Strangers in the Night

The last few days have been very difficult for my family, and my Grandma especially. They would have celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary in March, and even after all those years together, it is so clear how much they truly loved each other. They were a real life love story.


2003

My Grandma was only 19 when they started dating, and when World War II broke out and my Grandpa entered the service, they decided to get married the first chance they could: one weekend when he was on leave. For the next six weeks, during his training, they saw each other only sporadically. Then he shipped out, and it was another two and a half years before they saw each other again. I can't imagine being away from my own husband that long... The patience, strength and love the two shared just amazes me.

My cousin, Jenny, was sitting at my Grandpa's desk earlier today, and she said she opened the drawer and saw a stack of pictures. When she started looking through them, she realized they were all of our Grandma. During the visitation, my Grandma must have gone up to the coffin a dozen times. She was very strong throughout everything this week. During her final time at his casket, she kissed his forehead, told him she loved him, and said she would see him soon. I know their love will live on in Heaven.

I almost imagined, in the church today, my Grandpa F. standing with my Grandma T., who was holding Izzie, all waving at me, and looking young and healthy. That is how I will think of them from now on.

If you would like to read my Grandpa's obituary, here you go:

Obituary:
Anthony F., 90, passed away Friday, Jan. 28, 2011.

Tony was born Jan. 9, 1921, and was raised in the Bedford Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn. He was brought up during the Great Depression and was very proud of selling ice cream outside Ebbett's Field for a nickel apiece.

When World War II broke out, Tony enlisted in the Army and was assigned to the Dixie Division. Most of the members of the division were from Mississippi, and he found it ironic that a boy from Brooklyn got assigned there, but he and his Mississippi brothers got along great, and he held lifetime friendships with many of them. The unit was assigned to the 112th Cavalry, and he wore the unit's ballcap the last 15 years of his life. He fought in the Pacific Theater in the Philippines and was with the Japan occupation forces. He was awarded the Bronze Star for valor in combat.

For 34 years following the war, Tony worked for American Airlines and became director of fuel purchasing. He was also chairman of the purchasing and fuel committee for the Air Transport Association for a time. A lifelong Yankees and Giants fan, he never forgot his New York roots. He discovered his sports passion in the 1960s - golf - and played two to three times per week for nearly 45 years. Tony enjoyed his membership at Rolling Hills Country Club for 31 years after American relocated its general office to Texas in 1979. A devout Catholic, he attended Mass religiously. He taught his children to be loving, honest and upright citizens and good Catholics.

Survivors: Loving wife of 67 years, Marie; devoted children, Tony, Joan and Steve; loving daughters-in-law, Madeline and Linda, and son-in-law, John; seven loving grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Morning Has Broken

I don't really feel much like blogging right now, but maybe it will help me to get some words down. Today seems to be a cursed day in my family. One year ago today, my Grandmother passed away on my mother's side of the family. Early this morning, we got a call that my Grandfather on my dad's side of the family had passed away during the night. I feel sad and sick to my stomach, and feel like I might burst into tears at any moment. It's hard to concentrate on anything but my emotions.

My Grandfather was a wonderful man and lived to be 90 years old. In fact, he just celebrated this birthday a few weeks back. He had been planning a big celebration for the occasion, but then he broke his hip back in October and decided to put it off until March, when he and my Grandma would celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary, so they could have a big party. Now he will never see that day.

My Grandparents: My Wedding (2003)

My Grandfather provided for his family and loved his three children, Tony, Joan and my dad, Steve, so much. My husband called him the most "spry" senior he'd ever met... and he was. He loved talking politics -- he was VERY Republican -- and watching old movies and learning about our jobs and our lives. I really felt like he was proud of me when I earned my MBA, and I have some e-mails from him that I will treasure forever. He loved to sing and loved music in general. And he was so friendly! He would make friends no matter where he want, which was a quality I now so admire in him... Of course, when I was in 7th grade and he would start talking to strangers at the mall, I was so embarrassed. Isn't it funny how things change?

