My Packing System … Part 2 ... The Clothes … the Clothes

In yesterday's post about getting ready for my trip 

for Bloggers in Napa Valley

I covered my packing system

for everything … except 

the clothes.

So now to the more dramatic part of my packing.

The Clothes.

Whenever I have a trip

I try to find out as much information as I can

about the itinerary and specifics of the trip.

For me that's when the creative fun begins

as far as styling outfits 

perfect for each occasion.

For drinks and dinner the first night

at the Andaz  Hotel

I styled an outfit perfect for the evening

with my denim tunic 

with my sequin pants and a denim trench.

The lines of the outfit are quite simple 

making them the perfect backdrop for …

Lots of Bling!

I collect accessories in wardrobes.

For this fabulous ensemble I am bringing

Antique Oppulence Collection

made up of pearls and crystals

all with settings with an antique brass finish.

Wednesday we will have the fabulous opportunity 

to spend the day touring in a limo

via Napa Valley Wine Tours

visiting some of Napa's best wineries .

For a day of wine tasting 

I am taking Adrienne's advice

and

dressing casually

with a nod to being functional as well.

I will be finishing off my outfit

with some well chosen accessories.

Although I was so excited about my fabulous suede clogs

practicality won out …

they just didn't make the cut 

when it came to packing space issues.

Speaking of not making the cut …

neither did this wonderful

maybe wear to dinner the second night …

it was just to much of a maybe …

that took up a lot of room.

Sadly it was left behind …

although I do have mad plans for the skirt

pairing it with a white blazer for another upcoming occasion.

Taking it's place for Wednesday night dinner out

is my sure bet instead …

my leather jacket

lace top

and 

sequin skirt

paired with my favorite brooch necklace

and 

of course 

some more  well chosen accessories.

A vintage bag

patent pumps

and

 mixing in some turquoise 

with the crystal statement necklace

to really round out the look.

After I figure out the itinerary when I pack

I then do an overall view for the trip

and

 decide what else I need to fill in with.

I always want to bring gym clothes

that can either 

make it to the gym

o

r in spectacular areas like Napa

work just as well for outside walks.

One always personal need 

I have found to be most necessary when I travel

Lounging clothes.

I feel so much of traveling 

and

taking in new sights and experiences

 many times requires clothes when I am "on"

I personally 

 really also need some down time when I travel

for some alone time

just to cozy in some loungewear.

Even if it's just for an hour

that time to feel rejuvenated

makes me so better equipped

to really savor and enjoy

the essence of the locale.

Which brings me to 

my travel outfit.

When traveling to a destination

and 

home again

I always will prefer a jacket of some sort.

Maybe it's because I am a woman 

who came into her adult life in the eighties

but I always feel more  confident in any situations

in a jacket…

to me a jacket is a bit like a form of armor.

A jacket makes me feel  more empowered 

for what ever the situation may bring.

And of course 

more empowered 

with the addition of some great 

accessories!

On that note

my packing is finished.

It is with a very excited heart

and 

a little bit of nerves

that I will be on my way 

to meet up with some

absolutely splendid women

for our 

Bloggers in Napa Valley trip ….

A trip 

which is in it's self 

a testement

to the fabulous 

connections that can be made through blogging.

I will be back here on Friday.

Until then

you can follow our trip on instagram

by following me

the link is on my side bar

and

 you can also then follow all of us

with this  #bloggersinnapavalley

As always My Friends

I wish you love and joy

as you stele your life

My Packing System … Even Before The Clothes

I have been busy here this weekend

prepping for my long awaited trip to Napa for our

Bloggers in Napa Valley trip!

If you want to read more about this marvelous trip that

Adrienne of

The Rich Life On A Budget

has spent the last four month arranging

you can read about it
 here.
I am so excited to visit Napa Valley
with a true expert on the area!

To get ready for the trip I  have made and attended numerous  appointments
(for me it seems to take a village)

including a trip to the Chanel counter at Neiman Marcus

to learn a few new tricks 

to replenish my

travel bags!

I keep several small travel bags

and

 at the ready

so when I need to pack for a trip

it's usually just outfits

I need to pull together.

I keep bags packed by category

so in the hotel

I know where everything is

with no muss or fuss!

