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DJ/Radio Producer-turned-Lawyer attempts to dress like a grown-up. Sometimes I comically fail. And I occasionally post fun stuff, like music videos, book-club reviews, or photos of beauty or oddity.
FYI: I was doing this entire blog from my Android phone, snatching moments out of my busy life for quick photos. But I hate auto-correct with a purple passion, so now I'm using the computer for most of the work. I am still using my phone for the photos, though. My photo sizes may be erratic, and the quality isn't stellar. I am not a professional blogger, and do not have time for lots of scenic poses with a great camera. I don't even own a great camera! However, I DO appreciate your continued feedback, even in the absence of photographic artistry.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

My Mutated Seed

Ever have the kernel, the seed of a great outfit... yet still it somehow grows just wrong? Me too!

This seed was a beautiful Christmas prezzie from Freeda. A lovely black sweater from Iman's line at HSN. So if I wear an IMAN sweater, I will blossom to look like this?



Afraid not. I did, however, mutate into this today:

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

I suspect Freeda picked it because it allows a good bit of the top underneath to be visible. The one she got for me was too big, so by the time I returned it, it was shipped back to her house, and I got to the Mitten again... it was time to put it away for the season!

But I have the replacement, and it's chilly, so I wanted to wear it to my CLE (Continuing Legal Education) class today. I also really wanted to wear the new awesome belt I bought last weekend while I was in Queens:

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

It usually looked better together during the day than the photo shows, but I did have to keep adjusting it a bit now and then. I suppose I will try these two together again... when I can have another photo taken. If you click the link above you will see the gorgeous detail in the (too big) sweater.

I have no jewelry that goes with the belt. I wore these earrings, and it was not great:

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I also should have worn my black hair flower, but flubbed that up, too:

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That's what I get when I have to make a two-hour drive for something that starts at 8:30… A.M.… On a Saturday. But at least I remembered to wear these again:

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

We went to the mall after the CLE, because why waste a mileage-paid trip to Rochester, NY? We live in a more rural area, and shopping opportunities are limited by the small market. I bought some cute socks for myself and a prezzie for Stinky; Hubby bought a couple of ties, and three pair of jeans-- because at least HE lost weight....

Like I tell Stinky- I have fork-to-mouth disease!

Top: Ann Taylor via consignment shop
Sweater: IMAN by HSN gift from Freeda
Belt: Lake Shore Drive via Bolton's in Forest Hills, NY... I love how "Chicago" the brand name is for something I got in NYC!
Jeans: Lane Bryant
Earrings: art fair in Kalamazoo, MI
Hair flower: art fair in Hammondsport, NY
Shoes: Ariat via Sole Solutions in Spokane, WA

Friday, September 28, 2012

Appreciate the Positive

Drat! And I probably could have worn the scarf (not new) that didn't work with yesterday's outfit today… next time, I suppose. At least I still like my older stuff:

  

I had to fumble around in the big bag of winter clothes I haven't put away in my closet yet. I picked this sweater because it was close to the top, and I didn't have court today so I don't need a jacket. I can deal with the ungrateful clients in comfort, at least…

Whenever I start feeling too unappreciated, I take a quick glance at the ONE "Thank-You" card a client's mom sent me, which is taped up in my office. And break out a gift from a former would-be client. Which was given after I talked him out of doing something profitable for me, but not right for him. *sigh*
   

I know that my awesome Hubby appreciates me, anyway. Even if the poor guy has been tripping over my giant bag of sweaters on the bedroom floor for the last four months or so. My Christmas prezzie from him a couple years ago:

 

I don't wear these shoes often enough… they're cute, comfy, I like them. I wear the heck out my other pair of Ariats… but the problem with these is that my socks show. I need to shop for cuter thick socks!

