LINK LOVE

After A While

Author: Veronica A. Shoffstall

After a while you learn the subtle difference

Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,

And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning 

And company doesn’t mean security,

And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts

And presents aren’t promises.

And you begin to accept your defeats

With your head up and your eyes open

With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child.

And you learn to build all your roads on today,

Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans,

And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn

That even sunshine burns if you get too much.

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,

Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure,

That you really are strong,

And you really do have worth.

And you learn and learn,

With every goodbye you learn.

Now ...for a bit of fashion link love (which is the reason for this blog but always happy to throw in some life thoughts too):

http://fortyplusstyle.myprivatestylist.com/blog/dynamic-diagonals/?utm_content=buffer4aaeb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer  

Love this blogger's use of color in her wardrobe:

http://www.akeytothearmoire.com/tagged/Pink 

What are your favorite blogs?  I love blogs and learn so much from the 10 or 15 (cough cough....a few more than that perhaps) on my list of daily reads

CLOSET CLEANOUT PART 1

Why is it so difficult to clean out my closet and purge items I no longer wear, are no longer in style, not flattering and/or no longer fit?  Is there a sentimental attachment to some of the clothes?  After college I desperately wanted a DVF wrap dress but on a social worker's salary that dream was not going to happen.  So guess what?  I bought the pattern, purchased her fabric and made two wrap dresses.  I loved them, the man I was seeing (my current husband of 30 plus years...I say current to tease him a bit,  a private joke between the the 2 of us).   LOVED those dresses too.  He  often left notes on my desk with sweet compliments.  Another dress with wonderful memories is a long red dress I wore to an office Christmas party. That red dress made me feel wonderful.  OK, that is a grand total of 3 ..why do I have all the other junk hanging in there?  No attachment to an awful velvet dress I purchased at the  last minute for a New Years Eve party after discovering what I had planned to wear was not going to work.  No special memories of the many items I purchased due to the great price but also knowing as I  pulled out my credit card that they were not the smartest purchases.  I think I often heard my mother in the background whispering in my ear "save it, someday you will need that  __ __ __ (fill in the blank; coat, sweater, skirt...etc etc)."

When one's closet is overflowing, you often cannot see the jewels that are in there.  I think writing this post has helped me understand that part of my reluctance to purge clothes is because I am then forced to face up to some unpleasant truths:  1.  The money I wasted on clothes that were never flattering and barely worn  2.  Some items just don't fit anymore and I don't see me wearing them in the foreseeable future.  3.  What if I "need" those clothes  tomorrow or next week/month/year and they are ..GONE...  4. Can I trust myself to make better decisions in future purchases?

Do you also have a closet  full of items that need to BE GONE???  If you have also wrestled with this dilemma and found a way to deal with 'Clothing Overload' please share with us your success stories in the comments section below.  Next week I will share with you  in a Closet Cleanout Part 2 post some of the strategies that I have used ; both the hits and misses.

FRIDAY FANCIES

Who doesn't love to have a nice coffee table book to browse through?  Some fun recommendations below.  I am especially drawn to  #8, #20 and #24.  Have been in a huge redecorating frame of mind past few weeks:
http://www.elementsofstyleblog.com/2014/05/24-great-coffee-table-books.html

 

I need another scarf like I need a _ _ _ _ _ (please fill in the blank and BE CREATIVE) so of course have put this on my Anthropologie wish list.  If it gets a 75% price cut it WILL be mine:

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/31108343.jsp#/

 

 

As I confessed earlier in this post I am busy choosing paint colors, searching for a new coffee table, etc etc...love Home and Garden Television Magazine for design ideas:
https://subscribe.hearstmags.com/circulation/hgtvmagazine/images/hgt_cvr-reg.jpg

Speaking of home design/redecorating I have several new blogs (new to me) that I am enjoying:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/

http://theinspiredroom.net/

http://honeyandfitz.com/


Hope you all have some fun weekend plans on this beautiful holiday weekend.  We are enjoying the fabulous weather (FINALLY...I barely leave the deck as I am afraid the sun will disappear) and also treating ourselves to a quick day trip to Chicago to listen to some New Orleans Jazz while sipping wine...feeling very fortunate for all the wonderful people and experiences in my life.

LINK LOVE

I know I need encouragement in this area of life, how about you?
http://gluttonforlife.com/2014/05/13/work_in_progress

Shop less????  She makes a strong case for this...but...its my hobby.......would I have to substitute something ......like......exercise???????????  Not sure I am willing to go in that drastic new direction:
http://40plusstyle.com/how-to-shop-less-and-get-a-better-wardrobe-a-style-interview-with-debbie/

I am sure none of us are guilty of a single one of the fashion crimes on this list are we?
http://www.50shadesofage.com/2014/01/15/biggest-fashion-faux-pas/
I just could not resist this pic to share with you....the black eye makeup, the frizzy hair, the ruffled sleeves...too funny:

So now that we have covered what not to do, lets look at what we all should be doing in our wardrobe selections:
http://www.thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/master-art-dressing/

“A woman’s dress should be like a barbed-wire fence: serving its purpose without obstructing the view.” 

Sophia Loren

NEW MAKEUP FAVES

Hello-I have spent a fair amount of time recently (OK, ALOT of time) sampling makeup and have some fun new recommendations for all of you:

As much as I HATE to admit this,  my eyebrows are fading away due to grey hairs.. and the Anastasia's  brow gel I have been using is just not lasting all day so have  now added the Anastasia Brow Wiz into my morning makeup routine:

Are you like me and like the easy application a gel eyeliner pencil offers?  That said I don't want a harsh line,  I want to be able to soften it, particularly under my eyes.  Say hello to a fabulous option, Trish McEvoy's gel liner...and it comes with a smudge brush...PERFECT:

 

I have 2 concealer options for you, still trying to decide which one is the best.  

Laura Mercier High Coverage Concealer. You will need to warm this up a bit in your fingers before applying as it is a bit heavy in consistency but coverage is amazing:

Chanel Correcteur Perfection (very creamy, great color options and good coverage)

Love "They're Real" by Benefit Mascara:

What are your favorite makeup products?  If you have any suggestions for a daily moisturizer, please share in the comments section, as I am on safari for this...hopefully one that erases wrinkles, plumps the skin, takes at least 25 years off my skin's appearance and is reasonable in price...hahahaha....I know...dream on Miss Fancy Nancy......

FRIDAY FANCIES

Did you think I had given up the blog business??  Absolutely not!  Life has been busy with a little bit of fun travel (than you Anna, Brian and Molly), end of school year rush, etc etc.  Anyway, the blog posts will now begin again.

My fave summer nail polish last year was Tart Deco by Essie.  However I discovered a new favorite yesterday as I rushed to a badly needed manicure.  Isn't this the PERFECT pink/coral color?  Its also from Essie and named "Love Every Minute":

Have you made your list of beach reads for this summer?  If so, please share as I am always in the market for book recommendations.  Our bookclub pick for May looks very interesting:

I have to say I am a bit surprised that maxi dresses continue to go strong this spring/summer.  I honestly expected them to be gone by the summer of 2014 but they are EVERYWHERE:

 

Will you be wearing a cute hat this summer?  I have purchased mine (not the one below, but LOVE this one) and this may the weekend to break it out:

Have a wonderful weekend and I promise to be back on Monday, refreshed and ready to blog away.......