Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Talking Bout My Generation


Hello, gentle readers and the blogoverse, I haven't completely fallen off of the map, though I was in danger of it for a while. Between work and a mild case of depression, the only fashion I had been sporting was of the military and pajama variety. Not exactly blog worthy. I did make a resolution to be better at this blog, and for that I am finally posting!

I had the opportunity this past weekend to go home and see The Who in concert with my parents, brother Jed, and sister (In law) Christina. It unfortunately ended up coinciding with the death and funeral of my great Uncle Bud, whom I was very close to and loved dearly. I never called him anything than Uncle Bud, and was closer to him and my cousins Barb and Brenda than I have ever been with Dad's brothers and sister, my only first generation Uncles and Aunt. It really got me thinking about the importance of family and all the generations thereof. I was grateful to be able to attend the funeral and spend time with my immediate and extended family that I so rarely get to see. It has given me a new resolution, not for just this year but every year, to spend more time, over the phone email and in person with my extended family. They have so many tales to tell, tales that fewer and fewer know with each passing year. I vow to listen to their stories and write down what I can, and to always cherish them, with all of their zaniness and eccentricities included. But so as not to make this post a complete sob fest, I did go to the Who concert and am pleased to say Roger Daltrey still has the voice (and the body) of a much younger rocker. He is definitely on my island! Pete Townsend still has the windmill arms going and Zak Starkey looks, and plays the drums like his dad.


Me with my Dad, brother and sister in-law, giving my mother my best, "another picture really?" look.
T-shirt, Stark house loving, Game of Thrones, from Fab.



My Mom called this "The Three Kittens." We were looking at University of Louisville Championship banners.



Before the concert, with my new favorite coat, from a recent 70% sale from Modcloth.

To my Uncle Bud, life long farmer, World War II Vet, and avid Indiana Hoosiers fan. Sleep well, we've got the watch and taken the plow.

Friday, January 4, 2013

Color Me Sad

I am feeling very blah right now. Mr. Southern Helle left for school, marking the beginning of our 6 month (geographic not legal) separation. It also marked the day I became a (gulp!) single mother for my stepdaughter. Considering I was a free-wheeling single without any children just four short years ago, you can see how this almost sends me in to a panic attack. Sometimes I still feel like a kid and I wonder how the hell I am going to guide and raise a fourteen year old on my own.

Today's clothing choice even reflected my current state of mind: grey and black. Initially it looked like I was going to a funeral so I added the teal tights at the last moment for a pop of color. Fake it 'til you make it. Besides, let's be real... who can be completely gloomy when they are wearing bright teal tights? It did brighten (ahem...bad pun) my day just a touch.

Dress: Modcloth
Vest: Humanité
Tights: Target
Shoes: Madeline Stuart at Ross
Necklace: Forever 21
Ring: New York & Company
Bracelets: Claire's Boutique





Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Promises I Can Keep

At the threshold of each New Year, I vow to become a thinner, thriftier woman who smokes less. And at the end of every year, I am still have a few extra pounds, credit cards that beg for mercy and a pack a day habit. My blogmate posted some very realistic resolutions that actually sound as fun as they are attainable. I like her style. I even stole one of hers!



1. Spend more time outdoors: As much as I feel I deserve to vegetate on my couch while indulging in a Real Housewives marathon and eating chips, I always feel so much better when I hit the road, beach, trail or tennis court. Inspired by my continued reading of Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed (seriously... I have read it three times in the last month. I am a little obsessed), I am even kicking around the idea of hiking part of the Appalachian Trail one day. Not that I am quite ready for it now but let me go all Chinese proverbial and point out that every journey begins with a single step. My stepdaughter wants to learn how to place tennis so I need to drag myself out of the house and in to the sunlight on weekends. We are moving to South Carolina in the summer, thus giving me an excuse to get out and explore a new area. There are so many reasons to DVR those Housewives marathons. After all, I can always watch them at night!



2. Start pairing all the wine I drink with actual homemade culinary masterpieces (made by me, of course!): My Pinterest boards dedicated to food are insane. You would think I was Julia Child. And while I do get the occasional wild hair and prepare a gourmet five course meal, most nights (especially weeknights) find me going for the conventional grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. Which is fine but would be so much better if I made a grilled Swiss and apple sandwich and a tomato basil soup from scratch. In 2013, I would like to stretch my culinary prowess and challenge my palate more often. My stomach will thank me.




3. Drink more wine: Duh!

4. Continue to tinker with this blog and still have fun doing so: Our blog started out as a way for two friends to keep in touch and inspire each other from across the miles. I have a blast doing and I feel like we have already come a long way (just take a peek at our earliest posts... and realize they are only four months old). But I can still step up my game artistically and style-wise. I have a notebook full of outfit ideas that need to become a reality. I have a tripod and a slightly better camera than when I started. The tools are in place, now it is time to use them.