A Night Out

The Marine is home. Last night we thought we'd grab some dinner and go to a movie. Instead, because we were running late, we decided on just dinner. Except we happened on to a restaurant with a show and decided to stay for it. Lots of fun! And two dinners out in Ybor City in one week — wow!

Today we're off to the mall. I have some foundation torture devices to return and some sparkly jewelry to buy. Next it will be lunch, and then a matinee of a performing arts school's production of Rent.

Busy, busy, busy! :-)

Half a Century

The number I am today ain't thrillin' me, but, really, a lot of good things have happened in the last year and I'm happier through and through than I've been in a long time, so it could be worse. And, I had a great day. It's just a number, right? But damn, it's a BIG number. lol

My mom called me, Tyler called me, Alex texted me (lazy slug), the big boss sent me a gorgeous birthday card via interoffice mail from the office where she was today and also profusely showered praise via email about the projects I'm working on and thanked me again for being part of our team, my Marketing coworkers gave me a card with funny little things written on it (one of which was a drawing of a "carb-free" birthday cake, lol) and they all gathered around my desk and sang Happy Birhday, and I got another card from the firm (HR, I'm guessing).

We're in the middle of another big project and I did go in early and stay late, but at 6:00 we threw in the towel and went out for dinner at a great restaurant in Ybor City. I had Chicken Marsala and it was DEE-lish. I just got home, remembered to snap a couple of pics for YOU, and now I'm sitting here in my jammies typing away. All in all, one of the best birthdays I've had a while. Even if I can't freakin' believe I'm this old already.

Then, when I got home, there were more cards in the mailbox, including one from Tyler and one from my sister, and they both compete for funniest card ever.

Alex gave me these earrings, which are Marine Corps Eagle, Globe and Anchors. LOVE them!

And, finally, this is the outfit:

The top is kind of a fail because the bow weighs it down so it still wanted to show more than I wanted which meant I had to adjust all day. The skirt is on the big side around my waist, but wearable for now. That's what I get for cutting tissue and sewing without fitting. Still, the outfit looks pretty good and at some point I'll probably re-make this top so it fits better and retire this one. I do like the style.

And that was my day. The end. ;-)

Oh, the Irony KILLS Me

Yes, that's a neckband and tie on the top. Yes, I said I wasn't going to do it. No, it's not the exact pattern piece — it's actually wider. Yes, I said it would probably choke me and it might, but at least the cleavage will be covered. And it's really not that bad since the fabric is very soft and cool to the touch.

Just sticking a bow at the vee point wasn't going to work without a lot of futzing, and a flower was going to be too TOO, IYKWIM. So, maybe Trudy knew what she was doing. But I actually prefer the way I semi-attached the band/tie better than the instructions, which is a good thing since I didn't exactly have a choice of methods by this time. 

It's attached under the finished neckline with stitches that follow one line of the coverstitching, completely at the back and ending about 3" forward of the shoulder seam. Even I can't tell it's an afterthought and I know where to look.

And, oh yeah, I finished the skirt too. ;-) Easy-peasy sewing but I would still change some things. One, I should've cut the 14 and not the 16. Two, I would narrow the front wrap flap so it ends further away from the sideseam. As is, it's not really very noticeable that this is a wrap (albeit faux) skirt. Three, I would (and did) toss out the bias binding for elastic casing instructions and instead just serge elastic to the top edge, turn under, and top/coverstitch.With a 1-inch waist turndown and a 1-inch hem, the length turned out perfect for me as drafted and hits right at my knee.

I'm still going to curve in the sideseams of the top some more before I call this outfit done, but other than that I made absolutely no alterations of any kind to either piece. Nice. I'll finish the top as soon as I finish typing and will wear the new outfit tomorrow. I like it. It's different than my usual, and it's feminine and pretty darn comfortable too. But, do you think my co-workers notice that I'm really wearing a bunch of different brown skirts or do you think they think I just wear one a lot? It may be time to get off the brown skirts for a while.

