Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Feb 29th - Outfit #26 - Last Day Crazy, Cats and a Very Awesome Ring

I am so - may I date myself with an 80s expression? - STOKED to start a new month with a new capsule wardrobe! Woo! 

I'll be doing an analysis of my February wardrobe (I kept a spreadsheet), but I'm pretty busy this week (I am currently on a webinar training session as I type this...shhhh), so I'll be doing that on the weekend. You'll be able to vote on your favourite outfit of the month! 

But let's not get ahead of ourselves - here is the last outfit of February:
Yeah, I pulled out all the crazy for this, hee hee. I've had it in the back of my mind all month how fun it would be to wear these tights with these fringed suede booties (only worn once, here). I don't know if this totally works, but I enjoyed wearing it!

This is the Burberry shirt (last worn here), with the leather vest (last seen here) worn open.
And that's my lovely grey velvet skirt, last seen here. I'm also wearing a black cami under the shirt, and my chainmail necklace.

I know, I can't stop looking at the tights either!
While I love the concept of these boots (fringe!), they kill my feet. Ah well, two wears when I paid $12.50 for them is fine by me.

Shirt (Burberry London, thrifted), vest (Cabi, thrifted), skirt (Club Monaco), tights (Traparenze), boots (Predictions, thrifted), cami (Esprit), necklace (locally made).

Last night, the cats were just so cute, I had to take some pictures.
Vizzini surveys from the top of the scratching post while Inigo sits in a box lid.
Vizzini sleeps up there a lot.

Inigo has such a pretty face.
He has good taste in boxes too; that's a Fluevog lid.
He was purring away at me while I got in close.

Vizzini's always suspicious of the camera.
I got in closer and he gave me his "I want to rip your face off" look.
"I swallow your soul!"
 Then he climbed down.
I can't resist disturbing them when they're so cute.

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So! This year is a big one for me: L and I are celebrating our 15th anniversary in March, and I am going to be turning 45 in October (that sound you hear is my mom choking, "I can't believe I'm the mother of a 45 year old!"). L and I will also finish paying off our mortgage in September! Yeah!

I like to treat myself to things to commemorate events, to remind me of where I've been and how far I've come. The last 5 years have seen a lot of change for me: a new job, my 50 pound weight loss, losing Othello, getting Vizzini, this blog. This blog really represents so much of who I have become, and so it was only appropriate that I buy myself a gift from someone I met from blogging.
That's right, Ms. Wendy Brandes herself!

Wendy, it has been a pleasure getting to know you over these past four years - I feel like we could sit down and have a few drinks and be old friends by the end of the night (and next time I'm in NYC, we will have to do that!). It is with great pride that I wear this beautiful lapis lazuli and silver ring that you designed - it's even made in New York City, a city that I love.

As you can see from the above picture, she sent it in this lovely grey velvet box, with a handwritten postcard. Someday (when I win the lottery), that Marie Antoinette ring will be mine!
The ring fit perfectly on my finger and I wore it all day at work, garnering many compliments. The colour of the stone is deep and rich blue.

My ring is the exact one shown on Wendy's site - I can tell by the position of the gold flecks of pyrite that run through the lapis.
The brushed silver (stamped .925 inside, along with the Wendy Brandes mark) is the perfect complement and really makes the stone's colour pop.

I will be wearing this often. I don't believe in saving items you love "for special" - you should wear them, wear the hell out of them! I've had my gold, emerald and diamond ring repaired, re-polished and re-shaped a couple of times in the 5 years I've had it. It's part of me, part of my life. And so is this new ring.

Thank you, Wendy! I treasure this.

[Note: As always, I "link because I love" - Wendy had a sale, I paid for my ring like a regular customer. She did treat me on the postage which was $12.95. No special kick-backs.]

17 comments:

  1. I am totally digging this outfit. Those tights are fantastic. Great prezzie you bought yourself. There's nothing I love more than a giant, gemstone ring--I have many and I wear them often. I don't, however, have any gorgeous lapis...hmmm, may have to go browsing.... Congrats on making it through the first month of your challenge!!

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  2. 1. "that sound you hear is my mom choking, 'I can't believe I'm the mother of a 45 year old!'" My mom is ALWAYS saying stuff like that (though right now the number is 44).
    2. Cat pix are awesome!
    3. So happy you love the ring. I'm amazed by how fast it got there! It's the only one of those I've made so it's pretty special. And I totally want to hang with you!

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    Replies
    1. How awesome - one of a kind! You're on - I'll let you know next time I'm in NYC (might be a few years).

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  3. Great tights! Incredible ring! All good things...

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  4. You lucky girl, you! A great ring, and a great number of reasons to celebrate! And the tights, are pretty fabulous!

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  5. Congratulations on EVERYTHING!
    The ring is gorgeous! You have so much to celebrate.
    You continue to look fabulous and inspire me with your weight
    loss. Clothes look SO good on you AND you have amazing talent in selecting combinations and outfits....

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  6. So much to say on this post - first if stoked is 80s then I'm sad I think it's a great word!
    Love your tights, and that ring is gorgeous, perfect way to celebrate everything!

    happy early anniversary for your 15 years! Love the cat pics as always, they are so cute! :)

    awayfromtheblue.blogspot.com.au

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  7. OK Sheila, this is getting stranger and stranger all the time. It will be my 15th wedding anniversary this year AND my wedding band has a Celtic knot design on it. *twilight zone music*

    I love the ring. I've been eyeing Wendy B's swear rings for a while now. Maybe I could ask my husband to give them to me to celebrate our F@#! anniversary. =)

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    Replies
    1. Megan, that is so bizarre - we really are twins!

      I highly recommend WB - awesome stuff. Ha! Great anniversary gift!

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  8. Wow! So many good things happening - I love your tights and velvet skirt. Of course, I adore your kitties and their expressive little faces (yes, they are talking to us! in special kitty language). Congrats on a long, happy marriage, weight loss, and being close to mortgage free! And oh yes, the ring is AWESOMELY beautiful.

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  9. Congrats on all the reasons to celebrate!!! Especially being the mom to two such stunning Furbabies!!
    I LOVE those tights!!!

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  10. Omg, your tights are incredible. I am dying over those kitty pictures. Inigo has very similar expressions to Spike.

    Congrats on your 15 years! Hubs and I just rounded our 4th a couple months ago. And omgomg, I knew whoever wound up with the Lapis ring of Wendy's would be awesome. I strongly considered not buying more shoes this season and getting it, but ultimately passed because it was a size 6.

    Many congratulations for so much success in only 5 years! I hope the next 5 are full of even more happiness, joy, and new adventures.

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  11. Amazing ring. I love all the jewelry created by Wendy. I also love blue and that stone is fantastic.

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  12. Hi Sheila, did you know that 1st of Marsh is and International Cat Day? I didn't either, but two people told me about it today.

    I love your ring! Wendy's designs are to die for. And so are your tights! Congratulations on switching the wardrobe. You are my inspiration (even thought I couldn't do it).

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  13. I have been coveting that ring FOREVER!!! and I adore WendyB! She is smart and stylish. I so want to hang with both of you!

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  14. You should totally be a hand model for Wendy's jewelry.

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