Birthday With Mom and the Kitties in Bomblazer and the Cover Skirt, and a Wee Shop

Happy Birthday to me! It was a treat to have the day off and to be able to spend it with Mom...and the kittens! 

Mom gave me a Fluevog gift card, some fluffy warm socks with cats on them and a bag of chocolates - all of my favourite things! Thank you so much, Mom! I especially liked the card, which was perfect. 

My day started with our cleaners, who were greeted with curiosity and friendly sniffs of the cleaners. Michael and Ashley fell in love with Whateley and Barnabas, of course. 

And then I played around in my closet, creating an outfit suitable for the day. This skirt had to be part of it! 

• Bomblazer - Zara, consignment; first worn here in September with wacky pants
• Tee - Banksy 2005 exhibit merch, consignment; first seen here in August with jeans at the office
• Skirt - Erdem, consignment; last worn here in March with cowgirl vibes
• Boots - Prepare 2.0 Tracker, Fluevog; last seen here in January with a lot of blue and red

I always think fondly of our Tweed photoshoot (link here if you missed it) whenever I wear this skirt. 

I like the mix of luxe fabric - the brocade is practically 3D on this, and note the sheer Swiss dot fabric in those box pleats. 

Still pushing boundaries at 58! 

I went with double the belts, because...why not? 

The bomblazer worked much better this time - I enjoyed the ultra-cropped oversized fit.

I had rapturous reactions to my outfit at Christie's and Pocket Clothing, where I stopped for a wee shop on the way home ('twouldn't be my birthday without a wee shop!). 

My outerwear ensemble includes a big velvet ruffled scarf and leather driving gloves. 

And a giant 80s eelskin purse. 

I felt totally cool. 

This outfit ticked all the boxes for me! Happy! 

The stuff: 

I had a 3-brooch cluster on my bomblazer's lapel. 

• Eelskin purse - vintage 80s, thrifted
• Leather gloves - Danier, c. 2008
• Zipper rose - V&A Museum gift shop, 2011
• Frank Turner cassette pin - tour merch, 2024
• Fabric rose stick-pin - Mango's boutique, gift for L he didn't want

Love those boots. Very comfy. 

Black bling: 

Favourite things. 

• Grommet belt - gift from Ruth
• Leather/medallion belt - Mudd, vintage 90s, thrifted
• Silver/Lucite bracelet - Alexis Bittar, consignment, Vancouver
• Black Lucite/crystal bracelet - Alexis Bittar, consignment, Sidney
• Jet/crystal choker - vintage 1960s, Grandma J's 
• Silver snake ring - BC Museum Gift Shop, 1986
• Silver/onyx spider ring - gift from Mom & Dad, 1986
• Crystal earrings - thrifted

Mom arrived and I positioned the chair for her so she could get to see and play with the cats. 

They both greeted her at the door (many sniffs), then buzzed around the living room area. Whateley checked her out from atop the scratching post house.

Playing coy. 

They're full of beans, and did much chasing and fighting and rolling around. 

Mom teased them with an old robe sash, a favourite toy.

They both wacked and clawed, scampering away and coming back for more. 

Mom's a pro at entertaining kitties! 

They were both very interested in her walking poles, chewing on the rubber feet. Little monsters! 

But of course, they are kittens and easily distracted. 

Whateley looking out the window and Barnabas batting at a spinning ball toy.

After laughing and tracking them around (seriously, Kitten TV should be a thing), we went for lunch at Christie's Pub. 

"Happy Birthday!"

Thank you so much for the wonderful lunch, Mom! I love you! 

I splurged on a salmon burger with onion rings; Mom had a salad, but I see that onion ring hiding on the side! 

It was SO yummy. I haven't had onion rings in over a year! 

I walked home and of course I stopped in at Pocket to say hi to Annie and have a look around. Staff Mimi and Nate were lovely, thank you, hi! 

I recognized this gorgeous sheer brown ruffle-front blouse for amazing quality and design. 

Ruffles at the cuffs and what's that at the bottom? 

A ruffled peplum! So I can wear it tucked or out.

The design is paisley in shades of brown. 

The buttons say RL Ralph Lauren. Guess who it's by! 

Showing the faint gold line on some of the design. The texture of the blouse is slightly wrinkly all over. 

I noticed that there was a store address on the back of the tag - that should help date it. 

Yup, they vacated the lease in 2018, as noted in this WWD article here (very interesting read), so it's no later than that. The style is heavily reminiscent of the early 00s.

It probably came with a camisole, and this is likely where it was secured, removable for washing.

So much hand-done detail. 

Of course, it's Lauren Ralph Lauren, and it was $42.00. Not cheap but this is a consignment store - they have so much good stuff!

Worth every penny. I can't wait to wear it!

I definitely had to have this amazing hip-bag/cross-body bag.

It's very soft fuzzy faux-fur. The bottom pocket is huge (fits my phone). 

And inside the main section, there's another zip pocket. The big industrial zippers are very well-made. 

It's by Niko and..., a brand I've never heard of. It says, " to be pure and natural, old and new, warm and cool, classic and trendy, simple and sophisticated, to be myself...it's 25% combination. Est. 2007. Cool & Slow Life. www.nikoand.jp" 

It's a Japanese brand, still around. It was $28.00.

I've been eyeing this silver and turquoise bracelet for months, and finally decided, what the heck, it's my birthday, I'm buying it. 

$68.00 is a bit, but I know I'll wear this a bunch. 

.925 Mexico stamp. 

It's had a bit of wear already, but I like that - it's got a history. So do I! 

And now, my friends, I am signing off both the long weekend! I'll be back on Monday with tales of adventure (and more kitten pictures). 

The peanut butter fudge caramel cheesecake that Mom and I shared. YUM!