Rip Van Wrinklybutt

When I wear the knitted tube as a mini-dress and belt it, some odd above-the-buttocks and on-the-hip wrinkles develop if I don’t smooth them away. I’m afraid I didn’t keep up on my smoothing duties and, instead, paraded around with a wrinkly, elephant butt.


Jacket, H&M (thrifted). Blouse, Newport News. Dress, thrifted and gifted. Tights, Urban Outfitters. Shoes, Two Lips. Bag, Fossil. Necklace, heirloom.

The Replacement

I found a replacement for the sweater with the holey armpit. It’s not a sweater. In fact, it isn’t a top at all. I also didn’t thrift it, despite your encouragement, but it was on clearance on Target, so it was thrift-y. It’s not super practical, but I can think of lots of ways to remix it. Meet the replacement: a ruffled, leopard, miniskirt.


Sweater, Banana Republic (thrifted and gifted). Shirt, Jones New York (thrifted). Skirt, One Star. Tights, We Love Colors. Boots, Dan Post. Sunglasses, Girlprops. Necklace, Zad. Bag, Fossil (gift).

Kindness of Strangers

It was quite possible that I might have had a sad cat lady Thanksgiving: alone, cooking a turkey (or just a chicken) for my five kitties, while guzzling an entire bottle of wine. Instead, friends of my manager (and complete strangers to me), invited me to their family gathering. So I wasn’t alone, but I did drink (but not to excess) and my hostess sent me home with a turkey wing for the cats.


Jacket, H&M (thrifted). Dress, Muse (gift from a reader). Tights, unnamed brand from Madame Butterfly. Boots, Miz Mooz. Sunglasses, Girl Props. Earrings, Claire’s. Scarf, gift from Londyn. Bag, Fossil (gift).

Vista Point

How often do you pull over at the “Vista Points” along the highway? So often, I’m in a hurry or I just got on the road or I’m almost there or I am looking for food, not a view, and I pass on by.

I stopped at the view point north of the Benicia-Martinez bridge, hoping it would be suitable for outfit photos, and the scene made me giddy. I expected a view of the factories along the water, but I didn’t anticipate the mothball fleet anchored in the bay. This was a grand vista of rolling, golden hills surrounding shimmering water dotted with majestic battleships. The mostly cloudy sky permitted a few breaks for spotlights of sun to highlight portions of the scene. How could I not take my self-portraits here?


Jacket, H&M (thrifted). Dress, Mossimo. Shirt, Old Navy. Tights, Hue. Boots, Miz Mooz. Sunglasses, Target. Necklace, thrifted. Bag, Fossil (gift)

Unfortunately, my photos captured the grandeur of my outfit, rather than the grandeur of the scene. I’ll bring my wide angle lens along next time I have to drive to San Ramon.

Fresh Hose

I love busting out a brand new pair of tights! I bought this pair at Sock Dreams while vacationing in Oregon last May. They were worth the wait.


Kimono jacket, thrifted. Dress, thrifted, vintage, and shortened. Tights, B. Ella. Bag, Fossil (gift). Boots, Rampage. Earrings, Julie’s Inspiration. Sunglasses, Target. Rings, Black Hills Gold and Puzzrollrings.

Anon Hates These Leggings

Nearly every time I wear these leggings, Anonymous pops by to tell me she hates them. I happen to love them, so I wear them despite Anon’s distaste. But sometimes, as people stare at my legs, I wonder, “Am I blind to the hideousness of these leggings? Have I got some warped sense of beauty?” If I am, I’m in good company because the leggings got compliments everywhere I went today.


Jacket, H&M (thrifted). Long-sleeved tee, Jones New York (thrifted). Sweater tunic, Urban Vibe (swap). Leggings, Allen B. Boots, Dan Post. Hat, World Market (embellished by sewing on a broken brooch). Earrings, Claire’s. Necklace, Zad. Bag, thrifted.

Empty Train

I love that my job takes me past so many great photo locales each day. Today, I met with a customer in Woodland for the first time and nearly wrecked as I ogled empty trains, murals, and a quaint downtown. I settled on the empty train for my first Woodland pictures.


Sweater, Banana Republic (thrifted and gifted). Blouse, INC (thrifted). Dress, Muse (gift from a reader). Bag, Fossil (gift). Boots, Rampage. Earrings, vintage. Ring, Black Hills Gold.

There's a Hole in My Armpit, Dear Liza

When I chose this sweater for my November 30-for-30 capsule, I forgot that it had a hole in one armpit. Now I’m in a quandary, do I toss it now (and do a 29-for-30 capsule) or wait until the end of the month?


Sweater, Laura Leigh Ltd. Skirt, Ann Taylor (thrifted). Shoes, Two Lips. Scarf, thrifted. Bag, Fossil (gift). Earrings, Julie’s Inspiration. Sunglasses, Target.

And don’t tell me to “fix it, dear Henry.” It’s beyond hope! The silk knit has laddered from the hole and down the inside of the sleeve. Boo.

Paradise Beach

I happened upon Paradise Beach on the first of October. It’s a great place for pictures – scenic and quiet. But what really makes it “paradise” is all the dogs! This seems to be a favorite place for dog walking. I can’t wait to have a dog of my own to take to paradise.


Shirt, Mossimo (thrifted). Dress, Mossimo. Bag, Fossil (gift). Shoes, Two Lips. Earrings and sunglasses, Target. Necklace, VCLM. Bracelets, thrifted and vintage.

I don’t think my cats would enjoy a walk here.

YOLO

I had no idea that YOLO meant You Only Live Once until Beefy schooled me. I thought it was just the name of this wildlife area outside of Sacramento (today’s backdrop).


Shirt (actually a tunic), Wet Seal. Skirt, Talbot’s. Bag, Fossil (gift). Shoes, Two Lips. Earrings and sunglasses, Target. Bracelets, gift, vintage, and Tala’s Distant Treasures.

Yesterday, one of my customers said, “K-I-T.” I thought he was just spelling my last name. Turns out that means: “Keep in touch.” I’m forever out of touch with pop culture.

Sweat Skirt

My sweater-knit skirts may not be super flattering, but they are super warm and comfy! Several times today I stopped and just appreciated being comfortable in my clothing. This outfit was like wearing a sweatsuit. With stiletto heels.


Shirt, Old Navy. Skirt, Outlander (thrifted and gifted). Tights, Hue. Boots, Rampage. Necklace, thrifted. Bag, Fossil (gift). Ring, Black Hills Gold. Watch, Raymond Weil.



In totally unrelated* news, here are some pics I snapped of the kitties on Sunday when I should have been painting. They were lolling about on the carpet that is soon to be ripped out and replaced with tile. In the meantime, they are enjoying the giant scratching pad.


Regal Zoro


Roy takes a sunbath


Four kitties, one sunbeam! (Sam, Walt, Syd, and Roy)


Syd made it out to California and now we have five cats

*Well, not totally unrelated. They sorta match my outfit. And nobody knows comfort like a kitty.