Grandma and Grandpa with my sisters and me (2008)

My real regret is that I did not get to spend more time with him, as they lived a plane ride away, and we often saw them only once or twice a year. The last time I spoke to him was his birthday a few weeks ago. I had no idea that would be the last time.

2008

I wore black today because I felt so sad and depressed. The dress is from BCBGMaxAzria and the flats are from Tory Burch. It really was hard to smile for today's photo.

Frozen

Today I'm in a BCBGMaxAzria navy dress that I've had since 2007, so - although I looked - I wasn't able to find it online. This dress is a perfect office dress, and is extremely comfortable due to features like an empire waist and cap sleeves. However, it may not have been the best choice considering today's weather. Although it's in the 50s this afternoon, it was about 28 degrees this morning when I walked George, and my legs were so numb by the time I came back inside that they actually hurt. I'm just glad we don't have weather like the Northeast; my Aunt and Uncle in New York got 17 inches of snow last night!

I'm also wearing the L.A.M.B Plum Wedge Platform Pumps in Navy that I just love. Wedges are great if you want height but don't like the way stilettos make your back and legs ache.

Since I couldn't find this dress online, I thought I would find some others that are similar in color and/or style. Here are a few picks:

• Max and Cleo's "Angel in a Blue Dress" from ModCloth.com
• Alice + Olivia's Blouson Button Military Dress in Peach from ShopBop.com
• Charlotte Ronson's Draped Silk Dress with Belt in Purple from Tobi.com
  

On a side note, I finally saw the Madonna episode of Glee and it was awesome. I especially loved the Mash Up with "Open Your Heart" and "Borderline." I may just have to order the soundtrack now.

Hello

I watched a bunch of Glee episodes last night, so today I have Lionel Ritchie's "Hello" stuck in my head. (The last one out of the bunch I watched was the episode where Mr. Schuester asks the group to find some songs with the "Hello" theme.) So that explains the title of today's post. I have discovered Glee much later than many other people, mainly because I didn't fall in love with the pilot episode, and I find Mr. Schuester to be an annoying goody-two-shoes. But I have gotten more into the series of late, and have added the actor who plays Puck to my "Top 5 List." He reminds me of Brad Pitt: The Early Years! :)

Anyway, the outfit, on this Day 101, is from one of my favorite brands, BCBGMaxAzria. The BCBGMaxAzria Long-Sleeved V-Neck Dress with Mesh Detail is unique to my closet because it is one of my few long-sleeve dresses. It has been so cold in my office this Winter -- the temperature literally drops about twenty degrees once you cross over from the outer office area, where all the cubes are, into my office -- and since we are expecting snow flurries in Atlanta today, I thought it would make a good choice. This dress also goes great with my new Jimmy Choo Izzy Pumps!

I also wanted to call out a few of my favorites from Paris Fashion Week, going on now. Fashion Week often reveals clues as to some of the trends we will start to see in our stores soon. My favorite trend is what they are calling "liquid metal" in bold, rich jewel tones like red and sapphire. I love this dress form the Armani show:

Here is another favorite from Christian Dior. I love how the styles from the 1940s and 1950s are really starting to come back more and more. The 50s (Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief and Rear Window... fabulous) is definitely my favorite era in terms of style. I also love the Barbie Doll makeup and hats from this show.

Finally, I love two beautiful dresses from Elie Saab's show. You might remember it was Elie Saab who designed Halle Berry's Oscar dress the year she won for Monster's Ball. (I just knew that fact... I didn't even have to look it up!)

100 Years

Today is DAY 100 in the Fashion Challenge! 

Today's dress is from the Donna Ricco brand. While I could not find the exact dress online, stores like Nordstrom have a nice selection of dresses from this brand. This brand actually makes me smile, because it brings back memories of when I worked in the Women's Dress department at Rich's (now Macy's) the summer after my freshman year of college. (Funnily enough, I was not as into dresses back then.) I was 19 years old and had to get a ride to work every morning because I still didn't have my driver's license. I actually did get it later that summer after taking lessons and a class with my sister, Gail, who was turning 16 that August. Yep, that's pretty pathetic.

