Reflective

My blog is almost a year old, Feb 7 will be officially one year of blogging. This outfit reflects how I have grown from blogging and reading other bloggers. I would have NEVER put this dress with pants but I saw it and I liked how it looked on my fellow blogger and I tried it. This was my Ross find, it was between this and another dress, Kristine said I would be happier with this one. Well she was wrong, I am WAY MORE pleased with how this turned out and I got a few compliments on it :) This lady said she liked how I did something unique and I, of course, loved that. I love unique and novelty things and I am pleased that I am now allowing who I really am to reflect the way I present myself to the world, but more importantly, how I present myself to me. I went to the gym today at lunch and a television show was on regarding toxic friends and to replace them with "low-fat" friends. I have also accomplished this - I now have friends with different interests -  It's funny I seem to gravitate towards women that are wonderful mothers, creative, interests in cooking, the arts, and other- perhaps they possess qualities that I wish I had when my children were young. I definitely wish Kristine had been around when my daughter was young, my daughter would love the neat things they do, that I never knew about or thought about. I think with my upcoming birthday I'm a little reflective.....What kind of women friends do you gravitate?

I Smile with MonsterCakes

I smile at my newest addiction - it's actually a great place to save things that I want to do to the house or clothes and jewlery I want

 I smile as this should help with my number goal this year or home improvements :)

I smile that I managed to put Red and Pink together :)

Hope you have plenty to smile about.... 2 1/2 more working days until Stacey-cation :)

Running Behind

This scarf was a gift from daughter for Christmas - I love it!! She is an excellent gift giver to me, she seems to really know what I like. I am running behind on all my obligations - my depression on Sat has me behind on my school work and I can't seem to catch up. Wish me luck I get my paper finished during lunch - which is a bummer - that is my work out time. OH MY am I actually going to miss working out? I am......funny how habits are formed - excercise really helps with my depression. I usually feel great afterwards - just hard getting myself in gear to actually do it. Well, as my son is always mocking me, "Gotta go, I'm late" HAHA almost like the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland :) Have a great day

Tapping Me on the Shoulder

This is one my "skinny dresses" I am pleased how well it serves as a vest/duster thingy :) These cord I bought six years ago from Chadwicks and have only recently been able to wear them - I think I thought they were charcoal - which means gray to me but they are like an "off black" and the length is kinda strange too - they hit me right above the ankle - (ha, the ultimate high waters) LOL Other than those minor complaints I like them and have incorporated them in my pant rotation. The weekend was kinda blah - was extremely depressed on Sat (Mother Nature) and then was a little better on Sunday, but serious and focused. Got the means planned and cooked for the week, have rotisserie chicken and hash brown casserole for one night, and took some of the spaghetti sauce out of the freezer that  I made over the summer with tomatoes from my garden and have spaghetti and baked some breaded and cheesed chicken breasts to have Chicken Parmesan with the sauce as well. The theme this week is tomato sauce :) I am hoping this summer's garden produces a little more - I want to try to grow string beans this year. So income tax refund time is almost here - wanting on my school 1098 and I am in home improvement mode; I want to dry wall the kitchen, replace two windows in the "dining" area with patio doors, cork flooring in the kitchen, foyer, and laundry room, new interior doors with nickel latch knobs, build a "counter/bar" in my kitchen, new lighting in kitchen and laundry, put cabinets and organization things in laundry room. But I think I better pay off bills and start building a savings account, especially since Mr Man isn't working right now. I really hate when responsible thinking taps me on the shoulder pointing out that needs are more important wants <pouting> [ the money is not here yet LOL]

What did you do over the weekend? Have a great week!!

Friday

This outfit is kinda plain but I still like it. I usually like brighter colors but this is kind of soothing. Well of course it is one of my other favorite colors - brown :) The weekend is finally here - no big plans the weather is supposed to be 60 on Saturday but rain - doesn't look like I'll make the Greenway. Only 5 more working days and I will on Stacey-cation :)

Couch Monster Visit Soon

This skirt once again - I got this jacket at a yard sale a few years ago and Mr Man got me the blouse and well you know the skirt is a new addition that I seem to find alot of outfits to create. I am please with this outfit as well. OH MY Kristine got this FAB peacock brooch - I am still kicking myself for not getting a pic of it. The week is going by quickly.  Counting down until my vacation -1 week and 2 days :) Not going anywhere just gonna hang out at the house - me and the couch monster :) How is your week going?

