Celebrate December! The month of unexpected gifts!

[vanillafluffy]

When I dressed for church this morning, I was feeling festive. I wore a red sweater over my grey boucle skirt...the sweater is a bit less form-fitting than I like, so I belted in the waistline with the Other Black Belt. It was accessorized with a necklace of dyed red coral and black and grey Dalmatian jasper, and...I've had these shoes for a couple of years, at least. They seemed to fit in the store, I got them home, wore them once, was miserable, and they've been drifting around ever since. Today I gave them another chance, because they're red and black tartan and too freakin' cute---and I wore them and didn't even think about them once I got going. It may be that my feet/ankles were swollen the last time I tried them, but hey, it's like getting free cute shoes! The grey skirt definitely didn't fit a year ago, and the belt is wide and black with a big buckle, so it added a Santa-esque note to the ensemble.

Being able to wear things I'd more or less given up on---that's a gift. Feeling comfortable enough to wear a knee-length skirt and a belt at my waist, that's a gift. Having a day of sunshine and friendship and creativity, that's a gift. Woohoo, I'm gifted!

Comments

[pwcorgigirl.livejournal.com]

That sounds like such a cute and festive outfit. It's always wonderful to go closet shopping and find stuff that used to not fit.

I've spent this rather cold and gray day at home puttering around and helping Corgiguy wrap and pack some stuff he sold on eBay.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

To add to the new-old clothes intrigue, we're going to have another closet swap at the church in two weeks. That should be fun!

Yay for eBay sales! Especially since that's contributing to the renovations.

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

I like the idea that all this is a gift! Well done and I'm so pleased for you...

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I've had a mental block of sorts; I never thought that losing 20 pounds would be enough to make a difference (since from a health standpoint, I should be trying to lose about 120)---but fitting into clothes I've been waiting to wear is very encouraging.

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

10% of ones body weight is enough to make a difference, and if 120lbs is what you need to shift, you're well past 1/6th of the way there.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

I should've said, trying to lose another 120 pounds, but that's probably not realistic without some kind of surgery. That would put me at 190, and the last time I was under 200 was 1973. But I'm currently about 80 pounds down from my all-time highest weight (6 years ago), so that's pretty signiificant!

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

If you've shifted 80lbs you're almost halfway there! 120 should be doable so long as you take your time and continue to be sensible. Either way it's damn good going!

[rivers-bend.livejournal.com]

Yay for gifts and being gifted! ♥

I've been having the opposite situation with my shoes, last time i wore them they were fine, now I put them on and they insist on ripping all the skin off of my heels.

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

Did they get wet? I've had that happen to shoes when I stepped in a puddle. Sometimes a quick buffing with a fine emery board helps.

[rivers-bend.livejournal.com]

it's three of the four pairs of shoes I have tried lately. I am HOPING that it is just that I have worn nothing but flip-flops for six months or so and my feet are just remarkably indignant about being forced into shoes again. One pair is tennis shoes, so I don't think they'd take well to emery boarding, but I'll definitely have a look at my other non-boot pair. Thanks!

[socialhermit.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you ROCKED that outfit!

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

I like to think so. What makes me happiest is the fact that NONE of it is new*. Someone gave me the sweater a couple years ago, I've had the skirt since 2003 at least, the shoes have been kicking around unworn for a couple years in their own right, and the belt---I remember exactly when and where I got that---it'll be 3 years next February---and I paired it with my raincoat and never wore it. (Now that I've got the right belt, I've worn it and the coat several times this month!)
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* Except for the necklace. I strung that yesterday.