Sunday, June 23, 2013

Other things that J Crew sent me and that I must send back...and a reno update..

Well okay.

The Kikis didn't just get here all by themselves.  They rode in withe THREE featherweight cashmere cardigans (you recall my interest in trying them on when they went on sale and then for 25% off that...), a pineapple tshirt and featherweight merino vneck to try on.  And then I found the damn (wonderful!) boots.

Okay - could use your advice and strength.  Maybe we should take a shot of something strong?

First up:

featherweight cardigan in morning sky.

This one didn't come out of the book, because, well, see for yourself (and then, by all means, mock me):




Morning sky is very similar pretty much the same as last season's periwinkle.  Little less grey, little truer blue.  Still embarrassing.  And I sort of knew it, as I think I might have written a snotty blog post on the similarity of colours this year.    GOING BACK.

The featherweight in navy is staying, I am pretty sure.  I do love it.  But I also really love vivid aqua:


Oh the healthy glow of it all!  The short shorts (didn't leave the house, no worries!)

Look at it with the nougat dress:



or last summer's fancy pants:


This one wants to stay.  Badly!

How about the pineapple tshirt?  I was meh, but my daughter loved it on me.  Thoughts?


And finally, the blue vneck:


Don't ask me what I am staring at?  My money, leaving?

What I am thinking is heading back - both blue sweaters and pineapple T.  Am I wrong?

On a sidebar, would like your opinion as to whether to keep this dress.  Bought it last summer and have worn it once.  It is a linen Sandwith dress, very comfy, but COLOURFUL!


Let's leave my closet shall we, and visit the local watering hole, where yesterday afternoon, I said "Welcome Summer" with a glass of Veuve Cliquot:

Welcome Summer, don't be a stranger....

The sky was a beautiful shade of blue...

barry's ear...
******

The reno of the family room is probably 64% done (how is that for precision?)  The far wall must be painted silvery blue and the white brick is being replaced by faux fieldstone.

This torn out cupboard




has become this DVD unit, built by Barry


 The TV has been moved over the fireplace, walls have been painted and new windows and blinds are in.  So from this...



 To this:









All of the clutter and books have been cleaned up and onto the various shelves!


 Now it is serene...


 And tucked in the shelf in the corner is my new fairy door.  Isn't it sweet?


 So well done Barry - just a little more work to go!!  Let's all cheer him on, shall we, as we need this room put to bed, so to speak!!!  Hip Hip Hoorah, Barry!

And now, since it is Sunday and I am just truly prattering on..

My groundhog has had three babies.  And though I know I shouldn't let them play out in my flower garden, I am...





They kind of whistle when they talk to each other.  I am sure they have a speech impediment like another famous friend:

Gopher, Winnie the Pooh
So I am letting them eat the swiss chard and the echinachea.  I know - I'm a sucker...

As I said, you won't hear from me till supper time!  Will have lots to report back on the day tomorrow!

Stay Safe out there!

49 comments:

  1. WMM, (am up waiting for my son to come home!)Love the reno pictures. I think you should take the sleeves off of the colorful dress and have a colorful sundress. It is very fresh and pretty and would look wonderful with- dare I say it- a navy featherweight cardigan.

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    1. HI Knityarns! Hope your son got home okay. I had never considered taking off the sleeves, but that could make it less... whatever it is...

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  2. In love with the ground hogs! Can you tame them? Have I watched too many Disney films?
    Such a lovely big room you have, I am dying to paw through your bookcase.

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    1. Hi Tabs - paw away!

      No, they won;t be tamed, but I have taken to putting out baby romaine for them so that they will leave the garden alone - they have decimated the swiss chard and parsley. But they are quite jolly and they tumble over each other like puppies and I don't have the heart to give them a hard time!

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    2. Call me if you need help-- the meanie farmer.

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  3. Ooh baby groundhogs! I'd like to look through your bookcase too!
    Slightly jealous of your lovely weather. It is FOUL here. Torrential rain and v chilly!
    On to the serious matter of clothes:
    I love, the aqua colour on you. You MUST keep it. Also love the blue v - neck. Which j crew colour and style is this? I want it!
    The yellow dress is also very pretty, and I think getting rid of the sleeves would be great, but it's lovely regardless.
    I am not a fan of that tee shirt. It looks a bit shapeless and meh to me.

    I was a bit under the influence last night, not unwell!! Lots of booze this weekend!

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    1. Hi Ruth,

      Glad to know it was a self-inflicted wound! Yes, I do think the aqua has to stay - I love it even more than the navy, but the navy is a good thing to have in one's closet and i did have to get rid of the Jackie - so I am navy cardigan-less. You are making me rethink the pullover - darn you! :-)

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  4. I'm getting more brutal with stuff, if I don't love it and especially if I have doubts, back it goes. Love your shorts outfit with the aqua, navy and red. Barry's ear made me laugh and your reno is fantastic!

    We also celebrated summer with a little split of bubbly ... beer.

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  5. that pineapple shirt goes back. fast.
    if you have time to hold on to the bright blue for another week or two - you can probably send it back with the next bunch of returns (sigh)' but you might find that it works with too many things.
    other sweater - leaves with the pineapples.

    loving the reno.

