawled back into my vaporizer-steam-filled cave.

No photo from today, but I did find one in my phone from last Sunday that never got posted. I went to the local Magistrates Association Christmas party that evening, and Hubby was vertical long enough to take a quick blog shot before he had to get prone again:

This outfit is actually an exact repeat of the one I wore, and wanted to post, a month ago- the day that Hubby had his emergency surgery. I remember thinking (pre-crisis) that it was such a good hair day, I couldn't wait to get my photo taken. And that I was ashamed of myself that I hadn't thought to pair this bracelet with the sweater before:



And I picked these earring for a "world traveler" vibe:



I also love the little "tinkling" sound they make!

My comfy, but still decent-looking, shoes:



Everyone at the function sent their best to Hubby, and the hosts gave me some canapes to take home for him. That reminds me... I need to get the tupperware back to the judge....

Sweater: via Kohl's
Jeans: Lane Bryant
Bracelet: gift from S-I-L
Earrings: World Market gift from Freeda
Shoes: Ariat via Sole Solutions in Spokane, WA

One of My More Inspired Outfits

I've been combining this blouse and sweater for the last couple of winters, for a couple of very practical reasons: 1. I love the sweater, but it is a little too low-necked for me to wear to work on its own, and 2. the blouse is a little small on me... but I love, love LOVE the print!



I should have had my photo done earlier in the day, when the light was better and I was a little less rumpled! I tried something new today, and wore the necklace over the collar. Do you like it better this way?



Or how I normally wear it? This older photo also shows the beautiful colors off better:



A little something to pick up the gold accents in the necklace:



And the red ones in the blouse and necklace:



I found these at an "old-lady" shoe store. Every once in a while, I can scrounge up something good! They also had them in black... but those looked completely ordinary. The color makes these special, in my humble opinion.

Shirt: Liz Claiborne via consignment shop. I think it was $2!
Sweater: INC from Macy's
Pants: Lane Bryant
Necklace: Jasper's Den in Spring Grove, OH
Earrings: via M-I-L's purge
Shoes: Trotters via DeGaetano Shoes in Hornell, NY

I Can Do This Better!

Monday's outfit was a bit of a jumble, probably because I didn't have a clear idea what I was aiming for before I started grabbing items in the morning. The end result:



It's a discombobulated sort of outfit, reflecting my scrambled brains! I started with this sweater:



I really need to sew that placket closed. With a higher neckline, I think.... Anyway, I grabbed bronze-y earring to go with the taupe and the brown straps:



And the plaid jacket because I just had a sudden flash that it could work with this sweater:



So far, so good... but then it went downhill:



(Old pic- my hair isn't that long now) For some reason, I forgot about the earrings I already had on my ears, and only thought about coordinating metals with the cute little pin I had on my jacket collar:



I have no understanding why or excuse for wearing these... they just do NOT go with the outfit:



Lessons:

1. The core elements of the sweater, jacket, and blue pants work well together.
2. I need a "brushed/tarnished-effect" pewter/silver-tone pair of earrings. OK, want... not need.
3. I should to plan "new" combinations the evening before I wear them!
4. I should get my blog shots done early in the day when I feel like I'm actually looking good... before something goes wrong and I don't get it done. I looked really good today (Tuesday), but do I get to show that? NO! And the day Hubby was hospitalized last month? I looked fantastic (before the abject fear, exhaustion, and sobbing, of course). But I have no photographic evidence. *sigh*

At least I finally made it back to the gym to lift! I've decided that I'm skipping the classes (Yoga, Zumba, etc.) until January because things are too chaotic. Between my trial calendar, motion calendar, court appearances, incapacitated husband, and the holiday festivities... lifting 1-2 times a week is all I can manage in the fitness area of life! Besides, I need to get back the strength I've lost over the last month.

Sweater: Bella D via TJ Maxx
Jacket: Amanda Smith Suits via consignment shop
Earrings: made by me
Hair flower: made by me
Pin: via M-I-L's purge
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Ariat via Sole Solutions in Spokane, WA