Week 26!
Welcome back for this week’s edition of the Fashion Files, hosted by Amy and me! If you don’t know Amy, her blog is Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa. Holy moly! Mother Nature just didn’t get the memo, or maybe she can’t read a calendar (much like moi)! It’s 85 degrees (29C) outside right now. Where did my Fall go? I am not happy about this! I’ve got my pumpkins, my mums, and my Fall wreath up (stomps foot)! My phone tells me it’s supposed to be cooler by the end of the week, but I’m not so sure I trust it! I want my Fall, and I want it now! And, I want it to last about two months!
Let’s get this party started!
If you’re a fashion blogger, this is the place to be. It’s the day of the week where I talk about the things I wore last week and what I did as well as anything I might have bought. It’s also the place where you can tell us about what you wore, what you bought, what you wished you’d bought! Please tell your friends about our link party because we’d love to see it grow and grow! I am pretty sure I made it to everyone’s blog last week! So, on with the show! Huzzah!
Last week’s looks…
Tuesday – Nigel had physical therapy in the afternoon. He wasn’t feeling well so he cancelled it. I was supposed to go to my youngest granddaughter’s concert that night. The problem is my eyesight isn’t good at night. I remember thinking those little old ladies who would complain about driving at night were just making it up. Trust me, y’all, night vision is real. My problem is compounded by my cataracts that need to be taken out. I can’t do that until Nigel is better at walking. You’re not supposed to lift anything for a couple of weeks. I don’t pick him up, but what if he falls? And, I do help him get out of bed during the middle of the night. I don’t know if that would count toward lifting or not. I really do want to get them done, though. A friend had hers done and couldn’t believe the difference! I wore a pair of Old Navy OG Loose jeans and a Kantha Bae top of some kind. It ties together in a couple of places and is cut pretty low. I added a Halftee so I wouldn’t have to worry about it.
Wednesday – I had a women’s ministry meeting to go over the retreat from last month. I messed around all morning and didn’t get my shower until late. Yes, I actually went to the church like this. I don’t worry anymore about what people think of how I look. The top and pants are a new kind of athleisure from Old Navy. I thought they would look good together, but after seeing the photo, I don’t think so. I’m really beginning to rethink the whole flowy over flowy look. It may depend on the fabrics as to whether it will work or not. This fabric is a bit like scuba material, I think. It’s really comfy and cozy so I will probably wear it at home together. The pants have a cool side seam thingy that sticks out as well as pockets! I worked more in my closet as well as blogging…commenting on others and trying to get caught up on responding to comments on mine. I also had handbell practice that night. It was our first practice of the year, and I had so much fun! I can’t read music, but I can count to four! I also have lucked out and played the same bells for almost 30 years, I think. I also finished up my Thursday post for the Global Writing Challenge. This isn’t the best photo ever, is it? You can see how straight and thin my hair is. The colors are just on the top layer so you can really see how white my hair is underneath. It kinda makes for a strange illusion of baldness, I think.
Thursday – I had a European Core meeting today, and I loved every minute of it. There is nothing like a group of docents getting together to talk art, especially when it’s the Pissarro family, van Gogh, Gaugin, and Sezanne! We then discussed what we were going to do with the rest of the year. We have decided to pick a gallery and focus on an artwork in that gallery. Then, each of us selected a piece to report back on. This may be a bit redundant for some of the docents, but it’s such a lifesaver for me and the other new docents. Like I’ve said before, right now, my knowledge at the museum is an inch deep and a mile wide. I need to get that a mile deep and ten miles wide! This is one of the ways to do it. I wore a pair of Gudrun Sjödén pants, one of my favorite tanks from Old Navy, and a beautiful cardigan from Garnet Hill. I think the proportions on this outfit are so much better than the one above. When I got home, I worked on more blogging. But, I totally blew it for Traffic Jam! I don’t know, somedays, if I’m coming or going!
