It's All in the Recovery

On Sunday afternoon I pulled myself out of a funk of epic proportions, wrapped myself in my technicolor dreamcoat, and ventured out of the house.

More often than not I spend a good deal of the week wishing I could be outside to get just a little fresh air, and then when the weekend comes I'm so exhausted and the place is such a wreck all I want to do is sleep and clean.  Neither of those two things occur outdoors, by the way.  Another reason to justify life in a teepee.  And now you know why I mentioned thinking about a maid, maid, maid in Friday's post.

Who's with me?  (and yes I may or may not be mildly whining but am almost over it due to grateful to have work at all)

But what if they don't get in the corners like we do?  What if there's dust left over? And what if our hand wash only items accidentally get tossed in the washing machine? (first world pains) Sometimes I'm my own worst enemy.  I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't so I just get stuck at a standstill and do nothing.  Damn you nothing!  You're of no use to me!!

So I said to myself on Sunday, 'Today you are getting out of this house.  Do not look at the computer.  Do not trip in that pile of laundry.  Turn your head away from the chair filled with need-to-be-folded clothing and for the love of God do not sit down in front of the television or it's going to be lights out on the ID Channel.'

*As I was giving myself this pep talk a high priority work email came through *the dreaded BING* and I had to work. Thereby defeating my moments earlier pep talk of not looking at the computer, but when you love what you do you do what you have to do.  And in the end it's not all that bad except when the next day is Monday and it feels like Friday is prettttty darn far away.*

This was the weekend of approximately 14 non-working hours.  During which time I washed a load of laundry, still don't know if it's in the dryer, and briefly escaped the maison with the Chef in order to get some sun on my face and slurp back a margarita just in time for Monday to chase me down.

This is life.  The big ol' hamster wheel.  Cling to the sides before retirement's here and all you have left to your name is three cents and an amazing fringy sweater.  See if you want to live in teepee then.  Not likely.

~Free People-Technicolor Dreamcoat, Free People-Webs We Weave T, Hudson-Bells, 

Banana Republic-Suede Boots, Vintage-Turquoise Bracelet, Anthro-Sunglasses~

Magique. 

My own form is comprised of fringe with a side of turquoise and cats (not pictured here).

AKA security blanket.

Boots+bells.

These are a few of my favorite things (can you hear the tune?)

Cut to twelve hours later and we're in a torrential downpour.  Upside? I don't wanna go outside now.  Ha! Take that between the eyes Monday!

Haunts

Falling in love with LA is something that's turned out to be a huge surprise to me.  The first couple years I lived in the city I seriously thought I was going to lose my sh*t.  Pushy people, everyone claiming to be an actor (as they help you try on your shoe or pass your tea over the counter), the snazziest car at the four way stop goes first--unwritten rules that I was unaccustomed to and, quite frankly, highly annoyed by.  Then around year three, once I started working for myself and had more free time (read: no longer chained to the desk for 12 hours/day), an interesting thing happened.  I would wake up in the morning and want to be in certain parts of town or at certain places.  And the things that once worked my nerve, well I didn't notice them as much anymore.

Cut to a couple years down the line when the Chef and I began doing dinner and a movie once a week, and the fascination grew.  We discovered some seriously great places, and after awhile developed a handful of favorites that became our top spots to hangout at for hours.  Apparently we weren't the only ones finding them either because we'd often run into the same people over and over. And after awhile some of those people became friends of ours.  This city is delightfully unexpected that way.

Yesterday we popped into a coffee shop that used to be relatively unknown, but is now kinda not so much.  We sat down to grab dessert and I glanced next to me to see the tiniest girl.  Suddenly it dons on me:  Ellen Page.  Juno in the house!  I loved her in that movie and also thought she killed it in Inception...Canadian too by the way and no I'm not usually a name dropper.  Anyway we're all sandwiched in elbow to elbow and I'm fighting everything in me not to turn and embarrassingly exclaim I think she's bomb (to which she'd probably be like, lady are you 53 years old with that terminology and do I know you?) when I hear one of her friends mention how pretty LA is.  And she responded with something along the lines of LA is a very pretty city--enchanting in its own way and in ways you wouldn't initially think it would be.  Kindred spirit.

And then the server brought my peanut butter banana cup cushioned in the flakiest pastry you ever did try.  The rest is a blur.

