Capsule Wardrobe: Travel Edition

Hey everyone! It’s been forever since I’ve written—so long that WordPress looks completely different, yikes. My job as a writer at Bob’s Red Mill has been fantastic, but writing all day means I’m less inclined to write at night. However, I always love talking about capsule wardrobes, so when I made a packing list for our annual trip to Ipswich, Massachussetts, I couldn’t resist posting it!

I have to say that since I’ve returned to work full time, my wardrobe has exploded a little in my efforts to look professional. The “unofficial” dress code is jeans only on Fridays, so the first thing I did was order some non-jeans pants and look through the hand-me-downs my lovely mother has gifted me with through the years. But that meant I needed to change my mindset for this vacation: less workwear, more casual stuff!

I’m a big fan of the 10-Item Wardrobe concept from Jennifer L. Scott’s Daily Connoisseur and the capsule wardrobes created by Leanne Blackmon at Classy Yet Trendy, so I went into this with a clear goal: I wanted to pack a minimal number of pieces that would (mostly) go together and could be either casual or slightly dressy. I ended up with 14 pieces, including shoes and outerwear:

J. Crew Factory Studio Tee in Heather Graphite. This is a sturdy yet lightweight layer that goes with pretty much anything!

J. Crew Factory Artist T-Shirt in White. This shirt is a little thin, but I layer a nude camisole underneath.

J. Crew Slim Perfect Long-Sleeve Tee in Navy and Ivory. If you’ve ever read my previous “fashion” posts, you know I love my striped shirts. This is a new favorite—really flattering and pretty.

Gibson Cozy Twist Front Pullover in Heather Grey. Everyone and their mom (and my Mom!) has this shirt, and I love it. It feels like pajamas yet the twist gives it some oomph.

J. Crew Factory 8″ Anywhere Skinny Jean in Astoria Wash. These jeans are great—not too spendy, and all-purpose.

Paige Transcend – Hoxton High Waist Ankle Ultra Skinny Jeans in Hartmann. A birthday gift from my Mom, these are a little dressier and more forgiving with the stretch! Almost jeggings.

I brought some great stretch black pants that are styled like trousers from Cabi (a hand-me-down from my Mom), but they’re discontinued! These Halogen Ponte Skinny Pants are similar!

I admit, I love my basics, but I’ve felt like my wardrobe has gotten a little too blah lately! Enter this cute Lilah dress from Reformation. I really enjoy the comic book panels (anyone know where they’re from?). I was expecting this to be a stretch dress, but it’s actually a vicose/rayon crepe which drapes nicely.

 

My husband bought me this J. Crew Factory Denim Jacket for Mother’s Day a couple of years ago. Mine is a slightly lighter, more beat-up finish, but this one is similar!

This Leith Ribbed Shawl Cocoon Sweater is my very favorite layering cardigan, light and so soft, and it’s available at Nordstrom Rack for a very reasonable price!

Um, did I mention my job at Bob’s Red Mill is totally rad? One perk: every member of the marketing department gets an Original Westerley sweater from Pendleton! Look familiar? That’s right, it’s the Dude’s sweater from The Big Lebowski. It’s a wonderful, thick wool sweater that is incredibly warm, which is perfect for Massachusetts (it’s topping out around 40 degrees here).

Another present from my very fashionable mother are these ‘Valli’ Waterproof Booties from Blondo in Sand Suede. I’ve had them for over a year and they’re still in great shape—plus, they’re waterproof! I did also seal them with two layers of suede protector.

I tend to wear a lot of basics in neutral colors, so I love to add something like these Calf-Hair Penny Loafers in Leopard from J. Crew Factory. They’re comfy and stylish!

And finally . . . just one more thing! I realized it’s been years since I’ve purchased a new coat, so I realized a longtime dream and got this classic trench coat: the Midi Trench Coat from 1901 (a Nordstrom store brand I really like). It’s water resistant and—big plus!—makes me feel like Columbo. It’s fairly lightweight, but with the Pendleton sweater underneath it’s great for cold weather.

I’m midway through our vacation right now and I couldn’t be happier with this capsule wardrobe—it’s warm, flexible, and I feel quite stylish and put-together. I’m saving the dress for Scott and my annual date night, downtown Ipswich is quite the happening place, ha.

So what do you think? What are your must-have travel pieces? Post below!

Capsule Wardrobe–I Got a Job!

