Black and White and Red

As some of you may know, Big J and I have been trying to stick to a healthy diet with more fibre than we usually get.  Apparently women need about 25 grams of fibre and men need 35. 

So we've been at it for about a couple of weeks now - eating lots of healthy fruit and veggies, legumes, whole wheat, brown rice.  The best part is the fruit and the worst is the lingering odour of fish - we're also trying to eat less meat.

If anyone has a good solution to getting rid of cooked fish smell let me know!  In the meantime, since it's summer, we're going to try to cook fish outside on the barbie.

I don't feel any different on this diet, more full perhaps -  I already ate fibre and fish regularly but hubby certainly feels better.

I haven't lost any additional poundage since May so will have to either step up the activity level or reduce the fuel intake.

But, I am losing size I think - see that red Liz Claiborne belt in the photo?  I can actually fasten it one hole smaller now.  (I didn't, but could if I wanted to).


Today's outfit is all black and white prints with the red belt for the colour pop.

The skirt is the same Esprit one I wore back in February.  This time I added a sleeveless ruffly top, the polka-dotty scarf from Spain and a red belt.

Can you see the plums in the tree?  They are the small orange ones and are almost ready; they'll be a tasty addition to the diet.  We bought 2 plum trees years ago and get a big crop of fruit - enough for friends and neighbours.  They are in different parts of the yard so the fruit is ready at different times - makes for a longer yield period.

Like many of my skirts, this one is a touch big - I don't like tightness around the waist so tend to move up a size sometimes, but the floaty-ness was great for today's muggy weather.

Another Paisley Print

So our good weather looks like it's here to stay.  I've wanted to wear this skirt for a while now, but it's (in my mind anyway) a sunny day item. 

It's one of a slew of skirts that I got at a liquidator's for $8.  It was the print that first caught my eye.  It's a dense to sparse paisley print.  The top half is a tight jam-packed not-quite-sure-where-to-look print which slowly changes to a more relaxed, spaced-out one.

It's also a full semi-circular skirt which I prefer in the summer - cooler usually. I wore it with my sparkly top and locally-made necklace:

I actually had a red cardi overtop most of the day and when I got home, I thought it would've actually looked better with my red slip-ons.  What do you think? 

Hey - I've changed my Links page too - separating the fashion linkies from the other ones.  It's easier now to tell which link parties apply to your post.

So it being Monday, I'm linking to:

• Visible Monday !
• Monday Mingle

Too Hot in a Bad Way

It thundered and lightning'd last night and rain fell.  Big J had to rush out in the middle of the night to put all our patio furniture back under cover.  So no wonder this morning when it looked a bit grey out that I wore something for cooler weather.  BIG. MISTAKE.

It was way too hot.  I did have a tank on under the sweater; it's a sequined one which I mainly use for interest at the neckline area:

The office is air conditioned but when I went out at lunch it was so hot in the tights that I went and bought some pantyhose.  But when I got back to the cool climes of the office, I didn't bother changing.

These shoes are the culprits for some of my footwear being the wrong size.  When I bought them, I went 1/2 a size up due to the pointyness of the toe.  Then the size just stuck in my mind and I bought more shoes which turned out too floppy. Now I don't bother with the size and just go by fit.

The photos are done in the "rustic" grape area again for the shade.  Rustic in this case means old and in need of paint!  We actually have kiwi too and it looks like the plants are finally going to bear fruit - they say it takes 9 years after you plant them to get fruit.

It's Monday! so this post is linking to:

• Visible Monday
• Monday Mingle

Silk Feeling Polyester

Today being Friday, I thought it safe to wear something a little more casual.  My favourite hot weather clothing is a longer skirt with some room to move.

Today's skirt is no exception.  It is actually one of my favourite longer skirts - I think it was the colour which first caught my eye, but the fit and flounce have made it a regular summer staple.

I have no idea about the label - it says Net Girl; it holds its shape well and is thick enough that you don't need the extra layer of a slip. And I love how it is almost a circle skirt except that the waist/hip area fit.

I wore it with my refashioned vest, although the original plan was to wear it vestless:

We're allowed to have one half of our foot (either heel or toe, but not both) uncovered at work so I wore these slip on Bare Traps.  They are from a liquidators; not super cheap at $30, but I've worn them enough times over the past few years to justify the price.

