Don't FUR-get me!

Hullo Dah-links!  Zerene iz not here today.  Ez me….Zsa Zsa!  I told Zerene I vant to show all her lovely readers my faaabulous fur collar.  Don’t I look simply SCRUMPTIOUS dah-link?  But of COURSE I do!  I’m wearing my vonderful fur scarf, dah-link!   See how it frames the money-maker dah-link?  Yes Yes, I’m ageless I know, but it zertainly helps to have a family of rabbits to wear around your neck….those Dee-LITEFUL creatures!  Why dah-link!  Have you ever seen an ugly rabbit?!  But of course NOT!   Zese lovely fur dumplings were given to me by Jean Von Franz, a uber-vealthy trader in French baseball trading cards dah-link.  I told Jean I absolutely could NOT accept zuch an extravagant gift, but LIEBCHEN, he put on such the zad face, why I could not disappoint the poor man!

Oh my!  I must run….but excuse me dah-link…..I must be chauffered!  I have a public that awaits!  Why dah-link!  I have the hair!  I have the face!  I have the clothes!  What poor woman has to do without because I have it ALL dahlink!?!  Zerene will be back next time; but be assured dah-link.  She won’t be as glamorous as MOI!  Auf Wiedersehen!

Zsa Zsa’s Look:

DRESS:  Belk

FUR SCARF:  Thrifted for $1!!!!  (Don’t believe Zsa Zsa when she says it was given to her by an amorous admirer!)

BOOTS: Thrifted

My Rant!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are just some things that are NOT done.  EVER!  Black socks and white tennis shoes….don’t let it happen!  Leaving the house with curlers in your hair….no excuse.  Runs in your hose or tights….NOT a good look, no matter what weird celebrity does it.  Visible panty line…….do we even need to discuss this?  Unshaven armpits in a tank top……obviously I’ve gone to meddling now!  And we NEVER EVER under any circumstances other than blatant emergencies wear our pajamas to the grocery store!

They are PAJAMAS, NOT casual wear.  You can tuck them into UGGS and throw on a sweater; but when they’re fuzzy and have reindeer or hearts all over them, then they are correctly classified as Pa-Ja-Mas.  Pajamas are for sleeping or cuddling on the couch.  They are under no condition to be worn in public.  I know, I know.  I’m Prudie McPrude.  I’m 44 going on 84.  Say what you will.  Maybe I AM a bit Victorian in my thinking.  But a lady (or teen girl) puts her best foot forward and if time, inclement weather or any other such inconvenience is an issue; then one either foregoes the errand or at the very least put on a pair of jeans and clean shirt, pull the hair back in a pony tail and slap on some lip gloss and a pair of hoop earrings.  That’s a pretty quick look AND it shows a proper amount of dignity and self respect.

(Deep sigh with shaking head)  KIDS these days!

On a separate note….I LOVED this outfit!  These are the ingredients:

BLACK SWEATER:  purchased at Banana Moon in Hendersonville, NC

PANTS:  J Crew

BOOTS:  ?  Had for years

BANGS:  Self cut and totally feelin’ them!

SPOTS ON CAMERA:  Go figure!

"You smell like home"

This past Saturday morning, around 5 am, my oldest boys came home from their first semester at college.  They’re twins!  I’ve over the moon proud of them!  They are brilliant artists and are pursuing that at school.  I had not seen them since October as their school is about 5 hours away.  So when they pulled in the drive, I ran out the door and Roman down the steps to greet me.  He hugged me so hard and he said, “Man, you smell like home!”  Ahhhhhhhh…..I can’t tell you how good that makes me feel!   I missed those guys so much!   Next August, their sister will join them at college (she’s going to the same school) and within a year’s time, 3 of my chickies are out of the nest.  OUCH!  On the one hand, I’m so tickled and I’m really not the type of mom who wrings her hands when the kids are gone wondering how she’s going to fill her time.  I have lots of things I love to do and some that I’ve been putting off for the next season in my life…the kids out of the house season.  Knowing that just because I put something off doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen, helps me to stay patient and focused and hopefully give my kids as much of me as I can right now.  I absolutely believe that I can do everything I want to do, I just can’t do it all at the same time.  Life has seasons and each season brings it’s own joys.   On the other hand, I miss their smell, the daily dialogue, having everyone in the kitchen at the same time, being goofy with them and just knowing that they’re within arms reach every day.  Oh well, it all comes with the territory, eh?
You’re going to see me in a lot of variations on black over the next few days.  To be honest, I have a serious love of black!  It’s classic.  It looks good on me.  I feel great in it!  I always feel put together and like myself when I’m wearing black.  There’s so much you can do to spruce up black.  It’s like a great backdrop for unique and interesting accessories.  So, I submit to you, Serene in Black AND Serene with her wonderful kids!  I love these guys so hard!!!!!
BLOUSE & BELT:  Thrifted
JEANS:  TJ Maxx
BOOTS & SCARF:  Inherited from my mom
JEWELRY:  Sentimental

You like it? It's YOURS!