I also smile at this brand because it makes me think of that horrible song from 1990: Rico Suave. My sisters and I recognized the singer, Gerado, as one of the football player "cool kids" from one of our favorite movies, Can't Buy Me Love. The song was horrible, the video degrading, and yet I still think of it every time I see the brand Donna Ricco. Go figure.

Halo

Today is Day 99 of the Fashion Challenge! I can't believe I have made it this far. It has been so much fun cataloging my wardrobe and sharing it with my blog readers everyday. I do wonder how much longer I can last, though!

This ruffled sweater dress is from Max and Cleo, part of the BCBG family of brands. (The dress is no longer available online.) This dress is very comfortable and warm, so I wanted to wear it today since it was only about 35 degrees when I walked George this morning. I'm not crazy about the top, since it is very "sailor-ish" to me, but I think I bought this dress for about $30, so I'm not complaining too loudly.

I did debate what shoes to wear today, as I normally pair black tights with black shoes. I ended up choosing my L.A.M.B. Glam Suede Pumps in Grey, which stand out a bit more against the black of the tights. Hopefully it works.

My hair is getting so long, and I feel like I want to do something different with it. Any suggestions?

Angel: Remembering Izzie

Izzie in her pink butterfly costume, Halloween 2008

Today marks one year since our beloved Izzie passed away. In the weeks after she left us, in an attempt to heal, I started writing down some of my favorite memories of her. She was so sick the last nine months of her life, but she was always our sweet Izzie. She loved her family - Chapin, George and me - more than anything else in the world. Hopefully she knew and understood how much we loved her in return, and I know in my heart I will see her again one day.

Izzie's Bark

Izzie's bark was high-pitched but had such a sweetness to it. She used to run to the door whenever she thought she heard a knock, even if was just me knocking on the wall or something to tease her. She would run to the door every morning when I returned from working out -- "Momma's back! Momma's back!" -- and even now, one year, I still imagine her coming to the door to greet me.

The Flutter-Flutter Tail Wag

You could just look at Izzie and her tail would wag. She had such love for everyone. We used to say her tail would wag so much she might fly away. Sometimes it would just be a flutter, flutter of her tail if you happened to glance over at her, and other times it would wag so hard because she was so happy.

Our Little Butterball

Like all pugs, Izzie loved to eat, and she was very impatient. Whenever we would get their breakfast or dinner ready, or she knew a treat was coming, she would leap into the air to try to get to the food sooner. Before she got sick, our vet had actually told us to put her on a diet. It was just hard to say no to that sweet little face.

Izzie Joins Our Family

I remember the first day we picked her up. I was so excited to meet her. She was standing very still in the owner’s yard. She didn’t know me yet. I was still debating about what to call her. I liked the name Izzie a lot but I wasn’t sure. Then we stopped at Starbucks and I looked over at the case of drinks and saw one called Izze. I thought that was the universe telling me to trust my decision to name her Izzie.

She did not pee for about three days after we brought her home. She did not know us yet! She was very stubborn when she wanted to be. I remember Chapin and I taking turns taking her outside... she just had to get to know us.

Sibling Rivalry

Izzie was a bully and George got the brunt of it. She always wanted to play with him. She would grab his neck scruff and pull. He always would come trotting over to us with HELP in his eyes.

But for everything, George loved Izzie a lot. In the days after she died, he refused to sit in her doughnut, the dog bed I kept for her at work. It was like he knew this time was different, that she was not coming back from the hospital like she did those other times. He would put his chin on the edge of the bed and just look sad (sadder than usual). It broke my heart.


Daddy's Girl

I loved Izzie with all my heart and soul, but she was truly a Daddy's Girl. She fell asleep every night in her Daddy's "nook," and she and Chapin shared a very special relationship. I love this photo of the two of them.

