Ikat In The Best Of Times

After my husband took pictures of this outfit, he dropped me off at a local Mexican restaurant where I was meeting some girlfriends for Booze Book Club.

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I got there a bit early and so I decided to sit in the bar, by myself, and have a drink.

I told the waiter I was waiting for some girls for book club. He looked at me with obvious surprise. “What club?” He asked astonished.

Book Club.” Emphasis on the “k.”

“Ohhhhhhh. I thought you said something else.” I giggled, because I thought I knew what he had thought I had said. That would probably make for a more interesting club, but alas, Book Club it is.

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I think deep down I am a loner, because some of my favorite moments are spent in solitude.

I loved sitting there gulping daintily-sipping enjoying my margarita while I watched the people coming and going around me.

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The book choice last month was “You Before Me,” by Jojo Moyes. I was very hesitant to read it that month because I had read reviews stating it was gloomy and I did not want the book to send me into a spiral of sadness.

But my friend read it first and assured me that whilst it was a very sad book, it was not overly depressing.

I read it and found this to be true.

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What I am saying is: the book is good.

Having a margarita by yourself is better.

Having a margarita with friends is the best.

I know because I chose to have a margarita by myself and one with the girls. And four margaritas on a table are better than one.

That’s just basic math that they don’t teach in school.

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Did you sense me stalling here?

Avoiding the issue at hand?

I think it is obvious by now that I have been trying to distract you with books and margaritas to keep your eyes averted from my imperfections.

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Aw, well, just have a margarita and we will all feel better.

It is nice to see my favorite winter staple making an appearance again. Last year I purchased the Ruffled Sweater Vest from Anthropologie in two colors and I wear them all of the time. They have a new version this year with a cool ombre effect. The Anthropologie Ikat top was a popback that I got for 80% off (sorry, sold out). I love it and it is one of my absolute best deals. The Paige Cords were a find at Nordstrom Rack last year (and now I desperately want to find them if they ever go on sale in forest green). The thighs were happily earned from pints of Baskin Robbins Ice Cream.

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Do you ever go places by yourself? One of my very favorite things to do is go to the movies alone.

One bucket of popcorn + one girl = Happiness.

I really think I missed my calling as a math teacher hermit.

Yellow Vest, Yellow Vest

What are you made of?

Corduroy…corduroy.

But it’s not your fauuuu-llllt.

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Actually, I love the corduroy of this vest. I love this vest. I first reviewed it here and noted that it would be an impractical full price purchase for someone living in Southern California. Unfortunately, that someone would be me.

And in my true fashion, I waited for this Corduroy Puffer Vest to be a price I could justify. For me this ended up being second cuts. So, $40 instead of $118. It is sold out, but I just got mine last week. There are probably still a few in store if you want one. I would just call customer service.

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And I love it.

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And my husband loves it.

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And smelly dog loves it.

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And I have gotten to wear it all of one time so far. Good thing winter is right around the corner. I mean after Spring, Summer and Fall. But then, I will get to wear this vest again!

I can’t wait.

Good thing I’m patient…

Yellow Vest, Yellow Vest

You’re obviously not my favorite vest.

Sorry, it’s only ’cause we live out west.

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Do you have a favorite vest? Please tell me you could guess which lyrics I massacred for this post.

Outfits From My Closet

Well, after yesterday’s kind of heavy post about entitlement, it is only natural that I do a post the very next day showcasing some outfits from my closet. Materialism. It’s another beast I fight. And when I say fight, I mean I hold its long slimy head to my bosom and gently whisper in its ear, “Are you cold? Cause you look like you could use another sweater.”

The outfits I wanted to show today are made up of pieces I have all ready worn on this blog before. But I wanted to show how I have worn them lately.

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Do you remember my Modena dress? I admit she doesn’t get as much wear as I would like her to. I think it is because my husband just doesn’t like this dress. And as much as I strut around and claim that doesn’t bother me or affect if I will wear it, it does. Last week I wore the dress with my fun faun leggings from Modcloth (I also wore the leggings here.) And he liked it!

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My Ruffled Sweater Vest! How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Here I paired it with my Old Navy mustard pants and a white tee. I don’t know why I like this outfit so much, wonders the daughter of a beekeeper.

But I do. I do.

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If you have been wondering if I had been neglecting my overalls since I posted about them here, I haven’t. I am still madly in love with them. I still get strange looks when I go out. This is when the Materialism Beast unfolds itself from around my waist, lifts his head up and hisses.

It’s not my fault if it spits hay at people in the process.

What is your favorite way to wear something you have had for awhile in your closet?

* P.S. Eye shared this on The Pleated Poppy!

Overalls?

I will admit it. This is my very first pair of overalls. Well, maybe I had a pair when I was four or five, but I have long since forgotten. When I was pregnant with both of my children, I longed to be the pregnant girl in overalls. Alas, I am not one of those girls that is cute whilst pregnant (and, no, I am not pregnant. That would be impossible, just so ya know). And so I skipped over them. Never bought them, but enviously stared at those who did.

I started seeing them pop up again. And I started stewing. Then I saw that picture on the Pottery Barn Teen catalog and my interest grew. The final straw was when Free People offered a distressed corduroy pair in the gold color.

I was sold…Or they were sold…To me. Somethin’ like that.

I have been trying to put together different tops with the overalls. I pretty much want to wear them all of the time. Here is what I created:

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This is my favorite look. It is a Free People lace shirt I purchased from Nordstrom Rack in the spring. I like it with H & M’s lace flats. The necklace is care of Simply Livly on Etsy.

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I paired it with a denim jacket. I definitely look rustic here.

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And a Free People cardigan.

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I tried the overalls with Anthropologie’s Daydrifter Tee.

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I also paired it with a striped long sleeve layering top from H & M. I believe this was $14.

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And went full on country farm girl with a Johnny Was flannel shirt and vintage boots. The turquoise necklace is from Simply Livly on Etsy.

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This sweater was purchased last winter at Forever 21. I think it was $15. I have a mad crush on it.

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I bought this top with my mother-in-law during my Nordstrom Rack birthday spree. It is made by Free People. I could never find it on their site. And I did look. The color is my favorite paired with mustard. The earrings are from Anthropologie many years ago.

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And because I could not help myself. And because he wanted a ride. And maybe because I am more than a tad bit crazy…I put a little gnome in my overalls. My husband refused to go out with me like this. The wee little fellow was sad. ; )

So, what do you think of the overall trend? And would you have gone shopping with me and my little gnome friend (he was made by the lovely Moongoat on Etsy

* I shared this on The Pleated Poppy!