Winter Wedding: The Last Few Finishes of 2012

All marriages are made in heaven. But then, so are thunder and lightning. –Craig Clyde

My youngest brother got married a couple of weeks ago to a very lovely girl. I used my new iPhone to snap a few photos after the ceremony. Don't they make a beautiful couple?

As a side note, doesn't my new sister-in-law have the most beautifully perfect hourglass figure? I mean seriously. And that dress? Amazing.

When they got engaged, I started thinking of ideas for quilts. I wanted to use some Asian fabrics from my stash, but it just wasn't working, so I decided to make something using Ellen's favorite colors, pink and green. I wanted to have at least the quilt top finished for her first shower and then get it quilted for her second shower, which was a week later. We kind of got snowed in and I didn't make it to the first shower {never mind that the top wasn't finished} and I was out-of-town for the second shower {top still not finished}. Then my plan was to finish it in time for the wedding. That didn't happen either.

You see, my brother and his then fiancée wanted all of their family members to dress in their wedding colors, honeydew melon green, robin's egg blue and grey. I knew I would never be able to find such springy colors in the dead of winter without much difficulty. The easiest course, or so I thought, was to make skirts and blouses for LadyBug and me. As the wedding got closer, I realized that I wasn't going to have time to finish everything while still maintaining my sanity. I re-evaluated what I could do and I decided that I'd finish the quilt and just make blouses for LadyBug and me. We could wear black skirts we already had. They were close enough. And then, with only three days until the wedding, the borders to finish quilting, the binding to put on, and not even a start on the blouses, I decided that LadyBug could wear a dress that she already had {which she was totally OK with; she's not that into new clothes and especially not anything that is girly or fancy}, the quilt could wait and I was going to make a blouse for myself to wear to the wedding.

It was probably a little bit of a selfish decision to make myself a blouse and not finish the quilt for the bride and groom, but when my youngest sister got married, I made vests for all the little boys and dresses for my sister and sister-in-law, but not for myself because I ran out of time. I felt out of place and kind of bad that I wasn't wearing something fun and new in the right colors and I didn't want to feel that way again.

If the blouse {and my hair} looks like I had a nap in it, it was because I did. I was up until 3:30 am the night/morning before the wedding, and up by 5:00 am to make it there on time. Apparently, people took bets on whether I'd be late. In spite of the snow, I made it with plenty of time to spare and even a few minutes before one of my sisters. Between the wedding luncheon and call time for photos before the reception, I had a nap {and a migraine } on my mom's couch.

I used a blouse that I've had for several years as a pattern. I've always loved the fit of it, but not particularly the print, so when it frayed at a couple of the seams I decided I could live with cutting it up to make a pattern from it. I love how it turned out {I didn't even make a muslin; as a matter of fact, I'd never heard of making a muslin until I started blogging. I always just measure the person really carefully and then alter the pattern to fit the measurements} and plan on making at least one more top using this pattern.

More fun with the iPhone camera. I love those shoes I'm wearing. If you've ever read The Wizard of Oz, you'll know that Dorothy's shoes are silver {and not ruby}, and my silver shoes feel a little bit magical.

I finally finished the quilt for my brother and his wife last night. I love how it turned out. Please ignore the man behind the quilt. The snow was over a foot deep and I didn't really feel like trudging through it to get to my favorite fence for quilt photographing.

Here's a close-up of the quilting I did in the nine-patches. I used a design from the book 501 Quilting Motifs, which Mr. Bug got me for Christmas and which might have fallen open accidentally after it arrived in the mail and before it made it to the secret present stash.

I think my favorite part is the cat's eye pattern in the sashing. It came out rather nicely, if I do say so myself.

As usual, I did an embroidered tag, half of which I have to blank out so as not to give away too much information and get my identity stolen.

I'll drop this in the mail as soon as the post office opens on Wednesday. I'm so glad to have it finished and on its way.

Today's post brought to you by:

I Must Ask . . . How Much Sleep Do You Need?

Sleep is perverse as human nature,

Sleep is perverse as legislature....

So people who go to bed to sleep

Must count French premiers or sheep,

And people who ought to arise from bed

Yawn and go back to sleep instead.

–Ogden Nash, Read This Vibrant Exposé

It's been a couple of weeks since I asked, but I want to thank everyone who offered up a prayer or sent good thoughts to those who've lost homes in the fires that are going on in the Western US. I hoped to have my quilt for Phoenix Quilts finished to show you. But it's summer and I'm taking life a slightly slower pace than usual, enjoying the moments that count. I've got just over half the quilting finished, and it was exactly as scary as I thought it would be and also exactly as uneven and not perfect as I thought it would be. But as I knew it would, it got easier after the first stitch and I'm enjoying the learning experience. Here's how I left it on Tuesday evening. My goal is to finish it on Saturday and get it in the mail on Monday.

