I'm in the red again.

The red top I'm wearing is at least 10 years old. The store has been out of business that long. And Old Faithful the sweater is with me again as are the black pants. But I am wearing a bone necklace which was a one of a kind from Karla Jordan. Also out of business. The necklace is made from bone, some of which is dyed red. And I have had it too for at least 10 years. Maybe even over 20. I havent' ever worn it. See what a blog can do.

My shoes are red patent leather with gold buckles. From HSN. I like their shoes because I can get them over the internet and they fit. Really fit well. And I love red shoes even though I haven't had a lot of red clothes. By the way the earrings are a dyed natural stone and also from Karla Jordan. I had more money then. I Do Not like to wear a large, imposing necklace with large earrings. I think my neck is so short that there is not enough separation between the pieces. Just me thinking.

Spring has sprung. Somewhere. Expecting heavy rains this weekend. Fun, huh?

For my age

I have been following at least 100 fashion blogs. I have a few things to say about my take on them.

I wear pants most of the time. I am glad I wear pants most of the time. I can't stand hose, panty hose, or tights. Especially tights because they seem to grab the sorts of fabrics I prefer and I end up looking like I need a dryer sheet. And when I look at pictures of ladies in the upper age eschelon, they don't wear tights either. I don't think I need them living in Tennessee because the weather here is rarely awfully cold and when it is, I can stay home. I do love stockings. I don't know if it's because of my advanced years but stockings do seem girly.

I have tried some little bitty cardigans. They can look cute on girls with a waist and who can belt them. They look like I got too small a size. As luck would have it, I have been able to find some sweaters that I like that don't make me look squeezed.

I have two belts. Both recently purchased. I have a huge stomach. Belts emphasize that. I'm glad they were thrifted because unless something changes they will never be seen.

One of the rules I have read for years is that dainty jewelry gets lost on heavy girls. And I sure am glad there is a lot of sizeable jewelry out there now.

Posing does seem to change a lot with age. I can't make myself stand with my toes together. They don't naturally go that way. It seems to be a girl thing. I on the other hand, can't find a natural feeling pose to use on a regular basis. I guess I'll have to keep trying.

Boots are something that thankfully, I don't have to worry about for a while. I usually can't wear boots because if they are the least bit tight in the foot part, I lose all sensation in my toes. Then there is the problem that my feet don't get cold. Ever. Never ever. Unless I am really really sick. Once that I can remember. So with warm feet and hands, no boots, no gloves.

I think a lot of scarves are beautiful. Big bulky ones are a blessing for those who live in the north where the weather is very cold. I don't wear them. I have a short neck, am rarely cold, have a large bust, and feel overwhelmed by them. Oh, I do wear scarves when I go out in really cold weather. But working around the scarf thing is something I must do. They really bug me when I try to wear them. I would like to find a way to wear them as an accessory by Fall, when I might need one.

Heels. Some people can wear heels and would feel odd in flats. Some wear the booty heels with the toes cut out. Some have platforms and heels. I'm not short and if I fall, getting me back up isn't easy. I wear flats.

Given those wardrobe rules, I just keep on keeping on trying to be sort of stylisn for a person my age.

You never know what you'll find

If your memory is like mine you can easily buy something and especially if it is end of season, you put it away and forget it. Ring a bell? Anyone besides me done that?
I did it with this blouse and when cleaning out what I thought was off season, found the blouse and tried it on. I have been going through all of the closets in the house and eliminating anything I don't like or that doesn't feel good. Ebay here it comes. Anyway, I found a lot of things that don't fit. Since I have had a phobia of trying on clothes before purchase, I found a lot of things that didn't fit properly. It may be the right size on the label but does the armhole feel tight? Does it make my stomach look bigger or show a bulge I don't want shown? I am trying on a few things that I have had for a year. I have stopped taking off the tags before trying on because if it does have to go to ebay, a tag is helpful.

Anyway I found the blouse. The sleeves are short but that is pretty normal on the blouses I have had. Otherwise the blouse fits fine and the colors are terrific. From Stein Mart. I had on Avon earrings. I love them. It's funny that I have a lot of red jewelry but not too many red garments. I'll have to think about that.