   

While I didn't get to wear my new goodies because they don't go with the sweater, I finally got to use my adorable fashionista mug from Ally:

 

The carton of soup is about 2 cups, and there is still a good inch of space below the rim! BTW… this flavor is delicious... I actually recommended it to the lady behind me in the grocery checkout tonight!

I finally got to the gym this week, tonight was weights.

Top: via Kohl's
Pants: Lane Bryant
Earrings: Premier Designs gift from Hubby
Bracelet: gift from grateful client
Shoes: Ariat via Sole Solutions in Spokane, WA

Let's Hit the Bricks!

Well, I have no idea how it happened, but I lost my whole post in draft. Argh!!!! So I have to redo the whole thing....

I apparently have an unhealthy love of puns, if the post title is an indicator. I'm seeking therapy, and blame it on my father. I had a super-busy day, with lots of driving. But at least I had the rare chance to get workday pics somewhere other than our secretary's office:

  Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

Not the best full-length photo of me, but Hubby took them. His photography skills are a bit sketchy... but I picked the one that showed how my new shoes look with the whole ensemble. Yes, I'm such a child that I had to break out my third pair of new shoes to post this week:
   Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

Yep, I designed the entire outfit around my desire to wear my new crinkly patent leather flats!

  Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

I wanted to wear my navy-and-purple scarf to really pull the outfit together. But it's not the correct shades, and I'm verrry picky. SO I broke out my crazy necklace instead:
  Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

And my hematite earrings to coordinate:

  Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

 I love hematite because it has some shine, but doesn't overpower an outfit.

Well, my pre-vanished post was much better-written, but it's late, and I'm tired. I haven't been able to exercise so far this week, I've been running like a crazy person, very short on sleep, and not feeling so great. Been eating a bunch of junk, also....The plan is weights tomorrow, at least!

Top: Gilligan & OMalley via Freeda's purge pile
Jacket: Kasper via consignment shop
Pants: Lane Bryant. Always flipping Lane Bryant....
Shoes: Aerosoles
Earrings: Lia Sophia
Necklace: via Fashion Bug

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Scentsible Choices

I'm feeling pretty good about today's outfit… seems like a bit of a waste to wear when I have no court scheduled, but I really wanted to break out my new shoes!



Where are they…? I can't see them!



What is up with the weird bit of hair making my head look pointed? I actually felt pretty pulled-together until I saw that pic!

I love this top soooo much… not only does it drape pretty well without clinging or bagging, but I ADORE Battenburg lace! I also love the "printed while scrunched up" effect… my mom told me the name of the technique once, but I forgot. I obviously like the colors, since they keep repeating in my wardrobe. And it can be worn with or without a belt:



And it looks nice with earrings I've owned for years:



I still can't believe I paid $7 for this hair flower! I normally would pay $3-5… but the colors fill a big gap in my hair ornament wardrobe, and the burnt-to-curl edges really struck my fancy:



I picked these shoes up when I went shoe-shopping in Queens with Ally on Sunday. I love the color because it's not too "warm" in tone, I like the limited use of "mock-croc" rather than all-over, and I adore the unexpected-yet-discreet hematite-colored buckle!



I stopped by the Farmer's Market today, as it's right across from my office, and made a beeline for the perfumed oil lady. I have a big spray bottle of her Lilac scent, and I've been keeping a small roller bottle of it in my desk, for the days I neglect to annoint myself at home. I decided I want more variety in my desk-perfume choices, so I picked up a few more rollers:


kimber'shandmadegoodies.etsy.com

Another customer at the booth brought the Blood Orange one to my attention. Amazzzzing! There was only the big bottle left, so it's going home with me! Oh! I'm not shilling for this lady, and I don't really know her. I just love her scents, and she always includes an extra goodie with purchase. When I bought the small Lilac, she included a gorgeous burnt caramel mini-soap.This time, an organic lip balm!

Stinky didn't like the Blood Orange scent when I brought it home. But what does he know? He's Stinky!

