Monday, March 14, 2016
Thursday, March 3, 2016
My Green Scarf
In the middle of my house, I live with a rack full of clothing samples that I love showing to my clients. The temptation for me to shop is a daily battle. I keep telling myself I have enough clothes and that this rack is for my clients and that I should look in my own closet before looking at the rack and that I shouldn't spend my earnings and that...and that...and that...it is just too much fun being a cabi girl!
So, I took my own advice and looked in my closet today. I found my Green Scarf and it made me want to play with the rack again! Being the self-disciplined person I am, I stayed in my closet and pulled out the first Spring 2016 item I ordered, the casual army green Explorer Vest, and suddenly my Green Scarf had a playmate! Then the rack called out again, "Come play! Come play!" See how well my Green Scarf and Explorer Vest get along with the next items I am ordering for myself: the Long Sleeve Double-Vee Tee and the Ditsy Skinny Jeans?
I blame my scarf for my purchase. I should be upset with its influence on me, but I can't help but love it! I don't even remember where I found my Green Scarf. I do recall falling in love with the soft shades and the subtle, natural pattern in the lightweight, gauzy rayon fabric. I still love those features! Likely, this scarf came from TJ Maxx or a clearance rack somewhere because there was a day that I shopped ONLY discounted bargains, and this was certainly purchased during that time. This scarf is one of those true bargains worth keeping, even if it leads me to buy more clothes!
Speaking of soft fabric, the Double-Vee Tee, whether the long sleeve in heather white or the short sleeve in heather navy, has THE most supple Rayon and Spandex blend fabric. It has that "sproing" I so love in a casual shirt because it softly hugs me and swings with my every move. I will own both versions before the season ends; I just know it, and I can't blame my Green Scarf!
I'm excited to own the Explorer Vest! It looks like it's made of stiff military-issue canvas, but it has a lot of stretch to it and it wears very comfortably. The shiny gold snaps and zippers give it such class, too.
Look at the reflection in the snap on the shoulder....that's ME with my camera! :)
Can you figure out why these jeans are called DITSY?
Perhaps it's the tiny pattern that blends into a neutral from a distance but leads your eyes in all directions up close?
Whatever the reason for the name, I think these jeans are just wonderful! There are lots of colors in this pattern: three shades of green, three shades of blue, orange, and pink all blend together to make a neutral pant you can wear with a wide variety of tops and jackets. My Green Scarf loves them too!
My Green Scarf has pulled together an outfit I am going to thoroughly enjoy wearing this spring. I sure am glad I looked in my closet today!
So, I took my own advice and looked in my closet today. I found my Green Scarf and it made me want to play with the rack again! Being the self-disciplined person I am, I stayed in my closet and pulled out the first Spring 2016 item I ordered, the casual army green Explorer Vest, and suddenly my Green Scarf had a playmate! Then the rack called out again, "Come play! Come play!" See how well my Green Scarf and Explorer Vest get along with the next items I am ordering for myself: the Long Sleeve Double-Vee Tee and the Ditsy Skinny Jeans?
Speaking of soft fabric, the Double-Vee Tee, whether the long sleeve in heather white or the short sleeve in heather navy, has THE most supple Rayon and Spandex blend fabric. It has that "sproing" I so love in a casual shirt because it softly hugs me and swings with my every move. I will own both versions before the season ends; I just know it, and I can't blame my Green Scarf!
I'm excited to own the Explorer Vest! It looks like it's made of stiff military-issue canvas, but it has a lot of stretch to it and it wears very comfortably. The shiny gold snaps and zippers give it such class, too.
Look at the reflection in the snap on the shoulder....that's ME with my camera! :)
Can you figure out why these jeans are called DITSY?
Perhaps it's the tiny pattern that blends into a neutral from a distance but leads your eyes in all directions up close?
My Green Scarf has pulled together an outfit I am going to thoroughly enjoy wearing this spring. I sure am glad I looked in my closet today!
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Access to Accessories!