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    1. thanks Fred - I had same feeling about tshirt. Daughter may just love me too much!! Nothing more is coming! Thank God. Oh damn - forgot peasant blouse... damn, damn, damn. I do like the vneck, just trying to decide if I like it enough. You are right - the more it hangs around the more I notice what goes with it!

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  6. I vote the aqua cardi stays, the blue v-neck goes back with the pineapple tee (cute in theory, ehhhhhh in execution) and the double-cardi. I find that their aqua/bluish-green/spearmint/mint/whatever they're calling it this month goes well with a LOT of different colors and is really flattering near the face (and thus can fix a lot of colors that are, errr, less flattering near the face). You ought to try it with that yellow dress (I concur with KnitYarns, take off the sleeves!).

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  7. First of all, and I am surprised nobody has mentioned it yet, you definitely have the gams to wear those shorts out and about just not at home. No on the pineapple shirt. If your budget won't allow, send the aqua sweater/sweaters back...they will have them again and they will be on sale. In the mean time, your navy cardi will go with every outfit you picked. The yellow dress...I'm with you, there is something "off". Looks like a sack. Your redone family room is looking terrific!

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    1. Thanks BB! I laughed out loud when I read "looks like a sack"!

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  8. I was thinking the same thing as Blue Booby, those shorts look great on you, gorgeous legs!
    I forgot to tell you I ordered that pineapple tee and it went back with a pile of stuff I never did review, like the white Goldsign jeans (disaster) linen suiting jacket in khaki (poor fit and ick colour), other stuff I can't even remember now. It was too sheer and seemed like it would fall apart first wash, (the pineapple tee that is).
    I think the yellow dress is too big on you, too long or something?
    I just adore groundhogs they are so cute. Yours are darling!

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    1. HI Dani - thanks on the legs - still think I might be too old to show that much leg. My mother had great gams right till the day she died! Funny about you sending tee back too!

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  9. Your room is beautiful! Really well done. The DVD case is brilliant. I own three of those deceptive v-neck merino sweaters. They are so soft and flattering, but pill terribly. I have a navy one that looks like it's ready for the rag bag already. It was great while it lasted, but only lasted about 3 months. I haven't touched the other two, which are very light in color and a wee bit see-through. I like it on you, but just a warning. Keep it if it were super cheap. I agree with sending back the pineapples. Where did you get that fairy door?? Love it, and 9 is my lucky number!

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    1. elizabeth - I think I blogged about where you could get it last week, but if you can't find that, just email me at sydforry@hotmail.com and I am glad to send you the specs!

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  10. Def the navy and aqua cardi have to stay,they are both necessary and beautiful on you.

    I am not crazy about the morning glory color,it is too pale and similiar to the other color you have.. The vneck is nice,but maybe you can get it at a later time?
    I like the pineapple tee,it would look lovely with denim and heels dressed up!

    It has gotten cold again here,so we are spending the weekend relaxing. My husband is really tired of all the traveling,so we are trying to have some family time before he leaves again beginning of july.

    Love what your husband did to you family room!

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    1. Thanks Ina! Will the move mean he has to travel a little less? That would be so nice for him!

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  11. RETURN TO SENDER WMM, quick and dirty. Luff bubbly on patio, that's summer, and yay to hear further progress on your family room.
    - Shorts are fab, you have the gams. At least for casual garden parties, please.
    - V-neck, pineapple tee (meh, fabric, neckline) and duplicate would be my send-backs.
    - Laughing at you feeding groundhogs alternative produce. And that B. is the Bomb. Sending him a Vulcan mind meld re. more tool time!

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    1. With Knit Yarns to lop that sleeves off dress and also take hem up a smidge, IF it is worth the investment. Do like the unusual colour on you and think with a bit of shapelessness pruning, a necklace and your multi-colour sandals, could work well. The neckline and fabric look good.

      Hope you had fun outside the zone today!

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    2. I had a great day - will do a blog on it the next couple of days! Thanks for advice! Not sure if I will keep dress or not....that is a hmmm one - may have to meditate on that! ;-)

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  12. The yellow dress should be shorter if you keep it. Pineapples on clothing of any sort--meh-- but I am a plain Jane. I think several lengths/weights of navy cardigans are mandatory.

    Congrats on the final touches on the family room. Very cozy and smart! Am trying to achieve a place for everything; devilishly difficult in some areas.

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    1. I hear - I still have a couple of places that are really in need of a reno, but not this year!

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  13. What a wonderful room that is! Barry has done a great job, and I'm sure you've had something to do with it too! It's cheery and cozy.

    I would send back the pineapple shirt, it doesn't do anything for you. And the same-colored cardigan (although I like the color, you are right it's too similar). I like the aqua-colored cardigan, but you could probably live without it for the sake of the Frye boots :) I am not loving the dress. It is kind of oversized and wearing you, and it is not my favorite color on you.

    I can get on board with your groundhog friends. Unlike the raccoons! lol Groundhogs just seem friendlier (probably they are not but...). Enjoy your Sunday!

