Current Events: Did JD Vance Turn Indian?

From The Times

A picture really is worth a thousand words, right Mr. Trump?  If the decades-old picture you posted of Kamala Harris wearing a sari as a child is proof as you claim that she is Indian and not black, then I guess a much more recent photo of Vance in traditional Indian wedding apparel must be proof that Vance has indeed turned Indian!  Am I understanding your logic here, Mr. Trump?  Does the fact that you favor Brioni suits mean that you are turning Italian?  Hey, I think I am starting to get it - according to Trump logic, you are what you wear!

Wish List Wednesdays: Recent Purchases for Autumn

Image from Mercari

After returning home from a train trip back east for two weeks to visit family for Labor Day, I am so ready to welcome autumn.  We had a particularly hot and dry summer this year, but have finally gotten some rain and cooler temperatures with the onset of fall, and I could not be happier.  Since we are still unpacking boxes after moving all of our numerous belongings from Georgia to New Mexico, I rarely give myself permission to shop for anything other than essentials.  However, I decided that I would indulge just this once to celebrate my favorite season, so let's take a look at what I found.

At the top of the page is an image of the Peanuts Autumn Is Calling mug that I found at TJMaxx for only $6.99.  I love Snoopy, of course, but also the colorful leaves on the exterior and the orange handle and interior.  Best of all, there is even an image of a fall leaf at the bottom of the interior!

Image from Poshmark

I also found this DW Home Log Campfire candle at TJMaxx for $12.99:

While I am not crazy about the scent (it is okay but not my favorite), I could not resist the cute embroidered top with an autumnal mushroom design.  Luckily this top fits on other candles I already own with scents that I really enjoy, so I can easily reuse it.

I really did not need new kitchen towels, but I could not pass up the cute autumn dogs pattern on this Casaba Home Kitchen Towel Set (2 patterned towels and one orange towel) for just $9.99, also from TJMaxx.

I am hoping that purchasing these towels with give me the push I need to sort through my kitchen towels and finally get rid of some of the older ones that have been kept around for far too long!

My last autumnal TJMaxx find was a couple of packages of Simply Wize Gluten Free Pumpkin Gnocchi for just $3.99 each.  While I am not on a gluten-free diet, I do like pumpkin gnocchi, which I have actually made from scratch before, so I am looking forward to trying these, perhaps with a simple garlic and sage butter sauce.  This is apparently an Australian brand, so I was lucky to find it for such a reasonable price in the United States.  Luckily food purchases are only temporary additions to our home, so I don't need to feel guilty about bringing them into the house. 😊

I found the Republic of Tea Pumpkin Spice Black Tea Bags for $7.99 at our local Sprouts Farmers Market.  Of the various pumpkin spice-flavored teas I have tried, this version is the one I prefer.

My next purchase was quite the splurge, but I really wanted to try the Fall Tamales from Williams Sonoma ($99.95 for a dozen tamales).  The pumpkin mole flavor sounds delicious and I can't wait to try these with the surprisingly tasty Roasted Tomato and Chipotle Salsa Roja from Walmart.

Update: These tamales were okay but a bit dry and bland.  In my opinion they need the addition of cheese to reduce the dryness and some Hatch or other tasty chilies to add more kick.  I still have half of the order left, and plan to try them with a generous amount of cheesy enchilada dip to see if that enhances the flavor.

And speaking of Walmart, I also picked up a package of Oreo Pumpkin Spice Cookies there (available online for $4.58).  I do not usually buy packaged cookies, but I have never tried this flavor before and I do usually let myself try something new once, even if it is not the healthiest choice.  I hope I like them!

Update: Meh - I was not impressed.  These Oreos did not taste like either pumpkin or spice - all I could taste was sugar.  You would be better off getting the Halloween Oreos with the chocolate cookies and bright orange filling because at least then you can taste the chocolate.

I always seem to end up buying new sweaters every autumn, and this year is no exception.  I purchased two St. John's Bay Womens V Neck Pullover Sweaters from JCPenney (one in Rustic Brick and one in Deep Bronze, two very autumnal colors) for a very reasonable $16.49 each.  If you are looking for a good quality inexpensive lightweight mostly cotton sweater I highly recommend these (they also come with a crew neck but I prefer the V neck).

