It's All Disappearing

 I hesitate to share these photos of my new teddy coat, because I'm not sure you will even be able to find one as a gift or for yourself at this late date in the Christmas shopping season.

The best items are all being grabbed up and are disappearing from both brick and mortar as well as online shops.

I won't post a link to this coat because by tomorrow it will have sold out anyway.

Google 'Teddy Coat' if your need one in your wardrobe.

 Mine was on sale at H&M for $25, and they did have some in store for $15 that were cut longer, more like a coat than a jacket style which is what I bought.

 I waited over a month to finally choose one, which is par for me... I never make a purchase in a hurry, which sometimes means that I miss out. 

 Teddy coats and faux leopard fur coats are all the rage this year, but I purchased two leopard coats online to see which I liked best, and both made me look like an elephant trying to disguise itself as a leopard.  I sent both coats back. They simply were not attractive on my ever expanding figure, but the teddy coat is here to stay.

I simply added an old leopard scarf that I had, and it was enough leopard look for me.

I guess the leopard coats made me feel as if I was a bit too dressy also.

I'm more of a casual girl, pairing the coat with an off white sweater, black stretch slacks, my tan suede boots, a leather hat and of course the scarf.

We should always dress true to who we are and not try to be what other blogs show us we should look like.

At age 63, I'm simply too old to be led around by the fashion industry, but instead choose to take bits and pieces of the fashion they offer and use it in my own way.

So long kitty kitty kitty coats!

Hello Teddy!!

Quilting

 Yesterday's post was about a quilted vest I purchased, and I mentioned that I had also gotten a pink quilted vest.

First let me say that these are not made for winter outdoor weather.  These are indoor weight with no extra insulation, almost an accessory clothing item to be worn indoors.

 The outdoor weight quilted vests sometimes have hoods, are of a longer length, and filled with down or a polyester filling.

 Expect to pay quite a bit more for outdoor vests.

 I wore pink a lot back in the 90's, but I fell away from that habit when someone I cared about made a comment about it. These days I am much older and more in tune with myself and who I am AND don't allow others to influence my fashion choices.  

LOOK!  

I even bought a pink hat a couple of months ago.

SO....

pink vest at Steinmart,

pink hat at Wal-Mart,

white sweater at Penelope's.

It's a lazy day, so I'm wearing my cozy Cuddledud pants,

gold hoop earrings that I've had for many years,

and MAC lipstick in the Liptensity formula in the color Eros.

Merry Christmas!

Re-Cycling Fashion

 I'm crying on the inside this year because I have gained so much weight, something of course that happens to so many of us as we suffer through our menopausal and post-menopausal years.

It sucks.

Plain and simple.

It just totally sucks to have to lose one figure.

 So, I was determined to still dress in a December holiday fashion, but not spend much money on my

December clothing. I mean... who wants to buy fat figure clothes.

NOT ME!

If you have lived with weight issues for a long time and it does not bother you, then more power to you.

Frankly me dear... I detest the look on myself.

 What I've done this year is worn the same black stretchy pants, the same red truck sweater from last year over a black and blue buffalo checked blouse, my same old black leather boots, same leather hat,

and only made one purchase to update the look.

 And that would be a lightweight quilted vest.

 I searched everywhere online and all of the selections that I liked were on sale, but even the sale price brought them to nearly $100.

I headed to Steinmart where the prices are always much lower than the large department store with the big name fashion brands, and I paid a great sale price of about $28.00 for this in a pearly white.

 The vest updates the look just enough to make me feel as though I am not re-cycling the sweater and shirt, and gives it just the right amount of updating to keep me happy.

Vest: Peck and Peck brand on sale right now!

I also purchased this one on sale right now!

Lipstick: All Fired Up in Retro Matte by MAC

Fashion Sense and Nonsense

 

 Hi.

It's me.

That blogger that says it like it is and upsets people with my brutal honesty.