OK I'll admit it

I am my father's only son. And I love that I can install electrical stuff, draw up plans for wood projects, and even a little light plumbing. Dad was an engineer. I was his helper installing walls, floor tile, electrics, etc. I would like to think I have just a little of the masculine gene. However I admit I love very girly, beautiful, womanly, feminine, colorful clothes. I have chosen some looks from the runways that if I could afford them, if I had the body, if I had somewhere to wear them, they would be mine.

Dontcha just love a bargain.

Today I'm wearing the sweater I got on sale at Walmart. I found a tank to go with it and I feel pretty good about the whole thing. I'm also wearing a brand spanking new Avon necklace. Offered in the current book. I just love it.

Todays slinky pants are from Slinky Brand, also on HSN. I like another brand better but the color drew me in. I am definitely a sucker for purples. And it looks like I have decided that mixing metals is fine too. Silver necklace, shoes and earrings; gold and rose gold rings. Oh well, if I like it I'll wear it.

It's Spring enough to wear the shoes and I'm glad. An ebay purchase, they are totally comfortable and the cutouts are still in style. And my feet don't get cold easily so I'm good. I still haven't figured out how someone can be cold enough to wear a big puffy ski jacket and still wear flip flops. I saw it the other day and it looks odd to me.

It's the weekend. I am going to start looking into putting away my heaviest winter stuff this weekend. I think it will be fun when I can start looking at what I have stored of the summer clothes. My mind isn't so good so it may be a surprise.

I did an 80's thing and I liked it

The outer blouse I am wearing in the pic has shoulder pads. I really like the way they make my neck look smaller, at least to me. The outer shirt was thrifted for $2.99 and when I bought it I figured on taking out the pads. The shirt is too large for me and I love the colors and the pattern so I am wearing it anyway. I am trying to figure out what to do with it if I lose weight. I'm thinking maybe a vest. As I said the colors and fabric hit a home run with me. The rest of the outfit is the normal slinky HSN stuff and the necklace is again an avon one. I do make jewelry but the avon jewelry is right on the money and I get it for a good price. I actually have a necklace and some earrings that I have had for 20 years and they look as good as new.

The handbags are the beginning of my several part series on growing up through handbags. They are recent additions to my wardrobe and I love them. I only paid full price for one. The teal green one I got from Craigslist for $25 and I waited till it came down from 60. It is a totally leather Jessica Simpson bag and is one of the best made bags I own. The purple is Carlos Falci and is also 100% leather. I prefer leather bags, don't know why. The price on this one was $29 with shipping. I love purple. The mustard yellow is Tignanello. QVC. Full price. Leather and one of the easier bags I have to use. Builtins hold just about everything. I should never watch HSN or QVC because I do really well on things thrifted as I did on the two bags I showed previously. I am talking about bags because they are a long standing interest of mine. I think partly because the bag works no matter how fat you become. But I will show in some later posts that I was also trying to appease myself for my shortcomings by shopping. And as I said, the size didn't matter. I have been through and out the other side of caring if a garment or accessory has a well known label. I'll explain all of that later.

I really want to welcome all of the readers who have joined my blog. I find myself trying harder to find interesting things to include rather than let you down. It's good for me. If anyone wants to know anything about something I write feel free to ask.

Out in the sun

Don't I squint well? The sun is here. I am ready.

I love the colors.

I've been a fan of color for a long time. I don't know of any color I hate, simply some that look really awful on me. The color fetish has had me buy a few leather purses in multi colors. I love them because they are leather and because they are usually well made. The top, from catos that I am wearing in the pic shows all of the colors in the bag. I'm glad cause I bought the bag with no outfit in mind. I was looking on ebay and it said the price was good, the bag in perfect shape. I was totally hooked. But alas, the shirt doesn't look as colorful as it is. The pic shows the colors as more muted than I thought. And it's almost worn out. One more wearing and it goes. The sublimation tops are printed on t shirt fabric for the most part. Hence the pilling. And the fading. Fun while it lasted.

One of the things I have avoided is bright color except in small doses. I felt it called too much attention to my weight and where it is placed. I have a huge belly and big upper hips. From what I've read this makes me a candidate for a heart attack. It also makes some clothes look terrible and makes it hard for me to wear jeans or belts. But I am going to make the effort to shrink into some jeans before the heart attack shows up.

