Friday, April 12, 2013

Miller Time Friday - Acts of Kindness

Happy Friday! 

I am about to inherit Ontario's sloppy, snowy weather, but as I write this on Thursday night it is still beautful and sunny, albeit cold.

I had a great day today.  I had lunch with a friend and also went to one of our local "nice" boutiques and tried on about 20 summer dresses and various tops.  I have now spent April, May and June's budget and so am officially cut off, but on the other hand, I did really well. 

I also placed an order to J Crew - I have been eying the lightweight merino wool vneck sweater in navy
(you can see Ema model the papaya version here) and finally broke down and ordered it this morning,

Lightweight merino V-neck sweater

as well as the featherweight cotton vneck in black.

Featherweight cotton V-neck sweater

Neither may make the final cut, but I realized this was a major gap in my spring wardrobe and I have wished for these several times in the last few weeks while dressing.  In the spring and on summer evenings, I am always wanting a sweater like these to wear over a tank top.  We shall see as it costs so darn much to return!

I have almost nothing to show you from my purchases today.  The two dresses that I purchased needed a slight hemming and one needed the arm holes adjusted.  The nice thing about this shop is that they do this work gratis.  The other top I bought is this sleeveless top in a lovely peachy pink colour from Nougat London with little applique flowers and details and which looked amazing with my white jeans.  It needed a tiny adjustment too.  But better to adjust now rather than not wear later.  The last top I did bring home but am too lazy to try on tonight, but here is a picture from the Nougat London website:


It is very boho, which I admit I do like a touch of in the summer...It is the loveliest shade of blue and looks amazing with my jeans (all colours) and my beechwood minnies.  I see this getting a lot of wear this summer!  GF - I think it it will look great the purse and those Tory Burch shoes! 

The two dresses I bought are very nice - a lovely black linen sheath with a bit of an aline skirt - very comfy and a nougat london dress in a dark coral and white colour.  Both have a vneck and are very flattering (I think!).  I am very happy as they can be dressed up or down and when I checked my summer dresses from the last two years, I only had three cotton dresses - the other two are fancier silk, which I was not looking for.  I feel very set for summer, except I would like a pair of gold sandals, but since sandal weather is not until June here and I do have lots of sandals, I am content to wait for the sales!

So that was my budget, flying out the window, all in one day!  I will now be good and am doing my best!

I blame it on the white jeans I was wearing - they have magical powers!  Every top I tried on looked fantastic with them.  I  am convinced now that white jeans may be the answer to all style woes!

I wore them again as it was very nice out and I wanted to try and steal the wonderful look from a Well Styled Life's web post earlier this week (sans the camel coat - I went navy wool as it was cool out)



Black Mr. Seymour ankle boots, ralph lauren white jeans, grey tee, grey pearls from China that a friend gave me and my navy wool j crew jacket.  I wore this under the calvin klein blazer/jacket and a navy/white polka dot wool scarf. 

I thought I would share a lovely story with you!  The other day, I got a very important letter from Revenue Canada about my dad's estate.  Barry went out yesterday morning to a flying lesson and then to drop this letter off to our accountant.  When he arrived at the accountant's office, he could not find it anywhere!    He retraced all of his steps, he came home and looked here, checked the care thoroughly and the letter was well and truly lost to him. (Hmm - this sounds remarkably like the It's a Wonderful Life plot...

While I knew Revenue Canada would simply issue another letter ASAP when I called them, I must admit I was very bothered as the letter was open and it had very personal financial information in it about my dad.  You know I have been meditating to try to reduce stress in my life so I meditated for awhile and said "let it go, Wendy".  No sooner had I finished meditating and came down the stairs, but I could see an older man walking up to the front door.  He was carrying that very envelope!

This old fellow, so sweet and in his late 60s, is the man responsible for cleaning and plowing the roads around the airport.  While he was sweeping up dust and dirt with his plow, he noticed the envelope.  When he picked it up, he said he thought about just throwing it out, then he realized there were papers in it.  He tried to call me (the letter was c/o me) but Revenue Canada had lost an "a" in my last name and he couldn't find me in the book.  He finished his shift at 7, got into his old truck and then drove in the exact opposite direction from his house to bring  me this letter.  I was so touched!  "Some fellow would have just tossed it in the dumpster," he said "but not me as I knew if it was from Revenue Canada it must be important and someone would be worried about it right enough."  How right he was!

