Falling into Spring with a Spring in my Step

I'll bet you are asking yourself, "What in the heck is she talking about now?". Well, I will tell you. It's my outfit!! (Duh) Even though we are well into spring, I have chosen to sport fall colors. And just to mess with you even more than usual, I'm going to start with the closeups, and then segue into the whole body shot. Here's a teaser:

This is the waistband of my skirt. You will notice that it has a ribbon tie belt that is sewn down, so it doesn't wiggle or move around. I hate it when my belt has twisted backwards or off to the side. The ribbon is also embellished with little seed beads and amber gems. It is made by Nine West. I guess they don't just make shoes.

Speaking of shoes, here are the ones I am wearing today. They are suede wedges made by Pour La Victoire. I got them at Saks. They are very comfy for a luxury brand shoe. I would say that they are taupe. If you notice the little clip at the front, that is from a set of 5 different pairs that my mom gave me probably 25 years ago. I used to wear them alot on black suede pumps, but I kinda forgot about them until I was digging around in my dresser last night. So I whipped them out and clipped them onto my shoes.

Now onto my necklace. It's a set that was a necklace and bracelet (that you can see in just a minute here, so be patient). It's double stranded brown pearls with a center piece of copper faceted beads. Then there are two rhinestone stations, just to up the bling quotient. I got the set at Stein Mart.

Oh, you devils!!! You made me give you another sneak peek. (typo = sneak peck). Here is my sweater and camisole. So, I bet you are dying to see that bracelet:

Thar she blows!!! Notice that the bracelet is triple stranded and the stations are bigger. The ring is just some junky piece of plastic that I like (because I am junky myself sometimes, well, usually). And what about my right hand?

The ring is interesting. It's made by Arielle, and I got it at Nordstrom. It almost looks like a faceted boulder - it's pale tan with little black veins running through it. The bracelets are from a random store in Artesia, where we sometimes go to eat DEELISH Indian buffet.

Now for the big reveal !!!! Here's the entire outfit.

So, the skirt is Nine West, the tan cardigan is Joseph A, and God only knows where I got the cami. Actually, God probably does know. But He keeps most of my deepest, darkest secrets. Anyway, enjoy your day, and I will be posting some things from around Casa De Holtzman over the long weekend. Hasta next posta!!!

I Should Be Dead By Now (or at least out of commission)

Why, you say? Because once again, I am a bruisey mess. But black and blue go together nicely - after all, it's a color combination that is found in nature. I read that you shouldn't wear brown and black together, but Kenni is black and brown, and he's beautiful.

I tried to take my own picture in the Good Life Gym. So you get to see me working it with the hip thrust and the squint into the phone. The pants are from H&M. They have a cobalt and black geometric print on a white background. I know that this brand runs small, so I figured a size 2 would be about right. Well, I couldn't get them above my knees, so I got a 4. Now they are growing larger by the minute. They are stretching out as I wear them. I should have gotten the 2 and then worn them around the house for an hour. The resulting strangulation of my legs would have been a small price to pay to eliminate the saggy butt that I am now sporting. But they were inexpensive, so?? On top, I have a black dolman sleeve knit top. What you can't see is that the entire back is Venice lace. So under the black top, I have a cobalt blue tank that shows through the black lace. Also, as an added bonus, there is a band of cobalt peeking out at the hem. So what about them shooz?

Here's a close up of the print on the pants. It's so cute, so that's why I am not too upset about them being all stretchy. The shoes are fabric espadrilles made by LifeStride. You would think they would be super comfy, but they are just average. Once again, the old lady peds to prevent blisters.

Since I am a creature of habit, I once again layered my necklaces. The longer one is the gold chain, and this time it has a sapphire and teensy diamond pendant. The shorter one is interesting. It's part of a parure - that word describes a set of matching jewelry. I have two of them, and they both have a necklace, earrings, and a ring. This one is sapphire. They were made in India, and I got both at an antique shop in the Orange Circle.

Love the neck. So wrinkly and spotty.

So, onto my hands. On the right, I have a sapphire and diamond ring, as well as the same trio of bracelets that I wore the last time I dressed like a bruise.

The nail polish is made by Ulta, and is called Get The Nude. I like it because it's totally neutral, but it took three coats to get full coverage. On my left hand, I have a large gold ring with a London Blue topaz. I like it because it's deep blue like a sapphire, but it was nowhere near the price of a sapphire. And also, once again, my black leather bracelet with black crystals.