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    1. Also - would probably send back the v-neck sweater. I can't see it that well in the picture, but I would sacrifice it to the Frye boots as well.

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    2. Cate - love the sacrifice imagery! it's like we are some ancient tribe or something!!!!

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  14. Feeding the baby Groundhogs! I knew I liked you!
    Loving the aqua, and who couldn't use a navy cardigan? The yellow dress looks too sack-ish on a babe with your figure. Alterations might help, but I'm not sure it would be worth the expense, unless you paid a lot for the dress initially and love the colour.
    Love your reno, one can never have too many bookshelves for my taste.

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    1. HI Jennifer! Broke the baby feeding to baby - he was a little surprised, but not much!

      Okay - think the dress is going to go - there is a matching jacket - I might take a pic of that - it might be able to stay!

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  15. I will be tough and advise you to banish everything but the navy cardi. The yellow dress does nothing for your figure which looks fantastic as shown by your shorts outfit. I am awed by your renovation. How do I sign up to join Barry's fan club? George is looking like a slacker in comparison.

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    1. Haha I was reading that thinking she ought to put Barry on the sidebar, when you mentioned George. And really, what has George done for her lately? He should at least drop below Barry on the sidebar!

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    2. Agree! I know Darfur is very important but that Barry's got his priorities right: Wendy's backyard and house. Let's start a petition that Barry be put on the sidebar ahead of George. What would be a nice heading? Club Idol? Club Sweetheart? Club Darling?

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    3. Oh we cannot tell him these things! He needs to be kept on his toes ladies!!! Club Sweetheart? You haven't met him after Mexican food, Marie..

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    4. Forgot Darfur, well George is okay then, even if he hasn't done anything to improve WMM's home.

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  16. Those groundhogs are so cute!! Congrats on completing the family room reno, it looks amazing - very envious of the wall of books. I have mountains of books stored in boxes in the basement, we have nowhere to put them.

    Re: your shopping, I really like the aqua blue cardigan, and it looks like it goes with a number of things in your wardrobe. The gold pineapple tea is nothing special - I think you could find something better. As for the yellow dress, it needs some alterations to improve it. You could either keep it as is, which is a more casual summer look but I'd suggest wearing with a belt to give waist definition, and shorten the sleeves to cap sleeve length. Or, you could turn it into a tank-style shift dress by having a tailor/dressmaker add in darts if possible (it looks like there is enough material to do it) so that the dress skims the figure, and remove the sleeves altogether. The colour is unusual and eye-catching so I think it's worth the effort.

    Happy weekend!

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    1. HI Louise - we aren't quite done - and amazing to have more storage space for book and all those dvds - can you believe it? I have a whole other room of books at the other end of the house full of books

      Thanks for the dress advice! I will have to visit my croation tailor - she will tell me what she can do and either do it or send me on my way in shame!

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  17. The pinapple tee doesn't do you any favor, back it goes! I really like the v-neck sweater and the aqua cardigan. While it is true that a navy cardigan is a must, it is also true that they make it every year while the aqua will maybe be a slightly different shade next year if they make it at all. I ordered the navy featherweight last year for very cheap ($50) and returned it and I did not regret it (but it is true that I have a navy Jackie that I wear from time to time). But I am not a fan of featherwight cashmere in general at least for our weather, there is probably a week in the spring and one in the Fall when one could need such a thing. Ok, maybe I am not helpful at all!
    They ground hogs babies are so cute, you could grpw a zoo and become the attraction of your neighborhood...

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    1. Hi Ema! I think I am an attraction in the neighbourhood!!!! I will have to sleep on the navy - I do hear you though - I can pick up a navy jackie for a song.. oh the heart ache!

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  18. WMM, forgot to say the Ray Bans are fab on you, don't think I blog spotted them before today.

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  19. I love the reno! My living room is in dire need of a major facelift. I've selected everything, all of it fairly contemporary but a few antiques will need to remain in the space and I'm not sure how all of it will come together. Also not sure how I'm going to afford all of it, so probably a non-starter at this point....have a great day!!!

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    1. It is so hard; we do a bit at a time and Barry does all the work, which saves a bundle! I also got advice this time so we didn't waste $

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  20. I adore your bookcases - Love the cashmere but not the pineapples! Have a good week! xx

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  21. Hi WMM, late to the party today, but I just have to say how much I love your reno, especially the white-painted woodwork. Yes, I agree - put Barry on the sidebar!!!

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  22. I like the navy and aqua cashmere and the vneck. I say ditch the pineapple. I would like it if it were not so sheer. Let me know if you want my Pop to come take care of your groundhog problem. He's a big gardener and his solution is to shoot at them from his bedroom window I'm afraid. Totally illegal within the city limits I'm sure. Like you, I would just enjoy them.

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  23. Baby groundhogs!! So cute!

    You look amazing in those red shorts. Length, smength, you should wear those out as much as you can possibly get away with.

    The tee is cute but doesn't do a lot for you. But I still kind of like it. The v-neck sweater is too billowy.

    Your family room looks great!

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