Lessons in Cream and Black ... and Lessons from Dogs and Cats

I mentioned a recent post that I weeded out all my white sleeveless blouses and sent them on to other homes.  Then, of course, while shopping I ran across another one that I just had to have.  On the surface, that might seem like proof of Einstein's definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  But no.  

Lesson learned: Cream is not white.  And cream looks better on me than pure white.  Really good to know. 

I love this creamy-white blouse.  I didn't photograph it well, but the very crisp, art-deco style pleating is flattering.  It has pretty white and gold enamel buttons as well.  Happy me.

I've also been seeing the most adorable clutch-purses of all sizes, shapes and colors in magazines and on fellow bloggers.  And like all the lovely women who carry them, they are invariably shown to their best advantage.  There are no unsightly bulges that might be caused by ... ummm ...  actual contents.  You know, the stuff that you need to carry around in them?

 Yeah, yeah, I know, you don't need to carry that much.  A credit card, a lipstick, perhaps a key.  Of course.  I believe you.  And you must know how much I envy your organizational skills and minimalist lifestyle.

But I have too much stuff that needs to come with me when I go out and about.  There's only so much downsizing that's useful to me.

I had completely given up on being able to carry a clutch, until I found the one pictured above at TJ Maxx for much less than I though it might cost! 

Lesson Learned: There are still soft, oversized clutches being made and available in your price range.  They can hold all your stuff with minimal downsizing of items. You just need to keep the larger size on your radar.

And lest you think I'm showing you an empty clutch for best effect, you should know that, in this photograph, it contains: 

my Kindle Fire HD 8.9

card case with ID, cards and cash

hairbrush

Bare Minerals mirrored compact and brush

tiny pencil eyeliner stub

lipstick

phone

Bare Minerals Sunblock

asthma inhaler

sunglasses in hard case

And there's plenty of room to carry the cream-colored Battenburg lace fan, also pictured above.  It's one of my favorite styles of fan, and I have several colors in this style. 

***********

 Below you'll see a couple of pictures of two of my darling doggies ... and both of them happen to match my outfit, but both have to be left at home in air conditioned comfort this time of year.  And while the lesson below is not a new one for me, it bears mentioning.

Lesson to remember: As much as I love my blouse, fan and bag, they're never going to love me back.  These kids do, and deserve extra consideration during our miserable hot weather.

  

Here in the photo with me is Bijou, our toy poodle.  Nope, she's not a mix.  Some poodles just have waves instead of curls.  And lots of premature gray and white spots on chin and toes instead of the more glamorous pure black.

And this adorable little girl below is our latest rescue.  Her name is Toutes because when she wags her tail, she wags everything!

She's clearly part Chihuahua, and something else.  Not sure what, but she has some long hair somewhere in her family tree.  So, that makes her Demi-Chihuahua with Long Hair, if not a purebred Long Haired Chihuahua.  That's our story and you're stuck with it.

She's still a young dog ... she just has an unfortunate amount of gray like Bijou.

 

(Awwwwww....)

Kittehs need special consideration in the summer as well.  Below are "The Evil Twins", Janie and Posh.  They're not identical twins, but herringbone-tabby sisters who are very hard to tell apart.  Janie has green eyes and Posh has eyes that are an astonishing shade of gold-orange. 

Lesson Learned: Gray can be Glam!
(And cats do not like to be photographed at nap time. There was retaliation.)

*************

Toutes takes us to The Amazing Patti and Her Gathering of Glamizons at Visible Monday !  Join us ?