Sunday, November 21, 2010

Crazy Saturday - Weekend Wear (and a Book Blurb)

Saturday was a nutty day! I had to get to my WW meeting early to 'shadow' my mentor, then meet up with Elaine for lunch and an afternoon of thrift shopping. Then I had Winesday!

Unfortunately, the bus came early and I was late to WW (nice way to start, Sheila!), then my meeting/mentoring went way longer than anticipated and I was 45 minutes late for lunch with Elaine (ack! I bought her lunch), then of course, our shopping took longer...and I still had to get home to prepare for Winesday, and my mp3 player's headphones broke! You'd think it was a full moon or something! Fortunately, everyone (including my husband, who I ranted at for several minutes) was very understanding and nice about it. I hate being late for anything!

Anyway, after Saturday, I spent today watching football. Ah...

Clothing considerations: the forecast called for snow (yikes!), I had to weigh in, and shopping conditions (see my post here for how I put together a shopping outfit).

And here's what I ended up with: My recently-purchased sweater dress (layered with thick tights and a cami underneath for added warmth), first seen here. My belt is easy to take off, as are the boots (no zip, they pull on and off).

I can't stand dealing with a huge bulky coat when I shop, so I wore accessories that I could fold up small and tuck in my purse when shopping:
My new short coat did the trick, as did my fuzzy beret, black thin pashmina scarf and insulated velvet gloves.

Dress (Eric Alexandre), belt (Shi Studio), coat (Mario Serrani), boot (Miz Mooz).

I finished my last Book Club book this weekend: "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls.Stats: Paperback, 288 pages. Started November 7th, finished November 17th. Karen's pick for Book Club.

Blurb: I enjoy autobiographies, and this is easily one of the best I've read. Jeannette Walls is able to write about her "free spirit" parents' behaviour and choices (like moving a family of 5 to a shack in the desert, or deciding to become homeless in New York City) in a way that is matter-of-fact and many times heartbreakingly sad, but avoids blaming her parents for their decisions. It's hard not to condemn her parents for her childhood, but her own attitude of "this is how it was" avoids placing blame - the reader is able to see where the parents were coming from and understand them, even if you don't agree with their lives.

This was an easy read. Anecdotes are told in short bites, usually no more than 3-4 pages (making this a great reading-in-bed book), but are succinct and poignant. I strongly recommend this. Great book. I plan on reading Walls' other book "Half Broke Horses," about her grandmother's life.

14 comments:

  1. Your outfit Saturday is very close to my outfit tomorrow, complete with the pretty blue coat! Did it end up snowing yesterday? I'm not sure if I'm ready for that just yet.

    Those crazy days are the worst, but at least you got to relax today!

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  2. Lovely sweater dress! The coat is gorgeous too. Sorry to hear the day was pretty rough.

    Hope this next week goes better. Sounds like you got some fun planned.

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  3. Lateness is one hte most frustrating circumstances - you have my sympathy. You also have my full-on, thumbs-up wild-applause admiration for your sweater dress - you look absolutely fantastic in it. Very flattering, very chic!

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  4. Oooh, I really like the colors of the coat and dress together, and the fit of that dress is divine on you!

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  5. admire your cold weather ensemble- and the cooler weather- we are in the 70's today!!! like how the red and blue and black work together even though they are strong colors-you look fab in the first pic with just the dress on-good for you and your upcoming WW clients-never joined WW -but i have several of their cookbooks i use often

    put the walls book on my to read list for december-thanks

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  6. Sounds like a frustrating (time-wise) but really fun Saturday. I really like that sweater dress. Simple but very cute and fits you so nicely.

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  7. I really enjoyed The Glass Castle! I still think about it from time to time.

    Then I read We Have Always Lived in the Castle....thinking it would be like Jeanette Wall's book, but it really isn't. :)

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  8. kinda OT, but maybe not really - your hair is looking especially great these days! it really shows off your face. pretty!

    and i'm so glad you mentioned the book - i heard about it but it was just before i wene to sleep or something and didn't get the particulars...until i saw it just now!

    that outfit is a good template for how to stay warm without looking all bundled up - nice and sleek! steph

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  9. Your Saturday sounds similar to my Wednesday...Grrr...

    That is one regal coloured coat. You look smashing wearing it.

    The Glass Castle sounds like my kind of book. It's much easier to go forward in life without blame. It's not that the past is forgotten, it's just part of the bigger picture which is the life story. It is what it is, nothing more, nothing less.

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  10. You look super-skinny in this pic... is it that fantastic dress?

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  11. Thanks, Cara!

    Anne, how cool - we're twins! It's snowing right now (afternoon Monday) and everyone is freaking out. We have about 4" already.

    Thanks, Megan, it's okay - everyone was nice about it, but I just chalked it up to the full moon.

    Baxter, thank you! Ha, thanks so much, it was snuggly warm.

    Kristen, thanks, hon!

    Alecia, please send some of that here! We're at -6 right now (about 20 degrees)! Thanks so much! I have a couple of WW cookbooks and they have good recipes. I hope you enjoy the book!

    Alison, yeah, it was. Thanks so much!

    Kasmira, it's one of those memorable books. Ha, I read We Have Always...many years ago - not the same! :)

    Thanks so much, Steph! I really struggle with my hair because I'm out in the weather, walking (often with a toque or rain hat on). I think you will enjoy the book.

    Jen, yes, grrr! Thank you so much. I think you'd like the book.

    'Doll, yes, it's the dress! I have not lost any weight, but bless you for saying that!

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  12. I love all of your snow outfits this week, Sheila. You are staying warm but look completely stylish as always. I wouldn't even know that this was a snow outfit, actually. Your sweater dress is gorgeous!

    I really enjoyed reading The Glass Castle - I borrowed it from my sister - and found Half Broke Horses just as compelling. Jeanette Walls really "channels" the spunk and voice of her grandmother. She sounds like quite a character and a very determined woman. I'd recommend giving it a go!
    I also appreciated how in The Glass Castle, Jeanette Walls really didn't place any blame that I could detect on her parents. Her lifestyle may have been free-wheeling and unconventional and even a little scary sometimes, but it sounds like she credits her life for shaping her into the person she is.

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  13. Aw, thanks, Kari! It's all about the layers. ;)

    Yeah, I will definitely look for "Half Broke Horses" (the edition of "The Glass Castle" I have has and excerpt from it, and I enjoyed it). I totally agree - she doesn't blame them. I love that strength about her.

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