Project 333: Spring edition

I'm not going to lie: My spring and summer wardrobe is my favorite. I love the patterns, the colors, the lightweight fabrics. I love ditching the sweaters and the boots and pulling out t-shirts and sandals.

I love my wardrobe so much, in fact, that I'm not even remotely tempted to change it by going shopping. That would just mean I'd have to get rid of something else, and I'm not ready to part with anything.

Seriously. I love this wardrobe.

Right now we're dealing with temperatures that go from freezing (that's 32º Fahrenheit here in the good ol' States, because apparently everything has to be a revolution with us) to low-80ºs -- generally in the same day in a span of a couple of hours. (Oregon! You crazy beast!) So right now I have a couple of my favorite sweaters still in the mix because I need them, but I will ditch them as soon as I can (i.e., the weather gets truly nice consistently).

This was my lunch view yesterday. It was too gorgeous
to stay inside. 

This is, however, the perfect time of year for my jackets -- my old beige thing (we're going on six years now, it's like my child at this point) and my new to me denim jacket (a heck of a deal at a consignment shop last summer). Saying goodbye to my coat? Not all that hard, to be honest.

Other changes: I have a couple of t-shirt skirts (skirts made out of t-shirt material, whoever thought of that is a GENIUS) that I'm waiting to cycle in -- they look ridiculous with tights, but it's not always warm enough to NOT wear tights. Oh, and confession, I have a few dresses in the back of the closet I am not counting as they're too fancy for everyday wear, but we've already gotten three wedding invitations for this spring, so... I want them around. Just not THAT around.

When I first started P333, I couldn't wrap my mind around stretching the rules to fit my life, but at this point, I'm pretty comfortable doing whatever I need to do in order to make the capsule work for me.

Some of my favorites: Navy flowered shirt, beige and orange
peasant blouse, orange and white tank, blue and grey
baseball-style shirt, navy peasant blouse and black
and white t-shirt.

Here's the obligatory list of items in my closet. If you are good at math, you will notice that this is a list of 35, not 33. Eh, details are boring.

Grey: (3)
Santa Clara University long-sleeve t-shirt
Cardigan
... and blue baseball-style 3/4-sleeve shirt (pictured above)

Black: (10)
Turtleneck sweater
Cardigan
T-shirt
Jeans
Capris*
Shoes 1
Shoes 2
... and beige skirt
... and beige polka-dot tank
... and white t-shirt (pictured above)

Beige: (5)
Jacket!
Slacks!
... and orange patterned peasant-style blouse (pictured above)
... and orange tank (pictured above)
... and orange patterned scarf

Brown: (1)
Sandals!

Purple: (2)
Skirt
... and multi patterned tank

Teal: (1)
Peasant-style blouse

Blue: (13)
Cardigan (navy)
Cardigan (light blue)
Turtleneck sweater (light blue)
Pretty peasant-style short-sleeved blouse (and tank... both in navy, pictured above)
Tank (navy)
Denim jacket
... and flowered t-shirt (pictured above; my very favorite!)
... and another flowered t-shirt, but this one is a gauzy material
Jeans
3/4-sleeve shirt (navy)
... and yellow patterned maxi skirt (lighter blue)
Capris (light denim)
... and stripped scarf

For more on Project 333, click HERE.

* So the story on these capris: I could absolutely NOT believe how long they were on my 6-foot body. I mean, they actually fit and didn't look like I was wearing high waters AT ALL. When I got them home I realized they were long because they are actually real people pants, not tall people capris. Ah, well. Whatever works.

Project 333: Winter 2016 edition

Since my last post was such a downer, I'm making it up to you by writing about something way less stressful -- my winter Project 333 capsule wardrobe. (If you're not familiar with Courtney Carver and Project 333, start here.) And so what if the spring edition starts in three weeks? (Meaning: Wow, I really put this post off, didn't I?) Better late than never. I guess.

As I pondered writing about P333 this morning, I briefly considered just tossing everything out of the closet and starting fresh -- and early -- with that spring rotation. But this is what it looks like outside my little Oregon window this morning:

Rain and 38º. I can't feel too bad about it because we were
in drought all last summer, but it does drag on my soul.

Hardly inspirational for putting together a wardrobe containing short sleeves. Which is to say: I'm embracing my winter wardrobe for a little while longer.

I've gotten rather good at getting rid of anything I resist wearing in my capsule -- that's just Hint No. 1 that something isn't right -- but for some reason, I've been holding onto this cardigan that Abby decided to let go of earlier this year:

If anyone I know in real life wants this, let me know...

It's actually really comfortable, AND it's got pockets! I wore it to work once just to see if I'd like it. I liked it. So I put it back into my wardrobe, where it has hung untouched since then.

Out, vile jelly! Where is thy lustre now?

(King Lear. Anyone? No?)

Well, aside from that little failure, which has now been rectified, here's what I've been wearing this season:

Grey (5)
Santa Clara U long-sleeve t-shirt
Stripped sweater with holes
Cardigan
Baseball-style t-shirt
Scarf

Black (12)
Short-sleeve t-shirt
Cardigan
Sweatshirt dress
Skirt
Long-sleeve t-shirt
Turtleneck sweater (a favorite)
Jeans (really good purchase, as it turned out)
Coat
Scarf
Patterned leggings
Boots *
Ankel boots *

Look! It's my favorite beige jacket last summer
in Cannery Row! That shirt is not in my winter
lineup, but it will be coming out this spring.