~Details:  Young, Fabulous & Broke-Vest, James Perse-V-Neck, Martin+OSA-Skinnies, 

Sorial-Bag (similar), Banana Republic-Boots (similar), Anthro-Sunglasses~

Passion Fruit Gelee + Peanut Butter Banana Cup + Lavender Lemonade + Decaf Espresso 

Low Luv x Erin Wasson-Necklace (sale!)

Spying On Cars Containing McDonald's Bags

Late Saturday afternoon I found myself staring down a top I had forgotten was even still in my possession.  The day had not gone well.  The landlord - from here on out to be referred to as Mr. Inconsiderate Use of the Wet Saw at 7am - had used some of his favorite passive aggressive behavior on me that blew up in his face, but later really got to me seeing as I've been a great tenant for over 5 years and am now being totally disrespected due to his own poor decisions (tmi? perhaps but it's my blog and i need to vent).  I was upset, down in the dumps and needed to get out of the house.  Of course I was in no mood for a sweater so be damned if I was putting one on.  Instead I went rooting through my closet and came face to face with the former fave:  a Banana Republic silk scarf blouse.

This blouse has bailed me out of more situations than I care to count.  Treacherous situations.  Situations where I otherwise would have needed a suit.  It has stolen the show at corporate meetings and dazzled mid-day diners at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills - even Larry Flynt gave me a whistle from his wheelchair once when I walked on by wearing it.  Hollar ya old perv!

Usually I wear it with a flowy wideleg pant and some strappy heels, but not on Saturday.  No on Saturday I opted for skinny denim, Loubs, a pile of bangles, my AWang Coco, and the top.  It was a day when I needed to be reminded that I'm in control of my life, that this bloody apartment and this poorly behaved landlord are not the boss of me, and that I will jump in a flower bed for a quick outfit post if required.   Even if it means waiting for 15 minutes to get to my destination while a misguided parallel parker smashes into the cars in front of and behind him 7x all while his McDonald's bag rides shotgun in the passenger seat.  What?  I'm shredding - I can sense hot fast food within a 50 foot radius.

This is the look of a woman who almost tips over as her red soles dig into the flower bed.

Red soles that rarely see the light of day due to this little thing we call "budget".

Coco and Christian moments before I hopped the ledge to strike a pose

while high school girls looked on in confusion.  

'Blame it on the landlord!!,' I screamed wildly into the evening breeze...
'You can't live at home forever!" (wah)

The top.  

And finally the car that hit every car in sight while parallel parking.
Examine, if you will, Exhibit A on the passenger seat:  McDonald's bag.
Food still in it.  Temptation comes in many forms, friends.

Well, it is T-minus 6 hours and counting until the wet saw goes off at an unthinkable hour for the third day in a row.   I've gotta go dart off into bed and get some shut eye.  Please send all thoughts, prayers and positivity my way...may it all be over tomorrow.  May Craigslist have the answer, may the landlord pack up and leave it all behind, may I get more than three sentences out on the telephone before the person on the other end of the line asks if I'm calling from a meat cutting factory...

White Denim: Whispers to Cats

Here we are on the last day of the White Denim Challenge.  The good news is I managed to get it together and make it outside for some outfit pics.  The bad news is I came back home, fell out and am still sick.  Is it Friday yet? Even though I've been under the weather, it's been mad fun to see how everyone has brought a different spin to styling their whites.  A big rah-rah to the girls in the snow...it's a hot mess dealing with slush, but the outfits were awesome!

Confession:  I'm not much of a rule follower - probably because I spent half my life rigorously following them.  Don't get me wrong, I'm still my same nerd - trying to get the right amount of rest, eat my veggies, pay my bills on time and all the important stuff - but in areas such as fashion...I mean really, what's going to happen?  I'm going to wear white after Labor Day and the Fashion Police are going to haul me over?

If anything I find white denim to be particularly wonderful in fall and winter - simply because it can both brighten and soften an ensemble.  The outfit I put together is one of my go-to's.  It blends cashmere, suede and leather with white denim to create a Calvin Klein-esque appeal (at least in my mind).  Cue the horses...I mean the cats.

 ~Outfit details:  Club Monaco-Sweater (seen here and here), J.Crew-Belt, 

Martin+Osa(RIP)-Denim, Banana Republic-Suede Boots (seen here), 

Foley + Corinna-Mid-City Tote, Melinda Maria-Rings, Anthro-Sunnies~

 It's tough to shoot in the sun so here's a better side view.

I've worn each of these pieces before and consider them staples in my closet.

Close-up:  Despite the bunch in the knee, I still like the pants in boots.

Apparently cats find white denim appealing, too.  

