Temporary internet loss

I only have only two options for internet- horrible, horrible dial-up, or a Verizon Wireless cell-phone based internet.

We use the latter since we don't have ALL DAY for our blogs to load. This week- our little device broke. So, yeah- the last two days I've been absent from the internet.

Also I'm doing NaNoWriMo this month, which is sucking up lots and lots of my brain. I leading a kids writing group this month for Young Writers Program. I also have major portfolio projects due soon for art class and my term paper due this month. Ugh. All good things, though.

Forgive me for not being on here very much! I have many posts I should be writing right now and I don't want to lose my readers! (all 12 of them, lol!)

So, I promise to come back fully in a few weeks, and will post when I can the next couple of days.

In the mean time, I'm totally jealous of my husbands crochet skills- he's making himself a pair of fingerless gloves. He's so metro!! Check out the first glove! (it's huge on me- he's got big man-hands)I think I need a pair, right?

Sundays outfit- Velvet vest and jeans

Oh how I love my velvet vest, for without it, this would have simply been a grey cap sleeve shirt and jeans. But with it?? Oh the changes it brings with it's lush texture and perfect fit!


Ok, ok. So, yeah- thrifted velvet vest over thrifted grey shirt with my fave Gap jeans (also my most expensive jeans ever- bought a couple years ago for $85, I just about crapped myself). Dollhouse flats from TJ Maxx.

I had my grey blazer with my, but only wore it in the evening when it got really cold.

Friday night outfit- Vintage dress and red tights

Last night was my sisters birthday and so she had a big party at her house that included yummy soups, red wine and Tapioca roasted inside a pumpkin. Yeah, I was in food heaven. Cheesy garlic bread, crispy salads, chili, butternut squash, etc.

Mmmmm!

I wore this vintage dress I got over the summer and hemmed myself. I think it's my first REAL hem that I didn't half-ass. This dress has a great slouchy look and wonder big pockets.

The red tights kept it fun and really popped! I wore my lace up boots.

Todays' actual outfit: striped cardigan and red jeans

Ok my last post was actually last nights outfit. Forgive me.

Anyway- today I started with these red jeans- by Lucky, but thrifted in my usual way. I put on my white and grey striped cardigan (which I'm in love with) and black flats. Perfectly suitable for the artist/writer/singer on her way to the pediatric dentist with her 3 year old. :)


Pictured with me is not my 3 year old. It's Ginny Weasley. No, not the real Ginny Weasley of course, but my Americauna hen who lays beautiful green eggs!!! I'm such a crazy chicken lady. And crazy cat lady. And crazed trekkie, Potter-head, runner, geo-cacher, and I skirt the embarassed edge of Twilighters. Now you know.

Today: An old friend back to life!

This dress is one of a few dresses I kept from High School. It has survived thus far with only a few rips in the seams around the waist.

I decided to wear it to art class yesterday, and when I dropped my kids off with my mom, she fixed the seam for me!

I wore the green shirt underneath since it only got up to the low 40's here yesterday. I also wore black sweater tights under my black boots. Have I mentioned I love these boots? I also wore my tweed jacket over the whole thing.

In case you can't see- the motif on the dress is actually little shirts and dresses! So cute.

Look! I'm actually doing the scarf-thing!!

Tonight I had to run out to get a few things in town and decided to wear my very pajama-like Harem pants (from a clothing swap), a white tank (? Wal-mart?) and my old stand by denim jacket.

Just before I left, UPS came and delivered my beautiful scarf!!

I won it from a giveaway on Style Symmetry. It's really, really awesome. It has this wonderful springy-ness to is which makes it easy for scarf newbies like me to style it. And it's light as a feather! It's by Tolani, from Chic Downtown.

Thank you to Eyeliah, for the giveaway and picking me!!

So, I AM doing this right, right? I felt quite cool buzzing around town in my slouchy pants and scarf!

The bangs need to come back, though- guess I'd better wash my hair today. ;)

Todays outfit- Summer skimmer and red tights

I've been waiting and waiting to try this!


I bought this little vintage dress in New Hope this summer and have wanted to layer it's wonderful ruffles with fall stuff ASAP!!

I got these tights at Nordstrom Rack for $2.97!! The shoes are my BCBG heels and the blazer is my very popular BB Dakota blazer I keep wearing like, everyday!

Being sick really sucks. I cannot bring myself to look 100% decent- especially in the hair and makeup department!!

Saturdays outfit- Black slacks, vintage belt, velvet blazer

Ok, grant me some grace on this photo. I took it at 10 pm, after having had been out since about 3:30 in the afternoon.