I still think about Izzie each and every day. Chapin wants me to move on, but it's so hard. I don't think many people understand what I went through when we first lost her, and what I go through everyday even now. It was just a dog, they say. That makes me so angry. Izzie was my daughter, and I deserve the same respect that any grieving parent would receive. Next weekend we plan to attend a memorial for all the pets that were lost in 2010. I am hoping that will help give me some closure. But no matter what, I will always remember Izzie and the light she brought to our lives.

Izzie A.: December 3, 2005 - January 24, 2010

Whole Lotta Love

George posing for a picture with his Momma!

It's Sunday night, and I am watching the Sex and the City movie (the first one) for probably the 100th time while Chapin plays World of Warcraft on his computer. It's definitely been a fairly busy but productive weekend for us both, and we are trying to relax before getting ready to go back to work tomorrow.

Saturday I was determined to try to make some room in my closet, one of my New Year's resolutions, so I now have a fairly large pile of clothing to bring to Goodwill this week. Chapin and I both went through our racks of clothes and found probably 75 hangers that we will take to our dry cleaner the next time we go. In case you didn't know, many dry cleaners will take back hangers and reuse them, so you are, in a way, recycling them. Chapin and I are big believers in recylcing as a little thing you can do to try to stay green. We recycle as much as we can, and I am so glad that our building has recycling bins for glass, paper and aluminum. It makes our endeavor that much easier.

Anyway, Saturday night we had dinner at Kyma with our friends Rahul and Vinnie, and then went over to another friend's house for an informal birthday party. Our dinner at Kyma was wonderful. We did appetizers, wine, entrees and desserts, and it turned into almost a three-hour affair! I love those types of dinners where the food and conversations are flowing so easily you don't even notice how much time is passing.

My outfit for the evening is Chapin's very favorite dress of mine. It is quite sexy and one of my more "famous" dresses: Black Halo's Eva Mini Dress. The dress has been seen on celebrities like Debra Messing, Lisa Rinna and many others. The Eva Mini is not readily available online at many stores, but the Black Halo Hanna Mini Dress is very similar (just has less ruffle), and is in stock at stores like Revolve Clothing. The shoes are the pumps Chapin bought for me in San Francisco: BCBGMaxAzria's Two-Tone Sequin Pumps.

Chapin is wearing a gray striped Hugo Boss shirt with a white collar and the Rock & Republic Henlee Studded Bootcut Jeans I bought him for Christmas. I think he looks so handsome!

Don't Stop Believin'

I'm very happy it's Friday, even though I have to come into the office for a few hours tomorrow. I have been so busy this week, both during the day and after work, that I feel like I've barely seen Chapin and George.

I chose today's dress for a few reasons. It's a BCBG Paris dress I found at an outlet mall while shopping with my mom, sisters, and best friend, Katie, several years back. It's a black belted dress with subtle puff sleeves and a white ruffled collar. It's very comfortable, even though if I get near George, I'll be covered in dog hair the rest of the day. :)

The collar reminds me of the Elizabethan age, which then reminds me of the dramatic interpretation piece that Katie and I performed in high school: Mary, Queen of Scots. Katie played Queen Elizabeth, and I was the horrid Mary. We performed it at competitions throughout the '94-'95 school year and won first place and other trophies! We even performed it at our school's own Renaissance/ Shakespeare drama production. My mom made our costumes. We both had dinner last night with our former high school newspaper teacher, Mrs. Umeck. It was so fun to catch up and be reminded of memories like this one.

Katie and me at my wedding in 2003

I have seen Katie twice this week for dinner, and she is about to give birth to her second child, so I know I won't be seeing her that much in quite awhile. It's amazing to me that we have known each other for almost twenty years.

The shoes I'm wearing also have a good story. They are the shoes I originally bought for my sister-in-law, Stacey, for Christmas. Since they didn't fit, I decided to keep them, and a pair in a larger size is on its way to her right now. The shoes, Tory Burch's famed leather Reva Ballerina Flats, are quite in demand, and you won't find them on sale anywhere. That's why, when faced with this dilemma, you can at least choose an online store like ShopBop.com where you won't be charged shipping or sales tax.

