Shopping the Closet

Having A Moment

2012-02-12T18:39:00.000-05:00

It all started with this painting that I found at Habitat for Humanity ReStore last week. Since unemployed, I go there weekly which isn't hardly enough to scoop up the amazingly priced treasure that lurk there. My baby brother and his wife are currently in the midst of adding a 2nd level to their home as their 2nd child will be arriving in about two months. My sister in law Meghan is an artist by talent and college degree and one of the craftiest people I know. Lucky for all of you, she has agreed to let me photograph and feature her home on the blog when it is done, because let me tell you all...she has unbelievable taste and an uncanny ability for DIY projects. We will all swoon our dying swoons when we see what she comes up with.

We went there with the sole purpose of finding her some pieces of furniture to refinish and repurpose for their new space. As we made our way through the maze of rooms I spotted this painting leaning in a corner. Light attached, white washed frame and lovely oil on canvas....do thrift finds get any better than this? At $35.00 I knew I couldn't leave it behind and knew it would go perfectly in my dining room.

The husband and I hung it today. Due to a combination of hearing Meghan's ideas and having spent entirely too much time in this house the past months I am itching to repaint and redo. I started removing artwork and mirrors from walls and having my saintly husband follow me from room to room with them. Maybe this should move here....maybe that should move there....I had him pouring a whiskey on the rocks by 3pm.

As he was in the kitchen fixing his much needed cocktail, it dawned on me that I indeed had some artwork stored in the attic that might just be the "refresh" I was looking for! My father, as the last living member of his immediate family, gave me all of his family's oil paintings quite a few years ago. These are the paintings of my childhood, always hung in my grandparents home, they both intrigued and haunted me when I was young. I have kept them stored in my attic since receiving them and decided it was time to dig them out!

My Great, Great Grandfather on my father's maternal side. This glorious painting scared the Bee-Jeezus out of us kids as we always felt like his eyes were following us. It hung above the buffet in my grandparents dining room until my ailing grandmother had to move in with my father. My grandmother and her mother were both amazing at documenting EVERYTHING as you can see. Inside the envelope is a newspaper clipping about Rugby, Tennessee! Do you want to know a secret too? We are related to Zachary Taylor, the 12th President of the United States!

My Great Grandmother, Laura Taylor Johnston. She died at almost 100 years old in 1972. Wasn't she lovely? I sure think so. I know in my heart that had we met we would have been kindred spirits. I love hearing my father tell stories about her. He simply adored her and she adored him.She was truly the matriarch of my grandmother's family. She loved to write and document and thanks to her, I have the background on many items I have inherited.

My Great Grandfather, Alexander Lee Don. His life span is marked in the back of the frame ~ 1885-1959

He emigrated with his family to the US from Aberdeen, Scotland and owned a business in NYC for many years.

This is the only item I have that is not documented. It is obviously a school picture. I wish I know who was in it and when and where it was taken.

This was my Great Grandfather's store in NYC. Called Weber & Don the back of the picture has the old address which is four blocks from the World Trade Center site. The kids and I are spending the day in New York on Friday and I think we should find where it was. I reframed this in a Pottery Barn frame I had laying around and now just need to figure out where to hang it.

The frames on the oil painting are pretty beat up, so I removed the canvases of my Great, Great Grandfather and my Great Grandmother. I would like to have them reframed, but it's not in the budget at this time. Instead, I hung the photo of great, great Grandfather in my formal living room just as is.

Of course it would look pretty spectacular with a gorgeous frame, but for now, I think it looks just right.

What are you having a "moment" with?

It's On!

2012-02-12T11:26:00.000-05:00

Just popping in to let you all know that a ton of stuff went on sale in the shop this morning!

20% off the original prices AND Free Shipping!

Now THAT'S a bargain!

Some New Arrivals were added too!

Check it out!

*free shipping to within US only

*prices are all as marked

*sale items are all located under Sale! tab

The Bits And Pieces

2012-02-09T19:24:00.000-05:00

Some things are better left in bits and pieces. Like this outfit for instance. I take a lot of Instagram's of my "OOTD" but never post them on the blog. Sometimes they are a precursor to an upcoming blog post, sometimes not. I wasn't loving the actual outfit photos I took today, and ironically, sometimes the photos; whether good or bad help me edit my outfit. After reviewing the ones I took today, I knew I needed to uncuff my jeans one more time and untuck my white button up. While I felt comfortable, my jeans are way too low rise for a tucked in shirt which was evident in the photos.

Since I hated the shots I took today, I decided to share with you guys the "bits and pieces" instead. Interestingly enough, I read something this morning that really got my wheel's spinning on whether it's better to share "bits and pieces" or to "lay it all out there" when it comes to social media and blogging.

It started when I logged onto Facebook this morning and read a post from a "friend" I haven't seen in over 15 years bashing the father of her two oldest children. She was requesting that anyone who is "friends" with both of them on FB "unfriend" her immediately since she cannot possibly consider someone her "friend" if they can be his "friend" too due to some private dastardly deeds. Which were all aired out in the post, I might add. None of these issues are the business of anyone on Facebook and I was shocked that someone would demand for people to take sides. I am indeed "friends" with both of them on that site and while I silently hoped her allegations against him weren't true, I was more inclined to "unfriend" her because I was so offended by her post. Their private matters as a separated couple with children are no one's business but their own.

My mind immediately started reeling to thoughts of some of the blogs I read regularly and how a handful of these bloggers have just announced they are getting divorced. Some gave only "bits and pieces" while others aired all the news fit to print. I find myself most empathetic towards the blogs where I only read the "bits" and found myself feeling ambivalent towards the ones who "aired it all". Maybe it's her fault...maybe it's his...hmmmm. Since I don't know these people in real life, I had to snap myself back to reality after reading, acknowledging that no one can develop an opinion hearing one side, silently wishing them peace in their situations and then moving on because none of it is truly my business anyway.

Sometimes I feel like I "overshare", but in reality I'm not sure that I do. I could never imagine telling anyone other than my nearest and dearest exactly what company I am going to be working for and what exactly my job title and description is. I could entertain you all with stories about people who have worked for me, but I never would. I have been so mad at times that I have thought about writing a post that vents all my frustrations but tomorrow morning when I have cooled down, my anger will still be floating in cyberspace for all the world to see. Sometimes before I hit the "send" button I will actually ask myself "What will my kids think if they read this?"

I don't live my life concerned about what other people think. I used to have pink dreadlocks and a nose ring for Pete's sake! And while I will be the first one to applaud people who aren't afraid to voice an opinion, I personally believe that there are some things better kept secret. And goodness knows I have my share of them!

That all being said, the blogs I love best are those of you who I have gotten to "know". I may not be able to recite your husband's or your children's name (because you never told us), and I may not know what your day to day life really is like, but I have received enough of the "bits and pieces" to keep me coming back for more.

How do you feel about sharing on blogs? Are "bits and pieces" better, or do appreciate the whole "scoop"?

p.s. I really wanted this post to be called "Plaid With A Side Of Penny Loafer" but when I was done it only made sense to change it! ;)

Let's Get Down To Business

2012-02-07T15:17:00.000-05:00

I feel like a bajillion pounds have been lifted off my shoulders and feel nothing but excitement now at the prospects to come. That being said, there are a few matters of business at hand that I need to take care of first.