I Smile for MonsterCakes

MonsterCakes is taking a little pause so maybe she will visit and find some smiles. This week my smiles were formed from:

I chuckle posting these pics :)

My SockMonkey smile at me as I work
such a thoughtful and much appreciated gift from Kristine

My co-worker who for much needed comic relief during our stressful time - gallops on his horsey around our cubicles. This thing makes a galloping noise and NAHHS - I had tears rolling down my face - AHHH WONDERFUL STRESS RELIEVER

 Our first snow of the year in TN, Jan 12, 2012 cute uh? but not matter what age it still excites me to see snow fall

Finally, My Ross Finds:

Hope you have many smiles this week :)

Not Just For the Old Ladies

 Brooches are a new found accessory for me that I always thought of "Old Ladies" so being the analytical girl that I am, I found it necessary to research different ways to wear a brooch:

You can put a brooch with a scarf - This is one of Kristine's favorite brooches
She jazzed up this outfit by the bright scarf and bling
she even found earrings to match the brooch - bought at separate times



The earrings match the brooch perfectly GORGEOUS!!

 Ladies Home Journal offered 4 different ways in the linked article:

Put a bunch together on the dress



As a button (which I plan to do)

In your hair - I guess I could attach to a headband - not sure I'm on this bandwagon

on a dress - now I could see making a cute "belt buckle" with my scarves as belt

The Examiner offers 25 different ways

Here are 25 ways to wear a brooch:

1. Wear it the traditional way, on the upper left of blouse or dress.
2. Add flair to your jacket by pinning a brooch to your lapel.
3. Pin brooch to top of slit in skirt to highlight legs.
4. Attach a brooch to the front of a clutch purse to transform into an evening bag.
5. Wear a brooch at the lowest point of our neckline on a low cut top or dress.
6. Cover a vest with an array of brooches.
7. Pin matching brooches on plain shoes to dress them up.
8. Wear a white shirt buttoned all the way to the top and pin a brooch over the top button.
9. Wrap a scarf around your shoulders and affix with a brooch.
10. Pin a brooch to the front of a plain tote bag, or to top of handle where is rests on your shoulder, to make it more stylish.
11. Use a brooch to hold tote bag shut.
12. Tie a scarf around your hip and pin the brooch on the knot.
13. Pin a brooch on a hat for a bit of glamour.
14. Tie your hair back and wrap with fabric ribbon, then pin a brooch through the ribbon for a beautiful hair accessory.
15. Pin a few matching brooches down the front of a blouse like decorative buttons.
16. Attach a brooch over the buckle of a plain leather or fabric belt.
17. Purchase a headband in your hair color and pin multiple brooches to it.  It will appear as if the jewels are magically floating in your hair.
18. Pin matching brooches to the back of each glove for Hollywood dazzle.
19. Pin identical brooches down the side of the leg of your pants to highlight the length of your legs.
20. Place brooch on fabric wristband and wear it like a jeweled cuff.
21. Attach small brooches to a ribbon and weave into your hairdo.
22. Fasten your cardigan sweater with a large brooch at the slimmest part of your torso for a slimming effect.
23. Feed a chain through the brooch and wear as a pendent.
24. Attach brooch to a thin ring for an instant cocktail ring.
25. Fold a small pleat in back of jacket or dress and affix brooch for a better fit at the waist.

WOW Brooches are definitely not just for the old ladies
Ways I would like to try are:

1. Pin matching brooches on plain shoes to dress them up.
2. Wear a white shirt buttoned all the way to the top and pin a brooch over the top button.
3. Wrap a scarf around your shoulders and affix with a brooch.
4. Tie a scarf around your hip and pin the brooch on the knot.
5. Pin a brooch on a hat for a bit of glamour.
6. Tie your hair back and wrap with fabric ribbon, then pin a brooch through the ribbon for a beautiful hair accessory.
7. Pin a few matching brooches down the front of a blouse like decorative buttons.
8. Attach a brooch over the buckle of a plain leather or fabric belt.
9. Purchase a headband in your hair color and pin multiple brooches to it.  It will appear as if the jewels are magically floating in your hair.
10. Pin matching brooches to the back of each glove for Hollywood dazzle.
11. Place brooch on fabric wristband and wear it like a jeweled cuff.
12. Attach small brooches to a ribbon and weave into your hairdo.
13. Fasten your cardigan sweater with a large brooch at the slimmest part of your torso for a slimming effect.
14. Feed a chain through the brooch and wear as a pendent.
15. Attach brooch to a thin ring for an instant cocktail ring.
16. Fold a small pleat in back of jacket or dress and affix brooch for a better fit at the waist.

