Fashion

[KonaKat]

Good morning, shopping friends. Today, the temps have dropped to 54 degrees much higher than normal but about 20 degrees lower than the past week. The rest of the week is looking increasingly gloomy.

I was up bright and early at 6am, so I have gotten many things done. I have the car trunk loaded with things for donation when I go to the city. I will drop them off either tomorrow or Thursday as I have to be there both days.  Before I do so, I hope to have more put in the car. I'm striking while the iron is hot as the old saying goes. I had expected someone else to have started the thread by now as a result of my efforts elsewhere.

I was looking at that list of things in clothing that we might  see less of in the coming year. Jeans with holes in them can definitely go. I am of the era in which no one would be caught out with jeans except when working around house, a casual outing or on a casual Friday...and then never with holes. That signified one could not afford to care for their clothes, mend them or buy new ones. Now, anything goes as the often posted "Wal-Mart" pictures show. I must say that in our area, we don't see people dressed that often  as seen in these pictures. 

The next two days will be spent in appointments. I am so thrilled that my new insurance deductible period starts soon, so at least, I will get these out of the way on the dying gasps of the current deductible period. As of the last of November, my medical charges totalled $78,720.34 of which I had to pay around $400. Pharmacy charges totalled $5,739.92 of which I had to pay $653. I am most thankful for my insurance.

Have a great day. If you shop, shop wisely.

[cerb]

Hi everyone - Jean - thanks for getting us started.  So glad that you have good insurance!  I agree about the clothing thing.  About the only people around here that wear  jeans with holes are high school girls.  Other than teenagers, I don't see that many people wearing real trendy clothes.  The most unattractive look I see are women who wear clothes too tight, and by tight, I mean you can count every roll of fat, even when they're not that heavy.  I'm overweight myself, so believe me, I am not fat-shaming anyone.  I just think that they don't know how to dress attractively.

My DS did set up the cassette player and computer so that I can transfer the contents.  It's not hard to do once it's set up.  Believe me everyone, I thought the cassettes had been thrown away years ago, but that's what happens when you clean out the back corner of some neglected closet or cupboard, lol.  I am keeping ones that have non-fiction spoken content, such as motivational, weight-loss, finance, etc.  I got three done last night and will resume in a few minutes.

The dinner at my church last night in honor of our retiring pastor went really well.  I hope that he enjoyed it.  Yes, we do have a pastor taking his place.  We hired him a year and a half ago, and he has been acting as assistant pastor while being mentored.  So far the transition has been going well.  

I just plan on puttering around the house today and make some progress on those cassettes.  Hope you all have a blessed Tuesday!  ~  Charlene

[Bird mama]

Thanks for getting our show on the road Jean.

The wind really ripped last night until around midnight.  There is white stuff on the ground - in the form of frozen tiny ice pellets.  Today is garbage pickup day so I walked gingerly across the icy driveway to get my couple of bags out early this morning.  The roads were fine this morning and I am hoping my driveway is all melted by the time I get home tonight. 

Because I drink alot of water before I go to bed (take Synthroid before bed time so I need to drink a tall glass of water with it), I went to bed around 10 pm and was up around 11:45 pm to 'pay the water bill', lol.

I went back to bed and within 5 minutes heard a siren.  An ambulance next door is not that uncommon, so I shot up to see if something was up with my neighbor.

Nope it was a patrol car right in front of my house on the opposite side of the street.  The cop pulled over a pick up truck.  The young guy got out of the truck and stood by the end of the pick up bed as instructed by the officer.  Next thing I know, cop looks into truck and comes to kid, turns him around and hand cuffs him. 

Since that doesn't happen every day on my street, I was in the bay window, my eyes bugging, rofl.

I watched the activity for about an hour.  The cop went back to the pickup truck then went back to the patrol car and waited.  Another official car came, no blue and red lights though.  It was an SUV and I'd swear they brought dogs.  Trust me, nobody near me has a dog big enough to bark like that and I live around senior citizens.  The few who have dogs don't let them out 12:30 in the morning.

I finally told myself, Bernie it's near 1 am - you have got to go to work tomorrow.  So I laid back down, put a pillow over my face to block out the flashing lights and fell asleep.

I wonder what that was about? 