My new job has me working a whole different schedule. For the first time in my life I will be working Monday through Friday, daytime hours. I have always worked weekends, nights, overnights...I have arrived at work at crazy odd hours in the middle of the night. You name it, I've worked it. As stinky as it was at times, there is something to be said for having weekdays off. That is when I food shop, go to the beach, run all my errands...all while the rest of the world is at work. Little things I have always taken for granted like making doctor's appointments will be somewhat of an issue now as I will have to take a day off in order to go.

Right after I accepted the position and my start date was set, I called and made any impending doctor appointments for the next 3 weeks. Done.

The next thing on my list was to make a hair appointment. Can you believe I haven't been to my hairdresser since August? My roots are so bad that I now look as if I have that "hombre" colored hair style. Unintentional I assure you. The "new" me just knew that it was more important to spend our tight budget on things like vet appointments and my daughter's root canal than on my hair. However, there are way too many grays floating around the "hombre" so it is definitely time to have that rectified. And I may or may not have scheduled a massage in there too for the same day as a little treat for myself....having not shopped for myself in a retail store or had my hair done in almost half a year??? Yeah, I think I'm worth it.

Having off on the weekends is a game changer because Mom has always done all the cleaning and laundry on her day off. Well, now my days off are everyone's days off and I am not doing it all myself. This Sunday we will begin our Sunday cleaning day. Everyone gets assigned a job or two; i.e. dusting, vacuuming, bathrooms, swiffering, and sheet changing, and with all hands on deck we should have the whole house clean in under two hours. Starting this weekend should have us in the groove in no time flat.

Since I have been home, I make lunches and iron everyone's clothing early in the morning. Well, no more. I will be the first one out the door and most mornings at the crack of dawn since I will spend everyday traveling to different locations. The last week I am off we are starting our trial run of having lunches made and clothing pressed and set out so my first day back is not chaotic for my husband or kids. Trust me, they will appreciate me enforcing these rules when that Monday rolls around.

There is a dress code at work of black bottoms and white tops. Ouch. Painful. I joked that maybe that could persuade me NOT to take the job! On the bright side, it is awesome that that is the way it is, simply because I will not feel pressured to shop and buy things out of "loyalty" or to "represent" the company. That is the hardest thing about working for a retailer ~ the generous employee discounts and having something new in your face daily. That all said, believe it or not, I am desperately in need of some really well fitting black pants. Wide leg, straight leg, ankle length, boot cut...this is where you ladies come in. Where in the world should I go to find good black pants??? The first place to come to mind is JCrew naturally...but I would like to hear any and all suggestions or best kept secrets. In other words: HELP!

And finally, I fully intend to spend the next 3 weeks playing! The kids and I are spending a day in NYC over President's Weekend and I also need to fit in as many lunch dates, walking dates and thrifting excursions as I can. To put it mildly, I want to thrift until I can thrift no more! The treasures have been plentiful lately. Take this dress for example. I bought it on a 1/2 price thrift sale for $3. It was a long maxi style, way too big for me and I intended to put it into the shop. The fabric feels like a poly blend so I threw it in my washing machine on a cold, gentle cycle where it promptly shrunk into a perfect, drapey LBD. I can't wait to wear this in the summer with sandals!

So let's hear it Ladies...where can I find some amazing black pants?

dress: vintage, thrifted

tank & earrings: express

sunglasses: banana republic

necklace: gift from hubby

tights: express

boots: style & co

It's Time

2012-02-06T13:30:00.000-05:00

source

Sorry for the radio silence but the past week has had my mind so engrossed in thought and reflection that I couldn't muster up the drive and desire to write here. If you follow me on Twitter and Instagram you have probably suspected something was up from some of the pictures and messages I have sent and I am now able to share it with you all.

The first week in January I was taken surprise by a phone call from a former employer of mine. They had heard I was no longer working and were creating a position that if approved, brought me to mind. If it was to materialize they wanted to know if it would be something I could consider. Not one to shy away from opportunity when it comes knocking, I said of course I would be interested.

After the phone call, I was an emotional wreck. It was the last thing I had ever expected to have happen. I have not spent a single day seeking a job since I have been home. To be totally honest with you, the most perplexing thought to me is of having an opportunity in front of me that would force me to make a decision between my love of being home and going back to work. I shared these thoughts and fears with my mother who simply suggested I pray that the position would never materialize and no choices would need to be made if it was simply not meant to be. And so I did.

Weeks went by and I never heard a thing. It was a huge relief, although the nagging thought still lurked in the back of my mind. What if??? As fate would have it, my husband found me one evening with the phone plastered to his ear listening to voice mail....they called. It was happening in front of my eyes.

Taking deep breaths and a moment to gather my thoughts, my husband and I agreed that I should seek out all the information I could get and in essence, ride it to the end of the line until a decision needed to be made. Telling myself every day, "you have nothing to lose" "you're in control of your own destiny now" were becoming my daily mantras. But I still suffered an internal nagging and dismay. No amount of self convincing and empowerment can change my sadness at the thought of no longer being simply a "housewife" or "SAHM".

Don't get me wrong, it has been a struggle as much as a pleasure. I never imagined there would an "adjustment". I have been a mom for almost half of my life already....what could there possibly be to adjust to? As many of you have already surmised from being on this journey with me...it indeed HAS been an adjustment. Adjusting to not having a rigid daily schedule once everyone is off to school and work, feeling helpless that my contribution to the household monetarily is no longer powerful, struggling with anxiety that while all of our bills are paid in full and on time, if a car was to break down and the furnace blow up my selfish decision to quit a job I despised could cause us some financial stress was at times overwhelming. I was used to providing. But in a way much different than just being cook and housekeeper.

I also never expected to change internally so drastically. Oh, but you all noticed...taking me by surprise and warming my heart time and time again with your comments and emails. Every priority I had has changed.

I have changed.

And I like the new me.

So how could I give it all up?

Simply because my family has told me too. Each of my children, has come to me on their own and in their own words told me they want me to take it. My husband as well. And so this morning, I picked up the phone and made the call that will once again shift our destiny and future. I accepted it.

Three weeks from today I start. It's exciting and a bit nerve wracking all at once.

And just when I had really settled in to my new lifestyle...

p.s. Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere from here...this blog was being written for two full years while I juggled my life as a working mom. In fact, the shop is staying open too. I'm putting some of the winter merchandise on sale this week to make way for spring and early summer merchandise.