Friday – I had been looking forward to this day for a long time! I gave a VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies) tour to a group of students from a local university. They are all in the Physician Assistants program and were very enthusiastic about being at the museum. Their day had been broken into four or five sections. I had planned out a pretty cool tour, I thought, and they responded quite well to it. We debriefed via email which was very helpful to me. There are some things I need to do the next time I do one of these kinds of tours. I wore this cute Gudrun Sjödén dress with a new Sylca Designs necklace. And, I’m really loving this wig! I have been so surprised at how comfortable these flats from Miz Mooz are. I frequently wear these (and the several other pairs I have) to the museum and am on my feet for hours. When I got home, I did a reel for Instagram. I’m really leaning hard into my new moniker there…Queen of Awkward Videos! Did you know you can make videos longer than 60 seconds? Well, I surely didn’t! My version will do a 20 minute video which would be soooo awkward. But, Instagram then takes what you do film and pieces it all together. It isn’t perfect, but it’s much better than what I could do! I’m trying to decide if I need to up my Instagram game or not! Opinions, anyone? I’m not sure if I did the longer video for Lintico on Thursday or Friday. I feel like it was Thursday, but at this point, I don’t know!
Saturday – I tried, once again, to get caught up on blogging…reading blogs, commenting, responding to comments on my own. I don’t know how some of y’all do it! I also finished up my Abney piece and uploaded it to the place we are putting these artist reports. Of course, me being me, I didn’t do it right the first time. Oh, no, I uploaded a personal document that I sure as shooting don’t want anyone else to have! Luckily, my docent friend who is a whiz kid with computers and apps was able to remove it for me. Then, I uploaded the right one. Earlier in the afternoon is when I went to a movie about Romare Bearden (more about that in the next section). It was in a part of Indianapolis I don’t know well, but GPS delivered me right to the front door. I wore a mesh turtleneck from Banana Republic, a cardigan from Old Navy, and my asymmetrical waisted jeans from Halara. If I didn’t already own a gazillion pairs of jeans, I’d order more (honest, Amy, I would). My hair was actually cooperating. It must have wanted to see the movie and not have to peer through the fibers of a wig!
Sunday – I had two hours of Gallery Conversations today, and I had so much fun talking to so many different people! One of the best things about doing these is sharing a little nugget or two about the art. One guest, who was from Luxembourg, was shocked that a city like Indianapolis would have a van Gogh, Sezanne, and Gaugin…all on one wall no less! He wasn’t condescending or anything like that. He was truly surprised to find those in the middle of the Midwest, I think. We talked a bit about those pieces as well as two by Emile Bernard, another of my favorite painters. I also spoke with guest from Nigeria. I asked him if any of the paintings in that particular gallery spoke to him. He responded with, “Well, which is your favorite here?” I had to pick Charles Alston’s Harlem at Night. Then, he asked me why. Now, I’m beginning to think he may have been a docent, but I told him the colors, the forms, and the movement I saw in the painting. We moved to another favorite, Streetlight by Constance Richardson. We talked for a bit about it, and he asked me what story it told me. I am telling you we had such a wonderful conversation! I begrudgingly had to leave him soon after because I’m supposed to talk to lots of people! And, I did! I wore Gudrun Sjödén dress and thought about adding a slip for warmth, but I didn’t need it.
Monday – This was one of those days when nothing had to be done. We had talked about going to the mall (I have to return some things…more on that below). But, Nigel didn’t sleep well last night so he was napping until late in the morning. Since there was no hurry in going to the mall, I just let him sleep, and we had a lazy day. I did put the finishing touches on this post. I forgot to mention that on Saturday our oldest came over and undid whatever was holding the counter on the island. He also pulled up a couple of the planks. So, I decided I needed to see just how difficult that would be. It’s not difficult at all, and now I can’t wait to help (though they’ll tell me to stay out of the way…I just know) my boys tear up the flooring in the kitchen! No word yet, though, on the installation of the floor or counters. I think I’ve finally convinced Nigel to wait for just a bit to decide upon the backsplash. This is my hair in all its thin and lifeless glory! I didn’t feel like doing it, and I wanted to give my head a break from wigs. I have on just a titch of makeup…mainly sunscreen with setting powder over it, some mascara, and eyebrows! I don’t like the way the sunscreen feels so that’s why I dust on a bit of setting powder. I’m wearing an old, old, almost too big pair of denim cutoffs and a graphic tee, both from ON.