I had a little trouble falling asleep last night. I'm actually doing a lot better than I used to with being able to fall asleep quickly and doing my sleeping at night and being awake during the day. But last night I was awake until 2:00 am. I think it had something to do with the migraine I enjoyed today . In any case, when I rolled out of bed at 8:00 this morning, my first thought was six hours is not enough. The last couple of weeks, I've been going to bed pretty early {for me} , and since it is summer, I've been able to get away with 10 hours of sleep and still be up and going at a respectable time in the morning. I love it and wish I could get that much sleep every night. I would have climbed right back into bed this morning, but Grasshopper had violin lessons at 9:00 and we had plans to go swimming right after that.

That's when I decided that I must ask . . . how much sleep do you need? Then I remembered I had two other questions I want to ask, and have debated back and forth all day which way to go. But I'm going with the sleep question because it's what's on my mind right now and the other two will keep. I suppose that you should vote for how much sleep is healthy for you, rather than how much sleep you'd really like. I've been getting by on 6 or 7 hours a night for the last two or three years. It is not enough. I really need eight, and I'm working on giving myself that because it is healthy. It it hard to quiet that voice in the back of my head that says stay up just a little bit more and get something else done. You'll be tired in the morning anyway, so what does a few minutes more matter now? But I'm working on it. It would be lovely to have 10 hours of sleep, if only there were about 18 waking hours each day. I guess I'll have to settle for 8 hours of sleep and 16 waking hours. Vote for your required amount of sleep and then tell your sleep "wish" amount in the comments.

---

While I was debating about which of three questions to ask today, a fourth question came to mind. I decided to ask that question today as well, but it is unofficial. Yesterday I bought a new swimming suit. It is a cute suit, but a little on the boring side in the color department; black with a grey and white print. Today, we went swimming and I have to admit I was a little jealous of all of the pretty prints on the other suits there. I've considered making myself a swimming suit every time I shop for a new one, but making swimming suits {and jeans} are my least favorite kinds of garment construction. I've done both and it takes a lot to get them to come out right. Part of the problem is that the patterns are . . . well . . . not really what they say they are. And working with Lycra or spandex is always an adventure. But perhaps I can use this new suit to make a pattern, because I really like the cut, fit and style, and if I can find some pretty fabrics, I can make the perfect suit.

I mentioned yesterday that I would never post a photo of myself in a bathing suit. Ever. I'm not the shape I used to be and it has been hard to get used to. Making peace with what is and finding ways to feel beautiful even though I'm less than perfect has been a pet project of mine. When you shop for shoes, you don't blame your foot if the shoe doesn't fit right or doesn't look good. You blame the shoe. Buying clothes should be the same way. But there is a tendency to blame our bodies when the clothes don't look right. The trick is to take the emotion out of it and realize that it is the clothing that doesn't work and not your body. I have to remind myself of this a lot. And I have to remember that it's not what's on the outside that makes me beautiful, although I do have some nice features. My eyebrows, for instance, are zero maintenance. No plucking, no sculpting, and they are completely awesome. I also have really nice legs {below the knee, which is all you'll ever see of them, unless you stalk me at the pool, and even then the skirt on my granny suit does a pretty good job of covering most of what I don't like to show} and ankles. And I love that I have blue eyes {thanks, dad}. As to the character traits that make me beautiful, well, I think that loyalty is a pretty good one.

I must ask . . . what makes you beautiful? As I mentioned, this question is unofficial, but I'd love to hear what you have to say if you're comfortable with that, and if you'd rather not share I understand. Take a minute and seriously consider the positive about yourself. Don't let that negative voice talk you out of believing that there is beauty in you. Tell it to be quiet and find the voice that tells you what makes you special.


Available for purchase from The Piano Guys or on iTunes.

You're insecure
Don't know what for
You're turning heads when you walk through the door
Don't need make up
To cover up
Being the way that you are is enough

Everyone else in the room can see it
Everyone else but you

Baby you light up my world like nobody else
The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed
But when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell
You don't know
Oh Oh
You don't know you're beautiful

If only you saw what I can see
You'll understand why I want you so desperately
Right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe
You don't know
Oh oh
You don't know you're beautiful
Oh oh
That what makes you beautiful
–What Makes You Beautiful, lyrics by Rami Yacoubm, Carl Falk and Savan Kotecha, performed by One Direction

Wardrobe Wednesday: Swimwear

Women shop for a bikini with more care than they do for a husband. The rules are the same. Look for something you will feel comfortable wearing. Allow for room to grow.
–Erma Bombeck

Finding a swimming suit is always a challenge, even when there are lots of options on the rack. The pickings are pretty slim at this point and finding a suit that fits well, is flattering {or at least doesn't accentuate any negative aspects}, offers decent support and coverage and is cute requires serious shopping time. That's a lot for a bit of synthetic fabric and elastic to live up to.