I Love Rock n Roll

I don't know exactly why, but I feel "rocker chic" today. Maybe it's because I have paired this floral Cynthia Steffe tulip silk dress with some less feminine booties. I love the contrast between hard and soft... it just works. And I think this neckline looks good on me, and really compliments by shoulders.

Here are the details on today's outfit:
- Dress: Cynthia Steffe Susie Tulip Dress (no longer available online)
- Shoes: L.A.M.B. Glance Zip Booties (black with red accents)

Today is the first time I have worn this dress to the office. I guess I figured it was a little too sexy for work, but since I have no meetings today, I decided to go for it. Today marks Day 97 in the Fashion Challenge. Remember that I am only counting outfits I wear to work, so I am not counting my "out to dinner" or weekend outfits. I still have at least a few weeks left... and this proves to me how crazy it is that I have so many dresses! I just love fashion, though... and shoes!

Today's booties are awesome.. though the heels are pretty high and give me a sore back if I wear them too long. I think they are so cool, though, and the height shows off my calf muscles. I have been working out steadily for over ten years now!

Last night George let me take some pictures of him with his ears hanging correctly, so I decided to include my favorite here. Isn't he a cutie?

White Wedding

Winter white has been a fabulous trend this year, and I especially love this Cynthia Steffe Savannah Dress because it looks so fabulous with black tights. (Unfortunately, the dress is no longer available online.) The dress is made with a scalloped, lace-like fabric that is decidedly feminine, topped off with the cute flower accents on the neckline.

A shift dress like this one works great on a variety of different frames, and if you want to change it up, you can add a belt. Shift dresses also go well with boots, but in this case, since the dress is so girly, I think you are better off pairing it with pumps or flats. I am wearing the same shoes as yesterday, which I hate to do, but I just love wearing these BCBGMaxAzria patent leather pumps with black tights!

Tonight, I am looking forward to spending some quality time with George and Chapin. Since I was out last night with friends, I barely got to see them! Chapin is also working on making a new dish he's never tried before, which is a twist on the classic French Onion Soup: French Onion Soup Dumplings. This dish was featured on the Appetizers episode of Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate, and since I'm not planning to be in New York anytime soon, I asked Chapin to make them. I can't wait to try them.

Places

Today I'm wearing one of my favorite dresses: the Milly Orchid Lady Puff Sleeve Dress. I love waist-defining dresses because, as the name implies, they show off a small waist while hiding larger hips. I also love puff sleeves because of how they slim the arms. This dress just has everything... and comes in this beautiful orchid color that you don't see everyday.

I love designs from Milly NY because they are fresh and feminine, and many styles, like this one, work great in the office and out on the town. Since I am planning to meet some friends for dinner tonight, I thought this dress would be perfect.

I am also wearing my patent BCBGMaxAzria pumps -- with the bows on the toe, I think they complement the femininity of the dress quite well -- and my Michele watch. I actually forgot to wear my watch yesterday, and I really missed having it on and knowing the time. It's crazy how fast you can get used to something.

Moving on Up

It's been a interesting January so far in Atlanta, Georgia. Last week, the city pretty much shut down because of the snow and ice on all the roads. Schools were out the entire week, and many offices closed for several days as well.

Since we rarely see this kind of weather in the South, the city does not have the equipment and resources to pave highways, major roads and back-roads in metro Atlanta and surrounding areas. That meant a lot of time spent at home for many Atlanta residents... including me! At least I got to shop online!

Friday, the first day I was supposed to actually go into the office, I woke up with very heavy eyelids. Nope, I wasn't just tired from the night before... my face, including my eyelids and under eye area, had swollen up overnight. Remember that scene in Hitch where he eats shellfish? While it wasn't THAT bad, it still was extremely alarming to look in the mirror and see a very puffy version of myself staring back. I had an allergic reaction to some medication, so it turns out, I didn't get to leave the house Friday, Saturday or Sunday, either!