[KonaKat]

Charlene--I don't even see teens wearing jeans with holes as much as they once did. They are increasingly wearing dresses and many are going overboard with the penciled on very dark eyebrows and cat eyes that harken back to another era.

I have a relative who wears overly tight clothes as she thinks it makes her look smaller. The truth is that if she would go up a size, she would have some breathing room and the legs of the pants wouldn't keep their creases once she stands up after sitting for a long time. They ride up when she sits down and has a tendency to keep the creases that result. She is an apple so when she wears too tight of pants and she doesn't wear a long top over the pants, the fly shows the zipper. Sometimes, it is better not to draw attention.

 I'm glad that you got the tape transfer system set up and that the dinner with the retiring pastor went well. It is good that your assitant pastor will be the pastor as it has given everyone an opportunity to become adjusted during the transition.

Bernie--It sounds as if you had some excitement last night. I would have been checking it out also.  Sounds like they brought in the drug dogs. The last flight I took, the drug dogs met us at the baggage claim where they sniffed out all the luggage as it came out of the chute.

I'm having Progresso Light soup for lunch. Afterwards, I think I will take a two-hour break for some time with Midnight and the Kindle.

[PAlady]

Good afternoon ladies, hope all is well.

Jean - Thank you for starting us today. Our company left this morning. somwe spent ot cleaning bathrooms and stripping beds.  I know, I know how to have a wild holiday season.  Having visitors was noce, but, it is nice to have the house to ourselves again.

We are having a rather dreary day here also, but can't complain it is 51 degrees out, and no snow.

Glad your insurance is good, it has saved you a lot of money. 

Good job on the clearing out, I am going to start that again after I finish putting the Christmas decorations away.

Charlene -   Glad the dinner went well, I have a ton of cassettes around here, I was thinking about doing what you are, but not sure if it would be worth it.

Bernie -  Sounds like you were watching a drug bust last night.  Hope tonight is not as exciting and you get some sleep.

I guess I have stalled enough, I have my Christmas decorations sitting here to be boxed and put away so I guess I should get moving.  I'll try to check in later, hope everyone has a great afternoon.

[KonaKat]

Susan--It is great having visitors but it is also nice to have the house to yourself....a healthy mixture. I know that you enjoyed the company as well as the decorations soon to be put away.

This is an interesting item to read which was written by a Texas lady who discovered how to end her fashion impulse buying even when the item was inexpensive. In it, she mentions a Netflix video which deals with the issue:

The problem with $2 tank tops and $20 dresses is that prices are so low that they encourage you to buy more, simply because you can. I know I’ve fallen into this trap. Shopping at stores with these prices makes you feel rich, leading you to squander money on items you do not need and that do not make you any happier. It’s no surprise, then, that the average American household owes $7,400 in credit card debt, mostly due to clothing purchases."

http://thefinancialdiet.com/how-one-documentary-ended-my-long-term-relationship-with-fast-fashion/

[Genny1]

Hello Ladies.....we had the ice,sleet overnight.....it was "warmed up" 38 degrees so it is melting...I was out to the store earlier and the roads are clear but wet.  I guess after all the warm weather we have been having since the fall has made us spoiled into thinking winter really wasn't coming.

Nice that the dinner last night was a success for your Paster Charleen....will he stay in the area?  I have never transferred tapes to cd's and wouldn't know how to start!

Bernie I would be looking out my window to see what was going on to...we live in a very quiet area so seeing flashing lights would have people looking.

Just everybody is gone from here....can't believe Chtistmas is over..my decos are still up...the tree is holding up pretty well too no needles dropping.

Karen glad you had a nice dinner....the restaurant you went to was it Guarguillos (spelling) we frequent them a lot and we had our son's rehearsal dinner in there...have been there on many other occasions too..

Not much else going on....I hope your water/pipes replacement is going better today Snicks.   Have a nice afternoon everyone......Marijane.

Twinny I hope your DS and wife got off to Boston ok...with the snow they had.

[FunkyHulaGirl]

Hi girls!  Well, it's a beautiful, warm, sunny day out...hopefully the rain is over and done with.  I have no plans to go anywhere; I made a quick trip to Aldi yesterday and spent all my cash except for 2¢ - talk about cutting it close!    Tomorrow I'll make a trip to Publix, since the checks I write there don't clear for a couple of days. 

