By @Sunshynknits for ME!!!!!!!

Me: Can you make me a sleeveless cowl with an asymmetrical hem that is fitted like a vest that I can wear over a long sleeve t-shirt and not be cold or under a coat but not get too hot?

Susan: Um...I've never made one before but sure! Let's do it!

Also me: I want it to be chunky but with really good yarn stuff so it's soft and not itchy.

Susan: Yarn stuff...Monnie you funny. Color?

Also me too and again: Oatmealish. Me no likey itchy.
Baaaaaaaaaaby...when I tell yall how happy I am with my oatmealish chunky really good yarn stuff vest thingy...I can't even begin! GO ME!

GO SUSAN! YOUR TALENT BLOWS ME ABSOLUTELY AWAY! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! And thank you for all of my other goodies too!

Contact her via www.Instagram.com/sunshynknits if you're looking for something amazing like this for yourself or as a gift! Or let me know and I'll connect you!

Mingo and the Bootie

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I'm going to see Sheila E. Thursday night and I'm super, dooper excited.  I had this idea of the perfect outfit in my head and I wanted to rock it.

A pair of skinny jeans, a white t-shirt under a cute fitted jacket and a stacked heel bootie.

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Cool!  I have everything except the stacked heel bootie. I have booties that I no longer wear because I consider the heal DEATH BRINGERS so I needed to find the shoe.  One night last week I spent HOURS searching for the perfect bootie.  See...this is a difficult one for me because I have a problem that doesn't bode well for me wearing booties.  I have stick legs.  So any bootie I rock has to be either adjustable or right IMMEDIATELY above my ankle.

I am NOT trying to look like a duck standing in buckets.  Nerp.  I'm good.

So I searched and found something delightful after HOURS of searching.  I ordered them.  GO ME!

I get an email today, two day before Sheila E. saying the shoes I ordered wouldn't be here until October 31.  *BLINK*  Seems it was a backorder situation.

I hate people with tastes similar to mine.

No biggie...I'll go buy another pair.

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Yall...I tried on over 50 pair of booties at over 6 different stores.  I bought a pair out of sheer frustration only to get them home, try them on again and HATE.THEM.

So yeah...Imma show up to Ms. Sheila E., one of Prince's favorite people, not wearing what I wanted to wear.

I hate life.

HATE.LIFE!

I bet you have cute booties already huh?  Hate you too.  Humph.

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Beauty and Fashion Randoms of an Over 40 Blogger

I needed something to wear to an event and got excited.  See...I'm not fashion or beauty obsessed although I tend to keep up with what is necessary for me to know in both departments.  I tend to buck trends and pretty much wear exactly what I want to wear.  The good thing about being over 40, is that I can pretty much get whatever I want to get.  You know...if I want it.

The older I get, the more I'm into comfortable shoes.  I own lovely heels, of course, but they are never my first choice anymore and I tend to plan an outfit around the shoes I want to wear.  I'll never get too old for a funky pair of Chucks and I will never pass up the opportunity to buy something others might consider outrageous if it makes me smile.  LOL!

I just recently bought some leather and glitter sneakers that make me smile.   People look down at them in surprise and then back up to my face quickly.  LOL!  I SEE YOU!!!!!!!!

I'm not into homely clothes and love to rock figure flattering pieces that aren't hoochie.  I don't like too tight pants so all my skinny pants have a good amount of "GIVE" in the material.  I have a crazy knack for picking out a funky and fun top and I have a wall filled with funky tops that I pair with jeans, shorts, sandals, ballet flats and sneakers.

I think I have skinny legs so I don't wear shorty shorts but I do wear fitted shorts if that makes sense.  (Odd I know.)  I still stick to the principle that if you only BUY things that look cute on you, you will only OWN things that look cute on you.  I don't like matchy matchy and I adore mixing super cheap pieces with pricey pieces.  My normal every day shorts are cargo shorts from the boy's department cuz you can't find cargo shorts for women with a good length for women anymore it seems.

My day-to-day wear would probably be considered tomboy chic or sporty luxe and, even though I feel I could wear some of the latest trends the younger people wear...I don't. And I don't consider jeans, t-shirts and Chucks to be young people clothes.  These things are ageless.  LOL!  And yes...I will probably be 80 rocking some fly glasses and some fresh to death glitter Chucks.

