diving right in

I love purses, and like to change frequently, but am not a "my purse must match my shoes" kind of girl. I also do not really care about status brands and labels--I look more for quality and quirky style. This fall, I acquired two new patterned bags that compliment most of my clothes and add a little flair to my basic black wardrobe.

I especially like mid-sized structured bags with detail, pockets, and medium-length handles--purses that can be worn as shoulder bags under the arm or carried by the handles. But my current lifestyle demands a larger bag that can hold an assortment of legos, polly-pockets, slinkys, comic-books, crayons, raisins, goldfish crackers, day-planner, notebook, book or magazine for me, newspaper, knitting... Because I spend a significant amount of time waiting while children are in various after-school activities, I need to always have something in the bag to occupy a waiting child and something to exercise my own brain.

Torture Devices
None. (Because of space constraints, I purge purses and shoes regularly, sometimes to my detriment.)

Velveteen Rabbits
None.

Superstars
1. Dark red leather zip-top crescent-shaped purse with braided shoulder straps, topstitching and rivets and chain accents. Trendy without being in-your-face.
2. Red/Black op art patterned tote (fabric with red leather trim/handles).
3. Trendy red/orange/purple/black owl patterned tote (fabric with red leather trim/handles)--my little nod to the 70s and my mother's collection of owl figurines.
4. Black leather zip-top bolster-shaped purse with metalic leather trim and brass rivets.
5. Large teal suede saddlebag purse with long across-the-chest strap. Deceptively roomy...can hold an impressive amount of stuff. (Suede isn't so practical though with grubby, sticky kids.)
6. Chocolate zip-top leather bag that looks slightly western...cobuchon accents on strap, ruched on sides and front with drawstrings. Funkier than most of the purses I own, but the dark color works.

Stalwart Staples
1. Black zip-top crescent-shaped purse with silver buckle pocket.
2. Medium brown zip-top bucket bag.
3. 6 plain canvas tote bags that are used for grocery shopping and library visits.
4. 3 brand-new tote bags (based on the Craftster bag posted by zooza) I whipped them up last night and am very proud of myself.

Same Time, Next Year
1. Yellow Chinese-satin structured evening bag...gorgeous, but what do I have to wear it with? Could be worn with the totally impractical, elegant white-linen pantsuit that I don't currently own but have dreams of wearing. (I'll keep the bag for the dream it provides.)
2. Black velvet evening bag (shaped like a tiny boat and tote)...this is my absolute go-to bag for evening (not that I have many occasions to use it.)
3. Vintage gold evening bag...lovely but ostentatious....especially when worn with the matching gold shoes.
4. Teal straw bucket bag with plastic handles.
5. (Found one more hidden in the depths--it's my favorite summer purse, so how could I forget it?) Tall rectangular black canvas purse with tan leather handles, white top-stitched outside pockets, candy-striped lining.

In summary:
I think I am set with purses...nothing seems blatantly missing. I am sure I'll pick up an occasional purse or two on my weekly thrift-store visit if something jumps out at me, but I'm not actively looking for anything in particular.

I switch purses frequently and should probably buy or make a purse organizer insert to make swapping easier.

This was easy...if you noticed, I cheated and jumped right in with purses. Shoes tomorrow, and then I'll get to the hard stuff after that.

where the wild things are....here in pittsburgh

So, I started with my piles this morning. I pulled everything out of my closet and started sorting...didn't get very far. I left the room to answer the phone, and when my brief conversation with my sister was over, I returned to work. Alas, the 4 monsters (previously referred to as children) had a party in my absence. My clothes are now completely jumbled together from being jumped on and tossed about like confetti. I threw them all in a big tub (the clothes, not the kids) and will resume piling on Monday. (My car is in the shop anyway, so I won't be going anywhere.) Well, at least I did find something to wear to dinner tonight. (Hooray!!! We have a babysitter!!!! just hope the monsters have reverted back to children by then.)

I am sooo very far behind everyone else.

A Party in the Making

Well, I've surprised myself by actually planning a party. It will happen on a weekday during the first week of December while children are in school. I am inviting nine friends over for brunch and a cookie swap...I know, it does seem a bit suburban and Martha-ish for the likes of me, but maybe I'll add a little punk rock and polka to the expected background holiday music for a touch of rebellion.

