Versatile Style by Tracey

Dear Readers, I got back to exercising for just two days when

I started having back spasms and pains…

I used my down time wisely, and fast forwarded through the seasons of Offsprings on Netflix  

I took a lot of photos to showcase why I fell so hard for the style of the character, 

Nina Proudman.  

A blurry shot , but the elements are a maxi skirt with an open weave sweater and tank top underneath

and a pair of boots to complete the look.  Maxi skirts or dresses with boots is a very common theme in her style. 

This is another maxi skirt look, but not a full view as it wasn’t always possible to get a picture in the show. 

A denim jacket with these big cuffs and a solid tank , belted is another theme.  

This is a purple floral maxi skirt. 

Another common thing is the choice of a black tank quite often. 

She also wears belts a lot more then my menopausal body will tolerate, but 

with weight loss I hope to get back to belting more.  

Notice to the length of a lot of her jackets right at the waist.  

These short lightweight toppers are common too, have not found where 

I could get my hands on some of these , but would love to for my petite height.  

This and the next two are all paired with jeans and knee high boots.  

I love the detail in a lot of her tops and toppers. 

You can’t tell very well, but this has beautiful pintucking.  

Another shorter sheer jacket , but this one has embroidery.  

I have a mint kimono with a tie waist I bought last year, that 

I hadn’t thought to pair with a black tank. but love the contrast here. 

Again, the details of the crotchet in both the topper and tank top 

are very appealing to me.  I loved all her white tops and toppers. 

One thing I myself am short on…

Nothing easier than a printed tunic over jeans. 

I am looking for this style for Spring and can see this tunic over soft pants.

or ankle pants with a pair of wedges.   

This floral kimono again paired with a black tank top. 

I like that her style evolved over the seasons beginning with her 

wearing these cognac boots a lot, then adding in a pair of blue ones 

and finally a pair of green ones.  

I also like that she would wear pieces over again paired up differently.

I love the vibrancy of this topper and the fact that it’s not a solid. 

Towards the fifth season she began adding in a few pairs of 

printed soft pants with ankle boots.  

She also wore a few pairs of culottes as another bottom option.  

For more Nina Proudman Style  I found around the web, 

head to my Pinterest Board where  you can also see some kimono toppers I’ve ordered from ebay and other places.

My Back is a bit better today, so hoping tomorrow that continues. The worse time is trying to sleep and not getting enough as I feel pain with every shift in the bed and it awakens me often during the night.   

We are still “snowed in: as the temperatures have been in the teens at night, 

a true rarity in a place that barely goes below freezing. 

The roads are thick sheets of ice , schools are closed as are lots of businesses.  

So I thought I would share with you my sister’s jewelry, 

she’s been making it for years and use to ask my daughter’s dress colors and bring 

her one specially made for each event.  

She loved Swarovski crystals and sterling silver, these are both clear but reflect colors areound them and the walls in the room were yellow.  These were ones she began making a few years ago and sold at Christmas.  My niece and daughter each have two as well, we all have the oval shaped one on the left , but while I have a seashell, my daughter has a star and my niece chose a snowflake.  

This all silver seashell one was one of her earlier works and one she wore quite regularly. 

It was the first thing I went in search of , as I wanted to wear it to her memorial service, 

to give me strength to speak.  It is my favorite and the most dear to me because of how many 

times I noticed her wearing it.  

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These two are also earlier pieces and are knotted on string.  

The pink and blue on was one I picked out of her inventory she brought over one Christmas and asked which one I wanted. 

Starfish are very big among her line of jewelry and she named her company, 

“Joyful Jems”  

She did this sea glass, pearl and swarovski crystal one in several colors. 

My niece chose one in burgundy, while my daughter who is a more minimal dresser didn’t opt for one, so

I have one in blue as well.  

She even had the star in glass beads as well.  

So don’t be surprised if I wear the star ones quite often. 

That is actually a good thing as back in 2003 when I went to New York to 

buy jewelry for my Consignment store, I had picked out what I called , 

a ‘wanky star”  and chose a chain that was measured and made for me in sterling 

silver and wore that thing as my signature piece almost daily.  

Unfortunately, it somehow broke and slipped of my neck somewhere a few years ago and

I literally mourned the loss. I find it quite poetic that my sister has left me ‘wanky stars ” in 

several options.   

These creme options are very prevalent  part of her line, and I adore the turtle version..  

Those  green beads are quite beautiful , she even managed to  sneak in a few Swarovski crystals ,

This one with beautiful fine stones was a direction she had wanted to take, but 

found hard to sell and price to recoup  the cost of the beads and show others their value ,

so she changed directions. ‘Like most of the ones I’ve pictured, this is one she wore and loved.  

This was the surprise piece I found with the tassel she made. 

It’s classic her with the the pearls, but a bit different with the butterfly 

and I can’t help but wonder if she made this one after I told her 

that Mom came to me in butterflies on my 45th birthday and every time I took walks. 

A special one , I will definitely cherish.  

Dear Readers, it is such a comfort to have her jewelry

and to share them with my daughter and niece. I’d like 

to see if I have earrings to pass on to several of her friends,

but am so worried that I will miss somebody important.  

