I hope so! I'm jealous I don't have access to the fun, too, but I can fashion vicariously through all of you. I caught myself searching "Stitch Fix" just to pull up all the threads on it so I wouldn't miss any. :laugh:

Oh wow! Thanks for saying that! I do love fashion. I'm glad I've been useful. :D

I wear them all the time, all kinds of shapes and sizes. Scarves have always been chic. I don't think they'll ever go out of style. Here is a really cool video of 25 ways to tie a scarf. The vlogger is Wendy's LookBook, which also has other great fashion videos, but I love her scarf tutorials.

Do any of you read In-Style magazine? Before the recent format change (yuck! - but another thread...) they used to have features where they'd show 1 or 2 complete outfits on a page including shoes, bag, accessories. There were usually themes to them, like 2 ways to wear a particular style of coat or dress or top, etc. I always thought it would be great if you could just order the whole set in your sizes. I'm just reminded of that because I looked up the Nordstrom service (Trunk Club) and it looks kind of like that idea! I wish they would do that up here. Or The Bay should do it. That would be fashion heaven! I'm so jealous.

Well, I admit my experience with a personal shopper is limited to 3 occasions, but all have been very positive ones. All 3 times I was looking for something for a special event and just didn't know where to start. I certainly didn't and don't have thousands to spend (I wish!). They do try to get you to use them again, and if I disliked shopping, I probably would. I can honestly say none of the personal shoppers I had ever gave any indication they were rolling eyes at me, my figure, my budget or my requests. They all seemed like they really enjoyed pulling things and putting together outfits that would make me look and feel my best. They really knew their stock and collections way better than I was going to just by browsing. There were some really neat things I never would have thought of if not for them. I also learned some really great styling tips and tricks that have been so helpful in my everyday and workwear outfit planning.

Personal shoppers always ask for your budget. They are not going to try to sell you $800 shoes unless you ask for that budget range.

:iagree: :iagree: :iagree: :iagree: :iagree: :iagree: :iagree: And if he escalates this crap, look into getting a restraining order.

I disagree. You're projecting too far. Scarlett said the boy basically told her "X takes it so I want to take it." That's not a realization he needs help. It's succumbing to peer influence.

:grouphug: to those struggling with infertility. It's especially hard to see so many announcements, even though they are happy announcements. What is more bothersome though, are the few who seem to have a need to be braggadocious about their fecundity. There is a small handful of posters who push the line of tact quite far on that subject, and it is unfortunate that their lack of consideration and modesty painfully affects so many members here.

I think the point belongs in this discussion because we are talking about the Northern view of the Civil War and that needs the juxtaposition of the Southern view. There are many Southern views of the war, but I think what we're all most interested in is why some Southerners take a prideful view of it. I think I get part of what she is saying, but it needs more context. I think her point about some Southerners being angry about being belittled as "stupid" and other denigrating stereotypes is a big part of why some of them turn to or are easily lured into the white supremacist side of that prideful view of the civil war. Some Southerners don't want to feel less-than, and they are very bothered by the stereotypes, and then the WS groups are all around them looking so "powerful" and "strong" to them. It's tempting to join those groups when you're already angry. WS gives them the scapegoats for their anger. WS gives them a sense of belonging to something "big" and "important." WS gives them a lot of rhetoric to toss around which makes them think they now sound more intelligent or more "superior." This is not how all Southerners are, of course. But, it's appropriate to some, and I think that it's that group -- the angry powerless Southerner -- who are prime pickings for the Nazis, KKK and other WS. The same holds true in other parts of the country, not just the South. Where there are angry white people looking for a convenient scapegoat, there are going to be some of them who are prime pickings for WS recruitment. Most angry white people, IMO and IME, have enough sense to say WTF and 'no thanks!' to WS, but the ones who are feeling desperate enough for belonging and a sense of power are the ones to watch out for. FWIW, I grew up in the South, too. I've seen a lot of people like I've described above. I've also experienced the stereotype that she's talking about in her posts. I was rather shocked that those stereotypes of Southerners are even here (I live in Canada now). Shortly after I moved here, I gave an older lady a ride home from an event and at one point she started talking about a multi-racial family and referred to the children using a term I had not heard in well over a decade. I was so shocked I could not speak. And, if you know me, you know that is really saying something! I just gaped at her. And she said, "well, you're from the Southern states. You know what I mean." Essentially, she was saying she believed that, as a Southerner, I was surely sympatico with her racism. It made me feel very slimey and awful. I never forgot that. I thought I'd moved away from that kind of thinking. I was so naïve.

The US complaint about Germany not taking on larger military roles is a very recent complaint -- as in only the last few months. The complaint is based in an egregious ignorance of history and lack of respect for other nations and their people.

I'm sorry. I hope that the separation goes as smoothly and peacefully as possible for you and that you come out the other side of this with strength and resilience.

