Girls' Night Out

I have met my major goal for the week- which was to be doing something in the gym every weeknight. Yay me!

My knees a a little sore, so I'm giving them a break today, and plan to go kayaking tomorrow instead of spinning. Spinning class will be available aallllll winter- I suspect this weekend will be the last I can kayak this year :(

So I went to the theater and dinner with some girlfriends, after my girlfriend Squeaky treated me to a pedicure (thanks for the birthday gift certificate!). Stinky (my 10 y/o stepson for those not in the know) volunteered to take my outfit shot:



I just realized... I've worn essentially this same outfit to this theater before! Different hair though... I tried my hand at duplicating the blowout after my cut a few days ago. How did I do?



I just tossed these earrings on quickly because they were already in the bathroom:



Just kept my $5 Wal-Mart flip-flops on for the evening, so I wouldn't mess up my pedicure!

Top: via JC Penney
Belt: from a pair of Lane Bryant pants that don't fit now
Pants: Lane Bryant
Earrings: via consignment shop

My "Crazy Old Lady" Outfit?

Photoshop was tempramental on Friday night, so my pics didn't upload until Saturday:



Or was Photoshop just trying to keep me from further embarassing myself? I really love the print, the flutter sleeves, and the front detail on this top. So why do I feel like I look "middle-aged" in it whenever I see a photo?



 And I adore how nicely the green in the top goes with this pendant:



I slept on wet hair last night, since I was too tired after Zumba and a shower to deal with it properly. And I'm starting to think this choice of socks and shoes with that top wasn't "edgy"-- it was deranged:



Oh well, at least I got to the Y to do my weights…

Top: via Stein Mart
Collar: gift from Freeda or Mom
Pendant: gift from Baby Sis
Pants: Lane Bryant
Earrings: via Gold Mine in Bath, NY (very plain, won't bother posting now)
Shoes: Perceptions (from Payless?) Via Freeda's purge pile

First Day with the New Haircut

Hubby and Stinky both hate the bangs. Oh, well...

I overslept today (what else is new) so I just put in a little Bumble & Bumble Styling creme and left it wet, with a little scrunching:



The top part is straight, bit the bottom is still curly, at least with encouragement. So I've got a "transitional" haircut while it settles into whatever it's going to be. It looks a little messy in the photos, but I had to get that pic taken quickly- no time for a redo.

My in-court look today:



Nothing new, I've worn this outfit about a zillion times.

My usual jewelry combo with the top... necklace:



The earrings, eve though they didn't really show from under my hair today:



Same shoes and pants as this pic today, but I was out of clean brown trouser socks, so I had nude knee-highs instead. Ugh!



Made it to ballet yesterday, I'm having some shoe issues. I think I've arrived at a solution.  AND made it to Zumba tonight, as well. 5/5 so far... yippee! 2 more days to go this week for my goal of physical activity every day. I've promised myself a much-needed pedicure if I follow through my inaugural week!

Top: VanHeusen outlet
Jacket: Talbot's petite
Pants: Lane Bryant
Jewelry: made by me
Shoes: Trotters via DeGaetano Shoes (now-closed) in Hornell, NY

It's Official: My Hair Has Gone Straight Again!

So annoying…. When I started this blog, my long straight layers looked like crap all the time. Shortly thereafter, I learned it was because my hair changed texture. To curly. I tried blowing it out for awhile. Then I finally gave up the fight, cut and donated the length, and gave the "curly" thing a go. I even started to like it!

So of course, now it's going away. *sigh* That's why my hair looks awful in my posts this month! I got my hair cut, and today I'm still in last night's blowout:



I know it sounds dorky, but I love these socks. Not because they're comfy... they're polyester, and my feet sweat. They slip. But I looooove the colors, and I really love how they look with this pair of shoes:



I should have done a "whole outfit" head-to-toe shot to show how nicely these colors go together, but I goofed:



Hubby is still unsure if he likes the bangs- but I explained that they are to cover the forehead lines that my annoying clients have put there!

I purchased this necklace while on my first-ever overnight business trip in 2005. I was super-excited, even thought is was Jackson, Mississippi a month after Hurricane Katrina. One of the few "touristy" things open was the art museum, which was nice. I'm a huge fan of museum gift shops- I get some of my best accessories in them!



The only color it seems to look good with is taupe, so I don't get to wear it much. And because the silver tarnishes easily, I have no earrings for it. I'm thinking of repurposing the outer beads to make earrings to go with it. Mostly because I feel off with no earrings in. Your thoughts?