Work Out Wear

2012-02-01T16:49:00.000-05:00

Today is yet another day of stellar weather and I am virtually bursting of energy, motivation and complete happiness. It's amazing what a little warm air and sunshine can do! This morning I needed to buckle down and get my husband's oil changed in his car...I've been promising to do it since Monday. Tomorrow I have a business meeting in the nether~reaches of NJ (Crazy things are occurring here...I'll tell you when I can!), so both cars will need to be utilized. Since I had already agreed to spend the afternoon with my girlfriend in our favorite walking place, I decided to just wear my workout clothes to the oil change. "Why not" I reasoned? I was just going to be sitting in a grimy garage waiting for my car, right?
As I sat there waiting, I started thinking about what forms of workout apparel are acceptable to wear out and about, if at all? Let's just be honest, a lot of workout pants leave very little to the imagination and I can attest to seeing more faux pas's than I can successes. Every once in a great while I will spot a woman that looks fresh and pulled together wearing workout clothing. Brands like Lululemon have really cute pieces that almost make it a shame to utilize them only when sweating profusely. However, it seems that most times people are wearing raggedy, mixed matched pieces that scream "slob" rather than "adorable".
I firmly believe that it has nothing to do with body type, but it has everything to do with quality and fit. Rear ends can be hidden under a longer length top so thoughts of low fat dairy products (you know what I mean!) don't come to mind. Whether small busted or large busted, there are tops to accommodate and still remain tasteful. As for myself, I have very short muscular legs, and you will never catch me dead in cropped yoga pants or those horrible gaucho styles. As in regular clothing, not all styles are flattering for all women.
When I got home I googled celebrities wearing workout clothes to see if there were more "do's" rather than "don'ts". Here are a few of my favorites:

Kim Kardashian and I have almost identical builds. For a very curvy girl, I think she looks pretty good in this ensemble. These are the kind of yoga pants I wear too. Black only with a slight flare/bootcut bottom. The longer length of the top elongates the torso which short waisted ladies like myself, appreciate.

Listen, if I had legs miles long like Elle Macpherson, you can bet your bottom dollar (big bottomed in mine and Kim's case) that I would rock these leggings too. I find nothing offensive about this; in fact I even love how the scarf adds a funky little pop. I always try to wear a cute baseball cap or military cap with my workout wear and I ALWAYS have a cute studded earring on too. Accessorizing can really make a difference!

Nicole Richie's leather jacket and chic shades take this otherwise plain Jane look to a whole other level. I personally think she looks cute and if I saw her walking down the street in this I would probably give her a high five for maintaining her level of eclecticism while in on her way to an appointment with her personal trainer.

Am I condoning workout wear as outfits for wearing outside of the home on a regular basis? Definitely not! I've rambled on and on about how sad it is that people don't dress themselves or seem to take pride in their appearances these days. Nothing will ever look as amazing as a well put together, stylish woman will look walking down the street.

What I AM saying, is that in a pinch or on a quick stop to or from a workout, you can still look good. It just needs to be done in the same fashion in which you dress yourself with your regular wardrobe. Some thought, effort and investment in properly fitting clothes can make all the difference. So ladies, I'm dying to know:

What do you think? Is workout wear a never, ever or acceptable in a pinch when done right?

We Interrupt This Blogging...

2012-01-31T17:11:00.000-05:00

I got up and dressed this morning so I could head out and do important stuff like get my husband's oil changed in his car and buy paper towel at Target.

As soon as I stepped outside I turned on my heel, walked back indoors, changed into sweats, called my girlfriend and headed over to Island Heights NJ to walk their charming little boardwalk and soak up temperatures in the mid 60's and perfect sunny skies. Island Heights is a quaint riverside town where antique Victorian mansions dot the waterfront and the most adorable homes line the streets. It a minute or two drive from our homes and our favorite place to walk on these gorgeous winter days we've been blessed with.

Besides, these photos I took on our walk today are much better than seeing me in the same old jeans again....

Valentine DIY

2012-01-30T14:52:00.000-05:00

I love a good DIY project. It seems like nothing quite compares to the satisfaction you get from creating something lovely with your own two hands. After I unplugged from cyberspace on Friday I worked on a project I have been planning for the past couple of weeks. If you follow me on Instagram, then you saw the sneak peak and teaser about it that I sent out when it was finished.

Over Christmas 2010 one of my oldest blog friends Pamela over at Ginger Girl posted a DIY holiday decoration from one she saw at JCrew. After reading her post and picking my jaw up off the desk from my complete adoration of her craftiness, I rushed into JCrew to get a glimpse in real life. They had taken birch branches and suspended them with ribbon and hung gorgeous ornaments from them. I simply had to do it myself.

I have a large picture window nestled in a wall of built in bookshelves in my family room that made a perfect backdrop. I have always used it to create seasonal displays but had never thought of suspending something there! I purchased a birch branch at Michael's Arts & Crafts ($14.99), a roll of ribbon and used my own collection of oversize mercury glass kugels. Success! It created a striking display that received "oohs" and "ahhs" the entire holiday season.

Last autumn I decided to install small white hooks into the bookcase to create a more permanent place to utilize the branch as decor. When not in use, the small white hooks virtually disappear. For fall I used jute twine to suspend it and wrapped a autumnal leaf garland around it. You may remember from Halloween how I hung some creepy Spanish moss to add a delightfully devilish flair to my Mad Scientist's Library theme.

Over Christmas I wrapped an evergreen garland around it and hung a crystal star ornament from it to hang over my village. It looks like the Christmas star doesn't it?

I left the evergreen up until Friday when I set into motion my big plan. I am on a budget now that I am not working, and for a mere $5.00 I gathered my supplies at the dollar store.

1. pad of construction paper

2. a roll of cotton twine (jute is too curly)

3. 3 packs of plastic hearts

I originally wanted to use candy, but decorating with confections can get a bit pricey as they are so small and you need a larger quantity. Finding these plastic hearts was the perfect cost effective solution! Plus, I will have them to reinvent into something else next Valentine's Day!

I removed all the red and pink paper from the pad, folded each piece in half and fashioned hearts in all different sizes. It may be cheating, but I am NO artist and to freehand a heart would have been disastrously ugly! Using a hole puncher, I popped a hole into the center of each heart and strung them with the twine in an array of sizes. *note: I used invisible tape over each side to hold twine upright so they hung straight

I used an old wooden tray and filled my cloches (also used here and here) with the hearts. I purchased the red roses in the julep cup from Marshall's many, many years ago. I've joked about how my walk in attic is lined with metal shelving units and looks like a massive prop closet, but over the years I have collected odd pieces of decor, and tons of entertaining tools that I reuse and reinvent again and again. Look around your house. I bet you have some incredible things laying around waiting for a reinvention too!

Using what I already own and spending just a few dollars created a fun display that adds a freshness to our family room and puts a smile on my face every time I pull in the driveway and see them hanging there.

And St.Patrick's Day is just around the corner....

To Be Inspired

2012-01-27T13:31:00.000-05:00

The computer does little to inspire me lately and yet I find myself wasting hours of each day sitting in front it. I flit from website to website, email account to email account as if I am waiting for something amazing to magically appear. The next thing I know, I'm scrolling through Facebook looking up crushes from junior high generally aghast at how badly some people age and wondering how the cutest little boys can grow into some of the homeliest older men.

Certainly I draw inspiration from the blogs I read on a daily basis, but lately my reader hasn't been filling up as fast as it usually does. I couldn't even count on both hands how many bloggers let out a sigh of "TGIF!" in their posts this morning and lamented on how long this past week seemed. I agree. Perhaps we are all suffering from a case of the January doldrums. Except the Aussies who are reveling in summer glory down there in that perfect world they call Oz....but I'm not bitter...