In between…
I’m still knitting, knitting, knitting! I also have a winter sweater that just needs 1.5 sleeves done. I should probably dig that out and focus on it for a bit, don’t you think? We finished “Hacks.” I was sitting there with tears running down my face for a while, realizing this was the final season. Oh, Jean, please come back! We need you and so many more of the gorgeous women of your era (she’s my era, too)! It’s so wonderful to see women of “a certain age” as the star of a long running series like “Hacks.” We then moved on to “Five Star Weekend,” and I’m afraid it’s just not as good as the book. I mean movies and shows rarely are, but I had really high hopes for this one. We’re only in the second episode so maybe it will get better. I really want to get back to “Traitors.” We watched the first season, and Nigel was kinda mid about it. I loved it. I finally finished my artist report for the Nina Chanel Abney piece in the Giants exhibition at the museum. I had most of it done but was just stuck on a couple of points. I did see a wonderful movie with my docent friend (hello, my friend) about Romare Bearden. It was sooo good, and some of the artists who spoke about him have pieces in Giants! I’m contemplating a new tour (for me). I’ve received the training for Poetry and Painting, but I haven’t actually given a tour yet. It’s a little daunting because I haven’t even seen one given. What do you think? Should I do it?
Purchases…
Well, you know what I’m going to write, don’t you? I bought another wig, and I can’t wait until it comes! I am having so much fun with them. I bought a corduroy dress and some trousers from Talbots. Of course, you know what happened, right? They went on major sale the next day. I bought them again because it was a huge discount. My sister once explained it this way, “If you saw a $20 bill laying on the ground, would you pick it up?” Of course I would, and I get free shipping so I re-ordered them. Here’s the thing…I don’t like the dress at all. I mean I did like it, but it’s got princess seams which are quite nice. The problem is the seam ends right where the tips of my boobs are (you know…the nippley area). It just looks intentional and makes me uncomfortable. Plus, the color doesn’t do me any favors, and if Jack pooped on it, I wouldn’t care. So, back both pairs of trousers and dresses go! That means I can look in the stores and spend some of my birthday discounts! It’s my birthday week, but I have come to have very low expectations for it.
What to link up…
Please link up your favorite fashion posts, old and new. Please take the time to visit some of the other bloggers. I’m sure they would appreciate it, and please let them know you are visiting from our link up! I really do thank Amy for being my co-host! Feel free to show us what you’ve been wearing, what you’ve bought, returned, or just thought about. Maybe you could share something you’d love to have but never will for whatever reason. You can tell us…we’ll understand. Tell us about your shopping habits. Do you enjoy thrifting, reselling, or online shopping? Just write a post about fashion of any kind. You could even do a review of an awards show. There are always awards shows, it seems! And, remember, even if you’re a movie reviewer, a baking blog, a book lovers blog, a blog that’s anything but fashion, I’m betting you get dressed. Snap a photo, write a little about it, and link it up! You really don’t have to dress up, either…take a look at my Sunday outfit! Thanks, my friends, for linking up and spreading the news!
You look beautiful as always, Marsha! I love the dressy, casual, and relaxed outfits for weekdays and weekends 🙂 I saw you mentioned one of your wigs is puffy, and it photographs weirdly. Maybe using a holding spray will help with the puffiness. While spraying, press down your hair to hold it down to see if that works. Thank you for hosting! xoxoxo
Oh, Trina! You are too sweet! It’s only in photographs that it comes across as puffy. When I look in any mirror, other than the one I use for photos, it looks fine. I will try some spray and see if that helps! I think part of it is that I’m not used to seeing this much hair on my head!
You’re so welcome! and I totally understand when hair looks different in photos 🙂
Marsha, I love reading about your days and what you get up, what you wear and how you’re feeling. The wigs are looking fabulous, especially the one you said you’re loving lately, so natural and it suits you perfectly! Keep having fun doing all you do and I love your enthusiasm for life! No fashion posts from me to linkup, maybe one day I’ll write another one.
Deb from debs-world.com
Thank you, Deb! I am so glad you enjoy my posts…sometimes, I just blather on and on! I really am having fun with wigs. I feel like a different person in each of them. I’ve started naming a few! Oh, my gosh…the museum truly has given me a new lease on life. I love almost every minute I’m there. Talk about neuroplasticity! My brain is so wrinkly right now! You can link up anything…it doesn’t have to be fashion. Your monthly recaps would be perfect as well as your book reviews.
What a lovely selection of wigs you are gaining.
Thanks, Rosie! I keep thinking about getting a darker color, but I really do enjoy being grey!
I love both of the dresses, perhaps the Gudrun Sjödén one with the green necklace is my favourite. I also liked the plain black wide pants with the loose ?purplely pink top. Your bio hair really doesn’t look bad, but the wigs are absolutely great
I do love your docent tales – what a great thing to be involved with.
