Lady who lunches outfit

Today my sweetie took me out for lunch giving me an excuse to play dress-up! I've been struggling with a cold that's been going around our house, and going out was just the ticket to help me feel better. My mom always says that if you don't feel good, you should try to look better. Then, before you know it, you'll feel better, too.

This black pencil skirt is from the Banana Republic outlet, the sweater is from a local thrift store, bracelets are Silpada, necklace from Heart and Soul in Cameron Park, and the boots are DSW. 

Staying open minded as to where you'll find treasure, like thrift and consignment stores, enables me to enjoy clothes that I probably would not have found otherwise.

Hello!

When I wrote my book, "Walk in Your Own Footsteps," I dedicated a chapter to the importance of how we present ourselves to the world. What we choose to wear one way we communicate to the world about ourselves. I have recently been focusing on my own "style." I had a hard time for a while because I was trying to find a "style" that would work for me. At 46 years old, I found it difficult to navigate the seas between "young" styles and what I'll call "old" styles.

At first I really struggled because there aren't stores that I felt addressed me specifically. My daughter (21) can go into "Forever 21" and know that she's age appropriate for anything she likes. Me? Not so much. I tried some stores that cater to the more mature gals only to feel that I wasn't quite ready for that end of the spectrum, either.

What I've decided from my research is that everyone has to search for their own style. Very few people will find everything they like in one place. 

Identifying my own style requires me to search through many stylish offerings and choose what works for my body, lifestyle, and age as well as my personal aesthetic. Once I realized that I would not be finding an external source for my style, I started looking inward and have been having fun every since!

So, where to start? I love looking at Pinterest and "What Not to Wear" offers many solutions to common body-issues and also helps people develop an individual style. While I love fashion shows and high-end magazines, I really can see myself wearing the extreme styles that the skinny girls wear in these venues.

For me, finding a couple of pieces that I love, and building an outfit around them, is just super fun!!

I'm going to challenge myself to post a new outfit more days than I don't I hope you enjoy seeing how things go together and start enjoying playing with outfits as much as I do! I'll be sharing my outfits on Pinterest, too, and hope that other gals are interested in sharing their fun outfits here, too.

As I said, I'm a 46 year old lady. I live in Northern California with my sweetie, my three kids, and our assortment of miss-fit doggies. For work, I create art and write. For fun, I play with my kids, garden, golf, travel, decorate, sew, quilt, enjoy photography and travel.

I will be posting pictures of my actual self! I buy clothes when I like the fit and style. For me that means sizes that range from 10 to 14 in skirts/pants and med to large in tops. I wear a size 8 or 81/2 shoe. I was trying to figure out if I am "plus sized" and decided that I don't care anymore. That label just doesn't matter to me. I'm enjoying clothes as never before and that is what I want to share with you. The fun of a cute outfit!

Here's my first outfit. Red skinny jeans from JCPenney, black sweater from Eddie Bauer, brown boots from DSW, and animal print scarf from Steinmart.