Today, Monday, I had never been happier to wake up to my 5:30 alarm. (I get up that early so I can get in an hour-long workout.) I wanted to wear my new Jimmy Choos that I purchased last week -- I found these Jimmy Choo Izzy pumps in Earth online for under $300, which is a steal in my book for Choos -- so I choose this Max & Cleo Belted Jacquard Dress for my first day back in the office. Although it's kind of fancy for work, the dress is pretty comfortable, and I love the black-gold color combination, which is very trendy right now. (I have always loved the black and gold sequined dress that Nicole Kidman wore to the movie premiere of Australia in 2008.)

I also matched my nails to the Earth color of my new Jimmy Choo pumps using butter LONDON in Fash Pack. I had time to do them since I was home all weekend. :) I know it's very matchy-matchy, but I think it looks great!

Cabin Fever

It is my third day at home, and the ice on the streets is still fairly treacherous for many local commuters. My hope is that the sunshine will help melt some of this ice and allow us all to get back to normal tomorrow. Although... tonight the low here in Atlanta is supposed to be 13 degrees! I'm just thankful that many businesses realize the danger and are allowing employees to work from home.

One member of our family who is definitely not a fan of this snow and ice is our pug, George. He does not like the way his feet slip and slide on the icy sidewalks, and he actually fell down while walking with Chapin early yesterday morning. But, fortunately, we found a patch of dry sidewalk on our walk today so he could more easily go to the bathroom. I could almost sense his relief when his paws touched actual sidewalk. It was funny!

How George prefers to be: safe and warm at home.

Yesterday, Chapin tried to drive to the grocery store, but had to come back, so we ended up walking the four blocks together. We are well stocked on food for the rest of the week, but I feel confident I will be able to get to the office tomorrow. Chapin actually drove to his office today.

One thing I have noticed while spending all this time at home: the online sales! I thought I would take this time to tell you about a few of the best ones.

Jimmy Choo is having a wonderful online sale, and I was able to get these Jimmy Choo Izzy pumps for under $300! Many Jimmy Choo styles, like the Izzy style, are what I consider a "classic," meaning they won't go out of style, are worth the money, and will last you years and years to come. If you've never owned Jimmy Choo shoes, they are extremely well made. Many sale items come in random sizes, so if you have small or large feet, start shopping!

MyShape.com is doing an amazing online sale: an extra 60% off sale items through January 13th. Use code JAN2011 at checkout. I like this site because it caters to many different body types, and actually has a system for helping you find the items that will look best on you. This Body Shapes page lists out the different body shapes -- I think I'm an "S" -- and you can find different body types listed on each product page. They also carry top brands like Cynthia Steffe, Elie Tahari, Trina Turk and many others.

Last Call by Neiman Marcus is also doing an extra 30-50% off sale items. There are a lot of great designers available here from designers you love, like Laundry by Shelli Segal, BCBGMaxAzria, Rebecca Taylor, Ali Ro and many others. (No code needed.)

Lord & Taylor is doing an extra 20% off regular, sale and clearance merchandise with code SALE. You can get some great deals! This Shoshanna navy blue cap sleeve sheath dress, for example, retails for $298, but you can get it for $107.27.

Stay safe and warm out there, and happy shopping!

Ice, Ice Baby

Chapin and I had a fairly low-key weekend. Saturday we tried to clean up the loft and do laundry, and later on met our friends, Jeanne and Matt, at one of our favorite pizza places for dinner: Fellini's Pizza on Ponce. Chapin and I like the Spinach Mushroom pizza, which has spinach, mushrooms, fresh garlic and extra cheese. Yum! I am not doing so well on my resolution to eat fewer carbs. Oh well. Pizza is so worth it.

Sunday was another relaxing day. It was cold outside, so we didn't really venture out aside from running a few errands early in the day. Chapin also made some delicious Vegetarian French Onion soup using the new soup crocks I got him for Christmas.

I have a weird diet -- I don't eat cows, sheep or pigs -- so this was the first time Chapin had tried a vegetarian French Onion soup recipe. But it was quite good, and I highly recommend this version! Of course, George wanted a bite, but onions are quite harmful for dogs, so all he got was a little cheese left on the grater.

