So Easily Entertained

Summer is finally here and to honest, I have been missing it.  We have had a wet, wet year...starting in November 2012.  But, the hot weather and lots of sunshine have finally arrived.  Yeah!  It's time for dips in the pool, fireflies, lemonade and also ticks, sunburns, ponytails cuz your hair always looks bad.  Sorry, just can't bitch about the weather.  Used to it I guess.

Look what I discovered...

Above is my self folded tee shirts.  Not bad.

Below is my new favorite friend..Flip and Fold!  Geez, I need to fluff my bed.

Place the shirt on it upside down.

Flip

Put back.  Very important step.  And yes I forgot this step a few times.

Flip again

Almost to the money shot.

Fold

Look ma, noo hands!

What the stack now looks like

Quiz time..which shelf met Flip and Fold?

Good job (the one in the middle)

I can feel myself getting giddy just seeing the pictures.  I have flip and folded my entire closet and even did my husbands tees.  I think he was jealous he didn't get to do them because he acted like he really didn't care.  I am so easily entertained.  I got mine at The Container Store for around $20.  I know, three pieces of plastic brings such joy for $20.  If you are interested go here for all kinds of info.  They are sold in a variety of places.  Remember, you too can have fun!

Now, lovely pictures of the garden..

Butterfly Bushes above and below.  The flowers are in abundance but are not showing up very well in the picture.  I even have a butterfly house.

 Have just a few gardenias on the bush.  It was spectacular in May.

 This bed is meant to be dry so the plants seem to be struggling a bit.

My poor Clematis got beat to hell from all the rain.  Has this one beautiful bloom.  Hopefully more will come.

My very beautiful Weeping Willow and her friends

Not to be out down...Crepe Myrtles are the stars right about now.  Yep, come visit and you too can jump on the trampoline.

Peanut is waiting for you.

Navy Trench via Ebay

Ebay is definitely a hit with me.  I do hope we just keep dating and it doesn't turn into a full blown obsession.  I could see how it could.  My Kenneth Cole Trench arrived.  I honestly loved the Burberry plaid I tried on but something was off with the fit.  For that money, heck even half off on ebay, it is hard to justify.  Plus, a trench is not something that gets a lot of use around these parts...or at least not until this year (didn't know Knoxville had turned into a rainforest).

On the Model:

Kenneth Cole Sateen Trench, Size L Navy

Unfortunately, the seller just has 1 left in size small.  I placed the order on Tuesday and had it by priority USPS on Saturday.  Not bad service.  Not sure why the price is up...I only paid $105 with shipping.  Hmm.

On me:

Hey look.  I'm wearing navy!
I chose to tie my belt...cuz I'm stylish like that.

It has snaps not buttons...

More this color...

I like that the hardware is not bright and garish.

Back of coat and detail.

Has Vent.

Snaps have Kenneth Cole on them.  Subtle advertising.

Belt and Buckle detail.

Sleeve length is just perfect, even for my short arm.  I have one slightly longer than the other.  I also have one foot bigger than the other.  And one boob bigger than the other...and they point in different directions.  Sorry.  I should have said "sag" in different directions.

There is nothing to cinch the arm holes but I do not plan on wearing in a torrential downpour.  I'll just stay in and watch Project Runway.

Close up of neck line and the girls always want to say hi.

With a dress.

Gives a better indication of length.  I love it and am so happy I took the chance with Ebay.

Last Shot...

Too lazy to tie but yes, it has pockets.

I have finally heard from insurer and should get my money by the end of the week.  We have spent a good portion modifying our alarm system.  If you come up my drive way picking your nose and scratching your ass, I'll get you on film :)

Eights Years Later and Another Luxury Handbag

Many moons ago, I went to Chicago on a "love" weekend.  Money was good and I decided it was time to get an "investment" piece for my wardrobe.  It brought back all the feelings of when my folks would give me $200 at Christmas to buy clothes and I found it almost paralyzing.  What to get, what to get.  If I buy this I'll only have so much left.  It was borderline tortuous.  In Chicago, it was between a Burberry Trench or a Chanel Bag.

