tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26688418503582308582024-03-12T23:20:59.603-05:00The Chic LibrarianBringing style to the stacks . . . one outfit at a time.Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.comBlogger234125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-6332537972883464612014-09-11T17:45:00.000-05:002014-09-11T17:45:14.930-05:00Post-Vacation Style Thoughts<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I packed sensibly and lightly for our Canada trip. Black knit skirt, white denim skirt, emerald green jeans, white linen shirt, snake print shell, floaty blue and black tunic, black tee, black and white cardigan, black sandals. Earrings, necklace, watch, light scarf for the plane. On the day of my flight, it rained, so I had to add a jacket and proper lace-up shoes. This all fit in my carry-on, which seemed to have more hair products in it than clothes. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My trusty purple leopard bag.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This all worked very well for the sunny and warm weather we had. I was content to wear the linen shirt with everything. I knew I would shop in Montreal, and I did, finding jewelry and shoes and a scarf.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Usually, when I return from a vacation, I feel like burning the few things I had to wear EVERY DAY. When I came home from Montreal, I found myself wanting to wear those very simple outfits again. In particular, I didn't want to wear a lot of color. My first week back I wore only black and blue. This week I wore only black and red (gray and red on one day). Depending on the weather, I might wear yellow as my color next week. Yellow and white, yellow and gray, etc., and maybe just a shot of yellow at that - a scarf or a necklace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm sure I'll return to bright color combinations eventually; I'm not purging my closet or anything CRAZY. I just want to enjoy simpler choices and more neutrals for a while. Plus I am looking forward to my two new pairs of boots providing a punch of orange (Fluevog suede Milla) or teal (Cobb Hill Bethany lace-ups).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.fluevog.com/code/images/colour_image/0000009354/retina_detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://www.fluevog.com/code/images/colour_image/0000009354/retina_detail.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Milla - so pretty!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Cobb Hill Bethany Blue/Teal" height="200" src="http://s1.onlineshoes.com/images/br380/womens-cobb-hill-bethany-blue-teal-392190_366_45.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">They zip up the back!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I got both of these on sale, but they were still pretty spendy. The Cobb Hill boots come in a variety of rich colors and leathers too. Just a thought.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And my favorite souvenir from Montreal, my fat horsie fridge magnet from my generous and clever friend Heidi:</span></div>
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Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-74506740526815721702014-09-10T17:37:00.001-05:002014-09-10T17:37:30.106-05:00Montreal, Tout Alors!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Heidi and I went to the remarkable St. Joseph's Oratory on Mount Royal, Canada's third largest church, and the third largest dome in the world. St. Peter's is the largest, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Our_Lady_of_Peace_%28Yamoussoukro%29" target="_blank">this remarkable place</a> is number two. I'm not a regular church-goer, but I appreciate the emotional intensity of a place where millions of people have focused their hearts and minds on both their own troubles and the power of God to alleviate them. Or perhaps they were filled with joy and thanks when they sat in those pews, or climbed, kneeling, up those many steps. I always light a candle when I visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">Then we came home and fell on our beds because we were very hot and tired. Lovely, lovely air-conditioning. We had perfectly delicious sushi for dinner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">On Monday, Heidi and Pam hit the airport early - but sadly were delayed for hours, both on the plane and in the airport. That kind of ennui makes me desperate and homicidal. I had booked a later flight, so I went downtown with my suitcase, and ditched it with the pleasant people at the Museum of Contemporary Art. I saw wonderful installations large and small. There was a short film of an artist talking about her memories of her mother's reel-to-reel tape recorder; how fascinated she was with it as a child, and how her distant mother found a connection through the device with her daughter. This film ran side by side with footage of the artist manipulating the recorder in various ways. I found this very touching. My parents also had a reel to reel and I have equally fond memories of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">I had a leisurely lunch across the street - I pointed to another diner and said "I'll have that salad and a glass of wine." Then I took a moderately sweltering bus (comfy seat by the window at least) to the airport and came home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was such a <b>great </b>trip: the company, the city, the food, the sights, the shopping. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> I talked with Pam and Heidi a fair amount about the expense and coming to terms with it. I suppose it was a turning point for me in feeling comfortable with taking a nice vacation and all that entails. I'm so close, so close to being out of debt completely, and then a two thousand dollar trip once a year will truly be no big deal. It wasn't much of a deal this year. The apartment was cheap, the flight not too bad, and obviously, I took the bus or walked everywhere. I didn't buy a fur coat. I bought two pairs of shoes, a really nice scarf and a variety of souvenirs. I had an amazing meal/experience. That was key, feeling like I was spending my money on an <b>experience</b>, not just stuff. And when I came home and found the orange suede Fluevog boots at my local store for $200 off their original price, that felt like pure <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagniappe" target="_blank">lagniappe</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Of course, I haven't gotten my credit card bill yet. </span></span>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-74826732467811327632014-08-29T16:49:00.000-05:002014-08-29T16:49:33.388-05:00Montreal August 2014 Part One<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I just returned from a wanderjahr through the streets of Montreal. Except wanderjahr usually implies tents, backpacks and beef jerky, and we were staying in a lovely Mile End apartment and snacking on sopressata and Brie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Montreal is a lovely city and we had a wonderful visit. Here are some of the highlights.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">First, our rental apartment on Avenue du Parc! We each had our own bedroom, with a full kitchen and laundry included, and a fantastic shower. No low flow shower heads here. We were also in a wildly diverse neighborhood, with restaurants and bakeries and shops to suit a Hasidic/Muslim/hipster/student community. Those fantastic <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=hasidic+sable+hats&oq=hasidic+sable+hats&aqs=chrome..69i57.3712j0j4&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=0&ie=UTF-8" target="_blank">shtreimel</a>! We tried the Montreal bagels and didn't think they were all that, but the pastries and sushi and Thai food were delicious. Plus, we were across the street from fabulous markets for fruit and cheese and wine and maple bacon potato chips.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">On our first day we strolled down Rue St. Denis and just happened to stumble on some amazing shoe stores. OK, I knew there was a Fluevog store there, but I didn't know that I would buy sandals and boots at <a href="http://www.boutiquelemarcheur.ca/" target="_blank">La Boutique Marcheur</a>. The owner was quite cheerful after our visit. I bought a pair of teal lace-up Cobb Hill boots and red leather Fidelio sandals. THEN we went to the Fluevog store and tried on many things. They had the boots I want in my size but not in the lovely rusty orange I want, so I will check the Chicago store, and if they don't have them, will order them online. After this arduous experienc,e we enjoyed a plate of steak frites and walked back to our apartment. On our way, we found jewelry and funny t-shirts and souvenirs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That evening we indulged in the tasting menu at <a href="http://www.restaurant-toque.com/en/dinner-menu" target="_blank">Tocque!</a> it is worth commemorating the seven courses. We began with two glasses of champagne to compare and contrast, and during the meal we had a friendly and extensive lesson in wines. Thanks to Heidi and Pam for generously sharing their glasses with me; I couldn't have handled the full flight, but I did enjoy a sip from each.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Scallops with blueberry water and beebalm mousse </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Swordfish tartare with watermelon and daikon radish</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Foie Gras, brioche, pistachio crumble and peaches (my first foie gras!)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Barbecue quail, polenta and a corn foam </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lamb, merguez sausage and petite vegetables</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A fabulous cheese plate - with slivered beets and melted cheese on a slice of pickle! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sponge cake, sorbet (maybe currant?) and vanilla cream</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tiny Maple cream candies and tomato/watermelon gems</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The whole experience was cheerful, unhurried and completely satisfying. Hats off to Tocque! (hee hee). When we emerged from the restaurant on to the Place du Congress, the square was filled with dry ice fog, drifting among the trees and benches. The fountain had a ring of fire burning in it. Magical. We took the bus home, slightly stunned, talking about that amazing pickle.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-72595462065185228902013-12-27T18:00:00.000-06:002013-12-27T18:00:00.811-06:00Last Purchases of 2013<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year I realized I'd had it with freezing knees, those square inches between the hem of my wool skirt and the top of my boots. I'm not wearing long skirts like I used to, and I am <b>cold</b>. The object of my affection was a thousand dollar <a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/fleurette-stand-collar-cashmere-coat/3654067?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=1104&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-1_3_C" target="_blank">Fleurette coat at Nordstrom's</a>, though I realized that was not happening.</span><br />
