Remembering the Great Piano Trip

Long time readers may remember The Great Piano Trip. In fall of 2010, Beefy and I drove an antique piano from Washington state to Ohio, taking the scenic route. Our path took us through Sacramento and we had no inkling that we would return there two years later (with the piano) to live. Today, we took pictures on the exact rock upon which I posed in October, 2010. (The piano stayed at home, this trip.)


Poncho, Newport News. Sweater, Worthington (thrifted). Jeans, Old Navy. Boots, Style & Co (thrifted). Sunglasses, Marc Jacobs. Earrings, Epcot Mexico. Bag, El Paso Saddleblanket Co.



Dare to compare:


Photos by Beefy Muchacho

Tenth Blogoversary

It’s my tenth blogoversary and I’m not quitting this outfit diary. Are you curious about what’s new in Year Eleven of WhatIWore2Day?


Shirt, Moda International. Skirt, Talbot’s. Shoes, Enzo Angiolini.

First of all, I’ve given up on replacing the green cardigan that I wore with this blouse and skirt in my very first outfit post (and the first four blogoversaries). After the sweater was ruined by dye transfer from a dark purple shirt, I attempted to replace it with three different green jackets and a denim vest for my later blogoversaries. This year, I just wore a nude camisole underneath and went topper-less. This is California, after all. We still see 80 degrees and higher in October.


Second, I’m embracing my natural hair color. It used to be dishwater blonde, but now it’s coming in silvery and I like it.


Last, I am trying Snapchat as a platform to show you behind the scenes, outfit details, and outfits in motion. My user name is whatiwore2day. (I’ll be honest, I’m still trying to figure it out, but Beefy is younger than I, so hopefully he’ll help.)


Here’s to another great year!

Pickle Suit

I’ve spent years of my life wearing green uniforms - first in the US Forest Service and then in the US Marine Corps. I guess I’m still not tired of olive drab.


Shirt, Banana Republic. Skirt, Talbots. Shoes, Enzo Angiolini. Sunglasses, Coco Sunglasses. Earrings, street fair. Bag, Aldo.


Today, I’m thinking of my time with the Forest Service in Juneau, Alaska. I’m wearing the Tlingit Raven and the Sun bracelet I bought that summer to support Beefy as he begins his Toastmasters Storytelling manual by telling How the Raven Stole the Sun, tonight.

Let's Dance

I’ve lived in ten different cities since leaving home for college and managed to find a ballet studio with adult classes in almost every one.

In Juneau, I biked into town to catch the last few classes of the season. In Phoenix, I performed in the studio’s production of Coppelia, en pointe. In Okinawa (Japan), the camp liaison called studios for me until we found one that would take an American, English-speaking, twenty-five year old student. (Most of the lesson was in the traditional French, but with odd pronunciations and the occasional Japanese word.)

So far, though, Sacramento has been a bust. I haven’t found an adult ballet class I like, yet. The first studio had scant parking. The second was all barre, no dance. I need to try a third.


Jacket, Mossimo. Dress, Donna Morgan (consignment). Shoes, Nine West. Sunglasses, Coco Sunglasses. Brooch, vintage. Bag, Aldo.


I started ballet, at age eighteen, with no prior dance experience. At twenty-two, I was excited to go en pointe with an adult class at Evergreen Dance Studio, in Longview, Washington. I went on to perform in toe shoes, twice, but much prefer soft slippers. Still, the pointe shoes are dramatic!

Kimono Me

When I was stationed in Japan, I collected furniture and china, but I wish I had thought to buy a kimono or two. Instead, I have this kimono-like jacket that I thrifted in Cincinnati.


Jacket, thrifted. Tee, Mossimo. Skirt, Ann Taylor (thrifted). Shoes, Seychelles. Sunglasses, Charming Charlie. Earrings, flea market. Bag, Aldo.


I did wear a kimono once: posing for a portrait with my mom during her visit to Okinawa.

Plus Ca Change

My first blog was a home and garden blog (emphasis on the “garden”). Newly transitioned to civilian life, living in a town where I knew no one, married to a man in law school, I spent all my free time digging in the yard, browsing nurseries or leafing through garden books. Eventually, I moved on to other hobbies: theatre, running, swimming, and socializing. Now, I have a whole new set of activities (but I still run and swim).

Wearing older pieces, like this blazer from the beginning of my style blog, prompts me to stop and reflect on how our lives change over the years (and how much I LOVE change).


Jacket, The Limited. Tee, American Apparel. Skirt, Victoria’s Secret. Pumps, Nine West. Sunglasses, Target. Earrings, Super Silver.

This tee is a souvenir from my second half marathon.


Hairstyes, like hobbies, change:


But I still like an animal print pencil skirt!
I haven’t totally abandoned gardening. I planted nasturtium along our walk and I support local farms with my bi-weekly box of organic produce. (You wouldn’t believe the volume of vegetables I consume! Sometimes, it feels like feeding an elephant.)