Hi to all my Gal Pals,
I do not make New Year’s resolutions but when the new year starts I like to declutter. I get the “urge to purge” items of which I have multiples, things that are too old or that I think aren’t essential. For example, how in heaven’s name did I accumulate so many dish towels? I can’t even close the dish towel drawer because they are so crammed in. Half of them don’t even get used! Then there is all the makeup items that I think should be thrown away because I can’t even remember how old they are. I don’t wear a lot of makeup, in fact there are days I don’t wear any makeup, so I don’t remember when they were purchased. Currently, I am trying to declutter my clothes closet. I am just going through my winter clothes for the very reason Aunty Acid puts forth “My thoughts and prayers go out to anyone currently trying on summer clothes”. I know I am still carrying around holiday weight. Why is it that I don’t have any problem donating the towels or pitching my makeup but when it comes to parting with my clothes I become very emotional? As you know I have a lot of clothes but there are days I still feel like Aunty Acid who says “I feel like such a ‘failure’. I’ve been shopping for over 20 years and still don’t have a thing to wear!” I do not know why I have such a visceral response to getting rid of my articles of clothing so I decided to see if there are others out there who have the same emotional reaction I have when trying to decide whether to keep or donate those items in my closet.
Well, apparently I am not alone. It seems there are many articles about people like me. One article explains that for some people getting rid of items can be a very exhausting mental process. Blogger Julie Hage (Filling the Jars) says there are 5 emotional excuses for not decluttering; Guilt (I spent a lot on that so I should wear it), Hope (I know if I just lose 15 pounds I can get into that again), Feeling Overwhelmed (I can’t possibly ever start on this mess – it’s too devastating to think about), Fear (I might need that some day), and Stubbornness (No one is going to tell me I shouldn’t keep this). Four out of five of these apply to me when it comes to cleaning out my clothes closet especially the emotion of Hope. It’s like Aunty Acid says “Every woman has at least 1 pair of ‘I’ll fit into them one day’ jeans in her closet.” Another article states, “Because our clothes are an extension of who we are, a link to our past and future, parting with even the most unwearable piece can feel uncomfortable.” I can relate to this. For me it’s like getting rid of an appendage!
The most difficult articles of clothing for me to part with are in the box marked “Not Sure”. These are usually clothes that fit just fine but I haven’t worn them for one reason or another. One of the reasons is because they seem too dressy for the places I go to. Another reason is because it was part of an outfit I bought but I got rid of the rest of the outfit so I wasn’t sure what to pair it with. Sometimes it was because I bought something on impulse, not thinking about what I had to wear with it. Each of the outfits I am wearing in this blog were put together with one of the pieces I pulled from the “Not Sure” box because I found a solution to the corresponding reasons I’ve listed above. I will explain further under each of the following fashion pictures.
I think I have written this before but before I move on I want to leave you with this profound statement by Aunty Acid “You know what outfit looks best on everybody? ‘SELF-CONFIDENCE’ Rock it and own it, Ladies.
This is where I usually talk about landscape design but to go along with today’s blog I am going to talk about my issues of throwing away plants. I am one of those people that if I really love a plant I will do whatever I can to save it. I cannot throw away living summer plants just to replace them with fall plants. If they start to go to seed like some petunias I have no problem throwing them away but if they still look good I count on Mother Nature’s cold weather to kill them off. One type of plant I loved this year was the diplodenia. It is an annual in our zone but a perennial in warmer zones. I loved them so much that I brought them indoors to try to save them. I brought them in a little too late so the cold got to them therefore they defoliated. However, they are still alive so I am going to see if I can get them to bloom this summer.
I cut them way back and as long as they continue to produce green growth I will take care of them. Also, they cost me $25 apiece so I think financially it is a smart move.
OK, let the fashion show begin. My eyes probably look terrible because I was suffering with insomnia the night before the pictures were taken. I think many of you can relate.
