Rainbow Bright

Tuesday was a rainy day, and you know I have to brighten the mood in my little part of the world. I was out in the yard dead-heading my roses when it started pouring rain. So I went to deliver my mom's Mother's Day planter since they were out of town Sunday. I looked like a drowned rat--a good bit more disheveled than when I took these photos early in the day! All the way I had glimpses of a double rainbow. By the time I got to their apartment and pulled out the camera, it was a single one but still very cool.
 

Gold blouse-Cato
Striped Tee-Walmart
Jeans-Cato
Sandals-Cato

You would never guess my small town offers about 2 places to buy new clothing--Walmart and Cato. Of course larger towns with better shopping are not far. I'm just lazy! There's a little consignment shop where I found lots of great pieces the first time I went in. Ever since then, I have not found one thing I like. I'm trying to save up and buy quality, but old habits die hard.

Photographer vs. Tripod

I just realized my title could also refer to the death match struggles I have had with my tripod as it attempted to kill my camera by tipping over on a windy day. Then there was the time it tripped me. No, I didn't trip over it; it tripped me with one of it's three spindly, tricky legs! No, my intention is to discuss the experience of being photographed by someone else vs. taking self portraits.

These outfit photos were from Saturday when I actually had my husband at my disposal. We ate a ridiculously unhealthy breakfast at Huddle House, spread mulch in our garden, and took outfit photos. While I'm getting better at posing naturally in self-portraits, I can still tell a big difference in my body language and facial expressions. With a human photographer, I am much more relaxed, happy and just acting like myself. Excuse the pun, but with a tripod, I kinda feel like a poser.

My husband and kids are not trained in photography at all and I set all the camera settings for them, make suggestions, etc. Then I pretty much let them go except to check after a few shots to see if I've messed up the exposure or something. Not long ago my husband literally had his thumb in any picture he took. He's obviously improving.

Tripod
Pros: I don't have to work around anyone else's schedule and my tripod doesn't complain when I take a million shots trying new things. A human can't
comfortably get some of the angles my tripod can and I never have to work around his schedule.

Cons: I'm not as relaxed. I'm self-conscious in public places. It feels more presumptuous and arrogant to be snapping repeated pictures of myself. I imagine passers by saying, "Who does she think she is?" Whereas a husband wanting photos of his wife seems normal. Once in my small town some people in a car did circle the block to get a second look at me snapping outfit photos. However, I'm pretty sure people aren't really all that interested. I'm just paranoid that way and really quite shy.






Human Photographer
Pros: Natural smiles and body positioning. My husband or kids can get a real smile out of me anytime. I have trouble making eye contact when my camera is on a tripod. Weird, huh? Security--this pretty much speaks for itself. I've had moments where I've skipped awesome locations or where prisoners started working on the park where I was photographing, etc. A different perspective--my husband and kids don't think the way I do and it gives a fresh look to my photos when I get bogged down in the same old things.

Cons: When they are tired of taking photos, they are done even if it's after one really bad photo. I'm not the boss any more. There I said it; I want to be in control.

So tripod or human photographer, which do you prefer?

Happy Mentally Unstable Mom Day!

One of the twins was kind enough to create labels for me in case I forget who I am. He loves to mess with me! It's so great when they're this age because their expectations for you mental abilities are so low. My parents were really dumb when I was 14 too, but turned smart about the time I got my first job and first apartment. I figure I have around 4--10 years before I get smart again. Meanwhile, I intend to enjoy being stupid and embarrass them a little. It's fun!

Note the ever-present coffee cup in the background. I love coffee!

I'm not sure what I was thinking with this outfit but for some reason grey and white were calling to me. I've been so much about color lately that I needed a break, I guess. Note that my hubby has a grey uniform shirt on with greying hair and doesn't he look cute? Grey can be quite cool and relaxing. This particular day I had morning meetings and the rest of the day off, so I grabbed this with my dark wash jeans and brown sneakers. We'll get back to colors tomorrow.

If a Monet Painting Was a Shirt . . .

 I would so totally wear it!

 I am in love with these sandals. No really, I think I've been wearing them every day. Crop pants again? Yeah, I promise to behave better, but the sudden heat wave hit me really hard. Yes, I can see that my legs look stumpier than when I wear nice long trousers. However, my goal for this week was not to die of heat stroke while I wait to get my car's air conditioning fixed.

