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

What Mama Can't Afford

 Praise be to the porch!

The fabulous October PORCH!!

Yippee Kai YAY PORCH!

 So I purchased a few smaller sized pumpkins for the screened porch.

We don't have a lot of 'color changing' trees on our property.

They are mostly piney type trees that don't change like deciduous trees do, so the pumpkins are my fall color from our somewhat like tree house screened porch off the back of our kitchen.

 Did you know that when we sit on this porch that we are at the level of birds flying past?

We see cardinals and bluejays go zipping past us and last month the humming birds were even peeking in through our screens.

Such nosey but lovely little creatures and they make us laugh.

 Along with the pumpkins I had two potted mums on the porch, but today they are planted in the pots on the lower level back patio.  Hopefully they will do well there in REAL flower pots instead of the plastic containers they came in which had them root bound.

 Another benefit to the porch and deck area are that these two have access by a doggie door to be shaded inside the porch, or had through their flapped doggie door to sunbathe.  This month, with it's cooler temperatures, they seem to enjoy sunbathing during the morning hours, and come evenings they move inside and sleep on the dog bed until it's time to come inside for t he night.  Spoiled could definitely be the word to describe them.

 A katie did has been hanging out on the outside of the porch.

She's there on a daily basis.

 October wardrobe with plaids has definitely kicked into  high gear for me, layering is definitely the answer.

AND, red plaid is totally da bomb and makes me feel pretty darned cheery.

 Blouse is Kasper brand from Steinmart at $39.99

Scarf from last year and I still love it as much as the day I purchased it.

The leggings are the Suave brand, also from Steinmart at $29.99,  and they are sold out.

Try these instead.

AND.... still no shoes.

Mama can't afford them.  LOL

Rooting Tooting Per Se Vest From Steinmart

 Lynne was curious about the vest which I was wearing in my last post.

It's called the Per Se and it's a khaki green

sold at Steinmart for $34.99.

I'm wearing a size Large, but if you can't find the size you need online, try your local store.

 Dress it up for running your weekly errands,

or dress it down for playing in the straw bales!

 Or just wear it around the house when you are picking your teeth with a whisp of straw.

It's all good fun.

I highly recommend this vest.

Fall Mustard Plaid

 I'm not generally a wearer of prints, or plaids for that matter, but when perusing the clothing at Steinmart over the week-end during one of  my cabin fever rages that are only cured by shopping, I came across a super neat plaid jacket.

 It has 3/4 sleeves which are usually a turn off for me, but after trying this jacket on I decided it was a keeper *a steal at $49.99* that I would definitely wear during this transitional time of the year when layering is a must for anyone living in a four season setting.

 I decided to pair it up with my black stretchy pants from Macys, of which I have three of four pairs, the Inc Brand.  Love them!

 Along with my old... really old....Naturalizer leather boots,

 and a black long sleeved shirt by Alfani at Macys, as well as the leather Minnetonka hat that I wear every day,

 and a few pieces of jewelry in gold, silver and brown to feminize it all,

 and I was set for the day and realized that I had totally made the right decision with this plaid jacket purchase. with it's black, gold/mustard, cream, brown and even a dash of purple/eggplant.

 At my wrist is my Michael Kors gold runway watch, a twist bracelet with gold, brown and other wooden beads,

and at my neck, a silver beaded necklace, my favorite gold charm necklace from the 1980's that every girl had hanging from her neck, back when gold was totally affordable, and also my favorite wooden necklace given to me by my sister from one of her business trips oh so very long ago.

*thanks, Sis!*

Now I was ready for the day, and dressing for it is something I do nearly every day,

because each and every day should be treated in a special way, especially since our two straight weeks of rain is now gone and the sun is once again shining from blue, clear skies.

Savor the sunny days.

Other great plaid coats

Nordstrom

American Eagle Outfitters

American Eagle Outfitters This was a men's jacket but I tried it on and LOVED it!

JC Penney Moto Jacket