Happy Birthday, America !!! Let Our Flag Wave, and Our Shoes Shine !!!!

Oh you guys, you just wait. I will fulfill the promise of my caption - I am SHINY. So the pool guy came and went - he did a good job, he was cute, and he gave me a $200 discount. (He said he was feeling generous on a holiday). So after he was done, I went over to the new Goodwill that opened up near here. I love to go to grand openings of thrift stores, because they get lots of donations from retailers. And the store is all fresh and clean and they put out the good stuff to hook us in. Behold, the purchase of the day, brand new with tags

Merona gold sparkly espies. I think that's a Target brand. They had several versions of new Target shoes, but this is the one I liked best. They were $6.99. Here is how they look with my chosen outfit of the evening.

So I guess you can figure out that I chose the olive Hue jeggings with the gold tunic. So what necklace did I pick? A Forever 21 classic.

It's a Y shape made of little gold leaves that tinkle as I move. For my rings, my Montana peridot and my Nordstrom green creepy ring.

So what else did I get at Goodwill? Well, I spent $23. I got the shoes, and then this dress for $5.49.

It's a sleeveless body con style, but it has a twist - it is entirely made of tiny ruffles of fabric alternating with mesh.

I also got 3 tops - they were $4.49 each. First, we have a silk J Crew metallic tank with a huge rosette on the front.

I also got a polyester top by Banana Republic that is cadet blue with a ruffle neckline.

The last piece is a polyester shell with a tiered lace overlay. There are 5 tiers, and the sleeves are see through lace. It's peachy pink, and it has an exposed gold zip up the back. It's by a brand called Leo Meets Virgo, which I have never heard of.

For some reason, it was half price. So I wore this to go to the movie and see Jersey Boys.

The movie was pretty good - I think I liked it better than the stage production, which was more musical theater than this. I had gelato - Wedding Cake and Mediterranean Sea Salt Caramel. Both were delicious.
So it's time again to play along with Shoe Shine Saturday with Sheila. I figured that shiny shoes would be good for this. (Duh). So cruise on over to www.sheilaephemera.blogspot.com and look at all the cool shoes!!!

Who loves ya, Pretty Baby

So, tomorrow is the 4th of July, and I have 4 days off!!! Today, I am waiting for the pool repair guy, since I have a leak. I hate waiting for sevice people. First, they give you a time range for arrival (9-11) and then, I'm never sure that they will actually show up, since I have been burned before. Well, let's hope that the lure of $1500 will bring them around.

Remember the rug I got the other day? Well, here it is in all it's glory, in the library/dressing room. Doc said that Elli loves laying on it.

When I went to Kansas City, I left a pile of my dirty laundry on the floor near the hamper for Elli to lay on. She loves to climb on the laundry while it's waiting for the washing machine - she must like to smell our scent. Well, she chose the rug over the laundry pile today. Baby steps toward not being a gross dog. Speaking of gross dogs, here's a picture of my other two pets - Kenni and Jackpot.

Kenni is my min pin (miniature pinscher) and Jackpot is my 15 year old dalmatian/lab mix. Kenni is, and has always been, a royal pain. He lives here because he went through three homes, and he would have been put down if not for us. He is totally hyper and has zero impulse control. But he does okay out in the yard with Pot. Jackpot turned 15 on St Patrick's day. She is still going, although she has bad arthritis and can't see or hear too well. But she is Kenni's constant companion. I try not to bug her by taking tons of pictures of her.

So tonight, I am going to go see Jersey Boys. I saw the stage show in Las Vegas last summer, so it will be interesting to compare the two. I have assembled two casual outfits, but haven't decided which one will be the winner. First, we have a pair of pleather leggings, which i paired with the tank from Stacy's Closet that I got the other day. For cover, a satin jacket made by Fire LA. The leggings are from Nordstrom.

The other option is also a pair of leggings from Nordstrom. They are olive green with gold embossing, and are made by Hue.

I think I got them at the same time, during one of the Half Yearly sales (which begin again next week). For a top for this look, I went with a gold tunic that I got at Salvation Armani some time. I will need to wear a gold tank under it.

I haven't decided yet. Tomorrow, you will get the see the winner, all ironed and accesorized up. I usually do better with work clothes. When casual time comes around, I most likely just grab a pair of shorts and a top. But seeing as how I never go to the theater, I figured that I would give it my best shot for a change. I wasn't a particular fan of the outfit I had on yesterday, but it got a LOT of compliments, so I guess the beauty was in the eye of the beholder, for sure. Well,stay tuned for the big reveal!! P.S. Today, I am linking to www.vodkainfusedlemonade.com for Tres Chic Thursday. I am not really tres chic, but I guess I will try anyway. Go on over and find some cute new blogs !!!

