Stylish Bright Stripes and Black Tights

Daily Outfit 3/31/11

Full disclosure: I love this dress.  I plan on wearing it all summer, so I hope no one gets tired of it.  I really did intend to wait for summer to debut it, but who knows when summer will get to Oregon, so I decided to wear it today.

Fabulous, right?  I couldn’t believe my luck when I found this dress at my local Goodwill for only $3.50!  The dress is vintage, the belt is croc-embossed (Macys), the tights are Spanx Tight End Tights (Nordstrom), the cardigan is Gap, the earrings are of disremembered provenance and the booties are BC Shoes (via Piperlime).

Even though this dress screams summer to me, I really like it with the black accents.  I tried it first this morning with a bright cardigan and tights and cognac belt and shoes, but it felt like a little much to me.  You all know I love me some brights, I just think I might prefer them grounded with a neutral.  And black and brights are a match made in heaven for me.

Now, for those of you looking at this outfit and thinking “My goodness that’s one stylish giant,” you are not alone.  And I’ve got the badge to prove it:

The absolutely fabulous Claire of Spinning Threads has awarded me the Stylish Blogger Award on Tuesday.  The rules for receiving this award are that I have to share 8 things about myself and award it to 8 other stylish bloggers.

I had actually received this award from Sara Star rather early on, so you can read eight things about me here (which will give you a full 22 facts about me!).  I do, however, want to present some of my new-found favorite and stylish blogs with this award. 

In no particular order, these are some of the blogs I am especially loving as of late:

• Surely Sonsy
• Well Curated
• Angy's Tea Room
• Bellishment
• Me Myself and My Closet
• Tart Lemon Drop
• Northeast Chic
• Basic Cravings

Again, if you don't already read these blogs, stop by.  They're definitely worth it.

 

In other news, I am glad to be back in my lovely, green Oregon.  It was pouring when I got home Tuesday night, but this morning’s ride was glorious.  Absolutely perfect – balmy temperatures, no rain, no wind and the trees are beginning to bloom.  Did I mention that it was perfect?

I hope everyone’s day was as wonderful as my bike ride was,

Gracey

What I Wore For Giants

This is not me…



Photo Credit: Jessica Quirk of What I Wore



This is the gorgeous Jessica from What I Wore.  I’m sure many of you already read Jessica’s blog, but, if you don’t, it’s worth taking a look.  She’s creative, sews a mean pair of pants and has a marvelous sense of style, as is evidenced in the outfit above.

I absolutely love this outfit and couldn’t wait to try to recreate for you all.

The Blouse

B & Lu "Twyla” – up to 3x:

The two things I love most about Jessica’s blouse are the black background and how loose and easy it is, which is why I chose the Twyla blouse.  I think it keeps that loose and easy feel.  Because it is chiffon I’d wear it with a black camisole underneath to add opacity and help keep it slim.

The Pants

Skinny Surplus Jeans – Gap – up to 20 (also in Tall up to 16):

I think these pants will help toughen up the sweet print of the top.  Also, I actually have these exact jeans, so I can recommend them personally.

The Shoes

Hiala – Nine West – up to 12:

Like Jessica, I went with a nude shoe to help keep the legs long and lean.

The Sunglasses

Squared Off Cat Eye Sunglasses – Urban Outfitters:

Top it all off with some sunglasses, and you’re good to go!

So, what do you think, Friend Reader?  Is this something you would try?  Let me know!

Gracey

The Tumbleweed Aesthetic

Daily Outfit, 3/30/11

In honor of my trip to Santa Fe (photos are forthcoming, I swear) I am renaming my wrinkle-flaunting, comb-flouting Hot Rumpled Mess aesthetic to the Tumbleweed Aesthetic.  I’m even wearing a tumbleweed-colored cardigan for the debut of the new name:

Accompanying the cardigan (Old Navy) is an appropriately wrinkled silk tunic (Banana Republic), wide-legged jeans (also Banana Republic), boots (Kenneth Cole Reaction) and a multicolored-striped scarf (???).  I have wanted to try hot pink and brown together ever since I saw model Dree Hemingway wearing it – I like it, but I think it’ll be even better paired with a tomato red skirt like she did.

Sorry it's such a short post - I had a sleepy and distracted day today.  The first day back from vacation, even a short one, is always a bit weird for me.  I am putting together a longer post, with pictures from New Mexico, that I’ll put up as soon as I finish.