So I hinted at this in my last post, but I’ve had a very drastic life change: after three and a half years at home with my daughter, Sarah, I’ve joined Bob’s Red Mill as a writer/researcher/proofreader. Which means I basically get to read (and write) about food all day long, in the employ of a stellar company that treats its employees very well. So yay!

This brought up two things: one, I needed to find full-time daycare for Sarah. It was a pretty emotional process. I really loved being home with her. But. At three and a half, it was becoming increasingly clear that Sarah needed more structure–as did I! We enrolled her in a place near my work, and although she gets frustrated at having to go “every day,” she’s been having a blast playing with other kids her own age every day.

So that’s a whole complex kettle of fish I won’t go into detail about here. But the second thing was, it turns out our corporate dress code is business casual, with jeans on Fridays. Which means jeans only on Fridays. And I love my jeans. I live in my jeans! I . . . did not own enough non-jeans pants to get me through a whole work week!

This led to a hurried online shopping spree at J Crew Factory (big shock, I know) to hastily put together a work wardrobe, right after I finally put together my Winter 10-Item Wardrobe! Fortunately, some pieces I already bought to wear around the house meshed well with my new workwear–check it out below!

While I generally follow Jennifer L Scott’s 10-item wardrobe guidelines, I also borrowed heavily from Leanne Blackmon’s Workwear Capsule Wardrobe ebook!

Cotton Caryn Cardigan in Navy

Lexie Pant in Navy. I also got these in Graphite (a dark gray), which is no longer available.

Sidewalk Skirt in Navy (sense a theme?)

Perfect Fit Chambray Shirt

Stretch Button-Down Shirt in White

J Crew New Perfect Fit T-Shirt in White

Studio T-Shirt in Heather Graphite

Open Drapey Fleece Cardigan in Heather Charcoal

Car-Coat Cardigan in Burgundy Black

Paige Skinny Jeans–a present from my Mom and Dad. Friday gear!

Edie Leather Loafers in Navy

These are close to the Calf’s Hair Ballet Flats I had previously purchased!

And finally, another birthday present from my Mom–Blondo waterproof boots in Mushroom!

Now this aren’t my only work clothes–I also have a couple pairs of corduroys, and of course, my favorite striped shirt. This feels very basic and easy to put together–I’m tempted to add some accessories, but really, I don’t feel like dropping a ton more money. Maybe when I hit six months at the job!

Whew! So what do you think? Do you have any favorite workwear stuff on tap?

Winter 10-Item Wardrobe: Prep!

Wow, this is super late for many reasons (details later), but I wanted to get started on my Winter 10-item Wardrobe by reviewing last years’ picks. Which will survive? What do I currently have in my closet awaiting their closeups? Stay tuned, true believers!

I’ve long been a fan of capsule wardrobes, thanks to Jennifer L. Scott‘s Madame Chic books: you pick about 10 “core items” like pants, dresses, sweaters, and round them out with extras like t-shirts, jackets, shoes, etc. I’ve also been enjoying Leanne Blackmon’s Classy Yet Trendy blog: she generally has way more than 10 items (although she includes things like shoes, bags, etc.), but her style (pants) more closely matches mine.

So let’s get started by checking out last year’s picks!

Plaid blouse by Rail.

I bought this last year and I still love it, although it’s starting to pill a little. This will likely be its last hurrah.

J. Crew Factory chambray shirt.

Ugh, after at least six years, I had to let this go—the underarms were, well, the pits. Unfortunately J Crew Factory no longer carries this shirt. I am bummed!

Citizens of Humanity “Sculpt – Rocket” high rise skinny jeans in Waverly.

These pants were a disappointment. I bought them last year, and they’re already out due to holes in the knees and crotch. I know it’s partly my fault because I wore them almost every day, but come on! I never put these things in the dryer, I barely washed them! I will try to remedy this situation this time around by buying more pants. Yes, I am revolutionary.

Citizens of Humanity “Rocket – Sculpt” high rise skinny jeans in black.

These are a maybe. The knees faded, and these are already past their prime. Luckily I wore them less than the pants above!

Kenneth Cole black leggings.

Ha ha ha ha! I don’t wear leggings. I never wore these. They were at least eight years old, so I don’t regret throwing them into the rotation. I will keep them as backup workout (HA) pants.

Spider-Man sweatshirt, Forever 21.

I love this sweatshirt! But because of other factors, this will be relegated to the weekend rotation.

Fisherman’s sweater, vintage.