And the scarf is that coveted "100% Silk Feeling Polyester"!  I jest.  I had no idea it was supposed to feel like silk - it doesn't.  But I wonder if someone has bought the scarf thinking it was silk?

See how weavy, thick and burlapy it looks in the photo?  It is actually quite light, soft and floaty.

So, not sure if it is because I looked weird or what but this outfit got a noticeable amount of second glances this morning.  Perhaps it was the sunshine.

A Scarf-Free Day

It being a short week due to the stat holiday, I thought it would be a good opportunity to try out NOT wearing a scarf.

After reading Patti of Not Dead Yet Style's posts on 80's and 90's fashion, I was inspired to haul out an old blouse from that time period (80's methinks) for today's outfit. 

I've always liked this blouse and could never bring myself to donate it.  It's a double-breasted blouse with tucks in a lovely colour combination of charcoal, black and red.  The print almost looks cartoony.  And it has nice covered buttons.

I was trying to not wear a scarf today and instead did a mish-mash of necklaces at the neck.  I think it looks okay.

I wore it with my New Year's skirt, the grey jacket from Sears, and the same shoes from the swanky lunch.  The shoes are actually Naturalizers! I know right?  lol-shoes.  They are from the N5 line which are supposed to be contoured to the natural shape of a woman's foot making them more comfy I suppose.  

They are part of the haul from the A+N Shoe Sale that happens once a year.  I am not one for outrageous heels or super fancy shoes, but people have gotten $800 shoes there for 19.99.  I think these ones are only about $90 normally.

I found a video featuring Jacqui Cohen (of A+N) talking about the sale from last year and you can see some of the fabulous shoes that are available.  This year, they had 100,000 pairs of designer shoes!

A Bit of Red Lace

The main focus of this outfit is a hand-me-down top which I've had for over 10 years.  It's a cotton sweater which has short sleeves, so is not overly useful in our northern climate.  But, we are now in that sort of in-between weather so it is perfect.

It has a v-patterned piece down the front, so I hauled it out for the lace which is back in vogue.  It is also an orangey-red which looks a little more current than plain red.

The scarf is one of many that I got for a $ from a vintage shop which has since relocated; unfortunately they are no longer in the downtown area, so I can't pop in at lunchtime anymore.

The bracelet is from Big J's mom and are giant pearl beads with a sparkly flat bit.

The other news is now that summer is almost upon us, Big J and I are going to walk a lot more and we are trying to go on a high fibre, low fat diet. Perhaps I can lose another 5 pounds by summer's end!

Today's post is linking to:

• Visible Monday,  
• Monday Mingle,  
• Mannequin Monday

Taupe, Red and a Safety Pin

The weather outside is still autumnal so another fall outfit today (in June!). This cardigan is another buy from the Spanish market.  I had been looking for a long time for something in this colour, and when I spotted it, instantly got it without thought to price.   

It's a very neutral taupe colour which goes with everything.  I am trying to introduce more contrasts into my wardrobe so wore it with my orangey-red French shirt instead of a taupey coloured top.  The scarf is also from the market and doesn't really go, but doesn't clash either:

I would've normally worn lighter-coloured tights, but the ones I had were a bit too light for the weather so I subbed in a pair that had a pattern with some lighter coloured lines.

It was the first time I wore the cardigan and when I took off the tags, noticed that the safety pin was very unusual:

Have you seen anything like it? Here it is open:

It may not be anything special, but I like uncommon things, so will probably keep it - at least for a while, pack-rat that I am.

Big Shoes and a Neck-Scarf Belt

A slight error in judgement in choosing today's outfit:  I based it on the sunlight streaming in through the window.  It was super sunny this morning so I hauled out something with short sleeves. Big. Mistake.

With 46 kmh winds, it was cold out.  Goosebumps galore. Luckily I went with thicker tights due to still having big (and lumpy) scabs on my knees. 

I don't usually like to have such a contrast with tights and shoes, but had a notion that the oval space made by the straps on the shoes would sort of match the oval pattern on the skirt.  You be the judge.

I've been looking for heel grips for these shoes because they are a touch big but $6.99 seems a bit pricey for two little pieces of gummy stick-ons.  And who knows when they will go on sale?

So today, I got some leather insoles from Dollarama - I bought men's size 11 (bigger insoles = more material) and my plan is to cut out some heel grips and stick them on using Big J's construction glue.  I thought of using leather pieces, but don't think it would be thick enough - the insoles have a bit of padding which should just work fine.