My Military Look

black jacket by Calvin Klein, skirt from Anthropologie, heather olive turtleneck by Vince, riding boots by Circa Joan & David, OPI You Don't Know Jacques nail polish

Feeling militant this morning! Wearing my new skirt and turtleneck and excited about wearing boots!

Dressing to Match My Nail Polish

burgandy button-up shirt by Calvin Klein, tweed plaid skirt from LOFT, patent shoes by Circa Joan & David, Zoya Kalista nail polish

Since I had done my nails a brownish dark red, I wanted to match. Found this shirt in my closet, and though not an exact match, was in the same family. Nothing I'm wearing is new, it is all a few years old. The skirt is black with a camel plaid pattern to it. Click for larger photo.

High-Waisted

black shirt by Calvin Klein, high-waisted pants from Victoria's Secret, suede booties by Calvin Klein, heart onyx necklace by Tiffany & Co.

I didn't know if I could pull off the high-waisted trend, but I bought these purplish-grey cords from Victoria's Secret last fall and really like them. They are comfy. And here's a closeup of my new haircut and highlighting, putting the blonde back into Zealous Blonde.

Channeling Jessica Alba

purple cardi wrap by Splendid, scoopneck burnout t-shirt from J. Crew, Joe's Jeans in Cigarette cut, Botkier handbag, Loeffler Randall skull flats, Ray Ban aviators, necklace from Express

Have you ever seen a celebrity outfit and thought: I have something just like that? I am lacking the adorable child, and all my sandals are packed away, but this is my Jessica Alba outfit. Click for larger photo.

My Makeup Secret

Makeup is amazing. It can make you feel like a million. But there is a mind-blowing amount of it out there. Walking into a Sephora or approaching a department store makeup counter is overwhelming to me. How can I be sure I’m getting the good stuff? I used to spend a lot of money because I thought it ensured I was getting a good product.

Years ago, when I was unemployed in Chicago, I found a resource that helped me tremendously. I spent some time at the public library, and discovered a series of makeup books by author Paula Begoun, called The Cosmetics Cop. In these books, she and her team reviewed nearly every makeup and skin product on the U.S. market. They were reviewed for their ingredients, their advertising promises, their value, and how well the makeup worked. I was hooked, looking up everything in my makeup bag, and referring to the books when I needed to make a purchase.

I don’t know if the books are still in print today, but her enterprise has gone online. If you want some truth behind makeup purchases instead of looking to ads, magazine editorials (which are ads in disguise), and the subjective nature of sites like Makeup Alley, my friends, go to beautipedia.com.

The database of makeup and skin care reviews isn’t free - you need an annual subscription. And this is not a sponsored post, this is completely objective ME telling you a little makeup secret. I don’t currently have a subscription, but I did for the past two years. I’d check it out if you’re needing new blush/lipstick/foundation and want to see if there’s a less expensive, equally good drugstore brand out there. It’s kinda like Consumer Reports for beauty products.

Their reviewers will tell you which mascaras are the best value, which skin lotions are full of harsh or irritating ingredients, and which miracle potions really can’t deliver. It’s pretty cool. You can search by price range, brand, or category.

Let me know if this helps you, my friends. And if you have makeup secrets, please share them!

The Great Closet Switch

Autumn has arrived in the midwest.

High temps in the 60s + October = bring out the Fall clothes!

There are some girls who slowly Transition their clothing into fall, pairing summer prints, fabrics and cuts with longer warmer layers. Then there are some girls who just Switch. I am a Switcher. Everything summer and spring in my closet -- clothes, shoes, scarves -- is removed. The fall and winter clothing and shoes that has been in storage replaces it, in one fell swoop. I couldn't wear a pair of shorts now if I tried, because they're all in boxes in our storage closet.

So now I'm curling up in my browns, oranges, olives, tights, boots, corderoy, cashmere, and wool. Loving the closet change and planning my outfit posts for you, my friends, which I'll post as soon as we get a camera!

P.S. I played a part in the rescue of two friendly-but-skinny male cats in the past week! Why are people abandoning their pets?

Clothed with Christ

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:26-28

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. – Romans 13:13-14

What does “clothed with Christ” mean, and how can we practically apply it? We can learn some historical perspective of this term from Albert Barnes’ New Testament Commentary. “The phrase to put on a person, which seems a harsh expression in our language, was one not unfrequently used by Greek writers; and means, to imbibe his principles, to imitate his example, to copy his spirit, to become like him. Thus in Dionysius Halicarnassus the expression occurs, "having put on or clothed themselves with Tarquin;" i.e. they imitated the example and morals of Tarquin. So Lucian says, "having put on Pythagoras;" having received him as a teacher and guide. So the Greek writers speak of putting on Plato, Socrates, etc., meaning to take them as instructers, to follow them as disciples. (See Schleusner.) Thus, to put on the Lord Jesus means, to take him as a pattern and guide, to imitate his example, to obey his precepts, to become like him, etc.”

Paul used the term “clothed” a few times in his writings. He used it as a metaphor for immortality, and even for heaven, in 1 Corinthians 15 and II Corinthians 5. Being clothed is becoming something else. Just like we put on clothing, we put on eternity.

For me, there is no piece of clothing I’d rather put on. Designers and styles come and go. The flutter cardi wrap I got last year will look horribly dated in a couple of years. My beautiful sweaters will get holes in them, I could lose my nicest earrings, and my suede booties, despite my caution, will probably get destroyed in the snow. But Jesus will always cover my sin, and he is my righteousness, whom I put all my trust in, and will obey until the end!