Top: Live and Let Live via Stein Mart
Belt: Target
Jacket: Talbot's Petite
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Aerosoles
Socks: Wal-Mart
Hair flower: art fair in Hammondsport, NY
Earrings: art fair in Kalamazoo, MI

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Shopping Queens

My trip to Queens over the weekend netted a few goodies for me! I sifted through much of the fabulous tackiness on offer to glean a few gems. First, I picked up these huge splashy earrings. Freeda approved via SMS:



Does anybody know how to keep these from dragging my earlobe down? I look like someone out of National Geographic! They don't let you try them on in the store, and I don't normally buy very large earrings... so the Buddha-earlobe look is a bit disconcerting....

I fell in love with this purple in two different shoe styles… after much hemming and hawing, and with Shybiker's help, I went with the ballet flats as more practical and less likely to result in additional ankle sprains. Mine have been sprained so many times that they fold like sheets! I'm nuts over the toe detail:



So how did I pull this all together? With brown nubby pants:



I also finally tried a UV gel manicure at home. The products worked just fine, but my technique needs improvement:



Hopefully, the cost-saving measure of doing my own nails will become more effective... then I will have more money for colored shoes!

Top: White Stag via Goodwill
Jacket: 600 West via Dunkleberger's in Stroudsburg, PA
Pants: Lane Bryant
Earrings: via Peony Fashions in Forest Hils, NY
Shoes: from Aerosoles store in Forest Hills, NY

Wow, Do I feel Stupid

I actually had an impromptu blogger-meetup with our beloved Shybiker when I found myself in Queens on Sunday… and I FORGOT to get pics of us together! Aargh! *sigh* Oh well, she was dressed as a boy, so I haven't neglected to photograph the fabulousness…

There is a cute little shopping strip in Forest Hills on Austin St., with chain stores and boutiques. Ally and I poked around some of the boutiques, critiqued the offerings, and found a cute little Thai place in a basement. Lots of opportunity for good conversation!



By the time Ally cruised into the neighborhood on the BMW motorcycle, I was at an Aerosoles store in Forest Hills pondering what to add to my shoe collection. Ally was very patient with my agonizing over the choices, and how they would fit into my life and wardrobe. I bought 3 pairs of shoes with her input after winnowing down my massive selections.

She even brought me a prezzie!



It's soooo apropo. I think I can fit a whole can of soup in there… so it will live at work. Thank you, Ally!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Greek Goddess in a Less-Than-Perfect World

I'm posting Thursday and Friday's outfits together because the outfits were strikingly similar. And because I'm behind.... The same stuff from the waist down, same jacket. Only the tops and earrings were different. But the tops were similarly cut:

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App
Left is Thursday, Right is Friday-- bad hair day

Not exactly the "Goddess" look I was going for... I've come to the conclusion that, as my body is right now, these draped-neck beauties need a jacket over them to keep me from looking like a Christmas tree:

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

I wish I could have found my black jacket for Friday's look, but it's MIA. Oh well, at least I got one more wear out of the white one before dropping it at the cleaner's.

I really chose both of these tops for their details:

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The black-and-white top's print makes me feel like I'm in Greece, rather than Appalachia, New York. That's right, kids... I live and work in the northern Appalachian mountains. It's terribly entertaining....

I love the fabric of the blue top, and the rings are a nice touch. The puffy part is from when my tailor took it up, but I think it looks kind of cool. But I may stitch the rings up a bit higher. The black thing at my bust is actually a bandeau top from Maurice's, so I don't flash too much cleavage at work. I really don't want to give the judge a free show when I bend over the table taking notes....

Thursday's earrings, to match the black-and-white theme:

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

This is a super-old photo, my hair doesn't look like this any more. But I forgot to take a newer pic of the hair flower that  I wore on Thursday, which I love:

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

Friday's earrings, picked to go with the ring detail on the bodice:

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

I have no particular love for these shoes, but my pants are too short, so these are the only ones that minimize the "flood" effect:

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

Night court on Thursday, so no Zumba. Crud, it's my favorite class! Did my weights on Friday, I better put a buck in my Skinny Clothes Fund before I forget!

