10 on the 10th: Telephone!

Answering 10 questions! This is a fun monthly thing instigated by Marsha In the Middle.

 Marsha's answers for this month

1. What kind of phone did you have when you were a kid…landline or cell phone?

A toy one!

Christmas, 1958

2. Do you remember party lines?

My mom said, "Don't play with the phone! Six other families are using it!"

I attribute my dislike of making telephone calls to this edict.

My sister doesn't have this issue, she was born post party line.

3. What was your first cell phone?

Severo got it for me. It was a flip phone, I don't remember what model.

4. Do you still have a landline?

I'm still paying for one and no phones are connected to it.

5. Do you screen your phone calls?

Always.

6. What is the longest amount of time you’ve spent on the phone?

That was probably during my midlife crisis when I was having a torrid affair with a guy in Indiana. We would "talk" for hours. I was staying at my parents at the time. Sorry Mom and Dad.

7. What is your current phone?

iPhone 11 Pro. Love it.

8. Do you use your smartphone only as a phone?

Ya gotta be kidding!
It's my camera!

9. When you were a kid, did you play “Telephone”?

Yep.

10. Does your significant other have a special ringtone?

Nope. Sorry, Sev.

Linking up with...

Marsha in the Middle
Shelbee's On the Edge

10 on the 10th February: Love | Hate

Answering 10 questions! This is a fun monthly thing instigated by Marsha In the Middle.
Marsha got very strident with her questions this month!

1. Tell us about a color you love to wear. 

My favorite colors are Cadmium Orange and Chartreuse.

Now, tell us about a color you wouldn’t wear for a million dollars!

I will wear any color for a million dollars, since there is no duration indicated.

2. Share a food you loved when you were a kid, but now you wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole! 

Freihofer's Chocolate Chip Cookies (source)

Did they change the formulation? Or did my taste buds mature? Both!

3. Is there something you loved to wear once upon a time, but now you wouldn’t wear it to your worst enemy’s wedding? 

Bikini Bathing Suits

4. Spill the tea! What is the flower you want your significant other to buy you? 

Stargazer Lilies! (source)

What flower had better never grace your doorstep?

Corpse Flower! (source)

5. When you were a kid, was there a food you absolutely detested, but now you just can’t get enough of it?

Not detested, but I was not too fond of Orange Marmalade.
Now I adore it! And make it!

6. Share a book you love, reread, or tell others about.

River-Horse, by William Least Heat-Moon is a good one.

It's about journeying from the Atlantic across the US to the Pacific by BOAT!

Now, let’s hear about a book you wish had never been written!

I don't hate any books that much. Writers gotta write.
Never able to finish Moby-Dick or Ulysses though.
In addition, I don't like William Least Heat-Moon's other books (like Blue Highways) because he's unnecessarily verbose. Somehow, he got it right in River-Horse.

7. Tell us about something your significant other does that makes you go, “Awww…”

He writes the most heart-felt cards for my birthday, Christmas, and our anniversary. 

But, what does he/she/they do that drives you up a wall? 

His driving scares the beJesus out of me.

8. Time to spill the tea again! What piece of clothing do you love and cherish? 

I've Marie Kondoed my closet and I love it all. 

What piece of clothing will never ever be in your wardrobe again?

Beige Chinos.
They were the uniform at my first job delivering pizza for Skip Perry's Pizza in Goleta, CA.
Not flattering.

 

9. Share the holiday you would celebrate often, even every day if you could!

(Shrugs) Too much of a good thing is too much.

Which holiday would you never celebrate again if you had the choice?

I don't like Halloween. 

10. Tell us about the modern technological device you’d fight your sister for. 

I love my iPhone

But, which device would you toss out the window happily?

The low-end FitBit I bought that doesn't recharge, instead requires batteries.

Linking up with...

Shelbee's Spread the Kindness on the Edge
Marsha in the Middle

What was Your First Selfie?

Inspired by this IG post...

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dr Justine Larbalestier (@drjustinefancypants)

It's time to take a trip down SpyGirl memory lane!