Remember in the summer when I was cat whispering 

in the canals?  What was I wearing?? White denim shorts + grey poncho!

It's no mystery that I love cats and they love me.  I've been a cat homing

device ever since I was a little kid.  Today we walked up and they

almost immediately started coming out.

Hollar!! It got soooooo close.  The wild ones are always my besties!

I realize you're thinking, 'wth lady isn't this about white denim??'

Sowee!  I couldn't resist...(dear carey:  also purchased food and returned)

This is for everyone who got dirty in the snow on behalf of the challenge.

Truth:  I got winded and had to sit down before I passed out.

Thus is the price of maintaining a blog. 

Don't forget to check out everyone else who's up today - stop by more than once if you don't see their posts right away.  They've all confirmed and I'm not sure what their regular post times are:

• Carlina - Allergic to Vanilla
• HC - Freelance Shop-a-Holic - as of posting...i think i see a hint of the leopard!! (cheetah!)
• Jiye - Pearls and Green Tea
• Rali - Styles N Cream  - as of posting hers is up and all i can say is i need to get well and work out immediately. hawt!

• And thanks again to everyone who participated and all the readers who came around and visited each of us.  It's been fab!

Coat of Many Colors

When I was a kid my parents would get us up for church on Sunday mornings and all I could think of was, 'get me hence to Sunday school for the stories' - my favorite of which was Joseph and and the coat of many colors his father Jacob made especially for him (even then it was all about the fashion).  

I remember being in town in the dead heat of summer with my mom (small  prairie towns near our farm) and asking if she could make me a coat like Joseph's.  In my mind I saw a brightly knitted zigzag (missoni before my time, anyone?) coat that came all the way to the ground...purples, reds, pinks, yellows and greens.  I can still envision it now.  I think she responded with something like, "ask grandma" because my grandma was a crocheter extraordinaire and we were besties.  For some reason I never asked her but would, from time to time, wrap myself in the brilliant colored afghan blanket she had made me pretending I had a coat just like Joseph.  And the dream of that coat lived on, tucked away in a corner of my mind, for years.  It reared it's head when Dolly Parton sang 'Coat of Many Colors' (even though my I claimed my ears bled I loved it), and later when a friend surprised me with tickets to see Donny Osmond perform in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for my birthday.

About a month ago a Free People sweater caught my eye...The Technicolor Dreamcoat.  My heart sped up at the title and I gave it a click.  There it was!  My dream had come to life some 20 years later!!  Unable to take it anymore, a couple weeks ago I stopped into Free People and tried it on...then last week when Shopbop had their sales codes I scooped it up!  And last night I slept with it next to me on my bed.  It is everything I ever imagined and more.

Free People-Technicolor Dreamcoat, James Perse-Cotton/Cashmere Thermal, J Brand-Houlihan,

Banana Republic-Boots, Brandy & Melville-Bag

 The lapels in front give way to fringe that runs to the bottom of the sweater.

 It is warm and cozy and the colors are wonderfully soft, yet vivid.

 

 Dean Davidson-Turquoise Ring, Free People-Locket Necklace (from about 4 years ago)

I threw it on with my fringe bag (and other ring from LF) yesterday and almost burst 

into tears when I saw how great they looked together.

Twirling, swirling, colored fringe perfection.  

Christmas came early this year.

I'd like to thank God, Free People, La Mia Vita for hosting the Shopbop Giveaway I won, Shopbop for giving the gift certificate away and having an amazing deal last week, my credit card company, UPS for delivering the sweater, and my late grandmother for the afghan that kept the dream alive! (you'd think i just won a grammy)

And then she walked off into the sunset and never looked back.

The End

Lunatic Fringe

A few weeks ago you may recall the lament over my existential closet crisis that then spurred on a hippie phase.  You probably noticed the hippie phase lasted approximately one blog post because I realized my hippie clothes were all packed away from the summer we never had (and ps it was 43 degrees with the wind chill at 4pm yesterday!! WHAT?!?).  The realization that I possess zero winter hippie attire - and am not even sure what that would consist of - led me to a foreign land I've spoken of, but never before braved due to sheer fear of looking like a deer in the headlights:  Vintage. 

To reiterate:  I have roughly zero ideas about vintage.  When she was in LA, Anna Jane and I had a deep conversation over lemonades regarding vintage, the summary of which was this:  "I think it's old crap" (figuratively speaking only, of course, because there is some majorly good old crap out there).  It could be a year old, 15 years old, someone's grandma's old thing, or maybe something new that has been run over by a car 140x so that it looks old and you can just be told it is and fall for it.  Anyway I wanted some legit old thing that looked like it came out of the maryjane tents at Woodstock or fell out of the back of an old turquoise VW Van like the one my favorite boss ever bought and restored for his hippie-esque daughter on her 16th birthday.