Tomorrow, Barry is going to take him out a $20 Tim Hortons gift card (the ultimate ubiquitous "thank you" present in Atlantic Canada) and shake his hand.  The fellow and I chatted on my front steps for a good 20 minutes and he was just a delightful, kind man and restored my faith in good people going out of their way to do good things!

For Miller Time Friday, I have searched for a recipe with kindness in the title and voila:

Kill 'em with Kindness recipe
 1 oz amaretto almond liqueur
1 oz Bailey's® Irish cream
1 oz Frangelico® hazelnut liqueur
1 oz Kahlua® coffee liqueur
1 oz butterscotch schnapps
1/2 tsp caramel syrup
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 splash whipped cream



Make a spiral with the caramel around the inside of the glass. In a shaker with ice, combine the Amaretto, Bailey's, Frangelico, Kahlua, butterscotch schnapps and vanilla extract. Strain into previously prepared glass and top with whipped cream.
 
Now some of you may recall I am deathly allergic to nuts, so I will have to pass on the almond and hazelnut liquers - but doesn't this recipe seem sickeningly sweet to you?  It did to me, too.  And since this is New Brunswick, and since that old fellow would no more drink a cocktail like this than I would, I think we will drink a little Moosehead beer in his honour tonight.
 

Moosehead is Canada's oldest independent brewery (so says their websites and we know that they do not lie).  It is worth it to go to the website and read the history of Susannah Oland, the Veuve Cliquot of Atlantic Canada!  Ah you can't keep a woman and her beer long parted..

Dani - I'll bring a couple of two-fours, or flat, if you prefer, and we will drink to this fine gentleman and his caring enough to go out of his way to return it to its owner!

Have a happy Friday and stay safe out there!

45 comments:

  1. I love your outfit, Wendy! I just scored a J Crew navy hacking jacket from 2006 on EBay! It has the silk collar and inside pocket. It looks brand new and fits perfectly! The wool and drape is divine. They don't make those kinds of jackets with that kind of quality and attention to details anymore.

    I loved your story about a lost and found item. It always makes me happy to hear such a sweet ending! Stay warm, tomorrow. It's only 9:23 pm on a Thursday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have got to troll for those - the petite hacking jacket is such a good fit for me! SO happy for you! And I completely agree on the quality!

      Delete
  2. I love your outfit, very smart. I am not very good at sticking to my cloth budget but this one varies a lot during the year :-) I am very curious to see your purchases... Yes, that is very specific to me, I am a curious person... My summer closet is quite OK, but I am still looking for a couple a items. I have already spotted them and most probably will wait for the sales. Your story is wonderful and it feels so good to read somewhere that some people still cares and do things for others! You are very kind with this gift card... I wish you a terrific weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well I should have waited for sales, but I loved the items so much that I absolutely could not. I will wait for the sales for the gold sandals I want as I can't wear them till likely June anyhow! My problem is when I shop, I SHOP, and then I won't shop for awhile. However, I am very happy with my new purchases and can't wait to model them!

      Delete
  3. Love those white jeans! They really really suit you!
    Congrats on your shopping spree. Hope the J Crew things make the grade, and looking forward to seeing your new dresses some time.
    It really is wonderful when fellow humans do good things. It makes me so happy to hear things like that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I now really want a pair of white linen trousers, as white jeans are too hot after mid-June here! WHat is he temperature these days in Ruth land? I wanted to say how much I love you in that pixilated skirt - I just love that skirt - I thought I disliked it when it first was released and the more I see it the more I want it!

      Have a great day!

      Delete
  4. Finally someone to drink my beer with! What a nice story, I'll bet this man will be a good companion for me to have a Moosehead with :) Can't wait to see your purchases, I am in the mood to look at spring/summer clothing as the weather here has gotten a bit yucky again. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cate - cheers! Or as we like to say around here: cheers big ears!

      I think I may have had a serious dose of spring fever yesterday - the shop had such lovely things, I tried them ALL on and it was sunny outside and I knew it was snowing and then I got carried away.

      Delete
  5. You look great in the white denim!
    I cant wait to see all of your purchases IRL and i think the v-neck sweaters will serve you well.

    How sweet of the guy to return your papers.
    It is so good tohear a positive story instead of all the negative ones:)

    Enjoy your friday,i will stick with my Rioja instead of beer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ina! I don't mind a little Rioja myself! I keep forgetting to ask if you have been to the Mosel Valley since you have been in Germany - we visited there and Kolon and the Berg Eltz Castle in 2008 and I think the Mosel is probably one of the prettiest places on the planet!