I find I am most inspired when I am puttering around the house keeping busy. Folding wash, dusting and swiffering the floors are tasks that have me reaching for my notebook again and again as I rapidly scribble in a veritable downpour of thoughts and ideas. Sometimes just the tumble of the dryer sets my brain in motion. Heading outdoors and riding my bike under endless skies with lungs bursting full of cold, crisp air is most times the only motivation I need. But this animated box in front of me? Not so much lately.

So excuse me while I power down for the weekend and live in the moment rather than cyberspace. I have an evening planned with some of the nearest and dearest to me in which we will be making homemade pizzas and drinking plenty of wine all while basking in the sheer pleasure of each other's company. Tomorrow I fully intend to inhale plenty of that cold, crisp air outside and savor every minute I have my husband and children home with me. Because if I take the time to do all of that, I'll be back here Monday full of the spark and motivation this past week was sorely missing.

Happy Weekending Everyone!

chambray button up: jcrew

tee: gap

skirt: ny&co

tights and ring: limited

earrings: vintage, thrifted

Born Too Late

2012-01-25T14:18:00.001-05:00

As I was perusing through my blog roll, I read a post by one of my all time favorite bloggers that really got me thinking. Emily said that she feels she was born in the wrong era and I often feel the same way about myself. The only problem is, which era do I feel I should have been born in?

As a young girl, we somehow ended up having a crinoline from my aunt's wedding at our house. I spent many, many days pulling that thing on up to my shoulders and running about the house pretending I was Laura Ingalls Wilder. My afternoons were spent daydreaming of life in the early to mid 1800's as it seemed so ideal and simplistic to me. As I grew a bit older, I became infatuated with the Amish as that seemed a more realistic way to live out my petticoat dreams. I imagined marrying an Amish man and immersing myself in the lifestyle I so admired in the current day and age.

Once I hit junior high and the teen angst years, I longed to have been born a bit earlier so I could have lived in the 1970's London & New York punk rock scene. How cool it would have been to be there in the midst of the start of a movement I felt such a connection to. To be around during the antics of the Sex Pistols and the dawning of my favorite punk bands would have been amazing. To have hung out in places like CBGB's a decade or so earlier than I had the chance too would have been the coolest.

Now as a mother approaching my forties, I wish I had been an adult through the opulent '80s. I have such a fondness for the garish and decadent decor I still see lurking around thrift stores. I love classic center hall colonials because they simply feel like home. Big hair and big shoulders ~ was there anything small about the 80's? Spending my 7th-17th years in that decade left such a soft spot in my heart for it.

All this reminiscing just brings me back to the question of which era would have suited me best? As an adult, the low mortality rates and difficulty in just surviving daily makes the 1800's a bit less appealing. I am fascinated with all things surrounding the Crusades and to have been a Templar Knight sounds so romantic while I know in reality life was much more harsh than the 1800's. What if I had lived through those groundbreaking punk years? Would I have emerged unscathed or just been a lost soul like so many were? To have been an adult in the 1980's, would I have lost myself in the lust for excess?

As a firm believer that our destinies are already written somewhere, I know that I was fully meant to have been a small child through the 70's, an impressionable youth in the 80's in order to spend the 90's becoming what I am today: a mother.

Even with that reality and understanding, it is still nice to lose myself in the occasional daydream....

Do you think you were born in the wrong era?

shirt & belt: jcrew

dress: ny&co (old)

tights & sunglasses: express

vest: diy jean jacket, vintage, thrifted

bangles: jcrew, express, and random

The Cold Hard Truth

2012-01-24T14:01:00.000-05:00

I'm stuck in a rut.

I'd love to pretend that everyday I am parading around town wear my finest vintage finds that I have amazingly paired with the hottest "on trend" items. But I would be lying.

Lately I find myself building outfits around sports bras. As in, "Can I pull this top off with a sports bra underneath?" Luckily, most days the answer is yes because I usually just pick a long sleeve t shirt and pair of yoga pants to accompany said sports bra.

I have been making jokes that my husband rarely sees me dressed anymore but it's really not a joke. I am in yoga pants or leggings when he leaves in the morning, and by the time he arrives home from work, I am right back in them again. If I am being totally honest, I am lucky to spend over 5 hours dressed in "real clothes" most days. And in another stretch of brutal honesty, I probably wouldn't even do that if I didn't have to pick my daughter up from school every single day. The thought of showing up in the school yard like that is the only thing that keeps me pulling one of the same three pairs of jeans on every day. Although, since I am giving you all full disclosure, I should admit that on days when I can't even muster up a smidgeon of desire to put on proper clothes, I arrive at my daughters school 35 minutes early to park in the pick up line because it generally assures me a spot right in front of the door and I don't even have to get out of the car. Geez. What is going on with me???

I am not sure how it has happened since I have never been like this in my life. This morning I stood in front of the closet staring into space. I pulled out 3 different pairs of pants (not jeans) then hung them all back up again. Stared at my jeans for a few more minutes then placed them back in the closet as well and threw on yoga pants, sneakers and a sweatshirt. Granted, I went for a long bike ride right after then came home and baked some cupcakes for the kids...but still. In fact, it is so gorgeous here today that I fully intend to walk to my daughter's school this afternoon dressed just like this.

I surprise myself.

Maybe it's just a January thing. I've been feeling under the weather since Friday night and I would love to blame it on that, but it's been going on for a while now so I really can't. I know we all feels best in our comfort zone...but this is getting a bit ridiculous.

What do you wear when you can't muster up the desire to get dressed?

Sparkles and Stilettos

2012-01-19T14:01:00.000-05:00

I love this jacket.

I don't mean just a simple lowercase kind of love...I mean shout it from the rooftops and capitalize it kind of LOVE.

I discovered it while I was out thrifting and found all the amazing dresses that I have listed. It was buried in the dressy dress rack in a store that I find WAY overpriced and ridiculous (we're talking $150.00 coats in a thrift store that people wouldn't pay $150.00 for new and in a regular retail store) but check now and again because I do occasionally find a great item or two.

This was part of a set, and I have no clue if it came with a dress or a pantsuit...the other piece was long gone and this hung on the rack by itself with a $30.00 price tag. (Yes, I did chuckle out loud) I brought it to the counter and showed the nice woman who adjusted the price accordingly thank goodness. I didn't want to go home without it!

I saw beyond the poly, and old school sequin trim knew that a plain white tee, skinny jeans and sky high heels could take it from retro-poly-housecoat-frump to night-on-the-town-fabulous. It's in the shop only because I have closets (note the plural) chock full of clothing and at what point do I need all these fabulous finds for myself?

Even though I'm really not going anywhere today, I may just keep it on long enough to go to school pick up this afternoon. Eat your hearts out Ugg Moms....

jacket: for sale here

tee: gap

jeans & earrings: express

heels: enzo angiolini

bracelet: charlotte russe (old)

Coming Home

2012-01-17T17:33:00.002-05:00

*I know I've already waxed poetic about my house many, many times. I actually wrote this months and months ago and just decided to share it with all of you

Every time we drove past the cedar shingled Cape Cod my mother would comment on it. Such a pretty little house, she would sometimes say. Other times she would sigh as she gazed out the driver's side window and softly murmur, I just love that house. We passed it often. Not daily, but enough to regularly trigger Mom's admiration for it.

