wardrobe enhancement and other ramblings.

take a moment to admire my new dress, then I'll explain why I'm excited enough about it to do a blog post.

(upclose and a little blurry)

so here's the thing.  I'm 5'1" and have odd proportions.  I'm basically shaped like a triangle which makes buying clothes, especially dresses, extremely difficult.  Also, if I hear one more comment about how easy it must be to find clothes in my size, or how i'm one of those people [who likes to exercise], or you can eat whatever you want-I'ma gonna scream!  On all points, no, no, no!  About 9 years ago I lost about 15 pounds that made me an unhappy girl for many years, and I have kept that off, and then added another 5 off recently.  So, no I' don't need more meat on my bones, I got small bones anyway.  So, end of that rant.  For my niece Katie's wedding (and other wedding festivities) last year I lucked up on some really cute dresses and tops to add to my work-church-dress up wardrobe.  This helped build my spring/summer wardrobe for those purposes, but limited my resources for casual/ultra-casual wear-also I didn't find what I wanted.  In the fall I knit about 3 pullovers to help with the fall/winter wardrobe [more knitting I need to photograph].  I've made plenty of cardigans, but needed some tops that I didn't have to hunt for something to wear underneath.  Fast forward to this year, early spring I was finally able to add some shoes, another thing that is difficult for me to find for other reasons.  So this spring/summer i was on a mission, I wanted a couple skirts that I could wear on the weekends-after work that were machine washable-casual/comfy, but not too casual.  I also didn't want to spend a lot of money on them, and I didn't want shorts [another fitting issue].  As an aside, I have work/church/dress up clothes, clothes that I wear around the house [hello yoga pants when it's cold!], clothes I clean in, and those I wear to work out.  I thought about making my own skirts, but really didn't want to spend the time required to make it happen.  So, this leads me to awesome bargain #1 these 3 Lily Pulitzer skirts I got on ebay for . . . .

$65 for ALL three.  [there are alligators on the blue and green skirt] There would have been a fourth, but it got snatched up before I could complete my deal with the seller.  They are so cute, and they fit perfect and are exactly what I was looking for, but of course I didn't want to wear a white t-shirt with all three.  I just finished knitting a drapey tank that will go with all three, and i have plans to wear it this weekend.  Crazy, I know, I won't sew a skirt, but I'll knit a top.  I've enhanced my summer wardrobe with 2 additional tanks, of which I have not taken pictures, but hope to fix that in the next couple weeks.  After attending the Shibui Knits trunk show at Cast on Cottage a couple months ago, I've become hooked on summer knitting.  So many awesome yarns out there that are light weight and just the thing for summers in Georgia, and the patterns!  So anyway, let me get back to the dress.  Since I've been spending more time on the deck with Sophie, I decided I needed a casual [house dress-esque] dress or a very very casual skirt I could put on after work.  It could even be ugly for all I cared.  Yesterday, I dropped off some donations at Second Life Thrift store in Decatur.  Here's my plug for them, they use their profits to help local homeless cats and dogs, so they get all my good stuff that I donate, really love their mission.  I did a quick once over [they actually have my size!], and didn't find a skirt, but I found the dress above- a J. Crew dress, and it was only $5, now how awesome is that, AND.IT.FITS [touchdown!]  I didn't have time to try it on since I had to get back to the office, but I am soooooo excited to get something that works on the cheap.  So I ask you since I saved a gazillion dollars on my summer wardrobe, does that mean I can buy more yarn for more wardrobe enhancing?!!!!!  What's go you excited.

Wordless Wednesday-perfect

feeling a bit creative, we'll see how it plays out!

Movies I never get tired of.

Based on my instagram post this past Friday Carole's prompt this week seems fitting.  These are only in the order that I thought about them, and not "all time" favs.

 10. Rocky-I did this post in 2009 when I traveled to Philadelphia-it'll explain things.
  9.  The Natural-a true family favorite, and it was on the other night, but I was too tired to stay up to see the whole thing.
  8.  Tombstone-Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer- I'll be your huckleberry!
  7.  Ferris Bueller's Day Off- I'm a child of the 80s what can I say!
  6. Gone with the Wind-am sure it's the hoop skirts and all the finery!
  5.  All the Dirty Harry movies-Clint Eastwood  is one of my favorites along with Sean Connery.
  4.  Date Night-Tina Fey and Steve Carell, and a little Mark Wahlberg thrown in for some serious eye candy!
  3.  Mary Poppins-cause she's Mary Poppins and practically perfect in EVERY way.
  2.  Animal House-yes I know, totally inappropriate, but I still laugh at the same parts.
  1.  Beverly Hills Cop-see #2, but as I said, I'm a child of the 80s so this brings back TONS of memories when I watch it.
 And I'll go ahead and add the Godfather I and II.

This is just a small list of the movies I could watch over and over.  Now with Netflix and Amazon Prime I can see them when I want, but doesn't that take away some of the charm of having to rush home, or eat dinner quick cause your favorite movie is coming on?

Mostly cocktails.