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V6ntJVftGyF9cLoR0V09y6EbIZ7SuOcSyvrMfrkiltNNLjLR0N+L37F+CR6OpBfpDUf5GX86sK6nPonsqXPZmj+zpq4/gjJ6DRU6etU6eqFFUW2q64qMU28t4L0FBN0TybW0ENVp7tLZ9C+qdUvDeWFLzTw/YetECPl62mdU502LdspsnVYvVOMnGS96ZvPVBqXHaLhnhbpLo+coyhJfBSMV1m1RjtbVbqUd7sZyx3ydUcsnVpJra+iw8ZlqE/FfJreBWnfSEIRlCEIwIBkIAABYAP/Z" style="height: 176px; margin-top: 0px; width: 141px;" title="" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Fleurette Cashmere Long Coat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But there were some more reasonable possibilities at Lord and Taylor and Macy's; Anne Klein, Jones New York, etc. There was even a <a href="http://www.lordandtaylor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?urlRequestType=Base&catalogId=10102&categoryId=&productId=2553611&errorViewName=ProductDisplayErrorView&urlLangId=-1&langId=-1&top_category=&parent_category_rn=&storeId=10151" target="_blank">Cinzia Rocca coat</a> that I might have gotten up the nerve to charge on my card.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="irc_mut" height="200" id="irc_mi" src="http://www.ruelala.com/images/product/141199/1411996682_RLLD_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="159" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Cinzia Rocca Due Wing Collar Alpaca Coat</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of the more affordable coats were blends of wool and nylon, and I suspected they wouldn't be all that warm. Some seemed warm, but were itchy around the throat. One Forecaster of Boston coat was gorgeous, but had shortish sleeves, which made no sense to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then I found it. (Though mine is black.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=98377472" class="decoded" height="320" src="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=98377472" width="320" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.lordandtaylor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/lord-and-taylor/mixed-media-three-quarter-jacket" target="_blank">Portrait Mixed Media Coat at Lord and Taylor</a>. The model's picture, for a change, does not do it justice. It has a detachable hood. It has deep pockets. It is easy to button. It is not too heavy. The cuffs unfold to keep your hands SUPER warm. It is incredibly soft around my neck and face. It was 60% off (and even more marked down now).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I wore it home. I may have taken a nap under it. I wore it Christmas Eve downtown in single digit temperatures, and was toasty. And it even moves well when I walk (down is so stiff). I feel like I'm in the Narnia wardrobe when I'm wearing it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then, being on a tear, and in utter contrast, I bought this:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=93178311" class="decoded" height="200" src="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=93178311" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Anne Klein Asymmetrical Quilted Coat</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/anne-klein-coat-asymmetrical-quilted-leather-jacket?ID=838338&CategoryID=120#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D4%26kws%3Danne%20klein%20quilted%20leather%26slotId%3D1" target="_blank">It was 60% off at Macy's</a>.
I've wanted a quilted leather jacket since my former boss showed up at
work in one about a decade ago. She wore it like a blazer, in a tough
but sweet outfit. Moto jacket, floral skirt.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And it is pretty darn cool. It's hanging in my bedroom, letting some of the packing marks relax, letting the leather bloom, as it were. I have a gray and white floral challis skirt that might be good, and an orange pleated silk skirt that might be good too. I kind of like the idea of schoolgirl plaid with it too (which, ahem, I don't own).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, my last purchases of 2013 are all about NEED (warm, long, soft, affordable) and WANT (short, leather, cool). Here's to a little of both for all of us in 2014!</span> </span><br />
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<br />Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-1923555939749578272013-12-26T16:14:00.002-06:002013-12-26T16:14:24.325-06:00Buffy and Buttered Toast<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Fifteen years ago, our very elderly cat had to be put to sleep. For about a day we caught our breath, and then I saw a mouse in the kitchen. It's not like Keisha could catch them anymore, but apparently her presence was enough to keep them out of sight. Three days later, a friend asked me if I would consider taking in a stray kitten that was living under her neighbor's garage. I would.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She had to be tempted out with a can of tuna, but she was very hungry indeed, so I wrapped her and her needle-like claws in a towel and brought her home. I watched her for a couple of days, cautious but fierce, with a glamorous tortoise coat of bronze and brown. It was 1998, so of course I named her Buffy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She proved herself an efficient slayer, but a bit anxious and neurotic. She was particular about her food, and I worried that she didn't eat enough. Sometimes she could be encouraged, and I would find Ben sitting on the kitchen floor. "Buffy wants me to watch her eat." Ben even allowed her to sit on his lap at dinner once in a while. I would see a long paw snake past his fork to snag a green bean. Then Ben would sigh, and mutter "I'm putting Buffy away." Too often we forgot about her, and opened the bedroom door guiltily to see narrowed eyes glaring at us from the bed. Every morning she would intently watch me eat a muffin or toast, and then finish off the crumbs. Buttered toast was her single favorite food.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Buffy patrolled our yard in the evening, and occasionally went off to cat bars to meet her admirers, but only brought home her prey once; a noisy cicada. I asked Ben to take it from her, but he called up from the basement, "There's nothing left to take, it's like KFC down here, just legs and wings!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She lay on our computer back when they were big enough to drape a cat on.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ouPwh1mbBRA/UrybPMeUkXI/AAAAAAAACb0/yA6pib-VFL0/s1600/Matrix+Buffy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ouPwh1mbBRA/UrybPMeUkXI/AAAAAAAACb0/yA6pib-VFL0/s320/Matrix+Buffy.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When flat screens came along, she lay in front of the monitor to distract us, and if I leaned close to her, nibbled my hair. If I ignored her, she would reach over to the keyboard and tap my fingers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She was a very shy animal, and cat sitters commented that they rarely if ever saw her (and then she was backing away from them), but she liked a chosen few friends and would allow them to pet her. My lap would do until Ben came home, and then it was all about The Boy.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmSb9m8Q4eY/UryehFGZMVI/AAAAAAAACcA/9xCsAb7ZWEg/s1600/Buffy+and+Ben+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmSb9m8Q4eY/UryehFGZMVI/AAAAAAAACcA/9xCsAb7ZWEg/s320/Buffy+and+Ben+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She had company nearly all her life in the form of big Riley, but it was detente more than friendship. In the picture below, she (on the right) is about to bite him.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gr4VvPYK2BE/UryhJ937v2I/AAAAAAAACcg/g_tbcrbwI2A/s1600/argument.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gr4VvPYK2BE/UryhJ937v2I/AAAAAAAACcg/g_tbcrbwI2A/s320/argument.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Atoo8t57Fm8/Uryfo4nFMAI/AAAAAAAACcM/2I3oPcsnYCI/s1600/pet+patrol.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We moved only once in her life, a good thing, because it was traumatic for her, and for weeks, if there was an odd noise (like construction or the trains), Buffy took shelter in the sink.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pOWam5Rx8Cc/UrygNwqKCsI/AAAAAAAACcU/rs4TZONe_3o/s1600/Nervous+Buffy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pOWam5Rx8Cc/UrygNwqKCsI/AAAAAAAACcU/rs4TZONe_3o/s320/Nervous+Buffy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She liked cool spaces, and usually sat near an open window, where as Riley would bask on our heated floors in the winter. I'm with Buffy, it's too damn hot in the condo most of the time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Right before Christmas, she wouldn't eat any breakfast, and was breathing hard. I took her to the vet that morning, and she died at home that evening. It was heart failure - nothing to be done. I am glad she didn't suffer for long, glad to have given her a home, and very glad to have known her, my beautiful little slayer.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oKi6Ikyg1ac/UryiUD1Di2I/AAAAAAAACcw/VidfnwnAFsU/s1600/buffy+2002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oKi6Ikyg1ac/UryiUD1Di2I/AAAAAAAACcw/VidfnwnAFsU/s320/buffy+2002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-17429117439099704252013-12-10T13:08:00.000-06:002013-12-10T13:08:02.844-06:00Thailand<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />Ben spent Thanksgiving in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, traveling with his Dad's family. They were refreshing a decades-old family connection between Ben's grandfather, Brace Johnson, and the church he helped to establish. Ben had a great time, as you can imagine, and also found the church compound very peaceful and refreshing to the spirit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He spent several happy hours with elephants.