Good Things Come in Small Packages, and Small Things Like Good Packages

So I told you yesterday that I was going to drop off my shoes to be repaired, and that right next door is Stacy's Closet, and I wouldn't be able to resist. I didn't. Oh, the shame. So I go in and look around a little bit and suddenly, I notice that there are racks and racks marked $3. You see, the entire mall got remodeled, and some stores left, and Stacy moved to a smaller corner spot, so she had to liquidate a bunch of stuff. And in the midst of this, the prize.....

Brand new, unworn Betsey Johnson shoes. They are platform loafers, with leather tops and rubber soles. And look at this...

The undisputed evidence. Here's how they look on my feet:

These will be so great for next fall. I also got a flowy double layer tank top for $3. The top layer is kinda tie dye, and the under layer black mesh with gold lurex.

This has happened before - I have gone into Stacy's Closet and they were reducing inventory and I snagged a few amazing things. That's why I keep going back. So there I was, giddy with excitement from success at the hunt. I pull up to Casa de Holtzman, and look what my husband or someone put on the living room floor.

An Ebay box!!!! Yay!!!! Double dog dirty Yay!!! So Elli and I checked it out.

We cut it open with a knife, and.............

OOOOOOHHHH!!! It's our new black sheepskin rug!!! We have a small one - 3 x 4, but it was getting gamey, so I bought a 5 x 8. It's so soft and thick. And Elli gets the old one to put in her bed. She has a lot of possessions for someone who weighs 5 pounds. But the important part is that the rug has the Elli seal of approval.

So, to celebrate, Elli and I went for a walk over to the Target mall, since that's her favorite. When we returned, a half hour later, this was the scene on our porch.

Ugh. It's the replacement cable box. I HATE EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH HOOKING UP ELECTRONICS BECAUSE I AM A TOOL WHEN IT COMES TO ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. Caps intended, I am web-screaming. So much cussing and throwing crap and calling everyone names and Elli hiding from fear and Kenni howling at my screaming, it was successfully installed. Thank you, Rosie. Let's move on and forget this nasty little episode. So what am I wearing today???

This colorful clown suit is something I picked up in La Jolla last year. It's polyester, not silk, so it can go into the washing machine. I got it at a little consignment shop while I was going to hang at the cove. The pants are quite large, but they are a super comfy palazzo style. The top has lovely beaded detail at the yoke.

I wore a tan silk shell under it, because the last time I wore it, it seemed to slip down. The Beatriz necklace is a perfect complement to the top. On my arms,

The usual suspects - my RJ Graziano bangles and Swarovski Nirvana. The shoes are ones I don't wear often. They look like they came from the closet of the Mummy.

Mummy booties!!! But wanna see some adorable shoes that my suite mate is wearing today?

I die a thousand deaths. So stinkin' cute.

Well, that's about it for today. Stay tuned for lots more shenanigans !! Oh, and once again, I am playing along with www.thepleatedpoppy.com for What I Wore Wednesday. Check it out !!!

You Should Only Eat Shellfish in a Month With an R

So of course, I go to eat shellfish in JUNE. Is there an R in June? Well, I might not do the smartest things sometimes, but hey, at least I'm pretty!!!! (veiled TV reference from one of those Real Housewives shows). So where did I eat?

That's right, the Crab Cooker in Newport Beach. This restaurant has been proudly serving seafood to Orange County since 1951 (yes, I stole that slogan from their sign). It's easy to find - go to the pier on Balboa Island and look up:

Then, after you find the red fish, try to find some parking. Parking always gets rough at the beach in the summer. The interior is, shall we say, eclectic. Feast your eyes

I had a skewer with scallops and bacon. For the sides, rice pilaf and sliced tomatoes. My friend had king crab legs, potatoes Romanov, and cole slaw. The famous clam chowder is Manhattan style - the red kind. The food is delicious, but they have no white chowder and no green salads. Also, it's always packed and the tables are very close together - two things to keep in mind. This is a restaurant for eating, not for romance or business. On the way out, you can have all the salt water taffy you want and you can buy fresh seafood from the counter. This is my friend's favorite restaurant.

These guys were buying those California spiny lobster tails you see there. I won't go into my outfit, because all I wore was black shorts and an Indian tunic. Eatin' duds. But I did wear something exciting to work today.

This is another of my I.N.C. knit dresses that I love so much, because they are attractive, well made, and never need ironing. Since it has cutaway shoulders, it requires a jacket. So I wore a linen jacket by Focus 2000. It's a bellhop style with gold braid trim on all the edges. It is cute, but it gets dirty easy - at the end of the day, my makeup and neck sweat dirt will be all over the inside of the collar. Here's a closeup.

For this dress, I always choose emerald jewelry. When I was little, green was my favorite color (now it's yellow). I wore the long gold chain Doc got me, with an emerald pendant. You can also see the cutaway neckline, and the print on the dress. It also has little silver crystals scattered around.

I look like Boobs McGee in this photo- I can assure you that I am NOT. Trick photography again, however unintended. For the wings, more emeralds, and a Bit O' The Blarney with my Irish jewelry.