Beige (5 minus 1)
Jacket **
Slacks
Abby's sweater (bye!)
Black and beige patterned skirt
Orange floral patterned bohemian-style blouse

Purple (2)
Skirt
Purple and orange patterned tank top

Green (1)
Patterned leggings (they kind of make me feel like the Jolly Green Giant)

Ah, well. At least that giant is jolly.

Teal (1)
Bohemian-style blouse

Light blue (1)
Turtleneck sweater (same style as my black one)

Dark blue (6)
Patterned skirt
Long-sleeve t-shirt
Cardigan
3/4-sleeved with embroidered flowers
Denim jacket
Denim jeans

Well, anyway, that's been the state of the union this winter. It's a solid little wardrobe, and I have been pretty pleased with it. Not that I'm not dreaming of wearing that above-pictured short-sleeve orange shirt. ;) But this wardrobe has gotten me through all sorts of situations, from work to a funeral reception to weekends. What more could I ask for?

If you're thinking of trying your own project but don't know where to start, here are my suggestions (hard won after three or four years of this now):

• Don't be afraid! That's the main thing. Look, this is a three month project. It's not forever. (Unless you want it to be. Like me.)
• Start with your favorite clothing. Pick 33 items (or 44, or whatever seems like a challenge) and then put the rest away, out of sight.
• Notice what's happening with your wardrobe. Are you resisting wearing anything? Do you wish you'd have added something else? Swap things out. Which brings us to: 
• If you have to make edits every month -- or every week -- go for it. Look at it as a fact-finding mission or a science experiment. There's no right or wrong here.

P.S. You don't have to count exercise clothing or "lounge wear" that doesn't get worn outside the house. You actually don't have to count anything you don't want to count. I didn't count shoes or scarves for a very long time.

See you in a few weeks with my spring P333... assuming I can get my act together. :)

*Both of these will need to be replaced by next season because of general wear and tear, which bums me out because I really like them.

**My jacket, which is going on Year 6, has some unexplained blueish stains on one of the elbows. The blue is rather faint, so I've decided not to worry about it. But this also bums me out. This jacket is my friend.

P333: Long weekend capsule wardrobe

You guuuuuuys! Hi! :)

You know how much I love Project 333? I was in the outlet mall in Lincoln City and overheard a lady talking about her work uniform, and I was all, Oh, are you a Project 333-er? and she was like, No! What's that?!, and I was like, 33 items for three months, it's insane except it's amazing, Be More With Less, Courtney Carver. Google it. 

But you can just click this link: Be More With Less. You're welcome.

And P.S., Abby finds it inexplicable that I'm an introvert, yet insist on talking to strangers. Eric just calls it one of my consistent inconsistencies.

Side tracked at the very beginning of a post, now THAT is pointless ramble at its finest, except maybe the point is that P333 is never far from my mind. It's just that it's kind of changed my life and it's fantastic and I love it.

This past weekend, the Walker 4 joined the Walker 24 (missed you, J and Andy and Reid!) for three days of family fun (Christmas House? I Have A Dream House?) in Lincoln City, which means: Hella capsule wardrobe. I have a small Adidas bag and it only holds so much, and that's the way I like it.

I packed:
Black sweatshirt dress
Green leggings
Beige jacket
Santa Clara U long-sleeved T-shirt
Black turtleneck sweater
...And, like, PJs, tech cords, undies and makeup

Sweatshirt dress and green leggings.
I'm getting very bold in my old age.

I wore:
Black ankle boots
Denim jeans
Black long-sleeved T-shirt
Grey pullover sweater
Black scarf
Black coat

...And it turned out I overpacked. I never did wear my beige jacket, and while I wore my (workhorse, favorite) black turtleneck sweater to Mass Saturday night, I really didn't need it, either -- I could have just worn my grey pullover again, holes be damned. (Oh, wait, Mass, sorry, holes be darned! Get it? Because I should darn them! Oh, never mind. I really need more coffee.)

That's not even the only hole. Damn you, Eddie Bauer!

Another plug for a small bag: I can just take that thing into the bathroom with me and have everything I need right there, safe and sound and clean. I really hate putting stuff on, like, the back of toilets or toothpaste-splattered counters. It grosses me out. So I am a big fan is what I'm saying.

Um, and then just in case you're wondering: The weekend included a trip to the outlet mall (I'll write about that when I do my January P333 roundup), lots of time with babies (although Kayden and Logan aren't really babies anymore), lots of time for naps, football games and cards (except not for me), Mass, amazing tamales, not as much coffee as you'd think, and time to just hang out with in-laws and nieces and nephews. Oh, and an extremely alarming white elephant gift exchange. How alarming? Johanna could have gone home with this, if not for Sam, who really took one for the team and also just likes creepy stuff, apparently:

Seriously: How scary is this picture? I've seen Supernatural, I know what's up.
P.S. That's my favorite mother-in-law in the background, apparently not even
worried that those kids are about to kill us.

Anyway, super fun weekend as always. You'd think I'd, like, take some photos of the ocean or something, since Lincoln City is on the Oregon Coast, but nah, too mainstream. Plus I forgot.

The end, I guess.

Project 333: November update

I can't seem to figure out how to keep a P333 wardrobe for an entire three months in the fall -- I'm always editing items out because, as the weather changes, I just can't see the point in keeping some of these things in my closet. My favorite navy blue flowered t-shirt? I love you, darling, but you're outta here. You're not going to get much use when the weather has turned to this:

Exhibit A

And Exhibit B, in case it didn't translate in the first picture: We're getting
our first snowfall of the season!