Okay, one last purchase I made for fall is the Galison Autumn in the Neighborhood 1,000 Piece Puzzle ($17.99 on Amazon).  I love 1,000 piece puzzles, and the little dog reminds me of our dog Madison, so I will truly enjoy working on this one!

As you can see, I really stocked up on seasonal goodies for fall this year.  I also added to my book collection in anticipation of more time for reading once gardening season is over and the weather turns chilly, so I have a future post planned with recommendations for spooky season reads.  Bring on the fall weather! 🍂🎃🍁

Wish List Wednesdays: Fun Finds for National Pumpkin Day

From Wallpaper Safari

Did you know that today, October 26th, is National Pumpkin Day?  In honor of this very apt seasonal celebration, I found a few pumpkin-themed items that would be great for today as well as all through the fall season.  Let's take a look, shall we?

Why not dress for the occasion in this cute and casual Patchwork Pumpkins Top ($39.95-44.95) from Serengeti?  Made of 100% cotton in a heathered oatmeal color, this three-quarter sleeve tee is versatile enough to wear as part of almost any autumnal outfit.

Cooler fall weather means it is time to savor hot beverages and mugs of soup.  What better way to serve them than in the Pumpkin Shaped Stoneware Mugs (clearance at $41.99 for a set of 4) from Pottery Barn?  Microwave and dishwasher safe, these mugs are generously sized at 18 ounces for an ample serving of a warming drink on a chilly morning or evening.

Make breakfast a little more fun in the morning by creating pumpkin-shaped waffles with the Dash Pumpkin Mini Waffle Maker ($12.95) from Crate & Barrel. This small and easy to clean appliance makes a single perfect waffle in just 2.5 minutes, and its size means that very little storage space is  required.  The bright orange color is so autumnal, and I love the extra detail of a green light on top which resembles the stem on top of a real pumpkin!

I enjoy working on jigsaw puzzles and fall is the perfect time to start a new one, so why not a puzzle featuring pumpkins like the Heirloom Pumpkins Puzzle (on sale for $13.98) from Bas Bleu?  This 1,000-piece beauty shows an image of an array of different pumpkin shapes and sizes in shades of green, ivory, pink, yellow, and orange.  Who knew there were so many different kinds of pumpkins?

I just could not resist including this final item - even though they are not technically pumpkins, isn't pumpkin pie one of the best ways to put a pumpkin to good use?  The Handcrafted Pumpkin Pie Earrings ($29.98) from Catalog Favorites just tickle my fancy.  If I had pierced ears I would purchase them in a heartbeat, and I am considering them for a friend of mine with a birthday in November (great to wear to a Thanksgiving family gathering, in my opinion!).

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I know I have been MIA on my blog for most of the month, but I had a good reason - my old dog Ruby, who will be sixteen in a few months, had a couple of health issues, one of them potentially serious, this month.  Luckily she seems to be on the road to recovery, so I will try to post more - even though it is a bit late for Halloween topics, there is still plenty of time for all things fall, which is after all my favorite season!

Wish List Wednesdays: A Couple of Lovely Tops and Socks for Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year to shop for clothes because I can find so many items in my preferred autumnal colors.  I treated myself to a couple of new tops recently that I just had to share, especially as they both feature animal print patterns, which are also a favorite of mine! Shown above is the Who's Who Sweater ($89.95) from Coldwater Creek in Spice Multi with an allover owl print.  This relaxed lightweight 100% cotton sweater is perfect for early autumn, and the owls are adorable, as you can see in the image below:

I found the Playful Foxes Striped Top ($34.99) shown below on the Serengeti website.  It is a three-quarter sleeve cotton tee with an allover fox print on an off-white background with gold stripes.

The foxes printed on this top are just as cute as the owls on the sweater shown above:

To complement these two new tops I decided I just had to add some new socks as well.  The Spirited Season Socks ($14.95 each) from Coldwater Creek were originally available in three different prints, but now only the fox print is still available (of course I purchased the owl print and the fox print socks!):

We had a lot of rain today, which is wreaking havoc with my internet connection, so I will get this published now while I still can.  I hope you are enjoying fall as much as I am - it is by far my favorite season!