B/W top: Premise Petite via Stein Mart
Blue top: Cable & Gague Petite via Stein Mart

Why is a big girl like me wearing petites? Short torso and arms... "petite" is a proportion, not just for skinny folks!

B/W earrings: via consignment shop
Silver earrings: Premier Designs
Jacket: Kasper via consignment shop
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Nine West, I think I got them at a yard sale about ten years ago.

Friday, September 21, 2012

The Holy Grail

I've been pretty busy the last few days, so I'm catching up on my posts. Wednesday:

Some of the most difficult things to find in this area are "queen-size" knee-high in certain colors. I get stuck buying "off-black" and "nude" when I want BLACK and BROWN. I stopped into a Walgreen's last night, and "ah...AH...ahhh" (cue angels singing) I found these bad boys on sale, and bought a bunch:

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My dresser looks like a gumball machine spit up! Now I just need navy. And maybe some colors for fun.... But I broke out the "coffee" ones on Wednesday to test the fit and color. My verdict? Underthrilled. The color was nice, but the quality visibly isn't great. And they kept sliding down my calves. *sigh* The search continues....

I wore this outfit especially so I could test out the brown color:

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

Yep, posted it a zillion times before. And will probably wear it a ton after... it's good for court days. But I do really like the top, and it feels like it fits better now:

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

I've been trying the "product in wet hair", but I'm wondering if it's making me look like a Cocker Spaniel?


via Google Images

I do really like these earrings, especially the subtle sparkle:

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And my suede shoes are cute, even if they did come from an "old lady" store:

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

Didn't make it to the gym, I had a Junior League meeting after work. What I consider a "valid excuse". I did go to yoga on Monday, the called in "dead' to work Tuesday... so no gym then, either. 

Top: Liz and Co. via JC Penney
Jacket: Talbot's Petite
Earrings: via JC Penney
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: Trotters

Monday, September 17, 2012

My Absence of a "Stamp"

... meant that when this top inevitably kept rising in the back, there was nothing but bare skin on view. No cool tattoo to cover the expanse of lower-back skin. Because I'm a big chicken! Not terribly interesting for the viewer, so I decided to remove the elastic gather at the bottom of the shirt instead:



Voila! I do kind of miss the gathered effect, but I can always replace the elastic when I knock off a couple pounds. Should I leave it like this, or just put in a slightly longer piece of elastic to just make the gathering a bit looser?

Oh! Here's the outfit:



I picked us these semi-precious beauties over my blogging hiatus as a birthday prezzie to myself:



I think the earrings tied in the top and these pink shoes nicely:



Yoga class tonight, and Hubby said he would try it as well! I hope I get over my "chocolate cake at lunch" coma soon. That was a mistake!

Top: Lane Bryant
Pants: Lane Bryant
Shoes: American Eagle via Freeda's purge pile
Earrings: World Market
Jacket: Talbot's petite

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Fitness Fashion (or lack thereof)

I always wanted to be one of those women who looks coordinated and neat even when exercising or doing outdoor activities. It's been a long time since I've purchased clothing and gear close enough in time to get that look.... *sigh* Hubby thinks I'm weird for even thinking that way about gym gear... he doesn't care what his looks like. Oh well, you will see what I CAN pull off below:

Saturday evening, I packed several nice-looking bags with whatever I could come up with for the gym classes/activities I plan on doing this fall at the local YMCA. I calendared the classes I want to take, and figured out what I had and needed to be properly equipped for these classes that started last week.



Hubby chuckles at my "bags". I pack a separate bag for every activity, and I keep them packed all the time. So I can just "grab-and-go". I also have a "skating pads and helmet" bag, a "disc golf stuff" bag, a "going to the lake" bag... you get the idea.