Matt and I were part of a huge anniversary concert for our old church. Matt plays bass and I sing. So, I had to look sharp and match the color scheme of the event which was gold and eggplant.

The pants are awesome- super comfortable and absolutely the perfect size. They have no label in them, but they are made very well. I thrifted them a few months ago for 50 cents.

The tank is J Jill, the blazer is BB Dakota. The belt is a newish acquisition from my favorite consignment store, Marla Sue's in Folsom, CA. It's this great old 80's belt with elaborate beading.

I cannot wait to wear it with jeans and a blazer!

My hair was actually up in braids, all pinned on top of my head, but I took it out on the way home. I look all shiny and tired and gross. I actually had a low grade fever, too. My age is showing. Yuck.

Fridays outfit- O-Neill flannel and leggings

Ugh...more sickness. Another round of fevers and yuck in our house. It's kept me from getting dressed unless I absolutely have to.

But friday, I wore this super cute flannel I got at Costco. It's O'Neil and it's cut so cute! And it's soft as can be.

I wore it with my denim leggings and my Ariat boots because this was a very practical day of vomiting preschoolers, cleaning house and dealing with runaway chickens.

Todays outfit- Blue dress

Remember my post a few months back about this dress? (Probably not, but thats ok!)


(note the attached belt that I left untied for this lovely photo)

I was so disappointed when I got it home and realized how ridiculously small in the waist it was. Disproportionately small, even! Usually when something's THIS small in the waist, it's tiny in the shoulders and chest, too. It was perfect everywhere but in the waist.

A couple days ago I decided to take off the belt with the help of my trusty seam ripper. My mom and I thought maybe we could take out the waist gathers and give me an inch for my not-so-tiny middle.

Turns out, there were two big gathers under the belt that came out when I removed the belt, giving more than an inch!!!




I was totally stoked! It fits perfect! And I didn't have to dissemble the entire dress!

One thing that's kind of a bummer is the fact that this dress was obviously dyed. See? This was under the belt. Wearing a belt covers it- but I wish I didn't have to cover it. Do you think dying it would cover the white spots? I'd love this to be Navy blue, or grey!!!

Todays outfit: Eileen Fisher sweater and faux-denim

Today ended up being an unexpectedly easy day. And I dressed for it, for sure. I could sleep in this outfit.

My friend Fajer gave me this sweater which I LOVE! It's the perfect weight and has endless applications. I'm a huge fan of grey.

The pants came from Mandee, my sister in law. They are super comfy.

The shirt is from Target, as well as the booties.


Wait a second...nothing here is thrifted? Weird. I'm like a normal person today.

African trade bead necklace made by me from expensive antique beads. Marjorie Baer earrings from Nordstrom rack.

Sometimes I dig me with no makeup- I don't look sick or anything today. I guess its a good skin day!

Too busy! What the heck?

How does a stay at home mom turn into THIS? I just got home and haven't had a moment to do ANYTHING!!!

My camera's are all out of batteries, so I had to use my computer camera. This is NOT good photography- I hope you can forgive me.

I am getting a ton of use out this Navy blue velvet blazer! I just gravitate towards it every time I get dressed. I love pieces like that.

I had art today (not my college class- the one I teach), so I wore my J Crew boots (kitten heel brown leather-knee high), my Calvin Klein jeans, a navy and white striped shirt and the blazer. Simple, comfortable, and looks good, I think.


I took this picture a few minutes ago- I'm tired, rain soaked, and generally a little tattered looking.

Better picture tomorrow! I promise!

New top and tights! Styling help?

I went to Nordstrom Rack last night, looking for tights after searching the mall for the perfect pair. The mall was devoid of cotton tights, apparently. But The Rack came through, and I got these HUE Sweater Tights for $9.97! I also snagged this amazing lace blouse- or vest? I'm not sure.

Total impulse buy. I'm in love with it, and threw it over my days outfit, but I'm not sure I love it like this? If I were 15, maybe. I'm thinking of layering it over a simple tank and jeans. Or over a sundress with a long sleeve shirt under it all?

It's actually navy blue- I've got this thing with navy blue lace right now!

Any suggestions? It's Free People...I love that company.

Grand apology for not posting....

I've had a week of sick, of busy days and a long power outage.


I suck, I know. I promise to post again soon!! I'm reading blogs, just not posting on my own!!

Todays outfit- Plaid dress and grey blazer

I love, love, love this outfit!

Can you tell I'm goofy for blazers, still? They make me look like I have a waist!!

