Moany Monday (with Major Pink Plaid)

Feeling a bit moany and sorry for myself today - I am the only person I know who had to go to work today. Argle-bargle. 

Take that, Monday! I'll fend off your fiendish frustrations with some mad plaid.

I've had this crazy plaid jacket for a couple of years - bought on consignment for $20.00 - and every year I think, "Yeah, it's time for this to go," and then I find other things to wear with it. And look! all the cool kids are wearing pastels this spring. I'm so cutting edge, ha!

I last wore it here in June 2013 with my red leather skirt.

I liked it better with this pinky-cherry-red skirt - the colour is a better "go" than an orange-y red. I last wore this skirt here (3rd outfit) in April with orange and purple (cray-cray!).


The insanely ruffly blouse is a J. Peterman one I picked up in a thrift store a couple of years ago; I last wore it here (2nd outfit) in July 2013 with my barnyard skirt.

Ruffles everywhere!

The stuff:

More cherry red goodness! I last wore my Sencha Teapots here in September 2013 with burgundy and pink. I gave them a good polish yesterday - they are getting a bit beat-up.

Bling things:

I wore the pin at the neck of the blouse.

Jacket (Tommy Hilfiger, consignment), blouse (J. Peterman, thrifted), skirt (Precis Petites, thrifted), shoes (Sencha Teapots, Fluevog), belt (Plum), pin (thrifted), Fulvia Ring (Wendy Brandes), earrings (don't remember).

Bigass Weekend Wrap-Up: Sequins, Sunny Yellow, Shine and Blossoms, a Wee Shop, Orange Madness and Easter (with Cat Pictures)

Are ya ready? This is a long one - I've had a very busy weekend! No Monday off for me, sadly (it's not actually a stat), but it'll be a quiet day.

Man, Thursday seems an eternity ago! Oh, yeah, this is what I wore.

I had to bust out the shiny shiny skirt right away, and because it's a bit big on me, it sits low - must have a top that I can wear untucked. Then add some crazy purple, just because.

The jacket is my trusty boyfriend blazer, thrifted many years ago. I last wore it here in March with dragons.

I adore this silky Michael Kors blouse, which was a great consignment find a few years ago. I haven't worn it since November 2013, here, with rainy florals.

My sequin-o-rama skirt was just purchased (thrifted for $16.95! with original tags for $275!) here last weekend.

The stuff:

Purple boots of insanity! I loved the fun these added to this outfit - this is probably my last go with tights for spring (I hope). I last wore these here in March with blue and orange.

Funky bling:

I like the shiny gold leather heart.

Jacket (Banana Republic, thrifted), blouse (Michael Kors, consignment), skirt (J. Crew, thrifted), boots (Prepare Maps, Fluevog), cuff/bracelet (thrifted), pin (Smoking Lily), earrings (vintage).

L and I hung out on Thursday and played board games, had a nice lie-in on Friday morning and then went for brunch. It wasn't sunny, but I dressed as though it were!

I need a steamer, I've decided. I hate ironing and although I try to avoid buying clothes I have to iron, it's inevitable that one or two pieces could use some wrinkle-removal. This dress is one.

I have had this denim shirt in my wardrobe for a long time - I like it as a layering piece. I last wore it here in August 2013 for traveling to L's high school reunion.

I got this fruit-print purse at Aldo a couple of years ago

The dress is one I bought at Winners (pre-Second Hand First) about 3 years ago. I adore the fit and quality of Calvin Klein dresses on me. I last wore it here in July 2013 on its own.

The shoes are my woven gold ones, last seen here earlier this month with pink and gold brocade.

Shirt (Mexx, consignment), dress (Calvin Klein), shoes (Aldo, consignment), purse (Aldo).

We relaxed at home and watched a movie, then played more boardgames (with wine!) on Friday night. Vizzini enjoyed the intermittent sun. Here he is in the morning before we went out.

"Is it food time?"

He just loves to soak up the rays.

Aw! Little paws!

When we got back from brunch, he'd barely moved, up to the top of the post.

"Hey, baby, I've got my lovey eyes on for you."

What a suck. He loves the tummy rubs.

"Mmmm...warm sun."

He gets distracted easily.

"Squirrel!"

We had plans to meet up with a bunch of friends at the pub last Saturday afternoon, but I felt like a little downtime for me was needed, so I went out for a short shop in the morning.

Simple shopping clothes. I didn't want to redo my hair or make-up for the afternoon, and I even wore the same jewelry. Planning or laziness? Same result!

This jacket was the perfect weight, even though it rained a bit. I last wore this spacey jacket here in December 2013 with many florals.

The blue dress is a good colour, but I'm a little "meh" about it overall. We'll see how it goes this spring/summer. I last wore it here in July 2013 with orange and spaghetti monsters.

My shoes are one of my favourites - I can wear them for hours. I last wore them with my red leather pants, here, in December 2013.

Jacket (Smoking Lily), dress (Ann Taylor, thrifted), shoes (Two Lips, thrifted). 

I took my camera with me on my Wee Shop, and caught some of the short-bloomed flora.

A gorgeous magnolia tree with deep pinks.

I love these blossoms so much.

There's a whole row of these cherry and plum trees near my house - I love to walk under them and touch the fat blooms.

I can't decide if the pink or the white ones are prettiest.

I just enjoy the view!

Wow, so lovely.

I found a few things at the Hospice Store, including this drapey purple sweater.

This replaces my "homeless lady" sweater aka "The Chewbacca Sweater" that I wear around the house to keep warm. I think L will appreciate a more flattering colour and shape. There is a reason why the homeless lady sweater has never been photographed. Gone!

This sweater is by M&S Woman (Marks & Spencer), and was $16.00.

