iFun

1. usb turntable
Best Buy is supposed to start selling albums. (Albums will be a completely new invention for children under the age of 16. A couple of weeks ago I tried to explain cassette tapes to my daughter. She looked at me like I could only listen to tapes in Fred Flinstone's car.) The cool thing about this turntable is it will capture all the charm that is only on albums and transfer the audio to your computer. Jazz is supposed to sound better on a record player. My favorite albums I played over and over again when I was younger were "Imagine" by John Lennon and "Every Rose has a Thorn" by Poison. Luckily I have the best of the two saved at my mother's house, you can guess which album I am referring to.


2. iPod Mixer
Although I don't like to dance I like music. All types of music. Country. Classical. Rap. R & B. Pop. My mood totally changes depending upon what music I am listening to. When I know I have to do something horrible to do, JayZ gets played really loud in my car. Maybe I could make a bi-polar creation mixing JayZ and Andrea Bocelli. Just call me Mrs. Mix-A-Lot .


3. iPhone camera lenses
These nifty little gadgets are for the iPhone's camera. The wide lense is my favorite, but there are other fun ones. Kaleidoscope. Hearts. Starburst. Sparkle. All for $8 each. I don't think that's bad at all.


4. iPhone Skin
I am one of three people in the known world that doesn't own an iPhone. I am not making any sort of statement against technology. I really want one but I refuse to pay an early termination fee on my cell phone contract. Only a couple more months to go and the iPhone and I will become one. I have a list of apps that I "need" and I will be off and running with this cute owl iPhone skin.

WTJ Date Night Outfit

1. boyfriend blazer

2. grandpa watch

3. string of pearls
4. possibly the cutest booties every crafted in the history of cobblering

feeling grey

I don't have a favorite anything. I don't have a favorite color, season, place, food, cookie. Nothing. I like everything intensely at one point or another, then I am distracted my some new bit of randomness and I have a new temporary favorite. My new favorite color is grey. I like that grey can be both warm and cold, light and heavy, elegant and everyday. I love it, oh what is that shiny thing over there............(expect an update with my new favorite thing soon)

1. fainting couch
2. mirrored dresser
3. metal tub
4. marie antoinette headboard

date with heat

It has been unseasonably cool the past week. This morning I actually put on a turtleneck sweater, which wouldn't have been weird if it wasn't mid-August. However, I anticipate a heat wave in the next week. It always happens, just when I start to enjoy the cool weather a heat wave reminds me that I live in Southern California. In anticipation of the coming heat wave......(also a cute date outfit)

1. white sundress
2. soulmate belt
3. smokey quartz ring
4. brown stacked heel sandal

Chicago Weekend Outfit

I think this would be a great outfit (and not dumpy tourist) for visiting museums or sightseeing.
1. v-neck sweater

2. camera necklace (an actual digital camera- super cute I think)


3. wool shorts (My sister-in-law gave be the best advice for buying short shorts, buy them a size too big. They don't ride up, are a more flattering fit for the average woman's leg and in case you want to eat, they remain comfortable.)

4. ballet flats

5. black tote

a little bit country & a little bit rock-n- roll

I really like this outfit. The one item that both makes & breaks this outfit are the boots. I like them and loathe them, all at once. I would have to wear them on a day that I feel really self confident. No question marks or self doubt swirling around in my head.

1. the super cute "Avenger" bag
2. aubergine sweater dress
3. tassle necklace
4. tooled cincher belt
5. toe boots (I still mixed feelings but I think they are fun)

here comes trouble

1. asymmetrical sweater

2. leather bauble bracelet

3. l.a.m.b. heels

reduce my carbon tire print

It would be a great thing if I was able to bicycle to work instead of driving. But my drive to work is 45 minutes long - without traffic and on a freeway. I have a little hatchback that gets great gas mileage and has 8 airbags. It is the best possible, eco-friendly car for driving in California, on freeways full of monster SUVs, with two adult size children and a "baby rhino" husband. If I lived closer to work, I'd like to think that I would walk or bicycle to work. (Notice I said that "I'd like to think".) It is part of my Mayberry dream to bike around and wave to all the town, where everyone knows my name. (My dream neighborhood would be a hybrid of Mayberry from the "Andy Griffith Show" and the bar from "Cheers" - without the drunks but with the personalities.)

Urban Outfitters has a new site, Republic Bike, where you can custom design and buy (within their guidelines) a bike they will build for $399. It's a bit pricey and best suited for Mayberry.

