Friday Follow-Up | Books and a Waist

Taking photos…it’s all about the angles 🙂

Lauren Manoogian knit skirt (sold out) | about a year old,
Elaine probably got the last one !
James Perse tee (size 2) | several years old
Ace & Jig brooke jacket in Blackbird (small)
Golden Goose hi-star sneakers | purchased with credits from Shopbop

Wearing/Buying

As you can see, I have a new jacket.  I sold both my Bo skirt and my Gatsby pants because their sizing was off on me, so I thought I’d try again with this jacket (Ace & Jig sizing is tough to nail down FYI).  I am constantly looking for cardigans, jackets and dresses that cinch at the waist because I like the idea of being able to accentuate that part of my body, so I was planning on trying this one when I saw it previewed.

I would say this jacket is pretty feminine, which is way outside of my comfort zone, generally.  I wanted to wear a skirt today since I shaved my legs (can’t waste it!) and it’s nice out, so I thought I’d try the jacket with this skirt, but I think I’d mostly wear it with jeans and really tomboy it up more.  I think it works here also though.  Hmmm…maybe I just need to get used to the idea of it a little.  I like it a lot, and the blackbird textile is really nice – it’s a subtle pattern, but a good one.

So, what’s happening with everyone? I’ve had a week. Not a difficult one, just a challenging one.  I’m still getting used to not being on any hormonal birth control and the inconsistencies that are coming with that.  I don’t have such dramatic mood swings as I had with the IUD, but I definitely have fluctuations, and after I have some weird irrational thoughts, I realize, oh…that’s why.  Ha.

And, I had a UTI this week, which was more severe than I’d had before. So that was fun.

I also got some dental work done that I hadn’t been able to do since my broken jaw.  Just a filling and crown on one side, but it took my jaw a little longer to bounce back from that than it has in the past.

Anyway, all is well, just feeling my age a little more lately? My body is taking a little more time bouncing back and there are a few more creaks here and there.  But I’m also feeling very strong and happy to be where I am.  Which in the evenings is working a puzzle with a cup of tea LOL.

Reading/Watching

I haven’t really talked much about what I’ve read lately, but I’ve read a lot.

The Color of Lightning, by the same author as News of the World (which was WONDERFUL).  They are Western-themed and so beautifully written, while dealing with difficult subject-matter.  I’ve been on a “Western” kick lately for some reason.  I’m fascinated by the time period.  I think I’ll read Lonesome Dove again, which is truly one of my favorite books.

The Hunger – also sort of Western-themed, but not really, just the same time period generally –  Gold rush, families heading to California.  With a “horror” twist.  It was good, in a historical fiction sort of way, but not really very scary.  Which was a little disappointing.

I can’t remember if I mentioned The Essex Serpent before, but I read that a while ago and it was very good.  The story was secondary to the characters, which I appreciate, but the setting was also beautifully imagined – Victorian England.

I’m reading A Gentleman in Moscow now after reading Rules of Civility (which I really enjoyed) and it’s slow-going.  I do a lot of reading on the weekends though, so maybe I’ll get more into it.

I am always also reading non-fiction at the same time, so I read Devotion, a memoir about the author’s search for a spiritual life, and thought it was very good.  And I read Oliver Sacks’ memoir, On the Move, and enjoyed that as well.

What have you read lately that you enjoyed? Or didn’t enjoy LOL?

Doing

Going to work on getting another batch of new arrivals up for slowre tomorrow.  Speaking of, if anyone’s cleaning out their closets while they’re transitioning over to winter wardrobes, I’ll be happy to consign items that aren’t working for you anymore and you’d like to pass on to new homes.

I’m also going to go on my first Audubon Dallas birding field trip at White Rock Lake on Sunday.  Super excited about that…getting ready for my birthday trip 🙂

I hope you have a beautiful weekend.