Happy New Year !! We went WILD at Casa de Holtzman:
Back to work on January 3rd. I have worn this exact outfit quite a few times. The crepe dress is from Nordstrom Rack, and was very inexpensive.
My over the knee boots are Lewin.
The next day, I went with another tried and true choice.
The brocade tux jacket is Old Navy. The black slacks are Express Editors and they are a more subtle brocade.
My blouse is one of those polyester shirts with ruffles, sequins and lace. I have similar ones in a few colors. The thrift shops always have them. My necklaces are INC (long ) and my mom's Italian gold (short). I wear this combo a lot.
On January 5th, I finally wore something new !! It started with two older items - a Carole Little knit skirt and a Joseph A turtleneck sweater.
Arriba !! My new poncho. I got it at the little strip mall boutique next to the mall. I went over to Von's and decided to look at the other shops there.
Here's a close up. It was $11.99. My belt is White House Black Market and once again, my mom's necklace. The longer one is lab emerald and gold.
The whole look, with my Tahari boots.
Then I decided to go all HOLIDAY again. I wore a houndstooth dress that I also got at Nordstrom Rack. The cardigan is Neiman Marcus cashmere.
I love the cardigan. So once again, mom's necklace, and another necklace that she left me - this time costume crystals in a pine cone shape. My belt is Ann Taylor and my cuff is Hermes CDC.
That day, I went on my usual lunchtime walk. I saw this thing.
It was a huge drone. I reported it to Security, and it luckily turns out that it was authorized to get new aerial pictures.
I wanted to wear my Celine cardigan again, but with a colder weather spin. I tried it with brown wool slacks from Ann Taylor, and a polyester draped tank. It was super dumpy and a FAIL.
By Monday, my creativity and love of style was back. I combined a bunch of stuff from my closets. I have had these polyester slacks for ages. I got them in Newport Beach and I stopped working down there in 2003. My hot pink silk blouse came from the thrift shop. My mesh sweater is Ann Taylor.
Check out the pants. They have hot pink inserts covered in black lace. They are perfect and they are polyester, so they will be around.
The next day was warm. I wore a combination in ivory as the base. The top was from JCPenney and the slacks are from the 80s. They are pleated with a slightly baggy leg.
On top, this Joseph A flat knit cardigan in black with a braided edging. My belt was part of a set that my mom got me from QVC, back in the 90s. I got my costume necklace in Kansas City.
That night, I didn't feel like ironing after cooking dinner. So I looked for something wrinkle proof. I found this Halston dress. It's very fitted
It's longer on one side. The boots are Impo - they are suede and these stretchy cords and are so comfortable.
This close up view shows the draping and twisting. It's quite a dress, and actually comfy. My necklace was another QVC gift from my mom - a Joan Rivers necklace that I absolutely love. The CDC again - it cost a bit, but I have worn it constantly for years.
On January 13th, another favorite for the winter. This is a kimono style dress from INC.
The printed parts are a mesh knit, and the solid black parts are woven satin. It's an odd combination and needs pressing before wearing, but it is a great dress. My favorite black plastic waterfall necklace and the CDC.
On the 14th, I wore an outfit that I didn't particularly like, but got many compliments nonetheless.
It looks pretty good in pictures, but the silk blouse from Adrianna Papell was so floaty and voluminous. The thick sweatpant joggers are DKNY, and the red cashmere tank is Neiman Marcus ( part of the cardigan set). Everyone that saw me loved it. I felt like a Golden Girl.
On Saturday, my belated Christmas gift to myself arrived !!! I ordered the StackMaster Granite Stone Diamond Cookware Set. The box was uber secure and hard to open. Pandi checks it out - it stacks together perfectly and doesn't take up nearly as much space in the slider drawers.
Here's the side view. My one concern is the chef style stainless handles of the sides and lids. I know they are this way because they are made to last, but I need to remember to use a barrier. I have my share of cooking burns at any given moment.
These are the bonus gifts with purchase. They are nice and are items that I do not already own. The beauty is that the stacks save space to put these in. There is a heavy duty steamer, a deep fry basket, a oven crisping rack, and a baking sheet.
They came in a giant crush proof box and were taped together in a very sturdy manner.
Here is the bottom of the pans. Beautiful. We shall see if they can be kept this way for a bit.
Of course, I inaugurated my new set by making hamburger stroganoff with egg noodles. It is every bit as delicious as it sounds.
Some new inhabitants - a Red Lion Amyrillis, and a blue Hydrangea. Welcome home !!!
The outfit that I wore on Monday, January 17th, remains in limbo. I don't know whether I liked it or not. It looks good in pictures. This is a navy knit dolman sleeve blouse from Catherine Malandrino and a black crochet skirt that was the type popular for resort wear for years.
I cinched the blouse with a wide black velvet elastic belt. I wore beautiful First Nation jewelry that Doc has gotten for me over the years.