Oh, I so wanted to love this 50-pound sweater. I got it off Etsy for a really good price, and it’s the real deal: a gorgeous wool sweater. It also was too warm and heavy and bulky for me, and it quickly developed a lot of moth holes. Bygones.

H&M black cardigan with lace detail.

Ehh, I’m glad I got this off ThredUp for $11, because I didn’t love it. Too thin, too tight, too cheap. Have fun at Goodwill.

Blue “chambray” dress, Twill.

I really like this, but it wrinkles while I wear it. Not in my regular rotation anymore.

Topshop Star Plissé wrap dress.

Um, why did I think a disco dress was going to be an everyday wardrobe staple?!? I barely wear dresses in the winter, certainly not one I have to keep an eye on to make sure I’m covered. I’m keeping this for special occasions and will wear it approximately three times a year until I die. You’re welcome.

On to the extras!

Madewell t-shirts, white and gray.

These developed the tiny lower abdomen holes of mystery. Later!

Splendid ringer t-shirt.

Too wrinkly, didn’t wear well. Next!

J. Crew Factory long-sleeved striped boatneck t-shirts.

Oh my goodness. It finally happened. J. Crew stopped freakin’ making these! Fortunately I replaced the navy-striped one last year, but . . . I’m going to need to track down another source. Why did you betray me J. Crew Factory?

Star Wars and Murder, She Wrote t-shirts.

These were awesome, but thanks to me wearing the heck out of them, they’re now relegated to weekend/workout gear.

So . . . I had one survivor from my core items and two from my extras?!? That is a crappy record. Hopefully this year’s 10-item wardrobe will fare better! Hopefully that post will be up by the end of the week!

So what do you think? Who has a capsule wardrobe to share? Do you have a striped shirt hookup you can tell me about? Post below!

Buy Hanna Andersson Without Breaking the Bank

Two years ago I plunged into dangerous waters, and I blame my brother. He had a son in September 2015, and, being huge fans of Christmas, we immediately made plans to have our kids take photos with Santa together. “I got Roman some cute pajamas at Hanna Andersson,” he said. “Maybe he and Sarah can match!”

I had ventured into the Hanna Andersson store about a year previously—and immediately fled, because while their clothes are cute, they are generally at least twice as expensive (or more) as Carter’s. I mean, a $65 dress? For a baby? However, their Santa pajamas were so cute. Yes I bought them. And sure, they could have my email address.

This led to the discovery that Hanna Andersson has outlets, where clothes are usually discounted by at least 20%. However, these can be hit or miss–there have been several times where I have been lured in by an email touting $7 swimsuits or somesuch, only to discover that they have maybe one cheap suit in my daughter’s size . . . and a bunch of $65 dresses at 20% off. I love my daughter, but I’m still not shelling out $52 for a dress unless it’s some magic Christmas dress that somehow solves hunger or something.

Why buy Hanna at all? First, their clothes are cute. Like, super cute. They’re made of organic cotton, they’re constructed really well, and they wear really well. They don’t ever have writing on the butt or sexist sayings like “Math Is Hard” (although I wish they had more rockets and dinosaurs for girls). They look wholesome and like you could probably eat them when the zombie apocalypse comes and get all your essential nutrients (and fiber).

I’ve gotten plenty of clothes from Carter’s that look cute until about the fifth time I wash them, and then they look faded and limp. I’m not a huge fan of shopping–I get overwhelmed easily and start second guessing myself–so my method of doing major shopping for Sarah, who is now three, twice a year works really well for me. And I love how Hanna’s colorful patterns and combinations makes it easy to coordinate everything (again, I get confused!). So my system works really well for me and I wanted to share it!

Buying Hanna Andersson on the Cheap . . . ish

So the clothes are generally expensive (see above) and the outlets can be hit or miss (again, see above). Fortunately, I’ve found that Hanna Andersson’s Black Friday Sales are fantastic. This seems to be when they take everything out of the warehouse and go nuts, so there’s a lot to choose from in Sarah’s size, and I can find at least five dresses (I love their playdresses) and five pairs of coordinating leggings for about $200. So . . . I buy Sarah a 10-item wardrobe too, I guess?!? Except my mom and other family members gift her with clothes, too, ha.

Now this is still more expensive than Carter’s or other options. But in Oregon’s rainy climate, Sarah will generally wear long sleeves/pants nine months out of the year, and each of these outfits is worn at least once a week. And if nothing untoward happens (rips, stains I just can’t get out, huge growth spurts), she can still wear them the next year and look great, or I can pass them on to a friend and feel good about it.