The cedar shingled little house was across the street and a few blocks up from the home I grew up in. The childhood home that I left at 18, during the summer that I graduated high school. Perhaps it was spending a month abroad in a country whose language I could not speak that empowered me. Navigating the rail system on my own and taking a trip to the Alps with my mother's younger sister only strengthened my confidence. I arrived home to catch wind that some friends were renting a house together and they didn't have to ask me twice. I packed my bags and joined them.

One apartment led to another, then another. With each new apartment came new roommates. Faces were always changing at the end of every lease. Boyfriends came and went just the same, until an "old" one became a "new" one again and swept me off my feet. I followed him back to Europe where we backpacked the west of Ireland, and jetted off to cities like London and Reykjavik. We were grounded only when our duo became a trio and the newest man in our lives was too small to travel. Putting down roots became priority, so at twenty two, with a thousand dollars and a dream we became homeowners.

That first house was perfect for our little family. Recently renovated, it was 1,000 square feet of cozy comfort. Soft gray cedar shingles sided the once seasonal bungalow. It was nestled on a piney street where the homes had led prior lives as unheated, summer cabins for vacationers. Gorgeous dark wood beams supported the soaring ceilings and raw wood paneling planked the walls. A brick hearth enveloped an entire corner of the "great room" where an old fashioned wood stove stood proudly in the middle. We settled there very easily, in a small town quite removed from the larger municipalities in which we had always lived. It was a quaint and quiet waterfront place where we made a quaint and quiet life.

Life is always changing rapidly and after the first 5 years my little man and I found ourselves living there alone. What had once been so inviting and cozy had grown a bit colder and even the memories weren't enough to warm us. Then fate came along in the way of a good hearted man. He wanted nothing more than to scoop us up and away and turn the chapter in our lives to a new page where his adventures could be penciled in with our own.

The new chapter came to involve another cedar shingled home, a farmhouse, in another waterfront community. It was the childhood home of the man who had changed our hearts forever. We fell in love with his farmhouse as we had fallen in love with him. Within the first months of our new lives there, the three of us ran off and said "I do". Our family that had once contracted, now expanded and the newest version of life had begun.

It wasn't long before our little family became a wee bit bigger in the form of a bouncing baby girl. Within the first few years the once roomy house felt constricting and small. The neighborhood we once loved for its simplicity had started to become a little bit polluted. Home was not so homey anymore.

We packed the car and traveled far away with the dream of planting roots in new soil. We found a dreamy house but not in our dream location. We knew we needed to live by the sea so we headed east and discovered a place we knew could bring us joy. Arriving home and sharing this big news brought only sadness to our loved ones and we began to question whether or not we could leave them behind. Deciding to keep options open, we looked for a home back home.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the real estate ad. "I know that house!" I thought as I picked up the phone to call our agent. The following day we pulled up in front and I knew deep inside at that very instant we had found home. I could see our family in the yard playing football. As I wandered from room to room I knew it was our family that would bring them to life again. I sat on the owner"s sofa in the family room peering out of the big picture window that is hung like a painting in a wall of built in bookshelves. The walls breathed the word. Home.

Today I walk the windy sidewalks I once walked and biked as a child. My daughter holds my hand as we chat the whole way to her elementary school. When I walk back alone, the air sometimes smells the same as it did when I was young. The birds chirp the same as they did over twenty years before. Sometimes the sky is even the exact same shades of blue. And when I see that cedar shingle Cape Cod appear in the distance, I can still hear my mother swoon, "Oh, I just love that house."

My house.

I finally made my way home again.

Vintage In A Modern Wardrobe: The Skirt Suit

2012-01-13T19:28:00.000-05:00

The skirt suit. It's almost as obsolete as the pant suit nowadays isn't it?

We're such a casual society and thus the thrift stores are laden with racks of pant suits and skirt suits most of them in that old favorite, indestructible fabric: polyester.

Call me old fashioned, but I still religiously search through those racks when I am out and about. And you would be right in guessing that I rarely find that "diamond in the rough".

Then last week...the thrift gods smiled down on me and I found not only what may be called the most gorgeous skirt suit EVER, but quite possibly the best quality one too.

It took me 1.3 seconds to decide exactly how I would wear this suit...not together.

The suit is from Saks Fifth Avenue's house label. It is impeccably made, lined and weighs a ton. In fact the jacket can be worn as just that.

The grey skirt is a classic pencil design and I think we all know how to style a pencil skirt. But that jacket....oh, that jacket....

The jacket becomes the ideal layering piece over a simple turtleneck in a vibrant color. Dress pants would be an excellent alternative to the jeans and give the jacket a whole other look. The flexibility this jacket affords in styling options is almost unlimited.

Can you tell how in love I am with it?

This incredible suit is going into the shop tomorrow morning along with a bunch of amazing goodies...6 pairs of earrings, a leather skirt, a lace pencil skirt and a bevvy of gorgeous vintage dresses.

But this suit?

I wouldn't miss out on this if I was you!

jacket: vintage, saks fifth avenue (part of a suit set with a matching pencil skirt)

turtleneck: jcrew

jeans & fedora: express

boots & bag: coach

earrings: limited (old)

Age Is Not Always Relative

2012-01-13T07:47:00.001-05:00

brother and my daughter

When it comes to family photos, I am like the Library of Congress. I have an entire cabinet of photo albums cataloging life from my childhood to present day. Since I am borderline OCD, each album is organized by time frame and by grabbing a single book, I can transport myself back to any moment in my life.

Over New Year's weekend my brother and his fiancee came for a visit from their home in western NY. At one point I walked into the family room and there he was, snuggled up with her on the couch going through album after album showing her what he looked like twenty some odd years ago. Going through old photos has some kind of magnetic pull, and next thing I knew, I was sucked right in to sitting there with them on this stroll down memory lane.

We were looking at pictures of a small family reunion we had back in the early 1990's, when my aunt and uncle had flown in from Germany to spend the summer stateside. As I commented on how young all the adults looked, my brother said, "They were probably the same age we are now."

What?

At first I couldn't believe it, but then I remembered when I turned 37 in 2010 that my mother casually mentioned that it was when she was 37 that she and my father divorced. I was shocked when she said that because she just seemed....older than that. Now looking back at those pictures with my brother, I was once again finding it hard to fathom that our parents and my aunts and uncles were the same age we are today. The idea of it really boggles my mind.

I think it's because we are so much more active in our mid and late 30's than our parents ever were. My brother and I launched into a long discussion about how I, at 38, ice skate, snowboard, play tennis, regularly exercise and ride my bike. Both of my brothers continue to play hockey on leagues as they have since they were little boys. They both snowboard and bike as well. We have hiked and swam and had many, many flag football games together over the years.

Since our parents never maintained an "athletic" lifestyle, I guess the theory of how one is raised is out of the question. Yet as I look at my children, I hope that they will always find a way to keep their bodies in motion and remain active in their middle years. And if I influenced that even in the slightest, I will be proud.

