blues...again




Underwhelming you one outfit at a time.


Chambray shirt on sale here
Boots on sale here


51 comments

  1. Too funny - I have the same shirt and boots! looks good on you!

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  2. Great Classic outfit. Thanks for posting!

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  3. You wear blue very well....like those cute booties too.
    It is freezing here so we are all bundled in wool and down coats. It looks warmer in your neck of the woods.

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  4. I think you're lying about your age....;)

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    1. Do you get carded when you go out once a week with the girls for Happy Hour?

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  5. Hi Janet - This is totally off topic - You look fabulous by the way!! - But I was thinking during the night - When you use a product consistently -

    lets say for my example Q-Tips...

    do you personally have the one box of Q-Tips in your possession and then when you get low buy more? Or do you have back up box or two? Do you really try to adhere to no "Extras" in your house? and not just because it is small?

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    1. Again I'm using Q-Tips just as my example... it could be anything you use consistently....

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    2. jennifer i can't think of any instance that i keep back ups of. is this crazy? i don't know, it's just how i live. the closest store is less than a mile away so i guess they keep my back ups. :)

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    3. NOT crazy. Love it. Its totally a different mindset for me. I don't know where I got the notion that I had to have a ton of extras. What is really sad to me is that I forget I have the extras and then go out and buy MORE and then I have way too much. I'm changing my way girl. I'm doing it the "Janet" way. See it that helps my feeling of "out of control" in my cupboards/drawers/pantry.
      Thanks for your reply!

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    4. Jennifer, I wish I was like Janet. I've always kept backups of everything which is probably part of why I get cluttered. I formerly had really hard jobs with long hours and found it frustrating when I'd go to reach for something and find an empty container. It was sometimes hard to keep track of supplies at home because my life was insane and there was barely enough time in the evenings to throw in a load of laundry, get the dogs fed, myself fed and try to salvage any iota of personal space in the day; i.e., stuff fell thru the cracks and homekeeping suffered. I simply didn't have the time to be running to the store every day or two. It became less stressful in those days to have a backup supply. I'd actually read that to reduce stress, that's a stress-reliever. But I think when my lifestyle changed and I wasn't spending my entire life at my job, I could have relaxed on the stocking-up thing a little; It's just that habits are hard to break. I heretofore also had other health problems and couldn't go to the stores myself, so the task was relegated to hubby. He absolutely hates to shop, so would buy large quantities/multiples to reduce the shopping trips. Just a self-observation here, of why some of us may do some of the things we do...

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    5. Oh I hate keeping backups and I do often run out of things like paper towels, diapers, and hand soaps. I still like it this way because I don't like anything cluttering in my closets :)

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    6. Hi everyone - Such a different way to do things. I would love to open up my closets/pantry/drawers and not see clutter. I'm so motivated to do this NOW but it will take time because I don't want to get rid of current duplicates because that would waste money. Drats!

      Vickie - yes I probably do it because A.. I grew up with many extras - my mom loves to have extra so I've learned from her - B. I've also run out of something in the past and didn't have energy to go to store so I say to myself I'm going to get 10 tubes of toothpaste so this doesn't happen again. or my husband says I'm out of shaving cream and there is no back up. But I do drown in clutter it seems. Even though I am very good at decluttering all the time I feel like I'm always shuffling/cleaning/sorting my stuff. It multiplies and I'm tired of dealing with excess. This is one way I can! (Even though there might be a late night run to get shaving cream or toothpaste etc. LOL)

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    7. For me - I keep backups as I'm an "on sale" shopper. If something is on sale, I get extras so I don't have to buy at full price when I actually run out. I figure if I have a place where I can store it, I'm saving money. I'm not saying that I have so many extras that I have a garage full or anything - I do try to get everything or as much as possible on sale, though. When my boys were young they used to get irritated with me as I often wouldn't buy some special treat unless it was on sale. Now they've grown up and see the value of "on sale"!

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    8. Jeannine,
      I do what you do: I stock up on sale items when I know it's a good sale but I do not keep so much that I would be even remotely considered a hoarder. I am a die-hard declutterer and keep the house as free of "stuff" as much as possible. But I ALWAYS have a good stock of toilet paper, clothes detergent, and other items we constantly use. I would hate to have to go out and buy something because I ran out of it at home (especially medicine) and then end up paying full price for it - aagh!

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    9. Interesting, alternate, SENSIBLE views here! In my worst-of-stockup days, I also never used a coupon or bought anything on sale; that was the stupid little me. Times, they are a'changing...

      I know of someone who stocks up on photocopy/printer paper each year at school-time, Aug-Sept; she says it's the cheapest you'll ever find the paper. I don't know where she puts it all, maybe under the bed but I actually DID check that out this year, and she was right! If you do a lot of printing from the computer, it's the way to go; I've checked all the box stores, Staples, Office Mart, etc. but I got the best deal on that at Kmart here in SoCal.

