Friday, July 9, 2010

Friday Mishmash - Fashion Friday Frump Edition

Why did I not know how good a bowl of cereal with fresh fruit is? Where have I been all my life?!? Recently, to branch out from my solitary dinners of turkey burgers and sweet potato fries (I know, where's the green veggies?), I sliced up some fresh strawberries, poured some Fiber One cereal and skim milk over them and wow - taste explosion in my mouth!

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Speaking of green veggies, it counts if you eat more than the daily recommended amount in one day since you don't have any on other days, right? Hypothetically speaking, of course.

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All right, I confess: Jeff has been traveling for months now and my zeal for cooking has died off when he's not home. At least I do make up for it when he is home...and I always eat a ton of fruit, so that's ok, right?

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This post is not all about food, I swear...but has anyone tried Oikos Chocolate Yogurt?
Yum, this is a nice treat! Tart Greek yogurt with chocolate on the bottom that you stir in and then spoon up...this one is finger-swiping good! I like that they come in little 4 oz. containers - makes portion control that much more, well, controlled. At 110 calories and 10 grams of protein, it's a nice after-dinner sweet. Reminds me of Red Mango's cocoa-flavored yogurt. And no, I am not getting anything from Oikos (nor Red Mango) to say this...it's just that good.

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OK, last item about food...remember the whole wheat orzo pasta that I recently bought? Well, I channeled my inner Biz, who comes up with the best recipes at the drop of a hat, and came up with this:
Orzo with Asparagus!

I saw a recipe in Cooking Light that had orzo, veggies and lemon juice, but when I went to go make this, I could not, for the life of me, find the magazine. Three trips around the house - there were not that many places that I could have left it, but that magazine was hidden. So I improvised - and it was good! I should do this more often. I cut up fresh asparagus, steamed it while cooking the orzo - drained everything, tossed with a little olive oil and the juice of a whole lemon, added some sea salt and cracked pepper, and then sprinkled a little parmesean on top. Nice way to combine veggies and carbs - Jeff and I both loved it. Quick and easy - my kind of meal! Oh, later on that evening, I found my Cooking Light - on the table next to my desk. Don't know how I missed it, but it was a happy accident. Here's their version, if you're interested.

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And now, it's time for Fashion Friday - Frump Edition. I had a hard time with my outfit this week...we had a reception on Thursday evening, so I needed to dress up a little more than my normal summertime uniform of Bermudas or Capris and a top. I wanted to wear my recently acquired funky top with my nice jeans, but when I put it on...
Frump happened.
Then I thought to add a sweater - turquoise? Nah.
Lime green? Meh.
I ended up going with no sweater. And felt pretty blah all day.

Driving home, I was thinking about what else was in my closet that would make this top work for me, and I glanced down and saw the off-white color on the sleeve. Eureka! I totally forgot I had this C-U-T-E canvas jacket from Talbots - in off-white! Came home, tried it on, and yes - that is what I should have worn to work! Then I made Jeff come outside and take pictures of me in all of the renditions I tried, for your viewing pleasure.
What I wish I had worn to work on Thursday!

Now, fashionistas, (and I'm talking to each and every one of you...even you, Miz!) - is it always this hard to wear a funky top? Am I too short? The green and blue sweaters are old and too big, but I love those colors and haven't replaced them in smaller sizes yet. Maybe that's why they didn't work? Is the top too big? I want this to work, and I like it with the canvas jacket, but geez, why is it so hard to get dressed?!?

28 comments:

  1. Hi Shelley, love the final look of the outfit. As for your questions re the shirt...without a jacket it actually looks too big for you. That could be good right? I'm tiny too and find that busy shirts make me look frumpy if they're not fitted. The colours are great on you though. Can it be worn solo with a belt? A few more kilos and I'll be out shopping for the next size down so I might have to motivate myself to be interested in fashion for myself. You've made it look fun at least.

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  2. YAY I GOT A SHOUTOUT.