This year I missed the Black Friday Sale in the outlets (which generally starts before Black Friday, FYI), but I did squeak into the Cyber Monday Sale last night: an extra 25% off plus free shipping. And then I got a notice that this sale has been extended today and tomorrow (although it does look like free shipping is off the table—if you have a Hanna Andersson store nearby, you can have your loot shipped there for free)! So if you’ve been a little gun-shy about spending Nordstrom money on a toddler who regularly pours soup on himself, check it out! (Note: I am not an affiliate or paid shill. I would happily be a paid shill. Call me, Hanna.)

For Sarah’s summer clothes, I shop online between spring and summer and pounce when the spring clothes are mega cheap (short-sleeved dresses and shorts). Boom, done!

Hanna Andersson Tips: Making Clothes Last

So Hanna Andersson’s clothes are well made from quality materials, but I am still a little weird about keeping them nice and I’ve learned a couple of things to pass on:

• Be conscious of woven vs. printed patterns. Before you buy, take note of whether the colors are printed, a.k.a. a floral pattern that was dyed into the fabric, or woven, a.k.a. a stripe that was knit from different-colored fibers. (To double check, look at the “wrong” side of the fabric and it will be obvious.) I still buy both, but generally, the woven pattern will stay vibrant longer.
• Hang them to dry. The heat from the dryer is what breaks the fibers down in clothing and fades the color, so I hang all of Sarah’s clothes on a cheap wooden fold-out rack to dry. They’re still little, so they all fit on one rack! Extra credit: wash them inside out.
• Use a good stain remover. The benefit of hanging clothes to dry is the dryer won’t set stains permanently, so tricky ones like grease—which often don’t show until your clothes are already dry—are easier to get out.

So that’s my crazy, what’s yours? Anyone else unhealthily obsessed with premium children’s clothes? I could use the company.

10-Item Summer 2017 Wardrobe: Stripes & Coral

Woo! I finally have all the pics together for my 10-Item Summer Wardrobe (such as they are), and I am psyched to share this–and to wear this! (Hey, I’m a poet and I didn’t know it). As longtime readers know, I adopted the capsule wardrobe approach after reading Jennifer L. Scott’s Madame Chic books (be sure to check out her blog, The Daily Connoisseur, as well). The premise: collect 10 “core items” that either go together and complement each other, then augment it with “extras” such as T-shirts, outerwear, evening wear, etc.

Unfortunately, due to the light and the different times I took these photos, the colors aren’t just right (and my clothes look a little wrinkly–that’s totally my fault). But I swear these all go together, and I’m pretty happy!

Another note: you may notice a couple returns from a few years ago. While I do practice the 10-item wardrobe, I don’t always purge everything I’m not wearing in a particular season. For example, right after I had Sarah and I was in super-breastfeeding mode, I went down a size, and some of my shorts were too big. I saved them just in case, and guess what–I’m glad I did. Since most of last year’s summer wardrobe just plain wore out (after many years of service), I was glad I kept some pieces in reserve!

But without further ado, let’s . . . a-do this! (™ Hub Hubbard.)

Pale pink Merona cotton sweater. I got this for free at my friend Melissa’s Naked Lady party and built a lot of this wardrobe around it! Love it, and it pairs well with coral and red.

Thread & Supply blue “menswear” shirt.

You think you’ve seen this shirt a million times, but guess what: it’s a new J Crew Factory striped boatneck shirt! After many years, I realized the underarms of my old one . . . turned black. Fortunately I was literally at J Crew Factory when I discovered this.

J Crew Factory sunwashed slim chino. My husband got me these for Mother’s Day, and I love them. I would never have picked them, because they get dirty as f*ck every time I wear them, but they wash well and are more comfortable in the heat that jeans.

J Crew Factory coral seersucker shorts. These are from at least four years ago!

J Crew Factory 5″ chino shorts in Golden Rose. New!

J Crew Factory 5″ chino shorts in aqua. These are kind of like a chambray? Very old. 

J Crew Factory striped daybreak dress. I love this because it looks structured, but it’s made of stretch material. It looks like they’re out of this particular stripe, sad.

LOFT striped dress. This dress is ancient (at least five years) and I think it was actually supposed to be a swimsuit coverup? It’s my favorite summer dress: it’s cute and doesn’t hug my body.

Floral dress, made by me maybe five or six years ago? Pattern by Amy Butler.

So there are my 10 pieces! On to the extras: T-shirts!

