I have been a little gunshy with this posting idea, because I think it is a little self indulgent, but here I go: I am thinking about doing a post answering any and all questions readers might have for me.

I’m starting with the same questions that I asked all my chic friends on Friday and answering them myself, after Fiona from La Vie en Fifi asked me about them.

I was thinking about waiting a few days in case anybody had any other questions and I could include them all in one post. If you do, please email me at:

mammaitaliana23@gmail.com

I probably won’t do the post for another week or so because I am hoping to do another dual post with My French Corner next week …  Thanks and have a great weekend.

PS I’ll start posting pics and menus again starting Monday. I am still wearing my jeans and black turtleneck sweater today … I better find something different before then!

Gap tee - Ann Taylor black cashmere cardigan (ebay) - Target scarf - Levis jeans - Sesto Meucci boots

In an effort to fit into my  jeans a little better I am going back to what has worked in the past — no eating outside of meals. I already feel better. I am also treating myself every day after lunch to one small caramel. I bought two boxes of caramels after reading about them on My French Corner’s blog: http://my-french-corner.blogspot.com/2010/01/fleur-de-sel-caramels-at-whole-foods.html

They are a wonderful way to incorporate a simple pleasure into my day.

What do you do each day for a simple pleasure?

black skirt (Target) - charcoal sweater (Marshall Fields, hand-me-down gift from dh's friend) - Rebecca Beeson black T (underneath sweater) -- Black boots (Sesto Meucci) -- silver hoops, silver chain

Last night for some reason when I was dreaming I remembered I had a black summer skirt tucked away in a drawer — the only black skirt I own. I didn’t want to wear m LBD to church again this week and for some reason my subconscious reminded me I had this skirt that could be unearthed for winter.

I attempted this look the other day with this boyfriend’s sweater over my LBD (after a suggestion from Tine at The Red Geranium — see inspirations at right for link) and it just looked weird. I tried it again this morning with the black skirt and then a small patent leather belt that really doesn’t show because the sweater is then bunched over it. I think it works this time. I think this may have been what Tine had in mind when she suggested I wear the sweater belted with a skirt or dress.

union bay black cords – navy wool sweater, thrifted  - black liz claiborne boots, thrifted - silver hoops – silver chain

You can’t survive where I live just wearing a tee shirt or blouse. You must have on layers, minimum two, preferably three. It is a style challenge!

It is another reason I have decided to forego posting my outfit everyday because I may wear this exact same outfit tomorrow and possibly the day after, just changing the tee underneath …

A very Italian and la bella figura philosophy is to care for your belongings. Taking care of what you own shows respect for yourself, respect for your belongings and respect for the planet.

The classic example is the Italian man or woman who drives the older vehicle and spends weekends polishing it and caring for it so it always looks like new.

It is also about keeping those old shoes polished and your clothes ironed and your house spotless (I have a problem with this last one, especially with two small kids).

It is about meticulously cleaning your appliances, such as your blender, after each use.

It is taking care of everything you own so it will serve you well and last for years.

It isn’t about tossing something that is broken or needs to be repaired unless it is a hopeless case. It is about trying not to buy anything that is “disposable” that is meant to have a short life and then meant to be tossed.

Instead of discarding what you own so readily, try to figure out if you can fix something that is broken or find a new use for an item before you pass it on. I am trying to do this.

There is a fine balance between decluttering and using what you have until it no longer gives you use. I think the differences is that if you own an item, such as a toaster that works and serves your purposes but maybe isn’t the exact model or color you like — use it as long as you can before you replace it.

The idea is to not replace useful items so readily … use what you can as long as you can.

For instance, I am not overly thrilled with my winter coat, but by taking off the belt and the belt loops, I am much happier with the way it fits. With the waist belted, it looked sloppy, bulky and not chic in the least bit.  When one of the loops for the belt broke off, I decide to tug on the other one and become belt free. the only problem is I ended up with two big rips in the sides of my wool coat. Then a button came off.

Because it is wool and an expensive clothing item, my immediate thought was to take it to the tailor for repairs. I kept waiting to have enough extra money to do this. Didn’t happen. So I sat down with a needle and thread and repaired it myself. It was actually easier than I thought. The stitches aren’t great, but my repair work does not show.

Then I took my beloved trench coat and reinforced the beautiful wooden flower buttons on it. I was upset last spring when I lost one of the buttons on it. I found it crushed by a tire on the street. Luckily, I could pull off an unseen button under the collar and use that. But that was the only button left that doesn’t show, so I need to make sure I don’t lose any more.

pulled down around hips

sort of bunched around the waist

Wasn’t it just a few days ago that I said my dream man’s sweater was super deep cut vee-neck, gray and cashmere (versus the one my husband’s kind friend gave to me). Yep, I said it because I’ve wanted a sweater like this after reading this line about French women, which I believe was a comment possibly on Garance D’ore’s website, but I could be wrong. I copied it down so long ago. Forgive me if I have the wrong attribution.

“… the deep cut when you have very little chest (not a bustier) rather a big floating cashmere sweater … ”

Also, found this at the consignment store yesterday when I was dropping off some items. I had credit, so it ended up costing nothing. Love that.