It makes me kind of sad. Summer really is over.

But it also makes me kind of happy. We desperately need the rain and snow, especially on Mount Hood. So you know what, clouds? You do what you need to do.

Unfortunately, for all my editing, I've been adding, too. This is partly because I have discovered the joy that is leggings (I never really saw the point before) and partly because a co-worker has started selling a certain home-party type of clothing line and I've gone to way too many events. But mostly it's because I lack willpower when it comes to cuteness.

I mean, come on! How am I supposed to resist something like this?

Which explains why I'm down to just three pairs of pants, I guess.

Well, whatever. Here's my updated list in case anyone cares:

Grey (4)
Santa Clara long sleeved t-shirt
Hooded long sleeved t-shirt
Cardigan
Scarf

Black (18)
Turtleneck sweater
Long sleeved t-shirt
Cardigan
Sweatshirt dress (I LOVE THIS THING)
Little Black Dress
Skirt
Slacks
Black/beige skirt
Black/white polka dots button down
Black/red/blue leggings
Black/blue/teal leggings
Solid leggings
Black/flower scarf
Solid scarf
Boots
Ankle boots
Maryjane's
Coat

Beige (4)
Long sleeved t-shirt
Jacket
Slacks
Beige/orange scarf

Burgundy (1)
Pullover sweater

Purple (1)
Skirt

Teal (2)
Peasant
Zip up cardigan

Green (1)
Leggings (shown above)

Blue (7)
Blue/yellow maxi skirt
Denim jacket
Navy cardigan
Navy long sleeved t-shirt
Denim jeans
Blue/navy/black scarf
Navy leggings

So... that makes 38, which is five more than technically allowed, but I don't feel too bad because I've never counted leggings before (well, my tights -- those are underwear in my world) AND my coat.

Justification! That's where it's at, you guys.

October Pointless Lists

I was going to write a really witty and thrilling introduction to my October Pointless Lists, but I find that I am not feeling witty nor thrilling, so that's kind of a struggle.

Basically I just want to pump this out so I can go do something else. Sorry.

Pointless list time!

Books read
I started October rereading Eleanor and Park, which I had checked out from our eLibrary system and, ahem, hadn't returned yet (well, don't turn on wifi and they can't go away, okay? Cheating). But then my Kindle BROKE.

That screen is NOT a good sign.

Here's a tip for you, kids: When your Kindle breaks, you can call Amazon (google "Amazon Customer Service" and an 800 number pops up. You're welcome, America!) and they'll send you to a techie and then when you turn it on and off again and it's still broken (why is turning stuff on and off supposed to be a magic fix? Dumb), they'll give you a discount on your NEXT Kindle.

So I really had no choice but get a Kindle Paperwhite sans ads, which costs an extra $20, but I think it's worth it not to have to look at that kind of thing. P.S. I'd have gotten another Kindle Keyboard because I loved and adored mine, but they don't make them anymore. Downside: Those word games I played while waiting in offices for appointments to stave off anxiety no longer work on the new machine. :( Upside: I can read books in any light! That's kind of amazing.

The old and the new.

I was depressed because I thought it would take a week to 10 days to get my new Kindle, but lo and behold, it broke on a Friday and I had my replacement by Monday, so you know what? I love you, Amazon.

Anyway, that meant the end of Eleanor and Park, so I decided to reread The Hunger Games because ALL THE FEELS, so that was a fun week, and then I saw that Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger had finally been released as an ebook (YESSSSSSS) so I bought that. 

It's just a great book, that's why. If you read it and you're confused, just remember that Henry time travels but Claire does NOT. Then the storyline makes sense. It's one of my all-time favorite books. No joke.

Anyway, mid-way through that whole ordeal, I got an email notice that one of my eLibrary books had finally come up for check out! I've had it on hold since July 30, whatever, two months isn't that long of a wait, right? (Why did I think eLibrary was a good idea again? I have needs, you guys!) I can barely remember what I even reserved at this point, but it turned to be Hollow City by Ransom Riggs, the second in the Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series.

So it's been a few years since I read the first one, and I didn't reread it before starting the second because I was kind of on a strict timeline, cheating abilities aside, so it didn't make a whole lot of sense all the time, and I didn't enjoy it as much as I remember enjoying Miss Peregrine's, but I soldiered on. It was fine. Fine enough that I thought I'd reserve the third in the series now so I can read it sometime in February (HA HA HA! That's slow checkout humor for you), but eLibrary doesn't even have the third book, so whatever. I guess if I want to continue I will just read Abby's hradbound copy even though actual books are such a pain.

I just like my Kindle, you guys.

Anyway, that's the whole sorrid affair. I'd apologize for this long, drawn-out update, but you're the one reading a blog called Pointless Ramble, so that's on you. I meant to write about my Kindle ordeal earlier, but then I got depressed. Ah, well.

Light update
I was not feeling the Light this month. I have no idea what I will focus on next month, either. Maybe just reminding myself that this is a thing I chose: Feeling light.

That's a lot harder than it should be.

Project 333 update
Not enough time has gone by for me to have any sort of update, now that I think about it. Ignore this one...

Abby update
Abby was going through my closet the other night looking for something to wear for Halloween. In her AP US History class, if she wore a historical costume, she'd get extra credit. So she's digging around, trying to decide if she's going to be Hillary Clinton or Mother Teresa -- but either way, perfectly confident I could provide the appropriate clothing.

I still have no idea how to take this.

And then, in the end, she just went as herself. So that was kind of disappointing.