Some days I don't have a lot of filter to my words,

but somebody out here in Blogland has to keep ya'll in line so that others know not to be jealous of another bloggers life due to their always pretty photos and stories.

Don't you realize that you may be making money from your blog at the expense of other people who have low self esteem and feel they will never have what you have or have a perfect life like you do?

You should be ashamed of yourselves.

LOL

Oh jeez.... let them eat cake, right?

LOL

 

So, here I am posting another pretty, perfect, photo of myself in my off the shoulder top with my $500 handbag

and over the knee boots, the latest new look for fall that everyone needs.

LOL

Just kidding all you fashion bloggers.

What I am actually wearing is a $12.99 straw fedora hat from  TJ Maxx from early on this summer,

a white blouse from Stein Mart at $39.99

and a pair of embroidered jeans in the Peck and Peck brand also from Stein Mart for $49.00

with an elastic waist for us fatties.

I seem to have lost my flip flops this week due to temperatures in the upper 80's

which we hope to see gone by tomorrow,

But bare feet are the newest fashion statement from New York Fashion Week!!

 I won't tell you that I am wearing a size 4, because you'd actually have to add the number 10 to that.... 

a 14 to be exact,

and it's all because I ate a whole lot of coconut cream cake last week.

Sorry, but not sorry.

It was deeee licious!

 So this week I'm taking care of that little size 14 waist by stuffing peppers and eating them three times a day.

Life just gets ugly sometimes when it comes to weight issues, so I actually stopped weighing my self a year ago.

I mean... who give a rat's, right? 

 Between slices of cake I have been buying fall items for the porch.

Sometimes I sit on said porch with a piece of cake in one hand and a fork in the other

and I sigh...

because it's FALL YA'LL.

Thanks for reading

from your least favorite fashion blogger!

Jessica Simpson

 Oh ho hum.  I guess it's time for a fashion post since it's been FOREVER since I've done one.

First, let me stand up and show you what I am wearing.

 My husband is out mowing the lawn, so it's rather noisy out here..... but the sunlight was better here on the porch than indoors today.  The drapes are drawn to help keep the heat outside, because it is August after all, and the heat and humidity are quite the bummer.... so let's get this fashion shoot done so I can head back indoors to the chill of the air conditioning.

 I'm wearing a long shirt, or short dress... some sort of smocky, lightweight comfy apparel in the Jessica Simpson brand from Belks.  It was marked down or it would never have come home with me at the original price.

 The black stretchy, light fabric leggings in black have been in my closet for years, but they come in handy for wearing under shirts such as this, that don't quite know if they are a shirt or a dress.  

Shoes/clogs are of a soft leather by Ariat.  They are super comfortable.  I also have them in brown.

 My sunglasses are from the optometrist office since they had to have prescription lenses.  Sometimes I see great looking sunglasses that I would love to wear in funky looks, but my prescription keeps me in this pair...

Thanks for stopping by today.... now excuse me while I go grab a glass of iced tea and cool off.

Let's Dine In The Basement

It's a wee bit dreary outdoors today, and actually that stonework is wet with rain.... I took this photo a few days ago, before our 60 something weather, and now this rainy weather arrived.

Winter can be just the dreariest time of year and if you aren't careful the doldrums will set in.

So I decided to add a bit of color to my day with what I was wearing, and I grabbed my pink and gray blanket scarf....because bright pinks cheer me.... not that soft pink that the color choosers in the fashion world decided we should all use this year... that little girl baby pink.... but a HOT pink.

I'd left the scarf in my office, and I decided it would look great with my new hot pink jacket that I found at a great clearance price at our local Penelope store.

They have much higher prices than I normally pay for my clothing, so finding a hot pink jacket on clearance, that I had noticed in December at full price, was a high five moment for me.

Once I had put my outfit together I headed downstairs.. yes, my dining room furniture is in the basement due to this house not having an actual dining room, but we didn't want to get rid of the dining set since who knows what our next home will be like.... should we ever decide to move again.