This  is my pared down, streamlined winter closet.
From the left:
black wool blazer
navy velvet blazer
navy wool pullover
black cashmere cardigan
navy cashmere cardigan
navy long sleeve tee
gray long-sleeve tee
gray long-sleeve tee
three pairs of Levis
2 black 3/4 length sleeve tees
navy 3/4 length sleeve tee
LBD
navy dress
To the right of this dress, I have a black velvet vintage cape and some summer/spring items.
Missing from this picture is: one berry red pashmina scarf and one navy cashmere scarf. Oops, I just remembered I have a long sleeve black vee-neck tee not pictured here as well that is in the laundry. Plus what I have on today:
Gray tee, gray cardigan, Levis, black boots

I bought this tee and cardigan at the thrift store last week. I think I am going to look for more cardigans like this — Liz Claiborne 100 percent wool. It is just such nice quality. All of my cashmere cardigans look ratty soo quickly.

Also, I have a cashmere and silk v-neck Banana Republic pullover sweater in black that I am going to take to the consignment shop next week. Now that I have a few extra pounds on me, it is too tight and gives me too much cleavage, which is NOT the look I’m going for. I like the flat chested, big floaty vee neck with nothing showing look better. I tried on a deep vee neck black cashmere sweater that fit better at the cosignment store last week. They are having a 50 percent off sale next week and if that sweater is still there I will probably pick it up for myself, hopefully selling this too small sweater in exchange.

Too much cleavage for the style I want to convey

Here is my summer closet, which is a bit different than the one I have today. A few of the tops (cream colored and turquoise) arefolded  in drawers until spring and the rest of the items were donated or consigned.

I love, love, love this scarf. A lot.

I'm wearing this out to dinner on a date tonight; navy velvet jacket (jcrew); navy top (jcrew); levis; etienne aigner boots; silver chain necklace

I'm contemplating wearing this outfit to a casual christmas party with kids invited tomorrow night: black dkny blazer; black jcrew top; levis; red sofft heels

I found this navy blue wool pullover from New Zealand at the thrift store today for $2.95. It remimnds me of Sofia Coppola.

Good news. For some reason my art pieces have been selling like hotcakes on ebay. I have sold all my Frida Kahlo pieces but one. I think lowering my prices a bit helped.

To celebrate, I bought this navy scarf I have tried on a jillion times and coveted forever. I am super, super happy with it. In this climate (it was 4 degrees when I dropped off the kids at school this a.m.) I will get more use out of a scarf like this than practically anything else! I was inspired to buy a giant scarf after seeing how chic Everything and Nothingness and Garance Dore looked in them.

Also, I have been a little unhappy with my wardrobe lately and then I realized that the problem isn’t with my clothes — they haven’t changed. It’s my weight that has changed and many items I don’t like right now would look better when I lose a few pounds.

Navy top (Gap)
black cords (Union Bay)
black boots (10 years old Sesto Meucci)
silver necklace
Navy cashmere scarf (not shown)

Breakfast: small dish whole milk yogurt with granola; cafe au lait
Lunch: mini meatballs; cheese slice: banana
Dinner: tortilla soup; wine

Finances:
$0

Today my friend who lives 3 houses down called me to see if I could see the owl in their tree. I couldn’t from my window, but bundled up my kids and went outside in time to see a GIGANTIC hawk — not an owl — swoop down next to their swingset and kill a squirrel walking nearby.

Holy cats. It was like watching Nature.

We live in a metropolitan area and still have these crazy things happen. We have seen giant woodpeckers, hawks, eagles, wild turkeys and our corner of the city is known for a constant supply of bunny rabbits in the spring. Strange.

Then I took the kids to see Santa and then back home to make The Sauce. I didn’t make THE Sunday Sauce, which involves 6 -8 pork chops, 12 Italian sausages and 3 pounds of hamburger, but I made a version of it, skipping the pork chops and sausages and just making 3 pounds of meatballs.

I only make THE Sunday Sauce, once a year because let’s face it, that much meat is expensive. I always make The Sauce the day before if it involves meatballs so they can simmer all day and then marinate overnight. When I do this, I use part of the meat to make “polpettas” —  mini meatballs that we like to eat plain with salt for lunch. Yum.

Is it even worth mentioning that I watched Battlestar Galactica last night? We are on Season 3. I say we watch 4 episodes at a time (one Netflix disc) and we usually watch it at least 3 times a week.

Can you say obsessed? Really, when you live in a crappy climate like I do, that is what you do during the winter. It gets dark around 4 p.m., you close up all the curtains in the house, put on your pajamas, bundle up under blankets and either read or watch movies. It is the only way to survive.

 This is also my excuse why I get hooked on low brow TV like The Bachelor and The Bachelorette every winter. It is crazy how a TV show can be so important in the winter, whereas during the summer I can go 5 months without turning on the TV.

I am hoping to also MAKE MONEY freelance writing this winter — I’m aiming for at least $500 a month to start and also writing my book. I’m about 9,000 words into it, so that means another71,000 words to go. Mama mia!