Johanna update
This kid has had an interesting month. She's been thinking about her Halloween costume for weeks, vacillating between a ghost and the Grim Grandma (in case it doesn't translate, what Death would be if it were a grandma). Then she thought maybe she would be a detective. Or a geisha.

I'm kind of hoping this is our last year of dressing up and trick or treating, to be honest.

She's also started her own art journal, and it's awesome. If I were feeling more motivated right now, I'd post some of her pages. Maybe another time.

Eric update
How is it that even though the weather has been cold and rainy, Eric is STILL able to find excuses to work outside and thus avoid cleaning the bathroom, which is HIS responsibility?

Mysteries, you guys. They're everywhere.

Supernatural update
I am sorry to say that Abby cruised through Season Nine without me and is who knows how far along in Season 10. She is basically a terrible person. The end.

Project 333: Fall 2015 edition

I've been putting off getting my fall P333 wardrobe together, partially because I'm hella lazy and also because the weather has been oddly warm and I didn't want to put away my t-shirts and tank tops too early.

Global warming: Ruining fall wardrobes everywhere.

But I finally bit the bullet last weekend, when the weather forecast predicted mid to high 60ºs as high temperatures. The Pacific Northwest is actually really hard to forecast, apparently, but sometimes you just gotta have faith.

Here's what I came up with, and before anyone states the obvious, yes, I am over 33. But I feel okay with that because Courtney says it's not about a specific number but rather YOUR specific number. This is why I am a big fan of hers, by the way. :)

(Most of) The Whole Shebang.

So here's what we've got. I sort my closet by color, so this is actually what it looks like in real life even:

Grey (4)
Santa Clara long sleeved t-shirt
Hooded long sleeved t-shirt
Cardigan
Scarf

Black (17)
Turtleneck sweater
Long sleeved t-shirt
Cardigan
Sweatshirt dress*
Little Black Dress
Skirt
Slacks
Scarf
Black/beige skirt
Black/white polka dots button down**
Black/red/black leggings
Black/blue/teal leggings
Black/flower scarf
Boots
Ankle boots
Maryjane's
Coat

Beige (6)
Long sleeved t-shirt
Skirt
Jacket
Slacks
Beige/orange flower peasant
Beige/orange scarf

Leggings. I'm branching out in my old age.

Burgundy (1)
Pullover sweater

Purple (1)
Skirt

Teal (2)
Peasant
Zip up cardigan

Blue (10)
Blue/yellow maxi skirt
Blue/various t-shirt skirt
Short sleeved navy peasant (with bonus tank!)
Denim jacket
Navy/orange et al flowered t-shirt***
Navy spiderweb leggings****
Navy cardigan
Navy long sleeved t-shirt
Denim jeans
Blue/navy/black scarf

I have actually added a lot of new and/or new-used items lately and I'm feeling some guilt about that. On the upside, I look amazing. ;)

Notes:

*This dress is new to my closet and it's the best thing I've ever worn. It's a dress. It's a sweatshirt. I'm probably never going to take it off.

**One of the few long sleeved blouses to make it in my closet. Actually, the only one to make it.

***It's probably past the season for this thing because the sleeves are very short, but man, it's one of my favorites and I'm not ready to let it go.

****Dumb to count and dumber to add because they're clearly Halloween-themed and I'm probably not going to wear them much past Oct. 31.

P.S. Fall marks my third year with Project 333!

August Pointless Lists

Why is this in my blog photo archive? I have no idea.
But hey, better than a pic of all the smoke around these parts.
Which is to say: Nothing.

Well, you guys, I just wasn't feeling the writing this month. Which is dumb because I have plenty to write about. It's just that I didn't want to take the time ... too busy reading and being awesome, I guess. And I think, too, when I'm writing a lot at work, it kind of uses up all my extra words and they need time to regrow. Or something. I don't know, science is boring.

Work is fine, home is fine, Eric and the girls are fine, Skilly seems fine (he won't answer when I ask), life is fine. The fires burning up the Pacific Northwest are NOT fine, but we're dealing with it.

What else can you do?

Books read
Remember how, in my July Pointless Lists, I decided I wanted more books and less Hay Day? (Not to take anything away from Hay Day. My farm is awesome.) I succeeded! Mostly because I figured out how to use our library's "library to go" system so I could read on my Kindle. (Although you talk about slooooooow delivery. You request a book... and then you wait in line behind 14 or 15 people before it gets checked back in and you can actually read it yourself. Who wants to wait 8 weeks before getting to read a book? Boring.)

I know there are some definite lines in the sand regarding ebooks verses actual books, but I really just like my e-reader. If it makes anyone feel better, my girls prefer real books, so we still spend an ungodly amount of cash at our local bookstore.

Moving RIGHT along.

A Court of Thorn and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. This is the same author who writes the Throne of Glass series, and as I'm waiting very patiently for Queen of Shadows to be released Sept. 1 (hey, score, that's tomorrow! P.S. I have it on preorder because I do not mess around), I thought I'd pass some time with this one. Which was apparently released in May.

I enjoyed it so much I read it twice. It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, although I was thinking as I read it that it's also a similar storyline to Twilight -- there's the beauty, there's the beast, and the beast is all, I've got to send you away even though I love you so much! 

Except in this story, the beauty, aka Feyre, is the kickass breadwinner of her pathetic family, who has gone from rags to riches, and she kills a fairy glamoured as a wolf and that's what starts the whole thing off. Oh, and she's got some self-esteem issues. And she's illiterate. And an artist. And the fairies aren't exactly like the ones we read about in American fairytales.