Here I am teaching my class. White boards. Hee hee. I love whiteboards and flip charts. I don't know why. And the final picture shows the giant water tower looming over the building. They tell me it actually leaked and flooded the building before. Hopefully this won't happen again, especially while I'm teaching!

Beaded jewelry--me
Crop pants--Cato
Shirt--Fashion Bug
Sandals--Target.

Copycat--Scarf and Khaki Blazer

I try to be original when I can. But then again, isn't fashion about wearing what's popular right now? We could talk about "style" vs. "fashion" but I worked my day job today. Let's face it; I'm too tired. This outfit was directly inspired by looking at Kendi's outfits like this one. I noticed she tends to wear jackets or blazers and scarves while looking totally cute. 

Now, I have a totally different body type, style, etc. but I have to say jackets look good on almost anybody. They're great for waist definition. And the scarf? Well, that's easy to explain--I crochet. For those who don't crochet or knit, well there's this compulsion to do it . . . a lot and to try to make things you can actually wear. Scarves can be completed super fast. I crocheted this one in one night to wear the next day. Maybe because I'm a beginner at knitting, it takes a lot longer to knit one, maybe even a month or two. Either way there is pride in wearing your own handiwork . . . and a little fear that it will look stupid.  

I'm sensing a slight "mom jean" vibe here. So I'm wondering if I need to step up my jeans style once my budget will cooperate.

Gateway to a Fashion Fantasy World

 Hey, it's "pretend you're rich enough for a gate" day. Not only did this driveway have the loveliest flowering trees lining it but also a cool gate. Best of all, it was right on my way to work. What you can't see is the goats staring at me from across the street in my decidedly non-status neighborhood in the middle of nowhere. It's a lovely place but different than the picture would suggest. There's a fashion connection I could draw somewhere in here, I just know it.

I swore I wasn't going to buy any clothes for a while, but this striped sleeveless sweater was at the Goodwill store and well . . . did I really have a choice?

 Sorry for the squint. I have extremely light sensitive eyes! A beautiful sunny day, faithful dog by my side. What could be better? A beaded tunic gifted to my by my mom.

How about animal print flats with an animal admiring them! Ash liked them so much that he lay on my feet and rolled around. Maybe I should explain no real animals were involved in the making of these shoes!

And of course with my photos, there's always a back story. This was taken just before Ash tripped me and I stumbled over the tripod spraining my ankle slightly. Fortunately, I had already taken the camera off since I now have quite a reputation as a camera killer. Who knew fashion and photography could be so hazardous to your health?

 

Orange You Glad

I'm wearing a handmade crochet clothing item, in bright orange no less. It must be a risk-taking kind of a day! Even though the outfit isn't perfect for figure flattery, I'm taking a chance and posting it anyway while making a mental note to do better. As usual the pets must remain close to me at all times. Maybe I should be doing a pet blog instead of a style blog.
.

What Should I Wear to a Conference, Day 2 & 3

This is what I wore to the Symposium on Saturday. Since it was the weekend, I chose jeans and the sneakers are because I got tired of my feet protesting when I went out to walk during breaks. The mix of sitting for long periods and periodic jumping up for walks was really irritating to my feet somehow.

I wonder sometimes if people think I'm faking when limp out and stroll smoothly back in. It's an opportunity to educate about Rheumatoid arthritis, right? But not entirely fun for me. I believe it's the plantar fasciitis that makes my feet act a fool after sitting a long time.

An Exercise in Frustration
After hearing Dr. Ratey speak about exercise, I'm ready to storm my local school superintendent's office with research to show how STUPID it is that my kids have PE only certain 9 weeks as an elective when I had it daily 1-12th grade. I really think daily PE and ballet is how I got through childhood so well. Now I'm in the curious position of being a big advocate of exercise, but being the voice of reason as an arthritis sufferer. I simply can't "just do it" and push myself till it hurts. From experience I can say that if I don't really guard my joints, I have to stop exercising for a while to heal up. So for me, moderation is key. Even my dear husband who is super-understanding about my arthritis recently asked me why I don't add jogging to my exercise routine. Excuse me, shall I carry you to the Rheumatologist's office and show you my foot x-rays? I take it as a complement because hubby who believes I can do anything doesn't see my limitations, and he honestly just forgot.

There are still lots of people out there who think you're just lazy if you don't push yourself with super intense workouts. So let me be the voice of reason that says get out there, move your body the best you can and find things you enjoy. Swimming and kayaking seem ideal for me, but my co-worker thinks paddling all day would be torture. Yet she would do boot camp type stuff at a gym. Who is right? Both of us are! O.K. Now stepping off my soapbox. Besides, Kelly at RA Warrior says it so much better than I do. Worth a looksee!

