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Closet of Dreams

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The last time I published a blog, prior to the Sunday post, was in September of 2011.

I was a different person in a different place. I was single. I had a fantastic apartment. It was a one bedroom with wood floors and windows on three sides and one shared wall. It was ideal. It was at the back of the complex above the garages, with no one to complain about dancing feet or dropping shoes.

I had a slimmer of an ocean view, the Long Beach Harbor. I loved it there. I watched four sets of neighbors move in, and three of the four get pregnant. I was waiting for the last couple to get babied but they never did by the time I moved out.

A year later, September 2012, I was moving out. I was leaving my beloved Long Beach. I had met someone in the most unlikely way, via a game of words on our iPhones. My life was changing again.

As I watched the movers pack up all my precious things, I could not believe how MANY so-called precious things I had. When I saw the truck pull up that would hold all the boxes with all the stuff, I could not imagine that my ‘stuff’ would FILL that truck. But all my stuff reached the end of this big trailer with room enough for the door to slide down. I was embarrassed How does one person have boxes of things she cannot begin to count?

When the truck arrived at my new place in Santa Barbara, the second bedroom was filled floor to ceiling with boxes. I didn’t know how to process all of it. What was it? Where did it come from? How did I manage to keep it for so long? Was I crazy?

I moved in September. Those boxes stayed in that room for six months. My boyfriend move in that January. I moved the boxes to a storage unit. Six months later, I moved them out of the storage unit back home and rifled through everything.

Somehow I have to figure out how I did that.

Featured

Spring and Clear

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It’s March 31, 2019. I have been sick for six days now. Five days I’ve been home, stir crazy, eating the same food, seeing the same view. Thursday and Friday were the hardest. I couldn’t breathe thru my nose, my body sore from coughing, and challenged to sleep. Saturday was better. I slept a lot. I did manage to finish the Erin and Ben Napier book, “Make Something Good Today”.

Inspired to paint, sketch, knock out walls, I did just that! In my bed, with my eyes heavy and trying to stay open, I imagined our little apartment with walls knocked out, shelves put up and less furniture. It was dreamy. I organized my closet, pulling out everything and really giving a thought to why I keep things. I know what I’ll get rid of now that I have thought it thru.

From our bed, I can see my patio, with over grown plants, loose leaves, and peanut shells littering the pots. Mark had left to the gym and to do some work. I would have a least two hours to myself. A little sweeping, a little clipping and I could be done in an hour.

The morning was bright and cool. No clouds. Lots of crows and seagulls chatting, other birds singing. The patio was better than expected. One of our umbrellas was tipping to one side, not balanced in the base. I had switch it to another base. I have four umbrella bases and three umbrellas for a reason I cannot remember. The ivy from next door was making its way onto our fence, but not in a fierce scary way. Peanut shells were few. My own plants were the ones that needed loving care. My geraniums were starting to bloom crawling their way out of the pots. My calla lily had one brown bloom, which I trimmed off with the other brown leaves. Then I sat to rest.

I got up again to move and shift pots in better sun catching positions. Swept a quarter of the patio and then sat to rest. It was so quiet, even with the bird chatter. I swept the next quarter, re-hung the extension cord that Mark uses to charge his laptop, cell phone, IPad and whatever else he may use when he’s writing. I swept one more quarter and then sat to rest.

The last thing was to stack pots and saucers, covering the loose soil I had in one pot so a wandering cat would not find it. I have an old folding teak table that I use to repot my plants. It has spaces so when I plant, the loose soil falls into the paint pail I have below. It’s the perfect size and height and it has worn beautifully.

I hosed down the patio, washing off whatever loose soil and leaves may still be hiding. In California, not always a good practice to wash down your patio. That’s why I sweep, so I only use enough water to wash the loose bits. No use to sit now, as I rinsed off the chairs and table. With the hose put away, and the light shimmering off the wet pavement, everything felt so fresh. It was time for a nap.

My potting table is on the left under the window. It was a dining table until I found it served my plants better.

That’s a crazy orchid that blooms little purple flowers in the pot that looks so full it will burst!

I moved these guys around to share some sun peeking between the umbrellas.

Sales before the Season

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Retail has an unusual cycle. Garment design and production happens 6 months to a year in advance of ending up on store fixtures.  We are shoppers of seasons. We like to shop when it’s time to shop. We are constantly shopping in our minds during the year. We stare into our closets anticipating that something will jump out and surprise us. What really comes as surprise is that we have everything we think we need but something is always missing.