Plaid dress and blazer are both thrifted, as well as the belt, oh, and the shoes!!!

The tights are from college- and have a huge bleach stain just above the knee. Maybe I can just take a black marker to them and color the stain in? If I had another pair- I'd tie them up with rubber bands and dip them entirely in bleach!! But, I really need tights right now- and unless I find a killer deal on a replacement- I'd better not treat them like a science experiment.

Saturdays outfit- Apple pickin'

Saturday ended up being a pretty cool day. We were all mildly sick, but decided to head up to the apple farms anyway, since we probably wouldn't get another free Saturday until after Halloween.

It was a warm day with a brisk start, so I wore my Calvin Klein jeans, and a vintage shirt I got in high school.


I haven't worn the shirt in about 10 years because, when I bought it- it was very unusual. In the early nineties- most shirts were still cut all boxy. This shirt WAS quite retro. It's from the mid-seventies, and has this great image of a girl with crazy pink hair. It also has real rhinestones on the face of the girl.

I stopped wearing it because it looks like 90% of the shirts that came out in the last decade- it doesn't seem very vintage- but it IS!

I do love it, though- it's made of really heavy knit, and it's soft as can be. So I wore it Saturday with this adorable cardigan I bought over the summer (and almost forgot about)at Delia's for $7.99!

I put on my little black flats by Dollhouse- kind cute!

And I like that my hair was all wavy- at least in this picture- my hair resists any bend or curl, generally.

And one last shot of the Sierra's before they turn white for the next 6 months!

Today's outfit- all dressed up with no where to go

I LOVE THIS OUTFIT. I'm not going anywhere, doing ANYTHING today, but I had to put this together.


I started with the pants- thrifted a few weeks ago. The belt I got over the summer- did I mention I love chain belts? I used to have this awesome pewter chain belt that was all shields and weapons. So badass!!! Why did I get rid of it!!


I added a ribbed black shirt I made out of a thrifted Limited dress- I hacked it this summer. Then, I couldn't leave this outfit like this- it needed another element...

So, I put on a jacket my niece gave me and felt suddenly inspired to make use of something that is destroyed.


I had this mink stole I got sometime in high school- and my kids have been playing with it for a few years now. It's held up fine until last week when I noticed this one lone mink laying on the floor. I was SO mad.

I'm making lemonade- taking this loan stole and attaching it to my jean jacket in a way that I think looks sort of haphazard and unplanned. I love the way the legs hang over my shoulder! (hope that doesn't gross anyone out...it IS real...but really old)

Now I just need somewhere cool to go!!

Todays outfit- Pajamas and undereye circles

So, I keep struggling to blog on Thurdays- I run on on those days and never quite seems to get a real outfit together the rest of the day. I run while my youngest is in preschool, then pick her up, run errands, get home and usually cook and do house work the rest of the day. No fashion, really.

I'll have to blog more on the weekends, which is when I ACTUALLY look nice.

For example today- I have no where to go and a child who was sick all night.

Yeah...I'm not putting anything together until later. :)

When somethings 25 cents...

You tend to not ask yourself too many questions about how it looks. If you're drawn to it- you grab it.

Or I do, at least.

This mu-mu, as my mom calls it has been at the thrift store for a while and today, I just couldn't leave without it.

It's fairly small, really- but a mu-mu, still. I can't help but be drawn to the giant pink and purple flowers against rich green and bright turquoise.

I belted it to give it a little structure and I think I would actually wear this this fall either with the boots I have on here or some other heeled shoe.

Should I crop it? Make it a blouse? Use it as a rag? I love some opinions. And don't be shy- I only paid a quarter.

Playing dress up- BB Dakota Blazer and shiny shirt

My real outfit today will be...uh...lets just say, not worthy of blogging about. It's quite cold out, and I am doing an obscene amount of laundry, baking, and other menial tasks you wouldn't care about. (trust me)

But I caught some inspiration, and I couldn't resist playing a bit.


The blazer was bought last year at Macys, when I realized how much I'd missed an old velvet blazer I used to own. I got it on sale, for about $70. It's BB Dakota, and it's delectable. I love the cut of it, the buttons, and the soft, heavy feel of the velvet.

The leggings are crap- but I can't find my good ones right now. The shirt was cheaply thrifted a few weeks ago for a quarter. The shoes are BCBG, and handed down to me from my sister in law. :) The hair....let me just say that yes, I DO brush it sometimes. Just not today.

Sundays outfit- Vintage blazer and white blouse

Continuing on with my weekend reminiscence, here's Sundays outfit.