When I was in college in Albuquerque, I would go to the flea markets on Saturdays.  One Saturday I found a really fabulous ring in a southwestern design with a large pink stone.  The ring itself was pretty big and I LOVED it!  After many years, the bloom was off the rose and I rarely wore the ring…..it sat neglected in my jewelry box.  One Sunday morning I was getting ready for church and I noticed the ring.  I thought, “I’m going to wear this to church today.  The first person that compliments it (if any), I’m going to ask them, ‘If you had a ring like this would you wear it?’” and if they answered, “Yes!” then I would take it off and give it to them.  My whole thinking behind it was why should I keep something that I’m just “myeh?  Whatever….” about if someone else is “Oh my gosh I love that!” about it?  It just seemed selfish to me.  So, when I went to church, a woman named Dee Keziah was the first person to compliment this big unusual ring.  When I asked her if she’d wear it, she said, “Of course!”. 

“Then it’s all yours”, I told her as I took it off and gave it to her.  She seemed so surprised and a little taken aback.  Naturally her first response was, “Oh no, I couldn’t”!  When I assured her that it had been my plan all along, she felt better about accepting the ring.  It was wonderful to see her wear it after that!  It taught me such a great lesson that I still try to practice today.  Why should I keep something that I feel ambivalent about when I find someone who really loves it?  It’s so easy to just give it to them!

I’ve done that quite a few times over the years, and probably not as much as I should have, but there has never been a time that I regretted it.  That’s exactly what happened with these boots.  I picked these up at the Goodwill a few months back.  I loved them when I got them and when it turned colder, I was surprised that everytime I put them on to wear them, I just wasn’t feeling it.  I decided to wear them last week and when my friend, Felicia, saw them; she said, “Oh Serene, I love your boots!  I’ve been looking for some just like that!  The bell went off!  I’m thinking, “I won’t wear these but maybe twice this year.  Why not pass them to Felicia, since she really appreciates them more than I do?”  That’s what I did!  I told Felicia, “Girly, when I’m done wearing these today; they are all yours!”   To make sure she felt comfortable accepting them, I assured her that I really wouldn’t wear them, so it just made sense for her to take them.  When I brought them to her the next day, I knew they had found their home!

This is such an easy way for me to give.  It’s not budgeted, premeditated or planned.  It’s just a spur of the moment realization that something that I have means more to someone else than it does to me.  Once I realize that, it seems so necessary to let it go.  Honestly, I’ve been given so much (materially and emotionally) by so many wonderful people.  I can truly say that there’s not a thing in the world that I need and don’t already have.   Hope this doesn’t sound like a preachy post.  It’s just another way to look at the things you have.  We all have stuff that really isn’t that important to us; but to someone else…….it’s just what they’ve always wanted!

SWEATER:  Wrap sweater worn backward.  Purchased at H&M years ago.

PANTS:  J Crew via hand-me-down from my aunt

BOOTS:   Thrifted

NECKLACE:  Hand-me-down from my aunt

Fashion Friend Friday: Tap Tap Tap....Is this thing on?!

 

1. How important do you think reader connectedness is to the success your blog?

I guess I would have to define “success” for my blog.  For me, it’s an opportunity for me to share my passion for style and my firm belief in the power of adorning our bodies.  The most important thing to me is to make sure that I’m presenting myself in the most genuine way so that I’m understandable and that my thoughts and opinions are made clear.

2. What do you do to draw readers in and create that writer-reader bond?

I find the voice inside of me continually saying, “Let go of who and how many read your blog.  Be yourself.  If anyone is interested and can relate they will continue reading.  If they don’t, they won’t.”  When I get too focused on getting noticed or getting more followers, I find myself strategically dressing and posting; which makes me feel like a big phony wannabe.  Surprisingly, I’ve found that the blogs I’ve been the most drawn to seemingly have done nothing to “draw” me.  They’re just women sharing with others their style and I happen upon them and think, “Yeah, I GET her.  If she were my neighbor, we’d probably hang out!”

3.  What is one way you could improve this connection?

Hmmmm….I think kindness and being considerate is probably the best way.  If I have a new commenter, I try to always visit their blog and thank them for the visit.  If I have a new follower, I have tried always to reciprocate, even if I may not feel as much of a connection with their blog.  I just thinks it’s being courteous.   We all feel good about having  a large group of followers and it’s an easy enough thing to do for a fellow blogger.

4.  Is there a blogger you think does a great job creating that writer-reader bond? Why?

I think Terri of Rags and also Style Underdog do great at this.  And the reason is, I don’t think they really try.  I get the sense that they are who they are and that they are not doing anything on their respective blogs to gain readers.  They’re simply sharing their lives with their readers.  If it strikes a chord – GREAT!  If not – that’s okay too…..it’s not about gaining numbers.