      Have a great day!

      Delete
    2. I have been to the Mosel area,actually thats where my MIL grew up and still the family business(a bed and breakfast)is.

      Delete
  6. Love this happy post to start my day. I do believe what goes around comes around so that happy ending was waiting for you around the corner. Those are great purchases & I too get the boho vibe every summer. White jeans are classic which I should wear more often if I am not a klutzy. I am feeling happy too I found my special dress this summer. I received it yesterday and it is wonderful. I don't know how to link but if you would care to look it's the Sketched Arceau Dress from Anthropologie. I'm counting the hours to the weekend...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marie - that is a truly lovely dress!!! Wow - you will look fantastic in that!!!

      For some reason I have only recently discovered white jeans, but now I have gone crazy for mine! I think FFM talked me into them with her great posts last year and now that the sunny days are here, I am good to go.

      Delete
  7. ONE OF A KIND WMM, 5 OZ. (over 1/2 c.) of sweet liquor, that drink would kill or at least preserve most. Glad to know you, cate, Mr. Good and I can be beer buddies. Lovely to hear your spree comes with free alterations. That's another almost unheard of nicety these days.

    I think you are very blogger brave on white linen pant wants between the wrinkle and the maintenance factors. Would thinner cotton than jeans - a twill with a bit of stretch - not work? Any yes, "totally" on the bag and shoes.

    Most of all it is always wonderful to hear an IRL story with an everyday hero and a happen ending. Bet Barry the B. is feeling a wee bit spared too ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GF - funny you should say so, because Mr. Barry was indeed quite tortured, as losing things is more of the Wendy Way, and he is always telling me to keep my wits about me. I will look at the white cotton, but I do love linen and am I the only person who doesn't care about the wrinkles on linen? The ideal is a cotton blend with linen that LOOKS like linen, I agree and one of the best pair of summer pants I ever owned was just such a blend I bought in a silvery grey from Reitmans in 2007. They were divine and I paid $30 for them. I am going to be keeping an eye out for those kind of pants in those kind of places having blown my budget so soundly and now licking my wounds. The darn thing was it was all nice. I wish sometimes it wasn't all nice. I do really love Bougat London however (can you hear me rationalizing here - I am!) and they may be my go-to dress company from now on - those two dresses I purchased last winter and now the one dress and two tops. Better start saving for fall now...

      Delete
    2. Oh, others may love white linen trousers (and Lauren Hutton sure makes them look super chic). But I don't need wrinkles on my thighs or backside or tolerate rumple well. And unlike the jeans you can't plosh them in wash with a brightener or bleach.

      Wendy, life also sometimes says go big or go home. Don't take joy out of your pretties buy licking or thinking you've blown it. Just move ahead with slim wallet, sorted closet and sense of keeping only what's just right. We look forward to the frock previews! If Nougat is a save and invest for you like Brora is for Dani, no bad thing.

      Delete
    3. geez boy, "buy" total tablet pick, LOL.

      Delete
    4. My regret is less slim wallet, but more the other thing I will see in may to catch my fancy, heehee! I could use anything for may backside!

      Delete
    5. Do like WFF and sit on your hands, stay away from boutiques.

      Delete
    6. WMM- I love linen, wrinkled or not.

      Delete
    7. Well soon enough will have hands in earth!

      Delete
    8. I love the loo of wrinkled linen, it's part od the charm.

      Delete
  8. I have tried on so many pairs of white jeans and I have yet to find a pair were my legs don't look like sausages. Trouble with having strong thighs when skinnies are the rage. I keep looking. I am with GF on the white linen. Not only will they wrinkle but they do have a tendancy to be a bit sheer...maybe that's the look you'll want after your kindness drink!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi WMM, in our part of Ontario we have freezing rain right now - I hope you don't inherit that, it's nasty.
    I love your white jean outfit, very chic. I bought the Lands End slim ankle-length chinos in white, so I have to wait for warmer weather to wear those.
    What a great story about the Revenue Canada letter - I'm sure that gentleman will enjoy his gift certificate, that's a lovely gesture. Enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Patricia! I hear we are getting that weather tomorrow! Yuck!

      Delete
  10. Oh, I freak when pieces of paper go missing! Your envelope must have encountered a "casual angel" - I always overreact with globs of sentimentality when someone rescues me, and it's happened more times than I can count. I like to think I pay it back to the universe, without wishing anything bad on anyone so that I can bound to the rescue, of course.