I pay attention to my "More" magazine and I check out the new stuff regarding makeup etc.  I'm not really there yet regarding makeup and am just now starting to play with different stuff when I do wear makeup which is still...HARDLY EVER.  In lieu of makeup...I will rock a pair of hot sunglasses or a hat.  LOL!  And my lips stay fresh with some good old Aquaphor which I pretty much use all over.

The only thing I have really started focusing on as I age is exposure to the sun.  Especially on my face and neck.  I'm not trying to hide from the sun but I also don't want to have to get to the point where I HAVE to wear makeup in order to have good looking skin and I have been known to have odd breakouts when in the sun at random times.  UGH.

I don't like my hair these days as the grey is something I guess I'll have to take action on eventually because it's getting more and more grey and, insultingly, all around my hairline waving and ish.  I can't find a stylist that I love locally so weekly appointments to make my life lovelier is out of the question and the drive to the one who makes it look right is too far for weekly maintenance.  

My dentist keeps asking if I want to whiten my teeth and I keep telling them that I think it's creepy when folks' teeth are whiter than their eyes and that I would spook myself in the middle of the night during a bathroom run in the dark.

I still do my level of workouts which maintain what I'm working with and well...I'm unwilling to do much more if I don't have to.  I don't want to be the fittest looking girl in the room...I just want a flat tummy and a nice butt.  I was working out with a guy who was really kinda harsh with it and well...I thought it best if I didn't continue going over there.  You know...getting yelled at and whatnot.  I have to figure out something, however, because for the past two days it has been too hot during my normal 30 minute morning walk and sprint session to get a good workout in without saying...um...no.  Too hot.  I hate germy gyms but I'm going to have to do something and have access to a treadmill soon cuz this heat is going to kill me and the way my heart murmur is set up...

When I'm looking to wear something special, I tend to visit a few of my favorite beauty and fashion blogs for and by women of a certain age.  See...they get me cuz they ARE me.  They are fly but no longer 20 and each one of my FAVES has the type of style that shows they know THEIR style THEIR way.  They aren't trying too hard to be sexy and they generally have smiles that reach their eyes which makes me smile.  I know...clearly I have simple criteria but it's so true.

 

Extra Petite - She's the youngest on this list.  I like her style though.  She does tomboy to girly girl right.

Style Pantry - This should be a DUH as she is probably on all of our lists.  I mean...she is like the Diana Ross of fashion to me.

Lady of Style - I get a lot of good ideas from her on how to mix up things I already own.

Erica B. - Another DUH...I mean hey...it's our girl.

J'Adore Couture - I get diva brunch outfit ideas from her.  

Fortyfied Beauty - She doesn't just stick to clothes and I like that.  She's pretty simple too.  Enjoying cute comfort.

Style of a London Tall Girl - Tall girls have problems other girls don't.  She owns her tall girl style. 

Forever Amber - Super cutesy clothes.  Ideas for weddings, nice parties, etc.

The Coveteur - I just look over here.  LOL!  I can't afford NOTHING June Ambrose deems rock worthy but I love pretty pictures of pretty clothes.  Oh...and her blog is more about lifestyle too.  She has a great cocktail series going on over there.

What about you?  Where do you get your inspiration from when you're looking for something special to wear?  Who are your goto fashion and beauty bloggers?  Do you generally like fashion blogs by women of a certain age too?  How would you describe your style?  

Is fashion a THING for you?  Or do you just like to look nice?

How to Make Your Own T-shirt Using Mirror Image on PicMonkey - #Racial Fatigue

Sometimes you want to wear a shirt that says what you want it to say.  Of course I couldn't find a t-shirt that said 'Racial Fatigue' so I made my own because I want to wear it.  Often.

I bought this:  Jolee's Boutique Transfer Paper

There are 5 sheets for light shirts and 5 sheets for dark shirts.

Then I used WordArt in Word, saved it as a PDF and then edited it in PicMonkey to flip (mirror) the image and make this:

Next I printed it on the transfer paper using my printer, cut it out as nicely as I could and ironed it onto a fresh white tank (notice I didn't call it a wife-beater...oops...LOL!) and VOILA!  

And now that I have 9 sheets left...I can get 9 more shirts outta this.  The public might not be ready for my personally created graphic tees.