Wish List Wednesdays: L.L. Bean Women's Sunwashed Shorts

I have been looking to add some new shorts to my wardrobe that are comfortable and casual but nice enough to wear into town if necessary.  The L.L. Bean Women's Sunwashed Shorts ($39.95, in denim or canvas) check off all of these boxes and even come in colors that I prefer (I am trying to slowly increase the number of apparel items in rust-colored and light to medium denim shades in my wardrobe, as I find these colors to be more flattering to my coloring now).

The canvas shorts shown above are in a color called Copper Brown, while the denim shorts below are the Medium Wash color.  Both canvas and denim are super soft and a comfortable relaxed fit, especially the pre-washed denim.  These shorts sit as the waist rather than slightly below, which is better for me as I am long-waisted.  I would love to see the canvas shorts become available in an olive hue, which is another color that suits my complexion, and I will probably buy the Coastal Tan color as well.  That should be more than enough pairs of shorts to get me through the summer!

Wish List Wednesdays: A Couple of Summer Crustacean Finds

Even though we now live in arid and land-locked New Mexico, I am still always on the lookout for items with a crustacean theme, and summer is the best time to find them.  I recently found two that I could not resist.  The first is the Pull On Cotton Voile Shorts in Allover Lobster Print from Talbot's ($69.50, currently with a 30% discount).  Made of a lightweight cotton fabric that is perfect for summer, these high-waisted shorts are 100% cotton lined, with a drawstring elastic waist and on-seam pockets.

My other irresistible crustacean find is the Earthenware Crab Pitcher from Zara ($49.90, but unfortunately currently out of stock).  This 10-inch tall pitcher with a 4.5-inch diameter would be lovely on a summer table as either a pitcher or as a vase for flowers, which is how I envision using it:

Have you discovered any must-have items for summer yet?

Wish List Wednesdays: Loft Strawberry V-Neck Sweater

I am a big fan of sweaters with unique and fun prints, so when I saw the Strawberry V-Neck Sweater from Loft ($79.50, but currently 50% off plus free shipping!) I knew I had to buy it.  The fact that it is 100% cotton and has a v-neck, which I prefer to a crew neck, made it even more attractive.  One of the comments mentioned that it is more fitted than loose.  Since I have very broad shoulders and a long waist, I sized up, and the fit is perfect for me.  Loft has many items for sale at 50% off with free shipping right now, so even if this sweater is not your style you may want to check out some of the other sale items.  As for me, I am delighted with my new sweater!

Wish List Wednesdays: Koala Scarf by Un Poco

This lovely Koala Scarf ($195) by Un Poco was featured recently on one of my favorite blogs, The Vivienne Files, and I have to say I am quite smitten.  The 90 centimeter (about 35 inches) square scarf is 100% silk twill with hand-rolled edges.  In addition to the koala several other Australian animals are featured, including an echidna, emu, kangaroo, and cockatoo.  Best of all, this scarf features many hues in my color palette, including olive, rust, denim blue, and cream.  I have already hinted to my husband that it would be the perfect Valentine's Day gift - I hope he takes the hint, but if not I will just need to order it for myself!

Wish List Wednesdays: Valentine's Day Red Heart Pendant Necklace from Chico's

Necklaces are about the only jewelry that I wear (except for a few favorite cuff bracelets), and I have an impressive collection, but if I were looking for a new necklace then the Valentine's Day Red Heart Pendant from Chico's ($39.50, but currently on sale for 25% off) would be at the top of my list.  I love the simplicity, the pendant style, and most of all the adjustable length, since one of my biggest problems with necklaces is trying to match the necklace length to the necklines of my tops.  Multiple layers and thick sweaters in colder weather call for longer necklaces, so one that adjusts means that I could wear this pendant more often no matter what outfit I am wearing.  I think it may be time to drop a few hints to a certain someone about a perfect Valentine's Day gift!

Wish List Wednesdays: Talbots Reindeer Fair Isle Sweater

I mentioned in a previous post that I was on the hunt for a Christmas-themed sweater that did not fall into the category of "ugly Christmas sweater", and I do believe I finally found one!  The Reindeer Fair Isle Sweater ($89.50, but on sale for 40% off) from Talbots has the classic fair isle pattern around the bottom, cuffs, and neckline, but also features a subtle and sweet little reindeer sporting a fair isle sweater on the front.  I am always a sucker for clothing featuring animals, so for me this is the perfect Christmas sweater.  I also love the colors and the fact that it is mostly cotton.  Reviews mention that it is a lightweight sweater, but I actually prefer a less bulky sweater that can be worn as a second layer over a long-sleeved tee, so this should work well for me.  I have already placed my order - I just hope that it arrives in time for Christmas!