So off I headed to the internets (too scared to go to a store:  then I read Carey's account and realized major pain brings major gain) and after 2 days of searching off and on - during which time I almost gave up 700x - I found a treasure and placed a little bid to get the waters stirring.  And then I had to wait 3 days and come down to a bidding war in the last 30 seconds during which time I almost lost my one shot at winter hippieville to someone with an eBay handle of "backupoffit".  Famous last words to that person.  Sowee!

{wherever she is you know Pocahontas wants a piece of this}

 Fringe hem that hits the top of the boots with a swish when I walk...

the ladies at Sprouts were all a-swoon.  I wish I had some advice.

"Uh, eBay?"  met by blank.stare.

 I can't lie - I love it.  There wasn't an arm pit stain, a weird scent,

or a loose thread.  Check out the side slit!! If it was warmer outside

I'd have it on over ripped denim cut-offs and moccasins.

All I need is my trapper hat and some knee-high Minnetonkas and I'm set!

PANYC and Motif56 Bracelets, Brandy&Melville Fringe Bag, Banana Republic Suede Boots

Temperature: 43 degrees, Fringed Tunic:  VINTAGE!, Denim:  M+O (RIP),

If there were more hours in the day I'd be eyes glazed over staring at eBay, but I'm still working on "ward off muffin top 2010".  As well as work, clean the place up, do a load of laundry, read a book, finish watching the first Harry Potter movie and all the others before the weekend so I can take part in what is certainly going to go down as an iconic moment in pop-culture history (can you say late bloomer? and 'i've robbed myself?')...and then there's the Christmas/Holiday shopping.  *panic*

Is it Wednesday afternoon yet?  I taste caramel pumpkin tart.  

(es)Cape(d) to Fall

Let me begin by saying I hope the picture debacle has been resolved.  I'm scared to even mention it.

This weekend was filled with task-type activities: 

•  Vacuuming - check
•  Laundry - check
•  Sorting the mail - half check
• Eating a chocolate bar - check. 

Basically things you don't necessarily feel  like doing (except the chocolate bar, of course), but are so relieved when they're actually done even if it only lasts for 5 minutes.  In between Friday afternoon, (when we escaped for Mexican food and margaritas in 90 degree weather along with a gaggle of other Californians who were pretending it was summer), and Sunday morning's time change the temperature dropped about 30 degrees.  By the time I rolled out of bed yesterday morning it was downright chilly and the sky was filled with grey. Before mother nature could change her mind, I hauled out one of last year's favorite finds that never got a go-round (read: crying shame).  Seeing capes make a grand re-entrance has made me very happy.  It's a coat that's not really a coat - and oftentimes that's all we need here in SoCal! Any capes in your future?

Club Monaco Cape, J.Crew L/S Tee, Siwy Denim Shorts, 

Banana Republic Tights, Mike & Chris Booties, Alexander Wang Handbag

Growing up in Canada Club Monaco was always a favorite brand.

 They pay great attention to detail and don't chintz out on fabric 
- this cape is a wool/cashmere blend meaning 
it keeps its structure but is still super soft and cozy.

 The button down back adds a special finishing touch, too.

Seventh Door Bracelet, Ring found at LF 

Mike & Chris Booties purchased at a way-back-in-the-day
sample sale that almost claimed my life, but was totally worth it.
2 hours later I got a concussion at Alexander McQueen on Melrose (don't ask)

 See that SUV behind me?  It had just finished almost running us over.
This is the look of elation + relief. 

Outfit pictures are stressful enough as it is, thanks.

I hope each of you was able to enjoy your extra hour of weekend to the fullest.  Onward and upward to Thanksgiving!  Four days off = bliss!

Shop At Your Own Risk: Tucker For Target Part 2

With the exception of Sunday morning, my weekend was pretty much perfect.  Fall has definitely arrived here at the beach and it was so nice to huddle under the covers, drink hot tea and take walks in oversized sweaters and leggings.  I went to bed on Saturday evening really excited to wake up on Sunday morning and check out the release of Tucker for Target at a local store.