J Crew Factory “fruit salad” T-shirt. I’ve had this for years and it’s a little too sheer now, so I wear a camisole under it.

J Crew Factory collector T-shirt–another gift from my husband. Looks like it’s out of stock online.

J Crew studio T-shirt. A perfect basic!

J Crew Factory perfect fit shell. These are my new favorites–they really do fit perfectly, and they’re a little more polished than a tank top.

J Crew Factory striped boatneck short-sleeved T-shirt. I don’t think they have this on the site anymore (I picked it up last year) and it’s too bad, it wears well like the long-sleeved one!

Novelty shirts! My sister Jessica gave me the Star Wars shirt, and I picked up the tank visiting Carmel this spring for a family reunion. Guest starring my toes.

Ahhh. I love using the 10-item wardrobe because it makes everything easier. My drawers are organized, I can see all my clothes, and it makes laundry a snap (and necessary). It’s also been really interesting to see which items hold up well (the dress I made, certain J Crew items) and which did not (most T-shirts).

What do you think? Is anyone else out there doing this? Post below!

10-Item Wardrobe Prep: Summer 2017

Hey everyone! Hope you had a wonderful weekend. I was busy podcasting and doing load upon load upon load of laundry, while enduring 100-degree weather. Oh Portland, why do you go from rain to trying to kill me in June?

But! I’ve also been putting the finishing touches on this year’s Summer 10-Item Wardrobe, which means I had to go through last year’s to evaluate the condition and usefulness of each piece. Join me and see who lives . . . and who goes to Goodwill.

Fisherman’s wool sweater, vintage.

Oh, this sweater. I really loved it. I’m also glad I got it for about $40 on Etsy, because this sweater is full of holes. I noticed a couple right after I received it and tied them off, but I keep finding them, and it really is super bulky and heavy and warm, and I just can’t make it work. Boo.

J Crew Factory jeans.

These jeans are pretty great, but have I mentioned it is super hot this summer? These jeans will go bye-bye until next spring.

Gap cropped white jeans.

Same for these babies.

J Crew Factory striped dress. I love this dress. I wore it until I was eight months pregnant last year and it still looks great.

I loved this dress so hard. I bought it in 2012 and wore it before, during, and after my pregnancy, but the neckline started to unravel, and it is gone.

Floral dress, made by me maybe five or six years ago? Pattern by Amy Butler.

This dress will liiiiiiiive foreverrrr (™ Queen) and I am keeping it.

J Crew Factory chambray shirt.

This shirt! I also bought this five years ago and wore it over and over again, but the underarms finally got discolored and I had to donate it. Geez, will I have any clothes left?

J. Crew Factory striped short-sleeve shirt.

A keeper! Whew. I just got this last year, and so far it’s just as durable as its long-sleeved counterpart. I am pleased.

J. Crew Factory 5″ chino shorts.

So this kind of sucks, but I’m sharing. I was one size in J. Crew Factory before my pregnancy, and I was one size smaller after my pregnancy. I knew it wouldn’t last. I resisted buying new clothes! But I did. And now–I’m back to my original size, and these give me camel toe, and I may keep them in reserve in case I get food poisoning or something but . . . gone.

J. Crew Factory 5″ chino shorts.

Ditto! Buh-bye.

J. Crew Factory striped dress.

I still love this dress, but I do not wear it often enough for it to be part of my 10-Item Wardrobe. It’s been kicked up to special occasion wear, because Portland is hella casual.

Uhhhh . . . so I’m only keeping two out of my 10 items! Fortunately, I did save some older shorts, and I do rotate things in and out of my wardrobes, so I didn’t have to buy all new things. You’ll have to wait until my next fashion post to see this season’s wardrobe (the suspense!), but I can show you the one piece that’s pulling it all together!

Merona pink cotton cardigan.

It’s wrinkly in the picture (I’ll take a better one later) and I got it for free at my friend Melissa’s Naked Lady Party (a clothes swap, don’t be scandalized), but I really love this sweater! I originally picked it to wear (as Audrey) at our Twin Peaks brunch, but it’s perfect for summer: lightweight, a great color, and a flattering fit.

Stay tuned, true believers! I should post my full Summer 2017 10-Item Wardrobe Wednesday . . . if I can get all this laundry done!

Happy Monday! Thor Stuff, Twin Peaks & 10-Item Wardrobe

Happy Monday, folks! Hope you’re having a wonderful start to the summer. I’m using this little lull to catch up on my blogging, woo!

