I Buy Expensive Suits - They Just Look Cheap on Me.

I love suits, I really do. But on me, they just tend to skew a little matronly,and thereby, boring. And since my fashion choices are one of the few areas where I can still have fun at my advanced state of decay, I don't want to be bored. Case in Point:

This is a perfectly lovely Kasper suit. It wasn't cheap, it fits beautifully, it's well tailored and made of nice fabric, it's just...................oh excuse me, I fell asleep looking at that boring suit. As you can tell by the dangling badge, it's perfectly appropriate for any business occasion. I just need to JAZZ IT UP.

So where do I begin? Well, let's start with the top. You will never see me in a business suit with a button down underneath it. Unless I am going to a job interview ( but I like my job, so stop hoping). For this khaki color suit, I wanted bright color, so I chose this Uniform by John Paul Richard (Macy's) silk embroidered shell. It has a lot of beading and applique work.

I continued the theme with two layered necklaces. The shorter one is another Swarovski piece and the longer one is Botswana Agate that I got on Ebay. Then, we start with even more bling than I usually wear ( and I usually look like a Gypsy Sister).

On my right arm, we have a silver ring with a large citrine. This is why I like semiprecious stones - you can get BIG ones for less money. I also have a leather bracelet with pewter crystals for a little rock n' roll vibe.

Let's move to my left hand.

On this claw, we have layered silver bracelets. The one with stones is smoky topaz. The ring is sterling with white shell (Macy's). I liked it so much that I bought the same one in black onyx, and I wear them all the time.

The last way to give myself some panache is through my choice of shoe. For this outfit, I wore Tahari maryjanes in taupe suede with copper patent trim (Neiman Marcus). They have a chunky heel and a platform, so they are easy to walk in.

That just about does it. I look like I'm going to work (I sometimes struggle with professionalism in dress), but I am not a total snooze fest. Someone may actually look at me - happens less and less.

Well ,have a good day, and kiss your favorite minpin!!!

Chic and Cheap !!!!

A while ago, I got sick of my dull, worn, dreary, nasty, icky extra room. This room needed a Life Style Lift. I didn't need to pull anything down or do any construction. But I did need to spruce up the surface.

First, we decided what the room would be used for. It ended up to be a combo library (for Doc) and a dressing room (for me).

Age before beauty, so Doc's part was the first thing I did. I purchased two black laquer bookcases, after measuring to find the ideal size. On these, I put some of Doc's collection of antique medical books. On each shelf, I put one treasure - like a framed photo, or a candle, or a professional award. Then I saved one corner for myself, and got a pink wicker basket to hold the clothing I am refashioning, upcycling, or sewing from scratch. I got the bookcases from Ebay and the basket from Home Goods.

Then I tackled my closet, a very important space for me, because I love and have a LOT of stuff. I keep things forever, until they disintegrate, and really only my workout clothes rot. And they DO rot. So I got a set of curtains and a cool rod to replace the scratched and ugly wood closet doors. I chose a geometric pattern in black, grey and white. The curtain rod is black and has big curlicues on the ends. I got the curtains at Ikea and the rod at Target. In the corner, you can see that I have a white glass front bookcase and some artwork which was done by a friend. Some of Doc's more valuable books are in the case.

On the opposite wall, we have a mishmash, like you usually do when you are married with husband. We have yet another bookcase, this one with books that are more contemporary for medical practice. Snore. Now me. As you can see, I have hung over-door hooks for my most used purses. Above the bookcase, more original artwork and a bulletin board. I got the hooks at Home Goods and the bookcase is vintage(which means someone gave it to us, but I don't remember who,but hey thanks).

In the next corner, we have a tall bookcase (yep, even more medical books, but it still pales in comparison to how much crap I have), and a cheval mirror. The mirror is not entirely narcissistic - on top, I have hung all the collars of all my beloved dogs that I have had through the years. Sniff, wipe. The bookcase is from Ikea and the cheval mirror is another hand me down.

The remaining wall has a large window, which is curtainless. I have a lot of mature trees in the back, so privacy is not an issue. Air and sunlight are issues. So, underneath the window is our desk. This is the business center of the Holtzman empire - here is where our hugely significant financial matters are conducted. And my workout shoes of various form are stashed beneath. The running joke - you can smell Fritos while you pay bills. Nice. Sick but true. On top, I have cute desk accessories - canning jars for clips and staples, a "Housekeeping" metal basket to hold pens and stuff, and a box in black, white and pink Greek Key pattern. Into this box, you hide everything that you want to hoard, but should be thrown away. It is crammed with Macy's and Nordstrom catalogs, with pages folded to mark all of the crap that I wish to buy in the future.