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WGSjnrZeUMY/UqdkhQK3sNI/AAAAAAAACa8/sG-Wzeknjtk/s1600/Thai+elephants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WGSjnrZeUMY/UqdkhQK3sNI/AAAAAAAACa8/sG-Wzeknjtk/s320/Thai+elephants.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Including watching them paint, which he found fascinating.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-50EZAkkrCcM/UqdktXPeNoI/AAAAAAAACbE/Am0_jYU-r0o/s1600/Elephant+paintings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-50EZAkkrCcM/UqdktXPeNoI/AAAAAAAACbE/Am0_jYU-r0o/s320/Elephant+paintings.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He learned to be cautious of the food (despite loving American Thai restaurants):</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBeS51uQMTI/Uqdk-wRT5bI/AAAAAAAACbM/jMBClXSK0EQ/s1600/Thai+peppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBeS51uQMTI/Uqdk-wRT5bI/AAAAAAAACbM/jMBClXSK0EQ/s320/Thai+peppers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And when he got to my house he was very, very tired.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1GQZ17ibAWg/UqdlX-zinrI/AAAAAAAACbU/4jtXCuAz6ww/s1600/ben+visits+november+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1GQZ17ibAWg/UqdlX-zinrI/AAAAAAAACbU/4jtXCuAz6ww/s320/ben+visits+november+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So Riley made sure Ben had a thorough rest.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JfA20sx7Jrg/UqdmBHqZGzI/AAAAAAAACbc/jK-51ozdXoU/s1600/Riley+and+Ben+November+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JfA20sx7Jrg/UqdmBHqZGzI/AAAAAAAACbc/jK-51ozdXoU/s320/Riley+and+Ben+November+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-25080611707198708002013-12-06T18:00:00.000-06:002013-12-06T18:00:00.970-06:00Day After Outfits and Houndstooth<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u1A_9ZVlxXg/UqJDo2WQY2I/AAAAAAAACak/N2lWQKQfW0w/s1600/November+29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u1A_9ZVlxXg/UqJDo2WQY2I/AAAAAAAACak/N2lWQKQfW0w/s320/November+29.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is what I wore the day after Thanksgiving, when no one wants anything feeling tight <b>anywhere</b>: my Dana Buchman jersey dress, leggings, a cotton cardigan, and Born boots. Aaaaaaaah.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BwuP926x4QE/UqJEHkcFODI/AAAAAAAACas/EVYMslsjyhg/s1600/December+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BwuP926x4QE/UqJEHkcFODI/AAAAAAAACas/EVYMslsjyhg/s320/December+3.jpg" width="178" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I got my new Ann Taylor houndstooth skirt in the mail and wore it the very next day. This is a sign of true affection. The only minor drawback to this lovely item is that it does not have a kick pleat, and makes it hard for me to take my usual long strides. If I had know that . . . I would have bought it anyway, as it is precisely the length and print and fabric that I wanted. I think the skirt has rotated slightly in the above picture, which is why the pattern looks wonky on one side.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My little tripod gave up the ghost after a year of faithful service. Not bad for seven dollars. I never plan to make any more effort than pointing my phone at myself in the kitchen, so I don't want to invest in real equipment. Right now I'm looking at a flexible coil or feet with little grippy hands at one end, something like this:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="a-dynamic-image a-stretch-horizontal" data-a-dynamic-image="{"http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/314NEoLTIGL._SX425_.jpg":[425,425],"http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/314NEoLTIGL.jpg":[500,500],"http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/314NEoLTIGL._SX385_.jpg":[385,385],"http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/314NEoLTIGL._SX342_.jpg":[342,342],"http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/314NEoLTIGL._SX466_.jpg":[466,466]}" data-old-hires="" height="320" id="landingImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/314NEoLTIGL.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: 500px; max-width: 500px;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4 class="a-size-large a-spacing-none" id="title">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Cyanics i-3 Flexible Portable Stand</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> But until that arrives, I'll post pictures of Ben and anything else that comes to mind. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-81927011273933551282013-11-28T13:11:00.000-06:002013-11-28T13:11:00.835-06:00The Empty Closet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I dreamed I was hanging out with Tim Gunn last night, as one does, and may I say he is just as charming and kind in dream life as he is on TV. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyway, when I woke up, I confronted my double closets (which face my bed), and was struck with the vision of what they will look like when I retire. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.disordered.org/Studio/thumbnails/thumb_20100926095923_dsc_3271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o86QjlR-hYA/UpYyJo28bmI/AAAAAAAACaM/Xf4WQSbIT3o/s1600/abandoned+closet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o86QjlR-hYA/UpYyJo28bmI/AAAAAAAACaM/Xf4WQSbIT3o/s1600/abandoned+closet.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The elegant photo was lifted from <a href="http://www.disordered.org/Studio/index.php?showimage=210" target="_blank">It Must Be F/8</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">95% of my wardrobe is for work. I don't wear my pencil skirts or silk blouses or heels on my days off. I wear jeans in various shades and simple tops, and cute comfortable shoes. I wear almost no jewelry other than small earrings and a watch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not that I'm retiring any time soon, but we know how quickly time passes when you work 40 hours a week. I figure I'll work another 12 years, if I'm lucky and can retire at 66. I'd better stop buying clothes at least three years before I actually retire, in order to save some money and not wind up with a closet full of new things that I will just have to give away. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'll need a few dressy outfits for warm and cold weather (weddings and such) and a bunch of coats and jackets and scarves. I'll wear my watches regularly and my other jewelry once a month or so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And then what to do with all of that empty space?</span>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-87605611512545143712013-11-27T11:38:00.001-06:002013-11-27T11:38:21.212-06:00Meet Me in St. Louis<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g1dtpPu6yE0/UpYdl9JLGMI/AAAAAAAACZM/rOLO4-2DpPo/s1600/Self-lit+shelving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">No cliche is safe from me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I was in St. Louis for the Library Journal Design Institute a few weeks ago, a happy but tiring trip, as I drove down one afternoon and back the next night. We are embarking on some major space consideration which will lead to some big projects in the next three to five years. I hoped the institute would give me some forward-thinking ideas, and I also wanted to see the grand Central Library in its newly renovated state.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The director, Waller McGuire, is quietly charismatic (OK, dreamy), and you can see how the community - residents and city leaders - were compelled by his vision of a reinvented downtown and a magnificent library to serve the people. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Honestly, my pictures are kind of crappy, so you should just go to the <a href="http://central.slpl.org/" target="_blank">Central Library's site</a> and enjoy the gorgeous pictures of the original Beaux Arts building and the amazing 2012 renovation. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xq424aVyYTw/UpYbM_izRXI/AAAAAAAACYo/XWgW5Mqke_o/s1600/Italian+ceiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xq424aVyYTw/UpYbM_izRXI/AAAAAAAACYo/XWgW5Mqke_o/s320/Italian+ceiling.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The original ceiling in the Fine Arts Room re-creates the La Badia Church in Florence, Italy.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J3gT832SOV8/UpYbS5mOV2I/AAAAAAAACYw/UipbQUCJJU4/s1600/Central+Library+exterior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J3gT832SOV8/UpYbS5mOV2I/AAAAAAAACYw/UipbQUCJJU4/s320/Central+Library+exterior.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Exterior of the original building.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NybnE747y80/UpYdKkcci_I/AAAAAAAACZA/1FFm5SJa12w/s1600/Alabaster+floor+lamps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NybnE747y80/UpYdKkcci_I/AAAAAAAACZA/1FFm5SJa12w/s320/Alabaster+floor+lamps.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ten foot high original alabaster floor lamps, valued at $250,000 apiece.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e5scyibKrus/UpYdKsFMEeI/AAAAAAAACY8/k6JYGBy4cEw/s1600/Ceiling+medallions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e5scyibKrus/UpYdKsFMEeI/AAAAAAAACY8/k6JYGBy4cEw/s320/Ceiling+medallions.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">One of many ceiling medallions, this quote from Kurt Vonnegut.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g1dtpPu6yE0/UpYdl9JLGMI/AAAAAAAACZU/j5NKkfjJJjQ/s1600/Self-lit+shelving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g1dtpPu6yE0/UpYdl9JLGMI/AAAAAAAACZU/j5NKkfjJJjQ/s320/Self-lit+shelving.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Their new shelving is self-lit with LED bulbs . . .</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_WKfrkQ4r4/UpYdmTP0U4I/AAAAAAAACZY/cTb4yN1XTiQ/s1600/Tall+self-lit+shelving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U_WKfrkQ4r4/UpYdmTP0U4I/AAAAAAAACZY/cTb4yN1XTiQ/s320/Tall+self-lit+shelving.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> . . . and was designed just for St. Louis.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--gVuqFqqb1w/UpYeuy47l-I/AAAAAAAACZo/nApu5ULW8eE/s1600/Children%27s+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--gVuqFqqb1w/UpYeuy47l-I/AAAAAAAACZo/nApu5ULW8eE/s320/Children%27s+room.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">All of the quotes throughout the building were chosen by patrons of the library.