The other entry in the blog is Cheyenne. She is 4 months old now. She is just beautiful but hard to make stand still for pics. She loves to have her belly rubbed. She likes to nap on me. She jumps onto the sofa and onto whoever is there. I just love her to death. I think she is about 35 pounds now. Sometimes I call her Devildog. She chews.

Live is opening up now that Spring is approaching. I'm pleased.

Things that make you go OMG

I just became aware on the blog Exploring the Art of Polymer Clay of the existence of GreenOak Creations. They are selling the most amazing things on Etsy, a sales site for all things vintage, hand made, or just beautiful. This is the epitome of beautiful and stunning all in one.

We need grass seed

I am going to Lowe's today. For grass seed. It seems Spring has come, sort of. It's still cool but supposed to be in the 60's today. Yipeeeeeee!

I'm wearing my old standby slinky stuff. But I saw a green necklace on HSN on one of the hosts and she was wearing it with black pants and a black button down collared shirt. I went bonkers over it. Jumped on ebay and purchased a similar(much less expensive)necklace. And in other colors. But of course I don't have a tiny figure, nor a button down black shirt. At a loss I decided to hang onto it because it is pretty. Well, after the blogging thing started I saw other bloggers (thank you) taking inspiration from looks they like and using them in their own way. So I finally decided to try that. You see, the pants, top, sweater, and necklace are all from HSN and have been purchased on sale over the last few years. I simply saw the pants, thought of the necklace and went from there. See, I finally did it. I came up with a way to wear the terrific green in my own way. Hot dog.

And I am going to continue to scour the blogs for color combos that I like. Ari Smith Cohen had a teal/gold, teal/yellow combo on The Sartorialist that looks like a super season spanner. And I would love to find that option in my closet. Must delve deeper. Or----buy. Gulp. The combo could slide into turquoise and yellow for deep summer. All using seasonless things. Wouldn't that add to the options.

All in all, I am glad to be back in the land of the living after the horrendous cold I had. I can remember when getting over illness or injury was no big thing. Well no more. And I have decided that on the days I don't look decent enough to photograph I can at least post some of the spectacular jewelry and purses that I have. After all, I did blow a lot of money on the stuff. Now I need to learn to photograph jewelry.

Happy Spring everybody. I am overjoyed to see the last of the 20's.

This is a brown day.

The sun is hiding again. Still. And I was going to do something a little dressier but today is a going to the dump day. Forget pearls. No dressing up. Brown. Actually I have wanted to wear the top for a long time. It is a bunch of pretty colors and I love it. So today I put it on with brown. After all it is dump day.

Get a load of the hot truck I am standing in front of. It is a Ford 250 diesel with running lights. It is technically his but I am driving it today. Power and more power. Big. Just getting in is a challenge. And it makes me feel great. Until I have to put the thing into a parking spot. Or pay for diesel fuel. Talk about a way to be brought down to earth.

Monday, monday

It was so warm last week that I think I am seeing the last of the cold. And of course the first of the allergies. How the heck am I supposed to know the difference?

The outfit I am wearing is the result of the attempt to change my wardrobe some. The shirt came from ebay with a sleeveless sweater to match. I adore the color. The sweater absolutely positively doesn't fit. The shirt is a little snug but as I said, I love the color. And the cami type shirt under is a buy from the thrift store orig by Liz Claiborne. I never wore sleeveless things because of the upper arms looking so bad. But with a blouse it worked out well. Anyway. I love the color. I have some ebay jewelry on and I'm satisfied with the outfit. On the lower half nothing is happening. Nothing. Until I can come up with some reason to photograph my belly and butt the nether region will remain a mystery.

In puppyville, Cheyenne continues to grow. She is a great big rambunctious pooch so this week it is to the store for a leash and collar. Then walkies. Good for both of us. You notice I didn't say we were going for a pull. She and I will work that out. I refuse to chase a dog. Actually I'm so out of shape I couldn't chase a dog if my life depended on it. So we will work it out.

This week also we are to have cool weather and some rain. I'm going to start scouting out good places to take pics so I don't bore anyone to death. I life in perhaps the most beautiful part of the USA. There will be pictorial proof soon.