Happy Wednesday, All!

Gracey

photo favorites

Apologies for the 2.5 week hiatus. I really have no excuses; I've been just caught up in everyday life. I won't make promises I can't keep but I'll try my best to become more consistent. However, just because I don't post doesn't mean I don't religiously keep track of all you! I check my bloglovin' every single day. You guys are just far more interesting than I it seems!

A few shots of some new favorites that entered into my closet recently:


Earrings from the lovely girls at my old workplace; they have magnificent taste. Worn with a Club Monaco bow tie shirt.

Rupert Sanderson peep toe booties. I bought these at the sample sale where the queue literally wrapped around the building. I guess I have a lot of patience...or a ridiculous shoe obsession (but what girl doesn't)

A gift from Mass. He's a little quirky when it comes to gifts. Sometimes he'll bring home something absolutely fabulous, like this necklace by Palizzi, or sometimes he comes home with an organic loofah sponge (which btw, is SO amazing on your skin - I HIGHLY recommend it).

If you follow me on twitter, you may have read about my blistering toes from walking 25 minutes to work everyday in heels. Well, I think I found the cure. These classic Ferragamos are perfect for me. They're not too high (around 70mm) and still tasteful enough to wear in or out of the office.

Happy Tuesday!

Ms. Green Pants

Sure it doesn’t have the same ring to it as Mr. Green Jeans, but we can’t all be on Captain Kangaroo.  Also, I’m not a man and these are not jeans…

Yes, that's right, a visible bra strap - because I'm classy like that.

…they’re pants.  Green pants that I really don’t wear often enough, but thought they might be a good transitional item for spring.  The pants are “Tall” from New York & Co (via Ross) which means they’re just long enough for me to wear with flats.  I paired them with a bold floral print top (Old Navy), peacock cardigan (a.n.a/JC Penney) and some neutral flats (Kenneth Cole Reaction).

I like the fit of these pants, but I’ll be honest, green pants are hard for me to style.  I don’t wear a lot of green and have no idea what compliments it.  However, I remembered our conversation from last week about pairing items based on the colors in a print and once I spotted this blouse in my closet, it all came together nicely.

I apologize for any dog hair on today’s outfit – my dog was extraordinarily affectionate this morning (usually he’s just sleepy) and this cardigan collects dog hair like it’s trying to be on an episode of Hoarders.

Also, I still haven’t packed and I leave tomorrow.  I think I know what I’m wearing on the plane though, so that’s some progress.  And, although I’ll be taking pictures in Santa Fe, I won’t be posting anything or viewing any blogs (sad face) while I’m there.  But, I’ll be back Tuesday evening though and will start catching up with everyone and everything.

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

Gracey

FBFF for March 25: Feminism and Fashion

Hello, All -

It’s Friday, and that means it’s time for another FBFF post.  Today’s Fashion and Beauty Friend Friday topic is Feminism.  This is a topic that has been making the rounds through the blogosphere for the past couple of months, but this is the first time I've posted anything on it.

1.      Do you think there is an incapability between feminism and a love for fashion?

Absolutely not.  I don’t think having a love for fashion means you can’t be a feminist or that being a feminist means you can’t love fashion.  That’s like saying you can’t love art because you’re a trucker or you can’t be a trucker because you love art.  That’s ridiculous.  Fashion, and other art forms are universal – that’s what makes them so wonderful.  Having a love for fashion, whether for form or function or both, is accessible to everyone.

2.      There is more to each of us than a love for fashion, how do you incorporate every aspect of yourself into your blog? 

I don’t.  I mean, I want to, but I’m not very good at it.  Usually, if I do discuss anything, it generally has to do with what role fashion played in that particular something.  I'm easing into opening up about myself though.

3.      With the fashion industry still being a male-dominated profession, how do you think it would differ if women played a larger role? 

I really don’t know much about the inner workings of the fashion industry but as an outsider, I can’t see that it would change much.  For example, I don't believe it would be more compassionate – fewer sweatshops for example – because some women care just as much about “the bottom line” as men do (ahem, Kathie Lee Gifford).  Maybe I could say that if women played a larger role, the clothes would be more comfortable or more flattering to women of all shapes and sizes, but I don’t know that I believe that.  There are men in the industry who make comfortable clothes and women who make uncomfortable clothes.  And of the designers who make clothes in sizes bigger than 8 or 10 or 12, it seems to already be a mix of both men and women.

