Remember me? I used to blog here.

Doyce and I got to talking the other day, since the editor of the anthologies where we sold a few short stories sent us an email, asking for contributions to upcoming titles. And we may do that again -- I liked writing with my sweetie! Anyway, that whole introduction was to say that the emails reminded me of ANOTHER place where we'd sold a story, and I don't think I ever linked to it, so here it is: Fishnet Mag.

Full caveat: it's kinda dirty. If you don't pick up on that from the header at the top of the Fishnet page, I think our story will set you straight pretty shortly thereafter. Don't read if you're... um... squeamish about talking about sex. Or shopping. Or if you're a member of my family.

Thanks!

I need to be working, but...

UPDATED. I also need to put up a list of things I need to get done in the next few days before Doyce's folks arrive. To whit:

• Hang up roman shade in guest bedroom
• Pack up extra knicknacks for storage
• Prep guest basket
• Buy tile for guest bathroom and paint for small projects
• Sew valences for family room
• Laundry, laundry, laundry
• Drop off dry cleaning
• Buy guest towels
• Hide extra packing materials
• Order more photos
• Frame and hang photos
• Grocery shopping

I think that'll do as a start. Back to my reading!

Present etiquette

Dear Internets -

An etiquette question. If I've received a present from my company for the holidays that will be difficult to transport on a cross-country move, but is also in a theme of gifts that I expect might be well represented in my upcoming wedding, is it appropriate to bring it back to the store and exchange it for something smaller and easier to transport? Say, for instance, this?

Thanks for your advice!

Cheers,
ktbuffy

Seriously, Victoria?

It's no secret, really, but Victoria's Secret has made a huge amount of money marketing the possibility to women that they, too, can have large, perky breasts. Hell, they invented the "Miracle Bra."

So why can't they manage to sell any bras or lingerie that actually fit women who DO have larger-sized breasts? Everything's about making small stuff look big, but if you're there already, too bad. Nothing for you.

Grrr.

I bought shoes!

I know, I know. Just pretend to be surprised, ok? For me?

I had lunch today down in the Union Square area, and since we couldn't get a reservation until 1:30, I headed down a little early and hit DSW. I didn't even know that were having a special clearance, but I was very happily surprised. I had less than 20 minutes, I think, to get in, find silver shoes, buy them, and get out again and meet my lunch date. So how'd I do?

I bought two pair!! (Not that I can find any pictures of them online, of course.)

The first pair was a peep-toe t-strap that buckled at the ankle. The t-strap was all pretty and rhinestone-y, and someone remarked that it looked like a dance shoe -- which I took as a good thing, since I plan on doing a lot of dancing in it!

The second pair (both were from Nina, by the way) was on the clearance rack, open toed sandals with a strap that crossed over from the outside of my foot to the inner ankle, then became a slingback strap. Very fancy.

I didn't have a lot of time, as I mentioned, so I bought both, went to my lunch with a fun editor (sent back my burger for being too rare, which I hate doing, but it was red!), and came back to the office for a fashion show. See, I need other people's opinions. I like to hear what other people have to say, and having taken in all their thoughts, will then make my final call.

So I walked around the office, wearing one shoe of each pair, and polled about 8 women. Off the bat, most preferred the fancier shoe with the slingback. But when I described what it was for, and when I would be wearing it, most said the t-strap was better. So, the t-strap it is!! I'll be trying it on with the dress tonight to make sure I like the look with the hem, but then I can go and get my super-bra, and take the dress to be altered for the wedding.

And speaking of weddings, I was reading Weddingbee, as I'm wont to do, and read this in one bride's post describing her dress-shopping adventures:

Well, with this dress I learned the lesson that 95% (my rough estimation) of brides realize upon dress shopping – what you initially think you want is probably not what you end up liking/buying.

And what struck me about that was that I'm apparently in the 5% group. Sure, when I was a kid dreaming of dresses, I had a different idea of what I wanted, but when I actually WENT dress shopping, the dress we walked out of the store with was almost exactly what I described to the saleswoman.

I'm not saying I'm super-amazing or anything, but part of my weight loss journey, I think, has been recognizing the looks that work for me, and sticking with them. And as that makes four labels I can throw on this post, I'll leave it at that. To thine own self be true -- but before you can do that, make sure you know who you are!

TV Review, or, all about my clothes.

