Ready in 15

I had 15 minutes to go from dog-running-sweaty to fancy-waffle-ready. I applied deodorant, mascara, and lipstick. I hid my greasy hair with a hat and my puffy eyes with sunglasses. I hoped that a poncho would disguise my lounge-ready layers beneath. Then, I forgot about my appearance (and smell?) and just enjoyed fancy waffles with my friend.


Hat, Nine West. Sunglasses, Coco Sunglasses. Poncho, thrifted. Tee, Mossimo. Shorts, Free People (thrifted). Boots, Matisse.

Dogwalk to Sidewalk

I look completely unpresentable after agility. I treat Jasper with chicken and wipe my greasy hands on the utility vest I wear for class. Still, my fingers retain a film that attracts dirt from the dusty arena. It takes all my discipline not to brush hair from my eyes and inadvertently smear the dirt and grease across my face and in my hair. The dirt coats my shoes and sticks to my jeans when I kneel or squat to give Jasper attention. To quote my friend, Lauren, I look “totally homeless” by the time class concludes.

Usually, this isn’t an issue since I go from agility to bed (sometimes changing, first), but there is the rare occasion when class is held in the daytime and I might like to go somewhere afterwards. For this transition, I changed footwear and threw a nice poncho over my jeans and hoodie. I dusted off the jeans and stashed the greasy utility vest in my trunk. I won’t win any style awards, but I look like I at least tried to be presentable.


Poncho, Christopher & Banks (gift). Hoodie and tee, Mossimo. Jeans, Old Navy. Booties, Blondo. Sunglasses, Earthbound Trading Co. Bag, Steve Madden.


For those unfamiliar with the sport of dog agility, the green thing in the background of the below picture is a “dogwalk:”

The Things We Do

Another basketball game, another lame attempt at wearing some purple. These are the things we do for those, we love. Watching sports is a supreme form of torture for me. However, I was pleased to find Otra Vez on tap at the new arena. And there were baby races during a time out.


Poncho, Aziza. Denim shirt, Mossimo. Tunic, Rachel Roy (consignment). Boots, Style & Co (thrifted). Bag, Rebecca Minkoff.
The walk to and from the lightrail was cold (for Sacramento), so I pushed the poncho into a giant scarf and wore a down-filled jacket over my outfit.

Sudden Drop

After all the poncho talk on Tuesday (and looking at poncho pics on Pinterest), I couldn’t wait to try a double turtleneck look with my striped top and gray poncho today. (P.S. As of year 11, all of my outfits are on Pinterest, too!)

I’m thankful for a sudden drop in temperatures that has made outfits like this wearable in Sacramento. (Although I wasn’t too excited about the plunge at Thursday night swim practice.)


Poncho, thrifted. Turtleneck, Gap (swap). Jeans, Old Navy. Boots, Ariat. Sunglasses, Earthbound Trading Co. Earrings, Rose Bowl flea market. Bag, vintage.


P.P.S. I went thrifting today! I’ll tell you all about it, tomorrow. (The snapchat has already expired.)

Wear a Poncho

Winter is coming and, with it, all the eatin’ holidays. We’ll kick off the season of gluttony with Thanksgiving. Soon after, offices fill with treats: homemade fudge, peanut brittle, peppermint bark. You’ll “win” that giant bucket with three types of popcorn at a gift exchange. Time off for the holidays means time for grazing on the leftover ham in the fridge, chocolates from your aunt, and cookies from the cookie exchange you didn’t really want to attend. We’ll all go on diets January 1st, but, if you want to look good in the meantime, you need a plan to conceal the growing food baby. My recommendation: the poncho.

Whatever you call it, a cape, a ruana, or a poncho, draping your upper body in swaths of fabric is both elegant and practical. You’ll make a statement as you swirl in from the frosty outdoors and every gesture is magnified by dramatic drape. The loose fit balanced with a warm fabrication is the perfect solution for inconsistent indoor heating. Just use caution when reaching for the cheese dip.

The Basics
I love ponchos, but they can go all wrong if they aren’t styled just right. Consider the following guidelines when dressing for a poncho.

Bottoms. Unless you’re a fan of lagenlook, you’ll want to balance the volume of a poncho on top with less volume on the bottom. Skinny jeans (or their food-baby-friendly cousin, leggings) are the obvious option. I also love a mini-skirt with tights or leggings. For the truly daring, try shorts and tights. Add a pair of knee-high boots and you’ve got a trendy, seasonal outfit. The goal is to clearly delineate the legs. Wide-legged pants or long skirts are tricky to wear with a poncho unless you’re tall and slender.


Bags. Once upon a time, I thought the only bag to carry with a poncho was a clutch. With a clutch, there are no straps to interrupt the drape of fabric. However, a crossbody bag can be very flattering as the strap highlights the shape beneath the poncho. I’ve tried both a shoulder bag and a tote with a poncho and they were terribly inconvenient and ruined the look of the outfit. A top-handle bag works, but can be annoying if the bag is heavy and you have far to carry it.


Outerwear. In most of California, we can get away with just a poncho as outerwear, but, when I lived in Ohio, I needed another layer. Coats, with their tricky sleeves, can be difficult to wear over a poncho. If the poncho is thin enough, I push all the fabric up to my neck and then most of it down my chest like a giant infinity scarf. Then, I can get my arms in the coat sleeves, but sometimes can’t fasten the front. The best outerwear option I’ve tried is a cape over the poncho. It isn’t the warmest solution, as icy winds can easily find their way into a cape, but suitable for a short trip. In the future, I may try layering a puffy vest under the poncho for wintry excursions. Or just never go outside if it’s really cold.


The Extras
Granted, there are a few pesky “rules” to wearing a poncho, but, besides the beauty and elegance of a poncho, there are also a few special styling moves you can only make with a poncho.

Necklines.A poncho gives you a chance to do some interesting layering at the neckline. Consider a cowl neck sweater exposed by the wide neck opening of a poncho. Try double turtlenecks. How about a preppy collar peeking out of a rustic drape? One of my favorite neckline combinations was the hood of a sweatshirt emerging from a wide-necked poncho.


Jewelry. The vast expanse of a poncho is the perfect setting for a statement necklace. I also like the 70’s vibe of long, beaded earrings dusting poncho-covered shoulders.


Legs. You’ve all heard the rule that if the boobs are out, the legs are put away, right? Don a poncho and it’s time to bring the legs out. A poncho is a conservative top, so it gives you license to wear a shorter skirt or higher heels (or both). If you love your legs, a poncho is a great excuse to flaunt them.


Ponchos are one of the oldest and simplest garments. This is the time of year to take advantage of their easy grace. And they also make a great gift since they’re usually “one size fits all.”

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

Rainy Day Curls

When rain is in the forecast, I either reach for the curling iron or a hat. Sleek, straight hair is an impossibility when a storm front moves in.


Poncho, Aziza. Shirt, Jones New York (thrifted). Skirt, Bass (thrifted). Boots, Steve Madden. Earrings, Stardust Remembered. Bag, Rebecca Minkoff.


I can’t complain about the rain. We need it, and we had beautiful weather for the weekend!


My volunteer group took ten kids to Point Reyes on Saturday. Some of them had never been to the ocean before!


Beefy and I took a photography class on Sunday. Afterwards, I played “model.”


Do I really need an excuse for curls?