I got this blazer on my crazed trip to the Salvation Army last week, where I spent an astounding $32!!! ACK!!! I couldn't help it- there was too much goodness. You'll see...eventually.



I got this BEAUTIFUL white blouse at a consignment store for $15, and I adore it. It is perfect. I paired it with jeans, threw on this wonderfully tweedy blazer (which seems QUITE old, actually, though in perfect condition), and wore wine-colored patent leather t-straps.

Very classic, I think.

Saturdays outfit- Navy velvet blazer and cardigan

I had no chance to do pictures this weekend, so I sort of mocked up the outfits this morning. Unfortunately, the good camera is with my husband today, so, I had to take what I could get. 90% of the shots are blurry. Ugh.

Saturday was nice- a kids' fair-thing at the park with lots of activities and fun stuff for the twirps. I wore a thrifted navy blue velvet blazer I got last week at the Salvation Army. I love this blazer! It's totally devoid of embellishment- not a button or a pocket to obscure its rich-velvety blue-ness.


I chose a bright yellow shirt and a new grey and white striped cardigan by Kersh (it's from Costco), over my go-to jeans. I actually wore clogs on Saturday, but today I tried it with my red Ferragamos.

Todays outfit- Free People blouse and boots

My friend Fajer came over last night and gave me this AMAZING blouse by Free People! Photos do not capture its cuteness, I don't think. I have so many ideas of how to wear it, but today I kept it simple- after all, this day will mostly consist of extra children, a visit from the chimney sweep and cleaning grout.

So, Free People blouse, denim leggings from eBay, thrifted J Crew boots.


The back is my favorite part!

Todays outfit- long busy day

I am so used to being a stay-at-home mom, that when I have a full day of things going on, I sort of pout. I was looking forward to putting together something really fun today to blog about, but I really just needed to get dressed and ready for picking up the kids at school, taking them to the dentist, buzzing around town, then off to my 5 hour art class this evening.

So, I kept it simple.

My new jeans, my shiny oxfords, a Boden sweater I bought at Consignment store, and a black belt. It's sort of ho-hum, but I look put together, at least. And I'm comfortable. I let my hair be fun, at least- doing the pinned-up braid thing. This style makes me happy.



Ok- I have 2 more planar analysis drawings to do, 4 sustained gesture drawings, 2 proportional sketches to do out of my textbook AND 3 still lives to complete before 5:30 this evening, and I have to drive 20 minute up to the kids school, down the hill 45 minutes to the dentist appt., which will be an hour at least, then get the kids off with mom. When will I get these done? AHHHHH!!!Maybe when I stop blogging!

Todays outfit- Purple dress and denim jacket

Big mistake on outfit planning today.

In normal California fashion, the weather switched from hot summer to cold autumn today. As though someone snapped their fingers! Bam! Freezing!!

I thought wearing a long sleeved dress and a denim jacket would be fine! But I froze on a field trip to Apple Hill. This after weeks of complaining about the inability to wear my new(read: thrifted)blazers and pants. I totally could have rocked something had I know it would have been that cold!!!


Oh well. The dress is thrifted (duh), but I know for a fact its from Marketplace India, a wonderful site that's sales directly benefit women in India. I love the clothes they have- and though, thrifting one of their pieces, doesn't really help anyone except me, it does make me want to purchase more directly from them. They have some really cool dresses and blouses.

Thrifted denim jacket, cheapie Wal Mart gladiators. Freaking freezing cold outside- I'm going in now to wear something sensible. I wish I had a Snuggy. (no- I don't, actually.)

Todays Outfit- Tank and shorts

Please PLEASE tell me summers over? Please-no more hot days? I can't bear it anymore.

I'm TOTALLY bored with my summer clothes.Todays ensemble was created around a day consisting of food shopping and other errands.

The top is from a clothing swap we did at an Equinox celebration- it was actually my friend Angela's, previously. The shorts were thrifted earlier this summer and the flats came from my mom (she wasn't wearing them!).

New Jeans

I've been searching and searching thrift stores for good jeans and have com up short. Some times, you have to just put aside some money and actually buy. So, I planned a massive jean shopping trip with some friends to try on a myriad of them. Before that happened I found these Calvin Klein's at Costco for $24.99 and took a chance on them.

I'm pretty happy I did- they fit great and don't bug me one bit! Most jeans bother my waist- which is, after three ginormous pregnancies, quite squishy and sensitive. I hate stretch jeans, since they seem to walk off of you as you walk. Or at least thats what happens to me- probably a result of having no actual hips to hang on to.


