Floating Free

Hi to all my Gal Pals,

I did it! I am so excited! I joined the local women’s club and I can finally “give back”. I knew if I made the commitment in my blog that I would follow through. I will be helping with the huge Christmas craft show (love it!), the spring fashion show (right up my alley) and working with high school students with special needs learn how to sew (my favorite population to work with). I don’t know how to sew but I am an expert at ironing because I do it all the time. That’s because the clothes in my closet are so smashed together they are typically wrinkled. I will also be joining their bookclub beside the one I am in with other retirees from my place of employment. Let’s face it, the only reason I am “free” to do this is because I am retired. This is one of those positive blogs instead of me complaining about something that has to do with being a ‘senior’. Not that I am going to stop complaining about getting older because there is so much to complain about. I love Aunty Acids quote “Every time I say ‘Life can’t get more screwed up than this’, life replies “Challenge freakin’ accepted” (so true, so true). The ability to retire is probably the best part of aging and giving back to society only costs me time. I may not be able to afford to take an expensive vacation or buy expensive things but I can get so much pleasure from helping others through charitable works. It is like Aunty Acid says “The happiest people don’t have everything, they just make the best of everything they have”. For me it is like the feeling I get during the Christmas holiday which is the best feeling in the world. So for the next year I am ‘floating free’ and feeling good!

My blog is about ‘floating free’ with the kimono or dolman sleeve. Sometimes clothes can be cumbersome during the summer months especially if they are fitted close to our bodies. The kimono sleeve is cut in one piece with the bodice. The dolman sleeve is similar to the kimono sleeve in that it is cut as part of the bodice but it has a different shape, joining the bodice farther down – they are often called ‘bat wing’ sleeves in reference to this shape. There are many advantages to wearing tops with these types of sleeves. It is felt that they have the effect of making the shoulders look sloped, therefore minimizing the appearance of the waist. These types of sleeves flatter all body types and they are loose fitting so they give you better range of motion. If you are the type of person who tends to sweat and often have perspiration marks under your arm pits this style is for you. Overall they are just so comfortable and ‘freeing’.

When I think of plants that grow ‘free’ I think of prairie plants. I used to grow Joe Pye Weed in my garden because of its vanilla smell and it attracts butterflies. The pictures of prairie plants below surround the path I walk every morning.

I use to live across the street from the walking path that went through the forest preserve but now I walk at the park (one block from my house) through native prairie flowers and grasses. There is always something in bloom and during the fall the copper color of the grasses is stunning. The migrating birds sit on top of the plants and the butterflies are always hanging around. Not only do prairie plants grow free but I feel free when I walk through nature.

OK, let’s start our free floating fashion show.

Black and white is so classic. Not only do the sleeves make this top comfy but the material is stretchy as are the white leggings. You can see how the shape of the top minimizes my waistline. A great summer outfit! The outfit is completed with a pair of black, low heeled summer shoes.

I love this faux necktie that snaps together. It looks great with a black suit jacket but it really adds something to this black and white outfit. I bought it from a crafter who was at Christmas Crossroads craft show last year. You know from past blogs that I LOVE polka dots. There are also black and white polka dots on the watch band and earrings. These are paired with white and black rings and bangle bracelets.

I have my arms up so that you can see the shape of the sleeves. With my arms up it pulls up the front of the top but once I put my arms down the loose front falls over my belly. I love the plum color of this top. What I like about these tops is that you can dress them up or dress them down. I paired this one with my off white wide leg pants and off white, low heeled sandals.

What I love about the solid colors of the outfit is that you can really play with your choice of accessories. This outfit screamed for a chunky necklace so I picked one with a large gold chain and off white, amber and copper colored beads. I love the gold crackling affect in the large white beads and that helped me decide on my bracelets. The tortoise shell segments on the set of bangle bracelets are gold and off white. On the other wrist I wore the solid gold bangle bracelet on the same wrist as the cream colored watch band. I chose this watch because it is a little dressier with the faux diamonds around the face. One of the rings is gold with a pearl which goes well with the beads of the necklace and the other is one of my favorites. It looks like a flower made up of 3 layers of cut purple glass in a gold setting.

Here I am dressing down the top by pairing it with my white jean capris. The blue top has a smattering of white hearts and once again it typically falls loosely over my belly but I wanted you to see the sleeves. Underneath I am wearing a sleeveless white top because the cut of the neckline is so wide. I paired it with my blue and tan sandals.

I think the white heart necklace goes perfectly with the hearts in the top. The denim blue watch band and the blue star sapphire are perfect with the blue top and the white pearls of the earrings, ring and the bracelets are so complimentary to the blue of the top.

So I guess we can talk about my weight. At least I can tell you that I lost a couple of pounds since my hibernation last month. I was always led to believe that it was easier to lose weight during the summer but that must have been said by someone who did not do a lot of socializing during the summer. There is nothing better than to go out with friends and sitting outdoors at a cafe when the weather permits. The last thing I think about is the calorie count of my meal. I can relate to Crabby Maxine who says “For my summer diet I start with a nice big salad bowl and then I fill it with ice cream”. I am going on vacation and I am going to eat whatever I want (which is limited due to my many allergies) but going on vacation with extra weight is not good. I am sure that next month I will be writing about the weight that I have gained so you have been forewarned. It won’t be pretty. There are a lot of festivals going on this month in Michigan and where there is a festival there is food. I am not sure how I am going to lose the weight but I will think on it. I wish I could recoup all the money I put into gym memberships that I never used. You all know how I feel about going to the gym to work out. It is like Aunty Acid says “I forgot to go to the gym today….that makes 3 years in a row!”. Yep, that is me!

Well, until next month remember, God loves you and so do I. For all you who work in education I hope you don’t suffer through the August 1st nightmares and I hope you have a good year.