Do you find that people are just more youthful at later stages in life, or is acting "our age" really just in our heads?

*sidenote: I went to pick up my neighbor's daughter at her high school yesterday as she wasn't feeling well. When I walked into the nurses office they said to her, "Your sister's here to get you." Winning.

And Then I Turned Into My Mother

2012-01-12T08:08:00.000-05:00

If you follow me on Instagram (@shoppingcloset it is my iPhone Achilles Heel) then you have already seen my little collage of my childhood for the #janphotoaday challenge presented by that awesome Aussie blogger FatMumSlim. For each day in January you post a picture describing the listed "topic". It is fun, it is creative and I find myself looking forward to adding my two cents each morning.

Last night, my oldest girlfriend (we've been friends since we were 9) sent me a text that she had showed her daughters my childhood collage and they insisted that the picture of my mother holding me on the beach was really me holding my daughter.

Crazy! Not a week before I posted a picture of us Skyping with mom on Instagram and my bestie Down Under commented how she sees a strong resemblance of me in my mother.

Could it be true???

I never thought I looked like Mom. In fact, people have always said that my sister looks like our mother, the older of my two brothers like my father, and my baby brother and myself most closely resemble each other. But goodness, I'm not complaining.

I've always reflected on how stylish "young" mom always was. In fact I blogged about it two years ago. I guess I just never saw a physical resemblance in myself. I always found our similarities through common interest. The way I gravitate towards the classic and traditional elements. In the ways we both keep our homes. How I call my children by their first, middle and last names when they are in deep, deep trouble.

So what do you guys think?

Let's just settle this once and for all.

Have I turned into my mother?

mom was a 1st grade teacher before i came along

on her wedding day with my father

the beach in Sandy Hook, NJ ~ feel free to "ooh" and "ahh" over the adorable baby. ;)

Vintage In A Modern Wardrobe: The Sweater

2012-01-11T07:31:00.000-05:00

I fell hard for this sweater when I stumbled upon it. I have a soft spot for the 80's, and with it's coloring and pattern, this sweater could have come directly from Mr. Cosby's closet itself. Big, bulky sweaters in crewneck form are a favorite of mine (as witnessed most recently here) and the best ones seem to be vintage.

The question is, how do you balance big and bulky without looking like a rare breed of mohaired Sasquatch?

What if a pattern is involved? The whole idea could be borderline disastrous.

I believe that big and bulky deserves slim and sexy. Opposites attract so keep it slim on the bottom. Of course throwing a sexy heel in the mix never hurts. Counteracting pattern with pattern keeps the top looking fresh and modern and I added the earrings so there would be a little sexy on top too. It's a little casual for a night look, but chic enough for lunch and shopping with the girls.

This sweater is in the shop and I'm surprised no one has snatched it up yet. Though I'm not sad no one has either....

sweater: vintage, thrifted paul harris
button up: ny & co (old)
jeans: those same old express ones i can't stop wearing
heels: bandolino (old)
clutch: banana republic (old)
sunglasses & earrings: express (old)

Raising Mr. Sophisticated

2012-01-10T08:40:00.000-05:00

Once or twice a week after work my husband loves to have a whiskey on the rocks. Lately I've been catching him drinking them in our Waterford rocks glasses. Over the New Year's holiday I noticed him serving up the Maker's Mark in the Waterford as well. I find it amusing to see him come from the bar cabinet in our formal living room with the delicate crystal in his hand instead of one of the many everyday rocks glasses we own.

Back in October he asked me why I had bought my baby brother the "nicest beer glasses ever" and why I never bought something like that for him. (They were a house warming/Christmas gift for he and his wife) I was shocked and delighted that he would even notice such a thing that I headed off to Pottery Barn within a week and made sure he got his very own set.

It may not sound strange to you, but these things regularly surprise me. Maybe because I'm talking about the guy who used to sleep over my house almost 12 years ago wearing shirts with so many holes in them I wondered why he bothered at all. A man who was a truck driver in our early years together and went back to school to become a graphic designer. He went from wearing a uniform he dirtied on a daily basis to crisply pressed button ups, dress pants and the occasional wool sweater. The fellow that has always cared less about luxe, yet whisked me away for our first vacation together and spent a fortune on a really nice hotel. Then, on his own, selected a platinum & diamond cocktail ring from the 1930's to propose with.
Despite all his "sophisticated" changes, at heart he will always be the guy who still gets packages from his mother's rural mountainside home that are filled with petrified bugs and creatures she finds in the woods and is delighted by them.

He's changed a lot in the past 12 years, and so have I. Deep inside I will always be the "city girl" with champagne taste and he will always be the "country boy" who seems to love a little luxury now and again. I wouldn't have it any other way.

vest, jeans & necklace: express (old)
turtleneck: talbots
boots: style & co
sunglasses: adrienne vittadini

It's A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

2012-01-09T11:17:00.000-05:00

We have been experiencing some gorgeous weather here on the East Coast. More than once temperatures have soared towards 70 degrees which is virtually unheard of in January. This past weekend was no exception. Saturday we hit 68 and when the mercury rises that high, I find it unacceptable to not be outside basking in Mother Natures little gift.

It used to drive me nuts when I worked retail and would be trapped inside a mall on such brilliant days. As people would filter in and out all day long I would find myself wondering why they had nothing better to do than go to the mall. Even worse were the days of inclement weather when I couldn't have paid people to leave the mall so the stores could close early and the employees could get home safely. Why can't people amuse themselves outdoors or even in their own homes?

Today's homes are more than well equipped with TV's, DVD's, and computers to keep people entertained. Whatever happened to simply reading a book? Or playing a board game? Or having friends over to just hang out? How about getting outside and talking a walk, riding a bike or even take a ride in your car through a scenic area?

I think in a lot of cases, people have forgotten how to entertain themselves. Imaginations have become obsolete because we have gadgets that can do almost anything for us. Children don't even need to flex their creative muscles much anymore because they have so many different video games and toys that take them into other worlds that were created by someone else's imagination.

My daughter is infatuated with these new Barbie sized dolls called Monster High. She has been collecting them for over a year and this Christmas she received a bunch more as well as their accessories. She has a wall in her room of cubbies that stored her books, movies, and toys. A few months ago she emptied them all out, donated most of her books (broke my heart) and sold most of her toys she no longer played with at the flea market in order to make "rooms" for her dolls.

Her little made up "rooms" are sweet, but my husband and I toyed with the idea of buying her a large wooden dollhouse and furniture for Christmas that would fit her dolls and afford her more "realistic" play with them. Dollhouses like that do not come cheaply and I realized that I could most likely be selling it on Craig's List or at the flea market by next Christmas so why bother? Instead we went to our local arts and crafts store and bought her a pad of decorative scrapbooking paper and sheets of felt. A few weeks before Christmas she and I spent two afternoons "wallpapering" and making "beds" for the rooms. I must say they came out really cute and my daughter was tickled pink.

Yesterday I was bringing some clean laundry into the kid's bedrooms and there she was playing with her dolls and their little "homes". She couldn't wait to show me a "desk" she had just fashioned for one of her dolls from an old cardboard shoe box.