Me and Mater

I've been thinking that the farm would make the ultimate photo backdrop. This is where my hubby and friends run a paintball field on his grandparents' old farm.  His uncle has the odd habit of leaving vehicles wherever they stop running, so randomly scattered throughout the property there are tractors, boats, school buses just for starters. Once when I was helping him mark the field boundaries for a game, we stumbled upon a '55 Chevy truck buried in the underbrush, but that's another story.

 

"Tow Mater" looked like a friendly prop for a departure from my usual backdrops. My nephew is crazy about Cars. Would he be mystified and creeped out or thrilled by a real life Mater? We'll have to see.

Grey sweater vest, thrifted
Maroon cardigan, Cato
Dark Wash Jeans
and my trusty sneakers

What should I wear for . . . a 4-day training?

Here is what your average social worker looks like after sitting in training all day. That would explain the creases in my pants and extra-casual clothing. As a profession, we aren't exactly known for our fashion sense. I mean, they even had frumpify Mariah Carey to play a social worker. Isn't it bad enough we're always portrayed as sadistic baby snatchers? She looks depressed, burned out and bedraggled, all of which are hazards of our profession, trust me. I'm just lucky enough to work in a setting that I love.  But I digress . . . This outfit is partly due to them announcing "casual dress", partly poor packing for my trip and partly still guarding my feet carefully from any cute shoes. It's kind of a C+ outfit, but I post it anyway because it's real and I want to be real with this. 

And of course I had to include a picture of Stone Mountain. I hadn't seen it since I was 14 and didn't remember it being so big. Every night when I returned to my hotel I commented, "Wow, what a huge rock!"

Tunic Sweater on a Sunday

I've gotten really brave lately about wearing leggings. Let me put it this way, I gave birth to twins and it had an effect on my belly, O.K.?  I'm not a stick woman--more of an hour & 1/2 glass than hourglass shaped. Most of the time I'm just fine with that but I thought it ruled out certain types of clothing completely. Now I realize I have to use leggings carefully and selectively, but I can wear them. See exhibit A:

Leggings are very comfy for crawling around in the floor after toddlers. Since I keep nursery during Sunday school, my church clothes have to be baby-proof. Then I want to look good in the choir too!Could it be these are actually slimming? It makes me look smaller on top somehow. I'm between 38D and DD according to the recent bra fitting I had, but you'd never know it from these pictures. That's one complaint I have about tunics or long sweaters--they make me look flat and a mile wide especially in the hips. I see a little flattening and maybe an emphasis on my hips, but somehow this whole thing works.

But watch out, my hubby started giving me instructions for poses. . . 

I call this next one my "Baby Got Back" shot. Maybe I was attempting one of those weird arched back poses models do? Someday I'm going to do a post of all photo bloopers, and this will be in there! See the camera really does add 20 lbs and this time it was all added to my posterior!

Casual Continued

 I'm continuing a casual trend here because of my casual footwear. Also Fridays are usually casual or even "clean the office day" since we don't have a cleaning service or rather your looking at half of the cleaning service right now. I'm loving this burgundy cardigan because I can pair it with all kinds of colors--like this purple tee here.

And I was trying to hurry to beat the sunset so I could get a quick outdoors shot. So when I hurriedly set up the tripod and this shot, I got what looks like a monster blade of grass in front of me. Hey, I'm asking Santa for a better camera and hoping for much better photos for this blog. Maybe I should also ask for better photography skills too.  Like I've said before I'm using a $60 Kodak Easy Share Sport. It does have it's advantages though. When I was taking these, it started to sprinkle and I didn't scream and run for the hills.

Getting in the Christmas Spirit

I said for December I would experiment with unusual color combinations. So here goes. I decided to try my red sweater vest over a brown/black plaid shirt. I know it doesn't sound like much but it's a big stretch for me to put something together that isn't an obvious match. Who knew picking out clothing combos could be fun? Over the last several months I've suddenly taken to grabbing things out of my closet and sticking them together just to see what happens.

Thanks to my recent foot rebellion, the Merrill clogs are my footwear of choice for a while. Hubby and I have a running joke about how sexy they are. And the nutcracker? Why am I holding a nutcracker? Well, as much as I collect anything, I guess I sort of collect them. Also, I believe it's a law that once you've taken ballet, you HAVE to love the Nutcracker. So, there you go.