November Purchases

I’ve spent all of my 2015 budget (and a little more). December is for shopping for other people, anyway. (Except a quick trip to the thrift store for myself . . . )

Express

Now that I’m 40, I plan to wear way more stretchy pants.

1. Moto zip accent scuba legging, $69.90.
2. Mesh inset leggings, $19.90.


TJ Maxx

3. Steve Madden forest and tan handbag, $39.99 - $50.00 gift card = free!
4. Passport plaid shirt, $14.99 - remaining $10.01 on gift card = $4.98.


J Crew

5. Excursion quilted vest in navy/ivory buffalo check, $138.00. This item has since (of course) gone on sale, but I didn’t want to chance this colorway selling out while I awaited a discount.


Crossroads

6. Salt Valley shirt in red/black buffalo check, $16.50.
7. BCBG Max Azria leather jacket, $30.00


November total: $279.28

Total spending for the year: $1859.09

Remaining 2015 budget: -$86.09.

Star Wars Is Coming

We have 18 days until Star Wars Episode VII is released. Who’s excited?!


Blazer, James Jeans. Tee, Disney. Skirt, Ann Taylor (thrifted). Stockings, Me Moi. Boots, Lauren Ralph Lauren. Sunglasses, Coco Sunglasses. Furry collar, gift. Bag, vintage.

Fall Palate

What are your favorite fall tastes? I love cranberry anything, nuts, and rosemary. I know that Thanksgiving will deliver on all my favorite autumn flavors (especially since I’m making it).


Jacket, BCBG Max Azria (consignment). Dress, Jovovich Hawk for Target. Leggings, Express. Boots, Sam Edelman. Sunglasses, Charming Charlie. Earrings, vintage. Scarf, Frangi. Purse, Steve Madden.

Camouflaged

Can you find me? I’m blending with the greens and grays of the American River in its rainy season. I suppose the pink hair may give me away.


Sweater, Joseph (thrifted). Skirt, Madewell. Boots, Miz Mooz. Sunglasses and earrings, Charming Charlie. Jacket (pictured below), BCBG Max Azria (consignment). Bag, Steve Madden.

40 B4 40: Old Timey Photos

I love pretending I’m someone else. I’ve stepped outside myself by reading novels, acting in plays, or simply getting lost in my imagination. It isn’t so much a dissatisfaction with my own life as a dissatisfaction with the fact that we are given but one life. We can choose our path, but are confined by time and circumstance. When I get a chance to pretend otherwise, I feel like I’ve cheated the system.

It’s even better when I’ve got “proof” of my alternate life, like a photo. As a nine-year-old, my parents consented to my sisters' and my pleading for an old-timey photo at a booth in the mall. Finally, evidence that I’m not only a child of the 1980’s.


Maybe I’m also a child of the 1880’s?
It seems that every historic tourist trap offers the chance to pretend one was a part of that history with dress-up clothes and a sepia toned photograph. Ever since that childhood photo, I’ve stop to inspect the pictures displayed outside these studios and must be torn away by my companions. My friends never seem as enamoured with the old timey photo as I am. I’m picking my outfit and planning my poses but they are more interested in lunch. I’m ready to escape into fantasy and they are firmly rooted in the here and now. Eager to please, I abandon my dreams and return to reality.

Since, at 40, I imagined my dreams to be forever abandoned, I added “old timey photo of our family” to my 40 B4 40 list. Making the list public not only gave me impetus to complete all forty adventures, it also guilted Beefy (who hates being photographed) into participating in my Gold Rush fantasy. (Well, it was either the guilt or the shots of whisky. Either way, Beefy agreed to play outlaw to my saloon girl.)


I like to think that Beefy had as much fun pretending as I did.

Sidesgiving

I don’t eat meat, but I don’t mind cooking a turkey for Beefy and the dogs for Thanksgiving. (I hope this doesn’t make my dogs sound hopelessly spoiled. I usually cook them a chicken each week and use the meat as training treats. While I find chicken totally disgusting, I like knowing exactly what I’m feeding my pups. Beefy, however, IS hopelessly spoiled.) Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a happy hippie turkey at Raley’s, so we’re doing Sidesgiving: all sides, no turkey. As a consolation prize, I bought the dogs a pack of turkey hearts and gizzards.


Sweater, Banana Republic (thrifted and gifted). Scarf, Canvas Boutique. Tee, Mossimo. Overall dress, Hydraulic Denim (thrifted). Boots, Vince Camuto.

I’ll probably be wearing something very like this on Thanksgiving: leggings and loose layers. Because, even if it’s just sides, we plan to do some EATIN’!

Fancy Jack

I don’t know how to describe this outfit. I’m going with Friday night lumberjack.


Shirt, Salt Valley (consignment). Skirt, Mural (consignment). Tights, Me Moi. Boots, Sam Edelman. Sunglasses, Meow Meow. Necklace, Banana Republic (gift). Bag, vintage.

Lady in Leather

When I bought this dress, I thought I’d wear it much more than I actually have. I like the leather insets and the color and it’s really comfortable, but I don’t think it’s very flattering. Am I crazy?


Dress, Bebe. Shirt (cut from a swapped dress), INC. Boots, Miz Mooz. Sunglasses, Coco Sunglasses. Bag, Imoshion. Earrings, vintage.


Past wearings of this dress:


I think I like it best with something layered on top - even though that obscures some of the leather inset.

Business Sweatpants

The deformalization of American dress is met with general outcry. But I can’t really get upset about silk sweatpants at work. It’s luxe AND comfortable.


Jacket, James Jeans. Shirt, Jones New York (thrifted). Pants, Lauren Ralph Lauren. Boots, Joe’s. Sunglasses, Coco Sunglasses. Earrings, Stardust Remembered. Bag, Steve Madden.