So, after the roomie's girlfriend watched "Top Chef" last night (while I pondered the fact that most of the comments made by the participants were the exact same as those muttered on "Design Star," barring only the change of words from "food" to "design," usually), she and I sat down to a sneak preview of Bravo's new show, "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style." Really, it was sneaky! The cable listing for Bravo for that hour only said "To Be Announced."

Anyway, unlike some people I know (Ali) who are ardent watchers of "Project Runway," I'm late to the whole Tim Gunn love fest, but I love a makeover show, so I was curious to give it a shot. Overall reaction? I'll just keep watching "What Not To Wear," thanks. Nothing is specifically said about how much money the makeover people get to shop with, and Tim kept giving away "gifts" like a Coach bag or black pearl necklace that seemed so extravagant. Also, considering that the candidates seemingly volunteer themselves, the woman on last night's preview episode, a 40-year-old hairstylist and mom from Long Island, seemed incredibly hesitant to give up her clothes. I can understand that attitude on WNTW, where people are volunteered by their friends, coworkers, or family members, but if you sign yourself up for a makeover, leave your hesitancy behind!

Tim (and his cohost Veronica, who left almost no impression on me, besides an orange residue from what seemed a bad fake-and-bake) were way gentle, leaving me looking for Stacy and Clinton to pop up with some hard truths. Yes, they called the Long Islander's clothes "slutty," but I missed the 360 degree mirror and the useful shopping rules.

The one thing I did like was Tim's list of essential clothing items every woman should own. How'd I do?

The 10 items on Tim Gunn's essential shopping list for women:

1. Basic black dress -- I have not one, but two! My Audrey Hepburn-esque short sleeveless number, and a long silk crepe de chine 40s number from J. Peterman.
2. Trench coat -- I got a short one at Marks & Spencer this spring. But technically, no, I don't have this.
3. Classic dress pants -- Wearing them today, in fact! I love Banana Republic's Martin Fit, and need to go pick up another couple of pairs in different fabrics and weights. These are straight leg, low-waisted, pocketless trousers that are so flattering. And comfortable.
4. Skirt -- Again, thanks to Banana I have a great grey pencil skirt that reminds me of the other Hepburn, Katherine, in such classics as Desk Set and Adam's Rib. I have another fantastic brown skirt that I used to wear almost daily, but it's now a little too big. Would love to replace it, as it has a fun flare at the hem I love.
5. Blazer -- Can I count my black jacket for my BR suit? Tim would probably fault me on this, but I console myself that at least I knew enough to toss two blazers I bought a year or so ago that are way too boxy, and hit me in all the wrong places. I felt like a square in them, so off to Goodwill they go!
6. Jeans -- I have these! Yay for Lucky Brand jeans, and the best $108 dollars I've ever spent on clothes.
7. Classic white shirt -- This is one of my goals for "back-to-school" shopping. A nice, crisp, white button down, that isn't tailored for a guy, and yet still manages to close over my boobage. This may be difficult...
8. Day dress -- I need some more of these for work, but I do have a nice black & white faux wrap dress I bought before the Frankfurt Book Fair last fall, that I still love. The "faux" is what's key in keeping the girls covered.
9. Cashmere sweater -- Happily, yes. Again with the Kate Hepburn reference, I have several short sleeved cashmere sweaters, that I wear as often as I can.
10. A comfortable alternative to a sweatsuit -- I count my black yoga pants from Old Navy, which I can pair with any one of a million t-shirts. When it's cold, I have a black pullover running top with thumb holes, that I love.

Bonus: an indulgent, trendy item -- Do my purple shoes count? Hell yeah!

How do you do?

Shopping!!

Another success story regarding a shopping quest, I'm delighted to say. This one was much shorter than my search for purple shoes.

As I mentioned, my sister C is getting married in November, and it's going to be a whole black-tie, formal kind of affair. Evening wedding, ballroom reception, the whole works. As is my way, I wanted to stand out a bit, so my guidelines for dress shopping began with no black or brown, but were otherwise pretty much WIDE open. I did consider looking for purple dresses, since I had the shoes, But I hadn't fixed on anything.

So, yesterday at lunch, I hit Bloomies. I grabbed a bunch of long dresses and hit the dressing room. Pretty quickly, I narrowed my search down to two dresses. First, this lovely strapless number from A.B.S.. I found it in purple, too. See?

The other option was very different, sort of drape-y, with a pretty open back, but also from A.B.S. This is it in blue. Here's me in it. There's some concern that the color is too light for a November evening wedding, but I think it's fine. Best part? Totally on sale.

