My First Attempt at Tying a Scarf: Iznik Scarf with the Monologue Top

Although, I'll admit to enjoying putting together outfits for work, I have no idea what I'm doing. 

I just buy what I like and hope for the best. Why so much Anthropologie? Well, for one, I like Anthropologie and no one I know really shops there, so my clothes are "different" and unique because of this.  I LOVE the sales and it is so easy to order from there as I know my size and how certain brands will fit. Secondly, I HATE shopping in malls and trying on clothes in stores. I would much rather order from the comfort of my own home, try on the clothes with my accessories and then send back what doesn't work -- also, I'm lucky in that I can ship back for free. 

Blah, blah, blah.  So, what was I writing about anyway? Oh yeah, the scarf. On to the scarf, already. Maybe I should retitle this post. Ha, ha.

Iznik Scarf and Monologue Top

How many of you can relate to the following? When I first bought and tried on the Iznik Scarf, my husband said it was stupid and it overwhelmed my little frame. Today when I emerged from my room ready for work, he went on and on about how much he liked the scarf. Of course, I'm sure he has no memory of his original negative comments. I've learned to not listen to him. :D

Lots of laughter,

V.B.

Popback Try On Session: Lucerna Dress

I received this "popback" about a week after my injury and so I never felt like trying it on until yesterday when I had a burst of energy and tried on a couple of new things. I haven't steamed it yet, so it is very wrinkled in the photos.

 My knees are starting to look icky from crawling around and I need a tan. My husband calls me THE RING because he says I remind him of the scary lady crawling around from that movie. If I have my stabilizer boot off, it is just easier to get from point A to point B right now if I scoot or crawl around.

7 Week Anniversary of Foot Injury and Passerine Tee Outfit

In honor of the seven week anniversary of my foot injury, I thought I'd share my fall version of the Passerine Tee. It's only fitting as this is the top I was wearing when I wrenched my foot. I haven't worn it since, but decided to wear it out yesterday. Read on below for an update on my stupid foot. :D

I love to layer. Here's the Passerine Tee paired with my FAVORITE layering shirt, the Pure and Good Slub Tee. It is very delicate, so I hand wash it and hang it flat to dry. I have this tee in black, white and red and wish I had been able to find all the colors on sale last year. This is one of my favorite necklaces (Target). 

 Below is the finishing touch -- my favorite boyfriend blazer, The Borrowed Blazer. It seems like the year this jacket came out, Anthropologie had a ton of great jackets and blazers. I had a hard time choosing and wish now I had gotten more than a couple as lately none of the blazers have really appealed to me.

Borrowed Blazer

Foot Update

My foot has gotten worse over the past couple of weeks. It feels like it is always waking up from being asleep -- pins and needles feeling. Sometimes it feels ice cold and turns red or blue tinged. I get twitches/spasms in my foot and sharp shooting pains. My whole foot went from slightly swollen to yuck swollen all over. The severity of swelling, color changes and temperature changes come and go and now the bottom part of my leg is also twitchy and cold feeling as well. It just feels miserable. I went from taking an occasional Naproxen to having to take pain pills every day for the pain which makes me very sleepy all the time. I'm a VERY active, hyper person so this is driving me crazy! 

So, I had another MRI done last week. My tibialis posterior tendon is stretched with multiple tears and the tendon running along the ankle on the other side of my foot is also stretched. My whole foot is inflammed and filled with fluid -- tenosynovitis and tendinosis, there is also ligament damage, AND I have arthritis in several places from the surgeries for my skew feet. Most of this I already knew, although I wondered why the other side of my foot was swollen and hurt and now know that tendon was wrenched as well. That was the good news. Ha, ha. 

The bad news? The doctor brought up RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome) or Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (RSDS/CRPS). Yikes! He asked us if we knew what it is and gave a brief overview of nerves going haywire resulting in pain. He then talked about next steps and referred me to another doctor. This went over our heads because I really still didn't understand how serious this condition is. When my husband asked about a time frame for recovery, we were told this was a chronic disabling condition characterized by intense pain with no cure. Well, that got our attention, and we started asking more questions! Of course, I googled it right away and wish I hadn't.  One of my friends at work told me that this is what Dr. House has that makes him pop drugs all the time. GREAT! 

I need your prayers. I am refusing to believe this and am hoping that my foot is just so messed up with inflammation that this is causing my nerve responses. Plus, this wasn't a diagnosis just a suggestion of what it looks like is going on with my foot. So, pray, pray. Did I mention, pray? :)

OY! (Outfit of Yesterday) Deciduous Pullover in Reverse

The Deciduous Pullover 

The Deciduous Pullover is one of my 50% off sale room purchases from this weekend. I have to admit I would not have paid full price for this as the tie in the back is a little fussy and requires too much thought, but I do like how it fits and I'm a sucker for gray tops. 

I have this on backwards. I didn't take a photo of the correct view (V in front) as this would have necessitated untying and then retying the ribbon in back and I was hungry. It is also a nice look, but I love the cowl neck version more.

When I first put it on, I was having trouble tying the ribbon (I should have NEVER untied it without looking at it first.) so I pulled it around and then noticed the lovely cowl neck draping in the front. I much prefer it this way. 

Immutable Jacket

The V neck in the back is a bit low, but no lower than the actual cowl neck was in the back. As I've said before, I almost always wear a cami under shirts, so a bit of the cami peeks out in the back, but I like this look. The ribbon ties the same no matter which way you wear it, so I figure I'll get two looks out of this shirt. The V neck in front is a more casual look whereas the cowl neck in front dresses it up and lends it more to a going out look. I could also see the cowl neck version tucked into a skirt with a jacket or sweater for work or church.

The ribbon was wrinkled when I got it, but it only took a couple of minutes to steam it out. (I love my steamer.) You can adjust the length of the cowl in front by how you tie the ribbon in the back. I gave up on tying it artfully to the side as in the product image. It looks fine tied in a ribbon in the center of the back. Oh, I should also mention that I carefully cut out the tags in "the back."

So, either this IS a great look or I am once again stuck in Stage 4 (Justification/Rationalization) of the 7 Stages of Post Online Shopping Disorientation Disorder. What do you think? ha, ha.

Skew Feet and Much Rambling About Nothing

This top is one of my latest sale purchases. I really like it paired with the Biloba Necklace. (Note to self: avoid taking photo with CRAZY Hand next time.) 

I'm enjoying playing with my blog and hanging out with my imaginary readers. Ha, ha. I've been following (lurking about) several blogs for about a year now. I have the GREATEST respect for all the hard work that is put into posting reviews and outfit posts. I can't imagine keeping up with my "fake" blog once I start back to work next week.

Peeled Porcelain Top, Biloba Necklace, AG Stevie Cords (wine)

SKEW FEET

I've had feet issues my whole life. I was born with a rare foot disorder called Skew feet or Z feet. My feet always hurt and I sprained my ankle a few times as a child, but it wasn't until I started running track in middle school that the skew feet were discovered. I LOVED to run but it hurt. One day, my foot cracked mid stride on my way to get the mail. After healing from that, I spent the next two years off and on in a wheel chair and crutches from two separate surgeries to reset the bones in my feet. Even though the surgeries were pretty successful, I was told I would have issues as I aged, including early onset arthritis from the surgeries. 

Well, that day has come. Even though the injury was klutz related, it probably wouldn't have happened if I'd had normal feet. The X-rays and MRI for my hurt foot show fraying joints and arthritis as well. I'm taking it easy as I want to be able to run again and . . . wear my Tom's wedges. Ha, ha. I'll worry about arthritis etc. as I get older.