It was my turn to be tickled pink. It was sheer genius and I couldn't hide my awe over it. What a clever girl! She couldn't be happier or more satisfied than she is with her own creation and in turn has proven to me once again that less is usually way, way more.

sweater: vintage, thrifted

scarf: ? (old)

l/s tee shirt : jcrew

jeans: express

boots: style & co

sunglasses: banana republic

Vintage In A Modern Wardrobe

2012-01-06T18:20:00.000-05:00

I have been a vintage lover since I was fourteen or fifteen years old. Through some of the "leaner" years of my life, it was where I bought 95% of my clothing. As life grew more comfortable, sifting for treasures became my very favorite hobby. It will never cease to amaze me how many compliments or questions I get regarding a thrifted item I am wearing. People have asked where I purchased this or that and the majority have wrinkled their noses when I say "It's from a thrift store" or "It's vintage". I have also been shocked to go thrift shopping with some of the most fashionable ladies I know and see them look certifiably confused, unimpressed and even a wee bit grossed out by it.
What gives???
This has been weighing heavily on my mind all day and I can only assume that the answer is that people are unsure of how to incorporate vintage into a modern wardrobe. My friend Pamela over at Ginger Girl is NOT a thrift shopper. She is super stylish and put together and I thought it would be fun to send her a top from my shop to see how she would style it up without any prompting or requests from me. She made it look amazing! Pamela took a vintage blouse and paired it with a sleek pencil skirt and some modern baubles and left me wishing I had kept it for myself!
But what about the rest of the women out there who can't see past the occasional musty, mothball smelling shop and seas of racks chock full of polyester? Well, I think I can help those of you who have previously wrinkled your noses become little vintage divas in your own right.
I am going to start a new feature here on the blog and each post will begin with the same title as this one: Vintage In A Modern Wardrobe. I obviously only purchase items for the shop that I think are totally phenomenal and a great find. If I'm to be honest, they are things I have, would and will wear myself. And that's exactly what I am going to do. I will style up a find here on the blog to show you all how to make it look so good that people will be asking, "Where did you get that?"
I spent yesterday and today thrifting and found a veritable treasure trove of vintage dresses. The kind of finds that give me those "first time" kind of butterflies in my stomach and make my head dizzy with joy. These dresses are all going into the shop, one by one after I show you how to work it into your own closet.
So, without further ado, I give you:
Vintage In A Modern Wardrobe: Mid-Length Dresses

I found this plain, black, sheer dress with a pleated skirt just this afternoon. At first, I even hemmed and hawed at the sheerness of it. But the peasant neckline and soft pleats made the sheerness seem simply divine.
A mid length can be tricky, and I am only 5'1 with hips, so pleats are tricky too! Looking at the dress on the hanger, I immediately thought Boho and to subdue the volume of the pleats at my hips, I knew it needed a cropped layering piece.
So....

I paired it with a fur vest (I think 99% of us own one!), leggings, high boots (my favorite for mid length) and a solid black camisole. The peasant neckline calls for a statement earring in my opinion instead of a necklace, and in this case a shoulder scraper was what I selected. These pieces make it appropriate for winter and give it that bohemian edge.

For spring or summer, (this little number can work year round!) I would pair it with a denim vest, the leggings and cami and finish it off with a fabulous sandal.

What do you think?

I hope this gives you some inspiration and ideas and even opens up the option to wear secondhand. I'm not a soapbox kind of girl, but a majority of thrift stores support a charity or hospital and reusing things is always good for the environment. So apart from saving money, you can prop a little halo over your head too.

This dress is on it's way into the shop now with free shipping and a price tag of only $25.00 I think you could give yourself a high five if you are the one to snatch this little number up...

dress: vintage, thrifted

vest: girl's dept. jcpenney (old)

boots: coach

leggings & cami: ny&co

earrings: express

sunglasses: adrienne vittadini (old)

Review: Hana Air Blow Dryer

2012-01-05T15:07:00.001-05:00

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, then I think you know that I am fussy about my hair. Sometimes my hair gets more comments than my outfits! I have used the same hair dresser for over 10 years now and cannot imagine letting anyone else touch my tresses. Some women spend on Jimmy Choo's...I spend on my hair. I have always worked with the public and how I present myself (locks included) has always been more than a big deal to me.

I have naturally curly hair that I blow out section by section with a round brush every few days. Every few days, because it is a 45 minute to an hour production to dry this thick mane. That is beside the fact that I would be bald if I tormented my hair with heat like that on a daily basis! When I get my hair done, my hair dresser gets the arm workout of a lifetime. Drying this head is no simple task. Since I run my blow dryers constantly for hours a week I burn them out faster than you can say flat iron! Why don't I just use professional hair straighteners, you ask? I love the body that I get from using a blow dryer, that's why. Flat irons make my hair look just that ~ flat.

A few years ago I started ordering blow dryers through my hair dresser. She owns the salon and day spa where I get my hair done and when I am in need, she orders me a salon grade dryer and has it sent there for me. Unfortunately, I burned out the last one of them too and have been using a Conair I picked up at Target since the blower "blowout" caught me in a pinch.

Over the holidays, I received an email from Misikko, a company that sells hair care & styling products online.
They asked if I would use and review one of their blow dryers. I chuckled. They probably couldn't have found a better blogger to try out their blow dryers! After all of these years, I am practically an expert!

I swooned over the package when I opened it!

My soon to be sister in law said, "Is it weird to call a blow dryer beautiful?"

Not when it looks like this!

I couldn't wait to try it out!

This is what my hair looks like au natural. I know. I look like a leftover from an 80's metal band.

I start with the bottom layers. Other than the sleek, and easy to hold design, the first thing I noticed when I turned it on was the blast of air! Holy smokes...the power in this thing is incredible! Let's just say it literally blew dust out from behind my bathroom mirror. To be truthful, I was secretly hoping it would be so powerful that it could reduce my drying time significantly. I started drying at 9:40 am and with all the picture taking I did, I was done by 10:20! Win!

Talk about volume!

My hair has never had this much volume from ANY other dryer I have used.

You can see how sleek and compact it is in comparison to the thick and bulky Conair.

It has always bothered me that the back of the Conair was a dust/lint/hair trap.

Gross!

The back of the Hana is just perfect!

Look at the difference in cord length!

When you have to stand there for any length of time, freedom of movement is critical.

The cord on the Hana affords me ample room to move around.

After some finishing creme to tame the volume a bit and keep a sleek shine on the ends.

All in all, if you spend the time on your hair like I do, or even just appreciate quality over throw away products, then this is definitely a blow dryer worth investing in. I can tell you that I already bragged to my hair dresser that I now know of one of the best blow dryers around.

*I have never reviewed a product on this blog before although offers have come. My opinion about the Hana Air Dryer is honest and straightforward. I have not been compensated by Misikko other than the blow dryer they sent me to review. I have actually turned down product review offers in the past because they weren't "me" or the products/websites were crappy and I didn't like the product. While being offered merchandise for product reviews is definitely a perk of blogging, it is not why I started this blog. If I do a product review here, it is because I genuinely felt strongly about the item. Any questions, feel free to email me.*

New Arrivals

2012-01-04T16:14:00.000-05:00

Fur scarves, gorgeous necklaces and even a real Fendi bag popped in the shop today!