This is what I have in mind:

menu
Shrimp and grits (yes, I am originally from the deep, deep south)
Ham and biscuits (I learned to make biscuits from Aunt Dolly when I was 10, and from then on have been the designated biscuit baker for all family occasions)
Quiche (with spinach, mushrooms and gruyere)
Salad greens with clementine wedges (balsamic vinaigrette topped with sunflower seeds)
Fresh fruit salad
Assortment of small finger desserts...tarts, cream puffs, petit-fours

I'll ask each friend to bring 6-dozen home baked holiday cookies, and we'll swap...so each will go home with a mixture of 6-dozen cookies to put in the freezer and serve to guests as needed over the holiday season.

Two of my friends are Jewish, one is Pagan, and one insists she is going to celebrate Festivus...but all of us love cookies and are excited to try this. It will be an interesting group of women...some new friends and some old friends. I am considering having some simple craft we could make together and take home as a gift...am trying to figure out what that might be....I have to pull out my secret stash of Living magazines for inspiration (though I purged nearly all of my extensive magazine collection during the cure, I just couldn't bring myself to part with the holiday issues of Living or the now defunct Martha Stewart Kids, I have those 20-odd magazines neatly hidden away in a basement cupboard for an occasion such as this.)

B.C. (before children), we used to entertain friends for dinner on a regular basis, but have done so infrequently in the past few years, since my children seem to turn into circus performers, wild things, or spawn of the devil the instant any visitor crosses the threshold. This is why the party aspect of the cure seemed so daunting to me, but by hosting this during school hours, the little complications are removed from the equation.

Joyous colors: overall plan

(this is me with DH and our brood taken during our summer vacation)













I did the Color Self Analysis and am a High Contrast Winter...which means my flattering colors would be dark clear primary colors with these specific suggestions:
Neutral: Black (I have this covered at least)
Romantic Red: Light Pink (I haven't worn this color since 1982)
Power Red: Cherry
Dramatic Color: Deep Aqua (Teal)
Understated: Deep Purple
Metal: Silver

This season, I've been attracted to deep teal, bright yellow, pumpkin, dark red, chocolate, moss green, dusky plum and midnight blue. The bright yellow is the only one on my list that is clearly unflattering to my skin tone...so, at least my likes pretty much mesh with the suggested flattering colors.
For now, I plan to stick with my basic black-on-bottom uniform (with the addition of a wish-list skirt in chocolate and one in dark charcoal) I plan to add these colors in tops/accessories:
























Last night in a fit of insanity, I ordered this coat in charcoal. It seemed a reasonable price and has a touch of the bohemian that I am seeking--it might be a bit flamboyant for ferrying kids around town, but I splurged. I also might buy this coat from Target (in real-life, the color is definitely more teal than the picture shows, the price is good, and I definitely get a lot of use out of coats during a Pittsburgh winter.)

Wardrobe Therapy?

What's this?
You can read all about it here. Wende in Phoenix has decided to expand MGR's approach to curing one's home to curing one's wardrobe. I’m going to join in too…I’m a Stay-at-Home-Mom of 4 children, and I just turned 40—I feel like I’ve lost my own sense of style and am definitely in a fashion rut. Now that my youngest child has started attending pre-school, I am spending more time outside of the house volunteering for various organizations, and am trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. As a former clothes-horse turned frumpy mom, I’d like to regain some of my joie de vivre and look a little bit hipper (and a little less hippier).

When I first left my career in development for an art museum to become a SAHM, I had really nice clothes and nowhere to wear them. After years (yes, years…I had 4 children in 5 years) of pregnancies and the resulting changes in my figure, I wear black. Black pants, black shirts, black skirts, black tights, black coats, black shoes, black sunglasses. I know people refer to me as “Link’s mom, you know, the woman who always wears black.” I will ALWAYS love a good pair of black pants, but I truly need to add life and color and pattern back into my wardrobe.

The Quiz.

More Favorites.
Candidate for "Best Dressed," real or fictional.
I’ve always loved historical dramas for the luscious clothes….I’m someone who has been known to watch movies solely for the clothing. Out of Africa…Room with a View…Howard’s End…all those Jane Austen flicks…Orlando….Elizabeth…all the Merchant Ivory films. I aspire to the preppy-bohemian-artiste/trendy-librarian look, but my real wardrobe does not resemble these clothes…I never wear pastels, embroidery, velvet, lace or romantic gauzy things. Or any pattern, ever. Off the top of my head, I can’t think of a real person who dresses that way—I haven’t picked up a fashion magazine in a long, long time…

Favorite garment/outfit EVER.
In my first “real” career out of college, I worked in a law firm where women HAD to wear suits with skirts….I had the most perfect black suit from Ann Taylor….fit me like it was custom tailored for me and looked great in the office or out on the town….it had beautiful buttons and an unusual curved neckline—looked vaguely like a Chanel. I always felt like a million bucks in that suit. I probably wore it a bit too often.