4.      How is your self-image and the way you carry yourself informed by your beliefs? 

I believe in accepting the way I look and the way I’m built and not trying to change either of those.  I make a conscious effort to work with what I have so that I look my best and still look like myself.

And I think my self-image and the way I carry myself is very informed by those beliefs.  For example, I am pretty comfortable with how I look.  Face-wise, I describe myself as being “on the pretty side of average.”  And I’m very comfortable with that.  I don’t ever look in the mirror and wonder what the heck my face is doing. 

Body-wise I am a little less comfortable.  It is a little harder and I do sometimes look in the mirror and what the heck my thighs, or upper arms or muffin top is up to.  When I’m feeling that way, I just make sure that I wear something that does make me feel comfortable in the body I have and by the next day I’m usually fine.

5.      Do you think clothing/makeup/hair helps communicate the truth about yourself or are those things superfluous add-ons?

I think my clothes definitely indicate the truth about myself.  I purposely wear clothes that communicate who I am and how I feel about myself.  I like to be comfortable, I like to be able to move, I like color, I like being tall, I don’t love my thighs but am otherwise comfortable with my body – my clothes show all of this.  I wear clothes I can ride a bike in, I wear color almost every day, I wear heels regularly, and I wear a lot of a-line skirts and dresses because they flatter my thighs.

I don’t wear makeup or do my hair with any regularity, but I think my lack of a hairstyle or a beauty regimen also communicates a truth about myself.  As I said above, I am comfortable with my looks and don’t believe they need to be “enhanced” in any way.  If I started wearing any more makeup than mascara and the occasional lipstick, I wouldn’t be true to myself.  It’s important to me that I be able to look at myself first thing in the morning and last thing at night and be okay with the face I see there.  I’m afraid that if I wore makeup, I wouldn’t like how I looked without it.  And that sounds like a slippery slope to me.

As always, thank you to Katy of Modly Chic for preparing these questions.

Gracey

Hot Rumpled Mess

I’ve decided my new aesthetic is hot rumpled mess.  I tried it out today and I feel like I nailed it:

What did I wear to pull off this look?  Well, I wore some navy cords (Gap), tucked into my Born Crown riding boots (Nordstrom), topped with a blue blouse (thrifted) and a brown cardigan (Old Navy). I accessorized with a thin brown belt (Gap) and my blue scarf (H&M, not pictured).

I wish I could say that I look like this as the result of a long, stressful day at work, but I actually left the house looking like this.  It’s true that today was long and stressful, but it’s also true that I’ve given up on brushing my hair or ironing.  Not that I did much of either before, but now I’m embracing my natural state of dishevelment.  See how happy it makes me?

In other news, it’s raining in Oregon, Jazzercise kicked my heinie last night, and I haven’t even started packing yet for New Mexico.  It’s not unlike me to wait until the last minute, but I always forget something because I do wait.  I’m trying to get better at planning ahead.  So far, I haven’t made in progress with that goal.

How about you all – are you planners when it comes to packing for trips?  Or do you throw some stuff in a suitcase the night before, and hope for the best?

It’s Thursday, All, we’re nearly there!

Gracey

Ditsy Used Car Salesman

Daily Outfit, 3/23/11

I have an affinity for loud jackets.  Like used car salesman loud.  I don’t know why, but they make me happy.  With the way this week is going, I need all the happy I can get, so I wore one today:

I am struggling with getting clear pictures lately  - maybe if I stopped dropping my camera...

I paired the plaid jacket (Ross Dress for Less) with a ditsy floral sleeveless blouse (Old Navy), some Long and Lean jeans (Gap), my blue scarf (H&M) and brown boots (Mossimo/Target).  My thighs love these Long and Lean jeans, and have agreed not to secede.  For now.  (They’re always tossing around veiled threats).  Also, I am going to donate yesterday’s jeans – my thighs thank you all for talking some sense into me.

I’m actually pretty pleased with this jacket and blouse together.  If you want to try pattern mixing but haven’t yet, something like this is a good way to go about it.  The pattern on the blouse is tiny, so it doesn’t clash with the larger pattern of the jacket.  And, something that is key when pattern-mixing, the two pieces share a dominant color – in this case blue. 