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I8XLexV-0Sg/UpYf0Ym0sqI/AAAAAAAACZ0/B8KrZaYgD-0/s1600/leaded+glass+shelving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I8XLexV-0Sg/UpYf0Ym0sqI/AAAAAAAACZ0/B8KrZaYgD-0/s320/leaded+glass+shelving.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Original leaded glass book cases in their special architecture collection.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ATLNhmwZeiQ/UpYgGkaoyQI/AAAAAAAACZ8/S_RiI-rL6Ng/s1600/wallpaper+history.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ATLNhmwZeiQ/UpYgGkaoyQI/AAAAAAAACZ8/S_RiI-rL6Ng/s320/wallpaper+history.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For all your wallpaper research needs.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I can't agree with all of their practices - for example, I never saw any desk staff (except for Circulation) actually <i>helping </i>anyone - but the building was packed with patrons. The security staff was friendly and knowledgeable and told me lots of fun things about the building. Their new auditorium was once a coal bin that served the massive boilers in the original building. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="irc_mut" height="307" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSBN-SbTS0ElFDvP3_95G5vgsYUMXYVnJsuUVLDszwYH6G1WyDo6Q" style="margin-top: 15px;" width="400" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Design Institute was quite interesting. They had general panel discussions of construction, furnishings and space trends, and breakout sessions where they analyzed a particular project with the audience participating. Library Journal hosts these institutes twice a year, previously in Denver, Seattle and Cleveland: basically anywhere with an interesting library big enough to host 150 people. Librarians can attend at no charge, and the institute is underwritten by participating architects and vendors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Because there would be all of those architects and designers there, I fussed over my outfit. I also had to travel in the van for ten hours in whatever I wore. I chose neutrals and my most avant-garde jewelry and hoped for the best. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">No pictures, sorry, but it was basically this outfit, with camel pants:</span><br />
<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696865322354522386" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c4W3yj_i_fY/Tw9U09AuuRI/AAAAAAAAALw/S375dqQIhoA/s320/2012-01-11%2B.png" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 226px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-30913568700905870082013-11-26T10:22:00.002-06:002013-11-26T10:22:33.801-06:00Black and White Cookies<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I felt like one yesterday. I bought an awesome new sweater while shopping with Deborah, and couldn't wait to wear it to work.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QGE4Rhkvn3A/UpTJtQqyr8I/AAAAAAAACYY/TGqLg44OJTo/s1600/November+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QGE4Rhkvn3A/UpTJtQqyr8I/AAAAAAAACYY/TGqLg44OJTo/s320/November+25.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ann Taylor tunic sweater, Talbots wool skirt, Boden boots. The sweater is wool and nylon, very light and warm. The sleeves are the right length and it has a split hem (shirttail hem?) so it doesn't pull over my hips. My ID badge was my jewelry, with big red earrings. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is one of those outfits that isn't super flattering (not much of a visible waist), but oh so delightful to wear!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-72516094827955335132013-11-22T17:30:00.000-06:002013-11-22T17:30:00.066-06:00Finally Friday<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Not exactly a hard week, but some challenging conversations. I try to be a good manager and often feel I miss the mark, but the thing I am getting better at is the "difficult conversation".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When you feel a little anxious, try to look good.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OmfkETc4-rs/Uo_C0gD-fsI/AAAAAAAACYA/MUpo_L3jAUs/s1600/November+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OmfkETc4-rs/Uo_C0gD-fsI/AAAAAAAACYA/MUpo_L3jAUs/s320/November+22.jpg" width="183" /></a></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Almost exactly the outfit I wore on October 9! Different shoes and necklace.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9hOBh0OpOHk/Uo_C_bsmTeI/AAAAAAAACYI/CH7IrwtwASM/s1600/October+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9hOBh0OpOHk/Uo_C_bsmTeI/AAAAAAAACYI/CH7IrwtwASM/s320/October+9.jpg" width="181" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I just returned a gorgeous pair of leopard pumps to Boden because they were just too long. Sad. They would be perfect with this outfit and many others. I will be trying a similar pair from Lord and Taylor and from Talbot's, though the Boden shoes were (obviously) my first choice.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="fancybox-image" height="320" src="http://www.bodenimages.com/productimages/ZoomLarge/13WAUT_AR597_LEO.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="247" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Patsy, now on sale, but only in a 40.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </span></div>
Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-28739119521917255842013-11-18T11:28:00.002-06:002013-11-18T13:33:29.547-06:00Big Lady, Little Lady<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LV_QoEjP1XY/UopNkO5KqNI/AAAAAAAACXw/dvlCmfPW3_U/s1600/Big+lady%252C+little+lady+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LV_QoEjP1XY/UopNkO5KqNI/AAAAAAAACXw/dvlCmfPW3_U/s320/Big+lady%252C+little+lady+2013.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Museum of Contemporary Art, November 2013</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Darren and I went to hear Susan Orlean speak at Northwestern Law School (Chicago Humanities Festival strikes again) and then had lunch at Mity Nice in Water Tower. A fantastic day!</span>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-53536493569127627192013-11-15T18:00:00.000-06:002013-11-16T14:28:41.456-06:00Putting the Cart Before the Horse<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I spend a lot of time window shopping online (I know, you're stunned), so I thought I would collate everything I have in various carts and see what it amounts to. Then I sorted the list in various ways; by type, by store. I am omitting the dozens of things that i am watching on Ebay, or we would be here all day, and Sundance doesn't save your items in a cart more than a few days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Leather and fleece boots (L. L. Bean)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Gray lace dress (Garnet Hill)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Gray Eileen Fisher wool dress (Garnet Hill) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Red shirttail cashmere sweater (Garnet Hill) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Red polka-dot sweater (Kohl's)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Two Dana Buchman tanks (Kohl's)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Black Lysse leggings (Macy's)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Large Sakroots travel tote (Macy's, and it is ADORABLE)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Long bright yellow cardigan (Talbot's)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pine green work trousers (Talbot's)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Leopard calf-hair pumps (two styles, Talbot's)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Navy pumps (Amazon)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Snakeskin pumps (Amazon)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Leopard wedges (Amazon) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Black polka-dot pumps (Amazon)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Born shearling moto boots </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Amazon)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Grey Miz Mooz tall boots </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Amazon)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Leopard calf-hair Donald Pliner pumps </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Amazon)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Red ankle boots </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Amazon, and they have been in that cart at least a year)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Three leather/bead bracelets </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Amazon)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ocean blue avant-garde sweater (Peruvian Connection)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lace tee (Jones New York)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yellow-green straight leg jeans (Jones New York)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Caramel drape-neck top (Jones New York)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Bottle green leather jacket (Nordstrom)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Embellished grey cashmere sweater (Nordstrom)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2 pairs of winter boots (6PM)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Winter walking shoes (6PM) </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There is some overlap with my Pinterest boards, but less than I thought. The items in the carts are things I'm seriously considering, and I'm testing to see if my desire for them will last. Pinterest is also very useful for the companies that won't save my cart info, like Sundance, or for items where I just love the concept. I'm probably not actually going to buy a Vivienne Westwood coat.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">34 items that I lovingly selected and put aside for a future purchase! Why then, when I actually buy something, do I generally <b>not </b>go back to these carts and purchase some of these items? </span></span></span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The cart piles up and equals $400, and I can't bring myself to either spend that much or choose only one or two items from the group.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I discover something somewhere else (often eBay), buy it, and figure I can't then afford the lovely things lingering in online baskets (though Amazon will remember them forever, apparently). </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The hope/certainty that if I wait long enough, those things will go down in price. </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I look at my stuffed closets and 40 pairs of boots and I know I don't need anything more ever, for Heaven's sake, Roberta!</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I review the carts and think the items don't really jive with my style goals. For example, I want to buy some pretty, graceful tunics, yet there aren't any in the carts. Hmmm. Apparently I have goals and then I also have GOALS.</span></span></span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> And then, hey, it's Friday and I haven't posted a single outfit photo!</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kJEKxRXercA/UoZ7UJlqXTI/AAAAAAAACXE/XnmGoPxNRdQ/s1600/November+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kJEKxRXercA/UoZ7UJlqXTI/AAAAAAAACXE/XnmGoPxNRdQ/s320/November+13.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am loving grey lately and want to wear it every day. The red beaded necklace and bracelet are new via Ebay, and I love the grandiose scale of the links.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3pnP2ipz6M4/UoZ7u9C7B-I/AAAAAAAACXM/ld6TgyxKMT0/s1600/Red+necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3pnP2ipz6M4/UoZ7u9C7B-I/AAAAAAAACXM/ld6TgyxKMT0/s320/Red+necklace.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You can't really see the chain behind my neck, but it is black burnished metal - also good-sized links. Below is a more true rendition of the color. The little red beads are quite sparkly.</span><br />