Thumbs up! I like when you've heard a story before so you think you know what's going to happen, but then the author takes you in a completely different direction and you find yourself thinking about it even when you're not reading it.

I hope to heck there's a sequel coming.

A Place of My Own: The Education of an Amateur Builder by Michael Pollan. This was the first of my library ebook forays (only took about a week to get this one), and I was excited about it because Michael Pollan is kind of my boyfriend after Omnivore's Dilemma and Food Rules et al. But I just couldn't get into this one, so I quit reading it. I think that speaks more to the fact that I am not a builder, nor I do not crave to construct my own playhouse/office, then about Michael Pollan. It just wasn't for me. Michael Pollan is still my boyfriend.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. This was the second of my library ebooks to "come in" (took a month, whatever) and right on time, too, as we had a vacation planned. I read it in one day on the back porch of a rather lovely house in the woods. More on THAT later. This book is fantastic. Abby has been wanting me to read it for a long time now, and I've resisted, and I shouldn't have. PLUS it's set in 1986, so I totally got all the references. Hey, I was also a dork in 1986, so I could really feel Eleanor and Park, you know? Except no one was trying to hold my hand on the bus.

Another thumbs up. I'm kind of sad I don't own this one. I'm going to check out her other books. Because her name is Rainbow. And also because I enjoyed her writing style. She says a lot without yammering on about everything. I can get behind that.

Movies watched
Johanna picked The Boxtrolls out on Netflix one Friday night, and you guys, that movie was awesome. Weird and wonderful and great. Go watch it.

"It was good," Jo says. I really need to teach that girl some different adjectives. "I have plenty of adjectives," she adds, obviously offended.

Light update
So you know what I learned as I took pictures off my hard drive to place on a USB? I have a lot of damn pictures. Well, they date back to 2011, so that's most of the problem. The good news is that since you can get 16 gigs of memory for like $1.99 (well, almost), purchasing USBs isn't the issue. The issue is finding the time and not getting frustrated.

While I did make headway, I did not finish. Such is life. I will continue this unofficially in September, but I have other Light plans that I will disclose later. Let's just say that I've learned a few lessons from the ordeal that is cleaning out my grandparents' house...

Abby update
Having a kid with a drivers' license is awesome. Abby can drive herself to all of her functions, be it physical therapy (has a bum knee, apparently) or school registration. Or to buy her own school supplies. Oh my gosh, I might never have to go into Walmart again. It's the perfect breakup plan.

School doesn't start until Sept. 8 (uh what), except for her it's Sept. 10 (double what), but I think she's kind of excited to get back into the routine.

Johanna update
Johanna has been on a writing bender this month. I don't know how many books she's written, both "stories" and "graphic novels." That kid has some serious talent. It's fun to watch.

Eric update
Eric has been doing some concrete work (cute little path to nowhere by the shed, the filling in of some flower beds because apparently he's tired of weeds and is embracing bark dust), and some general weeding / outside stuff. Our lawns are all brown because we're in a drought and are conserving water for farms and fish (that's actually a slogan here), but you know what doesn't die in a drought? Weeds.

Bummer.

And I tell you this, the basketball court he put in a couple of months ago has been getting a lot of use. He and the girls are out there almost every night shooting around. Success!

Stuff I canned / etc.
I was going to can tomatoes, but then it got really hot, and then I got tired, and also kind of ran out of time and needed a fast solution. So I froze 20 pounds (!) using Eric's Foodsaver and some leftover bags. Plastic. Not environmental. Let's just focus on the tomatoes, shall we?

Oh, and I froze some zucchini and summer squash. Kind of on accident, as we were headed out of town and I needed to get rid of the produce I'd gleaned from the counter at work. (I have coworkers with amazing gardens, apparently.)

And that, sadly, is it.

Supernatural update
Abby has been better about not watching without me, or at least keeping me updated with what is going on when she does. Dean is out of purgatory, Sam is again threatening to quit hunting, and Castiel is finally back! The end. By our calculations, Dean has died twice, Sam has died twice, and Cas about four times. And God just keeps bringing them back or something. I don't know, you guys, but it's entertaining as heck.

July Pointless Lists

Source.
SQUEEEEEEEE.

I think I'd be remiss if I didn't start this off by wishing Harry Potter a very happy birthday. That's just good manners.

Books read
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. You guys, I love this book. I love that I know it so well I can scream things like, TAKE OFF THE LOCKET FIRST, HARRY!, and I also love that Abby knows it so well that she immediately knows which part I'm at.

Those books are just a gift to the world.

Anyway, I've decided I need more books and less Hay Day, so I've been trying to figure out how to use our library's "library to go" app. Let's just say that was an hour of my life screaming at the monitor only to learn my library card has expired.

No one said literacy was ever easy.

Project 333 update
I've already put the beige skirt I picked up at the church rummage sale for $1 back into the rummage sale pile. It doesn't work for me for a variety of reasons, none of which matter because, bottom line, I'm not going to wear it.

But since I added that Santa Clara University t-shirt, we're quits.

Johanna update
I asked Jo just now how July was, and she said, "Good."

You're completely up-to-date with that kid now.

Abby update
Abby is working at the neighboring lavender farm this summer, and I think she's a bit done with the tourists. She had a lady say, "I know that's Mt. Hood, and that's Mt. Richard, right?" as she pointed to Mt. Adams. Spoiler alert: There's no such thing as Mt. Richard. Anyway, Abby said was like, yes. Yes, it is.