And today, we have a completely different change of pace. I am all citrusy and limey. Voila:

I need to learn to stand up straight. Anyway, the skirt is lime ikat from J Crew. And the crewneck sweater is white stripes and lime sequin stripes from Old Navy. The shoes are nude - it looks like what they say is true - nude shoes elongate your legs and make you look taller. Well these ought to, because they have 4 inch wedges. I got them in Palm Springs once when the shoes I was wearing gave me blisters AND made me look stumpy. The brand is Bamboo.What they will not do is hide the run in my p-hose.

Here's a closeup of my neck. I know. But the necklace!!! I got it at Return Engagement in the $1 bin. It's so hideous that it's awesome. Usually, there's nothing good in there, but every now and then.....

This is also a good view of the sequins on my sweater. They're clear, so they don't add color, they just sparkle. As for my left hand,

The bracelet is from Stacy's Closet. I called it Stacy's Boutique by accident the last time I mentioned it. It's on Magnolia and Warner. The ring is a peridot that I got in Montana. I like it because the metal is silver and gold, so it goes with everything. And on my right hand

The ring is from Nordstrom, and it's costume. It has the coolest, creepiest setting. The bracelet is from a shop in Truckee.
So that's about it. Tomorrow is the last day I have to work before the big holiday break. I can guarantee you that all I will be wearing for several days is shorts and a T shirt, and a swimsuit for some well earned King Kool Pool Lounge floating. The KK is the best pool lounge ever. I will show you a picture of it. I was smart for once, and bought 2 of them when WalMart put its summer pool crap on sale last year. So now you have something to look forward to!!!

It's Not Only "New York, New York" Anymore !!!!!

It's HB, HB !!!!We also have a Central Park. !!!And in HB, the weather is better, the people are cooler, and you don't step in horse poop. (even though I hope the horses get to stay in NYCP). Almost every Saturday, I take my run in HB Central Park. If I cover every inch of every trail, it takes exactly one hour, and it's fun and always interesting. So let's go on a tour !!!

The first stop in the library. It's a beautiful modern building. They have books for checkout, movies for checkout, and a section where they sell books. There's a coffee shop, a gift shop, and the HB Playhouse is held in the basement. If they don't have the book you want, they will get it for you. There are lots of fountains and statues outside, as well as benches to sit on. Parking is free, and covered.

There is a gazebo and hall for rent, and I guess you can have a wedding or a party there. Today, there was a wedding, and I have seen sweet 16 parties, and school dances there.

The Adventure Playground. This venue is open from June to September. Kids can play in mud, dirt, build things, swing on ropes, and all kinds of messy stuff. Then they shower off and change into clean clothes when you pick them up. Kids love it.

The bandstand. It's hard to see, but it's right behind the library, so you can park in the library lot and bring chairs or a blanket to sit on. They have concerts on Friday nights during the summer. The schedule is in the library.

This is a picture of the Alvin Coen Overnight Campground. You can reserve the space and set up tents, and use the fire pits. Today, a soccer club was using it.

There are playgrounds scattered around here and there throughout the park. They all have restrooms nearby, and parking is close. It was funny - there was no one in any of them today. I guess people thought it may be hot still. Usually, there are people in every one.

There are two restaurants in the park. The first one is The Park Bench. All seating is outside, under umbrellas. Dogs are allowed, even encouraged. Today, it was packed. Every table had a dog or two. They serve big breakfasts and lunches, and there is a dog menu.

This is a view of the library from the back. There is a plant maze back there, and a couple of small ponds. Due to the drought, the ponds are pretty dried up. The maze has a fence around it, so kids can go in and not get lost. I almost always see the birdwatching club back here. Today, they were all looking up into a tree. I looked up and saw some kind of big nest. They were way more excited than me.

There are lots of trails and paths in the park. People run, walk, walk their dogs, ride bikes, and push others in wheelchairs. It's usually really nice out, and it's usually peaceful. You sometimes see a homeless guy or a weird person, but it's never deserted, and I have never been scared, even when I go off the trails and run through the bushes.

This is the Shipley Nature Center. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 to 5. There is a nice trail to walk inside, and there are gazebos and benches scattered throughout. It is super peaceful in there - a good place to talk to someone. They also sell native plants and have classes and tours. You can get the schedule in the gift shop. I have a friend who has lived in HB for 25 years, and had never been until I showed it to them.