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<br />Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-10261344320945093492013-11-06T18:00:00.000-06:002013-11-07T09:31:00.674-06:00A Rich Weekend, Part Two<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Vivienne Files has <b><a href="http://theviviennefiles.blogspot.com/2013/11/avec-style-10-rules-for-subtracting-10.html" target="_blank">ten rules for subtracting ten years on her blog</a></b>, beginning with:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">1. Take an interest in current events, in fashion, yes, but also in art, music, food and decor. Stay connected!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The annual Chicago Humanities Festival gives me this opportunity in bulk every year, by offering dozens of great talks and performances at cheap as chips prices. This past weekend I went to two.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Why is Moby Dick such an entrancing subject for filmmakers and other visual artists? This was the key idea for a program/performance by Blair Thomas, who was (among other ventures) a founder of the Redmoon Theater and now runs his own puppet theater in Chicago. He has been workshopping sections from the novel for years. He uses shadow puppets, Bunraku, oversize floating artifacts, human actors, and musicians. The performance can be very intimate and very large and physical; furniture and performers on wires and ropes, being flung about the stage. You can see wonderful images at his website, <b><a href="http://blairthomas.org/">blairthomas.org</a></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mr. Thomas gave a short performance using shadow puppets, of what is a single paragraph in the book, the backstory of one of the sailors on the Pequod. A successful blacksmith loses his happy family, home and occupation to drink. The puppets were freestanding on a table, and a handheld light cast their images against a large crumpled paper scrim. When one of the characters died, Mr. Thomas tipped the puppet forward, and its stand was revealed as a headstone. This single action was quite thrilling. He gave the narration, wearing a long black skirt and a long-sleeved black blouse. Then we watched a short film showing various aspects of the Moby Dick staging, and finally he came back out in more conventional clothes and talked with his interviewer. She was fairly starstruck and obviously a big fan. Overall, it was compelling and I hope will bring many people to see his performances.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The second event was less successful (in my opinion), being a talk on language and imagery of animals in Shakespeare. At least, I thought that was its premise, and the speaker began there, but got off into fairly high-level thinking about language and symbolism and . . . well, she lost me. I did learn that Shakespeare only used the word <b>animal </b>eight times in all of his plays, as at that time it was considered an adjective (like <b>primal </b>or <b>abnormal</b>), and he much more frequently said <b>beast </b>or <b>creature</b>. The flip side of this scarcity of the word animal, was the much more thorough integration of even an urban dweller's life with the animal world in the 1600s: pets, working creatures like horses or cattle, pigeon coops on every roof, sheep grazing in Hyde Park, etc. But this was also long before Darwin or even Linnaeus, and the world of beasts was much more magical and imaginative. Bees were born out of ox carcasses, bearcubs born as lumps and licked into shape by their mothers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Some of this I knew (and loved), so I enjoyed her few slides of Medieval bestiaries and tapestries, but her talk left Shakespeare, and I was struggling to hear, and the chairs were hard . . . I left after 40 minutes and took the early train home. I didn't feel I had wasted my time or money though, not for ten bucks and such a lovely day. Her mention of the <b><a href="http://www.abdn.ac.uk/bestiary/translat/2v.hti" target="_blank">Aberdeen Bestiary</a> </b>alone was worth the price of admission.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And of course, before I went to the lecture, I went to Water Tower and found this at a very good price:</span></div>
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<a href="http://cdn1.ebags.com/is/image/im0/266270_2_1?resmode=4&op_usm=1,1,1,&qlt=80,1&hei=280&wid=280&align=0,1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="280" id="irc_mi" src="http://cdn1.ebags.com/is/image/im0/266270_2_1?resmode=4&op_usm=1,1,1,&qlt=80,1&hei=280&wid=280&align=0,1" style="margin-top: 57px;" title="" width="280" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This bag is <b><a href="http://www.qvc.com/qvc.product.A235973.html?item=A235973&ref=GAS&tpl=detail&cm_ven=GOOGLESHOPPINGFEED&cm_cat=Fashion&cm_pla=Handbags&cm_ite=A235973-DN4-000&CAWELAID=1939099863&catargetid=600006460000484548&cadevice=c&cagpspn=pla" target="_blank">also available at QVC </a></b> for even less than I paid for it! Not very much less, or I'd be annoyed, but enough to make it worth mentioning, and in more colors too. I'm extremely happy because it meets my requirements very nicely.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Red</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pebbled leather</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Single strap</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The "right" size</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Minimal hardware </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Outer pockets</span></li>
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Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-4075419157089733382013-11-05T12:15:00.000-06:002013-11-06T10:59:26.390-06:00A Rich Weekend, Part One<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This weekend I was rich in learning, entertainment, time, food and friends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Friday evening I went out to dinner with two good friends in the field, to <b><a href="http://mercatchicago.com/" target="_blank">Mercat a la Planxa</a></b> on Michigan Avenue. It was amazing, even if the name makes me think of meerkats on a plank. Thanks to the kindness and generosity of one friend, we ordered the tasting menu. And not il poco tasting menu, either, but <b>il grande</b>. Here is what we ate, though I'm convinced I've forgotten something. Heidi can correct me. When I got home I scribbled down everything I could remember, but I'd had at least three glasses of very good wine. </span> <br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Bruschetta
with fresh tomato, lemon and garlic</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dates in
bacon</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Manchego cheese and
apples</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Jamon Iberico sliced so thin you could see through it</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Rabbit in
pasta with sour cherry sauce and a foam (I forget what the foam was about)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Egg and
potato frittata</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Farro with baby pattypan squash and hazelnuts and
watercress</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Grilled octopus and
potato rounds (little potato cutouts the size of Liberty dimes)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Tiny fried
sweet Padron peppers</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Morel risotto
with slivered asparagus</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Flatbread
with short ribs, cheese and a bacon jam</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lambchops</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lobster</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Beef tenderloin</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The restaurant was beautiful, and cheerfully loud, the service lively, and every bite was delicious. Heidi and Pam weren't as thrilled with the octopus, so I got the whole plate to my greedy cephalopod-loving self. By the time the perfect beef arrived we were in a bit of a stupor from wine and deliciousness. It was expensive, but all I can say is it was an experience worth many times more than, say, a pair of pants.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img class="rg_i" data-src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTfIN3yM6O4CWgQuguVS2oT6u1l9pPpwm-ubBLhtcVuJmxeeA_W" data-sz="f" name="KCo8NYkAoJo8hM:" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTfIN3yM6O4CWgQuguVS2oT6u1l9pPpwm-ubBLhtcVuJmxeeA_W" style="height: 172px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; width: 260px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Three cheeses, mustards and sliced apples.</span></td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Still to come, the Chicago Humanities Festival! </span></div>
Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-62265719397187972222013-10-31T06:00:00.000-05:002013-10-31T14:17:53.818-05:00Snakes and Ammonites<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This skirt refuses to show its true colors.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GwS6ulhZxWg/UnJbxs35Y-I/AAAAAAAACWM/BilD-pQbx7c/s1600/October+29+with+the+jacket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GwS6ulhZxWg/UnJbxs35Y-I/AAAAAAAACWM/BilD-pQbx7c/s320/October+29+with+the+jacket.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> It is GREEN. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is a closeup of my lap.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QlD_xlL7-8A/UnJb-ghszTI/AAAAAAAACWU/6CDJPpiDAwI/s1600/True+green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QlD_xlL7-8A/UnJb-ghszTI/AAAAAAAACWU/6CDJPpiDAwI/s320/True+green.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And this is my lovely fossil ammonite/turquoise necklace:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hxI5V7EWby0/UnJcOxJuE5I/AAAAAAAACWc/uiCL3CwGsEU/s1600/Fossil+necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hxI5V7EWby0/UnJcOxJuE5I/AAAAAAAACWc/uiCL3CwGsEU/s320/Fossil+necklace.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> And this is what was underneath the jacket:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rI8kLf6SDqw/UnJcTxb8_EI/AAAAAAAACWk/E63e-NzpWNQ/s1600/October+29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rI8kLf6SDqw/UnJcTxb8_EI/AAAAAAAACWk/E63e-NzpWNQ/s320/October+29.jpg" width="207" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The jacket is new to me, Liz Claiborne via eBay. I have a new affection for snake/lizard all of a sudden. I would love some shoes in this pattern. They seem like an interesting take on a nude shoe.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zYmYne4G7xM/UnJiQqwCFNI/AAAAAAAACW0/j6x1rZlD-7o/s1600/Snakeskin+jacket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zYmYne4G7xM/UnJiQqwCFNI/AAAAAAAACW0/j6x1rZlD-7o/s320/Snakeskin+jacket.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now, everybody liked this outfit, and I liked the concept, but I was very conscious of my pudgy waist all day long. My waist and my neck are where I show my age, I think. Plus I HATE pinchy nylons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If you haven't seen it already, there is a fantastic article making the rounds about what fashion judgement means to the poor, especially men and women of color. As someone who routinely judges people by what they are wearing in interviews (and elsewhere), it gave me pause. The comments in both locations make for thoughtful reading as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is how I found the article, at <b><a href="http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/10/30/why-i-wear-what-i-do/" target="_blank">John Scalzi's blog</a></b>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/10/30/why-i-wear-what-i-do/</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and this is<b> <a href="http://tressiemc.com/2013/10/29/the-logic-of-stupid-poor-people/" target="_blank">the original article</a></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">http://tressiemc.com/2013/10/29/the-logic-of-stupid-poor-people/</span>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-29339214247289057752013-10-21T17:55:00.000-05:002013-11-06T17:21:54.722-06:00Fun Things I Saw This Weekend<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A good week, followed by a great weekend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">First I went to Evanston for a Chicago Humanities Festival talk, the first of four I'll be going to. They had a lot of appealing stuff this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Walking from the train to the campus, I saw a new piece of sculpture on a rooftop.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wfs3MvXOtv8/UmWqruBLdtI/AAAAAAAACVo/0Pyc1VtIi9g/s1600/Evanston+rooftop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wfs3MvXOtv8/UmWqruBLdtI/AAAAAAAACVo/0Pyc1VtIi9g/s320/Evanston+rooftop.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It was a gorgeous day to walk around campus, and I saw this piece of art on my stroll.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-53n6RYtehcc/UmWqMu0l2gI/AAAAAAAACVg/5zu-PWF_8KA/s1600/Han+unfreezing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-53n6RYtehcc/UmWqMu0l2gI/AAAAAAAACVg/5zu-PWF_8KA/s320/Han+unfreezing.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I don't know the actual title, but I refer to it as <i>Han Unfreezing</i>. I sent a snapshot to Ben for his amusement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The CHF talk was entitled, "A
Neuroscientist and a Medievalist Walk Into a Bar . . .", which entailed
two Northwestern professors of the above disciplines talking about what
their work had in common. The highlight was a Powerpoint of Shakespeare
submitting Hamlet as a grant proposal and the resulting critique. Very
funny and smart. The next program I'm going to see is the founder of Redmoon Theater talking about his goal of somehow staging <i>Moby Dick</i>, possibly with puppets.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the middle of the week I went to the Illinois Library Association annual conference, held at Navy Pier this year. It was a grey, cool, slightly menacing day, perfect to spot ZOMBIES ON THE ROOFTOP:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dg4T-G-Heug/UmWrvk6OFQI/AAAAAAAACVw/Ay9Se_3srWg/s1600/Navy+Pier+Zombies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dg4T-G-Heug/UmWrvk6OFQI/AAAAAAAACVw/Ay9Se_3srWg/s320/Navy+Pier+Zombies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Every time I walked by that window I twitched a little. I was only at the conference for one day; my boss and I were part of a panel discussion in the afternoon. I caught a great morning program about reorganizing spaces and staffing from the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">directors of the </span>Arlington Heights and the Palatine libraries. Not everyone will agree, I know, but I admire some of these large changes libraries are making. I think if you base them on data, get your staff involved, and make them in a few stages (not in one terrifying upheaval), they are laudable. Balance in all things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">That presentation and a board meeting and wrapping up a six page nomination for a library award made for a full week! On Saturday I met Heidi and Pam for this:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h8h0VkhyVWo/UmWtXGntTYI/AAAAAAAACV4/dAMIVZPEFs8/s1600/Cyrano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h8h0VkhyVWo/UmWtXGntTYI/AAAAAAAACV4/dAMIVZPEFs8/s320/Cyrano.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Oh, it was so ROMANTIC and DREAMY and FABULOUS. And Harry Groener was just marvelous in the title role. Then we went to Riva and had beautiful delicious food and talked about where we want to go on vacation. Since we couldn't come to any consensus on a European trip, we happily alighted on Canada! Technically another country! So we're discussing Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City, which I am totally up for. Yay!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On Sunday I drove out to visit a friend and her new-ish baby (five months old) and got to chat with her, her husband, her older child (so adorable) and snuggle the baby for an hour or more. Lovely, lovely Charlie. No pictures of them because they are not MY children. I do hope that Ben reproduces.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I ran around so much on the weekend that I feel like I need another one. </span><br />
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Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-46027939891820296822013-10-18T17:28:00.003-05:002013-10-18T17:28:52.024-05:00Rounding Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">First of all, I discovered the amusing Tumblr <b><a href="http://librarian-shaming.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Librarian Shame</a></b>, courtesy of <b><a href="http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/" target="_blank">The Swiss Army Librarian</a></b>, and this is what I posted:</span></div>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--IVwlh-nk4E/UmGvvo1mrJI/AAAAAAAACU4/ymbFy1avB6U/s320/Librarian+shame.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It was the same day I wore my new-via-Ebay Vince Camuto blouse and my less new Halogen blue knit skirt. I even wore my blue glasses. All that blue was very soothing. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TC0CRUwWOAA/UmGvxE7njII/AAAAAAAACVM/cEmYbtmCY2Q/s1600/October+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TC0CRUwWOAA/UmGvxE7njII/AAAAAAAACVM/cEmYbtmCY2Q/s320/October+8.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The next day I wore another favorite, my black Talbot's surplice top, with a pleated silk skirt and my black and white Everybody peep toes.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-INpmu1VN_4U/UmGvxWqz1BI/AAAAAAAACVI/rzUKv7dg9Lg/s1600/October+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-INpmu1VN_4U/UmGvxWqz1BI/AAAAAAAACVI/rzUKv7dg9Lg/s320/October+9.jpg" width="181" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Heather's favorite outfit ever.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On a Rotary Thursday, I wore this Jones New York cardigan and a Talbot's eyelet skirt and my Aquatalia gold pumps. It was a little too eye-catching for a visiting Rotarian and I felt like swatting him away. Shoo fly. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rlUrwE8vtUo/UmGvvKEmVaI/AAAAAAAACUw/uYp7_9jlMM8/s1600/October+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rlUrwE8vtUo/UmGvvKEmVaI/AAAAAAAACUw/uYp7_9jlMM8/s320/October+10.jpg" width="167" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And the last outfit I bothered to photograph included a Boden skirt, a pale grey top, my pink cotton cardigan and grey boots. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lHhoewahMJs/UmGvvUcH3MI/AAAAAAAACU0/oK3OFRYCAag/s1600/October+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lHhoewahMJs/UmGvvUcH3MI/AAAAAAAACU0/oK3OFRYCAag/s320/October+7.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This outfit could definitely be improved. I'd like a classier pink cardigan (maybe) and definitely a purple pullover top that is heavy enough to wear on its own. I have a pretty purple silk blouse, but it doesn't look right with this skirt. It wasn't quite cool enough to wear my gray cashmere sweater.