So that was awkward when she came home with that story, because on one hand, I'm a parent and I'm supposed to be teaching her, you know, how to be a decent human, but on the other hand: Funny.

(Maybe I'm over the tourists too, just a bit -- I work downtown where they tend to congregate. Driving anywhere is impossible.)

That's Mt. Richard in the background.
Always overshadowed by that dang
Mt. Adams...

Stuff I canned / etc.
7 half-pints cherry jam
8 quarts plus 2 pints sweet cherries
7 pints plus 1 half-pint raspberry jam
12 quarts plus 2 pints dill pickles
3 quarts plus 4 pints tomatoes (plus three quart-bags for the freezer)
6 half-pints blueberry syrup
...And a lot of frozen blueberries

Supernatural update
I actually have no idea what's going on or where we're at because Abby keeps watching without me. As far as I know, Sam got his soul back, Dean was death for a day, and I don't like their grandpa one bit. Castiel is hilarious. I have a crush on him. Abby says her crush is bigger and she calls it.

Cas is always confused because
he's an angel and he doesn't
understand our crazy human ways.

Minimalist Packing: California Adventure edition

Ah, the delights of going on a trip and having to pack! Just kidding, I sort of hate it. But the part of me that isn't rebelling against the notion of leaving home (being a homebody means you don't really have to get out very much) enjoys the challenge of packing a minimalist bag.

Tired of the huge duffle bag Eric and I usually share, I bought myself a small athletic bag last year and haven't looked back. It's gotten me through weekend adventures to week-long trips (any longer than a week is kind of beyond my emotional capacity) without any problem. And I really like that I can just grab it and go.

Skilly helped by sitting on my packing list.

Here's what I ended up with for the week. You can compare this to my Project 333 capsule if you want HERE.

On my body:
Beige shorts
Black tank (with cute little white polkadots)
Black cardigan
My most favorite brown leather sandals
...And a belt

In the bag:
Jeans
Denim capris
Black Capris
Orange tank
Navy floral t-shirt
Black t-shirt
Black long-sleeved t-shirt
Beige jacket
Black scarf
Closed-toed shoes
My thrashed sandals for any potential walks on the beach

I also managed to stuff my undies, toiletries and hair straightener in that bag. That thing is amazing.

Packed!

Since we were hitting hot spots like Red Bluff and cool zones like San Francisco, my bag needed to cover a wide variety of temperatures: Everything from the upper 90ºs to the low 70ºs.

Thus the scarf. Ah, had I only known San Fran would be muggy, I'd not have bothered to bring it. Hindsight!

Here's how it all went down:

SATURDAY: The aforementioned "on my body;" changed into black capris and beige jacket for Mass (sandals)
SUNDAY: Denim capris, navy t-shirt, beige jacket; changed into black capris, orange tank and jacket after getting wet at the beach (sandals and thrashed sandals for the beach)
MONDAY: Denim capris, orange tank and jacket (sandals)
TUESDAY: Beige shorts, black t-shirt and cardigan; jeans and new Santa Clara long-sleeved t-shirt for lounging around the pool (sandals)
WEDNESDAY: Black capris, black tank and jacket; above new t-shirt for walking around San Fran (sandals)
THURSDAY: Waaaaay overdressed in my jeans, long-sleeved black t-shirt, scarf and jacket ... plus socks and shoes. Ended up ditching the scarf and jacket in the car but was still hot (closed-towed shoes)
FRIDAY: Denim capris, black tank and cardigan (sandals)
SATURDAY: Black capris, orange tank and cardigan (sandals)

As you can see, some items got a lot of use ... and some, not so much. I'd have loved to run a load through the washing machine by Day 6, but alas, that was not meant to be. I don't remember getting tired of anything, although I did think having one more shirt would have been nice. In retrospect, I'd have ditched the black long-sleeved t-shirt and gone with another tank top. But not having that didn't ruin the trip, so maybe in the end, it doesn't really matter.

Now that we've got the clothing out of the way, I'll write about the trip next... Spoiler alert: We had a really good time!

Project 333: Summer edition

Ah, summer! Actually, summer with a vengeance -- the Pacific Northwest doesn't usually get this hot, and wow, we've had some crazy days.

It's not often that I start out on a tangent, and yet, my skillz are such that I can.

My July 1 through September 30 Project 333 summer capsule wardrobe really isn't too different from my spring wardrobe, although I did do quite a bit of shopping in June. Well, most of it is from the Goodwill or our church rummage sale, so... I don't know, that makes it better somehow.

Right?

And anyway, you can totally shop during Project 333 'cause this isn't clothing jail, so why you judging me, yo?

It's also hard to go off on a second, more angry tangent five paragraphs in, but I'm bereaved, remember? I get a pass.

My new used clothes! The blue looks purple here, but take my word for it:
It's gorgeous.

Sorry, this is kind of getting away from me. The words are being rambunctious.

This month, I've added three new skirts, taken out an old skirt, added a pair of shorts (my first since I was in my early 30s, I'm not even joking) and a pair of capris, and then found a great sweater and a peasant-style shirt and a couple of scarves -- although only one is making it into my rotation.

I bought two t-shirt type skirts new and the rest is secondhand.

I would not have thought this possible 25 years ago because I was not, shall we say, a fan of anything used. I felt like it was dirty somehow. Maybe I'm getting more relaxed in my old age? Because I think secondhand might be the way to go. It's easy to donate items when they didn't cost very much in the first place (for some reason... consumerism is deeply ingrained in me even though I'm going AWOL), plus there's the added bonus of not purchasing something with the heavy price of cheap fashion stinking it up.