This week continues to lack awesomeness, but at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  I’m going to Santa Fe, New Mexico to visit friends for four days beginning Saturday.  I’m very excited – I haven’t been before.

Anyone out there from Santa Fe?  Anyone visit Santa Fe before?  Is there anything I absolutely HAVE to do while I’m out there?

Thank you all so much for reading and I’m sorry for the blurry pictures - I've been more rushed than usual!

Gracey

Katie of Interrobangs Anonymous for Giants

This is not me:

Photo by Katie, Interrobangs Anonymous

This is the smart and stylish Katie from Interrobangs Anonymous.  Although Katie and I are of a similar build, I wanted to feature her on my Blogs for Giants series because of this outfit.  The mix of florals and stripes is my favorite sort of pattern mixing and I love how Katie's done it here.  Classic stripes, fun skirt, pure Katie.  To see more of the smart and stylish Katie, head on over to Interrobangs Anonymous - it's quite a good time over there.

I went with a slightly different color scheme in recreating Katie's outfit, but tried to keep it fun.  Per usual, all of the items selected are under $100 and will fit tall/plus sized ladies.  Let's get started, shall we?

The Skirt

Pansy Elastic-Waist Skirt - Dorothy Perkins - up to size 20:

I love the colors in this skirt and think the darker background, like that of Katie's skirt, makes it versatile.  And the length is good for riding a bike to work, if you do that sort of thing.


The Top

Twisted Neck Roll-Up Top - Old Navy - up to size XXL - also in Tall:

This top comes in purple and blue, either of which would go fabulously with the skirt.


The Belt

Tarnish "Skinny Braided Belt" - Nordstrom - up to size 2X:

Katie's belt is burgundy, I went with a dark pink that would provide the same feeling, but better pick up the pinks in the skirt I selected.


The Scarf

Green Market Flower Scarf - Top Shop:

I loved Katie's green scarf and I like that this is another floral to be added to the mix.  I know it's not for everyone, but if you're feeling brave, this could be fun.


The Shoes

Type Z "Brilliant" Flat in Pewter - Zappos - up to size 11.5:

Katie's flats are gold, but I went with a light, silvery pewter to reflect the cooler colors in the skirt I chose.  I still wanted to keep the shine, just a cooler shine.

Another fun version of stripes and florals in blogosphere this week is this outfit which  Ana at Better in Sepia put together for Brett at Silvergirl as part of Suze's (Miss Vinyl Ahoy) Paper Doll Project.

So, what do you all think?  Do you love stripes and florals as much as I do?  Is it something you'd wear?  Or do you have a different mix of patterns you prefer?

Happy Wednesday!

Gracey

Closet MVP – The Apricot Sweater

Yes, I know I’ve already worn this sweater this month, but I’ve decided I love it and wanted to wear it again.

I’ve also decided this sweater is highly versatile and will probably wear it again and again, so I hope you all like it too.  I first wore it here with polka dots and I’m wearing it today with stripes.  I paired the sweater (thrifted) and the navy/white striped tee (Gap) with my trouser jeans (Banana Republic) and Mary Jane wedges (Corso Como via Piperlime).   

This felt a bit 70s to me, so I decided to roll with that feeling and wear a floral scarf (thrifted) as a belt.  The scarf doesn’t have any apricot in it, but it has tan, pink and orange flowers that if you squint, combine to look like apricot.

My thighs hate these jeans.  I try to tell them it’s for the good of the whole, but I think they’re planning a coup.  They’re so militant at times. 

I’m surprised I was able to muster up a smile for these pictures.  Today was horrible.  I am covering for my friend and co-worker, Kathy, and trying to do her job (which I barely understand) and mine (better understood, but not by much) is killing me.  I have a whole week of this mess and I am not excited.

What I am excited about?  This outfit.  The transition time between seasons usually gives me fits.  I don’t have a lot of items that can go easily between season in weight or color, so I usually just wear dark clothes until April or May and then wear my spring/summer clothes.  But, I think this outfit is a good compromise.  I’m warm, but the sweater is nice and spring-like even though the weather is not so much.

What about you, dear readers?  Any tips for transitioning between seasons?  Are you tired of the sweater yet?  It won’t stop me from remixing it again, but I want you to feel like you can share your feelings.

