Autumn Dreaming

It’s nearly 100 degrees outside today, and our air conditioning is on full blast.

However, the latest additions to my closet are in anticipation of crisp autumn days and Starbucks pumpkin coffees.

Here’s what I picked up at a recent Ann Taylor Loft 40-percent off sale:








Anybody else jump the gun on fall fashions? If so, what did you pick up?

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A Little Pick Me Up

After coming up with zilch on my latest Sephora and J. Crew run, I spotted these earrings at the Hallmark store.



Just a pick-me-up to tide me over until it's time break out the spring clothes.

Soooo, what little item have you bought to help you get thru the final weeks of this dreary winter????

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Never Say Never

Uggs are ugly boots.

For the last few winter seasons, I’ve turned my nose up at ‘em and vowed to never, ever wear them.

Sigh. Icy temps and cold feet have spurred an unfashionable reversal of my decision.

Dangit, y’all! I don’t live down south to wake up to 16-degree temps, but I digress...

Last night I bought a pair of Ugg Bailey Button boots in black.

Once I stuck my size 8’s inside of those oh-so-warm boots, I instantly understood why otherwise chic women clomped around in them looking like Clydesdale horses.

My mom is the queen of putting on hideous clothes and saying, “I don’t care what you think, they’re warm.” (She’s cuter than me and can get away with it.)

But please tell me I’m not turning into her!

Soooo, has Mother Nature made you do some ugly things this winter?

Wearing clothes you thought you’d never be caught dead in?

Or maybe you think Uggs are cute?

Click the comment button and tell me all about it!

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My New Favorite Jeans

I’ve never stepped into a J. Jill store before this weekend. Honestly, the color palette of their clothes is a bit drab for my taste.

But after coming up empty at J. Crew, Ann Taylor Loft and Nordie’s shoe department, I took a peek inside to kill time while the hubs was in the Apple store.

I tried on these jeans and fell in love.


They flatter my curves and have the boyfriend jean look without the saggy, sloppiness.

The $89 price tag made wince. Yeah, I know. I have no problem with forking that over that and more at Sephora, but jeans are something I tend to buy from Target or Walmart for no more than $20. <- Hey, you have to scrimp on something.

Anyhoo, I’m wearing them today without a smidgen of buyer’s remorse. And thanks to the dh, I’m also in gadget heaven with a new iPad.


The jeans are also available online.

So what are your favorite jeans?

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Watch Out Project Runway!

Last summer, I was totally inspired by author Kristi Belle of the elegantly fabulous lifestyle blog - La Bella Figura.

Kristi whipped up a wrap skirt so cute it stirred up my long-dormant sewing skills, and I bought a beginner’s sewing machine of my own!

To give you an idea how long it’s been since I’ve touched a sewing machine - Saturday Night Fever was tops at the box office and Lionel was still a Commodore.

Yep, that long.

I opted for the Janome Hello Kitty 11706 Size Freearm Sewing Machine pictured below:
Don’t let the cutesiness fool you. It’s genuine sewing machine - not a toy.

So far I’ve made a cut and sew apron:


Next up is a pillow for my office chair from this fabric:


Here’s the pattern for Kristi’s adorable summer skirt. I’m working my way up to making it.


Okay, soooo maybe the title of this post was a touch ambitious, and Project Runway candidates have nothing to fear – YET!

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Target Run: Liberty of London Edition

Over the weekend, I gave into the floral-print frenzy of the Liberty of London for Target collection.

The plan had been to shop online with my Sunday morning coffee at my fingertips. However, once I started clicking – everything I wanted was already sold out.

So poured my joe into a to-go mug and zipped over to the closest Target. By then it was 10:30 am and store was rocking with shoppers pushing red buggy’s piled high with Liberty goodies.

I’d gone in for some accessories and a few housewares.

I hadn’t intended to buy clothes. The prints looked too busy for a middle-aged woman. But I tried on two tops that left me pleasantly surprised.

On the hanger, it looks like you need First Lady arms to wear these. Not at all. Now I’m not saying you can get away wearing them with bat wing flab, but you don’t have to be on friendly terms with the gym to look great in them. The halter-neck is very shoulder flattering.



It's dark and rainy here today, so the photo conditions aren't the best. Here are two photos from Target's site:


I think they’ll be perfect for a casual dinner out. I'll pair them with dark jeans and strappy, metallic sandals with a bit of a heel.

Unfortunately, they were sold out of the canisters, mug and teapot I wanted, but I did get the cereal bowl on my list. (Just one because Mr. Phyllis doesn’t eat cold food.)

I also picked up two bucket hats and a few (non Liberty) v-neck cotton tees in spring colors. I’m seriously considering growing out my relaxer in order to explore some bolder hair color options. If I decide to do it, I’m sure hats will come in handy this summer.


The tops were $19.99 each and the hats were $12.99 each. The tees are on sale this week for $6.

And while we’re talking Liberty of London, I’ll probably pass on their make-up collection for MAC Cosmetics. I ADORE the packaging, but the colors may be too cool for me.



Sooooo, what about you guys? Anybody pick up anything from either Target or MAC’s Liberty of London collections?

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Black Friday Haul Check-In

I was well on my way to resisting the allure of Black Friday.

My car stayed parked in the garage all day. I didn’t even go to the grocery store to restock my dwindling supply of Diet Coke or those Late July Mini Cheese Crackers I can’t stop eating.

Success was oh-so-close.

Then around 11ish Friday night, I fired up the laptop for a quickie peek at Twitter. From there I ended up gawking at the two tops that have been in my J. Crew shopping cart for over a month now.

Both are in brown skin flattering colors and wearable year-round. I can go sleeveless or don a cardigan on cool days. At 20 percent off (yeah, I know it's not the deepest discount, but I'm been holding out for weeks) and free shipping, I couldn’t hold back my itchy submit order finger.

J. Crew’s Annalise Ruffle Cami in cinnamon spice and spicy olive.







That’s it for me. The rest of my shopping will be for restaurant gift cards, which my loved ones prefer to stuff.

Sooooo, check in and tell me all about your Black Friday haul?

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