The folding bikes that are supposed to be ideal for college students and commmuters have been priced anywhere from just under $1,000 to more than $5,000. At those prices people could buy a car. But, I found a folding bike for under $200 - $159 to be exact. Pretty reasonable I think. Now if I can attach a motor to it, so I don't have to actually exercise we might be on to something. An environmentally friendly motor, of course.

sweet w.t.j.

1. pink short sleeve cardi

2. square neck blouse

3. cropped boyfriend jean (I have to say that the term "boyfriend jean" bothers me, it implies that the girl wears the same size pants as her boyfriend. I don't care who you are, or how small you are, it never makes a girl feel good.)

4. beaded flip flop

Bag Lady

"Bag lady you gon hurt your back

Draggin' all them bags like that.

Bag lady you gon miss your bus

You can't hurry up cause you got too much stuff"

Lyrics from "Bag Lady" by Erykah Badu

1. Peach Ruffle Purse

I am a "bag lady" and have had these lyrics sung aloud when I enter a room. But I don't care. My love of huge, gigantic, airport security alarming purses is second to my love of shoes. Huge purses allow me to carry all my life's needs and up to 15 pounds of other miscellaneous items with me at all times. I am made fun of but, I am a walking emergency kit that everyone benefits from. I have cold medication (that I hand out to anyone that sniffles or coughs), Oxiclean spray (absolutely necessary when you wear white t-shirts), ipod, camera, phone (that I am told can be completely replaced with a new magical iPhone), gigantic wallet, receipts, mail, magazines and the list goes on. Unique accessories including a big, colorful purse helps make a w.t.j. (white t-shirt & jean) outfit special. My huge purses can also be used to keep people from invading my personal space, even if it means accidentally "bumping" a few people.

2. Striped Yarn Scarf

3. Silver Spoon Necklace

4. Swing Jacket

Stretchy Pant Day Option

One of my best friends used to have a 100% jersey cotton requirement for the clothes she purchased.  The bottom line goal was everything needed to feel like pajamas.  Comfort was priority #1.  I completely understand why one would want to feel that comfortable all the time but it doesn't always make for the most attractive outfits.  This sweater may be about the softest garment ever made and cute!  Can it be?  It is also cashmere.  Is it a coincidence that the first four letters of cashmere spell out "cash"?  Perhaps it is a warning.  But to be able to walk around in a sweater/blanket on a "stretchy pant day" and not look like I am clinically depressed is priceless.  The bracelet is a jazzy touch that can be used as a distraction while I reach for a second helping of fruit tart with my free hand.

Modern Day Nellie Olson

If Little House on the Prairie took place now Nellie Olson would be emo.   She would walk around Walnut Grove mean, bossy and sulky in all black, wearing too much eyeliner.  Her boyfriend would wear skinny jeans (that are oddly baggy in the butt area - not attractive), whose long hair (that looks smelly) would sweep very femininely over his eyes and who would also wear too much eyeliner.  At least that is the picture that comes to mind when I see this tunic (I would not tie the bow) with these shoes.  Obviously I like the outfit but didn't like Nellie.  (I loved LHP and really loved when all the kids would turn on Nellie.  Remember the time she pretended being crippled and Laura pushed her down the hill and into the creek?  Awesome.)

Note: This is a long shirt not a short dress.  Skinny jeans are necessary.

Leather Tuscadero

The combination of this jacket, striped scarf and harmonica necklace reminds me of Leather Tuscadero from "Happy Days".  Even though it borders on becoming a bit of a costume, I don't care.  I love it and if anyone has anything to say about it we can "take it to the mattresses".

w.t.j. outfit

 I have more white shirts and jeans than The Gap.  I have heard everything about my little uniform.  So boring.  In desperate need of color.  Blah. Blah. Blah.  I have tried to spread my wings and venture out to other things and have done pretty well, lately.  (Usually venturing out means black t-shirts.)

But few things are more comfortable and nothing is easier than my w.t.j. (white t-shirt jean) outfits.  Especially on sleepy mornings when I don't have the energy to coordinate my clothes.   Sometimes my outfit begins and ends with the t-shirt and jeans but with such a simple outfit I can jazz it up with a few accessories.  The base pieces for w.t.j. outfits are inexpensive and accessories can be worn with other outfits - so I can get the most bang for my buck. 

The jersey scarf is imprinted with a Japanese Shibori design and the sandals are suede and both, of course, are cute. (w/ regular white t-shirt or tissue tee and straight leg, medium rinse blue jeans)