I keep my items for touch ups in a bag in my purse.

I like to travel with no more than 3 lip 'sets'.

I have a pencil, a lipstick and a gloss.

Plus my Chanel foundation compact

and 

tweezers and a comb 

in this little bag.

I keep my regular makeup in another bag

that I keep in my suitcase.

It opens up to contain all of my 

brushes, a mirror

and 

the makeup needed to finish my face.

I have another small case 

for all things skincare.

I have been using Erno Lazlo skin care since 

I was 18.

I have veered off many a time 

but always come back to the 

Lazlo system.

I use many of the sample sizes I receive

and
 fill in with small versions of my

other favorite products.

When I return from a trip

I always make sure to check if 

anything needs replenishing

so I always knowI can just

grab and go
 for the next trip.

I have another small bag for all things

hairstyle.

Including an extension

I use to wrap around a top knot 

for a quick polished look.

I keep booby pins, safety pins and pony holders
in a  repurposed Chanel foundation case
that I just simply removed the empty foundation tin.

Toiletries are kept neatly in another bag.

I always travel with my sharper noise machine
and if I'm flying
my Bose headphones.

My blogging tools are safely cased

and
 I have another small bag

to keep the cords and chargers together

so when I work in the hotel

I know just where to find these important accessories.

My camera and lenses are also packed 

safely in their own bag.

I keep my hand crafted business cards

in my Paloma Picasso clutch

which is always in my purse

because you never know when 

the perfect time to offer one can arise!

Now tomorrow

it's all about the clothes for the trip!

Until then ….

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life

Self Acceptance …. What I Learned … from Writing the Blog I Want to Read …part 5

I believe one of the greatest gifts I have received from blogging is
Self Acceptance
My blog at times is as much an online journal
as it is about sharing lifestyles.

Part 5
in my series
Write the Blog You Want To Read
is my most recent revelation
in an ongoing journey of self acceptance.

Some posts come quickly to me

but  it is really after I have sat with the revelations

for a while

to know it as my truth.

Some posts are harder to publish …

but I have found …

there is exactly where   the personal growth lies.

Some posts even come in a manner so powerful

I can't not write them …

This post is one I had to write ….

I have learned sometimes life can break you open

and

 bring you to your knees …

but

it is right here

if you can just hold on

and
 accept the breakage

there may be a beautiful gift involved.

But the journey will not be easy
and sometimes

it begins by asking what can I learn from this situation

and 

how can I share it then

to help others.

Writing my blog 

has been so cathartic for me.

Besides sharing my personal style

it became an online journal of thoughts

first on my transitioning life phase

but then

like the peeling of an onion

it has progressed deeper

to realms I had not even recognized.

But  in the breaking open

I not only learned to listen closer to

my heart and soul

I afforded myself the time to examine

the pieces of my life I wanted to keep

as well as ask

is this true?

Two weeks ago

on one of my hikes

I encountered a big black dog

yes, it was with it's owner

but when it came to  jump on me

I reverted to my five year old self

eyes closed,  fists clenched and arms protectively crossed.

Because you see

when I five

I was bitten by a dog.

So now at 55 I am afraid of dogs.

Yep.

You get it …

How could something that happened a half century ago

still affect me today?

Because 

I have never taken the time to update

my personal story

form an adult perspective.

This realization

left me open to 

wondering how many other 

views of myself 

have I not updated

with an adult's perspective.

I had some ideas

quietly stirring

but they made me a bit uncomfortable…

so I thought on other things.

Watching Brene' Brown

on Oprah's  Super Soul Sunday

speaking on shame

and

it hit me.

Because I have been open to the truth

and
 looking for insight 

to why I do what I do.

"When the student is ready

the teacher will come."

It is a shame 

that as an educated adult

and
 mother of three adult children

sounds so cringe worthy

it makes me ashamed of my shame.

I realized  in that moment of flooding tears

that almost my whole life 

well 

let's just say from a really young age

I have been ashamed of my weight.

Such shame 

has had me on the run my entire life.

The shame of weighing more than 'others'

has had me on a lifetime track

of having to prove I was better than others

in everything else

just to feel

I was OK.

That I really was worthwhile.