 

I went with the bag.  It is quite lovely but still wonder if it was really worth the price.  In eight years I believe I have used it maybe six times.  It's not the bag.  It's me.  I feel rather pretentious when I pull it out.  I have decided to let those feelings go and use the hell out of it. 

 

Hunter, not to be left out, purchased a similar piece from Stephen Rolfe Powell.

 

 

Ours is better.

 

Okay, back on track.  Like most I have been using pinterest to pin items I'm interested in but not ready to purchase.  I had decided to invest in another bag and really like one from Burberry and another from Reed Krakoff.  Didn't like the price though.  Well, time passes, items are forgotten, pinterest is revisited, and lo and behold sale time comes.

 

This is the Burberry:

 

 

It went from $1300 to $300 BUT was sold out and I could not find it anywhere.  But this baby...

 

Reed Krakoff Boxer I KO/Natural Brown Multi

 

Original price was $1290 (still selling it for that price at Nordstroms) and is now $645.  I wanted this for a travel bag.  It is too big for me for everyday use but I do believe it will be perfect for travel.  They do sell a smaller version, The Boxer. 

They had it all wrapped up and to me within five business days.  You do have to sign for it.

See how much better my robe looks just with one simple accessory

 

 

Front pocket

 

 

Back pocket.  Does have a snap.

 

Inside are two open pockets and one zip.

 



 

In one open pocket you have two small accessory pockets (phone, tissue) and a small zip.

 

The other open pocket has a larger side zip area.

 

The zip pocket is just wide open.

 



 

Side detail.

 

It is beautiful and functional.  Although this will not get everyday use I am looking forward to taking it on it's first trip...Vegas baby!



In the Navy

In the Navy.  Where you can find pleasure, search the world for treasure...YMCA was not the only Village People song.  I have recently discovered I have a real thing for navy.  I always knew I liked navy but I do believe it may be a fetish.  Hmmm.

 

 



Now that's what I'm talking about.  Seriously, my fetish is actually with the color navy.  I recently went shopping in Charlotte.  This is what I bought:

J Crew Merino Tippi, Size M Navy

 

 

and

 

Gap Essential Short-sleeve Crew Tee, Size M Navy

They were a good deal so I bought a grey and a white one also, thinking outside the box.

 

This is what I looked at, tried on, but DID NOT get:

 

Burberry Brit Short Metallic Check Trench, Navy size 10 and 12

 

I was trying to find my size so I could see about getting one on EBay.  I am a size 11.  The 10 looked good but puckered at the boobs.  The 12 was just a bit big and added weight on me.

This is what I ordered on line since I did such a shitty job shopping:

 

Kenneth Cole Women's Sateen Trench, size L Navy

 

and

 

J Crew Printed Eyelet Top, size M Navy

I will post pictures and reviews of the trench and top when they get here. Didn't think you wanted to see the tee and the tippi...although I really like them.

Well, once I got home and after much ribbing from daughter about my navy purchases, I decided to make a polyvore page of all navy items I presently own that can be worn for fall/ winter...because I am so over summer clothes...and look at this:

Now be nice.  There are a few patterned pieces in there.  I have recently discovered The Vivienne Files and she talks about a core color.  I'm thinking navy, maybe?

Here is an actual picture of my navy items:

 

 

 

 Geez!  And the dresses aren't in there.  Yep, there are the damn Mona Patent Pumps that I hate so much.  If you own them ya know what I'm talking about.  I would donate but am afraid to punish the next owner and they are just too damn pretty to throw away.  Sigh.  Mona's a bitch from hell.  Anyhoo, I need some navy pumps and the Stuart Weitzman's look nice.  I also need a navy belt, and maybe navy fingerless gloves, or a navy housecoat.  Okay, I'll stop with the belt.  Going to try it all on, make sure it fits, and go from there.  The next step, according to Vivienne, is a signature color.  Unfortunately I do not think white and/or grey counts.