My first post for this blog was a selfie, sort of:

Link to post

I started SpyGirl as a place to post fake visual journal entries for International Fake Journal Month. 

I sketched what I was wearing every day from 3/25 through 4/28/10 in a small Moleskine blank book. I created the fake persona SpyGirl for this fake journal and she has taken me through many blogging adventures!

I crawled through my early posts to find my first documented full figure outfit selfie:

June 14, 2011 link 
I also sketched the outfit.

Well, it took me a while to photograph myself, right? Haha.

That corner of my back patio is now totally overgrown by a Rose Geranium. [gotta do some trimming]

I'm curious -- what was YOUR first "Fashion" selfie? Did you crop your head out? Is it just part of your body (Remember Arm Parties)? Is it an awkward mirror pose? Is it your first blog post? Let's share!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Linking up with...

Shelbee's On the Edge

Shelbee's Your Own Twist

10 on the 10th on the 14th

Answering 10 questions! This is a fun monthly thing instigated by Marsha In the Middle.

I officially join next month and my February post will be on the 10th.

1. Would you rather make resolutions, select a word of the year, or make bucket lists?

Hello word of the year!

2. Would you rather make memories on vacations or save for a big occasion?

I'd rather make memories every day!

3. Would you rather buy all the things on sale or shop your closet?

Gotta shop my closet. I already have A LOT!

4. Would you rather shed weight through fad dieting and do it quickly or eat differently and lose      slowly?

Slow and steady. But don't take away The Sugar. I'd rather be plump.

5. Would you rather undergo some type of facial treatment or update a room in your home?

First, I must get the rooms tidy.

6. Would you rather watch Paul Hollywood or RuPaul?

RuPaul 4eva

7. Would you rather have to wear the same color all year long or not wear that color at all?

The color is beige. It can be banished. I won't miss it.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

8. Would you rather wear a designer look or a designer knockoff?

Just give me the Fluevogs. Support independent designers and small businesses. Avoid Fast Fashion.

9. Would you rather be overdressed or underdressed at an occasion?

As long as I'm dressed...

2016

10. Would you rather have only neutral clothing or extremely colorful clothing?
Give me ALL the colors (except beige, haha).

Be sure to check out Marsha’s post and her link party for more responses

Linking up with

Shelbee's Spread the Kindness on the Edge

Marsha's 10 on the 10th

Rena's Fine-Whatever

Mosaics in Philadelphia

Mosaics in the South Street neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Created by Isaiah Zagar

View of the exterior of the museum, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens,

dedicated to one immersive space that he created.

We took a quickie east coast ramble at the end of October and Philadelphia was one of our stops.
See more pics of the trip here.

Rena's Fine Whatever linkup

Shelbee's Spread the Kindness

March Songful Style Outfit Inspo Collab: Leather and Lace

Songful Style, a fun way to explore your closet, inspired by music.

Brought to you by Suzy - the Grey Brunette, Shelbee On the Edge , Michelle - My Bijou Life, Marsha In the Middle, and me

"Songful Style gives you lyrics, music, video, and album artwork to inspire your fashion creativity. You may even find inspiration in a memory triggered by the selected song. It is all open to your own personal interpretation and just a fun way to discover new music and get a little bit more creative with your wardrobe." [lifted from Shelbee] 

This is a monthly link-up every last Monday of the month.
We will announce our song choice for the following month at the end of each Songful Style post. 

For our this month's Songful Style post, we will be sharing outfits inspired by Leather and Lace, by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley. See Shelbee's post for lyrics and loads of inspiration.

The Link-up Party will be posted on March 28

April's Songful Style will be "Hi-Heeled Sneakers" by Tommy Tucker.

IN ADDITION,

I'm holding a giveaway of these two brown lace, brocade, and velvet patchwork scarves.

I think they have a Stevie vibe, don't you?

There will be two random winners chosen on March 31.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Linking up with

Rena's Fine-Whatever

Shelbee's Spread the Kindness

Songful Style Outfit Inspo Collab

What is Songful Style? 