Tuesday (no, no happy Tuesday, just Tuesday),

Gracey

Know what? I’m versatile and creative. True story.

Hello All!

Last week the fabulous Gretchen awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award.  And yesterday she awarded me the Kreativ Blogger Award.   As part of the awards, I have to share some things about myself (I think I’m up to 17 – we’ll see if I make it) and award them to 10 other bloggers.

Okay, first up.  Random Gracey-facts:

1.      I’m of mixed heritage – my father is black and my mother is white.

2.      I come from a large family – four brothers, two sisters, one step brother and one step sister.

3.      I have always lived on the West Coast; in Oregon, Washington or California except for a brief stint in Nashville.

4.      I ran track and cross country from kindergarten through college and I miss running a lot less than I thought I would.

5.      I can’t sew, but I do it anyways.

6.      I’m not very patient (which is one of the reasons I can’t sew).

7.      I love food, but I don’t like cooking.

8.      My parents were hippies, hence my awesome name.

9.      I hate being told what to do.

10.  I am somehow surprised to find myself in my mid-thirties and never married.

11.  I think that it’s weird that I’m surprised about being single.

12.  I watch and read sci-fi, but only because I’m scared of zombies, aliens, robots and the future and want to know what to watch out for.

13.  I love books that make me cry and then I never read them again because they made me cry.

14.  I don’t have a favorite color.

Sorry, all, I can’t think of anything more.  But, I’d say 14 items is plenty to know about me.  It’s pretty much everything anyway.

Now for ten versatile, creative (sorry, I can’t keep spelling it with a k) bloggers:

1.      Rose of Well Curated

2.      Emily at Bellishment

3.      Fabienne of The House in the Clouds

4.      Steffy of Steffy’s Pros and Cons

5.      Claire of Spinning Threads

6.      Linda of Little Tin Soldier

7.      Linley at Dwelling and Telling

8.      Katie at Interrobangs Anonymous

9.      Dotty at Dash Dot Dotty

10.  Marella at Me Myself and My Closet

All of these bloggers are absolutely wonderful and if they aren’t blogs you already read, check them out.

Thank you again, Gretchen!

Gracey

I Like Orange An Ocelot

Daily Outfit, 3/21/11

Something about this shirt invites puns like no other.  I resisted last time, but no more.

I’m sad this outfit didn’t photograph very well, because I really liked it in person.  Suffice it to say it didn’t look (at least I don’t think it did) as lumpy and dumpy in person as it does in the photographs.  And no, I didn't realize my waistline was uneven until it was too late.

I like pairing animal print with brights; for me it’s more fun than pairing it with black.  I know it’s not for everyone and neither is orange (in spite of my best efforts), but for me, orange and ocelot are just perfect together.  So, today, I paired my ocelot blouse (Matty M via Nordstrom) with my orange jersey skirt (Banana Republic), cream “footless” tights (v. old), studded belt (Michael Michael Kors via Nordstrom), angel wing earrings (Albert St. vendor) and riding boots (Born Crown via Nordstrom).

How do you pair your animal print?  Do you like it paired with brights?  With other prints?  Or do you go the more classic route?

Happy Monday, All!

Gracey

Tips for Layering Dresses

The other day, Erin playfully accused me of cheating to maintain a slim line while layering dresses.  I do sort of cheat in that I stand sideways; I’m slimmer from the side than the front.  However, one can’t just go through life sideways so I thought I’d offer some tips on how I keep my layers long and lean.

Layering can be hard – done wrong, it can add pounds to even the smallest frame (Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, I’m looking at you).  It can also make you look like a hobo; and I don’t care what Erin Wasson says, hobo chic should not be a thing.  Layering can also be binding and uncomfortable.

But, it can also look very chic and help keep you warm when you’re riding your bike to work in the middle of winter.  So, how do you navigate that fine line between chic and hobo chic?  That territory between slim and looking as if you layered over a snowsuit? 

I have four tips for how I control bulk when I layer dresses. The first is using thin layers.  The thinner the layers, the less bulk you’re going to add to your body.  Try to avoid anything full or blousy or heavy.  And if your thin layers are made of things like silk and wool, you’re going to be both slim and warm.  And if the layers are knits they are generally less bulky and more comfortable to layer than woven fabrics.