You've found a favorite outfit to wear, but it's missing just a little something to add pizzazz to grab interest or to express the mood you're in today. Which accessories will you wear? What if nothing strikes you? Well, the easy answer is to GO SHOPPING, but that isn't always the best answer. I say, "DIG!" Yes, dig in that closet or dresser you haven't audited - in how many years? Look for those forgotten scarves, hats, belts, shoes, and jewelry that got tucked away and bring them out to see the light of day! Okay, okay...I know it's a lot of work to dig, but you have beautiful accessories hiding in your stash!
Earlier I suggested ways to de-clutter your closet so you can find your treasures, and I stressed the importance of making firm and final decisions about those pieces that don't get enough love, even if you still love them. I must make a confession. I have kept things I have never used for more than a year. Okay...for more than five years. ALRIGHT THEN! For more than TEN years!!! I admit it. I'm guilty. Sometimes I like to own things and not necessarily use them. Whew. That feels better now.
I am my grandmother's granddaughter after all. She was notorious for buying beautiful things not because she needed them, but because they pleased her. She had towers of shoe boxes containing brand-new, unused shoes stacked in her closet. Some were so old the soles had curled with their smooth and untarnished bottoms reaching over the tops toward the heels that were too high for her to wear in the first place. She also loved purses, but not nearly to the extent she loved shoes. She gave me one of her purses at least ten years ago - probably more like twenty years ago - when she moved into an assisted living facility. It is a straw purse with pastel green, pink, and yellow accents and a cute little wooden turtle and seahorse hanging from the zipper. I've never used it, yet it has moved with us to at least two different states. Somehow, it has survived the inevitable culling that comes whenever a move is made maybe because it is so pretty, or maybe because it was my grandmother's.
As I browse the style trends for Spring 2016, I see that natural fiber purses and wide-brimmed hats are the accent of choice, along with big, cat-eye sunglasses and strappy sandals. Green, yellow, and orange are also the trending colors brightening the season. What a better time than now to dig through the basement closet to find my grandmother's straw purse and use it for the first time!
The purse is a perfect complement to my Resort Jacket and Flora Scarf from cabi. Plus, it coordinates well with the textured hat I found in San Diego in January. Though my big sunglasses aren't cat-eyed, they will do for this season! Best part? The green accents in the purse match my new "ugly shoes"!
I'm ready for spring, are you?
Earlier I suggested ways to de-clutter your closet so you can find your treasures, and I stressed the importance of making firm and final decisions about those pieces that don't get enough love, even if you still love them. I must make a confession. I have kept things I have never used for more than a year. Okay...for more than five years. ALRIGHT THEN! For more than TEN years!!! I admit it. I'm guilty. Sometimes I like to own things and not necessarily use them. Whew. That feels better now.
I am my grandmother's granddaughter after all. She was notorious for buying beautiful things not because she needed them, but because they pleased her. She had towers of shoe boxes containing brand-new, unused shoes stacked in her closet. Some were so old the soles had curled with their smooth and untarnished bottoms reaching over the tops toward the heels that were too high for her to wear in the first place. She also loved purses, but not nearly to the extent she loved shoes. She gave me one of her purses at least ten years ago - probably more like twenty years ago - when she moved into an assisted living facility. It is a straw purse with pastel green, pink, and yellow accents and a cute little wooden turtle and seahorse hanging from the zipper. I've never used it, yet it has moved with us to at least two different states. Somehow, it has survived the inevitable culling that comes whenever a move is made maybe because it is so pretty, or maybe because it was my grandmother's.
As I browse the style trends for Spring 2016, I see that natural fiber purses and wide-brimmed hats are the accent of choice, along with big, cat-eye sunglasses and strappy sandals. Green, yellow, and orange are also the trending colors brightening the season. What a better time than now to dig through the basement closet to find my grandmother's straw purse and use it for the first time!
I'm ready for spring, are you?