But even on sale, it was a lot of money to spend. So I put them both back on the rack, and went back to work, having sent the two pictures to Doyce for his opinion. Well, it came in loud and clear. He liked them both. A lot. (Woot!) I showed the pictures to a few other people at work, too, noticing that the two colors were almost exactly the colors of my blog, and by the end of the day, I decided to run back to Bloomies, and if the sale dress was still there, it was a sign it was meant to be.

Well, it was! Hooray! The green dress is now happily hanging on my wall -- my closet being too low to handle the length. I still need to get the perfect piece to wear underneath, but I'll bring the dress to my bra lady, and see what she can find. After that -- I get to search for new shoes! Silver, I think. Fun!

Grr, argh.

Woke up with a headache this morning, and the jackhammers going on outside my office window (13 stories below) are NOT HELPING. Just looking forward to getting through the day and heading down to the beach for the weekend.

Anyway, yesterday I went with my mom and my sister over to Saks to try to find Mom a Mother-of-the-Bride outfit for C's wedding. (Now that I think of it, the headache may be residual effects from that experience.) We had a very helpful personal shopper, and ended up with a beautiful outfit that will be tailored to fit Mom perfectly, but it wasn't what you'd call a fun experience. Mom had several very definite ideas of what she didn't want, and unfortunately, 99% of all outfits that might be appropriate for a November, black-tie event for a woman-of-a-certain-age included those very elements. I'm really glad I insisted on going with her, to help her feel more comfortable in what C insisted on -- we were able to get a really great sweater to go underneath the jacket the saleswoman and C loved, that went with a gorgeous long, olive taffeta skirt with a little tail.

One thing that stood out for me. As Mom posed, unsure in the long skirt and beaded jacket combination, the saleswoman said, "I'm selling this to every Mother-of-the-Bride that comes in." Or words to that effect. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that just get your dander up? I don't WANT something that's the same as every other MOB outfit out there! Now, granted, black tie and winter weddings in the city are much more formal that what Doyce and I are planning, but I have already promised Mom she can wear WHATEVER she wants, whatever she feels comfortable in -- just so we don't have to go through the same sort of thing again.

Cult update

I haven't been blogging much lately about my progress towards my weight goal, if only because I totally stalled. Since April, when I was down just a hair over 50 pounds, I went back up a few pounds, and got stuck on a long, flat, boring plateau. This week -- hooray! Down 1.2 pounds, back to a total lost of over 45 pounds. Still a while to go, and this is the hard part, I think, where I can pretty easily keep where I am using the methods that have helped in the past, but I really need to step things up a bit to lose the last 15 pounds I want to see vanish before The Big Day. I'm pretty solidly in size 10 bottoms, with a couple of size 8s, but still hitting a size 12 on top, thanks to the bodacious ta-tas. Hoping to hit Ann Taylor this week for their sale though, and see about picking up a dress for my sister's wedding. For my wedding dress, I knew I didn't want strapless, but I'm thinking it might be fun for hers. I have to see how they look on, and if I can get the proper supportive cinches and hoists from my bra lady!

My shirt is back!

Loved my cool red shirt? Get one of your own, but in blue, and with long sleeves! How cool are you?Very cool. Order by August 31st for delivery around the end of September. Check out Glarkware's other cool limited editions.

Heading Out to LaLa Land

Just about packed for my trip out to LA, which will be a work-filled with a healthy dose of fun (and sitting by a pool, reading. But then, that could be work, too!). I think I have everything I need, but I'm sure I'll forget something. Bringing Lappy, though, so I'll have full email and interweb access. And, I imagine, if there's any down time, I can get in a little CoH!

Although, I am told there's a sizable mall across the street from the hotel where the conference is being held, so i may have to do a little shoe shopping. And clothes -- In trying to pack business casual wear, I found myself disregarding a huge portion of my wardrobe of t-shirts, so many of which have slogans, logos, text, or designs I just wouldn't want to wear in front of a prospective client. Current client, sure! Then I pull out my "Ready, Randy? Ready, Joan!" tank. But newcomers don't get to see that right off the bat.

And I think everyone's happier for it.

Anyway, thanks for your help with questions for my workshops. I'll report back afterwards!