Thank you, Penny! I could totally see you in that dress! It doesn’t really photograph well…it’s actually black with very light ivory dotty things on it. I do believe the minoxidil I’m taking is kicking in on my scalp. It’s been showing up on my face as long peach fuzz, and my lashes have definitely grown. So, I think my bio hair is just not sure how to behave right now. The wonderful thing I’ve discovered about wigs is how you can put one on and just go! I can now plan for those early morning visits to the museum and not worry about my hair as much.
Oh, Penny, I’m loving being a docent so much! I realize all the time, though, just how little I know. I need to relax and understand all that knowledge will come to me in time. But, I love the researching and writing up new tours. It’s just like teaching which, as you know, I’ve missed dreadfully!
I totally agree with you: temperatures are way to summery! I haven’t even put my summer clothes away, because it doesn’t feel right yet to start wearing my longer skirts. It will be 20 degrees celcius this week over here.
Thanks, Nicole! It was 90 (32C) here today! Our air conditioning came back on. By next week, we may have frost. Mother Nature is very tumultuous with us here in Central Indiana (well, everywhere really).
It sounds like another very busy week! I think your leisurewear outfit looks great and would totally wear that out of the house too.
Thanks, Joanne! I guess it’s just me…maybe it’s because my hair is not done, and I feel a little schlumpy!
I hope you get to have your cataract surgery sooner rather than later – it will make such a big difference for you. But I do understand your hesitation with Nigel’s condition. Ugh.
Glad you had such a good tour with the PA group! I can imagine your enthusiasm is palpable and makes the experience even better!
xo,
Kellyann
Thanks, Kellyann! If I only knew for sure he wouldn’t fall, I’d do it in a minute! But, sometimes, his left foot stumbles a bit. He’s walking more and more with his cane (which is good), but I don’t trust him as much as he does!
I have to tell you…that group was just so enjoyable. They were all engaged and wanted to contribute. There was one girl who hesitated just a bit at the beginning, but then she became one of the students who embraced the whole idea! I loved it!
Fabulous looks my friend! I love that you get energized by art. Thanks so much for the link up!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you, Kathrine! I really do get energized, for the most part, by going to the museum. Some days, when I’m reminded of how little I know, I’m a little less energetic! And, you’re welcome for the link up!
“If Jack pooped on it, I wouldn’t care” – lololol. It’s really a good test. I do like the scuba wear outfit. Maybe a bit of a front tuck with the pink? I don’t know. Maybe you need to size down in the pants? I really struggle with sizing sometimes – not knowing if something looks too big especially. The Miz Mooz flats are really cool and really you. Don’t you love when you find something that just feels like you?
I didn’t really like 5 Star Weekend and something about Jen Garner’s acting bothers me. It’s too something. I enjoyed teaching art in my upper Spanish classes, and we had an entire art unit. I had to teach vocab. to talk about pieces in Spanish. The kids did an entire presentation in Spanish about their chosen artist – El Greco, Picasso, Kahlo, Rivera, etc. They especially loved their interesting biographical details.
Oh, my gosh, Amy! You have no idea how much that has helped me, both in getting rid of and buying new! It’s just such a little thing, but it makes you think a little harder about the clothes. I could try to do a front tuck, but I’ll probably just wear them together at home. I got the smallest size. When you’re wearing the pants, you don’t realize how big those legs are! I have to tell you, after two foot surgeries, my left foot really screams if it’s not treated right. It loves these shoes so I’m happy! I really thought they’d be good only for touring, but I’ve worn them for hours with no sitting. YES!!! That’s exactly it. She’s so fake…and, man, she’s got a good doctor, right? I keep expecting her to say, “What’s in your wallet?” Oh, what a cool assignment! So, which is your favorite?
Haha about Jen Garner.
I love Salvador Dalí and I’m lucky to have seen some of his works in person. I love how he uses color and I love surrealism. Also, he was so eccentric. I showed my students some performance art he did that is on video (not very clear video). He has one where he and his wife are inside an egg and they emerge from it/crack it open as if they are being born. Goya, Velazquez, El Greco (La Vista de Toledo) are so talented. The Spanish claim El Greco since he spent much of his life in Spain. The kids also loved learning about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera’s relationship. You might like the movie Frida with Salma Hayek. I showed most of that to my students but there were rated R parts I skipped over. I told the kids Diego was tickling Frida. I miss the good parts of teaching!
