Back To Normal

Sometimes I get fevered and go off the deep-end.  Then, inevitably, my sanity returns.

I know many of my outfit-posts have been crazy lately.  Now, the force of equilibrium is in effect and I'm sliding back to normal.

I found a very delightful and very normal pink skirt this week thrifting.  It fits me perfectly and it urges me to dress like a normal person again.  With something so cute whispering in my ear, I can't resist.

I paired the skirt with a new black top that has a pretty black bow sitting on the bust.  Because they're the same color, the bow isn't very apparent in the photos, but it's there and it looks nice.

Your comments are welcomed.

Something Completely Different

I'm bored with the same old outfit-posts I've been putting up.  Same location; same clothes.  I want to do something completely different.  (You Monty Python fans will catch that reference.)

So!  I gave it some thought and here's what I came up with.  All of the pictures below display the pretty new necklace Poppy gave me, including the last one which is a close-up.  The third picture shows a luxurious green scarf my friend Kara gave me.

I'm eager to hear your comments about any aspect of the clothes or the pictures.

My Monster Outfit

I feel like Dr. Frankenstein, the mad-scientist who made a monster out of spare parts.  Tell me if I'm that crazy...

I have two dresses, neither of which fit me.  One has a beautiful top, but the bottom is too short even for use as a tunic.  The other dress has adorable ruffles on the bottom but isn't long enough to reach up to my shoulders.

Can you see where we're heading?

I put the two dresses together and created a new one, a monster.  Actually, I like the way it looks.  (Photos below.)

The only problem is I assembled it with bobby-pins and need to learn how to sew.  I plan to do that and joining these two dresses will be my first major project.  Several of you (e.g., Diana) are great seamstresses and inspire me to acquire that talent.

Have you ever done anything like this?

A Wonderful Day

Guys, thank you for the sweet messages.  They warmed my heart and set the tone for a terrific day.  And it's not over yet!

I like long walks on the beach so when my friend Nicole (whose birthday is also today) asked me to join her and her dog Luna, I leapt at the chance.  Robin joined us and took this picture.  It's lovely weather for this time of year, clear and slightly-crisp.

 Nicole loves her doggie and, despite Luna's aging and mounting health problems, Nicole walks her every day and loves her like crazy.  As a fellow animal-lover, I relate to that.

In terms of gifts, I got several great ones!

Here is a chocolate motorcycle from Robin, photographed on a cool plate I bought a few years ago from Fishes Eddie, a place in NYC that sells china from restaurants that have gone out of business.

 Robin also bought me a beautiful large wooden bowl which I plan to use to display my collection of baseballs.  I bring home a ball from every stadium I visit around the country and have a good number already.

This is a very nice, beautifully-made chef's knife from Japan that I asked for specifically.  (It's from Williams-Sonoma.)  I love to cook and, with this knife, I'll either make fabulous meals or become known as 9-Finger Louie.

I also received two other nice gifts: a very pretty necklace from Poppy and a green velvet scarf from the old friend Kara.  I took a dozen pictures of the necklace but it kept reflecting back the flash and none of the pictures came out.  I'll try again tomorrow.  Thanks, Poppy!

Now, off to dinner with friends.  So far, a great day!  Thank you for being part of it.

It's My Birthday!

Today is my birthday!

In the hustle-bustle of ordinary life where petty annoyances often present themselves, I try to stop and remember what's important: my life and good fortune.

I'm grateful to be alive.  Life is fragile and shouldn't be taken for granted.  I lost a brother and mother at terribly early ages.  I myself almost bit the dust a few years ago in a motorcycle-accident.  Every day is something to be thankful for.

I'm grateful to be able to express myself on this blog.  It offers me an opportunity I never had before.  To be able to talk openly and post pictures displaying my true nature has been deeply transformative for me.

And I'm grateful for my friends.  Friends are a bedrock of support and you guys have been very helpful to me.  I thank you for that.

Let's have fun today!

Purr by Katy Perry

Katy Perry has a new perfume out, called "Purr."

Her ad for it is amazing: she's dressed as a cat in a vinyl bodysuit with a tail and ball of yarn.

The perfume is sold at Nordstroms and comes in two sizes: 1.7 oz. for $45 and 3.4 oz. for $65.

I don't know how much perfume costs.  Is this high, low or just right?

A Simple Look

I like to try new things.  The results frequently surprise me.

For example, while I prefer snazzy clothes, I'm open to wearing conservative clothes, too.  Sometimes I enjoy how they look.

This shirt, for example.  It's more conservative than I normally like but there's something appealing about its mix of colors.  And the texture of the shirt is interesting, especially when paired with a skirt that also has nice, subtle texture.

Here are two pictures of the shirt and skirt, and then two adding a matching sweater.  Which way do you like it?