Everything Looks Better On Black!

I love wearing all black...I know it is a little extreme...but everything looks better in/on black!  I remember being in Europe years ago, and I noticed all the old women wore all black and lots of gold jewelry...not a bad look as I get older.  My butt looks smaller in black, my hair looks blonder when I where black, my eyes look bigger when outlined in black, I look thinner all over in black, my jewelry looks better on black, my little blue suede boots look better with black skinny jeans, boots look better in black, black clothes last longer, and you can't see stains!  I'm all in for the black look.  And perfect for Halloween!

Men's Watches and Wrap Bracelets

I LOVE to wear Men's watches...much bigger than women's and more of a "statement".

A couple of days ago I checked out a boutique called "Fab'rik".  Their claim to fame is high fashion/low price...that works for me.  I found these fabulous wrap bracelets.  I bought a fresh water pearl one and later I "HAD" to go back and buy another (the look just wasn't complete! Ha!)

I also bought a pair of black lace up boots for $50.00...they are awesome...pics to come.

Glitter and Sequins

Yesterday I was wearing my vest with silver sequins sown all over it...and it just made people happy!  We all want to be little girls in sparkles! On the cover of Lucky magazine this month Kim Kardashian is wearing a skirt made of large sequins...love it.  Jennifer Lopez markets a sequin shirt at Kohls. Last year I tried to buy the short Uggs that are made of sequins, but they were sold out.  Might just have to try again this year!  Girls...go sparkle yourselves!

pinterest.com and leather tunics!

Today I was introduced to a new Web site for me...pinterest.com awesome place where people post their favorite things.  It is great, check it out!

Next fashion must have for fall...a leather tunic with no sleeves to go under cute jackets we all already have!  Any color will do, red, black blue....

I am going to Target!

You know the trend for designers and celebs to pair up with discount stores (Vera Wang with Kohls, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony with Kohls).  Well why not?  Who wears most things for more than a season anyway?  I do save some sweaters, skirts, pants and of course my Uggs for more than one season, but shirts etc. wear out.  I am going to start looking at Target and Kohls for these things. I think the economic conditions are dictating we all do some re-thinking about where we shop!

I Feel Sorry for the Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic (Gap Kids and Baby Gap Excluded)

I feel so sorry for the Gap.  Once a thriving business, now on its last legs.  Have you heard anyone excited about going to the "Gap" in the last few years?  Case in point: my daughter is out of town visiting some friends and sent me a text  "the Anthropologie store is so big and amazing".  Going to Anthro or Urban is like going to Disney World for her!

The Gap needs a new hook, not sure they can find it.  Re-branding is in order, the time has come!

God Bless America and Hair Dye

I am very thankful to live in this country, however we do have a few issues....and for us ladies one of them  is hair color and dye.  God bless America the land of chemicals and drugs!  Our society is becoming very aware of all the chemicals in our food, but what about our hair color products?  Recently after years of getting my hair "highlighted" I realized I was going to to have to get more color done (a little gray hair).  I knew I was NOT going to sit with a bunch of hair color sitting on  my scalp for however long just absorbing into my skin!  For years when I have gotten my hair colored using foils (even thought the dye didn't officially touch my scalp) I always felt bad physically afterwards.

So...I came home and started to research "Hair Dye" and "Organic Hair Dye".  Don't want to scare anyone, but even Europe has stricter controls on the chemical content of hair dye products.  The most amazing thing I uncovered that was in a city of 4-5 million people and I don't even want to guess how many hair salons, there were only TWO salons offering any kind of healthy/organic hair color product!  It is called Eco Color, and it may not be totally chemical free, but it is much better than most.

The proof is in the pudding...when I got my hair colored using this product I felt great afterwards!

Like I said October 2....

Blues Suede Booties from Tom's

My children are all very "Green" these days, and we have tried to become so (we now recycle!).  so why shouldn't shopping have a conscience too?  Buying shoes from Toms does make a difference in that every pair of shoes you buy they buy a pair of shoes for an underprivileged child.  Can't go wrong here, especially when they sell blue suede shoes...go Elvis!

Chateau Enough Already

Down the street from us there is a house where the owners can't control themselves (or their spending)...we call it affectionately "Chateau Enough Already".  Not only do they have a fountain and swans in the lake, but every holiday gets a light display (yes even halloween).  Shopping, dressing and decorating are a little like that.  I don't want to be a "little miss enough already".
Shopping is great...it is the salt and pepper to who we are...a little seasoning is great, too much makes it uneatable.  Everything in moderation!  My Mom always told me to always take off one piece of jewelry before I went out and to ALWAYS blot my lipstick!

Shop away and enjoy Halloween, but don't be "Chateau Enough Already"!

A mans life (or woman's!) does not consist of the abundance of his possesseions

Someone famous once said "a man's life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions", yet in America it seems thats what we are all about.  It has not made us any happier, just more in debt.  Recently we "downsized" from the big house to a smaller one, and to make that happen I had to do a lot of purging of stuff and furniture (I am still having stuff sold, picked up and given away!).  The new rule is that if I don't have to have it (useful) or I don't absolutely love it, it goes.  Taking care of a big house and all the accouterments is exhausting and expensive, and like I said before there are better things in life than things...