Carole's prompt for this week are favorite summer drinks, and i have many that i enjoy. In my early days beer and wine coolers were the drinks of choice, yea I know, I'm a child of the 80s.  As usual my in-laws taught me an appreciation for a varied [finer] array of beverages.  Aside from plain old-very cold water, coffee and white wine here's my list in no particular order:

10.  Sangria-love the added fruit that makes this drink more like a punch.
  9.  Margarita- tartiness of the lime is what summer is all about.
  8.  Mojito- summer isn't summer without fresh mint.
  7.  La Paloma- introduced to this on Memorial Day- tequila, grapefruit soda and cayenne pepper- I sprinkle this in the drink instead of on the rim-uh yum!
  6.  Mint Julep-yea!  I discovered bourbon a few years ago, and watching the Kentucky Derby and drinking mint juleps seems like the perfect prelude for summer cocktails drinking.
  5.  Strawberry-Mint smash (photo above) featured on Oh So Beautiful Paper this week- bourbon-fruit-mint-what's NOT to love right?!
  4.  Mali-Nali-tequila-green chartruese-pinapple juice-lime-simple syrup AND a sprig of rosemary.  My favorite cocktail from Escorpion.
  3.  Bourbon and (Diet) Ginger Ale-not sure if this exists outside of my kitchen or not
  2. Gin and Tonic-again with the lime
  1. A very cold light beer




I'll be trying this cocktail tonight, thanks to Katie's suggestion.  What beverages keep you cool during the summer?

i'd forgotten.

how much i enjoyed the open road on a bicycle.  of course, taking selfies while clipped into a road bike is probably not the smartest thing, but i couldn't resist.  summer riding has officially started with 3 rides over the last couple weekends.  sunday's ride started at 8 am, and i loved the peace, solitude, and the crisp morning.  the first couple rides i took sorta slow since it had been about 6 months since i had ridden my road bike.  i had to re-acclimate myself with shifting gears, clipping in and out, and paying attention to debris and wild life on the road all at the SAME time.  i do well to follow multiple instruction in a knitting pattern with AT THE SAME TIMES, cycling is a whole 'nother thing.  along with my other interests [hobbies], i like to set performance goals, so this summer/fall i'd like to:

         ~learn accident avoidance & safety
         ~how to change a bike tire
         ~ride with a group on the real open road
         ~routinely include a week day ride
         ~participate in a charity ride

i plan to blog about how the rides go, and what i learn.  i think in order to meet these goals, i'm going to have to be real good with how i manage my time.  i don't want to neglect my other hobbies, so it'll be a challenge.  i'm making great strides with my knitting, but hope to finish what's in my bag before i cast on anything else-well see how that goes.

10 Concerts and performances I have attended

Carole's prompt this week takes me back to younger days-I am a child of the 80s-Def Lepard, Duran Duran, Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper anyone? I wanted to be amongst those who would camp outside Turtles Records and Tapes to make sure I got the best seat. Alas, I was not one of those cool kids of my youth, and it wouldn't stand in line for a concert ticket until I was almost 20.  I wasn't sure I'd even been to 10 concerts, but I made it with a couple extras.  The photo is of my concert t-shirt (yes I still have it after 24 years) from one of my all time favorite performers.  My list is chronological as best I can remember from the first to the most recent.

10.  George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers- Colosseum -Columbus, GA 1988(?)- you know the song Bad to the Bone.
  9.  Billy Joel-Omni-Atlanta GA 1990-I didn't know much about his music until I met my husband and his family-went to this with my now husband and sister and brother in law-this concert was amazing, and he's a performer I could listen to all day-every day.
  8.  Cher-Omni-Atlanta GA 1990 or 1991-I grew up watching her, and always thought she was pretty cool.  She's gotten sorta weird since I saw her,  so yea.
 7.  Damn Yankess and perhaps Bad Company (can't remember!)-Lakewood Amphitheater-Atlanta, GA-1991.  This was a good one, don't remember much.
 6.  B-52s-Chastain Park Amphitheater-Atlanta GA 1992-I knew the security guard, and he let me and my friend in without a ticket.
 5. Vince Gill-Omni-Atlanta GA 1995-this concert was good, but I'm not as big a fan as I used to be.
 4. The "Charles"-Ray Charles when he sang at the 96 Olympics in Atlanta, Charlie Daniels and Charlie Pride at the Grand Ole' Opry.  Oldies, but goodies.  We also so Joe Nichols who was just starting out in country music.  One of my favorites of the "new" country.
 3.  Cigar Store Indians-Eddie's Attic-Decatur, GA-local band we went to see with my sister in law and her family (late 90s?).  Love their Americana style of music.
 2. Ronnie Milsap-North GA Fair-Marietta, GA-boys were little so mid-90s?  It was good, I knew most of the songs he sang as my dad was a fan.
 1. Celtic Thunder-Fox Theater-Atlanta, GA-20oh my! Men in kilts- this was an amazing performance.

I don't think the concert experience is as great as it used to be-lip syncing, pyrotechnics, big screen monitors.  The performers seem less real, and the ticket prices!   I'm not sure who I'd go see today-Neil Diamond, Toby Keith, Billy Joel and Celtic Thunder again for sure, Matthew West, Audio Adrenaline, Mercy Me, Michael Buble.  For now, I'll enjoy them in the comfort of my home or car with my i-Phone!