Wish List Wednesdays: Ann Taylor Horse Print Sweaters

I always enjoy finding a good animal print sweater when winter apparel becomes available.  This year's selections have not been as interesting as ones I have found in previous years, but I did find a couple of nice horse print sweaters on the Ann Taylor website.  The Horse Print Sweater ($98, but on sale today for 50% off) above seems a bit pricey for a mostly polyester sweater and may be too short for me as it is only 23 inches long and I am long-waisted, but for 50% off I am willing to order it and see how I like it.  The Horse Print Sweater Tee ($64.99, but on sale today for 50% off) shown below is a more usual 24 inches long and seems like a better deal, as it is all cotton and has two 5-star ratings.  I am hoping that I will like both of them enough to keep, as I love the pattern and find the colors of the long-sleeved sweater to be especially attractive.  I am still on the hunt for a nice patterned Christmas sweater that looks good without verging on ugly Christmas sweater territory - wish me luck!

Wish List Wednesdays: Fixin' for Foxes Sweater from Coldwater Creek

Happy first day of fall, everyone!  We have endured an especially long, hot, and surprisingly wet summer this year in New Mexico, with an unexpected heat wave for the past two weeks, but yesterday it finally cooled off and it really does feel like fall today.  This time of year just about everyone starts thinking about getting cozy for the upcoming cooler weather, and I am no exception.  I would like to add one new sweater to my wardrobe for the season, and I think this Fixin' for Foxes Sweater ($79.95-$89.95) from Coldwater Creek is the one.  I love the dark peacock blue color, and the allover fox print looks quite autumnal to me.  The sweater is a 100% cotton fine-gauge knit that makes it the perfect weight for fall weather.  What a great new addition to my fall wardrobe this pullover sweater would be!

Wish List Wednesdays: Land's End Women's Cotton Poplin Peasant Shirt in Ivory/Rubellite Hens

 

I have not been buying much new clothing lately because the resurgence of the Covid virus is once again limiting any outings where I would wear new apparel, but when I saw the fun Cotton Poplin Peasant Shirt in the Ivory/Rubellite Hens print from Land's End I just could not resist!  This casual and comfortable top is quite appropriate for just wearing around the house, and the fact that it is currently on sale for only $19.98 is a great reason to purchase it now.  Sometimes just wearing something fun and amusing is all I need to brighten my day, and this shirt is a perfect example!  Have you found yourself more drawn to clothing in fun colors and prints lately too?

Wish List Wednesdays: A Few Tops I Am Coveting

Please forgive my prolonged absence from this blog, but it has been a busy couple of weeks.  My husband finally made the trip from Georgia to New Mexico (a very long drive!) so he is here right now and we have been busy making plans to finally complete our move.  This post should have gone out last week, but better late than never!

The Ice Cream Sweater from Loft (on sale for $39.99) shown above is one I first saw on a fashion blogger's website here.  I love a unique and quirky top, so I had to order this one.  It arrived a couple of weeks ago and while it is a rather unusual fit it worked for me.  Unfortunately the one sent to me had a sort of inky stain on the front, so I exchanged it and just received the replacement yesterday.  I may not be able to wear it right now because it is getting a bit too warm, but I look forward to having it for early fall or next spring.

The Stamp Print Mojave Camp Shirt ($55.99-$59.99) from Draper's & Damon's is another find from a fashion blogger's website here.  I love the bold print and the Y neckline, and the fact that this top would work on its own or as a lightweight second layer.  I am waiting to see if this shirt goes on sale before I order one, but I do hope to buy it for summer.

One last top I wanted to mention is the Lobster Print Shell ($59.50) from Talbots.  This 100% cotton sleeveless top has a loose fit, split neck, and whimsical lobster print (I am a sucker for crustacean-patterned apparel) and is the perfect summer top.  Again, I am waiting to see if this one goes on sale before I place an order, but hopefully it will also become part of my summer wardrobe eventually!