I think many of you have a formal jacket from an outfit you might have worn to a wedding. I wore this very shimmery jacket to my daughters wedding with a floor length black dress (it was a black and white themed wedding in 2008). I put it in the “Not Sure” box because I probably would not wear a floor length formal dress to another wedding. I tried to think of a way to dress it down so I paired it with a pair of black brushed corduroy pants. I wore a loose, simple black top long enough to cover my belly. Wearing a long top under a short jacket is currently trending. I am wearing a patent leather shoe with a 1 inch wedge heel to help keep it less formal. This would be a great outfit to wear to a party, a play or dinner at a nice restaurant.
The jewelry I am wearing is a combination of casual and dressy just like the outfit. The bangles are light and dark metals with the lighter silver color bangles having cuts in the metal that makes them shimmer. The earrings are simple hoops of black and silver and a basic silver watch. The rings and the necklace contain more of the bling that looks great with the jacket. It is a great marriage of formal and casual.
This gorgeous swing jacket was in the “Not Sure” box because it was part of a three piece outfit but the pants and top were just too big for me after I lost weight but the jacket still looks great so I couldn’t get rid of it. The outfit was a little bit too dressy for me but I was able to pair the jacket with my cream brushed corduroy pants to give it a more casual look. Underneath the jacket I am wearing a cream colored turtleneck top and a purple colored belt with a heart covered clasp. Remember I only wear a belt if I am wearing a jacket or sweater overtop so you don’t see the fat rolls that are obvious above or below the belt. The shoes are cream color and are a little more than casual because of the pointed toe and the two inch heels. This is a great outfit for February because of the heart in the belt and the colors of Mardi Gras especially in the accessories.
The most expensive piece of jewelry here is the feather pin which was around $20. The earrings, bracelet, necklace, and watch were all $1 each at the library used jewelry sale. The feather pin, earrings and flower ring are purple and different shades of green. The other ring has a blue stone which matches the blue stone in the center of the feather pin. The bracelet is made of multiple colors but comes across as purple.
This sweater was my impulse buy. I bought it at Von Maur off the sale rack. It was originally over $100 and I bought it for $21. It has been in my closet for over a year but I was not sure if it was too dressy for lunch with friends or too casual for a dinner party so I put it in my “Not Sure” box. I pulled it out because I decided to pair it with casual gray pants and what I consider casual accessories so I feel I can wear this outfit out for lunch. I paired the outfit with suede dark gray shoes with a one inch wedge heel which gives the outfit a more casual look.
I love this watch! It has a gray leather band but a touch of bling around the face. It cost me $1 at the library used jewelry sale. The necklace is made of dark gray and silver color metals with matching earrings that pull together the light gray of the sweater and the darker gray pants. The rings have thin silver bands, one containing a small pearl and the other a small clear glass stone. The bracelet matches the necklace beautifully.
OK, let’s discuss my weight. I haven’t lost my holiday weight and I haven’t been able to take my 2 mile walks in the mornings because of the weather. I rarely left my house so I became a couch potato for two weeks. I don’t know about you but when I get bored I eat. And eat. And eat. My clothes seem to be a little tighter and I was thinking I should get to the gym (UGH!). That reminds me of something Aunty Acid once said “I signed up for aerobics at the gym. They said to wear loose clothing. If I had any loose fitting clothing I wouldn’t have signed up for the freakin’ aerobics class.” Fortunately, the weather has improved so I am back to walking and I no longer have to dwell on having to work out at a gym. The thought of going to the gym causes me to stress out. Of course a little stress is a good thing. Just ask Aunty Acid who explains “According to the doctors, the symptoms of stress are eating too much, impulse buying and napping a lot. Are they freakin’ kidding me? That’s my idea of a perfect day!” Sounds good to me.
Well, that is it for this month. Happy Valentine’s Day and a very happy Fat Tuesday! Until next time, remember God loves you and so do I.
A Peek Into Pam’s Closets 