Monday, February 29, 2016
Ugly Shoes and an Open Mind
Do you have an open mind that is willing to explore, experiment, and shake things up a bit? Shopping without a practical purpose sets me up for that every time I go out. That's what is dangerous about shopping just to shop! Recently, I went out for an adventure seeking retail therapy and decided to have fun in the Discount Room at Schuler Shoes in Maple Grove, MN. The only thing I needed on this shopping trip was some fun. I did not need shoes! But you know how that goes, right?
Well, I stepped into Schuler Shoes and strolled past the new styles directly to the Discount Room where everything is marked down, and in some cases, marked waaaaay down. I like those kinds of shoes best, don't you? Have you ever been in Schuler's Discount Room? It's a special place that is separate from the main room where you can find the current styles at the current prices. The Discount Room is like the Island of Misfit Toys where last season's styles and those odd shoe rejects are discounted again and again until someone like me comes along to adopt them. The Discount Room's shelves were covered in shoes of all kinds from boots to flats and heels to slippers. Some were conservative and others - well - not quite what I would wear. I can't remember the last time I could wear a spiked heel, let alone one that exceeds 4 inches. What fun, though! I was in a candy store of footwear!
Since I didn't NEED shoes, I played with them - after taking a serious look first to see if there were any shoes that I discovered I had needed after all. Seeing none, my playtime began. I only played one game: Find the Ugliest Shoe in the Room. There was a spiked heel studded with sparkling gaudiness, but since the heel would put me in a precarious position where I could actually break my ankle, I left it on the shelf for an adventurous young woman to discover. The fringed flat sandals resembled an overly-frilly pair of moccasins, so I tried them on - funny! I felt the fringes tickling my feet as I strutted to the mirror for a closer look. No way. Again, appropriate for a much younger foot. Then the perforated, dusty-tomato-red flats caught my eye. They were seamed on the outside, so there was a ridge that followed the circumference of the shoe, and the perforations actually made an interesting folksy design that brought the ugly color to a level of interest that caught my fancy. I tried them on. The heel was a bit loose, but not too much so. I generally do not like flats because they square off my appearance more than my preferred one to two inch heels do.
I wore the tomato shoes to decide if I actually liked them, and then something that resembled my grandmother's orthopedic shoes jumped out at me. Oh boy, were they UGLY! And there were THREE pairs! The one that looked most like Grandma's shoes were beige, another pair was peacock blue and the third pair was mint green. They were a wedge sandal with leather supports that had pinhole perforations - just like Grandma's. They laced up the center with wide cotton laces - just like Grandma's. HIDEOUS! The mint green shoes had obviously been there the longest as they were marked down the most. The original price was $178.00. The beige and blue shoes were marked down to $89.00, but those poor mint green ones - the ones that had languished on the shelf the longest, were marked down to $44.50! I just HAD to try them on, poor things! Then magic happened. Much like Rudolph with his shining nose became a valued member of Santa's team of reindeer, those mint green orthopedic-like sandals became beautiful, foot-slimming, statement shoes! They embraced my feet like they were hugging their long-lost mother. I couldn't leave them in the Discount Room! Yes, they came home with me. And guess what! They go with a lot of things!
This season's cabi collection is all about showing the shoe. Cropped and ankle pants are the thing! These mint green sandals are a nice complement to the bright colors in the tops as well.
The green "olives" in the Martini Top pop as they catch the green color of the sandals below the white Destructed Slim Boyfriend jeans.
The Cliffside Jacket has hints of green and pink in its pattern and coordinates well with the green sandals. With the Go-To Trouser as another crop that really shows these shoes off, the white Asymmetrical Tank plus the sandals give this otherwise conservative look a noticeable edge of style. Add some funky jewelry, and away you go!
There are many more outfits these shoes coordinate with. Who would have thought green could be neutral? Granted, they don't go with EVERYTHING, but they go with more than I expected - and they are FUN! I cannot imagine why these shoes lingered in Schuler's Discount Room long enough to be marked down by 75%, but I'm glad they waited for ME! It pays to play - even if I adopt shoes I didn't need before I went out to shop. I need them now, and I'm so happy to have them. I bet my grandmother would like them, too!