The cost thing came up in Quill's thread, too. I just want to point out that when Night Elf posted the prices, I was surprised. Not because I thought they were high. Quite the contrary, I thought they were much lower than I'd expected for quality clothes that were personally selected for you. I think it's important to remember that the cost of clothes really should be measured in cost-per-wear, not necessarily the initial cost. If you buy a $10 tee shirt from a discount store and the hem starts unravelling and it's only dust-rag quality after 4-5 washes, that cost-per-wear is higher than if, for example, you paid $40 for a good quality tee shirt of sturdy, dense woven cotton that will stand up to 100 washes or more. Also, if a person just buys things that they end up not wearing much because it's looking ragged or doesn't fit well or is just a very trendy thing, then cost-per-wear is higher than if you have something that wears and washes well, stands up to the timelessness of classic style and which you enjoy wearing often, then cost-per-wear is less even if the initial cost was higher. So, it's worth investing in fewer good quality pieces that will last and in which you'll be happy, comfortable and stylish. Here's a good article about this: http://www.simplyfrugal.ca/cost-per-wear/

Try it! I'm sitting here a little jealous because they don't service Canada. Give it a try! I can live vicariously through you all.

I can, but interestingly enough, my dh, who is far more fit than I, cannot. He does have a bad knee due to old injuries, though. My kid can with hardly any effort at all.

One. He just graduated from homeschool. :001_smile:

Mergath sends her thanks. The darling Miss Aurora was born this morning by c-section shortly after 7am today, August 17, weighing in at 9lb. 3oz. The lovely mother and her extra-super-adorable baby are doing well and catching some much needed rest. :001_wub:

See here for what I mean when I say "dog-whistle." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog-whistle_politics In other, more direct words... the term "War of Northern Aggression" is primarily used by people who are white supremacist and/or sympathizers of white supremacists as code to other white supremacists that they, too, are sympatico.

This was Jefferson C. Davis. Just an important distinction, because Jefferson F. Davis was president of the Confederate States. And, also the namesake of my middle school. Somewhere around 2003-04 or so, someone had the decency to change the name of the school. FTR, the school was named after JD in the 60's. It had a rather benign geographic based name prior to that. Interesting coincidence, eh?

You should know that the term "War of Northern Aggression" is dog-whistle for white supremacists.

I don't think they are worth your valuable time and generosity. Not at all. I love volunteer work, but sometimes the people in the organization have a way of ruining it. I don't volunteer for places/groups/organizations where I feel berated, misused or abused, or where I feel the intentions of the organization don't align with my ethics. I have quit a few groups because of things like this. No one needs to be abused whether you are paid for your work or not. I do always tell them why I'm leaving (in as tactful a way as possible. Usually. Sometimes, I've been extremely blunt. I think it's important for organizations to know the reasons behind why they are unable to attract or keep volunteers. It's one of the biggest complaints that charities and volunteer organizations have -- can't keep or attract volunteers. The irony is that, more often that not, the ones who have the hardest time attracting and keeping volunteers have only themselves and their own behaviour to blame. They should know that.

I am not speaking for the PP who said that, but I have encountered that negative, judgmental attitude before, and the comments generally seem to stem from a few angles: -- disdain for someone taking the time to do their hair and make-up when they could/should be doing something else more important in the judgers eye (interestingly, the time they think it takes always seems to always be way overblown -- I spend 20-30 minutes for a full blow-out and full face of make-up, but they'll think it equates to 2 or more hours) -- a moral or ethical aversion to make-up, "finery," or immodesty, etc. -- sour grapes or something akin to the green-eyed monster. I don't generally bother to react to that kind of attitude. To each her own. In the end, it certainly isn't going to change my attitude on my appearance, and I've no interest at all in changing other people's attitudes on their appearances.

I have a fond memory like that of my mom. It was the first year my dad wasn't in the Navy and we went to a civvie school and my mom brought something I'd forgotten to school. She had a big smile for me and I gave her a quick hug and thanks. As soon as she left, my classmates were all chatty "that's your MOM?" Even the teacher said how lovely she was. She looked like that every day. Yeah, that was my mom. :001_wub:

My mom mostly kept her hair neat, about shoulder length. She would either wear a headband or tuck it behind her ears. She didn't wear make-up except when going out socially, and then only a bit of powder and lipstick. We lived in FL most of my childhood, and she wore mostly shorts or light-weight slacks (I remember a lot of linen), and tee shirts or cotton blouses. She was always neatly groomed and dressed. But, she also had classic, beautiful features and wasn't the kind of woman who needed to make much of an effort to look lovely. She was also quite free-spirited for her generation (pre-hippies or beatniks), and I think she took a bit of pride in not doing what was mostly expected of most of the women her age.

1000x this.