Local Happenings

GeekCraft Expo PDX concluded June 11 and–whew–I was tired afterward. It was a great show. Our exhibitors are so great. Not only are they insanely talented and obsessed with all things geek, but they’re genuinely nice people! You can find all of our Portland exhibitors here. Up next: the GeekCraft Expo Seattle Holiday Market November 25-26!

It seems like as soon as I slow down a little, something else pops up that I cannot resist! I’ve just started working with Pairings, which bills itself as “Portland’s Weirdest Wine Shop and Bar,” and they are amazing. I went to their “Salmon 5 Ways with Rosé All Day” event right before Mother’s Day with my co-parent, Myndi (she discovered the place), and I had such a great time! Pairings focuses on making wine fun and accessible, so they pair wines to adjectives and personality traits–which means they have wines paired to Harry Potter characters, female superheroes, astrological signs, and more! Next they’re pairing eight wines to eight characters from Animal House. June 22-25, $25!

Geekery

Did you know that I am now nerd famous? It is TRUE. Well. Kinda. Anyway, the latest episode of my podcast with Miles Stokes, Thor: The Lightning and the Storm, is up! We’re going through Walter Simonson’s epic 1980s run on The Mighty Thor, and we’ve finally reached one of the most hard-hitting, metal moments in all of comics: the Executioner’s Last Stand!

I’m also recording a guest spot on Titan up the Defense, another local podcast I enjoy immensely. Brothers Hub and Cory alternate reading (and discussing) New Teen Titans and Defenders. I have a ginormous soft spot for New Teen Titans (thanks to my cousin Bryan’s collection), so I’m psyched to join in. Plus! They allow drinking during podcasting! Miles would never. Ha!

Finally, I’ve been invited to guest on Comic Book Cover Story, a podcast that features my good friend (and former TFAW co-worker) Sean Wynn and Kurt Loyd!

Fashion

With summer right around the corner, I need to spruce up my Spring/Summer 10-Item Wardrobe, so I’m going through my current clothes and shopping with my mom later this week. Get ready for a post next week, and maybe a prep post this week!

Twin Peaks

Twin Peaks is in a category by itself, because really . . . where would you put it? I just have to say episode 7 was intense. I admit I was kind of wavering about where it was going. I actually love “Dougie Jones,” but it’s super frustrating how no one will take him to a doctor! I mean, a man supposedly shows up one day with new hair and wardrobe, 20 pounds lighter, and can barely string one word together? Come on. But I love it. I love every moment (almost). I sit with my eyes as wide as possible, in silence, absorbing every second.

Confused? You really should have been prepared for that. But Laura Hudson’s wonderfully written Twin Peaks recaps may help.

That’s it for now! Man, I’m just glad I got to blog today. Do you have any Twin Peaks theories? Wardrobe hints? Other podcasts to check out? Put them in the comments!

Happy Wednesday! Thor Podcasts, Sexy Party Fashion & GeekCraft Expo

Happy Wednesday! I hope you’re all enjoying your spring–the hot weather finally arrived in Portland this week, and . . . we put up all the AC units in our bedrooms. I was not cut out for 90-degree weather.

I’ve been super busy with geeky projects and the kids–here’s what I’ve been up to!

Geekery

As I mentioned the last time I wrote, I’ve started up a new Thor podcast, THOR: The Lightning and the Storm, with my friend Miles Stokes from Jay & Miles X-Plain the X-Men! We’re doing 13 episodes exploring Walter Simonson’s epic 1980s run on The Mighty Thor, and it’s been a lot of fun–and a lot of work! We’re covering three or four comics each episode, and our outlines are about 10 pages long. Plus we drive to Beaverton to record. This is serious stuff!

If you’re geeky–or you want to brush up on your classic Thor history before Thor: Ragnarok hits theaters, subscribe! We also have a special “zero issue” episode available for everyone who donates $5 or more to our IndieGogo campaign!

Wooden art by Nerd Wood Designs!

In other geeky news, GeekCraft Expo PDX returns to the DoubleTree Portland June 10 and 11 and ohmygosh that’s soon. We’re also throwing an epic kickoff party June 9 at Bridge City Comics with free beer (for those 21+) from Hop Valley Brewing, and prizes from Bridge City, Centerplate, Guardian Games, Ground Kontrol, Espionage Cosmetics, SCRAP PDX, and our exhibitors!

