Yay! I think I had a successful shopping spree. And spree is was. I probably spent more money on clothes in a single day than I did all last year (granted, I usually only by clothes from Fred Meyer or Costco, like a shirt at a time). But I had a plan, knew I wanted quality basic pieces and knew that this was a gift of a day. My two boys, husband and new puppy were all gone for the whole day and I had no other time obligations. So I basically shopped from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. I pre-shopped at Nordstroms for two hours then invited my daughter to join me to make final big decisions - thanks girl! - had lunch together, then went off on my own to shop for shoes and cheap tops at Value Village, JC Penny, and Target.

It would be funny to take outfit pictures like one of those fashion bloggers I know, or even pictures of what I got but I'm not that motivated. Here's the printed rundown: two pairs of nice fitting trousers from Gap in black and charcoal, a khaki military-style short jacket from Michael Kors, a cream color flouncy top from Michael Kors, a charcoal shirt dress, a purple long cardigan, a great new winter coat, four new tops, and a new pair of Dansko shoes. One change in my shopping pattern I noticed was just mentally admitting that I'm a bit bigger than I want to be and just pulling one size up in everything. It's just too depressing to have everything you try on too tight. Just practicing letting go!

OK, along the lines of simplification, I want to pair down my wardrobe. Very often when I'm looking at changing what I where it is "Gee, I wish I dressed more like a grown up - you know, pumps, dresses, tailored jackets." Ugh. Here I am at 52 and really all I like to wear is T-shirts and jeans, and flip flops. I'm just all about comfort. Don't put my in an uncomfortable shoe or anything that is close fitting or, for that matter, to bold in color or style- I'll be in a rotten mood all day. I am 52 after all, and I should have earned the right at this point in my life to know who I am and wear what I want. But what I DON'T want is to look dull, dumpy, old, washed out or boring. I'm not afraid of edgy and youthful. I just don't want to look like I'm trying too hard.

But the new school year starts next week and I do have to look what I would call semi-professional. But on the other hand, I'm in in middle school library for goodness sakes, which doesn't have a lot of expectations fashion-wise. So my goal is to find five looks that are simple, colorful, comfortable, interchangeable, and grown-up like (that sounds like it could be a "More" magazine fashion spread). I'm thinking a basic dark shirt dress that I could wear alone, with a top over, or wear as a "long jacket", another pair of black dress pants, a great cardigan or loose jacket, a plain well fitting skirt, a blouse in a great color and style. I'm really hoping my daughter will come with me a help me! I tend to always pick up white t-shirts and plain everything else.