      I do have a friend who shops only the ads/sales and she actually tore out a whole floor-to-ceiling kitchen cabinet/cupboard to be used solely for rotating storage/stock. It's a family of five, so they do go thru the stuff fairly quickly and she's extremely organized about it. I do think organization is the key, if you're going to 'prep' or simply take advantage of good sales; otherwise, it's a disaster and, as usual, I speak from sad experience.

      I will say that we had a thankfully-brief time in our married life when we really were, as Janet expressed "flat broke," with my husband being out of work for four months, and I learned the value of well-stocked shelves at home...food, as well as the household/bathroom essentials. I don't really know what we would have done otherwise; there were no dollar stores in those days and he was really resistant to taking unemployment benefits (so didn't...I to this day don't understand that, but whatever...). We were trying to hang on to our house (we were successful in the end), so my paycheck got gobbled by the mortgage payment; wasn't much left each pay period on the one lesser-income. We lived out of that pantry til the cupboards were bare, really glad when he finally got work again.

      The word 'balance' pops up its head again. Balance in all things. It's the secret code. Just be smart and don't go overboard.

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    10. I have a "stash" of extra groceries/house hold supplies in the garage, mostly items that were on sale that I use a lot of or that I don't want to run out of. I call it "my store". (I don't go crazy, it's only one small section of my garage) I am getting better though...now if I see something on sale that I already have a surplus of, I tell myself it will be on sale again soon enough.

      I was laughing at Jennifer's comment...it's like that at my in-laws house. They used to ask us to buy something and then you would bring to the house only to find they had a lot of that item already! Now we know to take a look around beforehand.

      Linda

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    11. I have backup backups for my backups. Lol I believe a house (even a landlocked one in Ohio) should be ready for a few months at sea regardless. Sometimes all you minimalists make me feel like I'm insane! I guess if the (backup) shoe fits...

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    12. Hmmmm Stephen Andrew - I think I might have a few backups for my backups, too! Another good idea for stocking up - Vicki mentioned the printer paper sales at school supply sale time - is buying pens, notepaper, etc. during school supply sales. Even though my boys are long grown I still shop the school supply sales and stock up on anything I may need. The savings are amazing!

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    13. I'm with Stephen Andrew on this one, you never know when you might become housebound. Even though I'm a minimalist I don't count backups as clutter. I do what Jeannine does and stock up when things are on sale, but I do manage to keep everything organised so I know what I have in the house.

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  6. Not underwhelming; you look cute!

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  7. I think my comment is floating around in cyberspace again.

    I'll try again.

    I am not underwhelmed, you look gorgeous again like usual! In my previous comment (that got eaten up) I was saying that I like the length of your hair now and that I am thinking about letting my grays come in. I am tired of having to try to keep up with the regrowth by coloring it every 2 wks. I asked my husband what he thinks about it and he said, "do it." I am worried about it making me look older though, unlike you who just looks even more stylish with the salt and pepper.

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  8. you look so cute. Lovely chatting to you via email yesterday, I wish you lived closer! Take care and have a great day x

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  9. You look fantastic as always Janet! How can you wear something so simple and make it look so stylish?

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  10. My favorite color . . . you look marvelous . . . short and sweet post is always good, too!

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  11. Looking good! We like these blues. :)

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  12. You make a simple jeans and chambray look so good. If those are the Levis Midrise Skinny, I got a pair right after you posted them way back and mentioned what style they were. They are my favorite jeans amongst a small collection that I've gathered and reduced now. And I can't tell you how many compliments I've had on them, more than any of my others. Thank you for your visuals and classy taste!

    Shelley

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  13. I am somewhat envious of the fact that there is no snow on the ground in your pic.
    You look wonderful as usual :)

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  14. Youthful and fresh! And the sunshine melts my heart!

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    1. But we finally got some rain today in parts of So. Calif.! I do love these photos Janet posts when she models the clothes. The gardener's cottage looks like it is set in a private, quiet, tucked-away place; beautiful and serene; it must be lovely to come home to, work from and live in. What a find!

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    2. A tiny aside to Donna (thanks, Janet): I never knew anything about a Sears Charm School when I was growing up in the 1960s; you had me sleuthing all over the web about it after your wonderful post on your blog. Good grief, they started in my neck 'o the woods in El Cajon (CA); 1963. My parents were more JC Penney and never Sears plus our town only had a Sears mail order outlet. (But, gee, how did I miss out on this...not to mention My Book House and all the Dick and Jane books? Gaps in my childhood, for sure.) A lot of testimonials from grads of the 'school;' seems everybody loved it and it had a big impact long into adulthood. Big laments for the loss of the charm school training books over time...kinda like what happened to a lot of our Barbies; OMG, wish I had them now; so nostalgic and worth some bucks. We had something here called Cotillion (spelling?) but only the rich kids were 'invited' to enroll, to my sketchy understanding of it. We could use these charm schools today for young people! I have a bum knee at the moment and was hobbling in the rain into a store this afternoon and the nicest young man held a door open for me long after he needed to, let me go ahead of him in line and then offered to hold an umbrella over me til I got to my car. I couldn't believe it; such a rare thing; a true gentleman. I told him he was obviously raised 'right.'.