A fun way to explore your closet, inspired by music.

The brainchild of Suzy and Shelbee,  "Songful Style gives you lyrics, music, video, and album artwork to inspire your fashion creativity. You may even find inspiration in a memory triggered by the selected song. It is all open to your own personal interpretation and just a fun way to discover new music and get a little bit more creative with your wardrobe." [lifted from Shelbee] 
Michelle, Marsha, and I are joining in the co-hosting, it will be a Link-up extravaganza!

This will be a monthly link-up every last Monday of the month with our first post coming on Monday, February 28, 2022. We will announce our song choice for the following month at the end of each Songful Style post. 

For our first Songful Style post, we will be sharing outfits inspired by
“These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” by Nancy Sinatra. 

Visit Shelbee's post for loads of inspiration!

Hope to see your interpretation next week!

Linking up with

Michelle's Potpourri

Shelbee's Spread the Kindness

Rena's Fine-Whatever

Layer Up

 Baby, it's cold outside!

1958

1962

1964

OK, maybe it's not that cold here in Los Angeles.
I'm still wearing layers though! I am a SoCal wimp!
[I wrote this a week ago. Now we're having a heat wave. I'm wearing a tee shirt].

The 2022 uniform.

This is what I wear INSIDE! 

It's usually colder inside the house than outside, especially when the sun is shining.

The layers:

• Wool Nepalese hat with fleece lining.
• Alpaca wool scarf Ketzali
• Colorblock wool cardigan, Gudrun Sjödén

on top of

• Cotton turtleneck, Lands End, size 3X

on top of

• Wool tank top
• CrAzY leggings, Lularoe
• Chenille cat themed socks
• Leopard slides, Sam Edelman

See how other bloggers are Layering!

Linking up with

Shelbee's Spread the Kindness

Michele"s Potpourri

Happy Lunar New Year!

 2022 is Year of the Water Tiger

Water Tiger things available on Redbubble

There was a student-sponsored event at Otis, with dumplings and packets of Lucky Money.

This is the outfit I was intending to wear

But it's all an illusion. We had a water heater disaster and couldn't go to Otis. Sigh.

I took a "Make Space for Grace" decluttering course with Katie Rogers in preparation for Chinese New Year, and I'm very proud of my achievements.

The studio/bedroom became especially improved (after on top)

(A lot of those boxes have relocated to the living room. Going slow and steady and one space at a time).

One's entry is an important space to tidy up. Ours looks great at the moment.

Before:

It's been a lot of work, and well worth it.

Mr Lou agrees:

Linking up with

Shelbee's Spread the Kindness

Michele's Potpourri

Fine, Whatever

Inspired By a Joan Didion Quote

“I have already lost touch with a couple of people I used to be...”  Joan Didion

Years:
1987, 1994, 1998
1979, 2021, 1978
1971, 1976, 1980

I posted the above on Instagram, I thought I would go deeper into the images here.

Or at least pull away from the square crops.

There are some versions of me that I gladly leave behind (my married years especially).

Others, I want to keep in touch with the spunky young me.

In backwards order:

2021

Next to four of my map weavings
Holly Jolly art reception, Roswell Space.

1998

A place Severo and I stayed in Cambria.
We toured Hearst Castle that trip. So much fun!

1994

Final day of a week long summer workshop with Rafael Ferrer at Bennington College.
Holding a self portrait.

1987

Otis graduation, BFA in Fashion Design
Lisa on the left, Dad on the right.

1980

Xmas at my parents, Hampden, MA.
What am I doing in that preppie sweater???

1979

That time I was a bride.
Photo by Jamie Wolff.

1978

At Alines apartment, her birthday?
Ex removed from photo.

1976

Outside the art studio.
College of Creative Studies, UC Santa Barbara.
I quit after my first quarter of Junior year to move to NYC with the ex,
as a 20 year old know it all does..

1971

Freshman year at Emma Willard.
Music pod in the library.
Winter uniforms, mine is a micro mini version.

On to the new year and new adventures!

Linking up with

Shelbee's Spread the Kindess