Hey!  It COULD happen someday, and dining room sets are quite pricey.

 So, here I am in the outfit I chose, and Isabelle is determined to sniff the new jacket, just in case anyone dangerous tried it on before me.

OH... and a very very rare photo of me without my hat on.

 Leather crushable hat by Minnetonka

Gray turtleneck sweater from Macy's

Longline pink jacket from Penelopes

Torn denim jeans from Macy's

Black Suede Boots (old) from my closet

Blanket Scarf from Penelopes

This was a fun outfit that brightened my day, although the high heeled boots came off immediately after the photo.  I can't walk in high heels anymore without my feet hurting.

BUT, they sure were awesome when I bought them some years ago!

Have fun with some bright color to cheer you during these gray winter days.

OH!! And happy February!!

January Thoughts

January.  It's cold.  It keeps me indoors with lots of time on my hands to think, ponder, dream, and wish I were somewhere warmer.  No plans to travel, so I'll just sit here and ponder instead.

I've been pondering these things.

This sofa on Houzz.

So tired of all the bland house photos with whites, grays and no personality.

Guess I'm old...

Give me color!!

*photo source Houzz*

J's cute outfit, but unfortunately the blazer is sold out in my size.

Love this LOOK with it's clean lines and ease of wear.

This fun t-shirt.  

AND a fun sweatshirt too!

*image source*

*image source*

Eating another bowl of thai cabbage soup leftover from last night.
YES it was homemade and I'll post the recipe soon!

Downloading this CD even though I won't listen to it until next Christmas.
It just sounds so pretty!

The impending snowstorm!
Yes... it's on the way!!

Enjoy your chilly January Day!
XOX

A Light Snow

 Yesterday, January 17th, was our first snow of this winter's season.

Not much, but enough to warn us that even more could lie in the weeks ahead.

Today it is FRIGID COLD outside so you can bet that I won't be running outdoors to snap any fashion photos.... and the snow is gone today, but I so enjoyed seeing it yesterday!

Here are a few photos I snapped yesterday as the snow was still falling... you'll notice that in some of these photos.

References as to the fashion items I am wearing can be found at the bottom of this post.

Stay inside!

Stay warm!

This calls for hot cocoa or buttered rum by the fireplace!

 Jacket: Columbia brand from Gander Mountain (old) (sim)

Turtle Neck: Belks (sim)

Pants: Ponte pants at Macy's

 Hat: Fold Up Leather Hat from Minnetonka at The Leatherhaus in our local mall but available online

Boots: Bear Paws from Macy's last year (sim)

Necklace: Local Penelope store (OOAK) (sim)

Blanket Scarf: Penelope (sim)

Earrings: Gold Hoops (old) (sim) 

Lipstick: Mac Pink Pigeon Matte 

December Layers

So, what does a 61 year old retired lady, living in the countryside of Virginia really wear on a day to day basis around the house?

 It looks sort of like this, this time of the year... no big brand names, just this and that pulled from my closet with a number one commonality.

Each item must be comfortable.

One year old ponte pants that have a ton of stretch.  (I own three pair by the way)

An old faded chambray button down shirt.

Husband's old faded and shrunk up black crew neck sweatshirt. (He shares with me)

Last year's fur scarf purchased on clearance.

Clarks brand booties that both tie and have a side zipper for my high instep foot.

A gold runway watch by Michael Kors purchased a few years ago.

AND

my new black crushable Minnetonka leather hat.

 Once the house finally warms up for the day, off comes the fur scarf,

 and the necklace given to me last Christmas by a friend becomes the center of attention.

Nothing fancy on a cold, rainy winter day here in the country;

just simple comfort and layering, which is a must as the day goes from cold and damp, to warm and sticky, back to the chill of the day at sundown.

And THAT, my friends, is how we do it in the mountains of Virginia.