    Well, even though I found very good prices on my new sweaters, it was still money. So I am sitting on my hands for a while. Enjoy your goodies!

    ReplyDelete
  11. WMM, I love your Nougat top. The print and color is exquisite. I did giggle when I clicked on the link and saw it was called "crew blue". White jeans are so chic, although more flattering on people with your enviably thin legs. Great story and I suppose the 20 dollar Tm Horton's card is the equivalent to our Dunkin' Donuts card. Enjoy your beer- that cocktail does seem treacly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Knityarns! I didn't even catch that it was crew blue - that is funny! It is indeed equivalent to the dunkin donuts card!

      Delete
  12. What a great story - what a nice person to bring that letter back to you. It sounds like you found some great items for your spring/summer wardrobe. Looking forward to your outfit posts.

    And now that you have posted about your white jeans (in which you look fabulous!), I am regretting sending back the J. Crew Factory white jeans I bought and returned just yesterday. I am feeling terribly skint right now and I felt like I was spending money on something that wouldn't see the light of day for at least another two months. Oh well... hopefully they will have a free ship promo sometime soon and I will reorder.

    Happy Friday! Hope you have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HI Louise! i will see how I feel about some other things coming from J Crew - I am very flinty myself if it isn't perfect! My white jeans were bought on sale in AUgust of last year. they have now officially been worn only 3 times, but I have been happy each time!

      Delete
  13. all your purchases sound just lovely. and i know what you mean about white jeans. i thought i had finally found a pair that fit well but they are just too low of a rise and so i returned them. otherwise they were perfect though and looked great with everything i paired with them!

    what a wonderful story. acts of kindness have been big on my mind lately. huge i should say. must do something big and kind for someone today! thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What are some brands with midrise? There must be a list out there.

      Delete
    2. My jeans are Lauren Ralph Lauren and I quite love them and they are definitely not low rise!

      Delete
  14. The Universe is smiling on you, WMM! Glad your papers were returned to you and , yes, doesn't it lift our opinion of the public.

    Those white jeans look fab and are getting a real workout already. I do like those floaty tops for summer. I think it was a good idea to get those dresses FP as they're bound to sell out in your size; so hard to find them.

    I like a nice beer--IPA-- but when the temp is over 75. If that Ever. Happens. Ever. Again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My husband loves IPA. I am not sure we will ever see 75 again!

      Delete
  15. Wendy,i got my hawaian print tank today.
    I like the material and the print,the cut is kind of like an athletic tank.
    Has yours shipped yet?
    I will review mine in the next days:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nope - no bananas for me yet! Can't wait to see how yours fit!

      Delete
  16. The boho top is really you, I can see you would get a lot of wear from it. We had quite a bit of snow yesterday it is still sticking around making a mess today so no white jeans to be worn here. Can't wait to see the rest of your loot!

    Whenever I see Moosehead beer I cannot help but think of a dirty joke someone told in the bar once. I am scarred for life. I'll have my usual Woodford Reserve bourbon on the rocks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. xoxo - when we meet someday you will have to whisper that one in my ear! took a picture of my jcrew stuff that arrived from big 30% off sale and the boho top so will post probably on Sunday!

      Delete
  17. People like that gentlemen restore my faith in the world!
    Happy Friday darling! Love that top, that brand works so well for you. White jeans might be your signature this summer, maybe you should have THREE pairs on rotation!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well my jcrew ivory eyelet capris arrived and they are AMAZING! and $40 - they will also serve the white pant rotation (though technically ivory!) I wish all JCrew worked like that for me!

      Washed my lonely Brora sweater yesterday and it is softer than before! In the fall, it will have a roommate!

      Delete
  18. I love white jeans and for some reason I wear them more than other white pants that I have, even when it gets hot (white linen is always sheer and cotton pants don't have the same look).
    I think you did well with your purchases, it seems like you like that Nougat brand quite a lot and sometimes it's good to splurge on a brand you love and loves you back. I also think you will like the JCrew merino. I returned mine because it looked better in the papaya color but it's a great basic.
    I can't drink beer (not that I am allergic or anything, just a dislike) so I used to have a hard time when we would go some places like a pub (I say used to because I haven't been in a pub in years), I never knew what to drink!
    What a great and uplifting story, it'movie material!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ema - I hear you on the white cotton pants - I had nice ones from Theory three years ago, but they don't fit as well as the jeans. I am really happy with the ivory pants I got from J crew today! They will be perfect in summer as well!

      Delete

Kindness is a virtue...