Well, I stepped into Schuler Shoes and strolled past the new styles directly to the Discount Room where everything is marked down, and in some cases, marked waaaaay down. I like those kinds of shoes best, don't you? Have you ever been in Schuler's Discount Room? It's a special place that is separate from the main room where you can find the current styles at the current prices. The Discount Room is like the Island of Misfit Toys where last season's styles and those odd shoe rejects are discounted again and again until someone like me comes along to adopt them. The Discount Room's shelves were covered in shoes of all kinds from boots to flats and heels to slippers. Some were conservative and others - well - not quite what I would wear. I can't remember the last time I could wear a spiked heel, let alone one that exceeds 4 inches. What fun, though! I was in a candy store of footwear!
Since I didn't NEED shoes, I played with them - after taking a serious look first to see if there were any shoes that I discovered I had needed after all. Seeing none, my playtime began. I only played one game: Find the Ugliest Shoe in the Room. There was a spiked heel studded with sparkling gaudiness, but since the heel would put me in a precarious position where I could actually break my ankle, I left it on the shelf for an adventurous young woman to discover. The fringed flat sandals resembled an overly-frilly pair of moccasins, so I tried them on - funny! I felt the fringes tickling my feet as I strutted to the mirror for a closer look. No way. Again, appropriate for a much younger foot. Then the perforated, dusty-tomato-red flats caught my eye. They were seamed on the outside, so there was a ridge that followed the circumference of the shoe, and the perforations actually made an interesting folksy design that brought the ugly color to a level of interest that caught my fancy. I tried them on. The heel was a bit loose, but not too much so. I generally do not like flats because they square off my appearance more than my preferred one to two inch heels do.
I wore the tomato shoes to decide if I actually liked them, and then something that resembled my grandmother's orthopedic shoes jumped out at me. Oh boy, were they UGLY! And there were THREE pairs! The one that looked most like Grandma's shoes were beige, another pair was peacock blue and the third pair was mint green. They were a wedge sandal with leather supports that had pinhole perforations - just like Grandma's. They laced up the center with wide cotton laces - just like Grandma's. HIDEOUS! The mint green shoes had obviously been there the longest as they were marked down the most. The original price was $178.00. The beige and blue shoes were marked down to $89.00, but those poor mint green ones - the ones that had languished on the shelf the longest, were marked down to $44.50! I just HAD to try them on, poor things! Then magic happened. Much like Rudolph with his shining nose became a valued member of Santa's team of reindeer, those mint green orthopedic-like sandals became beautiful, foot-slimming, statement shoes! They embraced my feet like they were hugging their long-lost mother. I couldn't leave them in the Discount Room! Yes, they came home with me. And guess what! They go with a lot of things!
This season's cabi collection is all about showing the shoe. Cropped and ankle pants are the thing! These mint green sandals are a nice complement to the bright colors in the tops as well.
The green "olives" in the Martini Top pop as they catch the green color of the sandals below the white Destructed Slim Boyfriend jeans.
The Cliffside Jacket has hints of green and pink in its pattern and coordinates well with the green sandals. With the Go-To Trouser as another crop that really shows these shoes off, the white Asymmetrical Tank plus the sandals give this otherwise conservative look a noticeable edge of style. Add some funky jewelry, and away you go!
There are many more outfits these shoes coordinate with. Who would have thought green could be neutral? Granted, they don't go with EVERYTHING, but they go with more than I expected - and they are FUN! I cannot imagine why these shoes lingered in Schuler's Discount Room long enough to be marked down by 75%, but I'm glad they waited for ME! It pays to play - even if I adopt shoes I didn't need before I went out to shop. I need them now, and I'm so happy to have them. I bet my grandmother would like them, too!
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Need an excuse to go shopping? Then clean your closet!