I just checked. The IMA has a few Dali pieces, but they aren’t currently on display. They did have one of this big immersive exhibitions for him, but I missed it. I watched the Frida movie and loved it. She was such an intriguing person, wasn’t she?
The nights are getting really cold here now, the heater kicks in in the morning for a while. It’s definitely fall weather now.
My favorite outfit today is the Friday one, it looks so good on you!
I think “Poetry and Painting” sounds like something you would be good at.
And, would you believe the air conditioning is on right now? It was near 90 (32C) when I got home this afternoon. I really like that Friday dress. It doesn’t look like much on the hanger, but it’s so cute and comfortable! I think I’ll do the Poetry and Painting, but I have to figure out the pieces I’ll use. There will be four of us with somewhat limited subjects. Thanks, Cat!
This week´´ s favourite of mine is Wednesday…with the violet,pink,purple touch.
But all outfits are nice dear Marsha.
Have a good time and all the best
Back from Greece
Violetta
Thank you, Violetta! The colors are beginning to fade a bit, but they’ll be around for a while! I hope you had an amazing time in Greece!
Love the beautiful, colorful flowing dresses and tops you wear, even if you’re not doing anything special. Although it sounds like you do a lot! You have so many activities, and such a full day! It sounds like your docent job is very fulfilling-I’m happy for you to have that in your life. These days, I return as much as I keep when ordering online. Honestly there seems to be very little rhyme or reason to sizing now, ever within brands that I think I know. Enjoyed reading about your days and of course seeing your outfits!
Thank you so much, Di! I was talking with a docent today, and she told me my style was very bohemian! And, she meant it in a good way so I consider that a win! I love being busy and being a docent, but there are weeks when it seems like something is happening every week. I may actually return more than I keep these days. Part of that is because some places (like Old Navy) rarely have petites in the store. And, you really don’t ever know how anything is going to fit…you are 100% right on that!
Your museum work is really a passion isn’t it! Wonderful. I had both my eyes done last year. The difference is great. But one eyesight is now different then the other…….. that someone’s happens……. and then it happens to me, lol.
Thanks, Nancy! I love being at the museum! It’s my happy place. I have an eye appointment soon and am going to check on the requirement. I hadn’t heard of that before, but it will undoubtedly happen to me now that I know of such a thing!
I love hearing about your week and getting a glimpse into your daily outfits! I especially love your Friday outfit – the one you wore for the VTS tour you gave. I’m so glad you have this outlet! I can tell that you get so much energy from interactions with others! I’m the same way. While I’d consider myself somewhat of an introvert, I also feel so uplifted from time spent with others. An extroverted introvert, right? Must be the teacher in me! When reading your posts, I often think how fun it would have been to teach with you. You have so much energy, passion and creativity bundled up inside! I can only imagine how much your colleagues and students loved you!
Thanks, Laura! You have made my day with this comment because I think teaching with you would have been amazing! I am also an extroverted introvert…do you suppose a lot of teachers are? I really do get energized at the museum and love learning! Thank you again, Laura!
Have you checked with your insurance for home care for Nigel?? That might make it easier to get your eyes done…
And I’m loving how you are trying out new wigs…it’s such an easy way to change up your hair, right?
XOXO
Jodie
Thanks, Jodie! I’m having a blast with them! I can see taking them on vacations because you wouldn’t have to take hair items and take up all that space. We probably could get home care, but I know he wouldn’t like that. I have an eye appointment and will talk all of this over with her.
The wigs are ,looking great! The one you wore with the minimalist burgundy dress was superb.
Thank you, Gail! That is one of my favorites. It photographs so strangely sometimes. It has a lot of permatease (short little gnarly hairs for lift) so it naturally poofs up. I am just having a blast with them!
Your fashion files posts are my favorites! I love the little write ups of your week and your outfits! Your gallery outfits are always so pretty.
Aww, thank you, Erin! It’s made me wear nicer clothes during the week, that’s for sure!
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Thank you so much!
I love all these looks and really enjoyed reading about your days! Thanks for sharing them!
Thanks so much, Ros!
What a full week! Your museum experiences sound especially rewarding—I love hearing about the conversations you have with visitors and how much you’re enjoying being a docent. And I say go for the Poetry and Painting tour; it sounds like a fun challenge and right up your alley!
Thank you, Laura! I really love being at the museum because it’s so much like teaching! As soon more information comes through on the P & P tour, I’m going to sign up for it. I need to up my game a bit!