I'll try to get a pic of me wearing the outfit tomorrow, but I can't promise I'll keep the camera in focus after Girls Night Out. Maybe I can sneak one in the Ladies room during the day but I already know it's going to be CRAZY tomorrow and remembering to take my cell phone into the restroom may not be top of mind. 

* * * * *

To answer two recent comments — No, I don't think he who shan't be named reads this blog, but even if he does, there's nothing untrue here. And no, he doesn't pay for much of the kids' expenses. It will be even less once he takes off for Virginia. He IS contributing toward household expenses until we go our separate ways, so that's something at least. But with it comes complaint and guilt trips, so I'm looking forward to that phase of my life being done.

A couple others have asked about my "diet." It's not a diet, it's just the way I eat now and forever. I eat hardly any carbs and that's it, the whole plan (although I did indulge in the birthday cakes at work on Friday since it IS my birthday month even though we're not mentioning that either. Less than 24 hours people! And yes, cakes plural.).

One Down

The top is done. Well, sorta. As you can see, it's way low-cut so I'm going to have to fashion a flower or bow or some other cleavage camouflage before I can wear it. But that's OK because I think, even with the big "cape," it still needs *something* to visually anchor all that fabric. I knew the neckline was going to be close, but I foolishly forged on anyway. I left off the neck tie as I mentioned I was going to do and I'm glad I did because the back neck is already pretty high on me and the additional width of the tie band would've choked me. The length also feels a smidge short, but I think that's really how it's styled and not a fitting issue. Besides, I usually end up scrunching tops up to where this hits on me anyway. That's probably why it feels short — the scrunch factor is missing. ;-)

My coverstitcher got a workout for this project. I used my 5/8" feller to hem the cape edge, coverstitched the joining seam between cape and underlayer, used it to hem the underlayer sleeves you can't see, and used it to topstitch the band seam allowances into the up position. Everything else was done on the serger, which amounts to the sideseams and the shoulder seams of the underlayer.

The pattern is very generously sized. I cut a 14 but could've gone to a 12 or even possibly a 10. Part of this is the pattern sizing, part is the moving target that is my sizing. I can't judge by all the RTW I've bought lately because those sizes have been all over the map too, a familiar lament with RTW that we all whine about.

Overall, though, I like the top. It's quite unique so I probably won't make it again anytime soon, but it's a fast project with pretty results. And the general shape is on trend right now, without being *too* batwing to hide my shape underneath. A good compromise between style and flattery, I think.

Now I'm off to stitch up the skirt.And since it has flaps/panels that need to be hemmed separately, my coverstitcher/feller ain't done yet.

Was that a pig that just flew by my window?

Yes, there is actual activity going on in the sewing room. It's been so long that I can't even remember the last thing I sewed for me. I think it was the plaid Magic Pencil skirt (which still remains an orphan). The skirt and top are all cut out. I'm going to jump out of bed tomorrow and get sewing. It's knits and not too many seams so it should go fast. And they had better turn out nice since I want a new outfit to wear for The Day Which Shall Not Be Mentioned (except to say I'm going out to dinner with some work friends to commiserate … I mean CELEBRATE … and the person who remains at home who also shall not be mentioned can just go suck it. Hah!).

I had to go into work today for a few hours, but I really like being there by myself with my music blasting out of my phone and the rest of the place so quiet. Since I still feel like I'm being paid to just play on the computer, it didn't feel much like work anyway. Plus, I just paid a big Alex-mustang repair bill (new clutch and linkage) and the OT will ease the pain somewhat. A word to the wise: 1965 cars will bleed you dry. ;-) Three candidates to work with me were interviewed on Friday but I don't think we found a keeper yet, so I'll continue to stay very busy. Honestly, we'll *both* stay busy even after this person is hired since there is so much new stuff planned that we're keeping on hold because there just aren't enough hours in the day.

Speaking of fun work stuff, I'm going to be interviewed for a magazine next week — "A Day In the Life of a Law Firm Graphic Designer," or some other more exciting title, as part of the bigger topic of "A Day In the Life" of various law firm positions. Cool, huh? Look Ma! I'm FAMOUS! lol