Good thing I actually cleaned the basement! I found my old (good) sports bra AND my bicycling gloves. YAY!!! As I said before, I HATE to repurchase items....

Monday Yoga/Tuesday Tai Ji [big red bag]

Shirt: via Wal-Mart. It's new, and it's pretty obvious why I bought it. That's right... HUGE "Star Wars" fan. I grabbed it on impulse when buying the stuff for my basement project. Five bucks... how could I say "no"? The original plan was to chop it up like my "Captain America" shirts, but the neck and sleeves aren't too tight on this one. The upside to keeping the neckline close is that I don't risk flashing the instructor while in "downward dog".



The shirt is snug around the hips, but I can tuck it into the defined (and shockingly well-fitting) waistband on the Just My Size knit pants (also via Wally World). Solving my frequent problem of "flashing the gut" during "downward dog". That pose is a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen!

The thing I don't like, fashion-wise, is that the legs are tapered. That unflattering feature does turn out to be practical for yoga class, though. Sometimes I grab the fabric to pull my uncooperative legs into place (or as close as the barriers of chub will allow). That, and the fact that I often don't have time to shave as often as I should, are the only factors that stopped me from cutting the pants into long shorts this summer!

I bring my own mat to class, because I hate having my nose in "other people's feet" scent. *shudder*. I bought the folding foam Nike mat many years ago at a Ross in Long Beach, CA. It's an absolute lifesaver, because I have bad knees and can do much, much, more in class using that extra padding than without it.... Apparently, the "padding" on my knees doesn't suffice!



And yes, I bought the Gaiam yoga fingerless gloves and toe-socks because it got cold in that room last year! The rubber(?) traction dots work nicely. We've been moved to a new room, so if it doesn't get cold, I'll take these out of the bag. I love the wide gathered headband/scarf (either Goody or Scuncii via CVS) to keep all of my hair out of my way.

The shoes in the outfit pic are Champion slipper-type shoes I got from Payless forever ago. Just so I don't have to wear my work shoes to and from the "barefoot" classes- they're not really good for much else. I feel better now that I have found a use for them!

I figure the yoga outfit will also work for Tai Ji. But during my first class, standing for a long time on the hard floor killed my poor heels. Standing on a mat is too limiting, and my Crocs are awfully awkward to wear, although the squishiness is exactly what I need! Hmmmm....

Wednesday Ballet/Thursday Zumba [big red bag]

I love Zumba.

I discovered my first time that wearing cross-trainers or running shoes to Zumba is a HUGE mistake. The wide, stabilizing sole is too inhibiting. Fortunately for me, I'm a borderline hoarder. I actually kept these Nikes that I bought for clubbing back in the stone ages. I went to Lady Foot Locker looking for the Pumas that everyone else at the club was wearing and raving about. But the Nikes fit my feet better, so I bought them instead. Note the narrow, rounded heels-- PERFECT for Zumba:



I've decided to switch to my cut-up "Captain America" shirt (another cheapo from Wally World) because the tank I used to wear kept riding up, and I'm sick of pulling it down several times per song. I just bought a new pair of JMS pants from Wal-Mart with somewhat wider legs, so they will stop catching and limiting my movement. The new ones have the same waistband, so I can tuck the shirt in if it is still a problem. But I hate that fabric inside my pants during Zumba! My other wide headband-thingy keeps my hair from driving me insane.

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

The Y is introducing a new class that I'm super-excited about: Adult Ballet. Eek! I took ballet as a kid, and liked it. I never got any good at it, but I love it just the same. I figure my Zumba outfit will be fine. With one modification....

On an impulse, years ago, I bought Leo's jazz dance shoes from a specialty store. Haven't used them yet. The plan was to practice dancing in the gym classroom when it wasn't being used. But I first got injured, then developed heel spurs, so that didn't happen. But I kept them (are you seeing the theme?) They are essentially ballet slippers with a small heel-- they should be good for the ballet class.