If I wanted good options, I probably should have bought in February. But who needs a swimming suit in February? Besides, I love a challenge and clearance-rack shopping is the way I like to roll. After an exhaustive, week-long search, I finally handed over my plastic. For a granny suit. It wasn't the first granny suit I tried on and it wasn't my first choice. But I felt like I was running out of options.

Of course, they got a 12 year-old to model my granny suit {probably so I would feel more youthful when I went on-line to find the suit because there is no chance that I will pose for a photo while wearing a swimming suit and then post it on the internet for your enjoyment. Ever.}. Pre-teen model not withstanding, it is a granny suit.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm a big fan of swimdresses {except the ones that are swimdresses in the front and granny-panties cut in the back. I'm mean, seriously. What's the point? I'm pretty sure if you need a swimdress in the front, you need one in the back too.}. I bought my first swimdress when I was 22. And when someone clever invented the "skirtini," I started buying those. I've never been comfortable exposing my upper thighs and bottom and I like the feminie touch a skirt adds to swimwear. I'm kind of back to swimdresses though. Despite the mix-and-match options and ease a "skirtini" provides in using the restroom while wearing a soaking wet, skin-tight piece of spandex, I prefer a swimdress these days. They kind of smooth out all the extra lumps and bumps in my mid-section. Or at least don't make any new ones.

I really like the cut of this suit. The empire waist works with my hour-and-a-half glass {or hourglass with most of the sand in the bottom} shape, it's got good support, great coverage and it fits. What I don't love about this suit is that it is black. Black isn't bad, and the print is actually a lot cuter in person than it is in the photo. But I've been wearing black suits for like the last 12 years. And I'm ready for a little color in my swimwear.

In the last week, I've been to six different stores, trying on about anything in my size. Most of the stores didn't have much, but I've spent way more time than I would have liked inside a dressing room after having scouring the racks for too long for something that might work. The store I went to today still had lots of suits left and I thought for sure I could find something that met all the criteria of a good piece of swimwear, including the aforementioned color requirement. I spent a good 30 minutes pulling brightly printed swim separates off the racks. Then I spent a full hour in the dressing room trying to make any of the dozen colorful tops work with either a navy or black skirt. I found one top I really loved. It was printed with pretty blues and greens and met the support, coverage and fit requirements. But the skirt wasn't working and I couldn't find a different style/size. I'd brought the granny suit, just in case and in two sizes because I liked it on the rack and wanted to make sure I didn't have to get dressed and make another trip to the racks {bathing suits have little numbers on them, but I'm not sure if they all mean the same thing}. As soon as I pulled the suit on, I knew it looked the best of anything I'd tried on, despite the blasé nature of the print/color. But just to be absolutely certain, I tried it on a total of six times, three times in each size, to make sure the size I went with looked the best.

What I find the most frustrating about the whole experience is that the suit comes in two other prints on-line. Colored prints. Mr. Bug says that the blue one looks the most granny. I kind of like the pink one. But it is hard to guess what they'll look like in person; whether they'll be horrible or super amazing. And I'm too cheap to pay for shipping on something just so I can see what it looks like, especially since there's a huge possibility I'll have to return it. I guess I'm going with the black suit. Again. Mr. Bug says it suits me. {Yes. That was a pun .}

Dear Swimming Suit Manufacturers: Women who wear swimdresses are tired of black. We like the pretty prints you use in your other suits. We'd be okay with it if you went a little wild next year.

Dear Swimming Suit Stores: Please carry swimdresses with pretty prints in your stores and not just on-line, even if the manufacturers don't get the above memo and only make swimdresses in a few prints. Color is good.

P.S. to the Swimming Suit Manufacturers: I have a very non-girly pre-teen who would love it if you made swimming suits in non-girly colors like green or blue and left the ruffles and princesses off. Also, could you put more boy/board short bottoms with the tankinis? Thanks.

Wardrobe Wednesday: From the Files of You've Got to Be Kidding Me!

The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. –1 Samuel 16:7

It's been a while since I've posted a Wardrobe Wednesday. In the beginning, it was mostly about showing off how much money I'd saved on some really cute clothes. But to be honest, I always felt a little awkward posing for the photos and more than self-conscious posting them for the whole of the interwebs. I did discover, however, that there is a voice inside of me with something important to say about beauty. Perhaps I'll let Wardrobe Wednesday continue to morph into something new and explore this more in the future. For now, though, I only have this one more thought on the subject.