5.  What do you do to cultivate new readers? How do you get them to your site in the first place?

I think it’s so important to be sincere.   I want my message to be:  “This is who I am and this is my point of view.  I really appreciate you stopping by and visiting”.  Let’s face it.  There are HUNDREDS of style blogs and sometimes it can feel a little like reality TV!  I post many of my blogs on my FB page, and I visit other blogs and only comment when I feel moved to; or if I feel a kinship to that blogger.  Doesn’t it really go back to what you count as success for your blog?  I have definitely felt the angst of not growing followers quickly enough and the envy of seeing other bloggers gain 100 followers in a couple of months or being courted by sponsors wanting to throw beautiful expensive garments their way.  I would have to be not even human not to feel a twinge of “why can’t it be like that for me?”.   But I want to be real and sincere in all that I do in my real life AND in my cyber life.  My focus is to reach like minded women and share with them my style, my views on life, being a woman, aging and expressing oneself at any age or income level.  I don’t believe that style is for a select few who can afford designer clothes.  It’s for every woman who has even the smallest bit of imagination.  If that resonates with someone, then I have not only a new follower, but rather a friend.  Sounds hokey as I’m writing it, but it really is how I feel.

Be sure to visit Katy of Modly Chic and sign up to become part of Fashion Friend Friday too!

All that Glitters!

Felicia

Sherry

Carrie

Hello!  I’d love to chit chat with you but I’m far too busy and important to slow down!  I’m sure that you can see that for yourself though because I have on my “busy and important” gold trench that let’s the world know that the woman inside of it is …….wait for it…………….Busy AND Important! 

Doesn’t this trench look expensive?  Well, it was!  But not for me!!  It is a Doncaster Tanner trench that retails for about $500!  Yes, that’s two zeros riding that five’s back.  It’s hard to believe, but there are actual women who paid that much for it.  You know how much I paid?  $24!!!!  Last Spring at the Warehouse sale here in my town.   A few times a year, Tanner has a warehouse sale that is crazy ridiculous.  I snatched this up last year and tucked it away in the back of my closet just waiting for some appropriate weather to wear it.  It’s so fabulous, no picture can even do it justice.  Since it’s such a statement piece, I kept everything else basic black.

I also had to include some pictures of the fabulous stylish women I work with.  Felicia is one of our personal trainers (I am marketing manager at a gym) is I have to tell you, there is not a superfluous piece of skin on her body!  She’s a powerhouse and even better, just a sweet woman whose mission in life seems to be helping others do things they never thought they could.  The sweater she is wearing came from the same Celebrity Consignment shop I mentioned a couple of days ago.  After hearing talk me and a mutual friend talk about it, Felicia took her best girl and they had a BLAST!  She said that they must have been in there for over 2 hours trying everything on.

Sherry is the club manager and runs the Silver Sneaker program, which is our most popular class.  I joke with her that it’s not a class, it’s a cult!  This group uses every opportunity to get together, bring great food, listen to music and have fun.  Carrie is our office manager and is steady shrinking in front of our eyes!  She has the best shape….I always tell her she has a Va Va VOOM figure – the perfect hourglass!  I work with even more wonderful women, but unfortunately, couldn’t get their pics today.  The best thing about them all is that they’re so sweet and encouraging to everyone.  I’m so fortunate to have such wonderful “sisters” in my life!

TRENCH:  Doncaster Tanner

PANTS:  J Crew

BOOTS:  Enzo Angilioni

Nothing thrifted today, but what can I say?  I feel FABULOUS!!  I hope you do too!!!!

How about some Bee Gees this morning?

Impossible....Mwah ha ha! I laugh in your face!

This skirt belonged to my mom.  I even remember when she last wore it….and Easter service that she went with me to when I lived in Oregon.  I thought it was stunningly beautiful and she looked stunning in it.  When she passed away and I went through all of her lovely clothes, this skirt was again a favorite.  But the waist was miniscule, basically each end of the zipper coming to my hip bones.  That hook and eye closure had as much of a chance of meeting as George Clooney and me…..not gonna happen!

Then, I met a woman at the gym where I work who used to sew for Tanner, the same company actually that made this skirt.  I asked her if there was anything that could be done to make it fit my waist because it is certainly liberal enough in the hips.  Brilliant woman that she is (this is a shout out to you Ms. Lucy!), she suggested that if I did not mind losing a couple of inches off the bottom, she could basically just cut the waist down to where the a-line in the skirt begins to widen.  Can I say it again?  BRILLIANT!!  Now I get to where this jewel that my mom wore so well.  Lemme tell ya, my mom was a little bitty thing.  I used to point to her womb and tease her, “How did this (pointing at myself) ever come from there?!”  So what I thought was impossible, was actually easily possible! 

Moral of the story:  Like Paulo Coelho (my favorite author and philosopher) says, “Impossible is merely an opinion”'  Go forth and conquer!!!