If anybody wants to make one send me an email and I'll send you the full size image you can print out on transfer paper and iron on.

On Caitlyn Jenner

Caitlyn Jenner has arrived fully emblazoned on and in "Vanity Fair."  A blaze of fabulous clothes, cars, new boobs and hair.  Cheekbones to die for and eyebrows, as the young kids say, "on fleek."

I'm reading the hoopla and, of course, checking out the pictures.  I watched the Diane Sawyer special on her and was impressed with how well Diane tackled the subject and showcased the very real struggle.  I was touched that (at the time Bruce was still referring to himself as he) he was honest and candid about his journey.  I couldn't imagine the lifelong struggle.  I empathized with him greatly about that especially since someone I love has lived this journey all of her life.

And then...he said something that made me BLINK.

He said that, of course he's a Republican and I BLINKED again and again and again.  It really made me sit back and go...WOW.

The unabashed privilege of Bruce Jenner now Caitlyn was fully displayed.  The struggle that others face daily when going through this transition, was never there.  The money and the fame made him the automatic poster child even though other backs have been broken since the Roman Empire.  Caitlyn is on the cover of Vanity Fair, is a part of a hit reality show and has a new show about to come out.  Caitlyn is full of money that she will protect at all costs while you pull yourself up by your bootstraps.  LOL!  

I am glad to see we are living in a world where people are more comfortable living their truth proudly.  That warms my heart.

Caitlyn?  Old girl is a Republican.  LOL!

I mean...I guess right.  To each his own, blah, blah, blah.

Sometimes though...it simply makes my eyes squint.

GET.MONEY.

Double Ruffle Capris and Pants...NO

I just got a new catalog in the mail that I've never heard of.  Kelly's Kids.  Flipping through I was smiling at the coordinating outfits the kids were wearing in group picture and then I ran across something that I didn't even know the name of but that I knew I despised on little girls:

Double ruffle capris and pants.  I see this so often down South that I've stopped being astonished when I see cute little girls dressed like clowns but I do wonder...WHY?

Please...if you have an adorable, smart, fun and funny little girl...don't dress her like a clown.  She's going to start hating you when she's old enough to look at pictures and realized YOU DID THAT TO HER!!!!!!!!!!

Love you!  Mean it!

Jackie Brown and Wilona Woods

Okay, okay...she was going for Chaka Khan but I saw Wilona.  I had to remind her that Wilona was a STONE.COLD.FOX!  LOL!

Have you ever attended a 70's costume party?  Did you rock it?

My Bags, My Life

Rue La La contacted me and asked me what do I keep in my bag.  Um...kinda personal huh dude?  I was all frown-t up and then clicked on this handy link they sent me and I realized that...whoa...I have a problem since I have multiples of all the styles in their style guide.  *sigh*  

The Style Guide

And this is even after, during the move, recently getting rid of a LOT of bags because well...we all know I used to have the worst bag problem in the world!  Needless to say, the recipients of the bags I got rid of were very, very happy!  LOL!

Now I'm not saying that I have a problem with having this particular problem because...BAAAAAAAAAABY...a girl and her bags are important parings.  IM.POR.TAN.TE!

I only had one of the 6 containers of bags in the house (the other 5 are in the garage from the move and it's cold in the garage and I'm totally not unpacking a single thing today because yall...I'S TIRED!) but this container is the one I will probably use the most of while here.

A long time ago, I was having back problems and couldn't figure out why.  My doctor picked up my bag to move it off the stool in front of me in the waiting room and diagnosed my back problem by saying, "WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN THIS THING?????"  From there, he prescribed a very scientific remedy for my back pain, "Start with nylon bags and put less stuff in it."

*sigh*

Funny guy.  Ha-ha.

But...the solution made sense even though my options, at the time, seemed limited.  

The best thing I've ever done to make changing purses easy and stress free?  I use this Sonia Kashuk purse organizer I bought at Target.  I keep all of the things I must have with me at all times in it.

Now...in answering Rue La La's question, however, I realized that I'm a tad bit (okay...A WHOLE LOT) special once I dumped the contents of the bag out:

And that's not all I keep in my purse.  That's just the things I keep in the purse ORGANIZER.  The rest won't fit.  o_0

This doesn't include my water bottle, phone, handkerchief and random bits of receipts and coupons that I always forget to use when I get to the check out line so they stay in there and get all crinkle soft and expire.  (What?  Like you don't do that too!)