So without further ado, here is my...
Summer 2015 Project 333 Capsule Wardrobe
(...all caps so you know it's legit):

Grey: Cardigan (1)
Black: Dress, capris, slacks, t-shirt, t-shirt skirt, cardigan, silk floral scarf, cute shoes (8)
Black and white: T-shirt, tank top (2)
Brown: The most perfect pair of sandals ever!!! (1)
Beige: Jacket, skirt, capris, slacks, shorts (5)
Beige and orange: Peasant shirt, tank top (2)
Orange: Scarf (1)
All the Blues: Navy cardigan, navy sweater, navy t-sirt, navy t-shirt skirt (SO SOFT), navy tank, denim capris, denim jeans, denim skirt, blue cardigan, blue peasant shirt (10)
Navy and orange: T-shirt (1)
Multi: T-shirt skirt, stripped scarf* (2)

...And if my math is correct (MATH. SO HARD.), that makes 33.

Huh. I'm usually in the 28-38 range, but rarely do I make the exact number I'm shooting for. Yay me, I guess.

Oh, and I've underlined the new stuff just because I'm bored and don't want to end this post quite yet. And, as we've already established, two of the seven are new new and the rest are new used.

And yes, I fully expect this wardrobe to carry me through the hotter than hell conditions we're facing now (103º mid-July? Not cool, you guys. HA HA HA. Oh, the words are hilarious today!) and the potentially cooler fall weather we may or may not have in September (our Septembers are usually better than our Junes, although this June was pretty damn amazing).

One more random thought: I love blue, and it's nice to see my wardrobe finally reflecting that. I feel best in blue.

And that concludes this term's wardrobe. The end.

*This thing cost me 50-cents and it's a name brand that probably wouldn't mean anything to you but is the shit in this tourist trap of a town I call home. Didn't even realize it was a brand name until the day after I bought it. It makes me laugh. Mostly because it's kind of ugly. What, I'm not the only person who buys things for their entertainment value, am I?

June Pointless Lists

I haven't really been paying attention lately, you guys, so the end of June has taken me quite by surprise...

Books read
This month I decided to tackle Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I also figured I'd be on Deathly Hallows by now, but it was not meant to be. I'm still not finished with Half-Blood Prince. Whatever. Knowing what I know, I see all sorts of clues and stuff, and that's kind of fun but also kind of depressing because: Dumbledore! And that's just the beginning.

Eric update
The play structure is gone and the new basketball court is done, and there's been many a game of HORSE going on in the Walker household since then. Eric is pretty pleased that his project has been so well received. And that weeds can't grow through concrete.

He also played golf on Saturday for the first time probably since Abby was a baby. He was quite pleased with himself and his performance, although the attributes that to "beginner's luck." His poor hands are blistered, though. I guess that's what you get for taking such a long hiatus.

Abby update
ARW has started a summer job at the lavender farm literally a hundred steps from our driveway. (Actually, now I'm curious. I'm going to count next time I take a walk.) It's a great situation because she won't get her license until the end of July, and she was worried about how she was going to be able to get to and from a job in the meantime. Basically her tasks include welcoming visitors to the farm and helping them with the U-Pick portion of the experience, watering, deadheading and weeding. In these days of upper 90ºs to low 100ºs, it's a bit of a strain, but hey, employees get free water! (Um...)

And she went to a basketball camp at Gonzaga University the week after school was out, and came home utterly exhausted. I think she slept for the next week. Living on campus was a good experience for her -- like how there were three showers for an entire floor. Ah, college! That's just a good time right there.

Johanna update
School is out and Johanna is pretty happy about that. She claims she wants to "sleep in," but she's never been one for that nonsense, so mostly it just means she's up at her regular time but now she gets to watch cartoons on the iPad over breakfast. (We need to have a talk about her television consumption, now that I think about it.)

But! She did go to a basketball camp the week after school was out (she missed the last day because of Grandpa's funeral) and has been enjoying the new basketball court very much -- she's usually the one organizing those HORSE games, and she's always up for an audience even if she's just shooting around.

Project 333
I get to pick out a whole new wardrobe once July 1 hits, and I've already been working at it a bit. I'll write more about this later -- I've got too much to say to fit in a pointless update. ;) (P333 info here.)

Light update
At the beginning of the month, I was all set to work on the digital photo clutter we've got on our computer, and I even went so far as to buy a new 16 gig USB drive, and then I went on Snapfish to complete a book order.

And learned that Snapfish has changed its operating system or something and I couldn't even find my book. I tried the whole live chat thing and it wasn't particularly helpful. So no book, no pictures off the hard drive, and nothing to show for the month.

Failure! The end.

Supernatural update
Abby has watched a few episodes without me, but that's okay. We're on season four, and here's all you need to know: Everyone is mad at Sam and Dean's all moody because he just spent 40 years in Hell. Sam's got some super powers or something, and Dean's got an angel that keeps popping in on him.

It's probably not supposed to be hilarious, but I am enjoying it, even though it is a bit dark. Sometimes I find myself pondering what's going on or what has happened in the last show we watched. Well, you've got to do something to pass the time.