Funny how by the time Christmas arrives it's anticlimactic - months of hype, and then it's just a memory.  Did any of you hear Steve Bryant's new song, "60 Days of Christmas?"  He's such a talented man; QVC's hosts sure have changed...and not for the better.

I always thought that torn jeans look was ridiculous. Back when I worked at Penney's PT I would sometimes look at someone who was buying them with a serious face and ask them if they realized the jeans they were purchasing were damaged....   I understand that not everyone is going to like every new style that comes out, but some are just plain ugly and I can't imagine anyone liking them.  So many people wear clothing that's too tight; makes you wonder if they think it makes them look thinner, if it's a "vanity" thing - being able to stuff their butts into a smaller size; or if the clothes fit properly at one point, but...  

Jean, I've fallen into the trap of buying something just because it's cheap. I remember back when I first started working and my first monthly salary was $320, I'd pay $40 for pretty blouses at Saks Fifth Avenue and not think twice about it.  Of course, back then most clothing was made in the US and was of a quality that lasted for years. Sometimes I have to remind myself that today's disposable clothing was most likely made by someone who is little more than a slave. 

I was talking to my BFF who lives in California - the one who used to send me care packages with used bras from the thrift shop. Thankfully she hasn't done that in a long time, but last time I got a "gift" form her she sent me two pair of jeggings that she picked up at Ross for just a couple of dollars each.  They're supposed to be "one size," but it's definitely in anorexic sizing - they're not more than 12" across, laid flat!  Anyway, she asked what size I wear now, and I told her a 14, working back to a 12. She said she saw some nice things in the Roaman's catalog, adding that an XL was an 18-20, and asked what size I would wear from them.  (sigh)  I had to try and explain that there's a diffence in cut between juniors, misses, and women's clothing, and anything from Roaman's would be too big for me.  I wish she'd just send a gift card if she wanted to get me something; I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but she keeps getting things I can't use, then spends money on the postage which has gotten high... 

Charlene, it's good that people had time to get acclimated to a new pastor; it'll make the transition easier.  Is the former pastor going to remain in the area? How do you transfer music from cassette to the computer?

Bird, sounds like you had a real-life police drama going on, lol.  Is there a police blotter on-line you can check to see what happened?

I've always had to get up at night several times for as long as I can remember.  This might interest you:

A GLASS OF WINE BEFORE TURNING IN

A single glass at night could mean a peaceful, uninterrupted night's sleep.

NEW Wine for Seniors , I kid you not.....

Clare Valley vintners in South Australia, which primarily produce Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Grigio wines have developed a new hybrid grape that acts as an anti-diuretic. It is expected to reduce the number of trips older people have to make to the bathroom during the night.
The new wine will be marketed as...

PINO MORE.

I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE!!

Well, the "lost week" continues; nothing much seems to get done the week between Christmas and New Year's.  I did get a call from one of the overpriced handymen to ask about the duct work; thanks, but no thanks - I refuse to be ripped off.  I guess I'd better do my vacuuming, then I can get back to my new Jefferey Deaver novel. 

Have a blessed day, everyone! 

[ksmitty28]

Hi Ladies...boy, is it a gloomy day in NY.  It is really feeling like winter, which I like a little of, especially some snow- you can keep the cold rain and sleet.  But, by Friday, it's supposed to be back up in the 60s.

Thanks for starting, Jean...sounds like you're on a roll with decluttering.  I need to get back on track with that soon.  Your medical bills are up there this year, thank goodness for good health insurance.

Charlene...I'm curious about the tape transfer.  Please tell us how it's done.

Bernie...it does sound like a drug bust.  I would have had my nose at the window, too.

Susan...we were lucky this year, no overnight guests.  It did make things easier.

Marijane...it was Gargiulo's.  My in laws used to go several times per week and were very friendly with the owners.  My husband knows their kids- grew up together, who now are the owners.  The food was, as usual, outstanding.

I'm home from work a little early today, and happy about it.  We'll be in tax season in no time, so I'll take the early days when I can.  Thanks again for the birthday wishes...it was a fun day.

[ksmitty28]

Arlene...I missed you, sorry.  Hopefully, you'll get your hot water heater fixed soon.  Like you, I used to spend quite a bit on my clothes, but most wore like iron.  I would get bored before they wore out.  Enjoy your new book!!