Vintage Inspired Style for the Opera

Sometimes being in central Texas poses dressing problems for certain events. First of all, I have seen jeans everywhere, including weddings, and flip flops in the workplace! Summer is always an issue-- hot outside and unbelievably cold inside due to air conditioning blowing full blast, and winter is a problem because it can be in the 70's during the day and in the 30's by 7 p.m. You never know what you're going to get.

Anyway, tomorrow I'm going to see the opera Rigoletto. I remember Mom getting dressed up to go to the opera, a new dress and high heels, I remember thinking how glamorous the opera must be. Not here. Once again, there will be jeans, t-shirts and probably even those infamous thongs. (The foot kind.) But I wear these items (minus the footwear,) on a daily basis for work, and am feeling the need to wear something pretty so now is one of those rare occasions that I get to enjoy my closet. Hooray!

So what did I find deep beyond the mirrored doors?


My favorite perfect-for-almost-any-occasion dress. While the cut is modern, the print is sort of vintage and I actually go to browns more often than black, still dark but not harsh.


This Claudia Lobao crocheted gold necklace mimics the floral explosion on the dress.


And when the opera is over, this faux sheerling coat will keep me cozy on the walk back to the car.

But right now I have to take the trash out.

J.

Walking Away

I've decided to take my legs into the latest millennium and purchase a new razor. Don't get me wrong Pink Gillette - I've been extremely loyal and you've served me very well for years! Your handle is perfectly ergonomic for my hand and I can only think of 1 good nick, but alas! You only have 2 blades! (I'm just not an electric kind of girl...) That's really only one step away from a disposable...


Old 2 Blade Pink

2 Days Later...

Actually I'm wrong- Disposable razors are coming in 2 and 3 blade styles now. I didn't even see any replacement blades for the old Gillette. So I decided to go for the gold and invest in the only 5 blade model on Walgreen's razor display... The Venus Embrace. It came with 2 blade cartridges and a shower pod, (whatever that is) and an 800 number to call if I was not fully satisfied. So into the shower...


Newbie

After exfoliating, (I always exfoliate,) I lathered on C.O. Bigelow's Premium Shave Cream and executed the first run. It seemed as though the blades were suctioned to my leg and it followed the contours of my knees flawlessly! And talk about smooth! Maybe 5 blades is the way to go. The shower pod as it turns out is a "home" for the razor that sticks to the shower wall. The only design flaw in my opinion is that the handle is too long and on my last Gillette it was much wider which I liked.

So I'm still brand loyal and on a scale of 10 I give it an 8.7. Will this style last as long as the last one? Only time can tell!


Very Nice Results

J.

Obsessed

New floors have been taking up my home time. We've gone from here-



To here-



And the results are beautiful! It seems like a whole new home! I don't want to put the furniture back in just yet but I think that's what I'll be doing later today.

J.

Cosmetic Surgery

As a purse, it was useless. But after I removed the straps...



Voila!



Now it's a cute pocketbook that fits in a purse or it can be used on it's own as a small clutch. I have an upcoming wedding to attend and I think I just may be carrying it with me.

Hmm, now to find the outfit to go with it.

J.

Homework

More work on the house this month. I finally found some beautiful silk curtains for the bedroom and the best part about them was that they were on sale.



I couldn't find a curtain rod long enough for the window so I had to go with 2 smaller rods on each side and due to the angles it was really a pain to hang them, but well worth the sweat!



Now for that carpet...

J.

Sharing

I know women who are "fashion stingy." They hate to give out any of their favorite shoe stores, websites, hairdressers, for fear that more people may buy something similar or lose their weekly appointment because her manicurist has more clients, whatever. Once, I complemented a coworker on a pair of shoes (or something,) and asked where she had purchased them and I got a cool "I'd rather not say." Umm...okay.

Normally I am not that person. I love to give out names of cool local boutiques because I want them to stay in business even if it is only for my shopping benefits. But today I found a website that I wanted to keep all to myself. The prices are unbelievable and the shoe selection alone is would be enough. Do I give it up? Would my size be the first to sell out? Will it ruin a good thing? Then it dawned on me that I had found it in a magazine...it had been shared with probably thousands of women already.

So here, enjoy!
www.gojane.com

The look is young, but really, check out the shoes.

Mmm...shoes...

J.

Get ready

I like getting ready in the morning. I don't like getting out of bed, but once I do, I really get into all the rituals that get my day started. I'm not a morning person to begin with so to have about 1.5 hours to myself before going to work is something I look forward to. To most people that seems like a pretty long time to get ready, but if I'm not going to enjoy my time, I may as well stay in bed until the last possible minute, which I admit occasionally happens.

Being a skincare product junkie, I have a ton of samples that I'll go through while I have a cup of coffee - (Yes, I have a coffee maker in my bathroom.) Sometimes it's a deep exfoliating scrub, sometimes a new bodywash. Whatever it is, I take a moment just to really "feel" the product and let it sink in. It's like a treat, (with no calories,) so I really try to enjoy it.

Most days are jeans and t-shirt days for me at work which is really boring, I know. I try to layer in other items to keep it more interesting and I'll wear cute flats if I know I won't be pushing around furniture. I don't dare wear anything I'm attached to because it will probably be really dirty or ruined by the end of the day. But since I really like what I do for a living, I just find other times to wear my fun clothes.

Makeup, on the other hand, is something I won't give up. It's a way of sneaking in a little style while still being appropriate for the job. Taking a few moments longer to just relax for the last time and put on my face is probably my most favorite ritual of all.

Yes, I put my 1.5 hours to good use. I walk out of my house with my best foot forward and I feel pretty good too. Isn't that the way a day should start?

J.