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day, and has been vaccinated so that we all can enjoy more freedom of movement this summer.  I have to say it is so wonderful to finally see my husband again with little fear of spreading or contracting COVID-19, and I can't wait to finally complete our move from Georgia to New Mexico.  Currently I am trying to decide if it is feasible for me to make a trip back to Georgia to help with sorting and eliminating more stuff before the movers come to pack it all up.  I need to find a house sitter who can take care of one old dog with health issues, a younger dog with a quirky personality, and an old horse who has no issues but needs someone who understands horses.  Wish me luck!

Weekend Wardrobe: 2021 Outfit of the Week #13

This lovely veronica that I bought last year survived the winter and has returned to bloom again this year!

Last weekend I was not able to get a post done because I was recovering from my second COVID vaccine.  I got the vaccine early on a Friday afternoon, and exactly 24 hours later I developed chills, so I ended up sleeping for several hours.  When I finally woke up I felt much better and my fever was gone but I decided to take it easy for the rest of the weekend.  I was a bit tired the next day and slept again in the afternoon, but by Sunday evening I felt fine and had no other side effects.  I am so happy that I am finally fully vaccinated, and by the end of this week I will be considered fully protected, so my husband can start planning his visit to Santa Fe now!

Since I missed posting last weekend you are in for several outfits of the week, from two weeks ago as well as last week.  I will start with the outfit I wore to take my dog Madison to the vet clinic for her annual exam.  She is officially a senior dog this year so I had baseline bloodwork done for her as well.  The final verdict - Madison is "a little overweight but healthy", so we will work on getting her to lose some of the winter weight she gained (I need to work on that as well, so the two of us can diet together!).  I only went to the vet clinic that day - we still had to wait in our cars while our pets were taken inside due to the pandemic, and my car window was still broken at the time, so I wore a very casual outfit only slightly dressed up by a simple silver and pearl pendant necklace that I inherited from my mother.  Here is the complete outfit:

Clockwise from top left: Old Navy Women's Vintage Crew-Neck Sweatshirt in Snow Leopard; Novica "Nest of Lilies" Sterling Silver and Cultured Pearl Pendant Necklace (similar to mine); Craghoppers Women's Expolite Hooded Jacket in Black (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); Nothing New Women's Eco-Friendly Crew Socks in Light Grey (similar to mine); Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Wit & Wisdom Women's Ab-Solution High Waist Ankle Skinny Pants in Dove Grey (similar to mine); Everlane Women's Organic Cotton Long-Sleeve Crew in Oatmeal (similar to mine).

The next day I was finally able to take my car in for its appointment to get the window fixed.  This process took a few hours but I opted to wait for my car instead of leaving it so that I could then run a few errands before heading home.  I decided to wear one of my new sweaters from J.C. Penney, a new pair of jeans in a unique color from Old Navy, and a simple necklace from my collection that is one of many given to me by my husband:

Clockwise from top left: St. John's Bay Women's Cable Crew Neck Long Sleeve Pullover Sweater in Brown Glove; Craghoppers Women's Expolite Hooded Jacket in Black (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available; MIRMARU Women's Cotton Crew Socks in Black; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Old Navy Women's High-Waisted O.G. Straight Mineral-Dye Jeans in Merzouga; L.L. Bean Women's Long-Sleeve Interlock Mock-Turtleneck in Black; Center: Michael Kors Gold Tone Curb Link Pendant + Black Leather Cord Necklace (similar to mine).

I made a third trip into town that week for my COVID vaccine appointment, and then finished up more errands before heading home to take it easy for the weekend in anticipation of any vaccine side effects.  The weather was finally starting to warm up a bit, so I wore a lightweight sweater embroidered with beautiful cheetahs, and a lighter weight coat which I ended up removing as the afternoon warmed up.  I received my vaccine at the pharmacy of a supermarket that I usually do not visit (it is a little too far away to be convenient).  This was only my third visit to this store, but each time I went there I received a complement on the outfit I wore - this time someone admired my cheetah sweater.  Maybe I should shop at this supermarket more often!  Anyway, here is the outfit I wore that day:

Clockwise from top left: Lost Galleon Snake Chain Gold Necklace (similar to my much less expensive version); L.L. Bean Women's PrimaLoft Packaway Jacket in Black; Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available; MIRMARU Women's Cotton Crew Socks in Black; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Old Navy Women's High-Waisted O.G. Straight Mineral-Dye Jeans in Merzouga; Chico's Cashmere-Blend Embroidered Cheetah Sweater in Multi.