The fear of not being good enough

and the shame of being more than 

has had me

performing at almost masochistic levels 

so many times in my life.

At the height of my madness

 I  was attending UCLA in design

and 

commuted over an hour a day to save money.

I left at 3:30 in the morning to avoid traffic.

I had all of my classes

on two days of the week

so I could

work full time 

as an assistant manager at a large fashion retailer.

This store was 45 minutes away the opposite direction way from where I lived and UCLA.

Now before you think

like I did at the time

what an ambitious hard worker

I was also a full blown bulimic 

with an eating disorder so bad

it  would eventually derail my finishing college for years.

I believe my shame of weighing 'too much'

manifested at a particularly young age

when my young parents

were realizing my baby sister of 6 months

not only had down syndrome

but a heart defect as well.

I remember being about six

and 

wanting to make things better for everyone

and 

wanting so badly to be perfect 

to make up for the sad things.

Now as an adult

and mother of three adults

my heart breaks for that little girl

especially knowing 

she would grow up to be 

so very hard and cruel to herself.

But

that is not at all

really

why I write this

but rather 

the context 

behind my message.

Today 

I realize

that just like going into

'oh my gosh I'm afraid of dogs'

mode

even though the bite happened

50 years ago

My weight shame

is too

an opinion 

forged as a 

scared little girl.

So it is time for me to 

lie my shame

right out front

because

it is only 

taking shame 

out of the darkness

can we truly find our light.

So today

I no longer 

want to 

be motivated

and 

to feel devalued

because

I am not the cultural

stereotypical beauty

As I wrote in this post

I am not

young

thin 

or 

rich.

but I am still of tremendous worth.

Today

I realize 

worshiping at the alter of

not enough

serves no one.

Today

I realize I am an adult 

who no longer needs to be motivated

by the beliefs of 

a scared child.

Today

I also know

we all need to change the conversation

from

not good enough

to 

celebrating 

who we are today

because

as we each can heal

from

a belief of 

being not good enough

we can each then

offer 

a hand back in love

to help another

heal

and
find

their own

inherent worth.

It is a gift not only

to 

ourselves

but

our daughters

and

their daughters 

who 

come behind us.

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life.

Here is a list of the links to the entire series

Introduction To The Series

Part 1 - The Blogs You Read 
Part 2 - Searching For Daily Beauty

Part 3 - Respect Your Story

Part 4 - Connections

PS ~ right now for some reason some of your treasured comments
and my replies
are not showing on the blog
They still show up on my end
and
I am investigating the problem.

I have never been so moved and humbled
as I have by your comments
It is this interaction
that is the true beauty of this blog.

Friday Date Night … Trying New Looks … and ... Why I Get In Front Of the Camera

Our  Friday night dates

have turned into a perfect opportunity

to try some new looks

with a photo shoot before cocktails!

With my upcoming trip to Napa

I wanted to play once again with my leather jacket.

It was a chilly SoCal evening so

I chose to pair it with a black maxi.

I decided Old Town San Juan Capistrano

would make for the perfect back drop for this ensemble!

I often decide what I want to wear on Friday night …

and then

decide the perfect destination.

Old San Juan has a charming collection

of restaurants and bars …

and 

you never know where 

you can  get some photo advice!

This charming engineer had some great  photo shot set up advice!

Jacket-Target, maxi Target, Sunglasses-Tom Ford, necklace-Tamera Beardsley Design, Vintage evening bag, patent pumps- Ivanka Trump

To achieve a nicer flow to long knit skirts and dresses
I would like to wear a long slip underneath
but since I haven't found any that have made it to market yet
a successful alternative I have found
is wearing a long knit skirt underneath
It provides for a better drape and movement to the dress
which for me it makes it more fun to wear
and
the skirt underneath
helps prevents the dress
from wrapping around my
legs when I walk.
The added layer is also a good way
to prevent every bump and imperfection from showing
which is reason enough for the under skirt!

I have found using the skirt as slip solution
to be more cost effective
than even traditional short slips.
Target has several great options at the moment.
I find stores like this
to be great ways to try new looks
hence
both my jacket and Maxi dress
are from Target.