Nordstom already had their Anniversary pre-season sale. Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s will be sure to follow. The focus for a pre-season is all about buying the newest looks for the season at a reduced price. However, we are in the middle of summer. Which thinking about the cool, fresh fall in the middle of a warm, hot sun filled sky days is difficult. When shopping a pre-season sale there are a few guidelines I try to follow:

  • Take stock of all the cool weather items you have. This may mean cleaning out the closet or drawers. Consider how many sweaters you already have and what styles or colors you would like to have. Do you only have cardigans and no pull overs? Do you have all black and no color but want color?
  • Go through your coats and take note: are they all short or are they all long? Would you like to have a choice of each during the season? Do you have all black or brown and would like to add color? Or be risky and buy something that is not consistent with the coats you may already own?
  • Pants. Do you have only jeans and would like to add other fabrics to your assortment? Do you only own black and would like to add color or pattern?

These three points of focus are probably a good place to start. You may only be adding one major piece to your assortment or filling in a whole range of sweaters, pants, long sleeve tee’s ,etc. Whatever your reason to buy remember to put yourself in the season. By this I mean, think cool. Think leaves turning color. Think how cozy you like to feel on those days when the wind wants you to feel otherwise. The retail cycle will not change but how you shop can change.

 

Shoes and Sales

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Hello! I hope your Memorial weekend has been fun. I managed to get to the Nordstrom sale on Saturday. The shoe racks were in full force. The crowd was what I expected at 5 o’clock in the afternoon. People usually make their way to dinner during this hour which makes this a good time to shop.

I am looking for sandals. I wear size 10 shoes. This selection can be small relative to other sizes. I let my eye wander from one row to the next focused on color, then fabrication – is it leather, plastic, or fabric – all different fits. I also look at the sole – is it slim or is there any kind of support in the heel? I study all the candidates. I remind myself when shopping for sandals what I like in a sandal. I like the minimal strap sandals with bit of sole on the bottom for support. I prefer soft leather to fabric. I don’t like to wear plastic as my feet get hot. Above all, I have to like the sandal. Something about any shoe has to speak to me. Dressing is emotional. Shopping is emotional. So the purchase should feel good.

I had no luck finding sandals. I let myself “wander” to try on some wedge platform heels. As it is I have several styles of heels and wedge platforms in my closet. With wedge platform styles or any heel be aware of the pitch.

2 heels 4x6

The wedge heel and the 'pitch' on a wedge platform.

The “pitch” is the slope from heel to the ball of the foot. The shoe may be beautiful, but if the pitch is too steep to be comfortable it’s best to pass. I favor the wedge platform to the single heel simply because of comfort.
All in all, I came home ‘shoeless’. If I did bring home a new shoe I would have gone through my selection and discarded, donated, or sold to consignment,  another pair of shoes. I use this practice with clothes and hand bags. If the item is just worn out it gets thrown out. This keeps my assortment streamlined. My selection becomes about things I will wear versus things I ‘might’ wear. There are items that have a specific purpose, heavy coats and winter items, that belong in the back of the closet. For now, keep the newest selection mixed in with your existing items up front. You will feel good about your choices!

The Sale is on!

/ The Inspired Closet / 8 Comments

Hello all!

Big news! The Nordstrom half yearly sale starts today!

This sale is about: Spring and early summer goods, light weight fabrics, tees, and separates. You may see long dresses – so fab right now – light weight sweaters – and likely light weight jackets.

Here are some tips:

  • Go focused – if you are looking for tops – look at those first – try not to wander – if you’re looking for pants look only for pants, etc.
  • Try on and be comfortable – Go dressed to try things on. You are all so busy no point in buying and trying to return the
    items later. Wear things that are easy to take off and on – no boots or cumbersome sport shoes – stick to flats, clogs, flip flops,
    or simple shoes with a heel if that’s what you usually wear.
  • Pants – if you buy Nordstom labels jeans or pants they will hem for free – ask a sales person and they can get someone to measure then and there!
  • Tops – wear a good bra – if you don’t have one wear the best one you have!
  • Didn’t find what you wanted? – leave some time to wander…sometimes that’s when you find something you didn’t expect!
  • Nordstrom opens early and stays open late the first few days of the sale – drop the kids off at school and go! The best shopping is between 8 and 10 am or after 8 pm! Go online to check hours before you head out. http://shop.nordstrom.com/

I’ll be going on Friday – just to look – I started with my personal trainer last night and I’m not ready to buy clothes but I still like to look and see what’s out there!

Enjoy!

Alice