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It is decidedly fall now, and I've been busting out the boots (yay!) and eyeballing my jackets and trousers. I started writing down everything I wanted at the moment I wanted it, which is usually when I'm picking out an outfit. It makes for an interesting list so far, and hopefully I'll post it next week with some comments.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This weekend I am celebrating Heidi's birthday by seeing Cyrano starring the <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_%28Buffy_the_Vampire_Slayer%29" target="_blank">demon mayor of Sunnydale</a></b>, Harry Groener. I'm very excited. Mr. Groener got rave reviews in the role, and is of course known for things other than turning into a giant snake and eating the high school principal. </span>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-2794802702551535842013-10-05T12:58:00.001-05:002013-10-05T12:58:49.032-05:00BLACK and White? Or Black and WHITE?<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e6/a6/b9/e6a6b95301a6831304fb39ddc8717906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sam Edelman's Petty Ankle Boot in black and white, about $125 at various </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">places.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img height="196" id="irc_mi" src="http://cdnb.lystit.com/photos/2013/09/13/sam-edelman-ivoryblack-petty-short-suede-booties-product-1-13437812-007472702_medium_flex.jpeg" style="margin-top: 99px;" width="340" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Circus by Sam Edelman Holt boot, about $100 here and there.<img height="400" id="irc_mi" src="http://img1.prosperent.com/images/250x250/www.zappos.com/images/z/2/3/5/1/3/7/2351373-t-THUMBNAIL.jpg" style="margin-top: 72px;" width="400" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So - white in front or white in back? </span></div>
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Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-19730001801888286492013-10-02T18:22:00.001-05:002013-10-02T18:22:27.413-05:00Wishing Well<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I was thinking about the shopping list I made last year:</span><br />
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<strike><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">1. Casual, hooded, short-ish, warm coat</span></strike><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> $100</span><br />
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<strike><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2. Brown-ish handbag</span></strike><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><strike> </strike> $45 and real leather! </span><br />
<strike><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">3. Beige ankle boots</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></strike><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> $105</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">4. Red short boots</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">5. White lace tee</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">6. Leopard-print top </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">7. Leather gloves with Thinsulate lining</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I did find the leopard-print top eventually, from Jones New York, for about $25. The boots and a decent version (I bought a crappy one) of the lace tee still elude me. I should say that I have located the boots, but not bought them because I'm not sure how much I will actually use them. I definitely need to buy new gloves this year. Talbots used to sell lovely long leather gloves with either cashmere or Thinsulate linings, in an array of colors. *sigh*</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Every once in a while I will be trying to put together an outfit and find myself thinking, "If only I had a . . ." It occured to me I should write those down, to see if they hold up over a time. That would be the ORGANIZED thing to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The result is that I don't have much of a wish list right now. I asked my sister-in-law, who works for Estee Lauder, for perfume for Christmas this year, as I am on a quest to smell nice. This must be an old lady thing; I will be one of those 70-year-olds on the bus reeking of Oscar De la Renta. </span>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-83676588783337296362013-10-01T18:11:00.003-05:002013-10-01T18:11:46.588-05:00Wine and Taupe and New Baubles<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Cool enough for boots! Boots and bare legs mean lovely Indian Summer</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">to me. I got a fabulous pedicure last Friday, an hour of candles and panflute music and hot towels and sea salt scrubs and what looked like yak butter. I felt like Jennifer Aniston. But then the weather turned cool and I had to hide my ruby toes away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A wine-colored Ann Taylor tee and my old faithful J. Jill skirt and Born boots. </span>I'm wearing my ID badge to sort of break up the large expanse of bosom there. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tbj0iGnkT5g/UktMAvmGJfI/AAAAAAAACUQ/V2zTNGjN7cE/s1600/Kors+watch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="291" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tbj0iGnkT5g/UktMAvmGJfI/AAAAAAAACUQ/V2zTNGjN7cE/s320/Kors+watch.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is my major expense for September, a <b><a href="http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/michael-kors-watch-womens-frenchy-gold-tone-and-tortoise-bracelet-30mm-mk4242?ID=506083&CategoryID=23930&LinkType=#fn=GENDER%3DFemale%26STRAP%3DPlastic%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D13%26kws%3Dkors%20watch%26slotId%3D12" target="_blank">tortoise and gold Michael Kors watch </a></b>from Macy's. I tried on several different styles, but watch faces are quite large these days, and many of them felt kind of ponderous. This watch is still substantial, but the rectangular face makes it more wearable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I also gave up and retired my beloved Fossil wallet. The card slots were so loose that my credit cards would fall out randomly, and the snap no longer worked on the little coin purse. Boo. However, I do really like my new wallet from The Sak, and it has the same open flat features that my Fossil wallet did. It is a bit heftier, but it goes nicely with my summer and winter bag and is easy to see in a dark purse interior.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1eW6Vqd44k/UktUbK4mShI/AAAAAAAACUg/smwX_G3DqUw/s1600/Wallet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1eW6Vqd44k/UktUbK4mShI/AAAAAAAACUg/smwX_G3DqUw/s320/Wallet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I love this brand. I have a large, soft yellow leather shoulder bag, a case for my Nook (adorable but I never use it) and a <a href="http://www.shoebuy.com/sakroots-artist-circle-convertible-flap-wallet/619199/1272548?cm_mmc=googleproductads_pla-_-none-_-none-_-{keyword}" target="_blank"><b>wee convertible pursie</b> </a>that can be carried as a wristlet or hung over my shoulder on its skinny strap. I have a feeling I'll be carrying this wallet for years. </span>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-46925301940489127472013-09-30T18:00:00.000-05:002013-10-01T09:30:35.352-05:00Talbots Reverie<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On Sunday I brought up the lone container of winter clothes that I have stashed in my storage unit. Not only do my spacious closets hold almost everything except for folded sweaters (in summer) and tees (in winter), but my wardrobe overall is much less seasonal than in years past. Except for the hottest days which call for linen, and the coldest days which require actual snow boots, I tend to wear the same things year round. This makes opening up the seasonal container less exciting, but I still discover things I bought right at the end of the season and never got to wear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Tis also the season to get rid of the things that are hanging around unworn. I have a nice black velvet jacket that is just too small, see below: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NyzXlU28UKE/UJgOko-GtkI/AAAAAAAABuE/7KrVZbtzO3o/s320/RHPS+November+2012.jpg" width="209" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I cruised eBay for the same jacket in a 16 but couldn't find it. This led me to searching the Talbots site for a black velvet jacket, and they have one, but look at the difference:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Velveteen Blazer" class="productImage" longdesc="//talbots.scene7.com/is/image/Talbots/33019056?$gridViewX3$" src="http://talbots.scene7.com/is/image/Talbots/33019056_3377?$gridViewX3$" title="Velveteen Blazer" /> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My six-year-old version has two sets of pockets with button flaps, buttoned cuffs, princess seams and nice ball/shank buttons. The new version has two patch pockets, no detail at the cuffs, bust darts instead of seams, and two flat plastic buttons in front. For the same price.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A cursory review of the new catalog reveals the same cost-saving simplification everywhere. No more welt pockets (so sleek and flattering), no pocket flaps, no seaming details. They still have lovely colors and fabrics, but the cashmere is thinner, the linings are acetate instead of rayon, and the pants don't have watch pockets. The quality is much more like Ann Taylor, which isn't a bad thing, exactly, but it isn't the Talbot's to which I was so devoted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This makes me VERY reluctant to give up my velvet jacket. Maybe I'll lose ten pounds (above the waist), it could happen. The point is that it is no longer easy to replace an item in my closet without paying a LOT more for it. And I suspect that ladies of a certain age no longer want to dress like a Talbot's catalog. They want to look a little more stylish, a little less preppy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Maybe I should too, but this will be the end of a major era for me - more than 25 years of Talbot's shopping. I'll need some time to process it. :-)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-51533803478535899352013-09-25T18:00:00.000-05:002013-09-25T18:00:00.839-05:00Things That Are Not For You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Or me, in this case. I like to keep mini-lists on my phone; four financial goals, three restaurants I want to visit, two perfumes to sample. The newest list is Things That Are Not For You:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">1. Wrap dresses: I've tried dozens, and they always gap or reveal too much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2. Button Front Shirts: ditto.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">3. Pull-On Boots: I just ordered ANOTHER pair, and the short versions make my ankles look like sticks. Like this:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.kraftrecipes.com/assets/recipe_images/Easy_Caramel_Apples.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://www.kraftrecipes.com/assets/recipe_images/Easy_Caramel_Apples.jpg" border="0" class="decoded" src="http://www.kraftrecipes.com/assets/recipe_images/Easy_Caramel_Apples.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My friend Michelle just made caramel apples and brought me FIVE. I am so happy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On my ankles, they don't look so yummy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Giving up wrap dresses and button fronts, isn't a big problem. There are plenty of dress styles that look swell on me, and pull-on blouses are just fine too. But I love those short cowboy-ish boots, and the boots I just ordered are pink suede and they are DOLLINK (as <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krazy_Kat" target="_blank">Krazy Kat </a></b>would say).</span><br />