On my right hand, I have my Montana peridot ring, and two Claddagh bracelets - one emerald and one plain. On my left hand, my Claddagh wedding ring and two gold and gemstone bracelets. Got all the armor in place today. For my feet, the good old Carlos Santana gladiators - they add a little edge to any outfit.

Speaking of shoes, I am finally taking two pairs that I love, and have worn to the ground, to the shoemaker. So stay tuned to see the reveal of the overdose green witch shoes and the Calvin Klein pilgrim shoes. (I'm lookin' at you, Sheila. I missed last Shoe shine Saturday, boo). So this Saturday it is!!!

ADDENDUM : DO NOT LEAVE STEAK IN FRONT OF THE LION'S CAGE. It just occured to me that the shoe repair shop is directly next door to Stacy's Closet, one of my favorite consignments. Sigh. I will not be able to control myself. I will keep you updated on my foolishness. Also, today, I am linking up with www.blovedboston.com for Weekending. Check it out!!!

That's M as in Million

Hello everybody (anybody??). So I heard on the news that a contemporary art piece done by Mondrian recently auctioned off for between 30 and 40 million dollars. That's a lot of scratch. I thought to myself, "Geez, it's only some black lines with blocks of color". But then I thought about it further, and realized that the Mondrian influence is everywhere - fashion, architecture, paper goods, and many other things that we see on a daily basis. So Mondrian created a phenomenon that became an everyday reality. Hence, the huge price tags. Then I remembered that I have a couple of pieces of clothing that definitely fit in this category. So I whipped one out and put it on.

See what I mean? This skirt is by Studio G. I don't remember where I got it, but it's nice heavyweight fabric, is fully lined, and has a lot of little tailoring details, so I am betting it didn't come from a strip mall. With it, I am wearing a coral lurex tank and this little cotton jacket that I got in Palm Springs. As for my necklace,

This necklace is made of several strands of colored freshwater pearls that are twisted together. This style is called a torsade. My mom gave me this necklace some years ago for my birthday. This shot also shows the detail on the jacket. It has little crystal pleated ruffles and rhinestones and the entire waist region is ruched. It adds interest to any outfit. What shooz did I chooz?

You can bet that I didn't pass up a chance to wear my Nine West brown multi velvet T straps. As I told you before, I have the same pair in black multi. I love them both. For my jewelry

On my left hand, I have 6 of my RJ Graziano rose gold bangles and my Swarovski Nirvana in Black Diamond. On my right, a tourmaline and diamond ring, and a costume bangle made of bugle beads in varying tones of orange and brown. I should consider having the Nirvana soldered onto my finger, since I wear it so much. It cost about $200, but the price per wear has to be very low after all the times it has gotten out of my jewelry box and onto one or another of my fingers. Speaking of which, my polish is called Plum Perfect and is made by Ulta.

Today is Monday, so once again I am linking to the beautiful Patti at www.notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.com. She hosts Visible Mondays, and her theme today is mixing old with new. Hmm. Alot of my stuff is old and has been around for a while. The shoes are new to me, but I bought them on consignement, so maybe that qualifies. Oh, and the skirt must be somewhat new, but uses a vintage Mondrian pattern. So I think I am in. Tonight I am going out to dinner with a friend, and I already have my costume prepped. It's too crazy for work, so a night out is the answer. Hop over to Patti's site and enjoy all the Visible Ladies !!!

But Neutral = Boring

No, no, no my little friends. Neutral doesn't equal boring, at least in my world. Today is Saturday. I usually go super SoCal casual on Saturdays. That's when I get a chance to wear stuff that I like, but is inappropriate for work. I usually go without makeup, but today I was on hold with the terrible Verizon Fios TV people, so I had plenty of time to curl my hair and do my makeup during the 22 (yes 22) minute hold time. Hate. Them. But, this is what I ended up wearing to go to lunch and WalMart with Doc and Elli. Of course, in the AM I went for my run. I went to HB Central Park, and it was lovely and calming as usual.

The tiered skirt in by I.N.C., from Macy's, and the tank is from Old Navy. The skirt is crinkly cotton, and has 6 tiers. Here's a closeup of the print.

These are casual flips that I got at Charming Charlie when they had a 2 for $10 sale last year. I needed them for my trip to Fort Lauderdale.

Here you can see the trim on the tank a little better. You can also see my earring and necklace set. I got them in the Phillipines. In 1980 !!! I got a wild hair and decided to go full on drag queen and wear some jewelry on my left arm. Voila.

That is my all time favorite Swarovksi Nirvana in Black Diamond, and a stretchy bracelet that looks junky in the picture, but it is actually nice quality and always looks good - it doesn't get scratched. And of course, since I was all dolled up, Elli had to one-up me. She put on one of her showstopper dresses - Behold, Elli Skelli.

Tiny dog Halloween costume = Target.

Well, tomorrow we are going to the blessing of our granddaughter, Calista. So I will be getting dressed up again, maybe toning down the drag queen a bit. I will take some photos, and show you how it turned out. Until then, Peace Out!!!