I only made one trip into town last week, mostly to pick up gardening supplies, as planting season has finally arrived here in the Santa Fe area.  The weather during the day is now consistently warm, so I wore a new long-sleeved tee with cute embroidered foxes as well as a very lightweight animal print vest.  These lighter layers were quite sufficient, and it won't be long now before I can finally start leaving the outerwear at home!  I also opted for much lighter colors that are more suitable for spring:

Clockwise from top left: Talbot's Embroidered Crewneck Tee in Champagne Rose; Hot Cotton Leopard Print Vest (no longer available - similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available; Target Women's A New Day Crew Socks in Cream; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Rachel Comey Norm Straight-Leg Jeans in Khaki (similar to my much less expensive pair - no longer available); Walmart Skinny Faux Leather Belt in Pink; Center: DressingVintage Extra Long Multi Strand Mixed Gold Chain Necklace (similar to mine).

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 I am hoping to get a lot of gardening done this week as the weather will be mild to warm.  There is rain in the forecast for tomorrow but every time we are supposed to get rain it never materializes.  Hopefully we will get some rain soon because it has been terribly dry so far this spring. Have a great week, everyone - I hope you have been able to get your COVID vaccine scheduled, and that you are having great spring weather!

Weekend Wardrobe: 2021 Outfit of the Week #12

My husband sent me this lovely protea bouquet for our anniversary last week.  This is the second anniversary in a row we had to spend apart thanks to the pandemic 😞.  The good news is that my husband is planning to visit me in New Mexico next month, when we will both finally be fully vaccinated 😊!

Once again I missed posting last weekend, but since I was not able to get into town this past week I will describe the outfit I wore two weeks ago for my essentials shopping trip.  I did manage to get a lot done that day - in addition grocery shopping I left my dogs with the groomer for their baths and nail trims, got my car's oil changed, and went to the bank.  I was actually feeling caught up on most of the items from my to-do list, until I drove out later in the day to pick up my mail.  It was rather warm so I rolled down the two front windows, and then the passenger side window suddenly stopped working.

By the time I got back home it had fallen all the way down and would not go back up.  I called for an appointment to get the window fixed but they could not fit me in until over a week later.  This meant that I could not go anywhere since I did not want to leave my car in a parking lot with one window completely open.  Luckily I am well stocked with supplies so I did not really need to go into town at all, but I still have to pick up my mail every day, and as it has been very windy and cooler this week even these short trips are no fun (you would not believe the amount of dust that will blow into your car on a windy day!).

The day I did get into town was much warmer than normal for this time of year, so much so that I only needed a light sweater and a quilted vest to stay comfortable.  I wore one of my fun Dalmatian sweaters since I was taking my dogs with me to leave with the groomer.  I also wore my silver wishbone necklace, since dogs and bones are such an obvious match!  I don't even remember where I got this necklace, but it paired very well with my sweater:

Clockwise from top left: Tashi Silver Wishbone Necklace (similar to mine); Calvin Klein Full Zip Puffer Vest in Black (no longer available); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); MIRMARU Women's Cotton Crew Socks in Black; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; prAna Women's London Jeans in Grey Denim (no longer available - similar to mine, also no longer available); Joules Dog Days Sweater in Navy (no longer available).

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This week will be a busy one for me.  My dog Madison goes to the vet for her annual exam and vaccinations on Tuesday, my car (finally!) goes in to get the non-functioning window fixed on Wednesday, and on Friday I get my second COVID vaccine.  If I react to the second vaccine in the same way two of my siblings did, then I will definitely experience some uncomfortable side effects such as fever, body aches, and possibly a headache in addition to lethargy and sleepiness.  I am keeping next weekend free of any responsibilities just in case, so if you do not see a post from me it will be because I am recuperating from COVID vaccine side effects.  My siblings recovered completely after a couple of days and hopefully I will do the same.  I hope you have a productive week with beautiful spring weather!

Weekend Wardrobe: 2021 Outfits of the Week #11

My boldly colorful Easter table, featuring green, turquoise, yellow, white, and black.

