Just call me Grace.
Chuck does. Not because he doesn't like my real name. But Grace
as in graceful. Because I'm not. I'm so not!
In high school, I was on a precision drill team that performed at football
games. We would practice every morning before school. One
morning, our sponsor was walking by and stopped in front of me.
She said, "Diane, when I need a good laugh in the morning I watch you."
I was devastated. That comment shaped my perception of myself
for years and kept me from even going dancing with friends for
fear that everyone else was laughing, too. With time, I now laugh at
myself and acknowledge that I just don't have a good sense of balance.
Beyond physical balance, I have been struggling with how to balance
the demands of blogging with all of the demands of real life. My
relationship with my husband, my responsibilities at work and home,
and my time with my daughter require a lot of time and effort.
Adding blogging to the mix complicates it tremendously.
I had forgotten how much time it takes to create a post. Scouting
locations, picking outfits, taking the pictures, editing them,
and writing copy are extremely time consuming, compounded
by the fact that I tend to be a perfectionist. PicMonkey alone sucks
me into a black hole with all of its amazing features and
I really enjoy messing around with them.
Then, of course, there are all of the great blogs that I want to visit.
I enjoy reading them and like to leave a thoughtful comment
that acknowledges that I took the time to read and study
a post. This also takes a lot of time.
To complicate things further, even though I am following people,
the list on my profile of blogs I follow only shows the blogs
that I used to follow before. None of my recent additions show up.
Help! Is Google Friend Connect no longer working? What is
the best way to keep up with all the blogs that I want to read?
So, I'm struggling. Any advice that you can give me on how to
achieve some balance would be very welcome!
OK, back to fashion...
I love capes.
No, I mean I REALLY love capes!
Don't get me wrong. I love coats, too. In a recent post, I layered
two coats together. But, the truth is that because coats are
generally more structured, they are also usually more staid in
their silhouette. They hang on the body, all well behaved and
stay close to you like a well trained pup.
two coats together. But, the truth is that because coats are
generally more structured, they are also usually more staid in
their silhouette. They hang on the body, all well behaved and
stay close to you like a well trained pup.
Capes, on the other hand, have a life all their own.
As one moves, they swing, sway, flow, undulate, bounce, and flutter.
When greeted with a gust of wind, capes swirl and rise on
a current of air, teasing with unexpected glimpses of the
ensemble beneath its folds.
Capes give the appearance of being graceful even if the wearer isn't!
This is one of my favorite necklaces as I'm a sucker for any type
of ethnic jewelry. I bought this from a man who imports jewelry
from India and Nepal.
So, what makes a cape twice as nice?
When it's reversible!
This cape is from Coldwater Creek. I found it at Goodwill for $4.94 but
it still had the original price tag on it so it had never been worn.
Gotta love that!
The DKNY sweater underneath is one of my favorites.
It's lightweight so it's perfect for our climate. But because it is so oversized
it will hide a multitude of issues including food bumps,
PMS bumps, and baby bumps. Thank God I only have to worry
about the first two. Adding a baby would take my life from
out of balance to out of control!
I am addicted to animal prints and had always wanted a pair of
leopard pants. I found these at Forever 21.
Uh oh. When I get silly....
Just call me Grace!
Join me for:
Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style
Sunday Style at Plane Pretty
Watch What I'm Wearing at Watch Out for the Woestmans
My Style Monday at My Greatest Hits
Black Jessica Simpson beret--Ross
Reversible Coldwater Creek cape--$4.94 Thrifted
Black DKNY sweater--$39 Fox's Designer Off Price
Leopard skinnies--Forever 21
Black/brown riding boots--Ross
Ethnic necklace--Purchased wholesale
You are so right about that cape, Diane - fabulous two ways. Your photo shoots are wonderful too, and you look *very* graceful. Thanks for linking up!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous cape! I have a brown one but it does not have a double life unfortunately. I want those same pants!! And I'm a total clutz too. I hate how comments like that man stick with us forever. Great to be able to laugh about it later though.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what to tell you about the blog list you're following. Some days this blogger won't even let me load other people's blogs at all.