 I made it to Tai Ji yesterday, so my Skinny Clothes Fund is up to $4! Ballet class tonight at the Y... Eek-excited! Anyway, I'm off...

Top: Grace via Bon Ton
Jacket: VanHeusen outlet
Pants: Lane Bryant
Cool socks: no clue, had them forever
Necklace: museum gift shop in Jackson, MS
Shoes: Bass

The great compromise

I got a gorgeous top from Freeda's purge pile last year, but I was having a lot of trouble with the fit around the hips. I asked my lovely readers for suggestions, but it didn't work out. So I finally broke out the big guns and took it to the tailor:



She thought it best to keep the band, so she just cut out some of the fabric in the middle. It now drapes so much better on me:



This whole short-waisted combined with big-bootyed sure is expensive!

At least some other bargains lessen the sting:



And ye olde faithful:



I made it to yoga last night, and I have Tai Ji and a haircut tonight.
Top: Jacklyn Smith from KMart via Freeda's purge pile
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Ariat via Sole Solutions in Spokane, WA
Earrings: Fashion Bug clearance $2

Should I Have My Top Shortened?

Crud! I lost a bunch of text, and had to redo!

Anyway, I bought this gorgeous top when on my last trip to the Mitten:



I love that it's great with jeans or capris… but still looks good with work clothes:



The issue I have with the top is that long bit in the front. It covers the pooch nicely, but looks weird under the jacket. So I've been thinking of shortening it. What do you think?



I just love the patterns, colors, and textures:



And here's the earrings:



I'm going to Yoga class after work, I'll blog the outfit in another post.

Top: Rafaella Studio Petite via Stein Mart
Jacket: Talbot's
Pants: Lane Bryant
Earrings: via Bon Ton (clearance $1!)
Shoes: Clark's of England

I'm Asking for Your Support....

No, I'm not canvassing votes for anything, I just need some "reminding" about what I need to do: MOVE! Not relocate... I mean move my body. I've heard the kids calling it "exercise". Am I getting the term correct?

[The outfit is further down, please indulge me first....]

Anyhoo, I've spent the last year recovering from those two foot surgeries, and the enforced inactivity compelled by those circumstances. I've gone from "living like veal" to living more like a snail. Sloooow progress, but my fitness level is still subpar, IMO. So I need to step it up, bigtime!

I got a tip from Pinterest recommending a "workout jar". So I made one out of an Almond Roca tin   I had hanging around (how apropo...):



As of this evening, I have $2.00. Goodwill, here I come!

When I stopped blogging last February, I was a year out from my first surgery. And, to celebrate, I purchased proper quad roller skates on eBay. From a girl who had to stop skating for medical reasons. The irony....



But her loss is my gain- I made out like a bandit! Less than $175 got me indoor and outdoor wheels and brakes, tool, grease, (I forgot to put the key in the pic), and a handy-dandy shoulder "saddlebag". And, according to much pre-purchase research, all high-quality brands! Everything I need except the helmet and pads, which I ordered separately. I had to get them from a specialty derby shop online b/c I'm so fat. The pads in the "normal" stores are way too small. *sigh*



See? My cankles are so huge I can't even tie them without exposed sock. They will never be slim, but this is absurd!

The outdoor wheels and brakes are on now, because I haven't decided to switch them back yet, in case I do want to skate outside before it gets too crappy out. I put a sampling of the indoor ones in front to show the difference. Outdoor wheels are softer and slower, indoor ones harder. And these one are wider for speed. They took some getting used to, but I love them!

I was skating a lot during the spring, but the rink is closed over the summer. And this summer was too horribly hot to tolerate strenuous outdoor exercise. Just awful- and I LOVE summer! So that's why I haven't posted the safety gear. I'm not really using it yet.



I took Stinky to the rink with me today, since it's finally reopened for the season. And forgot my phone, so I had hubby take this pic at home. This is my skating outfit. Jeans are too hot and binding, so I use these Old Navy knit pants I've had for years. The pocket is just big enough to keep some money for admission, snacks, and Centipede. My cut-up Captain America Wal-Mart tee  is modest but not binding- perfect for a "family" place like a roller rink in the afternoon. And it's sufficiently child-like, because when I'm skating, I'm instantly eleven years old again!

About the support I'm asking for? Reminders/nagging/encouragement to do something physical each day. Except for valid reasons, like night court, illness, meetings (ex: Red Cross, professional, book club, AAUW, Junior League) and travel.

This is still a fashion blog, so I will mostly only briefly mention my fitness stuff. But I do have an an upcoming post on more "activity outfits" that's written, I just don't have the pics yet.

Thanks!