    *calms down*

    well I am NOT the one to ask as I love my things comfy---but when you specifically said IS THIS TOO BIG? I went back and relooked and reexamined and thought IT IS!!!

    You need a fittedFUNKY with the dark subtle pants.

    or so Id say.

    but to know me IRL is to realize I have the gift of making the slutty (can I say that here? :)) look MATRONLY.

    It should be an SNL skit.

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  3. You did make the right choice. I think the canvas jacket looks the best with it - probably because it is too big. What a nice problem to have, right?

    Your orzo looks yummy and I hadn't seen the greek chocolate yogurt. Reminds me of a great skinny but glorious dessert. Take strawberries, dip them in chocolate yogurt and dip in granola, cereal or something like slivered almonds.

    Have a wonderful weekend.

    LOL @Miz' comment on the matronly. Holy cow, can I bring the matronly.

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  4. I like the top with the jacket too. And I also agree that the top looks a little big right now.

    The orzo and asparagus sounds great. I'll have to see if I can find any ww orzo in my area.

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  5. I think the frump and matronly are a danger of midlife. Not that you're there quite yet but I've found myself fighting it since around the age of 45. I find it very hard to be stylish without looking too young or too old and frumpy! When you're fighting your closest, think of me and smile because I'm probably doing the same thing.

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  6. I wonder how many of us scrolled back up to see if it was too big, like Carla did?
    I LOVE it with the white jacket. I also think with such a bright top, the bright sweaters were too much.
    Funny story about orzo. I was obsessed with it at one point. Then, I was pregnant with my second son (he is now 12 1/2) and I was making it, but really nauseas due to the pregnancy. I haven't eaten it since...go figure.

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  7. As has already been said, I think that the top is one size too big for you, so it's baggy in the middle. I find that bagginess in the middle when a shirt fits my hips, creats the illusion that I am a solid square block under the bagginess. A smaller size can help with that. And layering (like you did) can help with that. The sweaters could have worked if they had been smaller or retained a little more shape. That's why the jacket worked - it's structured more, so it's creating shape where you want it.

    Buttoning the cardis in the middle (one or two bottons) but leaving the rest open can help create an hourglass shape. And buttoning the cardi at the top few buttons can create more of a loose, swing shape. Hourglass works best for me, but you'd have to try things out in front of a mirror to see what works for you. Another suggestion would be to try to wear a cardi with a belt over it at your natural waist (like you did before to give you a smaller waist). I think you would look smoking like that!

    Anyway, I really like all the combos that you tried. It's a fun top and you obviously know what to pull out to try on with it. Plus, the colors look great with your skin and hair color! You are looking fabulous!

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  8. Ha - love that you found your inner Biz to make that recipe - thanks for the shout out!

    I love the white jacket! And I think the sweaters are definitely too big - but then again, I have no fashion sense whatsoever! :D

    Happy Friday!

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  9. I agree. The shirt is too big for you. Belt might help. And I actually would go for some brighter shoes? White funky somethings.

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  10. I totally agree with you. I do love the jacket over it, but I can't say I'm loving the top without anything. Your jeans looks really nice.

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  11. The shirt looks great with the jacket. I agree that it's a bit too big for you, a smaller size would have been better.

    Interesting idea about the veggies, there are days I don't eat the serves I should, but if I can make it up the next day there's no problem :)

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  12. Tighter fitting shirt! You've got the body to pull it off.

    You Americans have such selection..that yogurt may need a cross border shop!

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  13. Your fashion Fridays are such fun, and you are so cute and funny the way you present them!

    OK, don't be mad at me, but I'm not feeling that top, although it looks its best with the white jacket. It's not frumpy, but I don't like the big patches of brown, especially the one at the waist. I personally like prints a lot, but not when they are random and so busy. Forces my eyes to look at the confusing print, not at how pulled together the wearer is. Again, sorry about that; strictly my opinion, and not based on any scientific evidence. I just think that you can look great in many tops, but this one by-passes greatness.