Maybe I need to buy some more brooches and we can have a week or 30 day brooch wearing challenge....what do think?

I WON!!!



Cord jacket - Ross
Blouse - Aunt Cathy
Pants - Catos - these are the brown version of the blue pants like my skirt that I want

 I love this cord jacket, Kristine found this for me at Ross. I won my first EVER E-bay auction, I haven't been back after my scarves were rudely stolen from me for 50 cents <not bitter> LOL. I won the coolest brooch, I got the idea of a brooch from Kristine as she has been buying them like crazy but I couldn't figure out why she liked them so much - I equated them with old ladies - then I saw one that she added to a scarf ---DING DING _ DUH!! So I was thinking I have that purple duster-sweater and the leather strings broke but I don't like to wear it open so this brooch will be perfect "buttoning" it together - I usually wear yellow under it so this will really pop - I can't wait to wear it!! Sure hope Kristine doesn't feel like that chic in Single White Female LOL

My Ross run this week was a success - I found a really cool serving bowl with birds - I love the birds - I will share with you on Wednesday - I got 2 little "mini greenhouses" to grow some herbs and flowers and I got a really cool dress. There was another dress I was torn between so I am hoping it will be there on my next run. Sunday was a blah day, I felt just a tad bit depressed, all I really wanted to do was watch TV mindlessly. I don't really watch a whole lot of TV so that was kinda weird. I get my stitches out this am so that makes me happy. I am sooo loving my Sonic Air too. Happy Monday!! Did you score some cool things this weekend? Have a great week!!

Jump Out at Me

I am pleased how this outfit turned out, that skirt has really been a good find. I wish I could find some slacks like it reasonably priced - I paid less than $20 for the skirt at Ross.  Kristine and I have a Ross/sushi run planned for Jan 27 - fingers crossed I find some goodies. Ross is also where I got my planter that was supposed to have been a Christmas gift but fell in love with it - so I kept it. I know that is terrible.....but I sure do love it and the person it was intended for might not of liked it anyways LOL The outfit above the jacket I have had forever, part of my "skinny clothes" it has a matching skirt - not quite small enough to wear yet but I can get it over the thighs and zipped - just not very pretty, not yet anyways. I also really like blue and brown together - of course brown is a huge staple in my wardrobe :) (Just in case you had not noticed) I would like to tell you that I am great at finding treasures at thrift stores and even at Ross, but I would be misleading you greatly. I am not a shopper that likes to dig - I walk the aisle and wait for something to jump out at me or sometimes Kristine finds me really stuff :) What kind of shopper are you? How do you find your treasures? Have a great weekend and may nothing bad happen to you on this Friday the 13th muaahhhhhh

Rare Sighting

Rare is me wearing sneakers in public, now don't get me wrong, I wear sneakers to go the Greenway and to work out but I rarely throw them on with jeans. I actually went to work wearing this....mmmmmm oh well, it was comfy. My fellow blogger Lorena did a post not too long ago about tennis shoes and how she doesn't wear them often either; however, the ones that she had on were really cool looking and added a funky flair to the outfit. This above........not so much :) but at the same time I don't like to get into ruts that I HAVE to dress up ALL the time. That does not mean I believe that it is appropriate to wear my jammies grocery shopping. It does seem though that the younger generation does like to go shopping in their jammies, I am sure it's all about comfort but I can't help but also think LAZY. Am I turning into one those "old" people I used to talk about and misunderstanding my generation? Of course, I see nothing wrong with the holy jeans, leg warmers, and big hair that we sported at all :) That also reminds me of a post I did on "dressing your age" I suppose if I want to look younger I could start wearing my jammies........ Is there something that you rarely wear?

