Miller Time Friday: Champagne and a Banana Republic Review and Oh Yes! We have ducks!

Happy Friday! 

Firstly, THANK YOU sincerely for the kind wishes and positive energy that you sent my way yesterday!  You have become the wind in my sails (NO - you are not the wind beneath my wings - that would be creepy!) setting me off from what most would consider a safe harbour.  I coincidentally did a personality quiz yesterday with a friend of mine who is training to be a career life coach.  It was a freeby.  I laughed when I read the report which described me as "collaborative, purposeful, spontaneous, imaginative, observing, empathetic"  There was other stuff there, too, like under pressure I get bossy, but it was interesting and an interesting day to do it. 

But it is Friday and before we get on the porch for a celebration, I actually have clothing to review!!!!

My Banana Republic package arrived yesterday.  I have tried to do a thorough review (well as thorough as I can do!  I am no XOXO, GF or M!)

Close-up:

The material feels very soft and linen-y.  The colours are as depicted in the picture.   The lining is polyester and not a soft polyester.  The waistband is wide and a wide waistband is no friend of mine!

Inside out - NO TAGS!  Isn't that odd?  There is the BR tag with the size, but no care tag, no tag telling me what the lining and outer skirt are made of!

And on the old Wendster:

It was late, and I wasn't going to put on the shirt that arrived in the box for reasons I will describe below and I thought I would prove that I do have toes.  There is a lot of pleating at the waist in front, so it bunches up.  Bunching pleats are also no friend of mine!  It is a pretty skirt and if you did not have a tummy and you don't care what this skirt is really made of (I was imagining all kinds of horrors, since we know you can't trust website descriptions) this might be for you!  It is getting sent back today!

The peplum top was also in the box.  Remember it?

I ordered the white version to go with the skirt.  They look very nice side by side on my bed:

It has a nice texture to it - it is a cotton-poly blend that wants you to think it is linen.  From the back:

Smooth lines - it looked very nice.  A closeup of the collar below.  It has almost a jacquard-y feel to it.

The inside of the bodice is lined in a soft polyester and the peplum is unlined. 

You will not see a picture of me in this, as it was completely unflattering as the line between the bodice and peplum was only 2 inches below my bust line.  I have to keep some modicum of dignity.  Not for me.  It is a nice top if you can't get the JC version, which I think is nicer (having seen it not only on Ema but also in real life in NYC).  So back this goes as well.  Sigh..  Off to the Tommy Bahama website to order a nice couple of linen skirts to try!

On a happier note, on my walk yesterday, that Robin that I spied in Madison Park in NYC a month ago arrived here yesterday!  Yay!  and thanks Ema!

And around the corner in a ditch, a pair of mallard ducks are nesting.  We go visit them every day.

You gotta love Spring!
Since this is Miller time Friday and since I am having a week of great endings and new beginnings, I think I will join Tabs, who has reminded me of the Champagne cocktail in her tale of woe, debauchery and youth here.  We might as well steal her recipe and make up a batch.  Now for god sakes, let's make sure she is comfortable and doesn't need to get up much for the bathroom.  Maybe we could each have our own spotter to get us to the washroom when required?    Either way, I am happy to be with you all again, sitting on the porch and toasting life.  It is what you make of it, after all!

Have the loveliest of Fridays and stay safe out there!