Now that I realize I actually like
a leather jacket
(I talked about here)
I will eventually be on the hunt
for a leather jacket as a wardrobe investment piece.
I am quite taken with a
une femme d'un certain âge
newest Vince leather jacket
but for now I am quite content
with my Target score.

I have reworked this vintage brooch statement necklace many times by now
and

I have to say 

I am finally completely satisfied 

with this vintage crystal rendition.

The years of collecting brooches

have really paid off

as this necklace 

pairs as well 

with T shirts and jeans

as evening attire.

Anyone new to my blog

can find my DIY for the necklace HERE

the rest of you already know the drill :))

I really have to say 

thank you to my wonderful husband

for his Friday night effort 

in the photography department.

I know I am a very lucky woman.

He works really hard

to show me in the best light possible.

Believe it or not

I actually Hate having my picture taken

but love talking about clothes,  accessories
and
personal style

so 

I do get in front of the camera.

I have even thought of using other models

to tell my fashion visions

but then I  realize

I too would become

part of the story telling

that
insinuates

fashion is only 

for the young and beautiful.

That is a story
that is dated and untrue.

Fashion

and

Style

are for 

any of us

who wear clothes

and 

want it.

No matter

our age

our size

or

 how we look

or

 the price points

we can afford.

Fashion

and 

Style

are for all of us.

I get in front of the camera 

every week

because 

more of us need to be front of the camera

how else 

will we know what real women

look like

if all we see

is 

a single vision of beauty.

A single vision

of beauty

doesn't work

in a world

filled 

with so many different kinds of beauty.

So here's to

living life

with style and gusto

no matter who we are!

PS

I was just thinking

it's  probably

about time fore me to share 

some of the photo tips

I have learned

to 

get the best shots possible.

I can feel the wheels turning

for 

a new DIY post :))

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life

linking up with
Visible Monday
check out Patti's lovely blog
to see other fabulous women braving the
front side of the camera!

Hello Gratitude

I was most excited this week to meet 

the fabulous La Contessa

of the VintageHen House blog

in person when she traveled down south!

Never have I meant anybody 

who I share such a similar aesthetic

and 

love of larger than life style!

When people speak of true connections being made through blogging

trust me it is so true!

To be able to find like minded souls 

all around the world

is one of the  true gifts of blogging!

Speaking of around the world

I was very honored this week to be on the cover and a featured Skimbaour inside  of the

beautiful Skimbaco online magazine which is produced in Sweden.

Katja of Skimbaco

not only produces the magazine

but also the beautiful Skimbacco Lifestyle site as well.
Katja's mission is to inspire
all of us to live life to the fullest
a sentiment I couldn't be more in line with!

I became familiar with Skimbaco

when my dear friend Adreinne of

 The Rich Life On A Budget
joined the Skimbaco team

to write the fashion articles for Skimbaco!

Speaking of Adrienne ..

I am so excited and grateful 

for my upcoming trip to Napa

that dear Adrienne has arranged

April 15th will be here before I know it
and I can't wait!

I was also so excited this week when

Krista, from Readers.com

sent me a link to the email the company sent out to their subscribers

featuring yours truly!

Thanks again Krista

you are just the best to work with my dear!

I have been busy this week here at home

beginning the change out of  my home decor

for my summer styling.

I am most excited

that I have been contacted

by a fabulous magazine

who is interested in shooting my

little abode

for publication!

Just the motivation we needed here

to finish/ begin some home reno projects!

As I reflect on my gratitude this week

I realize just how very much my 

life has been touched

and 

enriched

by this here little blog.

As wonderful as the external benefits of blogging I have received are

and 

believe me

my heart is most grateful

for each and everyone ...

The truest most important gift I have gained

by writing 

The Blog I Want To Read

is a better understanding

and

 acceptance
 of myself.

Since this blog

has ended up being as much of an

online journal

as it is a place to share my love of all things style

I have had much opportunity

over the last two plus years 

to reflect on my life

past, present and future.

Next week I will be sharing

part five of my series

Write the Blog You Want To Read

with

What I Have Personally Learned By Blogging

This part five is the most personal writing I have done yet …

and

 thus the hardest to publish …

but I know by now

that is exactly the point 

 where the greatest  personal growth can occur.

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life