This is the second restaurant. It's called The Lakeview Cafe. It used to be Alice's. It has indoor and outdoor seating. The big attraction is the birds. They sell fowl food, and you can feed ducks, coots, and geese (Canada geese and huge white geese). They also allow dogs if you sit outside. Alice's used to have awesome cinnamon rolls, but I haven't been there since it changed.

They have a dog agility club that meets on Saturday. They put their dogs through races, obstacle courses, and jumps. The dogs seem to love it, and it's fun to watch. There are a lot of Border Collies there, but other breeds as well.

HB Dog Park. This is a free, large area where dogs can roam and play off the leash. It is fenced in, and has water troughs for the dogs, and seats for the owners. There are separate areas for large and small dogs. It's really fun for your little friends. My dogs have always dug it.

This is a view of the large lake. You can walk or run around the entire thing. The restaurants are on one side, and the dog parks and horse stables are on the other. It's doing pretty good despite the drought. This is photo of a Canada goose and her baby. I took it as I ran around this section of the park.

The last area is the dunes area. It serves s few purposes - there's a Frisbee golf course, some BMX bike paths, and sand dunes where kids use radio controlled cars. This is the only part of the park where there isn't much shade, and it's all dirt and sand. Little boys seem to love it, and there were 3 groups of guys playing Frisbee golf.

So that's your tour !!! If you ar eever bored and need somewhere to go or somewhere less boring to run, try the park. And while you're there, look for an elderly woman running - I will either be carrying a lazy chihuahua, or trying to keep up with a frantic min pin.

Calico Coolness !!!!

No, I am not wearing a ditzy floral prairie style dress. I have an allergy to those kinds of dresses. I'm talking about Elli. She is a tricolor chihuahua, also known as a calico chihuahua. That's because she is mostly black, with tan and white markings here and there. Actually, she has 3 white shoes and one white boot.

As you know, it has been oppressively hot in these here parts lately. So I decided to take my little sweetheart for her first swim in the pool. I was expecting the worst - my friends who have chihuahuas say they are as allergic to water as I am to flowery dresses. In addition, she is 75% head, so I imagined her plummeting to the bottom of the pool, head first. On Wednesday, when it was close to 100 degrees, we did it. I put her on the top step of the stairs in the shallow end, and ........well,see for yourself.

She calmly sat in the water. She didn't try to escape. She didn't freak out. She bathed. She was even unprovoked by Kenni. You can see his legs in the picture, telling her somethng like "You're gonna die!!!!". Then when she had enough, she just delicately hopped out, and laid in the sun. After all, most of those fabulous cliff divers are Mexican, so maybe it's in her blood.

So, in honor of her bravery, I attempted to recreate her calico beauty. Here I am, wearing my Elli costume:

This dress is a very comfortable one. I got it in a muumuu shop on Oahu, but I am told by those more knowledgeable than myself that a more ladylike term for it is "shift dress". It's just one wonderful bag of jersey knit. But of course, it has some added bling !!!! This is me, after all.

As you can see, the muumuu has a rounded neckline all covered in gold, silver, bronze, and black sequins. So no necklace is needed. You do have to wear a racer back bra, but I have thrown this thing into the wash numerous times, and it always comes out perfect. No ironing needed. Kupaianaha !!!! That means wonderful !!!

I then attempted to mimic Elli's feet. I used Enzo Angiolini gladiator sandals that I got at Nordstrom's. They are super comfy and just a kupaianaha pair of shoes.

I have realized that the warmer months are upon us, so I am once again making sure my toenails look nice. No more growing fur on my legs and claws on my feet for a little while.

Now, I know you are curious about the jewelry that goes with my costume. On my left hand :

The bracelet is leather with black crystals, and the ring is carved from a solid chunk of amber. On my right hand ,

The ring is citrine and diamonds, and the bracelet is from Coldwater Creek, the result of another gift certificate. Although I like it, it was originally $69.95. As if. It was on sale for $7.95. No wonder CC is going out of business. Citrine is one of my favorite stones, because it comes in a myriad of colors.

I will leave you to enjoy the weekend, with one more picture of Kenni trying to convince Elli that the pool means certain death in the most horrible fashion imaginable. Immediately after this was taken, I tossed him in and helped him paddle his bloated body to the steps. He thanked me later, when he felt all cool and refreshed.