These work! It was hot last night, so I wore a tiny-striped top I thrifted months ago, and tall white wedges. The scarf was an after-thought- and later, got wrapped around itself more like a belt. The scarf is thrifted also. Sorry about the picture- it totally sucks. I was rushing out the door, and this is all I could get.

Here's a better shot of my necklace that I made:

Todays outfit- Neon silk and cropped jeans

No post yesterday? What a slacker I am. Trust me- I was pretty much in my running clothes all day with no makeup- yuck.

But today...such glorious possibilities!!! I'm going to attempt to sell some things to a consignment store in hopes of getting some good fall basics. I really need some nice blouses, as well as a good pair of jeans and some other pants. I hope they are buying today!!!


I'm wearing my newly thrifted neon silk blouse with my cheapie distressed jeans from TJ Maxx and Anne Klein sandals. This blouse rocks- it feels like wearing nothing!!

Scarlet insisited on being in the shot- which is fine with me because I love her little smug face.

Todays outfit- denim dress

Dress from JC Penney's American Living line, bought last year? Not current trend by anymeans, but I feel pretty in it and I like the detail in the front. It's made very well! Thirfted black belt, Anne Klein gladiator heels.

Gotta go to class! Sorry for rushing!! Off to sketch!

Weekly thift store trip!

My actual outfit today was sort of utilitarian because I was lead mom for the preschool co-op. This meant lots of moving around, lots of standing, the serious possibility of a paint apocalypse, etc. I didn't wear anything too notable, though, I had my normal bit of flair, I suppose.



Afterwards I went to my secret thrift store up here in no-man's land, and though I only had $2.67, I managed to put an outfit together, as well as get a shiny tank top, a great vintage blazer, some Gymboree leggings (which are a very good thing- fellow moms will understand) and a horrible looking plastic horse for Scarlet.

I was short by more than a dollar, and was about to put a few things back when the store owner said, "You're here every week, and you always take the stuff no one else wants- just take 'em." So I did!!!



I love, LOVE this neon pink silk blouse. It's wrinkly right now, but I'll fix it, I promise. I can't wait to mix this one with other things! Maybe leopard print pants? For sure jeans!!!


The skirt is wool, Evan Piccone. I love it- very classic. The shoes are the BCBG heels my sister in law gave me.

Editing to add shot of the red blazer I got today- which is a tad big, but it's great, regardless.

Todays outfit- Teaching outfit #2

Another day of art lessons at the kid's school! So tiring, yet so awesome. I was glad to be in flats this time!

I wore my favorite blouse- I got it on clearance at TJ Maxx or $3. The tag says Persaman New York. It's cut well and it's linen, and its very soft. It's got this braid detail on front and back.


I wore my fave denim pencil skirt from J Jill (about $19 on clearance), and my thrifted Ferragamo flats. Simple outfit, but effective.

More clothing karma!!!

Last night at an Equinox celebration, the women from our community did a massive clothing swap. I didn't expect to get anything myself- but I did donate a huge basket of stuff. I figured I had so much I'd thrifted and not used, I'd pass them on. I sifted through the piles and found a few things, but was trying to be extremely picky, so as not to get greedy!

My hands landed of cotton rayon...black....a leg? With ties at the ankle? I pulled until the rest came out. High waist? Gathering at the hips...could these be...Harem pants? In MY size?


I scored. (and what a classic weird-Carolyn face I'm making, lol!)

And I last week I found this scarf I'd been missing in the dress up bin at out preschool co-op. (oops!) So, I paired it with the pants for a super cool outfit on an unfortunately warm day.

I can't wait to try these pants with heels or a long sleeve blouse I don't own yet. And the scarf...I'll have to Google some instructions on how all you ladies do the scarf thing. I only know how to wrap it on my head, or tie it at the neck.


I love the top of these pants, but can't remember the term that describes this style? The v-front? What is it called? I LOVED it in 1990- had lots, and lots of skirts with this. (where are they now?)

Layers of Fall!

Remember when I posted pictures of what I liked in H&M's fall catalog? I tried to re-create one of the looks, or at least do an inspired outfit from one of the shots, this one to be exact:



These are all things I've had for a while- and really, nothing was thrifted. The sweater is 3 years old, the dress a year, the tights are really, really old. I bought them in college for harsh NY winters! (I went to college in Nyack, NY) The shoes are the sandals I've been wearing all week from my sis-in-law. The jacket- my niece gave me last week- she'd never worn it. The belt I wear everyday. :)



Please excuse my horrible modeling faces- I really shouldn't try so hard! There goes THAT career! lol (don't worry, I'm not delusional)