Monthly Archives: February 2012

Stripes In All Directions

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Everywhere I look I see stripes, all sizes – all colors.  I found this skirt on Ebay and fell in love with it because it was stripes in all different directions.  It is a beautiful day in San Francisco, but the moment the sun went behind the building I needed a jacket. I wanted to show you this outfit with white stocking and a more casual everyday look, with leggings.  I hope you like it as much as I do…affinity


And I even found some shoes with a little white stripe

Jacket:  Torrid, size 4
Cami: Avenue, size 26-26
Skirt: on Torrid, size 4 (Ebay)
Shoes: Simply Be USA, size 10W
Necklace: JennyBird Alcantara


Our First Guest – Glynda Cotton

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Today we have our first guest, my good friend and sweet soul, Glynda Cotton. I love her outfit, Don’t you?  Thanks Glynda!!

My favorite outfits are a little retro and a little funky. The dress & sweater come from the clearance rack at Torrid & each were under $20. I am also wearing glitter fishnets and Fluevog’s round toed cowboy boot.  Depending on how my Crohn’s is  affecting my abdomen, I wear a 14W to an 18W. This outfit is a 16W…..Glynda

The Poncho is Back

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I have noticed the poncho everywhere lately.  In fashion blogs, on Project Runway and even on 24 Hour Catwalk.  I have been wanting to check out IGIGI since they are local to San Francisco, my home.  I wear a size 26 -28 and it is a perfect fit, the belt is on the last rung but another one could be punched if you needed it.  I have some other IGIGI purchases I love but I will leave those for another day…affinity

Poncho: IGIGI – Size 26-28
TurtleNeck: L.L. Bean Size 3X
Pants: Avenue – Size 28 petite

Wear Black – Be Brilliant

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I went to a fundraising event for The Bay Lights recently.  I was invited to attend not as a donor (our Mayor, Ed Lee, donated $5,000), but as an advocate of the arts. Watch this space for more from me about this amazing art installation. They asked us to wear black and be brilliant, so I wore a black skirt and top, with a rhinestone necklace and belt.  I have a matching rhinestone bracelet but it kept snagging on the skirt.

Necklace: Ron’s Rhinestones – Plus Sized Collection
Top: Ebay (5 years old), one of my favorites.  It has mesh on top when that mesh look was not nearly as popular
Skirt: Torrid – Black Sequin Splice Mini (December 2011) size 5X but it runs large and a 4X would have been sufficient
Rhinestone Belt: Affinity – Custom made on Ebay $20
Shoes: Lane Bryant Size 10W (December 2011)

BayLightsIMG1240-150x150Here is a small photo that they took of me at the event overlooking the Bay on a fabulous evening in San Francisco.

Sparkling Sequins and Brocades

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sydneys closetWe went to an event at The Crucible in Oakland California a few weeks ago. The Crucible is a non-profit educational facility that fosters a collaboration of Arts, Industry and Community. That is my husband wearing the vintage smoking jacket and cowboy boots. My dress is from Sydney’s Closet. I love them. They have alwyas given me great service and they have a pretty extensive line of in-stock prom and cocktail dress in sizes 38+, yes 38+.  I usually order a 30 (I am a 26 -28) but I have it taken in the arms and sometimes shortened.  The dresses are not really designed for women my age and apple shaped.  But do be careful, I usually stick to the Sydney’s Closet Signature Collection because I can depend on the sizing.

I have NEVER gotten so many compliments on what I was wearing, even the cast stopped to say how much they liked it.

Dress: Sydneys Closet – Size 30, shortened to above the knee

affinity

The Elephant in the Room

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I first posted this in my blog in 2008 and thought y’all might like to know my point of view!

I think one of the “elephants in the room” in my life is my weight and my health.
I think people want to know more but are afraid to ask. I am glad they feel that way because the conversation, if raised, rarely goes well.

So here is what I think you might actually want to know:
AS A BABY I was premature and weighed 3 1/2 pounds, I was very sick and frail as a child, epilepsy, asthma, pneumonia, etc. Both my parents smoked heavily and in fact died from cigarettes.
MY WEIGHT At around 12 I developed a HUGE appetite and became overweight, from skinny to overweight in 2 years. From age 13 until about 35 I dieted, binged, fasted, took courses and therapy in listening to my hunger, anything I could think of, I continued to put on weight. Then I decided I was going to be happy however I was, and I still put on weight. According to my doctor’s records, in 1990, 18 years ago, I weighed 284 pounds, this is the most I have ever weighed. Today I weigh 272 pounds.
EXERCISE I have exercised off and on all my life, I used to swim as a kid (Palm Springs, everybody swims). Stopped exercising in my early 20s. Then in 1984 or so after law school I became enamored with aerobics, even trained to teach aerobics for large women in about 1990 or so…I exercised 2 – 4 times a week, it varied…Posed for a leotard ad for large women, went to an aerobics conference with my teacher, was on tv 4 or 5 times dancing with my teacher and a couple of other people. Was always the “fit” big girl and proud of it. In 2001, my knees started giving me problems and then a couple of years later my hips started to hurt after walking more than 2 or 3 blocks, I have less stamina. I have exercised less since 2001. I still go to the gym most Saturdays, 30 minutes on the bike and workout with the fat girls. I know if I did more it would help, but I seem to be unwilling to make it happen in my life.
MY HEALTH Until a few years ago I was VERY healthy. Great heart, no problems except mobility and then about 18 months ago I had some symptoms that looked like diabetes. I was not surprised because of my weight, age and body type (barrel shape) I am a good candidate for diabetes and other problems. After some tests, I have struggled the last 18 months with pre-diabetes. I have lost about 10 pounds, eat far fewer carbs and more protein and vegetables. I still have a sweet tooth and desserts are my favorite, but I try to be conscious of what I eat. Today the doctor called and I have pushed back my pre-diabetes for the time being. All my tests are normal. I am pleased and he is pleased.
MY LIFE So, yes, I know I am fat, I have lost and gained lots of weight in my life, I am no longer doing that. I try to be friendly with food so it is not a struggle all the time, but it is my biggest foible. I do not know how to lose and keep off weight. The success rate is about 3% after 5 years. So, if you are concerned about my weight or my health, know that I too am concerned and doing all that I can to be healthy, but I will continue to be a human being that is good at some things and bad at others.

April 10, 2008 – 8:34 PM