Instead I walked in at 8:10AM and was greeted by a stampede of women who had been possessed by wild animals.  Within moments I witnessed an older woman, shopping for her daughter, have an item ripped from her grasp while she stood there stunned.  At that point I knew it was on.  I managed to find ONE item left in my size and entered the fitting room only to find a group of approximately 5 rabid hyenas who had literally stripped the entire Tucker section of almost every single item.  The Target girls were not prepared for this display of ill-behavior and were clearly mortified as several of us late by 10 minute arrivers requested only to try on an item or two, while the others flat out refused to share anything as they snickered holding a full size run of XS - XL in all but two items.  It was absolutely disgusting to see mid-20's through mid 40's women behave like that.  So much that I turned and walked out.

I ended up visiting a total of 5 Target stores where I eventually managed to find several items in my size and, thanks to my first couple of experiences, was particularly sensitive to leave a full size run on the racks for others!!!  (Are you reading this all of you in Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach?? UGH!).  While the morning left me weary, I am pleased with the items I did find.  My most favorite by far is the Persian Bomber Jacket.  When we walked up the street to grab a bite tonight I seized the cool evening as my first opportunity to wear it.

 Here's a full outfit picture. 

 Here's a better close-up of the jacket.  

It's kind of furry and super soft.

Look at the lining!  It's adorable.  This picture does not do it justice.

This one's a little better.

  I tossed the jacket on over a Tucker for Target Butterfly Cami, 

a pair of boyfriend shorts

and some cozy charcoal grey tights.

 It got dark so quickly today.  

I guess our light-filled evenings are drawing to a close.

I'd love to know what your experiences were if you visited a Target on Sunday.  I found the collection itself to be extremely tasteful and very representative of Gaby.  She is such a colorful, eclectic person who seems to understand what women want in terms of fit and variety.  I really enjoyed seeing how her usual use of silk and linen translated into the fabrics she was able to bring to the table for her Target collaboration.  I found the items to be fun and well-fitting, and look forward to mixing some of the pieces into my fall/winter wardrobe. 

Outfit Details:  Tucker for Target - Persian Bomber Jacket and Butterfly Camisole, Current/Elliott - Boyfriend Shorts, Banana Republic - Charcoal Ribbed Tights, PANYC - Belt, Mike & Chris - Booties, Foley + Corinna - Mid City Tote.

Dear Holt Renfrew: I Love You

Here I am live and reporting to you from the Prairies in Canada where one minute the sun is shining and the next you're in a full-scale downpour that is quickly followed by more sun and a light breeze.  It's a good thing I packed a wide range of attire including shorts, skirts, denim, leggings, light t-shirts, blouses, jackets and even some tights because, tights aside, I've had a chance to wear a little of everything and it's been great.  One of the things I miss most about living here is the ability to truly indulge in all the wonderful fashion that appears at fall.  In Southern California we really can't get into much of a deep relationship with wool, chunky knit sweaters, or rich tweed so, even though I love where I live, I do find myself a little heartsick at all the possibilities that get passed over due to the high likelihood of a heatwave in the fall.

Seizing the opportunity to get out and take in a glimpse, the Chef and I ventured into downtown Calgary the other day where we inevitably ended up at Holt Renfrew - Canada's Barneys and one of my favorite places to shop when visiting home.  Within moments we I was oohing and aahing over amazing brands that were perfectly merchandised and singing all too many of the sweet songs of fall into my ears.  Even as I type a particular leather vest adorned with leather studded shoulders remains locked in my mind.  I don't think I'll ever be the same.  Wallet fairies?  I still haven't given up on you...

I was so excited to be able to wear velvet, cashmere, 

leather and suede all in one outfit.

It was Tucker for Target on the tank.

And Coco came along on the trip as well.

To visit her cousins and bring greetings from Southern California.

Holt's windows are always impeccable - like a scene out of Mannequin.

And there is something historic about the store that brings

out classy ladies dressed in their finest.  This lady 

who snuck into our photo was a doll!

Without realizing it my outfit coordinated very well 

with the colors in their window.  The slogan really says it all.

I managed to leave with a few treasures that I'm sure will make it into outfit posts over the next week or so.  Until then I hope everyone is having a wonderful Labor Day long weekend!!  I'm looking forward to catching up on your blogs when we return home later this week.  And now I've got a bag of ketchup chips staring me down...yesssss.

Outfit details:  Tom Ford-Sunnies, Martin+Osa (RIP) Cashmere-Sweater, Tucker by Gaby Basora for Target-Tank, Martin+Osa (RIP)-Skinny Denim, Banana Republic-Suede Boots, Alexander Wang-Coco Handbag