Proportion

The fig-ettes are about the size of peas

I'm six feet tall
and wearing heels (boots) in this picture

J.Jill Organic Cotton Jeans for only $19.99!

Organic cotton-blend boyfriend jeans - a different take on denim and the now ubiquitous chinos out there. Here's a fun, comfy and stylish alternative. Originally $89, now marked down to only $19.99! And with the J.Jill card $18.99?! - I bought two! 99% organic cotton, 1% Lycra Spandex. The oatmeal-colored fabric sort of reminds me of the painter's pants of the late 70's. I thought they had a slightly narrower, yet still looser, fit through the hips and thighs compared to the traditional blue denim version. Perhaps because the fabric weight and stiffness was a little bit lighter and softer. At first I passed these over because I had tried the traditional jean version a few months ago and they really didn't fit me. But the "Boyfriend Jean" styling, sitting slightly below the waist and a little bit slouchy, was more flattering and forgiving in the fit department. Unrolled, the inseam is 31 1/2" Definitely ballet flats or flip-flops if I want to wear them that way. But they just look super cute with sandals, boat shoes and sneaks, and help contain the style when you do a 2x 1-1/4" roll.

If you are shopping in the Houston area, I found these at the Memorial City Mall J.Jill store - they are on a rack in the center towards the right side. I think they just marked these down, there were still lots of them. They are also available at the $19.99 price on their website and in Petite sizes, too.

Reebok rocks!

I want to get back into swimming again. Unfortunately, once you reach "a certain age," the Speedos of yesteryear's body and weight distribution aren't the most flattering anymore. I mean, you want to look good while you are doing good. These two Reebok suits have better support and a silver lining -- which is antimicrobial, no more swimsuit stink! Who knew Reebok made suits cut long enough for us tallies, right off the rack? (Here's fair warning if you're petite - sorry, you'll 'swim' in these styles) And at Macy's?! And on sale?! These retail for $88 and $86. Combined with a sale and even good timing with a Macy's discount coupon thrown in for good measure, you should be able to swim away for less than $50. Actually I was able to get these for $39!

The black and white suit is Style #51706 ($86) and the blue is #51741 ($88)

Bitten

L and I went to Steve & Barry's to check out Project Runway's winning design for Sarah Jessica Parker's Bitten line. As mentioned on other blogs, the burgundy color was selling more than the black. But you would think they would pair the vests with the tops--they were in a display in another section, not even on a rack near them. For grins I tried them on, and actually liked the top! The vest wasn't cut right to fit me - too big in the underarms and too tight when buttoned. Definitely a younger look. But I did find another vest - navy pinstripe which fit perfectly and looked nice with it. The top by itself looked a little too Lucy Ricardo is pregnant with Little Ricky smock top, but with the vest it actually looked pretty good - enough for me to buy. Along with a pair of Bitten purple cords -- for $9.98! And with a 34" inseam! (narrow enough leg to work with flats or boots) Note the flap pockets, suspender buttons and belt loop details in a 98% cotton/2% spandex blend. Not bad. I mean, really, corduroy jeans, long enough and less than $10?! You had me the minute I stuck my foot in the leg. They also came in two shades of gray and black. The vest is dry clean only, lined, with real welted pockets - 60% wool/36% polyester/4% spandex. (There was also a matching pencil skirt in the same fabric). The PR top is 69% cotton/28% polyester/3% spandex. I saw all ages perusing the SJP racks, though L wasn't that interested. I was surprised to see the 30-40 somethings in the dressing room...And they all liked the PR top!

Senior-itis 1977

How skinny was I?! Those arms are concave! Six feet tall and 115 pounds. Not even the in-style "muscle" sleeve t-shirt could help.

Happiest days of senior year? Winning a scholarship, the R.T. French Award (yes, the mustard people) and the day I beat the crap out of "J" two months before high school graduation.

No surprise - this height and this weight resulted in teasing, unmercifully. The old advice "don't let them know it bothers you" or "just ignore them" hadn't worked for years of being called "Big Bird" whenever this one group of boys walked by. The ringleader was short (no surprise) and evidently had a Napoleon complex.

One day I walked past them and heard the "caw, caw, Big Bird" for the last time. I turned, raised my books over my head and SLAMMED them down on "J's" head, knocking him to the ground! Height-Momentum-Physics advantage: Me. The other guys took off, leaving their leader in a heap on the floor. I never got into trouble (only his pride was hurt) and they never made a peep to me again.

Anorexia Sleepover

L went to a sleepover the other night and came home hungry the next day. Whatever happened to FOOD?! And EATING?! When you are a teenager and have that 100 mph metabolism, you should be enjoying all kinds of junk food. Cheetos, Fritos, Blue Bell ice cream, Pillsbury Chocolate Cookie Dough, M&M's, Betty Crocker frosting, etc. Not with this crowd! Four girls - 1 pizza, 1 small pan of brownies, 1 bag of microwave popcorn. No caffeine soda pop. Breakfast next day - 1 waffle, 2 strawberries. WTH? And these are all skinny girls, who are (except for L) "watching their weight" and trash-talking the ones who had two pieces. Props to L, while some of the girls were discussing how the story of Robin Hood has the devil in it (??!!), she took advantage of the diversion and went back for another piece of pizza! At her last checkup, with her almost 6' height, she's still 25 pounds underweight. Plenty of wiggle room to enjoy those teenage years. Because we all know later on, you just can't eat that way anymore. . .not without medical intervention!

Banana Republic - Grow some ------!

Banana Republic, what has happened to you? Previous years, no problem finding clothes long enough to fit and flatter. Lots of us tallies were happily shopping your racks. This year, zip.

Those extra inches you are lopping off to save some money and your bottom line are cutting off your customers of length. . .

Macy's Shoe Department - Thumb's Up!

When you have Size 10 feet, it is frustrating to shop for shoes. Usually shoe departments only get one Size 10 in each style, and maybe only in certain colors. Puce, anyone? And if my evil twin shoe size sister gets there first, I'm outta luck!

As it was the other day, following in her or someone else's Size 10 footsteps...Nordstrom, Dillard's, etc. Handing over armfuls of shoes (the cute and tiny Size 6 displays), only after an interminable wait to finally see the salesperson return with 1, 2 -- or no boxes.

Well, surprise! Enter Macy's into the new millenium of shoe shopping with a "Duh! Why haven't they done this before?!" The salesperson is equipped with a PDA/scanner type gizmo that scans the barcoded label on the underside of the shoe and it immediately reads out the sizes available in the back room. And then someone in the back pulls the shoes (so the salesperson is still available as you skip around the department and getting giddy with finding even more shoes in your size, in stock!). Suddenly you are no longer waiting and wondering and hoping!

And suddenly Macy's has redeemed itself in my eyes after taking over my regional department store. Upgrade!