I have been very remiss in getting my wardrobe posts up lately, so today I have outfits from the past three weeks.  My big news is that I have received my first COVID vaccine!  I had to go to a supermarket that I had never visited before, so I decided to check out the location the week before my scheduled appointment when I was doing my essentials shopping trip.  Below is the outfit I wore that day, now three weeks ago:

Clockwise from top left: St. John's Bay Cable Women's V Neck Long Sleeve Pullover Sweater in Blackberry Wine; Craghoppers Women's Expolite Hooded Jacket in Black (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); Bombas Women's Solids Calf Socks in Black; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Banana Republic Women's High-Rise Straight Jean in Light Wash; Draper's & Damon's Basic Mock Neck Cotton Poly Long Sleeve Tee in Heather Aubergine (color no longer available; similar to mine - Blackberry Wine color no longer available); Center: Sterling Silver Grey Pearl Pendant Necklace (similar to mine).

Someone in the store actually complemented me on the Blackberry Wine color of my sweater and tee, so I think that this reddish purple shade is actually a good color on me.  I guess I need to rethink my reluctance to wear purple!

For my return trip to the store the following week to receive my shot, I wore one of my loose-sleeved sweaters and a tee with sleeves that rolled up easily.  The whole process was relatively quick and I did not even feel the needle when I was vaccinated (although right now, ten days later, the injection site suddenly became swollen and sore, which my doctor brother tells me is not an unusual side effect).  Below is the complete outfit I wore that day:

Clockwise from top left: Acorn Favorite Cotton Sweater in Turquoise (no longer available); Craghoppers Women's Expolite Hooded Jacket in Black (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available); Target Women's A New Day Crew Socks in Cream; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Coldwater Creek Knit Denim Slim-Leg Leggings in Spice (no longer available); Lands' End Women's Relaxed Cotton Long Sleeve Mock Turtleneck in Ivory (similar to mine); Center: Santo Domingo Irene Lovato Four Strand Turquoise and Orange Spiny Oyster Shell Necklace (similar to mine).

The medical professional who administered my vaccine said she loved the color of my sweater, and so do I.  I plan to add more turquoise blue apparel to my wardrobe in the future.  It is a great color for spring - bright but not too dark, and not too pale for my complexion like most pastels.

Finally, for my shopping trip last week I could not decide if the weather was going to be warm or cool, so I chose a recently purchased light cotton sweater with a thin silk top underneath, plus a quilted vest instead of a coat.  I still ended up being too warm and shed the vest layer pretty quickly - spring has definitely arrived, at least for the next week or so:

Clockwise from top left: J. Crew Factory Leopard Jacquard Pullover Sweater in Khaki Black; Calvin Klein Full Zip Puffer Vest in Black (no longer available); Great American Leatherworks Braid Flap Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (color no longer available);MIRMARU Women's Cotton Crew Socks in Black; Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Banana Republic Women's High-Rise Straight Jean in Light Wash; Terramar Women's Thermasilk Pointelle Scoop Neck Shirt in Natural; Center: Gold Tree of Life Pendant Necklace (similar to mine).

We are enjoying a beautiful and warm Easter Sunday today here in Santa Fe.  You can see the Easter table I set for the day at the top of this post.  Here are a few shots of recently purchased items featured on my table:

I love the new salad plates I purchased recently - the colorful birds and butterflies really stand out on the black background.  The little glass jar contains M&M'S Peanut Butter Chocolate Easter Candy Eggs - they do not taste any different from regular peanut butter M&M'S, but the colors worked for my table.

I bought this cute penguin-shaped egg cooker way back in February but only just used it for the first time to hard-boil eggs for Easter.  I am really impressed with how easy and convenient it is to use - I can cook, cool, store, and serve the eggs in this simple little device!  (Forgive the over-exposed image - the sunlight streaming in from the window was almost more than my iPhone camera could handle.)

I treated myself to a 40-piece floral gift box of 70% dark chocolate Lindt Lindor truffles, which was so pretty I had to add it to my table decor.  The chicken-shaped egg separator is a very recent purchase - it is so cute that it made its way on to my table as well!

🐣🌷🐤🌷🐥🌷🐣🌷🐤🌷🐥🌷 🐣🌷🐤🌷🐥🌷 🐣🌷🐤🌷🐥🌷

I hope to take advantage of our beautiful weather today and get some gardening and yard work done.  I hope you are also experiencing nice spring weather and are planning something fun for the day.  And of course I have to include my favorite short Easter YouTube video - it is my annual tradition, after all!