George begging for food.

A few hours after dinner, around 8 p.m., we realized it was snowing. Atlanta was, in fact, hit with a major winter storm last evening, January 9th, 2011. The snow and freezing rain continued into the morning, and schools and offices closed due to treacherous road conditions. With temperatures not planning to get above freezing anytime soon, we could be stuck at home for awhile. There is a sheet of ice on the road about 1-2 inches thick!

If you're not familiar with winters in Atlanta, you know this kind of weather is a big deal for us. We don't have the snow plows to deal with intense snow and ice, and there were quite a few accidents today. The newscasters keep saying, "Stay off the roads." So... that's what we are planning to do.

Since this site is dedicated to fashion, I will mention that I am spending some extra time in my pajamas the last few days. I am loving the two sets of PJ Salvage pajamas I received for Christmas. One has cupcakes on it, and the other has black and white sheep. They are both flannel and quite warm.

Wherever you are on this cold day, I hope you are safe and warm. Hopefully I will be back in my dresses soon!

In my Old Navy red ruffle coat

Ready to Start

I have not been feeling well lately, and Thursday morning I felt horrible, so I ended up staying home from work. I am not a good "sick" person; i.e., I have trouble resting because I am constantly wondering what's going on at work. But I'm feeling better today, after going to bed at 7:30 p.m. last night and getting a decent night's rest, so hopefully I will not have to make a trip to the doctor.

Anyway, when I'm not feeling good, I don't like to really dress up, which explains why I chose pants today. I am wearing Tahari black pants that I've probably had for close to ten years, and a Juicy Couture red shirt with black polka dots and puffed sleeves. I love this shirt, even though it's a little long on me and has a tie in back that is just way too puffy. Oh well. The shoes are Oh... Deer! Serena black patent leather shoes with gold heels, which regular readers of my blog know I call my Lady Gaga shoes. Oh... Deer! pumps are definitely more comfortable than many other brands on the market today.

Chapin gave me these black pants for Christmas probably back before we were even married, and they were a great investment. Black pants are always in style, so if you're going to spend a good deal of money on an item of clothing, spend it on something like this - that will last you years and years. I also like these pants because they are made with Spandex, meaning if I hold George on my lap, I can be assured I won't have hair clinging to me for the rest of the day. They also "give" a little, so that I can still fit in these pants even so many years later.

Before I go, I also have to give a shout out to my mother-in-law, Sheila, and co-father-in-law, Nix, who are celebrating birthdays this week. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you both.

Sheila and Nix at our wedding in 2003

Hopelessly Devoted to You

I had a hard time deciding what to wear today, because many dresses left for the Fashion Challenge are a little too fancy to wear to the office. This one I chose for today is borderline... and I am currently wearing it with a white cardigan since it's a bit chilly in my office. I also realize now, looking at this picture, that the skirt is a bit short. Oh well!

The dress today is a black and white "twofer" dress from BCBGMaxAzria. The skirt is a bubble skirt, which is a little too trendy for my taste. In a few years, these dresses and skirts will be dated and I won't be able to wear them. ("Oh, that is so 2008." I can just hear the whispers!)

I'm wearing Betsey Johnson pumps that are a little high for the short length of the skirt, but I was in a rush to get dressed and they were already out, so here we are...

Big Girls Don't Cry

Today's dress is one I don't wear too much because it is silk and pretty fancy for the office. The Marc by Marc Jacobs Hammered Red Silk Dress with puff sleeves is very flattering on just about any figure. I like this dress for its vibrant red color - which I matched with Fire Opal lipstick from Pur Minerals - as well as the puff sleeves.

I am also wearing shoes I don't wear too often because they don't go with too many outfits: the BCBGMAXAZRIA Women's Nate Platform Pumps. I could not find the exact pumps online, but the BCBGMAXAZRIA Nate2 pumps in black are still available.

I chose the name of today's post because I got very emotional watching The Today Show this morning. Every day, no matter what, The Today Show runs a story that manages to make me cry. I often have to change the channel because I get so upset. And don't get me started on those commercials for the Humane Society. They get my money each month... they don't have to torture me!