And now you see why I almost never wear dresses:



Isn't it funny how teeney my feet are next to my cankles?

But the jazz shoes go back into the closet for the time being... OW!!!! OWIE!!!! My poor heels! I will be calling my foot doctor to discuss this, since I've been done with my surgeries for well over a year!

Following my inaugural ballet class shoe failure, I went to CVS and picked up something called "Doggers". They are squishy like Crocs, but bit closer to the foot with secure fastenings. I'm hoping these, with some  (zebra-striped!) duct tape on a couple of spots I need to be smooth, will do the trick:

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The best part? They were on clearance, and less than $4! If the Doggers don't work, then I will just wear my black Nikes to everything. My heels hurt some after Zumba class, but not as bad.

Sunday Spinning [black-and-white bag]

I bought all the special equipment years ago. After my first time or two in class with regular gym shoes, I broke down and bought the Nikes with the clips. It really helps me by a. making me use my muscles all the way around rather than rest on the way up, b. helping keep my foot on the pedal, and c. reducing (but not stopping) pain and numbness to the balls of my feet and to my toes.

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

I think the stains are the glue... does anyone know how to clean this?

I have the padded bicycling gloves to lessen the pressure on my hands, because I wind up kind on leaning on my hands on the handlebar a lot. I bought a gel set pad, because the seats on spinning bikes are AWFUL. The pad only helps a little, but I will take what I can get.

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

I will be using a "squasher" sports bra in this class because I just want my boobs out of my way. And I'm using the two better sports bras for the other classes. Since I haven't actually attended the class before this post will go up, here's one of me in the outfit packed into my spinning bag. From when I went parasailing with Freeda. Whom I could have killed for posting this horrifying pic! Said pic is the one that spurred the gym kick I'm embarking on... was that Freeda's nefarious plan all along?



That's not a fanny pack under my pedal-pushers.... *shudder*

I chose long shorts from Fashion Bug for spinning because, even though my legs are heinous, and I risk appearing with a five-o'clock cankle-shadow: longer pants are too inhibiting for the pedaling motions. And I already know that I will look like something the cat sicked up by the time I've finished for the day. So what's one more detail? Cheapo tank from... you guessed it... Wal-Mart again.

Let's see... for swimming, I only have one swimsuit, and it's seen better days. I take Stinky (younger in this pic) to the Y pool on some weekends. But here it is:

Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App

So, now y'all see what I mean about my knees and legs... I'm not "down on myself". I would probably be thinner if I were- I chub up when I'm basically happy. For example: I was tiny during my final year of law school with no effort whatsoever- because I was miserable. But I don't believe that being slimmer and still happy are mutually exclusive, so I'm putting in some effort. And trying to do my best with what I have and who I am.

The first step, of course, is to be brutally honest with myself. And because I'm blogging my efforts at self-improvement, the blogosphere sees it, too. Putting my photos and my own reactions to them are a valuable tool in that process. So thank you for your indulgence!

I also started lifting weights again. Hubby qualified as a personal trainer while he was in college, so he designed my routine. When I was single, I actually hired a trainer! I just wear "scraps" for lifting. (smaller red bag) Nothing to blog about, really.

What I really want is to get into such shape and size as I can justify buying new, coordinating workout/activity clothing and gear. The high-tech fabrics in gorgeous bright colors instead of whatever cheapo cotton-poly blend scraps I can pull together. I'm loving the bright almost-neon colors out lately!

And that I can just wear a (well-covering) sports bra alone as a workout top without embarrassing myself.

It looks like my job is to shrink out of and wear out what I already own! Then I get the pretty, new, non-Wally-World-special workout clothes, right? Right...?

But really, I want to stop hurting. I want to shop at "normal" stores. I want to be fit and strong, and able to do most activities without "problems". I want to dance all night... like I used to do....