Fashion

I’m still going through my spring/summer wardrobe and need to pick up a few things for this season’s 10-Item Wardrobe, but in the meantime . . . I needed a party outfit. And I realized I was having kind of an identity crisis, now that I am post-40 and post-baby.

In my 20s and 30s, my party style was tight. Literally. And short. Let’s say there were a lot of American Apparel dresses and not a lot of underwear.

But! American Apparel is no more, and I’ve shifted into classic, preppy wardrobe mode in recent years. And while this works really well for my everyday life, it made me feel like I was dressed for church when I went out for karaoke. If I have a babysitter and I’m out having fun and drinking adult beverages, I want to be sexy, dammit! But maybe not in a miniskirt.

Fortunately, inspiration arrived for me at the library, when Ines de la Fressange’s new book, Parisian Chic Look Book, finally came in. This was a fun one–first, the cover is metallic gold, and it’s filled with fun, classic looks with names like, “Date Night,” “Meeting Your Boyfriend’s Parents,” “Going to Court for Your Divorce,” etc. The “My Ex Has Invited Me to Dinner” look was exactly what I was looking for: a pencil skirt, a camisole, and a cozy jacket. Cute, sexy, comfy–I was sold.

My budget isn’t immense, however, so I promptly took myself to H&M. This is what I found: a sequined mesh camisole top, a black jersey pencil skirt, and a burgundy sweatshirt. Paired with some sandals, fancy makeup, and my garnet necklace, I felt I looked glamorous but not like I was trying too hard–or trying to look 25!

Twin Peaks

Finally: Twin Peaks is back! This created a lot of excitement in my house, especially for my husband (he loves David Lynch more than anyone I’ve ever known). We binged the first four episodes Sunday night, and I’m . . . intrigued. And frustrated. And wondering when we’ll see Audrey. But I knew from the beginning that this wouldn’t be a “reunion show”–this isn’t a Northern Exposure revival (although really, I would enjoy that as well).

Here’s an article about the parallels between Twin Peaks and Gilmore Girls.

We did a Twin Peaks brunch (it happened again)! I’ll do a post later, but in the meantime, here’s a link to our Twin Peaks dinner party, in case you want themed eats and drinks when Episode 5 arrives June 4.

That’s it for now! I’m looking forward to blogging more after GeekCraft Expo is over–I still need to watch the new Netflix Anne of Green Gables show, and I am certain I will have many things to say. Plus, updates on my darling children (sorry Sid) and my Spring/Summer 10-Item Wardrobe. See you soon!

10 Item Wardrobe Prep: Winter 2017

Sometimes I hate the 10-item wardrobe. Don’t get me wrong: having 10 core pieces (pants, sweaters, dresses, etc.) and extras (t-shirts) that look great together and fit my personal style is amazing! I can get dressed in three minutes, I always at least look presentable, and it’s really easy to pack for trips. However. When you are in the habit of saving your Christmas and birthday money and doing your major shopping in January, and three of your 10 items (two pairs of three-year-old jeans and one pair of red pants) go kaput in October, you start to look pretty shabby.

I was able to still wear my old black jeans and sub in my light-blue summer jeans from J Crew Factory, but then I realized that my t-shirts were looking pretty worn out. Then one day, I took out my APC sweater dress–purchased just two years ago–and realized that despite my special care, it had become shapeless and unflattering. What was happening?!? I basically wore my striped J Crew Factory shirts and my worn-thin black jeans for two months straight. When I wasn’t dressed as Mrs. Santa Claus.

The good new is: I went shopping today with my Mom! And, just like in Pretty Woman, I had money to spend, thanks to my weekly savings plan (I sock away a little money every week to buy the whole family clothes) and gift money. Thank you parents and in-laws!

I’m waiting on one pair of jeans to be delivered, so in the meantime, I’m going to go through last winter’s 10-item wardrobe and talk about what worked, what didn’t, and what should die in a fire. Then next week, I’ll have a shiny new post unveiling my new duds! I’m sure you’re all very excited.

J. Crew Factory long-sleeved striped boatneck t-shirts.

If you’re a regular reader of these 10-item wardrobe posts, you recognize these shirts–they just keep going and going! Seriously, I’ve had the navy-striped one for at least three years and it shows no sign of wearing out (pro tip: I always hang these to dry). I may actually get sick of these! Definitely staying (but I really count these as extras).

Thread & Supply blue “menswear” shirt.