I am not beautiful like you. I am beautiful like me.

The words are easy to understand. It's a simple concept. But how many women actually believe those words? It is something I have struggled with all my life. And it's no wonder. Let me illustrate.

The other day, I received my June issue of American Baby. {Missing something? Me too. I have no idea why I keep getting this magazine. Or coupons for Huggies. Or invitations to come see the latest retirement community, or issues of The Reader's Digest or Yachting Magazine. It must be someone's twisted idea of a joke.} I glanced at the cover and thought, pretty baby, as I set it down.

As I went about my business, my mind roved over her features. Wow, I thought. Her hair sure is tidy. My kids' hair was never that neat. I wonder what they had to do to get it to stay that way? My thoughts continued, Her skin is so pretty. I'll bet it is soft. That hint of a blush in her cheeks is just perfect. And I love that color of lip gloss she has on. [record scratch] ... Lip gloss? Babies don't wear lip gloss! I picked the magazine back up and examined it more closely. Either this baby is wearing makeup or she's been airbrushed. Here's a close-up so you can judge for yourself.

Makeup? Airbrush? A combination of both? Whatever the case, this baby did not need it. Shame on the editors of this magazine for doing it. And shame on that baby's mother for allowing it to happen.

It makes me angry.

And it makes me wonder. How do we get the message out that no one can live up to an impossibly unattainable standard of beauty and we don't want it shoved down our throats anymore. Theodore Roosevelt had it right when he said,

comparison is the thief of joy.

To anyone who struggles with self-image issues, to you I say,

Wardrobe Wednesday: Symmetry vs. Beauty in the Whole

The Power of Kindness: Choose to compliment the girls and women in your life for character traits, actions or talents you admire about them. The compliments that stick with you for a lifetime are often those that acknowledge your valuable qualities, like a good attitude, selflessness, talents, honesty and so much more than beautiful hair or a cute outfit. –Beauty REDEFINED, Sex Appeal and Thin Ideals, February 6, 2012

Many years ago, I read an article that stated that the people we consider to be the most beautiful have the most symmetrical faces; their eyes, eyebrows, ears and cheekbones are close to the same height and their features are close to mirror images of each other. They named a few celebrities, Denzel Washington among them, who were symmetrical. I'm not sure where I read the article, but I'm thinking Reader's Digest. Since that time, I've wondered how symmetrical I am and if perhaps I would be beautiful if I were more symmetrical. I used a photo of myself that I've always liked and did a little digital photo editing {technology is awesome!}. Here is the result.

This image makes laugh a little. The face on the left is my right side mirror imaged. I kind of look like a cartoon character. Obviously, that is my more angular side, and while there is a resemblance there, it is very slight. The face on the right is my left side, which is a bit softer, a bit rounder and perhaps a pretty face. It looks more like me, but I don't find that the resemblance is particularly great there either. What I find interesting is that I prefer the woman in the middle. In this case, the sum of the parts is not greater than the whole. The two sides of my face compliment each other.

To be fair, I did Denzel Washington too. The real Denzel is in the middle, his right side is on the left and his left side is on the right. I know, it's confusing.

Although she wasn't mentioned specifically in the article {that I can remember} I did Angelina Jolie as well. Again, the real Angelina is in the middle, her right side is on the left and her left side is on the right.

I'll let you draw your own conclusions about my mirror image experiment.

The media bombard us with the idea that appearance is the single defining characteristic of beauty. They are trying to make square pegs fit in to round holes. And rectangular pegs fit into round holes. And triangular pegs fit into round holes. They're even trying to make oval pegs fit into round holes. Why not let each peg, or person be her own kind of beautiful? Why not let each person's uniqueness characteristics define her beauty?

If appearance isn't everything, then why post about what's on my outside? Where does my What-Not-To-Wear-on-a-shoestring-budget experiment fit into all of this? Looking good on the outside goes a long way to making you feel good about yourself on the inside. Part of what Stacy and Clinton, the hosts of What Not to Wear encourage the contributors to do is to express who they are in the way they dress. If you're a beautiful person on the inside, why not show it on the outside? It is about finding the right balance.

Silver ¾-Sleeve Top
I'm not sure who the maker is because I cut the tag out. It was bugging me. But it came from Shopko.
Retail: $39.99
Out-the-door: $11.99

Levi's 512 Dark Wash Bootcut Jeans, Macy's
Retail: $54.00
Out-the-door: $36.32

Royal Blue Suede Platform Heels, Payless Shoes
Retail: $27.99
Out-the-door: $17.99

Red ¾-Sleeve Cardigan
I love this red sweater. I wear it a lot. I could use more ¾-sleeve cardigans in my life. I got this one second-hand for free. It started out as a mock twin-set and I re-purposed it because I liked the shape of the shell. The front panel, had a really high neck, so I cut it away, took off the buttons, dyed it from a sort of coral pink {because I already had a cardigan that color} to red, added some pretty pearl buttons with silver trim and voilá. A cardigan to dress up any outfit. Total cost in dye and buttons: $8.00.