Balance seems to be a continual struggle for me. Just when I think I have made headway...it feels to tumble down. I realize I go from week to week like an old fashioned pin ball machine... darting from one aspect of my life to another. Recently I was believing I had all of the pieces stacked up so evenly with a much needed emphasis to my returning career. Two of my three are successfully off at college... and my 16 year old son gave me every indication he was content with doing his own things. Imagine my surprise when in tears (this boy doesn't cry), he told me he thought he had been replaced by my blog and jewelry It couldn't be farther from the truth of course... but I'll stop there or I will be leaving a post length comment :)
ReplyDeleteYou look gorgeous as always and especially dramatic in this fabulous cape! Good luck in your endeavors to balance!
Wow you can really rock that cape! I have one cape and felt "oh so very sophisticated and sexy" when I wore it. Then I saw photos of myself in it. I looked like a house. Maybe more like a hotel. It made me look HUGE. Since then I haven't worn it again and am wondering if I should take it to a consignment store.
ReplyDeleteYour tall lean body looks perfect in this cape. I love the colours and textures too. The animal print is such a classic. You look great.
If you find the secret for "doing it all" please tell me. I also wrote a post about it here:
http://bisous.typepad.com/bisous/2012/12/assistant-needed-must-read-blogs-have-witty-pertinent-commentary.html
I'm not any better at it really. I do try to comment more on the blogs that I really do love and quickly sift through the other ones in my long list to read. I use BlogLovin' and not Google Friends.
bisous
Suzanne
That is a most loving description of the benefit of wearing a cape.
ReplyDeleteI love your look. Thx for sharing your cool style. I too love capes.
ReplyDeleteI have been tempted by similar boots that you have, and now I am not less tempted! The leopard pants are great too! Love your cheerful photos!
ReplyDeleteGREAT outfit!! Love your pants and boots!!
ReplyDeleteI can completely relate to your time management issues. I have similar problems trying to keep all the plates in my life spinning at once. Likewise I struggle to keep up with and comment on all the wonderful blogs I follow, including yours. I highly, highly recommend bloglovin'
ReplyDeleteIf you ever want to feel graceful just come sit next to me, your friendly neighborhood Palsy ;-)
I love the outfit, especially the reversible cape and leopard skinnies. Very polished without a trace of frump!
Spashionista (Alicia)
I absolutely adore capes, and leopard print and riding boots! So this outfit is pretty perfect if you ask me! Got no advice on the blogging time management for you as I struggle with the same issues as you - it is pretty hard work and very time consuming - no two ways about it.
ReplyDeleteDamn, yourself, woman! Looking sexy and endearing, too! You look so cute acting goofy. But you're stealing my pose with a hand on the glasses, and you stole my coat. Funny thing, a cape was already on the top of my list! So I won't be copying you, I thought of it on my own.
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to keep up. I don't comment as much as I'd like, and sometimes can't even read all the blogs I''d like to. I think most people understand that we have busy lives. I read my blogs in Blogger on my Reading List. There are still too many, and too little time!!!
Looking splendid!
ReplyDeleteLove the cape, pants and boots
I love your choice of backdrop, can't wait to return in my back alley, plenty of cool backdrops
Yes i know what you are saying about blogging! It's time consuming
As far as reading and commenting, i have my fav of course and i try to reply to all comments, but sometimes it't s not possible
I don't blog every day, i don't know how some bloggers do it every day and reply to all their comments, surely they have help
Don't stress about it, cause it will become a chore and you don't want that right?
Arianexxxx
I know exactly what you are talking about, by the time you manage to put a post together ( I love Picmonkey too, lol) answer the comments and visit my blogroll, I barely have time to live.
ReplyDeleteIt is so much fun thou.
You are looking sooooooooooooo beautiful, more and more in every post.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Love all the photos, but the best is the one with your tongue sticking out! You look amazing in all.
ReplyDeleteHad a conversation with another blogger this week about the importance of women who are no longer in perfect youth, or women with imperfect bodies (ALL of us) or aging skin or boomer birth-years who are blogging, and how important it is for all of us to see what we each have to say and show. Yup, it's work but it has meaning. Your blog is wonderful, and balance is only something you can strive for, achieve and then lose. Because if you stay in perfect balance, you become static ... and stasis is a lot like death. Feels good to get it all perfect sometimes, though, doesn't it?
The drawings I do for my blog take way more time than they're worth, but it's the process that's fun. So for me, that makes the balance.
Hope you keep on blogging, Grace (!)
J.