Since I’ve been tracking my looks recently I’ve noticed a few things. I have been able to tell that I’m prone to a certain look (Can you guess which one?) and that I like jewelry. I’m not a girl who needs diamonds, but rather something simple. I prefer costume jewels. They’re fun and I get to own way more than I would any “ice.”

Here are my jewelry selections for the past week (There are only six photos I know, but I didn’t feel like taking one Sunday.)

If you also noticed I wore boots twice this week. I love fall simply because it’s not yet too cold and I can wear skirts and boots. The fringe style I picked up on clearance last year for $10.

I’m a girl who love bargains, so whether it’s boots or beads I like to find items for a good price. The last picture with denim jacket and white shirt, I’m wearing a necklace I found at Saint Anthony’s Gift Shop.

Last week, I celebrated my birthday and my present from my parents were gift cards to some of my favorite stores. Once I go shopping I intend to look for the deals and bargains. I will share them with you once I find them.

Until then I intend to keep shopping my closet and jewelry box putting together a variety of looks.

I want, the to thank the punk who ruined my son’s homecoming. Yes, some idiot decided to help himself to the Fender Precision Bass that was inside Cole’s truck after he got home last night.

The strange thing was Cole actually saw the creep near our house when he got home from his girlfriends, well in the street anyway. We live on a dead end and there is no reason for anyone to be out so late walking around  near our house. The guy walked off, but when Cole came in the house the jerk must have come back. Cole locked his truck, but sometimes the power locks don’t always lock the driver’s side door on his 1993 vehicle. Even if he hadn’t it no one should enter your vehicle without permission.

You ruined what would have been a wonderful night. You also hurt the Marching 100. Yes that’s right. Not only did you take something that doesn’t belong to you, but Cole plays in the front ensemble. It’s the first year the band has electrified and Cole is a part of that.

Cole is upset and rightfully so. I’m also upset because I can’t stand people who take things that don’t belong to them. People who steal are the worst kind. You are too lazy to work and earn your own money to buy nice things so you take things from others. Cole’s father bought him the bass when he started high school – he’s now a junior.

My dilemma is now how I’m going to replace it. Cole filed a police report with Alton Police Department and Officer Pfc. Jim Wetzstein came and took a report, but I don’t know if my insurance will cover it yet or not. It’s not as simple as one thinks to just go and buy a new bass, especially when you’re a single mom on a limited income.

No thanks to the thief my son will remember this day, but it will not bring back good memories.

This morning I was reading a story that I found disturbing. Plus-size fashion designed Elena Miro was excluded from the official program at Milan Fashion Week.

The designer, whose real name is Elena Miroglio, said she wondered why the organizers terminated a five-year-old tradition of scheduling her show as the Fashion Week opener.

The National Chamber of Italian Fashion claimed that the reason they removed Miroglio for the lineup was that “Some labels just weren’t in line with what ready-to-wear week should be. We wanted to champion the values of creativity to reaffirm Milan’s role in the world.”

Milan, once a leader in fashion for the plus-size woman, truly dealt a blow to all those out there who are little curvy. Even with this direct blow to the label Miroglio debuted to her Spring/Summer 2011 collection to a sold-out room.

Miroglio said her collection is reminiscent of the 1950s “when the beauty of women, the round shapes and soft bodies” were de rigueur.

Miroglio, who herself is diminutive and quite thin, recognizes that designing for larger women is more challenging than for the more linear, but said that through her 25 years of experience she had developed the “know how about proportions and shapes.”

One of the models interviewed before the show, Penelope Benson, 23, of Australia, said that “real women are the ones with the money.” I agree.

At 5-feet 10-inches tall and weighing 167 pounds, Benson is still not the “average” size women. But she looks healthier than the majority of models on the runway.

Since the death of Brazilian model Ana Carolina Reston in 2006, there has been a move for more generously sized models. Spain and Italy banned models below a certain body mass index after her death, while Great Britain only banned models under the age of 16 from the catwalk.

The other night I watched a documentary “America the Beautiful.” Director Darryl Robert’s took a look at America’s fixation with outward appearance and the unrealistic standards of beauty. Robert’s interviewed fashion experts, media personalities and celebrities, including then 13-year-old model Gerren Taylor, who made history when she became the youngest model to walk the catwalk in LA and New York.

I found Robert’s take on what women think about themselves, or better yet what we are programmed to think, fascinating. There are more plus-size women out there who want to look and feel great, but we are constantly fed information that we are supposed to look  different than we do.  It doesn’t help when teenagesr strut down the runway to try and sell something to a 30 and 40 year old crowd. We see something on someone so young and wonder “why?” we don’t look that great.

There’s so much to think about when it comes to body image. I actually thought Miroglio’s collection is something I could see myself wearing. What about you, what do you think?

Recently I’ve been taking photos of the outfits I put together. I thought that by doing so I could  create my own look book. Here are some of the looks I’ve worn during the past week. A few I’ve already blogged on and several I haven’t.  I’ve also started to notice a pattern in my style since I began taking pictures, as well. So tell me what do you think? What outfit do you like best?

Most of the clothing I get I find on sale, at thrift stores or at yard sales. The best bargain I found was the multi-colored skirt I found at JcPenney’s for $2.97. I just love the pattern and colors because it’s so versatile and I can wear it with many things. I can dress it up or down depending on what top I wear.

One of the more fun pieces I found was the plaid tie for .25 cents at a yard sale. I mean I can understand why a man might not want to wear it, but it really is fun and it’s colors represent Alton High School, so I can wear it to show my spirit whenever I go to a football game or Marching 100 competition.