Wardrobe Wednesday: Extremes

Beauty is individual. –Ted Gibson

I started this little series of Wardrobe Wednesday posts to show off the crazy bargains I've gotten recently on some really cute clothes. I think of it as my What-Not-To-Wear-on-a-shoestring-budget experiment. Today's post, which has been rattling around in my brain for a couple of weeks, is a little more serious than some of the others. But it is something that I feel is important.

Have you ever watched Extreme Makeover? Not the Home Edition, because that is based on a totally different premise. I'm talking about the one where they completely make-over your appearance, starting with total body plastic surgery {hence the extreme in the title} and including a private recovery location complete with personal trainer and chef. I only watched one episode and that was enough for me. Thinking of something the plastic surgeon said in an interview, “we make you look like you, only better,” I went to the mirror and started tugging on my chin, thinking to myself, “it would be prettier if it were a little smoother. And my eyes would look better if they were a little less pouchy in the eyelid area. And if I could get rid of these freckles and that extra chin and the bit of belly fat . . . ” and on and on it went. Until I realized that there is absolutely nothing wrong with how I look and there was everything wrong with a show that made me feel like I needed surgery to be pretty.

You see, I'd bought into the myth that in order to be beautiful, you have to be thin with no imperfections in your appearance. This myth drives women to unhealthy and even dangerous extremes. This is pervasive myth; you see it everywhere, from shows that advocate surgery to change your appearance to magazines and TV shows. Skinny is equated with beauty. I love what the article Sex Appeal and Thin Ideals, by Beauty REDIFINED had to say about this subject. If you have a minute, click on over and read the whole thing. I wanted to share a little bit of it here.

Remember it is reasonable to assume no image we ever see of a woman in media has gone un-manipulated. Today, magazine editors refer to airbrushing as an industry standard. Plus, vertical film stretching to make women appear taller and thinner is a common technique, as are filtered lenses on cameras and soft lighting, which do away with wrinkles, pores, and other so-called “blemishes.” The next time you start comparing yourself to a woman in a magazine, remember that even she doesn’t fit the ideal she’s made to represent!

I find it a sad commentary on society as a whole, that “absolute perfection” is required to be considered beautiful and that the media perpetuates the notion that every woman should fit into the “rail thin” or “runway waif” category. One of the things that I like most about What Not to Wear is that the hosts, Stacy and Clinton tell each contributor that she is beautiful and then they encourage her to find the beauty of who she is right now and not who she used to be in the past or who she might be in the future. Part of their process is to weed through their wardrobe and get rid of anything that doesn't fit, has holes in it or is stained or damaged in any way, or isn't flattering. Not every piece of clothing is made for every woman. By getting rid of clothes that are too big due to weight loss or clothes that are too small due to weight gain, they help the women get rid of the baggage associated with those items. Holding onto a piece of clothing because someday you might fit in it again isn't a healthy attitude.

I kind of like the idea {from Beauty REDIFINED} that your reflection does not define your worth. It is a fine line to walk; putting effort in to how you look, while maintaining that appearance isn't everything. The two ideas seem contradictory. But I don't think they really are. People make assumptions about you based on what you wear and how you present yourself. Why not let those things represent the beautiful person you really are?

I love this little floral peasant top. It came from Wal-Mart and was a grand total of $9.88. The jeans and cardigan are from Wal-Mart as well and the shoes are from Payless. The entire outfit was under $50 and I absolutely love the way it makes me feel. I'd really like to make a couple more tops just like this one. I've gone back and forth in my mind between making a pattern from the top I already have or buying another one and cutting it up to use as a pattern. I'd probably do a better job that way, but it kills me to spend $9.88 on something that I'm going to cut up. The debate continues, but I'd better decide soon or they'll be sold out of my size.

Floral Peasant Top, Wal-Mart
Retail: $9.88
Out-the-door: $9.88

Flare Jeans, Wal-Mart
Retail: $15.88
Out-the-door: $15.88

Cap-Sleeve Layering Tee, Impel Clothing
Retail: $18.00
Out-the-door: $7.00

Gray trousers, TJ Maxx
Retail: $60ish
Out the door: $16.99

Coral Cardigan, Wal-Mart
I can't remember exactly, but I would guess $15

American Eagle Women's Avery Bow Flat, Payless Shoes, Payless Shoes
Retail: $19.99
Out-the-door: $7.25

The next time you look in the mirror and the negative self-talk starts, tell yourself this instead: You're amazing, just the way you are!

