Outfit #86 - Thank You Accessories

Outfit:
Dress: Jeanswest (op shop).  Leggings: Ambra.  Shoes: no label, made in Spain, swapped or from Jeannie.  Earrings: ??? Pendant: gift.  Belt: Target.

Yes, I am aware I have worn this dress, with these shoes and belt and leggings, before.  The accessories saved the entire outfit from being a repeat though.  Phew.  I did have a different outfit planned, but couldn't find a component of it this morning (I'm in crazy mode right now) so Plan B... which had to be something comfortable in the heat, and with shoes suitable for walking all over the school looking for little people.  In a hurry, this is what I ended up wearing.  I love having decent air conditioning in my room... and I was quite comfortable all day, but it was really good to get out of this when I got home.

I even wore a flower in my hair. 

Today's photo:

This evening, I had a violin playing evening.  A friend is in that trying-out stage of violin acquisition, and asked me over for dinner and a play.  I took along mine as well, so our violins had a little party.  I like the first photo better as a photo

but I like the violin party feel of the second.

The Glasses and the Hotspot

Over the last couple of years (in which I haven't had an eye checkup) I've noticed my eyesight deteriorating somewhat.  I'm not at the running-into-walls stage yet (except for this one time...) but I knew I needed a stronger prescription.  Last week, I had my first checkup in about 5 years.  Although the optometrist assured me that the deterioration was perfectly normal for that length of time, I still felt a bit low.  However, I decided to consider glasses as an extra accessory.  I've had a couple of pairs of glasses before now, which I wear to watch tv (especially the Simpsons) and read music when I'm tired or the light is poor or the print quality is not great.  The new pair came in at the end of last week, and I've slowly started wearing them more often.

On Sunday, I wore them to church.  For the first time.  Combined with the new haircut, a few people didn't actually recognise me.  I did enjoy being able to see people who weren't in the first 10 rows - it can be awkward meeting people who I've only just noticed but have been coming for months, and sometimes I get a shock thinking someone I wouldn't expect to see is there when it turns out to be someone totally different.  And it's really nice to be able to see again.  Unfortunately whenever I think that, I also think of a totally terrible joke.

The other news is I'm using my Personal Hotspot for internet right now.  About a year ago, a student came into her lesson very excited.  She was one of 3 sisters I taught in a row, so the mum would sit in the car with them while they had their lessons one after another.  One night, they'd discovered the Personal Hotspot in the iPhone - so you can use your phone's 3G to provide WiFi for other devices.  They showed me where to find it too (this girl dragged me to the car so we could find it) and tonight is the first I've actually made use of it.  Handy.

February Spending

This month, I stayed within my $100 clothes and accessories budget.  Yay!

Here's how it went down:

February 3 - coffee and shopping trip with Jeannie

Navy splatter beads

Lifeline West End:

Flowered Jay Jays skirt $6.50
Sportsgirl blouse $9.50
Crossroads shirt $7.50
Navy flowered scarf $3
Wooden beads $4
Grey beads on chain $4
Navy splatter beads $4.50
Total = $39

Vinnie's West End:

Temt skirt

Gino Tricot skirt $8
Temt skirt $6
Subtotal = $14   Total = $53










February 10th

Lifeline Adelaide St
Much sought-after nude mock croc heels $25

Grand total $78

Total for year = $187.66

Wardrobe Reorganisation Part 2

As promised earlier, there was a second, just as drastic, change to the wardrobe reorganisation.  After moving the chest of drawers down to the living room, I now had the space to install these hanging thingies.  They are *so* good.   The previous arrangement had everything now in the hanging things folded on the shelves (to the left, not pictured).  Which was ok... Except I only ever used the top few layers of clothes.  And it was hard to find anything not at the front. 

Now, though.... ah, bliss.  Surprisingly, it is much easier to put away my clothes.  Not surprisingly, it is much, much easier to find anything.  I'm not sure how I'll go when the cooler months arrive as I'll need space for bulkier clothes, but I'll sort out something then.


The main impetus for change was accessories.  I eventually found this hanger, intended for pants, which is perfect.  I can display all my necklaces (except for pearls), I can access them easily, I can see them easily.  Next step is to arrange them by colour, of course.

Not pictured are the shelves to the left.  Jeans, shorts, and workout gear occupy the lower 2 shelves, earrings and more delicate necklaces on the top.  The ease of finding workout gear is an unexpected joy.  Instead of searching through a jumble of stuff to find everything required, now I only need to look there to see an item in each pile, and search the laundry for any missing items.  So much time saved!  I am slowly becoming a convert to organised space.  Which doesn't really gel with the OCD compulsion I have, but I just didn't have anything in place before.  Now, though...