    White jacket very cute! You can wear that with tons of stuff! Have a good weekend.

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  14. Mmmmm.... the yogurt looks divine! Just started eating greek yogurt recently (favoring Chobani), and really like its texture. Chocolate anything is good, so this one will be in my cart soon enough! Thanks, friend, for adding to my daily calorie count. LOL (not that i couldn't get there on my own!)

    Oh, and I was all set to send you a copy of the recipe from CL, when I got to the end of your post and read that you found it. We tried that one, too. Rick and I both loved it. Shocking.

    HUGS from Orlando!

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  15. I looove Greek yogurt but haven't tried the chocolate yet, thanks for the review! :)

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  16. I look forward to the Friday fashion shows. It is good to know I'm on the same page as someone else in regards to the frump feeling. The bedroom usually looks like a tornado of epic proportion has hit by the time I leave. It doesn't help that I am just starting on my weight loss journey so nothing looks right. I am encouraged by your posts and look forward to more.

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  17. Frump happens killed me!
    I like the colors of the shirt and think it would look good on someone else. I think the blotches of color are too big for your teeny body. And it might be that the shirt would look better with those legging jeans in some other color. or some leggings or whatever they're called now that you don't wear in TX in the summer. Like a Fall shirt with leggings. in chocolate brown.
    I give up.

    chocolate yogurt is good. How much sugar grams?

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  18. You nailed it with the canvas jacket, woman. Looks great, as does the rest of you!

    I love Oikos but have never seen chocolate!! Oh Lord, that will be the object of a stalking expedition tomorrow at the grocery store.

    BTW, I finally got around to looking at your fashion Friday with the purse last week...excellent! Thanks for the publicity!! You have a knack for pulling together some great looking outfits.

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  19. Oh it's my favorite shirt. I think it looks good on you. My favorite is with the canvas jacket.

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  20. Yes, the white jacket is the best. I thought the brown around your stomach hip area on just the shirt make you look bigger than you really are. I wouldn't say it's frump, just a bit too busy. With the jacket, it totally worked!!

    Love the orzo recipe! I would love to be able to channel my inner Biz more often!

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  21. I love the Oikos greek yogurt with chocolate, I recently tried the caramel too...yummy!
    I like the outfit when you have on the canvas jacket, very cute!

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  22. I love the jacket, but I would have worn it with the lime green too. I liked it, but that's just me. The jacket makes you look longer.

    I really struggle with what is age appropriate. Like one of your commenters. I don't want to look frumpy, but alas, I do alot of the time. Still time to get it right, right??

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  23. Hi Shelley! First time at your blog. Wow, I love your May 08 09 & 10 pics, the June ones with the bike too. Awesome transformation!

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  24. Try the top (which is too big as the others noted) with a white bottom or skinnies or leggings; the pants are dark and a little baggy so the volume of the top is increased.

    Love it with the jacket! The structure of the shape takes away the frump of the outfits. Works like a charm every time!

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  25. You are too cute and I love the last picture with the jacket. It's very slimming and draws your eyes down to your rockin' legs!! Gosh, you are my hero and you should be so proud of yourself for working so hard on eating right and mostly for GETTING OUT there and working your bod!!
    Have an awesome week!

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  26. I think going funky is just a thing that you hav to get used to. You are doing a great job!

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  27. OK, I know I am late to this party, but...the top is slightly too large, but the big negative is the large brown spotch across your hipline - that shirt would be much more workable without them. You are right. The cream jacket works best, but most prints that I buy are slightly more uniform - that top has a mix of medium prints and extremely large prints that I don't think work very well. But, since you've outshrunk it, toss it in the bag and try again!

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  28. Talk about being WAY late... but I was just thrilled to see Talbots solve your frump challenge! The most recent catalog is all about taking 1 item and wearing it 2 different ways. Take a look...

    http://www.talbots.com/online/ecatalog/catalog.jsp?sku=024AugBook&catheader=August+Book

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