Have you audited your closet lately? If you're anything like me, you probably look at your closet and think auditing it is something to do another day. It is a big job, but one that is worthwhile because you will cull out the chaff that prevents you from seeing the fantastic outfits you already have, and it prevents you from seeing the gaps in your collection that scream, "YOU GET TO GO SHOPPING!" Plus, the castoffs that still have some life in them get to go to either a consignment shop that will give you a percentage of the sale of your items, or they can be donated to a shelter or other charity organization that will make sure another woman will enjoy the pieces you no longer need. Are you ready to make sense out of your closet? Let's get started.
First, set aside an afternoon when you can work uninterrupted as this project could take a few hours. You'll need:
1. a supply of thin, felt-covered hangers that take up less space than those heavy plastic ones (Costco has nice hangers for a very low price - something like $15 for 35 hangers)
2. a space to place items that will go to a consignment shop (another room - out of sight, out of mind)
3. a large bag for items going to charity
4. a bag for items going to the trash
5. optional but very helpful for sorting: a rolling rack to hang items you will keep
6. a determined mindset that is willing to make firm and final decisions
Step 1:
Empty your closet! Put everything on your bed. Now you are obligated to finishing this project because you won't be able to sleep until your bed is uncovered! Plus, you'll discover some hidden treasures you probably forgot were pushed way in the back behind that chaff you need to get rid of. Don't be afraid. Do it!
Step 2:
The sorting process begins! How do you decide what is chaff and what is gold? After all, that chaff was once gold, right? Plus, sometimes chaff is just tarnished gold...should it stay or should it go? Well, here are the steps to follow to make those decisions. Just make sure that your decisions are firm. Don't waffle! There are many more pieces of gold you can shop for after all, right?
1. Is the item worn out, misshapen, faded or pilled? If yes, then OUT IT GOES! Put it firmly into the TRASH bag....NOW!
2. Does the item fit? If not, place it in either the consignment area or charity bag keeping in mind that consignment shops generally only take items that are on hangers and are current in fashion and still in good, wearable condition. Charities aren't as picky, but don't give them stuff that should be tossed - please.
3. If the item fits, is it still in fashion? If no, send it to charity or toss it in the trash.
4. If the item fits and it is still in fashion, do you LOVE it? Have you worn it within the past year, or has it only been closet decoration? I have this one white tank that has a cute silver doodad that gathers the fabric in just the right place. I LOVE that shirt, and it fits! When have I last worn it? Ummmm....I do not remember. I haven't parted with it because I want to wear it! Thing is, it's time to part with that piece of closet decoration because I'm not giving it the love it deserves. Sad. I know. :'( But decisions need to be firm and final.
5. Does the item flatter your figure? Do you look GREAT in it? If yes, then KEEP!
Step 3:
Organize your closet! Everyone has their own idea of how to best organize their closet according to how they "shop" for their daily outfits.
I'll share how I've organized mine. Due to how my closet is configured, I have it divided in two with subdivisions within each. The left half of my closet is for warm weather items such as tanks, tee shirts and light or short-sleeved blouses. Within this division, everything is sorted by occasion (my house cleaning tee shirts don't get to mingle with my dressy blouses) and then by style. Some people go so far as to sort by color too, but when it comes time to doing laundry, I take a short-cut and just hang like items with like items. I can see what color they are! From left to right, I hang my camis, then tanks, sleeveless dressy tops, short-sleeved blouses, dressy tees and then waaaay over to the right, I hang those worn out tee shirts that are only good enough to bathe my dogs in. My cold weather items are hung on the right side of the closet (oh, did I mention my husband has to use a closet in another bedroom?? ;) ) On that side, I sort from left to right in this order: jackets, sweaters (it's better to fold sweaters, but I don't have shelf space!), turtle/cowl necks, long sleeved shirts, dress blouses, skirts, pants, and then dresses.
You get the idea. Think of how clothes are displayed in a boutique! Who says you can't have your own boutique in your own closet to shop from each day? Make your closet attractive, so you can have FUN making outfits for yourself!
