Mad for Plaid

It may be the cool weather today, it may be the 13 years of private school with plaid uniforms, it may be the Back to School influences, it may be that it was just so damn CUTE, and I DO NOT usually go with 'cute' clothes, but I bought a skirt set today. I was wandering through the store, looking for the Kitchen department, as I needed a new crock pot (be still my beating heart). Yes, my life is that exciting.... and I saw a rack of pleated plaid skirts... not the short, mini type things, but an adult woman skirt, knee length, with the tops of the pleats sewn flat, so no gaping, and the nicest grey tweed material. One rack over were the matching jackets, pants, and then!!! ta-dah, a vest. I haven't owned a suit vest in 20 years. I had to have it. The prices were great, and the designer seems to understand my body! It was a Norma Kamali. I'm not familar with her lines, but I'll be looking for her label now.
Imagine a long sleeve, button down pale blue collared shirt, under the buttoned and smoothed vest. Now, add the pleated skirt! I'm short, so it definitely hits right at the knee.



Now, add sheer black stockings and the great boots of last week! WOW! I think I'm so into buying clothes off the rack that fit because I never could before. It's exciting, and when I find them on sale, and 'for cheap', it's a double thrill!
Now, if I could just find a guy worthy of this soon to be fall outfit!
MC

It finally calmed down (a bit)

(the view from our window at work 2 weeks ago)

It's been a long time since the last post. In the past month, there's been a blizzard with piles and piles of icy snow, days of shoveling and trying to keep 'my' parking space clean, followed the next week with a Nor'Easter that knocked out power for 3 1/2 days, (lost everything in the 'fridge, froze my butt off, and was cold and miserable and damp and dark) and then, yesterday, the first day of Spring. It was in the '70's, sunny, warm, and the perfect day for a trip to the Bronx Zoo. I must have walked 10 miles, but managed to keep up with a 5 year old. WOW! What a glorious day, and the perfect way to welcome in Spring.

I had to drive to the state capital last week for meetings. I managed to stop in at the outlet center close by, and grab a new suit and some blouses.

The jacket isn't as shiny as it looks here. It's more of a subtle multi pattern. I like the sleeves being able to be easily folded back. A 3/4 length is more my liking. It's a 3 piece suit, with the shell being really fitted, with a side zipper. It's all lined, and I got the one with the pants. I'm loving the Kasper line, because so much is available in petites, which cuts down on the tailoring costs. It kills me to pay $12 to shorten pants, when I know if I wasn't so always crushed for time, I could do it myself. Oh well, I'd rather not. I wore it to a meeting the next day, and got the usual "Did you do something different to your hair?" questions. Would it KILL folks to just say Geez, you look great today? Oh well.... oh well.

I leave Tuesday morning for a 3 day conference, followed by a visit to a cousin I haven't hung out with in years. She lives right in the path I'll be driving, so we'll manage a evening out and a day together. I'm really looking forward to it.

Tried some new recipes, but nothing terrific. Some average, some not too great. I'm cooking the Pioneer Woman's whiskey steak tonight, so I'll grab a camera and let you know how it goes. I also got two sleeves of garlic at the local farmers market, so when I get back from the conference I'm going to try to roast some garlic....yummy! Oh yeah, as for the Pioneer Woman, did you know her story has been optioned, and a movie with Reese Witherspoon is being discussed. I hope all this fame won't change her too much! I count on her blog for my daily dose of either cooking or photography tips!

Enjoy your week! MC

I love my New Shoes!

One of the best things about losing a lot of weight is that you have an excuse to shop.  Seriously,  to shop!  Nothing fits except whats new.  During the rapid weight loss phase, I shopped Goodwill, other people's closets,  the clearance racks at Wallmart and KMart and any other Mart I could find.  I wore things too big, too long, too tight, anything , as long as it covered me and didn't let body parts hang out.  I've been the same size for almost 5 months now, so this may be where I am settling in.  I could lose a few more pounds, and I might, but size wise, it will probably be here in this size.  I wrote the other day about going shoe shopping with a friend from work, one of the women I eat lunch with.  Here are the shoes I got:

They are Dansko clogs, with a back!  The pattern makes them go with so many outfits, and they are so comfortable!  I had to facilitate a dinner for 50 after work on Tuesday, so I needed to wear a suit and shoes that would carry me from dawn to midnight and be comfortable.  I can't speak in public if I'm fidgeting wtih my clothes or wearing cruel shoes.  OK, I can, but I really hate it. 

I, however, have always loved shoes.  I've had to give up heels a long time ago, due to knee troubles, but I can appreciate a lovely pair a Jimmy Choo's as well as the next girl!  My shoes are almost always flats, but I have heel envy.  I think pumps look soooo professional peeking out from a really sharp pair of trousers.  Spiky heels elongate a leg, and who doesn't want long legs????  (I'm 5'3" (and a half))  I miss heels, but not the pain.  So, I've adjusted to flats, and low heels.

As far as the changes go, the friends I went shopping with told me she always wanted to see Italy, but had no one to go with...  and she knew I traveled a lot, and would I want to go next year...  wow...  something to think about!  I've also visited a dating site, checked it out.  I'm not ready to plunk down some cash and fill out all the surveys, but I'm getting there!  My skin's looking better with all the makeup and moisturizer and such, and the new haircut got a ton of compliments at the dinner.  Changes are happening! 

Do you/did you have a favorite pair of shoes?  Why did you love them?