Current favorite garment.
A pair of black pants that actually fit me well—purchased at Kohl’s—liked them so much I bought three pair. A black tailored trench coat that fits me really well and makes me feel like I live in NYC.

Favorite thing to wear, if reality weren't an issue in any way, shape, or form.
Brown a-line embellished velvet skirt, teal vintage-look cardigan with skinny brown belt, ethnic bead necklace, patterned tights, knee-high dark brown boots, paisley scarf thrown casually around shoulders—with a Russian-inspired embroidered coat. I don’t currently own this outfit or have the guts to wear it.

or

A straight floor length low-cut black velvet dress by Oleg Cassini that I found in a discount store for less than $10….This dress makes me look about 10 pounds lighter and 10 years younger and accentuates my curves in a positive way. As a stay at home mother of 4 young children can you imagine any time I’d actually have the opportunity to wear this garment out of my house? I do pull it out of the back of my closet and try it on sometimes to fantasize.

Favorite store, given unlimited wealth.
I don’t know…maybe Prada or Anthropologie or Eileen Fisher—I love those clothes, but I don’t know if they are made to fit me. Add in some vintage thrift-store finds for personality.

Favorite fashion faux-pas story to tell, now that the scars have healed.
During the 10^th grade during the early 1980s when everyone was extremely label conscious and actually took the Official Preppy Handbook seriously, I was mortified when a popular, snobby girl made sure everyone knew that I had worn the same pair of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans (I owned only one pair) several times in one week (oh the horror!). I’m sure I’ve had other faux-pas that I’ve blocked out of my memory, but one good thing about wearing all black is that it is generally easy blend into any environment and is generally appropriate for any occasion.


How You Live & the People Around You

If there were a uniform for the place where you spend most of your time, what would it be?
Most of the moms around me wear black track suits with stripes down the leg and matching hoodie or t-shirt with yoga pants, jeans or khaki capris. (I absolutely never wear track-suits, jeans or t-shirts—somehow they make me look very butch, and forget about khaki capris—NEVER in a million years) I definitely have my own uniform…black pants, white v-neck, black cardigan or jacket, black clogs, sunglasses. That’s how I think of it too…a uniform that I really never have to think much about...just grab it, throw it on, and go.

If there were a uniform for where you spend your leisure, what would it be?
Same as above.

Your Wardrobe

What is the problem with your wardrobe?
Too much black. Not enough color. Need more flair with accessorizing, and details that express my personality.

If your wardrobe could speak, what would it say is the problem?
Lighten up for a change! Are you in mourning? Trying to blend in? Trying to look skinny when you aren’t? Give us some color and shape! Stop buying baggy black things to camouflage yourself and let us embrace your curves.

What one thing do you want your wardrobe to do more of?
Be more colorful.

What do you want people to say about your wardrobe?
“She’s very hip and interesting-looking for a middle-aged mother of four children.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I think she might be an artist.”

week eight??? already???

Though absent from the blogging world for a few weeks, I still plugged away at the cure. Accomplishments:
1. I got the bathroom cleaned and purged tons of excess bed sheets & pillowcases.
2. Deep-cleaned the children's rooms and got rid of several bags of unneeded/outgrown clothing.
3. Deep-cleaned our bedroom.
4. Purchased one set of pretty bed sheets. (even though I previously declared a moratorium.)
5. Deep-cleaned the dining room and organized shelves and books...purchased lampshades for outdated chandelier's glass shades.
6. Deep-cleaned the living room.

I am not quite ready to party yet, but do have plans to invite friends to dinner in 2 weeks.

I still want to do the one-room treatment on the master bedroom, then the living room. We finally have enough money saved up to rewire our house and purchase some new appliances, which means some updating of the kitchen (a dishwasher--yay!!). Once the rewiring is done, I'll have another round of curing to do, because we will have some wall repair and repainting. I'll finally be able to move husband's electronics and record albums (thousands!) from the living room to the attic (it will be his man cave), which will leave room in the living room for some bookshelves flanking the fireplace and an additional arm chair. I think I'll paint the living room a pale yellow to bring in some sunlight, and I want to hang velvet drapes. I love this picture of Catiaelizabeth's living room from the Fall Colors Contest, and will use it for inspiration:



















I also love this photo of Erin's Home of Happiness (I will eventually figure out where I can use a tiny bit of wallpaper somewhere in my house)