Wardrobe Wednesday: Versatility

Versatile (ˈvɜːsəˌtaɪl) — adj. 1. capable of or adapted for many different uses, skills, etc

As I've watched What Not to Wear, I've learned that part of building a wardrobe is having a few basic pieces that can be worn with many different items of clothing. A good pair of trousers, a nicely tailored jacket or a classic a-line skirt in a neutral color has much more “use value” than an unusual cut or printed/brightly colored version of the same item. These items can be mixed and matched with more eye-catching pieces and give you lots of outfits from a smaller wardrobe. Versatility is the name of the game. This is week four of sharing my little What-Not-to-Wear-distance-learning-on-a-shoe-string-budget experiment.

My mom got me this purple top with the fun little ties at the neckline for my birthday. I'm pretty sure she got it on sale. Like $10-or-less on sale. I love it! {Just FYI, if you get me something cute and you get it on sale, you get bonus points.} It goes great with jeans {the same pair I've shown you the last three weeks. Really, I do have more than one pair of jeans. I promise to show them to you . . . sometime.} and my favorite repurposed red cardigan. For a little bit dressier look, it goes great with the mustard yellow corduroy jacket and chocolate brown trousers.

Purple ¾-Sleeve Top
Birthday gift from my mom

Corduroy Jacket, Christopher & Banks
I've had it this for probably three years and I am not sure how much I paid for it. Knowing me as well as I do, I am positive I got it on sale and I would guess that I paid no more than $25 for it.

Chocolate Brown Trousers, JCPenney
I've had these pants for about three years as well, but I remember how much they were; $22 on clearance.

American Eagle Women's Avery Bow Flat, Payless Shoes
Retail: $19.99
Out-the-door: $7.25

Levi's 512 Dark Wash Bootcut Jeans, Macy's
Retail: $54.00
Out-the-door: $36.32

Red ¾-Sleeve Cardigan
I got this second-hand {for free }. It was a mock twin-set. The front panel, which was a full-length dickie of sorts that posed as a top underneath the cardigan, had a really high neck, but I loved the shape of the cardigan. I cut away the front panel, took off the buttons, dyed it from a sort of coral pink {because I already had a cardigan that color} to red, added some pretty pearl buttons with silver trim and voilá. A cardigan to dress up any outfit. Total cost in dye and buttons: $8.00.

Wardrobe Wednesday: Beauty Is More Than Skin Deep

In media, male sex appeal is represented as being influenced by a huge variety of factors, such as humor, intelligence, charisma, athleticism, income, courage, etc., along with appearance. Female sex appeal is consistently and exclusively defined by appearance alone. That sucks. –Beauty REDEFINED, Sex Appeal and Thin Ideals, February 6, 2012

It is a difficult conundrum. A book shouldn't be judged by its cover, nor should a person be judged by their appearance. All too often they are. Like it or not, what you wear sends a message. But how you look shouldn't define you.

One of the things that I've noticed in every single episode of What Not To Wear is that the hosts tell each participant that she is beautiful. Their goal is to help each woman to find beauty in herself, to flatter the figure that she has and to reflect her personality in what she wears. Over the past three or four years, I've been following their suggestions when I buy clothes. It is a little scary putting myself out there like this, but I find their “rules” really work. This is week three of sharing my little What-Not-to-Wear-distance-learning-on-a-shoe-string-budget experiment.

Making your clothes work for you involves optical illusions. This pretty pink top, which cost all of $4.20 brand new, has an elastic band that sits just below the bust, which brings attention to the narrowest part of the body and helps to create an hour-glass shape. This also makes your legs look longer, and therefore makes you look taller and thinner, because it appears that your waist starts higher on your body,. Straight-leg dark-wash jeans hide a lot. The hem should fall about ½” above the ground. And pointy-toed shoes help to elongate your legs.

Pink Print Blouse: Macy's
Retail: $24.00
Out-the-door: $4.20

Levi's 512 Dark Wash Bootcut Jeans, Macy's
Retail: $54.00
Out-the-door: $36.32
Yes, these are the same jeans I've shown you the last two weeks.

Grey Cardigan, Chadwick's of Boston
I've had this for four or five years, so I can't remember how much I paid for it.

Pointy-Toed Faux-Reptile Stilettos
I got these 3+ years ago at one of those traveling shoe parties in a trailer. I'm sure they were under $20.00

I made a few, simple alterations to the top. I almost always have to do some minor alterations {so not my favorite thing } in order to make a piece of clothing work. I raised the neckline a bit by taking it up at the shoulder seams. I added darts at the bust and took it in on the sides in the ribcage area. I also hemmed it a couple of inches.

