Clothing quality—has it disappeared?

Tonight, I repaired holes in a brand name (think fashion icon) sweater. Luckily, they are at the color and therefore hard to see. Also, I repaired holes in a sweater of my dad's that is more than 30 years old. The other sweater I bought last year. Where has the quality of clothing gone? Brand name is no longer synonymous with quality. Too bad!

Where's the quality?

Yesterday, I did three loads of laundry. Admittedly, one load was just sheets. I noticed as I put clothes in the washer some shirts had holes in them. It used to be you could buy a concert tee when you were in college and still be wearing it twenty years in its faded glory to relive your youth. I find now, that t-shirts only last a couple of years before they get holes. I have some that aren't even faded yet and because of holes need to be thrown out. So I ask, Where's the quality?

My new look...

My daughter decided I now need a new look complete with growing my hair long again.....

Off to camp...the hard part

Today I took my daughter to sleep away camp for the first time and while it is hard to realize she is 10 and old enough to go, it was harder to iron on the name tags, since the instructions weren't clear on the temperature of the iron-- very, very hot for your knowledge. (The label company will remain nameless, but it will receive an email from me on this matter.)

Tuesday's tip: Laundry time

Do loads of laundry at night when you family doesn't need hot water for showers.

Wednesday's words..From a coat

Seen  on a coat..."The things that you own wind up owning you."

Warm weather fashion...dont's

Why is it that as soon as the weather warms up the fashion don'ts—black bra under sheer top, backless top with bra and the one I saw the other day, toeless thigh-highs with flip flops, multiply exponentially? and now that I think about it winter coats cover them up.

Tuesday's Tip...the night before

By prepping breakfast last night, including making Farro, I was able to have a healthy Farro and Egg and half a smoothie for breakfast while my daughter had the other half of the smoothie with half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (she has state tests today at school).

(P.S. You should do this for bags, briefcases, backpacks and even layout clothes.)

Tuesday's Tip" Music is the universal language

This morning my daughter was having a fashion crisis unable to decide what to wear to school, which dissolved into tears and then she started talking about the song they were learning in music class, Lean On Me, which just so happens is on my Itunes and she listened to it on the walk to school and the tears gave way to a smile (Thanks, Bill Withers).

You can only go back by going forward....

I am looking at a picture of myself that is 13 or 14 years old that was somehow left on my desk and noticing that the only difference between me now and then (besides the clothes) is I weigh more now and smiled more then and it got me thinking that the only way to go back is to go forward, so in going forward, I resolve (New Year's resolution here?) to smile more (maybe then I won't be referred to as Ms. Grumpy by my daughter).

Tuesday's Tip: Eco friendly Laundry

A few months back I read that adding a dry towel to a dryer cycle cut drying time equaling saved energy. The added bonus is the clothes come out softer and with less static (with no dryer sheet).

Wednesday's Words: Feel like a woman

"Feel like a woman, wear a dress." —Diane Von Furstenberg

Diane Von Furstenberg Biography

Tuesday's Tip: Avoid wrinkling clothes

Do not over stuff your drier or your clothes will come out wrinkled. (Since, I did this recently, I had to iron my husbands chinos.)

Tuesday's tip: Nice smelling clothes

I take scented soaps and place them in old socks (one's that are no longer a pair) and knot them at the end and  place the "sachet" in a clothing drawer or on shelf. When I wear the clothes, they smell nice (even my underwear).

Tuesday's Tip: Confidence Builder

Last week I had a client meeting and was worried I would smell from sweat, so I grabbed two scented panty-liners and stuck them in the armpits of my shirt (sticky side to the fabric) and instantly my confidence went up a few notches.

Tuesday's tip; Clean the fridge

This morning, my daughter said, "when you food shop, you should clean the fridge. When I buy clothes, I get rid of some to make room for the new ones."-- Great advice!

Tuesday's Tip: Add Baking Soda

Add 2-3 Tbsp. baking soda when running your dishwasher or washing machine to give the soap a boost and help keep the appliance clean.

Tuesday's Tip: Patent Leather like new

To keep patent leather looking shiny and to prevent cracking rub with petroleum jelly and shine with glass cleaner.

From 1003 Household HInts, copyright 1947

A "murse"?

Today at the gym, Live with Kelly and Michael asked Snoop Lion (a.k.a. Snoop Dogg) about his "murse" (man purse) which is worn by his body guard and I realized that my hsuband is soooo old fashioned in putting his wallet in his pocket and asking me to carry his eyedrops in my purse and that my marriage lacks "trend" and I realized that this is all all right.

Wednesday's Words: ASAP Polished

"To look polished in a pinch, I go [wear] for navy and white." —Kate Young