Who is that?

Can you guess who this is?

The other day I wondered whether we would still recognize celebs if we removed their most striking features. Because I am who I am, I had to try it out, using Photoshop to combine two famous faces.

Oh, Interwebs!

See more artistic log-piles at Pleated-Jeans.com

I'm going to try a new thing: a weekly round-up of things I've found online that make me smile, cry, laugh, think, shout, or drop my jaw. 

Suitcase OCD

I'm going to share with you something that I have never done before: obsessively plan a wardrobe for a trip. In an effort to pack more efficiently, I've actually planned out twelve outfits using a fixed number of interchangeable pieces. And, because I love seeing those "Twelve pieces for a month of fashion" pictures on Pinterest, I decided to make my own!

CRITERIA

Before I started I decided that comfort was the main priority, which means loose-fitting.

Since I still break a sweat at the drop of the hat, they needed to lightweight and layer-able.

Shape-wise, I needed tops that would cover my tummy. :-(

I had the luxury of not having to plan for any fancy occasions or business engagements, so I could stick with casual. However, I did want to have a little flair, and I wanted an option or two that would be suitable for an evening dinner out.

I also checked the weather forecast for the Netherlands. (It's too far out for any degree of reliability for Switzerland, I think.)

We arrive on the 19th and depart on the 24th for Switzerland.

Not surprisingly, there's a good bit of rain in the forecast, so I'll be bringing an umbrella, but it looks like I won't need heavier clothes.

Here's what I have decided on.

START AT THE TOP

From top to bottom, left to right:

• A loose-fitting, very lightweight printed, long-sleeve shirt
• A faux-wrap, sleeveless T-shirt
• A moss green tunic
• [A long-sleeved faux-wrap blouse] After reviewing my outfit options, I decided that this element was redundant, so I won't be bringing it. 
• A black camisole or tank top (not shown)
• A silk tunic in a dramatic print
• A grey cotton shawl-collar sweater (I used to have the same sweater in black. I wish I still did.)
• A brown leather biker jacket

In truth, a tidier person could get by with only the one white top, but I am planning for calamity.

BOTTOMS

The black square in the middle represents black leggings.

Left to right:

• Grey "jeggings" (I know, I know; but they look really cute!)
• Black leggings (no picture)
• Boot-cut jeans

SCARVES

Scarves can be a god-send if you, like me, have a knack for spilling coffee (or toothpaste, or chocolate, or, well, ANYTHING) on your chest. They also work really well to tie an outfit together. (When they aren't around my neck, they can be tied to my purse strap.

Left to right:

• Loose, very light cotton scarf
• Large, square silk scarf
• Large, burn-out velvet lined shawl (too big to wear as a scarf)

SHOES

Unfortunately, the shoes I had bought specifically for the this trip have caused blisters, so they will be staying home. Instead I'm bringing my tried-and-true running shoes and a pair of black leather flats for slightly dressier occasions. (I also like slip-ons at airports in order to move through the security line quickly.)

AND NOW . . . THE OUTFITS! 

1. Grey ties this outfit together, but the splash of lavender keeps it from being boring. Lots of layers to add or remove as temperature requires.

2. A flattering, loose-fitting top with an optional sweater.

3. The tunic top is actually longer than it appears, and makes a cute slightly dressy option.

4. Another dressy option. 

5. Back to casual, with lots of layers (sometimes even the scarf is too hot). Can wear this on days when rain is not expected.

6. Relaxed, slightly rocker chick. (As "rocker" as you'll ever see me, unless you're talking about a rocking chair.)

7. Almost the same as option 1, but with the blue jeans and the scarf with the blue tones in it.

8. This option uses the silk tunic as a jacket, unbuttoned to show the tank top underneath.

9. Layering the two tunics (silk one unbuttoned) with the black leggings spells dressed-up comfort.

The interesting thing is that by doing this, I actually eliminated three tops that I had planned to bring. I'll be gone for two weeks; I think this packing list gives me plenty of options.

Before and After

Our newly-painted front door. The yellow and blue flowers are actually hair clips.

The kids in our house are starting to worry that if they stay in one place too long, they are liable to be painted. They may have a point.

Ever since tackling the ghastly-green living room, I've been pumped to splash some colour around.

Oh, Interwebs!

I think Salvador Dali would actually appreciate this.
Via Pleated-jeans.com 

I'm going to try a new thing: a weekly round-up of things I've found online that make me smile, cry, laugh, think, shout, or drop my jaw. 

Stormy Weather

Friday, September 5, 2014  

We got walloped with a humdinger of a storm on Friday evening. Banks of clouds rolled in quickly in the early afternoon, bringing gusts of winds, thunder and lightning. I listened to the thunder and the driving rain and thought about my friend, K.B., who absolutely loved a good thunderstorm. Seriously, she would act like a child at Christmas.

It seemed to clear out as quickly as it came, and we were getting ready to eat dinner when our younger son came in and told us he was going to get the hacksaw so he could help clear the many trees that had fallen on our street.

That's when I grabbed my camera.

Seen in Passing

Mysterious triangles

Everywhere I go, lately, I seem to find messages left by people who trod the path before me. For example, I showed you the street art that adorns the vacant school down the street from us. Right now I'm kind of fascinated by the triangle in the picture above.

Foodie Friday: Golden-Glazed Chicken

This was after it had baked for 45 minutes.

Mmmm, chicken! This is an easy, delicious, savory-sweet recipe that was given to me by my sister-in-law Mary Ann when I babysat my nieces one weekend. She made sure to leave a recipe that a newlywed with no parenting experience could pull together with minimal effort.

It was a winner and has become a family favourite, though it goes by a couple of different names, including Honey-Mustard Chicken and Curried Chicken. Here's the recipe.

If the shoe fits . . .

The funny thing about planning a big trip is that it seems to take so long to work out the details and then, all of a sudden, it's time to pack your bags! Or at least plan your packing list.

Sinuses from Hell, Part 3

He's drowning in there! 

I wonder if I should make "sinuses" a label for this blog? It would be sad, wouldn't it? But, despite daily cortisone sprays and twice (or more) daily sinus rinses, and an almost complete series of allergy shots, I'm currently in the grips of another sinus infection.

Sinus infections are just part of my reality, it seems.

Ordinary Surprises

A while ago, I realized that if I never left home, I would never take any of the pictures that I so admired, taken by people who ventured far and wide. Who trekked the high north, the far east. Who meandered on untrodden paths.

Over the course of this past six months, however (as I've been out and about with Kane), I've come to realize that there are many exceptionally beautiful sights not so very far from home.