Weekend Reads #22

It's Thursday evening and I am tired, both mentally and physically. We went camping last weekend and left early thanks to rain, which hasn't really stopped ever since. I work on weekends, there's no way to get everything with a blog done during the week, especially since I take time to go to the gym and take Emerson to school and eat dinner with my family. A camping weekend meant a weekend where I didn't get work done so I am playing catch up this week.  And this weekend again we will be out of town – it's Karl's birthday so we're doing a romantic staycation and Emerson has camping with her Girl Scout troop so it will be another week of being behind.

And then Sunday's post. I wrote it last week, and I don't know why I didn't think of the reactions to it.  90% of the responses were positive, but they were so emotional that it's been hard to reply to them with the love they deserve. I reply to a couple (I started with social media DMs, then emails, and when I finish them I'll move to blog comments) and I am emotionally drained. You deserve heartfelt replies, they will come.

Today I attended training to be an election judge. It was long and I didn't have my coffee and was struggling to stay awake. However, it was inspiring to see how much my county and state do to make voting accessible to anyone who shows up and I am excited to be a part of that. No matter what party you are affiliated with, vote. Please vote.  Make your voice heard. But I came home in time to catch the second half of Dr. Ford's hearing. And I am writing this after the whole hearing was adjourned and I am mentally drained.  I need to take a break from the internet and am glad for this weekend to give me an excuse to step away from the computer. It's okay if you too are overwhelmed, exhausted, angry, done.  It's okay to take a break from the news cycle, the social media cycle, and care for yourself.  Remember the oxygen mask – you need to take care of yourself first so you can care for others.

Weekend Reads

Woah Nelly, this piece about healing after a major surgery brought me back to 2014 when I was healing from a broken arm. I ordered so so many pairs of black pants.

Evelyn's making me want to add camo overalls to my collection!

Best obituary ever. I bet a few of you remember some of Alan Abel's hoaxes. The Society for Indecency to Naked Animals? Or how about when he faked his own death and the New York Times published his obituary? Well at 94, he has passed (for real this time) and the Times shared an amazing recap of his unique life.

Welcome back Jean Patou.

Carly from the blog The Prepster digs into the nitty-gritty of what it takes to craft a quality sponsored post and in the process shares great photos of her with her mom.

Scroll through this amazing timeline of how decor has paralleled fashion since 1850.

“I have not met a single woman over 50 who has made me feel empty inside. This is just the truth. In fact, they seem to always do the opposite. Hanging out with a woman in her later years would leave me with a sense of calm. Like there was something reassuring up ahead for me.”

I donate to several charities with profits from this blog, but each month choose an additional charity to support. This month profits from Wardrobe Oxygen have been donated to RAINN. To learn more about this organization and to make your own donation, visit this link.

This Week's Reader Question

“I've just been told that I need to sit for an official photo in the next couple of weeks (bleagh). (You may already know it…tan background, U.S. flag behind one shoulder, earnest expression). All things being equal, I'd rather not wear a suit, which in my opinion can make women look more frumpy than powerful, and was thinking that a good black/dark dress would be a more welcome addition to the closet. Any advice?”

I know of the headshot background that you speak of quite well. I wrote about this topic, but it was back in 2014 and should be revisited.

I think a dark color and a flattering neckline like a cowl or with drape is a great choice. A blouse is also great because you usually have a variety of necklines to choose from and the fabric is drapey, which is far more flattering not only to the neck but the shoulders. While a black dress would be practical, I'd suggest you consider a different dark color like teal, plum, dark purple, navy, dark green, even dark red or berry. Black in photos often absorbs light and you lose any detail that makes the dress flattering.

There's nothing wrong with adding jewelry, but I'd recommend sticking to smallish earrings and no necklace if your neckline has interest. If you choose a round or boatneck, a necklace would work but I'd suggest something not too delicate and twee, and nothing too bold and colorful. I've seen many headshots where one wears those necklaces that is a wire ring or more solid metal instead of a delicate chain with or without a bold pendant and that always looks polished, professional, yet fashionable. They're often called collars. I hope this helps!

For Your Entertainment

“Africa” from Toto has been a personal and family favorite for years.  After a grassroots campaign to have Weezer cover this song, they did it this spring and it's become a Billboard hit. When the band performed this cover on Jimmy Kimmel Live this summer, Weird Al Yankovic joined them for the accordion solo. Weezer fans may recognize this video replicates the one for “The Sweater Song”… but hrm, that's not Weezer performing, and the lead singer looks awfully familiar and quite comfortable behind that accordion…