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<a 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" 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" 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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dusty pink suede, moderate heel, so cute I'm gonna die. Plus, well made, super comfy, on sale. Is a puzzlement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here's what I wore today, lifted directly from Pinterest:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VWuh9r0rOVs/UkL2CW0HRiI/AAAAAAAACT0/M6FNdHhOivg/s1600/September+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VWuh9r0rOVs/UkL2CW0HRiI/AAAAAAAACT0/M6FNdHhOivg/s320/September+25.jpg" width="162" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Halogen blue skirt (eBay), Ann Taylor linen jacket, Talbots tee and my beloved Ecco nude heels. I might take this jacket to the tailors and have them take up the sleeves, or at lease see what it will cost. They have a cute lining and look nice cuffed, but I would be happier if they were the correct length. Oh, and new hair too, what do you think?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm reading (and enjoying) a new style book by Lois Joy Johnson called <a href="http://dppl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/2257656035_the_wardrobe_wakeup" target="_blank">The Wardrobe Wakeup</a>. She mentions the question of looking expensive, and catches at my concern about this style goal. My fear is that inexpensive clothes look cheap, but conversely, trying to look expensive is a shallow goal, or at the least a first world problem. Money is the answer/money is not the answer. I would not be comfortable in what I think of as "status" items; a fur coat, a Birkin bag, anything where the logo matters more than the item. But I appreciate the value and quality of something well-made and thus expensive. The author's advice is to wear one expensive thing, like a vintage Hermes scarf or a nice watch or a really good jacket.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">She also made the excellent point that wearing a simple stylish outfit is pretty easy, but putting together an offbeat look is hard, and if you don't get it exactly right, it is usually perfectly wrong. Heh. I'm all for easy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This weekend I ordered a mixed media black ponte and faux leather jacket. I thought I'd be so on trend. When it came I looked like an extra from Springtime for Hitler. Sigh. </span>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-6146099750913018702013-09-19T17:47:00.000-05:002013-09-19T17:47:31.274-05:00Fashion Resolutions Part Deux<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I eliminated a dozen things from my closet over the weekend, and we're three weeks into September and I haven't bought anything! That's mildly encouraging. Here's what I've worn recently, with comments about how it applies to my fashion resolutions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The weather turned cool, so I got to put boots on! This jacket and pants combo was just the right side of "office fussy", which made me happy, and the jacket's sleeves are the right length, ditto. It isn't a <i>striking </i>outfit, but it is professional without being dowdy. Talbots jacket and pants, with a Kohl's patterned tank. A higher heel would improve the line.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A favorite combo: sleek black rayon top and a heavy linen pleated skirt (both Talbots), with taupe boots and a modern necklace. I love all the neutrals and textures. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I actually wore the jacket buttoned, which was a better silhouette. I like the double navy with the pink skirt. The shoes; I don't know, but I didn't like my other options. The jacket sleeves are cuffed to show the striped lining. I wore the necklace like so:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overall, tasteful but not stylish. Accessories would have made the difference here. That necklace is a sentimental favorite, but I think it gets lost.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Love the skirt and sandals and the orange tank, but that sweater silhouette is not my friend. I'll keep it for casual wear and to take to the movies. I tried this outfit with a narrow belt, which helped but didn't save it. Everything looks a little dragged down. I have a crisp 3/4 sleeve jacket that would have been better. And I wish the bracelet I'm wearing was a necklace instead!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm getting my hair cut next Monday - yay! and I'm going to go short again. The bob feels unreliable. Sometimes I get it right and it's cute and modern, and sometimes it fights me and I hate it. A little shorter is easier, for me anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2668841850358230858.post-42033306615593673702013-09-09T18:00:00.000-05:002013-09-09T18:00:06.047-05:00Fashion Resolutions<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Not to buy any more clothes (except underwear) at Macy's and Lord and Taylor.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Correspondingly, to shop at Nordstrom. And maybe Banana Republic.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Revise my list of shopping questions.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These activities should feed the following goals:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Find balance between my work wardrobe and my play wardrobe.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Thin out my closet by 25%.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Eliminate anything that feels cheap, tight, fussy or sticky.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some explication ensues. Over the weekend I reviewed blog photos for the past year. Hey, most things look pretty good. Also, Heather is correct that the camera isn't always the best judge (though generally a better one than my optimistic eyes). A couple of outfits need a little proportion adjustment. I have two full Boden skirts that I think are not sleek or simple enough; some gathers, some ruffles. I will consider selling those. I have a few tops and jackets with puffy sleeves, or with gathers at the armscye; I think those also have to go.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One particular top, the <b><a href="http://thechiclibrarian.blogspot.com/2013/08/pink-and-turquoise.html" target="_blank">Ann Taylor black chiffon blouse</a></b>, is problematic. I realized that every time I wore it I felt hot and sticky, probably because it is polyester and not silk. I need to wear it in cooler weather and review. I feel warm and flushed often enough these days without the assistance of my clothes. I'm also a little annoyed with elastic sleeves. I think this is a costcutting measure on the part of the manufacturer and it pisses me off. I don't like having marks on my arms just because my sleeves ride up at my desk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My denim shirts aren't bringing their A game either. I want a denim-<i>looking</i> shirt that isn't denim weight, one that is long enough to tuck in, but with vertical darts or seams at the waist so there isn't a huge excess of material there. I saw a really nice version of this shirt at Nordstrom and <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/425730970995844798/" target="_blank">Pinned it</a>. One resolution I would like to make is not to buy any more button-fronts, but sometimes I am helpless in the face of a J. Crew "perfect" shirt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm tempted to swear not to buy anything with a collar, period. I have loads of jackets and many of them are making me feel (at work) a little dated. Oddly, I like the idea of wearing them as play clothes, with bright jeans, or as outerwear with a warm scarf in the fall. That is part of the balance issue I refer to. My play clothes are minimal because I don't want to stain or damage my work clothes, and my work clothes feel a little "office fussy." </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Moving 25% of my office wear to the
minor leagues will be a good start. I'm trying to decide whether a
physical separation in my closet would be helpful (or just fun - I do love organizing things). </span>Putting on a blazer stood me in good stead for years, but I think I need to upgrade my work wardrobe again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that's the final thing I realized: that I've been here before. In the past I have upgraded my shopping habits, my fashion goals, my work wardrobe, and my style goals. It is actually a great feeling to think that I've done this before and it worked out well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I wore a Talbot's top and skirt, and my lovely Everybody sandals. I can say with confidence that I love all the sandals I bought this year (can't say the same for the shoes, sadly). I wish this top had just a little more definition in the waist. And damn those elastic sleeves!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To be continued: revising the shopping questions, and, what does "looks expensive" mean, anyway?</span>Robertahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10367919742703381442noreply@blogger.com3