I recognized this label as being a local company, Tangerine Jill. I have this dress by them, too.

Me and white blouses! What is going on? I suddenly have a plethora of them! It's a bit hard to see, but the bib of this is covered in organza ruffles, with a small edging of them around the neck.

It was a little pricey at $22.00, but it's 100% silk and fits beautifully.

I did something for this skirt that I never do: I bargained and asked for a reduction. I felt a little bad about it; yes, my money is going to a charity and I can afford it. But it was the principle. This felt overpriced at $36.00.

A real slash pocket on the side, metal buttons, leather/velcro straps with metal buckles.

It was right beside a long 100% wool tartan skirt that was made in Scotland, and was also priced at $36.00. This skirt? Bianca Nygard (sold at the mall), polyester blend, made in China. Yes, it probably sold for more than $36.00, but not much more, once you factor sales and discounts, etc.

Even if they had said no, I would have still bought this. It fits great and I love the cut and style of it. It's a classic skirt.

Nicely lined-up pattern, little straps at the bottom above the pleats - the pleats!

I felt that $24.00 was a fair price and asked for that - they countered at $28.00.

I think that's more fair, but still...it's a thrift shop. I expect higher prices in a consignment store, and this felt like gouging. Anyway, it won't stop me from thrifting there, but I'll give it a little rest for now.

Okay, get ready - I had to psych myself up to wear this in public!

WAAAAAAA! Great balls of crazy orange madness!

Yeah, it's pretty awesome, but how do you style something this crazyass? I went with modern accessories instead of going more full-on vintage.

It's a big blob of orange, until I walk and it all floats out behind me!

I was quite billowy!

This crazy dress is my entry in this week's "Visible Monday" over at Patti's Not Dead Yet Style. Not dead yet? Get over there!

This denim jacket was purchased in NYC about 6 years ago - it's one of the few items I have that's pre-blog, purchased just as I was losing weight.

Check it out - I figured out how to wear my one-lost clip-on earrings.

You might be able to see my turquoise eyeliner/shadow there - I went full-on crazy lady!

I clipped it further up my ear! It actually stayed put really well, and I like how it gives a little bit of edge to my look.

The stuff:

I say gladiator sandals are still appropriate if they're a nice classic style like these. These did necessitate the first pedicure of the year! I last wore them here in July 2013 with my Great Green Culottes (soon to make a reappearance!).

I wore the matching vintage brooch on my collar of my jacket.

Dress (vintage 70s, Berkertex, thrifted), shoes (Enzo Angiolini, consignment), necklace (The Bay), earrings (Oscar & Libby's), brooch/earring (vintage 60s, thrifted), Fulvia Ring (Wendy Brandes).

That was a totally fun afternoon/evening. This morning, we headed over to Mom's to do Easter brunch with my family. Of course I had to dress up! My nieces were there!

I went with my strapless 80s dress because the ovals in it look like eggs.

I last wore this vintage wonder here (3rd outfit) in August 2013, with no cover-up.

Mom's house is always cold, so I wore my green Kersh cardi over the dress. Wow, I can't believe it's been over a year since I wore this cardi (here, for St. Patrick's day 2013 - I even have blonde hair). That's got to be rectified!

The stuff:

Spectacularly orange! I last wore these Fluevogs here a couple of weeks ago with much other orange.

Dress (A.J. Bari, vintage 80s, thrifted), cardigan (Kersh, consignment), shoes (Big Presence Desmond, Fluevogs), earrings (Oscar & Libby's), rings (Wendy Brandes).

L and I were a dashing couple as always.

He's got his new blue skinny jeans and his pewter Fluevogs. Shiny!

Vizinni wanted nothing to do with us. 

"I'm busy patrolling. Why don't you just go out again?"

One of our nicknames for Vizzini is "Monkey Cat." I think this picture perfectly captures that.

"Tail is curling, toes are grabbing, gonna make the turn."

Such a lovely boy.

I hope you had a lovely Easter long weekend! Back to work for me tomorrow (boo).

Daffodil and Lace

Ugh, 7:30pm and I'm just home from work. Self-inflicted for the last hour, although I did put in over an hour of actual work due to having a day off this week. I'm in my office's Social Committee (of course I am), and I got the short straw to hide chocolate eggs in the office for Easter. 150+ desks, and 5 eggs per desk, plus bowls of chocolate eggs in the lunchrooms, meeting rooms and my desk (reception). That's a lot of eggs.

We're experiencing what we call on the west coast "liquid sunshine" (rain). There are loads of flowers out - the tulips will be out any day, and daffodils are blooming madly. My outfit today is daffodil inspired.

I adore this jacket, which I consider one of my best thrift finds ever. It's by Holt Renfrew, a big swanky department store (the closest one is in Vancouver), and I found it last year in August (here) for $24.95. It's gorgeous quality, and don't you love that neckline?

I last wore it here in September 2013 to the Vintage Expo (I can't wait to wear that Spanish ladies dress again!). I have a yellow camisole in the same shade of yellow on underneath it.

This skirt is another favourite; it was last worn here in March 2013 (over a year ago - shocking!) for St. Patrick's Day.

I bought it on consignment way back in 2009 (first worn here) for $40.00. It's real lace, with a deliberately ragged hem, no slit, and a taupe lining.

The stuff:

And thrifted shoes! I last wore these here in March with the fabulous suede skirt Elaine gave me (now in storage).

Big old bling:

Well, the ring's not old. The rest is - it belonged to my Grandma J.

Jacket (Holt Renfrew, thrifted), skirt (Alfred Sung, vintage 80s, consignment), shoes (Nine West, thrifted), ring (consignment), rhinestone brooch/earrings (Grandma J's, vintage 60s).