I feel a little guilty looking at this one. I got it last year from my parents for my birthday while shopping with my Mom (thanks again!) but while I wore it a fair amount this summer, I totally forgot about it. Gonna have to try it on and see if it’s worthy to be one of the 10, or I may just keep it for when I need to look business-y. It’s a maybe.

Spider-Man sweatshirt, Forever 21.

This is another item that’s still going strong! I bought it in San Diego during Comic-Con 2013, the final one I worked as an employee of Things From Another World–but not at Comic-Con, weirdly enough. Not only does this sweatshirt feature Spider-Man (its initial selling point), but it’s the perfect size and weight. Also, a great conversation starter. It’s staying!

Halogen grey wool-blend sweater with embroidery.

I like this a lot–the look, the weight, the fit–but it isn’t wearing as nicely as I would like. I’ve laid it flat to dry but it’s still pilling. It’s staying this year, but we’ll see for next.

Red and gray J Crew Factory sweater with gold polka dots

Ditto for this one–I still like it, but it’s pilling. Maybe it’s me? Likely will stay for 2017.

J Crew Factory jeans.

These jeans are great, but it’s weird that I had them in my “winter” 10-item wardrobe last year. I’ve been wearing them this winter until I got new jeans, but I’ll put them away until this summer.

J. Crew Factory red tailored stretch Lexie pant.

These . . . did not stretch the way I needed them to. They’ve either shrunk a bit or I’ve put on five pounds. I’m not going to say which. They also faded (typical for red fabric), so they’re gone!

Vince black ponte pants.

I still like these pants, but they’re a maybe. They tend to stretch out and get baggy as I wear them. If I wash them and put them in the dryer they shrink up again, but I feel like they’ll wear out faster that way.

APC sweater dress.

Ack–no! I have been very disappointed by this dress, which I bought on sale a couple years ago. You can kind of see it here–despite my keeping it folded in a drawer and dry-cleaning it (a rarity for me), it has . . . relaxed? It’s baggy and shapeless, and I give up. I give up!

Fisherman’s sweater, vintage.

Oh man. I still love this, but it had a couple of moth holes when I bought it. I repaired them, but either more keep happening or I’m discovering more! Also, it’s very thick and heavy, so it’s bulky under my coat, and I run hot and tend to not need a sweater as warm as this one. A maybe.

Final verdict: three maybes, and three no’s–leaving a possible six slots open in my highly competitive, breathlessly anticipated 10-item winter wardrobe! Do you feel the excitement? Gee, I hope people don’t bet their entire fortunes on the outcome.

As always, I must credit Jennifer L. Scott, author of the Madame Chic books, for her 10-item wardrobe inspiration! See you next week!

Presenting My Mrs. Santa Dress

All dolled up in my Mrs. Santa dress–unveiled below!

You may remember my desire to make a big green velvet Christmas dress this year–I even had a pattern picked out! However, after an extensive search (at three different fabric stores) I couldn’t find any green velvet, and after a look at the calendar, I realized that realistically, I wasn’t going to have time to sew a dress anyway. I was quite disappointed–until I brainstormed a way to make the most Christmassy gown I could ever want, using a dress I made a few years ago!

Mrs. Santa dress: before!

About six years ago, I wanted to make a big red Christmas dress, which I did, using a pattern I cannot find, either in my sewing stuff or online, but I believe it was a Vogue pattern that must be out of print: boatneck, big swingy skirt, defined waist, bracelet-length sleeves. While I wore the heck of it that year, it was never quite right: I should have taken up the shoulders, and I chose a polyester crepe fabric (partly because it was inexpensive, partly because it was the perfect color) that was a little too stiff.

Mrs. Santa dress: after!

But! If I took it to a tailor (who fixed the shoulders for $20) and hot glue-gunned a little fake fur around the edges–voila! I’d have a perfect Mrs. Santa dress! After I rummaged through my closet and found a black patent leather belt and heels, my course was set.

Out on the town as Mrs. Santa at the Rum Club!

You can see the end result, and I’m quite proud of it! I wore it to a party and out for holiday drinks with my best girlfriends, and let me tell you: it is a lot of fun to dress as Mrs. Santa–I got a big (and mostly positive) reaction everywhere I went.

I’m pretty proud of my ingenuity (or is that insanity?). It took me less than half an hour to glue the trim on, and I got a re-branded, very distinctive dress for less than $40!

Do you have an ideal Christmas outfit? I’m still dreaming of a White Christmas-type dress (basically my Mrs. Santa dress on steroids). Post it below!