Anyway, today's story, "School bars 12-year-old epileptic boy’s service dog," was focused on a boy who suffers from seizures, and who wants to go to school, but needs the assistance of his specially trained dog. Of course, this brought up memories of my sweet Izzie, who suffered from seizures as well. I hope you never have to watch anyone you love have a seizure, because it is the most horrible thing in the world. You feel so helpless... I wish I'd had warnings when Izzie would go into seizures, and to ban this dog from the school makes no sense to me. I hope the story makes the school district see reason.

My Izzie: December 3, 2005 - January 24, 2010

Chasing Pavements

It's my first day in the office in 2011, and I am feeling re-charged after a laid back few weeks. New Year's Day I slept a lot and relaxed at home with Chapin, and Sunday we enjoyed lunch out and a quick trip to the mall to get a few links taken out of my new Michele watch. It fits my wrist just perfectly now.

Today I am wearing the Cynthia Steffe Madison Lace dress. This dress is a little fancy for the office, especially on a day when I will basically be sitting at my desk for eight hours straight, but it must be done for the Fashion Challenge. I am getting down to my last few dresses... so I will have to start wearing pants soon. Oh no!

I think I look weird in this photo, but I chose it because you can really see the detail on the shoes. The Dolce Vita Apple Suede Clog Peep Toe Pumps are just fabulous. I love this brand because the shoes look expensive, but are generally very affordable. I chose to wear them with this dress because I like to bring out the taupe in the lace part of the dress, which I think is so beautiful. I also wanted to wear peep toes because I wanted to show off my beautiful pedicure.

My friend Jeanne and I went to my favorite nail salon, Passion Nails, on New Year's Eve. I chose the color My Private Jet for my nails and toes, and I am just in love with it. It was so beautiful here on New Year's Eve that it was the perfect day for such a treat!

Auld Lang Syne

It's hard to believe it's 2011. That date just seems so futuristic. Where are the hoverboards and flying cars, not to mention my personal house-cleaning robot named Rosie? Did you realize we are just four years away from the "future" in Back to the Future II? Remember the fashion from that movie? Plastic and rubber and wearing your pants inside out... ugh!

Watching the Buffy marathon on TV New Year's Day, though, some of the outfits from 1999 fit right in with what we wear today (except for the jeans). Smart phones and the proliferation of mobile marketing/ games are probably the biggest enhancements to our lives, as well as the increasing dominance of the Internet. But overall, has life really changed that much in the past 10 years or so?

New Year's Eve 2010

One new fashion trend that has cropped up in the last few years is the bandage dress. Herve Leger leads the market here, but one dress from this designer will run you about $1,000 or more, so that's not something I can afford. Fortunately, there are a lot of knock-offs on the market, like this one I wore for New Year's Eve. It was $80 at Arden B.

I am also wearing my L.A.M.B. Quincy d'Orsay Black Pumps. I think the slits on the shoes complement the slits running up the side of the dress. I also used the new BCBGeneration Holiday Evening Checker Minaudiere in Black/Silver that my sister, Gail, gave me for Christmas.

Since this is my post on New Year's, I thought I would run through some of my resolutions for 2011:

1. Stop eating so much sugar, especially after dinner!

2. Eat more vegetables and protein, and cut down on carbs.

3. Make more space in my closet.

4. See more of my friends and loved ones.

5. Try to learn to cook and/or sew.

Happy New Year!

To Market, To Market

One of my New Year's resolutions is to make more space in my closet! Unfortunately for my pocketbook, I have purchased a number of dresses that I don't think I'll ever wear, either because the purchase was frivolous or I am now too fat to wear the item in question.

That said, in addition to donating a bunch of clothing to the poor, I am also selling this gorgeous Jill Stuart Lanny dress on eBay. I wish I could wear this dress, but I bought it thinking I could Spanx myself into it, to no avail. It's never been worn, but I did remove the tags.

If you're interested, please post a comment here or a question on the eBay page.