Shopping Advice

So last night, after the gym, I went to one of those super trendy clothing stores down in Soho, to try to find a fun little summer dress. No luck for me, though I found some great little things if I wanted people to think I'm pregnant (I don't), and one almost-maybe that's just slightly off a flattering cut for me.

But I'm waiting for a dressing room, and a stick thin pixie of a girl, tall as a sheaf of wheat, comes out to show her boyfriend a dress. She looks like Twiggy in it -- little cap sleeves, round collar, short, short, short hem. Sensibly, she wonders if it isn't too short.

Mesmerized by the unending display of legs, and just then called into a room of my own, I didn't share my opinion, but here 'tis: Ladies, if you can't bend over to slip on a pair of shoes, raise your arms to wave or even adjust a headband, or even sit without flashing everyone your groovy bits, it's too short. Move on. Find something else.

I hope she did.

Success!!

I knew it. I said it all along, I was going to get my wedding dress at Kleinfeld. I just had a feeling (Misa, you were totally right!) That's why I'd originally planned to hold off actually going to Kleinfeld until August or so, after I'd fully enjoyed dress shopping at a bunch of other places. Well, I went there today on receiving news via The Knot that they were having a sample sale. Our extremely helpful saleswoman Judith first was discouraging when I said I wanted a bateau neckline, but another saleswoman overheard me, and she brought what seemed to be the only bateau-necklined dress in the entire store to me to try on.

Well, it didn't fit. Not quite. (That "quite" turned out to be rather important.)

Still, Judith was hopeful. "It doesn't have a red dot on it," she said, "that means we can order it for you." And, wonders of wonders, it was in my price range, even if we ordered it. So Judith did some more checking around, only to find out... actually, it was discontinued, and it should have had a red dot on the tag.

But it was so pretty! And with a different bra on, and the bow tied in the back, it was so very very close to fitting, and the price was so right...

Long story short, we bought it. Thanks Mom!! After all, I still have about ten more pounds to lose on Weight Watchers, and ten months to do it in. Judith also gave us the name, address, and phone number of one of their top seamstresses, who does some alteration work out of her own house, so we don't get stuck with Kleinfeld's mark-ups. My friend Jennifer also recommended her fantastic seamstress, so I have a couple of options.

It's just so pretty. And so perfect. It's the dress I've been describing all along. It's classic. And no, you don't get any pictures of it. You have to wait until April 12th!

Glee! I have a wedding dress!

&^%*^$# eBay

Grumble, grumble.

Had a thought this evening to go on eBay and see if anyone had any bateau neck wedding gowns available for sale, and lo and behold, someone did!

Except, when I went to ask the seller a question, I got a notice that my eBay account was suspended. Someone's been impersonating a ktbuffy! And now I can't shop! Curses!

Trying to get it all sorted out now, but it's been a frustrating experience.

EDIT: Got it fixed. You know, there are quite a lot of wedding dresses available on eBay. It's hard enough to find one in a shop where you can at least try it on in a sample size -- I can't imagine buying sight unseen off eBay!

Store #2

At lunch today, with my maid of honor in tow, I hit my second bridal boutique, and had a MUCH better experience shopping! For one thing, I probably tried on twice as many gowns. For another, I actually found one that I liked a lot. Although, for $3,500, I don't love it. My budget is much smaller than that, but it opened my mind up to a few more possibilities.

I went in with these two pictures of gowns from The Knot. When I told the saleswoman I was looking for a bateau neckline, she said that they're very difficult to find lately, so I guess those were older pictures. Gee, thanks, The Knot! Anyway, my sister and I picked out three dresses to try on at first, and as we found something about each that seemed off to us, the saleswoman (Nicola) went out and brought in more dresses, finally showing us a very pretty strapless dress in a soft ivory/off-white shade, with Alencon lace and tulle ruching at the bodice, and a tulle bow to tie loosely and trail down the train. 'Twas purty. She showed us how it could be made with little tulle cap sleeves, which was very very nice.

Not $3,500 nice, I reminded myself.

Still, for the first time in my dress-trying-on experience, I felt truly bridal. After putting another dress I liked back on, and deciding I didn't like it as much as the strapless one, I put that back on, and flounced a bit around the salon, with a veil in my hair, flipping my train around as I paced a bit in front of a mirror.

We even sneaked a couple of pictures that I have to upload, and may or may not decide to post. And I just checked online, and they're going to be having a trunk show at Kleinfeld's (where I'm going on Sunday for a sample sale, and dress shopping excursion #3), so I may drop in there again, just in case there's any price differential. Probably not, but it doesn't hurt to try!