Weather update
They say when you start talking about the weather, you've officially run out of things to say. But in this case, I'd like to point out that it's pretty rare to have 100º-plus days in June in Oregon. That heatwave last year that totally messed up the rest of the country? Passed us right by. We've been in the 90ºs and 100ºs for the last week, and the forecast looks like so:

Well, whatever, I guess. I kind of like it -- I like being warm -- but it does get exhausting when it's a day in, day out sort of ordeal. Eh, we have air conditioning, and nothing has burned down yet (you know there's going to be major fires this year with as dry as everything is), so there you go.

Project 333: Ode to my little black dress

Before Project 333, I thought I needed a different outfit for each day, and if a special occasion happened to befall me, that required Special Occasion Wear.

Kind of stressful for a girl who doesn't even like shopping.

But that was then and this is now. I haven't gone through almost two years of dressing with less for nothing.

Recently I added a little black dress to my 33. I've been on the hunt for one for a while, but hadn't found one that was quite right until a couple of months ago. I liked its lines and simplicity.

Huh. My picture is sad. But trust me, this is
a great dress.

All of this is just to say that in the last four days, I've worn my dress three times: On Thursday to work, on Saturday to a funeral, and on Sunday to a confirmation service. And I felt pretty good about myself too boot.

I've said before that I don't mind wearing things over and over -- I will wear whatever I want whenever I want, repeats be damned. Because you guys, no one cares. And even if they do care, why should I? The world is not going to end if I wear a sweater twice in a row or the same pants twice in a week.

Um, kind of lost my train of thought. Sometimes it's harder to be pointless than you'd expect.

On Thursday, the hottest day of the year, I wore the dress because it was my coolest option. I dressed it up with a pendent and wore the cardigan inside when the air conditioner got out of control.

On Saturday, it had gone from the 80ºs to the 60ºs, but the funeral was inside a church with no graveside service, so I wasn't too worried about staying warm. I used a scarf as a wrap.

And on Sunday, we were again in the 60ºs and again in a church -- this time for my Godson's confirmation. (And can I just say this kid is awesome? He makes me laugh.) I repeated the cardigan and added pearls.

Eric gave me pearls for our 5th
anniversary... 15 years ago.

I kind of missed my dress today when I wore something else. I could maybe do a One Dress Project, now that I think about it.

Fine, my "outfits" aren't really that different. But I tell you this, having just the one dress made getting ready was terribly easy. Minimalism in action! But I'm not telling you to go out and get a little black dress. That would be dumb. Because maybe you don't like black. Maybe you don't like dresses. Maybe you'd rather have a navy dress. Maybe you'd rather have a pair of pants and a t-shirt. I don't know, you guys. I'm just telling a story about my dress and how I rocked the world.

The end.

Project 333: Spring update

My favorites!

I didn't think I'd have much to update so soon, but then Abby stole my new black t-shirt (well, it is pretty awesome) and I decided that my grey pants need to go away.

So I'm down two items is what I'm saying.

Somehow Abby lost my denim jacket in her bedroom -- or maybe I lost it in my bedroom -- so if we ever find that thing, I'll have room for it now. ;)

Here's my updated list, in case anyone cares:

Grey: Cardigan, striped pullover sweater (2)
Black: Dress, pants, capris, long sleeve tee, turtleneck sweater, cardigan, floral scarf and four pairs of shoes/boots (11)
Black/white: Top, tank (2)
Beige: Jacket, skirt, long sleeve tee, capris (4)
Beige/orange: Top, tank, scarf (3)
Maroon: Pullover sweater (1)
Purple: Skirt (1)
Navy: Cardigan, long sleeve tee, tank, striped scarf, patterned tank (5)
Navy/beige or orange: Top, gauzy top (2)
Blue/other: Recycled t-shirt skirt (1)
Denim: Skirt, jeans (2)

This is probably the best wardrobe I've ever managed to create, and I'm so excited that, after six tries, I've finally learned enough to make this happen.

You guys, P333 is my favorite subject, so indulge me here because I rarely get to talk about it in real life and I feel a list coming on:

What I've learned with P333:

1. I finally figured out that my 33 (um, or 34) isn't a place for clothes I'm on the fence about. This time, if I had any hesitation at all, that item didn't make it in. And as we've already established, my closet is now the best it's ever been. I don't think this is a coincidence.
2. Once upon a time, I thought I really liked dress shirts. Turns out, I don't. P333 has helped me hone in on the items that I actually wear as opposed to what I think I wear. And knowledge is power: My last shopping trip was fantastic because I could just make a beeline for the items I knew I'd wear (like pretty t-shirts!).
3. Which reminds me: I know what my personal style is now! Such a little thing, yet so huge.
4. Pick a core color. (Mine is black.) Makes it much easier to coordinate.
5. It seems counterintuitive that less would equal more, but it's a strange world, my friends, and that is exactly what I'm telling you. When you have 34 items (3 of which are scarves and 4 of which are shoes), you can really see your options. I used to have an overwhelming number of items, but nothing to wear. (Probably because it was all stuff I thought I liked but didn't. See #1.) I don't have that problem now. 
6. Knowing that my closet is awesome and that whatever I pull out of it is going to make me feel like a rock star means I have one less thing to worry about each morning; it simply depends on the weather and what's clean. 
7. Those lists of "50 Wardrobe Essentials Every Woman Needs"? Yeah, ignore 'em.
8. That one magic item that will make your entire wardrobe "click" doesn't actually exist.
9. P333 isn't about the number 33. It's about figuring out your individual "right" number. Mine seems to fluctuate between 28 and 37, depending on the season. I don't really worry about it.
10. Never underestimate the power of a really great fitted jacket. :)

Anyone else out there do P333? I'd love to hear about other people's experiences...