Major Construction Ahead - Detour

Hello everyone !!! Lots of exclamation points because I'm really excited!!! I actually got a request from a viewer!!! I have hit the big time, baby. Anyway, the request was to illustrate how I select my accessories. And I will do a little photo demo. But not until I have tortured you with another outfit. Away we go.

I wore this on May 14, because it was triple digits, even at the beach. So cool and comfy is my huckleberry. The slacks are from Salvation Armani. They are several years old (that's why they have flared legs, so 70's chic). The top is from that fine French store , Jay Cee Penyay. (JCP). I have accesorized this ensemble with a thin leopard print belt, becase I am working an animal theme.

The animal theme continues with my wedge shoes. They have a reptile band and reptile insoles. The wedge is 4" high, and the platform is 1.5", leaving me with a 2.5" rise, whichi is very easy to walk in.

Now for the arms. On the right, i have a citrine ring. The stone is rectangular and in a plain setting. I got it at the Gem Faire that they have at the OC Fairgrounds. I have only been there once, and the prices were good that day. The rose gold watch and bracelet set is by RJ Graziano. There are 11 bangles total, all of them different. I am sporting 6 of them.

On my left arm, I have a hinged costume turtle bangle. I got it on Haight in San Francisco. I love to go down that street whenever I am in the bay area. There are all kinds of shops, bars, and restaurants. I went into a restaurant and ordered a martini and garlic fries. I got a MOUND of fries and ate them all. I smelled for 3 days. It was worth it. The ring is once again my Black Diamond Swarovksi Nirvana.

My necklace is by a company called Cookie Lee. They have these home parties where you buy costume jewelry. It's pretty good quality - I have 3 or 4 pieces and none of them have broken or tarnished. I don't know if Cookie is still around. I haven't been invited to a party or gotten a catalog in quite a while.

This necklace came with matching earrings that I never wear for one reason or another. I have used the black leather cord to hang many other pendants on, so you will be seeing it again sometime.

Okay, so now let's get to the secret stuff. How do I choose which accessories to wear? Well, let's start with what I plan on wearing tomorrow. It'll be another hot day, so I want something light.

I chose a white denim skirt by Clio. This is another remnant from the Robinson May days - that was their house brand. The printed chiffon top is from Express, a generic mall store. Since it's sheer, I have a yellow cami underneath.

Next, I will choose which shoes to wear. Here are the contenders.

On the left, we have some high wedge espadrilles. They are yellow and gray patent leather. I got them at Target. The middle pair are low snakeskin wedges with a knotted front. The brand says Worthington. On the right, once again, the Sole Society sandals in beige. I first eliminate the snakeskin - the low heel combined with a knee length skirt would be stumpifying and unflattering. Then I eliminated the Sole Society, because they would be more appropriate for a dressier outfit. So the espadrilles win the shoe battle. Next, which handbag?

On the left, we have an Italian leather handbag that is tan with an equestrian print on the flap. It's very high quality, and I got it at Happyness Consignment. It is made by The Beverly Hills Bag Lady. It struck out because the print doesn't go with a floral top. On the right is a gold clutch that I also got at Happyness. It's really striking in person, a little fancy, but maybe. In the middle is a plain tan patent leather shoulder bag from Kate Spade. This one is the winner - I like the simple lines, since I am planning on wearing a lot of jewelry.

I can go two different ways with my jewelry today - either dramatic or delicate. Let's check out the delicate choice first:

The necklace is by Cookie Lee again. It's silver with green shell teardrops. It is double stranded. The earrings are liquid silver, given to me by my mother in law. For rings, one diamond set and one citrine and diamond. For bracelets, one Tiffany link and two silver with peridot ( a pale green stone). Let's compare the dramatic option.

The necklace is green agate. I got it from Amazon. I won't buy from this vendor again because this thing is a nightmare to fasten. It is pretty though. The rings are citrine and mobe pearl set in silver. The bracelets are my serpahite from Southwest Indian Foundation, and a Brighton hinged piece that I got when I left yet another job several years ago. The earrings are just some cheapy beaded hoops. So which version won?

Of course!!! The drama wins!! Why? Because it goes better with the casual theme of the outfit, and it entirely covers my bony chest. Here's the final look:

Not bad for 110 degrees in the shade. See you all later!!