Check out the New Arrivals tab at Katy~Did!

Also,shipping is FREE.

Yup.

You read that right.

Free Shipping on every US order!

Now get over there!

Begin Again

2012-01-03T13:06:00.000-05:00

January.

I love this month. I love how everything seems so clean and minimal inside with the holiday decor all packed away. The house feels like a quiet refuge from the cold outside and craziness of Christmas. When I look out the windows at the wintery landscape, the trees have a refreshing bareness to them and the lake across the street from us shimmers an icy glare under the winter sun.

January feels fresh and new.

It is the one month of the year when I feel like I can catch up on things I didn't have time for through the holiday season's hustle and bustle. I long for hearty soups and winter salads. Spending the afternoon planning and preparing a meal that is still hours away. Baking treats for my family because I have plenty of time to do so.

January is a brand new start.

There is a part of me that would like to sweep 2011 under the carpet and forget it even existed, but it wasn't all bad. In fact, I learned some invaluable lessons this past year. I learned about myself. I realized that the only people I want to manage are my children. I no longer want to be responsible for people I have no control over, or even care about outside of a work environment. I no longer want to deal with the stresses that brings because it is not worth any amount of money.

I came to the realization that my time is better invested in friendships of common interest rather than those of circumstance.

I discovered that I really love to be alone and crave silence. I found that I do my best thinking when undisturbed.

I learned that no amount of shopping or "new stuff" will ever make me truly happy. It dawned on me that I have bought so many things to "create" a lifestyle I longed to live but wasn't because I was too busy working and shopping.

I found out that my family can survive on much less than we used to and we are all happier doing so. This was one of the most exciting, heartwarming Christmases ever, and my husband and I didn't even exchange gifts. We derived our pleasure from the children's joy and excitement and the time shared with loved ones. Those are gifts that out price anything from a store.

I realized that I am truly blessed. Everything I could ever desire is right here. Healthy and happy children that treat people with kindness and respect, a husband that is so loving and unselfish, a comfortable home filled with beautiful things that I am finally learning how to enjoy, and a family that may not be together on a daily basis, but shares an undying love and loyalty to each other.

This past weekend was spent with my two brothers and their families and there was nothing but pure enjoyment. There is no drama or false pretenses...it is easy to have a good time when we are all together. In fact, there was an air of sadness yesterday when we said good~bye...a heavier sadness then ever before, only because we didn't want our fun to ever end.

What does 2012 hold?

I have some self appointed goals and plans, but who knows what will come to pass and what won't? I am not really into compiling a trite list of resolutions...I can only think of one thing that I want to be the theme of my life. Not just for 2012, but for the rest of my time here on earth.

I want to live simply and beautifully.

Happiness to the newer me, is contentment that comes from within yourself and the ability to recognize and appreciate blessings no matter how big or small. If that is missing than no amount of money or material possessions will ever truly satisfy.

In my case, less has truly been more and for that life lesson I will be forever grateful.

Happy New Year to each of you...I wish you all the best that this upcoming year can bring.

p.s. My grandfather is doing very well and will be moving to a nursing home in the upcoming week as the level of care he now requires will be too much for my mother to take on at home. We are grateful for your thoughts and prayers and he is hell bent on having at least one more year here on Earth!

p.p.s. This post is the 500th post here at Shopping The Closet. I want to thank all of you who take the time to read my nonsense...you all mean more than you could know!

The Christmas Miracle

2011-12-26T12:26:00.000-05:00

With a heavy heart, I went to my baby brother's house on Christmas Eve as we always do. I had an inner struggle as to whether or not to keep my phone by my side for the call I was dreading or just to leave it in my purse and be as present as I could be.

I left it and tried to be a merry as I could, which was greatly eased by my beautiful niece Vera (who only needs to call me "Ellie" and I'm putty in her hands) and my own daughter who was so excited at Santa's impending arrival.

After a couple of hours I couldn't help myself but go grab it and was relieved to see that no call had come. When we bid farewell and drove home I called my mother to check in.

My grandfather had broken ribs in the fall which were causing internal bleeding that they could not stop. The doctors had said on Saturday morning that they would transfuse him one last time, but then that would be all. They would just see that he was made comfortable after that. To our great astonishment, someone arrived unexpectedly in the room that evening to transfuse him again. As surprised as my mother and her siblings were, they allowed them to do it.

Since that last transfusion all of Pop's vitals have been stable.

I got to speak with him on Sunday morning and it was the best gift I ever could have received.

He told my mother that God had come to see him and he asked him if he could have one more year here.

He said that God told him he could.

I'm so glad he did.

My children set their alarm clocks for 6am to open gifts on Christmas morning. It was one of the best Christmases I have had in years. My daughter framed an old picture of herself and wrote me a tear inducing note. She gave Daddy an ornament with a picture of herself as well and an equally beautiful note.

We had a big breakfast of Challah French Toast then I spent the rest of the day preparing our dinner feast while everyone played with their new toys.

My father and stepmom came over for dinner and we drank too many Old Fashioned's and ate our way into food comas.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers....I am more appreciative than you can imagine.

I hope you all had an amazing day surrounded with your loved ones because that in itself is the best gift of all.

Bittersweet Christmas

2011-12-24T13:41:00.000-05:00

First off, I want to say THANK YOU to all of my readers from the bottom of my heart. Your comments brighten each and every day and I cherish the friendships that blogging has built.

Recently I have been receiving some truly heartfelt emails from some of you and I want you to know how much that touches me. To actually take the time to write an email in itself is a sweet gesture, but the words I have read have been imprinted on both my heart and soul.

I am indeed convinced that blog friends ARE the best and you all prove that time and time again.

So to each and every one of you...whether you are just a "lurker" (I like the word bystander better, lurker sounds creepy) an active participant, or one of my blogging besties, I wish for you and yours the most merriest of Christmas and truly all of the best that 2012 has to offer.

It is a bittersweet Christmas here for us. My 90 year old grandfather suffered a terrible fall on Friday morning. After quite a few ups and downs, things are not looking well and the reality that his time with us is now very limited has begun to sink in.

He is my maternal grandfather and for the past 38 years I have only spent a couple of Christmases without him. He and my grandmother were a virtual second set of parents to my siblings and self and to say we are close is an understatement.

While I will never be ready to ever say goodbye, I am beyond grateful that both of my children have had the chance to know him on the same level as I always have. They formed close bonds with their great grandfather and that does not oft happen.

So this Christmas I am simply remembering the 30 some odd Christmases I have had with him and am thankful that he was here in my home for the holiday last year. These are memories I will always cherish, as he made Christmas a very magical affair. This morning I collected some of my favorite Christmas pictures of him and the smile they have put on my face is much needed.

It would truly take a Christmas miracle for our current situation to change, but I can't lose that little glimmer of hope.

me and pop

pop helping me open my gifts

the holidays were always party time at my grandparents house

nan and pop slept over our house every single christmas to be there to open gifts with us

december 1994

this is my son with his great grandparents

christmas 2010

pop in october at my cousin's wedding. the last time we were together.

my pop.