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    3. Oh my goodnessVicki, I had to chuckle at this. I went to the "Wendy Ward" charm school at Montgomery Wards department store in the 1970's. Ha! We had to do a bit of modeling at the store as.… wait for it….. as mannequins. It was mortifying. Overall it was a good experience though, I did learn some etiquette - the "charm" part is questionable :)

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    4. Oh, you probably absorbed more charm than you think!

      I feel so left out!!! When I was reading about this Sears thing...my goodness, they had something like 100,000 graduates of the 'school' already by the mid-60s...I did read that Montgomery Ward had something similar (perhaps in competition?). My cousins went to Cotillion...grew up 'comfortably' and parents were country-clubbers...and the one good thing for me was that I got all their castoff party dresses. Their mom didn't have to sew, but did it because she loved it and her sewing was flawless and intricate...I do remember her coming up with outfit after outfit for both girls for the various Cotillion events. I will say that the one girl carried the social skills learned, well into and throughout her adulthood; the other girl, forget it. Don't mean to be too disparaging, but she was left standing behind the door when they instructed on etiquette and manners. (Ouch; I know. But truth.) I would have so 'dug' these charm schools; right up my alley. Darn! Instead, I learned how to properly set a table from my little Betty Crocker cookbook for kids and, fortunately, my mother, although not a college grad like my dad, was a lifelong learner who had excellent grammar/speech (so demanded it at home; no cuss words EVER and she was not a fan of slang); she was also big on the writing of thank-you notes. My brother and I, early-on, knew how to politely speak to people because my parents had a home-based business and clients were always calling on the home phone. So, I guess I did pick up some things along the way, despite my lack of introduction to Charm School.

      (In 7th grade science class when we were dissecting frogs...so gross, why?...I fell off my high stool at the counters where we were sitting and looking thru the microscopes. As I lay there, sprawled on the hard floor in complete humiliation, the teacher embarrassed me in front of the entire class...although we loved the guy...by saying, "I think we need to send Vicki to CHARM SCHOOL." If only!!)

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    5. And the cost for my eight week Sears Charm School in 1965 was $15.00. Sears provided everything. People get a kick when I tell them that yes, I really went to charm school.

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  15. you are hilarious Janet! You look amazing!

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  16. Love the outfit! You wear it well! :)

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  17. Hello Janet, I just thought that you and some of your readers might be interested in a blog called "French Heart". The current post includes links and topics regarding Vegan , raw foods and vegetarian eating. Your US readers should also look at the link which shows what Monsanto is doing to the food industry over there...frightening.
    You and your garden look lovely.
    Linda C. from Australia.
    .

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  18. Love this top. STOP linking me up! YOU are blowing MY budget! LOL J/K Its very cute and I might have to....just this once.... ;)

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  19. Janet, aren't blue chambray shirts great? I bought one from Banana Republic a couple years ago and love it.

    Your denim outfit is spot on! (mixing light with the dark)

    Have a good weekend!

    Linda

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  20. So, tonight my husband and I were on our respective computers and I said, "Look over here; this is the blog I spend too much time on and comment too much on to where they're going to boot me off; this is the famous Janet." He said, "Yowie (or similar); is she married?" (He got a mini elbow-poke for that.) I said, "Seriously, how old do you think she is?" He said, "She's got a really great figure." (Second but bigger elbow-poke.) I said, "I'll give you a clue; she's got grown kids." He said, "Really? I was going to say mid-to-late 30s. If you're gonna tell me 40 or over, she's a young 40."

    Just thought you'd like to know, Janet...

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    1. thank you vicki for sharing that. you may want to get his eyes checked. jk.
      in all honesty you notice i don't do many closeups though. :)

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    2. Yeah, but I remember that one photo where you were showing your roots or your skin, I think without makeup, and that was a close-up and your skin looked really nice. My facial skin is so sun-damaged, lots of broken capillaries. And, weirdly, Mom got heat stroke in the Arizona desert in the 1940s, then I got a heat stroke on the Gulf Coast in the 1990s; these episodes left us BOTH with the redness when we get the least overheated, which I think is so strange. She'd actually faint, but I never did.

      I'm going to a new dermatologist next month; verdict is still out if I really do have rosacea or not; it hasn't bothered me for a long time, but one of the worst offenders is that blowing furnace heat in the house which is so drying as well. I try NOT to run the furnace but,oooh, a little chllly since that wee rain yesterday.

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  21. Janet always love your style! All well here. Surely, you did not watch football exclusively, not even a small peek a the Australian Open?
    Paula x

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  22. Nothing you wear could ever be underwhelming, you daft bat! xxx

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  23. I think you look wonderful and would love to be able to pull off an outfit like that. :)

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  24. you look fab - I have the same shirt... I love it.... do you actually iron it? I was going to ask how your booties were holding up as I noticed they were on sale now but looks they hold up just fine

    xo
    Mireille

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kindness is never out of style.

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