The second tip is keeping your lines long.  The longer the lines of your layering, the more the eye is going to read your outfit, and you, as one long, slim line.

The third tip is belting for definition.  Belting is especially helpful if your layers aren’t as thin as you like.  A belt can give you some definition and help control some of the bulk.

The fourth tip is judicious use of contrast.  You can easily layer black on black or red on red – a single color is often more flattering than blocks of color because once again, the eye sees you as one continuous line.  However, if you layer colors, you can use one color to focus the eye on the other, strategically placed color.

I used all four of the above tips in my first dress layering experiment:

The layers in this outfit are all very thin.  Tights, a thin cotton turtleneck, a thin jersey dress and a thin wool dress. Both of the dresses are similar lengths with similar lines – both are A-line, and cut close to the body.  A shorter black dress over the red would have chopped my body in half, making me look less lean. 

My studded belt was used in part to keep the open black dress in place, but also serves to define my waist.  I wouldn’t have had that definition if I had just left the black dress open and loose.  Finally, in pairing black and red together, I used the black to focus the eye on the red.  The black is negative space drawing the viewer’s eye to the strip of red down the front.  The strip of red is thin, therefore the viewer is fooled into thinking I am too.

I’ve found that while I don’t have to utilize all the tips all the time, I usually won’t ignore them all.  For example, in my second dress layering attempt, I ignored tip #1 in that my bottom layer is woven, blousy and sort of full:

Although the blue dress has a fuller cut, it is made of very lightweight polyester (I think it’s from the 80s).  Because it was so lightweight, the blue dress’ volume was easily controlled by the tighter-fitting, heavier outer layer.  So, I still kept my lines long and lean with the outer dress and even though it controlled a lot of the bulk of the blue dress I still used a belt to give my shape a little more definition.  And this time, the slim black is the focal point because there is no competing color on my torso.  It’s even more effective if I stand sideways.

I hope this was helpful.  Does anyone have any tips or tricks that I missed?  Is layering dresses something you do?  If not, do you think you might give it a shot now? 

I hope everyone has a wonderful week, and remember, when in doubt, you can always stand sideways.

Gracey

Weecap: March 19th and 20th

A weekend in which Gracey finally finds a dye pot (hooray!) while thrifting, goes to a rather raucous happy hour with friends, and has a slumber party with Jenny and Lori.

Saturday, March 19th

I don't know why, but I was determined to wear a maxi dress today:

Like many of my outfit ideas, I have to wait for the right circumstances to wear them.  Maxi skirts/dress are not great for riding bikes in, so I wanted to wait for the weekend.   When the weather Saturday got up to about 50 degrees and no rain, I thought it was the perfect opportunity.  And I actually rather liked how it turned out.  I wore my grey/white striped maxi (Gap) under my chambray tunic (Old Navy).  Maxi dresses always feel a little bohemian to me, so I went heavy on the bangles including wood to pick up the brown belt (Old Navy) and boots (Kenneth Cole Reaction), and blue snake to pick up the chambray tunic, the scarf (H&M) and the clutch (thrifted).  Over the top I wore my knit blazer (J. Crew Factory).

I wore this Saturday when I went thrifting for a dye pot (again) and to happy hour with Jenny, Lori and friends.  My search for a pot was successful this time around; I finally found one for $4 at St. Vincent De Paul.  I was pretty excited to find it and may have even chortled.  I didn't have time to dye anything this weekend but I did cull out some items to dye once I have time.  I'll be sure to get before and after shots for you guys.


Sunday, March 20th

For Sunday I wore my Flirt skinny jeans (Old Navy), grey tee (Target), jersey cardigan (Old Navy), thrifted belt, faux-lace up boots (Kenneth Cole Reaction) and infinity scarf (Steve Madden via Macy's).

On Sunday we slept in after indulging in wine and chocolate and Cheetos and movies and the new Lady Gaga video during the slumber party.  It was, of course, fabulous good fun.  After we finally woke up, we headed to the mall to meet another friend and do a little shopping.  I got the wedge sandals I wanted and resisted the siren's call of some very cute peep toe boots.  They were cute, but I can't help but think that if it's cold enough to wear boots, I'd want my toes to be covered.  I'll probably come to terms with this contradiction as soon as they go out of style.

I hope everyone had as fabulous a weekend as I did!

Gracey