But not today

Drat. I so wanted to be able to continue the posting of some of my outfits. But the cold of my century laid me low. I not only don't feel like taking pics. I don't feel much like getting dressed. I am much better today. But that is still not back to normal by a long shot.

I've looked back at some of the posts and I am learning some stuff. First, I know how to turn on the camera and make it wait till I get into the picture. And I know how to get it to stay on the dollar tripod I thrifted. Luck counts dontcha know? And I know how to take some pics other than the stand there and look dumb shots. Those are what I usually do. Sometime between the pushing of the button and getting settled in front of the camera, I forget what I had planned to do.

I tend to take everything at face value. If a lot of women are wearing skirts or jeans, shirts, cardi's belted and boots, then I suppose I should be wearing them too. Yeah right. It does give me a visual to shoot for. But I have gotten far more from the blogs I read than that. I have actually learned to put myself into the vision and see how I would look in that outfit. And make adjustments to that outfit to make it work for me. Or I can now visualize the clothes I have on me better and tell more about what works and what doesn't. Wow is that ever big. It means I am going from a person who purchased clothing just because it would go on to a person with some ability to pick and choose. What a savings that will be for me in the long run. So, now I am going to go back and lay down and continue trying to get over the cold. Then we'll see.

Cold and Windy outside but.........

Inside I am dressed to go out. And I am not leaving the house till late afternoon. For a really short time. This time when the weatherperson said there would be wind advisory it actually happened. And I'm not complaining. There is not a bit of snow on the ground. So it definitely could be a lot worse.

I still have my cold but for the most part meds are doing a good job. I was able to get out to the movie yesterday. The Black Swan is a terrifically acted, terrifically produced and terrifically intense movie. It isn't the sort of film that makes me leave the theater grinning. It is definitely a movie that is a contender for the drama awards. Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis were terrific, stunning. It is so nice to go out when the movie is good and the weather isn't offensive. So of course I took no pics. I'm not used to this photographing everything.

Today, as I said, I am dressed to go out. All I have to do is add a coat and I am ready to move. However, not till later. I have on my staples, brown slinky slacks, walmart sweater. This sweater is not a sweater but a knit top made cardi fashion. It washes like a dream and I also have it in black. I'm wearing a top I got a Dress Barn. Exciting huh? They actually have some cute plus size things and the plus size market here isn't good. The shoes are xhileration ebay. The jewelry is some Avon, Lane Bryant, HSN, and jewelry store. I spent so long changing sizes that jewelry was the focus because it doesn't shrink.

I sometimes wonder what I am doing by dressing up on a day I won't be seeing anyone. But you know, I do feel better. I feel more free because if I do go out I won't need to hide. And because the mirror tells me I look pretty good. Yeah!

I'm back, and so tickled

I remember in the late 70's or early 80's that there was a TV show in which the oft said thing was "I love it when a plan comes together." And I remember how gorgeous the man who said it was. Do you?

AnywayI have had the top for a fairly long time. Maybe 2 years, maybe more. And I wore it with a pair of black pants. Yawn! So, today, in my quest to make better use of my clothes and to look better doing it, I started looking at it. I realized I do like the pattern, sort of an art deco thing. And I like the colors. And I like the lace on the front. And I like the length,(covers my butt) and I like the fabric, (wash and hang). So what have I been waiting for. First I found I had a pair of pants which goes well with the top. Then I noticed that a sweater(cardigan) that I ebayed from Coldwater Creek matches it. Then there were the shoes(also ebayed and Aerosoles) matched the dark red perfectly. Then the jewelry was there and it all came together. All this time not wearing it. The sweater was a fairly recent purchase, since I started working harder on the blog. And the plan came together.

On Advanced Style, one of my favorite blogs, one of the ladies said she sometimes waited years to find just the right part to complete an outfit. I don't have the patience for that but the way she does it is real eye candy. I didn't buy the sweater to use with the outfit. It just worked out that way. And I now have more reason to put a lot of thought into the purchases. The top was one I really liked when I bought it. But I was lucky it fit. Buying from ebay takes a lot of thought as to fit, use, ease of use, etc. And luck counts.