I mixed and matched the top with a few other pieces I had in my closet. I pretty much stayed with the same color palette; theme and variation, I suppose.

On the left:
Chelsea & Theodore belted jacket, Ross
Retail: $108.00
Out-the-Door: $19.99

Oatmeal Skirt by Jones Wear
I got this second-hand, but practically brand new, for free. I raised the hemline { scandalous, I know} by several inches and love how classic this A-Line skirt is.

Royal Blue Suede Platform Heels, Payless Shoes
Retail: $27.99
Out-the-door: $17.99

On the Right:
Navy Shawl Collar Cardigan, Kohl's
Christmas Gift from my mom. She did good.

Faded Glory Jeans, Wal-Mart
Retail: $15.88
Out-the-door: $15.88

No Boundaries “Delancey” Flat, Wal-Mart
Retail: $13.87
Out-the-door: $13.87
Because if the shoe fits, you better buy it because it won't be there when you come back.

My quote for today came from an article by Beauty REDEFINED, which my sweet friend, Jenna, shared on her blog last week. I really thought it was a good article and pulled out about 50% of it to quote here. In the end, I decided to let you click on over and decide what you like in the article. I hope you'll take a look.

Wardrobe Wednesday: Cute and Comfortable

There is no actual law that says that a person of inner beauty cannot also maintain an appearance. –Robert Brault

Everything I know about clothes, I learned from Stacy and Clinton. I've been watching What Not To Wear for three or four years now and they always emphasize that you have to make your clothes work for you and your body type. This is the diary of my own little What-Not-to-Wear-distance-learning-on-a-shoe-string-budget experiment.

Today we're talking about comfort. Comfort is the main thing we all want out of our clothes. No one wants to go around bothered by clothes that are too itchy or too tight or just plain uncomfortable all day. When you mention the word comfortable in conjunction with clothes, however, it is not always associated with stylish. Most of the time they are perceived to be at opposite ends of the fashion scale. But the two don't have to be mutually exclusive. Take for instance the basic t-shirt. Round neck, short sleeves, comfortable. But not very cute. The neck-line is usually right at the throat, which cuts off your neckline and you're basically dressed in a big rectangle which just kind of covers you up instead of flattering your shape.

This fun geometric print top is a variation on the basic tee. The neck is scooped with a wide pin-tuck band, which adds interest, accentuates the bust line and turns a basic rectangle into a more interesting, flattering shape. The gathered sleeves are also a step up from the basic tee and add a little feminine touch. Pair it with a dark wash jean {who doesn't love jeans?} and your favorite shoes, and you've got an outfit that is not only stylish, but comfortable as well.

Finding great clothes doesn't have to cost a lot. This top was one of the things I snagged for a great deal on a recent shopping trip. It comes in several different prints and is so cute I'd love to have one in every color. I got mine in the petites department, because the term “petite,” when referring to clothes, generally just means “shorter.” The right length for a top is important. Making clothes work for you involves several optical illusions. If the hem of your shirt falls past the crotch of your pants, it shortens you. Most shirts in the women's department are too long for me and I have to hem them. Doing alterations is not one of my favorite things, so I bought the “shorter” version of the shirt to save myself a bit of work.

Style & Co. Cap Sleeve Pleated Collar Top, Macy's
Retail: $19.98
Out-the-door: $13.99

Levi's 512 Dark Wash Bootcut Jeans, Macy's
Retail: $54.00
Out-the-door: $36.32

Rampage White Cracked Patent Leather Shoes {4½” heel, 1” platform}, Burlington Coat Factory
Retail: $40.00ish
Out-the-door: $19.99

Raspberry ¾-Sleeve Cardigan with lettuce-edge trim, Chadwick's of Boston
I've had it for so long I don't remember how much it cost.

Red ¾-Sleeve Cardigan
I got this second-hand {for free }. It was a mock twin-set. The front panel, which was a full-length dickie of sorts that posed as a top underneath the cardigan, had a really high neck, but I loved the shape of the cardigan. I cut away the front panel, took off the buttons, dyed it from a sort of coral pink {because I already had a cardigan that color} to red, added some pretty pearl buttons with silver trim and voilá. A cardigan to dress up any outfit. Total cost in dye and buttons: $8.00.

Wardrobe Wednesday: Outer Wear

I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful. –Unknown

Over the past few years I've been working on a little project. About five years ago I gained a considerable amount of weight that has just stuck around. My casual wardrobe of t-shirts and jeans didn't look good anymore and I just didn't feel pretty. It was around then that I started watching TLC's What Not to Wear, a make-over show that focuses on teaching people how to dress for their body type in age-appropriate and flattering clothes. I learned that I could embrace my body, no matter what size it was, and play to my strengths when choosing clothes.