So I figured that the lace yoke on the back of the blouse would coordinate with the lace skirt hem.
This is the hem. I guess it did look nice and did fit my vision, but since I saw almost nobody that day due to the surge, who knows what it really looked like to others.
Tuesday saw me sporting an outfit that got Doc's attention right off the bat. Batting 1000%. This is a black soft gabardine skirt with beautiful subtle crystals at the side seams. It is by Sunny Cheung, and I only have it because it was at a sample sale.
The sweater is a St John Santana knit. I have had it for ages.
Here's a close up - new onyx/pearl ring, CDC, amber/gold pendant, and costume cross.
On the way to work, the skyscape was so weird- I felt like it was some kind of message from God. We are deep into the surge, as you know, and both disease and anxiety about disease are rampant. Then I see something that looks like a tornado as I drive south toward the beach.
As I turned east down Talbert Avenue, I saw this glorious golden burst of sunlight through the dark clumps of clouds.
I am going to believe that although we are in the storm now, the golden sunshine awaits.
Pandi has been signaling me again. I was actually missing her declarations of love.
I have been experiencing plantar fasciitis again. When I have that, high heels are the answer. The weight is shifted off the heel. So I wore a corresponding outfit.
Nine West shoes, Paloma Picasso belt, Style and Co skirt, and Gap embellished top. Super cute and very comfy as well.
Yesterday, I once again wished to bail on ironing. I dug up this printed clingy knit dress. It's hard to get on and needs a cami underneath, but once it's on, your are golden.
It has an A line skirt, some ruching at the waist, and a faux wrap neckline. It's pretty easy to maneuver in, but also weirdly provides support.
I wore a brown velvet / ivory lace cami from Loft, a gold herringbone chain from my mom, and a costume necklace in amber and ivory.
Today, I wore an extremely comfortable outfit that I have had for a couple of years. The slacks are printed lace, not real lace. They are made by INC and are a fabulous cotton/polyester blend with a lot of stretch.
The top is from Ann Taylor Loft. It's a black turtleneck with gold lurex. It has a giant satin bow on one shoulder. I love how this looks, and even more important, how it feels.
I received both of my boxes in the mail. First, the Birchbox. It was a beautiful duo of blue shades.
Inside, from top to bottom:
1) COMModity Gold Eau de cologne
2) Oribe Detangling Shampoo - love this brand
3) Number 4 Lumiere d'hiver Fluoro5 Elixir Restore and Repair Oil. I will try this- you can use it on dry hair, so I will experiment.
4) Oribe Gold Lust Masque - same as above, love the brand
5) Arrow Detangling Texture and Protect Spray
6) On bottom - Benefit Cosmetics BadGal BANG Volumizing Mascara - I had one of these before and hated it, but I think it was really old. I will try this again.
Then, the Ipsy bag. It was pretty - tie dye pastel. It had an auxiliary part.
Here's what it was, from top to bottom:
1) POLAAR Polar Night Revitalizing Elixir - a night time face oil.
2) TARTE Shape Tape Ultra Creamy Concealer
3) Shades By Shan Bronzer in Walnut. This doubles as an eyeshadow, and that is how I will use it.
4) On bottom : Purlisse Beauty Ageless Glow BB Serum Cream SPF 40 - good weekend face coverage due to the sunscreen.
Bonus box - Complex Culture 4 Piece Brush Set. It includes :
1) All Over Shadow Brush to blend and contour main color
2) Precision Eyelid - shades and highlights - for inner lids and outer lid contour
3) Easy Crease Definer -3 sided brush to define crease and line lids. Use wet or dry. I will use it wet.
4) All Over Highlight Powder - a wide fluffy brush to use with setting powder.
I know what all these terms mean. But actually performing the motions is dicey. I will try, because these brushes appear to be the best tools available. We will see the result.
Anyway, the surge rages on and working is a struggle. I am taking off from Wednesday, January 26th, through Monday, January 31st. My birthday is January 27th. I will be 63 years old. Doc asked me what I wanted to do / to buy for my birthday. Since a lot of options are closed or dangerous, I decided on a drive up PCH along the coast. We live in Huntington Beach, so we go through Sunset Beach, Seal Beach, Belmont Shore, Long Beach, San Pedro. Then you have to go around the peninsula to get to Rolling Hills Estates, Torrance, and then Redondo Beach. Then we go north through Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Doc grew up there and his parents still own a home there. We can check on it and walk down the pier. I will document every move.
As for buying, I ordered a Jonathan Adler rug from Ruggables. It is machine washable. I hope it is the miracle I am waiting for, with a beloved senior indoor dog. It hasn't come yet.
So stay tuned for Senior Birthday Cruising Shenanigans !!! I love the mental side of oldness. I do not yet like the physical stuff. Pandi bids you all Good Nite .
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