I don’t think it matter where you buy your clothes, so long as you remember to have fun putting it on. Don’t be afraid to try different things and of course start your own look book so you can assemble great outfits by simply taking styling advice from the pros.

Last week I got a new hair treatment at Fringe Salon in Alton and let me say it’s the “bomb.”  It’s called a Brazilian blowout,  It’s a keratin hair treatment and the purpose is to soften and condition hair, plus get rid of a “curly girls” frizz.  Yes, that’s right no more frizz.

It wasn’t until recently that I found a product that kept my frizz at bay. Moroccan oil and a flat iron turned my unruly tresses into sleek, straight hair. I mean I could actually enjoy sitting outside on a hot, humid night without worry that my hair would increase in size.

The Brazilian treatment make it’s even better. The other night after I washed it I decided to let it air dry and wow – no frizz and the curl was nothing compared to what I had before. Let me say I’m so impressed.  Hair stylist Conya Cowan did a fantastic job. I’m also going to get to model my new look on Oct. 9 at the Head’s and Threads Fashion Show at Jacoby’s Art Center.

Here are my before and after looks

The treatment does not require any strong chemicals, but rather employs a solution containing all-natural keratin to work with the hair cuticles and gently take its place inside your hair. Because this is not a permanent treatment, the keratin-based solution diminishes over time and your hair will return to its natural form. The hair, however, will stay soft, shiny and healthy looking

The new look requires less blow drying time and flat iron results are instant. The product improves the hair inside and out.

Here is my look today

Today I decided to wear all black.  I wanted to show off my new jewelry that I got from Jewels by Park Lane and felt this was the perfect background to make “Hooty” a silver and black Swarovski crystal necklace and “Flair” silver cuff bracelet sparkle.

I’ve got to say I’m liking my new “bling.” I got it at a home party. I’ve been invited to a lot of parties through the years where there are direct sales and let me say it can be a lot of fun. You go because it’s your friend, but usually it’s because you like the product. Through the years I’ve purchased many items such as — Longaberger, Party Lite, Home Interior, Silpada, Mary Kay and more, you get the picture.

In all the years I’ve gone though I’ve never known a company that’s headquarters were in Illinois. The jewelry company was founded in 1955 by Shirley and Arthur Levin. It’s also a company I recognize because my grandmother had some Park Lane pieces.

I’m looking forward to getting some more jewelry. I plan on hosting a party in October so that I can take advantage of the hostess deals . I’m a girl who likes jewelry and when I find something I like and there are rewards -well that’s a bonus.

Something cool is that the several jewelry  pieces were worn by celebrities at this years MTV Music Awards. Check out the rings worn by Jenifer Love Hewitt.

To find a representative near you visit the company’s Website.

I never would have thought I would be motivated by a look that I wore daily for nearly three years of my life. I’m talking the military inspired look that has been on the runway since spring. After serving with the U. S. Army in the early 1990s, I didn’t want to have anything to do with a uniform, especially the camouflage colors.

Although I like green, when you are required to wear it every day you kind of get burned out on it. When I got out of the service I didn’t wear anything “drab” green for at least a year. Now I don’t mind wearing something.

Here is an outfit I grabbed from my closet that was inspired by Kourtney Kardashian.

Don’t be afraid to embrace the a military inspired look. The designs may stem from a rigid, menswear clothes, but they’re streamlined and tailored to fit a woman’s body. A cropped and skinny military pant makes for fabulous alternative to jeans. The masculinity of a cargo skirt paired with a flirty top is just what you need to pull off  feminine fashion.

Well I did it again today I deferred to my “look book” and came up with an outfit after I couldn’t decide on my own what to wear. It’s not the exact look, but pretty similar. I’ve got a bohemian vibe going on.

I picked a Dana Buchman floral tunic (clearance at Kohls $12) and Jones New York walking shorts (clearance Macy’s $15.) I paired them with my faux red-leather crocodile slip on sandals (new at thrift store $3) and necklace and earrings (gifted.)

I love end of the season bargains and although I got these last year I plan on hitting stores soon to find this year’s good buys. So what good buys have you found?

Did you catch last week’s Project Runway? As always I didn’t watch it the night it aired, but I did catch it on Lifetime.com. The designers had to transform a bridesmaid dress that each wore in a wedding and the bride told them – “You can totally wear that again.”

We all know that bridesmaid dresses are made to look hideous so that the bride stands out. I’ve been fortunate to only have been in one wedding in my life and that was more than 20 years ago. The dress was  a buttercup yellow with white lace, however it looked more like legal pad with doilies thrown on it. The one thing the bride never said was that I would be able to wear it again.  It was the 1980s so I’m sure you can picture a hoop dress with big hair – awful. I think now it would make a great Halloween costume.

The movie 27 Dresses sums up how most bridesmaids feel. One of the dresses shown in the movie resembles one that I wore, minus the orange flowers.

I’m not sure if I liked the judges decision on who won the  Project Runway challenge, but I will at least say that Michael C. getting the win after he was thrown “under the bus” the week before was nice to see and made for a great comeback.

I enjoyed watching the transformation of the dress and  the best part was the designers work on  real women. I hope we see more of that. I think having them work with plus size models would be good too.  The look on their faces is quite comical when they don’t get to work with “stick” figures.  Some of the designer’s work is good, but lets face it many of the designs would never be worn by real woman.

What do you think?

For the past two summer’s I’ve enjoyed watching Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva. Brooke Elliot who plays the lead character, Jane Bingum/Deb Dobkins. She is a breath of fresh air, especially for all the plus-size women who watch.

This curvy girl has talent — she’s a trained singer who’s been in many Broadway show — but she’s got style. She proves that no matter your size you can be successful and look great too. Here’s an outfit I put together based on one of her looks.