The participants on the show are given $5000 to buy a new wardrobe and the hosts of the show sift through all the clothes they own and get rid of anything that just does not work for that person. While I did/do not have $5000 extra dollars to spend on new clothes, I've been playing along at home. I like to think of it as the What-Not-to-Wear-on-a-shoe-string-budget-distance-learning-program. I've been wanting to share with you some of the fun clothes I've found for almost a year now. I pay close attention to WNTW when someone with my body type comes on and I shop by “the rules” the stylists on the show give. I always shop the clearance rack in department stores and also shop at discount stores like TJ Maxx and Ross. I've gotten some really awesome pieces and have built my wardrobe up over time. Averaging it out, it comes to about $15 a month that I spend on clothes for myself. And the more cute new things I get for myself, the more I am able to let go of and get rid of those old clothes that just don't flatter me.

Despite feeling more put together, I have lacked the confidence to actually post photos of myself posing for the camera. The posing in and of itself is pretty scary. But putting yourself out there for public scrutiny under a microscope is terrifying. We're all friends here, so you'll be gentle on me, right?

I'm starting with outer wear {a.k.a. coats} because it is winter here and having a nice coat or jacket does a lot for how you feel when you go out in the cold. I showed you my new red coat last Friday but because it is just so darn cute I put together a little collage for today. I haven't really had a nice winter coat of my own for quite a few years now, mostly because it is a huge investment, but also in protest of winter. As if me not owning a proper coat would make winter not come. I usually wear a jacket with a sweater underneath, but if it gets really cold, sometimes I'll put on one of Mr. Bug's old Pea Coats from the Navy. They are black and wool and very boring. This is how you do a pea coat.

Style & Co. Double-Breasted Pea Coat with removable hood, Macy's
Retail: $150.00
Out-the-door: $18.69

Levi's 512 Dark Wash Bootcut Jeans, Macy's
Retail: $54.00
Out-the-door: $36.32
What can I say? If the jeans make your butt look good, buy them.

Boots: I'm pretty sure I got them at Wal-Mart 3 or 4 years ago and paid less than $15 for them.

This next jacket, a trench coat really, is the aforementioned jacket that I have been wearing fall, winter and spring for the last three-ish years. Maybe four, but I can't be sure. Now that I have a nice coat, I'll save it for late fall and early spring because I still really love it.

George ME Women's Double-Breasted Satin Trench Coat, Wal-Mart
Retail: $25.00
Out-the-door: $25.00
Even though I paid full price for this {I knew it wouldn't make it to the clearance rack, or even be there the next time I went back}, I still think it was a really great deal.

American Eagle Women's Avery Bow Flat, Payless Shoes
Retail: $19.99
Out-the-door: $7.25

Gray trousers, TJ Maxx
Retail: $60ish
Out the door: $16.99

Red by Marc Ecko Purse, second-hand
Retail: $70ish
Out-the-door: free

I have a more of my crazy bargains to show over the next few weeks. I went shopping a couple of weeks ago, spent $50 out-of-pocket, got eight items of clothing {the red coat was one of them} and saved $426 dollars. I feel fabulous wearing them because they flatter my body type and I got them seriously on sale. I want to show those things as well as a few other great finds from other shopping trips.

Favourite Things Friday: New Red Coat

Things do not pass for what they are, but for what they seem. Most things are judged by their jackets. –Baltasar Gracian

It is no longer Friday anywhere in the world. I checked. But I haven't done an FTF since December and I have a really good one this week. Since it is my blog and I make the rules, I'm doing Favourite Things Friday on Saturday this week.

If you've followed me for any amount of time, you'll know that I love to get a great deal. Buying on sale is my middle name. In my family, we call it being a bargain shopper. And you bet your boots I am. I am very conscious of how I spend my money and I like to make it go as far as I can. That being said, I am not a thrift-shop kind of gal. There are lots of people I know who find amazing things at thrift shops and I truly admire them for this skill. Intellectually, I know that there are a great many wonderful deals to be had. But emotionally, it is much more satisfying to me to make an amazing find on the clearance rack. I love the feeling of getting something brand new for practically nothing. Case in point: The price tag on this red coat said $150.00. I brought it home with me for the sum total of $18.69. That is 88% off!

Style & Co. Double-Breasted Pea Coat with Removable Hood, Macy's

Special thanks to e. of Pink Suede Shoe for the photography. You are a genius.

I found a few other really great things on the clearance rack this week as well. There are probably too many to include in one post. As dorky as I feel posing for and posting pictures of myself, I've decided to break up my haul into smaller posts over the next few weeks and show you what I got on what I've decided to call Wardrobe Wednesdays. In the meantime, I'll be drooling over wearing that red coat every chance I get.

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