Sitting back and looking at this, I realize that I am clearly expecting to have to fight off zombies when I'm away from home and that, because of the world we live in, someone will have a video camera and I will want to make sure that I have moist (THERE'S THAT WORD AGAIN!!!!!) lips, a neat ponytail, and juice for my phone.  Oh...and nothing stuck between my teeth.  The only thing I can't explain is the Monopoly house.  I gots nothing there.  The Prince CD?  Don't even try it.  It's Prince.  I might want to listen to the crisp clarity of the CD inside the house as well as in my truck.  So there.  Leave me alone.  Oh...and the dime?  Maybe I expect to travel back in time and will have to be re-courted by The Robinator and I will need a dime to put between my knees 1950's style.

*BLINK*

This exercise has made me feel bad about myself.  I have issues I'm still not working on.  *sigh*

I am doing some things right however, according to Rue La La.  I store my bags properly!  GO ME!  I always clean them completely and wipe them down with a lightly damp towel.  Then I stuff them with paper and generally store them back inside the dust bags they came in.  I then put them inside large clear storage containers.  

The history of handbags was pretty cool to read too.  I'm not a style blogger so I've never read up on the history of bags.  Pretty interesting stuff.  The only bag I've ever wanted to own, I don't own.  The bag you ask?  A Chanel anything.  LOL!  I actually bought one once and it sat in the box and bag for exactly 14 days in my closet before the guilt consumed me and I returned it reluctantly.  One day though...ONE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!

MAYBE.  

What's in YOUR bag?  What would we be surprised to find in your bag?  Do you carry a bunch of stuff around like I do?  What is wrong with me?  Why must I stuff FABULOUS bags with so much stuff?  

Oh...and no need to pretend you weren't surprised I didn't have a flask or a half bottle of wine in there.  Frankly...I was too.

 

SJP & Me!

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Shelly saw that picture and sent it to me saying it looked like me.  I saw it and my mouth dropped open.  I literally sat there with dribble on the side of my mouth.  A framily member was with me and said, "Yup...totally looks like you."  LOL! ( I love, love, LOVE my framily and how well they know me!!!!!)

And it does!

NOTICE FROM SIP!  This pic was taken after midnight during an extremely stressful move where there was consistent cussing involved.  Ignore everything except the poncho.  Please.  I BEG OF YOU!!!!!  The person who snapped the pic (*COUGH*ROBBY*COUGH*) was cussing when he snapped the pic!  LOL!

Monogramming isn't available in the states yet unless you're SJP so I shall be taking it somewhere to get an MMM Mingogram as soon as the dust around this house settles.  

Doesn't that look like me?  Imma wear it with jeans and a t-shirt because it's sooooooooooo lovely and heavy and soft!  GO ME!  I can't WAIT to wear it.  LOL!  Will be a minute though...cuz it's no where next to cold down South!  

Guess what yall?  I'M BACK IN THE SOUTH WHERE I BELONG!!!!!!!

Patterned Work-out Tights!

All of my workout pants are solid.  At the most...they might have a stripe down the side of the legs but that's pretty much it.  I've noticed people in patterned workout tights and I've thought...hmmmmmmm...

Today, I found the first pair I've wanted to try on because of how awesome they felt and I think I like them even though my sister is all evil with it and whatnot.  UGH.TO.HER!

Have you started rocking patterned workout tights yet?

I Heart My Uggs!

I don't like traditional Uggs.  Every time I've tried them on I've felt loosey goosey.  I like the look of them on other people (sometimes because some of the ensembles which seem to be popular make me scratch my head) but I need a more solid sole on shoes I wear casually.

I have other Uggs, but only buy the Uggs that don't look like Uggs.  All of my Uggs have solid bottoms.  Every winter, however, I say to myself...maybe this year I'll buy a pair because they do look oh so warm and toasty!

Well...I was in Nordies recently and saw these:

Notice the sole!  Solid!  Me think me likey.  And it's cheaper than the traditional looking one too!  What do YOU think?  Do you like the look of them?  Would you wear them? They come in cute kiddie prints too.