Lists are Life for a Shopaholic

Today I had 2 lists of things I needed to get; one groceries and one for the art supply store (which is like walking into a candy store for me).  Like I have said before, I am a shopaholic...so going into a store with a list is a laugh!  Today was great because I stuck to my lists!!!!  There was a certain amount of freedom, peace and cash in my purse when I left both stores and the credit cards did not come out, hallelujah!
So from now on I am not leaving home without one and vow not to stray!

Really Stupid

I took my Father furniture shopping the other day (after months of him talking about going).  We were gong to look at a couple of stores to buy him a couch and love seat (after the puppy we gave him tore up his nice leather couches!).

We first went to the Thomasville Furniture Store.  Got there at 10:30 am...a reasonable time to shop right?  They were CLOSED, didn't open until 11:00 on Wednesdays.  I couldn't believe it, I finally got my Dad to go look and they had a staff meeting on Wednesday mornings!  I knocked and finally someone came.  I told him he should let us in to look as we were going to spend some money, but no, we needed to come back in 1/2 an hour.  Well, needless to say we went to Rooms to Go...bought furniture there and went home.

Lesson for all: if you have a ready willing and able customer in this economy don't send them away, they probably won't come back.

Toms Boots

Yesterday my teenage son and I ordered Toms Boots...saving the world one shoe at a time...I guess it is a good place to start!  My boots are short , lace up BLUE SUEDE!  I'm so excited, I have always wanted "blue suede shoes".

trip to the fabric store...new jewelry!!!

New jewelry for the cost of ribbon!

Last night I was watching TV and Lilly Tomlin was a guest actor on a show (NCIS?) and she had a great choker on.  Here is the idea...it was a good size medallion with a wide ribbon instead of a chain or cord.  I like to wear chokers, crosses, medallions and I am so tired of the chains and black cords I wear them with!  I am off to the material store tomorrow to buy some fun FAT ribbons... striped, black and any others that catch my eye and I am going to use them with the jewelry I already have. I thought of even using some scarves I have and putting the jewelry on those around my neck. I also have some great pins/brooches that I can do the same with.  Pictures to follow!  New jewelry for the cost of ribbon!

Unique Vintage Cool Cheap Boots!!!

I saw these boots in a magazine for $50.00 and thought I would try them.  Mail order and online shopping and I are not best friends (I spend too much sending stuff back!) but these boots are AWESOME.  They are not real leather, but who cares?  They also can be folded up over the knee when wearing leggings.

Below is my "hippie dress" I bought online at Dillards with a long fur vest (too warm for that yet).  I am a hippie at heart....

Older Women and Scarves

All older women should learn to love scarves! (Neck issues)  It is nice to hide all the skin that age has not been so nice to!  Must have at least one scarf every season that goes with almost everything...here is mine for this year...bought it at Whole Foods for $20.00.

Shopping is the issue

This blog is going to be centered around shopping, because like it or not it is an important part of of our lives!  Good decisions or bad decisions (the back of your closet is full of them) we need to come face to face with the sport and love of shopping.  We are all amazed at people who don't have to watch their spending...where do they get all the money?  When I walk through an upscale mall I look around and wonder where all the money comes from that is being transferred for purses, make up, jewelry, clothes, shoes...yikes!  I imagine a lot of it is going on credit cards which will either be paid or not (see our current financial crisis...people were shopping for homes like they were buying a pair of shoes...with about as much money in the bank).  I'm not a fan of credit cards but I do have a few.  They are a part of our lives, BUT I discovered DEBIT CARDS a while ago...much better and much more honest.  I wonder if the clerks ever think "ok, they are paying with a credit card...I wonder if they can afford this?"  I wonder....

etc.

I forgot to mention that I love fashion but try to do it on a budget and only wear a few "uniforms" consisting of only a few pieces every season (fall/winter and spring/fall).  My closet is only 1 row about 4 feet long.  I don't keep much...life is too short to pile up.  Scarves, jewelry and vests are my favorites!  I own about 4 pairs of shoes...

confessions of a reformed shopaholic

Today, as has happened most days when I am out an about, girls and women my age comment on what I am wearing (or how I am wearing it).  Today I was at Pike Nurseries buying pansies (for my window box) for the fall, and the young check out girl and the middle aged woman behind me loved my little desert boots with lace white socks and my vest/ levi jeans/ turquoise necklace and of course my signature reading glasses on my head!  I told them the boots were from the little boys section at Lands End at the Sears store. You see I have an uncanny ability to nail what is going to be "cool" for the next season.  I wore my little suede desert boots all summer with rolled up boyfriend jeans (from jbrand) and white lace socks....everyone loved them but no one could quite imitate the look!  I love being older but still cool!!!!