PS Happy Birthday Granddaddy RIP the 70's below

I Smile with MonsterCakes

These are a few pics that have made smile/laugh in the past weeks. Hope you have many smiles to share as well :)

I love my Chef clock, Shelley gave me and it goes perfectly with a picture I got a few years ago from my mother :)
I smile everytime I come in the kitchen

My grandma a non-smoker for life pretending to smoke - A RIOT



A boxer walking on the Greenway :)

My son trying to keep up with me on the Greenway - he jokingly asked
"When is the bus coming to pick us up"

Susie demonstrating how to make Sushi

Me, rolling my very own Sushi :)

Christmas morning blessing - son-in-law, daughter,and son all together for a fab brunch

Stacey Sushi Roll :)

YUMMY

Susie's Mongolian Beef - OMG to die for :)

The MEN, son, brother,and Mr Man
I'm pretty sure they are planning the 7 days of Stacey's B-day :)

As you know, I am fascinated by the German culture - Boola - an authentic German drink - YUMMY

Three Unrelated Fears

I really like this color combo, a very comfy outfit. These last pics are from the last week in December, we had casual week. I don't mind having casual week or day every now and then but I must confess that I prefer to dress up for work. I love putting on different outfits, in my 20's and early 30's I loved wearing dresses and suits. I stopped wearing dresses and skirts when I put on so much weight, and I am slowly getting back to wearing skirts. I am still more comfortable wearing a skirt with tall boots but perhaps a few more pounds lost and I might wear some more......:) I forgot my pain pills at home Monday so it was not the most pleasant day for me, not the worst, but I was definitely under the weather. Took a pain pill as soon as I got home and felt soooo much better. My pain pills are non-narcotic, I have a huge fear of becoming dependent on pills and stay clear of them as best as I can. I did purchase a Sonic Air toothbrush and I have been enjoying it. I have shied away from them because at some point in my life I recall it feeling like it was going to rattle my teeth out of my head.

So I have shared 3 things that freak me out:
1) Fear of drug dependency
2) Too heavy for skirts and dresses
3) Afraid the electric tooth brush will shake my teeth out

An eclectic group, uh? Do you have some strange fears like me? Have a great day!!

Back in the Game

YAHHHH I can download my pics now - thanks to Kristine, my genius friend, who told me I could get a mini card reader. So, went to Best Buy -  paid $8 and now I can download my pics again. The dental surgery went well, I'm glad I got to to walk on the Green Way Friday morning before the surgery because I really did not feel well at all on Saturday. Sunday I felt MUCH better, went to church and even though I felt badly on Sat, I still did laundry and got the house presentable. It is sooo much nicer to get up Sunday morning to a clean house and  just have to do my school work. I made a decent dinner and my daughter and son-in-law came over. It was really  nice having them over for dinner. I made Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, gravy (from a jar), and my green bean recipe that I found on Thanksgiving that I absolutely love, the pic below is from Thanksgiving. This recipe reminds me of the green beans at the Chinese restaurant  - YUMMY

My mouth is still sore and I don't get my stitches out until next Monday so I am still "babying" my mouth. Did you have a good weekend? I hope you have a great week and Happy Monday :)

Morning Routines

 

As part of goal to remove negativity in my life, I start each day with a Diet Coke and reading the Daily Guideposts. I try to start my day in a positive manner and hope that it carries me through the day. I discovered it by accident and then became hooked. I start looking for the next years book around November at Sam's Club. Some people begin with coffee and the newspaper. Some people start the day with exercise. I am not a morning exercise kind of girl, except maybe in the summer on Sat to walk on the Greenway. Today will be my Friday - as I'm off work on the real Friday as I am having gum surgery and wisdom teeth extraction on the right side of my mouth. Not my idea of a day off....but.....it's going to be a gorgeous day so I am hoping to get my walk in on the Greenway before my gum surgery, just in case I don't feel like it on Sat and they are calling for rain.

What are your morning routines? Do you do any spiritual reading?



I Smile with Monstercakes

This week

I smile because this is the New Year bringing new beginnings and a clean slate

While I am excited about the new I must not forget the old and remember my past blessings.
I smile at how blessed I was in 2011

A few of my blessings are:

I still live in my hometown and I believe Tn is beautiful. This is Riverside Drive in my town

Like how I am blessed to have a great job and a cute little house with a great backyard

Spring 2011

Spring 2011

Summer 2011

Fall 2011

Winter 2011



Mothers Day 2009

 I smile because I am also blessed with new and old friends and wonderful children that I somehow managed to not screw up :)

Mothers Day 2011

Oh and I can't forget The Heathen and I almost forgot Mr Man :) Thanks for pointing this out to me

May you have many smiles this week either from 2011 reflections or new beginnings :)