When it snows in Virginia Beach, 

It’s a big deal and everyone gets excited.  

The day before the storm I took a walk to the store as I knew I’d be 

in hibernation mode as I am not a snow person.  When I went , I didn’t need 

essentials , so got our traditional snow day treat for making s’mores in the fireplace. 

It was so funny watching the harried and frantic shoppers grabbing milk, bread, soda , chips

and alcohol.   What made it funnier was seeing the faces on the shoppers who peeked at my cart, lol 

The view from my front porch 

Penelope exploring snow for the first time. 

My son home from college is the photographer of the snow pictures .

The cloudy day made for some great pictures of the contrast of snow and trees. 

 Dear Readers, Sorry still no pictures of myself, but then again I stayed in Pj’s nursing  a headache 

and sneezing, this thing has been hanging on for two weeks, I feel better then it comes back…

I have several outfits paired up ready in my closet for as soon as I am feeling better!

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend, I’ll be spending Sunday watching my Steelers play off game. 
  

I thought it would be fun to do a list of my favorite things that I use on a regular 

basis and wouldn’t change even if I became a millionaire, lol 

1. No Shampoo for me, I am a Wen Girl 

I get mine on Auto Delivery from QVC 

I have used this for 7yrs and just recently spent the night in a local hotel for my

husband’s company party and forgot my Wen and used the shampoo provided by the hotel. 

I literally cried as I felt the moisture all get sucked out of my hair and that disgusting feeling of straw 

before you put conditioner in.  Never again I will always have my beloved Wen with me. 

I must be responsible and say there is a lawsuit from some saying they are having bad reactions, but I have several friends who use the product and like me they will never go back to shampoo.  

2.       Next up is Josie Maron Argan oil, it’s all I use to hydrate my face, neck and hands .

I’ve used this about as long as the Wen, prior to that I used avon products for 1oyrs and before that Oil of Olay. 

I adore this and get it on QVC as well, this bottle lasts me 4-5 months. 

You can also find her products at Sephora, I use her foundation too and in a pinch bought it there. 

 3                     Lancome Color design eye shadow 

I have only been using this for a few weeks as I found new ones 

in my sister’s make up bag.   My brown eyes have never been so bright as when I use this. 

I’ve always worn purples , but there really was something incredible about this palette. 

 4.                    I bought a similar Caj beauty dryer brush last Christmas as an 

upgrade from the drug store one I used for years and their really is no comparison . 

I use this every single day , unless I am doing the beach wave look with sea salt spray. 

My daughter has this as well and is just as crazy about it as I am. 

 5                    Next up is Diane Gilman Jeans, I can’t even pick one to picture and feature as 

I have so many pairs and love them all.  When I first saw her on HSN and she talked about 

having customers who collect her jeans, I thought that was a bit nuts, well call me nuts because 

I get new ones every season and refuse to count them as it may lead to a divorce, lol 

6                  Better Brella which inverts so the dripping outside is contained. 

And yes My Dear Readers, I have the leopard one as it was the perfect choice to go with 

my three trenches in red, black and tan.  

7.             I am just starting to dabble with aromatherapy and began with a necklace, 

but graduated to a diffuser for Christmas. 

I love that this one cycles through several colors, each more beautiful than the last. 

8           Himalayan Salt Lamps a set for just $39.95

I got these because they are recommended for allergy suffers  but when reading 

they sounded amazing.  I have slept for 7-8 hours almost every night since i put this in my room. 

I have one in the den too and it is such a soothing glow of light that i would have to agree that it helps with

depression.  If it offers comfort to me during this intense stage of mourning it definitely has merit. 

9.                 Verilux Therapy Light 

I love light therapy during the winter months when I don’t go out walking as much 

since I have exercise induced asthma and cold air is the most aggravating.  

10                                 Nano Sponge

These are fabulous, cleans with just water and can be machine washed or 

put through a dishwasher cycle.   This is definitely a premium sponge unlike ones I have used in the past. 

11.             Cook’s Essential Air Fryer via QVC 

 I have this smaller version but they also sell a bigger one

that I wish I had gotten since I have a large family.

It doesn’t just fry it bakes, roasts, steams , toasts etc .

My husband was never fond of a microwave , and hasn’t pulled out

the toaster oven since this came into our kitchen.

Dear Readers, I probably should have done this list before the holidays, but alas I was in no condition to think about such things.  After dealing with the loss of mu father at just 13 and my mother 6yrs ago, this is far worse, a sentiment shared by mu brothers.  I hate the entire idea of being the only girl left with two brothers. Just typing this makes me cringe. 

I am doing better as the shock of it is beginning to wear off.  In fact Monday (today) I am beginning 

a quite drastic 900 calorie diet for 10 days to kick this carb addiction that has swept over me with 

a ferocious hold over me that I can’t seem to shake.   I feel like an addict who just can’t get enough.

I need to quit cold turkey ans since I want to lose weight anyway I am starting with something I never thought

I would attempt, I have never attempted to lose weight to this extent, but am looking forward to giving it ago. I needed something very simple and that wouldn’t take much thought to execute.  

Wish me luck as I dislike oatmeal , but plan to save one apple a day to chop up and bake with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger. I tried just the baked apple part last night and loved it!