I found 'em!

Hooray, hooray, hooray!

When I was in England, I was in a colleague's home, and fell in love with a gorgeous wall hanging she had in her dining room. It looked like a spray of branches, but up close, turned out to be loads of smaller pieces all fit together in random ways. The best part? They're super-light plastic, so you can easily hang them from transparent fishing wire from the ceiling, as I'd like to do.

Well, I sent in a questions about them to Shelterrific, one of my favorite decorating sites, but didn't get an answer. Today, randomly, I decided to try googling them, without knowing exactly what they're called.

Well, apparently, they're Algues! Check it out.

The beautiful plant-like Algue element reproduces a delicate branching effect reminiscent of algae twigs. The individual elements are joined together, creating an airy and light structure that can be extended in all directions. The modular character offers many decorative and application possibilities. Thanks to 19 ring-like eyes at the end of their branches, algues can be easily joined together with small plastic pegs at one or several points. In this way, it is possible to construct interwoven structures of substantial dimensions. Potential configurations range from a delicate web that could be used in place of a curtain or as a trellis for climbing plants, to an impenetrably dense plastic hedge consisting of several layers of interconnected algues that serves as a room divider. The amorphous design lets Algue appear like a growing, natural object.

I can get 50 for $200, which should totally work on the big wall in Doyce's living room. Picture when I get home of my colleague's wall, so you see what I mean.

Well, that was a little disappointing

Went to my first appointment to shop for a wedding dress, at a beautiful little boutique a few steps from my office. They are actually the flagship store in the US for what the salesgirl told me is a long established Italian couture bridal line. I showed her my pictures of ideas I liked, she assured me that 99% of all the brides she's ever worked with bought the first dress they tried on, and then I started trying things on.

Well, I didn't love the first dress. Nor the second. Nor the third. The fourth was possibly the worst. I wasn't allowed to take pictures of course, but here's what I could find online.

The first was probably closest to what I'm looking for: a simple bateau-style neckline, an a-line skirt, and a beautiful fabric. Unfortunately, the skirt started a little low on the thighs for me, so I felt it leaned more towards the trumpet or mermaid style that I dislike (more so on the model in the picture than on me, even). On the plus side, it was only $1,800 over my budget! Still, simple and pretty, but I wanted more skirt. On to dress #2!

I've been leaning against a strapless dress because I don't want to spend the entire reception pulling up the bodice. Still, I tried this one on. It actually came in two pieces - a skirt that closed easily, and a boned corset top that did not. So, imagine trying to judge how well you like a dress while your boobs threaten to pop out! I did like the way the fabric draped across the middle of the dress, which I thought was very flattering. The skirt was big and poofy, and flowed beautifully, but I wasn't in lurve.

Dress #3 was pink! With a neckline that hit at the top of my shoulders, and did that thing where I worried I wouldn't be able to lift my arms while I was dancing. Dress #4 had a lacy top with long sleeves ("we can make them short sleeves!") that I took one look of in the mirror and thought "matron."

Basically, in conversation with the salesgirl, we decided that though I don't know exactly what I want -- I have pictures of elements of my dress, but not the whole thing yet -- I do know what I don't want. And what I don't want is exactly the kind of dresses that Atelier Aimee specializes in: overly romantic, poufified, embellished, fairy tale concoctions. Really, go look at some of their other dresses. It's kinda crazy.

So, we struck out. But in a way that I'm going to chalk up and call a good experience. One shop down, many to go!

Purty!

Look! Lovely embroidery!
So sweet. So old fashioned. So exactly what I want!

(Via Doyce and De)

This just in

In fact, the Brits really do need Trinny and Susannah.

Back in Blighty!

After a mostly uneventful if occasionally painful flight over, I landed safely this morning and got driven through a gorgeous Spring morning to my little hotel in Kensington. Which reminds me of everything I used to know and love about England: tiny showers, strange doors, meandering hallways, weird hangers... Still, I'm here! And MJ is on her way. And there's a giant Sainsbury's just down the road, which I plan to hit later for ginger ale, Assam tea bags, and Maltesers. And we're undertaking the Great Harrods Caper, of course, and I'm thinking of hitting up a Marks & Spencer for a sring raincoat, and possibly (what else?) a new pair of shoes! Shoes!

Pictures to follow.