Step 4:
Shop from your own closet! Your closet is like a painter's pallet. Be creative! Be daring! Put together the wildest combinations to dare yourself and stretch your imagination! You'll be surprised by what is already there. Really, we are limited more by our mindset than by what is in our closets. Timing is important with this exercise. It can't be done when you are in a rush to get out the door for work. Who has time to be creative when you are running late? If you play in your closet the night before, I can assure that you will have a fun outfit the next day if you lay it out the night before. Playing with your pallet of clothes is not only fun, but necessary. How else are you going to discover the gaps in your collection? If you shop like most of us, you pick up a piece or two here and there and hang it in the closet. Soon, you have a collection that quite likely is overlooking SOMETHING. Perhaps you gravitate toward one color and never consider pieces of another color. Perhaps that brightly colored floral scarf you ignored at the store would really enhance that light blue sweater you never wear because it just looks "blah". Play. Discover. Find an excuse to go SHOPPING!
Monday, February 15, 2016
Signs of early spring?
The weather forecast predicts temperatures to reach a high of 42 degrees on Thursday reaching up to 48 degrees by Saturday! Considering we just survived -7 degrees a few days ago, it seems miraculous that we will enjoy a 55 degree warm-up that will surely melt all the snow that was dumped on us only two weeks ago. Can spring be on its way so soon?
Our shoe choice will lean toward galoshes and rain boots as the weather changes from frozen to sloppy to finally - SANDAL SEASON! We are dreaming of this spring's must-haves even in the weeks that drag before spring is officially here. In Minnesota, spring may remain winter until summer finally arrives, but that won't slow down a Minnesotan woman, especially when she wants to wear her new cabi Traveler Pant, Go-To Trousers or Mesh M'Leggings!
Those espadrilles and strappy sandals? Yeah. They are ready and waiting next to the ankle booties that will transition them from the dark depths of winter to the bright breaks of hopeful sunshine - whenever spring decides to show itself - even if for only one weekend before winter swallows us again.
If your closet isn't ready yet, here are some ideas to tend to ASAP: https://tamimerry.cabionline.com/must-have-women-clothes/
Need those galoshes or rain boots? Get some with STYLE! http://shop.nordstrom.com/sr/galoshes
Our shoe choice will lean toward galoshes and rain boots as the weather changes from frozen to sloppy to finally - SANDAL SEASON! We are dreaming of this spring's must-haves even in the weeks that drag before spring is officially here. In Minnesota, spring may remain winter until summer finally arrives, but that won't slow down a Minnesotan woman, especially when she wants to wear her new cabi Traveler Pant, Go-To Trousers or Mesh M'Leggings!
Those espadrilles and strappy sandals? Yeah. They are ready and waiting next to the ankle booties that will transition them from the dark depths of winter to the bright breaks of hopeful sunshine - whenever spring decides to show itself - even if for only one weekend before winter swallows us again.
If your closet isn't ready yet, here are some ideas to tend to ASAP: https://tamimerry.cabionline.com/must-have-women-clothes/
Need those galoshes or rain boots? Get some with STYLE! http://shop.nordstrom.com/sr/galoshes
Friday, February 12, 2016
Villa Necklace - cabi Spring 2016 Collection
This season's most versatile jewelry piece is cabi's Villa Necklace. This dramatic accessory can be worn in three lengths: a classic 10" length that encircles the neck in glittering strands of silver; a graceful 13" length that drapes the strands to a flattering rest at the breastbone, and the dramatic 20" length that drapes the multi-patterned chain to the top of the mid-section.
When taken apart, the Villa Necklace becomes five separate pieces that can be mixed and matched to become various necklaces that can be paired with sections that become two bracelets that glitter like diamond faceted chains. This one piece that is so adaptable to any outfit will add solid class to your wardrobe. It is one to fall in love with!
When taken apart, the Villa Necklace becomes five separate pieces that can be mixed and matched to become various necklaces that can be paired with sections that become two bracelets that glitter like diamond faceted chains. This one piece that is so adaptable to any outfit will add solid class to your wardrobe. It is one to fall in love with!
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