The last corner has all of the forgotten, homeless stuff. The cool cylindrical stainless trashcan is a remnant from Doc's office, and I use it to stuff important documents inside. Hey, it works, and it was free.On top is a tiedye Led Zeppelin pillow (the matching tapestry is in the laundry room). Stairway to Paperwork. Below that, although you can't see it, is a red wicker basket that holds all of the electronic gizmos that can easily be lost,such as computer cords and phone chargers. But they aren't,so Rosie 1, World 0.
So I hope you have enjoyed the tour. Now, the costs of all this crap:

Bookcases = $375 from Ebay (Ikea brand)

Basket = $14.99 from Home goods

Curtains = $50 from Target

Curtain Rod = $19.99 from Target

Over door hooks = $4.99 each from Home Goods

Greek Key box = $14.99 from Home Goods

Total = $484.95. sounds like a lot, but this will hold us for a few years, or until I buy so much more crap that I need to refigure my layout again.

Have a Great Day, and kiss your chihuahua!!!!

Drink O de Mayo

So yesterday was Cinco de Mayo. I know that it commemorates some battle in Mexico, but that's all I know (and I grew up in San Diego). From my perspective (and it's a lot of people's perspective), the day is just an excuse to eat yummy Mexican food and drink margaritas. But when I got home, who should be waiting for me but Elli. I figured that it's her holiday, because it doesn't get any more Mexican than a chihuahua. So I put her new T shirt and her Gooby on, and took her for a nice long walk over to Target. That right there is her idea of the ultimate celebration.

When we got home, I still had an hour and a half until the Clippers wiped the floor with OKC. So I spent it fruitfully:

But lest you think that I am all work and no play, I did one round of celebrating myself.

So refreshing !!! And a good way to watch the Clippers. Did I mention that they creamed OKC?
Onto more important things. What am wearing today?

The skirt is a wrap around sarong style. I got it at Bloomingdale's. It's one of their house brands. The top is a jersey knit that I got at a random fast fashion store that you see all over Orange County. Just beware that sizes in those shops run really small - I am a LARGE. The shoes are Nine West - It seems as though that may be my favorite shoe brand. Onto the bling:
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The ring is a Swarovski Nirvana in Black Diamond. The bracelet is a costume piece from Stacy's Boutique (an HB favorite). But what about the left hand?

The bracelet is gold and diamonds, a present for some holiday at some time. Aren't I so informative? The ring is from White House Black Market in New Orleans. And around my neck ? This is a necklace made of black coral and gold beads that I had made from a huge branch of black coral that I brought back from St Kitts, in the West Indies. I have had it for years, and it's still one of my favorites.

Well, that about does it for today. Have a good one, and Happy Nurses Day to all the nurses out there. Thanks for everything you do !!!

Welcome to my Blog!!!

Thanks for looking at my blog !!! First of all, what will this blog be about? Well, there will be a little of everything, with topics including fashion, hobbies, recipes and food, gardening, and just about anything else you can think of. It will usually be me who is doing the posting, but I am sure that I will have many impressive guest bloggers on here (especially after I become famous). Let's dip our little toes into the water with my first post. I think we will start with fashion, since that is what my fans have been asking for. How about we dissect today's look:

Pants = We start with some oldie but goodie Guess jeans. I can't even tell you how old they are, but at any rate, I have worn them for years and they haven't disintegrated yet. It's hard to tell from the picture, but they are corduroy, so that makes them good to wear when it's a little on the cool side. Top = this top is a chiffon tunic made by Coldwater Creek. I don't usually shop there, but they sent me a $20 coupon, so, duh. I got this to wear either as a tunic or as a swimsuit coverup. It's one size fits all, and believe me, all of us could get inside of it together. It absolutely had to be belted - when left loose, I resembled a flying squirrel. I chose a wide grey elastic belt for the job. This allows for expansion of the belly after my lunchtime chow down. Tshirt = I had originally picked out a white camisole to wear under the tunic since it's sheer. But I neglected to notice that the heat wave is over, so I had to do a game day substitution, or I would have frozen. I ended up with this long sleeve white Old Navy T shirt. It had the unintentional added bonus of having sparkly sequins on the front, so they shine through and glitter. Accessories = These really make the look. I started with a statment necklace made of moonstones:

I got this from Amazon. It was very reasonably priced, but it did come over on the slow boat from China.
Then I added a bracelet made of larimar.

Larimar is a semi-precious stone found only in the Domincan Republic. It is formed when volcanic flows combine with copper. I got this bracelet from Amazon as well, but I originally saw a beautiful one at Costco. I didn't get it at the time,because I had some remodeling to do. Boo.

The other bracelet is made of a gemstone called Seraphite. It came from the Southwest Indian Foundation. I have purchased a lot of jewelry through this company, because 80% of the costs go to helping Indian tribes. So you can spoil yourself and help someone out at the same time.They cancel each other out, just like when you eat chocolate cake and then cancel it out with Diet Coke. Well, that's it for today, fine readers (if there are any out there). I may post again tomorrow, now that I sorta have the hang of it. Trying to add pictures to the text made me say bad words and pull some of my hair out, but I'm better now. Feel free to comment on this post - at this point, I will even accept hate mail. Rosie